Hoosier conservationist, activist Andy Mahler dies at age 74

After decades defending the woods near his home and throughout Indiana, Andrew "Andy" Mahler, 74, died on Aug. 30 at his home near Paoli.

Mahler lived there with his wife, Linda Lee, who survives. Their homestead was known as the Lazy Black Bear and is surrounded on three sides by the Hoosier National Forest, one of the forests Mahler worked to protect.