Brown County Prosecutor Jessica A. Little said the Sept. 2 hearing before the Brown County Common Pleas Court and involving five indicted Ohio Division of Wildlife officials is still on.
The five officials - including the agency’s chief, an assistant chief, a district supervisor, the agency’s law enforcement administrator, and its human resources manager - are each charged with two fifth degree felony counts. The five defendants are required to attend the proceedings, Little said.
The case as it now stands will be reviewed at 11 a.m., Thursday before Brown County Common Please Court Judge Scott Gusweiler.
“I do suspect that the hearing will last most of the day,” Little said.
Likely not to be discussed is any suppression hearing, Little said also.
“I don’t think there are any suppression issues. That’s my opinion, but I don’t know what the defense plans are, though.”
Little said also that Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Sean Logan is on the defense counsel’s list of potential witnesses.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
No burnt wheat strips for Mosquito's dove fields
Opening day hunters at Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area's managed dove fields won't have their noses tickled by the smell of burnt wheat chaff.
That's because the Ohio Division of Wildlife's District Three (Northeast Ohio) failed to timely secure the necessary burn permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The Ohio EPA - says a Wildlife Division District Three biologist - requires a 10-day waiting period from the time the burn application is received and when the burn can be performed.
Burning is done to remove the knee-high stalks of wheat, leaving the grain to lay on the blackened earth. The doves are attracted to the burnt fields where they become vulnerable to waiting gunners.
Burning also helps hunters in recovering birds, rather than the sportsmen searching through still-standing crops.
However, the Wildlife Division says it really won't matter because doves are still visiting Mosquito's managed dove fields anyway. Which begs the question, why bother even considering burning if such action doesn't help hunters?
We'll see Wednesday whether the dove hunting is just as good with or without burning the fields.
See tomorrow's News-Herald Outdoors for a story about dove hunting at Mosquito Creek.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
That's because the Ohio Division of Wildlife's District Three (Northeast Ohio) failed to timely secure the necessary burn permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The Ohio EPA - says a Wildlife Division District Three biologist - requires a 10-day waiting period from the time the burn application is received and when the burn can be performed.
Burning is done to remove the knee-high stalks of wheat, leaving the grain to lay on the blackened earth. The doves are attracted to the burnt fields where they become vulnerable to waiting gunners.
Burning also helps hunters in recovering birds, rather than the sportsmen searching through still-standing crops.
However, the Wildlife Division says it really won't matter because doves are still visiting Mosquito's managed dove fields anyway. Which begs the question, why bother even considering burning if such action doesn't help hunters?
We'll see Wednesday whether the dove hunting is just as good with or without burning the fields.
See tomorrow's News-Herald Outdoors for a story about dove hunting at Mosquito Creek.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Friday, August 27, 2010
Strickland seeks to drive away with gun owner votes
Honk if you want to re-elect Ted Strickland as Ohio's governor.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is pulling out all of the stops to solicit the votes of the state's hunters, anglers, trappers and gun owners.
The Buckeye Firearms Association reports that Strickland has redecorated a large motor home that is embellished in a camouflage screen that includes a photographic image of himself and his brother, Roger.
The "Sportsmen for Strickland" motor home also features the Buckeye Firearms Association's endorsement position of Strickland as well as that of the National Rifle Association, which has awarded the governor an "A" rating.
On the motor home's tail end is found: "Vote Freedom first: Vote Strickland."
All of this is coupled with two Re-Elect Strickland for Governor campaign press releases that highlight Strickland's pro-gun, pro-hunting stance. At the same time the literature also notes his Republican challenger's generally unfavorable firearms stance while serving in Congress.
Former Rep. John Kasich is contrasted by illustrating 12 anti-gun positions taken by the-then congressman and as defined by the Strickland campaign.
Among them, says the Strickland campaign, is Kasich's support for the 1994 Clinton Gun Ban as well as his support to keep the ban in place two years later.
For sportsmen at least, this is going to prove an interesting election. Typically those voters who place high on the list Second Amendment rights have swung to Republican office seekers, not Democrats. All of which may turn on its ear November 2.
A copy of this blog post also is recorded on The News-Herald local politics blog.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is pulling out all of the stops to solicit the votes of the state's hunters, anglers, trappers and gun owners.
The Buckeye Firearms Association reports that Strickland has redecorated a large motor home that is embellished in a camouflage screen that includes a photographic image of himself and his brother, Roger.
The "Sportsmen for Strickland" motor home also features the Buckeye Firearms Association's endorsement position of Strickland as well as that of the National Rifle Association, which has awarded the governor an "A" rating.
On the motor home's tail end is found: "Vote Freedom first: Vote Strickland."
All of this is coupled with two Re-Elect Strickland for Governor campaign press releases that highlight Strickland's pro-gun, pro-hunting stance. At the same time the literature also notes his Republican challenger's generally unfavorable firearms stance while serving in Congress.
Former Rep. John Kasich is contrasted by illustrating 12 anti-gun positions taken by the-then congressman and as defined by the Strickland campaign.
Among them, says the Strickland campaign, is Kasich's support for the 1994 Clinton Gun Ban as well as his support to keep the ban in place two years later.
For sportsmen at least, this is going to prove an interesting election. Typically those voters who place high on the list Second Amendment rights have swung to Republican office seekers, not Democrats. All of which may turn on its ear November 2.
A copy of this blog post also is recorded on The News-Herald local politics blog.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Controlled deer, waterfowl hunt drawing results
The Ohio Division of Wildlife has released the names of the lucky people who were successfully drawn for the state's very popular but controlled deer and waterfowl hunts.
Rats, since I wasn't picked for anything that I had applied for. Neither did my older brother, Rich, nor my wife, Bev.
Which doesn't keep me from trying. Or Rich or Bev, for that mater. We'll keep filling out the required Internet application and transferring funds each July during the application period. One of these days one of us will be picked for Plum Brook or the muzzle-loading hunt at Mosquito Creek.
To see if you've been successful with the draw, visit the Wildlife Division's web site at www.wildohio.com.
While on the subject of drawings and the Wildlife Division, the agency will conduct a public drawing for waterfowl blind hunts at LaDue Reservoir in Geauga County. The drawings is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 16 at the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton Township.
Each applicant must bring a current or past year's Ohio hunting license or Ohio wetlands stamp.
There are 10 blind sites available, and a calendar and map will be available that will show where the blinds are located and when they are available.
A maximum of three persons may hunt each day, though the actual permit holder must be in attendance.
Permits also will be issued for one-week periods and may be used only for the blind location chosen by the drawer.
Hunting occurs only on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until noon each day.
Only temporary blinds are boats equipped with electric motors are permitted.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-herald.com
Rats, since I wasn't picked for anything that I had applied for. Neither did my older brother, Rich, nor my wife, Bev.
Which doesn't keep me from trying. Or Rich or Bev, for that mater. We'll keep filling out the required Internet application and transferring funds each July during the application period. One of these days one of us will be picked for Plum Brook or the muzzle-loading hunt at Mosquito Creek.
To see if you've been successful with the draw, visit the Wildlife Division's web site at www.wildohio.com.
While on the subject of drawings and the Wildlife Division, the agency will conduct a public drawing for waterfowl blind hunts at LaDue Reservoir in Geauga County. The drawings is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 16 at the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton Township.
Each applicant must bring a current or past year's Ohio hunting license or Ohio wetlands stamp.
There are 10 blind sites available, and a calendar and map will be available that will show where the blinds are located and when they are available.
A maximum of three persons may hunt each day, though the actual permit holder must be in attendance.
Permits also will be issued for one-week periods and may be used only for the blind location chosen by the drawer.
Hunting occurs only on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until noon each day.
Only temporary blinds are boats equipped with electric motors are permitted.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-herald.com
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Ohio fishing license sales dip more than for hunting license sales
The periodic release of spread sheets by the Ohio Division of Wildlife points to only a faint decline in to-date resident hunting license sales.
The dip has been more pronounced for the sale of to-date resident fishing licenses, however.
Both represent near real-time sales snapshots for the Wildlife Division.
Boiled down, the Wildlife Division has experienced a decrease in income generated by the sale of resident fishing licenses.
From February 15 to July 31 of this year the Wildlife Division sold 595,397 resident fishing licenses. For the same period last year that figure was 644,764 licenses. This change represents a 7.66 percent fall, a loss of $938,353.
Combine all fishing licenses and tags the Wildlife Division sold 775,232 permits: Compared to 836,778 permits sold last year for the same period.
As a result, the Wildlife Division has seen a drop of $1,018,236 in income generated by all fishing license sales.
The view is more attractive for sales of hunting licenses and various related permits.
From February 15 through July 31 of this year the Wildlife Division sold 62,649 resident hunting licenses. For the same period in 2009 the number was 65,425 resident hunting licenses sold.
Translation: The Wildlife saw a drop in income derived from the sale of resident hunting licenses of only $52,744.
Taken in all of the state’s hunting licenses, permits and stamp sales and the gross income the current to-date tally was $3,488,898. Last year for the same period the state collected $3,515,795. This drop is less than 1 percent, total.
It must also be noted that most hunting license sales and deer permit sales are conducted during just a few days around the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
The dip has been more pronounced for the sale of to-date resident fishing licenses, however.
Both represent near real-time sales snapshots for the Wildlife Division.
Boiled down, the Wildlife Division has experienced a decrease in income generated by the sale of resident fishing licenses.
From February 15 to July 31 of this year the Wildlife Division sold 595,397 resident fishing licenses. For the same period last year that figure was 644,764 licenses. This change represents a 7.66 percent fall, a loss of $938,353.
Combine all fishing licenses and tags the Wildlife Division sold 775,232 permits: Compared to 836,778 permits sold last year for the same period.
As a result, the Wildlife Division has seen a drop of $1,018,236 in income generated by all fishing license sales.
The view is more attractive for sales of hunting licenses and various related permits.
From February 15 through July 31 of this year the Wildlife Division sold 62,649 resident hunting licenses. For the same period in 2009 the number was 65,425 resident hunting licenses sold.
Translation: The Wildlife saw a drop in income derived from the sale of resident hunting licenses of only $52,744.
Taken in all of the state’s hunting licenses, permits and stamp sales and the gross income the current to-date tally was $3,488,898. Last year for the same period the state collected $3,515,795. This drop is less than 1 percent, total.
It must also be noted that most hunting license sales and deer permit sales are conducted during just a few days around the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wildlife Division Lake Erie research boat side-lined
Crippled by an aging research vessel, work on studying the fisheries of Lake Erie's Central Basin remains on hold.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife's research boat "The Grandon" has been side-lined since the end of July. That means one month has passed since agency biologists last have done test-netting surveys and other on-water work in the lake's Central Basin.
Instead, these biologists have filled their time with laboratory and paper work, though the scientists are chomping at the bit to get back on the water.
What needs to be done, however, is replacing the boat's existing, well-worn diesel engine with a rebuilt one. This will cost the Wildlife Division about $17,000, says Kevin Kayle, the station's manager.
Kayle said there really is no reason to complain since the boat and its hard-used engine are both 22 years old. Repairs and replacements are to be expected for a vessel of this age, Kayle says.
Even so, the staff is looking forward to conducting tests and seeing how successful the lake's walleye and yellow perch hatch was this year, Kayle says as well.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
The Ohio Division of Wildlife's research boat "The Grandon" has been side-lined since the end of July. That means one month has passed since agency biologists last have done test-netting surveys and other on-water work in the lake's Central Basin.
Instead, these biologists have filled their time with laboratory and paper work, though the scientists are chomping at the bit to get back on the water.
What needs to be done, however, is replacing the boat's existing, well-worn diesel engine with a rebuilt one. This will cost the Wildlife Division about $17,000, says Kevin Kayle, the station's manager.
Kayle said there really is no reason to complain since the boat and its hard-used engine are both 22 years old. Repairs and replacements are to be expected for a vessel of this age, Kayle says.
Even so, the staff is looking forward to conducting tests and seeing how successful the lake's walleye and yellow perch hatch was this year, Kayle says as well.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Getting close
With only one week until the eve of Ohio's new hunting year I have to say that I'm starting to get a little excited.
Yesterday I visited the dove fields at the Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area in Trumbull County. The fields were not very impressive, due to the horrible wetness experienced during the spring. That greatly delayed planting which has resulted in under-achieving corn, no sunflowers and the wheat strips not yet burnt.
The Horvath field especially looked bad with few doves. The area management field looked only marginally better.
Bev and I will get the goose blind ready this week, trimming the brush around it and adding the camouflaged drapes along with tossing out the floating goose decoys.
Looking forward to helping reduce the farm pond's goose population, much to the delight of the pond's owner.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Yesterday I visited the dove fields at the Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area in Trumbull County. The fields were not very impressive, due to the horrible wetness experienced during the spring. That greatly delayed planting which has resulted in under-achieving corn, no sunflowers and the wheat strips not yet burnt.
The Horvath field especially looked bad with few doves. The area management field looked only marginally better.
Bev and I will get the goose blind ready this week, trimming the brush around it and adding the camouflaged drapes along with tossing out the floating goose decoys.
Looking forward to helping reduce the farm pond's goose population, much to the delight of the pond's owner.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
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