The drought-driven Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) that is killing deer as far north as Michigan’s Iona and Branch counties may very well yet set its sights on Ohio.
EHD is a typically fatal viral disease. It is found in wild ruminants like deer, causing extensive internal bleeding and is transmitted solely by a midge, a flying critter about the size of a course-ground black pepper flake.
A characteristic of the disease is its sudden onset. An infected deer loses its appetite and fear of humans, grows progressively weaker, salivates excessively, and finally become unconscious.
Due to an accompanying high fever, an infected deer is often found sick or dead along or in bodies of water.
Importantly, biologists also say, there is no evidence that humans can contract the EHD virus.
Mike Tonkovich, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s white-tailed deer management administrator, says the threat of EHD showing up in Ohio’s deer herd is very real; and just as disturbingly, comes with a calling card of too-many unknowns.
“There’s a lot about the disease that we don’t know, like how the virus over-winters, and how is it maintained in nature,” Tonkovich says. “I’m holding my breath, hoping that we don’t see the virus, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we do.”
A key issue is that world-wide there are 1,200 midge species, and though they are not all here in the U.S.,
“We probably don’t know all of the species that are capable of transmitting the virus,” Tonkovich says.
The thing is, too, Tonkovich says, there has not been a “whole lot of research into midges.”
“There’s still a great deal we don’t know,” Tonkovich says.
And since midges are so tiny, winds can carry them aloft and send them many miles away. Such transmission means that a virus-carrying midge in some southern Ohio county could find itself sucking blood out of a Northeast Ohio deer in a matter of just days, Tonkovich says.
The previous serious EHD outbreak that happened in Ohio were in 2005 and 2007, Tonkovich says.
“So we may be due,” Tonkovich says.
Tonkovich says as well that an EHD outbreak typically occurs later in the summer, as was the case in 2007 when the disease began showing up around Labor Day.
Why late summer is prime EHD time is best explained thus; as pools of water dry up the deer concentrate around what limited water is still available, Tonkovich says.
“That is where the adult midges hang out, looking for their next blood meal,” Tonkovich says.
With that being said, not every deer that contracts the disease will die, though the mortality rate is high: “Up to 80 or 90 percent,” Tonkovich says.
Unfortunately, also says Tonkovich, science has not discovered protocols or any methodology that can arrest the spread of an EHD outbreak. It must simply run its course, Tonkovich says.
Consequently, on a local level, EHD could have a significant impact on the number of deer that hunters will see come autumn, Tonkovich says.
Beyond that limited sphere, there is less to worry about, says Tonkovich.
“Will it show up in this year’s overall deer harvest?” Tonkovich said rhetorically. “On the grand scale of things, ‘no.’”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
CORRECTED: Public input sought for proposed fillet, game preserve, squirrel hide rules
Ohio’s hunters and anglers will have an opportunity to chip in their two cents worth when the Ohio Division of Wildlife conducts open house meetings to discuss proposed changes to the state’s fish and wildlife rules.
These meetings are scheduled for noon to 3 p.m., Aug. 11 at all of the Wildlife Division’s five district offices.
Also, the Wildlife Division’s Fairport Harbor Fisheries Research Station is a new venue for the fish and game proposal meetings.
“We don’t know how many people will attend but there are a couple of Lake Erie fisheries issues on the agenda,” said Kevin Kayle, the station’s manager. “There’s also been an effort to expand on where these kinds of meetings.”
During the spring series of fish and game hearings attendance was largely sparse. The Wildlife Division reports that 58 people visited the hearings in each Wildlife District One and Two (central Ohio and northwest Ohio, respectively), 93 people in Wildlife District Three (Northeast Ohio), 11 people in Wildlife District Four (southeast Ohio), and 77 people in Wildlife District Five (southwest Ohio).
With that being said, attendance for this spring’s hearings were up 13 percent from those conducted in the spring of 2011, the Wildlife Division says.
For this round of hearings the proposals encompass new rules for wild animal hunting preserves, commercial bird shooting preserves and wild cervidaes to align with recently enacted legislation (House Bill 389).
The rule package also includes proposals to define the geographical limits on reservoirs and bag limits on selected fish species.
Among the other topics is one that deals with how Lake Erie anglers can transport the fillets gleaned from the fish they catch. A rather contentious debate raged earlier this year when the Wildlife Division installed requirements that were roundly panned by Lake Erie anglers as being nearly draconian in nature.
Now the Wildlife Division is proposing a rule that would require fillets sliced from any Lake Erie-caught fish to “be kept whole until an angler reaches their permanent residence or until the fish are prepared for immediate consumption.
“There will be no requirement to keep any skin on them; and this rule will not apply to anglers with a receipt from a fish cleaning house or charter captain which states the date, number and species of fish,” the agency says.
Other rule proposals deal with wild animal hunting preserves, commercial bird shooting preserves and wild cervidaes in order “to align with recently enacted legislation,” the Wildlife Division says.
Another proposed change would permit hunters to leave the hides on the squirrels they shoot along with the animals’ tails. These hunters send the squirrel tails to a fishing tackle company such as Mepps.
At that point the tackle-making company uses the tails to dress the lures’ treble hooks. In exchange, the hunters are either paid in cash or sent fishing tackle for the tails.
“There’s a lot folks - especially in southeast Ohio - who like to sell squirrel tails but they’re not detaching them from the hides, and you can’t sell hides,” says Ken Fitz, the Wildlife Division's law enforcement administrator. “This change will actually will be more lenient.”
As for the changes that impact bird-hunting preserves, owners/operators would no longer need a bird propagation permit which costs $40, instead needing only a commercial bird shooting preserve permit, which costs $200.
“There’s really no need for them to have to have two permits,” Fitz said.
Also, contained within the proposals, deer and turkey hunters will need to fill out their own home-made temporary kill tag. This self-made document can made from any material the hunter chooses, Fitz says.
“A hunter can use duct tape if wants to so long as he writes the information on it,” Fitz said. “He can even write the game check confirmation number on the same thing that has the temporary tag information.”
If approved, all of these rule changes will go into effect beginning Jan. 1.
Each open house location will have a fish and wildlife biologist, as well as law enforcement officers available to answer questions.
For those customers who are unable to attend an open house, comments will be accepted online at www.wildohio.com. The form are available now through Aug. 12.
Public input gathered at these open houses and through the online comments will be forwarded to the agency and considered during the formulation of regulations, the Wildlife Division says.
A statewide hearing on all proposed rules will be held on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. at the Division of Wildlife’s District One office, located at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus.
This last hearing is open to the public and comments are permitted. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules during its Oct. 17 meeting.
The agency’s open house locations are:
* District One Wildlife Office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus. For more information, call 614-644-3925;
* District Two Wildlife Office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay. For more information, call 419-424-5000;
* District Three Wildlife Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron. For more information, call 330-644-2293;
* District Four Wildlife Office, 360 E. State Street, Athens. For more information, call 740-589-9930;
* District Five Wildlife Office, 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia. For more information, call 937-372-9261;
Other sites will be:
* Eastern Lake Erie - Fairport Fisheries Unit, 1190 High Street, Fairport Harbor. For more information, call 440-352-4199.
* Western Lake Erie - Lake Erie Shores and Islands Regional Welcome Center – West, 770 SE Catawba Road, Port Clinton. For more information, call 419-625-8062.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
These meetings are scheduled for noon to 3 p.m., Aug. 11 at all of the Wildlife Division’s five district offices.
Also, the Wildlife Division’s Fairport Harbor Fisheries Research Station is a new venue for the fish and game proposal meetings.
“We don’t know how many people will attend but there are a couple of Lake Erie fisheries issues on the agenda,” said Kevin Kayle, the station’s manager. “There’s also been an effort to expand on where these kinds of meetings.”
During the spring series of fish and game hearings attendance was largely sparse. The Wildlife Division reports that 58 people visited the hearings in each Wildlife District One and Two (central Ohio and northwest Ohio, respectively), 93 people in Wildlife District Three (Northeast Ohio), 11 people in Wildlife District Four (southeast Ohio), and 77 people in Wildlife District Five (southwest Ohio).
With that being said, attendance for this spring’s hearings were up 13 percent from those conducted in the spring of 2011, the Wildlife Division says.
For this round of hearings the proposals encompass new rules for wild animal hunting preserves, commercial bird shooting preserves and wild cervidaes to align with recently enacted legislation (House Bill 389).
The rule package also includes proposals to define the geographical limits on reservoirs and bag limits on selected fish species.
Among the other topics is one that deals with how Lake Erie anglers can transport the fillets gleaned from the fish they catch. A rather contentious debate raged earlier this year when the Wildlife Division installed requirements that were roundly panned by Lake Erie anglers as being nearly draconian in nature.
Now the Wildlife Division is proposing a rule that would require fillets sliced from any Lake Erie-caught fish to “be kept whole until an angler reaches their permanent residence or until the fish are prepared for immediate consumption.
“There will be no requirement to keep any skin on them; and this rule will not apply to anglers with a receipt from a fish cleaning house or charter captain which states the date, number and species of fish,” the agency says.
Other rule proposals deal with wild animal hunting preserves, commercial bird shooting preserves and wild cervidaes in order “to align with recently enacted legislation,” the Wildlife Division says.
Another proposed change would permit hunters to leave the hides on the squirrels they shoot along with the animals’ tails. These hunters send the squirrel tails to a fishing tackle company such as Mepps.
At that point the tackle-making company uses the tails to dress the lures’ treble hooks. In exchange, the hunters are either paid in cash or sent fishing tackle for the tails.
“There’s a lot folks - especially in southeast Ohio - who like to sell squirrel tails but they’re not detaching them from the hides, and you can’t sell hides,” says Ken Fitz, the Wildlife Division's law enforcement administrator. “This change will actually will be more lenient.”
As for the changes that impact bird-hunting preserves, owners/operators would no longer need a bird propagation permit which costs $40, instead needing only a commercial bird shooting preserve permit, which costs $200.
“There’s really no need for them to have to have two permits,” Fitz said.
Also, contained within the proposals, deer and turkey hunters will need to fill out their own home-made temporary kill tag. This self-made document can made from any material the hunter chooses, Fitz says.
“A hunter can use duct tape if wants to so long as he writes the information on it,” Fitz said. “He can even write the game check confirmation number on the same thing that has the temporary tag information.”
If approved, all of these rule changes will go into effect beginning Jan. 1.
Each open house location will have a fish and wildlife biologist, as well as law enforcement officers available to answer questions.
For those customers who are unable to attend an open house, comments will be accepted online at www.wildohio.com. The form are available now through Aug. 12.
Public input gathered at these open houses and through the online comments will be forwarded to the agency and considered during the formulation of regulations, the Wildlife Division says.
A statewide hearing on all proposed rules will be held on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. at the Division of Wildlife’s District One office, located at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus.
This last hearing is open to the public and comments are permitted. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules during its Oct. 17 meeting.
The agency’s open house locations are:
* District One Wildlife Office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus. For more information, call 614-644-3925;
* District Two Wildlife Office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay. For more information, call 419-424-5000;
* District Three Wildlife Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron. For more information, call 330-644-2293;
* District Four Wildlife Office, 360 E. State Street, Athens. For more information, call 740-589-9930;
* District Five Wildlife Office, 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia. For more information, call 937-372-9261;
Other sites will be:
* Eastern Lake Erie - Fairport Fisheries Unit, 1190 High Street, Fairport Harbor. For more information, call 440-352-4199.
* Western Lake Erie - Lake Erie Shores and Islands Regional Welcome Center – West, 770 SE Catawba Road, Port Clinton. For more information, call 419-625-8062.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Friday, July 27, 2012
UPDATED JULY 28: Former Ohio wildlife officer Allan Wright loses university security job
Allan Wright, the former Ohio Division of Wildlife officer who was sentenced July 17 in federal court for violating the Lacey Act, is out of another job.
Knoxville, Tenn.-based News Sentinel newspaper is reporting that Wright has been dismissed as a security guard with Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.
Harrogate is located about 55 miles north of Knoxville in the Cumberland Mountains. It is a private liberal arts school spread out over 1,000 acres and has an enrollment of around 4,550 students.
The university confirmed to The News-Herald that Wright was let go, issuing a short, terse statement on the matter.
In sentencing Wright July 17 for violating four misdemeanor charges of the federal Lacey Act, Federal Judge Michael R. Barrett said Wright has placed himself at a “crossroads,” a fork in life in which the one-time 18-year state wildlife officer could still “turn your life around.”
Wright became the first Ohio wildlife officer to be indicted in federal court for violating the nation’s chief wildlife protection law. He had been the Wildlife Division officer assigned to Brown County.
Barrett’s imposed sentence of Wright included: He can keep his new job within the security department of Lincoln Memorial University on the condition he must leave his weapon on campus, house arrest for three months and pay a $1,000 fine with the money going to the Wildlife Division’s Turn-in-A-Poacher (TIP) program. Added to this was a $25-per-count court cost.
Wright is also forbidden to buy any hunting or fishing license anywhere in the world for the next five years, the length of his probation.
However, following Wright’s sentencing the university severed its ties with Wright, the News Sentinel says.
Also, Jessica Little, Brown County prosecutor, says she intends to call disgraced and former state wildlife officer Allan Wright when the two recently indicted fellow agents go to trial.
On July 19, Ohio Division of Wildlife officers Dave Warner and Matthew Roberts were indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas for Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting with Wright.
Amy Drittler, Lincoln Memorial University's Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Health Sciences, sent the following to The News-Herald in response to a request for a comment, the school having issued its original statement Wednesday, July 25:
"LMU learned the outcome of Mr. Wright's hearing yesterday (July 24) and has taken appropriate action. Mr. Wright will no longer be a member of the University's security or police force."
Here also is the text of Friday's online story by News Sentinel reporter Megan Boehnke:
“A security officer hired by Lincoln Memorial University is no longer working at the school after a U.S. District judge sentenced him to three months of house arrest, five years probation and other penalties for misdemeanors he committed as a state wildlife officer in Ohio.
“Allan Wright pleaded guilty last month to four violations of the federal Lacey Act, a conservation law that prohibits the buying and selling of wildlife killed illegally. Wright was sentenced July 17, though university officials just learned it Tuesday, according to a statement released by a school spokeswoman.
“The Harrogate-based Lincoln Memorial ‘has taken appropriate action,’ the statement continues.
“‘Mr. Wright will no longer be a member of the University’s security or police force.’”
“The school did not return calls for further information about Wright or his employment.
“Wright pleaded guilty last month to allowing a South Carolina man to use Wright’s address to receive an in-state hunting license and falsely recording his three white-tailed deer kills, according to court documents and articles in The News-Herald, a daily newspaper in Willoughby, Ohio.
“Wright also pleaded guilty to falsely claiming in evidence logs to have destroyed antlers seized during his time as a wildlife officer and then transporting them to Michigan.
“He was sentenced by Judge Michael R. Barrett in a 37-minute hearing in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, according to court documents.
“Additional penalties include paying a $1,000 fine benefiting a state anti-poaching program and $100 in court fees. He is also prohibited from obtaining a hunting or fishing license and must keep his service weapon secured by his employer.
“It’s not clear whether LMU security officers carry firearms.”
See: http://m.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jul/27/former-lmu-security-officer-sentenced-for-in/
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Knoxville, Tenn.-based News Sentinel newspaper is reporting that Wright has been dismissed as a security guard with Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.
Harrogate is located about 55 miles north of Knoxville in the Cumberland Mountains. It is a private liberal arts school spread out over 1,000 acres and has an enrollment of around 4,550 students.
The university confirmed to The News-Herald that Wright was let go, issuing a short, terse statement on the matter.
In sentencing Wright July 17 for violating four misdemeanor charges of the federal Lacey Act, Federal Judge Michael R. Barrett said Wright has placed himself at a “crossroads,” a fork in life in which the one-time 18-year state wildlife officer could still “turn your life around.”
Wright became the first Ohio wildlife officer to be indicted in federal court for violating the nation’s chief wildlife protection law. He had been the Wildlife Division officer assigned to Brown County.
Barrett’s imposed sentence of Wright included: He can keep his new job within the security department of Lincoln Memorial University on the condition he must leave his weapon on campus, house arrest for three months and pay a $1,000 fine with the money going to the Wildlife Division’s Turn-in-A-Poacher (TIP) program. Added to this was a $25-per-count court cost.
Wright is also forbidden to buy any hunting or fishing license anywhere in the world for the next five years, the length of his probation.
However, following Wright’s sentencing the university severed its ties with Wright, the News Sentinel says.
Also, Jessica Little, Brown County prosecutor, says she intends to call disgraced and former state wildlife officer Allan Wright when the two recently indicted fellow agents go to trial.
On July 19, Ohio Division of Wildlife officers Dave Warner and Matthew Roberts were indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas for Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting with Wright.
Amy Drittler, Lincoln Memorial University's Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Health Sciences, sent the following to The News-Herald in response to a request for a comment, the school having issued its original statement Wednesday, July 25:
"LMU learned the outcome of Mr. Wright's hearing yesterday (July 24) and has taken appropriate action. Mr. Wright will no longer be a member of the University's security or police force."
Here also is the text of Friday's online story by News Sentinel reporter Megan Boehnke:
“A security officer hired by Lincoln Memorial University is no longer working at the school after a U.S. District judge sentenced him to three months of house arrest, five years probation and other penalties for misdemeanors he committed as a state wildlife officer in Ohio.
“Allan Wright pleaded guilty last month to four violations of the federal Lacey Act, a conservation law that prohibits the buying and selling of wildlife killed illegally. Wright was sentenced July 17, though university officials just learned it Tuesday, according to a statement released by a school spokeswoman.
“The Harrogate-based Lincoln Memorial ‘has taken appropriate action,’ the statement continues.
“‘Mr. Wright will no longer be a member of the University’s security or police force.’”
“The school did not return calls for further information about Wright or his employment.
“Wright pleaded guilty last month to allowing a South Carolina man to use Wright’s address to receive an in-state hunting license and falsely recording his three white-tailed deer kills, according to court documents and articles in The News-Herald, a daily newspaper in Willoughby, Ohio.
“Wright also pleaded guilty to falsely claiming in evidence logs to have destroyed antlers seized during his time as a wildlife officer and then transporting them to Michigan.
“He was sentenced by Judge Michael R. Barrett in a 37-minute hearing in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, according to court documents.
“Additional penalties include paying a $1,000 fine benefiting a state anti-poaching program and $100 in court fees. He is also prohibited from obtaining a hunting or fishing license and must keep his service weapon secured by his employer.
“It’s not clear whether LMU security officers carry firearms.”
See: http://m.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jul/27/former-lmu-security-officer-sentenced-for-in/
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Thursday, July 26, 2012
No, Remington's owner is NOT owned by a George Soros company
With the rise of the Internet and its joined-at-the-hip "social media" outlets, the threat of inaccurate information zipping around at near light speed is the evil twin of truth going forth with the same velocity.
For sportsmen and firearms enthusiasts that point is important. The reason being, a won't-stay-dead rumor continues to circulate that the firm owning Remington Arms and several other firearms companies is actually in the wallet of George Soros, a billionaire and one of the world's most vocal opponents of Second Amendment rights.
Consequently, at gun shows, sportsmen's clubs, and firearms-related social media outlets, Freedom Arms is getting a closed-looped and unjustified hit.
Here's the official word from a Remington Arms spokeswoman:
"Despite rumors to the contrary,
Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. the firm which owns Freedom Group.
Inc. (FGI), the holding company for such firearms manufacturers as
Remington, Marlin, Bushmaster and DPMS, is in NO WAY affiliated with anti-gun
activist George Soros.
"George Soros has never been a part of Freedom Group or Cerberus. Further, as Cerberus is a privately owned corporation, run by sportsmen, shooters and firearms enthusiasts, we can say with great sincerity and certainty that George Soros will never be a part of the Freedom Group family of companies.
""If anyone should know whether George Soros is affiliated
with either Freedom Group or Cerberus, it's me," said George Kollitides,
the recently appointed Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
FGI.
"'I spent the last eleven years of my career at Cerberus and
just recently stepped down to become executive chairman and chief executive
officer of FGI.
"'I did this in order to devote 100 percent of my time,
effort and passion to a company I spent years building.
"'I can
emphatically proclaim, without the slightest of doubt, that George Soros has
never, does not and never will own or be affiliated with Cerberus or Freedom
Group'.
"To learn more about FGI, our officers, directors and owners, we encourage you to visit our website www.freedom-group.com
"For third-party, independent confirmation of our statement, we encourage you to visit any of the following unaffiliated web sites:"
Snopes.com
http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/freedom.asp
Factcheck.org
http://www.factcheck.org/2011/10/george-soros-gun-grab/
Field and Stream
Ammoland (National Rifle
Association)
Hope that helps to quell a rumor that never should have had legs to begin with.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
UPDATED: Wildlife chief Zody "disheartened" regarding recent developments
In a July 20 memorandum sent to the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s employees, the agency’s chief called on all of them to “..strive to be open and transparent in our duties and responsibilities...”
Scott Zody said also that he was “very disheartened” following the criminal charges brought against two southwest Ohio-posted commissioned Wildlife Division officers.
His message was sent to the Wildlife Division's 441 full-time employees, including the agency's 139 commissioned officers.
Zody’s memo was in response to the indictments handed down July 19 by the Brown County prosecutor against wildlife officers Dave Warner and Matthew Roberts. These men were indicted on the following counts: Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting.
Documents and testimony also allege that the two were in the company of Allan Wright, the former state wildlife officer assigned to Brown County.
Wright was sentenced July 17 in federal court for violating the federal Lacey Act.
On Tuesday, Brown County prosecutor Jessica Little said she intends to call Wright as a prosecution witness against Warner and Roberts.
Wright has been granted immunity of the same charges brought against his former coworkers who are now charged with their alleged illegal conduct.
For his part, Zody in the memo reminds his staff that each person needs to adhere to proper record-keeping and to take “common sense steps” to help “ensure compliance.”
Zody then adds that all Wildlife Division employees must remain focused on “fulfilling our mission” to the people of Ohio along with maintaining the “highest quality customer service and integrity.”
He concludes by saying that the agency’s employees must not be “distracted by the naysayers and critics,” though Zody does not indicate who these individuals may be.
Neither Zody nor McCorkle returned email requests for information while McCorkle also did not respond to telephone calls.
Here is the complete text of Zody’s July 20 memorandum:
Scott Zody email to Wildlife employees
Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Scott Zody said also that he was “very disheartened” following the criminal charges brought against two southwest Ohio-posted commissioned Wildlife Division officers.
His message was sent to the Wildlife Division's 441 full-time employees, including the agency's 139 commissioned officers.
Zody’s memo was in response to the indictments handed down July 19 by the Brown County prosecutor against wildlife officers Dave Warner and Matthew Roberts. These men were indicted on the following counts: Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting.
Documents and testimony also allege that the two were in the company of Allan Wright, the former state wildlife officer assigned to Brown County.
Wright was sentenced July 17 in federal court for violating the federal Lacey Act.
On Tuesday, Brown County prosecutor Jessica Little said she intends to call Wright as a prosecution witness against Warner and Roberts.
Wright has been granted immunity of the same charges brought against his former coworkers who are now charged with their alleged illegal conduct.
For his part, Zody in the memo reminds his staff that each person needs to adhere to proper record-keeping and to take “common sense steps” to help “ensure compliance.”
Zody then adds that all Wildlife Division employees must remain focused on “fulfilling our mission” to the people of Ohio along with maintaining the “highest quality customer service and integrity.”
He concludes by saying that the agency’s employees must not be “distracted by the naysayers and critics,” though Zody does not indicate who these individuals may be.
Neither Zody nor McCorkle returned email requests for information while McCorkle also did not respond to telephone calls.
Here is the complete text of Zody’s July 20 memorandum:
Scott Zody email to Wildlife employees
Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
UPDATED/CORRECTED: Wright to be called as prosecution witness against two other Wildlife Division officers
Jessica Little, Brown County prosecutor, says she intends to call disgraced and former state wildlife officer Allan Wright when the two recently indicted fellow agents go to trial.
On July 19, Ohio Division of Wildlife officers Dave Warner and Matthew Roberts were indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas for Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting.
Documents and testimony also allege that the two were in the company of Wright, the former state wildlife officer assigned to Brown County.
It was Little who in 2010 brought charges against five current or former Wildlife Division officers. Among them was Wright who was sentenced July 17 in federal court for violating the federal Lacey Act.
Brown’s case against the Wildlife Division’s remaining officials is now before the Ohio Supreme Court, which will decide on the merits of a technical point of law.
Though Little’s assistant, Chris VanHarlingen, covered the Grand Jury case involving Warner and Roberts, the prosecutor says she will likely handle the actual trial.
“This is what I would consider a pretty substantial document case,” Little said. “Practically everything can be obtained through a public records check.”
Little said she saw the online photograph that launched the investigation by the Ohio Inspector General 's office which ultimately presented its findings to the Brown County prosecutor.
This photograph shows Wright and Warner together with four others along with seven dead deer. These animals were allegedly taken during Ohio’s firearms deer-hunting season when the wildlife officers allegedly claimed they were on duty. (The original version of this story incorrectly stated that Roberts also appears in the photograph.)
“There are some concerns about this being the gun season which is supposed to be the busiest time of year, making sure that everyone is properly licensed, have the right firearms,” Little said. “They sacrificed public safety.”
Also asked about any thought of charging Wright with the same counts since he also figures in the photograph and records, Little says the former state wildlife has been granted immunity.
“And that’s something that will obviously being an issue in this case but Wright will appear as a witness for the state,” Little said.
When such an appearance by Wright will occur is still unknown, however, says Little, with no court appearance date yet set for Warner and Roberts.
Little did say, though, that she has been contacted by an attorney with the Fraternal Order of Police, the union which represents most of the Wildlife Division’s commissioned officers.
“I don’t anticipate a lot of delay since we don’t seem to have a lot evidence that could be challenged because it’s such a strong document case,” Little says. “Within the next six to nine months.”
Asked as well if she is aware of whether or not any other Wildlife Division officer or official is currently under investigation, Little says she cannot comment since that is “not in my purview.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
On July 19, Ohio Division of Wildlife officers Dave Warner and Matthew Roberts were indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas for Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting.
Documents and testimony also allege that the two were in the company of Wright, the former state wildlife officer assigned to Brown County.
It was Little who in 2010 brought charges against five current or former Wildlife Division officers. Among them was Wright who was sentenced July 17 in federal court for violating the federal Lacey Act.
Brown’s case against the Wildlife Division’s remaining officials is now before the Ohio Supreme Court, which will decide on the merits of a technical point of law.
Though Little’s assistant, Chris VanHarlingen, covered the Grand Jury case involving Warner and Roberts, the prosecutor says she will likely handle the actual trial.
“This is what I would consider a pretty substantial document case,” Little said. “Practically everything can be obtained through a public records check.”
Little said she saw the online photograph that launched the investigation by the Ohio Inspector General 's office which ultimately presented its findings to the Brown County prosecutor.
This photograph shows Wright and Warner together with four others along with seven dead deer. These animals were allegedly taken during Ohio’s firearms deer-hunting season when the wildlife officers allegedly claimed they were on duty. (The original version of this story incorrectly stated that Roberts also appears in the photograph.)
“There are some concerns about this being the gun season which is supposed to be the busiest time of year, making sure that everyone is properly licensed, have the right firearms,” Little said. “They sacrificed public safety.”
Also asked about any thought of charging Wright with the same counts since he also figures in the photograph and records, Little says the former state wildlife has been granted immunity.
“And that’s something that will obviously being an issue in this case but Wright will appear as a witness for the state,” Little said.
When such an appearance by Wright will occur is still unknown, however, says Little, with no court appearance date yet set for Warner and Roberts.
Little did say, though, that she has been contacted by an attorney with the Fraternal Order of Police, the union which represents most of the Wildlife Division’s commissioned officers.
“I don’t anticipate a lot of delay since we don’t seem to have a lot evidence that could be challenged because it’s such a strong document case,” Little says. “Within the next six to nine months.”
Asked as well if she is aware of whether or not any other Wildlife Division officer or official is currently under investigation, Little says she cannot comment since that is “not in my purview.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Monday, July 23, 2012
Who knew what and when is at heart of ODNR investigative claims
Who knew what and when is one of the disputed points being argued as to the time line for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ investigation into the alleged illegal activity by two state wildlife officers assigned to southwest Ohio.
On Thursday Ohio Division of Wildlife officers Matthew Roberts and Dave Warner were indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas for Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
A Third Degree Felony is punishable by a jail term of one to five years in jail, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both; A Fifth Degree Felony is punishable by a jail term of six to 12 months, a maximum fine of $2,500, or both; a Third Degree misdemeanor is punishable by a jail term of not more than 60 days, a maximum fine of $500, or both.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting.
Where another twist comes into play is when the Natural Resources Department first learned of possible wrong-doing and when it says it launched its own investigation before turning the matter over to the Ohio Inspector General.
The Natural Resources Department says it began to look into the matter “When we were notified that officers were hunting on duty.”
At that point the “ODNR quickly investigated the matter and alerted the Ohio Inspector General’s office,” stating the “initial allegation was officers were hunting while wearing state issued clothing.”
“Upon receiving information that Mr. Warner and Mr. Roberts hunted while on duty, ODNR quickly investigated the matter and alerted the Ohio Inspector General’s office,” said Bethany McCorkle, the Natural Resources Department’s Deputy Chief of Communications.
However, strongly disputing the Natural Resources Department’s contentions is Troy Conley, a long-time critic of the Natural Resources Department’s Division of Wildlife activities in southwest Ohio.
Conley says he first alerted Glen Cobb, the Natural Resources Department’s deputy director, in May, 2011 about the possibility of illegal activity by the two Wildlife officers.
To do this Conley provided as evidence a copy of a photograph that appeared on the Trophy Rock web site. This photograph of the two officers shows them presumably wearing agency clothing while on a hunt.
Trophy Rock is a mineral block that is used as a mineral supplement for deer and as an attracting agent for the animals.
For his part, Conley says that Cobb was dismissive of his concerns, with the Natural Resources Department official indicating that perhaps the officers had bought the clothing with their own money.
But Conley’s recollection also matches that of at least two other witnesses.
And Conley’s position that it was he - and not the Natural Resources Department - that first approached the Ohio Inspector General about possible wrong-doing on the part of the two officers is more or less corroborated by the state’s independent investigative arm.
“Bill Hoover also was there when I handed Cobb the photo, both of them know what was said, as well,” Conley says in an email exchange. “I was clear about the question as to ‘Hunting on the Clock.’”
Conley further says that “My concern was never about them wearing uniform pants off-duty while hunting.”
“I could care less what they wear as long as hunter orange was part of it,” Conley said. “My concern, as I stated to Glenn Cobb in front of three other people from here in the area that attended the meeting, was hunting while on duty. If I remember right, I think my words to Glenn Cobb was ‘it looked like they were hunting on my dime.’”
Also, says Conley, he followed up on Dec. 22, 2011 with his concerns, notifying Wildlife Division chief Scott Zody.
“I think if you look at the IG’s report I think it started in February only after I sent the picture to them,” Conley says. “DOW had done nothing with it, the date that I handed the picture to Glenn Cobb was between May 1st and May 10th at the Indian Creek Wildlife Area here in Brown County.”
Backing up Conley is Hoover, who says that the latter did, indeed, express concern that the two officers may have committed the actions that led to their indictments.
“At this meeting, Mr. Conley presented a picture of (the) wildlife officers with their trophy deer kills,” Hoover says. “The officers are in uniform. Mr. Conley’s concern was that the officers were hunting while on the clock.
“Mr. Cobb stated that the officers may have purchased the uniforms on their own. This seems highly unlikely for an individual to use uniform clothing in preference traditional camo deer hunting clothing.”
Likewise saying that it was Conley - and not the Natural Resources Department - that made first contact is the Ohio Inspector General’s office.
In an email to The News-Herald, Ohio Inspector General spokesman Carl A. Enslen, wrote:
“The genesis of the investigation leading to the July 19, 2012 report of investigation of Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Officers Matthew Roberts, David Warner, and Allan Wright began after Troy Conley sent the Office of the Ohio Inspector General the Trophy Rock photograph of Warner and Wright as an attachment to an email February 1, 2012.
“On the same day, our office contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to request a list of documents as a preliminary inquiry on the matter.
“On February 24, 2012, our office then provided a letter to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources asking for the same documents in writing.
“It appears our office initiated the investigation because of the questions raised as a result of the photograph rather than the Ohio Department of Natural Resources contacting the Office of the Ohio Inspector General with a request to investigate the matter.”
That being said, Enslen did add that it was his guess “...that this is most likely just a mix-up or misunderstanding of the exact time line, which from another view might make it look as if there was request from someone at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.”
“This is easy to have happen when an individual is attempting to gather all the facts from several people at a large agency and do it in a very short span of time in order to accurately respond to a number of journalists,” Enslen said.
Then asked if the Natural Resources Department would like to change its stance that it was this agency - and not the Ohio Inspector General - that launched the investigation, McCorkle said:
“Investigations may have been going on simultaneously. When we investigated and found sufficient information we alerted the Ohio Inspector General’s office.”
None of which mollifies Conley or two other witnesses who dispute the Natural Resources’ claims.
“
Sadly, ODNR/Division of Wildlife has lost the confidence of the people it was established to serve,” says Fred Schmaltz, another southwest Ohio sportsman who, like Hoover, backs up Conley’s claims.
“The sportsmen of Ohio, the people of Ohio deserve better. ODNR/Division of Wildlife has to clean house and install new leadership from outside the organization.”
“Only outside candidates who are independent of the current system should be considered to replace the current regime.
“This is clearly the best chance of changing the corrupt culture that presently permeates the organization.
“With new leadership from outside, maybe once again the sportsmen of Ohio and the citizens of Ohio can trust and be proud of OUR DIVISION of WILDLIFE.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
On Thursday Ohio Division of Wildlife officers Matthew Roberts and Dave Warner were indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas for Theft in Office, a 5th Degree Felony; and Tampering with Records, a Third Degree Felony. Warner was also indicted for Dereliction of Duty, a Second Degree misdemeanor.
A Third Degree Felony is punishable by a jail term of one to five years in jail, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both; A Fifth Degree Felony is punishable by a jail term of six to 12 months, a maximum fine of $2,500, or both; a Third Degree misdemeanor is punishable by a jail term of not more than 60 days, a maximum fine of $500, or both.
The charges stem from the pair’s alleged activity of hunting while on duty, and also for allegedly turning in bogus time slips that supposedly showed they were on duty when they were allegedly hunting.
Where another twist comes into play is when the Natural Resources Department first learned of possible wrong-doing and when it says it launched its own investigation before turning the matter over to the Ohio Inspector General.
The Natural Resources Department says it began to look into the matter “When we were notified that officers were hunting on duty.”
At that point the “ODNR quickly investigated the matter and alerted the Ohio Inspector General’s office,” stating the “initial allegation was officers were hunting while wearing state issued clothing.”
“Upon receiving information that Mr. Warner and Mr. Roberts hunted while on duty, ODNR quickly investigated the matter and alerted the Ohio Inspector General’s office,” said Bethany McCorkle, the Natural Resources Department’s Deputy Chief of Communications.
However, strongly disputing the Natural Resources Department’s contentions is Troy Conley, a long-time critic of the Natural Resources Department’s Division of Wildlife activities in southwest Ohio.
Conley says he first alerted Glen Cobb, the Natural Resources Department’s deputy director, in May, 2011 about the possibility of illegal activity by the two Wildlife officers.
To do this Conley provided as evidence a copy of a photograph that appeared on the Trophy Rock web site. This photograph of the two officers shows them presumably wearing agency clothing while on a hunt.
Trophy Rock is a mineral block that is used as a mineral supplement for deer and as an attracting agent for the animals.
For his part, Conley says that Cobb was dismissive of his concerns, with the Natural Resources Department official indicating that perhaps the officers had bought the clothing with their own money.
But Conley’s recollection also matches that of at least two other witnesses.
And Conley’s position that it was he - and not the Natural Resources Department - that first approached the Ohio Inspector General about possible wrong-doing on the part of the two officers is more or less corroborated by the state’s independent investigative arm.
“Bill Hoover also was there when I handed Cobb the photo, both of them know what was said, as well,” Conley says in an email exchange. “I was clear about the question as to ‘Hunting on the Clock.’”
Conley further says that “My concern was never about them wearing uniform pants off-duty while hunting.”
“I could care less what they wear as long as hunter orange was part of it,” Conley said. “My concern, as I stated to Glenn Cobb in front of three other people from here in the area that attended the meeting, was hunting while on duty. If I remember right, I think my words to Glenn Cobb was ‘it looked like they were hunting on my dime.’”
Also, says Conley, he followed up on Dec. 22, 2011 with his concerns, notifying Wildlife Division chief Scott Zody.
“I think if you look at the IG’s report I think it started in February only after I sent the picture to them,” Conley says. “DOW had done nothing with it, the date that I handed the picture to Glenn Cobb was between May 1st and May 10th at the Indian Creek Wildlife Area here in Brown County.”
Backing up Conley is Hoover, who says that the latter did, indeed, express concern that the two officers may have committed the actions that led to their indictments.
“At this meeting, Mr. Conley presented a picture of (the) wildlife officers with their trophy deer kills,” Hoover says. “The officers are in uniform. Mr. Conley’s concern was that the officers were hunting while on the clock.
“Mr. Cobb stated that the officers may have purchased the uniforms on their own. This seems highly unlikely for an individual to use uniform clothing in preference traditional camo deer hunting clothing.”
Likewise saying that it was Conley - and not the Natural Resources Department - that made first contact is the Ohio Inspector General’s office.
In an email to The News-Herald, Ohio Inspector General spokesman Carl A. Enslen, wrote:
“The genesis of the investigation leading to the July 19, 2012 report of investigation of Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Officers Matthew Roberts, David Warner, and Allan Wright began after Troy Conley sent the Office of the Ohio Inspector General the Trophy Rock photograph of Warner and Wright as an attachment to an email February 1, 2012.
“On the same day, our office contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to request a list of documents as a preliminary inquiry on the matter.
“On February 24, 2012, our office then provided a letter to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources asking for the same documents in writing.
“It appears our office initiated the investigation because of the questions raised as a result of the photograph rather than the Ohio Department of Natural Resources contacting the Office of the Ohio Inspector General with a request to investigate the matter.”
That being said, Enslen did add that it was his guess “...that this is most likely just a mix-up or misunderstanding of the exact time line, which from another view might make it look as if there was request from someone at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.”
“This is easy to have happen when an individual is attempting to gather all the facts from several people at a large agency and do it in a very short span of time in order to accurately respond to a number of journalists,” Enslen said.
Then asked if the Natural Resources Department would like to change its stance that it was this agency - and not the Ohio Inspector General - that launched the investigation, McCorkle said:
“Investigations may have been going on simultaneously. When we investigated and found sufficient information we alerted the Ohio Inspector General’s office.”
None of which mollifies Conley or two other witnesses who dispute the Natural Resources’ claims.
“
Sadly, ODNR/Division of Wildlife has lost the confidence of the people it was established to serve,” says Fred Schmaltz, another southwest Ohio sportsman who, like Hoover, backs up Conley’s claims.
“The sportsmen of Ohio, the people of Ohio deserve better. ODNR/Division of Wildlife has to clean house and install new leadership from outside the organization.”
“Only outside candidates who are independent of the current system should be considered to replace the current regime.
“This is clearly the best chance of changing the corrupt culture that presently permeates the organization.
“With new leadership from outside, maybe once again the sportsmen of Ohio and the citizens of Ohio can trust and be proud of OUR DIVISION of WILDLIFE.”
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
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