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
Friday, July 20, 2012
Low water levels forces Mosquito Reservoir ramp closures
They say that water is so low at Mosquito Creek Reservoir in Trumbull County that even the catfish now have fleas.
Likely the water level has not disappeared that much at the popular 7,850-acre though it has shriveled enough to close two public boat launches. That is, so far.
These ramps are: The Ohio State Park ramp off Rt. 88 on the east side of the lake, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ ramp on the east side of the lake off Rt. 305.
Still open, however, and for now anyway, is the main state park marina boat launch. This site is located also off Rt. 305 but on the east side of the impoundment.
Presently, Mosquito Reservoir is down 3 1/2 below normal summer pool. And things could become worse for both boaters and anglers.
“From what I’ve heard from the Corps, without rain the reservoir could go down one foot a month,” said Jackie King, Mosquito Creek State park’s assistant manager. “Boaters have to be careful, careful, careful.”
No one is more disappointed than Jim Tunder, owner of the One Stop Fishing Shop in Auburn Township.
Tunder is planning on fishing a bass-fishing tournament there Saturday. Any low water will make the bite particularly different since Mosquito Reservoir is a shallow enough lake as it is, Thunder says.
“It’s not a good thing,” Tunder said. “We need rain, but what are you going to do?”
Worse, said Tunder, the bass fishing was outstanding there earlier in the year.
“The size wasn’t great but the numbers were phenomenal,” Tunder said.
And for boater-anglers, Tunder agrees with King that care in navigating will be required.
“Some of those rock piles and such weren’t all that far underwater to begin with,” he said.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Likely the water level has not disappeared that much at the popular 7,850-acre though it has shriveled enough to close two public boat launches. That is, so far.
These ramps are: The Ohio State Park ramp off Rt. 88 on the east side of the lake, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ ramp on the east side of the lake off Rt. 305.
Still open, however, and for now anyway, is the main state park marina boat launch. This site is located also off Rt. 305 but on the east side of the impoundment.
Presently, Mosquito Reservoir is down 3 1/2 below normal summer pool. And things could become worse for both boaters and anglers.
“From what I’ve heard from the Corps, without rain the reservoir could go down one foot a month,” said Jackie King, Mosquito Creek State park’s assistant manager. “Boaters have to be careful, careful, careful.”
No one is more disappointed than Jim Tunder, owner of the One Stop Fishing Shop in Auburn Township.
Tunder is planning on fishing a bass-fishing tournament there Saturday. Any low water will make the bite particularly different since Mosquito Reservoir is a shallow enough lake as it is, Thunder says.
“It’s not a good thing,” Tunder said. “We need rain, but what are you going to do?”
Worse, said Tunder, the bass fishing was outstanding there earlier in the year.
“The size wasn’t great but the numbers were phenomenal,” Tunder said.
And for boater-anglers, Tunder agrees with King that care in navigating will be required.
“Some of those rock piles and such weren’t all that far underwater to begin with,” he said.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Officers Warner's, Roberts' official Brown County Court docket entries
Brown County Common Pleas Court
Docket entry on criminal case number CR 20122181
Docket entry on criminal case number CR 20122181
| Case Number: CR 20122181
Defendant: Warner, David |
||
Brown County Common Pleas Court
Docket entry on criminal case number CR 20122182
|
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Updated To include penalties & more on Keller: Charges now known against indicted Wildlife Division officers / More to come
Two more Ohio Division of Wildlife officers have been indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas.
Indicted were Ohio Division of Wildlife field supervisor Dave Warner and Matthew Roberts, state wildlife officer assigned to Clinton County. Both men work out of the Wildlife Division’s District Five (southwest Ohio) office in Xenia.
According to the Ohio Inspector General's office:
"Brown County Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Little announced the Brown County Grand Jury indicted Roberts and Warner 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.
It was Little who in 2010 brought charges against five current or former Wildlife Division officers. Among them was Allan Wright who was sentenced Tuesday in federal court for violating the federal Lacey Act.
Little’s case against the other four Wildlife Division officials is now before the Ohio Supreme Court, which will decide on the merits of a technical point of law.
In response to the charges of the alleged illegal activity by the two Wildlife Division officers, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said: "Pursuant to the (Fraternal Order of Police) contract, Roberts will be placed on restricted duty, Warner will be on unpaid administrative leave."
Initiating the investigation was the Ohio Inspector General, the details of which are enfolded into a 15-page public document, dated July 19 and begun Feb. 1.
The report says the allegations against Wright, Warner, and Roberts are for “theft of (agency) time” as well as “Lack of supervision of employees or staff.”
Inside the Inspector General report is a photograph that was sent to the state’s investigative arm by a “complainant” that in 2008 showed Wright and Warner with three other individuals as well as Gene Price, an employee of Trophy Rock, a mineral block typically used as a deer-feeding supplement or deer attractant.
The photograph came from Trophy Rock’s web site, with the caption “Trophy Rock hosted Deer Camp 2.”
It had been confirmed that the photograph was taken at Wright’s residence when he lived in Brown County.
(Ed. note: This photo was still posted as of 1 p.m., Thursday, one of 311 images that had been viewed 808 times. It is found on page 17 under the "whitetail" harvest photo gallery.)
Requested by the Inspector General from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources were such documents and evidence as payroll records, radio logs, and harvest reports.
Handwritten deer harvest reports from Wright were also obtained, the Inspector General’s report says.
In inspecting the communications logs of Dec. 4, 2008, the Inspector General found that both Wright and Warner had reported they were “in service,” each before 8 a.m.
However, they did not report themselves as being “out of service” until 6:53 p.m. for Wright and 9:02 p.m. for Warner.
On that day, says the Inspector General’s report, Wright submitted a payroll claim for “eight hours of regular time on duty plus four hours of overtime...”
For Warner, says the Inspector General’s report, he had claimed “... eight hours of regular time on duty plus two hours of overtime.”
The Ohio Inspector General’s report goes on to say that during Ohio’s general firearms deer-hunting season, “wildlife officers are scheduled to work during daylight hunting hours.”
Even more, says the Inspector General’s report, the behavior of Wright and Warner pointed to something of a pattern as “Comparing the list of employees against the 2009 and 2010 harvest reports, additional instances were discovered in which Wright and Warner were hunting during their reported work hours.”
Roberts is first mentioned in the report by noting that on Dec. 3, 2009 he checked in deer killed by both Wright and Warner.
Further, says the report, Warner reported on duty at 4:35 a.m., and that “Roberts was working with him.”
Roberts then reported himself off duty at 5:46 p.m., the report says.
“However, ODNR payroll records show that Warner claimed eight hours regular time on duty this date.”
The document also states that Wright “admitted he hunted while on duty...” and had done so not just during the deer hunting season but also when he sought such other game as turkeys and squirrels.
In an effort to interview Roberts as well as Jason Keller - the state wildlife officer assigned to Lake County - the Ohio Inspector General was informed by the Fraternal Order of Police that neither man would be testifying. The FOP is the union that represents commissioned state wildlife officers.
Prior to his arrival to Lake County in January, 2011, Keller had been an at-large wildlife officer assigned to District Five. On Dec. 2, 2010, the Inspector General's report says, Roberts log indicated he reported for duty at 5:05 a.m. with Keller, and then off duty at 8:26 p.m.
The report says also that records "places Roberts' vehicle in Russellville, Ohio, from 5:48 a.m. to 5:34 p.m., near Wright's residence in Brown County."
Also, Warner similarly declined to be interviewed by the Ohio Inspector General.
The likely premise for these declines is the so-called “Garrity Rule,” a legal point that shields certain civil servants from being forced to appear before an agency like the Ohio Inspector General if that action could lead to self-incrimination.
“Accordingly, the Office of Ohio Inspector General finds reasonable cause to believe wrongful acts or omissions occurred in these instances.”
The Inspector General then makes several recommendations.
Among them are for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to “..review the actions of all employees involved to determine whether their conduct warrants further administrative action or training,” “Review the communications policy with all personnel to insure (sic) compliance,” and “Increase monitoring of on-duty ODNR Division of Wildlife enforcement officers to adequately ensure safety and accountability.”
The Natural Resources Department says that it moved quickly when it first received information about the matter.
"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. "Based on the IG’s report, the Brown County Prosecutor obtained an indictment."
McCorkle said also that restricted duty means that Roberts can handle administrative duties only, but no law enforcement activities.
Likewise, "the department’s administrative investigation is ongoing," McCorkle said.
However, Troy Conley, a southwestern Ohio sportsman who has been closely tracking the various issues relating to the Wildlife Division's activities in that part of the state, disputes the Natural Resources Department's claim that the ODNR quickly investigated the matter.
In an email sent Thursday to Glen Cobb, the Natural Resources' Deputy Director and also the chief of its Division of Parks and Recreation, Conley said:
"I wish you would have taken my concern more seriously last year with the Photo I handed you (The one that looked as though Wright and Warner were getting paid to Deer hunt, photo attached) when we met at the Indian Creek Wildlife? Turning a blind eye is what's been going on with the Agency far too long. I feel VERY STRONGLY that's the reason why some of the officers think they are above the law or nobody would QUESTION anything they do?"
(Ed. note: Conley typically ends his sentences with a question mark.)
McCorkle responded to a forwarded copy of Conley's email by saying "The initial allegation was officers hunting while wearing state issued clothing. When we were notified that officers were hunting (while) on duty, ODNR quickly investigated the matter and alerted the Ohio Inspector General's office."
However, Conley said later in an interview that he approached Cobb with the photograph that appears on the Trophy Rock web site sometime within the first 10 days of May, 2011; or far earlier than when the Ohio Inspector General's report says the agency started its investigation.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
UPDATED THROUGHOUT: Allan Wright sentenced; no jail time but no hunting/fishing for five years
CINCINNATI - Allan Wright, the defrocked former state wildlife officer, was sentenced in U.S. District Court-Ohio South District July 17, ending a chapter in the history of the Ohio Division of Wildlife that left the agency with a “black eye.”
Federal Judge Michael R. Barrett - in sentencing Wright for violating four misdemeanor charges of the federal Lacey Act - also said that Wright has placed himself at a “crossroads,” a fork in life in which the one-time award-winning, 18-year state wildlife officer could still “turn your life around.”
At the same time, Barrett said that Wright has given wildlife law enforcement in Ohio both a “black eye” and likewise “violated his oath of office.”
Judge Barrett then advised Wright that he should “look into the mirror” and decide if he’ll treat everyone equally as well as follow the laws that are intended to protect fish and wildlife.
“Most people who hunt and fish and do those things are respectful of the woods,” Judge Barrett said.
And then Barrett gave Wright the news: He can keep his new job within the security department of Lincoln Memorial College in eastern Tennessee on the condition that 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 also is forbidden to buy any hunting or fishing license anywhere in the world for the next five years, the length of his probation.
As is standard court practice, Barrett said that Wright cannot engage in the taking of any illegal drug or alcohol and must meet periodically with a probation officer.
Wright’s legal troubles began more than two years ago. That is when Wright was investigated for allowing a South Carolina wildlife officer to use his Brown County (Ohio) home address in order to obtain a resident hunting license.
This matter escalated to include several other Wildlife Division officials, who themselves are still the target of legal issues.
As for the federal matters, Wright was charged with violating the Lacey Act “by trafficking in and making false records for illegally harvested white-tailed deer,” said the U.S. Justice Department when the former wildlife officer pleaded guilty June 18.
During the 30-minute or so sentencing session, Judge Barrett said that Wright broke the law in part because he “was good at polishing the brass,” a reference to his closeness with higher up officials in the Wildlife Division.
Federal prosecutors were not kind to Wright, either.
James Nelson, the case’s lead federal prosecutor, gave a withering statement against Wright.
Nelson said of Wright that “he abused his badge” and that he also must “understand he’s not special” and that it was wrong for him to “sell hunting licenses to his friends.”
The prosecutor then went on to acknowledge the importance of such laws as the Lacey Act.
“Without these laws there would be no wildlife,” Nelson said.
Nelson continued to scold Wright, saying the former state wildlife officer “knew better.”
Importantly, the Justice Department says as well, that to condone such actions as Wright’s can turn wildlife law enforcement into anarchy with a public so cynical that no one will obey the law, which Wright swore to protect.
“Committing wildlife crimes while on duty as a wildlife officer, Wright not only violated the law but also breached the public’s faith in the integrity of the wildlife program,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant U.S.
Attorney General for the agency’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Moreno is Nelson’s boss and who took an interest in the Wright case.
“In holding Wright accountable for his crimes, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to prosecute wildlife law violators in order to protect America’s wildlife resources for the enjoyment of the American people,” Moreno said also.
In seeking leniency for Wright, his attorney, Louis Sirkin, said that while the former wildlife officer showed a lapse in good judgement and that his actions were “a disappointment to the people of Ohio,” Wright has learned a “tough lesson.”
Sirkin also asked that Wright be allowed to possess a weapon while on duty as part of the college’s security detail.
When asked for a quote following the sentencing, Sirkin said that he had no comment.
Prior to Judge Barrett’s sentencing Wright apologized to the court, his family and friends.
“I take full responsibility,” Wright said of his actions that began a chain of legal events that - more than two years later - are still unfolding.
In concluding, Barrett said that should Wright fail during his probationary period he will again appear before the federal court system.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said that it had undertaken its own administrative review of Wright and then “took appropriate actions” after that process was completed.
“It would be inappropriate for (the) ODNR to comment beyond our own actions in regards to Mr. Wright’s conduct,” said Matt Eiselstein, the Natural Resources Department’s deputy chief of communications.
And in the associated matter of the five Wildlife Division officers who sent letters on Wright's behalf to Judge Barrett, Eiselstein said the investigation into this matter is still "ongoing.
"Comment also was sought from Brown County prosecutor Jessica Little, who initiated the first set of charges against Wright and following an investigation by the Ohio Inspector General.
Those charges were later dropped, though Little continues to seek legal action against five current and former Wildlife Division officials as to their administrative actions related to Wright.
However, Little is out of town and thus is unavailable for comment.
-Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Federal Judge Michael R. Barrett - in sentencing Wright for violating four misdemeanor charges of the federal Lacey Act - also said that Wright has placed himself at a “crossroads,” a fork in life in which the one-time award-winning, 18-year state wildlife officer could still “turn your life around.”
At the same time, Barrett said that Wright has given wildlife law enforcement in Ohio both a “black eye” and likewise “violated his oath of office.”
Judge Barrett then advised Wright that he should “look into the mirror” and decide if he’ll treat everyone equally as well as follow the laws that are intended to protect fish and wildlife.
“Most people who hunt and fish and do those things are respectful of the woods,” Judge Barrett said.
And then Barrett gave Wright the news: He can keep his new job within the security department of Lincoln Memorial College in eastern Tennessee on the condition that 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 also is forbidden to buy any hunting or fishing license anywhere in the world for the next five years, the length of his probation.
As is standard court practice, Barrett said that Wright cannot engage in the taking of any illegal drug or alcohol and must meet periodically with a probation officer.
Wright’s legal troubles began more than two years ago. That is when Wright was investigated for allowing a South Carolina wildlife officer to use his Brown County (Ohio) home address in order to obtain a resident hunting license.
This matter escalated to include several other Wildlife Division officials, who themselves are still the target of legal issues.
As for the federal matters, Wright was charged with violating the Lacey Act “by trafficking in and making false records for illegally harvested white-tailed deer,” said the U.S. Justice Department when the former wildlife officer pleaded guilty June 18.
During the 30-minute or so sentencing session, Judge Barrett said that Wright broke the law in part because he “was good at polishing the brass,” a reference to his closeness with higher up officials in the Wildlife Division.
Federal prosecutors were not kind to Wright, either.
James Nelson, the case’s lead federal prosecutor, gave a withering statement against Wright.
Nelson said of Wright that “he abused his badge” and that he also must “understand he’s not special” and that it was wrong for him to “sell hunting licenses to his friends.”
The prosecutor then went on to acknowledge the importance of such laws as the Lacey Act.
“Without these laws there would be no wildlife,” Nelson said.
Nelson continued to scold Wright, saying the former state wildlife officer “knew better.”
Importantly, the Justice Department says as well, that to condone such actions as Wright’s can turn wildlife law enforcement into anarchy with a public so cynical that no one will obey the law, which Wright swore to protect.
“Committing wildlife crimes while on duty as a wildlife officer, Wright not only violated the law but also breached the public’s faith in the integrity of the wildlife program,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant U.S.
Attorney General for the agency’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Moreno is Nelson’s boss and who took an interest in the Wright case.
“In holding Wright accountable for his crimes, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to prosecute wildlife law violators in order to protect America’s wildlife resources for the enjoyment of the American people,” Moreno said also.
In seeking leniency for Wright, his attorney, Louis Sirkin, said that while the former wildlife officer showed a lapse in good judgement and that his actions were “a disappointment to the people of Ohio,” Wright has learned a “tough lesson.”
Sirkin also asked that Wright be allowed to possess a weapon while on duty as part of the college’s security detail.
When asked for a quote following the sentencing, Sirkin said that he had no comment.
Prior to Judge Barrett’s sentencing Wright apologized to the court, his family and friends.
“I take full responsibility,” Wright said of his actions that began a chain of legal events that - more than two years later - are still unfolding.
In concluding, Barrett said that should Wright fail during his probationary period he will again appear before the federal court system.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said that it had undertaken its own administrative review of Wright and then “took appropriate actions” after that process was completed.
“It would be inappropriate for (the) ODNR to comment beyond our own actions in regards to Mr. Wright’s conduct,” said Matt Eiselstein, the Natural Resources Department’s deputy chief of communications.
And in the associated matter of the five Wildlife Division officers who sent letters on Wright's behalf to Judge Barrett, Eiselstein said the investigation into this matter is still "ongoing.
"Comment also was sought from Brown County prosecutor Jessica Little, who initiated the first set of charges against Wright and following an investigation by the Ohio Inspector General.
Those charges were later dropped, though Little continues to seek legal action against five current and former Wildlife Division officials as to their administrative actions related to Wright.
However, Little is out of town and thus is unavailable for comment.
-Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Monday, July 16, 2012
UPDATED with confirm species: Potential new Ohio brown trout record; but by the smallest of numbers
Ohio’s 17-year-old brown trout state record may have melted in the summer heat on Saturday, July 14.
However, if finally approved, the fish will barely squeak by: the potential new state record weighing only .025 pounds more than the current state record brown trout.
A three-brother fishing team from Pennsylvania and Virginia saw to it that one of its members - Robert Campbell of Dunbar, Pa. - may have the opportunity to claim the prize.
Campbell and his brothers were fishing with DB Charters, which is owned and operated by Lake Erie charter captain John Gribble of Madison Township.
The party was fishing north of Geneva State Park in 68 feet of water when Campbell reeled in the potential new state record brown trout, a fish that weighed 14.675 pounds and measured 27 1/4 inches.
Ohio’s current state record brown trout weighs 14.65 pounds and measures 29 1/4 inches.
It was taken - interestingly enough - July 15 1995 by Timothy L. Byrne of Brooklyn, Mich.
Gribble said the fish came off a True Trip 50 in-line diver with a Contender trolling spoon in “summer melon” color, a watermelon variation.
“Actually, we had just limited out on walleye and we were beginning to clean the rods and the fish came on the very last one,” Gribble said. “In a few minutes it never would have been caught.”
When the fish hit, Gribble says, the brown trout snapped the fishing line off the planer board cord. It then proceeded to run off about 150 feet of line before petering out.
“I thought it was a king salmon at first but when I saw it I knew right away that it was a brown trout,” Gribble said.
The fish was examined today by Phil Hillman, the fisheries management administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s District Three (Northeast Ohio) office in Akron. Hillman did identify the fish as being a brown trout.
Gribble said that upon landings back at the dock the team immediately headed south on Rt. 534 to Trumbull Meat Market in Trumbull Township. It was there that fish was officially weighed, coming up just the ever-so-tiny fraction ahead of the current state record brown trout.
“It wasn’t by much but it was enough,” Gribble said.
Gribble said as well that the Campbell brothers decided to stick around at least through today in order to watch the fish be examined by Hillman.
Following species verification Campbell’s state record fish application will be forwarded to the Outdoor Writers of Ohio’s State Record Fish Committee.
It is the state outdoors writers which formally certifies all state record fish categories. This committee is now chaired by Fred Snyder, retired Ohio Sea Grant agent and fisheries biologist.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
However, if finally approved, the fish will barely squeak by: the potential new state record weighing only .025 pounds more than the current state record brown trout.
A three-brother fishing team from Pennsylvania and Virginia saw to it that one of its members - Robert Campbell of Dunbar, Pa. - may have the opportunity to claim the prize.
Campbell and his brothers were fishing with DB Charters, which is owned and operated by Lake Erie charter captain John Gribble of Madison Township.
The party was fishing north of Geneva State Park in 68 feet of water when Campbell reeled in the potential new state record brown trout, a fish that weighed 14.675 pounds and measured 27 1/4 inches.
Ohio’s current state record brown trout weighs 14.65 pounds and measures 29 1/4 inches.
It was taken - interestingly enough - July 15 1995 by Timothy L. Byrne of Brooklyn, Mich.
Gribble said the fish came off a True Trip 50 in-line diver with a Contender trolling spoon in “summer melon” color, a watermelon variation.
“Actually, we had just limited out on walleye and we were beginning to clean the rods and the fish came on the very last one,” Gribble said. “In a few minutes it never would have been caught.”
When the fish hit, Gribble says, the brown trout snapped the fishing line off the planer board cord. It then proceeded to run off about 150 feet of line before petering out.
“I thought it was a king salmon at first but when I saw it I knew right away that it was a brown trout,” Gribble said.
The fish was examined today by Phil Hillman, the fisheries management administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s District Three (Northeast Ohio) office in Akron. Hillman did identify the fish as being a brown trout.
Gribble said that upon landings back at the dock the team immediately headed south on Rt. 534 to Trumbull Meat Market in Trumbull Township. It was there that fish was officially weighed, coming up just the ever-so-tiny fraction ahead of the current state record brown trout.
“It wasn’t by much but it was enough,” Gribble said.
Gribble said as well that the Campbell brothers decided to stick around at least through today in order to watch the fish be examined by Hillman.
Following species verification Campbell’s state record fish application will be forwarded to the Outdoor Writers of Ohio’s State Record Fish Committee.
It is the state outdoors writers which formally certifies all state record fish categories. This committee is now chaired by Fred Snyder, retired Ohio Sea Grant agent and fisheries biologist.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Blame the dead bird for no Fish Ohio Day walleye
PORT CLINTON — I’m not the most superstitious of anglers, though I do have my moments.
With a history to back me up, I just knew that I was in trouble even before the morning glow arrived on what’s called Fish Ohio Day.
Just before arriving at the westbound Route 2 bridge over Sandusky Bay, a tweety bird of some kind ricocheted off the right front corner of my car.
“Thump” was pretty much what I heard, though the physics of a quarter-pound bird traveling at “X” miles per hour striking an 1,800-pound brew of steel, glass and plastic did generate a felt “whomp.”
“Ah, nuts,” I said, “there goes any chance of catching a walleye.”
It’s true. Very nearly every time that I can remember, and whenever I turn some critter into road-kill, my fishing luck turns south.
There’s no explanation, it just is, that’s all.
I was not going to turn around, of course. The exit for Catawba Island/Port Clinton was fast approaching. From there the distance to the Lake Erie Shores and Islands welcome center is measured in a fraction of a mile.
It is this welcome center that annually becomes the focal point of the 30-plus-year-old Fish Ohio Day.
This event draws the top honchos from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and their Ohio Department of Natural Resources handlers.
Holding the leash is the reigning governor. In this case, John Kasich.
We are divvied up into groups of between four and six anglers and assigned to a licensed skipper who belongs to the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association.
Fish Ohio Day had enough guests and enough volunteer charter captains to post 19 teams. I was assigned to team No. 6, led by 20-year Lake Erie fishing guide Dave Spangler.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Spangler now instead draws a bead on the Western Basin’s fabled walleye fisheries.
Employing either hand-held fishing tackle for the old-fashioned way of flinging worm rigs, Spangler also keeps in his quiver a bunch of line counter reels, matching rods and lots of brightly colored spoons and crankbaits.
“We’ll try casting first and if that doesn’t work we’ll troll,” Spangler said.
I was not about to tell Spangler not to bother since we were already jinxed due to my pummeling of a half-awake songbird.
When Wildlife Division fisheries biologist Mike Wilkerson reeled in the only fish at our first drop point, a freshwater drum to be exact, Spangler decided it was time for a move.
In this case, the new location was just north of Flat Rock Reef. It is here where the water depth rises from around 24 feet to only about 10 feet with the reef itself measuring roughly one-eighth mile by one-half mile.
“It’s a skinny reef,” Spangler said.
Our luck — or lack thereof — pretty much continued. So did my silence as to why we were not catching many fish or any species, let alone walleye.
About the only bright spot came when a 23-inch drum snapped up my worm harness’s hook. In truth, this fish was what I wanted most of all since it would represent the forth qualifying species in my hunt for another Fish Ohio program Master Angler Award.
Still, I tried to keep my enthusiasm in check. I knew that if I were to explain why our inability to catch the event’s intended target was all my fault I’d either be set adrift or keel-hauled.
Even after exchanging our casting gear for trolling tackle, the fishing didn’t improve much. No, not much at all.
When the pre-arranged time came to bag it our total take for the five-hour fishing trip consisted of one yellow perch, one channel catfish, three white bass, three white perch and three drum.
Not good, though once again I kept hidden to my crew mates why we were skunked in the walleye-catching business.
In fact, of the 19 teams, ours was the only one that didn’t manage to return with at least one walleye in the ice box. Talk about being jinxed.
True, I did post a measure of success by catching the Fish Ohio-qualifying drum.
But after nearly three years without reeling in a Lake Erie walleye, the last thing I wanted was to be done in by a jinx I had no control over.
Dang that stupid, little tweety bird.
Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
With a history to back me up, I just knew that I was in trouble even before the morning glow arrived on what’s called Fish Ohio Day.
Just before arriving at the westbound Route 2 bridge over Sandusky Bay, a tweety bird of some kind ricocheted off the right front corner of my car.
“Thump” was pretty much what I heard, though the physics of a quarter-pound bird traveling at “X” miles per hour striking an 1,800-pound brew of steel, glass and plastic did generate a felt “whomp.”
“Ah, nuts,” I said, “there goes any chance of catching a walleye.”
It’s true. Very nearly every time that I can remember, and whenever I turn some critter into road-kill, my fishing luck turns south.
There’s no explanation, it just is, that’s all.
I was not going to turn around, of course. The exit for Catawba Island/Port Clinton was fast approaching. From there the distance to the Lake Erie Shores and Islands welcome center is measured in a fraction of a mile.
It is this welcome center that annually becomes the focal point of the 30-plus-year-old Fish Ohio Day.
This event draws the top honchos from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and their Ohio Department of Natural Resources handlers.
Holding the leash is the reigning governor. In this case, John Kasich.
We are divvied up into groups of between four and six anglers and assigned to a licensed skipper who belongs to the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association.
Fish Ohio Day had enough guests and enough volunteer charter captains to post 19 teams. I was assigned to team No. 6, led by 20-year Lake Erie fishing guide Dave Spangler.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Spangler now instead draws a bead on the Western Basin’s fabled walleye fisheries.
Employing either hand-held fishing tackle for the old-fashioned way of flinging worm rigs, Spangler also keeps in his quiver a bunch of line counter reels, matching rods and lots of brightly colored spoons and crankbaits.
“We’ll try casting first and if that doesn’t work we’ll troll,” Spangler said.
I was not about to tell Spangler not to bother since we were already jinxed due to my pummeling of a half-awake songbird.
When Wildlife Division fisheries biologist Mike Wilkerson reeled in the only fish at our first drop point, a freshwater drum to be exact, Spangler decided it was time for a move.
In this case, the new location was just north of Flat Rock Reef. It is here where the water depth rises from around 24 feet to only about 10 feet with the reef itself measuring roughly one-eighth mile by one-half mile.
“It’s a skinny reef,” Spangler said.
Our luck — or lack thereof — pretty much continued. So did my silence as to why we were not catching many fish or any species, let alone walleye.
About the only bright spot came when a 23-inch drum snapped up my worm harness’s hook. In truth, this fish was what I wanted most of all since it would represent the forth qualifying species in my hunt for another Fish Ohio program Master Angler Award.
Still, I tried to keep my enthusiasm in check. I knew that if I were to explain why our inability to catch the event’s intended target was all my fault I’d either be set adrift or keel-hauled.
Even after exchanging our casting gear for trolling tackle, the fishing didn’t improve much. No, not much at all.
When the pre-arranged time came to bag it our total take for the five-hour fishing trip consisted of one yellow perch, one channel catfish, three white bass, three white perch and three drum.
Not good, though once again I kept hidden to my crew mates why we were skunked in the walleye-catching business.
In fact, of the 19 teams, ours was the only one that didn’t manage to return with at least one walleye in the ice box. Talk about being jinxed.
True, I did post a measure of success by catching the Fish Ohio-qualifying drum.
But after nearly three years without reeling in a Lake Erie walleye, the last thing I wanted was to be done in by a jinx I had no control over.
Dang that stupid, little tweety bird.
Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twiter: @Fieldkorn
Friday, July 13, 2012
UPDATED: Asian carp DNA found in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Efforts to develop strategies to keep the invasive Asian carp from ever entering Lake Erie may already be moot.
Federal and state wildlife officials working in conjunction with academic researchers on Friday announced six water samples taken from both the Sandusky and north Maumee bays tested positive for the presence of Asian carp environmental DNA in both Michigan and Ohio waters of Lake Erie .
These positive samples were among 417 taken from Lake Erie in August 2011, and more than 2,000 samples taken from the Great Lakes Basin
The Lake Erie batch was recently analyzed and test results were confirmed by eDNA researchers this week. The six positive samples represent less than 1.5 percent of the Lake Erie samples.
However, four samples from Sandusky Bay tested positive for bighead carp eDNA, while two samples from north Maumee Bay , in Michigan
Both species are considered to be among the most serious invasive species to ever threaten the Great Lakes ’ fisheries, worth billions annually in commercial fishing and sport angling activities.
The results of a study released this past week by Fisheries and Oceans Canada says that as few as 10 breeding pairs of Asian carp could produce a viable colony in any of the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie, which is considered to have good spawning habitat for the various species which make up this group of fishes.
In response to these findings, electro-shocking and netting began Friday inSandusky Bay
In response to these findings, electro-shocking and netting began Friday in
But additional testing and monitoring are planned by the Ohio and Michigan
"We are concerned about the eDNA test results and we also recognize that this is screening level technology but what it does show us is the presence of that marker," said Rich Carter, fish management administrator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resource's Division of Wildlife. "What we have to do is balance this information with other data-collecting mechanisms."
While the eDNA findings indicate the presence of genetic material left behind by the species - such as scales, excrement or mucous – this does not ensure that Asian carp are now established inLake Erie .
While the eDNA findings indicate the presence of genetic material left behind by the species - such as scales, excrement or mucous – this does not ensure that Asian carp are now established in
Carter did note that between 2000 and 2003 three Asian carp were recovered from Lake Erie, though how they arrived there is unknown.
Positive eDNA tests are regarded by the scientific community as one indicator of the species’ recent presence, though not necessarily from living specimens. That is because positive results can occur whether the organism was alive or dead, biologists for the two states say.
And though the eDNA findings do suggest the possible presence of Asian carp, officials have no physical evidence any fish have actually migrated into the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River drainage system that includes both the Ohio and Missouri River watersheds.
Carter said also that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of evaluating any potential "pathways" between the huge Mississippi River drainage and the massive Great Lakes drainage in an effort to identify any possible connectors.
Such a study is expected by the end of July, Carter says.
Such a study is expected by the end of July, Carter says.
In response to the positive test results, officials from the
“The thing to keep in mind is that we have done - and will continue to do - sampling," Carter said. "It is important to look at all the information and work with our partners in collecting the information," Carter said. "This lake is Ohio’s greatest resource and our main objective is to keep it healthy,” said Rich Carter, the Executive Fish Management and Research Administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
This effort will seek to obtain follow-up samples and test results as quickly as possible. Test results from future water samples will dictate the nature of further response methods.
This effort will seek to obtain follow-up samples and test results as quickly as possible. Test results from future water samples will dictate the nature of further response methods.
“The results from these water samples are certainly of concern, as this marks the first time Asian carp eDNA has been detected in water samples taken from Lake Erie, or any of the Michigan
Carter did decline to say whether the arrival and any subsequent establishment of a viable Asian carp population is inevitable.
Anglers are urged to become familiar with the identification of Asian carp, including both adults and juveniles, as the spread of juvenile Asian carp through the use of live bait buckets has been identified as a potential point of entry intoGreat Lakes waters.
Anglers are urged to become familiar with the identification of Asian carp, including both adults and juveniles, as the spread of juvenile Asian carp through the use of live bait buckets has been identified as a potential point of entry into
A video demonstrating how to identify bighead and silver carp can be viewed on the USFWS YouTube channel at http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTIwNzE0LjkwMzU1NTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTIwNzE0LjkwMzU1NTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzA3NjczNyZlbWFpbGlkPWpmcmlzY2hrQGFtZXJpdGVjaC5uZXQmdXNlcmlkPWpmcmlzY2hrQGFtZXJpdGVjaC5uZXQmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&106&&&http://youtu.be/B49OWrCRs38?source=govdelivery
Identification guides, frequently asked questions, management plans and an online reporting form are available online at http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTIwNzE0LjkwMzU1NTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTIwNzE0LjkwMzU1NTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzA3NjczNyZlbWFpbGlkPWpmcmlzY2hrQGFtZXJpdGVjaC5uZXQmdXNlcmlkPWpmcmlzY2hrQGFtZXJpdGVjaC5uZXQmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&107&&&http://www.michigan.gov/asiancarp?source=govdelivery and http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTIwNzE0LjkwMzU1NTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTIwNzE0LjkwMzU1NTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzA3NjczNyZlbWFpbGlkPWpmcmlzY2hrQGFtZXJpdGVjaC5uZXQmdXNlcmlkPWpmcmlzY2hrQGFtZXJpdGVjaC5uZXQmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&108&&&http://www.wildohio.com/?source=govdelivery, or call 800-WILDLIFE.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Investigation of five letter-writing wildlife officers nears end
Five state wildlife officers remain under the investigative microscope for their part in sending letters to a federal judge requesting that the jurist exercise compassion when he sentences a former colleague on Tuesday.
These Ohio Division of Wildlife officers sent their letters to Federal Court Judge Michael R. Barrett over a seven-day period in February.
Each wildlife officer requested of Barrett that he demonstrate leniency when sentencing Allan Wright, 45, the defrocked state wildlife officer who had been assigned to Brown County in southwest Ohio.
The five officers being investigated are Eric Lamb, state wildlife officer assigned to Brown County and who replaced Wright; James Carnes, state wildlife officer assigned to Highland County; Chris Gilkey, one-time state wildlife officer assigned to Adams County and now assigned to Meigs County; Rick Rogers, state wildlife officer assigned to Warren County; and Michael Ohlrich, state wildlife officer assigned to Clermont County.
At issue is whether it was appropriate for the five officers to take it upon themselves to write letters on Wright’s behalf. Along with this is whether it was a breach of employee conduct to either identify that they had worked with Wright, were themselves a state wildlife officer, and with Ohlrich also using agency letterhead/stationary to make his plea to Barrett.
In each case the officers spelled out their respect for Wright, noting his standing as a devoted family man with a wife and two children as well as the former officer’s dedication to his job.
Wright is to be sentenced in the Cincinnati Federal Court for violating the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife law intended to punish interstate criminal activity that is of a wildlife nature. Wright faces the possibility of jail time, a hefty fine, and potential loss of his hunting privileges for a court-designated period of time.
As background, Wright plead guilty to trafficking in and making false records regarding an illegally harvested white-tailed deer.
Wright admitted that he used his authority as a wildlife officer to seize deer antlers from a hunter who had illegally killed the buck in 2009, said the U.S. Department of Justice in February.
Rather than disposing of the antlers through court proceedings, as required by Ohio law, Wright “knowingly supplied them to another individual who transported them from Ohio to Michigan,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
Scott Zody, the Wildlife Division’s chief, said Wednesday that the disposition of the investigation relating to the five wildlife officers should be concluded shortly.
-Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
These Ohio Division of Wildlife officers sent their letters to Federal Court Judge Michael R. Barrett over a seven-day period in February.
Each wildlife officer requested of Barrett that he demonstrate leniency when sentencing Allan Wright, 45, the defrocked state wildlife officer who had been assigned to Brown County in southwest Ohio.
The five officers being investigated are Eric Lamb, state wildlife officer assigned to Brown County and who replaced Wright; James Carnes, state wildlife officer assigned to Highland County; Chris Gilkey, one-time state wildlife officer assigned to Adams County and now assigned to Meigs County; Rick Rogers, state wildlife officer assigned to Warren County; and Michael Ohlrich, state wildlife officer assigned to Clermont County.
At issue is whether it was appropriate for the five officers to take it upon themselves to write letters on Wright’s behalf. Along with this is whether it was a breach of employee conduct to either identify that they had worked with Wright, were themselves a state wildlife officer, and with Ohlrich also using agency letterhead/stationary to make his plea to Barrett.
In each case the officers spelled out their respect for Wright, noting his standing as a devoted family man with a wife and two children as well as the former officer’s dedication to his job.
Wright is to be sentenced in the Cincinnati Federal Court for violating the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife law intended to punish interstate criminal activity that is of a wildlife nature. Wright faces the possibility of jail time, a hefty fine, and potential loss of his hunting privileges for a court-designated period of time.
As background, Wright plead guilty to trafficking in and making false records regarding an illegally harvested white-tailed deer.
Wright admitted that he used his authority as a wildlife officer to seize deer antlers from a hunter who had illegally killed the buck in 2009, said the U.S. Department of Justice in February.
Rather than disposing of the antlers through court proceedings, as required by Ohio law, Wright “knowingly supplied them to another individual who transported them from Ohio to Michigan,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
Scott Zody, the Wildlife Division’s chief, said Wednesday that the disposition of the investigation relating to the five wildlife officers should be concluded shortly.
-Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Much ado about nothing is Kasich's Lake Erie drill ban
PORT CLINTON - This afternoon Ohio Governor John Kasich signed an executive order prohibiting the drilling for oil and natural gas underneath Lake Erie .
It was all done with flamboyance and panache, paraded before a captured audience of state workers, state legislators and a not too small contingent of state outdoors writers.
All were gathered underneath what might be best described as the closest thing Fish Ohio Day has to a Big Top.
The annual event draws together these folks for a morning of walleye fishing in Lake Erie’s Western Basin. This angling is
With Ohio and U.S.
“We’re not going to be drilling on Lake Erie or under Lake Erie as a result of this (executive order),” Kasich said to the hand-clapping and approving crowd, most of whom probably weren’t even aware they were watching a darn good shell game artist at work.
Thing was, however, while it made for great political theater the executive order signing was accomplished with virtually little to no expenditure of political capital on Kasich’s part.
The federal government already has said “no” to the drilling for gas and oil underneath Lake Erie .
Even more importantly, so have Ohioans. Whenever a poll is taken on the subject of drilling beneath the waters of Lake Erie the results are such as to send promoters seeking new ground. Like Ohio’s state parks, state forests, state wildlife areas and pretty much anywhere else Kasich figures Texas tea and natural gas can be divined up through hydro-fracturing.
Besides, with the current glut in the oil and gas market no drilling speculator would even want to tread the waters of drilling in Lake Erie .
That Kasich attempted this afternoon to take the high road by preventing what can’t be done anyway is really nothing more than traveling the low road of politics as usual.
A real-deal Fish Ohio Day gesture by Kasich would have included an announcement that he was going after a Lake Erie drilling ban that is written in stone, carved by the full force of legislative initiative.
And if Kasich actually wants to stick his neck out he’d repent of his environmental sins by signing another executive order banning fracking.
And if Kasich actually wants to stick his neck out he’d repent of his environmental sins by signing another executive order banning fracking.
Of course that’s not going to happen. Not with Kasich. Not now when he has championed everything from exploiting the energy lying beneath Ohio ’s crowned jewels to declaring that Ohio is the Saudi Arabia
Kasich simply cannot pretend to be something he is not; a born-again environmentalist. That would go against the grain of a governor whose true missionary zeal is that big business comes first, last and always, regardless of any potential environmental cost.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
- Twitter: @Fieldkorn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)