Good-bye and good riddance to Rod Blagojevich.
But as Gov. Pat Quinn tries to unravel the mess in Springfield,we can only hope that he doesn’t forget conservation efforts he has championed along the Illinois and Kankakee rivers system.
It’s time for Quinn, a champion of reform in state government, to bring real change to Springfield and particularly to the Department of Natural Resources.
The first step would be to fire Kurt Granberg as DNR director.
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Scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center are getting ready for a first-ever look at the ‘dark side’ of the Sun on Super Bowl Sunday.
Of course there really isn’t a ‘dark side’ to the Sun. Still, NASA’s twin STEREO spacecraft will give astronomers an over-the-horizon look at the Sun, a perspective which could lead to advances in space weather forecasting and solar physics research.
“NASA’s two STEREO spacecraft will be 180 degrees apart and will image the entire Sun for the first time in history” on Sunday says Chris St. Cyr of the Goddard Space Flight Center,
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More snow is coming, but here’s an answer for when “cabin fever” hits later this winter.
Start your planning for the summer with the March 21 Fishing College 2009 at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds.
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Wild turkeys are apparently doing well in Indiana four years after reintroduction allowed hunting to resume for gobblers.
Indiana hunters killed 610 wild turkeys in 57 of the 74 counties open to turkey hunting during the 2008 season.
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Those planning on attending the Chicagoland Outdoor Show on Saturday will get the chance to meet the latest career politician to take charge of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Kurt Granberg, a downstate Democrat and 22-year veteran of the Illinois House, was named last week by impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich as DNR Director.
He replaces another political hack, Sam Flood, who has been acting as a DNR director for the past three years.
On Saturday Granberg says he wants to hear from constituents to develop a “blueprint for the Department of Natural Resources.”
Apparently the only ideas he’s bringing to the $133,000-a-year post is some vague thoughts on “improving tourism at our state parks.”
A self-proclaimed bird hunter, the 55-year-old politico is best known in conservation circles for his efforts to remove an endangered species — the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake — from Carlyle Lake in order to allow a resort to be developed in his home district.
So if you visit the Chicaogland show on Saturday at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont please stop by and give Mr. Granberg some ideas about what a department of natural resources should be.
I recently received some interesting comments from Tim Walmsley concerning the latests recommendations from the state’s Deer Management Task Force.
Walmsley is the author of “Trophy Whitetails of Illinois” and the founder of the Illinois Deer Classic. His comments which may be of interest to hunters and conservationists alike appear below.
The Daily Journal posted the Task’s Force’s recommendations in our Outdoors print edition several weeks ago. We received few comments on the story. I would encourage hunters and conservationalists alike to post their comments here.
– Bill Byrns
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Well, about the time you think the overall good health of the Illinois deer herd won’t be messed with anymore, BANG! Here we go with the political appointment of the IL. Deer Task Force— With the exception of only a couple of knowledgeable deer hunters who tried to keep the damage to a minimum, (they know who they are) the task force has a make up of politicians and special interests who have NO background in deer management.
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