Weekly News Archives

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Coast Guard reopens section of Missouri River

A 256-mile portion of the lower Missouri River reopened to all boat traffic Thursday for the first time since June.  The Coast Guard and the Kansas City District of the Army Corps of Engineers opened the river from mile marker 0.0 to mile marker 256.0, which encompasses the area from St. Louis to Brunswick, Mo., according to media reports.

The river remains closed from mile marker 256 to mile   

marker 811 near Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, S.D. Also closed is the Big Sioux River from the confluence with the Missouri to the Military Road Bridge in north Sioux City, S.D.

The Coast Guard advises users of the river to monitor VHF-FM channels 16 and 22 for any changes to the closing.

Marlin XT Youth Series of Bolt-Action Rimfire Rifles

Madison, NC--Marlin introduced the new XT Youth series - the first Marlin rifles designed specifically for younger shooters.  Marlin spent extensive time researching young shooters form and how compact stocks impacted their sight picture and overall shooting form.  Marlin knows that consistent shooting accuracy comes from proper shooting form. 

The XT Youth rifles are designed with that in mind, featuring a shorter length of pull, shorter trigger reach, smaller pistol grip and a raised comb, making it easier for young shooters to acquire and hold the proper sight picture

� ensuring that proper shooting form that will last a lifetime.  In addition, the XT Youth has reduced bolt force

making for easier ejection and faster chambering.  The new XT Pro-Fire^� trigger system is user adjustable from 3 pounds to 6 pounds providing the shooter a clean, crisp trigger pull with virtually zero creep.  Pass on your love of shooting and hunting to the next generation, and give them the right start with this new line of rifles.

The new XT Series of bolt-action rimfire rifles are loaded with the latest and best technologies Marlin has to offer � continuing the legacy of �The Great American Rifle�.

About $220.00 � 245.00

www.marlinfirearms.com/xt.

Great Lakes Water Levels for August 19, 2011 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Very nice summer weather was experienced across the Great Lakes basin this week.  Temperatures were near seasonal averages and most of the region enjoyed abundant sunshine.  A few locations across the northern Great Lakes did receive showers and thunderstorms, but for the most part, much of the basin remained dry.  To date in August, all of the Great Lakes have seen above average rainfall.  Forecasts for the upcoming weekend do show the potential for showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the Friday and Saturday timeframe.  By Sunday, sunny skies and pleasant temperatures should return.

LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS

Currently, Lake Superior is 2 inches above its level of a year ago and Lake Michigan-Huron is near last year's level.  Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 5, 7, and 3 inches, respectively, higher than they were at this time last year. Over the next thirty days, Lake Superior is projected to rise 1 inch and Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to decline 2 inches.  The water levels of Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are forecasted to decline 7, 5, and 6 inches, respectively, over the next month. 

FORECASTED MONTHLY OUTFLOWS/CHANNEL CONDITIONS

Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Mary's River is projected to be below average for the month of August.  The outflows from Lake Huron into the St. Clair River, and from Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River, are expected to

be below average throughout the month of August.  Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara River is predicted to be above average and the outflow of Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River is predicted to be above average.

ALERTS

Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.

Spices reduce Triglyceride Response

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA � Adding spices to a high-fat meal reduces triglyceride response by about 30 %, compared to a similar meal with no added spices, U.S. researchers say.  Eating a diet rich in spices, such as turmeric and cinnamon reduces the body's negative responses to eating high-fat meals.

Study leader Sheila West of Pennsylvania State University, says eating a diet rich in spices, such as turmeric and cinnamon, reduces the body�s negative responses to eating high-fat meals.

�Normally, when you eat a high-fat meal, you end up with high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood,� West says in a statement. �If this happens too frequently, or if triglyceride levels are raised too much, your risk of heart disease is increased. We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 percent, compared to a similar meal with no spices added.�

West and colleagues prepared meals on two separate  

days for six men ages 30-65 who were overweight but otherwise healthy.  The researchers added two tablespoons of culinary spices � rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, garlic powder and paprika � to each serving of the test meal, which consisted of chicken curry, Italian herb bread and a cinnamon biscuit. The control meal was identical, except it used no spices.

The findings, published in the August 1, 2011 issue of Journal of Nutrition, under the title "High Antioxidant Spice Blend Attenuates Postprandial Insulin and Triglyceride Responses and Increases Some Plasma Measures of Antioxidant Activity in Healthy, Overweight Men" indicate for those who ate the meal that contained a blend of antioxidant spices, antioxidant activity in the blood was increased by 13 percent and insulin response decreased by about 20 %. "The incorporation of spices into the diet may help normalize postprandial insulin and TG and enhance antioxidant defenses"    http://jn.nutrition.org/content/141/8/1451.abstract

Moderate Drinking may cut Alzheimer�s Risk

CHICAGO � Moderate drinking � no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women � reduces risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, U.S. researchers say.

Edward J. Neafsey and Michael A. Collins, professors in the department of molecular pharmacology and therapeutics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, analyzed 143 studies dating from 1977 that involved more than 365,000 study participants from 19 countries.

Moderate drinking is defined as a maximum of one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men. A standard drink is defined as 1.5 ounces of spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer.

The study, published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, finds moderate drinkers were 23 % less likely to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimer�s disease and other forms of dementia. Wine was more beneficial than beer or spirits, but most papers

did not distinguish among different types of alcohol.

Heavy drinking � more than three to five drinks per day � was associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, but this finding was not statistically significant, the study says.

�We don�t recommend that non-drinkers start drinking,� Neafsey said in a statement. �But moderate drinking � if it is truly moderate � can be beneficial.�

The study found the protective effect of moderate drinking held up after adjusting for age, education, sex and smoking. There was no difference in the effects of alcohol on men and women and the beneficial effect of moderate drinking was seen in 14 of 19 countries, including the United States.  Researchers found a benefit in three of the remaining five countries but it was not statistically significant.

www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20110817/moderate-alcohol-drinking-may-cut-alzheimers-risk

Ohio State Parks boat dock lottery deadline August 31

COLUMBUS, OH � Boat owners wishing to rent public boat docks at several popular Ohio State Park lakes have until August 31 to enter lottery drawings used to select renters for available docks. Application forms are now available through the individual park offices.

Lottery drawings will be held in September for boat docks at Alum Creek, Buck Creek, Buckeye Lake, Cleveland Lakefront, Deer Creek, Delaware, Lake Milton, Middle Bass Island, Paint Creek, Rocky Fork and West Branch state parks. 

Completed forms may be submitted in person to the respective parks by Wednesday, August 31, or sent by certified mail/return receipt.  Only one application per boat is permitted, and must be submitted by the boat owner.  Lottery applicants must be able to show current proof of boat ownership or lease at the time of entry, and may be required to show a photo ID.  Boats titled to dealerships are not eligible.

The drawings are held on or before the third Saturday in 

September.  Applicants need not be present to win, andthe winning lottery applicants will be notified by the park.  Persons selected by the lottery are entitled to renewal privileges for up to five years.  Renewals may be completed in person or on-line on the Ohio State Parks website, www.ohiostateparks.org.

Contact the individual park offices for specific details on allowable boat sizes, dock amenities, and dock rental fees, as well as other application procedures. 

In addition to the parks conducting the September lotteries, several state parks have seasonal docks available for rent on a first-come first-served basis.  They include A.W. Marion and Buckeye Lake in central Ohio; East Harbor, Grand Lake St. Marys, Indian Lake, Kiser Lake, Lake Loramie, and Mary Jane Thurston in northwest Ohio; Geneva, Guilford Lake, Mosquito Lake, Punderson, and West Branch in northeast Ohio; Burr Oak, Dillon, Salt Fork, and Shawnee in southeast Ohio; and Caesar Creek, Cowan Lake, and Hueston Woods in southwest Ohio.

Ohio Wildlife Officer charged with Lacey Act crimes

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), on August 17obtained a four-count indictment from a federal grand jury in Cincinnati charging Allan Wright, a state wildlife officer in southwest Ohio, with trafficking in and making false records for illegally harvested white-tailed deer in violation of federal law. 

The Ohio DNR willingly cooperated in the investigation, providing documents and other information as it was requested by the USFWS and the DOJ.  Wright was placed on immediate unpaid administrative leave and required to return all state property in his possession, according to ODNR. 

The Lacey Act makes it a crime for a person to knowingly transport or sell wildlife in interstate commerce when the wildlife was taken or possessed in violation of state law.  The Lacey Act also makes it a crime for a person to knowingly make or submit a false record, account or label for wildlife which has been transported in interstate commerce. 

The indictment charges that Wright knowingly sold and provided an Ohio resident hunting license to a South Carolina resident during the 2006 white-tailed deer    

season.  According to the indictment, Wright falsely entered an Ohio address for the hunter in order to obtain a resident license. Ohio law makes it a crime to procure a hunting license by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or any false statement.  Ohio law also makes it a crime to hunt without a valid hunting license. The indictment charges that the hunter killed three white-tailed deer using the illegal license. Wright personally �checked in� the three deer, again providing the fraudulent Ohio address. The hunter then transported the deer back to South Carolina.

Additionally, the indictment alleges that Wright, using his authority as a wildlife officer, seized white-tailed deer antlers from a hunter who had killed a deer illegally during the 2009 white-tailed deer season.  The indictment alleges that, rather than dispose of the antlers through court proceedings, Wright caused the antlers to be transported to another individual in Michigan.  The indictment charges that Wright then filed an official state form which falsely reported that he had personally destroyed the antlers.  

Two of the four counts charged in the indictment are felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count.  The remaining two counts are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine per count. The case is being investigated by the USFWS, Office of Law Enforcement.

Alum Creek launch ramps slated for improvements this fall

COLUMBUS, OH � Construction work will begin in October on improvements to the popular New Galena and Hollenback boat launching facilities at Alum Creek State Park, according to the Ohio DNR. 

Both launch ramps will close temporarily beginning at 10 p.m. on Sunday, October 16.  The construction projects will entail rebuilding and resurfacing the ramps, as well as expansion of the parking areas.  

To facilitate the construction, the lake level at Alum Creek will be drawn down a total of eleven feet beginning September 15, and will reach the target level in about two months.  Most years, the lake drawdown total for the winter months is just three feet, beginning in mid October. 

Alum Creek�s Cheshire Boat Launch Ramp will remain open and available to boaters throughout the construction projects, although the boarding and launching docks will

be removed for the winter.  Two additional boat launch

ramps at Howard Road and the park�s campground will be unavailable when the lake drawdown is completed, due to the low water level. 

Other park facilities at the New Galena area, including the �Players� disc golf course and the snowmobile and multipurpose trail, will also be unavailable to park visitors during the construction project.  The New Galena area will remain closed until the anticipated completion date of June 20, 2012.  The Hollenback ramp will remain closed until the anticipated opening of May 1, 2012. 

Alum Creek State Park is located south of the city of Delaware.  Additional recreational facilities at the park, which will remain open during the boat ramp construction, include the Class A family campground with 286 electric sites; 38 miles of bridle trails and a 30-site primitive equestrian camp; 14 miles of mountain biking trails; and a dog park. 

Early Canada goose and mourning dove seasons open Sept. 1

MADISON � As September approaches so do the first fall hunting opportunities -- the early Canada goose and mourning dove seasons.

The early Canada goose season in Wisconsin runs Sept. 1-15 statewide. The dove season runs Sept. 1 � Nov. 9 statewide.

The early Canada goose season is made possible by the historic growth of local giant Canada goose populations. Wisconsin�s breeding population was up 12 percent this spring with 176,095 geese counted during the spring waterfowl survey. Harvest of Canada geese in the early season now amounts to one-third of the total annual Canada goose harvest in Wisconsin.

�The early season provides additional and ample opportunities for our goose hunters and directs harvest pressure toward these locally nesting geese,� said Kent Van Horn, migratory game bird ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources.

The early season daily bag limit is five birds. In addition to the standard small game hunting license and state and federal waterfowl stamps, participation requires a $3 early Canada goose permit and HIP certification. Registering for HIP (the federal Harvest Information Program) is free and can be done at any DNR service center or licensing sales agent. The national HIP registry allows biologists to more accurately survey hunters about important harvest information and participation.

There are no �zones� or �subzones� during the early season. The hunt is statewide regardless of what area hunters may hold a permit for during the regular goose season.   Wisconsin�s resident geese often change feeding and movement patterns this time of year, biologists

say.  �Hunters who scout prior to the hunt and stay mobile during the season give themselves the best chance for success,� said Van Horn.

Dove season details and safety tips

Mourning doves are one of the most abundant and widely distributed birds in Wisconsin and throughout North America and populations are stable and slowly growing, Van Horn said. On average, about 14,000 Wisconsin hunters harvest 140,000 mourning doves each year. As with Canada geese, mourning dove hunters should benefit from scouting to see where birds are flying as they move between roosts, water and feeding areas.

With a holiday weekend quickly following the opening of these hunts, there likely will be large numbers of people spending time outdoors.  �We encourage everyone to respect each other's interests,� said Van Horn. Dove hunters also must be HIP certified to be in compliance with state and federal law. This free and easy certification can be requested when purchasing a small game hunting license.

The national HIP registry allows biologists to more accurately survey hunters about important harvest information and participation.

Dove hunting regulation and safety reminders:

� Doves are migratory birds so hunters must use a plugged shotgun with a capacity not to exceed 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

� Nontoxic shot is required to hunt doves on all DNR managed lands.

� Avoid shooting at doves near power lines or shooting horizontally at low-flying birds where other hunters may be present. Following the basic rules of firearm safety should avoid these situations.

For more information see the Waterfowl in Wisconsin or mourning dove pages of the DNR website.

$1,300 Fine For Commercial Fishing Violations

A Lake Erie commercial fishing boat captain has been fined $1,300 for commercial fishing violations and ordered to pay an additional $1,280 to a Ministry of Natural Resources special purpose account that is used exclusively for fish and wildlife management.

Lino Cabral of Wheatley, the captain of the commercial fishing vessel Teresa Maria, pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his commercial fishing licence.

The court heard that Lake Erie Enforcement Unit conservation officers were able to determine that on December 8, 2010, while fishing out of Wheatley Harbour,

Cabral had reached his quota for yellow perch. On December 9, 2010, he caught an additional 106 kilograms (234 pounds) of yellow perch and on December 10, 2010, another 144 kilograms (318 pounds) in excess of his quota.

Justice of the Peace Elizabeth Neilson heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Windsor, on August 10, 2011.

To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours.  You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).