text:
from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
374 posts
I was pretty pumped when I solved the last box puzzle this morning. It was a headache, but I did it without cheating.
Hoping for an update soon, with more puzzles.
What an awesome game.
from the U.S.
1,771 posts
I finally made it. I did have to get help for 2 of the puzzles. I was about the point of insanity with them, and it turns out I had been very close on both of them.
Find deals on Mac apps at Mac App Deals
from Portland, Oregon
47 posts
Yo, banana boy!
▛▞▞▟ Proud Member of the BLUE Team™ ▙▚▚▜
from Universe (Sweden)
1,478 posts
Ehhh, finally!
twitter | website
dropbox referral +250MB | minus invite +1GB
from Luxembourg
22 posts
All done...
What's next?
The willing, deSteini guides them; the unwilling, deSteini drags them.
Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)
1 posts
from Singapore
1 posts
69 posts
Done! Let's get the main event started!
from Outpost Gallifrey
234 posts
from Santa Barbara, CA
11 posts
Finished it last night.
Had to look up some sliding tile game strategies to figure out how to go about them... but once you know how to attack any sliding tile puzzle it wasn't too bad.
Not sure how to unlock "Regular"... but pretty sure it has something to do with opening the app on a regular basis or time of day. Or does The Directorate have the GPS coordinates of my bathroom?
17 posts
Done without looking at the guides.
from MSP
38 posts
You know that annoying friend who completely finishes games? I'm that friend. http://theheistapp.com Just joined the 100% club. #TheHeist
from Iowa
142 posts
Just finished. My wife was a big help with the 15 puzzle. She's genius. We both liked the little robot moving boxes puzzle too. When I finally figured out the last one, I made sure she moved the last box. She deserved it.
Thank you MacHeist for saving my marriage! (A little hyperbole never hurt anyone.)
1 posts
from PoCo
113 posts
All done. Thanks Macheist!
from a frog flu resistant land.
1,904 posts
I'm in. 100% Completion. Anyone else only seeing 18 of 19 achievements in Game Center? This confuses me...
There's a list in the Achievements thread, check and see which one you're missing.
From a spam free, orange team, land
1 posts
All done yesterday, all by myself. Smugness mode activated.
from Germany
8 posts
Finished two days ago. Well crafted app. I hate the wooden blocks.
Free 2GB online storage and sync. Get DropBox and a storage bonus for free!
from Earth
111 posts
Did it with some help from the backroom. I did complete enough on my own to get the prize. Just haven't got any notice of it. Does it show in in your loot?
Go MacHeist! • Get Dropbox • free online backup space: Mac, PC, Unix & iPhone friendly -- using my link gets you & me extra space, thanks for clicking.
from Germany
25 posts
Yeah, got 100% here too
from Texas
9 posts
Mission accomplished!
from Evansville, IN
99 posts
100% Completed.
See my site: Barrycenter
from a frog flu resistant land.
1,904 posts
Did it with some help from the backroom. I did complete enough on my own to get the prize. Just haven't got any notice of it. Does it show in in your loot?
You should have seen it on your screen and received an email confirmation.
From a spam free, orange team, land


text:
Bangalore: The absconding eighth accused in the gang rape of a law student in Bangalore University campus last year, was arrested Tuesday - six days after a fast track court sentenced six of his accomplices to life imprisonment.
"Muthuraj alias Raja, 24, who hails from the neighbouring Ramanagar district and was absconding since the date of crime (Oct 10, 2012) has been arrested by the Jnana Bharati police today (Tuesday)," a senior police official told reporters here.
Raja is also accused of being involved earlier in three other criminal cases, including attempt to murder and robbery.
"The fast track court has remanded Raja to 14 days judicial custody after he was produced before the sessions` judge (K. Sangannavar) for interrogation and further investigation,"said Additional Commissioner of Police Kamal Pant.
As the seventh accused is a minor, he is being tried separately in the juvenile justice court here.
"The prosecution will seek stringent punishment to Raja as in the case of six convicts so that the sentence will deter others from indulging in such a heinous crime," Pant said.
The 21-year-old victim, who hails from Nepal, was the third year student of the state-run National Law School of India University, which is adjacent to the Jnana Bharati campus, about 20km from the city centre.
The six accused were convicted under section 376 (g) of the Indian Penal Code for gang-rape, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and other relevant sections of the IPC.
According to public prosecutor Sanjya Kumar Bhatt, the court had also directed the victim to claim compensation for the physical scar and lasting mental scar from the criminal injuries board.
"Justifying the maximum sentence, the judge said punishment should meet the seriousness and gravity of the crime, which involved not just the physical torture, but also the mental trauma of the victim that won`t go away for long time," Bhatt said quoting from the judgement.
The judge also took into account the pubic abhorrence of such heinous crimes in recent times across the country in deciding lifer for the convicted.
The six convicts -- Rama and Yaliyaiah (both 23 years), Maddura, Shivanna and Erayya (all 20 years) and Doddaerayya (19 years) - are residents of Bangalore Rural and Ramnagara districts.
The incident took place when the victim was on a walk in the sprawling green campus along with her male friend.
Taking advantage of the secluded spot and darkness, the gang bashed up the friend and sexually assaulted the victim after taking her forcibly into the nearby bushes.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Professor, Department of Medicine (General Internal Medicine)
Dr. Linnea Capps is a member of the faculty of the Department of Medicine and the residency program in Primary Care/Social Internal Medicine, part of the Residency Program in Social Medicine. She sees patients and supervises residents at the Montefiore Comprehensive Health Care Center in the South Bronx. She is also part of the Global Health and Clinical Skills program which works with a rural hospital in Kisoro, Uganda, where Montefiore residents and AECOM students participate in both patient care and the hospital's community health program.
Dr. Capps is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Medicine at Harlem Hospital, affiliated with Columbia University. She began her career as a National Health Service Corps physician in the Harlem Primary Care Network. She subsequently received a Master's degree in Public Health from Columbia University. She worked as a volunteer in community health in El Salvador for two years and then became the medical director of the Ambulatory Care Network Corporation of the Presbyterian Hospital and joined the faculty of Columbia University. She later returned to Harlem Hospital, where she initially worked as part of the Harlem AIDS Treatment Group, a unit of the Community Program for Clinical Research in AIDS. She then became the chief of the Division of General Medicine, then Associate Director of the Department of Medicine and the Residency Program Director. In addition, she was the coordinator of the 3rd year medicine clerkship for Columbia students at Harlem. She completed the Montefiore/Einstein/NYU Certificate Program in Bioethics and Medical Humanities in 2004 and served as chair of the Ethics Committee of Harlem Hospital. She has has been part of the Einstein/Montefiore faculty since 2012.
She has continued working in global health, in El Salvador, Mexico and Uganda. She is currently a member of the board of directors of Doctors for Global Health. Her academic interests include global health, health and human rights and teaching clinical skills and clinical reasoning.
Material in this section is provided by individual faculty members who are solely responsible for its accuracy and content.
Montefiore Medical Center
Comprehensive Health Care Center
305 East 161st Street , Room 323
Bronx, NY 10451


text:
(visited by Joseph Kerski)
03-Aug-2004 -- As I, Joseph Kerski, was en route to teach Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and GPS at the Mountain Studies Institute Summer Workshop in Durango, Colorado, I
thought it only fitting to visit a confluence along the way. I successfully visited 38 North, 106 West, in
one of the most beautiful places in Colorado, the San Luis Valley.
After driving southwest of Denver on US Highway 285 from 7am to 10:30am for a distance of 275 kilometers, I
entered the San Luis Valley. The Valley lies between the 14,000 foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo on the
east and the San Juan Mountains on the west, at 8,000 feet in elevation. At 22,000 square kilometers, it lays claim to be the largest alpine valley in the world. The San Luis Valley is underlain by the second largest
aquifer in North America, and local ranchers are increasingly under pressure to sell their water rights to the growing cities along the Colorado Front Range. At the eastern end of the valley lies the fascinating Great Sand
Dunes National Park, and the valley includes two natural wildlife refuges. The Rio Grande flows through here
en route to New Mexico and the Texas-Mexico border, and the area is rich in history. An hour's drive south of
the confluence lies San Luis, the oldest city in Colorado. Native Americans and Spaniards explored this area,
including Coronado and de Ulaterri; the latter claimed the land for Spain in 1708. In 1806, Zebulon Pike, after his
discovery of Pike's Peak, entered the San Luis Valley not realizing that he was on Spanish soil. At Pike's
Stockade near Alamosa, he was captured and taken prisoner to Santa Fe.
I drove south on Colorado State Highway 17 to the community of Moffat. On the south end of this agricultural
service town, I turned right on an unnamed Saguache (pronounced "Sa-watch") County road. I quickly realized
that I was on the road bearing to the northwest instead of west, and finding no roads to the south, I doubled
back to town. This time, I took the road running due west. I traveled on a road as straight as an arrow, a section-line road, past fields of crops and livestock.
Agriculture has long been the basis of the economy in the valley. As the valley receives only 20 centimeters
of precipitation annually, crops are grown using irrigation water whose source is the snow in the nearby
mountains. Principal crops are potatoes, alfalfa, hay, wheat, barley, and vegetables. After traveling west
for 8.2 kilometers, I stopped the vehicle at the side of the dirt road, made sure I had the necessary
equipment for my confluence trek, and plunged into the unknown.
The "unknown" in this terrain was a field of bare soil dotted with grasses, prickly pear cactus, and sage. It
was hardly a wilderness, within plain view of a ranch home to the northeast. However, the field had been left
alone for quite some time, lending it a somewhat wild look. In the past, cattle had obviously grazed here,
and it probably was farmed as well. The GPS gave 600 meters as the distance to the confluence on a path almost due north from the road. I scaled one barbed-wire fence. I kept one eye on the GPS and one eye out for snakes and cactus as I walked along. At 10:45am local time, I arrived at the confluence.
Due to the treeless terrain, I had no problem zeroing out the GPS unit. Much of the San Luis Valley is flat,
and the confluence site is no exception. The land drains toward the southeast according to the maps. Therefore, the confluence site must slope ever so slightly toward that direction, toward the Rio Grande. The GPS gave a reading of 7598 feet (2315 meters) above sea level. The valley boasts 320 sunny days each year, and this is mostly another one of them, though punctuated by brief periods of cloudiness. The temperature was 30 degrees C, already becoming warm, and winds were steady but not too blustery. More mosquitos lived at the confluence than I had expected, plus a beetle and some red ants. I could see fewer than 5 dwellings from the confluence. The population density here is quite low.
In Fall 2003, I had visited 106 West, just 1 degree north of here, at 39 North in Central Colorado. In Spring
2003, I visited 38 North at 113 West in southwest Utah. After spending about 25 minutes at the confluence, I
hiked back to the vehicle without incident. I proceeded west on the road that turned into County Road T, then to US Highway 285, and on towards Durango. It was indeed a fine way to begin the Mountain Studies Institute.


text:
Chris HicksHouston Astros
Pitcher | Ht: | Wt:
|Astros | Jason Castro not ready
Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:36:20 -0700
Houston Astros C Jason Castro (knee, rib cage) is not ready to participate in the Arizona Fall League, so C Roberto Pena has been added to take his place. Castro is dealing with a rib cage injury, but the team expects him to take over the spot in the AFL eventually. Other players on the team that are playing in the AFL are OFs Jay Austin and Jacob Goebbert, Ps Chris Hicks, Jason Stoffel, Dallas Keuchel and Josh Zeid and 1B Kody Hinze.
|Comment (0)
|| Share:
|| Source: Houston Chronicle - Zachary Levine


text: It's the Tuesday before Christmas, which means it's time for a hallowed holiday tradition here at Shorpy: The Office Xmas Party! Which has been going on for 92 years now. Will Clarence in Sales ever get up the nerve to ask out Hermione from Accounting? Is there gin in that oilcan? Ask the bear.


text:
General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC posted December U.S. vehicle sales gains that exceeded analysts' estimates, completing a year of surprising growth that helped propel the country's economy.
U.S. deliveries of cars and light trucks climbed 10 percent for Chrysler, 4.9 percent for GM and 1.6 percent for Ford, according to company statements. The automakers topped average estimates in a Bloomberg survey of 11 analysts. Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. all trailed estimates.
Chrysler, which analysts predicted would lose market share in 2012, increased annual sales more than any major automaker other than Toyota and Honda as the industry logged its best year in a half-decade. Those automakers joined GM and Ford in adding shifts and jobs at their U.S. factories, contributing an outsized boost to the nation's economic growth.
"If you want to hang your hat on something that's really improved in our industry, it's the North American auto business," George Magliano, senior principal economist for IHS Automotive in New York, said in a telephone interview. "It's a shining piece of U.S. manufacturing."
GM and Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford, the two largest automakers by U.S. sales, both issued 2013 forecasts today calling for the industry to exceed 15 million deliveries. Analysts projected 15.1 million annual light-vehicle sales, the average estimate of 18 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
Buyers Returning
"People are much more confident about jobs; banks and other credit institutions are much more willing to lend," Mustafa Mohatarem, chief economist for Detroit-based GM, said today on a conference call. "You're seeing the customer continue to come back into the marketplace."
U.S. automakers topped estimates for gains of 7.6 percent by Chrysler, 2.1 percent by GM and 1.2 percent by Ford in Bloomberg's survey.
Toyota's December sales rose 9 percent, according to its website, trailing eight analysts' average estimate for a 10 percent rise. The Toyota City, Japan-based releases deliveries by model in a statement later today.
Honda sales climbed 26 percent, the company said in a statement, missing the 32 percent increase that was the average of eight analysts' estimates. Nissan deliveries slipped 1.6 percent, according to an e-mailed statement, falling short of the average estimate for a 2.7 percent gain.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
See on Scoop.it – Science Communication from mdashf
A meteor that exploded over Russia this morning was the largest recorded object to strike the Earth in more than a century, scientists say. The explosion rivaled a nuclear blast, but the space rock was still too small for existing advance-warning networks to spot. Infrasound data collected by a network designed to watch for nuclear weapons testing suggests that today's blast released hundreds of kilotons of energy. That would make it far more powerful than the nuclear weapon tested by North Korea just days ago and the largest rock crashing on the planet since a meteor broke up over Siberia's Tunguska river in 1908.
"It was a very, very powerful event," says Margaret Campbell-Brown, an astronomer at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, who has studied data from two infrasound stations near the impact site. Her calculations show that the meteoroid was approximately 15 meters across when it entered the atmosphere, and put its mass at around 40 tons. "That would make it the biggest object recorded to hit the Earth since Tunguska," she says.
The meteor appeared at around 09:25 a.m. local time over the region of Chelyabinsk, near the southern Ural Mountains. The fireball blinded drivers and a subsequent explosion blew out windows and damaged hundreds of buildings. So far, more than 700 people are reported to have been injured, mainly from broken glass, according to a statement from the Russian Emergency Ministry.
See on www.scientificamerican.com


text:
Linked by David Adams on Thu 16th May 2013 04:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."


text:
Three former ICAP Plc employees were charged by U.S. prosecutors in a scheme to manipulate Libor as the interdealer broker was fined $88 million in a five-year international probe of rigging of benchmark interest rates.
The brokers, who regulators said took advantage of a poor compliance culture at ICAP to manipulate yen Libor in exchange for money, dinners and champagne, face two counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. The three men -- two former derivatives brokers and an ex-cash broker prosecutors said they called 'lord Libor' -- face as long as 30 years in prison if convicted of the most serious counts.
ICAP, the world's largest broker of transactions between banks, was also fined $65 million by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and 14 million pounds ($22.5 million) by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, the regulators said today. Mythili Raman, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department's criminal division, said the ICAP probe is ongoing.
"No one is out of the woods at this point," Raman said. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, at a press conference in Washington, called the brokers' conduct "egregious" and "an attempt to manipulate markets to try to enrich clients."
First Penalties
London-based Barclays Plc, Zurich-based UBS and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc have previously been fined as part of the probe. Firms including Rabobank Groep, Lloyds Banking Group Plc and Deutsche Bank AG are still under investigation.
The monetary penalties against ICAP are the first for an interdealer broker in the global rate-rigging investigation. Seven people have been charged and four financial institutions have been fined about $2.6 billion. Barclays Chief Executive Officer Robert Diamond was forced to resign last year after the lender became the first institution penalized in the scandal.
"We deeply regret and strongly condemn the inexcusable actions of the brokers who sought to assist certain bank traders in their efforts to manipulate yen Libor," Michael Spencer, chief executive of ICAP, said in a statement. He said no provision has been made by the company for Libor.
Besides the three brokers, charged with colluding with traders at UBS AG in a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, another seven ICAP employees were "congenitally involved," Spencer said during a conference call. Of them, "the majority are no longer with the firm," and the ones who are have been "appropriately disciplined," he said.
The FCA said today in a statement that "three brokers, including one manager, were central to the collusion, although at least seven other individuals, including another manager, spanning three desks also participated."
Spencer said in July of last year that probes into Libor were "not a high priority or a high concern" as ICAP wasn't "front and forward" in the investigations.
ICAP rose 3.6 percent on the announcement of the charges and settlements, to 392.70 pence. It closed at 388.40 pence.
The FCA said that ICAP failed to have effective oversight of the brokers involved. The misconduct "was exacerbated by a poor compliance culture" at the firm which focused on revenue over regulatory requirements.
The firm is also under investigation by the CFTC over allegations that ISDAfix, the benchmark for the $379 trillion swaps market, was manipulated by brokers.
Daily E-Mail
The three former ICAP employees, Darrell Read, of New Zealand, and Daniel Wilkinson and Colin Goodman, both from England, were charged with helping senior UBS trader Tom Hayes rig rates. Goodman, the cash broker, sent out a daily e-mail to his contacts outside of ICAP, including derivatives traders at large banks and people responsible for providing the British Bankers Association with Libor submissions, the U.S. alleged in its complaint.
The note, where Goodman would allegedly include his suggestions on where yen Libor would be each day across eight borrowing periods, was used to disseminate misinformation to help Hayes, according to the complaint.
The FCA said that UBS made more than 330 written requests to ICAP brokers over a four-year period to help them with inappropriate rate submissions.
A "significant part" of Read and Wilkinson's compensation was tied to the brokerage fees generated by a UBS trader and paid to ICAP, the U.S. said.
'False Information'
"These three men are accused of repeatedly and deliberately spreading false information to banks and investors around the world in order to fraudulently move the market and help their client fleece his counterparties," Justice Department official Raman said in a statement.
The three defendants aren't in custody, she said, declining further comment on their whereabouts.
Arrest warrants issued Sept. 13 for the men in London and Wellington, New Zealand, remain unexecuted, according to court records. Goodman and Wilkinson didn't immediately respond to e- mails seeking comment. Read couldn't be immediately reached.
The U.S. charged Hayes and Roger Darin in December as part of the Libor probe. Hayes was also charged in the U.K. by the Serious Fraud Office, along with two former brokers at RP Martin Holdings Ltd. He faces eight charges of conspiracy to defraud for assisting employees at 10 banks and brokerages, including ICAP, to manipulate yen Libor rates over a four-year period.
Hayes is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 21 in London.
Fix Rates
According to the CFTC, a broker at ICAP also asked a yen Libor submitter at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc to fix rates on their behalf to benefit a UBS trader, which the regulator didn't name. In one note, a sterling broker offered the submitter a steak for his help, the CFTC said. The regulator today closed its five-year probe of silver market manipulation without bringing any enforcement actions.
Richard Morton, a spokesman for UBS, and Debbie Phillips, a spokeswoman for Edinburgh-based RBS, declined to comment on the ICAP settlements or the U.S. allegations.
Interdealer brokers such as ICAP act as go-betweens for banks that trade bonds, stocks, currencies, energy and derivatives. Brokers assumed greater influence as credit markets froze during the early stages of the financial crisis in 2007. Bankers who made submissions to Libor increasingly relied on information from the brokers to determine what figures to contribute because there were no trades on which to base them.
That left the benchmark vulnerable to manipulation by traders trying to profit from bets on derivatives.
'Sheep' Panel
The former ICAP brokers charged today referred to the panel bank submitters as "sheep" when they copied their suggestions on Libor, according to the CFTC. The regulator found that at least two banks' submissions mirrored the ICAP brokers' suggestions as much as 90 percent of the time.
The brokers provided the help on Libor to keep the business of the UBS employee, a senior yen trader, which accounted for as much as 20 percent of the Yen derivatives desk's revenue, the CFTC said.
ICAP employees allegedly conspired with Hayes to manipulate yen Libor, according to the SFO.
Separately, Hayes is also accused of working with employees of the interdealer brokers RP Martin and Tullett Prebon Plc to manipulate rates, according to court documents.
Brokers at some firms took bribes as payment for the services in the form of so-called wash trades, where counterparties place two or more matching trades through the broker that cancel one another out while triggering payment of fees to the middle man, regulators have said in earlier cases.
Champagne Shipment
In one e-mail in the ICAP case, in which six-month Libor wasn't being rigged how Hayes allegedly wanted it, Read told Wilkinson that "this is getting serious Tom is not happy with the way things are progressing" and to fix it, according to the U.S. complaint. "This is very important because Hayes is questioning my (and our) worth."
In another exchange where Hayes allegedly said he thought he owed Goodman, Read responded that Goodman was "ok with an annual champagne shipment, a few piss ups with Danny and a small bonus every now and then," according to court papers.
At the request of the ICAP brokers, UBS agreed to raise their monthly fixed fee in mid-2007 by about 5,000 pounds. About 5,000 pounds per quarter of the additional funds was paid to Goodman at Wilkinson's request, the U.S. said.
The CFTC said "the yen cash broker who disseminated the false suggested Libors demanded compensation from the yen derivativesdesk for his 'Libor services' or 'no more Mr. Libor.'"
Dinners, Kickbacks
The regulator said that the cash broker's demands "grew from dinners and champagne, to additional commission-generating trades, to 'kickbacks' totaling $72,000."
"Here, certain ICAP brokers were anything but honest," said David Meister, the CFTC's director of enforcement, said. "They repeatedly abused their trusted role when they infected the financial markets with false information to aid their top client's manipulation of Libor."
CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton agreed, saying in an interview today that the "brazen" effort to fix the benchmark rate and the "success at manipulation were crazy."
In the Justice Department complaint, prosecutors refer to an unidentified junior trader at UBS who is cooperating as part of a non-prosecution agreement in the continuing investigation.
Raman, the acting U.S. assistant attorney general, said at a press conference that, while she couldn't speak about the UBS trader, "it is one way of securing cooperation under appropriate circumstances depending on the level of culpability."
The case is U.S. v. Read, 13-mag-02224, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Manhattan).
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
Visit Us
We welcome visitors to the BCDC year-round, and we look forward to seeing you often!
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am – 4:30pm with evening workshops and employer info sessions in a variety of locations (check Handshake for the schedule). Feel free to stop in at 53 Campus Avenue for a scheduled or impromptu visit:
- Career counseling and advising – individual meetings and walk-ins
- Attend an employer information session or workshop
- Use the BCDC resource library and computers
- Borrow quiet office space for an interview by phone or Skype
- Drop by to share news of internship and job offers!
Not sure what the BCDC has to offer? Don't know where to begin with resumes, cover letters and networking?
- Walk-in hours for quick questions and an introduction to our resources are available every week day during the academic year:
Career Development Fellows: Monday to Friday 1pm-3pm, and Wednesdays 7-9pm at the library in the area outside the Peer Writing Center.
Need more time with a career counselor to assess your interests, explore career paths, develop a customized job/ internship strategy, conduct a mock interview, or discuss graduate/professional school as an option?
- Individual 45-minute career counseling sessions are available daily by appointment year-round
Interested in asking a quick question, scheduling an appointment, or picking up some career resource handouts as you breeze through New Commons for lunch?
- Tabling sessions in New Commons are offered every Wednesday from 11:30am-1pm during the academic year
Planning to attend employer information sessions, workshops and other events to learn more?
- Sign up to receive the BCDC Bulletin, a regular newsletter that keeps you posted on all the latest
Where to Find Us
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207-786-6232 | Fax: 207-786-6126 | email@example.com


text:
OTTAWA – One team, with its back against the wall, played like it. The other, with a chance to clinch at least a piece of the Northern Illinois Big 12 West title, didn't play like it all.
The Ottawa Pirates got off to fast start and closed with a strong finish Thursday at Kingman Gym, downing the Sterling Golden Warriors 46-35. Both teams are now tied for the NIB-12 West lead with two games left.
"I told Julie [Schroeder, Sterling's coach] after the game that you could tell her team had one in hand," Ottawa coach Mike Cooper said. "We knew if we lost tonight, we were done in the conference [race], and our girls came out with an effort that reflected that."
"We can't come out content, especially not against a team that's got something to play for," Sterling junior Kiarra Harris said. "Ottawa played with more energy, and had fight in them tonight, and they deserved to win."
After jumping out to a 15-4 lead early in the second quarter, Ottawa (18-5, 7-1) used a 12-0 run to end the third period and begin the fourth to take control. Catie Carlson scored the final six points of the third, then Jasmin Bailey buried back-to-back 3-pointers to open the fourth, turning a tenuous 29-28 lead into a 41-28 margin.
"Our execution wasn't there, and give credit to Ottawa because their defense was tremendous," Schroeder said. "We fought back after falling behind early, but they hit some big shots and we didn't."
Sterling (14-12, 7-1) struggled on the offensive end all night. The Warriors committed 22 turnovers and only 10 came on Ottawa steals. They shot 1-for-12 (8.3 percent) from 3-point range, the make coming from Stephanie Kester as the final buzzer sounded.
The poor offense canceled out a 35-21 advantage on the boards, and the Warriors forced just five Ottawa turnovers in the game. Sterling managed just four shot attempts in the fourth quarter – the same number of turnovers it committed in the period.
"I thought we played excellent defense, with the exception of a couple of minutes there in the second quarter," Cooper said. "They got a couple of shots to fall, then a couple of layups on slip screens to the basket, but I thought we played really good defense the rest of the way.
"Plus, we really took care of the ball. Bailey only had three 3s, but they were big ones, and Carlson not only scored for us, but also handled the ball well."
Carlson led all scorers with 15 points, and she also dished four assists and nabbed two steals. Bailey had nine points and four steals, and Jaleesa Kindred (7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Cassidy Rice (5 points, 7 rebounds) both had strong all-around games.
"Our girls were really quiet before the game," Cooper said, "and I didn't know if that meant they were nervous or afraid or what. Turns out, they were just extremely focused, and even though there's still a long way to go, we put ourselves in good position [in the conference race]."
Stephanie Kester led Sterling with nine points, and Kaitlyn Bauer added eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Harris finished with six points and 18 rebounds, while Gabby Sandoval chipped in four points and five assists.
Sterling fell into a 15-4 deficit 18 seconds into the second quarter, thanks to nine first-period turnovers. The Warriors clawed their way back, though, using a 12-2 run to get within a point, 17-16, with 2:36 left in the first half. Sandoval, Kester and Pearson all hit jumpers to start the run, then Bauer and Harris followed up a Carlson bucket with two baskets in the paint apiece, and Sterling was in business.
The game stayed close for most of the third quarter. Trailing 21-18 at the break, the Warriors scored six of the first eight points of the third quarter to take a 24-23 lead 2:34 into the second half. Kester hit a jumper, then found a cutting Sandoval for another hoop before Harris nailed an elbow jumper.
Baskets by Rice and Kindred put the Pirates back up three, then Carlson sandwiched a floater in the lane between a Kester basket and a McKenna Pearson pull-up jumper for the 29-28 lead.
"We weren't as aggressive in the second half as we were in the second quarter," Harris said. "They didn't back, played like they wanted to win more than we did, and that's something we have to learn from."
"We are most definitely still in good shape for a conference title, which was our No. 1 goal at the start of the year," Schroeder added. "We have to shake this one off, and take care of business in the two conference games we have left."
Girls basketball
Ottawa 46, Sterling 35
Star of the game: Catie Carlson, Ottawa, 15 points, 4 assists, 2 steals
Key performers: Jasmin Bailey, Ottawa, 9 points, 4 steals; Jaleesa Kindred, Ottawa, 7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks; Kaitlyn Bauer, Sterling, 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks; Kiarra Harris, Sterling, 6 points, 18 rebounds
Up next: Sterling at Kaneland, 4:30 p.m. Saturday


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After unheralded left-handed rookie Kason Gabbard silenced the White Sox Tuesday night, a calm Ozzie Guillen sent a signal out to his club.
"Right now, it's time to wake up and make a run," Guillen said after Gabbard extended the Sox's offensive misery in a 1-0 loss to Boston at damp Fenway Park. "Don't wait for the last week or two weeks because it might be too late. It's time to start playing better. When you don't hit, it seems like you're flat. But in the meantime, we have to keep pushing and don't get off the pedal."
The Sox are in desperate need of more than just a kick-start. Gabbard and reliever Mike Timlin limited the Sox to four hits in handing them their fourth shutout loss of the season and their fifth loss in the last six games.
Javier Vazquez was the latest victim of the Sox's offensive malaise. He lost despite pitching a three-hit complete game and striking out 11.
The loss dropped the Sox 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota in the American League wild-card race with 24 games left. They remained 5 1/2 behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central.
"It's my job and my coaching staff's job to make sure we believe in ourselves and we come out of it," Guillen said. "Don't look at Detroit. Don't look at Minnesota. Just look at yourselves. I don't think they're going to put their heads down and feel sorry for themselves. I'm their biggest supporter."
Right fielder Ryan Sweeney will start Wednesday night's series finale after getting two hits in his first major-league start. Sweeney had half of the Sox's hit total.
The White Sox have averaged less than one run in the first six innings of their last seven games, placing added pressure on a rotation that has been maligned most of the season.
The Sox have wasted exceptional efforts by Jon Garland and Vazquez (11-9), who retired the final 13 batters and held Boston sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez hitless in six at-bats with four strikeouts.
The Red Sox scored their run in the fourth when Trot Nixon hit a one-out double and scored on Coco Crisp's two-out single.
"That's what's frustrating," said catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who is 1-for-15 on this trip. "We just have to find a way to win the game, get going the right way and head home."
The Sox have been handcuffed in the last three games by Kansas City left-hander Mark Redman (5.26 ERA), Boston's emergency starter Julian Tavarez and Gabbard, who recently was promoted from Triple A. Gabbard had a 6.35 ERA in four major-league appearances and wasn't listed among Boston's top 30 prospects by Baseball America.
"These are games I'm sure people expect us to win, and I expect us to win just about every game," Pierzynski said. "I'm just as frustrated as the next guy. I hit the ball hard, and guys turn them into double plays and diving catches."
The Sox loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Paul Konerko hit into his 16th double play with runners in scoring position this season. He hit into his 21st double play overall in the seventh.
The Sox also had runners at first and third in the sixth. Joe Crede, making his first start in the third spot in place of Jermaine Dye, hit a line drive. But third baseman Mike Lowell atoned for a third-inning error by catching the liner and throwing to first to double up Tadahito Iguchi and kill the rally.
"That kid (Gabbard) was good enough, but you expect to have better at-bats against those guys," Guillen said. "We're not swinging the bats good. They got us at the right time."


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Marlins -125 over Cubs (Fernandez must start)
Good end to July and hope to keep it going in August.
Fun time of year now in baseball as the stretch run is here!
Marlins -125 over Cubs (Fernandez must start)
Good end to July and hope to keep it going in August.
Fun time of year now in baseball as the stretch run is here!
Duh. Don't bet against the Cubs!
Beat a good pitcher last night.
0-1 for August. (-$125)
Baltimore +100 over Rangers
Reds +1.5 (-140) over Cards
Twins +160 over Indians
Philly +1.5 (+105) over Giants
Jays/Astos OVER 7.5 (-105)
Seattle +105 over Red Sox
If this carries into football season we are all in trouble.
5-1 yesterday. I will take that....Thanks kman.
Seattle +128 over Boston
Cards -145 over Reds
Philly +105 over SF
Pitts/ATL OVER 9 (-105)
Maybe a couple more later...
Easy come easy go. Thats the thing about baseball. Can turn on you in a day!
0-4 yesterday after a 5-1.
Cards -210/Seattle -174
Rangers +159 over Astros
Marlins -108 over Rockies
Took the weekend off and watched the Cards blow a much needed series against the Braves. Terrible showing.
Reds +1.5 (-125) over Cards---Until they prove me wrong Cards are a go against.
Oriloles -142 over A's
Seattle -120 over Tigers
Rangers/Rockies OVER 10.5 (-110)
2-1 on Friday's plays.
2-2 yesterday--small loss.
Nats -173/Cards -190
Astors -130 over Twins
Oakland +122 over Orioles
Philly +1.5 (-120) over Dodgers
2-2 yesterday again.
One play Wendesday--
Do or die time for Matheny and the Cards...
Cards -155 over Reds---Win this one or mail it in. Matheny is losing these guys with his horrible decisions. Never like to blame a manager but some of the strategy lately is mind blowing.
Look for the cubs to start resting starters with a 12 game cushion
Win with the Cards although it wasn;t easy. I think the Cubs sweep the Cards at Wrigley and knock them out of the wild card race for good.
Cubs -160 over Cards
A's +1.5 (-135) over Baltimore---Everything screams the O's but they cannot score and are slumping. A's get the sweep this afternoon.
Angels +210 over Indians
1-2 yesterday.
Cubs/Cards OVER 8 (-120)....Cubs will win again too. Waino has been hangind his curve ball and cubs will tee off.
Indians -165 over Angels
Orioles -129 over Giants
A's +160 Over Rangers
LAA +1.5 (-135) over Seattle
DBacks -120 over Mets
2-1 monday.
Astros -158 over Cards
Royals +133 over Tigers
Padres +164 over Rays
Philly +151 over Dodgers
Yanks -103 over Jays
1-4 yesterday- Ouch.
early starts--
Astros -110 over Cards ---2 units.
well, My Cards are getting hot....Loss with the Astros.
Wednesday Night--
Philly +174 over Dodgers
Baltimore +102 over Boston
Mets/Dback OVER 10.5 (-115)
Pirates -142
Philly/cards over 8.5
Rockies +152
Royals -157
Yanks -130
Dodgers -150
Really Love this card so beware!!!
4-2 yesterday. small profit. Dog winner rockies helped blance out the pirate loss.
Astros +133 over Pirates
Yanks -115 over Seattle
Indians/Red Sox --Parlay
Over 9.5 (-120) Balty/Washington
Hey Woodee
Cards seem to be heating up at the right time-
Yeah, got the bats going now. Would be nice to grab that first WC spot but not expecting much actually.
Mets +1.5 (-130) over Cards


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Avail. this weekend 12/10 , 11 and 12th. Will come your way. Let us know.
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Please contact me if you want to play singles.
Hello John.
Would you like to play doubles tomorrow morning? I have 3 of us in the 3.5 range. Call me @ 760-459-0165. Need to know ASAP.
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|Episode Description
|Friday, Aug 17, 2012 - 7:00 AM
This documentary celebrates the centennial of the oldest (and smallest) ballpark in America. Using a Red Sox-Yankees game as a backdrop, the film tells the story of Fenway's long history as a venue for sports and as a public space such as a 1918 Irish Republican rally, FDR's last presidential campaign speech, and concerts by Bruce Springsteen. G
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McIlroy, feeling 'lost,' shoots 74 at Irish Open
BERNIE McGUIRE
Jun. 27, 2013
MAYNOOTH, Ireland (AP) — Saying he's "feeling a bit lost" in a difficult year, Rory McIlroy shot a 2-over 74 on Thursday in the Irish Open to fall eight strokes behind first-round leader Oscar Floren.
The second-ranked McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, had four bogeys and two birdies in wet and overcast conditions at Carton House on the outskirts of Dublin. McIlroy hit only five of 14 fairways and took 34 putts.
"At the moment, no aspects of my game are strong and I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment," he said. "It feels good on the range and I can hit all the shots, but when I get out on the course it really does not seem to be there.
"Off the tee, I am missing one right and then missing one left and it's just not going where I want it. It gets you in two minds every time you are playing a tee shot. The game is just not coming easy to me at the moment and while I was struggling at this point last year, I was able to turn the corner in the middle of the summer and have a great end to my season. I don't know whether it's a matter of trying to play my way out of it or just keep grinding away on the range or whatever."
Floren, from Sweden, had a 6-under 66. He drove the green on the par-4 13th and holed a 20-foot eagle putt.
"I just came out and hit everything really, really pure," Floren said.
American Peter Uihlein was a stroke back along with Dutchman Joost Luiten, , France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey and Ireland's Shane Lowry.
Uihlein, the Madeira Islands Open winner last month, is making his 10th European Tour start of the year. The former Oklahoma State star won the 2010 U.S. Amateur.
Lowry, the 2009 winner at County Louth as an amateur, had six birdies and a bogey played alongside McIlroy.
"I was just chomping at the bit to get out there this morning and I was just trying to play me way into the tournament nicely so I'm really pleased with a 67," he said.
Hoey said wife Barbara had their first child induced last week so he could compete in the event.
"It's great being a father and already it's added a new perspective to my life," said Hoey, a four-time European Tour winner.


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"There's a name for you, ladies. But it isn't used in high society…outside of a kennel." We all know and love that zinger from the 1939 classic The Women — or at least we should! — and it will certainly apply to the participants of TVLine's next great bracket tournament.
Yes folks, get ready for TV's Ultimate Mean Girl, a single-elimination tourney that will celebrate the small screen's all-time greatest she-devils, harpies, vixens, harridans, and "rhymes with the English-language equivalent of brujas." The tournament obviously would be invalid without the likes of Revenge's Victoria Grayson, Melrose Place's Amanda Woodward, and Ugly Betty's Wilhelmina Slater, but we need a total of 64 delectable ladies to channel our inner Tim Gunns and make it work. And that's where you come in.
Head on down to the comments section and nominate your favorite TV mean girls — we welcome characters from classic TV series all the way through to current hits — and give us a few reasons why these battle axes shouldn't be left out of our tournament. We'll then scour your list of nominees and your well-reasoned arguments to select our full roster of 64.
So start your nominating below, and for up-to-the-minute alerts on when TV's Ultimate Mean Girls will begin, sign up to follow me on Twitter @MichaelSlezakTV!Follow @MichaelSlezakTV


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This week in Island history
The news of 10 and 15 years ago is from the Jamestown Press. The news of 100 years ago came from the collection of the Newport Historical Society.
100 years ago From the Newport Daily News, February 19, 1909
The fishermen are making fairly good catches and with the prevailing good price are doing better than at any time this winter.
From the Newport Daily News, February 22, 1909
Yesterday and today could well pass for spring, the weather more resembling May than February. Already one of the local farmers has begun plowing his potato field and several people have reported seeing robins and blackbirds.
75 years ago From the Newport Daily News, February 15, 1934
(letter to the editor by A. O'D. Taylor) Probably the idea of a trip to Jamestown at this time, when the frozen waters of the inner harbor are so solidly congealed as to permit walking on the ice from Newport to the Torpedo Station, would be the least alluring excursion most Newporters could imagine. (The letter describes a ferry trip through ice floes.)
From the Newport Daily News, February 19, 1934
The first meeting of the committee on a fitting celebration for Fourth of July has been held. … The proposed outline of celebration is a parade with some special features which are being negotiated. There will be a field meet with junior and senior classes for both girls and boys. … It is hoped that a tug of war may be arranged between two of the battleships' bands attending. There will be dancing and a fireworks display during the evening.
Steamer Beavertail left Jamestown at noon Saturday for Saunderstown, and considerable ice was en- countered in the bay and the steamer could not make the slip.
50 years ago From the Newport Daily News, February 19, 1959
The Bubble Gum Bunch defeated the Lucky Streekers (sic), 16-14, in a Jamestown Junior Girls Basketball League game yesterday.
Barbara Cobb of Grade 6 Jamestown Elementary School won the prize for the most original entry in the school's science fair Tuesday for her entry on "Earthworms, their use and effect on gardens." She received a watch as a prize.
25 years ago From the Newport Daily News, February 15, 1984
Town voters early this morning approved, 231- 78, the construction of a full service trash disposal facility at the site of the Jamestown sanitary landfill. The Solid Waste Management Committee claims the project will cost $350,000. The vote reversed a previous one under which the town would have joined a regional transfer station in South Kingstown.
From the Newport Daily News, February 17, 1984
A public hearing on a proposed school budget (for $2.1 million) attracted one person Thursday night.
15 years ago From the Jamestown Press, February 17, 1994
Islanders had barely finished digging out from under an earlier storm when snow began falling last Friday in amounts that had some residents thinking they might be in for another Blizzard of '78. (Jamestown received about 20 inches of snow.)
Town officials may spend up to $15,000 on engineering costs in an effort to find the most feasible way to expand the municipal water supply. The Town Council Monday voted unanimously to extend the life of its Water Study Committee for six months and make a $15,000 line item earmarked for general engineering expenses in the 1994-95 budget available for investigating ways to prevent water shortages like the one last summer.
10 years ago From the Jamestown Press, February 18, 1999
Representatives from the state Department of Environmental Management brought town officials up to date on their plans to build a $2 million fisheries laboratory at Ft. Wetherill State Park on land adjacent to a parcel where the town's highway barn is located.
(photo caption) Eastern utilities gave islanders a gift in the form of 10 flowering trees as part of its community stewardship program.


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In late 2012, floods swamped the United Kingdom and news reports said tens of thousands of residents had been affected. It was the kind of natural hazard the Earth Observatory tries to cover, but floods can be hard to see. When heavy rains are in progress, storm clouds typically hide the flooding from satellite sensors. Even if flooding lingers after the clouds clear away, certain types of land cover (such as dense forests) can make floods notoriously difficult to spot.
Another way of seeing floods caused by rainfall is to look at the rainfall itself. The Earth Observatory sometimes publishes imagery from the Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA). MPA estimates rainfall by combining measurements from multiple satellites and calibrating them using rainfall measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite.
But as its name implies, TRMM focuses on the tropics. More specifically, TRMM specializes in picturing moderate to heavy rainfall over the tropical and subtropical regions. So we can visualize rainfall at relatively low latitudes, but places like the United Kingdom are too far north for this approach to work well.
Fortunately a solution is on the horizon—or more accurately, set to launch next year. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is an international collaboration spearheaded by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Scheduled to launch in June 2014, the GPM Core Observatory will improve upon TRMM by extending observations to higher latitudes. And GPM won't just focus on heavy rain; it will also observe light rain and snow, which comprise a significant portion of the precipitation at higher latitudes.
The NASA overview of GPM explains:
GPM will provide global precipitation measurements with improved accuracy, coverage, and dynamic range for studying precipitation characteristics. GPM is also expected to improve weather and precipitation forecasts through assimilation of instantaneous precipitation information.
So although the EO can't visualize heavy rains in places like the UK now, that situation should change after the launch of GPM.


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This post is one in a series where SageCircle pulls out the crystal ball and looks ahead to what happens in the analyst ecosystem in 2010. See below for links to all posts in this series.
As 2009 comes to a close there are only a few examples of analyst-created communities built on social networks. One example is the IDC Insights Community, which was launched in March 2009 and is built on a white-label social network platform. This is an open community that anybody, including competitors to IDC, can register to join. This is an interesting experiment by IDC as it potentially enhances IDC's ability to increase its visibility with enterprise clients.
While 2010 will see more analyst-operated open communities built on free tools like LinkedIn Groups or purchased social networking platforms, the most interesting and controversial communities will be the "gated communities" that Forrester and/or Gartner might launch. These closed communities would only be available to clients of the firms.
Social media purists will no doubt howl that a closed social network violates the spirit of communities and that the firms are dumb for not using the communities a marketing tool to build awareness to non-clients. Perhaps these objections are valid, but there are valid reasons why closed, managed communities will actually be welcomed by enterprise end users. Not everybody is comfortable with the rough-and-tumble attitude of some open communities. In some cases a limited number of participants – hiding behind anonymity – feel empowered to be rude, disruptive, and counterproductive. Some enterprise managers will like communities focused specifically on their job responsibilities. Forrester and Gartner can easily facilitate this because they have already moved toward role-based research and self-identifications. Other enterprise managers will enjoy being part of an exclusive club. Yet another group of managers would resent that "freeloaders" who do not have contracts are getting free access to what they are spending tens of thousands of dollars, Euros, or yen to purchase.
Client-only programs are very popular at the big two advisory firm. For example, Gartner has around 3,500 members in its CIOs-only EXP service. If Gartner includes concierge service for the CIOs in the community, encourages analyst participation, and effectively promotes the community within its EXP membership, it could build a thriving CIO-centric community. This community would in turn become a valuable asset for selling EXP memberships.
What could be especially controversial for vendors is if the firms do not permit vendor staff to participate in the communities. There are examples, like EXP, where vendors are not allowed to sign up for the service simply because they are a vendor.
SageCircle Technique:
- Competitors to Forrester and Gartner will need to monitor any closed communities to determine if this is an approach that may be emulated or countered with open communities
- Enterprise clients and prospects of Forrester and Gartner should carefully weigh the benefits of joining a closed community, especially if part of a premium priced service (e.g., Gartner for IT Leaders)
- Vendor AR teams will need include more budget funding for access of at least one seat to any closed communities in order to learn about how they are being adopted by end users – assuming the firms permit vendors to join the communities.
Bottom Line: Communities can be very powerful for analyst firms, but it is still too early to know what the right approach is going to be. 2010 will be a time of experimentation with closed communities being one of the models tried.
Question: Enterprise clients of Forrester and Gartner – Would a firm-owned private network make you more likely or less likely to participate in a community?
Looking ahead to 2010 Series
- Analyst Market…
- Social Media…
- Forrester or Gartner launch a client-only social network
- Increasing number of enterprise technology purchases influenced by analyst social media commentary
- AR teams will get in trouble with executives for being surprised by analysts' social media commentary
- Events…
- More AR teams adopt virtual events, with mixed results
- In 2H10, analyst firms will start launching new events but will still be behind pre-2009 numbers
- Analyst relations…
- AR teams implementing AR-Sales partnerships document hard ROI resulting in added headcount
- An AR function is completely disbanded to be subsumed into a new influencer group… with disastrous results
Filed under: Commentary, Social media | Tagged: analyst relations, AR, communities, community platform, Forrester, Gartner, social networks |


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Internet broadcast brings prairies to schools
A unique opportunity for environmentally oriented students to learn more about the plight of the prairie and become more ecologically aware is now available for students nationwide.
An interactive broadcast scheduled for May 10 will give school kids across five states an opportunity to learn about life on the prairie at 10 a.m.
"Teachers from Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico will be tuning in to an interactive broadcast about the short-mixed grass prairies," said Colin Berg, education supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The broadcast is part of a cooperative effort to educate students about the importance of our native prairies. Students will learn there is more to the prairie than grass."
Students will tour the prairie with biologists and explore the diversity and interconnectedness of all things, living and non-living, added Berg. They will get a firsthand look at how people are working together to improve and maintain the prairie, and will meet landowners that are managing their land for the benefit of people and wildlife.
Students will also have a chance to observe the prairie chicken. The birds are often referred to as prairie icons and are related to sage and sharp-tailed grouse. The program will allow students to witness the prairie chicken's beautiful courtship behavior and join fellow students as they help biologists radio track the bird across its home range.
Little is known about most prairie species, but viewers will see a lot can be learned through radio telemetry (tracking). It is only one of the technological advancements that allows researchers, wildlife biologists and landowners the opportunity to learn about the animals that make the prairie their home.
"It isn't easy work, but it is challenging and very rewarding to know that what you are doing could play a part in ensuring the survival of a prairie icon," said Fred Allen, a research technician for the Sutton Avian Research Center. "When we trap a bird, we take certain biological samples which tell us more about the bird, and then attach a radio collar to the bird so we can track their daily movements and learn more about what they need to survive."
A select group of 28 6th-8th graders from Millwood, an urban Oklahoma City School, will be learning first hand what life on the prairie is like for prairie chickens, ranchers and researchers. Their morning will start at 4 a.m. as they make their way to viewing blinds in hopes of catching a glimpse and successfully trapping a lesser prairie chicken.
Berg said that teachers and students who tune in May 10 will have a chance to interactively learn along with the Millwood students, but they won't have to get up at 4 a.m. since the broadcast will be airing at 10 a.m. on the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA), as well as on satellite.
Teachers of grades 5-8 interested in learning more about this interactive learning opportunity should access the web site for the National Conservation Training Center of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: http://distancelearning.fws.gov/discovering_our_high_plains_prai.htm. This will be an interactive television broadcast and It will be available on both digital and analog transmission. Viewing information is available at http://distancelearning.fws.gov/ More information about prairie wildlife is available on the Wildlife Department's webpage at www.wildlifedepartment.com
Funding bill reaches critical stage
Although Oklahoma's outdoor recreational opportunities have never been better - record deer harvests, increasing turkey populations, record fish being boated regularly - staying on top is always harder than getting on top, and wildlife enthusiasts must now decide their fish and wildlife future.
There are two alternatives: Ensure fish and wildlife management and outdoor access keeps pace with rising costs; or risk losing the hunting and fishing opportunities we now enjoy. Since 1990, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the state agency responsible for managing our fish and wildlife resources and providing outdoor recreation, has seen its income remain stable, while costs have risen dramatically.
The Wildlife Department receives no general tax appropriations to accomplish its mission. Instead, most of the Department's operating funds come from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and a special federal excise tax that is generated when hunters and anglers purchase sporting goods. In recent years, however, agency revenue has remained static while operating costs have risen.
"Because expenses have risen and income has been flat, the Department has had to trim budgets," said Greg Duffy, the agency's director. "Although the Department did not cut its overall budget during the current fiscal year, the three previous years each witnessed two-percent cuts while fuel and vehicle costs continue to rise."
Examples of where these cuts can be seen include mileage restrictions on the amount of patrols by game wardens, cuts in educational materials available to schools, a reduction in the Department's workforce, less maintenance of wildlife management areas and a growing fleet of outdated trucks, tractors and other pieces of equipment. Currently, there are 36 vacancies throughout the Department, up from 20 last year.
"The agency strives to have at least one state game warden in each county," Duffy said. "Currently, however, three counties no longer have a game warden stationed in the county, with wardens from neighboring counties assigned to cover the vacancies. We will be working to fill these voids with transfers and, when possible, new hires."
The state Legislature authorizes the cost of hunting and fishing licenses, with the last fee increase occurring in 1994. Since 1994, the inflation rate as documented by the Consumer Price Index has increased 15 percent. Legislators have been trying to pass a measure directing additional funding to the Department, but for the past three sessions (this one included), the House and Senate have been unable to agree on a common version of a funding bill.
This year's legislative session has again witnessed two proposed versions of an ODWC funding bill. The House version of House Joint Resolution 1008 calls for a vote of the people to earmark, or redistribute, 25 percent of the state sales taxes already paid on sporting goods (this would generate an estimated $5-6 million). The Senate changed the bill to call for a 1 1/2 cent sales tax increase on sporting goods (this also would raise around $5-6 million).
The House has rejected the Senate amendments and has requested a joint House/Senate conference committee. In the committee, the two houses will try to settle on one version or the other, but they could also create some type of compromise bill or kill the bill outright.
"We want hunters and anglers to have the best services and programs possible, and with recent budget cuts, the agency needs additional funding to restore and maintain current operations," Duffy said. "Furthermore, additional income would be needed to implement service improvements or new programs.
"We believe outdoor enthusiasts deserve better services which will take more money, and some form of compromise may be the key to ensuring sportsmen see all services restored, much less continuation of current programs and/or improvements in what the Department can do for the public."
If you wish to voice your opinion regarding HJR 1008 to your legislator, he or she can be reached at one of the following numbers: Oklahoma Senate number is 405/524-0126 or the Oklahoma House of Representatives number is 405/521-2711.
Anyone wanting to track the current status of fish and wildlife measures can log on to the Wildlife Department's website at www.wildlifedepartment.com
for a complete summary of active legislation. The legislative tracker is updated daily and also offers a link to the State Legislature.
Instructors play role in hunting safety
Several hundred thousand sportsmen head into the field every year across the nation and thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers, Oklahoma sportsmen are among the safest. Volunteer instructors are essential to Oklahoma's hunter education program, a program designed to promote safety in the outdoors.
"Safety should always be the first concern for any sportsman heading outdoors," said J.D. Peer, hunter education coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Oklahoma has always had one of the lowest rates for hunting accidents in the nation, and we are proud that is the case. One major reason for our safety rating is that we have very good, dedicated volunteers who provide excellent instruction to young hunters."
"But one hunting accident is too many, so we need to keep up the good work. The program continues to grow and we give more hunter education courses every year, so it is imperative that we continue to get more dedicated volunteers to help us provide instruction at the courses."
Peer added that becoming a volunteer hunter education instructor is easy to do. Instructors should be at least 18 years old. To become certified, instructors will need to attend a hunter education course, and a hunter education instructor certification course. During this process, instructors will learn everything they need about firearm safety, survival, ethics and wildlife identification and management to provide new hunters a thorough background during their instruction.
Once certified, instructors only need to give instruction at one hunter education course each year to keep their certification active. The Wildlife Department offers about 300 courses each year providing safety instruction to more than 13,000 sportsmen. Courses are given in every part of the state so volunteers won't have to travel far to help teach a course.
Those interested in becoming hunter education volunteers can call 405/522-4572 to receive a volunteer instructor packet and more information.
For more information visit the website at www.wildlifedepatment.com
State bird's anniversary celebration set
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma City Zoo will be hosting a celebration of the 50th anniversary of our state bird, the scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus), on May 12, as part of International Migratory Bird Day.
"The scissortail is an excellent centerpiece for these activities because it's a familiar, but very exotic international bird," said Melynda Hickman, natural resources biologist with the Department. "Our state bird is a neo-tropical migrant, essentially meaning that it spends several months of the year in Central America. The scissortail is one of only two neo-tropical migrants to be named a state bird, and we are looking forward to celebrating the designation anniversary."
This "Scissortail Celebration" will take place at the OKC Zoo and will start with an early morning bird count from 6-8 a.m. Those interested in attending the bird count should call the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program at 405/521-4616 to pre-register.
Another scissortail-associated event includes a kite design competition for all ages. First prize for this kite contest is a beautiful scissortail print entitled "Duel for a Feast," by John K. Boutwell. Other prizes include gift certificates to the popular birder's store, Wild Birds Unlimited.
The Oklahoma City Zoo will host their "Zoolympics" event on this day, as well. The zoo has been hosting this popular animal-oriented educational event for years now. It promises a day of "Roaring like a lion, eating like an anteater, and fishing like a chimp."
Several of the Department's "Watchable Wildlife Areas" throughout the state will be hosting scissortail events of their own.
Controlled hunt deadline quickly approaching
Thousands of sportsmen annually apply for a variety of controlled hunts offered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Those who are interested in applying for controlled hunt opportunities in 2001 should keep the May 4 deadline in mind.
"The deadline for controlled hunt applications will be here very quickly," said Melinda Sturgess, chief of administration for the Department. "We hope everyone who wants to apply for controlled hunts will have the opportunity to do so. But, we also want to remind everyone that applications must be postmarked no later than May 4, or they will not be accepted.
"The best way to assure the Department receives the application before the deadline is to apply on-line. The on-line application system has been very popular with sportsmen. It is very easy to do and all of the information and applications needed are available on the Department's website."
Sturgess added that applying on-line helps eliminate concerns about lost, incomplete or incorrect applications. The program will not accept an application if there is discrepancies or incomplete information, and will inform the applicant to correct the application. The applicant can double-check to make sure the application was accepted by going back into the website's controlled hunt page and clicking on the confirmation link.
Those interested in applying on-line can go to the Department's website at www.wildlifedepartment.com and click on the controlled hunts page. Controlled hunts booklets are available at Department installations and hunting and fishing license vendors for those unable to apply on-line. Application forms are available in these booklets. The deadline for all applications is May 4 and results of the drawings will be available July 23.
The crappie spawn is on!
For many Oklahoma sportsmen, spring is the best time of the year.
After all, spring means warmer weather and a great time to get outdoors and take advantage of Oklahoma's excellent fishing opportunities. Crappie fishing is one of the most popular fishing opportunities available and the action is firing up across the Sooner State.
"Crappie fishing is great at many lakes across the state right now," said Barry Bolton, assistant chief of fisheries. "They are congregating in many areas, and have already started spawning in some areas. Anglers should be able to enjoy good action throughout the next month.
"The best place to catch crappie prior to and during the spawn is around structure in shallow water. Gradually slopping gravel points are another good place to fish, and anglers might try a little deeper water along shady banks."
Bolton added that small spinners, jigs and minnows are the best baits for papermouths. These baits are very productive for a number of species. Largemouth bass, white bass, catfish and many sunfish are active this time of year and will strike these baits, offering anglers a great chance to add a little variety to their stringer.
To fish in Oklahoma, anglers 16 years and older need a resident or non-resident fishing or combination license. Other permits or requirements may apply to some lakes and anglers should always pick up a copy of the 2001 Oklahoma Fishing Guide before heading out on any fishing adventure. The guides are available at Department installations and hunting and fishing license vendors statewide.
Meetings scheduled to discuss bass virus
Biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation have scheduled two public forums to discuss the Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV), a disease that was found in some Oklahoma reservoirs last year.
"We just want an opportunity to visit with the public about the virus," said Barry Bolton, Fisheries Division assistant chief. "We want to let them know everything we know about the virus, what we are doing to learn more about it, and how we plan to deal with it in the future. Our main desire is to answer any questions we can and provide everyone with the facts to dismiss any rumors that might be out there."
The meetings will be held in the northeast part of the state. Several reservoirs in that region were affected by the LMBV late last summer. Bass collected by biologists from Lakes Tenkiller, Grand, Hudson and Ft. Gibson confirmed the presence of the virus, which was first documented in the U.S. in 1995 and has since been found in several southeastern states including Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Fisheries biologists are learning more about LMBV daily and know that most fish that carry the virus appear healthy and very few will die. There is no known prevention or eradication measures that can be done to remove the virus once it is discovered, but research shows LMBV has not created any long term problems or major impacts to bass populations.
Anglers interested in learning more about LMBV or other fisheries issues are encouraged to attend one of the meetings to get the most up-to-date information available. They can call 405/521-3721 for more meeting information.
LMBV Meeting Schedule
Date: April 23
Time: 6:30 pm.
Location: Indian Capital Tech Center, Rm. 500 2401 N. 41 E. Muskogee
Date: April 26
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Zebco Cafeteria, 6101 E. Apache, Tulsa
Paddlefish poaching investigation yields eight arrests in Northeast Oklahoma
Eight individuals from the Claremore area recently were arrested on state and federal charges relating to illegal commercialization of paddlefish. The federal charges carry a maximum fine of $250,000 and/or five years imprisonment, plus confiscation of all equipment and property used in when violating the federal law.
Oklahoma game wardens and federal agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Marshall Service served the arrest warrants April 11. Felony indictments returned by the Federal Grand Jury for the Northern District of Oklahoma were for: James Wever Sr., Lataunia Wever, James Wever Jr., and Misty D. Gilbert. Specific federal charges are conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and violations of the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act prohibits people from transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring or purchasing any fish or wildlife species that are in violation of any law of any state.
State charges were filed against: Christy L. Wever, Jim N. McCollum, Michael Hansen and Jeremy Gilbert. All eight individuals were arrested as the result of a joint investigation into illegal paddlefish egg commercialization in Oklahoma by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The undercover operation was called "Operation Gray Pearl."
During the operation, wildlife law enforcement officers documented some 120 state wildlife violations, including snagging in a restricted area, abandoning paddlefish without proper disposal, and exceeding the limit of paddlefish. Game wardens also documented numerous federal wildlife violations over a four-month period in early 2000. Last May officials executed a search warrant on the Wever residence in the Claremore area and as a result, seized a pickup truck, motorboat, fishing gear and paddlefish processing equipment.
"It is illegal in Oklahoma to sell paddlefish or their eggs," said Tom McKay, special resident agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Fines and penalties are especially significant when someone transports or sells fish or wildlife taken in violation of state law across state lines. This can result in felony charges which carry fines of up to $250,000 and up to five years in federal prison for each count."
Paddlefish, also known as "spoonbill" are one of the largest freshwater fishes, attaining lengths of more than six feet and weights of more than 100 pounds. Paddlefish may spawn from early March to late June and do not reach sexual maturity until they are at least eight to 10 years old. Biologists have seen a decline in the paddlefish populations as a result of habitat loss and excessive commercial harvest for their eggs, which can be used to make caviar.
"Because of international restrictions on the commercial importation of caviar, extreme pressure has been placed on the paddlefish populations in the United States," McKay said. "One pound of processed paddlefish roe has a market value of $250 or more."
Anyone with information regarding illegal harvest of fish and wildlife is encouraged to call the Wildlife Department's Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-522-8039. Callers can remain anonymous.
OSU seeks funds for burning program
It is a fire hazard. It degrades rangeland and wildlife habitat. It is swallowing up 300,000 acres of land a year.
"It" is the eastern red cedar, and the expansion of its range threatens to destroy the Oklahoma landscape. The most productive and cost-efficient method of fighting the encroachment of eastern red cedar is through prescribed burning - the controlled use of fire.
Oklahoma State University would like to create a training center for teaching landowners and natural resource professionals techniques for conducting prescribed burns. The training center would cost about $14 million and the University is currently seeking investors to make tax-deductible contributions toward the programs establishment.
The Program for the Restoration of Prairie and Cross Timbers Habitats will be the first of its kind in the nation. Once endowed, the program will instruct students, public land managers and private land-owners to restore prairie and crosstimber habitats with the use of fire by providing hands-on training. It will combine nationally recognized researchers, up-to-date fire equipment, and indoor and outdoor classroom environments as state-of-the-art assets to accomplish its mission.
Prescribed burning is one of the most common and effective tools available to landowners and wildlife managers. It allows the reduction of wildfire fuel hazards, the retardation of invasive plants, and slows natural succession.
Burning regularly benefits water quality and water yield, boosts livestock production and benefits prairie and crosstimber species such as bobwhite quail, wild turkey, grassland birds, migratory song birds and prairie chickens.
Think safety first
Oklahoma's turkey season is underway and sportsmen who make safety a priority should enjoy a successful outing this year.
"Safety should be the number one thing on everyone's mind anytime they are headed outdoors," said J.D. Peer, hunter education coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Turkey hunters need to be extraordinarily cautious. The number one thing to remember is to always positively identify your target.
"Hunters should always wear hunter orange when they are entering or leaving the woods, and anytime they are carrying decoys or a harvested turkey they need to make sure they wrap them in hunter orange as well. The best way to carry any decoy is hidden well out of sight."
Peer added that hunters should avoid wearing any exposed red, white or blue clothing, which are the head colors of a tom turkey. When setting up in an area, hunters should choose a spot that adequately protects them from other hunters who might approach unknowingly from behind. Trees or logs that are wider than the shoulders and higher than the head provide excellent protection for a hunter.
Place decoys off to one side, and anytime another hunter approaches the area, alert them to your presence by calling out to them in a clear voice. The weather and action is warming up and many hunters will enjoy successful outings by keeping safety a priority.
Meetings scheduled to discuss bass virus
Biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation have scheduled two public forums to discuss the Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV), a disease that was found in some Oklahoma reservoirs last year.
"We just want an opportunity to visit with the public about the virus," said Barry Bolton, Fisheries Division assistant chief. "We want to let them know everything we know about the virus, what we are doing to learn more about it, and how we plan to deal with it in the future. Our main desire is to answer any questions we can and provide everyone with the facts to dismiss any rumors that might be out there."
The meetings will be held in the northeast part of the state. Several reservoirs in that region were affected by the LMBV late last summer. Bass collected by biologists from Lakes Tenkiller, Grand, Hudson and Ft. Gibson confirmed the presence of the virus, which was first documented in the U.S. in 1995 and has since been found in several southeastern states including Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Fisheries biologists are learning more about LMBV daily and know that most fish that carry the virus appear healthy and very few will die. There is no known prevention or eradication measures that can be done to remove the virus once it is discovered, but research shows LMBV has not created any long term problems or major impacts to bass populations.
Anglers interested in learning more about LMBV or other fisheries issues are encouraged to attend one of the meetings to get the most up-to-date information available. They can call 405/521-3721 for more meeting information.
LMBV Meeting Schedule
Date: April 23
Time: 6:30 pm.
Location: Indian Capital Tech Center, Rm. 500 2401 N. 41 E. Muskogee
Date: April 26
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Zebco Cafeteria, 6101 E. Apache, Tulsa
Deer hunting opportunities adoptedAt its regular April meeting, held April 2 in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to implement a special three-day antlerless-only deer hunt immediately before New Year's, in some areas of the state.
The bonus hunt will be available over most of the state, except for part of the panhandle, the far southeast and a portion of southwest Oklahoma. Most of the northwest will be afforded two special hunts, one immediately before Christmas and the other just before New Year's. Also set at the April meeting were antlerless hunting days during the regular muzzleloader and deer gun seasons. Most of the state will see increased opportunities to harvest does during the regular muzzleloader and gun seasons, part of an increased emphasis to encourage hunters to help control deer populations and balance the herd.
All of the changes will be outlined in the 2001-2002 Oklahoma Hunting Guide and Regulations, available this summer at sporting goods stores statewide. And for those hunters who just can't wait for the Hunting Guide, a complete listing of the antlerless hunting regulations is currently posted under the "Deer Hunting" link on the Wildlife Department's website - wildlifedepartment.com.
"The Commission has been keenly interested in expanding hunter opportunity and these special hunts are a significant step toward that end," said Alan Peoples, Wildlife Division chief for the Department. "In addition, we believe the hunts will lead to increased harvest of antlerless deer, which is something that will help with herd health. It should also help alleviate depredation conflicts and reduce car/deer accidents."
Also approved by Commissioners at their April meeting were a slate of elk season dates for private lands in Kiowa, Comanche and Caddo counties. This year, there will be five-day either sex archery hunts in October and December, along with two two-day modern firearms hunts, also one in October and one in December. The archery hunts, which are set for Oct. 15-19 and Dec. 10-14, will be either sex, while the gun hunts, which are set for Oct. 20-21 and Dec. 15-16 will be bull-only Oct. 20 and Dec. 15, and either sex Oct. 21 and Dec. 16. Legal bulls must have at least five points on one side, while cows must not have any visible antler.
Another change for this coming fall's hunting seasons will be a uniform pheasant season running from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31, with two cocks allowed per day. Commission members unanimously approved the change in the season, which creates uniform hunting opportunities for the panhandle and northwest. The southern boundary also was expanded south from Hwy. 412 to Hwy. 51. All areas west of Hwy. 18 and north of Hwy. 51 will be open to pheasant hunting.
The final hunting regulation change adopted by the Commission was changing the spring 2002 turkey season in the eight southeastern counties. This year, the southeast turkey season runs from April 11-May 1, but those dates will be extended for 2002 when the season will begin April 6 and run through April 28. Additionally, hunters will be allowed two toms per county in the southeast, except for Choctaw County, where the limit will be one tom. The Department is undertaking a trap and transplant restoration effort in a portion of Choctaw county and biologists want to ensure the flock is established before increasing hunting pressure on the birds.
Also at the April meeting, Commission members voted to accept a bid of $70,469.18 to lease the Department's mineral interest on 921 acres of Department-owned property in Atoka County, and agreed to solicit sealed bids on another proposed mineral rights lease, this one encompassing 10 acres in Beaver County.
In other business:
• Commissioners voted to accept a $18,996.90 donation from the estate of James K. Benne, a Tulsa resident and wildlife enthusiast who left the donation to the Department for its Land Acquisition Fund.
• Voted to solicit bids for actuarial services for the Department's retirement plan, pending negotiations with the Department's current actuarial service provider, William M. Mercer.
• Heard a report from Dr. Terry Bidwell, professor of rangeland and ecology, Oklahoma State University, regarding the school's efforts to raise $14 million to create a training center for teaching landowners and natural resource professionals techniques for conducting prescribed burns. Using carefully planned controlled burns, according to Bidwell, is the best, most cost-effective method for controlling Eastern red cedar encroachment, which degrades wildlife habitat and creates wildfire hazards.
• Delegated authority to Wildlife Department Executive Director Greg Duffy to negotiate the sale of one-half acre of Department land at Raymond Gary Lake in Choctaw County.
• Voted to allocate unspent funds for payment of the program audit being conducted by the State Auditor and Inspector's Office. The program audit will look at what specific statutory requirements the Department is mandated to adhere to, along with which Department programs are self-supporting and which are not.
• Voted to allocate unspent funds for payment to KPMG to conduct a readiness assessment regarding the Department's reporting of financial statements. Federal guidelines mandate a change in accounting practices, and all state agencies must bring their reports into compliance with the new standards.
• Received a report on pending fish and wildlife legislation from Director Duffy. Of particular interest, he reported, is that House Joint Resolution 1008, a bill calling for a vote of the people to raise money for fish and wildlife conservation, is still alive and appears headed for a conference committee. Much of this year's legislation has become inactive, but several bills remain active. The status of the various measures is updated at www.wildlifedepartment.com/legislation.htm for those who want to track the progress of pending bills.
Recognized at the April meeting was a group of 23 Wildlife Department employees who have completed the agency's Wildlife Professionals Program. Through this hands-on training course, employees receive more than 150 hours of training on all facets of Department service. Game wardens, for example, learn how Fisheries personnel sample lakes, and wildlife biologists learn how game wardens conduct poaching investigations. The goal of the program is to better train employees to assist the public. To date, 50 Department employees have completed the two-year training program.
The Commission's regular May meeting will be held Monday, May 7, at 9 a.m. at the Wildlife Department's headquarters in Oklahoma City.
Department awards auction trips
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has awarded two outdoor adventures offered through auction earlier this year. For 2001, the Department offered a bull elk hunt and a fishing package for two.
Approved by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department's governing body, the two packages were offered to the highest bidder through a sealed bid system. Proceeds from the auction will go to fish and wildlife conservation in the state.
A Tulsa-area resident received the bull elk hunt based on his $11,000 bid. The hunt will occur at the Cookson Hills Wildlife Management Area, a rugged 13,650-acre area in northeast Oklahoma's Ozark country. It will be a guided three-day hunt anytime in September, October or November. The hunter can choose to use a bow and arrow, muzzleloader or modern rifle. Past auction hunt high bidders have harvested a 7X8 bull in 1999 and a 6X7 bull last year.
The other adventure being offered for auction was a special fishing package that includes overnight accommodations for two and guided trips for trophy striped bass, trophy largemouth bass and Ouachita smallmouth bass. The Department awarded this package to an Edmond resident who bid $2,050.
Specifically, the trip will include:
• A June 13, 2001, trophy stripers trip on the lower Illinois River with guide Delmer Shoults, 918/773-5213. Lodging will be provided for the night of June 12, at the MarVal Trout Camp, 918/489-2295, located on the banks of the lower Illinois trout stream.
• A day of chasing striped bass at Lake Texoma with two Department selected fishing specialist. Peak surface fishing times are between April 15 and May 15. Bob's Lake Country Motel, Kingston 580/564-4424, will provide lodging.
• A one-day largemouth bass trip with trophy bass guide, Chuck Justice, 580/889-6742, on one of Oklahoma's most noted trophy bass lakes, McGee Creek. The trip can be booked anytime, but the best time will be between April and June. Lodging will be provided by Firefly Hollow, 580/889-2690.
• A one-day Ouachita smallmouth bass trip on the upper Mountain Fork River with guide Ethan Wright, 580/494-6109, and a stream management specialist. The trip can be taken anytime, but prime floating dates are April to June. Whipporwill Cabins, 580/494-6476 at Broken Bow, will provide lodging. Breakfast will also be provided.
Striped bass numbers way up at Lake Texoma
Netting data from this spring shows that striped bass populations are higher than they have been in the last 15 years at Lake Texoma, one of Oklahoma's most popular vacation spots and one of the best inland striper fisheries in the country.
Fisheries biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department surveyed the Red and Washita River arms of the 88,000-acre lake in February and their results verify what local anglers have been saying in the last few years - fishing is getting better and better. Gill net catch rates, a standardized survey method used by fisheries professionals to measure fish populations, shows that this year's catch rates are the highest since 1987, and catch rates for large fish (those 20 inches or longer) are the highest since 1985.
"Fishing should be excellent as we move through the end of spring into summer," said Paul Mauck, southcentral region fisheries supervisor for the ODWC. "Reports of anglers catching fish upwards of 20 pounds are becoming more common, and although recent rains have temporarily slowed fishing success due to high, muddy water, I expect anglers will see one of the best fishing years in recent memory."
Mauck added that one of the most telling aspects of the survey data involves the percent of the catch made up of fish 20 inches and longer.
"More than 25 percent of this year's catch were larger fish," he said. "That certainly bodes well for anglers who like catching bigger stripers."
Shad, which are small baitfish that striped bass feed on, experienced some winterkill this year due to several prolonged cold snaps. That could make the striped bass even easier to catch, since they won't have as much natural forage available as they usually do.
"Gizzard shad numbers are relatively good, but threadfin numbers are below normal," Mauck said. "We will be collecting threadfin brood stock from other locations, and do not expect any long-term impacts from this winter's shad kill."
Those fishing Lake Texoma need either an Oklahoma or Texas annual fishing license, or anglers can purchase a $7.75 Lake Texoma Fishing License. Those fishing with a regular state license are restricted to fishing only those Texoma waters in their respective state (for example, an angler with an Oklahoma license must stay on the Oklahoma side of the lake), while those fishing on a Texoma License may fish the entire lake.
Department receives estate donation
At its regular April meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission accepted an $18,966.90 donation from the estate of James K. Benne, a Tulsa-area wildlife enthusiast.
The donation was earmarked for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Land Acquisition Fund, an account intended to secure hunting and fishing access for Oklahoma sportsmen. According to relatives, Benne loved to hunt and fish. He was 80 years old when he passed away last October, and he still owned several boats. He had also planned a deer hunt, and a javelina hunt in Texas which, unfortunately, he was never able to take.
"We are truly honored that Mr. Benne believed in the Department and its mission with enough conviction to place us in his will," said Alan Peoples, Wildlife Division chief. "I did not know Mr. Benne, but I wish I had. I understand he had a great passion for the outdoors."
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is the state agency responsible for managing the state's fish and wildlife resources. The agency does not receive any general state tax revenue and is funded entirely by hunting and fishing license fees, special federal taxes on hunting and fishing equipment and unsolicited private donations.
Controlled hunt application system popular success
Sportsmen looking for an advantage in applying for special hunts offered in Oklahoma can find it by applying on-line. The on-line application system is immediate and eliminates concerns about incomplete or lost applications.
Those interested in applying for controlled hunts on-line can log on to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's website at www.wildlifedepartment.com and click on the 2001-2002 Controlled Hunts link. The site will provide all information needed to apply, including hunt categories and area hunt dates and locations.
"The on-line application system has been a very popular and valuable resource for our constituents," said Melinda Sturgess, Chief of Administration for the Wildlife Department. "About 45 percent of the applicants applied on-line last year and more than 30,000 applicants have already used the system this year. The process is very user-friendly and applicants know immediately if their application was received."
Sturgess added that the system will not accept any applications that are incomplete or show discrepancies, and will alert the applicant to check the information provided if something isn't correctly filled out. Applicants can double check to make sure their application was accepted by clicking on the confirmation link provided on the Controlled Hunts Page.
Those who don't have internet access can still mail their applications to the Department. Applications can be found in Controlled Hunts booklets available at Department installations and license vendors statewide. The deadline for all applications is May 4.
Federal funds aimed at conserving wildlife
Oklahoma will receive more than $735,000 for additional conservation efforts aimed at wildlife species most in need of additional assistance as a result of a federal appropriation passed last year by Congress.
The money, which totals $736,095, will go the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the agency responsible for managing the state's fish and wildlife resources. The Department may use the money from the new program, officially called the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Pro-gram, for wildlife conservation through land acquisition, habitat improvement, research, education and other efforts. Up to 10 percent of the funds may also help pay for wildlife-related recreation projects, such as the construction or improvement of wildlife viewing areas, observation platforms, and land and water trails.
"We are considering funding a wide variety of projects with these new federal dollars," said Harold Namminga, federal aid coordinator for the Department. "One of the specific projects being considered is an extensive and holistic effort towards the fish and wildlife species of the short and mixed grassland of western Oklahoma. The species of most concern in this region include the lesser prairie chicken, mountain plover, northern bobwhite, black-tailed prairie dog, swift fox and ferruginous hawk."
Namminga said that other conservation needs include educational and interpretive centers for wetland species, development and use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in habitat conservation plans for species in need, stream habitat developments and statewide wildlife species inventories. Specific research and conservation efforts involving northern bobwhite quail, red-cockaded woodpecker, Texas horned lizard, black bear, western diamondback rattlesnake and the Rich Mountain salamander also are being considered.
Although the $735,000 appropriation could advance the causes of many wildlife species in Oklahoma, the program requires a 25-percent matching contribution from the state as a part of each project. With the current funding appropriation, the Wildlife Department will need almost $250,000 in matching funds. The program set-up is similar to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program, which also provides a 75 percent federal reimbursement, with the Department matching that with contribute at least 25 percent of the cost.
The funds from the new program are meant to supplement, but not replace, existing funds available from the Federal Aid in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs for both new projects and activities, as well as to enhance ongoing ones.
The popular user-pays, user-benefits Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program are financed by excise taxes on sporting arms, fishing and boating gear, and motorboat fuels. Collectively, these programs have raised more than $5.2 billion to assist state conservation agencies in the conservation and restoration of sport fish and wildlife species. While these programs are funded by permanent appropriation, the new Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program was created by Congress by the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, and will require annual approval for continued funding.