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Governor dedicates Cullerton Complex Governor George H. Ryan dedicated Illinois Beach State Park along with North Point Marina as the Cullerton Complex in honor of William J. Cullerton Sr., a much decorated war hero, radio personality, entrepreneur and outdoorsman. While the two sites will be known as the Cullerton Complex, each will retain its own name and management. "From his early years. Bill has demonstrated true American grit and has dedicated much of his life to encouraging others to participate in the great outdoors, safely, effectively and ethically," Ryan said. "He has had a long and distinguished career and continues to be a strong advocate for outdoorsmen and outdoor issues." Cullerton, 76, retired in December after 20 years as host of WGN-AM Radio's Saturday outdoors program. He most recently spearheaded efforts to install an artificial underwater reef in Lake Michigan to enhance fish habitat. Cullerton, a distinguished and highly decorated pilot during World War II, has been honored by the United States, French, Polish and Russian governments. He is in the Illinois Military Aviation Hall of Fame and is enshrined in the Champlain Fighter Aces Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. His U.S. military honors include the Presidential Citation, the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross. He has served on a variety of boards and won numerous honors. "Bill Cullerton grew up around the shores of Lake Michigan and has been a strong spokesman for sportsmen and the outdoors in the northeastern Illinois," said DNR Director Brent Manning. "As a member of the Illinois Conservation Foundation Board, he has been a tireless advocate for natural resources programs, particularly those that involve kids." Wearing PFDs saves lives As the boating season gets into high gear, boat operators and passengers are reminded to use life jackets, stay sober and to be considerate of others who are using the water. "Last year, 11 of the 13 people who died in boating accidents in the state were not wearing life jackets, and alcohol was involved in nearly two-thirds of the fatal accidents," says DNR Director Brent Manning. "There is no question that lives can be saved if boat operators are sober and if they make sure everyone aboard is wearing an approved life jacket." The 13 deaths and 75 injuries as a result of boating accidents in Illinois in 1999 compare with 19 fatalities and 107 injuries in 1998, 14 deaths and 81 injuries in 1997, 27 fatalities and 90 injuries in 1996, and 16 deaths and 88 injuries in 1995. There were a total of 159 boating accidents involving 238 vessels in Illinois last year. This compares with 176 accidents in 1998, 146 in 1997, 155 in 1996, and 178 in 1995. Illinois law requires that life jackets, also known as personal floatation devices (PFDs), be available for each person aboard a boat or other watercraft. State law also requires anyone operating a personal watercraft to wear a life jacket. Anyone under the age of 13 is required to wear a life jacket while aboard any watercraft under 26 feet in length at all times the boat is underway, unless they are below deck in an enclosed cabin. DNR offers free boating safety courses to persons age 10 and older that include a review of boating laws and instruction on the safe operation of watercraft. The course is required for 12- to 18-year-olds who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft without adult supervision. Course schedules are available by calling: 1-800-832-2599, TTY (217) 782-9175 or online at: http://dnr.state.il.us. Waterfowl habitat projects approved Seven waterfowl habitat improvement projects have been approved for funding this year by the Illinois Duck Stamp. Committee. Projects are funded from revenues generated by the sale of state waterfowl stamps. The stamps, which cost $10, are affixed to state hunting licenses and are required of all hunters age 16 and older who hunt waterfowl in Illinois, except for those specifically exempt. Funds collected from the sale of waterfowl stamps must be used exclusively for acquisition and development of waterfowl habitat. Since the inception of the Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp program in 1976, more than $7.5 million has been used to develop and improve waterfowl propagation areas within the United States and Canada. Projects approved for funding in Illinois this year are: $146,937 for a project to increase the water level at Anderson Lake; $143,500 for reconstructing levees and increasing floodable acres at the Shelbyville Fish and Wildlife Area; and $196,800 for constructing a levee, purchasing a 20 OutdoorIllinois pump and flooding additional acreage at the Mississippi River Area in Calhoun County. Because 25 percent of the funds goes to non-profit organizations for use in implementing the North American Waterfowl Management plan and 25 percent goes toward waterfowl propagation areas in Canada or the United States that provide waterfowl for the Mississippi Flyway, the following projects were also approved this year: $112,687.50 to Ducks Unlimited to secure nesting cover and wetlands in the Quill Lakes area of Saskatchewan; $112,687.50 to Ducks Unlimited for developing and managing waterfowl in the Prairie CARE program in Canada; $37,562.50 to Delta Waterfowl Foundation for their Adopt-a-Pothole program which secures 10-year conservation leases in Manitoba; and $37,562.50 to Delta Waterfowl Foundation for their perpetual casement program in Manitoba. Groups or individuals interested in being considered for future state migratory waterfowl stamp projects may obtain applications from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, Attention: Duck Stamp Committee, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, Ill. 62701-1787, or by calling (217) 782-6384. Completed applications must be received no later than Oct. 31 to be considered for funding in 2001. Drawings set for waterfowl blinds Waterfowl hunting blind sites at several public hunting areas will be allocated by random drawings in July. Duck and goose hunters must register in person for blind site drawings and must be present at the drawing held immediately Bafter the registration period to claim their blind sites. Mail registrations are not accepted. Blind allocations are good for one year, except on the Mississippi River (but not including Blanding's Landing Wildlife Area). To participate in a drawing, applicants must present a 1999 or 2000 hunting or combination sportsman's license and an Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Stamp at the time they register, unless exempted by law. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by the date of the drawing. Participants should save their 1999 stamps in case they have difficulty purchasing new stamps. At some, but not all sites, hunters may be able to purchase 2000 state duck stamps. Registrants must also possess a Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card from the Illinois State Police. Although a FOID card that has expired within a year of the drawing is acceptable for the registration, hunters are required to have a current FOID card before they can hunt a site in the fall. Applicants under the age of 21 do not need a FOID card if they are accompanied by an adult who has one. Non-residents must have a 1999 or 2000 non-resident hunting license for Illinois and an Illinois waterfowl stamp. Unless otherwise noted, registration times for drawings are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dates for the drawings are as follows:
Saturday, July 29: Chain O' Lakes State Park and Redwing Slough/Deer Lake Natural Area, Lake County: Register for both sites at Oak Point day use area, 1/5 mile east of the Fox River on the south side of Illinois Route 173. Hunters will be allowed to register for only one of the two sites. Des Plaines Conservation Area, Will County: Register at the site office, 2 miles northwest of Wilmington Exit 241 on Interstate 55. Kankakee River State Park, Kankakee and Will counties: Register for both sites at the Kankakee River State Park office, 5 miles northwest of Bourbonnais on Illinois Route 102.
Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area, Grundy County: Register at the site office just off Illinois Route 53, 2 miles southeast of Braceville. Momence Wetlands, Kankakee County: Register at Kankakee River State Park Office, 5 miles northwest of Bourbonnais on Illinois Route 102. Sinnissippi Lake, Whiteside County: Register at Harry Oppold Marina, on Stouffer Rd. on the east edge of Sterling.
Sunday, July 30:
Clear Lake at Sand Ridge State Forest, Mason County: Register approximately 11/2 miles northwest of Forest City on County Road 2800E. Donnelley and Lake DePue State Pish and Wildlife Area, Bureau County: Register at Oak Grove Park, 3/4 mile west of DePue on Illinois Route 26. Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area, Marshall County: Register at the area check station and boat yard, 5 miles south of Sparland on Illinois Route 29. Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Fulton County: Register at the area check station, 3 miles south of Banner on Illinois Route 24. Sanganois Conservation Area, Cass and Mason Counties: Register on the east side of the maintenance building, 2 miles June 2000 21 north of Chandlerville on Illinois Route 78, then 8 miles west. Sparland Unit at Marshall County State Fish and Wildlife Area, Marshall County: Register at the Brick Yard boat launching area, 11/2 miles south of Sparland on Illinois Route 29. Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Tazewell County: Register at the North park, Oak Campground, 3 miles west of County Road 16 (Manito Road). Starved Rock State Park, LaSalle County: Register at Point Shelter day use area, 5 miles west of South Ottawa on Illinois Route 71. Woodford County State Fish and Wildlife Area, Woodford County: Register at the area check station and boat yard, 9 miles south of Lacon on Illinois Route 26. Unclaimed/Unregistered Blinds Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18 (second year of two-year allocation). Pool 16-unregistered blinds and blinds not passing inspection may be claimed on a first-come, first-served basis by calling the District Wildlife Habitat Biologist between 8 a.m. and noon at (815) 244-3655 two weeks before the opening day of duck season. Pools 17 and 18-use the same procedure, except phone (309) 344-2617. Mississippi River Pools 21, 22, 24 (second year of two-year allocation). A drawing will be held seven days prior to opening day of duck season for unregistered blinds and blinds not passing inspection at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources District office in Pittsfield (Illinois Route 106 west). Registration is from 10 a.m. to noon. Fishing clinics, equipment loans underway now Young people will receive free hands-on instruction and experience the fun of fishing this summer through the Department of Natural Resources Urban Fishing Clinic and Access to Fishing equipment loan programs. "Pishing is a fun and relaxing way for families to spend time together outdoors," said DNR Director Brent Manning. "The urban clinics teach youngsters to fish, while the free equipment loan program allows anyone interested in fishing a chance to try it. We're sure that once they do, they'll enjoy fishing for a lifetime." The Urban Fishing Program fishing clinics are geared toward children ages 16 and younger, though would-be anglers of any age may participate. Arrangements can also be made to provide fishing clinics for seniors or special needs groups. The clinics are available at 28 locations throughout the state and are offered twice each weekday (except July 4) on the following schedule:
June 5-July 28: Mt. Vernon City Park, Mt. Vernon, (June 5-30 only); Foundation Park Pond, Centralia, (July 5-28 only); SIU Campus Lake, Carbondale; Jones Park Pond, East St. Louis; and Gordon Moore Park Lake, Alton. (Contact John Martin, (618) 462-1181.)
June 12-August 4: Miller Park, Bloomington, (June l -July 28 only); Crystal Lake Park, Urbana; Fairview Park, Decatur; and Washington Park, Springfield. (Contact Herb Dreier, (217) 782-6424.) June 19-Aug. 4: Riverside Park, Moline; Glen Oak Park Lagoon, Peoria; Levings Lake, Rockford; Big Pond, Boone County Conservation District, Belvidere; and Mill Race Ponds, Belvidere. (Contact: Karen Anderson, (815) 625-2968.) June 19-Aug. 11: Chicago Park District lagoons at Columbus/Douglas, Gompers, Humboldt, Jackson, Marquette, McKinley, Sherman and Washington parks, Chicago; Cook County Forest Preserves at Flatfoot Lake, Dolton, Cermak Quarry, Lyons and Schiller Pond, Schiller Park; Lake Owens, Hazel Crest; Community Park Pond, Mundelein; and Elliott Lake, Wheaton. (Contact: Brenda Harris or Roland Steinhauser, (847) 294-4137.) Seasonal instructors, including school teachers, are employed by the DNR to serve as fishing clinic instructors. Rods and reels, bait and tackle are provided at no charge to clinic participants. The clinics feature basic instruction and catch-and-release fishing. "Clinic participants are instructed on aquatic ecology, fishing safety, baiting a hook, tying a fishing line knot, casting, catching a fish and how to iden- 22 OutdoorIllinois
tify and handle fish," said Mike Conlin, Chief of DNR's Division of Fisheries. "The highlight of the clinic is getting a chance to actually bait a hook, cast a line and try to catch a fish." The Access to Fishing equipment leaner program is a statewide initiative in which local park districts, recreation departments, public libraries and other loaner sites make available to anglers rods, reels and tackle packs with which to give fishing a try. "We encourage those who may never have fished before or who used to fish but no longer have the gear to visit one of the loaner sites, borrow the equipment and give fishing a try," Conlin said. "We believe if they try it, they'll like it." There are 126 locations throughout the state at which loaner fishing equipment is available. For more information on equipment loaner sites, contact the DNR Urban Fishing Program at (217) 782-6424. Youth Deer Hunt applications available Applications are available for the 2000 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Youth Deer Hunt to be held Oct. 7-8 in Pike County. "The youth deer hunt offers young people expert instruction on deer hunting, conservation ethics and hunting safety," said DNR Director Brent Manning. "Along with the Department's youth hunts for turkey, ducks and geese, this hunting program teaches responsibility and safety to our next generation of hunters." To qualify for the hunt, youngsters must be Illinois residents between the ages of 10 and 15 at the time of the hunt, must have successfully completed a hunter safety education course, and must possess a valid Illinois hunting license. The youth hunt is limited to 80 participants, each of whom must be accompanied by a responsible adult who possesses a valid firearm owner's identification card. Though they are not permitted to hunt, accompanying adults must be present for the youths to participate in the two-day event and must make arrangements for transportation and lodging. The first day of the youth hunt, Saturday, Oct. 7, is dedicated to education. Hunters will meet with participating landowners and attend seminars on hunting ethics, firearm safety, conservation laws, deer tagging, how to field dress deer and wildlife ecology. Youngsters also practice their shooting skills by using the Hunter Interactive Training System. Participating young people will hunt deer on Sunday, Oct. 8, from a half-hour before sunrise until 3 p.m. under the supervision of an adult, with a limit of one antlerless deer. The fee for a youth deer hunt permit is $10. Young people may submit only one application, and previous participants are ineligible. Successful applicants will be determined by random drawing. Youth deer hunt permit applications will be accepted Aug. 2-18. Application forms are available from the DNR Division of Education, Public Events and Promotions, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, Ill. 62701-1787; by phoning (217) 785-8955: and on the DNR home page at http://dnr.state.il.us. Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair If you want to learn to fish or to become a better angler, the Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair was made for you. This year's event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 10 at Pere Marquette State Park. Fair goers will learn knot tying, fish identification, fish cleaning, casting and other fishing skills, plus there will be numerous seminars. The most popular activity at the fair is the trout pond. After attending demonstrations, each youngster is given the opportunity of catching a trout from the portable pond.
Following the activities, kids are provided with an assortmentof educational materials as well as a free prize. Items to be given away include fishing tackle, cane poles, tackle boxes, Raging River water passes and even an overnight stay at Pere Marquette State Park Lodge. There is no charge to attend the fair or catch fish, and no license or fishing gear is needed. The fair is held in celebration of National Fishing Week and Free Fishing Days, and is co-sponsored by the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge and the Department of Natural Resources. Pere Marquette State Park is located 15 miles west of Alton. For more information, call (618) 786-3323.
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Gov. George H. Ryan (right) talks with Bill Cullerton during the dedication ceremony that named Illinois Beach State Park and North Point Marina the Cullerton Complex.
