A strange idea of public service is being fostered in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. That bureaucracy has cut its funding to test the safety of eating freshwater fish. The DEM spends $375,000 to test fish for 121 chemicals. Cameron Davis of Indiana’s National Wildlife Federation chapter pointed out many individuals and businesses related to sport fishing have mistrusted advisories. “They hate these. It detracts from tourism. It’s bad for business. It gives sports and commercial fisheries a bad name,” he said. But at least testing gives people a choice, Davis added. “By eliminating fish-sampling programs, Indiana is sweeping its problem under the rug,” he said. “They’re saying public health isn’t important enough.”
– Naperville’s Eric Weikum has been named to the Amateur Trapshooting Association’s sub-junior All-America team for his performance at the Grand American Trapshoot last August. The 13-year-old was second among sub-juniors (under 15) in high-overall standings after preliminary events. He won the Great Lakes Grand sub-junior championship in preliminary handicap and was second in singles. He also captured nine trophies at the Illinois State Shoot, including the sub-junior title for singles, doubles and handicap. Weikum also won a gold at the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs.
– When the U.S. Olympic Festival comes to St. Louis this summer, the sailing competition will be at Eldon Hazlet State Park near Carlyle on July 6-10. The state plans improvements costing $337,000, including a new shelter, expansion of shower facilities, restroom upgrades and campground repairs.
– This ‘n’ that: Bald Eagle Appreciation Days are centered this weekend at Keosippi Mall in Keokuk, Iowa. Hundreds of eagles are reported along the Mississippi River in Illinois. . . . For a full slate of winter nature and environmental classes, seminars, lectures and outings from institutions throughout the Chicago region, pick up the newest “Prairie University” catalog from the Nature Conservancy. Editor Laurel Ross has compiled a surprising array of opportunities from park districts, forest preserves, museums, colleges and universities. Call 312-346-5606. . . . And if that isn’t the most unusual guidebook in the country, try the Earthworm Buyer’s Guide, available for $7 from Shields Publications in Eagle River, Wis. Just imagine 64 pages of worm ads and worm farm listings from the United States and Canada. . . . Oops! We ran the fax phone number for that Gerlach nature photo seminar in Elk Grove Village on Feb. 26 and 27. Try 906-439-5991 to reach a human.
– Waterfowl activist Jim Scheer has dropped his lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Conservation in hopes for a more fair disbursement of state duck stamp funds in the future. According to an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, the state no longer will lavish $600,000 in stamp receipts upon that worthless Sucker Lakes D.U. project. Instead, Illinois’ money will help fund D.U.’s Prairie Care program. Scheer wants the state duck stamp committee to have wider representation of various waterfowling interests.
– The hottest new tool for anglers can be those supremely advanced lake maps that have hit the market in recent years. But interpreting those maps for best fishing possibilities under changing weather conditions remains a mystery to many. In his 21st year of teaching Chicago’s most popular fishing classes, pro angler Spence Petros takes on the use of maps as they relate to catching big fish close to home, the tricks of reading weeds, water surfaces, balancing tackle and boat control. Petros’ series of six classes on Tuesdays or Wednesdays begins Feb. 22 and 23. Call 708-456-8008 or 815-455-7770.
– New toys: Salt-based D.O.A. Fishing Lures will introduce a pair of new soft plastic lures for northern freshwater at the Chicago Sportfishing, Travel & Outdoor Show in Rosemont on Jan. 28. The Clone is a 7 3/4-inch deep or shallow swimmer for northerns and muskies, and the smaller Flavortail is designed for bass and walleye.
– North Carolina’s Sampson County has established a $15 bounty on beavers for the next two months. Officials hope to remove 1,000. “I’ll be the first to tell you we don’t know the impact this will have on our problem,” said county commission chairman Kermit Williamson. “What we do know is that’s 1,000 less beavers mating.”
– The head of a Saginaw, Mich., lyme disease support group contends the number of cases is largely underreported in that state partly because doctors fear a misdiagnosis could land them before a state review board. One Saginaw doctor, accused of misdiagnosing and treating a number of patients, faces a hearing before the Board of Medicine. In addition, the government definition of lyme disease is so narrow, “none of us would actually fit the criteria,” said Jane Huegel, who heads the 400-member Michigan Lyme Disease Association. “There’s a lot of doctors out there who are silently treating it.” Doctors reported 7,971 cases nationwide in 1992 and the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has records of nearly 50,000 cases since it started tracking the disease in 1982. Michigan reported 23 cases last year and 49 in 1992.
