tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74228233054407946912024-03-12T22:39:10.367-07:00The Lee-Ogle County EcoVigThe Lee-Ogle County EcoVig is a local source exposing the irresponsibility of chemical use in aerial spraying, bringing awareness to local citizens and ultimately fighting back. EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-49263037433835990582013-10-15T13:46:00.000-07:002013-10-15T13:46:00.065-07:00The Evidence Mounts- Bee Problems
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">WHAT'S KILLING THE BEES?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “What’s killing the bees?”
Good question and one that’s partly addressed in an article written
by Kim Flottum, an expert on bees, who submits material to CNN.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Though the evidence thus far
collected is not as definitive as that with respect to ‘Headline’
and frogs, ag. chemicals certainly seem to be to blame.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Quotin’ directly from this
article:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i>“Today, much if not most of that
dietary reserve has been plowed under to make way for 100 million
acres of ethanol-producing corn. This sterile desert has nothing to
offer – except perhaps a tiny bit of the thousands of tons of
agricultural pesticide applied to the corn, way back at planting
time, that makes its way to the pollen collected by the bees, which
is stored and eaten later. That’s not enough to kill a bee, but it
adds another layer of stress. And, some suspect, the tipping point
stress."
</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> From my own experiences, me bein’
one who spends much time just standin’ and quietly observing nature
here in this eco reserve, I’ve noticed a marked decline in honey
bee activity. And especially around some of their most favored
flowers during prime activity time durin’ the day.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Spiderwort is a particularly favored
flower which opens afresh in the morning hours and then more er less
closes up later in the day.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For a number of years we had
chemical ag. much closer to our spiderwort clusters than we have
today. I remember myself questioning, what’s happened ta the bees?
<b>Now that land that once grew corn and is controlled by us, has been
converted to prairie. And, guess what? The bees, in force, are back.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">CHEM. AG GETS BAD RAP ON BUTTERFLIES TOO!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Ok. Butterflies: “Where have all
the monarch butterflies gone?” Mother Nature News work.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> These butterflies suffered a 59%
decline at their overwintering location in Mexico, where records have
been kept for the past 20 years. I think you all would have ta agree
that’s a significant loss.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Quote from Mother Nature Network:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i>“As with honeybees, experts point
to American farmland, which is increasingly planted with genetically
modified soybean and corn engineered to withstand herbicide
applications. These herbicides are wiping out milkweeds, on which
monarch larvae feed, in critical feeding grounds in the American
Midwest.”</i></span></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Surprise! Again we have the combo of
genetically modified corn and soybeans with new age herbicides and
pesticides, winning the war against the environment. Whew!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Com’on, Dave. Why don’t you
tell about the unmarked aircraft,” several in this loose assemblage
cry out.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Not yet. Not yet. I ain’t done
researching that one yet.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The disappointment was what you’d
call, palpable, I guess.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HEY! DINA IS BACK!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> The dogs erupt again, announcin’
arrival of someone else’s vehicle. Unless there’s the beep of a
horn, or a plea fer assistance, I don’t jump up ta see who’s
here. This person, too, seems to be working their way past them
barkin’ three, so I figure all is ok. I don’t know who it was
that first recognized this late entrant, but a general cry that ‘Dina
was back!’ just sorta erupted.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Seemingly all talkin’ as one, of
course we wanted the low down on her investigation inta organic
farmin’ in Peru. Took nearly an hour of some new introductions and
general jabber before discussion with respect ta our general
objectives was seriously restored.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Dina. We’ve been gettin’ all
sorts of reply ta our Eco Vig efforts. We’ve just received this
manila 9x12 envelope from this Jane Heim, connected with “Spray
Drift”: It’s just packed with good info. This is where I first
started gettin’ tips on what’s up with unmarked or incorrectly
registered spray planes. I can’t thank her enough fer a lot of this
stuff, which havin’ her permission, I intended ta use.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">ANGER AND FRUSTRATION WITH WARREN GOETSCH</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Seems she’s not satisfied one bit
by way this Warren Goetsch character, who’s the bureau chief fer
environmental matters at Il. Dept. of Ag., has been handling numerous
complaints from organic farmers and bee keepers, or maybe we should
say not handlin’ ‘em.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Quotin’ directly from some of her
literature.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i>“Why is it that you can get back
to the victim within four weeks when you find “no violation,” but
you keep some organic farmers waiting for an answer for…well…some
are still waiting for an answer three months later and counting?
Don’t you think that’s a little unfair?</i></span></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> And when these nice, dedicated
small farmers and small landowners call you, you give them the
following excuses”:</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i>
</div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> “We lost a chemist.”</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> “Our machine is broken down.” </span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> “The instrument that is used to
analyze the samples was down and just got repaired.”</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> “I will get back to you…I am so
busy now with complaints…”</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> “It will be another week or so.”</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> “I see no dead bees around your
hives.”</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> “You need a quart jar of dead bees
to prove it.” </span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> She goes on to chastise him,
further, harder, and makes accusation of him workin’ for State of
Il. Dept. of big biz agriculture, somethin’ the vast majority of
those I converse with don’t have a problem believin’, at all.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Dina!” I blurt out. In depth
investigation’s yer bag, ain’t it?”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Well, yeah, I guess I could claim
that,” I get as response.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Let me give ya some background on
this Dina chick:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She was born in Russia like four
years before Chernobyl, the nuclear reactor meltdown.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Her family, grandparents, her
parents and her, were granted permission to flee the country, all
landing in the U.S.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">An environmental refuge, I guess
that’s what you’d call her. It’s like she’s got K.G.B. in her
genes, ya know what I mean. She just loves ta dig inta things.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">DINA SET LOOSE!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “Dina, how’da like the job of
scopin’ out this Goetsch character, tryin’ ta find out what makes
him tick?”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Do you mean me going to
Springfield? Me checking him out close up. Seeing how and where he
eats, where he hangs out and with whom, the whole nine yards?”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Yeah. We might even send ya off
with press credentials. Lead investigator fer the eco Vig.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Eh. Expenses?”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Minimal, yeah. We all know that
you know how ta live close ta the ground.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“All right, give me a couple of
days to rest up. party…and I’ll go off and see what I can come up
with.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Fast forward, like only a couple of
weeks and we’re again gathered out here in the woods, hard spring
comin’ on.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Darn!” Kendra comes on, “Can
you believe all the press the bee die off is getting. It’s all over
the Internet. Bees, bees, like some sorta switch’s been turned on.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Yeah,” I come back. “From the
number of articles Ruby May fished up with her computer, stuff that
we’ve been sent by others…and did you see that it even hit prime
time network news. Yeah…and they did a pretty good job of it too.
They hit on ag. chemicals as a major probable cause, them stoppin’
just short of pinnin’ the tails on the asses.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HONEY TAINTED WITH AG. CHEMICAL!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> In honey, tested in laboratories
with the highest degree of suffocation, they’ve isolated like 150
(and countin’) ag. chemical agents.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Since the bees have to eat their
honey to survive the winter, the bees don’t seem able to metabolize
all that previously unencountered junk.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This also begs the question of what
these traces of chemical agents do to us, when er if there is a
tolerance level that us humans can’t handle. “Not to worry,”
again we hear from chemical ag.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <b>The hive collapse that is unfoldin’
all around us we’d best take seriously. </b>Much agro business could
collapse along with the bees. This is serious stuff, that’s why
it’s capturing so much attention. If the bee disaster cannot be
stopped, say the bees get, along with a whole mess of their cohorts,
kicked into the cyclone swirl around the extinction bin, guess what!
We won’t be all that far behind ‘em. Leading scientific thought
has us, following ‘em by from four to ten years. Think about it….</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Yes! We definitely need bees!”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-2315394440284492902013-09-18T07:25:00.001-07:002013-09-18T07:25:07.566-07:00The Evidence Mounts- Corn is King
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">TASHA GORAL'S STORY</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“We get sprayed more and more each
year. It’s presently so bad that we may have to leave our
farmstead.” And she makes</span><span style="font-size: small;"> reference to her connection to Ginkgo
Tree Cafe, in Dixon. This caught my immediate interest. Soon as I
spotted a hole in my demandin' schedule, me and my dogs in pickup,
were on our way ta Dixon.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Ruby May had pre-scouted this Ginkgo
Tree place out. Told me where it was, the good impression that it
left her with. She gave it high marks fer bein' done in quite a
tasteful fashion. I wasn't disappointed. Not in the least.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> This was spur-of-the-moment, ya
understand. I'm un-pre-announced. </span>“Tasha?” I question ta the first
young lady I run inta.</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “She's in the back, at the
kitchen,” I get in response.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ruby May had told me of the somewhat
unique kitchen arrangement, also givin' it high marks. Ruby May's
been around. Positives don't flow from her flippantly. Again, she was
right.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There are several females scurryin’
around these big stove tops and ovens. Gosh! Did the food cookin'
ever exude delicious, mouth waterin' aromas.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Tasha?” Again I question, this
gettin' a brief relay to Tasha, who's just then deep in the back. She
gets the idea that there's this gray old fart at the counter wantin'
ta talk with her. Wipin' her hands on her apron, she marches right
out. I introduce myself, briefly relay reason fer me bein' there,
right then. We share hand shakes. First impression, this lady wasn't
no lightweight.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I love smart and beautiful females.
I had no problem what-so-ever, bull-shittin' with this very agreeable
personage. She opened up with her frustrations with very little
probing. All the sickness they'd, at first mysteriously, gone
through. Herself, her two young and lovely daughters; one was hangin'
right there, all ears at first, looked ta be maybe six er seven. And
their father, too. He'd really gone down hard, several times, that
they directly tied to aircraft applied chemicals. On way-too-windy
days they'd experienced drifted toxic sprays that had set them on a
dead run fer the house. But you could smell it some even in there.
<b>“We could taste it, it was that strong.”</b></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COMPLAINTS DID NO GOOD</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Complaints to farmers did absolutely
no good. A complaint got made to Il. Dept. of Ag. An investigator
came out but admitted there was very little he could do. Having not
been on the scene when the incident occurred. There’s like one
investigator for a multi county area. An area impossible for him to
police.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> They love their six acre place.
They'd always wanted to grow their own clean fruits and vegetables.
But bein' bordered by chem. ag., they're findin' that ta be
impossible.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> How many others dream of just five
er six acres, out in the country, and doin' just about what they'd
planned? Hell! A hundred acres, surrounded by hundreds of other
non-ag. acres, wasn't enough fer us. <b>The truth is...there's almost no
escape if you live in or around chem. ag. Those livin' in towns ain't
free from chem. ag.'s ill effects, either...they just don’t know
it, don’t experience it quite so directly.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Easy as I found her ta talk to, I
had ta push off. The father of them two kids, who'd got knocked flat
by aerial spray, he was next on my list. Dion. He's a barber with a
shop just a good block away from the Ginkgo Tree.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dion's a friend of the Rev. Marques,
who's a regular at our Grove Creek Chapter of the Church of the Earth
Firsters gatherings. More er less, the Rev. had sorta prepped me.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE DISGRUNTLED BARBER</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> He was busy cuttin' hair with a
couple customers waitin'. I introduced myself and, yeah, Marques had
told him of me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “I didn't meet you, but I met one
of your dogs, just the other night,” Dion states. Yeah, I was aware
that he and my all-around guard dog, Candy, had met several days
before. He was workin' his way to Marques' far-back-in-the-woods,
sugar shack. Among other things, Marques taps maple trees.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was on another trail, headin' in
the opposite direction, back to the warmth of the wood stove, here in
my ratty-ass little cabin.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“I just finished interviewing yer
wife. And I like ta get yer insight on your chemical problems,”
says me.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He comes on sorta aggressive,
exclaimin' that he had absolutely no faith that anything can be done.
He's a complete skeptic with respect to any governmental agency. IL.
Dept. of Ag., EPA, “None of them agencies are workin' for us, none
of 'em!” He settled some, perhaps understandin' that he was
preachin' to the choir. He is a very active speaker, he puts his
whole body inta it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> He confirmed Tasha's account of
family sicknesses. His own he claimed as quite severe incident after
severe incident. He then set to unfolding. To say that he was not in
love with chemical ag. is a bit of an understatement.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> He told of an incident that occurred
there in his shop, just two seats to my left. An investigator of some
sort from either the EPA or IL. Dept. of Ag., he couldn't remember
which, interviewed him with respect to aerial spraying complaints.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> After the interview, to which Dion
didn't give up much, the guy took off his credentials and said he
could now vent his anger however he felt; indicating that he felt
just about the same as Dion, admitting there was almost nothing he
could do within the prevailing agency's policies, which was to find
every way possible to support chemical ag.</span></div>
<br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “Corn is king,” was the
statement Dion took away from this encounter. <b>“You've got to
understand that here in Illinois, corn is king!” this investigator
repeatedly stated. </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “Them little yellow planes!” he
comes out. “When they show up we pack up the kids and escape ta
town. You can still smell that stuff when we get back. Wind! Hell,
that doesn’t stop ‘em. You can see the stuff blowin’ like
crazy, but that don’t stop ‘em.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">CORN IS KING!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Dumb me. Imaginin' me thinkin' that
in a free and open democracy the people were sovereign.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Dion gave me several leads, others I
could talk to, fellow complainers. Naturally, I'll follow 'em up.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“You know, Brother David, we’re
getting more information and leads on chemical complaint stories than
you can possibly keep up with,” Kendra wants me ta know.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Yeah. Whew! When we first started
this Eco Vig, I was a bit concerned with havin’ enough material ta
keep writin’ this stuff. Not anymore, though. Shoot no! Oh what
luxury ta be able ta pick and chose.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Why don’t you do that crop
duster plane without traceable owners, or numbers one?” Ruby May
wants to know.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Ain’t researched it, quite
enough, yet. But I’ll definitely do it.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “How about the bees and the
butterflies then?” Marques asks.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“The bees, the butterflies. Yeah.
That better suits my ‘right now’ mood.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-1365647547973157202013-09-09T06:30:00.000-07:002013-09-09T06:31:53.921-07:00The Evidence Mounts- More About the Frogs<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">RICHIE'S "DEAD FROG" EXPERIENCE</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Dog food, shelled corn, bird seed,
and seed potatoes, these are some of the things that me and this
Richie fella deal in. We generally find things fer minor bullshit
sessions, too.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I don't know what his politics are
er, if he's got one, what religious persuasions he holds.
Environmental issues, mostly, seem ta fill our talk sessions. Here,
we're pretty much on the same page.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He's a fan of the EcoVig and us members
of COTEFers, Washington Grove Chapter. After this Mother Jones
article was passed to me from Brother Tom, I was explainin’ ta
Richie how relevant it was, and how it might work inta this issue.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> I gave him the 100% frog kill info
attached to the Headline fungicide, when used at recommended dosages,
info.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He sets inta tellin' me this story
about a wet spot he's got by his house, which, for as long as he can
recall, bursts forth in chorus of amphibian music that he found
delicious, somethin' he and his family looked forward to come
springtime. I assured him that I certainly understood, us havin'
creek bottom and wetlands not far from the cabin. That mixed with the
night insects is a symphony I love ta drift off to sleep with. Spring
peepers, toads, bull frogs, yeah, what music!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, he proceeds ta tell me that
that rite-of-spring, for the past two years, simply didn't happen.
And not because it wasn't wet enough.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">BELLY UP, LOTSA DEAD FROGS</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> And they stopped seein' frogs around
the house, out in the garden and yard too. He goes on to tell me that
he and his son, while out on their dirt bike rides, here and there,
were findin,' belly-up, dead frogs, lots of 'em. They couldn't piece
together the reasons why. Too, they couldn’t figure why their dog
kept runnin’ off inta neighboring corn field, stayin’ in there
for a long time and didn’t want ta come when they called, highly
unusual behavior which caused them to investigate. Not dead yet,
dazed frogs that the dog could easily catch, that’s what Richie
says they found. The corn was like a foot high. Not much leaf cover
yet. <b>And them frogs musta been real stupid ones, not understandin’
that they were supposta be hidin’ durin’ the time of chemical
application.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> I made it a point ta give Richie a
copy of the 'Mother Jones' article. We promised we'd get together
later, and talk more about this. Which I'm pretty sure we will.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Richie’s property is surrounded by
row crop monoculture, which he claims gets aerial sprayed on a yearly
basis. Years ago, because of concern for his then young son, he’d
asked the sprayin’ company to please notify them when spraying was
going to take place, so they could be sure to protect their son, give
them a chance to get him the hell outta the area. The spraying outfit
said they would but then never did! Richie got upset, is upset,
frustrated by their lack of concern.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Since starting this Eco Vig
campaign, we’ve had many, many similar complaints. A total lack of
concern from applicators who act like they’ve got some sort of
special right-away. “Disgusting in their arrogance,” that’s a
line that’s been used numerous times.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HEY!HEY! A RESPONSE FROM WOODLEY AVIATION</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Ruby May tells us that we finally
got a response from Woodley aviation. Well, sorta. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> This is from Craig Woodley, whom,
I’m assumin’ is related into ownership/management. Maybe the
owner’s kid?
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Are you an Obama fan? My guess is
yes.” His total statement.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Got even a clue as ta what this
Craig kid is tryin’ ta get across?” I questioned. For several
rare moments us COTEFer’s just set there in quiet contemplation.
“What on earth,” Marques comes forth, </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “Does Obama have to do
with our concern here for some local protection from being
unwittingly affected by deadly chemical poisoning?" </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">No one could
figure how this could be a left verses right issue, or a racist one,
either.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Maybe,” Tom comes on, “in his
mind there’s the remembrance of the eyes-closed, see-no-evil, don’t
get in the way of chemical ag. biz attitude that previous
administrations have had.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“You sure are right on that one,
Tom, old buddy. That last bunch of morons just about gutted most eco
legislation. Them and their damn lob….”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Ok, M&M, cool yer jets. Our
cause is a-political. Let’s not chew up this lovely star studded
night jawin’ more about that.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“As long as we’ve got Craig’s
interest, maybe he wouldn’t mind commentin’ on some of the
questions I was hopin’ ta ask poor-sighted Stan, me tryin’ ta
reach him by phone.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">CRAIG, ANY OF YOUR PILOTS HAVE ANY ECO TRAINING?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> “Do you, Craig, or any of your
pilots, have any type of environmental training? Er do ya just know
how ta fly a crop duster? If yer answer is ‘No,’ to the first
question, well then I’d be glad to invite one and all ta lessons
I’m teachin’ my six year old great-grandson, T.J. I’ve a
feelin’ you all don’t have much of a clue as ta what yer
achieving; a more and more dead general ecosystem. <b>And you’re
infringing more and more on our ‘collective environmental
commons’.”</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“You guys have got to take a look
at this fellas facebook page!” Ruby May cuts in, somewhat
excitedly. “It’s a ‘look-what-kinda-toys-I’ve-got’ kinda
thing. Shiny car, big 4-wheeler, and lots of crop dusters. He’s
obviously enamored with his stuff.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Kendra comments about that picture
of him, er somebody else, low flying that crop duster. “Look at the
plum of particulates spray that’s being kicked up into the air
behind it. An impersis science of death deliverance is what that
looks to me.”</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Ok. Ok. Enough pickin’ on this
clown. It’s good ta know that Craig’s payin’ attention. And if
he’s got anything even reasonably intelligent to say in reply,
well, we’d be more than happy ta print it.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“We're gettin' more and more
respondents to the facebook work that Kendra has done such a good job
with,” comments Ruby May, who pretty much keeps tabs on what
Kendra's doin'.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ruby May then hands me a list of
those respondents that she thinks I should make more direct contact
with....</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-8192206059522700552013-09-07T09:43:00.000-07:002013-09-09T06:31:00.017-07:00The Evidence Mounts- Volume 3<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Continued From Volume 2-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
You might, er might not, recall that
we ended our last eco Vig discussin’ our mission statement, Kendra
seemingly implying that we need to broaden it, expand upon it
some…discussing this it was thrown out there that we should be
shottin’ fer a complete ban on that whole family of deadly
concoctions bein’ thrust upon the natural biota, and, in turn, upon
all of us. “Remember DDT!?” numerous times, the Manure Man
shouted out. That meetin’ came to a close. About two weeks later we
rejoined again.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Ok....you raucous assemblage, I
can tell by the way the dogs are raisin' hell, that somebody else has
just showed up. Hope it’s my buddy Tom. And not the law. Yeah. I
can tell by the way whomever it is, their workin' their way through
and passed those beasts. Yeah! It’s Tom.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Hey! Tom! Com'on in here round
the fire where it’s one heck of a lot more comfortable. Folks, this
is my buddy Tom. Biologist, emeritus. Long time with the DNR. Brother
Tom, let me introduce ya around. This young lady here who wears that
constant silly smile, like she's enjoyin' herself, full blast, full
time, the one with the fiddle in her hands, that's Kendra. Marques
there with the banjo, him too wearin' that 'what me worry' look on
his kisser...Oh shoot, you already know Marques, don't ya?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yes, Brother David, we've burned
prairies together. How ya doin' Marques? Long time, no see.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Howdy, Tom, I’m doin’ just
fine. Thanks.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I don't know if you remember this
old gimped up character, he's...”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
TOM RECOGNIZES MANURE MAN OF THE PAST</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Shoot! I'd recognize him
anywhere. I've been a fan of his direct-action style for a long, long
time. How ya doin', Mister Manure Man?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You can drop that 'mister,'
they've got me reduced ta just M&M around here. Anyway, thanks
fer yer rememberin' of my past exploits. Fer now, this group has got
me pretty well collared. I wouldn't bet that I ain’t one day gonna
break loose, though.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Naturally, Tom, you know Ruby
May.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I wish I could introduce you to
Dina, but she's off doin', I guess what you'd call research, in Peru;
the country, not Peru, IL.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Don't know how many more will
show tonight, it’s still early.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Hey! Tom. Thanks for that great
frog information. I reprinted and handed out copies ta these
assembled here, and others. I had little doubt that we'd fall inta
serious discussion about just this. What did you guys think of that
info?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Headline” HAS 100% KILL RATIO IN EXPOSED FROGS</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Marques chimes in first. “It’s...
incredible,” he comes out with while sadly shakin' his reverential
head. “Absolutely incredible. A 100 per cent kill ratio. That just
sucks my breath away. <b>If there were ever reason to come up with a
frog eliminator, they've found it.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“This crap's scary!” Kendra
pipes in.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Those that manufacture that stuff
outta be shot! er better yet, boiled in oil!” M&M blurts out,
emphatically. “And them that sells it and sprays it too! How the
dickens did this ever get past the EPA?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
CHEMICALS NOT EXPOSED TO TOUGH SCRUTINY</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“These chemicals only have to leap
the lowest of bars,” Tom comes back. “These companies that
manufacture this crap won't do research that they're not forced to
do. <b>You can't see harmful side effects, if you're not looking for
them. Research costs money. These manufacturer are inta this for
right-now, bottom line profit.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“The main chemical formula
concerned in this Mother Jones article is Headline, that was one of
the agents in that three-chemical-cocktail that was involved in the
aquatic kill in your creek here, wasn't it?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yes,” Kendra pipes up.
“Tombstone, Headline, and Sniper. We know it’s deadly to aquatic
animals, especially invertebrates. We know it’s harmful to both
mammals and birds. And now we know it’s deadly to frogs, and most
likely other amphibians, and, what’s left?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Reptiles,” Ruby May adds in.
“But we don't know if it’s harmful to them. What good biological
research, done by prominent herpetologists, without a doubt indicates
that snakes, and turtles are in drastic decline, too! Nevertheless,
that's quite an indictment. Why not just say, especially the way
they're mixin' this junk together, and the way it’s
applied...’Environment, move over, get outta the way! Make way for
chemical agriculture. Ain’t no room fer nothin' else!’ <b>100% kill
ratio for frogs sprayed with manufacture recommended dosages, and
their deaths after contact, happens rapidly, like from 6-8 hours.</b>
Incredible.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And as you've read, gang, er
maybe group, is better, this wasn't some test that couldn't pass
muster with respect to the quality of science applied. It comes outta
Europe, its peer reviewed by Swiss and German scientists. I mean,
this is the real thing!”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“100% kill ratio on contact with
‘Headline,” a commonly aerially applied synthetic agricultural
chemical that the chemical manufactures haven't done their homework
on, not even close. And this blanketed over a significant portion of
Lee and Ogle Counties. And because there's essentially no oversight
of those doing the aerial spraying, or that done from the ground,
either, you can bet that this stuff is gettin' into the
‘environmental commons,’ proved here by exactly what happened ta
Grove Creek. Yeah. The ‘environmental commons,’ something we'll
slate for further discussion, later, and in depth, I promise...”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“The manufacture of this killer of
a chemical, BASF, a huge chemical conglomerate from the EU that once
was involved in producing stuff for quick-kill Nazi concentration
camps' gas chambers, found that results of this study interestin',
but it also doubted that these peer-reviewed-scientific studies
duplicated real field conditions and judged them insignificant. Whew!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“We'll quote directly from Mother
Jones here as to this huge conglomerate's response to email
questioning:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i>
</div>
<i>
</i>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>'The study design neither reflects
conditions of realistic agricultural use in practice nor the natural
behavior of the animals. Amphibians are not exposed to such
pesticide concentrations in practice and under normal agricultural
conditions. For instance, Pyraclostrobin is not applied to the bare
ground but to the crop, and the plants in the field will certainly
reduce the exposure to the amphibians. In addition, amphibians tend
to hide (under leaves or in the soil) during times of application.
Accordingly, BASF considers the risk to amphibians resulting from
Pyraclostrobin to be low in practice and under normal agricultural
conditions.' <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[you can read the whole article here: http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2013/01/new-study-common-pesticides-kill-frogs-contact]</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“The obvious question here that’s
just begging to be asked...is...why the hell wasn't research done on
this type of problem before this junk started killin' off just all
kinds of critters in our, yours and mine, environment? <b>Where is the
EPA on stuff like this when ya need 'em?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Is this an example of corporate
double speak er what? How do they know what the exposure to
amphibians is...when they've never studied it? Fine. Your chemical is
applied by air to the crops. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yeah. None of it hits ground. Sure. It
might interest you that many species of frogs make their living
moving around on leafy vegetation, searching for insects as food. Do
you think they could come into contact with these deadly chemicals
that way? Seems ta me that there's a chance.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
WHAT ARE NORMAL CONDITIONS?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Twice they mention ‘normal
agricultural conditions.’ What the heck, in the always-changing-
environmental conditions are 'normal agricultural conditions!'</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Their statement with respect to
amphibians tendin' ta hide durin' times of application, I find
absolutely ludicrous. Do they, have they, even a scintilla of
research data pertaining to that?! Shoot, no. It’s just some PR
entity's hack, knee jerk, and stupid statement.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Those amphibians must hide all
the daylight hours, 'cause that sprayin' went on from dawn ta dusk,
for days. The reason frogs have such big eyes is that they are
'sight' feeders. Yes they do hunt also in darkness, but bet yer last
dollar that they're extremely effective daytime hunters too.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Brother David, I love the closing
statement in that Mother Jones article,” Kendra expounds. <i>'If all
it takes to kill a frog is a single spray, you're using a problematic
pesticide, full stop.'</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Marques comes out with a statement
about how Church of the Earth Firsters, our Washington Grove chapter,
its membership, continues to swell. “We've got Tom here, and
there's this fella I know from Oregon. His name is Richie, and he
owns a feed, seed, and lawn mower repair service. He's thinkin' of
startin' an Oregon chapter. Boy has he ever got a frog story ta
tell.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Well, David, why don't ya get it
from him then?” Ruby May wants ta know.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I'll do just that Ruby May. This
is pretty good, first-hand and very local stuff.”</div>
EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-1616548913482931432013-03-20T06:41:00.006-07:002013-03-20T06:41:55.446-07:00Critters and Plots, Parts 5 & 6
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Story 5</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>LETHAL SHIT</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Reading over information concerning
hazards to humans coming in contact with all three of the synthetic
poisons in the chemical cocktail that much of Ogle and Lee counties
got essentially blanketed with, one certainly gets a sense of just
how lethal this shit is.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are lots of First-Aid procedures
recommended, from just washing up to emergency help from first
responders. Contaminated clothing is best discarded.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So besides being deadly to almost all
invertebrates (I talked to an entomologist recently who's extremely
upset 'cause of butterfly population declines here locally), we can
assume that it’s deadly to mammals too, us bein’ them. Shrews,
voles, mice, chipmunks, ground squirrels, weasels, mink, rabbits,
groundhogs, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, deer, these are local mammals
too. <i>What are their first-aid remedies when they come into contact
with this deadly stuff? </i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What?! They shouldn't be out on private
property anyway! But, in ever decreasing numbers, they are out there.
Has there been any research on how the mammal contingent of the
environment are faring? No, of course not. <b>Any ill effect can just
get checked off as collateral damage. </b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Invertebrates, mammals, what’s it
doing to the avian population? For sure, nobody knows....
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>WHAT’S IT DOIN TO THE BIRDS?</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But we do know that along with
invertebrate population, segments of the avian population are in
serious decline, according to the Audubon Society and the Department
of Natural Resources, if one can believe in sources like these. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pheasants, quail, and grey partridge,
all of them ground dwelling birds, are in marked decline throughout
areas where they formerly were quite numerous. I'm old enough to have
once seen how these birds thrived, and sadly have watched their
almost disappearance. And this even though, with C.P.R. ground,
there's ample habitat. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And muskrats! A long time ago, I made
my living buying and selling fur skins. At one point, I was handling
as many as half a million muskrat skins a year, many of them out of
central Illinois; flat country covered in corn and beans and laced by
mile upon mile of wide drainage ditches. I could buy over a thousand
from various individual trappers (“Just trying to get back some of
my corn,” they'd say), most of 'em farmers. The corn and beans are
still there. And there have been plenty of wet years where those same
drainage ditches have held plenty of water, but the muskrats have
been drastically reduced in numbers, and not by over-trapping. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just the other day, in conversation
with a now-retired but long-time biologist of the DNR, I asked the
question: “If ya had ta find a common thread, a blanket you'd feel
comfortable throwing over these population declines, what would you
lay it to?” </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>“Chemicals,” </i>he didn't hesitate even a moment
comin' out with that answer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Story 6</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another evening in the firewood-ring
with blazin' fire, the gathering of “Church of the Earth Firsters,”
keeping warm there around it. Wind chill outside that fire ring was
real cold, inside there round those flames, except fer ever-changin'
direction of hard wood smoke, it was real comfy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mission statement, our refining,
clarifying it. Kendra, the sorta strange lady who's kinda fascinated
by dead animals, she's the one who thinks we need this. Kendra's also
the sorta girl-friday who's charged with getting' this group's “face
book” organized, up and runnin'. Almost indispensable she's become
at this point. The small crowd assembled there knows that they'd
better consider what she says, pay attention ta what she wants. Let’s
listen in...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>THE MESSAGE!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I thought we already did this?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Well, brother David, I think the
message needs to be
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
better defined, perhaps even
broadened.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Ok, I guess what our first aim is
to, like, assist greater public awareness as to what’s goin' on
with the greater ecosystem that they are dependent upon, whats's all
around them....us.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And then we've got to figure out
ways to try and stop these crazies from continuing their rain of
death and destruction,” Dina chimes in.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I say we arm the public with
assault rifles with big extended magazines and tracer bullets. Open
season on ‘em. Make it like a three daily bag-limit,” states the
reactionary and inflammatory Manure Man.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Typical, M&M, I say you go back
to the drawing board.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Geeze, Vig, er, ah, excuse me
Broth, you ain't near as willin' to go fer my suggestions
like ya usta be.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Maybe I'm older, wiser.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Older, fer sure. The way yer
hobblin' around here ya look like ya been run through the mill.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“So ta speak, I guess I have
been.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Back to this mission statement,
ladies and gentlemen, if I can be permitted this lose verbiage.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Ok, Kendra, Ok.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<b>Well...after we start to educate
enough people, like voters. We have to find some way to make a
ballot-box issue outta our campaign. </b>It’s not a new idea. This very
issue has been proposed in other areas. I don't know if it’s been
adopted anywhere yet. And the agro chemical companies, like Monsanto,
are spendin' lots of bucks tryin' ta block these efforts.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>CHEMICAL CO’S NOT UNBEATABLE</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“In fact, the chemical companies,
which many see as monolithic, unbeatable, have been losing some
battles and its costin' ‘em what you and me would consider big
bucks. Kendra, I'll give you some of the cases I've discovered. You
can put 'em in the evidence part of our blog site.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Reverend Marques cuts in here, him
excited about the growth rate of our Grove Creek chapter of the
COTEFers since we initiated this sorta fire ring whacko assemblage.
“We've more than doubled,” he carries on. “If we double again
in the next couple of months and then double that again and again.
Well, as you can see we could go exponential.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yeah, I'm worried right now about
the size of the fire-ring. We're gonna have ta make it so everyone
brings their own beverages, too. Between that and the herbs do you
know how much we're goin' through now? Well, I do. And this drain on
my meager resources has gotta stop."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Kendra, you seem less than
completely satisfied with my mission statement efforts. Com’on you
guys, pitch in, remember this is a group effort”.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>To be continued….</b></div>
EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-461538297948097932013-03-11T12:15:00.001-07:002013-03-11T12:18:56.262-07:00The Investigative Measures of the Great Crayfish Kill, Parts 3 & 4Story 3<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A bit on invertebrates. Past. Present. Future.</span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Any animal form that’s not
microbial and lacks a spine…from tiny worms up ta somethin’ as
big as a giant octopus er squid, is an invertebrate. They’ve been
around just a whole lot longer than us vertebrates…and most
certainly will outlast us.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> There simply is no way to quantify
how much good they’ve done and are doin’ for us now. And how much
we depend on them. <i>So why are we allowing their numbers and numbers
of species to crash?</i> That is what’s going on here on planet earth
right now, ya know. Daily, species of animal life are sliding into
the extinction bin, many of them invertebrates.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Let me give you examples of their
past generosities. Right here, close by, in Lee and Ogle County;
where we’re still living off their largess, mining it: our once
extremely rich and fertile prairie soils.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> As native plants crept after
receding glacial ice, they brought their invertebrate cohabitants
with them. Of course they provided benefits like pollination, but
through constant “invertebrate excrement rain,” a very nitrogen
rich rain, they enriched the surface beneath them, creating more
robust plant life, more invertebrates, more excrement rain and….</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MUCH OF OUR <span style="font-size: small;">INHERITANCE</span> ALREADY
SQUANDERED!</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Well, if the process is allowed to
continue for ten er 12 thousand years, dead plant material digested
by other invertebrates and then microbes, all of them excreting’
constantly, all the time…. <b>As you’re most likely aware these
nutrient rich accumulations stacked up in places quite deep,
sometimes in excess of six feet…much of which we’ve already
squandered.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Right “now” what are they doing
for us? They pollinate many of our essential crops, they makes us
sweets and produce fine silk, and we eat them directly, oysters,
scallops, squid…they also provide us with the lovely music of the
night if you’re lucky enough at hang out in places where one can
hear it, and don’t forget they’re in the food chain.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> There is no way I can innumerate all
things they do for us, because I don’t know all that much. But I
know that we can’t make it here on this planet without them. And
that makes me wonder why we’re workin’ so fast and furiously in
our collective effort in killin’ ‘em off?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Spraying broad spectrum and deadly
chemicals by air sure as hell is one effective method towards
stampin’ ‘em out, I sure as hell know that.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I often am able to stand out in a
mature prairie field in the evening, just before dark. Damn. The
cacophony of invertebrate sound is so vibrant that it seems ta come
up the bottoms of my feet.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Now go out and stand in the middle
of a corn field. <b>One would think it almost a dead zone by comparison.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> In the future…they won’t do
anything for us, ‘cause we won’t be here. With us gone the
numbers will come roaring back, and through evolution so will many
new species. And the planet will be restored to health again…just
without us there ta see it. The miracle of geologic time. Don’t
worry folks. The mess we leave behind will be cleaned up.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> But let’s pay attention to want’s
goin’ on around us, right here and now, to what’s still left of
the environment.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Story</span> 4</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> After receiving these two flat-out
refusals to talk, what was I ta do? I decided to bring it up for
discussion at the next gathering of the COTEFers, which came off as
sorta loosely planned 'round camp fire out here in these spooky
woods.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Just since our last get-together,
our numbers swelled by half. Still plenty a room fer others, though.
You bet.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">REBIRTH OF MANURE MAN</span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Ruby May was sorta actin' as
hostess. Refreshments, etc. Right Reverend Marques set there tunin'
up his banjo. And now there's this second musician, too. Kendra.
Except fer her liking ta do things with dead animals, she seems ta me
ta be...well, not normal, but nice. And crazy. She plays and sings
with the Reverend a lot. Then there's this old curmudgeon, a retread
who's come to us as if outta the past: the former Manure Man of
DeKalb Co. Vigilante fame. He's much older, but he's still got that
wildly insane look in his eyes.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The next logical step. That was the
question?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I think a law suit against Woodly
Aviation is a must,” that was Ruby May Glamper's suggestion. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Not a bad idea, seein' as Stan was
found conclusively guilty fer killin' of my fish bait. <b>But this has
ta be an issue much bigger than just these right-here local
crawdads.”</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Reverend Marques pointed to the
obvious fact that there were a lot more people harmed by that
week-long chemical blitz besides me, even though most of ‘em didn't
know they'd been harmed; harmed by a reduced and degraded
environment, none the less. The agreement there around warm fire with
Kendra gently strummin' the beginnings of her burstin' into a tune,
was unanimous. Kendra and Marques. They're writin' a song about the
Great Grove Creek Crayfish Massacre. They're pretty good.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">WHAT ABOUT LEGAL ACTION?</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “So if we did decide ta initiate
legal action, it should be in the form of like a class-action suit.
Maybe takin' in everyone along the course Kite Creek drainage? Is
that sort of what yer thinkin', Rev?” </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Yeah, sorta. Let me do some more
thinkin' on this.”
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Take yer time.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “The next logical step,” chimes
in Dina, “Is to find out how these chemicals got approved for
aerial spraying? dudes.” </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“That should be easy,” chimes in
Kendra. “The EPA has to approve all these chemicals. <i>Through the
Freedom of Information, we should be able to access all of that.” </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Are you willing to do that?” The
crowd wants to know. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Yeah,” Kendra comes back. “I'm pretty
sure I can handle it.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Manure Man pipes up that he's
sufferin' some confusion with this gathering, what’s our stated
goal, what er who's our target. And he wants ta know why those
settin' around there ain’t addressin' me as “Vig.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “I'll do the “Vig” part first,
M &M. I'm not the Vig. The Vig is retired. The EcoVig is a
movement. Much grander than me. Stick around, you'll see.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “So what are we supposta, how are
we supposta address ya then?”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “How about just Brother David,
co-founder of the Grove Creek Chapter of Church of the Earth First.
Ya, Brother David. That'll do, M&M.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE BANNING OF THESE LETHAL CHEMICALS</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “As for stated goals, high on our
agenda is eliminating deadly chemicals like the ones that got sprayed
all over Lee and Ogle counties. The ones that killed all the crayfish
and other invertebrates in Grove Creek, and other streams that were
affected as well....especially their use as aerial sprays. I<b> think
makin' this a ballot box issue by the mid-term elections, here in Lee
and Ogle counties....I think that’s a realistic possibility.”</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Yer gonna have to educate John Q.
Public then, who ain't too bright, Brother David.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “It’s not that John Q's not
bright enough for this M&M, it’s just like back when we did
that Vigilante thing way back...phew, more than 30 years ago. Once ya
get John Q's attention you'll find plenty of smarts there.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Grabbin' the public's attention,
Vig....eh. Excuse me, brother David, you know that’s my specialty.
You know what Id’a done and right from the beginning. Do you mind
if I just call you Broth?”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “No. That’s fine. I'll answer ta
Broth.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Yes. M&M. I've a good idea
how you'd maneuver. But this time around I don't think we'll have ta
stoop to yer odoriferous tactics.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MANURE MIGHT NOT BE CALLED FOR</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “First, M&M, there already
exists a great deal of concern with respect to these deadly
chemicals. In fact, I'm amazed at all the like-minded people I've run
inta since this crayfish kill thing got started. Now it’s just
sorta a matter of pullin' these like-minded folks together. This is a
serious game in which numbers count.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “<i>You know, Broth, lots of people
are gonna think we're crazy fer goin' up against the chemical-
agro-industry. They're awfully big, awfully powerful.”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Sure. I'm aware of all of that.
But I'm also aware that right, truth, has a chance ta tip the scale
in our direction. I'm bettin' that should we be able to inform enough
people, we can master the fulcrum point.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Music and frivolity up-staged
anything even close ta serious conversation then. The moon came up
through the naked trees. Coyotes howled and great horned owls</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">screamed and hooted as the fire turned
ta coals. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We said we'd soon meet again.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-20731276560809760382013-03-07T06:39:00.003-08:002013-03-07T06:39:38.229-08:00The Investigative Measures of the Crayfish Kill, Part 2
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a courtesy…I mailed off copies of
Issue #1 of the Lee & Ogle County EcoVig, to those I desperately
wanted to talk directly to, ask logical questions of: Stan, that
pilot who’d dumped all those deadly toxins upon Grove Creek; and
who knows how many other aquatic environments? And Warren D. Goetsch,
the environmental bureau chief of the IL. Dept. of Ag. who’d
awarded Stan the blind pilot with a mere slap on the wrist fer his
direct hit on above mentioned creek. I waited a full week ta make
sure the mail did its job. Then it was time ta call and try ta set up
some sorta interview.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CHURCH OF THE EARTH FISTERS</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I’d explained this move during a
visit of other parishioners at the first gathering of the Washington
Grove Chapter of the “Church Of The Earth First”: COTEF. In
attendance was the right Reverend Marques Morel; newly ordained I
might add. And also, ordained out here ‘round the camp fire by me.
I’d gotten a certificate ta be an ordinator through this
correspondence course from school in LA. I’m takin’ one now on
self ordination. Interestin’.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Present, too, was this chatty lady,
Dina. She’s sorta “COTEF’s” moral and technical advisor.
She’s got this weird Colorado/California way of speakin’ that
strikes most midwestern's ears as strange, makin’ her seem sorta
“Valley Girl not too smart,” but then ya get the hang of what
she’s sayin’ and ya find out that she’s not stupid at all.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also present, “Ruby May Glamper,
of past DeKalb County “Vigilante” fame.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> We were havin’ a generally
hilarious evening, congratulating ourselves there in smoke filled air
fer getting’ this first chapter of “COTEF” off the ground. It
was agreed that our next logical move was fer me ta try and arrange
contact with Stan and Warren mentioned above. Wow! Did we ever have a
basketful of questions.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> We discussed some “COTEF” rules
fer membership, and decided that we’d just as soon not bother.
Hell, anyone could join, and unjoin if they wanted ta, too. The only
requirement asked was a proclivity towards savin’, protectin’ the
earth. Didn’t matter yer religion er lack of it, or what yer
political affiliations are er were.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I told ‘em of my planned calls ta
Stan and Warren.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Where do you think that will lead
us, dude?” Dina asked.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I prognosticated that most likely I’d
run inta stone walls. Springfield er Walnut, I was ready and willin’
ta do the drivin’ if either said yes. And I’d settle for an
interview on phone.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">PHONE WENT DEAD </span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Woodly Aerial Spraying, I call
first. A fella answers but it wasn’t Stan. I introduce myself, tell
the gent that I’m lead reporter fer the Lee & Ogle EcoVig and
I’d like to interview Stan with regards to the warning letter fer
sprayin’ violations he’d gotten.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Perhaps this was the wrong approach.
“You’ll not be talking to anyone from here!” was his terse
response. The phone went dead.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Damn…now how was I gonna get
answers from Stan to our questions?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>My first one was gonna be, Stan, do
you realize what kind of eco havoc you’re causin’, how grand the
scale? </b>My guess is, most likely not. If he did understand it, I don’t
know how he could justify makin’ a livin’ like that. I know I
sure as hell wouldn’t want to walk around with that kinda weight.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I’m also bettin’ that Stan
doesn’t, hasn’t had, any kind of eco responsibility training, no
deep understanding of what an eco system is, like I’m giving my
great grandson, T.J.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>Before you sprayed Grove Creek,
Stan, did you have a good understandin’ of just how lethal the load
you dumped was?</b> I don’t think you’re mean-spirited, Stan. But I
do think you’re ignorant. If I could put you through the same
course I’m puttin’ T.J. through, I don’t think you’d spread
so much death around anymore.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">SECOND PHONE CALL GOES NO PLACE, ALSO.</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> When I try
at IL Dept. of Ag, I get almost same results. A sectretary passes me
off to a department spokeperson who doesn’t let me get through to
Warren.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> To Warren I like to talk about
whether er not he had any ecology training? <b>What does the guy who’s
charged with protecting the environment actually know? </b>Ever had a
course in aquatic biology, limnology, Warren? Do you understand
things like the downstream killing’ range of the lethal stuff yer
supposta be policin’? Do you know anything about the synergies when
such lethal cocktails as that which got dumped inta Grove Creek get
combined?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> My bet, my guess, is that the
majority of yer answers ta the above questions would be “No.” And
considerin’ your position I find that pretty sad.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I wanted ta ask ya about your
eyesight, too, Warren. Your investigator provided you with very good,
clear photographical evidence that it would be all but impossible fer
poor Stan ta miss the fact of Grove Creek and the adjacent large
ponds existed, couldn’t be missed from his cockpit there with
birds-eye view in the air. Now, either you didn’t review your
investigator’s evidence, er maybe you couldn’t see the
impossibility of Stan missin’ all that water from up there. (Have
you ever flown in a small plane?)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Seeing fer yourself all that
gathered evidence, how in the hell could you swallow Stan’s lame
excuse!? I guess ya can’t see what ya don’t want ta see, er yer
told not ta see. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Either way, you’ve got a sight problem, Warren.</span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-17961295852554099282013-02-22T11:44:00.003-08:002013-02-22T11:44:48.514-08:00The Investigative Measures of the Crayfish Kill, Part 1
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So, after exhausting all crayfish
huntin’ in this once crayfish rich area, I finally broke down and
bought some night crawlers. Three dozen. $7.50. Not much but still
money I wouldn’t had ta spend if I still had my creek crawlin’
with crawdads. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
‘Cause the stream I’d planned ta
fish, Kite Creek, was so low, I had ta walk up stream from my
startin’ point…a considerable distance. Nice day, though, and the
water felt pleasing even with it bein’, mostly, only low shin deep.
Most of the holes which normally had big fish potential only held
small ones.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Small mouth bass mostly, six ta ten
inches. Still fun ta play with, yeah, but they sure ate up my worms:
a problem that ya don’t have with crayfish ‘cause mostly only the
bigger ones can handle ‘em, swallow ‘em er pull ‘em off yer
hook.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eventually I worked my way into an
area with deeper, log-strewn holes and I did end up with five
acceptable bass, two large mouth and three small mouth; all of ‘em
legal keepers, er real near to it. Draggin’ them fish behind me, I
was amazed at how far I ventured from my pickup. The sure knowledge
of a beer on ice in a small cooler kept me goin’ until finally we
made it. This “we” meanin’ me and my three dogs. They like
these fishin’ days, every bit as much as I do. And I guess at that
point it could’a meant them five fish I’d drug there too. This
was the end Of the line fer them fishes though. A whack in the head
with a hard stick and inta the bucket they slid.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>READING FISH GUTS</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I clean my fish soon as I get home.
In the cleanin’ process I always check stomach contents, and
inspect their guts in general. All these fish were healthy, no tumors
er spots in their livers. What was obviously missing in their
digestive tracks, though, were crayfish parts.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In nature there is no “always.”
So finding a bass in late August with no crayfish parts still in its
digestive track is a possibility, albeit, a rare one. The norm is
(and this is fer both bass and catfish) that from gut to anus their
system is turned orange, that’s the color the digestive juices of
the fish turns them crayfish hulls. With yer fingers you can easily
detect the bigger chunks, sometimes still whole crayfish with parts
getting’ smaller as ya move down the intestines. And if ya squeeze
the large intestine close ta the end you’ll squeeze out an orange
tinted paste. I’m sure the fish benefit in this digestion of hard
parts. It’s got to be good for their own growth.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I cleaned them five fish. Partly
digested minnows, one of ‘em had been feedin’ on large brown
beetles…but there was no remnents of crayfish ta be found. <i>Five
bass outta Kite Creek in August without crayfish in their guts</i>. The
odds against that, er at least the way it used ta be….</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I don’t want ya thinkin’ my
investigation of this matter hasn’t been done seriously, and in
depth.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’m waitin’, ya see. Gotta find
ways ta keep entertained. And what I was waitin’ on was the Dept.
of Ag’s. complete investigating report, which I’d requested
through “Freedom of Information.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>HORRAY! I GET MY HANDS ON REPORT</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And in a reasonable amount of time
this big fat packet does land in my hands.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I’m happy ta say that the
investigator did a rather complete and accurate job. He used Google
Earth effectively and had also included hand-held photos, all of this
showing what had gone wrong.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>THE TOXIC COCKTAIL</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
During his visit to the aerial
spraying Co. he’d discovered that Tombstone was only one of three
deadly poisons mixed in this cocktail sprayed from the air. Headline
and Sniper were mixed inta the soup, also. All three of these
chemicals are highly toxic to aquatic life. All three of ‘em tell
of what they do ta bees. And I go on ta add to almost all
invertebrate life in sprayed zones. Good er bad doesn’t matter,
they’re goners.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Invertebrates. <b>Do you understand
how we depend on invertebrates? How a healthy eco-system can’t be
achieved without them?<i> </i></b>Stand in a prairie field and listen, feel all
the invertebrate activity. Now go stand in a corn field. Dramatic,
the difference. And while yer at it bring yer shovel and try ta find
some earth worms... in the corn field, that is.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So we’ve got a highly toxic
cocktail being applied with high speed crop dustin’ plane.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
An interesting aside here is that
the chances of anyone doing’ research on what kind of synergy might
be released into the environment with these mixtures, are essentially
nil. Research takes time and costs money.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>ANYBODY GOT THE ANSWER?</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Research inta long term consequences
of these chemicals, many of which never existed naturally, doesn’t
exist either, ‘cause this crap hasn’t been around long enough.
Fifty years of exposure, a hundred? Nobody’s got the answer fer
that one…but let’s not let trifles like this interrupt immediate
profits.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The investigator talked ta pilot of
offending aircraft. “The applicator,” stated, “he did not
realize a stream was next to the field,” and a buffer zone was not
left next to the stream.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>SAY, WHAT?! WHAT?!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A stream running over a beaver dam
and a succession of riffles, with the sun at the angle it was at that
time of the morning…and the guy flyin’ the plane is unaware of
its existence? This statement simply snaps any strands clinging to
credulity. I’ve been in small aircrafts. Ponds, streams, hell,
puddles are obvious to even an untrained eye. Don’t pilots have ta
get regular eye exams?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The photos of the investigator, the
goggled topography, even his spray plan for the day should’a given
this guy a tip off. Com'on, Stan, yer not tryin’ ta pull our
collective leg, are ya? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>(Visit the Evidence section of this blog for aerial photographs of the area.)</b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>BLIND PILOT DIDN’T KNOW WIND SPEED ER</i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>DIRECTION, EITHER.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The pilot was also off on the wind
speed. Stan had “guessed” the wind speed at eight miles per hour
and outta the east. In fact, according to “Daily history. HTML?
Reg,” it was a steady ten mph wind from E.NE. Grove Creek does not
pass through this area in anything but the lee of corn field, exactly
in direction of drift, with an E.NE. wind.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I started thinkin’ about how long
these deadly droplets might stay adrift? Four seconds? Twenty? I know
I’ve smelled ag. sprays from as much as a half mile away.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I got out my calculator. Let’s
see…if the wind is flowing past a fixed position at ten miles an
hour…that means it’s traveled 5280 feet ten times. That’s
52,800 feet, er exactly ten miles. An hour now divided inta minutes,
60 divided 52,800 = 880 feet per minute. Now ta get the drift per
second all we gotta do is divide that 880 feet by 60 seconds and we
come up with a drift that’s 14.66 feet per second. Again I’m only
guessin’ just how long some of this stuff lingers in that ten
M.P.H. wind, me givin’ due respect ta things like prop wash.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just fer arguments sake let give the
“time in air equation” five seconds. That’s fair, don’t ya
think? I mean this stuff isn’t lead shot but a vapor.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Five seconds at 14.66 f.p.s. comes
out to 73.35 feet of drift. Way more than enough distance ta cover
the whole length of Grove Creek and certainly have an effect on our
neighbor’s large ponds. Nice shot, Stan. Direct hit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>You didn’t see that stream, Stan?
You didn’t see those quite large ponds? </b>Have you ever sat down and
done any serious wind drift calculations? I’m left hopin’ that
this is a one-time fluke experience, and not a common practice.
However, my thus far evaluation of things points in that “common
practice” direction.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>STAN BLASTS 1,631 ACRES WITH DEATH IN
ONE DAY</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have a copy of Stan’s work sheet
here in front of me, for that day. He was a busy pilot, no doubt
about it. I count 20 aerial sprayings, him startin’ at 5:51 a.m.
and keepin’ at it till 8:20 p.m. This confirmin’ my remembrances
of dawn ta dusk aerial spray activity fer that more than one week
period. Not all this noise comin’ from Stan, ya understand. I don’t
know yet what other crop duster were workin’ this area but I’m
gonna find out.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Stan completed 20 missions. He musta
been a tired man. I’m wonderin’ if his eye sight had deteriorated
through the course of the day, er improved. He sprayed 1,631.00 acres
with this, er similar deadly cocktails. If Stan kept up this
incredible pace fer at least a seven day week, which I’m pretty
sure he or other pilots did…well…one can imagine the huge scope
of eco contamination.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>(Stan's worksheet is available for viewing in the Documentation section of this blog)</b></i> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>THE BIG HARD SLAP!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Also in the fat envelope I received
a copy of a “pesticide misuse complaint enforcement evaluation
form,” this is the form which Dept. of Ag. chief of bureau of
environmental programs and pesticide misuse, Warren D. Goetsch, used
to determine what kinda action ta take against poor- sighted and
overworked Stan.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Under the first category: #1. Harm
or Loss Incurred. Stan got nicked fer one negative point on line at
which states exposure to plants, animals or humans with no symptoms
of damage; and then there a notation scribbled in a large box for
comments, <i>“Death of crayfish could not be confirmed.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
First off a crayfish is an animal,
and I think death is pretty serious damage. And that comment about
non confirmation of dead crayfish? Even his own investigaters report
confirmed the death of crayfish. None-the-less Stan only gets one
negative point here. What the hell would one have ta do ta confirm
the death of crayfish?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>This form, by the way, makes very
little sense. Nowhere does it give demerits for eco damage.</b> It’s
concerned with property losses but not environmental ones. It makes
one wonder why it’s in the hands of the bureau chief for
<i>“Environmental programs.”</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Stan gets hit fer two negative
points in the next category #2: Signal Word…whatever in hell that
means. I think he’s awarded these demerits ‘cause he ignored the
obvious warning with respect to aquatic habitats that the three
chemicals in this cocktail so obviously give.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Stan really gets clobbered in #3:
Degree of Responsibility. Wham! A four pointer slam biased upon his
negligence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In category #5: Violation Type, he
picks up another three negative points for use contrary to label
directions “resulting to exposure to other persons or the
“environment.” Ha, ha! Usin’ my magnify’ glass I do finally
find this one single word relating to the environment.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the comment section for this
category here is where Stan stated he did not realize that stream was
next to field.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With his own investigators report
which pictorially shows that that would be all but impossible, except
fer someone who was near legally blind, how could this bureau chief
not rap him harder fer that whooper!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Three negatives was all that could
be given on this evaluation form, though. There are no higher
numbers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Usin’ some logic that escapes me
completely, Stan comes up with a negative score of only ten. And that
throws him in line fer that toothless warning letter.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Absurd, this evaluation form. Judge
fer yer self. A joke is how I’d rate this paper shuffling, paper
eatin’ work.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>(The Complaint Enforcement Evaluation Form is available for viewing in the Action section of this blog.)</b></i></div>
EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-67926584252263154842012-12-19T05:52:00.000-08:002013-01-24T07:58:56.317-08:00The Great Grove Creek Crayfish Kill, Part 2<style type="text/css">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I settle inta waitin’ ta see what kinda action
the Il. Dept. of Ag. was gonna take in this open and shut case of,
what should be<i> highly criminalized, eco degradation…that chemical
trespass inta my space.<b> </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And as good as I knew stream fishin’ with crayfish
most likely was, well, I had great desire ta find some crawdads,
someplace, and go catch another stringer full of nice fat, big fish.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In conversation with neighbor who’s ground had been
directly sprayed, he’d told me that he and actual farmer had gone
up stream past where the action had occurred and, supposedly, they’d
found live crayfish. Because there’s this long string of timber and
pasture land that creek ran through, where spraying didn’t occur,
I figured it worth a try.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I could drive right to area he directed me to. For me
with dip net and bucket the water was easy to slide off inta. Cool.
Refreshing. It was a hot enough a.m. I worked my way slowly up stream
into crayfish habitat, rocks and riffles, water with a high oxygen
content, which should have been ideal…and came up without a single
sighting. I moved on upstream….</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over log jams and under tree limbs, up to my waist
sometimes in the deeper holes, good crayfish habitat I searched
through for well over an hour and came up with zero.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I couldn’t help thinkin’ back the week before
when the aerial spraying, both by fixed winged aircraft and
helicopter, went on from before sunrise till after it set, and this
fer a long string of days. Couldn’t help but hear it near all the
time settin’ here in my cabin or working around the place. Further
up stream this flow went through other ground that was either corn or
beans. Both these crops got heavily sprayed.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So with all that spraying activity, and after this
failed attempt ta find my favorite bait, I set ta thinkin’ about
other streams in the area.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I’d like ta say that I changed streams and came up
with plenty of bait, but I can’t. <i>I crisscrossed the area fer five
er six miles from here,</i> me stopping at creek crossings, checkin’
under bridges and in first rock/riffle area I encountered…and…and
you talk about disheartened, those son’s-of-bitchin’ aircrafts
had done an amazing thorough job. I couldn’t help but feel
eco-raped, and on a large scale. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>How much of that poison got sprayed over Ogle County?</b>
I found myself questioning. “There’s had ta be records!”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I wrote that first story. Proofed it, printed it,
proofed it again and set ta slowly checkin’ fer public reaction, me
knowin’ that from some of my academic friends I’d get all kinds
of flap about my country-speak style of writin’. Most who read it,
liked it, had no trouble with it at all.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At the Ogle Co. Energy Fair, where we set up a tent
and get opportunity to make contact with environmentally concerned
and generally quite intelligent people, I had the opportunity to hand
out quite a few copies. And, also, there were numerous who took the
time ta read through part er all of the “Tombstone” information
that my wife had gathered through the Internet.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This stuff reads like an eco nightmare. After giving
copies to surrounding landowners I’ve asked the question: “After
understanding what this stuff is, what it does…would you allow the
use of it on your property?” And I’m glad to report that the
answer has been 100% , “No!”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>There at that Energy Fair I learned that the lethal
chemical is a synthetic, petroleum based, sorta copy of organic
rotenone. A totally non natural chemical. Somethin’ the natural
ecosystem’s never encountered before. None of us, either.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: 0.5in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And then this one gentleman, who’s sorta become an
online investigator, and who’s been showin’ my story and that
Tombstone info around, he finds where it’s made, Loveland Colorado,
where he runs inta hung-up phones when he tried ta ask questions.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Also, he’d made contact with people in the chemical
business in diverse areas like Texas and Louisiana, where the
sprayers have quit usin’ this stuff fer exactly the same reason as
the problem it’s caused here in Ogle Co.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I wasn’t just layin’ back in the woods here,
doin’ nothin’, just waitin’ fer the wheels of the Department of
Ag. ta churn out its conclusive action in this case. No. I already
knew, had been numerous times informed, how this thing most likely
would go.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And that’s just the way it did. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">“Ha! A slap on the wrist!” Not my reaction but from
those few I’ve shown this gem to.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And it is a gem, too. I’m going to embrace and
treasure it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So the investigator did ascertain that a violation
had indeed occurred. I made a mental note that I need to get my hands
on this investigative report, me knowin’ full well what a hassle
it’ll be to go thorough “Freedom of Information” procedures. But
I guess I’ll do it. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I guess this letter places the blame for the eco
destruction that happened here directly on a Mr. Stan Boling of
Woodley Aerial Spray, Inc. All this stuff will be good info. to hand
over to my pro-bono legal team…just as soon as I get that little
detail pulled together. I made a mental note ta go first and talk ta
this guy, see if he’ll cooperate with me and give me information,
like, just how much of this crap got dumped on this part of Ogle
County durin’ that week-long blitz, so I don’t have to subpoena
his records. Which I will do if I have ta.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And I guess I know where to vent my anger with
respect ta this slap on the wrist. Certainly I’ll attempt
conversation with Mr. Warren A. Goestsch, Il. Dept. of Ag. Bureau
chief, with respect ta this incident.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Boy! The questions that come ta mind with this dude.
Like, fer starters, how many punches as opposed ta slaps does his
agency merit out? Does anybody do serious jail time for doing serious
eco damage? Do they have any sort of a baseline with respect to eco
damage? Do they even take eco damage seriously? Like is this Il.
Dept. of Ag. agency really lookin’ out fer the public’s
interests, er is it just a toothless and tame pet of the Agro
Chemical Industry?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, too, I’ve got great desire ta find out how
this responsibility wasn’t in the hands of the E.P.A., how it got
hijacked by the Department of Agriculture, which I’m sure is
heavily influenced by the Agro Chemical Industry. The more I think
about this stuff, what’s goin’ on all around us and all the time
with almost no one completely award of it er in control, I guess the
more upset I get, the more goaded inta action I’m gettin’.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As I discover more, I promise ta keep ya informed.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Which agency? I find myself questioning, Dept. of Ag.
er E.PA. has the say-so as to whether a chemical like this Tombstone
is safe for usage and under what conditions? </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Under what circumstances is aerial sprayin’ safe at
all?</b> Damn…look at all the warnings of the products own promotional
literature. Considering the impossibility to calculate all the
movements, in some cases like micro movements of air currents below
an aircraft that’s creating major turbulence either behind er below
it…how do ya keep shit like this Tombstone in place?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By now I’ve run this equation past a whole bunch of
people, all of them, 100%, admitting to the impossibility of just
that.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whew! T.J’s comin’ fer the weekend. How am I ever
going to simplify and explain all this to a six year old?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Do you know what the attention span of a kid that age
is? I never timed it but I bet, except with video games, I’m
guessin’ T.J.’s at less than five minutes, at best. And much of
the time considerably less than that.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With his own essential pillow and blanket he sleeps
on the couch here in the cabin, the same couch that our three dogs
are accustom ta occupying, too. They know it’s off limits with him
beddin’ there.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He sleeps like a rock, and I mean from the time his
head hits his pillow. Bam! Sleepin’. And usually I can get my early
a.m. two cups of coffee and an hours’ worth of uninterrupted
readin’ time in before he starts ta even stir.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not this last morning though. I’d not even sat down
with my first cup and our big dog Miley, who just simply adores kids
in general and especially him, licked him awake. Fer a while they
played, which seemed Miley’s purpose. But then he turned his
attentions ta me who’s right in the middle of a critical part of
book I was readin’: The Forest Unseen, David G. Haskell. A really
good read for anyone interested in the environment.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">O.K. T.J. Let me finish just this one paragraph –
admittedly a long one – and I’ll help you rid Miley of those
nasty little cling-on burs, his passion of that moment.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Never got ta the end of it, something that demanded
intense concentration. Had ta mark my page, close the book.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We tended ta Miley’s burs outside with a bur comb.
He spotted a watermelon atop the cluttered picnic table. Boy-oh-boy
does he love ripe watermelon. This one that I sliced open just
happened ta be particularly good.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fer maybe 20 minutes then I tried ta teach the kid ta
far-spit watermelon seeds. I’m a lot windier than he is.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He followed me through feedin’ dogs and takin’ my
vitamins. “Grandpa, how come you take so many pills?” “Cause
I’m an old man, and I think I need ‘em.” Somehow this turned
into a contest of who could kick their hand held highest over their
head. He practices “Tae kwan do” and easily beat me.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We work our way up to my shell workin’ studio/a.m.
exercise area, me with hopes I’d get ta do my daily routine. Good
luck.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">O.K. I conceded. Right then seemed like a great time
ta continue educatin’ the kid. Did he remember us playin’ in the
creek last time he’d visited? And all those animals we’d found
under the rocks, the crayfish? “And the fishes,” he answered,
shakin’ his head yes.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I set inta tellin’ the story as graphically, me
with outstretched arms simulatin’ a crop dustin’ plane. I knew if
I didn’t keep the action, the drama, I’d lose his focus. Which I
did several times, him wantin’ ta lay on the floor and pet Miley.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our conversation went on for well over an hour,
during which I had him digestin’ concepts like eco systems and food
chains. We approached this from multiple directions. <i>And when he
understood that deadly poisons sprayed in one place could affect
things quite far away, “That’s stupid. That’s stupid,” he
muttered numerous times with respect ta the sprayin’.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was a hard lesson, I’m a hard teacher. At
breakfast time, he, my wife and me eatin’ cereal with fresh peaches
out in the yard, she asked him if he understood what his grandpa was
talkin’ about? “Yeah. Mostly. For little people, it’s pretty
dense stuff.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Naturally, her and I laughed. “Yeah, T.J.,”
Marcia came back, “That’s pretty tough stuff to explain even to
grown people.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A four-wheeler ride around and about in the
multi-trailed eco reserve was what he was up for. Always. Him settin’
in front of me with hands on controls, his grandpa with hand on the
brake. We can easily chew up a couple of hours this way, us stoppin’
at points of interest; both his and mine.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Time spent in the creek, of course, was essential.
The dogs led the way down an old beaver slide, T.J.’s gettin’ a
nettles lesson in the process. Creek water and juice from the
jewelweed, that’s the remedy I showed him. O.K. We’re in the
water and there’s a small bridge belongin’ ta my north neighbor
and this he’s got ta investigate. In conversation with this
neighbor, the week before, I’d told him about the great “Grove
Creek” crayfish kill, of which he’d already had the news. “My
little nephews love ta catch crawdads when they camp down there. Lots
of ‘em under the bridge, er at least there used ta be. He hadn’t
been down there ta check.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well T.J. and I did the checkin’. Lots of nice
rocks. The creeks current is good right there so the water, after
just comin’ over a riffle, carries plenty of oxygen. Perfect
crayfish habitat. By now ya can pretty much figure out what we didn’t
find. I drew T.J.’s attention to the undersides of rocks we turned
over. “<i>Remember all the little critters we found last time?” And
of course he did. And of course he could see the difference.
Dramatic. Tragic.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tracks in the mud along the bank, next caught our
interest. Easily seen were those of raccoons, muskrat and deer. T.J.
didn’t know raccoons and muskrats eat crayfish, especially the
former. I told him that them coons were most likely searchin’ fer
that kind of food when they laid down them prints. “Do deer eat
‘em?” he questioned. No. Deer didn’t, I assured him.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The rest of the day we spent in shell studio, us
makin’ him a purple oyster belt buckle. He just loves cuttin’ and
polishin’ shells. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To be continued….</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7422823305440794691.post-5423791273434737892012-12-07T05:49:00.002-08:002013-01-24T07:58:11.110-08:00The Great Grove Creek Crayfish Kill<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
Who gives a damn about crayfish?</span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, I know I do…and I’ve got this six year old great-grandson, T.J., and I’m pretty sure he does, too.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
T.J’s a town kid, lives in an apartment complex – a nice one
but still an apartment complex: him and lots of other indoor electronic
kids. He literally jumps at every opportunity ta come out and visits his
old grandpa who lives in the woods. This relationship is still pretty
new to both of us. Him stayin’ out here fer several days in a string,
that’s what I mean.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At first I was worried about what me and a six year old were
gonna do ta pass the time. Been a long time since I’d had an active li’l
kid underfoot. I shouldn’t have been. I’m about rested up enough fer
another round.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He tags with me everywhere, whatever I’m doin’. His interests
are wherever we’re at, which, in all kinds of weather, is mostly outside
my cabin.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">T.J. thinks it’s neat ta have this old man who’s like the
caretaker fer this 100 acre eco reserve that’s got this great stream
that serpentines it’s way past wetlands, prairie fields and then through
dense woods. He doesn’t know yet that he’s this old man’s sorta captive
deep-ecology student, but eventually I’m sure he’ll catch on.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last time he was out here we focused on the stream and the multiplicity of life forms that abound and thrive in it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Grandpa, I can’t catch the little fishes. They’re too fast.
But I did find a lobster.” He says this ta me as I’m readying the small
pump I use ta pull water to my gardens and prairie plant nurseries.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“A lobster!” I responded, me knowin’ he was describing a
crayfish. I’d told him we were going to try and find some crayfish that
morning, he didn’t know what they were and now there in the
creek-crossing riffle he’d discovered one on his own.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I took time to verify his find and then he said, “Hey, look!
There’s another…and another!” Rocks, riffles, crayfish, that’s how
things laid there.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I showed him how to get down stream of the rocks, let the
current carry away the stream bottom dust that our feet were kickin’ up.
Then we slowly worked our way back up into the riffle, us looking for
rocks that crayfish would be hangin’ under. Most of the good rocks, when
our eyes adjusted ta lookin’ fer ‘em, had their residents, claws first,
peekin’ out after disturbance we’d made and were continuing to make. <i>
Big ones, small ones, we spotted lots of crayfish.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He picked up the recently shed carapace or shell of a large
one, him surprised that there was nothing but water inside. I told him
about why a crayfish sheds it shell and how it makes another to fit it
better just as fast as it can. We lifted some close by rocks and found
one in hiding that looked to be about the right size for the old shed
and I was lucky enough to capture it in my cupped hands. “Uh. Soft,”
that’s what T.J. exclaimed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I told T.J. what great fishin’ bait these soft ones were. I
told him too that the medium size hard ones were good bait also. But
these soft ones, the big fish react to ‘em just like a kid would to an
ice cream cone. July and August. An ultra-light fishin’ rod. Us two knee
deep in movin’ water, flippin’ these crayfish up into deep holes. Whew!
We’d be catchin’ big ones.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As we turned over more rocks T.J. was surprised at the miriad of
other life forms we encountered. Small fishes would dart out but then
again some of ‘em just hid there, where he could see ‘em, when pointed
out. Darters which were near perfectly camouflaged until a trained eye
picked out their bent forms. Blunt nose minnows with faces covered in
pointed, horn like, breeding tubercles. And still clinging to the
underside of most rocks were species of invertebrate insects that do a
big part of their life cycles submerged. I pointed out dragonfly nymphs.
The tubes of cadisfly larva, clusters of snail eggs sorta glued to
rocks underside. I showed him how we had to be careful to put these
rocks back down like we found them so we didn’t mess up too much of
other things lives.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, as things turned, about two days later we had an overcast
day that I determined was just about perfect fer fishin’. It was way
too dry ta dig worms but I did remember those crayfish. Shoot, me armed
with handheld dip net and a bucket, in about 45 minutes I had about 30,
maybe 35 real choice baits. And then shortly found myself knee deep in a
bigger clear stream and tossin’ a hooked crayfish (this is not a sport
for the faint at heart) up stream and into a deep hole.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The current nudged the bait back towards me, and, wham! The
unmistakable strike of a pretty nice fish. I slacked my line, watch it
move out away from me. Then I tightened up the slack till my rod tip
told of tight contact, then, wham! I struck. The drag on my small reel
screamed. I couldn’t see what it was yet as it fought ‘round and ‘round
that pool.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fresh water drum. Coming out of that fairly clean water,
they’re real good eatin’. Smoked they’re supreme. Maybe a four pounder. I
clipped him on my stringer, baited up my hook again, and made just
about the same cast. Wham! I set the hook and this fish immediately
broke water, and then did a tail dance across the surface. Small-mouth
bass with its signature fight-back style. Nice one. I played him back
and forth fer a good three er four minutes before I could grab its lower
jaw and thrust my next stringer clip through thin tissue of its under
mouth and then clamp around its jawbone. About 16, maybe 17 inches and
definitely a legal keeper.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another cast with near same results. This time a big channel
catfish. I’d guess it at a four pounder. I was off to a great start and
there were yet bigger, better holes in front of me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Long story shortened considerably, I strung four big bass, six
big cats and two drum, and threw lots of smaller ones back. The total
stringer close to er exceedin’ 40 lbs. We were needin’ fresh fish in our
diets. <i>And with that steady supply of crayfish right outside my cabin
door, why, hell…my bait source was near inexhaustible</i>. I made my mind up
that next time I take the kid.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next day I was needin’ ta pump water into our hoop house, where
I’ve got a good crop of peppers. I’m down at creek crossing hookin’ up
my 1” pump and since the riffle where I’d harvested crayfish just the am
before was right there beside me, I decided ta take a look ta see how
many I’d missed. Right off I spot a big one layin’ belly up, and I’m
thinkin’ it’s a shedder. But when I investigate further I discover it’s
whole, and just dead. <i>Fresh dead and not rotten.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then I spot another smaller one layin’ maybe two feet away. And
it’s whole and just dead, too. Then I went ta pokin’ round more and had
no trouble findin’ lots more in the same condition. <i>Then it became
crystal clear that all crayfish in the area, all of ‘em, (not one live
one) were stone dead.</i> And then on top some of the protruding rocks I
discovered the fresh dead bodies of dragonfly nymphs, which had crawled
up there while still alive.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It hit me! The morning before I’d been doin’ somethin’, on
yeah, pickin’ blackberries out in one of our prairie fields while a
powerful prop plane was circling back and forth in efforts to spray the
neighbors corn about a half mile away. This was before I caught crayfish
and went fishin’. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Chemicals! This had to be a chemical kill.</i> I checked five
different riffle sites just on our ground here. Many dead but not one
live crayfish. And, except for the fishes, the under rock community had
suffered a hit as well. As ya might imagine, my temper started risin’.
And I’ve got one, believe me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not knowing what to do I called the office of the State D.N.R.
in Sterling. “A crayfish kill?” the lady who’d answered questioned with
air of skepticism. “Yeah. Crayfish. My stream was alive with ‘em
yesterday, and now they’re all dead.” Well, she wants ta know if I’m
filing a complaint. And, “Yes, I certainly was.” She took down pertinent
info. But gave me very little hope that an investigation could be
conducted soon. I know what problems the D.N.R. has with budget and
under-staffing. <i>That’s when I decided I’d better go and collect and
preserve the evidence.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next day I went over to the neighbor whose ground had been
sprayed. The same creek runs right through two big corn patches. The
neighbors, who I’m pretty good friends with got the news. The wife
stated that the past day’s aircraft activity had been like bein’ back in
World War II, which she’d never been in but seen plenty of movie
footage about. They don’t farm the ground, just rent it out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I asked and was granted permission to take my collecting can
down into creek there and look fer what I expected. Already going
putrid rapidly, dead crayfish were an easy find.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“What da find?” the neighbor says as he meets me comin’ up outta creek.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I showed him. These were startin’ to stink.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“This ain’t right,”</i> he comes on, and then repeated himself. We
walk together over to his big shed that he’s turned into part of an
extensive target shootin’ range. Three ‘er four of his shootin’ buddies
were hangin’ there. They wanted ta see, too. “Yep. Dead crayfish.
Phew!” Then echoed the neighbors, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“This ain’t right,” they said to the
man.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Yep. This ain’t right. And I’m gonna do something ta make sure
this was not going to happen again,” states me. Me by then getting’
pretty stirred up.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The neighbor calls the farmer and he’s upset. I know the farmer
too and I’m sure he’d a never sanctioned such a thing. I called him
later myself. Yes he was upset. He’d called the chemical company with
his complaint already. He gave me phone number of this establishment and
told me who ta talk to there. Naturally, I called.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This gentleman and me know each other but not very well. He was
pleasant and straight with me. They subcontract out aerial spraying. He
gave me the name of flying service and told me that the chemical used
was called, <i>“Tombstone.”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I called the flyin’ company, got a secretary. After me tellin’
her why I was callin’, she took down my name and number. Told me
somebody’d get back ta me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since the D.N.R. hadn’t gotten back to me I called the E.P.A.
“Crayfish?” this fella responds. “Yeah, crayfish.” He asked me if there
were any fish involved? I hadn’t seen evidence of dead fish. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well…that
might be a problem. There were plenty of regulations in place with
respect to fish, but he wasn’t aware of anything on crayfish.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Yer kiddin’ me,” was my comeback. You’ve got to have
something on habitat degradation in general. I mean we’re talking about
messing with the streams food chain. Disrupting ecological balance!
You’ve got to have some base regulation that this sort of thing falls
under.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I got a thoughtful response. He’d check. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He promised me he’d get back with me. And in not too long he
did respond, tellin’ me the people I wanted to talk to on this were the
Il. Dept. of Ag. Which he said he’d already contacted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And it wasn’t long before I received a voicemail from somebody
from Il. Dept. of Ag. Giving me detailed information on how to obtain a
complaint form via Internet, which I, bein’ a dyed-in-the-wool Luddite
techno fob, couldn’t do, but my wife, who’s almost the exact opposite,
quickly and easily did. This landin’ a copy of complaint form right here
in my ratty-ass cabin…right into my hands.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As compliantly and diligently as was possible, especially
considerin’ how I’m normally functioning, I fill this not-complicated
document out. Next day I faxed this to pertinent destination. I settled
to wait.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was only like three days when I get voicemail from an
investigator from said agency. I made contact and this gent and me made
arrangements to meet. I told him ta beep his horn when he pulled up and
then stay in his vehicle until I’m sure I’ve control of the dogs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At appointed time the guy pulls up and follows instructions and
the incident of his arrival slowly subsides. Big guy, tall, and the
fact he’s not afraid of dogs helps settle them. We do basic information
exchange right there on his car’s hood. That done he wants me to take
him down to creek where I’d first discovered dead crayfish. I jump on my
four-wheeler and he follows me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now this is like eight days after the kill. He stands there at
streams edge and peers into running water, obviously reluctant to get
his feet wet. I’m in the water with sandals on, explaining how and what
I’d discovered. I turned a few rocks from under which crayfish once
scurried. I explained to him the extent of my search, the dead evidence
I’d collected.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the second time since I’d started this I’m told that it
would be much more helpful if the dead crayfish were there visible in
the water. After eight days, I questioned, what would be left of a dead
crayfish? “Nothin’,” I answered my own question. They’d be back to
elemental form.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He wants to see the dead and frozen crayfish. OK. We go back up
the hill to travel trailer where I put ‘em in freezer. He looks ‘em
over but in truth had no idea what could be done with them. After him
declining he wanted to go over to neighbors place. I put them back in
the freezer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From over there the picture of what went on became more obvious
ta this gent. Same stream, running next to and through tall tasseled
corn field. He was not at all in the dark as to how spray planes
operated.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He’d done his homework on “Tombstone,” read all about its
usages’, do’s and don’ts. <i>Obviously, to him, someone hadn’t been
playin’ by the rules.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The neighbor was home but one of his shootin’ buddies was
hangin’ there in what I’d guess you’d call their club house. He’d been
there on day I’d investigated, him backin’ up my story ta this
government gent.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From there he’d go check records of flying company. He’d file
his report and send it down to Springfield. Anything from fines to
nothing might result from this. He was up front with me. Lots of time
this stuff just gets lost in the shuffle. I told him that I mostly
understood. And my expectations weren’t really all that high.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a few days T.J’s comin’ fer another visit. I’m going to try to explain this crayfish kill to him as best I can.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chemical agricultural. I wonder if he’ll understand, right off,
how he’s a victim of it, too. How all of us are. Us and the
environment.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To be continued….</span></span>EcoVig Reporterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120557411616590322noreply@blogger.com1