Indiana House hopes to lower deer-related vehicle accidents

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana House of Representatives voted Feb. 17 to increase the deer bag limit in the top 30 counties for deer-related vehicle collisions for the next three years. The intent of higher bag limits will reduce the deer population, reducing the number of accidents in those counties.

The House passed House Bill 1585, authored by Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy), by a 79-13 vote.

“This has become a serious public health, safety and property damage issue in the state, especially my district, 23,” said Friend. “I am pleased the House agrees with my bill and will address the issue this way.”

Since 2003, deer-vehicle collisions are up 25 percent. District 23 contains five counties and four of them are in the top 30 counties for deer-related accidents. These five, with their rankings, are Kosciusko, 1; Marshall, 4; Elkhart, 6; Miami, 30; and Fulton, 36 according to Indiana State Police statistics.

HB 1585 would double the deer bag limit for the next three years and increase the amount of antlerless deer taken in the top 30 counties for the next three years.

Also, the firearm season would be extended by seven days. Rep. Scott Reske (D-Pendleton) attached an amendment allowing hunters to use a crossbow during the firearm season in the ranked 30 counties.

This has become a property damage concern in the state. More than $120 million in insurance claims have been filed because of deer-vehicle accidents.

“This is still a work in progress,” said Friend. “I will work with the Senate and the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) as the bill progresses through Senate hearings.”

Labor officials inspect
Cedar Rapids ADM plant

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa labor officials are inspecting a corn processing plant in Cedar Rapids after four workers were sickened after inhaling some type of gas.

Four contractors at the Archer Daniels Midlands plant were taken to the hospital the morning of Feb. 18. They complained of breathing difficulties. All four workers were released from the hospital within a few hours.

Stephen Slater of the Iowa Division of Labor says the inspection is still ongoing and could be completed in about a week. Officials say they don’t know the cause of the illnesses but it could be exposure to either sulfur dioxide or hydrochloric acid. An ADM safety team also is investigating.

Wind turbine meeting canceled after hundreds show
DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Officials in DeKalb County cut short a meeting on wind turbine installation after nearly 400 people showed up and filled the room beyond capacity.

The issue at hand is a proposal from the Florida-based Next-Era Energy Resources to construct a wind farm in Lee and DeKalb counties. The proposal includes more than 150 turbines be built in four townships. Officials in Lee County have approved the plan and DeKalb County officials will likely consider the proposal in the coming months.

Supporters say there would be immense environmental benefits and jobs. But those opposed have expressed concern that the turbines would be built too close to homes and decrease property values.

A rescheduled date for the meeting has not been chosen after the Feb. 19 cancellation.

Northern Indiana man rescued
after 8 hours trapped in silo
GARRETT, Ind. (AP) — A man unloading a 92-foot grain silo was sucked inside and trapped waist-deep in corn for more than eight hours before firefighters were able to get him out.

Melvin Buck, 50, of rural Garrett was listed in serious condition Friday at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Rescue workers said he sustained hypothermia while stuck in the damp corn.

Buck became trapped about 11 a.m. Feb. 19 at the Custer Grain silo about 20 miles north of Fort Wayne. Buck at first asked co-workers not to call for help because he thought they could get him out, said Curt Custer, a grain company spokesman.

But they could not move him because of the weight of the corn on his legs. They called for help after about three hours.

Firefighters dug corn from around Buck’s body and braced the shifting corn with plywood. He already was wearing a harness and tether, and firefighters gave him an air tank.

After more than two hours of rescue efforts, emergency workers unloaded more plywood to shore up the shifting corn and used a vacuum truck to remove corn, Auburn Fire Chief Mike VanZile said.
A rescue team from Fort Wayne arrived about 6:30 p.m.
Firefighters were finally able to remove him about 7:30 p.m. Buck was able to walk to a stretcher with assistance.

He is the second person to be trapped in the silo in the past six months.

Former Wisconsin elk farmer sentenced in Illinois

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge in Illinois has sentenced a former Wisconsin elk farmer to five months of home confinement for illegally transporting elk.

U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard in Rockford, Ill., also ordered Robert S. Johnson, 55, to pay a $20,000 fine. Johnson, of Kerrville, Texas, pleaded guilty in November to illegally moving the elk between states.

Investigators say Johnson ran game farms in Gays Mills and Leaf River, Ill., from early 2003-05. He sold the Gays Mills farm but couldn’t legally move elk off it because they weren’t certified free of chronic wasting disease. He brought them to Illinois in March 2005.
He told authorities he planned to slaughter them, negating the need for the certification. Instead, he took them to his Leaf River farm and charged hunters to go after them.