washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Neighbors want to know what Sauget incinerator is burning

SAUGET , Ill. ( AP ) - Mamie Cosey wants her great-grandchildren to play and exercise outside , but some days she can ’ t let them , she said , because the fresh air isn ’ t safe to breathe .
Cosey , 79 , lives in East St. Louis , near the Veolia Environmental Services incinerator in Sauget .
She explained on some days the stench from the plant is overwhelming .
“ It ’ s various odors depending on what they ’ re cooking , ” Cosey said .
“ Sometimes it ’ s rotten sewage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s out of control.
” She ’ s lived near the plant for nearly a decade , and the acrid smells are nothing new .
But environmental activists in the metro east are concerned the incinerator could start burning something new : PFAS ( per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ) firefighting foam .
The Veolia incinerator is listed as one of eight sites authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense to dispose of the substance , according to a lawsuit filed in February .
The United Congregations of Metro East , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are suing the Department of Defense to block the disposal pending an environmental review .
So far , the incinerator in Sauget hasn ’ t burned any PFAS firefighting foam from the Defense Department , said Cheryl Sommer , president of the United Congregations of Metro East .
She said her organization received records in the spring showing the Sauget plant had not received any foam .
A spokesperson for Veolia Environmental Services said the plant does not have contracts with the Defense Department or other customers to dispose of PFAS at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s authorization to dispose of the foam means the plant could receive the substance in the future , either from the Department of Defense or another source .
The Defense Department accounts for three-quarters of the PFAS firefighting foam used while municipal airports , refineries and other industrial facilities account for most of the rest , the plaintiffs allege in their federal complaint .
Environmental activists are particularly concerned about the effects of incinerating PFAS firefighting foam because the substance is difficult to break down .
PFAS are a set of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common household products like nonstick cookware , clothing and stain repellent for carpet .
Most Americans have some levels of PFAS in their bodies because the so-called “ forever chemicals ” do not break down naturally and can accumulate over time .
“ The same properties that have made PFAS a widely used fire suppressant also make them difficult and dangerous to incinerate , ” the plaintiffs write .
“ Uncombusted PFAS are emitted into the air along with other hazardous chemicals , contaminating the communities surrounding the incinerators.
” This happened at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , one of the other facilities authorized to burn the foam , Sommer said .
“ Activists out there did a study of the soil in the vicinity of the Cohoes plant , and it demonstrated that it was un-adequately incinerating the PFAS , ” she said .
“ The soil was laced with it.
” PFAS exposure can lead to kidney and testicular cancer , thyroid disease , high cholesterol , liver damage , suppressed immune systems , fertility issues in women and other serious health ailments , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Defense Department knew byproducts from burning PFAS present serious health risks to people in surrounding communities , including severe respiratory damage and skin burns .
The plaintiffs add that some of the byproducts are the same chemicals found in rodent poison or chemical warfare agents .
“ It ’ s our health that ’ s at stake here , ” Sommer said .
“ We ’ re talking about seriously toxic stuff.
” Last November , the CDC launched an investigation into whether the Veolia plant is emitting heavy metals into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the office of Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Illinois .
“ The people of Sauget deserve answers about the potential health concerns stemming from the weakening of pollution controls at the Veolia Waste Incineration facility , ” the senator said in a written statement .
“ I know how important it is that every American be able to breathe safe and clean air , regardless of where they live.
” Cosey said she sees the effects of what the plant burns regularly .
“ Some mornings you wake up and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The grass is brown .
How that happens only God knows.
” The pollution has made it impossible for Cosey to keep flowers or garden with her great-grandson , she said .
“ He wanted to plant a garden , and I helped him .
You couldn ’ t tell what I planted .
It was not edible , ” she said .
“ He was disgusted and has not planted a garden since.
” The possibility of new toxic substances coming from the incinerator leaves Cosey confused and upset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her community are low-income or people of color .
“ I don ’ t know why there isn ’ t a lot of outcry in this community about the plant , ” she said .
“ You ’ re cheating my kids of a normal life that they should have.
” Cosey said she is particularly concerned with how the consistent exposure to whatever Veolia burns will affect her great-grandchildren ’ s health later in life .
She added she does not understand why she and other members of her community need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EPA if something is toxic .
A spokesperson for the EPA said PFAS is not listed as a hazardous waste or hazardous air pollutant under federal law , but the agency is evaluating if the firefighting foam can be safely incinerated .
The EPA will release new guidance on PFAS disposal before the end of the year .
“ They should be the one to prove that these things are not harmful , ” Cosey said .

SAUGET, Ill. (AP) - Mamie Cosey wants her great-grandchildren to play and exercise outside, but some days she can’t let them, she said, because the fresh air isn’t safe to breathe.
Cosey, 79, lives in East St. Louis, near the Veolia Environmental Services incinerator in Sauget. She explained on some days the stench from the plant is overwhelming.
“It’s various odors depending on what they’re cooking,” Cosey said. “Sometimes it’s rotten sewage. Sometimes it’s like chemical smells. It’s out of control.”
She’s lived near the plant for nearly a decade, and the acrid smells are nothing new. But environmental activists in the metro east are concerned the incinerator could start burning something new: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) firefighting foam.
The Veolia incinerator is listed as one of eight sites authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense to dispose of the substance, according to a lawsuit filed in February. The United Congregations of Metro East, the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations are suing the Department of Defense to block the disposal pending an environmental review.
So far, the incinerator in Sauget hasn’t burned any PFAS firefighting foam from the Defense Department, said Cheryl Sommer, president of the United Congregations of Metro East. She said her organization received records in the spring showing the Sauget plant had not received any foam.
A spokesperson for Veolia Environmental Services said the plant does not have contracts with the Defense Department or other customers to dispose of PFAS at the Sauget facility.
Sommer said the facility’s authorization to dispose of the foam means the plant could receive the substance in the future, either from the Department of Defense or another source.
The Defense Department accounts for three-quarters of the PFAS firefighting foam used while municipal airports, refineries and other industrial facilities account for most of the rest, the plaintiffs allege in their federal complaint.
Environmental activists are particularly concerned about the effects of incinerating PFAS firefighting foam because the substance is difficult to break down.
PFAS are a set of thousands of synthetic chemicals that are found in common household products like nonstick cookware, clothing and stain repellent for carpet. Most Americans have some levels of PFAS in their bodies because the so-called “forever chemicals” do not break down naturally and can accumulate over time.
“The same properties that have made PFAS a widely used fire suppressant also make them difficult and dangerous to incinerate,” the plaintiffs write. “Uncombusted PFAS are emitted into the air along with other hazardous chemicals, contaminating the communities surrounding the incinerators.”
This happened at a hazardous waste incinerator in Cohoes, New York, one of the other facilities authorized to burn the foam, Sommer said.
“Activists out there did a study of the soil in the vicinity of the Cohoes plant, and it demonstrated that it was un-adequately incinerating the PFAS,” she said. “The soil was laced with it.”
PFAS exposure can lead to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, liver damage, suppressed immune systems, fertility issues in women and other serious health ailments, according to the federal lawsuit.
The suit alleges the Defense Department knew byproducts from burning PFAS present serious health risks to people in surrounding communities, including severe respiratory damage and skin burns. The plaintiffs add that some of the byproducts are the same chemicals found in rodent poison or chemical warfare agents.
“It’s our health that’s at stake here,” Sommer said. “We’re talking about seriously toxic stuff.”
Last November, the CDC launched an investigation into whether the Veolia plant is emitting heavy metals into the air. The investigation is still ongoing, according to the office of Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois.
“The people of Sauget deserve answers about the potential health concerns stemming from the weakening of pollution controls at the Veolia Waste Incineration facility,” the senator said in a written statement. “I know how important it is that every American be able to breathe safe and clean air, regardless of where they live.”
Cosey said she sees the effects of what the plant burns regularly.
“Some mornings you wake up and the grass is not green,” she said. “The grass is brown. How that happens only God knows.”
The pollution has made it impossible for Cosey to keep flowers or garden with her great-grandson, she said.
“He wanted to plant a garden, and I helped him. You couldn’t tell what I planted. It was not edible,” she said. “He was disgusted and has not planted a garden since.”
The possibility of new toxic substances coming from the incinerator leaves Cosey confused and upset. She said the majority of people in her community are low-income or people of color.
“I don’t know why there isn’t a lot of outcry in this community about the plant,” she said. “You’re cheating my kids of a normal life that they should have.”
Cosey said she is particularly concerned with how the consistent exposure to whatever Veolia burns will affect her great-grandchildren’s health later in life. She added she does not understand why she and other members of her community need to be the ones to prove to the EPA if something is toxic.
A spokesperson for the EPA said PFAS is not listed as a hazardous waste or hazardous air pollutant under federal law, but the agency is evaluating if the firefighting foam can be safely incinerated. The EPA will release new guidance on PFAS disposal before the end of the year.
“They should be the one to prove that these things are not harmful,” Cosey said.
___
Source: Belleville News-Democrat and St. Louis Public Radio, https://bit.ly/2JZEkER


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Students' notes offer encouragement to health care workers

SCOTTSBLUFF , Neb .
( AP ) - Nurses , doctors , administrative assistants , janitors and many other employees at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff found random notes of encouragement on the windshields of their vehicles last week .
Teachers from Community Christian School went around the different Regional West employee parking lots to place these notes and give these workers a little added encouragement going into the holiday season .
The notes were drawn , colored , written and created by all the students at the school , from 18-month-old toddlers in the daycare to fifth-graders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care workers in the area to know that CCS is praying for them and thinking of them and just wanted to show our appreciation during this difficult time , ” Principal Deirdre Amundsen told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald .
Amundsen was the mastermind behind the project , asking her teachers to do the project with their students .
First grade teacher Brandy Johnson said it was a great way to show their students other ways to help out the community .
“ ( It let ) the kids know that we can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It doesn ’ t have to just be in school praying - which is a great thing to do - but then we can actually do a physical , tangible , hands-on thing to support our community.
” The teachers decided that last Monday was a good day to go out to put the cards and signs on the employees ’ windows since it gave them all a little outdoor break from their in-service meetings .
While students were on their early Thanksgiving break and didn ’ t get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they had a lot of fun creating them .
“ We have nurses on our school board , so we see the toll that it takes on them .
And many of our families also are doctors and nurses out there , ” pre-kindergarten teacher Dana Caldwell said .
“ So , it ’ s nice to be able to show a little love and support for them.
” The timing of the project couldn ’ t have been better , they said .
With COVID cases rising and Thanksgiving right around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could really use a boost .
Statewide , different tributes were also held Monday for Public Health Thank You Day .
“ We all think that amidst this COVID and this pandemic that we all have struggles that we ’ re going through , and lots of stress and depression and lots of anguish going on right now , ” she said .
“ But when we think of these medical workers and what they ’ re doing every day , I just can ’ t imagine being in their place .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what led me to the idea .
And the kids stepped up , and were excited to create things for them.
” Amundsen and the other teachers said they just wish they had more signs so they could have put one on every single employee vehicle .
Nevertheless , they are hopeful that the message is received by them all .
“ We ’ re hoping to offer encouragement and support for the medical staff-everyone from the doctors to the janitors and the cooks and the CNAs that are just putting themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every day for our community , ” fourth and fifth grade teacher Darcy Frizzell said .
“ Just so that they know that we ’ re praying for them and praying for safety and that we appreciate the sacrifice and the emotion that goes with all of that .
”

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - Nurses, doctors, administrative assistants, janitors and many other employees at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff found random notes of encouragement on the windshields of their vehicles last week.
Teachers from Community Christian School went around the different Regional West employee parking lots to place these notes and give these workers a little added encouragement going into the holiday season. The notes were drawn, colored, written and created by all the students at the school, from 18-month-old toddlers in the daycare to fifth-graders.
“We just want all of our health care workers in the area to know that CCS is praying for them and thinking of them and just wanted to show our appreciation during this difficult time,” Principal Deirdre Amundsen told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald.
Amundsen was the mastermind behind the project, asking her teachers to do the project with their students. First grade teacher Brandy Johnson said it was a great way to show their students other ways to help out the community.
“(It let) the kids know that we can do things in our community,” she said. “It doesn’t have to just be in school praying - which is a great thing to do - but then we can actually do a physical, tangible, hands-on thing to support our community.”
The teachers decided that last Monday was a good day to go out to put the cards and signs on the employees’ windows since it gave them all a little outdoor break from their in-service meetings. While students were on their early Thanksgiving break and didn’t get to help place the notes, their teachers said they had a lot of fun creating them.
“We have nurses on our school board, so we see the toll that it takes on them. And many of our families also are doctors and nurses out there,” pre-kindergarten teacher Dana Caldwell said. “So, it’s nice to be able to show a little love and support for them.”
The timing of the project couldn’t have been better, they said. With COVID cases rising and Thanksgiving right around the corner, Amundsen said medical employees could really use a boost. Statewide, different tributes were also held Monday for Public Health Thank You Day.
“We all think that amidst this COVID and this pandemic that we all have struggles that we’re going through, and lots of stress and depression and lots of anguish going on right now,” she said. “But when we think of these medical workers and what they’re doing every day, I just can’t imagine being in their place. So I think just the empathy toward them is what led me to the idea. And the kids stepped up, and were excited to create things for them.”
Amundsen and the other teachers said they just wish they had more signs so they could have put one on every single employee vehicle. Nevertheless, they are hopeful that the message is received by them all.
“We’re hoping to offer encouragement and support for the medical staff-everyone from the doctors to the janitors and the cooks and the CNAs that are just putting themselves in the midst of COVID all day, every day for our community,” fourth and fifth grade teacher Darcy Frizzell said. “Just so that they know that we’re praying for them and praying for safety and that we appreciate the sacrifice and the emotion that goes with all of that.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Saying goodbye: Wings of Wonder owner retires

EMPIRE , Mich. ( AP ) - Rebecca Lessard released her last rehabilitated eagle on South Fox Island about a month ago , piling into a small chartered plane with the caged raptor and her assistant .
The eagle had come from the island and when it was released , soared down the runway before being joined by another eagle and taking off .
“ It was a fun way to end , ” Lessard told the Traverse City Record-Eagle .
“ It was a fun adventure and then my helper and I went out for ice cream.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wings of Wonder raptor sanctuary at her home in Empire .
Lessard retired this month after finding homes for her beloved birds and committing to helping another sanctuary get off the ground in Harbor Springs .
The new Tribal Eagle Aviary is a project of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians .
Lessard , who has wanted to see an aviary established for about 15 years , will work with the tribe this year and next to help with its design and with training .
Tribal aviaries allow tribes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wild because of injury or illness , are rehabilitated and can not be returned to the wild .
Eagle feathers lost through molting are used by Native Americans for religious and ceremonial use , and the eagles receive care for the rest of their lives .
There are seven tribal aviaries in the United States and all are located in the southwest or the Pacific northwest .
The Traverse Bay Band ’ s aviary will be the first one east of the Mississippi River , Lessard said .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Lessard said , and may be used as a model for more aviaries in the Midwest region .
Now that she has more free time , Lessard will begin work on a book project , a memoir of her life as a raptor rehabilitator .
She is also working on raptor educational kits that will go to public libraries , where children can check them out and learn about the magnificent birds .
She ’ ll also spend time hiking , horseback riding , and looking at her calendar , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are four days in a row with nothing on it .
Lessard became a local celebrity through her work at WOW and people would gather to watch when an eagle or other bird was released .
Some were not able to return to their natural homes and became her ambassadors , visiting schools and other organizations with her , many becoming celebrities themselves .
Homes have been found for the ambassadors , including Doolin , a turkey vulture who is now at the Michigan Avian Experience , a raptor educational center in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WOW for 15 years , was named after a town in Ireland that Lessard visited with her late husband Don .
The playful-bordering-on-naughty vulture was with her for 15 years and has his own cult following , Lessard said .
“ We had a really great relationship , ” she said .
“ He ’ s got a really good home now , so my heart is appeased.
” Lessard was also called on at all hours of the day and night when an injured bird was found and needed rescuing .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer has any supplies to care for the birds or the fly pens used in rehabilitation .
All callers are now referred to the Department of Natural Resources .
Working with raptors for so many years has taught her many things , including that each bird has its own individual personality , she said .
“ It became my personal challenge to get to know each bird and find out what its gift for me is .
Every bird gave me a gift.
” “ They might move their tail a tiny bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch off a perch , ” she said .
“ I had to learn to listen to the bird and not get in the way , allow it to heal.
” Lessard says she is a better person for having worked with raptors .
“ The birds over the years have really instilled a calmness in my life , ” she said .
“ They observe their environment from a very still posture … They evaluate and assess their environment before jumping in.
” Humans don ’ t , she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just have to learn to be still , ” she said .

EMPIRE, Mich. (AP) - Rebecca Lessard released her last rehabilitated eagle on South Fox Island about a month ago, piling into a small chartered plane with the caged raptor and her assistant.
The eagle had come from the island and when it was released, soared down the runway before being joined by another eagle and taking off.
“It was a fun way to end,” Lessard told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. “It was a fun adventure and then my helper and I went out for ice cream.”
It has been 31 years since Lessard founded the Wings of Wonder raptor sanctuary at her home in Empire. Lessard retired this month after finding homes for her beloved birds and committing to helping another sanctuary get off the ground in Harbor Springs.
The new Tribal Eagle Aviary is a project of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Lessard, who has wanted to see an aviary established for about 15 years, will work with the tribe this year and next to help with its design and with training.
Tribal aviaries allow tribes to shelter eagles that have been rescued from the wild because of injury or illness, are rehabilitated and cannot be returned to the wild. Eagle feathers lost through molting are used by Native Americans for religious and ceremonial use, and the eagles receive care for the rest of their lives.
There are seven tribal aviaries in the United States and all are located in the southwest or the Pacific northwest. The Traverse Bay Band’s aviary will be the first one east of the Mississippi River, Lessard said.
“It’s putting a place on the map here,” Lessard said, and may be used as a model for more aviaries in the Midwest region.
Now that she has more free time, Lessard will begin work on a book project, a memoir of her life as a raptor rehabilitator. She is also working on raptor educational kits that will go to public libraries, where children can check them out and learn about the magnificent birds.
She’ll also spend time hiking, horseback riding, and looking at her calendar, where for the first time in many years there are four days in a row with nothing on it.
Lessard became a local celebrity through her work at WOW and people would gather to watch when an eagle or other bird was released. Some were not able to return to their natural homes and became her ambassadors, visiting schools and other organizations with her, many becoming celebrities themselves.
Homes have been found for the ambassadors, including Doolin, a turkey vulture who is now at the Michigan Avian Experience, a raptor educational center in Brooklyn.
Doolin, who was at WOW for 15 years, was named after a town in Ireland that Lessard visited with her late husband Don. The playful-bordering-on-naughty vulture was with her for 15 years and has his own cult following, Lessard said.
“We had a really great relationship,” she said. “He’s got a really good home now, so my heart is appeased.”
Lessard was also called on at all hours of the day and night when an injured bird was found and needed rescuing. She is still getting calls, but no longer has any supplies to care for the birds or the fly pens used in rehabilitation. All callers are now referred to the Department of Natural Resources.
Working with raptors for so many years has taught her many things, including that each bird has its own individual personality, she said.
“It became my personal challenge to get to know each bird and find out what its gift for me is. Every bird gave me a gift.”
Raptors speak through a body language of micromovements.
“They might move their tail a tiny bit, which means they’re going to launch off a perch,” she said. “I had to learn to listen to the bird and not get in the way, allow it to heal.”
Lessard says she is a better person for having worked with raptors.
“The birds over the years have really instilled a calmness in my life,” she said. “They observe their environment from a very still posture … They evaluate and assess their environment before jumping in.”
Humans don’t, she said, often to disastrous effect.
“We just have to learn to be still,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Woman slowly restoring historic Davenport house

DAVENPORT , Iowa ( AP ) - From the front , Donna ’ Winfield ’ s house in Davenport ’ s historic Gold Coast neighborhood looks great .
It ’ s painted in a two-tone , light-green/dark-green color scheme , accented with black trim , and is embellished with numerous architectural details .
Look closely and you ’ ll see fish scale shingles filling out the attic peak , a “ swooped ” roofline sitting atop a window with 36 panes of beveled glass and a bump-out on the second floor with rounded boards .
Walk to the sides and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an all together different story .
The Quad-City Times reports that not only are these areas unpainted , but glass is missing from windows and trim is rotting .
Inside is worse .
There are holes in the floors , almost no plaster , missing walls , no working mechanical systems and lots of evidence of racoon habitation .
This once-grand house built in 1898 had already been turned into apartments by 1924 , and it has been vacant for more than the past 30 years .
It ’ s rough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to being rebuilt by Winfield , a Davenport native who lived most of her adult life in Texas where she was an attorney , including a district attorney for the county in which she lived and a juvenile court judge .
About 10 years ago Winfield came back to the Quad-Cities to care for her parents , and fell in love with the Gold Coast , the area of Davenport described as “ Five to Nine , Ripley to Vine.
” But why ?
Why pour so much money into this wreck of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winfield gazes up , blinks , quivers a bit , and thinks , searching for the right words to express what she feels about this property .
“ Because it ’ s worth it !
” she finally exclaims .
“ It ’ s part of our neighborhood , our history , our community .
( Think of ) the effort it took to build this magnificent home , and it deserves to be saved .
It ’ s still standing !
” But even Winfield had doubts when she first saw photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gateway Redevelopment Group , a nonprofit started by Jack Haberman and his wife Marion Meginnis and others to try to save abandoned properties in the neighborhood .
“ I thought , ‘ C ’ mon people , not every house should be saved , ’ ” she said .
“ It was decrepit , unwanted.
” And she didn ’ t give it much more thought until one day when she was driving up West 6th Street with her nephew and something caught her eye .
It was the house .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stop the car , ‘ ” she said .
The photos on the Gateway site did not “ register the scale of the property ” or convey what it must have looked like when it was built as a home for Frank W. Mueller , president of Mueller Lumber Co. , a long-time Davenport business founded by his father .
She decided to buy the house , but did not plunge in with reconstruction right away .
Her first purchase in the Gold Coast was in August 2011 of a home on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She bought it to turn into her “ forever home.
” She bought the Mueller house in January of 2012 and essentially mothballed it while working on her “ forever home.
” Then in May of 2014 , she bought another foreclosure , also on West 8th , because it had been a ‘ crack house , ’ and she “ wanted everything around me to be better.
” “ I purchased it to make the neighborhood better , ” she said .
She sold it in 2017 , so it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that put out decorations at Halloween .
“ This is why you refurbish , ” she said , referring to the attracting of families to the neighborhood .
“ It ’ s very gratifying.
” Although the Mueller still looks very rough , much progress has been made , beginning with a new roof .
That work included a mostly new support structure of rafters and sheathing , and a return to the original roof line by removing three dormers that were added during the time the home was apartments .
Work also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winfield hopes can be a living space within six months .
All questionable supporting beams have been reinforced with new lumber , the floor is relatively new concrete and there is a rough-in for a bathroom .
Add to that some kitchen equipment , and the space would be livable .
Reconstructing the sides of the home won ’ t be too difficult ; “ the rear is where the majority of money will be spent , ” Winfield said .
Rotted clapboard , windows , soffits and facia will all need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to share this home with animals , ” she said of the holes that currently allow critters to get inside .
In addition , she wants to rebuild two balconies .
Once the exterior is secure , Winfield will turn her attention to the interior .
At present , there is not a great deal to work with ; the effort will be like starting from scratch .
Because the home was divided into apartments - as many as 11 at one time , Haberman said - original walls were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects to create her own floor plan .
An exciting aspect of the house to Winfield is that there is a three-story turret in the back ( most turrets are in the front ) and the top cone has a window .
What a great place for a reading room , looking south to the Mississippi River , she said .
While there is a lot of architectural detail on the exterior , the interior has been mostly stripped , save for one flight of the original staircase , two sets of pocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winfield expects to reinstall “ charm ” by purchasing architectural salvage such a fireplace mantel and doors .
As for Haberman , Meginnis and others in the Gateway group , they couldn ’ t be happier .
Over the past decade , they have tried without success to interest other buyers in the home , to the point of offering help with applications for city rehab money and state and federal historic preservation tax credits that rebate 25 % of allowable construction costs .
One of the reasons the home is so important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with three other intact mansions .
To have one fall through neglect would change the entire character of the street .
The last time someone tried to restore the home was in 1990 , but the project became to big for them .
Winfield bought it for the amount of back taxes .
While working at the home over the past three years , she ’ d often get overwhelmed at the amount of work that needs to be done and the amount of money it will take .
“ But something about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windows and the basement , I ’ ve crossed that hurdle , and I can say , ’ Here ’ s what we ’ re going to do next , ” she said .
“ It ’ s going to come back to life , and will be my primary residence at some point , ” she said .
“ I love this home and I ’ m excited about every aspect of it .
”

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) - From the front, Donna’ Winfield’s house in Davenport’s historic Gold Coast neighborhood looks great.
It’s painted in a two-tone, light-green/dark-green color scheme, accented with black trim, and is embellished with numerous architectural details.
Look closely and you’ll see fish scale shingles filling out the attic peak, a “swooped” roofline sitting atop a window with 36 panes of beveled glass and a bump-out on the second floor with rounded boards.
Walk to the sides and back, though, and it’s an all together different story.
The Quad-City Times reports that not only are these areas unpainted, but glass is missing from windows and trim is rotting. Inside is worse. There are holes in the floors, almost no plaster, missing walls, no working mechanical systems and lots of evidence of racoon habitation.
This once-grand house built in 1898 had already been turned into apartments by 1924, and it has been vacant for more than the past 30 years. It’s rough.
But, it is on its way to being rebuilt by Winfield, a Davenport native who lived most of her adult life in Texas where she was an attorney, including a district attorney for the county in which she lived and a juvenile court judge.
About 10 years ago Winfield came back to the Quad-Cities to care for her parents, and fell in love with the Gold Coast, the area of Davenport described as “Five to Nine, Ripley to Vine.”
But why? Why pour so much money into this wreck of a house?
Asked that question, Winfield gazes up, blinks, quivers a bit, and thinks, searching for the right words to express what she feels about this property.
“Because it’s worth it!” she finally exclaims. “It’s part of our neighborhood, our history, our community. (Think of) the effort it took to build this magnificent home, and it deserves to be saved. It’s still standing!”
But even Winfield had doubts when she first saw photos of the house on the website of the Gateway Redevelopment Group, a nonprofit started by Jack Haberman and his wife Marion Meginnis and others to try to save abandoned properties in the neighborhood.
“I thought, ‘C’mon people, not every house should be saved,’” she said. “It was decrepit, unwanted.”
And she didn’t give it much more thought until one day when she was driving up West 6th Street with her nephew and something caught her eye. It was the house. “I said, ‘Stop the car, stop the car,‘” she said.
The photos on the Gateway site did not “register the scale of the property” or convey what it must have looked like when it was built as a home for Frank W. Mueller, president of Mueller Lumber Co., a long-time Davenport business founded by his father.
She decided to buy the house, but did not plunge in with reconstruction right away.
Her first purchase in the Gold Coast was in August 2011 of a home on West 8th Street that was in foreclosure. She bought it to turn into her “forever home.”
She bought the Mueller house in January of 2012 and essentially mothballed it while working on her “forever home.”
Then in May of 2014, she bought another foreclosure, also on West 8th, because it had been a ‘crack house,’ and she “wanted everything around me to be better.”
“I purchased it to make the neighborhood better,” she said. She sold it in 2017, so it is now an owner-occupied house with a family that put out decorations at Halloween.
“This is why you refurbish,” she said, referring to the attracting of families to the neighborhood. “It’s very gratifying.”
Although the Mueller still looks very rough, much progress has been made, beginning with a new roof. That work included a mostly new support structure of rafters and sheathing, and a return to the original roof line by removing three dormers that were added during the time the home was apartments.
Work also was done in the basement, which Winfield hopes can be a living space within six months. All questionable supporting beams have been reinforced with new lumber, the floor is relatively new concrete and there is a rough-in for a bathroom. Add to that some kitchen equipment, and the space would be livable.
Reconstructing the sides of the home won’t be too difficult; “the rear is where the majority of money will be spent,” Winfield said. Rotted clapboard, windows, soffits and facia will all need to be replaced.
“I really don’t want to share this home with animals,” she said of the holes that currently allow critters to get inside.
In addition, she wants to rebuild two balconies.
Once the exterior is secure, Winfield will turn her attention to the interior. At present, there is not a great deal to work with; the effort will be like starting from scratch.
Because the home was divided into apartments - as many as 11 at one time, Haberman said - original walls were removed and new were built. Winfield expects to create her own floor plan.
An exciting aspect of the house to Winfield is that there is a three-story turret in the back (most turrets are in the front) and the top cone has a window. What a great place for a reading room, looking south to the Mississippi River, she said.
While there is a lot of architectural detail on the exterior, the interior has been mostly stripped, save for one flight of the original staircase, two sets of pocket doors and several originally trimmed windows. Winfield expects to reinstall “charm” by purchasing architectural salvage such a fireplace mantel and doors.
As for Haberman, Meginnis and others in the Gateway group, they couldn’t be happier.
Over the past decade, they have tried without success to interest other buyers in the home, to the point of offering help with applications for city rehab money and state and federal historic preservation tax credits that rebate 25% of allowable construction costs.
One of the reasons the home is so important is that it is on a block with three other intact mansions. To have one fall through neglect would change the entire character of the street.
The last time someone tried to restore the home was in 1990, but the project became to big for them. Winfield bought it for the amount of back taxes.
While working at the home over the past three years, she’d often get overwhelmed at the amount of work that needs to be done and the amount of money it will take.
“But something about the last few weeks, with the windows and the basement, I’ve crossed that hurdle, and I can say, ’Here’s what we’re going to do next,” she said.
“It’s going to come back to life, and will be my primary residence at some point,” she said. “I love this home and I’m excited about every aspect of it.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Couples shrink guest lists to comply with virus restrictions

SIOUX CITY , Iowa ( AP ) - Nikki De Vries had hoped to celebrate her wedding Saturday with about 50 of her family and friends .
But this week , she was faced with the unenviable task of whittling her guest list down to 15 .
She understands , though , that disinviting some people is an unavoidable consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ I don ’ t want my family members to get sick , ” said De Vries , who last weekend married Armando Castro in a small ceremony in Sioux City .
Recently , Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new restrictions on public gatherings as the state recorded record numbers of new coronavirus infections .
Attendance at weddings , funerals and other indoor events are temporarily capped at 15 people , while outdoors gatherings are limited to 30 .
The proclamation remains in effect until at least midnight Dec. 10 .
In recent months , as COVID-19 ebbed and flowed , De Vries went back and forth on her November wedding plans , before she ultimately decided that the nuptials should go on because “ there ’ s always a reason not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who do make the final guest list , the ceremony will have masks and sanitizers in addition to the rings and vows .
“ I feel kind of sad that certain people aren ’ t going to be there , and kind of guilty , like , who do you invite , who do you not invite , where do you draw the line ?
” she told the Sioux City Journal .
With an ongoing , elevated number of coronavirus infections in Woodbury County , the Siouxland District Health Department has warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings .
Now these warnings are backed by a governor ’ s proclamation .
It ’ s unclear to what extent the governor ’ s order will impact funerals , as a large number of obituaries in recent months have indicated that memorial services are being postponed to a later date in the future .
“ Some families are choosing just to do a private , family service , with just those 10 or 15 people there , ” said Dale Meyer of Meyer Brothers Funeral Homes .
“ Others are probably going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hope that the mandate gets lifted and we ’ ll be able to go back to doing services with more than 15 people.
” Reynolds ’ proclamation , which also included a partial mask requirement in public buildings , did not appear to carry any enforcement mechanism .
On Thursday , Sioux City leaders said police would start enforcing the new rules , though voluntary compliance remains the city ’ s goal .
“ In cases where we can not obtain voluntary compliance , the Sioux City Police Department will work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beverages Division , and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals to enforce all aspects of the proclamation , ” Police Chief Rex Mueller wrote .
Kathy Ellison , the proprietor of the Country Celebrations events space at the northern end of Hamilton Boulevard , said Reynolds ’ orders effectively leave her business shut down once again .
Brides and grooms , Ellison said , have been opting to postpone their nuptials rather than shrink their guest lists .
“ I had Christmas parties in December , but they ’ ve all cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I have a wedding this weekend , and it ’ s not happening , and I have a wedding next weekend , that ’ s not happening , ” Ellison said .
“ We do celebrations of life , but they ’ re all cancelled , they ’ re not going to do anything with 15 people , ” she added .
Lila Plambeck , director of sales and marketing at the newly-opened historic Warrior Hotel , said the downtown hotel ’ s event spaces won ’ t be much impacted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because November is not usually a popular time for weddings .
Some scheduled holiday parties had guest lists slightly longer than 15 people , and they ’ re working through the logistics of that .
“ It didn ’ t change a whole lot for us , because we were done with our weddings for the season , ” Plambeck said .

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Nikki De Vries had hoped to celebrate her wedding Saturday with about 50 of her family and friends.
But this week, she was faced with the unenviable task of whittling her guest list down to 15. She understands, though, that disinviting some people is an unavoidable consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t want my family members to get sick,” said De Vries, who last weekend married Armando Castro in a small ceremony in Sioux City.
Recently, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation imposing new restrictions on public gatherings as the state recorded record numbers of new coronavirus infections. Attendance at weddings, funerals and other indoor events are temporarily capped at 15 people, while outdoors gatherings are limited to 30. The proclamation remains in effect until at least midnight Dec. 10.
In recent months, as COVID-19 ebbed and flowed, De Vries went back and forth on her November wedding plans, before she ultimately decided that the nuptials should go on because “there’s always a reason not to.” For those immediate family members who do make the final guest list, the ceremony will have masks and sanitizers in addition to the rings and vows.
“I feel kind of sad that certain people aren’t going to be there, and kind of guilty, like, who do you invite, who do you not invite, where do you draw the line?” she told the Sioux City Journal.
With an ongoing, elevated number of coronavirus infections in Woodbury County, the Siouxland District Health Department has warned repeatedly against large wedding receptions and similar gatherings. Now these warnings are backed by a governor’s proclamation.
It’s unclear to what extent the governor’s order will impact funerals, as a large number of obituaries in recent months have indicated that memorial services are being postponed to a later date in the future.
“Some families are choosing just to do a private, family service, with just those 10 or 15 people there,” said Dale Meyer of Meyer Brothers Funeral Homes. “Others are probably going to delay services until a later date and hope that the mandate gets lifted and we’ll be able to go back to doing services with more than 15 people.”
Reynolds’ proclamation, which also included a partial mask requirement in public buildings, did not appear to carry any enforcement mechanism. On Thursday, Sioux City leaders said police would start enforcing the new rules, though voluntary compliance remains the city’s goal.
“In cases where we cannot obtain voluntary compliance, the Sioux City Police Department will work with the Woodbury County Attorney, Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals to enforce all aspects of the proclamation,” Police Chief Rex Mueller wrote.
Kathy Ellison, the proprietor of the Country Celebrations events space at the northern end of Hamilton Boulevard, said Reynolds’ orders effectively leave her business shut down once again. Brides and grooms, Ellison said, have been opting to postpone their nuptials rather than shrink their guest lists.
“I had Christmas parties in December, but they’ve all cancelled. I have one wedding in December. I have a wedding this weekend, and it’s not happening, and I have a wedding next weekend, that’s not happening,” Ellison said.
“We do celebrations of life, but they’re all cancelled, they’re not going to do anything with 15 people,” she added.
Lila Plambeck, director of sales and marketing at the newly-opened historic Warrior Hotel, said the downtown hotel’s event spaces won’t be much impacted by the governor’s order, largely because November is not usually a popular time for weddings. Some scheduled holiday parties had guest lists slightly longer than 15 people, and they’re working through the logistics of that.
“It didn’t change a whole lot for us, because we were done with our weddings for the season,” Plambeck said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--German far-right airs divisions over leader's criticism

BERLIN ( AP ) - A leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party on Sunday defended a speech in which he denounced “ provocateurs , ” called for discipline and questioned talk of a “ corona dictatorship.
” A bitter debate at a party convention over a motion to “ condemn ( co-leader Joerg ) Meuthen ’ s divisive conduct ” saw Alternative for Germany , or AfD , publicly air deep divisions before a national election expected next September .
In the end , delegates decided by about 53 % to 47 % not to put it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote and entered parliament in Germany ’ s 2017 election , helped by strident criticism of a large influx of migrants .
Recent polls show its support sagging to between 7 % and 11 % .
In recent months , the party has opposed coronavirus restrictions that are supported by a majority of Germans , but opposed by a small though vocal minority .
It also has seen persistent tension between its strong hard-right wing and more moderate figures such as Meuthen .
The party is under pressure to distance itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing scrutiny from Germany ’ s domestic intelligence agency .
It also has faced scrutiny over an incident this month in which anti-lockdown protesters were able to enter the parliament building and harangue lawmakers .
At a convention at Kalkar in western Germany - held in person , unlike other parties ’ recent gatherings , but at authorities ’ insistence with masks and distancing - Meuthen gave a speech Saturday in which he called for “ internal discipline ” and “ impeccable behavior ” from all members .
He questioned the wisdom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have drawn a wide variety of attendees , including conspiracy theorists .
And he asked : “ Is it really wise to speak of a ‘ corona dictatorship ?
’ ” That phrase has been used by the influential leader of AfD ’ s parliamentary group , Alexander Gauland .
The speech angered many members .
In Sunday ’ s debate , lawmaker Stephan Brandner described it as “ a torpedo ” that “ did serious damage to our party and this convention.
” “ You are dividing the party , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only helping the old parties.
” Meuthen insisted that he hadn ’ t spoken out against anti-restriction demonstrations as a whole or called for division .
“ I wholeheartedly want our party ’ s success … but we will only achieve this success with serious appearances , ” he said .

BERLIN (AP) - A leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party on Sunday defended a speech in which he denounced “provocateurs,” called for discipline and questioned talk of a “corona dictatorship.”
A bitter debate at a party convention over a motion to “condemn (co-leader Joerg) Meuthen’s divisive conduct” saw Alternative for Germany, or AfD, publicly air deep divisions before a national election expected next September. In the end, delegates decided by about 53% to 47% not to put it to a vote.
AfD won 12.6% of the vote and entered parliament in Germany’s 2017 election, helped by strident criticism of a large influx of migrants. Recent polls show its support sagging to between 7% and 11%.
In recent months, the party has opposed coronavirus restrictions that are supported by a majority of Germans, but opposed by a small though vocal minority. It also has seen persistent tension between its strong hard-right wing and more moderate figures such as Meuthen.
The party is under pressure to distance itself from extremists in its midst after facing growing scrutiny from Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. It also has faced scrutiny over an incident this month in which anti-lockdown protesters were able to enter the parliament building and harangue lawmakers.
At a convention at Kalkar in western Germany - held in person, unlike other parties’ recent gatherings, but at authorities’ insistence with masks and distancing - Meuthen gave a speech Saturday in which he called for “internal discipline” and “impeccable behavior” from all members.
He questioned the wisdom of uncritical closeness to demonstrations against anti-virus restrictions that have drawn a wide variety of attendees, including conspiracy theorists. And he asked: “Is it really wise to speak of a ‘corona dictatorship?’” That phrase has been used by the influential leader of AfD’s parliamentary group, Alexander Gauland.
The speech angered many members. In Sunday’s debate, lawmaker Stephan Brandner described it as “a torpedo” that “did serious damage to our party and this convention.”
“You are dividing the party,” he told Meuthen. “You are only helping the old parties.”
Meuthen insisted that he hadn’t spoken out against anti-restriction demonstrations as a whole or called for division.
“I wholeheartedly want our party’s success … but we will only achieve this success with serious appearances,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Wildlife biologists to capture, radio collar mountain goats

BOZEMAN , Mont .
( AP ) - Biologists are planning to wrangle mountain goats atop the Bridger Range this December to gather data on the population ’ s movement patterns and health , something officials hope will help inform future management .
On a day between Dec. 10 and Dec. 18 when the weather is good , a helicopter crew from Fairbanks , Alaska , will fly across the Bridgers to study up to 30 mountain goats .
Four to five wildlife biologists with Montana Fish , Wildlife and Parks will restrain the animals , hobble their legs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the mountains .
After screening the goats and collecting samples , biologists will fit the animals with GPS collars and release them back into the wild .
Over the next three years , the biologists will analyze the goats ’ movement across the Bridgers and write about it , according to Kelly Proffitt , a wildlife research biologist for FWP who is leading the project .
Proffitt and others with the department have been talking about studying mountain goats in the Bridgers over the past year , she said .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyzing the animals ’ habitat selection and surveying their health .
Proffitt said she ’ ll be looking to see whether the goats ’ critical seasonal range overlaps with areas seeing lots of recreation .
The department is working with the Forest Service , designing the project to meet the agency ’ s needs , she told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle .
Depending on what the study reveals , future management could involve identifying areas for goat relocation or implementing seasonal closures in sensitive kidding areas .
The Forest Service is responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about trying to learn about habitat and how to make it better for mountain goats , ” Proffitt said .
“ They are specialized and live in extreme conditions.
” While mountain goats are native to areas in Montana primarily on the western side of the Continental Divide , over the years the goats have been relocated to different areas in southwestern Montana .
The Bridger Range has had goats since a population was established there in 1969 .
Since then , the population has reached an all time high of 127 goats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almberg , an infectious disease ecologist with the FWP wildlife program , is working on the other part of the study - finding out what pathogens are present in the goat population .
Almberg plans to sample the goats , screen them for common viruses and parasites and record trace minerals , body conditions and any pregnancies .
But she ’ ll particularly be looking out for signs of mycoplasma ovipneumoniae .
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is a bacteria that infects the respiratory systems of wild mountain goats and bighorn sheep and domestic goats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in herds .
The bacteria is particularly deadly for bighorn sheep , often causing 20 % to 60 % of a herd to perish , Almberg said .
While the disease ’ s impacts on bighorn sheep have been well-documented , less data has been collected on its effects on mountain goats .
Almberg said that ’ s because scientists have handled fewer goat populations .
If translocation efforts were to occur in the future , FWP would want to know what the risk would be of the pathogens spilling over to or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The data could help researchers decide whether the members of the Bridgers herd are suitable for reintroduction elsewhere .
Biologists are still in the early stages of studying mountain goats in the Bridgers , and no reintroduction or translocation project has been initiated , Almberg said .

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) - Biologists are planning to wrangle mountain goats atop the Bridger Range this December to gather data on the population’s movement patterns and health, something officials hope will help inform future management.
On a day between Dec. 10 and Dec. 18 when the weather is good, a helicopter crew from Fairbanks, Alaska, will fly across the Bridgers to study up to 30 mountain goats. Four to five wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will restrain the animals, hobble their legs and transport them to a processing site somewhere in the mountains.
After screening the goats and collecting samples, biologists will fit the animals with GPS collars and release them back into the wild. Over the next three years, the biologists will analyze the goats’ movement across the Bridgers and write about it, according to Kelly Proffitt, a wildlife research biologist for FWP who is leading the project.
Proffitt and others with the department have been talking about studying mountain goats in the Bridgers over the past year, she said. There are two main components of the project - analyzing the animals’ habitat selection and surveying their health.
Proffitt said she’ll be looking to see whether the goats’ critical seasonal range overlaps with areas seeing lots of recreation. The department is working with the Forest Service, designing the project to meet the agency’s needs, she told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Depending on what the study reveals, future management could involve identifying areas for goat relocation or implementing seasonal closures in sensitive kidding areas. The Forest Service is responsible for land management decisions.
“This is about trying to learn about habitat and how to make it better for mountain goats,” Proffitt said. “They are specialized and live in extreme conditions.”
While mountain goats are native to areas in Montana primarily on the western side of the Continental Divide, over the years the goats have been relocated to different areas in southwestern Montana. The Bridger Range has had goats since a population was established there in 1969. Since then, the population has reached an all time high of 127 goats, as recorded in 2019.
Emily Almberg, an infectious disease ecologist with the FWP wildlife program, is working on the other part of the study - finding out what pathogens are present in the goat population.
Almberg plans to sample the goats, screen them for common viruses and parasites and record trace minerals, body conditions and any pregnancies. But she’ll particularly be looking out for signs of mycoplasma ovipneumoniae.
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is a bacteria that infects the respiratory systems of wild mountain goats and bighorn sheep and domestic goats and sheep. It often causes large die-offs in herds. The bacteria is particularly deadly for bighorn sheep, often causing 20% to 60% of a herd to perish, Almberg said.
While the disease’s impacts on bighorn sheep have been well-documented, less data has been collected on its effects on mountain goats. Almberg said that’s because scientists have handled fewer goat populations.
If translocation efforts were to occur in the future, FWP would want to know what the risk would be of the pathogens spilling over to or from other herds, Almberg said. The data could help researchers decide whether the members of the Bridgers herd are suitable for reintroduction elsewhere.
Biologists are still in the early stages of studying mountain goats in the Bridgers, and no reintroduction or translocation project has been initiated, Almberg said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Wyoming biologists working to expand range of rare fish

CASPER , Wyo .
( AP ) - Tucked away in the remotest stretches of some of the remotest streams is a small fish that in the spring uses its head to build forts for its eggs .
The hornyhead chub , known for strange bumps that help in fort building , is one of Wyoming ’ s rarest fish .
It ’ s also one of its most interesting , if you ask any local fisheries biologist .
The 5- to 7-inch long fish can carry rocks as big as its head to build a wall around its nest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ native fish to lay their eggs in its fort , then protects the array of soon-to-be fry .
And the hornyhead chub is making a bit of a comeback .
With some help from Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists , it recently expanded its range by 50 % .
For a fish that was only in two streams , a 50 % increase is notable .
“ One of our goals , and mine personally , is that we don ’ t lose a single native species in this state , whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” David Zafft , fisheries management coordinator for Game and Fish , told the Casper Star-Tribune .
“ We won ’ t hang onto them everywhere , but some places we can .
There are so few areas where the hornyhead chub lives , and we can ’ t afford to lose it.
” Ask an angler in , say , Ohio , and they ’ ll likely wonder why the fuss about a fish so common it ’ s used as bait .
The hornyhead chub ’ s native range extends from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and down to northern Arkansas .
In much of that area they ’ re plentiful .
But many western streams , where few populations remained as glacial relics , it has struggled .
It no longer exists in Colorado and Nebraska , and in Wyoming , where it never had much of a native range , it lived in isolated portions of the Laramie and north Laramie Rivers .
Causes for extirpation from states like Colorado likely run the gambit from degraded habitat and introduced predatory fish like smallmouth bass to increased levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be unable to spawn , said Zafft .
In Wyoming , the fish lived in about 16 miles of the Laramie River and eight miles of the North Laramie River in the Laramie Range .
That was until the Arapaho Fire .
The 2012 blaze was one of Wyoming ’ s largest at the time , burning about 100,000 acres and destroying 90 buildings .
A large rain shortly after sent a flood of ash , soot and debris down the winding , North Laramie River so thick that it eliminated all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fish , including the hornyhead chub .
“ If they don ’ t have a place to move to get out of the way , suspended ash coats their gills and suffocates them , ” said Steve Gale , fisheries biologist in the Laramie region .
So Game and Fish biologists worked with landowners along the North Laramie River and began transplanting hornyhead chub from the Laramie River .
Each year proved more promising , and this year , populations in the North Laramie matched those from before the fire .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still had a very limited range in Wyoming .
Some might ask why it matters if a small fish with funny horns on its head lives or dies .
It ’ s not a sport fish .
It ’ s not even a bait fish .
It is , however , a critical part of Wyoming ’ s natural systems , said Zafft .
“ I consider them more of an indicator species of healthy habitat like somebody might the spotted owl in a northwest boreal forest , ” Zafft said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty of gravel to build its nests .
“ If you have hornyhead chub around it means you have bears and birds and all sorts of native species because they have a pretty unique set of habitat requirements that are very easy to mess up , ” he added .
And about that nest building .
During breeding season , the males grow a dozen or more small bumps – tiny horns , if you will – on the top of their heads .
They use those to scoop and scoot rocks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then picks up rocks with its mouth and drops them on top , increasing the mound .
About five years ago , Game and Fish partnered with the University of Wyoming ’ s cooperative fish and wildlife unit to look at other areas the hornyhead chub may have lived , and could successfully be reintroduced in Wyoming .
Biologists found one historical record of the hornyhead chub in the Sweetwater River .
That lone fish was collected in 1852 and is currently preserved in the Smithsonian , said Paul Gerrity , a fisheries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one knows why other records don ’ t exist from the Sweetwater , but Gerrity has a few theories .
Historical records from the 1800s talk about how cattle moving through on the Oregon Trail overgrazed a mile or more on the sides of the Sweetwater River .
Because the hornyhead chub exists in such isolated portions of streams , it ’ s entirely possible that livestock grazing wiped the small population out with that lone specimen proving their existence .
The study also labeled the Sweetwater River as prime hornyhead chub habitat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom , lack of the most concerning nonnative predators and the existence of other native fish like Iowa darter and bigmouth shiner .
So in September , Game and Fish biologists released 308 hornyhead chub collected from the Laramie River into the Sweetwater .
Another transplant is planned for 2021 .
“ We have a moral obligation , and Game and Fish has a statutory obligation , to ensure their existence , ” Gerrity said .
Plus , he added : “ They ’ re just a neat native fish .
”

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Tucked away in the remotest stretches of some of the remotest streams is a small fish that in the spring uses its head to build forts for its eggs.
The hornyhead chub, known for strange bumps that help in fort building, is one of Wyoming’s rarest fish. It’s also one of its most interesting, if you ask any local fisheries biologist.
The 5- to 7-inch long fish can carry rocks as big as its head to build a wall around its nest. It also allows other small, native fish to lay their eggs in its fort, then protects the array of soon-to-be fry.
And the hornyhead chub is making a bit of a comeback.
With some help from Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists, it recently expanded its range by 50%. For a fish that was only in two streams, a 50% increase is notable.
“One of our goals, and mine personally, is that we don’t lose a single native species in this state, whether a fish or amphibian or bird,” David Zafft, fisheries management coordinator for Game and Fish, told the Casper Star-Tribune. “We won’t hang onto them everywhere, but some places we can. There are so few areas where the hornyhead chub lives, and we can’t afford to lose it.”
Ask an angler in, say, Ohio, and they’ll likely wonder why the fuss about a fish so common it’s used as bait. The hornyhead chub’s native range extends from eastern North Dakota to western New York and down to northern Arkansas. In much of that area they’re plentiful. But many western streams, where few populations remained as glacial relics, it has struggled.
It no longer exists in Colorado and Nebraska, and in Wyoming, where it never had much of a native range, it lived in isolated portions of the Laramie and north Laramie Rivers.
Causes for extirpation from states like Colorado likely run the gambit from degraded habitat and introduced predatory fish like smallmouth bass to increased levels hormones in the water that cause males to be unable to spawn, said Zafft.
In Wyoming, the fish lived in about 16 miles of the Laramie River and eight miles of the North Laramie River in the Laramie Range.
That was until the Arapaho Fire.
The 2012 blaze was one of Wyoming’s largest at the time, burning about 100,000 acres and destroying 90 buildings. A large rain shortly after sent a flood of ash, soot and debris down the winding, North Laramie River so thick that it eliminated all eight miles of habitat and killed thousands of fish, including the hornyhead chub.
“If they don’t have a place to move to get out of the way, suspended ash coats their gills and suffocates them,” said Steve Gale, fisheries biologist in the Laramie region.
So Game and Fish biologists worked with landowners along the North Laramie River and began transplanting hornyhead chub from the Laramie River. Each year proved more promising, and this year, populations in the North Laramie matched those from before the fire.
But even with those successes, the chub still had a very limited range in Wyoming.
Some might ask why it matters if a small fish with funny horns on its head lives or dies. It’s not a sport fish. It’s not even a bait fish. It is, however, a critical part of Wyoming’s natural systems, said Zafft.
“I consider them more of an indicator species of healthy habitat like somebody might the spotted owl in a northwest boreal forest,” Zafft said.
The chub requires cold, clean water and plenty of gravel to build its nests.
“If you have hornyhead chub around it means you have bears and birds and all sorts of native species because they have a pretty unique set of habitat requirements that are very easy to mess up,” he added.
And about that nest building.
During breeding season, the males grow a dozen or more small bumps – tiny horns, if you will – on the top of their heads. They use those to scoop and scoot rocks and dirt into a pile. The male then picks up rocks with its mouth and drops them on top, increasing the mound.
About five years ago, Game and Fish partnered with the University of Wyoming’s cooperative fish and wildlife unit to look at other areas the hornyhead chub may have lived, and could successfully be reintroduced in Wyoming.
Biologists found one historical record of the hornyhead chub in the Sweetwater River. That lone fish was collected in 1852 and is currently preserved in the Smithsonian, said Paul Gerrity, a fisheries biologist in the Lander region.
No one knows why other records don’t exist from the Sweetwater, but Gerrity has a few theories. Historical records from the 1800s talk about how cattle moving through on the Oregon Trail overgrazed a mile or more on the sides of the Sweetwater River. Because the hornyhead chub exists in such isolated portions of streams, it’s entirely possible that livestock grazing wiped the small population out with that lone specimen proving their existence.
The study also labeled the Sweetwater River as prime hornyhead chub habitat because of its clear water, gravel bottom, lack of the most concerning nonnative predators and the existence of other native fish like Iowa darter and bigmouth shiner.
So in September, Game and Fish biologists released 308 hornyhead chub collected from the Laramie River into the Sweetwater. Another transplant is planned for 2021.
“We have a moral obligation, and Game and Fish has a statutory obligation, to ensure their existence,” Gerrity said.
Plus, he added: “They’re just a neat native fish.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-29--Florida boy drowns while swimming in ocean with grandfather

ORMOND BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) - A 7-year-old boy drowned while swimming with his grandfather in the Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ authorities said .
The man and two children went into the water near Ormond Beach @ @ @ @ @ Volusia County Beach Safety officials said in a news release .
A beachgoer heard the @ @ @ @ @ on the beach yelling for help and called Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue .
@ @ @ @ @ from the water and began CPR , a news release said .
The child was @ @ @ @ @ he was pronounced dead , the release said .
The grandfather and a 16-year-old girl @ @ @ @ @ were not considered life-threatening .
A third grandchild , who is 11-year-old , was on @ @ @ @ @ .
The grandmother was taken to a hospital for medical treatment .

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A 7-year-old boy drowned while swimming with his grandfather in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
The man and two children went into the water near Ormond Beach about 1 p.m. Saturday, Volusia County Beach Safety officials said in a news release.
A beachgoer heard the child’s grandmother standing on the beach yelling for help and called Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue. Authorities pulled the unresponsive boy from the water and began CPR, a news release said.
The child was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, the release said. The grandfather and a 16-year-old girl were treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. A third grandchild, who is 11-year-old, was on the beach at the time.
The grandmother was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.