March 11, 1970 (12 pages)

6 the Nevada County Nugget, Wednesday, March 11, 1970 ett, ND oe. ae. Rs = 5 DFG REPORTS DECREASE IN HUNTING ACCIDENTS An all-time low of 11 fatal hunting accidents was reported in California last year, the Department of Fish and Game said today. There were an additional 82 nonfatal accidents for a total of 93 during 1969, the lowest total since 1962, The previous year there were 114 accidents, including 20 fatalities. The accident rate was 1.24 per 10,000 licensed hunters with an estimated 755,000 hunters in the state, compared with 1.51 a year ago and 3.1 when the state’s mandatory hunter safety training program for youngsters began in 1954, "We're pleased that both the number and rate. of accidents were’ down significantly," said Hilton. Bergstrom, -DFG hunter safety training officer. "But as usual all of these accidents could have been avoided if the basic rules of firearms safety had been followed." Fourteen of the accidents involved handguns, ‘and 12 were self-inflicted leg wounds, which Bergstrom said raises a"'strong suspicion" that horse-play and "quick draw" games were involved,Shotguns were involved in 45 accidents and rifles in 34, and more than half the accidents occurred .within a range of 10 yards from the shooter. Of the total accidents, 36 per cent were Nearly 10 per cent ofall hunting accidents occurred during the opening weekend of pheasant season, By species hunted, deer hunters were involved in 22 accidents, pheasant hunters in 17, rabbit 14, waterfowl 12, pigeon and doves eight, quail three, squirrel two, and two bear hunters shot themselves, California's ~ hunter safety training program, administered by the Department of Fish and Game and carried out by a corps of 3,000 unpaid volunteer instructors, once again won a National Rifle Association award for outstanding achievement for 1969, Award winners were selected by the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners, and it was the seventh consecutive award to California, j California trained 35,896 youngsters in the safe handling of firearms during the’ year, bringing the total to 480,502 since the program began. State law requires that persons under 18 satisfactorily complete the hunter safety course before they may purchase a hunting license, Both the number of accidents involving loaded firearms in vehicles and arrests for this offense were down from the previous year, possibly indicating success in the DFG's continuing enforcement campaign against this violafion. Nine accidents involved loaded guns in vehicles, compared with 11 during 1968, Fish and Game wardens arrested 1,308 persons for poSsessing.a loaded Fish and news, calendar . 26, 2g he a% 0%, Game . oe 5 — gun in a vehicle last year, compared with 1,710 the previous year. ‘ Based on an estimated total of 10 1/2 million man-days of hunting by the state's 755,000 licensed hunters during the year, there was less than one= tenth of an accident per 10,000 man-days hunting. Here again, pheasant hunting Showed up as the type involving the highest frequency of accidents-.21 per 10,000 hunter days, compared with .07 for deer and ranging down to .03 for quail, Pheasant hunting areas are usually considerably more congested than other types, possibly accounting for the high frequency of accidents. However, none of the pheasant huntding accidents was fatal, COMMISSION MEETS IN EUREKA MARCH 9 The California Fish andGame ‘Commission will »meet in Eureka on Monday, March 9, President C, Rans Pearman said the meeting will begin at 9 a.m, -inthe supervisors' chambers in the Humboldt County Courthouse. The pricipal item of new business is consideration of the quota for the 1970 commercial shrimp season in Area A off the Humboldt-Del-Norte County Coast. k Hearings will be held: and final action taken on earlier emergency commission actions. to raise the quota of the commercial anchovy reduction fishery and to restore the previous tag validation system for big game tags which requires that successful hunters have their tags validated by specified officers. 2 CONSERVATION, WILDLIFE OBSERVANCES SCHEDULED "Conservation--it begins with you" is the theme of the 1970 observance ‘of California .Conservation Week March 7-14, Mrs, Ronald Reagan is serving as honorary chairman of the -annual event this year. The State's first lady has expressed deep ‘concern over conservation of natural resources and has invited California school children to write and tell her what they are doing to conserve these resources, Highlights of the observance include the first annual California Conservation Week: banquet in Sacramento March 5, with some of America's top conservationist on the program. Thomas L, Kimball, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, and Dr. Elvis Stahr,; president of the National Audubon Society, will speak at the banquet. Governor and Mrs, Ronald Reagan will be among the honored guests. This year's theme for National Wildlife Week, March.1521, is "Seen Any Wildlife Lately?" Kimball said the theme concentrates on the importance of wildlife as a measure of environmental quality, Want ads Pay f a SS 5 SiO ET IN oan as DOW ALEXANDER of Town Talk, recovering from a spinal ailment, grins broadly as he reads the highly complimentary "distinguished service" plaque presented to him by Gold Flat Fire Chief Les Allstot (at left), Mrs, Betsy Alexander, seated on bed, is also obviously pleased by the presentation, The inscription cites Alexander's leadership in organizing rural volunteer fire departments in the local area and particularly acknowledges his invaluable assistance within the Gold Flat Fire Department for the past 15 years. . LIDS watt Bizz’ Reports. Under the threat of another presidential veto, the House of Representatives has approved a new appropriations package for federal assistance to schools. This is part of the multi-billion dollar appropriations bill covering the Departments of Labor and Health, Education and Welfare, The total package for the two departments now amounts to about $19.3 billion, $366 million below the bill vetoed by the President, but $324 million higher. than the President said he would approve asa compromise. As far as education issues are concerned, most of the items, except for those for vocational education, are about the same as recommended by the President. Of principal concern to schools of the Second Congressional District are the funds for federal assistance to "impacted areas" where federal installations affect local school enrollment. Originally, the President had proposed that only $202 million be appropriated for this purpose nationally. This figure would mean: reduction of services to elementary and high school students or increased local tax rates. * Neither is acceptable. Congress originally voted to meet its full commitment tothis Program, appropriating more than $600 million, This was one of the areas directly attacked by the President in his veto of the money bill, ° The compromise ‘Suggested by the Presidentand accepted by the House .of Representatives amounts to $440 million. This is a substantial boost from the initial recommendation, but as far as Iam concerned, is not adequate for if this is the final figure, it means that the federal government will not meet its full obligation in this field. Recreation commission gets board’s blessing County supervisors gave the board's blessing to the recreation commission this Week and agreed that it should remain in existence at least another six months, The commission expressed disappointment recently when its recommendation to form a recreation district was turned down by Local Agency. Formation Commission, The board, at an earlier meeting, appeared concerned about possible lack of activity of the commission since the turndown, and asked it to report on present and future projects. "We are still licking our wounds but plan to study aids to city parks," Mrs. Kin Stevenson of the comission reported to the board Tuesday. "There is a tremendous need for parks whether under a recreation department or joint powers agreement," she said, She outlined a proposed study which would call for county finacial participation and codop-; eration with Grass Valley and Nevada City in providing recreation facilities for county as well as city people, A proposed study for a covered swimming pool has: been abandoned because "theproblem at school puts a different light on it," Mrs. Stevenson said. She apparently referred to the finaciallytroubled Grass Valley School District. According to Mrs. Stevenson, the commission hopes to conduct another recreation district study in two years. _"From what I read in: the paper (The Union) I understood there was some thought about abolishing the commission," «Mrs, Stevenson‘said. _ “There was that possibility if you.were stagnant, but. afteryour’-report we feel you are working," Chairman Willie Curran told her. William Thomas favored county and city cooperation in therecreation field,~and said "we should help support: it." Mrs. Stevenson asked that the committee be permitted to continue for at least six months. She noted "our budget is low," but offered to forgo her own mileage money and said: she believed that others on the committee “would make a similar offer. John Sorenson, LAF CO chairman, “favored continuing the commission. He said: "I. firmly agree with Mrs, Stevenson, They have done an excellent job. I do not always agree with them and did vote against the: formation of a district. I would like to see the commission continued." ; "As far as I am concerned they are doing something and I am happy to see them go on," contributed Dean Lawrence, . , aes Shares ‘in: America for sale.

6 the Nevada County Nugget, Wednesday, March 11, 1970 ett, ND oe. ae. Rs = 5 DFG REPORTS DECREASE IN HUNTING ACCIDENTS An all-time low of 11 fatal hunting accidents was reported in California last year, the Department of Fish and Game said today. There were an additional 82 nonfatal accidents for a total of 93 during 1969, the lowest total since 1962, The previous year there were 114 accidents, including 20 fatalities. The accident rate was 1.24 per 10,000 licensed hunters with an estimated 755,000 hunters in the state, compared with 1.51 a year ago and 3.1 when the state’s mandatory hunter safety training program for youngsters began in 1954, "We're pleased that both the number and rate. of accidents were’ down significantly," said Hilton. Bergstrom, -DFG hunter safety training officer. "But as usual all of these accidents could have been avoided if the basic rules of firearms safety had been followed." Fourteen of the accidents involved handguns, ‘and 12 were self-inflicted leg wounds, which Bergstrom said raises a"'strong suspicion" that horse-play and "quick draw" games were involved,Shotguns were involved in 45 accidents and rifles in 34, and more than half the accidents occurred .within a range of 10 yards from the shooter.. Of the total accidents, 36 per cent were Nearly 10 per cent ofall hunting accidents occurred during the opening weekend of pheasant season, By species hunted, deer hunters were involved in 22 accidents, pheasant hunters in 17, rabbit 14, waterfowl 12, pigeon and doves eight, quail three, squirrel two, and two bear hunters shot themselves, California's ~ hunter safety training program, administered by the Department of Fish and Game and carried out by a corps of 3,000 unpaid volunteer instructors, once again won a National Rifle Association award for outstanding achievement for 1969, Award winners were selected by the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners, and it was the seventh consecutive award to California, j California trained 35,896 youngsters in the safe handling of firearms during the’ year, bringing the total to 480,502 since the program began. State law requires that persons under 18 satisfactorily complete the hunter safety course before they may purchase a hunting license, Both the number of accidents involving loaded firearms in vehicles and arrests for this offense were down from the previous year, possibly indicating success in the DFG's continuing enforcement campaign against this violafion. Nine accidents involved loaded guns in vehicles, compared with 11 during 1968, Fish and Game wardens arrested 1,308 persons for poSsessing.a loaded Fish and news, calendar . 26, 2g he a% 0%, Game . oe 5 — gun in a vehicle last year, compared with 1,710 the previous year. ‘ Based on an estimated total of 10 1/2 million man-days of hunting by the state's 755,000 licensed hunters during the year, there was less than one= tenth of an accident per 10,000 man-days hunting. Here again, pheasant hunting Showed up as the type involving the highest frequency of accidents-.21 per 10,000 hunter days, compared with .07 for deer and ranging down to .03 for quail, Pheasant hunting areas are usually considerably more congested than other types, possibly accounting for the high frequency of accidents. However, none of the pheasant huntding accidents was fatal, COMMISSION MEETS IN EUREKA MARCH 9 The California Fish andGame ‘Commission will »meet in Eureka on Monday, March 9, President C, Rans Pearman said the meeting will begin at 9 a.m, -inthe supervisors' chambers in the Humboldt County Courthouse. The pricipal item of new business is consideration of the quota for the 1970 commercial shrimp season in Area A off the Humboldt-Del-Norte County Coast. k Hearings will be held: and final action taken on earlier emergency commission actions. to raise the quota of the commercial anchovy reduction fishery and to restore the previous tag validation system for big game tags which requires that successful hunters have their tags validated by specified officers. 2 CONSERVATION, WILDLIFE OBSERVANCES SCHEDULED "Conservation--it begins with you" is the theme of the 1970 observance ‘of California .Conservation Week March 7-14, Mrs, Ronald Reagan is serving as honorary chairman of the -annual event this year. The State's first lady has expressed deep ‘concern over conservation of natural resources and has invited California school children to write and tell her what they are doing to conserve these resources, Highlights of the observance include the first annual California Conservation Week: banquet in Sacramento March 5, with some of America's top conservationist on the program.

Thomas L, Kimball, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, and Dr. Elvis Stahr,; president of the National Audubon Society, will speak at the banquet. Governor and Mrs, Ronald Reagan will be among the honored guests. This year's theme for National Wildlife Week, March.1521, is "Seen Any Wildlife Lately?" Kimball said the theme concentrates on the importance of wildlife as a measure of environmental quality, Want ads Pay f a SS 5 SiO ET IN oan as DOW ALEXANDER of Town Talk, recovering from a spinal ailment, grins broadly as he reads the highly complimentary "distinguished service" plaque presented to him by Gold Flat Fire Chief Les Allstot (at left), Mrs, Betsy Alexander, seated on bed, is also obviously pleased by the presentation, The inscription cites Alexander's leadership in organizing rural volunteer fire departments in the local area and particularly acknowledges his invaluable assistance within the Gold Flat Fire Department for the past 15 years. . LIDS watt Bizz’ Reports. Under the threat of another presidential veto, the House of Representatives has approved a new appropriations package for federal assistance to schools. This is part of the multi-billion dollar appropriations bill covering the Departments of Labor and Health, Education and Welfare, The total package for the two departments now amounts to about $19.3 billion, $366 million below the bill vetoed by the President, but $324 million higher. than the President said he would approve asa compromise. As far as education issues are concerned, most of the items, except for those for vocational education, are about the same as recommended by the President. Of principal concern to schools of the Second Congressional District are the funds for federal assistance to "impacted areas" where federal installations affect local school enrollment. Originally, the President had proposed that only $202 million be appropriated for this purpose nationally. This figure would mean: reduction of services to elementary and high school students or increased local tax rates. * Neither is acceptable. Congress originally voted to meet its full commitment tothis Program, appropriating more than $600 million, This was one of the areas directly attacked by the President in his veto of the money bill, ° The compromise ‘Suggested by the Presidentand accepted by the House .of Representatives amounts to $440 million. This is a substantial boost from the initial recommendation, but as far as Iam concerned, is not adequate for if this is the final figure, it means that the federal government will not meet its full obligation in this field.. Recreation commission gets board’s blessing County supervisors gave the board's blessing to the recreation commission this Week and agreed that it should remain in existence at least another six months, The commission expressed disappointment recently when its recommendation to form a recreation district was turned down by Local Agency. Formation Commission, The board, at an earlier meeting, appeared concerned about possible lack of activity of the commission since the turndown, and asked it to report on present and future projects. "We are still licking our wounds but plan to study aids to city parks," Mrs. Kin Stevenson of the comission reported to the board Tuesday. "There is a tremendous need for parks whether under a recreation department or joint powers agreement," she said, She outlined a proposed study which would call for county finacial participation and codop-; eration with Grass Valley and Nevada City in providing recreation facilities for county as well as city people, A proposed study for a covered swimming pool has: been abandoned because "theproblem at school puts a different light on it," Mrs. Stevenson said. She apparently referred to the finaciallytroubled Grass Valley School District. According to Mrs. Stevenson, the commission hopes to conduct another recreation district study in two years. _"From what I read in: the paper (The Union) I understood there was some thought about abolishing the commission," «Mrs, Stevenson‘said. _ “There was that possibility if you.were stagnant, but. afteryour’-report we feel you are working," Chairman Willie Curran told her. William Thomas favored county and city cooperation in therecreation field,~and said "we should help support: it." Mrs. Stevenson asked that the committee be permitted to continue for at least six months. She noted "our budget is low," but offered to forgo her own mileage money and said: she believed that others on the committee “would make a similar offer. John Sorenson, LAF CO chairman, “favored continuing the commission. He said: "I. firmly agree with Mrs, Stevenson, They have done an excellent job. I do not always agree with them and did vote against the: formation of a district. I would like to see the commission continued." ; "As far as I am concerned they are doing something and I am happy to see them go on," contributed Dean Lawrence, . , aes Shares ‘in: America for sale.