Contact: Carol Lyn Parrish, Carollyn.Parrish@MyFWC.com
Shannon Knowles, Shannon.Knowles@MyFWC.com

ICYMI: Governor Ron DeSantis Issues Updates on Hurricane Ian Recovery

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by business owners impacted by Hurricane Ian in Cape Coral to hold a discussion on recovery efforts. Business owners discussed ways to reopen safely to get customers back in the door. Additionally, Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Secretary Dane Eagle highlighted resources that have been made available, including activating the Emergency Bridge Loan program. More than $4.8 million has already been awarded to 106 businesses that were impacted by the storm. Full remarks can be found here.

Additionally, Governor DeSantis highlighted the resources available at Disaster Recovery Centers for businesses. Florida is awaiting federal approval on a $30 million request for the Dislocated Worker Grant Program. This program will provide disaster relief employment through temporary jobs to Floridians who were impacted by Hurricane Ian. Businesses in southwest Florida have continued to go out of their way to help their employees, and the state of Florida will continue to find ways to assist them.

There are currently 18,396 reported power outages. In Lee and Collier counties, there are fewer than 500 accounts on the mainland that remain without power that can receive it. More than 42,000 linemen have already restored power to over 2.6 million accounts across the state, representing over 99% of accounts restored since the peak. There are currently 13 fueling depot stations open statewide, and a mobile fuel truck has been deployed to Arcadia to support residents without access to fuel. Read more

Panel offers insights on designing with mass timber

If you’re interested in the possibilities of emerging mass timber construction, register now for the upcoming “Designing in Mass Timber – Current Work and Lessons Learned” webinar, set for noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.

Panelists include Anna Anderson, project manager/designer for the architecture and design firm Lord Aeck Sargent; Ben Ridderbos, director of Lord Aeck Sargent; and Matt Kantner, associate engineer at Equilibrium Consulting. Brian Craig of the Michigan Forest Biomaterials Institute will moderate the panel.

Mass timber construction allows for the building of large and tall structures using engineered wood, and often goes up faster than traditional steel and concrete construction. It is also growing in popularity due to the use of renewable materials. Read more

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NRA Donates More Than $170,000 to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

NRA’s Free Online Hunter Education Course Recognized by the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission

Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association of America was pleased to present a donation of $173,911 to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for their residents’ use of NRA’s award-winning, free online hunter education course. Peter Churchbourne, Director of the NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum, presented a ceremonial check during a meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission on September 16, 2022, in Spencer, TN.

“We are so grateful for the partnership with NRA to provide completely online and free hunter education for all Tennesseans,” said Jenifer Wisniewski, Director of Marketing and Special Projects for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “This course is truly cutting-edge and the best course out there for someone looking to get their hunter education online. We are also grateful for the funding that the agency receives as a result of our residents taking this course.” Read more

Visitors to Straits and Cheboygan state parks can look forward to new camping amenities and greater conveniences, thanks to a slice of the $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds dedicated last March to support Michigan state parks and trails.

In June, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced these ARPA-funded projects as two of the first 11 “shovel ready” state park projects to get underway.

“The bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan made some of the largest infrastructure investments in Michigan history, including the biggest one-time investment in our state parks ever,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Today’s combined $2.96 million investment in Straits and Cheboygan state parks will have an estimated economic impact of $12 million on local economies and improve facilities at both parks, making them more accessible to families. Parks are vital to the Michigan economy, supporting tens of thousands of recreation and tourism jobs, generations billions in economic values, and offering Michiganders and visitors special places to make memories, explore the outdoors and enjoy time with loved ones.” Read more

Weighing only 4 oz., device allows you to send and receive messages, trigger an interactive SOS and be notified that help is on the way — even without a cellphone

OLATHE, KS — September 27, 2022 – Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN), today announced inReach® Messenger, a new communication-focused device with global two-way texting, location sharing, and SOS capabilities1. Built for those who want a quick and easy way to reach loved ones when they’re without cellular coverage, inReach Messenger provides seamless satellite communication either as a standalone device or when paired to the new Garmin Messenger companion app for smartphones. This new app leverages Wi-Fi®, cellular and satellite connectivity for two-way texting and group messaging. The Messenger companion app will automatically choose between Wi-Fi, cellular or satellite connectivity to ensure every message is sent and received. In the event of an emergency, the inReach Messenger and Messenger App2 can send an SOS message to the 24/7 staffed Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC).

“Garmin inReach devices are trusted by hundreds of thousands of users globally for communication and peace of mind. The new inReach Messenger is no exception, but with its multiple communication networks, ease-of-use, and smartphone compatibility, it is a perfect device for those who want to easily keep in touch when outside of cell coverage,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “Like all inReach devices, inReach Messenger has the ability to send an SOS message to the Garmin IERCC, which has responded to more than 9,000 inReach SOS incidents.”

Streamlined Communication

When paired with the inReach Messenger, users can sync with their smartphone’s contacts list with the companion app to make staying in touch even easier. For the most efficient messaging, the companion app will send messages, post to social media or communicate with fellow adventurers through a cellular or Wi-Fi connection when available, then automatically switch to the 100% global Iridium® satellite network when no longer in cellular or Wi-Fi range.

To keep all friends and family up to date on a trip, the new Messenger companion app supports group text chats with friends and family, even those without inReach devices. Users can continue in-app conversations at home using their Wi-Fi or cellular connection without having to change settings. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

After a couple days away, I came home to find the deer had acquired an appetite for my prize pumpkins.

Deer Damage

Fortunately, most are fine but not ripe yet.  Good news is that even the green ones picked early will turn yellow in time.

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Reserving a campsite at the Rifle River Recreation Area was easy enough with www.Midnrreservations.com.  I found the website easy to navigate by simply entering the location, arrival and departure dates, number in the party and camping equipment such as tents or trailers.  With a few clicks the payment was made and my mind was eased to know I would have a specific site when I made the distant trek north.

My adventure would include exploring the vast Huron Manistee National Forest in Ogemaw County just north of the camp.  To do so with a 2-wheel drive pickup didn’t make a lot of sense, however, with the cost of fuel and the uncertainty of the condition of the dirt roads and trails.  That little light bulb in my brain then clicked on and led me to uncover what it would take run an ATV on the trails, so it was back to the computer for reference.

I learned that an ORV trail permit is required when operating on state-designated ORV trails and scramble areas. The cost is $10 (plus $26.25 for the ORV license) for a total of $36.25. ORV trail permits are not valid as a stand-alone license; an ORV license must also be purchased.

Furthermore, an ORV license is required to ride eligible county roads, frozen surface of public waters, state forest roads (open to ORV use) and eligible national forest roads.  The cost is $26.25 and both the trail permit and license are valid for one year, which begins April 1 and ends March 31 of the following year.

The question had become how to get these trail stickers.  Nowhere online did I find the answer, so I contacted the Michigan Secretary of State for the solution.  The automated system informed me that I’d have to wait on hold or I could get a return call when it was my turn.  I chose that option, because I could go about my business without a phone stuck to my ear.

The call came as advertised and at this point in the process I was transferred to a person who led me to believe I was on the right trail.  He signed me up for an appointment at the Secretary of State the next morning.  Ah, now we were getting somewhere.  He also informed me that I would need some proof of ownership of the ATV, such as a title or bill of sale.  No problem.

When I got to the counter, title in hand, the clerk promptly informed me that they didn’t sell the permits and that I’d have to get them at a retail store such as Walmart or Meijer.  What?!  There must be some mistake!  With my tail between my legs, I walked off in puzzlement and across the road to Walmart.  Sure enough, they took my cash and the DNR stickers were in-hand.  The joke was on me, but the mission was accomplished.

I’d love to talk to the person that sent me on that wild goose chase, because I have no idea why he thought I was after geese.

FORT KENT, Maine – 81-year-old Stanley Flagg, who was last seen on Sunday morning at his home, was located alive this afternoon, and transported to a local hospital.

Three game wardens located Flagg deep in woods, where he was found shoeless, dehydrated and disoriented in the Spaulding Brook drainage in Fort Kent over a mile from his home on Franklin School Road. He was found in an area surrounded by dense alders and softwoods, approximately ¾ of a mile from his tractor, which he appeared to have abandoned before getting lost.

Game Warden K9 Gordon and Warden Preston Pomerleau, with Game Wardens James Gushee and Brandon Sperry were searching the brook area after a Maine Search and Rescue Dog volunteer searcher and their canine located a slipper that was later confirmed to belong to Flagg. The three wardens were searching the area, when Gushee thought he had heard a voice, then he saw a man stand up. Gushee called out “Stanley!” and rushed towards him, where he found Stanley, who had sat down on a fallen log. Read more