August 2011 The Employee e-Newsletter of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Serves Them Right Shining Stars Employee Milestones

In this issue...
Video tribute to Rodney Barreto
Six-time Chairman saluted at June Commission meeting... [more]

Lee County billboard urges panther awareness

Over 50,000 motorists see the message every day... [more]

Fuss 'n' feathers

Transporting an injured hawk proves more than officer bargained for... [more]

Doing the heavy lifting

2 officers pick up gold, silver for weightlifting at Police and Fire Games... [more]

Video tribute to Rodney Barreto

The June Commission meeting marked the end of an era, as Rodney Barreto stepped down as Chairman, having served six one-year terms in that capacity. To commemorate the many accomplishments during his 10 years of service on the Commission, a special video was produced for showing at the June meeting in St. Augustine. You can watch the 5-minute piece on the FWC's YouTube channel.

Commissioner Barreto's second five-year term expires August 1.

Commissioner Rodney Barreto (FWC photo)

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Lee Co. billboard urges panther awareness

(from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service news release) A digital billboard on U.S. 41 in Lee County is reminding 50,000 motorists a day to watch out for Florida panthers. Featuring an image of a panther running across a road in Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, the billboard urges caution, because vehicle collisions are a leading cause of panther deaths. As of July 12, seven Florida panthers have been killed on Southwest Florida roads this year. The billboard space was donated by Lamar Outdoor Advertising, and the message will run indefinitely.
Bob Repenning of Lee County Parks and Recreation took the photograph used in the billboard. (Design by Lamar Outdoor Advertising)

"We're proud to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reach as many motorists as possible with this message of caution," said Lamar's southwest Florida sales manager Vinny Fazio. The panther population has grown five-fold since the 1980s, when its numbers dwindled to 20-30. Its increase to a current estimate of 100-160 adult panthers is a success story, but one tempered with the knowledge that an increasing population means a greater chance for vehicle collisions. Top of page

Fuss 'n' feathers

By Officer Sam Cohl After 13 years as an FWC officer, I thought I had seen it all. At least I did until the other day. On July 8, I was on routine patrol along the Charlotte/Sarasota County line when a family flagged me down. The driver said a hawk had just been struck by a car one block away. I reached the scene to find a large red-tailed hawk standing in the center of the two-lane road blocking traffic in both directions. Its wing was covered in blood, and it apparently had no intention of moving from the roadway. Someone handed me a beach towel, which I draped over the bird's head and body to keep it calm. I picked up the towel-wrapped hawk and placed it on the passenger-side floor of my truck. I knew the hawk's best chance for survival would be at The Wildlife Center of Venice, about 45 minutes away. Most of the trip was uneventful, but as I got closer to the Wildlife Center, the weather deteriorated and rain poured from the sky. At about 3 miles from our destination, I began to have a strange suspicion I was being watched. I slowly looked down to see two large eyes locked onto me like I was a giant mouse. The now-alert bird had decided it didn't need the towel draped over it for protection. I felt like Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral, and the hawk was giving me until sundown to get out of town. But I figured the hawk had a broken wing; surely, it wouldn't try to take flight. Wrong!

While maintaining control of my truck on the wet road, I was also fending off flying feathers, flapping wings, a stiletto-like beak and razor-sharp talons. I stopped the truck, jumped out in the pouring rain and grabbed my rain jacket from the back and used it to subdue the hawk. Though soaked and a bit disheveled, I arrived at the Wildlife Center of Venice with no further injuries to the hawk or myself. Fortunately, the hawk's wing was not broken, and we were able to release the bird a little more than a week later. I was also the grateful recipient of a gift from the Wildlife Center, an animal crate that will help prevent further comedic episodes with temporarily stunned wildlife.

Recovered from its injury, the hawk was transported to its release site - in a more suitable carrier. (FWC photo)

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Doing the heavy lifting

By Katie Purcell, Law Enforcement Every June, law enforcement officers, firefighters and military personnel take part in the Florida Police and Fire Games. Thousands of participants, from over 200 different agencies, compete in Olympic-style sporting events. The FWC had a successful year in the weightlifting events. Officer Billy Giles and Officer Joe Johnston, both of the North Central Region, earned medals in their weight classes. Billy won gold medals for bench press and power lifting in the 220-pound class. In his first weightlifting competition, Joe won the gold medal in power lifting and silver in bench press in the 242-pound class. Their accomplishments are impressive enough on their own, but perhaps what is even more noteworthy is that Billy achieved this less than a year after suffering serious lacerations to his legs in a boating accident. The accident occurred last August and required several surgeries. Billy's doctor told him that had he not been in such good physical shape, his femoral artery could have been cut, which could have been fatal. Billy vowed to recover from his injuries and return to the competition stronger than ever. He returned to full duty in November and resumed training in December. Billy and Joe work out for 90 minutes three or four times a week, focusing on squats, bench press and dead-lifts. The hard work seems to be paying off. Billy moved up from the 198-pound weight class and achieved his personal best in all three categories in which he participated.

K-9 Officer Billy Giles (L) and Officer Joe Johnston with their medals from the Florida Police and Fire Games. Johnston is awaiting the arrival of his silver medal. (FWC photo by Karen Parker)

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Serves Them Right

Citizens and FWC customers were so impressed by the following employees, they told us about it through the "Praise an Employee" page of MyFWC.com/Contact: Andrea Boliek (HSC) - "...My brother's truck was not properly equipped for off-roading, and he got us stuck...We were lucky that Andrea...saw us...and she was able to pull our Jeep out of the mud. She took the time to explain to us (very nicely) that what we were doing was actually frowned upon because of the resource depletion...She asked for nothing in return only that we respect the land and not do that sort of thing again..." Nancy Brock (L&P) - "I wanted to take the time to thank Nancy & the entire team for being so helpful and kind

in assisting me." [also] "I was missing some information...Nancy took the time to explain to me step-by-step what I needed to do...she responded expeditiously & courteously in such a manner that is rarely seen today..." Nancy Brock, Karen Barnes (L&P) - "These ladies went out of their way to help me with my license. You guys are doing such a great job there. I really appreciate it and want you to know how well you are doing..." Officer Carmon Brownell - "I was up the East River, in the evening, and had run out of gas...He towed us to the dock and, I feel, went above and beyond the call of duty. Officers like this make people feel safer on the water and not scared to "run in with the FWC"..." Bambi Clemons (FWRI) - "...I am studying tick-borne disease in Florida and collecting ticks from state parks...she has given me information on white-tailed deer, including...one of her personal books...to make finding the ticks I need a more simple task...Thanks Bambi for providing me with the opportunity to learn more about Florida wildlife as I pursue my degree!" Gabriella Ferraro (OED/CR) - "...is exceedingly easy to work with and adds tremendous value to my performance serving my readership as a reporter and outdoors columnist...works tirelessly to ensure proper and accurate information is dispensed...I don't know what I'd do without her." Officer Bret Gill - "...displayed such exceptional professionalism, because it wasn't about citing a ticket or chewing us out. It was entirely about the proper safety for the kids...You don't meet law enforcement that often who are so patient or willing to entertain the many questions 6-year-old boys may have..." Officer Charles "Buck" Higman - "We had some trailer issues...while pulling our boat...was kind enough to pull over to be sure all was okay...A big thank you to Bucky Higman for not only ensuring that we were out of harm's way, but for staying with us until we were safely back on the road again..." Lt. Wayne Maahs, Officer Dan Stermen - "For their courageous work in arresting the perpetrators of, and then conducting the investigation into, the massacre of 21 migratory birds on Feb. 17, 2009..." [also] "...We want to thank Officer Dan Stermen and Lt. Wayne Maahs for their work in conducting the investigation into this shocking massacre of wildlife." Officer John Mattox - "...I was stranded in Lake Harney on a boat...not only got me the help I needed, but gave me his phone number to make sure I made it back to the launch alright. This is over and above the call of duty..." Officer Nick Ridgway - "A few months ago, I spotted a baby deer on the side of the interstate. He assisted me and a few road crew members on trying to keep the baby safe...Very nice, polite and such an asset to the FWC..." Officer Matthew Steelfox - "...gave us a verbal warning earlier in the day, and unfortunately a passenger on my vessel did not comply...officer was very polite, and conducted himself in a professional manner...had his hands full on opening day of scallop season...He should be commended for his patience in such chaos." Jenny Tinnell (HSC) - "She is very helpful. No matter how many questions I have she makes time to find the answers for me. She made the process of settling down in Florida much easier. Thank you." Unidentified officer - "...informed me that PWCs were not allowed on the water after dark...was very nice, professional and polite. He declined to cite me and performed a safety inspection and let us head back into shore. I want you to know that this nice gesture was very much appreciated..." Top of page

Shining Stars
Tom Champeau (Director, Freshwater Fisheries Mgt.) and Jessica McCawley (Marine Fisheries Mgt.) recently graduated as Fellows of the fifth cohort of the National Conservation Leadership Institute (NCLI). Each year professionals within the natural resource conservation community are nominated by their top administrators to compete for one of 36 fellowship spaces. The goal of NCLI is to develop future leaders in the realm of natural resource conservation. Previous graduates from the FWC include Thomas Eason (HSC), Dianne Eggeman (Director of HGM), Elsa

Haubold (HSC) and Nick Wiley.

Joanne Peagler, Hunter Safety Coordinator in the Northeast Region, has been named the International Hunter Education Association's 2010 Professional of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding service to hunter safety education and the future of hunting. Nominees are evaluated on several categories, including education of hunters, recruitment efforts, youth hunting activities, innovation in training, community service and enforcement efforts.

The FWC received 4 awards for excellence in communications from the Association for Conservation Information (ACI), a nonprofit organization of information and education professionals representing state, federal and Canadian agencies and private conservation organizations. The awards were presented at ACI's recent conference in Cincinnati. First Place, Photography for a close-up photo of a bay scallop by David Moynahan (Recreation Services). Second Place, Graphics for a logo design by Ann Marie Tavares (Community Relations) for the Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative. Second Place, Video for a video about protecting sea turtles from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, produced by the Media Services section of Community Relations. Third Place, News Release for Gabriella Ferraro's (OED/CR) news release and photos about a burrowing owl that took up temporary residence on a cruise ship miniature golf course.

David Moynahan's photo of a bay scallop won 1st place in the Photography category.

Ann Marie Tavares designed the CWCI logo, which won 2nd place in Graphics.

Gaby Ferraro's news release about this burrowing owl won 3rd place for News Releases.

Also at the conference, the members elected Scott Ball (CR) as ACI president for a second year.

While at a rest area off I-75, Lt. Tim Kiss was approached by a man asking for an aspirin. Kiss observed the man's discomfort and disorientation, so he helped the gentleman back to his van to rest and summoned an ambulance. Emergency medical personnel arrived and confirmed that the man was having a heart attack and immediately transported him by helicopter to Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Kiss, based in the North Central Region, was credited with potentially saving the man's life and the lives of others, in the event he had continued driving. Gov. Rick Scott took notice of Kiss' quick thinking and action, commending him in a recent weekly message to state employees. Top of page

Milestones
Editor's note: The FWC has a great many non-FTE employees, and they deserve recognition for reaching 5year milestones too. Unfortunately, the system doesn't keep track of such statistics; but we don't want that to stop us. If you know of a non-FTE employee about to reach a 5-year milestone, please have his/her section leader notify the Inside Job by email.

Congratulations to the following employees, who reach 5-year milestones of employment with the FWC in August. Numbers in parentheses indicate total state service, if different.

30 Years
Toni Brannon - Executive Director's Office (32 years, 2 months) Randall Cohron - Habitat & Species Conservation Carla Lambert - Executive Director's Office Jeffrey McGrady - Habitat & Species Conservation Michael Murphy - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

25 Years
Traci Wallace - Planning & Policy Coordination

20 Years
Patricia Roberts - Community Relations

15 Years
Cedric Johnson - Finance & Budget (17 years, 1 month)

10 Years
Justin Ellenberger - Habitat & Species Conservation Elsa Haubold - Habitat & Species Conservation Matthew McGlothlin - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute James Mullins - Habitat & Species Conservation Kathleen O'Keife - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Lisa Phillips - Habitat & Species Conservation (17 years, 11 months) Nancy Sheridan - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Lavern Williams - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

5 Years
James Douin - Law Enforcement Patricia Duboise - Habitat & Species Conservation Jennifer Johnson - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Norma LaMonica - Information Technology Norma Plummer - Finance & Budget Scott Stahl - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute And "Congratulations; we're jealous," to these retirees:

August
Elaine Richardson - 31 years (Executive Director's Office) Randy Vaughn - 25 years (Law Enforcement)

July
Bruce Buckson - 29 years (Law Enforcement) Deborah Stewart - 26 years, 7 months (Law Enforcement) Top of page