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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>FYI – a
letter in today’s Tribune – in case you are concerned about the
fate of IDNR. All safe. The Tribune offers a blog for comments to
each specific letter. I would expect someone in IDNR, if not Acting
Director Flood, will be watching for the comments. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>Randi Doeker<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
color=black face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>Chicago</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 color=black face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>…………………………………………………….<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Parks
still strong</span></font></b><font size=4 color=black><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;color:black'> <br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=4 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I am writing in response to a March 16
article "Blagojevich’s deep cuts put IDNR on endangered list"
(Sports). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Our agency was never contacted for
comment on this and would like to take this time to clear the air about recent
claims made by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
regarding staffing cuts. With fewer employees, the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources operates more efficiently and continues to provide a strong
level of service on the front lines in parks and natural areas where a record
45 million visitors have chosen to spend a portion of their time over the last
year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Since 2003, <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:State> has been recovering from the worst
financial crisis in state history. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>In the governor’s proposed 2007
budget, the department will put more people back on the front lines, doing
important work for people who are passionate about <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:State>’ outdoors. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>This money will give hunters and fishers
more access to harvest game of their choice without having to pay, in some
cases, high fees to rent private land for hunting and fishing. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>Sam
Flood</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>Acting
director</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>Illinois
Department of Natural Resources</span></font></i><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><i><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;font-style:italic'>Springfield</span></font></i></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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