Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 134, Number 51, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 20 December 2012 — Page 12

Page A12

1 Advance News • Thursday. December 20,2012

River otters expand to 80 percent of Indiana counties

INDIANAPOLIS River otters are expanding in Indiana and now occupy much of their historic range, representing a success story for wildlife conservation. Hoosiers now have a good chance of seeing river otters in many Indiana watersheds, a memory that will last a lifetime. Officially considered extirpated from Indiana by 1942, river otters were absent from the landscape for more than 50 years. Then in 1995, wildlife officials began releasing otters into key areas of the state. Over a five-year period, 303 otters were transported

Fanners need to stay ‘engaged’ with elected officials, Farm Bureau president suggests

INDIANAPOLIS "Engage" is the theme of Indiana Farm Bureau's 2012 convention, and IFB President Don Villwock used his annual address to remind members how much can be accomplished when they are engaged with their elected officials. Speaking before several hundred farmers at the convention's general session, held Dec. 7 in Indianapolis, Villwock mentioned three specific examples, all from the 2012 General Assembly: repealing Indiana's inheritance tax, overturning an Indiana Supreme Court decision that would have allowed cities and towns broad jurisdiction over

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from Louisiana and released at 12 rites in northern and southern Indiana. The reintroduction was so successful that by 2005, otters were removed from the state's endangered species list Otters have moved into central Indiana, where the habitat wasn't considered ideal for the species. But otters found suitable areas there to live, according to Scott Johnson, nongame biologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. River otters now occupy more than 80 percent of Indiana counties, Johnson

water rights, and delaying implementation of a new soil productivity factor that was to be used in calculating property taxes. The proposed soil productivity factor was announced by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance in February with the expectation that assessors would use for the March 1, 2012, reassessment of farmland. The previous soil productivity adjustments had been in place since 1979, and the introduction of the new factors, which would have significantly increased the assessed value of farmland and the taxes farmers would pay, came as a complete sur-

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said. "It's now been seven years since delisting, and all our information indicates the otter population continues to expand," Johnson said. Work to improve water

[)rise to assessors, to legisators and to Farm Bureau. "Your engagement with and outreach to legislators delayed the unjust implementation of a new farmland productivity factor," Villwock said. 'This effort saved Indiana landowners about $57.4 million in taxes over the next year alone." Villwock also highlighted significant achievements of some of Indiana's county Farm Bureaus, including the educational trip for 10-year 4-H members sponsored by Tippecanoe County Farm Bureau and the campaign spearheaded by Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau to defeat a city-consolidation effort in Evansville.

quality in the state has benefited the river otter, whose diet consists primarily of fish, but also indudes mussels, crayfish, reptiles and amphibians. State wildlife managers

Stump named as Indiana North All-Star Photo provided North Wood High School’s Hanna Stump was given congratulations for being named as a member of the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association - North/ South All-Star Team. She participated in the game Nov. 18 at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis. Stump is the daughter of Doyle and Ann Stump of Nappanee. She will be continuing her volleyball career at Bethel College in the fall of 2013.

Mother, son reunited at IDOC

GOSHEN An Elkhart Superior Court 3 jury deliberated several hours Thursday, July 26, 2012, before returning a verdict of guilty convicting Anita Lopez, 63, Goshen, of one count of Dealing in Cocaine, as a Class A Felony. The conviction resulted after the jury heard evidence from an investigation into Lopez's son, Valfredo "Freddy" Lopez, by members of the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit (ICE) and the Goshen Police Department (GPD). The investigation by the ICE Unit resulted in three separate purchases of cocaine from Freddy and the execution of a search warrant into the Lopez's resident at 209 S. 9th St., Goshen, Oct. 18, 2007. During trial, jurors heard

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are aware that conflicts can arise from higher otter numbers, especially with private pond owners who are sometimes surprised by the rate at which the animals can eat fish. "One pond owner may enjoy watching otters, while a different landowner may find them to be a nuisance and is upset by the loss of fish in his pond," said DNR furbearer biologist Shawn Rossler. Last year, District Wildlife Biologists received 34 complaints on river otters eating fish out of private ponds and commercial fish natch-

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from officers assigned to GPD's Emergency Response Team who made the initial entry into the Lopez residence. Once inside, GPD officer's located Anita Lopez hiding her son, Freddy, in a trap door built into the floor of her utility closet. Furthermore, jurors were presented with items found in the Lopez residence which included over SIO,OOO and approximately half an ounce of cocaine, almost all of which was found in Anita's bedroom. Anita Lopez's attorney

eries or destroying private property. As of early spring, wildlife managers had issued 10 control permits to resolve otter complaints in 2012. As the otter population grows, wildlife managers must find balance to keep populations healthy while preventing conflicts with landowners. Finding balance isn't always easy, but it's needed to ensure the continued success and acceptance of river otters in Indiana. For more information, visit http://nrww.lN.gov and search "river otter."

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argued at trial that the person responsible for the cocaine was her son, Freddy. .However, the jury, after hearing the evidence which included learning that Anita Lopez's home was barricaded to frustrate police entry and equipped with a remote television security system, discounted her . proffered defense. Sentencing was originally scheduled for Aug. 16, 2012, but was continued several times by the court. Judge Biddlecome sentenced Anita Lopez Thursday, Dec. 13 to 30 years at the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) where she will be reunited with her son, Freddy, who is currently serving a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to his part in the Lopez's family business.