Chad McGary receives Officer of the Year award

Everyone stand in admiration of Chad McGary for having the guts

to handle a life-threatening situation in a sensible manner. Read

on.

Everyone stand in admiration of Chad McGary for having the guts to handle a life-threatening situation in a sensible manner. Read on.

A Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officer for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife who stared down a gunman and alerted his partner to impending danger has been named Officer of the Year by the Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs.

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer Chad McGary, 28, of Othello, received the award Feb. 2 at a ceremony attended by Gov. Chris Gregoire, Fish and Wildlife Director Phil Anderson and other law enforcement officers.

The statewide council recognized McGary for his "bravery and heroism" during an incident last July, a year after he had joined Fish and Wildlife as a fish and wildlife enforcement officer. He had previously served for three years as a police officer in Royal City.

McGary and his supervisor, Capt. Chris Anderson, were patrolling the banks of Crab Creek near Mattawa when 18-year-old Garcia Miraz allegedly pulled a handgun on McGary during a fishing-license check.

Officer McGary reasoned with the man and refused to hand over his own pistol, even when the man's father showed up brandishing a five-inch fillet knife.

"I just had a feeling that it would be all over if I gave up my gun," said McGary, who instead threw it into a thicket.

After warning the two men that his captain was nearby, McGary eventually convinced the younger man to get in his car and leave.

That's when Officer McGary used his radio to call Capt. Anderson, who chased the younger man in his patrol vehicle and apprehended him after an exchange of gunfire.

Miraz was charged with attempted murder, and is scheduled to appear in Grant County Superior Court next week. His father pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree assault and was sentenced to five months in jail and deported.

"Officer McGary kept his wits about him and succeeded in turning a bad situation around," said Bruce Bjork, WDFW Chief of Enforcement, who nominated him for the award. "Intelligence and courage are qualities we look for in all of our officers."

The Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs is a statewide organization that represents 5,000 law enforcement professionals.

Fish and Wildlife officers are general authority police, who regularly enforce all state laws while protecting Washington natural resources

Officer McGary lives in Othello with his wife, Jande, and their three children.

The Spencer Report

By Spencer "Awesome Kid" Kimbro:

"Hello Dennis,

"I just wanted to let you know that I tried out for the Missoula Children's Theater production of Pinocchio today at the Big Bend theater. I got a role as one of the Pleasure Isle kids! I am so, so, so excited.

"We practice all week after school and the performances are Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

"I know this isn't outdoor stuff, but I was pretty excited about this and wanted to let you know. Have a great week.

"Your friend, Spencer"

Great to hear from you, Spencer, even though your report is not about an outdoor-related topic. Remember, even though many of us in the Columbia Basin carry the outdoors close to our heart, we are involved with other fun activities, too. Break a leg, Spencer.

 First Youth Outdoors Unlimited fund raising dinner and auction

From Cindy Carpenter:

"We are having our first official dinner and auction at Sporty's Steakhouse on Thursday, March 31st. Dinner starts at 6:30 and auction to follow. Tickets are available at Sporty's and are $40 per person with $25 being donated to Youth Outdoors Unlimited. 100 percent of the auction proceeds to benefit Y.O.U. If you would like to donate an auction item please contact Cindy Carpenter at (509) 431-1604.

More from Cindy Carpenter:

"Youth Outdoors Unlimited is a Columbia Based non-profit corporation organized to take terminally ill and disabled youth on hunting and fishing trip and other outdoor adventures.

"This is not a one person organization, but a group of hunters and anglers who just want to promote and share their love for hunting and fishing in the great state of Washington. Volunteers are welcome to join the fun of helping youth with outdoor adventures.

"Our Board of Directors consists of Bob Bersanti, Kandi Bersanti, Curt Carpenter, Chris Newhouse, Don Sell, Joe Carpenter and Cindy Carpenter.  Together as a Board we are committed to providing the best experience possible for extraordinary children dealing with extraordinary medical conditions.

"We are now accepting applications for youth from the State of Washington who qualify and would like to go on an extraordinary adventure. Applications can be obtained by contacting any of our Board Members or by emailing you@youthoutdoorsunlimitedwa.com. Until our website is up and running the most up to date information can be viewed on our facebook fanpage.  Brochures, applications and donation information can be mailed upon request.

"A big thank you to all of our current sponsors. We will be naming them as our organization grows.

 "Together we can make a difference one child at a time. Contact Cindy at 509-431-1604 for information about YOU, donation of product or monetary donations.

From Fish and Wildlife

Bottom fish limits reduced

The aggregate bottom fish limit is now reduced from 15 to 12 effective immediately. It is unlawful for any person to retain or possess more than 12 bottom fish species for personal use per day. The 12 fish in the aggregate limit of all species may include no more than 2 cabezon per person per day in addition to current daily sub-limits for rockfish, 10, and lingcod, two.

The location affected is Marine Areas 1, 2, 3 and Marine Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line. The reason for the action is the new rule conforms to federal action taken by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Lingcod season to begin a week earlier in three coastal areas

Most of the Washington coast will open to recreational lingcod fishing March 12, a week earlier than the date listed in the state's 2010/2011 sport fishing rules pamphlet.

Heather Reed, coastal policy coordinator for Fish and Wildlife, said the opening date for the lingcod fishery in Marine Areas 1-3 south of Cape Alava was changed to conform to federal rules.

The fishing season in those areas is scheduled to run through Oct. 15 as previously planned.

The season dates will remain unchanged in Marine Area 4, which will be open for lingcod fishing from April 16 through Oct. 15. 

There is a 22-inch minimum size limit and a two-fish daily catch limit for lingcod in Marine Areas 1-3. In Marine Area 4, there is a 24-inch minimum size limit and a two-fish daily limit for lingcod.

Three agencies propose legislation to maintain recreation access on state lands

Dennis note: Expect an outdoors column on this subject in the near future.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife have announced they are co-requesting legislation that will reform state land management and maintain public access to state recreation lands.

SB 5622 addresses the growing demand for recreation opportunities and the impacts of recreation on natural resources and wildlife by developing a reliable source of funding and improving law enforcement on state lands managed by the agencies. All three agencies have seen sharp declines in their budgets to provide adequate maintenance, improvements, and enforcement for recreation. The Governor's proposed budget removed state General Fund support for recreation on state lands in favor of a user-supported funding approach.

A companion bill, HB 1796, has been introduced with one of the key components of the bill being an annual $30 pass that will enable the public to visit state lands managed by all three agencies with just a single pass.

The bill, as introduced: Creates an annual, singular pass, called the Discover Pass, that will enable the public to visit lands managed by Parks, WDFW, and DNR. The pass will cost $30 per year per vehicle or $10 for day use.

Also, Improves public safety, by giving law enforcement officers from each agency the authority to issue natural resource infractions on land managed by any of the agencies.

Provides a free annual pass to volunteers who donate 40 hours of their time working on volunteer projects sanctioned by the agencies, aligns DNR's recreational immunity with that of the other state agencies and specifies how each agency must spend the revenue generated by the Discover Pass.

Revenue from the sales of the pass will be split among the three agencies in the following manner: DNR and WDFW will each receive 7.5 percent and State Parks will receive 85 percent. Both DNR and WDFW would receive an estimated $5.5 million per biennium and State Parks would receive $61 million. Revenues in excess of $71 million would be distributed evenly among the agencies. The pass proceeds would partially offset reductions in state General Fund support to all three agencies.