FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Refuge Task Force Established

Terry Stewart to head up effort to widen public support for Darby Prairie Wildlife Refuge

March 4, 1999 -- The Trustees of the Darby Creek Association formally established a Darby Prairie Wildlife Refuge Public Support Task Force at their meeting last night.  This effort will be headed by Terry Stewart with Paul Dumouchelle as Trustee liaison for the group (Terry was subsequently elected as a Trustee).

Background

DCA is publicly on record in favor of the DPWR (Trustees’ resolution dated 4/98, subsequently publicized in a letter by then-President Bob Carl published in The Columbus Dispatch). Opponents of DPWR have recently been very successful in organizing a visible level of public opposition to DPWR, as shown at the DPWR public meetings in January (Rosedale & Dublin). This opposition is beginning to sway public officials against DPWR.

Task Force Objectives

Maximize public support for the DPWR proposal and eventual plan, so long as it stays true to the policies noted in the DCA 4/98 resolution.