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WAUKEGAN SEEKS PART OF STATE PARK! 

Waukegan officials revealed a plan on September 20 to annex part of 
Illinois Beach State Park north of that city as a site for a marina, swim- 
ming pool, and 18-hole golf course. <A delegation of city officials headed 
by Mayor Robert Sabonjian went to Springfield to present the plan to the 
State Conservation Department. If the state will deed the land to the 
city, Waukegan Park District will develop and operate the facilities. 
He stated that this is the most feasible site of five listed in their 
survey and that the marina would bring tourists and visitors to the State 
Park Lodge, which has been losing money consistently. 
The I.A.S. Board of Directors voted on October 4th that they are 
opposed to any plans to split up our State Parks and deed portions of them 
to private enterprises. This especially applies to the plan to make a 
marina out of the south end of Illinois Beach State Park. Governor Kerner 
has been informed of our opposition. 







JASPER COUNTY IS SITE OF PRAIRIE CHICKEN FOUNDATION REFUGE 
The Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois in Mid-July made a down 
payment of $1,600 to L. J. Smithenry of Newton toward purchase of a T7T- 
acre tract of farm land in southwest Jasper county as the first unit in 
its planned series of grassland nesting refuges for Prairie Chickens. 
The total price of the tract plus interest until the land is paid for in 
full on March 1, 1962, is $18,166. More than $15,000 must be raised by 
contributions from Illinois conservationists to complete this transaction 
and secure title to the land. 
The Illinois Department of Conservation has agreed to contribute 
$600 for a lease on the land until next March. 
The new refuge area is prairie land, far from woodLots, lying on the 
west slope of Pleasant Ridge, 33 miles south and 2 miles west of Newton, 
and only 13 miles north east of the village of Bobota. An estimated popu- 
lation of at least 70 Prairie Chickens was present near the Smithenry farm 
at the beginning of the 1961 nesting season, making it one of the larger 
colonies remaining in the state. It is estimated that less than 1000 
Prairie Chickens now exist in Illinois. 
The response of conservationists to the Foundation's appeal for 
additional funds will in a large measure determine whether or not Illinois 
can save its native Prairie Chickens. All contributions are deductible 
from income tax. 
DON'T SHOOT THAT HAWK OR OWL! 
Available from the Illinois State Museum Society, Springfield, is an 
excellent 9 x 12 in. sheet setting forth 5 points concerning wild birds 
protected in Illinois. This attractive leaflet with pictures of an owl 
and hawk is a timely way to publicize the fact that all Illinois birds 
ew game birds in season are protected. ‘They can be purchased 100 for 
LeD0: 
As a result of action taken by the Board at its September meeting, 
I.A.S. Affiliates are to receive copies of the above leaflet. Each county 
sheriff also will be supplied with a copy. 
