RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 22, 2010) – The New Year will usher in new leadership roles within the Division of Law Enforcement of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.   Maj. Keith Templeton, supervisor for field operations, will retire effective Jan. 1. His successor will be Jack Staley, previously a captain in District 5, a jurisdiction that includes Alamance, Rockingham, Orange, Granville, Durham, Person, Caswell, Randolph, Chatham, Lee and Guilford counties. “I'm confident that the transition will be a smooth one,” Templeton said. “I am pleased with the direction that the division is headed and I'm sure there are some exciting times on the horizon.” Staley will be responsible for supervising a statewide hierarchy of some 200 uniformed wildlife officers who enforce the fish and game regulations and boating laws of the state. He is a 27-year veteran of wildlife enforcement and brings 19 years of field supervision to the offi

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 21, 2010) – Jeremy Harrill, a wildlife officer with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission since 2003, has been promoted to sergeant in District 7, serving the northwestern region of the state. Harrill will lead a patrol of four officers who conduct law enforcement operations for hunting, trapping, fishing and boating laws. He will also provide hunting education and boating education programs for the region. "I love my job as a wildlife enforcement officer and feel extremely blessed to have a job where I can play a very active part in being a steward of God’s creation,” Sgt. Harrill said. “I enjoy working with the sportsmen of this state, so we can together protect our natural resources and hunting traditions for future generations.” Harrill is originally from – and grew up in – Ellenboro, in Rutherford County. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology from N.C. State

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 17, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has recognized nine volunteers who teach hunting education as the agency’s “Instructors of the Year.” The instructors, each representing one of nine districts statewide, were presented a commemorative model Henry Golden Boy .22 caliber rifle in tribute to their service. “These nine men and women provided exemplary service for 2010 and deserve the recognition,” said Travis Casper, state assistant hunting education coordinator. “They and the other 772 hunter education instructors currently active in North Carolina have earned our gratitude. Their dedication and commitment to teach free courses certainly saves the state money in these austere times. But the hunter safety, outdoors skills and wildlife knowledge they pass along is even more valuable.” The nine volunteers and their hometowns are: District 1 Terry Boyce, Elizabeth Ci

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 15, 2010) – Wildlife Officers of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission were among those honored for their vigilance against drunk driving, during a ceremony at the U.S.S. North Carolina battleship memorial in Wilmington on Dec. 10. Justice in Motion and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program lighted a special Christmas tree inside the U.S.S. North Carolina auditorium, with each strand of ornaments representing an agency, group or individual working to prevent alcohol-related highway fatalities. The mission of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program is to promote highway safety awareness and reduce the number of traffic crashes and fatalities in the state of North Carolina through the planning and execution of safety programs.  The drunk driving targeted by wildlife officers is most often impaired boat operators. North Carolina sets the same limit for intoxication – .08 blood alcohol concentration – for

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec.15, 2010) – As part of Duke Energy’s work on dams on Lake James, the Boating Access Areas at Linville and Black Bear will be closed while the lake is lowered.  Two ramps at Linville are currently closed. The six ramps at Black Bear will begin closing over the next two weeks. Every effort will be made to leave one ramp open at Black Bear while the water is low. The ramps are scheduled to reopen in spring 2011, when Duke Energy completes its work and the lake refills. The Bridgewater Public Fishing Area, located downstream from the dam at the Catawba River tailrace, is not currently impacted. For up-to-date information on lake levels, visit www.duke-energy.com/lakes/levels.asp or call 800-829-LAKE (5253). More information on boating and fishing in North Carolina, including an interactive map of Boating Access Areas and a list of more than 500 public fishing access areas, visit www.ncwildlife.org/boating_waterways.