Ron Schara, in a candid moment, lays it on the line
The Star Tribune's entertainment columnist "C.J." recently interviewed Ron Schara. This month Schara celebrated 20 years of "Minnesota Bound." C.J. took this as an occasion to do a Q&A with Schara, someone with whom she was friendly toward the end of his Star Tribune career, which spanned 1968 to 2007.
C.J.'s success interviewing celebrities comes in part from asking pertinent and provocative questions. She started right out with:
Q: What are three things you would change if you were in charge of the DNR?
Ron Schara rose to the occasion and in a straightforward reply said:
A: One, I would be more accountable to the collapse of the fisheries of Mille Lacs. Nobody's been fired. Nobody's been [reassigned]. Why not? Clearly DNR made a huge mistake there. Second thing I would do is be more proactive media-wise. I would have more news conferences, etc. And the third thing I might propose changing is having a citizens commission instead of a single commissioner, to take some politics out of it. I like our commissioner today, but he's still appointed by the governor [serves at the pleasure of the governor and carries out his policies.]
Yeah............. I'd say some heads will roll before we see the lake start to recover from the netting and it's effects, stupid slots and idiotic regulations.
They couldn't have messed up the lake worse if they'd been trying.
Or were they.................................................
I liked the answer. However Ron kinda has lost some of my respect taking on the seven clans tribal casino as a major sponsor. (Red Lake Tribe) Same with John Gillespie and his tribal sponsors. Seems to me these high profile fishing pros would avoid taking tribal cash......
I liked the answer. However Ron kinda has lost some of my respect taking on the seven clans tribal casino as a major sponsor. (Red Lake Tribe) Same with John Gillespie and his tribal sponsors. Seems to me these high profile fishing pros would avoid taking tribal cash......
Politics is what's behind the lake' current state. Combine political bureaucracy and lobbyist persuasion, add an inept governmental department like our DNR and you have the reciepe for a ruined lake.
Would you really say the lake has been ruined though? Seems like a pretty permanent designation. I would like to think that through good conservation methods this lake can again be the Walleye gem that is once was.
Would you really say the lake has been ruined though? Seems like a pretty permanent designation. I would like to think that through good conservation methods this lake can again be the Walleye gem that is once was.
