Steve Merlo: 'Team Asserson' to be honored at annual Sportsman's event
| Thursday, Oct 29 2009 05:39 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Oct 29 2009 08:31 PM
Each October, members of the Sportsman's Night committee select a deserving individual for "Sportsman of the Year" honors based on his or her outstanding work or service within the outdoor community. While the committee has had dual or even triple single-night honorees in the past, this year's recipients are the first husband and wife team to make that special grade.
The highly coveted 2009 award goes to Bakersfield's Bill and Betsy Asserson, an unassuming couple noted for their extreme generosity and unselfish work ethic aiding a variety of outdoor-oriented organizations. Married for more than 40 years, the Assersons are typically involved with several easily recognizable groups such as Women in the Outdoors, Jakes and the National Wild Turkey Federation, providing invaluable volunteer services.
"We were dumbfounded, quite surprised and somewhat stunned when we were notified," related the 75-year-old, still-working Bill in a recent interview. "We never expected anything like this. It's quite an honor."
Betsy added: "We're happy to provide what little we could to help out. Basically, though, I answer the phone for Will and I support him in everything he does. He obviously loves his job, but I travel with him all the time." When pressed for the secret of their never-ending "youthful" spirits, Betsy gave up their secret. "This may sound weird to some, but Will and I have slept outside on our patio for 36-years -- and that's 365 days a year, rain or shine. We absolutely believe It keeps us healthy and fit."
As proof, Mr. Asserson has been a top-tier Associate Wildlife Biologist for the California Department of Fish and Game for going on an incredible 47 years. His special field work consists of helicopter surveys for big game, particularly in the fields of deer management, and fixed-wing Tule elk telemetry work. He is also very active in upland and non-game bird management and has years of experience managing Kern County's gray squirrels and cottontail rabbits.
The 58th annual Sportsman's Night will be Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Kern County fairgrounds. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the social hour, with dinner scheduled at 7.
Sportsman's Night has always been an occasion where folks can get together in a fun atmosphere while meeting old friends, renewing acquaintances and sharing comaraderie. Hundreds of door prizes for both the young and old will be given away, and women and children are encouraged to attend the huge event. All kids younger than 16 will receive a membership to California Waterfowl magazine and a camo hat, and there are also more than 30 prizes donated for kids.
Outdoor art, hunting and fishing gear and more than 20 guns will be raffled to lucky winners, including several guns valued at more than $2000 each. A special silent auction will also be available for other outdoor "toys."
Ticket prices are still only $30 per person. For more information regarding tickets and/or donations, contact Jim Roberts (661) 805-5766. Tickets can be purchased at the Ammo Dump, Valley Gun, Bob's Bait, Ol'Boy Outdoors; Bear Mountain Sports, 2nd Amendment Sports or Galey's Marine Supply. Leftover tickets, if there are any, can be purchased at the door.
On Wednesday's DFG meeting:
Several years ago, after being sued by several entities, a judge gave the California Department of Fish and Game two years to come up with a viable Environmental Impact Report and Statement regarding the stocking of trout in hundreds of bodies of water throughout the state. When the DFG failed to prepare the report in the proscribed time, a huge mistake on their part, the judge decided in favor of the plaintiffs, agreeing to shut off trout planting in those bodies of water the suers listed--including the entire Kern River--until a completed EIR/EIS report could be finished and inspected by the courts for their approval.
Since then, because of the planting drought, the Kern River Valley, relying mainly on tourism for its economic bouyancy, has suffered tremendously because of the lack of planted trout in the main aorta.
Wednesday evening's meeting at a local hotel brought DFG personel and nearly 100 concerned citizens together so that the state could explain the new EIR policies and the DFG Stocking Evaluation Protocol before the report was handed over to the courts.
But what I saw and felt at the gathering had nothing to do with approval or disapproval of the reports. Rather, and this is my own personal observation, most of the people in the audience wanted blood from the DFG because of their past mistake that literally collapsed the economy of the those relying on trout planting for their livings. No one can blame them for feeling that way, but I believe the wrong people were subjegated to the ire of those attending.
In my opinion, the people responsible for the judicial outrage closing the river's stocking program, the plaintiffs, in other words, were no where to be seen. What I did see was a group of intelligent DFG employees working collectively to reinstate the river stocking program by working within the set of rules, we, the people of California and the United States, have saddled upon them. Yes, the DFG origianlly made a big error by going to court unprepared, but that is now water under the Kern River Bridge, and concerned indiduals, business owners and fishermen need to get over it once and for all.
What the audience should have done on Wednesday evening was demand that the perpetrators of the dastardly deed show up and explain why they callously shut down the economy of the great Kern River Valley with malice and without forethought.
Now that's a tar-and-feather meeting I'd really like to attend.
These are Steve Merlo's opinions, and not necessarily The Californian's. His column appears every Friday. Write him at merloworms @bak.rr.com.
