Illinois DNR Newsbits - and First Message for Acting Director Callahan

Inside the IDNR March 2019

Governor JB Pritzker on February 19 appointed Colleen Callahan to serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Prior to the appointment, Colleen managed her own communications consulting firm after serving for more than seven years as state director for USDA Rural Development in Illinois. During her tenure at USDA, she and her staff worked with local communities and businesses to generate a $1 billion increase in the Illinois rural development loan portfolio. Colleen also worked for 30 years in radio and television, serving as the agribusiness director for WMBD in Peoria. She was the first female president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Colleen grew up on a cattle and grain farm near Milford in Iroquois County. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural communications from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. 

Information in this post was provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

FIRST CHICAGOLAND NATIONAL PHEASANT FEST & QUAIL CLASSIC DRAWS 22,387

Press Release from Pheasants & Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic presented by Federal Premium Ammunition drew 22,387 weekend attendees to the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, the event’s inaugural run in Chicagoland. At the nation’s biggest gathering of upland wildlife conservationists, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced his department’s intention to hold upcoming signups for the federal Conservation Reserve Program, the country’s signature pheasant and quail habitat creator.

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2019 (photo courtesy: Capitol Outdoors)

Governor Pritzker's Proposed Budget for Department of Natural Resources

Today Governor Pritzker released his FY20 proposed operating budget for the DNR. You can find it on page 256 of the Proposed Operating Budget. An operating budget is where 'appropriations are for consumable goods and services such as salaries and benefits, commodities, utilities, and professional services that are purchased and used during any one fiscal year.

The Governor’s recommended FY20 budget supports a Conservation Police Officer trainee class of 20 to help with the reduction due to retirement.

The proposed budget fully funds historic sites and preservation operations at last year's levels and maintains operations of all state parks and campgrounds.