Speaker 1: Good morning, Welcome to the Big Outdoors News Radio seven
Speaker 1: hundred WLW, Cincinnati, home of the best Bengals coverage. Chip
Speaker 1: Hart with you this morning, and Director Mary Mertz, Ohio
Speaker 1: Department and Natural Resources. How in the world are you
Speaker 1: on his fantastic Saturday morning here in Ohio.
Speaker 2: I am great, Yeah, ready to go.
Speaker 1: Well, good good. It's great to have you with us.
Speaker 1: I know it's been a couple of years. First things, First,
Speaker 1: your leadership conference. I was just flattered to be invited
Speaker 1: to that, which was attended by all of your division chiefs,
Speaker 1: and I thought that well, of course it was a
Speaker 1: panel on I guess media relations and all that, and
Speaker 1: I was one of the panelists, and as was Chez.
Speaker 1: I can't remember his last name, but he is the
Speaker 1: executive director of the excuse Me Outdoor Writers of America.
Speaker 1: So I found that your group were very good students,
Speaker 1: including yourself.
Speaker 2: Well, I mean, we love to hear from you all
Speaker 2: because I think no one has a singer better on
Speaker 2: the pulse of what people are interested in, what they
Speaker 2: care about, what the trends are. Because I know you
Speaker 2: hear from your listeners all the time, and so kind
Speaker 2: of seeing it through.
Speaker 3: Your eyes is an important part of what we want
Speaker 3: to do.
Speaker 1: Well, I tell you what, I was flattered, and I
Speaker 1: did have the ability to set up a couple of
Speaker 1: future interviews, like with Division of Forestry, Oil and Gas Leasing,
Speaker 1: and let's see, I have had Glenn from State Parks before.
Speaker 1: Of shoot, there there was another one. Oh yeah, Ohio
Speaker 1: Geological Survey. So I was flattered. And secondly, I was
Speaker 1: also flattered to have an invitation for the premiere showing
Speaker 1: of Wild at Heart, which is the big screen presentation
Speaker 1: on Ohio's Outdoors. So that that last week was fantastic
Speaker 1: as well. So for listeners, could you give them give
Speaker 1: them an overview of what this is all about.
Speaker 2: Yeah, So we are super excited about this IMAX movie
Speaker 2: that we are sharing with the public just now. So
Speaker 2: it's a forty five minute you know, I'm ax in
Speaker 2: you like you would typically see museum centers across the nation,
Speaker 2: and it shows all that's beautiful in overios outdoors. It
Speaker 2: shares some really important conservation stories and makes the point
Speaker 2: that when we are intentional and thoughtful about conservation, we
Speaker 2: can be successful, you know, as in the case with
Speaker 2: eagles or trumpeter swans or Bobcats. There are many other examples,
Speaker 2: but those are a few we chose the future in
Speaker 2: the movie. It tells a lot about what you can
Speaker 2: do outdoors in Ohio, mountain biking and kayaking and I
Speaker 2: sing and you know, all sorts of recreational sports. But
Speaker 2: really the message we want to share is twofold that
Speaker 2: we should all work together to restore nature because nature
Speaker 2: restores us. It's good for physical well being or it's good.
Speaker 3: For our soul.
Speaker 2: Right, So that's kind of a message, and we want
Speaker 2: to tell that message because you know, especially.
Speaker 3: For young people, we want them to be future conservationists.
Speaker 3: We want them to.
Speaker 2: Help us preserve this incredible, wonderful, magical Ohio landscape for
Speaker 2: future generations.
Speaker 3: Also, we're trying to accomplish with it. And it's I
Speaker 3: hope you, I hope, I hope you thought it.
Speaker 2: Was beautiful as well.
Speaker 1: Oh I did. And I've really had no preconceived notion
Speaker 1: of what it was going to be about, because being
Speaker 1: a native Ohio and and spending practically my whole life
Speaker 1: and every day of the week outside, you know, whether
Speaker 1: it's farming or working on the farm, or fishing or hunting,
Speaker 1: you know, they're they're across Ohio. There really is a
Speaker 1: hell of a lot, you know, We're not you know,
Speaker 1: we're not at Kentucky or West Virginia with you know,
Speaker 1: the kinds that kind of a resource. It's completely different.
Speaker 1: So I came into it with a pretty open mind.
Speaker 1: But then, you know, by the time we got fifteen
Speaker 1: minutes into it, I really felt that it was you know,
Speaker 1: it was directed at people that maybe don't get those experiences,
Speaker 1: you know, on a regular basis, and with all of
Speaker 1: your IMAX theaters around Ohio and like other states, they
Speaker 1: get a great you know, just a phenomenal number of kids,
Speaker 1: you know, with families or student groups. So I think
Speaker 1: that you know that that was I guess intentional, you know.
Speaker 4: Also yeah, so I mean, it's going to be playing
Speaker 4: at the Sitement Museum Center, the Boon Shops in Dayton,
Speaker 4: it's going to be at the Tweedo Imagination Station, it's
Speaker 4: going to be at the Cleveland Museum Center, and it's
Speaker 4: a number of a mcp from the state.
Speaker 3: But eventually, probably next.
Speaker 2: Spring, we're going to provide the videos to costumes and
Speaker 2: schools across the state. In the meanwhile, they can take
Speaker 2: their classes to the these gym centers. But we have
Speaker 2: an education guide on our website that teachers can use.
Speaker 1: Well that's well, lead you hold that thought, just sit tight,
Speaker 1: because we've got to pay some bills around here. My
Speaker 1: guest is Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz chip
Speaker 1: Hart The Big Outdoors News Radio, seven hundred WLW, Cincinnati.
Speaker 2: Mister Penney, we have a long road ahead of us.
Speaker 1: His Ryan Thomas, Hey, we're back The Big Outdoors News Radio,
Speaker 1: seven hundred WLW, Cincinnati, home of the best beangles covered Chippart.
Speaker 1: My guest is Ohio Department and Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz,
Speaker 1: who is going into let's see, is it seven years now? Mary,
Speaker 1: I'm thinking.
Speaker 3: Yes, it is. Okay your leading the department?
Speaker 1: Well, great man. Next year, of course, you know we'll have,
Speaker 1: you know, have a change in the governorship and all that,
Speaker 1: and I'm gosh, have you considered sticking around?
Speaker 2: Well, I think that's not up to me. Does That's
Speaker 2: up to the new governor. But you know, I think
Speaker 2: every governor comes in with their their agenda and their
Speaker 2: hopes and dreams, and they find the team that can
Speaker 2: execute for them. I know that was the case with
Speaker 2: myself and governor the wine.
Speaker 1: Sure.
Speaker 2: You know, he is a conservationist, a hurt and he
Speaker 2: constantly challenges us to do better and and you know importantly.
Speaker 3: Provides the resources we need to do the work.
Speaker 2: And I hope that happens with the next administration.
Speaker 1: Well I do too. I think it's up to people
Speaker 1: like us and my listeners and those are you know,
Speaker 1: the sportsmen and every other walk of life that loves
Speaker 1: the outdoors in Ohio. It's really becomes their responsibility to
Speaker 1: ensure that, uh that you know that everything continues in
Speaker 1: the best Your shoes are going to be huge to film.
Speaker 1: That's all I'm going to say.
Speaker 2: Well, we've had we've had a lot of fun and
Speaker 2: a lot of opportunity, and I think, uh, I think
Speaker 2: we at least some some great legacies behind. But I'm
Speaker 2: it's more, I'm sure the next Grip's.
Speaker 3: Going to do this as well.
Speaker 1: Oh, I'm sure we're going to make sure that. So
Speaker 1: back to Wild at Heart, which is how long will
Speaker 1: that run in the theaters and at Imax in total?
Speaker 2: I mean or just right so, but it has to
Speaker 2: do with viewership, right, So it's really in the hands
Speaker 2: of the museum centers in the theaters now to see.
Speaker 3: Who shows up to watch it, Okay.
Speaker 2: And in your so they will get to make those decisions, right. So,
Speaker 2: so the movie was our gifts to them, and and
Speaker 2: they will run it as long as they can get
Speaker 2: great viewerships.
Speaker 3: Ok you know, I hope a long time.
Speaker 1: Well good, And of course you're coming into the holiday season,
Speaker 1: and of course the weather change seeing which means usually
Speaker 1: visitation at the indoor museums will typically trenned up. So
Speaker 1: I think that timing is timing couldn't be better, right.
Speaker 2: The Thanksgiving, the Christmas holidays traditionally are really high seasons
Speaker 2: for all these folks. So so you know, we think
Speaker 2: it's going to get some great viewership and then by
Speaker 2: the time it has the schools in the spring, they'll
Speaker 2: be ready.
Speaker 1: To do some more work on fantastic. Now, whose idea
Speaker 1: was it to grab Archie Grip and to narrate it?
Speaker 1: I had not I had not heard that name in
Speaker 1: quite a long time. And of course the stand out
Speaker 1: at Ohio State.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so a Governor's Arne and Lieutenant Governor Jim Trussell
Speaker 2: book cut up. They you know, we were we were
Speaker 2: looking all around the state thinking you are famous Ohioans
Speaker 2: who can really bring some authenticity. People will recognize the
Speaker 2: voice in the name and it'll be meaningful.
Speaker 3: And they took that up.
Speaker 2: So they called Archie Griffin and he agreed to do it.
Speaker 2: And you know, I had the opportunity to sit in
Speaker 2: the sound group as he was recording a lot of
Speaker 2: it and what a what a great individual, what a
Speaker 2: phenomenal individual.
Speaker 3: And he did a great job. So I think I
Speaker 3: think people will connect with him.
Speaker 1: Well, I think it.
Speaker 2: Was.
Speaker 1: It was a great fit. He's got a great voice
Speaker 1: and although I hadn't heard it for a while. So next,
Speaker 1: what was the impetus for the for the film? How
Speaker 1: did it come about? Because the Department nor any of
Speaker 1: the divisions that I can recall, have ever done, you know,
Speaker 1: a feature film like that unless it's back on the archives.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know if there's her future film. Well,
Speaker 2: of course, you remember Wildlife used to have a show every.
Speaker 3: Really yeah, but I still see that on TV now.
Speaker 2: But you know, I really was back in twenty nineteen
Speaker 2: when we were thinking how can we be as creative
Speaker 2: and innovative and to fill the governor's you know, mandate to.
Speaker 3: Find a great way to reach people.
Speaker 2: We made a long list of all our dream items,
Speaker 2: and I'm really pleased it in seven years for really seeing.
Speaker 3: A lot them come true. So this was a long
Speaker 3: time in the making. It was on an idea list.
Speaker 2: Back in twenty nineteen, and it took, you know a
Speaker 2: number of years to figure out how to get it done.
Speaker 2: At the end of the day, it was only.
Speaker 3: About a year and a half of filming.
Speaker 2: So the actual making of it was a you know,
Speaker 2: around a little bit less than two years, but the.
Speaker 3: Idea germinated for a long time, surefer.
Speaker 1: Well, and you had to capture all the seasons of
Speaker 1: Ohio because you know, the landscape changes obviously, and you're
Speaker 1: doing different things. I thought the ice fishing piece was
Speaker 1: I thought that was great. I mean, that was brilliant.
Speaker 3: That's one of my favorites.
Speaker 2: And the whole thing, I fucking John is going to
Speaker 2: go on to be a movie star thing.
Speaker 3: Yeah, but that's one of my favorite scenes of Calvie and.
Speaker 1: He was smoking a cigar. That was great, you know,
Speaker 1: but don't Grandpa's they do that. So director merg sit tight.
Speaker 1: We'll be back with more of the Big Outdoors. News
Speaker 1: Radio seven hundred WLW Cincinnati back at the moment, and
Speaker 1: we're back the big out Doors News Radio seven hundred WLW,
Speaker 1: Cincinnati Chip Park. My guest is Director Mary Merch, so
Speaker 1: high a Department of Natural Resources, and of course stick
Speaker 1: around and catch the big one all day long. It's
Speaker 1: gonna be a heck of a great day. Gary Jeff's
Speaker 1: up after the bottom of the hour news and a
Speaker 1: legend in his own mind. Yes, thanks, Danny, I appreciate
Speaker 1: he'll appreciate that. And then Michael k Allen and the
Speaker 1: ramps and raves aforementioned of his life all week long,
Speaker 1: and we got sports Ken prew everything everything and of
Speaker 1: courses at a bye week for the Cincinnati Bangals. There
Speaker 1: back following Sunday. So I got it right, even though
Speaker 1: I'm not a sports turbil. What do you think, Danny?
Speaker 1: Is that good?
Speaker 3: That was good?
Speaker 1: Impressed? Even Gary Jeff would be he will be impressed.
Speaker 1: Director Merch. Let's switch gears here and talk about H
Speaker 1: two Ohio, which was the dream of Governor Dewines. And
Speaker 1: that continues. But I understand there was a funding cut.
Speaker 1: How will the projects be affected?
Speaker 3: Great? So there was a funding cut in the.
Speaker 2: Budget approved by the General Assembly, in June, and so
Speaker 2: you know, we've been.
Speaker 3: Figuring out how to deal with that because we know
Speaker 3: this work is incredibly important. So we've we've done a
Speaker 3: few things.
Speaker 2: You know, first is make sure as always that were
Speaker 2: absolutely efficient with every dollarded granted ours and so you know,
Speaker 2: we're making good decisions on what projects we're going to do.
Speaker 2: We've also been out trying to work with the private sector.
Speaker 2: So there are you know a handful of companies that
Speaker 2: are very interested in helping us plane up.
Speaker 3: Ohio's waterways, and so we've.
Speaker 2: Worked with them on private sector brands and that's very
Speaker 2: helpful to make.
Speaker 3: The money go further. We've also the Ohio Water.
Speaker 2: Development Authority has decided yet I think partly because of
Speaker 2: the budget cuts, to help us more substantially with some grants.
Speaker 2: So at the end of the day, we're still going
Speaker 2: to see a lot of progress.
Speaker 3: But but yeah, there.
Speaker 2: Wasn't cut and we'll just see the best we can
Speaker 2: look every dollar we out.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Now, will h to Ohio continue into the next
Speaker 1: administration or is it something that that is uh? I guess,
Speaker 1: you know, at the desire of the governor or the department.
Speaker 2: Well, I think we hope it will continue into the
Speaker 2: next administration, and certainly I will tell you many of
Speaker 2: the projects we've kicked off, they will by necessity, right,
Speaker 2: These are big construction projects that take two to three
Speaker 2: years to complete, so anything we start won't finish into
Speaker 2: the next administration. Yeah, I think, you know, there have
Speaker 2: been conversations.
Speaker 3: I don't know where we'll.
Speaker 2: Go if if if folks will consider a bond of issue,
Speaker 2: you know, an environmental water bond issue. That's a possibility
Speaker 2: that's under discussion, and I don't know where that'll go
Speaker 2: or where that's will stand yet, but you know, that
Speaker 2: is an option and an opportunity. So I think there's
Speaker 2: a lot of conversation about how we continue this program because.
Speaker 3: It is very popular, a lot of support. I think
Speaker 3: it's a great control.
Speaker 1: High Well, yeah, I agree with you one hundred percent.
Speaker 1: And of course I think it's up to our listeners
Speaker 1: and a sportsman and all the organizations out there, while
Speaker 1: Farm Bureau, you know, uh, just a lot of different
Speaker 1: entities to to you know, I guess help see that
Speaker 1: does continue, uh, you know, as far out as we
Speaker 1: could possibly make it. So what is uh, what's left
Speaker 1: on Director Mergencys place through the next year. What what
Speaker 1: what big thing? Or are you on maintenance?
Speaker 3: Oh no, we're not allowed to be on maintenance.
Speaker 2: We are We're full speed through the finish line. So
Speaker 2: so it's ohio for that's a priority. How do we
Speaker 2: how do we try to make that permanent? How do
Speaker 2: we do the best show we can with the dollars
Speaker 2: we have? So that's a huge amount of time. We
Speaker 2: still have a number of large construction projects in our
Speaker 2: parks and wildlife portfolio. So you know, we're building a
Speaker 2: big visitor center around at Appalachian Hill's wildlife area and
Speaker 2: that comes along with some cabins and an upgraded campground.
Speaker 2: So I'm looking forward to opening that next spring. So
Speaker 2: so that'll all become a reality next spring, as well
Speaker 2: as other construction projects around the state. So you know
Speaker 2: we're a very infrastructure heavy group. Yes, yeah, that infrastructure
Speaker 2: they can need to to maintain your conservation places.
Speaker 3: So those are those are a couple of the big things.
Speaker 1: Well, and and I again agree one hundred percent, and
Speaker 1: I don't always agree with the division of waterlife hundred percent,
Speaker 1: but ninety five is a pretty good target. Okay, So well,
Speaker 1: I appreciate your time this morning and to catch up
Speaker 1: and to see all the great things happening, and you
Speaker 1: know Watson Store down the road. So director Mertch, thank
Speaker 1: you very.
Speaker 2: Much, appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 1: Okay, with that, we're going to hit a break and
Speaker 1: back for a couple of minutes The Big Outdoors News
Speaker 1: Radio seven hundred w LW, Cincinnati, the home of the
Speaker 1: best Bengals coverage. You they We're back the Big Outdoors
Speaker 1: News Radio seven hundred WLW, Cincinnati, Chip hard with you
Speaker 1: to the bottom of the hour when the news happens
Speaker 1: and Gary, Jeff and uh well the guy with for
Speaker 1: two first names is how I refer to it. That's right,
Speaker 1: mister Walker. That's right. Yeah, I like his nightcap show. Okay,
Speaker 1: week some during the week if I can manage to
Speaker 1: stay yeah, anyhow, I can't anyhow to recap, According to
Speaker 1: director March, you will be able to see the Wild
Speaker 1: Ohio film at various IMAX theaters from Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati,
Speaker 1: Cleveland and let's see where else to do. I think
Speaker 1: I got them all anyway, and in theaters around Ohio,
Speaker 1: so that'd be cool. And Pheasants are releasing or will
Speaker 1: be released beginning October twenty fifth selected wildlife areas around
Speaker 1: the state. They're talking about fourteen thousand ringneck pheasants. This
Speaker 1: is a shoot neat thing people, that's what they're there. Okay,
Speaker 1: shoot them, take them home and eat them. Okay, this
Speaker 1: is not it's not catching release Okay. That's for fishing.
Speaker 1: And Houston Woods has certain areas open for hunting now
Speaker 1: through February twenty eighth, and if you just pull that
Speaker 1: up online, you can look at their pretty little map
Speaker 1: with colored areas where you could hunt and or need
Speaker 1: a special permit. So I didn't even know about that,
Speaker 1: so that's kind of cool. Well that means I gotta
Speaker 1: get out of here. Thank you. I'm ready to go
Speaker 1: with that. I'm out of here. Gary Jeff is next
Speaker 1: The Big Outdoors News Radio seven hundred WLW Cincinnati be
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