Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : September 9, 2005

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3380 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

PRIMARY CONTACT: Paul Johansen , Wildlife Resources Section (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

Division of Natural Resources to Conduct Informational Meeting

On Chronic Wasting Disease in Hampshire County

September 13, 2005

  The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR will be conducting a public, informational meeting on the important topic of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night, September 13, 2005 at 7 p.m. in the Hampshire High School Auditorium, which is located on Route 50 East of Romney, West Virginia.

  DNR personnel will present a program on the current status of the disease in North America, provide information relating to the recently confirmed positive CWD sample identified in Hampshire County, provide an overview of DNR's CWD – Incident Response Plan, and answer any questions that hunters and landowners may have relating to this wildlife disease issue. The meeting should last approximately one hour, and all interested parties are invited to attend.

  “Upon receiving confirmation in early September that a road-killed deer in Hampshire County tested positive for CWD, our Wildlife Resources and Law Enforcement personnel have been actively engaged in implementing the DNR's CWD response plan,” said Director Frank Jezioro . “The public meeting scheduled for Tuesday night is an important action item identified in this plan, and we look forward to providing accurate and timely information relating to DNR's plans for addressing this important wildlife disease issue.”

  More information on CWD can be found at the West Virginia DNR's Web site: www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/chronicwaste.shtm .

**DNR**