July Meeting Minutes

 

From left, Rhonda Riley, John Creed, Allison Cochran, Kerry Clark,
 Casey Hammack, Jamie Segroves, Zach Brannon, and Mark Finley.
  Not pictured, Lauranne James, and Mike Henshaw.

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on July 17, at the Alabama Forestry Commission Office in Double Springs.  Present were:  Rhonda Riley, John Creed, Allison Cochran, Kerry Clark, Casey Hammack, Jamie Segroves, Zach Brannon, Mark Finley, Lauranne James, and Mike Henshaw.

The following items were discussed:

• Possible Fall tour of Grayson Sawmill
• Weather and fire conditions
• Needle blight severity has become less severe
• Ice Machine installation
• 2025 RC&D Grant proposal for a Stream Hydrodynamics Trailer
• FAWN Dates set for October 8-9, with the walk-thru on October 7.  FAWN meal will be cook out and or BBQ. FAWN t-shirts, stations, and transportation costs.  Site will be Houston Recreation Area this year.
• Walker County Logger Training Date - August 13, at Bevill State
• Kerry gave an update on the possible combination of Forest Service and Department of Interior fire fighting resources into one unit.
• Jamie and Kerry gave an update on personnel assigned to wildfire outbreaks in various parts of the US.
• Pine beetle trap counts are down and there are fewer pine beetle spots being located by plane - Kerry and Jamie.
• Casey gave the Treasurer's Report and Annual Report to the Council.  The balance in the treasury is $7,853.50.  He also reviewed the latest bank statement and the IRS filing for this year.  The council inspected the bank statements and the IRS filing as required annually in the by-laws.  John stated that he also monitors the bank account balances frequently online.  John Creed moved that we accept the Treasurer's report and annual report.  Allison seconded and all approved.
• Zac gave a report on the Forestry Career Day for Winston and Lawrence County planned for October 28 at Alexander Park in Moulton.
• Zac gave an update on the new Forestry and Natural Resources REA position.
• Rhonda said Ravenwood would be opening soon, and trail work would start this Fall.
• Lauranne said they will have a quarterly meeting on August 14, and their Annual NWRC&D meeting celebration on October 24 at the AW Todd Building in Russellville.  She invited all the council members to both events.  Both events are free, but registration is required.
• Mike moved that the meeting adjourn, and John seconded.  After adjourning, we all took a look at the new ice machine that Casey and Jamie installed after being purchased with a grant from the NWRC&D Council.  Our council thanks Lauranne and her staff for their help in acquiring this much needed machine.  Photo below shows the installation at the AFC office.

John Creed holds open the door on the newly installed
ice machine at the Alabama Forestry Commission Office.

Submitted by Mike Henshaw

Secretary, WCNRC

May Council Meeting Minutes

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Ravenwood property in Lawrence County owned by John and Rhonda Riley.  Present were: John Creed, Tyler Fish, Matt Hannah, Donna Shanklin, Ally Evans, Zach Brannon, Andy Scott, John and Rhonda Riley, Chris Horne, Austin Blankenship, Stanley Johnson, Mark Finley, Jamie Segroves, Amy Melson, Mike Henshaw, and Heather Tucker. 

Jamie called the meeting to order, and Mike welcomed everyone to Ravenwood.  Heather Tucker is the excutive director of Wild Alabama, and she gave a brief history of Wild Alabama.  She further described some of the long term plans for the organization which includes the construction of a new headquarters and welcome center for Bankhead visitors.  The owners of Ravenwood, John and Rhonda Riley, have donated several acres of land to be the site of the new Wild Alabama headquarters.  Temporarily, the headquarters is housed in Double Springs, but with a successful capital campaign, they hope to build on the new property in Lawrence County.

Next, John and Rhonda gave a history of how they came to own Ravenwood, improvements they have made, and future plans for the property.  They hope that the property will be an asset to the community, and they hope to be an active partner with the Bankhead National Forest and Wild Alabama as well as various other partners in Lawrence and Winston Counties.  

Jamie then reviewed the changes proposed to the bylaws. Those draft changes were approved by the council in April for final approval at the May Council meeting.  Zach moved to accept the proposed changes to the bylaws.  Matt seconded the motion.  Jamie called for a vote and the motion carried with no members opposed.  

Jamie said that Casey was at a training meeting, but he had sent a Treasurer's Report.  The previous balance was $8,642.49, and the current balance is $7,892.85.  Mike moved to accept the report, Matt seconded the motion, and all present agreed.

The June Council meeting would normally be on June 19, however this is a federal and state holiday, so the Council will not meet in June.

Mike moved that we adjourn, Matt seconced, and the motion carried.

Following the Council meeting John and Rhonda split the group up and gave each group a tour of Ravenwood.  After the tour, the Rileys provided the Council with a box lunch.  The entire Council is very appreciative of the opportunity to tour Ravenwood and thank the Rileys for the hospitality.

Submitted by Mike Henshaw, Secretary  

April Council Meeting Minutes

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the Natural Bridge Recreation Area near Houston.  The following members were present:  Zach Brannon, Mike Henshaw, Matt Hannah, Casey Hammack, Jamie Segroves, Andy Scott, and other members.  The primary purpose of this meeting was to prepare for the Forestry Field Day to be held on the following day, Friday, April 24.  Various preparations were made including inspecting the learning stations on the trail, putting up signage, and picking the sites for the portable toilets.  Jamie reviewed the proposed changes to the bylaws to be voted on at a subsequent council meeting.  The change to the bylaws will change the requirement to have the financial records inspected by an outside accounting firm to an annual requirement to have the records inspected by the officers of the council.  Zach proposed accepting the draft of the proposed changes, Matt seconded motion and all agreed.  Mike moved that the meeting be adjourned, Matt seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

Mike Henshaw, Secretary

March Council Meeting Minutes

 

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Lakeshore Inn and Restaurant.  This meeting was held just prior to the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council at Lakeshore.  Present were Paul Green, Jamie Segroves, Andy Scott, Mark Finley, Zach Brannon, Maggie Johnston, Amy Melson, Casey Hammack, and Mike Henshaw.  The following items were discussed:

• Farmers Market Flyer - Zach
• Learn and Burn - Jamie.  He noted that the event had 20 participants and the weather was favorable for the prescribed burn.
• Paul Green - update on NRCS EQIP Programs
• Update on USFS Prescribed Fire Acreage.  Andy noted that due to poor weather for prescribed fire, the District is behind schedule on the planned 20,000 acres to be treated with prescribed fire.
• Andy also gave an update on timber sales, pine beetle activity, wild turkey season, special use permits, and improvements to the Hurricane Creek Archery Range.
• Mark informed the council about the TREASURE Forest seminar to be held at Gulf Shores.
• Zach gave progress reports on the Boy Scouts, FFA, Learn and Burn in Walker Co., the Enviroscape, and Earth Day.
• Andy brought up an event to be held at Joe Wheeler State Park called Feather Fest on April 12.
• Zach said ACES would be holding a Homesteading workshop in Etheridge.
• Maggie said Mark was doing great after his surgery.  She also promoted a Nature-based learning event that she will be promoting.
• Amy gave a report of the activities at the Northwest Alabamian.
• The Landowner Field Day to be held on April 25 was discussed.  Walk-Thru to be held at the Natural Bridge near Houston on Thursday, April 24 to clean up the site and put up signs.  Food will be BBQ, trailer and ice will be on hand, Casey will order portable toilets.
• Ravenwood field trip will be held Thursday, May 15.
• Casey gave a treasurer's report with a balance of $8,642.13.  He also gave an update on the IRS forms and the IRS confirmation letter.  Mike moved that we approve the Treasurer's Report, Zac seconded. All approved.
• Jamie said a by-laws change is needed concerning the requirement to have a CPA check the accounts each year.  He is going to propose the by-law changes at an upcoming meeting.  Then, the actual approval of the by-law changes would have to be voted on at a subsequent council meeting.  Zach moved we have Jamie draw up the proposed by-law changes and Maggie seconded his motion.  All approved.
• Mike moved to adjourn the meeting, Zach seconded and all approved.

Submitted by Mike Henshaw, Secretary

March Council Meeting

The March meeting of the Winston County Natural Resources Council will be held at Lakeshore Inn Restaurant at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 20.  After the WCNRC meeting, The Northwest RC&D Council Quarterly Outreach meeting will start at 10:00 am at Lakeshore.  

Hope to see you there,

Mike Henshaw, Secretary

WCNRC

Landowner Field Day on Friday, April 25

 

March Council Meeting Location Change

Council Members,

The WCNRC and the NW RC&D Council meet on the same day this month, so I wanted to alert you to a slight change in plans.  Jamie Segroves, Chairman, decided that we will meet at Lakeshore Inn Restaurant at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 20, for a brief council meeting, then many of our members will want to stay for the NW RC&D Council meeting that begins at 10:00 am. and ends at noon.  All WCNRC members are welcome to stay for the NW RC&D meeting, but registration is required for that meeting by Wednesday, March 12.  Here is the link to register, or you may call Vanessa King at 256-383-1446.

If you have not been to a NW RC&D Council meeting before, it is a great place to network and learn about innovative projects going on in Winston and some of our surrounding counties.  I'll send another reminder about the meeting a couple of days before the council meeting.  Look forward to seeing you at Lakeshore! 

Mike Henshaw, Secretary

WCNRC