Minutes July Council Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resources Council Meeting was held on July 19, 2012, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Present were Elrand Denson, Allison Cochran, Andy Baril, Tim Malone, David Brown, Wade Hill, Chris Wright, LaVerne Matheson, John Creed, Carl Godsey, Mike Henshaw, and James Burnett.

The following topics were discussed:

• Professional Logging Manager (PLM) Program scheduled for Friday, August 17, 2012, at the Bernice Hilton Walker Building in Double Springs.  One of the speakers from Auburn University that is scheduled to speak is out of travel funds.  The Council agreed to cover his travel from Auburn.  The expected cost is $240.  
• Andy Baril, Regional Extension Agent, introduced himself, and explained that he will be working in this area.  He will be based out of the Walker County Extension Office in Jasper, and will cover several NW Alabama counties.  
• A rain barrel program will be held in Haleyville.  The program is sponsored by the NW RCD Council, the Winston County Extension Office, and the Alabama Center for Advanced Woodworking Technology.  As part of the program, participants will construct a rain barrel that they will take home.
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Symposium in Birmingham was discussed, as well as the potential impacts of the insect if it reaches NW Alabama.
• Allison reviewed the successful Youth Fishing Derby.  65 youth participated in both the fishing derby activities and the Wild Turkey Federation's "Jakes" activities.
• The Winston County 4-H Shooting Sports Shotgun team placed 13th in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Nebraska.  The team was very appreciative of the financial support they received from the WCNRC.
• Rural Schools funds that the Winston County Commission uses to fund WCNRC activities.
• FAWN Program
• Smith Lake Reservoir Public Meeting to be held on Monday, July 30th.  Issues such as bass size limits for tournaments, and the status of the blue back herring will be discussed at the meeting.  The blue back herring is an invasive fish that has been illegally introduced into the lake.
• Tim and Wade gave an update on the drought relief program from the USDA, and the status of the new Farm Bill legislation that impacts many federal programs.  
• David Brown, WCSLAI, mentioned that he will attend the Alabama Clean Water Partnership Meeting in Tuscaloosa about the health of the Black Warrior River Watershed.
• LaVerne gave an update on the Rise to the Future Award.

Mike Henshaw, Secretary WCNRC
Winston County Extension Coordinator