Forestry Awareness Week Now (FAWN) Dates

Paul Gilliland and Craig Moore teach Forest Fire Safety

The 2011 FAWN dates are scheduled for October 20-21, 2011, at the Houston Recreation Area in the Bankhead National Forest.  The Meek, Addison, and Double Springs sixth graders will attend on Thursday, October 20, and the Haleyville and Lynn schools will attend on the 21st.  Please put these dates on your calendar.  We'll be sending out draft schedules for both dates soon.  A walk-through will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, to setup.  Thanks in advance to all those that work toward the continued success of the FAWN program.

Photos from the Bankhead Liaison Panel Hardwood Restoration Workshop and Field Tour

Acorns gathered at a tour stop.

The Hardwood Restoration Workshop and Field Tour was held on Saturday, September 24th, 2011. It featured four experts in the field of hardwood restoration. The four panelists were Ben Prater, Associate Executive Director with Wild South; Dr. Luben Dimov, Assistant Professor at Alabama A&M University; Ed Loewenstein, Associate Professor at Auburn University; and Dr. Callie Schweitzer, Research Forester with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station. After brief presentations by each of the four panelists, the participants visited five hardwood restoration sites on the field tour. After the tour, the group met back at the Black Warrior Work Center for a question and answer session.

The Hardwood Restoration Workshop and Field Tour was organized by the Bankhead Liaison Panel in cooperation with the Bankhead National Forest staff.

Additional photos from the Hardwood Restoration Workshop and Field Tour.

Bankhead Liaison Panel Hardwood Restoration Workshop

The public is invited to a free workshop and field tour hosted by the Bankhead National Forest Liaison Panel on September 24, 2011.

The Hardwood Restoration Workshop and Field Tour will highlight the hardwood restoration goals and management techniques for Bankhead National Forest. Research scientists and professors specializing in silviculture and forest management will be guest speakers at the workshop. A field tour of the Bankhead National Forest will immediately follow the presentations.

The Hardwood Restoration Workshop will begin at 8:45 AM at the Black Warrior Work Center located on Highway 33 between Moulton and Double Springs, AL. The workshop will end by 5 PM. Participants are asked to dress appropriately to walk in the forest, bring lunch and drinking water. Contact Bankhead Ranger District at (205) 489-5111 to register.

Minutes of the September WCNRC Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on September 15, 2011, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  In attendance were John Sudduth, Tim Albritton, LaVerne Matheson, Carl Godsey, Allen Varner, Johnna Franks, Chris Wright, Allison Cochran, Mike Henshaw, Jeremy McDonald, Tom Counts, John Creed, Tom Snoddy, Tony Avery, Jim Hughes, Elrand Denson, and Bill Snoddy.

Johnna stated that the balance in the treasury is $14,073.94.  Some of these funds are earmarked for specific activities, such as the fishing derby.

The FAWN dates are Thursday, October 20th, and Friday, October 21st, please mark your calendars for these important dates.  Mike Henshaw will prepare FAWN Programs and send them to all the participants.  

The following points were discussed about the North Region Forestry Field Day:

• Commercial and Educational Vendors
• Tables and Tents
• Learning Station locations
• Trailers
• CFE’s
• Awards Program

The next planning meeting for the field day will be on September 22^nd at 9:30 a.m. at Loblolly Farm.

Tom Snoddy introduced himself as the Assign-A-Highway Program Manager.  He gave a brief report on the number of people enrolled in the program and the amount of litter cleaned from county roads.

Elrand noted that the Shortleaf Pine Symposium would be held on September 20-22.  The Hardwood Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, September 24th.

Mike Henshaw, Secretary

September Meeting of the Winston County Natural Resources Council

The September meeting of the Winston County Natural Resources Council will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 15th, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.

Hope to see you at the meeting.

Mike Henshaw

Secretary, WCNRC

http://wcnrc.blogspot.com/

Charlie Meek Retires from NRCS

I'm sure that many council members are aware that Charlie Meek has retired from the NRCS as of August 31st.  Charlie has been a key team member of the Winston County Natural Resources Council, and we will miss his contributions to the council.  His family has a blog called "A Meek Perspective", and there is a post about Charlie's retirement.  I think it is safe to say that everyone on the Winston County Natural Resources Council wishes Charlie all the best in retirement.

Tom Snoddy Named as Program Manager of Winston County Assign-A-Highway Program

Tom Snoddy, Program Manager, Winston County Assign-A-Highway

Tom Snoddy is the new Program Manager of the Winston County Assign-A-Highway Program.  Tom is a resident of Double Springs, a University of Alabama graduate, and has over 20 years experience in corrections.  In this position, he will coordinate the work of citizens that have fines or court costs in Marion and Winston Counties.  Those that have fines or court costs can choose to pay them or to work them off by doing community service.  Participants get credit for each hour they work cleaning up county road rights-of-way.  Tom also hopes to encourage citizens to help clean up county roadways on a volunteer basis to improve the appearance of the county and to improve our environment.  Assign-A-Highway is a partnership of the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments (NACOLG), Northwest RC & D Council, and the Winston and Marion County Commissions.

Tropical Storm Lee

Tropical Storm Lee brought much needed rainfall to the county.  Charles Brannon, an Addison resident and volunteer observer with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, recorded 6.81 inches of rain from Lee.  In Double Springs, I recorded 7.38 inches over the two day period.

More rainfall totals are available at http://www.cocorahs.org/