Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2014 Tax Year

Click here for printable version.

Photos from FAWN Program

Allison Cochran with the U. S. Forest Service has shared some of her photos from the FAWN program at Houston Recreation Area.  Here's a link to a photo album of her photos.  This year we had approximately 336 sixth graders from Winston County schools.

Minutes of October Council Meeting

Standing: Quinn Wood, David Brown, Jeremy McDonald, Wade Hill, 

John Sudduth, and James Burnett.  Seated:  Renee Smith, Chris Wright,

 LaVerne Matheson, Carl Godsey, and John Creed.

The Winston County Natural Resources Council meeting was held on October 16, 2014, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Present were: LaVerne Matheson, Carl Godsey, John Creed, David Brown, Mike Henshaw, James Burnett, Quinn Wood, Chris Wright, John Sudduth, Wade Hill, Renee Smith, and Jeremy McDonald.

Items discussed were:

• FAWN Program details.  Dates are FAWN walk thru - Wednesday, October 22, at 9:00 a.m., FAWN for Meek, Addison, and Double Springs - Thursday, October 23, at 9:00 a.m.  FAWN for Lynn and Haleyville - Friday, October 24, at 9:00 a.m.
• LaVerne reported on the Clean up on Smith Lake held on October 9.  He said that 6.5 tons of debris where removed from the lake.  About 25 people participated in the effort.  Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy's Facebook page has photos of the cleanup  https://www.facebook.com/wcslai/timeline 
• Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc. is placing signs at boat ramps and other access points that there is a $250 fine for littering on the lake.
• John Sudduth attended the TREASURE Forest Conference.  The TREASURE Forest Association has teamed up with the Alabama Farmers Federation.  The group has a new car tag program that promises to be very popular, since the special TREASURE Forest tag will be provided at no cost.  He also noted that there will be a effort to recruit new TREASURE Forest owners into the program.
• Jeremy McDonald said there would be a Bankhead Liaison Panel meeting on Thursday, October 16, at 6:00 p.m., at the First National Bank in Double Springs.
• Carl said that the Winston County Farmers Federation Womens Committee was sponsoring a political forum on October 21, at 6:00 p.m. at the Bernice Hilton Walker Building in Double Springs.

Mike Henshaw, Secretary WCNRC

October Council Meeting

The October meeting of the Winston County Natural Resources Council will be held at 9:00 a.m., on Thursday, October 16, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  We’ll have updated schedules of the FAWN programs to review. 

Important dates:

FAWN walk thru - Wednesday, October 22, at 9:00 a.m.

FAWN for Meek, Addison, and Double Springs - Thursday, October 23, at 9:00 a.m.

FAWN for Lynn and Haleyville - Friday, October 24, at 9:00 a.m.

Another Successful Renew Our Rivers Lake Clean-up Held on Smith Lake in Winston County

Today the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc and Alabama Power Company held another successful Renew Our Rivers Lake Clean-up on Smith Lake in Winston County.  Today's clean-up was focused on the Sipsey Fork near the Lakeshore community.  The clean-up resulted in a construction dumpster full of litter and white-beaded foam.

The Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc gives a special thanks to all of the VOLUNTEERS who came out today and helped keep our beautiful lake clean!  Special thanks to our sponsors including Hyche, LLC for providing the dumpster, Dan Hogan and Free State Boat Docks for unloading the trash and providing a site, Lake Shore Inn and Marina for providing a launch site and Tom Snoddy, Assign-A-Highway and Bobby Everett and Winston County Commission for providing extra manpower!  All volunteers and sponsors who help make these efforts possible are greatly appreciated!

The following businesses and organizations sponsored the Summer and Fall 2014 Renew Our Rivers Clean-ups in Winston County.
Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc.
Alabama Power Company
Bankhead National Forest
Smith Lake Civic Association, Walker County
Arley Coffee Shop
Traditions Bank
Williams Grocery
La Plaza Bonita
Latitude Hair and Nail Salon
Gateway Foodland - Curry
Talk of the Town
Mudd Puddlers Pottery
Clark Gas - Addison
Powell Building Supply
Lakeshore Inn and Marina
Addison Quick Stop
Addison Discount Pharmacy
Werner's Trading Company
Hyche LLC
King Quality Boat Docks
Rock Creek Marina
Williams Hardware
Wood Studio

THANK YOU ALL!

Renew Our Rivers, Smith Lake Clean-up Scheduled for Thursday, October 9

Alabama Power Company and the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc. are hosting another Renew Our Rivers clean-up on Smith Lake this week.  Join in the clean-up to help keep Winston County and Smith Lake clean and beautiful!

Volunteers can meet at the Lakeshore Inn at 8:30 on Thursday, October 9 to assist with the clean-up.  The focus of this clean-up is small trash, like bottles and cans, in sloughs along the Sipsey Fork and its tributaries.  Household garbage will not be accepted.

Bankhead Liaison Panel Meeting Scheduled

The Bankhead Liaison Panel will meet on Thursday, October 16, 2014.  This public meeting will be held at the First National Bank (2nd floor conference room) in Double Springs, Alabama.  The First National Bank is located on Highway 278 across from Jack's Restaurant in Double Springs.  The meeting begins promptly at 6:00 pm.  For more information, contact the Bankhead National Forest office at (205) 489-5111.

The October Liaison Panel meeting topics include;

§  Current State, Maintenance, and Future of the Following Trails

o   Owl Creek Horse Trails

o   Flint Creek Multi-Use Trails

§  2015 Hunting Regulation Changes & Seasonal Gate Closures

§  Lewis Smith Lake Transition Zone – Aquatic Wildlife Project (special guest speaker from the Southern Research Station)

§  Future of Houston Recreation Area

§  Two New Ecosystem Management Projects

Feral Hog Workshops in Morgan County and Alex City

Click here for printable flyer.