FAWN Walk Thru

The FAWN Walk-Thru will be held on Monday, October 2, at 9:00 a.m., at Houston Recreation Area.  Signs will be put up for each station as well as final preparations and cleanup.  Any speakers or guides that would like to check out their site are welcome to attend.  The FAWN programs will be held on the following two days, October 3rd and 4th, starting at 9:00 a.m. on both days.  Thanks to all that help make FAWN a success!

Fall Smith Lake Cleanup

(From Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc.)

To Our Members and Friends:

Our Fall Slough Cleanup will be Thursday, October 5, at Jim King's boat ramp (behind King's Boat Docks shop), with volunteer sign-in at 8:30 am.  Volunteers can work on a WCSL Advocacy boat or a Renew Our Rivers boat. You could use your own boat if you'd like, and pick your cleanup spots; just remember to sign in or call so we can count you for lunch!

PLEASE remember to bring your own life jacket, insect repellent, and possibly a folding chair! Water will be available at the ramp and on the boats.

Free lunch and t-shirts will be provided to volunteers, courtesy of  Renew Our Rivers and the Curry office of Alabama Power.

Jim King's is located at 202 Co. Rd. 4007 (GPS approximately 34 degrees 02'11"N, 87 degrees 07'43"W).  By water, it's about a mile north of Rock Creek Marina. By land: From Arley take CR 77, turn right at the big black tire onto CR 22, cross Bailey Bridge to the 3-way stop. Turn right onto CR 4006, follow it around then right onto CR 4007, then right to go behind the shop to the boat ramp. (From Crane Hill/Trimble, take Cullman CR 933 past Falls Creek Church to the 3-way stop then straight onto CR 4006.)

Hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please call our president Jim Eason (256-590-2388) or email wcslainc@gmail.com

Shortleaf Field Tour in Waterloo, Alabama

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September Meeting Minutes

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on Thursday, September 21, 2017. Members present were:  Jeremy McDonald, Carl Godsey, Jimmy Madison, John Creed, Johnna Franks, Allison Cochran, and Kerri Roberts. 

Topics discussed were:
• FAWN program. Members looked over programs and gave suggestions for spare people/stations.  Carl offered to volunteer on one day of FAWN. John said he was able to assist both days. Allison said Houston Rec Center will be cleaned and prepped on Monday, October 2.  A program walk thru will be held the same day at 9:00 am. Johnna said t-shirts were finished. Jeremy said he would pick up the shirts and distribute to the schools.
• Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers donation for FAWN was discussed.  Allison said they need a letter of request submitted before they can consider a donation.
• Kerri noted bed bugs had been confirmed in Winston County. The sample was identified by the Auburn lab after a homeowner found them in a recliner.
• Allison reminded everyone the Bankhead Liaison Panel will meet on Thursday, September 28th at the First National Bank in Double Springs. The only topic to be discussed will be the Southern Pine Beetle infestation as this is a major concern right now. Almost 200 sites of beetle infestation have been discovered by fly overs of the Bankhead National Forest.  All Bankhead personnel are working on this issue. The Forest Health Division is very concerned. Mississippi’s infestation has affected more than 20,000 trees.  Johnna says the Alabama Forest Service is also working on this problem. They are notifying any private landowners of known infestations.
• Kerri mentioned the “Day on the Farm” at Moody Hill Farm on Saturday, September 23. Mike and Kerri will be presenting a sun safety program. Carl noted he may be assisting with a forestry station.
• Kerri brought up the topic of nominating officers for the WCNRC. Currently there are two officers, Johnna Franks- Treasurer, and Mike Henshaw- Secretary. Positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman are currently vacant. Kerri noted anyone wanting to make a nomination for an officer position needs to speak with the current officers so a ballot can be developed. Allison suggested that once new officers are in place the WCNRC could reevaluate their mission statement.  She noted that a well defined mission might encourage diversity of members.
• There was brief discussion about Houston Wood, a local business owned by Ellis Wade Junior. The members present were intrigued and want to set up a tour of the facility to learn more.

Minutes recorded by 
Kerri Roberts

September Council Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resources Council will meet on Thursday, September 21, at 9:00 a.m., at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Some agenda items include FAWN preparation and draft agendas, Liaison Panel Meeting, and pine beetle situation.

Forest Service Waives Campground Fees on National Forests

Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service Waives Campground Fees on National Forests
ATLANTA (September 7, 2017) – The Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service is immediately waiving fees and making all campgrounds available for individuals displaced by the recent and forthcoming hurricanes, including Hurricane Irma.

Many National Forests were impacted by the recent storm and as a result, some of the region’s campgrounds are closed.

Please call ahead or check websites to determine what is open and available. Also, individuals requesting campsites need to check in with campground hosts at each site.

For more information on campgrounds in the Southern Region, please visit the respective forest’s website:

National Forests and Grasslands in Texas – (936) 639-8501
Kisatchie National Forest – (318) 473-7160
National Forests in Mississippi – (601) 965-1600
National Forests in Alabama – (334) 832-4470
National Forests in Florida – (850) 523-8500
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest – (770) 297-3000
Ouachita National Forest – (501) 321-5202
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests – (479) 964-7200
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area – (800) 525-7077
Daniel Boone National Forest – (859) 745-3100
Cherokee National Forest – (423) 476-9700
National Forests in North Carolina – (828) 257-4200
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests – (803) 561-4000
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests – (540) 265-5100
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Takela Underwood
Visitor Services Information Assistant
Forest Service
National Forests in Alabama, Supervisor's Office
p: 334-832-4470
f: 334-241-8177
tunderwood@fs.fed.us

2946 Chestnut Street
Montgomery, AL 36107
www.fs.fed.us

Caring for the land and serving people

Alabama Trapper Education Workshops

Click this link for printable flyer.

Bankhead Liaison Panel meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28 to discuss Southern Pine Beetle Outbreak

The next meeting of the Bankhead Liaison Panel will be held Thursday, September 28, at 6:00 p.m. at the First National Bank in Double Springs, Alabama.  The First National Bank is located at 15305 Highway 278 across from Jack’s in Double Springs.  The meeting topic is the assessment and suppression of the Southern Pine Beetle outbreak on Bankhead National Forest.  The meeting will adjourn by 8:30 p.m.  The meeting is open to the public.  Anyone interested in the management in the Bankhead National Forest is invited.  If you have any questions, please call Allison Cochran or Blake Addison at 205-489-5111.

Forestry Program in Jasper

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