Minutes of October Council Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on Thursday, October 19, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Present were J. D. Snoddy, Lauranne James, Jimmy Madison, Mike Henshaw, Kerri Roberts, Andy Scott, and Jeremy McDonald.  The following items were discussed:

• Mike and Lauranne mentioned projects related to Food Pantries, Mobile Grocery Stores, and the Eco-Cold Storage Trailer.
• Lauranne highlighted a new program that will retrofit older tractors not equipped with Rollover Protection Structures to be updated with this lifesaving equipment.  Jeff McKinney, Agri-Science Instructor at Colbert County High School, will be leading this effort.
• Reviewed 2017 FAWN programs.  The program went smoothly this year with positive comments from teachers.  A stack of thank you letters from Lynn students was reviewed by the council.
• A possible field trip to Houston Wood was discussed.  Details of the trip will be finalized later.
• A draft mission statement was circulated for comments and discussion.  Several ideas for a logo have been suggested.
• Andy Scott gave an update on the pine beetle situation on the Bankhead.  He stated that aerial surveys located between 300 and 370 beetle spots, and 72% of these have been checked out on the ground.  A "Good Neighbor" agreement with the Alabama Forestry Commission allowed special surveillance flights to be flown.  The priority in treating beetle spots will be highest if the spot is threatening private land, current timber sales, and areas with active management.  Treatments will be "cut and remove", "cut and leave", and monitor, depending on the situation.  The current market conditions, number of loggers, and number of lumber mills makes it difficult to market pine timber at this time.
• Andy said that the district is looking to temporarily fill the recreation position that is vacant since Mike Cook retired.
• Kerri mentioned the 4-H River Kids learning station at FAWN, and possible funding for the program next year.  Firewise and the Northwest Ala RC&D Council may be possibilities for assistance.
• A Sheep and Goats program will be held in Double Springs on October 26.
• Lauranne encouraged everyone with an interest in internet availability to attend a meeting about Freedom Fiber at Phil Campbell High at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 26.  
• The Northwest Ala RC&D Council will meet at 10 a.m. on November 15, at the old theater in Winfield.  The meeting will feature a program on "Strategic Doing", and will look at opportunities to take advantage of federal grant funds for distressed coal mining areas. 
• Jeremy and Kerri discussed the possibility of the WCHS FFA Forestry Team taking part in the 4-H Forestry Judging Program.

Mike Henshaw
Secretary, WCNRC