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Lawn Ranger
If
you driven east from Wakefield on either US
2 or SH 28, you’ve probably noticed the
Ottawa Forest “portal” signs – those big
wooden signs set in concrete bases that
announce when you enter and leave the
general National Forest area.
As
recently as 5 years ago, the signs and
surrounding grass were maintained by Forest
Service employees, often older employees
participating in a job skills training
program. When funding for the program dried
up, the signs and mowing were one of many
tasks deemed ‘non-essential’. It didn’t take
long in this climate for them to start
looking shabby, and for folks to complain.
Pictured above, Ken
Jeffries, of Wakefield, noticed them too.
But instead of just muttering about them, he
offered to fix, re-paint, and maintain them.
This is the third year he has offered his
assistance, which includes weekly mowing and
annual patching and painting.
I
caught him in the act of Caring for the Land
a few weeks ago, riding the range like a
valiant lawn ranger. When I asked why he was
doing it so early (shortly after 7 AM), he
explained the weather forecast indicated it
might rain and he wanted to get it done so
it would look nice for the upcoming holiday
weekend.
Thank you Ken Jeffries for making our signs
look great!
Life’s a Picnic
Paul
Johnson, of Bessemer, has been volunteering
one day a week for us since last fall on
lots of different projects. Lately, he’s
been putting together what must seem like an
endless stack of new picnic tables. Although
pre-cut and fabricated, each table takes
about an hour. They’re heavy and his work
space has limited tools and electrical
outlets.
Still, they’re lighter-weight than our old
tables and have an extra long working
surface on one end – to accommodate a
wheelchair of other similar device. The
finished tables have already been hauled
down to Black River Harbor, where I’m sure
they will be quickly used.
Next
time you’re at the Harbor picnic area,
especially if a family member has an
accessibility need, I hope you will remember
to think, and thank, Paul Johnson. He’s
helping Serve the Public.
‘School’
Philip Moon, a Bessemer HS Senior, started
helping us just last week as part of a
year-long internship. The program offers
students a peek at a wide range of careers;
Philip is considering natural resources.
He’s already making a difference, enabling
us to catch up on database entries from our
summer surveys of fish, dirt, rocks, trees,
roads, bugs, etc.
In
addition to the more mundane tasks of
managing our data and keeping our offices
efficient, Philip will spend a full day each
month in the field, learning the specific
details of life as a Forest Service
hydrologist, timber sale administrator,
recreation specialist, biologist, botanist,
land surveyor, or other professional. We are
excited to be training the next generation;
welcome aboard, Philip.
Fall Color
The
local members (Ni-Miikanaake Chapter) of the
North Country Trail Association have worked
hard all summer to keep most of their 52
miles of adopted trail clear of blow-down
trees. Each new wind- or rainstorm, it
seemed, resulted in more work. In addition,
the group has been working feverishly on
re-routing several miles of existing trail
to address landownership or maintenance
issues, or both.
Led
by Chapter President Dick Swanson, the group
whacked and hacked their way along the Black
River, Presque Isle River, and through the
Porcupine State Park, undeterred by hordes
of mosquitoes and steamy conditions.
On
Saturday, Oct. 1, they will temporarily put
down their loppers and hand saws to lead a
family fall color hike along the Black
River. The event is FREE and open to the
public, but space is limited and requires
making an advance reservation.
We
regret the date conflicts with Bessemer’s
PumpkinFest. But if you’re not needing a
hand-made, cloth pumpkin (I have one myself,
so no offense intended) or other autumn
adornment, you should put the hike on your
calendar (HINT: Men, this is what you can do
with the kids instead of going to the craft
show…).
The
tour includes a choice of three waterfall
hikes AND a trip to the top of Copper Peak.
Transportation and lunch are also provided
at NO cost to participants, thanks to
generous donations from Orvana Minerals,
Schilleman Bus Service, and Super One.
Starts in Ironwood at 8 am; return time is
expected to be about 4 pm. What an fantastic
opportunity to enjoy the peak of the fall
color season, get some great exercise, and
meet others who are interested in getting a
little more Nature into their lives.
For
more information or to register, call Ni-Miikanaake
Vice-President Jason Hofstede at 932-0845.
In the Long Run
For
as long as the Forest Service has existed,
more than a hundred years, volunteers have
worked alongside employees in every aspect
of forest management. Amidst today’s cry for
“less government”, many Ottawa employees
struggle to manage and maintain the
campgrounds, roads, trails, and other
opportunities to a standard the public has
come to expect. So many of us are also
National Forest visitors – hiking,
canoeing, fishing, hunting, collecting
firewood, etc. – that we understand and feel
the same passion for this place as you.
Having members of the public that are
willing to volunteer to help us is deeply
gratifying; words seem inadequate to express
how much we appreciate the help and support.
Nevertheless, to all the volunteers that
work with us in and for the woods: Thank
You. |
