SharePrescribed burn January 7 helps beech, and sand forest species on Crowley’s Ridge
By Jo Schaper
(Photos courtesy Missouri State Parks – photographer Eugene Vale)
With cold temperatures and snow on the ground, what is needed to warm up is the memory of a nice warm fire.
About 60 acres of 161-acre Morris State Park underbrush was burned [...]

ShareJo apologizes to people wanting more news about the Minninghaw fire. She was out of the office on Friday, and on assigment most of Saturday. Actually, she was in Salem on Friday, and one speaker for her meeting, Charlotte Wiggins, public information officer for Mark Twain National Forest, could not attend, because she was at [...]

ShareSALEM, Mo. — Arsonists are suspected of setting several November 1, 2011 Mark Twain National Forest Salem District fires.
According to Thom Haines, Mark Twain National Forest Salem District ranger, a total of more than 5,000 acres were burned November 1, 2011.
“If anyone knows who set these fires, please let us know,” Haines said. Contact Mark [...]

ShareROLLA, Missouri — Mark Twain National Forest is looking for recreation site concessionaires for 2012.
According to David Whittekiend, Mark Twain National Forest supervisor, Missouri’s USDA National Forest is looking for private concessionaires to operate nine campgrounds and their associated recreation areas, and one rental cabin for the 2012 recreation season.
The ten proposed areas are:

ShareThe 2011 Midwest Forest Industry Show (MFIS) is stacking up to be an exciting event! Scheduled for September 30 through October 1 at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau, MO the show will feature a guest appearance from Joe Collins of Collins River Logging.
Collins, one of The History Channel’s Ax Men will be [...]

ShareNoblett Lake Temporarily Closed, Effective August 31, 2011
AVA, Missouri – Mark Twain National Forest is temporarily closing Noblett Lake to the public, effective August 31, 2011.
Law enforcement investigators are looking into the discovery August 17, 2011 of loss of all the water at Noblett Lake, located south of Willow Springs, Missouri in Douglas County.

ShareIf you saw the photos of the Joplin tornado devastation, beyond the remains of St. John’s Hospital, one of the most visually affecting sites were the twisted, some still standing, but entirely stripped tree trunks. While the loss of human life and pets were the main focus of most news coverage, the trees, or lack [...]

ShareOfficials on the Poplar Bluff Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service are calling for public comment on two proposed projects, one to enhance habitat for the Indiana bat near Greenville, and one to salvage black and scarlet oak trees on a 246 acre tract in western Wayne County.
The Brown’s Hollow Project is intended [...]

ShareROLLA, MO — Eleven Point Resource Advisory Committee will be evaluating project proposals that enhance forest ecosystems or restore and improve land health and water quality on Mark Twain National Forest and nearby Oregon, Ripley, and Shannon counties lands.
Approximately 12 proposals were submitted. New proposals are no longer being accepted.
Eleven Point Resource Advisory [...]

ShareReal Christmas trees are a tradition around the Schaper-Vale household. Yes, they can drop needles, need to be watered daily, and there is always the trip to the tree lot, where the trees are always smaller outside than they appear once you try to get them into the living room.
But we’re outdoors people. A [...]