Submitted Photo

Pictured are (left to right): Ohio Forestry Association Executive Director John Dorka, State Rep. Terry Johnson, Division of Forestry Southern District Forest Manager Nate Jester, Scioto County Commissioner Mike Crabtree, Scioto County Commissioner Vernal G. Riffe III and local logger Ryan Redoutey.

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Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Forestry, Scioto County, along with Brush Creek, Morgan, Nile, Rarden and Union townships, as well as Northwestern and Washington-Nile local school districts, will share $404,896 from the sale of timber at Brush Creek and Shawnee State Forests.

“Sustainable conservation practices on Ohio’s state forests create a diverse landscape for wildlife, provide university research opportunities and promote healthier forests,” Robert Boyles, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry, said. “Local schools and communities benefit from not only the jobs and economic value generated, but from the many environmental and social benefits of a well-managed forest.”

Through the Division of Forestry’s “Trees to Textbooks” program, a percentage of the revenue generated from state forest management activity goes to the county, township and school district in which the activity took place.

During a formal presentation on Thursday, State Rep. Terry Johnson reminded the audience about the importance of Shawnee State Forest, not only through the “Trees to Textbooks” program, but also through what he said were jobs created by the local timber industry and the science-based sustainable management that yields additional travel and tourism opportunities in the county.

This year, a total of 17 Ohio school districts and their corresponding counties and townships statewide will share $1,444,650 from the sale of timber in Ohio’s state forests.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com