Wild South Article Details Objections To Globe Valley Timber Plan In Sixteen Pages On Blowing Rock’s Position

In Depth Story By Lamar Marshall Thoroughly Explains Conservationist Side Of Harvesting

A lengthy article in the most recent issue of Wild South, a publication of a non-profit educational corporation based in Moulton, Alabama, was titled The Town That “Just Said NO” (And the Government Agency That Won’t Take No For An Answer).
The sixteen page color spread in one of the nation’s most circulated environmental publications was written by the magazine’s Publisher/Editor and tells the story of Blowing Rock’s fight with the United States Forest Service over a management plan that calls for extensive timber cutting and using chemicals to control growth on the forest floor.
The article in the Winter issue of Wild South is the most complete review of the conservation side of the issue published to date, and includes detailed graphics and photographs.
The fight between conservationist and tourism officials in the High Country and the Forest Service began as soon as area residents found out about a Globe Management Plan that called for the cutting of 231 acres of timber in the Globe Basin, and further to use herbicide on the acreage to poison and control undesired growth.
Especially frustrating to the local residents in and around Blowing Rock was the fact that the Forest Service failed to legally and publicly inform the residents about their plans, with the closest legal notice informing the public of the Management Plan for the Globe Basin published in a newspaper in Marion, over sixty miles away from the area to be harvested.
In his article, Lamar Marshall details the disagreement from the time residents first learned about the plan, to the action by governmental agencies and from meeting with forest officials here to comments and input from other forestry experts. While Forest Service officials have modified their stand somewhat, it was not enough to satisfy local residents and environmentalist. Further appeal has resulted in the final plans being reviewed and a final report from the United States Forest Service is pending.
The winter issue of Wild South is available at a number of locations around the North Carolina High Country, or may be ordered by calling 256-974-6166. Information is also available at general@wildsouth.org. Those wishing to have or read the feature by Lamar Marshall may stop by the office of The Blowing Rocket at the Glenwood on Sunset Drive. We have a limited number of copies.