[thirst4truth]

The environmentalists have gone to court here in Oregon to put slugs and snails on the endangered species list, so they can completely shut down forest mgmt anywhere in the state.

The most productive Douglas Fir forests in the world lay in about four counties in southern Oregon. Since the spotted owl we have been living on a "hand out" from the feds to not cut our forests, 50 million for our county. The results 20% unemployment and another mill shutting down every year.

The county commissioners say in about 5 years all forest practice skills will be lost on the next generation. Our number one export? Our children!

[little jeremiah]

I moved to SW Oregon about 11 years ago. There were a number of sawmills left in my county. Now down to one, and IIRC they employ less than 1/2 the people even than a few years ago, and that was a reduction. It’s a severely depressed place. Jobs? none.