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November 2016 Issue Vol. 1 Issue 5
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In this issue you will learn how to earn forest practices credits, read about program topics and speakers who will present at the 79th OLC. Learn about family fun and education events held at the OLC, and
enjoy photos of logging from the past.
Easy Quick Links to the 2017 OLC program schedule, panel and seminar topics, social events, competitions and other activities can be found on the last page of this newsletter.
CLICK TO REGISTER NOW!
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Logging Safely Near Power Lines
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Safe logging around power lines begins with you.
Consumers Power, Inc. is a member-owned, nonprofit rural electric cooperative in Philomath, Oregon serving over 22,000 members in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion and Polk Counties. With the birth of electric cooperatives in 1939 the task was to bring electricity to the rural areas of America. Here in the Pacific Northwest our rural areas pass through rivers, mountains, inaccessible terrain and timber. Chances are good that you will someday have to work in proximity to power lines. Federal and state laws require workers and equipment to stay at least 10 feet away from power lines up to 50,000 volts, and farther away for higher voltage lines. Here are some guidelines when working around CPI power lines:
- Overhead power lines are not insulated! – Treat all power lines as energized.
- Always look for the presence of power lines before harvest operations.
- Never climb or attempt to fall trees that have limbs caught in power lines.
- If a tree falls into a power line, STOP! Stay clear and call CPI.
- If equipment comes into contact with a power line, stay on the equipment until help arrives.
If you are conducting timber harvesting or road construction within 100 feet of overhead power lines, contact the local utility or dial 811 in accordance with Oregon’s Overhead Safety Act. If you are working near CPI power lines, we can discuss several options to help keep you and your crews safe. After a site visit to discuss power line safety we can:
- De-energize and ground power lines.
- Get a qualified tree crew to fall limb heavy or leaning trees.
- Raise or move power lines.
- Coordinate work schedules.
Learn more visit their website.
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Many of you may remember the photo above… Wilbur Heath’s debut in the 1991 January issue of Time Life magazine “Year of Photos 1990”,
Wil remembers this well, he said the selection process for the photo session is a story on its own.
The 80’s and 90’s were the year
of the listing of northern spotted owls on the Endangered Species List, which as we all remember caused major mill closures throughout the Northwest.
A young reporter, Miriam Bensimhon was assigned to the spotted owl issue. She contacted the, BLM, Forest Service and many other people in the forest industry. Her father worked in the timber industry in northern California and he did some research for her on a qualified person as a subject for her story. Wilbur Heath’s name kept popping up.
She called Heath Logging office several times and got no answer, so she flew to Eugene, rented a car and drove to Cottage Grove, Oregon, got a room at the Village Green and started calling Heath Logging again. Wil Heath just happened to be in the office that day when the phone rang, he took the call, and the rest is history.
Wil and his wife Catherine, met with Miriam that evening for dinner and discussed everything except the spotted owl issue. They met again the next evening to lay out the plans for the photo shoot.
Early the following morning they met Eric Forsman in Corvallis, they picked up the spotted owl (her name was “Fat Broad”) and headed to Oregon State University’s research forest McDonald Forest. Miriam hired a well-known photographer from New York, Brian Lanker, who was living in Eugene, Oregon at the time and Lanker took over 1,000 photos using a 35mm camera.
They had planned to go out again, but Miriam received a call that night to head to Reno for another big story; the IRS was shutting down the famous Mustang Ranch.
When Wil got home the evening after the photo shoot, he took off his hickory shirt and Catherine asked him “what’s on the back of your shirt? Wil looked and said, “That damn owl s%@t on me again!”
The photo was a two page spread in the 1991 January issue of Time Life “Year of Photos 1990”. The short story and photo was titled “Endangered Species – An Owl and a Logger Symbolize the Nations Tough Choice. Jobs or Environment.” Wil was quoted in this article, “we’re both looking at a bleak future”, the 62-year-old (in 1990) said, nodding at the imperiled northern spotted owl sitting on his shoulder.
The Heath family roots run deep in south Lane County. Wil’s grandfather came to Cottage Grove, Oregon with his family in 1885. Wil’s father, Addison Heath, was born there in 1899 and Wilbur saw the light of day in 1928. The Heath family has lived in the area for over 130 years
Wilbur’s grandfather bought a 160 acre spread near Cottage Grove, and built a sawmill next to a pond in a creek, ran the sawmill on the abundance of nearby timber, and built a home for his family. Wil’s grandfather also farmed part of the place and did a thousand other things to provide for those who depended on him. He made choices to use the natural resources around him and as the years have gone by they appeared to be informed choices.
Addison Heath (Wil’s father) at the age of 17 chose to use the abundant timber resources as a way to make a living for himself and his family. He spent the early days of his career logging in Lane County on Layng Creek, Brice Creek, Sharps Creek and on Rose Hill near Disston, Oregon.
In 1935 Addison started his business Gyppo Logging Company. He bought a Coos King yarder hoist in Coos Bay and powered it with the engine off his 1924 Stearling log truck. His first job was with W.A. Woodard Lumber Company located in Cottage Grove.
Wil and his brother went to work with their Dad every weekend when he went to the woods to work on something or build roads. Wil says “we ended up spending the rest of our lives out there in the woods, GREAT LIFE!”
Wilbur graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1946. That fall he enrolled in forest engineering at Oregon State University College of Forestry. He spent the next 3 ½ years there. Wil didn’t graduate from college because in the winter of 1950 he went to work for the family business with his father Addison Sr. and brother Addison Jr. He married his sweetheart Catherine in December 1950.
In August of 1951, Uncle Sam asked Wilbur to work for him, which included basic training and over a year in Korea. He spent his time surveying and put his good training from OSU to work for the government.
The family’s 160 acre homestead was bought several years ago by Bohemia Inc. (Willamette Industries now Weyehaeuser), which they made part of their corporate tree farm.
Wil remembers the early years of the conference, and although they didn’t attend the meetings at the Osborn Hotel, they would drive around and look at the equipment that was displayed along the streets of Downtown Eugene. The conference at that time was known as the Willamette Valley Logging Conference.
His first conference to attend was sometime in the 1950’s; he remembers it rained for three days. At that conference several superintendents from the big companies tried to raise a spar pole out in the mud, and it fell over 3 times (no one was hurt), before they decided to give up. That was the last time they tried that and the conference stayed with the equipment show from then on.
Wilbur joined the OLC board in the mid 1970's, and in 1993-1994 he served as President of the 56th Annual Oregon Logging Conference. The theme of the conference for that year was “Abundant Resources – Informed Choices”. In his president’s message, he said “We are loggers and we are also environmentalists. The two are inseparable.” He quoted a long-time friend Herman Pfeiffer. “We can have our cake and eat it too, because we’re dealing with a renewable natural resource.”
The keynote speaker for the conference that year was Michael Reagan, (son of the 40th United State President). Michael was a syndicated talk show host on the American Entertainment network broadcast, which at that time aired on KPNW
Wil Heath is one of a few people (if any others) who has served as President of the Associated Oregon Loggers (first president in 1970-1971 and again in 1981-1982), President of the Pacific Logging Congress (1988 – static equipment show in Portland, Oregon), and President of the 56th Annual Oregon Logging Conference (1994-1995)
In 1985 Wil received the “Logger of the Year” Award presented by the Associated Oregon Loggers. And in 2006 Oregon State University College of Forestry honored Wil as an Honorary Fern-hopper for his many years of serving the forestry profession, supporting communities, and providing counsel and connections to more than three generations of forest engineering department heads.
Wilbur served on the board and as an officer of the Oregon Aviation Historical Society in Cottage Grove, Oregon. As a pilot Wilbur, he owns and still flies a 1948 Aeronca Sedan, which Wil's wife Catherine named, "The Mistress", she said it was the cheapest one he would ever have.
Wilbur served on many civic organizations, including fundraising for the new Cottage Grove hospital. He was awarded Cottage Grove’s “first citizen” award in 2001.
Now at 88 years young, Wilbur comments, he’s had a great life working with great people. “Everywhere you go, you see old friends and meet new ones, (and) they always welcome you. We are an industry who fights for what we believe in!” he said, and added with a smile, “I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
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Socializing at AOL meeting in January
Martin Nygaard, Catherine & Wil Heath
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Wil poses in front of a machine at the 1994 OLC Equipment Show
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Early years of the Heath Logging Crew
From Left: Milt, Dick and Addison
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1994 OLC Board of Directors
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Birds eye view of the
1994 OLC Equipment Show
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Left & Right: Photos from Oregon Aviation Historical Society Museum
Photo below: "The Mistress"
1948 Aeronca Sedan
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PLIKAT LOGGING COMPANY
NOMINATED FOR
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY'S
OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
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Congratulations to Plikat Logging for being nominated to receive the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Operator of the Year award. Two generations of the Plikat family have and are involved in the Oregon Logging Conference board of directors: Jeff Plikat currently, and Jeff’'s dad Wally more than 20 years ago. The NEWS-REVIEW in Roseburg recently published a story on this honor.
Click here for full article in The News- Review
Bottom left: Wally Plikat, Owner
Courtesy of Emily Hoard, Business and Outdoor Reporter. The News-Review
Bottom right: Courtesy of Plikat Logging
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One Log Load - Three Bedroom Home in the Rough. Jaycee Truck Display
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Moving a Logging Camp by Train
(location and year unknown)
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ATTEND SEMINARS AND EARN
FOREST PRACTICES CREDITS
FOR OREGON AND WASHINGTON
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Seminars on both Oregon and Washington Forest Practices will take place at the Oregon Logging Conference on Friday, February 24, 2017. Earn Professional Logger Credits by attending the seminars, both which start at 8:30 a.m.
The Oregon Forest Practices Seminar will take place in the Wheeler Pavilion from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Oregon loggers can earn three of eight mandatory credits needed to stay current annually. This seminar will include a presentation on tethered logging, safety concerns with tethered logging, an update on new riparian management area rules, industrial fire protection, and an overview of the FERNS website for online notice of operations permits (see below for details).
The Washington Forest Practices seminar will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and will include a presentation titled one year to understand the challenges we face, and a presentation on life after RMAP. (see below for details)
Professional Logger Credits earned by attending these seminars are applicable toward Professional Logger’s Certification and fulfilling requirements outlined in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
The hole punch system is used at OLC. All paid registered members of the OLC will receive a punch card in the registration packet and at the end of each seminar or panel discussion, someone will be available to punch the card as participants leave the sessions.
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OREGON FOREST PRACTICES SEMINAR
Presented from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 24, 2017, in the Wheeler Pavilion. Attending this seminar you will receive 3 Forest Practices Credits. Terry Mann, LL Forestry, Sutherlin,Oregon will moderate this session.
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- Tethered Logging - Presentation on the Ponsse/Herzog system
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Matt Mattioda, Miller Timber Company, Philomath, OR
Matt is a 1995 Oregon State Forest Management graduate. He worked as a forester for Willamette Industries in Oregon and Washington for 8 years.
After his time at Willamette, he worked for 3 years as a commodity buyer for Jeld-Wen and later worked in his family construction business. Matt has been with Miller Timber Services since
2010 as a forester and manager of cut-to-length harvesting systems.
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Lukas Herzog, Herzog Forsttechnik AG
Lukas Herzog is the head of development for Herzog Forsttechnik AG and has worked for the company since 2009. In 2013, he graduated from the University of Applied Sciences in Fribourg, Switzerland, with a BSc
in Mechanical Engineering.
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- Safety Concerns with Tethered Logging / OSHA Waiver Process
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Tom Bozicevic, Oregon OSHA
Tom is a Safety Technical Specialist with Oregon OSHA's Standards and Technical Resource Section where his duties include providing technical assistance to division staff, other agencies, and the public; developing rules and publications; and providing rule interpretations. Tom works with Oregon employers in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and logging industries by providing rule guidance and best practice recommendations for advancing employee safety and health in the workplace. Tom came to the Technical Section from Oregon OSHA's Enforcement Section where he worked as a compliance officer for four years. Prior to joining the agency, Tom managed workplace safety and health in the private sector, and earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety at Oregon State University.
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- Update on New Riparian Management Area Rules
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Jos
h Barnard, ODF, Salem, OR
Josh is the Field Support Unit Manager for the Private Forests Division of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Josh oversees the administration of the Forest Practices
Act within Oregon as well as conservation incentives and forest landowner assistance programs. Prior to joining ODF, Josh spent nine years working in industrial forestry managing timberlands in northern Idaho. He held multiple positions that involved inventory, silviculture, harvesting, and biomass generation. Josh holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in Forest Products-Timber Harvesting and a Master’s in Business Administration from Washington State University
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- Industrial Fire Protection
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Tom Fields, ODF, Salem, OR
Tom Fields has served as Fire Prevention Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Forestry since 2011. Working out of Salem’s ODF headquarters, he oversees the industrial and public fire prevention programs for the Fire Protection Division. Responsibilities include statewide coordination of wildland fire prevention regulation, communication, and fire cause analysis. Tom is involved in several interagency fire prevention committees and is currently chair of the Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordination Group’s CPI (Communication, Prevention, Investigation) committee. He is nationally certified as a Type 1 Fire Information Officer and serves as lead PIO for ODF Incident Management Team 3. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Media Communications from Oregon State University in 1987.
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- Overview of the FERNS Website for Online Notice of Operations Permits
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Joe Touchstone, ODF, Salem, OR
Joe is the Business Analyst for the Private Forest Division of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Joe is the technical and business lead for the new E-Notification system and is overseeing the development of the new functionality that continues to be developed. Joe has been working for the Oregon Department of Forestry for over seven years. Prior to working at ODF, Joe worked at Intel for 14 years in Sales and Marketing and Information Technology and started a sporting goods and training business in Eugene. Joe holds a bachelor degree in Management Information Systems from Portland State University.
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WASHINGTON FOREST PRACTICES SEMINAR
Presented from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 24, 2017, in the Southeast meeting room located in the Exhibit Hall. Attending this seminar you will receive 2 Washington Forest Practices Credits and 2 general OPL credits.
David Boyd, Hancock Forest Management, Cathlamet, WA will moderate this session.
- One Year to Understand the Challenges We Face
Jenny Knoth, PHD, Director Environmental Affairs, Green Crow
- Life After RMAP
Speaker to be announce
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WASHINGTON FOREST PRACTICES SEMINAR
Presented from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2017, in the Southeast meeting room located in the Exhibit Hall. Attending this seminar you will receive 2 Washington Forest Practices Credits and 2 general OPL credits.
George Kirkmire, WCLA, Olympia, WA will moderate this session.
- RMAP / Fish Passage Issues
Sam Lovelace, Weyerhaeuser Company
- Unstable Slope Identification
Brandon Austin, WA Department of Natural Resources
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Thank You For Your Donations
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PURCHASE SOME GREAT ITEMS
AND SUPPORT EDUCATION!
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Proceeds from the Oregon Logging Conference Foundation (OLCF) auction on February 23rd and 24th will fund scholarships for deserving students, including many past recipients who have gone on to be leaders in the industry.
The OLCF is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, and all donations and purchases are tax deductible.
The auction takes place on both Thursday and Friday mornings (at 8:00 a.m.) of the 79th Annual Oregon Logging Conference in the Wheeler Pavilion at the Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds in Eugene, OR.
Thursday auction items include two truck seats donated by DSU Peterbilt, a $1,000 gift certificate toward the purchase of pickup tires donated by Superior Tire Service, a truck seat donated by Brattain International, a pair of Bridgestone front truck tires donated by Farwest Tire Factory, a $5,000 gift certificate towards the purchase of a set of Olofsfors tracks donated by Ponsse Coburg location, and a wood carving donated by Ryan Anderson of Sculptures in Motion.
On Friday, February 24th, in addition to the Southstar 750 felling head (donated by Southstar Equipment and which carries with it a reserved bid), auction items include a truck seat donated by Papé Kenworth, wood carving donated by Jay Peppard of Chainsaw Buzz, a pair of Michelin front truck tires donated by Farwest Tire Factory, a truck seat donated by Gold Coast Truck Repair, saw bar and chain donated by OREGON, a single registration to the 108th Pacific Logging Congress Convention, November 2017, Scottsdale, Arizona donated by the Pacific Logging Congress, and a great donation from Radiator Supply House announced soon.
In addition, the Washington Contract Loggers Association Credit Union has donated a 12-month, 0% financing package for the purchaser of the Southstar felling head. Credit approval and qualifying criteria apply.
Visit the OLC website for updated auction donations. If you are interested in donating auction items to this charity event, please contact the OLCF office at 541-686-9191.
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JOIN THE OLC CELEBRATION PARTY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017
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Sample beer and wine from local wineries during the cocktail hour from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., then enjoy a buffet dinner, and finally, dance the night away to the sounds of
“Bump in the Road.
” This band entered the Country music scene in 2003 as the Oregon State Champions in the Colgate Country Music Showdown. Sponsored by General Trailer and Peerless Corp.
Plan to join us at the cocktail party, buffet dinner, and dance.
The hearty buffet dinner, hosted by Steelhead Brewery, will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30. This party takes place at the Eugene Hilton Playwrights Hall.
To purchase tickets call the OLC 541-686-9191 tickets are just $50 per person.
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FUN EVENTS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS
IS YOUR LOG LOADER OPERATOR THE BEST IN THE WEST?
SIGN UP EARLY AND RECEIVE A 79TH OLC TEE SHIRT!
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Calling all expert loader operators! Sign up for the 8th Annual Log Loader Competition and prove to all that you are the best! NEW this year…sign up on or before January 25, 2017 and receive a FREE 79th Annual OLC tee shirt, when you check in at the competition on your assigned day and time. Sign up early…this offer is available only to those who sign up on of before January 25th Click here to download the form.
The Competition is sponsored by Triad Machinery and Link-Belt Forestry Equipment. This event will be held on Friday (Feb 24th) from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and on Saturday (Feb 25th) from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Click here to learn more.
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FAMILY FUN INCLUDES EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
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Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday (February 25th) in the Wheeler Pavilion, family fun is the focus! All exhibits and activities are free and the public is welcome to participate. This event will last until 2 p.m. Hands on and interactive opportunities include learning how to make paper, building bird feeders, and hearing forest-themed stories in a colorful 30-foot long nylon inflatable salmon tent. Children and parents are invited to dress in colorful costumes of birds, insects, wolves, and other creatures and ”fly, hop, crawl, swim of walk” in a short parade through the Wheeler Pavilion prior to story telling. Try out the interactive cross-cut saw demonstration.
Lots to do and see, Family Day activities include;
- wildlife exhibits
- paper making
- building bird feeders
- wildfire safety demonstration
- wood magic
- free seedlings
- learn the age of a tree
- salmon storytelling tent
- popcorn
- millions of dollars of logging equipment to explore
Click here to learn more.
Photos below:
Left top: Story telling inside Salmon tent sponsored by Siuslaw NF
Right top: Building bird feeders sponsored by OWIT
Bottom left: Making paper sponsored by Talk About Trees
Bottom right: Learning to use a cross-cut-saw sponsored by High Cascade Cross=Cut Club
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HIGH SCHOOL SKILLS COMPETITION
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HIGH SCHOOL FORESTRY STUDENTS SHOW THEIR SKILLS
Saturday (February 25th) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the outside area, just north of Expo Hall on the Lane County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by Warrenton Fiber / Nygaard Logging.
The next generation of loggers will be showing off their skills and competing head to head with other students in this event. Over 75 students from across the state of Oregon will compete in events such as:
● Cable Splicing ● Crosscut ● Single Buck ● Compass and Pacing ●
● Tool Identification ● Log Scaling ● Arbor Climbing ●
The arbor-culture climbing event is an exciting competition where both male and female competitors race up a tree to a designated finish line. To ensure the safety of the climbers and the health of the trees, current arborist techniques are used.
Events like these help students learn forestry skills as well as stay connected to school. Come cheer and support the next generation of loggers and forestry professionals. Click here to learn more.
Photos: Choker setting relays, Forestry students compete in splicing, and chainsaw events
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RESERVE YOUR
EXHIBIT
SPACE TODAY!
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PROUD SPONSOR OF THE
79TH OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE
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Rotobec has grown from a small Canadian innovator in hydraulic rotation technology to the world’s best material handling equipment manufacturer.
Founded 41 years ago in the small town of St. Justine Quebec, Rotobec has become synonymous in the area, employing more than 350 staff at their state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot production facility.
Today they offer a wide range of products used by thousands of customers in over 35 countries around the world. Despite their expansion, with locations on six of the seven continents, they remain a family run company.
Rotobec designs and manufactures almost every component of their products in the North American production facilities, to ensure their customers receive the toughest handling and most reliable equipment available.
With an extensive global network of carefully selected distributors and agents, Rotobec's commitment is to provide the toughest handling equipment backed by the best service team in the business. Whether you are on the other side of town or the other side of the world, their focus on family values, technical innovation and customer care makes Rotobec the undisputed #1 manufacturer of forestry material handling equipment worldwide.
As a Gold Level sponsor of the 79th Oregon Logging Conference, Rotobec is proud to be a continued supporter and exhibitor of the annual OLC. Be sure to stop by their large outside exhibit area to view their latest technology on display.
To learn more about Rotobec and their incredible line of products visit their website.
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