Big Thorne public meetings set for Ketchikan, POW

The U.S. Forest Service has scheduled three public meetings to share information about the planned Big Thorne timber sale.

Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole announced the Record of Decision on Monday. It calls for a harvest of nearly 150 million board feet, coming from more than 6,000 acres of old growth and more than 2,000 acres of second growth on Prince of Wales Island.

The first public meeting will be Wednesday in Ketchikan. It is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Ketchikan Public Library.

Two meetings on Prince of Wales will take place later in the month. One is set for 6:30 p.m. July 24^th at the Bay Chalet in Thorne Bay, and a second is at 6:30 p.m. July 25^th at the ferry building in Coffman Cove.

During each meeting, Forest Service officials will explain the Record of Decision. There will be time for comments and questions from the public.