Hey guys!  Read below.  This was in the Southern today.  Take time to send an e-mail.  These are the people that we work with on trail maintenance to keep us all riding in the West Shawnee...

Forest Service considering proposal to shut down Murphysboro Work Center
StoryDiscussionTHE SOUTHERN STAFF | Posted: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 2:04 pm | No Comments Posted

MURPHYSBORO - The U.S. Forest Service is considering the shutdown of the Shawnee National Forest's Murphysboro Work Center, and citizens have until Friday to make their concerns, if any, known.

The forest service is seeking input on the plan to close down the Walnut Street facility.  No employees would lose their job as a result of the closing, as personnel would be reassigned to other forest service facilities in Harrisburg, Jonesboro and Vienna.

The Murphysboro center would be sold at some point in the future under the proposal, and a local group would be identified to help provide information to visitors and local citizens.

Those seeking to provide input to the forest service can e-mail them to comments-eastern-shawnee@fs.fed.us and type "CRIA" on the subject line.

email sent.

Hey Cay,

Long time no see!

Do we know how "the people that we work with on trail maintenance" feel about the closure?  Is the work center old/dilapidated/etc.?  Does this closure affect their work in the west Shawnee?  Presumably so, if the purpose of the closure is to reduce costs and potentially tandems a reduction in budget/travel/etc.  I am curious to know the reasons behind the closure.  How does this affect smba's trail work?  Curious here in AL

Phil

Hello again.  (Hey Phil miss ya dear.) Phil posted some good questions about the possible closure so I called and spoke with someone at the Murphysboro Forest Service.  I won't say who I spoke with in case they would prefer not to be mentioned.
How do they feel about the closure?... they couldn't say because it isn't supposed to play in to the outcome but certainly you could tell that it wasn't favored by those there.
Is the facility in bad shape etc?... no
Will the West Shawnee and our area be affected, and how will it affect out work in the Shawnee?... yes our area and our group will be affected.  It will mean more time on the road and less time in the field for the Forest Service workers.  It will be harder to get time with the Forest Service people to help out with the areas we frequent.  Also right now the people we've worked with for years give SMBA and mtn bikers a voice.  It could affect how we mtn bikers are received in the Shawnee if we have to possibly begin a relationship with a new group of people.  Different Forest Service people may not understand that mtn biking has little impact on the trails, and too they may not understand how much as a group we give back to the Shawnee.  An additional note... Forest Service personel will be less accessible to the public.  It is likely that much of the public will not want to drive to Jonesboro for info and questions.
Reasons behind the closure... Cost Reduction

This may not have answered all questioned people have but hopefully encourages people to shoot an e-mail in.  The person I spoke with encouraged us to please please send e-mails.  Comments must be received by tomorrow.