A&W Logging has spent the last several months testing a small prototype single-function track loader on its wet weather logging job. Designed by affiliate enterprise River Ridge Equip­ment, also based in Rison, it is essentially a John Deere 160D excavator modified with a customized loader package replacing the unit’s standard digging thumb.

The 33rd version of the East Coast Sawmill & Logging Equipment Exposition may not have set any records here May 18-19 but the turnout was probably the best since 2006. Most of the estimated 275 exhibitors appeared to be satisfied with the show’s relatively strong attendee draw. The weather was perfect.

Sara and I started again following the old survey to the ridge. Approximately every 50 feet a tree would have two chop scars on it. I would stand on the line sight by the marked tree and guide Sara on the line until she would find a marked tree. Then she would stand and sight the line, guiding my way past her. It was slow, patient work but a necessary task for locating boundary lines.

Most people enter the professions of logging and sawmilling in one of two ways. Either they follow in the longstanding footsteps of the family business, or they find themselves knee deep in the industry almost completely by surprise. Antoine Hardwoods founder Charles Ledbetter went from a military stint in Vietnam to working on a dairy farm, followed by a job selling cars.

The first segment of this month’s offering is admittedly a few months late. I originally wrote it soon after last February’s Super Bowl and intended to include it in the “Bud and Junior” installment that appeared here in the April issue because it was an appropriate fit. But alas, there wasn’t room. It’s still appropriate, given the situation our country finds itself in, so here goes.

For 30 years, officer Johnson had arrived at the police station at 7 a.m. on the dot ready for duty. He had never missed a day and was never late. Consequently, when on one particular day 7 a.m. passed without Johnson’s arrival in the briefing room, it caused a major sensation. All announcements and patrol assignments ceased, and the sergeant himself, looking at his watch and muttering, stormed out into the corridor.

Our spring Washington DC trip still weighs heavily on my mind, and I wanted to share with you a few of the thoughts that I have had since that visit. Results of these trips are hard to measure immediately but I know we left some good impressions with our representatives in DC. I am very proud of everyone who showed up to represent the loggers of America and the American Loggers Council, as they are a part of the process.

On a fall weekend day in the Appalachians, an individual was cutting firewood from unmerchantable tops and log pieces at a log deck. The firewood cutter had previous timber cutting experience. He had asked for, and had been granted, permission from the logging business owner to cut some firewood on the harvest site after hours, when the logging job was inactive. It was unknown whether he was wearing any personal protective equipment.