By JANIE SLAVEN
Monticello — WHITLEY CITY - Last week marked a homecoming of sorts for the new head
of the Daniel Boone National Forest's Stearns District.
Tim Reed reported for duty on March 1 from Mississippi, where he has
spent the last seven years first as a deputy district ranger with Bienville
National Forest and then as district ranger for Homochitto National Forest.
While at Homochitto in 2009, Reed's district was chosen as District of the
Year in the Forest Service Southern Region.
A native of Magoffin County, Reed had served with the Stearns Ranger
District in silviculture (controlling forest health) before his promotion to
the south.
"We're happy to be back home," Reed said. "My wife is from Wayne County
and has several relatives in the area."
Reed's wife Teresa, a school counselor, and their three children‹Jake,
17, Hunter, 14, and Cassandra, 11‹will make the move once their school year
ends in May. In the meantime, Reed is trying to refamiliarize himself with
the Stearns District.
"I've been getting familiar with everything going on here," Reed said.
"Over the next few weeks, I want to meet with our local partners in the
community including local government leaders. You've got a lot of folks
interested in what's going on in the forest. I look forward to working with
those groups to maintain and strengthen the relationship the Forest Service
has with the county."
In announcing Reed's appointment in January, Forest Supervisor Frank
Beum stated, "I am delighted to welcome Tim back to Kentucky. His diverse
background in biology and natural resources, as well as his experience as a
district ranger, provides the leadership qualities needed for the position."
Reed holds a bachelor's degree in wildlife management from Eastern
Kentucky University. In 1991, he began his career with the U.S. Forest
Service as a forestry technician, working with timber as well as wildlife.
He later served as a wildlife biologist for the former Somerset Ranger
District. His work spanned across district boundaries on the southern end of
the forest, including environmental planning duties that were conducted for
the Stearns office.
"My background gives me insight into the different programs here," Reed
said, adding that district officials are currently working to prepare the
forest for the spring recreation season.
The Stearns Ranger District covers nearly 115,000 acres in McCreary,
Wayne, Pulaski and Whitley counties.