Washington: History channel is going to jail for aiding & abetting felony theft / illegal logging
Please contact the Washington State Attorney General’s office and demand
the History Channel is brought to justice:
http://www.atg.wa.gov/contactus.aspx
“It is unfortunate that the History Channel has chosen to glorify illegal activity and unsafe logging practices on their television program,” said state Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark, who oversees DNR, in a prepared statement.
“We get our cases from TV now,” joked Larry Raedel, the chief of law-enforcement services for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who was tipped to the case Sunday while watching the show at home.
Get full text; support writer, producer of the words:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008857779_axmen14m.html
The state normally doesn’t issue permits for underwater log salvage
because of the potential ecological impacts of pulling the logs from
the river, Raedel said. Raedel said he’s not sure how long the company
has been pulling logs from Washington rivers.
He said they have not had a chance to interview the owner. They also have not heard back from the History Channel after trying to reach the show this week to see about getting copies of all the episodes.
The state is investigating the case as a possible felony theft. No charges have
been issued. History Channel bills “Ax Men” as a reality-television show offering a glimpse into the rugged life of Northwest loggers. But perhaps part of the show should have aired on A&E Television’s Crime & Investigation Network. Washington state timber regulators say it appears “Ax Men” episodes airing nationwide show a Cle Elum-based company, S&S Aqua Logging, breaking state law by salvaging logs from the Hoquiam River without permits.
“He (the owner of the company) had inquired about permits, and we said we don’t issue permits for that kind of activity,” Raedel said. “So, apparently he went off on his own and was doing it.” Because the river bottom is considered state aquatic lands, the logs are public property, Raedel said. The logs can be valuable because they are preserved and essentially pressure-treated while underwater.
Get full text; support writer, producer of the words:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008857779_axmen14m.html
Heli-logger featured in new documentary
Duncan-based tree company featured on Discovery Channel
By Robert Barron, Daily NewsMarch 10, 2009
http://www.canada.com/Heli+logger+featured+documentary/1373103/story.html
Going where few other loggers dare go is the name of the game for Duncan-based South Coast Standing Stem heli-logging operation.
The company, one of only three on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast that harvest logs using helicopters, and its hard-working crews are the subject of a new documentary series, airing Friday on the Discovery Channel.
Considered the most dangerous land job on the planet, heli-logging involves hanging precariously from the tops of trees that are hundreds of metres high while chainsawing sections of tree, which weigh thousands of kilograms. The timber is then air-lifted out of the forest by helicopter from steep slopes.
It’s a recipe for good programming by the Discovery Channel, which has also highlighted other dangerous jobs through successful documentary series in recent years, including The Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers.
“No fear of heights is a requirement for this job,” company owner Gord Closson told the Daily News on Monday. “The job is physically exhausting and can be very dangerous, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Closson, 32, began his career as a tree-topper 15 years ago while working with a residential tree service in Duncan that cut back or took down trees in people’s yards.
He began South Coast Standing Stem, which seasonally employs about 25 heli-loggers, four years ago and now works with all the major forestry and helicopter companies on the Island and the Sunshine Coast to harvest valuable lumber in areas where conventional logging methods aren’t feasible.
Closson said such terrain includes steep slopes where logging roads can’t be built or areas that are considered environmentally sensitive and damage to the forest floor is not permitted.
Closson said his independent company partners with helicopter firms that provide the aircraft and pilots to assist with the harvesting. Depending on the job, Chinook helicopters are used to transport logs as heavy as 10,700 kg, while smaller K-Max helicopters that can lift about 2,720 kg are used for lighter-duty work.
“We typically harvest western red cedar, yellow cedar and fir trees that are used for specialty purposes, like musical instruments and big beams in construction, and not usually for things like making two-by-fours,” he said. “Obviously, the value of the wood we harvest has to justify the costs of our methods. The cost of heli-logging is about $100 per square metre of wood and we usually make about $120 per square metre, a $20 profit. The cost of using traditional methods to harvest less specialized wood is about $60 per square metre of wood and companies usually sell it for about $80 per square metre.”
The Discovery Channel taped 10 one-hour episodes of Heli-Loggers that cover South Coast Standing Stem’s day-to-day operations from June to January.
Carolyn Fell, a spokeswoman for the channel, said documentaries dealing with unusual and dangerous jobs are becoming increasingly popular.
“We’re getting a really good response to these types of shows and we’re always looking for new ideas,” she said.
Heli-loggers airs at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Fridays on the Discovery Channel.
I am sick and tired of the finger pointing and theivery in this country !!!! Are we going to let this continue ? Oh just looking for ideas how do i get paid for ideas!!!! when is the problem rock going to hit!!! PS dont sell my friggin email please
I Gord the best show on any channel compeling action , what a great bunch of guys you have with you . I see my self more on the lines of the beast a great guy also gord were can a fellow buy a pair braces like yours , I have to use baler twine so take care all you men lets hope 2010 brings you plenty of good and safe work god bless your families take care see yoy bye bye BRYAN
I think water ways, undeveloped are open to wood recovery`s. sign me up…. love my dive`n
bootskickn at yahoo dot com
if you dont OFFER permits, you and your monkey need a football. hug a tree, just not the one of atrillion possible I am cuttin……S.R.L.
would love a job doin my dream, dive`n. come on Oboma`, the south will rise again……….no more bull shit promises, and your heritege is NOT important, your record IS…….