TWRA Decision On Cutting Project A Win For Citizens

White County Resident Mike O’Neal calls TWRA’s decision to stop the cutting of the Bridgestone Firestone Wilderness Area as a win for citizens.

County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson announced Tuesday night the habitat project would not move forward. O’Neal said he thinks several factors played a role in the ruling.

“I think there was a lot of opposition to this from all walks of life,” O’Neal said. “Hiking, saw people that mountain biked. Kayakers were there from Jackson. There was just a wide variety of people that didn’t want to see the hardwood timber cut.”

O’Neal said he still sees TWRA as a good agency. The habitat project was just not in the best interest of White County, O’Neal said.

“I don’t want to be boastful or proud or brag that we have stopped TWRA,” O’Neal said. “They are a good agency. Just this one project didn’t seem to fit in the community or the best interests of the sportsmen.”

TWRA has yet to officially confirm in writing that the quail habitat project will not happen. O’Neal said this does cause a little concern, but he, “Hopes and trusts that the people pursuing this will stay focused on it until they do get something in writing.”