Forest Service Working To Stop Emerald Ash Borer Transfering To Virginia Forests

Monterey, VA – The Highland County Board of Supervisors heard an important report from George Washington National Forest District Ranger Patrick Sheridan Tuesday evening at its regular monthly meeting. There is a new invasive species alert concerning the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that destroys Ash trees. It’s already in several counties in West Virginia.

You may see purple boxes hanging from trees in the national forest this summer. Those contain sticky flypaper-like material to trap insects so the rangers can see which insects are common in the forest this year. The surveys are especially looking to see if the emerald ash borer is spreading into Virginia.

Last fall, West Virginia put a full quarantine on wood products in an effort to stop the movement of the insect. Sheridan says WV also prohibits the movement of firewood from the state, as this is one of the primary ways of transferring the insect.

In other business, county administrator Roberta Lambert reported to the board on a state program for funding upgrades for indoor plumbing. Ms. Lambert recommended that the supervisors continue to allow the Waynesboro redevelopment and housing authority to administer those funds for the county. A motion to that affect was passed unanimously by the board.

Story By

Heather Niday

Heather is our Program Director and Traffic Manager. She started with Allegheny Mountain Radio as a volunteer deejay. She then joined the AMR staff in February of 2007. Heather grew up in the Richmond, Virginia, area and now lives in Arbovale, West Virginia with her husband Chuck. Heather is a wonderful flute player, and choir director for Arbovale UMC. You can hear Heather along with Chuck on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8pm as they host two hours of jazz on Something Different.

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