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Franks Logging Inc. was recently featured in the Iron Mountain Daily News about hauling logs across the Paint River in Iron County, MI.  Below is the article that appeared in the paper.

By LISA M. HOFFMANN

Staff Writer (Daily News)

PESHTIGO, Wis. - A Peshtigo, Wis., logging company is in the process of cutting trees and hauling more than 4,000 cords of pulpwood across the Paint River, using on an old ford.

A ford is a shallow spot on a river or creek that allows for easy access with a crushed rock bottom.

George VanKirk, a forester with Franks Logging Inc. of Peshtigo, said the location of where the logs are being hauled is east of Airport Road in Iron County, known as Brule Island.

"We are crossing the Paint River onto an island," he said. The island is located near Paint Pond. They are logging the Island North sale for the state of Michigan.

"There is diverted water for Peavy Pond and a bridge over a conversion canal, but trucks can't go across because even when they are empty they weigh more than 14 tons."

(photo by Mike VanKirk)

So in order for the logging company to access the more than 232 acres of trees in Mastodon Township, VanKirk said the DNRE (formerly DEQ) installed a ford for a limited time use to haul logs across the Paint River.

"The ford has to be kept in good condition, free of contaminants," VanKirk said. "The DNR put small crushed rock on the riverbed and banks on both side so there is no exposed soil. There is no chance of soil getting into the water. It was done legally."

Steve Milford, DNR Crystal Falls Unit manager, said the DNR forest management unit holds the permit, which allows for logging companies to log the island using the ford.

Milford said there is a bridge owned by Wisconsin Electric that had been used

to haul logs. However, since the bridge was damaged, engineers determined it was unsafe.

"For many years, they were unable to haul logs off the island," he said.

With a permit obtained by the DNRE within the last two years, the old ford is being used by two logging companies solely for the removal of timber.

"We will close it off after (the logging operation) with large rocks," Milford said of the ford.

Milford said it will be closed because the east side of the river is private property.

Milford said the old ford is armored on both sides with rock, which prevents erosion problems or dirt and mud from getting tracked in the river.

Milford added using a ford is uncommon, but in this case, it was the only answer.

(photo by Mike VanKirk)

"Traditionally they try to use bridges, culverts. As long as there is no gnarly equipment. In this particular incident it was the only real feasible way to do it with the least environment implications," Milford said.

VanKirk added two logging crews are harvesting the trees, and the project will be completed by September.

Franks Logging is owned by a father-son duo, Eugene Frank and Chris Frank.

The company does forestry work from Channing to Green Bay, Wis. Five independent logging crews work year-round.

The company primarily contracts with Louisiana Pacific in Sagola, which makes oriented strand board for construction, Verso Paper Mill in Quinnesec and NewPage in Escanaba. It sells lumber to local sawmills for pallet lumber.