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Posted: Wed 5:30 PM, Jul 06, 2011
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Reporter: Kelly Asmuth Email
Updated: Wed 9:33 PM, Jul 06, 2011

Sen. Udall pushes Feds to save CO sawmills

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Three lumber mills in Colorado could soon be cleared. The U.S. Forest service says it might not have the authority to re-contract with sawmills in Montrose, Delta and Saguache. Those mills depend on government dollars to keep running with hundreds of employees.
Democratic Colorado Senator Mark Udall is pressing the Forest Service to renegotiate the salvage timber contracts, to save the sawmills and protect forests from intense fires.

"It's the summer season. It's the time when we can reduce fuel loads, get into our forests. It's also the time of year when fires are more apt to occur. For all of those reasons, I'm pushing, urging and cajoling the forest service to go ahead and make that decision," says Senator Udall.

Udall says if the mills close, Colorado won't have anywhere to unload downed trees, which could be a dangerous fire hazard. The mills have been struggling since the downturn of the housing market, causing less of a need for wood.

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KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.
  • by Disgusted Location: Ritterville on Jul 9, 2011 at 06:07 AM
    I HAD AN IDEAR! We could have the congress and the senate sneak a bill through under cover of darkness and holiday that states that every American has to buy 20 sheets of plywood whether they need it or not. Those that refuse to buy plywood would be faced with a tax. After all, at some point in a persons life they will need a sheet or two of plywood, correct? What if they don't have plywood and have to borrow some? The force plywood sales would create 400 bajillion jobs, 400 thousand immediately. We could call it The American Plywood Empowerment and Care act!
  • by sawmill worker Location: montrose on Jul 7, 2011 at 09:45 AM
    well I'm just glad somebody, dem/gop, is doing something to help. whether for re-election or not we need the logs and the forest needs less destruction do to fires. once there is a fire the wood is lost to every one.
  • by truth teller Location: CO on Jul 6, 2011 at 09:10 PM
    Disgusted, wise up! There are bad dems. and bad repub. Why don't you research the person themselve. Vote wisely, NOT for the D. or R.
    • reply
      by Disgusted on Jul 6, 2011 at 11:59 PM in reply to truth teller
      Name a good Democrat and please cite what good they have done. Thanks so much.
      • reply
        by truth teller on Jul 7, 2011 at 02:41 AM in reply to Disgusted
        Try Thomas Jefferson to name one of the many
        • reply
          by Really? on Jul 7, 2011 at 06:19 AM in reply to truth teller
          Didn't he own slaves and have children outside his marriage? Even going as far as engaging in sexual relations with some of the women he “owned”? Can you even have consensual sexual relations in this arrangement? It would be a best be considered creating a hostile working environment and at worst rape. Maybe since dems consider Jefferson the “father” of their party, we shouldn’t be surprised to such behavior from so many current elected dems.
        • reply
          by Disgusted on Jul 7, 2011 at 09:06 AM in reply to truth teller
          That's funny. You mentioned Thomas Jefferson as a good Democrat, but have no problem with the current bunch of socialists shredding the document he helped write, the Constitution.
        • reply
          by Boomer on Jul 7, 2011 at 10:12 AM in reply to truth teller
          Thanks Truth Teller!!!!! Disgusted has some real reality issues to overcome. He keeps quoteing J Adamms, after some research I found he became disgruntaled and became a Dem... HHAA!!
        • reply
          by Truth teller on Jul 7, 2011 at 11:10 AM in reply to truth teller
          Those were the laws of the land at the time.I will end this discussion. My mom told me not to argue with idiots ( which you are.) And bad repubs. Try g. w. bush, his dad, regan, noxon, hoover, I could go on and on and .... And Jeferson's slaves were treated very good.
      • reply
        by Disgusted on Jul 7, 2011 at 12:11 PM in reply to Disgusted
        Reply to fib teller:I noticed the only good Democrats you could find drove a horse and buggy! "Facts are stubborn things." J. Adams.
  • by Disgusted Location: Ritterville on Jul 6, 2011 at 08:32 PM
    Wanna help sawmills and business in general? DON'T EVER VOTE FOR ANOTHER DEMOCRAT AGAIN! We have seen how grossly unfit for any leadership position they are.
  • by Predictable on Jul 6, 2011 at 06:57 PM
    Elections must be around the corner. We have dems acting like they're concerned about business. next thing you know they'll start talking about cutting spending and balancing the budget.

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