The Kentucky Gentlemen Cigar Company is a wild con
People have been known to call Allen Mobley crazy. "I've been called a lot worse," he said, throwing back his head, his long ponytail dipping down his back, to laugh a full-throated crazy-man laugh.
And, frankly, it did seem a little loopy to convert the red horse barn behind his house on Ninevah Road into a factory for Kentucky Gentlemen Cigars Co. And that six-week trip he took to the Dominican Republic, where he stayed in a 300-square-foot house on the side of a mountain, to learn how to hand-roll cigars. Well, crazy,tiffany cuff Links sale, some say. (His wife, Carol, came back after two weeks. "I'd had enough," she said.)
And the idea that, soon, his hand-rolled, Kentucky Proud cigars will be packaged with a designer-label cognac launched by rapper Chris "Ludacris" Bridges last month in Bordeaux, France -- well, you get the picture.
"Allen is a very unique person, and he comes up with some wild ideas," said John Cook, Kentucky Gentlemen Cigars' director of sales and marketing. The Moonshine cigar, which is blended with a kiss of white lightning? "I thought, 'Oh, my gosh,tiffany bracelets sale, what are you doing?' " Cook said.
But just like many seemingly zany ideas, Mobley's might just work.
Mobley, his wife and a small crew churn out 7,000 cigars a month. Mobley says, within a year, that number could easily rise to 12,000. He predicts the company could produce as many as 1 million cigars "from right here."
"Here" would be the red barn, formerly home to the family horse, Lady, who still sometimes sticks her head through the window in search of an apple.
A picture of a smiling, bikini-clad bombshell, Brooke Burns, adorns one wall, kitty-corner from pictures of various Mobley ancestors standing in their tobacco fields, sensibly dressed. There are antique tobacco baskets on the wall, the spear Mobley used in the fields as a boy, a pale gray leather chair and ornate metal ashtray that used to be his grandfather's perch in the tobacco warehouse he owned. Amid the homage to heritage, there are Dallas Cowboys hangings and an array of liquors and whiskey barrels along the walls.
All this a backdrop to the small space, roughly the size of a mid-size open-plan living room, where cigars are rolled, blends are created, cedar boxes are assembled and the store is open most weekdays.
So how did this come to be?
Mobley, 63, had long roots in Kentucky tobacco fields but, as a young man, he "couldn't get out of here fast enough," he says.
He worked as a contractor in Florida, had his business blown away by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, owned a bar in Las Vegas for a time, ended up in California,tiffany necklaces on sale, again working as a contractor, met Carol, 25 years his junior, and fell in love. They moved back home to Kentucky after the birth of their 10-year-old twins, Cody and Setera, so they could raise them on a little plot of their own non-coastal land. It is also home to five dogs, seven cats and Lady the horse.
Originally, Mobley's plan was to start a winery. But, inspired by the thousands of dollars he and his buddies spend on cigars during an annual saltwater fishing trip, he decided to do try that business instead.
That was about five years ago. And while things have moved ahead at a pretty good clip, he takes pains to point out that while "this all sounds like it's easy, it hasn't been."
He has been stopped twice by airport police who have relieved him of the Cuban tobacco seeds he was trying to bring into the country. (He eventually got his seeds -- embargoed by the federal government when coming directly from Cuba but allowable in other ways -- by mailing them to himself from the Dominican Republic.) It can be a challenge to find the South American leaves that he needs to make his products, and Kentucky traditionalists have not easily embraced growing a variety of tobacco suited for cigars.
Plus, because he is one of the few producers of hand-rolled cigars in the country and the only one he knows of in the state, "if you run into a problem, it may take you six to eight months to get to a resolution," he says.
But Mobley is undeterred. The secret, he said, is all in the blending of just the right tobacco with just the right flavors. The tobacco leaves are aged in bourbon barrels, which, he said, leeches out the toxins and adds just the hint of bourbon flavor. He creates more blends that don't work than those that do. His wife will occasionally pipe up with something like "that smells horrible, we can't do that" and he knows he must stop.
His secret weapon is a squirt bottle he uses to spray the main liquid ingredient, usually of the alcoholic type, into his mouth. The misting replicates the kiss of flavor you'd get when you inhaled an infused cigar. "It just covers the whole palette," he said. And if you are in the shop/factory, he's happy to give you a squirt to show what he means.
In the past year,tiffany watche, Kentucky Gentlemen Cigars, complete with a photo of their tobacco decorated Christmas tree, was featured in the Tobacconist, the official publication of the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association. The company also had its mint julep cigar favorably reviewed in Smoke magazine.
And then there is the Ludacris deal, brokered during a weeklong stay by Cook and Mobley in Miami negotiating with the makers of Conjure cognac. A specially blended, cognac-inspired, hand-rolled cigar will be sold in specially designed gift boxes that will include a bottle of the cognac, shot glasses, a cigar cutter and cigars. The rapper, who owns a restaurant in Atlanta, will hawk it online.
"It's been an adventure," Mobley said, with a grin.
Wife Carol, who has worked with him in the shop daily since the beginning,tiffany on sale, has the look of a woman who could stand for fewer thrills. Earlier during a recent visit she could be heard on the phone saying of her husband of more than a decade: "I don't know when you are going to stop assuming he tells me what he is supposed to tell me." But she smiles when she talks about his manic genius and his gift for ideas. Sometimes, she knows by experience, you've just got to hang on for a while.
She says, "I didn't really start to believe it was going to work until about a year ago."
Gentleman’s game, my foot
It's probably the last thing on most people's minds, but spare a thought for Suraj Randiv. The young offspinner, expected to follow in Muttiah Muralitharan's giant boots, is a mere stripling in international cricket -- with all of two Tests and 16 ODIs under his belt. And yet, he's already made the most embarrassing and public mistake of what should be a long career.
Randiv's act of bowling a no-ball, with the scores level and Virender Sehwag on 99, has inevitably stirred a hornet's nest. But just how much of the outrage is justified?
Randiv, even if he deliberately overstepped to deny Sehwag the chance of reaching three figures, is well within the laws of the game. What has angered the usual suspects, however, was that Sri Lanka were not playing in the Spirit of Cricket.
The problem here is a straightforward one -- different people interpret the spirit of the game differently. In the early 1990s the Marylebone Cricket Club,tiffany necklaces on sale, still responsible for the Laws of Cricket, asked two eminent English cricketers-- Ted Dexter and Lord Colin Cowdrey -- to draw up a code that would "remind players of their responsibility for ensuring that cricket is always played in a truly sportsmanlike manner".
In 2000, these recommendations were codified, as a preamble to the Laws. The seven-point Spirit of Cricket is something the International Cricket Council tries to enforce, through its umpires and match referees,cuff Links, with varying success.
Just as in life, where you and I obey laws rather selectively -- who among us has not driven 10 km above the speed limit, or perhaps after a few drinks at an impromptu celebration? Both of these are against the law, and we know it, but don't pay heed, not merely because the punishments, if caught,tiffany rings sale, are relatively mild, and because peer pressure does not even come to bear.
It's as though it's okay to break certain rules.
In cricket, it's much the same. "When a batsman edges the ball to the keeper and does not walk, he is called a cheat. But bowlers and fielders appeal for dismissals knowing fully well they've not dismissed the batsman, and this is ok," said a former India captain. "When you sledge,buy tiffany bangles, it's ok to use all kinds of foul language, but if you say something about someone's mother or wife, it becomes a crime. Who sets these rules?"
Like any other sport, cricket only mirrors society at large. To make Randiv, or the person who instructed him to bowl a no-ball, the villain of the piece is at best short-sighted and at worst opportunistic.
"The Spirit of the Game is a grey area and asks captains to make moral judgements that sometimes are contrary to the laws of the game," says Mike Atherton, the former England captain. "It demands interpretation, which, in turn, renders it worthless. One man's sledge is another man's aside."
Atherton also debunks the myth surrounding the phrase "it's just not cricket", which has come to mean someone doing something that's not right and suggests that cricket is somehow unique. "Cricket has had its share of controversies, enough to know that any mention of 'unique' appeal is utter rubbish. Match-fixing, sledging, racism, cheating -- it is all there," says Atherton.
Closer home and specific to the latest controversy, Ajay Jadeja has a practical view. "Sehwag would have done the same thing if he was bowling," says Jadeja. "This is very
common in cricket."
The other fact that is being glossed quite conveniently over is that incidents of this kind have happened as long as cricket has been played (see box).
Chandu Borde, who played at a time when cricket happened at a much gentler pace, recounted his experience. "When Gary Sobers was batting against us on 199, we ran him out by bringing in the field. We could have allowed him to make a double ton but we did not," said Borde. "The lines between fair and unfair play have blurred."
When Randiv sought out Sehwag in his hotel room to apologise,thanksgiving gift ideas, soon after the game, the matter should have been buried, as it had been sorted out, player-to-player, man to man. But since then Sangakkara has had a word with coach Gary Kirsten, and Sri Lanka Cricket has apologised and ordered a probe into the issue.
What more can they possibly do?
Girls swimming preview
The Grand Forks Red River girls swimming team turned in its best state meet finish in school history last season when the Roughriders finished fourth. Red River also finished fourth in 1980.,rings
That makes Red River's goal this season seem more lofty.
The Riders want to challenge for the state championship.
"These girls have the goal of winning state," said Bryan Walls, who coaches both Red River and Grand Forks Central. "This is the first time for Red River where we can sit here and say that the chance is there."
The chance is there for the Riders because of a talented senior class consisting of Erin Grabanski, Mirna Kojic,Charm bracelet, Jamie Skavlem and Courtney Fisk.
"It's pretty crazy Red River has a shot with pretty much just six kids," Walls said. "That shows how good they are and how high they can place. They've had a lot of talent and dedication over the years."
Apart from the seniors, Red River will also rely heavily on junior Addy DiCristina and sophomore Breanna Schmidt.
"Red River has never won state, so to win state would be a nice sendoff for our senior season," Grabanski said. "We've all been training super hard."
Red River had three athletes finish in the top four at the state meet. Grabanski was third at the state meet in the 200 individual medley, while Kojic was fourth in the 50 freestyle and Skavlem was third in the 100 backstroke.
The Riders didn't feature an individual state champion last season, but Red River is hoping to change that this year.
"We feel like we all have a chance to win an event," Fisk said. "If we win a few events,pendants, we might be able to reach our team goals."
Walls said the Riders aren't the favorites to win the state title. He said Bismarck Century is the team to beat.
"It's nice to see the girls have the opportunity (to challenge for a state title),bangles," Walls said. "It's not going to be easy, but it's exciting."
Miller reports on sports. Reach him at (701) 780-1121; (800) 477-6572, ext. 121; or send e-mail to tmiller@gfherald.com.
Gf girls swimming at a glance
Central
Coach: Bryan Walls.
2009 finish: Fifth place at the state meet.
Key returners: Jr. Ali Church (first place at state, 200 freestyle; first place at state, 500 freestyle); sr. Allison Kroll; sr. Erin Burnham; sr. Kelsey Tretter; jr. Rachel Svendson (seventh at state, 200 freestyle, third at state, 500 freestyle); fr. Katie Svendson (fifth at state, 500 freestyle); fr. Molly Sand.
Top newcomers: Eighth-grader Ronnie Folkedahl; fr. Miranda Phelps.
Coach Walls says: "Our goal is to break into the top four at the state meet. We were fifth last year and that was a great finish. I'm excited for the season."
Red River
Coach: Bryan Walls.
2009 finish: Fourth place at the state meet.
Key returners: Sr. Erin Grabanski (third at state, 200 IM, sixth at state,bracelets, 100 butterfly); sr. Mirna Kojic (fourth at state, 50 freestyle, seventh at state, 100 freestyle); sr. Jamie Skavlem (third at state, 100 backstroke); sr. Courtney Fisk (sixth at state, 100 breaststroke); jr. Addy DiCristina (fifth at state, 200 freestyle); soph. Breanna Schmidt.
Top newcomers: Seventh-grader Gretchen Schreiner; eighth-grader Madi Remer.
Coach Walls says: "These girls have the goal of winning state. This is the first time for Red River where we can sit here and say that the chance is there."
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Becomes the second person charged in business burg
A Swanzey woman was arrested Friday in connection with burglaries at businesses in Chesterfield and Westmoreland in April.
Lindsey Sheldon, 25, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary and one count of possession of controlled drugs, according to a news release from the N.H. State Police.
She was released on $10,000 personal recognizance and is scheduled to be arraigned July 12 in Keene District Court.
Sheldon was arrested after police searched the home she shares with her boyfriend, Ryan M. Murphy, 24, on Old Homestead Highway in Swanzey.
Murphy, who was arrested earlier this month,pendants, is accused of burglarizing the Big Deal store in Spofford, Forestview Farms restaurant in Spofford, Riverside Grocery in West Chesterfield, Mr. Mike's Market in Stoddard and the Pit Stop restaurant in Westmoreland. He also faces drug charges.
Police say Sheldon was involved in the incidents at Mr. Mike's Market, the Pit Stop and Riverside Grocery.
'Suspicious' man reported at park
A girl reported being approached by a suspicious man in Wheelock Park Saturday afternoon.
The girl told police that a man asked her if she wanted to go for a walk in a wooded area next to the park, said Keene police Lt. Jay U. Duguay.
The girl ran to her mother and the man, described as being in his 30s, left in a dark or black colored sedan, Duguay said.
One hurt in crash in Swanzey Friday
SWANZEY -- One person was taken to the hospital after a motor vehicle crash in Swanzey Friday morning.
About 11 a.m. a vehicle drove through a red light at the traffic signal on West Swanzey Road near the Market Basket and struck another vehicle,rings, according to Swanzey Police Cpl. Robert Eccleston.
A police report was not finished Saturday and no further information was available.
Fire Mutual Aid log
Dispatchers at Southwestern N.H. District Fire Mutual Aid in Keene handled requests for medical aid and fire calls on Friday,watches, May 14, including:
2:19 a.m., Gilsum Fire Department to 275 Route 10, electrical call.
3:03 and 9:14 a.m., Dublin Fire Department to 18 Lehmann Way, fire alarm.
1:12 p.m., Antrim Fire Department to Route 9, vehicle fire.
2:27 p.m., Rindge Fire Department to 62 Jowders Cove Road, gas leak.
4:49 p.m., Greenfield Fire Department to 8 Upper Cabin Way, motor vehicle crash, no medical transport.
5 p.m.,Beads necklace, Charlestown Fire Department to 836 Acworth Road, gas leak.
6 p.m., Greenfield Fire Department to 32 Fox Meadow Lane, fire alarm.
6:20 p.m., Keene Fire Department to 10 Sesame St., fire alarm.
8:14 p.m., Keene Fire Department to Island Street, brush/smoke investigation.
8:54 p.m., Keene Fire Department to 245 Pearl St., brush/smoke investigation.
8:56 p.m., Greenfield Fire Department to Zephyr Lake Road, brush/smoke investigation.
9:31 p.m., Winchester Fire Department to 16 Keene Road, stove fire.
10 p.m., Winchester Fire Department to 19 Back Ashuelot Road, checking on a permitted burn.
10:12 p.m., Spofford Fire Department to Route 9A, checking on a permitted burn.
11:30 p.m., Hancock Fire Department to 54 Quinn Road, checking on a permitted burn.
Crafton Sunoco ‘coffee lady’ in was always on the go
Although Doris "Dory" Coax made her career in the printing industry, she was better known in later years as the "coffee lady" of the Sunoco APlus in Crafton.
"My mother was the kind of person who was always on the go," Tiffany Necklaces her daughter, Betty Schlott of Crafton. "When she retired from Standard Printing, she went to work at the Sunoco station."
Doris J. Coax of McKees Rocks died on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, in Family Hospice and Palliative Care in Mt. Lebanon. She was 86.
Rick Schmeider, store manager for Sunoco, recalled what an asset Mrs. Coax was to the business.
"Dory was with me for eight years. She handled the coffee section, Tiffany Rings was a busy section. And if you came in for coffee and were in a bad mood, you went out smiling," Schmeider said. "Once Dory got hold of you, you couldn't stay mad.
"There were a lot of customers who just came in the store to see Dory. And when business slowed down, she even washed the windows."
Doris Seibert grew up in Chartiers City, the daughter of railroader William Seibert and Mary McCartney Seibert.
In 1942, after graduating from Langley High School, she began her career in the printing industry. She married John "Jack" Coax of the North Side in 1943, prior to his leaving for the military.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Coax is survived by her son, Daniel Coax of McKees Rocks; grandchildren, Denny, Jaci and Lindsay Schlott and Rebecca, Rachel, Rosalind and Jessica Coax; four great-grandchildren; and her sister, Mary Gee.
Mrs. Coax was preceded in death by her husband in 1983, and a son, John Coax Jr.
John Coax Jr. was born a day after her husband, who was serving with the Tiffany Money Clips in Europe, arrived at St. John's Hospital in the North Side in time to be with his wife when she gave birth.
The story made papers around the country, Schlott said. "Unfortunately, John was only 39 when he died."
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. today in St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Lincoln Avenue at Steuben Street, Crafton. Arrangements by Hershberger-Stover Inc. Funeral Home, Crafton.
To see more of The Daily Progress or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dailyprogress.com. Tiffany CuffLinks (c) 2010, The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
VOA NEWS: MORE AMERICAN JEWELRY STORES BANNING BURMESE GEMS
The sale of Burmese gems has become the target of a growing boycott following the violent crackdown of pro-democracy protesters in Burma in September. While Burma's ruling military government holds another gem auction, the market for those precious stones is getting smaller. As VOA's Kane Farabaugh reports from New York, more and more jewelry retailers in America are refusing to sell Burmese gems. The people who mine them call the coloring of these precious stones "pigeon-blood" red.
Thomas Moses, who works for the Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, knows the value and uniqueness of these gems, which come from only one place in the world. "Historically, Burma rubies were one of the most sought after gems in the gem and mineral kingdom," he tells us.
Throughout the years, Moses says, Burma was generally not a major exporter of the precious rubies. That changed in 1991 when a new deposit was discovered in the eastern part of the country. "Burma today is probably the largest producer of commercial quality rubies that are in the marketplace."
A 2003 law bans the sale of Burmese gems in America. But a loophole in the law has kept those gems in the marketplace says Peggy Jo Donahue of the Jewelers of America. "As long as a gem is cut in Thailand, for example, or in India, it is not considered a product anymore of Burma. Technically I guess you could say Burmese gems legally could be here if they were cut and polished in a different place," she says.
The Jewelers of America felt that the loophole did not follow the spirit of the legislation, designed to keep money from the sale of those gems out of the hands of the Burmese military government. They also discovered many jewelers knew little about the ban.
"I spoke to jewelers who never knew of a Burmese ban of any kind," says Donahue. "Our consciousness was raised as an industry by the events that we saw taking place in August and September, and then the sense that we had that gemstones that we knew came from Burma, therefore we needed to do something about it."
The Jewelers of America now educates its members, encouraging them to support the ban by not selling the gems in their stores.
Tiffany and Company as well as Cartier are two of several major jewelers that have signed on to the effort. First lady Laura Bush, an outspoken critic of the Burmese government, issued a statement last week applauding companies who support the ban.
As more jewelers sign on, demand increases to identify the origin of rubies in the marketplace. It's a service Donna Beaton with the GIA helps provide to customers. "There's a hierarchy of value that has been established in the trade already, so people want to know where it comes from hoping it comes from a premiere source. So in the case of rubies, Burma is a premiere source," says Beaton.
Since the need to verify the origin now goes beyond just the value of the gem, GIA uses the latest technology to leave little doubt as to where a ruby in question comes from.
Wuyi Wang is a Research Project Manager with GIA. He uses high-powered lasers to cut microscopic pieces of a gem, which is then used to determine its chemistry. "You will see some difference between Burmese rubies and rubies from other locations, like from Vietnam for example," he explains. "There are quite systematic differences, either gemological features including color, inclusions, as well as their chemistry."
GIA expects an even greater demand for its services if further legislation banning the import of gems, regardless of where they were cut or polished, becomes law. That legislation is currently under consideration in the U.S. Congress.
Time to make your Christmas wishes known
The holiday season is upon us and it's time to write your letters to silver jewelry Santa.
Here's what you need to know about getting your letters published in the Christmas Eve edition of the Daily Journal:
-- Include in your letters your names, ages and the town or community in which you live.
-- Mail your letters to the North Pole in care of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, P.O. Box 909, Tupelo, MS 38802-0909.
-- Don't let your teachers talk you into copying a form letter to Santa silver money clips off the board at school. We won't print identical letters from entire classes.
-- And don't let your parents write your letters for you, unless, of course, you aren't able to write yet. Then it's OK for your parents to help.
-- Keep your letters as brief as possible so there will be room for every letter.
-- If you feel creative when you're writing your letters to Santa, feel free to draw, color or paint a picture. We'll consider publishing some of your artwork as well.
Get your letters to us as soon as you can; don't wait until the last minute. Any letters that arrive at the Journal after Monday, Dec. 14 will not be considered for publication.
But don't worry. All letters will be forwarded to Santa at the silver pendants North Pole.
Credit: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo, Miss.
When is a Christmas tree not a Christmas tree?
You can call the Colorado blue spruce standing in Lake Superior Plaza whatever you want silver jewellery. Minnesota Power isn't giving it an official label.
A news release from Minnesota Power announcing that the 50- to 60-foot tree would go up Wednesday referred to it as a holiday tree, and that is what it was called in coverage of the event held at 30 W. Superior St. This sparked a debate in the comments section of duluthnewstribune.com, pitting Team Christmas against Team Holiday.
"Some call it a Christmas tree, some call it a holiday tree," Minnesota Power communications manager Amy Rutledge said Thursday. "When it's set up for us, it symbolizes the start of the holiday season. It's important to focus on the fact that it's a community tree."
This is the 25th year that Minnesota Power has put up a tree, which was donated this year by a local family. It will be lighted Nov. 20, before the Christmas City of the North Parade, and taken down sometime after New Year's Day.
Rutledge said there was never an internal discussion about what to call the tree. The news silver cufflinks release said "holiday tree," but a Minnesota Power employee referred to it as a Christmas tree on television.
Rutledge said that no one complained to Minnesota Power about what the tree has been called.
The holiday vs. Christmas debate itself seems to be a sort of holiday tradition. During the 1990s, the decorated tree at the White House was referred to as a "holiday tree." The one recently shipped from Arizona to the U.S. Capitol has been tagged as a Christmas tree, and has been since 2005.
In 2005, the Rev. Jerry Falwell started the "Friend or Foe" campaign to combat what he said was an attack on Christmas. This included boycotting major retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart that used "holiday" instead of "Christmas" in advertising.
A local Catholic priest's take: If the tree is on Minnesota Power's property, then they can call it whatever they want.
"If it were on my land, it would be called a Christmas tree," said the Rev. William Graham, the chairman of the Catholic studies department at the College of St. Scholastica. "I think Minnesota Power, since they own the land, they get to decide. They'll get no lip from me."
The News Tribune couldn't confirm Thursday whether the tree stands on company land or public land, but Lake Superior Plaza is clearly a public space.
Rabbi Amy Bernstein of Temple Israel said it should be called a Christmas tree, but she thinks there are good intentions behind calling it a holiday tree.
"It's an attempt to be inclusive and respectful of other traditions," she said.
But since there isn't a tree associated with Hanukkah, Bernstein added, it doesn't make any silver money clips sense.
"It's a Christmas tree," she said. "Nobody else has a tree."
Dave Jensch, the station manager at the Northland's NewsCenter, said the tree was referred to as a Christmas tree during Wednesday's 6 p.m. newscast show and a holiday tree at 10 p.m.
Jensch said his station typically uses the term "holiday" but has no plans to lose the "Christmas" in the Christmas City of the North Parade, which it sponsors. A name change -- to the "KBJR Christmas Parade" -- was experimented with a decade or so ago.
"And people went crazy," Jensch said, adding because of the link to the Merv Griffin song "Christmas City," it's unlikely it will ever change.
Bill van Druten of the Lake Superior Freethinkers has a take that goes beyond whether it's a holiday tree silver pendants or a Christmas tree.
"It's foolish to cut down a living tree for that sort of nonsense," he said. "We can have a very happy December or holiday without destroying nature."
CHRISTMAS TREE PERMITS NOW ON SALE
Christmas tree permits are on sale for $5 each at all Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest ranger stations and the forest headquarters. Each permit allows a family to cut one tree, with a tree height limit of 15 feet, or dig a small live transplant tree. Permits may be purchased in person or by mail and are limited to two permits per family. The permits are non-refundable.
When venturing out into the cold and snowy hills in pursuit of a christmas gift tree, here are some hints to help make your trip a safe one:
1. Before leaving home, notify a friend or family member where you will be going and when you will return. Then, stick to your plan and let your contact person know when you have returned.
2. Consider carefully your clothing, equipment, and vehicle needs, making certain they are adequate for the worst conditions you might encounter. If planning to drive over snow-covered roads, a high-clearance vehicle may be best, and don't forget to carry tire chains and a shovel.
3. ALWAYS check out the avalanche hazard before leaving home.
4. Start out early in the day so that you have enough daylight to be able to choose that "perfect" tree.
5. Be familiar with the area that you plan to visit.
6. Carry extra clothing, food, and tools in your vehicle for those unexpected pendants mishaps that may occur.
7. Christmas tree permits may be placed on the driver's side dashboard in lieu of a Northwest Forest Pass when parking at a trailhead. However, once enough snow accumulates and selected trailhead parking areas convert to Sno-Parks, you must have a valid Washington State Sno-Park permit displayed on your windshield when parking at any State Sno-Park.
For those who can't make it into any of our offices during daily business hours many local businesses are also selling Christmas tree permits.
* In Wenatchee, tree permits are available at Hooked on Toys and Arlberg Sports. * In Chelan, permits can be bought at the Chelan Shell Foodmart gas station. * The Entiat Food Center in Entiat is also selling Christmas tree permits. * In the Lake Wenatchee area, Parkside Grocery, Midway Village and Plain Hardware have permits for sale. * In Leavenworth, tree permits are available at Dan's Food Market, the 76 gas station and Shell Village Mercantile. * In the Cle Elum and Ellensburg areas Christmas tree permits can be purchased at Roslyn Cyclery, Pioneer Coffee, Intermountain Radio Shack, Morning Star Chevron/Deli and Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce. * Christmas tree permits are available at the following locations in the Naches Ranger District area: * Eagle Rock Grocery, Whistlin' Jacks Resort and Rimrock Grocery Store on State Route 410 * Helms True Value Hardware and Save-On Foods in Selah * Oak Creek Ace Hardware and Slim's Market in Naches * earrings KOA Campground at Squaw Rock * Vendors selling Christmas tree permits in Okanogan County include: * Chevron Station in Okanogan * The General Store in Conconully * The Junction Mini Mart in Tonasket * Carlton General Store in Carlton * Twisp Chevron gas station, Hank's Market and Hank's Mini Market in Twisp * Pardners Mini Market in Winthrop
For more information about Christmas tree permits please contact any Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest office. These offices are open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our offices will be closed on the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Forest Service offices may also close early the day before these holidays, so call ahead for operating hours.
Chelan Ranger District, 428 W. Woodin Ave., Chelan WA 98816; 509-682-4900
Cle Elum Ranger District, 803 W. 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922; 509-852-1100
Entiat Ranger District, physical address 2108 Entiat Way, mailing address P.O. Box 476 Entiat, WA 98822; 509-784-1511
Methow Valley Ranger District, 24 West Chewuch Road, Winthrop, WA 98862; key rings 509-996-4000
Naches Ranger District, 10237 Hwy. 12, Naches, WA 98937; 509-653-1401
Okanogan Valley Office, 1240 South Second Ave., Okanogan, WA 98840; 509-826-3275
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801; 509-664-9200
Tonasket Ranger District, 1 W. Winesap, Tonasket, WA 98855; 509-486-2186
Wenatchee River Ranger District-Leavenworth office, 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826; 509-548-2550
Wenatchee River Ranger District-Lake Wenatchee office, CLOSED during the winterFor more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.
Robin DeMario, 509/664-9292.