Senate Resolution 40

A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO RANDY MCINNIS AND DAVID HARVISON OF TIMBERLINE TRUCKING/D&R LOGGING IN LEAKESVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, IN RECOGNITION OF BEING SELECTED AS THE MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY ASSOCIATION'S 2022 "LOGGERS OF THE YEAR."

WHEREAS, from chainsaws and trucks without power steering, to some of the newest and most sophisticated equipment around, Randy McInnis and David Harvison of Timberline Trucking, Inc.,/D&R Logging, Inc., have seen it all in the 40 years of logging. Selected as Mississippi Forestry Association's 2022 "Loggers of the Year," they prove that hard work and dedication are worth the effort; and

WHEREAS, McInnis and Harvison are brothers-in-law who started their logging business in 1982 in Leakesville, Mississippi, with little more than a chainsaw and cable skidder. "When we started, we had a power saw, a cable skidder, and a 55-gallon drum with a hand pump on the pickup truck for fuel," said Harvison. "But in those days, we could operate just about a week on that drum. Now if that's all we had, we couldn't operate for 30 minutes out here"; and

WHEREAS, today, D&R Logging is still a family run business, but their crew has grown to include woods workers, truck drivers, timber buyers, a secretary and five sub-contracted logging crews. Their equipment list has expanded significantly as well and includes three skidders, two feller bunchers, two knucklebooms, a loader, six log trucks and various other pickup trucks and service trucks; and

WHEREAS, during these past 40 years in business, McInnis and Harvison have always had safety at the forefront of their operations. This is evident in the impressive fact that the business has never had a lost-time accident. The company has a written safety and hazardous communication plan, conducts monthly safety meetings, provides personal protective equipment, utilizes modernized equipment with industry-leading safety features, and recently purchased new VHF radios for better means of communication; and

WHEREAS, D&R Logging buys their own timber and utilizes their own contracts with mills. Approximately 10% of their timber comes from government lands; 50% comes from industry lands; and the remaining 40% comes from private nonindustry lands. Their annual production consists of approximately 6,077 board feet of sawtimber, 50,000 tons of pulpwood, and 20,000 tons of poles, piling or other uses; and

WHEREAS, the timber that the company cuts is supplied to over 15 mills in Mississippi and Alabama. They currently move between 75 and 90 loads per week, all while merchandising the timber into nine different product categories. Much to the benefit of landowners, they have successfully exceeded expected cut-outs on timber harvests; and

WHEREAS, the amount of timber they cut on a weekly basis is impressive, but more impressive is the way the crew follows Sustainable Forestry Initiative guidelines and Best Management Practices. Tops and slash are scattered to present soil erosion; minimal stems and brush are left standing; streamside management zones are protected; buffer sites are utilized; tires and oil are properly disposed of; ramps and access points are selected with safety and minimal environmental impact in mind; water bars are established to prevent erosion; and stream crossings are cleaned; and

WHEREAS, McInnis and Harvison want to make sure their company, and the logging industry as a whole, leave a good impression on landowners and the general public. They frequently sponsor local events, local youth sports, Log-A-Load for Kids and local economic development organizations; and

WHEREAS, McInnis is active in the local county forestry association, the Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA), and the Mississippi Loggers Association (MLA). He serves on the Board of Directors for MLA and is their Southeast District President. His son, Dillon McInnis, also works for the company and is very active in the industry and their local community. He serves as the Vice President of the Greene County Forestry Association, serves on the MFA Board of Directors, is a member of MLA, and is a member of the Green County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, their love of and passion for what they do is evident in their work each day. By placing a high emphasis on safety, focusing on Best Management Practices for each of their jobs, and having a successful business model, even in a time when it is difficult to be a successful and profitable logging operation, D&R Logging has earned their spot as the 2022 MFA "Loggers of the Year"; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the logging industry in Southeast Mississippi and the citizens of Greene County in recognizing these hard-working Mississippi citizens who have brought honor to their business, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the congratulations of the Mississippi Senate to Randy McInnis and David Harvison of Timberline Trucking/D&R Logging in Leakesville, Mississippi, in recognition of being selected as the Mississippi Forestry Association's 2022 "Loggers of the Year" and offer our best wishes on this memorable occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Randy and David, forwarded to the Mississippi Forestry Association and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.