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DCNR Appoints New District Forester For Kittanning State Forest District

Posted on: Monday, 17 November 2003, 06:00 CST

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Conservation and Natural Resources Executive Deputy Secretary John Plonski named Gary L. Frank as district forester in Kittanning State Forest District.

"With distinguished careers in both the U.S. Army and the Bureau of Forestry, the new Kittanning district forester is both a skilled administrator and coordinator of people and resources," Plonski said. "Gary knows the northwestern area of the state, as well as private forest landowners and industry, conservation groups, universities and others with whom he will be working closely."

Frank will oversee Bureau of Forestry operations in a district that includes Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer counties, as well as half of Venango county.

"The cooperation among all toward sustainable forestry and ecosystem management is essential for the preservation of our great forest resource," said Frank. "I am privileged to help head those efforts in a career greatly influenced by my father, who worked with the state Bureau of Forestry from 1955 to 1984."

Kittanning Forest District includes the Clear Creek State Forest, comprised of 9,089 acres in northern Jefferson County, 3,165 acres in Venango County and 1,012 acres in southern Forest County.

Frank served in the U.S. Army as a commissioned officer with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Col., and the 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Wash. He left the military in 1992.

Frank received his bachelor's degree in forestry from the University of Montana in 1979. Kittanning's former assistant district forester resides in Brookville, Jefferson County, with his wife and four sons.

For more information on Kittanning State Forest District and Clear Creek State Forest, call (814) 226-1901; or visit DCNR's web site at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/.

CONTACT: Terry Brady

(717) 772-9101

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