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Forest Service consolidates services

GLADSTONE On Nov. 10, the Hiawatha National Forest will cease public services at the Manistique Ranger District Office. Public services are available at the Rapid River, Munising, and St. Ignace Ranger District Offices, as well as by mail, phone, and through the Forest’s webpage at fs.usda.gov/hiawatha. Reservations for campsites and cabins continue to be available at www.recreation.gov/ or call toll free 1-888-448-1474.

The Forest Service has been consolidating offices and reducing costs to accommodate tighter budgets, and reduced staffing levels. This year the Hiawatha National Forest closed the Sault Ste. Marie office and the Marquette greenhouse. In addition to reduced budgets, wildfire suppression costs have been consuming an increasing portion of the budget, reducing resources available for other agency work. In 2015, for the first time in history, 52 percent of the budget went to suppressing wildland fires, compared to just 15 percent in 1995.

For additional information you can call the Rapid River Ranger District Office at 906-474-6442, the Munising Ranger District office at 906-387-2512, the St. Ignace Ranger District Office at 906-643-7900, or the Gladstone Supervisor’s Office at 906-428-5800.

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