06/17/09

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Montana forester Tom Tidwell is the new head
of the U.S. Forest Service.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday that Tidwell
will replace Gail Kimbell, who had led the Forest Service since
2007.

Tidwell is a 32-year Forest Service employ and now supervises
national forests through northern Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas.
He began his career on the Boise National Forest, and has since
worked in eight different national forests across three regions.

He has worked at all levels of the agency, from district ranger
to forest supervisor and legislative affairs specialist in the
Washington headquarters.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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