MSU alum to head national agency
A Mississippi State University alumnus has been named Chief of the U.S Forest Service.
Tony Tooke, a Detroit, Alabama native, who graduated in 1983 with a degree in forestry, was named to the chief position after working for the forest service since he was 18 years old.
As chief, Tooke will oversee the management and protection of 154 national forests. Tooke has held several positions prior, most recently serving as associate deputy chief for the National Forest System. He has also served as director of ecosystem management coordination, deputy director of economic recovery and assistant director of forest management. Prior to 2006, Tooke served in several roles in the South, including deputy forest supervisor for Florida and district ranger in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi and a forester in Kentucky.
"The Forest Service will be in good hands with the agency's own Tony Tooke, whose forestry knowledge is unmatched,” said U.S Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Tony has been preparing for this role his entire professional life and his transition into leadership will be seamless."
MSU College of Forest Resources Dean George Hopper expressed his approval.
"Tony is a great example of the leadership roles our alumni are engaged in throughout the United States,” Hopper said. “The forestry major prepares students to lead in conserving and managing our natural resources."
The Starkville Board of Aldermen met in a special-called meeting Monday and voted on advertising an open deputy clerk position following the resignation of an employee in the city clerk's office.
The board approved the motion 4 to 0, with Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver, Ward 3 Alderman David Little and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn absent.
“They left and gave their notice on Friday, so we are just trying to help the city clerk accomplish her job and give her some help,” said Ward 5 Alderman Patrick Miller.
The next scheduled meeting of the Starkville Board of Aldermen is Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the courtroom of City Hall.