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KERBY, Ore. (AP) -- Eleven protesters were arrested Wednesday near the Fiddler timber sale after they chained themselves underneath a Forest Service vehicle crossing an Illinois River bridge, officials said.
Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel said all 11 protesters were taken to jail. The arrests followed 11 arrests Monday at the site of the sale to salvage timber from the 2002 Biscuit fire.
John West, owner of Silver Creek Timber of Merlin, said loggers, law enforcement and Forest Service employees were crossing the bridge at around 5:45 a.m.
"They stopped the truck and chained themselves underneath it," West said. "They had to bring a wrecker in."
He said he thought two or three protesters were under the vehicle.
"One put a big bar over the axle under the back end, put handcuffs and chained himself on both sides of the bar."
Timber cutters eventually entered the area.
The 14.5 million board-foot Fiddler sale is the first Biscuit fire salvage sale on old-growth reserves, a sensitive issue for environmentalists who say no more old growth trees should be cut.
A federal court injunction blocking the logging of the sale expired Monday. Demonstrators want loggers to wait until other lawsuits go through the courts before any timber is cut.
About 5 million board feet of timber have been logged from other salvage sales from the 500,000-acre Biscuit fire, the largest in the country in 2002.
The Forest Service has proposed cutting 370 million board feet on 20,000 acres burned in the fire.
Three people arrested on Monday posted $7,500 bail, while eight others were released on Tuesday.
All face arraignment and are charged with interfering with an agricultural operation, interfering with a peace officer or both.
About 15 protesters gathered at the Josephine County Jail Tuesday.
Liam O'Reilly, 22, had his arm in a sling after his release, claiming authorities dislocated his shoulder.
Josephine County Sheriff's Lt. Lee Harman said subjects weren't mishandled, but had to be lifted because they went limp.
"I remember one subject yell 'Ouch' or something," Harman said.
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Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com
Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel said all 11 protesters were taken to jail. The arrests followed 11 arrests Monday at the site of the sale to salvage timber from the 2002 Biscuit fire.
John West, owner of Silver Creek Timber of Merlin, said loggers, law enforcement and Forest Service employees were crossing the bridge at around 5:45 a.m.
"They stopped the truck and chained themselves underneath it," West said. "They had to bring a wrecker in."
He said he thought two or three protesters were under the vehicle.
"One put a big bar over the axle under the back end, put handcuffs and chained himself on both sides of the bar."
Timber cutters eventually entered the area.
The 14.5 million board-foot Fiddler sale is the first Biscuit fire salvage sale on old-growth reserves, a sensitive issue for environmentalists who say no more old growth trees should be cut.
A federal court injunction blocking the logging of the sale expired Monday. Demonstrators want loggers to wait until other lawsuits go through the courts before any timber is cut.
About 5 million board feet of timber have been logged from other salvage sales from the 500,000-acre Biscuit fire, the largest in the country in 2002.
The Forest Service has proposed cutting 370 million board feet on 20,000 acres burned in the fire.
Three people arrested on Monday posted $7,500 bail, while eight others were released on Tuesday.
All face arraignment and are charged with interfering with an agricultural operation, interfering with a peace officer or both.
About 15 protesters gathered at the Josephine County Jail Tuesday.
Liam O'Reilly, 22, had his arm in a sling after his release, claiming authorities dislocated his shoulder.
Josephine County Sheriff's Lt. Lee Harman said subjects weren't mishandled, but had to be lifted because they went limp.
"I remember one subject yell 'Ouch' or something," Harman said.
------
Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com
