AVA, Mo. – Summer usually means busy times for the Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District; and this year is no exception. District employees continue their work in landscape restoration, providing recreation opportunities for the public, wildland firefighting and prevention, and much more.
Fire staff are supporting the western fire season, currently focused in the Southwest. When at home on the ACW Ranger District, they continue to train and patrol; and they also provide assistance to any other Forest work that needs accomplished, such as mowing, maintenance and laying out cedar units for restoration work within the Joint Chiefs project.
Summer recreation is in full swing. All recreation areas on the ACW Ranger District are open again. The pavilions at Shell Knob and Noblett are taking reservations again through recreation.gov. Users still need to practice social distancing. The restrooms at Big Bay Day Use and Pine View Tower trailhead remain closed. The Big Bay boat ramp repair contract (Cassville area) has been awarded.
The District would like to welcome two new employees. Olivia Woolsey is in the Resource Assistant Program and will be a customer service representative at the Cassville office; and she will be assisting with the recreation program as well. Olivia is a recent graduate from University of Missouri in Columbia with a degree in Forest Resource Management. The District is also proud to have Emily Ficker join the team as the Support Service Specialist. Emily previously worked for the National Park Service in Utah; and she looks forward to continuing her public service here in Missouri.
The ACW office in Ava, being cognizant of health and safety guidance, continues to assist visitors by telephone when possible; but will also help in-person visitors by meeting them outdoors. Access into the buildings is limited, and a mask must be worn.
If you need any assistance, please call the ACW District Office at 417-683-4428, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
