Western Maine loggers, timber buyers offer advice for Region 9 forestry program

: Western Maine logging businessmen listen Wednesday night as Region 9 School of Applied Technology forestry and wood harvesting instructor Mark Beaudoin, in back at top right, asks them what are the most important qualities they look for in an employee. From left are logger Andy Irish of Peru, retired TRG log buyer Jerry Child of Peru, Beaudoin, NewPage Corp. wood buyer Fred Hellenberg, Rumford and Mexico logger Jim Nicols, Rumford logger Wayne Buck and Bethel forester Sherm Small. The meeting was one of several simultaneous brainstorming sessions with about 100 area business leaders. “Without your help, our classes wouldn’t provide the value and experience (students) need when they leave here and go out into the workplace or go to college for more education,” Norm Clanton, Region 9 board chairman, said at the annual advisers dinner and meeting in Mexico.