FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, FEB. 13, 2012

Marshburn promoted to county ranger in Duplin

RALEIGH — The N.C. Forest Service has promoted Jeff Marshburn to county ranger for Duplin County.

Marshburn has worked for the Forest Service since 1991, first as a temporary crewman and later as a smoke chaser. In 1996, he became the assistant county ranger. During his 20 years with the Forest Service, he also has served as a safety officer and in numerous fireline positions.

Marshburn’s commitment to serving the residents of North Carolina and Duplin County earned him recognition as January’s Employee of the Month with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Forest Service’s parent agency.

Duplin County’s normal staff consists of a county ranger, two assistant county rangers, a forest fire equipment operator and a smoke chaser.In November, Marshburn was dealt a surprise.While taking on additional work as smoke chaser because of a vacancy, Marshburn learned that his fellow assistant county ranger was resigning, and his career-long mentor and supervisor, Rickie Darden, was retiring after 23 years with the Forest Service.

This left Marshburn in the position of having to fill his former supervisor’s shoes as the acting county ranger, while also picking up the duties of two other vacant positions, all while maintaining his normal job responsibilities.All three positions are still vacant.

“For Jeff, the only thing that matters at the end of the day is that the citizens of his county get the best service possible, and he has continued to provide that to the best of his ability,” said Shane Hardee, district forester.

Marshburn will continue to assist landowners with properly managing their timberlands, including harvesting recommendations and reforesting harvested areas; insuring that loggers are in compliance with Forest Practice Guidelines to protect water quality; checking tree planting jobs on private property to protect landowners from poor performance; educating children and adults about the value of our forests as well as the proper use of fire and the dangers of wildfire, all while responding to wildfires throughout Duplin County and assisting other counties with wildfires.

Marshburn can be reached at the Duplin County Ranger’s Office at 910-289-2735.

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