By VINCE LUECKE

Editor

TELL CITY – The state of Indiana sold timber Thursday on 299 acres of the Yellowwood State Forest near Nashville, despite a Tell City company’s pledge of $150,000 to save the trees for future generations.

In a press release issued Thursday, Bobby R. Bartlett with Tell City-based Castlewood Corp., pledged $150,000 to prevent the 1,733 old-growth trees in Brown County from being cut.

The state’s plan to harvest the trees drew criticism from forest environmentalists and others who said that portion of the forest has long been designated a wilderness area.

According to the Bloomington Herald-Times, the sale went forward despite protests from about 200 people who chanted, “Stop the sale.” The high bid for the trees, including more than 400 chestnut oak, nearly 200 black oak and more than 240 yellow poplar, came from Hamilton Logging, which is based in Martinsville. The company’s winning bid was $108,785. Three other bids came in from $70,160 to $91,345. The newspaper did not report on the Castlewood offer but Bartlett, speaking on Friday morning, said his offer had been rejected, even though it was more than $40,000 more than the high bid for the trees.

“It just doesn’t make sense to me,” Bartlett said. He said the state will have to open a road into the area so trees can be removed, a project that could cost as much or more than what the state is receiving for the trees.

Bartlett said his offer to the state was to preserve the trees for 100 years, so future generations of Hoosiers and others can enjoy the old-growth forest.

Bartlett said some of the trees are 200 years old and come as close to being virgin forest as Indiana has left among its state forests.

Bartlett operates Castlewood, a manufacturer of consumer and high-end wood flooring. The press release said Bartlett grew up in Brazil and “saw the destruction of timber through the commercial logging practices.”

Bartlett said his offer gave Division of Forestry “an alternative to preserve our natural heritage on public land.”

While not often seeking the spotlight, the local business owner said the refusal to accept the offer is creating a buzz around the state and he had personally sent an email to Gov. Eric Holcomb. He was unsure if the sale of trees was final or might be reviewed.

“I’m getting emails and messages from everywhere,” he said.