Logging in the Cripps Bend area of the Shawnee National Forest commenced Thursday after a near three-month stand-off between the Forest Service and local environmentalists.

Becky Banker of the Murphysboro Ranger Station said cutting began at 8 a.m. on Thursday. She said she was not sure when the logging would be complete.

There are many variables, so no target date has been set for completion (of the project). I wouldn’t even venture a guess, she said.

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Protesters, who have been camping at Cripps Bend since early last week, were notified Thursday morning that they had to have their tents and other items moved out of the area, or they would be arrested, environmentalist Jan Wilder-Thomas said.

One protester, Joe Glisson, was arrested by officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s office. No one at the Sheriff’s office could be reached for comment Thursday to verify the reason for Glisson’s arrest.

Since July, environmentalists have been trying to put a stop to the logging at Cripps Bend, located near Pomona.

In July, environmentalist Bill Cronin filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service, charging the service with not following the proper procedures for assessing the impact logging would have on the endangered Indiana bat.

In August, when logging first started, a temporary restraining order was filed which stopped the logging.

On Sept. 12, Judge Phil Gilbert ruled in favor of the Forest Service in Cronin’s lawsuit, allowing logging to commence. On Sept. 26, protesters said they plan to seek another restraining order.

Banker said the Forest Service based an environmental impact statement claiming logging would not significantly affect the Indiana bat, on information gathered by wildlife biologists as well as a sonar reading which measures sound waves emitted by the bats.

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Banker said the protesters have the right to appeal the case. She said she is aware of an appeal currently filed in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals against the logging project.

Wilder-Thomas said an attempt was made Thursday to contact Judge Gilbert, who is currently in Chicago. She said they (the protesters) are going try to get another restraining order, but until then, they will stay near the logging site.

We’re going to maintain a presence within close proximity, Wilder-Thomas said, who cried while trees were being cut.

Miranda Alvarez, of Missouri, said the logging was definitely an injustice.

The Forest Service is supposed to be helping the forest. If they really cared, none of this would be happening, Alvarez said.

Environmentalists also thought the Forest Service was rushing into the logging without thoroughly considering the decision.

I think they should have waited longer to make their decision, Cathleen Tracy, of the SIUC Student Environmental Center, said.

At 2 p.m. on Thursday, Banker said no injuries had been reported to any protesters or loggers.

I spoke with our team (the loggers), and as far as we can tell, everything is going smoothly, she said.

Jackson County Sheriff officials said people planning to go to Cripps Bend would not be allowed to park on Macedonia Road near the logging area.