Man and Machine Lay Waste to Downed Trees

Power Lines freed.  

SALINE, MI FEB 10, 2002

In an awesome display of teamwork, tenacity and skill, Ed Kemp and Greg Dooley cleared several downed trees and branches this afternoon.  The two men (above - click to enlarge) summoned the raw horsepower of the Stihl chainsaw to clean up the mess made by the Ice Storm of '02.  The tree that once rested upon the power line was rendered a neatly stacked pile of firewood.  The downed wood in the back of our property, which was the most devastated by the storm, succumbed to the high velocity steel teeth of the 16" blade in a cloud of sawdust.    

Despite the skill and cunning of the two men, the work was not without a couple snags.  Our rope and pulley theory ended in a near disaster as one tree crashed on the swingset.  A couple times we got the teeth of the saw pinched between a half-cut limb.  These situations were quickly resolved however, and soon all of the damaged trees from the storm were brought safely to the ground.

Thanks to Jill and Ed for coming down, and especially for the use of the chainsaw.  There is much work yet to do however, and if any other fellers want to join in next weekend, there are both good times and firewood to be had.