Commission appeals ruling in wrongful firing case

FRANKLIN COUNTY — The Mississippi Forestry Commission has appealed a judge’s ruling that it wrongly fired a Franklin County forester who opposed logging plan pushed by the state.

The state Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the case on Jan. 18.

A Franklin County judge ruled for Stephen Oglesby in 2010.

According to court records, Oglesby was at odds with the commission over the logging plan. Oglesby contended the plan would detrimental to Franklin County’s 16th Section school land.

The Mississippi Employee Appeals Board affirmed Oglesby’s termination in 2010. Oglesby appealed their decision to circuit court.

Judge Forrest Johnson said he found no “actual insubordination” by Oglesby. The judge said the only evidence of an outright refusal to do something was Oglesby’s refusal adopt his superior’s plan as his own.