Court upholds firing of forester who opposed state logging plan

FRANKLIN COUNTY — The Mississippi Court of Appeals has upheld the firing of a Franklin County forester who opposed a logging plan pushed by the state.

The decision overturned a 2010 order by Franklin County judge who found the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s firing of Stephen Oglesby was wrong.

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 the decision to circuit court.

Circuit 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.