USFS names new Forest chief

The U.S. Forest Service announced Wednesday that Brenda Halter has been named the new supervisor of the Superior National Forest.

Halter comes to the Duluth forest headquarters with 18 years of Forest Service experience, most recently leading the development of the new forest planning rule for the entire 193 million acre national forest system.

Halter replaces Jim Sanders, the longtime Superior supervisor who retired in December. Halter is married, with four children. Her husband, Al Williamson, also works for the Forest Service as the assistant national wildlife program leader.

Halter will take her post in charge of the more than 2 million acre national forest in May. Tim Dabney, who has served as acting forest supervisor since Sanders left, will return to his post as deputy forest supervisor.