Harrisburg – The Shawnee National Forest is set to kick off a year of special programs to commemorate the 80th anniversary of being proclaimed a national forest. The first of a several programs will take place in the town where it all began, the home of the first Shawnee National Forest office in Harrisburg. A celebration of the only national forest in Illinois, the free program will be held in the Harrisburg Public Library Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The program includes a presentation by Mary McCorvie, Heritage Program Manager about the early history of the Forest, as well as a special showing of a historical film featuring the Shawnee National Forest. A re-release of The Land Changes a film produced by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and first released in 1957 will be shown. Light refreshments will be served following the program and were made possible via donation.
