GOLDEN POND, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service is preparing for a series of public hearings next month over logging and management plans at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The meetings come on the heels of the federal agency halting new timber sales projects after several months of public outcry. Forestry officials told the Murray Ledger & Times (http://bit.ly/1PbWlb8) that logging and burning, which also has raised concerns, are tools the agency is using to improve the health of the woodland areas. Land Between the Lakes spokeswoman Jan Bush blames much of the opposition on bad communication between federal officials and local residents.