Staff Spotlight, Mike Sawyer
Mike Sawyer, Maintenance Staff
Highlands Hammock State Park, Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park
Although maintenance is full of challenges due to Highlands Hammock State Park's 85-year-old infrastructure, Mike Sawyer always finds a solution. Prior to joining Highlands Hammock and Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park, he worked for the Florida Forestry Service for 28 years and continued working for the agency as a fire mitigation specialist for another three years.
Heavily forested Highlands Hammock is well served by this former forest ranger’s skills in assessing and implementing the removal of dead or dying trees infected with beetles and dangerous limbs that pose a hazard in the campground and the park. He is also proactive in spotting the trees that are leaning and subject to falling across the hammock’s Loop Road after heavy storms.
A natural born teacher, Mike has mentored many new rangers by instructing them in the fine art of tree felling and other tasks. He is most frequently found in the campground addressing electrical issues and plumbing and septic system problems at the four restrooms. Having also worked as a part-time deputy in the Highlands County Sheriff’s Department, he is proactive in addressing safety concerns and potential violations of park rules and regulations.
Mike, who grew up in Sebring and is a descendent of cracker pioneer families from South Georgia, is very much involved in his community. He has championed young people, reached out to those in need and is the park’s all-around "good guy.” This member of the Highlands Hammock family is known for his many interests, including mathematics, lapidary, genealogy, photography and storytelling.
He thoroughly enjoys researching family histories by visiting cemeteries and tracking down records in county courthouses. A master photographer, he formerly maintained a studio in Sebring and has contributed exceptional park photos. At Saturday night campfires, this master storyteller amazes campers by igniting campfires without matches and leading fascinating “spider walks.”