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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 2015)
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon USFS retiree mans lookout tower Meet and greet set with new superintendent By Jim Anderson Correspondent What does a person like Sandy Sharp do when she retires after working for the U.S. Forest Service for over 19 years? She becomes a Fire Prevention Volunteer on Green Ridge Lookout, of course. All through the sum- mer, 36 volunteers take turns staffing the lookout, some for a week at a time, others, like Sharp, one day a week. Last year, when Sharp went to Green Ridge it was at the time of the Bridge 99 Fire, and after the sun went down she had second thoughts about what she had let herself in for. Several little fires flared up during the night that caused her loss of sleep, but after a talk with herself, she thought, “They’re not going let me get cooked up here…,” and settled down for a peaceful night’s rest. Before she went to work with the USFS, Sharp lived in a lighthouse on Lake Superior working for the National Park Service. She was an inter- preter, telling stories of early navigation to the visitors to the islands on which the light- house stood. Her career with the Forest Service began on the Superior National Forest in Minnesota with its million-acre Bound- ary Waters Canoe Wilderness, which has similar recreational opportunities to the Deschutes — fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing, swimming, hiking, snowmobiling and skiing. Not too long after she started work, the 1995 gov- ernment shutdown took place. At the same time, Sharp’s mom, Barbara — one of the Parents and commu- nity members will have an informal opportunity to meet Sisters School District’s new superinten- dent at a “meet-and-greet” set for Monday, September 14, 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Sisters Elementary School commons. Curtiss Scholl took up the reins of leader- ship here in July. He has expressed interest in main- taining the close volunteer ties and strong community support that mark Sisters schools. All parents, students, staff and community members are welcome to attend this com- munity event. For more infor- mation, call Mel Petterson at the Sisters School District office, 541-549-8521, Ext. 4013. photo by JiM anderson Sandy Sharp, volunteer fire lookout on Green Ridge, explains fire-finding techniques to Reuben Anderson and his son, Truman. first members of the newly formed Central Oregon Audu- bon Society in Bend — was diagnosed with cancer. Sandy used her time when the government ran out of money to travel to Bend to help care for her mom, and she ended up working on the Deschutes National Forest under what was known as a Hardship Detail, a position established by the USFS for people who had to care for family while working for the service. She was required to return to her home duty sta- tion in northern Minnesota after her mother died, but the Deschutes detail was extended an extra 120 days so she could get matters settled. Besides, the Skeleton fire had broken out and they weren’t ready to release her from the detail. She wound up doing another long detail the next year (1997) when the Deschutes asked her back on her own merit in hopes that New merchandise has arrived! 541-549-0527 • 273 W. Hood Ave. Breakfast 6-11 | Soup 11-2 daily | Buy coffee at SistersCoffee.com Back-To-School Special she could stay permanently. Unfortunately, after the shutdown hiring and perma- nent transfers were frozen. “But,” Sandy says, “1998 was the magical year for me to leave Minny-soda for GOOD!” She went from a job recording the early history of timber-workers in the Bend area to being a “front-liner” – a name the Forest Service has given to those who are the first people to greet visitors to the National Forests. It was a position she held for 12 years in the Sisters District Office, before her retirement. In her new role, Sharp trav- els 50 miles from her home to the lookout twice a day, and she says, “It’s such a beautiful trip I hardly notice the miles, no matter if I’m coming or going, I’m so looking forward to my day in the lookout.” USFS moves forward on Chush Falls Sisters District Ranger Kristie Miller has signed a decision to designate a per- manent trailhead outside the Three Sisters Wilderness for Chush Falls, a popular day- use area in the wilderness. The action will decom- mission about 1.33 miles of Forest Service System roads; close about 1.45 miles of Forest Service roads; and convert about 1.39 miles of Forest Service roads to a Class 2 trail to reduce impacts to the wilderness. The action will also des- ignate a new snowmobile route using the existing forest road system and remove the remnants of the Snow Creek snowmobile bridge that was destroyed during the 2012 Pole Creek fire. The new snowmobile route will provide continued winter recreation connec- tions. A re-route of the Cross District Snowmobile Trail will ensure continued access. Classifieds are online at NuggetNews.com Sisters Christian Academy is STILL ENROLLING Looking for a stellar education where your child can soar? Individual attention in a nurturing environment is available to all families. Off ering fi nancial assistance & scholarships $300 Discount Preschool - 8th Grade For the month of September when you start a comprehensive treatment program! Full-day Preschool & Kindergarten Not valid with any other offer. New Patients Only. (Preschool is a state licensed and registered childcare center) 541-382-0410 410 E. Cascade Ave., , Sisters 15 Smile by Brooke and The Brace Place! CentralOregonBracePlace.com www.S isters C hristian A cademy.com 1307 W. McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters Call 541-549-4133 for enrollment information