Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2016)
10 Wednesday, July 6, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Metolius Loops Bikeway Students selected for conference designation removed By Ron thorkildson Correspondent The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission voted to remove the Metolius Loops Scenic Bikeway desig- nation at their June 29 public meeting in Lebanon. The change, which has long been expected, resolves a conflict with the pre-exist- ing federal Wild and Scenic River Management Plan that preserves the natural qualities of the Camp Sherman area by limiting promotions, among other things. The State Scenic Bikeway designation is a promotional designation. Even without the label “Scenic Bikeway,” all public roads in the area are available and open for bicycling. The Metolius Loops State Scenic Bikeway was desig- nated in 2011, and like all bikeways, was promoted nationally and internation- ally online and in print by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, its program part- ner Travel Oregon, and local bicycle and tourism propo- nents. This promotional mis- sion unintentionally conflicted with the Metolius Wild and Scenic River Management Plan which was signed in 1997 by the Forest Service, following environmental analysis and public comment. The Metolius plan calls for protecting the area’s primi- tive, historic character and preserving “Outstandingly Remarkable Values” by not permitting entities to promote the area, reducing conges- tion, managing signage to perpetuate historic character, and other standards. A goal is to limit conflict and crowd- ing in the Metolius Basin to maintain a quality visitor rec- reation experience. After discovering the problem two years ago, Camp Sherman residents, bikeway proponents, and staff with the U.S. Forest Service and OPRD tried unsuccessfully to resolve the inherent conflict between the two designations. Because bikeways have to complement existing plans, the Metolius Loops route probably wouldn’t earn des- ignation if proposed today. Since the Metolius bike- way was never signed, noth- ing will change on the ground at Camp Sherman with the removal of the Scenic Bikeway designation. Cycling will still be legal on those public roads, though the route will no longer be promoted by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Travel Oregon. Two Sisters High School students have been selected to attend an astronomy- related conference in Carson City, Nevada this summer. Alex Burroughs and Rylee Funk are president and vice president of the student divi- sion of the Sisters Astronomy Club, who have recently been active in the citizen science RECON program. Citizen science is scientific research conducted by amateur or non- professional scientists. RECON, an acronym for Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network, is a project designed to determine the size of rocky, icy bodies that orbit the sun beyond the planet Neptune. Established and run by Dr. Marc Buie of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and Professor John Keller at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California, the project employs the method of stel- lar occultation to make this measurement. An occultation occurs when an object in our solar photo provided Sisters high School students Alex Burroughs (l) and Rylee Funk will attend an astronomy-related science conference this summer. system moves in front of a distant star, causing the star to disappear for a brief period of time. The amount of time the star is hidden from view by the intervening body is proportional to the size and shape of the body. Burroughs and Funk were among only eight students chosen from over 50 par- ticipating communities to attend the RECON meeting. All costs associated with the conference, including travel, food and lodging, will be covered by RECON. “Both these girls have such passion for astronomy. Going to this conference is a great opportunity for them to expand their understand- ing and participate in the astronomy community,” said Sisters High School teacher Rima Givot. The two-and-a-half day meeting will be held in early August at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College. The goals of the meeting include refin- ing team procedures and practices, resolving tech- nical issues, and sharing RECON curricula activities for engaging students in the project. RECON is funded by the National Science Foundation. Low-Cost Dog & Cat Vaccination & Microchip Clinic Saturday, July 16 Noon to 3 p.m. Questions? Call 541-699-9149. Hosted by Sisters Feed & Supply and Sunshine Vet Services Come In… Relax…Enjoy! 102 E. Main Ave. | 541-549-4151 Tim Westcott Ronnica Westcott Jenny Duey Mary Morgan Quilts Displayed All Week! Breakfast, Lunch & Family-Style Dinners 541-588-6611 220 W. Cascade Ave. Come in, Relax, Enjoy! In Town for Quilt Show? Treat Yourself… Heads or Tails… You Lose Amazing Food Outstanding Views Loaner Cars Deductible Assistance Windshield Replacement 541-549-DENT 5 4 1 5 4 9 D E N T 332 W. Barclay Dr., Sisters Seven Days A Week Reservations required d 541.516.3030 www.lakecreeklodge.com