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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2018)
14 Wednesday, April 18, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Commentary... The legacy of Wildhaven Preserve By Leslyn Grape Caretaker of Wildhaven Preserve Concerning the article on April 11 titled “Wildhaven Preserve may become pub- lic land,” (The Nugget, page 1): As the caretaker of Wildhaven Preserve I would like to add some insight into this continuing saga. In the article, Derek Johnson states that The Nature Conservancy (TNC) talked to Gil Staender in 2014 (he died in 2016) and that Staender was aware of the possibility that TNC would donate the land to the Forest Service. This statement is just NOT TRUE! TNC never specified the USFS as a possible stew- ard. This was conjured up in their own minds know- ing that they had previously worked with the USFS and other government agencies. At that time and from Gil’s perspective all he knew was that Wildhaven had been a private, protected nature preserve for 44 years. With that in mind there was no reason for him to believe that it wouldn’t continue to be managed and protected by a similar entity in the same manner that it had been for the many decades before. If he had been told directly that the USFS was on the list of possible trans- fers he would not have sup- ported that choice. This sentiment has been corrob- orated by all of the people who knew Gil and Vivian over the years as well as the remaining family members. So even though TNC maintains that they received Gil’s “blessing” for this transfer to the USFS, this is only a partial truth. The truth is that they did not give specifics and are hid- ing behind this mistruth as a means of justification for what they’re doing. In my previous dialog with a TNC liaison and the TNC Oregon Director, they have always maintained that they did ask Gil if he was comfort- able transferring Wildhaven to a comparable conserva- tion entity. However, when pressed by me for specifics, they both confirmed that they did not mention the USFS as a possibility at that time. It is only since we have gone public, and the heat is on, that TNC is changing their story and claiming that they specifically named the USFS as a possible steward for Wildhaven. The Staenders always believed that by donating Wildhaven to TNC that it would be kept protected from all forms of gross human encroachment. In fact, the commitment of TNC at that time was elo- quently expressed in a letter that Tom McCall wrote for the dedication of Wildhaven to TNC in 1982: “I thank- fully accept this living gift and pledge to you in the name of the Conservancy, that it will always be man- aged in a manner you would approve. No one can duplicate your hospital- ity and wise teachings, but our hope is that succeed- ing generations will at least realize that to The Nature Quality Truck-mounted Tappy Hour Menu CARPET CLEANING Tues.-Fri. 4-6 p.m. Quality Cleaning 16 years in Reasonable Prices Sisters! April. 19, 5-7 p.m. South American Wines — Credit Cards Accepted — ENVIROTECH 541-771-5048 Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#181062 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL Conservancy, managing Wildhaven is a labor of love.” As much as we appre- ciate TNC’s many accom- plishments in protecting sensitive lands and ecosys- tems and the fact that we have had a very good work- ing relationship with them over these last 20 years, we are surprised and deeply troubled by their decision to dishonor the Staenders’ wishes in this manner. They can try to justify it as much as they want but it is not ethical or moral unless they take the necessary steps to ensure that Wildhaven will continue to be protected in the way that the Staenders had intended. T h e “ c o n s e r v a t i o n ” styles of TNC and the USFS are not comparable. The land and house will be going from a privately protected nature preserve of 48 years to becoming unprotected public domain. This will directly go against the Staender’s wishes as it will now be open to hunt- ers, trappers, poachers and anyone who decides to walk upon the land. The fragile ecosystem, animals, ancient junipers and Nature House will all be threatened as the demise of Wildhaven becomes a real and present danger. The legacy that Gil and Vivian created and trusted the TNC to protect in accor- dance with their wishes is in imminent danger of being lost forever. This is a betrayal of the donors and a travesty in the deepest sense. TASTY THURSDAY LIVE MUSIC Sat., April. 21, 7-9 p.m. Dry Canyon Trio 391 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-2675 corkcellarswinebistro.com Outlaws end softball losing streak By Tom Mauldin Correspondent With Sara Hartford col- lecting five hits, Keely Malloy three and Cassidy Ling-Scott hitting a double and a triple, Sisters High School’s varsity softball team snapped its 10-game losing streak with a thrilling 24-23 win over visiting Cottage Grove at Volunteer Field last Friday. The one-run victory improved the Outlaws’ season mark to 2-10 and was their first Sky-Em Conference win of the season. The celebration didn’t last long, as Cottage Grove rebounded for an 18-4 run- rule win in the second game of the double-header. In the opener, the Outlaws scored four in the first, two in third and nine times each in the second and fourth and held off the Lions, who scored 13 in the fourth and added four in the fifth. The Outlaws were leading 24-6 going into the fourth when they commit- ted eight errors and Cottage Grove collected four hits to score 13 times. B u t O u t l a w o ff e n s e ruled the day collecting 18 base hits. Anessa Stotts and Jourdan Andrews added run- scoring base hits in the win. Each game there is improvements across the board, and that is positive. — Coach Dave Smith Not much went right in the second game as eight errors enabled Cottage Grove to score 14 times in the third and fourth innings. Freshman Madi Larabee had two singles and Bethanne Yount hit her second home run of the season. Outlaw Head Coach Dave See SOFTBALL on page 17 ONTHE CORNEROF SPINEST& WHOOD AVE Tony Lompa plays for Circle of Friends | April 19, 6-8pm Fundraiser for 10 Friends: Art Inspired by Shibui Spa | April 27-30
