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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 2018)
8 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon The Ranger’s Corner Ian Reid Sisters District Ranger Summer 2018 Go School is now back in session but, technically, it’s still summer and time for another quarterly Ranger’s Corner. My first summer in Sisters Country taught me several important lessons: 1. There is a reason the Sisters Rodeo, the Outdoor Quilt Show and the Sisters Folk Festival are cher- ished, “must-see” cultural events; 2. If you want to turn left onto Cascade Avenue in town, first turn right; and 3. If a wildfire breaks, it’s literally all hands on deck until line is punched around it and the mop-up begins. Unfazed by the differ- ent colors of their engines, wildfire responders in Central Oregon embody the spirit of mutual aid and interagency cooperation. The first responder on scene typically assumes command and all other agencies then fall in line to protect life, property, and resources, regardless of land owner- ship or jurisdiction. I was inspired to see our local Forest Service firefighters working lockstep with state, municipal and rural fire ser- vice partners and contract- ing resources to fight fire aggressively having pro- vided for safety first. Sisters Ranger District firefighters also served as incident com- manders on rapidly emerg- ing private-land fires that threatened dozens of homes, including the Rabbitbrush and Graham fires. As of early September, all fires on the Sisters Ranger District were con- tained in the initial attack phase. That’s a different outcome from 2017, when neighborhoods were evacu- ated and smoke from the Milli Fire and fires out- side the area impacted human health and the economy. Speaking of the Milli Fire, our employees worked hard this summer to finish planning three Milli Fire recovery projects: refores- tation, roadside danger tree removal and limited salvage of fire-killed timber. Our s ! w n late aws e a p O l t Outl r u e t f a O ridays es! m a g F l l footba e m o h drinks, , a z z i p Serving ar after home b & salad ball games. foot 425 H Hwy. 20 W. (Next to Bi-Mart) Mon-Fri 11 am-9 pm, Sat-Sun 8 am-9 pm Bar & Lounge 11 am-close daily • 541-549-8620 natural resource specialists exceeded extremely tight deadlines to prepare an esti- mated 4,000 acres for refor- estation and cruise almost 5 million board feet for sealed-bid auction. Another successful proj- ect related to Milli Fire recovery was reopening the Black Crater Trail. This reopening could not have happened without the help of our dedicated volunteers and Oregon Department of Transportation crew for trailhead repair. The Black Crater Trail is close to town and offers amazing views of the Three Sisters and Mount Washington wilderness areas. A draft decision for the Central Cascades Wi l d e r n e s s S t r a t e g i e s project that includes our three local wildernesses is expected in early autumn. The project proposes to pro- tect wilderness character for present and future genera- tions while maintaining rea- sonable public access in the face of rapidly rising visitor counts. Construction was com- pleted this summer on the Glaze Meadow restoration project to improve flow and water storage capabilities in Glaze Meadow and Indian Ford Creek. I can attest that the articulated off-road six-wheel dump trucks used in this restoration are engineering marvels! We continue to work on solutions to proactively manage public safety due to the herbicide damaged and killed ponderosa pines along Highway 20 between Sisters and Santiam Pass. A public meeting to discuss proposed next steps is scheduled for 6 p.m., September 24 at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Hall. Although this summer has not officially ended, the Forest Service will soon begin the hiring process for temporary positions in Oregon, Washington, and California for summer 2019. Advertising for these seasonal positions starts September 17 on the web- site usajobs.gov. Hiring will be open only for a short time so get your resumes ready if you’re interested in working for the Forest Service next summer. Finally, I hope you spent some time by, on, or in a local river this summer. This year is the 50th anniver- sary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Sisters Ranger District is home to two Wild and Scenic Rivers—Whychus Creek and the iconic Metolius River. In the spirit of the 50th anniversary, there will be a free presentation of the movie “Upriver” at The Belfry on October 5 at 6:30 p.m. I hope to see you there! Sisters High Desert Chorale is starting up By Jim Anderson Correspondent Connie Gunterman, direc- tor of the Sisters High Desert Chorale, is starting practice for the Christmas concerts. “New members are more than welcome, no experience necessary!” Gunterman said. First rehearsal will be October 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration at 68825 Brooks Camp Rd. This first session is to look at — and vote on — the poten- tial music for the Christmas concerts. If you plan on join- ing the chorale, you are asked to bring a black three-ring binder (one-inch is fine), pen- cil, and some water with you. The well-attended cho- rale Christmas concerts have been a highlight of the season in Sisters for more than 20 years. This year, the perfor- mances will take place Friday evening, December 7, at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, December 9, at 2:30 p.m. Dr. George Mecouch , D.O. Board Certifi ed Psychiatrist New to Sisters with 36 years experience. Jungian-Oriented Psychotherapy and Process-Oriented Therapy I take your needs seriously in a therapy practice that listens to mind, body, and soul. 541-904-4030 220 S. Ash St., Sisters DrGeorgeMecouch.com • Re-Roof & New Construction • Composite, Metal, Flat & Cedar Shake Products • Free Estimates • Transferable Warranties • 10-Year Workmanship Guarantee Family Owned & Operated for 19 Years 541-526-5143 ccb#203769 We’re in Sisters! Stop by our offi ce and meet our staff, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 473 E. Hood Ave., Ste. 201 (upstairs). www.worldschildren.org This ad sponsored by The Nugget Newspaper
