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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 2019)
14 Wednesday, March 27, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Tales from a Sisters Naturalist by Jim Anderson Wolves in the classroom Last week, I got a note from Sisters Middle School Teacher Susie Werts invit- ing me to a presentation by two biologists, one of whom worked in Yellowstone dur- ing the reintroduction of the wolves. Well, of course I went, and I9m glad I did. The biolo- gists did a wonderful job of presenting what9s going on with wolves and the pub- lic since the Yellowstone reintroduction, focusing on herbivore overgrazing, bal- ance-of-nature and habitat considerations, and citing the impact of the wolves of Isle Royal as an example. They also presented a clear picture of how wolves have wandered through the Northwest, discussing the famous 4 or infamous, depending on your point of view 4 Wolf OR-7. Again and again student hands shot up for questions, and after each answer every- one began to see the scope of ecological events that took place for the good of the land and all the species that lived in it with wolves back in the Yellowstone ecosystem again. Susie told me, <We stud- ied the wolf in context of dif- ferent habitats (arctic, tem- perate forest) and expanded our study to literature (<Julie of the Wolves=), art, science, and music (our choir teacher weaved in a song about wolves). We also approached this particular study with a balanced lens 3 discuss- ing different perspectives on wolves (ranchers, hunt- ers, and scientists) 3 but all the while keeping in mind the ecological story 3 that the wolf is a keystone spe- cies, an apex predator, and is critical in preserving nature9s balance.= One of her students, Josiah, wrote, <I was really surprised to learn that wolves do not howl at the moon, but are more active when there is a full moon. Coming from Idaho, I felt sympathetic about the wolves killing their livestock, but I did not know that the reintroduction of wolves was that impor- tant to Yellowstone Park. Compromise has been key in supporting both sides.= Another student, Hunter, had this to say: <Without wolves, coyotes overpopu- late and that means that the elk overpopulate because coyotes are not predators of the elk. Aspen/willow trees become overgrazed and then beavers have no materials to build their dams, and then dragonflies don9t have pud- dles to lay their eggs. Wolves primarily hunt the elk, but only eat 20 pounds of meat at a feeding. There are a lot of animals that benefit from a wolf kill and who scavenge on the leftovers 4 magpies, grizzly bears, wolverines, Low-income housing project filled up By Sue Stafford Correspondent Ponderosa Heights apart- ments, located on the cor- ner of Brooks Camp and McKinney Butte Roads, is built out and fully occu- pied, with 30 percent of the 48 units awarded to Sisters residents. The City had a large stake in the apartments, having provided $300,000 toward the project. According to Mayor Chuck Ryan, <The City is very pleased to see the final completion and full occu- pancy of the new Ponderosa Heights affordable hous- ing apartment complex in Sisters, in cooperation with HousingWorks.= Of 125 applicants who applied for one of the 48 units, 46 were from Bend, 15 from Redmond, 28 from Sisters, 12 from other Oregon cities, three from out-of- state, and 21 were previously unhoused. 541-549-9388 SISTERS Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben ~ Your Dentist in Sisters Since 1993 ~ We are here to help you smile with confi dence! Brown Diamond & Fancy Sapphire Wedding Ring COLUMBIA that the next affordable hous- ing need for Sisters will be in the category of 8workforce housing9 or those families or individuals who cannot afford most market-rate hous- ing but cannot qualify for 60 percent MFI-type housing. In other words, the need for more apartment-type housing and/or subsidized housing such as Habitat for Humanity units,= Ryan concluded. Ryan offered that per- haps some of the out-of- town residents (mostly Bend and Redmond) <that were awarded the balance of the units may, in fact, be current workers in Sisters who had to previously commute to Sisters and can now live and work here.= Ryan is hopeful that some of the apartment residents can try to find permanent jobs in Sisters, <bringing more work- force availability to Sisters.= <The City is very proud of this project and its favorable impact on the community,= said the mayor. General, Cosmetic, Implant and Family Dentistry See WOLVES on page 17 We’ve got you covered from head to toe! The residents were deter- mined by a lottery system of the 125 applications. Despite the fact that 36.8 percent of the applicants were from Bend and 22.4 percent from Sisters, Sisters residents ended up with the largest number at 29.2 percent of the units and Bend only one- quarter of the units. <I was encouraged that a significant portion of the final residents were young, single-parent families along with the homeless (seven or 14.6 percent) who now have permanent homes,= Ryan added. Mayor Ryan expressed surprise that only 28 of the 125 applicants were Sisters residents. He surmised one reason could be the require- ment that the apartment resi- dents cannot earn over 60 percent of the median family income (MFI) for Deschutes County, which amounts to a family income of less than $35,000 a year. <I think this may indicate 541-549-0109 | 304 W. Adams Ave. | Sisters Bottle & Can Drive! Furry Friends Foundation can use your redeemable bottles and cans! mackenziecreekmercantile.com 290 W. Cascade Ave. • 541-549-8424 Help us raise funds by picking some of our blue bags to oll and return to Ray9s Food Place. It9s easy to do, you just scan the tag on the bag, open the door in the bottle drop and leave the bag. The empty blue bags can be picked up at 204 W. Adams, Ste. 109. You can still drop off bottles & cans (closed plastic bags please) in the blue bins at 442 E. Main Ave. FURRY FRIEND S Interior Painting Small projects or the entire house! Quality Work • Competitive Rates Staining • Refi nishing • Trim • Cabinets, too. Call 541-588-0083 20 Years Experience | ccb#191760 Now scheduling! Call today! 501 ( c )( 3 ) 541-797-4023 FOUNDATION Open Tues. & Thurs., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 204 W. Adams, Ste. 109, Sisters Art Works Bldg. Next to the Sisters Habitat Restore parking lot. www.FurryFriendsFoundation.org Sisters Pet Food Bank " Spay/Neuter Sponsorships " Emergency Medical Assistance