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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 2020)
The Ranger’s Corner Ian Reid Sisters District Ranger Big boots to fill in Sisters Other projects we are working on this year include the sale of the northern por- tion of the ranger station administrative site. We are in contract with a local buyer and expect to close this sum- mer. The proceeds from this land sale combined with pending federal grant appli- cations could pave the way for new ranger station con- struction commencing as early as 2021 or 2022. We are also planning on relocat- ing the Peterson Ridge trail- head this summer and add- ing several small connector trails to the PRT to provide some additional non-motor- ized trail opportunities. And speaking of recreation, I would be remiss if I didn9t mention winter recreation. We understand there have been some challenging days this winter season accessing the Three Creek sno-parks and are working on proac- tive solutions with our con- tractor and other community partners including ODOT and the City of Sisters. Also, if you are a winter rec afi- cionado consider attend- ing the 15th annual winter backcountry film festival at Sisters Movie House on the evening of February 9, hosted by our local partner Discover Your Forest. We have recently lost some awesome employ- ees and are working hard to refill those positions. District wildlife biologist Wednesday, February 5, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Kris Hennings and recre- ation staff Amy Racki both left for promotions. And law-enforcement officer Fred Perl has retired after an incredible career of federal service including 16 years spent on the Sisters Ranger District. These are all big boots to fill. And sadly, we lost a dear friend and recently retired coworker Robin Gyorgyfalvy last month to chronic illness. Robin was a landscape architect instru- mental in the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway, Sisters round- about art, and the design of Whychus Overlook. She was an amazing human being who received a 2015 Federal Asian Pacific American Council Civilian Award in recognition of her accom- plishments in promoting diversity and inclusiveness. A hui hou, Robin. Looping back to the rhe- torical question I posed at the beginning of this column, the Forest Service celebrated its 115th birthday on February 1. Our country has seen mas- sive change over this time and we expect much more in the next century. Regardless of how national demands evolve, our agency core val- ues of service, conservation, interdependence, diversity, and safety will help us meet our mission to provide excel- lent public service to you, the American people. Here9s to a productive 2020! It9s hard to believe it is February 2020 already! Where does the time go? Here are some recent hap- penings and some <new year9s resolutions= for the Sisters Ranger District. First, we are still accept- ing comments on a project proposal to clear 13 miles of existing powerline cor- ridors in the Indian Ford and Camp Sherman vicin- ity to improve access and powerline safety, includ- ing wildfire risk reduction. Speaking of wildfire, the 2019 revision of the Greater Sisters Country Community Wildfire Protection Plan was recently approved by our local elected officials. The plan is available on the Project Wildfire website and represents a tremendous effort to keep us all fire- safe and resilient in Sisters Country. We are getting close to requesting stewardship con- tract proposals to manage about 250 acres near Suttle Lake for forest health and public safety. We expect that tree removal work will begin this year along road systems, in Suttle Lake campgrounds, Camp Tamarack, and the United Methodist Camp. We 541-549-4349 | 260 N. Pine St., Sisters will provide more informa- Licensed / Bonded / Insured / CCB#87587 tion to the public as we get closer to project kickoff. In the vein of providing CREATIVITY, CULTURE, & FAITH public information, we will MOVIE NIGHT... be hosting another Sisters Ranger District open house this year. Please mark your calendars for the evening of April 15 at the Sisters-Camp Sherman fire hall. Aside from tax day and the spring at Sisters Movie House, 720 Desperado Ct. turkey hunting opener, this open house is another rea- Jim Cornelius will facilitate discussion after the movie. son to look forward to April 15. We will follow a similar format as last year: describe recent projects, have open dialogue and answer ques- tions with the public, and have smaller breakout ses- sions with staff. Our new for- est supervisor, Holly Jewkes, is expected to attend so it will be a great opportunity to Complimentary tickets are available at Gypsy Wind, learn about what is going on 351 W. Hood Ave. – Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in your Deschutes National Presented by Sisters Community Church Forest and how you can get in partnership with Sisters Movie House involved. For more information call 541-549-1201. Governor seeks affordable housing tax SALEM. (AP) 4 Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has filed a resolution for the legislative session that starts next week asking voters to amend the state constitution to allow for real estate transfer taxes, which are assessed when property changes ownership. Oregon P u b l i c Broadcasting reports that the money raised would go to fund affordable housing. House Joint Resolution 203 would exempt the first $500,000 of a property9s value from taxation. The governor has not proposed a tax rate nor set a goal for how much revenue she9d like to raise, her office says. <Outside of how we build, construct and develop hous- ing, we don9t have an ongo- ing dedicated source of fund- ing to provide the services,= said Shannon Singleton, Brown9s housing policy adviser. <Local jurisdictions don9t necessarily have the ability to meet service level needs without some sort of new revenue.= If it gets traction, Brown9s resolution would become the latest high-profile housing proposal slated for the 35-day session that begins Feb. 3. Eight years ago realtors and business groups poured millions of dollars into Measure 79, which created a prohibition on real estate transfer taxes in the state constitution. Oregon statutes already prohibited localities from cre- ating such taxes, but Measure 79 proponents wanted more certainty. They made hard- to-prove claims that cities around the state had been plotting to institute transfer taxes, and that such a move would create another burden for homeowners and prospec- tive buyers. <We are very concerned about anything that would make a terrible housing situ- ation even worse,= the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce wrote in a voters9 pamphlet statement. Opponents countered that the measure was unneces- sary and would add unneeded complexity to the state9s con- stitution. Measure 79 passed with nearly 59 percent of the vote. The Oregon Constitution now prohibits any <tax, fee or other assessment upon the transfer of any interest in real property...= Stop by our showroom in the heart of Sisters... wide selection, friendly service! BREAKER MORANT Wed., Feb. 12 • 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 19 Do you know that house plants only require water half as often in winter? Keep a low light plant in your bedroom for good health! I help owners of house plants get to know each plant they adopt. Plants need nutrients. They need to be disease- and parasite-free. Plus, they need attention! I off er house-plant decorating, repotting and plant-sitting in Sisters, Redmond, and most of Bend. $15/hr. for fi rst consult Plant Care & Decorating Available A Growing Business Donna Lee Bolt, 541-740-4906 Donn