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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2020)
18 Wednesday, May 13, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Wilderness permit plan delayed A new system for permits limiting entry into parts of the Sisters backcountry has been pushed back till next year. The Forest Service announced on Thursday, May 7, that the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests will delay the implementa- tion of the Central Cascades Wilderness limited entry per- mit system until May 2021. <Given many logistical constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are delaying our implemen- tation until next year,= said Deschutes National Forest Supervisor Holly Jewkes. The Central Cascades Wildernesses limited entry system was set to begin on May 22, and would bring day- use limits to 19 out of 79 trails and overnight limits to all trails in the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness. <Our focus has been on responding to COVID-19, and preparations for the permit The Nugget Newspaper Crossword By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service system were delayed,= said Willamette National Forest Supervisor Dave Warnack. <We felt there was too much uncertainty for the public on when we might open the res- ervation system. Therefore, we made this difficult decision.= One aspect of the Central C a s c a d e s Wi l d e r n e s s Strategies decision, which will be implemented this year is the <elevational campfire ban.= The ban includes: " All campfires are banned above 5,700 feet eleva- tion in Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wildernesses, as well as some areas lower than 5,700. " All campfires are banned above 6,000 feet elevation in Diamond Peak Wilderness. Other than the elevational fire ban, the wilderness areas will be managed this year as they were previously. Both forests will maintain the free self-issue permit systems for entering the wildernesses. — Last Week’s Puzzle Solved — Emergency grants available for businesses Sisters businesses affected by COVID-19 may be eligible for grants of up to $2,000 from funds provided by the Oregon Community Foundation. The Sisters OCF COVID-19 Emergency Business Grant Task Force will release infor- mation about eligibility and application procedures on Wednesday, May 13. On that date, the task force will publish eligibility stan- dards and application mate- rials on many websites and directly to Sisters businesses. The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) earmarked $25,000 for Sisters from money received from the Oregon Community Foundation to support severely impacted businesses. COIC then formed a local task force to finalize procedures for dis- tributing the funds to eligible Sisters businesses. <The task force under- stands the devastating effect of COVID-19 on local busi- nesses who have invested in our community and contrib- ute to the local economy,= said Judy Trego, a member of the task force and Executive Director of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. <We have been working hard to create a fair system for dis- tributing these emergency grants to help as many busi- nesses as possible with some financial relief.= The task force urges busi- nesses to examine the materi- als and submit applications as soon as they become available on May 13. The task force will not consider applica- tions received after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20. The materials will be made available on at least the fol- lowing websites: " www.sisterscountry.com " www.edcoinfo.com " www.ci.sisters.or.us " www.centraloregonsos. com This Week’s Crossword Sponsors Greg Wieland L.Ac. Practicing since 1989 352 E. Hood Ave., Ste. E Sisters Acupuncture Center 541-549-1523 When the going gets tough, even the tough call us. Banr Enterprises, llc Consult | Construct | Complete Earthwork • Utilities • Grading • Rock Walls • Snow Removal Residential and Commercial Contractor CCB: 165122 www.banr.net | 541-549-6977