The Nugget Vol. XLVI No. 16
Scientists’ debate may impact local forest projects
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Fun for all…
Wolverine spotted in mountains near Sisters
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
In what appears as a classic case of scientific quarrel, a new study is cited by local environmentalists arguing that certain studies funded by the Forest Service contain a pattern of “falsification.” That was a word used several times by one of the study’s authors, Chad T. Hanson, PhD, of Earth Island Institute in Berkeley, California, who spoke with The Nugget at length. The Nugget asked District
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Sisters Park & Recreation District’s inaugural Kids Carnival was a smashing success, drawing families from across Central Oregon to Sisters for a day of youth activities. Five-year-old Beau Hilgers was one of many who got his face painted by Remy Klein at the event. See story, page 25.
See PROJECTS on page 14
Correspondent
This year’s Sisters School District (SSD) School Board candidates were asked tough and hard-hitting questions during the League of Women Voters of Deschutes County’s Virtual Candidate Forum last Thursday. The virtual forum gathered the candidates and a moderator together via Zoom and was live-streamed for the public to watch on the City Club of Central Oregon YouTube channel. Candidates were asked questions ranging from why they are running for the School Board to questions about safety in our schools. All of the questions were submitted by the public and reiterated to the candidates by the moderator, Jim Cornelius, editor in chief of The Nugget Newspaper. Position 4 candidates Jeff Smith and Karissa Bilderback and Position 3 candidates Asa Sarver and
Inside...
A sighting of a wolverine east of Santiam Pass on April 6 was confirmed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Video of the wolverine crossing the highway can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/ shorts/Q0kSPFqiiww. ODFW Deschutes District staff confirmed tracks near the video location on the day of the sighting. Over the past month, there have been several wolverine sighting reports submitted to ODFW and Cascadia Wild, a local nonprofit organization conducting community science wildlife surveys for See WOLVERINE on page 13
Candidates respond to voters’ questions By Ceili Gatley
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Hilary Saunders participated in the forum. Position 4 candidate Jayne Simmons had a scheduling conflict and was unable to attend. Parents’ rights in their children’s education, and school safety are matters that have garnered a lot of attention nationally, and the local questions reflected those concerns. A question posed to the candidates had to do with whether or not they support the Parent’s Bill of Rights, a federal bill that also has state versions entering the state legislatures. Sarver noted that he does not support it and believes that parents already have a right to a say in their children’s education. “They have so by voting for the school board, and they have absolute access to the curriculum as well as three principles that have their door wide open,” he said. See FORUM on page 11
Sisters pioneers honored by OSU By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Keith and Connie Cyrus of Cloverdale and Connie Hatfield of Sisters were made permanent members of the Diamond Pioneer Registry at Oregon State University. The College of Agricultural Sciences annually honors people whose lifetime contributions to agriculture, natural resources, and the people of Oregon and/or Oregon State University have been significant. The award publicly recognizes their accomplishments as individuals who have contributed to the wellbeing of their community, industry, or state. The recognition for the Keith and Connie Cyrus took place at a noon luncheon April 12, at the Corvallis main campus. The Registry was established in March, 1983 when the College Of Agricultural Sciences observed its 75th anniversary. Honorees must be at least 75 in age. Keith Cyrus is a fifthgeneration Central Oregon farmer, and his wife, Connie,
PHOTO PROVIDED
Keith and Connie Cyrus (back row, left) were honored as Diamond Pioneers of Oregon agriculture by Oregon State University. who grew up on a dairy near Dodson, Oregon, continue to farm in Cloverdale. Keith bought his current farm in 1959 while attending OSU. The two have been farming continuously since their marriage in 1961. Throughout their farming career, Keith and Connie have been very active in their community and have had close ties with OSU. In addition, four children and four grandchildren attended/graduated from OSU.
The Cyrus family is still actively farming, raising hay, cattle, sheep, and since 2016, hemp. As one of the first hemp farmers in the state, they had to figure out how to raise this new crop that hadn’t been commercially produced in Oregon since the 1930s. It was a steep learning curve, and they were some of the first to adopt plastic and drip irrigation in Central Oregon, as well as the use See CYRUS on page 10
Letters/Weather ............... 2 A Sisters Salutes ............... 8 Entertainment .................13 Obituaries ...................... 20 Crossword ...................... 29 Meetings .......................... 3 nnouncements .................12 At Your Service............ 15-17 Fun & Games ................... 28 Classifieds................. 30-31