Search on for ranger

By October the Sisters Ranger District should have a new ranger at the helm. Until then, Mike Hernandez will continue to act as ranger.

When Karen Shimamoto took a new assignment in the Forest Supervisor's office in January, Carolyn Wisdom replaced her in Sisters, but the assignment was only temporary.

According to Jim Golden in the Deschutes National Forest Supervisor's Office, "Carolyn agreed to act as ranger for a limited period of time. The agreement up front was for a period of four months."

Golden said that "Everyone enjoyed working with Carolyn, and we were really pleased with her performance as ranger." Wisdom has returned to her former position as deputy district ranger of the Bend-Fort Rock District.

Mike Hernandez has been acting district ranger since June, but is not seeking to become the permanent ranger. Hernandez said he was not qualified at the administrative level at which the ranger position was advertised.

"So," he said, "I get a summer of being a ranger. Whenever the selection is done, I will just return to my regular position."

According to Golden, over 50 people from across the country have applied for the Sisters District Ranger position. Next week the Supervisor's Office will begin reviewing the applications. "We hope to have a selection made and approved by August 1, and the ranger in place by the beginning of October."

But Golden expressed confidence about Hernandez's ability to run the district until a new ranger is able to take the reins.

"Mike is one of our principal team leaders on the district. He has the skills and temperament to do a good job as acting ranger."

Hernandez has worked within the Forest Service for 17 years, beginning in 1979 in Sisters. In 1985 he left Sisters to work for two years in the Republic Range, and in 1987 began a five-year stint in the Crescent Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. Since 1995 he has been a community relations team leader back in the Sisters District.