Saboteur spikes fee station

A Sisters Ranger District employee found a collection of syringes with hypodermic needles inside the steel canister of one of the district's newly installed "iron rangers" while he was collecting trail park fees on Sunday, July 25, off Forest Road 12, just east of Suttle Lake.

The fee collection stations were installed earlier this season "to make it more convenient for the public to get a Trail Park Pass," according to Deschutes National Forest recreation program manager Mark Christiansen. Four steel tubes, known as "iron rangers" or "fee vaults," along with information kiosks were installed in the Sisters Ranger District.

Deschutes National Forest public affairs officer Lorette Ray said this is the first incident of its kind in the local area. Razor blades and glass have been discovered inside fee station envelopes at other western National Forests.

Ray said there are no leads or suspects in the Sisters case. She added that no liquid or powder was visible on the needles, but they have been sent to an Oregon State Police laboratory to be analyzed. The results will be available in six weeks, according to Ray.

Ray could not confirm whether the incident was related to the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program, which is now in its third year on the Deschutes Nation- al Forest. The program has come under fire locally and across the west from some trail users who feel they should not have to pay fees to use the National Forests.

Ten of the self-service fee collection stations were installed this year on the Deschutes National Forest. Christiansen said the convenience of the fee vaults has increased public compliance with the fee demonstration program to between 80 and 90 percent.