Written by Janelle L Wicks

It was March of 2018 the first time I drove from Klamath Falls to Malheur National Wildlife and what would soon be home. I can recall the trip seeming to take an eternity. We passed Brothers, Hampton, Riley and every time I thought… we must be getting close! Ha. After rolling through Hines and taking Hwy 78 east out of Burns I was thrilled at a sight of a long-faded sign with two dancing cranes indicating the Refuge was merely another 30 miles south. Thanks for the update, Malheur Wildlife Associates, whoever you are. Little did I know that this trip would lead our lives down a whole new path over the next few months.

Now, nearly 6 years later, I am myself a Malheur Wildlife Associate – though we call ourselves the Friends of Malheur NWR now. When I was hired by the Friends in October of 2018 I quickly developed a short list goals. That old sign on Hwy 78? It needed an upgrade! But, I wanted to know more about its origin story before I went about my plan of taking it down and updating it. I spent my time asking around town, when I should have started by asking our own Gary Ivey who recently shared with me this article from October 2005: 

NEW SIGN GUIDES REFUGE VISITORS
Patty Bowers, Newsletter Editor

OCT 2005. By summer’s end a new sign was up along Hwy 78 directing visitors toward Malheur Refuge at the Hwy 205 junction near the Poison Creek Grange Hall. Refuge Manager, Donna Stovall, was contacted early this spring by PRIDE, Positive Results from Innovation, Determination, and Energy, a local grass roots organization dedicated to improving the local community. PRIDE offered the Refuge the opportunity to use the back of their large sign which welcomes visitors to the communities of Burns and Hines. PRIDE is responsible for several landscaping, signage, and clean-up projects in the Burns and Hines communities. Donna contacted MWA who agreed to help with this worthwhile project. MWA Board members worked with Refuge staff and Cindy Jennings of Creative Signs to produce the 8’ x 9’ sign. Refuge staff assisted with installation. PRIDE also plans to landscape the area near the sign with typical “high desert” plantings.

The sign, with sandhill cranes pointing the way, encourages visitors to “discover Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.” MWA is generously credited on the lower part of the sign.”

In the spring of 2021, I received permission to remove the old sign from the County and the property owner. I set about working with local graphic design company, Sage DesignWorks, to update the sign. They had it fabricated and were ready to install by fall 2021! I was thrilled with what they produced and was eager to see the final product that would serve to welcome, and warn, every future visitor. Yes, the Refuge is right around the corner… in another 30 miles.

As my grandfather would say, if it is worth doing (seeing/experiencing) then it is worth the time and effort it takes to do.