Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
June 16, 2022
By Pat Edwards
Congratulations to each one of the 2022 graduates—not only those from Crow High School, but from all of the local schools. Graduation has always been a major accomplishment—something to celebrate. The effort and focus that each of us have to put in for those 12+ long years is a cause for celebration and honor, but for this graduating class and the past two, extra kudos have been earned for the disruption of so much in their lives by the pandemic. Covid has affected each of us, but especially our school-age children and teens who have had to completely change their educational routines, and who have missed out on some of the most important events of their school years—things like proms and school dances, field trips, plays, athletic events and close interaction between themselves and their teachers and classmates. Some have taken the disruption and at-home learning in stride, but others have had a hard time adjusting to the break in the routine of learning. I just want to take time to use this means to honor them with my respect and acknowledgment of all that they’ve experienced. Good job! and Congratulations to each one of you!
For the students who will be returning next year, there is some very good news… The Crow-Applegate-Lorane School Board has decided to waive all sports fees for K-12 students enrolled in the C-A-L School District for the 2022/23 school year. This involves all middle/high school sports and TSP/Youth Wrestling. The front office has sports sign up for our fall sports at the moment. Right now, they don’t have many MS football sign-ups and more sign-ups for cross-country would be welcomed. Be sure to encourage your kids to sign up for sports, it’s free, and a very valuable experience!
The news of the devastating floods ravaging Yellowstone National Park have hit a personal note for me. My good friend from college days, Connie Ruhlman, who now lives in Montana, once lived and worked with her husband, Dick, on the Sunlight Ranch, located on the borders of Yellowstone, outside of Cody, Wyoming. It is still owned by the family of Earl and Carol Holding (who also owned Little America, Sun Valley and Sinclair Oil). Dick was their foreman overseeing the family homesite on the ranch and Connie was the housekeeper at the Holding’s beautiful home and some of the guest houses at Sunlight. Jim and I had the 
privilege of spending a week with them at Sunlight in the mid-1980s; we helped with the chores and took walks and car rides through the amazing scenery surrounding them. It was one of the nicest vacations we have ever taken.
Connie and Dick were living there in 1988 when Yellowstone and the surrounding area suffered a major wildfire which destroyed over 500,000 acres including part of the Sunlight Ranch. Connie and Dick were horrified by the devastation it caused and the wildlife they loved that were killed in the fire. Before the fire, there were huge elk herds that claimed a large pasture in front of their cabin for their calving grounds in the winter/early spring, and they were frequently visited by moose, occasional bears, badgers, and they felt an affinity for, and kept track of, a wolf pack that had become established nearby.
Now, with the news of the horrible flooding and the additional devastation being done to that whole area, Connie envisions how her favorite spots and wildlife on the ranch are being affected and she is mourning once again, along with the passing of her beloved Dick who passed away a year ago. I, too, am mourning with her
All Things Lorane 