TyroneSlothrop
Diamond Member
- Banned
- #2,681
Malheur Field Station director left after learning: 'You have an armed militia down the road'
Evered was shocked when he took the call warning of the militants nearby. His heart rate and mind raced. He resisted leaving until the sheriff's office called as well, telling him to go immediately.
He was told the militants were dangerous.
Evered had one vehicle for escape – and it was encased in ice and snow. During the 15 minutes it took to thaw, Evered packed a few personal belongings. He spread seed for wild quail that count on him for winter sustenance.
Instead of taking the driveway out to Sodhouse Lane, Evered started south on a snow-covered refuge road, Central Patrol Road.
He drove slowly, headlights off. He worried about sliding off the road into the ditch. He crept along, avoiding braking to keep his taillights from coming on in the inky darkness.
When he hit Rattlesnake Butte, he figured he was out of sight of any of the militants and could safely brake. He drove 20 miles before turning on his headlights. He made it to Burns that night and later traveled on to a friend's home in central Oregon.
He expects to return to the field station next week to assess circumstances. He said lost and delayed reservations and other expenses related to the occupation have cost the Great Basin Society an estimated $12,000.
He worries about burst pipes and a temperamental pump that could disrupt the water supply. But that's not what keeps him up at night.
He has heard the anti-government protesters at the refuge are rifling through ancient Paiute artifacts stored there. He dreads returning home to find someone has tampered with business and personal records and other belongings in the field station.
"The field station was left under extremely poor circumstances," Evered said. "I know that damage is being done."
-- Kelly House of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this story.
Evered was shocked when he took the call warning of the militants nearby. His heart rate and mind raced. He resisted leaving until the sheriff's office called as well, telling him to go immediately.
He was told the militants were dangerous.
Evered had one vehicle for escape – and it was encased in ice and snow. During the 15 minutes it took to thaw, Evered packed a few personal belongings. He spread seed for wild quail that count on him for winter sustenance.
Instead of taking the driveway out to Sodhouse Lane, Evered started south on a snow-covered refuge road, Central Patrol Road.
He drove slowly, headlights off. He worried about sliding off the road into the ditch. He crept along, avoiding braking to keep his taillights from coming on in the inky darkness.
When he hit Rattlesnake Butte, he figured he was out of sight of any of the militants and could safely brake. He drove 20 miles before turning on his headlights. He made it to Burns that night and later traveled on to a friend's home in central Oregon.
He expects to return to the field station next week to assess circumstances. He said lost and delayed reservations and other expenses related to the occupation have cost the Great Basin Society an estimated $12,000.
He worries about burst pipes and a temperamental pump that could disrupt the water supply. But that's not what keeps him up at night.
He has heard the anti-government protesters at the refuge are rifling through ancient Paiute artifacts stored there. He dreads returning home to find someone has tampered with business and personal records and other belongings in the field station.
"The field station was left under extremely poor circumstances," Evered said. "I know that damage is being done."
-- Kelly House of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this story.
