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Headwaters begins to stem tide New director, paid-off debts steady troubled watchdog By PAUL FATTIG ASHLAND - Tonya Graham, a longtime volunteer and staff member of Headwaters, has been named executive director of the environmental group. The Ashland resident previously served as its development director. She has a bachelor of science degree from Northland College and a master's degree in community development from Goddard College. "We are delighted that Tonya has agreed to step up for the executive director position," said Roger Butterfield, chair of the group's board, in a prepared statement. "We see it as another sign that Headwaters is back on track after enduring some difficult times over the past year." He was referring to Headwaters' former executive director Richard "Rick" Lee Gwynallen, 43, who was charged late last year with embezzling some $150,000 in grant money from the group from December of 1998 until June of last year. The arrest of Gwynallen, whose trial is set for later this month, left the group reeling and in debt, but board members say the group has been restructured to avoid future financial problems. It has also since paid off its debts - roughly the amount Gwynallen allegedly embezzled. That was accomplished by board members assuming about $50,000 of the debts, by paying off about $60,000 and having the remainder forgiven, according to a board member. Headwaters, which formed as an environmental watchdog group in 1974, won't waver from its historical mission of environmental protection, Graham said. "Our focus will continue to be the protection of public forestlands in the Klamath-Siskiyou region," she said. "Our primary task will be facilitating public involvement in timber-sale monitoring, developing policies for management of small-diameter timber and advocating for the protection of roadless areas in Southern Oregon." The group is also creating a new position of conservation coordinator to focus on those issues, she said. The position is expected to be filled early next month. Originally based in Grants Pass, Headwaters built a reputation of launching administrative appeals or lawsuits when it felt actions of federal agencies were threatening the environment. Its offices at 84 Fourth St. in Ashland are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.