CHENEY — The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Spokane has reopened after being closed to the public last weekend because of the situation at a refuge near Burns, Ore.
The Turnbull website says it closed last weekend out of an abundance of caution for the wellbeing of staff and visitors.
But the 18,000-acre refuge reopened to the public on Monday.
Officials for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not immediately return a telephone message seeking more details.
A standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns has been going on since January 2. Four people continue to occupy that refuge and say they won’t leave until the government releases two ranchers from prison and turns federal land over to local authorities.
