Week of October 30, 2024
Youths in today’s society face challenges and have opportunities that were barely conceivable to even their parents’ generation. The pervasiveness of technology opens a world of connection, while simultaneously — and counter-intuitively — creating a sense of isolation. Sisters is widely considered a great community for kids — but youth here are subject to challenging national and international trends. The next in Citizens For Community’s (C4C) biannual series of community forums will focus on youth well-being in... Full story
As the temperatures cool and with the potential for additional rainfall in the coming week, open burning within the Black Butte Ranch, Cloverdale, and Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Districts opened on Monday, October 28. The Sisters-Camp Sherman and Cloverdale Fire District burn permit system was updated over the summer. If you previously accessed the system via a phone app, the app has been rebranded as “Before You Burn,” offering the same functionality you’re familiar with, but with enhanced features and new tools. The... Full story
Steve Amsberry, a retired veterinarian living in Black Butte, asked The Nugget to remind readers of the danger of some candies to dogs. His brother, Mike, also a vet still practicing in Sisters, says that chocolate is the highest candy risk to canines. “Chocolate contains several active chemicals, including theobromine and caffeine. They are far more powerful in dogs. Signs of chocolate toxicity vary by size of dog and the amount of chocolate eaten. Symptoms may take... Full story
Bristows Barbershop in Sisters will be hosting a fund-raiser for longtime resident Adam Silva who is needing to have unexpected open heart surgery. Adam, who is a father to five children, is without medical insurance, and will be out of work for five or six months. On Saturday, November 9, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the barbershop will be offering haircuts for $25, and $20 for veterans and senior citizens. All proceeds will be donated to the Silva family to help cover medical costs. There will also be a free barbecue and drinks... Full story
Assume. It’s what we do every time we climb behind the wheel of a car. We assume we are going to get to our destination safely. Odds are you will. Often that creates a complacency that will catch up with you sooner or later. On average there are six injury accidents, and dozens more “fender-benders” that police do not respond to in Deschutes County daily. Even a seemingly low-speed accident may cause serious and sometimes life-altering injuries. How to make sure you don’t eventually end up involved in one of those... Full story
Local nonprofits Age-Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC) and Citizens4Community (C4C) are teaming up to offer a free workshop for residents interested in turning their community building ideas into reality. “What Do You Do With An Idea?” will take place Sunday, November 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sisters Fire District Community Hall. The event will also be live-streamed and recorded, and light refreshments will be provided. Registration for both in-person and online attendance is requested, and is accessible at... Full story
The two candidates for Deschutes County Sheriff have released documents clarifying information about their background in what has become a highly contentious race. After his education credentials were called into question, Captain William Bailey provided a memo from Oregon’s law enforcement certification agency demonstrating that he has more than the required number of college credits for the management and executive police certifications he holds. The memo was issued by... Full story
Wrestling has been a central part of Jeff Smith's long and accomplished life. He's given a lot to the sport he loves - and now the wrestling world has given back to him. Earlier this month, at a gala in Tigard, Smith was inducted into the Oregon Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma, honoring a lifetime of contributions to the sport. Smith was drawn into the sport of wrestling in high school in Roseburg, Oregon, coached by a World War II... Full story
The Sisters Ranger District is one of three ranger districts on the Deschutes National Forest. It covers 350,000 acres surrounding Sisters on three sides. During the summer season, the Sisters district has about 110 staff at work. The current acting district ranger, Lauren DuRocher, is in charge while permanent district ranger Ian Reid is spending four months on the Modoc National Forest in the extreme northeastern corner of California, comprised of 1.6 million acres. He will... Full story
The Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) hosted its fall Volunteer Celebration at the Belfry on Monday, October 14. The event started with a short video produced by STA Youth Ambassador and SHS senior Jack Turpen, which showcased STA trails. Forrest Tancer, current Board Chairman of STA, welcomed the 70 plus volunteers and introduced Stephanie Presley, STA’s new Executive Director. She praised the work of STA because it embodies the best in volunteer spirit and community collaboration, and noted that over 350 persons had... Full story
Ballots will be in hand in the coming days, and Sisters voters will have a chance to decide on the make-up of their city council; the size of the county commission; and who will lead the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. There are three open positions on the Sisters City Council, with five candidates throwing their hat into the ring. The five candidates participated in a League of Women Voters/City Club of Central Oregon forum on Thursday, October 10. The forum can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3BKW0Pu. The Nugget’s... Full story
During his visit to Mosaic Community Health's Sisters School-Based Health Center (SBHC) on Friday, October 11, to celebrate their one year of service to Sisters children, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden told those assembled, "Thank you for what you do. The School-Based Health Centers do some of the most important work in the state, providing health care for our children." Earlier, Wyden was thanked by Mosaic staff: "We offer you our gratitude because we couldn't have done what we have... Full story
He drove two- and one-half days to get to the 2024 Harvest Faire in Sisters, the 15th sponsored by Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. It was a 1,781-mile journey for Ryan Stanley, one of 172 vendors at the event which drew as many as 10,000. Some vendors estimated 12,000 and seemingly they could not be more pleased with the outcome. When asked why he would travel so far for a weekend show, Stanley said, "Well first of all it's a beautiful drive, so the time goes quickly. And... Full story
A group of nine activists representing several groups asked The Nugget to accompany them last Friday to an area on Green Ridge to show trees marked by the Forest Service for removal under a proposed timber sale as part of the Service's Green Ridge Landscape Restoration Project, a 25,000-acre planning area. Green Ridge is in the Sisters District of the Deschutes National Forest in Jefferson County about nine air miles north of town and close to Camp Sherman and the Metolius... Full story
Jennifer Letz has thrown her hat in the ring for another term on the Sisters City Council. Letz, who is finishing up a four-year term, helped navigate Sisters through the challenges of hiring a new city manager, a contentious battle over a proposed emergency homeless shelter, and is currently embarked on the state-mandated project to expand the City's Urban Growth Boundary. Letz is one of five candidates running for three available seats on Sisters City Council in the... Full story
The Sisters Ranger District (SRD) plans to conduct approximately 439 acres of brush mowing operations in areas adjacent to Forest Service Road 2058 (Pine Street), Sisters Tie Trail, and Forest Service Road 1102 (Indian Ford Road). Work got underway earlier this month, and will continue for the next few months. According to the Forest Service, operations are strategically located within the Highway 20 Project Area, which is critical to reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire to the Sisters community. Brush mowing will... Full story
Ronald is one lucky feline. This big marmalade cat, who weighs 18 pounds, was saved from an untimely end by a kind man who brought him to Sisters and released him. As though guided by his guardian angel, the cat made his way over two miles to the front porch of Sisters resident, Jill Eidsmoe, an inveterate cat lover. He received instant care and food and lots of love. When Eidsmoe posted a photo on Facebook to see if she could locate the kitty's owner, the man who had saved... Full story
Sisters Elementary School (SES) is becoming a Halloween haunt, not only for kids in costume, but for a cauldron of bats. The bats had called home the ponderosa pines that stood tall at McKenzie Highway and McKinney Butte Road, then the trees were cut down so the school building could go up. "They lost their part of the forest, their habitat. There must have been some big holes way up in the trees where the bats were living. Every year, they come back after they hibernate.... Full story
The connection between people and nature is a bond that some would consider essential. It develops understanding and appreciation of the environment and creates space to better discover who a person is. Earlier this month, Sisters High School Interdisciplinary Environ-mental Expedition (IEE) group achieved these lessons by exploring the Three Sisters Wilderness on a backpacking trip. Guided by teachers Rand Runco, Samra Spear, and Glen Herron, the class comprised 48 total... Full story
After feeling that nature was pretty well understood by the middle of the 19th century, physics was shaken by twin revolutions in the early 20th century, those of relativity and quantum mechanics. Of the two, relativity arose from new understandings of the geometry of space and time, and could be accommodated reasonably as an extension of classical physics. Quantum Mechanics, on the other hand, required new ways of thinking not related to classical physics, including the apparently irreducible role of randomness and... Full story
Sisters tourism is increasingly built around health and wellness and a culture of artisanship. Last week, a group of industry professionals gathered in Sisters to explore what that means for a tourism-based economy. Representing myriad stakeholders in Oregon tourism, a group of 45 convened at FivePine Conference Center last Wednesday. Another 15 who had registered were unable to attend due to last-minute scheduling conflicts. The day-long conference was titled “Heritage,... Full story
Over nearly three decades, George R.R. Martin's tales of political intrigue, feuds and magic set in the quasi-medieval world of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros have thrilled millions of readers. The book series spawned the massive cultural phenomenon that was HBO's "Game of Thrones." Now Martin's magnum opus, with the overall title of "A Song of Ice and Fire," is presented in a new boxed set, designed in our own fantastical land known as Sisters Country. Martin announced the... Full story
Embroidery designer Krista West will present a tour of folk embroidery on Thursday, November 7, 6:30 p.m., at Paulina Springs Books. She will share her new book, "Everyday Folk" and will share embroideries she stitched for the book, plus describe her work with the textiles. "Everyday Folk" - which is subtitled, "over 175 folk embroidery designs for the home, inspired by traditional textiles," begins with a series of essential projects that feature a range of classic folk... Full story
In quilting vernacular, a "PHD" is a "Project Half Done." The East of the Cascades Quilters, based in Sisters, celebrated the completion of many "PHD's" on Wednesday, October 23. The guild began the process in May by having participating members submit a list of partially completed quilt or craft projects. The deadline for completing the projects was the October meeting. As each individual completed a project, they submitted a form showing its completion date. At the regular... Full story
In collaboration with acclaimed Central Oregon artist Kathy Deggendorfer, Makin' It Local will release "Opening the Klamath," an open edition fine art giclee print by Deggendorfer. The release party on Saturday, November 2, begins at 10 a.m., and includes an artist in attendance, Artist Reception, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The fine art prints will be available for viewing and purchase, including custom framed prints in various archival... Full story
Sisters Arts Association's Fourth Friday Artwalk will have plenty of sweet and a little bit of the unusual. Visit the galleries in Sisters to see what's new this month - including a brand new gallery in town! Gourds and woven baskets by Leslie Burtt and Chris Warren are the main attraction at The Rickards Gallery. Burtt's weaving techniques combine traditional styles with contemporary methods, and the focus of her work is the use of found materials such as naturally shed antlers, cherry bark, reeds, and grasses. She... Full story
Three Oregon poets will read from their new works at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. Each poet is published by Airlie Press, a nonprofit publisher run by writers, dedicated to cultivating and sustaining poetry and to promoting poets from the Pacific Northwest—and beyond. Founded in May 2007, Airlie Press consists of six members, all active poets. Each member shares in the editorial and book production responsibilities and serves for a three-year term. Airlie titles have received recognition as... Full story
Brad Earl was in the midst of a successful 46-year career as an architect when his wife Dale McCullough encouraged him to take up painting. That was 26 years ago, when his daughter Sloane was young. Sloane had already shown a knack for the visual arts. "She's been a sketcher since she was two years old," Brad recalled. He told his daughter, "OK, I'll paint if you paint." Brad recalls that he has a photograph of himself painting his first piece - a portrait of a rower on Lake... Full story
Sisters Movie House & Café is in the midst of its its weekly “Autumn Arts Adventure” (AA&A) Wednesday night series in October. The series continues on Wednesday, October 16, with another rock related documentary “Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision,” focused exclusively on the legendary guitarist’s unprecedented foray into the recording business. The following Wednesday, October 23, sees an extra special event in the series, a charity benefit for the Deschutes River Alliance. “The Last 100 Miles: The... Full story
Brigham Young University’s International Folk Dance Ensemble (IFDE) will perform at Sisters High School Auditorium on Wednesday, November 6, at 7 p.m. Combining ethnic traditions with exquisite costuming, IFDE showcases the dance styles of the world and features the traditions of the United States. The ensemble offers one of the broadest spectrums of folk dance performed by a single group of its kind. Its extensive repertoire includes music and dance from all over the world, including Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. IFDE... Full story
Bend author Jana Zvibleman will present her travel memoir "Irelandish" at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, October 17, at 6:30 p.m. Affection is a theme throughout Zvibleman's "Irelandish." American blow-ins Jana and Bruce zigzag through the land of the redheads and develop fondness for everything from the fiddling to the ugly swans, the bouncing lasses to the screaming market mammy. Exploring the magical mundane, the couple ponders and personalizes timeless stories of... Full story
The Lady Outlaws started their week with a 6-0 shutout at home over Santiam Christian on Wednesday, October 23, but suffered a 3-0 defeat at Central Linn two days later. The Outlaws didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard in Wednesday's match-up against the Eagles. Ella Davis punched the ball in just 30 seconds into the contest, with a shot at the top of the 18 to start the scoring spree. In the 11th minute Davis scored again. Davis received the ball up top and found... Full story
The Outlaws dominated play in their convincing 46-8 victory over the White Buffaloes at Madras on Friday, October 25. Sisters scored on their opening drive in just three quick plays which was capped off by a Kayl Mock 28-yard run off the right side. Reid Woodson hit the point after touchdown (PAT) and the Outlaws took an early 7-0 lead. Madras went three-and-out and Sisters regained possession. A key play in the drive was a 60-yard sweep by Hudson Beckwith. Spencer Davis scored the touchdown (TD) on a nine-yard run around... Full story
Sisters earned a state playoff berth with a 25-29, 25-20, 25-14 win over Creswell on Saturday, October 26. The Outlaws finished league play tied with Creswell, and had to play against them to see who would advance to play No. 1-ranked Pleasant Hill (PH). With the win over the Bulldogs, the Outlaws secured a state playoff berth. The match against PH would decide who would be the No. 1 and No. 2 seed. In the first set against the Bulldogs, the game went back and forth and at 9-9 had been knotted up six times. With the score... Full story
If last week's results at the Bigfoot Classic at Alderbrook Golf Course are any indication, the Outlaws cross-country teams are ready for action at the Special District 2 Championships set for Wednesday, October 30, at Cheadle Lake Park in Lebanon. The girls team, behind Brooke Duey's runner-up finish, placed second in the meet among seven complete 3A/2A/1A teams with 57 points. Banks, considered one of the top teams in the state, won the meet with 32 points. Duey ran a... Full story
The Sisters Outlaws mountain bike team competed in the NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) Oregon state championships, held at Barnes Butte Recreation area in Prineville on October 20. The championship race brought together both the North and South league conferences, and with more than 400 student athletes the large fields created deep competition and tight racing. "The Outlaws all put in monster efforts in their respective categories and it paid off," Coach... Full story
Discover Your Forest, the non-profit partner of the Deschutes National Forest (DNF), is hosting the annual Winter Volunteer Information Night for volunteers who are interested in supporting the Forest Stewards in the DNF. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 29, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the DNF office, located at 63095 Deschutes Market Road, in Bend. The event is focused on recruiting volunteers to serve as Forest Stewards. The focus of the Forest Stewards program is to engage visitors while they are in the forest... Full story
The 10th annual Sisters Outlaws Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Sunday, November 3, at 3 p.m. at Sisters High School. The event will include a special guest speaker to help celebrate the induction of six individuals and one group to the 2024 HOF class. Pat Tyson, currently the director of men’s cross country and track at Gonzaga University, will be present as the guest speaker in a ceremony that includes the induction of one of his former runners, Brandon Pollard from the SHS class of 2014. Also being honored... Full story
The Outlaws fell 1-0 at Pleasant Hill on October 23, in their final league game of the season. On Thursday they lost 0-2 at home against Gervais in a non-league game. Sisters struggled to get used to Pleasant Hill’s fast and bouncy artificial grass field. The Billies won the 50/50 balls and had possessed the ball the majority of the first half. Coach Jeff Husmann said, “It often takes us a bit to get settled into the game, but it seemed we never really clicked as a unit. As a whole group, we were giving them too much... Full story
The third annual Giddy Up run and walk took place under perfect conditions, with snow-dusted mountains as a backdrop at Pole Creek Ranch Saturday, October 19. A total of just under 150 runners and walkers, some in cowboy hats and other western garb, completed the five-mile and five-kilometer courses on the dirt roadways of the picturesque, iconic ranch. In addition twenty-six kids raced in the short "Buckaroo Dash" to kick things off. Madison Palmer of Arnold, Maryland, won... Full story
The Outlaws dominated play in their 50-20 win over Pleasant Hill on senior night at home on Friday, October 18. Sisters forced PH to punt on their opening possession. Sisters took over and went on a long 10 play drive. Kale Mock had three nice runs in the drive and Kolbi Cotner a catch that took them to the 28 yard line. Hudson Beckwith followed with a 20 yard run to the six and Spencer Davis capped the drive with an eight yard run around the right side for the score. Reid Woodson kicked the PAT (point after touchdown),... Full story
The boys soccer squad started their week with a 2-0 shutout at home against Elmira on Tuesday, October 15. Two days later they fell 4-0 at home against Central Linn. In Tuesday’s action, the Outlaws had trouble finding their rhythm in the first half, and the Falcons were motivated to get an upset. Sisters did have a couple of opportunities in the first half, but were unable to score, and at the half it was 0-0. Sisters did a bit better in the second half and scored about midway through. Mason Dahl, at outside midfielder,... Full story
The Outlaws’ football squad honored their 11 seniors prior to Friday nights game against Pleasant Hill, and Coach Gary Thorson had praise for each one. Hudson Beckwith plays at running back and also at linebacker, and was an all-league running back last year as a junior. Thorson said, “Hudson has become one of the most explosive players in the conference. He’s a leader on and off the field, and his work in the weight room in the offseason has paid off for him in a big way. He also leads the team in receiving yards... Full story
The Lady Outlaws competed at the Bend Clearwater Classic held on Saturday, October 19. Twenty-two teams were in attendance, the majority 5A and 6A schools. Sisters matched up against North Medford (NM) in an 8 a.m. match in their first game of pool play. The Outlaws came out a bit sluggish and NM ran some quick sets to take the lead. The Outlaws did battle back, but it was just a little too late. The second set was close, but the Outlaws held the lead the entire way and finished with split matches with NM. The Outlaws... Full story
The Lady Outlaws beat the LaPine Hawks in four sets at home on senior night on Tuesday, October 15, with scores of 25-15 23-25, 25-14, and 25-12. Prior to Tuesday’s contest the Lady Outlaws honored their six senior players, Jordyn Monaghan, Holly Davis, Sophie Rush, Brooklyn Cooper, Kisten Elbek, and Kathryn Scholl. Coach Josh Kreunen made note of each of his senior players. “Jordyn is a great on-the-floor leader, who leads with grit and passion,” said Kreunen. “Her volleyball IQ and drive make her one of the top... Full story
The Outlaws football team bounced back well from their loss last week at Cottage Grove in their Homecoming game against Creswell, notching a commanding 48-6 win on Friday, October 11. Sisters jumped right out and scored on the first possession of the contest. Kayl Mock had a 30-plus-yard run midway through the drive and Kolbi Cotner scored on a seven-yard carry for the touchdown. Reid Woodson hit the point-after-touchdown (PAT) and the Outlaws took a 7-0 lead. Creswell had a... Full story
Sisters notched a big 7-0 shutout at home against the Siuslaw Vikings on Thursday, October 10. In Thursday’s matchup against the Vikings the Outlaws played most of the game on the Vikings half of the field. Sisters scored their first goal in the 19th minute of play when Mia Rosas won the ball in the middle of the field and found Ella Davis, who dribbled through four Vikings defenders and scored a goal on the ground into the lower right corner of the net. At the half the Outlaws held a 1-0 advantage. Sisters offense went... Full story
The Lady Outlaws beat the Harrisburg Eagles at home on Monday, October 7, in three straight sets with scores of 25-19, 25-11, and 26-24. Three days later they fell in five sets on the road at Creswell with scores of 22-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-20, and 13-15. In Monday’s home match against Harrisburg the first set was tied up six times, the last at 17-17. Sisters got big kills from Audrey Sybesma, Kathryn Scholl, and Haven Heuberger that helped the Outlaws pull away and secure the win. Sisters was down early in the second set,... Full story
The Outlaws defeated the La Pine Hawks 6-1 at home on Wednesday, October 9, and came back two days later with a 4-0 shut out at Crosshill Christian. In Wednesday’s action the Outlaws faced a Hawk squad whose plan seemed to be to play physically at the risk of even fouling early and often. After one heavy foul, the Outlaws earned a set piece just five minutes into the contest. Micah Dachtler hit a beautiful dipping shot from approximately 30 yards out. Coach Jeff Husmann said, “As a center back, Micah doesn’t get too... Full story
The third annual Giddy Up 5K/5Miler Ranch Run is set for Saturday, October 19, at the Pole Creek Ranch. There’s still time to sign up, according to race director Kelly Bither. Runners and walkers are welcome. There is also a free “Buckaroo Run” for kids 2-10 that kicks off at 10 a.m., just before the other races. The race, like others Bither sponsors during the year for RunSistersRun, is themed, so participants are encouraged to don western hats, bandannas and other cowboy gear. In addition the run/walk finishers... Full story
Unlike other sports, it is rare for cross country teams to go head to head against one team, but for this year's Clash of the Cascades, held at Pole Creek Ranch on October 8, it was the Outlaws against the Ridgeview Ravens. Due to the smaller nature of the event all the boys and girls ran simultaneously on the five-kilometer course that looped through the dirt roads on the ranch property. Nathan Liddell of Ridgeview took the lead heading into the second mile and never... Full story
Medicare Open Enrollment is underway. The Council on Aging of Central Oregon’s free Medicare counseling services are ready to assist. The Open Enrollment period, running from October 15 to December 7, is the critical time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review and make changes to their health and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year. This year brings important changes for Medicare Advantage plan holders in Central Oregon. Starting January 1, 2025, Moda and Regence will no longer offer Medicare... Full story
Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or less. The deadline for submission is Monday at 10 a.m. for publication in that week's Nugget. Please submit your letter by emailing to Jim Cornelius at editor@nuggetnews.com with "letter to the editor" in the subject... Full story
Resolute leadership To the Editor: The recent outpouring of letters to the editor on the topic of the leadership capabilities of women was very encouraging if not down-right gratifying. One can appreciate editorial concerns to make sure our local paper (that we all love and support) does not print letters which could be considered uninformed at best or downright demeaning at worst. But look at what that short contentious letter brought forth. The responses were a great read, were they not? Heartwarming to read from so many... Full story
It is a delightful day indeed when an angry reader writes in — exercising the First Amendment — to attack a column or, more to the point given the nature of the language, the columnist, written in defense of the First Amendment. It’s delightful for several reasons — not least of which is that when you are taking flak from a sandbagged position on the ground it is a certain indication that you are flying over the target. Lawyers and judges, though they are often slow... Full story
Those who are looking forward to a “return to normal” post-election may be in for disappointment. If it ends up as close as the pollsters and prognosticators think it is, the presidential election may not be called for a few days after November 5. And our national political culture will likely be roiled for a long time after that. Anxiety is running high as voters are continually confronted with the assertion that this election is the most consequential of our lifetime.... Full story
In the lead-up to the election, Sisters area residents are even more vigorous in expressing their opinions than usual. This I believe to be a good thing. Publications such as newspapers balance a variety of agendas and necessities. The editor acts as a filter and gatekeeper, helping writers understand the larger context and audience for their work. The editor typically influences their community and is influenced heavily by it. In a geographically based publication, the... Full story
Editor’s note: The Nugget received an exceptionally heavy volume of letters to the editor this week. We are running as many letters as space allows in the print edition this week, with first priority given to letters regarding local matters. All of the letters may be accessed at www.nuggetnews.com. Recognizing the keen interest in issues surrounding the November 5 election, we will endeavor to place as many of those letters as possible in the October 30 print edition as well, space permitting. Jim Cornelius, Editor in... Full story
In my email queue, I get lots of emails from Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the politician representing our oddly shaped, wiggly District 5 in U.S. Congress. In my physical mailbox I receive a boatload of shiny flyers from her campaign and supporters. Chavez-DeRemer appears to be as wiggly as our newly shaped district itself. In debates, Chavez-DeRemer positions herself as a bipartisan, non-extreme centrist in an attempt to gain the votes of District 5 NAVs like me, the non-affiliated... Full story
(Editor’s note: Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp is a candidate for Deschutes County Sheriff. Both Vander Kamp and candidate Captain William Bailey were offered an opportunity to submit an op-ed detailing their vision prior to the November 5 election. Captain Bailey’s op-ed ran in the October 2 edition). I began my career as a deputy in Sisters, witnessing its rapid growth firsthand. During those five years, I built strong relationships within the Sisters community and gained a deep understanding of their most pressing... Full story
Vote! To the Editor: Citizens of Sisters — please vote. It is our right; our privilege; our duty! Thank you. All for America. Jenny Denzer God and freedom To the Editor: Our grandson Cruz M. Bryan went over to Ukraine in July to fight for their freedom and independence. On July 15 he was killed saving six other soldiers’ lives. Many foreign soldiers are fighting to save Ukraine’s freedom also. I don’t understand why in this country millions vote for socialism and collapse of the United States every four years. I... Full story
In which the writer continues to contemplate and blather upon the subject of joy, inspired by a writing prompt in musician and writer Nick Cave’s column “The Red Hand Files.” Mr. Cave seemed to advocate seeking out joy, treating joy as a decision that one makes. Here’s where we left off last column (Click here to see previous column.): We can court joy and look for it. We can imagine it is within our control. Or we can turn our back and wait for it to tap us on the... Full story
• Deputy Wyatt Hernandez was presented with a challenge coin and a letter of appreciation from Earl C. Schroeder (U.S. Air Force) with the VFW. Schroeder wanted to express his sincere gratitude to Deputy Hernandez for his representation as a Deputy Sheriff during the funeral service of Colonel John Turner (U.S. Army). Schroeder is a Sisters resident and Dep. Hernandez is a graduate of Sisters schools. • Brad Boyd wrote: A big thanks to those who turned out to help... Full story
Something in the American mind has been hacked, and while the meat of the case rests on the erosion of barriers between citizens and government, one excellent lead to follow might be burgeoning threats to the First Amendment by the very people charged with preserving it. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is a good example. By suggesting, during his debate with Senator JD Vance, that it is illegal to shout “fire” in a crowded theater he did two things. First, he lied. It is not... Full story
The October Community Builders meeting was held at the U.S. Forest Service Sisters Ranger District garage. Attendees were welcomed by Lauren DuRocher, acting district ranger while Ian Reid is on a four-month temporary assignment on the Modoc National Forest. He will be back in Sisters in early December. (A separate article on the Sisters Ranger District activities will appear in the October 23 Nugget.) • Kellen Klein, C4C executive director, announced that their first... Full story
We’ve all heard that “you don’t know what you have until you lose it,” which I know from experience to be true. But in recent years I’ve personally discovered another truth. You don’t know what you have until you really, really need it. We’ve lived in Sisters for almost 30 years now, but when we first came, I remember how “old-timers” (Sisters residents who’d lived here their whole lives) would offer sage advice (or maybe it was warnings). I frequently heard two things: 1. Most newcomers won’t remain... Full story
More than 40 years ago, The Nugget Newspaper started putting a newspaper in every mail box in Sisters Country — for free — creating a universal community connection that everyone in Sisters had easy access to. A common source of celebrations, grieving, and being “in the know” of what’s happening in Sisters. The newspaper’s revenue came solely from advertising — a business model that has been successful over a couple of generations. But things are changing. For... Full story
You are way out there, on a remote road next to a wild river, or out in the middle of a sea of sage and juniper. First you might notice a huge gnarled Lombardy Poplar, a few old broken boards, and pieces of barbed wire. Then you notice other trees that look out of place. In spring there may be white blossoms. In the fall sweet fruit falls unnoticed and unappreciated, except by bees, deer, and the occasional bear. Pioneer homesteads often left few permanent traces on the land...
Our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Timothy Dale Jacobson of Battle Ground, Washington, passed away peacefully at Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, Washington, on October 9. He was 84 years old. Tim was born in Cathlamet, Washington, in 1940 to Leonard and Mary (Aldred) Jacobson. His childhood and adult life were marked by vibrance, adventure, and the call of the North. He attended Cathlamet Public Schools and later enlisted in the Navy. After completing basic... Full story
John passed away on October 12, with his life-long companion and friend, Laura, by his side. He is survived by his two sons, Jeff and Daniel, four grandchildren, Jerad, Justin, Libby and Maddie, and one great-grandson, Jesse. John had a 40-year career driving trucks to all states, and logging trucks in the Santa Canyon area. After retirement, John moved to the Oregon Coast (Waldport) where he enjoyed crabbing, and fishing with his many friends. By his side was the little... Full story