Week of October 16, 2024
Week of October 16, 2024
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
Locals citizens are continuing to map out the future of Sisters. The Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Steering Committee met on Thursday, October 3 to continue discussion of the draft study area map. The committee reviewed criteria that will be used to evaluate four “concept” alternative boundaries. Andrew Parish, of MIG, the consulting firm retained by the City to support the UGB amendment process, was at the meeting to present major categories of criteria that will be used to evaluate the study area. The three main... Full story
Due to the lack of significant rainfall and continued warm temperatures, open burning within the Black Butte Ranch, Cloverdale, and Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Districts remains closed. Central Oregon Fire Chiefs and partner agencies will meet in mid-October to re-evaluate conditions and may open burning towards the end of October. Currently prohibited in residential areas: Backyard or open burning (branches, yard debris, etc.); Agricultural burning (waste crops, field burning); Land clearing, slash, or stump waste. To help... Full story
For many a year, Sisters children have been treated to a downtown event whereby school-aged kids in costume would gather at Fir Street Park on Halloween (or the nearest school day to October 31) and then in small groups of roughly 25, they would be led by an adult guide, also in costume, up and down portions of Main, Cascade, and Hood avenues. The trick-or-treaters would be rewarded by participating merchants - some 40 plus - with an array of goodies many of which were... Full story
More than 100 Sisters Country folk joined 11 speakers at Sisters Elementary School on Sunday, October 6, for a community conversation about houselessness. The gathering convened at 4 p.m. for the first public meeting at the brand new facility. Instigated by the City of Sisters in partnership with 11 organizations, the 90-minute meeting was billed as a learning and input-gathering session. Its purpose was to learn about houselessness in Sisters Country and hear ideas,... Full story
Eli Madrone is an active man. He's the owner of a small business - Madrone Communications - chair of the City Parks Board, father of an elementary school-aged child, a youth soccer coach, and a volunteer with Sisters Folk Festival. Now he's thrown his hat into the ring to serve on the Sisters City Council. Five candidates are vying for three available seats on the Council in the November 5 election. "I was encouraged by a couple of Council members," Madrone said. He believes... Full story
Cheryl Pellerin got interested in participating in city government when Sisters faced a controversy over the citing of a shelter in town last year. "I was pretty interested in how the City was going to handle this," she recalled. She started learning about the processes of local government - and found herself hooked. Soon, she was serving on the City of Sisters Budget Committee, and the Urban Forestry Board. She participated in the City's inaugural Civic Leadership Academy,... Full story
With a median price of $825,000 and an average price of $889,010, September single family home transactions in Sisters Country show a continuing trend of lack of affordable housing stock. The inventory of available homes remains low as sellers are stuck in their homes sitting on mortgage rates of three to four percent. Were they to sell and finance a new home at current 30-year lending rates of 6.365 percent such sellers would be often doubling their monthly payment.... 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
Central Oregon Community College is among just a handful of higher education institutions in the nation that can now offer federal Pell Grants to people who are incarcerated. COCC was the first school in Oregon to receive approval for its Prison Education Program, or PEP, at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras. Pell Grants are the U.S. Department of Education’s single largest source of need-based funding for undergraduate students. The grants, which do not have to be paid back, typically go directly to students... Full story
"Stepping Up" was the theme of the third annual Volunteer Appreciation Event held for Sisters Transportation and Ride Share last Thursday at Sisters Depot. Recognized for their outstanding contributions to STARS over the past year, the STAR Dispatcher of the Year is Debbie Hewett and the STAR Driver of the Year is Rita Weber. Many individuals, organizations, businesses, and donors were recognized for stepping up over the past five years to establish and grow STARS. Just last... Full story
Black Butte Ranch’s new Lodge was selected as a “2024 Building a Better Oregon (BBO) Award” winner by the Central Oregon Association of Realtors (COAR). The award recognizes projects that “have enhanced their community with outstanding new or renovated buildings” and are judged on economic impact, neighborhood improvement, unique design and/or use of materials, and environmental friendliness. Black Butte Ranch (BBR) unveiled its $20 million dining and meeting facility in 2023. The new 22,100-square-foot lodge... 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 music of renowned classical pianist concert pianist Jim-Isaac Chua will fill the auditorium at Sisters High School on Friday, October 25, starting at 7 p.m. Peter Hoover, Executive Director of Sisters Habitat for Humanity, described the event as "an event for the community, to say thank you to the community for their support over three decades." The performance is "an opportunity for those who enjoy classical music to come together and enjoy each other's company and enjoy... 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
The Outlaws fell 2-1 on the road at Siuslaw on Monday, September 30, and three days later suffered a tough 1-0 loss to the Eagles at Santiam Christian (SC). Despite the loss to Siuslaw on Monday the Outlaws proved they are able to compete with the best teams in the league, and that bodes well as the Outlaws finish up the second half of the season. Siuslaw is one of the strongest teams in the league, they are well-coached, and can score goals. They have fast forwards and can beat their opponents’ defense with speed.... Full story
The Lady Outlaws soccer squad fell 3-0 to Central Linn at home on Monday, September 30, but bounced back on Thursday, October 3, and defeated Creswell 2-1 in another home contest. On Monday, with the Central Linn Cobras ahead by one, the Lady Outlaws were sure they’d scored a goal to knot it up in the 35th minute of play. The referees saw it differently and the goal did not count. The Cobras scored their second goal of the contest in a quick counter attack and went up by two. Coach Makena Zorza said, “The girls... Full story
The Outlaws boys and girls cross-country teams continued their steady growth over the past two weeks with two meets against strong 3A/2A/1A competition. Thursday, October 3, the squad competed at the Regis/Stayton Invitational where the boys placed second and the girls third among sixteen teams represented. 4A Stayton won both team titles. George Roberts continued his strong season with a fifth place finish on the hilly course, clocking 17:39.4. Freshman Zachary Kemp had a... Full story
The Lady Outlaws defeated Elmira at home in three straight sets with scores of 25-16, 25-6, and 25-21, on Tuesday, October 1. At home two days later they lost in four sets to top ranked Pleasant Hill (PH) with scores of 25-17, 26-28, 12-25, 15-25. In Tuesday’s action, the first set against the Falcons was close until midway through the set when the Outlaws were able to pull away for the win. Back-to-back kills from Audrey Sybesma and back-to-back aces from Kathryn Scholl pulled the Outlaws to a 9-6 advantage. Sybesma had... Full story
The Outlaws suffered a disappointing 28-19 loss at Cottage Grove (CG) on Thursday, October 3. The contest started off great with Dawson Roberson getting an interception in the end zone which ended CG’s opening drive. Sisters took possession on the Lions’ 20-yard line. Hunter Bronson hit Hudson Beckwith on a nice pass for a 79-yard touchdown (TD) run. Reid Woodson’s point-after-touchdown (PAT) was good and the Outlaws went up 7-0, and held that score to end the first quarter. Sisters forced the Lions to punt just one... 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 [email protected] with "letter to the editor" in the subject... 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
Well, now we know — at least in general — the nature of Deschutes County Sheriff’s candidate Kent Vander Kamp’s transgressions in La Mesa, California, nearly three decades ago. On Friday, Vander Kamp announced that he had obtained confidential personnel documents from La Mesa that he’d never seen before. Vander Kamp served as an unpaid reserve cadet in a program that grew out of a Boy Scouts Explorer program. “After high school, the explorer program pointed me... Full story
On November 5, we will learn who the next elected Sheriff will be for the next four years. Our choices : Candidate Kent Vander Kamp – Endorsed by the Deschutes County Sheriff Employee’s Association — reduce violent crimes, property crimes, and traffic issues in Deschutes County; address the homelessness, mental health, and drugs crisis; restore public trust and accountability in the Sheriff’s Office; connect with the community and collaborate with other public safety partners, improve deputy and employee wellness.... Full story
Lights out! (Do it for the birds.) To the Editor: Two reasons we are so lucky to live in Central Oregon are for our potentially dark night skies, and because we live along the Pacific Bird Flyway. With a few simple choices, we can preserve these attributes and lessen our unintended consequences. Eight out of 10 bird species in North America migrate at night, relying on the stars and moon to navigate. Our electric lights reduce visibility of starry night skies for birds (and us). Artificial light can attract night-migrating... Full story
We wrote about this trail four years ago, but it bears repeating given its proximity and beauty. A near perfect trail for families or hikers simply looking for an easier outing full of scenery. It's mapped as a 2.6 mile out and back undertaking, longer if you take an extension. Plan on a bit more than an hour. It's well maintained and easy to navigate with new trail markers to guide you at the junctions. It's a great trail for dogs, especially those fond of water. Why go: The... Full story
A dark, postpunk musician I’ve admired for decades, a man beloved of Goths and Johnny Cash fans, has somehow become both a mainstream rock star and a religiously inspired advice columnist. Yes, I’m talking about the inimitable Nick Cave. On his beguiling blog “The Red Hand Files,” Mr. Cave usually answers questions. Recently he turned the tables. He asked us, his readers and fans, to answer his question: “I have a full life. A privileged life. An unendangered life.... Full story
We will soon have another election. At my age I have seen a lot of them, some decidedly more important than others. But one common factor in most elections is concern about the economy. A growing economy is usually seen as good. We currently have a strong, growing economy, so it is a bit surprising many consider it to be poor. The reason is “inflation.” This is not the first time that inflation was heatedly argued in a past election. If you remember the economy in the 1980s, that was serious inflation. The surprising... 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...
Pamella Jacqueline Kirk, 81, of Sisters passed away on October 1, 2024. Pam was born in June 1943 to the late Kenneth and Mary Bage in Ontario, Canada. Pam is survived by her husband Russell Kirk, two daughters, Tammy Robillard and Dana Thill, and two grandchildren, Devin and Brooke Robillard. Pam's life was full of dancing, laughter, and making friends everywhere she went. She embraced every moment, living fully and creating lasting memories and lifelong connections. Pam's... Full story
Jean Linda (Fitzpatrick) Kern, born on November 30, 1927, in Susanville, California, passed away on September 23, 2024, in Camp Sherman, at the age of 96. She died of natural causes, surrounded by her loving family. Jean is survived by her three children: Timothy "Oly" Kern of Hawaii, Larry Kern of Arizona, and Sweet Medicine (Kern) Nation of Oregon. Sister Willa (Fitzpatrick) Sigler of California. Several grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive her. Jean was... Full story
