News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 10 of 10
We have an opportunity to set a new course for Oregon by replacing decades of one-party leadership. For 40 years we have anointed the next Democrat in line for governor even while a large majority of Oregonians believe our state is heading in the wrong direction. Yes, I am unsure that Republicans have the answers, but we can all agree that Democrats have proven that they don’t. Governor Brown has consistently ranked as the least popular governor in America. She has worked hard to earn that distinction, to the dismay of e... Full story
The slow strangulation of American life as we knew it continues, as the government imposes lockdowns/restrictions on businesses they deem “non-essential.” To a small business owner, the business they have poured their life into is essential. To the people they hire, and who depend on that business to support their family, that business is also essential. While our Governor has managed to avoid the disaster that Washington and California have imposed on their population (to her credit), there are many other states that are und... Full story
Governments don't move fast. Case in point is the upcoming change to the intersection of Barclay and Highway 20. Back in 2009 a group of citizens spent months researching the best way to move pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and trucks through and around town. Their findings were part of the Transportation System Plan (TSP) that was adopted by the City of Sisters in January of 2010. One of the key components of that research was the preference for a roundabout at both ends of town. As a member of that group, I can tell you that... Full story
The enrollment numbers of our schools have been heading south for years now. Shortening the school week or laying off teachers is but a temporary fix. It won't be long until we end up consolidating the middle and high schools into one building, or do what we used to do prior to building the high school - bus the kids to Redmond. This will of course cause enrollment numbers to drop even faster at the middle and elementary schools. Without a change in the trends (none foreseen), the truth is that the path we are on will result... Full story
The recent letters to the editor about roundabouts came as a surprise, until I realized that it has been five years since the city proposed, and the community came behind, the most recent transportation plan (TSP). The TSP was a long process involving input from all parts of the community and took many months to develop, and then years to implement. The comments expressed in this paper may be due to the amount of time that has passed since we went through the TSP revision back in 2009. People new to Sisters are wondering why... Full story
After reading my friend Quay Richerson's editorial last week, I feel sorry that we do not live in the ideal world that he depicts. Having "professional coaches" in our schools would be terrific. But the reality is that we hire coaches because they volunteered. There is no training on how to be a great coach, or any standards set forth that they will be measured by. You want to be a coach? All you have to do is raise your hand. This is not to say that we are not blessed with some excellent, professional coaches, because we... Full story
We have done a lot of big things here in Sisters over the past 30 years: We built a beautiful new library, moved city hall (do you remember the old one!), and built a new high school - twice. But nothing we do will impact the look, feel, and safety of our community like the intersection improvements to Highway 20 at Barclay and Locust. And those intersections are about to change, with Barclay happening soon. A couple of years ago the city formed a group to provide input into a new transportation plan (TSP) for the city. I... Full story
On Tuesday, June 2, the Sisters Transportation Plan (TSP) will be presented to the community for public input. A group of local citizens, along with city staff and consultants, has spent months laying out the vision for how cars, bicycles, and pedestrians will navigate our town in the coming years. Every possible transportation option was discussed - even the dreaded couplet! While the TSP members have spent countless hours working to create the best possible solution to current and future traffic needs, we really need input... Full story
In the 1992 election, James Carville gave Bill Clinton the battle cry for his campaign: "It's the economy, stupid!" President Bush had won the Gulf war and thought that would carry him through to re-election. And even though the economy had turned around by the time of the election, Bill Clinton succeeded in pounding home the most important issue to Americans at that time: the economy. Twelve years and numerous terrorist attacks later, the most important issue to Americans is the war on terror. Let's face it, the terrorists... Full story
Eric Dolson stated that President Bush has "failed miserably" at "cutting taxes, reforming education, strengthening our energy supply, controlling unnecessary spending and bolstering our national security," ("A storm is coming," The Nugget, March 31, page 2). 1. You state that President Bush gave "tax cuts to the top few percent of Americans, not the rest of us." Taxes were cut for everyone that pays taxes. My taxes were lowered, and like most Americans I received an $800 refund as well. Last time I checked, I wasn't... Full story