News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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It was 6 a.m. last Saturday at Level 5 CrossFit when a group of 33 men formed a loose circle around Ryan Hudson, owner. It was an uncanny hour for such a workout, if not for the cause it represented. "Blood, sweat, and tears for those who have served our country, that's why we're here," he says. "Every rep represents a veteran fallen to suicide. Every minute stands for them." This particular workout was the first of its kind. Consisting of 22 movements, 22 reps each, over a 22... Full story
The night sky is home to bewildering spectacles. I remember the first time I noticed. I was six years old living in Edmonton, Alberta, with my family. My brother and I were awakened one winter night by our parents. "There's something you need to see," they said with glee. They wrapped us in fleece blankets and cradled us out the front door of our Canadian home into a brilliantly cold evening. My parents were shoveling snow from the driveway when it began. My eyes traced my... Full story
For most of his life he found meaning within perfection, whether at the yoke of a fighter jet or the stroke of a brush. But now Jim Horsley is seeking that less and instead finding meaning through art in a different way. After a year of deliberation and hard work he is displaying his journey to meaning within a new book, "Reflections of Jesus." For most of his art career his work has largely centered around his military service and the Western way of life. He served 12 years... Full story
To return home is a gift. That seemingly trite observation didn't resonate with me until a flag-covered casket was slowly, solemnly lowered from the forward cargo hold of American Airlines into the hands of six white-uniformed Navy sailors. I was at the San Jose Mineta International Airport. The sky was clear, the air warm, and a hero was coming home. I and fellow cinematographer Bradley Lanphear respectfully moved within the scene to capture the moments on camera as they... Full story
It's a warm afternoon as smoke from a distant fire settles into the tree canopy. Black Butte's faded silhouette overlooks the 50-acre Black Butte Lower Swamp, which is experiencing renewed life. Willows and waist-high, vibrant-green blades of sedge drift in the caustic breeze. Birds whisper among the treetops. Indian Ford Creek, once subtle, now ripples through the meadow. This once-barren landscape harbors abundant life, once again. The faint aroma of native mint fills the... Full story
We know what we need to do but do we have the will to do it? That was the burning question that defined last Thursday's screening of the documentary "The West Is Burning." The hour-long documentary was hosted by Discover Your Forest at the Sisters Movie House, a free event encouraging community members to learn and join in the discussion of wildfire risk and management in the western states. The documentary tells poignant stories of personal loss with wildfire up and down the... Full story
Mike Riehle stands knee-deep in life returning. “Not long ago this whole area was dry,” he says, gesturing over weeds and decaying willows. “We’re hoping these efforts will fix that.” That area, the Lower Black Butte Swamp, is a 50-acre parcel that was once parched land, and is now by design — flooded with water. The gradual decline in this regional ecosystem was set in motion by the void left from one of nature’s finest eco-engineers — the beaver. Beyond its... Full story
On the east shore of Suttle Lake, the picnic shelter is getting an overdue facelift. Friends of the Metolius and the Forest Service are dedicating time and resources to rehabilitate the common-use shelter for extended use and restoring it to near-original condition. Built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the officially named Cinder Beach Community Kitchen Shelter is a testament to hard work and craftsmanship during the Great Depression. Men were hired to build... Full story
Mike Alayon a.k.a. (“Hawaiian Mike”) refers to his medical journey as a rollercoaster, full of twists and turns to hell and back. After 52 days in the hospital, though, he’s now a free man and back home with his family in Sisters. Shuffling out of the hospital with a walker on the morning of July 29, he says the world looked anew. “I’m still on cloud nine,” he said, recalling the moment. Hawaiian Mike isn’t out of the woods yet, but his journey to recovery continues to... Full story
Walking through the sliding glass door of the once-abandoned mall, I felt guilty. The massive structure, formerly a shopping center in northern Krakow, Poland became a refugee center at the outbreak of the Russia and Ukraine war in late February 2022. A barrier of cardboard and rusted shopping carts directed me down a poorly lit hall. A few flickering bulbs lit the way to a stairwell stinking of cigarettes. I came out on the second floor balcony. Old storefronts were... Full story
Translucent tubing and medical bands protrude from the wrist as Micheal Alayon grips the handrail of his hospital bed in the fight of his life. In his fifth-floor room, he sifts through his foggy memory to recount the moments leading up to this. Now seven surgeries deep, they’ve begun to blur together as the days slowly tick by. Better known as “Hawaiian Mike,” he manages to smile through the battle, keeping an ever-positive spin on a tragic turn of circumstances. He uses... Full story
On a clear, sunny Wednesday morning after torrid downpours of a relentless spring, Sisters was beaming with natural beauty. On the south-facing wall of the public bathrooms in Barclay Park mural artists Karen Eland and Katie Daisy were busy installing a tribute to that beauty. After months of hard work, keen eyes, and careful strokes of the paint brush, their artistic depiction of Sisters Country was put on permanent display for locals and visitors to enjoy. This is the sixth... Full story
Marcus Boyd is at the beginning of what he and his parents hope to be a career in professional snowmobile racing. The 16-year-old high school junior has chosen a unique career path, managing to make a name for himself in the highly competitive yet little-known sport of snowmobile hill climb racing this winter season. Boyd attributes this passion to his childhood experiences. He started riding snowmobiles at age eight. An old Arctic Cat snowmobile, heavy and slow, would be the... Full story
The wind roars across the desert, blowing sand 40 mph across an arid landscape. Billowing into rippled sand dunes, the scene embodies the 102-degree heat. The sand hitting his face feels like a hundred bee stings. Patrick Tougas squints into the distance, dreaming of better days. But he’s only halfway across the Sonoran Desert, aiding a friend ferrying two motorcycles to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.... Full story
After more than a year of cancellations and postponements, Honor Flight of Central Oregon took off for Washington D.C. on September 22. Twenty-three veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars joined this year’s trip, which served as an opportunity to honor them for their service. Due to COVID-19 precautions, Honor Flights around the nation were postponed from their annual trips taking veterans to our nation’s capital throughout years 2020 and 2021. Dane Prevatt, president of... Full story
Westside Sisters Church has adopted a new name. The former satellite church of Westside Bend is changing their official title to Wellhouse Church and has acquired the Sisters Christian Academy preschool into its structure with additional plans to expand in the near future. The title change came after long talks with board members and prophetic words about the direction of Westside Sisters Church. Visitors and members alike talked about the nature of worship and sermons,... Full story
Sisters Park & Recreation District will lay off 18 of its 21 employees including six full-time staff, two part-time staff and 10 temporary seasonal staff. Executive Director Jennifer Holland said the layoff will be effective starting April 6. “Like many businesses, the district has been hit hard by COVID-19,” Holland said. “We have had to cancel all programs and events as of March 16 in compliance with guidance issued by the State of Oregon and the federal Centers for Disea... Full story
The clamor of brown paper bags being filled with edible goods echos throughout the Bread of Life food pantry at the New Hope Christian Center in Sisters. A team of volunteers fills 200 bags full of dried goods, fresh produce, and essentials to be handed out to local families during the weekly food drive. Every Thursday, the Bread of Life ministry serves members of the community its most basic of needs, food — now a vital short-coming since the recent spread of the... Full story
Honor Flight of Central Oregon (HFCO) postponed their annual flight to Washington, D.C. amid concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Veterans from Central Oregon were slated to depart May 6 for the four-day trip. World War II and Korean War veterans, 22 in total, would tour the U.S. Capitol, memorials, and monuments on an all-expenses-paid trip. HFCO observed the growing pandemic two weeks prior to making the decision and carefully considered their options. Dane Prevatt, the trip organizer, stated his concerns over exposing the... Full story
Hoodoo’s premiere annual event kicked off on Saturday, February 8, amid winter’s fury, but that didn’t deter the crowds. Festivities began at 9 a.m. where families participated in a number of activities ranging from face-painting, pie-eating contests, axe throwing, tubing, and the famous Dummy Downhill contest. For those seeking the pleasures of the mountain, skiers and boarders enjoyed a fresh powder day after the previous night’s and early morning snowfall. Experie... Full story
The Sisters Eagle Airport hosted live helicopter training for Camp Sherman Hasty Team volunteers last Saturday. Joined by Life Flight from the Redmond Airport and Jefferson County Emergency managers, SAR team volunteers learned about aircraft operations related to search and rescue scenarios. The training included instruction on basic operating practice in and around a helicopter. Volunteers learned about the situations in which a helicopter would be needed and what that... Full story
A group of volunteers has spent the recent weeks restoring the near-century-old fire lookout atop Black Butte. The old D-6 cupola, originally built in 1922, has gained new life through the hands and efforts of local volunteers determined to restore the old lookout to its near-original state. Initial efforts to restore the lookout began under the supervision of the former Sisters Ranger District archeologist Matt Mawhirter. Over the years supplies such as cedar shingles,... Full story
More than a dozen local agencies along with Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., gathered for a Celebration of Collaboration last Tuesday, March 19. Recognizing joint efforts between irrigation districts, land trusts, and energy corporations more than a hundred people gathered to express their appreciation in the midst of one of the largest modernization projects. Held at the Three Sisters Irrigation District headquarters just east of Sisters, the event unveiled the new Watson... Full story
My second time to Cambodia I was welcomed with a lecture about avoiding the voluptuous prostitute. Apparently the streets of Takeo, Cambodia where we were staying, were a trap for tourists. Traveling alone was not an option. A talk of that sort isn't a welcome you would expect on day one of a two-and-a-half week mission trip to southern Cambodia. As it turns out, the human and sex trafficking trade would play a part in our purpose there. For those two and a half weeks in Janua... Full story
The ninth annual Sisters Fresh Hop Festival paved the way into fall season last Saturday with breweries from around Oregon sharing their freshest drinks. Hosted this year for the first time at the Three Creeks Brewing Co. facility off of Barclay Drive, the Festival welcomed locals and visitors from around the state. With more than 24 breweries participating in the event, the Fresh Hop Festival is a place for beer fans with a desire to taste only the freshest and best... Full story
