News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 41 of 41
Ryan Houston, executive director of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, reached down and grabbed a handful of moist dirt from the bank of Whychus Creek. He rubbed the rich soil in his hands until it crumbled between his fingers. "This is good," he said, showing it to a small group of people, "and it hasn't even rained recently." For an arid climate and flood plain once dry and barren, the earth showed signs of successful restoration, the result of years of hard work and... Full story
Amid the noise and chaos of the Sisters Rodeo stood a small mare, quiet, peaceful, and obedient. Under the banner of red, white, and blue she stood with the 2018 Sisters Rodeo Queen, Hailey Konze. The flag drifted in the breeze as the national anthem was sung and the crowd stood in honor. The mare stood below, ears perked and body calm after running the arena twice. She represented the Rodeo Association and the American flag at the start of every show. But Minnow, the 14-year... Full story
The 78th annual Sisters Rodeo saw more than just bulls, beer, and balaclavas this year. Under chilly skies - and surprising record-breaking crowds - the rodeo weekend saw fur fly and historical moments made. Spectators and competitors alike traveled from around the country and worldwide to participate in and watch the historical event unfold in Sisters. From regions as far as Louisiana, Texas, and Canada, cowboys and cowgirls competed for bragging rights and a lot of cash.... Full story
The banners are hung, the paint is fresh, merchandise is folded, and the traffic cones are placed. These are only a few of the tasks undertaken on Saturday as volunteers prepared for one of Sisters' biggest weekends. Sisters hosts a number of high-traffic weekends throughout the year and the 78th annual Sisters Rodeo is no exception. It takes a lot for it to run smoothly. "The Biggest Little Show in the World" takes a big number of volunteers and a lot of heart to keep running... Full story
When Tom Lyons was a child he couldn't have cared less about his bicycle. If you know him today, you would find that hard to believe. Then, it was no more than a mode of transportation and a way to hang with his friends. But today it has become an extension of himself - one he uses to encourage and inspire local kids to be and do more. As a kid Lyons played a number of sports including soccer, basketball, and baseball. None held his attention for long. When he was 10 he began... Full story
In a fury of mountain bikes, spectators, the gallop of a horse, and the crack of a pistol, summer in Sisters kicked off early on Sunday morning. The unofficial start to the season began with the Sisters Stampede celebrating it's ninth running of the annual event. May 27 brought perfect conditions, with clear skies and temperatures in the 70s as 500 contestants ranging from novice to elite raced along the Peterson Ridge Trail network. After a week of questionable rainy conditio... Full story
Multiple agencies throughout Deschutes County participated in an active-shooter training event on Saturday, May 19. Agencies including local law enforcement and fire departments participated in a joint effort at Sisters High School to prepare to work together in the event of a public emergency. Among the participating agencies were the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Black Butte Ranch Police Department, USFS Law Enforcement, Sisters School Resource Officer, Sisters-Camp... Full story
The Sisters Westside Church welcomed renowned worship leader and globetrotting evangelist Rick Pino and his worship team for the weekend. After an extensive tour throughout Europe and the U.S., Pino and three of his fellow band members spent two days at Westside leading local church members and visitors in worship. Pino is a resident of Austin, Texas, where he lives with his wife and two children. He founded and operates the Heart of David Movement, which focuses on... Full story
Many local businesses found the holiday season to be good - but not the jolt they were hoping for after a difficult and disappointing ending to the summer. With tourists and visitor traffic, sidewalks and businesses saw a steady flow of customers for the month of December, but nothing out of the ordinary. The end of the summer left many businesses in the red, and not just from the fire and ash. After a disappointing eclipse experience and the cancellation of the annual... Full story
Two years ago, on the Christmas of 2015, local resident and Sisters High School student Ethan Tolle opened a gift many teenagers would appreciate. Inside was a famous action camera, used by amateurs and professionals alike - a GoPro Hero 4. The next summer, on June 27, 2016, Ethan and his friends went to the Tamolitch Blue Pool for an afternoon of fun and cliff jumping. They attached the camera to a mount on his friend's chest and hit record. His friend launched off the side... Full story
Sisters Parks & Recreation District (SPRD) will seek a new local option tax levy to augment its funding. SPRD board members met on Tuesday, December 12, to discuss a 15-cent levy, which would provide SPRD with additional funds for more programs. Since the founding of the District 20 years ago, the tax rate for Sisters residents has remained at 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, without increase. The proposed levy would raise the tax rate an additional 15 cents per $1,0... Full story
Local resident and avid Forest Service volunteer Gary Guttormsen was awarded the annual Dr. David L. Paulsmeyer Memorial Award for Excellence in Service on November 9 at a dinner and awards ceremony for volunteers from the Deschutes National Forest. Discover Your Forest, in partnership with the United States Forest Service, presented Guttormsen with the prestigious award for his years of service to the community. The Paulsmeyer Award is named after former volunteer Dr. David... Full story
The effects of smoke and a decrease in visitors have impeded businesses over the summer. The City of Sisters and the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce are making efforts to minimize the economic impact. Local companies and City leadership met last Tuesday for a closed-door meeting at the Chamber of Commerce to discuss options leading into the fall season following a summer short on expected profits. The convergence of a heavy winter, the Milli Fire, the shortage of eclipse... Full story
The cancellation of the annual Sisters Folk Festival dealt yet another economic blow to the community. But with the effort displayed by locals and the generosity of visiting musicians, there was hope. Members of the Sisters Folk Festival board announced in a statement last Wednesday that the smoke was hazardous leading up to the weekend. Air quality conditions - both outside and inside - were predicted to remain at an unhealthy level throughout the weekend as well, forcing... Full story
Many Sisters businesses approached the profitable month of August on schedule to see steady business and revenue increases. But the smoke from the Milli Fire - as well as other surrounding wildfires - has obscured what many predicted to be a good season. Of the many businesses affected by the smoke, the ones focused on outdoor recreation have suffered the most. Rob Malone, director of golf at the Aspen Lakes Golf Course, described how the smoke and air quality has hurt... Full story
As local residents of Sisters awoke to smoke-filled skies, many out-of-town visitors prepared for the coming full solar eclipse. In the yard of their rented home off South Pine Street, a small group of nine friends set up a homemade projection screen to view the eclipse. They came from Palo Alto, California, Longview, Washington, and Portland and Bend, Oregon to join their friends in experiencing Sisters and the eclipse. Jeff Myers, a scientist with NASA who works at the Ames... Full story
