News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 201 - 225 of 268
On the trail around Clear Lake... It is both humbling and invigorating to hike around 3,000 year-old Clear Lake on a sunny, fall day. Dick Spray led the COCC Sisters group from Sahalie Falls to the Clear Lake loop trail. This is a little over one mile and uses part of the old Clear Lake Road. The road went from Belknap Hot Springs to Lava Lake and is quite bumpy and difficult to navigate. "My father used chains on his car tires to traverse parts of these roads in summer," said Spray. A half-century ago, there was a proposal... Full story
Pastor Levi Johnson plans to reach out to the Sisters community through his new ministry at Sisters Church of the Nazarene. "I believe an ecumenical spirit is important in these critical times," Pastor Johnson said. "We have people looking for answers that churches can provide." The new pastor has three primary goals for his new ministry: "To get to know people in the church; to know people in the community; and to be available for people," he said. Johnson and his wife live in Tollgate. "My wife Bonnie and I have been here... Full story
The scene at ground zero. The Sisters area sent one of its own to aid in rescue and recovery efforts in New York City in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. John Goossens of the Sisters Ranger District is a member of Pacific Northwest Team 3, one of 16 National Incident Management Teams that respond to major disasters. The team went to New York City on September 13 and worked there through September 26. "It was humbling to be there," Goossens said. "I was glad to be able to help in some small way and proud to repr... Full story
Camp Sherman residents turned out in force for a benefit breakfast. The small community of Camp Sherman turned out in a big way on Sunday, October 7, to support relief efforts in New York City. Black Butte School's grades 4-6 and some graduates of the school set up a pancake breakfast at the Community Hall. Parents and students helped serve the delicious meal that included sausage, eggs, juice and coffee besides the pancakes. A flavorful homemade applesauce, prepared by students, highlighted the meal. Agencies receiving... Full story
Perfect weather greeted over 200 women for the Fourth Annual Sisters-in-Sisters last weekend. Sunny skies and daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s made an enjoyable setting for activities. Friday's opening dinner in the Village Green tent was followed by an inspirational message from noted historical novelist Jane Kirkpatrick. "She's a dynamic speaker and the ladies enjoyed her presentation," said events chairperson Sandy Goodsell. "You can do it," was her message in a nutshell, according to Sisters area resident Darlene K... Full story
Ed Beacham amid his life's work. Ed Beacham will be in Rega, Latvia later this month on a mission to clean and restore the capital city's old cathedral tower clock. Sisters' leading horologist (student of time) has been in correspondence with church and government officials for some time setting this project up. His friend, Chuck Kelley, has helped smooth the way and has sent pictures of the clock back to Beacham for study. Kelley holds dual citizenship in Latvia and the U.S. and is a former Baptist minister in Corvallis. He... Full story
Dick Spray (right) leads his merry band up Crescent Mountain. On a cool rainy day Tuesday, September 25, veteran forester Dick Spray led his hiking class up Crescent Mountain. The Sisters Central Oregon Community College group ambled past lichen-shrouded Douglas fir trees in old growth stands over 200 years old. Crossing Maude Creek, the group stopped to inspect old signs posted on trees. The signs identifying the creek were barely readable. Lovely green moss covered many of the rocks. Later the group passed hemlock, spruce... Full story
Toddlers of Adoption Advocates International orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sometimes there are stories within stories. This September has proven to be such a case for Camp Sherman's Andrea Balosky. She flew to Ethiopia September 2 to escort two young girls being adopted by U.S. parents. She did not foresee that while she was in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, a tragedy would take place back in the United States. Early reports were confused. "I was told that the World Bank had been attacked and thousands were... Full story
The Green Ridge fire lookout closed earlier this month, after another season of guarding the Sisters country from wildfire. Mainly run by volunteers under Forest Service supervision, the lookout operated between July 1 and Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during this dangerous fire season. Originally built in 1933 and rebuilt in 1954, the one-room lookout has a 180degree view over the Metolius Basin from its 4,600-foot perch. In June, volunteers got together for a lookout procedures orientation. This included welcoming... Full story
Suzanne Ard, Art Guild co-chair, admires Connie Mulligan's painting of Tumalo Falls. It's too big to actually put in a barn anymore, so the 14th annual Black Butte Ranch (BBR) Art in the Barn show is actually staged in a small portable tent set up near the recreation building. But the spirit of the show featuring ranch residents, visitors and employees remains the same. This year's Friday/Saturday show featured a pot pourri of creativity ranging from children's wooden pull toys created by Wally Hunter to unusual hats... Full story
Tom Landis enters the English Channel from a fishing boat. Tom Landis of Camp Sherman likes a little challenge with his summer vacation. In July the talented swimmer took on a relay swim of the English Channel with "Team Gaffney." "We had two relay teams of six swimmers each, eight from Portland and four from Central Oregon," Landis said. "Leaving Dover, England, at 10 a.m. we started across the channel with two fishing boats and a media boat. "Each swimmer was in the water for one hour and it took our team slightly over 14... Full story
The small, gray building at 160 S. Oak Street is the hub of Community Education in Sisters. Staffed by Director Celeste Douville and Ronni Duff, the building buzzes with excitement as students enroll in a variety of courses this fall. This is Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) educational gift to the Sisters area. Fifty-eight Community Ed classes begin this week. "We have new classes offered in Appreciation of Modern Art by Sisters favorite Mike Wonser; a delicious course 'For the Love of Chocolate' (Marda Stoliar);... Full story
Marilyn Handy displays "A Light in the Window." Quilters are a creative lot, and a local one came up with an idea to turn a quilt into money for a Black Butte Ranch art program. "It was Carol's idea," said Judy Jackson. "We were driving home from a meeting and she thought we should make a raffle quilt to raise funds for the Black Butte Ranch (BBR) Art Guild." Carol is Carol Dye, one of the members of BBR's "Sew and Tell" sewing group. "The group has been meeting every other Wednesday for years," said Marilyn Handy. "We have... Full story
Don Zettel at Camp Sherman dig. Native-Americans have a history in the Sisters area lasting nearly 10,000 years. They came here for many of the same reasons Sherman County wheat farmers vacationed in Camp Sherman early in the last century and summer visitors flock to the forest campgrounds and resorts today. Camp Sherman and the Metolius Basin make excellent study areas for archeology and artifact discoveries of the past visitors and their lifestyles. A study group of Passport in Time (PIT) volunteers spent last week... Full story
Jason Lake loves college -- and his Camp Sherman home. Jason Lake, a Sisters High School 2000 graduate, left his Camp Sherman home for Northwestern University last year armed with scholarships from the Pine Needlers quilting group, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department and the State of Oregon. He also received $15,000 awarded by Northwestern University. These awards, after a distinguished student career at Sisters High School, launched Jason's college career. Lake has done well at Northwestern as an astrophysics major. He... Full story
An exuberant crowd of about 50 Black Butte Ranch (BBR) homeowners and friends witnessed groundbreaking ceremonies last Friday evening, July 20, at Big Meadow Golf course. Under sunny skies the group heard Loy Helmly, BBR manager, describe plans for the new clubhouse facility. Helmly also thanked all who had participated in bringing this project to fruition. BBR directors broke ground on a new clubhouse. The project has been a long time in development. "This is the first new project since the association (homeowners) took over... Full story
Visitors to Camp Sherman were treated to a quilt show at the Community Hall. All the magical elements were in place for the Pine Needlers quilt show in Camp Sherman on Friday, July 13. The setting was at historic Camp Sherman's Community Hall, with marvelous quilts adorning the main hall, dolls and toys of the past in the attic, and a robust group of quilt viewers -- locals and nationwide and foreign visitors. This was the fourth year for the summer quilt show and the crowd of over 500 quilt aficionados enjoyed every moment... Full story
Kelly Hervey. Local singer Kelly Hervey performed in May at the National Association of Christian Artists and Songwriters (NACAS) Showcase in Nashville, Tennessee. She was selected from nearly 2,000 entrants to be one of the 10 artists to perform. Hervey graduated in 1999 from Sisters High School where she participated in a variety of vocal groups. The 20-year-old flew to Nashville and spent a week there sightseeing, meeting other artists, attending seminars and performing before major Christian record company... Full story
Sisters District Ranger Bill Anthony offered a generally optimistic view of local forests to the Friends of the Metolius at their annual meeting on Saturday, May 26. Focused on thinning forest areas in the Metolius Basin, the report gave hope to the large crowd gathered at Camp Sherman's Community Hall. Heavy fuel buildup in the forests presents a fire threat to rural homes in Camp Sherman, but residents are also concerned about possible negative impact from efforts to thin the forest. Anthony described a 17,000-acre area... Full story
For over a century Camp Polk Cemetery has been the final resting place for many local residents. Now, through the efforts of Nancy Clark and Betty Howard, an exhaustive record of the pioneer cemetery has been compiled in a new book. Some 207 numbered sites have been listed, plus other unnumbered discoveries. These are grouped alphabetically in the 194-page book. Excellent black and white photos graphically depict the headstones and grave markers at each site. Epitaphs (where available) are noted for each burial marker plus a... Full story
A town hall meeting at the Sisters Library on Thursday, November 9, brought out an enthusiastic and diverse group to help chart a future course for the library. Facilitated by Margot Helphand, discussion topics ranged from community problems and their impact on library services to fantasizing about library offerings. The 30 people assembled included Don Rowe, Sisters-Camp Sherman fire chief, and Celeste Douville, Sisters COCC Director. Pastor Ron Gregg, Dr. May Fan and school board member Heather Wester and many others also... Full story
Stocks of food are low at the Kiwanis Food Bank in Sisters and volunteers are looking for donations. Forty-one needy families were served last month, a total of 140 people, reports Glenn Keeran, volunteer and acting manager. "Anyone wanting to donate non-perishable food items should bring them to the food bank so the stocks may be built up," Keeran said. Stocking the food bank becomes particularly important with Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays fast approaching. Cash donations may also be made at the Kiwanis Food Bank... Full story
Sisters area residents brought forth family heirloom quilts for display at Ruth Ingham's Lunch and Learn meeting at Sisters Community Church Hall last week. As part of Sisters COCC's very popular current noontime weekly program, "Legends, Scandals and Myths of Oregon," Ingham asked people to bring their quilts and share memories with others. Ingham, who is a quilt appraiser and works at the Stitchin' Post, mentioned how popular quilts and quilting have become in Central Oregon. Anybody who has been in Sisters during a July qu... Full story
Camp Sherman residents turned out on Saturday, September 30, to learn about a proposed a three-way land exchange involving Kim Lundgren, owner of The House on the Metolius and the Forest Service. The proposal would exchange Lundgren's 5.99 acres on Lake Creek for a 2.5 acre property on the Metolius River and 5.5 acres at the site of Black Butte School and Chapel in the Pines. Presently the 2.5 acre Metolius River property is operated under a special use permit to allow for encroachment of two cabins built by a private owner... Full story
Camp Sherman residents have declared war on knapweed, attacking the noxious weed (Centaureas species) in the residential area of Metolius Meadows. The anti-weed squad plans to remove weeds in other Camp Sherman locales. So far, the group has met four times, and last week had 12 people working on removing this noxious pest. "We plan to meet about once a week and remove unwanted weeds," said group leader Beth Van Campen. "Knapweed and other weeds will be targeted by the group." Weeds shelter insects, overrun native vegetation,... Full story
