News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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A labor of love takes many shapes. For Sisters resident Grace Williamston, it is the form of a book written to chronicle the great loves she shared with two fine men. Originally begun as a memoir for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, "Love at Both Ends of The Rainbow" became a healing tool for Grace. For many years she'd kept the truth about the early years of her first marriage to herself and writing about it allowed her to look at those times more objectively. Grace... Full story
Sisters author Edna Ostermiller describes her new book as one "whose time has come." The self-published "New Beginnings are Gifts from God" is unashamedly a self-help book, but Ostermiller figured there could never be too many good, encouraging words around. Writing under the name Edna O., Ostermiller feels that the tried and true principles in the book will help those in crisis see their situations objectively. "I come in contact with many hurting women, and I love sharing... Full story
FishCraft, a Sisters boat manufacturer, has new owners. Todd and Kim Bell purchased the company in August, 2006, continuing the tradition that company founder Del Erlandson began in his garage. The Bells also own Smith Rock Riverboats in Redmond, and the two companies complement each other with their product lines. Both make aluminum drift boats, and FishCraft also customizes inflatable boats for fly and bait fishing. The Smith Rock line of boats is a bit more upscale, with... Full story
The second International Horseback Archery Competition may not garner time on ESPN, but it made national news in South Korea, where it was held on October 21-23. Sisters residents Holm Neumann, 68, Jet Cowan, 18, and Katie Stearns, 20, of Bend, traveled to the city of Sokcho to compete. The competition took place at the headquarters of the Korean Traditional Equestrian Martial Arts Association. Neumann and Cowan participated last year; this was Stearn's first appearance, and... Full story
Sisters residents who have a talent for music and a desire to share are welcome to spend some time at the Powell House, an adult care home in Sisters. The house is tucked away in a neighborhood beyond Sisters Elementary School and has been there for many years. Sisters resident Susan Bird found out about the home when her daughter, now a senior at Sisters High School, was a Brownie. The girls would visit the residents at Christmas time and sing to them. Several years later, a friend went to visit the home, hoping it would... Full story
Tumalo author Kim Meeder has a new book on the shelves. "Bridge Called Hope" chronicles more stories of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, a non-profit ministry that Meeder and her husband Troy founded in 1995. The ranch offers children's riding programs, activities, support and joyful friendship, all free of charge. The ranch also rescues and rehabilitates horses, using many of them in the riding program. The stories that Kim Meeder tells are examples of faith, action and getting dow... Full story
The sound of tanker planes and the smell of smoke filled the air at the Deschutes Fair and Expo Center on Saturday, September 2. It wasn't the acrid smoke of a forest fire though. While the tankers came from the nearby airport, the smell came from barbecues slow cooking beef briskets and ribs. This was the Kobe Q Rotary Club of Bend's first annual barbecue competition. Two Sisters teams entered. Sisters Rotary BBQers was made up of Rotary president Scott Pillar, Barbara... Full story
Square dancing with all its do-si-do and promenade is alive and well in Central Oregon. Around 180 people gathered in Sisters on August 11-13 to sashay their way through many sets of the called dances. The 24th Annual Central Oregon Round-Up, in its third year at Sisters High School, brought dancers to town from all over the state. The school parking lot was transformed into an RV park. Bright dresses, puffy petticoats on the women and bolo ties and cowboy boots for the men we... Full story
Around 500 people dodged the smoke and worry of the Black Crater Fire on Wednesday, August 2, and headed out to Willows Ranch, home of the Knapp Friesians. Owners Judi and Jim Knapp hosted an open barn and free performance by trainers Clay Maier and Lea McFarland-Bushnell. "We really appreciate the interest in the community in our horses and what we do with them," said Judi Knapp. They were fortunate to have a perfect evening and though there were a few parking delays with... Full story
The High Desert Classic horse show concluded its second week on July 30 at the J Bar J Youth Ranch in Bend. Sisters is well represented at athletic events in Central Oregon, and the High Desert Classic is no exception. Sisters riders showed in several rings from pony jumpers to level three jumpers, and in equitation and medal classes. Emily Christen and Megan Foster, both nine years old, competed in the pony jumpers and the low and beginner jumpers. In the latter classes, the... Full story
Eagle Bear Ranch, a horse-hotel and boarding facility just outside of Sisters, is set to expand its offerings with the addition of trainer, Mark Blanchard. The fifth-generation Coloradan and dressage trainer was looking for a change when he stopped in at Eagle Bear to board his horse for a few days last year. The Northwest interested him and conversations with Eagle Bear owner, T.K. Schnell, made him believe that he would be a good fit at the ranch. Schnell has been a... Full story
Rockhounds and others appreciative of what lies beneath the surface of our planet had a chance to rub shoulders at Sisters’ Roundup of Gems, held at the elementary school grounds June 30-July 4. The vendors at the show displayed and sold rocks, minerals, petrified wood, fossils and jewelry grade stones and gems. Some of the pieces were polished; others were in their natural state. The rocks came from all over the world and represented a range of geologic diversity. Wayne a... Full story
A group of mainly vintage Airstream trailers took over the Sisters Inn & RV Park last week. It was a scene virtually unchanged since the 1930s, when Airstreams were first produced. Sunlight glinted off the trailers’ buffed aluminum panels and their jolly owners availed themselves of Sisters’ hospitality and perfect weather. Airstream clubs all over the country and internationally make members welcome and organize rallies and trips across the nation. There are over 100 act... Full story
Local classic performance car enthusiasts can watch one of their own in action on July 4. An episode of The Learning Channel’s Overhaulin’ program will air that evening; Ed Johnson of Sisters was part of the team that restored the featured car. The car had languished in its owner’s mother’s yard for years. The owner, Jamie, tooled around his southern California neighborhoods in it during his high school days, but was unable to get it going again when it conked out. Jamie’s... Full story
Emerald Ranch, on Cloverdale Road, is poised to become an all-around Western riding establishment with the addition of trainer Geraldo Morales. Morales, 23, is an accomplished Western pleasure and gaming trainer and instructor and has competed at the national level in Western pleasure and barrel racing. Emerald Ranch owner, Don Chelew, is pleased to have finally found Morales. He’d been searching for a while for just the right person to bring another dimension to the s... Full story
Sisters High School equestrians brought home two state championship gold medals from the Oregon State High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET) State Meet. The meet was held at Central Point, in southern Oregon, on May 19-21. Jennifer Friend beat out 35 competitors to take the gold in dressage and the six-rider drill team came out ahead of 25 other teams to capture the gold in that event. Drill team members were Shayna Forbes, Jennifer Friend, Aubyn Geser, Christina Holler, Rachel... Full story
Sisters Harvest Basket has new owners. Gordon and Renee Wilson took over the reins on May 1, though they’d been learning the ropes prior to that from previous owners Melvin and Sandy Herburger. The Wilsons are recently married and had been dreaming of owning a small family business. Renee, who moved to Sisters six years ago with her three children, was a regular customer at Sisters Harvest Basket. When the opportunity arose to purchase it, all the doors opened and the f... Full story
Shoppers who like to wander off the beaten path will be well rewarded when they trek down to the west end of Hood Avenue. There, at the corner of Hood and Cottonwood, they’ll find a store called Fab Faux. Inside the store is a treasure trove of faux jewelry — necklaces, chokers, bracelets, rings and pendants inspired by designers such as David Yurman, John Hardy and Tiffany. The store is owned by Herb and Beverly Davidson. They brought the business with them when they moved fr... Full story
Sisters High School produced another championship team, this time at the Oregon High School Equestrian Team (Central Oregon district) final meet on April 28-30. The meet was held at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond and fielded teams from Central and Eastern Oregon, 18 in all. Sisters emerged as the District Champion in the large school teams, those consisting of 16 or more riders. Equestrian team is a club sport and covers the gamut of riding disciplines... Full story
Spring…the season for bounding lambs, new growth in the garden — and cages full of mewling kittens in the animal shelters. There is an epidemic of cat overpopulation that lurks in bushes, alleys, and backyards all over Central Oregon. The chances of all those newborn kittens finding homes are pretty slim. More likely they will end up at a shelter where the cutest may get adopted, the rest euthanized. Some consider euthanasia the number one killer of pets in the United Sta... Full story
Trampled grass and a few stray bidders’ numbers caught under the bitterbrush are the only reminders of one of the biggest auction events held in the U.S. The Small Farmer’s Journal Annual Horsedrawn Equipment Auction and Swap Meet took over the Sisters Rodeo grounds April 21-23. Hundreds of carriages and horsedrawn farm implements, thousands of people and about a zillion pieces of miscellany passed through the auction tents and vendors booths. The auctioneers, office sta... Full story
A contingent from Sisters’ Habitat for Humanity chapter is heading to Katrina country this week. Ten hardy workers will make Abita Springs, Louisiana home base for a week, as they make their contribution to one of many Habitat homes being built in the area. Gale and Molly Larson, brigade leaders for the Sisters Habitat for Humanity affiliate, have built homes in many countries of the world. This is their first build in the United States. They’ll be leading the team, all volunteers paying their own way. Included are Dwi... Full story
Sisters equestrians from O’Neal Farms in Sisters were well represented at the recent Central Oregon Hunter Jumper Association show. Held on March 18-19 at Horse Butte Equestrian Center in Bend, the event opened the hunter jumper show season. Instructor Karen O’Neal’s students range in age from under 12 to adult. Results: Novice Equitation: 4. Olivia Chandler, Critter 6. Heather Wester, Rightfully Classic Jumpers, Two Feet: 1. Holly Tyler, Ballenger 4. Patience O’Neal, Tornado Maxx Novice 12 and Under, Two Feet: 4. Olivia... Full story
John Simpkins and Barbara Ferguson, both artists in their own right, have a business venture that is local through and through. Simpkins is an artist and quilt designer and Ferguson is a talented quilter. Simpkins created the painting that became the 2006 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show poster. Together, the pair fashioned a quilt and pattern based on the poster. Titled “Mystic Meadow,” the pattern is available exclusively at The Stitchin’ Post in Sisters until July 9. Then it be... Full story
Deschutes River Ranch at Tumalo produces premium quality, grass-finished beef direct to consumers. Not many ranches do that, though more and more are looking for niche markets. What sets this working ranch apart from others, besides the beef product, is the upscale homes that overlook the cattle pastures. It’s a setting that graces many a real estate advertisement in Central Oregon — unobstructed mountain views, access to the Deschutes River winding clear and sparkling below t... Full story
