News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 301 - 325 of 371
The annual Small Farmer's Journal auction draws people literally from all over the U.S. and some foreign countries to Sisters. Lynn and Kristi Miller, publishers of the Small Farmer's Journal in Sisters, stage the event, scheduled for Friday-Sunday, April 16-18. Miller farms his own property with horses and is a recognized authority on the subject. The event begins at 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. on Sunday. Harness and miscellaneous items are sold each morning; major auction items in the afternoons. On Friday, the "F... Full story
Sisters knitters no longer need to travel out of town to satisfy their creative urges. The Stitchin' Post, famed for meeting the imaginative needs of quilters, is now carrying colorful lines of yarns and other knitting supplies. Driven by the requests of customers, Stitchin' Post owner Jean Wells and floor manager Sally Brittain are working to create an inspiring collection of yarns ranging from basic wools and cottons to high-end designer yarns. The wools hail from the British Isles, the United States, and Japan in a rainbow... Full story
Kate Rohauer. photo by Kathryn Godsiff The loss of a loved one at the hand of another is the most crushing blow any human being is forced to endure. Kate Rohauer of Sisters knows this first-hand; she lived through the emotional maelstrom following the murder of her daughter Lynette Jarvis in California in September of 1998. Jarvis was shot while hitchhiking with a companion on a lonely stretch of road in the Apple Valley. Rohauer has finally healed enough to be able to help others through the maze of grief and legalities... Full story
To someone who has never suffered the numbing loss of a beloved pet, a support group might seem kind of over the top. So you lost a pet, the thought goes -- at least it wasn't a human member of your family; just get over it and get another kitten, puppy, goldfish, whatever. Not so to those of us who were present at Sisters' first pet-loss support group meeting on Thursday, January 22. Facilitator Kathy Johnson, who has lost two cats well before their time, is also a hospice volunteer and understands the grieving process very... Full story
Where is Waldo? Stuck in an icy pond. He was safely rescued. photo provided A routine feeding session turned into a rescue mission on Sunday, January 11, at the Lazy Z Ranch just outside of Sisters. When manager Vickie Herring and staff member Sophia Little headed off into the freezing morning, they didn't expect to find Waldo, an 18-month-old bay gelding, stuck in the ice in a ranch irrigation pond. "When Vickie and Sophia went to feed, they found the entire herd gathered around the pond," said Virginia Loomis, who manages... Full story
Sisters residents are still eating beef, despite a mad cow scare in the U.S. photo by Kathryn Godsiff As the investigation into the origins of America's first case of mad cow disease continues, folks in Sisters are still buying meat and dining on steaks. "Sales were up 25 percent over last Christmas," said Ron Bliven, meat department manager at Ray's Food Place in Sisters. He said his store purchases meat through Western Boxed Meats, a distributor who deals with a processor in Iowa called Iowa Beef Packers. The meat comes... Full story
Kay Sharpnack and "Siluette." photo provided The llama breeding industry may not be booming as it once was, but recent showring success by Hinterland llamas showed that the farm is doing something right. At the recent Grand National Llama Show held in Lincoln, Nebraska, Hinterland-owned or bred llamas picked up 23 top-10 awards. There were more than 800 animals presented at the show, qualifying in a myriad of classes that included halter and performance. To qualify for the Grand National, animals must win a grand or reserve... Full story
Sisters residents who are scrambling to get a flu shot have found themselves out of luck in the past week. The supply of vaccine has run out and is not likely be renewed any time in the near future, according to Dr. May Fan of Bend Memorial Clinic's Sisters office. The situation arose out of an abundant oversupply last year. "There was so much that went to waste last year that we ordered less for this year," said Dr. Fan. Doctors had no way of predicting the doozy of a flu season that has hit this year. "We have ordered 500 m... Full story
Flu is always an unwelcome guest, and this year the annual visit is shaping up to be long and dreary. Stomping in several weeks early, the virus has kept local clinics hopping to keep up with demand for immunizations. Dr. Steven Greer, physician at Bend Memorial Clinic in Sisters, said that there have been several confirmed cases of Influenza A in Deschutes County since November 24, one of which was in Sisters. "The virus has arrived earlier than usual. We are seeing large numbers of patients in our offices (in Bend and... Full story
Sue Morgan paddles her canoe through the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. photo provided When Sisters farrier Sue Morgan heads out for vacation time, she doesn't include resort wear in her luggage. Morgan is a lifelong wilderness explorer. Her latest adventure was a five-day canoe excursion in October, exploring the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia with five of her closest buddies. Contained within this wetland ecosystem is the 396,315-acre Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1937, which maintains 110 miles... Full story
We all remember our parents haranguing us to finish our dinners, raising the specter of famished children somewhere across the globe. They never told us about the hungry ones just down the street. They are there, according to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank Coordinator Glenn Keeran. You won't know who they are, because the food bank is careful about protecting identity; The only questions the staff asks relate to income. The last 18 months have seen a tremendous increase in the number of people regularly accessing the food bank.... Full story
Curt Kallberg (68) holds the lead for at least another moment at the Pacific Northwest Historics in Seattle. photo by Bob Dunsmore Vintage car racing means more to drivers than speeding old cars around a racetrack. Sure, the cars go really fast (around 160 mph) and are loud, but the very act of driving a restored piece of history adds a certain extra cachet to the sport. Five men from Central Oregon, vintage models themselves, just completed a successful April-September race season. Curt Kallberg, Jerry Taylor and Eric... Full story
Pat Bliss takes it to 140 miles per hour. photo provided Sisters drywall contractor Jim Helm lives a second life on the weekends. He follows his passion for sprint car racing, traveling with his crew and the car he owns to races in four western states and British Columbia. The team, with driver Pat Bliss of West Linn at the wheel, is currently in first place in the Northwest Sprint Car Racing Association series. Although Helm has owned sprint cars for around 10 years, this is his first year racing on pavement tracks. Sprint... Full story
Sandy Marlow and one of her happy evacuees. photo by Kathryn Godsiff When the Booth Fire forced the evacuation of several campgrounds, youth camps, and Camp Sherman, many evacuees had to deal with more than their immediate belongings and the family valuables. These folk had large animals to get to safety. Moving livestock usually involves a team effort. There are trailers to hook up, gear to collect, hay to include, and often more than one trip to make. Arranging a safe place ahead of time cuts down on the stress. Most large... Full story
Sarah Lawrence on a horseback safari in Kenya. photo provided Some people live for adventure. Sarah Lawrence, 21, of Lower Bridge is one of them. She spent the last year adventuring on the rivers of the West and in the wilds of Kenya -- on horseback. Lawrence is an Environmental Studies and Sociology senior at Whitman University in Walla Walla, Washington. She spent four months last year studying river systems in the West, before heading to Kenya to attend the School of Field Studies affiliated with Boston University. The... Full story
Kim Meeder. photo provided True stories of hope and faith triumphing over distress are always popular. Tumalo horsewoman and first-time author Kim Meeder will shortly release such a collection called "Hope Rising." This may not be a book readers would want to open in an airport or other public place, because of the emotional tug of many of the stories. But that same emotional release is what opens readers' hearts and minds to the powerful message of the book, that when hope and faith intertwine, life returns. Meeder is no... Full story
Two local 4-H livestock clubs and a sewing club fielded nearly 50 entries at the Deschutes County Fair, held last week in Redmond. Sisters young people entered sheep, swine, goats and sewing projects in the fair. Cloverdale Livestock Club has 29 members, many from Sisters, with the rest living in Redmond. Leader Pam Mitchell, who has headed the club for 18 years, said the club is the largest it's ever been during her time as leader. This club focuses on sheep, with members entering in showmanship (required for all 4-H animal... Full story
Mac Gould on McKie, her seven-year-old paint gelding. photo by Kathryn Godsiff It's fair time again and the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center horse barn was humming with activity last weekend. The 4-H horse fair was on, and Sisters riders were represented in at least four clubs. Sisters Stompers, Sisters Outriders, and Terrebonne Troopers each fielded several local riders. High Desert Horsemen of Bend includes Annie Hancock of Camp Sherman in their membership. Horse fair is a summer highlight for these kids. For some,... Full story
Some of the finest horseflesh and best riders in Central Oregon offered their best efforts at the 14th Annual Oregon High Desert Classics Horse Show at the J Bar J Youth Services facility in Bend. The nationally recognized Hunter/Jumper show is a fund-raiser for J Bar J Youth Services. Numerous Sisters riders participated. The event has been sold out in terms of capacity entries for the past several years, testament to the high esteem in which it is held in the show jumping world. The "show" is actually two separate... Full story
Steve Ray Gonzalez explains the function of the saddle tree. Photo by Kathryn Godsiff Several Central Oregon horses should be feeling better soon, if their owners follow the tips and advice gleaned from Saturday's Saddle Fit and Function Clinic. Hosted by the Central Oregon Horse Journal at Cisco Stables, the clinic was presented by noted saddle maker Steve Ray Gonzalez. Based in Bend, Gonzalez has a wealth of experience and opinion related to fitting saddles. Many horse people, both experienced and novice, find the concept... Full story
Scott Buckles, race director. photo by Kathryn Godsiff Sisters' full calendar of events just got more so. The Sisters High Cascades Off-Road Triathlon is coming to Suttle Lake on Sunday, September 7. The nationally ranked event, consisting of a one mile swim in Suttle Lake, 12 to 14 miles of mountain bike riding and six miles of trail running, promises to be a major change from the usual activities that Sisters offers through the summer. As part of the Nissan Xterra race series, the event will draw a field of top local and... Full story
(L-R): Nora Dragoon, Erin McClaskey with daughter Kiana Hohman, Lori-Jean Pruitt. Photo by Kathryn Godsiff Mountain Supply has opened in Sisters -- and it's good news for local outdoor enthusiasts. Located on the corner of Main Avenue and Fir Street, the store carries a full line of day-use hiking supplies and can obtain any specialty mountaineering or rock climbing items within a day from the main Mountain Supply store in Bend. The business has been in Erin McClaskey's family for 23 years and at one time the family owned... Full story
Nicolas Yopp. Photo provided Freshly graduated from Sisters High School, Nicolas Yopp is ready to see the world. The parts he hasn't already seen from the back of his bicycle or from ski slopes across the planet, that is. Actually, the bicycling gets done here in Oregon. Yopp plans a full schedule of Oregon Bike Racing Association (OBRA) sanctioned races during the summer. Currently riding in first place in his age group (Sport Junior Men 15-18 years), Yopp finished the high school race season as state champion. The sport... Full story
Gregg Geser digs in on a climb. Photo by Anne Geser Gregg Geser secured his place in the elite world of ultra-cycling when he won the Race Across Oregon during the weekend of May 31-June 1. As he was the first winner on a new, 538.5 mile course, his time of 35 hours and 25 minutes will be the mark future racers strive to beat. The course is 11 miles longer and has many more feet of vertical climb than the previous one, yet Geser beat last year's winning time by nearly an hour. The race began in Portland and headed east,... Full story
Young Life participants scrubbed and buffed cars last weekend. Photo by Kathryn Godsiff Young Life, an inter-denominational, para-church youth organization, made its presence known in Sisters with a carwash on Sunday. A continual lineup of cars kept the teens hopping as they hosed, scrubbed and buffed. The day was a dedicated effort to raise funds for their upcoming trip to Young Life camp. Current sophomores, juniors and seniors will go to Wildhorse Canyon from June 21 to 27. The camp is located on the 64,000-acre Big Muddy... Full story
