News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 102
Sheri Rose and Steve Shepherd. Photo provided Sheri Rose and Steve Shepherd knew they were meant to work together from the day they said "I do." The couple experienced this reality during the first eight years of their marriage as Steve managed and directed his wife's fast-growing speaking ministry. Sheri Rose touched thousands of women around the country with her message of hope and encouragement. Four years ago, however, Steve took a job with Multnomah Publishers and Sheri temporarily dropped out of the speaking circuit to... Full story
Local representatives of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) honored community members with relatives in active service last week by presenting them with Blue Star Service Banners during a Sisters High School Veterans Appreciation Ceremony held last week. "After 9/11 happened," said George Winterfeld at the Wednesday morning school assembly, "we thought it was time to start up with the banners again. We want to present the banners to every family in the Sisters School District with a relative in active... Full story
Colonel Gregory Raths. Photo provided Sisters area veterans stood to be honored by local youth at this year's Veterans Appreciation Ceremonies at Sisters High School on Tuesday, November 12 and Wednesday, November 13. Jody Henderson directed the SHS band in performing a medley of service marches. Veterans stood and were applauded as the songs representing their branch of the armed service were played. Students gave readings of original poetry and stories written for the occasion. Special guests joined the SHS Band to perform... Full story
Ross Cristiano and Thomas Arends display their hand-crafted masks. Photo by Shawn Strannigan While most students around the country were busy with reading, writing, and arithmetic last week, the kids at Sisters Middle School were engaged in more creative educational pursuits. During "Interim Week," the sixth through eighth graders got to choose from a wide variety of courses, including knitting, acting, mountain biking, self-defense, international cooking and Japanese folk art. Middle school principal Lora Nordquist introduce... Full story
Wil Mulford displays his craft. Photo by Shawn Strannigan Sisters resident Wil Mulford won a blue ribbon for a clock case at an Anaheim, California watch and clock competition last summer. "I'd never even entered a contest before," said Mulford, who operates Specialty Woodworking out of a shop on his property. "I felt pretty pleased. I'm also glad my wife Gaynelle went with me -- it was good for her to see something good come out of what I do." Mulford took honors in the case-making category. Locals Ed Beacham and Duane Houst... Full story
Elizabeth Hasskamp and her sons, Jarred and Jaxon (middle). Photo by Shawn Strannigan When Elizabeth Hasskamp decided to open a new shop in Sisters, she drew inspiration for "Bambuumi" from her Filipino roots. Bambuumi offers a wide variety of products with an Asian flare. Hasskamp imports items from the Philippines, Korea, China, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and Viet Nam. "I was born in the Philippines," said Hasskamp. "I lived there until I was seven and didn't know a lick of English until we moved. As I've matured, I've... Full story
Steve and Suzanne Mickel and family in Croatia. Photo provided Steve Mickel started Three Sisters Fellowship in 1997 and pastored the growing congregation for the next three years. But he couldn't escape the persistent draw toward missionary work. "Steve and Suzanne were actually headed for Africa before they came to Sisters," said Vicky Layne, Three Sisters Fellowship secretary. "But then Suzanne found out she was pregnant and they couldn't go. But Steve always had a heart for missions." The Mickels settled in Sisters and pl... Full story
Rev. Harrelson (right) and Dick Kellog in the frame of the Community Hall. Photo by Shawn Strannigan The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration sanctuary offers one of the best views in town, but the facilities have become a bit cramped in recent years. Last May, the church embarked on a building program which will revamp the existing facility and add a Community Hall which will double the church's square footage. "I came to this church in August of '95," said Reverend Larry Harrelson. "Not long after I arrived, we did a... Full story
Colin Hedren, right, with missionaries Suzanne and Steve Mickel in front of the Golden Door in Pula. Photo provided While most of his peers were heading for grad parties last summer, Colin Hedren traveled to southern California to prepare for his three-month-long stay in Croatia. Hedren admits that he missed being a part of all the graduation activities, but the trip to Croatia was an experience he'll never forget. "The missions leader at my church, Three Sisters Fellowship, came up to me last spring and asked me what I thoug... Full story
Melissa Clark recently moved from Seattle to Sisters -- and brought 20 years of experience in the insurance business with her. "We moved to this area because my husband, Wayne, got hired as the golf pro out at Aspen Lakes," said Clark "He's been in the golf business for 25 years and we've been coming to Central Oregon all that time for golf vacations. When this job opened up, we jumped at the chance to live in Sisters." An agent for State Farm Insurance for 12 years before working as a independent, Clark is now offering her... Full story
A furniture maker in the Willamette Valley will preserve the historic lumber salvaged from Sisters buildings. Thanks to efforts from Sisters resident Linda Faria, a bit of local history will be preserved for the community to enjoy. Lumber extracted from dilapidated buildings in Sisters will be showing up in other projects around town. Faria, who has called Sisters home for the past 13 years, recently purchased the lot on the corner of Hood Avenue and Pine Street. The four buildings on the property were in varying stages of... Full story
Pastor Frank Fraga with pictures of Honduras trip. Sisters pastor Frank Fraga traveled throughout Honduras last August, preaching the gospel and encouraging the locals. Fraga returned to Sisters with a mission -- to raise $14,000 for a church building in village of Chapalapa. "The first week I was there, I spoke at meetings held in an old corn crib," said Fraga, who pastors the Trinity Christian Center in Sisters. "There are no churches in Chapalapa." Fraga's trip to Honduras was sponsored by World Wide Crusades, a... Full story
When Bob and Shawn Taylor moved their three ranch estates from Western Oregon, they didn't have room for all the stuff. "We couldn't keep it all," said Shawn Taylor. "So we decided to auction it all off and give the proceeds to a good cause." The Taylors chose the Three Sisters Lions Club (which sponsors Habitat for Humanity in the Sisters area) as the recipient of their fund-raiser. "Bob used to be a Lion, and I'm with the Kiwanis -- but we thought the Lions would be great to work with," said Taylor. The auction was held... Full story
Eighth graders re-sided an outhouse at Suttle Lake as part of an outdoor school program. Sisters middle schoolers helped restore forest facilities and trails and replanted burned areas last week as part of their Outdoor School experience at Suttle Lake. Ninety-six eighth grade students, 15 high school counselors and a host of adult helpers gathered at the Suttle Lake Methodist Camp for the sixth annual Eighth Grade Leadership Retreat. "The retreat was started in conjunction with the Forest Service," said Tricia Biesman, who h... Full story
Sisters won praise from a group of international directors for Good Samaritan Ministries during a visit last month for the community's contributions to the organization. Several of the directors gave first-hand reports of how the funds raised by the annual Sisters Act Talent show were being used to build schools and help the poor in their countries. The 34 internationals -- who represent 26 countries -- visited Sisters during their month-long "Building International Community" conference in September. Osborn Muyanja, who has... Full story
The United States served as neutral ground last month for directors of Good Samaritan Ministries -- like-minded altruists, who are sometimes separated by national conflicts. Reverend Yesuratnam of India and David Bhatti of Pakistan enjoyed spending time together during their September "Building International Community" conference -- something that would be illegal in their native countries. "David is my brother in the Lord," said Yesuratnam, "but we can't even speak to each other over the phone in our countries. "It is... Full story
"Girls just want to have fun" was the theme of this year's Sisters in Sisters celebration. Over 200 women from around the country gathered together last weekend to celebrate the bond between sisters. "That's actually been the theme every year," said Leart Jett, who helped coordinate this year's event. "We intentionally tied Sisters in Sisters to the first weekend of hunting season. While the guys are out hunting, the girls get together and have fun." The fifth annual Sisters in Sisters drew women from as far away as New York... Full story
Kevin Wilson and Jill the donkey. Perhaps you've noticed them around town. They make an odd couple, the middle-aged man and his burro. Yet for sojourner Kevin Wilson, Jill the donkey makes the perfect traveling companion. Wilson should know--he's been on the road since he headed out of Colorado Springs, Colo. at the tender age of fourteen. "We're just wanderin' around looking for greener grass," explains Wilson, who looks more like a 19th century mountain man than a citizen of the new millennium. "You gotta feed a burro. I... Full story
Deputy Tim Hernandez is ready to tackle the job as the Sisters School District resource officer. Hernandez replaces Scott Shelton, who was promoted to detective. "I've had a warm reception as his replacement--although everybody asks about Scott," Hernandez said. Hernandez, who moved his family to Sisters from the Willamette Valley ten years ago, started as a reserve officer with the Sisters Police Department. "When the county took over the Sisters contract," he explained, "I was offered a marine patrol position. I did that... Full story
Tara and Michael Broadbent with their product. Pharmacist Tara Broadbent developed her healing skin crème in 1994, while living in Bend. "My father was a rancher near Klamath Falls," said Tara. "Being of Irish descent, his skin was more suited for a climate where it rained every day. He wasn't cut out for the heat. Over the years, Dad developed cracks and splits in his hands and feet--some which didn't heal for thirty years." Broadbent's father, Bill O'Keeffe, tried a variety of creams and salves, but was unable to find... Full story
Deputy Beard playing pedestrian. Sisters drivers have an increased awareness about pedestrian-related traffic laws. From 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 23, Sheriff's Deputy Scott Beard strolled back and forth across Highway 20, using the crosswalk in front of The Pump House. Casually attired with cup of coffee in hand, he played the part of the typical Sisters pedestrian. "I've been yelled at, flipped off, and cussed at," grinned Deputy Beard after a successful crossing. "And I've had to jump out of the way a few times... Full story
The Riverboat Jazz Band played patriotic music at the Sisters Jazz Festival. The "revitalized" Sisters Jazz Festival delighted music fans last weekend. From the Sisters High School Jazz Band to the internationally acclaimed Chicago 6 there was truly something for every jazz enthusiast who attended the festival. The Jazz Festival was cancelled last year and board members revamped the event. "We decided to change the format and include small venues and local bands as well as returning national groups," said Kent Thie, who... Full story
For the second week in a row, the Sisters Fire Hall was transformed into a "Green Room," a place where band members can go to relax and grab a bite between sets. The southern California band Chicago Six found some time Friday afternoon to refresh themselves before their next gig. Bob McKewen, who plays sax and clarinet in the band, gave a brief history of the Six. "It got started by Bob Finch 21 years ago," said McKewen. "He owned a nightclub called Jazz Unlimited back east. After he moved to California, he still had the itch... Full story
Free Gospel Hour shows were held at the Sisters Jazz Festival's Village Green and Comfort Inn stages at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Crowds of festival attendees and local worshipers flocked to the two venues to hear jazz-infused versions of classic hymns and other songs of faith. The Chicago 6 played at Comfort Inn, while the Night Blooming Jazzmen performed at the Village Green. It wasn't strictly a performance, since the audience members were handed song sheets and encouraged to join in. Band leader Chet Jaeger kept the... Full story
The Nashville Bluegrass Band headlined this year's Sisters Folk Festival. More than 1,000 roots music fans and musicians descended on Sisters last weekend for the three-day Sisters Folk Festival. The festival lived up to its "blues to bluegrass" motto, providing a diverse musical palette. "Every festival has a new discovery," said banjo player Peter Heithoff of the local trio The Haymakers. "Someone new we can learn from. Although it will take us several lifetimes to catch up to The Waybacks!" "And we get a chance to... Full story
