News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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The Squawback Anvil Blasters are (l.-r.) Jim Cornelius, Lynn Woodward, Dianne Herauf, Charley Engel, Al Herauf and Jeff Wester. photo by Tom Chace "At the End of a Dusty Road" could well be the name of a folk song, but Sunday afternoon, July 27, it was the destination of several dozen music lovers headed for the "Harmony Ranch" home of Doug and Katie Cavanaugh. Clusters of eight or 10 aficionados gathered here and there on colorful, webbed chairs and beach towels in the shade of nearby juniper trees to hear the music of the... Full story
Members of Girl Scout troop #366 help paint three new Habitat houses. Ashley Lanier is atop the ladder surrounded by (l-r) Lindsay Beltram, Emily Colburn, Christa Colburn and Megan Hamel. photo by Tom Chace A high school honor student and senior member of the Girl Scouts organized a group of half a dozen other scouts and an equal number of parents and adults to help paint and landscape three new Sisters Habitat houses last weekend, July 19-20. Ashley Lanier, a senior at Bend High School and a 10-year member of the Girl... Full story
Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers must be available to help others - even when it puts their own lives on hold. "I received an emergency call at 3 a.m. the other morning for a medical evacuation," said volunteer Michelle Barber. "When you have three young kids that is not an easy situation. But that's what we volunteered to do so we do it." Barber and her Search and Rescue partner for this operation, Fred Gerke, were at Black Butte Ranch two weeks ago, July 10, volunteering to help almost 4,000 people living there prepare... Full story
On the first anniversary of the evacuation of Black Butte Ranch during the Cache Mountain Fire one year ago, a group of actors will stage three short plays at a dinner theater on the deck off the dinning room at the BBR Lodge. The no-host, public dinner event will be held on Monday, July 28. One of the short plays will be about the evacuation. Entitled "Fireman's Pie," it recalls many incidents, mostly real, many humorous, about what home owners took with them and the interaction of two families preparing for the worst.... Full story
Temporary Post Office chief Pat Green has made no secret of her desire to stay in Sisters. She's getting her wish, at least for a while. The person chosen months ago to be the new postmistress of Sisters changed her mind and is staying in Illinois, said Green, "temporary" officer in charge. "I love this place and this job and I hope I can stay on," she said. "But one never knows what the higher-ups have in mind. I could be out of here tomorrow." Green is a resident of Culver, north of Sisters. She has been the temporary postm... Full story
Hundreds of kids of all ages prepare for the traditional Fourth of July Decorated Bike and Hike Parade at Black Butte Ranch last Friday. photo by Tom Chace It was a red, white and blue festive day at Black Butte Ranch as residents, guests and people from the Sisters area celebrated the Fourth of July. An estimated throng of 300 assembled at the Sports Field, near the Big Meadow Golf Course, at mid-morning on Friday to decorate anything that moved and was not motorized. Bicycles, tricycles, baby carriages, strollers, bikes... Full story
Sue and Harry Sprang, volunteer fire spotters, look out over the catwalk at the Green Ridge Fire Lookout Tower. photo by Tom Chace A fire spotter atop Green Ridge saw the first puff of smoke for what has become the 600-acre Link Fire on Saturday, July 5, at 4:27 p.m. Like so many of the people who make life in Sisters safer and more enjoyable, the person who spotted the fire was a volunteer. Volunteers travel to Green Ridge Lookout each day, even weekends and holidays, during the fire season and spend the daylight hours... Full story
Transient merchants sell everything from rugs to sun- glasses during Quilt Show, Rodeo and other special weekend events. photo by Tom Chace They crop up overnight like a relative who "just drops in for a visit." They are the transient merchants who hit Sisters during the busy summer season. This week they are here for the Quilt Show. In June it was Rodeo. In two weeks some may show up for the Custom Car Classic. There's always something special going on in Sisters during the summer months; these events draw tourists and, in... Full story
Fred Gerke and Michelle Barber with the volunteer County Search and Rescue team standby at Fiddleneck Gate, Black Butte Ranch, to help with fire evacuation if necessary. Photo by Tom Chace Black Butte Ranch residents are ready for something they hope they won't have to do: evacuate for the second time in as many years (see related story). "Last year they got the cows and horses out first," said Ruth Peterson a resident of Black Butte Ranch. "This year only the horses went. Maybe we’re learning something." The evacuation... Full story
This is a possible site for a new Family Recreation Center at Black Butte Ranch. Photo by Tom Chace Some major changes are in the works at Black Butte Ranch. Plans include a new recreational center, new tennis courts, a new indoor pool and more. Ranch property owners discussed these plans at their annual meeting last Saturday morning, June 28, followed by a barbecue at the sports field. Bruce Vaughn, chairman of the Facilities Development Project committee, emphasized several times that the present master plan is only in the... Full story
Starting at 8 a.m. with a "Fun Run/Walk" and ending after the "Sundae (sic.) Night Movie," there will be a full day of July 4 activities at Black Butte Ranch including a youngsters' decorated-bicycle parade. Independence Day, marking freedom from British colonial rule, will be celebrated at BBR with an entire day of fun for the entire family, including a barbecue, traditional July 4 games, a climbing wall and entertainment by Biff Harley. A 5K (3.5 mile) run at Black Butte Ranch is open to all, according to Katie Kenney,... Full story
Hundreds turned out Sunday, June 29, for a fund-raising barbecue and silent auction at Black Butte Ranch to raise money for Carol Woosley, a waitress at the Lodge restaurant who is battling cancer. It also turned out to be a festive event. A total of approximately $24,400 was reported Sunday with more to come, according to Pixie Carson, a Black Butte Ranch resident, who spearheaded the Black Butte Ranch Women's Association, and Maxine Braune, head of the BBR Lodge Restaurant where Woosley worked for 18 years. Some 250 to 280... Full story
Bob Brockway, head of a committee to raise funds to rebuild the Sisters Library in 1985, and Mary Smith, chairman of the upcoming book sale. Photo by Tom Chace Friends of the Sis ters Library will hold its annual book sale this coming Friday and Saturday, June 11 and 12, in the old building that housed the original Sisters Library when it opened in 1939. Friday night's book sale event is for members of Friends of the Sisters Library only, but the Saturday sale is open to the public. Hours Friday are 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9... Full story
Water flows crystal clear forming eddies and shallow pools from the Head of Jack Creek, a handsome nephew to the Head of the Metolius. Photo by Tom Chace Everyone knows of the great and beautiful Metolius River and particularly the tourist stop at the Head of The Metolius. This destination is a must for visitors and locals alike. It is beautiful, and easily accessible -- almost too easy for those wanting a little more rustic and rugged hike. Not far from the Head of the Metolius is the Head of Jack Creek, lesser in water... Full story
The happy and joyous Fourth of July holiday might have been celebrated two days earlier, on July 2, if John Adams had his way. The Second Continental Congress actually declared independence from Great Britain on July 2; the Congress adopted the formal Declaration of Independence document two days later. According to a letter Adams wrote his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776, "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha in The History of America. "It will be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn... Full story
Camp Tamarack is starting its 70th year this week at Dark Lake. Photo by Tom Chace School's out. Camp's in. Four private camps are underway in the Suttle Lake area west of Sisters. Depending on one's definition, two or more are also open during the winter months. Camp Davidson caters to Christian religious groups with church-oriented assemblage. Camp Tamarack hosts children from eight to 16 with optional horseback riding, plus a family camp over Labor Day weekend. Camp Caldera offers a dual program: During summers they host,... Full story
The summit team: In the back (L-R) are Sharyn Fetrow (group leader), Dave Barry, Jessica Judy, Russ Fetrow, Darla Neiss, Cathy Ellis. Kneeling are Eloise Barry and Mimi Miller. Photo courtesy Sharyn Fetrow We look at it with awe. Occasionally we read about one or more who have actually climbed it. We even learn of some who tried and didn't make it. It is the South Sister, the mountain colloquially called "Faith." A group of eight local hiker started training last week to climb that beautiful peak next September. They have... Full story
The gate is still down to block cars from going over McKenzie Pass, but the road is clear and open, on the Sisters side only, for bicycle and foot traffic. Photo by Tom Chace The scenic route over the McKenzie Pass (Highway 242) should be open this weekend, June 28-29, according to Dan Knolls, public information officer for the Central Oregon division of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). "The surest way to find out before starting up the pass is to call my office (388-6224) or check our web site (www.ODOT.state.... Full story
Power outages are not unusual in the Sisters area, but one on Monday, June 16, coincided with a rash of residential telephone failures. That caused consternation not only for the residents of Black Butte Ranch, where the dual problem occurred, but for Qwest Telephone Company officials, Central Electric Co-op engineers, and even the management and emergency service personnel at Black Butte Ranch. Why did the phones go out when the power went off? Stacey Dahl, public information officer for Qwest, said that the phone company... Full story
Camp Sunrise participants launch "memory boats." Photo by Jim Mitchell Nearly everyone has experienced the difficulty of recovering from grief. It's difficult enough as an adult. But as a child of seven? Or 10? Or even 14? Tough. Hospice of Sisters/Redmond hosted a camp last weekend, June 27 through June 29, at Suttle Lake for young people who are working through the process of grief. It was the fifth year such a session has been held, according to Janet Whitney, LCSW, organizer of the community session. "We have 40 children... Full story
What do a gas pump jockey, a social service worker, an athlete advocate and a poet/teacher have in common? They are the cast of the Sisters Community Theatre production of "The Last Rehearsal," playing this weekend in Sisters and next week in Bend. Diana Redfield Kelleher, director of the local community acting group and one who has "loved theater all my life," said that this cast of characters has come together "remarkably well to perform a very good, professional play." The actors in the current play are all local talent.... Full story
If you are on the Internet, you probably get "spam" -- and lots of it. Black Butte Computer Club members learned last Thursday, June 19, about ways to stop those annoying, unwanted junk e-mails. Cindy Hovey, a representative of Bend Cable, said that her solution required using a Bend Cable modem, requiring a subscription to Bend Cable as the local server. For those not on cable, other suggestions were given by club members to alleviate the problem. AOL (America Online) and MSN (Microsoft Network) offer a spam protection... Full story
Sisters Coffee Company has been an institution since 1989. Now three drive-through coffee kiosks in town have changed the tradition of going out for a cup of coffee. "Yes, our business is changing," said Winfield Durham, founder and owner of Sisters Coffee on Hood Avenue, "but the change is not in our sales, as we sell everything we can roast, but in our relationship with our growers and wholesalers." The local coffee company buys from all over the world: "Africa, Indonesia, Kona, with much of our import coming from... Full story
Jerry Bogen and Charlotte Milam. Photo by Tom Chace After three years of planning, design and building, the new Community Hall at the Episcopal Church in Sisters in now ready for public and church use. One of the most dramatic of many innovative ideas incorporated into the new building is the cross immediately inside the double entrance doors. It is suspended in air, extending a foot from the back wall and hanging three feet from the ceiling. A number of direct spotlights create interesting shadows on the hand-made,... Full story
Kelly Thomas and Barry Brunette lay a cobble stone walk as part of the finishing touch to the entrance of the new Community Hall at Sisters Episcopal Church. Photo by Tom Chace The laying of a walkway put the final touch to the entrance of the new Community Hall at Sisters Episcopal Church last week. Dedication of the new building, located on Brooks Camp Road off the McKenzie highway west of Sisters, will take place on Monday, June 30 with the Bishop of Eastern Oregon, William Gregg, and other local dignitaries in... Full story
