News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
Sisters Rodeo Association has been recognized as the 2011 Columbia River Circuit Rodeo of the Year. The announcement was made at the Circuit Finals Rodeo in Redmond in November. This is the second time Sisters Rodeo has received this honor, in a circuit association that includes PRCA rodeos in Oregon, California, Washington and Idaho. "Sisters does so much for the circuit," said Michael Reger, a circuit board member, citing above-average involvement with the circuit finals and donation of a prize-winning saddle. "Besides,... Full story
Total retail sales were projected to grow 2.8 percent this holiday season over last year's, to about $465 billion nationally, according to the National Retail Federation. Many business owners in Sisters confirmed that their sales over the holidays reflected this expected rise. Although lack of snow challenged the winter recreation and the hospitality industry, business owners noticed that the foot traffic in town increased with the warm weather. "I noticed a lot of folks from the Valley making day trips because of our sunny... Full story
Some folks in Sisters Country can't seem to resist using the National Forest as a dumping ground. "There's a cycle of dumping that goes on," acknowledged Forest Service law enforcement officer Fred Perl. "It creates a workload and it upsets the public." One member of the public contacted the Forest Service and The Nugget after finding a large garbage dump last week. "My friends and I were recently hiking on the new trail the Forest Service is building up the wild and scenic... Full story
To the Editor: If I read the December 21 article about the draft 20-year county Transportation System Plan correctly, they are saying that Highway 20 between Black Butte Ranch and Sisters will fail before Highway 20 between Sisters and Bend will fail. Huh? Highway 20 between Sisters and Bend failed before I got here 11 years ago. The Cloverdale/Gist and Fryrear/Plainview intersections are much more dangerous than the straight stretch of highway between Black Butte Ranch and Sisters. Just another example of the complete... Full story
The Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree program, organized by the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire & Ambulance Association, managed rising needs with the help of incredible support from the Sisters Country community. Giving Tree tags dotted the Christmas trees at both Ray's Food Place and Bi-Mart. Each tag had the wish list of a child in need, as well as the child's age and size. Interested community members simply picked a tag, shopped for the items on the given wish list, and turned the gifts in at the Sisters Fire Hall. The... Full story
Sisters Rodeo has been sanctioned to host a night of Xtreme Bulls, a bullriding-only event, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. After the event, there will be a Rodeo Dance at the rodeo grounds. "We are very excited about adding this night of bullriding competition to the rodeo," said arena manager and board member, John Leavitt. "We expect it to become very popular with the fans of bullriding." Bullriding has become the most popular event for fans of rodeo. Twenty PRCA rodeos across the nation will participate in this competition... Full story
It took a little more than 200 hours of careful chain-saw whittling, chiseling, and hand-held electric grinding and sanding for Skip Armstrong to begin to see - and feel - the Spirit of the Eagle slowly flow from the inanimate piece of hard rock maple into his shop and his heart. To any birder who has seen a bald eagle scoop a salmon from the white water of a rapidly flowing river, Armstrong's rendition will seem real. The massive beak of the eagle is there, the flow of its... Full story
The second annual Resolution Run and Walk attracted 87 participants who decided to start the new year on the move. Runners and walkers of all ages chose one of three distances - one mile, five kilometers, or five miles - to cover in the non-competitive event. While the majority of the participants were local, a large group of visitors from McMinnville made the event part of their vacation plan and intend to come back for more of the Sisters Multi-Sport events. "We centered... Full story
Nik Goertzen came to Sisters six years ago with the hope of coaching girls soccer and making the Outlaws into one of the state's premiere programs. Over the last three years Goertzen has witnessed firsthand his hope and dream become reality. Goertzen was recently recognized as the 2011 4A Girls Soccer Coach of the Year. The special award confirms the girls' soccer program's state identity. The last two years the Lady Outlaws compiled a states' best record of 32-3-1, which is... Full story
The boy's basketball team hosted their annual Holiday Tournament December 27-29, featuring three of the top 4A teams in the state, including Sisters, Seaside and Philomath. Sisters opened the tourney against Burns, who entered with an 8-2 record. The Outlaws jumped out early, and at the close of the first quarter held a 20-6 lead. Sisters' defense was full of great energy and they ran the court well in transition. At the half the Outlaws had pulled to a 41-11 advantage. The... Full story
The Lady Outlaws lost to LaGrande and to Crook County at the Sisters Annual Holiday Tournament held Tuesday through Thursday, December 27-29. Sisters just couldn't get a shot to fall in their 59-38 loss against LaGrande. The Outlaws missed nine straight attempts at the basket in the first quarter, but did get one bucket: a three-pointer from Taylor Nieri. The Outlaws went 4/6 from the line and at the close of the first quarter trailed LaGrande 14-7. Nieri hit another three in... Full story
A fresh blanket of new snow welcomed hundreds of holiday revelers at Hoodoo Mountain Resort on New Year's Eve against a backdrop of spectacular fireworks, and hopes for a better year to come. Viewing areas outside the main lodge started to fill up just before the closing of Hoodoo's lifts at 9 p.m. After a quick sweep of the runs by the Santiam Pass Ski Patrol, the fireworks started amid cool, but very comfortable, weather. Brett Marks had come over from Salem. "We've just been waiting for some new snow, and it was great... Full story
Any business owner in Sisters Country will tell you that staying afloat in hard times is not easy. Ky Karnecki, owner of the Wild Mountain food stand at the east end of town, is asking the City of Sisters to throw him a lifeline. Wild Mountain, which offers jerky made from game animals such as elk, and mushrooms Karnecki harvests on the coast, is designated as a seasonal business, operating at the corner of Locust Street and Highway 20 on a 180-day temporary operating permit.... Full story
Greg was born in Coos Bay, Oregon to Bill and Miriam Hook on July 17, 1951. He graduated from Sheldon High School in 1969. After a stint in the Army, Greg met his wife Debbie in 1974, and they were married in the spring of 1975. Greg and Debbie lived and worked in Central Oregon for over 30 years; predominantly in Sisters. All three of their children are graduates of Sisters High School. Greg was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather who will be missed greatly. Greg was... Full story
James Robert McKay, 85, of Albany, passed away December 17 after a long illness. Bob was born in Brownsville to Juanita Mae Wells and William H. McKay, Sr. He grew up in Toledo and lived there until he joined the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS Whippoorwill in the South Pacific during World War II. In 1948, Bob married Carol Jean Ryals of Albany. They had three children: Carrie, Mike and Ann. He worked with his father-in-law, Gordon P. Ryals at Ryals Truck Service until he formed McKay Truck Line in 1973 with his children,... Full story
Betty Lou Woodruff Owers was born February 1, 1918, in Dayton, Ohio, to Lottie May Cory Woodruff and William Nathaniel Woodruff. She passed peacefully Christmas morning, 2011. Betty married Robert Hammond Owers May 19, 1939. They had two children, Robert Woodruff Owers and Judith Mae Owers Smith. Betty was a loving, kind and generous person, devoted to her husband, her children, and all of her beloved family. A lifelong musician, teacher, spiritual student and counselor, Betty was ordained by the Unity Church in 1972 and... Full story
Sisters is dancing into 2012, with the addition of a new 2,000-square-foot studio in Outlaw Station, right next to Top Pin Archery. The new facility will be home to the growing Sisters Dance Academy. Lonnie Liddell, owner and artistic director of Sisters Dance Academy, plans to offer a slate of new classes for children and adults. The facility features two separate dance studios with hardwood floors. "Our floors are a huge feature, because we have a sprung floor," Liddell... Full story
It pays to peruse the non-fiction side of the new-book display in the Sisters Library. Just the other day I discovered the National Geographic's new "Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America," by Jonathan Alderfer and Paul Hess. About a month earlier the title "Empire of the Beetles" jumped out at me, and it's a winner. Perhaps the best thing about the new National Geographic bird book is the two-piece cover. When you open it, the backside of the cover shows an instant, fu... Full story
