News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
If an unlikely coalition of animal rights activists and hunters groups have their way, it may get a lot harder to raise elk in Oregon. That could have a major impact on one of Sisters most picturesque tourist attractions - Patterson Ranch along Highway 242 at the west end of town. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will debate in Salem on Friday, January 12, whether to consider changing its existing rules about private elk ranching. The commission has received two... Full story
When Becky Johnson died at 93 last week, the weight of her legacy was felt across Oregon - but nowhere as acutely as in Camp Sherman. As reported by the Associated Press, Johnson was a member of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education. She also served as director and vice president of the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, which was named for her late husband and based in Redmond. The organization contributes to arts and culture, education, health care, science and social... Full story
Responding to pointed public questions, Sisters School Board members attempted on Monday night to explain why superintendent Ted Thonstad resigned and what some board members found lacking in his performance. The board was responding largely to concerns aired at public workshops on January 4 to determine qualities and qualification the new superintendent should possess. Thonstad took a few moments to explain his personal and professional reasons for resigning. Thonstad resigned before the board had made a decision on a... Full story
Senator Ben Westlund's office in Salem is on the east end of the third floor of the Capitol Building. The Capitol Building is formidable with it's marble façade, revolving brass doors and words of democracy chiseled in stone. The polished floor of the lobby reflects grand murals and the gravity of government. Everybody wants to say "Hi" to Ben Westlund, the newest Democrat in the Senate. Westlund changed his registration last year from Republican to Independent to make a run for governor. Last month he changed from... Full story
The Sisters School Board's attempt Monday night to clear the air about the resignation of Ted Thonstad may have been messy and uncomfortable, but it was necessary if the board hopes to win public support and attract the best possible candidates for the superintendent's position. It is understandable that the board wants to address personnel matters as circumspectly as possible. Yet circumspection can often come across as secrecy and the district can ill afford to be anything... Full story
Bowing to unrelenting pressure over its controversial new Welcome Center, Black Butte Ranch (BBR) is changing its plans. BBR has submitted a modification request for its entrance facilities site plan with Deschutes County. The original paperwork has been modified to remove the proposed Welcome Center portion of the project from the application. According to Paul Blikstad, Associate Planner for Deschutes County, the Deschutes County Hearings Officer has reopened the written record and will allow written comments on the... Full story
The Sisters School District's innovative approach to education has gained national attention, thanks in part to a visit by artist Leslie Satcher during the last Starry Nights concert series. That visit led to a guest teaching session to be conducted this week by political and entertainment figures with influence on the national stage. Ramona Lessen, executive assistant to Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), attended Satcher's concert and found several Sisters school programs to be both unusual and exceptional. Lessen's husband, Joe... Full story
Michael Doucet, BeauSoleil's lead singer and fiddler, mounted the stage last Saturday night and peered through the lights at the large crowd gathered for the second of the winter concert series hosted by the Sisters Folk Festival. "This is dancing music and y'all are in your seats," he said. Somewhere from the left rear of the auditorium a voice rang out: "Not for long!" The reply turned out to be more than prophetic, as by the time the thunderous applause rang out in tribute... Full story
Constant pressure and platooning of players led to the 68-44 Sisters' victory at Burns on Friday, January 5. Burns proved to be a scrappy team at home on their small court, and the Highlanders were able to slow down the Outlaws early. Nothing came easy for Sisters in the first half. Poor shooting and early foul trouble forced the Outlaws to change line-ups and hindered Sisters from running their up tempo offense. "Whenever a foul was called, it stopped the clock, and that... Full story
The Americana Reunion concert held December 29 was kicked off by project founder and director Brad Tisdel announcing, "This is a very special evening - certainly for me. This is the first annual Americana alumni concert." The evening brought both graduates and current Americana Project students together to speak to one another in the manner they do best - by song. Filled with music and song on the cold Friday night just after Christmas, Sisters Coffee Company was a warm and welcoming setting for all to pause and reflect on... Full story
Thomas Schantz led the Outlaws to a fourth-place finish in the six-team Nels Ochs Invitational Tournament in Madras on Saturday, December 6. Sisters finished behind two 5A schools, Madras and Sandy, and the traditionally tough McLoughlin High of Milton Freewater. Schantz dominated Rolin Morning Owl of Madras in the finals of the 189-pound class. "This was probably the best match of the year for any Outlaw," said Coach Jeff Smith. "He (Schantz) kept Morning Owl on the... Full story
The Sisters Outlaws Renegades USA Wrestling Club is sending two wrestlers to the Western Regional Classics at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center on Saturday, January 13. According to Coach Gene O'Brien, the team took eight wrestlers to the qualifying tournament in Redmond and placed all eight. Joshua O'Brien and Jacob Miller qualified to advance to the regional tourney with third place finishes in their brackets. Chase Head, Wyatt Avery, Shane Cornilious and Chase Sproat each earned a fourth-place finish while Cheyne... Full story
The girls' basketball team pulled out a clutch win with 1.9 seconds left on the clock on Wednesday, January 3 at Elmira. Sisters finished on top 39-38 to notch the win in their first league game of the season. The game started out slow, and at the end of the first quarter the score was tied 5-5. At the half the Outlaws were down 13-9. Coach Kevin Cotner told The Nugget his team had no offensive rhythm. They took lots of shots, but nothing seemed to go down. "It was like a... Full story
Sisters Kiwanis and Rotary clubs usually work separately to help the community - but not last Christmas. In December, Sisters Rotary gave $1,000 to Kiwanis to help fund its annual holiday gift basket program. "I don't ever recall of a combination project between the two clubs," said Kiwanis President Jerry Taylor. Rotary President Scott Pillar said when he heard before Christmas that the Kiwanis food bank needed funds, he immediately wanted to reach out. "We called a special... Full story
Country music performer Jim Owen will perform in Sisters next month. A well-known performer in Branson, Missouri for 16 years, Owen is a noted songwriter, has starred in movies and is regarded as one of the best pure entertainers in the business. The "Best Entertainer" statement was underscored in 1985 and again in 1987 when Owen was named "Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year." He starred in "Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace on the Vegas Strip for six years, one of the longest runs in Las Vegas history. Owen is also... Full story
Drivers may have noticed new "No Parking" signs at the west end of Sisters. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently placed the signs along the stretch of Highway 20 which passes by McDonald's and Best Western Ponderosa Lodge to improve safety. ODOT spokesman Peter Murphy said the change was made for several reasons. Parked vehicles block the view of ODOT's message sign which gives road conditions on Santiam Pass. Also, when cars or trucks park along that... Full story
Ten years ago, Angeline Rhett could be found strolling through Sisters with a lunch cart, offering fresh, nutritious lunches for business people and visitors in town. It was the start of something big - though it didn't seem like it at the time. This week, she's celebrating 10 years in business in Sisters, and Angeline's Bakery & Café is a thriving eatery and music venue. Angeline was working three jobs and was broke when she stated working out of the Northern Lights... Full story
Sisters will be in keen competition with other school districts for a new schools superintendent. The school district can't offer top pay for its top position, but the community offers lifestyle benefits that may level the playing field. Consultant Betsy Miller-Jones who is assisting the Sisters School District with its search for a new superintendent told The Nugget that incoming superintendents look at many factors when choosing a school district. Salary, of course, is a key consideration, but it is not the sole issue.... Full story
A new city council will take their seats behind the curved wooden dias at Sisters brand-new City Hall on Thursday, January 11. The council has one new face - Bill Merrill, who secured the largest number of votes in the November election for city council. In addition to Merrill's swearing in, it is expected that Brad Boyd will be elected Mayor by the council, replacing the outgoing Dave Elliott, who lost his seat on the council in the election. The meeting will be part of a... Full story
The largest Nordic Ski team in Sisters High School history kicked off the 2007 season in a 3.9-kilometer skate race under the lights at Hoodoo Mountain Resort on Thursday, January 4. Skiers from Redmond, Corvallis, and Crescent Valley joined the Outlaws for the low-key, non-scoring event. The competitors heated things up under snowy conditions, particularly in the boys race that saw just a one second difference in the top two places as Brandon Roadman and Shane Menold of... Full story
It's the journey, not the destination. He is a beloved father, husband, brother and friend. Larry resided in Campbell, California. His wife Mary Ellen, son Rod and daughters Kate, Carol and Patti Jo survive him. His favorite sister Betty, his brothers Alan and Bill, as well as numerous nieces and nephews also survive him. He is the proud grandfather of six. He retired from IBM in 1987 after 33 years and had a vacation home in Redmond where he spent time visiting with his... Full story
Just outside Sisters city limits is a new subdivision for people who want to build a hangar along with their new home. Hawksflight Airpark is a 27-acre neighborhood with four new home sites, access to Sisters Airstrip and ample open space. Developer Blake Weber designed the most number of homes on his acreage as Deschutes County law would allow - four. Weber said between the county's rural designation and height requirements, he wasn't sure it would all come together. "It's... Full story
Sisters School District residents came together on Thursday, January 4 to create a template of what their next superintendent will look like. After three hour-long sessions, the final composite of the day, like any sketch, yielded only a rough image of the new district CEO. Honesty, integrity and hard-working ranked high on the list of requisite qualities; yet, specific details of what these words mean were missing. Betsy Miller-Jones, the Oregon School Boards Association consultant who has been hired by the school board to... Full story
Residents and visitors to Camp Sherman generally think the Metolius Basin is just about perfect as it is. They view change with wary apprehension, fearing life-style changes, traffic and pollution from growth in the region. "Not much has changed around here," said Camp Sherman resident Clara Cool. "The General Store, the Black Butte School, the Chapel in the Pines and the Community Hall are all still here." But change may be afoot. New zoning and comprehensive plans by the... Full story
J.A. Jance, the New York Times best-selling author has a new murder mystery out, "Dead Wrong." If you miss it - no matter whether you are a mystery fan or not - you will have missed what I believe will be one of the best reads of 2007. Jance is a master at blending topics of today - social problems, inadequate funding for law enforcement, handicapped people, illegal immigrants, gays, violent crimes, alcoholism, teen-agers, Huntington's Disease, humane treatment of animals - into her wonderful books. Jance's heroine is a... Full story
