News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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For the last two years Sisters schools administration and school board have warned that at some point in the near future they would run out of options to trim the budget "away from the classroom." In the face of continuing reductions in state funds, program cuts were inevitable. It is a fine line between cutting a class and cutting a program, but in the effort this summer to comply with state requirements for ELL (English Language Learners) and special education, both the Agriculture program and the French program will be... Full story
The City of Sisters is refusing to answer questions raised by citizens about the process for hiring an economic development manager. That process has drawn fire from critics, who complain of a lack of transparency and openness and argue that the hiring violated the city's contracting procedures as laid out in Ordinance 394. Mike Morgan and Ed Protas both raised questions about the process and requested access to public documents regarding the hiring process, depending on the... Full story
If all goes according to plan, Sisters High School's new pellet-burning biomass boiler will be up and operating in February - about a year after the school district took the first steps toward moving to biomass for heating the building. Sisters High School construction students played an important role in preparing the site for the boiler. "The students helped out a lot," said Jason MacKenzie of ENERGYneering Solutions Inc. (ESI), the Sisters firm that spearheaded the boiler... Full story
Sisters voters sent veteran councilor Sharlene Weed back to City Hall for another two-year term and elected new councilors Wendy Holzman and David Asson to four-year terms. Incumbent Jerry Bogart and fellow candidate Virginia Lindsey, both supported by the Citizens for Sisters political action committee, both fell short. Jacki Shepardson was the fourth-highest vote-getter, but did not win a seat. "I think it is clear that the community wanted change and they got it," said... Full story
City attorney Steve Bryant has recommended that the city council as a whole decide whether to direct staff to answer questions raised by citizens about the process used to hire an economic development manager. (See story, page 1.) The council should instruct staff to provide those answers. Nothing erodes citizens' trust in government more swiftly than the appearance of stonewalling or a cover-up. Some on the council may feel that queries involving whether or not the city followed its own contracting ordinances are "gotcha"... Full story
Our city council has been dominated by a cadre of three members for two years. These gentlemen have been, in a word, "struggling" with their professions and economic development. All of them are dependent on a construction industry that has for all intents and purposes disappeared. This same cadre is working on behalf of another cadre, this one comprised of real estate investors and brokers. The investors, in turn, own properties that at one time were valued in the tens of millions of dollars. Today, those same properties are... Full story
If you weren't at the Aspen Lakes Brand 33 Restaurant last Saturday night for the Sisters Elementary School Green and Gold Gala, you missed a lot of fun. If you were there, you know what a grand night it was. Anticipation for what was to come was high: "Oh, I'd love to have that wall-hanging in our living room..." "Look at that hand-painted cookie jar Mrs. Ritchie's kids did..." "Please, let's bid on Mrs. Stengel's first grade class Christmas tree skirt..." "OK, but I'm going after that Heads & Tails Kah-Nee-Ta package... Full story
The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Sisters Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Annual Christmas Parade on Friday and Saturday, November 26-27 in downtown Sisters. For the sixth year, the Deschutes Land Trust, Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sisters have worked together to bring a beautiful 30-foot white fir to Barclay Park. The annual lighting ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 26, and will include carolers, the bell choir, speeches from local dignitaries and hot... Full story
Sherry Steele is passionate about fly fishing and the art of fly tying. For the past three years she's taken her knowledge into the Americana Project and ARTS Discovery classrooms at Sisters Middle School. Kit Stafford's classes explore all kinds of artistic pursuits; Sherry's expertise was a perfect fit for expanding students' minds about what art can be. "The Americana Project and ARTS Discovery classes expose kids to all kinds of art," said Steele. "I represent the conserva... Full story
The boys junior varsity soccer team wrapped up an outstanding season with a final record of 12-0-1 and outscored their opponents 68-22 overall. Sisters' only tie game - a 0-0 defensive contest - came at Cottage Grove on their artificial turf field. Twenty-three players comprised the talented JV squad and contributed in the tremendous season. Gabe Reitmann led the Outlaws in scoring with eight goals and was the standout forward on the team. Reitmann was able to weave around... Full story
Sisters School District's new school-based health clinic is seeing its first "patients." Deschutes County Public Health Nurse Kate Moore gave the board a quick update on the clinic at their November 3 meeting. The clinic is just now beginning to see students in a portable classroom on Sisters High School grounds. She reported that the remodeling of the portable used for the clinic has encountered a snag. Due to the design of the portable's HVAC system, floor-to-ceiling walls cannot be used to enclose the exam room. Moore... Full story
Opponents who tremble in fear at the thought of taking on the Lady Outlaws' dominant varsity Outlaws volleyball team face a grim future. The sixth-grade volleyball team holds the promise of keeping the Outlaws tradition of stellar play rolling well into the next decade. "I've been coaching volleyball for 12 years," said Sisters Middle School teacher and coach Midge Rose. "They were the best team I've ever had." The team was composed of Mackenzie Banks; Makenah Gentry; Devry Gr... Full story
To the Editor: The process that resulted in the selection of an economic development manager has been controversial. Two weeks ago The Nugget interviewed Mayor Lon Kellstrom who said his goal was to keep the council out of the search process to avoid bias. In other words, the entire process was engineered exclusively by mayor Kellstrom. Shortly thereafter I presented the following questions to the Mayor, the council, and City Manager Eileen Stein: • Where does it say the mayor can keep the council out of the loop... Full story
The boys soccer team suffered a disappointing 5-3 loss at home to Newport on Saturday, November 6. Athletic director Mary Flande confirmed that the team was short five players who could not play because they violated the student conduct code. Newport scored in the seventh minute of play off a header from a throw in and jumped out with a quick lead. Both teams battled hard for the next 33 minutes but neither team was able to score. At the half the Cubs held a slim 1-0... Full story
Kaity Douglass was named Player of the Year for the Sky-Em Conference and was one of four Lady Outlaws to earn all-league recognition this year. Douglass, a team captain, has been a crucial part of the Outlaws' success the past three years, and she's got the stats to prove it. Kaity recorded 406 assists in league play for 2010 and had 93 digs on the season. She's the leader on the court and dished out almost every set in the 5-1 offense that the Outlaws run. She has a 98... Full story
Sue Leek, the proud new owner of Mackenzie Creek Trading Co., was outside last weekend with friend and partner Peggy Barnett busily sweeping the sidewalk and giving her apparel and outfitters emporium a proper autumn cleaning. "Peggy and I are doing a little gardening," she said, briefly catching her breath. "Trimming and sprucing up the front entrance area. I want to plant some more bushes and plants and bring some color out. A log building is so nice to decorate and... Full story
The Outlaws football team had three players earn first team all-league recognition this year, including seniors Marteen Jiminez, Marcus Arends and junior Connor Morgan. Jiminez was named first team all league tight end and was the Outlaws MVP on both offense and defense. Marteen caught 11 passes for Sisters in their last three games and recorded three interceptions. "Marteen played outstanding defense for us," said Coach Bob Macauley. "But, the thing I like best is that Marteen is an outstanding wide receiver but he... Full story
The girls soccer team continued their dominant play with a 7-0 shutout over Central at home in the first round of the state playoffs. Sisters jumped out early and never looked back. Natalie Ambrose scored back-to-back goals in the first 10 minutes to give the Outlaws a quick 2-0 lead. Ambrose's first goal came off a Zoe McAllister pass and was perfectly placed to the right of the keeper. Just minutes later Ambrose took a pass from Jodie Reoch and cracked a bullet shot to the... Full story
Students and guests celebrated the arts last Wednesday night at Sisters High School. The auditorium was transformed into art galleries, stages and art studios. Pots were thrown, jewelry designed, canvases painted and clay sculpted as eager onlookers stared in amazement at the talent tucked into every corner. Zoey Wavrin had more than 25 paintings on display as well as sketches of countless images. "I love doing faces," she said. "It all just seems to flow." Wavrin has... Full story
Several Sisters youths spent months creating a haunted house in a barn northeast of Sisters. After providing spooky thrills on Halloween, they created warmer feelings by donating their proceeds to the Kiwanis Food Bank. Eighth graders Ben Larson, Billy Biggers, and Tristan Lewis started their haunted house design in July. They juggled school, sports and homework to get it done in time for Halloween. The haunted house was in the Larson's barn off Camp Polk Road. The youths... Full story
Chief Thad Olsen, of Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District, presented a framed decal of the fire district's new logo to Sisters Rodeo Association to display in the rodeo clubhouse. "It is with great pleasure that the volunteers of the Cloverdale District and the volunteer firefighters association presents to Sisters Rodeo our new logo," said Chief Olsen. "We have a great relationship (with the rodeo) and look forward to continuing it in the future." When the district... Full story
The spirit of Christmas is already moving in Sisters. As part of the world's largest Christmas project, Operation Christmas Child, volunteers at Sisters Community Church (SCC) are busy collecting hundreds of shoe boxes filled with toys and treats for needy children around the globe. And a group of Sisters kids is demonstrating that taking part in this community effort is child's play. Operation Christmas Child, a ministry arm of the world relief organization Samaritan's... Full story
David Walter Gerardo died Sunday, October 31, of natural causes. He was 74. A graveside service was held Friday at the Deschutes Memorial Gardens in Bend. David was a lifelong resident of Central Oregon. He was a 1956 graduate of Sisters High School and remained the No. 1 fan of the Sisters Outlaws. He loved all high school, college and professional sports. He would often listen to one game on the radio with an earpiece while watching another game on TV. He then would be able to tell you everything that happened in... Full story
Harold was born in Redrock, Arkansas to Eli & Bessie (Holt) York. He married Norma Hollinshead of Bend in 1943. Then on December 22, 1946 he married Dorothy Faye Müeller of Westhoff, Texas. He retired from the Air Force in 1965 in Tucson, Arizona, moving back to Bend. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy York; one son, Larry York of Prineville; one brother, Ray York of Lula, Georgia; two daughters, Sandra Rosencrantz of Sisters, and Dee Marlow of Venton, Louisiana. He has... Full story
James (Jim) Loren Mack, M.D., died peacefully on October 30, 2010, after a period of declining health. Jim was born to Walter and Ruth Mack on August 15, 1936, in Sunnyside, Washington. He attended high school at Hill Military Academy in Portland and graduated from the University of Portland in just three years with a degree in general science. He went on to medical school at St. Louis University, and graduated in 1961. After an internship in Youngstown, Ohio, he served as a... Full story
