News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 14 of 14
Normally, the fire department doesn't advocate burning down houses. But on Saturday, January 19, the Sisters/Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District held a "Burn to Learn" exercise in which they deliberately set a building on fire -- so they could train on how to more effectively and safely do their job. While the fire department has conducted this exercise in the past, this one was for the added purpose of testing a variety of thermal imaging cameras. "Normally, when a fire crew goes into a building that's on fire, they... Full story
The proposed new Sisters High School moved a step closer to reality on Thursday, January 17, as the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners gave the nod to bringing the school land inside the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary. Voters last year approved a $20.5 million bond to build a new high school on 98 acres of land west of Sisters and to remodel the current high school for use as a middle school. The school district still has a major hurdle to clear, when voters in the City... Full story
A driver was airlifted to the hospital after being injured while chaining up in snowy conditions. A Lake Oswego man was airlifted to St. Charles Medical Center on Sunday, January 20, after he was reportedly hit by a car while installing tire chains. According to Sisters fire department reports, the incident took place at the Suttle Lake curve turnout at milepost 88 on Highway 20 west of Sisters. John Medovarsky, 33, was reportedly thrown 40 feet by the impact and was knocked unconscious. He regained consciousness on the... Full story
Four Sisters boys may be a little humbler and a little wiser in the wake of an explosion that injured one boy and got all four into trouble with the police. On January 2, Deputy Allan Borland responded to a report of a 13-year-old boy being injured by an explosive device at a Sisters area home. After interviews with several young teens, sheriff's deputies learned that the injured youth had set off an explosive made with a carbon dioxide canister, black powder and a wick fuse. The injured teen and two other boys had gone into... Full story
Several property owners have petitioned the Squaw Creek Irrigation District to form a "subdistrict" for the purpose of piping the Fryrear irrigation ditch to prevent water loss. In a split decision, the three-member SCID board voted to approve formation of the subdistrict at its January 15 annual meeting. Lee Christensen and Glenn Cooper voted in favor. David Keith was opposed. Keith wanted to get water users who opposed piping the ditch "to the table to talk about it" before forming the district. Christensen and Cooper said... Full story
Paul Head (right) founded the Outlaw Film Festival. Matt Igoe (left) was one of last year's honorees. As the Golden Globes and Oscar nominees are announced, Sisters is gearing up for its own salute to film in the second annual Outlaw Film Festival. "Last year's festival was good," said Sisters High School senior Paul Head, creator of the Outlaw Film Festival, "but this year's event will be even better." The Outlaw Film Festival will take place on Saturday, February 9, at Sisters High School. At 1 p.m., the public is invited... Full story
The search for a new city administrator for the City of Sisters has narrowed down to two candidates. The city council met with five community members on Saturday, January 19, to interview four final candidates (city planner Neil Thompson is not among them). The members of the selection committee are planning commission member Sharlene Weed, business woman Jean Wells Keenan, Chamber of Commerce director Clyde Stryker, Nugget publisher Eric Dolson and Rotary president Phil... Full story
The plan that is to guide the City of Sisters into the future is supposed to be completed this year, after being in limbo for a decade. That will be a relief to County Commissioner Tom DeWolf, who has ruled on two recent, controversial Sisters-area land use actions without an updated Sisters master plan in place. The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners ruled last week to allow approximately 98 acres for a school site into the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). Another... Full story
Squaw Creek Irrigation District will mine topsoil and sand as the new "Watson II" reservoir is built. SCID hopes to use a portion of the proceeds to pay off legal bills of $119,000 accrued fighting the Cyrus family over water rights. SCID received conditional approval from Deschutes County to build the new reservoir and sell the material, according to SCID General Manager Marc Thalacker. Thalacker was addressing membership at the SCID annual meeting on Tuesday, January 15, where he presented the 2002 SCID budgets. SCID... Full story
Devon Pelkey at Fox Glacier, N.Z. Water circles down the drain counter-clockwise; people speak English, but with accents and unfamiliar expressions; Christmas is in the summer; and students wear uniforms to school. If going on exchange for a year is about experiencing another culture, then Devon Pelkey's year-long stay in New Zealand should be considered a resounding success. Pelkey, a junior at Sisters High School, returned December 27, after spending nearly a full year in New Zealand as a participant in the Youth for... Full story
Jeff and Theresa Robertson carry on the Hair Cache tradition as new owners. Tradition has it that some 25 years ago a Sisters dentist leased a small portion of his office to hairstylist Mary Norseen. The space was so small -- having room for only one chair -- it was named the Hair Cache. The Hair Cache has since become an established salon in Sisters growing from one station to six. Native Oregonians Jeff and Theresa Robertson are the new owner/operators of the salon, located on Main Avenue. It continues to be a full service... Full story
Ine Fahle shows her speed. Ine Fahle of Sisters placed first among Northern League cross country finishers at the OISRCA Pepsi Challenge held at Virginia Meisner Sno-Park Saturday, January 19. Fahle, a senior foreign exchange student from Norway, placed second in the first competition of the season, and was determined to do better the second time around. Her determination and experience paid off as she cruised to victory in 15:29, more than a minute ahead of the second place finisher, Lily Scott, of Redmond. Fahle, who says... Full story
What happens if voters turn down annexation of the site of the proposed new Sisters High School in the March 12 election? The answer is not clear. "We're pretty sure the voters in Sisters will vote nix on the annexation because they don't want a high school, based on the numbers, but they do want a middle school," said anti-annexation activist Mel Bryan. However, it is questionable whether the bond approved by voters could legally be used for anything other than a new high... Full story
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday. To the Editor: Last year Sisters... Full story
