News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 26
Sisters School District does not think it should have to repay the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) $1.2 million. The district's lawyers contend the amount should be reduced by about half. The controversy centers on a homeschool program the district operated at Sonrise Christian School (now Sisters Christian Academy) between 1999 and 2004. An audit of the program released last September concluded that the district was overpaid $1,208,286.15 in State School Funds (SFFs). The audit conducted by the Oregon Secretary of... Full story
A Sisters teen was arrested for drunk driving and reckless driving after his car clipped a guy wire on a Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) power pole on Monday, causing a power outage over part of Sisters. According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports, the crash occurred just after 3 p.m. The driver, a 17-year-old male, was observed swerving back and forth across North Locust Street before losing control of his vehicle. The vehicle struck a guy wire to a power pole... Full story
The legality of the Sisters school board's recordkeeping practices at its executive sessions is being questioned. As is usual in most legal challenges, interpretation of the law is at the heart of the issue. In speaking with superintendent Ted Thonstad and both past and present school board members, The Nugget has learned that the district's recordkeeping practices have not changed as long as anyone can remember. Unlike during public sessions, executive session proceedings are not taped and the board's secretary does not... Full story
Sisters Movie House hosted an evening of entertainment celebrating American freedom of expression last Wednesday. On January 31, Sisters Movie House hosted a concert featuring the award winning singer/songwriter Katie Cavanaugh and Anastacia Scott and her group, Threes. Their performances were followed by a showing of the controversial "Shut up and Sing," the British documentary that chronicles the Dixie Chicks' plunge into an ideological firestorm in the wake of an onstage... Full story
Featuring the unique qualities of three individual voices was the key to the musical mix at the third and final show in the Sisters Folk Festival's Winter Concert Series. Johnsmith, Laura Kemp and Keith Greeninger came together to perform at Sisters High School auditorium on Friday evening, February 2. The trio's music touched the more than 200 who were in attendance. "Greeninger, Johnsmith and Kemp have an uncanny ability to connect well with people through their song ....... Full story
To the Editor: In response to Bill Rexford (Letters to the Editor, The Nugget, January 31): Please see the front-page news article of January 30 in the Bend Bulletin. It seems that the Dean of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and the Oregon Department of Justice agree with this person you call a cultural vandal. To be honest with you, I have no idea what a cultural vandal is, nor do I care to debate with a social studies teacher the rights and duties of the public to participate and provide oversight in a... Full story
Todd and Leith Williver happily announce the birth of their second daughter, Hannah Elizabeth. Hannah was born at St. Charles Medical Center on January 16, weighing 9 pounds and measuring 20-1/4" long. She was welcomed by her sister Grayce. Jeanne Easterling of Sisters and Sterling and Gretchen Williver of Bend are the proud grandparents. CONGRATULATIONS!... Full story
Tony Cosby's Woods II Class, which makes and builds guitars from start to finish, recently received a $1,000 grant from the Oregon Communication Foundation. The monies will be used to fund scholarships for students who aren't able to afford the $200 needed to build a guitar. Additional tools will also be purchased so more students can work simultaneously on specific areas of their project. This is the second consecutive year Sisters High School has been able to offer students the opportunity to build their own guitar.... Full story
• Bonnie Malone wrote: I was honored last Thursday to be a "fund-raiser" for SOAR (which is how good friends chose to celebrate my 60th). Thank you, Kathie Helser and Ellen Wood, for producing such a fun event at the Movie House. Everybody laughed a lot and seemed to have a thoroughly good time. Thanks to Nick Newport for video and Tom Worcester for hosting. This event was really not about me; it was a celebration of a community of which I'm so proud to be a part. We live in a place where it seems nearly everyone... Full story
Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR) will offer a senior fitness program within the next couple of weeks. Specific information will be available at SOAR's Web site www.sistersrecreation.com or by calling 549-2091. SOAR acknowledges that the needs of Sisters' seniors are often not met. At present, Sisters does not have a senior center. SOAR is hoping to begin to bridge this gap. The organization's executive director Carrie Ward told The Nugget that SOAR is highlighting the development of programs... Full story
Eight-year-old Hunter Blakelock and his five-year-old brother Cole have begun their own campaign to keep Sisters clean. The brothers like to go on walks with their mother, Stephanie, their baby sister Brooke, Nana and her dog Spirit, along Highway 15. They like to play in the woods surrounding Crossroads where they live, but they are disgusted by the amount of trash apparently thrown out of car windows along the highway and dirt roads. On their walks, they collect bags of... Full story
The date for the Mr. SHS pageant, a fund-raiser for Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, has been changed due to several conflicts in the participants' schedules. The pageant, which was to be held on February 10, will now be held in the high school auditorium on Saturday, March 10. The candidates for 2007 are Eli Callan, Travis Ehrenstrom, Jacob Evan, Jeremy Evan, Michael Garcia, Miles Johnston, Jakob Kleint and Stefan Redfield. Mr. SHS candidates are seniors who are chosen by staff to compete in the pageant. The even... Full story
Sisters High School's Equestrian Team will have their first meet in Redmond at The Deschutes County Fairgrounds from Friday, February 16 through Sunday, February 18. The SHS team has several state champions returning this year and will have 25 riders this year, compared to 17 last year. The team is seeking donations from Sisters for a raffle that is held at the event to assist the COHSET (Central Oregon High School Equestrian Teams) keep the costs down at the fairgrounds. Organizers are looking forward to putting together a... Full story
The boys' basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 65-29 victory at home over the La Pine Hawks on Friday, February 2. The Outlaws missed a lot of easy shots in the first quarter but kept the game close. At the end of the period, Sisters trailed the Hawks by three at 12-15. Coach Rand Runco told The Nugget that he felt the Outlaws were beating La Pine everywhere except on the scoreboard. Sisters continued to focus on their defense and outscored La Pine 17-4 in... Full story
LeRoy Steele Campbell died in Redmond, Oregon on Sunday, January 21, 2007, at the age of 85. LeRoy was born April 17, 1921 in Centerville, Kansas to LaRoy and Mable Campbell. He grew up in Silverton and Hillsboro, graduating from Hillsboro Union High School in 1941. Immediately after graduation, LeRoy began a 40-year career at Pacific Northwest Bell in Portland. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the service, joining the US Navy in 1942. He was an Electrician's Mate on the USS Dixie and USS Jicarilla in the... Full story
The Lady Outlaws basketball team lost 42-45 at La Pine on Friday, February 2. Lindsay Reeve scored six points in the first quarter to keep Sisters in the game. At the close of the first quarter, La Pine held a 14-10 lead over the Outlaws. The Outlaws suffered an agonizing second quarter and were only able to put two points on the scoreboard. The lone bucket came from Reeves within the first 30 seconds of the period, and then the Outlaws were held scoreless until the half. At halftime Sisters trailed La Pine 12-23. Sisters... Full story
"Pan's Labyrinth" is a violent and dark masterpiece. Having heard that this film earned a 20-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, I placed it on my list of must-see cinema. I was not disappointed. The film far exceeded every expectation; however, a 20-minute standing ovation would have been a little over the top. This film is definitely not appropriate for children. Although the fantasy sequences are magnificently realized and are fairy tales in the truest sense being dangerous, fey, dark and violent, most of... Full story
Family Access Network's (FAN's) services are expanding in Sisters and so are the number of FAN advocates who help those in need. Dawn Cooper, who will be filling in until the end of the year, is Sisters' new FAN advocate. Cooper works Wednesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Cooper, who came to Sisters from Portland, has extensive experience assisting families. In Portland, she worked with the Multnomah Educational Services District in a program called Students Atten... Full story
With her third win in as many weeks, Sisters sophomore Molly Blust has emerged as one of the skiers to beat among female Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association Nordic competitors. Her teammates are shaping into a threesome that will be a definite factor when the state meet rolls around. Blust was once again the fastest girl of the day, recording a time of 16:27 in the five-kilometer freestyle race at Mount Bachelor on Saturday, February 3. Her victory, along with... Full story
The Cascade Horizon Band (CHB), a 50-plus member instrumental group, will play its fourth annual Winter Concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11, in the Sisters High School Auditorium. This free concert repeats a performance two weeks ago before about 800 enthusiastic fans at Bend High School. Director Sue Steiger has chosen a variety of music for the winter concert, including pieces that showcase different sections of the band. These include the popular "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," featuring the seven-member trumpet section;... Full story
During their last meet before District Championships, the Outlaws faced their top rivals Sweet Home, Philomath, Cascade, Marist and Blanchet during the Pre-District Sprint Invitational at the South Albany High School pool, January 27. Severely reduced ranks in both the girls' and boys' teams battled individually and in relays to top places and personal bests. Brian Greaney and Felicia Pledger swam to first and second place finishes in the 100-yard freestyles with times of 55.2 and 58.2 seconds respectively. Pledger dropped a... Full story
• A woman reported that her brother-in-law was trying to take her kids to California after the children's father was sentenced to jail. Deputies intervened and the kids were returned to their mother. • Deputies arrested a 48-year-old Sisters man for DUII after a traffic stop for speeding. • The same juvenile who crashed a car into a power pole guy wire (see story, page 1) had been cited earlier in the day as a minor in possession of alcohol. • A youth threatened suicide. Deputies... Full story
• Tea and Treasures' tea room will be closing on February 17. Book your reservations now as they are filling up fast. The tea room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Tramondo's Trattoria is re-opening on Valentine's Day, February 14, with a special Valentine's dinner. Call for reservations at 549-1588. • Coyote Creek Café is offering a five-course gourmet meal for their Valentine's Day dinner. The menu includes a choice of appetizer, soup, salad, main course and a... Full story
Sisters' standout downhill skier Liz Dale injured her knee in a training session last Thursday and is out for the season. "She's looking at knee surgery this week and several months of rehab," said Coach Todd Williver. That loss cast a pall over an otherwise successful week for the Lady Outlaws ski team, which skied to second place in a double header race on Saturday, securing a state bid. The Summit High School team left the door open with several errors in the first race... Full story
The Outlaws boys' lacrosse team is anticipating the season ahead and is projected to take first place in the High Desert Conference this year. Sisters will be one of four expansion teams to join the conference, along with Redmond, Summit and Mountain View. Sprague, South Salem, Liberty, Thurston, Wilson and West Salem (6A) are also included in the league. Sisters will return all 10 starters from last year and all 17 players form last season's JV team. Coach Bill Rexford told The Nugget. He's also anticipating a flood of new... Full story
