News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 30
A Sisters Middle School student walked away with a win and a $1,000 prize in the Third Annual Central Oregon Regional Spelling Bee last Saturday. Adam Cash, a 2006 winner, took top honors as other Sisters students turned in strong performances. Cash and Jordan Rudinsky, who were both returning Regional Spelling Bee veterans, represented the 6-8 graders at Sisters Middle School (SMS). Rudinsky took the honors in 2005. This year, Rudinsky was eliminated with a misplaced letter... Full story
After many months of waiting and legal wrangling, a major hurdle has been crossed for the Black Butte Ranch (BBR) Entrance Area project. The decision of the Deschutes County hearings officer was released on February 5, smoothing the way for the start of the construction on the project. The Entrance Area project will include a community center, the administrative complex, a post office and police service facilities. The controversial Welcome Center which was removed from the application will remain on hold. The original... Full story
To the Editor: I seem to recall Shane Hall's mother and wife writing letters published in this newspaper proclaiming his innocence just after his arrest and that they were amazed at how an innocent man could be made to look guilty before he had his day in court. We were to wait until the facts came out and then we would be owe them an apology. I wonder if they wish to comment now? Ken Pearce ••• To the Editor: Mr. Rexford is one of the finest teachers at Sisters High School. I consider it a privilege to have... Full story
A 38-year-old Woodburn man was arrested in Sisters on Tuesday afternoon, February 6, after a wild - and potentially deadly - run on Highway 20 westbound between Tumalo and Sisters. According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports, at least two 911 calls came in Tuesday afternoon reporting an erratic driver on the highway. The driver, later identified as Tab Jerome Gay, was allegedly weaving all over the road. Witnesses reported that his vehicle crossed all the way... Full story
The Sisters Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series will kick off its 10th anniversary season on Saturday, April 28, with the return of country music and Broadway performer Gary Morris, who last participated in the event nine years ago. "Many people who were at Gary's performance here in 1998 still point to it as one of their favorite Starry Nights shows," said co-chair Jeri Fouts. "He has one of the most powerful and inspiring voices in the business, combined with a very entertaining stage presence. We are so pleased to be... Full story
Sisters theater aficionados came together at Sisters Movie House last Thursday to explore through music and film the concept of the "oneness of all - one world, one people, one destiny." As the program started, the lights faded to the inspiring sounds of local singer-songwriter Anastacia Scott who after a three-song set brought current Sisters resident and reggae artist Rohantha on stage to join her in singing Bob Marley's hit song "One Love." The audience was asked to sing al... Full story
By the end of the school year, the Sisters Schools Foundation will have given approximately $75,000 to support classroom and co-curricular activities at Sisters schools. These projects would not have been funded otherwise. Approximately $50,000 was distributed last October, and $25,000 is being allocated this spring. To comply with foundation bylaws, $25,000 has also been placed in the organization's endowment fund. The Sisters Schools Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, was formed in 1996 at a time when budget cuts... Full story
The girls' basketball team lost both its games this week - and any chance of making it to the playoffs. Sisters lost 22-31 in a close match against the Pleasant Hill (PH) Billies on Friday, February 9. Three days earlier, they fell 27-57 at home to the Cottage Grove (CG) Lions. In Friday's game against the Billies, Lindsay Reeve made two quick buckets under the basket to give the Outlaws a 4-0 lead. The Outlaws stretched the lead to 7-2, but the Billies fought back. At the... Full story
A highly motivated group of Outlaws swimmers conquered the competition in individual and relay events that paved their way to the State Championships at Mt. Hood Community College February 16-17. Well prepared and focused, the girls' medley relay team with Brittany Baldessari, Courteney Satko, Jessie Swaner and Felicia Pledger set the tone for the rest of the meet. Seeded first after Friday's preliminary races, the girls' foursome fought off their arch rivals Philomath, Sweet Home and the No. 2 seed, a very determined and... Full story
The tiny hamlet of Camp Sherman is staged to become the area's next battleground over land use. Controversy is no stranger in Oregon's land use laws and regulations. On December 27, 2006 the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners voted to repeal the county's existing comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance. In its place a new Comprehensive Plan, a new zoning ordinance, and destination resort mapping and ordinance provisions were enacted. A key issue in the budding controversy is Jefferson County's mapping of two areas for... Full story
The boys' basketball team lost 45-66 at Cottage Grove (CG) on Tuesday, February 6. Sisters played great defense the first four minutes of the game and held the Lions to just four points. The offense was another story. The Outlaws missed several easy shots, fell behind early and were never able to catch up. At the half Sisters trailed the Lions 14-27. The Outlaws were unable to get into a rhythm and struggled offensively the entire game. Sisters only made it to the free throw line once the entire night, while the Lions had 22... Full story
Drama is returning to Sisters High School, although theater arts teacher Gary Bowne allows, "it's not going to happen overnight." Bowne feels strongly that any student who has the desire and demonstrates the necessary level of responsibility should have the opportunity to participate in the school's theater arts productions. Providing the opportunity to perform is exactly what Bowne has done in choosing Arthur Miller's classic American play "The Crucible" as the inaugural... Full story
The eighth grade class from Sisters Middle School exchanged books for ski boots on Thursday, February 8, for the second of three retreats organized by the middle school staff during the school year. This one was held at Hoodoo Mountain Resort. The retreats serve multiple purposes, according to school counselor Charlie Kanzig. "Over the years we've developed these retreat days to be a chance for the students to interact in new ways, practice teamwork and learn skills and have experiences that can't happen in the regular... Full story
For the past four years, Gary Bowne has commuted to Sisters to teach after-school drama classes for Bend Theatre for Young People (BTYP) at Sisters Community Church. Now he's bringing his passion for theater and music to Sisters High School. Bowne is the high school's new theater arts and Americana Project instructor. He is resuscitating the school's drama program and helping the Americana Project grow. Calling himself an old timer, Bowne told The Nugget that he has performed... Full story
Although Sisters is not yet in the full grip of the flu season, the dreaded bug is beginning to make its annual appearance in our midst. All three Sisters schools are reporting about average numbers of students out with the flu for this time of the year. So far this year's flu virus is being merciful to the community. "Just in the past month there have been quite a few cases in Bend," said Dr. May Fan of Bend Memorial Clinic. "Our urgent care clinic has seen dozens of cases in the last month. We have only had a handful here... Full story
The Sisters School Board is accepting applications for a new member. The new board member will serve from the date appointed in early March through the end of June of this year. Any citizen who has lived in the Sisters School District for at least one year is eligible to apply. "It's a short period of time, but it's also a rare opportunity ... to start to serve and start to be involved in the process," board member Glen Lasken said. The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, February 26 at 5 p.m. Interviews are... Full story
Six wrestlers placed at the District Tournament which was held at Cottage Grove on Friday and Saturday, February 9 and 10. Nick Head (135 pounds) and Thomas Schantz (171 pounds) both took third place and will advance to the State Tournament next week. Head defeated Tyler Stahlnecker of La Pine 9-3 in his first match of the tournament. In the second match, Tyler was pinned by Billy Dunn of Cottage Grove, who took fourth place at state last year. Head went on to defeat teammate Ben Freeland 16-4 in his third match. In the... Full story
The "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B" made an appearance at Sisters High School, courtesy of the Cascade Horizon Band. The Cascade Horizon Band is a "50-plus" band. There are 50-plus members, the group has played 50-plus venues; and they are all 50-plus years of age. The big band played its fourth annual winter concert last Sunday in the Sisters High School Auditorium to an appreciative crowd. The free concert was an encore performance of the one offered two weeks ago... Full story
Three groups of Sisters students presented programs at this year's Oregon Jazz Festival held on the campuses of the University of Oregon and Lane Community College. The Sisters High School Varsity Jazz Band, Sisters High School Octet and Sisters Middle School Septet took in all the festival had to offer and also gave back all they could through their performances. The focus of the Oregon Jazz Festival is to provide feedback and performance advice to students from top jazz educators and performers brought in from around the... Full story
The Outlaws Nordic ski teams swept to team titles at the final regular season meet held at the Teacup Ski Area near Mt. Hood on Saturday, February 10, securing Northern League championships for both the boys' and girls' squads. Saturday's race, a "hot pursuit," required skiers to navigate a four-kilometer classic course, change poles, skis and even boots if necessary and continue on a three-kilometer freestyle race. Molly Blust led throughout the classic section, with... Full story
Last week, during their monthly Wednesday meeting in the Sisters Library Community Room, The Friends of the Sisters Library (FOSL) created a scholarship that honors people who enjoy achieving results. Diane Jacobsen, retired Sisters elementary teacher and FOSL Board Member, announced the formation of the "Peg Bermel/Friends of the Sisters Library Scholarship." The board, with the help of the scholarship committee, had been working on the scholarship without the knowledge of Sisters Librarian Bermel, who attended the meeting... Full story
Sister's Cub Scout Pack 139 held its annual Pinewood Derby race on Saturday morning, February 3, at Sisters Elementary School. Twenty-eight scouts raced their five-ounce cars - all shaped from a block of pine - down a 25-foot ramp in three-second heats. A new electronic timer revealed that often only milliseconds separated winners from those in hot pursuit. Cub Master Cory Stengel officiated. Bill MacDonald set up the heats, and Steve Hunt manned the computer timer. Scouts... Full story
Sisters' "big dig" for a new city well is refreshingly different from the stereotypical run of municipal projects. It took less time, less work and less money than expected. The well, located on a donated portion of Sun Ranch Business Park at the north end of town, produced "tons and tons of water" in a flow test on Friday, February 2, according to Public Works Director Gary Frazee. Over an eight-hour test period, the well produced from 1,500 to 3,000 gallons per minute. The... Full story
Donald Webster Howick of Sisters died on February 5 of a heart attack. He was 84. A memorial service will be held this spring. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on January 22, 1923, to parents Harry C. and Pauline Hope Howick. He studied architecture and engineering at the University of Michigan and served in World War II as a B-17 bomber pilot. He worked as an architect in Los Angeles for 20 years before transferring to Portland in 1969. He later worked for the city of... Full story
Vivian A. Lewis of Sisters died on February 6 of Alzheimer's Disease. She was 80. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sisters. She was born on August 6, 1926, to Leo and Ellen Kinseth in Bode, Iowa. She obtained a degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota. She married Rodney Lewis in Bode, Iowa, on September 5, 1948. He preceded her in death. She married Larry Simonson on June 29, 1996, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She worked as a registered... Full story
