News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Three swimmers qualified for a total of six events for this week’s OSAA State Championships, based on their performances at the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 4 meet, hosted by Sweet Home High School February 10 and 11 at South Albany High School. The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify, along with some “wild cards” who achieve next-best times. Clayten Heuberger highlighted the Outlaws’ efforts with a meet record in the 100-yard backstroke, which he won in 54.75 seconds. He enters the state meet as the sec... Full story
The girls basketball squad lost both their games this past week; a 50-24 loss at Pleasant Hill (PH) on Tuesday, February 7, and three days later a 61-35 loss at Creswell. On Tuesday the Outlaws faced the Lady Billies, the No. 1 team in the Mountain Valley Conference, and the No. 1-ranked team in the state, who entered the game with a 19-1 record. The Outlaws continue to play without Josie Patton and Ellie Mayes, who are still out with a concussion and sprained ankle, respectively. The Billies got off to a quick start and... Full story
For 47 years, the Sisters Chamber of Commerce has supported and promoted local businesses. For part of that time, they also had a contract with the City of Sisters to act as the local visitors center, and promote tourism. With the City contract came a certain percentage of transient lodging tax dollars collected by local hotels, motels, and short-term rentals on behalf of the City. In recent years, a new concept for promoting tourism has evolved worldwide known as destination... Full story
The roster of Sisters Outlaws alpine skiers accompanying the story, “Sisters to host ski championships,” (The Nugget, February 8, page 3) left out two skiers: Jack Turpen, grade 10, and Teagen Welsh, grade nine.... Full story
• The first things I dropped when we moved to Central Oregon were Gs. My mom was an English major at the University of Oregon, and she let me know how disappointed she was by my lack of proper pronunciation. Somehow, though, I felt the cadence of droppin’ Gs fit better in Central Oregon. The other thing my mom couldn’t abide was living on an unpaved country road. “I would never live on a road like this,” said she. Her loss. A while back, I had a reunion of sorts; pizza with many of my old friends at Transfi... Full story
The Sisters Outlaws boys and girls ski teams closed out the final Emerald League Alpine ski race of the season with first-place finishes at Willamette Pass on Saturday, February 11. The race was a slalom event held under sunny skies. In round one, the snow was cold and fast but did become warmer and softer in the afternoon. On the boys side, Bela Chladek was the combined first-place winner of the day, with a time of 1:44.78. Brody Duey took fourth (2:05.70), Gus Patton fifth (2:06.59), Spencer Tisdel seventh (2:09.27),... Full story
Two seniors will be representing Sisters High School at the OSAA 3A Wrestling Championships February 17 and 18, based on their performance at the 3A Special District 4 tournament held at Riverside High School. Hayden Kunz qualified in the 145-pound class, which surprisingly included just five wrestlers. Kunz punched his ticket to State with a second-place finish by taking down Andrew Barnes of Burns (4:36) in the second round, and then moving on to the championship match where he faced another Highlander, Carter Lundy. Lundy... Full story
Our most common owl is the Great Horned Owl, [Bobo Virginianus]. A nocturnal hunter, they hunt silently, gliding over fields and woodlands in search of mostly small mammals. However Great Horned Owls (GHOs) will also prey on other owls, hawks, snakes, and young alligators. Over 250 prey species have been identified. They are native to a large geographic range that covers most of North America and extends south into Central and South America. Males hoot throughout the year,... Full story
The bluegrass outfit Henhouse Prowlers will hit the stage at The Belfry in Sisters on Saturday, February 25. The show is hosted by The Whippoorwill Presents. Erik Fossmo says, “The Whippoorwill strives to enrich Central Oregon’s culture and build community by creating intimate live music experiences for artists and attendees.” Henhouse Prowlers have performed in 27 countries on four continents. They were the 2010 RockyGrass Band Competition winners; 2013 Mountain Song at Se... Full story
The Outlaws lost both their games on the road this past week; a 63-47 loss at Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, February 7, and three days later a 60-41 loss at Creswell. On Tuesday, the No. 2 Outlaws (7-2) faced the No. 3 Billies (6-3). It was a big game for the Outlaws, as a win would put the Billies two games behind them. Pleasant Hill started off hot and quickly took a 0-6 lead before Taine Martin made a bucket on a pass from Mehkye Froehlich to get the Outlaws on the board. At the close of the quarter the Outlaws were down... Full story
Sisters resident Jim Cunningham knows a thing or two about air defense. As a brigadier general in command of the Oregon National Guard from 2000 to 2006, he was responsible for patrolling the skies above the state, on the lookout for intrusion by any hostile force. He held that command in the tense days in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. As the U.S. shot down four “objects” — at least two of them clearly balloons — in the spa... Full story
On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, Mable Lucille (Lucy) Grittman, loving wife and mother of two, went home to be with the Lord at the age of 87. She is survived by her husband, Gary Grittman, and children Virginia (Ginger) Nies and Kevin Grittman. Lucy was the loving and adoring Grammy of eight grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Bryan Nies (one child), Jennifer Rhodes (two children), Daniel Grittman (one child), Kristin Nies-Butler (three children), Jacklyn Christmas (four... Full story
Mike Whitlatch has learned his business from the ground up — literally. “I started out cleaning ducts and putting in duct work under houses,” he recalled. With experience in every level of the business — from major commercial installations like Deschutes Brewery and St. Charles Hospital to residential applications — he has now launched his own company. Sisters Heating & Air took it’s first call last September, and they’ve been roiling ever since. Sisters... Full story
As drivers head into Sisters on Highway 20, they might look to the south near the 76 station and see High Camp Taphouse, (at the former site of Hop & Brew). They are offering delicious food from Nepal. Dishes are enhanced with locally sourced beer and ciders from twenty rotating taps. It’s all served in an open, welcoming atmosphere. There’s a couch, cozy chairs and tables, and a bar for guests. Pema Sherpa says she and her partner, Nurbu, enjoy introducing new flavors and... Full story
Every year in the fall, Sisters fabric artist and entrepreneur Valori Wells goes to the North African nation of Morocco with people from all over the U.S., to explore the culture and daily activities of Moroccan people. Wells founded the program known as Creative Retreats and normally takes about 12 people on each retreat. All attending this time were women, ranging between the ages of 50-70. “These retreats take a group of men or women down to various places to teach them a... Full story
Aurolyn Stwyer is renowned for her beadwork and for her traditional dancing. The Warm Springs artist will bring her deep knowledge of the cultural heritage of her Celilo people to Sisters on February 21, in a Fireside Story Evening at FivePine Lodge and Conference Center on February 21. Stwyer learned beading in the traditional way — from her grandmother. “I would sit and watch, and finally my grandmother pulled out some beads and some needle and thread, she told me h... Full story
If letters to the editor are any indication, longtime residents of Sisters are saying that the level of frustration and concern with growth in Sisters appears to be at a new high-water mark. One such letter was from Sharon Booth of Tollgate, the same Booth who on February 3 posted a one-paragraph comment on the social media app Nextdoor. That comment has so far garnered 98 responses plus 21 “reactions” — basically emojis in support of her position — which is one th... Full story
Joan Warburg, principal of Sisters Elementary School, was this year’s recipient of the Sisters Branch of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 8138 Educator of the Year award. The award recognizes an instructor within the Sisters schools that shows dedication to support of patriotism at their school. Commander Pat Bowe, Service Officer Bill Anttila, and Quartermaster Jeff Mackey presented the award to Joan Warburg last Thursday afternoon at Sisters Elementary School. They presen... Full story
Merriam-Webster: mosey intransitive verb: to move in a leisurely or aimless manner. I’m not in agreement with the “aimless” part. Those of us who mosey regularly have a purpose. We just can’t tell you what it is at the moment we are moseying. Last month took us on a road trip to Montana. That routed us through Oregon towns like Madras, Shaniko, Wasco, Biggs Junction, Boardman, and Umatilla, all places where folks still mosey. Especially on Saturday mornings and after church... Full story
New gas station To the Editor: The new gas station proposal as explained in The Nugget (“Changes coming to Cascade Avenue,” 02/01 edition) is unjustified. Sisters does not need 16 new gas pumps and a 3,500- sq.-ft. convenience store where the present-day Space Age is located. What an eyesore this would be for the city. Why the complete demolition of an existing gas station (six pumps) and general store/taco stand, Richard’s Farmstand, and C&C Nursery for 16 new gas pumps and a convenience store? Present gas pumps and conve... Full story
At the end of last month, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s office responded to a drunk and disorderly call at Takoda’s in Sisters (see “Man arrested, threats assessed,” The Nugget, February 8, page 1). That Tuesday evening, it took 26 minutes for the west-county deputy with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) to arrive on scene. That is due to the gap in shifts at the local branch of the DCSO, which relies on the assigned west-county deputy to fill in shift gaps on S... Full story
The Sisters Elementary School (SES) teachers and staff are making strides to increase literacy and reading levels at the elementary level, particularly in kindergarten and first grade. Principal Joan Warburg presented to the Sisters School District School Board in January the highlights of SES Literacy Instruction Programming. Warburg outlined the new adoption of a core-based curriculum that offers literacy experiences around a common text at the elementary level. “There w... Full story
Concerns around “growth and development” in Sisters are at a fever pitch. But before diving in to discussions around this hot topic, it is necessary to gain a clear understanding of Oregon’s land-use laws which guide decisions made by the local Community Development Department staff, the Planning Commission, and Sisters City Council. Why were the land-use laws created, how do they work, and, after 50 years, do they need some revision to better meet today’s circums... Full story
Deputies with Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) arrested Dana Roy, a 42-year-old Washington resident, after he allegedly robbed a man camped off the 100 road spur at the west end of Sisters. According to Sgt. Jason Wall of DCSO, deputies were dispatched to an unwanted- subject call at Mainline Station on Monday, February 7, at about 8 a.m. Staff reported a man was making concerning comments to the staff about houseless camps across Highway 20 on Forest Service land. The location is near the Sisters city limits, and t... Full story