News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 22 of 22
If the proposed plan to burn wood pellets for boilers to heat Sisters High School is completed, a series of events will begin to fall into place that could make our air healthier to breath, save money, and create jobs. Economists, silvicultualists, engineers, entrepreneurs and planners are turning on their collective imagination to the opportunities the pellet-burning project and others like it may present. Trees take up carbon dioxide from the air and store it in plant tissues through the process of photosynthesis. When... Full story
Sisters voters will decide in the March 9 election whether to assess a 3-cents-per-gallon gas tax at Sisters gas stations. The Sisters City Council approved institution of a gas tax last August, but the matter was thrown to Sisters voters after the Oregon Petroleum Association garnered enough support to refer the tax to voters. The revenue from the tax is designated for street maintenance and repair. The City of Sisters estimates that the street fund will need $140,000 per... Full story
Sisters photographer David Uttley recently returned from five weeks in Haiti, where he worked with Christian relief agency Samaritan's Purse, documenting the work being done in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake. His assignment, originally planned as a one-week stint with the agency, stretched into the entire five weeks. He worked to show the plight of ordinary Haitians, to capture the emotion, heartache and resiliency of people who live in the poorest and arguably... Full story
For the first time in Sisters' history, a Deschutes County Veterans Services Officer will be available in Sisters for all veterans. Starting Monday, March 1 at 10 a.m. the Deschutes County Veterans Services Officer, Keith Macnamara, will be in Sisters ready and able to meet with any and all veterans. Macnamara will be available the first and third Monday of each month between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 151 N. Spruce St., the Maida Bailey Building (otherwise known as the old, old library building) which is connected to the Sisters... Full story
To the Editor: Re: "Public weighs in on development code," (The Nugget, February 17, page 1): I went throughout the town and found 45 businesses that will be hurt or affected by new sign law code changes (not current laws). The subject was regarding banning A-frame signs and blinking signs or limiting the number of neon signs per business. This is not the time to gamble with our businesses futures to appease the few. As a retailer that is experiencing the worst sales in the past 12 years, every dollar counts. It is time for l... Full story
By now, voters have received their ballots and the question of a small, 3-cents-per-gallon gas tax is before us. A "yes" vote is the best course for Sisters. Your city council has not considered this lightly and we've concluded, reluctantly, that this is a necessary move. Allow me to explain. The Sisters street fund has never had a dedicated revenue source like the water and sewer funds, i.e. monthly payments from our citizens for those municipal services. Consequently, the city council has annually appropriated about $100,00... Full story
Doors opened, and a gong sounded for each guest Saturday at the Lodge at Black Butte Ranch as Mandarin students welcomed nearly 100 people with a "nin hao," Mandarin for "hello." The Chinese New Year celebration and dinner was an opportunity to raise funds for the Mandarin students' upcoming trip to China. The traditions of the New Year were honored with red envelopes, something sweet for the trip home, and a dragon dance. A wall of the reception area was lined with silent auc... Full story
Sisters Kiwanis is part of an international service organization committed to enhancing communities. Occasionally, Kiwanis has a guest speaker with information of such interest that the programs are thrown open to the community. Last week, one such presentation discussed the growing problem of modern piracy on the high seas. David Hiller is a local naval architect and marine engineer with personal experience in the field of piracy. No, he's not a pirate, himself; but he has been on board ships that were boarded by pirates.... Full story
Saylor Ennis, known to everyone as Sy, is celebrating his 100th year on Tuesday, March 2. He has revealed no secrets to living a long life, but his friends and family would be the first to point out his generosity of spirit and his will to carry on. "A neighbor, a dear friend of his, was ill, and came home to die," his youngest son, Del, recalled, "Dad was so upset and could not understand why someone would be ready to die. Mother (who died five years ago) didn't want to... Full story
Like many people in Sisters Country, Richard Esterman is troubled by the condition of his country and the State of Oregon. But Esterman has taken a long step beyond talking about it in the coffee shop with his buddies. The Sisters photographer has launched an effort to qualify for the ballot as a nonaffiliated, individual candidate for governor. To do it, he must obtain 18,279 petition signatures - and he's committed to doing it. "I'm not asking for people's votes right now,... Full story
Noah Gundersen and the Courage is a band known for addicting tunes and honest-to-the-core lyrics that appeal to all ages. They will bring their music to Sisters in the second Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert on Saturday, February 27. The group already has an ample fan base in Sisters, but who are the personalities behind the music? Noah Gundersen and the Courage is Noah, Abby Gundersen, Ivan Gunderson (no relation), and Sisters' very own Travis Ehrenstrom. Noah and Abby... Full story
Having barely squeaked into the 12 qualifying slots in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays at state championships, the Outlaws boys made their move during preliminaries at State Swimming Championships at Mt. Hood Community College on February 19. Seeded 10th for prelims, Holden Sellentin and Tyler Baldessari swam the only individual Outlaws boys qualifying events, the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke respectively. Sellentin shaved 0.25 seconds off and ended up 7th overall with a time of 23.68. Colin Eaton, a... Full story
In a field of 19 girls, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A high school swimming programs, the Outlaws girls team finished in fifth place (27) behind Marist (52), North Bend (43), Philomath (34) and Cascade (28). With top three seeds in all relays, the girls could not quite elevate their game enough to hold onto their positions coming into the state championships. However, in a highly charged 200-yard medley relay finals swim, the Outlaws (2:03.25) managed to move up from fifth place in prelims... Full story
Esther Hawks Willard, a longtime resident of Bloomington, Illinois, passed away peacefully Friday, February 5, in Bend. Esther was born June 16, 1917, in Normal, Illinois, to Dr. J.K.P. Hawks and Esther Hart Hawks. After graduating from Bloomington High School, she attended Illinois Wesleyan University, graduating in 1939. In December, 1944, she married Raymond R. Stephenson (deceased). Together they raised two children, Raymond Allen Stephenson and Sally Stephenson Benton.... Full story
Susan Diane Kettle crossed over Saturday, February 13, 2010. Diane, as she liked to be called, was born to Susan (Rowley) Kettle and Dale Kettle in Salem, Oregon on February 25, 1947. She attended North Salem High School and graduated in 1964. She was married in 1967 to Rodney Wiberg and divorced in 1975. Diane became a Realtor and sold lots in Sunriver in the '70s. She moved to the outskirts of Sisters in 1975. She worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a fire lookout for 13 years and also worked at Sisters Cascade of Gifts,... Full story
Theater arts are expanding at Sisters High School this winter with the stage production of Eugene Ionesco's "Rhinoceros." This three-act comedy is being directed by Gary Bowne, instructor of theater arts, in partnership with Susanna Harrison, French language instructor at the high school. Bowne and Harrison have integrated the drama, language, history, stagecraft, culture and sociology of this existential play to create a more expansive experience for their students. The goal of this project is for students to more fully... Full story
The past year was a good one for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. Fire department personnel and their families celebrated 2009 with their 73rd annual awards ceremony and banquet at the Station 701 Community Hall last Saturday night, February 20. Board President David Elliott opened the evening's festivities by stating that the local district is not just a fire department, but a "fire family." Fire chief Tay Robertson also expressed his confidence in the department's... Full story
The young Outlaws wrestling squad finished fifth at the District meet, which was held at La Pine on Friday and Saturday, February 19-20. Powerhouse Cottage Grove took first-place honors with a score of 358 and La Pine was runner-up at 267. Elmira took third (237), Junction City fourth (137), Sisters fifth (99), Pleasant Hill sixth (97) and Marist rounded out the scoring with 51. Gilbert Porraz and Steven Nemer both earned third-place finishes and will advance to the state... Full story
U.S. Congressman Greg Walden took time out from his whirlwind schedule on Tuesday morning, February 16, for an intimate town meeting with a small group of senior veterans at Sisters Library. Walden, a Republican, represents Oregon's massive Second Congressional District, spanning 20 counties in Eastern, Southern and Central Oregon. It is the second-largest district in the United States, covering more than 71,000 square miles. The visit was initiated by Sisters' Ken Ehlers, who posted a long message on Walden's Web site two mo... Full story
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is celebrating its 35th year with a documentary film produced by Expectations Moving Pictures of Sisters. The documentary will use personal stories with key community members and quilt show participants from over the 35 years to show the tremendous influence that the show has had on the Sisters community and people around the world. The documentary will examine the show's impact on Sisters' tourism, economy and community, emphasizing the art, inspiration, friendships and the positive energy... Full story
Each winter the Caldera art retreat offers artists a gift: Time and a refuge from the pressures of the world. A place to recharge and create. And each month Caldera opens public demonstrations of the artists' efforts. "We get to show off what Caldera is good at," office manager Katie Weinstein said. "We give the gift of time and space to 15 people from all over the world. They are selected by juries." Caldera also sponsors a youth program, mentoring kids from sixth grade... Full story
•Deputies responded to a report that multiple elk antlers were stolen from a barn at Patterson Ranch over the weekend. Deputies are investigating the theft. Richard Patterson says that the antlers will likely be difficult to sell because they have no "buttons" which are considered attractive for mounting. •A deputy rescued a golden retriever that dug under a deck and under a house and got stuck. The dog had been stuck for about four hours by the time the deputy was able to get him free. •A woman was arrested... Full story
