News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
Fans were seated and anxious whispers hushed as the lights to the Sisters High School Auditorium dimmed and Dylan McDonald took the stage. Opening for his father, and for the 12th Annual Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series on Saturday night at Sisters High School auditorium, Dylan McDonald and his bandmate Daniel DeMonico immediately won over their audience. Starry Nights is an Annual Benefit Concert Series for the Sisters Schools Foundation. All proceeds from the night's... Full story
The Sisters City Council is inviting the community to a public meeting this Thursday, February 26, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The council is trying to move quickly in deciding whether Sisters should create an enterprise zone by joining Redmond's existing zone. Applications for new or renewal enterprise zones must be submitted to the state on April 3. The Oregon Enterprise Zone Program (OEZP) has 57 "zones" throughout the state, the maximum allowed by state law (ORS 265C.) Five of these zones expire in 2009, opening... Full story
The new Sisters Post Office will open for business on Monday, March 2, at the corner of Larch Street and Barclay Drive. Patrons who currently have a post office box at the Sisters Post Office will keep his or her current post office box number. There will not be a change of address. However, there will be a new key. According to post office staff, a key exchange will start during the first week of March. A note on blue paper will be put in current boxes containing information... Full story
Residents in the Sisters School District now have ballots for the local option levy renewal. If it passes, the levy will bring in about $1.1 million from local property owners for Sisters schools next year, about nine percent of the $12 million operating budget. Specifics have been hard to come by. The district does not yet have a detailed "what if" plan. That will be developed after the results of the local option election are tallied on March 10. Part of the problem in giving a clear picture is that local option is only one... Full story
The next two years are going to be tough ones for the Sisters School District. Those who think the district needs to tighten its belt like everybody else will soon see that belt cinched up tighter and tighter as state funding falls off and enrollment declines. The district has already taken a $100,000 cut; before the year is out, it is expecting to grapple with another $300,000 or greater cut. Next year is going to be worse. The State of Oregon is not going to be able to protect schools from the severe recession that has... Full story
The City of Sisters is considering an "enterprise zone" to attract mainly light manufacturing businesses. The "attraction" includes property tax waivers (including for schools and every other tax district) and reduced city fees and sewer/water rates for 3-5 years. Efforts to jump-start investment in this tough economy deserve our support, but this raises questions of effectiveness and equity. Is such relief needed to attract businesses? If the answer is unquestionably yes, one could argue it does... Full story
Theatre arts are expanding at Sisters High School this winter with the stage production of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night or What You Will." The play runs Wednesday-Friday, February 25-27 in the Sisters High School Drama Room. This five-act comedy is being directed by Gary Bowne, instructor of Theatre Arts and The Americana Project. The cast includes actors from Bowne's Play Production class. Chrissy Pullig-Gomez, James Lewis, Bryant Lasken and Julia Rahm lead the cast... Full story
The property owners of Black Butte Ranch were looking for dynamic, energetic leadership when they set out to replace former Ranch general manager Loy Helmly. Scott Huntsman of Bend believes he can provide that leadership. Huntsman was selected from among 175 candidates for the job as President and CEO of Black Butte Ranch Corporation and General Manager of the Ranch association. "It was not only a professional opportunity," Huntsman told The Nugget, "it was a real blessing to... Full story
Sisters Country horsemen spent a cold and foggy Saturday morning holed up at FivePine Conference Center in Sisters, learning about effective wound care and bandaging. Two afternoon sessions at the Bend Equine clinic enabled hands-on practice of common bandaging techniques. Had the day been sunny, many participants might have been enjoying outdoor pursuits, so the dismal weather could end up being a lifesaver for some horses. Bend Equine's Continuing Education classes are in... Full story
Although the boys basketball team suffered a tough 51-46 loss at home to Cottage Grove (CG) on Friday, February 20, they will host Pleasant Hill in a playoff game on Wednesday, February 25. Tip off time is set for 7 p.m. In last week's action the Outlaws lost 63-54 at Pleasant Hill (February 10) but bounced back to earn a 51-26 victory over Junction City three days later. It was a close and intense game against the visiting Lions on February 20. Sisters was down by five with... Full story
There will be music in the air this Thursday night at the Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert series and baskets full of goodies at the Sisters Ford Family Class Silent Auction. The concert featuring Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst is set for 7 p.m. at Sisters High School auditorium. The fund-raiser is geared to raise the final $664 needed to build an outdoor pavilion at Sisters Middle School called the "Outlaw Outpost." The silent auction will offer local treats such as gift certificates for Martolli's, Sisters Movie... Full story
Sisters' Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8138 was nearly on life-support a couple of years ago. Key members had died and the post had dwindled down to just five active members, though there were 19 members on the rolls. Phil Gale, a U.S. Navy veteran, stepped up to take the helm of the organization and now it is thriving, both in numbers and in activities in the Sisters community. There are 33 active members, a number that has held steady for two years running, and the organization maintains a memorial in Sisters Village... Full story
Kody Johns (152 pounds) and Thomas Schantz (189 pounds) earned a first-place finish at the District championships on Friday and Saturday, February 20 and 21, and will advance to the State Tournament in Portland on Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28. Nick Head (135 pounds) placed second and was Sisters' third qualifier for State. Johns won each of his three matches by fall. Johns opened the tournament with a 51-second fall over Joey Sand of Elmira. Johns went on to pin... Full story
•Proceeds from the sale of the book "Dinner Is the Evening" by the Sisters Supper Club are being donated to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank. The book may be purchased at Paulina Springs Books. •The senior class of 2009 is selling "Outlaw Charms" to raise money for their drug and alcohol free graduation party. The charms are designed by local silversmith, Peter Jon. Call Traci Tandy at 549-8004. •Sisters Athletic Club is holding after-school swim lessons for all age levels in March. Call 549-6878. Open to... Full story
Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) and the Ford Family Foundation hosted a continuation of their leadership training seminars in a Spanish Language workshop Sunday at the Sisters Park & Recreation District building. A group of 13 attendees from both Bend and Sisters participated in the training given by Sara Curiel Robles of RDI. The Spanish Language workshops are identical in content to the standard Community Leadership Training programs offered throughout Oregon and here... Full story
In an effort to increase awareness and educate the Sisters Community about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the Sisters Fire Department, Kiwanis Club and Sisters Middle School entered into a partnership. Teachers Marti Dale and Annie Winter just completed a CPR Unit with their seventh grade health classes at Sisters Middle School. With the assistance of the school nurse, students were given instruction and practiced CPR. At the end of this unit each student was given a... Full story
Despite the 47-30 loss at home to No. 2 ranked Cottage Grove (CG) on Friday, February 20, the Lady Outlaws will head into the District playoffs. The Outlaws will face Junction City for the third time this year in a playoff game for fourth place at JC on Thursday, February 26. Last week the Outlaws earned a 44-37 win in overtime at Pleasant Hill (PH) and then lost 35-32 at home to Junction City (JC). In Friday's game against Cottage Grove, the Lady Lions were too much for the... Full story
Freshman Michelle Young finished on a high note during another successful Outlaws participation at the 4A/3A/2A/1A Swimming State Championships at Mt. Hood Community College on February 20. Seeded ninth going into prelims on Thursday night, Young, a member of both the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay, swam into second place, earning a silver medal during the final swim on Friday night. Henley's Kristen McBride won the event with a time of 1:03.72. Felicia... Full story
As soon as he heard the word correct, Drew Corrigan knew he was the lucky winner of a $500 savings bond. Corrigan was one of 16 students from Sisters who participated in the fifth annual Central Oregon Regional Spelling Bee, held at Summit High School in Bend on Saturday, February 20. The competition was divided into four divisions, involving over 140 spellers from the region, and representing age groups from kindergarten to eighth grade. In the K-1 division, Josie Aylor,... Full story
Kirk and Drew Jacobsen wrote: Thank you to all the wonderful people who helped us during the last few months while our wife and mother was stricken with cancer. To all the people who brought meals, or flowers, who sent cards and letters, made get-well posters and chains, who came to visit Diane and shared their love and prayers. To the people who arranged the ceremony, who donated their time making it something Diane would have been proud of. To all these fine people and many more we offer our heartfelt thanks for their... Full story
Newly elected Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board members and officers began their terms in January. The new officers are Neil Burck, President; Larry Lennon, Vice President; Tana Sproat, Secretary; and Jerry Hanford, Treasurer. President Neil Burck, former Habitat Treasurer, is Director of Strategic Accounts and Alliances for Key Technology, a Walla Walla, Washington-based firm. Vice President Larry Lennon, former Building Committee Chairman and longtime Habitat volunteer, worked with Union Carbide/First Brands in Long... Full story
Illness took its toll on the Sisters Nordic Ski team in its final competition of the season at the Oregon High School Nordic/Northwest Ski Championships held at Mt. Bachelor February 21 and 22. The girls team was short its No. 2 skier in Courtney Blust and fell to fourth place overall among six OHSNO teams behind Summit, Redmond and Bend. Molly Blust led the way for the team, placing second in Saturday's five-kilometer skate race (17:18). Backing her up were Amity Calvin in... Full story
Sisters K-4 students have been busy putting the final touches on one-of-a-kind art projects to be auctioned at the Green & Gold Gala Auction on Friday, March 6, at Brand 33, Aspen Lakes Golf Course. "The students have created quilts, paintings, ceramic pieces, photographs, wind chimes, framed art interpretations and more. They're very creative pieces of art," said Melanie Petterson, coordinator of the event. "We're planning to have many parents join the fun. We'd also like to extend an invitation to the entire community.... Full story
Ermina L. Withrow, born in Leola, South Dakota, grew up on a farm with four brothers and one sister. She and her family moved to Salem, Oregon, in 1937 where she graduated from Salem High School. She worked as a secretary until she married Roland Withrow in 1946. They were happily married for over 50 years. Ermina lived as a homemaker in Salem from 1946 until 1999. Her joys were her family and working in the garden where she raised all sorts of flowers, especially roses. After the death of her husband... Full story
To the Editor: The Sisters Local School Option is the wrong thing at the wrong time. First, you don't raise taxes in a deep recession. Second, revenues are not the problem. Spending and inefficiencies are the problem. We've been throwing money at public schools for decades with no accountability on the part of educators and no real improvement. There are many sacred cows in education that need to be slaughtered before school districts come to the public for more money. Summer vacations when there should be year-round school t... Full story
