News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 26
Participants in a wilderness skills class in Sisters Country got a lesson in surviving severe winter weather last weekend. Doug Early of Sisters had taken a course with Lake Tahoe-area wilderness skills instructor Ned Tibbits of Mountain Education before, and he invited Tibbits to come to Sisters to conduct an intermediate winter wilderness course. Mountain Education operates on a suggested donation basis, which means there's no financial commitment in advance. With the... Full story
Aspen Lakes was honored as Business of the Year on Friday at the annual Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce awards banquet at FivePine Lodge & Conference Center. The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show was recognized as Non-Profit of the Year. Chamber members turned out in masks and beads, keeping with the Mardi Gras masquerade ball theme, to honor exceptional businesses and individuals in Sisters Country. Chamber staff and volunteers also came in for many words of praise, with chamber... Full story
The wind that swept through Sisters Country overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday last week broke trees and sparked a fire that consumed a garage building in Camp Sherman. Heavy gusts knocked down trees in Sisters neighborhoods and put one down on Highway 20 near Black Butte. Responding Oregon State Police troopers reported hearing trees crashing in the forest all around. High winds caused a limb to fall across a power line in Camp Sherman. The line split apart and began arcing... Full story
To the Editor: In response to "Parent evaluations are a mistake," I totally agree with Quay Richerson. I am a retired teacher with 30-plus years of educating elementary children in both public and private schools in three states. I hold a master's in educational psychology. I have never had evaluations by the parents such as this. Parents were encouraged to come to me, THEN to the principal with any of their concerns. I was under formal and ongoing informal observation by the principal. I had the privilege to work in schools... Full story
The annual Mr. Sisters High School Pageant is coming March 4 at 6 p.m. in the Sisters High School auditorium. The candidates and escorts will compete for the title of Mr. SHS at "A Night at the Oscars." The candidates this year are William Saunders, Brett Pray, Connor Morgan, Conor Greaney, Davidson Small, Trevor Ford, Jared Schneider, Brennan Layne, Sam Bearzi and Sebastian Boehm. The escorts are Felicia Zandonatti, McKenzie Legg, Courtney Blust, Jenn Houk, Elise Herron, Becky Thomas, Chelsey Davidson, Jordyn Clymens, Noel... Full story
Dressed in a stunning teal-and-white gown, Emily Clark, 2011 Sisters Rodeo Queen, was crowned Miss Northwest Professional Rodeo Association at Bend Elks Lodge on Saturday, February 25. The NPRA is the regional rodeo association in the nation, a professional and amateur rodeo that can be found in 45 locations across Oregon, Washington, parts of Idaho and California. Its rodeos make it possible for cowboys and cowgirls to compete without the need to travel great distances.... Full story
Chris Jones, chair of the Sisters School Board, was awarded the prestigious Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award Wednesday evening in a "surprise party" ceremony at the school district office, attended by dozens of enthusiastic supporters. Chamber Executive Director Erin Borla said, "Every year the chamber takes time to recognize those exceptional things that have and continue to happen because of people, regular people, who are committed, passionate,... Full story
After reading my friend Quay Richerson's editorial last week, I feel sorry that we do not live in the ideal world that he depicts. Having "professional coaches" in our schools would be terrific. But the reality is that we hire coaches because they volunteered. There is no training on how to be a great coach, or any standards set forth that they will be measured by. You want to be a coach? All you have to do is raise your hand. This is not to say that we are not blessed with some excellent, professional coaches, because we... Full story
The Lady Outlaws' season came to an end with a tough 52-35 loss to the Philomath Warriors on February 24. Sisters had a difficult first half offensively and just weren't able to hit their shots. Philomath took an early lead and at the close of the first quarter were on top 15-5. The Lady Outlaws tried their best to catch Philomath but just couldn't get the job done. The Warriors made three quick baskets just before the buzzer sounded, and at the half Sisters was down by 17... Full story
• An adult male reported an assault but declined to report who his assailant was. • Deputies investigated a report of a theft of gas from a vehicle. • A woman was arrested for stealing dog food at a store. • Two juveniles broke into an empty house. • A woman reported her neighbor's dog coming onto her property barking and acting aggressively. • A deputy responded to assist firefighters on an out-of-control burn pile. He advised the resident to follow burn... Full story
The Outlaws basketball team continued their winning streak on Saturday, knocking off Cascade, the fourth-place team in the Oregon West League, in a big victory at home. Sisters downed the Cougars 72-43 to record their 15th straight win and push them to a 22-3 overall record. Sisters faced the Cougars earlier in the season, December 8, in a contest that went into overtime with the Outlaws coming out on top 56-52. This time around, the Outlaws had complete control of the game.... Full story
After a strong league finish, junior Josh O'Brien (138 pounds) was hoping to finish in the top five at the state tournament which was held at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, February 24-25. Josh had to battle top wrestlers while weak and very sick. O'Brien wrestled No. 1 seed, Cole Hannan of Brookings Harbor in his first match on Friday. He made it three rounds but it took its toll, and Josh lost by a technical fall in a final score of 16-1. "Josh was so sick and he couldn't breathe and he could barely move," said Coach... Full story
A language thought by many to be dead - or at the very least irrelevant - is alive and thriving at Sisters Christian Academy (SCA), where 20 students are currently enrolled in learning the classical language Latin. In 2001 Josephine Davis was asked by Dan Cole, acting principal, to develop a Latin curriculum for third- and fourth-graders using the book, "English From the Roots Up." Since the program's creation, it has grown to include third through eighth grade. Students taking Latin learn not only the Latin and Greek... Full story
Americana trio Red Molly will roll into town on Thursday, March 8, for the final installment of the Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series. Fresh off their critically acclaimed new album "Light in the Sky," Red Molly bring with them their beautifully crafted three-part harmonies and exquisite Americana instrumentation. From the start, the trio got attention with their lively, engaging stage performances. Red Molly moved quickly from New York City coffeehouses to the... Full story
Last Saturday's Eagle Watch 2012 was almost a disaster, thanks to the late winter wind - and snow - storm that hit the night before. The drive to PGE's Round Butte Visitor Center (RBVC) was very exciting on some roads, while at others, the pavement was bare, and the air toasty warm. Thankfully, when the visitors and participants arrived they were greeted by blue sky here and there, but with a cold wind howling. Eagle Watch is held on the last weekend in February at Round... Full story
I went down to the river after reading Jim Williams' great piece on the poor dog that was squashed in the Conibear trap and met a wise old otter. We proceeded to have a great chin-wag, and here's the way our conversation went: "Hey, all you good people in Sisters Country, I'm the intended victim of those ugly devices set out for me and my kind. All I can say about those poor dogs is, 'Better them than me!' "My granddad and cousins fell prey to traps that drowned 'em, or... Full story
The boys baseball team is hard at work preparing for the season ahead. Eight players will return to the varsity squad with high hopes of repeating as league champs. Four seniors, including Shane Groth, Bryce Alderman, Aaron Selig and Lucas Stovall will bring leadership and experience to the team. Groth has made major contributions to the Outlaws' squad the past three years and is expected to make a big impact this year. Shane is Sisters' best pitcher and will see lots of time on the mound. When Groth isn't pitching you'll... Full story
Last month, this column referred to three bright stars that form a large equilateral triangle called the Winter Triangle. But this part of the sky also yields an even larger geometric shape. In March, look to the southwest to see a somewhat irregular-shaped hexagon. The hexagon consists of six prominent stars located in six different constellations. It is easy to pick out because it includes the recognizable constellation of Orion. Starting near Orion's foot is the... Full story
Jim Kindorf, 74, of Black Butte Ranch and Green Valley, AZ, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, died on February 15, 2012, of cancer. Jim was born in San Francisco, California, to Lyle and Patricia (Swain) Kindorf. After his father died, his mother moved with Jim and his little brother, Rich, to Oakland where he graduated from Oakland High School and the University of California, Berkeley. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Jim belonged to... Full story
The better you eat, the better you'll feel. What you eat plays a big role in making you stronger, healthier and more energetic. But in a fast-paced world where convenience is king, it's often easier to eat poorly than it is to eat well. Luckily for folks in Sisters Country, there are many eateries, food stands and shops where you can get quality food at competitive prices. And there's also a lot of expertise on the art of "clean eating." "Clean eating, to me, is food that is l... Full story
A commitment to fitness and a healthy lifestyle can transform lives. Just ask Tami Jones and Sara Schmidt. These Sisters women have taken their commitment to a high level - and are putting it on stage for everyone to see. Over the next couple of months, Jones and Schmidt plan to participate in statewide figure competitions; the competitions will cap months of effort that has left them stronger and fitter - and has inspired friends and family to their own efforts to get... Full story
Dancing may be the most enjoyable way to get in shape - and it works for any age. From the wee ones to seniors, dance keeps your body and mind active, builds strength, coordination and self-confidence. And it's fun. What's not to like? According to Pro Dance Center, regular dance practice can - for children and adults alike - increase flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina. The repetitive movements involved in dance can improve muscle tone, corre... Full story
No doubt about it, these are hard times in Sisters Country. Lost jobs, lost homes, shrinking incomes, anxiety about the future - the litany of stresses brought on by the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is familiar to everyone. And stress is a killer. First it robs you of joy, then it starts to wear you down physically; then it can kill you through a heart attack or other health crisis. No one is immune to stress. As Robert Sapolsky, author of "Why Zebras... Full story
The Sisters High School Nordic team completed its season with the two-day state meet held at Mt. Hood Meadows on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25. The Oregon High School Nordic Organization Championships included 155 racers from 13 different schools. Friday's seven-kilometer skate race featured warmer weather than anyone really expected, making the correct wax selection difficult for coaches. The result turned out to be below average for all of the Outlaws, with... Full story
• Sebastian Nelson "Robin Hooded" an arrow during a shoot at Top Pin last week. Robin-Hooding is when the archer strikes the center of the target with one arrow, then hits that arrow squarely with another. In days of yore, the arrow would split. Nowadays, the carbon or aluminum shafts get stuck together. • Cal Allen and Bob Collins of Sisters Science Club: We wish to thank all of those who volunteered and worked to make the inaugural Sisters Science... Full story
