News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
With 19 acts and an eager audience of over 400 that filled the Sisters High School auditorium, the 14th annual Sisters Act "A Mountain Home Companion" was ready to begin. The theme of this year's show was loosely based on the radio program, "A Prairie Home Companion." Melvin Herberger and sixth-grade student Zachary Lusby emceed the show, kept the audience laughing, and awarded a slew of door prizes ranging from coffee to massages. Sound effects were provided by the Novotny family. The Sisters Act is headed by a committee of... Full story
The trees on Black Butte are not dying. A red band of trees is certainly clearly visible from Black Butte Ranch and other locations around Sisters, but it doesn't mean a fatal event. It isn't something you see every day, for sure, but if you ask old-time USFS employees of Sisters, Don Rowe, or Dave Moyer about it, they'll tell you they've seen it happen before over the years. According to Brian Tandy, Sisters District Forester, and Tom Andrabe, State Forester, the phenomena... Full story
Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is struggling to cope with a $120,000 to $150,000 shortfall that represents a loss of 20 percent or more of its $650,000 budget. "We're running a variety of forecasts for the remainder of the fiscal year (July 1) with a variety of scenarios for staff layoffs," said District Executive Director Carrie Ward. "We have laid off all of our part-time staff." Layoffs of three of seven full-time employees are expected by the end of the month.... Full story
To the Editor: Representative Wayne Kreiger (R-Gold Beach) recently introduced House Bill 3008, requiring a $54 registration fee per bicycle every two years, and was quoted as saying, "This is an opportunity for the bicyclists to start contributing to our roads." I'm appalled at his comments about contributing towards our roads. I guess all those property taxes and gas taxes I've been paying for decades haven't been going towards our roads! Now is NOT the time for new taxes and this bill is bad idea. Since I own three bikes,... Full story
About a month ago, 16-year-old Ryan Godden started coughing up blood. After two trips to the emergency room, his family was assured that he had pneumonia and would get better. But he didn't. The bleeding got worse. Ryan was transported back to the hospital via Sisters ambulance and admitted for testing. According to his mother, Nikki Godden, doctors determined that he was suffering from a rare episode of pulmonary bleeding, cause unknown. "It just occurred out of the blue,"... Full story
Part of the allure of living in Sisters is its eclectic blend of residents that populate our little slice of Heaven, from sports heroes to war veterans, film directors to rodeo cowboys. On any given Sunday, getting your mocha or video or exercising at the gym, you may unknowingly be in the shadow of greatness. Steve Kraemer seems inconspicuous enough, strolling downtown with his Australian Shepherd "Sheila" or chatting with friends over coffee. Few know his illustrious past.... Full story
The past year was a good one for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department. Fire department personnel and their families celebrated that year with a banquet and awards ceremony at Sisters Fire Hall on Saturday night. "We've had many accomplishments over the years - and we're sitting in one of them," said Fire Chief Tay Robertson. He was referring to the new Sisters Fire Hall, which was completed last spring. The new facility offers improved equipment bays and housing for... Full story
It does not always matter in life how many good deeds you have done or how much volunteer work you have accomplished. If you're in the right place, at the wrong time, bad things can - and do - happen to good people. For John Judy, Ski and Snowboard School Director at Hoodoo Mountain Resort, February 20 was just another Friday as a volunteer teaching the Camp Sherman Black Butte School students. The Black Butte School has six groups, totaling 19 students. Every Friday the... Full story
The Sisters Folk Festival's educational outreach program, the Americana Project, was in full swing over the weekend. The second annual Americana Song Academy for Youth brought together high school students participating in the Americana Project from Central Oregon and as far away as Eugene. The Sisters Art Works building was filled with students, instructors, guitars, keyboards, drums, mandolins and violins all playing in an orchestra of individual expression. Paige Bruguier,... Full story
The Sisters Urban Forestry Board is taking nominations for the 2008 Urban Forest Awards. Two awards will be given; Tree of the Year and Citizen Forester. Tree of the Year recognizes an outstanding tree within the Sisters City Limits. The Citizen Forester award honors individuals, groups or agencies who actively promote the planting and management of trees within the city by way of a community forest activity. The trees must be inside the city limits, but the person or groups responsible for the planting may reside outside... Full story
The Sisters High School varsity softball team will play teams from Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Kentucky during their week of Disney's Wide World of Sports Softball Spring Training this spring break in Orlando, Florida. First up for the Lady Outlaws will be South Park High School of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (March 30), followed by a Tuesday game against Clinton County, Kentucky (March 31), Hancock of Hancock, Kentucky (April 2) and Goffstown High of Goffstown, New Hampshire (April 3). Getting to Orlando has many people... Full story
The students at Sisters Middle School were delighted to find out that one of their favorite authors, Margaret Peterson Haddix, would be making a personal appearance at their school on March 4. Margaret Haddix is an award-winning author, a mother, and an inspiration to kids everywhere. Deidre Kanzig, sixth grade teacher, was particularly excited for the students, as "it is a fabulous opportunity for students. It might inspire them to write their very own books!" Though Haddix has written over 20 books for teens, the locals... Full story
Marin Allen, Susan Ruettgers and Danelle Allen were named to all-league teams this year. Marin Allen was a second-team all-league selection and led the Lady Outlaws offense at the point guard position. "Marin is a spark plug, and was our leading scorer this year and averaged 7.5 points per game," said Coach Kevin Cotner. "She brings tremendous passion to the court and I am excited to have her around for the next two years. My expectation for her as we progress forward is to continue to work on her decision-making and leadersh... Full story
• Patty Vandiver and Peter Storton of RE/MAX Town & Country Realty recently earned new designations as CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Experts). RE/MAX as a company worldwide is taking the initiative to be counselors to those in home ownership trouble due to the economy. For more information call 549-3333. • Three Creeks Brewing Company is celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Saturday, March 14, at 8:30 p.m. They are brewing up Irish stout to go with some traditional Irish fare. They will also feature live... Full story
Four Outlaws basketball players were selected to all-league teams after their defeat in the first round of the state playoffs. The all-league roster includes Ross Erickson, Tyler Miller, Drew Harrison and Levi Rowe. Erickson earned first team all-league honors. Ross, at 6-feet-5-inches, was a versatile player for the Outlaws and played at point guard, wing and at post. Erickson led the team in scoring, steals, rebounds and assists. "Ross did a very good job for us at point guard," said Coach Jake Rothauge. "The point guard... Full story
The Sisters High School boys lacrosse team returns only four varsity players to their squad this season. Seniors Lucas Reitman, Jordan Kolb, David Liming and John Connolly will return for their final season with the Outlaws. Reitman will play attack, and his responsibility will be to control the ball at that position. "Lucas needs to show the new and younger players what it means to be an Outlaws lacrosse player, which means he needs to be that ski racer out there. He has no fear and he needs to show the others what we can ac... Full story
Tough economic times took a few thousand off the gross from the Sisters Elementary School Green & Gold Gala, but organizers are smiling. The event was held last Saturday at Brand 33 at Aspen Lakes. Organizers say they have topped $12,000, gross, through auctions and sponsorships and with savings in expenses, the net should come very close to matching last year's smash hit inaugural event. "There were 129 attendees - 21 more than last year - and a great time was had by all,"... Full story
Sam Orwig, German 2 student and senior at Sisters High School, recently became the second Sisters recipient for a full ride to the ASSE Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program to Germany. Joe Mantecon, graduating class of 2008, was the first student at Sisters High School to receive this prestigious scholarship. After his return to the U.S., Joe visited Sisters High School the beginning of the 2008-09 school year, sharing his fluency in the German language as well as his experiences in Aachen, Germany. Originally founded by... Full story
• Julia Hammond wrote: Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity back in 1976, died a few weeks ago. We were privileged to have had him visit Sisters in October 2007. He dedicated some Habitat land and was the speaker at a Habitat dinner held at FivePine Conference Center, which raised $30,000 for our Sisters Habitat. He was invited to stay with the Slavkovsky family, our first Sisters Habitat homeowners. Millard Fuller was the commencement speaker at Portland University in 2003, the year Judah Slavkovsky... Full story
The Oregon Zoo can fly a feather in their cap on their condor recovery program: the second group of young condors raised in the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife are on the wing. Three California condors from the Oregon Zoo will be released into the Vermilion Cliffs Monument in northern Arizona on March 7, soaring into the open skies that will finally be their home. Meriwether (No. 379), Nootka (No. 447) and Atya (No. 455) were hatched and raised at the zoo before being transferred to the Peregrine Fund's World Center for... Full story
Women with a yearning for high fashion, but lacking the budget to match, can find an answer at Shop It Forward, a high-end consignment store opening this month in Sisters, in the Siesta Sunspa on Main Avenue. The store, owned by Theresa and Jeff Robertson - who also own the Hair Cache and Siesta Sunspa - is the result of client demand, said Theresa. She said customers often wished they could either find or pass on beautiful, high quality clothing. Mostly, the clothing worn by... Full story
Many Sisters business owners show support for local troops, each giving in an manner that means most to them. Grabbing the gusto of the annual Girl Scout cookie drive, Tami Jones, owner of Metamorphosis, and her daughter McKenna, have to date pulled in 110 boxes of those delicious and memorable treats to give to our deployed troops from Sisters. McKenna has been with the Girl Scout organization for four years, and is enjoying this year as a Brownie and being able to give to... Full story
The Sisters School District local option levy has passed with 1,858 votes in favor (54.47 percent) to 1,553 votes against (45.53 percent) according to the latest report from the Deschutes County Clerk. The four-year levy of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation provides about $1.1 million per year to the Sisters School District. "The clear winners are the children of Sisters," said school board chair Christine Jones. "The coming year is a year when we'll really need local option and when it mattered the voters stepped... Full story
Over the objections of citizens and two city councilors, the Sisters City Council on Thursday passed a resolution declaring its support of "locally controlled land use planning" in regard to resort development in the Metolius Basin. Resolution 2009-04, which replaces a 2007 resolution supporting legislation to ban resort development in the basin entirely, acknowledges that "the Metolius River is a precious asset to the state of Oregon" and notes that "the City continues to be... Full story
