News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 23 of 23
News reports last week were startling. Comments made by Superintendent Elaine Drakulich in an interview with The Bulletin, picked up by local TV stations, indicated that the district might close Sisters Middle School or merge with another school district. At their Wednesday night meeting, the Sisters School Board debunked those stories. Board chair Christine Jones, in a prepared statement, said that a "strategy committee" has been exploring cost-saving measures in the face of... Full story
Voters in the City of Sisters approved a 3-cents-per-gallon gas tax by a wide margin on Tuesday, March 9. The tally was 326 (60 percent) in favor with 219 (40 percent) against. The vote affirms an ordinance passed by the city council last August, authorizing the tax. The Oregon Petroleum Association successfully petitioned to have the matter put on the ballot for the March 9 election. "We're moving ahead with implementation of the ordinance as of April 1," said City Manager... Full story
As a matter of fact, Rick Geraths does own the whole road - a one-mile stretch of road in Tollgate known as the "back road," to be precise. The new ownership is courtesy of a gifted deed by Brooks Resources, part of the former Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Mill empire. It was a section of leftover land created when the original Tollgate subdivision was divided and platted out. For many past years, this unpaved thoroughfare has served as a multi-use recreational trail for joggers,... Full story
To the Editor: In regards to back-in parking, Chuck Humphreys hit it on the head: Some people are afraid of change. Having used back-in parking on a visit to Seattle, it was readily apparent how much safer it was and made me wonder why other cities hadn't adopted it. Probably for the same reason there aren't more roundabouts in U.S. cities: People are afraid of change. I believe that if they tried it they would find it a lot less difficult than they thought. To test my theory I took my 15-year-old daughter over to Larch... Full story
Last fall, during a meeting at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, state, federal and TV meteorologists predicted that El Niño conditions would prevail during the winter of 2009-10, and they hit the nail right on the head. You don't have to be a fire fighter or hydrologist to see that there is very little snow-pack in the mountains. If the Sisters Country experiences the usual March winds, there won't be much moisture left in the soils of the foothills either.... Full story
Sisters area residents needing help with heating bills can meet with NeighborImpact staff from the energy assistance, energy weatherization and energy education programs on Friday, March 26, at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The energy assistance program provides financial help for low-income households having difficulty paying their heating bills. The assistance can help with electricity, natural gas, propane, oil or wood. If you need help paying your heating bill, bring your energy bill and... Full story
Air Force veteran Chuck Marshall walked through the door of the Maida Bailey Building on a brisk but sunny day, hopeful that his appointment on March 1 with Deschutes County Veteran's Services Officer, Keith Macnamara, would yield him an accepted claim. Marshall attempted to make a claim for veteran's benefits in 2001, his first one ever, and was denied because the Veterans Administration (VA) said he wasn't a vet. With more than 29 years of service, Marshall found this new in... Full story
The Sisters community has proved to be the perfect venue for an aspiring young musician like Austin Erlandson. With his own CD, original compositions and an infectious voice, Austin is well on his way to attaining his goal of working in the world of professional music. At age eight, Erlandson bought his first guitar and has been playing ever since. So great is his love for the guitar, Austin challenged himself to build a guitar of his own while enrolled in Sisters High... Full story
Sisters will enjoy the glamour and mystery of a masquerade ball Saturday night, March 27, to benefit charities helping people in Uganda and earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The Sisters Masquerade Benefit Ball will be held at the Aspen Lakes Lodge. The event is a black-tie, suit, wedding dress or formal gown affair. Cost is $35 per person, $60 per couple in advance; $50 per person, $90 per couple at the door. Masks will be available at the door for a small fee and guests are encouraged to bring their own. Tickets can be purchased at... Full story
Slick's Que Co., in downtown Sisters, has added live, acoustic music to the entertainment experience at their authentic pit-style restaurant. This new live music venue will offer a wide range of original country, old Western, Cajun and folk music performing artists, in a family-friendly environment. In order to better enjoy the music experience, the owners of Slick's Que Co. have added a stage for performers, complete with sound and lighting, for the Friday early evening shows. "We were very set on the goal of providing a... Full story
Five girls from the Outlaws basketball team earned all-league honors this year. Senior Susan Ruettgers was named first team all-league, junior Chelsie McConville second team all-league and senior Danelle Allen, junior Marin Allen and freshman Taylor Nieri were honorable mention. Ruettgers, at 6-feet-1-inch, was the anchor in the middle for the Outlaws this year but was often asked to defend opposing guards, which is not common and speaks to her athletic ability. Coach Kevin... Full story
Jerry and Judy Price, of Sisters, will host The Hollands! at Sisters Coffee Company on Hood Avenue, Saturday, March 20. On March 21 they are offering The Art of Word and Song, a songwriters' workshop, held in the Mountain View Room at Sisters Community Church, 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. with the workshop to follow. Call 541-549-1201 for information. The Hollands! are comprised of married duo Jana and Craig Holland, who craft handmade music with a gypsy,... Full story
There's an old saying that goes, "everybody talks about the weather, but nobody ever does anything about it." Well, that can't be said of Sandy Sharp. She records it. Sharp works at the Sisters Ranger District office and, as a member of the Cooperative Observer Program (COOP), is responsible for taking daily weather measurements. An information assistant by title, Sharp begins each workday by raising our nation's flag on a nearby pole. At that time she estimates wind speed by... Full story
• An alleged theft of $59 in gas at a Sisters station led to an arrest. A deputy who caught the call already had the vehicle pulled over for speeding. The driver confessed to the theft. Further investigation led to an arrest on warrants from the midwest on drug charges. • A rifle was stolen from the home of an elderly man who had been moved to a care facility. It appeared that burglars had been preparing to steal more items but a caretaker discovered the theft and called police. • A local... Full story
Habitat for Humanity has hosted many a groundbreaking ceremony in building homes for people in the Sisters Country. Sunday marked the organization's first wall raising to dedicate a new Sisters Habitat for Humanity home at Hammond Place on East Cascade Avenue, and to introduce the owners. The new owners had the honor of having Julia Hammond as a special guest. Sharlene Weed, Executive Director for Sisters HFH, opened the ceremony. "This subdivision is named Hammond Place, after Julia and her husband, Hort, who are the founder... Full story
As we drove into downtown Seattle, the Columbia Tower rose into the sky like the Tower of Babel, and the thought occurred to me, "What on earth was I thinking?" Climbing 1,311 steps, 69 stories and 788 feet in the air with approximately 50 pounds of gear, breathing through a mask: I'm sure I've had better ideas. The hordes of firefighters, from hundreds of departments and four countries, were motivational in that we wouldn't be alone in our suffering. But we still had to face... Full story
Outlaws varsity golf squads are practicing hard and ready to swing into the season ahead. The boys squad returns four veteran varsity players, including seniors Cody Farr-Baenziger, Jonathan Standen, Aaron Simundson and junior Jeff Fought. All four players have state tournament experience and know what it's like to perform at a high level. The squad had a very high turnout this year, and according to coach Jeff Barton there are some very promising freshmen and sophomores. The team is waiting to see who will fill the fifth... Full story
The Outlaws girls tennis team returns 11 players to their squad, and will also add 11 new players to the team. Specific singles and doubles positions have not yet been determined. Tiffany Bigelow and Maddie Green are both back for their fourth year on the team. Bigelow will play both singles and doubles, and Green will play singles. Bigelow has a great return on serves, which allows her to gain control of the game, and Green's strength is in her strong ground strokes. Six players will return for their second season on the... Full story
The boys tennis team is counting on veteran players and strong newcomers to build a good season on the courts. The boys tennis team returns nine varsity players to their squad. Back for another stint are Colby Gilmore, Luke Gnos, Ben Fullhart, Sam Quinn, Jake Lasken, Sean Tosello, Alex Cristiano, Jared Schneider and Andy Thomas. Garth Tosello will step in at the helm as the Outlaws' new boys varsity tennis coach, bringing 25 years of experience with him. Tosello has played team and competitive tennis, taught junior tennis... Full story
Folks from across Central Oregon enjoyed a hands-on opportunity to paint and embellish their own canvas tote bag in the Common Canvas Community Art Day, held at Sisters Middle School last Saturday. Common Canvas is the prequel to the April 9 Community Parade, Art Stroll and Chili Feed, followed by the My Own Two Hands "Traveling Light" Art Auction on April 10. Sisters strongly supports the arts. Major art events are held throughout the year that both entertain and educate.... Full story
• Sisters Realtors from a variety of local agencies met last week at Ray's Food Place for their regular MLS (Multiple Listing Service) meeting and tour. The group celebrated the distribution of $500 to Sisters Habitat for Humanity and $500 to Sisters Kiwanis Club. The contribution was made at the end of 2009 through the Central Oregon Association of Realtors. This is an annual means for local Realtors to give back to their community. • Scoots Bar and... Full story
Richard went to sleep Sunday night, never to wake again. He was born in Porterville, California to Clara Rogers (Johnson) and Monty Rogers. He was a Vietnam Veteran and loved to ride his Harley motorcycles. He is survived by a sister, Faye Phillips of Porterville, and a brother, Claude Rogers of Santa Clara, California. He had several nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of his life with full military honors on March 18 at 1 p.m. at 69228 Yellow Daisy Lane. "On... Full story
Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts (SCAFA) was evicted from its school site in downtown Sisters last Friday. Students were not in school on Monday or Tuesday. SCAFA Principal, Theresa Schneiderman told The Nugget that charter school officials are negotiating with the landlord to reopen the school. "We have the funds," she said. She did not know how much was required to make good the rent that is in arrears. Schneiderman said she the school should be reopened soon. "This... Full story
