News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
A couple weeks ago, I called up Rick Kroytz, counselor and mentorship facilitator at Sisters High School, and asked if he knew of any students I could interview about the local hobby-gaming scene. He met me at the school during the lunch period, and introduced me to senior Dylan Rundle and sophomore Brennan Frutos of the Table Top Games Club. During our chat, we were joined by the club's faculty advisor, T. R. McCrystal. At any given time, Table Top Games has about a dozen... Full story
I woke up Sunday morning on fire to fish the March Brown mayfly hatch on the lower McKenzie River - just a few miles from Springfield. Yes, this spot is about 100 miles from Sisters. Yes, it was a holiday of sorts - St. Patrick's Day. Yes, I am nutso. Yet, being a nutso fly angler is often a good thing, I don't eat or drink stuff that is dyed green and I have a fly fishing truck that is set up for local, medium, and long fishing trips. A day trip to the McKenzie is a long day... Full story
The primary election is May 21 and ballots will be mailed May 1. There are only two races. One for County Commissioner Position #2, and the other for Deschutes County Sheriff. Both are four-year terms. There are eight measures on the ballot, none affecting Sisters nor which Sisters voters can vote. This is the first commissioner election since voters approved a measure to make such races non-partisan. Thus the top two vote getters will appear on the November ballot. Phil... Full story
After conferring with its attorneys and insurance advisor, Sisters Eagle Airport has decided against continuing its annual July 4th event known as Rumble on the Runway. As The Nugget reported earlier this month, the very popular event has grown in size to the point where risk leaves the airport vulnerable. Last week, Rotary Club of Sisters, Citizens4Community (C4C) and Explore Sisters met in an emergency setting to discuss alternatives for an Independence Day family event of... Full story
There is nothing quite like sitting across the table from a fisherperson. There is genuine happiness in their eyes, laughter, and pats on the back. Their faces light up like a warm campfire when they start spinning yarns with hands outstretched ("It was that big!"). We eavesdropped as the older guys shared the location of their favorite fishing holes. Some kids from a middle school fly tying club sparkled with anticipation and awe as they took in every word. Best of all,... Full story
SFF Presents will host another all-day painting class with renowned local painter, Paul Alan Bennett, on Saturday, April 27, at Sisters Art Works. Registration opens on Wednesday, March 27, at 10 a.m. at https://aftontickets.com/learn-to-paint and is limited to 10 people. Participants must be 18 or older to enroll; no experience necessary. Bennett attended the Maryland Institute of Art and lived in Greece for six years where he taught art and got a master’s degree in Greek His... Full story
As it seeks to add workforce housing to its primary mission of affordable housing, Sisters Habitat for Humanity is eagerly awaiting a decision from the State of Oregon for its grant application. Beginning in 2017 Oregon launched its statewide housing plan in response to the critical shortage of affordable homes, especially for lower income earners. The same plan included efforts to ease homelessness. (OHCS) Oregon Housing and Community Services was formed and, over the years... Full story
Sisters' taste of warm temperatures and bright sunshine earlier this month heralded spring, and a hint of summer. It's a welcome tease - and also a reminder that we're headed into wildfire season. Local officials met informally with a group of Sisters area citizens on Wednesday, March 20, at Sisters Fire Hall, to talk about wildfire preparedness. According to Andrew Myhra of the Sisters Ranger District, it's a little early to predict what kind of wildfire season we're facing.... Full story
The Sisters Outlaws kicked off their golf season by hosting a two-person scramble event at Tokatee on March 14. Many of the courses were still closed in Central Oregon because of the cold snowy weather. Tokatee was not only open but presented us with a 60-degree day for the tournament. We had a nice field consisting of 3 teams from the coast; Marshfield, Bandon & Coquille, and Crook County; Bend High, Summit, and Sisters from Central Oregon. Summit and Bandon are consistently... Full story
Helping people in need - that's the fundamental mission and purpose of the men and women who volunteer with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. There are many different ways to help fulfill that mission - and many paths to becoming a volunteer. "My journey with the fire service has been long," Firefighter Kevin Cramer told The Nugget last week. "It's got a lot of holes in it; it's not continuous." As a young man, he was on a path toward the fire service in southern... Full story
Sisters School District officials and other agencies will look into potentially inappropriate texts between a Sisters teacher and a former student believed to be 17. The texts came to light in social media posts on Sunday, March 25, involving choir and Americana Project teacher Rick Johnson. "We're aware of the issue," Sisters Schools Superintendent Curt Scholl told The Nugget Monday afternoon. "Can't comment on personnel issues, but we're working with all the agencies on the matter." As is standard practice for mandatory... Full story
Wading along rivers, streams, and lakes is America's largest heron, the Great Blue - possessing a wingspan of up to 79 inches and a height of 40 to 53 inches. Around Sisters, they can often be seen in wheat and grass fields feeding on moles, gophers, frogs, insects and ground squirrels. Also Great Blues can be seen overhead soaring slowly, traveling to their nests or new feeding areas, such as your backyard pond. They will form rookeries in mature forests in which large stick... Full story
Susan Ann De Voe, 86, of Black Butte Ranch, passed away peacefully at home on March 21, 2024.She was born in Salt Lake City on July 7, 1937, to parents EJ and Mildred De Voe. She is survived by her lifetime best friend of over 50 yeas, Phyllis Lees, cousins, Mary (Mal) Wolfson, Dick (Jan) Mitchell, Chris (Don) Mochel, and numerous friends and former students. Sue began playing golf at a very young age, displaying a passion and superior talent for the game, winning her first... Full story
Scott Armond Brooksby was born August 13, 1962, in Eugene, Oregon to Linda and Gerald Brooksby. He was the eldest of seven children and spent his early years in Minnesota until moving to Portland in 1972 where he spent the remainder of his childhood, graduating from Beaverton High School in 1981. Scott graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA and went on to earn his law degree at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 1994. While working at law... Full story
Donald Eugene Hancock passed away from age related causes on March 21, 2024. at his apartment in The Lodge at Sisters, where he and his wife had made their home since 2021. Don was born in 1927, to Willis and Ethel (Lingbloom) Hancock in Yakima, Washington. Don was raised in Selah, Washington. While young, Don was active in the Selah Swingsters, playing both the coronet and trombone and with the Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Life Scout prior to leaving for WWII. Don enlisted... Full story
Ietje van Dobbenburgh Orr, 93, a former long-time resident of Sisters, passed away March 10, in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Ietje is survived by her daughters Chapin Zakrzewski of Portland, Oregon, and Missy Orr (Dave Bullamore) of Holly Springs, North Carolina, granddaughter Alyssa Kuwik (Jordan) of Edgewood, Washington, grandson Garrett Zakrzewski (Leanna) of New Orleans, Louisiana, great-grandson Lincoln Zakrzewski and several second and third cousins in her native... Full story
Nick Sundstrom's favorite client to work with is someone willing to explore and be curious about their thoughts, emotions, and history. He has worked with adults, teens, couples, and families in a number of different settings. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), who has been in practice for 31 years, Sundstrom is now seeing clients in Sisters at 220 South Pine Street, Suite 102. He spends one-to-two days a week in an office in Redmond as well. Sundstrom says he is wired... Full story
Plans to turn the site of the former Conklin’s Guest House near the intersection of Camp Polk Road and Barclay Drive into a boutique RV park are wending their way through a multi-tiered planning process. Sisters planning commissioners met in a workshop on Thursday, March 21, to get up to speed on proposed changes to the City of Sisters Development Code that would have to be in place before a formal plan for the site can be filed. The code changes are being proposed by the a... Full story
We brought them home in a snowstorm. They were half wild. At 15 weeks, they were the last dogs for a Scottie breeding kennel to sell, of his 30 puppies bred in 2023. It was obvious that these two brindle boys were not popular with the breeder’s clients. You almost never see brindle Scotties. Yet it is a valid color for the breed. I won’t ask what happens to most of the ones that don’t sell. Fortunately for us, these two came to our home. It may have continued snowing outside, but the sun has been shining in our home ever... Full story
The Lady Outlaws tennis squad took down Bend High 5-3 in their opening match of the season on Tuesday, March 12, and two days later beat Mt. View 7-1. In Tuesday’s match the Outlaws won all of their singles matches in straights sets. Juhree Kizziar (No. 1 singles) blanked Kyla Guerrero 6-0, 6-0. Kizziar demonstrated her new power on serve and return, and didn’t allow Guerrero to win a single game. Coach Bruce Fenn said, “Juhree has improved in all areas of her game. Her ground strokes are fast and consistent, and her volleys... Full story
The boys’ tennis squad lost both their opening matches this past week, a 0-8 loss at home against Crook County (CC) on Monday, March 11, and two days later a 1-8 loss at Mt. View. On Monday, the Outlaws played in cool weather on damp courts at home against CC. For many of the players it was the first time they had played against an opponent in a real match. Sisters No. 1 singles (Dominic Pulver) and No. 2 singles (Jude Parzybok) both played fairly well against their opponents, but not well enough to post a win. Pulver s... Full story
A group of businesses, mostly but not exclusively centered downtown, has launched a new Sisters Business Association (SBA). The group, some two dozen in number, was the inspiration of Shaunette White, owner of High Desert Chocolates at the corner of Cascade and Pine. She serves as SBA’s first president. Josh Smith of Paper Place is Vice President, and Eryn Ross at Sisters Depot is CFO. Leslie Cutler (Homestar), Casey Boyd (Rescued Living), Sheree Vance (Sisters Apothecary), S... Full story
Don’t reuse eclipse glasses To the Editor: There is an important safety issue that people should be made aware of concerning the upcoming eclipse on April 8, 2024. People should NOT use old eclipse glasses, especially ones that they used during a prior eclipse, such as the one in 2017. The protective coatings on some eclipse glasses deteriorate over time and will not protect a person properly. It is entirely safe to use new glasses, and those who experience the period of totality do not need any glasses during those few m... Full story
Living in a place like Sisters, we can all appreciate how visitors are drawn to its natural beauty, recreational activities, and small town charm. And there’s no arguing that tourists provide a healthy livelihood for many local businesses. But some are using that very rationale to defend an increase of STRs (short-term-residences, aka vacation rentals) in Sisters. But do we fully comprehend the price our town could pay if that happens? I visited Jackson Hole a couple decades ago. Another beautiful “small” town that got disco... Full story
