News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
A winter storm dropped more than eight inches of snow on Sisters and more in the mountains. That will not be enough to break what many believe is the worst drought in the region since at least 1992. According to Deschutes County Deputy Watermaster Jeremy Giffin, the storm, though welcome, will make “very little difference to the snowpack.” Giffin said “we’re still in (a) poor situation. We’re back to ’92 levels.” Marc Thalacker, manager of Three Sisters Irrigation Di... Full story
Several people were badly hurt in a collision near the junction of Highways 20 and 22 on Wednesday, March 23. According to Sisters Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler, ambulances from Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District and the Black Butte Ranch fire district responded to the crash. Details were sketchy, but Oregon State Police reported that the crash involved a van and a sedan and occurred on Highway 22 near where Highway 20 joins the roadway. The accident occurred in the late afternoon after two days of snowfall.... Full story
The Sisters Starry Nights Concert Series closes on Saturday, April 2 with the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who last appeared at the event in 2000. This year’s sold-out show features the return of renowned multi-instrumentalist John McEuen, who rejoined the group in 2001 after several years of solo projects. McEuen has appeared at the Sisters Folk Festival. “We still hear great comments about the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s concert five years ago,” said Starry Nights Co-Chair Susan Arends. “Their show is always entertain... Full story
Until recently, people in Sisters had never heard of Hikkaduwa. Last week, a group of Sisters men returned from the village after spending their time, sweat and money rebuilding homes for families devastated by last December’s earthquake and tsunami. Sisters Habitat for Humanity team leader Woodie Woodsum and Three Sisters Fellowship Pastor Mike Boswell quickly organized 11 men to become the first Habitat team from the United States to build shelter for the victims. H... Full story
A soft spring rain didn’t deter Easter Egg hunters in Sisters on Sunday. Children came from all around the region — and some visited from out of state — to scour Creekside City Park and Sisters Overnight Park for some 4,000 plastic Easter Eggs in an event sponsored by the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire and Ambulance association and the fire department. At the signal of a siren from Fire Chief Tay Robertson’s command vehicle, hundreds of children up to 11 years old sprinted — and sl... Full story
What do you do when a neighbor builds a fence on your property, your landlord won’t fix your plumbing, or a bill for car repairs is twice what you were quoted? Some people think of suing, calling the police — or even contemplate violence. Central Oregon Mediation (COM) offers another choice. COM is a nonprofit organization that provides “peaceful problem solving.” Executive Director and Sisters resident Kathy Oxborrow said COM is focusing on bringing in new board members since several people are transitioning off the board.... Full story
Oregon has been getting rapped in national press coverage of high school graduation requirements. But in some ways, it’s a bum rap. The latest round of criticism originated with a report issued in December by Achieve Inc., a nonprofit organization founded by business leaders and governors at the national education summit of 1996. The report noted that Oregon ranks near the bottom among the 50 states in its high school graduation requirements for math and English. Oregon requires only two years of math whereas most states r... Full story
Oregon has been getting rapped in national press coverage of high school graduation requirements. But in some ways, it’s a bum rap. The latest round of criticism originated with a report issued in December by Achieve Inc., a nonprofit organization founded by business leaders and governors at the national education summit of 1996. The report noted that Oregon ranks near the bottom among the 50 states in its high school graduation requirements for math and English. Oregon requires only two years of math whereas most states r... Full story
Folks strolling through Sisters during the My Own Two Hands “Make Time” Art Stroll on Friday, April 8, will be moving to a beat that they’ve never felt before. The MarchFourth Marching Band from Portland will be cruising the streets of Sisters, bringing their unique brand of mobile entertainment to every nook and cranny of town before heading to Bronco Billy’s Ranch Grill & Saloon for a finale. The MarchFourth Marching Band is a 25-30 piece outfit that has evolved into a high... Full story
Western Writers of America has awarded “Buy the Chief a Cadillac,” by Prineville author Rick Steber, the 2005 Spur Award as Best Western Novel. Steber is the first Oregon writer to win this award. Previous award winners include: Larry McMurtry for “Lonesome Dove,” Michael Blake for “Dances with Wolves,” Glendon Swarthout for “The Shootist” and Tony Hillerman for“Skinwalker.” The Spur Award, presented annually for distinguished writing about the American West, is among the oldest and most prestigious in American literature... Full story
Katie Cavanaugh won honors for her original folk songs in the Central Oregon Songwriters Association (COSA) annual Song of the Year competition held on March 12 in Bend. Cavanaugh was awarded first and second place in the Folk Song category. She said, “What an awesome acknowledgment of my work, and to receive awards for two of my compositions is hard to describe. “I am thrilled!” Cavanaugh has been a performing singer/songwriter for over 30 years. She is a two-time finalist in... Full story
The Outlaw baseball team defeated Scappoose 14-1 in its first game of the John Day Tournament on Thursday, March 24. Friday’s and Saturday’s games were a disappointment. Sisters lost 10-3 to 2A Grant Union on Friday and suffered an 11-1 loss to 4A Sheldon on Saturday. In Friday’s game against Scappoose the Outlaw bats were hot and the pitching was great. Sisters had 13 hits as a team with five runs crossing the plate in the fourth inning and eight runs in the fifth. Jeff Sampson had three hits for the Outlaws including a dou... Full story
A group of young Sisters skiers have been working very hard the past four months in hopes of competing in the Alpine Ski Championships which are held each year over spring break. The racers compete under the auspices of and are active participants in the Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation junior race program (MBSEF). This year the event was held March 12-13 and was moved from Mt. Spokane to Mt. Bachelor due to lack of snow in Washington. Qualifying this year at fourth seed out of a field of approximately 55 boys was... Full story
Sisters High School added its first Advanced Placement (AP) class this year. It’s an English class for seniors. Middle School Principal Lora Nordquist, who is the district’s curriculum coordinator, is pleased…but not satisfied. She’d like to see the school offer three or four such classes, covering as many major subjects. “I’ve been — I don’t know what word you want to use — the nag, I guess, about us moving to AP classes. Because I believe they are really a good addition to the curriculum,” Nordquist told The Nugget. “Even t... Full story
The spring edition of Central Oregon Horse Journal is now available in Sisters. This edition of COHJ is the largest-ever issue of the regional publication, which focuses on a wide range of equestrian-related issues and activities in Central Oregon. Michelle Anderson’s story “Get Ready to Ride” offers tips on getting and staying fit for the saddle. She also highlights some special feeding concerns of which horse owners in Central Oregon should be aware. Jeff Gates propounds the benefits of ground school in developing a well-... Full story
• Sisters Olive & Nut Co. has opened at The Palace Building, 101 E. Cascade Ave. in downtown Sisters. Owners Susan and Kevin King feature 47 different varieties of olives, a wide range of nuts and a large selection of wines and candy. Sisters Olive & Nut Co. makes gift baskets that can be shipped throughout the United States. • Three Sisters Floral needs to get rid of its seven-foot tall Norfolk pine tree. Best offer takes it home this Saturday, April 2. • Fingers & Chilli will perform in the lounge at Coyote Creek Frida... Full story
Just as state and local governments, private landowners, environmental organizations, and attorneys are wrestling over a flurry of Measure 37 land use claims, one question has the whole process stalled. The question is whether land use waivers granted under Measure 37 can be transferred from the property owner gaining the waiver to someone to someone buying the property. Ballot Measure 37 was approved by Oregon voters on November 2, 2004 by a vote of 1,054,589 (61 percent) to 685,079 (39 percent). It became law December 2, 20... Full story
To the Editor: According to what we read in The Nugget and The Oregonian and The Bend Bulletin (March 26 edition), Sisters’ large building boom since the sewers were installed is going to come to a rapid end. The Bulletin states the sewer system will reach capacity by 2007. The power capacity is already in crisis and no solution appears in sight, so I guess it behooves the city councilors, the mayor and the planning director to pay attention to how many building permits are issued. Certainly the situation requires due diligen... Full story
The following SPAM has apparently been circulating for about three years and just now caught up with me (compliments of my daughter Kristin in North Carolina, who sends me EVERYTHING!). “Bill owns a company that manufactures and installs car wash systems. Bill’s company installed a car wash system in Frederick, Maryland. “Now understand that these are ‘complete systems,’ including the money-changer and money-taking machines. The problem started when the new owner complained to Bill that he was losing significant amounts o... Full story
Oregon still has some places where population density is measured in square miles per person rather than people per square mile. But they can’t compare with the remoteness of the places depicted in today’s films. Nor can many movies match the excellence of these award-winning examinations of native cultures. Two students studying documentary filmmaking in Germany, Byambasuren Davaa (Mongolian) and Luigi Falorni (Italian), made The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003). Camel’s part of the Mongolian Gobi Desert is about the same... Full story
The Sisters Jazz Festival Board “Keys for Kids” initiative has placed donated pianos at SOAR, Sisters High School and in homes of several talented children. The jazz festival board has expanded the program to include all kinds of musical instruments. Those who have an unused trumpet, saxophone, set of drums, piano, etc., may consider donating them to the “Keys for Kids” program. The instruments will be reconditioned and provided to the Sisters schools music program or on a loan basis to individual children. For more informa... Full story
With all this March snow and rain, the ground around the benches in The Village Green would normally be full of water and mud. But thanks to Chris Stahn, a scout of Troop 188 sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is pavement where there once was a muddy mess. Chris Stahn received his Eagle Award in December of 2004. His project included landscaping the Sisters Overnight Park along with placing the pavement of bricks in front of the Village... Full story
The Sisters Rotary Club is joining other Central Oregon Rotarians to help rebuild and equip schools in Sri Lanka after the island was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami last December. So far, Central Oregon Rotarians have donated or pledged $23,000. The Sisters club has pledged $3,000 of that. “We expect the money to continue to grow,” said Andy Zook. Zook is a Bend Rotarian who is helping coordinate the efforts of local Rotary clubs. He said he has a growing list of con... Full story
Sisters Family Access Network (FAN) will host a five-week spring parenting class series titled, “Guiding Good Choices.” The class will be held on Tuesdays, April 5, 12, 19, 26, and May 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School library. Classes will be taught by Gary Matlick of Bend. Matlick is a drug and alcohol counselor who has worked with adolescent treatment programs for 17 years and is an alcohol and drug evaluation specialist for the courts in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. Matlick will cover information on... Full story
From Kevin L. Dumas, Sisters Do we want the government to decide which businesses will be allowed to participate in our marketplace and which ones will not? Is it the government’s role to obstruct the free market? Should the government suppress competition when it can be made to function? No, our government’s primary role is to protect us so we can conduct business without fear or interference because it’s American capitalism that has produced unprecedented prosperity throughout the history of the world. Limiting our choic... Full story
