News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 22 of 22
Count it as lessons hard-learned. After getting significant pushback from the Sisters community on City of Sisters proposals to construct an amphitheater and to renovate the Creekside Park campground, the City is taking a different tack to ensure that proposed projects are in line with community desires and values. The City recently announced that it will form a committee to review and refine proposals for "community assets" that came out of an economic development community... Full story
The city council passed a temporary ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in the city Thursday night on a 5-0 vote. This first step eliminated the risk of a lawsuit as a result of being in the cross-fire between state law and federal law. Current Oregon law allows and is now licensing medical marijuana dispensaries. An Oregon city that denies a proper request for a business license for a dispensary could be sued. At the same time, federal statutes still carry marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. As a Schedule I... Full story
In the face of a technical default with the current holder of the City of Sisters sewer debt - and the refusal of a potential funder to consider the refinance until the default was cleared - the council voted 4-1 to raise the City sewer rates from $35.70 to their pre-1990 charge of $39 per month per equivalent family dwelling unit (EDU). This increase will resolve the default, which developed after the City reduced rates in 2009 to compensate for a water rate increase, by returning the City sewer fund to profitability.... Full story
A Sisters High School senior who was seriously injured in a woodshop accident at the school in December 2012 is suing the Sisters School District (SSD) for current and future medical expenses and damages for a total of over $6 million. Joshua Ward, now 19, lost the ring and pinky fingers of his left hand and suffered severe damage to the other fingers and thumb in an accident involving a table saw. He has lost sensation in his fingers and hand and has lost some use of that... Full story
City leadership has learned something valuable in recent months: Sometimes you have to slow down to move fast. Enthusiastic, entrepreneurial leadership at City Hall is a good thing. But in their zeal to "get things done," the City leadership has several times gotten crossways with the public they serve. Instituting new procedures to allow for broad input will benefit everyone. Creating new citizen committees or actively involving existing advisory boards will help ensure that potential land mines are identified and avoided... Full story
The Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) serves the youth and adults of Sisters Country with recreation and enrichment opportunities. The majority of the programs SPRD runs are for the youth of our community, and many of these children come from low-income families. For this reason SPRD has the Bonnie Malone Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to kids in need. Many local community members, businesses, and organizations generously donate to this fund. However, even with SPRD diligently checking the financial... Full story
To the Editor: A year ago an overwhelming 79.8 percent of the voters in the Sisters School District passed the local option tax for our schools. The tax rate was approved at 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value or real market value (whichever is lower). The Sisters community is fortunate to have folks willing to pay an extra tax in order to maintain the quality of our schools. As the result of Measure 5, a state law passed in 1990, many taxpayers are paying significantly less than the 75-cent tax rate. Some pay the full rate... Full story
Sisters citizens can weigh in on how they want the City of Sisters to handle "formula food" establishments. The Sisters Planning Commission will hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss possible changes to the development code, which could affect the definition of a formula food establishment and whether these facilities should be regulated in the city's Downtown Commercial District. The Town Hall meeting is set for Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 p.m. at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave. The current definition of a formula food... Full story
The "Two Rivers, Three Sisters" quilt installation has lived out a Johnny Cash song: It's been everywhere, man. The traveling exhibit has hung all around the Pacific Northwest and as far away as Yokohama, Japan. Now, it's come home to Sisters. Quilters, local dignitaries and interested citizens gathered Wednesday evening to celebrate the installation's return to its permanent display in the council chambers at Sisters City Hall. "Two Rivers, Three Sisters" is a 40-foot-long... Full story
Beginning on Friday, April 4, rubber construction ducks will be hidden throughout businesses in Sisters Country. The Great Sisters Duck Hunt works like this: If you find a duck, snap a picture of it and post it to the Sisters Country Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/SistersCountry) to be entered to win Sisters Country Gift Certificates totaling $225. (The caption must include the duck's number; see below.) More than two-dozen ducks will initially be hidden in random businesses... Full story
Longtime Sisters resident Elizabeth (Betsy) Leighty-Johnson completed her Doctorate in Philosophy in Human Services with a specialization in Social and Community Services from Capella University on January 31, 2014. Dr. Leighty-Johnson graduated with distinction (4.0 GPA) and participated in the university's winter commencement exercise on March 15, in Nashville, Tennessee. Her dissertation, "An Army National Guard Military Family Program Staff Job Satisfaction and Job Dissati... Full story
Though they are off to an 0-6 start, Sisters High School softball Coach Ciera Jones has seen a lot of silver linings in her first year as head coach. "The improvement since the first game against Madras in regards to focus, swinging the bat, and will to win was incredible," said Jones. "As long as they keep up the hard work, they will continue to improve and be successful." That first game was a 13-0 loss to Madras and included a dozen strikeouts and only one base hit. The... Full story
The boys tennis team continued their winning ways, blanking the White Buffs 7-0 on Tuesday, March 25. Paul Fullhart (No. 1 singles) prevailed 6-0, 6-0 in his match against Simon Sangha, and Trevor Standen (No. 2 singles) earned an easy 6-2, 6-2 victory over Joseph Calica. Kobe Martinez dominated his match and notched a 6-0, 6-0 win over Joey Jaminez in No. 3 doubles. "Kobe is a super frosh," said Coach Bim Gander. "He's won both his matches this year, and none more convincingly than his match today." Veteran Michael Commins... Full story
Annie Painter has been teaching art - and teaching teachers to teach art - for many years. She's worked in that field right here in Sisters. But recently she took her paint kit far away - for a two-week residency on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. "The old girls' network is responsible for this remarkable experience," Painter said. Lynne Michael, library media specialist at Sinapalo Elementary School on Rota, saw Painter's teaching-videos (www.anniepainter.com)... Full story
While some kids were spending their spring break watching movies and sleeping in, the Sisters High School Equestrian team was riding to win at the second Central District meet in Redmond. The Sisters team again won the overall team competition for medium-sized teams. There were 15 teams and 132 riders competing at the event over three days. Coach Yvette Chandler said, "We've won first place in the medium division in our first two meets. That's amazing! Even better, we placed... Full story
Dierk Detlef Peters, 96, died March 20, at his home. On that day, he was surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, the deer, and the quail that he loved so much. That night Dierk passed peacefully, the same man on his last day as he was on every other - brave, protective, and confident. A service will be held Friday, April 4, at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church in Sisters, followed by a memorial to honor this great man and to celebrate a life well-lived. Dierk Peters was... Full story
Frank Duyshart, age 68, passed away at St. Charles Medical Center due to complications following heart surgery, on March 9, 2014. Frank is survived by his beloved wife, Suzie, and son, Jonathan, who reside at the family home in Bend, outside of Sisters. Also, Frank has a surviving sister, Melinda, of Vancouver, British Columbia. For the past eight years, Frank has been the primary caregiver to his son, Jonathan, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and is a quadriplegic from a car accident. Suzie is now Jonathan's primary... Full story
To an equestrian, a horse is the ultimate silent partner. He works in unison with his rider, yet is often unable to communicate exactly where he's experiencing pain and discomfort. Sisters resident Courtney Satko wants to use her thermal imaging business, Equiscan IR (infrared), to help riders and others who care for horses detect issues beneath the skin that might be confounding owners and veterinarians. Thermal imaging, or infrared thermography, is akin to another tool in... Full story
The last few weeks have seen a definite upswing in my mood as the curtain of winter rises to reveal the hopeful promises of spring. The daffodils and crocus in my front yard have broken through the frozen ground and during each sunny day seem to lean into the warmth and light just as I do. With each passing year, the beginning and ending of seasons give rise to more reflection and recalling of memories. Much of that recall takes me back to my childhood home. I was fortunate... Full story
Fourth-grade teacher Clay Warburton decided he wanted to bring his students into knowing how we humans fit into and share space with other animals inhabiting this wonderful old Earth with us, and did so in the most creative way. He began by illustrating all the animal kingdoms and families on a sheet of legal paper, which in itself was a major accomplishment. Then, with the aid of the school's Prezi app, he created a spectacular computer presentation explaining how scientists... Full story
In past articles the authors of this column have guided watchers of the night sky to various constellations that populate the celestial sphere. By simply following the directions, readers were led to a collection of stars that comprised a particular constellation. This exercise was made easier when the targeted stars are bright. Identifying this month's featured constellation, however, may be a bit more difficult. Canes Venatici represents the two hunting dogs of Bootes the... Full story
It's almost dawn - with an hour to go before your alarm goes off - and suddenly you wake with a start, only to find Kitty meowing two inches from your face, ready for action. Most likely Kitty wants to play while you're sleeping because cats are actually crepuscular. Cats often surprise us with their unpredictability and, at times, they may even seem downright eccentric. Weird cat behaviors may look unusual to humans, but for the most part it's completely normal for them.... Full story
