News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 12 of 12
The future of Sisters is being shaped by decisions that are being made now about how the city will grow. Will Sisters become a bedroom community for Bend and Redmond? Will it become a mini-Bend? Or will Sisters develop a "sustainable" economy that allows it to retain the town's unique character? "Of the three choices, I certainly hope that we succeed in the latter - developing a sustainable economy that retains the character of Sisters," said Cheryl Mills, Executive Director of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. "We have... Full story
Sisters is getting wired - and it's not from the coffee shops that dot the downtown area. Now, there is free wi-fi (wireless fidelity) Internet access available to everyone. Community Broadband and OutlawNet have quietly gone about setting up a wi-fi network throughout the city which was to become fully active on Sunday, April 1. "What we deployed in Sisters are extenders or remote units. There are currently six deployed around town right now, but we will be putting up... Full story
Three superintendent finalists have lined up for a chance to take the reins of the Sisters School District. All three will return to Sisters next week to learn more about local schools and the community. What they already know is that the Sisters job comes with a fairly large backlog of problems and challenges. The fact that current superintendent Ted Thonstad is leaving because he does not have the full support of the school board is no secret. All three finalists agree with Thonstad that to be effective a superintendent... Full story
To the Editor: A number of Kris Helphinstine's supporters who wrote The Nugget last week asked what opponents of teaching Intelligent Design in our public schools were afraid of. The answer to that question is simple: we're afraid of converting our democracy into a theocracy. Our nation was founded by immigrants fleeing religious persecution in Europe. Our founding fathers expressly wrote our government's doctrine of separation of church and state to protect against one group forcing its religious beliefs on everyone else.... Full story
Children from infant to 11 years old are invited to participate in the annual Easter Egg Hunt co-sponsored by the Sisters-Camp Sherman and Cloverdale fire departments. The event will be held on Easter Sunday, April 8 at 1 p.m. at the adjoining Creekside and Three Sisters Overnight Parks, regardless of weather. The Easter Bunny will be present to greet the children. Parking is limited so plan to be a little early. Children wishing to participate are asked to be at the parks 20 minutes before 1 p.m. so they can be divided into... Full story
The Sisters School District's Budget Committee is one member short. Any district resident who is qualified to register to vote and who is neither an officer nor employee of the school district is eligible to serve on the committee. The school board will appoint the new member to a two-year term that will expire on June 30, 2009. School board members hope an individual who is interested in learning more about how the district functions will come forward to serve. "I think the budget committee is a great introduction for... Full story
What started five months ago as a vision among a small group of like-minded citizens is rapidly becoming reality: a Sisters Community Garden just in time for the coming growing season. How did this happen? Think peas, as in garden variety. Then think "P's", as in passion, persistence, persuasion and planning. But forget patience: there wasn't time for patience in the minds of Sue Stafford and Katie Cavanaugh, co-facilitators of the project that will be the first visible result... Full story
The three finalists for the Sisters superintendent's job are visiting the district this month in the midst of a roiling controversy over the firing of part-time probationary teacher Kris Helphinstine. The biology teacher was fired for departing from accepted curriculum and introducing creationist or "Intelligent Design" materials into his classroom. All three candidates concur that Oregon Department of Education guidelines are specific as to what can and cannot be taught in biology classes. The Oregon Department of Education... Full story
Gerry Jimerson was dismayed to see the condition of her "adopted" horse camp when she got there on March 24. Vandals had knocked over signs depicting the history of Sisters Cow Camp in the woods west of town and kicked slats out of an old barn that still stands on the site. Jimerson and the local chapter of Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET) have "adopted" the site, pledging to keep it well maintained and cleaned up. The vandalism came as a nasty blow. "Now why did someone...... Full story
A 27-year-old Sisters man was arrested for drunk driving after a crash on Highway 126 near Aspen Lakes in the wee hours of Friday morning. According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded just before 1 a.m. to a report of a serious motor vehicle accident on Highway 126 just west of Camp Polk Road. According to police, the initial investigation showed that Jason Johnson was driving a 1993 Saturn four-door passenger car and was traveling eastbound on Highway 126 just west of Camp Polk Road when he crossed the... Full story
• Do-it-yourself traffic control was the theme of the week as someone nailed a STOP sign to a tree and someone blocked off Cascade Avenue at Oak Street with orange cones. Deputies removed the unapproved traffic-control devices. • A motorist hit a deer. Oregon State Police gave permission by phone for the driver to dispatch the injured deer on her own. • Deputies were dogged with complaints about canines - aggressive dogs, dogs at large, etc. • Someone has been sleeping in the upstairs... Full story
A bill that would prohibit destination resort development near the Metolius River will get an airing at a public hearing in Salem on Thursday, April 5. Senate Bill 30 (SB 30) is sponsored by Democrat (formerly Republican and Independent) Senator Ben Westlund of Deschutes County. The bill amends the language of ORS 197.455, the Oregon state law that regulates the development of destination resorts. In effect, SB 30 kills any plans for a destination resort near Camp Sherman by prohibiting any destination resort development "in... Full story
