News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 21 of 21
Mac Hay has another year to pursue economic growth for the Sisters community. The Sisters Council voted to renew the half-time economic development manager's contract for another year at $30,000. The independent contractor's position was created two years ago, amid significant controversy. The position has been held by Mac Hay for the last two years. The vote was 4-1, with Councilor Sharlene Weed voting against the renewal. "We don't have a year (end) report, we don't have goals, and we don't have measurements. People ask me... Full story
When she was 11 years old, Cammi Benson told The Nugget she planned to win the Pinto World Championship at age 14. Most high aspirations of pre-teen kids are pleasant dreams that fall by the wayside. Not for Benson. Last month, she did, in fact, win the world at the Pinto Horse World Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Benson, the daughter of Julie and Benny Benson of Sisters, won several prestigious honors: the All-Around Junior Youth High Point (13/under - qualified for age as... Full story
Over the last few weeks, people in Central Oregon have watched the shocking devastation left in the wake of record-breaking fires across Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and other states across the West. Thousands of homes have been lost, thousands more have been evacuated. There is no shortage of footage of people exclaiming through tears that they had to evacuate immediately, with no time to prepare. These sad accounts provide eye-opening, teachable moments for folks in Sisters Country. Temperatures are finally rising, bringing u... Full story
Calendar models will come out from behind their quilts (fully clothed; settle down now...) for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show's Calendar Premiere Party on Tuesday, July 10 at Sisters Art Works. Organizers will "reveal" the new 18-month calendar, featuring the men of Sisters and quilts from Central Oregon quilters. Calendars will be available at a discount price and the guys will be on hand to personally autograph them. There will be a live auction of the quilts featured in... Full story
Fiber artists from around Central Oregon will demonstrate, exhibit and sell their work during the 9th Annual Around the Block Fiber Arts Stroll on Sunday, July 8, noon to 4 p.m. More than 30 fiber artists will share their textile arts including quilts, weaving, basketry, fabric-dying and much, much more. "This is the most unique art stroll in Sisters," said Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Executive Director Ann Richardson. "We have the artists on hand showing you how its done, and some may even have a project you can try... Full story
Kevin Cotner, health and physical education teacher at Sisters High School, crossed the finish line at Ironman Coeur d' Alene, on Sunday, June 24. Finishing the grueling race fulfilled a commitment he'd made to himself bedridden with cancer 15 years ago, where his incredible story really began. Cotner, a four-year, three-sport athlete, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma his senior year in high school and missed out on a state berth to the track championships. Instead,... Full story
Jim Cunningham served his country for more than 40 years, as an Air Force pilot and as commander of the Air National Guard. Now he serves his community on four non-profit boards of directors. It's an ethic of service that Cunningham insists upon - in his usual blunt fighter pilot's idiom: "I don't give a rat's if you served your country in the military," he says. "I give a rat's that you serve. You can't be only a taker. You have to give back and do what you can to make your c... Full story
When the school bell rings on the last day of school, what is a student to do? There is a large choice of recreational programs available, sports camps, Sisters Library events and other activities provided in the area. However if the student has special needs, the choice has been limited. Not so this summer. The Community Schools Initiative, Sisters School District, Sisters Park & Recreation District and Outlaw Martial Arts have come together to offer Taekwondo as well as recreation and educational opportunities... Full story
Sisters-area resident Tom Landis departs this week for the National Masters Long Course Swimming Championships in Omaha, Nebraska. The four-day meet, which starts on Thursday, features the top masters swimmers from all across the nation. An added point of interest is that this meet is being swum in the same pool as the Olympic Swimming Trials, which just concluded last week. Landis expects to be able to swim in the same pool and same lanes as Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, though, at age 70, not nearly as fast as the... Full story
Anna Keesey, author of "Little Century," will be reading at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters on July 6. Keesey's debut novel landed on Oprah's Top 16 Best Books for June. "Little Century" was also selected for The Christian Science Monitor and Vogue Magazine summer reading lists. Although the story is set in the early 1900s, its land and water conflicts still resonate. The coming-of-age story by the Linfield College writing professor follows a young orphan from Chicago who rid... Full story
Earl Schroeder recently returned from a patriotic trip to Washington, D.C., where he acted as team leader and guardian for a group of 50 World War II veterans and their companions. It was all part of the Honor Flight program for Eastern Oregon servicemen, its primary mission: to escort veterans to see the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. The memorial on the Capitol Mall was dedicated just eight years ago, even though the conflict ended six decades ago. The trip cost... Full story
Rick Steber, a prolific Prineville writer of Western history and fiction, has given us another winner, "A Promise Given-A True Story of Life, Love...and Bluebirds." This book is a true tale of true love and the twists and turns of Trevor Russell's life as he grew up a huntin' and fishin' kid near the little town of Odell in the upper end of the Hood River Country. Most of all, it's a tale of undying love. On page 56 Trevor meets her: Vivian - the young lady who knocks Trevor... Full story
Through early summer showers most days, the Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene provided 10 days worth of stellar performances to determine the representatives for the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Those present experienced jubilant cheers for record performances, air sucked out of the stadium after falls and close calls, and a general atmosphere of being part of a world-class event. Those days were blissful for a guy like me, who attended U of O a... Full story
Creating a little tent city at Sisters' Village Green, the annual Sisters Summer Faire was populated by more than 30 vendors offering an array of hand-made crafts, artisan jewelry, folk art and custom furniture. Summer has had a slow start this year, but guests and residents flocked to the sunny lawns last weekend to shop for unique artwork and interesting gifts. Booths beneath the white awnings sold stained-glass table lamps, stone flower vases, birch porch rockers,... Full story
If comfort food with an international flavor sounds like just your kind of fare, you'll find a happy abode at The Porch. Sisters' newest dinner house is now serving its "artisan comfort food" at the corner of North Elm Street and Adams Avenue. The Porch is a family affair. Chef Caryl Hosler is well-known to the Sisters community for her work at Jen's Garden and Thyme. She won an Iron Chef competition with T.R. McCrystal. Sons Jon Hosler and David Elliott have joined her in... Full story
I've known about the Tam-a-lau Trail in Cove Palisades State Park at Lake Billy Chinook. I've seen it, driven by it, even kayaked below it; but until recently, I'd never actually hiked it. As it turns out, this trail has a story to tell. The name, Tam-a-lau, comes from a Native American term that means "place of big rocks on the ground"; and there are plenty of big rocks here. In fact, the entire park has a way of bringing out the inner geologist in visitors. The trail opened... Full story
The City of Sisters is taking a look at possibilities for development of the nine-acre parcel between Larch and Locust, just south of the post office. At the Thursday, June 28 city council meeting John Gilbert of Pacific Crest Affordable Housing addressed the council to request an expedited workshop to help develop a risk/cost estimate for the acquisition and development of the property where the Black Butte Crossing development was scheduled. That development failed to launch. Gilbert and his partner Rob Roy, along with... Full story
Starting July 1, the Sisters Recycle Depot is open again seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The expanded hours are part of City-run trial designed to gather information about the way the depot is used and public support for it. Last year, Deschutes County reduced its financial support of community recycling facilities, including the Sisters Recycle Depot, due to declining landfill revenues. The City responded by reducing the days of operation at the depot from seven to four days, keeping it open Friday through Monday,... Full story
• Sisters dentist Tom Reuben, DMD, FAGD, received the 2012 Fellowship Award from the Academy of General Dentistry during the AGD 2012 annual meeting and exhibits held June 21-24 in Philadelphia, PA. The Fellowship Award is presented to dentists who seek to provide the highest quality of dental care by remaining current in their profession. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Rheuben completed 500 hours of continuing dental education, passed a comprehensive exam and... Full story
Strictly speaking, economic development and economic growth are not the same thing. Economic development per se is oriented around government policies, infrastructure and other conditions that allow for or encourage economic growth. The city of Sisters actually has a considerable set of economic development elements already in place. The city is part of an enterprise zone with Redmond, which provides tax incentives for businesses locating within its boundaries. There is a... Full story
The Sisters School Board gave its approval in principle to the certified contract for the 2012-2013 school year Wednesday night in a 4-0 vote (board chair Christine Jones attended by phone and therefore could not vote). The contract will be wordsmithed, and then signed by the board chair and the president of the union to make it official. "I feel very good about the negotiations," said Superintendent Jim Golden. "Chris and I and the attorneys felt that we've cut the best deal of any district in Central Oregon... I want to... Full story
