News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 35
In its biggest construction upgrade in 20 years, The Sisters Rodeo is adding premier plaza seating at the rodeo grounds. On Saturday, April 1, more than 30 volunteers and members tore down nearly 30-year-old bleachers behind the bucking chutes. In their place will be nine patio sections of two levels each, which will seat 20 spectators (a total of 180), at each rodeo performance. The view from the plaza will be just four feet behind and nine feet above the chutes, allowing guests to watch the action out of the chutes, in the... Full story
The two-week spring break that concluded last weekend for Sisters schools is unique in Central Oregon and maybe in the state. Most schools systems take only one week of vacation in March. Is the longer spring break a good idea? Informal soundings among parents and others indicate that it is not universally popular. And for that and other reasons, the school board has asked for a review of all aspects of the school calendar. Personnel Director Tim Comfort, who will head the... Full story
Foresters working in the Sisters Ranger District are about ready to touch off their spring controlled burns on public lands around Sisters, Black Butte Ranch and Camp Sherman. Burning is one of many tools used to reduce brush and woody debris that can feed wildland fires caused by human activity and lightning, during the heat of summer, according to Sisters Ranger District fire specialist Jinny Pitman. The Forest Service acknowledges that smoke from burning might impact surrounding communities and Highway 20, despite efforts... Full story
To the Editor: The attitude reflected by Randy Moss of American Energy is appalling. An industry that made $212 billion in net profits, the most reported in U.S. business history, cannot or WILL NOT clean up its mess is an outrage. The city council should not roll over and let them get away with doing nothing. I suggest taking them to court and fighting for the community. I would also suggest that the city apply some type of a surcharge or tax to industries that have a poor environmental history. The money would be kept in a... Full story
As houses go up in Sisters, trees come down. But builders, residents and City of Sisters officials try to preserve as many trees as possible as the city grows. With in-fill development, “we’re going to lose a lot of trees,” Public Works Director Gary Frazee told The Nugget. Still, he said, “if you look at the skyline of Sisters, you see nothing but trees.” The city government actually has more leverage to encourage tree preservation in big developments than it does with indi... Full story
The Deschutes Public Library offers free computer classes via OSU Extension’s BIT Mobile at the Sisters Library. The BIT Mobile is OSU Extension’s mobile technology classroom. Knowledgeable instructors offer classes to help students of all ages build their ability and confidence in using computers and other technology. Since class sizes are limited, sign up soon. Thursday, April 13 classes are: • Introduction to Computers/Basic Computing: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Entry-level class teaching the basic components used in computers, how... Full story
Once again plans are afoot to welcome salmon back to the Metolius River and one of its tributaries (see The Nugget, March 22, 2006, March 22, 2000). It’s been nearly two generations since salmon swam in these waters. The current plan hopes to improve Lake Creek as a breeding home for anadromous species of salmon. The six-mile creek flows out of Suttle Lake, meanders down through Camp Sherman’s Metolius Meadows, under road 1419, through the Lake Creek Lodge property and finally joins the Metolius River near road 700. From her... Full story
Music fans can purchase CDs by this year’s Sisters Starry Nights performers and help fill the coffers of the Sisters Schools Foundation at the same time. The foundation has purchased CDs by Hanna-McEuen and Leslie Satcher (performing April 22) and a limited quantity of Lyle Lovett CDs. Proceeds from the sales benefit the foundation. The CDs include “Cowboy Man” and “My Baby Don’t Tolerate” by Lovett; Satcher’s “Creation”; and the self-titled debut record “Hanna-McEuen.” The CDs are available at Common Threads, Leavitt’s, T... Full story
Nicky Blumm, a 10-year-old Sisters Little Leaguer, won the Bend Field House’s individual winter hitting championship, prevailing over 33 other hitters. The Field House, whose owner Jim Richards also owns and operates the Bend Elks summer collegiate wood bat team, conducts an indoor hitting league during January-March each year for players age eight to high school. Players hit in two-person teams and accumulate points based on their hits off of electric pitching machines. Blumm... Full story
The second workshop in the Sisters Women’s Wellness Series will be presented on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at Sisters Movie House. This series of workshops is for women of all ages to renew spirit, mind and body for total wellness. Workshop presentations on April 8 are: • Mind, Body and Nutrients: Manifesting Optimal Health in the Age of Aquarius — presented by Diana Davis, Senior Clinical Nutritionist with Metabolic Maintenance Products. Davis is a nationally recognized speaker; she will discuss health strat... Full story
It didn’t look good for eighth grader Gilbert Porraz when he lost a match early in the competition at the Middle School District Wrestling meet at Culver on Saturday, March 18. With a swollen eye and a record of winning about half of his matches, the bets might have been on other boys in the 135 pound weight class. But Porraz iced his eye, grew strong with determination and went on to win the rest of his matches, much to the elation of his coach, team and parents. In all, the Sisters student won five of his six matches. P... Full story
The Sisters High School girls softball team lost their first two games at the La Pine Tournament and rallied on Saturday for a 7-2 win over La Pine. The tourney was actually held in Madras, Thursday, March 30, through Saturday, April 1, due to the lingering snow in La Pine. On Thursday, Sisters lost 7-5 to Seaside. Seaside started off the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and took a 2-0 lead. In the top of the fourth Sisters answered back with two runs to tie the game 2-2. Camille Pedersen led with a... Full story
Sisters is in the midst of recovery efforts from four major fires in recent years. When Sisters folks hit the road to the coast, they can learn the story of one of the greatest successes in recovering from a catastrophic wildfire. The $10.7 million Tillamook Forest Center is now open 22 miles east of the Oregon Coast on State Highway 6 in the middle of the Tillamook State Forest. The center presents the story of four Tillamook Burns and how the forest has been restored. This success story contrasts with efforts of... Full story
The Sisters baseball team won its first two games at the La Pine tournament on Thursday and Friday, March 30 and 31. The Outlaws lost 4-3 on Saturday to Gaston. Sisters started the tournament with a 3-0 win over Lakeview on Thursday. Carter Davenport scored the Outlaws’ first run in fourth inning on a fielder’s choice ground ball by Nate Jackson. In the sixth, lead-off hitter Jeff Fitter singled, advanced on a passed ball and then scored on a single by Andy Burke. Sisters’ final run came in the seventh inning. Jackson hit a... Full story
With March Madness behind us and baseball season barely begun, sports fans can get their fill of athletic action live this Saturday at the annual Sisters Rotary Track and Field Meet at Sisters High School. Teams of all sizes from throughout the region and one from near Portland will provide great competition and excitement for the Outlaws, who are looking to assert themselves as a force on the oval and in the field. Teams include 4A Redmond, Mountain View, Crook County and West Linn, 3A Madras and La Pine, and 1A/2A Bonanza,... Full story
Sisters students will help Wolftree and the Healthy Waters Institute in the restoration of Whychus Creek. Working with assistance from the Sisters Ranger District, Three Sisters Irrigation District and Deschutes River Conservancy, Sisters High School Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition (IEE) students aim to enhance fish and bird habitat and improve creekside special recreational value. The replanting will primarily involve plants salvaged from a soon-to-be piped 10-mile McKenzie Canyon/Black Butte Canal System. This... Full story
Some 30 horses decided to see if the grass was in fact greener on the other side of the fence last Thursday. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, the horses escaped from The Lazy Z at the east end of Sisters and were gone when a deputy arrived at about 9 p.m. That’s because they had headed for Bend. Lazy Z wranglers were called to the scene and after several hours of work, they had the horses all safely rounded up. They were housed overnight in a corral at Kay... Full story
Sisters area residents face a burning question each spring: how to get rid of yard debris. Many burn it. Now, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District is inviting public comments on proposed changes in their outdoor burning permit process, according to Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler. The public is invited to attend a meeting on the proposed new process on Saturday, April 8 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters. “This new process will eliminate a written burning permit,” Wheeler explained. “A permi... Full story
Sisters singer-songwriter Katie Cavanaugh will perform as part of a special presentation of Jonathan Demme’s critically acclaimed film “Neil Young — Heart of Gold.” Cavanaugh will perform a selection of songs from her new CD, “Every Little Thing,” on April 20. A representative from Bend Brewing will also be on hand to discuss the finer points of Central Oregon micro-brew. The event is restricted to those 21 and over, please. Tickets are available now at Sisters Movie House, www.sistersmoviehouse.com; 549-8800. “Heart of G... Full story
As part of the Deschutes Public Library’s “A Novel Idea … Read Together,” Stew Bennett of Cascade Transport and Dick McHone of Pacific Truck and Trailer present a program titled “Trucking 101,” at all branch libraries. The presentation will be held at Sisters Public Library on Thursday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m. During the month of April, the library will host a variety of events in support of the Novel Idea … Read Together project. The programs are designed to give residents of Deschutes County a context for better unders... Full story
SOAR is hosting an OMSI Super Science Saturday on April 8. Participants will create slimy lab experiments, use their imaginations to build their own working scientific creations or test their skills at detective work, with hands-on use of forensic science. All classes are taught by trained OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) staff who provide all the supplies and equipment needed. Kids can sign up per-class or bring a lunch and make a day of it. The event will be held at the SOAR Community Center. Classes are: • C... Full story
Dr. Mark Francis of Sisters has announced his disability retirement from dentistry. Dr. Jeff Timm, a long time dentist from Bend, will take over the practice. According to Dr. Francis, Dr. Timm “is looking to turn over his Bend practice to his two sons and a daughter-in-law who are dentists. Not ready to retire, Dr. Jeff feels that a small, comfortable practice like mine is just the answer for him.” In a letter to his patients, Dr. Francis explained that “Last year I exper... Full story
The My Own Two Hands art auction fund-raiser is offering people who are unable to attend the sold-out auction event on Saturday, April 8, several ways to bid without being present. Event organizers will have bid sheets available for all pieces at the Art Stroll on Friday, April 7. All bidders will be required to place their name and phone number on the appropriate bid card along with their bid. Organizers note that there will be a possibility to be outbid at the Art Party and Auction on April 8. Bidders may place a written... Full story
• A man complained about a boxer dog that chased him down the street. • A deputy found a runaway, hiding near the spot he took off from. • A Sisters resident reported being contacted by a woman who said she was a Nextel representative. The resident gave out date of birth, account password and mother’s maiden name and then was worried about it. A deputy advised the resident to watch for signs of identity theft. • A deputy responded to a report of kids with BB guns downtown. They were in the park with Airsoft guns and not b... Full story
Sen. Ben Westlund took an hour out of a busy campaign schedule last Wednesday to bring his family to Sisters to collect a very different kind of “contribution.” The Westlunds visited the home of Sisters artist Antonietta Del Guidice to claim a mural the painter created for the bedroom of the teenaged Taylor Westlund. The mural had its genesis a year ago at the My Own Two Hands art auction fund-raiser for Sisters’ Americana Project. Instead of simply donating a piece to the p... Full story
