News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 35
Since the 2000 election residents in the Sisters School District have supported a tax override of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to provide supplemental financial support to the local schools. This tax override is called a "local option." The local option is up for renewal through the ballot on March 12. A committee of local citizens has been formed to support the continuation of the local option. They met their first deadline last week by submitting the explanatory statement for the voter's pamphlet to the... Full story
Jeri Buckmann, longtime events director for the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, will be transitioning to the position of visitor center manager and membership coordinator, the chamber announced this week. The move reflects a change in the chamber's approach to staging events. Chamber Executive Director Erin Borla reported that over the past three years the chamber has been analyzing its events, trying to streamline and focus the energies of the staff, board and volunteers on those events that do the most for the community... Full story
The developers of Sisters' two large business parks are hoping to jumpstart economic activity on their properties. Commercial and light-industrial development has been moribund since 2008, but with glimmers of gradual improvement in the national and local economy, there are signs of life in that sector. However, there is a battle of perception to be won. "The perception is that our land prices are not competitive enough to bring new business here," said Sisters Economic... Full story
Ed Protas' guest column (The Nugget, January 9, page 2) illustrates what is wrong with the discussion over gun control. It is Mr. Protas' opinion that the purpose of the Second Amendment "must be considered in the context of the time," that it was meant to provide the means for an armed force of citizens to be available to resist whatever attempts were made to exert tyranny and oppression from outside the country. He further asserts that when viewed through the lens of history, this is no longer a valid need as the founders... Full story
To the Editor: I attended the Town Hall meeting with Sen. Ron Wyden at the high school. A large part of the audience was comprised of students at the school. These young people were interested, attentive, and polite. Several asked a question of the senator and their questions were well-thought-out and they were very articulate. Kudos to those students who attended this meeting and to the parents in Sisters Country who are raising these exemplary young people. Carolyn Asson s s s To the Editor: Last summer I hiked the trail... Full story
The Sisters City Council will address several economic development issues at its Thursday, January 17, workshop at city hall at 8 a.m. This is a public meeting, although the public cannot participate verbally. The council will discuss the potential transition of the economic development manager contract to Economic Development of Central Oregon (EDCO). They will also explore an enterprise zone boundary expansion to include the downtown area. City Manager Eileen Stein will offer an Economic Development Strategic Action Plan... Full story
The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes Scott Huntsman of Black Butte Ranch and Jeff Perin of The Fly Fisher's Place to its nine-member board of directors. Ann Richardson of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show was re-elected to a term on the board. New board members will take office at the Chamber's masquerade ball on February 22 (see related story, page 18). Huntsman, Perin, and Richardson were elected by the general membership during the fall 2012 election. According to Executive Director Erin Borla, "the chamber tries to... Full story
For years Sisters Folk Festival has offered much more than a three-day party in September. The nationally recognized arts and music organization has been bringing top-notch performers to town in the middle of winter in its Winter Concert Series. This year's series kicks off on Saturday, January 19, with the Claire Lynch Band. Claire Lynch has long been recognized as a creative force in acoustic music and at the forefront of women who have expanded the bluegrass genre. She has... Full story
Sisters' wrestling squad had four of their 11 wrestlers place at the Bend Invitational, held on January 12. Thirteen teams, including seven 5A schools, were in attendance. Hunter Rychener (113 pounds) pinned Louden Oleachea of La Pine in just over one minute in the second round for third place. Dyut Fetrow (120 pounds) had to face five wrestlers en route to his sixth-place finish. Fetrow lost to Trent Pickett from Ridgeview in his final match. Clayton Darst tied for seventh... Full story
Sisters Habitat for Humanity wrote: Many thanks to all the businesses that participated in the Gingerbread House Trail 2013. In addition to contributing to the Christmas Spirit here in Sisters you also helped raise almost $1,000 for Sisters Habitat for Humanity. This year's winners: Best in Show - decided by two independent judges - Alpaca by Design and The Lodge at Suttle Lake. People's Choice goes to Ray's Food Place.... Full story
Dyrk Godby, a popular Western artist, has created the 2013 Sisters Rodeo poster art, an oil painting of a steer wrestler rolling onto a steer while his classic paint horse charges ahead, doing the job it was trained to do. For Godby, whose paintings are seen in galleries and restaurants in Sisters, the focus of his art is the grace of the Western horse in its working world. Godby himself has worked as a horse rancher since childhood in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada. His family... Full story
Clearwater Gallery will be hosting "For the Love of the Metolius," a mid-winter art event celebrating the gift of the beautiful Metolius River and all those who love and help care for it. The event is a fundraiser for Friends of the Metolius. The non-juried art show will be on display at Clearwater Gallery February 15-28. Each entry must have the Metolius River as its main subject. A reception for artists and all those who love the Metolius will be held Saturday evening, February 16, at Clearwater Gallery. Artists may submit... Full story
Three new city councilors were sworn in Thursday; returning councilor and ex-mayor Brad Boyd, and newcomers Catherine Childress and McKibben Womack. The new council promptly selected Boyd as mayor and Womack as council president. The vote was 3-2 in each case. Childress and Asson were the dissenting votes. "I am humbled and honored by the support from both the voters and the majority of the council. I am looking forward to working with the new council and the community," said... Full story
Sisters Planning Commission Thurs., Jan. 17, 5:30 p.m. City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave. 1. Public Hearing: File No: TA12-03 (continuation hearing from December 20, 2012) Applicant: City of Sisters Request: Amendments to the Sisters Development Code that would make vacation rentals "outright permitted uses" rather than minor conditionally permitted uses in the zones that presently allow them; change the class of violation for sign violations from a Class C infraction ($500 fine) to a Class A infraction ($100 fine). Location:... Full story
For the eighth straight year, the Central Oregon Homeless Leadership Coalition is conducting a one-day count of people who are homeless or in transitional housing in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. This count is a part of a national effort to identify the number of people struggling to find appropriate and adequate housing. Throughout the day on Thursday, January 24, volunteers will be conducting confidential and anonymous surveys in Bend, La Pine, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, and Madras. This one-day count will... Full story
In the wake of recent school shootings, the Sisters School District will take on the issue of school security at the school board's January 23 workshop. The workshop will be held at the Sisters High School Lecture/Drama Room at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will feature a panel discussion with Superintendent Jim Golden and representatives of local law enforcement. The workshop will also include a discussion of proficiency-based grading.... Full story
Sisters opened league play with a 56-36 win over La Pine at home on Friday, January 11. The Hawks came ready to play and jumped to a 6-1 advantage over the Outlaws in the first four minutes of the contest. Sisters battled back and at the close of the first quarter had tied it up at 11-11. Taylor Nieri and Savannah Spear took charge of the game in the second quarter and took the Outlaws on a 22-4 run. Nieri made a three-pointer, an easy lay-up, and also went 4/4 from the line.... Full story
The Outlaws defeated La Pine 54-46 in their Sky-Em league opener at home on Friday, January 11. La Pine came out quick, shot the ball well and the Outlaws went down 10-8 early in the game. Sisters caught the Hawks in the first quarter and took the lead. The Outlaws defense was key, and helped Sisters stay strong until their offense kicked in. Sisters went up by 10 in the third period and it looked as if the Outlaws would break the game wide open. Unfortunately, Sisters... Full story
Last fall, one of our native belted kingfishers discovered two elements on Cascade Estates Drive that undoubtedly made it think it had died and gone to heaven: Mary Smith's pond, and the goldfish therein. Mary, being a person of considerable quilting and sewing talents, coupled with her native instincts, created a scarekingfisher the likes of which no one has ever seen before. Just because the surface of the pond froze over, and said kingfisher left the country, doesn't mean... Full story
In December, The Depot Café owners Pam and Chris Wavrin introduced a new menu for Thursday-night dinners. "There's a lot of great food in Sisters, but this has been something that's missing in town," said Pam as she prepped for a full dining room last Thursday. Always open to new menu ideas, the Wavrins jumped at the chance to hire Chef Pittaya Young and bring her masterful dishes for a weekly dose of Thai food. Young moved to the U.S. 28 years ago and began cooking... Full story
Two pipes froze and broke in the early morning hours of Monday, January 14, causing flooding and water damage at Sisters Elementary School. "We had a water pipe break in C Wing and we had a water pipe break in B Wing," said Sisters School District Facilities Manager Leland Bliss. "Most of the damage was in C Wing. The other one (in B Wing) thawed and broke while we were there, so we knew what was going on." The C Wing breakage occurred earlier. "It was probably an hour or two into it and it dumped a lot of water into C... Full story
Albert (Al) Waibel, owner of Columbia Geoscience in Hillsboro, will be presenting an illustrated lecture on geothermal energy in the Mt. Newberry area at Sisters Library in the Community Room at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 20. Waibel has over 35 years experience with geothermal exploration and development in North and Central America, Asia, Africa and Europe. He is a co-author of the geothermal section of the "Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology." He has... Full story
• Sisters landed a spread in a Japanese magazine. Patchwork Magazine featured 14 pages on the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, Sisters, Jean Wells-Keenan, Tonye Belinda Phillips, Stitchin' Post and Valori Wells-Kennedy. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce is working at getting it translated for quotes. Patchwork Magazine is a targeted publication that focuses on quilting and sewing in Japan with a circulation of 130,000. They are developing a 14- to 16-page piece focusing on Sisters, the Two Rivers, Three Sisters... Full story
The Deschutes Land Trust announced today its winter Nature Nights series. From the Pole Creek Fire Recovery to the Natural History of Butterflies, the land trust is offering monthly presentations on nature-related topics given by experts in their field. All events run 7 to 8:30 p.m. Topics include: • January 30: Pole Creek Fire Recovery - Century Center in Bend Last year's Pole Creek Fire was a massive one, blanketing the region in smoke and burning nearly 27,000 acres in the headwaters of Whychus Creek. Join... Full story
Tom Houck has worked in the service of the people and government of the United States for two-and-a-half decades. Last week, the Sisters Post Office employee was presented with a Service Award Pin marking 25 years of service. Only five years of that tenure was with the post office; he spent 20 years as a telecommunications specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard. His service took him to 43 of the 50 states, from the Oregon coast to a weather cutter off the rugged coast of Maine.... Full story
