News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 22 of 22
Detectives assigned to the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team arrested two Prineville residents in Sisters on Tuesday, March 31, as the result of a long-term investigation by the CODE team into the illegal trafficking of commercial quantities of methamphetamine into Central Oregon. Detectives assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department contacted and arrested Shannon Ritchie, 48, and Kristin Loranger, 39, at the intersection of East Cascade Avenue and North Fir Street at about 11 p.m. Both were contacted d... Full story
Last week, a respected scientific panel told the White House that research now shows that the coronavirus can be spread by talking, or possibly even just breathing. According to a federal official, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been preparing to recommend that everyone wear homemade face coverings in public settings, like pharmacies and grocery stores, to avoid spreading the virus. Public health officials have continued to stress that N95 masks and... Full story
In a school district like Sisters, which is continually striving to keep students feeling engaged, prepared and connected, the “Distance Learning for All” mandate from Governor Kate Brown’s office has local teachers and administrators working hard to make the best of a very difficult situation. The mandate comes out of the “Stay At Home, Save Lives” executive order the governor issued last month. In a letter to the community published April 2, Superintendent Curt Scholl said that on April 6, when teachers got back on the jo... Full story
With the world on lockdown, public spaces closed, and only so many episodes of “Outlander” to keep us entertained, we’ve got little left but to stare out our windows. The optimistic isolationist will find a whole amazing world of wildlife out there, enough to keep us busy until this is all over. It’s time to become a backyard birder. Birding is a perfect hobby for the quarantined. It’s a fun activity you can do from home in your own backyard. It requires little more than eyes... Full story
When an invisible, stealthy enemy invades, it’s only natural to want to know if there is danger close. Several people have contacted The Nugget asking whether there are confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sisters. The answer isn’t very satisfying to them. While there are daily reports on confirmed COVID-19 cases in Deschutes County, medical officials will not confirm the specific locality of those cases. If The Nugget were to confirm by other means the existence of COVID-19 cases loc... Full story
To the Editor: My mom has always been a strict proponent of hand washing. She should receive some sort of presidential Medal of Honor for her relentless efforts at cleanliness. She’s taken some flack through the years and even been teased about it on occasion. Even now when I’m home from a visit at her house my son will ask me if Granny K made me wash my hands when I got there. You do not under any circumstance get to be in her kitchen, much less touch anything without washing your hands first! In fact, visitors are mos... Full story
A friend and colleague pointed out that ”Social Distancing” is much more difficult for extroverts than introverts. Makes sense. Sisters is a community of huggers. We don’t do the Euro thing of the double cheek buss (which always seems to be a little phony and unmeaningful); we hug. A lot. At first it sort of bothered me at social events, all of that hugging. I joined Kiwanis in 2011 and WOW! Talk about huggers! We’re great. So, now here we are, social distancing. I dislike the term, “the new normal.” It’s more like the new... Full story
What’s stressing you out more: the coronavirus, or thinking about it all the time? The Internet, TV, news, and smartphones help people stay informed and feel connected during the COVID-19 crisis. Unfortunately, there are side effects, including anxiety and addiction. We turned to Catherine Price for advice. The founder of the Screen/Life Balance program and author of “How to Break Up With Your Phone,” Price is producing a series of #QuarantineChats on Vimeo.com. From the confi... Full story
Hooked on the news or constantly checking digital devices during the COVID crisis? Is it making you more miserable and anxious? You are by no means alone. The following steps can help you get a grip on the situation and your own state of mind. Featured in today’s approach is Catherine Price, founder of the Screen/Life Balance program and author of How to Break Up with your Phone. 1. Assess: For three days, keep close track of your media and digital device input. Using pen a... Full story
More reading and listening to enrich the quarantine experience… Sisters artist Norma Holmes loved “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore,” a novel by Robin Sloan. “The cover glows in the dark!” Holmes says. “The opening sentence has me smiling. Sloan paints a picture in words, a visual that puts me right beside the main character, Clay Jannon. He is standing on top of a ladder, stretching upward to reach a very old leather-covered volume. Clay is a night clerk in Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour bookstore in San Francisco. “I... Full story
A project that will add eight affordable housing units to the local inventory is underway at the ClearPine development at the north end of Pine Street in Sisters. The 2007 development agreement between the City of Sisters and developer 3 Sisters Partners required that the developer provide for eight affordable units. According to developer Peter Hall, that requirement is being fulfilled by two rental units being constructed by the developers themselves, and six townhomes to be... Full story
Sisters locals have come together to help a branch office open for a local financial advisor to serve as a community resource. Dr. Tom and Peggy Rheuben have called Sisters country home for more than 25 years. The Rheubens are longtime friends of Sisters financial advisor Darren Layne and fans of his employer, Edward Jones Investments. Edward Jones was started in 1922 to offer people in underserved rural areas the opportunity to have a financial advisor. The local advisor... Full story
According to preliminary data received by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Pendleton, temperatures in Sisters averaged colder than normal during March. The average temperature was 35.6 degrees which was 4 degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged 47.6 degrees, which was 4.1 degrees below normal. The highest was 65 degrees on March 6. Low temperatures averaged 23.5 degrees, which was 3.9 degrees below normal. The lowest was 10 degrees, on March 18. There were 24 days with the low temperature below 32 degrees. There w... Full story
One night after a fall, my 94-year-old mother-in-law was catapulted into dementia at a speed that was unfathomable. Four falls in six days, three ambulance transports to the hospital ER and an eventual admittance after sustaining a fracture were just the beginning. Each step became more unbelievable and our family was thrust into an unbalanced world that left us all feeling helpless and overwhelmed. This sudden onset of debilitating dementia changed our family plan, our commitment to care for our elderly family member within... Full story
To reduce exposure to and spread of COVID-19, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners has prohibited short-term rental stays in the rural, unincorporated areas of the county. The order does not apply to short-term rentals in the City of Sisters. The order, which goes into effect immediately, will prohibit stays of less than 30 days in vacation rentals, short-term rentals, timeshares, inns and bed and breakfasts. It will remain in effect until May 15. The order does not prevent an owner of a timeshare from using their own... Full story
Deschutes County Fire Chiefs are temporarily closing outdoor burning as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Outdoor burning will close at sunset on Friday, April 10. Ban also includes Camp Sherman in Jefferson County. Outdoor burning restrictions may be lifted if impacts of the COVID-19 virus subside before fire season begins. Local fire officials say the decision to temporarily close outdoor burning was not easy. The health benefits for vulnerable populations were considered along with the need to encourage people to reduce... Full story
With a surge in COVID-19 cases expected to intensify later this month, officials across the region are urging people to take steps to reduce the spread of contamination to alleviate pressures on hospitals. The City of Redmond-owned Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) is now encouraging all airport passengers to do a 14-day in-home self-quarantine upon arrival in Central Oregon. “These actions are difficult, but they will help flatten the curve and lay the groundwork for a quicker recovery,” said Redmond Mayor George End... Full story
Small businesses impacted by coronavirus can start applying for emergency loans to cover payroll and other costs, according to Treasury Department guidance. The Treasury published fact sheets for lenders and borrowers for the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program that was part of the $2.3 trillion economic lifeline package enacted March 27. The program is relying on the Small Business Administration’s existing network of around 1,800 banks and credit unions in its Section 7(a) loan guaranty program to provide small b... Full story
Though recent events make it impossible to gather together as in years past, Deschutes Public Library will still celebrate “A Novel Idea…Read Together” in April, with Anne Griffin’s debut novel, “When All Is Said” taking center stage. “‘A Novel Idea’ has taken us to new places around the globe, and to different points in time,” said Deschutes Public Library Programs Supervisor Liz Goodrich. “With our previous selection we traveled back in time but stayed in the United States. This year, we’re headed across the Atl... Full story
My dad was a truck-driver all his life. During the Great Depression he had a tough time making a living, and I can remember him saying to my mom, “Mother, I cannot make a living working for the WPA. I’m going to have to leave and look for better employment. You take the children to the farm while I’m gone.” And she did. From the time I was 10-years old in 1938 until the beginning of World War II, my dad was gone — I knew not where — but he sent home money to let... Full story
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are still approaching the end of their lives for unrelated reasons — and Hospice of Redmond is still at work serving them. The organization, which serves Sisters Country as well as Redmond, is continuing its mission, adapting to ever-evolving conditions. Hospice announced last week that it is cancelling its annual grief support program, Camp Sunrise, held at Suttle Lake west of Sisters in June. Maureen Krebs, communications... Full story
I am prouder than ever to be a veggie farmer in Sisters. Resilience and the strength of our community will surely come to shine in the next few months. Everyone has been playing critical roles and it is in these times when newfound strengths and “silver linings” emerge. One silver lining I want to shed light upon is the growth of interconnectivity between our local food system and community. Feeling more vulnerable during these uncertain times, more people have been turning to our farmers for the most basic of needs: foo... Full story
