News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 29
The first steelhead smolt was caught last week in Portland General Electric's (PGE) screw trap in Whychus Creek, adjacent to Camp Polk Meadow. "Fish biologists checking the trap have (also) been seeing lots of Chinook salmon as well," said Amanda Egertson, Stewardship Director for the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT). Fish reintroduction projects have become big business in the Sisters Country. The effort to reintroduce ocean-run species and indigenous fresh-water trout and salmon... Full story
Three Sisters-area residents were arraigned Monday in Deschutes County Circuit Court on felony charges following a joint Oregon State Police (OSP) and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) investigation into a burglary and antler theft from the Patterson Ranch in Sisters. The investigation began following a February 21 traffic stop by OSP Fish & Wildlife Trooper Marv Ritter on Highway 26 in Grant County. Ritter discovered the trailer towed by the stopped vehicle was full of elk antlers and buttons (the base of the antler... Full story
The irrigation pipe is connected across disputed territory and the dust is starting to settle in the dispute over piping the McKenzie Canyon canal. Yet some feelings are still sore after a Monday, April 5 confrontation that landed two protesters in jail. Canyon resident Jan Daggett and allies were determined to block excavation for the pipeline across her property, moving a backhoe, dump truck and several vehicles into the ditch. Protesters sat on the equipment to block... Full story
There was no finer place to be last Saturday night than the My Own Two Hands Art Auction and Party at Ponderosa Forge & Ironworks. This year's crowning charity event proved to be a monumental evening of music, merriment and magnanimous support with an eruption of creativity flowing over the workspace walls, benches and tables. No less than 158 pieces of donated art in every conceivable form were presented for sale in either live or silent auction format, all to benefit the... Full story
Mike Dugan has a long track record in improving the safety and livability of Deschutes County. The partnerships he's created with the school and business communities through the Safe Schools Alliance and the DA office's bad check enforcement program have helped to reduce crime efficiently and with the most prudent use of sometimes scarce public resources. These are but two examples of proactive approaches to reduce crime as well as prosecuting offenders. Dugan's opponent, Patrick Flaherty, has himself been a fine public serva... Full story
To the Editor: I have known Keith Cyrus for a number of years. He is a decent and honest man whose intentions are honorable. If he recused himself from deliberating on and voting on decisions related to the destination resort zoning, then the citizens of Deschutes County and the city of Sisters should believe him. It is my understanding that the Cyrus property is already on the planning commission map. The opposition simply wants to change county rules and remove the Cyrus property from the planning map. I think it's ironic... Full story
Excitement is building for the nine students and six adults traveling to China mid-June as a culmination of their second year of Mandarin language studies. Students are gearing up for Friday's spaghetti feed and fundraiser, at 6 p.m., April 23 at the Three Sisters Fellowship church. Everyone is invited. Anyone who attended February's Chinese New Year Celebration remembers the honor of being greeted at the door with a cheery hello and a ringing gong announcing guests' arrival. Several silent auctions punctuated by an... Full story
Seth Norman, a sophomore at Sisters High School (SHS), has been battling cancer since January. During a routine pathology following an abdominal surgery, Seth was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B Cell lymphoma. Three days later Seth traveled to Portland to begin treatment at Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphocytes (white blood cells). The cancer manifests itself in lymph tissue of lymph nodes, usually with swelling. Seth's specific ty... Full story
The ninth annual "My Own Two Hands" community arts weekend kicked off Friday afternoon in high style as a festive throng paraded down Hood Avenue behind the official Americana Project banner. A cacophony of cowbells, drums and sirens announced the youthful mob, carrying with it an exuberant wave of buckaroos on decorated trikes, circus clowns, kids with scooters and a flock of elementary school students flapping construction-paper wings in a rainbow of feathers. Perfect weathe... Full story
Camp Sherman resident and champion rower Bethanne Kronick is putting her best oar forward to help raise funds for her friend and neighbor Lauren White. White is traveling to Europe this summer as a student ambassador for the People to People program. Kronick is sponsoring a rowing challenge, "Rowing Across Borders," to help White raise funds for her trip. Kronick will do an indoor rowing marathon at Sisters Athletic Club (SAC) on April 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. She challenges everyone to row alongside her in 20-minute increments,... Full story
"Within the next two years we will see a major improvement in the math students arriving to high school," predicted Sally Taylor-Pillar, Sisters High School math teacher and lead spokesperson for the math textbook adoption task force. She was speaking at the April 8 Sisters School Board meeting. "Each of the three schools has been using very different math programs over the last nine years. The transition between schools has often been challenging for students and teachers alike," said Taylor-Pillar. "At the high school... Full story
The girls lacrosse team lost 9-2 at St. Mary's in Portland on Thursday, April 1, and then fell 10-6 to Bend United on Tuesday, April 6. But despite the losses the Lady Outlaws are improving their play and developing stronger skills with each game played. Sisters had a tough first half in their battle with St. Mary's. St. Mary's boasts one of the oldest lacrosse programs in the state, and it took the Lady Outlaws the first half of the game to settle in, remember basic skills... Full story
The girls tennis team defeated the White Buffs of Madras 7-1 on April 8. Marien Tresnie (No. 1 singles) dominated her match and defeated Stephanie Stovall 6-1, 6-1. Tresnie played steady throughout the match, was very accurate with her shots and just didn't miss. Stovall struggled with Tresnie's top spin and her serves in both sets. No. 2 singles, Becky Thomas defeated Courtney Lindgren 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. After a tough loss in the first set, Thomas regrouped and came back to win the match. "Becky bent her knees, stayed low and... Full story
The boy's golf team took top honors at the Crook County Invitational on Thursday, April 8. Weather conditions were terrible, with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour and intermittent snow showers. Despite the weather, the Outlaws played well. Sisters won the tourney with a team score of 331, Crook County was runner-up at 349, and Madras placed third at 358. Other scores in the tournament were: Sandy (381), Burns (399), and La Pine (406). Jonathan Standen scored a 38 on the front nine and a 39 on the back to lead the Outlaws wi... Full story
In what head coach Bob Johnson called a "complete group effort," the Outlaws track squads competed very strongly at the annual Elmira Relays held Saturday, April 10. Not knowing quite what to expect after having two consecutive meets cancelled due to weather, the Outlaws boys came through for Johnson with the team trophy at Elmira in a meet that is comprised entirely of relay events, most of which are not commonly contested. The boys won the meet with 102 points, six better than second place Philomath. Despite being a bit sho... Full story
Some might think that Sisters Country has enough coffee establishments. Not so, says new resident and business owner Rob Schmidt, of Mountain Coffee Company. "Bend is oversaturated with coffee businesses," Schmidt says, but Sisters is "just right." In fact, the opening of Mountain Coffee does not increase the number of coffee establishments in town at all, as it has opened in the location of the now-departed Coffee Depot at 497 W. Highway 20 (in front of Crossroads Shell). Mou... Full story
Hit with a surprise health and safety inspection at Sisters Fire Hall, the department pulled through with flying colors. On Tuesday, April 6, a senior health compliance officer from Oregon OSHA (Occupational Safety and Heath Administration) surprised staff with an inspection request at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department main station 701. Fire district officials followed standard operating procedures and contacted the district's insurance carrier, who advised staff to allow the inspection. The representative from OSHA... Full story
The boys baseball team defeated Junction City (JC) 12-2 in five innings at home on Wednesday, April 7. Three days later the Outlaws played a double header at Sweet Home (SH). Sisters shut out the Huskies 10-0 in five innings in the first game and then notched a 21-8 victory in the second game. In Wednesday's game against JC the Outlaws scored four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Hayden Hudson and a two-RBI single from... Full story
Think Again ParentS (TAPS), a community organization dedicated to the prevention of alcohol and drug use among teens in Sisters, will offer a forum for parents and community on Thursday, April 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sisters High School auditorium. Students are also welcome. The TAPS committee is made up of school personnel as well as community members who organize and implement prevention strategies in addition to providing data, education and resources to families on the issue of alcohol and drug use among Sisters... Full story
The FivePine campus's new restaurant Thyme has a lot more going for it than just a new name. With Jennifer and TR McCrystal's influence, there's a fresh approach to offering a more upscale dining experience. The new name on the building is just the beginning. "We are teaming up with FivePine to offer a casual bistro style dining experience," said Jennifer McCrystal. Thyme will offer a variety of price options, and is also a more casual dining experience than Jen's Garden. The... Full story
Some neighbors are up in arms over plans to turn Aspen Lakes into a destination resort, while others defend the Cyrus family and their work. A destination resort is a self-contained entity that offers overnight lodging and amenities to draw visitors. Last week's Deschutes County Commissioners' hearing on whether to include subdivisions like Aspen Lakes on the county's revision of its destination resort map drew out opponents who argue that a developed subdivision should not be allowed to convert itself into a destination... Full story
"A Soaring Sound," the innovative glass slide guitar created by Susie Zeitner and Jayson Bowerman was one of the most interesting and talked-about pieces to grace the auction floor on Saturday night, selling to one lucky buyer for a high bid of $1,000. "Jayson and I collaborated last year on a glass guitar that wasn't playable," said artist Zeitner. "It was really his inspiration to one-up it this year and make it function as a working musical instrument. So this time we neede... Full story
This year's Earth Day activities in the Sisters Country are focused on restoring Whychus Creek. The National Forest Foundation (NFF) provided a grant to the Sisters Ranger District to restore Whychus Creek and Metolius River watersheds. Many area organizations partner with NFF to support our natural environment: Sisters Trail Alliance/Friends of the Forest (FOF), Friends of the Metolius (FOM), the Sisters Ranger District, the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, and Sisters Country Co-Op. The week offers opportunities to get... Full story
Duncan Miller, 85, of Ocean Reef, Florida and Black Butte Ranch, died at his Florida home on April 1, 2010. He was born in Scarsdale, New York to Clifton Miller and Emily Thompson Miller. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Puerto Rico. He met his bride 41 years ago and married her in 1976. They have been winter residents of Ocean Reef for the past 40 years, and enjoyed spending the summers in Black Butte Ranch. He was an investment advisor on Wall Street and in Connecticut. He was an outdoorsman and an avid fisherman... Full story
Ashley Nordell, an accomplished ultra-marathon runner who recently moved to Sisters, took top honors right here in her own new backyard, winning the Peterson Ridge Rumble 60 kilometer trail race Sunday, April 11. Nordell covered the course in five hours, one minute and 32 seconds to place 11th overall and eight minutes ahead of the second female finisher. The race turned into a family affair for Nordell, as her husband, Josh, finished a close second in the 30-kilometer... Full story
