News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
Sandra Kay Norin, age 77, of Sisters died Saturday, April 4, at Country Side Living memory care facility in Redmond of complications from Lewy body disease. Kay, a fourth generation Oregonian, was born in La Grande, Oregon on June 4, 1942, to James William “Bill” and Ruth Virginia (Murchison) Guthrie. Raised in an Air Force family, Kay grew up in Colorado, England, Alabama, Virginia, Oklahoma and Ohio. Kay graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a B... Full story
Linda Crume, a lifelong resident of the Yamhill and Forest Grove communities, died on March 25, 2020 following a courageous 13-year battle with cancer. Linda is survived by her parents and her sister Patti Kaser (husband Jeff), all of Sisters; her husband Dennis Crume, his three children, nine grandchildren and great-granddaughter Evelyn; three aunts and numerous cousins. Linda was born in McMinnville on March 23, 1952, to Jack and Evelyn Crumrine. She grew up in Yamhill,... Full story
As parents and students lined up in their cars to pick up materials at Sisters Elementary School last Friday, the sadness was palpable. The reality of school being shut and distance learning being put in place really began to sink in following Governor Kate Brown’s announcement on Wednesday, April 8, to close schools for the remainder of the year. Sisters School District staff worked all throughout last week to make contact with students and families via phone calls and e... Full story
When St. Charles Health System put out a call for 10,000 masks to protect medical personnel as the COVID-19 outbreak ramped up, Wes Fisher of Credit Associates in Bend answered. “One of the people who works for me… they own a garment business here in town,” Fisher told The Nugget. “I hooked up with them to do 2,000 masks.” The masks are cut and sewn to meet St. Charles’ specs. Luan Pham, chief revenue and marketing officer for Laird Superfood in Sisters knows Fisher and... Full story
The Sisters Rodeo Board of Directors had to make a wrenching decision last week to cancel this year’s event, which would have been the 80th Sisters Rodeo. They made the hard, right call. Everyone involved with Sisters’ many events is fully cognizant of how important they are to the culture and economy of our community. When the Sisters Folk Festival made the decision to cancel the 2017 event due to the smoke impacts of the Milli Fire, the board knew full well the pain the dec... Full story
To the Editor: My dad once told me, “You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time.” If the stress of these times has you on edge, helping others is good for everyone. Here’s a thought: In the near future, stimulus checks should be finding their way to you. What I propose is this… If it is at all possible in your budget, use a part of your stimulus check to purchase a gift card from one of our fine Sisters merchants. Even if a business isn’t currently open, the majority of them are checking... Full story
On April 2, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly relieved Capt. Brett Crozier of command of the nuclear carrier USS Roosevelt for sending his request for assistance over non-secure email to a “broad array of people” rather than up the chain of command. He stated that Crozier “allowed the complexity of the challenge of the COVID breakout on the ship (which started nine days earlier) to overwhelm his ability to act professionally.” The crew cheered Capt. Crozier when he departed the ship in Guam. Modley then flew to Guam after t... Full story
Amid an uncertain future for this school year, the Sisters School Board adopted a starting date for the 2020-21 school year at a meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, April 8. Board chair Jay Wilkins started the meeting with a brief lesson on how to conduct a virtual meeting and said, “This gives us an appreciation of the educational challenges our staff is facing with distance learning.” The meeting came on the heels of Governor Kate Brown’s announcement to close schools for the remainder of the school year. Public comments were... Full story
Sisters High School 2017 graduate Zidane Galant-LaPorte recently received the Newman Civic Fellowship for her work at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where she is currently a junior. As stated by the honorees site: “The honors are given by Whitman College as part of its membership of Campus Compact, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping colleges educate students for civic and social responsibility.” The fellowship is a state and national honor. From the fel... Full story
A local casualty of the current global coronavirus pandemic is the 23rd annual Quilts in the Garden tour sponsored by the Sisters Garden Club (SGC). Usually held the Thursday of Quilt Show Week, this year the board of directors for the garden club have decided to err on the side of caution by canceling the tour that was scheduled for July 9. According to Ruth Palmer, communications chairperson for the SGC, the board issued a statement explaining the rationale for this... Full story
In recognition of the sacrifices of those on the front lines caring for COVID-19 patients in Central Oregon, St. Charles is launching a new fund through St. Charles Foundation to provide bonus pay to eligible employees. The St. Charles Hero Fund will provide bonus pay to caregivers who work on the front lines for the month of April to honor the risks they are taking and show our appreciation. To be eligible, caregivers must work in direct patient care or on-site at a clinical location at least 80 hours in April. The hero... Full story
The Graduate Resource Organization (GRO) voted unanimously to proceed with the local scholarship program for the class of 2020 at its monthly meeting held via Zoom on Thursday, April 9. “Though we do not know exactly how we will deliver the news, seniors who applied for scholarships through GRO can rest assured we are moving forward with selection of recipients on the same timeline as if we were not dealing with the closure of schools,” said Tim Ross, GRO board chairman, after the meeting. Though not able to meet in per... Full story
The Deschutes County Commissioners and Deschutes County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson have allocated $500,000 in emergency response funding for immediate COVID-19-related needs in Deschutes County. The funds will allow the County to purchase additional ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies that will help expand regional capacity and help to keep first responders and the community safe. “We’re working to do everything we can to control and contain the spread of COVID-19,” said Deschutes County Commi... Full story
The next election in Deschutes County is the Oregon Presidential Primary Election. Despite the many challenges brought by COVID-19, this statewide election will be held on Tuesday, May 19. Oregon’s Vote By Mail elections allow voters to stay at home and vote early. Each of Deschutes County’s more than 144,400 registered voters will be mailed a ballot on Wednesday, April 29. Deschutes County Elections reminds voters that Tuesday, April 28, is the voter registration deadline for the primary election. Oregon voters with an Ore... Full story
• Once the weather warmed up, I cut the elastic waistband off my long johns and sewed it — by hand — to a favorite wild rag, creating a less-than-perfect face mask. • Since the only thermometer I own is a horse thermometer, I decided to rely on my sense of smell out at the barn as an indicator of whether I might have COVID-19. For me, there is just nothing like the smell of horses, goats and newly re-stacked hay to monitor how I’m holding up. • I’m down to one horse and one goat out at the bar... Full story
Sisters’ approach to promoting tourism is under review. In response to the Sisters Country Vision Plan, the City has been gearing up to address Strategy One for a Prosperous Sisters; to make Sisters a four-season tourist and visitor destination by strategically increasing the number of shoulder season and winter events and attractions, such as performances, festivals, retreats, educational speaker series, trainings, and outdoor sports tournaments. The Action Plan calls for t... Full story
After Governor Kate Brown’s announcement on Wednesday that Oregon schools will be closed to in-person learning for the remainder of the school year, the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) has canceled all remaining spring activities and state championships. “Today’s heart-wrenching decision is difficult for all members of the OSAA family,” said Peter Weber, OSAA Executive Director. “We empathize with students and school communities, especially our graduating seniors, but recognize that these cancellations will allo... Full story
Staying home does appear to be slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon and in Deschutes County — and health authorities are urging that measures stay in place into May to keep numbers down. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports that new projections from health researchers estimate that Oregon’s “aggressive” social distancing measures have prevented as many as 18,000 cases of COVID-19 and 500 hospitalizations. However, OHA states, these restrictions must be maintained into May to prevent new cases from rising above... Full story
Now is not a time to constantly consume the news. Focus on what CAN be done, not about the perils of the world around us. Here are a few ways that this shut in offers an opportunity to establish a healthier lifestyle. • Changing eating habits: No longer is the excuse “I don’t have time to eat healthy” valid. Cooking offers a pleasurable expression of creativity, flavor, and comfort. It doesn’t have to be hard, and it doesn’t have to be gourmet. A staple in this household is a veggie stir fry with tofu, and a simple soy,... Full story
It’s spring and cavity-nesting birds are looking for homes to raise babies in. In last week’s Nugget, Jodi Schneider offered a wonderful birdwatching piece, and suggested you build them homes. OK, here’s how to do it. Head out to the nearest housing construction project, and if they’re using plywood (not particle board), ask the builders to put their rems (wood remnants) aside in a pile and when the job’s done, go by with a box of donuts, give it to the builders, bring the... Full story
• Sisters School District sent out a thank you out to Ray’s Food Place for donating grocery bags for material pickups for all three schools last week. Gary Thorson of SSD said, “They were a huge help this past week.” • The community of Sisters owes a tip of the hat to all the workers in the grocery and sundries marketplace, the pharmacists, the people pumping gas — all those who have worked so hard over the past several weeks to keep shelves stocked and essential services and goods coming to the folks who l... Full story
ODFW is closing recreational hunting, fishing, crabbing and clamming to non-residents due to concerns about travel to Oregon to participate in these outdoor activities. The agency believes that such travel could spread the virus and put more of a burden on Oregon’s rural communities. As of Friday, April 10, non-residents may no longer participate in these activities in Oregon. The restriction extends until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and it is deemed safe to travel into Oregon. This order does not apply to anyone l... Full story
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is now offering an online reporting service that allows citizens to file non-emergency reports over the Internet. The service can be utilized for a minor traffic crash, theft, criminal mischief, or a vehicle break-in. A citizen will receive a no cost copy of their report within seven days of it being submitted and approved. Citizens can also submit a crime tip, request extra patrol at a specific location, or complete a vacation check request. The sheriff’s office notes that this ser... Full story
Sisters usually throws out a welcome mat for visitors — but in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that welcome mat is being pulled. The City of Sisters is releasing an administrative order strongly discouraging visitors from coming to town — the same kind of order already issued at the Oregon coast, the Columbia Gorge, and in the City of Bend. It will be in effect through May 15. The order will be sent to all short-term rental property permit holders. Most... Full story
Many readers expressed interest in my previous articles about our Southeast Asia “Ghost Ship” cruise to nowhere. Many, though, asked what the cruise was like before the stop in Hong Kong made people aboard our ship into international pariahs. It was wonderful! We saw, learned, and experienced things that can never be understood without the first-hand observation of international travel — travel that has since come to a worldwide standstill due to the COVID-19 pan... Full story
