News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 42
Some differences but no sharp disagreements emerged from an informal debate between the two candidates for the only contested seat on the Sisters School Board in the May 17 election. The most dramatic difference appeared after the hour-long debate ended, in a conversation involving the candidates and some members of the audience (see related story, page 35). Both Rob Corrigan and Jeff Haken agreed that local schools are underfunded despite exceptional efforts by local residents to supplement state funding through the local... Full story
Last week’s debate between Sisters School Board candidates Rob Corrigan and Jeff Haken revealed no major conflicts — until it was over. At the end of the formal session, some members of the audience engaged both men in what reportedly became a discussion of creationism. Later, The Nugget asked each candidate for his views on that subject. Corrigan said that while he supports everyone’s right to practice religion, “that should be done in the church or the home, not in the pub... Full story
Now that McDonald’s has made its way into Sisters, city officials — pushed by citizen outcry — are bracing for more franchise fast food. Some feel that fast food chains threaten the Sisters image. City planning commissioners are looking at a draft ordinance that would restrict such “formula food” institutions in Sisters. A formula food restaurant is defined as franchises and corporations in which the ingredients, menus, décor, and uniforms are identical in six or more other restaurants. The draft is still in its early stag... Full story
Patrol cars from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will prowl the streets of Sisters for the next three years. The City of Sisters has renewed its contract for police services with the Deschutes County Sheriff. The contract covers the next three years with an annual $356,694 price tag and an additional five percent increase each year. In the last two years the annual sum has increased by more than $50,000. The agreement is effective July 1, 2005 and terminates June 30, 2008. The agreement pays for law enforcement w... Full story
Identity theft is on the rise in the U.S. A thief steals your good name to go on a shopping spree costing customers and businesses billions of dollars in losses. In Sisters, businesses try to find the right balance between obtaining the information they need and protecting their customers’ personal information. A study released by the Better Business Bureau reported that 9.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2004. The crime costs billions of dollars to businesses and financial institutions in America. It t... Full story
Picnic season is rolling around again in Sisters and a new business is ready to fill your basket with some gourmet delicacies. Sisters Olive & Nut Co., located on the ground floor of The Grand Palace Hotel (The Palace) offers 50 or more varieties of its namesake olives. But there’s a lot more: more than 50 varieties of nuts, award-winning Wisconsin sausages, cheeses, wines — everything you need for a nice spread either on the picnic blanket or at home. Owners Susan and Kev... Full story
In the last four years, Space Age Fuel in Sisters has been involved in two incidents involving furnishing alcohol to minors. In a 2000 episode, owner Yacoub Bedaywi reportedly sold alcohol to an Oregon Liquor Control Commission decoy. In 2004, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission hit Space Age Fuel with a $3,795 civil penalty or 23-day license suspension on charges that an employee — Bedaywi’s son — failed to verify the age of a 17-year-old juvenile before selling him alcohol. The juvenile, Stephen Withrow, allegedly became i... Full story
Developers do not agree on which property should be brought into Sisters Urban Growth Boundary under the proposed Sisters Urban Area Comprehensive Plan. The plan requests that an additional 59 acres of land be brought into the Urban Growth Boundary in order to accommodate the growing city over the next 20 years. The 59 acres of land is to fill the need for commercial/industrial, residential, and space needed for the expansion of the city’s sewer treatment facility. To fill the need for residential land, 30 acres has been d... Full story
The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West will perform in concert in Sisters featuring the chamber ensemble “Pacific Coast Winds.” The legendary band will take the stage at Sisters High School on Monday, May 9, at 7 p.m. The concert will begin with the Sisters High School Band performing music which they will present at the State Band Competition later next week. Following the Outlaws, the chamber ensemble will perform. The Pacific Coast Winds is the resident chamber music ensemble of Travis Air Force Base, whi... Full story
Most days you will find Vicki Johnston helping customers at Bank of the Cascades Sisters branch. But she recently decided to set aside her computer for some bigger tools — like a panel saw. Johnston and three of her banking colleagues are taking a wood-working class through Central Oregon Community College. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to use saws and be self-sufficient,” said Johnston, while the noise of power tools whirred around her. Johnston said when she saw the notic... Full story
John Reischman and the Jaybirds will roll into Sisters from Vancouver, British Columbia for a night of exceptional bluegrass music on Friday, May 13, at the Sisters High School auditorium. The concert is presented by the Sisters Folk Festival. Four years of touring across North America and Europe, three critically-acclaimed albums and a Canadian Juno nomination have established John Reischman and the Jaybirds as one of the top-flight bands in bluegrass music. In addition to... Full story
Tickets are now available for the Sisters Folk Festival, set for September 9-11. All Event Badges are on sale now online at www.sistersfolkfestival.com; a $60 (plus a $3.50 service fee) badge allows access to all venues for all three days, including access to workshops and the Night Owl Showcase. The All Event Badge price goes up to $75 on August 1. The Subdudes, one of the most exciting bands in the world of acoustic music, will headline the festival and rock the big tent on Saturday night, September 10. Reunited in 2002 aft... Full story
The Outlaws recorded their best team golf score of the season by 14 strokes (309) to finish third in the second leg of the Central Oregon Classic which was held at Eagle Ridge on Friday, April 29. Leading the Outlaws was Scott Barton who shot an amazing six-under par 66 and was the medalist for the day. “This was one of his best competitive rounds ever,” said Coach Jeff Barton, “and included four birdies and an eagle on the 18th hole. He shot all birdies and eagles, no bogie... Full story
Sisters defeated Stayton 5-2 in their final league match of the season on Thursday, April 28, to clinch the league title for the third consecutive year. Coach Janis Quiros said the Lady Outlaws haven’t lost a league match to any Capital Conference team in three years. The doubles teams swept their matches in straight sets. Elyss Clasen and Liz Dale (No. 1) defeated Tracy Brogette and Brooke Sessom 6-1, 6-1 and the No. 2 duo of Jaci Armstrong and Claire Rerat defeated Alba G... Full story
Sisters took first place by 85 strokes at the golf tournament held at Aspen Lakes on Thursday, April 28. The Lady Outlaws finished with a score of 376. Madras was runner-up at 461 and Burns was third with 506. Crook County had an incomplete team. Kayla Miller took medalist honors with an individual score of 82 to lead the Outlaws. Krystal Fitter carded a 96, MacKinzie McClain a 98 and Brittany Reed 100. Alexie Wainwright scored a 102, Stephanie Pledger 114, Maureen Broadbent... Full story
The Sisters Boys Lacrosse Club will host a lacrosse jamboree at Sisters High School on Saturday, May 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Players from Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, Churchill and Roseburg high schools will participate. These teams are playing their games in Sisters in an effort to help spread the sport of lacrosse to Central Oregon, according to Sisters coach Bill Rexford. All teams will be donating equipment to Sisters Lacrosse. Currently Central Oregon has two high school lacrosse clubs — Sisters and Redmond. Lacrosse h... Full story
For the first time in Sisters High School history, both the band and the choir have qualified for the State Championships. This year only 10 3A bands and 12 3A choirs were accepted. The choir will compete on Friday, May 6, at George Fox University in Newberg. Choir director Tara MacSween said, “It’s a real honor to get to go. I thought it was a long shot for us and to be chosen was really exciting. I’m especially excited for my seniors.” The band competes the following week on Friday, May 13, at 2:55 p.m. at the LaSalle... Full story
Just about every parent at Sisters Elementary School wants to contribute financially to boosting school programs. So do many community members. But not everyone can make a direct cash donation. Through a new “Scrip” program launched by the Sisters Parent, Teacher, Community (SPTC) group, parents and community members can contribute financially through their regular shopping. The SPTC is selling “Scrip” — essentially gift certificates for national and local retailers... Full story
Angi Gardinier and Ted Thonstad have not been asked to go to Salem to testify on House Bill 2502, which would require seat belts on all school buses. But if they were, this is what they’d say: “Don’t do it.” Gardinier is the transportation supervisor for Sisters School District, managing a fleet of 13 buses. She has been with the district since she started as a bus driver 21 years ago. Thonstad is the district superintendent. The issue of seat belts on school buses comes around in the Oregon Legislature almost as dependa... Full story
Students, parents, and teachers hit the track on Friday, April 29, in the annual Sonrise Christian School Walk/Jog-A-Thon. Runners wore bright red T-shirts designed by seventh-grader Seth Schneider in a contest earlier this spring. The logo read, “Let My People Run!” The running course was full of children from preschoolers running, walking, and tumbling around the field, to middle school students competing with their own jogging records from the previous year. And a vir... Full story
Rob Corrigan is the clear choice for the Sisters School Board. Corrigan’s resumé is impressive — Harvard degree, executive of several Silicon Valley technology firms — but voters need look no further than his track record here in Sisters schools. Corrigan has been involved as a volunteer in the elementary school computer lab, as a board member of the Sisters Schools Foundation and has led the local effort to lobby Salem so more teachers are not lost from our classr... Full story
It’s never pleasant to increase our tax burden, even with the relatively light load SOAR would add. But SOAR provides important benefits to the entire Sisters community and the community should be willing to share the burden of paying for them. When a key federal grant was cut, SOAR lost funding for after-school tutoring, English-language-learner Spanish — the very kinds of programs that are vital to youth in a time when schools provide less and less. Other programs like a wil... Full story
I wanted to take a minute to expand on an article in the April 20 edition of The Nugget, titled “Dissenting voice heard on SOAR levy” written by Jim Cornelius. I want to start with something I said that didn’t make it to print: This community owes a debt of gratitude to Tom Coffield for all he has done for SOAR. Everything SOAR is and does is due to Tom’s hard work. We on the SOAR board will truly miss his leadership. Referring back to the article, Tom was quoted as saying, “In order for us to survive as Ben wants us to, we... Full story
Setting our sights ahead for our children and community, the Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation District (SOAR District) has been providing a variety of programs, activities and events for the Sisters Community. The SOAR District is at the crossroads of becoming a complete recreation district, providing activities, specialty classes, events and facilities for the entire community’s use. The SOAR District presently offers programs like after-school tutoring, child care, pre-school programs, teen club a... Full story
To the Editor: I have lived in Sisters for 29 years. I deal with the public five days per week. Over the last few months I have had, on the counter, more than ten pages of petitions calling for limits to the looming encroachment of huge corporations. I have not been able to keep up with the number of people who have wanted to sign them and make comments and encourage our efforts to keep the spirit of Sisters intact. They avidly express their concern about what is at stake here. They want Sisters to be here when they come back... Full story
