News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
Sisters-Camp Sherman fire district volunteer emergency medical response (EMR) firefighter William Hayes was honored with an award for outstanding service as the number-one responding volunteer. On Thursday, April 24, he found himself receiving the Governor's Volunteer Award, handed to him by Kate Brown, secretary of state, at the Salem Convention Center. The 2014 Governor's Volunteer Awards recognized outstanding volunteers from all reaches of the state who improve their... Full story
A roundtable discussion on economic development turned into a discussion of vocational education opportunities last week. State officials and local entrepreneurs alike see the two issues as inextricably linked. Sisters Economic Development Manager Caprielle Foote-Lewis facilitated the roundtable with Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown and small-business advocate Ruth Miles at Lakeview Millworks in downtown Sisters. Lakeview Millworks owner Brad King kicked off the discussion... Full story
Dan Galecki has spent his entire working life in the woods. From the University of Wisconsin, where he got his degree in forestry in 1987, to Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, he's worked for a wide variety of clients in all kinds of forest landscapes. Now, as the proprietor of Spindrift Forestry Consulting in Bend, he's working on the urban landscape of the City of Sisters. Galecki has been hired as a contract consultant and will be tasked with consulting the City on... Full story
Former Sisters High School (SHS) student Michael Williams returned to his alma mater in style on Tuesday, April 29. He landed a Robinson R44 helicopter on the lacrosse field. Williams is completing his commercial helicopter training with Leading Edge Aviation in Bend. He and his instructor, Matt Haggendorin, brought the helicopter to Sisters so that the school's flight sciences students could get a little insight and inspiration. "These guys are going to get a tour of this... Full story
To the Editor: I love having the traffic light at the intersection of McKinney Butte Road and the highway. For the first time I feel safe going that route. There have been numerous accidents there, and I've been afraid of a fatal accident. It has been called temporary, but I'm hoping it will be made permanent. Jane Getty ••• To the Editor: With regard to city council's decision concerning MP3 recordings of City meeting minutes being made available on the City website "not to pursue the issue at this time based... Full story
Folks in Sisters joined in prayer on Thursday, May 1, in an event at FivePine Lodge & Conference Center set to coincide with the National Day of Prayer. "It's nice to see this place packed out like this," said master of ceremonies Jim Hamilton as he surveyed the full house at the Sisters Country Prayer Breakfast. "This morning is really just a chance for us to come together and reflect upon all the blessings God has bestowed upon our nation over the course of our history."... Full story
Isabelle Schutte of Sisters won All-Around State Champion honors at the Oregon State Gymnastics Championships April 25-27. Schutte, a 9-year-old third-grader at Sisters Elementary School, competes at Level 3. She was state champion in the floor exercise; took second in vault; third on bars; and was also third on beam. Schutte doesn't have a preference in the different events. "All the events are my favorites," she said. "I like all of them - they're just so fun. I really like... Full story
For the first time, The Roundhouse Foundation has awarded an Enrichment Experience Scholarship of $1,000. The award is going to Sisters High School (SHS) junior Dakota Wagner. The Roundhouse Foundation was established with a mission to encourage community enrichment and economic development through the arts in Central Oregon. For this reason, The Roundhouse Foundation has offered a total of $3,000 in scholarships to be distributed to SHS students for enriching experiences... Full story
Virgo is one of the 12 constellations of the zodiac and can be seen from Sisters by looking south at nightfall in May. Virgo is the second-largest constellation in the sky (only Hydra takes up a bigger portion of the celestial sphere). It can be found by following the curve of the Big Dipper to the bright star Arcturus in Bootes, then continue southward to Spica, the constellation's brightest star. It is bordered by Leo to the west and Libra to the east. According to the Mal... Full story
Sixteen classes of kindergartners have passed through the doors of Karen Ritchie's classroom at Sisters Elementary School. Many of those have now graduated from Sisters High School and are now adults. After all those years of getting kids in Sisters off to a strong start in school, Mrs. Ritchie is retiring to spend time with her son and his family in Florida. Ritchie started teaching first grade right out of college, then stepped away for years as she raised her children.... Full story
Mother's Day, in one form or another, is a secular holiday observed in many countries around the world, usually in the spring of the year. The celebration of Mother's Day began in the United States on the second Sunday in May in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia. Through her efforts it became a nationally recognized holiday honoring all mothers in 1914, but by the 1920s, Jarvis was disappointed by its commercialization. The... Full story
In the field of Scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is the premium achievement. Ben Johnson, a junior at Sisters High School, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 188 in Sisters, and he's going for the rank of Eagle Scout. He has earned 26 merit badges, including all of the mandatory merit badges to earn the rank. His Eagle Scout project accomplished the rehabilitation of an outdoor chimpanzee enclosure at the chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimps Inc., located in Tumalo. Johnson... Full story
What a honey of day it was in Sisters last Saturday! Approximately 400 people from throughout Central Oregon descended on the Liddell Honey Bee Yard in the industrial park like a swarm of bees. In fact, that's what they were in town for: to learn about bees, buy their bees and get going as bee-keepers. Five-year-old Addie Severson from Tumalo showed up at the yard, eager to see what she was buying with her own money and what she could learn to get into the honey business.... Full story
Raman Ellis found his voice as a singer, musician and songwriter growing up in Sisters. Now he's working on producing a debut CD of his original songs in his hometown. Ellis has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $7,000 to record and produce "We Are The Light." The CD will be as homegrown as it can be - recorded in Sisters with producer and engineer Brent Alan and featuring the accompaniment of Sisters musicians. "All the instrumentalists will be friends who I have been... Full story
Valerie Fercho-Tillery has a passion for helping animals - and for quilting. For the second year, she has brought those passions together to produce a dog-themed quilt as a fundraiser for the Sisters-based Furry Friends Foundation. The quilt, created from a Java House Muchas Poochas pattern, will be raffled over the summer, with proceeds devoted to helping local pet-owners in need. Last year's quilt raised more than $2,000. "The funds are used to purchase pet food for our... Full story
Master blacksmith Jeff Wester, his son, Hayden, and smith Alex Cretsinger had plenty of irons in the fire last Sunday afternoon as they put on a blacksmithing demonstration at the Sisters Library. About 70 Sisters residents were there to watch, ask question, inspect the wrought steel pieces both Jeff and Alex created with their smithy skills. This was the final Friends of the Sisters Library (FOSL) program for 2014. They are put on each winter and spring as part of the Diane... Full story
Sisters-area resident Richard Esterman is going up against incumbent Tony DeBone, seeking the Republican nomination to vie for a seat on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. One of the two candidates will face Democrat Bend City Councilor Jodie Barram in the November general election. When it comes to issues that directly affect Sisters Country, the gap between the candidates is not wide, at least when it comes to policy. Approach to that policy turns up some differences. Esterman lays out his positions pretty... Full story
The timing couldn't have been better for the launching of a new club in Sisters High School. "Interact" is a service club sponsored by Sisters Rotary Club. Heather Johnson, Sisters High School health teacher, encouraged the students who had been deeply moved by the school's connection with Uganda to come to the Interact Club's inaugural meeting the following day. Interact is a combination of the words international and action. Interact is a club for youth ages 12-18 who want... Full story
The Outlaws defeated Sweet Home (SH) in back-to-back games, a 12-1 win on the road on Monday, April 28, and an 8-0 shutout at home a day later. On Friday, the Outlaws defeated Elmira 2-0 at home. In Friday's contest against Elmira, Jarden Weems pitched a two-hitter shutout and stretched the Outlaws' league record to 10-0. Weems recorded seven strikeouts and gave up no walks. "Jarden had great control and kept us in the game the whole way," said Coach Steve Hodges. "He pitched... Full story
Brandon Pollard made the record books in more ways than one at the Jesuit Twilight Relays, crushing the school record for 1,500 meters in what may have been the fastest field ever assembled at a high school meet in Oregon. Pollard place fifth in the elite section of the metric mile in 3:56.02 as 10 boys cracked the four-minute barrier. Matthew Maton of Summit High School won the race in 3:49.38, which is the fastest time in the entire nation this year. Included in the field... Full story
The girls tennis team fell 4-3 to Cascade and 6-1 to Vale on Saturday, May 3, at home at Black Butte Ranch. The Outlaws were only able to bring half of the their squad due to SAT testing and prom. Sisters waited out a two-hour rain delay before they took on Cascade in their first match of the day. Haley Carlson and Savannah Spear (No. 1 doubles) dug deep against a big-hitting Cougar team and scraped out a 6-4, 7-5 victory. Allie Spear and Lacey Gilmore paired at doubles play a... Full story
The girls lacrosse team defeated the Lady Bulldogs 16-14 at West Albany on Wednesday, April 30. Sisters traveled with only 10 players as some members of the squad were unable to play due to injury or athletic code violations. West Albany got on the scoreboard first, but Sisters answered with a goal from Adie Ellson thanks to an assist from Sierra Hummel. On the next draw, center Langley Vogt took control and passed the ball to Emily Ford who knocked in another goal to put Sisters on top 2-1. The Bulldogs were able to score... Full story
The Sisters High School varsity softball team ran into a pair of powerhouse opponents last week and quickly learned why Sweet Home and Elmira are atop the Sky-Em League standings. Sweet Home took two from the Outlaws, 21-0 and 20-1, while Elmira bested the locals, 21-1. Sweet Home is ranked 7th in the OSAA 4A rankings and leads No. 13 Elmira by one game in Sky-Em League play. Sisters fell to 1-9 in league and 1-17 overall. In the first game against Sweet Home, the Outlaws... Full story
When Paul and Alison opened Weston Equine Services in 2009, their aim was to establish a small and caring boarding environment. An additional few horses might come in for rehabilitation, and travelers would find the location on the corner of Holmes Road and Highway 126 convenient for overnight stops. Fast-forward five years and the Westons are busy with their boarders, with training, and with hosting a variety of clinics. They've built barns and shelters, established dry lots,... Full story
The Outlaws suffered a 16-4 loss to Bend under the lights at Reed Stadium on Tuesday, April 29, but bounced back with an impressive 17-5 victory at home against Sheldon three days later. Sheldon has only lost two games this season and was ranked at No. 19 compared to the Outlaws, who were ranked at No. 24. In Friday's action against Sheldon, the Outlaws dominated the entire contest in every aspect of the game. Sisters' defense played very physical and never let Sheldon get... Full story
