News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 35
With "Athlete of the Meet" Benton Urquhart leading the way, the Outlaws boys track team won its first ever track and field district title at the Sky-Em Championships held Thursday, May 14 and Saturday, May 16 at Junction City High School. Urquhart's victories in both the 3,000 meters (9:19.72) and the 1,500 (4:09.25) boosted Sisters to 147 points, 10 ahead of perennial power Marist, which finished second at 137. Cottage Grove placed a distant third with 97 points, followed by... Full story
Sisters' tourist economy is seeing some glimmers of light in the gloom of a deep - and likely prolonged - recession. Sisters' room tax revenues declined by 13.3 percent in the first quarter of 2009. That might sound like bad news, but it's not being taken that way in the local business community. That's because Sisters' decline is much less steep than it is for others in the region: Bend's room tax revenues for March are off by 28.2 percent, and Deschutes County as a whole is... Full story
Jack McGowan of Sisters has been named Grand Marshal of the Portland Rose Festival's KeyBank Grand Floral Parade on Saturday, June 6. McGowan was honored for his work as co-director, with his wife Jan, of SOLV (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism). The festival's announcement was made on Monday afternoon at Sisters High School with a variety of school and city dignitaries in attendance. "Jan and I are really honored," McGowan told The Nugget. "This came out of the blue, I can tel... Full story
Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Fred Eaglesmith will perform in concert on Monday, May 25, at a Harmony House Concert hosted at Mike and Shawn Biggers' home at 18137 Fadjur Ln. near Sisters. Eaglesmith's unique songwriting voice and exciting stage performances have earned him a loyal following of "Fredheads." Devoted fans follow him from one show to another to savor what one reviewer calls the "fury and fun" of his concerts. His releases consistently hit the upper... Full story
John Rahm, of Sisters, has earned the Peter Hanson Memorial Award from the Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. The award is part of the annual Big Chainring award, which honors those who have made a significant contribution toward improving bicycling and walking conditions in Deschutes County; encouraging children or adults to walk and ride their bikes; and making Deschutes County communities healthier and happier. Rahm was honored for his volunteer efforts in improving the Peterson Ridge Trail just south of Si... Full story
The Sisters community will celebrate its Western lifestyle and living history in a day of celebration with Ranch Life and Rodeo Show, May 30. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce has announced a full day of Western exhibits and entertainment planned for Saturday throughout the Sisters Country. A portion of the proceeds from the show and art sale will be contributed to Equine Rescue services - helping out those who provide food and vet care for horses who have been abandoned or cannot be cared for any longer by their owners.... Full story
Sisters High School will host a benefit concert for their local "Sparrow," Christian Ruwaldt, on Saturday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sisters High School auditorium. The school adopted the child as part of the Sparrow Club program, in which students raise funds to help children in medical crisis. Christian is one-and-a-half years old and was born with two rare heart diseases. He has already had two major heart surgeries and still has one last surgery to go. All monies raised at the concert will go to Christian to help cover... Full story
Rimrock Ranch, near Sisters, has a special relationship with the Deschutes Land Trust. The Trust was formed to conserve and protect land in Central Oregon, but outright ownership is only one way the Trust accomplishes that goal. In the case of Rimrock Ranch, the property remains in private ownership; but conservation goals are achieved through the use of a conservation easement. In order to prevent future subdivision of the ranch, the current owners, Bob and Gayle Baker, enter... Full story
To the Editor: The last Monday of May is now the official day of remembrance of the American veterans who gave their lives in the protection of our land and our ideals. The origination of this day was the 30th of May, started by the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans organization, in 1868, for the fallen heroes of the Civil War. In 1968 the congress passed the Uniform Holiday act, creating three-day weekends which included Memorial Day on the last Monday of May. As we enjoy the first unofficial weekend of summer camping,... Full story
For the past four months, the Sisters Ranger District has been under the temporary leadership of fire specialist Craig Letz. At the end of this week, however, Letz will be returning to his permanent post as Deputy Interagency Fire Management Officer for the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) in Prineville. "It's been fun," Letz said, summarizing his tour in Sisters. "There have been a lot of interesting things going on. Some of the things I was really glad to be a... Full story
The Sisters girls track team came up short of the district title at the Sky-Em League Track and Field Championships in a hotly contested battle with Cottage Grove and Marist. The Lady Outlaws still qualified a strong crew of athletes for the state meet. The Lions of Cottage Grove totaled 157.5 points to outduel Marist (153) and Sisters (148.5). Junction City was a distant fourth with 71, followed by La Pine (60), Elmira (54) and Pleasant Hill (11). "It was a great competition... Full story
Courtney Acarregui made headlines last February when she wrote a $10,000 grant benefiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Charles in Bend. When she and Nick Head began competing in the Mr. SHS pageant, Acarregui quickly began her fundraising efforts. Including the grant, she and Head raised $11,035. "I wanted to find a way to raise a lot of money," Courtney said. And that's just what she did. After contacting the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), they... Full story
The girls tennis team hosted the district tournament at Black Butte Ranch on Thursday and Friday, May 14 and 15. No Outlaws advanced to the semi-finals on Friday, but according to Coach Marti Dale, they all stepped up their game and played their best tennis of the year. Three doubles teams won in the first round. Marin Allen and Sarah Brown defeated Hanna Heycke and Kristen Jorizzo of St. Mary's 6-2, 6-2 in two quick sets. Jen Houk and Jessie Higgins beat Hidden Valley's Molly Freeman and Chloe Wilson 1-6, 7-6, 6-4. Dale... Full story
The Sisters High School girls golf team took top honors at the Sky-Em League Championships at the Middlefield Golf Course in Cottage Grove, held on Monday and Tuesday, May 11-12. They were crowned district champions for the second consecutive year. Sisters dominated play both days to finish with a team score of 671, 104 strokes ahead of runner-up Marist who finished at 775. Cottage Grove placed third (834) and La Pine was fifth (841). The entire Outlaws squad had top performan... Full story
The boys golf team placed second at the Sky-Em League Championships held at the Tokatee Golf Club on Monday and Tuesday, May 11-12. Sisters posted a two-day score of 668, behind first-place Marist, who recorded a two-day total of 631. Junction City placed third (707), Cottage Grove fourth (750), La Pine fifth (761) and Elmira rounded out the scoring with 815. Sisters and Marist will both advance to the state championships on Monday and Tuesday, May 18 and 19 at Quail Valley in Banks, Oregon. Elio Keller carded a 76 on day one... Full story
More than 200 high-powered students from Bend, Prineville and Sisters met last Thursday at the FivePine Lodge Conference Center in Sisters to tell their stories about why water reclamation and stream restoration projects are special to them - and vital to us. The meeting, "Students Speak: A Watershed Summit," was put together with the help of Healthy Waters Institute and the environmental education organization Wolftree, partnering with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council... Full story
Sisters High School graduate Kelsey White made the varsity boat on the Willamette University rowing team as a freshman. Now that boat is headed to Camden, New Jersey, for the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships. This is Willamette University's first appearance in the championships. The university was selected to send one of two "at large" teams to compete against seven other squads sending both varsity and junior varsity boats. "We'll race against all the teams," White said.... Full story
Jim Sternberg has been a fixture in Camp Sherman for 30 years where he lives with his oldest daughter Christine Sundquist. He is variously known as the King of Camp Sherman, the Mayor of Camp Sherman, Mountain Man, Handy Man, and the ever popular "Grumpy Old Man" designation he shares with several of his cronies who gather with him at the Camp Sherman Store and Post Office to share stories. On May 3, he celebrated his 90th birthday - and he plans to celebrate many more. When... Full story
Three friends from Japan hit the fairways of Central Oregon golf courses last week in a whirlwind tour of pars, eagles, and birdies. A group representing the premiere golf and travel magazine, Waggle Golf, was in town to photograph and experience golfer's Nirvana for a comprehensive six-page spread highlighting the abundant variety of golf sanctuaries offered in Oregon. Waggle is one of nine major golf publications in Japan and has a circulation of 120,000. The magazine's... Full story
A Bend-area woman died Saturday morning when the car she was driving struck a tree along Highway 20 near the entrance to Black Butte Ranch. According to Oregon State Police (OSP), on Saturday, May 16, at about 11:12 a.m. a 2005 Buick four-door driven by Genevieve Clare Watson, 79, from Bend, was westbound on Highway 20 near milepost 92 passing the entrance to Black Butte Ranch when it failed to negotiate a slight right hand corner. The Buick continued straight, left the... Full story
The Sisters High School Symphonic Band appeared as one of only 10 4A groups at the OSAA State Music Championships last Wednesday, May 13, at Oregon State University's LaSalle Stewart Center. This was the group's 10th consecutive appearance in the annual event hosted by the OSAA, an accomplishment only a few schools have experienced in OSAA history. "Getting invited to the state festival on an annual basis is a prestigious measure of the work our students are doing," said band... Full story
For 12 innings, the Sisters High School varsity softball team played sound softball. The other two innings, however, left the locals needing one more victory to extend their season into the 4A State Playoffs. At Pleasant Hill on May 11, SHS watched the Billies score 10 times in the 5th inning enroute to a 12-7 defeat. And on May 12, the Lady Outlaws saw a 3-1 lead disappear when the hosting Falcons scored seven times in the fourth inning. Elmira went on to record an 11-4 victory. "Other than those two innings, we played like... Full story
The Sisters Rodeo Association is presenting the renowned Tomas Garcilazo as its specialty act at the 69th annual Sisters Rodeo. His is part of the proud Mexican tradition of La Charreria, a skilled performance of horsemanship and rope artistry. Garcilazo, a native of Mexico City, is a third-generation Charro. He has performed at the White House and the Kennedy Center. He was a popular entry in the Pasadena Rose Parade this year and was also named Specialty Act of the Year at N... Full story
A popular American folk song from the early 1960s begins with the lyrics, "Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing, Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago...?" etc., etc. Well, solar scientists are singing a similar tune these days; only the words might go something like this: "Where have all the sunspots gone, long time ago...?" The sun has no spots these days, and that simply should not be the case. Sunspots are the result of intense magnetic storms that... Full story
The Outlaws baseball team wrapped up league play with an 8-2 win over Elmira at home on Tuesday, May 12. Aaron Fegenbush scored Chase Kleint on a fielder's choice in the first inning to get the Outlaws on the scoreboard. In the second inning Max Stovall's single pushed Sisters to a 2-0 lead. The Outlaws loaded up the bases in the fourth. Eric Carlson's fielder's choice scored one run and Sean Heagney's base hit scored another which gave Sisters a 4-0 lead. Stovall had a two-RB... Full story
