News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Thinking back on the endless weeding I did last summer, I see a connection to a book I just finished, “Four Hundred Souls.” It explores the history of African Americans from 1619 to 2019. It was edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. Time periods are divided into five-year segments, with various authors presenting historical documents and stories that illuminate American history as it relates to systemic racism. Now I see a connection between racism and cheatgrass. I’m... Full story
As Oregon continues to recover from the historic and destructive 2020 wildfire season, abnormally dry conditions and preseason fires on the landscape are causing concern for the 2021 wildfire season (see related story). Now is the time for Oregonians to prepare themselves, their families, and their homes for wildfire. Being prepared starts with an emergency plan. As simple as a list of important contacts and knowing where to go in case of evacuation, emergency plans are more effective when they are practiced with household... Full story
There’s still time for young writers to submit essays exploring desert landscapes to the High Desert Museum’s Waterston Student Essay Competition. The deadline is Thursday, June 17. The Waterston Student Essay Competition, now in its second year, is part of the Waterston Desert Writing Prize. It’s open to students in grades 9- 12, in public or private school, or home-schooled, who live in Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson and Lake counties. Submission is free. Students may submit essays of 750 to 1,000 words of nonfiction p... Full story
For many kids at the Sisters’ Middle School (SMS), the transition from 8th grade into high school can be a very challenging experience. It can be nerve-wracking and a bit scary. Eighth grader Jack Turpen told The Nugget, “I’m looking forward to many things including new opportunities, experiences, and meeting new people. Sisters High School offers so many unique programs and electives, including the flight program, the woodworking program, IEE, and many more exciting classes. I’m also looking forward to meeting new instruc... Full story
The Outlaws return four players with varsity experience to their squad this season, including seniors Nate Weber and Connor Linn, and juniors Max Palanuk and Ricky Huffman. Weber started for the Outlaws last season, averaged double digits and was a big scoring threat.” Coach Rob Jensen said, “Nate added a third dimension to his abilities and improved strength and speed significantly this off-season. He now can score at three ranges — at the basket, mid-range, and three-point range. He should be one of the top pla... Full story
The boys basketball squad lost 59-60 to a tough Summit JV team on Monday, May 17, and four days later were defeated 31-50 at home by the Sweet Home Huskies. Monday the Outlaws faced a big, athletic Summit squad, who also had some very good shooters. It was a tight contest and the game went back-and-forth the whole way. The Outlaws took the lead early in the first quarter, but Summit made a run and the lead switched hands. Sisters played a solid third quarter and were up by 18... Full story
If you own a business that’s been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have received some type of aid from the government – or maybe not. But in either case, some new opportunities for assistance may interest you. President Biden signed legislation extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application deadline from March 31 to May 31, 2021. So, if you haven’t received a PPP loan yet — or even if you have, and you’re eligible for a “second draw” loan — you’ve got another chance. As you may kno... Full story
The Lady Outlaws came out on top in a final score of 45-42 in a very close game against Summit JV on Monday, May 17. Two days later they lost 22-54 on the road against Mountain View, and at home on Friday they fell 25-40 to Sweet Home. Monday’s game against the Storm was close the entire game, and neither team led by more than three points until the final quarter. Sisters got contributions from several players in the final period. Ashlynn Moffat tied the game with a t... Full story
The girls varsity squad returns juniors Payden Petterson and Emma Lutz, and sophomore Josie Patton, the three girls on the roster with the most varsity experience. Petterson has been a varsity player all three years, and will play post for the Outlaws. Coach Carl Click said, “Payden is a good shooter, but is basically a solid, intelligent basketball player. She is physical, strong down low, and has a solid mid-range shot.” Lutz is very reliable and will manage the team from the point guard position. Click noted that point gua... Full story
Sisters track athletes, including a slew of seniors, made the most of having the opportunity to compete at the 4A state track meet as many Outlaws stood upon the podium, including one state champion. Just two months ago track-and-field athletes believed there would be no meaningful culminating meet this season since the Oregon Schools Activities Association (OSAA) announced it would not be sponsoring any championship events for high school sports. But Chris Johnson, who works... Full story
It’s baby bird season! Some babies are already popping out of nests, fluttering after parents making sweet little “feed me” calls. Yet baby birds face a gauntlet of risks, and it’s why many do not make it to adulthood. Knowing when to rescue a baby bird can be super confusing. The internet abounds with poor and misinformed advice. What’s worse are the infographic flow charts that oversimplify young birds. One hundred and ninety species of birds nest in Central Oregon. When a young bird leaves the nest (fledges) – a... Full story
Bunny Thompson of Sisters has been elected to the Zone 2 position on the Deschutes Public Library District’s (DPLD) board of directors. Thompson was previously appointed to the position after Linda Davis stepped down. The board will set policy for the DPLD in a time of transition, as the district constructs a new central library at the north end of Bend and reimagines the role of libraries in a changing world. “It’s a policy-driven board,” Thompson said. “The board sets the... Full story
Freshman Juhree Kizziar made a good showing at the girls state tennis tournament held in Roseburg on May 17, and made it to the quarterfinals before she dropped her last match. Kizziar defeated senior Allya Sierra 6-2, 6-1, in her first-round competition. Kizziar started a bit slow and dropped the first two games, but came back strong and won six games in a row to win the first set. She took control and finished strong at the net to win the second set. Kizziar faced senior Ellie Christian of Marist in the second match.... Full story
Sisters girls lacrosse squad fell 16-19 to Summit on Thursday, May 20, in their final game of the season. Teams kept the score close and at the half the score was tied 10-10. The Storm outshot the Outlaws 9-6 in the second half and recorded the win. Several players scored multiple goals for the Outlaws. Mary Root led the scoring effort with five, Pearl Gregg knocked in four, and Reese Harrell and Emma Lutz each pitched in three. Tatum Cramer also scored a goal for the team. Anya Shockley had multiple saves in goal. The team... Full story
High school wrestling competition got underway this week in “Season Four,” which finds traditional winter sports taking place in late spring. The Sisters Outlaws got busy right away, with two meets last week. The team opened the season this week hosting a three-way match with Summit and Stayton on May 19 and followed it up with the 18-team GFP Central Oregon Officials Tournament on Saturday, May 22, also hosted by Sisters. Gary Thorson said his team is composed mostly of begin... Full story
Nate Weber wrapped up his senior year with a fourth-place finish at the 4A state tennis tournament held Monday, May 17, at the Umpqua Valley Tennis Center, and Tuesday at Marist High School. Weber (No. 4 seed) faced Jonathan Swenson of Woodburn in the first round. Weber lost the first set 2-6, but buckled down and came back with a 6-1, 6-1, win to claim the victory. Weber has matched up against Swenson three times in his high school career and has tallied victories all three times. Weber beat Henry Gonvea 7-5, 6-2, in the... Full story
Registration is open for Sisters Folk Festival’s (SFF) in-person music and creativity camps for middle and high school-aged students taking place this summer at the Sisters Art Works building. The day camps will be held outdoors and are an expansion of the successful camps that took place in 2020 during the pandemic. This year, SFF is doubling their offerings from two to four week-long camps and working with local/regional teaching artists to create these stand-alone, fun-filled sessions of creativity, music, and s... Full story
Junior Evan Eby shot his best round of the year at the 4A boys state golf tournament held on Tuesday, May 18, at the Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis. Eby carded a 44 on the front nine and a 40 on the back for an 84 finish. Evan tied for 21st place out of 60 participants. He hit his drives well and limited his mistakes on the back. Eby had two pars on the front nine, and then lowered his score by four on the back with five pars and four bogies. Coach Bill Mitchell said,... Full story
Keith Taylor just “felt off.” Taylor, then 47 and living in Newburg, was uncharacteristically tired and lethargic. He was making preparations for a work-related trip to Seattle the next day but decided to just lie down for a while. He was still in bed when his wife came home from work and stayed there until the next morning, when his wife left early for work. Taylor had grown his Salem-based large manufacturing firm to include three partners, with him acting as sales man... Full story
The Sisters Arts Association’s Fourth Friday Artwalk returns this week, with a focus on art and creativity. Visitors can stroll leisurely through town, engaging with galleries, artists, and the wide variety of methods that they use to make art. Most galleries will feature artists doing demonstrations and talking about their work. Sisters Arts Association (SAA) welcomes two new galleries: Marigold & True and Metals Jewelry Studio. Marigold & True, at 351 W. Hood Ave., is a small, artful boutique that focuses on selling artisan... Full story
Imagine that you are standing in the middle of a tilled garden, watering can in hand, contemplating two types of seeds lying dormant in your soil. One seed, when watered, produces a toxic weed, from whose leaves a mild poison can be extracted. The second seed, when watered, produces a delectable and nourishing plant. Given the choice of which seed to water, you would naturally choose to water the plant that will nourish you, letting the toxic plant’s seed lie dormant. Now let’s imagine that you are standing in the tilled soi... Full story
Emily Woodworth of Sisters is the recipient of an Oregon Literary Fellowship through the literary arts organization. Woodworth had been aware of the organization for many years and had been planning to apply for the fellowship after graduating from Pacific University in 2016. Woodworth graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in creative writing and a minor in editing and publishing. She then attended California Institute (CalArts), where she graduated in 2020 with a... Full story
Cloverdale Fire District voters said a vehement “no” to a five-year local option levy to fund enhanced emergency medical and fire response. The Cloverdale District lies in the rural lands east of Sisters. The levy carried a tax rate of $1.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Voters rejected it by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin. The District sought to add two paid firefighting staff to maintain 24/7 staffing at the main station and house an ambulance in the Dis... Full story
Current residents of the Village Meadows development wrote letters to the City of Sisters opposing Habitat for Humanity’s requested modification and replat of property in the subdivision, and testified at the hearing via Zoom. Neighbors’ concerns centered on insufficient parking space, which would become worse with four more lots, traffic and speeding impacts on public safety, snow storage in the winter, the role of the homeowners’ association and the CC&Rs given Habit... Full story
The local community-building nonprofit Citizens4Community (C4C) last week installed Jane Paxson as president of its board of directors. Paxson succeeds founding President Robyn Holdman, who has led C4C since its beginnings in 2015. “In my many years of working with nonprofits, I’ve rarely seen a volunteer so passionate and dedicated as Robyn,” said C4C Executive Director Linda Cline. “Her contribution to this organization and this community are immeasurable. She has provided a strong foundation for Jane to continue to buil... Full story
