News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
A transient camped in the woods along Highway 20 west of Sisters started a fire that burned a 50-square-foot area before being extinguished by Sisters firefighters. According to Sisters Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler, the fire was called in at 2:32 a.m. on Tuesday morning, May 20. The man camped in the tent was unaware of the fire. He was awakened and escorted out of the area by a sheriff's deputy. Wheeler determined that the man's cigarette had smoldered near a log and caught... Full story
The golfer steps up to the tee, a rubber pad among a carpet of pine needles on the forest floor. His eyes hone in intently on the steel basket some 60 yards ahead, screened by a thicket of ponderosa pines. His arm sweeps like a hunting cat's tail slowly back and forth, fingers curled around the rim of a plastic disc, as he gauges distance and curve, and calculates the flight impact of a light breeze and drizzle. Two shuffle steps forward and the arm whips around. The disc... Full story
Spikes in diesel prices have hit the Sisters Schools. A year ago in April 2007 the district paid $2.47 for diesel, according to Angi Gardinier, Transportation Supervisor with the school district. In April 2008, that jumped to $3.81 per gallon. In budgeting for next year, Gardinier said she added another 30 percent, pushing the anticipated total fuel cost to $91,283 from this year's $70,218. She does not know if that will be enough. "I just looked at things and thought that was a reasonable amount," she said. But recent fuel... Full story
To the Editor: We are approaching a candidacy of the most deceptively dangerous politician in my lifetime. He has been packaged and sold as a messiah of change for America. However, as yet we have no definitive message as to what this change means. It is very vague and amorphous. However, we definitely have some concrete messages, uttered in his speeches over the past several months. I recently heard Mr. Obama state that Americans probably eat too much, keep their houses too warm, and that somehow we have a duty to sacrifice... Full story
Have you been downtown recently and noticed someone suspiciously combing through the branches of a tree or turning over a rock, one hand holding what appears to be a cell phone? You've probably witnessed a "geocacher," GPS device in hand, trying to find a hidden treasure. "Geo-cashing," as it's pronounced, is growing rapidly in the Sisters area. A new adventure game for GPS (Global Positioning System) users, participating in a cache hunt is a great way to use the wonderful... Full story
It's hard to miss the construction on the former site of the Sisters RV park at the west end of town. That massive structure is the new Ray's Food Place, set to open in November. "If it does sooner than that, great for us. If it goes a little longer, I think that's expected, but at this point it's a waiting game." said Ray's manager Jeff McDonald. Doug Lee of Lee Construction is the general contractor. He has built several Ray's markets already, which McDonald says gives him... Full story
Forest Service personnel and Camp Sherman volunteers gathered at Pioneer Ford Campground last week to celebrate the completion of a three-year effort to restore historic picnic shelters along the Metolius River. The three shelters were built at different campgrounds during the Great Depression by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Since the structures are "old" and considered historic, the project fell under the purview of Sisters Ranger District Archaeologist, Don... Full story
It took 12 years, but the Sisters High School boys' 1,600-meter relay team is the reigning state champion. Max Gruettner, Lee Elder, Jared Henderson and Cory McCaffrey (3:24.31) not only matched the feat of the 1996 foursome, but actually broke the school record set by Nick Fouts, Adam Haynes, T.K. Phelps and Josh Keys (3:24.5). The event concluded the three-day OSAA State Championships on a high note for the Outlaws. "These four boys pulled it together and showed that they we... Full story
Black Butte School students have taken their experiment in hatching fish eggs to the experts at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. Fry are newly hatched fish eggs, stage just after sac fry. Before sac fry they are called alvin, which comes after the egg. Eggs are just what the Black Butte School students started with when their parents suggested they learn how to hatch fish eggs in an incubator. The nice thing about fry is, they don't grow bigger than the environment you put them in... Full story
Patience at the plate was key in the Outlaws' 11-4 victory at home over Ontario on Saturday, May 24. Sisters advances to the semi-finals and will play at Astoria on Tuesday, May 27. Ontario scored three runs off four hits in the top of the first inning to take a briefly held lead. Sisters answered back with three runs of their own to tie it up 3-3. Tanner Hodges had a ground rule double for an RBI. With the bases loaded, Ontario walked Chase Klient and Sean Heagney for... Full story
Birders from all around Oregon will migrate to Sisters for the Woodpecker Wonderland Festival in Camp Sherman June 6-8. Camp Sherman is the home of many species of woodpeckers - 11 approximately - more than many other places in North America. Which makes Camp Sherman a unique place for birders to meet and enjoy beautiful landscapes and their native residents. This will be the only bird festival on the continent focused solely on that hardy species. Friday's events start late in the day at 1 p.m., but Saturday and Sunday start... Full story
The Oregon High School Equestrian Teams season wound up at the State meet, held May 15-18 at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center. Sisters was well represented, with riders placing in 11 events. Courtney Acarregui brought home the gold medal in Dressage in her first year of OHSET dressage competition. The Canadian Flags team of Leslee Zenich, Christina Holler, Michael Hopp and Taryn Gates captured a silver medal. The state meet masses around 700 riders, some of them bringing multiple horses. There are eight OHSET... Full story
Most trails above 5,000 feet of elevation are still buried under one of the heavier snowfalls in recent memory, but that doesn't mean there aren't other options if you're anxious to get an early start on the hiking season. We've all been to the Metolius River, so it's sometimes easy to forget a great outdoor opportunity right at our doorstep. One of the best early-season tune-ups for the hiking season is a very pleasant riverside loop trail just a few miles downstream from... Full story
"Pahoehoe! Uhh!" That was the battle cry of the dozens of Sisters Elementary School third graders who piled into busses for the annual field trip to Lava Lands at Newberry Crater National Monument last Thursday. The students had spent weeks learning about volcanoes and lava, including the types of lava they would see on the 7,000-year-old eruption site of Lava Butte: "Pahoehoe" (Uhh!) and "aa." The terms are Hawaiian. Pahoehoe (Uhh!) is smooth, flowing lava; aa is rough.... Full story
The Outlaws lacrosse team lost 12-4 at home to the Jesuit Crusaders in the second round of the state playoffs on Tuesday, May 20. Jesuit boasts a big, strong and fundamentally skilled team which proved to be more than the Outlaws could handle. Jesuit took control of the game early. Within the first two minutes the Crusaders scored two goals to take a 2-0 lead. Just a few minutes later Carroll Gryder wove through several defenders and scored to narrow Jesuit's lead to 2-1. The... Full story
There aren't that many people living in Sisters today that can say they were actually born here. Georgia Gallagher was born in 1922 on the 640-acre Edgington Ranch, which was located about two miles south of Sisters, west of South Elm/Three Creeks Lake roads and south of the present-day Patterson Ranch. Georgia Edgington became the youngest child in a family of four children born to Ellis and Ellen Edgington. Georgia's father, Ellis, was born in 1884 and grew up in Wasco... Full story
The deep snows of winter are turning into whitewater as runoff has swollen rivers around the state. For experienced kayakers, rafters and boaters the raging rivers bring excitement, but for others the conditions could mean peril. Following the hot streak of a week and a half ago, rivers in Oregon are running at extremely high levels. For example, as of May 20, the Santiam River was running at 25,700 cubic feet per second (cfs), not far off the record for the same date of 27,500 set in 1960. Normal for the date is just over... Full story
The Sisters Oregon Guide published by The Nugget is now available. The publication is a comprehensive guide to the Sisters Country, including information on recreation and activities year-round. Major Sisters events are covered, along with tips for enjoying the town's arts and live music scene. The guide offers ideas for hikes and bicycle rides - on the road and off - and covers wintertime activities such as skiing and snowshoeing. Dining and lodging listings allow... Full story
If I am gentle with the throttle and shift into neutral on the way down long hills I can get more than 25 miles a gallon from my car. It is a "sports" car, capable of extreme performance, but mileage is not its strong point. It's far better than my truck, though, and with gas more than $4 a gallon in Sisters and diesel pushing $5, I think about it. One friend, a Sisters teacher, has a large V-twin motorcycle. He loves it and rides nearly every day. Another, a professional pilot, rides his BMW motorcycle to work in... Full story
Though it ended with a loss, 2008 was a record-setting year for the Sisters High School girls softball program. The varsity finished the season with a plethora of school records and qualified to host a State 4A Playoff game - the first state playoff game in the school's softball history. The junior varsity posted the best record in the Sky-Em League and won 15 of 19 games on the season. Those 15 wins were the most any Outlaw JV softball team has won in school annals. The... Full story
• Village Interiors has just stocked their showroom with a large shipment of new furniture and accessories, with more truckloads on the way. Visit the showroom at 382 E. Hood Ave. • GreenRidge Physical Therapy is hosting a Pelvic Health and Awareness class on May 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The class will be taught by Michele Morseth, Feldenkrais Practitioner. The class is open to men and women interested in learning to coordinate and strengthen the muscles of the abdominals, back, diaphragm and pelvic floor to get... Full story
My days usually start out darn good. When you're past the "Big Eight-O" and make it through the night it has to be a good morning. But Kris Kristovich of Sisters has the wonderful habit of starting out my days just a little better, and last week his e-mail did it again. "Morning, Jim, attached is a series of photos of what I think is a fox. I was out this AM, tip-toeing across my deck in bare feet looking for bluebirds when I saw this orange piece of plastic off to the left.... Full story
More than 270 people ate pancakes while a handful of "Friends of the Metolius" flipped cakes and eggs last Sunday at Camp Sherman's Community Hall. Further down the buffet line, another Friend of the Metolius offered ham. The next stop, after visiting with a few friends and neighbors - all volunteers - was orange juice or choice of coffee. People ate like there was no tomorrow and one guest swore he never ate this much at home. This is the first year that Friends of the... Full story
It was a soggy start, but spirits remained undampened at the inaugural Sisters Farmers Market held on the grounds of the Sisters School District Administration building on Sunday, May 25. Vendors offered wares ranging from handmade soaps to honey, from baked goods to coffee, with some craft items thrown in as a surprisingly large crowd of locals gathered in the rain to sample the goods. The markets will be held each Sunday at the same location through the summer, starting at... Full story
A large crowd gathered at the Village Green Park on Monday to honor fallen service men and women in a Memorial Day remembrance service. Sisters' new Veterans Memorial and flagpole were officially dedicated during the service. Attendees were greeted and given small flags by the Military Parents of Sisters. The flags were to be placed in the garden alongside the Village Green gazebo at the conclusion of the service. The Crook County NJROTC presented the colors, the National Anthem was sung and Ed Beacham gave the invocation.... Full story
