News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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After an extensive vetting process that started with 47 candidates and included interviews with district staff, coaches, parents and students, the district has selected Tim Roth of Astoria to serve as the district's first full-time athletic director/fundraiser. Roth is finishing up his sixth year at Astoria High School as a chemistry teacher and swim coach. He grew up in Bend and graduated from Bend High School in 1991 before heading off to Willamette University. He graduated... Full story
The Sisters Planning Commission has declined to pursue the concept of a "holiday extension" for temporary use permit (TUP) holders. At the end of a sometimes contentious discussion between commissioners and proponents of Ky Karnecki's Wild Mountain mushroom and jerky stand, commissioner Doug Roberts' comments seemed to summarize the commission's position. Roberts said, "My thoughts then (earlier commission workshops and meetings) and my thoughts now are that the word temporary means exactly that. If you want to stay (open) to... Full story
As people across Sisters Country enjoyed the holiday traditions of camping, barbecues and family gatherings, a crowd more than 200 strong gathered in the Village Green to mark the deeper, more somber meaning behind the day's observance. Keynote speaker U.S. Army Lt. Col. Richard L. Miller called the spirit of the annual gathering the "unity of remembrance," an impulse that brings a diverse community together to remember the fallen and their families. LTC Miller stood in for... Full story
To the Editor: Is back-in diagonal parking a bad idea? No, it's a very good idea that will make streets safer in Sisters. As small rural communities struggle for economic survival, Sisters needs to do everything we can to make our streets safer - for drivers, pedestrians and bicycles - while maximizing parking in our core downtown area. Back-in diagonal parking is a multimodal innovation that will help make our streets safer for everyone. Back-in diagonal parking has distinct advantages. For one, it's easier than parallel... Full story
Josh Nordell, a special-education teacher at Sisters High School, has been selected as one of the top three Circle of Excellence finalists in the OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education contest. He is the only finalist from east of the Cascades. Nordell has created a life-skills program from the ground up for the most severely disabled students in the school. In the classroom, Nordell is responsible for the full-time education of five special-needs children, 13 to 19, in addition to two remedial math classes. His... Full story
Wheels were turning at the Bicycle Tourism Studio Scenic Bikeway Workshop, where a cross-section of the Central Oregon community focused on how to capitalize on the region's four state-designated scenic bikeways. Talk revolved around marketing Sisters and Central Oregon as a hub for bicycle tourism - which has the potential to pedal-power an economic boost while stimulating new business development. Oregon's Scenic Bikeways program designates carefully designed bicycle routes that were chosen to represent the state's beauty.... Full story
The team of Eugene Trahern of Sisters and Mark Hartinger of Shoreline, Washington, competed in a six-hour orienteering meet held southeast of Bend on Saturday, May 26. The team placed third overall and took top honors in the veterans division (age 35-60). There are two types of orienteering competitions. The standard competition consists of individuals finding checkpoints, called controls, in a specific order, with the fastest time being the winner. This style of competition,... Full story
It is nice to see all the interest in trails in the Sisters area, especially the discussion generated by the proposed paved path from Sisters to Black Butte Ranch near Tollgate subdivision. Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) has been working for 10 years to get folks in Sisters interested in trails. Some of this work has resulted in the expansion of Peterson Ridge Trail, a gravel path from Tollgate to the High School, and new trail connectors linking Sisters to Forest Service trails such as the Metolius-Windigo Trail. The... Full story
The Outlaws baseball team's 23-game winning streak came to an abrupt end when they lost 7-3 at home to North Valley (NV) in the state quarterfinals. Three days earlier Sisters had defeated Gladstone 4-2 at home in the first round of the state playoffs. In Saturday's action, the Knights got three runs in the top of the first inning, and the Outlaws were quick to answer back with three of their own to tie the game at 3-3. Justin Harrer reached first base on an error, followed... Full story
Bank of the Cascades hosted a reception at FivePine Lodge and Conference Center last Wednesday to welcome new President and CEO Terry Zink. City officials and leaders of the business community gathered for the informal meet-and-greet opportunity. Zink was the president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank Chicago. He brings to the position a strong commitment to community banking. The Boathouse Restaurant at The Lodge at Suttle Lake has announced new breakfast... Full story
Kieri, the 8-year-old wheaten terrier whose encounter with a conibear trap last February near the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery sparked a movement to ban the type of trap that snared her, was euthanized by her owners, Jack and Jill Williamson last Tuesday, May 22. "Kieri took a turn for the worst last Thursday," said Jack Williamson. "She was admitted back into the vet hospital the next day in excruciating pain, and this morning Jill and I held our precious, constant companion of eight years as she was euthanized by our veterina... Full story
Two weeks ago it looked nearly certain that the Sisters girls' track team would earn one of the four trophies at the Oregon 4A State Championships, but an ankle injury to star 400-meter runner Natalie Ambrose cast certainty into serious doubt. As things turned out, all seven state qualifiers for the Outlaws turned in stellar performances, including three school records and a number of personal bests to launch the team into third place overall, just behind second-place... Full story
Sisters resident Dale L. Jones, loving husband and father, died on May 26, 2012 after a long struggle with heart and lung disease. A man of great faith, Dale departed earth ready to be with his Creator. Dale was born in Glendale, California, in 1937 to Ralph and Dorothy Jones. With his brother, Dennis, his family moved to Dale's "home town," Vacaville, California in 1946. Out of high school Dale served four years in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Lexington. After his... Full story
Ronald M. Owen passed peacefully at the home he shared with his son, Michael Owen, daughter-in-law Lynn and daughter Sandee Rollins. He was born July 11, 1932 in Oakland, California, and lived in Mill Valley. He went to serve on the USS Bairoko and USS Philippine Sea as a flight director in the Korean War. After his hitch in the service, he met the love of his life, Velma Kortum, while he washed dishes in the club where she worked. They married shortly after. Ron then worked... Full story
Tickets are still available for the 2012 Sisters Rodeo for all four regular performances, and for Xtreme Bulls, according to Cathy Williams, rodeo ticket office manager. "Xtreme Bulls tickets are a prime product this year," said Williams. "Since this is our first year, our bleacher seats are open seating, so fans can sit where they choose." Williams said that all plaza and box seats are sold. She recommends early ticket purchases for all other performances. "We have sold standing-room-only tickets for the last five years, so... Full story
Kirk Albertson has done his commute to work on two wheels this year. The Sisters Elementary School teacher made a trip to Nepal last summer with Ten Friends co-founders Mark Lamont and Rand Runco. Albertson walked almost everywhere he went and told The Nugget that was his biggest motivator in challenging himself to bike or walk to school this year. "I got used to not being in a car because we walked everywhere," said Albertson. "Since I live only two miles from school I... Full story
Brittney Wilhelm is nothing but smiles after winning the inaugural One Model - Bend's Ultimate Modeling Challenge, a regional talent contest searching for fresh faces. The fashion show, held in March in Bend, included a cocktail hour where guests could mingle with the finalists and view their best photos and portfolios. Grand prize was a cover shot and two-page spread in May's Local Views and Events, distributed throughout Central Oregon. Wilhelm, a Sisters High School... Full story
Nationally acclaimed fabric artists Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer will take part in Kathy Deggendorfer's art show, "View from the Village," which opens June 1 at Sisters Art Works. The Lubbesmeyers were excited to be included with a talented collection of women artists from across Oregon. "Kathy asked us last fall to be a part of this amazing group," said Lisa Lubbesmeyer. The sisters will have four pieces featured in the show. Known for their unique approach to painting with fabr... Full story
Early risers searching for treasure lined up outside the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Hall for the inaugural Sisters Kiwanis Club Antique and Collectibles Sale Saturday morning, hoping to discover some tantalizing gem of yesteryear. Bargain hunters joined fellow fevered collectors scanning tables laden with antique jewelry, heirloom furniture, old-fashioned lace tablecloths, art books, depression-era dishware and even an imposing seven-foot wood toboggan. Volunteer Pat... Full story
Ryan Houston, executive director of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC), presented his case for the removal of the diversion dam downstream from the Elm Street bridge in Sisters in a city council workshop on Monday, May 21. Many in Sisters will remember this property as "the old swimming hole." Property owners with homes that back onto the creek in that area report pleasant interactions with many of the visitors, but also broken ankles, trash, near-drownings and an occasional keg left in the area. There are three... Full story
The students at Sisters Elementary School (SES) got an inside look into the lives of the people of Nepal two weeks ago during a special assembly. Mark Lamont, a teacher at SES and also co-founder, with Rand Runco, of Ten Friends, a Sisters-based non-profit organization, educated students on Nepali life. Students were shown where Nepal is located and learned that Nepal isn't the only place in the world where most people don't have a book to read, don't have safe water to drink and don't have proper sanitation. They learned... Full story
Beginning in early June, the Forest Service will remove a bridge from the Head of Jack Creek trail. The stringers and decking on the bridge are failing and forest engineers, after assessing the bridge, have determined it is unsafe for public use. Currently, funding is not available to replace the bridge. The majority of the existing trail will remain open. Visitors are asked to use the existing trail and not to create new trails into the area made inaccessible by the bridge removal. The site will be monitored and any... Full story
Hazy sunshine and perfect course conditions greeted the riders who dared the third annual Sisters Stampede Mountain Bike Race on Sunday. Some 500 race participants in over 26 categories took to a new course layout starting at Lazy Z meadow in what is becoming a major Memorial Day weekend race. "This course was my original plan when this race started," Race Director Joel Palanuk said. "Sisters is a great place for a bike race, and when you combine that with an amazing ranger... Full story