News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
Many Sisters area residents and visitors know that Memorial Day is more than a day off work, a chance for a barbecue and time with family — the unofficial first day of summer. They turned out close to 200 strong to mark the true meaning of the holiday in a solemn yet uplifting tribute to American soldiers who have died in this country’s wars. The ceremony had an added poignancy as attendees reflected on the fact that American fighting men and women are currently in har... Full story
May rain showers has rolled back the threat of another dangerous wildfire season in Sisters and across Oregon. At least that’s what federal and state fire officials are now saying. Federal fire officials at the Northwest Coordination Center in Portland have down-graded their prediction for the 2005 wildfire season from above average to average according to Tom Goheen, deputy fire management officer for the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS). “Data to be rel... Full story
Several months ago, John Shepherd noticed that his son Thomas was having trouble with a book he was reading for a ninth grade book club at Sisters High School. The book was "Beloved," a novel about slavery by Toni Morrison, one of America's best-known writers. Morrison, who holds a faculty chair at Princeton, won the 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature. Shepherd recalls that, "It wasn't until he (Thomas) was near the end of the book that I picked it up and started reading it. And it was horrible. There was excessive profanity,... Full story
An NFL Hall-of-Famer has joined a local effort to reduce teen drinking and drug use. Dan Fouts, a former San Diego Chargers quarterback, is a sports broadcaster and 25-year Sisters resident. Fouts calls Sisters a “great community” and is glad to be investing some time with Think Again ParentS (TAPS) to make it even better. “You have to be proactive,” said Fouts. Fouts is the host of a video for TAPS which will be shown to local churches, Rotary Clubs and other communi... Full story
A group of Sisters residents used their creativity to send a peaceful message to Japan by painting cloth banners to honor the 60th anniversaries of the atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Madeleine Landis learned of the banner project when she took a class at Great Vow Zen Monastery in Clatskanie, Oregon. She told her Buddhist meditation group in Sisters and they wanted to participate. “We’re trying to foster peace,” said Landis. The idea to commemorate the 60th... Full story
The Bend Theatre for Young People has announced it’s final play production of the season. CUPIVAC, a science-fiction fantasy in one act, will be performed by the Sisters Play Production Class combining the talents of elementary and middle-school students. The audience will join in the fun as the evil Dr. Mentor takes over the Cloud 9 matchmaking service while Daniel Cupid is on vacation. Mentor and his wicked sidekick, Igor, have created a computer to mismatch all the beloved characters from classic children’s lit... Full story
Looking to create the heart of the art community of Sisters with the purchase of the former Multnomah Publishers building at 204 W. Adams, Frank and Kathy Deggendorfer also see the property as an opportunity to generate jobs. Though still in the due diligence period of the sale, the Deggendorfers will pay $500,000 for the 8,000-square-foot building to facilitate nonprofit arts organizations, studios for private artisans, lecture rooms for the public, events and practitioners... Full story
Dreams come true! Just ask Winfield and Joy Durham, owners of Sisters Coffee Company. Their dream of actually owning the property at 273 W. Hood Ave. and building a spacious and inviting coffee shop will soon become a reality. The Durhams plan to open their new coffee shop to the public on Saturday, June 4. It’s been a long road for Winfield and Joy to get to where they are today. The Durhams moved from Sitka, Alaska to Sisters in April of 1988. They began renting the little s... Full story
An attractive feature welcoming visitors to Sisters just got a spring cleaning. The pond in front of Best Western Ponderosa Lodge on Highway 20 was drained. Then workers removed grass and let the sides dry out before filling it up again last week. Owner Bill Reed plans to add a waterfall to the pond later this year. That will not only enhance the landscape feature, it will aerate the water and help deter algae from building up again. Reed said ponds in Central Oregon need... Full story
The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce recently hired Ron Roach, a long-time Sisters resident, to man the Visitor Center on the weekends throughout the summer months. The Visitor Center will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The schedule is subject to change depending on demand. The weekend schedule began Memorial Day weekend and will conclude after Sisters in Sisters in early October. It is critical for the Visitor Center to be open during peak times to adequately serve visitors to... Full story
Don Bumgardner has opened Mud Flats at 192 E. Main Avenue. Along with what the shop proclaims the “Best Dang Rip Roaring Coffee in the West,” Mud Flats offers scones, bagels, and light food faire. • High Desert Hair welcomes Camilia Richardson as a new stylist. Please call for an appointment. • The Grand Palace Hotel and Sisters Olive & Nut Company will be hosting a grand opening celebration Saturday, June 4. • The Substitutes will play at Coyote Creek Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 starting at 8 p.m. • Studio 20,... Full story
Fans of the sport of race walking are walking a little taller — and faster — after meeting with Olympian Philip Dunn, who conducted a clinic on Monday, May 23. In the warmth of the afternoon, Dunn demonstrated technique and taught the participants, who displayed a wide range of experience in the sport. The clinic was held at Sisters Athletic Club and is part of a larger program geared toward encouraging walking at all levels. The club will host a walking event in Sep... Full story
Senior Kayla Miller signed a letter of intent with Lewis and Clark State College (LC) in Lewiston, Idaho and will join its women’s golf team next fall. The scholarship will cover out-of-state tuition, room and board and additional money for each semester. Miller’s former teacher, Lil Conrad of Enterprise, Oregon, has kept up on Miller’s accomplishments since moving to Sisters and was instrumental in LC contacting Kayla. Conrad called her friend, Lewis and Clark golf coach... Full story
The 65th PRCA Sisters Rodeo is fast approaching with four performances scheduled for June 10-12, according to Glenn Miller, president of the Sisters Rodeo Association. Some 404 entries have been received for the events with all participants seeking their share of the more than $120,000 in prize money. “Even after 65 years, rodeo fans will see some new features at this rodeo,” Miller said. “We have a new lighted scoreboard supplied by Copenhagen this year. It will have scoring information for each event as well as adver... Full story
The Outlaws girls golf team had an outstanding season, finishing first at district and third at the State Championships. All four seniors on the team earned all-league recognition. Kayla Miller and Krystal Fitter were named first team all league and Brittany Reed and MacKinzie McClain were selected second team all league. “Kayla was our number-one golfer all season,” said Coach Mary Flande. “She came from behind on the first day of district only to shoot her best round of the season on the second day (76). This launc... Full story
Sisters residents are digging in the dirt to make the town look its best this summer season. With the Sisters Garden Club, local businesses, the city public works department and others, it’s a team effort to have the town’s gardens in bloom. Since 1989, the Sisters Garden Club has worked on the town’s public garden spaces. Club members maintain four spots: what is called the Log Cabin Garden in front of Papandrea’s Pizzeria, the point garden across the street, the gazebo... Full story
To the Editor: Politically, I admit to having been rather apathetic most of my life. I have observed many charming and beautiful towns slowly change into generic ones in America, as unguided “free enterprise” showed its effect like weeds in a lawn. I did nothing except complain! Many of us may have noticed this effect on the places we love and often take for granted. And now we, the people who live here in Sisters, have a chance to speak up about what we want for the future of our town, our home. Now is the time to speak up.... Full story
Several months ago, John Shepherd noticed that his son Thomas was having trouble with a book he was reading for a ninth grade book club at Sisters High School. The book was “Beloved,” a novel about slavery by Toni Morrison, one of America’s best-known writers. Morrison, who holds a faculty chair at Princeton, won the 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature. Shepherd recalls that, “It wasn’t until he (Thomas) was near the end of the book that I picked it up and started reading it. And it was horrible. There was excessive profanity... Full story
Bend Memorial Clinic: Becke Pierce. Black Butte Ranch Arts Guild: Alyssa Boley, Tori MacPherson, Kaci Oerter, Casey Pyke. Black Butte Ranch Cookbook: Shane Connor. Black Butte Ranch Hospitality Scholasrship: Brianna Wellman. Camp Sherman Pineneedlers: Seann Igoe. Frank Dale Memorial Scholarship: Seann Igoe High Country Disposal: James Ford Bauer. Kevin Johnson Memorial: Chris Morse, Brandon O’Brien. The Nugget Student of the Year: Daniel Holloman. OSEA: Carlos Valdez, Brandon O’Brien, Kelly Cundiff, Matt Nielson, Wesley Hod... Full story
My neighbor Bill Alvarado lifted Steve Prefontaine’s MG Midget off him the night he crashed on a corner in front of the Alvarados’ house. Bill yelled for someone to come and pull “Pre” from under the wreck. No one came, so he had to set the MG down. Pre died under the car at age 24, in May, 1975. At the time Pre held the American record in every running event from 2,000 to 10,000 meters. He had won four consecutive NCAA titles in the 5,000 meters, the first athlete to win so many in a single event. Pre was a hero to the Alv... Full story
• A deputy responded to a report of a child with a handgun at Sisters Elementary School. It turned out to be a toy gun and the situation was handled without law enforcement. • A woman was cited after she caused a four-vehicle car wreck in front of Ray’s Food Place. • A fist fight between juveniles was reported after one kid refused to tell who punched him in the nose. • A man displayed a handgun in a road rage incident. The matter was referred to the DA. • A drunk driver — on a bicycle — ran into a car, then fled the scene.... Full story
Recent turmoil over finding a new name for Squaw Creek has created interest in where names of geographic sites come from. Oregon’s geographic names tell its history. (Material for this story was taken largely from “Oregon Geographic Names” by Lewis A. and Lewis L. McArthur.) The City of Sisters received its name in 1888 from the Three Sisters Mountains to the west. At that time, the post office was moved from Camp Polk, three miles away, to the new location. Camp Polk had b... Full story
Oregon State Highway 242 over the McKenzie Pass opened to traffic on Friday, May 27, just in time for Memorial Day weekend travelers. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), snow gates were open at noon allowing motorists to travel the scenic 39 miles between Sisters and McKenzie Bridge. A low winter snow pack and the use of new plowing equipment made the early opening possible this year. A late May opening has been possible only five times since 1973 according to ODOT records. Late June is more typical... Full story
One Sisters resident wants to spread the word: Heart disease is the number-one killer of women. Mary Giraudo was inspired to raise awareness at a reception where First Lady Laura Bush spoke about the disease. Giraudo felt the First Lady’s message personally since her mother died of a heart attack at age 50. “Children should not be lost without a mother at a young age,” said Giraudo. She is planning to learn more about heart disease and reach out to women in Deschutes Count... Full story
The SOAR preschool children received a gift of two tricycles Thursday from Marc Bowerman, owner of Century Cycles in Bend. Bowerman has kept watch on SOAR and its programs, and feels strongly about community support of kids. He was inspired to donate the tricycles when he sold a car to Kim Leese of the SOAR Foundation. “We need to give back to our communities,” Bowerman said. “Parents have to work and kids need a way to stay out of trouble and away from ‘creeps’.” Bowerman is a sales consultant at Murray and Holt. His son, Do... Full story
