News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
Great speeches, fond farewells, and a touching memorial highlighted the evening at Sisters High School's sixty-third commencement, held Friday, June 3 in the campus gymnasium. Before 124 graduates crossed the stage, much had to be completed; and from the beginning, the voice and handprint of the class of 2011 was evident. Principal Bob Macauley, who is leaving Sisters to become the principal at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, spoke to the class about being the sort of people... Full story
Sisters Rodeo registration reads like a Who's Who list of professional rodeo competitors. With the highest purse in the nation the second weekend in June, most of them will be in Sisters seeking a piece of the $10,000 purse in each event. Rough stock events are a big Sisters draw, with four-time and current World Champion Bareback Rider, Bobby Mote of Culver, Oregon, topping the list. He will be challenged by Tilden Cooper, currently No. 1 in the world ratings, and Kaycee Field, No. 2. Local riders, Steve Peebles, Redmond,... Full story
Over the last several weeks, the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) has begun introducing the public to the newest acquisition in its lineup of protected conservation lands in the Deschutes Basin. Since it was established in 1995 to accommodate the donation of a 145-acre portion of Indian Ford Meadow, the land trust has been responsible for the preservation of 8,200 acres of land in Central Oregon - with even more planned. The new Whychus Canyon Preserve is a previously unprotected... Full story
To the Editor: Russell Williams' letter to the editor in the June 1 Nugget requested additional views on what is meant by "embracing the system" with respect to the SAT exams. My views are not intended as a defense of Mr. Gorayeb, but as observations as a parent with students in the Sisters School system for the past nine years. To be admitted to a high standing university, students must have (1) a high grade point average, or GPA, (2) good SAT scores, (3) community service or activities outside of the classroom, and (4)... Full story
The City of Sisters will be holding a community forum on Wednesday, June 15, at 5:30 p.m. to gather input on four concept plans that may guide future development of the Forest Service property. The meeting will be held at Sisters City Hall. The property is located between Highway 20, Pine Street, and Barclay Drive in Sisters, and is currently occupied by the Sisters Ranger District and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Maintenance Facility. The City of Sisters, the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon Department of... Full story
Marsha Marr, owner/operator of Miss Sew It All, has officially joined the ranks of Sew Much Comfort as a volunteer seamstress stitching support for America's troops. "My son is a Marine, my daughter is in the Air Force, so I enlisted too," said an enthusiastic Marr from behind her faithful 1954 Pfaff sewing machine. "I just wanted to do my part...I guess I joined up!" What Marr joined up for was "aiding injured service members in their recovery, providing a tangible reminder... Full story
The U.S. is losing its edge in the sciences. The new Sisters Science Club (SSC) aims to tackle that problem in our corner of the world, helping teachers and students of the Sisters community achieve excellence in science and math. The club launched Tuesday evening, May 31, at the FivePine Conference Center. There were over 70 interested residents of the Sisters Country in attendance, all milling about, enjoying exhibits that ranged from the Sisters Middle School... Full story
The Outlaws had six players selected to all-league teams this year, including Beau Fitzke, Connor Morgan and Brennan Layne, who were first-team all-league picks. Fitzke played at the midfield position for the Outlaws and led the team in scoring, with 33 goals on the season, and was also responsible for 23 assists. Coach Bill Rexford said that Fitzke was the teams' go-to guy. "Beau was our most reliable point-getter, and he raised his game against the best competition," said Rexford. "He made us all look good, and carried us... Full story
If the dates of June 24-26 are open on your calendar, quickly grab up a pen and mark them "Woodpecker Weekend." Those are the days you will have the opportunity to head out into the forests all around Central Oregon with a guide from East Cascades Audubon Society (ECAS) and observe woodpeckers. Not just "observe," but see them - up close and personal - and put them on your "life list." For those who don't have a life list of birds, this will be the time to start one. After... Full story
Call it extreme golf. Greg Zadow and Chris van der Velde of Sisters will take on a 100-hole golf marathon at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend on Friday, June 17. The event, organized by Tetherow partner van der Velde, will support children's charities in Central Oregon. Each golfer must secure at least $1,500 in pledges to participate. "Currently we have 14 pledged up and ready to roll, and I think we have five more on the books," said van der Velde. The player who secures the most pledges will receive a new set of Nike golf clubs... Full story
Dyrk Godby has led a most remarkable life in his beloved West. From saddle bronc and bull riding, to amateur boxing, oil painting, songwriting and custom leatherwork, Godby has done it, seen it, or sang it, following his dreams to etch out a rich life. "I grew up in southern Idaho on a horse ranch where we raised and showed quarter horses and paints," he said. "I used to rodeo ever since I was six, all through high school, college, and the pro circuit at Cheyenne, Salina... Full story
Before a mostly friendly crowd at Sisters City Hall on Tuesday, May 31, Senator Jeff Merkley fielded questions on subjects ranging from health care to a Whychus-Deschutes Wilderness proposal. In brief introductory remarks, Senator Merkeley emphasized the importance of creating jobs in Oregon, noting that the housing crash affected the timber industry, the lumber industry, and the garden stock industry as much or more than others. He said reform of the clumsy mortgage modificat... Full story
The annual Sisters Athletic Club Try a Tri and Do a Du multi-sport events attracted a strong crowd of locals on Saturday, June 4. On the men's side, the top six places went to athletes from the Sisters/Camp Sherman area. Unofficially, Josh Nordell took first place after storming into the lead in the running portion of the three-part triathlon, but afterwards it was determined that Nordell, in fact, was a bandit, who had not paid an entry fee and was temporarily pulled from the... Full story
Several Outlaws baseball players earned all-state honors this season. Seniors Jordan Hodges and Erik Carlson were both first-team picks, Hodges at infield and Carlson at outfield. Jordan and Erik will have the privilege to play on the South team in the all-state senior game in Roseburg on June 18-19, and will be coached by Sisters' Coach Steve Hodges and Dan Blankenship of Baker. Third-team all-state honors went to Shane Groth (pitcher) and Joey Morgan (catcher), and Justin Erlandson was honorable mention outfield.... Full story
The Sisters school board Thursday directed Superintendent Jim Golden to reduce the 2011-2012 budget by approximately $200,000. This is after $1 million was already pared from the district in the budget recommended by the budget committee. Board chair Chris Jones characterized the current dismal economic situation by noting that "the statistic that really floored me...was that the free and reduced lunch at the elementary school has doubled in the last two years with more than... Full story
Parents and teachers have important messages to impart to teenagers, and only a small window of time to do it in. Yet teenagers are notoriously hard to connect with. So what's the secret? Andrew Robinson, author of "The Teen Age," believes he has cracked the code of adult-teen communication. And judging by his success last week with a group of Sisters High School students, it would appear that teenagers are just as eager as adults to engage openly, given the right conditions.... Full story
"There were still a few trails for the kind that would be cold before they'd be tame. They called them The Wild Bunch." Director Sam Peckinpah's 1969 masterpiece "The Wild Bunch" told a bloody and poignant story of bad - yet strangely honorable - men, swept before the irresistible tide of civilization to the Mexican border c. 1913, in the midst of a violent revolution. Last weekend a band of much friendlier men (and women) escaped encroaching civilization to the sage flats... Full story
• Dawn Richerson wrote: Every once in a while an amazing person comes along who steps up to make things happen. For the grad night party, Stephanie Fennimore was that person! I'd like to thank our fearless leader, Debbie Williams, for her tireless efforts to pull off a party without funding. Atta girl, Deb! And Stephanie, my text to Debbie this morning regarding you: "We would have been dead ducks without her." Congratulations to the graduates and to the parents who gave their time and energy to make it all... Full story
The Sisters Folk Festival is hosting its annual Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest, and now's the time to get your own brand of music in the running for the $750 grand prize and the prestige that comes with winning this coveted award. Finalists will perform in the songwriting contest on Saturday, September 10, during the Sisters Folk Festival. The winner will perform a short set to open the Saturday night festival main stage performances. Each finalist will receive two nights lodging, meal vouchers and one all-event... Full story
Editor's note: The statement regarding a "$28-million reserve" in the story "City of Sisters faces budget crunch," (The Nugget, June 1, page 1) was not given proper context. The figure did not represent cash carry-forward or the city's "savings account" spent down. The quoted figure was based on an understanding of the accumulated assets of the city during the period of high growth in Sisters, 2003-2009, less what is required to provide essential services. Further, the figure itself cannot be substantiated. Councilor David... Full story
