News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
Mike Morgan may not have won his school board bid in the May election, but he hasn't stopped weighing in on the Sisters School Board. At Monday's school board meeting, Morgan questioned the board's legal authority to issue $2.1 million in bonds without taxpayer approval. On March 12, by a vote of 3-2, board members voted in favor of "authorizing the sale of full faith and credit obligations not to exceed $2.1 million." Directors Steve Rudinsky and Jeff Smith cast the dissenting votes (See "School district issues $2.1 million... Full story
That special magic that is better experienced than defined returned to Sisters again last weekend for the 67th Sisters Rodeo. Known as "The Biggest Little Show in the World," the four-day event held the rank of the biggest rodeo in the United States last weekend. Everything is top drawer about the Sisters Rodeo from the caliber of the approximate 400 contestants and the more than $130,000 offered in prize money to the rodeo grounds grass-covered parking, the condition of the... Full story
While the fate of the Forest Service property at the west side of Sisters remains up in the air, the Sisters Ranger District is laying the groundwork for its new headquarters. The agency has contracted with SERA of Portland to develop a facility design for its new offices and a visitors information center, a work center and staff barracks on 17.5 acres north of Barclay Drive. The design firm met with district staff for the first time on June 6 and began laying out a project... Full story
Depending upon your point of view, Senate Bill 30 (SB30) - which would prohibit the construction of destination resorts in or near the Metolius Basin - is either a noble Phoenix that is arising from the ashes of defeat or a Frankenstein that just won't stay dead. The Sisters City Council passed a resolution in support of SB30 on May 24, which added even more fuel to the emotional controversy. The council passed the resolution over the dissenting vote of councilman Lon Kellstrom. "Fundamentally, I don't believe that the City... Full story
Superintendent Ted Thonstad is leaving the Sisters School District a much better place than when he arrived. That consensus rang loud and clear as parents, staff, board members, community officials and friends offered their farewells at a reception in Thonstad's honor at the district's administration building last Thursday afternoon. The district presented Thonstad with an engraved, crystal plaque that reads: "In honor of your dedication to our school district's students and... Full story
To the Editor: In response to R.T. Tihista. First of all, the facts that I mentioned are easily obtained by reading the Heritage Foundation Web site. Go to outlawnet.com, click on politics and you will find countless, well researched articles on immigration. One goes into great depth of the effect of uneducated immigrants on our social service systems. It estimates that for every $9,000 earned by one of these people, $30,000 in social services will be consumed. So spend some time reading. Senator Kennedy among other was... Full story
Cailen McNair's sixth grade science students from Sisters Middle School traveled to Rimrock Ranch for three days last week to conduct an inventory of the health of the ranch's ecology. The study was a part of the Watershed Science program sponsored by Wolftree, Inc., a Portland-based 501c3 non-profit organization that provides the public with outdoor science education. The project's goal was to help students to understand the complex ecology of the Sisters area and examine fir... Full story
Bulldogging is the "big man" rodeo event. In many events a lighter build can be a real advantage, but in steer wrestling size matters just as it does in football. Leaping from the back of a galloping horse to tackle a 450 pound charging bovine and wrestle it to the ground also underlines a certain craziness that defines the difficulty of the sport we have come to love in rodeo. Bulldogging has gone through a change of name to Steer Wrestling, partly to ease tensions with animal rights groups; however, most old-timers think... Full story
All five players on the girls golf team were all-league selections this year. Lindsay Reeve, Alexis Wainwright and Meghan Crowder were first team all-league selections. Second team all-league honors went to Shelby Ross and Claire Mutchler. Reeve played in the number one spot for the Outlaws the entire season. "Lindsay was rock solid all season long," said Coach Mary Flande. "She was the medalist at several tournaments, was the district champion and finished fourth overall at state. She was playing some of her best golf... Full story
Brenda Mays of Terrebonne, partnered with her horse Jethro, found the perfect combination of speed and form to sweep the field away with a time of just over 17 seconds to win the barrel racing event in last weekend's Sisters Rodeo. "I knew that I was having a good run, but I didn't come expecting to win. I was very lucky today," said Mays. Barrel racing is all about cooperation between horse and rider, and in a perfect partnership both will excel. Because of the demands of the competition and money involved, finding a good... Full story
Freshman Parker Bennett was honored as the winner of the Subway Fresh Fit Poster competition at an assembly at Sisters High School last month. Bennett received $1,000 to be given to the sports program of his choice and a Subway gift card for a year for a family of four that can be used at all Subway locations (worth up to a total of $750). Subway launched their Fresh Fit Video and Poster competition on April 2. The competition was open to youth, ages five through 17 and was designed to help educate students, increase local aw... Full story
• Tracy Funk M.D., formerly Tracy McGregor, of Sisters (SHS class of '96), graduated June 8 from Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland. Funk graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha and Cum Laude honors, and plans to start a residency program in pediatrics later this month at Denver Children's Hospital. Tracy will relocate to Denver with her husband, Andrew Funk, Ph.D. She is the daughter of Dennis McGregor and Marcy Hoyt of Sisters. • A big tip of the hat to the volunteers who staged a fine 67th... Full story
Brad Grimm will take the reins of the City of Sisters Public Works Department on July 2. For Grimm, who has worked as a project manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation for 10 years, the new position is a kind of homecoming. "I live here in Sisters," he said. "My wife (Misty Grimm) works here for RE/MAX, and my four kids go to school here. It's nice to be able to work in the community you live in." Grimm brings the city experience in managing large, complex projects... Full story
Roping is the oldest of the rodeo events, and it is divided into two different categories, team roping and tie-down roping. Team roping is the only team event in rodeo, and it grew out of the ranch chores of the past. Larger cattle would have to be immobilized for branding and doctoring by two ropers due to the animal's strength and size. Today, team roping is a timed event that relies on the cooperation and skill of the cowboys and their horses. Excellent teams are a thing of beauty to watch, with two cowboys and two horses... Full story
• A man was arrested for DUI after he failed to make a turn at Camp Polk Road and Highway 126 and collided with another vehicle. There were minor injuries. • A Sisters resident reported the theft of binoculars and a camera from her vehicle. • A man shot himself in the foot with a pellet rifle. • A deputy sorted out a dispute over a parking space. Both parties acted with notable maturity and consideration. After all, it was a critical issue. • A man was arrested for disorderly... Full story
There is nothing better than a parade - especially a parade with lots and lots of horses - and that's exactly what the Sisters Rodeo Parade offered locals and tourists alike last Saturday morning. Cascade Avenue was adorned with entries as varied mounted riders, car clubs, school bands and area state and county officials. Both Lei Durdan, the 2007 Sisters Rodeo Grand Marshal, and Misty Carter, this year's rodeo queen, regally greeted all with smiles and waves. Members of the... Full story
No one was surprised when Phillip and Julie Kiesner decided in June 2003 to pack their two boys, Rider and Roper, nine horses, a donkey, a cat, two chickens, two dogs and Roper's lizards into a 75-foot rig and travel the rodeo circuit. Rodeoing is in the Kiesner family's blood, and the family is its happiest when they are performing. "We are living people's dreams right now," said Julie. "We're having the time of our lives." The Kiesner family's Wild West Review was this... Full story
Sisters resident and area contractor Glenn Miller is the driving force behind the Sisters Rodeo. Miller has served as the association's president for eleven years, the last nine of which have been consecutive. "Glenn Miller and Sisters Rodeo are probably the same word," said rodeo association vice-president Curt Kallberg. "Without Glenn Miller we would probably have a rodeo but we wouldn't have this quality of a rodeo." Even a serious automobile accident earlier this spring ha... Full story
Elementary school students aren't usually encouraged to sling paint on the playground - so it's pretty fun and exciting when that's their art project. Eight classes of third and fourth graders painted a wending path across the blacktop at their playground. Each student had an individual square to decorate. There were paint swirls laid on with sponges, squiggles squeezed from paint bottles and droplets scattered like raindrops and swept around by brooms. "This is cool!"... Full story
The cluster of little white tents brought the ambiance of a public market to Sisters Creekside Park last Saturday and Sunday. Some 85 vendors gathered for Sisters Art in the Park, an annual event that is always held during the second weekend of June to coincide with the Sisters Rodeo. Metal sculptures, ceramics, wood work, recycled wind chimes, watercolors, oils, jewelry, musical instruments, concrete garden art and much, much more were offered for sale. Event promoter... Full story
A hundred years ago, it was an everyday occurrence for a horseman to ride down Cascade Avenue - just passin' through. Nowadays, it's something a little unusual, especially when the rider is passin' through on the first leg of a horseback trek across the United States. Bill Inman hit town on his 15-year-old Quarterhorse/Thoroughbred Blackie on Monday morning after crossing the Cascades enroute from Lebanon, Oregon, to Hendersonville, North Carolina. The former rodeo cowboy,... Full story
Bessie E. Bird, 83, of Eugene, died May 25, in Eugene. Bessie was born July 4, 1923, in Canary. She is survived by her daughter and her husband Nancy and Wallace Bailey of Sisters; grandchildren Michelle Gibbens, Melody Schrivner, Melissa DeRosa and James DeRosa; great-grandchildren Cory and Brendon Gibbens; and many other relatives and close friends. Bessie was preceded in death by her husband Harold Bird and daughter Carolyn DeRosa.... Full story
Misty Carter, the 2007 Sisters Rodeo Queen, has a message. Every chance she gets she reminds women of the importance of having annual mammograms and is a tireless supporter of women's health issues. Also serving as a role model to kids is an important priority for Carter. Whenever she visits their schools and sporting events, Carter challenges them to study hard and do their best in whatever they do. She brought that message to Sisters Elementary School last week. At the... Full story
A little of old Sisters is being preserved with the opening of the Maida Bailey Building. Located behind the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, at 151 N. Spruce St., the newly remodeled building will provide area residents a place to gather and network. The facility is available to the public for meetings, lectures, conferences, social events and the like free of charge, although donations will be accepted. Information on the use of the building and scheduling events is available through the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.... Full story
With such a grand diversity of birds inhabiting the Sisters area, it is no wonder second grade teachers Julia Sweeton and Joni Stengel of Sisters Elementary School chose that subject to teach science and communication skills to their students. When I asked Julia about what the children are doing, she replied, "The children learn a variety of things about birds, their feathers, beaks, eggs, life cycle, flight, predators, habitats, characteristics and food chain. Each child... Full story
