News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
More than 120 golfers hit the links at Aspen Lakes Golf Course on Friday to support Sisters school sports through the annual Outlaw Open. The open has been the primary fundraiser for the Outlaws football program for the past 13 years. In recent years, other sports programs have also received support. This year, the equestrian team, the lacrosse program, softball and girls basketball will receive funds raised through the Outlaw Open. Altogether, the tourney has raised some... Full story
The Oregon House of Representatives reversed course Monday, June 22 and passed House Bill 3298, declaring the Metolius Basin an Area of Critical Statewide Concern. The bill, which would block large-scale development in the basin, failed on Tuesday, June 16, by one vote. A procedural maneuver allowed reconsideration of the vote, which passed Monday by a 31-28 margin, after Rep. Larry Galizio, D-Tigard changed his vote. According to The Oregonian, Galizio cited a "convincing" ph... Full story
The legal path is nearly cleared for the preservation of the Skyline Forest, lying between Sisters and Bend. Now the hard part: raising the funds to make creation of a "community forest" a reality. Legislation passed the Oregon House last week and now heads to the Governor for his signature. HB 2228 provides a means for the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) to conserve Skyline Forest, the 33,000-acre forest lying along the foot of the Cascades southeast of Sisters. A former tree... Full story
AT&T Mobility has proposed placing a 100-foot-tall tower on a small hill off Bradley Road just to the east of Sisters. AT&T wishes to increase coverage for their cellular customers between Aspen Lakes Golf Course and the City of Sisters. AT&T has admitted that they have chosen the site on Bradley Road, located on Exclusive Farm Use land, because as farm land there is no homeowners association surrounding this site to protest the development of the land. The proposed site is 600 feet lower than McKinney Butte, which lies... Full story
The Black Butte Ranch Women's Golf Club is looking for new players. Paula Reents, current president, emphasizes that you don't have to live at the resort to participate. "All are welcome," she said. "It's a great way to meet people." A guest day is planned for Tuesday, June 30. All women golfers are invited to try out the Big Meadow Course for $25. "It's really playable. You don't get beat up like you do at some places," she said. Reents said a common misunderstanding is that... Full story
To the Editor: To begin with, I love and admire (photographer) Gary Miller for his incredible intelligence and many talents. I say that to clarify that none of the following is directed at Gary, rather at the photo and article on page 8, "Three Friends take on wild horses," in the Wednesday, June 17 Nugget. The picture and article has made me sad and angry beyond words. "Team Bronc Riding," formerly "The Wild Horse Race" should be banished. It is the ultimate act of cruelty and inhumane treatment of horses. For the past 12... Full story
A live outdoor concert with three bands on the rim of Whychus Creek Canyon: That's what the science education organization, Wolftree, has planned for this Saturday evening in the hopes of raising money to pay for habitat restoration and other expenses on their new Whychus Creek Discovery Outpost. Funds raised will also support their education work in local schools. Last fall, after months of negotiation, Wolftree closed the deal on a 58-acre parcel of land that straddles... Full story
There wasn't a hint of smoke in the air and the winds were calm on Wednesday morning, June 17, as Sisters and Black Butte Ranch residents arose for their first cup of coffee. Nevertheless, the Deschutes County 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center (COIDC) reporting that several fire lookouts were calling in a large column of smoke rising approximately six miles west of Sisters and two miles from Black Butte Ranch. This fire... Full story
Leslie King moved to Sisters in April "looking for a change." Within a month, she had it - a brand new gift and specialty store called Abigail's on Main. The shop offers unique gift and specialty items crafted by local and regional artists, ranging from pottery to King's own hand-crafted bath and body products and magnetic jewelry. King, who lived in Newburg, said she was drawn to Sisters after visiting her daughter in Bend. "Everyone's been so friendly and helpful," she... Full story
With a focus on customer happiness, the Eckstine family has opened Coffee Depot near the Shell Station in Sisters. The coffee kiosk was formerly occupied by Outlaw Coffee at the west end of town. The shop, freshly painted and newly signed, offers customers the opportunity to start their day "on the right track." Joe and Lara Eckstine have lived in the area for a number of years, dating to when Joe managed Papandrea's and Espresso Junction. When owner Rudy Booher sold, three an... Full story
The Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is trying to get its feet under itself after a punishing round of cuts prompted by a budget shortfall. SPRD is offering a slate of summer programs, but the district needs to have more enrollment to make sure they continue. "We want to let people know that we still have room in all of our summer programs," Executive Director Carrie Ward told The Nugget. "However, if we do not get additional registrations for programs, we will have... Full story
Sending yourself to kayak school hasn't always been an option in Central Oregon. But thanks to the skills and thought processes honed in Sisters High School Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition (IEE) class, two young couples are setting out to change that. Brandon Overstreet and his wife, Lindsey Warner-Overstreet, who graduated in 2002, and Alex Templar, 2003 graduate and Templar's partner, Maddie Thies, who hails from Hailey, Idaho, recently started Current Experiences... Full story
Gil Zaccaro has hung up his spurs after a 38-year career in law enforcement - the last seven as Chief of Police at Black Butte Ranch. Zaccaro announced his retirement quietly last week. Sergeant Dave Hall is Acting Chief while the Ranch management searches for Zaccaro's successor. Zaccaro said that a fall and a serious head injury last winter precipitated the decision to retire. On December 22 last year, Zaccaro was patrolling alone, conducting a house check on a Ranch residen... Full story
Way back in the early '60s, while employed as a Naturalist with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), I found that I had a talent for teaching. I would have turned that into a profession if I could just comprehend math and chemistry. Unfortunately, those two subjects are, to me, some kind of magic that my colleagues use to grasp their science with greater understanding. So, for me, a "Naturalist" is a biologist who flunked math and chemistry. What got me through... Full story
It hasn't felt like summer yet, with record wetness throughout the late spring, but there is a bright side to all this moisture: The running trails around Sisters are in perfect condition, grasses and flowers provide color to the scenery, and the moderate temperatures keep even the ultra-runners from overheating. The Dirty Half, which marks the beginning of the summer running season for many Central Oregon runners, included some stellar performances by a pair of Sisters runner... Full story
Sisters Little League concluded the 2009 regular season with closing ceremonies last week, where All-Star players were announced. All-Star baseball and softball players head to Hermiston this weekend for district competition. Thirty-three baseball and 16 softball teams are vying for the District Five Championship. District Five ranges from La Pine to Hermiston to the Columbia River. Winners at District move on to state then Western Regional play. Sisters is sending two basebal... Full story
My hiking column feature on Misery Ridge at Smith Rock State Park (see The Nugget, May 13, page 21; "Misery Ridge: what's in a name") drew an interesting phone call from someone I hadn't spoken to in many years. Gil Staender is a former Sisters schoolteacher who is now a resident of Camp Sherman. Back in the 1970s and '80s, however, Gil and his wife Vivian resided on a 160-acre homestead off Stevens Canyon Road, north of Indian Ford Ranch. They named their place Wildhaven and... Full story
A donation account has been set up at Bank of the Cascades for Stephen Connolly, the Sisters youth who was severely injured in an ATV accident last week. Connolly remains in intensive care at St. Charles Medfical Center in Bend. According to his family's reports, the youth suffred a serious brain injury; his prognosis is unknown. His family and friends continue to provide updates through a Web site (link below). The family has expressed gratitude for the help and support they have received from the Sisters... Full story
