News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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New steel power poles were going up on an easement across land owned by the Cyrus family of Sisters as Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) resumed work last week on an oft-stalled upgrade of the Jordan Road power line. According to CEC attorney Martin Hansen, work crews got back to work last Wednesday, June 21, after a June 19 court ruling denying the Cyruses an injunction to stop the project. Judge Stephen Tiktin found that the work would not cause irreparable harm to the Cyru... Full story
There’s a green spot in the swath of devastation caused by the B&B Complex Fire — and it’s on private land that bore the brunt of the scorching flames. Reforestation on Lovegren Estate lands just south of Blue Lake burned by the 2003 fire is showing good results, according to Gary Lovegren, spokesman for the Lovegren family. “After we salvaged the fire-killed timber in 2004, we planted 6,500 seedlings last year and we have seen 95 percent survival,” Lovegren said. “The youn... Full story
For many people the Fourth of July is not complete without fireworks. Fire officials want fireworks users to learn what fireworks are legal in Oregon, what restrictions are in effect where they will use them and how to use them safely. Knowing what you can and can’t do with fireworks comes down to two broad categories: places where you cannot use any fireworks and places where you can use legal fireworks safely, according to Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Marshall David Wheeler. You cannot use fireworks at any time in National F... Full story
To the Editor: It’s scary to put my name out in public, knowing that what I say invites criticism. Many of those who preach tolerance are very intolerant of people who think differently. Just as with the evolution controversy, I don’t expect to change the opinions of people who will believe what they want to believe regardless of the facts. But someone has to speak up and I’m speaking for a majority of citizens, based on the large percentage in the many states who have voted, even in liberal Oregon, to pass amendments decla... Full story
Rockhounds, jewelry lovers and curious folks will descend on Sisters for the Sisters Roundup of Gems at Sisters Elementary School June 30 to July 4. Admission is free. Children from SOAR will attend and organizers welcome other children to visit and learn about the natural wonders of gemstones and fossils. The show will feature several new vendors as well as many who have been coming to Sisters for years. The show will feature many unique stones, including Oregon’s state gemstone, the sunstone. There will be vast s... Full story
If growth in Sisters leaves a paper trail, it can be found in the 2006-07 budget approved last week by the Sisters City Council. City Manager Eileen Stein introduced the $16,432,078 budget as “building for the future.” The most obvious “building” aspects of the budget are projects like the new City Hall ($2.6 million), water system improvements including the siting and drilling of a new well ($390,000) and the completion of a new recycling center ($500,000). But other areas o... Full story
SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities & Recreation) has created a new way for businesses to support the organization. In its new business partners program, Sisters area businesses give ongoing donations to SOAR that are not restricted to a specific use. The owner and staff of Community Mortgage Services (CMS), a long-time supporter of SOAR, were thinking along the same lines so they became SOAR’s first business partner. Last week, CMS gave $500 to SOAR. This is the result of CMS’s decision to give $50 for each loan clo... Full story
Sisters Little League closed the 2006 season last week and by all accounts the season was a home run. A record 235 Sisters-area kids played more than 150 ball games, the highest participation rate since Little League started in Sisters, over 34 years ago. Sisters teams also played games in or against Bend, Redmond, La Pine, Madras, Christmas Valley and Warm Springs Little Leagues. For the first time, there were two girls’ softball teams representing Sisters. “We had over 65 T-Ball players (age five to six) as well, so fut... Full story
Fifty-six of the best Sisters Little League ball players are gearing up for All-Star play. “This is probably the largest group of All-Stars we’ve ever fielded,” said Little League player agent Chris Houck. “We have our first Junior Girls’ (age 12-13) softball All-Star team, too. This is a great way to end the regular season.” They will play in the Little League District Five tournament in Redmond July 1-6. “We have 32 teams in our divisions. Competition is coming from everywhere and is going to be tough,” said Brian Witt, a c... Full story
Kids are quilting too — thanks to their grandmas. This year, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show has started a new contest for kids under 18 years of age. Several of the kids entering quilts said grandma was the inspiration for their new interest. Jenna Coats is sewing her second quilt with her grandma. The 10-year-old wanted a “summery” theme and decided on flip-flops. She and her grandma said one of the most fun parts of the project was choosing fabric at The Stitchin’ Post. G... Full story
A group of mainly vintage Airstream trailers took over the Sisters Inn & RV Park last week. It was a scene virtually unchanged since the 1930s, when Airstreams were first produced. Sunlight glinted off the trailers’ buffed aluminum panels and their jolly owners availed themselves of Sisters’ hospitality and perfect weather. Airstream clubs all over the country and internationally make members welcome and organize rallies and trips across the nation. There are over 100 act... Full story
More than 300 Sisters area residents of all ages turned out Sunday afternoon for the Third Annual Summer concert series of the Cascade Horizon Band. The band — a 50-member group with most players in their 70s and 80s — performed in the comfortably air-conditioned Sisters High School auditorium on one of the hottest days of the early summer. Musical numbers played included stirring marches, popular music from the movies, and novelty numbers that delighted the audience. Songs from Disney movies, Henry Mancini compositions and... Full story
• Harry Gent has passed all his tests for citizenship and awaits F.B.I. clearance before becoming a U.S. citizen. “There are no skeletons in my closest,” said an enthusiastic Gent at his pre-citizenship party held last Sunday. “I can’t wait to become a citizen.” Gent is an Englishman from Preston-Lancashire. He has lived here since 2000 with his wife, Mary Beth Pearl-Gent. She is an elected member of the Deschutes Public Library Board. Harry formerly worked at British Aerospace before retiring to the Sisters area. • The... Full story
Larry Safley and Harold Busch have been elected to three-year terms on the Board of Directors of the Crossroads Property Owners Association. Election results were reported at the June 24 annual meeting of the association held at Sisters Community Church. Some 40 property owners were represented at the meeting or in proxy. Maret Pajutee, forest ecologist with the Sisters Ranger District, presented a slide program on her favorite secret places in the local area. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cook won the door prize of a $50 gift... Full story
Six Ugandan children visited Camp Sherman last week as part of a four-month tour of the United States with a message of hope and need for their country. Their tour started in Maryland and has included Ohio, Michigan, parts of Canada, Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri, Washington and Oregon. They’ll finish the tour in California’s San Fransisco Bay area. The orphan children, ages five through 12, sang at Sunday services for the Chapel of the Pines congregation on June 25, after whi... Full story
Camp Sherman’s own Whitney Hamberger graces the cover of “Oksana,” a novel about the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Camp Sherman resident was approached by a photographer while she was working at Espresso Junction in Sisters. He drove up to the drive-through window and spotted her. “Photographer Steve Gardner was looking for a darker, Russian looking female to use on the book cover and asked me if I would be willing to do it,” said Hamberger. “Oksana” was written by Su... Full story
It’s later than usual, but fire season is upon us in the Sisters area. The 2006 fire season for the private forestlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in the Sisters area went into effect on Saturday, June 24, at 6 a.m., according to Central Oregon District Forester Bob Young. Burning permits are now required for outdoor burning on department-protected lands in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties except within those rural fire districts where burn bans may already exist. ODF does not issue burning p... Full story
Sisters will kick off its annual quilt show extravaganza with a special celebration of the fiber arts. Around the Block, an art stroll through local businesses the weekend prior to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, will focus on fiber arts and artists from Central Oregon and beyond. The art stroll is set for Saturday, July 1 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. throughout the community of Sisters. Attendees will enjoy a wide variety of fiber-based arts showcased in businesses and galleries,... Full story
• A man complained that he had been assaulted after asking several men to move from his assigned space in a local mobile home park. One of the men allegedly became belligerent and punched the new arrival in the mouth. The alleged pugilist told the investigating deputy that he had merely defended himself. The deputy referred the matter to the District Attorney. • A deputy mediated a dispute over a dog: One party said it was stolen, the other party claimed the aggrieved party had given him the dog. The dog — which was appar... Full story
Sharon McVay took ownership of the Southwestern-themed store Silli Chili last month, looking forward to having a good time and meeting interesting people. She hasn’t been disappointed. “I thought it would be fun,” she said. “I love everything in here. And I like people — so what more could you want?” The store specializes in Southwestern decor, Western art, Southwestern and Native American jewelry and vintage Western clothing popular with re-enactors and cowboy action shoo... Full story
Sixth Grade GPA 4.0 Blust, Courtney; Boehm, Sebastian; Calmettes, Mason; Calvin, Amity; Chauncey, Lauryn; Chen, Noel; Davidson, Chelsey; Dolson, Kasturi; Dolson, Sabitri; Dumolt, Katie; Ford, Trevor; Gridley, Ryan; Henson, Brian; Herron, Elise; Houk, Jennifer; Kaiser, Samantha; Kaping, Jared; Layne, Brennan; Legg, Mckenzie; Malone, Samantha; Mcallister, Zoanne; Ortega, Jennifer; Pray, Brett; Reifschneider, Chelsea; Rudinsky, Lauren; Small, Davidson; Stein, Chloe; Stoneback, Sydney; Trahern, Garrett; Wieland, Isaiah; Williamso... Full story
A fund-raiser bingo night will be held Saturday, July 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Sisters Middle School. It will help pay travel expenses for Sisters area residents Thornton and Terri Brown to spend three weeks in Mozambique helping children in need. There will be a prize for each game and then a cakewalk will be held between games, Terri Brown explained. “Players may purchase one or more bingo cards and play that card all evening,” she said. “We also hope to have a silent auction.” The Browns are sponsoring the event themsel... Full story
The City of Sisters has awarded a $1,000 grant to the Sisters Area Historical Society for work on the society’s “Virtual Museum.” City Manager Eileen Stein announced the grant. The “Virtual Museum” allows people access to information collected by the society on their website at sisterscountryhistoricalsociety.org. The site includes a timeline of local information covering 45 million years plus other historical information. Other society projects include: • Offering public educational programs with local and national sp... Full story
An ice cream and cake evening social drew a large Camp Sherman crowd to the General Store last week to honor four National History Day winners from Black Butte School. “It’s exactly what you would expect from a community like this,” said local resident Doug Curtis. “Anything less would be unacceptable.” Master of Ceremonies Kevin Adams introduced Lauren White, first-place winner in Junior documentary division, Danielle and Rachel Lovegren, outstanding State Junior entry, an... Full story
New Sisters resident Joanna Lansdale grew up taking care of animals, so when a pet sitting business came up for sale, it was a perfect fit. Lansdale bought Going to the Dogs from former Sisters resident Jennifer Wilhite when Wilhite moved to another state. “I come from a family that always had animals,” said Lansdale. She said she comes from “county folk” in Louisiana and grew up with dogs, cats, horses and even pigs. She provides services for mammals, reptiles, amphibians, bi... Full story
