News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
Bob and Jan Martin are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Kristina to Fred Franklin, son of Fred and Gwen Franklin. The couple will be married at the Martin home on Saturday, August 6, and will live in La Pine, where Fred is a Paramedic and Firefighter. Kristina works as a Para-professional at Sisters Middle School.... Full story
Convicted felons would do well to avoid littering at Black Butte Ranch. In a roundabout way, littering landed a 42-year-old man in jail on Saturday, June 25. According to Black Butte Ranch Police, a Ranch maintenance man saw the driver of a car drop food packages out his window while parked on a pull-out in the entranceway to the Ranch. An officer contacted the driver, Donald Wyscaver, and reportedly determined that he was a registered sex offender on his way to a court appear... Full story
Workers took down the chimney at the old Sisters Middle School building brick-by-brick last week. They were salvaging the bricks to use for entry pillars when the site is restored for use as the school district’s administration offices. As they worked on the roof, another small crew was ripping out flooring and divider walls in a process district facilities manager Bob Martin called “selective gutting.” “Once this demolition is done, we’ll go right to framing inside,... Full story
The hotel and recreational vehicle park at the west end of Sisters is under new — and local — ownership and management. Todd Taylor of Hap Taylor and Sons, a local paving and aggregate business, and his partner Jeff Pickhardt purchased the property for $4.1 million. Dave and Jan Elliott of Sisters will manage the property now known as Sisters Inn & RV Park. The Elliotts own and operate Ali’s Deli in Sisters and Dave serves as Mayor. He acknowledges that he doesn’t have a... Full story
Fireworks are a risky form of entertainment in forested areas like Sisters. Firefighters and federal officials urge visitors and residents to learn what fireworks are legal in Oregon and what restrictions are in effect where they plan to use them. “Fireworks fires are preventable fires,” said Jinny Pitman, fire prevention specialist with the Sisters Ranger District. “Fire agencies are not trying to stop people from having fun, but we are trying to prevent injuries and prope... Full story
To the Editor: In response to a vulgar, brutal and sexually explicit book assigned to my son at school, I asked the school board at the last meeting to add the following language to their new curriculum standards: If material has explicit sexual content, excessive profanity or graphic violence, then parental permission is required before the assignment is given. This standard would protect our children from indecency and respect the rights of the parents to determine whether their child should read indecent material or not.... Full story
Folks in Sisters will get an early taste of the art and craft of quilting at the Around the Block Fiber Arts Stroll and Quilt Show Preview on Saturday, July 2, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The stroll through local businesses will focus on fiber arts and artists from Central Oregon and beyond. Attendees should expect a “sneak preview” of three of the July 9 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show’s special exhibits: Featured quilter Jan Lau of Redmond, art quilts from Six of One and Quilts from the Bahamas as shown by Kimberly Roberts. In addit... Full story
It’s official. After a year in preparation and 18 meetings, the Greater Sisters Country Community Wildfire Protection Plan is approved and in operation. A signing ceremony and celebration were held on Tuesday, June 21 in the Sisters Village Green Park. County commissioners, fire agency representatives, and the public heard brief reports on the development of the plan and witnessed the signing of the plan by participating organizations. The community fire plan is a c... Full story
Jan Martin has a big collection of vocational hats. She wears three for Sisters schools: administrative assistant AA to the superintendent, secretary to the school board and human resources manager. If you get hired, fired, promoted, demoted or just moved sideways in the school system, your paperwork, and possibly you, will pass through Martin’s office. That office is next to the one occupied by Superintendent Ted Thonstad, symbolizing Martin’s status as the boss’s right... Full story
The plan that is to guide Sisters into the future is coming up for final review. On Thursday, July 28, the Sisters City Council will see the latest recommended version of the Sisters Comprehensive Plan. If the plan is adopted after a public hearing, the event will cap a process 15 years in the making. The plan is used to guide city officials on how Sisters grows and develops over a 20-year period. It outlines population growth, an inventory of commercial and industrial land while assessing future needs, housing,... Full story
• A woman reported an unusual incident while showing a hot tub for sale. The prospective buyer asked to get in the tub, which she okayed. He disrobed right then and there, which she did not. The woman wanted the incident logged, but did not want the stripper contacted. Apparently it was just a small matter. • A man got irate when he went to claim his lottery winnings and found out that he was actually not a winner. He ended up getting $1, but would not surrender the ticket. A deputy obtained it later without incident whe... Full story
Lovers of old-time fiddle music can add to their collections with the release this week of The Fiddlesticks’ first CD. Easily recognized tunes such as “Swallow-Tail Jig,” “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” and “Turkey in the Straw,” as well as a couple of gospel numbers, all get The Fiddlesticks treatment in this foot-stomping assortment of 16 tunes. The band members, all 11 of them, are members of the Kalebaugh and Simpson families of Lower Bridge. They also run the Simpson elk and hay r... Full story
The Sisters School Board gave a thumbs-up performance review to its freshman school superintendent Monday night. And it learned that one of its own members, Tom Coffield, will be quitting soon. The favorable assessment of Superintendent Ted Thonstad was expected. Although the former Condon superintendent has served less than a year, he has impressed his elected bosses with a combination of candor and diligence. The review process was unusually detailed compared with some in past years. Each board member interviewed five or... Full story
Sisters will bustle with activity this weekend as it hosts a craft show on the Village Green and a gem show on the grounds of Sisters Elementary School. The Sisters Summer Faire is set for Saturday and Sunday, July 2-3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be dozens of booths set up on the Village Green featuring quality handmade arts and crafts. A variety of foods will be available at the event sponsored by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 549-0251. The Sisters Roundup of Gems runs from Friday,... Full story
Work is underway this summer to construct a recreational trail from Tollgate to Sisters High School and Sisters Middle School. Now, the Sisters Community Trails Committee needs help from local residents to finish the job, according to Jeff Sims, committee chair. “We have located the route of the 4,000-foot trail to connect Tollgate to the schools,” Sims said. “The Heart of Oregon Corps soon will be removing brush on this route. Hap Taylor and Sons have donated 650 yards of gravel to be spread out on the trail. A liquid clay... Full story
Sisters and Black Butte Ranch firefighters and paramedics responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 20 just west of Hogg Rockat 11:19 a.m. on Monday, June 27. According to Sisters Fire Chief Tay Robertson, “there was heavy damage to both vehicles.” One vehicle had a single occupant; the other had four. One of the four occupants of one vehicle was critically injured and he was transported to Corbett Sno-Park for Air Life transit to St. Charles Medical Center. The other four injured were transported via ground ambulance wit... Full story
Business owners seem unanimous that the coming Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, scheduled for July 9, means big business for the town. Exactly how much isn’t known for sure. But business owners agree the positive impact stretches beyond the one-day show and the impact reaches beyond Sisters. It all began 30 years ago when Stitchin’ Post owner Jean Wells hung a few quilts outside her little fabric store. Today the Quilt Show, always held the second Saturday in July, brings tens of... Full story
Parents Wes and Katie Estvold, along with big brother Ethan Robert, welcomed Emma Anne Estvold into their lives on June 1. Emma was 8 lbs. 4 oz. and 20 inches long. Proud grandparents are Bob and Christe Crocker of Madras and Wayne and Pam Estvold of Beaverton. Congratulations to all!... Full story
It’s a lot cozier than the former Wild Dusty Rose location — and for Patti Capps and Cynthia Williams, that’s just fine. The mother-daughter team love their flower shop’s new location between Sisters Video and Café Wired at 413 W. Hood Ave., Ste. B. “We like our location down here,” Capps said. “It’s easier for (customers) to get to.” Off the highway, there’s less traffic and noise and local customers like not having to negotiate Cascade Avenue. The move entails some changes... Full story
Having family or friends over for an outdoor barbecue over the Fourth of July weekend? Take a moment to review how to do your outdoor cooking to avoid injury or property damage. That’s the advice of Fire Marshal David Wheeler with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. Wheeler suggests some safety tips to reduce the chances of an outdoor cooking-related fire or injury. “Make sure the barbecue is in a safe area away from children, pets and anything that can burn,” Wheeler recommends. “Store matches and lig... Full story
Our beautiful White-headed woodpecker, a bird that most of us see daily, can be looked at two ways by birders: either as a “rare bird” or “trash bird.” To someone living in Great Britain, Australia, or New York City, it comes under the heading of “rare.” To those of us who live and play in the pine forests around Sisters, this lovely woodpecker is, in the vernacular of the birder’s language, a “trash bird” — underfoot and seen just about any time all year. If you attend a bird-watcher’s meeting in Erie, Pennsylvalnia, howeve... Full story
The Oregon Open is currently underway at Aspen Lakes Golf Course. Top professionals and amateurs from throughout the Pacific Northwest including Oregon, Washington, Northern Idaho and Western Montana are competing in the three-day, 54-hole event. The open started with a practice round on Monday, June 27. Tuesday and Wednesday 208 players were to compete for one of the 70 spots in the final championship round to be held on Thursday, June 30. Nike Golf has returned to sponsor... Full story
• Mountain Man Trading Post is now Doc Holliday’s Western Emporium. The change in name reflects a new emphasis on clothing and accouterments of the post-Civil War West. • Common Threads will hold a drawing for a signed Dennis McGregor 2005 Quilt Show T-Shirt and tickets for the Quilt Show raffle quilt. Enter now until Friday, July 8. • Mud Flats Espresso at 192 E. Main Ave. is now offering wraps for lunch. • The Anvil Blasters will play at The Lodge at Suttle Lake this Thursday. The resort offers barbecue and live music eve... Full story
How should Sisters manage its long-term traffic problems? (The Nugget, June 22): From Bob Albrecht, Sisters: During peak traffic periods the “couplet” would still be overloaded. It’s a stop-gap that would degrade Sisters and still ultimately require a bypass. Go for the solution. Go for a bypass! From Beth Burnside, Sisters: In response to your request for comments from the public about traffic congestion on Route 20 through Sisters, I strongly support building a bypass to circumvent the city. I hope that the city’s enginee... Full story
After years of permit negotiations, planning, a nearly-disastrous fire and major construction, The Lodge at Suttle Lake opened on Friday, June 24 and hosted a wedding ceremony the next day. The 10,000-square-foot lodge built by Chuck Newport Construction Services is a tribute to the talents of local craftsmen. The Native American theme is accented right at the entryway with a magnificent set of double doors carved in the shape of an Indian and an eagle by n... Full story
