News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
To the Editor: Last week, while horseback riding the Peterson Ridge Trails, a friend and I encountered three adult male mountain bikers. They approached rapidly on their mountain bike trail to where we were riding on the Forest Service road. We asked them to slow down; they ignored us, spooking my 71-year-old friend's horse. The horse spooked, reared and created a large mass of dust. The bikers sped across the USFS road, totally ignoring what danger was presented to us horseback riders. It is well marked that this mountain... Full story
A phone call last Tuesday afternoon from Norma Funai at Indian Ford brought the bear hanging around Sisters back into immediate focus. Norma was taking out her trash and watched a confrontation between said bear and a mule deer doe in her backyard that was more than she expected. "The bear seemed to know that a fawn was in the immediate vicinity," Norma said, "and was apparently sniffing around for it, and momma doe rushed at the bear, who decided retreat was the best part of... Full story
Sisters gas stations are paying up on the city's new gas tax - but the fight over the tax may not be over. On June 4, Judge Alta Brady ruled that Sisters gas stations owed the City of Sisters the three-cents-per-gallon gas tax for the period of April 9-30. By the May 25 due date only two stations in Sisters had paid their bill - both Shell stations. They sent in payments of approximately $1,100 and $1,200 to the City of Sisters. The four other stations, prior to Judge Brady's ruling, were advised by the Oregon Petroleum... Full story
Last summer, it looked like the Sisters Park & Recreation District was on its last legs. Financially insolvent, unable to sustain its programs, the district was on the verge of shutting its doors. Now, after an arduous round of cuts and reevaluation of programs and services, the district is in the black and poised to resume a vital, if somewhat altered, role in the Sisters community. "Our general fund is in the black," said SPRD business manager Anne Heath. "We haven't... Full story
Right now, Tammy Ambrose and Joyce Boyd are two of the busiest women in Sisters. Along with Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Executive Director Ann Richardson, Ambrose and Boyd are laying the groundwork for a vision started 35 years ago by founder Jean Wells. Planning for this year's Quilt Show began the day after last year's event and really put on steam seven months before the show. Organizing 1,300 quilts that come in from across the country, then categorizing, bar-coding,... Full story
Mr. Ehlers' letter about our overpaid teachers may be heartfelt, but the numbers were misinterpreted. Teachers aren't overpaid, and they aren't the problem in education today. Yes, The Nugget reported average teacher salaries of $82,000, but this number is called a loaded number, which is made up of actual paid salary, health and life insurance plus retirement benefits. If Sisters is lucky enough to have low teacher turnover, then their average take home salaries will be higher than other districts, but starting salaries of $... Full story
The McKenzie Pass Highway (OR 242) is to officially open to all traffic at noon on Wednesday, June 30. The highway has been closed due to winter snows. Motorists driving on this curvy road need to be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians on the roadway and take proper precautions. Vehicles longer than 35 feet are prohibited from using the highway. The first route over the McKenzie Pass, known as Craig's McKenzie Salt Springs/Deschutes Wagon Road, was completed in 1872. This toll road connected the Willamette Valley with Camp Po... Full story
Acclaimed actors Gregory Harrison and Linda Purl will star in a benefit performance of A.R. Gurney's classic play "Love Letters" at the Tower Theatre on Saturday, October 2, at 8 p.m. The play is a fundraiser for the Sisters Schools Foundation and is produced by the team that created the Foundation's signature event, the Sisters Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series. Tickets go on sale July 1. "We are thrilled to be bringing this much-loved play and such renowned actors to... Full story
History doesn't mean a whole lot when it's experienced through a textbook - and even the most talented teacher can only do so much to impart to a young adolescent a sense of what life was like for the people who built the country they call home. But 38 Sisters Middle School students now have a sense of their country's history as a flesh-and-blood experience, not a dry, dusty tale of times long gone by. The students, led by four teachers and four parent chaperones, spent... Full story
• Tristan Lewis wrote regarding the Sisters Middle School trip to the East Coast (see story, page 3): I wanted to make an important "thank you" to the community for their support of our fundraisers for the trip. They purchased calendars, aluminum water bottles, donuts, and supported our car washes. Many of us were expected to pay one-half or more for this trip and we would not have been able to go without these additional funds. I also wanted to thank the teachers who went with us. They volunteered to take us, gave us... Full story
The Outlaws had seven players earn all-league recognition this year and three of them were first-team selections. Seniors Chase Kleint, Max Stovall and Brandon Morgan all were voted first-team all-league. Kleint was named first-team all-league outfielder and was Sisters' best all-around athlete. Chase was the Outlaws' lead-off batter and ended the season with a .410 batting average. "Chase is the spark that gets our team going," said Coach Steve Hodges. "He has great speed and range and is a threat every time he gets up to... Full story
Lights, camera, action! The crew of the indie film production, "The Wait," has been spotted around Sisters filming scenes and dressing locations to conjure up a little downtown Hollywood magic. On Monday, June 21, they were set up outside Metamorphosis Salon on Elm Street with a dozen crew members fulfilling various sound and lighting duties. A 14-foot length of dolly track laid along the sidewalk provided a smooth platform for the digital camera. Assistants adjusted sun... Full story
Registered voters of the Independent Party in Oregon will participate in an innovative online primary from July 8 through July 30. "I am on that ballot," said candidate for governor, Richard Esterman of Sisters. Voters who registered by June 9 will receive a pass code in the mail that will enable them to vote in the primary. Esterman noted that there will be other, higher-profile names also on the ballot, thanks to the advent of "fusion voting," which allows major-party... Full story
When Sisters Middle School (SMS) principal Kathy Miner leaves on July 8 to begin her adventure as a middle school teacher in Paris, France, Mark Stewart will step into her position with a "new set of eyes" and the advantage of having worked with the output of SMS. Stewart will be leaving his position as assistant principal at Sisters High School to take over the reins as the new leader of SMS. "Kathy has been wonderful in bringing me up to speed, sharing her time and staff... Full story
4 & above Grade 9: Barrett, Riley; Blumm, Nicolas; Chapman, Holly; Corrigan , Drew; Eckstine, Naomi; Erlandson, Justin; Fouts, Shannon; Georges, Angela; Haken, Alisha; Haken, Brittany; Harrison, William; Lovegren, Danielle; Lowry, Erica; Milliman, Tiffani; Minke, Megan; Muller, Dexter; Nieri, Taylor; Pajutee, Nathan; Rietmann, Gabe; Simundson, Jaimee; Sparling, Kristina; Tosello, Paige; Van Der Laan, Elize; Wester, Jessica; Williams, Jordan. Grade 10: Allenby, Jason; Blust, Courtney; Calvin, Amity; Cash, Adam; Chauncey, Lau... Full story
A youth theatre camp, sponsored by Sisters Park & Recreation District, will host a play at Sisters Middle School on Thursday, July 1, at 11 a.m. Director Kit Stafford adapted the play from the children's book "The Gift Bear." She said that the adaptation will continue right up through production as the students' interests shape the direction of the camp. "We're doing the basic voice and articulation and characterization, but really what they're bringing to it is most... Full story
Exploring the Lower Metolius River didn't turn out to be quite what I was expecting. In its entirety it is more of an expedition than I was willing to undertake in a day. There are two ways you can begin this adventure. You can hike the road, which is sometimes a fair distance from the river; or you can beat the brush along the river's edge. According to most maps, there is a distinct 12-mile trail all the way from Bridge 99 at Lower Bridge Campground to Monty Campground just... Full story
Longtime Sisters real estate broker Jeff Jones has launched Metolius Property Sales. The office is located at the corner of Cascade Avenue and Spruce Street in a venerable brick building that Jones has long admired. Jones is currently working with broker Linda Brooksby and office manager Gayle Rodrigues. "There are eight offices in here, so ultimately we'll get up to six to eight agents," Jones said. Metolius Property Sales will specialize in residential sales in Sisters,... Full story
Camp Sherman had its second visit this year from Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) chief electrical engineer, Don Lang. Lang met with local residents last March to discuss Camp Sherman's power outages. Last week he returned to offer solutions. Member services director Alan Guggenheim was also on hand to answer power consumer's questions. CEC is expanding their already successful Peak Power Project, begun in Tollgate, to the Camp Sherman community. The Peak Power Project installs timers on hot water heaters to move the peak... Full story
• Slick's Que Co. has been named to the National Barbecue News' "Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurants in America." Slick's Que Co. is one of 31 on the July list and the only restaurant named in the entire state of Oregon. To be eligible for the list, a restaurant must be taste-tasted, without notice or announcement, by an affiliate of the National Barbecue News. • Three Ponies Saddlery is open next to Sisters Rodeo office at 220 W. Cascade Ave. Call 541-719-0595 for more information.... Full story
The first thing that comes to mind about Siberia isn't usually sandy beaches, hiking trails and a beautiful lake - the world's most voluminous freshwater lake, in fact. Lake Baikal in Siberia contains one fifth of the world's fresh water and is about 350 miles wide. For the past five years the newly formed Great Baikal Trail Association's (GBT) goal is to put a trail around the lake. That might seem like a doable project in the United States of America, but in Russia,... Full story
The Dan Balmer Group performed at Black Butte Ranch's outdoor "venue with a view" on Friday. Balmer's display of virtuosity with his guitar, evidenced why he was the first guitarist and youngest inductee into the Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame. Balmer opened the show with "Becoming Became," the title track from his first solo CD recorded in 1989. As he eased into the show, Balmer took time to talk to the audience and share stories of how much he enjoyed spending his... Full story
• A deputy made a high-risk stop on a car after a passerby reported the passengers shooting at road signs along Highway 20 near Black Butte Ranch. Turned out they were shooting airsoft guns. They were cited for disorderly conduct and one was arrested for an outstanding warrant. • A woman was seen trying to get into cars in the Sisters Park & Recreation District parking lot. She was drunk, trying to find a place to lie down while her friends played disc golf. A deputy booted her from the property and a... Full story
"Is this the Jim Anderson who writes for The Nugget?" the caller asked. "Yes, it is," I replied. "What can I do for you?" "I want to know what those ugly, twitching, hairy things that are all over my bushes!" And that's the way it's been at least once a day over the past couple of weeks: phone calls and, "Oh, by the way, Jim..." stops in the post office, library, gas station and grocery store. Those are western tent caterpillars (which will eventually become moths) chomping... Full story
