News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 29
Three people were killed in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 6, when their vehicle crashed into a tractor-trailer rig on Highway 20 between Camp Sherman and Suttle Lake. The wreck was an indirect result of the Link Fire. According to Oregon State Police, Richard Caudle of Prineville was hauling a large Caterpillar bulldozer on a lowboy trailer, westbound enroute to the Link Fire west of Sisters. Caudle was making a left turn onto a Forest Service road when an eastbound vehicle struck the right, rear area of the... Full story
Dolores Minson is the featured quilter at this year's Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. photo by Jim Cornelius Thousands of quilters are already on their way to Central Oregon, making the annual pilgrimage to Sisters for the largest outdoor quilt show in the country. They come from all over the world, some 20,000 strong, many arriving early to partake of classes and fellowship in advance of the one-day show on Saturday, July 12. Some special events are planned for the week of Quilt... Full story
Search teams from Eugene Mountain Rescue and Deschutes County Search and Rescue units were unable to reach the body of a climber who fell to his death on North Sister on Saturday, July 5. Bruce Shively, 55, of Portland, was descending North Sister when he went missing from his climbing partner. Searchers from Bend and Eugene searched the west face of North Sister and the Collier Glacier area with support from Air National Guard aircraft. Shively was spotted from the air on July 6, located 600 feet down a steep debris slope... Full story
As Sisters streets fill with thousands of quilters on Saturday, July 12, drivers heading through town can avoid the logjam on Cascade Avenue on a city-designated alternate route. A reader board at the east end of town will inform travelers of the detour. Westbound traffic will be diverted with a right turn on Locust and a left turn onto Barclay Drive. Drivers can take the alternate route along the new Barclay Drive extension from the Sisters Industrial Park back to Highway 20 next to the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge. Cascade... Full story
Bridge to Hope Director Linda Swearingen (right) and volunteer Ami Feher picked up donated shoes in Sisters last week. photo by Elise Gourguechon Most people appreciate a nice new pair of shoes. For women released from incarceration in Central Oregon, a new pair of shoes is a necessity -- and a symbol of hope. Bridge to Hope is a mentoring program dedicated to helping women criminal offenders in Central Oregon turn their lives around. Many of the women are starting from... Full story
He didn't talk about the new high school, or even the local option levy. When Steve Swisher, superintendent of Sisters schools for the past seven years, was asked last week about his greatest accomplishment and disappointments during those years, he began this way: "The piece that I feel positive about was that we put together processes, a way to look toward the future, kind of where we're going, and in particular keeping an eye on the academic achievement issues. And over time, I think we improved those processes through... Full story
Hundreds of kids of all ages prepare for the traditional Fourth of July Decorated Bike and Hike Parade at Black Butte Ranch last Friday. photo by Tom Chace It was a red, white and blue festive day at Black Butte Ranch as residents, guests and people from the Sisters area celebrated the Fourth of July. An estimated throng of 300 assembled at the Sports Field, near the Big Meadow Golf Course, at mid-morning on Friday to decorate anything that moved and was not motorized. Bicycles, tricycles, baby carriages, strollers, bikes... Full story
Sue and Harry Sprang, volunteer fire spotters, look out over the catwalk at the Green Ridge Fire Lookout Tower. photo by Tom Chace A fire spotter atop Green Ridge saw the first puff of smoke for what has become the 600-acre Link Fire on Saturday, July 5, at 4:27 p.m. Like so many of the people who make life in Sisters safer and more enjoyable, the person who spotted the fire was a volunteer. Volunteers travel to Green Ridge Lookout each day, even weekends and holidays, during the fire season and spend the daylight hours... Full story
Scott Buckles, race director. photo by Kathryn Godsiff Sisters' full calendar of events just got more so. The Sisters High Cascades Off-Road Triathlon is coming to Suttle Lake on Sunday, September 7. The nationally ranked event, consisting of a one mile swim in Suttle Lake, 12 to 14 miles of mountain bike riding and six miles of trail running, promises to be a major change from the usual activities that Sisters offers through the summer. As part of the Nissan Xterra race series, the event will draw a field of top local and... Full story
Friends of injured Sisters artist Dennis McGregor will gather for a benefit concert to help McGregor with his medical expenses. The artist and musician was injured on Sunday, June 29, in a bicycling accident. He was released from the hospital last week. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 11, at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon. The host performers are the Mixed Nuts with Doug and Katie Cavanaugh. There will be no cover charge. "We're just going to pass the hat," said Mixed Nuts member and event organizer... Full story
Robert Muir Graves in his element. photo provided Robert Muir Graves was internationally renowned for his golf course designs. The famed golf course architect died at age 72 last week of complications of cancer. His legacy will live on in courses across the United States -- and particularly here in Sisters at Big Meadow Golf Course at Black Butte Ranch. Yet for all his renown in the world of golf, Graves was known to his Sisters area neighbors also as an active volunteer with... Full story
Artist Don Zylius. photo by Elise Gourguechon Sisters artist Don Zylius has been named California Ducks Unlimited Companion Artist of the year. His work will be featured in the conservation organization's state art package for 2003-04. Zylius is well-known for his watercolor work, with his ethereal and evocative portrayals of natural and sporting scenes. For the Companion Artist piece, Zylius was asked to provide a fly-fishing scene. Other than that minimal guidance, he was fr... Full story
Dawn Roberts breaks ground. photo by Torri Barco Sisters Habitat for Humanity continues to house families in Sisters at a record pace. The affiliate celebrated Sunday, June 29 at two new homes on N. Maple Lane for two single mothers and their families. Candy Parks, a single mother who works at Ray's Food Place to support her 10-year-old twin sons, County and Canyon, lost her house when she and her husband divorced. She shoveled dirt with a smile on her face next to her Habitat for Humanity co-worker and neighbor-to-be, Dawn... Full story
Tim Hogue installing a DSL box in Camp Sherman. photo by Conrad Weiler Later this month, Qwest communications will begin offering DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) to Camp Sherman residents for Internet connections. The Camp Sherman area, long plagued by older copper telephone line Internet connections peaking at a slow 24K, will find the new service offering increased speed and other benefits. Presently, Internet cable and DSL high speed Internet connection services end at Black Butte Ranch, about seven miles from Camp Sherman.... Full story
Rick Schneibel and son Julius. photo provided Rick Schneibel is one of Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District's finest. Named Rookie of the Year 2002-03, Firefighter Schneibel is a full -time student whose responsibilities include emergency response, maintenance of all apparatus and equipment and normal station maintenance. "I hope to graduate in 2005 with a Fire Science/Paramedic degree from Central Oregon Community College," he said. "Chief (Chuck) Cable, family and friends have been my greatest support. "Ten years from... Full story
Transient merchants sell everything from rugs to sun- glasses during Quilt Show, Rodeo and other special weekend events. photo by Tom Chace They crop up overnight like a relative who "just drops in for a visit." They are the transient merchants who hit Sisters during the busy summer season. This week they are here for the Quilt Show. In June it was Rodeo. In two weeks some may show up for the Custom Car Classic. There's always something special going on in Sisters during the summer months; these events draw tourists and, in... Full story
The Link Fire west of Sisters is now 70 percent contained, according to fire officials. The fire blazed furiously, however, on the northwest slope of Cache Mountain where fire officials said it moved through heavy fuels with some torching and short range spotting. The fire grew from expanded from 906 acres on Tuesday to 1,101 acres on Wednesday. A towering column of dirty smoke rose late Wednesday afternoon, July 9, making some local residents worry that the fire had “blown up.” However, fire officials said the... Full story
Thursday, July 10, 11 p.m. Smoke rising from the Link Fire made a beautiful sunset Wednesday evening, July 9. photo by Jim Cornelius Firefighters lost ground to the Link Fire west of Sisters on Thursday, June 10, according to fire officials. There were conflicting reports Thursday night as to the fire's size and proximity to Black Butte Ranch. BBR Police chief Gil Zaccaro said that, as of a 7 p.m. briefing, the fire was between 3,500 and 4,000 acres in size and he estimated it was about four miles to the west of the Ranch.... Full story
Friday, July 11, 7 a.m. The Link Fire doubled in size yesterday, to 2,100 acres. Some law enforcement and fire personnel had believed the fire was even larger than that, at 3,500 acres, but that information turned out to be incorrect. In any case, fire officials dropped the containment rating to 50 percent and backed off a projected Saturday time for full containment. "Right now, our containment (date) is listed as unknown," said Fire Information Officer Brian Scott. On Friday morning, Scott said the fire was still at least... Full story
July 11, 10:30 a.m. Larry Aragon, USFS, describes Link Fire behavior to a large crowd of Black Butte Ranch residents and guests. photo by Jim Cornelius Now it all depends on the weather and the wind. The Link Fire doubled in size to 2,100 acres yesterday, climbing Little Cache Mountain and a nearby cinder cone and throwing spot fires as far as 8/10ths of a mile from the main fire. Today's weather promises to be hot, dry and may be windy in the afternoon. That has Black Butte Ranch officials concerned. At a 9 a.m. public... Full story
Fred Gerke and Michelle Barber with the volunteer County Search and Rescue team standby at Fiddleneck Gate, Black Butte Ranch, to help with fire evacuation if necessary. Photo by Tom Chace Black Butte Ranch residents are ready for something they hope they won't have to do: evacuate for the second time in as many years (see related story). "Last year they got the cows and horses out first," said Ruth Peterson a resident of Black Butte Ranch. "This year only the horses went. Maybe we’re learning something." The evacuation... Full story
Friday, July 11, 4 p.m. The Link Fire west of Sisters continued to spread toward the southeast on Friday, July 11, creeping within 3-1/2 miles of Black Butte Ranch. BBR remained in Phase II of its emergency plan, with fire and law enforcement personnel on a heightened state of alert. There has been no evacuation. Police and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue units are prepared to evacuate the Ranch if the fire crosses a demarcation line two miles to the west of the Ranch. Fire Information Officer Janet... Full story
Friday, July 11, 5 p.m. Heavy aerial attacks by retardent-dropping planes and water-dropping helicopters helped firefighters battle the stubborn Link Fire on Friday, July 11. As of 5 p.m., crews were working all around the perimeter of the fire and the blaze was 60 percent contained, according to Fire Information Officer Jimmy Turner. Firefighters succeeded in creating burnouts to rob the fire of fuel and burnout operations were to continue into the night. Heavy helicopters dropped water on the east edge of the fire nearest... Full story
Saturday, July 12, 8:30 a.m. The Link Fire did not move overnight. Fire crews fought the blaze all night and reported that there was no spotting from the active fire facing Black Butte Ranch. Winds are expected to kick up this afternoon, blowing from the southwest and west at 8-10 miles per hour with possible 20 miles per hour gusts. The wind could pose a problem, but the onshore marine flow will also bring a four to five degree temperature drop, which firefighters greeted as good news. Three air tankers are now bombing the... Full story
Despite facing some stiff winds, firefighters had a good day battling the Link Fire west of Sisters on Saturday, July 12. According to fire officials, the blaze is now 80 percent contained at slightly over 3,200 acres. The east flank nearest Black Butte Ranch held steady all day, spreading no closer to the Ranch. At its closest point, the fire is 3-1/2 miles from the Ranch, which remains at Phase II of its emergency plan, with fire and police personnel on heightened alert. More than 900 people, including seven elite hotshot... Full story
