News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 26
"It's a creative art - and it soothes the soul." So says longtime volunteer Ellen Oliver of the craft that drew thousands to Sisters last Saturday to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. There were many creative hearts inspired and many souls soothed during the day-long quilting extravaganza, which many patrons are saying was "the best ever." "It was the best show we've ever had," said executive director Ann Richardson. "In terms of the quality of the quilts, the feedback from the... Full story
Suttle Lake Camp, run by the United Methodist Church, has been serving campers in Central Oregon for decades - and most of its facilities date back decades, too. The organization is now seeking permission from the Forest Service to significantly update its facilities. The plan calls for new 1,700-square-foot shower house facilities to replace the existing shower house, which dates back to the 1950s. The camp also hopes to build a new 1,200-square-foot welcome center and... Full story
Seven Sisters firefighters got some invaluable live fire training last weekend in the 11th Central Oregon Wildfire School, hosted by the Central Oregon Fire Instructors' Association. They were among dozens of agencies that participated in two intensive days of hands-on training, held at Central Oregon Community College, Juniper Golf Course and on the Crooked River National Grassland. Trainees came from as far away as Montana to attend classroom training, practice dry course... Full story
To the Editor Dogs... To a certain dog owner in Sisters: I have a couple of requests. Number one, if it was your fair-sized white and brown dog running loose (and repeatedly I might add) that drug home an elk skull and jaw bones that I had in my flower beds I'd like them back. I live on the same block in Sisters that Ponderosa Properties and Sisters Coffee sit on if that's of any help for figuring out proximity to where I live and where you live. My wife spotted your dog a couple of times coming over and attempting to drag... Full story
A group of seven women from Gee's Bend, Alabama, were honored guests at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, holding court outside Stitchin' Post during the day. It's a long way from the steamy waters of the Alabama River to the crisp air of Sisters, but a shared love of quilts in all their forms overcame cultural and geographic differences. The quilt show atmosphere and hospitality shown through the week made a big impression. "Y'all are the nicest people we've ever met. You act... Full story
Lightning may not strike twice in the same place, but it always strikes, and often in Central Oregon. And with it come the inevitable fires, such as the one that ignited on Black Butte last week. The fire eventually spread to 578 acres, affecting habitat, wildlife and federal forest esthetics. The Black Butte II fire has now cooled off, smoke has diminished and the tankers and helicopter have eased their constant and expensive pounding of the fire area. However, the casual... Full story
A year ago, a handful of community members recognized the need for an organization focused on obtaining and disbursing scholarships. Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (Sisters GRO) has been awarded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and will now begin accepting tax deductible scholarships on behalf of Sisters High School students. "It's a big job," said Sisters High School principal, Bob Macauley. "We needed a separate organization to consolidate the work. We have a generous... Full story
Kirk Flannigan arrived in Sisters last week to take on a new Forest Service job heading the recreation, heritage, lands and minerals staff for the Sisters Ranger District. "About 85 percent of my work will be in recreation," Flannigan said. "That's campgrounds, trails, wilderness, leased cabins...." Originally from Georgia, Flannigan headed west not too long after high school and ended up in Utah. An avid skier, he spent the last 15 years as a self-described "ski bum,"... Full story
The first Senior Artisans Show will be held in Camp Sherman next weekend. The show, which coincides with the Metolius Fly Fishing & Bamboo Rod Fair, showcases the work of several artists making a second career in their craft, ranging from painting to sculpture to the creation of Indian knives and bows. "These artisans are in an age group between 45 and 85 and are mostly retired," said show organizer Frank Conte, who is hosting the show. "They have now become fully focused on various art forms that (were) delayed due to the... Full story
Friends of the Metolius (FOM) offers guided walks every Saturday from May 23 to September 5. Last Saturday's walk took visitors to the secluded headwaters of Jack Creek. The various walks have designated meeting places in Camp Sherman, are led by volunteers, and are free. The schedule is on the Friends of the Metolius Web site, www.metoliusfriends.org and is also posted at the Camp Sherman Store. Guide Kent Gill led the group, a baker's dozen, from Black Butte School down the... Full story
Two Sisters Country contractors will have homes featured in the Central Oregon Builders Association Tour of Homes. Central Oregon Timber Frame has its "off-grid" timber frame home in this year's Tour of Homes. The unique features of the home are that in addition to its old-world timber frame design, the entire home runs on solar power for its electricity, in-floor heating, and all domestic hot water. The Timber Frame model home is located at 67775 Cloverdale Rd. "A big reason we built this home and offer it as a model is to... Full story
After overcoming some setbacks, including health issues, the folks at The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration are back on track with their mission to support our troops by designing, maintaining and displaying a bulletin board. "The purpose is prayer," said Jean Engstrom, the heart behind the project. "The people of this congregation are eager to support our troops with loads of prayers." They are asking for Sisters families that have connections to troops to submit a... Full story
• Edie Jones wrote: As the director of Together For Children, I'd like to thank our many friends in Sisters for their participation in our Historical Mystery Hunt & Auction. I was amazed at the donations and at the generous bidding that took place. It was truly a "make-it-or-break-it" fundraiser for our program, and support was desperately needed. I especially thank Kathy Kemper-Green and Sisters' Arbor Mortgage Company for making it possible to offer a cash prize to the first-place team. The winners were elated.... Full story
Four racecars from Sisters were taken to Portland last weekend. Not all would return home in one piece. Jerry and Jeff Taylor had the Rex Easley Studebaker, Jerry the designated driver for this event, the Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historics. Curt Kallberg took his taxicab-yellow '67 Corvette and the electric blue IMSA GTO, a Corvette-based car soaked in steroids. Eric Dolson took Yellow Jacket, his '69 black-and-yellow roadster. There were 35 cars scheduled to race in the... Full story
Getting into a boat or a kayak on the lake shore at Suttle Lake is fine and dandy in the height of summer. But rowers of human-powered craft like to hit the lake early when the water is quiet, and when the seasons turn, it can get mighty cold and unpleasant. Now that problem is solved, thanks to the efforts of rower Bethanne Kronick and Sisters Ranger District recreation services director Bob Hennings. Hennings secured and attached a new $1,600 Connect-A-Dock system to extend... Full story
Unwashed and shaggy dogs beware, there's a new groomer on the move and she's coming to a driveway near you. Sisters resident Michele Cormalis has started Waggin' Tails - Mobile Pet Grooming, providing door-to-door salon services for your canine companions throughout the Sisters-Tumalo-Bend areas. Cormalis has been involved in the dog world for over 20 years as an owner, handler, breeder and trainer of English Setters. Originally from California, she competed in AKC All-Breed... Full story
Born in Placerville, California, Ian Ferguson spent his early childhood in Golden, Colorado, until he and his family moved back home to the Placerville area in 1984. He attended and graduated eighth grade from Camino School and attended El Dorado High School as a freshman before moving with his family to Sisters in 1995. He was the third generation of his family to attend El Dorado High School. Ian played baseball in the Snowline Little League and soccer in the Sierra Gold... Full story
There were a bunch of very happy people gathered in the Sisters Library last week. The occasion was the arrival of a check for $500 for the purchase of new Spanish language books for the Latino library patrons living in the Sisters area. The number of Spanish language books in the present collection is woefully small, something that Jo Cassie, Outreach Manager for the Deschutes Public Library System (DPLS), and Rossy Gomez-Pullig noted, and they set out to do something about... Full story
There's going to be a shootout at Hyzer Pines on Saturday, July 25. Rotary is sponsoring Pro Disc Golf at the course on the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) grounds. A great family activity, the event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., is for pros and amateurs alike. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and demonstrations and disc golf clinics taught by the pros begin at 9 a.m. Competitors will get a disc, lunch, instructional clinics, and tournament play for the $30 registration... Full story
The Camp Sherman Quilt Show hosted by the local Camp Sherman quilting group, the Pine Needlers, began with a bang. People were lined up waiting for the doors to open, and over 550 people walked through those doors in the first few hours. As usual, the nearly 350 hand-crafted potholders were hot sellers and were sold out by 1 p.m. Out on the lawn, the Pine Nuts, husbands of the Pine Needlers, were warming up the barbecue. Visiting folk musicians played fiddles, auto harp,... Full story
Launching a new partnership, Black Butte Ranch and the Sisters Folk Festival are hosting the bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters in a concert at the Ranch on Friday, July 17. "This is the inaugural concert in the Live at the Ranch concert series," said BBR marketing director Katie Williams. She said the Ranch hopes to book other concerts later in the summer and early fall. "We were very interested in expanding our role with the Sisters Folk Festival, and with the... Full story
Tyler Miller was one of 60 football players selected from all high school football players in the State of Oregon to compete in the 57th Annual Shriner Hospital East West All Star Football Game on Saturday, August 1, in Baker City at the Baker City High School Football Stadium. Miller was the No. 1 draft pick for this game and is the only player from Sisters and the Sky-Em conference playing in this game. He will be competing on the East Team as a defensive end. The game will... Full story
There were curious goings-on earlier this month in the vacant lot behind Richard's Produce as a dozen migrant workers from Laos and Cambodia sat hunched over plastic bins piled high with ripe mushrooms, freshly harvested from the Cascade foothills. They grinned and laughed in their native tongue in the afternoon warmth, recalling the day's events while wiping down and cleaning the pale brown mushroom caps. If it's summer, it must be wild-mushroom-picking season in Central... Full story
The Camp Sherman Community Association has honored two volunteers of the year. Pete Schay worked daily on Camp Sherman Community Hall restoration and the restoration of Civilian Conservation Corps shelters in Camp Sherman. He has been on the budget committee of Black Butte School for two years. He worked tirelessly with the Forest Service and Friends of the Forest to restore areas in the basin and has been a local "Weed Warrior." Schay wrote a grant proposal on behalf of... Full story
A Bend-based bank with roots in Sisters appears to have died before it had a chance to live. Crown Point National Bank has all but thrown in the towel, based on denial from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to offer deposit insurance to potential customers. Andrew Gerlicher, president and CEO of the proposed bank, said the seed money for the bank is gone. "We are at the end of our resources. I'm looking for a job," he said. A news release from the proposed bank... Full story
