News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 31
Firefighters mop up near Golf Home 97, which was destroyed in the fire. Homes saved at Black Butte Ranch were very close to homes that burned. Only great effort on the part of Black Butte Ranch firefighters, standing in "defensible space," saved them. The fire scorched the ground and torched 30 foot trees into charred sticks all the way to their tops. The edges of Fiddleneck, an 18 foot wide one-way street, melted. "This was a regular wall of fire," said Black Butte Ranch Fire Chief Ed Sherrell. Sherell said firefighters... Full story
The Cache Mountain fire made one terrifying run on Sunday afternoon, July 28 -- enough to destroy two homes at the northwest corner of Black Butte Ranch and forced up to 5,000 people to flee the resort community. By Tuesday morning, firefighters had beaten the blaze back and tentative plans were set for a partial re-opening of the Ranch on Wednesday, July 31. The blaze, which started with a lightning strike on the flanks of Cache Mountain on Tuesday afternoon, July 23, crept... Full story
Air tankers were a vital resource in combating the Cache Mountain fire. Air tankers are playing a vital role in fighting the Cache Mountain fire west of Black Butte Ranch. With the fire gaining the top spot on the national priority list, eight tankers were stationed at Redmond Airport to make retardant drops on spot fires from embers along the perimeter of the main blaze. The planes carry a red slurry consisting of clay, water, and fertilizer that smothers flames and sticks... Full story
A BBR vacationer watches a helicopter dip water from the pond for a fire run. Two Weyerhauser helicopters have been flying in and out of Sisters Airport, fighting the Cache Mountain fire and assisting forces to save homes on Black Butte Ranch. The Weyerhauser team came to Sisters on Thursday from Eugene and Chehalis, Washington. Their primary purpose was to protect Weyerhauser land. However, property lines did not stop them from battling the fire as it approached Black Butte Ranch Sunday afternoon. "There is an agreement... Full story
The Cache Mountain fire has transformed Sisters High School into a fire command center. A sea of tents surrounds the high school where firefighters sleep when off shift. They can shower and grab a meal at the facility. Teams of men lie out in the shade of trees, resting on mattresses and blankets. In the art room labs, fire support personnel prepare reports and gather information. The cafetorium is used to give briefings. "This wasn't the first time we've played host," said Principal Boyd Keyser, "Every time we learn a... Full story
Sisters -- 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 30 -- As firefighters work to get the upper hand on the Cache Mountain fire, Black Butte Ranch officials are targeting a 3 p.m. re-opening of the Ranch on Wednesday, July 31. Any re-opening is contingent upon the fire remaining quiet tonight and tomorrow morning. Residents got that word at a community meeting at Sisters Elementary School Tuesday evening. Residents were asked to meet again at Sisters Elementary School at noon on Wednesday to... Full story
The two homes that were lost when the Cache Mountain fire invaded Black Butte Ranch on Sunday, July 31, could not have been saved, according to Fire Chief Ed Sherrell. "They were involved when we got there," Sherrell said. While defensible space around nearby homes allowed fire fighters to make a stand and save those residences, Sherrell said it was too late to save Golf Homes 96 and 97. Golf Home 96 had a wood shake roof; Golf Home 97 had its roof replaced last year. Both hom... Full story
Cache Mountain fire Wednesday. 8:30 a.m. -- Fire crews were focusing on mop up operations on the Cache Mountain fire on Wednesday, July 31. The fire is 85 percent contained at 4,200 acres. Firefighters will douse smouldering areas "five chains" into the fire perimeter. A "chain" (the term is derived from an old-time logging measurement) is 66 feet, so the mop up will penetrate 330 feet inside the fire area. The wind forecast was for lighter winds than fire crews coped with on... Full story
Sisters -- 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 31 -- Black Butte Ranch residents will return to their homes at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, after three nights and two days of evacuation. Ranch residents got that piece of good news at a noon meeting at Sisters Elementary School. BBR Police Chief Gil Zaccaro emphasized that the 3 p.m. time is strict. No parking or stopping is allowed on Highway 20. "Please do not line up on the highway waiting for 3 p.m.," he said. "If you hit the left turn... Full story
Black Butte Ranch residents returned to their homes Wednesday, July 31. Black Butte Ranch was set for "business as usual" on Thursday, August 1. Residents returned to the Ranch Wednesday afternoon in a long, joyful caravan -- greeted by Ranch employees and firefighters. While the return was restricted to residents and registered guests only on Wednesday, the Ranch was open to the public for golf and dining on Thursday. The Cache Mountain fire, which forced the evacuation of... Full story
now 100 percent contained. However, fire crews facing low humidity and windy conditions are working hard to mop up to make sure the fire does not flare up in unburned fuel within the fire perimeter. That's just what happened on the Geneva 2 fire north of Sisters on Thursday, August 1. That fire had been contained for a week. Wind gusts drove a flare-up across containment lines near Squaw Flat Thursday afternoon. Firefighters responded with five air tankers, seven engines, two bulldozers and several hand crews to get a handle... Full story
another firefighter appreciation rally on Friday evening, August 2, at Sisters High School. Folks are asked to show up between 7:30 and 8 p.m. when the busses carrying firefighters from the fire lines start arriving at the camp. Those attending are asked to bring some personal supplies for firefighters such as long socks; men's and women's underwear; medicated foot powder. Hand-made cards from children are particularly appreciated as are homemade baked goods. "Any service that would give comfort (is appropriate)," said... Full story
The remains of Golf Home 97, which burned in a firestorm on Sunday, July 28. (by Jim Cornelius) Gov. Kitzhaber arrives in Sisters to view the Cache Mountain fire. (by Eric Dolson) Firefighters putting out spot fires at Black Butte Ranch. (by Jim Cornelius) Highway 20 remained closed until Tuesday morning, July 30. (by Jim Cornelius) A tanker drops fire retardant on the Cache mountain fire. (by Bruce Merrell) Aerial view of the Cache Mountain fire. Suttle Lake is visible to the left of the smoke. Black Butte is visible in the... Full story
Mayor Steve Wilson announced on Thursday, July 25, that he will step down from the Sisters City Council effective September 12. Wilson and his family are moving outside the city limits to Tollgate. The city charter requires that city councilors reside inside the city. "My family found their dream house and unfortunately it was outside the city limits," Wilson said. The mayor is in his second term. The city council will appoint his replacement in September and seek applicants... Full story
Hikers on the west slope of Broken Top discovered human remains on Friday, July 26. The hikers contacted the Deschutes County Sheriff's office via cell phone and sheriff's detectives and a search and rescue team responded to the location near the base of the mountain. According to sheriff's office reports, the remains were removed from the scene and will be transferred to the medical examiner's office for further investigation. The victim's sex, age and cause of death were unknown at press time.... Full story
With the evacuation of Black Butte Ranch and closure of Highway 20 due to the Cache Mountain fire, Sisters' businesses saw a sharp decline in sales Monday. "Black Butte Ranch is the hub for the retail business in Sisters, that and Highway 20," said John Keenan, owner/manager of Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill. There were 60 percent fewer customers at Bronco Billy's Monday, forcing the restaurant to cut its wait staff in half Monday evening. Jeff Perin, owner/operator of The Fly Fisher's Place, confirmed the negative effect that th... Full story
Finalists (left-right): Cliff Shrock, Dean Daugherty, Jim Sandoz, John Brown (kneeling), Dale Mitchell, Glenn Keeran, Scott Lacross, Dick Kalac, Tim Calmettes, Terry Hannigor. The annual Kiwanis Hole-in-One golf tournament, held Friday through Sunday, July 26-28 at Aspen Lakes was a success despite difficulties created by the Cache Mountain Fire. "The smoke was heavy at times and participants were distracted by their concerns about the fire," according to Kiwanian Allan Boyette. "Nevertheless, golfers tend to be passionate ab... Full story
In another recent wreck near Sisters, a driver drifted off the road to the right, overcorrected and crossed back over the roadway and into a tree. Most people do exactly the wrong thing when a car leaves the pavement, according to professional drivers. Carl Lopez is an instructor with Skip Barber Racing Schools. Lopez points out that if the wheels on the right side of the car are in gravel, and those on the left are on the pavement, "traction on the left is greater than traction on the right. "If you then jump on the brake... Full story
Author Larry Len Peterson will return to Paulina Springs Book Company on Saturday, August 3, at 6 p.m. to present slides from his latest book "The Call of the Mountains: The Artists of Glacier National Park." Peterson will also sign copies of the book in softcover or hardback. Peterson has become known for his beautiful western art books including "Charles M. Russell, Legacy" and "Philip R. Goodwin: America's Sporting and Wildlife Artist." Peterson is a native of Plentywood, Montana. He has been an enthusiastic collector of... Full story
Tiffany Adams and Beth Golden. Sisters High School graduates Tiffany Adams and Beth Golden are enjoying a summer home from college at Camp Sherman. Interviewed poolside at Camp Sherman's Metolius Meadows, the two coeds discussed their lives since leaving high school. Adams attends Seattle Pacific University majoring in psychology in her sophomore year. During the school year she does counseling work at the King County Juvenile Detention Center in Seattle. "I have the best of both worlds," she said. "Living in beautiful... Full story
A U.S. Forest Service employee and his pack horse took an injured hiker to a landing zone where he was air lifted off South Sister last Tuesday, July 23. According to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reports, a search and rescue team responded to the climber's trail above Moraine Lake after hikers called 911 on a cell phone to report the injured hiker. Search and rescue personnel located and stabilized the injured man, 36-year-old Todd Wheeler of Oregon City, and the Forest Service packer took the man to a landing zone... Full story
Margery Guthrie with a bonsai tree and Tom Fish with an elegant hand-made wooden bowl. The Sisters Episcopal Church Country Fair will offer several new features this year on August 10. Under the leadership of Margery and Frank Guthrie, a number of artists have been selected to exhibit and sell their works at the Invitational Crafts Booth that joins the Fair for the first time. Artists who have been selected and their specialties include: Brian Phillips - willow furniture; Oscar Spliid - wood carvings (including the very popul... Full story
The city of Sisters will pay $164,455.76 for a new, back-up water line from the Pole Creek reservoir to Pine Meadow Ranch running west of the creek. Pine Meadow Ranch Development is required to run a water line to the south end of the property and the city has acquired easements to carry the line further south. Richard Bartels Construction, Inc. was the low bidder on the project. The bid is well under a preliminary engineer's estimate of $225,000. According to city Public... Full story
Terry Taylor of Sisters pleaded guilty to one of five counts of violating a restraining order on Monday, July 29. Four other counts were dismissed. The incident occurred last March, when Taylor sent his estranged wife flowers. At the time, Taylor was prohibited from any contact with his wife or her two daughters. Taylor also faces multiple charges of sex abuse of the daughters. He has pled not guilty. Trial on those charges is scheduled for October. For violating the restraining order, Taylor was sentenced to one day in jail... Full story
Holt Ganong of Sisters uses a library internet computer. Sisters Library instituted a new internet use policy, starting Thursday, July 25. Library patrons 17 years or older will need their library card to access the internet computers in the library. Persons 16 years or younger will need a signed internet access permission form along with a valid library card to access the library internet stations. "Parental/guardian consent is now mandatory for all children under 17 years of age to have full access to all internet... Full story
