News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 34
Sisters will add 30 acres to its Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) as a result of long-awaited approval of the Sisters Comprehensive Plan by the city council on Thursday, July 28. The plan, which is to guide Sisters’ development for the next 20 years, includes the expansion of the UGB to include what is now known as the McKinney Meadows Village property near Sisters Middle School owned by the family of the late Bill Reed, Bill Willitts and Curt Kallberg. The land will become a m... Full story
It was supposed to be a seamless transition. The Sisters Chevron station on the corner of Cascade Avenue and Oak street was to close down at the end of July and reopen at the site of the new McDonald’s restaurant with no interruption. But due to the arson fire that destroyed the restaurant and convenience store portion of the facility last month, the closed gas station has nowhere to go. Randy Moss, Vice President of American Energy, who owned the station, told The Nugget t... Full story
Steve Rudinsky is a Beaver. Not much doubt about that. Born and raised in Corvallis, he was the son of two Oregon State faculty members. His dad was an entomologist and his mother an English professor. Rudinsky himself earned an undergraduate degree in political science from OSU before taking a job with Macy’s in California. It didn’t last because “after 18 months I realized that retail wasn’t the industry I wanted to pursue, so I jumped into the computer industry and have be... Full story
Two decisions handed down by the U. S. District Court in Oregon in July could allow the Sisters Ranger District to proceed with forest management operations. On July 13, U. S. Magistrate Judge John Jelderks denied claims that would stop commercial salvage logging and recovery plans on lands burned by the 2002 Eyerly Fire. The claims were made by the Cascadia Wildlands Project, the Oregon Natural Resources Council, the League of Wilderness Defenders — Blue Mountain Diversity Project, and the Sierra Club. The U. S. District J... Full story
Judging from recent letters to the editor, the possibility of having a rational discussion about the future of formula restaurants in Sisters may well have gone up in smoke with the infuriating act of senseless destruction that shook our town three weeks ago. And there may or may not be an initiative on the ballot to address the issue, widely regarded as a legitimate concern, depending on the initiative process itself and the eventual outcome of an ongoing conversation between the various involved parties and the Mayor. If an... Full story
The B&B Complex Fire ravaged a 90,000-acre area west of Sisters in 2003. The Forest Service plans to harvest timber, reduce fuels and plant new trees on some 6,803 acres of the fire area. A decision to implement the Forest Service’s “preferred alternative” for the recovery of the fire area was made Tuesday, August 2, according to Sisters District Ranger Bill Anthony. Additional action by the Forest Service will allow three timber salvage sales to immediately be announced for bids during the appeal period on that decis... Full story
Now in their third season, the Black Butte Players provided two sold-out evenings last week at the Black Butte Ranch (BBR) Lodge. Comfortably seated on the lawn behind the Lodge, with Lake Phalarope in the background, the large audience was treated to four short plays each evening. They also indulged in Chef David Berger’s lavish buffet. The acting group has evolved from reader-theater into more traditional theater mode with movement and props. They presented Honored G... Full story
Sisters’ kids will be skating, painting, studying, and working on computers at SOAR thanks to a gift from Kiwanis. Last week, Sisters Kiwanis gave Sisters Organization for Activities & Recreation (SOAR) $4,500. Kiwanis Club President Jeff McDonald said SOAR was an easy choice for the charitable gift. “There are so many people in the community who benefit,” said McDonald. The gift money was a combination of funds raised by Ray’s Food Place and the club. Kiwanis earmarked the money for two things. The bulk of the gift, $3,000,... Full story
Folksingers Dennis McGregor and Johnsmith captivated concertgoers with a wealth of their favorite songs at a Thursday, July 28, concert at Sisters Athletic Club (SAC). The enthusiastic listeners cheered and applauded each presentation by thesingers. McGregor led off the program and received a rousing ovation for his rendition of “Norman” and his story of Sisters as a “one-bum town.” He also told the story of his experience at a Eugene beer fest and the song he wrote especia... Full story
Black Butte Ranch Police Chief Gil Zaccaro is urging Sisters area residents to adopt a recently-recommended emergency contact program. “The recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom have prompted a campaign to establish a worldwide system of emergency notification,” Zaccaro said. The recommendation is simple: program emergency contacts into your cell phone under ICE — “In Case of Emergency.” “The idea is the brainchild of a paramedic Bob Brotchie who works for the East Anglian Ambulance Service near London,” Za... Full story
• A 16-year-old driver was cited after a non-injury crash at E. Cascade Avenue and Spruce Street. • Deputies responded to multiple complaints about barking dogs keeping folks up at night. • There was a report of gunshots in the wee hours of the morning in the vicinity of Camp Polk Cemetery. There have been several such reports. Black Butte Ranch Police • It appeared that someone had entered the maintenance shops without authorization. There were cups strewn about and a shoe print on a desk in the break room, but nothing... Full story
Firefighters at the Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire Protection District received specialized training on Monday, July 25, on how to repel from heights and how to conduct safe rope rescue operations. Mike Gibbs, owner of Rigging for Rescue located in southwestern Colorado, agreed to present the condensed course while spending a week visiting his parents at Black Butte Ranch. His mother, LouAnn Gibbs, serves on the fire district Board of Directors and suggested to the fire... Full story
When guests walk through the doors at the new Shibui spa, they walk into an oasis of calm. “We’ve come a long way,” said owner Zoe Willitts. “The idea for Shibui was born on a walk through a walnut grove and matured at our own experiences at world class spas.” What began years ago with one woman giving massages in a garage has grown into a state-of-the art spa and thriving business. The old Shibui sits a short walk from the impressive new building. Living its motto, “the art o... Full story
Carrie Ward knew that SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation) had money problems when she took the job as its new executive director. That has been confirmed in the brief month she has been on board. “What we are looking at right now is an issue of cash flow over the next couple of months between now and mid-November when our tax revenues start coming in,” she said in an interview last week. “We don’t have enough money to bridge that gap to cover all of our expenses. “This is not altogether untypical for sma... Full story
More than 150 athletes from nine different states will challenge each other — and Mother Nature — at Suttle Lake in the Third Annual Sisters High Cascades Off-Road Triathlon set for Sunday, August 21, at 9 a.m. The race is part of the Nissan Xterra Points Series Races that are held around the country. The event consists of a 1,000-meter swim, 17-mile mountain bike ride up and around surrounding hills and lakes and a six-mile trail run. There is still space available for individuals or two- or three-person relay teams. To reg... Full story
The grounds of Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration will be transformed into an old fashioned Country Fair for a day on Saturday, August 13. Face painting is one of the many activities for children at the 10th Annual Country Fair and Art Show. The Bouncy Castle, pony rides, petting zoo, cake walk and a variety of children’s activities and games will delight the young and the young at heart. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church located 1/8 m... Full story
Hordes of avid bead collectors and jewelry makers are expected to stampede to the Sisters Village Green this weekend for the second annual Sisters Bead Stampede. The event is scheduled Saturday and Sunday August 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Vendors will sell a wide variety of beads. Visitors will find one-of-a-kind handmade beads, buttons, antique beads or trade beads. Admission is free. The event is sponsored by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 549-0251.... Full story
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rod Picott will perform in the courtyard at Angeline’s Bakery on Sunday, August 7, at 7 p.m. Picott has co-written songs with Tom Russell, Slaid Cleaves and Eliza Gilkyson. He is currently touring in support of his CD “Girl From Arkansas.” Picott has carved out a reputation as a riveting live performer in addition to being one of the most respected songwriters in folk music. There is a $5 cover charge. Refreshments and food will be available. Acclaimed blues guitarist and folk songwriter David... Full story
Sisters Habitat for Humanity got some extra help last month in building their current homes. Sisters was chosen by Habitat International as one of four sites for its Summer Youth Blitz. Teens flew in from several states for two weeks of work on a duplex in downtown Sisters. Teens chose to spend part of their summer swinging a hammer, laying sod, and putting in decks for a variety of reasons. “It sounded like a kind thing to do,” said 16-year-old Kelsey Longmuir from Washington. Longmuir has spent past summers as a camp cou... Full story
Sisters youths saw a summer of hard work pay off at the Deschutes County Fair’s Horse Fair held July 21-24. Sisters Community Critters reported multiple ribbons in a variety of events: • Aubyn Geser, senior, 15: Showmanship — red; English Equitation — blue; Cow Working — blue; Ranch Horse Pattern — blue; Ranchmanship — blue. Number 10 placement in the top ten for Senior Ranch Horse. • Shelby Ross, intermediate, 14: Showmanship — blue; English Equitation — blue; Western Equitat... Full story
Gerald Richard (Jerry Dick) Clark of Terrebonne died on July 29. He was 69. A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on August 3 at Highland Baptist Church in Redmond. He was born to Hugh Ray and Minnie Fay (Dickensen) Clark in Weston, Oregon, on June 8, 1936. He graduated from Pendleton High School and attended Mira Costa College and San Diego State University. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1971 where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was also a Boy Scout leader, juvenile counselor, Reserve... Full story
James W. “Jimmy” Stadler, 37, of Meadowlands Minnesota, died July 15, from injuries received in a car accident. He was born in Portland, Oregon, on December 7, 1967, to Larry and Donna Stadler. he is a former resident of Sisters and Redmond. He marrid Sherry Walling on October 17, 1998. They had two children: Leon, eight and Alyssa, 14. He was a cook at Coyote Creek Café in Sisters. A celebration of his life will be held on August 8 at Coyote Creek Cafe´at 2 p.m.... Full story
Central Electric Cooperative Inc. (CEC) is continuing with its $7.9 million claim with Deschutes County under Measure 37, according to Al Gonzalez, president and CEO of the cooperative. In a letter mailed to cooperative members this past week, Gonzalez wrote that this action is being taken because of failure of the State Legislature to act on SB 413. That bill, introduced last January at CEC’s request, would have allowed Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. to upgrade existing transmission lines located on easements granted b... Full story
• Wheel Fun Rentals will run a “locals special” every Wednesday during August. All bikes are only $5 per hour. The business is also putting together a number of free programs, starting with the SOAR teen program. The bike rental kiosk is on the corner of Main Avenue and Elm Street. • Tramondo’s Trattoria Italian Restaurant features jazz every Saturday at 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with the Henderson Jazz Fluency appearing on August 6, August 20 and September 10. • The Barclay Gallery’s Monthly Silent Auction benefits the Sisters F... Full story
Remember as a child when you wanted to grow up to be a firefighter? Most people followed another career, but now there is an opportunity to make your childhood dream come true while still working in your chosen career. The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD) is in serious need of volunteers, according to Dave Wellington, volunteer coordinator for the district. “Currently, our personnel numbers are down while fire call numbers are increasing every year,” Wellington said. “With wildland fire season just... Full story
