News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 23 of 23
Sisters will launch into its annual spring celebration of the arts this weekend. My Own Two Hands (MOTH), the annual fundraiser for Sisters Folk Festival's educational programs, begins on May 13, with a parade, art stroll and a free community celebration at The Belfry in Sisters. On Saturday, May 14, Ponderosa Forge and Ironworks will be transformed into an auction and party venue. Started 15 years ago, MOTH is an event with two purposes: raise funds for arts and music... Full story
UPDATED TO INCLUDE TEXT OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY ORDER Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel has ordered the City of Sisters to produce records related to the investigation of former City Manager Andrew Gorayeb. Hummel reviewed the matter based on appeals filed by Mike Morgan, The Bulletin newspaper, and The Nugget Newspaper. All three had previously requested the records from the City of Sisters, but the City declined to provide them citing numerous exceptions to Oregon's public records law. Hummel's order, issued... Full story
Richard Hartnack of Black Butte Ranch, a Marine aviator during the Vietnam War, recently returned from an historic trip to Vietnam with fellow veteran pilots from the Marines, Navy, and U.S. Air Force. They enjoyed a rare and moving opportunity to meet and reconcile with their former adversaries from the Vietnam Air Force. Hartnack, who flew 220 combat missions with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 as a Radar Intercept Officer in an F-4B Phantom II, began his journey back to... Full story
Richard Hartnack's return to Vietnam included more than a reconciliation dinner with former opponents in the Vietnam Air Force to exchange gifts, discuss battles, and build new relationships. On April 14, Americans and Vietnamese assembled at the Vietnam Airman's Memorial at Noi Bai military airfield. At Noi Bai, the pilots were greeted by present-day Vietnam Air Force leaders in crisp summer uniform. After introductory comments, each of the Vietnamese pilots, followed by an... Full story
It was only after the ceremonies and dinners and storytelling were over, after the final handshakes and well wishes, after the sincere exchange of promises to build new relationships out of former enmities, that Richard Hartnack found the down- time to begin serious reflection on the importance of his trip to Vietnam. As he sat, thinking it over on the long flight home, he says he began "to get it," to understand what made his return to Vietnam important and "fascinating" and... Full story
The arrest earlier this month of a teacher at Newtown Middle School, in Connecticut - in the same district as the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting - for carrying a firearm on school grounds has reignited the debate over arming teachers. This teacher happened to have a valid Connecticut permit, and there were no students on campus that day, but let's set aside the legal and constitutional questions and focus on the question of arming teachers as a policy. At least nine states have passed legislation allowing for... Full story
Teams from all over Oregon and Idaho swarmed into Sisters this past weekend for the Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational (SALI) tournament, held on Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. Seventy-two teams were in attendance this year, which calculated out to approximately 1,500 athletes. Add to that parents, siblings, and grandparents, and the total number estimates to easily over 5,000 people. This year consisted of boys' teams from third and fourth grade through high school. "We are... Full story
For eight years, the Sisters School District has had to make tough financial choices, trying to weather the storm of the Great Recession and a steep decline in enrollment. Through all of that time, the district did its best to keep cuts as far away from classrooms and programs as possible. That meant that maintenance of plant and infrastructure took the hit. With enrollment starting to stabilize, it's time to catch up to work that has to be done to maintain the public's investment in its schools. The $10.7 million request tha... Full story
To the Editor: My all-time favorite fictional character Ron Swanson once said, "Honor: if you need it defined, you don't have it." If you're reading this, Mr. Gorayeb, honor doesn't involve making co-workers uncomfortable no matter what your definition of appropriateness is and it certainly doesn't involve accepting $15,340.48 for essentially getting to be on vacation for two months. Furthermore, accepting over $100,000 in severance for leaving a job voluntarily, with a victim mentality to boot, is not only... Full story
It seems like just yesterday I was signing my contract and trying to figure out all the logistics of transitioning into Sisters. As I approach the end of my first year as the Superintendent of Sisters School District I find myself reflecting on my experiences. When considering a move, my wife, Kellie, and I were looking for smaller towns as we wanted our four children to experience that close-knit/community feeling that we had growing up. I was nervous about making a move. I wondered if my experiences of growing up in a... Full story
The word is out to Central Oregon educators that one of the best ways to learn about history is to see it, talk to it and experience it. This will happen Friday, May 20, when 1,175 students from 14 schools will visit a full Civil War reenactment and engage with "living history." "This is our third year in Central Oregon and the most students we have ever hosted for our school day," said event coordinator David Banks. "We park a lot of busses in the forest that day." Students tour the camps and interact with reenactors... Full story
Sisters comes together every year with two events in support of Sisters High School and its athletic and extracurricular programs: The Outlaw Open Golf Tournament and the Outlaw Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony. Since 1998, The Outlaw Open has been among the highlights on Sisters' events calendar. The Outlaw Open will be back for its 19th edition on Friday, June 17, at Aspen Lakes Golf Course. The scramble tournament begins with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The tournament has always been a fun afternoon and evening for... Full story
Students in Rima Givot's Chemistry 2 class had the opportunity to work with scientist Steve Peterzen throughout the last two weeks to launch a 600-gram balloon - complete with experiments they designed - and capture live data. Peterzen's company, The ISTAR Group, just opened a satellite office at Sisters Eagle Airport. ISTAR launches stratospheric balloons for the purposes of testing experiments in near-space conditions. Using Helium, Peterzen and his crew launch the balloons... Full story
Those who make conversation impossible make escalation inevitable. -Stefan Molynevy A lot has gone on in Sisters Country lately, and I cannot rest until I weigh in with an opinion. I read with interest a news article concerning the city council's adoption of a resolution adopting the 9 precepts of the Sisters Country Civility Project. One councilor was worried the adoption might impinge on free speech. And later on, Craig Rullman, in The Bunkhouse Chronicle (which I always read), thought people should suck it up - as... Full story
"It's my favorite day of the year," said fourth-grade teacher Clay Warburton, as he observed his class of students painting their abstract portraits all laid out across the floor of the elementary school commons. Each of his fourth-graders worked on portraits throughout the last several weeks. Most drew themselves three or four times, some as many as seven, in different ways. The students started practicing the project on a smaller scale using a photograph and drawing portraits in different media. They took the... Full story
During the heart of the recession, Francesca Russo faced a major challenge and changed her life. She left her home and business after 30 years on the Oregon Coast, and with her German shepherd, Yogi, drove to Central Oregon. Circumstances that led to the move were difficult, but ultimately proved constructive. Russo turned her life's experiences into a book, "Becoming Change: A Journal for Mind, Spirit, and Body." "I have learned that compassion for my mistakes has allowed me to forgive and love myself and has helped me love... Full story
Sisters Elementary School recently celebrated National Poetry Month with a "Poetry-Palooza." Throughout the morning all students from grades kindergarten through fourth grade, including the Sisters Park & Recreation District preschool, moved from classroom to classroom and experienced different interactive workshops all around the theme of poetry. Each class was able to participate in seven sessions taught by teachers, community members and parents, including read-aloud poetry, puppets, being mindful, chalk poems and more. Lo... Full story
A solid showing at the 17-team Wally Ciochetti Invitational at Cottage Grove High School Friday, May 6, convinced Head Coach Jeff Larson that his track and field team is ready for the Sky-Em District meet. Districts are set for Thursday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13, also at Cottage Grove. The meet featured 4A teams from throughout Oregon and many of the state-level leaders in every event, making it a preview of sorts for the upcoming district and state meets. The district... Full story
"Fish and Fowl: Native Woods," a show of recent work by Sisters artist and long-time educator Steve Mathews, will open at Sisters Art Works on Monday, May 16. The exhibit will include illustrated tables, benches, mirrors, wall pieces and acrylic paintings. "Most of the work included will have a somewhat whimsical and off-beat direction, hopefully allowing viewers to look closely, study details and perhaps smile a bit," Mathews said. The colors are predominantly warm and the... Full story
The Fryrear Curve on Highway 20, between mile- posts 7 and 8 has been a thorn in the sides of Central Electric Co-op, Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD, the Oregon State Police and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office for many years, due to the wrecks that take place there. For those of us who live close to the curve it's not uncommon to hear and watch emergency vehicles speeding down the highway, sirens blaring, blue and red lights blazing on their way to another wreck on that infamous curve. According to an ODOT spokesperson, over... Full story
They might not have a winning streak, but the Sisters High School's youthful varsity softball team continues to do three things: improve, battle injuries, and gain vast experience. "I keep seeing a lot of improvement, but we can't get away from the injuries" said Coach Dave Smith. "We have so many young players just learning the game that with the injuries they end up being put in positions new to them. But they are learning the game quickly." The Outlaws, 2-14 overall and... Full story
Norman Blair died peacefully at his home near Sisters, in the presence of his family. He was born to Horace and Ethel Overly Blair, the second of three children. He grew up and graduated from high school at Bellfountaine, Ohio. He attended Ohio Northern University during 1943-45. In 1948 Norman moved to Lebanon, Oregon with his first wife, Dorotha, and their daughter Sandra. Three more children, Elizabeth, Carrie and Kent were born in the ensuing years. Norman was employed by... Full story
Bain Low passed away at home Sunday April 10, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marie; daughters Jan, Cathy and Nancy; sons-in-law David Glassman and Jeff Loren; grandchildren Antonio, Scotty, and Aileen; and great-grandson Leo. Bain was born in Bend to Scotty and Peggy, who emigrated from Scotland. His dad worked for Brooks Scanlon Lumber Company, first as a logger, then after losing his leg in a logging accident, as the camp cook. Bain had... Full story
