News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
Judging from the number of letters to the editor and guest columns in The Nugget over the past many months, the subject of a paved trail between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch (BBR) is one of the most hotly debated issues here in Sisters Country over the past three years. Now the matter is before the Sisters City Council, which is weighing some kind of letter of support for reopening the matter with the Forest Service. The process surrounding the first proposal submitted to the... Full story
Deschutes County Health Services is closely monitoring air quality as conditions may worsen due to smoke from numerous wildfires across Oregon. Smoke levels can rise and fall depending on weather factors such as wind direction. "We encourage people to monitor air quality conditions when planning activities," said Tom Kuhn, Community Health Manager at Deschutes County Health Services. "Older adults, young children, and people with asthma, respiratory, or heart conditions are very susceptible to the impacts of wildfire... Full story
Kristie Miller, district ranger for the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest, provided the Sisters City Council and members of the public some context regarding the possibility of a paved trail somewhere between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch (BBR). According to Miller, in the late 1990s the Forest Service provided grants to small communities to enable them to develop plans for projects to enhance the growth and health of the communities. The grant in... Full story
District Attorney John Hummel last week ordered that Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) must release records regarding the Outlaws Lacrosse program as requested by Mike Morgan of Sisters. The records have to do with allegations made by parents regarding the conduct last season of then-coach Andrew Gorayeb. The DA required that SPRD must release the records by August 21 or determine to fight the order in court. The release is really a moot point, since the letters from the parents detailing the allegations have been... Full story
All summer long a crew of Sisters youths has been fanning out across Sisters Country to rehab damaged forestlands, shore up heavily used trails and remove noxious weeds, graffiti, and illegal structures on the land. Last week, the Heart of Oregon Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (COYCC) crew comprised of Chelsea Bradley, Madison King, Megan Calarco, Gary Jacques and Anicka Hicks were in the forest south of town planting willows and cottonwoods along restored channels... Full story
Sisters is a model of community engagement between the arts community, public agencies, nonprofits and schools. That made it a perfect site for an Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) rendezvous that carried the theme of "community engagement." The rendezvous is a twice-a-year event conducted at one of the 18 sites that are implementing an innovative five-year OCF-funded project called Studio to Schools. Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) was awarded a Studio to Schools grant and is... Full story
The first day of school for 2015-16 is coming up so fast it might take parents by surprise. Things kick off when it still feels like summer vacation - on August 31. Sisters schools are now open for new-student registration Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first day of school for first- through ninth-graders is Monday, August 31. The rest of the high schoolers start on Tuesday, September 1. First day for kindergarten students will be Tuesday, September 8. Sisters Elementary School will host a "stop and drop,"... Full story
For about three years now, folks in Sisters Country have been riled up in a controversy over a proposed paved trail from Sisters to Black Butte Ranch. It's time to take a step back and put the issue on the back burner for a while. Proponents have rallied support for the project and outlined all the community benefits they believe will flow from adding such an amenity. Opponents have made their objections known in detail and offered up proposed alternatives. There is little new to say on the subject. And, in any case, nothing... Full story
Sisters Folk Festival will host its second free summer concert at Fir Street Park on Saturday, August 22, featuring Santa Cruz, California artist Keith Greeninger. These shows, supported by The Roundhouse Foundation, provide an opportunity for the Folk Festival to give back to the Sisters community that supports their programs so well. This show comes after a well-received concert with Matt the Electrician, who performed to more than 200 appreciative fans August 6. "Fir Street Park is a gathering place to celebrate our... Full story
Last Wednesday at 2:20 p.m., Mother Nature let loose with a small hissy fit at the Willows Ranch on Indian Ford Road. Ranch manager Allan Godsiff was working near the ranch buildings and the afternoon wind was blowing as it often does. Godsiff became aware of an unusual noise and looked toward the outdoor arena near the boundary with the forest. A whirlwind was kicking up dust at the south end of arena near a small shed. "I couldn't see the shed," he said. "Then there was a... Full story
When the original Polynesian explorers set out in small wooden canoes they had no idea of the varied cultures that would spring out of their efforts. They had no idea that thousands of years later, hundreds of people would gather at Sisters' Village Green to celebrate a traditional Hawaiian feast. Last Thursday evening the aroma of Hawaiian flowers and cuisine filled the air as over 400 guests enjoyed an authentic meal with entertainment featuring traditional Polynesian dance... Full story
This summer's hottest trend, in arts and crafts at least, is coloring books. These are not your children's coloring books. These are highly detailed, intricate, delicate, often whimsical designs that need to be studied and planned out before colors are applied. There could be faces or creatures hidden within the design, color schemes that disappear and reappear in other places. This is the joy of coloring. The creativity comes from the color selection and the theme throughout the piece. It's not paint-by-numbers; the artist... Full story
Wagging tails and excited barks filled the Village Green in Sisters as dogs and dog-lovers gathered to celebrate the fourth annual Doggie Dash/Stroll & Festival presented by Friends of the Sisters Library (FOSL) and Furry Friends Foundation. The new venue offered up lush surroundings where canines and their humans could mingle among friends, family and visitors ready to enjoy a day for the dogs. The dog days of summer cooled down Saturday morning just in time for folks and... Full story
In spite of the rich rewards offered by the short hike to Echo Basin, the trail is in horrible condition due to very poor maintenance. It is so bad that, if it gets much worse, only the most agile hikers should even attempt it. Severe erosion has created areas of rocky trenches that once sported a very nice trail. Numerous "leg traps" dot the trail's entire length. Some of these traps consist of hidden holes that cannot be seen because the trail is so badly overgrown by the... Full story
My two older sons are F-16 pilots, they get paid to fly fast and are prepared to go into lethal battle to protect us from anyone who is a threat to our welfare and safety. They have to train religiously to keep current of what the rest of the world is up to and insure they are faster and better then their potential adversary. Old Mother Nature does the same thing, and through the processes of natural selection, insures that only the best survive. Take beewolves, also known as... Full story
Any pet parent can tell you: pets are amazing. They're loyal, comfort us in tough times, and even lower a person's blood pressure. Some animals seem to perform what seem like miracles, attracting attention for rescuing their pet parents from dangerous situations or predicting health problems before they occur, such as alerting humans to changes in their blood pressure. And anyone who has ever spent time with a dog knows that dogs love sniffing! They sniff out hidden food, dirty socks, and the visitor who comes to the door.... Full story
Cheryl Peterson has worked in public-school education and has been extremely active in Christian ministry from the U.S. to East Africa. Now she is bringing those two worlds together as the new interim principal at Sisters Christian Academy (SCA). She brings a high-energy, effusive nature to the job - along with a full list of education credentials. "I have a teaching certificate and I'm a reading specialist, and I also have my administrative certificate," she said. Cheryl and... Full story
The Outlaws football squad is hard at work in preparation for the season ahead. Sisters returns multiple starters on both offense and defense, several of whom were all-league picks last year. Eight starters are back on offense, including all-league senior running-backs Logan Schutte and Mitch Gibney. Both players are dangerous, each in their own way, with Gibney as an extremely physical and hard-nosed runner, and Schutte, a smooth runner, who has touchdown potential when he touches the ball. Chance Halley, also a senior,... Full story
Wayne S. Mutchler, of Camp Sherman and Portland, Oregon, was born July 13, 1950 to George and Helen Mutchler in Englewood, New Jersey. Wayne married Marisa Oliver April 9, 1981, in Portland. They have three daughters. Wayne was the owner of Mutchler Construction for almost 40 years. Wayne is survived by his wife, Marisa Mutchler of Portland; daughters, Kara (Nick) Danner of Portland, Alexis Mutchler, and Justine Mutchler of Portland; grandson Cooper Danner; and brothers, Glenn... Full story
Jazz Folks - four musicians with diverse backgrounds and experience - will take the stage at The Open Door on Sunday, August 23, at 6 p.m. to offer up some first-class jazz for Sisters' music-loving fans. Jeanne Wentworth, Aaron Rohrbacher, Tyler Cranor and David Wentworth make up Jazz Folks. Wentworth has enjoyed a stellar classical vocal performing career, including operatic roles, oratorio, jazz and Broadway performances throughout the U.S. Rohrbacher is an experienced and versatile clarinettist and saxophonist. He is... Full story
