News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
Drying conditions prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry's Central Oregon District to declare the start of wildfire season effective Monday morning, June 9, nearly a week earlier than last year and three weeks earlier than what is traditionally considered normal. And, as if on cue, a major wildfire erupted 10 miles southeast of Sisters on Saturday. The Two Bulls Fire has grown to 6,800 acres and forced evacuations on the west side of Bend. Smoke is visible from Sisters and... Full story
Every graduating class at Sisters High School has its personality and its strengths, but the Class of 2014 has been universally regarded as an exceptional one. During graduation ceremonies on Friday night, Principal Joe Hosang told the audience that staff knew when the class came in as freshmen that they were a remarkable group. That has proved out, as the class has produced elite scholar-athletes, artists and musicians, most of whom are furthering their education. "Ninety... Full story
Get ready for a chance to see more records fall as Sisters Rodeo brings Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Champions and top-ranked professional cowboys to town, beginning tonight with Xtreme Bulls on June 11. The Central Oregon Bulldog Shootout begins today at noon, free to the public. Contestants, including World Professional Rodeo Association cowgirls, will compete for $10,000 in prize money in each event over the next five days. Sisters has the... Full story
Ryan Hudson of Sisters shattered more records in last weekend's University of Oregon Weightlifting Classic - known to lifters simply as the state meet. Competing in the 77-kilogram (169-pound) weight class, Hudson snatched 113 kg. (249.1 lbs.) to break the 112 kg. record, then went on to snatch 116 kg. (255.7 lbs.) to shatter his own brand-new record. A snatch means lifting the weight straight overhead. "That was the first time I've attempted 116, so that was an all-time... Full story
Last Friday, a caravan of veterans on motorcycles accompanied busloads of World War II veterans in a parade through Sisters on their way to the dedication of a World War II Memorial in Salem. The event marked the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the largest military invasion ever attempted. That bloody day was the turning point in World War II. It led directly to the liberation of Europe from the domination of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, and it changed the course of world history. A Bulletin newspaper headline proclaimed that the... Full story
To the Editor: I was recently in Rocklin, California, a small town that just put two roundabouts in their main thoroughfare. It seemed every time I went through them, there was a semi ahead of me, slowing to almost nothing, blocking both lanes at two intersects, and going over curbs. I realize at some point, some sort of survey or study was done, but times and circumstances change quickly; maybe we should reconsider now, before we get stuck with something that will just make our traffic problems worse. The light we had... Full story
Out of the debate over an amphitheater in Sisters came many alternative ideas for "community assets" that would benefit Sisters and boost economic activity. The city has convened a group of local citizens to flesh out the ideas that got the most "votes" during a town hall brainstorming session last March. The initial charter of this committee was to review in some depth each of the four projects that garnered the greatest interest. As an ad hoc committee, their initial deadline was to develop reports and recommendations on... Full story
The accomplishment that brings the biggest smile to Duncan Campbell's face these days is providing the most challenged children a nurturing relationship with an adult role model who spends quality one-on-one time to help them thrive. Circle of Friends, founded by Sisters resident Duncan Campbell, is a volunteer mentor program in Sisters. It is modeled after Portland's Friends of the Children, founded in 1993 by Campbell. Campbell remembers his own childhood and how he had a... Full story
Miss Jenni, beloved mascot of Habitat for Humanity ReStore for the past seven years, passed away quietly in the arms of store manager Robin Tawney at Sisters Veterinary Clinic with long-time Habitat volunteer Russell Williams at her side. She was about 17 years old. Miss Jenni was adopted at a Bend Spray & Neuter clinic that was held at the old ReStore location. She happened to be in a cage sitting next to Tawney's desk and kept whispering, "Pick me! Pick me!" And Robin did.... Full story
The boys lacrosse team lost 12-9 to a powerful Wilson squad on Saturday, June 7, in the championship game of the Cascade Cup, held at the Lake Oswego Stadium. A huge crowd was in attendance, and the Outlaws fans showed up in force. Wilson jumped out with three quick goals in the first quarter before Scott Nelson put one in and got the Outlaws on the scoreboard. The Trojans put in the next two goals to go up 5-1 before Nelson and Mark Fish scored to pull the Outlaws to within... Full story
Henley senior Jon Guzman was a force to be reckoned with in the Outlaws' 4A state championship game on Saturday, June 7, held at the Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer. Guzman threw a no-hitter and recorded 12 strike-outs in blanking the Outaws 10-0. He also hit a solo home-run in the fourth inning. Coach Steve Hodges said, "Guzman is left-handed, and he pitched a great game. He had good movement and he changed up his speeds. He hit his spots, kept the ball down, and got more confide... Full story
Carol Statton loves mustangs. While that's not an unusual trait, Carol takes that love of wild horses a step further by documenting them with photographs capturing the individual essence of each animal. She's traveled to the Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco National Forest several times since last October to photograph the resident herd there. A selection of those photos are on display at Hop N Bean, and as patrons wait for their pizzas and growler fills, they can peruse the... Full story
Following the citizen/board budget committee's recommendation, on Wednesday the Sisters school board adopted a $15,660,170 budget resolution for the 2014-2015 school year. This figure represents a $500,000 reduction over last year's budget, and partially addresses the $800,000 shortfall predicted in March of this year. Board chair Don Hedrick stated that the balance of any shortfall will have to come from reduction of days or personnel. Annual labor contract negotiations are currently in progress with both the certified and... Full story
Young Sisters athletes will learn from some of the best in the Outlaws Football Camp set for July 22-25 at Reed Stadium in Sisters. Registration is underway for the camp, which will accommodate youngsters in flag football (1st- through 5th-graders) and tackle football athletes in 6th-8th grade (must be registered for Sisters Middle School football to participate). Camp organizer Randy Gardner, who has served as an Outlaws assistant coach for several years, is looking for the... Full story
Last week Otis, a male rottweiler, was attacked by a mule deer doe inside Sisters city limits. Sisters resident Tracy Foteff had him harnessed on a leash and was walking him down an access trail to Whychus Creek in the Timber Creek subdivision near Sisters Elementary School. "We were walking to the creek when all of a sudden a doe stood up behind a bush that we were walking by," she said. "I didn't think anything since Otis is a large dog; we kept on going, but suddenly she... Full story
On April 30, 1884, four robbers hit the bank in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. The robbery quickly went bad: Bank president Wylie Payne and chief cashier George Geppert were gunned down. In a dying effort, Geppert sealed the vault and the robbers were forced to retreat with nothing to show for the violence. Len Gratteri, proprietor of Old West Collectibles in Sisters, is an expert on the events surrounding the Medicine Lodge bank robbery, particularly the life of one of the robbers,... Full story
The Sisters community turned out in force to salute some 50 Central Oregon World War II veterans as they caravanned through town on their way to Salem. They were headed to the dedication of the Oregon World War II Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol on the afternoon of Friday, June 6 - the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. Sisters veterans groups unfurled their flags and lined Cascade Avenue in downtown Sisters, while students from all three... Full story
Some 300 cyclists took advantage of a glorious cusp-of-summer morning to climb up and over the McKenzie Pass in the annual Ride For Two Rivers event. Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, title sponsor Moda Health and the Eberwein family staged the ride so that cyclists could use their pedal-power for good: A portion of the proceeds from the ride benefit the Metolius River in Camp Sherman and Whychus Creek in Sisters, through the National Forest Foundation. The 300 entries marked... Full story
Saturday, June 7, dawned a perfect early summer day in Sisters Country. The Two Bulls fire wasn't yet on anyone's radar as 50-plus trailers pulled into Sisters Cow Camp. Horses were unloaded and readied for riding, and their riders headed over to register for the Saddle Up for St. Jude's Benefit Trail Ride. Organizers were delighted that 80 riders decided to do the 10-mile-plus loop, and it all went off without a hitch. The campground was calm, a slight fragrance of woodsmoke... Full story
Members of the Rotary Club of Sisters had the pleasure of hosting a group of visitors from Denmark as part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) program. Their tour also included visits to Rotary clubs in Eugene, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Coos Bay, Brookings, and Bend. The GSE program in Rotary District 5110 is financed by district grants, and is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women in their initial years of... Full story
Lucas Denzer recently released his first CD of original music. Now he's turning his music toward helping a friend in need. Denzer graduated from Sisters High School (SHS) in 2005 and is a close friend of Jayson Berray, whose wife, Lauren Shultz Berray, died after a tragic skateboarding accident at Black Butte Ranch over Memorial Day weekend. "All the CD sales for this month of June will be donated to their medical expenses," Denzer said. Denzer is a composer, working mainly... Full story
Lauren Ashley Shultz-Berray went to be with Jesus on Thursday, May 29, at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend while surrounded by loved ones. She was 27 years old. Lauren was born in Alotau, Papua, New Guinea on February 28, 1987, to Richard and Colleen Shultz who were serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Due to some health concerns with her mother during pregnancy, Lauren's healthy birth was considered miraculous, and the rest of her life proved to be equally miraculous... Full story
Longtime Sisters resident Mary B. Smith died Wednesday, June 4 at the age of 97. Born in Portland on November 15, 1916 to John H. and Martha Chapin Beckwith, she attended schools in Portland and Annie Wright Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. After graduating from Mills College, she returned to Tacoma to teach at Annie Wright Seminary. It is there that she met and married Wilton Gordon Smith, a most wonderful man, and they had three children: Marna, Stuart and Gordon Smith.... Full story
Pete Deal, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away quietly on Friday, May 30, surrounded by his loving family. We are beyond saddened by his swift departure, but we trust that he is resting peacefully among the stars he loved so much. Pete is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Judy; his son Scot (Eloise); his daughter Nancy Allen (David); daughter Susan Atencio (Tom); and his six grandchildren: Chris, Melissa Dane, Paige, Hallie and Kor. Pete was born in... Full story
Atmosphere and setting was an important consideration in the design of the new St. Charles Cancer Center in Bend, slated to open later this month. Modern treatment centers eschew the institutional feeling for a more welcoming and tranquil setting for patients who are going through the most fraught and traumatic experience of their lives. Those patients and their families will be welcomed to the cancer center by a beautiful depiction of their own home country in a 26-foot-wide... Full story
