News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 22 of 22
The crisis that began in Sisters on August 12 when the Milli Fire began has abated. Evacuation orders have been lifted, smoke is clearing and some areas of the forest closed due to the fire are again accessible. But the fire has left its mark. At 24,025 acres with 60 percent containment, the fire continues to burn on the southwestern edge of the fire perimeter as it moves slowly south in the Pole Creek burn and west into rock. The fire intermittently puts up columns of smoke... Full story
The McKenzie Highway is a scenic byway and a favorite ride for bicyclists and motorcycle riders from across the region. This summer, it's also served as an anchor point for containment lines around the northern and western edges of the 24,079-acre Milli Fire. The encroachment of fire has left burned snags along the roadway on Highway 242, and tree branches and other debris are scattered along the route. According to Oregon Department of Transportation spokesmen, the route will remain closed until damage and hazards are... Full story
As a pall of dense smoke settled across Sisters on Wednesday, September 6, an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the Sisters Folk Festival's board of directors convened to make a decision each of those involved described as painful and gut-wrenching: For the first time in the two-decade history of the event, they were forced to cancel. The cancellation was a blow to artists, music-loving patrons and the businesses in Sisters that host venues and cater to the festivalgoers. Board chairman Kerry Bott told The... Full story
Sgt. Dane Moorehead, 2008 graduate of Sisters High School, was named the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year in the 2017 Oregon Best Warrior Competition held August 24-26, at Camp Rilea near Warrenton, Oregon. Moorehead was one of 15 Oregon National Guard soldiers who competed for the elite titles of Soldier and NCO of the Year in a grueling competition that tested their mental and physical resolve. Moorehead has been with B Troop, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment,... Full story
Sisters has had a tough year. A hard winter has been followed by a brutal fire season that cut summer short and choked up the local economy. Smoky conditions ripped the heart right out of the busy summer season, which is when most of our local businesses put together the bankroll that gets them through the winter. The eclipse didn't pan out to be an economic boon; Labor Day was smoky and slow and the Sisters Folk Festival was cancelled due to air-quality concerns. Those are tough blows to take for local shops and... Full story
To the Editor: A recent visit during "Solar Eclipse" week to Camp Polk Cemetery found the flagpole and American flag posted by local Sisters VFW and American Legion Posts, to honor veterans buried there, on the ground. The pole had been bent at the base and the flag ruffled in the dirt. On Wednesday, first day of school, the flag and pole at Sisters Christian Academy was lifted from the mount, and tossed into the parking lot, smashing the solar light system. The flag was stolen. Both flagpoles honoring veterans have been... Full story
The Roundhouse Foundation has provided to Sisters GRO a $6,000 matching grant to support the ASPIRE program at Sisters High School. The ASPIRE resource is a 1:1 program designed to help students (and parents) navigate the post-high-school path and education decisions. Students are matched with volunteer mentors from the community starting in the junior year. The matching grant opportunity will go a long way to help support the ASPIRE program. Contact Karen Hensley, [email protected], if you can provide any contribution... Full story
A Lakota elder and his protective friend suck a white author into the heart of Lakota Country, encouraging him to see their reality without falling prey to white men's guilt-ridden clichés, so it can be distilled into a book that the old man can leave future generations. That is the premise of "Neither Wolf Nor Dog," one of the most talked-about independent films of the year. It will premier at Sisters Movie House on Friday, September 15. The elder, Dan, is played by Davi... Full story
The East Pointers returned to play the Sisters Folk Festival this year as the encore performer, after their lively performances at the 2016 festival. Jake Charron, Koady Chaisson, Tim Chaisson and their sound engineer Donny Richard returned to Sisters for the Americana Song Academy at Caldera and the weekend folk festival. "The festival is an instant highlight of the summer, we have so much fun playing it as well as teaching at camp, it's something very special to us," said... Full story
The Lady Outlaws dominated play at the annual Cascade Tournament held on Saturday, September 9. Coach Rory Rush notes that this is the fourth year in a row that Sisters has taken the top spot. Sisters easily earned the No. 1 seed with their victories over Astoria, Yamhill-Carlton, and Kennedy in pool play. Hawley Harrer tallied 27 kills, Jessie Brigham recorded 36 digs, and the team as a whole posted 19 serving aces. The Outlaws opened bracket play against league foe Sweet... Full story
Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) will be offering new classes this fall, and bring back old favorites. Photography for Everyone is a new workshop for all skill levels, taught by Jeff Omodt, a lifelong photographic fanatic. Omodt will bring examples to illustrate various concepts and then encourage everyone to share their own special skills and techniques. This five-week class will explore the building blocks and concepts of making better pictures using your own camera, whether it's an iPhone or DSLR. Each class... Full story
Scott Moon, 50, of Sisters, passed away on Wednesday, September 6, at Partners in Care in Bend, surrounded by his family. He was born on June 27, 1967, in Portland, Oregon and resided in Cannon Beach until 1980 when he moved to Sisters with his parents Robert and Lori and sister, Connie Moon. Scott graduated from Redmond High School in 1985 and that summer became a "sleeper" at Black Butte Fire Department for two years until his family moved to their home in Crossroads. Then,... Full story
The Outlaws battled hard in a rough, physical game on the road against Cascade on Friday, September 8, and suffered a heartbreaking 17-14 loss in overtime. Both teams exhibited exceptional defense the first two quarters of the contest, and at the half there was no score. In the third, Cascade scored on a one-yard run, the extra point was good and the Cougars went up 7-0. Sisters tied it up at the end of the quarter when Jake Stevens streaked up the middle and ran 61 yards for... Full story
Newport Avenue Market on Monday took ownership of Melvin's Fir Street Market, a natural, organic grocery store and deli in Sisters. Founded by Melvin Herburger in 2011, Melvin's will continue to offer customers the same hometown service and selection of natural and organic products that they've to come to rely on, but infused with the fun and friendly attitude for which Newport Avenue Market is known. As part of Rudy's Markets, Inc., which includes Newport Avenue Market and now Melvin's by Newport Avenue Market, the Sisters g... Full story
Gil Staender, a long-time resident of Camp Sherman and the Sisters area, loved the great outdoors. He was a guide on Mt. Hood and summited more than 50 times. He was active in the Mazamas, The Nature Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, Greenpeace, Utah Wilderness Coalition, and other conservation societies. He and his wife, Vivian Staender, spent a year in the Arctic, in the wilds of the Brooks Range of Alaska in 1965. They authored several books about the experience.... Full story
If you've ever had a cat you probably already know how much joy they bring to your life. Yet, cats sometimes don't get the credit they deserve. They are often seen as solitary, aloof creatures. And this can be far from the truth. Cats can thrive in a family with children and can even learn to play games that you'd think are associated with dogs, such as fetch. Many cats love to be petted, held, and cuddled. Give them a bit of attention and you'll get love in return. Cats love... Full story
Private pilot John Dunlap of Sisters loves to fly and has owned his own small aircraft, a Cessna 180 Skywagon, for six years. He volunteers time maintaining backcountry airstrips in Oregon as a member of the Oregon Pilots Association. The airstrips support rural communities. And now Dunlap is donating time and resources to help unwanted animals in distant places find their forever homes. Dunlap left Sisters Eagle Airport on August 24 for his very first flight as a volunteer fo... Full story
As the school year gets underway in Sisters, parents are eager to help their students have the best possible experience. How that plays out through the year greatly depends on what takes place in the opening weeks of the school year. One of the most important aspects of learning is for students to feel empowered and important. I'd like to suggest some strategies for parents that will help develop these perceptions. First, I feel it's important to have a strength-based approach to learning. When students only hear about what... Full story
In our search for a hike with smoke-free breathable air, we thought we'd give it a try on the west side of the mountains. The results were marginal at best, but we still had a nice hike. We started at Fish Lake, which has long since completed its annual vanishing act. When I was last here in May, it involved a two-hour kayak trip on a beautiful lake teeming with waterfowl. Last week, however, that same space formerly occupied by the lake had become a grassy meadow, with... Full story
The only home meet of the season was among the cancellations due to smoke in Sisters last week, but the Outlaws made arrangements for some of the team to travel to Monmouth for the Ash Creek Invitational on Saturday, getting the competitive season underway. The last-minute addition to the schedule didn't allow some of the team members to attend the meet, leaving Anna Bartlett as the lone girl to compete. She started strong, but slowed in the second half to finish 81st in 22:47 among 190 finishers. "It was good for Anna to get... Full story
It sure seems like things are falling apart. Hurricanes, fires and crushing snow have left so many feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Our brothers and sisters in arms have been fighting wars that never seem to end. Our first-responders have been stretched to breaking trying to deal with it all. Firefighters are getting pulled from disaster to disaster as the emergencies shift like the wind. "Act of God," has often been used to describe the mayhem. I'm sorry, but I just don't accept that. I know there are religious leaders who... Full story
The cancellation of the annual Sisters Folk Festival dealt yet another economic blow to the community. But with the effort displayed by locals and the generosity of visiting musicians, there was hope. Members of the Sisters Folk Festival board announced in a statement last Wednesday that the smoke was hazardous leading up to the weekend. Air quality conditions - both outside and inside - were predicted to remain at an unhealthy level throughout the weekend as well, forcing... Full story
