News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
As the last sweet notes of the 2009 Sisters Folk Festival linger in the air over our splendid high desert plateau, the music lovers reflect back on a triumphant weekend of transcendent American music. "It's the most fun you can have in a two-llama town," quipped encore performer, Susan Werner. It was all that and much, much more, bringing people together through the universal power of music. "I am so excited to be back. This festival is a smorgasbord of surprises and... Full story
Sisters votes will decide next March whether they want to impose a three-cent-per-gallon gas tax to fund local street maintenance. The Sisters City Council voted last month to impose such a tax, before a four-year moratorium on local gas taxes goes into effect on September 28. However, Paul Romain of the Oregon Fuel Dealers Association immediately circulated a petition to put the matter on the ballot for voters to decide. What happens next could throw the whole matter into... Full story
As school starts back up in Sisters, parents, staff and school nurses are preparing for what many experts believe could be a strong wave of cases of H1N1 flu virus - the so-called "swine flu." Flu is nothing new to schools, of course. Seasonal flu can run through a school population - or a small town for that matter - quickly, laying students low and forcing many to stay home. H1N1 is getting a lot of attention because the virus is new and pandemic, and second waves of... Full story
It may have been nothing more than "All in a day's work..." for jammer-operator Jacob Kugler, of C&B Construction out of Hillsboro, but to Mike Riehle and Nate Dachtler, USFS fish biologists, last week's days were "big days." Before the week was out, over 900 small-diameter dead trees had been placed in the river, from Riverside Campgrounds all the way to Bridge 99, about nine miles, on both sides of the river. Because the river is unique in terms of fisheries, stream... Full story
Sisters will host its annual celebration of the bonds between women - sisters of the blood and sisters of the heart - in Sisters in Sisters, September 25-27. The last day to register for the event is Friday, September 18. This year's theme is "Sweet, Stress-Free Me" and (of course) that means plenty of chocolate. The event features a menu of activities and workshops, including home decorating, making greeting cards, dance and meditation, building better communication skills and more. "We changed up our workshops," said Susi G... Full story
To the Editor: My sister Cathy was hosting a breakfast conference at Windows on the World, on the top floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. After the plane hit, she was trapped. I like to believe that she was overcome by the smoke, somehow that seems kinder than her having to ride the building down as it fell. She was a single mom, living and working in the shadow of those huge buildings. I grew up in those buildings, used to go to lunch, visit my mom at work (on the 86th floor) and shop in them... Full story
After dedicating more than 30 years of service to library patrons of the Sisters area, Sisters Branch Manager Peg Bermel is retiring. It was in the summer of 1979 that Peg began her duties as Assistant Librarian in the "old," or "first," Sisters Library, with herself as a staff of one and five volunteers, enjoying 30 hours a week at the overwhelming salary of around $3 an hour. "I took down all five books, and dusted the shelves, and did storytelling," Peg jokingly says of... Full story
More girls are playing more sports than ever before. That's a good thing in anybody's book, but it comes with a cost. Girls are suffering a disproportionately high number of knee injuries, particularly ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears. National studies have demonstrated that girls - especially those aged 15 to 20 - have a three- to-seven-times greater risk of suffering an ACL tear than boys in the same age and activity group. According to Sisters physical therapist... Full story
A spunky Texas tornado named BettySoo was the recipient of the 2009 Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest, and its $750 award, against a strong group of finalists at the Sisters Art Works Stage on Saturday. The festival's songwriting contest has been a showcase for emerging and under-recognized singer/songwriters since its inception in 1995. This year's outstanding crop of contestants competing for first prize were: Ashleigh Flynn of Portland, Oregon; Cary Cooper of... Full story
The girls soccer team started off the season with a big 8-1 victory over Cascade in a non-league match-up on Thursday, September 10. The Lady Outlaws came out and played aggressive soccer from start to finish. Sisters scored just three minutes into the game on an unassisted goal from Zoe McAllister. McAllister let it rip and pounded the ball into the back of the net with a direct shot on goal. Four minutes later Karah Herr scored inside the 18-yard box on an assist from Marin... Full story
Galloping onto the Sisters Folk Festival stage like a herd of happy horses, comes the rollicking Pancake Breakfast, a nine-member ensemble party band recalling the early days of Oingo Boingo and The Tubes. Effervescent and impossible to deny, they blasted though a fast and furious set, testing the load bearing limits of the wooden backyard platform at Angeline's Bakery. With their cheap, cardboard stage decorations and fun props, Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans and impromptu... Full story
A new bird has appeared in Sisters that could end up being another alien pest, like the European starlings, house (English) sparrows and wild turkeys. Levi Rowe, of Sisters, reported that he and his uncle, Kalin Emrich, discovered what they believe are Eurasian collared doves behind Depot Café. "At first we didn't take much notice to them thinking they were (just) mourning doves," Rowe said. "However one morning one of them flew close enough so that we could make out a... Full story
The Outlaws lost 27-7 at Burns on Friday, September 11. Sisters opened the game with a strong drive which was capped by a Chase Klient touchdown from the seven-yard line. Solid blocking was provided by Hayden Hudson, Max Stovall and Randon Beech. Alex Novotny's kick for the extra point was good, and the Outlaws took a 7-0 lead. The lead was short-lived as Burns returned the kick for a touchdown and closed the gap 7-6. Coach Bob Macauley said that the Outlaws offense stalled from that point on. Burns returned a punt for a... Full story
Last Thursday evening, about 30 singers, many past members of the High Desert Choral, COCC Sisters Community Choir and other choral and singing groups, gathered in the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters and joined together harmoniously in forming a new singing group: The Sisters Chorale. It will be under the direction of Irene Liden of Sisters, with pianist Rebecca Smith as accompanist. Liden has been conducting the High Desert Choral for several years,... Full story
Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts (SCAFA) is starting the new school year with a new curriculum and focus in the K-2 classroom. The two teachers, Michael Connolly, 27, and Nicole Brewer, 25, are set to team-teach using a method coined "whole-child philosophy." This is an integrated approach to education that emphasizes the importance of early learning through first-hand experience and collaboration between the children. The teacher facilitates that collaboration, allowing... Full story
The Outlaws cross country teams broke into the competitive season with a small group of runners. They still made a big impression with a 1-2 finish by Parker Bennett and Taylor Steele at the Marist Invitational at Pre's Trail in Eugene Saturday, September 12. After the team's first meet of the season was cancelled, coach Charlie Kanzig felt that some of the more experienced runners on the team needed a race to be able to gauge their readiness for the season. Marist graciously... Full story
On September 11 a Eugene, Oregon woman was visiting Sisters to participate in the 2009 Sisters Folk Festival. During the late evening, her vehicle was burglarized while parked downtown and her custom-made guitar was stolen. This particular guitar has very unique markings and designs since the woman personally made the guitar while she was a student at Sisters High School. The stolen guitar is described as having myrtlewood sides and back. The top is spruce wood and has... Full story
When you have the talent to get things done, enjoy "going the extra mile," and care about your community, you do what has to be done. That sums up Linda Davis. Or you could put it another way: she loves doing what she does. That spirit of responsibility, hard work and energy is now focused on her calling as the newest Board Member of the Friends of the Sisters Library (FOSL). Davis was born in Hood River, raised mostly in Oregon and graduated from Portland State University wit... Full story
In their season opener, Sisters took down the White Buffaloes of Madras in three straight sets, 25-23, 25-12 and 25-20. The Outlaws jumped out ready to play but really found their momentum in game two. Kill leader for the night was Hannah Harrer with 16 kills, followed by Haylee Schaab who finished with 12. Sophomore Chelsie Reifschneider logged four kills for the night and Courtney Satko added two. Megan Minke led the team with three blocks in the match. Harrer said, "I was just on tonight. The whole team was. Our passing wa... Full story
The Sisters Ranger District is getting set to touch off a round of prescribed burning projects under a smoky pall from last year's Wizard Fire. That blaze started from a one-hour prescribed burn on September 24 in the Metolius Research Natural Area. The next day, the fire escaped control lines and climbed up Green Ridge, ultimately burning 1,847 acres and costing about $4 million to suppress. "The Forest Service is very disappointed in what happened last fall," said Sisters... Full story
The Sisters School District would like to acknowledge our wonderful Sisters medical community, school staff and community volunteers for offering the sports physicals for our student athletes in August. Thanks for taking the time to give back to our students and parents. These physicals were offered at no cost, were very convenient and were handled in such a respectful and professional manner. And special thanks to Pinky Pagano for making this event happen. Doctors: Dr. May Fan, BMC; Dr. Joe Bachtold, BMC; Dr. Kevin Miller,... Full story
Scott "Scotty" Stigum, 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Sisters on September 8. Scotty was an only child, born in Canada to parents Tom and Bianca (Johnsen) Stigum, while migrating from Norway to America. Scotty leaves behind his wife of 38 years, Alice Stigum; son Tom; daughter Janet Stigum; six step-sons: George, Gregg, Scott, Dick, Joe and Jim Opsahl; granddaughter Hattie Stigum; 10 step-grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He served his country proudly during... Full story
Jim was born in Albany California, April 6, 1942 and passed away peacefully at Santa Clara Kaiser Hospital August 21, 2009. He endured a number of years with congestive heart failure. This didn't stop his love for boating, motorcycling, socializing, traveling and living life to the fullest. We will miss his gift of gab as he always knew something about everything. Jim graduated from San Jose State with a bachelor's degree. He pursued a career in telecommunication sales and contracting. He owned a resort business known as... Full story
It was a long, wet and slippery Labor Day weekend in Portland for race car drivers from Sisters. Jeff Taylor, Curt Kallberg and Eric Dolson were there for the Columbia River Classic. The number of entrants was down, probably because other racers had seen the weather report. It rained on Saturday, washing out qualifying for the Sisters drivers. It rained on Sunday morning. "It was a frustrating and fabulous weekend," said Jeff Taylor of Sisters, driving the Rex Easley Studebaker. Jeff and Jerry Taylor had rebuilt the... Full story
