News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
Sisters is going to have to settle on a direction for the Cascade Avenue project once and for all - and it's going to have to happen soon. The current schedule for the $6 million renovation project calls for shutting down Cascade Avenue January 2, 2014, and reopening the street before Memorial Day, May 21, 2014. The plan calls for restoring the underlying structure of the roadbed, paving in tinted concrete and extensive streetscape renovations. The completed project will include 14-foot travel lanes, 8-foot-wide... Full story
Sisters High School has won the Oregonian Cup. The award was presented at Friday's fall sports assembly. This was the first win for Sisters in the 13-year history of the Oregonian Cup competition. The Oregonian Cup originated in 1999 as a way to recognize overall excellence by schools in academics, activities and athletics. "I am incredibly proud of our students in the way that they do a great job of balancing their academic focus with participation in co-curricular... Full story
While the Pole Creek Fire has been severely disruptive in Sisters Country, it has not devastated the forest. While areas of dead timber burned intensely, much of the forest experienced an "underburn" that was much less destructive. Pole Creek Fire officials met with well over a hundred Sisters-area residents on Sunday to provide an update on the status of the fire. Incident Commander Brian Watts provided some specific information on the fire's behavior and its impact on... Full story
Smoke from the Pole Creek Fire has caused problems in Sisters schools. Julie Benson, CFO/CEO of ENERGYneering Solutions, Inc. wanted to see the problem fixed. Energyneering President Benny Benson put his head together with his engineering team and came up with the most direct solution: Install HEPA filters for the schools HVAC systems. So they ordered them. The first of the HEPA filters were to arrive Tuesday and the second set will arrive about 10 days later, at a total cost of about $10,000. A "Clean Air for Kids" fund has... Full story
To the Editor: The environmental incompetence that infests the Oregon State and National Forest Service is an embarrassment. Our forests are being destroyed by a failure to act. The widespread destruction of our forests by the spruce budworms could have been halted by logging and the use of pesticides. A well-managed logging program could also reduce the underbrush and help reduce the size and ability of wildfires to spread, but oh no, that would mean some evil timber company would be making a profit from our public... Full story
Forget about fire season - it's fresh hops season. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce will host the third annual Sisters Fresh Hop Festival, Saturday, September 29, from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Green in Sisters. The event will include the best "fresh hop" brews in the West from several different Oregon breweries, live music, and more. The Sisters Fresh Hop Festival is the first in a series of Fresh Hop Festivals across the state of Oregon throughout the fall. Admission to the event is free and it is open to all ages.... Full story
In a year of major construction and grounds improvements, Sisters Rodeo Association received high scores from a professional rodeo judge, one of the officials who grades the rodeo for personnel, stock, safety, organization and management. Steve Knowles, on his first assignment to Sisters Rodeo, was effusive in his praise of the rodeo: "The livestock was of the finest quality. Glenn Miller and John Leavitt provided ...highly qualified personnel that were extremely helpful and eager to assist. New chutes were installed for the... Full story
The four candidates running for the three open city council seats in the November election were on hand at the Village Green Friday evening. The attendance was light but the conversation was lively on the first evening in days that felt smoke-free. Each candidate made a brief statement and mingled with the crowd to answer questions and explain their positions on a variety of city government topics: economic development, the Cascade Avenue renovation, airport annexation and... Full story
Evan Rickards and Jake McAllister each scored two points to lead the Outlaws to a big win at Elmira on September 20. The home game was moved to Elmira due to smoky conditions in Sisters, but the change in venue didn't hinder Sisters in the least. The Outlaws racked up seven of their eight points in the first half of the contest. Rickards got Sisters on the scoreboard at the 10-minute mark when he made a volley shot past the keeper. Eli Boettner made an outstanding cross from the left side to record the assist. In the 24th... Full story
Sisters lost 26-8 to Cascade on Friday, September 21, in a tough battle against the Cougars. The game was scheduled to be played in Sisters but, due to the smoky conditions, the contest was moved to Summit High School. The Outlaws scored their one - and only - touchdown of the night with six minutes left in the first quarter. Dexter Muller stepped in front of the Cougar's fullback and intercepted the ball at midfield. Muller took to the open field, outran everyone in sight and... Full story
The Sisters City Council is pursuing a multi-track approach to economic development. At a Thursday workshop, the council agreed that City Manager Eileen Stein will contract with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) to update the city's current Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (EDSAP). The project is estimated to cost about $3,000. (See the online version of this story at www.nugget news.com for a copy of the current 11-page EDSAP.) The current EDSAP was developed in 2009 with substantial community... Full story
The Lady Outlaws volleyball team was crowned champions at the Sisters Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, September 22. The tourney was moved to Redmond High School due to the smoky conditions in Sisters. Sixteen teams were in attendance including Banks, LaSalle, Burns, Cascade, Stayton and Tillamook, all top competitors. Sisters faced three top teams in pool play. The Outlaws started off against Banks and lost 23-25 in a rough first set but bounced back to take... Full story
The last thing you'd think a relentless touring artist like Fred Eaglesmith would need is the one thing those who know him best would most expect - more tour dates. Doggedly plying his craft and supporting his acclaimed album "6 Volts" across North America, Eaglesmith and his hard-rocking band have added a return engagement to The HarmonyHouse as they are wrapping up their tour. Eaglesmith is returning to HarmonyHouse Concerts with his full band on the heels of his 2012 Route... Full story
Ok, sign-shooters - enough is enough! I can not even imagine what goes through your heads when you raise your rifle, handgun, or shotgun and blaze away at the assorted signs in the forest and desert. Grow up, will you! The cost for replacing those signs that you just have to shoot up is no small number. Land managers place them in the locations you find them for a good reason, and not for you screwballs to use as targets. Even safety signs, such as stop signs, and curve... Full story
In the never-ending quest to find trails that are not burned over, enveloped in smoke, or currently in flames, why not try the upper McKenzie River for an excellent forest trail and beautiful waterfalls. This superb hike is only slightly more than half an hour from Sisters and is in a convenient spot that Duck fans routinely fly by on their way to Eugene. Further, at an elevation that is below 3,000 feet, this hike is one that usually remains snow-free well into November and... Full story
• Sisters is grateful for the efforts of more than 1,000 firefighting personnel who have battled the Pole Creek Fire. Students, families of Cloverdale firefighters, BJ's Ice Cream and many citizens organized by Sue Stafford of Sisters baked cookies, provided ice cream and delivered fresh socks to firefighters, who were most appreciative of the support. Stafford noted that Key Club students crafted a huge banner for the fire camp, signed by many students and... Full story
With a heavy blanket of smoke and ash hanging around Sisters Country in recent days, forest fire is a hot topic. Last Thursday afternoon, County Commissioner Alan Unger got an up-close look at what the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) is doing to help keep wildfire from burning up their new Whychus Canyon Preserve, and adjacent properties. Throughout the tour of the preserve the topic of "defensible space" kept surfacing, especially as associated with forest practices. "Over 100... Full story
Makayla Sadler has that "need for speed" - and she has fulfilled it on the Soap Box Derby track. The 11-year-old Sisters girl is the 2011 Salem Stock Local Champion, and next weekend she'll be one of some 35-40 racers running in the Sisters Mountain Rally at Sisters Eagle Airport on Barclay Drive and Camp Polk Road. Soap Box Derby is gravity-powered racing for youth in cars that can hit speeds up to 35 mph. "I like it when the tracks are faster because it's more fun," says... Full story
Bonnie Kay Kessel was born in January 1937 in Beltrami, Minnesota, to Joris and Myrtle Wennevold. She is survived by her husband, Jerry, whom she married in Stevenson, Washington on June 4, 1962. They had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She is also survived by her sister, Bettie Wennevold; her son, Jeffrey; and her daughter, Kelley Wyatt. She had four grandchildren; Cari, Marissa, Amanda and Sara; and four great-grandchildren; Austin, Calan, Mikyla and Lillian. Bonnie loved to fish, hunt, camp and take... Full story
This time of year, many equestrian trail riders would like to be riding in the high country around Sisters. The fall weather is perfect for trail riding - sunny, but not too hot. The trails are snow-free and logged out. The horses are in great shape and raring to go. But with the Pole Creek Fire raging, equestrians can't ride to Park Meadow, Tam McArthur Rim, Black Crater, or Scott Pass. They can't even ride at Peterson Ridge. The horse camps and trailheads at Sisters Cow... Full story
The Seaside Three Course Challenge provides crosscountry runners with a non-traditional competition that tests the depth and strength of teams and individuals. The Challenge introduces a twist of randomness to determine which athletes run an easy course, a moderate course, or a difficult course. The meet took place Saturday, September 22 at Camp Rilea, just north of Seaside. The trip to the coast gave the team a welcome reprieve from the smoky air of Sisters which forced the... Full story
Liz Stewart led the Lady Outlaws to a 2-1 victory over Elmira in the league opener on Thursday, September 20. Stewart scored both goals for Sisters and did an outstanding job as sweeper. Sisters started strong and played with determination in the first half of the game against the Falcons. Stewart scored the Outlaws' first goal at the 23-minute mark. She scored off a direct kick from 25 yards out when she launched the ball into the left side of the net for the goal. "Liz is our defensive captain and has amazing long-range... Full story
Tim and Ronnica Westcott have thought about opening a hair salon in Sisters for a long time. The owners of Salon Renaissance in Redmond have been coming out to the Sisters Folk Festival for years, and each weekend they spent in Sisters reinforced the idea. It all came together recently when a client tipped them to a prime salon spot on Cascade Avenue becoming available, and they took the plunge. Renaissance Salon offers "beauty and barber" services; men are as welcome as women... Full story
Les Schwab Tire Centers was selected as a 2012 Top Workplace by The Oregonian, Oregon's largest daily newspaper. The company ranked eighth-best workplace among large companies in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The Top Workplaces program is based on a comprehensive analysis conducted in partnership by Workplace Dynamics, a human-resources research and consulting firm. More than 936 companies participated in the program based on responses to employee surveys designed to... Full story
