News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 38
Sisters secondary schools do not teach “creationism” or “intelligent design” in their science classes. “Absolutely not,” said Sisters Middle School Principal Lora Nordquist last week. High School Principal Bob Macauley said that last year he “went in and talked to our science department to make sure of what we’re teaching and that we are in compliance (with state standards). And we are.” He said the subject “really isn’t an issue with us” and he has received no pressure to open the science curriculum to creationism or its v... Full story
Local fire crews controlled two small wildfires near Sisters last week. Both were human-caused and each burned one-half acre or less. The larger fire burned one-half acre west of Cold Springs Campground along Highway 242. The fire was located north of the highway about 100 yards. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry and Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District personnel took action on the fire about 2 p.m. Wednesday. Five engines, a 3,000-gallon water tender and a five-person hand crew were dispatched to the fire. The... Full story
With money in the bank from two key agencies, the Three Sisters Irrigation District last week switched on the green light for a major piping project that will return water to Squaw Creek. The McKenzie Canyon Piping Project was approved for funding last week by the Deschutes River Conservancy (DRC, $150,000) and the federal Bureau of Reclamation ($300,000). The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board already committed a contribution of $164,000 and the irrigation district itself... Full story
They rumble through the forest in four-wheel-drive trucks and jeeps or on ATVs. They plunge down the banks of Squaw Creek, spinning fat tires and riding as far as they can go up the stream channel. They’re called creek riders and their activities are both illegal and destructive. The Sisters Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service is trying to shut “creeking” down. For the past few weeks, Forest Service field crews have been strategically placing boulders at access point... Full story
To the Editor: I don’t believe that I need to “justify” why I drive my child to school, but I would be glad to explain the reason to Mr. Lester (Letter to the Editor, The Nugget, September 21). My five-year-old full-day kindergartner could catch the bus at 6:50 a.m. and ride around for over an hour, getting to school around 8 a.m. In the afternoon, he could catch the bus at the grade school at 2:40 p.m., ride to the middle and high schools then arrive home at about 3:30 p.m.. Currently, we leave our house 15 minutes befor... Full story
It was a middle school student’s dream: a sunny day out of school, a picnic in the woods — and you were told to play in the water. However, while having fun outdoors, sixth grade students from Sisters Middle School were also learning about the environment and how to record data about forests and water. Some 28 students of Carol Packard’s science class spent a day last week visiting the Metolius Preserve west of Camp Sherman. For five hours they looked, smelled, listened and e... Full story
Sisters schools have experienced a high rate of turnover this year. According to Human Resources Director Tim Comfort, 32 of the district’s 152 employees this year are new. That’s 22 percent of the 142 on the payroll last year, compared with a normal annual turnover of 10 to 15 percent. Nearly the same rate was evident within the teaching staff. Among the 69 teachers this year, 14 are new to the district. Only three of the 14 hold positions that were added this year; the rest are either temporary or permanent rep... Full story
The City of Sisters may weigh in on efforts by the Deschutes Basin Land Trust (DBLT) to secure some 33,000 acres of the Skyline Forest between Sisters and Bend. The land will go on the market soon and many locals are concerned that the scenic — and heavily used — forest might end up developed. DBLT Executive Director Brad Chalfant spoke to the Sisters City Council last Thursday, describing the land trust’s effort to purchase the land and keep it operating as a productive fores... Full story
Sisters artist Nancy Watterson-Scharf feels a particular connection to the beleaguered city of New Orleans. In fact, she teared up several times while describing the vibrant culture that inspired her recent series of New Orleans-themed prints. The paintings were on display at Paulina Springs Books on Friday night, September 23, as part of the three-day arts celebration “O, Sisters Where Art Thou?” Watterson-Scharf discussed both the story behind her paintings and the tec... Full story
The girls soccer team bounced back from two narrow losses last week and shut out Crook County 8-0 on Tuesday, September 20. The Lady Outlaws scored five of their goals in the first half and three in the second. Katie Taylor led Sisters with four goals, Rose Slavkovsky put in three and Kelly Morton added one. Morton also had three assists for Sisters. Slavkovsky started Sisters’ scoring frenzy just five minutes into the game. Annie Hancock passed a through ball to Morton who t... Full story
The Sisters Rodeo has a new queen. Sarah Noce, 19, of Tumalo was crowned by outgoing queen Miska Asman on Sunday, September 25, at the Sisters Rodeo Arena. The event realized a dream of her childhood. “Since I was little, I’ve always looked up to the rodeo queens and have wanted to be one,” she said. Noce took a proactive approach to her first rodeo queen contest, finding selection committee chair John Leavitt in his store, Leavitt’s Western Wear, in Sisters and getting all the details straight from him. Contestants filled... Full story
Edna E. Harding, formerly of Sisters, died at her home of natural causes on Thursday, September 22. She was 81. She was born on July 16, 1924, in Gillespie, Illinois, to parents Clem and Emma Janus. Edna married Willis Harding in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on August 23, 1946. They owned a construction business for many years. Edna was also a licensed practical nurse. She lived in Sisters for 27 years before moving to Salem in 2003. Her husband Willis preceded her in death in 1994. She is survived by her son Steve L. Harding of D... Full story
Minerva McClellan Trowbridge, a longtime resident of Sisters and Redmond, died September 8. She was 89. She was born July 16, 1916 in San Antonio, Texas to Joe and Felis Patino McClellan. She moved back to San Antonio in October 2004 to be close to her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Rex Trowbridge, and numerous brothers and sisters. Survivors include her sisters, Elodia De La Garza and Carolyn McClellan; and 78 nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was laid to rest September 13... Full story
Several artists showed for the first time at the fourth annual September in Sisters Art Stroll. The warm weather Saturday evening and the broad marketing coverage throughout Central Oregon brought out a large crowd. Art appreciators strolled through 22 participating galleries and stores and talked with the artists. Music rang through Sisters Saturday evening from the toe-tapping crowd gathered around the Anvil Blasters to people who enjoyed the soothing sounds of Charles Littl... Full story
Our feet and hands take a beating, especially in the dry high desert climate. Holly Faludi of High Desert Hair specializes in taking care of hands and feet with manicures and pedicures. “I do manicures and I do a spa pedicure that’s real popular,” she said. Faludi said that she really likes working with peoples’ feet because they leave feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated. “Our feet are the most neglected part of our bodies,” she said. Faludi has lived in Sisters for four and... Full story
The Lady Outlaws three volleyball teams, freshman, JV and varsity all won their matches on Tuesday, September 20 to sweep Philomath on their home court. The varsity won in four games: 25-18, 25-20, 18-25 and 25-12. Junior Katie Weber started exclusively at setter for the first time this season and hurt her knee in the first play of the game. “She’s even got the bruise to prove it!” Coach Chris Crosby said. “But she shook it off and kept going. It took her the first game to get into a rhythm. She did a good job at her first va... Full story
Two years ago, Sisters teen Jennifer Friend was ready to throw in the towel (or the saddle pad) on her equestrian career. A particularly frustrating Deschutes County 4-H fair and a horse that just wouldn’t cooperate made the effort more trouble than fun. Trying to get Jennifer out of her funk, her mother Karen Friend took her to a lesson with Karen O’Neal, then at Catalyst Farms. O’Neal specializes in jumping and dressage and Jennifer was daunted by the prospect of the jumps... Full story
It couldn’t have been any closer. The Outlaws and the Madras White Buffaloes battled right down to the wire on Friday, September 23 in Sisters, before the Outlaws took the 28-27 victory behind the leadership of quarterback Andy Burke. Burke came through in the clutch going nine for 10 in passing from the middle of the third quarter to the end of the game. Burke completed 10 of 18 for 128 yards and two touchdown passes and also rushed eight times for 67 yards and two t... Full story
Sisters Habitat for Humanity has been active in the community since 1991, providing safe haven and encouragement for many families in sore need of both. Working with families who are unable to qualify for conventional mortgages, Habitat for Humanity requires approved families to provide 500 minimum hours of “sweat equity” toward their homes. This equity takes the form of hands-on labor on their homes and community service. Two hundred of the hours are completed even before ground is broken on the homesite. An ongoing cha... Full story
Sisters residents Thomas and Nita Horn have penned their first novel, a thriller titled “The Ahriman Gate.” The book is garnering strong reviews in the Christian press and beyond for its blend of science fiction, genetically modified creatures, alien forces, a clandestine government research project, and a sinister kidnapping, all within the states of Oregon and Washington. Tom Horn is credentialed with Assemblies of God and calls himself “a maverick but in good standing” with... Full story
SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation) will be hosting another community meeting to discuss the Sisters Skatepark Project. The meeting will be held on Saturday, October 8, at 9 a.m. at the SOAR Community Center. Kent Dahlberg, Executive Director of Skaters for Public Skateparks (SPS), will be at the meeting to share information about the design and construction of skateparks. Skaters for Public Skateparks is a nonprofit skatepark advocacy organization dedicated to providing the information necessary to... Full story
The Outlaws cross country team ran in two of its favorite meets with its home meet at Cold Springs on Wednesday, September 21, and a trip to the Oregon Coast for the Seaside 3 Course Challenge on Saturday, September 24. The first meet, which featured teams from Regis and McKenzie high schools, included an element of excitement before the race began. Sisters Ranger Station officials warned the race might be moved due to a fire just west of the campground on the McKenzie Highway. But the race proceeded as scheduled with good... Full story
• COCC’s Continuing Education department is offering an “Accounting Basics” class in Sisters for small business owners from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings starting October 27 and ending November 17. The introductory course will be held at Sisters Middle School and will emphasize the importance of understanding the basics of accounting in order to oversee business finances successfully. Cost is $49. Pre-registration is required. Call 383-7270. • The Sisters City Council approved a liquor license for the forthcomi... Full story
The second annual Harvest Jazz Concert in Sisters will feature one of the most exciting working bands in jazz found anywhere in the country, the Mel Brown Septet. The concert will be held at Sisters High School on Saturday, October 8, at 7 p.m., under the sponsorship of the Sisters Jazz Festival. The band — four horns and three rhythm section players — is one of the most prominent in Northwest history and features, in addition to drummer Mel Brown: Thara Memory — trumpet, Warren Rand — alto saxophone, Renato Caranto — tenor s... Full story
Last week’s arts event “O Sisters, Where Art Thou?” was a celebration of American roots music through a variety of artistic media. On Friday night, students from the Americana Project showed that not only are the roots healthy, the newly sprouted branches are doing pretty well, too. Nine students from the music outreach program sponsored by the Sisters Folk Festival performed to a packed house at Sisters Coffee Company. The singer-songwriters served up a mix of original songs... Full story
