News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 32
The Sisters School Board is looking into the possibility that several elementary teachers used improper procedures in administering statewide math tests to the school’s third graders this year. Superintendent Ted Thonstad led an internal investigation of the issue during much of February. The board took up the question the week of Feb. 27 and after three private executive sessions asked for an external review under the direction of High Desert Education Service District attorney John Witty. Witty has asked former state mediat... Full story
A Saturday evening fire caused major damage to a detached garage and contents while scorching a nearby home in Crossroads. The fire was at the residence of Eric and Pamela Kipper at 14819 Bluegrass Loop. The alarm came at 6:46 p.m. on March 4, when several members of the family all spotted the fire at the same time, according to Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler. “Before we arrived at the fire, there were at least a dozen other calls to 911 from neighbors,” he said. Crews arrived at the scene at 6:55 p.m. and... Full story
More than 100 family members and friends gathered on Saturday, March 4, for a 100th birthday party to honor one of Sisters’ most influential citizens: Clifton “Cliff” Clemens. Those attending welcomed Clemens with applause as he entered the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters. He rode in a wheelchair pushed by his son David, but was quick to recognize and greet well wishers with a handshake and a smile. Clemens blew out a candle on one of three birthday cakes... Full story
Black Butte Ranch Fire Chief Ed Sherrell is appealing to registered voters in the Black Butte Rural Fire Protection District to return their vote-by-mail ballots on a five-year levy by the March 14 deadline. “While we hope voters will support this critical levy, we urge all voters to return their ballots by the closing date,” Chief Sherrell said. “Because this is a fiscal issue, this election requires a ‘double majority’ vote. Half of the registered voters must vote and the levy must be approved by at least half of those vot... Full story
Black Butte Ranch residents should vote in favor of a five-year levy to sustain the operations of the Black Butte Ranch fire department. The levy will fund district operations, scholarships for student volunteers, support for the district’s fire equipment reserve fund and, according to Fire Chief Ed Sherrell, perhaps prevent the layoff of a firefighter. At 90 cents per $1,000 of taxable property a year, that adds up to $360 a year for a $400,000 home. Nobody likes to see t... Full story
To the Editor: On Saturday, March 4, the community of Sisters said good-bye to three local men who dedicated their lives to others; Nick Santiago, Airman First Class/AIC, USAF; Hort Hammond, Founding Father of Sisters Habitat for Humanity affiliate and a member of Sisters Kiwanis; Orville Tadlock, a father to over 50 young boys in need of a secure, nurturing home. While the community was saying good-bye to these dedicated men, we also celebrated 100 years of life with Cliff Clemens. It was evident by the displays at... Full story
Based on the experience of last Saturday’s fire in Crossroads, the Sisters-Camp Sherman fire department is in serious need of volunteers, according to Dave Wellington, volunteer coordinator for the district. (See related story, page 1). “We had four personnel just returning to Sisters from an emergency medical run to Bend and four people on duty at the Sisters station when the call came in on that fire,” Wellington explained. “While we still got 17 firefighters on the fire, it was starting to get a little skimpy, particu... Full story
Diane Jacobsen always wanted to be a teacher. “I was the oldest of four children, the only girl,” she explains, “so I naturally was very bossy and took on the care of my younger brothers quite easily, more than they wanted. So I was holding school at my house when I was just a little girl.” She went through Salem schools, obtained an education degree from the former Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, and began her public school career teaching sixth graders in Gladsto... Full story
Some 160 Sisters area residents turned out on Saturday, March 4, to eat their fill of crab provided by Syke’s Seafood and to bid on dozens of often-spectacular auction items — all in support of the Sisters Outlaws Ski Team. The team members, just returned from the state meet (see related story, page 27) were turned out in team jerseys and offered their thanks to the donors and buyers who raised a record $15,000 to help the team. Head Coach Todd Williver noted that the $15... Full story
• Dave and Cynthia Williams have purchased Storton Designs and are combining the interior design business with their successful Pacific Flooring business. Janet Storton, who started Storton Designs 12 years ago, will continue to work with the Williamses on a limited number of projects and will be available to clients on a consulting basis. • The Fly Fisher’s Place is now reserving spots for its annual Bahamas fly fishing trip from April 30 through May 7. Call 549-FISH for more information. • Therapeutic Associates congrat... Full story
The Sisters High School equestrian team placed first in the first of three district meets scheduled for the spring season. The season opener was held February 25-36 at the Deschutes County Event Center. Sisters High School has a team of 17 athletes this year and has at least one rider competing in every event. The Central District consists of all high schools east of the Cascade mountains and currently 18 high schools have equestrian teams with a total of 145 riders. Riders can compete in up to five individual events and... Full story
For the second year in a row a Sisters Middle School student won the Central Oregon Regional Spelling Bee held Saturday, March 4, at Bend Senior High School. Adam Cash, a sixth grader in Wes Estvold’s class, spelled “envoy” correctly in the final round of four surviving spellers to win first place in the sixth-through-eighth-grade category. On his way to victory, Cash beat out last year’s winner, seventh grader Jordan Rudinsky, also of Sisters Middle School, who was elimina... Full story
More than 200 Sisters area youngsters are signed up and ready to play baseball this spring. “A few more late additions will trickle in this week and we should have about 205 players,” said Chris Houck, Sisters Little League board member. “This looks like our biggest year ever.” Sisters Little League has been in operation for 20 years. More than 50 players tried out for Minor and Major league teams on Saturday, March 4, at the Sisters Middle School football field. Each had to demonstrate throwing and catching, fielding grounde... Full story
About 40 young hunters will gather at Alder Creek Ranch near Sisters on Saturday, March 11, for the Second Annual Youth Pheasant Hunt, sponsored by the Bend Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Alder Creek Ranch. “The event is intended to bring new hunters into the sport, help them learn hunting and gun safety and have fun in the field,” said Dan Ramming, Bend Chapter OHA Youth Pheasant Hunt Coordinator. The event is for ages 10 to 17. The program begins at 8 a.m. when stu... Full story
The Sisters Outlaws eighth grade basketball team put up a perfect 10-0 record this season. Coaches Glen Herron and Wayne Mitchell agreed that the key to the team’s success is their coachability and the fact that “they love to play the game of basketball.” The team had both height and speed, which gave them a distinct advantage on the court. The team had exceptional cohesion since most of the players have played together for years in the SOAR program. The success of the team... Full story
• Someone reported $800 worth of damage to a private gravel road from people illicitly doing “cookies.” • Two young teens got into an argument in the middle of town over a comment one made about the other’s shoes. The altercation escalated to fisticuffs and one boy was charged with fourth-degree assault. • A driver suffered a medical problem at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 16. He ended up running off the road and into the trees. He was taken to St. Charles Medical Center for treatment. • A dog spooked a hor... Full story
Sisters is growing and handling its infrastructure is getting more and more complicated. To handle what is fast becoming an overwhelming workload, the City of Sisters Public Works Department has hired its sewer plant manager Paul Bertagna to serve as Public Works Coordinator. “We’re just inundated with construction plans — the infill lots, the special projects like the parking district improvements and the water line projects,” Frazee said. Bertagna will assist Frazee in keep... Full story
• From Sisters Outlaws Swim Coach Isolde Hedemark: “As the 10th season for Sisters High School Swimming drew to a close, I had time to reflect on a decade of practices, ever increasing student interest in this sport, the teams’ successes along the way, and the unparalleled generosity of individuals and businesses in our community. “First off, I want to express my gratitude to site council members Lori Hancock and Ann Jacobson for trying to secure a second training facility for the group of swimmers that could not be accommo... Full story
The lone rider jogging his mustang into Sisters late Saturday afternoon, March 4, wasn’t a misplaced buckaroo looking to fit in with Sisters’ Western theme. Chris Buller, a pastor and youth worker from Madras, was a man on a mission. He’d just completed a 70-mile sponsored ride from Warm Springs, done to raise funds for a trip that he and the youth he works with are planning for March. The ride, made in relay fashion on six horses, raised some travel money so kids invol... Full story
The new Sisters Library has passed its shakedown trials and is operating like a well-oiled machine. Now it is time for you to bring all those fine used books you have been saving to the library for the Friends of the Sisters Library book sales. All you need to do is place those wonderful old books, tapes, videos, and CDs in a sturdy box and bring them to the circulation desk at the new library during regular hours. DO NOT place donations in the library book return or leave them anyplace except at the circulation desk. Over... Full story
A little cottage has been reinvented as Sisters’ newest restaurant. T.R. and Jennifer McCrystal bought the cottage last year and began the hard work of turning what had been a home into a restaurant with a professional kitchen. There is now seating for 30 people to enjoy the cozy space complete with local artwork and a fireplace. The McCrystals paid attention to detail in remodeling the space and choosing the cuisine. “To me it’s the five senses — and you’d better surpass d... Full story
The Sisters boys basketball team lost 65-60 to the Riverside Pirates in the final minute of play in the first round of the state playoffs on Wednesday, March 1. “It was a brutally tough game,” Coach Rand Runco said. “The gym was small with a short court and it was very loud — just like you see in the movies.” Sisters turned the ball over 16 times in the first half, which resulted in some easy lay-ins for the Pirates. “It was difficult to get easy transitions because of the length of their court and they did a good job of... Full story
The Sisters High School boys golf team will return three players to the varsity squad this season. Senior Scott Barton returns as the Outlaws’ No. 1 golfer and according to Coach Jeff Barton, Scott will be the premier player in the entire league. Scott has his sights set on doing well in the State Championships this year and will provide leadership to the Outlaw team throughout the season. Junior Miles Johnston and sophomore Evan Mitchell also return with varsity experience. Jeff Barton is looking for both Johnston and M... Full story
In an effort to bring awareness to a distant but important problem, two screenings of the documentary “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” will be shown this weekend at Sisters Movie House. The film focuses on the plight of children stolen from their homes in Northern Uganda by members of the Lord’s Resistance Army. The documentary will show at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, March 11, and again at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12. The filmakers’ group, also called Invisible Children, makes it a policy that the screening must be free of charge. Si... Full story
The Lady Outlaws’ season ended sooner than they’d hoped when they lost 63-48 to Wilsonville in the first round of the state playoffs on Tuesday, February 28. Sisters was outscored 22-11 in the first quarter. The Outlaws cut the Wildcats’ lead to four a couple of times in the first half but couldn’t hang on. At the half Sisters was down 34-25. “They (Wilsonville) were very fast,” said Coach Bill Blevins. “And when they went to their bench they were still fast. Our quickness has been our strength all year long but it wasn’t... Full story
