News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
It’s autumn yet summer clings on. But the shortening days allow reflection on our busiest time of year. By all accounts, 2022 was another successful season. Favorable weather was a contributing factor in a relatively mellow local fire season. Equally important was a safe, yet aggressive, initial attack that kept most wildfires less than one acre. The exception on the Sisters Ranger District was the 280-acre Fly Creek fire in early August, when over 3,000 lightning strikes pumm... Full story
Ivy Castellana was a ballet dancer for 20 years. With her career came injuries and muscular imbalances. She began exploring modalities that could bring healing and strength to her body. She was introduced to Pilates and found techniques using balance and mind/body practices that brought encouraging results. “I used Pilates to recover from the abuse of dancing,” she said. After seeing the positive results of Pilates, she decided to pursue it as a career. She chose the Ron Fle... Full story
The monthly Sisters School District meeting with the board of directors and superintendent was held in person and via Zoom on Wednesday, October 5, at the Sisters School District Office building. - Board Director David Thorsett led the meeting, starting with a business and finance report from Sherry Joseph. She concluded that they are ahead of expenses-for-revenues for the year and budgets are well projected and in good shape. - Principal Steve Stancliff presented to the board... Full story
What do a winged horse, a flying unicorn, a Native American jingle dress dancer, and quantum physics have in common? They are all involved in the plot of a new middle school-age book from local author Jean Russell Nave. “Starprancer and the Blue Crystals” is a sequel to “Starprancer at Wild Horse Cave,” released last year. The adventure is centered around two young ladies, Aila and Lily, with Starprancer, the winged horse, leading the girls on another quest involving saving... Full story
The Lady Outlaws soccer squad started their week with a 1-1 tie at Pleasant Hill (PH) on Monday, October 3, and two days later shut out the Hawks at La Pine, 7-0. In Tuesday’s road game, the Billies came out with confidence and pressure, and immediately put the Outlaws on their heels. Sisters had a difficult time adjusting to the artificial turf, which was extremely fast, and their defense had to work hard the entire game. Both teams had a few opportunities to score, but neither could find the back of the net, and at the h... Full story
The Lady Outlaws volleyball squad won the Silver Bracket at the annual Bend Clearwater Classic held on Saturday, October 8, where they faced some of the top 5A and 6A teams in the state. At home two days earlier, Sisters swept Harrisburg with scores of 25-12, 25-19, and 25-11. Pool play for the Clearwater Classic was held at Summit High School, and Sisters faced off against strong, talented teams from 6A West Linn, 6A South Salem, and 5A Redmond. The Outlaws went 2-4 in the morning pool play, which placed them in the Silver... Full story
Artist John Vale will be featured in an art show at Sisters Library on Friday, October 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. The artist will be accompanied by music by Obsiden. Vale began his journey in art in 1992. He created water features and other pieces from stone. He began with displays of his work in several nurseries and moved on to a display in the renowned Lawrence Gallery. He opened his first gallery in Lake Oswego, Water Stone Accents, and featured several artists with a bamboo... Full story
There is no doubt that the graduating class of 2023 is special. Unique. Deserving. Sure, all the graduating classes of Sisters High School could claim those adjectives to some degree, but this year’s senior class really has had an exceptional high school experience. The COVID-19 shutdowns began during their freshman year, and they lost out on the experiences and initiation that comes during that formative time. They had a sophomore year in isolation, and a junior year that included social distance, masks, and modified e... Full story
Hearing from three of the four candidates running for Sisters City Council at last week’s candidate forum, it is evident there is considerable agreement among them as to what the important issues are on Council’s radar. There are four candidates running for three positions: incumbents Michael Preedin and Gary Ross, and two new candidates, Sarah McDougall and Susan Cobb. The two top vote getters will serve four years, the third will serve two. Mayor Preedin was unable to par... Full story
The Outlaws football squad defeated the Creswell Bulldogs 26-21 at home on Friday, October 14. It was a perfect night for football, and the stands were packed with fans. Sisters was short three starters on both sides of the ball, but players rose to the occasion, and worked together for an outstanding team win. Coach Clayton Hall told The Nugget that coaches had preached all week the “next man up mentality,” and told players it was going to be an all-hands-on-deck type of game. Many of the underclassmen stepped in and fil... Full story
The boys soccer squad had another big week, which included a 2-0 shut on the road against Pleasant Hill on Monday, October 3, and, two days later, a 5-0 win on the road against Crosshill Christian. Tuesday’s match-up was a critical one, as both Sisters and Pleasant Hill entered the contest undefeated in league play. Coach Jeff Husmann said, “Some of the keys for the game were a unified defensive effort, tight marks on their target players, and players going forward as part of the attack.” It was a very physical game, parti... Full story
The Paul Mariman Invitational hosted by Philomath High School included many of the top 4A and 3A teams in Oregon on Saturday, October 8. The competition was top-notch, but an unseasonably hot day combined with a long course made it impossible for personal records to be set. The varsity girls race featured three of the four top-ranked 4A runners and two of the top six 3A/2A/1A girls. Second ranked Adele Beckstead of Philomath led from start to finish, but was challenged throughout the race by Molalla’s Anika Jenson, ranked thi... Full story
Robert Ernest Grooney passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by friends and family, at his home in Sisters. He grew up tough, with five brothers during the Great Depression in Hollywood, California. Even though his father was a musical conductor who always wore a top hat, they had to be innovative to get by, trading a dozen “alligator pears” (avocados) that grew in their back yard for a dozen eggs from the neighbor. He and his brothers even earned enough nickels to buy... Full story
The Sisters High School Hall of Fame inducted four individuals, one team, and an organization on Saturday, October 8, at the high school. The Hall of Fame is supported by the Outlaw Booster Club, which also raises funds annually for cocurricular activities associated with the school district. Following introductions by emcee Tim Roth and athletic director Gary Thorson, the Sisters High jazz choir sang the national anthem. Miki McFadden, former Olympian and past volleyball... Full story
In interviews with The Nugget strong differences between candidates Patti Adair and Morgan Schmidt become evident. Adair, the incumbent running for Deschutes County Commissioner Position 3, speaks animatedly with a focus on tasks — those she’s accomplished, and those she wants to do. Schmidt, her opponent, is making her first run for public office. She speaks in measured tones with a focus on policy. It’s Adair’s and current commissioner Terry DeBone’s decisions while s... Full story
In the race for Deschutes County Commissioner Position 1, three-term incumbent Tony DeBone is opposed by Oliver Tatom, making his first run. Tatom’s previous elected experience is as a board member of Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District. He is a paramedic and registered nurse who, until two weeks ago, was employed by St. Charles Health System. He resigned to pursue his quest for the Board of Commissioners. He and his wife, A... Full story
Students from the University of Oregon Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) visited Sisters on Friday, October 7, to meet with City staff and personnel from the Sisters School District (SSD) and Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD). They toured the school district administration building and the elementary school with Superintendent Curtis Scholl to get an initial overview of the facilities. They also walked around town to observe traffic, sidewalks, parks, paths,... Full story
Sisters residents in Precinct 30 will see a City-referred measure on their November 8 general election ballot asking if voters approve several proposed amendments to the municipal Charter. The individual proposed Charter amendments will not be listed on the ballot, but a description of them is available on the City of Sisters website (www.ci.sisters.or.us) and at City Hall. Reviewing and updating the City Charter was listed under Good Governance in the FY 2021/22 City Council... Full story
What a difference a year makes. Last year’s Harvest Faire, sponsored by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, was a cool, wet affair that dampened spirits and sales. Not so 2022, when some 200 vendors — nearly a fourth making their first Sisters appearance — took over three blocks of Main Avenue on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to postcard-perfect weather both days, attendees were treated to a festival setting with numerous food options, music at the Fir S... Full story
For anyone paying attention, these are unsettling times. Downright scary, in fact. For the first time in decades, the specter of a nuclear strike looms as a real possibility as Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine falters and is rolled back. Even as I write this, Russian missile strikes are targeting Ukrainian cities — deliberately killing civilians — in retaliation for an apparent Ukrainian operation that damaged the Kerch Strait Bridge in Crimea. The knock on e... Full story
Supporting Morgan Schmidt To the Editor: We support Morgan Schmidt for County Commissioner. County commissioners oversee services, policies, and public funds for our people, lands, and waters. Tragically, our county has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the state. Morgan will collaborate with the experienced professionals and make behavioral health a priority, and forge partnerships with local organizations and mental health care providers so our whole community can be well. Morgan supports women of all professions an... Full story
Buddy Blair, 66, works at Sno-Cap. He does food prep and maintenance. His wife, Adrian, 38, is the kitchen manager at the iconic eatery on Cascade Avenue. That’s where they met three years ago. They raise two children, 17 and 4, to whom Buddy is the step-father. They all live together in the forest. Not by choice, by necessity. It’s not important for the rest of us to know the circumstances that cause them to be forest dwellers. The bottom line is that they cannot afford to... Full story
The Sisters School District is seeing an increase in enrollment numbers to start the 2022-23 school year. One of the most notable statistics is the number of students attending Sisters Elementary School. As of October 3, the numbers were the highest at the elementary school, totaling 398 students. There are 90 second graders, the highest grade level numbers in the elementary school. Sisters Middle School came out at 356 and Sisters High School at 393, with high numbers in the... Full story
Mike Riehle stands knee-deep in life returning. “Not long ago this whole area was dry,” he says, gesturing over weeds and decaying willows. “We’re hoping these efforts will fix that.” That area, the Lower Black Butte Swamp, is a 50-acre parcel that was once parched land, and is now by design — flooded with water. The gradual decline in this regional ecosystem was set in motion by the void left from one of nature’s finest eco-engineers — the beaver. Beyond its... Full story
