News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 29
The City of Sisters and the owners of the 30-acre McKenzie Meadows property are close to a deal to annex the land into the city. City staff was expecting to have a draft of an annexation agreement in hand from the city's attorney last Monday. The property, which lies on the west edge of Sisters directly north of Sisters Middle School, is proposed to be the future site of a "senior housing community." It is owned by Bill Willitts, Curt Kallberg and the Reed family, all of... Full story
Sisters schools are finding ways to keep about $1.6 million in budget cuts from pinching too hard on students. That means some extra work for teachers and parents, who have stepped up to the plate in a big way. For example, Sisters Middle School is cutting an evening out of its conference time. Conferences will be held Wednesday, October 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, October 22, noon to 3 p.m. "Lines are a little longer, but it is where we made the cuts so the kids don't... Full story
People who get into a jam financially have been turning to Sisters Family Access Network (FAN) for years for help. Hard times in Sisters are bringing more and more people through the office doors at the Sisters Schools Administration building. There, advocates Theresa Slavkovsky and Dawn Cooper help those in need find the services and aid they need. "Basically what we've seen so far (this fall) is just a large number of families coming in for school supplies, school clothing... Full story
The Harvest Moon has hung its head, the harvest season is over and last weekend in Sisters was an opportunity to celebrate. In spite of the chill in the air, crowds thronged Hood Avenue to enjoy all the spectacular exhibits brought in for the 34th year by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. "It's the chamber's largest event and brings a lot of people to Sisters," said Event Coordinator Jeri Buckmann. "Our 175 vendors had a great time and got to enjoy Sisters' lodging and res... Full story
To the Editor: I read and agree with the article "Hunter urges safety in Sisters woods" (The Nugget, October 7). As an avid outdoorsman, and one who literally spends 10-plus hours a week on the local Sisters trails, much of it on the Peterson Ridge Trail system, I have a vested interest in not getting shot. However, I disagree with the statement that it "would leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth if someone got hurt." Unfortunately, it would be much more than a "bad taste." Its not the kind of way that we want to put... Full story
Starting next trimester, students interested in agriculture as a career or as a way of life will have a chance to get educated in the field. Last week, the Sisters School Board approved a pilot agricultural sciences program for Sisters High School. The program will be funded through a grant of $10,000 by the Deschutes County Farm Bureau. The grant will fund one teacher to teach one period per day in the second and third trimesters of school. The High Desert Educational Service... Full story
Sisters Habitat for Humanity is looking for more qualified families to apply for Habitat housing. According to Executive Director Sharlene Weed, three families are currently working on their homes - what Habitat calls "doing sweat equity." Two families will be buying homes next spring. "The plan is to start another townhouse, say June, July, and we have just one family for that townhouse," Weed said. "We're not getting as many applications and we're getting applications where... Full story
Seven-foot vinyl banners are cropping up around town, featuring artful black-and-white photographs. It's all part of a special art project involving local students and the arts center at Caldera. On the placid fall evening of October 9, interested onlookers gathered together at a reception at Navigator News to meet artists, learn about the project, and to see for themselves who's behind those big banners. The project was conceived in Portland, where Caldera Arts photographer J... Full story
What's a retired librarian to do when she hears that the local elementary school needs volunteers? Sign up and volunteer, of course. "I love the kids and I love books, so it was a natural for me," Gen Ivie said one afternoon while helping David Hewitt's third-graders check out books at Sisters Elementary School. Ivie was a longtime librarian at Mapleton High School, even though she never earned a library science degree. She moved from Florence to Sisters nearly three years... Full story
If you go into the Sisters Library anytime in October, you will see quilts of all sizes and descriptions hanging on the wall near the front door and on into the main part of the building, all by Sisters quilter, photographer and artist, Mary D. Smith. Of her wall-hanging near the front door, a challenge quilt named "Spirits in the Wind," Mary says: "A brave would be sitting high above a canyon, praying to the horse spirits in the sky. But every viewer could have a different st... Full story
Sisters Library has a double-barreled art display throughout the library for the entire month of October. Walking through the entrance door you can't help but notice Mary Smith's magnificent challenge quilt, "Spirits in the Wind" on the wall (see related story, page 5). As you walk into the foyer you will notice a flip chart near the door to the Community Room that announces artist and teacher Kit Stafford's literary installation, "Baggage Claim." "I think 'literary... Full story
A caretaker's shop at Metolius Meadows in Camp Sherman burned down last Saturday in a fire apparently started by a wood stove. According to Sisters Fire Marshal Dave Wheeler, the shop, estimated to be about 40 years old, was a total loss, including the caretaker's tools stored there. Loss is estimated in excess of $50,000. Wheeler said the cause was heat from a wood stove that ignited an adjacent wall. "It looks like it was started by the wood stove," Wheeler told The Nugget. "Over the years there was some charring and... Full story
The doors to the world they live in opened wider Tuesday, October 6, when 32 students from Molly Grove's sixth-grade class at Pilot Butte Middle School in Bend began exploring the ecosystem of the Metolius River. They were there thanks to the efforts of Salmon Watch, an education program within The Freshwater Trust's Healthy Waters Institute. It was a cold fall morning on the river, but the students didn't seem to mind the chill as they were introduced to the river's biology,... Full story
On Tuesday, September 29, 2009, our beloved Albert "Lee" Currie passed away after complications due to an infection and heart failure. Lee led the life of his dreams. After serving in the Korean War, when he was 24 years old, Lee created a very successful oil and chemical company in San Diego, Crown Chemical Company. After selling Crown Chemical Company in 1986 at the age of 55, Lee chose to retire and focus on being a gentleman rancher with horses as his new passion, includin... Full story
As part of a continuing outreach program to impoverished children in Mexico, Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration has launched a drive to collect Spanish-language children's books. Church members hope to put together their next book shipment around the first of November. The local Episcopal church has partnered with the First Congregational Church of San Rafael, California, in the Every Dollar Feeds Kids (EDFK) program. Acknowledging that the first step in... Full story
The Outlaws powered to a 53-31 victory over the Henley Hornets at home in a non-league game on Thursday, October 8. Sisters started with a mishap when they fumbled on the first play of the game, but the Outlaws' defense held Henley to a three-and-out. The Outlaws regained possession and went 74 yards on nine plays, capped by a nine-yard touchdown by quarterback Eric Carlson. Chase Klient was instrumental in the drive, carrying the ball three times for 45 yards behind the block... Full story
The fight over a proposed AT&T cell phone tower went before a Deschutes County Hearings Officer on Tuesday, October 6. AT&T is proposing an 80-foot tower on Bradley Butte off Highway 126 east of Sisters. Opponents, including neighbors Frank and Kathy Deggendorfer, argue that the tower will degrade scenic views in the area and infringe upon the nature of the historic Wilson Homestead on their property. AT&T has modified its plans to mitigate neighbors' concerns, dropping the... Full story
Sisters veterans and family members gathered at the end of last month at the Veterans' Memorial at Sisters Village Green to affix 10 metal nameplates to the memorial stone. The plates carry the inscribed names of local veterans who died in 2009. Jack Kinsey led a moment of prayer, then a large group of onlookers watched as Gary Frazee, Tom Salgado, Lance Trowbridge and Gene Hellickson attached the memorial plates. After the ceremonies, relatives and friends visited together,... Full story
It was popcorn heaven and silver screen dreams for many aspiring filmmakers this weekend in Sisters as BendFilm '09 closed out its lineup at Sisters Movie House. Visiting filmmakers supporting their work found the hospitality and friendliness a welcome addition to the six-year-old festival's appeal. Judging by Friday night's enthusiastic full house and popular after-party at Three Creeks Brewing Company, it seems the experiment of "BendFilm at Sisters" made its mark. BendFilm board member John Anderson greeted the Friday... Full story
Eight local women completed the annual Portland Marathon on Sunday, October 4. The 26.2-mile event, considered one of the finest, friendliest marathons in the West every year by Runner's World magazine, starts downtown, wends its way through northwest Portland and back, and includes music every two miles to help keep the runners and walkers moving. Rochelle Curtis and Kara Calmettes trained together on two long trail runs for the event, which helped Calmettes survive her... Full story
Sisters, has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Adventure Towns" in the United States by National Geographic Adventure magazine. The publication, based in New York City, selected Sisters along with three other Oregon cities including Portland, Hood River and Klamath Falls as part of their 'state-by-state guide to top outdoor hubs in the country.' "The list of 100 adventure towns offers something for everyone, whether you love hiking, skiing, cycling, kayaking, climbing, snowboarding - or a little bit of everything," the... Full story
Sisters art lovers are soon to have another gallery to browse through when Blue Skies Gallery opens. Located in an upper suite at the Sisters Town Square on Cascade Avenue, the gallery features a blend of landscape art and photography. Owner Shawnice Betsinger is inspired by the work of four Oregon artists. Curtis Phillips and Taylor Blackwell are painters from Portland who specialize in landscapes. Jim Smith, from Bend, is a landscape photographer and Ben Bailey, from... Full story
When last week's early snowstorm turned everything white, a lot of hikers feared that the hiking season might be over. However, according to a status report released last week by Forest Service trails specialist Chris Sabo, that's not necessarily the case. For the rest of the season, of course, everything hinges on the day-to-day status of the weather. At last report, most trails below 6,000 feet were not only passable but in good condition. In fact, the moisture went a long w... Full story
The Lady Outlaws kept their winning streak alive with a win over Cottage Grove on Monday, October 5. Scores in the match were 25-15, 25-11 and 25-15. Haylee Schaab led the Outlaws with 15 kills and four blocks, followed by Hannah Harrer who finished with seven kills and four blocks. Jessie Snow had an outstanding performance, leading the defense with 21 digs. Snow got the entire team fired up when she ran 20 feet beyond the end line to retrieve the ball and then set up Sydney... Full story
Going against stiff competition on fast courses added up to some speedy times for the Sisters Outlaws cross country team members last week - including a new school record for 5,000 meters by senior Parker Bennett. At the first Star XCity Classic, held at Bush Park in Salem Wednesday, October 8, Bennett toed the line against teams from 4A, 5A, and 6A schools, hoping to run under 15:59, a record that has stood since Daniel Kemp put it on the board in 1996. After pacing through the first mile in 5:05, Bennett moved away from... Full story
