News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
Sisters Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 25th anniversary, honored World Habitat Day, and broke ground on its 58th and 59th Habitat homes in Sisters last Sunday. The block party and groundbreaking ceremonies were held at the corner of Brooks Camp Road and McKinney Butte Drive, which is the site of Habitat's 17-lot Village Meadows community. Community members and neighbors from the surrounding area and Westside Church were invited to come to see the house plans, meet their... Full story
Warfighter Outfitters is leading an elk hunt for injured military veterans later this month - and generous donations are making the expedition in Sisters Country possible. Brett Miller, president of the Sisters-based nonprofit, holds the guide permits for the hunt. A camp will be established in Sisters Country October 16-24, and Miller is also looking for volunteer camp cooks for breakfasts and dinners, and for volunteers to make grocery runs and deliveries. The camp has been... Full story
It's the deer and elk migration season. We're going to see mule deer and elk wandering through our backyards. Cover your cabbage, harvest your carrots, but forget about mowing the lawn - the deer and elk will do it for you. Securing your backyard will make the season safer for the migrants. Make sure the summer hammock you loved to nap in under your favorite juniper tree is stored safely away in the garage; pick up all the kids' toys; also the screening you put up to protect the strawberries from the resident robins. Things... Full story
Total enrollment numbers in Sisters School District are showing improvement after several years of decline. As of October 7, enrollment stood at 1,109 ADM (average daily membership), which is up by a handful from 1,099 at the end of the 2014-15 school year and exceeds the district's projections for this year by 72 ADM. Since state funding is tied to student numbers, the improvement is a welcome sign that the bleeding of the past several years may have stopped. Sisters Elementary School (SES) and Sisters Middle School (SMS)... Full story
To the Editor: Thank you for your very thoughtful piece last week about not accepting repeated horrific killings in America as just another day at the office. Your comment about ours not being a very caring society as being an element of the problem particularly rings true. A cultural shift in our attitude toward the possession of weapons similar to what has happened with our no longer accepting excessive drinking of alcohol and the use of tobacco, needs to occur. Unfortunately, the misconception that we all have a right to... Full story
Watch television news, look at photographs from Roseburg during the President's visit, listen to testimony at public meetings, read letters to the editor, or scan your Facebook page. It won't take long to find recurrent examples of the uptick in negative civil discourse issues locally, statewide, and nationally. Over the course of the past few years here in Sisters, people have been distressed over bullying of and by public officials, rude comments and hurtful accusations... Full story
Just when it looked like the Parks Advisory Board (PAB) was making forward progress on the issues surrounding Creekside Campground (CCG), they are back at the drawing board as the result of a vote taken at their October 7 meeting. After more than a year of board meetings, park visits, public testimony, staff reports, petitions, and meetings with neighbors to the west and south of the campground, the PAB voted at their August 5 meeting to recommend to the Sisters City Council... Full story
Celebrating a new location on Main Avenue, the Sisters Harvest Faire hosted by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce kicked off its 40th year on Saturday under sunny skies. Thousands of folks from all over the Pacific Northwest came to browse through an abundant harvest of handmade items, from handcrafted masks to whimsical birdhouses. And with over 175 juried artisan vendors, there was something for everyone's taste. "We are very happy with the new location on Main Avenue,"... Full story
In the latest installment of its continuing quarterly speaker series, next week the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) will host a presentation by Michael Riehle, the Forest Service district fisheries biologist in Sisters, who will be speaking on the restoration of salmon and steelhead habitat in Whychus Creek. STA board member Bjarne Holm is the coordinator for STA's speaker series and invited Riehle to address the STA forum. Holm has a strong personal interest in the... Full story
The Outlaws racked up 423 rushing yards on their way to a 28-21 Sky-Em win over Cottage Grove (CG) on Friday, October 9. Sisters scored two touchdowns in the first quarter: the first off a 13-yard Mitch Gibney run, and the second off a 48-yard Logan Schutte run. Jadon Bachtold kicked it through the uprights on both occasions for the PAT. Cottage Grove also scored in the first quarter, and at the close of the period the Outlaws held a 14-7 lead. In the second quarter, the Outla... Full story
The girls soccer team topped Sutherlin 5-2 at home on Wednesday, October 7, in a make-up game for one canceled the previous week. A day later the Outlaws earned a 3-1 road-win against the Sweet Home Huskies. Michaela Miller opened the scoring against the Sutherlin Bulldogs with a goal at the 12-minute mark. Miller received a through-ball from Nika Chick, and knocked the ball into the right corner of the net from 12 yards out. Eight minutes later, Miller returned the favor,... Full story
The boys soccer team won back-to-back games this past week to push their league record to 6-0. The Outlaws have dominated league play, and five of their six league wins have been shutouts. They have only given up one goal in league play and four goals overall. Sisters shut out Sutherlin 11-0 at home on Wednesday, October 7, in a game that was rescheduled from last week; on Thursday, the Outlaws blanked the Huskies 7-0. In Wednesday's game against the Bulldogs, the Outlaws cons... Full story
Two consecutive weeks of running large invitationals has allowed the Sisters cross-country teams the opportunity to face off against some of the fastest runners in the northwest, which has resulted in a load of personal-best times. The improvement of the Outlaw girls' team has launched them into the limelight among 4A teams, pushing them up into the top three-ranked teams according to the weekly coaches' poll. The boys have gained some momentum toward the hope of repeating as... Full story
On October 4, with a classic pastel sky glowing brilliantly as the sun set over the west end of the lake, Ronda Sneva locked the doors of The Lodge at Suttle Lake for the last time. The collage of colors reflected the emotions of the founder and owner of the landmark lodge that she built and opened in 2005. "It is like the old saying, the best day for a boat owner is when you buy it and when you sell it," she said. The lake and the lodge are full of family and recreational... Full story
A dustup over the application for a temporary-use permit (TUP) for proposed events on a vacant lot in Sisters is back in the City of Sisters' court. The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) remanded the matter - in part - back to the Sisters City Council for more work. Controversy over the matter arose when Celia Hung and/or Richard Esterman sought a temporary-use permit to host events on a vacant lot that Hung had leased on the corner of Cascade Avenue and Oak Street. The... Full story
Linda Kurtz, Sisters Library Public Service Specialist (PSS), is retiring on October 31. Many Sisters residents are going to miss her quiet, competent presence behind the desk and among the stacks. The public is invited to come officially say farewell and thanks to Linda on Thursday, October 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library. There will be light refreshments served and Linda will be there to say goodbye and receive well-wishes from the many who have come to rely on her... Full story
Twice a year - in fall and spring, the Sisters Schools Foundation (SSF) provides a financial shot in the arm to school programs that don't get adequate funding through cash-strapped general budget. "There are significant needs that come forth every year that the budget can't address when you have continual cuts," said SSF chair Julie York. The board of directors for the nonprofit foundation is getting set to review the requests recently sent in by teachers and program... Full story
The City of Sisters is seeking final community input as it wraps up a months-long review of ordinances that govern transient merchants and public events. These ordinances affect non-permanent merchants who locate within city limits. City council has scheduled a public hearing on this topic during its regular evening meeting on Thursday, October 22. Local residents and business-owners are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts. Some notable changes are being considered, said Mayor Chris Frye, so the City has been... Full story
Re:Voiced - the internationally acclaimed vocal entertainment experience - will be performing at Sisters High School on Monday, October 19, at 7 p.m. as part of the 2015 Music In Schools Tour. Re:Voiced is pure a cappella. No instruments, no background tracks. Starring five talented young men, re:Voiced is the vocal quintet that will keep your "ears on their toes." Their nonstop high-energy show features impressive vocal instrumentation, tight harmonies, witty banter, and... Full story
Many of us are sad to see the summer sun waning, but for sufferers of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the transition into winter is much harder. Unlike typical depression, whose symptoms can strike at any time, the mood changes of SAD reoccur at the same time each year, most typically with an onset in the fall or winter months, less commonly in spring or early summer. Common symptoms include oversleeping, fatigue, irritability, low mood, and changes in appetite and weight. Although the exact cause of the disorder is... Full story
Animals not only offer companionship and unconditional love, they can also have the ability to improve health and general well-being, especially in the older adult population. The most serious problem for older adults is not so much disease - it's loneliness. Therapy animals and their handlers can make a resident in a care home come alive, bringing joy and laughter with every visit. Dr. Michael McCulloch, a Portland psychiatrist, and Dr. Samuel Corson, of Ohio State... Full story
Many folks still think of massage as a bit of an indulgence - a nice way to relieve stress and the aches and pains of the active Sisters Country lifestyle. But for many, massage is a critical element in preserving and enhancing their health in the face of serious conditions. Lenetta Colbert was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2009. As described by the Mayo Clinic, "Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops grad... Full story
For people who live in rural areas like Central Oregon, the availability of an emergency air ambulance service can make the difference between complete recovery or living with permanent disabilities, sometimes between life or death. In Sisters Country, we are fortunate to have two excellent services based here. AirLink Critical Care Transport offers the services of both a twin-engine Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter, based at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend; and a fixed-wing,... Full story
The Lady Outlaws started their week with a 3-0 sweep over Sutherlin at home on Wednesday, October 7, and a day later posted a sweep at Sweet Home. Sisters started out strong in their match with Sutherlin on Wednesday, and kept a strong tempo throughout the first set to notch the 25-11 win. The Outlaws have been running some different plays from serve-receive and really pushed through to make those plays happen. The second set started out slow, but Sisters regained momentum and... Full story
Here is a pleasant 10-mile hike, peppered with historical footnotes, that involves a net loss of a little over 500 feet in elevation. This route begins near McKenzie Pass, ascends to the Matthieu Lakes, descends from Scott Pass, skirts the base of Yapoah Crater, and returns to the McKenzie Highway near Scott Lake. A car drop is required unless you want to walk the 6.5 miles of the McKenzie Highway between the two trailheads. The hike begins at the trailhead near Lava Camp... Full story
