News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
"There are a lot of people who have felt that I have been an outlaw for a long time," said Governor Dr. John Kitzhaber after being presented with an Outlaw hat and T-shirt and being proclaimed an official Sisters Outlaw by Sisters schools superintendent Jim Golden. The governor was in town Monday to preside over the christening of the new Sisters High School biomass boiler. Firing up the boiler for this celebration was the culmination of a four-year effort championed by Benny... Full story
For Davidson Small, the current skate park in Sisters "just doesn't cut it." But the Sisters High School senior isn't complaining about it; he wrote the grant proposal to the Tony Hawk Foundation for the construction of a new skate park. The facility will be located just behind the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) building near Sisters High School. With help from SPRD, the City of Sisters, and the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, Small was able to gather all the... Full story
Over the past five years, an untold number of Sisters High School graduates went on to pursue higher education as a direct result of the ASPIRE program. Despite its success, the program did not survive aggressive school budget cuts earlier this year. However, thanks to the impassioned efforts of its supporters, ASPIRE is back again this year after all, and more than 30 volunteers are mobilizing once again to help students make their post-high-school dreams a reality. "When it became clear that ASPIRE was receiving the ax,... Full story
The arts and music programs in Sisters schools have ignited a lifelong passion in many students. Two of those alumni will return to the stage on Saturday night as members of the women's a cappela music group Divisi, the opener for Starry Nights Presents On the Rocks. Amanda Sarles and Hayley Valoppi perform with Divisi, the University of Oregon's acclaimed women's a cappella vocal group, considered among the best in the country. The group performs a wide variety of musical styles including pop, R&B and jazz with original... Full story
To the Editor: I just talked to George Kolb, Deschutes road commissioner, in regards to North Pine Street. He said "It's Forest Service Road," not his problem. I called the Forest Service; no answer. I'm getting the run-around. We are getting the "bounce around" to blade North Pine Street. To drive it now takes an hour. Mr. Kolb, could you contact the Forest Service and see if they may blade North Pine for other residents that may use the street? Mike Griesman s s s To the Editor: Let's see... studies show roundabouts save... Full story
Sisters High School's new social studies teacher Scott Buchanan traveled the world as a 20-year air force cargo pilot and flight instructor. "Coming back here has just been blessed," he said. Buchanan is combining his extensive travel experience, his love of history, and his love of teaching into what in his words is "a job I always knew that I would be doing." Raised in Bend, Scott graduated from Bend High School in 1983. He took a degree in history while completing his ROTC... Full story
Thousands of women are diagnosed with cancer each year - yet each one feels terribly alone. Support Our Sisters ensures that women facing this dire change in their lives are not alone, that they have the fellowship and support of other women who truly know what they are going through - because they have been through it themselves. "We are all frightened of the word cancer," said Sisters breast cancer survivor Katie Powers. "These women have the heartfelt feeling that... Full story
Connecting kids with the broader world is an important part of Sisters Middle School teacher Kit Stafford's mission. Through her Arts Discovery and Americana Project classes, students connect with the past, with other cultures - and, most importantly, with themselves. Over the past couple of weeks, Stafford has been assisted in her mission by Bend spoken-word artist James Graham, better-known as Mosley Wotta. Through The Nature of Words Program, Graham spent time as a... Full story
It was a big night for the Sisters varsity football team on Friday, October 14. The homecoming celebration was highlighted by the Outlaws' 21-14 win over Cottage Grove, which marked Sisters' first league win of the season. At the close of the first quarter Sisters scored their first touchdown of the evening. Shane Groth completed a 24-yard pass to Cole Moore for the score. Moore kicked the point after touchdown and Sisters took a 7-0 lead. Cottage Grove scored in the second... Full story
The Lady Outlaws dropped their first league match of the season at home on Tuesday, October 11, against Elmira. Sisters got off to an unfortunate start when senior Lizzy Carhart injured her knee during a play at the net, and from there the team wasn't the same. The Outlaws battled with the Falcons in a grueling five-game match that ended in a loss for Sisters. Final scores were 25-15, 24-26, 25-14, 25-27 and 9-15. "It was a tough loss for us tonight," said Coach Diane Bremer.... Full story
Evan Rickards scored both of Sisters' goals in the Outlaws' 2-1 victory at Junction City (JC) on October 11. It was the Outlaws' fourth league win. The first half neither team was able to get the ball into the goal. Rickards got the Outlaws on the scoreboard in the 53rd minute of the game. Robert Small chipped the ball across the goal from the left side past the defensive line. The ball took a bounce and Evan booted the ball up and over the keeper's head into the right corner of the net. Rickards scored again 11 minutes... Full story
The Lady Outlaws soccer team beat the Junction City Tigers 2-0 in a wild game at home on Tuesday, October 11. Both teams played well and took several shots on goal in the first half, but after 45 minutes of play the score was deadlocked at 0-0 at the half. In the middle of the second half, Coach Nik Goertzen made a few changes. Forward Natalie Ambrose was moved to center midfield and outside midfielder Haley Carlson was moved to forward. Keeper Sara Small gave the Outlaws the... Full story
Lindsay Soliz, 16, of Sisters, was crowned 2012 Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo Princess this weekend in Madras. Soliz, who has lived in Sisters all her life, loves animals. She has two cows named "Miss Kitty" and "Little Joe," a paint gelding named "Dodger" and an Australian shepherd named "Dodger." She is very active in 4-H, FFA and the Sisters High School Equestrian Team. She enjoys the drill team best, but competes in several other areas. She has been on the state 4-H... Full story
For the fourth Saturday in a row, the Sisters Outlaws cross-country team hit the road to take on teams from throughout the state. This week's meet took place at Elijah Bristow State Park near Springfield, and featured a total of 16 teams from all classifications, providing the runners from Sisters excellent competition. The Outlaw girls team flexed its muscle against a number of ranked 5A teams, including Crescent Valley, Marshfield, and Mountain View, finishing second in the... Full story
The stakes are high for children with an incarcerated parent. Statistically, they are six times more likely to wind up on the wrong side of the legal system themselves. Fortunately, local families in crisis have a myriad of resources available to them. Yet in one key area, there's a shortfall: adult mentors, willing to provide a positive role model to these at-risk youngsters. Understandably, families facing this situation don't go out of their way to bring attention to themselves. But they're definitely here, says Theresa... Full story
"The beauty of rodeo is that once you enter the gates, everyone becomes an equal," said 2011 Sisters Rodeo Queen Emily Clark in the speech she gave at the Miss NPRA 2012 competition on September 24. Clark was later declared the winner among eight other rodeo queens who vied for the crown. She will be crowned on March 3. The Northwest Pro Rodeo Association has 40 member rodeos throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California. The rodeos are held almost all year... Full story
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show has issued a call for entries in the second-annual Small Wonders Challenge. Colorful quilts big enough to be seen a block away are a staple of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. This year the show started a new tradition: Small quilts, made with big talent and creativity. The response of entrants and the public was universally positive. More than 80 quilts were entered, enthusiastic visitors flocked to the displays, and proceeds from the sales of these Small Wonders directly benefited the Sisters... Full story
This has been a short hiking season in the high country, and we've already seen new snowfall on some of the higher-elevation trails. So, if snow is limiting your outdoor activities before there is enough of it to ski on, take solace in the fact there are still hiking opportunities to be enjoyed. Here's a hiking alternative that's close to home and provides some interesting terrain. Rather than a specific hike, this is an invitation to explore. Dry Canyon, east of town, is a... Full story
Carole "C.B." Davis of Sisters passed away on October 7 in Bend at the age of 71. She was born November 27, 1939 in Portland, the daughter of Wayne D. Dayton and Bettie Johnson Dayton. After graduation from Cleveland High School, she married Dwayne Clark. She became the mother of four sons, Daniel, David, Richard, and Darrell. Later as a single parent, she began a career with the U. S. Postal Service in Portland in 1966 and then transferred to Salem, where she advanced... Full story
Mabelle LaVerne Precourt Follis Beebe of Sisters went to be with the Lord. She passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Partners in Care Hospice House in Bend on October 8, 2011. She was born June 24, 1937 to Octive and Betty (Erene) (Bonner) Precourt in Oregon City. Mabelle joined the Air Force right after graduating from Pendleton Senior High School in 1955 and retired in 1958 to get married and start a family. She married George J. Follis III, Nov 4, 1958. She and George were stationed in France from 1960-63.... Full story
Elizabeth M. Smith of Sisters, known to family and friends as Betty, passed away on October 10 at the age of 85. Born on November 23, 1925, Betty was one of four girls born to Kenneth and Mary Buckland of Sunnydell, Idaho. During World War II, Betty began correspondence with a local soldier, Dyle Smith, whom she married when he returned to Idaho in October of 1945. Betty and Dyle had five children and spent much of their early marriage in Washington, where Betty was a gentle... Full story
John Goossens passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Grants Pass on October 10. He was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands on March 29, 1947 to John and Elizabeth Goossens of Santa Barbara. The family immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York harbor by ship in April 1956. The family lived in Martinsville, Indiana, for five years and then moved to Santa Barbara, California, in July 1961. He attended San Marcos High, graduating in 1965. Shortly after graduation John j... Full story
The Sisters High School equestrian team is gearing up for a new season, and organizers want interested equestrian athletes to know that there is space for all on the team. Oregon High School Equestrian Teams (OHSET) "has a place for all riders, from beginners to very competitive," said Beth Jacobsen, who co-advises the team with Ann Gates. An introductory meeting is scheduled at SHS on October 27 at 6:30 p.m., and Jacobsen said flyers will be posted at the school with more information about the meeting. OHSET is a club sport... Full story
Even with the cool weather, I've been getting phone calls and emails reminding me that unsuspecting humans are meeting up (again) with our colorful and common - but sometimes alarming - Jerusalem cricket. I received an email the other day from a resident of Sisters that went like this: "I saw the one that Chuck Stahn let bite him. (It's OK to let him know that I wasn't dumb enough to even touch this guy!) So, do you know what the heck this thing is? I tossed a pen down ne... Full story
Residents of Aspen Lakes were using bottled or boiled water after a routine test last week showed coliform bacteria in the subdivision's water system. "We ended up with a positive hit for total coliform," said Matt Cyrus of Aspen Lakes. "We've been chlorinating since Saturday." Cyrus said the chlorine disinfectant was being flushed on Tuesday, which would leave the system ready to be re-tested. Homeowners were issued with a notice to boil water - which Deschutes County... Full story
