News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 21 of 21
Sheriff Les Stiles discusses Greg Brown's guilty plea at a press conference, flanked by commissioners Tom DeWolf (left) and Mike Daly. Photo by Jim Cornelius Greg Brown had a lot of supporters in his hometown of Sisters. Through two bruising election campaigns for Sheriff in 1996 and 2000 -- even in the face of state and federal investigations and rumors of wrongdoing -- many in Sisters continued to believe in Greg Brown, a career lawman and long-time president of the local fi... Full story
Gregg Geser grinds out the miles in the California desert during the Furnace Creek 508. Photo By Rich Hummel Local cyclist Gregg Geser, 49, has learned a thing or two about himself in the past week. Riding a bike for 508 miles, virtually nonstop, in under 34 hours with a headwind through Death Valley, California, in blistering heat and achieving 35,000 feet in total elevation gain will do that to a person. Geser finished in fifth place in the annual Furnace Creek cycle race on October 12-13. Touted as "the world's toughest... Full story
A thief or a group of several thieves made off with more than 150 split rails that were to be used for fencing at the Deschutes Basin Land Trust's Camp Polk Preserve. According to Martin Winch, a volunteer with the Land Trust, the thieves took down and made off with five sections of the old Hindman fence -- hand-hewn rails more than 100 years old. Another 152 rails were new and valued at a total of $1,216. Those rails were stockpiled awaiting erection along a new entrance... Full story
Attorney Steve Bryant administers the oath of office to Sisters City Councilor Judy Trego. Photo by Jim Cornelius Judy Trego took her seat on the Sisters City Council on Thursday, October 17. Trego was appointed to serve out the term of Steve Wilson, who stepped down to move outside the city limits. Trego will serve through December 31, 2004. Trego, an eight-year resident of Sisters, serves with the Community Action Team of Sisters (CATS), developing the organization's youth... Full story
A new water line running from the Pole Creek Reservoir to serve the City of Sisters has been completed. "The water test is done and we're using it," said Public works Director Gary Frazee on Thursday, October 17. The bill is $164,455.76 for the new, back-up water line, which runs west of the creek. Pine Meadow Ranch Development was required to run a water line to the south end of their property and the city has acquired easements to carry the line further south. According to... Full story
Kevin Blueback describes his work at Warm Springs fish hatchery to a rapt audience. Photo by Conrad Weiler Yellow school busses rolled into Smith Rock State Park last Tuesday morning for the fourth annual Career and Culture Day for Central Oregon fourth graders. Brad Tisdel and his musicians played a lively beat while event organizer Cindy Glick, with Deschutes National Forest Headquarters in Bend, danced and welcomed the youngsters off the busses. Career and Culture Day helps focus on various environmental and outdoor jobs t... Full story
Central Oregon fire managers are concerned that more human-caused fires might be started as the area enters elk season with unusually dry fall weather conditions. Firefighters have already suppressed 13 human-caused fires this month in Central Oregon. Fall precipitation normally alleviates the area's fire danger at this time. However, a weather pattern characterized by scarce precipitation and critically low relative humidity will continue through the next few weeks, according to National Weather Service forecasts. Fire... Full story
Sisters children can learn about dinosaurs at the Preschool Parade program "Dinosaur Days" at the Sisters Library. The program takes place on Thursday, October 24, at 10:30 a.m. Each Preschool Parade session features stories and skills games appropriate for children ages three through six years old. Parents or caregivers attending are encouraged to participate in all the activities. "Awesome Autumn Adventure," this month's Thursday Thrills program, takes place on Thursday, October 24, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday Thrills is a... Full story
Sisters High School senior Jordan Beck will present a slide show from the school's recent trek to Nepal on Wednesday, October 23, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. at Sisters Athletic Club. Due partly to Beck's age, he was allowed into areas that are typically restricted. Beck is an accomplished photographer, whose work has appeared in The Nugget. Some of his photographs accompanied stories by Rongi Yost on the Nepal trek in the September 18 issue of The Nugget. Beck described the trip as a life-changing experience. "These people were... Full story
The Sisters football team took its first loss of the season on the road against league rival Sweet Home on Friday, October 18. The final score was 28-21 in favor of the Huskies. "It's what it looks like when two good teams play," Coach Bob Macauley said. "They just did a few things better than us, but it was a great game." The Huskies are a, well, husky team and that was a factor. "Their size really hurt us," Macauley said. "Across their offensive line, they weigh 300, 240, 235, 220 and 225. Our biggest guy weighs 215, and... Full story
Colin Hedren, right, with missionaries Suzanne and Steve Mickel in front of the Golden Door in Pula. Photo provided While most of his peers were heading for grad parties last summer, Colin Hedren traveled to southern California to prepare for his three-month-long stay in Croatia. Hedren admits that he missed being a part of all the graduation activities, but the trip to Croatia was an experience he'll never forget. "The missions leader at my church, Three Sisters Fellowship, came up to me last spring and asked me what I thoug... Full story
Bill Boyer displays his winnings. Photo by Conrad Weiler Sisters badminton player Bill Boyer competed in the World Masters Games held in Melbourne, Australia, earlier this month. Boyer came home with silver medals in singles and doubles competition for 70-80- year-old players. He also had a bronze medal for a team game with New Zealanders. Some 25,000 people from around the world attended the various sporting events at the games and Boyer was among the 1,200 badminton players of various ages who participated. Over two dozen... Full story
Jean Nave has captured for history the tense days of last summer when the Cache Mountain fire swept down and took two homes at Black Butte Ranch. Her book, "Wildfire Hits Black Butte Ranch," is due out Friday, October 25. Familiar names abound as the events of that last week of July are recounted: Fred Fost, fire lookout, photographer and BBR resident; Dale Larsen, BBR Maintenance Manager; BBR Fire Chief Ed Sherrell and all his brave firefighters; Loy Helmly, BBR Manager; Bill Burkart, BBR Fire Board Chairman; BBR Police... Full story
Sisters High School junior Rosita Rerat was airlifted from the Three Sisters Wilderness on Friday morning, October 18. She became ill while preparing to hike with a group of fellow students on the annual Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition (IEE) class trip. "Rosita's group had already spent a night out there," said her mother Kristine Rerat. "She felt faint as they were getting ready to go in the morning. She sat down for a while and felt better, but as they hiked she got worse." Rerat began going in and out of conscio... Full story
Judge Stephen Tiktin has denied the Cyrus family's claims for attorney's fees in a legal dispute with the Squaw Creek Irrigation District. Matt Cyrus estimates those fees as high as $300,000. Cyrus argues that Tiktin's ruling is not the last word on attorney's fees. "The whole issue is still up in the air," Cyrus said. The claim stemmed from a suit which the Cyruses won when Tiktin ruled earlier this year that Squaw Creek Irrigation District "converted" or took water from the... Full story
Lynn Miller, center, brought some top hands together to teach workhorse handling. Photo by Kristi Miller The Sisters Rodeo Grounds resonated with the sounds of jangling harness and the calls of teamsters when the Small Farmer's Journal hosted the Workhorse Workshops there on October 15-17. Lynn Miller, publisher of the Journal, teamed up with long-time friend and fellow workhorse clinician, Dr. Doug Hammill of Kalispell, Montana, to teach the workshops. They also enlisted the aid of expert teamsters Mike MacIntosh of Redmond... Full story
Former Deschutes County Sheriff Greg Brown pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday, October 16, to three felony charges stemming from his embezzlement of more than $575,000 from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. Brown, 49 and a resident of Sisters, faces up to 10 years in prison for each count, including Federal Program Fraud, Money Laundering and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Funds. According to Unite... Full story
Greg Brown held tight control over the budgets and finances of both the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. Even before he was elected Sheriff in 1996, Brown was the lieutenant responsible for budget in the Sheriff's Office. His control deepened after his election. While the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners had oversight responsibility, Brown's control over the budget numbers left them with little ability to... Full story
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday. To the Editor: I would like to... Full story
- A man was caught stealing empty beer bottles from a local restaurant. The owner did not wish to press charges, so deputies made the man put the bottles back and warned him not to do that anymore. - Deputies responded to a verbal domestic dispute. While there was no physical altercation to cite or arrest anyone for, the deputy warned the couple that the neighbors were complaining about the frequent screaming and yelling and they could be cited under the noise ordinance. - A Sisters deputy took the report on a hit-and-run tha... Full story
A sheriff and a thief We were wrong about Greg Brown. We were completely, totally, spectacularly wrong about Greg Brown. And we were wrong right up until Brown walked out of a courthouse in Eugene, still looking smug that he had betrayed us and so many others for so many years. We defended Greg Brown through those years. We defended him against accusations that he was arrogant. He was and we told him so, but he seemed to be doing such a good job that perhaps a little arrogance was acceptable. We defended him against charges... Full story
