News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
Smoke-filled days are a bitter memory in Sisters Country, but the effects of the Pole Creek Fire will linger for many years, though the last wisps of smoke have been deadened by rain and snow. In fact, rain and snow now become a threat to the very landscape over which the fire raged for more than a month, from the morning of September 9. Earlier this month, an early rainstorm washed over Sisters Country. Whychus Creek ran a thick, muddy brown through town and locals knew what... Full story
An Oregon State Police (OSP) Arson Section detective is continuing the investigation into Friday night's suspicious fire southeast of Sisters that extensively damaged a vacation home. On October 26, at approximately 7:08 p.m., firefighters from Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District and Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District responded to a reported fire at 17850 Warrin Rd. A two-story vacation home was ablaze. The fire extensively damaged the home, which was... Full story
City council chambers were packed Thursday night with more than 50 visitors, primarily downtown business owners and their supporters. What they heard from the city council at the conclusion of the public input section brought loud applause. "Thank you all for your comments and attention," said Mayor Lon Kellstrom at the conclusion of the public comment. "I suggest council, with your agreement, that we (give) an informal direction to staff ... to prepare a resolution for next weeks special meeting (November 1) directing... Full story
Grinding through the desert night saps the will. You're in pain, pushing through on sheer determination, sustained by months of training and a dedicated support crew. Your pedals turn a million times as you traverse miles upon miles of some of the most inhospitable terrain ever to see two wheels; 508 of them to be exact. They don't call the Furnace Creek 508 "the toughest 48 hours in sport" for nothing. It takes everything you've got just to finish. And yet... in the end...... Full story
Residents of Sisters Country will do well to have Alan Unger continue in his work as a Deschutes County Commissioner. Unger is fully engaged in issues that directly affect Sisters Country, from forest health and restoration to transportation. In a second term, Unger will play an influential role on committees that work on forest issues, including cooperative landscape restoration projects that represent the future of forest management in Sisters Country. He will also have a direct role in transportation decisions that will... Full story
To the Editor: Many letters have been written to this newspaper about the upcoming city council election. Good points have been raised, but few mention an important quality that differentiates the two experienced council members in this race: Brad Boyd and Lon Kellstrom. That quality is the willingness to work hard at the people's business, a quality that Brad always brought to his work as a council member. I have attended a number of council meetings and workshops over the past 10 years. The workshops are good forums for... Full story
I spent two days last week at the Bend Venture Conference 2012 ... lots of key learnings that are directly related to ongoing activity here in Sisters. Mutual respect and leadership... Great leaders; especially the very best ones, will always take responsibility for what occurs on their watch. Not only is this not happening right now on our city council, but our current leadership seems to be actively contributing to the discord and controversy. Many of you know me as the chairman of the Sisters Planning Commission. I've... Full story
Sisters will honor its military veterans in the traditional Sisters High School Veterans Day observances on November 8 at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Veterans and families are invited to participate in a veterans assembly honoring all those who have served their country. The program is being held in the auditorium, with guest speaker and music presentation. A coffee reception with the Sisters High School Leadership class will follow the morning assembly. For more information contact Michele Hammer,... Full story
After a year-and-a-half of waiting, the results are in. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) has released its newest rating for the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District (CRFPD). ISO is the entity that rates fire departments throughout the U.S. and directly influences homeowners' fire insurance rates. On a scale of 10, with 1 being the best rating, Cloverdale received a 6 for all homes in the fire district and a 3 for homes within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant, which... Full story
Last Wednesday evening The Pines of Sisters was the scene of a warm celebration for many of the people of Sisters Country and surrounding communities who serve as volunteers for the Deschutes Land Trust. The Deschutes Land Trust presented two Central Oregon residents with Volunteer of the Year awards at its annual open house on October 24. Pat Kearney and Jane Meissner were honored for their involvement with the land trust's free Walk + Hike program. Kearney first got... Full story
The Sisters Outlaws girls cross-country team are Sky-Em District champions. The squad lived up to expectations in again gaining the crown and qualifying for a return trip to the state championship. Running under sunny skies and mild temperatures at Lane Community College on Thursday, October 25, the Outlaws got little challenge from the rest of the league's runners. Zoe Falk led from start to finish to claim her first district individual title with a time of 19:59 over the... Full story
The Lady Outlaws dominated Cottage Grove in their last league match of the season and swept the Lions with scores of 25-16, 25-13 and 25-23 on Tuesday, October 23. Before the match, the eight seniors on the team were honored and the emotional prelude to the game was marked by lots of tears. "We needed a mop and a bucket," said Coach Miki McFadden. "It was a very special night for the seniors. I was hoping the emotions would help us on the court and not be a distraction." The... Full story
Ethan Luloff scored five touchdowns to lead the Outlaws to their 60-14 victory over La Pine at home on Friday, October 26, in Sisters' final game of the season. Homecoming events prior to the start of the game were a highlight in the exciting finish to a rough season. Sisters scored 20 points in the first quarter of the contest and held the Hawks scoreless. The Outlaws scored their first touchdown on a 20-yard pass from Tristen Lewis to Cole Moore just three minutes into the... Full story
The Lady Outlaws won both their games this past week and were scheduled to play Junction City for the league title on Monday, October 29, at Cottage Grove. Sisters shut out La Pine 6-0 at home on Monday, October 22, and two days later beat Sweet Home 3-1 at home in Sisters. On Monday, Liz Stewart got a hat trick in the first half and scored all three of Sisters' first-half goals. Stewart's first goal came in the sixth minute of play. Haley Carlson sent in a beautiful corner... Full story
Goals against the Outlaws boys soccer team are a rare commodity. The Outlaws blanked the Huskies at Sweet Home on October 24, with a score of 7-0 - their 10th shutout of the season. Ryan Pollard got Sisters' scoring frenzy started at the 24-minute mark. As Pollard pushed up the field, Keenan O'Hern played a ball right to him and Ryan finished with a very hard shot to the back corner post. Ten minutes later Justin Harrer put in a goal to give the Outlaws a 2-0 lead. Eli Boettner passed the ball to the feet of Harrer, who... Full story
Parker Bennett, a junior at Willamette University, helped the Bearcats claim the Northwest Conference cross-country title at a meet in Forest Grove on Saturday, October 27, winning the 8,000-meter race in 25:48, 15 seconds ahead of the runner-up. In an interview following the meet, Bennett said, "I believed in the idea that I could win the race against Matt Klein of Puget Sound," he said. "I haven't been working on my kick much, so I decided to push the third lap to go for... Full story
Jack Haney passed away October 17 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Jack was born December 4, 1920, in Missoula Montana, to Charles Augustus and Grace (Olson) Haney. He was raised in Missoula and Butte, Montana, and eventually Enumclaw and Yakima, Washington. His family was large, and Jack started working at age 12 while attending school. With two years of college completed, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving with distinction, (DFC, Purple heart with clusters)... Full story
Lois Ball, 83, of Redmond, passed away October 13. She was born in Portland on October 12, 1929, to A.P. Vengelen and Mary Kathryn McGinnis. She was preceded in death by her husband Ed Ball and sister Phyllis Vengelen. She is survived by her cousin John Sandtsed; nephews, David, Richard and Michael Cascadden and Brad and Mark Peterson; as well as great-nieces Markell Cowell and Sheana Dunn, and Markell's children Weston, Aubrie and Katie. Lois graduated from Marylhurst... Full story
Priscilla Smith Forsyth was born in Ellensburg, Washington on December 28, 1935. She passed away peacefully in Eugene on October 24, 2012. Priscilla was wife to Scott Smith for 52 years, living at Black Butte Ranch and Sisters from 1991 to 2007. In 2008 she married Myron Forsyth and moved to Cupertino, California. She was mother to Miffy Davis and Jeff Smith; grandmother to Zachary, Natalie and Sophia Davis, Tyler and Katie Smith; great-grandmother to Tabor Davis. A memorial... Full story
As a seasoned veterinary orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Robert Fuller of Sisters carries a high level of responsibility. "I am the only orthopedic surgeon east of the Cascades that does spinal surgery," said Fuller. "Otherwise they would have to ship the animal to Portland." The spine is one of the most delicate parts of any vertebrate's body; moving an animal that needs spinal surgery could prove detrimental. Dr. Fuller performs orthopedic surgery "on call" for over a dozen... Full story
• John Burgess wrote: Eight cars from the High Desert Corvette Club had the pleasure of providing transportation for the princesses during the Sisters High School Homecoming Parade, October 26. The HDCC members were extremely impressed by the princesses and princes as they were very polite, friendly and appreciative young men and women, as were all the other students participating in the event. Kudos to the parents and teachers of these fine young people. • Janice Harrer has been elected to the... Full story
Gathering up all her art pieces, those of her students and teacher helpers, and getting them to Sisters Library for the monthly art exhibit is something just short of a miracle - but throughout November Annie Painter will have it all there. In addition to producing art of her own, she also finds time to conduct color and design workshops ranging from a 90-minute color wheel presentation to a full three-credit course and everything in between. November's exhibit for the... Full story
Sisters Rodeo took a chance on a barrelman in 2007, a young middle school teacher who had an enormous amount of energy that translated into crowd-pleasing enthusiasm in the classroom and in the rodeo arena. After only six years on the professional rodeo circuit that barrelman, JJ Harrison, has been chosen barrelman for Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this December. "Sisters was my first big rodeo contract," said Harrison, of Walla Walla, Washington. His telephone... Full story
If the tempting aroma of roasted nuts isn't enough to lure you into the new Deez Nutz shop on Hood Avenue in downtown Sisters, then perhaps the warm free samples and spiced apple cider will. Owner Shannon Rogers hopes locals and tourists will go bonkers for her sweet and salty star attractions, bags and cones of freshly toasted almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts and cashews glazed in cinnamon sugar. Occupying a space left empty by Soda Creek Gallery, Rogers opened two weeks a... Full story
Rob Ralph started Green Ridge Window Cabinets to find a new creative outlet and business venture to add to his prolific retirement agenda. Eight months later, his distinctive bookcases are slowly gaining a foothold in the locally crafted furniture market. His new-found product and trade is the result of old-fashioned ingenuity and practicality: a quality line of custom-made, freestanding furniture with nostalgic appeal, using recycled or reclaimed wood from various regional... Full story
