News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 34
The Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) has announced its first cohort of Emerging Conservationists of Central Oregon (ECCO). The first ECCO cohort includes 31 individuals from throughout Central Oregon who bring a wide variety of skills, expertise, and passion for conservation to the Land Trust. "The Land Trust is thrilled to work with this amazing group of people to generate excitement, knowledge, and interest in conservation here in Central Oregon. Together we are building the... Full story
Oregon school districts are projected to pay $670 million more to the state’s public employee pension program over the next two years, potentially wiping out all increases to school funding proposed by Gov. Tina Kotek. The increased tab, more than 10 percent for some districts, follows lagging returns in investments of the Public Employees Retirement system (PERS) and could affect teaching and learning in some schools. “Next year’s sharp jumps in PERS rates will take significant money away from classrooms without making life... Full story
Seed to Table received combined donations of $8,500 from 100 Women Who Care-Sisters members this month. At their November 21 meeting, the women heard three informative and inspiring presentations before voting for their choice to receive their individual $100 donations. Seed to Table's founder and executive director Audrey Tehan talked about their mission to increase wellness in the Central Oregon community through providing equitable access to locally grown farm fresh... Full story
A small, mighty crew of parents is preparing an unforgettable experience for Sisters High School graduating seniors — and they are seeking community help to make it happen. The Foundation is seeking tax-deductible contributions to ensure that graduation festivities are free and accessible to all graduating seniors. The fundraising drive is timed around “Giving Tuesday” on December 3. The estimated cost for this year’s festivities is $25,000. Funds raised will allow the Foundation to cover a variety of expenses, includi... Full story
As we approach the day set aside to give thanks and show gratitude, have we given much thought to how this important skill is taught and passed on? There’s so much our kids enjoy without a second thought of how it has come to be. Even when they politely say, “thank you,” does it really register what it would be like to be without their many blessings? When it comes to teaching skills most adults recognize the importance of role modeling to exemplify the characteristic we want to pass on. How are we doing? On Thank... Full story
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a person linked to a previously reported outbreak affecting birds at a commercial poultry operation in Clackamas County. Health officials are not providing additional details about the individual, naming the operation, and will not be providing specific location information to protect privacy. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low. “Clackamas County Public Health Divi... Full story
Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) is accepting applications for its 2025 Washington, D.C., Youth Tour program. CEC will select two high school juniors to visit the nation’s capital for one week in June. Participants will join student leaders from electric cooperatives nationwide to learn about cooperatives’ contributions to rural America, leadership, the political process, and interact with elected officials. The trip includes seeing the nation’s capital and other sites, including the Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietn... Full story
Three months into the first school year in the new Sisters Elementary School (SES) building, its leaders are over the moon. The old grounds, they say, were "bursting at the seams." Teachers and students "felt stifled." Today, "everything is bigger and better," said Principal Joan Warburg. "Better than expected." Assistant Principal of Student Success Jana Giles is very pleased with how students and teachers have been getting into their new groove. "Teachers have been really... Full story
Thanks, y’all, for the feedback on my last column, a light ‘n’ snarky one about women’s mid-life changes. People seemed especially pleased that I encouraged men to read. Keep reading, folks of all genders! I mentioned an upcoming talk at the library. I went, despite the grim weather, and enjoyed open, nonjudgmental conversation with local ladies of various ages. At the podium stood doctors Erin LeGrand and Sarah Hellmann, both OB/GYNs with St. Charles Medical Group. OB/GYNs... Full story
As we enter the annual season of giving, you may be thinking of charities you wish to support and wondering how to gain tax benefits from your gifts. In the past you wrote a check to a charity and then deducted the amount of the gift, within limits, from your taxes. A few years ago, as part of tax law changes, the standard deduction was raised significantly, so fewer people were able to itemize deductions. Consequently, there was less financial incentive to make charitable gifts. This didn’t stop people from making them a... Full story
Four state agencies are teaming up this holiday season to support the “Rethink the Drink” winter advertising campaign that encourages people in Oregon to celebrate safely by understanding the health and social harms of excessive alcohol use. Officials at the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (ADPC), Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) hope the tools provided by the campaign help people reduce the pressure to drink alcohol during fam... Full story
For the first time since being established in 2017, Sisters Cold Weather Shelter (SCWS) organization has a consolidated space for their office and supplies. Wellhouse Church has rented SCWS the building they used for their food bank, with the shelter taking over operation of the food program that is open every Thursday. Last week 220 customers received 850 lbs. of Thanksgiving meals. Shelter Executive Director Sharlene Weed said, “Our current space was the one we used a couple of years ago as a shelter and we had no reported... Full story
It is fashionable to suggest that violence doesn’t solve problems, although the history of the world suggests otherwise. It might be better to say that violence doesn’t always solve problems, because it was only violence that cemented the American Revolution, it was violent resistance that carved out what little indigenous Americans have left, it was violence that finally solved Hitler, and at least for a little while it allowed schoolgirls in Kabul to learn how to read wit... Full story
The Outlaws basketball squad is working hard to prepare for the tough competition they’ll face in the Mountain Valley Conference this season. They return five seniors to the squad, and bring on four newcomers to round out the roster, and hope to earn a berth to the state playoffs. Seniors Landen Scott, Kale Gardner, Garrett Sager, Oliver Bernhardt, and Levi Szesze all are back for their final year. Scott was a first-team, all-league Mountain Valley selection last season. Last year he played in all 23 games, and averaged 1... Full story
• Staff and fellow councilors recognized Susan Cobb's service at her last meeting as a City Councilor last week. For her part, Cobb expressed her appreciation to the public and to her colleagues: "I thank the public who voted to put me here to serve as it has been a great honor. Thank you to those who encouraged my positions. Thank you to council members for their unfailing civility. I thank all the staff members from whom I had the fortune to receive their smiling help in... Full story
Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who cultivated a closer relationship with some labor unions than most Republicans and narrowly lost her bid for a second term in Congress earlier this month, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Labor Department. Trump on Friday praised Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamster who sought endorsements from unions in her unsuccessful reelection campaign, for building relationships with business and labor. “I look forward to working with her to create tre... Full story
Bend author and retired criminal attorney Lori Hellis will present her new true crime book, "Children of Darkness and Light: Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell: A Story of Murderous Faith" at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. In this gripping work of true crime, Hellis takes readers inside the notorious Lori Vallow case and the devastating "doomsday murders." A blonde beauty queen, missing children, six suspicious deaths, and the twisted Mormon doomsday wri... Full story
Sisters Transportation and RideShare (STARS) announced its ride sponsorship “drive” is launching on Giving Tuesday, December 3, and will run through December 31. STARS is a volunteer ride share program that provides Sisters Country residents with free non-emergency medical rides to Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. STARS “riders” are unable to drive themselves or afford private ride services, and many say, without the nonprofit, they would need to cancel their medical visits. According to Rennie Morrell, STARS’ Executive Director,... Full story
The new Sisters Elementary School - constructed close to Sisters middle and high schools - is helping to build connections between students. Earlier this month Sisters High School IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition) students worked with SES kindergarten and firtst graders on plant identification. After the teachers of these classes realized that they were covering similar content, they decided to collaborate. Junior age students at SHS led hands-on activities... Full story
Sisters High School filled the school auditorium with joyful sounds in their annual Fall Concert held Tuesday, November 19. Showcasing band, choir, and Americana music, the concert blended the multiple SHS music departments into a singular cohesive and enjoyable performance. "My favorite part was the vibe and the energy between instrumental and vocal programs," SHS Band Director Kayla Golka said. "We have really awesome synthesis and community, this was the least stressful con... Full story
For most of us, Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends for feast and fellowship — maybe with some football thrown in. We’re all kind of vaguely aware of the historical context — Pilgrims and Indians got together to make the First Thanksgiving and all that. Pondering the history behind Thanksgiving isn’t necessary to the holiday — but it can deepen the experience. As Native American Heritage Month winds down, it’s an opportunity to try to see the holiday thr... Full story
Letter to Harris To the Editor: In “An open letter to Kamala Harris” published last week in The Nugget, its author states: “The election on November 5, 2024, has demonstrated that there is a large portion of America, measured both geographically and by headcount, who do not share the opinion that the right to abortion should be federally protected throughout a pregnancy for any and all reasons.” The election, of course, demonstrates no such thing. And the current Vice President needn’t rely on the election results as a refe... Full story
Following an October 6 “community conversation” about houselessness in the Sisters area, hosted by a coalition of local organizations, the City of Sisters has released a 32-page summary report on community concerns, ideas, and questions that came out of the meeting. The event served as a platform for learning and input-gathering providing an opportunity for participants to hear from 11 community groups who are each providing services and assistance to the unhoused in Sis... Full story
Snow started piling up above 4,500 feet two weeks ago, to the point where Mt. Bachelor opened to pass holders 12 days ahead of its November 29 plan. There were about 200 skiers Saturday and Sunday at Ski Hoodoo even though the resort is not yet open. With a solid two feet of snow, skiers - primarily from the Valley - trekked the 30-40 minutes to the summit and skied down. Around the bend at Ray Benson Sno-Park, dozens of sledders blasted off in their snowmobiles careful to... Full story
Starting Sunday, December 1, four winter range closures take effect across the Deschutes National Forest to provide critical habitat for deer and elk. The four annual wildlife winter range closure areas include Cabin/Silver Lake, Metolius Winter Range, Opine Travel Management Area, and Tumalo Winter Range. Motorized vehicles (including snowmobiles and electric bicycles) are prohibited in the closure areas to protect deer and elk during the winter. The winter wildlife closures will last through March 31, 2025. Winter range is... Full story
