News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 26
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on November 21 approved a destination resort map that reduced the acreage available for destination resorts from more than 112,000 acres to 22,000 acres. This decision has no impact on the controversial inclusion of the Aspen Lakes properties on that map. Lost in the tussle over the inclusion of the Aspen Lakes properties on the map back in early 2010 was the fact that the county was actually trying to reduce and simplify their draft map. In March 2010 the county commissioners... Full story
When USFS Ranger Bill Anthony retires, he'll be leaving the Sisters Ranger District in good hands. Rod Bonacker, of Sisters, will become the acting ranger until a full-time ranger can be assigned to Sisters. Bonacker began work with the Forest Service in 1974 on the Bend Ranger District fire crew, and over the next few years, he supervised helitack fire crews on the Deschutes National Forest and the Toiyabe National Forest in the California Sierras until 1981. He moved to Sisters soon after that to manage the district's... Full story
Three weeks ago, the city council chose a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Water system improvements were delayed while no provision was made to build funds for their eventual payment. Water rates were left unchanged except for a .00013 increase per cubic foot consumed over 1,000 in any month. Many factors were debated in reaching this decision. A technical advisory committee (TAC) met many times to review project priorities. They concluded that capital improvements (CIP) totaling $5.9 million could be postponed... Full story
Reading is everything. Strong readers tend to succeed, even if they have obstacles in their path. Those who can't read well tend to fall by the wayside, struggling in school and in life. "The only way you're going to excel is if you're a good reader," says Sisters Schools Superintendent Jim Golden. In fact, lack of reading skills can be a strong predictor of stark failure - what Golden calls "the prison pipeline." "They're full of people who don't know how to read," he notes.... Full story
The Sisters High Desert Chorale and several guest performers will be presenting free holiday concerts on Friday, December 16 and Sunday, December 18. For more than 20 years, Sisters singers have celebrated the holiday season with free Christmas concerts. Under the direction of Irene Liden the chorale, a community chorus of more than 50 singers, will perform a mix of classical, contemporary, gospel and traditional Christmas music. As an added treat, guest performers will include violinist Amity Calvin, a Sisters High School... Full story
The Sisters Science Club will launch their monthly community seminar series, "Big Ideas in Science," on Monday, December 12, at 11 a.m. in the community room of the Sisters Public Library. Each session will begin with a 30-minute DVD on the subject. The first presentation is on "The Expanding Universe." Jim Hammond will be the moderator for the discussion and audience participation that follows. Questions to be discussed include: How do we know the universe is expanding? What was "The Big Bang"? What was Einstein's... Full story
Thirteen Central Oregon teams attended the Officials Classic at Summit High School on Friday and Saturday, December 2-3. The tourney is hosted by the OSAA officials with no cost to the teams that attend. Four wrestlers from the Outlaws squad placed in the top seven, including Josh O'Brien, Ryan Long, Austin Morlan and Hayden Jones. O'Brien (145 pounds) had 24 wrestlers in his bracket and had to wrestle five times over the course of the tourney. In his first match, Josh pinned Diego Sanchez of Bend High in just 23 seconds.... Full story
The Lady Outlaws basketball team lost 57-38 to Crook County on Friday, December 2, in a rough, physical game. Sisters played their best defense of the night in the first half of the pre-season opener against the Cowgirls. Sadly, the Outlaws couldn't hang onto the ball and turned it over 16 times in the first half. The Outlaws kept their fouls to a minimum and made Crook County shoot from the outside. At the half the Cowgirls had 10 fouls and the Outlaws had only three. Sisters played a much closer third quarter, with the... Full story
Misty Nicklous, of Sisters, won a quilt in the Sisters American Legion Memorial Day raffle. Sisters Post 86 of raised approximately $600 with the raffle. The quilt was made and donated by Phyllis McDaniel of Tualatin, Oregon. She is the sister of Gene Hellickson, Commander of Post 86. "She wanted to donate it to the Sisters veterans to help us raise money for any Sisters veterans in need," said Hellickson. "It was her way of showing her appreciation to veterans." The American... Full story
The Germinators, the Sisters Middle School Lego Robotics Team, competed in their first tournament, held Sunday, December 4, at Mountain View High School. There are over 19,000 First Lego League teams in 50 different countries competing in tournaments all over the world. The team, Sean Williams, Leah Chapman, Sydney Jacobsen, Tyler Wonderly, Garrett Young and Abi Manley, spent the day completing missions with a robot they designed, programmed and built. They also wrote and... Full story
The boys basketball team crushed the Cowboys of Crook County in their season opener on Saturday, December 3. The Outlaws' shots fell fast and furious in the first quarter, and at the close of the period the Outlaws held a commanding 20-5 lead. Sisters continued to dominate play and maintain momentum and surged to a 36-13 advantage at the half. Sisters held the Cowboys to just three points in the third quarter and went on to easily win the contest in a final score of 65-25.... Full story
The Sisters Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store was a scene of happy chaos on Monday afternoon as 20 preschool and elementary children completed their Christmas shopping. In its 12th year, the annual Kids Shopping Day is a highlight for Habitat staff and volunteers. "I love the event; it's my favorite one," said Shelly Stark, one of the volunteers. She was shopping with 5-year-old Emily, who was efficient in her choices and had time to find a Barbie and a book for herself. The... Full story
• John and Kathryn Leavitt wrote: We had our first "Make a Difference Night" at Leavitt's last Thursday. Our request was to bring in non-perishable food items and/or monies to be given to Sisters Food Bank. The event brought in 79 pounds of food and $900. While Christmas music played and refreshments were enjoyed, people came together for a night of giving to a very important cause and the satisfaction of shopping locally. Leavitt's gift to our loyal patrons was 20 percent off on all their purchases for the... Full story
Bryan Summers, the new band teacher at Sisters High School and Sisters Middle School, hopes to use his rich music theory background and his broad experience to draw his students into experimenting "outside the box." "I'm unusual in the way that I do this," said Bryan. "The one thing that I have found with any musician is that the more you hear yourself, the better you want to be." So Summers starts early, first encouraging and then requiring students to solo before their... Full story
William Cyrus, a senior at Sisters High School, is Sisters Boy Scout Troop 139's newest Eagle Scout. Cyrus met all the requirements necessary to become an Eagle Scout, including developing and leading a service project. For his service project, Cyrus and his team, working with John Rahm and Gene Trahern of the Sisters Trails Alliance, built and installed 11 sign posts on the Peterson Ridge Trail System. "We chamfered and routed the posts and glued on the placards," said... Full story
The family of Faye Eileen Waltosz would like to say their parting goodbye to their honored mother, who fought a valiant effort battling cancer. She went to her Savior November 28, 2011. She was born February 21, 1935 in Bordulac, North Dakota to John and Mabel Marlow. She was a sibling of eleven children. She moved to Hoquiam, Washington, in 1951 and met her true love; Phillip Waltosz, they were married in 1953. He preceded her in death in 2004. They lived in Washington State... Full story
Ken Wayne Tayles passed away at his home in Clackamas on November 23, 2011. He was a long-time produce manager at Sentry Market in Sisters, then moved to the Portland area to work for Unified Grocers in produce sales. Ken loved life and always had a joke to tell. He is survived by his parents, Joe and Joan Tayles of Canyon City; by his sister Melinda Dettman of Prineville; by his twin brother Dwayne of Redmond, and thousands of friends. Services will be held at a later date.... Full story
• Sisters Athletic Club fielded the third-largest team in the annual Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis last Saturday. The 53-member group had a great time while raising $1,200 for the cause. • Baldwin's Custom Hats won honors as Best Hatmaker - Small Shop in True West Magazine's Best of the West list in the January 2012 issue. In its citation, the magazine wrote: "Gene Baldwin makes hats the old-fashioned way in his shop at Sisters, Oregon, but he... Full story
The annual holiday food drives are underway in Sisters, and the Sisters Kiwanis Club is encouraging those in need to apply for the Kiwanis Holiday Food Share program. The program offers a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, along with pet food for family companions provided through the Furry Friends Pet Food Drive. Kiwanis member David Hiller reports that there was an influx of applications last week and the program is in need of donations to meet the need. "We're not as... Full story
Christmas is a season of giving, and nothing feels better than giving to organizations that contribute to the life of the Sisters community throughout the year. Sisters Country is home to many active nonprofit organizations that enrich lives, aid distressed people and animals and reach out to other people in need across the globe. Your generous contributions are the life-blood of these groups; your help makes their work possible. Here are a few local groups who need your... Full story
Sisters Elementary School was transformed Friday evening into a colorful international bazaar for the Ten Friends Himalayan Holiday, with hand-crafted items for sale from the heart of Tibet. The cafeteria hall became a bustling marketplace for shoppers looking for special gifts to support the educational endeavors of the group founded by local educators Mark LaMont and Rand Runco. Ying Yang incense sticks, Buddha Eyes calendars, copper and silver bracelets, silk purses, wool... Full story
The 15th annual Magical Voices of Christmas concert at Sisters High School lifted hearts and spirits on Sunday night with a nostalgic blend of modern and classic musical treats and sparkling performances. Rotarian and emcee Jim Craig, who launched the yearly holiday concert event back in 1997 to kindle some Christmas cheer, started the program off with a thank-you to all the volunteers and title sponsors, and especially the hard work of director Kathryn Godsiff. "It's... Full story
There were shining gifts aplenty at the Santa's Village Open House and Craft Fair at Sisters Art Works on Saturday, including a sit-down photo session with Santa for dogs of all distinctions to benefit the Furry Friends Pet Food Drive. Outside on the porch, pooches lined up for their moment with St. Nick as shoppers warmed themselves beside a blazing firepit. Black Butte School sold fresh fir and pinecone wreaths and cinnamon sugar almonds to benefit their programs. Inside,... Full story
With the theme of "Winter Wonderland," the holiday season arrives at Black Butte Ranch on Thursday, December 8, as the Gallery at The Lodge presents the art work of Jennifer Lake and an unveiling of her latest unique painting of Black Butte Ranch during the winter holiday season. The unveiling and artist reception to follow will be held at The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch beginning at 5 p.m. This will be the first in a series of holiday activities scheduled at the Ranch through... Full story
Dr. Little Liedblad of Broken Top Veterinarian Clinic has been repairing and training dogs for many years. It wasn't until "Suture," a beautiful female Australian cattle dog puppy came into her life that she fully realized how much time, dedication and TLC it takes to train a dog for the American Kennel Club (AKC) competition. Train they did, and Suture returned all those hours of work, fun and love by bringing home the bacon - a truck-load of trophies to show for the fun they... Full story
