News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
Despite the early snowfall this year, the snow pack readings indicate a below average season -- so far. Officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude about the winter and its effects on spring water levels. Kyle Gorman of the Deschutes County Water Master's Office said, "It's too early to tell. There are no indicators right now for how much water we will have to irrigate with this spring. Official readings don't begin until January 1." For the Deschutes and Crooked River Basins the overall snow pack is 80 percent of average... Full story
The Sisters School Board suffered its own version of "shock and awe" Monday night when it learned that bond interest earnings it had expected to give back to the taxpayers may be less than a quarter of the $900,000 anticipated. "I am astounded," said Board Member Jeff Smith. His sentiment was clearly shared by his four colleagues. "This is a devastating surprise," said senior Board Member Bill Reed. "We are $800,000 in the hole. We made a promise to the taxpayers..." The promise he referred to was a compromise fashioned... Full story
The crowd waiting for Sisters Starry Nights concert tickets all got their tickets. photo by Tom Chace Organizers of the Starry Nights benefit concert series were afraid that high demand could make for some disgruntled folks at a December 6 lottery for the sale of tickets for the Kenny Loggins concert last Saturday. However, all went smoothly at Leavitt's Western Wear, ticket sales headquarters. Sue Arends, one of the leaders of the fund-raising program to benefit the Sisters Schools Foundation, was very pleased with the patie... Full story
Flu is always an unwelcome guest, and this year the annual visit is shaping up to be long and dreary. Stomping in several weeks early, the virus has kept local clinics hopping to keep up with demand for immunizations. Dr. Steven Greer, physician at Bend Memorial Clinic in Sisters, said that there have been several confirmed cases of Influenza A in Deschutes County since November 24, one of which was in Sisters. "The virus has arrived earlier than usual. We are seeing large numbers of patients in our offices (in Bend and... Full story
Sisters' traditional food programs are in full swing this holiday season. The Sisters Kiwanis Holiday Food Share program and the Furry Friends Pet Food Drive help Sisters families provide a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and food for those families' pets. Donations for the food basket program are in good shape, according to Kiwanis President Glen Keeran. However, the Furry Friends program is way short of the amount of food needed. "The Furry Friends Food Drive is in... Full story
Sisters Elementary School students performed at Magical Voices of Christmas. photo by Jim Cornelius The Rotary Club of Sisters gave an advance Christmas present to local residents Friday evening, December 5, with a free concert at the new Sisters High School auditorium. A crowd of about 200 heard a variety of holiday tunes; saw two live reindeer penned outside the common room; got a chance to chat and have a picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus; and ended up the evening with a community carol sing-along around Santa's... Full story
Lynn Johnston and Principal Bob Macauley at the Sisters High School Library. photo by Tom Chace Sisters building contractor Lynn Johnston says that if he learned one thing from his father it was that hard work pays off. "I have been relatively successful here," he said, "not because I was very smart, because I wasn't --I had trouble keeping a 'C' average -- but because I was willing to work hard and that's what I learned from my dad and it's the root of my success." Johnston recently made a donation of $7,500 to the Sisters... Full story
Kathy Johnson, library volunteer, with the kestrel bird house she won at Sisters Library Christmas dinner. Jim Anderson is at right. photo by Conrad Weiler Peg Bermel, Sisters Library Manager, hosted the annual Christmas party for library volunteers at Sisters' St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church meeting hall last week. The event honoring 28 volunteers featured a social hour, dinner and dessert and stories from local naturalist Jim Anderson. Also recognized during the evening's ceremonies were Friends of the Library Board;... Full story
The Sisters School Board Monday night approved a two-year contract for Lynn Baker as the district's superintendent, starting July 1. For the past five months, the 54-year-old educator has been serving as interim superintendent with a one-year contract. This decision relieves the board of any need to begin yet another search for a chief executive. More than a year ago, board members undertook an extensive search for someone to replace Steve Swisher, who had given notice that he would retire at the end of the 2002-03 school... Full story
Cathy Ehlers and Lorena Bliven of the Sisters Garden Club. photo by Tom Chace With funds raised during their annual Sisters Home and Garden Tour, the Garden Club of Sisters made a contribution of $2,000 for the landscaping at the downtown Barclay Park. Cathy Ehlers is the coordinator for the visitors who come here from "out of town, literally from all over the world for our Home and Garden Tour," she said. Ehlers said that proceeds from the annual event make it possible for the garden club to support projects such as the... Full story
Sisters merchants are reporting mixed results from the Christmas shopping season so far, but remain optimistic concerning this most lucrative time until summer. In a survey conducted by The Nugget, eight out of 11 business owners reported brisk Thanksgiving commerce. However, the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a telephone poll eliciting a lackluster response about the holiday. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ric Nowak acknowledged that he had received a lukewarm response on the weekend from local... Full story
Thinning projects near Sisters may go faster in the wake of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 3. However, some local foresters and activists are skeptical about the bill's real impact on Sisters forests. The act promises a streamlined appeals process, protection for old growth, and a $760 million budget ($420 million for hazardous fuel reduction projects). Roland Giller, public affairs officer for the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests said, "I haven't seen the act... Full story
Cathy McLaurin (r.) explains her work to artists Janit Brockway (l.) and Kit Stafford. photo by Conrad Weiler A gathering of local artists met last week at the CATS (Community Action Team of Sisters) office in Sisters to hear Cathy McLaurin describe her Installation Art projects. She is currently a visiting artist at Camp Caldera near Blue Lake. Installation Art uses a wide variety of media in a created location -- an installation. One of McLaurin's projects involves collecting secrets. She started this in the Boston area... Full story
Ward Stroud. photo by Jim Cornelius Ward Stroud has been making music in Sisters and around the world for years. The musician and maker of Native American flutes has returned to Sisters from a long blues odyssey and is celebrating his homecoming with a full band concert at Sisters Athletic Club on Saturday, December 13, at 7 p.m. "I wanted to do something in my own community," Stroud said, noting that he had explored some venues in Bend. "It's nice because it's a non-smoking,... Full story
The terrain was rocky and rugged -- classic chukar country. The rimrock ledge dropped off hundreds of feet into the canyon below. A hunter standing on that rim could look down on the Deschutes River and west forever across the tawny hills. The hunting had been spotty, a couple of birds here and there; lots of hiking. But what better way to spend a Saturday morning in the fall? We were about to pack it in and head for the truck when the chukar began to talk. This wasn't the... 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 am thrilled that... Full story
- City Council Meeting 7 p.m., 2nd and 4th Thursday each month, Sisters City Hall. 549-6022. - School Board Meeting 7 p.m., 2nd Monday each month, middle school lecture/drama room. 549-8521. - Black Butte School District Board of Directors meets 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m., Black Butte School. 595-6203. - Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 8 to 9 a.m. at Sisters Fire Hall, 549-0251. - Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD meets for drill every Monday, 7 p.m. Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St.... Full story
- Dogs were feisty this week. A delivery driver was bitten ('tis the season). Another man reported a dog bite in town and a resident requested extra patrol at a subdivision east of town because dogs were behaving aggressively toward children waiting for the school bus. - A deputy stopped a man for driving with no headlights. He didn't have a license, either. - A deputy arrested a Sisters man on an outstanding warrant. - A woman complained that her husband hid her car after their separation. Since the car belongs to both of... Full story
