News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 26
When the thermometer hits 20 below, it's trouble. Trouble starting cars, trouble with frozen pipes, trouble with electrical power. When a hard cold snap hit Sisters last week, all that trouble came down, with a capital "T." Power went out at 2:34 a.m. on Tuesday morning (see related story, page 1). The outage left many houses that rely on electricity for heat very cold. Pipes froze in homes and businesses across Sisters. Fuel gelled up in the high school generators, causing bo... Full story
2:34 a.m., Tuesday, December 8. It's cold. Bitter cold. An arctic blast has dropped temperatures in some parts of the Sisters Country to 20 degrees below zero. Along the power line running just west of Tollgate there is a blinding flash: a socket-eye connector, rated to 50,000 pounds, has cracked. The line falls to the ground, instantly taking out power and sending a cascade of effects back along the Central Electric Cooperative transmission line that runs from Cline Falls to... Full story
Citizens who are having trouble paying their utility bills in tough times are getting a little relief from the City of Sisters. Last week the city council passed a resolution creating a low-income utility-assistance program. Those with a median income of less than 50 percent of area median income ($25,400/two person household; $31,750/family of four) are eligible for 25 percent discounts on city water and sewer rates. High Country Disposal will also participate in the program, discounting garbage rates by 25 percent.... Full story
After years of starts and stops, a traffic plan to take Sisters through the next 20 years of development is up before the Sisters City Council for approval. The council held a public hearing on the Transportation System Plan (TSP) last Thursday and will continue it on January 14. The centerpiece of the $54 million plan is an alternative route using Locust Street and Barclay Drive to route through traffic away from the downtown core and through the industrial park. The plan cal... Full story
To the Editor: The electrical outage which occurred last week during the sub-zero cold spell in Central Oregon had all the potential for a significant disaster. Regional and county emergency operations centers were activated, a shelter was established, and the Greater Sisters Emergency Plan was implemented. Had the power not been restored quickly, additional damage to property would have resulted along with the threat to life and health with many of our residents without heat and power. I would like to commend Central... Full story
Extreme cold meant frozen pipes and lots of headaches for many people in the Sisters Country. For others, it meant one thing: Adventure. On Wednesday, December 9, three men from Central Oregon climbed the frozen main falls of Whychus Creek in what may be the first ice ascent of the cataract. Judah Slavkovsky, 28, of Sisters, led the single pitch with Lee Pyke, 24, of Bend, belaying him from below. The second climber up was Rick Slavkovsky, 54, of Sisters, belayed from above... Full story
About three weeks ago, a Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis ran out of gas during its migratory journey and crashed on a road in the Sisters area. At the time, most bird enthusiast thought it was a little late for these swan-like fish-eaters to be headed south or west to warmer feeding areas. But last Thursday morning - with the cold snap sending nighttime temperatures plummeting to 19 below zero - another grebe turned up on the snow-covered lawn next to the Sisters... Full story
Last year there were two separate performing choirs in Sisters. This year, there is one really big one. The Sisters Community Choir, with a history going back nearly 20 years, has joined forces with the more recently established High Desert Chorale to become the Sisters Chorale. Under the direction of Irene Liden, the combined choir of 58 singers will present its inaugural performances on two different dates this coming weekend. The chorale will perform on Friday evening,... Full story
The Gospel Choir of the Cascades is coming to Sisters. This relatively new Central Oregon choir was formed only two years ago and has already grown to more than 40 members. Gospel Choir Director, Julie Eberhard, is looking forward to bringing the group to Sisters. "The Gospel Choir has always wanted to perform in Sisters," said Eberhard. "Sisters is a great place for the arts, and there are so many talented musicians who live there, so we are really excited to perform among... Full story
More than 300 people turned out last Saturday for Sisters Dance Academy's winter recital, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." Jim Anderson narrated the story as dancers from the academy's ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap and creative movement classes enacted aspects of the beloved poem, from the classic "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" ballet to the hip-hop "HoeDown Throw-Down." Dancers prepared for more than two months for the recital, using class time to learn the choreography... Full story
Sixteen teams, including the Outlaws, attended the Culver Tournament held Friday and Saturday, December 11-12. Sisters had a good performance, but several fell short of placing in their weight class. The Outlaws did have two wrestlers that stood out. Freshman Josh O'Brien (130 pounds) started the tourney with a match against senior JR Higgs, from Central Linn, and won with a 3-2 decision. O'Brien then had to face the No. 1 seed, sophomore Jesus Relano, from Culver, and was pinned for his first loss. Josh defeated junior TJ Ki... Full story
Jocelyn Trask was looking for a way to better herself - and to see more of the world. She decided that joining the U.S. Navy was the way to do both. The almost-21-year-old mother of two boys scored well on the Navy's aptitude test and is slotted for a technical job. "I'll be an electrician in the cockpits of airplanes," she said. Her husband, Tyler Trask, will care for their two boys, ages three and a year-and-a-half. That's the hardest part of the move for Jocelyn. "It's... Full story
Quilts offer a unique kind of warmth - greater than that provided by a simple blanket of cloth. The care and love that goes into the making somehow transmits itself, especially in trying times when a bit of comfort is precious. The East of the Cascades Quilt Guild produces just such pieces of warmth and love. A core group of 20 quilters - sometimes a few more - meet once a month at Stitchin' Post, using donated fabric. "We get in here and just take the fabric and start making... Full story
Barbara Turner is Sisters' first Snow Queen for the Sisters Winter Wonderland celebration. Twenty-nine years in business with Sisters Cascade of Gifts marks only one of a lifetime of accomplishments. Turner has been one of the merchants who have been in Sisters since the early days of retail in the downtown core. She and her husband, John, purchased the store from Dale Roming. Four years later they added space and added fudge to their store's line of stylish gifts. Turner... Full story
Scoots Bar and Grill has new owners. It'll be a family affair, with Jim and Sharon Ramsey, their daughter Julia, and Sharon's brother, Jack Rhodes, taking over from previous owner, Dave Lentz. There won't be any noticeable changes to start with; the famous Scoots Burger still tops the menu, live music, regular DJs and karaoke will provide entertainment, and the atmosphere is staying friendly and small-town. Current staff members are all staying on, so regulars will still see... Full story
A very strong, combined girls-and-boys varsity squad cruised to an overall first-place finish in a three-way meet in the state-of-the-art community swim center in Madras on Saturday, December 12. "Barely in their fifth week of training in their new practice facility at the Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow pool, many swimmers are already showing equal or better results than at the end of the 2008-09 season," coach Isolde Hedemark commented. Setting the pace with a well-swum medley relay, the foursome of Michelle Young... Full story
Sisters High School junior Taylor Steele wrapped up a long cross-country season at the USATF Junior Olympic cross-country meet Saturday, December 12 at the San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nevada. Runners from throughout the country took part in the meet, which is divided into a number of age group races varying from three kilometers to five kilometers. Steele, running in the intermediate race, which included 15- and 16-year-olds, finished in 73rd place among the 180... Full story
•From Virginia Lindsey: I've had the pleasure of serving on the city's budget committee for three years, the last two of which have been working with Lisa Young, our new director of finance and administration. She has truly been a joy to work with. That is due in part to her knowledge and her willingness to assure we understand all the facts as we work through the yearly budget. I am so pleased that Lisa has won the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This is the... Full story
The boy's basketball team came out on top, 46-43, in a satisfying battle with Cascade on Thursday, December 10. Sisters played their tough half-court defense against the tall and athletic, top-ranked Cougars. The Outlaws were able to handle Cascade's 1-3-1 zone and their 2-3 zone well. Drew Harrison was on fire in the first quarter and hit three three-pointers for the Outlaws. Rodney Warner and John Erickson also hit big three-pointers, and at the close of the period Sisters held a 17-14 lead. Sisters tore Cascade's zone... Full story
Frank Archer III, of Black Butte Ranch, died on December 4, 2009. He was 80. A Committal Service with military honors will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 333 S.W. Skyline Blvd. in Portland. Frank Archer III was born in Wilmar, CA, on November 17, 1929 to Frank Jr. and Ida (Keller) Archer. He met and married JoAnne Marie Finley, who preceded him in death on June 5, 1983. Then he married Beverly J. Combs on February 5, 1988 in Portland.... Full story
Kathryn Sowell, of Yoncalla, Oregon, passed away on December 5, after suffering cardiac arrest. She was a life member of the Assembly of God Church. Her passions were God, her family, and the many years she spent serving children as a children's librarian. Hobbies included reading her Bible and journaling scriptures, piano playing, swimming, reading, long walks, gardening, fishing, canoeing and traveling. She was born on April 27, 1952, in Delta, Colorado to Norman Leroy... Full story
The Lady Outlaws fell 49-25 at Summit on Wednesday, December 9, with excessive turnovers definitely contributing to the loss. Sisters went down 18-1 in the first quarter, but came back and limited Summit to just three points in the second quarter, which enabled them to climb back into the game in the third quarter. Repeated turnovers in the fourth quarter resulted in transition points for Summit and blew the game wide open. Coach Kevin Cotner told The Nugget that his team has... Full story
Sisters Elementary School students presented their annual Christmas program Thursday evening, December 6. They had a message for us all: mind your manners, watch your attitude, and do unto others as you would have them do unto you - all conveyed through singing and dancing. Friends are like diamonds, they sang. Friends are a present. They ended their program sharing their last and greatest wish. "I truly believe that hope is the greatest gift we'll receive," they sang. Debbie... Full story
4 and above Grade 9: Barrett, Riley; Berg, Tyler S; Blumm, Nicolas C; Bruguier, Justine T; Chapman, Holly L; Cox, Riley M; Erlandson, Justin D; Fouts, Shannon M; Harris, Jessie L; Harrison, William E; Hedren, Haley M; Jacobsen, Austin N; Larson, Nicholas G; Lovegren, Danielle N; Mccabe, Clara K; Miller, Jessica L; Milliman, Tiffani M; Nieri, Taylor G; Pajutee, Nathan; Rockwood, Hannah; Rost, Madison; Scott, Kaylyn S; Sparling, Kristina B; Thompson, Shelbi J; Tigard, Cierra F; Wester, Jessica C. Grade 10: Davidson, Chelsey... Full story
Recently returned from Washington D.C., where she met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Venus Motors' CEO, Kay Hill, said the company is on its way to securing financing that will allow the company to establish an assembly and manufacturing facility in Central Oregon by retooling existing facilities. Venus Motors has established its headquarters in Sisters and is considering potential sites in Central Oregon for building high-speed electric vehicles and laser-tech... Full story
