News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
Realizing that selecting the district's chief executive officer is the most important task a school board undertakes, members of the Sisters School District's Board of Directors have decided to rely upon the services of a consultant to guide them in accomplishing the job. At a meeting on Tuesday, December 12, board members agreed to retain the Executive Search Services division of the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) to assist them in their search. OSBA Leadership Services Associate Director Betsy Miller-Jones will... Full story
To the Editor: I am very disappointed in the public comments of the Sisters School Board members regarding the resignation of Superintendent Ted Thonstad. It is obvious that Mr. Thonstad was asked to resign, yet all comments regarding his performance were positive. The board is an elected body, and we don't know who supported him and who didn't. We don't know why certain members were willing to renew his contract and others weren't. How can the public evaluate the thinking and decision making of these board members when they... Full story
A drilling crew has been punching through the dirt and rock on the site of the future Sun Ranch Business Park for the past couple of weeks looking for water. The tall drilling rig is working on the site of a new City of Sisters water well, which is expected to double the city's water capacity. The new well is part of an overall water system plan designed to meet Sisters water needs as the community grows over the coming decades. Developer Dutch Pacific donated a... Full story
Every fourth grader at Sisters Elementary School got an early Christmas present last Friday. It wasn't the latest electronic gadget or video game. In fact, the gift they received is one of the most ancient of man's games. Each of the 93 fourth graders received a chess set from their mentor in the classic game, retired school counselor Jack Weeks. For the past couple of years, Weeks has been offering one hour of chess instruction per week in each fourth grade classroom. "I... Full story
Your old Christmas tree can help send members of Three Sisters Fellowship on a mission trip. A group of church members is traveling to Mexico in February to help a mission started by a former pastor. They are raising money for the trip by picking up trees after the holiday for a suggested donation of $10. "If somebody has the desire to go, it is their financial resources. It really gives us an opportunity to fully rely on the Lord," said Kim Barry, one of the organizers. Barry added that while the church fully supports the mi... Full story
Adam Silva of Sisters out-punched Cesar Perez of West Portland on Saturday, December 16, to take his 146-pound weight class in the Oregon Holiday Invitational held at the Bend Armory. Silva, who boxes with the Deschutes County Rocks team, won the three-round bout by decision. "I threw more punches and landed more punches than him," Silva said. The Sisters teen notched his first victory for a 1-2 record. Silva trained hard for the bout, working to make the weight. "I was at... Full story
Not because they are convinced all legal guidelines have been met but in the spirit of giving parent developers a chance to succeed, the Sisters School Board approved the application with contingencies for the Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts during its regular meeting held on Monday, December 11. The 3-1 vote provides project director Michele Williams and her team the ability to move forward in formulating plans for the district's arts-centered charter school which is scheduled to open in September 2007. The five member... Full story
The boys' basketball team fell 71-100 to Madras at home on Tuesday, December 12. "Madras plays an up tempo style of basketball just like us," said Coach Rand Runco, "but basically they were about five weeks ahead of us." The White Buffaloes shot 54 percent at the free throw line and 50 percent at their two point shots. Madras made 16 three pointers with 12 of those coming all in the first half. Runco said, "We don't have our basketball legs yet so we played a zone to protect o... Full story
The Outlaws wrestling squad went to the mats in a dual meet at home against Marist on Thursday, December 14 and traveled to another dual meet at Summit on Friday. In Thursday's match against Marist, sophomore Thomas Schantz came from behind in the third period to pin Allen Harlow. The win pushed Schantz to a 7-3 record for the season. Both teams were understrength in several weight classes. Sisters had to forfeit matches, as did Marist, which resulted in more exhibition... Full story
The Sisters Elementary School Art Literacy Program is seeking community volunteers to assist with the program starting in January. Program director Paul Bennett said that all community members are welcome to volunteer for the program. "The school itself is so open to having volunteers come into the school," he said. He added that presently the program is short of volunteers and that "we are looking for a couple more people." The program is in its eighth year of providing students in grades 1-4 with the opportunity to learn ab... Full story
Santa Claus, goodies and gifts galore thrilled the children of The Little Cloverdale Preschool last Saturday. This is the third year that Santa has dropped by to join the students, teachers and parents of The Little Cloverdale Preschool in a holiday celebration called the "Breakfast with Santa Silent Auction." Also open to the surrounding community of Sisters and Redmond, the benefit began on Saturday at 8 a.m. and didn't stop until noon. It included a $5 plate breakfast... Full story
Two large ice sculptures adorn the open space to the east of Leavitt's. They were carved on Saturday, December 16 as a part of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Cowboy Christmas. This year is the first time that outdoor ice sculptures have been included in the annual chamber Christmas celebration. The works of art were created by artists Paul Stark and Jan Hasson; a third block of ice remains to be carved. Earlier in the day on Saturday, horse drawn wagon rides transported... Full story
The Sisters Community Choir, stunningly dressed in black with men in tuxedos and women in floor length attire, presented their second performance of the season to a crowd of more than 100 in the sanctuary of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration last weekend. Sunday afternoon's performance was the group's final performance of the season. This year's program included a variety of internationally flavored melodies from the choir as a whole, as well as solo and ensemble... Full story
Sisters will host the acclaimed director and filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke for two special film presentations and a mini-workshop for aspiring filmmakers. Her skateboarding picture "Lords of Dogtown" will have a special showing on Thursday, December 21, at 1 p.m. at Sisters Movie House. Hardwicke will host this event, and it is free of charge. She will be available for a question-and-answer session after the screening which is designed to provide insight for potential filmmakers in the community. To make reservations, call... Full story
Ryan Haney of Sisters placed second in the Rocky Mountain Nationals Gladiator World Championships in Boise last weekend. The regional tournament drew 673 wrestlers ages six to 15. Haney wrestled in the 12-and-under, 78-pound bracket. There were 11 wrestlers in his bracket. "We drove over to Boise on Friday morning for a Friday afternoon weigh-in," his father Jim Haney said. "After a good night's sleep, wrestling started at the Idaho Center Saturday morning at 9 a.m." Haney's... Full story
• A wallet was stolen at Sisters High School. • Two Sisters area residents were driving on a logging road when they hit a bump and their heads smacked the windshield of their car. One was transported by medics to the hospital. • The sheriff's office is monitoring reports of neglected horses. • A renter reported harassment by a property manager. The harassment consists of raising rates in winter. Black Butte Ranch Police • An officer covering for sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a fire at a... Full story
As the Scottish Highland pipes revved up for a rousing rendition of "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful," folks at Sisters Coffee Company knew they were in for an afternoon of holiday music with a distinct Celtic twist. A Scottish Heart performed for two hours on a relaxing Sunday afternoon in the log great room of the coffeehouse.The group is composed of area musicians: Irene Goodnight, fiddle; Becky Duncan, piano; and Steve Allely, pipes and drums. The ensemble entertained a very... Full story
High winds that howled through Sisters on Thursday night, December 14, downed trees and large limbs from Black Butte Ranch to Cloverdale. The largest tree in Bonnie Williams' yard on Fir Street in Sisters snapped off about seven feet from the ground and toppled onto her bedroom at about 8:30 p.m. Both she and her husband escaped injury. "We were decorating our (Christmas) tree, actually," Williams said. Williams told The Nugget that she heard a strange sound and went into her... Full story
The customs may be different and the food out of the ordinary, but the end result was a fun-filled afternoon of old-fashioned Christmas joy. Laughing children and relaxing adults completed the perfect Christmas picture. "La Posada" is a liturgical event that commemorates the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem and their asking for lodging. The tradition has many regional variations and in some form is practiced in varying locations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. "La... Full story
A standing-room-only crowd of friends, proud parents and grandparents attended the Black Butte School's (BBS) annual Christmas show last week. Held at the Camp Sherman Community Hall, folks were treated to over a dozen holiday songs by the 17 students at BBS. These ranged from "Jingle Bell Rock" to "Joy of Hanukkah" (with flashlights simulating the candle lighting ceremony) to "Silent Night." One of the evening's outstanding songs was presented using guitars for each student... Full story
"One action is worth a thousand words" was one of the leadership principles Sisters Rotarians learned this month. At Rotary's weekly meeting, SAIF president and CEO Brenda Rocklin shared the 10 leadership principles she has learned through crisis management. The head of Oregon's workers' compensation insurance organization attended Rotary to kick-off a series of speakers on leadership. Rocklin said she had learned many of her leadership lessons from experience by leading... Full story
Three Sisters Backcountry Access (3SBCA), a local snowmobiling guide operation that also offers back country ski access and outdoor survival and safety courses, is open for business again this year, with a new field office located at Upper Three Creeks Sno-Park. 3SBCA is operated by Sisters couple Gabe and Rima Chladek and their partners Shane and Lize Fox of Bend. The couples started the business last year under a special permit of the Deschutes National Forest. They felt... Full story
Santa's Elf Christina Fleming, who in real time is the receptionist at Sisters RE/MAX Town & Country Realty, had all of the presents wrapped and tagged in anticipation of Santa's arrival on Wednesday afternoon, December 13. The occasion was the second annual Christmas party for the children and friends of RE/MAX's agents and clients. "We have presents for all the kids - and they come and take pictures - and hang out. You know all the kids here are so tight, because it is kind... Full story
A massage therapist has opened her new business in Sisters Art Works in a suite shared with other healing professionals. Joanna Lansdale offers a variety of treatments from Swedish massage, prenatal, foot massage and Thai massage. Lansdale said there aren't many Thai therapists in Central Oregon, so she likes to educate clients about the benefits of that style. Thai massage targets pressure points along the body's energy lines stimulating circulation and lymph drainage while increasing range of motion. The therapist helps mov... Full story
An international team of camelid researchers recently visited the Sisters' Hinterland Llama Ranch, owned and operated by Kay and Eric Sharpnack. Dr. David L. Kooyman, professor in the Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology in the College of Biology and Agriculture at Brigham Young University (BYU) brought a team together at the ranch to study genetics of the Hinterland llamas. BYU's portion of the project is currently being funded by the Ezra Taft Benson Agricultur... Full story
