News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 51
Oregon is expected to surpass its record of 910 pertussis cases by the end of 2024, prompting health officials to sharpen their warnings about the disease’s serious risks—especially for young babies — and their emphasis on the importance of vaccination. As of November 13, Oregon has seen a total of 827 cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in 23 counties during 2024, according to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data. At least one person, an older adult, has died. In 2012, 910 pertussis cases were reported, the h... 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
Whether you're new to fitness or a seasoned athlete, managing muscle soreness effectively is key to maintaining a consistent workout routine. Here are some tips for optimizing your post-workout care at home. 1. Stay hydrated. When you exercise, you lose fluids through sweat. Replenishing this water loss is crucial for muscle and joint function and removing toxins from the body. Staying hydrated reduces muscle cramping and spasms. Proper hydration also ensures your joints are well lubricated, which prevents stiffness and p... Full story
Living Well with Dementia Sisters will host the Care and Connect Resource Fair on Thursday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Hwy. This free event is designed to connect all care partners with local organizations and resources to help them navigate the challenges of supporting loved ones living with dementia. The Care and Connect Resource Fair will feature more than 20 local service providers and community organizations, each offering valuable information and tools for c... Full story
As the weather turns in Central Oregon, it’s time to start thinking about supplementing with vitamin D. Vitamin D supports bone health and immune function by promoting magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus absorption. When our skin is exposed to the sun, our bodies naturally create vitamin D, also known as calciferol. As the temperatures drop and the days shorten, making enough calciferol naturally can be challenging and we risk becoming deficient in this important staple. So how do we know if we are getting enough vitamin D f... Full story
Medicare Open Enrollment is underway. The Council on Aging of Central Oregon’s free Medicare counseling services are ready to assist. The Open Enrollment period, running from October 15 to December 7, is the critical time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review and make changes to their health and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year. This year brings important changes for Medicare Advantage plan holders in Central Oregon. Starting January 1, 2025, Moda and Regence will no longer offer Medicare A... Full story
Respiratory illnesses like influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are known to spread more rapidly during fall and winter months, so Deschutes County Public Health (DCHS) is advising residents to take precautions to stay healthy and protect others in the community. “One of the most effective methods to prevent the transmission and severe outcomes of these contagious diseases is to make sure your vaccinations are up to date,” said Dr. Richard Fawcett, Deschutes County Health Officer. “Washing your hands fre... Full story
Residents living in and around Sisters can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. Sister-Camp Sherman Fire Station Community Hall will host this community event on October 2. The site is located at 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters. Screenings can check for: level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health; HDL and LDL Cholesterol levels;... Full story
Walking into Tim and Jane Killefer's home feels like putting on a comfy robe before settling in to have a nice long chat, with Kenzie the black Lab at your feet. It doesn't feel like a place where death and dying are prominent features of each day. Tim and Jane have always considered themselves athletes, moving from Salem to Sisters in 2019 to partake of all the outdoor recreation opportunities, now that they were both retired from teaching middle school. Jane describes her... Full story
In celebration of Welcoming Week 2024, three local organizations are bringing back the popular Health and Wellness Fair Sunday, September 22, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Ponderosa Park in Bend. Mosaic Community Health, Volunteers in Medicine, and Deschutes County Health Services are co-hosting the second annual outdoor event to welcome immigrant, refugee, Latino, and other community members and provide easy access to useful information for improving health and well-being. “We aim to improve the health and wellness of community mem... Full story
Oregon is one of the hottest states in the country and it’s not the weather. COVID-19 has made a comeback of sorts, particularly in the western states. Since late April COVID-19 has seen a surge in Oregon, mostly from omicron variants, according to Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunization at the Oregon Health Authority. People testing positive for COVID climbed from a rate of 3.1 percent in April to over 18 percent during the last week o... Full story
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) announced that Trevor Frideres DMD, FAGD, principal of Sisters Dental, received the prestigious Fellowship Award during the AGD’s convocation ceremony. The celebration recognizes AGD member’s commitment to excellence in dental education. During the event at the AGD’s scientific session on Saturday, July 20, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dr. Frideres accepted this award along with 264 general dentists receiving this award. The Fellowship Award is presented to dentists looking to provi... Full story
For the last four years, the popular Sisters Ride Share and Transportation (STARS) program has been meeting the needs of residents who aren't able to provide their own transportation to non-emergency medical appointments in Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. In 2018, the need for that service was identified in a community study, and STARS, powered by volunteers, was created as a grassroots initiative to fill the need. Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC), a newly formed 501(c)(3)... Full story
It seems that nearly everybody in Sisters Country knows somebody first- or second-hand who has had delays in getting medical care. Most often, the anecdotes go, it’s a patient waiting for a joint repair or replacement. The shortage of orthopedic surgeons is at near crisis levels, nationally and locally. The largest provider of such services is The Center in Bend, well-known to folks in Sisters. In a letter to patients, The Center said: “Thank you for entrusting your care to The Center. Our community is facing an une... Full story
Oregon Health & Science researchers say they have a promising new approach to developing a universal influenza vaccine — potentially within five years. Such a vaccine — a “one and done” dose — would provide a person with lifetime immunity against a rapidly evolving influenza virus and help safeguard against a pandemic like the recent one that also caused a respiratory illness. Flu strains have triggered six major epidemics in the past century and a half, with the worst in 1918 when millions of people died worldwide... Full story
The Center Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Care & Research and St. Charles Health System have signed a letter of intent to explore expanding their relationship to preserve and strengthen access to orthopedic, neurosurgical, physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine, in the Central Oregon region. Central Oregon is experiencing a rapid reduction in access to care across many different types of medicine. As costs to provide care are increasing while reimbursements for services remain flat to declining, many independent... Full story
Family and friends of Sisters resident Kristy Cosden are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Kristy’s ALS. Kristy received a Power 3 wheelchair May 22, which she was able to drive downtown Sisters and back home, providing a new freedom and level of comfort as she now has to spend most of her day in a wheelchair. But now Kristy is in need of a vehicle that she can drive the wheelchair into and lock into place without requiring her to transfer to another seat — and s... Full story
Oregon health officials are concerned about a sharp increase in cases of pertussis — known as whooping cough — across nine counties and are encouraging people to get vaccinated against the disease. As of May 29, 178 pertussis cases have been reported to Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division. That’s a 770 percent increase from the 20 cases reported by that date in 2023. However, the 2024 numbers are roughly in line with those seen during similar time frames in the immediate pre-pandemic years, including 2019, w... Full story
A national nonprofit organization released a new program on Tuesday, May 7, to help families navigate the hazards of fentanyl and prevent deaths of young people as Oregon continues to battle the lethal drug epidemic. Song for Charlie, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness about fake fentanyl pills, launched The New Drug Talk Oregon, an educational web-based platform with free information about the risks of fentanyl and the dangers of self-medication and experimentation. The program also gives families guidance on how to... Full story
Knowing what to do in an emergency can be a matter of life or death. Yet most of us don't have the training to act swiftly and correctly in an emergency. Northwest Precision Emergency Medical Training is changing that, offering courses that range from basic babysitter safety protocols to cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to intensive wilderness first aid training. Sisters' first responders are highly competent, and their response times are very good - but this is still a... Full story
Joe Uhan's physical therapy practice is about much more than alleviating pain and discomfort. It's about restoring people to the active life they love. "People come to me not just because they have pain, but because they want to do stuff," he told The Nugget. "And that stuff can be running a marathon, or it can be playing with your grandkids." Chronic pain and debility due to injury or wear and tear can be discouraging, and Uhan thrives on helping people overcome what seems... Full story
In the past two weeks, Deschutes County Public Health has identified seven cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough in the community. All cases have been investigated by Public Health Communicable Disease staff and close contacts have been notified. In 2023, a total of six cases of pertussis were reported in Deschutes County. Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is transmitted from person to person through droplets from a cough or sneeze. Newborn babies, who are too... Full story
Residents living in and around the Sisters area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station community hall will host this community event on May 9. The site is located at 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters. Screenings can check for: level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health; HDL and LDL cholesterol... Full story
Sisters will take on the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease in a conference in May. A McGinty Conference — usually hosted in much larger communities — will be held at Sisters Community Church on Monday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The events, including the principal one in Portland, are Oregon’s leading research and education events highlighting Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and honors Dr. Dean McGinty, a Portland geriatrician, an early advocate... Full story
Head lice are fairly common among school-aged children. Notifying parents of a small outbreak in multiple grades of Sisters School District, nurses called head lice “pesty nuisances.” Sisters Elementary School (SES) nurse Jennifer Morris told The Nugget, “We’ve had off and on cases.” The recent letter or communication that went out to parents occurred “on request of a handful of parents that reached out to me over the last month.” Morris said, “We were hoping spring break wo... Full story
