News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 51
Fred Woodworth is a jovial man who's quick to smile and even faster to help someone in need of his expertise. Known as the go-to general contractor/handyman in Sisters Country, he's built, repaired, and upgraded homes in Black Butte Ranch and across the region. He was often found under a sink, on a roof, or beneath a home doing what he knows best. Then he got a diagnosis that changed everything. Woodworth ended up needing open heart surgery that included a double bypass and... Full story
Deschutes County Health Services last week confirmed a case of human plague in a local resident. The individual was likely infected by their pet cat. “All close contacts of the resident and their pet have been contacted and provided medication to prevent illness,” said Dr. Richard Fawcett, Deschutes County Health officer. Symptoms of plague usually begin in humans two to eight days after exposure. These symptoms may include a sudden onset of fever, nausea, weakness, chills, muscle aches, and/or visibly swollen lymph nod... Full story
East Cascade Women’s Clinic has opened their second clinic, located at 865 SW Veterans Way in Redmond. The clinic prides itself on offering quality, compassionate care for women of all ages. This location opened January 4, and is now taking appointments. In addition to providing individualized services such as high- and low-risk pregnancy care, annual wellness visits, contraception, fertility and obstetrics and gynecology concerns, providers at the new clinic will care for conditions such as pelvic pain, sexual health, m... Full story
Deschutes County Health Services has identified a recent increase in overdose fatalities, and is urging those who use substances and their families and friends to take additional precautions. Four overdose fatalities within a six-day period appear to be linked to the use of fentanyl and in combination with other substances. Recognizing and responding to an overdose can save a life. Here are some signs and symptoms: • Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils.” • Falling asleep or losing consciousness. • Slow, weak, or no breathing... Full story
"Everyone has been or will be a caregiver at some point in their lives, and everyone will be a care recipient at some point in their lives." Dr. Richard Schulz knows this: He has devoted his career to studying the effects of disabling late-life illnesses on patients and their families and to exploring strategies for mitigating the adverse health effects of caregiving. He will share his insights on Tuesday, January 23, at 7 p.m. at the next lecture in the Frontiers in Science... Full story
With the new year, Oregon health officials are asking people to resolve in 2024 to get vaccinated against respiratory viruses that are on the rise in the state. Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer, and state epidemiologist at OHA, says vaccination remains the best way for Oregonians to protect themselves against COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — and it’s not too late to get any of the vaccines. “While some resolutions require making healthy changes for the rest of your life, we’re... Full story
Does your dog really need a coat just because it's winter? Sisters routinely gets overnight lows in the single digits and commonly sees temps in the teens much of November through March. With the change in the seasons, out come the canine jackets, some quite stylish and color coordinated to match the dog's coat. But are they necessary? It depends, say the experts. It has little to do with the temperature and much to do with your dog's coat. The AKC (American Kennel Club) has... Full story
Volunteers from Sisters recently returned from one of many trips to Honduras with the nonprofit Heart for Hope. Dr. John Spomer, now a Central Oregon resident, helps orchestrate the trips in collaboration with Cadena de Amor in Honduras. Before Heart for Hope partnered with Cadena de Amor (Chain of Love), the Honduran non-profit worked with Medical Teams International of Portland, Oregon, to provide dental care for grade school children. Ten years ago, Medical Teams Internatio... Full story
For Joe Schneider, dogs have always brought companionship, calm, and renewal. Many times during his 30 years as a police officer, the welcoming wags and paws of his four-legged family members helped him shake off the day's work. Schneider began working at Black Butte Ranch (BBR) in 2020 after 20 years as a City of Bend police officer. When Schneider started bringing his black-and-white Newfoundland, Yukon Jack, to work with him at BBR, people began coming by to see the giant... Full story
Citing concerns related to patient care, access, and affordability, St. Charles Health System is evaluating its participation in all Medicare Advantage plans, including those from Humana, PacificSource, HealthNet, and WellCare, the regional health care provider said in a notice to its patients and caregivers in August. However, the news is now coming as a surprise to many. St. Charles continues to accept original (or traditional) Medicare, which is funded and operated by the... Full story
Sisters has reached a milestone in access to health care as Mosaic Community Health assumed operations of the Sisters School-Based Health Center (SBHC) last month. On November 9, from 4 to 6 p.m., Mosaic Community Health will host an open house at the clinic, located at 535 North Reed Street (adjacent to Sisters High School). Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the facility and meet with staff. The center is expanding operations from two days a week to four days a week, thanks to a partnership between Mosaic Community... Full story
It’s flu season and Oregonians, healthier on average than the U.S. as a whole, usually shrug it off as a fact of life. However the season is more complicated when factoring in RSV and COVID, which often look and act like flu. The flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are all highly contagious respiratory infections caused by viruses: The flu by influenza virus, COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 virus, and RSV by respiratory syncytial virus. It is possible for a person t... Full story
It's hard to miss the large, colorful banner adorning St. Charles Family Care Clinic on N. Arrowleaf Trail in the Outlaw Station shopping center. Neon-yellow all-capital letters on a fluorescent-red background say "now open." The clinic has been open for years of course. The reference is to the outpatient laboratory that until September 1 had been irregularly staffed. No longer. You can get lab work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by order of your health provider.... Full story
The Sisters School-Based Health Center (SBHC), located adjacent to Sisters High School, will soon expand its operations from two days a week to four days a week, thanks to a partnership between Mosaic Community Health, St. Charles Health System, and Deschutes County. On October 18, Mosaic will assume operations of the health center, which is currently operated by St. Charles Health System in a building owned by Deschutes County. “We are thrilled to be able to provide additional access to pediatric patients in Sisters by o... Full story
The Oregon Center for Nursing (OCN) recently granted $50,000 to Partners In Care to support development of a program aimed at increasing wellness for hospice and home health nurses. The Care for the Caregivers program starting at Partners In Care is aimed at increasing the well-being of hospice and home health nurses, reducing burnout, and ultimately improving patient outcomes. This system-level environmental intervention addresses the high levels of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue experienced by nurses by offering a... Full story
Sandy Reilly of Sisters raised $1,800 for the Rotary's Ride for Alzheimer's earlier this month. According to Tate Metcalf of Sisters Athletic Club (SAC), Reilly organized approximately 14 donor/riders for a two-hour spin ride at SAC for the fundraiser. "He loves to ride and he's very passionate about (combatting) Alzheimer's," Metcalf said. Sisters Rotary has been engaged in raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease. They held a series of talks in July on the subject. The... Full story
Eighty-two-year-old Glenda Warren has been a resident of Sisters for 20 years. For much of that time, she has walked to her regular destinations, like BiMart, her hairdresser, and the Habitat Thrift Store. Warren’s daily routines began to shift back in 2021. She started watching more television and walking less. During COVID, she cut back on walking due to reduced energy, which she attributed to her age. Cleaning the house became a difficult chore, partially due to her a... Full story
Your odds of seeing a rattlesnake inside the city limits of Sisters are too low to calculate. Nobody seems to remember seeing one in town. Just east and north of town, it's a different story - although sightings are low, bites lower, and there is no record of death by bite in Deschutes County, although some bites have resulted in emergency care. Your dog is more at risk than you, vets say, as they are naturally prone to get off trail and flush out movement. Curiosity can kill... Full story
More than 50 attended the first of what organizers say will be a continuing series of events in Sisters to grow awareness of and develop strategies to tackle the increasing devastation of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The kick-off event took place June 23 at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Community Hall with a presentation: “10 Warning Signs of Dementia” and was followed by four “Sis” talks that focused on the importance of social engagement, staying physical,... Full story
Toward raising awareness of the global increase and impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon and the Sisters Rotary Club will conduct a free series of talks on the morning of June 23 at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Community Hall. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and sessions run through the noon hour. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s in the Sisters and Central Oregon communities, and it coincides with Alzheimer Association’s The Longe... Full story
Dr. Sing-Wei Ho moved to Central Oregon 10 years ago after residency training in Colorado. She was offered a job with St. Charles in Redmond, so she and her husband headed farther west. She lives with her young family in Tumalo. Along with her children and husband, they've created a small farm with livestock and flora. When she's not taking care of her patients, she and her family enjoy hiking, skating, cooking, dancing, singing, and practicing sustainable living. "We like... Full story
St. Charles Health System has a new focus for its Community Benefit funding: reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation while fostering a sense of belonging among Central Oregonians. For the next three years, St. Charles will direct thousands in grant funding to community organizations to target loneliness and isolation. “We are increasingly seeing that loneliness and depression are root causes of a number of health problems and societal problems, and the pandemic has only exacerbated that issue,” said Molly Wells D... Full story
Longtime Sisters resident Bill Willitts is on a mission to reach as many men as he can to educate them about the value of proton therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer — a treatment which has a cure rate of 85-90 percent. Last fall, Willitts was told by his urologist that his PSA (prostate specific antigen), which was first found to be high 10 years ago, had gone higher. With a biopsy, it was determined that he had developed prostate cancer. His urologist told him that a... Full story
Anyone looking at a typical anatomical man diagram will see deep-pink muscle connected to bone by white ligament and tendon. But when it comes to what moves the body, that is simply not the whole picture. In the last decade our fascia, which was long thought to be just passive body tissue, has begun to receive some well-deserved attention. Our myofascial web is an integral part of how our bodies move. The fascia (pronounced FAH-sha) is a network of tissue that spreads in... Full story
Erik Himbert has lived in his Sisters home for over 10 years but never walked the scant 100 yards to his mailbox. It wasn’t for lack of desire. Yet late last week, servo motors hummed and Himbert — a paraplegic —was able at last to walk the short distance to his mailbox, a journey that invariably elicited excited responses from the neighbors. A woman who Himbert has known for years stood in her yard with her mouth agape and exclaimed, “I never knew you were so tall!... Full story
