News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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The Sisters Community is in mourning this week, grieving the loss of two teens who died in a dirt bike accident. on Wednesday, June 19. Their names are currently being withheld as the families request privacy. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies were dispatched to a report of a dirt bike crash on U.S. Forest Service Road 1028, south of Skylight Cave off Highway 242. Four juveniles were riding in pairs on two dirt bikes on U.S. Forest Service Road 1028. Two of the juveniles did not arrive at their d... Full story
When Fire Chief Roger Johnson took the reins at Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District 12 years ago, he inherited a thriving organization. "I think my perception of this organization was that it was well-run, a very dedicated work force; beautiful facility, a wonderful community," he told The Nugget last week. Johnson is retiring as of Friday, and officially turned over command of the fire district to Fire Chief Anthony Prior on Tuesday, June 11 (see photo essay, page 13). He... Full story
Oregon’s deer and elk give birth from May through July. It’s natural for mother animals to leave their young alone and hidden for extended periods of time while they go off to feed, so never assume a young animal is orphaned when you see it alone. The mother will return when it’s safe to do so — when people, pets, or predators aren’t around. Removing an animal from the wild is also a violation of Oregon wildlife laws. When people remove them from the wild, young animals miss the chance to learn where to seek cover, what to e... Full story
Friends and family gathered at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District station Thursday, June 13, to honor Julie Spor, who serves as the executive assistant/finance manager for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. Spor is a recent graduate of Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Spor manages the day-to-day financial duties for the district and has been attending college and working full-time for the past four years. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire... Full story
Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District and Redmond Fire & Rescue were alerted Sunday morning to a vehicle fire at approximately milepost 101 of Highway 126 on the east grade of Dry Canyon. The fire was located in an area between the borders of the two fire districts. Cloverdale crews arrived to find that a resident in the area had started putting water on the vehicle from a trailer-mounted water tank and pump that he pulled to the scene with his tractor. Cloverdale... Full story
At the same time ODOT is facing a budget crisis, drivers wonder how it is possible that so many major projects are taking place, like our new roundabout. The monies come from earlier budgets and/or other funding sources, in some cases federal dollars. Most readers seem happy and appreciative of the new roundabout, some marveling at the speed of progress and minor disruptions. The opening date for phase one was but a few days late, yet completed before the crucial start of rode... Full story
In 2024, summer solstice falls on Thursday, June 20, in this part of the world. Sisters Community Labyrinth will hold its annual gathering and labyrinth walk that evening. Typically light in tone and nonreligious in nature, the gathering will have another layer this year: it's the last solstice walk before the land is built out. "Marking the summer solstice with a community labyrinth walk has become a special tradition," Sharlene Weed said. "It will be our last walk together... Full story
The Sisters Community Garden has scheduled a tour of its garden on Sunday, June 23, and a public meeting for Saturday, June 29, to discuss the possibility of using City park land to provide Sisters area residents a space to garden while building community connections. “The City of Sisters Parks Master Plan includes providing space for a community garden,” said Mimi Schaefer, SCG President. “Moving to a new location in a city park will open food growing opportunities for Sisters residents and learning opportunities for all o... Full story
A group of citizens is promoting leadership and civic action in Sisters, with a focus on how City government can improve community engagement and outreach. The first cohort of the Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) presented their report on the City’s outreach and engagement efforts to the Sisters City Council on June 12. This presentation was the product of two months of work by the CLA cohort, and the program represents years of work by the city and its partners. The CLA is a collaboration among the City of Sisters, C... Full story
Chatter on local social media and reader contact with The Nugget recently raised the specter of the City raising the existing 3 cents per gallon municipal tax as a means to fund the installation of EV charging stations on city property. That is not the case. City Manager Jordan Wheeler was clear in his response to The Nugget’s inquiry: “The City has no plans to propose an increase to the gas tax. This is the first I’ve heard of that idea. The only informal conversations about... Full story
Jarod Gatley can pinpoint the moment when he started down the path that took him into a career behind the camera. He was hiking up South Sister at night with his brother-in-law, freelance photographer and videographer Cody Rheault. Cody was taking shots of the landscape under the night sky. "I saw the photos he was getting and I thought, 'I want to capture that myself,'" he said. From that day, "I spent every minute that I could outside, doing landscape photography. That kind... Full story
Short-term rentals (STR) may fall under tighter restrictions in Sisters. The Sisters Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on June 20 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall on text amendments to city Development Code that would: • Expand the STR concentration limit from 250 feet to 500 feet. • Apply STR concentration limit to dwelling units within a condominium. • Apply STR concentration limit to dwelling units in the Downtown Commercial District that are part of a residential-only development. This is not applicable to dwelling... Full story
Partners In Care is now a Level 5 Partner with We Honor Veterans (WHV), a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Level 5 is the highest level WHV partners can attain and includes various mandatory activities and educational requirements, with recertification needed annually. As a WHV partner, Partners In Care provides specialized care to veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness and need support through various services such as the... Full story
The November 5 election holds high stakes and high interest across the nation. In Sisters, the election will determine the makeup of the City Council. The terms of Council President Andrea Blum, Councilor Jennifer Letz, and Councilor Susan Cobb will end on December 31. All three are eligible to apply for re-election. Candidates may now file for a City Council position. To be eligible one must be a qualified elector in Oregon, a current registered voter in the City of Sisters, and must have been a resident of the City for 12... Full story
Like the many before it, the 2024 Sisters Rodeo left spectators thrilled and delighted. Despite an alarming situation Saturday night when a bull jumped out of the arena and ran through the Rodeo grounds (Click here to see related story. ), the crowds lucky enough to get a ticket for the sold out performances were treated to world class entertainment. "I don't think most people see rodeo as being in the entertainment business," said legendary announcer Wayne Brooks. Until 2000... Full story
In two terrifying minutes, a bull in the range of 1,900 pounds eluded wranglers on the Sisters Rodeo arena floor and like a deer, running at full speed, jumped the fence in the red section at the arena’s southern end. The bull catapulted its bulk over the six-foot metal fence before exiting the red section entry way and into the food court. This was the conclusion to Saturday night’s sellout event, the fourth of the five scheduled presentations of the 84th Sisters Rodeo. Fan... Full story
Construction crews are hard at work on the east side of McKenzie Pass and plan to have Highway 242 above the gate paved and open by the morning of July 4. Last week, crews began paving preparation work beyond the gate of the seasonally closed pass. Only the east side of the pass is under construction, but the west side will also remain closed at the gate just beyond Linton Lake until July 4. Limited space for vehicles to turn around on the west side makes it unsafe to open any further towards the summit, according to the... Full story
Oregon’s economy continues to grow steadily, if at a slower pace than it has in recent years, state economists told lawmakers on Wednesday. That includes April personal income tax collections coming in higher than expected, leaving a “fifty-fifty proposition” that Oregonians will receive a $582 million kicker tax credit in 2026, two years after the state paid out the largest kicker in state history. The credit kicks in whenever income tax payments are 2% higher than lawmakers planned for when crafting their two-year budge... Full story
Sisters Habitat for Humanity and local architect BUILD LLC will host a neighborhood meeting/open house regarding two proposed developments located near the intersection of East Adams Ave and North Larch Street. The meeting will be held Friday, June 7, 4:30–5:30 p.m., in the Theater Room at The Lodge in Sisters. The five properties sit within the downtown commercial zone within the City of Sisters. Current zoning allows for residential-only uses including both duplexes (townhomes) and cottage developments. Common open s... Full story
Community gardeners will be introducing the Great Sunflower Project to visitors at Sisters Farmers Market. The Great Sunflower Project is a citizen science project designed to increase the quantity of data collected on bees and other pollinators. The Great Sunflower Project aims to give citizens a method to record, and a platform for reporting, observed pollinator visits to flowering plants. Participants in the project will record the species of pollinators visited, the flowers that were visited, location of the flowers, and... Full story
Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District is seeking applicants for a vacant position on the Board of Directors. After reviewing all applications, the Board of Directors will appoint the successful candidate to the vacant position through June 30, 2027. The Board of Directors meets each month at 5 p.m. on the third Tuesday. In addition, all members of the Board of Directors serve on the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District Budget Committee. Members of the Board of Directors must be a resident, or own... Full story
The area surrounding Scout Lake was abuzz with girl power last Saturday as 34 girls, ages 7–14, learned and practiced fire safety and outdoor skills they need for adventuring outside. The U.S. Forest Service and SheJumps Wild Skills co-sponsored the Junior Firefighter day camp combining the skills and expertise of their organizations with mentoring provided by female members of the Forest Service (four from Sisters Ranger District) and SheJumps. According to the program's curr... Full story
Cache Montgomery has a $2,000 Sisters Rodeo Scholarship under his belt. Now he's setting out to add some trophy buckles to put on that belt as a professional rodeo cowboy. The 18-year-old La Pine High School graduating senior just received his PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) card and will enter his first professional rodeo as a steer wrestler at Sisters Rodeo. As of press time he was close to certain that he will run in Friday evening's performance. Montgomery... Full story
An alert resident helped firefighters catch a brush fire in Camp Sherman before it got out of hand. The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District responded to the area of Tract C Lane in Camp Sherman at 4 p.m. on May 30 to investigate a report of smoke seen by a resident passerby. A brush engine crew arrived to find a fire burning in brush and grass on National Forest land adjacent to the 1419-206 forest road near Tract C Lane. Firefighters initiated suppression efforts to contain the three-quarter-acre fire, while the U.S. Forest... Full story
Sisters is ready for a week of rodeo action - but not all of it is in the Sisters Rodeo arena. The whole town evokes the western spirit this week, with a parade that is as big an attraction for some folks as the main event, and live music to put boot heels on dance floors at local watering holes. There are also some opportunities for celebrity meet-and-greet events. The week's action kicks off Wednesday evening, June 5, with Xtreme Bulls, pitting the rankest stock in the West... Full story