News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 29611
Once a month, there is a gathering of Sisters residents who are known as Community Builders to share with each other news of what they, their nonprofits, businesses, startups, and interest groups are doing to add to the community spirit of Sisters. The meetings are fun to attend because there is generally good, upbeat news of projects being undertaken, changes being made, partnerships working together, and other ways in which something is being done to sustain and improve the... Full story
For many, Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer, and it is observed with picnics, barbecues, and time in the outdoors. The day has more profound meaning, a point that was driven home with ceremony and decorum at Sisters' annual Memorial Day Observance, hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8138, American Legion Post 86, and Sisters Band of Brothers on Monday, May 27. "We gather today not for a barbecue or a day off, but for a solemn purpose," said keynote speaker, U... Full story
While it is not a major threat to grazing or livestock production in Sisters Country it is nonetheless a pesky irritant to gardeners and a danger to pets. Moreover it is a major accelerant to wildfire. Bromus tectorum, commonly known as cheatgrass, is an invasive annual grass that has rapidly spread across 100 million acres of U.S. grassland and sagebrush areas primarily in western states. Cheatgrass reduces wildlife habitat, recedes crop production, and depletes cattle... Full story
A missing dog reported stolen from a vehicle at the Whychus Canyon Preserve Trailhead earlier this month has been found dead a few miles from where she went missing. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, the cause of death does not appear to be suspicious in nature, and is likely due to the elements. On May 17, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a report of a K-9 stolen from the trailhead. The dog owner had parked their vehicle at the Whychus Canyon Preserve Trailhead in the shade. Whi... Full story
Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team was awarded the 2023 Agency of the Year for Oregon by the Western States Information Network (WSIN) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to combating drug trafficking and enhancing community safety throughout Central Oregon. According to WSIN, this award celebrates the CODE team's exceptional leadership, dedication, strategic innovation, and significant impact on disrupting domestic and international drug-related... Full story
Many of us who live in Sisters have experienced that sinking feeling when we see a dark column of smoke on a hot summer day. Living in fire-prone forests, the loss of our homes to a wildfire is a real threat. If we are lucky, we still have house insurance, but many homeowners have had their policies cancelled after the loss of over 4,000 homes to Oregon wildfires in 2020, the state's most expensive natural disaster. We also live near rivers that have been altered in the past... Full story
Sisters Trails Alliance has selected a new executive director. Stephanie Presley came on board as of May 6. Presley brings years of experience leading volunteer organizations and community coalitions, working with boards of directors and collaborating with local, state, and federal stakeholders on a wide range of projects and programs. "The board is delighted to welcome Stephanie as our new executive director," said STA board chair Forest Tancer. "We are fortunate to have... Full story
The construction of the roundabout at Highway 20 and Locust Street is well underway, and now the City of Sisters is turning its attention from function to aesthetics. In consultation with ODOT, city staff is spearheading the process of selecting artwork that reflects Sisters’ heritage and identity. Kerry Prosser, deputy city manager, noted that community input is pivotal in this process, and a survey seeking public opinion on the theme for the roundabout is available on the city website under “What’s Happening,” https:/... Full story
One of the best search and rescue teams in the nation is ready to respond within minutes - unless you're a climber stuck between a rock and a hard place in the middle of winter on the South Sister. The rock, in this case, was a band of rock amid a wall of ice - the hard place, nearly 10,000 feet up the north side of South Sister - preventing an ice climber from reaching relative safety. "He called from that spot, and I remember telling him, 'Get comfortable. You need to be... Full story
After considerable discussion and some dissent, the Sisters Planning commission voted 4-2 to recommend acceptance of code changes that would allow an RV park as a use in the Sun Ranch Tourist Commercial Zone. The final decision will go before the Sisters City Council, which is scheduled to have a work session on the matter on June 26, and a public hearing on July 10. The property developers suggested the code changes. They propose a “boutique, higher-end RV Park that caters t... Full story
In what has become a beloved tradition over more than two decades, Sisters veterans and citizens will gather at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 27, in the Village Green for a community day of honor and remembrance in recognition of Memorial Day. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8138, American Legion Post 86, and the Sisters chapter of Band of Brothers host the observances, which mark the day in which the United States honors those who have fallen in the nation’s wars. Pat Bowe, a U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran and Post Commander of VFW P... Full story
Margaret Helen Fine, tagged "June Bug" at an early age by her father because she never lit for very long, has been known for all her adult life as June Phillips, after marrying her husband Bill in 1944. On May 15, June will be celebrating her 100th birthday at The Lodge in Sisters, where she has resided for the past year-and-a-half. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 15, 1924, to Goldie and Luther Fine, who ran a grocery store six days a week where June worked in her youth.... Full story
Proposed code changes to facilitate a boutique RV park at the former site of the Conklin Guest House on the corner of Barclay Drive and Camp Polk Road/Locust Street are back before the Sisters Planning Commission on Thursday, May 16. The Planning Commission will carry on with a continued public hearing, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave. The changes, which would allow an RV park as a use in the Sun Ranch Tourist Commercial zone, would have to be in place before a formal plan for the site can be... Full story
The City of Sisters has kicked off a public process to help determine where the city will grow in the next 20 years. City of Sisters staff is working up a Sisters Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Amendment proposal. A UGB is a line drawn on land- use planning maps to designate the area within which a city expects to grow over a 20-year period. The purpose of UGBs in Oregon is to protect the state’s farm and forest lands from the pressures of urbanization and sprawl — the UGB is where the city ends and the farms and forests beg... Full story
A stolen purse may not constitute a major crime, but it’s a big deal to the person whose purse was stolen. Patricia Bricker had that experience back in March — and she was very grateful for the actions of Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy Jerad Bearson in recovering her property. “He’s an angel — well, in my book,” Bricker told The Nugget. “He went above and beyond what he had to do. He went out of his way to follow through.” Bricker said she had parked her car in the parkin... Full story
Electricity demand in the Northwest is expected to grow more than 30 percent in the next decade, or about five percent more than estimated last year and triple the prediction three years ago, industry experts said in a new report. Large data centers, an increase in high-tech manufacturing and growing electrification in homes, buildings, and transportation are key factors in the forecast. The projections are in an annual report published Wednesday, May 1, by the Portland-based industry trade group Pacific Northwest Utilities C... Full story
Citizens of Sisters can get a detailed look at the work of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in a 2024 Community Academy on May 15-16 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Community Hall, located at 301 S. Elm St. This is the second time the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has hosted this event. The Community Academy is an opportunity for the public to meet the Sheriff’s Office command staff, and representatives from the Patrol Division, Corrections Division, Special Services/ Emergency Management, schoo... Full story
Housing is a real challenge for many folks in Sisters. There's not a lot available, especially for rent, and prices are very high for people who work for Central Oregon wages. Housing challenges are not unique to Sisters - it's a problem across the nation and particularly in the desirable towns of the American West. Sisters is seeking ways to address a challenge that for many rises to a crisis - and a full-house gathering at Sisters Fire District's Community Hall dug into the... Full story
A deputy with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was conducting routine patrol in the area of Forest Road 4606 near Sisters on May 5 when the deputy discovered a camp believed to be occupied by a Leah Marie Sharp, a 37-year-old transient who was wanted for three counts of custodial interference and three counts of kidnapping out of Caldwell, Idaho. According to DCSO, the deputy learned that Sharp was likely with her three children, the victims of the custodial interference and kidnapping, listed as missing and e... Full story
A 21-year-old Bend man is under arrest for allegedly assaulting a ride share driver and stealing his vehicle in Sisters. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a report of an assault and theft of a vehicle in Sisters on May 3, at 2:48 a.m. Deschutes County 911 Dispatch advised a male subject had assaulted a ride share driver and subsequently stole the vehicle. During the course of the investigation, it was determined Joshua Buck, a 21-year-old transient was at the Deschutes County Stab... Full story
"While most holidays celebrate something that has already happened and is worth remembering, Arbor Day represents a hope for the future. The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow to provide us with clean air and water, cooling shade, habitat for wildlife, healthier communities, and endless natural beauty – all for a better tomorrow." - Arbor Day Foundation In celebration of Arbor Day 2024 on April 26, the excited voices and enthusiasm of s... Full story
Drive or walk around Sisters early any morning of the year — including holidays — and you just might see a safety-vested worker in a City truck making the rounds. They are doing seemingly quotidian tasks, and you may ask why they’re out on a Sunday or holiday. Sisters Public Works Director Paul Bertagna, in typical fashion, downplays the work. It’s just routine in his world of streets, water, and sewers. He provided The Nugget a list of what’s checked every morning: four water... Full story
Keeping power lines safe from wildfire is a critical part of infrastructure protection in Sisters Country. Right of way (ROW) clearing can mitigate sources of wildfire ignition and improve worker safety for those who maintain power lines. Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) has begun a vegetation management project on approximately 3.5 miles of existing powerline along Forest Service Road 2058 (North Pine Street) - a road that connects the City of Sisters with Indian Ford Road... Full story
Sisters City Councilor Jennifer Letz makes a stark — but hopeful — assessment of Sisters’ housing situation. “I perceive it as bad, but salvageable,” she told The Nugget. “We’re not too far gone yet. I think we have the ability as a community to take charge of the housing situation and improve it.” The community will get an opportunity to share a situation report on housing, and ideas on how to address the challenges of affordability, at a forum sponsored by Citizens4Commun... Full story
Should rural property owners be allowed to rent space to RV dwellers? That is the question that will come before the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on Wednesday, May 8. The Commissioners will hold a public hearing where residents can provide their input on allowing recreational vehicles to be used as rental dwellings. Following the adoption of Oregon Senate Bill (SB) 1013, which became law in January 2024, the BOCC is considering whether to amend Deschutes County zoning code and permit property owners... Full story
