News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 2151 - 2175 of 29581
In August of 2020, 4,338 acres 12 miles north-northwest of Sisters burned in the lightning-sparked Green Ridge fire. The ensuing smoke drove folks in Sisters to the Coast and farther. It made for a few depressing weeks in town, stunting tourism, and limiting outdoor enjoyment. Green Ridge, perched above Camp Sherman and looking down upon the Metolius River, is popular with bikers and hikers. It is also home to a unique government-owned facility. Green Ridge Lookout is set on... Full story
Good health — and good health coverage — have never been more at the forefront of people’s minds than now. For those who are not covered by Medicare or an employer-based plan, the time is here to get or renew coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The 2022 open enrollment period started November 1 and runs through January 15, 2022. The open enrollment period is for individuals and families only, both through the health insurance market exchange t... Full story
Bare shelves due to staffing shortages and the slow or nonexistent delivery of goods due to a frayed supply chain are just a foretaste of what might befall Sisters Country in the event of a major disaster (see related story above). Residents who have been caught short on everything from toilet paper to prescriptions are getting a sharp reminder of just how vulnerable our just-in-time-oriented society can be. Sisters Country is vulnerable to wildfire and severe winter storms th... Full story
If you own a business in Sisters that sells “stuff,” it’s a particularly frustrating time. Merchant after merchant told The Nugget how much they envy their colleagues who sell services, like insurance. None has likely been more affected than LakeView Millworks in Sun Ranch Business Park, a fixture in Sisters for years selling custom doors, windows, trims, and window coverings. They have been living with the problem for the better part of a year while Sisters Country has seen... Full story
Every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Family Kitchen will be hosting a free hot meal to-go (until it’s COVID-safe to eat together again) at Sisters Community Church. No paperwork or requirements apply — participants are invited to just show up and give their order. “Anybody who comes to us, we assume they need a meal — and they get one,” said Family Kitchen Program Director Donna Burklo. Burklo told The Nugget that Family Kitchen started in downtown Bend in 1986, with some church volunteers cooking meals at home.... Full story
Nancy Schupp lives quietly at home with her dog, Gizmo. In her late 70s, she’s been a caterer and a dental technician. Both jobs kept her busy, working seven days a week. Sometimes she grabbed fast food when she was tired, but always gave her catering clients the best quality foods she could afford. Now she realizes that she should have treated herself as thoughtfully — and she hopes her missteps can be lessons to save others from the pain she’s suffered from diabetes. I... Full story
The Outlaw Booster Club and the Hall of Fame Committee would like to salute our sponsors for this year’s annual Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony. Without our sponsors this event is not possible, and any net proceeds directly benefit the Sisters High School students. A special thanks to our premier sponsor, Ray’s Food Place; our Corporate sponsors Takoda’s, GFP Response/Pollard Family, Ambrose Law Group, Total Property Resources LLC, and Cement Products Manufacturing; and our Table sponsors Robinson & Owen Heavy... Full story
The deadline is approaching for citizens to apply for City of Sisters boards and committees. The City has several opportunities that allow community members to fill an integral role in City government by advising the City Council on important issues. Community participation on City of Sisters boards and commissions serves two essential purposes: Board members are directly involved in their local government and can positively impact their community’s future, and the City Council receives timely input and information regarding... Full story
The Lady Outlaws swept their way to the top spot in the 4A Oregon West Conference. They defeated Cascade in three straight sets on Tuesday, October 19, and two days later on senior night they posted a 3-0 win over Woodburn. The wins gave them co-champion status with Cascade. Tuesday’s match against Cascade was a battle from start to finish. In the first set the Outlaws played from behind the whole game. They were down 17-21 when Hannah Fendall stepped back to serve. The Outlaw... Full story
I just listened to a politician whose ideas I agree with. But the way these ideas were communicated was, quite honestly, reprehensible. He condemned the individual testifying before the committee with a host of judgmental adjectives: “arrogant, prideful, vindictive, jealous, disingenuous, ignorant, hypocritical.” It was an all-out frontal attack on this man’s character and intelligence. This “attack” was featured on YouTube and has been watched nearly a million times with some 6,000 comments about how marvelously he tore t... Full story
Anybody who’s been to a store for sundries, or tried to get a piece of exercise equipment, or tried to order materials for a home project, knows that the supply-chain woes we hear about daily on the news are real. We’re repeatedly being warned that if we see something we need or want, we’d better get it now, because no one knows when it can get replaced if it sells. It’s not even Halloween yet, and we’re told we’re already behind on our Christmas shopping. Well, OK. There’s... Full story
Habitat for Humanity homeowners must always take a long road toward the moment when they cut the ribbon on their new abode. For Terri Gookin and Patrick and Diane Yates, who celebrated the dedication of their new homes on Bluebird Street in the ClearPine subdivision on Friday, October 22, the road was longer — and more filled with rocks and potholes — than most. Volunteers and families spent the past two years working in pandemic conditions, with growing supply... Full story
Visitors enjoy Sisters, but several key areas — traffic, and the availability of dining options and overnight accommodations — could be improved. Those are conclusions drawn from a series of surveys conducted in order to create data for the destination tourism management work going on in the City of Sisters (see related story on page 15). ECONorthwest of Bend conducted surveys for Sisters from August 12 to September 8, via emails and social media, to people who... Full story
The Sisters Ranger District released a draft environmental assessment of the Green Ridge Landscape Restoration Project for a 30-day public comment period last Friday. The 25,000-acre project area is located about nine miles north of Sisters. The goal of the project is to promote ecosystem sustainability, resilience, and health under current and future conditions in the Green Ridge project area. The assessment addresses both land and water issues. “After significant interdisciplinary teamwork analyzing the project, we are p... Full story
According to the latest timeline published by the Sisters School District, the new elementary school building will be completed for the opening of the 2023-24 school year. Last May, voters approved a $33.8 million bond for the construction of the new school and other district projects. The current elementary school is pressed to capacity, and remodeling the facility was not a viable option, according to Superintendent Curt Scholl. Additionally, Scholl said that the concept of... Full story
Be careful out there. Deer rifle season is still in effect for eastern and western Cascades through November 5. Then the elk season kicks in — November 6-12 for western side hunts and November 6-14 for eastern Oregon. Quick! How many roundabouts in Sisters? Two it is within the City limits. The obvious one that we all know and love, and the one in Cold Springs Village where North Trinity Way, Railway Ave., W. Aitken Ave., and W Allingham Ave., make the circle. Sure sign... Full story
Sisters Ranger District plans to conduct pile burning in the Melvin Butte and Black Crater areas. Fuels specialists will ignite 1,024 acres of piles near Melvin Butte, located 10 miles southwest of town. In addition, they plan to ignite 192 acres of piles northeast of Black Crater, located seven miles west of Sisters. Fuels specialists will begin ignitions in these areas on Wednesday and continue throughout the fall and winter as conditions allow. No road or trail closures are anticipated. Smoke impacts are expected to be... Full story
The Outlaws honored seniors Sean Alvarez, Gavin Christian, Ricky Huffman, Noah Pittman, AJ Scholl, and Josh Schiller prior to their game against Philomath on Thursday, October 21. Coach Jeff Husmann told The Nugget he really feels connected to this year’s seniors, who he says have helped reestablish the soccer program as a contender in the Oregon West Conference, and more importantly have built the culture of this year’s team. Alvarez is a three-year starter and co-... Full story
From a tourist stop for gas and food until the 1970s, Sisters has evolved to become a tourist destination (see related story, page 1). Sisters is no longer just a stop along the way to somewhere else. Leisure and hospitality-related jobs accounted for 31 percent of the local workforce in 2019. Black Butte Ranch is by far the biggest employer in the area. Tourists swell the population of Sisters on holiday weekends and all summer long, creating concern from local residents,... Full story
Oregon’s forestry and logging industry looked a lot different 100 years ago. Discover this history juxtaposed with modern conservation efforts as Deschutes Public Library presents “Know Timber” in November. Learn about contributions to Oregon’s logging history by African and Chinese Americans. Tap your feet to the melody of logging ballads. Discover the most famous Northwest Coast artistic creation — the totem pole — through an art historian. All programs are free and open to the public. Maxville Timber Culture... Full story
Plans for the 359-unit residential development known as Sisters Woodlands will go before the City of Sisters Planning Commission for a public hearing on November 10. Kevin Eckert of BUILD LLC is designing the project for Paul Hodge and Paul and Carla Schneider of Sisters, who purchased the property that was formerly part of the U.S. Forest Service administrative site. The developers are requesting approval of a Master Planned Development on 31.56 acres. They are seeking approval to allow for a 186-lot, mixed-use development.... Full story
I’ve lived with Scottish terriers for nearly 40 years, ever since marrying my husband, Claude. Dogs have always been in my life, but it was Claude’s love of the breed that introduced me to Scotties. All dogs are special and unique, and Scotties have one characteristic that truly stands out: They are as stubborn as their namesake humans. As a matter of fact, they were bred by an English nobleman who lived in Scotland, and he named the breed because he saw many characteristics in the dogs that were similar to the people aro... Full story
Qualification for entry to the OSAA State Championships is on the line for teams in the Oregon West Conference at Thursday’s District meet. The Sisters Outlaws cross-country teams hope to make some noise at the showdown at Lane Community College. The top two teams and top five individuals will advance to the State meet, scheduled for Saturday, November 6, also at Lane. On the boys’ side there is no dominant team favorite, although Philomath appears to be in the driver’s seat b... Full story
The Outlaws soccer squad earned a 2-1 win at Newport on Tuesday, October 19. The Outlaws traveled to Newport for a rematch with the Cubs. Earlier in the season, at home, the Outlaws walked off the field in a disappointing 1-1 tie. This time around they were determined to post a win. From the opening whistle, the Outlaws established the tempo of the game, possessed the ball, and had several chances to score early in the contest. At the eight-minute mark the ball was booted to Ricky Huffman in a breakaway. Huffman out-hustled... Full story
A friend of mine from Massachusetts quipped recently that “one does not simply DRIVE into Salem in October.” The Salem Witch Trials that roiled the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692 and led to the deaths of 20 innocent persons — 19 by hanging, one by pressing to death with stones — continue to fascinate the world. Interest in the trials turns that storied Massachusetts town into a powerful — and campy — tourist magnet during the Halloween season. But... Full story
