News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 326 - 350 of 29621
It's not yet December and there have already been more than a dozen nights of sub-freezing temperatures. A handful of nights dropped into the teens. Failing to obtain approval of its application to operate an emergency shelter, the Sisters Cold Weather Shelter (SCWS) is redirecting its resources and partnering with other community groups and volunteers to prevent those living in the forest or their vehicles from injury or death. They are at the center of a confederation of hom... Full story
As we hit the peak holiday travel season, and with more and more fliers taking their pets along whenever they travel, frustration mounts with navigating airline policies. Veterinarians are generally not enthusiastic about pets on airplanes. Nor are professional trainers. "Traveling with your pet seems like a dream come true," said Sabrina Kong, a veterinarian and contributor to the site WeLoveDoodles. "But often, it's more of a human dream - and a pet nightmare." She said,... Full story
Sisters’ hometown parade and tree lighting have become beloved traditions for locals and visitors alike. They’re happening again this weekend — but in a new way. Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is combining two holiday favorites into one spectacular event called The Holiday Palooza. The event will kick off with the holiday parade down Main Avenue (a new route) at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 25, and culminate with holiday activities, including the tree lighting ceremony at Fir Street Park that same afternoon (chan... Full story
On a clear day the expansive view of rolling forests to the base of the Three Sisters can tap you into a feeling of the wild. And there is an unusual amount of wild land along Whychus Creek, even outside the designated wilderness. Twenty years ago, during studies of the Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River, the Forest Service did detailed surveys from town to the wilderness boundary. Specialists found large areas without much of a human footprint. There was no string of campgro... Full story
There is a unanimous consensus on the Sisters City Council that the City needs to plan for expansion of its urban growth boundary (UGB) — though where and how much remains to be determined. All five councilors concurred in a work session on November 8 that Sisters Community Development Director Scott Woodford should move ahead with a request for proposal to bring in a consultant to nail down the details of a possible UGB expansion. All agreed that such planning is prudent, a... Full story
Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies detained an adult male on a police officer hold in the parking lot at Sisters Post Office on Thursday afternoon, November 9. The man was apparently experiencing mental health issues. According to Lt. Chad Davis, the post office and The Lodge at Sisters were briefly on lockdown until the incident was resolved. The man was transported via ambulance to the hospital. Lt. Davis reported that deputies were dispatched to a welfare check on Thursday, November 9, at 3:49 p.m., regarding an older m... Full story
Funding has fallen short for improvements to Barclay Drive where it runs through the Sisters Industrial Park. In its 156-page Transportation System Plan (TSP) adopted by City Council in December of 2021, the Public Works Department planned to improve Barclay Drive from Locust Street on the east to Pine Street on the west. The improvements between Pine and Locust streets were to include a three-lane cross section, curb and gutter, 10-foot concrete sidewalks, stormwater... Full story
UPDATED 11/10/2023 Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputies detained an adult male on a police officer hold in the parking lot at Sisters Post Office on Thursday afternoon, November 9. The man was apparently experiencing mental health issues. According to Lt. Chad Davis, the post office and The Lodge at Sisters were briefly on lockdown until the incident was resolved. The man was transported via ambulance to the hospital. Lt. Davis reported that deputies were dispatched to a welfare check on Thursday November 9, at 3:49 p.m.,... Full story
Dr. Bonnie Malone, longtime Sisters chiropractor, is retiring and closing her clinic as of November 27. For over 42 years in Sisters, Malone has been deeply engaged in the life of the community, well beyond her chiropractic practice. Malone, her dog, Morgan, and her horse, Caesar, arrived in Sisters in late May 1981, when the population was around 800 and the speed limit through town was 30 mph. In those days, Sisters was a logging town. The major employers were the U.S.... Full story
A look at the price board at area firewood sellers is not for the faint of heart. Your basic cord of pine is going to cost you $260 to $295 plus a delivery and/or stacking fee depending on your location and quantity ordered. Fancy some juniper? That’ll run you upwards of $360. It’s no wonder then that many a log burner will head to the Deschutes National Forest to save a bundle. The vast majority in Sisters Country will stop by the Sisters Ranger District headquarters and obt... Full story
The market for single family homes in Sisters Country remains depressed as compared to the heady 2021 sales picture. Sales for September and October of this year are eerily similar to the same months for 2022 – a stagnation of sorts as buyers retreat in light of 30-year fixed mortgage rates that sat Friday at a breathtaking 8.09% having exceeded 8.5% two weeks earlier. These are the highest rates since November of 2000. The table to the right gives an overview of t... Full story
A brand-new Sisters Ranger Station will begin to rise from the forest floor at the west end of Sisters, starting with groundbreaking on the headquarters site this month. The new building is expected to be completed in 2025. The building contract was awarded in September. This new Ranger Station will replace the current one that was built in 1962, rising on the same parcel of land. The new building will be designed for a 21st century workforce that requires increased... Full story
Several users of the Sisters Recycling Center are raising objection to the seeming lack of good housekeeping in recent weeks and months at the facility on Sisters Park Drive. "Recent?" scoffed Emmy Burnham, when The Nugget stopped to ask users their impressions. "It's almost always like this." The Recycling Center was a scene of overflowing bins, blowing debris, and rickety stacks of discarded petroleum products, mostly motor oil. The area of greatest concern is not in plain... Full story
The City of Sisters is starting to tackle the key issue facing Sisters over the coming decades: How will the city accommodate significant expected growth? Population projections from Portland State University say that the population inside the city limits will hit 7,108 in 2043 - more than double the current population of 3,475. Sisters currently does not have room to accommodate that kind of population. Sisters Community Development Director Scott Woodford, the State of... Full story
Pat Lamoureux lives with her husband, Roger, in a home on the edge of Sisters Country. They've created a beautiful place with trees turning brilliant red and yellow in the autumn and a garden full of flowers that bloom in a rainbow of colors throughout the summer months. She finds peace and satisfaction tending their property while Roger works on his latest woodworking project in his shop. Being able to see the outcome of their hard work was almost lost. When she began having... Full story
Where, when, and how Sisters will grow is a vital question to citizens, elected officials, and City staff. The Sisters City Council will explore the possibility of an urban growth boundary (UGB) amendment at their 5 p.m. work session on Wednesday, November 8. According to Community Development Director Scott Woodford, “the point of this work session is for Council to determine which direction it wants to go on the topic: pursue a UGB amendment immediately, wait to do it later, or perhaps not pursue it at all.” Last spr... Full story
Two points emerged from an exploration of the loneliness and isolation epidemic now impacting people across the nation, and here in Sisters and elsewhere: The most effective ways to counter these negative feelings are to get engaged in your community, and start your day with gratitude. There seems to be general agreement, both locally and nationally, that loneliness and isolation are on the rise, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Surgeon General has... Full story
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District was built by volunteers - people who stepped up to fill needs from fighting fires to building fire stations. The Fire District is honoring those who helped make the Fire District what it is today with a permanent plaque honoring long-time volunteer service. The plaque, mounted at the entrance to the Fire Hall at 302 S. Elm St., was unveiled in a ceremony on Friday afternoon, October 27. The inaugural honorees are Tom Haynes, Chuck Newport, Ri... Full story
The long wait is over. Readers and library users of all ages gathered Saturday in brisk temperatures at the doors of the Sisters Library for its grand reopening celebration. By noon, when the dedication began, more than 100 were on hand. Throughout the afternoon hundreds more streamed in to see firsthand the significant upgrades to the 8,300-square-foot, 18-year-old structure. The renovated library was six years in planning and nine months under construction. Among the... Full story
Explore Sisters Board Chair Greg Willitts shared a cautionary tale at last week’s public forum on Sisters’ Destination Management Organization (DMO), making the case for tourism management — not just marketing. Willitts is also the vice chair of the Oregon Tourism Commission, which directs the activities of the Travel Oregon staff. In about 2010, their advertising campaign centered around the Seven Wonders of Oregon, featuring the Columbia Gorge, Crater Lake, the Painted Hills... Full story
As Halloween approaches, neighborhoods across Central Oregon will soon be adorned with festive, spooky decorations. From the eerie glow of jack-o'-lanterns to cobweb-draped porches, this whimsical holiday is celebrated through creative displays. Our spirited designs don't stop on October 31; they transition into joyful fall and winter holiday décor. However, there is a frightening side to some of our fun adornments. From nimble chickadees to graceful deer, wildlife can be... Full story
In a scene resembling "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome," members of the Gambler 500 roared into Sisters Sunday and weeded out no fewer than eight abandoned cars and two burnt-out RVs, the latter within sight of Ponderosa Lodge and residents on North Pine Street. It was a herculean effort that took dozens of volunteers with some heavy equipment and a twenty-yard dumpster thrown in. A convoy of eccentric and wild-looking cars cruised onto the Deschutes National Forest immediately wes... Full story
Last Thursday, October 10, the bar at Three Creeks Brew Pub was full of good food, good friends, and good feelings as the Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) organization gathered for their second annual volunteer appreciation event. STARS provides free rides to nonemergency medical appointments (physicians, dental, vision, physical therapy, hearing, lab work, and testing) in Sisters, Bend, and Redmond for residents of Sisters Country who can't drive themselves. Ride... Full story
Across the nation, there is rising concern about the negative impacts of loneliness and social isolation. Loneliness and isolation affect older people whose connections to community have withered, and young people who struggle to find their place in the world. Studies have shown that working-age men in particular have a difficult time forming friendships. Some have observed that habits fallen into during COVID-19 lockdowns have persisted, making it harder for people to engage... Full story
The Sisters City Council affirmed a commitment to preserving Sisters’ dark skies during their workshop on Wednesday, October 11. City of Sisters planning staff is working on a revised dark skies ordinance, and sought input from the Council on some key courses of action. A draft ordinance is expected to come before the City Council for approval soon. Councilors agreed that public lighting — street lights and lights on public buildings — should not be exempt in the ordin... Full story
