News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 29656
A small fire. Cups of steaming hot cocoa. Walking together in silent meditation, contemplating the idea of peace. It’s the little things that help people through the darkest time of the year. Sisters Community Labyrinth will host its annual Winter Solstice gathering and labyrinth walk on Thursday, December 21, the shortest day of 2023. Everyone is invited; there is no charge to attend, and no religious affiliation is involved. Sharlene Weed came up with the theme: peace. ... Full story
Cutting trees in the forest turned out to be more of an adventure than four Sisters Country families imagined. A group of about 20 headed toward Round Lake last week in search of the perfect Christmas tree, an annual tradition. After completing the mission and bagging four handsome specimens, the families gathered around a bonfire. From out of the shadows, at first cowering, appeared a dog, not one of the five belonging to the tree hunters. The dog, a bit worse for wear, was... Full story
Michael Boyle of Sisters pleaded guilty via Alford plea to multiple criminal counts in Deschutes County Circuit Court on Monday, December 4. Boyle pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sex abuse in the first degree, two counts of third-degree sex abuse, and three counts of practicing massage without a license. An Alford plea is a guilty plea in which the defendant acknowledges that there is sufficient evidence that they could convicted at trial, and agrees to accept all... Full story
Truly ugly weather didn't dampen the spirits of the 250 runners and walkers who took part in the third annual Ugly Sweater Run and Walk, organized by Kelly Bither of RunSistersRun. Strong wind gusts combined with nearly constant rain made for some cold conditions - and soaked sweaters - but smiles remained on the faces of the festive participants. A very short dash for children started things off at 9:45 a.m. as members of the cross-country team led some youngsters on an out... Full story
Mother Nature filled every wish Saturday for the first Holiday Palooza put on by Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD). Under sun-drenched, crystal blue skies, around 3,000 turned out for the first half of the double-feature event - a parade with 29 entries. The long-held holiday parade, which in years past traveled eastbound on Hood Avenue, switched up and moved westbound on Main Avenue. The sun warmed paradegoers in their mittens, parkas, and knit caps, as temperatures h... Full story
If you have put off winterizing, you might be on borrowed time, experts say. With nearly 25 days of sub-freezing temperatures already under Sisters' belt, those pesky winterizing chores are calling, and you must go. And it's not just the yard and garden. There are the crawl space vents, screen removal, animal feeders, hose removal, chimney sweeping, and perhaps more. Of course not removing screens will have no bearing on your heating bills; it's mostly a cosmetic ritual. But... Full story
Glacial melt from climate change is no longer just a problem at the poles. Across the contiguous Western U.S., glaciers are slowly disappearing, according to a new analysis by researchers at Portland State University and the U.S. Geological Survey. The study was published in the journal Earth System Science Data on September 15. Without glaciers, people, plants, and animals are more vulnerable to late summer drought. Glaciers play an important role in regulating waterways, act... Full story
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
The highly popular Whychus Creek Scenic Overlook Trail, just 5.5 miles from town, is getting a new look thanks to a grant of $37,152 from Visit Central Oregon. Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) is adding cash and in-kind donations of $16,104 for a project total of $53,256. The work, originally hoped for completion by fall, is now anticipated to be finished this winter in time for the busy spring and summer tourist season. The one-mile circular trek to the viewpoint is renowned for... 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
A father and son were both arrested on Monday, November 13, for distributing illegal narcotics in Central Oregon. The arrests came as the result of a longer-term investigation by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team that was concluded when drug agents executed search warrants at two different locations in Redmond and Sisters. One search warrant was served in the 3000 block of Obsidian Place in Redmond, and the second search warrant was served in the 7000 block of Holmes... Full story
Erin Borla, President of the Sisters-based Roundhouse Foundation, was invited last month to participate in a gathering in Washington D.C., where the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) discussed the “whole-of-government” approach to arts and culture. Borla said she was among five foundations invited to participate, based on Roundhouse Foundation’s mission to advance arts and culture in rural communities. During National Arts and Humanities Month, the Biden-Harris Administration highl... 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
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
