News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 80
Prescribed fire To the Editor: Spring is in the air and so is the smoke. Prescribed burning season is upon us and in an effort to get in front of a contentious subject I’d like to voice my support of the efforts of our local resources devoted to protecting our community from wildfire. Smoke in the air is never fun. It makes breathing difficult for many, it ruins our beautiful views, weekend plans, and is unwelcome by all. Mechanical thinning is an option but the budgets our government has left for the agencies charged with f... Full story
Dedicated volunteers To the Editor: This month, prior to the regular School Board Meeting on April 3, three candidates for the Budget Committee were interviewed. Each presented their various experiences and what they could bring to the committee during a three-year term. This session was followed by a presentation from the auditors from Pauly Rogers and Co. who have been working with Sherry Joseph, the Sisters School District business manager. The audit findings were positive, with no issues of non-compliance and no... Full story
Student safety To the Editor: In response to the recent allegations against SHS choir teacher Rick Johnson, who has represented Sisters Folk Festival’s Americana Project for nearly 20 years, a simple question needs to be addressed: Is the Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) creating a successful and safe atmosphere for both teachers and students involved in its Americana Project? Should the Americana Project and its leadership be supporting their leading educator instead of distancing itself from the problem? Note that The A... Full story
Don’t reuse eclipse glasses To the Editor: There is an important safety issue that people should be made aware of concerning the upcoming eclipse on April 8, 2024. People should NOT use old eclipse glasses, especially ones that they used during a prior eclipse, such as the one in 2017. The protective coatings on some eclipse glasses deteriorate over time and will not protect a person properly. It is entirely safe to use new glasses, and those who experience the period of totality do not need any glasses during those few m... Full story
Thank you to community To the Editor: To the amazing Sisters community... We are the family that lost our house to the fire on Valentine’s Day. Since then, the love and support shown by our whole community have truly blown us away. We’d especially like to thank the excellent first responders from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department and Black Butte Ranch Fire Department. Although our house was beyond saving by the time the fire department was called, firefighters were able to protect surrounding buildings, and contain the... Full story
What happened to integrity To the Editor: As I watch and listen to the collective failure of our nation’s congressional members, the question arises of what happened to integrity, truthfulness, and honesty. When fear of reprisal and political backlash overshadows one’s action to do what is right, that person needs to leave their political office. Those members were sent to our capital to work for the betterment of our country, not to bow to an entity whose self-centered nature perpetuates falsehoods and attacks our democracy.... Full story
Build it and they will come To the Editor: There are many topics I could address as February draws to a close, but I have selected the homeless and housing issues in Sisters and in Deschutes County. I begin with a question: Why so many homeless in our communities and families that can’t afford the price of a rental? When I moved to Sisters 30 years ago there was a smattering of small homes scattered throughout our town. The same was true for Bend and Redmond. Small dwellings were left over from the mill and logging days. I... Full story
Stupidity on drugs To the Editor: I’m amazed that some state legislators are surprised at the massive increase in drug use and drug related deaths in our county and state. It does not take a genius to realize that when you legalize “small quantities” of virtually every drug that is illegal to possess in 49 other states, you are declaring Oregon as the new Disneyland for those addicted to drugs. It has also added to the homeless crisis. I know, drug addiction, once started, is an illness and the good intention is to treat... Full story
A sick society To the Editor: American society is sick in so many ways. No surprise really, given all the obvious symptoms. Before going further, I know many of you would dismiss my views as negative and offering no solutions. So be it. And I commend anyone who still has hope that this society will survive as we currently know it. The most glaring symptom of course, is that a large portion of U.S. citizens have been brainwashed by a misogynist, white supremacist, unhinged felon (all facts)— who may become the first d... Full story
Hometown heros To the Editor: Here’s a much-needed piece of good news! Pat Burke and Cody Meredith, two of our Sisters-Camp Sherman paramedics, had an unexpected and special moment last weekend. On a call to help a woman in labor they found themselves in the ambulance assisting with the delivery of the baby when she was ready to give birth before they reached the hospital. The end of the story is the best possible outcome: mother and child are healthy, dad was there, and able to cut the cord, the paramedics were trained a... Full story
Wildlife corridor To the Editor: As members of the Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative (B2S), we appreciate the recent article highlighting our locally driven effort, published in The Nugget on January 16 (“Initiative seeks to mitigate wildlife collisions,” page 4). Highway 20 between Bend and Suttle Lake crosses several important wildlife movement corridors for mule deer, elk and other wildlife. This section of highway sees one of the highest rates of deer and elk wildlife-vehicle collisions in Oregon. The goa... Full story
Imagine To the Editor: Well, here we are again. Another election year which is quickly ramping up with both sides of the isle pointing fingers, laying blame and generating biased statements that oftentimes seem to lack the truth. Then there is the media. Conservative and liberal outlets alike appear hell-bent on creating and fostering a deeper level of divisiveness and animosity within our society. Based on a number of opinions posted lately in The Nugget it appears these factors have made it increasingly more difficult to... Full story
It takes a village To the Editor: Sisters’ average minimum income (AMI) was $81,016 in 2021, up from $75,662 in 2020 (per Data USA). A 7 percent increase. Point2Homes.com agrees with that 2020 AMI and adds that Sisters’ 2020 average income was $99,679. Another source, Census Bureau Data reported an AMI of $84,088 for Sisters in 2020. Using a 5 percent yearly increase in AMI (rather than 7 percent), considering both 2020 AMI sources as a base, and knowing there’s far more than a percentage that can impact AMI, here is a novic... Full story
School is back in session To the Editor: I would like to extend my warm wishes to the Sisters community for a happy new year. The first school board meeting of 2024 began with a celebration of our school board members, as January is board member recognition month. We thanked our five dedicated school board members for their time and commitment to our schools. Joan Warburg, SES principal, and Joe Hosang, director of human resources and curriculum, presented the Early Literacy Grant, which will allow for additional investments... Full story
Tree poaching To the Editor: I live in Crossroads. I wanted to correct the information in The Nugget, “Tree poachers strike in Sisters.” In this article it stated that Jeremy Fields and Therese Kollerer found the old-growth tree outside Crossroads on a survey of a volunteer clean-up. My husband, myself, and our neighbor were the ones involved in the clean-up of an abandoned homeless camp. However, it was my husband who discovered the tree on one of his daily runs. He reported the location (using Google coordinates) to the... Full story
From the superintendent To the Editor: As 2023 comes to an end, I wanted to share with you a few highlights from the December Sisters School Board meeting. Before the start of the meeting, the Board and guests celebrated the Sisters High School volleyball team as the 2023 3A state champions. A group of middle school teachers presented on the continued support of transitions as the fifth grade will be in the new elementary school in the 2024-25 school year. Brad Tisdel, who shared that the Sisters Folk Festival has been... Full story
Goodbye to a community icon To the Editor: One of our community icons is gone. He was the first to greet us when we came, often the last to catch the eye when leaving. He was the one we said goodbye to, in a way thanking him for a good time—the host of the party that is Sisters. He hung out at most public events, helped around town, especially if music was involved. I think he deserves a few words from one of us. The last time I connected with Jack Nagel was at The Belfry, a Halloween party. I never do that kind of thing, s... Full story
Thank-you to letter writer To the Editor: This is a thank-you to Wendy Vermillion for your letters to the editor regarding cedar bow trimmings/permits, and forest uses. Your initial letter spoke to my heart, and all the ways that I see nature being destroyed around us, and so often feel hopeless. I thank you for having the courage and taking the time. I thank The Nugget for posting the letters; it gives me hope. Your name says it all, you are one and over 1 million and I wish you a very joyous winter season and new year.... Full story
Whose land? Re: The letter “Whose Land?” (The Nugget, November 23): The writer of this letter is under certain misconceptions about the history of Palestine and the Palestinian people. She alleges that “the only people who have ancestral ties to Israel as their historic homeland and nation are the Jewish people.” Does she believe that ancient Israel and modern Israel are the same thing? If so, this is nonsense. Not even Jews, especially Orthodox Jews, believe this. Or does she believe that because there was some kind of Jewi... Full story
Climate change To the Editor: In the November 15 letters to the editor, Sharon Booth said she was stunned by the lack of knowledge Pat Farr possesses on climate change in comparison to “scientists” all over the world. I’d bet Pat Farr has more common sense than those scientists have conclusive data free of untainted bias and motive. And believe it or not, there are also scientists all over the world that disagree with the narrative pushed by CNN, AOC, and Greta. Proverbs 14:15-18, New Living Translation. Sharon in her summary... Full story
Climate change To the Editor: The letter from Pat Farr in The Nugget on October 11 stunned me by the lack of knowledge she possessed re: climate change. The changing climate has to do with overall averages of measured weather phenomena over extended periods of time. Temperature is the most commonly used to monitor climate, but also severity of damaging storms. Weather is what we experience on a day-to-day basis. Taken cumulatively, climate is defined by average weather measurements. Scientists from all over the world agree... Full story
Hunters in the forest To the Editor: There were a few misconceptions promoted in T. Lee Brown’s column of November 1. She stated that a hunter had fired off 12 rounds without looking. Since hunters are limited by regulation to a maximum of five rounds, one in the chamber and a magazine that can hold no more than four cartridges, it was clearly not a hunter who was shooting. The second misconception is that hunters take over the entire forest during the fall of the year. In fact the rifle deer season in this area was O... Full story
My dark wish for Sisters To the Editor: When I walk out my front door in Borrego Springs I can see the Milky Way — ours is a designated international dark-sky community. It is estimated that 80 percent of humanity has never seen the Milky Way and never will. This is largely the result of urbanization and the bright night-lights that come with it. The 20 percent who do enjoy a clear night sky are taking steps to protect it. On my recent visit to Sisters to give a Science Club Talk at The Belfry (Starry Starry Nights, O... Full story
Beware of scams To the Editor: Sue Stafford’s column “Of a certain age: Don’t get fooled, (The Nugget, October 18, page 8) is a story I have also heard from friends and family. She makes it clear that it’s all too easy to be fooled by these practiced fraudsters. Her detailed story will help readers recognize the patterns and emotional “triggers” they use. Kathy Reynolds Israel-Hamas war To the Editor: The editorial by Jim Cornelius, “War to the Knife,” on October 18” gives us a very good perspective of the crisis in the Mid... Full story
Crossroad or crosshairs To the Editor: The lights blinking on my dashboard go dead. I barely make it to Les Schwab. Of course there’s a two hour wait. Years ago I would have been devastated, embroiled in victimized mind chatter. “What? I just spent a fortune on crawlspace insulation. Where am I going to get the money for this? Instead I think, “I’ve got time. Why not hike to the store, stock up on a few things from Bi-Mart?” After shopping, I return the way I came with an armful of unwieldly bags. Two cars approach the inter... Full story
