News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
One of these years, Sisters may get by without the big story of the year involving fire and evacuation. But not in 2007.
The Sisters country seemed to be poised to dodge the annual ritual of wildfire last summer, having experienced a few small lightning-sparked blazes but no major conflagrations.
Then, on August 31, a plume of smoke arose over the Mt. Washington Wilderness, and we were off to the races again. The GW Fire marched relentlessly to the east, pushed by strong winds, until it bumped up against evacuation trigger points and Black Butte Ranch residents and guests were forced to quietly and calmly leave the Ranch.
The fire appeared poised to hit the Ranch, and structure fire task forces deployed to fight it. Then, a soaking rain came, knocked down the blaze and let firefighters gain the upper hand.
A wildfire of another sort broke out over proposals to site a pair of destination resorts in the Metolius Basin near Camp Sherman. Two very different resorts - one a traditional one with golf courses and the other based on ecotourism - pitted developers and Jefferson County against land use watchdogs and others who don't want to see development in the basin.
The City of Sisters faced its own fireworks as local businessmen and developers complained of poor service and management from city staff. The city attributed much of the problem to "growing pains" and in recent months took steps to streamline procedures and to become more "user-friendly."
The city staff moved into a new City Hall at the beginning of the year. Longtime public works director Gary Frazee retired after years of service - one of several employees to depart the city in 2007.
The Sisters School District saw significant changes in 2007. New Superintendent Elaine Drakulich took the reins this fall and an election brought new board members Christine Jones and Tom Dumolt to the district. Board chair Rob Corrigan resigned in February in the face of controversies over record-keeping, to be replaced by Mike Gould.
Controversies came fast and furious, as the board fired a brand new biology teacher Kris Helphinstine for deviating from curriculum in a way that appeared to promote a creationist agenda. The firing got national attention as a battle in a "culture war" and sparked weeks of debate in the community.
The district was also hit by a state ruling over a disallowed home school program involving Sonrise Christian School (now Sisters Christian Academy) that will cost the district $1.2 million in withheld state school funds.
Sisters schools got a $1.6 million overhaul, including a new roof and heating system at the elementary school.
While the district had its political battles, academic, athletic and artistic achievement in the schools remained high. The Outlaws sports teams had an exceptional year, including state championships for Outlaws golfers and volleyball players, numerous individual honors and several league titles.
Sisters also saw the creation of a new Charter Academy for the arts this year.
While Sisters felt the pinch of a declining housing market, the community saw its share of growth. Black Butte Ranch completed a major upgrade of its Glaze Meadow recreation facilities. The Sisters fire district launched a construction project that will provide new housing for firefighters as well as equipment bays.
The City of Sisters moved its recycling center from the fire hall lot to a brand new facility in the Sisters Industrial Park.
More development is on the way, with a new Ray's Food Place slated to be built on the former site of Sisters RV Park.
Sisters hosted its usual complement of cultural events. This year, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show experimented with the closure of Cascade Avenue in the downtown area - a generally successful effort to improve the quality of the experience and one that may influence Sisters' future transportation plans.
The Sisters Jazz Festival called it quits after 15 years, even as Sisters added a new rodeo event in the fall and hosted the launch and return of Cycle Oregon.
In an effort to enhance its image as a center for the arts, events and unique businesses, Sisters adopted a new "brand" - designed to be a literal cattle brand featuring an S in a circle and the tagline "Pioneering Spirit."
And with that spirit, Sisters moved forward into 2008.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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