Sisters salutes...

• Bryce Paige, of Orcutt, California:

My name is Bryce. I am a fifth grader living in California. I recently had a state report due in our class. I chose to do my report on Oregon, because my aunt and uncle live in Sisters now (Kerry and Henry Zenich).

When I told her about my report, she gathered two boxes of items with help from her friends and sent them to me. She told me that so many people helped her gather up things that she had to use more boxes than she expected and the shipping was very expensive!

Mary Jo Weiss, of The Jewel in Sisters, gave her Sunstones she found in her own backyard! I used the items for my presentation, and it helped very much. I realize that my report would have been harder without the help from my aunt and her friends there.

My class got to have water filtered through lava rocks, salmon jerky and hazelnuts. I've learned so much about your state and Sisters. I will be seeing it in real life when we visit in a month and I can't wait!

I just wanted to say, "Thanks" for anyone who helped my aunt with this.

• The Friends of the Sisters Library Arts Committee would like to thank all the 52 artists who were part of the Annual Community Art Exhibit held in the library this past month. There was great variety in the media and subject matter in the 132 pieces on display, ranging from traditional to contemporary styles. We hope to see all of you next year as well as any other artists in the Sisters area who would like to participate in the exhibit. Thanks again for a great show.

• Ryan Burbank has been named to the 2009 fall dean's list at Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles. A 2008 graduate of Sisters High School, he is currently a sophomore at LMU, studying political science and economics.

• Kyle Rickards has been named to the 2009 fall dean's list at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. A 2007 graduate of Sisters High School, he is currently a junior at SPU studying psychology.

• Jena Rickards has been named to the 2009 fall dean's list at Belmont University in Nashville. A 2008 graduate of Sisters High School, she is currently a sophomore at Belmont, studying business music.

• Ryan Haney, a Sisters Elementary School alum now going to school in Redmond, won the 6A State Wrestling Championship February 25, in the 103-pound weight class.

• Michael English shot a hole-in-one on Hole #4 at Aspen Lakes last month. He used a 5-iron at 189 yards.

• Ray Stoneback:

On the morning of March 5, a very sad event took place. Our beloved dog, Bindi, was hit by a car in Tollgate. She did not survive.

She saw a squirrel, with her head down she took off oblivious to any cars driving. No pet owner wants to witness an event like this. I don't blame the person who hit Bindi, it wasn't your fault, it could have been anybody.

Shelly Dinsmore was driving by, saw what happened and came to my aid. She remained calm, unlike me, and gave directions on what I had to do. As I ran to get a blanket she picked Bindi up off the road and brought her to my car. I wrapped my dog in a blanket and off I went to the vet. Bindi's spirit had left her body even before I put her in my car. She passed very quickly for which I thank God.

I arrived at the vet clinic, several minutes later here comes Shelly to comfort me. She already knew, she carried Bindi to the car. Later that morning she stopped by the house to check on me again, with a coffee in her hand. I had never met Shelly until this tragic day. I do want to thank her for what she did for me.

We need more Shellys around! Thank you Shelly!