News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Wanda Braughton likes the diversity of her work.
Wanda Braughton doesn't let anything intimidate her. Her father instilled an attitude in her that has served her well across three careers: "It can be done - I guess I can do it."
After serving as a social worker with the district attorney's office in Clackamas (she worked on domestic violence issues) she brought that I-can-do-it attitude to a 20-year career in the Portland shipyards, where she was a member of the boilermaker's union. If she didn't know what she needed to know to get a job done, she found somebody to ask. And she went to school constantly to learn new aspects of the job, working at night and taking classes during the day.
Nowadays, she does the same thing with the City of Sisters public works crew. She says she'll "drive them crazy with questions. I just wear 'em down till they just show me."
Braughton has learned to operate all kinds of equipment and drive all kinds of rigs, including a snowplow. Like all her colleagues, she's cross-trained to do just about every job in the department's portfolio.
She's also in charge of keeping the public works shops organized for efficiency and safety, and she does fabrication work. She's good at working with metal, and does it for a hobby.
"I actually make garden art - metal garden art," she said. "I have a few pieces in yards around town."
The diversity of the work and the opportunity to learn new things is a favorite aspect of the job for Braughton, who considers herself a life-long learner.
"If I could be a professional college student, I probably would be," she said. "It just doesn't pay."
Braughton had long vacationed in Sisters Country, and when her partner of 21 years retired, they decide this was where they wanted to live. Wanda found summertime work with the city, which evolved two years ago into a full-time position.
She was never cut out for a desk job.
"I have to move; I have to do things," she said.
That physicality takes it's toll. She recently had a complete knee replacement. She powered through her rehab work and came back well before she was expected.
"Nothing stops Wanda from going to work," said public works administrative assistant Nicole Montalvo.
Braughton enjoys the camaraderie of the crew.
"There's a constant kind of helping each other and being part of that team," she said. "We have a great group here. We have a good time."
She acknowledges that she's a bit of a mom to the younger crew.
"They're my babies," she said. "That's because I'm twice their age and they remind me of it."
Like all her teammates, Braughton takes great pride in the department's work.
"I drive my partner and my family nuts driving through (town) and saying 'doesn't that look nice!'" she admitted.
The biggest challenge of the job is getting done everything she wants to get done.
Braughton feels very much at home in Sisters.
"I have never lived anywhere where I felt such a strong sense of community, of belonging," she said.
Outside of work, Braughton enjoys camping, golf and cycling. You won't find her just sitting around.
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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