News nuggets - 6/23/2021

• And so it begins. Sisters residents woke up Sunday to the smell of smoke, even the report of ash on surfaces, as the S-503 fire located southeast of Mount Hood on the border of Warm Springs Reservation grew overnight Saturday to 4,300 acres. A smaller fire in Klamath County is threatening homes.

• Three Peaks Industrial Park broke ground and is moving thousands of cubic yards of dirt and gravel for laying in utilities. Five parcels are now sold.

• Sisters Trails Alliance asked to add mileage distance between junction marker posts for their map. Users would welcome the information to plan.

• Whychus Creek footbridge at Creekside Park re-opens after a three-month closure that allowed for improving handicap accessibility and installing safety rails. Addition of viewing bump-outs is scheduled for fall.

• Newly rebuilt Ski Inn Tap House and Hotel is now accepting airbnb.com reservations for its six boutique rooms. Christine Tolliver from Salem is the very first guest to book one of the luxury designed and furnished rooms.

• Beacham’s Clocks displays 1,000th piece. Legendary clockmaker Ed Beacham still has work to do on his most ambitious project yet, but visitors can see the work-in-process as they enter the front door.

• Worker shortages remain critical, with some businesses curtailing hours or days, and limiting menu choices.

• Neither Deschutes County nor Oregon hit the June 21 target to lift COVID-19 restrictions. Vaccinations are plummeting with nearly 50,000 needing at least the first dosage for the state to be “fully” open.

• The Kitchen Table, gourmet take-out eatery on Sun Ranch Drive, clears remaining startup hurdles and pencils July 10 for formal opening. Their signature taco boxes have been intermittently available on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

• Cascade Avenue will not be closed for this year’s Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. The City and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office are undertaking a challenging traffic scenario with plans to use trained volunteer deputies to aid in the effort to keep pedestrians safe.