Week of September 11, 2024
Week of September 11, 2024
The fire that consumed an RV and truck belonging to a Sisters man on September 1 was caused accidentally. Clara Butler of the State Fire Marshal’s Office reported that the cause was determined to be improper disposal of burning materials. “It appears that smoking was a factor,” she said. The fire occurred in the forest north of Highway 20, directly across from the entrance to Tollgate. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to aid the fire victim, Randall Hodges, who lost his dog Tyson in the blaze. The Support Now... Full story
The intensity level of the race for Deschutes County Sheriff ratcheted up last week, as candidate Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp filed a tort claim notice — notice of a potential lawsuit — against the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office administration, alleging ongoing targeting, harassment, and election interference. Sgt. Vander Kamp, who serves on the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE), is running against Captain William Bailey, the candidate endorsed by retiring... Full story
A driver reaching for something in his vehicle hit a parked car on Cascade Avenue, which caused his vehicle to heel over on its side, blocking the westbound lane of travel on Tuesday afternoon, September 3. Deschutes County Sheriff's deputies arriving at the scene found a black 2018 Honda Pilot resting on its driver's side and facing west in the westbound lane. Cascade Avenue was shut down and traffic was re-routed around the scene. Medics from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural... Full story
Cathy Covell has always had the urge to travel. Covell is a physical therapist who specializes in myofascial release. She travels the country with her horses and her dogs, filling in at clinics that need an extra pair of hands or some vacation relief. This summer, she landed for a while in Sisters, at Green Ridge Physical Therapy. A native of Indiana, Covell first encountered Sisters while working a stint at a practice in Eugene. She headed over the mountains and set herself... Full story
With only the South Locust Street branch to go, motorists can now get a clear picture, both of what the finished roundabout will look like, and how to navigate it. Access from Cedar Street is also now clear in how it will work. None too soon for Sisters Pumphouse and Country Store, the Union 76 station, and High Camp Taphouse, two businesses who "have taken a beating" owners say. Drivers are confused with how to enter the businesses which have easy-to-miss temporary access.... Full story
Despite mixed-to-negative reports of commercial development across the country and Oregon, Sisters developers and entrepreneurs appear to have a differing take. According to Goldman Sachs, some $1.2 trillion of commercial mortgages are scheduled to mature this year and next. That's almost a quarter of all outstanding commercial mortgages, and the highest recorded level dating back to 2008. The biggest single holder are banks, many local and regional, with a 40 percent share.... Full story
An 18-year-old woman from Klamath Falls was killed in a head-on crash on Highway 20 west of Suttle Lake on Tuesday, August 27. Oregon State Police responded at about 11 a.m. to a two vehicle crash on Highway 20, near milepost 82, in Jefferson County. According to OSP, preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Tesla Model S, operated by Scarlett Jewell Felder, crossed into the on-coming lanes and struck a westbound Jeep Wagoneer, operated by Michel Phillipe Sabourin, age 65, of Naples, Florida, head-on. The operator... Full story
Firefighters quickly got a handle on a fire that consumed an RV and a truck at a dispersed camping site directly across Highway 20 from the entrance to the Tollgate subdivision, lying approximately 150-200 yards to the north of the road. The blaze ignited around 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 1. There was a series of small explosions as ammunition and propane tanks cooked off; the flames flared and the blaze spread into the surrounding forest. Wind conditions were calm, and... Full story
Aggressive action on the part of firefighters stopped a wildfire that erupted Thursday afternoon near Hoodoo Ski Area west of Sisters. The fire was 100 percent contained at two acres by early Friday morning, after firefighters hit it with an air attack and a Hotshot crew was deployed to take on the fire on the ground. According to Central Oregon Fire Information, cite cause of the blaze was lightning. Heavy thunderstorms moved up the Cascade Crest a week ago. Lightning fires can sometimes “sleep” for many days before... Full story
The federal government will move ahead with plans to kill tens of thousands of barred owls in Washington, Oregon, and California to protect threatened spotted owls. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a decision on Wednesday to adopt a controversial barred owl management strategy that calls for lethal removal of the birds by shooting them with shotguns and, in some cases, capturing and euthanizing them. Barred owls are native to the eastern U.S. but began expanding... Full story
“Ghost guns,” which are 3D-printed firearms without serial numbers, are prohibited across Oregon starting last Sunday. The ban comes after a federal judge denied a legal challenge that tried to block the prohibition. In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2005 banning ghost guns. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a Democrat, pushed for years to get legislation banning ghost guns. “Unserialized guns are bad for everyone except criminals who don’t want to get caught,” she said at the time. Starting... Full story
A driver reaching for something in his vehicle hit a parked car on Cascade Avenue, which caused his vehicle to heel over on its side, blocking the westbound lane of travel on Tuesday afternoon, September 3. Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies arriving at the scene found a black 2018 Honda Pilot resting on its driver’s side and facing west in the westbound lane. Cascade Avenue was shut down and traffic was re-routed around the scene. Medics from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District arrived on scene and...
For the second time in the space of a week, a wreck closed a major highway into Sisters from the east. A three-car pile-up on Highway 126, at the intersection with Camp Polk Road near Aspen Lakes, blocked traffic for a time in the late afternoon of Friday, August 23. Cloverdale Fire District personnel responded, along with an ambulance crew from Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. According to Captain Travis Bootes of the Cloverdale District, one woman was transported to the... Full story
Jeri Fouts and her son Ryan Burbank were on the 24th floor of the Westin Downtown Hotel in Dallas, Texas, last Friday, August 23, waiting for an elevator to take them down to a birthday dinner with a family friend. They waited. And waited. "We almost considered walking down because we were going to miss the dinner," Jeri recalled. Finally, an elevator pinged, and a door opened onto an express elevator filled with football players from the Los Angeles Chargers. Jeri and Ryan... Full story
Sheriff Shane Nelson announced last week that Captain Paul Garrison had been named Undersheriff in the midst of an election that pits two current Deschutes County Sheriff's Office personnel against each other. In a message posted to Facebook, Sheriff Nelson said, "The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has two internal candidates for the Office of Sheriff, Captain William Bailey and Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp. Like many political matters, this dynamic can be divisive for our... Full story
There’s a lot of good percolating through Sisters Country as evidenced by the reporting out at the latest Community Builders meeting on August 21 gathering at the Stitchin’ Post classroom. The meeting opened with Jean Wells, founder of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) 49 years ago and owner of the Stitchin’ Post, providing some history of quilting in Sisters. In 1975, when Wells’ store was in what is now the bar at Sisters Saloon and Ranch Grill, she hung 12... Full story
At Seed to Table Farm September brings a cornucopia of colorful veggies grown to feed the Central Oregon Community. Anyone who's lived in Central Oregon through all its seasons, knows the weather is unpredictable, erratic, and unrelenting. Whether it's freezing nights, whipping winds, ravenous rodents, or scorching sun, the Seed to Table farm team finds a way to grow and feed folks their nutritious, delicious veggies, no matter what. How this team of stoic, strong, and... Full story
Sisters' new elementary school is ready to take on students for the start of the 2024-25 school year. The $33.8 million project, funded by bonds approved by voters in 2021, came in on time and on budget, despite increases in construction and materials costs. Students were to walk through its doors for the first day of school on Tuesday, September 3. "We've got a few things left to do," said Schools Superintendent Curt Scholl. "We're behind on landscaping." The playing field... Full story
While some store owners are reporting record August and year-to-date sales, others may be struggling. "We think as many as five or six stores will not make it past January," said Shaunette White, owner of High Desert Chocolates on West Cascade Avenue. White is also president of the newly formed Sisters Business Association which have 39 members, about half of whom are retail shopkeepers. White thinks those in stress do not get enough local support. By contrast, Sisters Meat... Full story
October 19, 1987, was the worst day of Greg Donaldson's professional life. On that day, known to history as Black Monday, the stock market suddenly cratered, in a one-day plunge that pulled down the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 22.6 percent, and wiped out $1.71 trillion in wealth. Donaldson was sure that it had wiped out his small investment firm, too. That's not what happened. In fact, the week following Black Monday marked a sea change in Donaldson's understanding of his... Full story
Every September, supporters of local nonprofit Seed to Table gather outdoors on its farm to eat, drink, and be visibly merry. For a few years now, the question preceding the Fall Harvest Dinner has been: Will there be smoke? This year was a little more complicated. Guests wondered: Will there be smoke? And rain? And lighting? About 200 attendees arrived on a hot evening to a festive scene. Long, communal tables were set with linens and sunflower bouquets. Somewhat smoky air... Full story
Thirty-five years after its founding in a small wooden cabin on Hood Avenue, Sisters Coffee Company is celebrating its anniversary with a brand refresh and free bags of coffee for customers who buy drinks in its cafes Friday, September 6. The new branding comes as the company shifts to new recycled packaging for its coffee beans. "It's hard to believe that it's been 35 years since our parents launched Sisters Coffee Company and made their dream of starting their own coffee... Full story
Back in 1989, the town of Sisters was a tiny community with a population of about 600. It had a few restaurants, bars, and Eurosports, along with just a handful of other retail stores that have stood the test of time. Maintaining a retail business in this seasonal town for 35 years presents its own set of challenges-weather, forest fires, and economic fluctuations can all impact operations. Despite these hurdles, Brad Boyd, the owner of Eurosports, remains remarkably upbeat.... Full story
Authors, aspiring authors, and readers will gather in Sisters this weekend to celebrate the joys of storytelling in the Sisters Festival of Books. The event is set for a three-day event Friday through Sunday, September 13–15. The weekend kicks off with a community StorySlam event at The Belfry on Friday, September 13, featuring storytelling and story-oriented music. Saturday will serve up a full day of author readings at Sisters Movie House, where attendees can enjoy food and drink while interacting with authors across... Full story
The 2024 Artist Studio Tour, sponsored by the Sisters Arts Association, will take place Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in and around Sisters. Here is a look at what you can see in galleries in Sisters. Next week, we'll take a look at artists' private studios. You may start at any of the dozen locations – but a bright and friendly place to begin is Space in Common at 351 W. Hood Ave., where you will find four artists: Raina Verhey, Taylor... Full story
Sisters Folk Festival is raffling off a custom guitar as part of the annual JAM (Journey/Adventure/Music) fundraiser supporting SFF's cultural education outreach and programming in Central Oregon. Longtime sponsor and Bend-based company Breedlove Guitars has donated a beautiful custom concertina guitar. The raffle will be conducted in conjunction with the 27th annual Sisters Folk Festival happening Friday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, September 29 in Sisters, but raffle tickets... Full story
The Sisters Arts Association’s eighth annual Artist Studio Tour is happening on the third weekend of September. This is a self-guided driving tour, and it features 18 artists in home studios and host galleries, in and around Sisters. The Studio Tour takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Host galleries and home studios will be open to all visitors. The tour attracts visitors from all over the Northwest. The tour is self-guided and free to all. You may arrange your visit in... Full story
When Emily Halnon's mother died of a rare uterine cancer at the age of 66, Emily knew she wanted to do "something monumental" to pay tribute to her mother's adventurous and courageous spirit - and to process her own grief. Halnon - an accomplished ultra-runner (extreme long distance) - was determined to try to break the record for the fastest known time by a woman on the Pacific Crest Trail's 460 miles across Oregon. That journey - and the journey through grief - are... Full story
Emily Halnon will be one of the authors in attendance at a Literary Banquet Author Dinner on Saturday, September 14, hosted at Paulina Springs Books, 252 E. Hood Ave. The dinner is part of the Sisters Festival of Books. The event features a six-course chef’s dinner prepared by Jackson “Rooster” Higdon, owner of Luckey’s Woodsman in Sisters. Each course of the meal is themed around a featured author’s book and authors will rotate tables in between every course so that participants have the opportunity to chat with... Full story
Henriette Heiny is a woman thoroughly schooled in discipline and creativity. "She is a renaissance woman," said Karen Thomas, owner of Toriizaka Art in Sisters, where Heiny's work is on permanent display, along with being featured during the Sisters Arts Association Studio Tour. Abstract expressionism was the last thing on young Henriette Heiny's mind when she was a young teenager in Cologne, Germany, after World War II. "I remember painting copies of the Dutch masters in the... Full story
Chris La Tray is a Métis storyteller, Montana's current poet laureate, a descendent of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North and an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He will celebrate his new memoir - both personal and historical - at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters on Tuesday, September 10 at 5 p.m. (note the early event time). "Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian's Journey Home" is a testament to the power of storytelling,... Full story
A powerful and prolific storyteller through his songcraft, the Emmy-nominated, Oregon-born, and Southern California-bred, singer-songwriter-guitarist Jake Smith, aka The White Buffalo, will release his first-ever live album, “A Freight Train Through The Night,” on September 20. Smith is the son of Jeff and Ginny Smith of Sisters, and The White Buffalo has performed at festivals in Sisters on numerous occasions. Arriving on double-vinyl, in a limited, collector’s edition run, “A Freight Train Through The Night” is... Full story
Anita Gail Jones loves book festivals. "It's fun to meet readers," she said. "People who go to book festivals love books, so you're really with your people when you go to book festivals." Jones is among the roster of authors who will offer readings and discussion at the Sisters Festival of Books September 13-15. Jones is the author of "The Peach Seed," recently long-listed for the Crook's Corner Book Prize. The novel is set in Albany, Georgia, where an under-recognized... Full story
The Outlaws football team returns eight starters on both sides of the ball, including seniors Hudson Beckwith, Kolbi Cotner, and Garrett Sager, and juniors Kalvin Parker, Jozua Miller, and Ethan Eby. In addition, most of the special teams players also return for another year. Coach Gary Thorson said, “As is the case every season, staying healthy will be key for us, but this team has some fight in them and have learned how to battle through adversity. Senior leadership is critical on every team, especially at the high... Full story
The Outlaws fell 21-25, 15-15, 25-22, and 26-28 in a tough match at Caldera on Tuesday, September 3. A day later they hosted 3A Burns and 2A Trinity Lutheran. Sisters fell in three straight sets 20-25, 11-25, and 17-25. They managed to squeak out a five game win against Trinity with scores of 25-20,17-25, 25-29, 20-25, and 15-13. Sisters started off slow and timid in Tuesday’s game against Caldera. In the second set Caldera had a couple of good serving runs and offensively were hard to stop. In the third and fourth sets... Full story
The Outlaws soccer squad lost 0-5 at home against Madras on Thursday, September 5. The match was scheduled to be played in Madras, but due to smoky conditions was moved to Sisters. The White Buffs are a disciplined and well-coached team and the Outlaws knew they were in for a battle. One of Sister’s tactical goals was to establish themselves in the midfield, and junior Nick Palmer is a big part of that. Coach Jeff Husmann noted that Palmer is very smart and physical and helped set the tone for their style of play. In... Full story
Makena Zorza was hired three weeks ago as the girls assistant soccer coach, but after long-time coach Brian Holden resigned, she took over the head coaching position. Zorza graduated from Hood River Valley High School (HRVHS) in 2018 and played soccer all four years, three years on their varsity squad as a forward and outside midfielder. While at Hood River the team won their conference every year. She went on and attended the University of Idaho where she played Club Soccer.... Full story
Approaching the first meet of the season as a hard practice gave the Outlaws cross-country teams an attitude of testing fitness while getting some race experience simultaneously. The results were positive for veterans and newcomers alike. The biggest challenge of the meet was not the course or the muggy heat, but stepping to the starting line for the first time since losing teammate Kolby McMahon, the victim of a motorcycle accident last June. "There was a lot of emotion... Full story
The boys soccer squad defeated the Delphian Dragons 3-1 on the road on Friday, August 30. The Dragons were the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Delphian is a private school with skilled club players, and Sisters came out ready for a tough match. Danny Benson scored Sisters first goal early in the first half to put the Outlaws on top 1-0. Coach Jeff Husmann described their second goal as the best-orchestrated goal of the night: Nick Palmer peppered the ball to freshman Alex Nieto, who received the pass... Full story
Josh Kreunen was recently hired as the new head volleyball coach, and has only had time with the Lady Outlaws during daily doubles. After just one short week he’s had to divide over 36 girls into three teams, and get ready for preseason play. Several seniors are back for their final year, including Holly Davis, Jordyn Monaghan, Kathryn Scholl, Brooklyn Cooper, Kristen Elbek, and Sophie Rush. Davis is a steady force as the Outlaws’ setter. Kreunen stated that Holly is a strong, smart setter who is also a great defender... Full story
The boys’ soccer team has proven they are a squad to be reckoned with. The Outlaws have established themselves as one of the strongest teams in the league, winning league titles the past two years. Coach Jeff Husmann told The Nugget that they did lose a very strong group and this year will be about improving each week. Thirty-two guys signed up to play, and more are expected to join the team once school starts. Within that number are 14 freshman, the most since Jeff Husmann took over as head coach six years ago. Sisters... Full story
In celebration of Welcoming Week 2024, three local organizations are bringing back the popular Health and Wellness Fair Sunday, September 22, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Ponderosa Park in Bend. Mosaic Community Health, Volunteers in Medicine, and Deschutes County Health Services are co-hosting the second annual outdoor event to welcome immigrant, refugee, Latino, and other community members and provide easy access to useful information for improving health and well-being. “We aim to improve the health and wellness of community... Full story
Oregon is one of the hottest states in the country and it’s not the weather. COVID-19 has made a comeback of sorts, particularly in the western states. Since late April COVID-19 has seen a surge in Oregon, mostly from omicron variants, according to Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunization at the Oregon Health Authority. People testing positive for COVID climbed from a rate of 3.1 percent in April to over 18 percent during the last week... Full story
Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or less. The deadline for submission is Monday at 10 a.m. for publication in that week's Nugget. Please submit your letter by emailing to Jim Cornelius at [email protected] with "letter to the editor" in the subject... Full story
Roundabout Tortoise To the Editor: Here’s my idea for the center artwork at the new roundabout: How about a gigantic replica of a Galapagos Tortoise? Jim Cline Art and owls To the Editor: After reading the article in The Nugget regarding the Roundabout art project I would hope the artists would consider a tribute to the following: Our military veterans. Sisters’ history of their logging industry. History of Sisters Quilt Show and Rodeo. Save a lot of money. Relocate the horse that is presently displayed on the corner... Full story
As we mark the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, a new congressional report on the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan strikes an especially ominous note. The 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda had their origin in the safe-haven of a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Twenty-plus years on, after a vast expenditure of blood and treasure, the Taliban controls Afghanistan again, and that troubled land once again offers safe haven to... Full story
The Cohen Brothers’ movie, “The Matrix” is returning to the big screen. In the movie, humanity lives within the Matrix, where pleasant virtual reality daydreams have been substituted for reality, and self-aware machines farm the slumbering humans for energy. Neo and his compatriots manage to extricate themselves from the Matrix, fighting back against the artificial intelligence that has enslaved humanity. Perhaps the Cohen Brothers were onto something, that each of us lives within a matrix; not one fashioned by... Full story
Greg and Shannon Pozovich wrote: This letter is a thank you and a praise to the staff of Ponderosa Lodge in Sisters. Because of a recent flood in our home, we spent six weeks at the Lodge. We had not expected such a wonderful response from the entire staff. They were so welcoming and good to us and our dog Sage. Management was warm and very accommodating. Everyone was attentive and efficient. A number of times they arranged care for Sage so we could go out to dinner. They treated Sage like royalty and had a lot of fun with... Full story
Tumalo Falls Loop Trail appears on just about everybody's top five list of trails within an hour of Sisters. If you've been, you'll likely agree. If you haven't then you should make it a priority. It truly is a gem and one of the most-photographed hikes in all of Oregon. At seven miles, it's not a walk in the park. Neither is it grinding despite its 1,200-foot elevation gain. The ascent is gradual and spaced over 3.5 miles. The sheer beauty of the thick forest and cascading... Full story
Developers having a heyday To the Editor: Just received a full page glossy magazine in the mail entitled Haven. It featured million-dollar-plus homes for sale all over Oregon. Including our very own Sisters Woodlands. These developers are having a heyday at our expense, sucking our water and resources dry and destroying small communities and pricing out ordinary Oregonians. Let alone bulldozing our trees and devastating the land. If this makes you angry, please contact Governor Kotek and/or your state representative. I did.... Full story
History offers little comfort to those who approach it honestly, seeking to truly understand what happened and why. When history deeply informs the course of contemporary events, it is often weaponized to promote a moral case for one side or another in a conflict. But then it’s not really history — it’s mere fodder for propaganda. Such is the case in the war between Ukraine and Russia, and such is the case in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both conflicts have deep... Full story
It’s a beautiful September morning in Sisters Country. The sun is out but it’s not too hot yet. The sky is brushed with a hint of smoke, nothing much compared to the last few summers. The forest is quiet, other than some loud equipment, a dog barking, and a small plane flying low. OK, not really that quiet. Compared to a city, though? The forest is heavenly. It’s a good life, in a good place. I am one of the lucky ones and I totally know it. But by late afternoon I may... Full story
While perched on the tip of a branch the Ash-throated Flycatcher [Myiarchus cinerascens] will tweak its head from side to side in a quizzical manner as it waits for its next insect meal. They prefer drier environs and do not drink water because all is needed are the fluids from their insect diet. Small lizards, fruits, and berries are occasionally consumed. Three to seven brown- streaked white eggs are laid after a nest of grasses, twigs, and rootlets are woven together and... Full story
Brad Boyd of Eurosports wrote: Thank you to the 200-plus people who showed up to help celebrate Eurosports 35th anniversary and raise $520 for Think Wild's Beaver Works Habitat Restoration. That will buy a lot of willow and cottonwood (food for the beavers). And, thank you to all the thousands of people who have supported shopping local for 35... Full story
Beware of scams To the Editor: I fell for a scam being operated on FB Marketplace. I was trying to buy firewood and I ended up getting scammed. Luckily it was not for a ton of money. Never give the seller any money up front. Cash on delivery only! I am working with the Deschutes County Sheriff, Facebook, Venmo, and PayPal. Since Monday, August 19, I have located and disabled a dozen different scam pages selling firewood. Once you know what to look for they are easy to spot. The first thing that happens is you will... Full story
As families begin to transition back to school a lot of hubbub starts to take over. After the comparatively schedule-free life of summer, there are many things to think about. What supplies to buy, which clothes still fit, which don’t (how did your child grow so fast in such a short time?), and how to adjust your work schedule for drop-off and pick-up times. What’s top on the minds of the kids? The younger they are, or if they are moving to a new school environment, it’s bound to be anxiety and worry (that includes... Full story
There’s Minnesota nice. And Wisconsin nice. And Canada nice. Maybe some others, probably mostly in the Midwest. I don’t recall Oregon nice. Nor California nice. And then there’s Sisters nice. You know the kind of nice I’m talking about. It mostly just happens, right? It happens so routinely that we don’t need to put it into words. Like many of you, I ride my bike around town. And, much to the chagrin of my adult children, an electric scooter. Not one of those... Full story
It is hard to imagine what Sisters and Burns, Oregon, Time Magazine, China, a shootout at the Tex Saloon in 1894, a gold rush at Windy Point, and actor William Hurt might have in common. The answer is that they all have ties to Claire McGill Luce, a "child of the west," a woman who worked around the world, but never forgot her roots in the high desert of Harney County. She is responsible for a treasure trove of western history that holds almost forgotten tales and secrets of...
Hi, my name is K-9 Copper and I assist the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) in finding people - even some who aren't happy when I find them. I have the best job in the world (for a dog). I have my own heavy duty pickup truck with my name on it and big lettering to let you know this is my truck. I have my own personal driver, Deputy Donny Patterson, who lives with me and his other dog, K-9 Bloodhound Dani, who retired from Riverside, California, and is my playmate at...
Adrian and Buddy Blair work at Sno Cap. They live in the Deschutes National Forest. Upon first reading you might think that the two are entry-level line workers. To the contrary, Adrian is the manager and Buddy is... well you name it, and Buddy does it. Preps, cleans, fixes, stores, and helps keep the wheels turning. Sno Cap is not a fast-food restaurant. Everything is cooked or served to order, from scratch. Most everybody in Sisters has at one time or another dined at Sno...
Even if you don't recognize her person or her name you will undoubtedly recognize Robin Bentz's work: She's the "lady who keeps Sisters beautiful." That's what we heard repeatedly as we asked about town. Indeed, Bentz is the tireless City's Public Works Department worker who almost single-handedly deals with city-owned landscaping. A lot of it is within five city parks, among the many, many acres of land that needs to be weeded, planted, pruned, irrigated, and fed. Bentz will...
When Sisters resident John May saw people wading in Whychus Creek on August 19, obviously working on some sort of project, he was curious. He stopped by and encountered Deschutes Watershed District Fish Biologist Jerry George conducting a fish survey. He asked George for details on the work, and the biologist sent him an email sketching out the results of the survey. May shared the information with The Nugget. "Today we found that, while present, trout were in very low...
Ann Ford knows a thing or two about senior living establishments. She managed three of them, including a memory care facility in Bend. Now she's a resident at Sisters Senior Living (formerly known as The Lodge in Sisters) - and she chose the place for one reason in particular: Alea Schliep. Alea is the life enrichment coordinator at the senior living home on Larch Street at the north end of Sisters. "I'm the one who basically creates the fun," she said. And creating that fun...
The Rev. Dr. Larry E. Harrelson, Col., Retired, 80, a resident of the Forest Grove community, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024, at the Hawthorne House in Forest Grove. The youngest of four children, Larry was born April 17, 1944, to Willis Murrel and Verla Jessie Harrelson in McLeansboro, Illinois, where he grew up and graduated from high school. Both parents modeled for Larry the virtues of hard work, honesty, and religious faith. His parents encouraged Larry to go as... Full story
Darrell William Brownawell was born on February 21, 1933 in Bismark, North Dakota. He died on August 28, 2024 at Touchmark in Bend. Between those bookends he lived a good, eventful, and meaningful life. He was married to the love of his life, Marilyn, for 68 years. He is survived by his two sons, David and Mark, four grandchildren, Tim, Dan, Kristen, and Max, and two great-grandchildren, Ernest and Dianna. Darrell was active in Civil Rights. He would go to court to stand by... Full story
With great sadness, we announce that Sandra (Sandy) Reed-Hurst of Bend passed away peacefully in her home on August 5, following a lengthy illness. Affectionately known as "Sam" by her beloved husband Bill, "Mom" and "Sam" by her four daughters, Sharie (Reed) Hurst-Peasley and husband Bruce, Kristen (Reed) Hurst-Birch, Kym Hurst, and Becky (Hurst) Sedlacek and partner John Farr. She was "Grammi" or "Grammi-Sam" to her six grandchildren; Meghan and Molly Birch, Anna, Will, and... Full story
