Week of October 9, 2024
Week of October 9, 2024
Locals citizens are continuing to map out the future of Sisters. The Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Steering Committee met on Thursday, October 3 to continue discussion of the draft study area map. The committee reviewed criteria that will be used to evaluate four “concept” alternative boundaries. Andrew Parish, of MIG, the consulting firm retained by the City to support the UGB amendment process, was at the meeting to present major categories of criteria that will be used to evaluate the study area. The three main... Full story
Due to the lack of significant rainfall and continued warm temperatures, open burning within the Black Butte Ranch, Cloverdale, and Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Districts remains closed. Central Oregon Fire Chiefs and partner agencies will meet in mid-October to re-evaluate conditions and may open burning towards the end of October. Currently prohibited in residential areas: Backyard or open burning (branches, yard debris, etc.); Agricultural burning (waste crops, field burning); Land clearing, slash, or stump waste. To help... Full story
For many a year, Sisters children have been treated to a downtown event whereby school-aged kids in costume would gather at Fir Street Park on Halloween (or the nearest school day to October 31) and then in small groups of roughly 25, they would be led by an adult guide, also in costume, up and down portions of Main, Cascade, and Hood avenues. The trick-or-treaters would be rewarded by participating merchants - some 40 plus - with an array of goodies many of which were... Full story
More than 100 Sisters Country folk joined 11 speakers at Sisters Elementary School on Sunday, October 6, for a community conversation about houselessness. The gathering convened at 4 p.m. for the first public meeting at the brand new facility. Instigated by the City of Sisters in partnership with 11 organizations, the 90-minute meeting was billed as a learning and input-gathering session. Its purpose was to learn about houselessness in Sisters Country and hear ideas,... Full story
Eli Madrone is an active man. He's the owner of a small business - Madrone Communications - chair of the City Parks Board, father of an elementary school-aged child, a youth soccer coach, and a volunteer with Sisters Folk Festival. Now he's thrown his hat into the ring to serve on the Sisters City Council. Five candidates are vying for three available seats on the Council in the November 5 election. "I was encouraged by a couple of Council members," Madrone said. He believes... Full story
Cheryl Pellerin got interested in participating in city government when Sisters faced a controversy over the citing of a shelter in town last year. "I was pretty interested in how the City was going to handle this," she recalled. She started learning about the processes of local government - and found herself hooked. Soon, she was serving on the City of Sisters Budget Committee, and the Urban Forestry Board. She participated in the City's inaugural Civic Leadership Academy,... Full story
With a median price of $825,000 and an average price of $889,010, September single family home transactions in Sisters Country show a continuing trend of lack of affordable housing stock. The inventory of available homes remains low as sellers are stuck in their homes sitting on mortgage rates of three to four percent. Were they to sell and finance a new home at current 30-year lending rates of 6.365 percent such sellers would be often doubling their monthly payment.... Full story
When it comes to law enforcement priorities and policies, there is not a lot that separates the two candidates for Deschutes County Sheriff. But Captain William Bailey and Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp are sharply divided over culture and morale within the agency. The candidates participated in a League of Women Voters-sponsored forum in Bend on Monday, September 23, where they fielded questions submitted earlier by the public on issues ranging from homelessness to guns to the... Full story
A local forest dweller wielded fire extinguishers provided through a fire protection program to attack a small fire in the woods near Sisters the evening of September 24. According to the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, a nearby forest resident reported a small fire on National Forest land approximately one-half mile north of the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge in Sisters. After reporting the fire, the neighboring forest dweller attempted to extinguish the fire using two small fire extinguishers that were provided to him... Full story
It's an ongoing blight, and it's a challenge to forest managers to remove abandoned vehicles in the national forest. There are no reliable numbers of discarded vehicles, but estimates continuously place the total in the many thousands. In the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest the number runs between 30 and 40 per year, mostly RVs, the kinds towed by a car or truck and ranging in size from 15 to 35 feet in length. However, cars and motorcycles also... Full story
Family Access Network (FAN) received an $8,900 donation from 110 Women Who Care. After three local organizations made presentations - Seed to Table, Family Access Network (FAN), and Living Well With Dementia Sisters - FAN was chosen to receive the funds donated at last week's 100 Women Who Care Sisters quarterly gathering. The donation was awarded to the nonprofit receiving the most votes from the women in attendance. The $8,900 gift will benefit the Sisters FAN in a number... Full story
"I like being part of something bigger than me," was Sarah McDougall's answer when asked why she is seeking a position on the Sisters City Council. She also enjoys teamwork and has seen plenty of that in her interaction with and observation of the City Council, the City staff, and other City boards and advisory committees. After 14 years living in Bend, McDougall and her husband, Chris, moved to Sisters in 2020, and McDougall has jumped into volunteering with both feet. She... Full story
The Sisters Country Vision Implementation Team (VIT) recently published its 2023 Progress Report. The Vision report highlights progress toward long-term goals for Sisters Country and details efforts of local agency representatives, organizational leaders, and community volunteers to make Sisters Country more prosperous, livable, resilient, and connected. The report can be viewed at www.bit.ly/sistersvision2023. “With so much growth and change over the past few years, we know that there are many in our community who are... Full story
The Sisters community is invited to join an important conversation about houselessness in the Sisters area on Sunday, October 6. This gathering will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the new Sisters Elementary School, located at 2155 W. McKinney Butte Road, Sisters. Hosted by a coalition of local organizations — including the Sisters Ranger District, Sisters School District, City of Sisters, Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), Sisters Library, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, DCSO, Deschutes County Behavioral... Full story
The Biden administration has asked a federal appeals court to reinstate a rule passed under the Trump administration to remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Lower 48 states which, if successful, would put the animals under state management as is currently the case in Montana and surrounding states, including Oregon, where state and federal authorities oversee wolf management. On behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice filed the 87-page appeal of... Full story
Central Oregon Community College is among just a handful of higher education institutions in the nation that can now offer federal Pell Grants to people who are incarcerated. COCC was the first school in Oregon to receive approval for its Prison Education Program, or PEP, at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras. Pell Grants are the U.S. Department of Education’s single largest source of need-based funding for undergraduate students. The grants, which do not have to be paid back, typically go directly to students... Full story
Sisters High School hosted Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block Band in an assembly on Friday, September 27. Marking the 24th year of this annual tradition, students of all grade levels attended and watched the performance - with wide eyes and big smiles. Brad Tisdel, creative director of SFF Presents, introduced the band, whom he first encountered at the Wintergrass Festival earlier this year. "My favorite thing about these assemblies, as well as the Americana Program here at the... Full story
"Stepping Up" was the theme of the third annual Volunteer Appreciation Event held for Sisters Transportation and Ride Share last Thursday at Sisters Depot. Recognized for their outstanding contributions to STARS over the past year, the STAR Dispatcher of the Year is Debbie Hewett and the STAR Driver of the Year is Rita Weber. Many individuals, organizations, businesses, and donors were recognized for stepping up over the past five years to establish and grow STARS. Just last... Full story
Black Butte Ranch’s new Lodge was selected as a “2024 Building a Better Oregon (BBO) Award” winner by the Central Oregon Association of Realtors (COAR). The award recognizes projects that “have enhanced their community with outstanding new or renovated buildings” and are judged on economic impact, neighborhood improvement, unique design and/or use of materials, and environmental friendliness. Black Butte Ranch (BBR) unveiled its $20 million dining and meeting facility in 2023. The new 22,100-square-foot lodge... Full story
Mike Musco has been through it. Family circumstances in his youth forced him to drop out of college. Just as he got his footing in finance, the Great Recession sent everything sliding. Like the market, he bounced back to reach new heights. He bought and sold a business and multiple investment properties, worked eight years at Microsoft in corporate finance and business management, and became a financial advisor. "I finished my accounting bachelor's while I was working at... Full story
Life was going well for David Kemp. After more than a dozen years as a chiropractor, his practice in Utah had expanded and was thriving. However, a dirt bike accident and an underlying desire to return to his roots conspired to bring David Kemp, a native of Sisters, back to town and open a chiropractic practice focused on wellness. Dr. Kemp spent much of his childhood in Sisters before moving to Utah, where he finished high school and attended college as an undergraduate at... Full story
The music of renowned classical pianist concert pianist Jim-Isaac Chua will fill the auditorium at Sisters High School on Friday, October 25, starting at 7 p.m. Peter Hoover, Executive Director of Sisters Habitat for Humanity, described the event as "an event for the community, to say thank you to the community for their support over three decades." The performance is "an opportunity for those who enjoy classical music to come together and enjoy each other's company and enjoy... Full story
Reporting on the success of Sisters Folk Festival is a familiar tune. There are barely enough superlatives to describe the sold-out three-day event just concluded. SFF Presents Board Chair Leanne Summers summarized it this way: "We've got something special in this community. The 2024 Sisters Folk Festival exemplifies that extraordinary, hard-to-define gift. In a time when it is easy to dwell on differences, Sisters Folk Festival artists, audiences, and volunteers reminded me... Full story
SFF Presents brings Irish newgrass band JigJam to The Belfry on Wednesday, October 23. A special concert with JigJam will be at The Belfry on Wednesday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. JigJam, described as "the best Irish band in bluegrass" and "sparklingly infectious," has been hailed as "Ireland's answer to Newgrass Revival." The founding members from Offaly, Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (banjo and dobro), were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe... Full story
The Belfry will host Ben Rice and the PDX Hustle on Friday, October 4, at 7 p.m. Known as the "blues ninja," Ben Rice brings a unique blend of blues, soul, R&B, folk, and country to the stage, creating an inviting atmosphere that keeps audiences engaged until the early hours. Since his breakout performance at the International Blues Challenge in 2014, Rice has evolved from a beloved Northwest artist to a national and international touring sensation, gracing stages at... Full story
The Outlaws fell 2-1 on the road at Siuslaw on Monday, September 30, and three days later suffered a tough 1-0 loss to the Eagles at Santiam Christian (SC). Despite the loss to Siuslaw on Monday the Outlaws proved they are able to compete with the best teams in the league, and that bodes well as the Outlaws finish up the second half of the season. Siuslaw is one of the strongest teams in the league, they are well-coached, and can score goals. They have fast forwards and can beat their opponents’ defense with speed.... Full story
The Lady Outlaws soccer squad fell 3-0 to Central Linn at home on Monday, September 30, but bounced back on Thursday, October 3, and defeated Creswell 2-1 in another home contest. On Monday, with the Central Linn Cobras ahead by one, the Lady Outlaws were sure they’d scored a goal to knot it up in the 35th minute of play. The referees saw it differently and the goal did not count. The Cobras scored their second goal of the contest in a quick counter attack and went up by two. Coach Makena Zorza said, “The girls... Full story
The Outlaws boys and girls cross-country teams continued their steady growth over the past two weeks with two meets against strong 3A/2A/1A competition. Thursday, October 3, the squad competed at the Regis/Stayton Invitational where the boys placed second and the girls third among sixteen teams represented. 4A Stayton won both team titles. George Roberts continued his strong season with a fifth place finish on the hilly course, clocking 17:39.4. Freshman Zachary Kemp had a... Full story
The Lady Outlaws defeated Elmira at home in three straight sets with scores of 25-16, 25-6, and 25-21, on Tuesday, October 1. At home two days later they lost in four sets to top ranked Pleasant Hill (PH) with scores of 25-17, 26-28, 12-25, 15-25. In Tuesday’s action, the first set against the Falcons was close until midway through the set when the Outlaws were able to pull away for the win. Back-to-back kills from Audrey Sybesma and back-to-back aces from Kathryn Scholl pulled the Outlaws to a 9-6 advantage. Sybesma had... Full story
The Outlaws suffered a disappointing 28-19 loss at Cottage Grove (CG) on Thursday, October 3. The contest started off great with Dawson Roberson getting an interception in the end zone which ended CG’s opening drive. Sisters took possession on the Lions’ 20-yard line. Hunter Bronson hit Hudson Beckwith on a nice pass for a 79-yard touchdown (TD) run. Reid Woodson’s point-after-touchdown (PAT) was good and the Outlaws went up 7-0, and held that score to end the first quarter. Sisters forced the Lions to punt just one... Full story
The Outlaws boys soccer team fell 4-0 at Creswell on Monday, September 23, but came back three days later and beat East Linn Christian 3-1. Sisters knew the Creswell Bulldogs would be motivated to beat them, as they were the team the Outlaws played for the league championship last year in a come-from-behind 5-4 win. Coach Jeff Husmann told The Nugget that one of the challenges the team has faced this year is their slow start to the games, coming out cautious and flat-footed. The Outlaws gave Creswell too much space in... Full story
The Sisters Outlaws football team beat the La Pine Hawks 42-0 on Friday, September 27. Prior to the contest Friday night the Outlaws honored local veterans on their annual Veterans/Military appreciation night. Veterans were escorted to center field by the La Pine ROTC honor guard. After the National Anthem both teams lined up and filed into center field to shake the veterans’ hands and thank them for their service. When the game started, the Outlaws came out on fire against the Hawks. At the half the Outlaws were on top... Full story
The Outlaws’ team started off the week on Tuesday with a three-game sweep over the visiting Creswell Bulldogs (No. 10), with scores of 27-25, 25-23, and 25-22. Two days later they defeated the La Pine Hawks in three close sets (25-22, 25-20, 25-20). Tuesday’s match against Creswell wasn’t easy. In the first set the Outlaws were up 24-21, but due to some errors, they allowed the Bulldogs back in. The set was tied at 24, and again at 25, before Alli Fogarty served up back-to-back aces for the Outlaws’ win. Sisters... Full story
The Lady Outlaws Soccer Team posted a 6-1 victory at home against the Elmira Falcons on Tuesday, September 24. Ella Davis got the Outlaws’ scoring spree started 23 minutes into the contest. Mia Rosas sent a through ball from the Outlaws past the Falcon defense and found Davis, who finished it right past the keeper for the score. The Falcons answered with a goal of their own two minutes later to tie it up at 1-1. Sisters scored in the 27th minute when Rosas again found space and crossed the ball to Deven Stevens, who... Full story
The Outlaws notched a big 49-7 win in their league opener on the road at Elmira on Friday, September 20. Sisters opened with a massive 17 play drive to start the contest. The drive took almost 10 minutes off the first quarter and was capped by a Kale Mock three yard run off the right side. Reid Woodson’s PAT was good and the Outlaws took a 7-0 lead that held through the end of the period. In the second quarter, Elmira answered on their opening drive when they hit a screen pass that went 33 yards for the score. Their PAT... 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
Well, now we know — at least in general — the nature of Deschutes County Sheriff’s candidate Kent Vander Kamp’s transgressions in La Mesa, California, nearly three decades ago. On Friday, Vander Kamp announced that he had obtained confidential personnel documents from La Mesa that he’d never seen before. Vander Kamp served as an unpaid reserve cadet in a program that grew out of a Boy Scouts Explorer program. “After high school, the explorer program pointed me... Full story
On November 5, we will learn who the next elected Sheriff will be for the next four years. Our choices : Candidate Kent Vander Kamp – Endorsed by the Deschutes County Sheriff Employee’s Association — reduce violent crimes, property crimes, and traffic issues in Deschutes County; address the homelessness, mental health, and drugs crisis; restore public trust and accountability in the Sheriff’s Office; connect with the community and collaborate with other public safety partners, improve deputy and employee wellness.... Full story
Lights out! (Do it for the birds.) To the Editor: Two reasons we are so lucky to live in Central Oregon are for our potentially dark night skies, and because we live along the Pacific Bird Flyway. With a few simple choices, we can preserve these attributes and lessen our unintended consequences. Eight out of 10 bird species in North America migrate at night, relying on the stars and moon to navigate. Our electric lights reduce visibility of starry night skies for birds (and us). Artificial light can attract night-migrating... Full story
We wrote about this trail four years ago, but it bears repeating given its proximity and beauty. A near perfect trail for families or hikers simply looking for an easier outing full of scenery. It's mapped as a 2.6 mile out and back undertaking, longer if you take an extension. Plan on a bit more than an hour. It's well maintained and easy to navigate with new trail markers to guide you at the junctions. It's a great trail for dogs, especially those fond of water. Why go: The... Full story
A dark, postpunk musician I’ve admired for decades, a man beloved of Goths and Johnny Cash fans, has somehow become both a mainstream rock star and a religiously inspired advice columnist. Yes, I’m talking about the inimitable Nick Cave. On his beguiling blog “The Red Hand Files,” Mr. Cave usually answers questions. Recently he turned the tables. He asked us, his readers and fans, to answer his question: “I have a full life. A privileged life. An unendangered life.... Full story
We will soon have another election. At my age I have seen a lot of them, some decidedly more important than others. But one common factor in most elections is concern about the economy. A growing economy is usually seen as good. We currently have a strong, growing economy, so it is a bit surprising many consider it to be poor. The reason is “inflation.” This is not the first time that inflation was heatedly argued in a past election. If you remember the economy in the 1980s, that was serious inflation. The surprising... Full story
Use that turn signal To the Editor: What do you do when driving down the road and wish to turn off to the right? You signal your intent for the car behind you as a courtesy so they are safely warned you are turning. It is also telling a person who may be waiting to turn into the traffic that they may turn out. Now, the roundabout is a good mover of traffic if that logic is the same as before. When you wish to enter the roundabout you look to see where the oncoming car is going, whether it is going to continue around or is... Full story
Editor’s note: Each candidate for Deschutes County Sheriff has been offered an opportunity to submit an op-ed detailing their vision prior to the November 5 election. Every day each summer, thousands of Central Oregonians in and around Sisters live under constant threat of catastrophic wildfire caused by illegal homeless camping. The threat became reality at least twice so far this summer elsewhere in Deschutes County. The Darlene III fire near La Pine and the Milepost 132 fire just north of Bend this summer led to mass... Full story
Pamella Jacqueline Kirk, 81, of Sisters passed away on October 1, 2024. Pam was born in June 1943 to the late Kenneth and Mary Bage in Ontario, Canada. Pam is survived by her husband Russell Kirk, two daughters, Tammy Robillard and Dana Thill, and two grandchildren, Devin and Brooke Robillard. Pam's life was full of dancing, laughter, and making friends everywhere she went. She embraced every moment, living fully and creating lasting memories and lifelong connections. Pam's... Full story
Jean Linda (Fitzpatrick) Kern, born on November 30, 1927, in Susanville, California, passed away on September 23, 2024, in Camp Sherman, at the age of 96. She died of natural causes, surrounded by her loving family. Jean is survived by her three children: Timothy "Oly" Kern of Hawaii, Larry Kern of Arizona, and Sweet Medicine (Kern) Nation of Oregon. Sister Willa (Fitzpatrick) Sigler of California. Several grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive her. Jean was... Full story
Bill Wolfe liked to say, "And then I got to go to heaven before I died." That's because in 2021 he and his wife Kathy became caretakers at the Dahl homestead in the Metolius River Canyon north of Camp Sherman, surrounded by the National Forest right where Abbott Creek comes through on its way to the Metolius. Bill passed away in his sleep at the homestead on the morning of July 20, 2024, from heart disease. He was born William Alton Wolfe, the first child of William and... Full story
Kenton L. Chambers was born in Los Angeles, California, on September 27, 1929, and he died on May 22, 2024, at Good Samaritan Regional Hospital in Corvallis after a brief illness at the age of 94. Ken graduated from Whittier College and received his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He joined the faculty in the Department of Botany at Yale University and met his future wife, Henrietta Laing, there. They were married in June 1958. Their daughter Elaine was born in New Haven in... Full story
