The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

A rescue helicopter heads for Brent McGregor's position on Mount Jefferson. McGregor broke his leg while descending the peak and spent a cold night on the slopes. photo provided Life on the edge is not without its risks. Those risks hit... — Updated 5/4/2004 Full story

The debate continues about how many homes should fit on an acre in Sisters. Meanwhile, new construction continues. photo by Jim Cornelius After months of debate, members of the Sisters City Council signaled at a Thursday, April 29, workshop... — Updated 5/4/2004 Full story

And 4,688 by 2025? photo by Jim Cornelius If it's wrong, prove it. That's the defense the City of Sisters is mounting against a challenge of its most recent population forecast. City officials will present that defense to the Deschutes... — Updated 5/4/2004 Full story

After months of brainstorming, it's not getting easier for citizens and city officials to design a couplet alternative that will not close off access to Cascade Avenue -- and will still win state approval. The Oregon Department of... — Updated 5/4/2004 Full story

A controversial ordinance that would require developers to build four to eight housing units per gross acre in new residential zones in Sisters -- instead of six to seven units -- made it to the table again at last Thursday's Sisters City... — Updated 4/27/2004 Full story

Concerned residents expressed relief at the Sisters City Council's decision to table a controversial ordinance on Thursday, April 22. The ordinance would have amended the Sisters Development Code to require developers to build new subdivisio... — Updated 4/27/2004 Full story

One hundred forty nine acres of Deschutes National Forest land burned in the B&B Complex Fire last summer is being salvaged starting this week. The Sisters Ranger District signed a contract Thursday, April 22, to sell 1.2 million board feet... — Updated 4/27/2004 Full story

Intense emotions charged the air Monday night, April 19, as Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles campaigned for a tax increase for his department at a town hall meeting in Sisters. In the middle of the meeting, Sheriff Stiles asked which of... — Updated 4/20/2004 Full story

When the newly-appointed budget committee looked at the first draft of the proposed city budget on Thursday, April 8, there was some concern over the costs to build a new City Hall. The $12.71 million budget is an approximate 27 percent... — Updated 4/13/2004 Full story

The "Y" intersection will be replaced by this new configuration. map courtesy of ODOT Click for larger image The "Y" intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 242 will soon be safer, according to officials from the Oregon Department of... — Updated 4/6/2004 Full story

Two land-use watchdog groups are set to appeal the Sisters Comprehensive Plan to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), arguing that its population forecast is too high and that it will bring too many acres of farm land into the city's... — Updated 4/6/2004 Full story

Low-income housing programs in Sisters are in full swing. Cyndy Cook, executive director of the Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority (COHRA), updated the Sisters City Council in a workshop Thursday, March 25, on three financial... — Updated 3/30/2004 Full story

Ardent residents packed Sisters City Hall on Thursday, March 25, to voice their desires for future residential development in the City of Sisters. The Sisters City Council was considering an amendment to the Sisters Development Code... — Updated 3/30/2004 Full story

While some locals argue for more smaller lot sizes to make housing more affordable in Sisters, others turned out at City Hall on Thursday, March 25, to voice their desire to keep Sisters a beautiful retirement community, with large lots and... — Updated 3/30/2004 Full story

Kevin McCormick, Colleen Dougherty and Toia Nolan raced at Hoodoo Ski Area. photo by Zach Welcker Sharon Sparrow's mother lost both of her legs in an accident last year. After that, Sharon learned to ski. Sparrow, a Sisters resident, said... — Updated 3/23/2004 Full story

Delaying a hefty sewer connection fee payment might turn out to be an advantage for the Sisters School District. After meeting with the school district to ask it to pay up on an overdue invoice, city officials discovered the city might need... — Updated 3/16/2004 Full story

Frank Fraga, pastor of Trinity Christian Center. photo by Torri Barco High sewer connection fees could force a local church to close its doors. The pastor of Trinity Christian Center told the City of Sisters he would have to close down his... — Updated 3/16/2004 Full story

The City of Sisters is encouraging commercial development by changing its parking requirements. The Sisters City Council voted unanimously on Thursday, March 11, to amend the vehicle parking standards in the city's development code. The... — Updated 3/16/2004 Full story

Providing affordable housing in Sisters is a high priority in a redrafted Sisters Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted by the city council last month. Carolyn Gabrielson, a member of the Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors,... — Updated 3/9/2004 Full story

Some people in Sisters are still asking city officials for a bypass, complaining they don't want highway traffic diverted to downtown's Hood and Main Avenues. They are afraid heavy truck traffic will ruin the downtown ambiance and deter... — Updated 3/2/2004 Full story

Relieved and happy after long years of toil, city councilors clapped their hands on Thursday, February 26, after voting unanimously to adopt a thorough redrafting of the Sisters Urban Area Comprehensive Plan. City planners Neil Thompson and... — Updated 3/2/2004 Full story

When the school district hooked up a sewer line at the new middle school last summer, it allegedly didn't pay the required $115,000 of connection fees. It still hasn't, and the City of Sisters is not happy about it. "They hooked up without p... — Updated 3/2/2004 Full story

A vote on a new sheriff's levy will determine whether deputies keep working. photo by Jim Cornelius Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles is pushing hard to pass a three-year levy which will increase taxes for city and rural residents.... — Updated 3/2/2004 Full story

Several Sisters residents, churches and outlying commercial sites remain unconnected to the municipal sewer system. The Sisters City Council will meet in a workshop on Thursday, March 4, at 8 a.m. to discuss how to respond to property... — Updated 3/2/2004 Full story

Plans to build a Hood/Main Avenue couplet are on hold due to concerns from the Oregon Department of Transportation. The proposals for the couplet alignments do not meet highway standards, ODOT officials told the city. ODOT officials told... — Updated 3/2/2004 Full story