The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

•?Mark Foster recently received the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Meritorious Service Award. Jefferson County Sheriff Marc Heckathorn commended Foster for his long-time community service:

I’d like to take a moment and introduce you to a true community hero that lives in Jefferson County and specifically in the Camp Sherman Basin. His name is Mark Foster and he’s been a critical asset to this office and his community for nearly five decades.

Mark Foster was hired as Jefferson County’s first resident deputy in Camp Sherman in 1981. Mark patrolled the greater Camp Sherman area where he’s lived for most of his life. Mark is an avid outdoorsman and recreationist. When Mark left law enforcement in the early ’90s, Mark stayed with the office and founded the Camp Sherman Hasty Team and became the face of Search and Rescue for Camp Sherman and this office for the next 20 years.

Mark fully retired from service with the office in 2011 but just six years later, in 2017, Mark had the continued passion to serve his community but this time back in law enforcement and was commissioned as a special deputy who volunteers his time out on patrol. In 2019, our longtime resident deputy passed away unexpectedly, and Mark stepped up and increased his own patrol presence and callout response capabilities. We have offered Mark the ability to be paid for his patrol services and after-hour callouts but Mark refuses any form of compensation and does it simply to serve his community. Mark is truly a one of a kind and humble man.

Mark routinely is involved in law enforcement calls as well as search and rescue calls in the Camp Sherman Basin and is always quick to offer a hand or any advice. Mark’s expertise and knowledge about his community and search and rescue techniques is beyond belief.

Mark’s performance in supporting our mission to “safeguard all people and their property, serving all equally, with empathy, dignity, and respect” is achieved on a daily basis. I can’t think of anyone in the state of Oregon more deserving of such an award than Mark Foster.

See related story, page 3.

•?The Hal Reitmeier Family wrote:

A special thank-you to the Sisters Community. Our family has truly been blessed with the loving kindness shown to us during a difficult time.

A special thank-you to the community of Pine Meadow, Rotary, and friends of Fika Sisters Coffeehouse who have generously supported us with dinners, flowers, prayers, and love! You all have been shining lights. Words cannot express our gratitude to you all.

Blessings and Happy New Year from The Hal Reitmeier Family.

•?Fika Sisters Coffeehouse would like to thank all the wonderful people of Sisters for supporting our inaugural Circle of Giving holiday event. Our goal in creating the “Circle of Giving” was to support local businesses while supporting local charities who do so much for our community. Because of the community’s generous donations, the Cold Weather Shelter, Circle of Friends, Furry Friends, and Family Access Network have much-needed supplies to continue to provide support and meet the needs of our community. Thank you for supporting the Circle of Giving fundraiser and Fika Sisters Coffeehouse. Happy New Year!