The Nugget Vol. XLIX No. 2
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News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026
ODOT assures Sisters roads will get plowed Flat Fire
aerial tactics questioned
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Last Wednesday, January 7, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called on state lawmakers to repeal House Bill 3991 and work on a new, long-term transportation funding solution. The bill, which Kotek pushed vigorously and signed into law in November, increased the state gas tax by six cents, raised DMV fees, and boosted the state payroll tax to support public transportation and transportation infrastructure. A successful voter referendum froze most o f th o s e tax and fee increases, preventing the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) from accessing the new revenue the law was designed to generate. The immediate question in Sisters was, “will the roads get plowed?” The Nugget asked Kacey Davey, ODOT’s public information officer for Central Oregon, what to expect. “While Governor Kotek has called for a repeal of HB 3991, that repeal has
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
In response, Kotek is asking lawmakers to repeal the bill entirely and instead pass legislation redirecting all existing ODOT funds, except those reserved for public transit, toward road maintenance and operations.
The embers have long cooled on the devastating Flat Fire last August that came perilously close to Sisters and which caused five structure losses in Sisters Country. There were no deaths or injuries. The Flat Fire burned 23,346 acres ranking as the fifth largest wildfire in Oregon for the fire year and its cause still under investigation. Its suppression costs exceeded $29 million. That’s 22 percent of the entirety of ODF’s (Oregon Department of Forestry) cost of the just concluded fire season. Rumors and criticism persist regarding the fire’s cause (see The Nugget, November 18, 2025) and more recently, how it was managed. The
See ODOT on page 20
See FLAT FIRE on page 8
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The trucks and plows will continue to roll out of the Sisters ODOT maintenance yard, despite political developments in Salem. not taken effect. Until the Legislature acts and the governor signs a repeal, current law remains in place. ODOT is continuing to operate using existing funding,” Davey said. Because the referendum has put the law on hold until at least the November 2026
election, Kotek argues that keeping HB 3991 in place creates immediate financial strain for ODOT. Without new revenue, the agency is still required to absorb implementation costs tied to the law, increasing uncertainty, and delaying meaningful progress.
Irrigation board member City successes via partnerships settles ethics complaint By Susan Cobb Correspondent
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) board member Marc Thalacker, who serves as the organization’s secretary and treasurer, was on the receiving end of two ethics complaints filed with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Both accused Thalacker of materially benefitting from his stake in Krah USA, LLC, a Prineville manufacturer of large diameter, custom HDPE pipe for irrigation and municipal water systems. In one complaint Thalacker was said to have gained personally from TSID’s floating solar project. The Commission concluded “….does not indicate that the TSID’s floating solar project would create an opportunity
Inside...
for Marc Thalacker or his business, Krah USA LLC, to financially benefit. “Thus, it does not appear that Marc Thalacker violated ORS 244.040(1) when he took actions in his official capacity to promote and advance the TSID’s floating solar project. “The information available during this preliminary review appears to be insufficient to constitute a substantial, objective basis for believing that Marc Thalacker has violated ORS 244.040(1) and ORS 244.120(2).” The Commission issued an order of Dismissal for that complaint on December 12, 2025. In the second complaint where TSID purchased or See ETHICS on page 9
Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz and City Manager Jordan Wheeler rang in the new year with a presentation on the state of the City. Opening the presentation, Mayor Letz emphasized that, “This amazing City does not work without partnerships.” The City’s presentation was at a joint meeting of the Sisters Rotary and Kiwanis clubs held at Sisters Camp Sherman Fire District’s community hall. These two clubs have found partnering increases their ability to get things done. (Learn more here, https://sistersrotary.org and https://sisterskiwanis. org.) The City’s presentation covered status, 2025 accomplishments, and a peek into 2026. For more on future efforts see story on page 15. In attendance were
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Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz and City Manager Jordan Wheeler presented the “state of the City” at a joint meeting of Sisters Kiwanis and Sisters Rotary at the Sisters Fire District Community Hall last week. members from Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and representatives from several local districts, including the fire district,, Sisters Park and Recreation District, Sisters School District Six , and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Others present were from City staff, local
volunteer organizations, nonprofits, and City Councilor Gary Ross. Mayor Letz noted the current statistics for the City: The current population estimate is 3,834 (about 12,000 in Sisters Country), median age is 49.8, number See CITY on page 14
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Announcements...............10 Student of the Month .. 12-13 Fun & Games ....................18 Crossword .......................21 Meetings .......................... 3 Entertainment ................. 11 Portrait of Sisters ............15 Poetry .............................19 Classifieds................. 22-23