The Nugget
A sporting weekend in Sisters…
Sisters was a destination for athletes last weekend as Alpine Running hosted a multi-distance endurance run on the trails south of town, and the Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational brought something like 1,000 players from across the Pacific Northwest to town. The events filled Sisters’ lodging establishments and eateries.
Candidates seek school board position
By Jim Cornelius Editor In Chief
Megan Jamieson and Sarah Keeton are standing for election to Position 1 on the Sisters School Board.
Jamieson has three daughters in Sisters Schools, in grades four, seven, and nine. Keeton has seen six children through K-12 education in Sisters, with two still in high school.
Both women express a desire to contribute to the community and the schools that they and their families have chosen as home.
Keeton has lived in Sisters for more than three decades.
“I kind of felt it was my time to give back to the ones that are coming up,” she said.
Jamieson, raised in a small town, is a more recent
See
1 on page 17
Candidates vie for Position 5 on school board
By Sue Stafford Correspondent
Edie Jones is running for re-election to Position 5 on the Sisters School Board, challenged by Emily Horton. The Nugget profiled both.
Emily Horton
Emily Horton is relatively new to Sisters, but small-town Oregon is familiar to her. She was born and raised in Imbler, Oregon in the middle of the Grand Ronde Valley in northeastern Oregon, 2023 population 324. There were 20 students in her high school graduating class. She grew up surrounded
by the beauty of the mountains and is at home in Cloverdale with a breathtaking view of the Three Sisters from the new home where she and her husband and three daughters are slowly moving into an “almost finished” home, doing much of the work themselves. They have 20 acres which are home to cows, pigs, sheep, turkeys, and chickens, as well as hay fields.
Emily left Imbler to attend college at the University of San Diego where she earned a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. She said
By Matthew McClellan Correspondent
A majority of members of the UGB Steering Committee recommended that the City of Sisters proceed with the UGB amendment process, rather than delaying the process to wait on a possible County rezoning of the McKenzie Meadows properties.
June Duvall welcomes another century
By Jess Draper Correspondent
On May 3, 2025, June Duvall stepped into her second century…well dressed and ready to share stories from a life lived well.
June was born May 3, 1925, the third-oldest child of eight. Her childhood was spent with four sisters and three brothers. Only one sibling is still living, a sister who is 98. June visited her just last week. Of growing up in a large family June said, “We learned to share, cooperate, play, respect each other, enjoy one another’s company, and fight fair.”
Sunday afternoon at The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch, with a perfect backdrop of the snow-capped mountains and blue skies, friends and family gathered to celebrate and honor June…and share stories that highlight an amazing woman who lives a life that inspires.
The first party guest that The Nugget spoke with was Jill Hedges who said, “June was one of the first gals I met in the golf group when I moved to Black Butte Ranch (the Lady Niners). She is so welcoming and kind – one of my favorite golf partners.”
June was on the links just last summer.
In 1993 June and her husband, Dale, retired from the Portland area to Black Butte Ranch to enjoy an active lifestyle filled with fly-fishing, hiking, biking, social events, and volunteering. And she has enjoyed living on the Ranch ever since. Winter before last she began spending a few months in California with her daughter, Dian, and son-inlaw, Ray Schick. June feels very fortunate to have Dian
June Duvall, one day into her second century, celebrated with family and friends at a party at The Lodge at Black Butte Ranch Sunday afternoon.
PHOTO BY JESS DRAPER
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
BBR levy to maintain police service levels
Black Butte Ranch (BBR) property owners will vote in the May 20 election on whether to approve a fiveyear local option tax at 78 cents per $1000 for operations starting in 2025-2026 in order to maintain police services at current levels for the Ranch.
The measure may cause property taxes at the Ranch to increase more than three percent.
Black Butte Ranch Service District will use revenue from this five-year local option tax to maintain current service levels. The Black Butte Ranch Service District’s current yearly revenue increases are approximately 3 to 3.5 percent per year. Approving the proposed rate will generate approximately $651,872 in 2025-2026, approximately $674,035 in 2026-2027, approximately $696,952 in 2027-2028, approximately $720,649 in 2028-2029, and approximately $745,151 in 2029-2030. The total amount of tax to be raised by the measure is approximately $3,488,659, based on county assessor estimates.
On a $500,000 home (assessed value), the assessment will be $32.50 per month or $390 per year.
Outlaws bats are coming around
The Outlaws baseball team hit the road to Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, but there was nothing pleasant about the trek — except the outcome.
“[We] narrowly got out of there with a win,” said Coach Matt Hilgers. “It’s a tough place to play. We had a decent lead heading into the later innings but the wheels started falling off and we were scrambling to put them back on. We held on for the 10-8 victory.”
Pleasant Hill had the bases loaded in the seventh, but the rally was quelled by a strikeout.
The Outlaws offense, which has been quiet to start the season, showed some life.
“We started to come around on offense some with much better hitting,” Hilgers said. “We were led offensively by Jace Owens and Trent Gordon who each had two hits on the day.”
The team traveled to La Pine for a critical doubleheader on Friday, but only got in one game. Lighting started shortly after the first game, and after waiting for an hour or so the game was called, to be rescheduled at the end of the season.
It was a tight game through the fourth inning when the Outlaws put up five runs.
“We did a good job of taking advantage of some of the mistakes that they made,” Hilgers said. “The game ended similar to the previous one 10-3 and La Pine left the bases loaded to end the game. Jace Owens, Cole Morford, and Grant Roberson all collected two hits for us. The bottom half of the lineup did an excellent job of finding ways to get hits and get on base for us as we had 10 hits on the day.”
The Outlaws have had strong pitching and defense right along, and they came into play in the week’s victories.
“Our defense did a really good job this week making the plays they needed to make to keep us where we needed to be and our offense is starting to come around,” Hilgers said.
The Outlaws play Harrisburg on Tuesday and travel to Elmira on Friday.
The following week features home games on Tuesday hosting Creswell and Friday in a doubleheader hosting Pleasant Hill.
Girls tennis falls to Crook County
By Rongi Yost Correspondent
The Lady Outlaws tennis team was beaten by Crook County 0-7 at home on Wednesday, April 30. Sisters faced a tough team of experienced Cowgirls in matches that were played under terrible, gusty winds that made conditions difficult. At times the ball toss was impossible and took the ball completely out of the hitting zone.
Jessica Stahn and Molly Fredland, Sisters No. 1 doubles team, played well despite their 3-6, 5-7 loss, and gave opponents Aubrie Olson and Mikayla Giard all they could handle in a hard-fought second set.
“This was the match of the day,” said Coach Bruce Fenn. “They were close to going into a tiebreaker when pressure can make all the difference on the opposing team. Stahn’s serve was fast and consistent in the wind, and that was special. She was fast around the court and hit winning difficult volleys. Fredland backed up Stahn on the baseline and hit ground strokes and kept the ball in play. Fredland moved in when needed and hit winning
volleys at the net. Both girls’ plays are very athletic, and they play with enthusiasm and energy.”
Fenn added, “In spite of the conditions, the girls all stayed focused, which was an accomplishment. I’m proud of this young team for supporting each other, even when things are not going our way. Every new practice and every new day is a chance to get better.”
The Outlaws will play in the District Tournament, which will be held at Madras Wednesday through Friday, May 14-16, and Fenn told The Nugget that will be the time for the team to shine. If they qualify, they will play in the State Championship held at Oregon State University, Thursday through Saturday, May 22-24.
Candidates seek to lead fire district
By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Four seats on the SistersCamp Sherman Fire District (SCSFD) Board of Directors are up for election on May 20. The board sets policy and budget for the fire district, and supervises the fire chief.
Kristie Miller and Jack McGowan are running unopposed for reelection to positions 1 and 3 respectively. Incumbent Rodney Cooper and challenger Jeff Tryens are running for Position 2, while Gordon Hovies and Craig Matthews are contending for Position 5. The Nugget interviewed the candidates for the contested seats.
Rodney Cooper — Position 2
Rodney Cooper has served two years on the SCSFD board, after stepping up to fill an open seat. The retired career educator has enjoyed his service, having a particular affinity for the fire service.
“My son was involved in the fire service for several years,” he said. “My circle of friends had three firefighters in it.”
Cooper sees a need for SCSFD to navigate significant growth that particularly burdens the emergency medical response aspect of the
district’s service.
“They’re running an extraordinary number of back-to-back (ambulance) calls,” he noted. “Just in my two years I’ve noticed that change.”
The demand for emergency medical response — which is expected to continue to increase — may push the district to require “more personnel and maybe another ambulance,” Cooper believes. Such expansion of services requires planning to make sure that increased expenses are covered by an expanding tax base.
“We’re doing some strategic planning now,” Cooper said.
He said that the District needs to prioritize maintenance of its buildings.
Cooper says that the fire district is operationally highly functional.
“It’s a well-oiled machine,” he said. “From the board’s perspective, it doesn’t take a lot of oversight.”
Cooper particularly singled out the work of the volunteer Fire Corps, which does community outreach and public safety and fire preparedness education.
“The Fire Corps really makes (SCSFD) unique and strong,” he said. “[The Fire Corps] really connects the
community to the organization. They bring [education and services] to the community as a help, so it’s never anything demanding or threatening, so it’s such a great connection there.”
Cooper notes that he’s been in public service his whole adult life.
“I’m a person who’s pretty transparent,” he said. “I work well with other people in determining the best course of action. I just really want to give back to my community. It’s as simple as that.”
Jeff Tryens — Position 2
Jeff Tryens is coming off an eight year stint on the Sisters Park and Recreation District board of directors and is looking to continue his service to the Sisters community. With a background in planning and data analysis, he believes he is well-suited to helping the SCSFD plan for the future.
“I love data,” he told The Nugget. “It’s a data-rich organization if there ever was one. It just seemed completely right for me.”
Tryens is already involved with the District, serving on its budget committee.
He believes the District needs to ramp up planning for contingencies if federal cuts affect woodland firefighting capabilities.
“I think we need to be pretty forward-looking in looking at what our resources are going to be in the wildfire area,” he said.
He wants to see stronger policies across the board regarding wildfire preparedness and resiliency measures and to mobilize the community to take the threat of catastrophic wildfire more seriously. He advocates for a “more rigorous inter-agency/ government public planning process with clear goals and measurable outcomes.”
The general growth of
Sisters — not only in population but in the size and scope of buildings — is a concern. Tryens notes that there is only one ladder truck in the area — at Black Butte Ranch.
He asks, “Are we organized to be a bigger town than we have ever been?”
Tryens would like to advocate for an urgent care center in Sisters to take pressure off SCSFD as medical calls increase.
Like Cooper, he sees the District functioning at a high
Jeff Tryens.
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS Rodney Cooper.
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
from page 2
Social Security
To pass on incomplete data is considered misinformation especially when it is used to support an argument that is false.
The writer that was referencing the Fleming vs. Nestor case passed on incomplete data in support of his argument that the government can deny Social Security benefits whenever they feel like it.
That is absolutely not true. I have written about this subject in the past and have written on substack regarding this subject.
I will repeat information again:
Social Security is a system created approximately 90 years ago. The system is funded by payroll taxes paid by employer and employee, also when Social Security (SS) is taxed as income when the individual starts collecting this benefit. That money is also used to fund the SS program. SS payroll taxes are only paid up to an income level of approximately 176,000 per year.
If you want to know the evolution of Social Security Taxable Maximum refer to Policy brief No. 2011-02.
The levers that can be adjusted to the Social Security plan are:
1. The amount of payroll deduction.
2. The benefit amount.
3. The level of income to which payroll deduction can be made.
4. Age levels of beneficiaries.
It is a simple system requiring basic arithmetic to figure out. It has approximately 150 ways the “quants” have figured out in combination to maintain the function of the trust fund.
This is a “trust fund “ presently with funds of $2.6 trillion. It is not an entitlement. Although some have started calling it a “contributory entitlement.” Using a technique called double-speak. You may want to re-read the book 1984.
Funds for SS are not appropriated by Congress. Now to address the case Fleming vs. Nestor. I believe the views stated regarding this case were deficient, once again causing chaos with misinformation. I am not going to go into great detail regarding this case. One may research this case on line and read all the data associated.
A couple of salient points may be that the individual bringing suit was an alien who when bringing suit did not reside in the United States. In fact he had been deported for having been a member of the Communist Party.
His benefits were terminated but notice was given to his wife, who remained in the country and was eligible to receive his benefits.
This case has many nuances and if one wants to really find out the facts they may research the court’s argument United States District Court for the
District of Columbia Docket No. 54 , decided by the Warren court.
I am kind of surprised the plaintiff had the funds to have this case argued to this level.
At the time the case was argued (1960) the average monthly SS benefit was $74.04.
The saving grace in this whole imbroglio is that one may learn the chaos caused by passing on incomplete data and basing argument primarily on hasty generalization.
The final point I would like to bring up are the insults once again via hasty generalization that those of us protesting for democracy are limousine liberals.
Just do your research. Read the whole case. Read the history of Social Security. Find out who Frances Perkins was. If you really want truth you might have to work for it. But luckily we have great libraries in our country and great librarians who may be of help.
Vikki Hickmann
s s s
Concerns about candidate
To the Editor:
Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire District Board of Directors Election:
This letter is in response to Mr. Hovies’ open letter in request of support for the upcoming Sisters/ Camp Sherman Fire District election. As a citizen of the Sisters community we have the fortune of exceptional Fire and Rescue districts and programs. This is true of the outstanding volunteers, staff, and Board of Directors throughout our region.
Currently we are in the process of electing Board of Director positions for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. Elections matter as they permit our community the opportunity to move forward with fire prevention and protection measures. It seems leadership has never been more important.
As we all know, Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire District has a rich history of service and leadership unique to our region. Relative to leadership comes the responsibility to appropriately deal with being in a position of power/authority. It has been my experience that very few people are capable of serving within positions of power in a responsible manner.
Mr. Hovies’ past history as a member of the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Board of Directors leads me to believe he lacks the personality to responsibly handle a position of power. In a recorded episode of the April 25, 2025, TVF&R Board of Directors meeting (available on YouTube for public viewing) Mr. Hovies received “public censure” for violation of board policies on multiple occasions relative to discrimination and/or harassment directed toward TVF&R employees and behavior unbecoming of a board member.
Please as a responsible voter do your own due diligence and cast your vote after careful consideration
of each candidates ability to lead the Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire District moving forward. Good luck to all our candidates and thank you for your willingness to serve our community.
Tom Braun
s s s
Keeton for school board
To the Editor:
Please consider Sarah Keeton for Sisters School Board.
I have known Sarah for over 20 years and can confidently endorse her for Sisters School Board. Among the qualities that make Sarah a great candidate are grit, determination, honesty, and a love for this community. Having raised her children here and been involved in the school district for close to 30 years, she has the unique perspective of seeing the district grow and change as our community has grown.
Sarah would be a wonderful addition to the school board!
Molly Mayes
s s s
Horton for school board
To the Editor:
Having moved to Sisters five years ago, I have had the privilege of getting to know Candidate Emily Horton, who is running for School Board Position 5. Emily is a remarkable full-time working mom that I know thru my volunteering with two of her three girls at Sisters Community Church.
She has a beautifully blended family of three daughters, with one in each of our three levels of education.
Emily is a fierce advocate for all of her girls educational experiences and extra curricular activities. She desires to give back to our community thru using her work skill set as a full-time Program Manager for the Deschutes County Environmental Health Department. Her responsibilities have included policy development in emergency preparedness, budgetary assessment, and staff evaluations, all of which are transferable skills for contributing to our school board.
Additionally, she is astutely aware of the need for a workplace housing solution to recruit, hire, and retain high quality teachers who can’t afford to live here and teach our students. As a single mom of two, she herself was a recipient of workforce housing assistance which allowed her to work in public health in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Emily will have ears to hear your concerns for our public educational system, as she herself has the same desires for the best possible outcomes for her own three girls.
Janey Pinneo
level, with commitment at all levels to the mission. He would like to contribute by establishing and planning to meet clear benchmarks.
“I just have a lot of experience in that area,” he said. “I think I would add some value.”
Gordon Hovies — Position 5
Gordon Hovies is a property owner in the Sisters area, with a long career in fire service. He retired as a Lieutenant/EMT from Portland Fire & Rescue. A native Oregonian, he has been active in public safety for 45 years.
“I feel I have something to offer,” he said.
He sees the biggest challenges facing the SCSFD as maintaining financial stability in the face of growing demand for service, and dealing with the threat of wildfire and the effects that has had on local homeowners. Homeowners have been hit with rising insurance premiums and the potential of losing coverage.
“I’m affected by that,” Hovies said.
He says that it is imperative that insurance companies get good information about the work the District has done to improve wildfire safety and preparedness.
“We need to get the insurance companies to recognize that,” he said.
Hovies says that it is important that SCSFD stay current on the latest developments in training and technology, and get its 2023 strategic plan updated.
“That’s a live file and you always want to keep that current and up-to-date,” he said.
He emphasizes the importance of great relationships with neighboring fire districts and with the City of Sisters, and developing infrastructure in all areas of the district
— such as generators — to be prepared for multi-day emergency scenarios.
Hovies believes that he can help the District in seeking grant funding, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Many grants are timelimited, after which funds must be allocated in the budget.
“At the same time, you have to be careful with grants,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure it best benefits the fire district.”
Hovies currently serves on the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue board of directors. His tenure there has been contentious. On February 25, 2025, the board issued a public letter of censure and called for his resignation after an outside investigator concluded that he had violated board policies in making comments to staff at a fire station that were deemed discriminatory and inappropriate.
“You put yourself, and your personal opinions, above our staff’s reasonable expectations of dignity and respect in the workplace. Your comments were offensive, and, in our opinion, brought discredit to our organization,” the board wrote in the letter of censure. “Your behavior would have resulted in termination if you had been an employee. To make matters worse, this is not the first time you have engaged in conduct that, in our view, is unbecoming of a Board Member.”
The meeting in which the investigation was presented can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=1Oz2D1TCBNc&t =3075s.
Hovies did not resign.
“It’s unfortunate that that situation developed,” he told The Nugget . “I take that as a badge of honor, because I was reaching out to my constituents. I listen to my constituents.”
Hovies argues that the board was inappropriately treating him as though his was a management role.
“I’m not management,” he said. “I work for the public... I answer to the voters, the businesses, and the taxpayers of the area.”
He told The Nugget that no suits or ethics complaints have been filed against him in the matter.
He says that he has no intention of causing any contention on the SCSCFD board.
“I’m not coming on the board to cause conflict or drive a wedge there,”he said. “I’m coming on that board to help them out” as a representative of the taxpayers.
Craig Matthews — Position 5
Craig Matthews currently serves the SistersCamp Sherman Fire District as President Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire and Ambulance Association. The work has given him a perspective on the quality of people that serve SCSFD and the Sisters community.
“It’s the most selfless group of people I’ve ever worked around,” he said. “You don’t find personality conflicts; it’s very rare. People pull tighter. They work hard.”
Matthews retired from the high tech industry after managing large, dynamic organizations. He has experience with marketing, sales, finance, and service organizations in the tech industry. His final leadership position was with a $100 million company. He believes his background and experience will help SCSFD navigate the challenges of a growing community with growing demand for service.
Meeting increased call volume requires investment in personnel, equipment, and training — and it’s the board’s job to make sure the resources are available to meet the need.
Regarding personnel, Matthews sees a need to intensify efforts to attract qualified volunteers.
“We don’t actually recruit [volunteers],” he said. “We don’t actively seek people,
and we need to. I think that’s an area we need to focus more on, absolutely.”
Matthews is full of praise for Sisters Fire Corps, which is the largest organization of its kind in the state. Rather than growing it further, he sees a potential to get more participation out of the group that is already involved.
“I think that’ll be a focus for a while,” he said.
Like others in the district, he supports the need for the District to acquire a ladder truck in order to be prepared to see the potential for fire in an increasingly complex built environment in Sisters, where getting water down onto a fire is important.
“That’s a thing in the future that we’re going to have to really address,” he said.
Awareness of the threat of wildfire has become more acute as devastating fires in other areas pose object lessons — and homeowners are threatened with skyrocketing insurance premiums or loss of coverage. Matthews is proud of the SCSFD’s work in the area of wildfire mitigation, including home assessments.
“I think we’re kind of at the forefront of that, and that’s a good thing,” he said. Matthews would like for SCSFD to explore the use of drones — with property owners’ consent — for fire readiness assessment in order to be as efficient and cover as many properties as possible.
“That might be a direction,” he said. “I don’t want Sisters to become another Pacific Palisades.”
Matthews said that, if elected, he will miss his role with the Association.
However, he noted, “I think at a more strategical level, I’ll have more to provide.”
Craig Matthews.
Memorial Day Remembrance at Village Green
On Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m. there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by local veteran groups at Village Green Park to honor those who died in ser vice to our country. Join us to obser ve this solemn day of remembrance for the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. e public is invited to attend.
Sisters Rodeo Parade Sisters Rodeo Parade applications are now open. Be part of a longtime tradition in Sisters . Limited entries and the deadline is May 15 . Visit www.sistersrodeo.com , click on Events/Par ade and proceed to fill out the application. Line-up will go out around first of June.
Monthly Songwriters’ Sharing Circle
Be in a creative community and be inspired while sharing songs , being a great listener, and providing feedback. Second Sunday of the month, 6 -8 p.m., in the Sisters Folk Festival “JA M Studio” upstairs in the Sisters Art Work s building , 20 4 W Adams Ave. Free. Info: 541-9778494, jessaneene@msn.com.
Volunteers Needed Furr y Friends is looking for volunteers to help with its bottle and can f undraiser drive once a week (Monday or Friday) It takes about 30 minutes to put donated bottles and cans in our blue f undraiser bags at our donation drop o spot on e Nugget porch. e bags are then delivered to the Bottledrop at Ray ’s . To volunteer please call 541-797-4023
STAR S Seek s Dispatch Volunteers
While working from home, help STAR S transport Sisters Country resident s to nonemergenc y medical appointments . Needed: A computer, the abilit y to use online apps, and a telephone. Call 541-9 04-5545
A NNOUNCEMENT S
STARS Seeks Volunteers to Transpor t Patients
Help Sisters Countr y residents get to nonemergency medical appointments in Sisters , Redmond, and Bend . Attend a free t wo-hour training. Emails from STARS dispatchers allow you to accept dates and times that work for your schedule, and a mileage reimbursement is included. More at www.starsride org and volunteer to keep Sisters healthy one ride at a time.
Sisters Museum
Opens New Exhibit e Sisters Museum is proud to announce that their newest exhibit, “Ranching and Farming Around Sisters,” has opened. Early visitors have called it “informative” and “ fascinating.” It traces properties in the area back to the 180 0s with maps, photos , artif acts , and stories to share. Stop by the Museum at 151 N . Spruce on a Friday or Saturday f rom 10 a .m. to 4 p.m. to view the exhibit.
Volunteer at Sisters Habitat for Humanity
Help Habit at build hope and homes in Sisters, connect with new people, make f riends, and make a di erence in our communit y. Volunteer today! Learn more at sistershabitat.org/ volunteer or call 541-549-1193.
Sisters Public Library presents Watercolor Magic Deschutes Public Library invites you to explore “Know Magic” this May. is class explores watercolor techniques and control, per fect for all experience levels . Registration required . ursday, May 22 • 10 :30 a .m. • Sisters Library, 110 N . Cedar Street, Sisters Whychus Creek Overlook
Reopening Celebration Join us for the reopening celebration of the Whychus Creek Overlook on Friday, May 16 , at 3 p.m. at the Whychus Creek Overlook Trailhead , 6 6570 ree Creek Lake Rd . Hosted by Sisters Trails Alliance.
Sisters Garden Club Meeting
Join the Sisters Garden Club at their monthly meeting on Saturday, May 10 , at 10 a .m. with doors opening at 9:30 a .m. Chuck Humphreys will speak about Subterranean Irrigation Planter System which uses a unique water reser voir that wick s moisture up the roots , without the need for any sur face irrigation. e meeting is at Sisters Community Church 130 0 W. Mckenzie Hwy Mobile Employment Resource Van (MERV) coming to Sisters COIC - WorkSource Oregon is providing job and career ser vices in Sisters to any job-seeking individual (help with a résumé, interview skills, connecting with employers). e MERV will be stationed at Sisters Parks & Recreation District Communit y Center parking lot, 611 E . Cascade Ave., May 27, June 24, and July 2. For more information contact Matt Olsen, Mobile Employment Counselor, molsen@coic.org.
Open Studio at PMRCA A Plea se join us for the second Open Studio of the 2025 residenc y season at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture on ursday, May 8 , f rom 4 to 6 p.m. Presenters for this event include Writers Josh Anderson, Karen Edmonds and Multidisciplinar y Artist Ben Erlandson. is event is f ree and open to the public . Registration is required at https:// roundhousefoundation.org/ events/. For more info call 5419 04- 070 0 or email inquiries@ roundhousefoundation.org
Free Lunches for Seniors
For those 60+, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon o ers no-cost lunch every Tuesday, 11 a .m. to 1 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church , 130 0 W McKenzie Hwy. No reser vations needed. No-cost Grab-N- Go lunches take place weekly on Wed . and urs ., f rom 12:30 to 1 p.m . Call 541-797-9367.
Craf t Consignors Wanted Qualit y craft-consignors wanted for the 49th Snow flake Boutique, Nov 7 & 8 , 2025 . e first jur y will be Saturday May 17, beginning at 9 a .m. at the Redmond Senior Center. Additional juries will be held through Oct. Information at http://www snow flakeboutique.org or call Brenda 541-350 -4120 or Pat 541-383-1821.
Sisters Downtown Walking Tours are back! ree Sisters Historical Societ y is happy to announce the return of these f ree, family-friendly, and docent-led tours . Set for May 11 & 25, and June 8 & 22, ticket s are required and available exclusively on the Eventbrite website. Go to Eventbrite.com , for location choose “Sisters”, for event choose “ ree Sisters Historical Societ y.” Scroll down, and click on May 11, to view options for any of the other dates as well. Donations are always welcome. Learn about the histor y of the buildings , and the businesses and people that inhabite d them.
Let’s Talk Dementia: Clear & Compassionate Guide Class Living Well with Dementia Sisters presents Let’s Talk Dementia, a series of sessions for care partners and families of those diagnosed with dementia. Feel free to join for all monthly sessions throughout 2025 or just for one. On ursday, May 15, from 10:30 to 11:30 a .m. at Sisters Librar y, the topic is Daily Life: Balancing Care, Practical Needs , Denial & Grief. RSVP online at www.LWWDS .com. Questions: call 541-588-0547 or email Debbi@LW WDS.com.
Free Weekly Meal Ser vice Family Kitchen hosts weekly togo hot meals on Tuesdays , 4:30 to 6 p.m., at Sisters Community Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy Visit www.FamilyKitchen .org
Sisters French Club
For people interested in French culture and language, Sisters French Club meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m . at e Barn, 171 E . Main Ave. All levels are welcome. For more information, visit Facebook @SistersFrenchClub.
PET OF THE WEEK
Humane Societ y of Central Oregon 541-382-3537
VELM A
Meet Velma! is girl is looking to pounce into her forever home after coming to HSCO as a stray. Velma has been a sweet girl who enjoys getting pets and scratches . She can take a little time to warm up and adopters should be prepared to give her some time and space as she adjusts to her new home. Stop by the shelter to meet Velma today!
— SPONSORED BY —
S isters Ve ter inar y Clinic
541-549-6961
SISTER S- ARE A C HURCH ES
Baha’i Faith
For information, devotions, study groups , etc., contac t Shauna Rocha 541-6 47-9826 • www.bahai.org www.bahai.us • www.bahaiteachings .org
Calvar y Church
484 W. Washington St. , Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288
10 a .m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org
Chapel in the Pines Camp Sherman • 541-815-9153
10 a .m. Sunday Worship
e Church of Jesus Christ of L at ter-Day Saint s 452 Trinit y Way • Branch President, 5 41-977-5559; 10 a .m. Sunday Sac rament Meeting
e Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
121 N Brook s Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087
www.transfiguration-sisters.org
8:30 a .m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship
10 :15 a .m. Episcopal Sunday Worship
e Resting Place
meeting at Sisters Communit y Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy www.restingplace.us • hello@restingplace.us 5 p.m. Sunday Worship
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
541-815-9848
11 a .m. S aturday Worship
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA) 386 N . Fir Street • 541-549-5831 www.shepherdof thehillsluther anchurch.com 10 a .m. Sunday Worship
Sisters Church of the N az arene 67130 Har rington Loop Rd. • 541-389-8960 www.sistersnaz .org • info@sistersnaz .org
10 a .m. Sunday Worship
Sisters Communit y Church (Nondenominational) 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201 www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com
7:30 a .m. Daybreak Ser vice • 9:30 a .m. Sunday Worship
St . Edward the Mar tyr Roman Catholic Churc h 123 Trinit y Way • 541-549-9391
5:3 0 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass • 9 a .m. Sunday Mass 12 p.m. Monday Mass • 8 a .m. Tuesday-Friday Mass Wellhouse Churc h 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10 a .m. Sunday Worship
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despite the lack of AP classes in Imbler, she felt well-prepared with a great education that was well-rounded and challenging.
From San Diego, she went on to Fort Collins, CO, and Colorado State University where she earned a graduate degree in plant pathology. While at CSU, Emily had a fellowship involving work in three different research labs conducting work with applied science.
Horton moved to Wyoming, living for seven years in the Jackson Hole area, where her two children were born. Jackson Hole is an expensive resort destination, so part of that time they lived across the border in Idaho.
Eight years ago, Horton and her daughters moved back to Oregon and settled in Bend, where they were closer to family and living was more affordable. She felt lucky, as a single mom, to have a job with benefits.
She now works for the Deschutes County Public Health Department where she is the supervisor in the drinking water lab. She works with environmental health, emergency preparedness, and community engagement. She is involved in budgeting and policy, braiding funding streams together, working to keep costs low while maintaining quality and faced with hard financial decisions.
During COVID she was especially busy as she managed the COVID teams for the County, which she said was a huge learning experience. She was grateful to be able to work from home as her daughters were home from school and learning online.
She did have time to meet and marry her husband who is a fireman in Portland and commutes from Sisters for work. When he was looking for farmland, he picked the Sisters area because of the school district for their three daughters.
Last December, Emily was one of eight residents to apply for a vacancy on the Sisters school board. Although she wasn’t chosen, her husband encouraged her to run. After getting an inside look at the functioning of the board during that selection process, she decided he was right.
As a mother of three school-aged children, Horton said, “I have a vested interest. I have a lot of experience in policy development, analysis, community engagement, and engaging with families. I am not an educator per se, but I possess valuable skills for a board member.”
When asked what she
would like the school board to address, Horton replied, “I don’t know what I don’t know, but I will ask questions. I am curious by nature. Throughout my life, I’ve been dropped into new and challenging situations. I love learning new things. We must listen to the community for a gap between what they think and what is.”
Horton thinks the district has developed a good culture for learning. “Students want to go to school, and the district is making sure they will continue to want to.” She thinks all the opportunities for experiential learning are good and that students are appropriately challenged.
She has some concerns about the lapses in literacy skills due to the COVID interruption. Horton also acknowledges the knife edge of technology, with students needing to know how to use it but wondering if critical thinking will suffer with the advancement of AI.
“We need to teach critical thinking skills, which can be hard to do, but it is important to do it well,” she said.
Horton strongly believes that not all students who graduate from high school should or could go onto college, but their education is just as important as the AP students. “They need to be challenged, feel seen, and learn resiliency.” She went on to say, “We need to recognize the whole student. Everyone needs minimum skill levels
to navigate the world. Our job is to provide the pathways to success.”
Horton is happy to be part of a community where “people care and show that they care. We have a very giving community.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to run for the school board. I think we have a really special place. We have challenges but we are strong – if we turn toward each other,” Horton concluded.
Edie Jones
Long time Sisters resident, Edie Jones, has served on the Sisters School Board for five years, first appointed to fill a vacancy and then elected for a four-year term. She is seeking re-election for Position 5 and another four years.
Jones’ entire career has been involved in being an educator of both children and adults in a variety of settings. After graduating from Washington State University with a degree in recreation and a minor in physical education, she taught elementary physical education, adult recreation programs, and directed summer recreation programs.
After marrying her husband Ted, she taught dance at Eastern Montana College in Great Falls, MT. She and Ted moved to Minnesota where they began raising their family and Edie worked as the adult education director for the Girl Scouts. She continued teaching Girl Scout leaders when they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, while also being
mom to four children. It was in Louisville that Ted earned his MBA and took early retirement, wanting to find a camp or resort to run. Finding Camp Tamarack brought them to Sisters in 1991, where Ted ran the business end of things and Edie
developed and ran the camp programs. They held summer camps as well as programs in the winter such as retreats for groups and churches and outdoor school for school districts.
Emily Horton
PHOTO SUE STAFFORD
Edie Jones.
PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD
resident of Sisters, and she values its culture and sense of community.
“My family chose to live here,” she said. “It was a very deliberate choice. We chose Sisters.”
Both candidates see significant challenges ahead for the Sisters School District (SSD) in attracting and retaining quality teachers — primarily due to the high cost of housing.
“I think the biggest challenge is the rising cost of living in Central Oregon,” Jamieson told The Nugget “We have a choice as a community as to how we handle that.”
Jamieson believes that, while Sisters teachers are well-paid for a small district, the SSD is competing with larger districts in Bend and Redmond.
“I think our teachers need to be paid more,” she said.
At the same time, she recognizes that budgets are constrained, and increasingly uncertain as it is unclear what impact federal cuts may have.
She believes it is imperative that the school district work with the City of Sisters and developers to facilitate an increase in housing that teachers can afford.
Keeton expressed similar concerns, noting that many of the teachers that have taught her children are nearing retirement, and that Sisters will likely have to recruit a substantial number of new teachers in the coming years.
“Our housing and economics don’t favor well to a teacher’s salary,” she said.
Keeton, too, believes that the school district has to work on urban growth boundary issues with the City to seek housing affordability.
An orthopedic surgical nurse, Keeton is an advocate for prioritizing attention to students’ mental health
and supports initiatives to reduce cell phone/screen usage to reduce distractions and improve students’ engagement.
She believes SSD should “investigate what works best for parents who want to be in contact with their kids, as well as teachers who would like to have the attention of their students.”
Jamieson, who has worked in higher education administration, describes herself as articulate and outspoken, but also a good listener. She is passionate about Sisters schools, where she has considerable volunteer experience.
“I can really talk to the needs of any level of education,” she said.
Jamieson places a strong emphasis on creating an environment of belonging for students.
“On a very basic level, it means you have people who you connect with in your day-to-day life,” she said.
Keeton notes that her children run the gamut of school experience — from those who thrive academically, and others who struggled to sit
still whale wanting to be out working with their hands.
“I have four boys who all went in different directions,” she said.
This illustrates for her the need for Sisters schools to work to prepare all students for their post-graduate paths, not focusing primarily on those bound for a four-year college.
“That’s not how every kid is made” she said.
That’s a position Jamieson concurs with. She notes that the pace of change is rapid, placing an imperative on schools to prepare students with skills and tools to navigate that kind of environment.
“I think we need more options for kids,” she said.
To her, that means both technical education options and more Advanced Placement courses.
Both candidates expressed appreciation for the quality of school programming and the dedication of the staff and pledged to work to see that the district can maintain the unique opportunities that keep students excited about school.
Sarah Keeton.
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
Megan Jamieson.
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
they engage local communities in meaningful ways, fostering a sense of responsibility and partnership in uplifting these young lives. Their mission focuses on empowering in-country partners in four key areas:
• Safety and shelter: Providing secure homes for abandoned and orphaned children, ensuring they are protected, cared for, and can grow with dignity.
• Food security: Ensuring children receive daily nourishing meals while empowering families with sustainable farming and food programs that allow them to feed themselves for years to come.
• Education: Offering tuition, school supplies, and mentorship through college to equip children with the tools necessary to break the cycle of poverty and achieve their dreams.
• Emotional support: Providing committed caregivers and a supportive community that rebuilds trust, heals trauma, and nurtures the emotional well-being of every child.
Financial support initiatives
A key strategy employed by the organization is to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in need. By organizing community events, workshops, and educational programs, they aim to inspire local residents to contribute. These events not only raise funds but also foster a sense of connection and solidarity among community members. World’s Children has implemented several programs designed to provide direct financial support to children and families in each of their locations. However, it takes a community of givers to help meet the long-term needs of these communities.
Success Stories: Making a Difference
The impact of the World’s Children organization is evident through the success stories of the children they support. One inspiring story is that of Patrick in Rwanda, who dreamed of providing chickens for families. Recognizing that poor nutrition, particularly a lack of protein, was a barrier to education, Patrick approached World’s Children and requested five chickens for each family in the Rwanda Future Builders program, which serves 105 children. With their help, Patrick not only gifted 525 chickens but also trained families on how to care for them, ensuring lasting benefits.
Another story involves a man named Joseph. In 1996,
Joseph started taking children into his home in Nkubu Meru county to give them shelter, safety and food. He often took children who were disabled or were abandoned in traumatic ways; these were the children whose safety was at great risk. Almost thirty years later, Joseph now has 148 children in his home. World’s Children was able to build them a well and bathrooms so that these children could have clean water and a sanitary living environment.
Community involvement: a call to action
As the organization strives to expand its reach, they invite local residents to get involved. Every contribution counts toward creating a brighter future for children in need. Currently, floods and political unrest in Kenya are causing food and electricity prices to soar, making it difficult for communities to feed their children. World’s Children calls for support through home sponsorships, donations for building safe shelters, and assistance in providing solar panels and solar water heaters for power and cooking.
Friendship across the ocean
On May 16, Executive Director Shannon Miller and Program Director Stephanie Welbourn will travel to Africa to visit programs across the region. They are collecting friendship bracelets from community members to give to the children they meet as tokens of friendship from our community to theirs. Their goal is to understand how children access food and education, and they will be bringing food and sports equipment with them. Donations for these items are greatly appreciated.
Shannon and Stephanie also plan to visit Patrick and Joseph while they are in Africa. They want to assess how the well, bathrooms, and chicken program are performing.
“So much of this trip is about learning,” said Shannon. The team is eager to see these communities firsthand to understand how they can make a more significant impact.
“We will be looking at their strengths,” Stephanie added. “What are they already doing?”
The organization plans to partner with Sisters locals and businesses to create opportunities for enrichment within the communities they support. Many of these children are parentless and struggling to survive, highlighting the urgent need for action.
To learn more or contributing to the cause, visit www. worldschildren.org or email info@worldschildren.org. You can also follow their journey on social media through Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
