Outlaws’ Roth wins state pole vault title
By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent
Sisters High School crowned a state champion in record fashion last week, as senior Mae Roth topped the field in the pole vault with a 3A meet record at the OSAA State Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field in Eugene May 29-30.
Coming into the meet Roth had the best pole vault mark of 12 feet — over a foot higher than the next best clearance among 3A vaulters. As it turned out she became the state champion on her first vault of the day at 10-feet-6.25-inches after passing up until that point. She then moved the bar to 3.66 meters (12.007 feet) and cleared it on her first attempt, putting her name in the state meet record books by tying the state meet record. She failed at three attempts at 12 feet 2 inches in order to break the record outright.
Lucy Fisher of La Pine finished second at 10-feet .75-inches (3.07 meters).
Althea Crabtree finished tied for seventh at 2.71 meters
(8-feet 10.75-inches).
Roth said, “Having the opportunity to compete at the state meet was truly a gift. Getting to jump at Hayward Field alongside such a talented and supportive group of girls was the highlight of my season. I’m incredibly thankful for the amazing coaching
Fire season is officially underway in Sisters
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch Fire District, and Cloverdale Fire District announce the seasonal end of debris burning as of June 1. Debris burning will be closed for fire season across Sisters Country. Outdoor debris burning within the city limits of Sisters is closed year-round.
Residents and visitors can contact their local fire protection agencies for additional burning information and regulations. Additional restrictions on campfires may be implemented during the hottest parts of summer to help further reduce the risk of fire. Call your local fire agency for more information. Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire Protection District: 541-595-2288, Cloverdale Rural Fire
Protection District: 541389-2345, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District: 541-549-0771.
Wildfire concerns are acute in the local community, as catastrophic fires across the West have led to insurance companies becoming ever more stringent, with premiums rising steeply and some carriers leaving highrisk markets.
Firefighting professionals remind everyone living in Central Oregon to be sure your home has good defensible space around it to help protect your home from the threat of wildfire. More information about creating defensible space and preparing for the upcoming fire season can be found via the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s
15
I’ve received from coaches, including Jim Anderson and Dana Charpentier, throughout high school. These are the coaches who have believed in me, pushed me to grow, and helped me discover my love for this sport. Their kindness and guidance have meant the world, and I wouldn’t be
where I am today without them.”
Roth will continue her vaulting career at the University of Montana.
Day two of the meet saw the sprint corps, including two fast freshmen, take over
Locals express fears of China Hat fallout
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
When asked randomly on sidewalk interviews by The Nugget , fewer than two in 10 citizens in Sisters have a clear understanding of recent events on China Hat Road near Bend. But to a person they mentioned some level of fear following actions taken by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) a few weeks ago in that area of concentrated homelessness which has received national news attention.
Spurred on by social media, ad hoc groups are forming to defend against a widely held perceived belief that displaced homeless from China Hat will seek shelter in the woods surrounding Sisters. And with
See CHINA HAT on page 8
Volunteers make Sisters Rodeo shine
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Several dozen volunteers gathered for a work party at the Rodeo grounds on Saturday.
As Rodeo week approaches the excitement is building and work is in full swing to make the event as uneventful as possible. That is to say: no surprises; no glitches. It’ll be plenty eventful inside the arena.
The rodeo board of directors and the 200-strong volunteer corps appear committed to pulling off another thrilling set of evenings and afternoons of world-class rodeo — and along with it the parade, as much a spectacle as the rough-and-tumble rodeo.
The PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) sanctioned rodeo will draw some of the top names in rodeo competition. Last year’s payoff was $222,375 and is bound to rise this year with a fourth day added to the five-day event. Retired cowboy and farrier Mike Shepherd will be this year’s Grand Marshall.
several
Rodeo.
Jenna Singer is rodeo queen for 2025. And crowd favorite, rodeo clown, JJ Harrison will be on hand. Six different singers will lead the national
RODEO on page 15
Sisters Rodeo Board Member Mark Griffin gives a ride to work-party volunteers Lena Cheney (13) behind Griffin and, left to right, Kaylee Miller (12), Stella Parazoo (10), and Taylor Griffin (12). They were among
dozen who helped Saturday to ready the upcoming 85th Sisters
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Mae Roth won a state championship in pole vault, clearing 12 feet at Hawyard Field, tying the state meet record.
PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN
Letters to the Editor…
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer’s name, address, and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond, or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday.
Sheriff’s game of thrones
To the Editor:
Since the beginning of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s election campaign in 2024, there has been a web of lies spun by the van der Kamp bivouac. Then-candidate Kent van der Kamp alluded in the October 2024 article in The Nugget that a California judge was blocking a release of information order
regarding his personnel records from the LaMesa Police Department as a reserve but, never cited the judge’s name.
Van der Kamp admits in paragraph four of the October 9 article that he completed the cadet program and became a volunteer with La Mesa PD in late 1997. He was dismissed from La Mesa PD for [using] radar
Sisters Weather Forecast
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442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759 Tel: 541-549-9941 | Email: editor@nuggetnews.com
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Proofreading: Kema Clark
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The Nugget is available to pick up free at The Nugget office and at businesses throughout Sisters and Tumalo; mail subscriptions are available in the 97759, 97756, 97730, and 97703 zip codes for $55/year; subscriptions outside these zip codes: $70/year, $45/six months (or less).
Saving the news
By Randy Staplus Oregon Capital Chronicle
No easy or obvious solution will resolve one of the top and less-acknowledged crises in America, the collapse of local and regional news reporting.
Oregon Senate Bill 686 should at least open a discussion about improving the ability of Oregonians to get the information they need to govern themselves.
The problem is obscured a little by the fact that most news outlets in the state haven’t disappeared completely, and a few new ones have arisen.
Good journalism is still being done in the state, but much less comprehensively than two or three decades ago. But the newsgathering capacity is a sliver of what it was at the century’s turn, the number of journalists in newsrooms way down. Broadcasters have seen serious cutbacks too.
There’s little coverage now of local city councils, county commissions, school boards and more. Local angles on the work of legislators and state and federal officials is nearly gone.
The picture is of a balloon, once full, but now with its air mostly having run out.
This would be only a business problem except that it means we’re not getting the information about our government, our politics, our society, our problems and our successes as we did not long ago. That gap, and the rise of misinformation to massive levels, has become one of our great national crises.
Enter SB 686, which intends to at least provide some help. It is not a totally new idea, being a variation on similar attempts in other places (California and Canada for two), to direct public assistance toward civic journalism.
The operating idea comes from one of the (many) reasons for journalism’s economic collapse, the use of locally-created news reports with little or no compensation in online media platforms — think here of Google and Facebook, with others as well. The idea is to force those platforms, which have been swimming in profits in recent years, to help pay for production of local news either through fees to the organizations, or by way of arbitration, or a contribution to a new Oregon Civic Information
Consortium.
The bill has drawn lots of testimony. Critics, including the social media platforms, have raised legal questions about it, and the tech giants have suggested that Oregon news reports might be restricted or even banned on places like Facebook or Google. Other questions include how much money might be involved, and exactly how it would be spent.
Less discussed: What results Oregon news consumers might see, provided the bill passes and survives legal challenges.
If any of the big platforms — from Facebook to Google — did decide to block Oregon news, that might send most Oregon news readers elsewhere, and maybe back in larger numbers to Oregon news sites. Many of Oregon’s newspapers and broadcasters have highly active websites that could become a boon for those companies with an additional readership push.
A shift away from the mega-platforms also might reshuffle access to news. National news has had aggregate sites like Drudge or Memeorandum for years. Oregon has some lesserknown aggregators too, such as the right-leaning Oregon Watchdog, and these might become more popular, or a new generation of them might be developed.
Suppose the platforms agreed to pay up? That’s a realistic prospect; California and Canada, after launching legislative efforts that loosely resemble Oregon’s, have extracted money from them for journalism. The platforms are understandably concerned about similar initiatives in 50 states and beyond, but the reality is they can easily afford it. How much good would it do? In some cases, newsrooms might be beefed up somewhat, and in other places where newsgathering has collapsed, it might be reinvigorated. The upside looks good, and the downside risk doesn’t seem large.
Consider a small city in a small county whose newspaper has disappeared or has hardly any remaining presence. If two journalists were hired, with money for training and support, that could make a lot of difference, resulting in significant coverage of the area. The remaining questions would involve how to get people to check it out.
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Author shares power of reading
By Dana Greenblatt
How can we instill in kids the power of reading and writing while fostering a sense of responsibility for our ever-changing natural world? Portland-based middle grade and children’s book author Rosanne Parry may hold some of the answers. Earlier this month, Sisters Festival of Books sponsored Parry’s visit to Central Oregon and presentations at Sisters Elementary School as well as Vern Patrick Elementary.
Rosanne Parry’s acclaimed books, including “A Wolf Called Wander,” “A Whale of the Wild,” and “A Horse Named Sky,” highlight the social patterns
and challenges faced by animals living in the Western United States.
Parry’s presentation to grades K-2 focused on her most recent illustrated picture book, “The Wolf Effect,” which tells the story of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and their role in the region’s ecosystem. The story offered a seamless segwey into discussions about developing personal artistic expression and how Parry’s passion for protecting the environment has inspired her career as an author. Students even had the opportunity to ‘howl along’ at various points throughout Parry’s read aloud. While presenting to the upper elementary
grades, Parry emphasized the similarities between human communities and animal packs, and discussed the rigorous research she undertakes while writing her books. Parry also explained her story-mapping processes and stressed the utility of being able to express oneself through writing.
Following each presentation Rosanne Parry was met by a wave of student questions ranging from how long Parry spends on writing each book to curiosities about specific animal behaviors. At the conclusion of each visit, Parry invited students to write her letters with any additional questions or book ideas of their own.
City undertaking wide range of projects
By Susan Cobb
When seeing some construction work happening in Sisters, citizens might ask themselves, “what are they doing now?” “They” will be doing what City Council planned for in the 202526 Council Goals. Active projects are listed online at https://www.ci.sisters.or.us/ administration/page/activecity-projects.
The City’s new budget for fiscal year 2025-26 is based on Council Goals for the same period. It is expected to be adopted June 11, and will
publish in August. Beyond details on funds, revenues, expenses, and beginning balances it includes the proposed fiscal year projects. One can see the preliminary online version of the new budget here, https:// www.ci.sisters.or.us/media/ 30411.
The following are projects which are or will be publicly visible with some mention of expenses and funding resources. The information is culled from City Manager, Jordan Wheeler’s Budget Message.
City boosts water rates
Water and wastewater rates in Sisters will go up in July.
In 2024, the City of Sisters completed a comprehensive rate study, which highlighted the need for significant upgrades to the water and wastewater infrastructure over the next five years, the City reported.
“These improvements are essential to ensure the continued safety and reliability of services while accommodating the projected population growth,” the City said in a news release. “The recently completed master plans for both the water and wastewater systems outline cost-effective strategies to
SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR
BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS
Al -Anon
Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383.
Alcoholics A nonymou s
Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church • Tuesday, noon, Big Book study, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church • Wednesday, 7 a.m.,G entlemen’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Thursday, noon, Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Thursday, 7 p.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Fr iday, noon, Step & Tradition meeting, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-5 48 -0 440. Saturday, 8 a.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration
Central Oregon F ly Tye rs G uild
For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om Central Oregon Trail A lliance (COTA) Sisters Chapter meets monthly for a meeting, group bike ride, or event. Contact sistersrep@cotamtb.com for info. Ci tizens4Communit y C ommunity Builders meeting, 3rd Wednesday of ever y mont h, 10 to 11:30 a.m. V isit citizens 4c ommunity.c om for loc ation.
Council on Aging of Cent ral O rego n Senior Lunch In- person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Grab -and -go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters C ommunity Church. 5 41-4 8 0-18 43 East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wed. (September- June), Stitchin’ Post . A ll are welcome. 5 41-5 49 -6 061.
G o Fish Fishing G roup 3rd Monday 7 p.m., Siste rs C ommunity Church. 541-771-2211
Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s)
2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Siste rs Communit y Church. M ater ials provided. 541- 408 -8 505.
Hero Q uilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 5 41-6 68 -1755
Living Well W ith Dementia Sisters Care Par tner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Library Communit y Room. 5 41-588 -0547.
Mili tary Parent s of Sisters Meetings are held quarter ly; please c all 5 41-388 -9 013.
Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 5 41-5 49 -6 469.
Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom. 503- 93 0- 6158
Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 3:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church. 5 41-5 49 -6157.
Sisters Area Woodworke rs First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 5 41-231-18 97
Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.
Sisters Caregi ver Sup por t G roup 3rd Wednesday., 10:30 a.m., Siste rs Episcopal Church. 503 -616 -8712.
Sisters Cribbage C lub M eets 11 a.m.
ever y Wed. at S PR D. 5 09 -9 47-574 4.
Sisters Garden C lub For monthly meetings visit: SistersGardenClub.com.
Sisters Habitat for Humanit y Board of D irectors 4th Tuesday, 4:3 0 p.m. Location infor mation: 5 41-5 49 -1193.
Sisters Kiwani s 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at S PR D in Sisters 541- 632- 3663
Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School Commons. 917-219-8298
Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 5 41-760 -5 64 5.
Sisters Veterans no- host lunch, Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Rest aurant. All veterans welcome, 5 41-241-6 56 3.
Sisters Trails A lliance Board
Meetings take plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In- person or zoom. Contact: info@sisterstrails.org
Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of Direc tors M eets 1st Tuesday, 10 a.m., TSI D Of fice. 5 41-9 03 -405 0.
Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 5 41-419 -1279.
VF W Po st 813 8 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:3 0 p.m., Pine Meadow V illage Clubhouse, 596 W Jef ferson Ave. 541-241- 6563
SCHOOLS
Black Bu tt e School
Board of Direc tors 2nd Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Black But te School. 541- 59 5- 6203
Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m onthly, Sisters School District Administr ation Building. See schedule at www.ssd 6. org. 5 41-5 49 -8 521 x5 002.
enhance water storage and supply, replace aging infrastructure, and increase overall capacity. These upgrades will enable the City to consistently deliver reliable drinking water and provide wastewater collection and treatment to meet anticipated peak demands.”
Property owners will see an average increase of approximately $5.61 to the average residential monthly utility bill. The City of Sisters asserts that, even with this increase, the Sisters’ utility rates will remain competitive and affordable in comparison to other municipalities in Central Oregon.
CIT Y & PARKS
Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters Cit y Hall 541- 549- 6022
Sisters Park & Recreation District
Board of Dire ctor s 2nd & 4th Tues., 4 p.m., C of f ield Center. 5 41-5 49 -2091.
Sisters Pl anning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:3 0 p.m., Siste rs City Hall. 5 41-5 49 -6 022.
FIRE & POLICE
Black Bu tt e Ranch Polic e Dept. Board of Dire ctor s M eets monthly 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date
Black Bu tt e Ranch R FPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 5 41-595 -2 28 8 Cloverdale R FPD
Board of Dire ctor s 3rd Wed., 5:3 0 p.m., 6743 3 Cloverdale Rd. 5 41-5 48 -4 815. c loverdalef ire.com.
Sister s- Camp She rman R FPD Board of Dire ctor s 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 5 41-5 49 -0771. Sister s- Camp She rman R FPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 5 41-5 49 -0771.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Rosanne Parry shared insights about wolves with youngsters in Sisters last week.
See CITY on page 12
Correspondent
Correspondent
Options for affordable housing
By Susan Cobb Correspondent
Affordable housing is a perennial problem in Sisters. The City of Sisters has proven through various studies a lack of affordable housing for low income to median income within its boundaries.
City Manager Jordan Wheeler led the Council workshop of May 28 on funding and incentivizing options to increase affordable and workforce housing. Wheeler noted that having permanent funding resources is key to leveraging workforce and affordable housing projects, and shared that the City has been studying funding options since 2017. At that time the Council increased the eight percent transient lodging/ room tax (TLT) to 8.99 percent. Of that 8.99 percent TLT tax, 30 percent is dedicated to affordable housing fund, which increases it by $35,000 annually. Increasing the TLT by one percent was one funding option under consideration in the workshop.
The City Council recently approved and the City implemented code changes to invite developers to build affordable housing by deferring System Development Charges (SDCs), which would substantively reduce initial development expenses. Soon after, the Northwest Housing Alliance applied for SDCs deferral for their project near Wellhouse Church off North Trinity Way. The affordable units will be leased or rented to an individual or families whose annual household income is at or below 80 percent of area median income (AMI). Some of the 40 units will be up to 80 percent of AMI, but the average number of units will be at 65 percent of AMI or below.
Under consideration for more funding besides
increasing TLT, were options to create a construction excise tax under which affordable housing development efforts would be exempt, add a City imposed food and beverage tax, and/or charge a vacant home or property fee. The options for financial incentives to developers were reductions to or waivers of SDCs, exemptions to property taxes, creating General Obligation Bonds which would increase property taxes to add to Sisters affordable housing fund, and adopting Oregon’s Moderate Income Revolving Loan program giving developers of affordable housing no interest loans. The meeting package detailing these options and video of Council’s deliberations are at https://www.ci.sisters.or.us/ meetings/recent. Scroll down to May 28 Council workshop. Mayor Letz welcomed public opinion on options to be considered. Email, citycouncil@ci.sisters.or.us.
Defining what is affordable
By Susan Cobb Correspondent
In grappling with issues of affordable and workforce housing, the City of Sisters has to define its terms. It’s not always a straightforward as it seems.
What is “affordable,” and what service or support workers are being considered in what income ranges for “workforce housing?”
The definition of affordable by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as quoted in Sisters Municipal Code, Chapter 1.3Definitions, is “Incomequalified . . . person or group of persons whose household income does not exceed 120 percent of AMI (Area Median Income) for Deschutes County as calculated and adjusted for household size from time to time by HUD, and/or . . . applied to rental housing, a person or group of persons whose
household income does not exceed 100 percent of AMI for Deschutes County as calculated and adjusted . . by HUD.”
AMI for a county can vary depending by source, be it U.S. Census, Oregon State University, HUD, etc. Thus, Deschutes County’s estimated AMI in 2025 ranges from $77,400 to $114,300. Since the City uses HUD data, $104,700 is the county’s AMI used herein (https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/compliancemonitoring/Documents/ rents-incomes/2024/ Deschutes.pdf).
HUD notes the three levels of income within affordable housing range are low income (LI) at or below 80 percent of AMI, very low income (VLI) at or below 50 percent of AMI, or extremely low income (ELI) at or below 30 percent of AMI. From the Oregon counties’ AMI chart, to qualify at the 30 percent of AMI,
the maximum qualifying annual income of a family of four (F4) is $31,410, for 50 percent of AMI a qualifying F4 income is no more than $52,350, and for 80 percent of AMI, it is a maximum of $83,760 to qualify.
The HUD definition of workforce is “. . . housing that is affordable for those earning between 80 percent and 120 percent of area median income.” This is the range that Oregon Housing and Community Services Department refers to as “moderate-income.” Sisters Municipal Code, defines workforce housing units as, “Housing reserved for occupancy by eligible households and affordable to households whose annual income does not exceed 150 percent of area median income. . .” When using 80 to 150 percent of AMI, the qualifying F4 net annual income amount for workforce housing ranges from $83,760 to $156,050.
Sisters Country residents can opt for a staycation
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Gas prices hit $4.19 a gallon in Sisters last week. The West’s gas prices remain stubbornly high even when crude oil prices are at a multiyear low. According to AAA fuel tracker, the U.S. national average for regular unleaded on June 1 was $3.143 a gallon. In Oregon the number was $3.995.
That will keep many families from taking off to Disneyland in California, where a gallon of gas averages $4.777, or heading to the Olympic Peninsula or San Juan Islands in Washington where gas averages $4.398.
Lodging shows no signs of let up either. Hotels on the Disneyland property range from $310 to $980 per night before taxes. That’s before the admission price which averages $165 per day per family member or $1,320 for a two-day ticket for a family of four.
A weekend in Seattle taking in the Space Needle and a Mariners game, with some whale watching thrown in, will set you back about $500 per person including food and lodging not to mention the gas or airfare to get you there.
What to do? How to keep from disappointing the kids? Vacation close to home, a trend called staycation. According to Airbnb’s 2025 summer travel forecast, 43 percent of Americans plan to drive rather than fly for their upcoming trips.
Thirty-nine percent of Americans indicate they are already traveling or are very likely to travel domestically instead of internationally to save money.
Twenty-nine percent of Americans with children aged 18 or younger living at home report that they are already choosing staycations over travel to other destinations or are very likely to do so.
It’s easy to stay home in Sisters Country and enjoy yourself if you are a golfer, a hiker, kayaker, biker, or you are an angler.
But what about the kids? Or the grandkids? You’d be surprised. There are batting cages, laser tag, go-karts, miniature golf. There’s an awesome wall-to-wall trampoline park with a ninja course and dodgeball.
A rock gym. Three gyms in one for every skill level of climber from tykes to seniors.
And when we say go-kart, we’re talking European style, high performance all electric carts. Not that lawn mower thingy grandpa rode on.
They may not be the Mariners or the Giants, but the Bend Elks will entertain you and fulfill your baseball fantasies. The Bend Elks, a collegiate summer baseball team, are founding members of the West Coast League and play their home games at Vince Genna Stadium.
You can get box seats for four, a hot dog, beer or soda, some popcorn or candy for under $200. Or bring back the good old days, sit in the bleachers and you’re in for about $125.
We know kids like to get wet. There’s the Centennial Spray Park in Redmond and Bend’s Whitewater Park. Or head out to Suttle Lake for some standout stand-up paddle boarding or canoeing.
Make a day of it and make the easy drive to Wings & Waves Water Park in
McMinnville. It’s located at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, itself an awesome adventure for every age.
For the more adventurous, hook up with a guided raft trip on the Deschutes or the McKenzie. As close as Bend or an easy day trip to Maupin for more thrilling water. Kids of all ages will enjoy the High Desert Museum between Bend and Sunriver. Make a day of it and include Lava Lands Visitor Center.
A big step up from miniature golf is the Little Meadows Putting Course at Black Butte Ranch. This facility features twelve holes of putting with planned lengths between 45 and 105 feet. However, this course can play as eighteen slightly shorter holes or nine longer holes.
Black Butte also has bike rentals, as do both Sisters bike shops, but at the Ranch you can rent those trike and slider rigs where whole families can ride in one contraption and pedal together. Or get on a horse. There are at least eight outfits that’ll give you a ride to remember from around Smith Rock to pleasure rides around the 900-acre Brasada Ranch to
rides onto Black Butte. Add cave tours to your staycation; there are several of note in Central Oregon. What not to do. Don’t let economic uncertainty or prices spoil your summer fun. And be sure to pick up the new edition of Sisters Oregon Guide published by The Nugget and available free at outlets all over town and at The Nugget office.
Locals don’t have to go far to find fun in the sun and water over the summer.
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Remembering Sisters in the ’60s — those red roads roads
By Maret Pajutee Correspondent
Those of us of a certain age remember a startling color scheme in Central Oregon. Maybe you were lucky enough to grow up here and took it for granted. Or maybe you were a soggy Valley-dweller on a family escape from grey days, spending long hours in the back of a station wagon. Drowsy kids suddenly woke up to huge orange-brown Ponderosa pine, shining green needles, and red cinder roads glowing in the sunshine.
Those red roads are a celebrated element in Central Oregon road history. Roads into Camp Sherman, Indian Ford, and the old McKenzie Highway were red for decades, topped by the ubiquitous red material from the many volcanic cinder cones scattered across our landscape. The Cascades Lakes Scenic Byway, with the one hundred miles of Century Drive, was one of the last rosy thoroughfares.
If you are wondering why those beautiful red roads were rebuilt to boring black asphalt, we are lucky to have a local expert to ask. Bob Bryant is the retired Central Oregon Region Manager from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Bryant explained by first taking a detour to an old method of road construction pioneered around 1820 by a Scottish engineer named John Loudon McAdam. “I came to Central Oregon with ODOT in the late ’80s, and there were still a number of low-volume highways and county roads that were red cinder. Many of the early paved roads in Central Oregon were Macadam roads. You can think of a Macadam road as a predecessor to the more prevalent asphalt roads that we see today.
“The fundamental difference is that asphalt products are mixed at a plant (similar to concrete). A Macadam was made by a process whereby a layer of aggregate is spread across the road and compacted, and then a tar or other oil product gets sprayed across the compacted aggregate to bind it together. This could be repeated in multiple lifts to create the roadway surface. Macadams would have used materials more readily available to the area, and less expensive to produce than what’s used in today’s asphalt products. For Central Oregon, that meant the use of red cinders as the primary aggregate, which were plentiful and inexpensive to produce. But cinders are a soft aggregate compared to say, basalt rock, and Macadams were not built to support the weight and increasing volume of traffic in Central Oregon.”
Try to imagine the changes in traffic between the 1950s and 1990s as Deschutes County began its slow-motion explosion into one of the fastest growing places in Oregon and the West. According to the U.S. Census, in 1950 Deschutes County had 21,812 residents and by 1990 it had more than tripled to 74,976 (the population of Deschutes County in 2024 was 211,535). Central Oregon’s timber industry began to wane in the 1950’s as private timberlands were cutover. An economic change toward tourism was sparked by this shift in the 1960’s. In 1961, the development of Indian Ford Ranch Homes in Sisters brought many families to new vacation homes as it became one of the first of a new generation of subdivisions in the Sisters area.
In an article in the Oregon History Project Website, Ward Tonsfeldt and Paul G. Claeyssens noted that the expansion and development of recreation and destination
resorts was fueled by capital from the lumber industry, in the development of Sunriver, Black Butte Ranch, and the House on Metolius in Camp Sherman. Downhill skiing also grew with Hoodoo Ski Bowl installing the first double chairlift in Oregon, and one of the first in the U.S. in 1950. Mt. Bachelor Ski area had a rope tow in 1958, its first chairlift in 1961, and developed into one of the largest ski areas in the U.S. Central Oregon evolved from a place for a summer camping weekend to a year-round recreation mecca.
The increase in traffic was hard for roads built for low volume, which are generally expected to handle average daily traffic of less than 400 vehicles. Mr. Bryant explained “During those years from the early ’80s through the ’90s, most of the red cinder roads were rebuilt or resurfaced using the more durable and longer lasting hard rock asphalt mixes. By the early ’90s we were doing “structural overlays”
using state specification hard rock sources for the aggregate. Red cinder roads such as Century Drive from Bend to Mt. Bachelor were rebuilt in 1991. Funding
was becoming available during that time for repaving roads such as the Old McKenzie and the Cascade
Maret Pajutee and Rod Bonacker stroll along one of Sisters Country’s red cinder roads.
Author events celebrate creativity, family
Sarah Greenman will present her book, “The Creative Alchemy Cycle: Activate Your Creativity to Wake Up and Get Free” at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m.
“The Creative Alchemy Cycle” is a year-long journey created to deepen your relationship with the natural world, shake up limiting beliefs about your own creativity, and inspire you to make your own mark. Greenman lays out a naturecentered approach for embodied healing, joyful expression, and meaningful action. Her work offers a radical invitation for readers to tap their creativity as a force for social change. Greenman reminds readers why creativity is a powerful tool for healing, justice, joy, and collective liberation.
On Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m., Fern Wexler will present her children’s picture book “Families of a Feather” as a special guest of Saturday Storytime with Sloth at Paulina Springs Books. Storytime features books and songs and coloring time every Saturday at 10 am. It is free and open to all, and kids of all ages are welcome.
“Families of a Feather” explores the wonderful world of bird families! Perfect for families with young children, this beautifully illustrated hardcover book invites readers to discover the rich tapestry of family structures found in the avian world.
Author Sarah Greenman.
Through captivating illustrations and engaging storytelling, “Families of a Feather” explores how various bird species care for and nurture their young, showcasing the many forms love and family can take.
Through the lens of these fascinating bird families, “Families of a Feather” conveys a message of love and acceptance, reminding readers that no matter the shape or size of a family, the love they share is what truly matters.
“Families of a Feather” serves as a wonderful introduction to the concept of family diversity for young children, fostering understanding and compassion in a beautifully illustrated format.
With its heartwarming message and captivating artwork, this book is a perfect addition to any family’s bookshelf.
Paulina Springs Books is located 252 W. Hood Ave.
ROADS: Remnants of regions red roads remain
Continued from page 6
Lakes Highway.”
Today there are a few remnants of red roads around for those who know where to look. Some low-volume forest roads on Sisters Ranger District still have that red cinder glow. The road engineers at ODOT were nostalgic for this unique aspect of our transportation systems and brought a piece of this history to the new Bend Parkway. Mr. Bryant added, “I was as sad as anyone to see us paving over the old red roads. We went through quite an effort with our pavement design folks to get approval for using red cinders in the pavement for the shoulders on the Parkway in Bend. Our goal was to try and tie in a little of Central Oregon’s historic red roads into the new Parkway.”
Next time you are zipping along on the Bend Parkway, glance over at those red cinder shoulders, a quiet tribute to our technicolor road history.
As you sit in traffic or negotiate the latest roundabout consider a word of
thanks to the road engineers who have tried to keep up with the tremendous growth in our area. Now you know
of
and a
old memories.
the story
the red roads, once a Central Oregon landmark,
bright spot in
Sisters was once known for its red roads.
PHOTO PROVIDED
PHOTO PROVIDED
CHINA HAT: Area closure is misunderstood as “homeless sweep” Continued from page 1
that they fear a precipitous rise in wildfire risk and criminal activity.
Those interviewed believe, mistakenly, that the houseless there, estimated to be around 200, were forced out in a homeless encampment sweep to rid the area of drugs, blight and criminal behavior.
While not its purpose according to the Forest Service, all those dwelling in the China Hat area were forced to move because the Deschutes National Forest temporarily closed the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management area May 1, to ensure public safety and support critical forest restoration efforts. The 34,600-acre closure will remain in effect through at least April 30, 2026.
The closure restricts all access, including day use and overnight camping, while crews operate heavy machinery, conduct prescribed burns, and clean up hazardous materials. The work aims to reduce wildfire risk and restore damaged habitats in the Wildland Urban Interface near Bend.
All developed and dispersed recreation sites and National Forest System roads and trails within the closure area will be closed. Forest Service Road (FSR) 9710 and FSR 18 south of its junction with FSR 1820 will
remain open.
The closure restricts hiking, biking, horseback riding, target shooting, offroading and camping in an area within minutes of Bend.
The 25,800-acre Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project area abuts thousands of homes within Bend’s urban growth boundary.
Over the next 10 years, the Forest Service intends to thin tree stands, mow and masticate flammable brush, and conduct prescribed burns to reduce fuels and mitigate the risk of wildfires spreading into Bend.
“China Hat” is also being conflated with “Dirt Road.”
On June 1, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) temporarily closed 40 acres in the Juniper Ridge area between Bend and Redmond citing what it says is a growing public health, safety, and environmental concerns cause by unauthorized homeless camping.
The closure area is on both sides of Highway 97. Nobody will be allowed for any reason to enter the area commonly called “Dirt World.”
BLM staff is auditing the extent of the damage and will develop a plan for repairs and restoration. No re-opening date has been announced.
According to the BLM Prineville office there is nobody currently living in the closure area, but six or seven people previously encamped were moved. BLM worked with the cities
the county to move them into an area of Juniper Ridge outside of BLM land.
So, as much as folks seem to think that the Forest Service’s and BLM’s primary goal was clearing the homeless from the woods, that was a tertiary result.
While generally praising those actions, several locals in Sisters now express a degree of fear that some of those displaced will end up in our woods.
“We continue to have contacts with the houseless population, and we have seen some of the population leave the area that were here long term. We continue to monitor the situation with USFS for any houseless folks that may be re-locating from the Cabin Butte closure and the Juniper Ridge area,” said Lt. Chad Davis who heads the Sisters Patrol office for Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
The Nugget routinely gets calls, letters or messages reporting alleged widespread bad behavior by the homeless forest inhabitants, including alleged increases in incidents in the shopping centers at the west end of town. That does not appear to be substantiated.
“We are not seeing any noticeable change in the call volume from the stores on the west end of town,” said Davis.
There are, however, frequent concerns and frustrations expressed by local residents who do not feel safe walking or riding bikes or horses in the woods near their homes, and complaints
about people defecating in the forest and leaving trash and debris within sight of local homes.
There are 97 members of a Facebook Group called Concerned Citizens Coalition - National Forest Land Near Sisters, OR. Like others, they are attempting to apply pressure on the Forest Service, principally directed at District Ranger, Ian Reid, to take firmer action regarding camping in the forest.
A group of 10 from The Coalition plans to meet with Reid June 17. On May 28, Reid met with the Tollgate Homeowners Association to discuss their concerns over the issue of homelessness and wildfire near their
homes. The meeting was reportedly very civil, and the information provided by Reid appreciated.
The public is invited to attend a Community Conversation on Houselessness on Tuesday, June 24, at the SPRD Community Commons, 611 E Cascade Ave., from 5 to 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30 p.m.).
This event follows an initial discussion held October 6, 2024. It will bring together local partners and service providers to talk about the collaborative work being done by local organizations committed to addressing houselessness, providing essential services, and reducing its impact on the Sisters community.
Portraits OF SISTERS
Always one for a good story, Lane Jacobson has a passion for books. He grew up in the small tourist-driven town of Mammoth Lake, California. What followed was a short tenure at the Air Force Academy with the hopes of becoming a pilot, but after a year, he realized it wasn’t quite for him. He transferred to community college back in Mammoth Lake and worked at a small bookstore before transferring to the University of North Carolina. There he worked his way up to general manager of another bookstore where he learned point of sale, book buying, and general store management. But he always knew he’d find his way back to the small-town life like his upbringing. When an opportunity to own and manage Paulina Springs Books opened, Lane packed up his life in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and crossed the country landing in another small, tourist-driven town — Sisters. He took over ownership in November 2018 and has nurtured the bookstore in size and value. From 3 employees to 10, and expanding retail space, he’s taken what he’s learned from previous experience and poured his love for story into a haven for the next curious reader For Lane, “it’s first and foremost about community, and we can’t thank them enough for their support over the years. And that’s what informs the products in the store. But ultimately, it’s just about telling a good story.”
A citizen found an abandoned camp in the forest last weekend. One of the concerns raised by locals about forest campers is the proliferation of wooden pallets in camps, posing a fire hazard. PHOTO
PHOTO AND STORY BY Cody Rheault
By Chester Allen
on the Metolius Tight Lines
Most people think of flyfishing as something done on sunny, perfect days — when the water sparkles, birds fly and the fish rise eagerly to your flies.
A sunny day on the water is a pretty picture — and tons of fun — but the best fly-fishing on the Metolius River from now through October will happen in the last 90 minutes of daylight.
Yes, when the tinkle of ice in highball glasses drifts across the water from nearby campgrounds and the scent of grilling steaks fills the air is when the trout of the Metolius start eyeing the surface for a last snack before dark.
And that’s when I show up on the river — along with a few other nutcases.
Hello, Spinner Fall
The last hour of daylight triggers bugs into action. Mayflies — those bugs that look like little sailboats on the water — have molted their skins and turned into delicate, clear-winged insects that are about to mate and then drop to the water.
The females will release their eggs, and the males will just flop around. The flies — at least most of the
time — lie flat on the surface film of the water. They look like little crosses. We fly anglers call this final stage of the mayfly life cycle a “spinner fall.”
Now, this has nothing to do with the spinner lures from Mepps.
Because so many bugs hit the water at the same time — and they are dying and helpless — the trout eagerly feed during a spinner fall. You see languid dimples on the water, and sometimes you’ll see a trout head or a dorsal fin and tail.
If you cannot see what the fish are eating, there’s a good chance they’re eating spinners.
A lot of those fish will be pretty big and pretty picky.
Frustration
All those rising trout will make you think that fish will eagerly smack your fly. Nope — unless you have an exact imitation of the right fly. It’s also important to fish a long, light leader, which keeps the fish from spooking when that heavy fly line drops to the water.
A 16-foot leader ending in a 6X tippet also delays the horrible moment when the currents straighten out your long leader and transform your fly into a miniature motorboat. We call this “drag,” and it always spooks trout. Think about it — you would spook too if your hamburger suddenly moved on your plate.
Trout want your spinner
to drift perfectly on the current, just like the natural bugs. We call this a “dead drift.” A good dead drift is a thing of beauty and skill. If all this sounds really fussy, it is. It’s also tons of fun when one of those fish gently sips your fly.
Finding flies
If you’re interested in joining the Metolius Night Shift, you’re going to need some spinner flies in olive, rusty orange, yellow, and tan. Rusty orange and yellow are the shades I use most.
You can find a nice selection of these fussy flies at The Fly Fisher’s Place in Sisters or the Camp Sherman Store in Camp Sherman.
The biggest key to success when fishing a mayfly spinner fall is to work through failure. On your first night or two, you’ll go a little nuts waiting for the fish to start rising. You’ll also probably have trouble keeping your flies from dragging, and you will have trouble seeing your flies on the water.
Parachute flies are good spinner patterns, and that upright post makes finding a size 16 fly easier in the low light.
With practice, you’ll start hooking some big trout. You will even land a few of them.
And then you’ll schedule your summer around twilight on the Metolius — and you’ll happily give up evening drinks and grilled
steaks. All those comforts can wait until you wander off the river at dark — you’ll need a flashlight — and then toast the evening’s successes and failures at your campsite or back home.
With practice, fly fishers can start landing big fish.
PHOTO BY CHESTER ALLEN
e Peaceful Presence
Projec t Connection Cafes
Communit y members come together for supportive dialogue around personal experiences with serious illness , dying , and grief. ese gathering spaces provide compassionate human connection on di cult matters of the heart. e Sisters Connection Cafes meet at the Sisters Librar y the first and third Wednesdays of June ( June 4 and 18) f rom 3 to 4:30 . ere is no charge and all are welcome. Info call: 541-293-8636.
Weekly Food Pantry
Wellhouse Food Pantr y has a new name: CORE Market . It is still located at 222 N . Trinity Way in Sisters . Market hours are now Mondays , f rom 1 to 2 p.m. Info: 541-588-2332.
Housing Applications
Available Sisters Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications for six a ordable homes in Sisters . Apply online at www sistershabit at.org/apply-forhousing or pick up a paper copy at our Administrative O ce. Applications are due by Friday, June 13 at 3 p.m. Visit www sistershabit at.org for full details
STARS Seeks Volunteers to Transpor t Patients
Help Sisters Countr y residents get to nonemergenc y medical appointments in Sisters , Redmond , and Bend . Attend a free t wo-hour training. Emails from STAR S dispatchers allow you to accept dates and times that work for your schedule, and a mileage reimbursement is included . More at www starsride.org
Sisters Community Church VBS
“True North” is coming to Sisters Communit y Church , June 23–27, 2025 , 9 a .m. to Noon. VBS is f ree and open to the community. To register, go to sisterschurch.com/ events . For questions , contact Cindy, c vice@sisterschurch.com Sisters Community Church is located at 130 0 W. McKenzie HW Y. in Sisters , 541-549-1201. 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 Park s & Recreation District Community Center parking lot, 611 E Cascade Ave., June 24, and July 2. Info: contact Matt Olsen, Mobile Employment Counselor, molsen@coic.org.
A NNOUNCEMENT S
Craf t Consignors Wanted
Qualit y craf t-consignors wanted for the 49th Snowflake Boutique, Nov 7 & 8, 2025
Our next jur y will be Monday June 9th beginning at 6 p.m. at the Redmond Senior Center. Additional juries will be held through October. Info on our website http://www snow flakeboutique.org or call Brenda 541-350 -4120 or Pat 541-383-1821
Letting ing s Rot: A Composting Workshop
Plea se join us for a composting work shop at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture on Friday, June 13 from 11 a .m. to noon. Bring some of your own compostable food scr aps and learn how to turn your garbage into nutrientrich material for your garden. 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 e address for this event is: Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture 684 67 ree Creek s Rd., Sisters
Free Weekly Meal Service
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
RAKE-IT Call For Volunteers
Join a R AKE-IT team to provide free yard maintenance ser vices — like pine needle/pine cone clearance and flammable weed/ grass pulling — to Sisters area households that can neither per form the ser vices themselves nor a ord to hire them done. Help us start to make Sisters more fire resilient, and to help older adult s age in place at home. Email judy@ agef riendlysisters .com to volunteer or to recommend beneficiar y households in Sisters RAKE-IT is an Action Team of Age Friendly Sisters Country Sisters Community Garden Fundraiser e Sisters Communit y Garden will join vendors at the Sisters Farmers Market on opening day, Sunday, June 1, as well as Sunday, June 8 , f rom 10 a .m. to 2 p.m. Garden members will have hundreds of deer-resistant and drought-tolerant plant starts to sell, and will share tips on how to care for the plants. e sale is a f undraiser for the Garden’s move, as this is the final year the group will garden at the Sisters E agle Airport. Funds will go towards purchasing moveable garden beds for use at a temporar y location starting April, 2026.
Announce Celebrations!
Sisters community birth, engagement, wedding , and milestone anniversar y notices from May run at no charge on this Announcements page.
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 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 June 8 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 inhabited them
Black But te School
Open House
Construction is f inished on the NEW Black Butte School!
On Thursday, June 5, f rom 4 to 6 p.m. join us and take a tour of the building and see the complete renovation & expansion. Doors will open at 4 p.m. with a presentation at 5 p.m. This event is f ree and open to the public . 541-595-6203 for more information
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.
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: 541-977-8494, jessaneene@msn.com
Summer Solstice 1 Mile Walk & Resource Fair
Let’s Walk For Dementia
Awareness! Join our community walk to raise awarenes s for dementia and stay for a resource fair designed for all care par tners, whether you’re supporting a person with dementia, or any other illness . June 21, 8 to 11:30 a.m., Reed Stadium Parking Lot, 2155 McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters . For more information got to LWWDS .com or call 541588- 0547
Summer Solstice Gathering & L abyrinth Walk
Join us to celebrate the change of seasons June 20 at 7 p.m. Wear white or bright colors—it’s a festive occasion! Bring a drum, flute, or bell if you like. Water bottle & sun hat recommended. Free of charge; donations welcome. Sisters Community L abyrinth, intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 242, with driveway on Hood Ave. More info: sisterscommunitylabyrinth.org.
STAR S Seeks
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
Free Lunches for Seniors
For those 60+, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon o ers a f un, no-cost social lunch every Tuesday, 11 a .m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. No reservations needed. No-cost Grab-N-Go lunche s take place weekly on Wed . and urs from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Call 541-797-9367
Free Pet Food
Need pet food for your dog or cat? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4 023 to schedule your pickup. Located at 412 E . Main Ave., Ste. 4,
PENELOPE
Meet Penelope, a cat with a personalit y as unique as her name. Her loyalt y is unmatched, always sticking by your side, ready to o er a comforting purr or a gentle nudge when you need it most. She exudes a mellow calmness that is contagious , creating a peaceful atmosphere around her. Her gentle nature makes her the per fect companion for both children and adult s alike. Adopting Penelope means gaining a loyal f riend, a calming presence, and a source of endless love and companionship. She’s ready to make your house her forever home.
SISTER S- ARE A C HURCH ES
Baha’i Faith
For information, devotions, study groups , etc., cont ac t Shauna Rocha 541-6 47-9826 • www.bahai org www.bahai.us • www.bahaiteaching s.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, 541-977-5559; 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 541-815-98 48
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 ring ton Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960 www.sistersna z.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 •
Tuesday-Friday Mass Wellhouse Churc h 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10 a .m. Sunday Worship
City snapshot: Defensible space standards
By Susan Cobb Correspondent
During public comments on May 28, Chris Piper from Bend presented Stroke Awareness Oregon (SAO) noting strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the nation. National Stroke Awareness month is May. He explained the acronym, BEFAST - Balance loss, Eyesight changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, and Speech difficulty all indicate, Time to call. Piper requested the Sisters City Council consider supporting one-hour Stroke 101 presentations to the public.
• There was a presentation of a national award to the City of Sisters from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Age-Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC) Board Member Emeritus and founder, Dixie Eckford, presented the framed award to Mayor Jennifer Letz. Eckford briefly reviewed their shared history since 2019 when the City of Sisters became a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The City of Sisters and AFSC created an action plan that was accepted in 2021 and completed a joint progress report this year. The report which initiated the award from AARP, documents the numerous and diverse efforts completed in Sisters Country to be more age-friendly — from youth to elderly. Eckford noted there is always more work to do and that she was proud to present the national honor to the City of Sisters. Visit AFSC here, https://www. agefriendlysisters.com, and read the joint 2025 action plan and progress report, pages 12 to 22 in the meeting package at https://www. ci.sisters.or.us/media/30611.
• The new Sisters Development Code for Defensible Space, ORD 543, was unanimously passed by
Council. Councilor Michael Preedin described it as, “the toughest defensible space standards in the State.” A related resolution confirming the list of flammable trees and plants that are not to be planted in new developments was also unanimously approved. Mayor Letz noted Sisters was now one of the leading cities in Oregon to have completed such code changes even ahead of the State. The Mayor and councilors expressed their gratitude to staff; in particular they thanked Principal Planner Mathew Martin for
his patience and attention to details. The new Defensible Space Code may be found on the City of Sisters website.
• The City Council unanimously approved a renegotiated contract with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). The new DCSO contract will be $1.1 million per year for the next five years starting July first of this year. It includes an agreed rate of pay should the City of Sisters find a need to increase the number of deputies within the contract period. Councilor Preedin shared that “it is the
best well-spent money,” and added that having our own police department would be a far greater expense to Sisters for the similar services contracted with DCSO.
• City Manager Jordan Wheeler gave the staff report and the councilors and Mayor shared the multiple meetings and activities they attended for the City. Mayor Letz closed with another thank you to Age-Friendly Sisters Country representative, Dixie Eckford for personal efforts to improve Sisters Country for all age groups.
WEDNESDAY • JUNE 4
The Barn Live Music: Smoke Drifters 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
THURSDAY • JUNE 5
Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Sarah Greenman presents "The Creative Alchemy Cycle: Activate Your Creativity to Wake Up and Get Free," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
The Barn Live Music: In the Rounds 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 12th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 For information call Eurosports at 541-549-2471
FRIDAY • JUNE 6
Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
SATURDAY • JUNE 7
The Barn Live Music: Sweet Motor 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
Eurosports Food Cart Garden Spontaneous Car Show 5-7 p.m. Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool car to display, or just come look — different every week. Free Info: 541-549-2471
SUNDAY • JUNE 8
Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music, community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.
Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble
11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Come to play Scrabble, socialize, and drink coffee. Open to all. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
TUESDAY • JUNE 10
Hardtails Rodeo Party Local's Night — Live Music by Party in the Back! Free admission to local’s night (on new night this year) 7 to 10 p .m. in "The Yard." Info: bit.ly/hardtails-fb
Sisters Saloon Bingo Night in Sisters 6 to 8 p.m. BINGO upstairs on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Ski Inn Taphouse Hotel Live Music: Bill Keale Hawaiian music, slack key guitar, pop, and folk. 6 to 8 p.m. Free admission. Info: www.sisterstaphousehotel.com.
WEDNESDAY • JUNE 11
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
The Barn Live Music: Honey Don't 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo Xtreme Bulls
6:30 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com. SOLDOUT
Hardtails After Rodeo Party — Live Music by Party in the Back! 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. $10 cover. Info: bit.ly/hardtails-fb
Sisters Saloon Sisters Rodeo After Pa rty — Live Music by Dr y Canyon Stampede 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. under the big tent on the patio No cover; all ages www.SistersSaloon.net.
THURSDAY • JUNE 12
Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo 6:30 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com.
Hardtails After Rodeo Party — Live Music by Sleepless Truckers 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. $10 cover. Info: bit.ly/hardtails-fb Luckey's Woodsman Trivia: Megan's Terrific Trivia 5:30 p.m. Info: luckeyswoodsman.com.
SISTERS-AREA Events & Enter tainment
THURSDAY • JUNE 12 (cont.)
Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 12th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 For information call Eurosports at 541-549-2471
Sisters Saloon Sisters Rodeo After Pa rty — Live Music by Joe Slick Band 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. (music 'til 12) under the big tent on the patio $10 cover; 21+. www.SistersSaloon.net.
FRIDAY • JUNE 13
Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo
7 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com. SOLDOUT .
Sisters Saloon Sisters Rodeo After Pa rty — Live Music by Joe Slick Band 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. under the big tent on the patio $10 cover; 21+. www.SistersSaloon.net.
Hardtails After Rodeo Party — Live Music by Sleepless Truckers 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. $10 cover. Info: bit.ly/hardtails-fb
The Barn Live Music: Critical Blues Band 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
Eurosports Food Cart Garden Music: Gypsy Travellers 5-7 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Info: 541-549-2471
Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $15. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
SATURDAY • JUNE 14
Cascade Avenue Sisters Rodeo Parade
9:30 a.m. Celebrating the 85th anniversary of Sisters Rodeo! Come cheer on your favorite entries. Info: www.sistersrodeo.com.
Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo 1 p.m., 7 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com. SOLDOUT
Hardtails After Rodeo Party — Live Music by Sleepless Truckers 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. $10 cover. Info: bit.ly/hardtails-fb Sisters Saloon Sisters Rodeo After Pa rty — Live Music by Joe Slick Band 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. under the big tent on the patio $10 cover; 21+. www.SistersSaloon.net.
Eurosports Food Cart Garden Spontaneous Car Show 5-7 p.m. Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool car to display, or just come look — different every week. Free Info: 541-549-2471
The Barn Live Music: Landon Atkins 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
SUNDAY • JUNE 15
Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.
Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo 1 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com. SOLDOUT
Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Come to play Scrabble socialize, and drink coffee. Open to all. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
WEDNESDAY • JUNE 18
The Barn Live Music: Color Study 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).
THURSDAY • JUNE 19
Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Kate Hamberger presents "Dances With Fire: Lessons in Life, Faith & Firefighting," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.
The Barn Live Music: In the Rounds 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.
Sisters Country birds
By Douglas Beall Correspondent
The name of the Veery [Catharus fuscescens] was inspired by the song males use when defending territory. The song is a series of variations on “veer” that resonates as if swirling around in a metal pipe as it slowly descends in pitch. Their complex song is a series of liquid notes that spiral down the musical scale.
In fact, their song sounds like the bird is producing two notes at the same time. And it actually is. The Veery sings a duet with itself.
Listening to a Veery will make you feel better! According to a study published in BioScience, listening to birds actually lifts people’s spirits and mental well-being. Researchers at King’s College London developed a smartphone app called “Urban Mind” to monitor how a person’s exposure to birdsong, trees, and sky within cities affects
their mental well-being. Migration studies using radio telemetry show that the Veery can fly up to 160 miles in one night, and can fly at altitudes above 1.2 miles. They migrate long distances and often flap their wings continuously throughout the entire night’s flight. Veeries breed in rich deciduous woodland and forest with well developed understory across North America. Their diet consists mostly of insects in spring and then shifts to many different berries in late summer and fall. Veeries nests on or near the ground. The female builds a cup-shaped nest starting with leaves then adding weed stems and wet leaves and finishing with fine fibers and rootlets. She lays one to five greenish blue eggs which hatch in 10 to 14 days.
A group of Veeries is known as a “mews,” a “hermitage,” a “mutation,” or a “host.” For more Veery photos, visit https://abirdsings becauseithasasong.com/.
CITY: Work continues on housing, water, and transportation
Continued from page 3
• The funding of the $500,000 American Rescue Plan Act is granted and budgeted to Northwest Housing Alternatives for a 40-unit affordable housing project to be completed by December 31, 2026. Location for this project is near Wellhouse Church off North Trinity Way.
• The City awarded a $182,000 grant from the City’s three percent transient lodging/room tax (TLT) total that is dedicated to affordable housing, to Sisters Habitat for Humanity for the affordable housing cottage development near the intersection of Larch and Adams streets. Infrastructure work is currently in progress.
• The Northwest Park Master Plan is in progress (northeast of the Barclay Roundabout). From the Parks System Development Charges (SDCs) Fund, $70,000 will cover the expense to complete the project. The work was also funded by an Oregon Parks & Recreation Department grant.
• The Water Fund and Water SDC Fund have a combined capital budget of
$1,540,000. The water projects include completing the improvements to Well No. 1 and Well No. 3, completing the environmental permitting and starting design on the new 2.2-million-gallon reservoir, and Edgington road transmission main.
• The Sewer Fund and Sewer SDC Fund reflects a capital budget of $3.114 million. The budgeted sewer infrastructure projects are phase one design of the Lazy Z wetland and a new pivot irrigation line at the Lazy Z property, completing the design and starting construction of the Westside pump station, and the construction of the Rope Street Pumpstation improvements.
• Gateway Park and Transportation Hub Phase One (circumscribed by Hood, Pine, and West Cascade Avenue) completes the current fiscal year and Phase Two is budgeted to include establishing an off-leash dog area with fencing and adding fencing around the community labyrinth.
• The street and pathway projects for this fiscal year include the Elm Street Pathway ($350,000), Camp Polk Pathway ($80,000), North Locust corridor safety improvements ($325,000), and electric vehicle chargers
at the transportation hub ($46,000). Another $158,000 is budgeted for annual pavement maintenance.
• The Street SDC Fund includes the final contribution from the City to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the US 20 and Locust Street Roundabout Project. The Street SDC Fund will be left with a balance of roughly $1 million which will support future projects in the City’s Transportation Plan including the second phase of the Barclay Drive improvements.
• The Adams Avenue Streetscape Project is allocated $360,000 from the Parking District Fund. This project will add parking, sidewalks, and landscaping.
• The City’s Public Art Program will include the installation of art at the Locust Roundabout and installing pedestals at the Gateway Park and City Hall for future art installation projects.
• Projects include $150,000 funding support of the Sisters Parks & Recreation Community Park — budgeted from Parks SDC fund; constructing an ADA sidewalk to the Veteran’s Memorial in Village Green Park ($10,000); and Hood Avenue island landscape improvement ($30,000).
The Veery sings its song.
PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BEALL
POLE VAULT: Outlaws had a strong track & field season Continued from page 1
the scoring for the Outlaws.
Selah Sanford, Nona Smith, Shanitah Few, and Audrey Corcoran put points on the board in the first event of day two by placing sixth in the 4 x 100 meter relay with a time of 50.57. Vale took the title in 49.24.
Smith took on a star-studded field in the 400-meters and responded with a personal best for third place in 58.85. Sam Shepard of Westside Christian blasted out of the blocks for a blazing first 200-meters and held on
to win in 57.44.
Smith’s freshman classmate Sanford raced in the finals in the 100 (12.97) and 200 (26.28) meters where she placed sixth and seventh respectively.
Brooke Duey pushed to a personal best in the 300-hurdles where she placed fifth in 47.72 seconds. Kylie Leonard of Creswell set a state meet record to win in 45.67.
The Outlaws girls concluded the meet in record fashion as Duey, Sanford, Corcoran, and Smith placed second in the 4x400 meter relay in 4:02.54. Creswell won in a state meet record of 3:57.31 and Sisters’ time was also under the previous mark.
The win by Creswell in the relay secured the overall team title by one point over Banks 56-55. The Outlaws placed sixth as a team with 37.5 points to miss the fourth place trophy by just 1.5 points.
Sprint coach Mark Hodge said, “It was awesome to send such a big group of athletes to the State Meet, and is a testament to their hard work. Selah had a great meet and continued her success from last week making finals and scoring points in the 100 and 200 as well as both relays.”
He continued, “Nona had two impressive open 400meter performances against a tough group of competitors, and she was an essential part of both relays. The girls 4x400 meter relay gave the girls the opportunity to display all their hard work this season. I’m so proud of this
group of athletes and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this young group!”
For the boys, Bauer Ellis put together his second personal best in two days to place sixth in the 800-meters, clocking 1:58.52 to score the only points for the Outlaws. Liam Gibson of Neah-KahNie won the race in 1:56.94.
George Roberts placed 15th in the 3,000 on Thursday in 9:17.63 in a race that featured 10 athletes under nine minutes, including the winner, Clayton Wilson of Siuslaw who crossed the line in 8:37.42, a state meet record.
Roberts doubled back the next day and ran a lifetime best in the 1500 of 4:09.56 to place eleventh, also in a loaded field. Clayton Wilson took the title in 3:58.26. John Berg came up short of making the finals in the 400, finishing with the 12th best time in the prelims at 52.12. The next day he joined Charlie Moen, Spencer Davis, and Roberts in the 4 x 400 meters where the crew placed 13th in 3:33.96 to wrap up the meet.
Meat & Smokehouse is locally owned and operated. We ar e Or egon natives r epr esenting thr ee generations of meat ar tisans, r ecipes and techniques, driving the high quality you expect. You can r egularly see us working in the shop to ensur e we sour ce the best — focused on local pur veyors when possible, and of fering a wide selection of meat, poultr y, seafood, and game. That’s why we say our meats are unbeatable!
The Outlaws worked hard on the track in the state championships at Hayward Field.
PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN
Mae Roth — state champion.
PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN
Spots available at SPRD summer camps
Sisters Park & Recreation District reports that there are still spots available for both the Summer Preschool program and Camp Ponderosa. Families looking for engaging and fun summer activities for their children are encouraged to enroll soon, as spaces are filling up quickly. The Summer Preschool program offers a nurturing environment for young children to learn, play, and grow. With a focus on creativity, social skills, and outdoor exploration, our
dedicated staff ensures that every child has a memorable and enriching experience. Camp Ponderosa provides an adventurous setting for kids to enjoy the summer while participating in various activities such as walks, arts and crafts, and team-building games. Campers will make new friends and create lasting memories. To learn more about the programs and to register, visit http:// sistersrecreation.com or contact the office at 541-5492091 for further information.
Oregon sends firefighters to Canada
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) deployed 14 firefighters to Alberta, Canada, four firefighters to Alaska, three to Minnesota, and one to Florida. With fire season beginning in some parts of the state, this will be the agency’s last big out-ofstate resource push until the rainy fall returns in Oregon.
Those being deployed to Alberta and Alaska are going through the Northwest Compact, which is a mutual assistance agreement among six states and five NW Canadian provinces and territories. Those deployed to Minnesota and Florida are going through state-to-state mutual aid agreements. Both agreements are in place for organizations to easily share resources with one another, creating a larger and more comprehensive fire management system.
“These agreements help bolster Oregon’s complete and coordinated fire protection system and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed,”
Michael Curran, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief, said.
When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. This twoweek rotation with partners is the firefighters’ chance to enhance existing skills, learn new ones, and build on longstanding relationships.
“Know that we don’t share these resources without appropriate vetting. Before committing to any out-of-state deployment, we make sure that our own fire management system is still adequately staffed and ready to respond to fires here in Oregon. Serving Oregonians is our first and primary priority,” said Curran.
Oregon has called on its out-of-state partners to send resources when wildfires here exceeded local and state capacity, most recently in 2024 when ODF received firefighters and equipment from about 21 states, provinces and territories.
Farm program strengthens leadership
Seed to Table announced last week that it is welcoming Julie Forbes as its firstever Associate Director to help steward internal operations and organizational sustainability.
Founder Audrey Tehan will continue in her role as Executive Director.
This leadership structure reflects a next step for Seed to Table as it evolves from a grassroots initiative into one of Central Oregon’s most impactful food access and education nonprofits. With expanded programming, a growing team, and a larger regional presence, the organization identified the need for additional leadership capacity to ensure it could continue to thrive without compromising its values or mission.
“In this season of growth, staying rooted in our mission and relationships is essential,” said Tehan. “Stepping back into the Executive Director role during a time of transition reminded me how much I love leading this organization — and also how important it is to have strong leadership support. Julie brings the operational expertise and collaborative spirit that will allow our whole team to flourish.”
Tehan initially stepped out of the ED role in early 2024 to focus on farm operations and her role as founder, but returned later in the year to guide the organization through a leadership transition. With her decision to stay on as Executive Director, the board and staff collaborated to create the new Associate Director position to support day-to-day management and long-term planning.
Forbes, who brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit operations, HR, and team leadership, joined the organization this spring. As associate director, she will lead internal systems, communications, and staff development, helping to strengthen
the foundation behind Seed to Table’s programmatic growth.
“Seed to Table is doing extraordinary work — not only producing healthy food, but also shaping the way communities think about equity, education, and sustainability,” said Forbes.
“It’s an honor to join such a values-driven team and help support the infrastructure that makes this work possible.”
Since joining, Forbes has immersed herself in the
organization’s mission — from observing classroom garden lessons to supporting grant development and staffing strategy. Her addition enables Tehan to focus more directly on strategic leadership, fundraising, and community partnerships, while continuing to stay closely connected to the farm and the team’s educational programming.
For information about Seed to Table, visit www. seedtotableoregon.org.
Audrey Tehan, left, welcomes Julie Forbes as associate director to further Seed to Table’s food access and education missions.
PHOTO PROVIDED
RODEO: Major event relies on volunteers for success
Continued from page 1
anthem for the virtually soldout schedule. Wayne Brooks will call the action from the announcer’s booth.
Billed as the “Biggest Little Show In The World,” the Sisters Rodeo places high in the 650-event PRCA schedule drawing fans froms two dozen states and provinces and packing Sisters for nearly a full week delighting inn and shopkeepers.
It’s a major part of the Sisters brand. On the streets excitement is building. But none of it happens without the volunteers. Except for one full-time employee, it’s an all-volunteer organization, the only rodeo of its kind with such stature.
Many volunteers never even see the rodeo or only a fraction of it. Imagine working in the vast parking lot directing traffic into orderly rows and hearing the roar of the crowd and not having a clue what just happened.
Or working the merch shop or being a ticket taker outside the arena while all around you are shouts of joy — with only the satisfaction of knowing that you were there, doing your part.
“Every year our Rodeo stands as a shining example of what passion, dedication, and community spirit can achieve and none of it would be possible without our volunteers. Their tireless efforts, from planning to cleanup, are the backbone of our success. These individuals give their time, energy, and heart, not for recognition, but because they believe in what we do. I’m continually inspired by their commitment and proud to work alongside them,” said Scott Tallerico board president.
Melissa Quistgard and Bryan McCaskill are two such volunteers. They have dedicated countless hours in organizing and operating
Rodeo Schedule
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
Xtreme Bulls • 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, JUNE 12 (NEWLY ADDED)
PRCA Rodeo Performance • 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
PRCA Rodeo Performance • 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14 (FLAG DAY)
Rodeo Parade, downtown Sisters • 9:30 a.m.
PRCA Rodeo Performance • 1 p.m.
PRCA Rodeo Performance • 7 p.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 15
Kiwanis Buckaroo Breakfast at Rodeo Grounds • 7-11 a.m.
Cowboy Church Service at Rodeo Grounds • 8:30 a.m.
PRCA Rodeo Performance • 1 p.m.
one of the event’s essential components — the bars. Libations go hand in hand with rodeo and contribute to its celebratory nature and bottom line.
The Board hails “their leadership, attention to detail, and tireless efforts in coordinating volunteers have ensured smooth operations year after year. From scheduling shifts to managing logistics, they’ve handled every challenge with professionalism and a can-do attitude.
“Melissa and Bryan embody the spirit of what we strive for in our volunteers: dependable, passionate, and deeply committed to the rodeo’s continued excellence. Their behindthe-scenes work often goes unseen, but its impact is felt by every guest who enjoys the seamless experience they help create.”
Quistgard said, “I would have to say the greatest satisfaction I get from being a volunteer is when we get to see our hard work and hours of dedication pay off as soon as we open those gates for rodeo. And knowing we are all working together for a common goal of carrying on the Western way of life, and being able to share in the excitement along with the patrons, contestants and their families, and fellow volunteers.”
Pat and Debbie Manning are also volunteers, “bringing energy, dedication, and heart to every project they take on. Though relatively new
members, with just two years under their belts, they’ve fully immersed themselves in the spirit of the rodeo and have become invaluable contributors. From helping renovate the kitchen into transforming and running the merchandise store, their efforts have significantly enhanced the experience for both volunteers and guests alike.”
Debbie typifies the volunteer response when asked what volunteering means for them: “Sisters Rodeo has become an integral part of our life. My husband Pat and I look forward to our Saturday work parties and monthly meetings. Pat is the resident handyman and works with the arena crew during timed cattle events. I work merchandise during the rodeo performances which gives me the opportunity to meet so many great people. I love talking with the spectators and contestants.”
FIRE SEASON: Caution needed to avoid human-caused blazes
Continued from page 1
website at https://www. oregon.gov/osfm/wildfire/ Pages/defensiblespace.aspx.
The vast majority of fires are human-caused — which means they are preventable. Exercise extreme caution with campfires and fire pits, and make sure fires are dead out before moving away. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District is declaring the beginning of fire season on June 2, 2025, at 12:01 a.m.
Oregon Department of Forestry announced that it, too, is entering fire season, with the district’s fire danger level at “Moderate.”
Earlier this year, fire managers were optimistic regarding this year’s fire season due to the higher-thannormal snowpack. However, due to the decline in spring rain, rise in temperatures, and windy conditions, the fine fuels in the district have begun to dry significantly, ODF reports.
So far this year, the district has experienced 16 fires, of which half were escaped debris burns. Debris burning is the number one cause of human-caused fires
in Oregon. At this time, ODF recommends covering your pile until the rainy fall season, when it’s safer to burn. With fire season in effect, check the fire restrictions in your local area or the area you’re traveling to. Most Central Oregon counties have already enacted debris burn bans.
The declaration of fire season brings regulations based on fire danger level. Regulated activities are known to cause fires and following regulations will help reduce fire starts. Moderate fire danger level prohibits the following activities:
• No debris burning, including piles and burn barrels, unless permitted by the local forester.
• Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.
• No smoking while traveling through or working in any operation area.
In addition to the fire prevention requirements Under IFPL I (one), the following will go into effect:
• A fire watch is required for a minimum of one hour during breaks and at the end of an operational period.
Additional fire restrictions or regulations may apply depending on the various fire risks throughout the fire season.
Vote on wildfire map repeal delayed
By Alex Baumhardt Oregon Capital Chronicle
A bill to repeal the state’s unpopular Wildfire Hazard Map passed the Oregon Senate unanimously in April, signaling it would be one of the least controversial and most bipartisan bills to pass this session.
But that momentum hit unexpected headwinds May 22, when the bill — Senate Bill 83 — landed in the Oregon House’s Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment, where Democrats opted to send it to the House Rules Committee, rather than to the House floor for a final vote.
The decision to delay a vote on Senate Bill 83 came as a surprise to Republicans on the Committee, who later accused Democrats, House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, and Gov. Tina Kotek, of using it as a bargaining chip in negotiations over a wildfire funding proposal that would redirect $1 billion from the state’s “kicker” tax return. That proposal would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in each chamber, meaning at least two Senate Republicans and four House Republicans would need to approve along with all legislative Democrats.
“The speaker has been consistent that we cannot responsibly repeal the wildfire risk maps without also having a clear, workable plan for how we manage wildfire risk in the future, including how we fund that work,” Jill Bakken, Fahey’s spokesperson, said in an email.
Anca Matica, a Kotek spokesperson, said in an email that “the legislative branch is the custodian of information regarding bills moving through the legislative process, not the Governor’s Office.”
Oregon Republicans have long insisted that the kicker — returned to Oregon taxpayers
when personal income taxes collected by the state end up at least two percent higher than budgeted — is not to be spent by the Legislature.
In a news release May 22, Ashley Kuenzi, communications director for the Oregon Senate Republicans, said the “spirit of collaboration has seemingly vanished” between Democrats and Republicans on Senate Bill 83. State Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, who supported its passage in the Senate, said in the release it was a “stunning reversal” and “clear betrayal.”
“Holding rural Oregonians hostage over votes for future wildfire funding is not only obscene, but disgraceful. Put the damn bill on the floor for a vote!” he said.
If passed, Senate Bill 83 would repeal the map produced under a multi-year effort by scientists at state agencies and Oregon State University that show where the highest risk of wildfires are throughout the state. The map provoked backlash from homeowners in some highrisk areas worried about wildfire insurance rates and coverage and potentially having to comply with new building requirements.
State Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, who carried Senate Bill 83 in the Senate, has been outspoken that the map should be repealed because of unintended consequences, including widespread misinformation about how the map was intended to be used, creating distrust between some property owners and state agencies.
In a text, Golden said House Democrats’ decision not to move the bill straight to the House floor for a vote is making the repeal of the maps “more complicated than it needed to be.”
“To me, the smartest path from the start was to unite
Holding rural Oregonians hostage over votes for future wildfire funding is not only obscene but disgraceful…
— Sen. David Brock Smith
around map repeal and get it to the Governor’s desk to show folks we all put protecting the state ahead of politics,” he said. “That’s what we did in the Senate. Looks like the thinking in the House was different but nobody’s told me what it is.”
Golden is also behind the proposal just now gaining steam to use $1 billion of the state’s anticipated $1.64 billion kicker to fund much needed wildfire prevention and response work throughout the state. Golden proposed the idea months ago to little fanfare, but Gov. Tina Kotek recently signaled her support for the idea in the absence of other options, telling reporters at a news conference May 20 it would be “a beneficial approach.”
Kotek has asked the Legislature for more than a year to come up with a reliable and consistent funding mechanism to support statewide wildfire work and has so far not received any proposals that come close to meeting her desired target of an additional $150 million per year. Putting $1 billion of the kicker into an account that accrues 5% interest each year could provide the state with at least $50 million of that.
“That would be very helpful for the state,” Kotek told reporters.
Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, https:// oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
Les Schwab sponsors the trophy saddles for the Oregon High School Rodeo Association finals, which will be held this month in Prineville. The saddles were on display in the lobby at the Sisters shop last week.
PHOTO
Stars over Sisters
By Reed Hagen and Georgia West Columnists
The evening stars of summer are slowly drifting westward as a new season approaches. Soon we’ll be enjoying fsamiliar star patterns and the return of the Milky Way overhead.
Tucked beneath the arching handle of the Big Dipper lies the inconspicuous constellation of Canes Venatici. This region of the night sky is often passed over by casual observers because to the naked eye it appears barren. The two brightest stars, Cor Caroli and Chara, with magnitudes of 2.9 and 4.2, respectively, represent the hunting dogs of Boötes the Herdsman. There is no ancient Greek mythology associated with this constellation because it wasn’t introduced by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius until 1687. To locate Canes Venatici, search the space between Boötes and Ursa Major (the Great Bear).
The constellation’s brightest star, Cor Caroli (meaning the Heart of Charles), was named to honor King Charles I of England, who was executed by parliamentarians in 1649 for crimes of high treason. This object is also one of the finest double stars for amateur astronomers to view because it’s easily separated by almost any telescope. In addition, it’s colorful; the primary star shines a bluewhite, while the dimmer companion gives off a warm yellow glow.
While there are no bright stars in Canes Venatici, the constellation contains a treasure-trove of galaxies and star clusters that can only be accessed by optical aid. And many of them border on the spectacular, including five that are listed in the Messier Catalog of non-stellar objects. Perhaps the most iconic of these is M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy.
M51 is a majestic face-on spiral galaxy that displays prominent winding arms of stars, gas, and interstellar dust. Pictured next to M51 is NGC 5195, a smaller galaxy that astronomers think is gravitationally tugging on the arms of M51, triggering new star formation. The Whirlpool Galaxy is approximately 75 percent the size of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, and is located at a distance of about 31 million light-years.
Summer in the Northern Hemisphere begins on June 20 at 7:42 p.m. PDT, when the sun will stand directly above the Tropic of Cancer. This occurs because the northern portion of the earth’s axis of rotation is tilted toward the sun. The event will be celebrated by many as the start of an extended period of warmer weather, climatologically speaking, of course. While this makes stargazing more pleasant, the solstice also results in the shortest hours of darkness of the year. Couple that with being on daylight saving time, the brightest stars and planets don’t materialize until well
after 9:30 p.m. local time. All five visible planets are on display this month. On June 8 Jupiter and Mercury can be seen together just above the northwestern horizon 30 minutes after sunset. As the month progresses, Jupiter quickly drops out of sight while Mercury hangs around for most of June. Mars becomes visible high in the western sky at dusk. Venus shines brightly in the pre-dawn sky of morning to join Saturn, which rises about 2:30 a.m. early in the month. Uranus and Neptune are morning objects too but require optical aid to see them.
A brightening moon is in play during the first part of June, until the Strawberry Full Moon arrives on June 11. Our only natural satellite then goes on the wane
The eye-catching Whirlpool Galaxy is located 31 million light-years away in the constellation
before becoming dark on the June 25.
Dark Sky tip: Keep your outdoor lights facing downward, or turned off entirely if you don’t need them lit.
Because we have one of the best communities for stargazing in the Pacific Northwest, we need to protect our skies from light pollution.
VISITING? NEW TO THE AREA?
Be sure and pick up a complimentary copy of the Sisters Oregon Guide located on stands throughout Sisters and Central Oregon or stop by The Nugget Newspaper Office at 442 E. Main Av e., Sisters. The guide chock
of Canes Venatici.
How should Christians respond to homelessness?
By Steve Woodside Columnist
Late on a Sunday evening I found myself engaged in an animated conversation with a friend about the homeless population in Central Oregon, and the response that devout Christians should have with this growing community. Both of us have worked in cold weather shelters, and given money to organizations that work with the homeless, so we are not complete novices.
Previously, I had written on what I felt was a proper response, a multiple-prong approach filled with scripture, but my friend felt it did not emphasize enough compassion, particularly for those who are wrestling with mental health issues.
Perhaps my framework had been strongly influenced by two major factors.
First, I have been personally impacted by fire damage to my property because of illegal camping, and it took me more than a year to physically remove the debris that the firefighters left behind.
Second, I had recently departed Portland where I attended a film festival, and while standing in line for the next movie, just ten feet away from where I stood, a young, bearded man sat on a concrete block, his
head wrapped in his jacket, pressed against his legs in a seated fetal position. He swayed slightly, but remained mostly frozen, in a manner we have become accustomed to seeing from people who have ingested the right cocktail of drugs.
Fifteen minutes into this position a Portland street team did a wellness check, gave him a bottle of water, and departed. A few minutes later, now hydrated, the young man stood up, moved 10 feet away into the crease of two buildings, placed his head back under his jacket and ignited another hit of drugs. Two hours later, I saw the same gentleman, now positioned on a bench directly in front of the theater, asking for money. I politely declined.
The human experience is unique in that we can regularly wrestle with competing emotions. For example, I can feel compassion for this young man, thinking there but for the Grace of God… while at the same time resolving myself to not give him funding to feed his addiction. At what point does compassion become complicity?
If a neighbor asks me to drive him to the bank, I immediately oblige. But if this same neighbor asks me to drive him to the bank so
that he can rob it, I would have to decline, because that act makes me an accomplice to a crime.
If someone is living in the woods, on public land, in a manner that is illegal, and this person has no interest in not living in the woods, if I provide money, food, propane, and other resources to this person, and through an accident or carelessness a wildfire is ignited, am I not also an accomplice?
Jesus and his followers healed many people throughout the Bible, and his followers today do the same as they follow in the path that Jesus illustrated so beautifully: love God, and love your neighbor.
That said, I cannot think of many examples where a Christian is morally authorized to break a law that is not in conflict with God’s law. What I mean is that Christians should and did play a large role in ending slavery, fighting for civil rights, and ending abortion, even though all these things were, or are, coded into the law at the time. But, am I loving all my neighbors if I help feed a drug habit or a dangerous lifestyle?
Yes, the Bible tells us that we must chase after the one sheep that escaped from the other 99, but if that sheep decides that life is better
going it alone, then we have the parable of the prodigal son. A person needs to hit rock bottom before they come to the realization that there is a God-sized hole in their life that will not be met by drugs, alcohol, and an isolated lifestyle.
My friend and I arrived at the same conclusion, that this issue is complicated, and there is no clear-cut answer. Yes, we must be compassionate. Yes, we must meet people’s needs, especially the most vulnerable. Yes, those who can work, must work. Yes, people cannot be left to live illegally in areas that are not designated for this lifestyle.
What the government is doing has done nothing but made the problem worse. As one homeless woman on the streets of Portland said so eloquently, in response to the various policies that Portland has put into place to decriminalize drugs and to provide an endless amount of sleeping bags, tents, food, water, Narcan, etc. that allow people to continue to live on the streets while maintaining all their addictions, “they are loving us to death.”
AUTHOR: Sisters Festival of Books is sponsoring visits
Continued from page 3
Sponsoring Parry’s is part of Sisters Festival of Book’s mission to inspire a love of reading, writing, and storytelling and increase access to the literary arts across Central Oregon. The resonance of Parry’s stories among young readers and the discussions around real-world issues that were generated during her visit exemplify the impact of connecting students with authors. Literary programming of this nature makes real the context behind an author’s work, amplifies student’s curiosity, and helps students understand the power that literature can hold in their own lives.
Sisters Festival of Books will sponsor several visits to local public schools during the 2025-2026 school year in addition to producing their annual Festival of Books this September 12-14. For more information about their programs visit www.sistersfob. org.
Dana Greenblatt is Sisters Festival of Books programs director.
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
equipment without proper certification as a reserve officer. Van der Kamp said he received his radar certification from LAPD, but there are no records existent to verify radar equipment certification. Only Certified Reserve Police Officers or sworn paid are authorized to use speed radar equipment to write traffic citations. Cadets could be shown this equipment, but could not use it in any sort of official capacity. All citations issued would be dismissed, fines refunded, and the cadet would exceed their authority.
Presently, a sheriff that has been stripped of their police officer certification, and is untruthful needs to resign today. He is not thinking of the morale of the Sheriff’s Department but is thinking of only himself. Deschutes County Commissioners need not to just call for Kent van der Kamp’s resignation but to freeze or revoke his pay.
Deschutes County needs a sheriff that has experience in civil, corrections, records, patrol, and upholds the standard of truth.
Laurie Kimmell
Deputy, Multnomah Co. Sheriff (Ret.)
s s s
Roundabout
To the Editor:
I am not enamored of a bull rider setting the scene for Sisters.
I can think of many themes for roundabout art that would be more representative of broadly appealing aspects of our community, such as hiking, biking, frolicking children, joyful pups, or making music together, set in a simple, but evocative frame of forested mountains.
Kathy Campbell
s s s
Memorial day commentary
To the Editor:
My husband — a veteran who passed away in 2024 — and I have attended several Vet Memorial ceremonies here in Sisters. I went Monday expecting another touching service uniting all of us there in remembrance of the veterans who died in combat serving our country.
It started out that way but it changed for me when I was saddened and deeply troubled by an opinion expressed by John Miller, USAF, suggesting that the enemy within, the most dangerous threat to our Republic, are the Chinese and Immigrants living here in the U.S.! In my opinion, I don’t think a veterans memorial service is the appropriate venue for that commentary from John Miller, no matter what side of the immigration fence we are on.
I left the service quietly with a heavy heart. If Darrell had been with me, it would not have been a quiet exodus!
Jean Sage
Woman drowns in river
A 22-year-old woman from La Pine died in a paddle boarding accident on the Deschutes River on Thursday, May 29.
At approximately 1:21 p.m., Deschutes County 911 received a report of a water rescue. Initial information indicated that two paddleboarders were in the water and a female was possibly trapped in the rapids at Pringle Falls.
Deputies, Oregon State Police troopers, and personnel from the La Pine Fire Department responded. They found the woman entangled underwater but partially visible. She was in a very treacherous location, and responders lost sight of her while attempting to assist. Her husband was helped out of the water downstream from Pringle Falls by a deputy and members of the
Sunriver Fire Department.
Deputies, swift water rescue teams, and drones conducted search efforts.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., information was received that the woman had been located downstream. She was found drifting underwater and pulled from the water.
Lt. Nathan Garibay in a written statement from the Sheriff’s Office, said, “As we head into warmer months, the Sheriff’s Office urges everyone planning to spend time on the water to wear a properly fitted life jacket and to be aware of river conditions before exploring.
“The Deschutes River and other waterways in our region can be deceptively hazardous, especially during spring runoff or after heavy rains.”
This Week’s Crossword Sponsors
JANE IREDAL E
Makeup Event • June 30, 11–3
$50 reservation fee for a one-on-one make up consultation with the Jane Iredale make up artist. Reservation fee is a credit for product purchase.
Come try the new Skintuition SPF 30 Radiance-Boosting Liquid Foundation
ALL advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.
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DEADLINE: MONDAY, noon preceding WED. publication. PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due upon placement. VISA & MasterCard accepted. Billing available for continuously run classified ads, after prepayment of first four (4) weeks and upon approval of account application.
CATEGORIES:
102 Commercial Rentals
STORAGE WITH BENEFITS
8 x 20 dry box
Fenced yard, RV & trailers
In-town, gated, 24-7
EWDevcoLLC@gmail.com
MINI STORAGE
Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631
Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor RV parking. 7-day access. Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies.
103 Residential Rentals
Room for Rent
10’x12’ in 2,000 sf house
$800/mo. incl. utilities/internet. No pets/smoking.
Crossroads Loop | 321-252-8312
PONDEROSA PROPERTIES
–Monthly Rentals Available–Call Debbie at 541-549-2002
Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: PonderosaProperties.com
Printed list at 178 S. Elm, Sisters Ponderosa Properties LLC
CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS
Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792
Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com
CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS
Unique upstairs 3 bedroom, 2 bath with all appliances. Private entrance. Move-in special: 1st month free with 18-month lease. $2,600 monthly. — 541-549-0792 —
104 Vacation Rentals
~ Sisters Vacation Rentals ~ Private Central OR vac. rentals, Property Management Services 541-977-9898 www.SistersVacation.com
Downtown Vacation Rentals Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom SistersVacationRentals.net Great pricing. 503-730-0150
202 Firewood
• SPRING 2025 • NEW DISCOUNT PRICES SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD • SINCE 1976 • Fuel Reduction Forestry Doug Fir – Lodgepole –Hardwood – Juniper – Fir DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES – 18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com
Order Online! 541-410-4509 541-699-7740
203 Recreation Equipment
Inflatable, frameless pontoon boat. Search Dave Scadden's 2025 Raptor Lite Speed X5. Hardly used, length 9', width 54", diameter 16", easy to put together, take apart and put in the back of a car. $999. Bob 541-401-0723
204 Arts & Antiques
Hamadan Rugs from the 1920s
3 available: 46x31, 55x39, 73x64
Prices negotiable. 541-410-2890
205 Garage & Estate Sales
ESTATE SALE, SISTERS, OR 1642 W. Hill Avenue
Thursday 6/5 — Saturday 6/7
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
EVERYTHING MUST GO *offers accepted
- End tables - Entry tables
- Couches - Bar Stools
- Dining table - Bedding/Pillows
- Chairs - Storage containersYard tools/supplies - Backyard furniture - Planters - Camping gear/sleeping bags - Grills/fuel
- Mattresses - TOOLS (lots of them)! - Artwork/art supplies
- Collectables - Large train set
- Christmas Santa collection
- Boyd Bears collection
- Schwinn cruiser bicyclesBook shelves and much more!
Moving Estate Sale in Bend 19318 Marshmallow Place
Fri. 6/6, Sat. 6/7, 9 to 4
Quality home furnishings and decor and sports equipment. View pics at estatesales.net
– Hosted by Happy Trails! –Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions! Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths? Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150
301 Vehicles
2008 GMC SIERRA 1500, 4 door extra cab, AWD/4WD, V8, 224k miles, good condition mechanically, excellent tires, new brakes, canopy. $10,900. Call 541-419-6276
We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397
Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com
500 Services
SMALL Engine REPAIR
Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631
Authorized service center for Stihl, Honda, Ariens/Gravely, Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki Engines
CAREGIVER 15 YEARS Working in Sisters. Great references. 503-274-0214
• DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279
I am Dan the Mobile Barber and I will come to you with 35 years experience barbering. I serve Sisters, Redmond, and Terrebonne. Give me a call at 541-233-6395.
Junk removal, new home, garage & storage clean-out, construction, yard debris. You Call – We Haul! 541-719-8475
CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS
Bend Window Works, LLC is offering a 10% discount on new window coverings. FREE in-home consultation. Same day in-home repair services available. New and repaired blinds make rentals look better! Contact us at 541-383-3455 or andy@bendblinds.com.
501 Computers & Communications
3 Sisters TeleNetworks, LLC Extend internet to shop, security cameras, Starlink. CCB #191099 541-306-0729
TOO MUCH STUFF?
Advertise your excess with an ad in The Nugget!
SUDOKU
2025 crop. Barn stored. 3-tie bales.
Hwy. 126 & Cline Falls. 541-280-1895
403 Pets
I’ve got your cats covered! Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com Home of Brando's Natural Dog Biscuits • 541-306-7551 • Julie Caring, loving pet care in my home. Daily rates and in town. Cheryl 541-420-7875
SISTERS WHISKERS
Your purr-fect friend is waiting for you at our local nonprofit cat rescue! Apply to adopt at: sisterswhiskers.org
502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
M & J CARPET CLEANING
Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-owned since 1986. 541-549-9090
GORDON’S LAST TOUCH Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY
Member Better Business Bureau
• Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon Since 1980 Call 541-549-3008
504 Handyman
3 Sisters Handyman Services 20+ years experience No job too large or small. Snow removal services available. Licensed, Bonded, and Insured Call Nate 907-748-4100 sistershandyman@gmail.com CCB# 253556
600 Tree Service & Forestry
• Wildfire Fuels reduction • Debris Chipping/Mastication
• Forest Health Thinning • Land & Lot Clearing
• Tree Removal
Will Moore, 541-409-5404
ISA Certified Arborist
We are the experts you’ve been looking for! LCB# 100129 & Oregon Professional Logger 71395048
LOLO TREE WORKS
Tree Services: Tree Removal, Tree Pruning, Stump Grinding, Emergency Tree Services. ISA Certified Arborist Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com Call / Text: 503-367-5638 Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com CCB #240912
Level: Moderate Answer: Page 23
4 Brothers Tree Service
Sisters' Premier Tree Experts!
– TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.
– FOREST MANAGEMENT –Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale Projects!
Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003
** Free Estimates **
Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342
4brostrees.com
Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057
TimberStandImprovement.net
Tree Removal & Pruning TRAQ Arborist/ CCB#190496 541-771-4825
– All You Need Maintenance –Tree removal, property thinning & clearing, forestry mastication & mulching, stump grinding.
Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122
601 Construction
Construction & Renovation
Custom Residential Projects
All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448
SPURGE COCHRAN
BUILDER, INC.
General Contractor
Building Distinctive, Handcrafted Custom Homes, Additions, Remodels, Cabin Renovations Since ’74
A “Hands-On” Builder Keeping Your Project on Time & On Budget • CCB #96016 To speak to Spurge personally, call 541-815-0523
CASCADE GARAGE DOORS
Factory Trained Technicians Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553
Uncompromising quality. Local and personal. You can trust me. All projects: From new construction to those little projects you don't seem to get to. My team of local subcontractors and I will get it done right, fair, and pain-free so you can make your spouse happy. Call Jared 503-949-9719
Lara’s Construction LLC. CCB#223701
Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call for a free estimate 541-350-3218
Custom Homes • Additions
Residential Building Projects
Serving Sisters area since 1976 Strictly Quality
CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764
John Pierce
jpierce@bendbroadband.com
INSPIRED CUSTOM HOMES
www.teeharborconstruction.com 541-213-8736 • CCB#75388 602 Plumbing & Electric SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.
“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling
• New Construction • Water Heaters 541-549-4349
Residential and Commercial
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
CCB #87587
Pat Burke
LOCALLY OWNED
CRAFTSMAN BUILT
CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062
www.sistersfencecompany.com
Custom Homes
Additions - Remodels
Residential Building Projects
Becke William Pierce
CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384 Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com
Earthwood Timber
• Recycled fir and pine beams
• Mantels and accent timbers
• Sawmill/woodshop services
EWDevCoLLC@gmail.com
603 Excavation & Trucking
ROBINSON & OWEN
Heavy Construction, Inc.
All your excavation needs
*General excavation
*Site Preparation
*Sub-Divisions
*Road Building
*Sewer and Water Systems
*Underground Utilities
*Grading
*Sand-Gravel-Rock
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
CCB #124327
541-549-1848
Full Service Excavation
Free On-site Visit & Estimate
Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com
541-549-1472 • CCB #76888
Drainfield
• Minor & Major Septic Repair
• All Septic Needs/Design & Install
General Excavation
• Site Preparation
• Rock & Stump Removal
• Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation
• Building Demolition Trucking
• Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water
• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly
• The Whole 9 Yards or 24
Whatever You Want!
BANR Enterprises, LLC
Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls
Residential & Commercial CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net
604 Heating & Cooling
ACTION AIR
Heating & Cooling, LLC
Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com
CCB #195556 541-549-6464
605 Painting
EMPIRE PAINTING
Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining
CCB#180042
541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk Interior/Exterior Painting
Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation.
CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462
All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740
Flow State Property Improvements LLC Spring landscape cleanups & debris removal, pine needle removal, bark and gravel refreshing. Contact Steve at 541-316-9959 or email flowstatepi@gmail.com.
Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company. Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com
Eastern Cascade Solutions Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195
LCB #9958 • CCB #222039 STEVE'S HAULING Yard and other debris, landscaping services, chain saw work, etc. 707-328-8370
Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345
J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, thatching, aerating, irrigation, mowing. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com
607 Irrigation
Home/Commercial/Agriculture
New - Maintenance - Repair — licensed, bonded, insured — CCB#189719 • LCB#100529 LCP#16884 541-316-9259 rockspringsirr@gmail.com
701 Domestic Services
BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897
I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051
802 Help Wanted
Brand 33 at
Aspen Lakes Golf Course
We’re hiring for the following positions: Sous chef/lead cook, line cook, prep cook, servers, beverage cart, dishwasher, day time bartender, golf course greenskeeper. Seasonal FT/PT. Competitive wages DOE. Email accounting@aspenlakes.com or call 541-549-1882
Part Time Sales Associate
We are looking for a friendly, reliable, team player who enjoys working with the public in a retail environment. You must be willing to work some weekend days. Applications available at Stitchin' Post, 311 West Cascade in Sisters or by email diane.j@stitchinpost.com. Questions? Contact diane.j@stitchinpost.com
STORE CLERK - Must be able to lift 45 lbs. 18 years old +. Starting at $17/hr. Looking for something to do while vacationing in the Sisters area? Visit SistersOregonGuide.com
A 63-year tradition for Sisters www.georges-septic-service.com
Ridgeline Electric, LLC
Serving all of Central Oregon
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Service 541-588-3088 • CCB #234821
Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327
peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491
~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 www.frontier-painting.com
606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance
– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122
Jocelyn Blevins was named Kiwanis Club of Sisters’ Teacher of the Year for her excellent work in the Sisters Elementary School STEM/STEAM program. Blevins explained what she has accomplished with the students and her work to help design and develop a nature path for the schools. She was presented with a check for $500 to be used as she wishes in her classroom.
PHOTO BY DAVID HILLER
Teacher of the Year...
CLASSIFIEDS Obituary
POSITION TO FILL?
BIZ TO PROMOTE?
For Results, advertise in THE NUGGET NEWSPAPER!
Deadline is Monday at NOON to place your classified ad... nugget@nuggetnews.com
We are Hiring!
Join our summer camp culture at Lake Creek Lodge. We're recruiting for: Housekeeping, Barista & Maintenance/ Landscaping. PT/FT. We are proud to offer flexible schedules and excellent compensation. www.lakecreeklodge.com
13375 SW Forest Service Rd. 1419, Camp Sherman
Work with Vacasa this summer in Sisters and Black Butte as a Piecework Housekeeper cleaning vacation homes. Employment dates 5/11-9/26. Piece rate pay ranging $40-$225 per unit with average $110 per unit. $22/hour for paid training, required meetings, and non-post reservation cleans. $1,000 sign-on bonus paid $500 after 30 days and $500 after 90 days of employment. Apply online at www.vacasa.com/careers.
POSITION TO FILL?
BIZ TO PROMOTE?
For Results, Advertise in THE NUGGET!
Deadline is Monday at NOON to place your classified ad. Call 541-549-9941
Locals shine in pickleball tourney
Riley McHugh of Sisters and Diane Baumgartner from Eagle Crest just returned from the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket nationals qualifier tournament in St. George, Utah, held on May 28-June 1.
They placed first in mixed doubles in the 75-79 age group skill level 4.5/5.0 (highest) after eight grueling matches in 100 degree heat.
This is the path to nationals in San Diego on November 15-23, where they will compete. Baumgartner’s former partner from New Jersey and Florida, who she has won national titles with, is the former NBA great Rick Barr, who moved up to the 80-84 age group.
Further, Diane also won the women’s doubles with Lynn Henche from Las Vegas and McHugh also won the men’s doubles with Gary Yeager of Bend.
Raymond Jourdan Lee
Passed April 24, 2025
Raymond Jourdan Lee passed away peacefully on April 24, 2025, at the age of 95. Ray was born in Seattle, Washington, the only child of Alf and Marie Lee.
His Norwegian heritage and traditions were an important part of his life. He grew up in the Bryant area and later graduated from Roosevelt High School where he met the love of his life and future wife, Joanne Gordon. He was an Eagle Scout, active in the Boys Club, and lettered in football and baseball. He then graduated from the University of Washington where he joined the ROTC, played freshman football, and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He also learned to play handball which became a lifelong passion.
After college, Ray joined the U.S. Air Force, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. He was stationed at Neah Bay before being sent to Korea as an airfield supply officer a few months before the end of the war. Ray and Joanne married and raised three children. Following his time in the service, Ray earned his Law degree at the UW and passed the bar exam on his first try. He worked
as a deputy prosecutor, private practice, GTE NW in Everett as General Counsel, and private practice again before retiring.
In retirement they lived the RV lifestyle, enjoying travel around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and snowbirding in Indio. California. Along the way they owned homes in Columbus Ohio, Sisters, and Everett, Washington.
Ray was always active in the community in service clubs (Sertoma, Rotary), the Meridias Club, the Washington Athletic Club, the Innis Arden Community Club, the Lutheran Church, and as a Scoutmaster and Little League Baseball Coach. As a person he was warm, happy, upbeat, generous, outgoing, and gregarious. He loved helping people, and they loved him back. He cherished his many lifelong friendships.
Ray is survived by his wife Joanne, sons Kirk (Patty), Peter (Christi); daughter Joni (Paul); granddaughters Jessica, Lyndsey, Megan (Collin), Jenny, Sammy, Arika; step-grandsons Jeremy (Candace), Jacob (Leslie); and six great grandchildren.
Ray and Joanne lived the last year of his life at Cogir in Mill Creek, Washington. We are grateful for the care and respect he received from the Cogir and Continuum Care staff. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sisters or Continuum Hospice Foundation (continuumwa. com/foundation).
SUDOKU SOLUTION
for puzzle on page 21
Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District N OTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
SISTERS LOCATIONS:
• Angeline’s Baker y • Bedouin
•Best Western Ponderosa Lodge • Bi-Mart
• Black Butte Realty Group
• Cabin Creek Home & Style • Cascade Fitness
• Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s • Central Oregon Eyecare
•Chevron/McDonald’s • Countr y Coffee
• Dair y Queen • Dixie’s • Eurosports
• Fika Sisters Coffeehouse • First Interstate Bank
• FivePine Lodge • GrandStay Hotel & Suites
• Habitat Thrif t Store
•Hard Tails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill
• High Camp Taphouse
• Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply
• Lef t Coast Lodge • Les Schwab Tire Center
• Luckey’s Woodsman • Makin’ it Local
• Martolli’s of Sisters • Mid Oregon Credit Union
• Oliver Lemon’s • Paulina Springs Books
• Philadelphia’s Steak & Hoagies • Pine Desert Dental
• Ponderosa Properties • Rancho Viejo
• Ray’s Food Place • Sinclair Gas Station
• Sisters Ace Hardware • Sisters Apothecar y
• Sisters Art Works • Sisters Athletic Club
• Sisters Baker y • Sisters Bunkhouse • Sisters City Hall
• Sisters Coffee Co.• Sisters Community Church
• Sisters Creekside Campg round
• Sisters Dino Market •Sisters Depot
• Sisters Elementar y School •Sisters Feed & Supply
• Sisters Galler y & Frame Shop • Sisters High School
• Sisters Inn & Suites • Sisters Librar y
• Sisters Liquor Store • Sisters Meat and Smokehouse
• Sisters Middle School • Sisters Moto
• Sisters Movie House & Café • Sisters Nails & Spa
• Sisters Post Off ice •Sisters Pumphouse & Countr y Store
• Sisters Ranger Station • Sisters Rental
• Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill
• Sisters School Administration Building
• Sisters Senior Living • Sisters Veterinar y Clinic
• Ski Inn Taphouse & Motel • Sno Cap Drive In
• Space Age F uel • Spoons Restaurant
• Sisters Park & Recreation District
• St. Charles Family Care • Stellar Realty Northwest
• Suttle Tea • Takoda’s Restaurant & Lounge
• The Barn in Sisters • The Galler y Restaurant
• The Gallimaufr y • The Nugget Front Porch
• The Pony Express • The Slow Down State
• Three Creeks Brew Pub • Three Sisters Floral
• Western Title & Escrow Company • Your Store
BBR
& CAMP SHERMAN:
• Black Butte Ranch General Store
• Black Butte Ranch Post Off ice
• Black Butte Ranch Welcome Center
• Camp Sherman Post Off ice • Metolius River Lodges
REDMOND & TERREBONNE:
• Bi-Mart • Oliver Lemon’s Terrebonne • M&W Market
• The Ranch Market • Sisters Meat and Smokehouse
TUMALO:
• Pisano’s Pizza • Shell Station • T umalo Coffeehouse
• T umalo Farmstand • T umalo Feed Co.
