Rescuers aid injured hiker near South Sister page 19
SFF seeks permanent headquarters page 7
Mike Biggers ‘Ain’t Makin’ This Up’ with CD page 25
The Nugget Vol. XLI No. 39
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Finalists for city manager to be announced
There’s trouble with the trees By Sue Stafford Correspondent
Walking or driving around Sisters Country, one can’t help but notice some pretty unhappy trees. The most notable, of course, are the ponderosa pine trees along Highway 20 outside of town. Removal of the dead pines west of Sisters along the highway will start in October. That area was sprayed with an herbicide, which was later determined to be detrimental to the health of the ponderosas. Many other ponderosas are experiencing abnormally See TREES on page 20
By Sue Stafford Correspondent
BATTLING FOR THE TROPHY...
Sisters Outlaws volleyball took the title at their own Sisters Invitational Tournament last weekend. The event brings hundreds of volleyball families to Sisters each fall. The Outlaws are fighting tough opponents to defend their state title.
Transportation can be a challenge in Sisters By Sue Stafford Correspondent
Public transportation (or the lack of it) is a major concern for a certain percentage of residents, especially seniors, those with some kind of disability, and others who don’t own a car. That’s one finding among the preliminary results of the Sisters Country Vision Project. Other than the Dial-a-Ride bus on Tuesdays that will provide rides to and from the senior lunch and the grocery store, the only local option around town is Outlaw Cab which serves all of Central Oregon, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They also have a shuttle to
Inside...
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
and from the Redmond airport and a limousine. They can be reached at 541-549-2227. As of June 2017, Uber was licensed to operate in Sisters and between Sisters and other major Central Oregon cities. The estimated cost for a ride from downtown Sisters to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, for instance, is about $50 one way. The fare is based on a booking fee, a base rate, and per minute (25 cents) and per mile ($1.51) charges to point of pick up and to destination. To use Uber, a passenger must download the Uber app and create an account, which requires a valid email address and phone See TRANSIT on page 24
The selection process for a new Sisters city manager is underway, with the announcement of the finalist candidates slated for the Wednesday, September 26 City Council meeting at City Hall at 6:30 p.m. The Nugget incorrectly reported last week that the final manager selection would be made on that date. The timetable for the rest of the process is still in a tentative mode based on candidate and venue availability, See CITY MANAGER on page 24
Hold off on firing up your wood stove By Jim Anderson Correspondent
If you’re planning on firing up that old wood stove sitting in your house to take the chill off of these fall temperatures, you might want to blow out that match and listen to what the folks at the Sisters Fire Department have to say first. Sisters Country is very dry, and we’ve already seen this summer how a stray spark can blow up into a major conflagration that threatens property PHOTO BY JIM ANDERSON and lives. Be wary of firing up the woodstove in dry conditions. The stuff we burned in our stoves last winter could have — backyard. burst into flame or get out left clumps of creosote stuck Tim Craig, chief of oper- and start a fire going outside. to the inside of the flue. That ations at the Sisters Fire Having someone who is cerstuff could become hot and District, suggests residents tified come and clean your the glowing embers could be have their flue cleaned and chimney/stove pipe will also lifted out and deposited in examined to ensure there’s your — or your neighbor’s nothing in there that would See WOOD STOVE on page 24
Letters/Weather ................ 2 Announcements................12 Obituaries ........................21 Crossword ....................... 25 Fit for Sisters ................... 29 Meetings ........................... 3 Entertainment ..................13 Outlaw Calendar .............. 23 Classifieds..................26-29 Real Estate .................30-32