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The Nugget
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PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Vol. XLIV No. 39
www.NuggetNews.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Festival’s return hits triumphant note By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
They came from a dozen or more states as far away as New York, artists and attendees both. They came in all ages including 4-year-old Ava Jade Niesen-Hamblin from Bothell, Washington, who stole Saturday night’s closing act at Village Green when the band leader of CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band invited her onstage. He spotted her among the 100 singing, dancing fans. Ava and a dozen others directly in front of the stage were emblematic of the entire Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) – wildly enthusiastic. Ava led the audience with the energetic innocence of a child. Inhibitions
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Honor flight takes off By Cody Rheault Correspondent
of Goodyear, Arizona, taking in her fourth Festival. As always, concert-goers were busy exchanging notes
After more than a year of cancellations and postponements, Honor Flight of Central Oregon took off for Washington D.C. on September 22. Twenty-three veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars joined this year’s trip, which served as an opportunity to honor them for their service. Due to COVID-19 precautions, Honor Flights around the nation were postponed from their annual trips taking veterans to our
See FOLK FESTIVAL on page 22
See HONOR FLIGHT on page 16
Ruthie Foster celebrated the return of live music with impassioned, soulful sets at last weekend’s event. PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
were nowhere to be found throughout the Festival. “Audience engagement is part of the magic,” singersongwriter Max Gomez told The Nugget.
He had the audience eating out of his hand at all three of his appearances. Gomez was among a collection of top story-telling artists favored by Marji Westwood
Outlaw Hall of Fame inducts two classes Bi-Mart pharmacy closing, store to remain By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
In a move that surprised the seven-member team of Bi-Mart pharmacy in Sisters, they were informed Tuesday of the acquisition by Walgreens of all pharmacies throughout the 80-store chain in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. Nobody in management at the Sisters operation would go on the record with The Nugget. “This decision, while difficult, is strategically important as we move to strengthen our solid financial position and expand our plans for future growth in the Northwest,” CEO Rich Truett said in a press release.
We have 80 total stores, and 56 had pharmacies... — Don Leber “Bi-Mart’s core business is healthy and strong,” Truett said, in announcing that all of Bi-Mart’s stores will remain open. “However, over the years, factors such
Inside...
as increasing costs and ongoing reimbursement pressure has led in part to our decision.” The Nugget spoke at length with Don Leber, VP of marketing and advertising at the Eugene headquarters. “We have 80 total stores, and 56 had pharmacies,” he said. “We made the decision two years ago to stop filling prescriptions at the 13 stores in the Portland area and gradually a few others.” He blamed rising medical costs and a new Oregon business tax for the pullout. When asked how the Sisters store would utilize the vacated space, Leber said, “We are considering several options, one of which is making that area our e-commerce section, particularly since it has the pickup window already in place.” Reports are contradictory with some statements claiming that all pharmacies will discontinue by some time in mid-November. Leber on the other hand told us that Walgreens is still considering which stores, if any, might maintain a Walgreens pharmacy on the premises, See PHARMACY on page 18
The Sisters High School Hall of Fame committee inducted 10 individuals and two teams at a banquet ceremony Saturday, October 2, held in the high school commons. Honorees included seven outstanding athletes, two athletic teams, a musician/ athlete, and two special contributors. The inductees represented two “classes” since the event was not able to be held last year due to COVID shutdowns. Hall of Fame cochair Don Pollard explained that the Hall is intended to honor the contributions and accomplishments of those who are worthy of recognition and who serve as examples for others to emulate. Over the past seven years, the Hall of Fame has honored more than 50 individuals, teams, and organizations. Tracy Smith, a former Olympian and longtime running coach at Crook County High School, now retired, served as the banquet’s guest speaker and focused on the concept of how great individual accomplishments, such as his own, are not individual at all. He shared the quote, “I
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Jerry Baldock was inducted into the Outlaws Hall of Fame on Saturday night, in honor of his years of contributions to the school culture through his photography. His wife, Marlene, has always supported his work. am because we are” to underscore the notion that one’s friends, coaches, teachers, bosses — those people who invest in our lives — allow us to reach our greatest potential. Like Smith, the majority of the inductees honored as athletes excelled in track and field and some in other sports as well. Parker Bennett, a star distance runner in cross-country and track during high school and college, sent in an audio message from his home in Germany, where he works as an athletic trainer, and
thanked the community for supporting him as a young man and for the honor of being inducted. Bennett graduated in 2010 and held school records in the 1500, 3000, and 5000 meters. His success continued at Willamette University, culminating in being named the outstanding male senior athlete when he graduated. Jared Henderson (2009), also an accomplished runner but known even more for his music, was the next inductee. After high school See INDUCTEES on page 17
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Ranger’s Corner .................7 Events .............................. 9 Obituaries .......................18 Classifieds.................. 19-21 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements................ 8 Disaster Preparedness .11-14 Crossword .......................18 Real Estate .................21-24