The Nugget Vol. XLV No. 10
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Gauging insurance risk in fire country By Bill Bartlett
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Shining on the slopes... Whychus Creek set for restoration next to campground
Correspondent
A number of readers were concerned about The Nuggetʼs story on February 23 that brought to attention to the difficulty some property owners were experiencing in obtaining or renewing homeowners insurance when the insured property was not rating well. Reader Craig Rullman took the time to write a letter that appeared in last week’s issue, sharing his experience with renewing his policy on his rural property. His letter ended with a warning about the deleterious impact underwriters’ decisions might have on property values. The Nuggetʼs story centered on the models insurers
By Sue Stafford Correspondent
PHOTO BY BRAD TISDEL
Bela Chladek became the Outlaws’ first-ever state skiing champion last weekend, winning the High School State Championship Alpine Ski Race slalom by three seconds. Chladek led the boys ski team to an outstanding second-place finish, just a second behind Lincoln High School. See story, page 4.
See INSURANCE on page 6
If all goes according to plan, the instream and bank restoration work on Whychus Creek, where it runs between Creekside Park and Creekside Campground — from the Locust Street bridge to the Highway 20 bridge — should take place in August 2022. This according to Mathias Perle, restoration program manager for the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, in his report to the City Parks Advisory Board, who held their March 2 meeting at the creek. The strategic plan for restoration of the 40-mile-long See WHYCHUS on page 23
Cloverdale Fire District Biggest Little Show to get bigger asks voters for funding By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
The Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District is going back to voters to seek funding to provide a sustainable level of 24/7 staffing. The District has filed a ballot measure for the May 17 election, seeking a 69-cents-per-$1,000 (assessed valuation) levy to fund 24/7 staffing by fire officers/EMTs. Cloverdale Fire District voters in May 2021 said a vehement “no” to a levy that carried a tax rate of $1.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Voters rejected it by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin. The 2021 measure sought to add two paid firefighting staff and house an ambulance in the District. Plans also called for Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District to take on the administrative requirements of the Cloverdale
Inside...
District. Voters found that measure too expensive, and many feared loss of autonomy for the District. The District board of directors, staff, and members of the volunteer association worked together over the past months to come up with a reduced funding level that will still cover the District’s most fundamental need — additional officer staffing. “This is a really strippeddown version of the last levy,” said Larry Turin, volunteer association vice president. Staff, board, and volunteer personnel who spoke with The Nugget last week all agreed that the current staffing level is unsustainable, putting far too much strain on Fire Chief Thad Olsen and Captain and Training Officer Jeremy Hall. The District See CLOVERDALE on page 16
If you drove by the rodeo grounds Friday you saw new lighting being installed. The low-energy, high-output LED lamps will dramatically improve illumination for the upcoming 80th Sisters Rodeo, June 8-12. The lights will make for a better experience for attendees of evening performances. The greater benefit however will be to allow for high-definition TV coverage. This year’s rodeo will be live telecast on the Cowboy Channel and RFD TV, a pay television channel that caters to viewers with rural tastes and interests. Any rodeo enthusiast or photographer knows that lighting has been deficient, especially when the horses and cows get into the far corners. The promoters are equally excited about other improvements. There will be new vendor sections and food trucks
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
COVID-19 bucked the Sisters Rodeo off the event schedule for two years — but it’s back for 2022, with added improvements. according to Curt Kallberg, Sisters Rodeo Association Board President. There will be new viewing areas with large-screen TVs, enabling guests to meet in the food or vending area without missing any of the action. The specialty act this year will be a first in Sisters, Felix
Santana and his Lusitano and Iberian warmblood cross, Gallahan. The duo will be performing a series of movements with roots in classical horsemanship also known as haute école or Alta Escuela training. The movements See RODEO on page 22
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Obituaries .....................8-9 Fun & Games ....................10 Stars over Sisters ............13 Classifieds.................. 18-19 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............10 Entertainment ................. 11 Crossword ....................... 17 Real Estate .................21-24