The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLV No. 19 // 2022-05-11

The Nugget Vol. XLV No. 19

POSTAL CUSTOMER

News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

www.NuggetNews.com

County expands services for ‘forest dwellers’

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Lady Outlaws are lacrosse champions!

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

“My goal is basically to die out here,” a man living in the forest outside Sisters told David Fox, the new Deschutes County case manager working with people who are experiencing houselessness in Sisters and La Pine, the first time they met.

Because of Fox’s continuing efforts to engage the man in conversation, eventually establishing a relationship with him, they are now working together on hopes

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Reece Harwell scores versus West Linn in the Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational Tournament held last weekend — in challenging conditions. The Sisters girls won the championship for the first time ever. The tournament brings teams from across the Pacific Northwest to Sisters. See story, page 4.

See SERVICES on page 19

Correspondent

Hay is for horses. And cows. And sheep. And right now its price is causing Sisters Country producers and consumers to rethink their options. According to Oregon ag markets, alfalfa is up 58.8 percent in the last 12 months, and all other hay is up 37.7 percent.

“If only that were true,” said Barb Winter, who keeps three horses just a half mile north of the city limits. “A year ago I was paying $45 for an 80-pound bale of timothy grass, and today, if I can even find it, it’s costing me $80,” she fretted. “Plus I’ll have to drive to Powell Butte or Prineville.”

Her friend Casey Nolan, who has two backyard “hayburners,” as she calls them, is trying to sell one to help manage her feed bill.

“It’ll kill the grandchildren,” she said. “But with the water shortage we keep hearing about, it sounds like

Inside...

Police seek man who made school threat School was disrupted in Sisters last Thursday, after an unspecified threat to a Sisters school was phoned in to 911, originating from a Bend number. According to Lt. Chad Davis of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, the threat was very vague and part of a longer message.

The Deschutes County Sheriff ’s Office determined that Charles Matthew Schmiel is the person responsible for the threat made to the unnamed Sisters school on May 5. DCSO released an appeal to the See THREAT on page 16

Hay, what’s up with these prices?

By Bill Bartlett

PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15

we’ll be paying $500 a ton by summer.”

She may be right, according to Tumalo Hay and Stables, who farm 20 acres of low-sugar hay, the kind used by horses. Dairy cows need higher-nutrition alfalfa, that is now $260 a ton — that is, if you can buy an entire truckload, to the tune of $15,600.

Hay inventory is low across Oregon and prices are at record levels. The average alfalfa price for all grades across the Northwest is over $300 per ton. This is indicative of low inventory following drought in 2021. High input prices and irrigation water availability will dissuade many producers from expanding hay production in 2022.

“It’s the fertilizer that’s killing us,” said Matt Mauer, who is the farm manager for a 100-acre spread off Holmes Road. “Last season we were paying about $600 a ton, and See HAY PRICES on page 27

Family honored at well dedication

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Local dignitaries and representatives of the Sokol family of Sisters gathered on Thursday, May 5, to celebrate a singular act of civic generosity.

In November of 2017, Cris Converse announced to the Sisters City Council that her family would rescind the $250,000 sale price of quasimunicipal water rights that belonged to Pine Meadow Ranch, which were being sold to the City. In effect, Converse cancelled the $250,000 owed by the City to acquire the water rights, and instead gifted them to the community of Sisters — in the name of her mother, Sisters pioneer Dorro Sokol.

Sokol was the longtime owner of Pine Meadow Ranch at the southwest corner of Sisters. Converse and her two sisters sold the Ranch to The Roundhouse Foundation after Dorro’s passing.

The fruits of that donation were harvested on Thursday, as the City dedicated its new

PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS

Mayor Michael Preedin and Mary Sokol Chavin cut a piece of ribbon at the dedication of Sisters’ Well No. 4 on Friday, to give to Chavin’s sister Cris Converse, who was unable to attend the ceremony. The Sokol family effectively donated the value of municipal water rights they controlled to the City of Sisters in 2017, making the construction of Well No. 4 possible years ahead of schedule. well, Well No. 4, at the east end of the Sisters Overnight Park.

City of Sisters Public Wo r k s D i r e c t o r P a u l Bertagna told the assemblage that the water right was for 2.15 cfs (cubic feet per second) of water, which translates to approximately 1,000

gallons per hour of flow. The donation made it possible for Sisters to bring the new well online years before it was expected.

Bertagna recalled the moment when Converse announced the donation to See DEDICATION on page 17

Letters/Weather ............... 2 Sisters Country Birds ........ 6 Entertainment .................13 Fun & Games ................... 22 Classifieds................. 24-26 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............12 Stars Over Sisters ............13 Crossword ...................... 23 Real Estate ................ 26-28

2

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

O

P

I

N I

O

N

Small business resilience in challenging times a

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.

Reflections of a mom

To the Editor: I have been blessed to have had two moms. My mama was my everything for 27 years. She was the one who kissed my booboos. She was the one who taught me about life. She was the one I went to talk about my latest crush. She was the one who would do late-night runs to the local fast-food joint to get our favorite snack, and then we’d go home and sit in the driveway talking. I remember my dad coming out around midnight, putting his hands on his hips, seeing us in the driveway, walking back in the house,

and turning the front porch light on, resigned that it would probably be another hour before we came inside. Moms are great for that.

Cancer took my mama, but I knew there was still much for me to learn from a “mom.”

Two years after I said goodbye to my mama, my daddy married a woman who had been close to our family. I was grateful to find that my time with a “mom” was not over. Who would have thought that today my stepmom has been my mom for as long as my mama was? But it’s true. I have been blessed with the wisdom of two precious women.

See LETTERS on page 22

Sisters Weather Forecast Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

May 11 • Mostly Cloudy

May 12 • Rain

May 13 • PM Showers

May 14 • AM Showers

58/36

50/31

54/42

66/43

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

May 15 • Mostly Cloudy

May 16 • Partly Cloudy

May 17 • Partly Cloudy

68/44

64/40

61/39

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC Website: www.nuggetnews.com 442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759 Tel: 541-549-9941 | Email: editor@nuggetnews.com Postmaster: Send address changes to The Nugget Newspaper, P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759.

Third Class Postage Paid at Sisters, Oregon.

Editor in Chief: Jim Cornelius Production Manager: Leith Easterling Creative Director: Jess Draper Community Marketing Partner: Vicki Curlett Proofreader: Kit Tosello Owner: J. Louis Mullen

The Nugget is mailed to residents within the Sisters School District; subscriptions are available outside delivery area.

Third-class postage: one year, $70; six months (or less), $45. First-class postage: one year, $110; six months, $80.

Published Weekly. ©2022 The Nugget Newspaper, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All advertising which appears in The Nugget is the property of The Nugget and may not be used without explicit permission. The Nugget Newspaper, LLC. assumes no liability or responsibility for information contained in advertisements, articles, stories, lists, calendar etc. within this publication. All submissions to The Nugget Newspaper will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyrighting purposes and subject to The Nugget Newspaper’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially, that all rights are currently available, and that the material in no way infringes upon the rights of any person. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of artwork, photos, or manuscripts.

Last week Band of Brother Sisters donated a bench to the City of Sisters for Barclay Park in honor of all veterans, past and present. The Band of Brother board of directors are (left to right), Mick McGrady, Vice President (and Mayor) Michael Preedin, President Jim Morrell, Secretary Lyle Musel, and Treasurer Hal Darcey.

PHOTO PROVIDED

By Michael Sipe Guest Columnist

As everyone knows, these are challenging times for small businesses in Central Oregon. We face inflation, labor shortages, lingering employee COVID fears, employee motivation issues, retention challenges, rapidly escalating wages, skyrocketing cost of goods sold, supply chain shortages and delays, increasing taxes, and never-ending government regulations. Unfortunately, things will likely get worse before they get better, which may be a long time coming, as we continue to wrestle with the current inflation that will probably be followed by a painful economic “correction.”

We all see the problems, but what are we to do as local business owners, especially when the root causes of these problems are out of our direct control? Here are my suggestions for navigating the difficult months and years ahead. As an entrepreneur since the fourth grade, a current small business owner, an executive coach to about 50 of the top business leaders in our region, and as a 30-year mergers and acquisitions advisor who’s evaluated over 5,000 businesses in my career, I have a unique perspective on business survival, having ridden the economic ups and downs over many decades, along with my clients.

Long term, we need a state government that is business-friendly. Oregon government is distinctly unfriendly to business.

Business is the only human activity that makes money, which it does through the creation of value. Everything else is supported by the economic engine of business. Government thinks it makes money, but it only taxes and spends. The last two years have dramatically illustrated the severe adverse impact that ill-advised, illegal, and unconstitutional government lockdowns and mandates have on small business. Nearly every challenge we face as small businesses right now can be traced to the mandates and discriminatory regulations imposed over the last two years. The health of small business requires balanced, commonsense, businessminded leaders. Vote wisely.

Elections matter.

Over the next couple years, we need to clearly understand the times in which we live. When the

economy is strong, interest rates are low, inflation is modest, quality employees are easily found, raw material and inventory is readily available, and demand is high…that’s the time to be bullish, optimistic, and expand with confidence. We are not in those times. This is a time for pragmatism and prudence. Here are nine suggestions for the coming season: 1. Protect your cash.

You’ll likely need it.

2. Increase your credit lines, but don’t use them for expansion. Save them for survival.

3. Put some profits into inventory reserves. Make strategic and quantity buys.

4. Make do with current facilities, or downsize. Expand in the coming down-market.

5. Clarify your mission, vision, and values. Make them compelling and attractive to the people you want to employ. Money is not the only motivator. Study the motivations of various generations and design your business culture accordingly.

5. No matter what, you’re likely going to have to pay higher wages, so be very selective in hiring and expect a big ROI on the salaries you pay. Consider tying employee compensation to results. A small, but inspired and productive team can prosper as it out-produces, out-thinks, and out-maneuvers bloated operations staffed with overpaid, entitled employees just riding the wage increase wave.

6. Consider hiring “young.” Many tasks can be done by teenagers at lower wages than heads of households, with the added benefit of building work ethic in the next generation.

7. Consider hiring “old.”

Retirement is not all it’s cracked up to be. Highly capable 60- to 80-year-olds can be lured back into the workforce with the right environment. They often don’t value money as much as community, intellectual stimulation, flexibility, and the chance to make a difference.

8. Plan to work hard.

Tough times either crush us or bring out the best in us.

Let’s get tough, work hard, and thrive.

9. Stay calm. Be patient.

Press on. This season too will pass.

Michael Sipe is a mergers and acquisitions advisor and business coach. He’s a Republican candidate for HD 53 State Representative.

Views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and are not necessarily shared by the Editor or The Nugget Newspaper.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

C

O

M

M

U

N I

T

3

Y

Sisters churches poised to reunite

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

PHOTO PROVIDED

Bryan Adams of CoEnergy Propane consults with a Tollgate resident during a Firewise USA event held at the subdivision west of Sisters on Saturday.

Tollgate gets Firewise

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Living amid the ponderosa pine forest west of Sisters, homeowners in Tollgate know they are vulnerable to wildfire. Last weekend, the Tollgate Property Owners Association hosted an event designed to help residents take wildfire defense into their own hands.

Under a tent on the subdivision commons, representatives of the insurance industry, Oregon Department of Forestry, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Coordinator Sgt. Nathan Garibay, and others dispensed information and

shared conversation about wildfire risk mitigation.

Beyond providing educational information, the Firewise USA event was geared toward getting local residents signed up to take advantage of a modest county grant to support limbing and trimming trees around Tollgate homes.

“The first round is just to help homeowners on their properties,” said Chris West, a Tollgate resident who assisted in the staging of the event.

The second round, he said, will focus on the development’s common areas.

West told The Nugget that about 26 people signed up for a free Firewise

assessment of their property. There are 440 lots in Tollgate, all but a handful of which have been built out. West said the Property Owners Association will continue to urge residents to get the assessment, which can help them figure out how to “harden” their property through the use of fireresistant building materials, sprinkler systems, and the creation of defensible space (see sidebar, page 23).

Hoyt’s Hardware and Building Supply was on hand with samples and information on alternative deck materials that are attractive, yet considerably safer for the wildland/urban See FIREWISE on page 23

Sisters Community Church (SCC) and VAST Church will officially reunite on Sunday, May 22, under the name Sisters Community Church.

“It’s going to be a new church,” said Ryan Moffat, pastor of VAST, who will share pastoring duties with SCC’s Steve Stratos.

There will be a new governance structure and a new constitution — but both pastors emphasize that this is about a great deal more than formal merging of two theologically compatible churches that grew from the same root.

“This wasn’t an organizational agreement; this was a

family conversation,” Moffat told The Nugget. “This was a relational move.”

The coming together of the churches marks the closing of a rift that developed a decade ago. Stratos, who was not in Sisters at the time, described the division that led many in the Sisters Community Church congregation to depart to form VAST as “a difference in how people wanted to do ministry.” And, inevitably, the pastors acknowledged, human emotions like pride cropped up.

In recent years, there has been movement to come back together.

“This really got going when Steve got here five See CHURCHES on page 17

New BBR Lodge construction underway

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

Ta l k i n g t o S h a w n McCance, new general manager and longtime Black Butte Ranch (BBR) employee, it’s easy to get excited about the new Lodge construction. Even considering the many view options throughout the region, McCance confidently believes the venue will have the best views in Central

Oregon. With amenities like floor-to-ceiling windows on two stories, there will always be something new to see in the changing moods of the Cascade Range, Phalarope Lake, and the flower-filled meadows.

“When it’s complete, the Black Butte Ranch Lodge is going to be spectacular and gorgeous inside and out,” said McCance at the BBR See BBR LODGE on page 21

4

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Lady Outlaws crowned SALI Champions

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Lady Outlaws played through intermittent rain and high winds on Saturday, and snowy windy conditions on Sunday, to make it to the championship game of Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational (SALI). They defeated West Linn in a final score of 7-5 to win it all.

On Saturday, Sisters played three games and walked away with a 6-3 win over Sunset, a 10-4 win against Summit, and then tied with West Linn 5-5.

Sunday the Outlaws started with an 11-5 win over Bend, which put them in the

championship game.

Sisters faced West Linn in the championship game, and quickly took the lead. The Outlaws scored four goals within the first few minutes of the contest. Coach Julia Boris told The Nugget that Sisters really brought the intensity that was needed to take control of the game.

In the second half, West Linn came out strong and met Sisters on their level.

The Outlaws were definitely intimidated but continued to play their game, held their own, and secured the victory.

Several Outlaws shared their thoughts on their big win.

Goalie Tania Rebolledo said, “I’m so proud of my

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Sisters Outlaws earned the top spot in the Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational. teammates’ perseverance through the snow, hail, and weather. I love how encouraging we all are.”

Tatem Cramer said, “Our team really battled and played with heart, and played together like nothing I’ve seen before.”

Bailey Robertson commented, “Our consistent celebration helped change the mood on the field, which was necessary for the win.”

Reese Harwell stated, “The effort of the team this weekend was outstanding, and I’m very thankful to be

part of this family.”

Kaylee Huber, assistant coach and former Outlaw player, said, “I couldn’t be more proud of our girls for having the dedication and the drive to pull through this tournament, to end up in the championship and win it all.”

Outlaws finish 2-2 at tournament

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws packed in four games over the two-day SALI tourney, with all games in a 20-minute running halves format.

On Saturday, the Outlaws played three games, the first a 13-3 win over Ridgeview at 8 a.m. Sisters was in control of the contest from start to finish and three players, Bodie Schar, Kyle Pilarski, and Adam Maddox-Castle all scored hat tricks (three goals).

The defense played solid throughout, and Justin Blake in particular was a big help as a long pole defender. Lex Jeffrey did a nice job in the goal and made several saves.

At 9 a.m., the Outlaws were right back on the field with a game against Sunset, which ended in a 2-7 loss.

Schar and Gus Patton scored Sisters’ only goals.

The Outlaws had to play without Cooper Merrill, one

of their leading scorers, who was out sick, and that made it harder for Sisters to keep pace with Sunset. They also had just 13 boys on the roster, and the two middle lines had to run a lot, and didn’t get much time to recover.

Coach Paul Patton said, “Their team was good, but we played them closer than the score indicates. We had a couple of close shots go off the pipe and they scored a couple easy goals off of fast breaks.”

Sisters lost 8-11 to Lincoln in a late afternoon contest.

The game looked promising for the Outlaws at the half as they held a 6-3 advantage, but they just couldn’t hold on in the second half.

Some penalties left the Outlaws playing a man down, which allowed Lincoln to catch up and tie the game 8-8 with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Patton said, “I think fatigue set in with this being our third game of the day, and we had

2022 SISTERS ANNUAL LACROSSE INVITATIONAL

trouble taking care of the ball.

Sunset was able to get the last three goals of the game to secure the win.”

Mason Sellers was a standout player for the Outlaws.

Sellers scored a hat trick and battled hard as Sisters’ primary face-off guy.

On Sunday, the Outlaws defeated Summit 6-4 in consolation play.

The game went back and forth in the first two quarters and teams entered the half tied 3-3. Gus Patton scored Sisters’ first goal, and Bodie Schar was credited with the second goal when the goalie booted his low shot into the goal. Patton scored again to keep the score even at the half.

In the second half, Mason Sellers scored for the Outlaws, and Sunset came back to tie it up 4-4. Hayden Kunz scored the go-ahead for Sisters with eight minutes left on the clock, and Adam MaddoxCastle clinched the win with a

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR

VOLUNTEERS

SAND-AND-FINISH HARDWOOD FLOORING INSTALLER

WHO MADE THIS A HUGE SUCCESS!

I﹐ B﹐ R 

FINISH CARPENTRY

C ﹐ B﹐ D 

CUSTOM STAIRCASES

FREDSILVAHARDWOODFLOORS COM

W Hood Ave Ste D

- - CCB#606313

SISTERSRECREATION.COM 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd. Sisters • 541-549-2091

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

The Outlaws’ Kyle Pilarski scores against Ridgeview in SALI action. goal with less than two minutes left in the game.

The Outlaws played with just 12 players. Three key players were out sick, which left the team with just two subs, and made it difficult for the players to exert energy and play at full speed for the entire game.

Jesuit won the tournament with a 16-1 win over Sunset.

Patton said, “It was nice to have the event back after

two years off due to COVID. Many of the participants expressed how this tournament was their favorite one to come to. I feel bad for our seniors, who only got to play in one SALI tournament, which was their freshman year. Because it’s a JV-only event at the high school level, our seniors worked as volunteers setting up, running the scorers tables, and cleaning up after it was over.”

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

5

Growth forum will raise housing questions

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

It is no secret that housing in Sisters is at a premium as more people have discovered the pleasures of living in a small mountain town with beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, four distinct seasons, and friendly residents.

Sisters Country has been discovered.

The big question that keeps surfacing is how we accommodate growth while keeping Sisters — well, Sisters — the place we were drawn to in the first place. Thursday evening, May 12, doors will open at the Sisters Fire Hall Community Room at 5:30 p.m. for a free Town Hall that will address that very topic.

The program, presented by Citizens4Community and The Nugget, will begin at 6 p.m. with Nugget Editor in Chief Jim Cornelius serving as the moderator for the evening. Cosponsors are First Interstate Bank and Ray’s Food Place.

A panel of six people

will present opening material about factors shaping community growth, to be followed by questions and discussion. One of those panelists will be David Brandt, executive director of Housing Works, the regional housing authority, and a member of the Sisters Housing Policy Advisory Board. Housing Works is the largest provider of affordable housing in the region.

Brandt will describe some of the projects with which they have been involved in Sisters and elsewhere.

Ta m a r a c k Vi l l a g e a n d Ponderosa Heights are both Housing Works apartment complexes. Additionally, five single-family homes in north Sisters are owned by residents but the land on which they sit belongs to Housing Works, making for a reduced sales price and guaranteed future affordability.

Brandt will discuss some of the hurdles that exist in Sisters to providing more affordable workforce housing, such as a lack of affordable buildable land. One

Sisters driver involved in major Bend crash A 35-year-old Sisters resident was involved in a serious wreck on the morning of Friday, May 6 in Bend.

Bend Police were called to a serious-injury motor vehicle crash at the intersection of NE Conners Avenue and NE 27th Street in Bend at 10:04 a.m.

According to Bend Police, preliminary investigation determined that a pickup truck towing a utility trailer driven by the Sisters resident was traveling northbound.

A Subaru Forester driven by an 87-year-old Bend resident attempted to make a left turn in front of the truck onto 27th Street from NE Conners Avenue.

The truck collided with the Subaru, hitting the driver’s side door. The Subaru driver was seriously injured and transported to St. Charles Bend. The pickup truck driver remained on scene and was cooperative with the investigation.

No one has been cited, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Bend Police Department Crash Reconstruction Team was activated and investigated the crash. Bend Police were also assisted by members of the Oregon State Police and Bend Fire & Rescue. NE 27th Street reopened at approximately 1:35 p.m. Friday.

Breastfeeding support group moving to a new location Starting May 19, the Mommy and Me breastfeeding support group will begin meeting at the St. Charles Family Care conference room at 2600 NE Neff Rd. in Bend on Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

At the meetings, certified lactation consultants provide breastfeeding support including checking the weight and milk intake of babies and discussing with mothers issues related to breastfeeding and

parenting. Moms and babies are welcome to drop in anytime during the meeting.

Participants should bring their own breastfeeding pillow.

The program is also seeking volunteers to assist with setup and teardown, helping mothers weigh their babies, and offering new mothers support. Those who are interested should contact Alicia Walker at akwalker@ stcharleshealthcare.org.

of the most important topics he will address is why those who already have a house in Sisters should care about the dearth of affordable housing for young families, service workers, retired seniors on a fixed income, and anyone else who can’t afford the current down payments and monthly mortgage payments, or even market

rate rents.

Other panelists include: Debbie Newport, lifelong Sisters resident and community builder; Cory Misley, Sisters city manager; Scott Woodford, Sisters community development director; Nick Lelack, Deschutes County administrator; and Robin Meter, vice president of operations, St. Charles

Medical Group.

Discussions will center around housing, transportation, medical facilities and services, state land use laws, and City codes. Come with your questions and be prepared for a lively, collaborative, and respectful discussion.

The Fire Hall is located at 301 South Elm St.

KEEPING SISTERS

“SISTERS” Navigating Change in a

Growing Community Thursday, May 12 • 5:30-8 pm

Sisters Fire Hall Community Room, 301 S. Elm St. Join Citizens4Community (C4C) to learn more about factors shaping community growth. Panel will feature longtime Sisters resident Debbie Newport, as well as representatives from the City of Sisters, Deschutes County, St. Charles Health System, and others with a unique perspective on housing and transportation.

Be ready for a lively, collaborative, and respectful discussion!

Moderator: Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief, The Nugget Newspaper Speakers: Debbie Newport Community Builder Cory Misley City Manager, City of Sisters Scott Woodford Community Development Director, City of Sisters Nick Lelack Deschutes County Administrator Robin Meter V.P. Operations, St. Charles Medical Group David Brandt Housing Policy Advisory Board

Presented by:

Special thanks to our sponsors:

For more information:

Citizens4Community.com/events

6

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Track team tunes up for Districts

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Despite weather conditions that one coach termed “a monsoon,” the Outlaws track-and-field team tuned up for District at the 15-team Wally Ciochetti Invitational hosted by Cottage Grove High School.

Personal records were hard to come by due to the wet, windy conditions, but a few Sisters athletes overcame the weather in strong fashion.

With 300 meters to go, Ella Bartlett lost the lead in the 3,000 meters. Then the Outlaw stormed back to capture the lone win for the team in a personal best by over five seconds with a time of 11:21.0. Sasha Stolasz also came away with her alltime best in 12:18 to place eleventh.

“The goal for all of our distance runners for the meet was to have a ‘stay in it’ mentality so as to really push to stay in the pack and stay in the race, which Ella and the rest of the distance runners were able to do,” said Coach Sarah Thorsett. “The distance runners have confidence going into Districts now, which is what I had hoped for.”

Other top placers for the girls included Gracie Vohs as runner-up in the pole vault (8 feet, 6 inches). Vohs placed third in the high jump (4 feet, 10 inches) and ran on the fifth-place 4x100-meter relay with Nevaeh McAfee, Ila Reid, and Lilly Sundstrom.

To complete her busy day, Vohs anchored the fourthplace 4x400-meter relay team with Reid, McAfee, and Hollie Lewis (4:17.43), which was the team’s best time of the year and ranks sixth

Year-round

FIREWOOD SALES — Kindling —

— —

SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS

541-410-4509

SistersForestProducts.com

among 4A teams. League rivals Philomath and Cascade hold the top two times, and Stayton is ranked fourth.

Reid placed third in the triple jump (30 feet, 11.5 inches) and Sundstrom took fourth in the long jump (15 feet, 5 inches), while McAfee nabbed fourth place in the 100 (13.38). Mae Roth and Kiara Martin scored by placing sixth and seventh respectively in the pole vault, clearing 7 feet, 6 inches.

The Outlaws girls placed fifth with 55 points, behind Philomath (134), North Valley (87.6), Cascade (87.5), and Henley (55.6).

Cascade’s Emma Bates, who cleared 6 feet, 0.25 inches last week in the high jump, attempted to break the all-time state record, but maxed out at 5 feet, 11 inches, which is still seven inches higher than any other 4A girl. She also won the 400 in 57.9 seconds, which leads the 4A ranks by over two seconds. She holds the top 4A mark for 100 and 200 meters as well, and anchors the Cougars’ 4x400 relay.

Coach Dennis Dempsey remarked after the meet, “For girls, the Oregon West Conference is clearly the best league in the 4A ranks.

The Bates girl could win four events at State on her own.”

The Outlaws boys were not able to muster many points in the meet other than in the vertical jumps and the distance races.

The top finisher at the meet was Hayden Roth who put together a lifetime best in the 3,000 by nearly 20 seconds to place fourth in 9:35.98. Kaleb Briggs also posted a personal best with a mark of 4:31.95 to place sixth in the 1,500, while fellow

Now it’s time for our athletes to put into practice all they have learned and use the conditioning they have acquired to compete to their potential.

— Coach Cailen McNair senior Erik Ryan took fourth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:13.07.

Taine Martin did his part, placing fifth in the high jump (5 feet, 8 inches) and sixth in the pole vault (10 feet).

“The weather showed no mercy to the athletes, but our kids really persevered,” said Head Coach Cailen McNair.

Henley overwhelmed the rest of the competition to win the team title with 137 points.

Sisters placed 12th with 19.5.

The Oregon West District Meet takes place FridaySaturday, May 13-14, at Sweet Home High School.

The top two placers in each event will qualify for the OSAA State Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene the following week. Athletes may also advance by meeting qualifying standards, and some third-place finishers will be selected as “wild card” qualifiers.

For the Outlaws, getting any qualifiers to State will be a matter of showing up and going after it, according to Coach McNair.

“Now it’s time for our athletes to put into practice all they have learned and use the conditioning they have acquired to compete to their potential,” he said.

Let us show you how much you can save this year!

Sisters Country birds

By Douglas Beall Correspondent

If you want a unique challenge, venture into the Cascades and attempt to find and listen to the brilliant Nashville Warbler [Leiothlypis ruficapilla].

Nashville Warblers are so called because the first one was discovered along the Cumberland River at Nashville, Tennessee, by Alexander Wilson in 1811, during this warbler’s migration. Although they do not nest in Tennessee, the name has remained.

Nashville Warblers are one of the few warblers that nest on the ground, building a cup with grasses, leaves, animal hairs, and occasionally porcupine quills. Four

or five white eggs, speckled with brown are laid in late spring and incubated for 11-12 days. The chicks are fed for 9-11 days before they fledge. They are very active birds that feed on insects (flies, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, caterpillars, beetles, and spruce budworms), in bushes and among ground leaves. Most breeding populations in the west inhabit forests at elevations of between 3,000 and 5,400 feet.

When warblers group together they are referred to as a “confusion,” a “fall,” a “bouquet,” or a “wrench” of warblers.

For more Nashville Warbler images visit http:// abirdsingsbecauseithasa song.com/recent-journeys.

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BEALL

Nashville Warbler.

PICNIC IN THE PARK — QUILT KIT —

Call 541-588-6245, for a free quote!

257 S. Pine St., #101

www.farmersagent.com/jrybka

Auto • Home • Life • Business

Featuring

EDEN Fabrics

by Sally Kelly for Windham Check out our new SUMMER CLASS LINEUP at stitchinpost.com!

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

7

Recent precipitation moves the drought needle

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

On Sunday morning folks in Sisters woke up to a light dusting of snow. “ I t ’s l i k e p o w d e r e d sugar on a donut,” Margie Cunningham said.

Her walking buddy, Lorie Meyer, asked: “This has got to help with the drought, right?”

She is. Cooler April and May to-date temperatures and above-average precipitation have made an impact on our years-long drought.

Bend moved from D-4 (Exceptional) to D3 (Extreme) on the Drought Monitor Index. In Sisters, the move is from D3 to D2 (Severe). While those numbers are still of concern, state climatologists greeted them with open arms.

“Every inch buys us about two weeks of water for the summer,” according to OSU hydrologists.

In the last 30 days Sisters’ temperatures have been four degrees below average and rainfall 150 percent of average. May usually brings 1.21 inches of rain. At the Three Creeks measuring station there was already 2.1 inches through Saturday. The rain gauge at Sisters Eagle Airport clocked .64 inches

Every inch buys us about two weeks of water for the summer.

— OSU hydrologists. through May 7, half of the typical month in just one week.

Rain with snow at higher elevations and cooler temperatures are forecast for the next week, another encouraging sign. In March, snowpack was just under 90 percent of median for the Three Sisters but has charged to 116 percent in recent days.

Better yet, the snow water equivalent has surged to 122 percent and it appears that it will climb higher.

The combination of cooler temps with more water is key. A sudden warming could cause rapid depletion of the snow pack and even cause minor flooding.

Hoodoo Ski Area may be wishing they remained open a bit longer, as there is more than adequate snow. A foot fell from Friday to Sunday and more is on the way, as much as another six to 12 inches, forecasters predict.

Mt. Bachelor, still open with two lifts, on Sunday morning reported snowfall

of 12 inches in 24 hours, 22 inches in 72 hours, and a season-to-date total of 436 inches. It is in the realm of possibility for them to have another 500-inch season.

Reservoirs are gaining. At the end of March, the massive Wickiup was at 44 percent of capacity. Instead of losing water with the start of the irrigation season, it stood Sunday at 48 percent a gain of 8,000 acre feet. The Ochoco Reservoir has nearly doubled in that time, from 11 percent to 20 percent of capacity. And the Prineville Reservoir has grown from 19 percent to 30 percent, a remarkable strengthening.

And it is not due to snowmelt as much as the much-needed rain.

Not everybody is happy about the weather. Some gardeners are grumbling about not being able to get their starts going. A number have been fooled by planting annuals too soon and finding them frost killed. There’s an admonition of longtime Sisters Country folk: Don’t plant until the snow’s off of Black Butte.

Wildfire managers are no doubt expressing joy at the recent turn of weather.

Some campers are a bit disappointed, however, finding the wetness a minor

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

The late-season precipitation is welcome drought-taming — and extends the recreation season for local pups. annoyance. Josh Caldwell and his family from Salem were pragmatic about it all when they checked in to their favorite spot at Cold Springs Campground just west of town.

“We usually come in June but moved our dates to May this year, banking on the drought still being with us,” Caldwell said. “But at least

we can have a campfire and the forest smells so sweet when it’s wet.”

The rain is looking like a benefit for anglers, too, who report “good” fishing on the Metolius River. Over on the Lower Deschutes they’re calling it “great.” Hatches are plentiful and within days of reaching a peak, outfitters tell The Nugget.

8

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Lady Outlaws head to tennis Districts

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

PHOTO PROVIDED

Detectives and sheriff’s deputies coordinated to make a traffic stop that nabbed two suspects in a burglary near Sisters last week.

Police nab suspects in Sisters burglary An investigation and a high-risk traffic stop led to the arrest of two men in connection with a burglary at a residence located in the 60000 block of George Cyrus Rd. east of Sisters.

The burglary was reported on May 1. Responding deputies found that the main residence and outbuildings on the property had been broken into and property had been taken. Deputies also found a large flatbed trailer on the property that had been loaded with a large amount of machinery and equipment from the outbuildings.

According to Deschutes County Sheriff ’s Office Sergeant Jayson Janes, “It appeared that the persons involved in the burglary were planning on coming back to retrieve the trailer.”

Detectives from the DCSO Street Crimes Unit were contacted and assisted in the investigation. Street Crimes detectives maintained surveillance on the flatbed trailer.

DCSO reports that on May 4, at approximately 8:35 a.m. detectives observed the trailer being moved from the location. They maintained surveillance on the vehicle while coordinating with deputies to make a traffic stop.

Nursery IS OPEN!

Deputies performed a highrisk traffic stop on the Dodge Truck pulling the stolen flatbed trailer on Highway 97 and Quincy Lane just inside of Jefferson County. They contacted and detained Luke Clendenin of Tualatin and Casey Weitzel of Portland without incident.

Detectives reportedly obtained statements and evidence linking these two subjects to the burglary reported on May 1.

Both subjects were transported to the Deschutes County Sheriff ’s Office Adult Jail. Clendenin, 42, faces charges of Charges: Burglary I, Burglary II, Aggravated Theft I, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief I, Felon in Possession of a Weapon (four counts).

Weitzel, 39, was lodged on charges of Burglary I, Burglary II, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief I, Aggravated Theft I; he also had two arrest warrants out of Clackamas County.

The truck was towed from the scene and the trailer was returned to the property owner.

This investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible, Janes reported.

The Lady Outlaws started their week with a 4-4 tie against Woodburn on Tuesday, May 3, and in their final match of league play a day later fell 1-7 at Philomath against the Lady Warriors.

In Tuesday’s match, Juhree Kizziar (No. 1 singles) continued her dominance on the court and recorded a 6-2, 6-0 victory. Juhree won the match with a variety of shots that were both short and deep, which kept her opponent off-balance.

Brooke Harper returned to play after being out with an injury and defeated her opponent 6-4, 6-2, due in large part to her consistent shots.

Adrianna Luna and Sophie Rush (No. 3 doubles) earned a 6-0, 6-2 win. The duo continued their solid consistent shot-making with fast serves, well-placed shots, and teamwork.

Sisters’ final win came from their No. 4 doubles team, Molly Greaney and Presley Adelt. The combo defeated their opponents with scores of 6-2, 6-2. Greaney and Adelt stepped up and played with focused energy and better placed shots to the open court.

Coach Bruce Fenn said, “We were missing three varsity starters, but the team came together and played with resolve and positive attitudes.”

A day later the Outlaws couldn’t hold up against the strong Lady Warriors squad.

The lone win came from Luna and Rush, who played at No. 4 doubles. The combo won their match 6-2, 6-2, and ended league with a 7-2 record, only losing to Cascade and Molalla.

Fenn said, “Their strength is in their competitive ability

TWO DAYS ONLY ~ DON’T MISS IT!

Antiques, Jewelry, Collectibles Saturday, May 28, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sunday, May 29, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Sisters Fire Hall at Elm & Washington

Stocked with baskets, planters, perennials & more!

243 N. Elm St., Sisters Open 10 am-4 pm Mon-Sat — CLOSED WED —

541-549-8198 WE DELIVER!

Proceeds from this SISTERS KIWANIS sale go to many local youth organizations, scholarships for students, awards to career-changing adults, and more.

to play positive supporting team doubles.”

Kizziar (No. 1 singles) suffered her first loss of the season and fell 0-6, 2-6, to last year’s District Champion, Bailey Bell.

“Juhree had many chances to win more games, but she had too many unforced errors,” said Fenn.

Maddie Pollard fought hard in her match at No. 3 singles, and lost the first set in a 7-6 tiebreak, and then fell 3-6 in the second set.

Oly Thorson (No. 4 singles) played with a sore left arm

but with determination, and took the match to three sets, ulimately losing with scores of 6-3, 2-6, 2-6.

Fenn said, “A loss is sometimes a greater teacher than winning. Our team found out things about themselves that will help them in the regionals. We are progressing each match and I feel we are better prepared to play our best tennis at Regionals.”

The Lady Outlaws were scheduled to kick off District play at Madras on Monday, May 9.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

9

Circus returning to Central Oregon

By Ceili Cornelius Correspondent

Venardos Circus is back.

The animal-free Broadwaystyle circus is returning to Central Oregon this month.

The circus was started by Kevin Venardos. Their motto is #LiveYourCircusDream, and that shines through in their shows as each performer lives out their passion.

Jess Draper, Sisters local and The Nugget’s graphic designer, is an avid circus aficionado who last saw the Venardos Circus when they visited Redmond during Halloween week of 2021.

“I love seeing the people living out their dream in performance. It’s just magical,” said Draper.

Kevin Venardos grew up close to New York City, attending Broadway shows.

He knew that he wanted to become a performer.

Venardos studied musical theater at Ithaca College, and was auditioning for anything to do with singing and dancing.

“I auditioned for anything I could and was working as a waiter and caterer to pay the bills,” he said.

Venardos then had the opportunity to audition to be a ringleader in one of the Barnum & Bailey circuses.

“That transformed my life, and I was working in the Big Apple circus as the ringmaster and eventually moved to LA to do performances there,” he said.

As the years went on, though, circus shows began getting smaller and smaller and Venardos found himself in Vegas in 2005, after ending his time with Barnum & Bailey. He still felt the circus calling him.

“Flash forward to 2013; after going through a lot of life-changing moments, I decided to create a video with some performer friends, pitching an idea for our own circus. It was a dream of ours and we got some traction and decided to pitch the idea to whoever would sell it,” he said.

A year later, the Venardos Circus had its first performances at the Los Angeles County Fair.

“It was a 30-minute performance outdoors with friends of mine I knew from the performing arts world,” he said.

They then started to work their way into doing more fairs and were able to sell enough tickets to have their own rented tent for shows.

“We ended up doing 46 weeks in 25 cities after that, and we were able to finance

our own tent for shows,” said Venardos.

Venardos surrounded himself with performers and friends that believed in his dream, and their own dreams to be performers.

“If you have good people around you that believe in the dream, there is nothing you cannot do,” he said.

If you have good people around you that believe in the dream, there is nothing you cannot do.

— Kevin Venardos Looking forward to years ahead, Venardos began transforming the model into the show it is today and searching for talent.

“Talent is a common commodity, but I wanted to find the people that were willing to put in the work and find that sweet combination of talent and hard-working,” he said.

Draper has been to every show that the Venardos circus has put on in Redmond since 2019.

“I love the intimate nature

PHOTO PROVIDED

Kevin Venardos (top center), surrounded by some of the talented and hardworking performers who are living out their passions with Venardos Circus. in the small tent, and just to and performative.

There are aspects of cabareally feel the magic of it,” ret with a lot of the pure cirshe said. cus acts mixed in.

During the pandemic, The show has a masDraper and her family transsive Broadway-style openformed their basement at ing number, and then the home and put striped white traditional circus acts mixed and red wallpaper up so they could watch the virtual per- within dance and song formances and feel like they performances.

“It isn’t a kiddy show, but were in the circus tent. it is appropriate for all ages “I love the magic of it, to enjoy, and it is a very satand after a show, you are just isfying experience,” said filled with joy,” she said.

Venardos.

The Venardos Circus is “It is the magical, musical an intimate performance circus of your dreams,” said with a limited 400-person Venardos. audience. It is an animalfree, Broadway-style circus, See CIRCUS on page 13 which means it is theatrical

10

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Psilocybin program stands on thousands of years of indigenous experience

By Lynne Terry Oregon Capital Chronicle

As the first state nationwide to develop a psilocybin treatment program, Oregon is standing on the shoulders of thousands of years of expertise among indigenous people from Mexico to South America.

A new paper recently published in Fungal Biology summarizes centuries of psilocybin use among shamans and guides who treated people for a host of ailments, from anxiety and rheumatism to toothaches and stomach pain.

The paper, by nine researchers including senior author Jessie Uehling, assistant professor of fungal biology at Oregon State University, fills a knowledge gap for the state Psilocybin Advisory Council.

“This is a completely new program and endeavor of its kind that needs to be based in safety and informed by science. Consolidating that information into one or two places is really essential,” Uehling said. “Oftentimes when we hear about psilocybin we hear the historical context of U.S. scientists’ or European scientists’ work in the ’50s or ’70s See PSILOCYBIN on page 15

Drip, drip, drip…

Commentary...

Lived experience of hard things

By Mandee Seeley Guest Columnist

Perspective is everything, and lived experience of hard things is one way to gain it. Another way is through guided simulation. As someone who has lived in poverty my entire adult life and is currently pushing 40, I want to share a great resource for you that I would love to see brought to the Sisters community next.

How would you manage living in poverty for a month?

On May 20, Oasis Village in Redmond invites you to spend a few hours finding out. This poverty simulation will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Mountain View Fellowship, 1475 SW 35th St. It is free to attend, and lunch will be provided for participants and volunteers.

During this event, you’ll take on the role of family members facing a variety of challenging circumstances.

Each family is given a card explaining its unique situation. Your task is to provide food, shelter, and other necessities by accessing various community resources over the course of four 15-minute “weeks.” In addition, volunteers — including people with lived experience of houselessness and/or poverty — play the roles of resource providers. This allows individuals with firsthand knowledge to bring their perceptions to the exercise. The simulation is conducted in a large room. You’ll be seated in family groups with community resources located at tables around the perimeter of the room. The activity lasts

here’s a tip…

about three hours, including an introduction and briefing by the facilitator, the simulation exercise itself, and a guided reflection in which participants and volunteers share their observations and insights from the activity.

This simulation breaks down stereotypes by allowing participants to step into the real-life situations of others. Poverty is often portrayed as a stand-alone issue, but this event allows individuals to walk a month in the shoes of someone facing poverty, and to experience the complex and interconnected issues surrounding it. Examples of situations include: • A single parent with limited resources and no transportation must find a way to get to work and get their child to day care.

• An elderly person must find a way to pay for both utilities and medication.

• A young adult must care for siblings while their parent is incarcerated.

• An elderly couple must raise their grandchildren while dealing with their own health and employment issues.

After the experience, individuals discuss what they’ve learned with their peers. This is one tool that helps participants rethink the challenges that millions of low-income people face every day.

More importantly, this tool helps people identify areas of change that can directly impact the effects of poverty on our neighbors.

Feedback from

participants has included comments like “I didn’t realize how hard it was to just do everyday things,” and “I really felt the stress of being poor and overwhelmed,” and “This simulation dramatically demonstrates how much time and energy many families have to give to survive from day to day. It quickly dispels the myth that people would do fine if they would only go out and get a job!”

Nearly 50 million Americans live in poverty today. Many more have incomes above the poverty line but low enough to qualify for programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT/ SNAP) and Medicaid. In short, many Americans live every day in need of support for even the most basic of human needs. In 2019, over 25 percent of the Sisters population lived in poverty, and those numbers grow each year thanks to increasing costs and the pandemic. While poverty is often equated with houselessness, many families and

individuals who are housed also struggle financially.

It may be difficult for people who have more than they need to truly understand the challenges that families living in poverty experience each day - the decisions they have to make, the fears and frustrations they feel. That is why you are invited to gain a greater sense of what life can be like when you live in poverty. The poverty simulation provides participants with the opportunity to assume the roles of low-income family members living on a limited budget. The experience is divided into 15-minute sessions, each of which represents one week where you must provide for your family and maintain your home.

Register at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/povertysimulation-redmond-ortickets-315681551017.

They are looking for more volunteers with lived experience of houselessness and/or poverty to be resource providers. Please contact Jim Cook at jim@studiojmc.com to inquire.

Spring Cleaning!

FREE ESTIMATES!

• Window & gutter cleaning, power washing • Residential & commercial screen cleaning/repair & glass restoration • Housekeeping & deep cleaning • Monthly, bi-monthly, move m mo vve e iin/out n//o ou ut

Mendoza’s Cleaning Services LLC 541-610-5760 • Cesar

AVAILABLE NOW!

Professional help is only a phone call away!

541-549-4349

LOCAL. RELIABLE. PROFESSIONAL.

260 N. Pine St., Sisters • Licensed / Bonded / Insured / CCB#87587

HEADACHE RACKS CAB RACKS CROSS BOXES FLATBEDS TRUCK ACCESSORIES

541-549-9631

484 W Washington #A Sisters | 503-318-5672

W Barclay Dr Sisters Mon-Fri: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

www.sistersrental.com

• Republican ready to lead on day one • Not a one-issue candidate • Led the walkout of Cap & Trade that stopped devastating tax on Oregon families • Stood with and supported Oregon Law Enforcement • Supported Parents Bill of Rights • Endorsed and supported by Oregon Right To Life • A rating from the NRA

WWW.CHRISTINEFOROREGON.COM Ad paid for by L. Kimmel

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Hedrick to step down from board

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

The biggest news from the Sisters School District board of directors meeting on Wednesday, May 4, came just before adjournment: Board Chair Don Hedrick, who has served for over 11 years, announced that he would be stepping down effective at the June meeting.

He said, “It’s been an honor to be on the board for 11 years, and the reasons are mostly, I am going to say, age-related.

Community comments at the outset of the meeting included Steve Swisher reminding the board of the importance of actively recruiting budget committee members for the upcoming school year.

Two students spoke regarding concerns over plans for Sisters High School to move to a trimester schedule, noting the challenge such a schedule would make for students to be in music throughout the year due to potential conflicts.

Joe Nickelson, a parent, addressed the board regarding concerns that he has regarding what he termed a sometimes “hostile environment” within classrooms at Sisters Middle School and was redirected to take his concerns back to school administrators rather than the board itself.

Audrey Tehan of Seed to Table, which has had a partnership with the school district for nine years, gave an update about the way her organization is working with grades 2-5, including four farm visits a year by the students. The program helps students to become more connected to the natural world (soil, worms, seeds) and helps them develop an appreciation of where their food comes from and the goodness of fresh produce.

Some of the produce makes its way into the school cafeteria as well. Part of the mission of Seed to Table is to provide equitable access to fresh produce, according to Tehan.

Brad Tisdel, creative director for Sisters Folk Festival (SFF), spoke to the board about SFF’s long-term

It’s been an honor to be on the board for 11 years, and the reasons are mostly, I am going to say, age-related.

— Don Hedrick connection to the school district which dates back to 1997, and reported on the Community Arts Celebration that took place April 29-30, which was held in person for the first time since 2019. The event, a multigenerational celebration, included student art displays, live music by students and professionals, and an auction, among other activities. Tisdel reported that SFF remains committed to sustainable, equitable, highquality art education for all grade levels in Sisters.

Following the presentation

by Tehan and Tisdel, Sisters High School Principal Steve Stancliff remarked that as he was pursuing the job opening for his position last year, he heard about the community connections.

“Now that I am here, it is unlike anything I have ever experienced in education,” he said.

Jim Barnett, a member of Citizens4Community (C4C), reported some detailed results of a survey the group conducted earlier this year to get community input and ideas about what the current elementary school property could be used for once the new building is completed.

More work is planned by the group, but the initial results indicated that the top responses included using

the property for community sports, pre-kindergarten child care, community meeting space, and senior center space.

Other ideas included a community swimming pool and a dog park. The focus for now remains on uses that would not rely on the outlay of more money from the school district. The school board will ultimately decide what this asset will be used for.

Sherry Joseph, the district business manager, reported that all is well with the current budget, but did note that fuel costs are running about 33 percent higher than anticipated due to the jump in oil prices over the past few months.

While this is not an immediate concern and because about 80 percent of school bus costs are covered by federal dollars, the increase does affect the local budget to some degree.

Superintendent Curt Scholl acknowledged to the board that school nurse Trish Roy was named the School Nurse of the Year.

Enrollment has stayed level with very little change.

He did not have a lot to report on the new elementary school building project other than some of the permits and other work being done have taken a bit longer to complete than anticipated. He hopes to have a much fuller report on the progress at the July board meeting. He said the partnerships on the project are going well. He acknowledged the continual work is being to done be sure the school district is continuing to address the needs of students following the impact of school disruption the past two years.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1 at 6 p.m. at the district office.

THE GARDEN ANGEL

Organic Turf Maintenance...

Healthy Soil, Healthy Lawn Call now to get on our mowing schedule

11

Outlaws battled tough baseball competition

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

The Outlaws varsity baseball team battled tough competition in the 4A-3 Oregon West Conference.

They wrap up league play this week with two games against Caldera.

Senior night is Wednesday, May 11. Going into the last week of play, the Outlaws are 8-15 overall; 3-12 in league. It’s not clear whether the Outlaws might get some post-season play.

“We’re kind of on the bubble as far as a play-in game,” said Coach Kramer Croisant.

The Outlaws’ record reflects a young team with few returning varsity players going up against some exceptionally deep and talented teams.

“Our league is really tough,” Croisant told The Nugget. “Stayton, Newport, and Philomath are probably all top-10 teams in 4A. We kind of knew it was

going to be a little bit of a rocky season — but we actually competed pretty well.”

The Outlaws lost some close games, and beat future league rival La Pine to start the season.

The league structure will change next year, and Croisant thinks that will help the Outlaws be more competitive. Also, the program is growing.

“We have a JV team this year, and I don’t know the last time Sisters had a JV program,” he said.

He also noted that there is a strong crop of 7th- and 8th-graders coming up. A young pitching staff, which included some freshman pitchers, was starting to throw more strikes through the season, so the future pitching staff looks solid.

“I think it’s been a good year as far as growth goes,” the coach mused. “A lot of guys have really improved.

“I think the future’s pretty bright,” Croisant said.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Brody Duey snags grounder as Easton Moore looks on.

CONCEALED CARRY

PERMIT CLASS MULTI-STATE

25 years in business • LCB#9583

541-549-2882

Saturday, June 4 • 4-6:30 p.m.

Best Western Ponderosa Lodge 500 Hwy. 20 W., Sisters

$80 MULTI-STATE VALID IN WA. & OR. OREGON-ONLY $45 For more info: www.FirearmTrainingNW.com FirearmTrainingNW@gmail.com | 360-921-2071

12

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

A N N O U N C E M E N T S FireFree Yard Debris Disposal Now is the time to clean up your yards, create defensible spaces around homes, and drop off that debris at FireFree collection sites for free. Northwest (Fryrear) Transfer Station near Sisters Saturday, May 21 – Saturday, June 4; Wednesday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: FireFree.org.

Go Fish Group will meet at Sisters Community Church on Monday, May 16 at 7 p.m.

Speaker will be Chester Allen, who will present a program on fishing the Yellowstone. For more information contact Gary Kutz at 541-771-2211.

Sisters Rodeo Parade The parade is Saturday June 11, 2022 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

To enter the parade visit www. sistersrodeo.com to sign up. Be a part of this rodeo tradition.

Deadline is May 15. Entries are limited. For more information call 541-549-0121.

Free Lunches For Seniors The Council on Aging of Central Oregon is serving seniors (60+) free lunches on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Sisters Community Church located at 1300 McKenzie Hwy. The Tuesday meal is sit-down, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and also offers activities and info about health, community resources, and nutrition. On Wednesdays and Thursdays lunches are offered drive-through style in the parking lot 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. No need to make a reservation for any of the free lunches. Info: 541-6785483.

Kiwanis Antiques, Jewelry, Collectables Sale Two days only, Saturday, May 28, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, May 29, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at Sisters Fire Hall (Elm & Washington).

Proceeds go to many local youth organizations, scholarships for students, awards to careerchanging adults, and more.

Free Weekly Meal Service Family Kitchen is hosting a weekly to-go hot meal service on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. No reservations required. For more information visit www.

FamilyKitchen.org.

Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) Dispatchers are booking non-emergency medical rides Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rides are based on volunteer driver availability and are provided Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At least 48 hours advance notice required. STARS Dispatcher number for all rides is 541-904-5545. STARS is an Age Friendly Sisters Country Action Team.

Sisters Quilts in the Garden 25th Anniversary Tour Thursday, July 7. Tickets on sale now through the Garden Club website, www.sistersgardenclub. com. Limited number of tickets available. Info: 971-246-0404.

Special Guest Presenter at Sisters Area Photography Club Meeting Rich Bergeman, fine art photographer, longtime member of Willamette Valley PhotoArts Guild, and retired college professor, will present “The Beauty of Infrared Photography.”

As he will demonstrate, the infrared spectrum offers “a hauntingly beautiful range of light.” All are welcome and admission is free. At Sisters Community Church, 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy., at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11. For information call Bill Birnbaum, president of Sisters Area Camera Club, at 541-588-6297.

Camp Sunrise 2022 Hospice of Redmond presents a one-day grief camp Saturday, June 4, 2022 for children ages 7-14 at Cascade View Retreat Center in Powell Butte. Children will learn what grief is, how it makes us feel, healthy ways to cope with emotions, and how to begin healing. To register, call 541-548-7483 or go to www. hospiceofredmond.org/ camp-sunrise.

Crafters Wanted Quality craft-consigners wanted for 46th Snowflake Boutique, November 4-5. Juries will be held on Saturdays, May 21, August 13, September 3, and October 1, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Highland Baptist Church, Redmond and Monday, October 17 at 6 p.m. Info: www. snowflakeboutique.org or call Tina 541-447-1640 or Jan 541350-4888.

Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival Registration is open for the 10th annual Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival in Sisters, June 2-5. To register go to www.ecaudubon. org/dean-hale-woodpeckerfestival or email DHWF2022@ gmail.com.

Invitation We have a believers’ meeting in our home on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m., for those who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone interested in joining us is welcome. For more information call Richard at 541-410-2462.

Volunteer for Three Sisters Historical Society Are you interested in Sisters Area history? Do you enjoy meeting new people? Three Sisters Historical Society is looking for volunteers to greet visitors to our Sisters Museum at 151 N. Spruce St. Open hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays.

Volunteer shifts are three hours in mornings or afternoons.

Two volunteers scheduled per shift. No previous Sisters history knowledge required. Other volunteers needed for walking tour guides and helping with events. For an application or more information call 541-5491403, email tshsvolunteers@ gmail.com, or stop by Museum.

Fireside Chat with the Three Sisters Historical Society The historic Santiam Pass Ski Lodge will be the subject of this May 17 event at the FivePine Conference Center in Sisters.

Dwight and Susan Sheets will share about its origin in the late ’30s, uses over the years, decades-long vacancy, efforts for its restoration, and the goals for its reopening and future usage.

Doors open at 6 p.m., events starts at 7 p.m.

Information: 541-610-6323.

Sisters High Desert Chorale Spring Concerts The Sisters High Desert Chorale will present two Spring concerts. “Sing On Sisters!” will be performed Friday night, June 3, at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday afternoon, June 5 at 2:30 p.m. Concerts will be at Sisters Community Church, 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. Admission is free.

For more information call Connie Gunterman at 541-588-0362.

Mama + Baby Birds Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Mary Yanalcanlin of East Cascades Audubon Society for a bird walk just for kids! Wander around Hindman Springs looking for birds and nests while learning about bird behavior and habitat.

Explore the world of mama and baby birds including the roles mamas (and daddies!) play in caring for and feeding baby birds. Perfect for kids ages 4-10 with a grown-up in tow. May 14, 9 to 11 a.m. Register at www. deschuteslandtrust.org. Info: 541330-0017.

Free Pet Food Budget tight this month, but you still need pet food for your dog or cat? Call the Furry Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4023 to schedule your pickup. They have all sorts of pet supplies too. Pickups available Thursdays, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Located at 412 E. Main Ave., Ste. 4, behind The Nugget office.

Keeping Sisters “Sisters” – Navigating Change in a Growing Community Citizens4Community invites all area residents to this community conversation Thursday, May 12, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Sisters Fire Hall Community Room, 301 S. Elm St. Learn more about factors shaping community growth. For more information visit Citizens4Community.com/ events.

“Let’s Sing” free community sing-along Join together in song, singing favorites that you probably know and love! Led by C4C board member Scott Crabtree. Monday, May 16 at The Belfry from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information visit Citizens4Community.com.

Central Oregon Symphony season finale is on Sunday, May 22. Two performances (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) will take place at Bend High School Auditorium.

The 2 p.m. performance will also be livestreamed. The concerts will feature one of the Central Oregon Symphony Association’s 2021 Young Artist Competition winners, Nolan Tu, performing the dramatic and brooding first movement of Camille SaintSaens’ “Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor.” The “Symphony No. 7” by Ludwig van Beethoven, will follow. For more information visit www.cosymphony.com/ upcoming-events.

Plein Air Watercolor Painting Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Kathleen Riopelle for plein air watercolors at scenic Indian Ford Meadow Preserve. Learn how to use watercolors responsibly in the outdoors as well as basic tips and techniques for plein air watercolors. Participants should have some experience with watercolors. May 20, 2022, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register at www. deschuteslandtrust.org. For information call 541-330-0017.

Ladies Golf League, 18 holes Starts May 10, 11 a.m. at Aspen Lakes. Experience required.

Call Debbie at 813-818-7333 or the Pro Shop, 541-549-4653, to sign up by noon the Monday before play.

Weekly Food Pantry Wellhouse Church has a weekly food pantry at 222 N. Trinity Way every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. until food has been distributed. Both drive-through pick-up and shopping-style distribution are available. Call 541-549-4184 for more information.

PET OF THE WEEK Humane Society of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

Say hello to Orlando!

Orlando has received essential socialization, vaccines, a microchip, and plenty of loving! He is now looking for his forever family ready to continue that path of giving Orlando the most perfect puppy life ever! Puppies are so much fun but you do want to make sure you are ready for the time and commitment they require. Participating in training classes will keep this pups’ mind busy and create a lifelong bond with his new family. If you are looking to add a new family member to your home, come meet Orlando!

SPONSORED BY

Francois’ Workshop 541-549-0605 541-815-0624

Please call the church before attending to verify current status of services as restrictions are adjusted.

SISTERS-AREA CHURCHES Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA) 386 N. Fir Street • 541-549-5831 10 a.m. Sunday Worship www.shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com Sisters Community Church (Nondenominational) 1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201 10 a.m. Sunday Worship www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com St. Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church 123 Trinity Way • 541-549-9391 5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass 9 a.m. Sunday Mass • 8 a.m. Monday-Friday Mass The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 452 Trinity Way • Branch President, 541-420-5670; 10 a.m. Sunday Sacrament Meeting Sisters Church of the Nazarene 67130 Harrington Loop Rd. • 541-389-8960 www.sistersnaz.org • info@sistersnaz.org 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Baha’i Faith Currently Zoom meetings: devotions, course trainings, informational firesides. Local contact Shauna Rocha 541-647-9826 • www.bahai.org or www.bahai.us

Calvary Church (NW Baptist Convention) 484 W. Washington St., Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288 10 a.m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org Chapel in the Pines Camp Sherman • 541-549-9971 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Wellhouse Church 442 Trinity Way • 541-549-4184 https://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Vast Church (Nondenominational) 6 p.m. Saturday Worship 1300 W. Mckenzie Hwy. (Sisters Community Church Fireside Room) 541-719-0587 • www.vastchurch.com Seventh-Day Adventist Church 386 N. Fir St. • 541-595-6770, 541-306-8303 11 a.m. Saturday Worship The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration 68825 Brooks Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087 8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship 10:15 a.m. Episcopal Sunday Worship www.episcopalsisters.com

POLICY: Nonprofits, schools, churches, birth, engagement, wedding, and anniversary notices may run at no charge. Business items do not run on this page. All submissions are subject to editing and run only as space allows. Email nugget@nuggetnews.com or drop off at 442 E. Main Ave. Text must include a “for more information” contact. Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Stars over Sisters

By Lizzie McCrystal and Daisy Montecinos Columnists

This month we highlight the largest constellation in the 12-member zodiacal family, namely Virgo the Maiden. In fact, the only constellation that is bigger is Hydra the Female Water Serpent. Being a zodiacal resident ensures that the sun, moon, and all the planets pass through Virgo at regular intervals. Its zodiacal neighbors are Leo to the west with Libra on its eastern border.

Although the stars in Virgo are not very bright, the lone exception is Spica, which shines at a magnitude of 0.97. Here is how to find Virgo: Follow the curve of the Big Dipper’s handle down to the southeast until you come to the bright star Arcturus in Boötes.

Continue the arc to the next bright star, which is Spica.

CIRCUS: Performers are ready to bring joy to Central Oregon folks Continued from page 9

The performers in this circus are also the crew in the traveling tour, which is much like an original circus tradition.

“We are a very intimate show; you feel like you are close to the performers,” he said.

The Venardos Circus has

There’s a mnemonic phrase to help you remember: “Follow the arc to Arcturus, then speed on to Spica.”

But Virgo is not the place to view star clusters, diffuse nebulae, or planetary nebulae, because there aren’t any. Instead, it is home to the Realm of Galaxies.

Astronomers estimate that within the bowl-shaped asterism in Virgo are more than 5,000 galaxies, some of which spill northward into Coma Berenices. In Virgo alone, 11 galaxies are listed in Messier’s catalog.

Perhaps the most visually stunning galaxy in Virgo is M104, the Sombrero Galaxy. This nearly edgeon galaxy displays a bright white core encircled by thick dust lanes, likely the site of star formation. Most astronomers believe a massive black hole exists at M104’s center. This object lies at a distance of 28 million light-years.

been to the Redmond fairgrounds in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2020, the performers ended up doing a residency at the fairgrounds, putting on virtual shows via livestreaming from Redmond and sending them out internationally.

The performers then returned for a Halloween show in 2021.

“We live to be on the road, expressing our creativity and bringing joy to families across the country. We can’t wait to get back to Redmond,” said Venardos.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Venardos Circus performs inside their circus tent to an audience of 400.

In Greek mythology, Virgo is associated with Dike, the goddess of justice and daughter of Zeus and Themis. Because she was born mortal, she was placed on earth to rule over human justice during the Golden Age of a never-ending spring. But when Zeus defeated his father the Silver Age began with the beginning of changing seasons.

Despite Dike’s repeated warnings, humans started to forget the gods. Angered by this, Dike left the earth and went to live among the stars.

Perhaps the celestial highlight of the month is the total lunar eclipse on May 15. For those of us here in Central Oregon, the eclipse begins before the moon even rises. In fact, when the moon does rise at 8:18 p.m. local time, totality will begin only 11 minutes later. The length of totality will span a full 85 minutes, with the

Venardos Circus show schedule • Thursday, May 26, 7 p.m.

• Friday, May 27, 7 p.m.

• Saturday, May 28, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

• Sunday, May 29, 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.

• Wednesday, June 1, 7 p.m.

• Thursday, June 2, 7 p.m.

• Friday, June 3, 7 p.m.

• Saturday, June 4, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

• Sunday, June 5, 1 p.m., 4 p.m.

Tickets: General Admission tickets starting at $16.50 for youth under age 12 and $27 for adults. One babe in arms is admitted free with each paying adult. (One one-yearold or younger per paying adult, seated on lap.) Premium reserved seating is available for premium pricing. Visit www. liveyourcircusdream.com for more information.

SKATEBOARDS KARAOKE

SATURDAYS ONLY 8 PM TO MIDNIGHT

NEW INVENTORY ARRIVING DAILY!

All float tubes come with FREE Sun Bum® sunscreen while e supplies supplie ess last llast. ast

HAPPY HOUR Monday-Friday 3 to 6 PM

Open 10 a.m. to midnight

175 N. Larch St. 541-549-6114 5 4 hardtailsoregon.com h Facebook darcymacey

411 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters | 541-904-4673 Sun-Wed 8 -5  | Thurs-Sat 8 -7 

13

NASA HST

The spectacular Sombrero Galaxy is located approximately 28 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. maximum eclipse occurring at 9:11 p.m.

Jupiter and Mars will come into conjunction in Pisces on May 29.

As we already know, the Full Flower Moon will be eclipsed by Earth’s shadow on May 15. Then, from the third quarter moon on May 22 through the end of the month, the moon will vacate the evening skies and allow for taking a shot at some of

those galaxies in Virgo!

Here’s this month’s darksky preservation tip: Make outdoor lighting controlled. Put lights on a timer or motion sensor so they can be off when not needed or in use. Dark skies are important for ecological health. It helps with migration, seasonal changes in plants, and it supports organism health and growth.

Entertainment & Events The Suttle Lodge Live Music: Haley Heyndrickx 12 6 to 8 p.m. Fireside Show series. Doors open at 5 p.m.

THUR Tickets at www.TheSuttleLodge.com/Happenings.

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Skillethead 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting. For more information find The Barn in Sisters on Facebook.

MAY

MAY

Sisters Depot Live Music: David Rogers 6 to 8:30 p.m. $5 cover. For more information go to sistersdepot.com

SAT

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Fair Trade Boogey Band 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting. For more information find The Barn in Sisters on Facebook.

14

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information call 541-549-6114.

MAY

15 SUN

Sisters Saloon Live Music: Bill Keale 6 to 8 p.m. For more information see facebook.com/ SistersSaloonAndRanchGrill.

MAY

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Smoke Drifters 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting. For more information THUR find The Barn in Sisters on Facebook.

19

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Family-friendly trivia. Free. For additional information call Eurosports at 541-549-2471.

MAY

21 SAT

?

Sisters Depot Live Music: Bob Baker & Kartsounes 6 to 8:30 p.m. $5 cover. For more information go to www.sistersdepot.com The Barn in Sisters Live Music: The Woodsmen 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting. For more information find The Barn in Sisters on Facebook.

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information call 541-549-6114.

Faith Hope Charity Vineyards Swinging with the Stars – Dance Party Edition Featuring Precious Byrd 6 to 9 p.m. A benefit for Central Oregon Sparrow Clubs.

Tickets $75 at www.faithhopeandcharityevents.com.

Entertainment & Events Calendar listings are free to Nugget advertisers.

Non-advertisers can purchase an event listing for $35/week.

Submit items by 5 p.m. Fridays to nugget@nuggetnews.com.

— EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. —

14

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Historical Society hosts events Folks in Sisters can touch a bit of the area’s history through events hosted by the Three Sisters Historical Society (TSHS).

The group offers a tour of the Camp Polk Cemetery in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month on Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. The tour will be headed

by Jan Hodgers, who has nine ancestors buried in this cemetery that holds so much of the history of Sisters. The group will conclude the tour with the dedication of the new Cobb headstone, one of the earliest families that settled in the Sisters area.

All are welcome, no reservations needed. Meet at the entrance of the Cemetery at 69875 Camp Polk Road. For more information contact Jan Hodgers at 541-788-0274.

The next Fireside Evening will be Tuesday, May 17, featuring a presentation about the history, restoration, and future of the historic Santiam Pass Ski Lodge. A beautiful, rustic structure built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1939-40, the lodge is located 20 miles west of Sisters. The lodge is one of six unique structures built by the CCC in the Pacific Northwest during the era. Its seven-foot-high rock foundation and a 40-foot-high

chimney were crafted from stones quarried locally from Hogg Rock. The lumber used to build the lodge was hand hewn from surrounding trees. It is truly one of Oregon’s historic gems, representing a significant period in U.S. history and a unique architecture.

Accommodating up to 60 guests within its dormitories, the lodge was built in response to growing public demand for recreational facilities. Between the years of 1940 to 1986, it served initially as an overnight lodge for outdoor enthusiasts such as skiers, hikers, and backpackers, as a travelers rest stop, and later for camps and church retreats. The structure sat empty for three decades, with harsh elements and vandals taking their toll.

In 2003, the B&B Complex Fires devastated the area. As evidence of the importance the lodge holds to the community, with enormous effort firefighters saved the lodge and the immediately surrounding trees.

The lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Dwight and Susan Sheets, who had been visitors to the Lodge since the 1970s, were newly retired teachers and empty nesters, and had

relocated recently back to Oregon. After a tour and seeing the state of this special place, they decided something needed to be done to restore it.

In May of 2018, they signed a Special Use Permit with the U.S. Forest Service, Willamette National Forest, to restore and operate the lodge. They established the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge, founded for the primary purposes of promoting, fundraising, and managing the restoration construction, and transitioning into maintaining and managing the restored lodge.

The organization’s goal is to restore the lodge to its historical look and feel and to serve as a community-oriented multipurpose facility.

This project was designed to address the needs of travelers, historical preservation, recreation, education, and community. The lodge and nearby trails are an excellent educational setting for learning the history of the lodge, the CCC, and the Santiam Pass area. It will be a meetings-and-events venue, providing indoor and outdoor facilities with a small café, lounge, and restrooms open to the public.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Dwight and Susan Sheets are working to restore the CCC Santiam Pass Ski Lodge.

The narrated video presentation will touch on many more details of this unique lodge’s history from inception, build, usage, challenges, restoration, reopening and future.

The event starts at 7 p.m. at FivePine Conference Center, with doors opening at 6 p.m. General admission is $10, with tickets available onsite. The evening is free to TSHS members and all are welcome to join. For more information call the Three Sisters Historical Society at 541-549-1403.

Camp Polk Meadow Preserve and Cemetery Tours are set for Sunday, May 22;

Wednesday, May 25; and Tuesday, May 31, all from 1 to 3 p.m.

Continuing the celebration of National Historic Preservation Month, the Three Sisters Historical Society is collaborating with the Deschutes Land Trust in giving these tours, which will combine both locations and share details on their colorful history, as well as perspectives on why they are relevant and important today. Tours are free, but space is limited to 10 guests, so reservations are necessary. For information on meeting location and to sign up, call Jan Hodgers at 541-788-0274.

Serving th e Sisters, Camp Sherman and Black Butte Ranch Areas

Ponderosa Properties R E A L T O R S

541-549-2002

A N D

1-800-650-6766

P R O P E R T Y

www. P onderosa P roperties.com

L LLC

M A N A G E M E N T 221 S. Ash St., Sisters

The Locals’ Choice for Real Estate Sales

Rad Dyer 541-480-8853

Kevin R. Dyer 541-480-7552

Debbie Dyer 541-480-1650

Carol Davis 541-410-1556

Catherine Black 541-480-1929

Shane Lundgren 541-588-9226

Greg Davidge 808-281-2676

Jackie Herring 541-480-3157

Guy Lauziere 541-410-9241

ABR, CCIM, CRB, CRS, GRI, Principal Broker

CRS, GRI, Principal Broker

GRI, Broker Property Management

ABR, GRI, Broker

CRS, Broker, Realtor Emeritus – 40 Yrs.

Broker

Broker

Broker

Broker

Kenndra Dyer 541-588-9222 Vacation Rentals

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

PSILOCYBIN: Program has high level of interest in Oregon

In-person senior dining returns to Sisters

Continued from page 10

The Council on Aging of Central Oregon has reopened its in-person dining program for seniors each Tuesday at Sisters Community Church located at 1300 McKenzie Hwy., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, lunches will continue to be offered drivethrough style, from 12:30 to 1 p.m., and seniors can drive through the parking lot to pick up a meal on those days.

There is no need to make a reservation for any of the free lunch meals.

The in-person meal provides a hot lunch and the opportunity for adults 60 and older to socialize and engage with friends and neighbors.

Programs, activities, and information about health, community resources, and nutrition will accompany the Tuesday lunches.

“These community meals are essential in offering both nutritional support and social connection — and ensuring that our older adult neighbors feel remembered, honored, and valued,” said Susan Rotella, executive director for the Council on Aging.

“As the cost of food continues to rise and the impacts of social isolation due to the pandemic are realized, our community dining programs

but in actuality there’s been hundreds and thousands of years of usage by many indigenous cultures, mostly in Central America and Mexico. We thought that that piece was really important to highlight.”

The program has high interest in Oregon, according to a recent study. It showed that thousands are interested in going through a psilocybin therapy session.

The paper says there are more than 300 species of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, and lists 13 that have been used by indigenous people. Only one on that list — Psilocybe cubensis — will be allowed under the current rules proposed by the Oregon Health Authority.

This species is one of the best known, Uehling said.

“Some of them have deadly, poisonous lookalikes that are visually identical that we want to avoid with public and consumer health in mind,” said Uehling. “The other is to identify a fungi they need to have gene sequences, DNA sequences, in public databases, and the information for these organizations is just not available.”

Focusing on this one species “will help ensure a safe launch for consumers,” she said.

In Oregon, psilocybin will be used to treat mental health issues. U.S. studies have found that it’s a promising treatment for depression, anxiety and PTSD. But its use among indigenous communities is much wider.

“For many indigenous people of Mexico, these mushrooms are part of a sacred and ancient tradition,” the paper said.

It’s been used to treat both spiritual and physical illness by inducing hallucinations and creating a “trance-like experience that is thought to allow dissociation of the soul from the body,” the paper states. The experience facilitates introspection, revelations, and self-healing, it says.

“While practices vary between indigenous groups, in general ceremonies are always done with care at night in a quiet place guided by an elder or shaman, no meals, alcohol, medicine, or drugs are taken in advance, and travel is discouraged for a week after,” according to the paper.

Oregon’s temporary rules ban adding psilocybin to “any other chemical, drug, plant, or substance” See PSILOCYBIN on page 26

will provide a supportive financial and social bridge for our Sisters neighbors.”

Our community dining programs target adults age 60 and older who are in greatest social and economic need.

Central Oregon residents are welcomed and encouraged to support the Council on Aging’s community meal program. To make a donation, visit www.councilon aging.org/donate.

For more information on available resources for older adults call the Council on Aging at 541-678-5483, visit the Council on Aging website at www.council onaging.org, and follow the Council on Aging’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/CouncilOnAgingOf CentralOregon.

May Activity Calendar • May 10: Learn about the Council on Aging’s programs and services.

• May 17: Learn about the history of the Sisters Rodeo.

• May 24: Hear music from the Sisters Ukulele Group.

• May 31: Musical performance

by Bill Sterling and May birthday celebrations.

15

Serving Sisters Since 1976

ng on i o g t e g o Need t e’ve W ? s t c e j o spring pr ing you need! th FREE got every Local

Delivery Lumber • Hardware • Paint Fencing & Decking • Doors & Windows ows Hours: M-F 8 to 5, Sat. 8 to 4, Closed Sundays 440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net

s Join uon in persine ! or onl VIRTUAL BOOKS-IN-COMMON EVENTS

SUNDAY, MAY 15 • 12PM

PATRICK MCCABE presents Poguemahone.

Drinking song and punk libretto, ancient as myth and wholly original, Poguemahone is the devastating telling of one family’s history — and the forces, seen and unseen, that make their fate.

TUESDAY, MAY 17 • 6:30PM

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sisters seniors can get back to dining together in person.

Mystery Mavens panel with EMMALINE DUNCAN, ELLIE ALEXANDER, and LESLIE BUDEWITZ. Books in Common NW welcomes three mystery writers of the Northwest to share their latest whodunits, lady sleuths, and thrillers!

Go to www.paulinaspringsbooks.com to view details and to register..

IN-PERSON EVENT

Residential, commercial, & agricultural fencing Kentucky wood fencing & pipe fencing installation Custom metal gates & automated gate entries Mobile welding

541-588-2062 CCB#228388

FRIDAY, MAY 27 • 6:30PM M LES JOSLIN presents Three Sisters Wilderness.

Paulina Springs Books ooks turns 330!

0!

SATURDAY, MAY 28 • Free food provided by Boone Dog Pizza • Music from Beth Wood & Dennis McGregor • 30% off sale & more!

FREE ESTIMATES & COMPETITIVE PRICING

Details available soon at paulinaspringsbooks.com

www.SistersFenceCompany.com

541-549-0866 • 252 W. Hood Ave., Sisters

Locally Owned, Superior Customer Service

16

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Whispers from the past — Camp Polk Cemetery

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

PHOTO COURTESY DCSO

Charles Matthew Schmiel.

THREAT: Students were back in class on Friday Continued from page 1

public for information on Schmiel’s whereabouts.

Schmiel does not have a permanent address. He is possibly camping within the Deschutes County area, DCSO reports.

Sisters schools were placed on “secure status” on Thursday morning, with no visitors allowed onto campus and no one allowed to leave. Classes continued. Acting “out of an abundance of caution,” the school district decided about noon to send students home for the rest of the day, since law enforcement had not yet located the person making the threat. Because of that, Sisters Schools Superintendent Curt Scholl said that district officials decided to end instruction for the day.

Students returned to class on Friday. DCSO deputies responded to all Sisters schools that morning before the students and staff arrived, and performed security checks. Nothing suspicious was located during these checks. Deputies continued conducting security checks throughout the school day, and continued to have a visible presence around the local campuses.

If you know Schmiel’s location or if you have any information on his whereabouts, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 541-693-6911.

Reference case 22-23618.

On a hill above the lush Camp Polk Meadow, where Whychus Creek has been restored to its original meander, is the historic Camp Polk Cemetery, final resting place for many of Sisters’ early residents and some more recent citizens.

On Sunday, May 14, at 2 p.m., Jan Hodgers, president of the Three Sisters Historical Society and Museum, will lead a guided tour through the cemetery in celebration of National Historical Preservation Month, which occurs every May. The tour will end with the dedication of a new headstone for the Cobb family, some of Hodgers’ nine ancestors buried in the cemetery.

The cemetery is older than the town of Sisters.

Soldiers from Polk County, Company A, 1st Regiment of Oregon Infantry Volunteers were sent over the mountains in 1865 to establish a camp to protect settlers and travelers from Indian attacks, which never occurred. The soldiers built eight log cabins in which they spent the winter, but they abandoned the camp the next spring when they could make their way back over the mountains to the Willamette Valley.

Samuel Hindman homesteaded the meadow in 1873 and established a post office called Camp Polk in 1875. The Hindman homestead became an important stage stop on the wagon

road between the Willamette Valley and Prineville and the first community in the Sisters area. As the number of settlers grew in the area, a place was needed to bury their dead. In 1880, the Hindman family set aside a portion of their homestead as a two-acre cemetery, which also took the name of Camp Polk.

There are currently somewhere between 170-200 gravesites in the cemetery, although there may well be other unmarked graves there as well. Nine commemorative markers recognize individuals who are believed to be buried at the site, although their graves have not been located.

The oldest known grave is that of Thomas Summers, who was interred July 8, 1880. No one seemed to know who he was. In November of that same year, three-and-a-half-year-old Nellie Claypool was buried there. Her family was living at the Fish Lake way station when Nellie became very ill. The nearest doctor was in Prineville, necessitating a trip by horse and wagon.

By the time they reached the Hindman place, Nellie was too ill to travel farther and died soon after they arrived.

The Hindmans cared for the Claypool family at this sad time. They built a little casket, lined it with cloth, and helped the family bury Nellie in the Camp Polk cemetery, where her marker is still visible.

A stroll through the • Large organic produce selection • Huge organic & natural selection storewide

Local is what we are.

Local is who we love.

Located in the Cascade Village Shopping Center, Bend Open every day, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Isolated shopping hour: 6 to 7 a.m.

• Meat cut & ground fresh daily • Huge bulk-foods department • All your favorite local brands & items • Only 20 minutes from Sisters • Proud to be 100% locally owned & operated

CORRECTION The Outlaw Open is set for Friday, June 3. The story “Outlaw Open golf fundraiser is back June 3” in the May 4 edition of The Nugget included an incorrect day of the week.

NuggetNews.com is your online source for

Breaking News Classifieds | Weather Road Reports

“Your Local Welding Shop”

Nothing says quality like true hand-forged ironwork CCB# 87640

541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com

PHOTO PROVIDED

New headstone for the Cobb family will be dedicated on May 14 at the close of the cemetery tour led by Cobb ancestor Jan Hodgers. cemetery, taking time to which is located off Camp read the headstones and Polk Road at the end of handwritten notes, gives Cemetery Road, which runs rise to multitudes of ques- along the north side of Camp tions and amazement at the Polk Meadow. For more local history that is revealed. information, contact Jan One marker simply says Hodgers, 541-788-0274.

COWBOY 19 YRS HORSE KICKED. The story goes that he was carried into the local Sisters saloon for aid and the bartender thought he was just drunk. He died, and since no one knew him, he was buried nameless.

Another stone marks the resting place for Robert H. Krug 1849-1919 murdered by A. J. Weston. That’s another story for another time.

PHOTO PROVIDED For the tour, meet at the entrance Marker for three-and-a-half-year-old Nellie of the cemetery, Claypool who died in 1880.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

CHURCHES: Vast and Sisters Community churches join together Continued from page 3

years ago, and he and I became friends,” Moffat said.

Both men felt that the congregations belong together — they share doctrine and values — and they need each other. The congregation at SCC skews older and VAST’s skews younger.

“For the church to be a family, you need all generations,” Stratos said.

An opportunity to act decisively on tentative steps toward each other arose out of the dark days of strict COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on gatherings.

VAST Church conducted its services and activities at Sisters High School. Due to COVID, use of that facility was placed off limits. The large VAST congregation had no physical home for the church.

Sisters Community Church has facilities — and Stratos and the congregation quickly came to the decision to share its facilities with VAST. Stratos said that SCC seeks to be a blessing to the community.

“We said, ‘There’s an opportunity to be a blessing,’” he said.

Moffat said that he and the congregation of VAST certainly felt blessed.

“Me and the congregation, we needed to experience the gift of humility,” he said. “Need precedes grace. What I experienced (in working with SCC) was a real, tangible experience of grace.”

The sharing of facilities in a crisis soon evolved into discussions of bringing the churches back together on a formal basis. Stratos thought there was room for the move — and it was the right thing to do.

“We have this incredible campus that we weren’t really utilizing to the degree I thought we should,” he said.

He said the matter came down to, “How could we come together to be more of a blessing to the community of Sisters?”

The churches began to hold joint services on special occasions, including Easter.

While there were matters of governance and practical who-does-what questions for pastors, elders, and congregants to hash out, it became clear that, as Moffat said, “We want to be together.”

Asked what he considers to be the biggest hurdle to reunification, Moffat said, “The hurdle for any of us, straight up, is pride. We want things our own way.”

The reunification has

overwhelming positive support from both congregations, the pastors reported.

To ensure that rifts do not again develop, the pastors are committed to accessible, approachable leadership, and ample opportunities for communication and feedback.

They want to be sure that voices are heard and issues are addressed before they become fraught.

“We don’t want anything building up to the point where it’s at a boiling point,” Moffat said.

Stratos and Moffat are pleased to see the reconciliation of relationships and the sealing of an old rift come to pass.

Moffat reflected, “In a world of division, we have an opportunity to enjoy unity, express unity — in a world that needs to see unity.”

The 9:30 a.m. service on Sunday, May 22 at 1300 McKenzie Hwy. will mark official reunification. Guest Bruce Boria will speak on “A Dream Worth Building.”

For more information visit www.sisterschurch. com.

17

DEDICATION: Well No. 4 dedicated in honor of Dorro Sokol Continued from page 1

the City Council.

“Jaws hit the floor; jaws hit the dais,” he said. “It was just one of those special moments in Sisters history that will never be forgotten.”

Converse, recovering from an injury, was unable to attend the event. Her sister Mary Sokol Chaffin cut the ribbon on the facility, then she and Mayor Michael Preedin cut off a piece of ribbon to give to Converse as a memento.

The wellhouse is adorned with a plaque honoring Dorro Sokol. Sokol was a rancher, pilot, Rotarian, rodeo supporter, and member of the City of Sisters Planning Commission.

Bertagna noted that Converse, who currently serves on the Sisters Planning Commission, is carrying on her mother’s legacy of public service.

“Cris has followed her, and she’s still doing it,”

We offer instant issue insurance for special events!

Wedding, holiday party, fundraisers, festivals, fairs and more!

AUTO • HOMEE • H AU HEALTH EALTH • LIFE • BUSINES BUSINESS • FARM • RENTAL

541-549-3172 1-800-752-8540

704 W. Hood Ave., Sisters

Sisters Dental WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! Trevor Frideres, D.M.D. Greg Everson, D.M.D. Kellie Kawasaki, D.M.D.

541-549-2011

491 E. Main Ave. • Sisters www.sistersdental.com Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS

A plaque honoring Dorro Sokol is mounted on the wellhouse of Sisters Well No. 4. he said. “She helps the City make critical, critical

decisions without being asked twice.”

18

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

New program aims to build child care workforce A program launched at Oregon State University (OSU) – Cascades and in partnership with Central Oregon Community College (COCC) aims to increase the number of child care and early learning workers in Central Oregon. The region was identified as a ‘child care desert’ in a 2019 OSU report because of the lack of care available for children under 5.

The new early learning career development program pays full-time tuition for one year, a value of up to $12,000, for students interested in working in the child care field, provides part-time work in child care for student participants, and provides mentoring and career advising. It is open to students at OSU-Cascades and COCC and child care workers in the region looking for additional education to advance their careers.

Faculty experts, including OSU-Cascades Associate Professor Shannon Lipscomb and Amy Howell, a professor of early childhood education at COCC, helped develop the program, which is supported by American Rescue Plan Act funding provided by Deschutes County.

“Central Oregon families and child care operators need and deserve a sustainable source of skilled and qualified workers who can help create more child care openings and nurture our youngest children,” said Kelly Sparks, associate vice president for finance and strategic planning at OSU-Cascades, who convened the team that created the program.

“This new career development program is exciting because it opens doors for teachers to invest in their own development while also strengthening skills for developmentally appropriate, trauma informed, and culturally responsive teaching,” said Lipscomb.

The program is designed for students seeking a career in early childhood development and is especially relevant for current and incoming students in OSU-Cascades’ human development and family sciences program and COCC’s early childhood education program. It is also open to individuals working as teacher’s aides and who hope to become early learning teachers.

For more information visit www.osucascades.edu/ early-childhood or contact info@osucascades.edu.

Scottie Wisdom&Faith Jean Russell Nave

A Scottie’s Idea of God I was thinking about my Scotties, wondering how they would see God. Trying to put myself in their place, I realized that they could very easily see me, their keeper, in the same light as most people view God. To my Scotties, I’m the supplier of all things good.

They get all their treats, food, petting, and playtime from me, and others they love. I hold all the power, offering them a certain amount of freedom, which they highly value. To my knowledge, they don’t have another model of vast power and good to look at.

Now let’s look at the way many people view God. Modern western people have been heavily influenced

by Michelangelo’s graybearded image at the top of the Sistine Chapel. That image was painted specifically to influence people’s vision of God, and it has been very effective, but very limiting to our understanding of God’s reality.

Because we live in a three-dimensional, material world people like to see things to believe in them.

We have learned to understand and accept concepts like electricity and energy waves, but for most of us, that understanding comes from seeing the results of those invisible energies. We understand electricity when it flashes as lightning or lights a bulb. We understand

energy waves when we see them reflected in an oscilloscope or coming across as television pictures.

This means that most of us cannot really wrap our minds around an omnipresent, omnipotent God. How do we understand a power that is all powerful and always everywhere?

A very popular minister of the 20th Century wrote a sermon, which became a published booklet that is still in print today, titled, “The Seven Main Aspects of God.” This booklet gives the reader such a powerful collection of concepts. If you Google it, you will find many YouTube references to it today. I’ll give you a brief summary, and you may want to go to Amazon and buy the booklet for your own reference.

The first main aspect of God listed is “God Is Life.”

He means God is more than just the giver of life, He is life itself and we are a part of that life, like a tree leaf is part of a tree. If we want healing or vitality, “claim” Divine Life when you pray, and if you believe enough, you will feel greater healing and more vitality.

The second aspect of God is “God Is Truth.” Jesus said, “Truth shall set you free.”

As free people, what does that mean to us? One thing it means is that God’s world is a world of good, love, and plenty. As we learn to align ourselves with God’s love and good, our world becomes filled with more good things. If you want to see a better world, claim God’s truth for yourself when you pray.

The third aspect of God is Love. Jesus told us that, “Love is the greatest of all.” This is because divine love, the greatest love we can achieve, brings the most good to the world. Claim divine love when you pray and always see the divine Spirit that lives in every human and living thing on this earth.

The fourth main aspect of God is Intelligence. When

you combine love and intelligence, you have wisdom.

King Solomon chose wisdom when God asked him what he wanted. Then God gave Solomon power, fame, and wealth to go with the wisdom. Unfortunately, over time the material things got in the way for Solomon, and he had problems. Had he always stayed close to God and his wisdom, well, he wouldn’t have been human, I guess.

The fifth aspect is “God Is Soul.” Our soul is God. Unfortunately, most of us shroud our soul in a world of materiality. It’s there, but we only feel it during our conscience-prick when we are selfish or cruel. Pray, remembering that God is your soul, always with you and always ready to help.

The sixth aspect is “God Is Spirit.” Spirit is the energy in all living things that cannot be destroyed, damaged, or degraded. Spirit is the ghostly light that is sometimes seen ascending when someone dies. Spirit is eternal.

The seventh main aspect

of God is Principle. This world is filled with unchanging principles, such as the power of gravity’s grip, and the concept that heat always expands matter. The most important spiritual principle we want to understand is that God is unchanging perfect good. God does not send bad things to us; they come because we choose to believe in fear, rather than trust in God. Internalize this principle and watch fear disappear from your life. As fear leaves, love enters, and life becomes much more beautiful.

Solomon showed us that we must be vigilant with our commitment to the living God and his main aspects, or the material world will edge its way into our lives, creating havoc. Trust in God and live a wonderful life like my Scotties, having all you need and want because you live with a benevolent keeper.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

— 2 Corinthians 9:8

Get Ready for Summer Travel Call to have your brakes, alignment and suspension checked now.

DAVIS TIRE Ser S Serving erving ving ng g Sisters Sisters Sis rss Sin S Since cce e1 1962 962 62

188 W. Sisters Park Dr. In Sisters Industrial Park

541-549-1026

BIRDS ARE NESTING.

HELP ELP WITH BIRDHOU BIRDHOUSES THIS SPRING!

5 OFF

$

any

BIRDHOUSE — Offer expires 5/25/22 —

102 2E E. Main Av Ave Ave. e | 541 541-549-4151 549 41

Spring Cottons a at

Gypsy Wind Clothing

Tops • L Leggings i Scarves & More!!

We have a full line of everyday and travel clothing plus accessories.

Sizes Small to 3X You’re going to love our prices!

541-868-4479 183 E. Hood Ave., Sisters NEW HOURS: Wed.-Sat. 10 am-4 pm Sun. 1-4 pm • Closed Mon.-Tues.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

SERVICES: American Rescue Plan funded position Continued from page 1

and goals for the future.

They meet once a week in Fox’s office in the Deschutes County school-based health clinic next to Sisters High School. Fox is helping the man get new identification and a dental appointment, basics that are necessary yet difficult to access when one is feeling defeated, with no resources and no support.

Fox sees his position as one of “being available and inspiring hope in every conversation… I see myself as a bridge between them and where they want to go next.

When I can understand what they want and need, I can help them identify the path to their goals. They can network with service providers when I provide them with information on hours, forms, and available resources. I can also get them wait-listed for housing.”

Over the past two years, and currently, Fox noted that Deschutes County has made a lot of changes and added more resources to address the issue of houselessness.

They have established the Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) made up of five team members.

Colleen Thomas, homeless team supervisor, and Katie De Vito, homeless

outreach coordinator, used to be the only two staff members at Deschutes County Behavioral Health to cover all of Deschutes County.

With American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received by the County, three new positions have been created. Besides Fox’s case manager and outreach position in Sisters and La Pine, Jeromy Willend is a peer support specialist who works throughout the county as “boots on the ground,” providing practical support like delivering food, providing rides, and sharing his own lived experience with those needing assistance. He also identifies new camps.

The third new position is a case manager in Redmond.

Besides serving as the outreach coordinator, DeVito also works with people experiencing homelessness and persistent severe mental illness.

The entire HOST team works collaboratively with numerous local agencies and service providers. Fox has spent the last few months going out into the forest surrounding Sisters with Jeremy Fields, special forest products officer for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), who has spent time in the woods getting to know the people living there.

Last week, 20 Forest Service employees, one Forest Service volunteer, a Deschutes corrections crew,

and the HOST team took part in an organized outreach and cleanup event coordinated by the Sisters Ranger District.

Overall, eight sites were cleared and cleaned, and a 30-yard dumpster was filled.

Fox also collaborates with the Family Access Network (FAN), Habitat for Humanity, the Family Kitchen, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and individual local residents.

“It has been exciting to make these connections and be able to network for the benefit of the people with whom I work,” said Fox. Fox confirmed what others have said in the past: People who work in Sisters often are forced to live in the woods due to the lack of affordable housing and high rental prices given a minimum wage job.

Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of a small quantity of illicit drugs, has helped Fox and others get people to the Stabilization Center and into behavioral health treatment, where they can pursue sobriety and develop healthy life skills.

“With more money and more staff, the County is able to tackle the issue of houselessness from lots of different directions, providing support, assistance, and motivation in different ways,” explained Fox. “Being there, being available is so important to people who need a positive support system and

Survey shows jump in houselessness The 2022 Point in Time Count conducted on January 24, 2022, shows a 17 percent increase in homelessness in Central Oregon over last year, with 1,286 people experiencing homelessness in the tri-county area on that date. That is up from 1,099 in 2021. Service providers suspect the number of people experiencing homelessness in the region is actually much larger than reported because of the number of people who declined to participate. Numbers reported by street outreach and school-based advocates were also higher than the Point in Time Count.

Counts occurred in Sisters, Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Warm Springs, LaPine, and Sunriver. The Homeless Leadership Coalition, made up of homeless service providers and advocates, released the data from the count, which is done nationally every January.

Individuals and families counted through this effort include people living in shelters or hotels/motels paid for by a voucher; in

transitional housing; camping, sleeping outdoors or in cars or RVs without full hookup; and in other places not meant for human habitation such as a shed, storage unit, or dumpster.

Seventy-nine percent of people counted were unsheltered, 65 percent of those counted have lived in Central Oregon more than three years, and 60 percent have been homeless for more than 12 months. That data runs against the perception that people experiencing homelessness are coming to Central Oregon because of the resources available. All homeless children under the age of 18, whether accompanied or not, have increased by 100.9 percent from 2021 to 2022 for a total of 223. The only number to decrease was homeless veterans, from 89 to 41.

The consistent trend in Central Oregon homelessness is for the numbers to increase. Two years ago, there was a 12 percent increase, last year 13 percent, and this year 17 percent. Since 2015, according

to the city of Bend, overall homelessness has increased by 40 percent. Those percentages are much higher than what is reported nationally, according to Colleen Sinsky of the permanent supportive housing nonprofit Central Oregon FUSE. The national rate of unsheltered homelessness is closer to 39 percent, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Local governments, schools, and service providers of all kinds can use these population trends to better target support services and develop comprehensive plans to address poverty and homelessness in Central Oregon.

INDOOR & OUTDOOR SEATING AVAILABLE ORDER ONLINE for takeout:

www.SistersSaloon.net Sun-Thurs 11-9 • Fri-Sat 11-10

541-549-RIBS • 190 E. Cascade Ave.

19

PHOTO COURTESY DESCHUTES COUNTY

Members of the HOST team who were part of a forest cleanup crew last week: Colleen Thomas, Katie De Vito, David Fox, and Jeromy Willend. positive connections.”

Thomas said the HOST team’s role is to “build support with compassion, using a person-centered approach.” They also can provide a “warm hand off,” connecting clients with other resources in the community.

Their primary focus is on people experiencing houselessness and mental health issues.

Fox is generally in Sisters on Tuesday and Wednesday, La Pine Monday and Friday,

and Thursday is a flex day wherever he is needed.

The Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) provides crisis intervention services out in the community 24/7, 365 days a year.

The MCAT responds when called by various community partners, including law enforcement, to assess individuals in the community who are experiencing a mental health crisis. To access the crisis line call 541-322-7500, ext. 9.

20

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

N U G G E T F L AS H BAC K – 2 0 Y E A R S AG O

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Continued from page 3

Lakeside Bistro nestled next to Phalarope Lake and the new Lodge site. “It’ll be the place for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and Mother’s Day, as well as lodging guests who want to have a special experience,” said McCance.”

Dates for opening the new Lodge have been pushed back slightly due to supply chain issues. The certificate of occupancy for the Lodge has an opening date of February 15, 2023. The first wedding scheduled on the Ranch will take place in late March of 2023.

Along with supply chain challenges, delays were due in part to efforts to save some large trees near the site.

The effort involved retaining arborists to come out and look at the root structures.

“Ultimately, we ended up being able to keep one but had to take the other one down. It took time to get through that cycle of trying to save trees. We also had a challenge with window systems due to the supply chain issues. We have a great team on the project with Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company (KNCC). They are one of the best contractors in Central Oregon. Our architectural firm, Hacker, out of Portland has done amazing work too. The two combined have done a great job.

KNCC has been our builder of choice for many projects, including the Lakeside Bistro, the General Store, and now the new Lodge,” said McCance.

Part of the appeal of BBR is the history and memories held dearly by many longtime homeowners and families who have been vacationing on the Ranch for generations.

“We have staff who have been here for decades too.

Their connection to the people and the place add an additional experience too,” McCance said.

According to McCance, the Lodge was never intended to make a commercial return on investment.

“From day one, it’s been envisioned as a great amenity for homeowners,” he said. “We’re staying true to that.”

Those amenities are threefold in the downstairs portion of the new Lodge.

“The restaurant is separated by a huge fireplace that transitions into a festive bar area. That’s for everyone’s use,” said McCance.

Also in the downstairs area, spacious decks complete a dining space that opens up for inside and

outside dining on the lake side. Farther into the Lodge you enter an event space with room for weddings up to about two hundred people.

There’s a separate greenroom for bridal parties to prepare for the big day. The main event space has an air wall, so it can be subdivided into two smaller event spaces. It will also have spectacular views and decks.

Upstairs is the modern equivalent of the old Aspen Lounge, a favorite place to socialize and catch up with friends.

“There will be a bar targeted toward an over-21 crowd, and a lounge area to just hang out. There’s a large outside deck there too,” said McCance. “It’s a more lower-key hangout space to chill out or warm up.”

As far as décor, planners are still consolidating suggestions and incorporating feedback.

“We’re still working on décor ideas. We will have a wide range of demographics and ages enjoying the new Lodge,” said McCance.

Planners will create a fresh look that appeals to homeowners and the next generation of young families.

Many of the parents spent time at the Ranch when they were growing up.

McCance says some of the trees that had to be taken out have been measured and are heading to a woodworker in the Portland area. They will be used to construct custom tables for the private dining upstairs and some of the larger tables in the bar and restaurant.

For McCance and the architectural firm focusing on furniture, wall art and equipment, the key is finding a balance that appeals to all guests. Different color boards and schemes are being discussed, all in an effort to reflect the desires of BBR homeowners.

“It’s going to be fresh, with a sense of tradition and sense of today,” he said.

“We see the new Lodge as a venue that will be around for the next 50 years, just like the last Lodge.”

McCance acknowledged that, during construction, summer parking will be challenging.

“We’re asking our guests enjoying the pool or Lodge to carpool or ride bikes until we can complete the new parking area,” he said.

“Right now, the construction is staged in the parking area.

We will be adding 20 new spaces once construction is over.”

With over a 50-year history, the Ranch has been through many changes and renovations. Each time, the end result makes the resort that much more enjoyable, packed with fond memories of a truly unique place.

Thank you for joining us!

PHOTO BY JAROD GATLEY @ FIKA SISTERS COFFEHOUSE

BBR LODGE: New Lodge scheduled to open February 15, 2023

21

Each week The Nugget delivers hyper-local news coverage of what matters to you and your neighbors... ...local government, land use, forestry, schools, environment, art & music scene, high school sports, business, and more.

The Nugget is also the place to find interesting stories of people in our community living intentionally and helping to make our community special.

And let’s not forget the opinions of our diverse community members: The Nugget is a place to discover what others are thinking about issues (and a place for you to express your views as well).

Whatever brought you inside this issue of The Nugget,

WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE! We value your readership and look forward to bringing you another issue next week.

If you value what The Nugget gives to you, consider how you might join us in our mission: • Read your Nugget (and discuss the articles that garnered your attention with a friend).

• Got thoughtful opinions you’d like to share? Submit a letter to the editor (300 words or less) to editor@nuggetnews.com. Have more to say than that? Discuss a guest editorial with Jim Cornelius.

• Have writing chops and a passion for community? Discuss freelance writing opportunities with Jim Cornelius.

• Support the businesses that advertise in The Nugget.

• Offer financial support to keep our community journalists and staff doing what they love to bring The Nugget to everyone in the Sisters community — for free — each week. Support online at NuggetNews.com (click on “Subscribe & Support”) or drop a check off at the office — we’d love to thank you in person!

The Nugget Newspaper 541-549-9941 • 442 E. Main Ave., Sisters PO Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Continued from page 2

Today, I am the mom of three amazing children. Two I carried and gave birth to, and one I had hoped for before my husband and I ever married.

The two I carried are amazing people with incredible hearts of compassion. I pray daily that I can be the kind of mom to them that I experienced with my own mama. One who taught and loved them well.

When our two children were younger, we realized that our family wasn’t complete, and so we began the journey of adoption. I was excited to love and teach this new addition to our family.

Rarely a day passes, though, when I don’t remember that this beautiful child would not be here with me if not for the sacrifice that one woman, our child’s birth mom, made.

When I look at our daughter, I don’t see my husband and me in her features, but I hug her and talk to her, and I see that great heart of compassion for others. I see the hobbies and activities she gravitates to, and I wonder: Are these things part of us, or are they part of that precious DNA from her birth parents, or both? I may never know. But I am so grateful to be her mom.

Robin Gerke

s

s

s

Abortion rights

To the Editor: An adult man who decides he wants to stop producing sperm can do so with a good conscience.

He has a right to privacy; he is not queried on his state of mind and he does not need permission from his wife or parents. He has no fear of having a subpoena served for his action taken to stop producing sperm per any national or state law.

An adult woman currently has the right to avoid pregnancies via contraception, or to end a

pregnancy via a “morning after” pill or an abortion procedure, for whatever her reason. As with the man, an abortion is a procedure on her body, she has a right to privacy, and she does not expect a subpoena afterwards. However, in some states, she will be interrogated and may need permission from the “father” or her parents for either the right to have contraception or an abortion procedure.

Prior to 1857, notably after the founding of our nation, there was no question that a woman could have access to an abortion. It was considered women’s business as much as bearing and rearing children was. But things changed when the newly formed male dominated American Medical Association did not like competition from midwifery for attending to women’s health issues, including abortion, and so the AMA lobbied to make abortions illegal, midwifery illegal, and both under state control.

It had nothing to do with religion or assuring women’s health; it was about revenues.

For 114 years, women would not have legal access to an abortion and only the wealthy had access to safe abortions. In 1973, Roe vs. Wade, the U. S. Supreme Court decision, assured a woman’s right to have access to a safe abortion should she so choose with the unfair exception to Indigenous women per federal laws.

Today, 2022, we find women who seek abortions are under dire threat. In a few states, in this, our “land of the free and home of the brave,” a woman who has made one of the biggest decisions in her life to have an abortion, may be bountyhunted, accused of murder, could be jailed, would be tried, may be sentenced to prison, and might end up on death row. No matter her reasoning; too many children already, rape, incest, health considerations, financial considerations. Her choice is a complex, deeply difficult, and a never forgotten decision she makes, and then she is criminally accused and judged!

Three questions for your serious consideration:

FUN & GAMES

Regarding contraception, are sperm less concerning than ova in preventing a pregnancy? Does the difference in men’s rights vs. women’s to decide what is done to their own bodies appear equitable to you? Do you think that if men also had wombs, that they would have ever come to the conclusion that abortion should be illegal?

Susan G. Cobb

s

s

s

Support McLeod-Skinner

To the Editor: So Mr. Schrader has worked in Congress to remove hobbles from racehorses, but consistently hobbles Democrats by voting against clean water acts eight times, against lower emission standards, against minimum wage, against COVID relief stimulus money, against banning pesticides in waterways, against worker bargaining rights, and against negotiating drug prices with Medicare. He continues to accept millions from corporate PACS of big pharma and fossil fuel, and oppose rental assistance, easing veterans’ debts, and forcing EPA to remove lead contamination from water.

Even after losing two elections to serve Oregonians, Jamie McLeod-Skinner didn’t retreat, but jumped right into serving on state committees/ boards, plunged into fire relief action for housing, federal assistance, and immediate relocation of victims in Talent, while continuing her mediation business in areas of conflict, especially water usage, critical to Oregon! She was raised by a single mom so knows struggle, served resettling refugees in Europe, earned and paid for degrees in engineering, law and planning, so values education, and she listens! Though she loves horses, like Schrader, she works hardest for people.

Please vote Jamie!

Wendie Vermillion

s

s

s

SUDOKU EASY PEASY! Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down, and each small nine-box square contains all of the numbers from 1 to 9.

LETTERS

MATH SQUARE

Use the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations. Each number is used once. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation.

Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

22

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

FIREWISE: Fire mitigation event took place in Tollgate Continued from page 3

interface where Tollgate lies.

Bryan Adams, President o f C o E n e rg y P r o p a n e , offered residents safety advice on how to treat propane tanks — emphasizing the importance of upright storage, yearly safety assessment to check for leaks and proper valve function, and advised on clearing vegetation and keeping tanks away from heat sources.

Several people shared their firsthand experiences of facing wildfire and evacuation.

Sgt. Garibay, who has helped conduct numerous evacuations in Sisters Country over the past decades, said the event was exceptionally well organized and laid out and was pleased to see how much information was being made available to local residents.

He said that now is the time to be thinking about wildfire defense and evacuation preparation. Recent catastrophic fires have shown that a dangerous situation can develop very quickly, leaving little time to prepare.

“If you can do these things in April and May, and get your family prepared, it could save you those extra 15 minutes, and that can make the difference,” he said.

The Nugget Newspaper Crossword

By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service

The National Fire Protection Association offers information on how to create defensible space around your home...

Immediate zone: The home and the area 0-5 feet from the farthest attached exterior point of the home; defined as a noncombustible area. Science tells us this is the most important zone to take immediate action on, as it is the most vulnerable to embers.

START WITH THE HOUSE ITSELF, then move into the landscaping section of the Immediate Zone: • Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris, and pine needles that could catch embers.

• Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration.

• Reduce embers that could pass through vents in the eaves by installing 1/8inch metal mesh screening.

• Clean debris from exterior attic vents and install 1/8-inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers.

• Repair or replace damaged or loose window screens and any broken windows. Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.

• Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors – mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles – anything that can burn. Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches.

Intermediate zone: 5-30 feet from the farthest exterior point of the home.

Landscaping/hardscaping — employing careful landscaping or creating breaks that can help influence and decrease fire behavior • Clear vegetation from under large stationary propane tanks.

• Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways/paths, patios, and decks.

• Keep lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches.

• Remove ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) so a surface fire cannot reach the crowns. Prune trees up six to 10 feet from the ground; for shorter trees do not exceed 1/3 of the overall tree height.

• Space trees to have a minimum of 18 feet between crowns, with the distance increasing with the percentage of slope.

• Tree placement should be planned to ensure the mature canopy is no closer than 10 feet to the edge of the structure.

• Trees and shrubs in this zone should be limited to small clusters of a few each to break up the continuity of the vegetation across the landscape.

Extended zone: 30-100 feet, out to 200 feet.

Landscaping – the goal here is not to eliminate fire but to interrupt fire’s path and keep flames smaller and on the ground.

• Dispose of heavy accumulations of ground litter/ debris.

• Remove dead plant and tree material.

• Remove small conifers growing between mature trees.

• Remove vegetation adjacent to storage sheds or other outbuildings within this area.

• Trees 30 to 60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops.

• Trees 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least six feet between the canopy tops.

23

— Last Week’s Puzzle Solved —

This Week’s Crossword Sponsors

BRUNCH AT THE BARN SA/SU 9 AM-1 PM

171 E. MAIN AVE. BARNINSISTERS.COM

SANDWICH SERIES TH/FR 4-8 PM

Greg Wieland L.Ac. Practicing since 1989 352 E. Hood Ave., Ste. E

Sisters Acupuncture Center

541-549-1523

CREATE A HOME OASIS! C

S

O Hot Tubs • Swim Spas • Saunas STOVLO Maintenance Plans & Chemicals PIZZA OEVS & ENS Firepits • Pellet Grills • Accessories

FINANCING F FI FINAN I N A N CIN C IN NG A AV AVAILABLE VA I L LA ABL LE E•F FR FREE RE EE ED DEL DELIVERY EL L I VER V ER RY R Y

www.aquahottub.com | 541-410-1023 | 413 W. Hood Ave., Sisters w Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday by appt.

24

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

25

SUDOKU Level: Moderate Answer: Page 22

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down, and each small nine-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

26

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

PSILOCYBIN: State has till end of year to launch program Continued from page 15

that could affect the potency, duration, and effect of the drug. They also ban the use of pesticides in psilocybin production and will require manufacturers to submit samples for testing, similar to rules governing the cannabis industry.

The rules do not prescribe treatment but they do specify the training facilitators must go through to be licensed.

They must have 120 hours of instruction, including the study of cultural equity, safety and ethics, psilocybin pharmacology, and clinical studies. Facilitators will also be taught how to prepare clients for a session and how to work with individuals and groups.

In indigenous communities, ceremonies are conducted by experienced guides.

“To provide a positive experience, a mainstay practice for generations of indigenous people has been to place emphasis on competent, experienced, and genuine guides,” the paper says.

“These guides can ensure that environmental and personal factors, or what is currently described as set and setting, are favorably aligned.”

The research found that psilocybin can lead to an increased connection to nature, enhanced creativity, and a greater enjoyment of music. But it can also provoke headaches, nausea, fatigue, or insomnia. In one study of 233 patients, 12 “showed suicidal behavior, intentional selfinjury, and suicidal ideation,” the paper says.

The paper said that

SUDOKU SOLUTION for puzzle on page 20

fatalities reported in connection with the recreational use of psilocybin often involved alcohol and other drugs.

“Consuming misidentified fungi can cause severe adverse reactions for consumers, including death,” the paper states.

Measure 109, which authorized the creation of a therapeutic psilocybin program in Oregon, gives the state until the end of the year to launch the service.

Uehling, who’s on the advisory committee but is speaking as an OSU researcher, said the timeline is tight but that the advisory group is working to meet that deadline.

“The progress that we’ve made in the first year is immense,” Ueling said. “Like any new program we’re going to have to try and see what works and then revisit and then make changes. I am

The progress that we’ve made in the first year is immense. Like any new program we’re going to have to try and see what works and then revisit and then make changes. I am really optimistic about those changes being made.

— Jessie Uehling really optimistic about those changes being made.”

Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, courtesy https://oregoncapital chronicle.com/.

Cascade Views Realty allty LLC

Sally Lauderdale Jacobson Principal Broker & Owner

Professional • Knowledgeable • Caring

541-678-2232 CascadeViewsRealty.com 312 W. Barclay Drive, Sisters • P.O. Box 1695

May your day be blessed...

Happy Mother’s Day!

Sheila Reifschneider, Broker 541-408-6355

sheilareifschneider@cbbain.com 291 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6000

A partnership beyond expectations

REAL ESTATE with

K indness R espect I ntegrity S ervice Specializing in FIRST-TIME BUYERS & SELLERS and SENIORS to help them achieve their real estate goals.

Stop by and visit with Shelley Marsh, Krista Palmer, Sam Pitcher, and Elvia Holmes.

westerntitle.com | 330 W. Hood Ave. | 541-548-9180

The Arends Realty Group Kristin Turnquist, Broker 541-449-7275 • kristin@krisequity.com

www.kristinturnquist.exprealty.com

SAGE MEADOW

69909 W. Meadow Pkwy., Sisters • NEW PRICE $1,290,000 1.55 acres in Sage Meadow bordering Deschutes National Forest with 3,307 sq. ft., 4-bedroom, 3-bath home. Mostly single level, primary on main, additional primary bedroom upstairs. New roof, carpet, and interior paint. Large back deck, meticulously maintained yards and gardens. MLS#220143069

Phil Arends

Thomas Arends

541.420.9997

541.285.1535

Principal Broker

phil.arends@cascadesir.com

Broker

thomas.arends@cascadesir.com

arendsrealtygroup.com cascadesothebysrealty.com | 290 E. Cascade Ave. | PO Box 609 | Sisters, OR 97759 EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED. LICENSED IN THE STATE OF OREGON.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

27

HAY PRICES: Rising cost of fertilizer affecting hay prices

and energy crisis in 2008, according to commodity consultancy CRU. Mauer is also staring at water curtailment, expecting to get shut off before Continued from page 1 his second cut. The drought it has risen every month for is all farmers and ranchers the last 15, to where we are talk about when The Nugget now at $1,100 and change.” visits with them. That, and Prices for raw materials fertilizer costs and diesel that constitute the fertilizer prices. market — ammonia, nitroMauer and his fellow gen, nitrates, phosphates, farmers are getting more potash, and sulphates — are money for their hay, but it is up 30 percent since the turn only offsetting higher costs of the year and now exceed — if that. They now must those seen during the food make some high-stakes calculations.

T u m a l o Hay does sophisticated cost/benefit analysis as they plan to reduce the amount of fertilizer per acre by as much as 25 percent knowing that yields will suffer somewhat.

On the flip side, if farmers do apply less fertilizer per acre, it will provide an environmental benefit in PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT the form of “Hay-burners.” less nitrogen

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Mark Huttinga is selling off his cattle herd, whipsawed by increasing costs. and phosphorus in streams, rivers, and lakes.

It’s more scientific than ever, they say, as compared to when water was plentiful and petroleum-based products like fertilizer were stable. April was surprisingly wetter and cooler, unexpectedly raising the snowpack from just under 90 percent in March to 116 percent by April 30 with water content equivalent at 106 percent.

That will buy farmers and ranchers a couple of critical weeks, yet none expect anything on the horizon to break the back of the long-running drought, as The Nugget has documented.

Cattle ranchers particularly are being squeezed by rising costs and the multiyear drought. Mark Huttinga has been farming and ranching

since he was a kid. For the last 26 years he has worked a small corner of a 456-acre hay farm a bit upstream of Lake Billy Chinook, raising Dexter cattle and eight children. He’s throwing in his hat and moving to Montana.

In the process he is selling off his herd.

“Cows need hay. Hay needs water. There’s simply not enough water,” Huttinga said.

Huttinga’s Dexters are an Irish breed averaging around 700 pounds, as compared to the much larger black or red Angus weighing in at 1,100 to 1,300 pounds. The smaller breed can do well on just a few acres, and at harvest time they don’t require a full-size freezer.

“You will see more smaller lots, some closer to

town, with a cow or two or three,” Huttinga predicted.

Bonnie Nolan of Sisters is 71 and drives 200 miles a week to care for and train with her prized Dutch Warmblood horse stabled near Cline Falls.

“Between gassing my car and feeding my horse, I’m not sure I can continue owning this guy,” she said.

“And who’s gonna buy him in this market? Nobody in their right mind would buy a horse now.”

Nolan’s feed bill has risen four of the past six months, but she doesn’t blame the stable where she and 39 others board. When The Nugget visited the stable, the story was the same. Equestrians, farmers, and ranchers are all being whipsawed by hay prices.

28

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Serving the Sisters, Camp Sherman and Black Butte Ranch Areas

Ponderosa Properties R E A L T O R S

A N D

P R O P E R T Y

The Locals’ Choice!

LLC

M A N A G E M E N T

www.PonderosaProperties.com 541-549-2002 | 1-800-650-6766

Featured Listings For Sale New Listing

MLS#220144959 $875,000 SOUTH MEADOW #92 3 bed / 2 bath / 1,720 sq.ft. / .46 Acre Black Butte Ranch Great vacation home, primary residence or rental. Great room, open beam vaulted ceiling, large rock fireplace, welcoming kitchen & dining area. Enjoy the beauty of Deschutes N.F., miles of paths, recreational facilities & onsite golf. Lots of windows let in light, clear cedar walls, oak cabinetry, large deck off great room/kitchen. Plenty of storage & loft in garage. All furniture in home included.

New Listing

MLS# Coming Soon $859,000 CLASSIC HOME IN PREMIER NEIGHBORHOOD 4 bed / 3 bath / 2,840 sq.ft. / 1 Acre Indian Ford Ranch Single-level home with mountain views! Hardwood floors, fireplace, exposed beam vaulted ceiling in great room. Newer GE Profile appliances, wet bar, breakfast bar & walk-in pantry. Owners private bath with radiant floor heating, tiled shower & spacious closet. 4th bedroom & 3rd bath have private entrance. Greenhouse, decks & backyard privacy fence on this 1-acre site just three miles to town.

MLS#220142809 $750,000 5.48 ACRE HOMESITE - INDIAN FORD ROAD 5.48 Acres / Zoned EFUSC Rural Acreage Rare residential homesite along beautiful Indian Ford Road near Black Butte Ranch and Sisters. Gently sloping ridge setting with mountain views and ponderosa pine. Borders US National forest on the north property boundary. Paved road frontage and easy access to Sisters and Hwy 20 west. Build your dream home here and enjoy all that Central Oregon has to offer. Adjacent parcels are also available.

Black Butte Ranch — Vacation Rentals

Long Term Rentals

541-588-9222 | www.BlackButteVactions.com

541-588-9223 - Call for availability

GM 244: Cozy, Yet Luxurious 4 bed / 3 bath / 11 guests

SH 7: Brand New Ranch-Style Home 3 bed / 3 bath / 6 guests

OASIS IN THE PINES / SISTERS 3 bed / 3 bath / 10 guests

Enjoy the great outdoors surrounding Black Butte Ranch and Sisters from our selection of quality vacation homes available to rent. BBR amenities include: restaurants, golf, tennis, swimming pools, bike/walk paths, and more for all ages! Easy access to Cascade mountain lakes, streams, hiking, wilderness preserves, cross-country and Hoodoo ski areas.

www.PonderosaProperties.com 541-549-2002 | 1-800-650-6766

At Ponderosa Properties… …It’s About th e People

221 S. Ash St. | PO Box 1779 Sisters, OR 97759

Rad Dyer 541-480-8853

Kevin R. Dyer 541-480-7552

Debbie Dyer 541-480-1650

Carol Davis 541-410-1556

Catherine Black 541-480-1929

Shane Lundgren 541-588-9226

Greg Davidge 808-281-2676

Jackie Herring 541-480-3157

Guy Lauziere 541-410-9241

ABR, CCIM, CRB, CRS, GRI, Principal Broker

CRS, GRI, Principal Broker

GRI, Broker Property Management

ABR, GRI, Broker

CRS, Broker, Realtor Emeritus – 40 Yrs.

Broker

Broker

Broker

Broker

Kenndra Dyer 541-588-9222 Vacation Rentals