The Nugget Vol. XLV No. 22
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News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Wednesday, June 1, 2022
The secret to Sisters Rodeo’s success
‘New’ event fees under effect in Sisters
By Bill Bartlett
By Sue Stafford
Correspondent
Correspondent
The Sisters Rodeo, billed as the Biggest Little Show in the World, has a cast of hundreds: 11 board members, 200-plus association members, and a small army of volunteers. Given that it generally comes off without a hitch, it is easy to assume that it just magically happens, year after year. As in 80 years. It doesn’t. The whole kit and kaboodle is run as an all-volunteer organization, with the exception of a paid part-time ticket agent. It’s about as much
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Jade Robinson led the riders out in the annual Sisters Stampede on Sunday, May 29. See story, page 11.
See VOLUNTEERS on page 29
See EVENT FEES on page 30
Sisters veterans honor the fallen By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
There was anguish in the voice of Sylvester Van Oort, the keynote speaker at Sisters’ Memorial Day service, held at the Village Green on Monday. He described the terrible fate of Don Bullock, a 17-year-old who lied about his age to join the United States Marine Corps to serve his country in Vietnam. Just a handful of days after arriving in Saigon, he was killed by a satchel charge flung through the window of his living quarters. “We’re sorry, Don, that you had to die so young,” Van Oort cried. “It wasn’t fair to you at all.” The World War II veteran mourned those like Bullock, who died young and could not enjoy the blessings of the life they died to defend. “Can we ever, ever forget these soldiers, men and women, in their graves?” he said. “They gave it all to us.”
Inside...
Some folks in Sisters have gotten upset recently at fees charged to local organizations for public facilities used during events. Such an occurrence happened last week when a citizen posted on social media that the City of Sisters was “robbing the veterans” by charging them a fee for use of the Village Green Park for the annual Memorial Day observance. Earl Schroeder, the senior vice commander of the Sisters VFW Post 8138, was
Launch is science education in action By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Van Oort’s remarks were a powerful highlight of the annual Memorial Day observances put on by Sisters Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86. Mayor Michael Preedin thanked the volunteers who made the event possible. VFW Post Commander Pat Bowe served as master of ceremonies, and encouraged everyone to remember what Memorial Day is truly about. For many, it is a threeday weekend marking the beginning of summer with barbecues and gatherings. And the Sisters veterans provided that conviviality in the wake of the service. But the primary mission of the day is to remember those who have fallen in America’s wars. The event was solemn, but not somber. David Wentworth offered a stunning a cappella rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” with those in attendance
Sisters High School science students launched multiple experiments into the stratosphere on Wednesday, May 25, in what has become an annual rite of spring for the Outlaws. Students developed experiments to test the effects of middle stratosphere conditions on everything from the elasticity of rubber bands and the adhesiveness of tape to the function of batteries and viability of seeds and sprouts and mushrooms and mold. Science teacher Rima Givot noted that, since the program has been in play for six years, students are now able to build on previous students’ work. “The students read previous years’ experiments,” she said. The launch itself is an educational process — and this year served up some challenges that pushed students’ capabilities.
See CEREMONY on page 19
See BALLOONS on page 31
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Sisters High School science students, with support from a range of community members, launched two high-altitude balloons last week at Sisters Eagle Airport. The balloons carried student-designed experiments.
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Obituaries ........................ 9 Announcements...............12 Fun & Games ....................18 Classifieds................. 26-27 Meetings .......................... 3 Sisters Naturalist.............10 Entertainment .................13 Crossword ...................... 25 Real Estate ................ 28-32