The Nugget Vol. XLV No. 26
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
The neighbors in the forest
Explore Sisters documents approved
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Brandi Gregor is a veteran, having proudly served in the Oregon National Guard. She moved to Sisters a while back and has taken up residence alongside FS Road 100, more or less behind Ponderosa Lodge, within easy distance, aided by her walker, to Mainline Station and Ray’s Food Place. She sat for a lengthy interview with The Nugget last week just outside her newish tent and star-spangled banner camp chair. She showed a range of emotions from a flash of anger when she misunderstood a question to tears to moments, a few, of joy. But none of fear. She’s been houseless for years, bouncing between Prineville, Salem, and Bend, and currently, Sisters. When asked “why Sisters?” her reply was instant and mirrored that of the three other nontraditional residents interviewed that day: nice people here. “Nobody yells at me or curses at me or harasses me,” she said. “In Salem I’d get kicked out of stores or run out of restaurants, even if I was buying stuff. Here, if
By Sue Stafford Correspondent
Correspondent
Fire Chief Roger Johnson of Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District is vigilant in an effort to catch sparks of what he thinks might be undue concern among Sisters Country property owners as to their potential cost of hardening their dwellings to mitigate fire risk. Oregon Senate Bill 762 is a $220 million sweeping legislation that deals with a wide range of wildfire issues. Some advocates have raised red flags about potential costs. Johnson was particularly uneasy about the testimony of one witness before the
Inside...
so houseless camped off the spur road, and they mostly get along. She scolds those who are poor housekeepers
Sisters will soon have a new organization in charge of tourism. The Sisters City Council voted last week to approve the organizational documents (articles of incorporation and bylaws) for Explore Sisters, a new destination management organization (DMO), that will strive to balance community needs with fostering the evolution of the local tourism economy. Sisters is often referred to as the gateway to Central Oregon. However, Sisters is no longer a place to just stop for gas and food on the way to someplace else. In truth, Sisters has become the destination for many visitors who come for outdoor recreation, special events, shopping and dining, and family vacations. Sisters is also home,
See NEIGHBORS on page 21
See EXPLORE on page 22
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Brandi Gregor at her campsite near town. I’m a little short at checkout, the stores or other customers make up the difference.” She doesn’t panhandle, living off a small, monthly Medicaid check.
Fire officials weigh in on wildfire bill By Bill Bartlett
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Senate hearings, upon which The Nugget reported last week, that new construction requirements could add as much as $100,000 to the cost of a new home or the remodeling of an existing structure in high-risk locations. The chief referenced the April 2020 Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee (WMAC) Report prepared by Deschutes County Community Development Department, of which he is a committee member: “Comparing costs from a standard single-family residential dwelling to one built to comply with the R327 standards ranged from See BILL on page 27
She has a cell phone, but that day it was off. She didn’t have enough money to cover it until her next check. For the most part, she knows her neighbors, the dozen or
Firefighting from 10,000 feet By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Wildland firefighting is dangerous and dirty work, with every imaginable hazard beyond the fire — falling limbs, toppling trees, smoke inhalation, fall, and poisonous snake bites, to name a few. While most firefighting is done on the ground at close range, it’s the support of aircraft that is often the deciding factor of controlling the fire. Sisters Country residents are no strangers to wildland fires or the sight of aerial tankers and helicopters dropping retardant or water on the flames. It can be a comforting sign when air support arrives to lend a hand. Fortunately, the support comes from nearby
PHOTO BY BALLEN HESS
Air tankers are a critical asset in battling major wildfires. Redmond Air Center, requiring less than a 10-minute flight time. Established in 1964, the Center is often
assumed to function only as a tanker base. The Air Tanker See WILDFIRES on page 30
Letters/Weather ............... 2 In the Pines....................... 6 Entertainment .................13 Fun & Games ................... 22 Classifieds................. 25-26 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............12 Stars & Stripes ........... 15-18 Crossword ...................... 24 Real Estate .................27-32