The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLV No. 42 // 2022-10-19

News and Opinion from

Laird closing up shop in Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

In a formal statement October 12, Laird Superfoods (LSF-NYSE) announced that it would be closing its operations in Sisters, and outsourcing the production of its plant-based products to a copacker, a business that manufactures and/or packages food products for clients. In some cases, the co-packer can be a competitor categorically, but not at the same price point or package size.

Challenges of forest-dwelling

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Ian Reid, Sisters’ district ranger, knows that when he takes his seat on the “Houseless in Sisters” panel on Thursday, October 20 at Sisters Fire Hall, he’ll be on the hottest seat in the house.

It’s his agency, after all — the U.S. Forest Service — that is directly responsible for managing camping in the forests surrounding Sisters. And that’s where the unhoused of Sisters Country live.

“It’s a complicated role,” he acknowledged in an interview with The Nugget The primary mission, he says, is to maintain “a safe forest and a healthy forest.”

The Forest Service is tasked with enforcement of rules and laws governing national forests, minimizing damage to resources, while at the same time ensuring “equitable access” and the sharing of public lands.

The increase in “non-recreational camping” — people living in the forest on a permanent or semipermanent basis — poses challenges

Homecoming victory...

for Forest Service personnel. Some local residents have become frustrated with the Forest Service insisting that Sisters Ranger District should be enforcing its own regulations, requiring that a camper must move after 14 consecutive days and prohibiting camping in the Deschutes National Forest for more than 28 total days in a calendar year.

According to Reid, that’s not as straightforward as it might appear.

“Getting people to move is very challenging, especially when they don’t have the means to do it themselves,” Reid said.

The District has required campers to move, Reid said, estimating that “for every RV seen, we’ve probably moved five.” But he has heard the public complaints that they’re not doing enough to manage the problem.

Reid notes that the enforcement mechanism for the 14-day and 28-day limits is a ticket.

“Enforcement is a violation notice,” he said.

Public hearing set on new housing

Sisters planners will conduct a public hearing on a proposed development along McKenzie Highway at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 20. The planned Sunset Meadows housing development by Woodhill Homes is proposed to create a 71-lot residential development with 22 single-family, detached dwellings, 48 townhome dwellings, and approximately 72 to 124 multifamily units on one of the last available large parcels of land in Sisters.

Watch out for deer on Sisters roads

By Stuart Ehr Correspondent

It’s the time of year when deer are on the move. Although known biologically as the rut, their unpredictable and potentially dangerous behavior during October and November has some local hunters labelling it derisively as “the time when deer get stupid.”

The odds of expensive and life-threatening car-deer interactions are way up, especially as urban boundaries expand and deer are displaced. Eric Smith of Caliber Collision in Redmond is seeing the collision numbers climb, aside from the rut and fawning (spring/summer) seasons, which will only bring more clients into autobody shops.

“Because of all the building that is being done, we are taking over their natural habitat, and it’s forcing them out of their normal realm and they’re walking on the streets more often than they should,” Smith said.

Nationally, 200 people are killed every year in car-deer accidents. Over 10,000 more are seriously injured. The Insurance Institute estimates that nationwide car-deer

Deer are on the move; bucks are in the rut. It’s a dangerous time on the road, especially in the early hours and at dusk.

collisions cost motorists one billion dollars.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) data shows one in 165 Oregonians will collide with a deer in any given year. Or as a local chided, “100 percent of Sisters residents if they’ve lived here long enough.”

Deschutes and Klamath counties are two of the hot spots where the odds of hitting a deer are much greater.

“In late fall deer are

moving from their summer range in the Cascades down to the Metolius, Billy Chinook, Tumalo, or Sisters winter range,” said Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) Biologist Andrew Walch.

“What kicks off the rut is the changing amount of daylight. The female does go into estrus, and that also triggers the bucks to initiate

PHOTO BY STUART EHR

The Sisters Outlaws had much to celebrate in their homecoming victory over Pleasant Hill last week. Seestory,page4.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA KENNEDY

Letters to the Editor…

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writerʼs 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.

Traffic and growth

To the Editor:

Traffic again. How many readers of The Nugget have waited interminably to drive across Highway 20 in the heart of Sisters this year? How many have viewed the “open-air RV showroom” that is Highway 20 for much of the year? How many have seen traffic stretch for a mile west- or east-bound toward the roundabout?

Well, the worst is yet to come. While the City is encouraging more tourists to come (to enjoy our colossal traffic jam?) and more businesses to be established (perhaps another Laird?), urban sprawl continues unabated. As mentioned in earlier letters to The Nugget, the “Woodlands” project, which has gutted the last forested area in the City, will dump some 600 cars on the city’s streets. The McKenzie

Wednesday

Meadows project will add 300 to 400 more. The apartments behind Dollar General will inject several hundred more. Not to mention the developments around the airfield. Looming in the background is the potential for about 500 housing units at Aspen Lakes, which would funnel another 600 or so cars towards Sisters.

The reality of the City’s “vision” and apparently that of the county is maximum urban sprawl, all the consequences of which are thrown into the laps of the residents. The developers smile all the way to the bank. Members of the City Council and the county commissioners wring their hands bemoaning the need for “affordable housing.” Yet, these are disingenuous code words for the promotion of more development, subject almost

Sisters Weather Forecast

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Monday

Helping the houseless

By Melody Carlson Guest Columnist

I plan to attend the meeting on houselessness next Thursday, and am curious as to what possible solutions will be presented. As a pragmatic person, I hope it’s not only an awareness meeting with lots of talk-talk-talk. I think most of us are aware there is a problem that is not improving. Like many of you (and thank you, Bill Bartlett), I’ve been giving this difficult situation some serious thought. Especially with winter coming.

some concerned and benevolent supporters, but I think we have the kind of community that could handle it. But where do we start?

Tuesday

I recently watched a YouTube video about the Opportunity Village in Eugene. Eugene happens to have the highest per capita homeless population in the U.S. About a decade ago, concerned citizens in Eugene got together to establish a gated community where 30 tiny homes were built to help people who were houseless. These tiny homes are about 400 square feet and offer a clean, warm, dry place for residents to shelter, keep possessions safe, and sleep. Other larger structures provide communal kitchen/ dining area, meeting room, bathrooms/toilets/showers, as well as a manager’s office.

I don’t have all the details of how Opportunity Village originated, whether funding is private or public, but I am impressed by its success. Residents don’t actually “own” their tiny homes, but they do feel a sense of ownership, planting gardens, decorating the interiors, making their tiny space feel like home. Most of them work at minimum-wage jobs, some participate in various therapeutic programs, and all enjoy a sense of community.

This secure community has rules and regulations, enforced by conscientious management from both inside and outside the locking gates. Residents learn to selfgovern and take responsibility for their compact community. They learn to really care about their neighbors and how their community is run. In time, if they’re ready, residents are encouraged to take the next step in housing. Perhaps with tiny home ownership in another community, or even a Habitat home.

As I pondered on Eugene’s admirable project, I wondered why a similar program wouldn’t work for Sisters. And if the numbers I just read in The Nugget Newspaper are accurate (300 houseless people in the forest?) we really need to do something besides talk. I realize it would require a well-coordinated effort and

Meeting together is a good place to begin. And forming a real committee to pursue real answers makes good sense, but I’ve been on government “planning” committees before, and most of the time was spent talking, posturing, and arguing. Recommended solutions were often slow and cumbersome and usually tied up in red tape. Why not keep it simple and straightforward? Or is that impossible in this day and age? But what if we could....

What if some kind landowner donated (or leased) a few acres of private rural property? It would need to be close enough to town to afford easy access to jobs, shopping, schools, church. With some streamlined help from the City, this parcel could be zoned for permitted residential use, perhaps with a temporary renewable permit. With donations from concerned citizens, and some waved fees from the City, the land could be developed with water, sewer, electricity, and securely fenced/gated.

After that, the real fun begins. I can imagine benefactors stepping up to sponsor individual tiny homes. I know my husband and I would be willing to sponsor one. Each tiny home sponsor would be financially responsible, and in charge of having their structure built (according to agreed-upon guidelines), and placed on the property. Additional buildings could be individually sponsored, or built by teams of volunteers. Hopefully this kind of generosity and cooperation would create a connecting bond between sponsors and residents — a way to establish community that could lead to more opportunities for friendships.

Let’s face it, Sisters is a town that can afford to support a good-sized work force. Yet, we don’t have “affordable” housing for people employed at minimum wage jobs. And the price of gas, for employees to commute to more affordable housing in Redmond and even Prineville, is taking its toll. It’s time for Sisters to step up to the challenge.

What I’ve described is just one idea. There are probably many. But hopefully we will come up with something that’s really doable—and then we’ll just do it! Anyway, I’ll be listening eagerly at the upcoming meeting (Thursday, October 20 at the Fire Hall at 5:30 p.m.).

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

PHOTO BY JESS DRAPER

Original Habitat volunteer visits

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Clive Rainey’s passion for creating housing for those in need remains undi minished, after decades of service with Habitat for Humanity — which started with him stepping up as the organization’s first volunteer on April 1, 1977.

His journey with Habitat took him to Africa, where he worked in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and in Uganda in the wake of the genocide per petrated by its dictator Idi Amin. He retired as a paid staff member and moved to Guatemala, where he contin ued to work as a volunteer with Habitat Guatemala, before returning to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has been visiting Habitat affiliates to encour age and challenge them in their work — and that path brought him to Sisters last week.

“I’m on a little tour of affiliates where I was invited to come out and speak,” he explained.

Rainey is known as “the Mark Twain of Habitat” for his font of stories, many of them quite funny, from his years of work around the globe. But Rainey notes that he is 76 years old, which, he says, is long-lived for his family. He feels his time is limited and things are serious.

So, he says, “I’m being serious with people.”

That means challenging communities.

“I’m a Christian,” he said. “It’s the most profound

thing in my life.”

When he issues a chal lenge to a community, there is a certain gravity and sternness that comes across powerfully.

“I call them out in the name of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Rainey called out a local to provide a solution for a child who was wounded in a terrible July 4 parade shoot ing. The youth’s family had at first simply prayed that he would make it home — but making it home then created its own set of challenges. The home needed modifica tion for wheelchair access. Rainey challenged the local Habitat affiliate to make it happen, and they did.

“Habitat does a lot of that now,” he said. “Building

Outlaws crowned conference champs

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The No. 1-ranked Lady Outlaws volleyball squad traveled to Pleasant Hill High School on Tuesday, October 11, to take on the No. 3 ranked Billies, and lost in a grueling five-set match — their first loss in league play.

Two days later, the agony of defeat was put behind them as they swept Creswell at home, and secured the Mountain Valley Conference Championship.

In Monday’s matchup against Pleasant Hill the Lady Outlaws jumped out to a quick and decisive 25-18 first set, but knew better than to expect the Billies to give up. Pleasant Hill was riding a

10-game winning streak, and the Billies played a scrappy second set, and won 26-24.

As the third set began, the Lady Outlaws relied on junior outside hitter Gracelyn Myhre. It seemed that every time Sisters needed a point, a big dig, or a strategically placed pass, Myhre was involved. The Outlaws took the set 25-23.

Coach Rory Rush said, “I thought Gracelyn really put us on her back tonight. She was strategic in her attacks and was very reliable on the defensive side of the ball.”

As teams entered the fourth set, the Lady Billies came out with an onslaught of strong attacks that the

Haunted Halloween is back at Fire Hall

The Sisters community children and families are invited to a howling good time at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station, 301 S. Elm St., from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 31.

There will be carnival games and — if you dare — you can venture into the new haunted maze at the annual Halloween event. There will be refreshments, prizes, and candy for all the trick-ortreaters. For more informa tion contact the fire district at 541-549-0771.

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

Halloween Safety

To ensure a safe and happy Halloween experi ence, families are urged to review the following safety tips:

• When choosing a cos tume, stay away from long, trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so he or she can see out.

• Provide children with flashlights to carry for

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al-Anon Mon., noon., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-610-7383.

Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration / Mon., 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-548-0440.

Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild

For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelefly@msn.com.

Council on Aging of Central Oregon Senior Lunch In-person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab-and-go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs. 12:30 to 1 p.m. Sisters Community Church. 541-480-1843.

East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061.

Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All ages welcome. 541-771-2211.

Heartwarmers (fleece blanketmakers) 2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sisters Community Church. Materials provided. 541-408-8505.

Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 541-668-1755.

Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk 3rd Monday, 6 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP at citizens4community.com

Military Parents of Sisters Meetings are held quarterly; please call for details. 541-388-9013.

Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469.

SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation District. 541-549-2091.

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom. 503-930-6158.

Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters Community Church. 541-549-6157.

Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-231-1897.

Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846.

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church. Email sistersbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregiver Support Group 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., Sisters Episcopal Church. 541-771-3258.

Sisters Cribbage Club Please call for details. 541-923-1632.

Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Location information: 541-549-1193.

Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870.

Sisters Parent Teacher Community 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Saloon. 541-480-5994.

Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group 2nd Thurs.,1 p.m. Sisters Library 541-668-6599

Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday.

Location information: 541-848-1970.

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-760-5645.

Sisters Trails Alliance Board every other month, 5 p.m. varies from in-person to zoom. Info: info@sisterstrails.org

Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123.

Three Sisters Irrigation District Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Office. 541-549-8815.

Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Restaurant. 541-419-1279.

VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., The Hanger, Sisters Community Church. 847-344-0498.

Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654.

SCHOOLS

Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wednesday monthly Sisters School District Administration Building. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002.

CITY & PARKS

Sisters City Council 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022.

Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m., SPRD bldg. 541-549-2091.

Sisters Planning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022.

FIRE & POLICE

Black Butte Ranch Police Dept. Board of Directors Meets monthly. 541-595-2191 for time & date.

Black Butte Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thursday, 9 a.m., Black Butte Ranch Fire Station. 541-595-2288.

Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Wed., 5:30 p.m., 67433 Cloverdale Rd. 541-548-4815. cloverdalefire.com.

Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541-549-0771.

Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771.

This listing is for regular Sisters Country meetings; email information to nugget@nuggetnews.com

PHOTO PROVIDED

Clive Rainey, left, with Bob Buchholz, Sisters Habitat for Humanity’s current board president. Rainey was the first volunteer with Habitat for Humanity more than 40 years ago.

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big win on homecoming

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws enjoyed a beautiful, crisp fall evening for their homecoming foot ball game, and their senior night ceremony. Before kick off, Sisters’ 11 seniors were honored for their contribu tions to the football program.

Seniors Gabe Bailey, Ben Cooper, Brody Duey, Hayden Kunz, Adam MaddoxCastle, Easton Moore, Jessey Murillo, Henry Rard, Mason Sellers, Patrick Silva, and Hudson Symonds were all met by their families on the football field in front of a big Outlaws crowd.

Coach Clayton Hall said, “These seniors have put their hearts and souls into this pro gram for the past four years, despite dealing with much adversity from COVID, dif ficult seasons of football, and a couple coaching changes. Over the past year and a half these seniors have bought into what we have been doing in the weight room, the Linfield Team Camp, our summer program, and on the football field. Their hard work and dedication is beginning to pay off and they are changing the culture of Outlaws football.

“While their story is still being written on the grid iron, we are going to miss this group of seniors,” said Hall. “I have truly enjoyed coaching these young men because of their work ethic, their desire to improve each week, and their coachability. These seniors have turned into a family through battling

together on the football field, intense practices, team din ners, and post-game lockerroom celebrations.”

After the seniors had been honored, the team headed to the locker room for a short break and then were escorted onto the field by horses and riders from the Sisters High Equestrian team. It was a spe cial entrance for what proved to be a fine homecoming night for the Outlaws, as they defeated the Billies 31-7.

Sisters struck first on a beautiful 23-yard touchdown pass to Kayle Mock with a little over two minutes left in the first quarter. The TD was set up by a great defensive stand and fumble recovery by Ben Cooper. Later in the quarter, junior corner Justin DeSmet intercepted the Billies quarterback, which left the score at 7-0 at the close of the period.

At the start of the second quarter, Sisters fumbled and Pleasant Hill got the ball. The Outlaws’ defense made a great stop and took possession. They marched down the field, and after an 18-yard screen to DeSmet put the ball on the two-yard line, Tony Gonzalez scored with just over three minutes left in the half.

The Billies didn’t cave in, but put together a drive of their own and scored with 20 seconds left on the clock. At the half the Outlaws were on top 14-7.

Sisters started the third quarter with the ball and put together a seven-play drive. Moore made a 15-yard com pletion to Kayle Mock and a

38-yard reception to MaddoxCastle, and the drive was capped by a six-yard TD run from Gonzalez making it a 21-7 game.

On the ensuing kick off, the Billies tried to run a reverse, but the Outlaws snuffed it out when Hudson Beckwith forced a fumble that was recovered by Ben Cooper. Sisters got back to work at the 13-yard line, but were only able to produce a 27-yard field goal by Duey that went straight through the uprights. Sisters pushed to a 24-7 advantage.

The Outlaws’ defense held strong in the final quarter, and the offense scored their final TD of the night. DeSmet busted through the Billies’ defense for a 56-yard touch down run, and took Sisters to a 31-7 lead with just under three minutes left on the clock.

On Pleasant Hill’s next possession, Beckwith inter cepted a pass from the Billies’ quarterback and secured the win.

Sisters finished the night with 353 total offensive yards. On defense, Cooper, Murillo, Rard, and Gonzalez tallied five tackles each, and DeSmet had three tackles and one interception.

Hall said, “I thought our defense played great once again. We came away with three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Each week

our boys are rising to the occasion, flying around on defense, and having fun, and this is what you want to see as a coach.”

Hall added, “Justin (DeSmet) had another great week running the football. Adam (Maddox-Castle) had a couple great catches, Easton (Moore) had some great throws, and Tony (Gonzalez) was able to find the end zone down in the red zone. Our offensive line is progressing each week, and are doing a great job protecting our quar terback and opening holes for our running backs. I was also pleased with our kicking

game. Brody (Duey) went four-for-four with PATs and hit a 27-yard field goal during the game. It is great having a reliable kicker that we can turn to to put points on the board.”

The Outlaws are now 3-1 in league and 5-2 overall. This upcoming week will be a big challenge for the Outlaws as they travel to Siuslaw, who is also 3-1 in league and 5-2 overall. The game will have major playoff implications, but Hall told The Nugget his boys are hungry, and up for the challenge. The game is scheduled for Friday, October 21, with kickoff at 7 p.m.

The Outlaws turned in a stellar performance to win their homecoming game over Pleasant Hill.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA KENNEDY

Household items to be repaired free of charge

By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

Whether you bury it in the garage or send it to the land fill, chances are you’ve run into a broken household object recently. Many folks don’t know what else to do with it.

“We throw away vast amounts of stuff,” accord ing to the international orga nization Repair Café. “Even things with almost nothing wrong, and which could get a new lease on life after a sim ple repair.”

Call a local repair shop and you may find it’s more affordable to buy a new gad get than get your old one fixed. An outfit in Redmond recently quoted rates begin ning at $115/hour to look at a Chinese-made alarm clock purchased from Amazon for $16.

Noted the shop employee, “We can’t compete with the child slave labor over there on price.”

The situation perpetuates a model of environmental dam age (shipping, packaging, and manufacturing a new clock) and wastes money (another $16 down the drain) in addi tion to promoting dubious labor practices overseas.

Enter the Repair Café. In this model, volunteers who know how to make things

work again are brought together with everyday folks who have broken stuff. These generous volunteers are called “fixers.”

Bend-based non profit organization The Environmental Center spon sors Repair Cafés in Central Oregon. An event will be held in Sisters this Thursday eve ning at the library. Past fixers here have helped repair small appliances, jewelry, wood, fabrics, bikes, and more.

Mike De La Mater has been volunteering as a fixer since Bend’s first Repair Café. Now based in Prineville, he is “a firm believer that there’s enough stuff in the landfills.”

“So if I can put a cord on a vacuum cleaner, show somebody how to fix their own thing in the future, I can reduce that amount of waste,” he said. “It costs a lot of resources to make a new thing.”

Most of the fixers talk as they repair objects, accord ing to De La Mater. “The guy that fixes jewelry, the one that sews, they talk,” he said. Through talking while they fix, these volunteers help Repair Café patrons learn to do their own repairs in the future.

“A lot of what I do is edu cation,” he explained. “I talk the entire time I’m working

on your thing. ‘Here’s where it’s broken. It broke because someone did this goofy thing to it. Let me show you how to prevent that.”

Fixers at Repair Cafés bring their own specialties to each event. “Mostly it’s been small appliances for me: toasters, lamps, vacuum cleaners, coffee pots,” said De La Mater. “People bring in family heirloom things that they would like to use.”

De La Mater is modest about his skills. “A lot of the things I do are not technical at all — they’re just like, putting the end on the cord,” he said.

“If you’ve never done it, it’s intimidating,” he admit ted, “because it’s electrical and it’ll kill you. People are easily intimated.”

He cites putting a belt on a vacuum cleaner as something the average person could eas ily learn. “There are some things that are harder, like bicycle tune-ups and whatnot. But when the dog chews the cord off your favorite space heater—it’s really, really straightforward. You can fix it for yourself.”

For those of us who are easily intimidated, there’s the Repair Café. This week’s event is presented in partner ship with Deschutes Public Library. It takes place at the Sisters branch (110 N. Cedar

St.) on Thursday, October 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Attendees may bring one or two items for repair. Items may be repaired on the spot.

Alternately, if a fixer deter mines that a visitor could do the repair at home themselves, they may give them instruc tions instead.

What types of items will be repaired? Organizers aren’t sure yet. Those wishing to make sure they bring the right kind of broken objects can check the following link before heading out to the library: https://envirocenter. org/tec-events/repair-cafe/.

The Repair Café is free

and no RSVP is required. Questions can be directed to Udara Abeysekera Bickett, program manager of the Rethink Waste project at the Environmental Center. Email udara@envirocenter.org or call 541-508-5439.

“We always hear such pos itive feedback after an event. People are so excited to keep their items in use, instead of throwing them away,” Abeysekera Bickett said.

There are over 2,200 local Repair Café groups world wide. To learn more, see repaircafe.org. To learn more about The Environmental Center, see envirocenter.org.

“Fixer” volunteer Greg Sheahan helps a patron get a household object back into working order. Sisters residents can bring items to the Repair Café on October 20 at the library.

PHOTO BY TIM PAGE

High rents, inflation create instability

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

High rental housing costs, low inventory of affordable homes, and climbing inflation conspire to keep a certain per centage of Sisters residents from having stable permanent housing, even if they have full-time employment.

On Thursday eve ning, October 20, Citizens4Community and The Nugget Newspaper are co-sponsoring a community forum at the Sisters Fire Hall Community Room at 301 S. Elm St. and the public is invited. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. Six panel members will each present informa tion on a different aspect of houselessness, from Buddy Blair, employed in Sisters, who lives in the forest with his family, to Lt. Chad Davis, Sisters office of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Following the panel presen tations, the floor will open to questions.

Lois Kaping, who was one of the first co-chairs of the Sisters Cold Weather Shelter (SCWS) steering commit tee, will discuss the role the faith community has played in assisting our unhoused neighbors (see adjacent story). Kaping now serves as the Wellhouse Church (for merly Westside) liaison to the SCWS.

In its first two winters, the Shelter served 12-24 clients a night, including one family with two children, who were helped to find permanent

housing. Those winters, “fos ter pet parents” cared for guests’ dogs so they didn’t have to leave them at their camps. The Shelter opened for the first time in January 2017 and successfully served 41 adults and three children over three months, providing 860 bed nights, hot dinners, and breakfasts.

Kaping said last year about 10 people would show up for dinner, with some returning to their camps for the night to protect their belongings from possible theft, and to be with their dogs as there are no lon ger foster pet parents.

The good news is that more than a few guests found permanent housing. Through the work of Dawn Cooper of the Sisters Family Access Network (FAN), a number of outcomes helped shelter guests to improve their situ ation, including: obtained birth certificate; applied for employment; began work; obtained Oregon State I.D.; received food benefits; received OHP medical insur ance; applied for housing; obtained permanent hous ing/shelter; and connected to legal services.

Kaping thinks that having community members volun teer at the Shelter has helped to break down barriers and undo stereotypes through finding commonalities between the volunteers and guests. Sitting down together for a meal, and conversing, helps guests to feel seen and heard, providing them a sense of dignity. That first winter, 60 residents trained to serve

as volunteers.

City Councilor Andrea Blum will be represent ing the City on the panel. She is the City’s representa tive on the new City-County Coordinated Houseless Response Office. This group is one of eight pilot programs in the state that will receive $1 million for start-up to pro vide high-level coordination in a central location, to create a more responsive system for houseless residents.

The office will serve as a clearinghouse for houseless residents and service pro viders. By centralizing the information, it will be easier to identify service gaps and duplications.

Blum said that the City’s role in addressing house lessness is to support those nonprofit organizations that directly address houselessness to improve the lives of the unhoused in Sisters Country.

“State law pinpoints exactly what we can do,” Blum explained.

She said something the City can do is help people who work and live in the com munity by working on codes that would make affordable housing easier to build.

The City of Bend is pro viding the office space for the Response Office and rep resentatives from each city in Deschutes County serve on the steering committee. A new executive director was just recently hired, com ing from the tourist town of Lake Tahoe, which shares some common issues with Deschutes County.

Cold Weather Shelter had a successful start

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

In December 2016, at the beginning of what proved to be an especially harsh winter, an unhoused man named Ed Fones died in his car of hypo thermia. Fones was employed in Sisters, but couldn’t afford to pay rent, so lived in his car.

At the time of this tragedy, a dedicated group of com munity members was already in the process of establish ing Sisters’ first cold weather Shelter, led by co-chairs Pastor Ron Gregg of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and Lois Kaping of Westside Church (now Wellhouse). The shelter opened its doors on January 1, 2017, two weeks too late to save Ed Fones.

The initial community response to the shelter was significant. Donations of supplies and money needed by both the shelter and its guests showed up all winter long. Citizens, businesses, and churches provided sleep ing mats and bedding, storage bins, hot dinners, and light breakfasts with snacks to go, hygiene items, clothing, gift cards, and access to employ ment support and community services.

Activities offered at the Shelter included meals, cards,

puzzles, movies, conversa tion, and community. Three Sisters churches – Westside, Sisters Community, and Church of the Transfiguration — offered shelter space on a rotating monthly basis.

Before the second winter season in 2017-18, a ben efit concert organized by Ed Fitzjarrel of Metabolic Maintenance raised $6,350 at an evening of music held at Cork Cellars, with Fitzjarrel donating $3,850 himself. An anonymous resident left a check for $1,400 at the library for the Shelter.

Sisters Dance Academy held a fundraiser resulting in over $500 for the Shelter.

Sisters Girl Scout Troop 10732 placed large barrels in the local schools prior to Christmas vacation and col lected food, bedding, clothing, paper products, and other sup plies for the shelter.

As with everything else, COVID-19 hindered the shel ter’s program for two seasons and adjustments and cutbacks were necessary. The new shel ter leadership will be attend ing a national conference on the East Coast this fall with the possibility for new fund ing and training.

Wellhouse Church plans to host the shelter in January but other facilities are still needed.

Law enforcement and Sisters area houseless

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Being homeless is not a crime.

The local Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office sub station in Sisters is tasked with the delicate task of dealing appropriately with a houseless population and citizen concerns. Lt. Chad Davis will be one of the panelists in a Town Hall, “Houseless in Sisters,” on Thursday, October 20.

Lt. Davis told The Nugget that much of deputies’ time spent in dealing with issues around unhoused people in the community involve try ing to find solutions to prob lems and connect people with appropriate services. He noted that the network of peo ple working on these issues has grown and improved in recent years, allowing depu ties to find people to help when law enforcement isn’t the solution.

He said that when people see a couple of deputies talk ing to a homeless person, they might think they are “rousting” that person — but most likely they’re trying to figure out how best to find them appropriate help — whether that’s medical assis tance or a ride.

People who are disrup tive in Sisters businesses do get trespassed, and the

Sheriff’s Office responds to law enforcement issues in the forest.

“Our time in the forest is spent responding to 911 calls and conducting follow-up investigations,” Davis notes. “I have personally responded to disputes, illegal dumping calls, illegal campfires, con tacts with wanted subjects, abandoned vehicles, and death investigations.

“If a crime has been com mitted, we take action,” Davis says. “If a crime has not been committed we can offer services, such as limited courtesy trans ports, or making referrals to other resources. Some of the resources we com monly reference are the Sisters Kiwanis Club Food Bank, the Wellhouse Church, the Sisters FAN (Family Access Network) office, and the Deschutes County Stabilization Center in Bend.”

Davis also notes that, while some people living in the forest have mental health and stability issues, many are solid citizens.

“One of the perceptions is that people living in the for est are criminals,” he says. “That sometimes is true, but often not. More often than you’d think, people living in the forest have jobs in Sisters Country and are unable to afford housing in the area.

Concussion baseline testing available

The Center Foundation will hold a round of Community Concussion Baseline testing. ImPACT Concussion Baseline testing is available for children ages 12 through 18 who have not already received the base line in the past two years. Group testing will be avail able on Friday, October 21; November 11; and December 19. Each session has a 9 a.m. start with more times added as needed.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, concussions are second only to auto acci dents as the leading cause of childhood injury. It is estimated that 15 to 20 per cent of high school athletes receive a concussion in any given year. If an athlete returns to play before the brain is fully healed, they are at risk of second impact concussion syndrome. In this condition, the brain swells rapidly with, sometimes, fatal consequences. As part of the effort to reduce second impact syndrome, The Center

Foundation has adopted the ImPACT Concussion Baseline Test.

It is recommended that student athletes have a baseline test every two years. ImPACT Concussion Baseline testing is a comput erized “snapshot” of how a child’s healthy brain is func tioning. The test takes less than an hour. The baselines are not MRIs or scans — they are computerized assessment tests. Baseline results are electronically stored for use in the event the child suffers a concussion. In that case, medical professionals can access baseline results and compare them to post-injury tests conducted at an appro priate stage in the recovery process.

The cost of each baseline test is $20, cash or check made out to The Center Foundation. Registration is required by contacting Stuart Schmidt, program manager, at 541-322-2323.

Baseline tests are held at The Center, 2200 NE Neff Rd. in Bend.

The forest often becomes the default housing area for those folks.”

Deputies are empow ered to use discretion in cases where law enforce ment action could be taken — but might not be the best approach to the problem.

town hall forum helps the public understand what can

and cannot be done to address the houseless population in Sisters, and encourages peo ple to volunteer and help pro vide partners in working on a complex issue that is likely to be a part of the community

HOUSELESS IN SISTERS

Thurs., Oct. 20, 5:30-7:30 pm 5:30 p.m., beverages and cookies 6 p.m., panel discussion followed by Q&A Sisters Fire Hall Community Room, 301 S. Elm St.

Citizens4Community (C4C) presents a forum for Sisters residents to learn more about local houseless topics from the experts, with an opportunity for dialogue about this critical issue affecting Sisters Country

Moderator: Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief, The Nugget Newspaper

Speakers: Buddy Blair Forest Dweller

Lois Kaping Faith-Based Advocate

Ian Reid Sisters District Ranger

Colleen Thomas Deschutes County Administrator

Andrea Blum Sisters City Council

Lt. Chad Davis Deschutes County Sheriff ’s Office

Presented by:

Special thanks to our sponsors:

More often than you’d think, people living in the forest have jobs in Sisters Country and are unable to afford housing in the area.

Rand Runco describes Josie Patton as “the classic Outlaw — she dips her toes in everything.” And, he says, “She’s not afraid to lead. She’s just one of those kids that just ex udes confidence.”

That desire to participate and the willingness to step up and lead has made Josie student body vice president, captain of the tennis team and the soccer team, president of the band and jazz band, an IEE intern — and an all-around Outlaws sparkplug.

“School’s just kind of my happy place,” she explained. “I feed off the energy the school gives me.”

In addition to her cocurricular activities, Josie is fully engaged academically

“I’m pretty strong when it comes to English and history,” she said. “I really love writing. And anything to do with leadership That’s where I strive to be in the school.”

Josie’s future plans are not set. She anticipates attending a small school in the Pacific Northwest where she has access to the outdoor way of life she loves, and where she can play socce r or basketball.

“Josie Patton is a wonderful human being. I so appreciate her work ethic as a student leader here at SHS. She is committed to mak ing SHS a better place and is willing to give her time and talents to make that a reality Her positive, “we got this!” spirit even in the face of adversity is wonderful to work with and behold. She is a talented writer and a creative problem solver, and she is doing an amazing job as spirit coordinator She is thoughtful and spunky; SHS and the world is blessed to have her” — Jami Lyn Weber

“Josie is a fantastic human and leader She leads with humility and kindness and goes out of her way to help others feel included. Josie has contributed so much to our community over the last 12 years, and continues to give wholeheartedly this year as a senior As an IEE intern and active student leader, Josie helps inspire the community to engage and support each other Thank you, Josie!” — Rima Givot

“Josie is everything we hope a student leader would be. She is kind, enthusiastic, and relentlessly positive in the example she sets for her peers and our staff.” — Steve Stancliff, SHS Principal

“All in!” Is how we would best describe Josie and everything she does for SHS. Involved in band, leadership, athletics, and a flat out great person, she has a true Outlaw spirit that makes our school better Thank you Josie!!!” — Gary Thorson, Athletic Director

“Josie is one-of-a-kind. As I sit here writ ing this, I can’t help but picture her leading the cheers in the student section at Friday’s homecoming game. I was so proud! The students were great, and much of that had to do with Josie. Josie is a wonderful example of someone who is true to her school. She has extreme pride and shows this every single day

at SHS. She mindfully chooses to encourage all those she comes in contact with, includes everyone, and continually makes selfless decisions to better the whole. I love Josie’s positive attitude, her high level of integrity, her sense of humor, and her honesty — all of which positively contribute to the culture of our school and community She leads by ex ample and makes a strong effort to always give her best. Her energy and enthusiasm are difficult to match so she is a fantastic team member, regardless of the situation. I think Josie is truly a treasure, and she will be great ly missed around here when she graduates. But honestly, I am also excited to see how she will continue to positively impact people in her future. That will be inevitable.” — Ms. Spear

“Josie, you are an amazing, strong, encouraging person and a great example of how to live life! Thank you for being so awesome!!!” — Rick Kroytz

Congratulations…

Work is Always

b

be found at

by co-sponsoring the Student of the Month program.

Outlaws win cross-country meet

The Outlaws boys crosscountry team took full advan tage of competing at the home course on the school fields and forests behind the high school, on the way to win ning the team title in the third annual Clash in the Cascades Invitational on Thursday, October 13.

The 15-team meet included schools from all over Central Oregon, and some from the Willamette Valley.

All of the Outlaws’ scor ers placed within the top 22, giving the team a 14-point margin over runner-up 5A Crook County 64-78. Cottage Grove finished third (81) and Caldera fourth (87).

After taking an early lead, Hayden Roth held on to fifth place to lead the Outlaws over the 5,000-meter course in 18:06. Cole Jervis moved up in the second half of the race to finish seventh in his best performance of the season at

18:15. Spencer Tisdel came through in 19:01 for 13th place, and was followed by freshman Ace Chew in 17th (19:17). John Berg rounded out the scoring for Sisters in 22nd (19:38).

Eli Palanuk finished sixth for the team in 21:28.

The course, consisting of some heavy grass and dusty trails, resulted in slow times. The winner, Jaden Owens of Cottage Grove, clocked 17:10, nearly a minute slower than his personal best.

“The boys are coming together as a group just at the right time with two weeks to go until District,” said Coach Charlie Kanzig. “Staying healthy and keeping our eyes on the prize is the goal for the rest of the season.”

The mid-season coaches’ poll has Sisters ranked fifth among 3A boys teams behind Siuslaw, Valley Catholic, Oregon Episcopal, and Santiam Christian.

“If we can stick together, I believe we can live up to that ranking,” said Kanzig. “Enterprise, last year’s state champions, are coming on late in the season, and can’t be ignored.”

On the girls side, Ella Bartlett won her very first varsity race in cross-country, leading throughout the race to win in 20:50. Sydney White of Burns took second in 20:56.

“Ella ran with great poise and confidence,” said Kanzig. “She has had a very strong season and is one of the top ten 3A/2A/1A runners in Oregon.

Freshman Brooke Duey had another strong outing herself, finishing in seventh place in a quality field of run ners (21:39).

Delaney McAfee (25:47), Freja Pederson (27:03), and Mae Roth (27:23) scored for the Outlaws, who finished fifth in the team standings among eight complete teams.

Sisters was without num ber-three runner Nevaeh McAfee due to injury.

Philomath, the top-ranked 4A team, ran with only half of its varsity team, showing its depth by still capturing the team title with 64 points over Burns (72), Crook County (86), and Caldera (90).

The Sisters girls have their work cut out for them head ing into the 3A/2A/1A dis trict meet as five teams from Special District 3 rank in the top 10. Enterprise, Union, Burns, and Heppner were ranked fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth in the mid-season coaches’ poll. Sisters is rated 10th.

“We are in a similar posi tion as last year in that the teams that come most pre pared at District will be the ones to advance to State,” said Kanzig. “At least three teams from our district meet will go on to State and we will do all we can to be one of them.”

The Special District 3A boys and 3A/2A/1A girls

meet is scheduled for Friday, October 28, at Pendleton Community Park starting at 2 p.m.

“It’s a new world for us; being in this classification and having to drive 250 miles to get to the meet to face all the Eastern Oregon teams will be a bit of a challenge, but we’ll be ready,” Kanzig said.

Pampered Boarding!

Reelect

for City Council

I have been a Sisters resident since 2017. For the past two years, I have been privileged to serve as a City Councilor Sisters is growing and changing. Decisions made by elected and appointed o cials will determine where Sisters as a community is 10 to 20 years from now

I bring extensive experience in long-range planning, public/private partnerships, and public budgeting.

Ella Bartlett won her first varsity race in cross-country last week.

PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN

Cole Jervis ran hard in his best performance of the season.

PHOTO BY JACK TURPEN

I will carefully consider all perspectives, seek information necessary, and make decisions based on community wants and needs.

541-382-3537

A

Sisters High School Graduation Night Fundraiser

MARIPOSA

is pret ty lady came to HSCO af ter escaping Hurricane Ian. Not much is known about her histor y, so all introductions moving forward should be taken slowly and patiently as they adju st Af ter being flown across countr y, stress is a given. Be cause of this, Mariposa may need a quieter home before she star ts feeling herself ag ain. She can get a bit stressed when being rest rained in a veterinary environment to which she has shown a resistance to handling and restraint. You will also want to monitor this cat with children, who might tr y to carr y the cat around in their arms

An October fest graduation night f undraiser for the senior class of 2023 will be held Saturday, October 29 f rom 5 to 9 p.m. at Sisters High School. Wonderful auction and e items , including a week t a Hawaii home, a Sonoma house rental, and Pacific Cit y options. Beer, wine, dinner, and entertainment. E arn wonder ful prizes and contribute o an ama zing cause. Tickets include dinner and a drink $30 if purchased by 10/1. $40 if purchased after 10/1. Purchase tickets in advance at www eventbrite.com/e/oktober fest tickets-417568186687, in-person at Sisters High School or Deri’s Salon (20 8 S . Cedar St., Sisters). Cont act Kelly Davis Martin at kad_ martin@hotmail .com

Tempor ar y Help Needed for Tuesday Free Meal Service Seeking a sta er/leader for November and December 2022 Tuesday f ree meal ser vice. On-site need is f rom 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Sisters Community Church ere is some planning/ shopping to be done ahead of time. Call 541-760 -5677 for more information

Weekly Food Pant ry e Wellhouse Church will have a weekly food pantr y on ursdays at 4:30 p.m. (222 N . Trinit y Way) Both drive through pick-up and shoppingst yle distribution are available Plea se call 541-549-4184 for information.

Sisters Seeking Applicants for Advisory Boards e Cit y is accepting applications for its boards and commissions . ere are positions open on the Planning Commission,

Free Lunches For Seniors e Council on Aging of Central Oregon is ser ving seniors (60+) f ree lunches on Tuesdays , Wednesdays, and ursdays at the Sisters Communit y Church located at 130 0 McKenzie Hwy., Sisters . e Tuesday meal is sit down from 11 a .m. to 1 p.m . and also o ers activities and information about health, communit y resources , and nutrition. On Wednesdays and ursdays lunche s are o ered drive-through style, f rom 12:30 p.m . to 1 p.m. and seniors can drive through the parking lot to pick up a meal on those days . Come on by; no need to make a reser vation. For more information call 541-678-5483.

Announce Your Celebr ations! Birth, engagement, wedding , and milestone anniversar y notices from the Sisters community may run at no charge on this Announcements page. All submissions are subject to editing for space. Email leith@nug getnews .com or drop o at 4 42 E . Main Ave Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays Call 541-549-9941 for more information.

Sisters Garden Club Puzzle Sales ank you to the Sisters Communit y for supporting Sisters Garden Club by helping them sell their 25th Anniversary Edition “Quilts in the Garden” Pu zzle. Puz zles are currently available for purchase for $20 at the following locations: Ray ’s Food Place, e Gallimauf ry, Fika Sisters Co eehouse, and Metamorphosis Salon. Purchase puzzles now before they are all gone. ey make great gif ts Cont act 971-246-040 4 for more information.

e

Save the Rubb erbands Business owners: Are you the recipient of a bundle of Nug gets each week? ose f at rubberbands are highly valued by the Nug geteers that bundle your papers each week . If you can save them, we’d love to use them again. Questions? Call Janice at 541-549-9941.

Craf ters Wanted

Qualit y craf t consigners wanted for 4 6th Snowflake Boutique, November 4 & 5, 2022. Jur y will be held at Highland Baptist Church, Redmond, October 17 at 6 p.m. Fore more information: www.snowflakeboutique.org ; Tina 541-4 47-164 0 or Jan 541-350 -4888

Free Pet Food

Budget tight this month but you still need pet food for your dog or cat? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4 023 to schedule your pickup. Pickups available ursdays , beginning at 12:30 p.m . Located at 412 E . Main Ave., Ste. 4, behind e Nug get Central Oregon Health Council

Seek s Input

If you’re having trouble paying for the things you need to live and you’re earning too much money to qualify for financial assistance, the Central Oregon Health Council wants to hear f rom you. Join us on November 1 f rom 6 to 7:30 p.m . for an evening listening session in Sisters and share your story. You will receive $50 and a f ree meal for participating. Your input will help shape f uture decisions about funding. To R SVP and get location information, call 541-610 -4317 or email lquon@quondc .com

Sisters- Camp Sher man Annual Halloween Event Sisters community children and f amilies are invited to a howling good time at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station f rom 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 31. Come check out our carnival games and , if you dare, venture into the new haunted maze at the annual Halloween event ere will be ref reshments, prizes , and candy for all the trick-or-treaters . Grab your f riends and join our volunteers for a screaming fun time! For more info call 541-549- 0771

Volunteers Needed Furr y Friends is looking for volunteers to help with its bottle and can fundraiser drive once a week (Wednesday, ursday or Saturday). It takes about 45 minutes to put donated bottles and cans in our blue fundraiser bags . e bags are processed at our donation drop o spot on e Nug get porch; the bags are then delivered to the Bottledrop at Ray’s . To volunteer please call 541-797-4023 or email info@ furr yf riendsfoundation.org

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Caregiver Suppor t Group

elma’s Place Adult Day Respite Program in Redmond host s a monthly support group for those caring for someone with Alzheimer ’ s or another dementia-related disease. e support group is held every third Wednesday of the month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. is is a f ree family-caregiver support group featuring local organiz ations For more info call 541-548-3049.

SISTER S- AR EA C HURCH ES

Baha’i Faith

Currently Zoom meetin

Wellhouse Church 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184

tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com 10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Rocha

Sunday Mass

8 a.m. Monday-Friday Mass

e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Trinit y Way

a.m.

Calvar y Church

W.

a.m.

Branch President, 541-420-5670

St

e Episcopal Church of the Tr ansfiguration 68825 Brooks Camp Rd .

541-549-70 87 8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship 10 :15 a.m. Episcopal Sund ay Worship www.episcopalsisters.com

Sisters Church of the Nazarene 67130 Harrington Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960 www.sistersna z.org

info@sistersna z.org 10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Sisters Communit y Church (Nondenominational) 1300 W. McKenzie Hw y.

541-549-1201 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com

Outlaws suffer tough loss to Santiam Christian

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws boys soccer team suffered a tough 2-1 loss at Santiam Christian on Thursday, October 13.

Sisters and Santiam Christian both came onto the field focused and ready to play, but seven minutes in the Outlaws had a breakdown in communication on defense, and the Eagles scored.

Coach Jeff Husmann told The Nugget his team didn’t panic, but settled into their style of play, and showed character and grit.

The Eagles boast a couple of very fast and crafty players, but the Outlaws’ defense made the necessary adjustments and neutralized their attack.

At the 28-minute mark Vincent Christian drove a low corner into the sixyard box, and Aidan Eckert flicked it into the net for the equalizer.

Just moments before the half, a questionable foul was called just outside the penalty box, and the Eagles scored.

At the half, the Outlaws trailed 1-2.

Sisters came out of the half and immediately controlled possession of the ball and created attacks.

The Outlaws were on the Eagles’ end of the pitch for the majority of the second half, and their energy was ramped up. They had a few chances to score right in front of the goal, but unfortunately just couldn’t finish.

Husmann said, “Soccer sure can be fickle, and this was just such a match. We won the battle but lost the war. Of course the boys were bummed, but when we look at the road into the playoffs, this will be a positive for us. We are excited to have

Girls soccer notches two more wins

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Lady Outlaws continued to roll over league foes last week, with an 8-0 shutout at home against a young and inexperienced Siuslaw squad on Monday, October 10, and three days later a 3-0 shutout on the road at Santiam Christian.

defense has been trying out people in different positions and working on getting people forward. He stated that Analise Backus and Ella Eby are both doing a great job of doing that.

Eagles’ hopes started to diminish. Momentum shifted to the Outlaws, and they controlled the ball and played generous the remainder of the contest.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Clausen scored an unassisted goal to put the Outlaws on top 3-0, and the score held until the final whistle.

the opportu-

nity to play some tough teams.”

Junior Evan Martin and sophomore Micah Dachtler were standout players for the Outlaws.

Husmann said, “Evan is speedy and physical and did a great job as an outside midfielder. Micah studies the game and the various positions he plays for us. Early in the year he was playing as an outside midfielder, but now has evolved into a starter as an outside back. He is a reliable and intelligent player.”

Baylor Dyer was also mentioned for his outstanding game on defense. Dyer marked the Eagles’ striker, and matched his speed.

Husmann told The Nugget that he is an athletic player who is a very integral part of the defensive unit.

Sisters was scheduled to play at La Pine on Monday, October 17. They will wrap up league play at home on Wednesday, October 19, against Central Linn, currently at the top of the league.

In Tuesday’s game the Outlaws scored seven goals in the first 25 minutes of the contest and at the half held an 8-0 lead. Since the Outlaws were up by eight, the game was called and came to an end.

The Outlaws were able to move the ball around the field with ease, get balls to the corner, and finish in front of the goal.

Marley Holden led the charge with a hat trick, and one assist. Juhree Kizziar tallied two goals and one assist, and Izzy Schiller, Lily Sundstrom, and Ella Davis each scored one goal.

Coach Brian Holden told The Nugget that the Outlaws’ accuracy was much better than in previous games, and noted the play of Lily Sundstrom and Ella Davis.

“It was great to see Lily and Ella cutting to the inside and creating opportunities for themselves,” said Holden.

Holden also noted that the

In the Outlaws’ matchup at Santiam Christian on Thursday, the Lady Eagles pressed hard and created a couple of close opportunities, but goalie Josie Patton was there and made great saves.

Sisters weathered the Eagles’ attacks, settled in, and in the 30th minute Tatem Cramer scored with an assist from Becca Clausen.

Clausen beat her opponent, cut to the inside, and laid the ball off to Cramer, who onetouched it with a powerful shot down the middle for the score.

At the half the Outlaws held a 1-0 advantage.

The Outlaws scored their second goal of the contest 25 minutes into the final half.

Sundstrom won the ball, and dished off a nice pass to Holden, who knocked it in from 18 yards out.

At that point the Lady

Coach Holden said that Izzy Schiller, in particular, played great.

Holden said, “Izzy’s work rate and intensity in the middle was just outstanding, and she causes the other girls to rise to her level.”

Holden also told The Nugget that Becca Clausen played her wing role to perfection.

The Outlaws are still undefeated in league play. They’ve scored 60-plus goals against their opponents and have only been scored on three times.

Sisters was to play at home against Elmira on Monday, October 17. They will wrap up league play at Central Linn on Wednesday, two days later.

WEDNESDAY

FRIDAY

OCTOBER 19

OCTOBER 21

to 7:30 p.m. Weather permitting For more information

The Barn in Sisters on Facebook.

Karaoke with KJ Mindy

p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information call 541-549-6114.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Car Show 5-7 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool or vintage car for the car show — or come to see them! For info call 541-549-2471

MONDAY

OCTOBER 24

Paulina Springs Books Author Reading: Mar y Fifield & Kristin Thiel 6:30 p.m. “Fire & Water: Stories from the Anthropocene.” More information: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 28

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

Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Galleries and shops feature art and demonstrations. For additional information go to www.sistersartsassociation.org.

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Bart Budwig Band 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Weather permitting For more information

The Barn in Sisters on Facebook.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Car Show 5-7 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool or vintage car for the car show — or come to see them! For info call 541-549-2471

MONDAY • OCTOBER 31

Downtown Sisters Halloween Parade 3:30-5 p.m. Ages 1-10 Meet at Fir Street Park. Costumes required, kids must be accompanied by an adult, canned

New four-way stop set for Main Avenue

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

A traffic safety improve ment in downtown Sisters will be in effect starting Thursday, October 20. Watch for a new four-way stop at the intersection of East Main Avenue and North Larch Street.

The need for a fourway stop at the Larch-Main intersection was identified in the Sisters 2021 Traffic Safety Audit conducted by the City’s traffic engineer, including a traffic count to determine trip numbers from all four directions.

Public Works Director Paul Bertagna said the inter section will have several indicators to draw attention to the traffic revision. Signs will be posted in all four directions indicating “Stop Ahead.” The stop signs will be surrounded by LED blink ing lights like the current stop

sign at the North Pine Street/ West Barclay Drive intersec tion. “STOP” will also be stenciled onto the pavement in all four directions.

The Larch/Main inter section has only had stop signs for motorists traveling north and south on Larch, with traffic on Main going straight through. There have been a number of accidents and many close calls over the years.

The City wanted to wait until after tourist season to make the changes, so resi dents will have time to get accustomed to the new stops before tourist season begins next year.

Another intersection that may be considered for a four-way stop is the one at North Elm Street and Main Avenue. Bertagna said they want some time to evaluate the Larch/Main improve ments before moving ahead at Elm.

LETTERS

entirely to market prices. Equally disingenu ous are the words “balancing housing needs with protection of the environment,” which really mean approving more tract housing.

In the November elections, I would encourage readers to vote for City Council members and county commissioners who put the interests of residents above those of developers and who have common sense. Remember, growth for growth’s sake is the rationale of the cancer cell. It will kill its host.

P.S.: After duping the City Council and receiving financial incentives from the City (and State?) to set up production of so-called “superfoods” in Sisters, Laird is folding its tents and slinking away. Its employees will be let go. Let us not forget that part of the justification for the Woodlands project was to provide housing for Laird’s employees.

Gary Leiser

s s s

Vote to save our water

To the Editor:

Every year more and more water wells are failing in Deschutes County. We’re in a multiyear drought cycle with increasing tempera tures, and decreasing snowpack to refill our reservoirs, rivers, and water table. Increased water demand from new developments, both residential and destination resorts, can only worsen our existing water crisis.

Two of our current Deschutes County commissioners are on the ballot seeking re-election: Tony DeBone and Patti Adair. Both have repeatedly approved plans for large-scale developments, including the Thornburgh Destination Resort and Eden Properties’ proposed 710-acre subdivision above Lower Bridge. Both of these develop ments seriously threaten our limited water resources.

In both instances, these two public ser vants ignored Oregon’s land use laws, instead granting approvals to these developers over the strenuous objections of local farmers, ranchers, and neighbors. Years of litigation related to the Thornburgh development have already cost Oregon taxpayers large sums.

Enough is enough. It is time for a change!

We need leaders on our County Commission who will vote to uphold our state land use laws and protect the future of our remaining Central Oregon water resources instead of catering to big-bucks developers.

Both Oliver Tatom and Morgan Schmidt have publicly stated that they would have opposed Eden Properties’ 710-acre subdivi sion near Lower Bridge, and would work to protect our limited water supply as well as other Central Oregon resources.

These are the leaders we need to preserve our water resources and the quality of life we value here in Deschutes County.

Please vote for both Oliver Tatom and Morgan Schmidt for the Deschutes County Commission. The future of our county depends on it.

Donna and Paul Lipscomb s s s

Are we better off?

To the Editor:

I received my Voters’ Pamphlet today, and as I began to study the candidates to deter mine whom I will vote for, I asked, “Are we better off today than we were just two years ago?” Let’s look at some comparisons to October 2020.

Economy: In 2020, the U.S. economy was the greatest ever experienced by any nation in the history of the world. In 2022, we are tech nically in a recession; some say the country has lost close to $7,000,000,000 in personal wealth. Retirement accounts are in sad shape. Mortgage rates are up from two and a half percent to nearly seven percent.

Inflation: In 2020, the inflation rate was 1.4 percent. The inflation rate for September was 8.4 percent and much higher for specific products. Does your paycheck pay for as much today? The Heritage Foundation esti mates that the average family has lost $7,200 in purchasing power.

Energy: In 2020, we were energy inde pendent, using hydro, nuclear, oil, gas, solar, and wind to supply all the power we needed and exporting to European countries. In 2022, nuclear, oil, and gas are not welcome. The U.S. has shut down production in our coun try and has become an importer of energy.

MEASURE

The intersection at Main Avenue and Larch Street has seen accidents and innumerable close calls.

PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD

For third year in a row

Wickiup Reservoir emptied

BEND (AP) — A water reservoir considered to be a key bellwether for the amount of water available for farmers in Central Oregon is nearly empty again at the end of the irrigation season.

The Bulletin reports Wickiup Reservoir was just 3 percent full as of Tuesday, October 11, according to the Bureau of Reclamation website.

Some water is being retained to avoid a turbidity problem that happened two years ago when the Deschutes River turned an unusual shade of green in Bend.

Wickiup Reservoir holds irrigation water in winter for North Unit Irrigation District farmers to use in the spring and summer. But drought has drained the reservoir to the bottom in the last three years and in four of the last five years.

Bridget Moran, Bend field office supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said her agency is working with Habitat Conservation Plan permit holders and fed eral partners to “adaptively manage” the limited water supplies.

Jeremy Giffin, the Deschutes Basin watermas ter, said the amount of water available in 2023 for irriga tion is likely to be an amount similar to what the reservoir held last April.

“However, I am hopeful we have an above-average snowpack this upcoming win ter, which could help lift those

levels a bit higher,” Giffin said.

At the end of March, four area reservoirs were at record low levels for the start of irrigation season. Wickiup was 55 percent full, a level that forced the North Unit Irrigation District to cut the allotment of water to its low est allocation farmers have had in that area.

In the Upper Deschutes Basin, snowpack was just 54 percent of normal at the end of March, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A lateseason snowfall helped to make up some ground.

Central Oregon’s drought has been described as the worst on record, going back 127 years.

Larry O’Neill, an associate professor at the Oregon State University College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, said seasonal fore cast models suggest aboveaverage precipitation in Central Oregon for December to February and near-normal temperatures.

“The projection for more precipitation than normal this winter from the seasonal forecast models is of low to medium confidence,” O’Neill said.

Art programing back at Movie House

Continuing a tradition dating back to 2017, Sisters Movie House announced that special one-night-only arts presentations will return on Thursday, October 20.

The 2022 Autumn Arts Series kicked off on October 6, with a music documen tary on the pop-rock band Chicago. Now the series moves into the popular realm of modern art with a spe cial on 20th-century painter Edward Hopper. “Hopper: An American Love Story” provides a comprehensive look at one of America’s bestknown, but least understood artists. It will air for one night only on Thursday, October 20, at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are priced at $15 and available at www.sistersmoviehouse.com or at the theater box office.

“Hopper is an unques tioned genius,” said Drew Kaza, managing part ner of Quoin Media & Entertainment LLC, which owns and operates Sisters Movie House. “At the same time, there is so much about him that is not well known. This film takes a fascinating look both at his art and the mysterious man himself.”

In addition to announc ing the latest in the Autumn Arts Series, Sisters Movie House is also happy to con firm it will return to its “regular” seven-day-a-week schedule from Monday, October 31.

“We have been on a spe cial limited schedule of Fridays through Sundays since Labor Day,” said Kaza. “There was simply a huge dearth of decent films being

offered, but, as of next week, that all starts to change. So we will go back to seven days after Halloween and we don’t expect any further revi sions, other than our usual expanded schedule at the holidays, through the rest of 2022.”

New releases already confirmed for the coming weeks include “Black Adam” with Dwayne Johnson and

“Ticket to Paradise” starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts — both starting on Friday, October 21. Critically acclaimed titles “Till” and “Tar” both debut the follow ing week.

The rest of the Autumn Arts Series will continue in November and early December, with specials on Paul Cezanne and George Harrison, amongst others.

The iconic American artist Edward Hopper is profiled in a special showing of “Hopper: An American Love Story” at Sisters Movie House.

GRAPHIC PROVIDED

I am hopeful we have an above-average snowpack this upcoming winter...

— Jeremy Giffin

Sisters Country birds

By Douglas Beall Correspondent

A relatively common dabbler duck, the Northern Pintail [Anus acuta] , feeds on grains, seeds, crusta ceans, and aquatic insects. It gets its name from the long tail feathers ending in a dis tinctive narrow sharp tip.

They build their nest amongst the reeds in marshes and begin nesting in very early spring, laying six to 12 pale olive eggs, which hatch in 21-25 days. Ducklings leave the nest immediately, and are capa ble of flying in 38-45 days.

Pintails once were one of the most abundant ducks in North America, but have suffered a disturbing decline since the 1950s. A loss of 2.6 percent population per year between 1966 and

2012 resulted in a cumula tive decline of 72 percent. In 2009, the Pintail popu lation was estimated at 3.2 million birds, well below the American Waterfowl Management Plans objec tive of 5.5 million.

A Pintail has the record for long-distance duck migration, as one was tracked from California to the Black Sea, a flight of 9,000 miles.

Slim and long necked, the Northern Pintails display an elegant appearance on water and in flight earning the nickname “Greyhound of the Skies.”

Groups of Pintails are known as a “paddling,” “raft,” or a “flush.”

For more Northern Pintail images visit http:// abirdsingsbecauseithasa song.com/recent-journeys.

SFF presents Jake Blount at The Belfry

Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) presents a special concert with Jake Blount at the Belfry on Thursday, November 10. A powerfully gifted musician and a scholar of Black American music, Jake Blount speaks passion ately about the African roots of the banjo and the subtle, yet profound ways African Americans have shaped and defined the amorphous cat egories of roots music and Americana. On stage, each song he and his band play is chosen for a reason — because it highlights impor tant elements about the sto ries we tell ourselves of our shared history and our end lessly complicated present moment. Tickets are on sale at https://aftontickets.com/ SFFPresentsJakeBlount.

Blount is an award-win ning musician and a 2020 recipient of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize, and a two-time winner of the Appalachian String Band Music Festival. He is a skilled performer of spirituals, blues, and string band repertoire hav ing played at the Kennedy Center, the Newport Folk Festival, and numerous other venues across and

beyond the United States. He has presented his schol arly work at museums and universities, including the Smithsonian Institution, Berklee College of Music, and Yale University.

Blount will perform his new album, “The New Faith” — spiritual music, filled with hope for salva tion and righteous anger in equal measure. The album is set on the shores of an island in Maine, where Blount enacts an imagined reli gious ceremony performed by Black refugees after the collapse of global civiliza tion due to catastrophic cli mate change. Conceived, written, and recorded dur ing the darkest months of COVID-lockdowns, the album answers the question,

“What would Black music sound like after climate change renders most of the world uninhabitable? What gods would this commu nity praise, and what stories would they tell?”

The concert will be held at The Belfry at 302 E. Main Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m. Additional artist and ticket information can be found on the SFF website at www.sistersfolkfestival. org. This is a general admission, all ages show. Beverages will be available for purchase, no outside food or beverages permit ted in the venue. Follow @SistersFolkFestival on Instagram and Facebook for updates and more information.

Furry Friends Foundation needs your redeemable bottles and cans

Pick up a specially labeled BLUE BAG from the porch of Furr y Friends or The Nugget.

Fill the bag with Oregonredeemable bottles and cans. (Max 20 lbs. per bag.)

Drop off at any BottleDrop location including Ray’s in Sisters (scan code on bag to open door), or on The Nugget’s porch (now on the right side).

Mail tax-deductible donation to: Furr y Friends Foundation, PO Box 1175, Sisters, OR 97759 www.Furr yFriendsFoundation.org 501(c)(3) offering FREE pet food/supplies to Sisters-area families in need. 412 E. Main Ave., Ste. 4 • 541-797-4023 Behind The Nugget Newspaper’s parking lot.

Jake Blount is a musician and a scholar of Black American music. He performs at The Belfry on November 10.

PHOTO BY TADIN BROWN, COURTESY SISTERS FOLK FESTIVAL

Northern Pintails.

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BEALL

T&M Hauling

You can’t wait to get that seasonal cleaning done and lighten your load. But the task of hauling all that junk away just seems too daunting. Enter T&M Hauling. They’re a fullser vice hauling outfit that can handle anything you need taken to the dump — from commercial junk or debris to household goods, from yard debris to items that have sat untouched for years in that spare room, storage unit, or garage. They’re prompt and reliable, with outstanding response times. Same-day or next-day ser vice is available.

Thys and McKibben operate on an ethic

of ser vice. They won’t judge y our junk — they treat eve ry o ne w ith dignit y an d respect and are here to ser ve And, as dedicated members of the Sisters communit y, they always make an effort to give back. So don’t let that pile of stuff intimidate you, and don’t look at it for another year Call T&M Hauling and get it out of your life today.

T&M now has the abilit y to deliver drop boxes to client locations so you c an fill it up on your own. They ’ll come back to pick up the boxes (similar to a dumpster) when you’re done with the project/job

Lady Gets A Gun

Maureen Rogers’ firearms training sessions for women have proven so popular that the men want to par ticipate — a nd they ’ve been made welcome

With the agreement of the women par ticipating in classes, Lady Gets A Gun has been adding co- ed programming, mostly involving couples that opt to train together

Rogers offers a training style that is ideal for first-time firearms users, offering familiarization in a low-stress, safe environment. Many people these days are taking up firearms for the first time, for securit y and for

Touch of Class Tours

We’re all eager to travel — and Touch of Class Tours is looking ahead to 2022.

With ove r 36 years in business, Connie Boyle has created an exceptional tr ave l experience for her customers with her per sonal touch. She loves to interact with her clients and enjoys honoring special occasions like bir thdays and annivers aries.

“I’ve been passionate about this since I stepped on my first [travel] coach,” Connie says. “And I think people feel that.”

Connie goes above and beyond to cre ate specialized t ours. Ev er y thing about

recreational purposes, and they want to learn to be comfortable around guns. The classes are so effective and popular that people will retake them as a refresher or bring a first-timer friend and take a course together

The re sults are e specially fulfilling to Rogers, for whom teaching is a passion. Clients can go from fear of guns to real proficiency in a short time frame with Lady Gets A Gun.

“ That’s what drives me,” she says. “I love being part of their journey and see the transformation from hesitance to empowerment.”

Touch of Class Tours is carefully thought out, with decades of experience helping to make sure every thing goes as smoothly as possible

“ There’s a lot of planning that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t know about,” Connie says. “ That should not be their worr y.”

Book now for 2022 and 2023 t ours: Branson & Le ave nw or th for Christmas, Hawaii Cruise, Branson Music Fe st, Palm Springs, Washington C asino Tour, Reno , and Washington, D.C

To rent a

at 400 E.

call or visit

Drive

4 Brothers Tree Ser vice

Trees are the pride and joy of many a property owner in Sisters Countr y. But they can be a problem when they break and fall and crash to the ground — or on your deck, your house, or your car.

Now is the time to act to protect your proper ty and your safety — with a c all to 4 Brothers Tree Ser vice

Caring for your trees — or dealing with a problem — requires a wide range of knowledge and experience; the right equipment for the job; and a commitment to safety and reliabilit y.

That’s what 4 Br o thers Tr ee Ser vice brings to bear, with a full range of ser vices — tree removal; pruning; stump grinding; fire fuel reduction; lot cleaning; commercial thinning.

4 Brothers is well equipped to handle any tree -ser vice job. Deep knowledge and the right equipment helps ensure that work is done in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible

Now is the time to assess the condition of y our trees. 4 Brothers Tree Ser vice is ready to help

Drainfield Restoration

It’s a moment to dread: Your drainfield is failing. Summer is coming on and you HAVE to get this taken care of

What are you going to do? How much is this going to cost? Replacing it and tearing up your yard is dauntingly expensive, running into the thousands of dollars. But you have an option.

What if you could restore your drainfield without replacing it?

Turn to Drainfield Restoration. As Central Oregon’s only factor y-trained Terralift oper ator, they c an restore your drainfield for a

Kitchen Tune -up

You spend a great deal of time in your kitchen, and you want it to be both functional and a pleasant place to be. Kitchen Tune -Up can make your desires a realit y.

“We h ave fiv e wa ys to upda te y our kitchen in only one to five days,” says owner David Lent z.

Kitchens get a lot of hard use, and they c an star t f eeling run- down. A on e-d ay abinets w the new

hinges and a change in color

“You get, e ssentially, a new kitchen at half the price of a new kitchen,” Lent z says.

If you are feeling ambitious, you can go with a total remodel. Kitchen Tune -Up isn’t going to tr y to sell you on something — it’s about meeting your needs.

“We’re tr ying to give you enough information to make an educated choice,” Lent z says.

Ma ke an appointment for a free e stimate, and Kitchen Tune -Up will come out and explain all the options in full detail.

fraction of the cost of replacement.

Drainfield Restoration blasts air into the soil, breaking up biomat and compaction, restoring the soil’s original leaching capacity. They can also jet inside lines and remove tree roots that are often the culprit in drainfield problems in Sisters Countr y. It’s a one day project — and it works for years.

In business since 1 995, Drainfield Restoration has saved clients thous ands of dollars across the state of Oregon. For tips on restoration and care of your septic system, visit www.RestoreYourSeptic.com.

Law Office of John H. Myers

If y ou h ave a bank account or ow n a h ome, you h ave an “e stat e.” Tha t lof ty t erm leads man y people to think that only the w ealth y need to concern themselv es with estate plan ning. Nothing could be fur ther from the truth.

Estat e planning is the specialt y of the Law Office of John H. Myers — and with National Estate Planning Awareness Week upon us Oct ober 17-2 3, there is no better time to act on something we all too of ten put off until the 11th hour — or just n ever

get done

Using a big law firm or online resources for estate planning is impersonal, and it’s hard to know if y our family ’s needs are truly being met

“I really emphasize t aking the time to get to know people and their family situation,” John Myers says.

Ongoing r elationships and personal ser vice help f olks in Sist ers gain peace of mind and av oid lea ving the disposit ion of their estate up to t he stat e of Oregon.

Cascade Home Rent als & Proper ty Management

When y ou put y our proper ty on the rent al market, it’s imperative to find good tenants, and to be assured that your invest ment is well cared for.

That’s Cascade Home Rentals & Property Management’s specialt y.

Lynn and Ted Reid treat your proper ty as if it we re their own, and they will do whatever it takes, 24/7 to make sure that both tenants and proper ty owners are well cared for. Small problems like a leaky faucet get taken care of quickly and with no fuss, and they ’ll quickly arrange for professional

Metolius Painting

Metolius Painting is a one -man operation — and Brian Cole likes it that way. So do his clients.

Brian is the one who quotes the job, the one who paints the job, and the one who makes sure the work meets his standards and the desires of the client.

Working this way allows Cole to ta ke the time to do things right and w ork in the meticulous manner with intense attention to detail that he prefers. Not having a payroll to meet also means he c an keep his rates lower than most, while turning in

top- qualit y work Brian star ted painting in 2005, when he disc ove re d that he h as a passion fo r construction work — t aking a project and leaving things better than he found them. Along the way, he took a sidetrail into seasonal wildland firefighting, a career path that brought him from Nor th Carolina to Ce n tral Oregon, w orking for the Sist ers Ranger District.

He r ecently went back to painting full-time and f ound his ser vices in high demand.

repair ser vices when those are needed.

They conduct spring and pr e -win te r inspections and do pr eve n tiv e main te nance to stay ahead of any potential issues.

W ith long-t erm ro o ts in the Sist ers communit y, they tr eat eve ry one with respect and ensure that tenants’ privacy is respected, even as they seek an immediate response to needs.

C ascade H ome Re nt als & Pr oper ty Management is also available to keep an eye on non-rental second homes and take care of any maintenance requirements.

BANR

BANR Enterprises is locally owned and operated with over 30 years of experience in the construction industr y. Their range of expertise means their clients c an come to BANR with any kind of challenge and they ’ll work together to find the right solution.

BANR is not just a contractor but a ser vice provider for all t ypes of exc av ation, grading, utilities, concret e, and rocker y. Their customers include residential, commercial, heavy civil, and industrial wastewate r systems. When their clients come to them with unique project requirements,

the BANR team works with them to meet that need and stay on budget.

O wner Scott Davis lives here in Sisters, and when you contact BANR, he’s the one who will come out to the jobsite. That per sonal touch and l evel of commitment is critical to BANR ’s operations. BANR takes pride in receiving the majorit y of their work from repeat customers and referrals. While customer acquisition is a priorit y, building a relationship with each cust o mer is an honor When you c all BANR, they return the call.

Alpine Land Management

Land restoration is a passion for Vernon Stubbs of Alpine Land Management. He specializes in fuels reduction, forest land management, and re st oration of native grasses and botanicals.

Now he’s looking to pass his knowledge, expertise, and passion to a new generation.

Alpine Land Management is seeking up to f our Sisters H igh School students in te rested in full-, half- or quar ter-time employment in which they will learn the values of work ethic and land stewardship, and the nuts and bolts of fuels reduction, noxious

BestVue Blinds

Fo r decades, Lakeview M illworks and BestVue Blinds have prided themselves on prov iding customers throughout Ce ntra l Oregon with top- qualit y products at a fair price, backed with a 100-percent commit ment to customer ser vice

So being buffeted by international sup ply chain disruptions has been hard on them. They don’t like t elling cust omers that the product they want is delayed, and they won’t accept giving them any thing less than their best. So, they ’ve done what strong companies do: They ’ve adapted.

weed control, soil composition and restoration, native plant restoration, and more.

With his militar y background, Stubb s is skilled at building teams to w ork with purpose and teaching people to work on their own and solve problems. He plans to reward initiative and per formance

Interested youth provide their own trans por tation to Stubbs’ land nor th of Sisters.

He hopes to pr o vide an oppor tunit y for young people to work hard outdoors, develop skills and capabilities, and learn to love the land as he did in his youth.

“We focus here on what we can get and what we’re comfortable with [providing to customers],” says owner Brad King.

Window covering product lines are coming in more quickly and reliably, and it’s time again to be working on your custom doors and entr yway Ever y thing that comes into the shop is carefully vetted to make sure it meets qualit y standards, and — as always — Lakeview Millworks and BestVue Blinds will do whatever it takes to make sure the job is done right and that you love what’s in your home.

Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP Columnist

masculinity and mental health

Note: The list of men I respect and admire is long. This commentary is from a place of care rather than critique. I am an observer and welcome other perspec tives, and I think more dia logue is needed.

On August 28, my home town of Bend was added to the long list of mass shootings as 20-year-old Ethan Miller fired over 100 rounds with a legally pur chased AR-15 rifle through a local grocery store, killing two and wounding multiple others before taking his own life.

Since 1966, of the 196 mass shootings that have taken place, all but five were committed by male perpetrators (Washington Post, 2022) . More than 40 percent of these male per petrators were between the ages of 18 and 29 and another third between 30

and 45. Since Columbine, 311,000 students have been amongst an active shooter while at school. Among global mass shootings from 1998-2019, 73 per cent of the 139 mass shoot ings occurred in the United States (Silva, 2022).

Men account for over 75 percent of completed sui cides in the United States and rates of suicide are ris ing over recent decades. Sometimes termed, “suicide in slow motion,” substance abuse is historically higher for men, with rates three-toone compared to women.

While many men and boys can navigate difficult emotions and circumstances without ever resorting to such violence or self-harm, the data demands we ask questions about the current state of emotional affairs among men and boys? Can we do better?

When we look at history, it seems that acts of vio lence have historically been far more perpetrated by men versus women. While there are noteworthy exceptions, men have also been his torically charged with the duty to protect and defend. Are definable lines separat ing defensiveness and vio lence? The predisposition to physical aggression makes sense when considering evolutionary, hormonal, and anatomical factors, but cer tainly the societal landscape shapes how supposed innate tendencies are expressed.

The hero archetype is celebrated throughout popular culture. And yet, is there a superhero on the

silver screen who gets the girl and saves the world without displaying his own physical prowess and aggression along the way? Can emotional vulnerability be equally as virtuous?

Can we celebrate physi cal strength, desires to pro tect and defend, while also applauding healthy emo tional stewardship? Can we ask Superman about his feelings? The burden of try ing to hold the world on his shoulders must be heavy at times — especially along side classic American val ues of self-determination and individualism. Is he OK? Is anybody actually asking, or would we rather live in the myth of his emo tional invincibility and tough exterior?

While there has been growing acceptance around concepts of vulnerabil ity and seeking help, there continues to be a pervasive stigma impacting men and boys in expressing emo tions outside a narrow spectrum. In some circles, the list of acceptable male emotions is still very lim ited: anger, sarcasm, and apathy. Masculine strength is still sometimes seen as greater in being emotionally detached and stoic versus connected and empathic. Too often associated with weakness, sadness, shame, and fear are suppressed — sometimes replaced with anger that is too often asso ciated with power. In the quest to seek belonging and relevancy, this emotional

Obituaries

Luke Demro Gardinier

Luke Demro Gardinier was born on October 17, 1978, in Forest Grove. He grew up and lived the entirety of his adult life in Sisters with his family. He passed away peacefully, sur rounded by his family, on Wednesday, September 28. He was 43 years old.

Luke graduated from Sisters High School in 1997. Throughout his high school career, and after, he would often be found at school or sporting events support ing his brother, Bryce, and his sister, Krista. After high school, he spent years work ing with his mom, Angi. When he wasn’t at work, he continued to spend time with siblings and was a val ued part of their growing families. He loved watching the movies “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Forrest Gump.”

Luke loved being an uncle and was happiest when surrounded by all of his family. His nieces and

nephews often brought a smile to his face. He loved birthday parties, and his biggest smiles occurred when others sang “Happy Birthday.”

Luke was incredibly strong, inspiring, and wellloved. He is survived by his parents, Charlie and Angi Gardinier of Sisters; brother Bryce and his family, of Salem, and sister Krista and her family, of Bend. A cel ebration of life will be held Saturday, November 19, from noon to 2 p.m. at The Belfry in Sisters. All who knew and loved Luke are welcome.

lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.

• Dried flowers, corn stalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decora tions away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.

• Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jacko-lanterns. If you use a real candle, use extreme cau tion. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When light ing candles inside jack-olanterns, use long, fireplacestyle matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways, and yards.

• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so noth ing blocks escape routes.

• Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are working.

• Tell children to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them. Be sure they know how to stop, drop, and roll if their cloth ing catches fire. (Have them practice, stopping immedi ately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)

• If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would get out in an emergency.

Decorations are the first thing to ignite in 900 reported home fires each year. Two of every five of these fires were started by a candle. Taking simple safety precautions like those listed above, including keep ing decorations far away from open flames and using battery-operated candles or glow sticks in jack-olanterns, can help ensure your holiday remains festive and fun.

Fun &Games

HALLO WEEN W ORDFIND

MATH SQU ARES

Use the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations. Each number is only 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.

PUMPKIN COSTUME CANDY

SKELETON SCARECROW MAZE

ZOMBIE HAUNTED OCTOBER

SPOOKY WITCH GHOST

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 one to nine.

Plac dow

B O E G X B L R S Q K W A I

S C V M V Z A E O G T L E T A K Q U F Z E P T S E N C F

R V E P E M S C A N D Y R B T R K L U G K Y P G U Y O F O E N T E A D C G E H A W U

C B S E F T W I T C H O H Q B O G Y F A O C D D L C S V C T F L U L R N W M T F X T N C Z R D E U J R G L T X T

T X M N C P W U B U J F S G A D E I B M O Z E S E Y C R N R I K N U X K U A K U A J E S Q P X F D M H O C N R Y

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HALLOWEEN: Haunted maze, carnival games, treats at fire station

governor in liberal

By Andrew Selsky & Sara Burnett Associated Press

SALEM (AP) — Oregon is typically known as a bas tion of West Coast liberalism, where Democrats are eas ily elected and a Republican hasn’t served as governor since the early 1980s.

But with an unusually competitive three-way contest for governor, the Democratic candidate’s success is hardly a guarantee this year. As mailin ballots become available to voters next week, Oregon is becoming the unlikely site of one of the most competi tive governor’s races in the country.

The main reason for the race’s unpredictability is Betsy Johnson, a longtime former Democratic lawmaker with a fondness for salty language who is aiming to become the first unaffiliated governor elected in Oregon in almost a century.

Polls show Johnson with double-digit support, and Democrats have called her a spoiler who is taking votes from their nominee, Tina Kotek — and could lead to a GOP victory. Her bid has been aided by GOP donor and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who donated at least $3.75 million to Johnson’s campaign before giving $1 million in recent weeks to Republican candi date Christine Drazan.

The tight contest between Kotek and Drazan, with Johnson trailing, has caught the attention of the White House. On Friday, October 14, President Joe Biden vis ited Portland to campaign with Democrats and urge vot ers to back Kotek.

During a phone bank for Oregon Democrats in a crowded union hall, Biden grabbed Kotek’s hand and the two walked to the center of the room as volunteers cheered.

“What a governor does matters,” he said.

It’s an unexpected bright spot for the GOP, with the Republican Governors Association last week sink ing another $1.5 million into the state in hopes of replac ing Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who is term-limited. Oregon is considered a tossup race, alongside contests in the traditional swing state of Wisconsin and in Kansas, where Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is seeking reelection in a conservative state where she beat a flawed candidate four years ago and now faces Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Kotek emphasized that a lot is riding on this election.

“The race for Oregon’s governor this year is more consequential than ever,” Kotek, a former state House speaker, said this week. “Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Abortion rights are on the bal lot. Gun violence prevention is on the ballot.”

Republicans say Oregon voters are frustrated by issues like homelessness and crime and are ready for a change. Drazan, Kotek, and Johnson — who all served in the Oregon Legislature — each say curtailing homelessness will be their priority if elected governor.

“We must move people from chronic homelessness to stability and restore safe streets and neighborhoods again,” Drazan said in an email Tuesday.

Republicans argue that Democrats have moved too far to the left, backing poli cies such as curtailing green house gas emissions, which conservatives say will harm working-class Oregonians.

Efforts to pass a cap-andtrade bill spawned a resistance group called Timber Unity, which staged protests around the state Capitol in Salem in 2019 with horn-blaring big rigs. Timber Unity has endorsed Drazan.

But the group’s rallies have attracted backers of QAnon and right-wing militia. Timber Unity’s spokeswoman was present at the Jan. 6 insurrec tion at the U.S. Capitol.

Kotek responded to the Drazan endorsement by tweeting: “The last thing Oregon needs is a governor who shares ties with election deniers, Capitol rioters, and white supremacists.”

Drazan shot back that Kotek was “slandering the very Oregonians you’re run ning to represent as governor.”

In 2020, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure to decriminalize hard drugs and dedicate millions of dollars to addiction treatment. The pro gram has had a rocky start, with addiction rates among the country’s highest and delays in channeling funds to treatment programs.

Drazan supports asking voters to repeal it. Johnson said she would also work to repeal what she called a “failed experiment.” A spokeswoman for Kotek said, “Oregonians do not want to go backward.”

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said Democrats are facing voter dissatisfaction with some times-violent civil unrest in Portland, and what he described as “very zeal ous” lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kotek and the Democratic Governors Association have noted that both Drazan and Johnson have “A” rat ings from the National Rifle Association. Johnson proudly talks about being a gun owner — she even owns a subma chine gun — and supports the Second Amendment.

The Democrats also criti cized Drazan, a former minor ity leader in the Oregon House, for helping lead a walkout of GOP lawmakers to block the Democrats’ climate change

bill. Drazan “sided with the far-right by shutting the door and walking away from her taxpayer-funded job,” DGA spokesman Sam Newton said.

Democrats warn voters that a Drazan victory could threaten abortion rights, envi ronmental protections, and democratically run elections in the state. They are hope ful that voters who consider supporting Johnson, who is for abortion rights, will opt instead to back their candidate.

“Oregon is in real dan ger of electing an anti-choice Republican as our next gov ernor,“ said An Do, execu tive director of Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon, adding that a vote for Johnson would only help Drazan win.

Johnson dismisses that kind of talk.

“I am not the spoiler candi date,” Johnson told members of the Oregon Coalition of Police and Sheriffs at a cam paign appearance in Salem on Tuesday. “I am in this to win.”

Johnson, who was in the statehouse for 20 years, quit the Democratic Party in 2021 to run as an unaffiliated can didate for governor. If suc cessful she would be the first female unaffiliated governor ever in the U.S.

Johnson got on the ballot by delivering some 48,000 voters’ signatures to elections officials, with the help of a signature-gathering company that was paid almost $900,000.

Johnson led Kotek and Drazan early in fundraising,

with help from Knight.

Clatsop County Sheriff’s Detective Ryan Humphrey was among the several dozen law enforcement officers who listened to Johnson’s appeal for votes Tuesday, October 11.

“I won’t defund or demon ize the police, but will demand professionalism from anyone in a uniform,” Johnson told them.

Humphrey, who lives in Johnson’s old state senate district, said he was already in Johnson’s corner because she’s “no nonsense” and gets things done, like facilitating the building of a new county jail.

“Betsy Johnson, when she was running as a Democrat, is the only Democrat I’ve ever voted for in 28 years of vot ing,” Humphrey said.

Johnson is hoping to woo centrist Republican and Democratic voters and the big gest slice of Oregon’s elector ate: the 1 million unaffiliated voters whose numbers slightly edge registered Democrats and are greater than the num ber of registered Republicans.

Democrats are worried about that.

“The presence of Betsy in the race really shifted the votes so there’s sort of a group of Democrats and some Republicans that are support ing Betsy Johnson,“ said for mer Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, a Democrat supporting Kotek. “And that obviously creates quite a problem.”

The 12.85-acre parcel is located on the McKenzie Highway (Highway 242) between West Hood Avenue and North Brooks Camp Road. The development will include three distinct types of housing. There will be 17,000 square feet of open space around the apart ments and along Highway 242, with amenities for the residents.

In front of the apartments will be small, detached, single-family houses with alley-loaded garages, simi lar to some of the smaller homes in Saddlestone in northeast Sisters. Fronting along Highway 242, but buffered by a wide green space, will be higher-end single-family attached homes with back-loaded garages and the view across Pole Creek Ranch to the Three Sisters. Woodhill CEO George Hale described the development plans at a Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce coffee hour last July.

The largest lots in Sunset Meadows will be 32 feet by 80 feet in size. Houses will run 1,500 to 2,400 square feet. Prices are estimated to run from the high $400,000s to the low $600,000s.

A public hearing before the Sisters Planning Commission is required for a Master Planned Development (Type III), Tentative Subdivision (Type III), and Minor Partition (Type II). Woodhill hopes to begin work on the land sometime in spring 2023, with the infrastructure tak ing about six months to install.

A full agenda and docu ments related to the pub lic hearing can be found at https://www.ci.sisters.or.us/ meetings.

By Gary F. Hickmann Guest Columnist

I like The Nugget Newspaper. I read it weekly. I think for the most part Jim Cornelius does a good job of balancing out controver sial subjects by our unfortu nately very polarized politi cal community and country. In fact, because he has done such a good job of this, I have sat on my hands and let the ink dry out of my pens before writing in on the numerous musings which I disagree with that have been printed.

However, after reading the editorial page article “Vaccine complications” by Wayne B. Schmotzer DVM, printed in the October 5 paper, I finally could no longer just not respond. He has been given far too many column inches over the past months for his views not to be challenged.

In his most recent col umn, he begins, of course, mentioning the VAERS reporting system as “failing miserably.” VAERS is the number-one thing that antivaxxers mention to support their views. It was never meant to be used as some one like him uses it. VAERS is one of several systems CDC and the FDA use to ensure all vaccines, includ ing COVID-19 vaccines, are closely monitored for safety. It should never be used by itself, and it should not be

are

used without the vigorous scientific method, which it is eventually subjected to.

He labels mRNA vac cines “experimental.” A fact-check on the use of that term regarding mRNA vac cines will show you that this is false. According to the CDC, mRNA technology is not new. The mRNA vac cines have been studied for decades. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have been held to the same safety and effec tiveness standards as every other vaccine produced in the U.S. The CDC also says the safety monitoring systems to track COVID19 vaccines are “the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.”

But even if you want to take his advice and think mRNA vaccines are experi mental, then why doesn’t he, as someone who in past columns has stated he is “not an anti-vaxxer, just against mRNA vaccines,” even mention the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which does not use the mRNA technology? This vaccine uses the more traditional virus-based technology. I am sure Wayne is busy at work on his next column, which will have the theme of “Please everyone, go get your J&J COVID-19 vac cine as soon as possible.” I look forward to reading that.

He cites a “RAIR

Foundation USA” report regarding the German Hospital Federation demand to withdraw vaccine man dates due to “massive side effects.” The Southern Poverty Law Center lists this RAIR Foundation USA as an extreme right wing hate group. It was founded by Amy Mekelburg, a pro lific anti-Muslim Twitter troll. But if you follow him to this report he also got his numbers wrong. By a lot. He stated in his editorial “someone getting four jabs has a 1:250 chance of these devastating outcomes.” The actual number given in this report is 1:1250. He missed by a thousand to scare oth ers with misinformation. But really, how many of you will trust anything reported by an extreme far right hate group?

The rest of his column is every bit as flawed, misin formed, and alarmist as he started it.

However, I do like to try to find areas of agreement with those I disagree with. In this case I agree with him that if you are a dog, cat, horse, etc., or a human who prefers to be treated in that category of being (nothing against animals), then I think you should lis ten to his advice or even go to him for treatment. If you are a human that prefers to

advice, knowing it will be at your own peril.

Scientists estimate that at the very low end at least 200,000, and up to 800,000 American lives would have been saved if everyone eli gible for the COVID vac cine had gotten it. And par ents, be aware that since 2020 there have been more than two million known COVID cases in kids ages 6 months to 4 years, as well as 20,000 hospitalizations and more than 200 deaths.

According to the “U.S. Coronavirus vaccine tracker” 863,234,395 doses have been distributed in the U.S.A. so far. As well as billions worldwide. If you believe Wayne we should all know many people with “severe” side effects from these vaccines. I myself know none. How many do you know?

The mistrust of science, the CDC, and FDA kills people. The column inches written in The Nugget Newspaper by Wayne B. Schmotzer DVM with his misinformation kills people. I think he has done enough damage to our community.

I usually like to be known just by my first name, with out putting letters behind my name to unduly influence others. But for those who like that type of thing I will sign this Gary F. Hickmann,

HEARING: Development plan goes to planning commission

Stepping out of my comfort zone

By Edie Jones Guest Columnist

The article “Recounting life in Sisters’ forest” which appeared in the October 12 issue of The Nugget, recounted the story of Buddy Blair and his fam ily, living in the forest near Sisters. It inspired me to write and encourage every one to attend the Town Hall discussion on October 20 on homelessness. I won’t be there because of a previ ous obligation; however, if I were to attend, I could share my experience of welcom ing a houseless woman into my home.

A request came across my computer, seeking a single woman, perhaps a widow such as myself, who had a room to rent for a woman in her 70s, living in her truck. I gave it some thought and decided I might be able to help.

I responded, we emailed back and forth, she vis ited me at my home, and I checked her references. She could pay a small amount of rent and shared her story with me. We decided to give it a month’s trial, which turned into three months during the coldest part of last winter. She is now with a relative; how ever, we have remained in touch and become friends. I am so thankful I took the chance on trying something so unpredictable.

Were there any difficul ties or problems? Of course there were, as would be the case if any two strang ers decided to live together. Were they insurmountable?

Absolutely not. Even the unpleasant smells that drifted up from my kitchen to the room she rented were made manageable by turn ing on fans and opening windows. Having the TV on for sports events much more than I was used to gave me the chance to ask questions and learn about players. Hearing about her work with the conservation of wolves gave me an entirely different viewpoint regarding those who live in the forest or their trucks.

What I learned about the houseless in our community, about my own biases and lack of knowledge and mis understandings, was enor mous. I will always be grate ful for receiving the request, and that I took the chance of stepping out of my comfort zone.

Like many living in Sisters Country, I have a roof over my head, extra room in my home (with children leaving and experi encing the empty-nest time of our lives), and usually enough income to cover my bills. Not far away there are many who don’t. I encour age you to think about any reason that makes you hesi tate to take a chance on this new kind of experience.

Please, attend the Town Hall event “Houseless in Sisters,” sponsored by Citizens4Community (C4C), on October 20 at 5:30 p.m. (discussion start ing at 6 p.m.), at Sisters Fire Hall. Go with an open mind, ask questions, and if the opportunity arises, consider welcoming one of our forest neighbors into your home.

MASCULINITY: Strengthening traditional virtues

censorship can lead to feel ings of great disconnected ness and loneliness.

Remaining stigma is also converging with frequent comparison, social media, existential gloom, and fears of rejection made so easy in our digital age. It is easier than ever to exploit insecu rities, to emasculate, and to shame. If there are no safe outlets to constructively process and emote, it is not surprising that it can all seem intolerable at times.

Some seek to redeem this perceived loss of power and control through violence and/or physical harm, too often popularized as path ways to male relevancy.

We all have our shadows. Most all of us have encoun tered insecurity, the blush of embarrassment, and the pit of shame.

How do we react to emotional adversity? What constitutes healthy emo tional stewardship? It is not reached by denial, numbing, or trying to mask in anger. It is reached first by the radi cal acceptance of our own humanity and emotional complexity. It is reached by our acknowledgment that struggle is a human expe rience made lighter when shared. It is reached by the skill of emotional awareness and our ability to identify our feelings as our own, which helps facilitate responsi bility, accountability, and minimizes entitlement.

When we can identify our emotion, it allows us to better have a construc tive response. It facilitates self-care, boundaries, and empathy.

This starts with conver sation and role modeling. This is perhaps best exem plified man-to-man, manto-boy, boy-to-boy. It means confronting personal biases of gender and emotional expression. Can it become normalized for men and boys to inquire about each other’s feelings? Can we expand on ways of coping? Can we sit with the socially reinforced discomfort of male emotion without wanting to rush a quick fix?

Can traditional masculine values of courage, strength, honor, and mastery be for tified (not weakened) in a context of emotional aware ness and connection rather

than detachment?

If you are a man or a boy reading this and still have a healthy dose of skepti cism about seeking mental health services, I get it. I am not fully on board myself with mainstream applica tions of mental health, but I am fully on board with the idea of not going through struggle alone. I worry most about the threat of loneliness and the burden of what you might be carrying. At least from where I am sitting, your strength is only more impres sive when you take off your Superman cape and ask for help.

• Deschutes County Crisis Center 24/7 Hotline, 541322-7500 x9

• National Suicide & Crisis 24/7 Hotline, dial 988

• Veterans Crisis Line 24/7, dial 988 and press 1; text 838255.

READY!

His personnel cannot “evict” people from the National Forest.

“We don’t have the authority to do sweeps, to remove people from the National Forest,” he said.

To actually evict a per son, a magistrate would have to officially “trespass” that person from the forest — an act Reid has seen only once in his Forest Service career.

“On top of that,” he said, “we understand that it is not a crime to be home less, that people have to live somewhere and a large proportion of these people are working in the surround ing area and… contribute to society in meaningful ways.”

Reid acknowledges that the community has legiti mate safety concerns. There have been reports of people feeling threatened or intimi dated on trails in the area. Reid notes that if someone is actually threatening, that is subject to law enforce ment action. Dumping and other resource dam age gets priority attention, he said.

Asked about the pos sibility of creating buffer zones where camping is not allowed around sensi tive areas — such as North Pine Street and Peterson Ridge Trail — Reid said, “Different forests all over the country are looking at ways to manage dispersed

camping. I don’t know that that’s where we want to go here.”

He said that if you pro vide a buffer zone in certain areas, that opens up the forest for requests for buffers else where — around Crossroads or Tollgate, for example. That could end up closing large areas of the forest to camping, which might be harmful to the community. After all, many people come here for recreational camp ing, and camp out in the for est during Rodeo and other events.

Fire is a major con cern, Reid acknowledged. He notes that the Ranger District patrols aggressively during times when fires are restricted. And areas around town are the most acces sible to fire equipment and have received the heaviest treatment to minimize risk of an escaped campfire cre ating a fire that gets out of control.

Reid notes some recent “wins” — finding hous ing for people who have been living in the woods and working in Sisters, and volunteer efforts that have cleaned up sites and removed abandoned RVS.

He hopes that the Town Hall this week will create an opportunity for more such wins, with “a shared under standing of the community of how complicated the issue is and ways the community can help.”

The Citizens4Community Town Hall “Houseless in Sisters” is set for Thursday, October 20, 5:30 p.m. (dis cussion starts at 6 p.m.) at the Sisters Fire Hall commu nity room, 301 S. Elm St.

Continued

Lady Outlaws struggled to return. Coach Rush made sub stitutions to try and bring bal ance and stability to her reel ing defense, but in the end the aggressive play of the Billies was too much to overcome and they took the set 25-23 and forced a winner-take-all fifth set.

The final set began and it was clear to everyone in the gym that it was going to be back-and-forth the whole way. Teams traded points all the way to 16-16. Gracie Vohs was set to the outside and placed a beautiful ball straight down to the floor, but unfor tunately was called in the net for a fault. Pleasant Hill went back to serve game point and served an ace that landed right in front of the Lady Outlaws’ bench for the 18-16 win for the Billies.

Rush said, “I thought we played scrappy and battled hard tonight. We got rattled a bit tonight, but I think we learned something about our team unity and resolve in a tough road environment. These girls are extremely resilient and they will bounce back!”

They got their chance to prove it.

On Thursday, the No. 1 Outlaws hosted the No. 6-ranked Creswell Bulldogs. A win for Sisters would secure them the league cham pionship, and if they lost they would fall into a three-way tie for first place.

The Lady Outlaws knew

the stakes were high, and they came out firing on all cylin ders. Coach Rush told The Nugget the Outlaws looked much more crisp in their gameplay, and visibly more in sync in their communica tion on the floor.

Rush said, “We had a fan tastic couple of days of prac tice preparing for this game. We quickly moved past the loss and focused in on what was in front of us. We knew what was at stake. Our first goal this year was to win the conference, and being able to attain that at home and on senior night was something we had laser focus to achieve.”

The Outlaws’ focus and determination was evident from the get-go. Sisters made their serves, turned in spectac ular blocks at the net, and their talented hitters were aggres sive. As the match progressed, the Outlaws cleaned up their unforced errors, and the team clicked more and more with each point they made.

As the final ball fell to the floor the Outlaws celebrated their three seniors, and rev eled in their conference cham pionship and automatic bid to the 3A State Tournament. Final scores were 25-20, 25-22, and 25-11.

Vohs led the team with 18 kills and five blocks, Bailey Robertson recorded nine kills and five blocks, and Gracelyn Myhre added eight kills and three aces.

Prior to the game, the Outlaws honored their three seniors, which included Hannah Fendall, Anna Landon, and Adrienne Steffens.

Fendall has been a varsity setter for the Outlaws the past three years, and a consistent leader and floor captain.

Rush said, “Hannah’s positive energy and infectious smile always puts her team mates at ease. It has been an honor to coach her and watch her grow as a player.

Landon is a defensive spe cialist and has played on var sity for two years.

Rush said, “Anna has grown so much as a player over the last two years. Her quiet but competitive nature pushes her teammates to be better.”

Steffens is also a defensive specialist and has played var sity for one year.

Rush said, “Adrienne returned to the court this sea son after taking some time off. She has been such a great addition to our team. She is a fierce competitor and pushes those around her to be better. She is a great passer with a tough serve.”

Sisters was scheduled to travel to Siuslaw on October 18. They will wrap up league play on the road at La Pine on Thursday, October 20.

HOUSELESS: USFS not empowered to evict from forest

VOLLEYBALL: Team met its first big goal of season

Our first goal this year was to win the conference, and being able to attain that at home and on senior night was something we had laser focus to achieve.

— Coach Rory Rush

European nations are facing a cold winter.

Crime: Crime has been increasing across the nation. Cities like Portland have been dec imated, and no one has been held accountable.

Gasoline: $2.53/gallon in October 2020. Today in Sisters, Sinclair, $5.49

What are the candidates’ values?

Sen. Ron Wyden: His campaign ads imply his values are unlimited abortion, and crack ing down on legal investments in housing. Twenty-six years in office, and he has nothing positive on which to run? Tina Kotek: unre stricted abortion, defunding the police, soft on crime, complete gun control, higher taxes. Betsy Johnson: argues with Tina over who is the most radical abortion supporter. She and Tina have had total control of the legislature, and I can’t find anything they have done that helped my life, and they have done very little to eliminate houselessness. McLeod-Skinner is a San Francisco liberal who supports unre stricted abortion, is soft on crime, favors high taxes, and supports gun control.

I find I cannot support any of those candidates.

John Miller s s s

Tomboy

To the Editor::

How dare these misguided people tell young girls if you are a tomboy you must want to be a boy. When I was 10 I played Tarzan, climbed trees, tried to see how far I could jump over the Los Angeles river (which was like a small creek unless it rained a lot). Rode a horse and a bike.

As I grew older I liked all kinds of sports. Tennis, badminton, archery, baseball, volley ball, basketball. At no time did I wish I was a boy. Just another big lie that these people are trying to deceive the innocent young, and not tell their parents.

Pat Farr s s s

A simple choice

To the Editor:

If you like high gas prices, fentanyl coming across our borders by drug cartels, women and children being raped and traf ficked by coyotes, and by members of those drug cartels, food prices going through the roof because of inflation that is out of con trol, then stay the course and vote for those “new” Democrats that are running for office: Oliver Tatom, Emery Levy, Morgan Schmidt, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, and Tina or Betsy (take your pick). You might also want to vote in favor of Measure 114 which makes it cumbersome, expensive, with more gov ernmental overreach, and denies our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, which shall not be infringed. Soon only the cartels and criminals will have guns, and that would make us defenseless. That is exactly what the new Dems want. Law-abiding citi zens don’t shoot and rob people at gunpoint, they protect themselves and their loved ones.

If you want lower gas prices, a border that every country in the world, except the U.S. now, keeps and maintains, an end to child trafficking, fentanyl and coyote drug cartels, lower inflation, and a better economy, and you want to keep and own a gun for protec tion of you and your loved ones, then vote for: Patti Adair, Tony DeBone, Michael Sipe, Jo Rae Perkins, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Christine Drazan. As Christine said in one of the debates with Tina and Betsy, “You both have had years in the legislature to change what is wrong in Oregon (being the major ity), and you haven’t. It’s my turn.”

This is just a suggestion, but why don’t you turn off your TV? Get some fresh air, walk the dog, go for a drive and take in the

autumn colors, take off the mask and hug and kiss your spouse.

Jayne Simmons

s s s

Time for a change

To the Editor:

Seems to be a common thing to say on both sides of the political fence: It’s time for a change!

I can’t say I believe that is necessary in all instances, but I definitely do for county com missioners running this year. DeBone and Adair have been in office for a long time, and I can’t say I am impressed by their ideas and plans for the county. Their approaches have not worked well in land use, climate, or home lessness, and they do not support the rights of women as required by the state of Oregon.

Both their opponents are younger, with new, more open approaches to the problems Deschutes County faces. It is indeed time for a change of county commissioners. Let’s give Oliver Tatom and Morgan Schmidt a chance.

Marianne Straumfjord

s s s

Game over

To the Editor:

Uh-oh. Game over. Laird Superfoods (LSF) is pulling up their tent and disappearing. What a change from June 2020, when LSF CEO Paul Hodge and partner Paul Schneider sold the concept of 300 new homes (The Nugget, June 10, 2020, page 1) and 500 new jobs (The Nugget, March 2, 2021, page 8) to the Sisters Planning Commission and Sisters City Council.

There followed an apparently urgent need for new housing in Sisters for all of those expected 500 people coming to work at LSF. So Mr. Hodge and Mr. Schneider bought the Forest Service land, 31.56 acres, bordered by Pine Street, West Barclay Drive, and U.S. Highway 20, for the housing. Mr. Hodge has since bailed on LSF.

Let me back up: Mr. Hodge stated in 2019 that LSF would need close to 200 homes and praised Hayden Homes’ McKenzie Meadows project which was under review by the Sisters City Council, to build those homes. The head line read “Hayden will provide workforce hous ing,” (The Nugget , April 24, 2019, page 2).

Now, no more LSF means no more housing needs for employees, but Sisters Woodlands now bears its name on the old Forest Service property, where construction is well underway at Sisters Woodlands — but who is going to need that mixed array of housing: apartments, condos, townhomes, and single-family homes?

Plus, Threewind Partners LLC, across the highway, has three large apartment buildings behind Bi-Mart. One is up and running while two are almost finished, and Threewind is recruiting tenants under the name of Oxbow Flats Apartments. Seems to me that Sisters is well grounded in housing availability for the future.

So what happened to LSF common stock on the NYSE? It opened at $22 a share, then soared to $60.80 a share within days (The Nugget, March 3, 2021, page 8). Now, LSF is closing for good and last week the stock was worth a buck seventy-three. Strangely, Laird Hamilton has never once set foot in Sisters to see the operation bearing his name.

Jim Cline s s s

Make Oregon strong and trustworthy again

To the Editor:

This past week a prominent leader from Hawaii left the Democratic Party. Tulsi Gabbard left the party because of its failed policies and how they treat others that don’t

Thank you for reading The Nugget!

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).

If you value what T he Nugget Newspaper gives to you, consider h ow you might join us in our mission for Sisters:

• 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!

Each week we deliver 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.

Roundabout SISTERS

Bill Bartlett Columnist

Healthy hay, hammered hemp

Don’t you love the smell of autumn? The dried plants and leaves with their pot pourri scents wafting up as we tramp through the woods? As leaves fall and die they give off any num ber of gases as they expire, which fill the air with scents that trigger our nostalgia mechanisms.

YouGov did a study (they have a poll for everything it seems) and learned that 31 percent of us say fall is our favorite season. Spring is still the most popular season among those over 55.

Notwithstanding that I have mild hay fever, some thing I share with 20 percent of the population, I love the smell of fresh-cut hay such as we’re seeing all over Sisters Country these last few weeks as the second cut is on the ground drying or baled and stored away.

Hay, alfalfa, and orchard grass farmers are reporting excellent second cuttings, crediting it to having enough water this year and plenty of sunshine and good tempera tures. The second cutting usually has more leaves on the stem and the fat content is a bit higher, with the fiber level somewhat lower.

Second-cutting hay usu ally fetches more at market. The market for hay has been crazy this year; ask farmers who are getting near-record prices. It’s not translating in taking more money to the bank, however, as their costs for fertilizer and fuel are in some cases double last year.

We complain about gas at $5.69 but farms run on die sel which is running steadily over $6. Here in Deschutes County for the week ending October 14, second-cutting small square bales of alfalfa went for $425/ton. Premium Timothy grass clocked in at $450. One farmer bagged $475/ton for 10 tons of pre mium mixed grass.

What you’re not smell ing this year is the pungent aroma of hemp being cut.

As in 2021, hemp in Sisters Country is a bust, virtu ally nonexistent. Hemp for industrial purposes, like fiber for clothing, was all

the rage in 2018, leading to a meteoric rise in planting in 2019, largely converting hay to the promised new-found riches of hemp.

There were 511,442 acres planted in 2109, and last year that crashed to 107,702. Less than 75,000 acres were forecast for this year.

Around Sisters Country thousands of pounds of baled or uncut hemp lay rot ting by the summer of 2020. When it became suddenly clear that hemp was not the proverbial pot of gold for making paper bags or dresses, a lot of hemp pro ducers tried to move into CBD oils and derivatives.

You probably think that hemp and marijuana are not the same thing. I did. We would be wrong. They are simply different names for cannabis. Botanists don’t distinguish between the two, but the law does. The only difference is the THC con tent, the part of the plant that creates a high. Hemp has only 0.3 percent THC while most Oregon-grown mari juana is at least four percent, with some illegal producers promising THC in the 10-15 percent range.

The Cyrus family — a pioneering farming family in the Cloverdale area — were early into hemp, plant ing 30 acres almost five years ago. They planted 90 the following year. At that time their plants could be sold for $40 a pound! Not a bale, not a ton. A pound. The Cyruses were cashing in on the CBD craze. CBD – can nabidiol - is the oil extracted from the hemp plant and used for all sorts of wellness products.

CBD is packaged and marketed in all manner of form and uses – gummies, capsules, topicals, tinctures, sleep aids, health drinks, and more. Today, you can pay $80 for 600 mg of CBDbased pain relief balm or — get this — $160 for 200 mg of formulated CBD to “bal ance” or “calm” you. Or you could ride your bike or walk on Peterson Ridge for free. That always calms and bal ances me.

A majority of hemp pro ducers blame another gov ernment agency for the bust. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) won’t allow the sale of CBD as a food product or dietary supple ment. The reason why? The compound is an approved ingredient in a prescription drug used to treat childhood epilepsy.

So, Uncle Sam giveth (USDA) with one hand and taketh away (USFDA) with the other.

Whatever. The Cyruses and a few dozen other Sisters Country growers have returned to hay.

And my sense of smell is all the better for it.

The Nugget Newspaper Crossword

By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service

— Last Week’s Puzzle Solved

This Week’s Crossword Sponsors

C L A S S I F I E D S

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102 Commercial Rentals

MINI STORAGE Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor RV parking. 7-day access.

Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies.

STORAGE WITH BENEFITS •8 x 20 dry box

•Fenced yard, RV & trailers

•In-town, gated, 24-7 Kris@earthwoodhomes.com

103 Residential Rentals

Fully furnished main-floor designer condo. New appliances, washer/dryer in primary suite, nearby spa, club house, movie theater, 60" TV, Wi-Fi, cable.

Walk to downtown Sisters, all utilities paid. $1,800/mo. 801-674-6265

NEW HOME IN CLEAR PINE 3 bedroom, 2 bath, all appliances. Available now $2,800. Cascade Home Rentals: 541-549-0792

PONDEROSA PROPERTIES

Monthly Rentals Available–Call Debbie at 541-549-2002

Full details, 24 hrs./day, go to: PonderosaProperties.com

Printed list at 221 S. Ash, Sisters

Ponderosa Properties LLC CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS

Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792

Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com

104 Vacation Rentals

Discounted Winter Rates

Furnished Cottage & Condos. 30-day Minimum Stay. SistersVacationRentals.net 503-730-0150

Stay at Black Butte Ranch! Have Certificate worth $1,861 in lodging I am willing to sell for $1,300. Must make reservations through BBR and stay prior to 3/31/23. For more information, email: themackfam@comcast.net

~ Sisters Vacation Rentals ~ Private Central OR vac. rentals, Property Management Services 541-977-9898

www.SistersVacation.com

Downtown Vacation Rental Five star. 1 and 2 bedroom. SistersVacationRentals.net

Great pricing. 503-730-0150

201 For Sale

Seated Rower Workout Machine. Programmable with apps available online. Never used. Retails for $2,250, asking $1,400. Call Tori 503-319-9338

FREE! Wooden trundle bed with 1 new mattress and 1 used mattress. Sheets and comforters included. You disassemble and haul. Call 541-749-8074

TOO MUCH STUFF? Advertise your excess with an ad in The Nugget!

202 Firewood

SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD •SINCE 1976 •

Doug Fir – Lodgepole – Juniper DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES –18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com Order Online! 541-410-4509

204 Arts & Antiques

JEWELRY REPAIR & CUSTOM DESIGN

Graduate gemologist. Over 45 years experience. Cash for gold. • Metals Jewelry Studio • Wed-Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 220 S. Ash St. Suite 1 541-904-0410

205 Garage & Estate Sales

Moving Estate Sale in Sisters 16017 Cattle Dr., Fri. & Sat. 9-4

Custom design furniture, Fiestaware, art, home goods, desk, patio furniture, custom workbench, snowblower, new Honda lawnmower, metal yard art, camping/hunting supplies, Stihl weed trimmers & more! View pics. on estatesales.net Hosted by Happy Trails!

Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions!

Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths? Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150

301 Vehicles

Junk removal, new home, garage & storage clean-out, construction, yard debris. You Call – We Haul! 541-719-8475

•DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279

We’ve got your cats covered! Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com 541-306-7551 • Julie

~ WEDDINGS BY KARLY ~ Happy to perform virtual or in-person weddings. Custom Wedding Ceremonies 20+ years • 541-410-4412 revkarly@gmail.com

MOVING TRUCK FOR HIRE –COMPLETE MOVING, LLC–Sisters' Only Local Moving Co.! Two exp. men with 25+ years comm. moving. Refs! ODOT Lic. Class 1-B • Call 541-678-3332

SMALL Engine REPAIR Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Authorized service center for Stihl, Honda, Ariens/Gravely, Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki Engines

501 Computers & Communications

SISTERS SATELLITE TV • PHONE

INTERNET

Andersen’s Almost Anything Handyman services. Small home repairs, RV repairs, hauling, cleaning, etc. No plumbing or electric, sorry. CCB#235396 541-728-7253 call or text

JONES UPGRADES LLC

Home Repairs & Remodeling Drywall, Decks, Pole Barns, Fences, Sheds & more. Mike Jones, 503-428-1281

Local resident • CCB #201650

600 Tree Service & Forestry

LOLO TREE WORKS

Tree Services: Tree Removal, Tree Pruning, Stump Grinding, Emergency Tree Services. ISA Certified Arborist

Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com

Call / Text: 503-367-5638

Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com CCB #240912

TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT

TREE SERVICES: tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, brush mowing, Firewise compliance.

— Certified Arborist — Nate Goodwin 541-771-4825 Online at: www.tsi.services CCB#190496 • ISA #PN7987A

4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts!

–TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

2022 Toyota Highlander Dark blue, 2,300 miles, excellent cond. $45,000. 541-233-8399

We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

401 Horses

20 yr. old kiger mustang $700. Needs confident rider. Call 541-508-8367 or 541-617-1255

403 Pets

FURRY FRIENDS

helping Sisters families w/pets. FREE Dog & Cat Food No contact pick-up by appt. 412 E. Main Ave., Ste. 4 541-797-4023

Three Rivers Humane Society Where love finds a home! See the doggies at 1694 SE McTaggart in Madras • A no-kill shelter Go to ThreeRiversHS.org or call 541-475-6889

500 Services

GEORGE’S SEPTIC TANK SERVICE

“A Well Maintained Septic System Protects the Environment” 541-549-2871

BOOKKEEPING SERVICE

~ Olivia Spencer ~ Expert Local Bookkeeping! Phone: 541-241-4907 www.spencerbookkeeping.com

Your authorized local dealer for DirecTV, ViaSat HS Internet and more! CCB # 191099 541-318-7000 • 541-306-0729

Technology Problems? I can fix them for you. Solving for Business & Home Computers, Tablets, Networking Internet (Starlink), and more! Jason Williams Sisters local • 25 yrs. experience 541-719-8329

Oregontechpro.com

502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

M & J CARPET CLEANING

Area rugs,

–FOREST MANAGEMENT –Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale Projects!

Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003 ** Free Estimates ** Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342 4brostrees.com

Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057

601 Construction

Lara’s Construction LLC. CCB#223701

Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call for a free estimate. 541-350-3218

504 Handyman

541-728-4266

Custom Homes Residential Building Projects Concrete Foundations Becke William Pierce CCB# 190689 541-647-0384 Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com

CENIGA'S MASONRY,

Block

#181448

Stone

C L A S S I F I E D S

Northern Lights

Electrical Installations LLC

Residential & Light Commercial • Service No job too small. 503-509-9353 CCB# 235868

SWEENEY

Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

CURRENT CLASSIFIEDS are online at NuggetNews.com

704 Events & Event Services

Central Oregon's LARGEST GUN & KNIFE SHOW!

Custom Homes

Additions

Building Projects

Sisters area since 1976 Strictly Quality

#16891

PLUMBING, INC.

“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling

CCB #159020

Pierce

SPURGE COCHRAN BUILDER, INC.

General Contractor Building Distinctive, Handcrafted Custom Homes, Additions, Remodels, Cabin Renovations Since ’74

“Hands-On” Builder

Your Project on Time

On Budget

New Construction • Water Heaters 541-549-4349

Residential and Commercial Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #87587

SISTERS OREGON GUIDE Pick up your copy around town today!

603 Excavation & Trucking

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling and SNOW REMOVAL Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing... Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122.

J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC Clean-ups, raking, mowing, hauling debris, gutters. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com

October 29-30 Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3 Deschutes County Expo Center – Admission, just $8 –For info call 503-363-9564 WesKnodelGunShows.com

802 Help Wanted

Seeking a Needlepoint Teacher

Contact Tori 503-319-9338

DOG WALKER WANTED

In Redmond 3 times per week, from 10-11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. $20 per walk. Call 458-899-2592

CCB #96016

speak to Spurge personally, call 541-815-0523

Earthwood Timberframes

Design & shop fabrication

Recycled fir and

Mantles and accent

Sawmill/woodshop services

Residential & Commercial CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net

ROBINSON & OWEN

Heavy Construction, Inc. All your excavation needs

*General excavation

*Site Preparation

*Sub-Divisions

*Road Building

*Sewer and Water Systems

*Underground Utilities

*Grading

*Sand-Gravel-Rock

Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB #124327 541-549-1848

Full

Creek

#235303

Homes

Excavation

From design to installation we can do it all! Pavers, water features, irrigation systems, sod, plants, trees etc. 541-771-9441 LCB #8906 bendorganiclandscaping.com

Sisters Mainline Station Chevron is looking for friendly and reliable Convenience Store Clerk to open (5 a.m.-12 p.m.) and work weekends. Must be at least 18 years old. Also looking for a friendly, reliable Gas Station Attendant. Part-time or full-time hours available. Great starting pay! Health benefits, bonuses, 401-K. Apply in person, 1001 Rail Way. Ask for manager.

Green Ridge Physical Therapy is seeking front desk person, full-time, flexible schedule between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Requires computer skills, multitasking, customer service skills. Rewarding and fulfilling position in a positive environment. Salary DOE. Call 541-549-3534

Dog Kennel Help Needed

Looking for reliable help at professional dog breeder/kennel. Duties include cleaning, sanitizing kennels, poopy pickup, cleaning grounds, feeding, grooming and exercising dogs. Hours flexible. Reliable, detail minded, organized. Professional and helpful customer service attitude. Reliable transportation a must! $16/hour to start.

Call/Text 541-771-2330

803 Work Wanted

Position wanted in Sisters COMPANION CAREGIVER

Available after October 12. Current client is moving to CA. Please call or text 503-274-0214 for more information.

901 Wanted

Wanting to rent small studio/shop space: 503-799-0522

Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345

Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation. CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462

Davis Tire is actively hiring part-time + full-time tire technicians. Looking for reliable detailed team player. Experienced or will train. Must be at least 18 & able to lift 50 lbs. Must be reliable + a team player. $16+ DOE.

Applications available at 188 W Sisters Park Dr. Open interviews Mon. & Wed. 9-5

Reliable and Professional Housekeeper wanted to take care of general cleaning, and am willing to pay $535/wk. Contact me at pricericky05@gmail.com  for more info.

Alpine Landscape Maintenance Sisters Country only All-Electric Landscape Maintenance. Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com

701 Domestic Services

BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897

Sisters Athletic Club is looking for multiple fitness instructors and 1 part-time front desk person. Please bring your resume by if you are interested in becoming part of the SAC team!

Last call for classifieds is noon every Monday. Don't miss your chance! Place a classified ad in The Nugget. Call 541-549-9941 nugget@nuggetnews.com

House of the Dragon...

Plumbing & Electric

Vacation Rental & RV Rental Cleaning Sisters • Black Butte Ranch Camp Sherman • Cloverdale kippercleaning@gmail.com www.kippercleaning.com 541-241-2085

I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051

T H E N U G G E T N E W S P A P E R 5 4 1 - 5 4 9 - 9 9 4 1 www.NuggetNews.com

The season is upon us; ghosts, ghouls, goblins... and dragons are cropping up around Sisters as Halloween approaches. Sisters Fire Hall will host its haunted maze this year.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

The Nugget spoke at length with Laird CEO Jason Veith, who was not yet able to name the co-packer or their location other than “more central” to the company’s customers. The problem, Veith elaborated, is the loca tion of Sisters is not competi tive for shipping.

“It’s too far from the inter states,” he said.

Veith, who arrived on the scene about eight months ago, has been steadily streamlin ing operations, trying to bring production in line with sales and inventory; the latter had ballooned to unsustainable levels in 2021. In the quarter ending June 30, Laird saw its first-ever sales decline. Third quarter results will be released November 10.

There was anguish in Veith’s voice as he described having to tell 45 Sisters employees that their last day would be no later than December 31.

“That was a terrible day,” Veith said. “These are such good people, such a great team.”

He assumes that they will all find work, given the labor market shortage, especially for skilled workers.

The maker of powdered creamers, coffee, snacks, and other nutrition-based prod ucts had 147 employees on January 1, 83 on October 1. The 38 employees who will remain, Veith among them, are scattered around the U.S., mostly in the West, and work remotely. They are in sales, marketing, and finance/ accounting roles, and unaf fected by the decision.

Apart from the elimination of 45 jobs in Sisters, the ques tion on most people’s minds was about the real estate on Lundgren Mill Road, where Laird’s campus comprises two class A buildings — the offices and the production facility, both new in the last few years, and built to Laird’s specific requirements.

The 27,000-square-foot production building has highly sophisticated megarefrigeration with a commen surate amount of electrical heft to power it. It is not typi cal warehouse or light manu facturing space.

Laird occupies the build ing under the terms of a long-term lease valued on its books at some $5 million. Paul Schneider of Sisters is the landlord and a partner with former Laird CEO Paul Hodge in the Woodlands, a 200-unit-plus housing devel opment under construction along Barclay Drive and Pine Street. The Woodlands was originally imagined largely as affordable housing for what

was projected to be a rapidly growing Laird workforce.

Given market conditions, The Woodlands no longer meets the original definition, with even the smallest units in the range of 900 square feet being priced at around $500,000.

When we asked about Laird’s remaining obliga tion under the lease or what their sublet rights were, Veith replied, “We have a long and good relationship with Paul and we are working out a solution satisfactory to both parties.”

Veith hopes that a ten ant can be found that can make use of the substantial leasehold improvements and infrastructure in the build ings. Sisters is in the midst of a mini building boom, with ground broken on sev eral mid- to large-size com mercial projects, five within 200 yards of Laird. One is 41,000 square feet in six units of 6,850 square feet, two of which will be used by the owner. Over 125,000 square feet of commercial space is currently under construction inside the city limits.

Veith, who never left his home in Colorado to take up residence in Sisters, explained how he tried to do the reverse of what Laird is doing.

“We looked for opportuni ties to pack for other similar manufacturers, but the same issue of location to afford able transportation made us uncompetitive,” he said.

In its published state ment, Laid said: “This stra tegic pivot to an outsourced manufacturing model will significantly improve our financial profile by reducing fixed overhead and simplify ing our business, enabling us to focus on maximizing our commercial growth poten tial. Increasing gross margin is a strategic imperative for Laird Superfood and this is an important step toward our committed long-term target of 35 percent. The shift to

third-party manufacturing is an essential move in order to be more responsive to our customer demand while fully aligning our cost structure with the current state of the business.

“We are grateful for the support of the Sisters, Oregon community, and our dedi cated employees who have helped to build the Laird Superfood brand. We are deeply committed to support ing our employees during this transition and will provide all affected team members with severance and outplacement services.”

With respect to the unso licited August 17 offer by New York investment bank E.F. Hutton to acquire all of Laird’s stock for $3 per share, Veith told us that Hutton filed an SEC Form 13D October 12 rescinding their offer.

Picky Bars in Bend, which Laird acquired in May of 2021 for $12 million in cash, is not affected by the decision to cease operations in Sisters. The facility on Lundgren Mill was not equipped to do bak ing nor make granola. Picky Bars has always been made by outside sources, including one in Canada.

Veith is focusing now on a major rebranding for the first quarter of 2023 and a total revamp of packaging.

“We will expand the appeal of our products beyond the legendary following of

Laird Superfoods built production and office facilities in Sisters built to their specific requirements. Laird’s CEO hopes that a tenant can be found that can take advantage of the infrastructure.

our original surfing-based customers,” Veith said.

On May 30, 2017, the company entered into a for givable loan agreement with the City of Sisters in the amount of $51,000. The loan was issued to help the com pany expand its business

operations in the city through eligible jobs.

Laird met the terms of the loan, but questions are aris ing whether the City made a good investment, or if the City should even be engaged in such development efforts in the first place.

LAIRD: Sisters was ‘too far from the interstates’

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

their territorial behavior, their fighting, chasing does, their intensive breeding, marking (their territory); bucks’ necks swell up.

“Their (the bucks’) focus turns almost solely to that breeding behavior. Eating or avoiding humans or staying out of the road…all of those things get put on the back burner,” Walch said.

During rut, deer become even more active and unpre dictable, especially during the dawn and dusk hours when many people are com muting to and from work or school. That problem is exac erbated when we make the change to standard time on November 6, and commuters drive in the darker hours of the day.

If you’ve lived in Sisters Country for more than a few years, you’ve more than likely had a collision, or near collision, with a deer.

Not only is there the trauma of colliding with these beasts, which can occa sionally weigh up to 200 pounds, but serious injury if they come through the wind shield or the driver swerves to avoid a deer and ends up hitting a tree or another car.

The cost of hitting a deer can often be more expensive than it looks. What can look like minor damage to the car owner may be a “totaled” car to your insurance company. Especially if the car involved is a lower-value work car or belongs to a student. The biggest cost is often not the visual auto body damage, but the airbags. Beyond the cost of the airbags are seat belt tensioners, sensor modules, dashboards, and even steer ing wheels.

Where a car may have only suffered $2,500 in auto body damage, the cost of a full set of airbags and all the associated goodies to make them work can exceed $6,000.

Smith estimates that in around 50 percent of cardeer accidents, airbags are deployed. Of those that deploy, he estimates the repair cost as “easily over $10,000.”

Those repair costs may

steer the insurance company toward totaling your car.

There are things motor ists can do to minimize the chance of hitting a deer and possibly injuring the driver and passengers.

• Be aware. This should be a given in deer country.

Drive with the mindset that there are deer all around, whether you can see them or not.

• Use your headlights or daytime running lights (DRL) to catch the red reflection of the eyes of deer hiding just off the road. Use your horn with caution. Scaring the deer may get them moving but may move them into oncoming traffic. If you see a deer by the side of the road, there are prob ably more hiding nearby. Drive with that in mind.

• Generally, do not take evasive action. Swerving to avoid a 150-pound deer

could be far worse than hit ting the deer if you end up in the ditch, hitting a tree, or worse, another car.

What to do if you hit a deer? Sisters-based Deschutes County Sheriff, Lieutenant Chad Davis said, “Safety is the numberone concern. So if they can remove the vehicle from the travel lane and put on their hazard lights and wait in their vehicle, they can call dispatch and a deputy will be dispatched to assist them with all that is involved: calling a tow truck, taking a report, moving the deer from the roadway, or dispatching the deer if it is still alive. When we get there we will help them decipher what the reporting requirement should be.”

Although a driver may have a pistol on hand to dis patch a deer, Davis strongly cautions against that.

Oregon roadkill permit

Hitting a deer may be unavoidable. Over half the time, a deer who has been struck will make it off the road to die.

A few years ago Oregon allowed citizens to harvest roadkill deer or elk. After hitting and killing a deer/elk it may be harvested under the roadkill salvage permit. Best to check out the vari ous reporting details to see

“I would have them con tact dispatch first and have an officer or deputy do that, just for safety purposes,” he said.

It’s a lot of work to focus (stay off electronic devices), be vigilant and aware of the unseen deer all around. The consequences of not doing

what applies to the situa tion, but basically you may harvest the deer immedi ately and have 24 hours to go online and file for the permit. Read the guide lines carefully for your situation.

Search Oregon admin istrative rule OAR 635–0 43–0175 or type in “Oregon roadkill salvage permit,” for information.

so could mean expensive repairs, possible injury, and of course the trauma of hitting a living beast.

Enjoying Sisters Country also comes with the respon sibility of watching out for all creatures, great and small.

$1,940,000. MLS #220149240

Jen McCr ystal, Broker 541-420-4347 • jenmccr ystal@cbbain.com Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6000 | www.cbbain/sisters.com

DEER: Drivers should be alert as deer move across Sisters Country

agree with them. Tulsi Gabbard showed cour age in this decision. I left the Democratic Party years ago for some of the same rea sons she stated. I’m not a public figure like she is, but I want to make a public statement on record as well. It’s time for a change in Oregon, and nationally.

What is your report card showing for our leadership in Oregon? Two of the three guber natorial candidates gave Governor Brown an “F” during the pandemic. We are one of the most extremely liberal states. When are we going to realize that it isn’t working for the average citizens? It’s gone too far left.

Tina Kotek will be just like Brown. She’s voted the same as Brown for years. She has no independent thought, and isn’t willing to work with more conservative members of the legislature. Oregon needs change now. We need it in our local city councils, school boards, county and state positions. It’s time to be brave and courageous like Tulsi Gabbard and leave the Democratic Party. It’s not the same party it was even 10 years ago. It’s a party that is extreme. These are not the values we have as Americans.

Make the change this election. Vote red. Bring back common sense and thriving econ omies. Vote conservative in city, county, state and Federal races. Make Oregon strong and trustworthy again.

Valerie Troyer s s s

New development

To the Editor:

It has come to my attention that very few residents around town are aware of the enormous development called the Sunset Meadows project at the beginning of Highway 242 up for approval at the City Hall

meeting that is scheduled on October 20 at 5:30 p.m.

I oppose this project for many reasons. It’s visually and structurally too large and too tall by this neighborhood’s standards. There are too many development projects already under construction all over Sisters, particularly in west Sisters. When is it enough? I never pic tured Sisters as a densely populated urban city with no space to breathe. I don’t think anybody came to Sisters with that in mind. So why is it happening? Is the Sisters City Council instructed by the governing body of the state to replace the trees with people?

Well, if you are looking to live like you did in a big city you don’t have long to wait accord ing to the city planner. This project will com mence by February 2023 when they will start cutting down almost every tree on the 12.92 acres to accommodate the highest density, up to 200 single- and multi-family units.

We are in a drought, an economic down turn, a fire zone, a dark-sky zone. We are feeding a potential traffic nightmare, and safety evacuation nightmare in the event of a fire. Does our fire department have enough infrastructure to accommodate this huge influx of homes, people, and traffic? These are some of the many questions that come to my mind. We all need to question this run away development and oppose the ones that pose so many risks to our community.

I hope you will join me at this very impor tant meeting and get involved in how we want the future of Sisters to look like. We have already made big investments by mov ing here; we also need to make the invest ment in how we want our community to look and feel in the long run. Please join me and other members of our town and have a say in how we want Mr. Martin, our city plan ner, and our elected officials to best serve us.

Thank you.

Delle

RAINEY: Original Habitat volunteer came to Sisters

Continued

ramps. I keep reminding peo ple that it’s a simple way to keep people in their homes.”

He cited another case in which a local affiliate helped a woman who could not navi gate around her own home and had to move into a senior living facility. A remodel made it possible to live the last year of her life at home with her husband.

Hearing of a child whose family was living in a tool shed and pulling buckets of water from a creek for drink ing, cooking, and cleaning, Rainey demanded action.

“Do you think it’s roman tic? Do you think it’s ‘Little House on the Prairie’?” he said. “It’s not romantic. You can’t tolerate those kinds of things in your community.”

In Sisters, he said, the challenge is to find housing

for the unhoused currently living in local forests.

“One of the challenges for your community is to imag ine how to create some kind of housing for those people,” he said. “I know you can do it — and we already have evidence.”

Rainey had previously been in Medford, where he saw the impact of devastating fires and the effort to recover.

In that response, he said, he sees “the real greatness of America.”

“We are — we always have been — a nation that can do,” he said.

Rainey saluted the work of Sisters Habitat for Humanity.

“I honestly don’t know how they do it,” he said. “They’ve done miracles here. They’ve brought resources to the community. They’ve found land when you thought it was impossible, and they acquired that land, and built houses on it — good houses with good people in them.

“They’re people to be proud of.”