The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVI No. 23 // 2023-06-07

The Nugget

Student faces expulsion over fires

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

A Sisters High School freshman was arrested on Wednesday, May 31, in connection with two fires in girls bathrooms that led to the evacuation of the school. Authorities withheld the name of the juvenile female.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, a student at Sisters High School alerted staff to a fire in the girls restroom at 10:20 a.m. School staff responded to the girls restroom, and used a fire extinguisher to quench the blaze, which was located in the

See ARSON on page 15

Firefighters knock down blaze west of town

A brush fire believed to be human-caused broke out on Wednesday afternoon, May 31, off Cold Springs Cutoff Road west of Sisters.

Firefighters from multiple agencies were able to catch the fire and keep it to 1/4 acre.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District crews were dispatched to assist a U.S. Forest Service crew on the fire, which was discovered approximately 400 feet off of the Cold Springs Cutoff Road. The fire is presumed to be human-caused and is under investigation with USFS law enforcement taking the lead on the investigation.

Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid told The Nugget that, as of Monday, “It does not appear to be associated with a camp — a non-recreational camp.”

Reid said a final determination on cause could be made this week.

Fish on!

from Sisters, Oregon

Wanted man taken into custody in Sisters

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a couple wanted in Marion County without incident in Sisters on Wednesday, May 31.

While the arrest came off smoothly, the incident attracted a lot of attention in town because local businesses had to briefly suspend operations and law enforcement personnel deployed an armored vehicle in the arrest.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) reports that deputies responded to the Ray’s

See ARREST on page 20

Sisters gets ready to rodeo

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

“That one had some potential,” Reid acknowledged. “We had a lot of resources though.”

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District responded with three firefighters and one fire engine. Additional units from Black Butte Ranch, Cloverdale Fire, and Oregon Department of Forestry brought an additional eight firefighters.

There have been multiple human-caused fires in Sisters Country over the past couple of weeks, with the area just entering fire season. The National Interagency Fire Center reports that the national average of humancaused wildfires comprises 87 percent of all wildfire occurrences every year.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District reminds residents and visitors of the important role they play in preventing wildfires, since most of these fires can be prevented.

“We’re ready to roll,” said Hank Moss, a member of the Sisters Rodeo Association Board of Directors.

It takes a huge volunteer effort — of some 225 people — to get Sisters Rodeo ready to roll, from painting to landscaping to manning food concessions and helping patrons find their seats to take in “The Biggest Little Show in the World.”

Moss expects some firstclass rodeo action over the weekend, Friday-Sunday, June 9-11.

“A lot of world champions will be there,” Moss told The Nugget . “Lots of big names will be there this year, so that’s awesome.”

While the Rodeo itself runs over the weekend, the action actually kicks off Wednesday night with Xtreme Bulls, a bullridingonly event that highlights the skill of riders trying to stay atop a bucking, whirling mass of professional trouble.

Moss said that Rodeo fans can expect some new touches around the arena, including a more consistent presentation of sponsor banners. That’s important to the Rodeo Association.

“They do a lot for us,” said Moss,” and we want people to see that and shop

local and use our sponsors.”

They have installed new low-energy, high-output LED lamps that dramatically improve illumination for the event. The lights make for a better experience for attendees of evening performances

See RODEO on page 20

Volunteers

set to host “The Biggest Little Show in the World.”

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Eight-year-old Jonathan Warren from Tualatin hooked a 13-pound-7-ounce fish in Kids Fishing Day action at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery in Camp Sherman. The popular event returned after a hiatus of several years, to introduce youngsters to the thrill of fishing.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Letters to the Editor…

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer’s name, address, and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond, or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday.

Prescribed burns

To the Editor:

George Wuerthner’s critique of controlled burns was on the mark (“Rethink burning in Sisters’ forests,” The Nugget, May 31, page 2)

It has been claimed that they help reduce the threat of a forest fire in a given area and lower the intensity of a fire if one starts there. This seems plausible, but I wonder if the Forest Service has any evidence that a controlled burn has ever contributed to either scenario? As we know, controlled burns throw up a huge cloud of pollution, turning clean air into a sewer. They also destroy ground habitat and are, obviously, ugly.

Wednesday June 7 Partly Cloudy 87/55

Thursday June 8 Thunderstorms 81/53

Moreover, they do not contribute to the health of the forest. I grew up near the woods in Oregon and spent much time in the forest. I can remember that in the 1950s high school kids from the Portland area would go out to plant trees in the vast area devastated by the Tillamook Burn, which has since regrown. If the concept of a “controlled” burn existed then, it would have been mocked. And I think the reason is this: few people lived in the woods in those days. If there was a fire, it usually burned itself out (nature’s way) and one took one’s chances. In the 1950s Oregon’s population was about a million and a quarter. Today it is pushing five million and

See LETTERS on page 21

Sisters Weather Forecast

Friday June 9 Cloudy 73/48

Saturday June 10 Mostly Cloudy 73/46

Sunday June 11 Partly Cloudy 77/47

Monday June 12 Partly Cloudy 77/47

Tuesday June 13 Partly Cloudy 78/46

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC

Editor in Chief & Co-owner: Jim Cornelius

Production Manager: Leith Easterling

Creative Director: Jess Draper

Community Marketing Partner: Vicki Curlett

Concerns about traffic

By Cathy Russell Guest Columnist

In the City of Sisters Comprehensive Plan, Transportation System Plan, and the Parks Master Plan are goals and policies addressing traffic, pedestrians, and bicycles. These goals and policies emphasize reduction in traffic in downtown Sisters and ensuring livability for residents.

I want to focus on one particular section of our town. The triangle that is comprised of Highway 242, McKinney Butte Road, and Highway 20 from Rail Way to Pine Street.

Currently there are five churches, two schools, a grocery store, two discount stores, two hotels, two gas stations, two banks, three restaurants, seven small businesses, and a medical clinic. These intersections get congested during peak hours. Flow is usually slow but somewhat steady. There are, however, only two ways west.

In addition to the present traffic-generating facilities, the following will be added in the next one to five years (car numbers calculated by average unit types x parking codes):

two to three times daily, at different times of the day and evening. You need to have feet on the ground to get a complete picture. Driving by or an occasional use is not the same as navigating this area by foot, bicycle, wheelchair, skateboard, or even in a car, on a daily basis. This area has a problem.

There is currently no safe place to cross Highway 20 to the proposed Woodland Park. There is mention of a crossing near the East Portal but no definite timeline. Even so, a safe crossing near the roundabout is needed for children, the elderly, and the handicapped wanting to access the park and Woodland residents to access businesses.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The

Classifieds: Janice Hoffman

Circulation: Lisa May

Proofreader: Kit Tosello

Co-owner: J. Louis Mullen

Sunset Meadows (294 cars); Heavenly Acres (60 cars); Habitat (18 cars); Oxbow Flats (75 cars); Sisters Woodlands, added because of impact on the roundabout (540 cars); a new elementary school (no traffic study found); three proposed new businesses (no traffic study yet).

The East Portal, which will serve as a centralized service location for community Connector transit service, vanpools, car sharing, secure short- and long-term parking, and park-and-ride services.

A new gas station. If you can believe the numbers given in the application, peak hours could generate 1,200 trips of which around 50 percent will be heading west, so 600 cars.

We just added 987+ cars to this area without counting the traffic from the new elementary school, the East Portal, 3 new businesses, and a new gas station. Once again, there are only two ways west.

I have tried to keep emotions out of this and focus on data as that’s what you base your decisions on. Traffic studies give you data for a point in time. It should be part of the decision-making process but just as important are observations. I live in this area. I walk this area

City plans and Council’s goals address Locust/ Barclay and connecting streets but neglect the area with the immediate high development. Brooks Camp Road’s designation has been upgraded from local to neighborhood street, but in reality it will become a collector street. I would also like to point out that both the gated communities of Brooks Camp and Trout Creek’s only entrance is on McKinney Butte, which will become problematic with the additional traffic. Not only that, Brooks Camp is a 55+ community. Within this community there are a half dozen 85+ year olds, and walking to the area businesses is their means of transportation. The inability to continue this healthy lifestyle should not be an unintentional consequence due to the City’s lack of planning.

Not only does the new gas station not meet the Western theme for downtown, it actually encourages traffic through downtown. This negates resources invested in the alternate route and also counters goals and policies. In addition, it will contribute not only cars to this congested area but will add RVs which by their lengths will cause more congestion. A good compromise would be to allow for a true remodel comparable to already existing gas stations in the area.

This area of town needs immediate attention to provide livability to current and future residents as well as visitors. It would be beneficial for the City to invest in their own traffic study of this area that includes all the new developments, in order to figure out how these seriously adverse impacts can be mitigated.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Bond funds to upgrade Black Butte School

The voters in Camp Sherman passed a $2 million school bond for Black Butte School (BBS) with approval of Measure 16-105 in the May 16 election.

The tiny public K-12 district serves K-8 children in Camp Sherman, Blue Lake, and Suttle Lake, with some transfers from Sisters or Sweet Home school districts. After eighth grade, most students transfer into Sisters High School.

The historic two-room schoolhouse has retained the same structure and charm since 1951. Enrollment

SFF offers summer creativity camps

Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) is offering seven week-long summer creativity camps for middle- and high-school-aged students at Sisters Art Works in July and August.

SFF has partnered with regional teaching artists to create these fun-filled sessions of art, music, theater, and self-expression. Registration is open at https://sistersfolkfestival. org/creativity-camps with pay-what-you-can pricing starting at $25 to ensure that no child is prevented from participating due to financial barriers.

Seed to Sprout Music Camp, July 10-14, is for players with minimal music experience on their chosen acoustic instrument. Teaching artist Joe Schulte, mandolin player and bandleader from

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383.

Alcoholics A nonymou s

Moon Mountain Ramblers, Cascade School of Music, and String Theory Music School in Bend, will teach the course. Schulte will provide songs that can be played with the most basic common chords and short, easy-to-learn melodies to memorize. Students will have opportunities to try other instruments as well, offering players real-life experience and showing them what each different “noise machine” can offer.

Enrollment is open to students grades 5-8 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Maximum of 20 participants. Registration closes on July 3.

Science and the Arts Camp, July 17-21, is a half-day camp focused on the intersection of art and science. Through experiments and constructions

using light and sound, campers will tap into their personal creativity, finding patterns in nature and art while exploring concepts in Design Science. The camp will be led by Rob Corrigan, former chemistry, physics, engineering, and math teacher at Sisters High School. Enrollment is open to students entering grades 7-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Maximum of 16 participants. Registration closes on July 10.

Middle Grades String Camp, July 24-28, will be lead by teaching artist and Sisters Middle School (SMS) science teacher Melissa Stolasz. This camp is open to players who have some experience on fiddle or guitar and can play a

ranges from 20 to 30 students, and the kids learn together in mixed-age classrooms while utilizing the Metolius Basin as an outdoor learning space. Black Butte School is known for its legacy programs such as the eight-week Ski & Ride Program, spring swimming lessons, annual performing arts events, and heavy focus on field studies.

The Camp Sherman community has not had a chance to vote on a bond since 1963, and, with the

Firefighting day camp brought girls together

By Emma Renly Correspondent

On May 20, the United States Forest Service (USFS) and nonprofit SheJumps partnered to host Wild Skills Junior Wildland Firefighting at Scout Lake Campground in Sisters. The full-day event offered young girls aged 8 to 14 an opportunity to learn fundamental outdoor skills and insights into the world of wildland fire. The programming was made possible through a grant received by Fire Management Officer Andrew Myhra, based in Sisters Ranger District.

SheJumps is a nationally

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

East of the Cascades Quilt Guild

4th Wed. (September- June), Stitchin’

Post . A ll are welcome. 5 41-5 49 -6 061.

G o Fish Fishing G roup 3rd Monday

7 p.m., Siste rs C ommunity Church.

541-771-2211

Thursday, 7 p.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration / Satur day, 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration / M onday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church / Big Book study, Tuesday, noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church / Gen tlemen’s meeting, Wednesday, 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Sober Sisters Women’s meet ing, Thu rsday, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fr iday, noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-5 48 -0 440.

Central Oregon F ly Tye rs G uild

For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om

Ci tizens4Communit y Let ’s Talk

3rd Monday, 6 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP at citizens 4c ommunity.c om

Council on Aging of Cent ral O rego n Senior Lunch In- person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. G raband- go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs. 12:30 to 1 p.m. Siste rs C ommunity Church.

541- 48 0-18 43

Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s)

2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Siste rs Communit y Church. M ater ials provided.

541- 408 -8 505.

Hero Q uilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 5 41-6 68 -1755

Milita ry Parent s of Sisters M eetings are held quarter ly; please c all for details. 5 41-388 -9 013.

Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys,

11:3 0 a.m., Takoda’s Rest aurant.

541- 549- 64 69

SAGE (Senior Activities, G athering s & Enrichmen t) M onday- Fr iday, 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. at Sisters Par k & Recreation District. 5 41-5 49 -2091.

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th

Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom.

503- 93 0- 6158

Sisters Area Photography Club

2nd Wednesday, 3:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church. 5 41-5 49 -6157.

Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPR D. 5 41-5 49 -8 8 46

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Suppor t G roup 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., Siste rs Episcopal Church. 5 41-719 -0 031.

Sisters Cribbage C lub M eets 11 a.m. ever y Wed. at S PR D. 5 09 -9 47-574 4.

Sisters Garden C lub For monthly meetings visit: SistersGardenClub.com.

Sisters Habitat for Humanit y Board of D irectors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location infor mation: 5 41-5 49 -1193.

Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 to 8:3 0 a.m., Brand 3 3 Rest aurant at Aspen Lakes. 5 41-410 -2870

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School Commons. 917-219-8298

Sisters Red Hat s 1st Friday. For location infor mation, please c all: 541- 8 48 -1970.

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 5 41-760 -5 64 5.

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 5 41-419 -1279.

Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 5 41-9 03 -1123.

Sisters Trails A lliance Board Meetings t ake plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In- person or zoom. Contact: info@sisterstrails.org

Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of Direc tors M eets 1st Tuesday 4 p.m., TSI D Of fice. 5 41-5 49 -8 815

VF W Po st 813 8 and A merican

Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the mont h, 6:3 0 p.m., M ain Church Building Sisters Community Church. 8 47-344 -0 49 8

Sisters Area Woodworkers

Held the f irst Tuesday of t he month 7 to 9 p.m. Call 5 41-231-18 97

SCHOOLS

Black Bu tt e School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:4 5 p.m., Black Butte School. 5 41-595 -6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m onthly, Sisters School District Administr ation Building. See schedule online at www.ssd 6.org. 5 41-5 49 -8 521 x5 002.

recognized nonprofit with a mission to increase the participation of women and girls in the outdoors. Their Wild Skills programming aims to teach participants survival and technical skills for outdoor adventuring.

“Our goal is to see girls learning, having fun, and connecting in an encouraging environment with amazing instruction and support from female mentors,” said Robyn Gelfand, national program director. “We want SheJumps Wild Skills to spark a lifetime of passion for the outdoors and will remind them that

CIT Y & PARKS

Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:3 0 p.m., Siste rs City Hall. 5 41-5 49 -6 022.

Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Dire ctor s 2nd & 4th Tues., 4:30 p.m., SPR D bldg. 5 41-5 49 -2091.

Sisters Pl anning Commission

3rd Thursday, 5:3 0 p.m., Siste rs City Hall. 5 41-5 49 -6 022.

FIRE & POLICE

Black Bu tt e Ranch Polic e

This listing is for regular Sist ers Countr y meetings; email infor mation to nugget@ nuggetnews.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Young Sisters musicians can develop their creativity in camps hosted by Sisters Folk Festival this summer. See BBS BOND

Grad signs with Ducks cheer squad

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

A lifetime of dancing and a Presidential Scholarship offer from the University of Oregon led Sidney Linn to decide to try out for the Ducks cheer team, and on May 9 she signed a letter of intent formalizing her as a member of the 2023-24 squad along with three other incoming freshmen who made the team.

Leading up to the final selection, Linn attended some clinics in Eugene and then did an initial audition, which landed her in the actual tryouts that included a total of 32 hopefuls.

The cheer team includes a stunt group as well as a dance group. Linn’s focus will be on the dance squad.

No scholarship money is attached to her signing on, but her Presidential Scholarship, renewable for

four years, covers most of her financial need.

As a team member, Linn is considered an ambassador for the University.

“I am considered to be one of the faces of the University,” she explained.

According to the squad’s website, the team keeps quite busy. The site says, “The Oregon Cheerleaders support University of Oregon athletic programs and entertain crowds at Autzen Stadium and Matthew Knight Arena. They appear in action at football, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball events. In addition to entertaining crowds at Oregon athletic events, the cheerleading squad also supports the University at many events across the state of Oregon. The team travels to all away football games, including the last 24 bowl games, and two national championship football games. They represent Oregon at the PAC-12 Conference basketball tournaments in Las Vegas and at all post-season NCAA basketball tournaments including the Final Four. The Cheerleaders do appearances around the community

alongside the Duck mascot as a means to help fund their program.

A lifelong Duck fan, Linn has attended football games at Autzen Stadium since her childhood, but she had applied to colleges primarily in California, with U of O as her only Oregon school. After being admitted, she took a tour of campus and encountered the cheer team in what was called the Rally Alley and became intrigued.

“I actually stopped and took some pictures with some of the team, which is when I really began to think about trying out,” she said.

Linn’s attitude going into the tryouts was “Why not?” making her selection very

“I really couldn’t quite believe it and felt like I was in a dream for a while,” she said.

She will join her brother Conner, who is two years ahead of her, in Eugene. She knows other members of the team who she met through previous dance studios and competitions.

Linn will report to a threeweek training in August, but will start learning all the routines via video over the summer. The first football game of the season is September 2 and the team has to be ready, according to Linn.

“Now that it is official I am looking forward to everything that is to come,” she said, “including the sense of

Sidney Linn formally signed with U of O as her family and friends looked on at Sisters High School.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG

Sidney Linn is set to join the U of O cheer squad.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Protecting rare fox in the Cascades

By Steve Lundeberg Correspondent

CORVALLIS –

Conservation efforts for the rare Sierra Nevada red fox can be strengthened through new computer modeling based on a 12-year data gathering partnership led by scientists at Oregon State University’s (OSU) Institute for Natural Resources, says a researcher who helped direct the project.

The endangered fox lives at high elevation in California’s Sierra Nevada and Oregon’s Cascade Range. Its numbers have been falling for two centuries largely because of human activity, including trapping and poisoning, and a warming climate may be making the problem worse, OSU wildlife ecologist Sean Matthews said.

“Low genetic diversity from inbreeding, hybridization with non-native red foxes, and influences of climate change threaten the persistence of the subspecies across its range,” said Matthews, who co-led the study published in the Journal of Mammalogy. “Our results provide a demonstration for studying elusive species with

limited survey data, a guide for future survey efforts, and a baseline to inform conservation and management action.”

Researchers including scientists at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the University of California, Davis, and Yosemite National Park modeled the potential distribution and abundance of the Sierra Nevada red fox throughout its historical and contemporary ranges.

Sierra Nevada red foxes, known scientifically as Vulpes vulpes necator, live in a mix of habitats above and below timberline, Matthews said, including meadows, mature forests, talus slopes, and fell fields – rock-strewn open areas higher than the tree line.

“The Sierra Nevada red fox experienced large population declines over the last 100 years,” he said. “There are historical records of red foxes around Mount Shasta and in the Klamath Mountains, areas now devoid of red foxes. Our limited understanding of the fox’s ecology has hindered the development of informed conservation actions.”

The study team, which also included scientists at the U.S.

Forest Service, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and the Cascades Carnivore Project, was able to estimate the distribution and population sizes of Sierra Nevada red foxes by using data collected via remotely triggered cameras and other survey tools.

The survey period was 2009 through 2020. The modeling approach predicted fox density based on the relationship between detection frequencies and environmental characteristics, allowing for the model to project those densities onto unsampled areas with similar land and vegetation features.

“That’s important because it’s not really possible to sample every individual remote area the Sierra Nevada red fox might be living,” Matthews said.

Generally, he said, foxes were detected in areas with high amounts of snow and low minimum temperatures; the Sierra Nevada red fox has several adaptations for living in snowy areas, including a thick winter coat and small toe pads covered in dense fur. Foxes were most likely to be detected by a camera in open

areas and on gentle slopes.

“We identified areas occupied by Sierra Nevada red fox at very low densities – just over one fox per 100 square kilometers – in the Oregon Cascades, the central Sierra Nevada and around Lassen Peak,” Matthews said. “They naturally occur at low densities, but now that they occupy smaller portions of their historical range, there are very few foxes in these areas, which can lead to negative genetic consequences.”

A conservation objective, he said, would be increasing connectivity between fox population areas. That could come in the form of land use decisions that limit habitat

fragmentation when projects like highway expansion, recreational development, and housing subdivisions are planned.

Other actions that could benefit the Sierra Nevada red fox include lowering vehicle speed limits, building wildlife crossing infrastructure, and reintroducing foxes in some areas to increase populations and genetic diversity, Matthews said.

David Green, formerly of OSU’s Institute for Natural Resources, also co-led the study, which was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Yosemite Conservancy, and Yosemite National Park.

The Sierra Nevada red fox.

Don’t kidnap young wildlife

SALEM — Finding a young wild animal alone does not mean that it’s been abandoned or orphaned, so leave them where you find them. That’s the word from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. The advice you are likely to hear if you pick up or bring young wildlife home is “put it back,” and you might get a warning or citation from Oregon State Police, too.

Removing an animal from the wild is illegal under Oregon wildlife laws (ORS 497.308 — No person shall remove from its natural habitat or acquire and hold in captivity any live wildlife in violation of the wildlife laws).

Many wildlife species will leave their young while they forage for food. When people remove them from the wild, young animals miss the chance to learn where to seek cover, what to eat, and how to escape from predators and other dangers.

Every year around this time, ODFW offices, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, and Oregon State Police are flooded with calls from well-intentioned people who picked up a deer fawn, elk calf, fledgling bird learning to fly, or other young animal they assumed was orphaned because it was alone.

Even if they receive care from a wildlife rehabilitator, successfully returning a young animal to the wild is not always possible. Options for long-term placement in wildlife sanctuaries or zoos are limited and animals often must be euthanized since they lack the survival skills

to be released back into the wild. Some animals can also become dangerous as they grow into adults and pose a serious threat to human safety.

Here’s how to help:

• Keep pets and other domestic animals away from wildlife. Pets will stress wildlife, especially if there are young wildlife or fledgling birds in your yard. Keep dogs on a leash when recreating outside. Keep cats indoors to protect them and our native wildlife.

• If you are certain an animal is orphaned because you observed the parent animal deceased, or you see an animal that is injured, please call ODFW, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, or OSP for advice.

• Don’t feed wildlife. All species of wildlife have a specialized diet that coincides with seasonal changes. Access to human-provided food can negatively impact their health, lead to conflict with humans, and in many cases have fatal consequences.

Deer and elk

Oregon’s deer and elk give birth from May through July. It’s natural for mother animals to leave their young alone and hidden for extended periods of time while they go off to feed, so never assume a young animal is orphaned when you see it alone. The mother will return when it’s safe to do so—when people, pets, or predators aren’t around. Deer and elk see dogs as a threat to their young and may act aggressively in response to disturbance from a dog.

Marine mammals

Harbor seal pups are born in late March through April. Females often leave their pups at haul-outs or along sandy beaches while searching for food. Never pick up or handle a seal pup or any other marine mammal you find at the beach. Beachgoers should stay away from resting seals and sea lions and keep dogs away from these animals as well. Marine mammal strandings should be reported to OSP’s hotline at 1-800-452-7888.

Birds

Birds nest in the spring and young birds may be found from late February through early summer. Some baby birds, called fledglings, may become separated from their parents as they learn to fly. These are sometimes thought to be abandoned and brought to wildlife rehabilitators. Unless obviously injured, birds should be left where they are or lifted carefully back onto a branch to help them avoid predators (like outdoor cats), so they have the best chance at survival.

Ducklings and goslings frequently become separated from their mothers due to disturbance from humans or predators. If you spot young waterfowl without a mother, please leave them alone and leave the area so the mother can return.

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JULY 18-21 | $409 PPDO

Includes 3 nights, Circus/Circus, slot play and food credits.

Detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Oregon continue this year and it is important to avoid close contact with waterfowl (ducks and geese). Do not feed ducks and geese. Feeding congregates susceptible birds and enables the disease to spread between birds more easily. Also, note that Oregon’s wildlife rehabilitators are not currently

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

accepting sick ducks and geese to protect other avian patients and education birds in their care.

Removing an animal from the wild often does more harm than good. Please respect wildlife and if you care — leave them there.

For more information on young wildlife visit https://www.dfw.state.or.us/ resources/viewing/FAQs.asp.

The Law Office of JOHN H. MYERS — Downtown Sisters RS

WILLS & TRUSTS

Make it easy for you and your loved ones. Call for a free 30-minute phone consultation!

Scan QR code for our Introduction to Estate Planning Video

541-588-2414 204 W. Adams Ave., Ste 203 www.beaverstatelaw.co m

The Nugget Poetry Corner

An Ode to the Gr aduates

ByEdieJones

Look at all you’ ve done!

BRANSON AT CHRISTMAS

NOV. 9-16 | $2,699 PPDO

August

August 24 n Fused Glass Wind Chimes

Includes air, taxes, transfers, 7 nights lodging, 14 meals/14 shows.

LEAVENWORTH AT CHRISTMAS

June

August 10 or

14

, 541-549-6061 Create a Garden in Glass

DEC. 10-12 | $699 PPDO 2 nights at Bavarian Lodge, 2 brkfsts, 2 dinners, sleigh ride.

PANAMA CANAL CRUISE

JAN. 21-FEB. 6, 2024

$3,499 PPDO

Includes air, taxes, transfers, 1 pre-night Ft. Lauderdale.

VENICE CRUISE

MAY 2-12, 2024

STARTING AT $2,999 PPDO

Includes air, taxes, transfers, 2 pre-nights Venice, 7 night cruise.

RIVER CRUISE

NASHVILLE TO ST. LOUIS

JUNE 30-JULY 8, 2024

STARTING AT $4,899 PPDO

Includes air, transfers, taxes, 2 pre-nights in Nashville, 7 night cruise, 1 post-night in Memphis. Complimentary shore excursions.

541-508-1500

Box 615 Sisters, OR 97759

With grit and desir e, you’ ve stayed the cour se and won the r ace that will take you forwar d on life’s unknown path.

Enjoy this moment. With all its pomp

Soon, car es will bec kon—but for now romp in the joy of a job well done.

Know that the hour s you’ ve ponder ed and mused, times w hen you r efused and re plied, “Can’t go,” have paid of f well. Soon life will gr ow into mor e than you dr eamed, places never imagined, ne ver part of your sc heme

Throw that mortarboard high overhead.

Thank all who’ ve been ther e as you’ ve tr ead the path that’s br ought you to now.

Gas station hearing set for June 15

The controversial proposal to redevelop the Space Age Gas station at the corner of Cascade Avenue and Pine Street will go before the Sisters Planning Commission for a public hearing on Thursday, June 15, at 5:30 p.m. at Sisters City Hall.

The planning commission will hear public testimony from the applicant and interested citizens at the hearing.

Folk duo to take stage at The Belfry

The San Juan Island, Washington-based indie folk-rock duo Sway Wild — Mandy Fer and Dave McGraw — return to The Belfry on Friday, June 16. Their exceptional vocal harmonies, coupled with Fer’s pioneering electric guitar work, have become a vehicle to carry them around the world, sharing stages with the likes of Iron & Wine, Lake Street Dive, and Watchhouse.

Sway Wild’s infectious sound explores the corners of rock, pop, funk, prog, worldbeat, and folk, but at its nucleus it is undeniably a music full of joy. It can squeeze the heart in your chest, it can draw tears from your eyes, and it can force you to get up and move your body; over and over, it somehow manages to do all three at once. Mandy Fer also

tours as the lead guitarist for Grammy-nominated Allison Russell and recently performed with Brandi Carlile and Jason Isbell.

The show will also feature Sean Hayes, a Bay Area singer-songwriter who makes music to dance to or cry to — or maybe both at the same time. He was born in New York City, raised in North Carolina, and honed his earliest musical chops in a band playing Irish and old-time tunes — but his unique style of deeply felt, R&B-inflected folk really matured during his two decades singing and playing in cafes, bars, and night clubs of San Francisco.

Tickets are available at https://bendticket. com/events/seanhayes-6-18-2023. The Belfry is located at 302 E. Main Ave. in Sisters.

The proposed new convenience store on the site would have 3,500 square feet of space, and the station would have eight towers with 16 fuel pumps, an overhead canopy with lighting, related site improvements, and increased asphalt area for parking. C & C Nursery and Richard’s Farmstand would both be removed from their current locations behind the station.

Pliska Investments LLC owns the subject property. The proposal has drawn considerable fire from community members concerned about the scope and scale of the redevelopment, potential for impacts on traffic, and effects on the character of the community.

Materials relating to both workshop agenda items are available on the City website under Meetings & Agendas. All items in the proposal record for the service sta

tion can be found under Community Development on the City website, www. ci.sisters.or.us.

Sway Wild will perform at The Belfry on June 16.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Somebody worked hard to create a perch in a tall tree behind Stitchin’ Post.

PHOTO BY MARTIN CANNON

The Bunkhouse Chronicle

Craig Rullman Columnist

Face-palming the apocalypse

Given the extraordinary speed of modern information exchange, it can be difficult to properly triage the many hundreds of crisis declarations demanding our immediate and undivided attention. Hyperventilating for attention is no longer just the brief of a four-year-old who doesn’t want to eat his asparagus. It’s everywhere.

Just this morning, for instance, while doomscrolling over a cup of tea, I struggled to triage the DebtCeiling Crisis, the Ukraine Crisis, the Climate Crisis, the Opioid Crisis, the Migrant Crisis, the Dead Bodies on Everest Crisis, the Bud Light Beer Can Crisis, the Popocatépetl Eruption Crisis, the Mummified Remains of Senator Feinstein Crisis, the Adidas-Yeezy Sneaker Fallout Crisis, the Joe Biden Falls Down Again Crisis, and any number of apocalyptic developments from Kashmir to Kentucky.

Of course, the problem isn’t with perpetual crises — not really — because human history is essentially a scary ghost story, the longform narrative of our ancestors pinballing between dire predicaments.

Instead, the problem we have today seems to be the sheer volume of incoming

conundrums that confront us, the rolling barrage of alleged calamities that come in from every platform imaginable.

It can be exhausting to sort through the rack and ruin pumped into our consciousness by lampreys of the administrative state, social media “influencers,” the Vampires of Bilderberg, and the various Titans of Crisis walking the earth disguised as journalists.

We can’t do anything about most of it, of course, which is part of that inarticulable frustration many people feel, and which presents in various ways — from explosive road rage, to save the sea-ice drum circles, to people throwing soup, and then paint, and then soup again on the Mona Lisa.

And if we are being honest, we aren’t really being asked to do anything about all of these emergencies except give our undivided attention to each new train derailment and chemical fire. The crisis industry wants our attention because they have a financial interest in keeping the idea of extinction-level threats running in our consciousness like hamsters on a wheel. The longer a crisis spins, the more money sticks to it,

and so the industry is forever hunting for the next “edgy” story to stamp with the crisis label — because hyperbole is the only way to get anyone’s attention. It may also help explain, to some degree, why so many people seem to be, in fact, so very edgy.

The crisis industry is good at making every crisis feel like your immediate problem, but most of them really aren’t. And it’s also true that locally, where we might be able to do something to affect an outcome, we can probably focus better.

The most critical threat we face in Sisters isn’t from traffic, monstrous gas stations or, egads, even wolves. The most critical threat we face is from wildfire. Full stop. A wildfire in Sisters could destroy the entire town in short order, as it did in Paradise, California, or closer to home in Blue River. One might think that the ongoing threat of a truly catastrophic wildfire might jump to the top of our priority list and stay there, banging gongs and blowing whistles while engendering real action to do everything that can be done to prevent one.

But it isn’t at all clear that is the case.

One might think, for instance, that someone, somewhere, in some official capacity, might take a more serious approach to the dozens of people living illegally in the public forest whose caravans or campsites may suddenly erupt in flames, as they recently have.

As ever, predictable remains preventable, but it’s doubtful that anyone in an official position to do something will do too much. Not because they don’t want to — these are usually good people just trying to make a living — but because the model of governance they work under requires that decisions about who gets to live on public land, and for how long, be made 2,710 miles away in Washington DC.

The stakeholders, of course, don’t live in Washington DC — we all live here — but don’t let that irritate you, because these days policy often replaces the law. Maybe that’s because we have bad laws, or maybe it’s just because it’s easier to hide behind policy. Maybe it’s both. Either way, it’s certainly the way things are, and nobody seems to know how we got

here. And not much changes in that arrangement until it’s too late — when the predictable-preventable eventually causes a catastrophe.

It would be wrong, of course, to lay human-caused wildfire threats solely on homeless people dwelling long-term, and maybe forever, in the public woods. Having a mortgage doesn’t make anyone a saint, and this space believes that any homeowner who abandons a campfire or walks away from their debris burn — as they recently have — should be placed in stocks on Cascade Avenue. Would that prevent a wildfire? No. But in the age of “raising awareness,” an edgy TikTok video of good-neighbor Ted dangling in the stocks might make some waves about how seriously the stakeholders of Sisters Country take the wildfire issue. Maybe that’s too much. It might be. It’s just that in a world of things to worry about, where an entire nation seems to be grasping for relief from the relentless shelling of the crisis industry, it might be helpful to start by properly triaging our concern for the very real problems closest to home.

‘Sustainable City’ students celebrate year in Sisters

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Sisters community members, City Council members and University of Oregon students celebrated the end of the Sustainable City Year Partnership (SCYP) between the University and the City of Sisters. Last Thursday evening at FivePine Convention Center, University of Oregon (UO) students ranging from sophomores to seniors to master’s students displayed their work for the Sustainable City partnership.

That partnership started last year, between the University’s Planning, Public Policy, and Management program (PPPM) and the City of Sisters. Students created mock-ups and designs to model how to make Sisters more sustainable. Specifically, students focused on transportation and making the city more bicycle-friendly, as well as potential ideas for the use of the old elementary school building.

The event marked the culmination of a year’s worth of collaboration between students, faculty, City staff, and Sisters School District (SSD). Students created posters with their various ideas for bike infrastructure in the city, including more bikeability

in the newly approved East Portal Transportation Hub at the edge of town.

“We used everything the City had already put in place and created more options for bikeability, as Sisters is the premiere place for biking,” said presenting student Ravi Cullop.

Their poster idea included a bike share program where riders could pay for the use of a City bike to use during their time around Sisters.

Throughout the year, students visited Sisters and, alongside City staff, got to know the infrastructure of the town by biking around and hearing about all the up-andcoming projects.

Architecture students focused on various adaptations of the existing elementary school building once the school is housed in the newly constructed building in September 2024. They reimagined the site for housing needs. The PPPM classes looked at the building’s potential for adaptive reuse and teacher/workforce housing, age-friendly neighborhood, or a recreation/community center. The students worked closely with Curt Scholl and the SSD in potential adaptations for the property.

Ultimately, the property was designated as a facility

for Sisters Park & Recreation District.

“These types of projects and collaborations are important, and they impact people and are hugely important for the city,” said Mayor Michael Preedin at the event.

Marc Schlossberg , professor of PPPM and transportation classes, spoke about the inception of the project and how partnerships like this one are happening nationwide and internationally.

“It is the transformational idea of partnership and how to move forward with communities,” he said. “The essence of the program is to match the goals of the community with courses offered at the UO.”

Schlossberg looks forward to continuing the project with forward-looking students. The SCYP program started in 2010.

Megan Banks, the program’s director, thanked Sisters City staff for allowing students to come into the community.

“This program really allows us to think outside of the box in how we approach projects and potential for a community,” she said.

All the work students put together will be available in project reports for the public and for City staff to reference.

Those project reports should be available by the end of the summer. Many of the students

echoed the sentiment that it was really nice to apply what they are learning to a place.

Sulwyn De Crozuc and Ravi Cullop were presenters for the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Partnership with the City of Sisters.

PHOTO BY CEILI GATLEY

Americ an Legion and VFW Meeting s are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 130 0 McKenzie Hwy. All members invited to attend . Call Charles Wilson, 847-344-0498.

Sisters Far mers Market

Seek s Volunteers

Sisters Farmers Market is looking for Market Day helpers

Volunteers assist with market set-up and breakdown, sta the information booth, and help with a variet y of other tasks.

Volunteering at the Market is a great way to meet your local growers and makers , plus receive $10 worth of f resh veggies from Seed to Table’s booth on volunteer days . To learn more, call 541-904-1034 or email sistersfarmersmarket@gmail com . Sisters Farmers Market is open ever y Sunday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. now through September

Sisters Careg iver Support

A f acilitated support group for caregivers of those with chronic or life-shor tening diseases meet s 10 to 11:30 a .m. on the third Tuesday of ever y month at Sisters Episcopal Church of e Transfiguration, 121 Brook s Camp Rd . For more information, cont act Kay at 541-719-0 031.

Weekly Food Pantry

e Wellhouse Church hosts a weekly food pantr y ursdays at 3 p.m. at 222 N . Trinit y Way

Both drive-through pick-up and shopping-st yle distribution are available. Call 541-549-4184 for information.

Free Lunches for Seniors

For those 60+, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon o ers a f un, no-cost social lunch every Tuesday, 11 a .m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Community Church, 1300 McKenzie Hwy. No reser vations needed. No-cost Grab-N- Go lunches take place weekly on Wed . and urs ., f rom 12:30 to 1 p.m . Call 541-797-9367.

Free Weekly Meal Service

Family Kitchen hosts weekly togo hot meals on Tuesdays , 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sisters Community Church, 130 0 McKenzie Hwy Visit www.FamilyKitchen .org

Save the Rubberbands

Are you the recipient of a bundle of Nuggets 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. For more information, ask for Lisa at 541-549-9941

Reminder: Protec t Pets

When Weather Turns Hot Remember s afet y guidelines:

• Never leave your pet in the car when the temperature is above 60 degrees

• Be sure to give your pets unlimited access to f resh water.

• Provide a shaded open air area when pets are outdoors

• Plan to take walks during the cooler hours of the day

A

STAR S Seek s Volunteers for Dispatch Ser vice

You can help STARS , an Age Friendly Sisters Country Action Team, to transport Sisters Countr y residents to nonemergenc y medical appointments while working from your home. You will need a computer, the abilit y to use online applications , a telephone, and a desire to improve quality of life for Sisters residents . You will be actively on call 5-10 hours per month and will monitor email for emergencies t wo to four days each month. We are a small all-volunteer team providing value to our Sisters communit y. Learn more about STAR S at www.starsride.org or talk to a dispatcher by calling 541-9 04-5545 on Tuesdays or ursdays f rom 10 a .m. until 3 p.m . Come join the team!

Deschutes Public Library

Seek s New Art

New construction and upgrades to our Deschutes Count y libraries brings an oppor tunity for the librar y to expand its art collection. e Art Committee seek s art in all media and genres: painting , printmaking , sculpture, glass , fiber, f unctional, digital, photography, installation, mixe d-media, and new media genres . Applications f rom artists will be accepted through the CaFÉ website: https://artist. callforent ry.org/festivals unique_info.php?ID =116 44 Send direct questions to: DPL art.commit tee@gmail.com.

Silent Echo eater

Company Auditions

Auditions for the theater ’s first full-length per formance, Steel Magnolias , will take place June 11 f rom 7 to 9 p.m. at Sisters

Communit y Church , 130 0

McKenzie Hwy., and June 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bend Church, 68 0 NW Bond St. in Bend . No preparation is required . Sides will be provided the night of auditions . Per formances will take place October 19 to 29 at Harmony House in Sisters . For more information visit www silentechotheatercompany.org or call 310 -710 -2874.

Roundhouse Foundation

Hosts Open Studio

Presenting agricultural history scholar Milo Vella, multimedia artist Sandy Finch, and musicians

Julian Saporiti and Emilia

Halvorsen on June 15 f rom

4 to 6 p.m. at Pine Meadow Ranch, 68467 ree Creek s Rd. is event is f ree and open to public. Limited to 30 attendees

Registration is required . https:// roundhousefoundation.org/ events

Sisters Museum Volunteers

e ree Sisters Historical Societ y’s Sisters Museum team seek volunteers with an interest in local history. If you like meeting new people and supporting a nonprofit, call 541549-14 03 or email volunteer@ threesistershistoricalsociet y.org.

STAR S Seek s Volunteers to Transpor t Patients

By volunteering to drive for STAR S , you can help Sisters Countr y residents get to nonemergenc y medical appointments in Sisters , Redmond , and Bend . is position has a f ree t wohour training and includes a mileage reimbursement. Email notifications f rom STARS dispatchers allow you to accept dates and times that work for your schedule. Volunteering is satisfying , engaging , and meaningf ul! Learn more about STAR S at www.starsride.org or talk to a dispatcher on Tuesdays or ursdays f rom 10 a .m. to 3 p.m. by calling 541-9 04-5545 You’ll be glad you did!

Celebrate Summer with the Library

Don’t miss a summer of reading , exploring , and earning great prizes! All ages can participate e program starts June 1. ere will be fun giveaways and the chance to win some amazing prizes . Grand prizes include puppets , books , LEGO® kits for kids , with gif t cards and a librar y-themed Hydro Flask® for teens and adult s . For more information and to sign up, drop by Sisters library, 110 N Cedar St., or visit the librar y website: www deschuteslibrary.org/summer.

Community Lec ture Series

Purple Prairie : Reconnecting People, Place, and Native Plants will be presented by David Harrelson, Grande Ronde Confederated Tribes cultural resources department manager and tribal member. Learn about e orts to combine science, art, and stewardship with diverse perspectives to restore native plant habit at. e lecture takes place ursday, June 8 , at 6 p.m. at Paulina Springs Books , 252 W. Hood Ave. Admission is free but due to space limitations registration is required . Visit RoundhouseFoundation.org/ events

S

Introduction to Pickleball

e Sisters Countr y Pickleball Club will hold a free drop-in pickleball clinic for beginners on June 14, f rom 6 to 8 p.m. at the Locust Street Courts , located at 611 E . Cascade Ave. Call Bruce 503-70 6-0686 to learn more.

Etched on Stone Workshop

Artist John Vale f rom Copper Moon Artisan will be holding a work shop July 15 at the Sisters librar y f rom 4 to 7 p.m. to teach others how to create an etched stone masterpiece of their own. He will provide all needed supplies and will assist ever yone in making their own creations . On the following Saturday, completed pie ces will be available to pickup, or John can ship to you for a fee. John has owned t wo galleries and loves to help others create art

You are encouraged to bring a simple image around 10”x10 ” in size, but a collection of images you can use will also be on hand Cont act coppermoonar tisan. net to receive a registration form. Snack s and water will be provided . Bring your friends!

Milestone and Community Announcements

Schools , churches , nonprofit, recreational, and community groups: is is your page to announce your free gatherings and event s! Regularly occur ring Sisters Countr y meetings are listed on the Sisters Area Meeting Calendar on page 3 and special events or featured meetings can be listed on this page. Milestone birthdays , weddings , births , and anniversaries are also welcome. Submissions are subject to editing and as space allows. Email janice@nug getnews com or drop o at 4 42 E . Main Ave. Your text must include a contact phone number.

Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays

Free Pet Food

Are you in need of pet food for your dog or cat this month? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4 023 to schedule your pickup in Sisters

Gunther

Gunther is a handsome 4-year-old Cocker Spaniel mix who was kept mostly outdoors

Gunther is looking for someone who will start his new life with socialization and training , and spoil him like the pampered boy he deserves to be.

Call or visit HSCO to learn more about Gunther!

& SUPPL Y

541-549-4151

SISTER S- ARE A C HURCH ES

Baha’i Faith

Currently Zoom meetings: devotions , course trainings informational firesides. Local contac t Shauna Rocha 541- 647-9826 • www.bahai.org or www.bahai.us

Wellhouse Churc h 442 Trinit y Way • 541-549-4184 ht tps://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com

10 a .m. Sunday Worship

e Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration

121 N Brook s Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087

8:30 a .m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship

10 :15 a .m. Episcopal Sunday Worship www.transfiguration-sister s.org

Sisters Church of the N az arene

67130 Har ring ton Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960 www.sistersnaz .org • info@sistersnaz .org

10 a .m. Sunday Worship

Sisters Communit y Church (Nondenominational)

130 0 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201

9:30 a .m. Sunday Worship www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com

Chapel in the Pines Camp Sherman • 541-549-9971

10 a .m. Sunday Worship

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA) 386 N . Fir Street • 5 41-549-5831

10 a .m. Sunday Worship www.shepherdof thehillslutheranchurch.com

St . Edward the Mar tyr Roman Catholic Churc h 123 Trinit y Way • 541-549-9391

5:3 0 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass

9 a .m. Sunday Mass • 8 a .m. Monday-Friday Mass

e Church of Jesus Christ of L at ter-Day Saint s 452 Trinit y Way • Branch President, 541-420 -5670;

10 a .m. Sunday Sac rament Meeting

Calvar y Church 484 W. Washing ton St , Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288

10 a .m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

386 N . Fir St. • 541-595-6770, 541-306 -8303

11 a .m. S aturday Worship

POLICY: Nonprofits, schools , churches , birth, engagement, wedding , and anniversar y notices may run at no charge. Business items do not run on this page. All submissions subject to editing and run as space allows . Email janice@nug getnews .com or drop o at 4 42 E . Main Ave. Deadline is noon on Fridays

Studio tour set at Pine Meadow Ranch

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, a project of The Roundhouse Foundation, will host an open studio tour to showcase current artists-in-residence.

The event will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture (68467 Three Creeks Rd.). The artists will share their experience at the Ranch and feature artwork created during their residency. This event is free to the public, but advance registration is required.

Guests can expect presentations from multidisciplinary artist Milo O. Vella, abstract painter Sally Finch, as well as the duo No-No Boy, comprised of Julian Saporiti and Emilia Halvorsen.

Milo Vella recently graduated from Cornell University’s College Scholar Program and Deep Springs College in Eastern California. He works to research, support, and safeguard Indigenous and heritage-based agroecological systems. He hopes to learn from camas prairie restoration efforts to support parallel work led by Nüümü (Paiute) collaborators in Payahuunadü.

Sally Finch is an abstract painter who works with weather data and other information that is not intended

to be experienced visually. Her work manipulates this information to be seen in a distinctive way and creates unique patterns that provide new ways of understanding that specific information.

Dr. Julian Saporiti and Emilia Halvorsen’s scholarship and musicianship join to create the duo No-No

Events & Enter tainment

WEDNESDAY • JUNE 7

Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo Xtreme Bulls

6:30 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com.

Sisters Saloon After Rodeo Party with Live Music by Dr y Canyon Stampede 8:30 p.m. No cover. www.SistersSaloon.net.

THURSDAY • JUNE 8

Hardtails After Rodeo Party with Live Music by The Sleepless Truckers Free admission to local’s night starting at 8 p.m. Music starts by 9:30 p.m. For more information call 541-549-6114.

Sisters Saloon After Rodeo Party with Live Music by Joe Slick Band & Dancing 8 p.m. www.SistersSaloon.net.

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Venardos Circus

7 p.m. Broadway-style animal-free circus. For tickets or information see www.liveyourcircusdream.com.

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night

Sign up at 5:30 Starts promptly at 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Dogand family-friendly Free For info call Eurosports at 541-549-2471

FRIDAY • JUNE 9

Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo

7 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com

Hardtails After Rodeo Party with Live Music by The Sleepless Truckers Free admission to local’s night starting at 8 p.m. Music starts after the rodeo (or by 9:30 p.m.). For more information call 541-549-6114.

Sisters Saloon After Rodeo Party with Live Music by Joe Slick Band & Dancing 9 p.m. www.SistersSaloon.net.

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Venardos Circus

7 p.m. Broadway-style, animal-free circus. For tickets or information see www.liveyourcircusdream.com.

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 more info call 541-549-2471

Boy. Their album “1975” has been hailed by NPR as “one of the most insurgent pieces of music you’ll ever hear” which “re-examines Americana with devastating effect.” They will be performing their music during the event.

“This event is part of the Artist Residency program at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture, and it will be an opportunity for community members to learn more about creative projects where the intersection between art and agriculture is present,” said Ana Varas, arts project coordinator. “We hope this open studio creates dialogue, innovative thinking, and sparks curiosity amongst the members of our local community.”

For more information or to register call 541-9040700 or visit www.round housefoundation.org/events.

SATURDAY • JUNE 10

Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo

1 p.m., 7 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com

Hardtails After Rodeo Party with Live Music by The Sleepless Truckers Free admission to local’s night starting at 8 p.m. Music starts after the rodeo (or by 9:30 p.m.). For more information call 541-549-6114.

Sisters Saloon After Rodeo Party with Live Music by Joe Slick Band & Dancing 9 p.m. www.SistersSaloon.net.

Sisters Depot Live Music: Sugar Sweet String Band

6-8 p.m. American roots influenced with a down home sound sparking spontaneous joy and compulsory foot stomping Reservations recommended. Info: www.sistersdepot.com/events.

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Venardos Circus

11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. Broadway-style animal-free circus. For tickets or information see www.liveyourcircusdream.com.

SUNDAY • JUNE 11

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music, community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

Sisters Rodeo Arena Sisters Rodeo

1 p.m. Tickets at www.sistersrodeo.com

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Venardos Circus

11 a.m., 2 p.m. Broadway-style animal-free circus. For tickets or information see www.liveyourcircusdream.com.

WEDNESDAY • JUNE 14

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Venardos Circus

7 p.m. Broadway-style, animal-free circus. For tickets or information see www.liveyourcircusdream.com.

THURSDAY • JUNE 15

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Venardos Circus

7 p.m. Broadway-style animal-free circus. For tickets or information see www.liveyourcircusdream.com.

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night

Sign up at 5:30 Starts promptly at 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Dogand family-friendly Free For info call Eurosports at 541-549-2471

FRIDAY • JUNE 16

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy

8 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information call 541-549-6114. Deschutes County Fair & Expo Venardos Circus

7 p.m. Broadway-style animal-free circus. For tickets or information see www.liveyourcircusdream.com.

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 more info call 541-549-2471

Shuttle buses will run EVERY 15 MINUTES, 2 hours before and af ter each rodeo perfo rmance.

SATURDAY • JUNE 17

Sisters Depot Live Music: Bob Baker and Skybound Blue 6-8 p.m. Violinist Bob Baker with harmony-driven Americana duo Skybound Blue Reservations recommended. $5 cover. Info: www.sistersdepot.com/events.

Laura Rubin cleaning art tools. Shes an artist-in-residence at Pine Meadow Ranch.

PHOTO BY LOMA SMITH

Catie Michel at her art studio, 2023.

PHOTO BY LOMA SMITH

Obituaries

Carla Jean Merrell

Passed

Carla Jean Merrell, age 62, passed away on May 24 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, family member, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Faith and Chris, Jared, Jake, and Amy; four amazing grandchildren, Benjamin (14), Jacob (8), Olivia (10), and Owen (8); her former husband, Bruce; her mother, Anna Welpton; and siblings, Linda McWilliams and Jon Welpton; among many other special people in her life.

Carla lived her life in California (1961-1994), Oregon (1994-2021), and Colorado (2021-present) with a zest for living that was infectious. She had a warm and generous spirit that drew people to her, and she cherished every relationship she was a part of. As a mother, she poured all of her love and energy into raising her children with kindness, guidance, and unconditional support. Her family was the center of her world, and she found immeasurable joy in watching her children grow into wonderful adults and in spending time with her grandchildren.

Carla approached her role as a grandmother with the same beauty, love, and grace that she brought to all aspects of her life. She was a constant source of encouragement, a listening ear,

Doris Bell Johnson

October 10, 1922 – May 25, 2023

Doris Bell Johnson, age 100, died peacefully at The Lodge in Sisters on May 25, 2023.

Lake Grove. They enjoyed their time at their home and vacations at the beach where they had built a house in Rockaway.

and a shoulder to lean on. Her grandchildren adored her, and she loved nothing more than spending time with them, spoiling them with treats, and creating special memories.

Despite her diagnosis of breast cancer, Carla remained a fighter until the very end. She faced her illness with courage, strength, and dignity, inspiring those around her with her unwavering spirit. Her loss will be deeply felt, but her legacy of love, kindness, and generosity will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her.

Carla Jean Merrell was a beautiful soul who lived a life filled with love, joy, and meaning. She will be remembered always for the light she brought into the lives of those around her, and for the love she had for her family. Rest in peace, Carla, knowing that you were deeply loved and will be forever missed.

Born in Oregon City on October 10, 1922 to Fred and Mary (Schiewe) Schaber, Doris joined older brothers Elmer, Walter, and Clarence. She grew up on her parents’ farm in Oregon City, now West Linn, where they grew grain, potatoes, and beef. They also had chickens and pigs and Doris picked hops and strawberries for spending money. The family had a big garden, which fed them through the depression.

Following graduation from West Linn High School, Doris went to work for the Oregon City Employment division. When the war broke out she was transferred to the War Power Commission and was executive secretary to the administrator.

At 22, Doris met William (Bill) Bell of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. They married in 1944. Bill was in the service during the war working as a printer.

Doris and Bill had two daughters, Nancy Diane and Susan Marie. They lost a premature son, Thomas Andrew, born between the girls.

In 1954, the family moved from Portland to

Doris and Bill owned and worked together at Frank Knoll Printing in downtown Portland.

In 1973, Bill died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Being a strong businesswoman, Doris kept the print shop running. She hired Arnold Johnson, a printer who had previously worked for them, and they married five years later. Doris had two wonderful marriages each lasting 29 years. After living alone for many years following Arnold’s death, Doris moved to Sisters into The Lodge, near her daughter Suzy. She loved her new home and friends and participated enthusiastically in all the activities offered. Doris thrived for the four years she lived at The Lodge. They called her their Queen.

Doris was surrounded by family, close friends, and wonderful nurses as she made her last journey from this world.

She is survived by her daughters and son-in-laws, Nancy and Mark Eby of

Pasco, Washington and Suzy and Lance Ramsey of Bend; two grandchildren, Steven (Angie) Budiselic of Hermiston, and Casey Ramsey of Portland. Doris is also survived by her step-children with Arnold Johnson and multiple nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren. She was blessed with so many friends who adored her.

Keeping busy was her goal and busy she was.

The family would like to thank Partners In Care and The Lodge staff for their loving care and support.

There will be a celebration of life at The Lodge in Sisters, June 23 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Partners In Care Redmond.

Th r ee Sister s Hist or ical Society

COME SEE OUR NEW EXHIBIT

The story of the enormous impact the lumber industry had on our community timelines, mill histories, profiles, logger lingo, and samples of gear that was used.

The museum shares stories of Sisters lore, pioneer families, historic photos, and artifacts going back to the 1800s.

INFO visit

Author’s latest book is a prizewinner

“Out Killing Indians” by Central Oregon author Rick Steber has been chosen as the international grand prizewinner by Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Presentation of the trophy and a cash prize of $1,500 will take place at the gala reception to be held at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

The Indie Book Awards is one of the largest and most prestigious awards in the literary industry.

According to Awards Coordinator Shelly Anderson, “Out Killing Indians”’ is very deserving of our highest award based upon the forceful story and brilliant writing. It is my personal hope this worldwide award will help promote this book, and raise awareness of the painful history that was forced upon Native Americans. Five stars.”

At the end of the Civil War, federal troops were sent to the High Desert of the Far West with orders to kill any and all native people who refused to give up their homeland and be confined to assigned reservations. The narrator of “Out Killing Indians” is the son of an Indian father and white mother. He

Pine Meadow Ranch to host concert

returns home to the reservation after a couple decades spent roaming America, to discover his great-grandfather was a renegade chief who fought to his death against the federal troops and the encroachment of the white race. This revelation inspires him to embrace his Indian heritage and to acknowledge the genocide of his people.

Author Rick Steber has more than 50 titles under his belt, and more than two million books in print. He has won many national and international awards and five of his books have been optioned for movies. He is a keen observer of the evolving American West and articulates these changes in prose and poems.

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture will host a house concert at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 16 at Paulina Springs Books featuring No-No Boy, an innovative songwriting and multimedia project based on Asian American history. This community event is free to the public, but seating is limited, and advance registration is required.

Performers Julian Saporiti, Ph.D. and Emilia Halvorsen will share original folk songs, storytelling, and project archival images. Saporiti is a musician and historian who takes inspiration from his own family’s history living through the Vietnam War and other stories of Asian American experience to create the No-No Boy project. Halvorsen is a musician and artist who finds inspiration from the workshops, community work, and performances she has led from Alaska to Tijuana, Mexico.

No-No Boy project began at the site of Heart Mountain War Relocation Center, a Japanese internment camp in Wyoming. There, Saporiti encountered a photo of an all-Japanese jazz band that had formed while its members were incarcerated by the U.S. government. Though he had studied jazz at Berklee School of Music, he had no framework for the possibility of Asian musicians playing jazz, much less under such dire circumstances.

The discovery led Saporiti to transform his years of doctoral study into an innovative project which bridges a divide

between art and scholarship. By turning his archival research and fieldwork into a large repertoire of folk songs and films, No-No Boy has been able to engage diverse audiences with difficult conversations performing with a revolving cast of collaborators everywhere from rural high schools and churches to Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

This event is hosted in collaboration with Paulina Springs Books and is a part of the artist residency program at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture, a project of The Roundhouse

Foundation.

“This concert will be an opportunity for community members to learn more about one piece of the messy parts of American history,” Ana Varas, arts project coordinator for Pine Meadow Ranch, said “We hope this concert sparks curiosity in our community to revisit Oregon history and bring dialogue and opportunities to learn from all voices that make Oregon our home.”

For more information or to register, call 541-904-0700 or visit: www.roundhouse foundation.org/events. Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave.

Rick Steber’s “Out Killing Indians” has been awarded an international grand prize from Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

PHOTO PROVIDED

No-No Boy will be featured in a house concert at Paulina Springs Books.

Steve’s big bull trout

By Chester Allen Columnist

I’m starting to think that the local trout were as eager for warm weather as the local humans.

I fish almost every day — and no place is better for a crazed fly angler than Sisters — and I’ve found trout happily rising almost everywhere since warm weather rolled in.

Sure, a lot of local rivers, especially the Crooked and the Lower Deschutes, turned into torrents of coffeecolored water — heavy on the milk — with snow runoff. The good part of this is that we’re savoring a great water year, which is very, very good for the trout, especially on the Crooked River. And those two rivers are now dropping and clearing into good shape.

In the meantime, two great streams near Sisters — the Metolius and the Middle Deschutes — have been clear and easy to wade. The aquatic bugs have been emerging into winged insects, and the trout have been happy.

I’ve been finding sparse hatches of the famous green drake mayfly on the Metolius, and the trout are already looking for these big bugs, which are a size 10 or size 8. These greenand-yellow mayflies are the size of an old-school 50-cent piece, and the local redsides rainbow trout — and a few brown trout — love these big chunks of food.

The huge hatches, where big green drakes are floating all over the river and the trout go a little nutso, haven’t really happened yet, but they will over the next few weeks. The bugs usually hatch out in the afternoons, and it’s best to fish the river as much as you can — just to be there when a big emergence starts.

After the trout have seen a lot of big green drakes — and a lot of fake green drakes on the end of long, 4X leaders — the fish get pretty picky. You’ll see big trout drift under your fly, eye it — and then swim away.

It’s a good idea to carry a few different green drake

patterns, especially flies that imitate a bug that is struggling to get off the water after it emerged from its nymphal body at the surface. Lots of mayflies get tangled up in a jumble of legs and wings when making the transition from an underwater bug to a winged insect, and fish like to eat them. They’re just an easy meal.

And we all like easy meals, right?

Our local fly shop, The Fly Fisher’s Place, stocks a bunch of great green drake patterns, and it’s worth your time to drop by, look at the flies, and get the daily scoop on what’s going on in our local rivers.

A big bull

Just a few days ago, I was wandering around the Metolius River and looking for rising trout when I came upon local angler Steve Vujnovich knee-deep in the world-famous Dolly Hole — and gripping a fly rod that was bent deeply into the cork handle.

The rod tip throbbed with the headshakes of a big bull trout.

Steve gave me a tense

smile and kept that rod bent to tire out the fish.

I was standing higher up on the bank, away from the edge of the river, so, thanks to my polarized sunglasses, I could see deep into the water. The fish flashed — it looked like a big flash bulb going off — and then I saw the dark, thick sides of a really big fish.

Whenever I see another angler playing a big trout, I’m always tempted to offer advice, but I learned a long time ago to keep my mouth shut. Why? Well, it’s not my fish, and the angler was skilled enough to hook the fish, so my advice would just sound dumb.

And of course, what if the angler followed my advice and lost the fish?

Steve didn’t need my advice, and he soon had that big bull in the net. It was one of the biggest bulls I’ve seen in a while. Steve, now sporting a happy smile, posed for a very quick photo before returning the fish to the river. Steve carefully held the fish until it swam out of his gentle grip. Then Steve kept an eye on the fish while it

finned for a while near the bottom just a few feet away. This fish really showed off Steve’s skills, as it was hooked on a small nymph that was fished on a fairly light Euro nymphing rod.

Most Metolius anglers have hooked big bull trout on rainbow trout tackle. When this happens, we wish we were fishing a heavy

8-weight rod and hefty leader. On lighter tackle, it’s much harder to play and land the fish.

But you have try to manage the fish with the tackle you’ve got. What else are you going to do?

“What a fish,” Steve said, as the bull trout swam away into deep water. “What a fish.”

A fine Metolius bull trout.

PHOTO BY CHESTER ALLEN

ARSON: Student faces charges from incident at Sisters High School

Continued from page 1

trash receptacle.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputy assigned to Sisters High School also responded. Shortly thereafter, a second fire was reported in a separate girls restroom. The second fire was active and fuel source — a paper product and a plastic toilet paper dispenser — created a lot of black smoke.

The school was evacuated, and students were ultimately sent home for the day. There were no injuries reported as a result of the incident, DCSO reported.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputy was provided surveillance footage, and was able to identify a suspect. The suspect, a freshman student, was located at the school property and arrested without incident on two counts of first-degree arson; one count of firstdegree criminal mischief; and one count of disorderly conduct.

The suspect was transported to the Deschutes

County Juvenile Detention Center and lodged. She faces likely expulsion for her actions, according to Sisters Schools Superintendent Curt Scholl.

“Fire-starting and weapons are pretty automatic, unless there’s extenuating circumstances,” he told The Nugget

Expulsion involves a legal process.

The incident was troubling, Scholl acknowledged, but he was pleased at the response.

“I’m disappointed in that behavior,” he said, “but the emergency responders were there very quickly, and the staff did a great job managing the kids in that situation. It gives me confidence in why we do all those drills.”

Scholl said that the smoke was cleared out of the building by Wednesday afternoon. One of the bathrooms will require painting and perhaps other restoration work, which the District was still assessing last week. Classes resumed on Thursday.

The Facebook rumor mill churned heavily in the wake of the incident. Superintendent Scholl told The Nugget that there is absolutely no truth to rumors that the student had previously brought a gun to school.

Handcrafted Railings

Campfire restrictions on CO rivers

Annual campfire restrictions are now in effect on portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day, and White Rivers, as well as on BLM-administered lands along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.

The river canyons present a combination of limited access, grassy fuels that dry out quickly, and steep slopes that allow wildfires to spread rapidly. The number one goal of the BLM is promoting employee and public safety. Reducing the risk of wildfire helps BLM be a good neighbor in the river canyons while facilitating commercial recreation and multiple-use opportunities.

Under these restrictions, commercially manufactured lanterns and metal camp stoves used for cooking are allowed when fueled with bottled propane or liquid fuel and operated in a responsible manner. The river fire closures prohibit building, igniting, maintaining, attending, using, tending or being within 20 feet of a campfire, charcoal fire, or any other type of open flame.

This closure also bans the use of portable propane campfires and wood pellet

burning devices and restricts areas where visitors can smoke to non-public buildings, inside vehicles, in boats on the water, or while standing in the water.

The specific campfire closure locations apply to BLMadministered lands in the following areas:

• Within a half-mile of the Crooked River’s edge from the Bowman Dam to Lake Billy Chinook, excluding campfire rings established by the BLM at the following posted, developed, and designated campgrounds: Castle Rock, Still Water, Lone Pine, Palisades, Chimney Rock, Cobble Rock, Post Pile, and Poison Butte.

• Within half-mile of the Deschutes River’s edge from the Highway 20 bridge to the Columbia River, including Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.

• Within a half-mile of Lake Billy Chinook’s edge, including BLM Beach dispersed recreation site located approximately a half-mile east of the Three Rivers Recreation Area on the south shore of the Metolius River arm of the lake.

• Within a half-mile of the Lower White River’s edge

from its confluence with the Deschutes River upstream to the eastern boundary of the Mount Hood National Forest.

• Within a quarter-mile of the John Day River’s edge in the following locations:

• The Mainstem John Day River from Tumwater Falls (River Mile 10) upstream to Kimberly (River Mile 185).

• The North Fork John Day River, from the confluence with the mainstem at Kimberly (River Mile 0) upstream to the Umatilla National Forest boundary (River Mile 62).

• The South Fork John Day River from Smokey Creek (River Mile 6) upstream to the Malheur National Forest boundary (River Mile 47).

Closures are in effect until October 15, 2023. Except in emergency conditions or with permission by an agency authorized officer, there are no exceptions to this closure. A violation of this closure is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both.

For more information call the Prineville BLM District 541-416-6700 or visit https:// www.blm.gov/orwafire.

few tunes. Instruction will include two music sessions each day with additional teachers supervising and providing specific musical expertise. Students will learn new techniques on the fiddle, work on their bowing game, and learn some great new tunes. Enrollment is open to students going into grades 5-8 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon daily. Maximum of 25 participants. Registration closes on July 17.

Impressions Creativity Camp, July 24-28, is another half-day camp focused on mixed-media arts with teaching artist and visual arts teacher Judy Fuentes. The students will explore Impressionism through a variety of mediums as they learn about Impressionistic art styles and artists. Artists will explore different subject matters, recognize personal style, and practice analyzing works of art. Enrollment is open to students grades 5-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon each day in the upstairs JAM Studio at Sisters Art Works. Maximum of 16 participants. Registration closes on July 17.

A theater production

camp, Nothing Is Without Meaning, July 31-August 4, will be collaboratively presented by teaching artists Steven Livingston, Judy Fuentes, and Jayana Hinkle. This camp will focus on building skills to help develop a deeper understanding of the creative theatrical process. Student thespians will explore the following themes: body language, expression, sound and music, and intention and motivation. To explore these themes, students will be involved in group projects augmented with the study of music, drama, and stagecraft. The culmination of their work will be presented on the last day to family, friends, and community members. Enrollment is open to students grades 5-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Maximum of 30 students. Registration closes on July 24.

Joe Schulte will offer Branch to Fruit Music Camp, August 7-11, for players who are comfortable on their instrument and relatively fluid in the common major and minor chords found in popular music. In addition to playing together as a large group, this camp will break out into some small group ensemble sessions in which two to four players will work out tunes that may include custom

song arrangement, individual solos, harmonies, and improvisation. Enrollment is open to students grades 6-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Maximum of 20 participants. Registration closes on July 31.

Music in Art Creativity Camp, August 7-11, will focus on exploring how music intertwines with visual arts and informs one another. Judy Fuentes will introduce students to musical influences in artworks by Wassily Kandinsky, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Romare Bearden while creating with paints and collage. Enrollment is open to students entering grades 5-9 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon daily in the upstairs JAM Studio at Sisters Art Works. Maximum of 16 participants. Registration closes on July 31.

The suggested tuition for each full-day camp is $275 and includes all materials, lunch, and snacks each day. Half-day suggested tuition is $175 and includes materials and snacks. Loaner instruments will be available for students in the music camps

as well. SFF is offering all camps with pay-what-youcan pricing to help eliminate barriers to participation.

For more information, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.

Stars over Sisters

Brennan Frutos & Blake Luhmann Columnists

As spring becomes summer, stargazers are eagerly anticipating the appearance of prominent constellations such as Cygnus, Hercules, and Sagittarius. However, one constellation stands out in the night sky — Scorpius the scorpion. This zodiac constellation can be seen from most parts of the world, resting between Libra and Sagittarius.

One of the most striking features of Scorpius is its distinct long, curving tail, which stretches across a significant portion of the sky and is composed of several bright stars, recognizable even to those unacquainted with the constellations. In June, it can be found as darkness falls in the southeastern sky just above the horizon.

The bright-red supergiant star Antares lies at the heart of Scorpius. Antares, meaning “rival of Mars,” lives up to its name as one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Its distinct red coloration comes from its relatively low surface temperature, providing a captivating hue when observed from Earth.

Scorpius boasts an array of celestial objects that observers can see with a low-powered telescope,

Taking ‘Songs from the Shelf’

Inspiration for songs can come from a lot of places. For Central Oregon songwriters Lilli Worona, Mike Biggers, and Jim Cornelius, that inspiration often comes from the pages of books. All three mine literature and history for stories that they set to music.

They’ll share an hour of book-inspired music at Sisters Library’s “Songs from the Shelf,” on Saturday, June 17 at 3 p.m. at Sisters Fire District Community Hall.

From the temptations of the sirens in “The Odyssey” (from the sirens’ point of view) to shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina, to a shooting in a Prohibition-era speakeasy in New York, the songwriters will share how they grab inspiration off the page and turn that inspiration into music.

Sisters Fire District Community Hall is located at 301 S. Elm St. in Sisters.

including multiple globular clusters, such as Messier 4, which contains hundreds of thousands of stars. The Cat’s Paw Nebula, or NGC 6334, also resides in Scorpius. This emission nebula is a dramatic star-forming region.

Scorpius has held significance for numerous civilizations throughout history. In Greek mythology, Gaia the Earth sent the scorpion to slay Orion the hunter, who boasted he would kill all the beasts of the world. However, after the fatal sting, Orion killed the scorpion with a step of his foot. Orion and Scorpius were placed on opposite sides of the sky, perpetually chasing each other from view. As one rises, the other sets. Orion dominates the winter heavens, while Scorpius lights up the summer night sky.

Celestial enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to in June, starting with the full moon on June 3. Early Native American tribes referred to this full moon as the Strawberry Moon, symbolizing the time to gather the ripening fruit.

June 3 also brings another celestial treat: Venus at its greatest eastern elongation.

Venus will reach its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky, attaining a staggering separation of 45.4 degrees from the Sun. Stargazers can spot the dazzling planet in the western sky shortly after sunset.

On June 17, the new moon arrives, when the moon is positioned on the same side of the earth as the sun. Consequently, the night sky will become devoid of moonlight, providing an ideal opportunity to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters.

June 21 marks a significant astronomical event — the summer solstice. At 7:57 a.m. PDT, Earth’s North Pole will tilt closest to the sun, signifying the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Simultaneously, the Southern Hemisphere will experience the first day of winter.

Finally, the June Boötid meteor shower will be active from June 22 to July 2, with its peak rate of meteors expected around June 27. During this period, the radiant point of the meteors is above the horizon in the constellation Boötes.

Our dark-sky tip for

June is to ensure your outdoor lights are properly targeted and shielded so that the light is only shining on the intended area. This will help prevent light pollution and preserve the beauty of the night sky. By directing

lights downward and using shielded fixtures, we can minimize the unnecessary escape of light. Let’s take these simple steps to protect the wonders of the night sky for ourselves and future generations.

The Cat’s Paw Nebula is an emission nebula located 4,200 to 5,500 light years away in the constellation of Scorpius. Image from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.

PHOTO COURTESY NASA

BBS BOND: First funding of this kind since 1963 approved

Continued from page 3

age of the building, many improvements are now overdue. The School District was awarded a $2 million Oregon Schools Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) grant, with funds contingent on a passing vote. Projects include: a new roof (to replace the current one which has seven layers of shingles including asbestos); HVAC upgrade; new flooring (and asbestos removal in current floor); safety and security improvements with a secure entry and vestibule; energy-efficient windows and improvement to air circulation (to replace non-operable windows); updated restrooms; and expanded instructional space for improved student learning, confidential meetings, and community events.

Current Board Chair Marie Sheahan “Bear” Brown and her twin sister were in first grade when the earlier bond measure was passed in 1963 to build an indoor play area.

“We have always loved Black Butte School,” Brown said. “Our other current board members, while newer here, recognize the unique values of this tiny school in the forest — an independent school district since the late 1800s. We voted unanimously to propose this measure. Thank you, Camp Sherman community, for this yes vote on capital improvements, to benefit hundreds of students and families in the

Students will benefit from upgrades to their Black Butte School facility.

We chose to move and raise our girls in Camp Sherman because of Black Butte School.

— Siobhan Gray

next generations.”

“We chose to move and raise our girls in Camp Sherman because of Black Butte School,” said parent and board member Siobhan Gray. “I clearly remember driving past the school, which sparked an idea that blossomed into reality. BBS welcomed my girls and has nurtured them through the

first stages of reading and math, skiing and swimming, and navigating COVID — all while immersed in the beauty and wonder of the Metolius Basin.”

Black Butte School officials are deeply grateful to the voters for passing this bond. A bond of this size for a place as small as Camp Sherman is a collective investment by everyone. BBS stated that they are thankful for the trust of the community and committed to using the funds responsibly. The School Board will act as the oversight body to monitor the progress, schedule, and costs. Updates will be provided on the school website once the project begins.

PHOTO PROVIDED

FIREFIGHTING: USFS and SheJumps partnered for event

Continued from page 3

they are capable of anything.”

Gelfand noted that along with Junior Wildland Firefighter, the series includes Junior Ski Patrol and Junior Search and Rescue to give girls hands-on experience learning about professional opportunities in these fields.

Christa Nash-Webber, SheJumps Oregon event coordinator, also feels passionate about increasing the number of women in these fields.

“Only 27 percent of positions with USFS are filled by women. With fires becoming such a big part of our lives on the west coast, forest management and wildfire management is becoming increasingly important,” Nash-Webber said. “I think it’s imperative to have women in important positions making important decisions.”

The day mirrored a real wildland fire incident, including a morning briefing and weather outlook led by Carissa Silvis, a fire prevention technician at Columbia River Gorge Fire Management. Participants were then divided into agebased teams, each led by a “squad boss.”

Throughout the day, the

—

teams engaged in a series of hands-on stations led by women actively working in wildland fire and SheJumps volunteers. The stations covered a range of essential topics, including first aid, radio communication, weather and fire behavior, and navigation.

“They’re learning very useful skills. This is their first introduction to things like slinging a shoulder, applying pressure on wounds, and finding a pulse,” said Katie Taylor, a secondyear wildland firefighter in the Newberry Division at Deschutes National Forest. “Growing up, there was never anything like this. Seeing all these women here, I’d be inspired. It’d propel me sooner to join wildland fire.”

The navigation station was taught by Renae Aigner and Jessica Mondello. It included instructing the participants to find directions with and without a compass, as well as getting familiar with topographic maps.

“A lot of these skills are not second nature to people, especially in a digital world. It’s important to learn how to get about if a device fails or there’s no phone or GPS,” Aigner said, emphasizing that wildland firefighting is far from an unskilled job.

“I never knew about wildland firefighting at their age, coming from the East Coast you didn’t hear about wildfires,” said Aigner. “If someone would’ve told me it’d be my career path ten years ago I would’ve replied ‘Naw, not me.’ This program is giving them a path at a young age. If we can do it, you can do it.”

The sentiment rang true for Sarge Welge, a squad leader in the Newberry Division for Deschutes National Forest.

“When I got into leadership positions, I was able to watch firefighters learn and grow their skills. I also watched women gain confidence in the field,” she said. “I make a difference by being out there. Them seeing someone that looks like them in a leadership position means something.”

—

Participants learn how to ‘swing and swath’ a shoulder injury at the first aid station.

PHOTO BY EMMA RENLY

A handful of the 32 participants at the Junior Wildland Firefighting Camp.

PHOTO BY EMMA RENLY

Renae Aigner, IA Attack Central OR Dispatch; Lauren Clark, Columbia River Gorge Fire Management; Abby Harman, Newberry Division Cabin Lake WFM; Brittney Jensen, Metolius WFM; Hayley Johnston, Columbia River Gorge Fire Management; and Jess Mondello, Newberry Division senior firefighter.

PHOTO BY EMMA RENLY

I think it’s imperative to have women in important positions making important decisions.

Christa Nash-Webber

J. Kennedy

ARREST: Incident drew attention from local citizens

Continued from page 1

Food Place parking lot in Sisters after a deputy was contacted by a woman who appeared to be in distress.

Shunea Elizabeth Myers told the deputy that she had travelled to Sisters from Marion County with a man who was wanted by law enforcement. She did not feel safe with the man, identified as Jamie Lee Denby.

Deputies corroborated the information given by Myers — both Myers and Denby had active warrants. Myers told deputies that if Denby was contacted by law enforcement he would more likely than not put up a fight. Myers also said that Denby was armed with a machete.

Deputies located Denby inside a vehicle in the Mainline Chevron parking lot, seated in the front passenger seat under a blanket, sleeping.

RODEO: Event strums

chords of Sisters’ Western culture

Continued from page 1

— and illuminate the arena for high-definition TV coverage. Once again, the Sisters Rodeo will be live telecast on the Cowboy Channel and RFD TV.

The Sisters Rodeo is on the pro tour — an acknowledgement that the event is among the top PRCA rodeos in the country.

Each Rodeo performance starts with the Wild Horse Race, and this year the purse is a record $14,000. That wild and wooly event is the featured image on this year’s event poster created by Sisters artist Dyrk Godby.

This year marks the return of specialty act Tomas Garcilazo, representing the tradition of “La Charreria,” which is a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican charro. Charros take extreme pride in their highly developed horsemanship and roping abilities.

Sisters gets Western

Not all of the action at Sisters Rodeo takes place in the arena. The Saturday Rodeo Parade on June 10, starting at 9:30 a.m. in downtown Sisters, will be led by Queen Sadie Bateman.

“She’s quite a cowgirl,” said Moss. “She’s not just a queen — she can rope and ride, too.”

Queen Sadie will be joined by Grand Marshal Gary Frazee.

Things will get Western at Sisters’ watering holes, as Hardtails Bar & Grill

Law enforcement personnel contacted all the businesses in the immediate area and advised them to pause operations while deputies contacted and arrested Denby.

The vehicle Denby occupied was contained by the presence of multiple deputies and the assistance of Black Butte Police. They deployed the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office armored rescue vehicle for the safety of the citizens, deputies — and Denby.

“By denying the vehicle Denby was inside any possibility of movement, deputies were able to ensure the safety of those in the vicinity,” DCSO spokesman Sgt. Jason Wall explained.

Denby was taken into custody without incident and the businesses in the area were advised they could resume normal activities. The event was resolved within 32 minutes and no one was injured.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked Black Butte Ranch Police Department for their assistance.

welcomes the Outlaw Country of Sleepless Truckers.

“We have the Sleepless Truckers Band playing all three nights this year,” said Hardtails owner Steve Macey.

The band describes themselves this way:

“With a sound that combines the grit of Americana, the swagger of Southern Rock, and the raw power of Red Dirt, these boys are sure to take you on a wild ride through the back roads of America. They’ll sing you songs of heartache, of struggle, of triumph and defeat, all with a fire and passion that’ll leave you breathless.”

There will be a beer wagon, cash-only shot bar and beer garden outside, and the Crown Royal Girls will be there all three nights passing out swag and free samples.

The party starts with locals’ night on Thursday June 8. Music starts at 8 p.m. On Friday and Saturday night the music starts at 9:30 p.m., or when the Rodeo lets out.

Sisters Saloon will bring back its traditional After Rodeo Party. On Wednesday night, local favorite Dry Canyon Stampede will play, starting at 8:30 p.m. with no cover charge. The Joe Slick Band returns ThursdaySaturday. Thursday is locals’ night, with locals getting in free and music starting at 8 p.m.

Music starts at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night.

The Joe Slick Band delivers a high-energy, entertaining show featuring Top 40 Country with some rock mixed in.

CLASSIFIEDS

801 Classes & Training

Sip N Paint classes at your business or residence. Kids parties and classes also. Canvasdablock on Facebook or Instagram. Megan Phallon 541-904-5280

802 Help Wanted

Are you a student looking for part-time work? I need help with home and garden projects plus light maintenance. Great pay with flexible schedule. 541-549-1601.

SINCLAIR FUEL - SISTERS

Fuel Station Site Manager (Kiosk) APPLY ONLINE at hattenhauerdistributing.com or CALL 541-213-4496

Join our team at Sundance Shoes FT & PT positions available. Must work weekends. No experience necessary; friendly & happy person. Hourly rate $20-22. 541-549-4240

OUR FREELANCERS LOVE DOING THE “WRITE” THING…

• Full-time

• Weekend/evenings

• Can lift 45 lbs.

• At least 18 years old

We offer a positive work environment and flexible time off 110 W Cascade Ave.

Sue Stafford has been writing for The Nugget for nearly 10 years. She covers the city government beat, contributes features, and writes the column “Of A Certain Age.”

We are Hiring!

Join our summer camp culture at Lake Creek Lodge.

We're recruiting for: Housekeeping and Front of House: Barista, Concierge, Bartender. We are proud to offer flexible schedules, excellent compensation & opportunities for onsite housing. www.lakecreeklodge.com

13375 SW Forest Service Rd.  #1419, Camp Sherman.

902 Personals

Need truth? Book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. www.atheycreek.com

C L A S S I F I E D S !

It pays to advertise in The Nugget Newspaper

Deadline is Monday before noon, 541-549-9941 or online at NuggetNews.com

Uploaded every Tuesday at no additional cost to you!

SUDOKU SOLUTION

for puzzle on page 21

You can support Sue’s work — and all The Nugget freelancers — with a SUPPORTING SUBSCRIPTION. 100% of your donation goes to paying freelance contributors.

And if you like doing the “write” thing too, we’ve got a complimentary pen for you! Just stop by the office and say hello!

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You choose the amount of support you wish to provide. You can mail a check to PO Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759; stop by the office at 442 E. Main Ave. (we love to connect with our readers), or click the “donate” link at the top of www.nuggetnews.com.