The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVI No. 28 // 2023-07-12

Sisters celebrates the quilter’s art

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show ended Saturday in brilliant sunshine with breezes so light they never caused a ripple in the hanging quilts — all 1,166 of them.

They came by the busloads, literally. Exploration Tours of Rochester, Washington brought 45 as did Country Heritage Tours of Bedford, New Hampshire. Portland Modern Quilt Guild brought a smaller bus as did others with group sizes of nine to 20. Getaway Vacations from Alberta, Canada landed a luxury coach full of quilters.

And so it was with estimates of 8,000 to 10,000 rolling into town, eating and shopping to the delight of local eateries and merchants, some of whom brought in extra inventory and/or moved merchandise to sidewalk display racks.

Eight journeyed from the United Kingdom led by Anne Farnham of the Cotswold’s where they know something about quilting.

“I guess you could say we’re quilting fanatics,” Farnham said.

“This show is just the bees knees,” chimed in Abigail

Trails outfit expands mission

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) has adopted a new mission statement: “To protect and preserve the outdoor experience through the stewardship of multi-user, nonmotorized trails and their adjacent wild places.” It is a subtle change in wording but its intent is marked. The previous version read: “To connect a community of trail users and their natural surroundings through the stewardship of our multi-user, non-motorized trails.”

Loring, before realizing that the popular English expression of approval may be lost on her Sisters hosts.

Beth Lawson and her pal Roxy Ward came from Lexington, Kentucky, a three-day, 2,300-mile drive.

“It’s a quilting pilgrimage,” Ward said telling of the

Community asked to help catch poachers

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

Sisters resident Steve Hagan is an avid hunter. He counts himself fortunate to have spent 43 years in a row hunting with his dad. He’s passionate about hunting and has dedicated countless hours supporting it. Since 2021, he’s been the Turnin-Poachers (TIP) coordinator for the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA). He’s also the OHA President for Oregon.

When Hagan became the TIP coordinator, he inherited an egregious poaching case that took place in Dry Canyon three months before. Dry Canyon is just east of Sisters

and is part of the winter grazing area for mule deer. The bull, cow and spike elk discovered in October of 2020 were shot in a way described as a “thrill kill.” Although bull elk were in season at the time, the poacher only took the head, antlers and some shoulder meat. It’s a crime to leave carcasses to waste even if it’s legal to kill the animal.

The Dry Canyon case has a $10,000 reward for information resulting in a citation or conviction. Most of the money came from hunting organizations, but a nonhunting person also donated $2,500 to the reward because they were so upset about the

See POACHERS on page 9

many stops they made along the way to fabled quilt shops, and small heritage museums that featured quilts.

“The outdoor show here is a mecca if you will,” Lawson said.

They were dropping their rental car in Redmond and taking off at 5:10 a.m.

Sunday morning, worried that they’d have extra baggage charges from their shopping spree.

“Y’all are so nice here,” Mary Louise Simmons said in her Georgian drawl. “How do y’all stay so friendly with

See ART on page 7

By the addition of “… adjacent wild places” the group is signaling its intention to take a, broader, more active role in preserving the outdoor experience, according to Executive Director Scott Penzarella.

STA operates under a Volunteer Service Agreement with the Forest Service and has a legion of volunteers

See TRAILS on page 6

Homeless to be housed on Barclay

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

The Cold Weather Shelter, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Sisters, has won final approval of a $1.46 million grant from the recent tranche of $13.9 million provided to Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. The funding comes from the $98 million pot enacted by Senate Bill 5019 that gives sole authority of the funds’ disbursement to Gov. Kotek who has made fighting homelessness in the state her top priority.

The $13.9 million emergency funding is intended to create 111 new shelter beds and rehousing 161 households from unsheltered homelessness in the tri-county area. It is against these goals that

Sisters Cold Weather Shelter formulated their application.

With the award, the Shelter can now close on the $950,000 purchase of a commercial building located at 192 W. Barclay Dr. midway

between Sun Ranch Drive and Pine Street. The structure will be converted to dormitory style housing units for eligible houseless including

See HOMELESS on page 11

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

In a long-standing tradition, Sisters firefighters hung quilts early Saturday morning to thrill thousands at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, celebrating its 48th year.

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT

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.

Us vs. them

To the Editor: I wish to thank Jim Cornelius for his reminder how the lack of trust between Russians and NATO allies in 1983 (“The most dangerous year,” The Nugget , July 5, page 2) nearly annihilated us. Those wise words extol us to contemplate King Mongkut’s puzzlement:

The era that shaped us

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

The Vietnam War shaped all of our lives.

“Is a danger to be trusting one another One will seldom want to do what other wishes

But unless someday somebody trust somebody There’ll be nothing left on earth excepting fishes”

Given the certainty of uncertainty in

See LETTERS on page 15

Sisters Weather Forecast

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Website: www.nuggetnews.com

Editor in Chief & Co-owner: Jim Cornelius

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I have friends who fought in that war and friends who demonstrated against it. The war, in large measure, set the course of their lives. But even people only tangentially affected by the fighting and the protests — and people unborn when Saigon fell in 1975 — live in an America whose contours were mapped by the conflict in Southeast Asia 50 and more years ago.

In Vietnam was born the distrust of institutions that is the hallmark of our current national culture. That distrust was earned: Our government systematically lied to the American people about how we got into the conflict, what we were doing there, the prospects for “victory,” and the consequences of “exit.” The trust that was broken then has never been restored — doubt and skepticism has metastasized.

The lack of faith is only made worse by failure to learn the lessons of Vietnam. We watched the same sad story play out in Afghanistan, where the fall of Kabul evoked the very same grotesque images of chaos and failure as the fall of Saigon.

I am currently deeply immersed in Max Hastings’ magisterial “Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975.”

If it is possible for a single volume to offer the definitive history of that complex conflict, this is a strong candidate. Not only is it brilliantly researched, including hours of interviews with a vast cast of Vietnamese, French and Americans — whose stories humanize a war that threatens to grow abstract with time — it is also wonderfully well-written. It’s a heavy lift at 861 pages, but it doesn’t feel like it — it’s downright propulsive reading.

Hastings is clear-eyed in his assessments, which don’t allow for a simplistic white hats/black hats version of history. He has no patience with the mythology that the antiwar left promulgated around North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and his movement, that they were nationalists first and fell into the arms of Communism due mostly to American intransigence and mishandling of their aspirations.

The Viet Minh who threw out the French in the epic bloodbath of the First Indochina War 1945-54 were committed Communists from the beginning — of the particularly brutal

Stalinist variety. The North Vietnamese leadership and the National Liberation Front in the south, better known as the Viet Cong, drifted over time toward China, but that hardly softened their approach. Savage repression of dissent was their hallmark, and Ho and General Vo Nguyen Giap had absolutely no qualms about piling up mountains of corpses of their own people as long as they could climb to the heights of power in a hardcore Communist state.

The brutal repression of the North Vietnamese state was not apparent in the 1960s and ’70s — because the Communist government tightly controlled information. A true picture is only now emerging.

In contrast, the authoritarianism, corruption and brutality of the South Vietnamese government of Ngo Dinh Diem was on clear display, thanks to an international press that operated with few restrictions. The venality, cruelty, and incompetence of the South Vietnamese government, and a growing American commitment to destroying swaths of the country in order to save it, made the war hard to stomach in the West. Many who opposed the war fell prey to a naïve — and sometimes sinister — belief that if the American war was wrong, the North Vietnamese war must be right.

As Hastings notes: “The triumph of Hanoi’s propaganda was that hundreds of millions of people around the world, including more than a few Americans, believed that the impending North Vietnamese victory represented a just outcome.”

The epic tragedy that Hastings depicts so magnificently lies in the harsh reality that there could be no just outcome in the fetid swamp of imperial hubris, ideological fanaticism and venal corruption that characterized Vietnam’s three decades and more of war. He asserts that no side morally “deserved” to win.

And Hastings reminds us that, while Vietnam was a tragedy for America, it was most of all a tragedy for the Vietnamese. The U.S. lost 58,200 killed in Vietnam; as many as 40 Vietnamese died for every American life lost, for the prize of living under a totalitarian regime.

It may be that knowing history cannot save us — but Hastings gives us a fighting chance, if we pay heed to this fine work that every American should read.

Black Butte Ranch Police Chief Jason VanMeter was one of three Sisters area veterans presented with a special quilt at the Quilt Show on Saturday. (Seestorypage12).

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT

Quilters support SMS music program

By Olivia Nieto Correspondent

For 48 years the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show has been a source of creative and communal fun in the Sisters area. In addition to showcasing stunning works of art, the quilt show also aids in fundraising for several different causes.

One of these fundraisers is the bed and breakfast hostel for quilt show attendees, hosted at Sisters Middle School (SMS). Its goal is to fundraise money towards the music program at Sisters High School (SHS), including instrument repair, festival fees, and field trips.

Sisters cowgirl is a champion

By Jim Cornelius Editor

Adriene Steffen of Sisters is closing out a stellar high school rodeo career with a trip to the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming to be held this July 16-22. She will compete in four events: Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, Cutting and Reined Cow Horse.

Steffen is coming into the worlds largest rodeo in a strong position: She is Oregon’s High School Rodeo State Champion in Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing and All-Around Cowgirl.

That designation is on

BOARDS,

Al -Anon

GROUPS, CLUBS

Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills

Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383.

Alcoholics A nonymou s

goal for Steffen, who likes competing in multiple events.

“I kind of grew up being an all-around cowgirl because I enjoyed it,” she told The Nugget. “This year, I competed in every single event a girl could compete in.”

Pure enjoyment is the bedrock of Steffens’ effort. It keeps her motivated in a demanding training schedule. As she says, success at this level requires practice.

“A lot of practice,” she said.

She trains on her cutting horse once a week, on her reining horse every day, and roping is also an everyday practice.

“I have two roping horses so I can practice every day without overusing one of them,” she said.

The Sisters High School student transferred to Baker Academy online to facilitate her rodeo work. She had a light academic load in her senior year, which allowed intense focus on her sport. That sport is taking her to college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in California, a school with one of the top rodeo programs in the West. What motivates her intense focus?

“I like it,” she said. “I enjoy it — it makes me happy. There’s not much more to it than that.”

See COWGIRL on page 17

However, over the past four years this event was temporarily halted due to COVID-19 restrictions. Last week was the first time in those four years that it’s been open again — and it’s experienced some major changes.

One of the differences was the attendee participation, which dropped by nearly half. But the new manager of the event, Julie Nikolaus, wasn’t hindered by this setback.

“I’ve heard from (Rick) Johnson (SHS choir director) that this is the easiest year since 1996 when it began. My hope for next year is that we’ll have a waiting list, but

Paying tribute to a rock guitar legend

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Though he died more than a half-century ago, Jimi Hendrix continues to influence virtually everyone who picks up an electric guitar with intent to rock.

Few have been as powerfully influenced as Randy Hansen, who will bring his tribute to the rock legend to Hardtails Bar & Grill on Saturday, July 29.

Hansen’s journey with the guitar began when his father was killed in a car wreck when Randy was 10 years

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

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

old. His father, who was a coach and mentor, was hit head-on by a drunk driver.

The instrument became a refuge.

“I was looking for some kind of a rudder,” Hansen said.

Hendrix burst like a supernova onto the rock music scene with a literally incendiary performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Hansen discovered the revolutionary sounds Jimi Hendrix was making on the instrument, and he was drawn in.

See LEGEND on page 19

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.

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

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., at Aspen Lakes Golf Cours e. 541- 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.

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 541-231-18 97

SCHOOLS

Black Bu tt e School Boa rd 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.

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 Dept

Board of Dire ctor s M eets monthly 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date

Black Bu tt e Ranch R FPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 5 41-595 -2 28 8

Cloverdale R FPD Board of Directors

3rd Wed., 5:3 0 p.m., 6743 3 Cloverdale Rd. 5 41-5 48 -4 815. c loverdalef ire.com.

Sister s- Camp She rman R FPD

Board of Dire ctor s 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 5 41-5 49 -0771.

Sister s- Camp She rman R FPD Drills

Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 5 41-5 49 -0771.

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

PHOTO PROVIDED

Adriene Steffen is headed to the National High School Rodeo Finals. See MUSIC on page 13

in Chief

Roundabout SISTERS

Bill Bartlett Columnist

Rumblings in Sisters

Notwithstanding that some 1,000 quilters were in town on Independence Day, downtown was eerily quiet. The quilters were mostly ensconced in classrooms at Sisters High School for Quilter’s Affair.

Most everybody else in Sisters — at least those who stayed in town for the holiday — made way to Sisters Eagle Airport for the 10th Rumble on the Runway and fly-in event. Cars were parked three quarters of a mile in every direction. About half came on foot or bike, many pushing strollers or pulling wagons filled with tykes.

They started early, 7 a.m., scarfing up a pancake and sausage breakfast put on by Rotary Club of Sisters.

“It had to have been a thousand served,” said Julie Benson, airport co-owner.

“More than ever,” added husband, Benny.

“More” was the entire day in one word. More planes. More cars. More people. Cars

as in 300 classic, antique or vintage models, 60 of which later raced in drag fashion down the runway. Each paid a $15 entry fee. Those fees and breakfast sales income will result in a major contribution to the aviation program at Sisters High School.

A 5K run kicked the morning off with more than 150 runners racing down the runway to start the annual run. Will Thorsett and John Peckham, recent Outlaw grads, tied for first at 15:58. Their friend Michael McCausland of Portland finishing shortly behind them.

Damon Frutos, a SistersCamp Sherman Fire District Engineer/Medic, sang the national anthem at 9 a.m. as the crowd fell to dead, reverent silence. Mayor Michael Preedin was on hand, nothing official, merely to have fun as were the record number of attendees.

The organizers think the number was close to 5,000.

Nobody guessed fewer than 4,000. Longtime observers seem content with 4,500, a good thousand more than the town population.

The day before, Oregon National Guard flew in a giant, twin rotor Chinook CH-47 helicopter piloted by Anthony Ives whose parents live in Sisters. For nearly four hours, lines 80-100 long, filed into the cavernous craft. The crew reported that 2,500 had streamed through the aviation icon, a record for the six of its static demonstrations.

The aerial antics of the gyrocopter flown by Sisters own Gyro Tom (Smith) was a clear crowd favorite as necks were craned and whipped to keep pace with the maneuvers. Boys and girls made arm motions and swishing sounds in synchronicity.

Likewise when Fred Ortman, Sisters resident and President of Cascade Flyers RC (Remote Control) put his model plane through

jaw-dropping gyrations. His was one of three demonstration by the Club including a 30-inch model helicopter that left the crowd gasping.

By now it was lunch time and Rotary Club, having sold out breakfast, cranked up the grill for a Sisters Meat & Smokehouse brat lunch. It was time for the Great Rubber Chicken Drop, always a crowd pleaser. Hey, it’s Sisters, right? Fun is where you find it.

Attendees were settling in for the main event — Rumble on the Runway. Folding chairs and makeshift cushions lined both sides of the runway for half its length. Onlookers were three, four and sometimes five deep as 30 pairs of vehicles roared down the runway.

It was drag racing Sistersstyle. It was serious business for the racers, some in cars with $100,000-plus price tags. For the crowd it was pure fun with lots of hilarity thrown in. Such as when a giant diesel overthe-road tractor was matched up against an actual Chevy Impala stock car.

The sound of the engines and spinning tires could be heard on Main Avenue. Nearly as loud was the collective cheering and hooting by fans ranging from toddlers to some in their 90s.

As the last of the cars finished their sprints and the crowds giddily headed home, the Chinook lifted off at 2:24 in a cloud of dust. Thus it was Independence Day, 2023 in Sisters.

Vehicles of all types flexed their muscles in drag races on the runway at Sisters Eagle Airport on

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Ranchers and farmers eye faster snowmelt

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) has turned down the water flow.

Established in 1918, the District’s system consists of two main canals: the Pilot Butte Canal, which runs north, through Bend, Redmond and Terrebonne; and the Central Oregon Canal, which runs east, through Bend, Alfalfa and Powell Butte.

Both canals divert water from the Deschutes River providing water for about 45,000 acres within a 180,000 acre area in Central Oregon. More than 700 miles of canals provide agricultural and industrial water to the Terrebonne, Redmond, Bend, Alfalfa and Powell Butte areas. In addition, COID provides water to the City of Redmond and numerous subdivisions; in Bend, many parks and schools receive water through the COID system.

For farmers and ranchers in Sisters Country the spigots are still wide open flowing at 100 percent — but that’s subject to change literally any day. It depends entirely on the rate of snow melt at Black Crater and the “big bucket,” an area of snow between north and middle Sisters.

Last year, a dry one, Three Sisters Irrigation District ran at 100 percent into August.

“Not seeing that’ll be the case this year,” District Manager, Marc Thalacker told The Nugget . “Could be. Could not. Just can’t say with any certainty.”

Sisters sits in the Upper Deschutes/Crooked Basin and the basin index stood at 89 percent of median precipitation last Friday for the water year. The Owyhee basin by comparison is at 113 percent, Malheur at 110 percent, John Day at 105 percent and usually hard-hit Klamath Basin sat at 102 percent.

As recently as May 1, the snowpack for Sisters stood at 158 percent of normal. It dropped rapidly in May and June.

“These warm days mean faster melt,” Thalacker said.

Our neighbors in Prineville suffered badly in 2021 and 2022. This year is a better start for them with the tri-county’s largest reservoir, Prineville, 89 percent full, triple a year ago. The Ochoco reservoir is at 63 percent of capacity and Haystack is registering 88 percent. These are relatively healthy levels for mid-July.

Cloverdale farmers are cautiously optimistic. Situated east of the Cascade foothills in an area running northeast from Whychus Creek through the Cloverdale area, and down McKenzie Canyon to Lower Bridge, the Three Sisters Irrigation District provides

irrigation water to the 7,572 acres of certified water rights appurtenant to land owned by farming and ranching interests located within its boundaries.

A year ago the bulk of Deschutes County registered D4 (Exceptional Drought)

for almost the entire summer.

Sisters is currently sitting at D1 (Moderate) and Bend, Redmond and Prineville are clocking in at D2 (Severe).

Sisters did not record a 90-degree temperature for June until the very last day, June 30, when it hit 92.

Temps have remained pleasant, in the high 80s for most of July. 90s are not forecast until July 15 — both a blessing for farmers dependent on the snowpack and Quilt Show visitors who were complementing the streak of favorable temperatures.

An old irrigation gate along Whychus Creek.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Continued from page 1

who over many years and thousands of hours of toil have carved out the highly rated trail system around Sisters that has thousands of users.

Until recently the group’s focus has been on building and maintaining the trail network for which it has received near universal praise. Now, in addition to that work, STA, with unanimous consent of its Board, will devote some energy toward environmental and ecological issues in proximity to the trails.

The first public evidence of the variation in purpose was Penzarella’s letter to the editor of April 26, 2023, wherein he challenged the wisdom of the planned Green Ridge restoration project by the Forest Service. He called for among other things “… greater transparency from the Forest Service and for public understanding of all sides of this complex topic, especially because it impacts our wildlife, ecosystems, and recreational experiences in Sisters Country.”

Given the group’s long, historical relationship with the Forest Service, the public position opposing the project appeared to show a break with tradition. District Ranger Ian Reid admitted surprise at Penzarella’s public letter especially after he had received a similarly worded private letter.

Penzarella has represented the Alliance in other public gatherings speaking forcefully beyond trail building and maintenance. A Rewilding Conference on May 13 in Camp Sherman brought together activists in response to topical issues in Sisters Country including alleged wolf sightings, logging by the Forest Service on Green Ridge, and proposed land-use changes to support mule deer winter

grazing habitats.

At the conference, Penzarella said, “Any issue related to our public lands, from grazing, reintroduction of wolves, and preservation of animals affects us all. In order for recreation to thrive, especially being recognized as an important economic engine, our area where we recreate must survive and thrive, too. We can’t be absent from that relationship.”

He was also the only Sisters resident who spoke on behalf of himself and STA at the June 7-8 public input session of the Oregon Board of Forestry about its proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that the Board is expected to decide upon in November. The HCP, which covers some 640,000 acres of state lands west of the Cascades, has loomed large over Oregon Department of Forestry policy making for many months.

When asked if the Alliance’s public stance with respect to Green Ridge strained its relationship with their partner, the Forest Service, Penzarella said: “In

a good relationship such as this one sometimes you have to exert tough love.”

Both Reid and Penzarella described their conversations as respectful and constructive.

“There are some growing pains in any relationship but we have a long, healthy partnership,” Reid said.

Work planned for Green Ridge affects STA trails directly. Portions will be improved. Part of the trail will be re-routed to reduce user conflict among hikers and equestrians. Parking will be improved for stock users on Road 1120.

The Nugget asked Rick Retzman, STA Board Chair about the response to Penzarella’s public letter.

“We got a number of ‘what the hecks,’ and an equal number of ‘amen, bro’ so we know we struck a chord,” Retzman said.

Retzman does not see the change as mission creep as some had described.

“I see it as mission focus,” he suggested, giving full support to Penzarella. “But, hey, we’re here to listen.

That’s part of the Board’s job. Users have spoken before and we have made adjustments.”

STA will hold a public session Thursday, July 13 at

7 p.m. at Eurosports where interested persons can mingle with the Board and express any concerns or make suggestions about Sisters trails or the alliance.

Honda lawn mowers provide durability, reliability, and technical innovation, powered by famously quiet, efficient, and easy-starting Honda 4-stroke engines. And they’re all built by Honda from the ground up, backed by outstanding warranty protection.

Sisters Trails Alliance is expanding its mission, while continuing its efforts to build and maintain trails in Sisters Country. PHOTO PROVIDED

ART: Event filled the streets of Sisters with art

Continued from page 1

all us dropping in like this?”

Attendees from Texas and the southern states, where temperatures have been brutally hot for weeks, reveled in the fresh mountain air.

“I could just stay here all summer,” said Florence Bowman from Dallas, Texas. She and her friend Trish Randall spent the entire week at Quilter’s Affair, a week-long series of classes and events coordinated by Stitchin’ Post.

Hood Avenue was closed to vehicles for four blocks, enabling the throngs to more easily navigate and visit the dozens of pop-up informational exhibits. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District was on hand with water and friendly faces. So too Cloverdale Fire District. A Forest Service Hotshot fire crew from Modoc, California, had their rig open for inspection.

Local artists put up

canopy exhibits. The galleries were jammed with visitors. Kids sold water on the street. The only calamity was when the landscape sprinklers went on at Sisters Feed, momentarily threatening hung quilts before quickthinking volunteers covered the sprinkler heads.

Attendees just could not get enough of the worldfamous display and occasionally showed fatigue at trying to get it all in, worried that the best quilt would be the one around the next corner or garnering the most affection.

“The sheer artistry is breathtaking,” exclaimed Paula Bustamante from Crandall, Rhode Island. Indeed that was the most often used word heard throughout the day. That and “imagination.”

Boarding their intercity luxury tour bus at 3:15, a group from the Midwest, having taken in the day, was satiated.

“We’ll be talking about this all the way to Portland, and probably a week after,” Suze Easton said for the group. “Maybe all year. This

was really special. Thanks for having us.”

Executive Director Dawn Boyd was very happy on Saturday.

“Absolutely wonderful year once again!” she said.

“Over 1,100 quilts on display and they were all so unique. Shout out to every single person who donates their timewhether it’s an hour or two, or those who commit days on end, we appreciate their

help to create the quilt show! And we especially thank every quilter who allows us to share their special pieces of art and reveal the hidden stories within their lives.”

Sisters was wrapped in color for the 48th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Young and old took in the color and creativity of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT

Color was not limited to quilts.

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT

Volunteers answer the bell for SOQS

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Around 6 p.m. on Friday, phone texts were interrupting dinners around Sisters with an urgent plea for 25 more volunteers to hang quilts the next morning at 7 a.m. Within 30 minutes the cadre was rounded up, all first time donors of time to the event. Armed with nothing more than a desire to serve their community they met team leaders Saturday morning at the show’s storage and assembly operation on Sisters Park Drive.

In military-like precision, off they went with quilts, clothes pins and ladders in hand to hang more than 1,000 quilts in under two hours. As they hustled to accomplish the mission they were oft interrupted by visitors, hundreds of whom were prowling the streets by 8 a.m. Tourists wanted to know more about the particular quilt being hung at the moment or the show in general.

Now those same volunteers were welcome ambassadors as well, as they juggled promoting Sisters and

straddling ladders in some cases nine feet off the ground.

It takes over 300 volunteers to run the show. They perform all variety and manner of services seemingly tirelessly and joyfully. Many were obvious by their printed red t-shirts. Most were just regular looking folk with broad smiles and enthusiastic attitudes.

It was the same over at Quilters Affair which ran from Monday through Friday at the high school as volunteers greeted, guided and fed hundreds upon hundreds of attendees. The ripple effect added to the coffers of several volunteer groups.

One, the Sisters High School Outlaws Volleyball team charmed attendees providing sherpa duties. With shopping carts on loan from

It takes over 300 volunteers to run the show.…seemingly tirelessly and joyfully.

Jazz hits a high note

Ray’s Food Place, team members, some 30 in all, rotated in carrying sewing machines and other occasionally heavy or bulky quilting gear and materials from the vast parking lot to the classrooms.

Attendees heaped praise and gratitude on the good natured student athletes who provided the service for a stipend from Quilters Affair. It was a major fundraiser for the team.

Inside the school’s commons area, PEO, a Sisters women’s philanthropic educational group ran the Marguerite Café as their primary fundraiser which earns enough from the event to fund a $2,500 yearly scholarship to a Sisters High School female graduate.

About 20 of the group’s members baked cookies and sweet breads as well as providing hundreds of breakfast and lunch wraps, soups and salads each day.

Their lunches are crucial to keeping quilting students on schedule as there really isn’t enough time for most to leave campus, get to town for vittles and back on schedule.

The Jazz in Sisters summer series at Sisters Depot kicks into high gear this month with a concert on Friday evening, July 21.

An area native and nowBend resident, Andrew Lion, brings his Telegraph Trio PLUS, a jazz quintet to Sisters for a night of straightahead jazz and high-level improvisation —“the heart and soul of the jazz experience,” according to promoter Robert Sposato.

Lion relocated to Bend during the pandemic, and now makes connections between his past in the big city with the talent he finds here in Oregon. Each performer in his band brings a unique background and approach to the music, and each can turn in a tasteful phrase off the jazz standards

they will play.

Pianist Eric VanderbiltMatthews splits time between Seattle and New York City, and has toured internationally with various artists. Drummer Kelsey Bleck travels to Sisters from Salem, having earned his music degree in Corvallis.

He won a Downbeat Magazine award for his drumming.

In addition to the trio, Lion adds saxophonist Tom Bergeron, a longtime college professor and jazz bandleader, and Seth Burrows, a Colorado-based guitarist now living in Bend.

Music starts at 6 p.m. Reservations for the evening are strongly recommended. Contact Sisters Depot at 541-904-4660.

Volunteers worked in the kitchen for Marguerite Café, a fundraiser for the philanthropic PEO program.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

POACHERS: Community help is needed to solve cases

Continued from page 1

senseless loss of life.

The OHA established the TIP reward as an incentive for people to report suspicious activity. The fund pays cash for reports leading to citations or arrests. TIP rewards apply for illegal taking of fish and game mammals. Hagan says it’s important for people to know that poaching is not hunting, it’s stealing.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) grants hunter preference points as an incentive for them to report poaching which leads to a citation or arrest. Hunters can apply those points to any legal Oregon hunting opportunity. Cash rewards and hunter preference points generally go to the first credible report of an incident. In some cases, they may be awarded to more than one individual. It’s also possible to report anonymously.

So far, no one has come forward about the three elk found in Dry Canyon. But Hagan isn’t giving up and will keep the $10,000 award available for credible information about the case. Hagan says that poaching takes more animals than legal hunting. Statistics from 2021 show

the deer population is going down.

According to ODFW Stop Poaching Campaign Coordinator Yvonne Shaw, only a fraction of poaching is detected.

“In a recent study by Boone and Crockett, researchers estimate that less than 5 percent of poaching in Kentucky is detected. We believe Oregon has similar numbers,” she said.

The ODFW website describes poaching as the illegal take of birds, wildlife, and fish. It also covers habitat destruction. Poaching steals natural resources from all Oregonians. Poaching wildlife and damaging habitats impact present and future generations of wildlife, impacts communities and the economy, and creates enforcement challenges.

To have a bigger impact on poaching, law enforcement needs the help of private citizens. Not every case is solved, but cash rewards can help as well as preference points for the hunting community. For hunters having a better chance to get a tag via earning preference points, can make the difference between someone getting to go on a hunt or not.

Hagan said turning in someone doesn’t have to lead to a conviction.

“TIP rewards are based on getting evidence that results in a citation. Sometimes it’s

hearing someone bragging at the bar, or people who post something on social media,” said Hagan.

The purpose of the Stop Poaching Campaign is to educate the public on how to recognize and report poaching. The campaign is a collaboration among hunters, conservationists, landowners and recreationists.

“Our goal is to increase reporting of wildlife crimes through the TIP Line, increase detection by increasing the number of Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Troopers and increase prosecution,” said Shaw.

When asked how the antipoaching campaign is going, Shaw said it’s going well

and has a robust stakeholder group.

“Poaching happens when people aren’t looking,” she said. “It’s hard to tell why a person poaches and what prevents them from poaching. When an officer is present in an area there is less poaching. The Stop Poaching Campaign paid for four additional troopers and one Sergeant spread across Oregon. Because of the large areas they have to patrol, they are reliant on reports from the public. They can’t be everywhere all the time. That’s the strength of the campaign. We’re teaching people how to be good witnesses and how to take the next step and report it. We encourage people to first be

safe. If they can safely do so, pay attention to what the suspects look like, their vehicle type, and get a photo if you can, but first and foremost be safe.”

For more information about the anti-poaching campaign and rewards for turning in poachers visit the ODFW webpage at https://www. dfw.state.or.us/stop-poaching or dial 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP or *677 from a mobile phone. Or email TIP@osp. oregon.gov between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division by visiting their TIP page at https://www.oregon. gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/ tip.aspx.

A poaching case involving elk in Dry Canyon remains open.

PHOTO PROVIDED

ANNOUNCEMENTS

eater Company

At tention Submariners

Free Pet Food

held at the Redmond VFW Hall July 15 at 10:30 a .m. His wife, Nida, three daughters — Chris , Alona, and Sheila, father Roy, and sister Rita invite friends and f amily to attend . He passed away last December 28th . Family can be reached at 415-378-3551.

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, 130 0 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

Photog raphy Club Event

e Photography Club of Sisters host s a presentation by Portland professional photographer ibault Roland, a Sony Artisans of Imager y Photographer. e program will be on long exposure photography on Wednesday, July 12 at Sisters Community Church , 4:4 0 to 5:30 p.m . e club meeting starts at 3:30 p.m. C all 541-549-6157.

Sisters French Club

For people interested in French culture and language, Sisters French Club meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m . at e Barn, 171 E . Main Ave. All levels are welcome. e next meeting will be August 7. For more information, visit Facebook @SistersFrenchClub.

Join a Saturday Morning Interpretive Walk

Friends of the Metolius is sponsoring free walk s for all interested parties . On July 15 from 9 to 11 a .m. join Plant I.D. Walk Along the Metolius.

Amateur botanist David Miller will share his knowledge and love of the many beautif ul plants that live in this incredibly pristine and diverse habit at Learn to identif y some plants, trees , and shrubs that perhaps you’ve wondered about Approximate distance is two miles . Meet near the Camp Sherman bridge fish viewing plat form. Children are welcome, but dogs are not appropriate Wear sturdy footwear and bring water. e walk leader is David Miller. For information, call David at 541-550 -1441.

STAR S Seek s Volunteers to Transpor t Patients

Help Sisters Countr y residents get to nonemergenc y medical appointments in Sisters , Redmond , and Bend . Attend a free t wo-hour training. Emails from STAR S dispatchers allow you to accept dates and times that work for your schedule, and a mileage reimbursement is included . Learn more at www starsride.org. STAR S is an AFCS Action Team.

STAR S Seek s Dispatch Volunteers

While working from home, help STAR S transport Sisters Country resident s to nonemergenc y medical appointments . Needed: A computer, the abilit y to use online apps, and a telephone. Call 541-9 04-5545 . STAR S is an AFC S Action Team.

Bingo Night Fundraiser

Come to e Barn at 171 E Main Ave. on July 12 f rom 4:30 to 8 p.m. to support Sisters’ ver y own Pine Siskin Waldorf School. ere will be bingo and a silent auction with live music by Skillethead . Admission is free, all ages welcome! Contact Kellen Klein, 425-260 -8411 with questions.

Volunteer with Sisters

Habitat for Humanity

Have f un, make new f riends, and be an active part of an amazing organiz ation! Volunteer positions are waiting for you at the rif t Store, ReStore, and on the construction team. Attend a one-hour volunteer orientation work shop to get started . New volunteer orientations are 12 p.m . Tues., Wed ., and urs . at the Habit at o ces . Call 541-549 1193 or visit sistershabitat.org/ volunteer.

Announce Your Celebr ations!

Birth, engagement, wedding , an milestone anniversar y notices from the Sisters community may run at no charge on this Announcements page. All submissions are subject to editing for space. Email janice@ nug getnews .com or drop o at

442 E . Main Ave. Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays

Hosts Live Music

A local nonprofit, Silent Echo eater Company, will host an evening of live music at Sisters Saloon and Ranch Grill Saturday, July 15 . Local Sisters per formers are Kate Cavanaugh and Marla Manning . e singers , f rom around Central Oregon , will perform songs about summer and will be accompanied by Janelle Musson and Clay Helt. Doors and dinner ser vice starts at 6:30 p.m. Per formance is at 7:30 p.m. Ticket s are $20 at the door or https:// btt.boldtypetickets.com/ events/140963579/ladies-ofsummer-a-dinner-cabaret . More information is available at www silentechotheatercompany.org or 310 -710 -2874.

Downtown Landmark

Walking Tours

Available Wednesday and Sunday mornings at 10 a .m., and guided by a Sisters Museum docent , you will learn about the histor y of some of our town’s

Saturday, July 15 f rom 8 a .m. to 2 p.m., Central Oregon Submarine Base will be having a yard sale at 61551 E astlake Dr. in Bend . Proceeds will help in-need submariners and other veterans in Central Oregon. To contribute, contact Base Commander Rick Neault at 530434-1102 or Secretar y Fran Davis at 541-527-5484.

Deschutes Public Librar y Is Seeking New Art

Cele ation o f Life Rodney “Rocky ” Davis PAISLEY

New construction and upgrades to our Deschutes Count y libraries have created an oppor tunity for our Deschutes Libraries to expand their art collections . e Art Committee seeks art in all media and genres: this can include 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

Are you in need of pet food for your dog or cat? Call Furry Friends pet food bank 541-7974023 to schedule your pickup in Sisters behind the Nugget

Humane Societ y of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

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

POLIC Y: 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 five on Fridays

HOMELESS: Location is in Sisters

Industrial Park

Continued from page 1

those dwelling in the forest nearby.

The two-story building, constructed in 1993, is 6,000 square feet and sits on .53 acres. Advocates for the houseless hope that the building, located as it is in a commercial area, should mitigate any concerns of relocating homeless people into residential neighborhoods.

When converted, the Barclay property will feature 12-24 seasonal beds. Included in the grant is $181,000 in salaries, half of which would come from other sources. Positions to be funded are a mix of full and part-time and include an executive director, non-certified case manager, coordinator and nighttime shelter monitor.

There is also a desire to relocate Deschutes County’s behavioral health case worker from his shared office at Sisters High School to the Barclay facility.

The case worker, David Fox, cannot actually see homeless clients at the school given the history of many of them who would ordinarily be precluded from entering school premises due to health or safety concerns. Having Fox, who splits his time between Sisters and La Pine, located at the shelter would be a natural fit advocates say.

The grant will also enable Sisters Cold Weather Shelter to lease four apartments in the city for applicants transitioning to HUD Section 8 housing.

The Shelter’s board is now going through the bureaucratic gauntlet of permits, and scouring of the small print in the apartment leases. Luis Blanchard, Shelter Board President, told The Nugget that “it’s easier in concept than reality but we are prepared to go through the process step-by-step.”

There is no definitive timeline for when the building will be ready for occupancy, but under the terms of the legislation, the monies must be spent by early next year.

Sisters-Area Events & Enter tainment

WEDNESDAY • JULY 12

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Skillethead

6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting For information go to www thebarninsisters.com.

Lake Creek Lodge Live Music: John Shipe

5-7 p.m. on the deck. 13 375 SW Forest Service Rd #1419, Camp Sherman. For info see www.lakecreeklodge.com/events/.

THURSDAY • JULY 13

Sisters Art Works Live Music: The Brothers Comatose

Presented by Sisters Folk Festival. 7 to 9 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. These Americana mavens forge their own path with raucous West Coast renderings of traditional bluegrass, country, and rock ‘n’ roll music Tickets at aftontickets.com/BrosComatose

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 • JULY 14

Hardtails Karaoke with KJ Mindy

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

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Car Show & Live Music: Skybound Blue 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

SATURDAY • JULY 15

Sisters Depot Live Music: Jazz Folks Quarte t

6-8:30 p.m. A classic jazz quartet based in Sisters playing the great jazz standards. Reservations recommended. $5 cover. Info: www.sistersdepot.com/events.

Hardtails Live Music: Status Fear (rock band) with comedian Billy Brant opening 7-10 p.m. Free show on outdoor stage. For more information call 541-549-6114.

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Holy Smokes

6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting For information go to www thebarninsisters.com.

SUNDAY • JULY 16

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

Sisters Saloon Live Music: Stu Kinzel & The Dust Devils 6 to 8 p.m. on the patio All ages Free Information at facebook.com/SistersSaloonAndRanchGrill.

TUESDAY • JULY 18

Paulina Springs Books Open Mic Night 6:30-8 p.m.

Share poetry, a song, or short story (5 minutes or less). Sign-ups to share begin at 6 p.m. This is an all-ages event, and all are welcome Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

WEDNESDAY • JULY 19

Lake Creek Lodge Live Music: Travis Ehrenstrom 5-7 p.m. on the deck. 13 375 SW Forest Service Rd #1419, Camp Sherman. For info see www.lakecreeklodge.com/events/.

Paulina Springs Books Bookstore Romance Day

Panel: Catherine Cowles, Rebecca Jenshak, and A.L. Jackson join in celebrating romance fiction — its books, readers, and writers. Authors will share about their books and writing process. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Blackstra p Bluegrass 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting For information go to www thebarninsisters.com.

THURSDAY • JULY 20

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 • JULY 21

Sisters Depot Live Music: Andrew Lions Quartet 6-8:30 p.m. Reservations recommended. Info: www.sistersdepot.com/events.

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

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Car Show & Live Music: Desert Sons 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

SATURDAY • JULY 22

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: My Band Anna 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting For information go to www thebarninsisters.com.

SATURDAY • JULY 22 (continued)

Hardtails Live Music: Valhalla a tribute to Led Zeppelin, 8 p.m. Summer Tribute Series. Tickets at www.BendTicket.com.

Sisters Depot Live Music: Rick Smith 6-8:30 p.m. Local Rick Smith comes to the courtyard stage as a single entertainer with a full band sound, playing rock, country, and blues. Reservations recommended. $5 cover. Info: www.sistersdepot.com/events.

SUNDAY • JULY 23

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music, community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For more information visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

Sisters Saloon Live Music: Band of Comerados

6 to 8 p.m. on the patio All ages Free Information at facebook.com/SistersSaloonAndRanchGrill.

Sisters Community Church Live Music: High Street Party Band Summer Concert Series on the lawn. 6 p.m. Free (donation to local nonprofits who provide assistance for those in need in our community, is appreciated). Bring chairs or blanket. More info at www.SistersChurch.com.

WEDNESDAY • JULY 26

Lake Creek Lodge Live Music: Brent Alan

5-7 p.m. Multi-instrumentalists Americana Project educator Brent Alan brings his music to the deck. 13375 SW Forest Service Rd #1419, Camp Sherman. For information see www.lakecreeklodge.com/events/.

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Sonic Benders 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting For information go to www thebarninsisters.com.

THURSDAY • JULY 27

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

Paulina Springs Books Lecture Series: “What about water? Reclaiming water, traditional foods & marine debris,” presented by Pine Meadow Ranch/ Roundhouse Foundation. 6-7:30 p.m. Event is free but registration is required. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

FRIDAY • JULY 28

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

Sisters Depot Live Music: Bob Baker & Brian Odell

6-8:30 p.m. Brian & Bob’s music is firmly grounded in the rock they grew up with, incorporating funk, blues, and a bit of fusion flavor They combine acoustic guitar vocals, and violin in original music and select covers Reservations recommended. $5 cover. Info: www.sistersdepot.com/events.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Car Show/Live Music: Lilli Worona and John Shipe 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

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Blackflowers Blacksun 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting For information go to www thebarninsisters.com.

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

SATURDAY • JULY 29

Hardtails Live Music: Randy Hansen

“The Jimi Hendrix Experience” 8 p.m. Summer Tribute Series. Tickets at www.BendTicket.com.

Sisters Art Works Live Music: Ron Artis II Presented by Sisters Folk Festival. 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. Multiinstrumentalist Ron Artis II performs songs highlighting his influences from deep Delta Blues and Gospel to Northern Soul and R&B, with in-depth and personal lyrics. Tickets at https://aftontickets.com/ronartis.

Sisters Depot Live Music: Brent Alan 6-8:30 p.m. Multi-instrumentalists Americana Project educator Brent Alan brings his music to the courtyard Reservations recommended. Info: www.sistersdepot.com/events.

The Barn in Sisters Live Music: Johnny Bourbon 6 to 8 p.m. Weather permitting For information go to www thebarninsisters.com.

SUNDAY • JULY 30

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.

The BEST way to stay IN THE KNOW about Sisters’ happenings…

Veterans honored with quilts

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

As the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show drew to a close Saturday, a moving ceremony took place at West Hood Avenue and South Elm Street, when three military veterans were presented with Quilts of Valor. The quilts were made by Salem Star Valor Quilters of Oregon.

Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 with a dream, literally a dream. Founder Catherine Roberts’ son Nat was deployed in Iraq.

According to Catherine, “The dream was as vivid as real life. I saw a young man sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over. The permeating feeling was one of utter despair. I could see his war demons clustered around, dragging him down into an emotional gutter.

“Then, as if viewing a movie, I saw him in the next

Obituary

November 2, 1953 – April 22, 2023

scene wrapped in a quilt. His whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. The quilt had made this dramatic change. The message of my dream was: Quilts = Healing.”

The model appeared simple. A volunteer team would donate their time and materials to make a quilt. One person would piece the top and the other would quilt it. The organization has made over 300,000 quilts since its founding.

Mary Williams, owner of Will-n-Bee’z Quilts in Salem made the presentation with an assist by Earl Schroeder, an Air Force veteran known around Sisters as The Flag Man. He’s a life member of Kiwanis, and an ardent advocate for veterans in Central Oregon.

Williams told the story of Catherine Robert’s dream and a quiet fell over the gathering.

The first recipient was

Jason Kelly VanMeter, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Marine Corp (1996-2018) who served tours in Okinawa, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Jubuti, Africa. He received the Meritorious Service Medal plus 14 ribbons.

VanMeter is police chief at Black Butte Ranch.

Next up was Sergeant Gary D. Frazee, a Korean War Army veteran (19671969). Frazee was Grand Marshal of this year’s Sisters Rodeo Parade.

He was followed by retired Air Force Colonel John O. Miller who served from 1965 to 1997 earning the Legion of Merit. Miller is Post Commander of Sisters American Legion.

The ceremony was not solemn, but celebratory. Onlookers applauded and saluted as each was presented with their patriotic-themed quilt which was placed on each of their shoulders.

Jimmy Crow of Sisters, died suddenly on April 22, 2023. He was born November 2, 1953 in Myrtle Point, Oregon to Ken and Lois Crow now deceased. Soon after they moved to Albany, Oregon, where he lived until leaving in his early 20s for 25 years in Alaska. He had received his commercial plumbing license prior to going and while in Alaska he got his commercial pilot’s license. Not willing to leave Alaska to pursue an airline career, he became a bush pilot, and continued his plumbing business. He was passionate about all aspects of flying, having done a lot of hang gliding and flying of remote controlled planes. He loved Alaska and was an avid outdoorsman — skiing, fishing, playing ice hockey, soccer, and flying supplies for the Iditarod. He spent years helping with a soup kitchen in Anchorage.

In 1997, he decided it was time to leave Alaska. Soon after he met Caroline Stratton, skiing at Hoodoo and they were happily married for 24-plus years. Jim was a wonderful addition to Caroline’s family of two children ages 15 and 13. The family he leaves behind include: Chandra Miller and her husband Jordan Miller, Devin Hess, his wife Mel

Sweet and their daughter, Yarrow, age 2-1/2. Jim was as smitten with Yarrow as she was with him, spending many days as a wonderful PaPa.

Jim and Caroline had just this past fall moved into the house they had built, the third one since 2007. Jim was a commercial plumber with his own business, Crow Plumbing Inc. He was skilled at so many things and was always willing to help others out. He loved music and being surrounded by friends who loved him dearly, some of which he knew since grade school. He leaves behind a long list of friends and family devastated by his passing. Included in this list are his sister, Jeannie Fauth and brother-in-law Bob, their son Dan Fauth, wife Angela and two children who live in Australia. Friends are too numerous to list. Life just won’t be the same without you Jimmy.

Jimmy Crow

John Miller, Jason VanMeter, and Gary Frazee where presented with Quilts of Valor in a special moment at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT

MUSIC: Fundraising

effort relaunched after COVID

Continued from page 3

list, but right now everything seems to be going pretty well,” said Nikolaus.

With 12 guests residing in three upstairs classrooms, the bed and breakfast experience wasn’t exactly orthodox.

Despite its unconventional setup, many of the women who stayed there described it as a fun and immersive quilting experience.

“It’s just nice to be sur rounded by other women who share the same passion… and we’re very appreciative of all the hard work the volunteers put in to make this experience happen,” said guest Joyce Larson.

Joyce and her childhood friend Jannelle Raabe are experienced quilters who were visiting the Quilt Show from Nevada. They were enjoying the multitude of quilting classes, and learning

Bull by Bull

By Judy Bull Columnist

• I found the absolute perfect place to board Bingo, when needed. Not only is she safe, she has a pen and access to the “bitch barn.” She has a view of all that goes on on a farm with a big family with lots and lots of critters, way cool old machinery, and any number of outbuildings. Just like it used to be.

times I have tried, I couldn’t believe the mess I’d made. I even had to take the printer out of the oven, and I was starving by the time everything was ready. Nope. Not my thing.

new skills.

The students who volunteered to create and keep up the B&B were appreciative of this sentiment, as they worked tirelessly to make sure all of the guests had an enjoyable experience.

“It’s nice to have a part in the community…being able to compare the past to the present in terms of growing relationships and community enjoyment has been really inspirational,” said student manager Kendall Guiney.

All of the Jazz Choir and Band students were new to this experience, but the

attended the quilt show for even longer.

“I’ve been coming to the Quilt Show for 12 years now, and staying at the B&B for about four,” said Nancy Fischer, “I’ve just found it very convenient.”

Many of her fellow attendees agreed.

“One of the best parts is getting to know the kids who are so wonderful…they’re friendlier this year than ever. I’ve gotten to know many of them on a first-name basis,” said Martie Melmreich.

So while the B&B is still gaining traction after its hia-

• It feels like a lot of things that used to be shiny are turning into yard art right before my eyes. Vernon’s old 1968 shoein’ truck has even begun to sink into the ground, and when I pulled my 36 year old stock trailer out last week for the first time in too many years, I had to use WD-40 in any number of places on the hitch. Of course, many of my buck-and-rail fences have been sagging for a while now, but then so have I.

• My big brother, Joe Bull, is coming for a visit this summer. We’ve not seen each other since we parted company in England nine years ago. It will be good to be back together. One thing for sure about getting on in age, it does soften your heart.

• I don’t cook; I’ve tried to a couple of times and it’s just not my thing. The few

• I still use AOL for my email. Those close to my heart indulge me and I find it a fun way to reach out, oftentimes in the evenings. Those of you with kids and grandkids know how good it feels when you hear from them. Kinda like that.

• I called Procter & Gamble last winter to complain about the smell of Tide. Over a period of months I’d purchased and tried enough Tide to last a lifetime, and not one of them was the smell I remember. Come to find out, sure enough “they” have changed the formula and the scent, though the P&G lady on the phone promised me that if I tried Fresh Scent, I was sure to like it. They don’t make it anymore.

• I finally turned 80 and I’m not at all disappointed. Though much has definitely changed over these many years, I’ve pretty much been like this all of my life. As Parker Palmer wrote in his book, “On the Brink of Everything,” true self is the self with which we arrive on earth, the self which simply wants us to be who we were born to be.”

Quilters stayed at a bed and breakfast at Sisters Middle School. Their “rent” supports SMS music programs.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA NIETO

Gary Ross brings experience to city council role

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Sisters City Councilor

Gary Ross has always been interested in serving his community and being involved in key decisions. He brings his career skills and passion for public service to the city council.

Ross started his career as a high school teacher in Maine at 20 years old, just out of school. He taught what is now known as the Professional Technical Classes, aka shop class. Ross moved west and received his master’s degree in education in Utah, and worked from there in Klamath Falls for eight years, teaching with an emphasis on computer science.

Ross worked in the Springfield School District for many years, oversaw the technical programs, and automated all school libraries. After leaving Springfield School District, he worked as the Media Director and Facilities Director in the Lane Education Service District.

Ross spent 30 years of his career in education, so around 50, he was ready to retire.

“I worked a couple of years after 50 and decided there was much more to life than working,” he said.

Ross and his wife Judy decided to leave the valley area with Eugene and Springfield getting too big.

“We had always talked about Bend but knew we didn’t want Bend, so we decided on the boundaries of Sunriver, Tumalo, and Sisters,” said Ross.

They found a house that bordered Whychus Creek in Sisters surrounded by ponderosa pine trees, and decided on Sisters.

“That was enough to convince you it was a good place,” said Ross.

In 2016, Ross and Judy purchased their home in Sisters and officially moved to the area in 2017.

Throughout his career, Ross served on the Willamalane Parks and Recreation District board for 13 years, with a few years as the board chair. Ross gained much experience serving on publicly elected boards with his education district and the parks board background, volunteering his time, even after his retirement.

Nancy Connelly, former Sisters City Councilor, convinced Ross’ wife that he should run for Sisters City Council given his background in the parks and recreation district and love for the community. Ross decided to run in 2020 and won a two-year term.

“I was happy with my two-year term,” he said. “I said, I can do my two years and be done, and then Cory left.”

When former city manager Cory Misley left Sisters for a job in the Valley, Ross knew he had to stay.

“When I was at the Willamalane board, we had already bought our house here, but I stayed with their board until we hired a new superintendent because I wanted to be involved,” said Ross.

And Ross wanted to continue to serve on the council until a new city manager was hired.

Ross ran for re-election in Sisters in 2022 to be involved in several key decisions.

“Thinking about some of the issues in front of us as a city, I wanted continuity. I knew that if I didn’t run, there would be two new city councilors, and I felt continuity was important right now,” said Ross.

Ross’s role as a city councilor brings out the qualities of an experienced councilor, and someone who’s served on regional boards and tries to determine where he can be most effective.

“I think that my 16 years now of serving in an elected

position gives me a strong understanding of rules and regulations that we have to make decisions, some of which may appear to be arcane, but it’s the deck we’ve been dealt in Oregon with our land-use law,” he said.

Ross has a good grasp of what issues are facing Sisters.

“I can separate my personal beliefs from the decisions we have to make that are best for the community and region as a whole and make those decisions within our guidelines,” said Ross.

Ross is a big believer in ethics and doing his best to serve on the council with an unbiased viewpoint to serve the greater community. According to Ross, social media and the inaccurate spreading of information is a big problem public government is facing.

“The biggest problem facing public government, whether it’s city, state, national, right now is social media, and I say that as a technology person that promoted it as a professional career,” he said. “The programs make it easy for people to express inaccurate or partially accurate opinions. They get passed along,

creating a great divvy of angst in the community.”

Ross believes strongly in the City’s staff and believes it runs extremely well with a staff of only 19 people.

“You would think we have a larger staff than the 19 people. To me, it’s very important that we protect the staff and allow them to do

their job and acknowledge they are the ones who make the city run and attempt as much as possible not to put barriers in front of them that keep them from being successful,” said Ross. Ross is serving a fouryear term after being reelected in 2022, ending in 2026.

Gary Ross is a a retired educator whose desire to serve his community led him to a seat on Sisters City Council.

PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD

Continued from page 2

Eastern Europe, heeding the call to trust could not be timelier. Yet can we trust an “Evil Empire” Americans have demonized since the Bolshevik Revolution? Both Americans and Russians have been carefully taught to hate and fear for more than a hundred years by our respective governments.

Until when we can see Russians as people, not Communists, we will be enslaved by our propaganda and this cycle of susception, conflict, and destruction will continue. By understanding a tad of the history and culture of the Russia people, we unwind our learned prejudices and create an opening for peace.

Appreciate the outsized contribution Russian Slavs have made to the West. When Mongol and Tartar hordes swept out of the steeps, it was those Slavs, Russian among them, who stood as the shield of Christendom. Muscovy suffered most under the reign of the Golden Horde. This created a

brutality in Russian governance that persists even today. It is nearly incomprehensible to us Westerners, the lasting agony of the Great Patriotic War had on the Russian psyche. The anger of losing twenty million comrades liberating Europe while waiting for the Britain and American invasion was a root cause of the Cold War.

While living and working in Eastern Europe, I experienced the embracing love for life and giving nature so deeply embedded in Slavic cultures. From my Russian, Kirovtrained ballet teacher, Misha, to my huge Russian-Latvian bear of a friend/co-worker, Vitaly, I have known only personal warmth and acceptance — rarely found in the U.S. or Western Europe.

Next time some opinionated pundit or infotainer starts raising your blood pressure about them, stop and breathe. Ask yourself to look at the real human behind them . When we understand the reality of the oneness of humanity then peace and harmony can guide the planet.

John Lancaster

Sheriff announces plans to retire

Deschutes County Sheriff

Shane Nelson will hang up his badge after a 30-year law enforcement career. Nelson made the announcement of his pending retirement last week, stating that he will serve out the remainder of his term, and retire on January 3, 2024.

In a letter to DCSO staff, he wrote: “It has been my greatest professional honor to serve as your Sheriff. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, great teammates, and supportive community members.Together, you all have ensured a strong and effective Sheriff’s Office known for excellent customer service. I have decided to retire so will not be running for sheriff in the next election.”

Nelson told The Nugget that he will focus on continuing to provide quality service to the citizens of the county and on recruitment.

Law enforcement recruitment has been challenging in recent years, but Nelson said that current efforts appear to be fruitful.

“It’s looking up,” he said. “It’s always hard to say... The problem is that you can’t tell until later on (in the process) because you still have the probationary period and

training. It’s a lot better than it has been in years past.”

Nelson has been an ardent critic of the impacts of Measure 110, which decriminalized much drug use and prevention. He continues to have concerns about the impact of what he sees as increased drug use and addiction resulting from removal of consequences to drug use.

“We’ve got to get back to where, no, there’s a consequence, a criminal consequence, to using drugs,” he said.

Without that criminal consequence, Nelson believes, users and addicts lack sufficient motivation to change

their behavior.

Nelson indicated support of Captain William Bailey, who has formed a political action committee in a move necessary to launching his own campaign for sheriff. Bailey served as the interim commander of the Sisters substation of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office when the City of Sisters and DCSO came to an agreement to establish a permanent contingent of deputies in the community.

“I look forward to con tinuing to support Captain William Bailey and voting for him in the election for Deschutes County Sheriff,” Nelson stated.

COMMUNITY OPEN MIC NIGHT

TUES., JULY 18

6PM SIGN UP • 6:30PM START Celebr ating our cr eative community! Bring poetr y, a song, or a shor t stor y to share. Participants limited to 5 minutes. All-ages event. Ever yone welcome.

who has ever been overwhelmed with the bounty of hiking options

equired. y 30

CATHERINE COWLES, REBECCA JENSHAK, AND A.L. JACKSON join us in celebr ating romance fiction — its books, r eader s, and writer s. Author s will shar e in conver sation about their books and writing pr ocess, followed by some Q&A.

Families turned out for a 3K run as part of Sisters Airport’s Fourth of July festivities.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG

Engaging with preparedness

By Molly Rosbach Oregon Capital Chronicle

CORVALLIS —

Residents who experienced direct harm from Oregon’s 2020 wildfires are more likely to take steps to mitigate their fire risk in the future, an Oregon State University study found.

They’re also more apt to participate in communityhelping activities like donating to and volunteering with emergency response groups after wildfires.

Disaster preparedness actions for wildfire risk may include preparing an evacuation plan, replacing flammable building materials, assembling an evacuation kit, improving air filtration and removing vegetation near the home, among others.

The OSU study provides a more comprehensive examination of people’s experience with wildfire than most prior wildfire research, the authors say, because it asked about both mitigation and community-based responses. Researchers also asked detailed questions about the harm caused by the 2020 wildfires to participants directly, to their property, to their finances, to their mental and physical health and to their daily activity.

That level of detail provided researchers more information about why people choose to engage in disaster preparedness and to help their community.

The single most powerful factor was what researchers call “descriptive norms,” which can be understood as a form of peer pressure: When people thought that more of their friends or neighbors were taking wildfire preparedness actions, they were more likely to do more to prepare themselves.

Published in Disasters, the study builds on previous work by co-author Hilary Boudet, an associate professor of sociology at OSU who researches the links between extreme weather events, climate policy and social mobilization around disaster response. The results were based on survey responses from people who lived in rural and urban areas across Oregon at the time of the September 2020 wildfires.

Predictably, people who

experienced more severe harm from the 2020 wildfires were more likely to be proactive with future wildfire preparedness than those who were less affected, but several other factors also influenced individual responses. Women, people in rural areas and people with members of vulnerable groups in their households were all more likely to engage in more preparedness actions.

Researchers found that people who reported more concern about climate change after the fires were 1.5 times more likely to take at least three wildfire preparedness actions, compared with people whose concern about climate change stayed the same or declined after the fires.

More information also translated into more action. People who sought out safety information about the 2020 wildfires from official city, county and state websites were 1.7 times more likely to take three or more disaster preparedness actions.

Several of these factors were also associated with higher likelihood of people donating and volunteering to help their community, including severity of harm experienced and concern about climate change. Demographically, households with minors were more likely to engage in community-helping behaviors.

“We call this ‘altruism born of suffering,’ where people who experience harm have a sense of relatedness, of connectedness, with people experiencing similar things, so their likelihood of community-helping behavior increases,” said Usman Siddiqi, lead author on the study and a doctoral student in OSU’s School of Public Policy.

Researchers offered policy recommendations based on their findings, focused on how local and state governments can motivate residents to be more proactive. The researchers suggest providing more platforms for local residents to interact with each other, so they can engage in policy discussion and talk among themselves about what mitigation measures they’re taking.

They also suggested that media campaigns should capitalize on the power of “descriptive norms” by highlighting what ordinary people are doing in their daily lives to protect their own homes.

“When people are talking with other people, they are more likely to take action,” Siddiqi said.

Policymakers should also engage with community gatherings to help residents connect their lived experiences with climate change and the need for more action, he said.

Ag presentation to focus on water

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, a project of the Roundhouse Foundation, will host the third installment of the 2023 Food & Agriculture Lecture Series, scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, July 27, at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters.

Speakers will share a diverse range of perspectives and insights surrounding water. Speakers will delve into topics like reclaiming water, harvesting traditional foods, and addressing issues with and reusing marine debris.

“What About Water? Reclaiming Water, Traditional Foods & Marine Debris” will include presentations from Dr. Salini Sasidharan, assistant professor and sustainable groundwater management engineer at Oregon State University; Brigette Scott-McConville, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and owner of Salmon King Fisheries; and Emily Jung Miller, an artist with a deep connection to the sea who centers her art practice around using natural and reclaimed marine materials.

The event is the last in a series of three lectures supporting the artist residency program at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture.

“We hope attendees gain

knowledge about sustainable groundwater management, tribal history and traditions, and the power of art in fostering positive change,” says Ana Varas, Arts Project Coordinator for Pine Meadow Ranch. “These topics are all varied, but balance around water — a very important resource.”

Each event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required. For more information or to register call 541-904-0700 or visit www. roundhousefoundation.org/ events. Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave.

Program on water will be held at Paulina Springs Books.

PHOTO PROVIDED

When people are talking with other people, they are more likely to take action.

— Usman Siddiqi

COWGIRL: Rider is headed for college to rodeo

Continued from page 3

Her family has been supportive of a lifestyle that keeps them on the road traveling to rodeos across the region.

“When they’ve got a passion for it, you’re going to support them as much as you can to help them meet their goals” Adriene’s mother, Laurie Steffen said.

The Steffens are excited about the trip to Gillette.

“It’s a super beautiful facility out there,” Adriene said. Huge, full grandstands make the event feel like a pro rodeo. Because she qualified in multiple events, Steffen will compete every day she’s in Gillette.

The draw is massive.

Featuring more than 1,700 contestants from 44 states, five Canadian Provinces, Australia, Mexico and New Zealand, the NHSFR is the world’s largest rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $150,000 in prizes

and over $150,000 in added money, NHSFR contestants will also be competing for more than $375,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named an NHSFR World Champion. To earn this title, contestants must finish in the top 20 – based on their combined times/scores in the first two rounds – to advance to Saturday evening’s final round.

World Champions will then be determined based on their third-round combined times/scores. The Saturday championship performance will be televised nationally as a part of the Cinch High School Rodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV. LIVE broadcasts of each NHSFR performance will air online at www.thecowboychannel. com. Performance times begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, and competition continues daily at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. through Saturday, July 22.

Steffen like her chances.

“This year, I feel like I’m really going in my strongest events,” she said. “If it goes the way I planned, we could be successful.”

Theater company hosts cabaret

“Ladies of Summer,”

a dinner cabaret featuring songs about summer, will be performed at Sisters Saloon and Ranch Grill this Saturday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. Doors open and dinner service will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The cabaret is part of a summer series of events produced by Silent Echo Theater Company (SETC) and hosted by Sisters Saloon. Admission is $20 (covers performance only).

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Sisters Saloon, so we can do what we love and support local businesses at the same time, ” SETC’s Producing Artistic Director Marla Manning said.

The event will take place on the outside patio of the Sisters Saloon and will feature talent from Central Oregon including Sisters residents Manning and Kate Cavanaugh. Performers will

be accompanied by Janelle Musson on keyboards and Clay Helt on guitar.

SETC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has produced live performances including cabarets, one-act festivals, and play readings since 2016. These events have taken place at various local venues. Manning says her dream is for SETC to have a location of its own someday.

“We enjoy working with local business owners. Restaurants and art galleries have great spaces for cabarets and play readings, but we hope to teach acting, improv and children’s drama classes and partner with other performing artists. Having our own space would make that possible,” Manning said.

In the meantime, putting together events at Sisters Saloon is on the agenda.

“Cage-Free Comedy” with headliner Jake Woodmansee

and other comedians will take place on Thursday, July 20. Tickets will be available online for $15 and $20 at the door. This show is rated R.

“Mixed Bag” a night of storytelling, led by Central Oregonian Dan Cohen, will take place on Thursday August 24. This event will feature mature themes and is not recommended for children. On Saturday, August 26, singers will be back for another cabaret. All summer performances start at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening and dinner service at 6:30 p.m.

In addition to the summer happenings, SETC will produce its first full-length play, “Steel Magnolias,” this fall.

For more information visit SETC’s website www.silentechotheatercompany.org.

Anyone interested in getting involved with SETC can contact them at silentechotheatercompany@gmail.com.

Adriene Steffen won championship saddles in four high school rodeo events this season.

PHOTO PROVIDED

McLeod-Skinner delays run announcement

By Julia Shumway Oregon Captial Chronicle

Jamie McLeod-Skinner, the Central Oregon attorney and Democrat who narrowly lost the 5th Congressional District race to Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer last year, has postponed the expected start of her next campaign.

McLeod-Skinner had scheduled a rally and a “special announcement” at Bend’s Worthy Brewing on Saturday, July 8, where she was expected to officially launch her campaign for the district.

On Thursday, July 6, her campaign team announced that the event would be postponed until sometime later this month because McLeodSkinner had tested positive for COVID, with what she described as mild symptoms.

“In the meantime, please be on the lookout for news from Jamie in the coming days,” the campaign wrote in an email to reporters.

McLeod-Skinner began testing the waters for another run with a poll of likely primary voters, as the Capital Chronicle reported last week. That poll, conducted for McLeod-Skinner by Democratic polling firm GBAO Strategies, showed her with a clear lead over state Rep. Janelle Bynum,

Metro Council President Lynn Peterson and state employee Kevin Easton, the other three Democrats who have announced they’re running in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.

The 5th District stretches from Bend to southeast Portland, scooping up a portion of the Cascades and farmland in Marion and Linn County along the way.

It’s Oregon’s most competitive congressional district, with about 169,000 Democrats, 145,000 Republicans and 177,000 nonaffiliated voters. ChavezDeRemer, the former mayor of Happy Valley, won by almost 7,300 votes.

McLeod-Skinner and her allies contend that she lost in large part because national Democrats, led by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, spent millions attacking her in her primary against conservative incumbent Democrat Kurt Schrader and then abandoned the race in the general election.

National pundits, meanwhile, concluded that McLeod-Skinner’s progressive politics were a bad fit for the district.

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

Small fire doused in Sisters last week

Quick action by citizens, law enforcement and firefighters kept a fire in Sisters Industrial Park from getting out of hand.

The fire was reported on Aylor Court off Barclay Drive in the industrial park at 5:12 p.m. on Monday, July 3.

“It was a small grass fire,” Fire Chief Roger Johnson told The Nugget. “Somebody was cutting metal on the grass. It ignited the grass and spread to the fence.”

According to Johnson, a snowplow on an adjacent property sustained some damage.

Citizens reportedly got a hose on the fire quickly, and Deputy Mike Hudson of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office had water on the fire when firefighters arrived,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the blaze is a reminder that conditions are dry and fire can catch and spread quickly.

“If there’s a takeaway from it, you shouldn’t be cutting or grinding in an open area like that at this time of year,” he said.

Cutting or grinding should be conducted over concrete floors or in a paved area.

Gas station hearing set for July 13

The Sisters Planning Commission’s public hearing on the controversial plan to renovate the Space Age Fuel station at the corner of Cascade Avenue and Pine Street will pick up again on Thursday, July 13, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The hearing is a continuation of a session held on June 15. City staff has recommended denial of the application for the owner of the Space Age Fuel station to rebuild the current facility. The recommendation is based on the development standard of compatibility. Based on the information in the record as of June 1, staff concluded the proposal had not satisfied the conditional-use criteria in Sisters Development Code 4.4. Additional information submitted into the record after the issuance of the staff report could result in a different recommendation by staff.

The proposal concerns the 35,541-squarefoot property composed of two lots on the corner of West Cascade Avenue and South Pine Street. The plan calls for a fuel island with 16 fuel points under a

4,300-square-foot canopy, a 3,500-square-foot convenience market, and other improvements, including vehicle parking, pedestrian paths, landscaping, and a trash enclosure. The current three access points to Pine Street would be reduced to two.

The prominent relevant issues within the Development Code that staff used to make their recommendation had to do with the Western design theme, outdoor lighting, and Sisters’ dark skies ordinance, traffic impacts, and compatibility.

Staff said that the application did not meet the compatibility requirements because the new station would be too large, the scale not consistent with the smaller surrounding businesses and residential lots, and the design is not consistent with the small-town character of Sisters. The number of pumps and the size of the fuel island canopy are too large.

The hearing can be accessed via Zoom. The Planning Commission agenda on the City of Sisters website provides the link, meeting ID and passcode: bit.ly/gasstationhearing.

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

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

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

LEGEND: Show is part of Hardtails Summer Tribute Series

Continued from page 3

“I was really intrigued by how he was playing and how he was getting his sound,” Hansen said. He recalls thinking, “I don’t know why I like this, but I really like this. I couldn’t believe it was a guitar making that sound.”

He spent his senior year of high school woodshedding, playing with records and learning to hear and feel what the guitar great was doing.

“The difficulty level was really high,” he said. “I just loved it.”

The work kept him centered. Hansen reckons that Hendrix came to be almost a surrogate father to him.

“Then, when Hendrix died, it happened all over again,” Hansen said.

Hendrix was 27 when he died in London in 1970.

Hansen kept the torch burning. In 1975, he went out with a band named Kid Chrysler and the Cruisers, who were known for parodying rock stars. Hansen was game to go on tour — but he wasn’t about to parody his guitar hero. So the band made room for him to play Jimi straight.

And it took off.

A career was born. Hansen has been tapped for movie scores when a Hendrix sound is desired, and he’s performed on bills with Heart, The Kinks, Stevie Ray Vaughan and other rock luminaries.

“It led to a lot of stuff,” he said. “I’ve been really lucky, I guess.”

Hansen doesn’t merely recreate Hendrix’s recorded work. Much of what made Hendrix stand out was his ability to improvise fluidly and creatively on stage — and Hansen seeks to improvise in the same way.

The result is an exciting live show, which he’s excited to bring to Hardtails this month.

“Whenever I get to play, it’s the thrill of my life,” he said.

Randy Hansen — the Jimi Hendrix Experience is part

Sisters salutes...

Zeta Seiple wrote: I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the Emergency Response Team of the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD, who thoroughly checked me out after my fall on the sidewalk near Oliver Lemon’s two weeks ago.

Thank you for being so kind and professional as you took my blood pressure, made sure I had no broken bones, and asked all the pertinent questions to ensure I was doing well enough to go home. It is a good feeling to know we have such a professional, well-trained group of emergency personnel here in Sisters.

I know you might say you were just “doing your job,” but thank you for doing such a great job!

for

of Hardtails’ Summer Tribute Series.

On Saturday, July 22, the series will feature the thundering rock and roll of Led Zeppelin with the band Valhalla. Petty Fever

returns on Saturday, August 5; Gold Dust pays tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Saturday, August 19; and the series closes out on Saturday, August 26, with a special three-hour performance and

light show from In the Pink, featuring the music of Pink Floyd.

All shows start at 8 p.m. and tickets are available through BendTicket.com. Sell-outs are expected.

Randy Hansen has built a career honoring the unique greatness of Jimi Hendrix.

I was really intrigued by how he was playing and how he was getting his sound…

— Randy Hansen

Beneficial bats help control insects

By Kym Pokorny Oregon Captial Chronicle

CORVALLIS – With a swish of his cape, Count Dracula ruined the reputation of bats forevermore. Maybe.

In the 125 years since Dracula came on the scene and spooked us into believing bats are bad, we’re beginning to get a grasp on the truth: Their voracious appetite for insects turns them into a living pesticide that saves farmers billions of dollars a year and helps rid our backyards of insects like mosquitoes, moths, grasshoppers, flies and beetles. Some species are critically important pollinators for crops ranging from bananas to agave.

Still, there is plenty of false fodder contributing to their scary reputation. Bats aren’t flying mice. In fact, according to Bat Conservation International, they are more closely related to humans. Bats don’t get tangled in your hair. Bats aren’t blind. Of the three species out of 1,300 that feed on blood, only one targets mammals. All of these are limited to Latin America. (If you really want to know, they don’t suck blood, they lap it “like kittens with milk,” BCI says on its website.)

Most importantly, bats are no more likely to get rabies than other mammals. However, in any given year, some bats likely do contract and develop the disease, said Dana Sanchez, wildlife specialist with Oregon State University Extension Service.

“People should report and avoid any contact with a bat that acts oddly, such as flying during the day, approaching people or crawling on the ground,” said Sanchez, who is the co-author of the new Extension publication Getting to Know Oregon’s Bats. “It could be affected by rabies or another disease, such as white-nose syndrome.”

Report sightings to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website or by phone at 866-968-2600 or your local health department where professionals can advise you on the steps to take.

Bats need little encouragement to hang around. They roost in dead trees, caves and other dark, quiet places, including bat houses. You’ll see them at dusk and can recognize them by their zigzagging flight pattern.

To attract them to your garden and to help with their conservation, construct a bat house or provide other roosting places. Bat boxes resemble large bird houses but are open on the bottom and partitioned into several narrow spaces. Patterns are available on the Bat Conservation International website.

“One of the biggest problems that bats are facing right now is loss of habitat,” Sanchez said. “We can try to mitigate that with bat houses.”

Other factors threatening bats, Sanchez added, are wind energy development, whitenose syndrome and broad changes to water and foraging resources due to climate change.

Of the 15 species of bats in Oregon, the most common are the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), longlegged bat (Macrophyllum macrophyllum) and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). The Western pipistrelle (Pipistrellus hesperus), the smallest bat in the U.S., weighs in at one-tenth of an ounce and can be found in Eastern Oregon.

More bat facts from Bat Conservation International:

• Bats are the only mammal capable of true flight.

• Bats can be found everywhere in the world except some islands and the polar regions.

• Bats hibernate in winter.

• The size of bats is quite varied. The bumble bee bat in Asia has a wingspan of only seven inches, while the giant golden-crowned flying fox in the tropics of Asia, Africa and Europe can have one of up to six feet.

• Some bats are solitary and some live in colonies of 20 million.

• In addition to insects, some bats feed on fish, frogs, lizards and fruit.

• Many bats are listed as threatened or endangered.

ALL advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

CLASSIFIED RATES

COST: $2 per line for first insertion, $1.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1 per line 10th week and beyond (identical ad/consecutive weeks). Also included in The Nugget online classifieds at no additional charge. There is a minimum $5 charge for any classified. First line = approx. 20-25 characters, each additional line = approx. 25-30 characters. Letters, spaces, numbers and punctuation = 1 character. Any ad copy changes will be charged at the first-time insertion rate of $2 per line. Standard abbreviations allowed with the approval of The Nugget classified department. NOTE: Legal notices placed in the Public Notice section are charged at the display advertising rate.

205 Garage & Estate Sales

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

4 Brothers Tree Service

Sisters' Premier Tree Experts!

– TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –

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

Open daily 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

253 E. Hood Ave., Sisters.

HUGE ESTATE SALE

Fri. & Sat., 7/14 & 7/15 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

69427 Crooked Horseshoe Rd., off Camp Polk Rd. past airport.

Drill press, table saw, Bucks Bags, K&E Transit, men's golf clubs & cart, skis, Western items, new hydraulic actuators, transfer pumps, tools, buckets of nails, antiques, quilt and rodeo posters, lamps, jewelry, purses, furniture, books. Crafts: SU! stamps, paper, etc. X-mas, freezer, rugs, luggage, TV, Robo Roomba vacuum, "Heat It" ice melt, Victrola 6 in 1 turntable, karaoke machine, Winix Plazmawave, Oxygen concentrator.

PALADIN ESTATES

Neighborhood Garage Sale

GEORGE’S SEPTIC TANK SERVICE

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

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

501 Computers & Communications

SISTERS SATELLITE

TV • PHONE • INTERNET

Your authorized local dealer for DirecTV, ViaSat HS Internet and more! CCB # 191099

541-318-7000 • 541-306-0729

Technology Problems?

I can fix them for you.

Solving for Business & Home Computers, Tablets, Networking Internet (Starlink), and more!

Jason Williams

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

Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003

** Free Estimates **

Owner James Hatley & Sons

541-815-2342 4brostrees.com

Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057

TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT

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

— Certified Arborist — Nate Goodwin 541-771-4825

Online at: timberstandimprovement.net

CCB#190496 • ISA #PN7987A

Contact: 541-977-1492

PONDEROSA PROPERTIES

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

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

Printed list at 221 S. Ash, Sisters Ponderosa Properties LLC

Begins at 17617 Knight Rd where a map will be provided. July 15 & 16, 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions!

Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths?

Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806

Sharie 541-771-1150

301 Vehicles

CUSTOM CAR GARAGES

HEATED, INSULATED

541-419-2502

Sisters local • 25 yrs. experience 541-719-8329

Oregontechpro.com

502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

GORDON’S LAST TOUCH

Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY

Member Better Business Bureau

• Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon

Sisters Tree Care, LLC Tree preservation, Pruning, Removals & Storm Damage Brad Bartholomew ISA Cert. Arborist UT-4454A 503-914-8436 • CCB #218444

601 Construction

Lara’s Construction LLC.

CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS

Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792

Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com

104 Vacation Rentals

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

www.SistersVacation.com

Downtown Vacation Rentals Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom

SistersVacationRentals.net

Great pricing. 503-730-0150

202 Firewood

Spring Special COMPOST BY THE YARD! Call Dave. SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS

DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD

We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397

Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

401 Horses

ALFALFA TRITICALE

ORCHARD GRASS HAY

New crop. No rain. Barn stored. 3-tie bales. $250-$390/ton. Hwy. 126 & Cline Falls. 541-280-1895

Your life with horses is special! But what does your horse need from you to be healthy, relaxed, and connected? Shera, of Bend Horse Talk, coaches wholistic horse people in communicating with their horse and honing their equine relationship skills. $40/hr. Try a session. 541-639-9309.

500 Services

SMALL Engine REPAIR

Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers

Since 1980 Call 541-549-3008

M & J CARPET CLEANING

Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-owned since 1986. 541-549-9090

504 Handyman SISTERS HONEYDO

General repairs, paint and trim, deck refurbishing, carpentry, drywall, lighting, and more- just ask. 25+ yrs. Maint. exp./local refs. Scott Dady 541-728-4266

JONES UPGRADES LLC

Home Repairs & Remodeling

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

Local resident • CCB #201650

600 Tree Service & Forestry

LOLO TREE WORKS

Tree Services: Tree Removal, Tree Pruning, Stump Grinding, Emergency Tree Services.

CCB#223701

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

541-390-1206 beavercreeklog@yahoo.com

Log repairs, log railing, log accent, log siding, etc. CCB #235303 Insurance & Bond

PERENNIAL BUILDING LLC

Local | Quality | Experienced Currently scheduling projects for winter.

www@perennialbuilding.com

541-728-3180 | CCB #226794

• SINCE 1976

• Doug Fir – Lodgepole –Juniper

DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES – 18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com

Order Online! 541-410-4509 THE NEW

Sisters Rental

331 W. Barclay Drive

541-549-9631

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

We’ve got your cats covered! Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com

541-306-7551 • Julie

ISA Certified Arborist

Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com

Call / Text: 503-367-5638

Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com

CCB #240912

VIEW OUR Current Classifieds

every Tuesday afternoon!

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Pat Burke

LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT

CCB: 288388 • 541-588-2062

www.sistersfencecompany.com

the Sisters community, and his passion for his work is evident in every one of the thousands of shots he takes for organizations across Sisters Country.

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