The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLVI No. 15 // 2023-04-12

from Sisters, Oregon

Snow piles up in Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

As temperatures in Sisters Country rise, folks are trying to put snow in the rearview mirror.

“I’m tired of it and the cold,” said Miles Horton of Sisters, as he considered putting his snowblower away for the season. Horton is a newcomer from Sacramento. Old-timers tell The Nugget that this winter is still nothing like “the old days.”

No matter if you love or hate the snow, it’s unavoidable, living as we do in the High Desert. The last three to four years have been harsh on ranchers and farmers in Sisters Country, as well as stressing recreation like golf

See SNOW on page 22

Eyes on the prize...

Local fire districts to purchase engines

Six Central Oregon fire departments are receiving new fire apparatus as a result of the Office of State Fire Marshal’s Response Ready Oregon Initiative. Two of those districts serve Sisters Country.

Mule deer census raises concern

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Mule deer populations, their habitat, and how to handle them is a big question in Sisters Country.

The Deschutes County Community Development Department held an informational meeting last Wednesday at Sisters High School. They were pleased — and surprised — at the turnout. “Over 100,” according to Department Head Peter Gutowsky, who along with two department staff and ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) Biologist Andrew Walsh made a formal presentation aided by slides.

Only 50 chairs were set out, and a scramble ensued to find another 50 as the room kept filling.

The audience, made up almost exclusively of Cloverdale and surrounding rural property owners, listened intently, especially

to the remarks of Walsh, who discussed in detail with accompanying photos and graphics how his department count mule deer and other species.

Oregon is seeking to protect what is perceived to be a declining number of deer. The County’s interest has been ongoing for almost 30 years, Gutowsky told The Nugget . The last wildlife inventory was taken in 1992.

Gotowsky’s department is initiating a process to create a new mule deer combining zone and a corresponding new code chapter to address uses in that zone. For rural properties under 20 acres with an existing home, generally no changes are being considered.

“The purpose of the project is to conserve important mule deer winter range habitat in Deschutes County; to protect an important environmental, social, and

Two-year-old Daisy Sophia Reilly was a very focused Easter Egg Hunter at the annual event sponsored by fire district volunteers on Sunday.

Funding for the program was a result of the passage of Senate Bill 762 in the 2021 legislative session. The program was funded with $25 million to support capacity enhancements across the state. Statewide, 76 local agencies were awarded new apparatus through the program.

Central Oregon agencies receiving new apparatus

See ENGINES on page 27

Sisters welcomes new firefighter

April 6 was a historic day for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District (SCSFD). The District welcomed its first female firefighter to the full-time staff in nearly 17 years, and only the second woman to hold the position in the District’s history.

Firefighter/Paramedic Rachel Ulm joins the ranks of career firefighters with SCSFD after serving for three-and-a-half years as a resident volunteer with the District. Ulm started her journey in Sisters while a freshman in college at COCC in 2019, and has earned associates’ degrees in fire science and EMS, as well as earning multiple structural and wildfire qualifications. She also served as the resident volunteer lieutenant, helping administrative staff with the day-to-day management of the resident volunteer program.

During her time as lieutenant, Ulm served as trainer and mentor for newer members, especially other women just entering the service.

Many times, women need to develop different techniques to accomplish the physically demanding tasks required to be a firefighter.

“I love working with other women to help them be successful in this business!” said Ulm.

Beth Mitchell was the

PHOTO PROVIDED

first woman to serve as a career firefighter in Sisters. Mitchell left SCSFD in 2006 to pursue a career with Redmond Fire and Rescue, where she serves as a captain today. Mitchell returned to SCSFD to help

22

Rachel Ulm is the first female firefighter in the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District in 17 years.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

Letters to the Editor…

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

Support SPRD local option levy

To the Editor:

I have called Sisters my home since 1978, and worked as a school nurse in the Sisters School District for many years. My family and I have had the opportunity to learn and be active through Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) programs, from preschool for my granddaughter, summer soccer camps for my grandson, and music lessons and healthy activity for myself. Supporting SPRD supports all of us as a community,

Faith in progress

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

providing opportunities to meet and engage new friends, stay fit, and learn new skills.

I urge you to continue to support our SPRD Local Option Measure 9-160.

I have seen how their excellent programming has benefited the children and families of this district, from offerings for preschool children through senior programming. Summer soccer camps, educational offerings such as guitar and ukulele lessons, and many other sports and recreation programs all

See LETTERS on page 14

Sisters Weather Forecast

My 95-year-old dad never saw a construction project he didn’t like.

A child of the Great Depression and World War II, development to him has always signaled growing prosperity, more people accessing an American Dream he fervently believed in.

And why wouldn’t he?

paying, because the rewards were right at hand, if not for all, at least for a large proportion of the population. Each generation lived in better material circumstances than their parents — in the richest society, by far, in human history.

My dad bought a nice middle-class house with a $13,000 mortgage in 1954. With a single income from a good job, he didn’t strain to pay it off. Young people in their 20s today question whether they can ever afford to buy a home.

April

• Mostly

48/28

Friday April 14 • Mostly Cloudy 54/33

Saturday April 15 • Partly Cloudy 62/38 Sunday April 16 • Mostly Cloudy 64/38

Monday April 17 • Mostly Cloudy 51/32

Tuesday April 18 • Partly Cloudy 46/31

The Nugget Newspaper, LLC

Website: www.nuggetnews.com 442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759 Tel: 541-549-9941 | Email: editor@nuggetnews.com

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Nugget Newspaper, P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759. Third Class Postage Paid at Sisters, Oregon. The

Editor in Chief & Co-owner: Jim Cornelius

Production Manager: Leith Easterling

Creative Director: Jess Draper

Community Marketing

Partner: Vicki Curlett

Classifieds & Circulation: Janice Hoffman

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Co-owner: J. Louis Mullen

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The 10th of 11 children of a Swedish father and an Irish mother who came West to Washington and then California in the 1920s seeking opportunity, he found his trade as a printer when he was 12 years old, and rode that trade to a level of middle-class prosperity his railroad brakeman father worked himself into the grave trying to achieve.

My dad believes that things are getting better every day; that every problem has a solution. He’s what you might call (referencing a lyric from one of his favorite musicals, “South Pacific”) a cockeyed optimist, a trait that gave him great resilience in the face of family trauma that … well, let’s just say that it didn’t lend itself to optimism.

My dad is a remarkable man — and he has always had a quasi-religious faith in Progress.

Bob can’t make his annual trek to Sisters anymore; he’s living full-time now with my brother in Southern California. But if he were here, he would surely applaud the development happening now in Sisters.

“Lot of building going on,” he’d say. “That’s good. That’s Progress.”

Not everybody thinks so. The growth=progress equation doesn’t work for a lot of folks anymore. My dad’s faith might seem to many to be quaint, maybe even a little suspect. For a lot of folks in Sisters right now, growth and development doesn’t feel like progress — it feels like something slipping away.

Assistant Manager Danielle Stevens and Retail Manager Jamie French from the Sisters branch of First Interstate Bank presented Sisters Folk Festival Inc.’s Executive Director Crista Munro and Finance Manager Teresa Mills with a check for $10,000 to support the nonprofit organization’s arts programming in the community.

Trouble is, it’s never been a binary equation. Economic development has always been a process of destruction as well as creation — bringing along with unprecedented wealth and technological advancement problems of environmental degradation, species extinction, the dismantling of once-viable livelihoods and traditional ways of life. Through my dad’s generation, the price seemed worth

With narrowing prospects comes a questioning of the fundamental tenets of the faith. And we know something is off about the promise of Progress when, despite our vast wealth — or because of it — so many of us are overweight, unhealthy, stressed out, and depressed.

Last week, my family traveled in the soggy moccasin prints of Lewis & Clark where they reached the Pacific Ocean at Cape Disappointment. We walked Cannon Beach, where they took meat, blubber, and baleen from a stranded whale, and Sunset Beach, where they boiled seawater for salt, which they carried back to Fort Clatsop to preserve and flavor the elk and venison that was their main subsistence during the winter of 1805/06.

It’s mind-boggling to contemplate the scale of change wrought on the landscape and our ways of life in the 217 years since the Corps of Discovery packed up and left Fort Clatsop to return across the continent to their homes.

My dad would extol the great industries — logging, fishing, shipping — that thrived in Astoria in the past two centuries, and marvel at the mighty bridge that spans the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington. That’s Progress.

The Clatsop and Chinook might see it differently.

Ironically, industries like logging and fishing — and the cultures built around them — are themselves being pushed aside by a tsunami of what we might call the Progress of our digital age.

And we may all soon be questioning the secular faith that has underpinned Western Civilization for centuries when the rise of AI hands unprecedented power to a nonhuman intelligence, one that may not be so benevolent when it shrugs at the remains of our humanity and says, “That’s Progress.”

PHOTO BY BRAD TISDEL

SPRD to host Kids Carnival

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is hosting a new community event this Saturday, April 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. Community members are invited to come down to the Coffield Center to attend the Kids Carnival, free of charge.

Local students aid India orphanage

Every year, Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring Preschool participate in a 40 Days of Kindness Project. This year, inspired by a program presented by Holy Cow Sisters founder Jared Vogt, and his partnership’s work to help orphans near Thippalakatta, India, students collected their spare

change for 40 days.

Vogt described how the orphanage in India was previously without a safe roof, and how sales of beef locally in Oregon were used to build a safe structure now being used as living quarters and a school.

He told the students that water buffalo in India equate

to dairy cattle in the United States. The orphanage is currently seeking to raise a herd of water buffalo for the dairy products to be used as a food source, as well as to sell the milk as a source of income. The Wellhouse and Wellspring students immediately wanted to help provide funds for half of a water

buffalo and began to bring to school their “Change for Change.”

The faculty of the schools tentatively hoped to make a donation for one-third of the cost of a $900 water buffalo, but were pleasantly surprised by the schools’ outpouring.

See FUNDRAISER on page 19

Asa Sarver running for school board in Sisters

By Ceili Gatley Correspondent

Asa Sarver is one of the incumbents running for the Sisters School Board in the upcoming May 16 special district election. Sarver seeks Position 4, to continue serving the Sisters School District (SSD).

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

Mon., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 541- 610-73 83

Alcoholics Anonymous

Sarver and his family relocated to Sisters in 2020, settling in Black Butte Ranch before finally acquiring property in Sisters in 2022.

Sarver had previously lived in Montana and Colorado, working in the hospitality industry at ski resorts. He was offered a

position in the wine industry with Ken Wright Cellars as the international sales manager. He has since built his own wine consulting business. Sarver is the owner of ACE Beverage Consulting, where he is a consultant for wineries on marketing, management, and public relations. He has helped

wineries get national distribution, and has assisted in rebranding of multiple wineries throughout the Willamette Valley and beyond.

Sarver got involved with the City of Sisters Parks Board in 2021 and

See SARVER on page 23

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

East of the Cascades Quilt Guild

4th Wed. (September-June), Stitchin’

Post All are welc ome. 541- 549- 60 61

Go Fi sh Fishing Group 3rd Monday

7 p.m., Sisters Communit y Church

541-771-2211

Thursday, 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transf iguration / Saturday, 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transf iguration / Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Big Book study, Tuesday, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Gentlemen’s meeting, Wednesday, 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Sober Sisters Women’s meet ing, Thur sday, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fr iday, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 541- 54 8- 04 40

Central Oregon Fly Tyer s Guild

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 Central Oregon

Senior Lunch In -person communit y dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Graband- go lunch Tues Wed. Thurs. 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters Communit y Church 541- 48 0-18 43

Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s)

2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sisters Communit y Church Materials provided 541- 40 8- 8505

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

Milita ry Parent s of Sister s Meetings are held quar terly; please call for details. 541- 38 8- 9013

Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys, 11:3 0 a.m., Takoda’s Rest aurant.

541- 549- 64 69

SAGE (S enior Ac tivities , Gatherings & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation District 541- 549-20 91

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4t h

Saturday, 10 a.m., meet ing by Zoom.

503- 93 0- 6158

Sisters Area Photography Club

2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters

Communit y Church 541- 549- 6157

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

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:3 0 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Support Group 3rd Tues 10:3 0 a.m., Sisters Episcopal Church 541-719- 0031

Sisters Cribbage Club Meets 11 a.m. ever y Wed. at SPRD 50 9- 947- 5744

Sisters Garden Club For mont hly meetings visit: SistersGardenClu b.com.

Sisters Habitat for Humani ty Board of Director s 4t h Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location information: 541- 549-1193

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

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Saloon. 541- 48 0- 59 94

Sisters Red Ha ts 1st Fr iday. For location information, please call: 541- 84 8-1970

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-76 0- 5645

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 541- 419-1279

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

Sisters Trails Alliance Board Meetings take plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In -person or zoom. Cont act: info@sisterstrails.org

Three Sister s Irrigation District Board of Director s Meets 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Of fice 541- 549- 8815

VF W Post 8138 and American Legion Po st 86 1st Wednesday of the mont h, 6:30 p.m., Main Church

Building Sisters Communit y Church 847- 344- 0498

Sisters Area Woodworker s Held the first Tuesday of the mont h 7 to 9 p.m. Call 541-231-18 97

SCHOOLS

Black Bu tt e School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541- 59 5- 6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wednesday mont hly, Sisters School District Administration Building. See schedule online at www.ssd 6.org. 541- 549- 8521 x5 002.

Activities include a truck zone, face painting, balloon artist, selfie station, and of course carnival games. Local businesses will provide hands-on activities while also sharing information on the services they provide for kids and families. Kids are encouraged to bring their bike as the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District will be providing a bike safety course as well as checking helmets for proper fitting.

“We are so excited to add the Kids Carnival to our community event lineup,” said Jennifer Holland, executive director of SPRD. “We hope to make it an annual occurrence and grow it each year. Sisters is an amazing place to raise a family and to be a kid! This event will help families make connections and provide valuable information on services available, all while kiddos are having a blast.”

SPRD’s Coffield Center is located at 1750 McKinney Butte Rd., at the west end of the Sisters High School parking lot. For more information on this event or other programs offered by the District, visit www.sistersrecreation. com or call 541-549-2091.

CITY & PARKS

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

Sisters Park & Recreation District

Board of Director s 2nd & 4t h Tues., 4:30 p.m. SPRD bldg. 541- 549-20 91

Sisters Planning Commission

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

FIRE & POLICE

Black Bu tt e Ranch Po lice Dept. Board of Director s Meets mont hly. 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date

Black Bu tt e Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 541- 59 5-2288

Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Wed. 5:30 p.m., 6743 3 Cloverdale Rd. 541- 54 8- 4815 cloverdalefire.c om

Sister s- Camp Sherman RFPD

Board of Director s 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541- 549- 0771

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

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

PHOTO PROVIDED

Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring Preschool with a banner they created to send to India.

Lady Outlaws undefeated in league tennis play

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The girls tennis squad posted two more wins on the tennis courts last week, which put them at 3-0 in league play and 5-1 overall. On Monday, April 3, Sisters earned a 6-2 win at The Dalles and three days later tallied a 7-1 victory at home against Madras.

In Monday’s match at The Dalles, weather started out sunny, but turned cold and windy, which made play more difficult.

The Lady Outlaws dominated in singles play with wins from top to bottom.

A relaxed Juhree Kizziar (No. 1 singles) played with confidence in her 6-0, 6-0 sweep over Giselle Ortega. Coach Bruce Fenn noted that Kizziar controlled the game with sound, effective ground strokes, slices, lobs, and skilled combinations of shot making.

Brooke Harper (No. 2 singles) played steady throughout the match and defeated Josie Hamm 6-1, 6-3. Harper seldom hit unforced errors and frustrated Hamm with deep, high balls.

Katie Ryan (No. 3 singles) is regaining her skills from two years ago and used those skills to beat Gabbie Vega 6-1, 6-0. Fenn noted that Ryan played with resolve to get every ball back, and her ability to track down every ball frustrated her opponent into making mistakes.

Presley Adelt won her No. 4 singles position in practice this past week, and Coach Bruce Fenn stated she showed her foot speed and consistency, which resulted in her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Aimee Sanchez.

Fenn said, “We won singles because our girls were

more consistent, were better movers, and had better ground strokes.”

The excitement ramped up in doubles play. At No. 1 doubles Josie Patton and Charlotte Seymour won the first set and had the momentum, but The Dalles players were able to turn things around by a few more timely winners that made the difference in the match. Every point and game were contested and full of drama, but in the end Sisters took the loss with scores of 4-6, 7-6, 7-10.

“It was a great match with Josie’s athleticism and speed around the net knocking off winners, and Charlotte cruising the baseline was a great combination,” said Fenn.

The No. 2 doubles match was just as exciting. Sophie Rush and Ava Stotts started at No. 2 doubles for the first time this year and defeated opponents Pauline VegaValle and Jessica HuizarPerez. They started with a 7-6 first-set win, lost 1-6 in the second, and wrapped up the victory with a nail-biter 11-9 tie-breaker. Fenn told The Nugget that the pair kept their cool, were focused, and came from behind to win the tiebreaker.

“In a tiebreak the team has to win by two points,” said Fenn. “Sophie, with her strong forehand and fast

serve, put pressure on the opponent, and Ava ran down shots from the baseline.”

Laney Mansfield and new partner Cadence Dahl (No. 3 doubles) were too much for Yamari Santillan and Rita Rincon to handle. The duo took the first set 6-4, fell 4-6 in the second, but regrouped and cruised to a 10-5 tiebreak win.

“Both Laney and Cadence move very well around the court with good foot speed,” said Fenn. “Their teamwork and communication wins them points. Laney hits winners at the net and Cadence runs down balls from the baseline. They both have speed on their serves that win easy points.”

The Wyland sisters — Sage and Shae — played at No. 4 doubles in their first varsity match. They’d never even picked up a racquet before coming out for tennis this year, and they both won their position at No. 4 doubles this past week. The duo fought with heart and effort, but lost in a third-set tiebreaker 8-10.

On Thursday, the Outlaws swept the courts once again in singles play. Kizziar (No. 1) demonstrated power and better placement of her serve, and her volleys were confident and accurate, which got her the 6-0, 6-0 sweep over D. Amaya. Harper’s (No. 2)

backhand volley at the net was strong and confident and she easily notched the 6-0, 6-0 sweep over Mia Mitchell. Ryan (No. 3) continued to gain confidence coming to the net, which put pressure on opponent Yashura Charero. She put away her volleys for winners and defeated Charero 6-0, 6-1. Freshman Rylie Bick played her first varsity match in singles and won in straight sets with scores of 6-2, 6-2 against Arehy Alonso. Fenn told The Nugget that Bick displayed quickness hitting effective ground strokes, both forehand and backhand, and was more consistent than Alonso.

Doubles teams mixed it up a bit because some players were unable to attend the match.

Laney Mansfield and Cadence Dahl fought hard at No. 1 doubles against Jenny Park and Heidi Sizdano. They won the first set 6-2, lost the second 3-6, and then fell 6-10 in the tiebreaker.

“It was exciting to watch them adjust to net play, positioning on the court, and their improved communication,” said Fenn. “Laney’s strong net play and Cadence’s hustle from the backcourt won them lots of points.”

Rush and Stotts (No. 2 doubles) beat their opponents with scores of 6-4, 6-1. The duo played fast around the

court and hit winners from everywhere. Rush had a fast first serve that was hard to handle, and Stotts’ court coverage and winners punished their opponents. Fenn noted that the pair played with energy and joy.

Josie Patton and Presley Adelt teamed up at No. 3 doubles for the first time and walked off the court with a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

“It was great seeing their energy and excitement hitting good shots and winning at the net,” said Fenn. “Presley was great from the baseline and held up her side of play.”

The Wyland sisters held their opponents to two games with scores of 6-1, 4-1 before play was stopped due to rain.

“They play together like one person, knowing what each are doing at all times,” said Fenn. “Shea hits consistent shots from the baseline and Sage puts away balls at the net. This is their first year playing tennis, and it’s fun to watch them learn doubles.”

The Lady Outlaws will travel to Crook County on Thursday, April 13.

Th r ee Sister s Hist or ical Society

FIRESIDE SERIES

TUESDAY, APRIL 25 If the Trees Could Speak: Stories of Camp Sherman

19 years living in Central Oregon, 7 years helping buyers and sellers find the home of their dreams. I welcome your call to get started.

Sheila Reifschneider Broker

541-408-6355 sheilareifschneider@ cbbain.com

What happens when DNA fails to follow a “parent to offspring” pattern in genetics? How does it jump around the genome, sometimes horizontally, and to what effect? Dr. Sarah Schaack will help us understand the “mobilome,” the most exciting and changeable part of the genome, and how her cutting-edge research is illuminating the effects of DNA mutations

Tuesday, April 18

The Belfry in Sisters | Lecture at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. for community hour, food & drink!

Admission: $5; Teachers & Students - FREE

Ever wonder who started the Camp Sherman Store? How the community got its name? When the first Metolius River cabins were built and by whom? Or where to find the golf course, old dairy, or Camp Sisters? Lorie Hancock of the Camp Sherman Historical Society will answer these questions and more, plus share interesting stories about the history of this special area.

Reservations: 541-610-6323

Tickets are $10 at the Door (Free to TSHS members)

FivePine Conference Center 1021 E. Desperado Trail, Sisters 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served

Learn about becoming a member at ThreeSistersHistoricalSociety.org

It was great seeing their energy and excitement hitting good shots and winning at the net.

— Coach Bruce Fenn

I love real estate... and hope it shows!

Outlaws tennis continues to improve

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The Outlaws boys tennis squad started their week at home on Monday, April 3 against The Dalles — under cold and windy and sometimes snowy conditions — and came away with a 1-7 loss. Three days later the Outlaws traveled to Madras, where Jude Parzybok came away as the lone winner.

In Monday’s matchup, Dominic Pulver (No. 1 singles) fell 4-6, 2-6 to Henry Perez, who proved to be a very strong opponent. Pulver did find success when the points went into longer rallies.

Coach David Rowell said, “I am impressed with Dominic’s composure for a freshman playing at the No. 1 singles spot.”

No. 2 singles player Jude Parzybok defeated Ivan Garcia 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 for his first win of the season.

“Jude had a great match,” said Rowell. “He looked the most comfortable all season after winning the first set. I’m glad he was able to pull if off in the third set.”

Matthew Riehle and Zenas Ortega played in their first match together at No. 1 doubles, and fought hard throughout the entire match. They fell 0-6, 0-6 to Paul Kelly and Paul Capek, a strong team who finished third last year at state at the 5A level.

In No. 2 doubles, Mason Dahl and Chris Roach lost 0-6, 3-6 to Grey Roetcisoender and Alexander Kjoelseth. Rowell told The Nugget that Dahl and Roach impressed

Storyteller will present ag myths

him with their chemistry and optimism. He added that the pair have grown since the start of the season and get better every day.

Brothers Timber and Tobann Bionda (No. 3 doubles) lost 0-6, 0-6 to Ryder Barrier and Carter Randall. Rowell noted that the duo have also made vast improvements since the start of the season and their ground strokes are starting to look good. Although they lost their varsity match, they did post their first win in a JV match.

On Thursday, Parzybok (No. 2 singles) defeated Theo Miller 6-1, 6-2 for the Outlaws’ lone win for the day.

Rowell said, “Jude is looking more confident and comfortable each match he plays. I’m happy to see him get some wins and have more consistent serves.

Pulver, at No. 1 singles, won his first set 6-1, lost the second set 4-6, and then fell 5-10 in the tiebreaker. Rowell told The Nugget that Pulver was clearly a better player, but lost when the rain started and created puddles on the court.

Rowell stated he’s excited to play Madras again at home later in the season, and feels the team can win a couple more matches and actually win the meet.

“Overall, I’m proud of how the Outlaws faced the elements and continued to play hard,” said Rowell.

Sisters was scheduled to play at Summit on Monday, April 10. They will play at home against Crook County on Thursday, April 13.

Bend storyteller and author Susan Strauss will present stories from her new collection of myths

“Tree with Golden Apples: Botanical & Agricultural Wisdom in World Myth” at Paulina Springs Books, on Thursday, April 13,

“Tree with Golden Apples” is a collection of 12 myths, anecdotes, and folk tales that reveal the botanical wisdom of the ancients alongside the perspective of modern scientific discoveries. For possibly the first time, these parallel views of the extraordinary gifts of botanical life are presented side-by-side with the musical, poetic speech of the storyteller and the precise language of the scientist, expanding our awe for life on earth. Readers, whatever their age or background, can expect to be astounded, amused, and deeply touched in turn by the insights and knowledge that emerge in these tales. Each of these 12 traditional stories from

world cultures presents archetypal images of the miraculous gifts of botanical life on earth.

Susan Strauss is a professional storyteller, internationally known for her performances on natural history themes and for her signature workshop, The Passionate Fact: Storytelling Science. She has written original narratives for Monterey Bay Aquarium, a National Forest Service salmon watershed restoration project, and a National Park Service film on the wolf in mythology used in Yellowstone National Park. She lives in Bend, Oregon.

Strauss began as a storyteller of Native American coyote Stories. Her storytelling grew from friendships with Native elders, anthropological texts, and her love of America’s native wild dog. She discovered that the miraculous stories we call natural science found an echo in the beautiful, mythic pictures

Susan

in worldwide indigenous stories. Internationally recognized as a storyteller of natural history themes, she combines mythic/traditional story from many cultures with personal anecdote and scientific information.

Susan Strauss presents “Tree with Golden Apples: Botanical & Agricultural Wisdom in World Myth” on Thursday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Paulina Springs Books, 252 W. Hood Ave. The event is free. For information call 541-549-0866.

Central Oregon storyteller

Strauss returns to Paulina Springs Books April 13.

PHOTO PROVIDED

SHS has gone without a library for more than a decade

By Tatum Cramer Correspondent

Libraries have always served as a quiet, bookfilled, welcoming workplace. Knowing this, kids or adults are drawn to the reliability of it being a safe place.

According to KAPPEN , a K-12 education-focused magazine, schools that have libraries and librarians are prone to have better graduation rates, higher reading levels throughout grades, and mastery of educational skills. Sisters High School (SHS) currently does not employ a librarian.

Sarah Crabtree, Sisters Middle School librarian/ media manager said that she “loves that there is a space provided for the middle schoolers where they can come and get away from their screens and interact with each other as well as play board games screen-free.”

Crabtree has been working at Sisters Middle School since June of last year. She studied communications at Western Oregon College. After graduating college, she worked for an elementary middle school in Portland as the librarian/ media manager for two years. Once she relocated here, she started working for the Sisters School District. When considering going back to school and getting certified to be a librarian, she was told by her peers that “it was a waste of time.” She was told that nobody was hiring librarians anymore.

“Nowadays it’s believed that instead of having a librarian, the history and language

arts teachers are supposed to do the teaching that the librarians used to provide,” Crabtree said.

In many schools this has not been happening. The history and language arts teachers are not providing the same quality of librarian instruction that used to be offered from a singularly focused librarian.

The Nugget spoke to students at SHS about the need for a librarian; they agreed that not having a librarian was a negative thing and should be fixed.

“I think we as a community should be putting a priority on high schoolers’ access to books,” said Laney Mansfeild. “A library would serve as a way to further students’ education as well as to allow them a space to develop interest and new ideas. Frankly, I find it to be a shame we have not had a librarian in the recent past years, given that so many other schools do.”

Molly Greaney and Presley Adelt recently completed a Government in Action project through their high school history class. This project challenges students to pick something in the community they would like to change, and then apply to local government. When given this prompt Molly and Presley decided to talk about the lack of a functioning library and librarian at the high school.

“As a student of Sisters High School, a vibrant library space would be beneficial as an area for people to socialize, check out books, and overall connect,” said Adelt.

“A library can be so much more than just a place to check out books. We would like it to be used to give students media and research support as well as a space for social interaction and studying,” said Greaney.

Wes Estvold, instructional technology specialist for Sisters School District, said the last full-time librarian at SHS was Jade Schneringer. She was let go in the school

SHS without a school librarian for the past 13 years.

Suzie Seaney is certified to teach language arts. She teaches in the library, Sisters Educational Options room, and Student Services room. Her courses include online courses, leadership, and yearbook.

Seaney said that “having a librarian would be an excellent resource for students.”

According to Curtiss

superintendent, the high school media manager/librarian was cut in 2008 due to budget constraints.

“We would like to add a librarian back to the high school, but funding from the State is minimal and limited,” said Scholl.

Resources still exist in the community.

“If kids want to check out books they can also use our local Sisters Library,” said

Outlaws host track meet

By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent

Athletes from five visiting teams joined the Outlaws for the Sisters Invitational trackand-field meet on Saturday, April 8 under partly sunny skies — a break from winter weather.

Lilly Sundstrom had a banner day, with two individual wins and one runnerup finish to lead the Outlaw girls.

Sundstrom placed first in the long jump (15 feet, 1/2 inch) and the 100 hurdles (18.20) and placed second in the 300 hurdles (54.98), just .04 seconds behind teammate Brooke Duey (54.94) who won her first-ever varsity race.

Sundstrom also took part in the second-place 4x100meter relay team along with teammates Delaney McAfee, Nevaeh McAfee, and Gracie Vohs (53.99).

Ella Bartlett took the only other top spot for the Outlaws, winning the 3,000 meters in 11:29.79, which ranks third among 3A girls. She owns the top time for 3A in the 1,500 meters this season.

Other high placers for the Outlaws included Duey, who placed second to Sundstrom in the 100 hurdles (19.99) and the long jump (13 feet

4 inches), and Vohs who cleared 4 feet 10 inches for second place in the high jump and ran 1:03.31 for third place in the 400.

Vohs’s time in the 400 is the fifth best among 3A runners this year.

Mae Roth and Kiara Martin tied for second place in the pole vault (8 feet) and the quartet of Ila Reid, Duey, and Nevaeh McAffee finished the meet with second place in the 4x400 meter relay (4:25.05) behind Summit, which boosted the Outlaws into the top time among 3A teams this season.

Seniors Hayden Roth and Corbin Fredland had runnerup finishes in their events as the highest finishers on the boys team that features a high percentage of first year team members, according to head coach Jonathan Kelly.

Roth took second in the 3,000 meters (9:38.35), while Fredland nabbed second in the 300 hurdles (46.16).

Senior Taine Martin cleared 5-feet-10-inches in the high jump to take third place and placed fourth in the pole vault at 11-feet-6-inches.

Fans were treated to a stellar effort in that event as Bryce White of Summit cleared 13-feet-9-inches, a fine early season mark at any level.

Community poetry night on tap in Sisters

A pair of young Outlaws triple jumpers shined as sophomore Spencer Tisdel (38 feet 2 inches) and freshman Reid Woodson (37-feet-9-inches) both achieved personal records with competitive marks for the 3A level.

Sisters won the girls’ team title ahead of Summit, Pleasant Hill, Santiam, Madras, and La Pine, while the boys placed third behind Summit and Madras.

Coach Kelly expressed his satisfaction for his team’s efforts and his gratitude for all the volunteers who helped at the meet.

“The kids are training and competing hard, and it will be exciting to see how they look as the season progresses,” he said. “Thanks to all of our volunteers for making the meet run so smoothly.”

The Outlaws are scheduled to compete in a three way meet with Caldera and Mt. View on Wednesday, April 12 at Mt. View. Field events begin at 3:15 p.m. and running events at 3:45 p.m.

Local Option Levy Renewal May 2023

2018 local option levy outcomes

Over the last five years, the district has been able to ser ve more community members and increase programming thanks to the passing of the 2018 Local Option Levy!

Key highlights:

• $54,735 additional scholarships awarded to SPRD programs

• 510 more adults, including seniors, participated in programs

• 593 more children received child care ser vices

• 1,127 additional youth participated in athletics and recreation program

6,970 additional visits to district special events

Achieved financial stability through development of appropriate cash reser ves, eliminating the need for short-term loans to maintain operations

Paulina Springs Books will host a community poetry night in celebration of National Poetry Month on Tuesday, April 18. The event will feature a poetry open mic followed by a reading by featured poet Donna Henderson.

Folks are welcome to come and share a poem they have written, or a poem they love. Sign-ups for poetry open mic will begin at 6 p.m. Each reader is limited to two poems or five minutes. This is an all-ages event, all are welcome, and adult content may possibly be shared. After open mic, Donna Henderson will present from her new collection of poems, “Send Word.”

Henderson is the author of three previous collections of poems, two of which (“Transparent Woman” and “The Eddy Fence”) were finalists for the Oregon Book Award in Poetry. Her poems, song lyrics, essays, reviews, and artwork appear in journals, anthologies, exhibits, and recordings. A practicing psychotherapist, Donna lives with her husband on the banks of the Deschutes River.

If levy is renewed in May 2023, how will funds be used?

YOUTH PROGRAMS & SENIOR PROGRAMS

• Expand youth programs, including child care, athletics, and recreation

Increase scholarship allocation

Maintain or increase program offerings

Expand senior recreation, programs, and events

Subsidize programs to keep fees affordable

Invest in and train staff for retention and increased program quality

ACILITY

MAINTENANCE & DISTRICT OPERATIONS

• Expand hours of community center to meet demand

• Improve district website to increase usability

• Increase district marketing to ensure community is informed of district programs

• Maintain and expand district facilities to meet the community need

• Enhance partnerships to expand operations

Tuesday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Paulina Springs Books, 252 W. Hood Ave. For more information call

How much will the

renewal of the local option levy cost?

The renewal of the local option levy would continue the current levy rate of $0.15 per $1,000 assessed property value. The owner of a home with an assessed property value of $255,000, the median assessed property value in Sisters Park & Recreation District, would pay less than $3.19 per month or $38.25 per year

What will happen if the local option levy is not renewed in May 2023?

The district would:

• be required to decrease its budget by approximately $277,352 annually or approximately 20%;

• substantially raise program fees;

• decrease or eliminate some programs and ser vices; and

• reduce facility maintenance standards.

Donna Henderson is featured at Paulina Springs’ Poetry Night on April 18.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The kids are training and competing hard, and it will be exciting to see how they look as the season progresses.

— Jonathan Kelly

Of aAGEcertain

Sue Stafford Columnist

Why I love Sisters

It was a gray day in February 2004, and it started to rain as I was meandering around town during a visit to Sisters to look for a house.

I ducked under cover in front of Leavitt’s front door (now Dixie’s). The owner — and a true cowboy — John Leavitt, came out, introduced himself, and asked if I needed anything. I told him I was moving to Sisters and needed to find a house. He welcomed me to Sisters, we briefly talked, and he wished me luck in my search. It was a brief but warm welcome to town that is still in my memory 19 years later.

I found my house and

moved in May 2004. For six months prior to moving, I subscribed to The Nugget so I would be familiar with the activities and opportunities in town. Little did I expect to be writing for the paper in later years.

I expected that perhaps the locals wouldn’t be happy with a transplant from Seattle moving to town (although I am a native Oregonian and always intended to return). Instead, I received a warm welcome everywhere I went from my neighbors, at the grocery store, and around town. I have come to love Sisters because I love her people, and we all love the local beauty.

Being a lifelong gardener, one of the first things I did after arriving was to join the Sisters Garden Club, and I also volunteered to run the after-school gardening program at the elementary school. What impressed me about Sisters was the warmth of the residents and their can-do attitudes. Most everyone had the best of intentions for our little town at the foot of the Three Sisters.

In my 19 years here, I have been involved in numerous community-building projects, like establishing the Community Garden, an all-volunteer effort with

materials and labor donated by local businesses and citizens. We established the Three Sisters Historical Society to preserve the rich history of Sisters through the decades so visitors and newcomers could learn about how we started and evolved to where we are today.

To learn more, I participated in the Leadership Sisters program and spent two years in the Ford Family Foundation cohort focused on community vitality. In all the endeavors, I met more and more wonderful people.

Before I came to Sisters, the community needed to increase the size of the elementary school. State funds weren’t available, so the residents took it upon themselves to build the addition. The names of some of those who were involved can be seen on bricks on the building. The establishment of Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) was a community-driven effort, as were the Sisters Rodeo, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, and the Sisters Folk Festival. Our most successful ventures have been the result of community-wide support and effort.

A difficult time in our history about a decade ago involved the community being split by controversy,

negative viewpoints, and accusations. People stopped running for public office and volunteering for City committees and boards. Hopefully, we will not experience a repeat of that difficult time period. The people of Sisters can do what we’ve always done. Pull together around common goals that will result in a healthier, more resilient community.

How do we do that? I have an idea. Let’s find a project we can all support and work on together. It is a recognized fact that Sisters needs workforce housing. We have Northwest Housing Alternatives on the brink of securing several acres next to the Wellhouse Church on which they want to build a 40-unit apartment complex specifically to house people in our workforce. The City has paid for, and Council has approved, the changes to the Development Code that allow the building to occur. The City has received $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to put toward the project.

How can we, as citizens of Sisters, get involved in the establishment of that community? Can we assist with the landscaping, perhaps creating a community garden for those who will live in the apartments? Or maybe a playground for children who will be living there with their families? Could local artisans provide some handcrafted signs, murals, statues, or metal work that would add unique Sisters touches to the project? Imagine how welcoming and special that would feel for the new residents.

If we are going to have affordable housing, let’s do it the Sisters way, and welcome the residents who will call it home.

I encourage us all to think about it, talk with our neighbors and friends. What can we all do to enhance Sisters while building community for ourselves and newcomers who choose to live in Sisters? And while we’re at it, let’s have a spirit of civility in our communication, including curiosity for another’s viewpoint.

As we all await the arrival of real spring the ladies of the Sisters chapter of P.E.O., an

PHOTO BY JEFF OMODT

The Bunkhouse Chronicle

Meatballs

What are we, mere monkeys chattering in front of the cobra’s basket, to think about the recent unveiling of a meatball made from the DNA of a woolly mammoth? If you didn’t know, an Australian “cultured meat startup” recently displayed the fruits of their demanding work at the NEMO museum in the Netherlands. The world was gifted this meatball, we were told, in order to “get people excited,” and because the designers wanted to “see if we could create something that was a symbol of a more exciting future…”

Right.

My excitement for labgrown meat is difficult to contain. This is true because, as we are often instructed, ruminants are destroying the world and, even if they aren’t, who wouldn’t crawl naked through broken glass to eat a New York strip grown in a beaker at CalTech? It’s notable that the mammoth meatball — which was, incidentally, plated to Michelin-worthy sophistication complete with a smear of puree and covered in a glass cloche —isn’t meant to be eaten at all, only to represent, in its softballsized solemnity… progress.

Which seems the perfect sigil to represent our modern House of Confusion. If a mammoth meatball, which

took years to create and cannot be eaten, is offered up as a lifeboat for humanity, isn’t that a precise summation of our make-believe world? Perhaps not. Maybe a better example is “plant-based” hamburgers. Never mind that all hamburgers are, in fact, plant-based.

The meatball met with thunderous applause, if only because it is no longer advisable to dispute the expanding liturgy of nonsense. We probably shouldn’t say that wolves are known to devour mountain lion cubs either, mostly because it triggers garment-rending dilemmas in the wonky reasoning of others. But not saying it doesn’t mean that it isn’t true.

The great risk of talking back in the era of mammoth meatballs lies in cranking up the ire of the net-zero and gender-identity extremists, who go clanking about the village on stilts, demanding they be celebrated and threatening ex-communication. Speak out in defense of your traditional mores and you may find yourself suddenly enrolled in the modern equivalent of an Indian boarding school.

The meatball was brought to us by the same wing of science that believed engineering glow-in-the-dark rabbits was a good idea. This space is all for science — the build a model rocket, get a bionic hip, and cure-cancer variety — but isn’t there a point at which it starts looking creepy, when investigating the motives behind these experiments seems like an actual demand, something more than a rhetorical notion slung-about during cocktail hour?

It is alleged that there are watchdog agencies in charge of doing that, but at least one of them, under the leadership of Herr Fauci, funded an experiment in Tunisia that stuffed the heads of drugged beagles into mesh cages so

that they could be eaten by sand fleas. That really happened, among other horrific experiments on his watch, so maybe an inquisitive mind can be forgiven for wondering how reliably these entities can police themselves in the important realm of biomedical ethics. Which leads us to AI. Some very smart people, including the historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harrari, have been warning us for years that the integration of humans with their machines is the next big leap in humanity’s quest for immortality. There are now, believe it or not, Singularity Cults where people sit around praying to their MacBook Pro, beseeching it to deliver them from evil. Which would only be surprising if human beings hadn’t already made gods out of everything from golden calves to canned vegetables.

As the great deconstruction gains steam, and modern life continues fracturing into irreconcilable absurdities, it will undoubtedly become more difficult to navigate the issues. A grown man setting a women’s weightlifting record will no longer be news, but raising an eyebrow to that sort of fraud will be to gamble against cancellation and perhaps, as now in Canada, even prosecution. If we aren’t already there. Some would argue that when Americans started arresting children for not wearing masks at the spelling bee we had officially crossed the Rubicon. If nothing else, it would seem to confirm the better aspects of the Asch

Conformity Experiment, which showed that, to an alarming degree, people will bow to the majority view even when it is demonstrably wrong. We should expect very little clarity, to say nothing of reassurance about the nation’s future, from anyone in a position of authority. That’s particularly true in an era where policy is used to circumvent the law, where a former Speaker of the House of Representatives proudly tweeted that the accused must prove their innocence, and where drag queens perform lap dances on elementary school children. The notion of moral authority, which once served as an important cultural guardrail,

is now made meaningless by the refusal of our institutions to properly care for it, and by our own failure to insist they do so.

Meanwhile, back in the Netherlands, witnesses to the great mammoth meatball unboxing reported that when it was put to a blowtorch — given a dramatic browning for the cameras and the captive audience—that it smelled strangely reptilian, like alligator. To which Kurt Vonnegut, who survived the firebombing of Dresden and became, ever-after, a reliable pilot through the shoals of human folly, might lean back in his chair, fire up another Pall Mall, and say with a smile: And so it goes.

Craig Rullman Columnist

Landon Scott brings the heat in early-season Outlaws baseball action.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA KENNEDY

The Arends Realty Group

Cele ation o f Life

A Celebration of Life for Roger Nelson of Sister s, OR will be held in the Communit y Hall at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 121 N. Brooks Camp Rd ., on April 22 at 11 a.m. A light lunch will follow the celebr ation. Suits and ties discouraged! Duck clothes welcome.

NAMIWalk s Central

Oregon Fundraiser

Saturday, May 20 , 9 to 11 a.m. at Dr y Canyon Trail Americ an Legion Co mmunit y Park , 850 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond. Proceeds help provide free communit y mental health education, support, and advocacy for those impacted by mental illness, as well as training and supp ort presentations for schools, workplaces , faith communities, and neighborhood groups Register at NA MIWalk s.org/ CentralOregon. Call 541-3160167 for more information.

Find Your Ancestors

Come join an evening of fun and learn how to find name s, stories, military record s, marriage record s, and even old photos of your ance stors. ere are over 7.4 billion record s available to search is event takes place

Sunday, April 30, at 6 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints , 452 Trinit y Way. For more information call Bruce Kemp 541-39 0-5798 or Todd Sheldon 541-420-3459

Sisters Caregiver

Suppor t Group

A facilitated support group for caregivers of those with chronic or life-shortening diseases meet s 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of ever y month at Sisters Epis copal Church of e Transfiguration, 121 Brooks Camp Rd . For more information, cont act Kay at 541-719- 0031

GriefShare Group

Join a friendly, caring group who will walk alongside you through the experience of losing a loved one. Meetings are ursdays, 6 to 8 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church, 1300 McKenzie Hw y. For registration and more information, visit http://www grief share.org/groups/16250 4.

Weekly Food Pant ry

e Wellhouse Church will have a weekly food pa ntry on 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 Ce ntral Oregon o ers a fun, no-cost social lunch ever y Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Communit y Church 1300 McKenzie Hw y. No reservations needed . Nocost Gr ab-N-Go lunches take place weekly Wednesdays and ursdays at Sisters Communit y Church, 1300 McKenzie Hw y., 12:30 to 1 p.m. Call 541-797-9367

A NNOUNCEMENT S

Holidays in the Pines

Presents the April Market

April 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 272

S. Cedar St is indoor market will have pet products , willow baskets with bulbs and flowers, bath and body products , jewelr y, homemade jams and handmade cards. Future markets will be May 12 and 13 , location

Roger Nelson

ARTifacts Interactive

Ar t Experience

A night to showcase the ar ts at Sisters High School will include visual, musi cal, culinary and luthier arts . Featuring an ar t showcase, live music, hands-on art fun, and a silent auction. All ages are welcome! Tuesday, April 18 , 6 to 8 p.m. in the Sisters High School commons. $5 per person or $20 per family. Proceeds benefit SHS Arts Department supply fund and SHS Visual Arts Senior Scholarship. Email bethany.gunnarson@ssd6 .org

Sisters Museum Seek s

Volunteers e Sisters Mu seum, brought to you by the ree Sisters Historical Societ y, has reopened and is back to regular hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. ey are looking for volu nteers with an interest in lo cal histor y. If you might like to meet new people and get in volved in the communit y while supporting a nonprofit, please call 541549-14 03 or em ail volunteer@ threesistershistoricalsociet y.org to find out more

Kindergarten

Roundup Begins

Sisters Elementary School will hold their annual Kinder garten Roundup pre-registration on Frid ay, April 21 in the school gymnasium. Students participate in teacher-led activity while parent s attend parent orientation. Sign up by calling the elementary school at 541-549-8981. Children who will be 5 years old on or befo re September 1, 2023 are eligible for the 2023-24 school year

Enrollment forms may be picked up at the Sisters Elementary School o ce from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. e school will be closed March 20 to 24 for spring break. Forms need to be completed and returned to the school o ce on April 21 at the time of your scheduled appointment. e following documents are required to register: Enrollment packet, copy of birth certificate, immunization record s, proof of address. Students will not be registered until all forms are returned

Save the Rubberbands

Business owners: Are you the re cipient of a bundle of Nug gets each week? ose fat rubberbands are highly valued by the Nug geteers that bundle your papers each week . If you can save them, we ’d love to use them ag ain. Questions?

Call 541-549-9941

T. B. A. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Central Oregon Veterans Ranch and Sisters Habitat for Humanity. For more information find us on facebook com/Holidaysinthepines or email holidayinthepines@ outlook.com

Sisters Rodeo Parade

Want to participate in the parade? ere are limited entries, so don’t wait. Deadline is May 15 . Visit sistersrodeo.com and fill out the registration form

Volunteer Needed for STAR S Passenger Liaison

Can you spare 6-8 hours a month to help STAR S with passenger outreach? STAR S gives free non-emergenc y medical rides to Sisters County resident s who cannot drive themselves is is a flexible and rewarding oppor tunity to help the communit y. Volunteer from home and on your own schedule. Email volu nteer@ starsride.org or call 541- 610-2098

Free Weekly Meal Se rvice

Family Kitchen hosts weekly togo hot meals on Tuesdays , 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sisters Communit y Church, 1300 McKenzie Hw y. Visit www.FamilyKitchen .org

Go Fish Group

A program will be presented by Bill Seit z of Bend on Co ntact Nymphing . Bill has fished for 67 years all over the worl d. Program will be Mond ay, April 17 at 7 p.m. at the Sisters Communit y Church 1300 W. McKenzie Hw y. For more information cont act Gary Kutz 541-771-2211

Seeking Volunteers to Mentor Children

Deschutes County Sheri ’s O ce is o ering a prepar ation class for volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent e program is Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY). Af ter initial training and compre hensive background checks , volunteers are matched with a child in Sisters th at shares similar interests. Volunteers commit to spending a few hours a week with their matched child for a minimum of one year is time is of ten spent on outside activities, exploring the communit y, doing art or craf t projects , or simply hanging out and talking. On Saturday, April 22, COPY will o er a volu nteer training is 3½-hour class covers program policies, Q& A from a current volunteer, how to establish a mentor relationship, the impact incarceration ha s on families , communication skills , and the stages of a mentoring relationship. ere is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required . Light snacks and refreshments provided . Call 541-388- 6651 for more information or to register

Cele ation o f Life

Sept. 26 , 1951 – Nov. 8, 2022

You are invited to celebr ate Debra on April 22, from 12-3 p.m, at the Keizer Elks Lodge, 4250 Cher ry Ave NE ., Keizer Please bring your stories and memories of Debr a to share with family and friends. We will be providing snacks , so please come enjoy.

Free Pet Food

Need pet food for your dog or cat? Call the Furr y Friends pet food bank at 541-797-4023 to schedule your pickup. Pickups available ursdays, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

PET OF THE WEEK

Humane Society of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

Sir Kevin the ird

Sir Kevin’s charming personalit y is sure to warm your heart! In his previous home he was fed like a king , so now he needs plenty of playtime to keep healthy.

If you are looking to add a new family member who’s a real cuddle-bug to your home, come to HS CO and meet this lovable boy.

— SPONSORED BY

Debra Sue Van Cleave

SISTER S- AR EA C HURCH ES

Baha’i Faith

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

Wellhouse Church

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

10 a.m. Sunday Worship

e Episcopal Church of the Tr ansfiguration

68825 Brooks Camp Rd . • 541-549-7087

8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship

10 :15 a.m. Episcopal Sund ay Worship www.transfiguration-sisters.org

Sisters Church of the Nazarene

67130 Harrington Loop Rd . • 541-389-8960

www.sistersna z.org

• info @sistersna z.org

10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Sisters Communit y Church (Nondenominational)

1300 W. McKenzie Hw y. • 541-549-1201

9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship www.sisterschurch.com

• info@sisterschurch.com

Chapel in the Pine s

Camp Sher man • 541-549-9971

10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Shepherd of the Hills Luther an Church (ELCA)

386 N. Fir Street • 541-549-5831

10 a.m. Sunday Worship

www.shepherdof thehillsluther anchurch.com

St . Edward the Mart yr Roman Catholic Church

123 Trinit y Way • 541-549-9391

5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass

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

e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

452 Trinit y Way • Branch President, 541-420-5670 ;

10 a.m. Sunday Sacrament Meeting

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

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

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

386 N. Fir St. • 541-595- 6770, 541-30 6-8303

11 a.m. Saturday Worship

POLICY: Nonprofits , schools, churches , birth, engagement, wedding, and anniversar y notices may run at no ch arge. Business items do not run on this page. All submissions subject to editing and run only as space allows . Email nug get@nug getnews .com or drop o at 442 E. Main Ave.

Sisters Rhythm and Brews Festival called off this year

Organizers of the Sisters Rhythm and Brews Festival have called off this summer’s music event.

In a statement, Joe and Jenn Rambo of Sisters said, “Just as the tides ebb and flow, so in turn does life. Hosting a festival during the pandemic has taught us what is most important in our lives and where best to focus our energies. It comes with some sadness and excitement to share that as creators we are taking a muchneeded break and intend to take this rare opportunity to focus on our family.

“We have had an amazing journey with you all and intend to carry on a legacy of acceptance, grit, and perseverance. We cannot express in words the gratitude we feel for the opportunity to bring some of our favorite musicians to Central Oregon and hope that you’ve had as much fun as we have!”

The Rambos stated that those who purchased a presale ticket at the 2022 event will receive an email the first week of June to confirm refund details. Refunds will be issued July 1-31.

“We appreciate your patience as we process these refunds and will do our very best to make the process as seamless as possible,” the Rambos stated.

The Sisters Rhythm and Brews Festival was launched in 2019 and brought artists like Eric Gales, Ana Popovic, Mr. Sipp, Larkin Poe, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Los Lobos to the stage at the Village Green.

“Sisters will be our forever home and we thank the local community for embracing our efforts, as well as all the folks who took a chance on us and traveled from around the country to attend,” they said. “We want to acknowledge all of the amazing people who worked so hard to make this special event come to life, as well as many of the artists who have become family along this journey.”

The Rambos urged music lovers to continue to support the artists who performed in the festival, following them on social media and subscribing to their YouTube and Patreon accounts.

Your Story

MATTERS

Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP Columnist

Money on the mind

In my day job, I spend a lot of time talking to patients about relationships. To partners, to children, to coworkers, to themselves, but more frequently, the conversation has shifted to a personal relationship with something too often ignored in the health care office: money. And as it turns out, money has a way of impacting just about every other relationship.

In the wake of inflation, warnings of a looming recession, climbing interest rates, and increasing cost of living, money is officially “on the mind.” Nearly twothirds of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Less than half of U.S. adults have enough savings to cover three months of expenses. In my office, financial woes and trepidations frequently top the list of concerns and are often married with feelings of anxiety, shame, envy, fear, denial, avoidance, and despair.

According to researchers, financial hardship increases the risk for suicide twenty-fold. Apart from the typical guidance on deep breathing, meditation, and positive self-talk, the art of budgeting and financial resourcing seems to be just as paramount to

meeting current emotional challenges.

Personal finance was essentially absent in my academic curriculum. While the tide is shifting slowly, personal finance is still today often seen as an elective rather than a standard for youth. While I stood on the valedictorian stage, I had no concept of interest, credit, mortgages, down payments, the mechanics of saving, or investing. I gleefully treated myself to shopping sprees courtesy of my bonus checks from high-interest student loans, thinking it was somehow free money. I didn’t understand how anybody bought a house, believing the only option was to pay outright with cash, and I definitely maxed out my emergency $500-limit credit card cosigned by my parents more than a dozen times (mostly on so-called “emergency” takeout). Sorry, Mom and Dad.

When I moved to the wilds of Wyoming in my early twenties for nursing school — states away from the free meals and free laundry home always guaranteed, it was clear that this new concept of adulting necessitated stepping out of my naivete around financial wherewithal. And so, I wandered to a local thrift store, found a used Suze Orman book, and started reading.

Regardless of your feelings about it, our society runs on capitalism. In this model, access to money means access to choice, and in my book access to choice is access to freedom. Not surprisingly, when money is hard to come by, this can leave one feeling trapped, unsafe, and threatened, triggering our primal fight, flight, or freeze system conditioned for survival. How much desperation, chronic disease, depression, and anxiety can be traced back

to a money trail? To policies keeping people stuck? To a lack of financial literacy?

The point is that money and our beliefs surrounding money have huge implications in our health and welfare. We know this, we don’t talk about it enough, and we need to improve on the language and tools around financial well-being.

Some of us are in positions where our financial well-being is dependent on another. I am not going to trample on beliefs or traditions, but the fragility of such a financial ecosystem should be acknowledged as both the provider and dependents can face unique stressors. Regardless of who is bringing home the bigger paycheck, understanding the underpinnings and logistics of financial stewardship is important for all of us nonetheless. Financial stability should not be taken

Give

for granted. Power dynamics around finances can turn ugly really quick, and are too often a hallmark in abuse and manipulation. I don’t recommend it.

Ultimately, as many concepts in mental health lead to, we come to a point where advocacy is essential to forward progress. We meet the intersection where policies directly impact symptomology. Access to financial capital, opportunity, and financial literacy is no exception. Standardized education around personal finance, affordable housing, enhanced job training programs, affordable pathways to career advancement, and reforming public welfare systems are just a few items worth speaking to. And as we continue to evolve our understanding of holistic wellness, we can’t afford shyness around bringing up the Benjamins.

THURSDAY • APRIL 13

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk

Susan Strauss presents “Tree With Golden Apples: Botanical & Agricultural Wisdom in World Myth” 6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

FRIDAY • APRIL 14

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

TUESDAY • APRIL 18

Sisters High School Commons ARTifacts 6 to 8 p.m. Student showcase of visual, musical, culinary, and luthier arts. $5/person or $20/family at the door

Paulina Springs Books Book Talk + Poetr y Open Mic

Donna Henderson presents her book of poems “Send Word,” followed by Community Poetry Night with open mic (signups go up at 6 p.m.). 6:30 p.m. Info: PaulinaSpringsBooks.com.

FRIDAY • APRIL 21

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

FRIDAY • APRIL 28

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

SATURDAY • APRIL 29

Paulina Springs Books Screening: Hello Bookstore

Obituaries

Passed

On Monday, March 27, Phil Keller, the loving husband and father of two beautiful children, passed away peacefully at the age of 80 with his wife at his side.

He was cared for by the intensive neurology comfort care unit at OHSU.

Phil was a Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a degree in radio, television, and film. It was at the University that he met his wife of 54 years, Lynne.

They raised a son, Luke, and a daughter, Rachel. He began his career as an account executive with Life magazine. He was general sales manager, vice-president, and president of many TV stations: KMOX in St. Louis, TeleRep in Chicago, WTVJ in Miami, WFAA in Dallas, WKOW in Madison, KOTV in Tulsa, KXTV in Sacramento, United Television in New York, and Channel 2 Telemundo in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

He and his family took a break from large cities and the corporate life when they moved to Jackson, Wyoming. There they bought and ran a restaurant/ bakery together called The Bunnery. It had a sign out front that said, “Get your buns in here.”

His love of the outdoors, nature, wilderness, adventure, camping, mountains, and fly-fishing brought them to Sisters 30 years ago. For the past 20-plus years he has worked for Jeff Perin at The Fly Fisher’s Place. That was indeed his happy zone after so many years of corporate life.

In his youth, he played many sports, but his love

Adam T. Wood

January 18, 1983 — March 14, 2023

Well, what can we say about Adam Theodore Wood? He was… tall and gorgeous. A better question is what couldn’t we say about this beloved, larger-than-life human? Always a dreamer and schemer, somehow Adam packed more interactions and adventure into his 40 years than many can even dream of.

also pursuing his education at University of Alaska, Southeast.

was baseball. He even went to spring training with the Milwaukee Braves. He was also a tournament-level tennis player. He loved reading history books, discussing books, tying flies, woodworking, watching sports, playing bridge, working in his wild flower garden, pruning his favorite tree, and feeding the birds.

He was active in his homeowners region, pulling the invasive weed mullein from the meadows to prevent them from overtaking or displacing native species. He became nicknamed “The Mullein Man.” This is just one example of Phil’s generous heart and hardworking mindset.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents Larry and Dolores and his sister Kay. He is survived by his wife, Lynne; his son, Luke; his daughter, Rachel; his sister, Judy; his brothers John and Bob, Bob’s wife, Kelly, their son, Jordan, Jordan’s wife, Megan, and their daughter, Lola.

The family would like to thank the community for all the loving support and acts of kindness. Per Phil’s request there will be no formal funeral. Every time he left the house to go fly-fishing he’d say, “I’m going to the Cathedral.” He meant it, and that is how it will be.

In memory of Phil please consider a charitable contribution to your favorite river, land, or wildlife preservation organization.

He was born January 18,1983 in Portland, before moving to Bend, where he grew up. It was a place that fostered his artistic abilities, athleticism, and love of the outdoors. After graduating from Mountain View High School, and living in Eugene for a year, Adam returned to Bend to hone his musical style while working as a river rafting guide on the Lower Deschutes River.

He followed his heart to Seattle but moved quickly to LA after landing a surprising (or maybe not that surprising) role on a reality TV show. He capitalized on his brief stardom by expanding his musical repertoire, and playing in prestigious venues like Whisky a Go Go. When he realized acting, modeling, and professional musicianship weren’t his life’s ambitions, he took a 180 and moved to Alaska.

In Juneau, he got up to every outdoor activity imaginable, and had more than one encounter with a grizzly bear. He continued performing his original songs, and worked as a commercial fisherman, continuing his pursuits of music and photography while

He moved to Corvallis to finish his degree in photography, and, much to the chagrin of his family, became a Beavers fan. He lived briefly in Portland before moving back to Bend. He built a concrete construction company from the ground up and started his band, Woodsmen, to play his original songs all over Central Oregon over the last several years. He was thriving in his professional and personal lives. To our greatest sorrow, he died of natural causes on March 14 while working in Arizona in construction management, with his father, Roger, by his side.

He will be remembered for his generosity, adventurous spirit, love of everyone, smooth-talkin’ charm, constant hijinks, musical and photographic talents, and deep and abiding warmth by his brother and best buddy, Jake Wood (Devon Riley, and niece Mikaela) of Bend, mother and stepfather, Cindy and Steve Greer of Sisters; father and stepmother, Roger and Tammy Wood of Prescott, Arizona; step-siblings, Lindsey Berg (Tommy and nephew Davis,

nieces Addison and Reagan) of Bend; and Joey Greer (Rashel, and nephew James, niece Paige) of Portland; girlfriend, ShayLayne Bruce, and her children of Bend, and countless friends; and literally every single person who crossed his path.

Please visit his memorial page for more memories of his life, including his music, photography, and tributes, and details of his celebration of life to be held on July 22: https://www.forevermissed. com/adam-t-wood/about.

Donations may be made in Adam’s memory to the Chris Dudley Foundation Empowering Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: https://www. chrisdudley.org.

He will be greatly missed by all, as his life was just too short.

Obituaries

Madeline Carol Wilbur Hurtley

August 9, 1940 — March 22, 2023

Madeline Carol Wilbur was born on August 9, 1940, in Deadwood, Oregon, the eldest of four children to Elizabeth and Wesley Wilbur.

Her brothers, Carl, Dale, and Herb were born after her.

She leaves behind two sons, Ronald Goodwin and Will Goodwin; three grandchildren, Skyanna Goodland, Vaughn Goodwin, and Jondalar Goodwin; as well as three great-grandchildren, Winter, Whittier, and Wrenley Goodland. All of whom she lived for and loved dearly.

As an adult she chose to change her name to Carol Madeline Wilbur because she disliked her first name. She was known as Carol for the rest of her life.

She lived all over Oregon working in restaurants as a waitress and then as a manager.

She was a strong, independent woman who was fearless, stubborn, and breathtakingly beautiful. She rode motorcycles in her sixties and went rattlesnake hunting when she lived in Arizona. She loved to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with her family. She loved

David Lloyd Hurtley

August 10, 1938 — February 12, 2023

David Hurtley passed away on February 12 from cancer. He was 84 years old. He was born in Mondovi, Wisconsin, to Lloyd and Laurel Hurtley.

He graduated from high school in 1956 and joined the Air Force. He was a jet engine mechanic.

Pony Express, hauling horses all over the United States.

He was a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association. He loved to snowmobile, ride horses, and go to rodeos. He had a great passion for horses and had them all his life.

gardening, cooking, and her ceramic chickens. She especially loved her dog, Sassy.

She married David Hurtley in December 2005. He passed away just a few short weeks before her.

Her granddaughters

Rylee and Dally Hurtley loved her so much and she was a wonderful grandma to them.

She will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her.

A celebration of life will be held on April 22, at the Sisters Rodeo Grounds, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In 1961, he married Judy Rutschow and they moved to Junction City, Oregon. He worked for a lumber company and he and Judy started a horse business. They had two sons, Shawn and Chad. In 1973, they moved to Sisters. They lived on Star Route, which eventually was renamed Hurtley Ranch Road.

They ranched, bred, trained, and showed horses. One of their favorite horses was Trouble’s Joker. He became a AAA AQHA Champion and AQHA Superior Halter Horse. He ran AAA at the age of 9 years old on the racetrack.

Eventually they started a horse hauling business known as Hurtley Ranch

Obituaries Policy: The Nugget Newspaper does not charge a fee to publish obituaries. Obituaries may be up to 400 words and include one photo. Obituary submissions must be received by 10 a.m. on Monday to editor@nuggetnews.com or hand delivered to 442 E. Main Ave., Sisters.

Dave is survived by his son Shawn Hurtley (Michelle) of Marco Island, Florida; former daughterin-law Arlene (Shorty) Haugen (Alan); grandchildren Rylee Hurtley, Dally Hurtley, Josh Hurtley, Sarah Robinson, Jacob Hurtley, Josiah Hurtley, and Jonathan Hurtley; three great-grandchildren; his sister, Betty Bauer; and many nieces and nephews.

Dave remarried Carol Wilbur in 2005 and gained two stepsons,

Ron (Shannon) and Will (Diane) Goodwin; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his wife, Judy Hurtley; his youngest son Chad Hurtley; his brother, Harold; and two sisters, Jean and Joyce. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. A celebration of life will be held on April 22, at the Sisters Rodeo Grounds from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Continued from page 2

enrich our children’s and families’ lives.

The local option levy is a renewal request, and would continue the current rate of 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. No increase in taxes would occur as a result of your vote of support of this measure.

SPRD uses these funds to keep the cost of programs reasonable, provide scholarships, train staff, maintain the facilities, and sustain and expand programs for youth, adults, and seniors. If it is not renewed, the SPRD budget would be reduced by 20%. We would see fewer programs, or increased fees, and the necessary maintenance of facilities might be postponed. Most importantly, the health and well-being of our children and adults who live here would be negatively affected. Your support is very important to keep SPRD operating and improving, and to continue to provide their excellent offerings, for all of us.

Please vote YES to support the SPRD Local Option Measure 9-160.

Sally Benton

local businesses; 4) reduced the backlog of maintenance projects and funded a capital reserve account; and 5) recruited and retained experienced staff providing high-quality services to Sisters Country residents.

These results closely align with what the Board pledged to do with the funds generated by the 2018 levy.

If the levy is renewed for another five years, SPRD will continue to expand recreational services and care programs, hold community-wide events, and chip away at the remaining maintenance backlog. Additionally, SPRD will continue its work with the Sisters School District to convert the existing elementary school to a communityfocused activity center in 2024.

Without passage of Measure 9-160, SPRD would be forced to cut back many of its services to pre-2018 levels, and the Board would be required to reassess the ability of engaging in any expansion projects.

Please join me in voting YES on Measure 9-160.

Peggy

Tehan

s s s

To the Editor:

As president of the board of directors for Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), I urge you to support Measure 9-160, the local option tax levy designed to maintain and enhance services provided by SPRD. Passage by the voters of the initial local option levy in 2018 provided much-needed relief to SPRD, a publicly supported agency that had been getting by on bare-bones budgets for many years. The renewal of the local option levy would continue the current levy rate of $0.15 per $1,000 on total assessed value, which means the owner of a home of $255,000, the median assessed value, pays less than $40 annually.

The passage of the levy in 2018 reaped the following benefits: 1) allowed hundreds more children to engage in high-quality preschool and after-school programs; 2) offered over 300 programs, with a strong emphasis on health, wellness, and outdoor activities, available for all District residents; 3) continued events, like the Sisters Basketball Shootout and SALI Lacrosse Tournament, that greatly benefit both the community and

s s s

Give responsible dog owners a thumbs-up

To the Editor:

To all anti-dog owners: please put away the pitchforks. Every spring in every town across America, the dialogue ignites about dog owners who do not take care of their dog’s, uh, business. Those violators make the rest of us dog owners look pretty bad. But the letter penned in last week’s Nugget was a bit harsh and borderline Cruella de Vil-ish.

It’s a bit coldhearted to say that if you don’t clean up after your dog, maybe you shouldn’t have one. Would you say that to cat owners whose animals roam free and make any place their litter box? Or, how about that kid who dropped his empty drink container on the sidewalk? Should that family give up their kids? Let’s rein in the emotions a bit.

The commonly used term is curbing, which a Google search defined as: “Picking up your dog’s poop, preventing them from peeing in your neighbor’s gladiolas, and just being generally conscientious about your pup’s excretions.”

See LETTERS on page 20

Wellhouse Church served up a unique Easter egg event on Sunday, when hundreds gathered to snatch up eggs dropped from a helicopter over Sisters Rodeo Grounds.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK

,

Therapeutic A ssociates has been helpi ng people in S isters rec ove r from i nju ry a nd surger y a nd get back to their active lifest yle for 30 years.

In a unique par tnership with Sist ers Athletic Club (SAC ), Therapeutic Associates offers a “s te p-d ow n” program that eases patients from physical therapy into active, assisted recovery at SAC. And access to the SAC pool means Therapeutic A ssociates c an offer aquatic therapy, which is an outstanding, effective, and low-impact way to recover and build resilience against injur y.

Prayer’s Dog Biscuits

Therapeutic A ssociate s now has three physical therapists on staf f, which means they c an usually get people in for an appointment within 48 hours.

Clinic Director Matt Kirchoff emphasizes the need for early intervention to prevent a nagging injur y or impingement fr om becoming a major problem: “ The quicker we c an see people afte r an injur y, the quicker we c an address it,” he says.

And Therapeutic A ssocia te s makes it quicker and easier than ever to get on top of an injur y so you can get back in the game

Prayer ’s Dog Biscuits

Prayer ’s Dog Biscuits is the classic entrepreneurial stor y of a business that grew out of an individual need. Missy Ornsbee needed qualit y training tr eats for her ser vice dog, Prayer, so George Ornsbee star ted making some. The trainer thought they were great, and a business was born. Prayer ’s Dog Biscuits are healthy, with no fillers or preser vatives , which minimizes risk of allergies. The y’re also low c alorie Most importantly, dogs love them! A yummy training tool makes working with your dog a pleasure — both for you

Sus an Waymire, CTC

2023 has seen many travelers ready to book those bucket list adventures. Are you one of these tr avelers looking to explore ex traordinar y regions of the world? How about considering a private guide ser vice to t ailor-make a program just for you and your family? Multigenerational travel is off t he char ts as grandparents look to create memories with their kids and grandchildren. Whether it is just you and your spouse, par tner, or ex tended family, Sus an can come up with tr avel options to fit both your budget and interests.

and for your furr y friend.

Prayer ’s Dog Biscuits come in quar te rpound, half-pound, and full-pound allotments, and Prayer ’s Dog Biscuits offers free deliver y to designated pickup spots in Bend, Redmond, and Sisters, so customers can avoid paying shipping unless they really want them delivered directly to their door

Prayer ’s D og B iscuits are a vailable at Sisters Feed & Supply, Oliver Lemon’s, Black Butte Ranch General Store, and Bend Pet Express. Biscuits c an be ordered online at www.prayersdogbiscuits.com.

If you are interested in exploring unique tr av el options, sit down with y our local tr avel adviso r, Su sa n Waymi re, CTC, wh o has 35 y ears of industr y experience and has explored man y activ e tr av el adv entures herself Sus an’s travels have included helicopter hiking and via ferrata in Canada, exploring Egypt and Africa, snorkeling the Galapagos, and cruising the Amazon. Your next adventure awaits! For a small fee, broaden your horizons and enlist the assistance of your local travel professional. Epic travel making epic memories!

LO C AL BUSINESSES ARE

Cascade Garage Door

Making sure your garage door is functioning properly and safely is an impor tant par t of any season. Casc ade Garage Door is a family owned and operated residential garage - door company that is dedicated to providing superior products and exceptional ser vice to customers across Central Oregon.

They strive to meet the highest qualit y levels required for our harsh Ce n tral Oregon climate The knowledgeable and friendly office staff and their cer tified garage - door professionals always strive to

provide the best in professional s ame-day ser vice

Their t eam of Ra ynor Ac adem y Fa ctor y Trained a nd Ce r tified Residential Technicians c an ser vice and fix all garage doors and openers, in both residential and commercial applications. Casc ade Garage Door provides garag e- door maintenance ser vices; broken spring replacement; cables and rollers; weather seal and bottom rubber replacement, as well as new garage

door installation and door retrofitting.

All American Hearing

For Lanie Tandy of All American Hearing, getting folks in Sisters to get their hearing tested is a mission and a calling.

Early testing is critical: Tandy notes that if you wait to test until you notice diminished hearing, “ the brain loses its abilit y to process speech sounds — and you never get that back.”

Conversely, if you take action when your understanding is still at 100 percent, your prognosis to ret ain understanding is 100 percent. Knowledge is p owe r, and early action is the best hope for good outcomes.

Solid Rock

Solid R ock pr oduces beautiful countertops in a wide variet y of natural stone, including ve ry popular qua rtz sur faces. They use stat e-o f -the -ar t technology to ensure that each project is fabricated with the utmost precision and care

You’ll get personalized ser vice, from the selection of material to the maintenance of the sur face From layout to details of edge shape, Solid Rock wants you, the customer, i nv olv ed so that y ou get just what yo u want.

Their specialt y is custom fabrication and

Alpine land catastrophe fire pr evention, deer and elk winter range restoration

Or ganic veget able gar den pr ep with 4-year aged or ganic compos t blend

Soil compac tion r educ tion, restoration, and pr event applications

installation. Pricing is fair and competitive, which means that you are getting worldclass qualit y paired with hometown ser vice — from a t abletop to a large commercial project. That’s what makes Solid Rock the creative difference — and you can carve that in stone

Solid Rock is a family- owned business that ta kes pride in suppor ting their local communit y.

Call 541-549-8550 to arrange a free consultation and e stimate, and visit them in the Sisters Industrial Park at 723 Cur tis Ct

Maintaining good hearing is key to qualit y of life — and is tied to long-term mental health.

Lanie is committ ed to bringing good hearing healthcare to Sisters, and she urges f olks — even if their hearing still seems OK — to pick up the phone and set up an appointment for testing. There are many, many options available today, and there is no cost for a consultation.

“I t star ts with a co nv ers a tion ,” Lanie says. Get that convers ation star ted with a phone call today.

BANR Enterprises

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

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

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

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

4 Brothers Tree Ser vice

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

Now is the time to act to protect your oper ty and your safety — with a c all to thers Tree Ser vice Caring for your trees — or dealing with a oblem — requires a wide range of knowland experience; the right equipment the job; and a commitment to safety and eliabilit y.

estoration

fraction of the cost of replacement.

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

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

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

going eplacing earing up your yard is dauntingly expensive, running into the thousands of dollars. But you have an option.

What if you could restore your drainfield without replacing it?

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

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

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

MULE DEER: Land owners concerned about regulation

Continued from page 1

economic element of the area; and to permit development compatible with the protection of the mule deer resource,” the Department says on its website.

Oregon law does not demand that counties take action such as is being discussed in Deschutes County. Planners say it is necessary to meet the terms of Goal 5 of its Comprehensive Plan.

Deer thrive in Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Why do mule deer (the only kind we have) love Sisters so much? Why wouldn’t they? We have most everything they need for sustenance: abundant forage, water, protection from predators — the four-legged kind and humans.

Mule deer are browsers, preferring leaves, stems, and buds of woody plants, as well as forbs (weeds). Like many other wildlife species, mule deer are opportunistic and in some cases will eat and damage ornamental plants, hedges, vegetables, flowers, and lawns. Bucks can damage shrubs and saplings by rubbing the bark with their antlers. Damage to yard vegetation is not appreciated, and can make people view mule deer as a nuisance.

When discussing the recent meeting at Sisters High School concerning the deer population (see story, page 1), a Pine Meadow Village resident summed up the feeling of a number of folks living within the city limits: “Hey if there aren’t enough deer in the countryside, maybe we can round up ours and bus them to Cloverdale.”

For a variety of reasons — but primarily for the animals’ health — residents are asked not to feed deer. Inadvertent feeding occurs by way of bird or squirrel feeders. By not feeding them, you reduce the attractants that draw deer into Sisters in the first place. Consider placing bird or squirrel feeders out of reach to eliminate use by deer.

It is not acceptable to let your dog menace deer. And while a slingshot is unlikely to be lethal, there are better ways to keep them out of your garden. Motionactivated water sprinklers

are a harmless solution, as are strategic plants.

Deer rely heavily on their sense of smell. If something smells unappealing to them, they will avoid it. Deer develop preferences for plants and trees that taste good, just as humans do. If you can make your landscaping unappealing to a deer’s sense of smell and taste, it will likely go elsewhere for food.

Some homeowners plant pungent herbs and odiferous plants around trees and shrubs they want to protect. This may help to a degree, but you will find that deer, like people, have different preferences. You could unwittingly plant something that your deer find absolutely delicious. It’s a matter of trial and error.

Are the deer OK?

If your backyard herd is looking a little mangy lately, it’s not their health. Deer replace their pelage (hair coat) twice per year in a process called “molt.” In Sisters they replace their winter pelage starting in late March, and in late September they start to replace their summer pelage. The summer pelage is red in color and consists of thin, short guard hairs and no undercoat. The winter pelage is gray to dark brown with longer, thicker guard hairs and a fine, wooly undercoat.

During molt, there is a stark contrast between the winter and summer pelage. The pelage no longer appears sleek and it can appear patchy and unkempt. But this is not mange.

Molting can take several weeks. While normal molt is the most common cause of hair loss, other causes include intraspecies trauma, bacterial dermatitis, pressure necrosis, trauma, congenital anomaly, or, very rarely, mange.

“Informal conversations have been taking place the last several years among staff and commissioners. Our first serious look at the subject was shaped around a grant we received in 2018 or 2019,” Gutowsky explained.

Currently, if your property is in the wildlife overlay zone, you are prohibited from building or operating a golf course, commercial dog kennel, church, public or private school, bed and breakfast, dude ranch, playground, recreation facility or community center, timeshares, veterinary clinic, or fishing lodge.

If your land winds up in the expanded zone, you would likely be restricted in where you could site your home. You could be forced to build no more than 300 feet from the public road. New fences in the wildlife areas would need to be designed to let wildlife pass over or under the fence, which could limit landowners’ ability to raise livestock or keep horses.

Gotowsky assumes his department will propose code amendments to the commissioners and expects the proposal will be shaped in significant part by questions and comments expected at its April 13 public hearing. The meeting at the high

school was informational only and questions were not encouraged, but accepted, with time at the end of the presentation.

Questions and comments began around 7:30 p.m. and ended formally at 8 p.m., when the meeting agenda ended. However the conversation continued informally for another half hour.

“The questions were probing and respectful,” Gutowsky said. One unidentified gentleman in a large cowboy hat — typical of the night’s attire — asked: “Who are we to say where deer can roam and eat?”

Many attendees were taking copious notes on pads. The mood was somber with pre- and post-meeting conversation expressing worry that the County would impose restrictions on property owners that either were unworkable or would be costly to the landowner to implement — or both.

Susan Hamlin lives in Cloverdale on 19.47 acres with a home, so is likely exempt from any rule changes.

“My neighbors have 30-plus acres and raise hay,” Hamlin said. “They could not be at the meeting, as much as they wanted. They’re needing to build a new barn for their horses, who they must now stable off-site. They are uncertain

what to do, worried that they may make a big investment and learn later that it might not be in compliance.”

Uncertainty was present in the room as attendees, many of whom earn their living off their land, are generally skeptical of land-use impositions.

Gutowsky says he is optimistic that the process and recommendations “will balance the economic, cultural, and environmental impact” of any changes in code. He allowed that the development code is a constant work in progress and can be amended again in the future should circumstances warrant.

The iconic Central Oregon mule deer has seen its population decline by 56 percent between 2004 and 2021 based on an ODFW study, a reduction of about 10 percent a year. The Upper Deschutes Basin is 60 percent below objective ODFW claims. In the Metolius Basin, herds are at 46 percent of objective, the study says.

Reasons vary from development (reduction of habitat) to predation (cougars and perhaps wolves) to disease. Hamlin, like many in Sisters, doesn’t necessarily see fewer numbers.

“They’re plentiful where I am and help themselves to anything I grow,” she said.

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)

Mule deer — named for their big ears — are an iconic part of the Sisters Country landscape. New rules may be created to preserve their habitat and populations.

PHOTO COURTESY ODWF

A rescue and a return

By Brenda Smith Guest Columnist

Current culture is what it is, yet I didn’t know how cynical I’d become until something happened that brought me back around. A feeling that took me back, a remembering. I experienced community this Easter weekend, met goodness face-to-face.

This story begins with a cat, a dog, and a tree. Not just any tree, an 80-foot ponderosa. Now, I’m a Sisters resident, and have been for years. I know how quickly cats go missing in the wild. I know not to get too attached, but I’d taken in a community cat during pregnancy and kept one of her kittens born late spring last year. I experienced my kitten’s first wobbly steps, kept her inside while tiny, and during winter months due to snow. She traveled with me across ice-choked mountains, through the awful months when my sister was diagnosed with cancer and my mother broke her hip. She’d lay on my chest every night, grounding me. Oh yes, I became attached.

It was Good Friday, balmy. I let Pepper Jack out—her first time stalking turkeys. Of course, a dog thought to join the fun, sending Pep up a ponderosa pine. She made it to the tippy top, and when I say tippy, I mean that place where trees sway and branches are thin.

You would not believe how many people assume firemen rescue cats. I doubted it, but after the fourth friend suggested I call, I looked it up. I was right. Firemen today need to be available for human emergencies, but memories of those old black-and-white movies with a goofy local hero left me wistful for a slower time. All day I hoped Pepper would come down, but the hours slipped by, the weather got colder, low 20s, and Pep didn’t budge. She’d never been outdoors, didn’t know how to get down. I began to panic.

I’m sure the woman at

Bi-Mart thought I was a crazy person. I arrived in the dark before closing, tears on my face, begging her to find an electric blanket so I could sit out on the deck to talk my shorthaired, wintercoatless cat out of freezing to death. Bi-Mart had just cleared out its winter inventory for spring. And this is where the community part begins. The woman smiled tolerantly, but kindly, and invited me to the backroom to maneuver through boxes and pick out my blanket. Thank you, Bi-Mart!

So I sat on the deck, wrapped in warmth, and talked and talked, listening to Pepper’s cries until she stopped. It was one o’clock in the morning. I couldn’t take it anymore. I went inside grieving, expecting the worst in the morning. Didn’t sleep that night.

Daybreak, Pepper was still in the tree, but not moving. I called but she didn’t stir, so I went to another part of the yard so she could see me. She meowed and stretched stiffly. Knowing we would likely have another cold night, I got on the phone.

It was Easter weekend. I had little hope but had to try. Scanning the list of local arborists, I called every one, praying someone would pick up. Nothing. Then I reached the bottom of the list — those single-line businesses with just a name and phone number. Sean answered. “Sure, I’ll come,” he said. He quoted a price, very reasonable.

Sean drove up in a pickup decorated with plywood signs braced on both sides and homemade lettering with his name, number, insurance license number, and the word “arborist” and trees painted in green on wood. Lanky, with thick glasses and baggy clothes, he got out of his truck and evaluated the situation. I was afraid he’d say Pepper Jack was too high, that the branches were too thin.

Instead he nodded. “I can do this.”

And he did. I couldn’t

watch some of it, especially up high, swaying among wrist-sized branches, but then he coaxed Pep into her carrier. Suddenly I was back in time with a local hero who came to the rescue. It was a weird feeling, a kind of remembering in my whole body, not just my analytical brain, of how I used to believe in people. What’s more, when it was over, the neighbor whose dog had gotten loose approached and insisted on paying. As I walked Sean back to his truck, he explained that business was slow for the small guys, and he appreciated the call. I remembered the dead tree on my property and asked if he’d like a bit more work. He smiled big.

This Easter weekend something came alive in me, was reborn, lifted up. That homemade sign on Sean’s truck made me nostalgic for a simpler time, a different way of seeing that is not all glitzy and professional, but craftsy and personal, its own kind of dignity. The next time I need work done, I will remember the singlename-and-number businesses. Sean did that for me. He reminded me that those who “pick up” for others can change perspectives and I want to be that way, too.

A Bi-Mart clerk’s effort, a neighbor’s offering, an unassuming man with thick glasses and homemade signs. Community exists. Heroes are everywhere, even on a busy Easter weekend.

FUNDRAISER: Students excited to jump into project

Continued from page 3

At the conclusion of the 40 Days of Kindness Project, the students had raised over $450 and exceeded their own goal of half a water buffalo.

Students brought their spare change, and in some cases brought their entire piggy banks to empty into the collection bucket. Other students independently wanted to contribute more than change. One family held a small bake sale, while

other students worked at extra chores to earn cash to contribute.

Wellhouse Academy and Wellspring Preschool also participated in weekly 40 Days of Kindness schoolwide projects, including making and delivering cards to residents in assisted living, and Banners of Honor hanging from the playground fence to say thank you to community helpers. Students were also encouraged to participate in personal acts of kindness throughout the 40 days. This rewarding project demonstrated to students how the smallest acts of kindness can literally change the world.

Join

THURS., APRIL 13 • 6:30PM SUSAN STRAUSS pr esents Tree With Golden Apples: Botanical & Agricultural Wisdom in World Myth that re veals the botanical wisdom of the ancients alongside the per spective of moder n scientific discoveries

World Myth

TUES., APRIL 18 • 6:30P

Centr al Or egon author DONNA HENDERSON pr esents her book of poems Send Word, followed COMMUNITY POETRY NIGHT with open mic (signups at 6 p.m.)

fic discoverie M by HT )

SAT., APRIL 29 • 6:45PM

INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY with limited-edition sw ag and FREE scr eening of Hello, Bookstore. RSVPs encour aged at PaulinaSpringsBook s.com.

WED., MAY 3 • 6:30PM

Award-winning author s DWIGHT HOLING and PATY YAGER team up to pr esent their ne w myster y novels

The Demon Skin: A Nick Drake Novel and Bear Stalker: A Gabriel Hawke Novel

Hawke Novel

SAT., MAY 6 • 11AM

Kids stor ytime with Bend author

FRANCINE ROCKEY as she pr esents To Find Treasure in the Mountains

TUES., MAY 9 • 6:30PM

MARK YACONELLI pr esents Between the Listening and the Telling: How Stories Can Save Us, w hic h leads r eader s into an enc hanting meditation on the power of stor ytelling

Orphans in India that Holy Cow Sisters and their partners have been helping.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sisters salutes...

On Thursday, March 23, Black Butte Ranch Fire Department had the privilege of honoring staff at their annual awards banquet at Black Butte Ranch Lakeside Bistro.

Congratulations go to the following award recipients:

EMT of the Year: FF/Paramedic Josh Guintu.

Volunteer of the Year: FF/EMT Sam Fox.

Firefighter of the Year: Captain Ryan Ahrendt.

Order of the Trailing Moon: FF/EMT Sam Fox.

Continued from page 14

That’s me. I’m a good neighbor and I curb my dog. There are hundreds of us locals who curb their dogs. Ever notice an empty dog bag station and its full trash bin at the park? We’re taking care of business and disposing of said business in the proper way. Trust me, there would be much more if no one properly picked up and disposed of their dog’s waste.

Seeing this “crap” frustrates me, too. But that doesn’t mean I know that person. Just because I own a dog doesn’t mean I have access to every other owner’s contact information or Instagram handle. I also don’t carry a DNA test to check those brown lumps to prove my dog’s innocence.

I say this because I was approached one day while walking my dog. There I was, full bag in hand, getting a lecture from a concerned neighbor about cleaning up. I raised my odiferous bag as proof, but she continued on anyway. I politely listened to a talk that I should not have gotten. I should have just walked away. I’m sure this has happened to other good dog owners at some point of their dog’s life, as well.

So here’s a few ground rules to those violators dragging us down in the dirt with them:

1. Clean up after your dog. No exceptions. If you don’t see a trash receptacle, take that bag of smush and throw it away at home

2. Just because you walk your dog after dark doesn’t mean the poop isn’t there. This isn’t a Schrodinger’s cat paradox. Bring a flashlight.

3. Attention hikers with dogs on any trail: Leave No Trace pertains to poop bags. Rangers and volunteer trail crews have enough to do. The word “butler” is not in their job description.

4. And a heads-up to everyone else: Give good dog owners a thumbs-up once in a while. We don’t deserve your sideways glance of disdain. Stop profiling. Overall, we are a responsible pack.

Now, let’s talk about all that deer poop.

Marlene McCormack

s s s

Support local option for schools

To the Editor:

The voters of Sisters School District will have the opportunity to renew the current local option levy in the May 16 Special District Election by voting “yes” on Measure 9-161.

For two decades, Sisters voters have voted to renew this levy that creates some extraordinary educational opportunities for our children. A “yes” vote will not raise property taxes. Sisters schools will still have the lowest tax rate in the region.

A “yes” vote will allow our schools to provide excellent educational opportunities for our children. We can continue to have smaller class sizes than other districts. We can continue to offer programs like flight science, guitar-building in the woodshop, and outdoor classes at the middle and high schools that make our district unique. We can continue to provide counseling services in each of our schools.

The local option makes a difference. Our high school graduation rates are consistently well above the state average. Our test scores are amongst the best in the state. We can attract top-quality teachers who want to teach in a district with such great community support.

I urge Sisters voters to support our children by voting for the local option in May.

Jeff Smith

Deputy Chief Jason Ellison, Firefighter of the Year Captain Ryan Ahrendt, and Fire Chief Dan Tucker.

Deputy Chief Jason Ellison, Volunteer of the Year FF/EMT Sam Fox, and Fire Chief Dan Tucker.

Deputy Chief Jason Ellison, EMT of the Year FF/Paramedic Josh Guintu, and Fire Chief Dan Tucker.

Volunteer Week acknowledges services

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

The theme of National Volunteer Week, April 16-24, is “Volunteering Weaves Us Together.”

Nowhere is that truer than among the Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) volunteers who provide free rides to nonemergency medical appointments for their neighbors in the Sisters School District. By offering to support their neighbors, volunteers add to the strength and vibrancy of Sisters.

Mark Reed and his wife, Vicki Bugbee-Reed, first volunteered to be drivers in the early days of STARS, which coincided with the outbreak of COVID-19. Mark went through the training to become a dispatcher about a year and a half ago because he is fluent in Spanish and could help with calls coming in from Spanish-speaking residents. He has provided a few rides for them as well. Mark says he averages about five rides a month and appreciates the scheduling flexibility the program provides.

Reed said he was inspired to volunteer for STARS because “I live in a city surrounded by excellent volunteers who give way more than I do…. This kind of program helps keep our identity as a small town…. STARS is one of many great opportunities to help out in this wonderful community.”

Serving as a substitute driver for Meals on Wheels as well as a trail angel for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail are other ways Reed makes a difference.

“There is no better feeling than helping a neighbor,” he said. “Driving for STARS requires a minimum investment of time. It is such an easy way to make

a difference. I always come home feeling good because the passengers are always so grateful and appreciate what we do.”

Graphic artist Karen Thrower’s involvement with STARS started in 2019 when Annie Marland recruited her to design the organization’s brochure. She then became one of the first dispatchers, which involves taking phone calls on Tuesday or Thursday from community members needing rides to doctor, dentist, labs, testing, or physical therapy appointments in Sisters, Bend, or Redmond. She used to take calls one day every week. Now that the dispatcher pool has grown to eight volunteers, she only does two shifts a month.

As a dispatcher, Thrower can have calls to STARS forwarded to her personal cell phone, so she is able to go about her normal routine and is not confined to a phone on a desk. When a request for a ride is received on Tuesday or Thursday from a new rider, the dispatcher does an intake, which includes name, physical address, mailing address, phone number (home and cell), email address (optional), and an emergency contact, including their phone and email address.

The dispatcher will also take information about the date, time, and location of their appointment and what their mobility status is (cane, walker) and additional needs (companion, appointment check-in assistance).

Thrower said STARS now has dozens of “regulars” and those intakes are short because the information is stored in the STARS system. Once the request has been received, the dispatcher posts it to the dashboard online where the volunteer drivers

can choose the ride(s) that fit their schedules. The drivers confirm the ride online and call the passenger directly to notify them they will be driving them.

Thrower, who has a diverse background in volunteering, both as a SMART volunteer in Portland and doing art with school children, says she enjoys her duties with STARS (she also occasionally drives) because “it connects me to my Sisters neighbors. It is the most satisfying gig I’ve had. I love engaging with our clients and they are always so grateful for the rides.”

STARS truly is a 100 percent volunteer organization, as one of the action teams of Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC). Besides the eight dispatchers, there are about

50 Sisters residents who drive their own cars, and they are all trained and overseen by Rennie Morrell, program manager, Toni Landis, driver manager, Tom Gonsiewski, dispatch manager, and Gayle Sawyer, passenger liaison.

From March 2020 to July 2022, STARS provided 684 rides, drove over 34,000 miles, and delivered over 6,000 volunteer hours to the community.

STARS has received funding for its program from the Roundhouse Foundation, Rumberger Foundation, St. Charles Foundation, Citizens4Community, City of Sisters, and Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation.

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this free ride service, call 541-904-5545 on Tuesday

or Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to speak with a dispatcher. The requests need to be made 48 hours in advance of the appointment to ensure time to get a driver scheduled. For more information on their services and volunteer opportunities, see their website at www. starsride.org.

STARS volunteers Karen Thrower, Rennie Morrell, and Mark Reed.

PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD

This kind of program helps keep our identity as a small town…. STARS is one of many great opportunities to help out in this wonderful community.

— Mark Reed

ULM: Firefighter has shown leadership in role

Continued from page 1

and fishing.

No records are being set, in spite of what seems like a ton of snow. However, there’s a lot more snow and eventual runoff than in the last few years. Hoodoo delighted skiers and boarders last week with a 123-inch base on April 5. The snow has been good all season at Hoodoo, and by March they had booked over 130,000 skier days.

On average Hoodoo would have a 47-inch base in April. Their average annual summit depth is 35 inches. There are 57 inches this season, and it is not yet over. The resort plans to close on April 23. While they could run the lifts for several more weeks, they will start to lose skiers returning to biking and golf.

Nearby at Mt. Bachelor, it’s another pretty picture. So far they have collected some 450 inches of snow and are sitting on a 134-inch base. From April 1-7, they were hammered with 45 inches, enough to set a closing date of May 28.

Snowpack

Up at the Three Creek Meadow measuring station, they reported 31.1 inches. It was 18 only two weeks ago. More importantly the snow water equivalent has soared in two weeks to 158 percent of normal for the entire Upper Deschutes Basin.

Snow water equivalent (SWE) determines the amount of water available in the snow. Measuring how much water is in snow can be difficult since the temperature of the air controls how much water is held in an inch of snow. One inch of rain can

produce from two inches of sleet to 50 or more inches of snow depending on how cold the air is.

Different storms bring different types of snow that can hold different amounts of water. Warmer-weather snowstorms can create two inches of sleet for an inch of rain, whereas very cold snowstorms may create over 50 inches of very dry, powdery snow for an inch of rain.

Throughout winter, different storms bring different types of snow, so snow depth does not translate directly to the amount of water held in snow. Because of this variability, SWE helps to understand how much water the snow contains.

The Harney Basin is at 247 percent, followed by the Owyhee Basin at 213 percent, and none of the 12 state basins are under 141 percent amid reports of more precipi tation for the month.

Reservoirs continue to look barren in large part as the snow hasn’t begun to melt yet. Wickiup, the basin’s largest, is rising and is at the 66 percent water mark. Deschutes County is looking good as compared

to Crook County, where drought persists stubbornly. The Prineville reservoir is only 21 percent full, and the surrounding mountains are barren of snow. Drought conditions have seen steady improvement since February. Sisters Country has dropped from D3 (Extreme) to D2 (Severe). A year ago we stood at D4 (Exceptional). The entirety of Crook County remains

D4 and has been declared an emergency by the governor.

Gardening

The garden centers in the county opened in synchronicity on April 1. Only the hardiest of plants are on display, as the rule of thumb for planting in Sisters is when the snow’s off of Black Butte. A look at the iconic mountain indicates that it will be weeks before it’s safe to plant.

Continued from page 1

as an evaluator during the testing process that ultimately resulted in Ulm’s appointment.

Mitchell said, “This is awesome news! I am so happy for Rachel. She will be a great addition to the team!”

The fire service is in Ulm’s blood. Prior to joining SCSFD, Ulm served for four years as a cadet and volunteer firefighter with the Coburg Fire District, alongside her father, Deputy Chief Benton Ulm.

“Rachel has been an incredible asset to our organization,” said SCSFD Deputy Chief Tim Craig. “We have had the opportunity to watch her develop new skills, demonstrate her leadership ability, and show her motivation to excel in a business that is typically male dominated. Firefighter Ulm has a very bright future ahead of her!”

SNOW: Drought conditions seeing improvement

Snow has continued to pile up late in the season at Hoodoo.

PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT

Feds sending $50M to Oregon for homelessness

By Lynne Terry Oregon Capital Chronicle

The federal government is sending nearly $50 million to Oregon nonprofits, counties, and other entities to address homelessness.

The money — from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — adds to a $200 million investment approved by the State Legislature this month to help hundreds of Oregonians find housing. At least 18,000 Oregonians are homeless, according to the U.S. Housing Department and many more live precariously, struggling to make rent or mortgage payments on unaffordable homes. Addressing the crisis is one of Gov. Tina Kotek’s top priorities.

The federal funding program supports efforts by nonprofits and state and local governments to get homeless individuals and families quickly into homes. The program also aims to help homeless individuals and families gain access to support programs in an effort to get them stabilized.

Oregon’s two Democratic senators — Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden — announced the funding in a release.

“This funding will provide critical support for communities and individuals across the state struggling to find affordable housing,” Merkley said.

Wyden added: “Quality of life for Oregonians or anybody else in America requires people to have a roof over their heads and a floor under their feet.”

Earlier this month, Wyden reintroduced a bill that died in a previous congressional session to get people on the streets into housing and make homes more affordable by increasing the supply and making the purchase of a new home easier through a tax credit. The bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, which Wyden chairs.

In Oregon, Home Forward, a Portland-based

nongovernmental housing authority that relies on the federal government for funding, will get the biggest grant from the federal government, more than $7 million, followed by $4.6 million to the Washington County Department of Housing Services. The Housing Department awarded Central City Concern, a Portlandbased nonprofit, $4 million.

Nine other entities got at least $1 million:

• Housing Solutions, Inc.: $3.5 million.

• Multnomah County: $3.2 million.

• Lane County: $2.5 million.

• Transitions Projects, Inc.: $2.4 million.

• Self Enhancement, Inc.: $2.3 million.

• Cascadia Health: $1.5 million.

• Clackamas Department of Health, Housing & Human Services: $1.4 million.

• Urban League of Portland: $1.2 million.

• Clackamas Women’s Services, Inc.: $1.1 million.

The department awarded another 42 grants to nonprofits and governments, including $245,666 for the city of Portland. The smallest grant — $14,696 — is going to Oregon Housing and Community Services, the state housing agency.

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

Continued from page 3

discovered his interest in local government. He also began attending School Board meetings.

“Those were interesting times to be at School Board meetings, with COVID restrictions, and I became interested in it,” said Sarver.

Safety was the primary focus for Sarver and his family, with one child in third grade and the second entering kindergarten next year.

An opportunity for Sarver opened in 2022 when longtime School Board member and chair Don Hedrick resigned.

“When Don announced he was leaving, I of course saw a great opportunity to be as involved as I possibly could,” Sarver said. Sarver was selected by the Board to take over Hedrick’s position in 2022. He took his position and the shoes he had to fill very seriously and attended the Oregon School Boards Association’s training, which covered all the things it takes to be a school board member in the state of Oregon.

“Part of the draw to me is there are some amazing special programs here, low student-to-teacher ratios, and is something I am fighting to maintain,” he said.

Sarver gets involved in many aspects of the schools, he coaches soccer and T-ball and volunteers at the elementary school.

Sarver and his wife have lots of experience

serving on boards after starting their own nonprofit, The Zimbabwe Rhino Project, where he serves as the secretary. Part of the reason Sarver was chosen by the School Board to replace Hedrick was his experience serving on various boards and his involvement with the community.

“To me that says a lot,” said Sarver.

He had been planning on running for School Board before being appointed, and was surprised when an opportunity came up quickly.

“I feel like I’ve put in a lot of time to get here and one year is not enough. And I feel like SSD is doing amazing, and it’s an exciting time and a challenging time postpandemic, and challenging in a growing community, and I think it’s important we can maintain student-teacher ratios, and keep our special programming going,” said Sarver.

Sarver currently serves as chair of the local option committee, a political action committee (PAC) raising funds to promote the measure coming up on the May ballot. The local option accounts for 10 percent of the SSD annual budget and the equivalent of 16 teacher salaries.

Sarver has been working with volunteers in creating the committee promoting a “yes” vote for renewal of the measure. The local option levy allows for special programs and small classroom sizes to be maintained in Sisters schools. The funds collected will be used to print ads and signs, and for a mailer to go out at election time.

“As a School Board member and the parent of a child in the SSD and another starting in the fall, I understand the day-to-day challenges our educators, parents, and students face,” Sarver said.

His main focus areas on the Board include classroom sizes, teacher retention, graduation rates, special programs, and continued work on the local option levy.

“I love Sisters, and I love the school system, and I am going to keep working for it,” said Sarver.

The local option committee has established a website at www.yesforsistersschools. com.

Sarver’s campaign website is www.asaforsisters. com.

Asa Sarver.

I love Sisters, and I love the school system, and I am going to keep working for it.

— Asa Sarver

“Tammy and Amanda are an amazing team. They take care of your insurance needs without pressuring you. They explain what you need for your business and which company is the best fit. They are professional and courteous.”

— Greg Hill Excavating Inc.

NUGGET FLASHBACK – 34 YEARS AGO

COCC offers previews of programs

Several hundred high schoolers are expected to attend Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) annual “Preview Day” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, April 21. Preregistration is required; call 541-383-7500 or visit cocc.edu/previewday to learn more.

The day’s activities will provide a glimpse of COCC academic programs, from criminal justice and graphic design to fire science and culinary. Organized into eight academic pathway groups, such as STEM, health sciences, and public service, Preview Day offers a range of handson demonstrations, including culinary dish preparation, fire science training exercises, a biology lab experiment, and a crime scene simulation.

“Spending just a day within a chosen pathway can provide high school students with quite a bit more direction,” said Kayleen Schweitzer, assistant director of recruitment and outreach at COCC.

The college is also hosting information sessions for its nursing and paramedicine programs.

The nursing program info session is offered virtually from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19.

To receive the Zoom link, email selectiveadmissions@ cocc.edu and include full name and phone number. Sessions cover minimum requirements to apply to the program, how applicants are selected, deadlines, and more. The formal presentation usually runs 45 minutes with plenty of time for questions during and after. Prospective nursing students are strongly encouraged to attend.

The in-person paramedicine program info session is from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, in Cascades Hall, Room 114, on the Bend campus. The program overview sessions are designed for students interested in COCC’s associate degree in paramedicine. To sign up, contact selectiveadmissions@cocc. edu or David Schappe at 541383-7751 or dschappe@cocc. edu.

Obituaries

Thomas (Tom) Molloy aka “Big Tom”

September 20, 1945 — March 28, 2023

Tom was born on September 20, 1945, to Thomas and Lillian Molloy. He was an only child.

Tom went to ride with the Big Bike Rider in the sky on March 20. He passed at home like he wanted to, peacefully in his sleep. He had two aunts and an uncle who dearly loved him: Janos (uncle) and Aunt Josephine Kiss. Also Miss Elizabeth Reese (aunt), who never married and spoiled him rotten. They preceded him in death.

Tom and his parents moved and lived all over the U.S. His father was a professional painter.

The family moved to El Cajon, California from Cleveland in the 1960s. He attended a mechanic trade school in L.A. during the riots. Discovering he was allergic to petroleum products, he didn’t pursue that profession. In 1966, he and a best friend Roger enlisted in the Marines. Tom served from 1966 to 1969. He finished his enlistment as a sergeant, battalion armor, in Vietnam.

Tom went to Grossmont College upon returning from the service, and worked at the family business, El Cajon Travel Bureau. Tom and “Goofy” (Jill Paulus) met in 1971. Goofy was a blind date; they went to a Sha Na Na and Lydia Pitts concert. The rest is history with them. They moved in together to save money for a trip to England and Europe.

They went to England in 1973 for six weeks, traveling first-class rail pass for three

weeks on the continent and three weeks in England. They had such a great time, upon returning, they saved for a year to go back. Returning to England in 1975, they lived on a sheep farm in a caravan without running water or electric. During the summer for three months, they again traveled the continent, also going to the Scandinavian countries.

Upon returning home, they lived with Tom’s parents in El Cajon, saving to buy their first home together in Santee, California. A good friend (Mic Harris, deceased) talked Tom into coming to visit and moving to Sisters. It took Tom until 1984 to talk Jill into the move! They sold their home and came to Sisters. Tom’s parents moved from Cleveland to Sisters, following in their footsteps. Tom worked any jobs he could; that was part of the promise. Jill also got a new ’84 Honda Car of the Year and a trip to Hawaii as part of the bribe.

Tom and Jill were

together over 30 years, owned a house on Crooked Horseshoe. They split up for a time but always remained close and good friends, helping each other.

They had “Goofy’s Cleaning Machines” cleaning business, previously working at the B Bar B, Hrdlicka Construction, night janitor at The Gallery, and in construction.

Tom and Jill were back together when, in October, he hit his head from a fall and had a brain bleed. He was in the hospital a week, and Jill brought him home. Unfortunately, Tom went downhill from there.

Tom is also survived by a stepson, Michael Paulus (Beth) and granddaughter Ashley Metz, both of Spokane, Washington.

Tom loved riding his Harley most of all. He participated in the teddy bear runs and was a sponsor. He was a loving, caring, strong, brave man, definitely unique in his own way! He will be missed.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m. at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church, 123 Trinity Way, in Sisters. Reception immediately following. RSVP “Goofy” (Jill) at 541-797-3106 or cherokeejill53@aol.com.

Delores (Morton) Hopper

December 26, 1926 — April 4, 2023

Dee lived in Sisters most of her life. She worked at The Gallery Restaurant for many years. She married Ray and moved to Bandon, where she helped work on his cranberry bogs.

They retired and moved to Prineville, traveling to Arizona for the winter.

Dee is preceded in death by her mother; father; brothers; husband, Ray; and four of her children: Judy, Wendy, Diane, and Tim.

Dee is survived by her sister Sharon Tretham of Danville, California; and children Pete Morton of Prineville, and Patricia Barclay of Sisters.

Dee had many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

There will be no services, per Dee’s request.

OHSU study: Oregon pays mental health providers well

By Ben Botkin Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon’s mental health crisis cannot be blamed on low Medicaid payments for providers, a new study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University suggested.

Oregon consistently ranks among the worst states for access to mental health services. Yet other states have worse Medicaid payment rates for mental health providers than Oregon, the study found, showing that simply raising rates would not get the state out of the mental health crisis. The study was published Thursday in Health Affairs, a peer-reviewed health policy publication.

State lawmakers in 2022 raised payment rates starting this year for mental health services provided through the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan. The Oregon Health Plan is responsible for covering the medical care of about 1.5 million low-income Oregonians, including any behavioral health needs they may have.

“We know there are significant barriers in accessing mental health care,” said Dr. Jane Zhu, the study’s lead author and assistant professor of medicine, general internal medicine and geriatrics at OHSU. “States that are chronically underfunding or underpaying their psychiatrists should take note of where they stand. For those states, raising the reimbursement rate may be one tool to increase recruitment and retention.”

The study looked at billed psychiatric services across the nation and compared the Medicaid payments across states. It compared Medicaid payments to those for the same services paid by Medicare, which serves people 65 and older and generally pays more. Oregon is one of eight states with a Medicaid reimbursement rate on par or greater than Medicare for mental health services, the study found.

“The fees are on a par with that of Medicare, and yet we’re still facing in this state incredible workforce shortages and increased demands and gaps in access, which suggests that there needs to be a lot more in terms of evidence, in terms of how much does a reimbursement rate need to increase in order to induce providers to participate in Medicaid and to see a lot of Medicaid patients,” Zhu said in an interview.

On average, Medicaid pays about 80 percent of what Medicare does for the same services, the study found. States that paid the least were Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Maine, and those paid the best were Nebraska, Alaska,

and Arkansas. Zhu said factors besides reimbursement rates hinder access to care. Those include the administrative burdens providers face, the high demand for mental health services, and workforce shortages.

“Reimbursement rates are important, but in Oregon, I think commensurate attention needs to be paid to some of these other factors,” Zhu said.

An OHSU report prepared for Oregon Health Authority in 2022 found Oregon has the fourth-highest rate nationwide of people unable to access mental health treatment. The state also has one of the highest rates of people with mental health problems, groups like Mental Health America have repeatedly shown in rankings.

The study found that while low wages contribute to the workforce shortage in the sector, other issues like burnout, large caseloads, and heavy administrative workloads also harm recruitment and retention into the field.

“Reimbursement rates are just one piece of that puzzle,” Zhu said. “We don’t know whether raising reimbursement rates will be effective in improving access to mental health treatment. Increasing reimbursement rates is probably going to be necessary but not sufficient.”

State lawmakers have introduced a variety of proposals this session to address the state’s mental health crisis, including funding for residential mental health facilities.

Governor Tina Kotek’s plan for behavioral health includes more funding to recruit providers, programs to help people as they are discharged from Oregon State Hospital, and community mental health programs to help people avoid jail. The governor also has ordered Oregon behavioral health director Ebony Clarke to complete an assessment on the state’s behavioral health system, which will be the basis of a five-year plan.

Besides Zhu, other coauthors of the study are Stephanie Renfro, associate director of the OHSU Center for Health Systems Effectiveness; Kelsey Watson, biostatistician in the Center for Health Systems Effectiveness; Ashmira Deshmukh, a recent graduate of the OHSUPortland State University School of Public Health; and John McConnell, director of the Center for Health Systems Effectiveness and professor of emergency medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine.

The Nugget is also the place to find interesting stories of people in our community living intentionally and helping to make our community special.

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• Got thoughtful opinions you’d like to share? Submit a letter to the editor (300 words or less) to editor@nuggetnews.com. Have more to say than that? Discuss a guest editorial with Jim Cornelius.

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Each week The Nugget delivers hyper-local news coverage of what matters to you and your neighbors... ...local government, land use, forestry, schools, environment, art & music scene, high school sports, business, and more.

Nugget staff (left to right): Leith Easterling, Vicki Curlett, Janice Hoffman, Jess Draper, Jim Cornelius, and Kit Tosello.

ENGINES: Grant funding will cover costs for districts

Continued from page 1

include:

Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District —water tender.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District — Type 3 fire engine.

Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District — Type 3 fire engine.

Jefferson County Rural Fire Protection District #1 — Type 3 fire engine.

Bend Fire Department — Type 6 fire engine.

La Pine Rural Fire Protection District — water tender.

Deschutes County Fire Defense Board Chief Roger Johnson said, “These investments in Central Oregon will not only improve local response capabilities, but will also add capacity to the statewide Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS).”

The OFMAS system is made up of the more than 300 local fire departments in the state which are mobilized under the Emergency Conflagration Act. Central Oregon fire departments actively participate in the OFMAS program and also receive resources through the program for significant wildfires in the region.

Local agencies aren’t likely to see the new vehicles until the spring of 2024 due to the extended build time for the vehicles. The vehicles will arrive fully equipped with the equipment necessary to respond to wildland fire incidents.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana RuizTemple said, “Over the last three decades, more communities have been impacted by wildfire. This investment is a major step forward in carrying out our mission to protect people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials.”

Advocates urge more funding for fish and wildlife

By Ian Rose Oregon Capital Chronicle

In her proposed budget to the Legislature, Gov. Tina Kotek called for nearly $500 million in funding for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

That sum would mark a 2.5 percent increase in the department’s budget – but it falls short of the more than $550 million the department requested. Without that extra money, advocates say, the Department would have to trim crucial programs that protect wildlife habitat, sustain healthy fish populations, and control agricultural pests.

Dozens of speakers testified at a hearing last week of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources, asking for some of that funding to be restored as part of Senate Bill 5509.

“The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is a driver of Oregon’s conservation strategy,” Kate Natoli and Lauren Link of the Nature Conservancy said in written testimony. “ODFW needs adequate funding to carry out its statewide mission.”

The hearing came the same week as the release of a tight budget outlook, with lead Oregon lawmakers predicting they may have to make some adjustments to increase spending in priority areas. Nevertheless, the Department of Fish and Wildlife partially funds itself through hunting and fishing license fees and federal grants. It would only need about $90 million from the general fund to meet its budget request.

The hearing drew a wide range of advocates, including a fisherman from Depoe Bay, a hunter from Sublimity, Portland-based

environmental activists, and wildlife rehabilitators from Pendleton, Sisters, and Corvallis. All argued for adding back pieces of the department’s requested budget that were cut by Kotek.

Several speakers testified in favor of restoring funding to the department’s Wildlife Coexistence Program, a $2 million program meant to educate Oregonians about living alongside wildlife and supporting wildlife rehabilitation centers across the state. Last April, staff members from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Police, and several nonprofit wildlife organizations proposed the program, and the department included it in its budget request. It was not in Kotek’s budget.

“A wildlife coexistence program in Oregon would help people share the landscape, urban, rural and everything in between with wildlife,” said Quinn Read, Oregon policy director for the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity. “A modest investment here would have a big impact.”

Fish and water quality funding was another frequent topic in both written and spoken testimony. Speakers from organizations including Trout Unlimited, the Wild Salmon Center, and the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association testified in favor of increasing fish habitat and water programs. These were also a priority for tribal members, including Brenda Meade, chairman of the Coquille Indian Tribe, who testified in writing.

“Our most urgent priority is restoring the Coquille River and staving off the extinction of its fall chinook,” Meade said in written testimony.

She said the Tribe has spent hundreds of thousands

of dollars to reduce nonnative smallmouth bass that prey on young salmon and expects the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to make a similar contribution. Salmon have vital nutritional, economic, cultural, and spiritual value to the Coquille and other local Indigenous people of the Northwest. Maintaining access to fish and fishing grounds is also a key treaty right of Northwest Indigenous people.

The hearing grew heated over funding for predator and nuisance animal control, which is contracted out to Wildlife Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Critics of Wildlife Services said it uses inhumane tactics such as painful traps and unnecessary killing of nuisance wildlife.

“It has just a really terrible reputation for overemphasizing the killing of wildlife as the solution to humanwildlife conflicts,” said Brian Posewitz of Humane Voters Oregon, an animal welfare advocacy group.

Posewitz said Wildlife Services had killed 210 bears, about 2,150 coyotes, and about 90 mountain lions in Oregon between 2019 and 2020 alone, according to its annual report. More than 90% of the animals killed by the agency that year were

European starlings, nonnative birds that can damage grain and orchard crops.

Other speakers, including Branden Pursinger of the Oregon Association of Counties, argued that Wildlife Services provides a vital service for county and local governments across Oregon that lack wildlife expertise, and that the agency is often able to relocate dangerous or nuisance animals that would otherwise have to be killed.

“These communities rely on Wildlife Services to address issues brought about by cougars, rodents, coyotes, elk, birds, bears, and many other wildlife species,” said Pursinger.

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

SPOT 10 DIFFERENCES

SUDOKU EA SY PEA SY !

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down, and each small nine-box square contains all of the numbers from 1 to 9.

MATH SQU ARE

Use the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations. Each number is only used once. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation. Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

OUTDOOR W ORDFIND

Find words forward, backward, horizontally, or diagonally.

TREES LAKES

FLOWERS

MOUNTAINS

FRESH AIR

LEAVES DEER

GRASS BUMBLEBEES

PINE CONES

CATERPILLARS

BIRDS

RIVERS

CLOUDS

Mortgage rates are stabilizing

By Casey Quinlan Oregon Capital Chronicle

Home prices are cooling off and mortgage rates fell last week, but the fallout from recent bank closures could continue to make it hard for some Americans to buy homes, economists say.

Mortgage rates fell to 6.32 percent for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, Freddie Mac data released on Thursday shows. Last fall, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage climbed to 7.08 percent — the first time in 20 years that rates rose above 7 percent.

Lower mortgage rates appear to have given home sales a boost in January and February, due to “pent-up buyer demand,” said Selma Hepp, chief economist at CoreLogic, which provides property, financial, and business intelligence.

Last week, the CoreLogic S&P Case-Shiller Index showed a 3.8 percent yearover-year rise in home prices in January falling from a 5.6 percent bump in December. There have been nine straight months of slowing annual home price growth and this is the lowest annual increase since before the winter of 2019, according to Hepp’s analysis.

But regional banks, which saw depositors leave for bigger banks after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last month, are now tightening credit. The result, according to a report from Fannie Mae, could be fewer residential construction loans and jumbo mortgages as many originate from small and mid-sized banks. Less supply will keep prices high and all of that will likely affect spring home-buying, Hepp said.

“If we had more inventory, we wouldn’t have the rate of appreciation that we had during the pandemic, and the rate wouldn’t impact people to the extent that it does because home prices wouldn’t be as high,” she said.

Hepp is also watching the Federal Reserve’s action on interest rates. Many economists believe the Fed could stop raising rates after one more cycle. That would be good for mortgage rates but not every buyer will benefit, Hepp said.

“There’s two sides of this coin,” she said. “One is that we may see a more favorable mortgage rate during the spring home-buying season and into summer, but on the flip side, there may be some concern around the lack of mortgage lending,” Hepp

said. “The mortgage lending that does end up occurring would be to very prime borrowers that have very strong credit, large down payments, and things like that.”

Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, said he is concerned about how commercial lending would be affected by the banking crisis. Commercial real estate has already been affected by the pandemic and continuing remote work.

“Where someone wants to buy an office space or someone has a restaurant and they need to refinance their building, all this commercial real estate will come under stress just because it will be much more difficult to obtain those loans and community banks are trying to conserve as much cash as possible, not lend that out,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean that commercial real estate couldn’t end up affecting home buying all the same, Yun added.

“Weakness in commercial real estate could hinder job growth. Job creation indirectly impacts homebuying in a sense that there is a [lesser] job creation, and that means it’s creating fewer potential home-buyers down the line,” he said.

Hepp said that the Fed may not be particularly concerned with the housing market right now, since it is rebalancing, with the possibility of “maybe overshooting on a downside.” But credit availability will likely remain a concern, and there are things the Fed could do to address it.

“To whatever extent that there is liquidity in the market or there may not end up being liquidity in the market, I think that’s the point at which the Federal Reserve may end up utilizing some of the tools that they did at the onset of the pandemic,” she said. “In particular, I’m thinking about mortgagebacked securities.”

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Federal Reserve made large purchases of mortgage-backed securities and took several other steps to keep the flow of credit going. Any policies that would improve the inventory and affordability of housing would also be helpful to the housing market right now, she said.

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.

102

Rentals 484 W. Washington, 1137 sq. ft. available May 1st. $1.25 sq. ft. monthly. South side of the building. Do not bother current tenants. No showings until May 1st. Dave 503-522-6306

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

Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor RV parking. 7-day access. Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies.

STORAGE WITH BENEFITS

• 8 x 20 dry box

• Fenced yard, RV & trailers

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

103 Residential Rentals

Live on a Lake! Private 850 sf. 1 bed/1 bath apt. in lake home 14 miles west of Sisters. Owner pays all utilities. No pets/no smoking. $1,600/month 541-977-0011.

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

GEORGE’S SEPTIC TANK SERVICE

“A Well Maintained Septic System Protects the Environment”

541-549-2871

MOVING TRUCK FOR HIRE

–COMPLETE MOVING, LLC–

Sisters' Only Local Moving Co.!

Two exp. men with 25+ years comm. moving. Refs! ODOT Lic. Class 1-B • Call 541-977-5040

SMALL Engine REPAIR

Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers

Sisters Rental

331 W. Barclay Drive

541-549-9631

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

600 Tree Service & Forestry

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.

– 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

PERENNIAL BUILDING LLC

Local | Quality | Experienced

Currently taking remodel projects for the spring and summer months. Contact karen@perennialbuilding.com

www.perennialbuilding.com

541-728-3189 | CCB #226794

AZTEC HOMES KITCHEN AND BATHROOM REMODELING

A family-owned and operated business specializing in full kitchen and bathroom remodels. Countertops, Tile, Paint, Cabinets, Flooring etc. We've got you covered! Contact us for a free estimate: 541-639-1588 info@aztechomes.net www.aztechomes.net ccb#240162

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 Rental

Five star. 1 and 2 bedroom. SistersVacationRentals.net

Great pricing. 503-730-0150

202 Firewood

SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS

DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD

• SINCE 1976 •

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

205 Garage & Estate Sales

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

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

Sisters Car Connection da#3919

SistersCarConnection.com

500 Services

We’ve got your cats covered!

Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com 541-306-7551 • Julie

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

541-719-8475

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

501 Computers & Communications Technology Problems?

I can fix them for you. Solving for Business & Home Computers, Tablets, Networking Internet (Starlink), and more!

Jason Williams

Sisters local • 25 yrs. experience

541-719-8329

Oregontechpro.com

SISTERS SATELLITE

TV • PHONE • INTERNET

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

541-318-7000 • 541-306-0729

502 Carpet & Upholstery

Cleaning

GORDON’S LAST TOUCH

Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY

Member Better Business Bureau

• Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon

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, interior painting and trim, carpentry, drywall, lighting, and much 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

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

LOLO TREE WORKS

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

ISA Certified Arborist

Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com

Call / Text: 503-367-5638

Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com

CCB #240912

Top Knot Tree Care can handle all of your tree needs, from trims to removals. Specializing in tree assessment, hazard tree removal, crown reduction, ladder fuel reduction, lot clearing, ornamental and fruit tree trimming and care.

• Locally owned and operated •

• Senior and military discounts •

• Free assessments •

• Great cleanups •

• Licensed, Insured and Bonded • Contact Bello Winter @ 541-419-9655, Find us on Google CCB#238380

Sisters Tree Care, LLC

Tree preservation, Pruning, Removals & Storm Damage

Brad Bartholomew ISA Cert. Arborist UT-4454A 503-914-8436 • CCB #218444

601 Construction

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

Factory Trained Technicians

Since 1983 • CCB #44054

541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

SPURGE COCHRAN BUILDER, INC.

General Contractor Building Distinctive, Handcrafted Custom Homes, Additions, Remodels, Cabin Renovations Since ’74 A “Hands-On” Builder

541-390-1206 beavercreeklog@yahoo.com

Log repairs, log railing, log accent, log siding, etc.

CCB #235303 Insurance & Bond

Earthwood Timberframes

• Design & shop fabrication

• Recycled fir and pine beams

• Mantels and accent timbers

• Sawmill/woodshop services www.earthwoodhomes.com

Construction & Renovation

Custom Residential Projects All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448

Lara’s Construction LLC. CCB#223701

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

Custom Homes • Additions

Residential Building Projects

Serving Sisters area since 1976 Strictly Quality CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764

John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com

Keeping Your Project on Time & On Budget

• CCB #96016

To speak to Spurge personally, call 541-815-0523

Pat Burke LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT CCB: 288388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com

JT’s CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC. Local resident of Sisters, servicing all of Central Oregon. Services provided: Building planning & permits, project management/ project supervision, budgeting/ estimating, subcontractor management, bank subcontractor invoicing. Both commercial & residential construction with over 50 years experience in the construction industry. Contact: jtdconst1@gmail.com

541-310-3133

CENIGA'S MASONRY, INC.

Brick • Block • Stone • Pavers

CCB #181448 – 541-350-6068 www.CenigasMasonry.com

Custom Homes

Residential Building Projects Concrete Foundations

Becke William Pierce

CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384 Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com

602 Plumbing & Electric SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

“Quality and Reliability”

Repairs

• Remodeling

• New Construction

• Water Heaters

541-549-4349

Residential and Commercial

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CCB #87587

Ridgeline Electric, LLC

Serving all of Central Oregon

• Residential • Commercial

• Industrial • Service

541-588-3088 • CCB #234821

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Electrical Installations LLC

Residential & Light Commercial • Service No job too small.

503-509-9353

CCB# 235868

603 Excavation & Trucking

Full Service Excavation

ROBINSON & OWEN

Heavy Construction, Inc.

All your excavation needs

*General excavation

*Site Preparation

*Sub-Divisions

*Road Building

*Sewer and Water Systems

*Underground Utilities

*Grading

*Sand-Gravel-Rock

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CCB #124327

541-549-1848

604 Heating & Cooling

ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com

CCB #195556 541-549-6464

605 Painting

~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks

CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620

www.frontier-painting.com

EMPIRE PAINTING

Interior and Exterior Painting and Staining CCB#180042

541-613-1530 • Geoff Houk

METOLIUS PAINTING LLC

Meticulous, Affordable

Interior & Exterior

541-280-7040 • CCB# 238067

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

J&E Landscaping Maintenance

LLC Clean-ups, raking, hauling debris, gutters, thatching, aerating, irrigation.

Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982 jandelspcing15@gmail.com

BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING!

Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897

704 Events & Event Services

CENTRAL OREGON'S

LARGEST GUN & KNIFE

SHOW! April 22 and 23.

Saturday, 9-5 • Sunday, 9-3 Deschutes County Expo Center ADMISSION: General $10; Military/Vets $8; 2-day pass $16; Children 12 and under are free. For info call 503-363-9564 WesKnodelGunShows.com

The nonprofit status for Continue Love, Continue Life, the Organ and Donor Awareness Project (ODA) is being finalized. A meeting will be held Sunday, April 16, 1 p.m. at 572 S. Fir, in Sisters to discuss upcoming events and fundraising ideas. Refreshments served. Contact Fifi Bailey at 541-419-2204.

801 Classes & Training

FREE beginner poker lessons at Sisters Saloon beginning April 24 at 6 p.m. Call 760-709-0260.

802 Help Wanted

• Full-time

• Nightly bank deposits/closing

• Can lift 45 lbs.

• At least 18 years old

• Team-oriented person 110 W Cascade Ave.

902 Personals

Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation.

CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462

Free On-site Visit & Estimate Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com

541-549-1472 • CCB #76888

Drainfield

• Minor & Major Septic Repair

• All Septic Needs/Design & Install General Excavation

• Site Preparation

• Rock & Stump Removal

• Pond & Driveway Construction

Preparation

• Building Demolition

Trucking

• Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water

• Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

• The Whole 9 Yards or 24

Whatever You Want!

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial

CCB #165122

• 541-549-6977

www.BANR.net

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

– All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, mowing, moss removal, edging, raking, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing.

Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169

Austin • 541-419-5122

All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling and SNOW REMOVAL

Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

701 Domestic Services

I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC

Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals.

Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051

scheduled no later than 9 a.m. on may be affected by the proceedings may obtain additional information from the records of the court, the Personal Representative, or the attorney for the Personal Representative. Dated and first published April 19 2023. Kathy T. Simpson, Personal Representative.

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

Two public meetings of the Budget Committee of the Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire Protection District, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, will be held at the Black Butte Ranch Fire Station, 13511 Hawks Beard, Black Butte Ranch. In response to the current health emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings are also being offered electronically through zoom. For electronic meeting information, contact the district at (541) 595-2288 or email to jvohs@blackbutteranchfire.com.

The first meeting will be held on May 2, 2023 at 9 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget.

scheduled no later than 9 a.m. on May 1, 2023. A copy of the budget document may be inspected online at www.blackbutteranchfire.com or obtained by mail or in person on or after April 25, 2023, via email request to jvohs@blackbutteranchfire.com or phone request to (541) 595-2288. These are public meetings where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may provide comment at the meetings. Notice of publication is also available at www.blackbutteranchfire.com.

CITY OF SISTERS 2023 SLURRY SEAL

Bids due 2:00 p.m., April 20, 2023

INVITATION TO BID

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999 Public Notice

NOTICE TO INTERESTED

PERSONS Case No.: 6311

IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF MALHEUR

In the Matter of the Estate of, KEARNEY STEVEN SIMPSON, also known as Steven K. Simpson, and also known as K. Steven Simpson, Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kathy T. Simpson has been appointed Personal Representative. All persons having claims against the estate re required to present them to the undersigned Personal Representative, in care of her attorney: Kathy T. Simpson c/o a Michael W. Horton Five Rivers Law, P.C. P.O. Box 1565 Nyssa, Oregon 97913 541-372-2268 within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice, or the claims may be

The second meeting is tentatively scheduled on May 9, 2023 at 9 a.m. and will take place on an as needed basis. Public comment will be taken in written and phone in format. Written comments received by 9 a.m. on May 1, 2023 will be read during the public comment section of the meeting on May 2, 2023. Comments by phone will be taken on a scheduled basis during the public comment section of the meeting on May 2, 2023. Comments, both written and phone in, will be subject to a three-minute limit per community member. To schedule public comment, please provide your name, phone number, and address with the district at 541-595-2288, or email to jvohs@blackbutteranchfire.com. Public comment must be

Sealed bids for the construction of the City of Sisters, 2023 Slurry Seal, addressed to the City Recorder, City of Sisters, Oregon will be received until 2:00 PM local time at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Avenue, P.O. Box 39, Sisters, Oregon, on April 20, 2023, and then publicly opened and read at 2:00 PM at City Hall, in Sisters, Oregon. Bids shall be clearly labeled: 2023 Slurry Seal Improvements generally include construction of Type III Slurry Seal, traffic control and public notifications, and associated improvements. The work is located on S. Creekside Drive, E. Timber Creek Drive, E. Tyee Drive, and E. Wapato Loop. Bid documents, addenda, and notification of bid results for this project may be viewed on the City of Sisters website www.ci.sisters.or.us or printed or ordered online from Premier Builders Exchange at www.plansonfile.com.

There will be no Pre-Bid Conference for the 2023 Slurry Seal. This project is subject to the provisions of ORS 279C.800279C.870 regarding payment of prevailing wages. Bidders must be registered with the Construction Contractors Board (ORS 701.055) or the bid will not be received or considered.

SUDOKU Level: Moderate Answer: Page 27