The Nugget Vol. XLVII No. 8
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Wednesday, January 21, 2024
Fire consumes Sisters home under remodel Developing A home undergoing an extensive remodel was destroyed by fire in the early hours of February 15. According to SistersCamp Sherman Fire District (SCSFD), firefighters responded at 2 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, to a report of a house fire in the 69000 block of Old Barn Court northeast of Sisters. Crews arrived to find a large home heavily involved in fire, with fire venting through the roof of the structure. The initial arriving engine crews from Sisters, supported by an engine from the Cloverdale Fire District (CFD) and a ladder truck from Black Butte Ranch Fire District (BBRFD), were able to bring the fire under control, however the home and contents were a total loss. Because this incident occurred in a rural area with no fire hydrants nearby, it was supported by water tenders from SCSFD, CFD, and Bend Fire & Rescue, the fire district reported. The home was undergoing a significant remodel and was unoccupied when the fire broke out. One firefighter suffered a minor injury due to a slip on ice. The firefighter was treated on the scene and released by
young jazz talent in Sisters By Olivia Nieto Correspondent
PHOTO COURTESY SISTERS-CAMP SHERMAN FIRE DISTRICT
A fire in the early hours of February 15 totally destroyed a home on Old Barn Court northeast of Sisters. paramedics. Property loss is estimated to be $2.5 million dollars. Cause of the fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office. “On arrival we found defensive fire conditions, meaning that the fire had progressed throughout the structure and it was unsafe for firefighters to enter,” said
Making the call to cancel school By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Sisters School District #6 canceled school last Thursday and Friday due to weather, the first back to back closures since “snowmageddon” — the crushing snow event in 2016-2017. Even with a brutal forecast or National Weather Service warning or advisory, the decision is not made the night before. School Superintendent, Curt Scholl, said, “We must wait to make the call because sometimes the big storms that are expected don’t show up. “I’ve seen forecasts for a day for between four and
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10 inches of snow,” he said. “Four inches is not a problem. Ten is. Then there’s always the question of whether it actually shows up.” Scholl explains that safety is the driving consideration — primarily for the students, but for staff and the bus drivers as well. “Parents with 4-wheel drive SUVs may be able to get around just fine. That doesn’t mean a school bus will,” he said. I t ’s a j o i n t d e c i sion between Scholl and Operations Director Ryan Stock, who lives in Redmond. Stock is on the See SCHOOL on page 28
Tim Craig, Deputy Chief for Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. “Part of the roof had already collapsed prior to our arrival, and remaining portions of the home collapsed shortly after we got there.” Craig went on to say, “I’d like to thank our partner agencies of CFD and BBRFD for their support
on this incident, as well as Bend and Redmond Fire for providing an engine and an ambulance to cover our region while we were busy with this fire.” The total response included three fire engines, one ladder truck, five water tenders, five chief officers, twenty-eight firefighters, and four support volunteers.
Many people around the world share a love for jazz, but seldom do they have the chance to learn and play with professionals in public settings. Robert Sposato, an avid jazz enthusiast, organizes events to expose young musicians around Central Oregon to what it feels like. Traditionally, these jams have taken place in The Belfry, but new connections with band director Kayla Golka and an emerging generation of young players made the Sisters High School auditorium the new location for a recent jam event. “When Kayla Golka offered the high school auditorium and all its facilities and amenities, it was a no-brainer for me,” said Sposato. “Previously we had to haul all kinds of equipment, but at the high school See JAZZ on page 12
Deputy Myers is on patrol in Sisters By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Wi t h D e p u t y A a r o n Myers on patrol in Sisters, the Deschutes County Sheriff ’s Office (DCSO) Sisters contingent is once again fully staffed, with three deputies and a lieutenant operating out of the local substation. Deputy Myers is new to the Sisters office, but he has 16 years of experience with DCSO, serving six of those years as assistant coordinator for the DCSO Search and Rescue Unit. Deputy Myers told The Nugget that he sought the open position in Sisters because “there’s a great group of people who work here (and) Sisters is a great community.” He said he
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
Deputy Aaron Myers has brought the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Sisters contingent back to full strength. ‘thought it would be a very good assignment.’ The deputy grew up in Bend, and his career path
was set from his youth. “I’ve always wanted to See DEPUTY on page 29
Letters/Weather ............... 2 In the Pines........................7 Entertainment ................. 11 Fun & Games ................... 20 Crossword ...................... 29 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............10 Neighbors ................... 13-19 Obituaries ................. 22-23 Classifieds................. 30-31