The Nugget Vol. XLV No. 36
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Goal!
SAR teams aid injured hikers Deschutes County Sheriff ’s Office (DCSO) Search and Rescue (SAR) teams aided injured hikers in a couple of separate incidents in Sisters Country last week. On Saturday, September 3, at 11:51 a.m., 911 Dispatch received a call regarding an injured hiker near Chush Falls on Whychus Creek. The reporting person advised that a female hiker had fallen and sustained a knee injury, preventing her from being able
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Shelter receives support, needs space By Sue Stafford Correspondent
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Outlaw Aiden Eckert scores in Outlaws soccer action against Redmond.
See RESCUES on page 21
Support has been tremendous from community members for the Cold Weather Shelter, board members reported at their meeting last week. They pointed to the volunteer monitors, mainly from the local churches, who serve meals and cover See SHELTER on page 18
Grant funds Thirty years of Sisters High School available to help with wells By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent
Deschutes County is partnering with NeighborImpact to offer a new domestic well assistance grant and loan program. More than $527,000 in funds are available. “As groundwater levels decline, we continue to see an increased demand for domestic water assistance across the county,” said Commissioner Phil Chang. “We’re grateful that these funds are available to assist residents who are experiencing issues.” Funding for the program was provided through SB 5561. The County received $585,200 from the State to provide local domestic and community well assistance. Through this new program, the County has contracted with NeighborImpact, which will offer loan and rebate programs. “A lot of people’s costs have increased drastically as they work to deepen their wells or complete repairs,” said Commissioner Patti Adair. “We’re excited to get this funding out into the community to assist residents See WELLS on page 16
Inside...
Thirty years ago this week, Sisters School District welcomed high school students into a brand-new building, marking the first time since 1967 that grades 9-12 did not have to be bussed to Redmond to go to school. Not only did the school opening change the lives of Sisters teenagers, it transformed the town in many ways. A dozen original staff members from the 1992 opening gathered recently at The Barn to reconnect and to celebrate what was created in essentially a grassroots effort to develop a school that has since gained notoriety for its unique programming, culture, and opportunities for young people. Dennis Dempsey arrived on the scene in 1991 as the principal of the new school, from Homer, Alaska, where he had been named the state’s principal of the year, to assist in overseeing the building project and to find teachers and support staff for the next school year for grades 7-12. Sisters had a vibrant K-8 school, so Dempsey inherited some staff members already in place, including Sisters native Rand Runco, who still works for the District. According to Dempsey, the community was heavily Letters/Weather ............... 2 Meetings .......................... 3
invested with everything that needed to be done to get the school up and running. “We had tremendous support from the very beginning and I think that is still evident today,” he said. Dempsey described his vision from back in 1992 this way: “My vision was that we would be a state-of-the-art school when it came to the use of technology. The goal was to be the best small high school in the country. I wanted it to be a place where students, staff, and parents felt welcomed and knew we were trying to do our best for the students we served. I See 30 YEARS on page 22
PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG
Sue Beck, Jeff Barton, Lora Nordquist, Glen Herron, Dennis Dempsey, Rob Phelps, Carol Dixon, Samra Spear, and Jim Reiss gathered to celebrate and reminisce on 30 years since the high school came back to Sisters. Obituaries ........................ 9 Announcements...............10
Entertainment ................. 11 Crossword .......................18
Classifieds................. 19-20 Real Estate ................ 20-24