The Nugget Vol. XLVI No. 17
Green Ridge project under scrutiny
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
A precious moment in time...
Elementary school to become rec center
By Jim Cornelius Green Ridge looms over Camp Sherman, its treed slopes and burn scars home to populations of wildlife and a destination for hikers and hunters. It’s also the site of a Forest Service project — six years in the making — that is drawing intense scrutiny as a final decision approaches. According to the Forest Service, a draft decision on the Green Ridge Landscape Restoration Project envisions a project that “includes up to 19,437 acres of thinning, mowing, and prescribed fire treatments. It also authorizes restoration of aspen and cottonwood stands and 268 acres of hand thinning of small trees around meadow edges in prime mule deer habitat.” The project includes cutting of approximately 5.25 million board feet of timber. Logging of trees
Jensen Newton and his daughter Abigail took to the floor at Sisters Young Life’s Daddy/Daughter Dance held at Aspen Lakes.
See GREEN RIDGE on page 10
Ballots mailed out for school election Correspondent
The upcoming May election will decide who is filling two open positions on the Sisters School Board. Five candidates are running for the two open positions on the Board. Jeff Smith is running for Position 3 and has been on the School Board since 1999, with a break of 2-1/2 years. Smith believes his experience and passion for education set him apart from the other candidates. “I have a passion for education. I believe in good schools and am lucky enough to end up in a community with great schools,
Inside...
KELLI JENSEN CARTER / RISE GRAPHIC DESIGN
Editor in Chief
By Ceili Gatley
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Sisters School District (SSD) and Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) have announced that they intend to develop a partnership that will repurpose the current elementary school site into a community recreation center once the new elementary school opens. In a prepared release, the districts noted that, “While hurdles remain, the two organizations are slated to sign a letter of intent outlining the scope of a long-term lease for the site by the end of April.” Prior to signing a lease agreement, SPRD will conduct a feasibility study of the site to understand what will be needed to transition the site to a multiuse recreation facility. This study is scheduled to be completed by the end of June. Pending the outcome of the study and the renewal of SPRD’s local option levy in May, SSD and SPRD plan to have a long-term lease See REC CENTER on page 25
Frazee is Sisters Rodeo Grand Marshal
so to help sustain and guide that, I believe in public service,” he said. Asa Sarver is running for a position, after serving for a year as an interim appointee to the Board when Don Hedrick retired. Sarver is running for Position 4. “When Don announced he was leaving, I, of course, saw a great opportunity to be as involved as I possibly could,” Sarver said. “Part of the draw to me is there are some amazing special programs here, low studentto-teacher ratios, and it is something I am fighting to maintain.” Sarver currently serves
Fans of Sisters Rodeo have for years seen Gary Frazee doing what he does best — working hard to make the event come off smoothly. Sisters Rodeo is recognizing his contributions, naming Frazee Grand Marshal for the 2023 Sisters Rodeo Parade. Gary, his wife DeAnn, and their family have been attending the rodeo since 1969, and he became a member in 2005. Gary and DeAnn will celebrate their 41st anniversary on June 9 — at this year’s Sister Rodeo. Frazee returned home in 1969 from serving in the U.S. Army. He founded many businesses in Sisters that still operate today — the Sno Cap Drive In in 1973, and Sisters
See ELECTION on page 25
See FRAZEE on page 29
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Gary Frazee has been named 2023 Sisters Rodeo Grand Marshal.
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Roundabout Sisters ...........7 Entertainment .................13 Nugget Flashback ........... 24 Crossword ...................... 29 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............12 Homegrown ................ 16-17 Fun & Games ................... 28 Classifieds................. 30-31