The Nugget Vol. XLVI No. 19
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News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Commission seeks deeper discussions
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Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Leaving their mark...
By Sue Stafford Correspondent
During a review of their recent retreat, the Sisters Planning Commission explored the need for more time to conduct discussions regarding the many topics and projects they are expected to address and recommend to the City Council. Commissioner Tom Ries began the discussion. “Sooner or later we are going to have to make code changes to address the growth and design standards, so we don’t have just big-boxes built,” he said. “I’m even talking about fire mitigation. There are a lot of big trees
Sisters third graders trekked to the site of the new Sisters Elementary School, where they signed their names on walls that are rising on the new facility. They’ll be there in 2024.
See DISCUSSIONS on page 20
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Homeowners insurance Tollgate gets tough on wildfire continues to be concern By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Facing double-digit premium increases or the inability to get renewed, many property owners in Sisters Country are scrambling to lower their costs or obtain new coverage. Some report being cancelled as the risk of wildfire is causing insurance
carriers to reassess their exposure. Janet Swarts in Sage Woods said, “Our former Insurance company, Travelers Insurance, cancelled our policies — home and auto — about six months ago due to fire-risk location. We had been with them for See INSURANCE on page 28
Fentanyl crisis yet to touch Sisters By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Headlines are full recently of the fentanyl epidemic in the U.S. that took 70,601 American lives in 2021, the last full year for which statistics are available. That number is expected to exceed
Inside...
80,000 for last year. In Oregon the number in 2021 grew to 745 from 280 in 2019. At least 29 people in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties died from drug overdoses in 2021, the most recent year for which See FENTANYL on page 18
The Tollgate subdivision west of Sisters is nestled amid the towering ponderosa pines of the Deschutes National Forest. That’s part of the charm of the 440-home development — but it also makes it vulnerable to wildfire. Residents of Tollgate are taking the threat of wildfire head-on, using Firewise principles to protect themselves and their neighbors by hardening homes and reducing fuels around homes. The Tollgate Firewise Committee, headed by Jane Killefer, held their second annual Firewise Kick-off Rally at the Tollgate Fire Hall on Saturday, May 6. “The whole purpose is to raise awareness about wildfire mitigation,” Killefer told The Nugget. Tollgate has been evacuated in the past, in the face of advancing wildfire. So far, the community has escaped direct damage. The prospect of facing such threats
PHOTO BY KATHY CAMPBELL
Smokey Bear turned out to support the work of the Firewise committee at Tollgate last weekend. is daunting. Killefer said Committee’s efforts are all about “getting people to own their power — that they have a way to reduce their risk and that what they do on their own property helps every
other property owner.” The Firewise Committee gathered subject matter experts for the rally, which drew over 100 people over the course of the day. Attendees See TOLLGATE on page 16
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Obituaries .................. 10-11 Entertainment .................13 Poetry Corner ..................18 Classifieds..................29-31 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements...............12 Sisters Country Birds .......14 Crossword ...................... 28 Fun & Games ....................31