The Nugget Vol. XLVI No. 21
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Students launch science balloons By Ceili Gatley Correspondent
On a sunny spring day in Sisters, Tuesday, May 16, Sisters High School (SHS) chemistry students launched two stratospheric balloons from Sisters Eagle Airport, loaded with students’ experiments. The experiments are attached to what is known as a payload — items that will help students determine what happened while the balloon was floating in the atmosphere at over 80,000 feet. The chemistry classes have been launching weather balloons every year since 2015. This year, 37 students participated. The students, led by teacher Rima Givot, went through the entire process of launching two balloons via student teams. “It is entirely student-led, so each team has different responsibilities when launching the balloon, and we are just here to support them,” said Givot. This project is made possible with the leadership of Steven Peterzen of the stratospheric ballooning company ISTAR, and funded through a grant recently awarded to the program by Battelle
Correspondent
L a s t w e e k , G e o rg e Ormsbee, Russ Bentley, Krista Garner, Mike Romine, and Colton Tennant of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) “blew” Highway 242. Highway 242 is a state highway that runs from Belknap Springs through McKenzie Pass to Sisters. It is part of the McKenzie - Santiam Pass National Scenic Byway that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February, 2011 and is on the bucket list of cyclists across the region, indeed the world. The highway is closed sometime in October or
Inside...
Voters pass local option levies By Ceili Gatley Correspondent
already been published with this project in high school,” said Peterzen. The balloons are filled with helium, which allows them to float into the atmosphere. Students are applying gas performance to what happens to the balloon in the
The results of the May 16 election are in. There are still final numbers coming through and being counted; however, the results are known for the two Sisters School Board positions and the local option levy renewal, which passed by a wide margin. Jeff Smith was reelected to Sisters School District (SSD) Position 3. He has served on the School Board since 1999. Smith believes his experience sets him apart from other candidates. Smith has lived in Sisters for 27 years. After his election win, Smith told The Nugget: “I am so grateful to live in a community that supports good schools. The best news is the overwhelming vote to renew the local option levy that creates small class sizes and unique programs for our children. In
See BALLOON on page 15
See LEVY on page 21
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Sisters science students sent experiments to 80,000 feet in a balloon launch from Sisters Eagle Airport. Memorial Institute in partnership with the Sisters School District. Students receive mentorship from Rod Moorehead and Ron Thorkildson. Students put together all aspects of the project, including budgeting, flight operations, talking with landowners where the balloon might
ODOT budget woes could impact Sisters By Bill Bartlett
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
November due to snow and reopens usually in late May or early June as snow melts. The task of reopening is a Herculean effort requiring monster machinery and human skill. It takes at last two snow blowers (not plows) to clear the road. The equipment can cost as much as $500,000 each. And ODOT’s funding woes may mean “blowing” 242 could be a thing of the past, axed by budget cuts on the horizon. The Nugget accompanied the crew. Our view was from the cabin of a 1991 Schmidt. In the lead was a two year old LaRue. Both are See WOES on page 9
come down, and putting together the experiments. Peterzen supports the project every year with his expertise and equipment. “It’s my goal to connect the students with these heads of meteorology and scientists and make connections if they want to go out and get a job in that field; they have
ODFW confirms wolf depredation By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
Sisters Country is the scene of the first livestock loss to wolves in Deschutes County. ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife) has for the first time confirmed wolf depredation in the county, as a rancher in the Lower Bridge area lost a steer to the wolves known as the Metolius pair. Two steers were lost, most likely to wolves, in late March, as reported by The Nugget on April 19, but that loss was not confirmed. Aaron Bott, ODFW wolf biologist for Central Oregon, confirmed the loss May 17. When we asked how he could be certain it was the Metolius pair, Bott said,
PHOTO COURTESY ODFW
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed that the Metolius wolves killed a steer in Lower Bridge this month. “The rancher has wildlife cameras on his property and I know these wolves well. It was clearly them.
“The rancher wishes to remain anonymous so as not See WOLF on page 18
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Sisters Salutes ..................7 Announcements...............10 Bunkhouse Chronicle .......13 Crossword .......................21 Meetings .......................... 3 News Nuggets ................... 8 Entertainment ................. 11 Obituaries .......................21 Classifieds................. 22-23