The Nugget Vol. XLVI No. 40
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News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
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Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Sisters immersed in music over weekend SMS
adjusting Outdoor School
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
The 2023 Sisters Folk Festival — the 26th — opened Friday under Portland-like weather, with a steady mist under overcast skies, the temperature just barely reaching 50. Appearing on seven stages scattered around town, artists did their best to boost the mood and stay warm. Attendees warmed to their sounds and musicianship. Beer sales dipped and coffee and cocoa sales soared. Folks huddled under well-placed, patio-style propane heaters, but none were complaining. Being serious music lovers, they were commiserating with artists struggling to tune their instruments against the climate barriers. They were still keenly engaged while strategizing how to see it all – 33 acts from all over the world representing multiple genres of roots music, from folk and bluegrass to jazz and country-blues. The Festival sold out well before the weekend’s events got underway. As usual, folks came from around a dozen states, some driving all night and day to get here. Angie and Tad
By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Correspondent
Signs of autumn are everywhere — cooler days, turning leaves, seasonal rain, and thankfully, snow returning to our mountains. And there are hunters, archery and rifle, taking to the woods in search of game. Central Oregon has a rich and deep hunting tradition, often running multiple generations. As more hunters are visible from late September into November, so too are those charged with keeping them safe and in compliance. That duty falls upon the Oregon State Police. Oregon is one of only two states, the other being Alaska, where
Inside...
See FOLK FEST on page 14
See OPTION on page 19
PHOTO BY TIM LEBARGE
Bab L’Bluz brought a Moroccan flair to the stage at Sisters Folk Festival. Walton, who left Cedar City, Utah after work Thursday, rolled in at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon. “ We a t h e r ? What weather?” they cracked. “Hey, we came for the music, not the scenery, even though that’s pretty amazing,” Angie allowed. Like many, they came underdressed in fleece and flannels, when parkas and wool ponchos were the day’s predominant attire.
Hunting season in full swing around Sisters By Bill Bartlett
All Good Things in Sisters. Crowds grew in size, as did their enthusiasm. Talk about the weather ceased and all conversation turned to the main attraction: music. Lots of it. Eateries, stunted Friday night, were crammed full all day Saturday and into the late evening. And suddenly everybody was a critic or music promoter heaping
Sisters Middle School (SMS) is modifying its Outdoor School program, which runs October 16-18 at Camp Tamarack west of Sisters. In response to a variety of parent concerns, the school is offering an option for students to attend only during the day rather than staying overnight, and the opportunity for parent volunteers to stay overnight at the camp, according to SMS Principal Tim Roth. Last year, the Outdoor School experience became a focus of controversy when the Culver School District pulled students from a threeday/two-night excursion to the camp after some of them reported feeling uncomfortable with the gender identity of some of the high-schoolage counselors. Sisters
wildlife protection is under the auspices of a police agency rather than a civilian administrative unit such as a fish and game commission. There are 126 sworn officers with OSP (Oregon State Police) Fish and Wildlife Division, all fully trained state troopers just like the ones who enforce traffic or work in the criminal division. These officers have additional training but unlike their patrol counterparts are rarely seen. They work deep in the woods, marshes, prairies, rivers, and skies. The OSP Fish and Wildlife Division maintains four aircraft used for a variety See HUNTING on page 18
“Inside the tents it’s just fine, actually not stuffy like when it’s hot,” mused Jerry Fiedler from Boise. “I’m good with it. The music more than makes up for any drizzle. Not sure how the fiddlers are coping.” Saturday was a whole other story as the sun gradually started a takeover around 10 a.m. By noon, when bands were taking stage, it was as if the climate gods said: There Shall Be Sun and Fun and
Neighborhood changes its name By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
A substantial contingent of residents turned out on a drippy Friday afternoon, September 29, to mark the renaming of their neighborhood. The subdivision off of Wilt Road north of Sisters formerly known as Squaw Creek Canyon Estates is now officially Whychus Canyon Estates. The neighbors unveiled an updated and restored neighborhood sign in an informal observance on Friday. The change lines the neighborhood up with the name of the canyon and creek it overlooks. Squaw Creek was renamed Whychus Creek in 2006, as the state of Oregon began to eliminate
PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS
Residents of the newly renamed Whychus Canyon Estates unveiled a new neighborhood sign last week. geographical names featuring the word “squaw,” which was deemed offensive by some Native American people. Whether the Algonkianlanguage term for a young
woman is or should be universally considered offensive is debated. In any case, the renaming of the creek tapped a historical See WHYCHUS on page 18
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Announcements...............10 Scottie Wisdom & Faith ....16 Fun & Games ....................18 Sudoku ............................21 Meetings .......................... 3 Entertainment .................12 Student of the Month ....... 17 Crossword ...................... 20 Classifieds..................21-23