The Nugget Vol. XLVII No. 13
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Fire district has a strong volunteer culture By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
Helping people in need — that’s the fundamental mission and purpose of the men and women who volunteer with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. There are many different ways to help fulfill that mission — and many paths to becoming a volunteer. “My journey with the fire service has been long,” Firefighter Kevin Cramer told The Nugget last week. “It’s got a lot of holes in it; it’s not continuous.” As a young man, he was on a path toward the fire service in southern Missouri, but deviated from that course for marriage and a job in Chicago. He was living in Seattle when he decided he was pretty much done with corporate life, and he explored switching careers into the fire service. However, as he talked with friends in the field, he realized that the vast majority of calls in the fire service are medical — and that wasn’t where his heart and interest lay. “If it’s all medical, that would be hard for me,” he realized. So he set the dream aside
Correspondent
The primary election is May 21 and ballots will be mailed May 1. There are only two races. One for County Commissioner Position #2, and the other for Deschutes County Sheriff. Both are four-year terms. There are eight measures on the ballot, none affecting Sisters nor which Sisters voters can vote. This is the first commissioner election since voters approved a measure to make such races non-partisan. Thus the top two vote getters will appear on the November ballot. Phil Chang is the incumbent for Position 2 and
Inside...
School district looks into allegations By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief
PHOTO PROVIDED
Kevin Cramer took a long and winding path to service as a volunteer firefighter with Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District. again. When he and his fam- he thought. (SCSFD). The District is ily moved to Sisters five He met with Captain Jeff currently accepting appliyears ago so that his daughter Liming to inquire about vol- cations for the upcoming Tatum could attend Sisters unteering — and he’s been at Spring Volunteer Firefighter High School, he saw the vol- it ever since. Academy, set to begin April unteer firefighters working This spring, there is an 24. There is a particular need at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt opportunity for others to fol- for volunteers for the Camp Show. low the desire to serve into Sherman and Whychus “Here it is in my life again volunteering with the Sisters— different circumstances,” Camp Sherman Fire District See VOLUNTEER on page 11
Candidates seek to serve Sisters By Bill Bartlett
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
is seeking re-election. Judy Trego, executive director of Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, and Rob Imhoff of Bend, owner of Broken Top Window Coverings, filed to run against Chang. Samuel Facey of La Pine filed and then withdrew. Thirty minutes before the filing closing deadline, Brian Huntamer of Bend added his name to the race. Huntamer is currently unemployed but lists real estate, construction, and drug and alcohol counseling in his background statement. More details of the candidates will be found in the voters pamphlet to be mailed See CANDIDATES on page 4
Sisters School District officials and other agencies will look into potentially inappropriate texts between a Sisters teacher and a former student believed to be 17. The texts came to light in social media posts on Sunday, March 25, involving choir and Americana Project teacher Rick Johnson. “We’re aware of the issue,” Sisters Schools Superintendent Curt Scholl told The Nugget Monday afternoon. “Can’t comment on personnel issues, but we’re working with all the agencies on the matter.” As is standard practice for mandatory reporters, the agencies involved are the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. Scholl said that information, complaints, or concerns See ALLEGATIONS on page 18
Airport drops holiday attraction By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
After conferring with its attorneys and insurance advisor, Sisters Eagle Airport has decided against continuing its annual July 4th event known as Rumble on the Runway. As The Nugget reported earlier this month, the very popular event has grown in size to the point where risk leaves the airport vulnerable. Last week, Rotary Club of Sisters, Citizens4Community (C4C) and Explore Sisters met in an emergency setting to discuss alternatives for an Independence Day family event of similar appeal and scale. They plan to engage other community organizations to assess the feasibility of pulling off a comparable
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Sisters Eagle Airport is enhancing its facilities. The owners are focusing on the aviation core of their business. event over the next three months. Airport co-owner Julie Benson told The Nugget “This all started out as a celebration of aviation and has grown far beyond that” — referring to the car show, 5K run, and amateur drag racing
held during the day-long gathering. “We are in the aviation business, that is our mission, and this is not core to our business.” She added, “We are grateful for all the encouragement See AIRPORT on page 21
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Announcements...............10 Life is a Game ..................15 Tight Lines...................... 20 Classifieds................. 22-23 Meetings .......................... 3 Entertainment ................. 11 Obituaries .................. 18-19 Crossword .......................21 Sudoku ........................... 23