The Nugget Vol. XLVII No. xx
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Rodeo delivers on Western action
after a major campaign by PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) went mainstream. The results have been nothing short of spectacular. And never more so than See RODEO on page 26
See ROAD on page 22
The Sisters Rodeo offers a substantial purse on the second weekend in June, which always draws top cowboys and cowgirls who head to Sisters to compete in the Biggest Little Show in the World.
Correspondent
Like the many before it, the 2024 Sisters Rodeo left spectators thrilled and delighted. Despite an alarming situation Saturday night when a bull jumped out of
the arena and ran through the Rodeo grounds (see related story, page 1), the crowds lucky enough to get a ticket for the sold out performances were treated to world class entertainment. “I don’t think most people see rodeo as being in
Bull goes rogue — and viral — at rodeo By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
In two terrifying minutes, a bull in the range of 1,900 pounds eluded wranglers on the Sisters Rodeo arena floor and like a deer, running at full speed, jumped the fence in the red section at the arena’s southern end. The bull catapulted its bulk over the sixfoot metal fence before exiting the red section entry way and into the food court. This was the conclusion to Saturday night’s sellout event, the fourth of the five scheduled presentations of the 84th Sisters Rodeo. Fans scattered in all directions, horrified as the bull — later identified by the name Party
Inside...
Bus — sought its bearings. Within seconds of clearing the metal fence the rodeo announcer activated the Rodeo’s emergency response plan. That sent a dozen or more Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies in motion. Only the rodeo clown, JJ Harrison, and the bullfighters beat them to where the bull jumped. Running with all their might from one end of the arena to the other they too hopped the fence and gave fruitless chase. As fans dove and toppled to avoid the charging bull, some who looked like they had ranching experience joined in the See BULL on page 29
the entertainment business,” said legendary announcer Wayne Brooks. Until 2000 rodeo was an old sport with a deeply rooted tradition and culture that is neither familiar nor comfortable to every American. That was the year
Crews target July 4 for road opening Construction crews are hard at work on the east side of McKenzie Pass and plan to have Highway 242 above the gate paved and open by the morning of July 4. Last week, crews began paving preparation work beyond the gate of the seasonally closed pass. Only the east side of the pass is under construction, but the west side will also remain closed at the gate just beyond Linton Lake until July 4. Limited space for vehicles to turn around on the west side makes it unsafe to open any further towards the summit, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Once the freshly paved pass opens above the gate, there will still be some construction work occurring. Tasks like striping, putting up signage, and clean-up may cause minor delays. Paving on the east side section of the highway
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
By Bill Bartlett
PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15
Elementary school nears completion By Jim Cornelius & Matt Van Slyke Sisters’ new $33.8 million elementary school is substantially completed. There’s a lot of finish work yet to be done, but the Sisters School District has a scheduled move-in date of June 24, with keys handed over July 15. The project is on time and on budget, though there have been some alterations due to increased construction costs. The gym is a little smaller than originally planned, and a planned rollup door to the outside of the library was scrapped in favor of a large window. However, the gym remains expansive, striped for activities ranging from dodgeball to pickleball, and capable of holding two physical education classes
PHOTO BY MATT VAN SLYKE
Supt. Curt Scholl led members of the citizen Bond Oversight Committee on a tour of the nearly finished Sisters Elementary School last week. at the same time. The gym is expected to be well-used. “ T h a t ’s t h e b i g g e s t request in wintertime,” said
Superintendent Curt Scholl. “That’s the biggest request See SCHOOL on page 9
Letters/Weather ............... 2 Announcements...............10 Neighbors .................. 13-20 Obituaries .......................21 Crossword ...................... 29 Meetings .......................... 3 Entertainment ................. 11 Stars and Stripes ....... 18-20 The Ranger’s Corner........ 28 Classifieds................. 30-31