The Nugget Vol. XLVIII No. 25
POSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
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Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Rodeo draws big names, big money, big scores Class
of 2025 springs forward
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
“This may be a small town, but this is no small rodeo,” said Cal Weaver of Prineville. He was attending Sunday for what he guesses is about his 200th rodeo. He’s been to all the biggies: Houston, Las Vegas, Calgary, Pendleton, Ellensburg and a dozen more marquee rodeos. “And it’s not local,” he added. “Sure, you got a lot of Oregon cowboys, a few from Prineville actually, but look at who’s here — a who’s who in the rodeo world.” He’s right about that. Number two world-ranked Rocker Steiner scored 87.5 in bareback bronc riding, but Wacey Schalla turned in a whopping 89. Saddle bronc rider Zachary Dallas, seventh in the world, took home a first place $6,007 with an 86.5. Seventh-ranked Rawley Johnson, with an 80 in bull riding pocketed second place with $5,142 but lost to Cade Griego who racked up an 84 with a $6,707 payday.
By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent
It wasn’t just the rodeo gathering crowds this week as 100 members of class of 2025 from Sisters High School celebrated commencement on Friday, June 13, in a packed gymnasium. For this group, which started high school on the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic and ended on the heels of a community tragedy, there remained much positivity to commemorate. Steve Stancliff, Sisters High School principal, welcomed families and friends to the event and acknowledged the loss of Reid Woodson, a Sisters High School junior who died earlier in the week, with a moment of silence. A moving rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner sung by the Sisters High School
See RODEO on page 9
PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT
See GRADUATION on page 14
Sisters rallies around grieving SHS students
Sisters scores major tournament
Sisters is rallying around students and staff of Sisters High School left grieving at the news that a 17-year-old Sisters student was killed in single-vehicle crash last week. The crash occurred overnight on June 10-11, on Highway 242 near Cold Springs Campground. The vehicle driven by Reid Woodson impacted a tree. Oregon State Police is not releasing any further information on the crash. The Tri-County School Response Team operated by High Desert Education Service District provided grief counseling support for both staff and students through the week at Sisters High School, and Sisters School District hired an extra counselor for the week
A competitive field of 184 players, consisting of 92 professionals and 92 amateurs, teed it up last week at Aspen Lakes Golf Course for the 2025 Pelzer Golf Oregon Open Invitational. The event featured both individual and team competitions, with participants competing in fourplayer teams across stroke play and Four-Ball formats. PGA Professional Jamie Hall of PNW Golf Academy captured the individual championship with rounds of 64-72-68 — 204, finishing at 12-under par. He finished three strokes ahead of defending champion and 2017 winner, PGA Professional Russell Grove of Eastern Washington University, who placed second. PGA Professional Blake Snyder, also of PNW Golf Academy, finished third.
Inside...
By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
to be present for students. Other resources for further care include the School Based Health Clinic and Hospice of Redmond, as well as Deschutes County Behavioral Health and private counseling accessed through Care Solace at 588-515-0595. As one staffer put it, school staff absorbed a tremendous amount of the care for students. SHS also shared information with parents about how to support their teens with resources from the Portland Based Dougy Center (dougy.org) which has a wealth of information regarding grief. Sisters High School Principal Steve Stancliff offered a moment of silence at the beginning of commencement ceremonies on Friday in honor of Woodson.
Letters/Weather ...................... 2 Meetings ................................. 3
Announcements......................10 Entertainment ........................ 11
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Aspen Lakes hosted a major golf tournament last week, drawing hundreds of golfers in individual and team competition. Brian Miller of Prineville Country Club and Sam Renner of Awbrey Glen Golf Club shared low amateur honors. The winning team featured PGA Professional Your Story Matters ..................15 Crossword ............................. 20
Jamie Hall and his brother, amateur William Hall (also of PNW Golf Academy), alongside PGA Professional Nicholas Long (Overlake See TOURNAMENT on page 11
Classifieds.........................21-22 Sudoku .................................. 23