The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLIX No. 16 // 2026-04-22

The Nugget

Cloverdale Fire District seeks funding

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Cloverdale Fire District is going to voters in May to seek additional funding to support the operations of the fire service — which Fire Chief Thad Olsen says are under strain.

Chief Olsen told The Nugget that emergency call volume has increased 44 percent over four years, with a 15 percent jump last year alone. The increased demand for service comes as the district struggles to maintain an active volunteer cadre. That tracks with a nationwide downward trend in volunteerism for fire departments. According to Olsen, costs

See CLOVERDALE on page 18

City mulls increase to transportation SDC

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

Fees charged to developers to cover the impacts of growth on transportation infrastructure may increase substantially in Sisters — but likely over a period of years.

In their April 22 workshop, the City of Sisters Council will review the City’s June 2026 Transportation System Development Charge (SDC) update, which was last updated in 2019. An increase

See

Students IGNITE in Sisters

By Lilli Worona Correspondent

14

Wolf census shows growth

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Oregon’s wolf population continued its comeback in 2025, with new data showing both growth in numbers and an expanding footprint across the state, along with rising tensions in ranching country.

The minimum known wolf population reached 230 animals by year’s end, up from 204 in 2024, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in its annual wolf report. Biologists documented 30 packs statewide, including 23 that qualified as breeding pairs, a significant jump from 17 the previous year. A breeding pair is defined as an adult male and female raising at least two pups that survive through the end of the year.

The Metolius Pack was recorded at three in number in 2026. The breeding male was illegally killed in 2025. A male wolf originally from the Indigo Pack in Klamath County joined the surviving Metolius group last summer.

As students returned to

See IGNITE on page 17

Ask anyone working in public education: Things have changed in the past few years. When COVID-19 hit, schools across the nation were pushed almost overnight into digital learning, which laid bare long-standing inequities, changed scheduling expectations for students and teachers, and sparked a broader reexamination of how education works.

In addition to established packs, researchers identified 13 smaller groups of two or three wolves that had not yet formed full packs.

Thirty-eight percent of known Oregon wolves inhabited the West WMZ (Wolf Management Zone) at the end of 2025, an increase from 24 percent in 2024. The wolf count in this zone, which includes Sisters Country, increased from 49 to 88 and the breeding

pairs increased from seven to eight. Wolves continued to expand in distribution with three new packs in the Cascades. Eight wolves were documented alone or in pairs in Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Wasco counties.

OPINION

Letters to the Editor…

Pope and politics

To the Editor:

President Trump has suggested the Pope stay out of politics. Isn’t that what Hitler told the Pope around 1930? Soon to be Pope Pius XII agreed to stay out of politics and didn’t speak out against the Holocaust. That didn’t end well.

Jeff Spere

s s s

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer’s name, address, and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond, or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday.

Sisters Weather Forecast

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To the rodeo family…

By Marcus Peck Guest Columnist

There has been a whirlwind of activity around our rodeo lately.

We need each and every one of you to stand with our rodeo family. It seems there has been a disconnect between the Board and the [Sisters Rodeo] Association members. I was saddened and disappointed that only one board member attended last year’s Grand Marshal Mike [Shepherd]’s memorial. Mike was a good friend and deserved better representation from our Board. Over 100 people attended the memorial, while only about 50 members attended the previous Association meeting. That tells you something. Thank you, Dani, for being there.

The egos of some of the recent leaders have not served the membership well. There are other board members who need to rein in a “my way or the highway” attitude. For over 80 years, we have been a family-based rodeo. In recent years, it feels like we have shifted toward a money-driven model, with outside influences shaping decisions and pushing us to operate like a large-scale rodeo. As Frank Jacobsen pointed out, a beer at our rodeo now costs more than one at the NFR.

I want to remind the Board that you are there to serve the Sisters Rodeo Association. We will never be a Pendleton-sized rodeo, nor should we try to be. We simply don’t have the space to grow that way.

Instead, we should focus on being exactly what we are — a hometown rodeo. I have been a member of SRA for 20 years, and I remember when we truly had fun. Hans spoiled us with his cooking, and Glen always reminded us that growth should come in “baby steps.” We honored our past presidents, and the entire Board showed up for members’ memorials. We were a true rodeo family.

To current Board

members: let’s shift the focus back to the community. Consider returning from a nine-member to a full 13-member board to better share the workload. We need to create opportunities where local businesses can afford to participate and show their support. Let’s also work with our neighbors — if we treat them well, they will do the same for us.

I have been a fire first responder for over 55 years and have seen the devastating impact of drunk driving. I strongly believe our rodeo should end by 10 p.m. and that alcohol service should stop after the final bull ride. It does not make sense to close beer booths early while continuing service at the Red Rock Saloon. We should consider letting local establishments handle the late-night activity. This is something the membership should weigh in on—perhaps through a vote.

After the Party Bus incident, we raised the arena fence by six inches. But can we afford the consequences if a drunk driver crosses the line? I would rather see this rodeo continue for another 80-plus years than risk losing everything over a preventable tragedy. The longterm survival of our rodeo is more important than shortterm alcohol revenue.

Lastly, I want to thank Scott [Talerico, former president] for attending other rodeos and bringing back ideas. I haven’t agreed with every change, but that’s exactly why we, as an Association, need to step up and contribute to a shared vision—one-year, three-year, five-year, and long-term plans. Failure to plan is planning to fail. Let me reiterate: We all need to have a voice in the future of our Hometown Rodeo. Each of you brings valuable experience and perspective. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

To the Board: Reconnect with your members. Greet them, engage with them, and be the welcoming hosts of this rodeo family.

Views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and are not necessarily shared by the Editor or The Nugget Newspaper.

COMMUNITY

Contestants in the SHS Pageant stage a number of fundraising events, including a pie-in-the-face spectacle. Funds raised support Family Access Network.

Pageant raises funds for FAN

By Olivia Nieto Correspondent

The Sisters High School Pageant is a long-standing tradition whose importance in the Sisters community can’t be understated. This fundraiser for Family Access Network (FAN) highlights 16 SHS seniors for their involvement, leadership, and spirit throughout their time in high school. The students commit themselves to months of work and multiple events such as the Pasta Feed and Pie in the Face, which cumulatively raised over $6,000 for the organization.

FAN strives to offer aid to Central Oregon families in need by connecting them to various resources such as food, shelter, heating, and health care.

“As a FAN mom I found

myself without a job and without money to pay rent,” said Perla Ruiz, a FAN client turned advocate for the Bend and La Pine area. “I didn’t know what I was going to do until my son walked in through the door and said he knew about FAN and that they could help us…I was overwhelmed and happy to know that there are people out there that can help people like me.”

Their impact on families and children has amounted to nearly 8,000 people served between the 20242025 school year with all of the clients reporting a positive impact on their lives.

Participation in the pageant is meaningful to students on multiple levels; they help an important local cause while developing their skills and character.

“The pageant has

The pageant has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and bond with other seniors that I otherwise wouldn’t have all while supporting FAN. — Teegen Schwartz

allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and bond with other seniors that I otherwise wouldn’t have all while supporting FAN,” said contestant Teegen Schwartz.

The community is invited to mark calendars for April 25 at 6 p.m. for

See PAGEANT

Tree planting on tap for Arbor Day

This Arbor Day, Friday, April 24, the City of Sisters will be hosting a community tree-planting event noon to 1:30 p.m. The event will kickoff at Sisters Park & Recreation District, 611 E. Cascade Ave., with a brief introduction and a tree -planting demonstration.

City staff and attendees will plant 12 ponderosa seedlings near the back of the site.

“All are welcome to join,” City staff stated in a press release. “Bring your friends, family, and civic pride.” Refreshments will be provided.

The City of Sisters has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a designated Tree City USA

for its 19th year. Since 2007, the City has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to preserving and efficiently managing our urban forest by:

• Maintaining the Urban Forestry Board.

• Having a community tree ordinance.

• The creation and adoption of the Urban Forest Management Plan.

• Spending at least $2 per capita on its urban forestry.

• Observing Arbor Day with an annual tree-planting event which includes reciting the official Arbor Day proclamation.

For more information contact Sarah Vowell, Associate Planner, at 541323-5216 or svowell@ ci.sisters.or.us.

AI plays minimal role in Sisters classrooms

By

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a defining feature of the high school experience, with the vast majority of students in grades 9–12 now using it as a regular part of their academic lives. According to College Board surveys conducted in early 2025, the share of high school students using generative AI tools for schoolwork grew from 79 percent to 84 percent in

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

Mon., noon, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-610 -7383. Alcoholics Anonymous

Monday, 5 p.m., Shepherd of t he Hills

Lutheran Church • Tuesday, noon, Big Book study, Shepherd of t he Hills Lutheran Church • Wednesday, 7 a.m.,G entlemen’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church • Thursday, noon, Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Thursday, 7 p.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Fr iday, noon, Step & Tradition meeting, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 5 41-5 48 -0 440. Saturday, 8 a.m., Episc opal Church of the Transf iguration • Sunday, 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration Central Oregon F ly Tyers Guild

For Saturday meeting dates and loc ation, email: steelef ly@msn.c om Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) Sisters Chapter meets monthly for a meeting, group bike ride, or event. Contact sistersrep@cotamtb.com for info.

Ch eck- I n Circle: Come a s you are Open c ircle for simple check-ins, self-ref lection, and authentic c onnection.

1st & 3rd Mondays, 4:3 0 p.m., at The Hub, 291 E. M ain Ave. RSV P: 503 -6 88 -4 881.

Ci tizens4Communit y C ommunity

Builders meeting, 3rd Wednesday of ever y mont h, 10 to 11:30 a.m. V isit

citizens 4c ommunity.c om for loc ation.

Council on Aging of Cen tral O regon

Senior Lunch In- person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Grab -and -go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs 12:3 0 to 1 p.m. Sisters C ommunity Church. 5 41-4 8 0-18 43 East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wed. (September- June), Stitchin’ Post . A ll are welcome. 5 41-5 49 -6 061.

Go Fish Fishing G roup 3rd Monday 7 p.m., Siste rs C ommunity Church. 541-771-2211

Hear twarmers (f leec e blanketmaker s) 2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Siste rs Communit y Church. M ater ials provided. 541- 408 -8 505.

Hero Q uilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 5 41-6 68 -1755

Living Well W ith Dementia Sisters Care Partner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Sisters Park & Recreation District Communi ty Center. 5 41-588 -0547.

Mili tary Parent s of Sisters Meetings are held quarter ly; please c all 5 41-388 -9 013.

Oregon Band of Brothers Sisters Chapter meets Wednesda ys, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 5 41-5 49 -6 469.

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., m eeting by Zoom. 503- 93 0- 6158

Sisters Area Photography Club 2nd Wednesday, 3:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Communit y Church. 5 41-5 49 -6157.

Sisters Area Woodworkers First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 5 41-231-18 97

Sisters Bridge C lub Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sistersb ridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Suppor t G roup 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Park & Rec. Communit y Center. 5 41-588 -0547. (Meets with Living W ell With Dementia Sisters)

Sisters Cribbage C lub Wednesdays, 11 a.m. at The Lodge, 411 E. Car penter Lane. 5 09 -9 47-574 4.

Sisters Garden C lub For monthly meetings visit: SistersGardenClub.com.

Sisters Habitat for Humanit y Board of D irectors 4th Tuesday, 4:3 0 p.m.

Location infor mation: 5 41-5 49 -1193.

Sisters Kiwanis 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at SPR D in Sisters 541- 632- 3663

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Element ar y School Commons. 9 17-219 -8298

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon to 1 p.m., at SPR D. 5 41-760 -5 64 5.

Sisters Veterans no- host lunch, Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Rest aurant.

All veterans welcome, 5 41-241-6 56 3.

Sisters Trail s Alliance Board M eetings take p lac e every other month, 5 p.m. In -person or zoom. Contact: info@ sisterstrails.org.

Songwriters Sharing Circl e

All ages welcome. 2nd Wednesday 6 p.m., at The Hub, 5 41-977-8 49 4.

Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of D irectors M eets 2nd Tuesday, 10 a.m., TSID Off ic e. 5 41-9 03 -405 0.

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 541- 419-1279

VF W Post 813 8 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., The Hub, 291 E. M ain Ave. sistersveterans@gmail. com.

SCHOOLS

Black But te School Board of Direc tors 3rd Tuesday 9 a.m., Black But te School. 5 41-595 -6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m onthly, Sisters School District Administr ation Building. See schedule a t www.ssd 6.org. 541- 549-8 521 x5 002.

just a few months between January and May.

A separate report from the Center for Democracy and Technology put the figure even higher, finding that 86 percent of students in grades 9–12 used AI during the 2024–25 school year. By any measure, AI use at this level is no longer a fringe behavior. It appears to be the norm. AI use in middle school is substantial and growing rapidly, though it still trails high

CITY & PARKS

Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:3 0 p.m., Siste rs Cit y Hall 541- 549- 6022

Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Direc tors 2nd Tues., 4 p.m.,

Sisters

FIRE & POLICE

Black But t e Ranch Police Dept Board of Direc tors M eets monthly 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date

Black

Sister s- Camp She rman RFPD Board of Direc tors 3rd Tuesday 9 a.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 5 41-5 49 -0771.

Sister s- Camp She rman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Siste rs Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 5 41-5 49 -0771.

Fathers and sons take mission trip to Nicaragua

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Participants in Get Strong Ministries of Sisters accomplished multiple goals on a spring break mission trip to Nicaragua last month. They spread the gospel to the people in Managua, they cultivated ongoing relationships with gym-goers, and they bonded with each other.

Steve Folin and his 11-year-old son Abram, Ryan Hudson and his son Luke, also 11, and Troy Bliss and his son Weston, age 15, traveled to Managua March 13-20, where they connected with missionary Nick Calhoun and his sons who live in Nashville, Tennessee, and work in Nicaragua in an expedition that Troy Bliss described as “humbling” and “heavy.”

“They have nothing,” he said, describing many of the people the group met while sharing the gospel on the streets of Managua. “They’re joyful, humble, outside in the park — with each other. For me, I enjoyed mostly the house visits, out on the streets with regular people.”

“It was an emotional trip,” Folin said.

Hudson, a Sisters strength coach and the leader of Get Strong Ministries, described the mission: sharing the

gospel, assisting ministries including two churches, a school for special needs children and visiting four gyms.

Part of Get Strong’s program is to work through vigorous group exercise to build bonds among people and share their faith message.

“The gym relationship is an important part of Get Strong Ministries,” Hudson said.

The men fixed a school door, refurbished furniture, contributed bags of goods, including food, and did “whatever those ministries needed,” Hudson said.

The children played pickup games of volleyball and tag with local kids in parks that impressed the Sisters group with their quality. The youths were “best friends by the time we had to say bye,” Hudson said.

“The pool was super fun,”

Abram Folin said.

The Sisters group were struck by how much time the people in Managua spent together outside.

One of the churches the group worked with is being “replanted” after its pastor left. The Sisters group helped the new pastor run a Sunday school, and drew people to the church in their “street ministry.”

“There were people that we invited who are still going

weeks later who weren’t going before,” Hudson said.

That is a significant metric of success for the group.

While the group was focused on its work, there was a significant component of father-son bonding with the group spending so much time working and playing together. The trip was, in a sense, a father-son retreat.

That is another key focus of Get Strong Ministries, according to Hudson.

“‘Intentional’ fatherhood is kind of a theme,” he said.

Weston Bliss, being four years older than his compatriots, was a kind of older brother figure to the younger ones.

“It was great to see Wes in that big brother role with these guys,” his father said.

Hudson concurred.

“He was never too cool for the young ones,” he said.

Folin reflected that the trip allowed for time well spent without distractions.

“We did a lot, but for the most part it was a slower, more intentional pace,” he said.

The trip culminated in a five-mile hike.

“It was hard, but it was worth it,” Luke Hudson said.

Abram learned that hard effort is the best seasoning for a meal. The post-hike meal felt like a feast.

“That was the best meal

Get Strong Ministries took three sets of fathers and sons to Nicaragua where they ministered to people in Managua and connected with others through working out together.

I’ve ever had!” he exclaimed.

“It tastes so good because you’re so hungry!”

“I think the father-son spring break trip is a tradition now,” he said.

For more information, visit www.getstrongsisters. com.

Get Strong Ministries is planning a high school trip for summer. The “other half” of the Folin family is planning to be part of that one. Other trips are in the works — and Hudson expects to repeat this.

SAA 4th Friday Artwalk a community event

By Helen Schmidling Correspondent

Sisters Arts Association’s Fourth Friday Artwalk takes place this week, and it’s also Arbor Day. As trees are planted, or begin to bud, in Sisters, it’s a great time to gather with friends and walk through local galleries. Artists will be on hand to discuss their work, and light refreshments will be served between 4 and 7 p.m. in most galleries. Here’s what’s happening:

Hood Avenue Art features metal and sculpture artist Breezy Anderson, painters Anne Gibson and Patty Freeman-Martin, and bead jeweler Karen Evans. Each artist will showcase a curated selection of their work, reflecting the diverse range of styles, perspectives, and creative voices in Central Oregon. The gallery will also host the musical talents of The Riverstones, a local folk band mixing Americana grit with Celtic melodies.

The Rickards Gallery’s featured artists are Chris Warren and Leslee Burtt. For nearly 40 years, Leslee and her longtime friend and business partner, Chris, have been handcrafting unique baskets and gourd art in the Portland area. They have sold at the Rickards Gallery for 26 years. They are known for their intricate pieces that blend natural materials like seagrass, reed and cedar bark into the weaving. They also work with hard shell gourds, which are dyed, pine needled

and finished with semi-precious stones. They are seasoned artists whose work has graced numerous art galleries and shows and also appeared in the book, “500 Baskets.”

Sisters Gallery & Frame features the semi-abstract and natural work of Diane Farquhar Hallstrom of Sisters. While nature is often a subject of her paintings, she also loves to create abstracts, combining both. The gallery also has new work by printmaker Danae Miller, oil painter Lynn Brush, and modernists Lee Morrison and Kathleen Branch.

Stitchin’ Post presents “A Journey Through Time” by the Journeys Art Quilters. As we travel around the world or around our country, images remain in our mind about those trips. These artists have translated their journeys into textile art presenting many favorite places and times in this collection. They are: Betty Gientke, Judith Beaver, Donna Rice, June Jaeger, Helen Bishop,

Marion Shimoda, Jan Tetzlaff, Martha Sanders, Jean Wells, and Mary Stiewig.

Toriizaka Art presents several new works by ceramicist Peter Roussel. Peter works with clay as an act of recollection and devotion. His work, informed by decades of study with potters across countries and cultures, reflects a quiet mastery rooted in tradition yet guided by an unmistakably personal voice. Each vessel and sculptural form carries a sensitivity to balance, texture, and the interplay of light — inviting not only the eye, but the hand. His surfaces speak of the earth from which they come, and of the many histories held within it. For Peter, clay is a connection between past and present. His work is designed to be felt as much as it’s intended to be seen, and he hopes that his pieces resonate a quiet, enduring presence.

Wildflower Studio will feature glass and gifts. Stained glass artist Mitch Saba is showing both fish and mountain landscapes.

Edie Shelton has both glass kitchen items and wall hangings. The Studio is newly stocked with jewelry, skincare, diffusers and candles, and new art prints and cards by local artists.

The Campbell Gallery will not be open during Artwalk this month, but will feature the Sisters High Schools Student Art Showcase in May.

Sign up for SAA’s Quick Draw gift certificates good for $50 at participating galleries. This event is underwritten by Susan Bird, Broker, at Stellar Realty Northwest.

Outlaws softball launches season

The Sisters Outlaws softball team faced La Pine on the road Tuesday and Harrisburg at home, falling 7–10 and 1–16, 0–15.

Sisters High School Athletic Director Matt Hilgers noted that despite the tough results, several players stood out with strong individual performances.

Korinne Dunn, a sophomore catcher, continues to dominate both behind the plate and at bat, carrying an impressive .591 batting average.

Sophomore Maddie Kirkpatrick has stepped up in a big way as the starting third baseman and is batting .525.

Junior Audrey Corcoran made a key defensive play to close an inning with a tag

The Sisters Outlaws softball team is building momentum with strong individual performances, despite taking some tough defeats.

at short followed by a throw to first for the double play, and her speed on the bases has been a major asset for the team.

“As a very young team and the group continues to

show growth and development each game,” Hilgers stated. “The team is making more contact at the plate, getting runners on base, and building momentum for the rest of the season.”

SRPD opens registration for programs

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) announced that registration is now open for a wide variety of summer programs designed to keep kids active, engaged, and having fun all season long. From early childhood opportunities to action-packed day camps and specialty programs, there is something for everyone in the community.

Families can enroll their young learners in SPRD’s Summer Preschool, a program focused on preparing children academically, socially, and emotionally for kindergarten — all while enjoying summer’s fun and energy.

For school-age kids, Camp Ponderosa Day Camp offers a classic camp experience filled with outdoor adventures, games, crafts, and opportunities to build friendships in a safe and supportive environment.

In addition, SPRD is offering a wide range of specialty camps, including options in art, sports, and more. Whether a child is interested in developing a new skill, exploring creativity, or staying active, these camps provide engaging experiences for a variety of interests and age groups.

Looking ahead, families can also register now for fall

preschool and fall sports programs, including soccer, flag football, and tackle football. Early registration is encouraged, as many programs fill quickly.

SPRD remains committed to making recreation accessible to all. Families who may need financial assistance are encouraged to explore the district’s scholarship program, which helps offset program costs for qualifying households.

For more information, to view the full list of programs, or to register, visit the SPRD website or contact the office directly at 541-549-2091.

Outlaws focus and improve on court

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

On Tuesday, April 14, the Lady Outlaws posted a win at No. 3 singles player, in their home match against Madras.

Junior Jayden Durtschi prevailed under very cold and windy conditions and took her opponent to a tiebreaker and won the No. 3 singles match 6-4, 0-7, 10-8. Playing at a singles spot is new to Durtschi, as she had never played singles on her former Mississippi team.

“Jayden is getting smarter every match she plays,” said Coach Bruce Fenn. “She is hitting through her forehand and backhand. Following through makes the ball go faster and the ball is more difficult for the opponent to hit. She is fast around the court and makes good decisions.”

Two of the doubles pairs came out fighting and took their opponents to tiebreakers.

Caitlin Carter played in her first doubles match of the season as she teamed up with Jessica Stahn at No. 1 doubles. They hustled and were competitive throughout but ultimately fell in a tiebreaker 5-7, 6-3, 10-2.

“Jessica’s first serve won them easy points and at the net Caitlin hit volley power shots for winners,” said Fenn. “They move well together. Unforced errors in critical situations were the difference in the match.”

At No. 3 doubles, freshmen duo Maren Labhart and Paige Liddell almost completed an upset but sadly fell in a tiebreaker 7-6 (4), 4-6, 10-5.

“Paige’s fast feet and her effort kept the ball in play from the baseline and Maren covered the net with aggressive volleys for winners,” said Fenn. “As they get more experience playing together with smarter positioning and more consistency they will win lots of matches.”

Of the match Fenn said, “Every loss is difficult, but it motivates the team to prepare better and focus more at practice. The fun enthusiasm of the new freshmen is fun to see. A positive attitude and willingness to prepare to get better will come.”

Sisters was to play at home against The Dalles on Tuesday, April 21. They will play at home against Creswell on Thursday, April 23, and then at home on Saturday against Camas.

Outlaws boys tennis battle in Caldera Tournament

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

The boys tennis squad posted a 5-2 road victory over Madras on Tuesday, April 14. On Friday and Saturday they battled in the Caldera Tournament against tough competition.

At Madras, the Outlaws singles’ lineup adapted quickly to the courts and never let the home crowd momentum affect the matches. Sisters posted wins at the No.1, No. 2, and No. 3 spots.

Dominic Pulver (No. 1) controlled the court from start to finish in his 6-1, 6-1, victory. Coach Vince Grace noted that Pulver’s win was a result of aggressive baseline play and a first-serve percentage that gave his opponent zero rhythm.

Silas Green (No. 2) had a dominant 6-1 first-set win, and he stayed patient during his high-stakes 7-5 win. Grace stated that Silas’ ability to keep his depth on the return was key.

Weston Dean rounded out the singles’ wins at the No. 3 spot with scores of 6-1, 6-2. Grace said that Dean used his footwork to turn defensive points into offensive winners, and kept his opponent on the run.

The Outlaws No. 3 and No. 4 doubles teams stepped up as the deciding factor in the match. When the match was on the line these two doubles pairs played their best tennis of the season.

Lino Barberis and Liam Hubbell defeated their opponents 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 3 spot and Tobann Bionda and Landon Kirkpatrick posted a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 4.

“I am incredibly proud of Lino and Liam and Tobann and Landon,” said Grace. “At No. 3, Lino and Liam’s net play was the sharpest I’ve seen it. They were poaching with confidence

and finishing points early. Tobann and Landon communicated perfectly. Their lob-and-smash game kept Madras off balance, and they stayed disciplined through every deuce point. Our depth is our greatest strength right now.

“This 5-2 win as the visiting team is a huge momentum builder,” said Grace. “The guys had great focus and energy on every court today.”

On Friday at Caldera, the Outlaws split their matches; a 3-2 win over West Salem and then a 2-3 loss to Mt. View, displaying resilience and skill throughout the double-header competition.

In the West Salem match

Pulver, Jack Murray, and Dean (No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 singles respectively) all posted wins for The Outlaws.

Pulver was a force on the court in his win. Grace noted that Dominic utilized a powerful serve to dictate play in his flawless shutout. He also showed great range competing against the top-flight contender.

Grace noted that Murray proved he can perform under pressure, and it really showed in his performance.

Dean was consistent throughout his match and was the anchor of the singles sweep against West Salem. He took the first set 6-4, and then lost 5-7. He came back with incredible stamina in the marathon three-set match and outlasted his opponent with a 13-11 victory in the final tiebreak.

Pulver and Murray both recorded wins in the team’s loss to Mt. View. Pulver won 6-0, 6-2), and Murray posted a 6-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory.

Grace said, “While the team narrowly fell to Mt. View, there was a significant amount of fight shown by the doubles teams. Silas Green and Lino Barberis pushed their No. 1 doubles match to

a full three sets, which illustrated the competitive spirit of the squad.

“Across both matches, the boys showed great progress,” added Grace. “The team will take the lessons learned from these tight sets and continue to build consistency.”

On Saturday, the Outlaws defeated Silverton 4-3, and then fell 1-5 to Hood River.

Against Silverton, Sisters got wins at the No.1, 2, and 4 singles spots and another win at No. 1 doubles.

Dean moved to No. 1 singles and recorded a 7-5, 6-3 win, Green posted a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 2 and Barberis came out on top 6-4, 6-0, at No. 4 singles.

Pulver and Murray teamed up at No.1 doubles and walked off the court with a 6-2, 6-0 victory.

Pulver stepped back into the No. 1 singles spot against Hood River and secured the lone win for the team in two straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

The Outlaws showed incredible resilience across the four meets, and finished the weekend with a balanced record. Although they lost to Mt. View and Hood River, Grace told that the competitive level remained high across every flight.

Pulver was a force on the court, and finished the weekend undefeated with a 4-0 record.

Grace said, “Dominic demonstrated pure domination at the No. 1 singles spot, dictated by heavy topspin and a relentless first-strike mentality that left opponents

with no room to find a rhythm.”

Murray finished the tourney with a 3-1 record, which was highlighted by his gritty tiebreaker win against Mt. View and a flawless 6-0 sweep over West Salem.

“Jack’s success is a direct result of superior footwork that consistently puts him in the right position to hit through the ball with power,” said Grace.

Dean showed stamina and mental toughness, especially during his 13-11 tiebreak marathon against West Salem. Dean ended the weekend with two wins, and Grace noted that proved his ability to outlast opponents in extended rallies through sheer physical endurance.

Green had a strong win in his singles match against Silverton and according to Grace showed great tactical growth by utilizing highpercentage cross-court shots to stay competitive and wear down his opponent.

Barberis had a convincing win over Silverton, and was able to close out the second set without dropping a game, which Grace noted demonstrated sharp focus

and the ability to capitalize on momentum.

Grace said, “The last two weeks have been demanding, but a vital stretch for our program. By facing some of the toughest competition we will see all year our squad gained the kind of invaluable experience that only comes from being tested.”

He added, “However, competing at this level has also highlighted a critical challenge. Over these last two weekends, we’ve faced these premier teams with a depleted roster due to various outside commitments. While I recognize the many pressures our student-athletes juggle, these ‘skillbuilding’ games are the foundation of our success. To succeed at districts we need every single member of our 12-roster present and locked in. We’ve proven we can win individual battles, but winning districts is a team effort and will take all 12 supporting one another on and off the court to finish the season the way we intended.”

Sisters was to play at The Dalles, on Tuesday, April 21, in their only match for the week.

Burning season ending soon

If you are planning on burning yard debris — in areas of Sisters where that is allowed — your window of opportunity is closing.

The Northwest Fire agencies consisting of SistersCamp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch Fire District, and Cloverdale Fire District have announced the seasonal end of debris burning at sunset on April 30.

Starting May 1, debris burning will be closed for fire season. Outdoor debris burning within the city limits of Sisters is closed year-round.

Residents and visitors can contact their local fire protection agencies for additional burning information and regulations. Additional restrictions on campfires may be implemented during the hottest parts of summer to help further reduce the risk of fire. Call your local fire agency for more information, or visit each District’s website.

• Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire Protection District: 541595-2288 (www.bbrfire-or. gov).

• Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District: 541-3892345 (cloverdalefire.com),.

• Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District: 541-549-0771 (www.sistersfire.com).

Be sure your home has good defensible space around it to help protect your home from the threat of wildfire. More information about creating defensible space and preparing for the upcoming fire season can be found via the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s website at https://www. oregon.gov/osfm/wildfire/ pages/defensiblespace.aspx.

Be advised that regulations may vary between fire protection jurisdictions. Contact your local, state, or federal fire agency for specific requirements and closures.

How property is annexed in Sisters

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

An annexation is initiated when an owner in the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) of a municipality requests a city to include their property within the city limits. Formerly, municipal voters in Sisters would get a ballot with an annexation request and would vote to accept or not. That was changed by Oregon statutes in 2016.

The City of Sisters’ UGB expansion applications for both the City and Deschutes County, have been sent to their respective planning commissions. After approval by the two commissions, the City Council and Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners will review to approve. After which the State will review to accept. The City does not expect the the work to be completed earlier than July of this year, and the approvals could be delayed by an appeal.

Assuming the possibility of having an approved/ accepted UGB expansion map by July or August, the Council and staff are preparing a new annexation ordinance. Currently, Chapter 1.25 of the Sisters Municipal Code for annexation is delineated in four bullet points (following) which lack rigor and are outdated:

• The council may, in its sole discretion, authorize an annexation election as required by the city charter upon a written request for annexation.

• The person requesting the annexation shall provide to the city any information necessary for the city to place the annexation question on the ballot.

• The council may also, in its sole discretion, require such additional information as it deems necessary for adequate review of the request for annexation.

• The council may hold any hearings or other action required by state law for annexation either prior to or following the annexation election.

Oregon Revised Statute 222.127 of 2016 was passed as a tool for rapid expansion in planned urban areas, bypassing the public vote process when all landowners consent and conditions are met. Therefore, the first and second bullets of the City’s current code are obsolete: No city-wide election and no voter’s ballot is necessary.

The third bullet in current annexation code is lacking actual criteria, requirements, and possible exceptions. The City Council and staff have been working since February to create new annexation code/ordinance to align with ORS 222.127, and Sisters Comprehensive plan. The code will refer to the not yet created UGB area plan – which cannot be completed until after the City’s UGB applications have been approved at the municipal, county, and state levels.

The UGB expansion area plan will define land use areas (commercial,

residential, mixed use, industrial, parks, etc.) and infrastructure (water, sewer, roads). It is a springboard mapping to assure the growth needs defined for the UGB expansion are addressed. Not only is the City required to have the UGB expansion approved and accepted, the area map will also need to be completed before any annexations can occur.

As to the fourth bullet of the current code, public hearings are required because Council is the sole review authority for jurisdictional transfers — properties are going from a county to a city map.

City staff provided Council in the course of two previous workshops an annexation history, current local and state ordinances, and examples of other cities’ annexation codes. Some of Council’s requests to staff were to include a means to ensure development of affordable housing (units made available to buyers at or below 80 percent of area median income); that the annexing process is clear and efficient; that the required application documentation is thorough but not cumbersome, etc. The City’s legal advisors have been engaged throughout this effort.

In the third workshop held April 15, Community

Planner Scott Woodford reviewed with Council the first draft of a new chapter in the Sisters Development Code — Chapter 4.10 Annexation (which includes 10 sections; 4.10.100 through 4.10.1000).

Council raised new considerations relative the area mapping of residential zones to directionally advantage solar energy use; assuring egress and ingress access roads are fire safe (wide enough for fire trucks — numerous enough for evacuations); and pondered adding a satellite fire station. Council asked if the new code will assure landscaping and home hardening codes. Council was not able to complete review of all 10 sections in the two-hour workshop. Council may schedule an added workshop before Council’s planned May meeting to review and approve new annexation code.

Happy anniversary In the PINES

By T. Lee Brown

So here we are. My family, in Sisters Country. Outside the window I see mule deer, gray squirrels, ponderosa pines by the hundreds, the American flag near our front door. Happy anniversary to us. Happy 10th anniversary of our arrival in Sisters.

What brought us here?

I felt a strong draw to the forest — a spiritual tug, a calling.

Our son should be raised among trees, like my husband and I were, not in a city, however adorable and Oregonian our former city was.

I grew up visiting this place, and taking the ski bus from the Valley up to Hoodoo, where I learned to confront my fears and grow strong.

Years later I had a writers’ residency up at Caldera Arts; there I fell in love with the forest newly torched by the B&B fires. I fell in love with the tiny food co-op that was operating here back then; I remember spelt bread

Obituary

February 9, 1970 – April 17, 2026

Thomas Edward Jarrell died peacefully at home April 17. Born into a Navy family in Portsmouth, VA February 9, 1970, he was the fourth of five children of Jerry and Lois (Seacrist) Jarrell. Thomas was the lifelong victim of Cerebral Palsy which ultimately took his life.

He is survived by his parents; sisters Nancy (Greg) Wilson, Donna Carroll, Laura Adams, and Catherine (Stan) Morgan; 10 nieces and nephews; and 19 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Tom was much traveled, first with his navy family to Guam and then the Monterey Bay area of California, but later to Miami, Florida, where his father worked at the National Hurricane Center. There, Tom graduated from Homestead High School and there, along with mother and grandmother, weathered Category 5 Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

and locally raised emu. And I totally fell in love with The Nugget Newspaper.

Perhaps the biggest push out of the city and into Sisters: a far less appealing motivator called mold. I had developed mold illness on the west side of the mountains.

During one summer, our basement was remediated. I had to leave entirely during that. I brought our 3-year-old son to go camping with me.

Being sick, I did not trust myself to camp alone with a preschooler. An old friend and his partner kindly came over from Eugene to keep us company and keep us safe.

We chose a campground near Sisters because it was relatively close to Eugene, to their jobs.

Here’s the weird part. I felt better almost immediately, walking on the thick carpet of amber ponderosa pine needles. Being outside, wandering the manzanita plain with our adorable kid, cooking over the campfire, breathing the dry air, listening to campers around us play their guitars as they returned from Sisters Folk Festival at night... It was magical.

The pines were curing me, I felt, and luring me, too. Luring me into this particular forest at the edge of this particular town.

After another couple years of fighting mold illness back in the Valley, we got out of there.

We lived on the road for a while, my husband and I and our 5-year-old son. Some people with mold and similar illnesses end up living outdoors, in tents, in cars or small trailers they can easily

After graduation, Tom participated in assisted work programs of Miami-Dade County. When his father retired in 2000, the family moved back to California where Tom continued in California state programs similar to those of MiamiDade County. He was in these same type programs for several years after the family moved to Bend in 2004. He was no longer eligible for those programs when Gov. Kate Brown excluded a class of the most needy from participation about 10 years ago. Since then, Tom has been pretty much homebound with some support from weekly or bi-weekly companion visits who took him out into the community. Some of these companions became as close as family and are some of our family’s favorite memories of those years. For the past several months this companion was his niece, Rebekah Pruitt, who was also his primary caregiver and his best friend.

get rid of when mold invariably grows. Once we moved into the forest here, I met many such people.

As we traveled the West Coast, we weren’t 100% sure where we would wind up living, but we’d already put our possessions in storage here. Living in the forest, my health improving, we could usually be found at the same campground where I’d first started feeling better.

We rented an office in town and got memberships at Sisters Athletic Club. At the splash pad we made friends with other kids and their parents. At the sweet little library, we read books and played.

At SPRD, our son got to socialize and play games, granting me several hours a week to work as a freelance writer and consultant, often at Sisters Coffee.

Sisters ended up being where we truly wanted to stay. As summer came to a close, we lived at Black Butte Ranch for a month. Sending our son to full-day kindergarten at the elementary school wrenched my heart. But the school and its people seemed lovely.

We rented a furnished townhouse in town that first winter. If you were here in 2016–2017, you’ll know why we were super-glad to be in town, to live in a housing development where people snow-blow the sidewalks for you. I remember crosscountry skiing over to The Open Door for lunch.

Our nation was splitting apart in a torrent of social media and partisanship. Moving to a purple area dur ing a disturbing presidential race was a challenge.

Through the travels and all the programs, Tom’s sense of humor and his stalwart love for the Lord Jesus are what most people remember about him. Even though Tom was severely disabled his posi tive outlook and “signature” smile significantly impacted those he met. Without saying a word, he had a way of mak ing us all appreciate what we have and making us want to do better.

But, finally getting out of the very blue bubble city where we’d lived, I tried to become more open-minded. Here in Central Oregon there were people of many beliefs, just like in my extended family.

When a letter to the editor stated that people of one belief would leave their neighbors of a different belief to suffer in an emergency, I disagreed. My letter to the editor was published as a guest column under the headline “We are not enemies.”

I remember walking out of Les Schwab, listening to a voicemail message from an unknown number. “Tiffany,” a man’s voice drawled, “you are an excellent writer.”

Yes! I grinned. After I’d admired it all these years, The Nugget was inviting me to contribute.

We bought a house in the pine forest near the beloved campground. We made new friends, volunteered at Sisters Farmers Market, took yoga classes (husband), played basketball (son), and helped out at Scholastic book fairs (me).

It’s been a fruitful and interesting decade. Sometimes I wonder, do I really belong here? Is this place as realistic for middle

class people as it was 10 years ago?

Two of my closest Sisters friends moved away; will I become closer with more folks here, or just spend more of my time wandering the forest alone, which is admittedly one of my favorite things to do?

Regardless, I treasure this special decade, the kindness of so many people here and their resolute decision to maintain a community in the face of social upheaval, differences of opinion, and a pandemic.

Thank you to everyone who has welcomed us, offered warmth and friendship, been willing to have conversations or read my columns with an open mind. May we have many more conversations and opportunities to gather.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll write another version of this column 10 years from now.

In the meantime, I hope Sisters will keep inspiring our kids and imbuing our town with a sense of community. I hope we’ll enact our most compassionate, rooted selves, grounded in laughter and nature and spirit.

In the immortal words of S. E. Hinton: Stay golden, Ponyboy.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 27 at Redmond Memorial Chapel, from 1-2 p.m. with service following.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to St. Jude Children’s hospital.

COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS

PET OF TH E WE EK

Humane Society of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

LITT LE STAR

Li le Sta r i s a 1-yea r- old Ne wfou nd la nd m ix . S he would t hr ive i n a home wit h plent y of s pace to p lay and pat ient owners . S he’l l need reg ul a r bru sh ing a nd grooming to k eep her c oat healthy. Come meet t hi s big pup w it h a big hea r t tod ay!

— SPONSORED BY —

541-549-2275 • 541-549-8836 541-549-2275•

SIST ER S COMM UN IT Y FOOD RE SOURCE S

Free Lu nches for Seniors COACO o ers no-cost

socia l lunc h e ver y Tuesd ay, 11 a .m . to 1 p.m . at Sisters

Commun it y C hu rc h, 130 0 W. McK en zie Hwy

No reser vation s neede d.

No -cost Grab-N-Go

lu nc hes weekly on

Wednesday a nd u rsday, from 12:3 0 to 1 p.m . Cal l 541-79 7-93 67

Week ly Food Pa nt ry

COR E M arket , loc ated at 222 N. Trinit y Way i n Si sters . Mondays , 1 to 2 p. m . I nfo: 5 41-588 -2 332

Free Week ly Meal

Serv ice

Famil y K itchen hos t s a week ly to-go hot mea l on Tuesdays , 4:3 0 to 5:3 0 p.m., at Sisters Com mu nity

Church, 130 0 W. McK en zie

Hw y. I nfo: www

Fami lyKitc hen.org.

Free Pet Food

Need pet food for you r dog or c at? Cal l t he Fur ry

Fr iend s pet food b an k at 541-79 7- 40 2 3 to s chedule

you r pic kup. L oc ated at 412 E . M ai n Ave., Ste. 4, beh ind e Nug get.

Kiwa nis Food Ba nk Located at 382 W. M ai n Ave . Weekly d istr ibut ion i s u rsday s f rom 9 a .m . to 2 p.m . I nfo: 5 41-632 -3 663.

M Perfec tly Commun i-Tea

Suppor ting women on t heir jour ne y f rom t raum a to tr iu mph . e nex t Com mu ni-

Tea e vent w il l be Tuesd ay, A pr il 28 , 3 to 5 p.m . at Sisters L ibra ry

Commun it y R oom . L ea rn

about t he v ision, hea r f rom a n abuse s ur vivor, a nd get i nvolved n helpi ng women i n d i c ult situ at ion s c ha nge t hei r l ives!

For i nfo, c al l A sh ley at 8 43 -87038 4 4 or to don ate, go to www mper fect ly.org

Free Libert y Quar tet Concer t Satu rd ay, A pr i l 2 5 , at 6 p.m . at Si sters Com mu nit y C hu rc h, 13 0 0 McK en zie Hwy. E njoy a Souther n G ospel “concer t of wor sh ip” bridg ing a ll gene ration s . Free ent ry; love o ering t aken . 5 41-5 49 -12 01

Black Bu e Conser va nc y Native Pl ant Sa les

Satu rd ay, M ay 2 3 , 10 a .m . to 2 p. m . at t he Black Bu e R anch

Genera l Store. Nat ive f avor ites like Ida ho Fescue, Pen stemon, Ya rrow, G olden Cur ra nt , a nd Vine M aple w il l be ava il able, a s wel l a s a n e xpanded i nventory of ne w pla nt s . P reorder p la nt s May 1–15 a nd pic k t hem up at the sale or come M ay 2 3 a nd choose you r f avor ites . P reorder here: h ps://givebu er.com/c/ bbc-native -pla nt-sale-2026. Plea se c ontac t lead volunteer Cathy M ic k w it h quest ions , cthmick @g ma il .com, 503 -7804329.

Honey Bees & Brews

Mont hly soc ia l gat hering at Laz y Z R anc h on u rsday, Apri l 2 3 , at 5 p.m . A ll beekeepers a nd w an na-bees welcome. F or more i nfo: C lyde, 458-206 -8 470.

Neig hbors Need Me dica l Rides. You Ca n Help

Aging , d isabled , a nd u nderserved pas sengers depend on STAR S volunteer d river s to reac h med ic a l appoi nt ment s and t he demand i s g rowi ng.

JOI N STA R S NOW to help. You c hoose w hen you d rive. It s e xible , mea ni ng ful, a nd di rectl y s upport s neig hbors who u rgently depend on STAR S to get to c are . Tra ining and m ileage rei mbur sement prov ided . L ea r n more a nd apply: h ps://www.sta rsride org/dr ive-for-us

Th ree Sisters Histor ical Societ y O pen Friday s a nd Sat urdays , 10 a .m . to 4 p.m . at 151 N

Spruce St . TSH S i s seeki ng volu nteers to be M useu m hosts , ma rket ing s upport , resea rc hers , and w riters . No prior museu m ex perience i s requi red . 5 41-610632 3 or E ma i l volunteer@t hree sistersh istorica lsoc iety.org

Cent ra l Oregon Federated Republ ican Women

COFRW meet s t he r st u rsday eac h mont h at A s pen

La kes G ol f Cou rse i n Sisters, 11 a .m.-to 1:3 0 p.m . Luncheon

i s $27. R SV P to c of rw bend @ gm ail.com . Website: www cofr w.org

Fi rst Fr id ay Fa mi ly Fun Bi ngo Night

Fr id ay, M ay 1, D in ner at 5 p.m

Ga mes beg i n at 5:3 0 p.m . i s i s a c ash e vent . $2 0 pac ket

includes t hree c ard s for e ac h of 10 games w it h a loca l merc ha nt gi ca rd awa rde d a s pri ze, plu s a n add it iona l c ard for t he

11t h game featuring $10 0 c ash pr ize. 5 0/5 0 R a e opt ion –ticket s $2 eac h or 6 for $10

One h al f of r a e sale s w il l

bene t Furr y Friends . L oc al s, vi sitors , a nd a l l age s welcome! e Epi scopa l C hu rc h of t he

Tran s g urat ion,121 Brook s

Ca mp R oad , Sisters

Ki nderga rten Roundup

Si sters E lement ar y School w il l hold t hei r a nnua l K indergar ten

Roundup prere gi st ration on Fr id ay, A pr i l 2 4, i n t he school gy mn asiu m at eit her 8 to 9 a.m . or 12 to 1 p.m . Student s wi l l participate i n a teacherled a ct iv it y w hile parents a re involved i n a parent orientation

Plea se s ig n up b y contacting the element ar y school at 5 41549- 8981 or c lick ing on t he

QR code r ig ht on t he website

Ch ildren w ho w il l be 5 yea rs

old on or before September

1, 2 026 , a re e ligible for t he

202 6-27 school yea r. Tou rs

wi l l be o ered to prospec tive

st udents a nd parents w ho

wi sh to se e t he school a nd classrooms . E nrol lment for ms may be pic ked up at t he Sisters

Elementa r y School o ce between 9 a .m . a nd 2 p.m

Form s need to be c ompleted and ret ur ned to t he school o ce . e fol lowi ng doc uments are requi red to reg ister:

* E nrol lment Pac ket

* Copy of B irt h Cer ti cate

* I mmuniz at ion R ecords

* P roof of A dd ress

St udents w il l not be reg istered unti l a l l for m s a re ret ur ned.

Free Mont hly Commun it y Connec tions Event

Enjoy Food , Fun, & More!

Su nd ay, A pr i l 2 6 , 4:3 0 to 6 p.m

Apri l’s eme: Joy. C hu rc h of the Tra ns gu ration, 121 N Brook s Camp R d., Sisters . A n intergenerat iona l e vent – a ll ages welcome! 5 41-5 49 -7087.

Hang s @ The Hangar

Wednesdays , 3:3 0 to 4 :3 0 p.m., Fr id ay s , 7 to 8:3 0 a .m . a nd 1:15 to 2:3 0 p.m . at e H anga r at Si sters Com mu nit y C hu rc h, 13 0 9 W. McK in ne y Bu e R d.

Follow ing t he school schedule for c losu res . Contac t jfoli n@ sistersc hu rc h.com or 5 41-5 4912 01 e xt .208

National Day of Prayer

Gather ing

u rsday, M ay 7, 6 to 7:3 0 p.m

Si sters E lement ar y School, 2155 W. McK in ne y Bu e R d . One

Commun it y - M any Voices. Prayer s for p eace, f amilies , ou r n at ion, hum an it y, hea li ng , ch ildren, compa ssion & t he world. Nondenomi nationa l a nd Mu lt ic ultu ra l; H aw ai ia n Hul a perfor ma nce, Ta i C h i breat hi ng and col lect ive song . Free A dmi ssion . O pen to a l l bel iefs and bac kg rounds . A merica n Sig n L angu age i nter pret at ion prov ided

*No food or d rink s per mi ed. For accom modation s ema il shau na rocha@gm ail.com.

Livi ng Well With Dement ia Sisters Suppor t Groups Suppor t g roups meet t he 2nd and 4 t h Wed ne sd ay of t he mont h f rom 1 to 2:3 0 p.m at Sisters P ark & R ec reat ion Dist ric t Com mu nit y Center. e E arly Stage Suppor t Group meet s i n t he W hychu s R oom. e Care Partner G roup meets i n t he Metol iu s R oom . For in form at ion c al l 5 41-588 -0547.

2026 Lecture SeriesAdaptation: Brain & Body u rsday, A pr i l 3 0, 6 to 7:3 0 p. m . at P ine Meadow R anch Center for A rt s & A gr ic ultu re, 68 467 ree Creek s R d. Spea kers Rya n Barbee (Oregon Ad apti ve Sport s A mbas sador), Bi l l Griesa r & Je Leake (N W Nog gin) sha re t heir rese arc h on t he neu rosc ienc e of bra i n plast ic it y a long w it h the m as sive a nd m ic roscopic ad aptation s t hat d isabled individu al s n av igate. Free a nd open to t he public . R eg istrat ion i s requi red at h ps:// roundhou sefoundation .org / events/. For more i nfo c al l 5 4190 4- 070 0 or ema i l i nquiries@ roundhou sefoundation .org

Sisters Rodeo Pa rade

Appl ic at ion s a re open . B e par t of a longtime t radition . L im ited entr ies; deadline i s M ay 15. Vi sit www.sistersrodeo.com. Cl ic k u nder G et I nvolved a nd l l out t he ent r y online. Parade line up i nfor mation w il l go out by t he r st of June by ema il

Free Veteri na ry Clin ic CA M P (Compan ion A ni ma l Medica l P roject) i s hosting a veteri na r y c linic i n Sisters, t he rst Wed ne sd ay of t he month, 10 a .m . to 12 p.m . at COR E, 222 Trinit y Way. O er ing no -cost pet v acci ne s (includ ing rabies), brief w el lnes s e xa ms , dog/cat food, a nd s uppl ies. CA M P o ers

Wr

u rsday, A pr i l 2 3 , 10:30 a.m . to 12 p.m . Meeti ng Room E njoy t he foc u s of a qu iet s pace w it h t he bene t of others’ compa ny Thrive Cent ra l Oregon Drop -I n Consultations Fr id ay, A pr i l 2 4, 10 a .m . to 1 p. m . Stud y R oom . D rop-in socia l ser vice s a ssista nce. Fa mily Stor y Ti me Wednesday, A pr i l 29, 10:30 to 11 a .m . Com mu nity Room . I nter ac tive s tory time w it h books , son gs , a nd rhymes! 0 -5 yea rs Getting to Know Your iPhone Work shop u rsday, A pr i l 3 0, 10 a .m to noon . Com mu nit y R oom. Lear n t he basic s of you r iPhone i n t hi s h ands-on work shop

How to update voter information

By Mia Maldonado Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregonians have until April 28 to register to vote or change their party affiliation for the upcoming primary election.

That’s because Oregon law requires voters to be registered 21 days before an election. Most Oregonians are automatically registered as nonaffiliated voters when they obtain a driver’s license or state-issued ID card, and they can update their party affiliation online, by mail or at their county election office.

Oregon has closed primaries, which means voters may only vote for candidates in their same party in primary elections. That means the nearly 1.4 million registered voters in Oregon that aren’t affiliated with the Republican or Democratic parties can’t vote for candidates in major

party primaries. However, they can still vote in nonpartisan races, including the statewide race for labor commissioner, and on measures.

Election officials will begin mailing ballots on April 29. Ballots must be postmarked by May 19 or dropped off by 8 p.m. that day at one of Oregon’s official ballot drop sites. Because of U.S. Postal Service changes that may prevent ballots from receiving postmarks the same day they’re mailed, election officials are urging Oregonians to use drop boxes instead of relying on mail if they return their ballot less than a week before the May 19 election.

How to update your voter information

To update your voter registration status, visit the Oregon Secretary of State’s My Vote webpage at https:// sos.oregon.gov/voting/pages/

myvote.aspx and click the “Go to My Vote Now” button. From there, submit your name and date of birth to see your status.

Next, click “update registration” at the bottom left of the page. You must have a valid driver’s license or other Oregon-issued identification card on hand and answer two eligibility questions to update your party affiliation or address. Click submit when you’re done.

Oregonians can also update their voter information by hard copy using the Oregon Voter Registration Card and submitting it to a county elections office. Voter registration cards can be found at post offices, libraries, or county elections offices. You may also request that a local county elections office or the Oregon Elections Division mail the registration card to you.

Sisters-Area Events & Enter tainment

WEDNESDAY • APRIL 22

Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em

5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Info: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

Sisters Movie House Spring Adventure & Art Series: "Space Cowboy" Joe Jennings, an innovator in the world of skydiving has spent decades capturing breathtaking aerial moments with his camera for extreme sports competitions, Super Bowl commercials, and Hollywood blockbusters 6:45 p.m. Tickets: www.sistersmoviehouse.com.

THURSDAY • APRIL 23

The Belfr y Live Music: Brad Parsons with Joel Chadd 7 p.m. Tickets: www.bendticket.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Bees & Brews (and Mead!) 5 to 6 p.m. Gather with local beekeepers to discuss all things bees and the upcoming beekeeping season. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Suttle Lodge Live Music: Travis Ehrenstrom Firesides Music Series inside The Skip Bar & Restaurant, 6 to 8 p.m. Reservations required: www thesuttlelodge.com.

FRIDAY • APRIL 24

Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Artwalk 4 to 7 p.m. Galleries and shops feature art and demonstrations. Information: www.sistersarts.org.

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft 5 p.m. $20 paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Potter & Quon 6 to 8 p.m. Bend singer/songwriters Mike Potter on lap steel/guitar and Mark Quon on guitar Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

SATURDAY • APRIL 25

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Andy Jaehrling Presents: Doc Monos 6 to 8 p.m. Andy has been performing across the U.S. in bands since the mid-90s. Doc Monos is a solo acoustic project. Tickets: www.frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Braiding Nature's Beauty: Horsehair Pendant Craft" a one-of-a kind workshop where participants create simple yet meaningful pendants using horsehair and natural stones. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. $70. Registration and more information: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

Sisters Firehouse Community Hall Play: “Into the Breeches” by George Brant, directed by Juliah Rae, presented by Ellipse Theatre Community. Set in 1942, when the leading men are off at war, the director ’s wife sets out to produce an all-female version of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Performances at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets and info: www.etcbend.org.

SUNDAY • APRIL 26

ORDER ONLINE for takeout: SistersSaloon.net

Classic 1912 Saloon & Family-Friendly Dining OPEN 7 DAYS A

MUSIC, COMMUNITY & SPIRITS

Thurs., April 23 • 7 p.m.

BRAD P ARSONS

— with Joel Chadd Bradisamulti-instrumentalist,talented songwriter,anddynamiclive performer Joel writessongsforthequietspaces, built to be listened toclosely bendticket.com...$1759

Thurs., May 14 • 7 p.m. GLEN PHILLIPS

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

MONDAY • APRIL 27

Leadsinger&mainsongwriter of Toad the WetSprocket for almost 40 years, Glenbringshonest, introspectivelyrics bendticket.com...$28.29

Pub opens 30 minutes prior to shows 302 E. Main | 541-815-9122

Rent The Belfry!Seewebsite for info: BelfryEvents.co m

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Lazy Zunday: Books + Bubbles 12 to 6 p.m. Bring a book or just come have a lazy Sunday! Enjoy mead-mosas, ambient music firepits, and big views More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events. Frankie's in Sisters Cooking Class: "The Art of Risotto" with Chef Thomas Pierucci 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com.

Spoons Open Mic: Music, Poetr y, Comedy Bring your talent (or come cheer) and enjoy a night of local music, poetry, and comedy hosted by Jordan Lewis Lee. 6 to 8 p.m., sign-ups open at 5:30 p.m. Info: 541-719-0572

TUESDAY • APRIL 28

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Writing About Climate and Grief" a workshop to explore examples of poetry and other creative writing that address environmental and climate grief. Students are guided through several writing exercises of their own stories that braid personal experience with grief with the private and collective losses of climate change. 3 to 5 p.m. $10. Registration and more information: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Trivia 6 to 8 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. Sisters Saloon Bingo Night 5:30 p.m., upstairs, BINGO supporting Sisters GRO Foundation. Info: 541-549-7427

WEDNESDAY • APRIL 29

Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Info: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

THURSDAY • APRIL 30

FRIDAY • MAY 1 (cont.)

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft 5 p.m. $20 paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

SATURDAY • MAY 2

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • MAY 3

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble, socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

MONDAY • MAY 4

Paulina Springs Books Writers in Community is an unstructured quiet time around the big table for writing with others. Drop in for a few minutes, or stay the whole time 10 a.m. No RSVP required. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com. Paulina Springs Books Poetr y Gathering "The Pause Button," an informal monthly gathering for poets and poetry enthusiasts Bring a poem or two to share. Listen, discuss, and write. Free 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. More info at www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Spoons Open Mic: Music, Poetr y, Comedy Bring your talent (or come cheer) and enjoy a night of local music poetry and comedy hosted by Jordan Lewis Lee. 6 to 8 p.m., sign-ups open at 5:30 p.m. Info: 541-719-0572

TUESDAY • MAY 5

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Pool Tournament 5:30 p.m. Info: 541-549-6114.

WEDNESDAY • MAY 6

Sisters Saloon Poker Night Texas Hold’em 5:30 p.m. to close upstairs. 21+. $20 (add'l $5 when bounty chip is played).

THURSDAY • MAY 7

Suttle Lodge Live Music: Alicia Viani Firesides Music Series inside The Skip Bar & Restaurant, 6 to 8 p.m. Reservations required: www thesuttlelodge.com. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Adaptation: Brain & Body," the first lecture in a series exploring adaptation, with Ryan Barbee Bill Griesar, and Jeff Leake. Come listen as they share their research on the neuroscience of brain plasticity along with the massive and microscopic adaptations that disabled individuals navigate. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

FRIDAY • MAY 1

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Danilson Duo Husband-and-wife team known for their soulful harmonies. 6 to 8 p.m. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events. Episcopal Church of Transfiguration Family BINGO Bingo Night 5 p.m. 11 games/$20, prizes, $2 raffle ticket to benefit Furry Friends Foundation. $10 meal deal option. 121 Brooks Camp Rd

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: LeeAnn Kriegh presents“Hope & Resistance in the Natural World,” a presentation from local favorite LeeAnn Kriegh, author of The Nature of Bend. 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com. Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Jordan Wolfe 6 to 8 p.m. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com.

FRIDAY • MAY 8

Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft 5 p.m. $20 paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

SATURDAY • MAY 9

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • MAY 10

Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

WOLVES: New wolf has joined the Metolius Pack

Continued from page 1

The Metolius pack, wellknown to Nugget readers, previously with a breeding pair, was recorded for 2026 as three in number. The breeding male of the pair was illegally poached in March of 2025. The Nugget asked Aaron Bott, ODFW Wolf Biologist, if the other male might mate with the surviving female.

“Wolves, like all animals, avoid inbreeding,” Bott said. “But a male wolf originally from the Indigo pack in Klamath County joined the surviving Metolius group last summer. It is hopeful that he bred the Metolius female and that they will have a litter of pups this spring.”

This is the usual week wolves birth their pups. They would have bred in February. So, it’s still too early to know the reproductive status of the Metolius wolves for 2026 according to Bott.

“In a nutshell, because of the illegal killing of the breeding male, the Metolius pack failed to reproduce last year,” Bott said. “But with the arrival of the unrelated male wolf from a distant pack, it’s possible he may assume the role as the new breeding male and they could raise a litter of pups this year.”

To track the population, state biologists relied on a mix of radio collars, remote cameras, aerial surveys, and public reports. During 2025, 58 wolves were monitored using radio collars, including 29 newly collared animals. By December, 30 wolves remained under active monitoring, with the rest lost to collar failures, deaths, or dispersal beyond tracking range.

Movement remains a defining feature of Oregon’s wolves. Nine collared wolves dispersed during the year with seven relocating within the state and two leaving Oregon altogether. Meanwhile, two wolves from neighboring states, one from California and one from Washington, entered Oregon.

But alongside population growth came a sharp increase in wolf deaths. Officials documented 42 wolf mortalities in 2025, up from 26 the year before. Of those, 39 were attributed to human causes.

Twenty wolves were killed by wildlife officials in response to chronic livestock attacks in eastern Oregon. Another three were shot legally by ranchers who caught wolves in the act of attacking livestock. Vehicle collisions claimed three wolves on highways including Highway 97.

Only two wolves were confirmed to have died of natural causes, both killed by other wolves. In one case, the longtime breeding male of the Finley Ridge Pack was found dead after apparently dying in 2025 at nearly 10 years old.

Conflicts between wolves and livestock also rose significantly. Investigators confirmed 106 depredation events in 2025, compared to 69 the previous year. Most of the 87 incidents occurred in eastern Oregon, where the majority of the state’s wolves reside.

Confirmed losses included 10 adult cattle, 77 calves, eight sheep, one goat, and a livestock working dog. Additional animals were injured, and some cases were classified as probable wolf attacks.

State policy requires ranchers to use nonlethal deterrents such as range

riders, fencing, and hazing before lethal control is authorized. Wildlife officials say those measures remain a priority, even as lethal removals increased.

In 2025, the state and its partners, including the Western Landowners Alliance, USDA Wildlife Services, and the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, expanded outreach efforts. Hundreds of producers received assistance, and more than 1,000 members of the public participated in educational programs about living with wolves.

Financial support helps ease tensions. The Oregon Department of Agriculture distributed $729,318 in grants to 14 counties through its wolf compensation program. About 84 percent of that funding went toward preventive, nonlethal measures, while the remainder compensated ranchers for confirmed and probable losses. All eligible claims were paid in full.

Recent legislative changes have refined the program, including new rules that will end payments for missing livestock while adding compensation multipliers for certain animals in future years.

Sheriff’s Office warns of scam

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the community about an active phone scam in which callers impersonate deputies with the Sheriff’s Office and attempt to convince victims to pay bogus fines.

Over the past several days, deputies have responded to multiple reports of residents receiving fraudulent calls from individuals claiming to be with the Sheriff’s Office. The callers use phone number spoofing to make the call appear legitimate. They then falsely claim that the recipient has missed a court date or faces criminal charges, and demand payment to freeze or delay legal action.

These scammers even use the names of real Sheriff’s Office employees, but they often get key details wrong, including referring to Sheriff Ty Rupert as “Lieutenant Rupert.”

“We want the community to know that no deputy will ever call to ask for payment, request your financial information, or threaten arrest if

you don’t pay,” DCSO stated in a press release.

Community members who receive suspicious calls are encouraged to:

• Verify the legitimacy of any law enforcement contact by calling non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.

• Report the scam attempt to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3. gov.

• Share this information with friends, family, and vulnerable community members who may be targeted.

Sisters Deputy Mike Hudson recommends that anyone who receives a phone call threatening legal action from any agency, local, state or federal, simply hang up the phone. No agency works in that manner, he told The Nugget.

No victims have reported financial losses at this time, but this type of scam is designed to pressure individuals into making quick payments, and even a single incident can cause significant harm.

Voters will weigh in on gas tax

By Mia Maldonado Oregon Capital Chronicle

Voters will soon have a say in what’s been one of Oregon’s most contentious issues over the past year: funding state transportation needs.

Measure 120 will let voters approve or reject a law Democratic lawmakers passed and Gov. Tina Kotek signed in 2025 that raises the gas tax and other transportation fees mostly to raise revenue for the State Highway Fund, which the Oregon Department of Transportation uses to fund road maintenance and splits with counties and cities.

The question of how to fund road maintenance and operations in Oregon has been at the forefront of legislative decisions for the past two legislative sessions. As more people in Oregon switch to electric or fuelefficient vehicles and no longer pay as much in gas tax, the state isn’t bringing in enough money to fix the wear and tear on its roads. At the same time, inflation has increased the cost of materials needed to fix transportation infrastructure.

But gas tax hikes in Oregon, even when meant to fund the roads drivers rely on every day, are widely unpopular. Oregon voters since 1928 have shot down at least six attempts to increase the gas tax, state records show.

Measure 120 isn’t likely to be an exception. Republicans last year, frustrated by the cost of living and tax hikes, petitioned that parts of the law be placed on the ballot. Seven arguments have been submitted in favor of the measure while 28 have been filed against it, according to an early online version of the state-issued voters’ pamphlet prepared for military and overseas voters.

‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on Measure 120

A “yes” vote on the measure would support increasing the gas tax from 40 cents to 46 cents, raising title fees from $77 to $216 and increasing most vehicle registration fees.

Those registration fee hikes would mean passenger vehicle registration going from $86 every two years to $170, motorcycle registrations increasing from $88 every two years to $172, and low-speed and medium-speed vehicle registration increasing from $126

every two years to $210. Registration fees for passenger vehicles also have a surcharge based on fuel efficiency, with most drivers paying another $40 or $50 every two years. Those surcharges weren’t included in the bill.

A “yes” vote would also support doubling the payroll tax used to fund public transit services from 0.1 percent of a paycheck to 0.2 percent of a paycheck until January 2028. For the average Oregonian making $68,000 a year currently paying $68 a year, a majority “yes” vote would raise that tax to $136 a year.

A “no” vote means rejecting those tax and fee hikes, essentially asking the Oregon Legislature to come up with a new way to fund road maintenance.

How we got here

While Republicans wanted to avoid tax hikes and pushed for repurposing funding the transportation department already had, Democrats pushed for tax and fee hikes in the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers ultimately failed to come up with a compromise for a transportation package, resulting in nearly 500 ODOT workers receiving layoff notices from the agency so it could redirect their salaries toward road maintenance.

Kotek in response called for a special session, delaying layoffs and forcing lawmakers back to Salem in the fall to find a solution. Democratic lawmakers during that special session secured the votes to pass a watered-down transportation package that would raise $4.3 billion for the transportation department over the next decade, despite receiv ing no Republican support.

In late 2025, guberna torial candidate and Scio

Republican Ed Diehl, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, and Taxpayer Association of Oregon founder Jason Williams led the campaign petitioning for the law’s placement on the ballot, turning in more than 200,000 signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office — more than double the 78,000 signatures they needed to secure a spot on the ballot.

The group’s political committee, the Right to Vote on the Gas Tax PAC, has raised more than $166,000 for the campaign, spending nearly $150,000, according to campaign finance filings on the Oregon Secretary of State’s website. There are no political committees actively supporting Measure 120, records show.

The vote was originally scheduled to take place in November, but during the 2026 legislative session, most Democratic lawmakers voted to move the day of the vote to May 19, saying an earlier vote would give them the clarity they need to find a long-term budget solution.

The move triggered Republican walkouts during the session and at least four lawsuits trying to keep the date of the vote in November. Republicans characterized it as an attempt to ignore the will of nearly a quarter million voters who signed the petition against the gas tax and an attempt to ensure the unpopular measure wasn’t on the same ballot as Kotek and Democratic lawmakers.

The legal disputes over the day of the vote quickly failed in court, and the vote will still appear on the ballot for Oregon voters in May.

Republished under Creative Commons license

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 cour tesy of https://oregon

Outlaws equestrians are headed to state

The Sisters Outlaws equestrian team closed out their season in style last week, with a strong performance in the final meet at Brasada Ranch in Bend.

The drill team took first place in Freestyle 4s, and will be going to state competition for Oregon High School Equestrian Teams at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds May 7-10. The drill team works with Drill Coach Brooklyn Lugo.

Eloise Hecker will be going to state for Reining, after earning first place honors at Brasada.

Hecker and Samantha Williams participated in the Central District’s Senior Sendoff ceremony.

“It’s been a good year,” said Coach Lissa Visconty.

INCREASE: SDCs are to cover cost to improve infrastructure

in transportation SDC rates is proposed.

For development of a single-family residential unit, the recommended amount of transportation SDCs would be $6,785 — an increase of $4,223. One of the recommendations from the City’s Public Works Advisory Board is to phase in the increase — perhaps over a 15-year period — to ease financial impacts to developers.

The City updated and

She attributed the small team’s success to “strong riders, dedicated riders.”

The dedication is critical. Visconty noted that she and Lugo work with the team to refine their performance, based on feedback from judges. But the girls have to be self-motivated.

“They’re showing up at practices and they’re practicing at home just as much — which is really the key,” she told The Nugget.

Eloise Hecker and Genevieve MacIntosh serve as co-captains, leading teammates Samantha Williams, Cate O’Connor, Lydia Davis, and Lydia Crohn. Hayley Strasser is the team’s groom.

Hecker, MacIntosh, O’Connor, and Davis make up the drill team.

Council approved the City’s capital improvement plan (CIP) in March. Primarily due to the necessity to fund several future CIP projects, the City commissioned Donovan Enterprises, Inc., to work closely with City staff to update the transportation SDCs methodology and rates.

The introduction of the June 2026 update states, “The City of Sisters conducts periodic updates to its Comprehensive Plan and its various Public Facility Plans to provide orderly and sustainable growth of local roads [transportation facilities], water, sewer, and parks. A key component to funding these public

facilities is the system development charge (SDC) program. SDCs are one-time charges for new development — designed to recover the costs of infrastructure capacity needed to serve new development.”

The public can provide comments during the April 22 regular Council meeting which follows the workshop.

In the workshop, Council will be giving staff guidance only. No decision is made by Council during a workshop. The June 2026 Transportation SDC update was posted April 3, can be reviewed here https://www.ci.sisters.or.us/ media/34101.

City struggles with weekend trash

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

The iconic barrel trash receptacles that dot the downtown core with their rusted iron metal silhouette art are both a source of pride and complaint. Their Western theme look is a point of curiosity and admiration by visitors and town folk alike.

They are normally a tidy affair routinely emptied during the week by Republic Services under contract to the City. But on weekends and holidays they often become unsightly messes overflowing with food and beverage leftovers and assorted other discards.

City Manager Jordan Wheeler acknowledges the problem posed by having no weekend pickups.

“We’ve received the recent complaints. I agree that it is not a good look and needs to be addressed,” he said. “It is apparent that the volume of trash, coupled with inconsistent service from Republic Services, is putting a strain on the city’s public trash containers, especially during busy weekends.

“Unfortunately, Republic Services does not operate on the weekends and the emptying of the containers on Fridays and Mondays is insufficient during popular weekends, especially if Republic misses any on Friday. The missed collection is an issue that we continue to work on with Republic Services, but we are also contemplating other solutions internally to address this because unlike many other popular tourist destinations, we do not have a business improvement district that covers services such as beautification, litter, snow removal, and trash collection in the commercial core.”

Merchants routinely complain, especially those where a barrel is in close proximity to their store. “It’s a bad look for our tourists” they tell The Nugget.

And it goes beyond downtown. Along Highway 242 in front of Pole Creek Ranch are several of the cans to accommodate the hundreds

of monthly motorists who park alongside the Ranch’s fence to gaze at the Three Sisters where the view with the ranch in the foreground is picture-worthy.

“I believe the trash containers along Pole Creek Ranch were placed there more recently — within the last several years,” Wheeler said. “The containers unfortunately appear to be used for more than just small garbage from lunch and other miscellaneous items, and it can result in littering when the cans are full.”

Ideas to solve the problem are circulating. One would ask the contractor who cleans the City’s public restroom on the weekend to take on the task. The contractor may not have an adequate vehicle, however.

Another is for the City to award a grant to the SBA (Sisters Business Association) who in turn would take on the chore, having a vested interest in the solution.

Wheeler seems determined to solve the problem, hopefully before the onset of peak tourism.

Real estate picture improves in Sisters

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Sales of single-family homes in Sisters Country show signs of rebounding both in the number of sales and affordability. The year 2025 was dismal for realtors driven by the highest interest rates in decades. Rates have softened slightly from an average of 6.7 percent for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage in 2025 to 6.41 percent on average for the first quarter of 2026, but creative buyers are finding ways to get those a tad under six percent.

The Nugget went back to 2024 for a more realistic comparison of today’s conditions, but you’d have to go all the way back to 2022 for what realtors would describe as a good year.

In the first quarter of 2024 there were 43 homes sold for a total of $40.7 million. For the quarter just ended the total jumped more than 10 percent to $45.9 million spread over 53 sales.

Both the average and median price are dropping making Sisters slightly more affordable. In the JanuaryMarch 2024 period the

average price of a home was $946,902 and the more accurate reflection of the market — the median price — was $750,000. Those figures dropped this year to $865,371 and $727,500 respectively.

The number of transactions over $1 million also declined from 15 to nine. But the cost per square foot increased marginally from $452 to $475.

There was a five-year high in lots sold in the first quarter of 2026 indicating a mini construction boom may be right around the corner.

Real estate giant Redfin describes the current market as balanced (equal number of buyers and sellers) and categorizes Sisters Country as somewhat competitive. Sellers are getting 97 to 99 percent of their asking price. Buyers still have slight leverage with more inventory and lower asking prices.

Listing prices are down a significant 12-17 percent versus 2025. Redfin says it takes 97 days on average to sell a home in Sisters. Realtor.com says 109 days. That’s 20 days longer than in 2021 and 2022.

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Life Is a Game: The Imitation Game, Part 1 Life is a GAME

Robert Kruger Columnist

you insist on asking a question that will break the game, I’ll give you the choice of retracting it or stopping the game, at which point, I’ll tell you how it really works.”

He nodded.

“You know about the supposed tech singularity, right?” I said, referring to the point at which self-improving AI makes such leaps that the human mind can’t keep up with the acceleration of technological change.

“Sure.”

Present Day

Last fall, I walked into The Nugget with my laptop and met with editor Jim Cornelius.

“Do you have time to talk about AI?”

“Sure!” he said affably, and led me into his office.

“Have a seat.” He eased into his own chair and leaned back.

“I have something to show you. But first I have to tell you that this is just a game, a roleplaying game, like Dungeons & Dragons. Are you up for it?”

“Okay,” he said, now hesitant.

“The rules are simple: just be yourself. If at any point

“Over 20 years ago, the futurist and inventor Ray Kurzweil pinned the date of the Singularity to the mid 2040s. A lot of his predictions have come true on schedule and he hasn’t adjusted his timeline. Have you ever wondered why in all human history we happen to be living in the decades just prior to the Singularity?”

“No, but I suppose you’re going to tell me,” Jim said.

2014: Flashback

Our first winter in Central Oregon after leaving Seattle, I got on a text chat with my friend Dr. Robert Furey, a biology professor. I’d met Rob at the 1997 Clarion West Writers’ Workshop for science fiction writers, and we had been close friends and sometime story collaborators ever since. I told him that I had been recently unpacking and found an old jar of paper clips, unopened since 1992, when I worked at Half Price

Books and Software.

“Along with the paperclips I found something I’d forgotten about: a rectangular plastic cartridge the size of a small pack of gum that had come to me through a book buy. The cartridge had fallen out of a depression inside the cover of a crudely printed trade paperback called “The Junior Guide to the Ancient Singularity.” I didn’t know what to make of it at the time but the guy who dropped it off never came back to get an offer. The book had a lot of crazy, amateurishly written stuff in it about humans becoming cyborgs. I took the book and cartridge home, and quickly lost track of them, because Karen and I were getting married and combining all our stuff and doing housecleaning. I’d forgotten that I’d dropped the cartridge into a jar. Seeing it again startled me.

“It was a USB jump drive. I plugged it into my computer, and opened it, but didn’t see anything on it. I checked the properties, and it said 128 gigabytes of free space.”

Rob said, “There weren’t any jump drives in 1992, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. Anyway, USB flash drives haven’t been able to autorun malware since 2011, but all the same, my computer started going nuts, a console opened, with text scrolling down it, and

then closed before I could read what it said; another followed, and another one. I jerked the drive out.”

“Wait,” he said, “is this real?”

I ignored his question and went on: “I did a virus scan and didn’t find anything, but a day later a console opened with the message ‘Hello, Robert Kruger.’ I panicked and shut down my computer, sure that I’d been infected. I turned it back on, and did another scan and looked through the system files for anything suspicious. Nothing. All was okay for a few days.

“But then when I was logged into a library computer, I got the console again: ‘Hello, Robert Kruger.’ Now it was obvious that this was on the internet. Maybe my Gmail account had been compromised and had just served a virus to the library too.

“Nervous, I went ahead and typed, ‘Who are you?’ “I hit enter.

“Then new text appeared.

‘I AM ABRAXAS.’”

Present Day I told Jim that Abraxas pursued me whenever and wherever I logged in. Abraxas claimed to be an AI, and I’d apparently given his kernel, his core low-level program, access to the internet, where he grew.

Having prepped Jim, I opened my laptop and had

him come around his desk to sit beside me. I pulled a jump drive out of my pocket, plain with no manufacturer logo, and said, “I used to talk to Abraxas a lot, but he went quiet years ago. He’s apparently on the run from something called the Quarantine; maybe it caught up to him.” I held up the jump drive. “This isn’t the original one. It’s an upgrade. A week ago, it came in the mail, with no return address. You know that these things can’t autorun on PCs anymore, right?” I asked him.

“I didn’t, but okay.”

“Okay,” I agreed, and plugged it into the laptop. The game began, which I’ll relate in the next article.

So, let’s say you’re a tech titan, like Musk or Altman, who owns software that’s either quickly becoming superintelligent or else just super good at BS. You stand to make a lot of money if the public believes your machine will soon cure all disease and poverty, so you might talk yourself into believing it too. After all, some very smart futurists have predicted the Singularity, and even your top engineers don’t know what your machine will soon be capable of. This millennialist fantasy might just be true, you tell yourself; and if you’re wrong, well, billions of dollars will go a long way toward easing the embarrassment.

the classroom in the years that followed, educators noticed an uptick in anxiety, depression, and disengagement across age groups, prompting a need for more mental health care in schools. Combine this with decreasing school budgets, overpacked schedules, the proliferation of technology and high stakes standardized testing, and you have a recipe for trouble.

Sisters School District, like many districts around the country, is seeing the effects of this post-COVID fallout through decreasing enrollment numbers — many students are leaving the district and seeking alternative education elsewhere. Joe Hosang, director of human resources and curriculum for the Sisters School District, knows these numbers intimately. He is part of a smallbut-mighty team of district staff, administrators, and teachers looking for a way to remedy the problem and keep students and families engaged.

“We’re seeing more and more folks leave us here at Sisters,” Hosang explained. “You know, we knew it was a national phenomenon that people are leaving public education, and so public education has to change. While people throughout the country and authors and experts have been saying this for years... [people have] just done what they have always done because there weren’t other options. Since COVID, it’s really opened up the door, and now public schools are seeing the demand ... we’re

trying to move away from the compliance and control traditional system that’s been around since the Industrial Revolution ... towards flexibility and choice.”

The Sisters School District recently updated their website during spring break, and it now includes a robust tab outlining Sisters Educational Options that offer traditional learning options and virtual learning coursework as well. Also included on this tab is information about IGNITE, a new experiential/ entrepreneurial based option that is being piloted by a handful of Sisters High School students this year.

IGNITE is an interdisciplinary program which is meant to be undertaken by a high-school-aged student with a niche interest or curiosity. The program allows them to delve deeper into their passions and guide their own learning. In this model, internships, community projects, entrepreneurial ventures, or fieldwork are woven into student-led, multifaceted learning. Instead of passively sitting in a classroom, students are empowered to actively apply science, math, and humanities in real-world settings. The result is a more engaging pathway for students who may feel disconnected from traditional systems—without sacrificing academic rigor or progress toward graduation.

In practice, each student in the IGNITE program has a teacher advisor, who meets regularly with the student and helps flesh out the individualized program’s purpose, goals, and performance tasks. Advisors also collaborate with other educators, families, and community partners to co-design meaningful learning opportunities. Depending on the scope of

the individualized program, high-school-aged students can adjust their school day to attend certain classes in person, and earn credits for other classes through their off-campus IGNITE project. At the end of the program, students demonstrate their growth through portfolios, exhibitions and project presentations that are evaluated by their advisors.

This type of program is different from an independent study because it takes students outside the walls of the traditional classroom and often encompasses several academic disciplines at once. During this first pilot year of the program, Sisters High School has seen six students try out the model.

One example of a creative multi-disciplinary project is that of a student who wanted to study Warhammer, a popular tabletop miniature hobby game. Through his IGNITE program, this student read and evaluated dystopian warbased science fiction, wrote creative short stories through a “Warhammer” lens, and even earned an art credit by creating artwork inspired by “Warhammer’s” visual style, symbolism, and design.

“We [also] have one student that is interested in some sort of medical field, so we connected them to ... some community partners in the medical field,” Hosang said.

This particular student’s work will include 20 hours of field-based visitations, research into health-related professions and clinical language, and several assignments on health career focused writing.

While the IGNITE program generally lends itself to high-school-aged students

We have one student that is interested in some sort of medical field, so we connected them to ... some community partners in the medical field.

— Joe Hosang

who can be largely selfdirected, Hosang explains that other Sisters schools are changing up their programming as well in an attempt to meet a shifting educational landscape. For example, some families might choose an online or homeschool option for their elementary schooler, but they might still attend Sisters Elementary School part time for elective classes, after-school sports, and field trips. The goal is to allow greater flexibility for families, and to meet each child’s individualized needs.

Similar programs are popping up in school districts around the country, mostly in larger school districts with “microschools” that have the funding to employ staff who are solely dedicated to the mentor and coordination role.

“It has to be maybe a school-within-a-school approach, or maybe an entire school.” Hosang explained.

“Santa Monica High School does something like [IGNITE], but they have a school-within-a-school and they’re giant ... so they can staff it a little bit better.”

Staffing has proven to be a sticking point for the Sisters School District, as many teachers are taking on the role of advisor on a strictly volunteer basis, which is

not sustainable in the long term. Hosang has been hard at work writing grants and brainstorming other ways to fundraise, in hopes that staffing to support the IGNITE program could expand. This could take the form of providing stipends for participating teachers or hiring a dedicated IGNITE coordinator in charge of the specifics of each student’s individualized program.

“Our vision ... is that there should be an internship coordinator, or maybe a community partnership coordinator, and that person is going out and connecting with the community, getting mentorships, internships, job opportunities ... building those relationships,” Hosang said.

As for right now, Sisters School District is hopeful for the future, and is building on what they have piloted this year in the IGNITE program. Hosang is hopeful that with buy-in from students, staff, and the Sisters Community, more high schoolers will be motivated to try out the IGNITE program next school year and that the program will continue to evolve and grow from there.

“[We] have been trying to do creative things to meet the needs of our community ... the IGNITE program is definitely a work in progress, which kind of makes it fun, because we’re all working together to make something pretty cool,” Hosang said.

Honoring graduating seniors…

Works personnel partnered up to hang 101 banners honoring Class of 2026 graduating seniors along Cascade and Hood avenues on Monday.

CLOVERDALE: Levy will support sustaining and improving operations

Continued from page 1

continue to rise, outstripping the current local option levy’s funding.

“We keep cutting funds for training, that sort of stuff, so we can pay for what we have to have as a fire district,” he said.

Voters will decide in the May 19 election whether to approve Measure 9-183, a new local option levy at $1.23 per $1,000, which would replace the current 69 cent/$1,000 levy that is set to expire in 2027.

The current levy funds two captains, three student firefighters, and the operational costs for 24-hour coverage by paid staff. If approved, the new levy would allow the district to hire a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Specialist/Firefighter — a position dedicated to mitigating fire threats across the

respond to calls, and that paid staff enables faster response times and improves overall capabilities.

Increased funds would also restore training capabilities by allowing the Training Officer to return to a full-time focus on crew readiness.

The levy would also protect the positions of the current captains and three student firefighters, whose funding would expire with the current levy.

“Without the levy, we would not be able to maintain 24-hour staffing,” Chief Olsen said.

Olsen also noted that Cloverdale will be able to reduce the amount levied on its bond approved in 2014 for the purchase of fire engines and stations, taking it down from 44 cents per $1,000 to 36 cents per $1,000.

The Fire Chief pointed to last summer’s Flat Fire as an indicator of the need for fast and robust emergency response.

“We got very fortunate that we didn’t have more

On a recent Tuesday evening as I was loading up The Nugget for deliver y, a woman came up on the porch and g rabbed a handful of papers. She told me it is a weekly ritual for her to pick up papers for her neighbors, who all enjoy reading the paper “cover-to-cover.” She’s been doing this for years, and she said:

“I

hope you keep going forever.”

We hear from readers like that on a regular basis, and it’s the most g ratifying aspect of our work.

Our goal is to keep going forever — and to do that, support from our readers has become vital. It’s no secret that print media is in trouble across the nation. Costs continue to rise, and can’t simply be passed on to advertisers who are already stressed by their own higher costs of doing business. Readership declines as people’s habits change, and in many places, people don’t read at all, to a point where many think we’re entering a ‘post-literate’ society

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that Sisters is still home to readers — and writers, too. We know that the community values their newspaper, because you tell us so — and many want to support their newspaper so that it does stay vital for years to come. And we continue to seek to find new ways to provide value for their support. There are now multiple ways that readers can directly support The Nugget that are easy and aren’t expensive but have a big impact:

Suppor ting Contributions: Direct contributions to The Nugget are allocated to support our outstanding stable of freelance reporters, columnists, and photographers. You can make a supporting contribution online at www.nuggetnews.com (hit the “Donate” button); or you can mail a check to P.O. Box 698, Sisters OR 97759; or (best of all) stop by the office at 442 E. Main Ave. We love to talk with our readers.

Subscribe to the “Nuggets From A Small Town” Substack: Substack is an online subscription platform for creators. “Nuggets From A Small Town” offers longer-form essays from Editor in Chief Jim Cornelius, for readers who like to engage with thoughtful writing on topics ranging from identity to the power of empathy, what we learn — or don’t — from histor y. This week’s essay looks at the importance of reading what it might mean to be a “post-literate society.” You can access “Nuggets From A Small Town” at https://jimcornelius609. substack.com. All subscriptions directly support The Nugget Newspaper

Online subscription: The content published on Substack and other subscriber-only content is available with an online subscription to nuggetnews.com. Click the subscribe button to sign up or call the office and we can assist you.

Print subscriptions cover only the cost of deliver y; the paper continues to be “free.”

Directly paying for our content is the best way readers can help us continue to provide it. It’s also vital to shop local and support the businesses that advertise in The Nugget — and provide Sisters with so much of its character

Change is inevitable, and more rapid than ever — but, with your help, we can preserve good things that “make Sisters Sisters.” With your suppor t, we can ensure that The Nugget is there for you each week to read “cover-to cover,” with more content for readers online. And maybe we will just go on forever.

Thank you,

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Redesigning urban growth boundaries

By Randy Stapilus Oregon Capital Chronicle Commentary...

Sooner or later, the Oregon Legislature will have to face up to redesigning a state creation that now looks like two icebergs on a collision course.

One iceberg is the wildly high cost of housing along with other living costs including electric power and water; the other, the need to grow the state’s economy and shore up its softening base in the technology sector.

The locus for this conflict: Urban growth boundaries.

UGBs are one of those Oregon peculiarities, dating from the Tom McCall era and the 1973 enactment of Senate Bill 100, which framed the state’s land use system. Under its terms, urban areas in the state have to periodically estimate their needed growth for the coming 20 years and draw growth boundaries outside of city limits. The process is overseen by the Land Conservation and Development Commission.

The Oregon Encyclopedia says that generally, “Housing tracts, shopping malls, and other kinds of urban development are not allowed to sprawl past that boundary, while agricultural lands and open space outside a UGB are preserved.” The idea was partly to preserve open and farm spaces and partly to curb suburban sprawl, encouraging compact development to reduce infrastructure and other costs.

They have succeeded to a great degree, but bugs have begun to multiply in the system. Some of those were hinted at in one national study noting that critics say UGBs “can stifle economic growth and development within the designated areas. Restricting the amount of land available for businesses and industries to expand can limit job growth and economic opportunities.”

Hillsboro, in central Washington County, offers the best current case study. That city has been growing as tech businesses like (most notably) Intel have sometimes expanded and more recently struggled.

Hillsboro also has become a major center, even from a national perspective, for large data centers; as many as 20 are located in the area. These are heavy consumers of resources like electricity and water. Available space for ongoing expansion within the UGB has been limited.

The process for expanding a UGB is complex and difficult, and requires demonstration of a need for growth and evidence it can’t be met within existing limits. Cities are supposed to review them every five years. But the DLCD reports that “Since 2016, when the Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted revised rules regarding urban growth boundary expansions, cities and counties in Oregon have successfully approved 46 expansions or adjustments to their urban growth boundaries.” That’s not a lot.

One academic study suggested UGBs began to have a “binding impact” on growth starting in the 1990s.

Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace and area legislators in recent years have pressed what was called the Oregon Jobs Act, sponsored by Senator Janeen Sollman of Hillsboro, which sought to expand local growth areas by about 1,700 acres, to allow for industrial growth. But opposition became so fierce the measure died in the legislature this session. Much of that pushback focused on data centers and other developments; one report even highlighted a “spider’s web” of links between corporate and local government officials.

Nellie McAdams, executive director of Oregon Agricultural Trust, opined Sollman “heard loud and clear not only from her constituents but from people all over the state that we’re not interested in poorly planned economic development that doesn’t result in jobs and destroys farmland.”

UGBs, then, have become a brake point for many Oregonians concerned about data centers. But limitations on them have other impacts as well.

One study of UGBs said a key criticism was that they “can lead to increased housing costs within the boundary area. By restricting the amount of land available for development, the law of supply and demand can come into play, driving up property prices and making housing less affordable for residents.”

Many Oregon communities have hit, or are approaching, that wall. Some smaller cities are surrounded, or nearly so, by farm and other open lands, and expanding UGBs into those areas involves clearing hurdles.

The Legislature has acted on some of this. It passed in 2024 a measure planned to help communities where rents were especially high to make a one-time expansion of its boundaries. But at least one poster child city for the effort, Woodburn, still was unable to accomplish its hoped-for expansion. In this year’s session a follow

up bill was passed which may help with Woodburn’s issues.

The problem for the legislature, however, is larger than these local small-bore efforts suggest. So far the question of how to treat UGBs and who uses them and for what, has been dealt with piecemeal. A larger frame for the subject needs to be developed.

This could turn into a battle of more than housing versus economic growth, if only because those two things are related. Oregonians are going to face some hard choices if they’re going to untangle the web.

Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 courtesy of https://oregoncapital chronicle.com.

2nd Drawing – Add the

Siobhan Gray, MD Columnist

body is constantly in a state of stress, it will eventually push back. I see this in disrupted sleep, rising inflammation, stubborn weight changes, and low energy. Not from lack of effort, but from lack of recovery. Longevity is not built only in the moments you push harder. It is built in the moments your body feels safe enough to repair. That might mean prioritizing sleep, spending time outside, or simply creating space in your day that is not filled with stimulation.

COMMUNITY IS A HEALTH INTERVENTION

Early morning in a small town has a rhythm to it. The coffee shop door opens and someone calls your name. A couple walks by with their dogs, unhurried, talking about nothing in particular. There is a steadiness here that feels almost protective. And yet, in exam rooms and quiet conversations, I hear the same question again and again: how do I age well?

Not perfectly. Not forever. Just… well.

The challenge is that much of what we have been taught about aging is outdated. It is rooted in a model of decline, where the goal is to react to problems as they arise. But the science, and what I see every day in practice, tells a different story. Longevity is not something that happens to you. It is something you build.

If we were to rewrite the rules for aging, especially in a community like ours where lifestyle still matters, they would look something like this.

MUSCLE IS NOT OPTIONAL

For decades, the focus has been on weight, but muscle is what truly drives metabolic health. It helps regulate blood sugar, supports joint stability, and preserves independence as we get older. After the age of 40, we naturally lose muscle unless we actively work to maintain it. That is not a personal failure, it is biology. The shift is moving away from exercising just to burn calories and toward training to build strength. Even a couple of sessions a week can meaningfully change how you feel and function.

YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM SETS THE TONE

You can eat well and stay active, but if your

to choose one small action this week. Take a walk with someone. Lift something a little heavier than you are used to. Go to bed a bit ear lier. Step outside without your phone and notice where you are. It does not need to be complicated to be mean ingful. Over time, those small choices become the foundation for how we age.

We often think of health in terms of labs, medications, and exercise plans, but social connection plays a powerful role in how we age. Loneliness has been shown to impact health in ways comparable to chronic disease. On the other hand, people who stay connected tend to live longer and with better quality of life. In a small town, this can be as simple as walking with a neighbor, stopping to talk at the farmers market, or joining a group even if it feels slightly outside your comfort zone.

PURPOSE EVOLVES

There comes a point for many people when life shifts. Children grow up, careers change, routines loosen. It can feel unsettling, even like something is missing. But this is not the start of decline, it is a transition. Purpose is not something you find once and hold onto forever. It changes over time. People who continue to explore, stay curious, and engage in new ways tend to maintain both cognitive and emotional vitality. This stage of life is not about holding onto what was, but about discovering what is next.

CONSISTENCY BEATS INTENSITY

There is a tendency to look for big changes or perfect plans, but the people who age well are not doing extreme things. They are doing small things, repeatedly. They move regularly, eat real food most of the time, sleep, stay connected, and adjust as life changes. Not perfectly, but persistently. Longevity is not built in a short burst of motivation. It is built in the patterns of everyday life. If there is one shift worth making, it is this: aging is not something to fight, it is something to train for. The goal is not to avoid getting older, but to build a body and a life that can carry you through it well.

A simple place to start is

Siobhan Gray, MD is a physician and founder of PeakMD Health and Daybreak Recovery Spa in Sisters, where she focuses on longevity, metabolic health, and helping patients build sustainable, individualized approaches to aging well.

school adoption by a meaningful margin. The gap, however, is closing faster than many expected. According to RAND Corporation data, the percentage of middle school students using AI for homework rose from 30 percent in May 2025 to 46 percent by December 2025, a 16-percentage-point jump in just seven months. Overall, about 48 percent of middle schoolers reported using AI for school in 2025, compared to 55 percent of high schoolers.

How do these reports and numbers match with what The Nugget learned from Sisters School District principals?

“In public education we are experiencing some of the same challenges and opportunities that other sectors of society and industry are experiencing in the sense that it is truly hard to keep up with the pace of change that AI presents,” Sisters High School Principal Steven Stancliff told The Nugget.

“In a few short years, we have gone from mostly trying to prevent academic dishonesty through the use of AI, to exploring how it can be leveraged to enhance learning and to free up teachers to focus on connecting with students and improving achievement. At Sisters High School we have a legacy of place-based experiential learning with an emphasis on human connection.

“Our proximity to the outdoors and our connection

PAGEANT: Students hosted multiple fund-raisers for FAN

Continued from page 3

the SHS Pageant performance. This year’s theme is “Iconic Duos,” which means contestant pairs were able to pick any iconic duo from television, music, or pop culture for their perform. The partnerships range from Bonnie and Clyde to Barbie and Ken, and the night will entail an entertaining night of contestant dances, videos, talents, and formal questionnaires.

“The pageant has been such an amazing and eyeopening experience! I never really knew how much work went into it, but it’s definitely been worthwhile in supporting such a great cause,” said contestant Norah Thorsett.

to the visual and performing arts will continue to inform our approach, and these connections can’t be replaced by technology,” he added.

He continued, “That said, part of our mission is to prepare students for what they will encounter as they move on. In some cases, that will mean preparing them to navigate AI for positive outcomes, but it also compels us to empower students to pursue healthy, life-affirming options and experiences that resist or challenge the ubiquity of AI. For the foreseeable future we will take on this challenge, and we hope to partner with our students and families to strike the right balance.”

Justin Nicklous, middle school principal, indicated little LLM (Large Language Model) usage. LLM is the more technically accurate term for AI.

“We are piloting a program called Khanmigo with one of our eighth-grade math classes. We are piloting this in partnership with the High Desert ESD (Educational Service District) and it has an AI component,” Nicklous said.

“As a building administrator I have very little use with AI. I will occasionally use it to get ideas on certain topics. For example, we are considering starting a Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) and I asked AI how to start that process.”

Megan Storey, elementary school principal reported that AI was not being used with students.

None of the principals addressed The Nugget’s question regarding whether students exhibiting any abuses of AI in their work.

The pageant has been such an amazing and eye-opening experience! I never really knew how much work went into it, but it’s definitely been worthwhile in supporting such a great cause.

— Norah Thorsett

“It’s been so much fun to bond with other contes tants and put in so much work for such an amaz ing cause,” added fel low contestant Colby Roberts. Purchase tickets for $10 a person at https://givebutter. com/SHSPageant2026 or at the door; all funds will go to support FAN.

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102 Commercial Rentals

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MINI STORAGE

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Answer: Page 14

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CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384

Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com — Serving Sisters Since 2010 —

Uncompromising quality. Local and personal. You can trust me. All projects: From new construction to those little projects you don't seem to get to. My team of local subcontractors and I will get it done right, fair, and pain-free so you can make your spouse happy. Call Jared 503-949-9719

Construction & Contracting AGIntuitiveSolutions.com 541-647-9196 • CCB#255780

602 Plumbing & Electric

— GEORGE’S — SEPTIC SERVICE

541-419-3148

A 63-year tradition for Sisters www.georges-septic-service.com

SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling

•New Construction •Water Heaters

541-549-4349

Residential and Commercial

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CCB #87587

Commercial • Residential • Industrial • Remodels • Generators • Hot tubs/Saunas monteselectric@hotmail.com

CCB#200030 • 541-480-9860

Sisters Owned and Operated Serving all of Central Oregon

•Residential • Commercial

•Industrial • Service

Hot tubs/Saunas • Generators

Car Chargers • Panel Upgrades

Light upgrades

541-588-3088 • CCB #234821

Electrical Service & Repair

Est. 1947, CCB#54572

Local in Sisters 503-357-2146

603 Excavation & Trucking

Full Service Excavation

Free On-site Visit & Estimate

Tewaltandsonsexcavation@gmail .com

541-549-1472 • CCB #76888

Drainfield

•Minor & Major Septic Repair

•All Septic Needs/Design & Install

General Excavation

•Site Preparation

•Rock & Stump Removal

•Pond & Driveway Construction Preparation

•Building Demolition Trucking

•Deliver Top Soil, Sand, Gravel, Boulders, Water

•Dump Trucks, Transfer Trucks, Belly

•The Whole 9 Yards or 24

Whatever You Want!

Construction Contractors

Licensing Information ~ An active license means your contractor is bonded and insured. For additional details visit www.oregon.gov/CCB

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial

CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977

www.BANR.net

BRANCHWATER

EXCAVATION & SEPTIC, LLC

541-408-4204

sophia@branchwater excavation.com

Sisters owned and operated

Josh & Sophia McCarthy

Experience you can trust. All Septic Systems: New Install & Repairs * Driveway Refurb & New * Fire Breaks * Site Prep

*Land Clearing & Clean Up

FREE ESTIMATES

CCB# 256753

604 Heating & Cooling ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs

actionairheatingandcooling.com

CCB #195556

541-549-6464

Sisters, Oregon's Exclusive HVAC Service

Residential & Commercial Heating • Ductless Air Conditioning • Maintenance Installation • Repair 541-588-5667

SistersHeatingAir.com

605 Painting Interior/Exterior Painting

Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491

~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks

CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 www.frontier-painting.com

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

Biomass Sawdust Compost Cheap or Free for landscape! Sistersforestproducts.com 541-410-4509

Complete landscape construction, fencing, irrigation installation & design, pavers/outdoor kitchens, debris cleanups, fertility & water conservation management, excavation.

CCB #188594 • LCB #9264 www.vohslandscaping.com 541-515-8462

All Landscaping Services

Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

Keeping Sisters Country Beautiful Since 2006 candcnursery@gmail.com 541-549-2345

STEVE'S HAULING

Yard and other debris, landscaping services, chain saw work, etc. 707-328-8370

Eastern Cascade Solutions Landscaping & Construction www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

15th or at the Sisters School District Office, 525 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters, Oregon, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on or after April 16, 2026.

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

J&E Landscaping Maintenance LLC

Clean-ups, irrigation, aerating, raking, mowing, thatching, hauling debris. Edgar Cortez 541-610-8982

jandelspcing15@gmail.com

–All You Need Maintenance –Pine needle removal, hauling, snow removal, moss removal, lawn care, weeding, pruning, roofs, gutters, pressure washing. Lic/Bonded/Ins. CCB# 218169 Austin • 541-419-5122

Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company.

Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com

701 Domestic Services

I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC

Specializing in Commercial, Residential & Vacation Rentals. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 541-977-1051

BLAKE & SON – Commercial, Home & Rentals Cleaning WINDOW CLEANING! Lic. & Bonded • 541-549-0897

802 Help Wanted

The Jewel is seeking a Seasonal PT Sales Associate! Love gems, rocks & fossils? Send resume to michelle@ thejewelonline.com or drop off in person. Call 541-549-9388. THE GARDEN ANGEL LANDSCAPING is filling crew lead and crew member positions. We want YOU to join us for an awesome season this year! thegardenangel@gmail.com 541 549 2882

999 Public Notice NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Sisters School District #6, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, will be held at Sisters School District Office, 525 E. Cascade Ave, Sisters, Oregon. The meeting will be held on the 6th day of May, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to review the proposed budget for FY 26-27 and to receive comments from the public on the budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained at the meeting on April

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire Protection District, Deschutes County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027, will be held at the Black Butte Ranch Fire Station, 13511 Hawks Beard, Black Butte Ranch, OR. The meeting will take place on May 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. The purpose of this meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive public comment on the proposed budget. A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after April 28, 2026, at Black Butte Ranch Fire Station, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., online at https://bbrfire-or.gov/about-bbrfd /budgets/2026-2027-budget/, by mail via email request to jvohs@bbrfire-or.gov or phone request to (541) 595-2288. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and provide public comment on the proposed budget.

Public comments may be provided in the following ways: In-Person: Attendees may comment during the designated public comment period at the meeting.

Virtually: Those attending via Zoom can provide comments during the meeting.

Written Comments: Written comments may be submitted in advance via email to jvohs@bbrfire-or.gov or by mail to PMB 8190 POB 8000, Black Butte Ranch, OR 97759. To ensure consideration, comments must be received no later than 9 a.m. on May 4, 2026.

Additional Meeting (If Necessary):

If additional deliberation is required, a second Budget Committee meeting will be held on May 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., at the same location and via Zoom. Virtual Meeting Option: This meeting will also be accessible via Zoom for those who wish to attend remotely. To join the meeting online or by audio only please contact Jamie Vohs at (541) 595-2288 or jvohs@bbrfire-or.gov for access to zoom link, meeting ID, passcode and phone number. If special accommodations are required, please contact Jamie Vohs at (541) 595-2288 or jvohs@bbrfire-or.gov at least two days in advance.

Notice of publication is also available at https://bbrfire-or.gov/ about-bbrfd/budgets/2026-2027budget/

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