The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLIX No. 23 // 2026-06-10

The Nugget

XLIX No. 23

School funds going back to taxpayers

One year ago Black Butte School (BBS) held an Open House to celebrate the completion of a major remodel and expansion to the historic school building in Camp Sherman.

A noteworthy aspect of the celebration in June 2025 was that the project was completed on time, a rare occurrence for construction of this scale, and especially considering it had an aggressive timeline. Now in 2026, the district has announced the project was completed not only on time, but also under budget.

“The renovation was made possible with the passing of a 2023 bond measure for $2 million,” said Molly Schultz, spokesperson for BBS. “Many taxpayers in Camp Sherman are retired and on fixed incomes, and with the cost carried by such a small number of residents, the district knew it was a heavy lift for many households. With voter approval of the bond, the residents showed how much they value Black Butte School and believe in the investment of our students.”

The bond was combined with a $2 million matching state grant as part of the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program for $4 million total. These funds

Sheriff’s office sees new turmoil

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

The command leadership at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has seen a significant level of tumult and turmoil stretching back many years.

Last week, Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert announced that three personnel had been placed on administrative leave. In a statement that did not identify those placed on leave, Sheriff Rupert said, “The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office received two formal complaints from members of our community regarding the same incident, both alleging employee misconduct.

“After consulting with Command Staff, County Legal, the District Attorney’s Office, the Oregon State

Police, and our Professional Standards Unit, I made the difficult decision to place three members of our office on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. I determined that placing these members on paid administrative leave was necessary to ensure a fair, thorough, and unbiased process for everyone involved, including the complainants and the employees named in the complaints.”

A day later, Lt. James McLaughlin, who is running against Rupert for Sheriff in the November election, revealed that he was one of the DCSO employees placed on leave. He did not reveal who the other two employees are. In a statement released

brought new life to the 1950s schoolhouse and expanded the footprint with an additional classroom and extended learning area.

“The community is delighted that the exterior

remains true to its original mid-century design and preserves this piece of history, while allowing the district to meet the learning needs

BLACK BUTTE on page 14

Sisters poised for busy summer of tourism

By Bill Bartlett. Correspondent & Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Domestic visitors and road trippers are expected to fill trails, lakes, and breweries across Sisters Country.

Central Oregon is heading into summer with strong momentum, and tourism industry watchers say the region is well positioned to capitalize on national travel trends that favor exactly what Sisters, Terrebonne, Bend, and the Cascade Lakes have to offer.

The outlook isn’t without caveats. Rising travel costs are making some Americans more selective, and international visitation, particularly from Canada, remains soft. But for a region built around drive-to destinations, outdoor

on page 16

Rodeo celebrates livestock athletes

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

As Sisters Rodeo returns for its 87th year, the animals, and the people who provide them, deserve a closer look. When the chute gates swing open at this year’s rodeo, the crowd’s eyes will follow the cowboy. But the story that makes that moment possible begins hours earlier, in pens and trailers just east of town, where the livestock of Corey & Lange Rodeo Company wait their turn.

The 87th Sisters Rodeo runs June 10–14. It bills itself with authority as “The Biggest Little Show in the World,” a nickname cowboys bestowed on it in 1940 when a group of local couples pooled $10,000 to start the event, then marveled that a small Oregon ranching town was offering prize money on par with Pendleton and Cheyenne.

More than eight decades later, Sisters Rodeo remains community-owned, allvolunteer, and one of the premier PRCA-sanctioned events in the Pacific Northwest boasting the highest purse in the nation for its

dates on the rodeo calendar. Behind much of that prestige is a Moses Lake, Washington-based operation that most ticketholders will never think about: Corey &

See RODEO on page 18

Editorial…

OPINION

America 250

It has been called the greatest sentence ever written: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

As we get set to mark 250 years of American independence on July 4, The Nugget Newspaper is inviting the Sisters community to share what this phrase means to you. How does this key statement from the Declaration of Independence shape or reflect your values, and how do you think we can

best manifest them as we move beyond 250 years as an independent republic?

Send your thoughts to editor@nugget news.com. Paste the text into the body of the email message. Submissions should be approximately 200 words or less and must be in by Friday, June 26. We’ll publish them in the July 1 edition of The Nugget

Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Letters to the Editor…

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.

Strong community

To the Editor:

As the storm swept through Sisters on May 28 bringing heavy rain, hail, thunder and lighting, my husband and I faced a situation that caught us off guard: Our side yard was flooded with rising water. My husband began digging a trench to divert the water, and I began pushing water out by a broom as if it was a life-saving paddle. It was clear we needed help, and I immediately thought of our Get Strong community.

At 8:20 p.m. I sent a text to Ryan Hudson (gym owner and ministry leader for Get Strong) and asked for help. What happened next reminded me of why Sisters is such a special place to live and why community is so important!

Within 20 minutes 10 people showed up with shovels, sump pumps, sandbags, and willing hearts to leave their warm homes that cold stormy night. This powerful response reminded me that community is not simply a word we use in small towns. Community

is action; it’s showing up when someone is in need. Community is sacrificing your evening to help protect a neighbor’s home; possibly someone you’ve never met. Community is bringing your skills, equipment, strength, and compassion when someone needs help.

In a world that often feels disconnected, Sisters continues to be a place where people look out for one another. We are blessed to live in a town where neighbors still answer the call, where relationships matter, and where service to others is valued.

We are grateful for the culture the Get Strong ministry has created. What could have been a disaster battled alone became a powerful reminder of God’s provision through His people. These people did more than help, they reminded us that life is sweeter within community.

Rebecca Gilman

Sisters Weather Forecast

See LETTERS on page 12

Investigate DCSO

By Greg Walker Guest Columnist

We have learned that Sheriff candidate James McLaughlin has been placed on paid administrative leave by his opponent, Sheriff Ty Rupert.

Sheriff Rupert continues the corrosive practice of such career and political sabotage begun in earnest by disgraced former sheriff Greg Brown in his campaign to smear Sheriff Les Stiles when Stiles, an outsider, ran against him, and won.

Likewise, Shane Nelson weaponized the disciplinary policy and process to include concealing personnel files of at least one retired employee, myself, to use as leverage against Kent van der Kamp, his preferred successor’s opponent. Once revealed, van der Kamp won election by a landslide. County counsel discovered my file, legally to have been destroyed per policy in 2013 long after my retirement in 2007, to have been hidden away for Shane Nelson’s own purposes. County Legal discovered during a follow-up search that the original search “did not capture a copy of the file that was located in a confidential shared drive with County Legal” (https://gregorywalker.substack.com/p/ were-still-not-there-yet).

What is the impact of this now chronic, unethical form of retaliation on both an agency and the community it serves?

• Toxic Leadership: A destructive management style characterized by manipulation, intimidation, and the marginalization or expulsion of high-performing, ethical subordinates to consolidate the leader’s power.

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• Weaponized Discipline: The practice of using departmental policies, internal affairs investigations, and disciplinary actions not to correct behavior, but as tools to punish, intimidate, or force out officers who refuse to comply with unethical directives.

• Institutional Moral Injury: When a police chief forces officers to choose between keeping their jobs and violating their personal ethical codes or sworn oaths, it can inflict severe psychological damage, known as moral injury on the workforce.

• Loss of Public Trust: When ethical officers are systematically purged, the department loses its moral compass, leading to coverups, excessive force, and a total breakdown in relationships with the local community.

In our 2007 guidebook for law enforcement professionals Dr. George Thompson, PhD, and I describe the above in detail. Dr. Thompson strongly emphasizes that a leader’s obsession with asserting personal dominance or control is a primary driver of organizational failure. Ty Rupert knows James McLaughlin was the preferred choice for interim Sheriff as well as the choice of the DCSEA, which represents the agency’s employees to include its 26 sergeants.

And then there is this:

During the interim Sheriff process, Ty Rupert reportedly asked James McLaughlin if he would drop out. Rupert offered if McLaughlin did so he wouldn’t forget the gesture going forward at the agency. And McLaughlin was asked not to run in the primary election, either. McLaughlin declined to compromise. Almost immediately after the county commissioners chose Rupert over McLaughlin a campaign to isolate “Mac” began at DCSO. Grievances began to be filed against him; he was cut out of anything having to do with the future of the agency under Rupert to include attending budget meetings; “backdoor meetings” are reported to have been held between Rupert and McLaughlin with Rupert asking, “what do you want to not run against me?”

And why is retired sheriff Larry Blanton quietly involved in the agency’s operations again? It is reported Blanton sits in on Command staff meetings at the invitation of Rupert. Why? McLaughlin is reported to have contacted Blanton for advice given the pounding’s been taking for not dropping out of the race. Blanton’s response reportedly included, “welcome to politics...be very careful... find another job.”

The county commissioners should call for the county legal office to initiate an outside, neutral investigation (properly licensed in Oregon) to address these matters and perhaps more. When a sitting sheriff uses his/her position of authority to pressure a subordinate running against them to drop out of the race, it is classified as political coercion and abuse of power. In the context of employment and election law, this behavior frequently intersects with several severe legal and ethical violations.

Finally, this kind of abuse of power and authority does not serve the community whatsoever. It serves only one person, the abuser. And this is unacceptable.

COMMUNITY

Making trails accessible in Sisters

Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) has achieved two significant milestones in making trails accessible to more people in Sisters Country.

STA’s Accessible Trails Project has been named a recipient of the Visit Central Oregon (VCO) Central Oregon Future Fund — a competitive grant program that supports tourismrelated projects benefiting both residents and visitors across the region.

Additionally, STA has been accepted into Travel Oregon’s Recreation Ready Program for the 2027–2029 cohort, with Phase 1 scheduled to begin in January.

STA reports that together these achievements represent a major step forward in STA’s vision of making

Sisters Country the Pacific Northwest’s premier destination for verified accessible outdoor adventure. Now in its fourth annual cycle, the Central Oregon Future Fund awarded a total of $300,000 to 12 regional projects selected from 26 applications requesting more than $1 million in funding. STA was one of five accessible adventure projects recognized this year — a reflection of the region’s growing commitment to inclusive recreation. Visit Central Oregon selected STA’s proposal for its goal to create the first fully verified accessible adventure trail system in Oregon by rating all nonmotorized trails, training volunteers, and expanding

adaptive recreation opportunities for people of all abilities.

“Sisters Trails Alliance believes everyone should have access to our beautiful outdoor spaces,” said Stephanie Presley, executive director of Sisters Trails Alliance. “We are so grateful for Visit Central Oregon’s investment in our Accessible Trails Project, which will help us to assess and modify trails and infrastructure, expanding inclusive recreation for people of all ages and ability levels.”

The Future Fund grant will support a part-time program manager position — a strategic hire that will help STA meet the rigorous

Sisters set to celebrate America’s 250th

Sisters will gather at the Village Green Park in downtown Sisters to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4.

The 3rd annual Sisters 4th Fest is a free, familyfriendly, locally oriented, and open to the public Independence Day celebration from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is produced through the partnership between the Rotary Club of Sisters and Citizens4Community (C4C).

Activities throughout the day will suit all generations starting with the Sisters Rotary Club annual pancake breakfast followed by the Red, White & Blue

three-miler + Lil’ Firecracker Dash, presented by Run Sisters Run, presentation of colors by Sisters Veterans, and the “Kids on Wheels” mini-parade, presented by Blazin’ Saddles.

Later in the morning there will be live music by Dry Canyon Stampede made possible by a stage sponsorship from Corrie Lake & Debbi McCune Realtors, and the 2nd Annual Pie-Eating Contest, presented by Sisters Bakery. Participation in the latter competition will be possible via an on-site lottery. Throughout the event there will be a Commemorative

Three council seats open in general election

Three positions on the Sisters City Council will be up for grabs in the November 3 general election.

The terms of Councilor Michael Preedin, Councilor Gary Ross, and Councilor Cheryl Pellerin will end on December 31, 2026. All three are eligible to apply for reelection. The filing window is now open for each position.

To be eligible a candidate must be a qualified elector in Oregon, a current registered voter in the City of Sisters, and must have been a resident of the City for 12 months

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.

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 Boa rd of D irectors 2nd Tuesday, 3:3 0 p.m. 5 41-595 -6203. See schedule www.blackbutte.k12.or.us/

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

preceding the election. City Council positions are nonpartisan. Election materials can be found on the City website, www.ci.sisters.or.us.

Candidates are encouraged to obtain election materials by August 4. All filing requirements for incumbents must be completed by 5 p.m. on August 18, and new candidates by 5 p.m. on August 25.

For more information about the process, email Monica Burmeister at mburmeister@ci.sisters.or.us, or stop by City Hall at 520 E. Cascade Ave.

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

POLICE

Theater club spoofs TV shows in new play

By T. Lee Brown Correspondent

Outlaw Theater Club’s world premiere took place Friday at Sisters Middle School. Student actors spoofed classic TV themes, from talk shows to children’s shows, survival shows to junk food commercials, in a play called “In the Box.”

The new after-school program is presented by Starshine, which brings an array of educational and creative activities to Sisters residents of all ages, including theatrical performance and nature education.

One of the night’s actors was Mya Kidd, an eighth grader at the middle school. “This is just such a fun crew of people. It was such a joy to have a bunch of good laughs,” she said.

After hawking Gross Foods™ brand junk food onstage, she brandished a sword as Omi-Won Tenoso. Early on in the children’s show segment, one small part of Kidd showed up from behind the curtain— her hand, as a sock puppet. (Unlike your average sock puppet, this one got in a fight with the kiddie show’s star, who happened to be her husband.)

“Previously, when I lived in California, I was part of a youth acting program… once we moved out here, there weren’t many opportunities,” Kidd said. The new Outlaw

Theater Club sounded like a great option to her, as drama is “something I’ve always loved to do” in addition to volleyball and other sports.

At the club, Kidd enjoyed acting with kids that spanned different ages and school types, and “being able to say hi to a homeschool kid, just around town,” someone who she wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Director, teacher, and Starshine founder Jennie Sharp said she was really excited about the night’s play and about the whole first year of the theater club.

She loves, “working with these kids who are electing to be here. They are working hard, they are showing up, they have the enthusiasm. It’s an awesome, positive vibe.”

The club arose organically from student and parent interest. Students from other Starshine programs were going to Sisters Middle School, which has no theater offerings.

“One of the parents, Emily Steukle, was like, hey, we’ve got to get this going,” explained Sharp. She and Steukle started brainstorming, and brought the results to the school principal.

By autumn of last year, Starshine Outlaws was an after-school club, meeting on Friday afternoons. They started off by doing improv, then developed the show this spring. Elizabeth

Rapoza’s short play “In the Box” formed the basis of the script, which was adapted and added to by students and others involved in the club.

Said parent Faye Stillwell, “It was funny, very hilarious. They were all very comedic.” The Starshine experience leading up to the show was, in Stillwell’s estimation, amazing for her daughter Willow.

Willow Cunningham says she wants to be an actor. This was her first play.

She likes learning from home through Cascades Virtual Academy.

Participating in Outlaw Theater Club and volleyball are extra important “because I don’t get to do, like, socializing with the online school.”

In terms of acting skills and techniques, “I really learned how to change my voice and stuff,” Cunningham explained.

out of my comfort zone.”

Like the other performers, Cunningham played several different parts throughout the show. How did she differentiate the characters from each other? “I changed my accent,” she said.

Wearing a fluffy blue dress and shoes, she played an AI (artificial intelligence) doll. “I had to be very stiff, and like no emotions. I did a

For the superhero Wombat Girl, “I kind of just did my own voice.”

To play pop star Brianna, she donned a tight, shiny red costume. In the scene, she and her bandmates squabbled and stalked the stage like only rich, famous, spoiled pop stars possibly could.

Cunningham wasn’t sure what to call her voice from that scene. “California?” suggested nearby adults. “Valley girl?” Cunningham settled on, “like a popular girl.”

Audience member Jaynie Carter came to “In the Box” to see the work of her sister. Katie Carter is Starshine’s high school intern, working as stage manager and occasional performer. She even

wrote a new scene for the script.

To her sister, it looked like fun. “You could tell they really enjoyed doing the program and stuff,” Jaynie said.

Eighth grader Kidd will soon move on to her freshman year at a new school. Because Sisters High only offers drama every other year, she’d be excited to “jump in if they do Starshine with ninth graders or with other high schoolers. Any type of opportunity, I am so down for it.”

Students sign up for Outlaw Theater Club through Starshine, a local business. Scholarships are available. Attendance at Sisters Middle School is not required for participation.

Information about the club, along with Starshine’s summer camps and stargazing events, is available at www.starshine-theater.com.

Said Sharp, “We are hoping to do this again next year!”

host played by Declan McShane.

Outlaws succeed on the diamond

The Outlaws baseball team wrapped up another successful season this spring, finishing second in league with a 11-4 league record.

The team ranked eighth in the state with a 17-9 record.

“We played a tough schedule this year playing nine games against teams that finished ranked in the top 10,” Outlaws coach and athletic director Matt Hilgers reported. “Fifteen of our 26 games were played against teams that made the playoffs. We faced a tough Brookings Harbor team in the second round of playoffs at home. We battled them and came out on top of that game 4-2.Trent Gordon threw a complete game on the mound for us and threw one of his better games this season.”

For the quarterfinal, the Outlaws traveled to Taft again this year and faced a pitcher who is committed to play at Oregon next year.

The Outlaws competed hard against them going into the sixth inning tied 0-0, before ultimately falling 3-0.

“Sebastian Storch threw for us and again pitched one of his best games. He also had our only hit at the plate that day,” Hilgers said. “We ended the season playing some of the best baseball we had played all year which is what we as coaches had talked about at the beginning of the year and throughout the season.”

Hilgers said, “We were extremely proud of the kids this year and the work they put in to make it as far as we did in the playoffs. We would also like to thank the families for all the time and effort they

put in to make Outlaw baseball a success once again this season.”

The hard work was recognized with multiple athletes earning all-league awards: Trent Gordon, first team allleague pitcher; Cole Morford, first-team all-league infield; Jace Owens, first-team allleague catcher; Ethan Eby, first-team all-league DH/utility; Kieren Labhart, first-team all-league outfield; Sebastian

Storch, second-team allleague infield; and Jackson McCabe, honorable mention all-league infield.

“We are going to miss our senior group that we have had for the last four years,” Hilgers said, “but we know they will go on to do some amazing things. We are excited and looking forward to next year and looking to go out there and compete again and get better every day.”

Informal language program launches

For many people, the hardest thing about learning a language is finding opportunities to practice with another speaker of that language.

Christina Cappy, who founded the Bend Language Institute, will host a “Second Sunday” gathering at Eurosports Food Cart Garden from 4 to 6 p.m. this summer.

“It’s basically a way for people to practice multiple different languages,” Cappy told The Nugget. “It’s a free, drop-in community event. I’m excited to see how it grows in Sisters.”

Italian, French, and Spanish speakers are already planning to attend, and all languages are welcome. Cappy is hopeful that this will eventually include American Sign Language practitioners.

Cappy grew up in Italy, and speaks Italian. She has a Ph.D. in anthropology and educational policy studies, University of WisconsinMadison, and has taught at OSU-Cascades and Central Oregon Community College. She worked in schools in South Africa (where she became an advanced Zulu speaker). She moved to Bend in the last year of her doctoral program, and founded Bend Language Institute with the goal “to provide meaningful education through language and cultural studies to our Bend community. Learning a language isn’t just about memorizing words but understanding another way of life. It helps broaden our perspectives and engage our minds.”

“Fun this summer will include multi-lingual potlucks,” she noted.

Eurosports Food Cart Court is located at 223 E Hood Ave., Sisters.

Man reunites with rescuer months after wreck

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Zane Leabo does not remember meeting Rodney Brown for the first time. In fact, he doesn’t remember several days from last November — particularly the day when Brown came to his aid when Leabo was seriously injured in a singlevehicle wreck on Highway 20 east of Sisters.

The men were reunited on Sunday, June 7, as Leabo and his family met Brown and his wife, Allie, at Ski Inn to present Brown with a quilt in thanks for his efforts on a terrible day.

On November 19, 2025, Leabo, then 29, an electrician from Shedd, Oregon, was driving a full-size contractor’s van when it veered across Highway 20 at the intersection of Jordan Road and impacted a juniper tree at highway speed. It was later determined that Leabo had had a seizure, which caused the accident.

The accident occurred in front of a Cloverdale fire engine that was returning to station from Sisters, and Cloverdale personnel immediately responded to aid Leabo.

Brown, a Sisters volunteer firefighter who lives on Jordan Road, was heading into Sisters when he got a pager call regarding the accident. He stopped at the scene, and Cloverdale Fire Chief Thad Olsen directed him to check on the driver, Leabo.

Brown clambered through the passenger window — the only point of access into a cab that had crumpled under the impact with the tree.

“He was pretty much unconscious the whole time,” Brown recalled. “I was trying to get him to respond to me.”

Brown had retired as a

lieutenant firefighter/paramedic in Portland, and had a lot of experience dealing with trauma cases. He could tell that Leabo had significant injuries, and his right foot was trapped — but it did not seem that he had suffered a serious head injury, which Brown took as a positive sign.

He stayed with Leabo for the entire 45 minutes it took to extract Leabo from the vehicle. The tree had intruded deep into the driver’s compartment of the van, entrapping the driver amid twisted metal. The extraction operation was complex, requiring a range of tools and techniques to finally free Leabo.

He was airlifted to St. Charles in Bend and would spend days in the hospital. Among his injuries were broken toes and knees, a broken hip, and 18 broken ribs. He underwent multiple surgeries.

Leabo has recently returned to work, has medication for the underlying medical condition that caused the seizure, and is cleared to drive again. As terrible as the ordeal was, he and his family are thankful that the accident occurred where help was immediately at hand.

“I’m glad I didn’t hurt anyone else,” Leabo said.

For his part, Brown appreciated the opportunity to meet Leabo again under better circumstances — but he repeatedly emphasized that he was one part of a crew from four separate agencies working together that

made the positive outcome possible.

“They did the work to get him out of there,” he said.

“I’ll be accepting the quilt on behalf of them.”

and was to start a new job as a firefighter/ paramedic with Crook County on Monday.

Obituaries

Mary Ellen Westberg, of Long Creek, Oregon, passed away on April 21, 2026, at the young age of 62, after an eight-month battle with cancer. It was a difficult journey for her—especially for someone as tough and independent as she was—but she tightened the cinch, shortened the reins, dug in the spurs, and allowed her two daughters to be her pickup riders when she needed them most.

When God finally called her home, we imagine He had her beloved horse, Captain, saddled and waiting for her. Captain had passed just two weeks before Mary, and her faithful dog, Sam, four weeks before. Together, they made their way toward Heaven’s pearly gates, with Captain carrying her and Sam running faithfully alongside.

Mary was born on December 26, 1963, in Bend, Oregon, to Dorothy and Elmer Gridley. She grew up with seven siblings (three sisters and four brothers) in Sisters, Oregon, where she learned the ways of horses and logging from her father and grandfather. She preferred playing with trucks in the dirt over dolls and was never much of a girly girl, yet she always carried herself with a timeless buckaroo elegance. She attended Redmond High School, served with the U.S. Youth Conservation Corps in Oregon from 1979 to 1981, and loved spending time with cowboys and attending rodeos.

Mary spent much of her life working hard — and often doing jobs many would consider too tough for a woman, though she

never saw them that way. She worked muleskidding and logging with mule teams in La Pine, Oregon; drove swathers and spent time with the buckaroos of the ZX Ranch (Viewpoint Ranch) in Christmas Valley; and worked as a stable hand in Whitesboro, Texas, during her younger years. She could outwork just about any cowboy — whether fencing, riding, branding, bucking hay bales, driving teams, or simply doing whatever needed to be done. She loved horses, cattle, dogs, rendezvous gatherings, and the ranch and buckaroo way of life. Above all, she loved the Lord with her whole heart.

One of Mary’s favorite things was attending the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. In 1987, renowned photographer Kurt Markus took a photo of her there. Little did she know that image would come full circle decades later. In 2019, she became the honorary poster figure for the 35th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, bringing her unexpected

recognition within the Western community she loved so much.

Mary raised two daughters to be tough as nails and good-hearted women. She welcomed her first daughter, Jessica, in March of 1986, before meeting Ross in 1987. Their family grew again when Jamie arrived in August of 1988. Mary and Ross married in 1990 and shared 29 years together, ranching, spending summers at cow camp in the mountains, rendezvousing, and raising their daughters throughout Central Oregon, Heppner, and Pilot Rock.

Mary moved to Long Creek, Oregon, in 2016 and continued living the ranch life she loved. In her later years, she embraced her role as Grandma with her whole heart. Her grandchildren brought her immense joy, and she loved each of them dearly.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Elmer Gridley, in 1980; her mother, Dorothy Gridley, in 2013; her sister, Rose Wise, in 2020; her brother, Carl Gridley, in 2007; and her beloved horse, Captain, and faithful dog, Sam, in 2026.

She is survived by her daughters, Jessica Preston and Jamie Henslee; her grandchildren, Ben Henslee, Matt Henslee, Dawsen Preston, and Addisen Preston; her sisters, Anna Jung and Susan Puckett; and her brothers, Dale Gridley, Warren “Skeeter” Gridley, and Rusty Gridley.

Mary will forever be remembered as someone who never hesitated to lend a hand, always gave her best, loved fiercely, and carried the buckaroo spirit in everything she did.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2026. Family and friends are welcome to contact her daughter, Jessica (Jessie) Preston, at 541-379-1212 for service details.

Gertrude ‘Weibo’ Marcoux

September 30, 1931 – May 7, 2026

Weibo passed away peacefully in her sleep. She is survived by her daughter Janice of Redmond; son Jon of Sisters; and son Jeff of Plainfield, New Jersey. She is also survived by three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, John (July 11, 1929 – July 9, 2011).

Monaghan will take reins as volleyball coach

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Jason Monaghan has lived in the Sisters area for the past 12 years and two of his daughters have gone through the Lady Outlaws volleyball program. He will be the fourth coach the Lady Outlaws have had in four consecutive years.

He shared with The Nugget that although he’s never had any volleyball coaching experience he did play amateur beach volleyball for about 10 years, all in his 20s.

Monaghan does however come with coaching experience — in baseball. He started coaching T-ball and has coached all levels in between, all the way through 4A high school. He was also a consultant coach for both pitching and catching at a few colleges in the Portland area, including Portland State and Mt. Hood Community College.

Monaghan told The Nugget that when his family moved here they realized how big volleyball was in Sisters, and saw its history of excellence.

He shared that he has had in-depth discussions with great local coaches, including Rory Rush, Jason Myhre, and Turner Waskom from Summit, and many club coaches also. They’ve discussed strategy, positions, and the intricacies of the game.

Monaghan said he will be the face of the team, the strategist, and will run practices. His assistant, daughter Jordan Monaghan, will do the fine-tuning.

He plans for his team to have fun, but the ultimate goal is to win, and, with a grin, stated that winning is fun.

“I will expect 100 percent from the girls, and not just them — but the coaches, the parents, and the fans. We plan to continue to be an elite volleyball program in the statement” he said.

Monaghan shared what his team strategy will be.

“We’re not tall, so we plan to run a fast offense,” said Monaghan. “We will focus on our serves to bring teams out of system, and also be a very good passing team. We need to be smarter than everybody else because we’re not going to overpower other teams.”

His vision for the program is to make sure the program is better after he leaves than when he began.

“I want to ensure we continue Sisters volleyball excellence,” he said.

Monaghan’s goal for the

Jason Monaghan will lead the volleyball team next season.

team is lofty: to win a state championship.

“Our number one goal is to bring home the boat (the state championship),” said Monaghan. “Instead of always running drill after drill, we’ll also be looking at scenarios during practice to help us toward that end.”

Monaghan told The Nugget he’s sure people will ask, “Why this guy?” and his response is: “I build teams — it’s what I do for my work. My coaching staff will be experts in their specific areas, passing, setting, and hitting.

I’ve contacted previous elite Sisters volleyball players and they will make guest appearances at open gym, play with the girls and offer suggestions on footwork, passing, hitting, and other aspects of the game.”

He added, “John Dunning (five time national champion volleyball coach at Stanford), Kelly Sheffield (Wisconsin volleyball coach), and John Cook (volleyball coach at Nebraska), all had one thing in common. None of them had ever played organized volleyball. I’m not saying I’m like those guys, but you can have good coaches who haven’t played the sport.”

Theater presents Pulitzer-winning play

Ellipse Theatre Community (ETC) is offering a production of “Rabbit Hole,” by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Lilli Ann LinfordForeman. Performances run through June 14, at Open Space Event Studios.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, “Rabbit Hole” is a deeply moving story about a family navigating unimaginable loss. With compassion, honesty, and moments of unexpected humor, the play explores grief, memory, and the complicated path toward healing.

Director Lilli Ann LinfordForeman notes that “at heart, ‘Rabbit Hole’ is about finding a way through heartbreak to reconcile what was with what is, on the way to what can be.”

This production is part of ETC’s Immersive Experience program, designed to extend the impact of the play beyond the stage. Throughout the run, audiences and community members will be invited to participate in a variety of reflective and creative offerings centered on themes of loss, resilience, and hope. These experiences will include interactive art opportunities, collaborative creative projects, facilitated conversations with community leaders and mental health

professionals, and post-show discussions with the cast and creative team.

Together, these events aim to create space for dialogue, personal reflection, and shared expression, fostering meaningful connection within the community. Funding for these programs is made possible through contributions from World Muse, Peaceful Presence, Partners in Care, NAMI Central Oregon, ClearPath Healthcare, Mark Jamnik, IBM, and the Tower Theatre Foundation.

“Rabbit Hole” stars Makenzie Whittle, Chase Johnson, Hilda BeltranWager, Jamie Speed, and Warren Schweitzer. The

production team includes Lilli Ann Linford-Foreman as director, Kit Foreman as assistant director, Phoenix Wickberg as stage manager, Randy Heise as scenic designer, Eric Denzler as lighting designer, Barbra Rich as sound designer, Angela Lund as properties run crew, and Debbie Levin as lead producer.

Performance and event details, including ticket information, is available on Ellipse Theatre Community’s website and social media channels. Visit https://www.etcbend.org. Bend Open Space Event Studios is located at 220 Northeast Lafayette Ave., Bend.

“Being a member of S AC has truly changed my life . I love the sense of communit y and accountability. Sta and fellow member s notice when I mis s a day or t wo , which motivates me to consistentl y return. That support has been a tremendous help throu ghout my weight-los s journey.”

— Madeline Metolius, SAC member since 2022

Siobhan Gray, MD Columnist

As a physician, I spend a great deal of time talking with patients about health behaviors. Exercise. Nutrition. Sleep. Stress management. What fascinates me is that we often assume motivation comes first and action follows. We think we’ll go to the workout when we feel motivated, call the friend when we feel social, or sign up for the hike when we feel energized. But psychology research suggests the opposite is often true. Researchers call this affective forecasting. Humans are surprisingly poor at predicting what will make us feel better in the future. We routinely overestimate the effort required for meaningful experiences and underestimate the rewards. We don’t feel like going to the workout, the gathering, the concert, or the dinner. Then we go, and afterward we find ourselves wondering why we hesitated in the first place.

I was reminded of this lesson recently when I almost canceled my 50th birthday party. Not immediately. First I scaled it back. Then I scaled it back again. What had started as a community celebration with hiking, music, a bonfire, and friends slowly became smaller until eventually I convinced myself I didn’t have the bandwidth for any of it. At the time, the decision felt reasonable. I had just returned from multiple trips. A tragedy had touched people close to me. I was in the middle of launching a new business. Life felt meaningful, exciting, uncertain, and exhausting all at the same time. Somewhere through all of this, the party stopped feeling like a celebration and started feeling like one more thing to manage.

When I told my daughters I was canceling, they looked at me with genuine confusion.

“But Mom,” they said,

“you love parties.”

They were right.

The truth is that I wasn’t struggling with turning 50. I was struggling with everything else. Looking back, I think that’s one of the things stress does best. It narrows our vision. It convinces us that the things that bring us joy can wait. The hike can wait. The dinner can wait. The gathering can wait. Slowly, without realizing it, we begin making our world smaller.

Thankfully, the people who love us sometimes see more clearly than we do. So I changed my mind.

The large celebration never happened, but a smaller gathering did. Friends and family came over for a backyard barbecue and bonfire. At one point during the evening, my daughter and a close friend picked up a guitar and banjo and began playing songs I love. We gathered around the fire and listened.

As I looked around the circle, I realized I wasn’t simply watching two teenagers perform. I was watching children who had grown up together. I was surrounded by friendships that had accumulated over

decades, neighbors who had become family, and a community built one conversation, one shared meal, one campfire, and one act of kindness at a time. And in that moment I had a realization: I wasn’t looking at a birthday party. I was looking at a life.

For a brief period this year, I found myself returning to an old escape fantasy. Mine happens to be Ireland. A small cottage. A slower pace. Long walks. Fewer responsibilities. I wasn’t seriously planning a move. What I was really longing for was relief.

I’ve seen versions of this play out in exam rooms for years. People assume they need a different job, a different routine, a different relationship, or a different town. Sometimes they do. But just as often, what they are experiencing is exhaustion. When we’re depleted, it’s easy to mistake fatigue for unhappiness, and overwhelm for evidence there is something fundamentally wrong.

Looking back, I can see how easy it is to mistake exhaustion for dissatisfaction, and overwhelm for misalignment. When life

feels heavy enough, the problem can begin to look like the life itself. It wasn’t. I wasn’t unhappy. I was tired.

The older I get, the more I think wisdom involves learning to recognize those moments. Stress has a way of drawing our attention toward what is unfinished, uncertain, and demanding. It convinces us that the answer is to simplify, withdraw, or postpone joy until a more convenient season arrives.

Sometimes that instinct is correct. But sometimes the thing we are most tempted

to cancel is the thing we most need.

That birthday party I almost canceled turned out to be a reminder. Not that life is perfect. Not that we should always say yes. But that when life becomes overwhelming, we can lose sight of the very things that make it meaningful.

Sometimes the thing we need most is not a different life. It’s a clearer view of the one we already have.

Siobhan Gray, MD, is a physician in Sisters and founder of PeakMD Health, with a special interest in longevity, metabolic health and recovery.

COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS

21 Kitchen Ka leidoscope:

Tour Beauti fu l Homes and Change Lives Loca lly Satu rd ay, June 2 0, f rom 10 a .m to 3 p.m . Tou r si x stunning

home s i n E ag le Crest R esor t’s

We st R idge neig hborhood i n

Redmond, featuring e xqui site ht ak ing njoy s ma ll estaurants k Bu e R anch, ngona , Great e Den , ry. Meet an s a nd andc ra ed . Tic kets nd $ 4 0 on ay of t . Hosted by

As sist ance L eague® of Bend, al l proceed s bene t c hi ld ren and adu lt s i n need t hroughout

Desc hute s Cou nt y. For t ic kets and more i nfor mation, c al l 541-389-2075 or go to h ps:// givebu er.com/KK 2026

GO FISH Group

Mond ay, June 15 , at Sisters

Commun it y C hu rc h at 7 p.m

Tye K rueger, t he owner of Con uence F ly S hop i n t he

S isters Ve ter inar y Clinic 541-549-6961

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 22 2 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

Solstice in Sisters

Enjoy a rela xed Sum mer

Solstice gat hering a nd short wa l k celebrating t he longe st , lightest d ay of t he yea r.

Optional: bring bel ls , d ru ms , ower s , m ay be a s pecia l stone to place at t he l abyr inth ’ s center. Gat her Sunday, June 21, at 7 p.m. , w al k at 7:3 0 p.m . at Si sters Com mu nit y L abyr inth i n Gateway Park , Hw y 2 42 a nd W. Hood Ave. Free. Det ail s at sisterscom mu nity laby ri nt h.org.

Kiwa nis Buck aroo

Brea kfast

Su nd ay, June 14, f rom 7 to 11 a .m . at t he Sisters R odeo

Grou nd s . A du lt s $15 , K id s ages 4 -12 a re $7, a nd c hi ld ren

3 yea r s & u nder a re f ree. For in form at ion, c al l 5 41-632 -3 663.

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.

Old M il l D istr ic t , w il l s peak on “Ri es , Poc ket Water, a nd ot her places i n Strea m Fishi ng.”

For more i nfor mation, c al l 5 41771-2211

Mont hly Song wr iters’

Sharing Ci rcle

Second Wed ne sd ay of t he

mont h , 6 to 8 p.m. , at e Hub,

291 E . M ai n Ave B e i n c reat ive

commun it y a nd be i ns pi red

wh ile sha ring son gs , bei ng a g reat li stener, a nd providing feedback.

Al l age s a nd ski l l levels welcome

Free. I nfo: c al l or tex t Jes s at 541- 97 7- 84 94

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 Si sters Com mu nit y R ec reat ion

Center. e E arly Stage Support Group meet s i n t he W hychus

Room . e Care Partner G roup

meet s i n t he Metol iu s R oom.

For i nfor mation c al l 541-588- 05 47

Sisters Ga rden Club

Mont hly membership meeti ng wi l l be held on Monday, Ju ne 15 , at 10 a .m . A ma nd a

Eger tson of Deschute s L and Tr ust w il l sha re i nfor mation about t he bu er y l ife c yc le, loca l bu er y d iversity, a nd what fol k s c a n do i n t hei r y ards and garden s to help s upport bu er ies . Meeting loc at ion i s e Hub, 291 E M ai n Avenue. Cont ac t: 5 41-420 -6239.

Jour ney th rough

Sisters Histor y 202 6 H istorica l Wal ki ng Tou rs of t he Camp Pol k H istorica l

Cemetery a re ava il able month ly

e nex t tou r i s Sat urday,

Ju ne 2 0 . Guided w alk s sta r t at 10 :3 0 a .m . at 6 985 Cemeter y Rd., Sisters . e cemeter y i s not handicap accessible and w alk s i nc lude u ne ven grou nd . R eg ister at h ps:// ca mppolk pioneercemeter y.org/ tour s.

Notice of Elec tion for Sisters City Counci l Notice i s hereby g iven t hat a Genera l E lect ion w il l be held on November 3 , 2 026 , for t hree position s on t he Sisters Cit y Counci l . e r st d ay to le for a Cit y Cou nc i l pos it ion w as

Wednesday, June 3 , 2 026 . To be el ig ible one must be a q ua li ed elec tor i n O regon, a c ur rent regi stered voter i n t he Cit y of Si sters , a nd must h ave been a resident of t he Cit y for 12 mont h s preceding t he elect ion. Cit y Cou nc i l pos it ion s a re nonpa rt isan . E lect ion m ater ia l s c an be fou nd on t he Cit y website at: www.c i. sisters.or.u s . e term s of C ou nc ilor M ic hael Preedin, Cou nc ilor Gar y R oss, and Cou nc ilor C hery l Pel leri n wi l l end on December 31, 2 026. Al l t hree a re e ligible to apply for reelect ion . Candidates a re encouraged to obt ai n elect ion material s by A ug ust 4, 2 026.

Al l l ing requi rement s for incu mbents must be c ompleted

Th ree Sisters Histor ical Societ y Free g uided Wal ki ng Tou rs: Heritage Homes or H istoric Bu ildi ngs Dow ntow n . E xplore the c ha r m a nd some of t he r ic h stor ies of Sisters’ past . E ac h

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

Honey Bees & Brews

Mont hly soc ia l gat heri ng at L az y Z R anc h e very 4t h u rsday at 5 p.m . A ll beekeepers a nd w an na-bees welcome. F or more i nfo: C lyde, 458-20 6- 8470

by 5:0 0 p.m . on A ug ust 18, 2026, a nd new c andidates by 5: 0 0 p.m . on A ug ust 2 5 , 2 026. For quest ion s about t he process , em ai l Mon ic a Bur meister at mbur meister@ci.sisters .or.us , or stop by Cit y H al l at 52 0 E Cascad e Avenue.

Save the Rubberba nd s Bu si ne s s owners: I f you receive a bundle of Nug get s eac h week, those fat rubber ba nd s are high ly va lued by e Nug gete ers t hat bu nd le you r paper s eac h week.

I f you w il l save t hem, we’ d love to u se t hem aga in . Bring t hem

by t he Nug get o ce, or c al l for a Rubber ba nd pic k-up. a nk s!

Bi rt h Ann ou nc em en t Macy Scarle t Zav ala cy Scarlet

Mac y Sca rlet Zav ala wa s bor n Janua r y 11, 202 6 to Cou rt ney (Blu st, SHS g rad 2012) a nd Joseph Zava la of Ful lerton, Ca li forn ia . L oc al grandparents a re Tom and Sally Blu st

SISTERS-AREA Events & Enter tainment

JUNE

4–14, 2026

Open Space Event Studios "Rabbit Hole" by David Lindsay-Abaire,produced and presented by Ellipse Theatre Community. Pulitzer Prize–winning drama explores grief, memory and healing enhanced by immersive community events including interactive art, conversations, and post-show discussions that foster reflection, resilience, and connection. Times, tickets and info: etcbend.org/immersive. 220 NE Lafayette Ave. Bend.

WEDNESDAY • JUNE 10

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. $10. Info: frankiesinsisters.com. 250 W. Cascade Ave. Hardtails Rodeo Week — DJ Chris Ossig 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Country dance music at its best $10 cover. Ride the mechanical bull! Info: hardtailsdivebarandgrill.com.

THURSDAY • JUNE 11

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Music Bingo! BINGO

6 to 8 p.m. Match song clips to your bingo card and win fun prizes! More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Frankie's in Sisters Open Mic Music lovers can enjoy a variety of local talent, 6 to 8 p.m. Sign ups, 5:30 No cover; outside in the courtyard Info: frankiesinsisters.com. Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 13th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 Info: call 541-549-2471

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Bettie

Denny presents “In the Wake of Madness: My Family’s Escape from the Nazis.”6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Rodeo Week — DJ Chris Ossig

8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Country dance music at its best $10 cover. Ride the mechanical bull! Info: hardtailsdivebarandgrill.com.

FRIDAY • JUNE 12

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

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa

6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Spoons Family Game Night Bring the whole crew! We’ve got all the classics ready to play ... or bring your own game 5 to 8 p.m. No reservations needed. Info: 541-719-0572

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Evan Mullins

6 to 8 p.m. A Bend-based keyboardist and vocalist. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Hardtails Rodeo Week — DJ Chris Ossig followed by live music by Pendleton Highway 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Country dance music at its best Ride the mechanical bull! $10 cover. Info: hardtailsdivebarandgrill.com.

SATURDAY • JUNE 13

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Stitching Stories: Introduction to Photo Embroider y" 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will learn a range of paper embroidery techniques and apply them to personal photographs or vintage postcards, developing their own project while experimenting with texture, image, and thread. $80 Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events. The Barn Live Music: Grace Honeywell 6 to 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Meet the Meadmaker: Facility Tour 4 to 5 p.m. Behind-the-scenes tour of the ranch winery barrel room, and farm, with ranch history and stories plus optional guided flight with a special barrel taste (if available). More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Spontaneous Car Show 5-7 p.m. Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool car to display, or just come look — different every week. Free Info: 541-549-2471

Hardtails Rodeo Week — DJ Chris Ossig followed by live music by Pendleton Highway 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Country dance music at its best Ride the mechanical bull! $10 cover. Info: hardtailsdivebarandgrill.com.

SUNDAY • JUNE 14

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Language

Gathering 4 to 6 p.m. Practice, listen to, or converse in another language! Italian, French, Spanish speakers planning to attend, and all languages welcome, for friendly conversation at this free community event. Hosted by Bend Language Institute. Info: bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or 541-728-3022.

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music, community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

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

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Eric Leadbetter 2 to 4 p.m. Original music echoing golden age of rock. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

MONDAY • JUNE 15

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

TUESDAY • JUNE 16

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Exploring Light & Landscape Workshop" Explore the intersection of local landscape with themes of identity, borders, and belonging, demonstrating how place-based materials carry meaning and memory within artwork. Participants will work with paper fiber acrylic paint, and organic materials gathered from the land, alongside traditional art supplies. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $100 Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

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

WEDNESDAY • JUNE 17

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. $10. Info: frankiesinsisters.com. 250 W. Cascade Ave. Paulina Springs Books Analog Night — crafting, puzzles, games, coloring journaling or whatever analog activity you enjoy. All ages welcome! Hosted by Krista West 5:30 to 7 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

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 • JUNE 18

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Evan Mullins & Mark Ransom 6 to 8 p.m. in the courtyard Tickets $15 at frankiesinsisters.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Music Bingo! BINGO 6 to 8 p.m. Match song clips to your bingo card and win fun prizes! More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Botanicals, Blue Prints & Zines" In this hands-on workshop students will create a zine of plants from the Sisters region using cyanotypes. Participants use sunlight to expose botanical compositions onto light-sensitive paper then rinse and dry the prints in the sun to reveal deep Prussian blue images 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $90 Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

Paulina Springs Books An Evening of Poetr y: Amelia Díaz Ettinger and Matthew Friday present their new books "Between" and "Wunderkammer," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 13th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 Info: call 541-549-2471

FRIDAY • JUNE 19

Lazy Z Ranch Wines USA vs Australia Men’s Soccer 12 to 2 p.m. Match on with sound. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

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

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa 6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Sidney Joseph 6 to 8 p.m. Smokey-voiced multi-instrumentalist. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

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

Spoons Family Game Night Bring the whole crew! We’ve got all the classics ready to play ... or bring your own game 5 to 8 p.m. No reservations needed. Info: 541-719-0572

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Music: Haystack Jack 5 to 7 p.m. Free Family- and dog-friendly Info: 541-549-2471

SATURDAY • JUNE 20

Paulina Springs Books Storytime with Dennis McGregor and "You Stole My Name: Foods" release party 10 to 11 a.m. Songs, live book reading and a craft. Event is free and open to all! Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill

Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. The Barn Live Music: Brent Alan & His Funky Friends on the outdoor stage. Tap Takeover Party starts at 4 p.m. Info: www thebarninsisters.com.

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Meet the Meadmaker: Facility Tour 4 to 5 p.m. Behind-the-scenes tour of the ranch winery, barrel room, and farm, with ranch history and stories plus optional guided flight with a special barrel taste (if available). More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Introduction to Natural Dyes: From Seed to Color" Explore the natural dyes blooming at Pine Meadow Ranch! In this one-day workshop students learn about natural dye processes and engage in hands-on lessons about dye plant harvesting, building dye pots and coaxing color from plants. Using premordanted fibers, this workshop focuses on the basics of natural dyes and the ecstatic magic of plantbased color 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $200 Registration and more info: roundhousefoundation.org/events.

Eurosports Food Cart Garden Spontaneous Car Show 5-7 p.m. Family- and dog-friendly Bring your cool car to display, or just come look — different every week. Free Info: 541-549-2471

SUNDAY • JUNE 21

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Live Music: Pete Kar tsounes 2 to 4 p.m. Pushes the boundaries of acoustic music by seamlessly blending ballads, blues, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and more. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Featuring live music, community booth, vendors, kids activities, and more. For info visit www.sistersfarmersmarket.com.

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

MONDAY • JUNE 22

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

TUESDAY • JUNE 23

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Trivia 6 to 8 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture "Adaptation: Resilience and Transformation" the second in the 2026 Lecture Series, brings together two perspectives on adaptation in the Pacific Northwest. Through storytelling, Zachary Stocks and Dr Lauren Gwin will share examples of adaptation in migration, agriculture and community. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required at https://roundhousefoundation.org/events/. For more info call 541-904-0700 or email inquiries@roundhousefoundation.org.

WEDNESDAY • JUNE 24

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. $10 Info: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. 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 • JUNE 25

Lazy Z Ranch Wines USA vs Turkey Men’s Soccer 7 to 9 p.m. Match on with sound. No cover. More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Mar y Grace Marquiss presents “Behind the Painting: An Artist's Memoir," 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com. Lazy Z Ranch Wines Music Bingo! BINGO 6 to 8 p.m. Match song clips to your bingo card and win fun prizes! More info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Food Cart Garden at Eurosports Trivia Night 13th annual family-friendly trivia. Free 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Sign up at 5:30 Info: call 541-549-2471

FRIDAY • JUNE 26

Hardtails Live Music: Cover City 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. $10 cover. Info: hardtailsdivebarandgrill.com.

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

Paulina Springs Books Book Fair/Meet & Greet During 4th Friday Artwalk, OWLS (Outlaw Writers Literary Society) will be in-store featuring Valarie Anderson, Chuck Lesowske, and Linda Jones Weber 12 to 5 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa 6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. NOW IN SISTERS !

Time to just say no

To the Editor:

It happens almost daily at the pub, restaurant, on the trails, at the lakes and parks, whenever, wherever and it goes something like this: “Wow, this place sure isn’t the town where I was born or where I came to five, 10, 20 or 40 years ago!”

Some displeasure is almost unanimous with the growth that has occurred and continues to be foisted upon us. Yet, we continually accept statements like, “growth is inevitable,” “unavoidable,” something to be “accepted, managed, dealt with,” without thought or close examination. All of this may be true, but one handicaps one’s thinking when unconsciously such comments are accepted as undisputed fact. There are, in fact, communities that do not grow and do not subsequently wither and die. Before we shut down debate on these matters with “well, we can’t just ... (fill in the blank) ...” we should ask why not. And with the response to that, we should continue to ask “why” or “why not” as the case may be.

Out here in rural Sisters Country a developer seeks a change to land use designation to allow home sites on agricultural land. Water tables are dropping. Wells are running dry. The developer has at first claimed that he wants the land for his own family’s use. Then well, no, maybe a dozen or so homes on 10-acre lots and the slippery slope to two, five, then one-acre lots is thus assured. While I don’t begrudge a man the fruits of his labor, I do not think it should come at the expense of others!

The idea that there are herds of homeless millionaire Californians milling about the Deschutes County borders desperately awaiting this builder’s homes is absurd. I will forgo further sarcasm and unpleasantness to point out that a homebuilder’s motivation is, understandably, profit — how many houses can he put in per square inch (sorry, just slipped in).

Deeper wells, infrastructure, and services do not come cheap. Oh, and “low-cost housing” — don’t make me laugh! Too late — LOL.

So, what to do? For starters, county officials (elected and appointed), it is past time to just say

“no” for a long-awaited change of pace. To business leaders, temper your pursuit of the bottom line with a look at the bigger long-term picture.

Ross Flavel

To the Editor:

s s s

Landscaping

Why is it that we can afford a “fighting cage and ballroom” at the White House but can’t afford to hire a local landscaper to maintain the grounds around our U.S. Post Office in Sisters?

Dick Tipton

s s s

Déjà vu all over again

To the Editor:

In 1915 British and French forces fighting the Germans on the Western Front had begun to reach a stalemate. On the Eastern Front, Russia was beginning to falter and desperately needed help. Consequently, the British conceived a plan to send some of their warships and others from France through the straits of the Dardanelles to attack Constantinople, overthrow the Ottoman government, which was allied with Germany and Austria, and establish direct seaborn communications, via the Black Sea, with Russia.

Known as the Gallipoli Campaign, the plan seemed both logical and easy; after all, the Royal Navy was the most lethal force on the face of the earth. But it did not go well. The Turks commanded the heights above the straits with accurate artillery and they mined the waters. In April, when the British and French attempted to sail through the Dardanelles, they lost several capital ships. As a result, they decided to land troops to secure the shores. Again, it did not go well. The Turks were waiting. By January of 1916, the Allies had sent in a half million men; slightly more than half of these became casualties before the decision was made to withdraw.

This catastrophe resulted from an almost complete lack of intelligence about the enemy, military incompetence, and poor political leadership, which

then included Winston Churchill. Writing at the time of the withdrawal, the British official Mark Sykes stated, “We have eighteen different people empowered to make policy in the Middle East — not including Persia — creating a system than stumbles from crisis to inertia, and from coma to panic, watching assets frittered away and opportunities missed.”

Later, after the war, Sykes and his French counterpart François Georges-Picot drew the boundaries in the Middle East that would subsequently cause so much suffering. In any case, today the U.S. has the same number of intelligence agencies often working on the same questions. They are now headed by a man with no experience in intelligence. He, in turn, is subordinate to a president who is an ignoramus on all matters related to the Middle East, listens to no advice, and is mentally ill.

Déjà vu indeed.

Gary Leiser s s s

Response to Flat Fire

To the Editor:

Recent commentary in The Nugget expressed frustration with the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District’s response to the Flat Fire and questioned its transparency. As a board member of the District, I wanted to take a moment to ensure clarity on our mission and our role in post-wildfire recovery.

To start with, we are a public body designed to conserve, protect, and develop soil, water, and related natural resources. As such, after the Flat Fire, the District focused on activities within that mission—such as erosion control, soil stabilization, and water quality protection. We received 26 applications and awarded grants to 16 landowners, treating 590 acres. The total amount distributed — $36,000 — reflects the limited scope of the grant, which was designed for specific conservation practices rather than full wildfire recovery. Our role is not to replace fencing, rebuild structures, or remove debris, but to support conservation-focused treatments that prevent further resource degradation. We

See LETTERS on page 14

2026 SISTERS

OUTDOOR

QUILT SHOW ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

A special section will be inserted in The Nugget Newspaper on Wednesday, July 1, with feature stories, exhibit information, schedules, and more. The Nugget is a free publication distributed at no charge on newsstands and at businesses throughout Sisters and at select locations in Tumalo and Redmond. It is also mailed directly to postal boxes for an evergrowing number of local residents who have subscribed to direct delivery. Additionally, this Quilt Show Guide will be provided directly to quilt show participants at information points during the show. We hope you will show your support of Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show by advertising in this section.

The Nugget is o ering the discounted advertising rates at right to companies wanting to promote their businesses or related quilting events during the 2026 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show...

To reserve space, please contact Kimberly at The Nugget Newspaper, ads@nuggetnews.com or 541-549-9941

Please reserve your advertising space by Friday, June 12

Richardson Log Homes — A family business with andartistryheart

For Lance and Rebecca Richardson, building and restoring log homes is about integrity, follow-through, artistry, and caring for their clients. Richardson Log Homes (RLH) is based in Terrebonne, with a client base that spans the nation. With a thriving business, Lance and Rebecca feel blessed to work with family doing what they love.

“With skill and excellence, we partner with our customers to build the home of their dreams,” said Rebecca Richardson.

Decades of skill and artistry is apparent in every Richardson Log Home. Countless testimonials from delighted clients recount how they immediately knew they were working with exceptional professionals who were creating something truly handcrafted. No manufactured log home can compare.

“We always encourage them to come out to the log yard and meet Lance and see the houses going up,” Richardson said.

Clients immediately see that the logs are big and majestic and that the craftsmanship is extraordinary. They can also visit finished homes. The Richardsons maintain long-term friendships with many clients who are eager to show prospective log home owners what a Richardson Log Home truly looks and feels like.

“We handcraft beauty one log at a time, peeling every log by hand,” Richardson said. “No milled wood can compare to the old-world

style and warmth of hand-drawn logs. Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder. Beauty just is, and as you sit in front of your stone fireplace with a good book and a warm mug, you’ll never tire of gazing at these logs.”

In addition to crafting exquisite log homes, RLH is also expert in restoration of these landmark buildings.

They have been doing restoration work in the northwest for over 30 years. They assess what’s failing first, then repair in the right sequence: structural logs before sealing, sealing before staining. The result is a restored home that holds for years, not just one that looks good the day the crew leaves.

Services provided by RLH include barn design and construction, building custom, energy-efficient homes, tiny house construction, and floor plans. They also offer full log home restoration. Those services include: log replacement, rot repair, media blasting, log inspections, consultation, pest control, stain and top coat, and fall log wash.

Richardson says there’s something about the wood and history of log homes that brings comfort: “There’s a secure, solid feeling in a log home. No matter the weather, you’re safe and snuggled inside.”

Lance Richardson watched his father build log homes when he was young.

“That’s our history. It gives my husband a rich past with log homes and a deep love for

Customers say it best...

Richardson Log Homes completed a full exterior restoration on our log homes. These homes had not been maintained for 25 years. Lance and his crew blasted, repaired, and stained the homes. They now look like new. They didn’t linger. They worked full days and communicated through the whole project and cleaned up.

— Searl Lachausse

Richardson Log Homes did a restoration of our 40+ year-old log home. Lance did an inspection of the home and gave us recommendations explaining each step to us and why it was needed. Lance and Brandon did a fantastic job restoring our home under tough working conditions due to hot temperatures. We are extremely pleased with the finished product and would recommend Richardson Log Homes if you’re looking to breathe new life into an old log home.

— Jerome and Sandy Loomis

them. We love people and enjoy staying in relationships with the people we build homes for,” Rebecca said. “We stay connected with them, we remain available to assist them in consultation, maintenance, and long-term care of their homes.”

Learn more about RLH online at www. richardsonloghomes.com. Rebecca and Lance invite folks to email them at info@richardson loghomes.com, or give them a call at 541-7288787. RLH’s physical address is 71330 NW Lower Bridge Way, in Terrebonne.

Lance and Rebecca are a rare and unexpected gift. There are very few companies you work with these days that you know — right from the start — you won’t have to worry about your investment... Richardson Log Homes is one of these companies.

We always knew we wanted a log home but even after we had looked at many of the log homes they all seemed to be the same. Milled logs are nice but we were looking for something special. Once we drove out to the Richardson’s property and laid our eyes on the structures that Lance was creating we knew we had found what we had been looking for. But what Lance and Rebecca have done for us completely, 100% surpassed our expectations. The quality of these log homes is amazing! Lance builds these homes by hand and is tougher and harder working than even my own husband — that’s saying a lot!

In addition to the quality, Richardson Log Homes’ customer service experience totally surpassed any expectations we had. Both Lance and Rebecca have held our hand through this process, making the decision to

build our log cabin so easy and stressfree — we can’t even fully put it into words. Replying to endless questions and texts throughout the process... they have both been truly fabulous. And, the logs they use for their homes are the best. Huge, beautiful logs... incredible. Lance hand-draws each log and his attention to detail is meticulous. He has been there for every step of this process. There are a lot of builders that show up to get paid and then disappear, but there are very few that not only follow through with what they’ve promised, but totally over-deliver. Additionally, Lance personally completes the construction process as well as the reassembly of each home. He gave way more of his time and energy than we could have ever expected. He and Rebecca are one in a million.

If you have a dream to build a log home, please contact Lance and Rebecca first. I promise they will give you the home of your dreams! They go out of their way to make sure you get exactly what you want, while also making you feel comfortable and treating you like family.

— Tom & Shanna Snell

Knowledge, relationships key to real estate success

Service at the heart of Sisters company’s work

Since 1999, Susan Bird has focused her real estate work solely on Sisters and Black Butte Ranch. Her depth of knowledge about her community is unmatched. In today’s market, that knowledge is indispensable — and it has created the kind of relationships that brings people back to Bird and Stellar Northwest Realty again and again. Repeat and referral business are keys to Bird’s success.

“The relationships are really important to me,” she says. “It can be stressful buying or selling a house. Sharing how stressful situations have been handled can reduce stress levels.” Nowadays there are additional stresses due to challenges around insurance due to wildfire threat. Bird recognizes that the community has done a lot to address concerns.

“We do so much, and so much has been invested in making us safe,” she says. “People do take it seriously, thankfully. A shout out to all the people who keep us safe.”

Challenges with insurance issues can be navigated — but it takes the kind of work that Bird

specializes in — persistent and hands-on, with a little pressurerelieving humor.

“It takes a lot of phone calls, basically, because it’s very fluid,” she says. “You want a good match with a broker,” she notes. “You want someone who really knows what’s going on. Negotiation skills are very important. A big part of my job is making sure that you are covered with anything that could possibly go wrong.”

For all of the challenges and continual changes in the market and the industry, real estate is still an excellent proposition in Sisters.

“People want this lifestyle,” she says. Bird notes that there are first-time buyers out there, and she loves to help them realize their dreams. Whether she’s working with a first-time homebuyer or one of her many longtime clients, Bird absolutely revels in her work. “It feels like a huge purpose,” she says. “And I was just made for it. That runs in my family. My daughter, Carolyn, is now a Stellar Realty NW Broker!”

Things are heating up in Sisters Country. What nobody wants as summer comes on is to realize that their heating and cooling system is going out.

But things may not be as bad as they look.

Sisters Heating & Air will give you an honest assessment of what is really going on with your system. If you’ve received bad news from another company, you can get a free second opinion from Sisters Heating & Air.

They can often find a way to repair and service your system — potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

“One of our great strengths is our service capability,” says owner Mike Whitlatch. “I want to fix people’s systems. If it can’t be fixed, we’ll talk. But I’m a service guy.”

If you need to replace your system, they can do that, too — and you’ll be sure you’re getting the right system at a fair price. That’s the kind of ethic Whitlatch brings to bear in all his business dealings — what he thinks of as a “retro outlook” before everything went corporate; a mom-and-pop

outlook, but one based on a deep base of mechanical skill and technical know-how.

“We treat people the way we want to be treated,” Whitlatch says.

That’s an ethic that every one of Sisters Heating & Air’s technical specialists brings to the job naturally. It’s not a policy —it’s a deep-seated approach to life and work.

“I don’t really have to tell any of them to do that,” Whitlatch says.

All the techs are empowered to make decisions based on a simple principle: “I always reiterate — just do the right thing.” Estimates can take a day or two — because they want to make sure pricing is accurate and targeted to an individual job, not based off of a template. They do tailored estimates and system analysis.

Whitlatch appreciates Sisters as much as the community has come to appreciate his company.

“We want to thank the community,” he says. “I’m so grateful that I have this business to come into every day.”

Design attractive, fire-resistant home landscapes

A new Oregon State University Extension Service publication shows homeowners how to create “fire-wise” landscapes that still look appealing and reflect personal style.

In high-risk wildfire areas, homeowners must balance fireresistant design with yards that complement the home. Selecting, placing, and maintaining appropriate plants can be a challenge, said Amy Jo Detweiler, an Extension horticulturist in Central Oregon and lead author of “Fire-resistant Plants for Home Landscapes,” which features more than 150 plants that are safe for fire-wise landscapes.

Scan code for brochure or visit https://extension.oregonstate. edu/catalog/pnw-590-fire-resist ant-plants-home-landscapes.

and the plants you’re putting in the landscape.

“For some, creating a fire-wise landscape might seem like very limited plant choices, more sterile appearances,” Detweiler said. “But it’s possible to design a fire-wise landscape that still maintains variation in color, texture, and plant type, while providing privacy.”

The publication features a pictorial guide to plant selection, spacing, and maintenance, along with examples of common hazards such as shrubs planted too close to homes, tree branches touching roofs, and flammable woody mulches.

The guide includes options that allow homeowners to match their landscape to personal preferences. Whether choosing native plants, specific colors, or varying textures, readers can tailor their design choices using the resource.

“The idea of creating a fire-wise landscape is starting the landscape farther from the home and thinking about plant materials that will be less flammable. You think about placement, design,

Every plant featured in the publication has research supporting its ability to contribute to a defensible space around a home. “I hope it empowers people

to make confident decisions,” Detweiler said. “This guide is an intersection of variables to create an environmentally sound landscape.”

Tools for rural and urban homeowners

The publication offers practical steps for homeowners in both rural and urban areas. Recommendations include:

• Maintaining clean rain gutters.

• Using decorative rock instead of wood bark mulch near buildings.

• Avoiding or removing ladder fuels — materials that can carry fire from the ground into tree canopies.

“I am hoping this helps educate folks on learning what plants to have in a fire-wise landscape and increases the safety for both homeowners and the fire crews,” Detweiler said.

Building with integrity across Sisters Country

Sisters Fence & Deck has established a reputation for locally owned, craftsman-built work, creating custom projects of all sizes, from small repairs to major fencing projects or deck building and restoration.

Their ever-expanding crew of skilled craftsmen are taking on projects across Sisters Country that not only include the company’s signature fence work, but also fast, high-quality deck refurbishing. Good prep work is key to a successful, long-lasting painting or staining project. That can mean hours of sanding — or you can contact Sisters Fence & Deck. Their sandblasting services get the job done safely and effectively — and far more quickly than anyone can do it with a sander.

The abrasive product is EPA approved and environmentally safe. It’s crushed, recycled, and sifted glass — like really fine beach sand. The sand is safe for the soil — in fact, it helps retain moisture. Cleanup is easy. The process opens the pores of wood so it absorbs stain and gives greater protection from the elements.

“It extends the life of the deck,” says owner Pat Burke. “This is like getting a reset on

your deck.”

If you keep applying stain, it will maintain the integrity of the deck for years.

But Sisters Fence & Deck won’t push to do more work than you really need.

“Sometimes it’s not the right application,” Burke notes. “Just a little elbow grease and stain is all that’s needed — and that’s what we’ll do.”

The maintenance capability adds value for customers — but Sisters Fence & Deck can build a deck for you from scratch if that’s what you need. They can also create a patio with pavers, and they offer the full range of fencing options that are popular and functional in Sisters Country: cedar; lodgepole; metal; agricultural fencing. You name it, they do it, and they have lots of experience with it.

With new wildfire defensible space standards and home hardening coming to the fore in Sisters Country, homeowners can consult with Sisters Fence & Deck on best practices and safe materials to make sure their home is in the best shape possible to resist embers.

Additionally, Sisters Fence & Deck can build your custom

gates and automated entryways. Single-arm, double-arm, solarpowered, the Sisters Fence & Deck crew has done all types of work and can work with whatever configuration is desired.

Burke has built a thriving business on quality, integrity, and a focus on customer satisfaction. Skilled craftsmen are eager to work for the company, and Burke is proud of the crew, from the office staff to the installers.

“The guys in the field — it’s the best crew we’ve had, start to finish,” Burke says. “We have three great crews going out the door every day.”

It’s not too late to get those crews going on your summer project. Give them a call soon, though, because summer does get busy.

Sisters Fence & Deck strives always to take a customer’s vision and make it a working reality.

“It’s best if the customer finds an example of what they like and says, ‘This is what we want,’ and we can build it,” Burke said.

Burke notes that Sisters Fence & Deck always strives to maximize the value the customer gets out of their investment. Clear communication with clients on costs, scope of work, materials,

and the desired end product is key to a successful project.

Burke says his crew “will figure out what the client wants and how we can build it, so when the project is complete, they say, ‘This is what I envisioned, and thank you.’”

Committed to supporting the local economy, Sisters Fence & Deck strives at every opportunity to buy materials and supplies in Sisters and Central Oregon. Burke grew up in Sisters and wants his company to continue to be integrated into the life of the community.

Slow cooker summer

By Dani Nichols Correspondent

Summers are for slowing down.

I know, I know. It’s very fashionable to have crazy, high-octane summers, full of vacations and reunions and adventures. And I’m all for fun. But, for what it’s worth, I also want some time this summer to trot down a trail with my horse, no destination or timeline in mind, or hang out at the lake long enough to wrinkle my toes, or stay up too late watching the stars peek out one by one.

So I am going to be falling back on some tried and true slow-cooker staples to keep my family happy and all of us free for as much of the nice weather as I can. These recipes are simple, delicious, hearty crowd-pleasers: if my adventurous husband, picky-8-yearold, growing-like-a-weed-4-year-old, wouldrather-eat-ice-cream-11-year-old, and yours truly all like them, then you know it’ll work for your rowdy crew too.

Here’s to a slow (cooker) summer!

Mother-in-law’s

Mississippi Pot Roast

My mother-in-law is from Louisiana and has the drawl to prove it. She is also an amazing cook, with a strong sense of Southern hospitality to back it up, and this recipe is one of our family’s favorites.

This is a very versatile dish that can be altered to your family’s spice tolerance. Serve over buttered noodles, brown rice, or loaded onto a hoagie roll. The next day, if you spread the leftovers over homemade mac-and-cheese, you will be lauded as a domestic wizard and your family will lick the casserole dish in delight (hypothetically speaking of course).

INGREDIENTS:

One 3- to 4-pound chuck roast (you can go larger for a big family, but just make sure it’s not too big for the Crock-Pot)

2 tablespoons butter

One 16-oz jar of sliced peperoncini, juice and all (if your family is nervous about the spice level, you can do less, although you might need to add a little water)

A dash of salt and pepper (you can add more later to taste)

One medium white or yellow onion, diced

Extra credit: fresh cilantro or green onions or both, sprinkled on top when served.

DIRECTIONS: Put the butter in the bottom of the slow cooker and then the roast on top. After that, chuck everything else in the pot willy-nilly (kids love this part) and turn it on low for 8-10 hours, or high for 5-6.

If you are in the house you can give it a stir and pull the bones out about halfway through cooking, but if you are too busy gardening or riding your horse or hiking the Metolious, just let it go. It’ll be just fine when you get back, hungry and ready for a hearty dinner.

Before you serve, taste to make sure there’s enough salt and pepper. Shred the beef and add extra credit herbs if you want to. If you need to add a little water to make the beef shred, just do so a splash at a time until the beef falls apart. Serve on a roll, over rice or pasta, or even on a baked potato.

Pairs well with cold iced tea (my mother-in-law’s beverage of choice), a lager-style beer such as Van Henion’s Helles Lager, or a lightly chilled red wine such as a Gamay or Pinot Noir.

Campsite Ham Soup

My husband loves to camp and I love to not eat hotdogs for days on end, so we’ve come to a compromise: we can go camping if the food is good. This soup is definitely good camping food, although it takes a little work to prep ahead of time. I have made it in the campsite with canned beans and premade hamstock, or, my preferred method is to make it ahead of time at home, pack it in the cooler with some good rolls, and reheat on the camp stove for a satisfying meal under the stars.

INGREDIENTS:

Stock:

One ham bone or smoked ham hock, roughly 1 to 2

pounds is fine.

1 onion, halved

3 carrots

2 stalks of celery

Herbs (I like a sprig of thyme as well as a bay leaf or two, but you throw in what you like!)

One cinnamon stick

Beans:

1/2-lb. dried white beans such as great northern or navy (you can substitute two 15-oz. cans if you need a quicker soup)

Other soup ingredients:

One 12 oz. can of pumpkin puree (this adds a great creaminess and sneaky veggies for the kids. But if you don’t have it handy, you can leave it out.)

One or 2 medium sweet potatoes, diced

One 4-oz. can of diced green chiles

One tablespoon minced garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: Start the night before. Put your ham and stock vegetables, herbs, etc. in the slow-cooker. Cover with water (I like to fill my Crock-Pot to the tippy-top) and let it cook on low all night.

At the same time as you start your stock, soak the beans in a large bowl or pot, covering in cold water. They will expand more than you might think, so give them lots of room to grow overnight.

The next morning, rinse and drain the beans and set aside. Pull the herbs from the slow cooker, discard. Cut any usable meat off of the ham and add back into the stock, same with the vegetables, chop into bite-size pieces and return to the pot. (If you have picky eaters who won’t like the veggies, feel free to discard. They have given plenty of flavor and nutrition to your broth anyway.)

Add the beans, plus the other soup ingredients and let cook on low for 4-6 hours, depending how hot your slow-cooker runs. (If it goes long it shouldn’t hurt anything, but you might need to add a little water if it gets too thick as it cooks down.)

You’ll know it’s done when the sweet potatoes are soft and the smell makes your stomach growl. Serve with bread or rolls for dipping, ideally eaten next to a campfire under the stars.

Pairs well with a good local whiskey such as Broken Top’s Backcountry Bourbon, a stout or porter like Three Creeks FivePine Porter, or a hearty white wine such as a Chardonnay or Grenache Blanc. Don’t forget to save room for s’mores!

Summer Night Bread Pudding

Long summer evenings are made for dessert, when kids are up late and grown-ups are hankering for a treat. This is a crowdpleaser of a dish, perfect for using up stale bread and whatever summer fruit might be on the verge of going bad. I like it served with a medley of squishy fresh berries (cut them up and mix them with sugar and they will be devoured) and a little whipped cream. It would also be great served with cut stone fruit and/or vanilla ice cream.

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups of whatever bread you need to get rid of, roughly chopped. (Raisin bread works great but anything will do!)

4 large or 6 medium eggs, whisked

2 cups milk

2 cups cream (you can use half and half if you want to cut down on the fat content, but I prefer it a little richer)

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla

DIRECTIONS: Combine everything in the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours. When the bread on top is looking dry but not crusty, it’s done. You want a custard-like inside and a crunchy outside, so you can finish with 20-30 minutes with the lid off, if needed.

Serve warm, and pro tip: eat the leftovers the next day for breakfast.

Pairs well with a cup of black coffee or hot tea (you could even splash some whiskey in there, nobody is mad about that), a bright beer such as Deschutes Brewery’s King Crispy, or a fullbodied rosé.

M&J Carpet Cleaning

Sisters Country is hard on your carpet and upholstery. It’s especially notable after we’ve tracked winter in for months. It’s time for a good, deep spring cleaning. M&J Carpet Cleaning offers thorough and environmentally sensitive cleaning that leaves your carpet looking and feeling great.

M&J Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning’s methods leave no residue, so your carpets stay cleaner for longer. And it’s not just about aesthetics; it makes for a healthier environment, too.

It takes a lot of knowledge and expertise to safely clean upholstery, and M&J Carpet Cleaning offers just that. It’s a family operation with decades of experience to bring to bear. Water temperatures of 240 degrees and powerful vacuum capabilities mean your upholstery looks great and doesn’t take much time to dry.

M&J Carpet & Upholstery can clean leather, rugs, and fabric upholstery as well as deep cleaning your carpet. Whether it’s residential or commercial, your investment in your carpets and upholstery deserves to be well maintained.

on social media, his campaign said:

“Yesterday, James ‘Mac’ McLaughlin was placed on paid administrative leave by the current interim sheriff — who is also his political opponent in the upcoming election. Mac is running for Sheriff to put an end to the exact kind of systemic political targeting that this office has unfortunately become known for. The citizens of this county deserve an agency that is focused on public safety, not political theater.

“While the allegations leading to this leave are unsubstantiated, Mac deeply respects the internal investigation process. He will cooperate fully and transparently, because that is the standard of leadership he intends to bring to the Sheriff’s Office. He has nothing to hide.”

The Nugget reached out to both the Sheriff’s Office and McLaughlin for further information regarding the nature and timeline of the misconduct that is being alleged. DCSO spokesman Jason Carr responded: “Since this is a personnel investigation, the Sheriff’s Office is unable to provide additional information beyond what Sheriff Rupert shared in his statement on Friday.”

In Sheriff Rupert’s original statement, he said, “Out of respect for the integrity of the investigation and fairness to all parties involved, there will be no further media releases related to this issue at this time. I respectfully ask for the public’s patience while we work through this investigation.”

Lt. McLaughlin responded: “Before I speak further about the allegations

I will consult my attorney to honor the internal process without interruption or delay.”

The current contretemps comes after Kent van der Kamp resigned as Sheriff in July 2025, on the heels of revelations that he had lied under oath about his educational background. Van der Kamp’s successful 2024 campaign for Sheriff against Captain William Bailey had been contentious, and as Sheriff van der Kamp launched an internal affairs investigation against Bailey, reportedly for violating department policy by making critical comments during a post-election radio interview. After taking the helm last summer, Sheriff Rupert dismissed that investigation and commissioned a new one that concluded that Bailey had, indeed, violated policy. Bailey was fired in March and has appealed his termination.

The tenure of Sheriff Shane Nelson 2015-2024 was plagued with multiple lawsuits and accusations of retaliation against dissent; charges that Nelson consistently refuted, arguing that disciplinary actions were a reflection of taking policy violations seriously.

In the early 2000s, Greg Brown, a Sisters resident once named Sheriff of the Year, pleaded guilty and served time for embezzling $575,000 from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department and from the SistersCamp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District where he served on the board of directors. The embezzlement was uncovered by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office after Brown left office after being defeated by Les Stiles, and the case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oregon Department of Justice, and the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office.

Quilt Show seeks ‘Wish Cards’

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

Donations of handmade fabric postcards known as “Wish Cards” raise funds toward the next Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) and for one or more scholarships awarded to graduating art students at Sisters High School.

The SOQS has received about 500, but last year had received over 600 Wish Cards. That was the largest number of Wish Cards received by the program, which may have been because 2025 was the 50th Anniversary of SOQS. The increase in Wish Cards in 2025 allowed the SOQS board of directors to award one more art scholarship in 2026. SOQS hopes the community can help make that happen again.

The Wish Card team has arranged a free Fabric Postcard Workshop, June 16, at The Hub, 291 E. Main Ave., from 1 to 3 p.m.

All supplies will be provided or bring your own supplies (fabrics, scissors, threads, needles, embellishments, sewing machine,

scholarships.

etc.). Bring a friend and visit while creating a Wish Card or two. Already have some Wish Cards started? There is time to complete your Wish Card creation(s). Each handmade fabric post card received can make a difference.

From now through June 30, deliver completed Wish Cards to SOQS office at 220 S. Ash St., #101. If after hours, use the mail drop in the #101 office door. Wish Card samples and instructions are online at www. SOQS.org; click on “Wish Cards.”

BLACK

BUTTE

SCHOOL:

Taxpayers are seeing a

of today’s students,” Schultz stated.

With the conclusion of a successful project, the BBS District Board of Directors has included a reduction in property tax levy for the local community in the 2026/27 budget. At the inception of the remodel, the Board committed $400,000 from reserve as contingency. The contingency was not needed, so the District Board has authorized a $400,000 special debt service prepayment.

This early payment brings the outstanding debt to $1,490,000 and reduces lifetime payments by $323,982. Ultimately this means taxpayers can now expect to pay $.94/ $1,000 assessed property value rather than the $1.23/$1,000 originally estimated on the levy. The bond will also be removed from tax rolls two years earlier than previously scheduled.

“The district is grateful to the support from voters in passing the bond and very happy to return dollars back to the community,” Schultz said.

To see highlights from the project visit www.black butte.k12.or.us/facilities/ bond-updates/.

LETTERS

Continued from page 12

recognize that wildfire recovery is stressful and that communication during emergencies can always be improved. At no point though was information withheld, nor were landowners excluded. Each applicant received a site visit from District staff and funding decisions were based solely on published conservation criteria. As for the short application timeline, I’ll grant we could have been more plain spoken as “ecological timelines” is a bit vague, but basically, work like weed control treatments becomes ineffective once invasive plants begin to go dormant in late October. To ensure that landowners could complete herbicide treatments or seed applications during the narrow window when they actually work, the grant timeline had to be equally narrow. This was communicated publicly from the outset.

I will say that we’d like to do more when the next fire hits as this was our first foray into post wildfire recovery. Our tax funding was approved at the end of 2024 which meant the District was receiving its first funds in the fall of 2025 and the recovery grant program was brand new. We are in the process of analyzing what went right and what needs improvement and we’ll look to do any course corrections

over the summer.

There was a bit of humor in the previous article as the supposed “big city PR firm” the author mentioned is actually a District staff person who does our Facebook and website among other things. I’m sure she’ll be tickled that she came across as a professional PR person. If you’d like to see more of her work, try going to our webpage at https://www.deschutes swcd.org/. She also has all of the District’s strategic guidance and annual workplans on our site at https://www.deschutesswcd.org/ board-meetings/ (scroll down to “public documents”) as well as dates for upcoming Board meetings (including zoom links so anyone with an interest can tune in). Of course, we also welcome anyone who wants to attend in person, and we take public input at every session if someone has an item they’d like to address. Finally, if an individual just wants to drop us a line, they can use the “Contact Us” button on our homepage.

The bottom line here is the board and our staff live in this community, and we strive to serve the people and landscapes of Deschutes County. We are committed to transparency, collaboration, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds and we take that responsibility seriously.

Martha Meeker

Two Oregon poets celebrate new books

Two Oregon poets will offer readings in celebration of their new works at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m.

Bend-based poet Matthew Friday and EasternOregon-based Amelia Díaz Ettinger will present their new poetry collections “Wunderkammer” and “Between.”

With “Wunderkammer,” poet and teacher Matthew Friday invites readers to rediscover the wonder in the world around them. The rich assortment of poems offers an accessible, lyrical and down-to-earth view of the world. Nature dominates: animals, plants and the landscape, along with the people who inhabit them. The book is firmly anchored in the locale of Central Oregon, but there is a universality to the writing that could appeal to anyone.

Matthew James Friday is a British poet, storyteller and public school teacher who lives in Oregon. He is the author of three previous chapbooks. This is his first full-length collection.

“Between” is a triptych of poems that traverse landscapes of place, body, and memory. From the high desert of Eastern Oregon to the lush mountains of Puerto Rico, Amelia Díaz Ettinger writes in a voice that witnesses both beauty and rupture — climate and political turmoil, cultural dislocation, and intimate reckonings. The collection moves through the layers of nature and human experience, where deer step into silence, wildfire smoke settles over valleys, voices clash at a writer’s workshop, and the ghosts of homeland call from across oceans. Díaz Ettinger’s lyric eye embraces

the liminal—the space “between layers, between blood and skin, between the legacy of memory” — making vivid the connections and fractures that shape who we are.

Amelia Díaz Ettinger is a BIPOC writer who has lived all of her adult life in Eastern Oregon but whose poems are often sustained by the tropical breezes of her island, Puerto Rico, where she grew up. Her poems relate to that otherness found in immigrants and the need to conserve morsels of identity so often confused in a different landscape.

Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave.

Kids can name OSP conservation K-9

Paws up for OSP’s newest K-9 recruit. The one-yearold red labrador retriever is currently training to join K-9 Scout and K-9 Drake to help protect Oregon’s natural resources as part of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation K-9 program. While we’ll always call him “Good Dog,” he’s ready for a new, official name.

OSP is inviting Oregon youth ages 9 to 17 to help name the new dog. Because the K-9 and its trooper partner are assigned to the Fish and Wildlife Division, suggested names should be wildlife, fish, or outdoors-related.

Contest Rules:

• Entries may be submitted now through June 14, 2026.

• Entries must be submitted using the OSP online entry form.

• The contest is open to Oregon youth ages 9 to 17.

• One entry per youth.

• Suggested names must be wildlife, fish, or outdoors-related.

• Finalists will be selected from the submitted entries for statewide voting.

• The youth with the winning entry will get a chance to meet the K-9 and receive other recognition items from OSP.

Think you’ve got the perfect name? Send in your suggestion and help welcome OSP’s newest K-9 trooper to the team.

OSP’s conservation K-9 program began in 2018 with K-9 Buck, who recently retired from active service. Fish and Wildlife K-9s receive specialized training in

wildlife detection, human tracking, and area searches to support investigations into the illegal take of birds, wildlife, and fish around the state. Dogs are trained to detect deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl, salmon, and sturgeon, as well as firearms, shell casings, and other items containing gunpowder residue.

Conservation K-9 teams have been instrumental during investigations into poaching, missing persons, and other criminal activity.

The new conservation K-9 team will be stationed at OSP’s La Grande patrol office, joining teams currently based in Bend and Springfield.

The Conservation K-9 program is a collaboration

between the Oregon State Police and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation. The Oregon Wildlife Foundation maintains the Wildlife Conservation K-9 Fund to help cover expenses associated with the canine members of the Conservation K-9 teams. Donations to the fund support the costs of veterinary care, training equipment, and other essential supplies.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11 • 6:307:30 PM

Bettie Denny presents In the Wake of Madness: My Family ’s Escape from the Nazis. A family memoir and histor y that is both intimate and universal

MONDAY, JUNE 15 • 5:306:30 PM

PSB Fic tion Book Club will be discussing Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (meets every month on 3rd Monday).

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 • 5:307 PM

Analog Night — crafting, puzzles, games, coloring journaling, or whatever analog activity you enjoy. All ages welcome! Hosted by Krista West

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 • 6:307:30 PM

Poetr y with Amelia Díaz Ettinger (Between) and Matthew Friday (Wunderkammer).

SATURDAY, JUNE 20 • 1011 AM

Guest Stor ytime: Dennis McGregor presents his new book You Stole My Name: Foods with songs and a live reading

SECOND SATURDAY AT 10 AM

THURSDAY, JUNE 25 • 6:307:30 PM

Mary Grace Marquiss presents Behind the Painting: An Ar tist’s Memoir, an intimate memoir where Mary tells the stories that inspired 10 of her paintings FRIDAY, JUNE 26 • 125 PM

OWLS (Outlaw Writers Literar y Society) Pop -Up Book Fair/Meet & Greet during Ar twalk Featuring Valarie Anderson, Chuck Lesowske, and Linda Jones Weber

MONDAY, JUNE 29 • 5:306:30 PM

Between the Realms: A SciFi Fantasy Book Club Last Monday of every month.

THURSDAY, JULY 1 • 6:307:30 PM

Jennie Bricker presents Thirsty Creek. Based on a real-world environmental disaster in the Wallowa Mountains

MONDAY, JULY 6 • 5:306:30 PM

The Pause Button: A Monthly Poetr y Gathering around the big table for poetr y exploration. Bring a poem or two to share. Listen, discuss, and do a little writing Monday of every month.

recreation, and short regional getaways, the fundamentals look favorable.

Explore Sisters and Sisters Business Association (SBA) members gathered Wednesday, June 3, for a presentation and Q&A session with Visit Central Oregon.

David Moore, president of SBA, asked Visit Central Oregon Executive Director Scott Larson if he could prognosticate on the anticipated tourism season, as Sisters businesses are jittery after the impacts of last summer’s Flat Fire and soft winter tourism.

Larson said that indicators are good, with lodging properties reporting an uptick in reservations. There is anecdotal evidence that families who had planned winter vacations in Central Oregon deferred them to summer due to the lack of snow over the winter. Larson said that his team has analyzed the potential effects of higher gas prices associated with international events. He indicated that they expect either a neutral or potentially positive impact for Central Oregon.

In years of higher gas prices, there is often an identifiable tendency for people to shift vacation plans to more localized travel, which can benefit destinations like Central Oregon. For example, a family might choose to drive to Sisters rather than flying off to Disneyland.

AAA projected a record 45 million Americans traveled

over Memorial Day weekend, traditionally the unofficial start of the summer travel season, with leisure demand holding strong despite higher fuel prices. Sisters merchants confirmed the favorable weekend.

Oregon itself entered 2026 on solid footing, coming off what Business Oregon described as the state’s strongest summer airtravel season in years, with passenger arrivals up significantly at airports in Portland, Medford, Eugene, and our own Redmond Roberts Field.

For Central Oregon specifically, the match between what travelers want and what the region provides is unusually clear this year.

Smith Rock State Park, long considered Central Oregon’s marquee attraction and the birthplace of modern American sport climbing, is expected to draw its usual crush of hikers, climbers, photographers, and wildlife watchers this summer. The park’s Misery Ridge Trail has become something of a rite of passage for visitors to the region, and demand shows no sign of slowing.

The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, which winds west of Bend through a string of alpine lakes beneath the Cascades, draws visitors seeking kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, camping, and mountain biking. It remains one of Oregon’s most popular summer drives and a strong draw for the road-trip crowd that dominates this year’s travel patterns.

Mount Bachelor, known primarily as a ski destination, continues to broaden its appeal as a year-round

attraction. Scenic chairlift rides, hiking, and mountain biking draw summer visitors who might otherwise skip a winter resort town.

Bend’s riverfront and craft brewery scene rounds out the region’s core appeal. That has a spillover effect in Sisters. Floating the Deschutes River, walking the river trail, and visiting the city’s nationally recognized brewery corridor remain among the most popular activities for visitors staying in the area.

Bend still functions as the tourism hub from which most Central Oregon trips radiate, and its downtown with festivals, dining, and shopping keeps visitors engaged on days when the trails are full or the weather turns.

South of Bend, Newberry National Volcanic Monument offers a dramatically different landscape: lava flows, crater lakes, obsidian fields, and volcanic geology found almost nowhere else in Oregon. Paulina Lake and the hike to Paulina Peak draw visitors willing to venture a little farther from the city.

In Sisters, cycling, hiking, and camping remain big draws. International tour operators like Back Roads run at least a dozen bike trips with stops in Sisters, which also hosts three large regional cycling events. And of course, the rodeo, outdoor quilt show, and music festivals will continue drawing big numbers.

Not everything points upward. The $5 plus/gallon gas could curtail some travel. Budget-conscious travelers are shortening trips and spending less per visit, which could soften the economic impact of strong visitation

numbers. International tourists, especially Canadians, historically Oregon’s largest foreign visitor market, are expected to remain below prepandemic norms.

The wildcard as always in Sisters summers is wildfire smoke. A significant fire season can reduce visitation sharply, particularly for outdoor recreation destinations dependent upon air quality and visibility.

Barring a damaging fire season or broader economic disruption, Sisters should

see another strong summer. Recreation areas will be crowded. Lodging will be in demand. The region’s alignment with current travel trends of short drives, outdoor adventure, and authentic small-town experiences gives it an edge over destinations that depend more heavily on international arrivals or longhaul flights.

For locals that means familiar summer trade-offs: a healthy local economic boost and packed trailheads in equal measure.

TRAILS: STA has been selected for important projects

technical requirements and shovel-ready status needed to advance through Travel Oregon’s Recreation Ready Program. This is a bridge investment: VCO’s support today positions STA to unlock a significant infrastructure grant through Travel Oregon tomorrow.

STA has also been formally accepted into Travel Oregon’s competitive Recreation Ready Program for the 2027–2029 cycle, one of only eight projects selected statewide. STA’s project — titled “Expanding and Rating Accessible Trails in Sisters Country” — will enter Phase 1 of the program from January through September 2027. Projects that successfully complete Phase 1 become eligible to advance to Phase 2, which includes grants of up to $100,000 for infrastructure modifications, verified signage, and destination marketing.

The Recreation Ready Program provides technical assistance and resources to help communities develop tourism-ready outdoor recreation projects. For STA, Phase 1 will involve using geo-referenced trail assessment data gathered in 2026–2027 to develop an action plan, budget, marketing strategy, and work plan — all with the support of the Travel Oregon team.

STA’s Accessible Trails Project is a multi-year initiative to evaluate 200 miles of non-motorized trails in Sisters Country for accessibility, train volunteers of all ability levels, and expand trail experiences to include adaptive recreation opportunities. This summer, STA has contracted with Empowering Access and partnered with The Onward Project to train a volunteer assessment team and complete evaluations of the Peterson Ridge Trail system and City connector trails.

The project is led by STA’s Accessibility Committee, chaired by Mark Thompson, with a broad coalition of community partners including Explore

Sisters, the City of Sisters, Deschutes National Forest, Blazin Saddles, and The Onward Project — inventor of the AdvenChair.

The long-term vision includes a fully rated trail system, adaptive gear that can be used by residents and visitors on Sisters trails, updated trail maps and apps with high-accuracy accessibility information, and an Inclusive Outdoor Recreation Day. In 2025, Oregon became the first state to earn “Accessibility Verified” status from Wheel the World. STA’s project directly supports that statewide goal and positions Sisters Country as a model for inclusive outdoor recreation across the Pacific Northwest.

“This is one of those moments where everything starts to come together,” Presley said. “The Future Fund grant and the Recreation Ready acceptance aren’t just awards — they’re a signal to our community, to visitors, and to people of all abilities that Sisters Country is a place where you belong. We believe everyone should have access to our beautiful outdoor spaces. Forever.”

JULY 4: Event welcomes families to Village Green Park

Continued from page 3

Poster presentation made by Makin’ It Local and High Desert Frameworks, lawn games presented by Pretty Awesome Gamers, and fire truck tours presented by Sisters Fire Corps across the street from the Village Green Park.

Launched in 2024 to fill the void left by the end of the Rumble on the Runway event at the Sisters Airport, the half-day event harks back to the small-town Independence Day celebrations of yesteryear — the type of gathering that brings a community together for good, clean fun, friendship, and festivities.

Sisters 4th Fest is community-driven.

Thousands of local dollars continue to make the event available to the community. Signature sponsors include BASX Solutions, Blazin’ Saddles, Corrie Lake & Debbi McCune Realtors, Makin’ It Local, Sisters Heating & Air, St. Charles Health System, and Sisters Bakery. Friends of the Fest level sponsors include Bivvi, Bliss Roofing, Explore Sisters, High Desert Frameworks, Les Schwab Tire, Mid-Oregon Credit Union, The Nugget Newspaper, Pretty Awesome Gamers, Republic Services, Run Sisters Run, Scott’s Roofing, Sisters Business Association, Sisters Park & Recreation District, Sisters Saloon, and the Sisters Rotary Foundation.

The event website is www.sisters4thfest.com. Community members who wish to volunteer can email rotaryofsisters@gmail.com.

RODEO: Event comes out of the chutes on Wednesday

Lange Rodeo Company, the event’s official stock contractor for many years.

In professional rodeo, the stock contractor is the operation responsible for supplying the animals: the bucking bulls, saddle broncs, bareback horses, steers, and calves that make competition possible. Without quality livestock, there is no rodeo. It’s that simple. And in rough stock events, quality means more than just big, on’ry animals.

In bull riding, for example, a score is split evenly, 50 points for the rider, 50 points for the bull. A weak bull means a low score, regardless of how well a cowboy rides. Finding and breeding animals with the natural athleticism, power, and desire to buck is a years-long, deeply specialized pursuit.

Mike Corey has spent most of his adult life in that pursuit. He came up as a bull rider and pickup man before turning to contracting full time in 1999. In 2011, he partnered with Tom Lange, whose family also owns the Flying Diamond Rodeo Company. Together, they built Corey & Lange into an operation maintaining roughly 200 head of rodeo livestock, selectively bred for the traits that matter most in competition: strength, agility, consistent bucking performance, and temperament.

Their track record speaks for itself. The company has produced nationally recognized animals across multiple decades: Seven of Hearts, tied for the No. 3 PRCA bull in 2005; War Zone, a topthree bull in 2008; King of Hearts, ranked among the nation’s best in 2010 and 2011; and Bottle Rocket, one of the top bulls at the 2014 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Sisters salutes...

Judy McCann wrote: I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the kindest person ever who noticed my gray wallet laying in a Ray’s shopping cart recently (outside) and turned it in to the store manager. The Sheriff’s office let me know they were holding it for me — so, crisis avoided. Wonderful people still do exist, and thank you all for your help.

NFR selection is considered among the highest honors a stock contractor can receive, and Corey & Lange has earned it repeatedly.

The company’s connection to Sisters runs deep. When the partnership operated under the Flying Diamond banner, Corey and Lange were already supplying rough stock to the event. The relationship simply continued under a new name, making this one of the more enduring partnerships in the rodeo’s history.

Two years back, the company’s name went international. During the 2024 Sisters Rodeo, a Corey & Lange bull named Party Bus leaped the arena fence in a moment that went viral and drew national media attention. Rodeo professionals were quick to note that such escapes are extraordinarily rare.

If anything, the incident illustrated what stock contractors already know: elite bucking bulls are powerful, unpredictable athletes, and managing them demands constant vigilance and genuine expertise.

For the cowboys who compete at Sisters, a Corey & Lange draw is typically welcome news. Their stock is known for giving riders a legitimate chance to post a competitive score with animals that buck ferociously, the kind that can earn a cowboy a ride at a major rodeo or even the NFR.

This year’s event kicks off Wednesday evening with the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour, which features top bull riders from the national PRCA standings competing in a standalone competition separate from the main rodeo. Fan favorites — clown JJ Harrison and announcer Wayne Brooks — return for another year, bringing the personality and energy that have made them fixtures of the Sisters experience.

A bull consistently ranked among the top ten in the PRCA or PBR today might generate $20,000 to $50,000-plus annually in event-related revenue; produce $25,000 to $100,000plus annually in breeding revenue if heavily marketed; and carry a market value of $100,000 to $500,000 or more depending on age, pedigree, and championship credentials.

For contractors such as Corey & Lange, the real long-term value is often not the bull’s appearances in the arena but his ability to sire the next generation of elite bucking stock. A single exceptional bull can influence a breeding program and revenue stream for many years after retirement.

The main rodeo performances run Thursday through Sunday, June 11–14, featuring the full slate of PRCA events. Tickets and schedule are online at www. sistersrodeo.com.

Governor sends chief of staff to head ODOT

By Mia Maldonado Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has appointed her chief of staff to temporarily lead the state’s transportation agency. Chris Warner, who has worked with Kotek since 2023, will serve as the Oregon Department of Transportation’s interim director until the agency finds its next director.

He is taking over Lisa Sumption’s interim position so she can return to role as the director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as it undergoes long-planned changes to improve the state park system. Sumption has led the agency since January, when former ODOT director Kris Strickler left the state government. Strickler now works as a senior vice president at a national engineering firm.

Before joining Kotek’s team, Warner held leadership roles at the Portland Bureau of Transportation for six years — including three as the local agency’s director. He previously worked as a legislative aide to former U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, who spent years as the chair or ranking member on the House Transportation and

Infrastructure Committee, and a transportation adviser for former Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Warner will be leading a state agency that doesn’t know how it will fund basic road maintenance and operations at its current levels beyond the 2025-27 budget cycle. Last month, Oregonians overwhelmingly voted against hikes to the gas tax and other transportation fees that would have covered the agency’s budget shortfalls for the next decade.

Kotek has tasked transportation and business experts to find and propose a solution by the end of the year for lawmakers to consider during the 2027 legislative session. That’s when lawmakers, like in 2025, will once again have six months to compromise on a transportation package.

Emerald Bogue, who joined the governor’s office in early spring as a special adviser under a temporary agreement with the Port of Portland, will fill the chief of staff role. The changes will take effect at the end of June.

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services is still conducting a nationwide search to hire a new transportation director.

Your Story

Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP Columnist

The intersection of conviction and adaptability MATTERS

We are all capable of holding multiple perceived truths at one time. Some of these truths have more gravity than others, and do more to dictate our behavior. We might call these convictions. Some of these convictions are harmonious to one another, while some may also clash against one another creating inner conflict and paradox.

In our algorithmic and divisive world, we are often fed information reinforcing convictions of territorialism and absolutes. We get hooked into dualistic thinking of black and white. We can be desperate to justify, and can often exhaust ourselves trying to maintain our rigid stance as the world continues to shift in shades of gray.

It is hard to define what makes a good or bad conviction or where the line of rigidity vs. fluidity in our value systems should fall, but it can be said that history’s greatest convictions have led to both triumphs and terrors. Perhaps most dangerous are those convictions that seek to alienate others and propel us into victimhood. Historically, humans have a remarkable ability of casting aside previously held convictions of goodwill and decency for propagandized convictions seeded from extremism and hate.

Perhaps the most meaningful convictions are those virtues of principle and character that have the power to expand understanding and transcend circumstance versus those that constrict, and limit making our world smaller. Our best convictions are in harmony with our highest selves versus those only in harmony with our egos. On a personal level, these most meaningful convictions are the launching pads of freedom, hope, compassion, and discipline.

Implicit in expansion

and transcendence is adaptability, as these convictions can best flex and integrate in our ever-changing world. An immovable conviction may have the allure of strength and power, but too much stiffness in a world of nuance and constant flux can leave us susceptible to breaking amidst too much tension. Also, adaptability without the grounding of conviction has the risk of manipulation and gullibility. When allowed to work in synergy, adaptive conviction takes an athletic stance — strong, but ready to move and flex while rigidity stands with locked knees far more at risk to be knocked down.

What does this mean in practice? It means that adaptive convictions are those that support a strong foundation of core values, but leave room for new ideas or evidence. It means that we remain vigilant to dogma that reinforce cognitive blind spots. It means staying principled and strong in our beliefs while recognizing complexity.

Resilience in our world today necessitates a sort of philosophical and social agility that marries the strength of conviction with the flexibility of adaptability. By cultivating this balance, we don’t just survive the complexities of modern life; we thrive within them. True strength is found in the space where our deepest convictions meet our willingness to grow, allowing us to stand firm in our character while moving gracefully with the tides of change.

SUNDAY JUNE 14

9 to 10:30 a.m.

Sisters Wild Stallion Rally

Corner of Larch & Cascade Bring a sign and a friend.

*No rally on Saturday due to Rodeo Parade.

PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY!

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Shoot straight — shoot safely

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Sisters’ forests accommodate a wide range of recreational activity — including shooting.

A couple of weeks ago, a citizen contacted The Nugget somewhat up in arms about the permissiveness of the law regarding recreational target shooting in the woods. He was particularly concerned about the potential safety impact of people shooting in a shallow gravel pit off of the Sisters Tie Trail (between Pine Street and Indian Ford Campground) and incensed that the Forest Service won’t do anything about it.

They won’t do anything about it because shooting is legally permitted there. Shooting is allowed across the Sisters Ranger District, except within 150 yards of residences or developed campgrounds and across roads. However… just because shooting is allowed just about everywhere doesn’t mean that we should shoot just anywhere. We are responsible for every round that comes out the muzzle of our firearms — and some places are much safer to shoot in than others.

The right to shoot in the forest comes with significant responsibilities. First among them is safety. Safe places to shoot have clear sight lines, tall backstops, and are away from or shielded from other activities. The Forest Service does not manage or regulate shooting sites, but

there are areas that are safe. (For a list of safe shooting areas, refer to https:// www.nuggetnews.com/ story/2020/02/11/news/ shooting-is-major-forestrecreation-activity/30410. html.)

Safe, responsible shooting includes observing basic safety protocols, including treating all firearms as loaded and being aware of and accounting for any other recreational activity in the area, and practicing good stewardship by picking up empty cartridge casings and packing out whatever targets and target stands are brought into a shooting area. Tannerite exploding targets are not allowed anywhere on the National Forest. Shooters should not fire at trees, which damages them to the point of killing them, and can pose a fire hazard if using steel-jacketed bullets.

The citizen who called The Nugget also complained vociferously about the sound of gunfire coming from Zimmerman Butte, which is also near the Sisters Tie Trail. That area gets heavy use — in part because it has all the characteristics desired for a safe shooting environment. That’s a tradeoff. If shooters are seeking safe places to ply their craft, they’re going to be concentrated in certain areas, and people will hear gunfire.

There are a lot of different recreation activities across the National Forest, and we all have to accommodate each other.

ALL advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

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DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 5 PM preceding Wednesday publication. PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due upon placement. Major credit cards accepted with a 3% processing fee. Billing available for continuously run classified ads, after prepayment of first four weeks. CATEGORIES:

101 Real Estate

Partial Ownership- Black Butte 4Br, 3B Value $1.1M, ask $82,500 for 2/17 share = 6+weeks a year. Call Jack, 503-318-2004 FOR SALE

4 BR, 2 BATH CONDO AT BLACK BUTTE RANCH

Fabulous views, newly updated, best location on the ranch! Call Zac Thompson or Eddie Zapien @ 503-832-6485

102 Commercial Rentals

For Rent

Small professional office space for lease, includes waiting room and bathrooms. 392 E Main Street, Sisters. 541-977-2819

BRAND NEW INDUSTRIAL SUITES & PREMIUM STORAGE AVAILABLE

570 & 620 W Three Peaks Drive Modern, climate-controlled space for business, equipment, RVs, boats, and more.

Industrial Suites

•2,400 SF (40’ × 60’)

•Office & Restroom Included

•Units Can Be Combined for Larger Space

Personal Storage Suites

•840 SF (14’ × 60’)

•30 Amp RV Plug & Auxiliary Outlets

•On-Site RV Dump Station

All Units: Secure individual spaces with heating & cooling, LED lighting, ample parking, and a professionally lit site. Call 541-270-0581 for pricing and availability. Visit: lease3peaks.com

STORAGE WITH BENEFITS

•8 x 20 dry box

•Fenced yard, RV & trailers

•In-town, gated, 24-7

EWDevcoLLC@gmail.com

MINI STORAGE

Sisters Rental

331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Sizes 5x5 to 15x30 and outdoor RV parking. 7-day access. Computerized security gate. Moving boxes & supplies.

103 Residential Rentals

Cowboy Court Apartments

2 bedroom 2 bath. $1,695/month, RSD $1,650. Lease through 6/30/2027. Vacates 6/30/26. Some pets considered (dogs & cats OK with add'l $350 RSD per pet). This is 2nd floor unit in the back building. W/S/Garbage/ landscaping is paid. approx. 1,000 sq. ft. NO SMOKING. 154 W Adams Ave. #222

Dishwasher, microwave, washer & dryer, deck, garbage disposal, granite countertops, energyefficient windows, storage, plank flooring throughout, electric heat w/air conditioning, off-street parking - one reserved space (covered space $20/Month).

PLACE LOOKING A LITTLE MESSY?

CASCADE HOME & PROPERTY RENTALS

Monthly Rentals throughout Sisters Country. 541-549-0792

Property management for second homes. CascadeHomeRentals.com

104 Vacation Rentals

Downtown Vacation Rentals

Popular 1 and 2 Bedroom www.SistersVacationRentals.net Great pricing. 503-730-0150

202 Firewood

DRY SPLIT CORDS $250

CUT OFFS $100 • COMPOST SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS

DAVE ELPI – FIREWOOD •SINCE 1976 • Fuel Reduction Forestry Doug Fir – Lodgepole –Hardwood – Juniper – Fir DRIVE-IN WOOD SALES –18155 Hwy. 126 East –SistersForestProducts.com Order Online! 541-410-4509

205 Garage & Estate Sales

Happy Trails Estate Sales and online auctions! Selling, Downsizing, or Deaths? Locally owned & operated by... Daiya 541-480-2806 Sharie 541-771-1150

301 Vehicles HEATED GARAGE power, lights, security. $275/mo. Jack 541-419-2502

We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com 401 Horses ALFALFA TRITICALE ORCHARD GRASS HAY New 2026 crop. Barn stored. 3-tie bales. $250-$350/ton. Hwy. 126 & Cline Falls. 541-280-1895

403 Pets

Mini Golden Doodle Puppies Non-shedding, hypoallergenic gingerthedog25@gmail.com 541-647-7630

I’ve got your cats covered! Sisters-Tumalo-PetSitting.com Julie 541-306-7551

Caring, loving pet care in my home. Daily rates and in town. Cheryl 541-420-7875 500 Services

Check out the Nugget's C L A S S I F I E D A D V E R T I S E R S for cleaning professionals ready to help you!

SMALL Engine REPAIR

Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws & Trimmers Sisters Rental 331 W. Barclay Drive 541-549-9631

Authorized service center for Stihl, Honda, Ariens/Gravely, Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki Engines CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS

Bend Window Works, LLC is offering a 10% discount on new window coverings. FREE in-home consultation. Same day in-home repair services available. New and repaired blinds make rentals look better! Contact us at 541-383-2455 or andy@bendblinds.com.

501 Computers & Communications

3 Sisters TeleNetworks, LLC

Audio/video, data networking, WIFI, security camera, alarms. CCB #191099 541-306-0729 502 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning GORDON’S LAST TOUCH Cleaning Specialists for CARPETS, WINDOWS & UPHOLSTERY

Member Better Business Bureau • Bonded & Insured • Serving Central Oregon Since 1980 Call 541-549-3008

M & J CARPET CLEANING

Area rugs, upholstery, tile & dryer-vent cleaning. Established & family-owned since 1986. 541-549-9090

Small & Large Jobs 20+ Years Experience CCB#180099

Call/Text: 541-728-8607 AlpenGlowHandymanServices. com

BURLINGTON AUTOMOTIVE

Mobile Mechanic in Sisters Diagnostics, Inspections, Oil Change, Tune-up, and more! Wide variety of vehicles and skid steer loaders. (503) 509-9354

600 Tree Service & Forestry

LOLO TREE WORKS

Tree Services: Tree Removal, Tree Pruning, Stump Grinding, Emergency Tree Services. ISA Certified Arborist

Owner / Operator: Erin Carpenter lolotreeworks.com Call / Text: 503-367-5638 Email: erin@lolotreeworks.com CCB #240912

4 Brothers Tree Service Sisters' Premier Tree Experts! –TREE REMOVAL & CLEANUP –Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

–FOREST MANAGEMENT –Fire Fuels Reduction - Brush Mowing, Mastication, Tree Thinning, Large & Small Scale Projects! Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003 ** Free Estimates ** Owner James Hatley & Sons 541-815-2342

4brostrees.com Licensed, Bonded and Insured CCB-215057 •Wildfire Fuels reduction •Debris Chipping/Mastication •Forest Health Thinning •Wildfire Cleanup & Restoration • Tree Removal Will Moore, 541-409-5404 ISA Certified Arborist We are the experts you’ve been looking for! LCB# 100129 & Oregon Professional Logger 71395048

Level: Difficult Answer: Page 22

Junk Removal, Dumpster Rentals & Demolition Services – Done Right. Remove-Junk.com 541-719-8475

•DERI’s HAIR SALON • Call 541-419-1279

Tree Removal • Tree Pruning

Good for Trees. Good to People. SparTreeArborist.com (916)619-6317

TimberStandImprovement.net

Tree Removal & Pruning TRAQ Arborist/ CCB#190496 541-771-4825

601 Construction

Construction & Renovation

Custom Residential Projects

All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448

CASCADE VALLEY CONTRACTING, LLC

General Contractor CCB#180099

Custom Remodels • Additions

•Decks • Firewise Upgrades 20+ Years Licensed, Bonded, Insured. Call/Text 541-728-8607

Lara’s Construction LLC.

CCB#223701

Offering masonry work, fireplaces, interior & exterior stone/brick-work, build barbecues, and all types of masonry. Give us a call for a free estimate 541-350-3218

Custom Homes • Additions

Residential Building Projects

Serving Sisters area since 1976

Strictly Quality

CCB #16891 • CCB #159020 541-280-9764

John Pierce jpierce@bendbroadband.com

Custom Homes

Additions - Remodels

Residential Building Projects

Becke William Pierce

CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384

Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com

— Serving Sisters Since 2010 —

LOCAL CONSTRUCTION

SERVICES & HOME MAINT.

Remodels • Landscaping

Firewise Maintenance

Decks & Much More!

Pease Co. Contracting

Call Tanner at 541-588-0136.

Big and small jobs!

CCB# 256258

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

Factory Trained Technicians Since 1983 • CCB #44054 541-548-2215 • 541-382-4553

Landscape & Construction LLC

LCB#8874 CCB#224224

Serving Oregon since 1991 503-849-6090

Creating beautiful outdoor living spaces * custom patios & decks

*water & fire features * outdoor kitchens * pavilions * barns everythingoutdoors@ymail.com

Rooted in family, Built with pride

Pat Burke

LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT

CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062

www.sistersfencecompany.com

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

Earthwood Timber

•Recycled fir and pine beams

•Mantels and accent timbers •Sawmill/woodshop services EWDevcoLLC@gmail.com

602 Plumbing & Electric

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

CCB#200030 • 541-480-9860

SWEENEY PLUMBING, INC.

“Quality and Reliability” Repairs • Remodeling

•New Construction

•Water Heaters 541-549-4349

Residential and Commercial

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CCB #87587

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

— GEORGE’S — SEPTIC SERVICE 541-419-3148

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

Electrical Service & Repair

Est. 1947, CCB#54572

Local in Sisters 503-357-2146

603 Excavation & Trucking

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial

CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977

www.BANR.net

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!

604 Heating & Cooling

ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

~ FRONTIER PAINTING ~ Quality Painting, Ext. & Int. Refurbishing Decks CCB #131560 • 541-771-5620 www.frontier-painting.com

606 Landscaping & Yard

Maintenance

PROPERTY CLEANUP AND ITEM REMOVAL SPECIALIZING IN PINE NEEDLES AND CONES. OFFERING OTHER SERVICES CALL THE WORKIN' MAN 541-610-2926.

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

STEVE'S HAULING

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

Alpine Landscape Maintenance An All-Electric Landscape Company. Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com

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

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

801 Classes & Training

D O Y O U O F F E R workshops or classes? Let our readers know! Call 541-549-9941 or email Nugget@NuggetNews.com Deadline is Friday by 5 p.m. • •

802 Help Wanted

Looking for full-time team leader. Apply at Sisters Feed. Call me with questions. Fred 541-549-4151 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

Part Time Sales Associate Love people, fabric, and creativity? Stitchin' Post is seeking a friendly, dependable team member to join our retail staff. Three days per week; may require weekends. Apply in person at Stitchin' Post, 311 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters, or email diane.j@stitchinpost.com.

NEED A CHANGE? Use The Nugget's HELP WANTED column to find a new job! NEED ASSISTANCE? Use the Help Wanted column to find the help you need! The Nugget Newspaper Call 541-549-9941 to place your ad by Fridays at 5 p.m. or email your text to Nugget@NuggetNews.com

Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com CCB #195556 541-549-6464 Sisters, Oregon's

605 Painting

Pick

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491

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

All Landscaping Services

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

Eastern Cascade Solutions

Landscaping & Construction

www.easterncascadesolutions. com • 541-233-7195

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

701 Domestic Services

I & I Crystal Cleaning, LLC

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

999 Public Notice REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Engineering Services

Tollgate Water Company seeks proposals from qualified engineering firms for a Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund (SDWRLF) water infrastructure project including replacement of approximately 3,000 feet of AC water pipe and installation of water meters. Project subject to Davis-Bacon and American Iron & Steel (AIS) requirements. Full RFP and submission instructions available at tollgatepropertyowners.com/RFP. Proposal deadline: July 8, 2026.

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70030 ANNIES DRIVE | SISTERS

5 BD, 5.5 BA, 6,146 SF – 2-acres within a 110-acre wildlife preserve. Sweeping views. Timber-framed entry opens to greatroom. Gourmet kitchen blends elegance and function, Viking 5 Series appliances. 3 luxurious en-suite bedrooms on main. Covered patio, hot tub. Native defensible landscaping. Ideal for corporate retreats, STR permit in place. $2,700,000 MLS#220214444 | Catherine Black

3 BD, 3 BA, 2,529 SF – Beautiful craftsman home with vaulted ceiling, oak floors, radiant floor heating. ADA accessible with master on main and an ADA bathroom/shower. 3rd bedroom/office has custom shelving and a Murphy bed. Garage with EV hookup,

369 E SAINT HELENS AVENUE | SISTERS

Charming and cozy, this stick-built home has been well maint ained and lives large with an open floorplan, vaulted ceilings, and abundant natural light. Imagine quiet mornings in the kitchen basking in the sunlight from your skylight and garden window. Enjoy relaxing evenings on the peaceful back porch. $379,900 MLS#220222469 | Leslie Cutler

70483 PONDEROSA LANE GM-116 | BLACK BUTTE RANCH Recently refreshed on the exterior, this home features new met al roof, siding, windows, and front & rear decks. Inside, the warmth of cedar accents creates an inviting mount ain feel, complemented