The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLIX No. 6 // 2026-02-11

The Nugget

A Sisters Country destination…

Sisters 20312031 2031 2031 Sisters2031 2031 Sisters 2031

The fourth of five installments where Sisters’ thought leaders share with The Nugget how they imagine Sisters in five years.

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

If, as seems inevitable, we are in for another 500 or so folks in the next five years, they will have to be accommodated both in a place to live and the underlying infrastructure to support them.

The Nugget asked those with some expertise in this area to help paint a picture of what the footprint might look like in 2031. Scott Woodford is the Community Development Director for the City of Sisters.

“My hope for Sisters is that five years from now it looks and feels like the Sisters we currently know but with more opportunities for the people who need housing to be able to find it,” he said. “This will be facilitated through new development opportunities — both within the existing city boundaries and within an expanded urban growth boundary. Within the existing city, infill development will continue, taking advantage of development code amendments the city has approved recently to encourage and facilitate it, filling in the vacant and underutilized lots with middle housing that is close to downtown and other services.

“In the expansion area to the east of town recommended by a citizen steering committee, in five years we will see the first expansion of our urban growth boundary coming to shape with new master plans, providing the mix of uses and the variety of housing we need (largely through annexation requirements for minimum percentages of affordable and workforce housing).

“This ‘little bit of both’ is the vision of the community for future growth from the Sisters Comprehensive Plan process back in 2021. It basically states that if we have to grow — which we do — let’s grow up a bit (infill) and out a bit (UGB expansion). This balance will meet the needs of the existing community and future residents, while minimize sprawl and preserve the fundamental characteristics of Sisters as a small, welcoming and western-themed town.”

No stranger to growth in Sisters and meeting housing demand is Kevin Eckert, principal of Build LLC and who among other things is the concept creator and designer of Sisters Woodland, a 300-plus mixed-use development on previous forest land.

Gazing into an imaginary crystal ball, Eckert says, “Sisters will inevitably become denser as vacant properties continue to infill and new construction

Voters to decide on county districts

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

Voters will decide in November whether to divide Deschutes County into districts for the purposes of electing county commissioners.

The Board of Deschutes County Commissioners (BOCC) voted two to one to put Map C on the ballot as a legislative measure in the November 2026 election. Map C divides Deschutes County for the first time into five

See DISTRICTS on page 20

Pedestrian killed on Cascade

An 81-year-old Bend woman was killed and a 21-year-old La Pine woman is facing serious charges after an incident on Cascade Avenue on Friday, February 6.

Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded at 7:24 p.m. to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash in front of Rancho Viejo at 150 E. Cascade Ave. (Highway 20) in downtown Sisters.

According to DCSO, investigation revealed that 81-year-old Colleen Rose Greene of Bend was hit by a vehicle while crossing the roadway. She was given medical attention at the scene and then taken to St. Charles-Bend, where

she later died.

The driver, Emily Alexis Pickhard, 21, of La Pine, was arrested and lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail on charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide, DUII, and Reckless Driving.

Cascade Avenue was closed for about 3.5 hours during the investigation. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch Police Department, and Oregon State Police.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has photos or videos is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office on the non-emergency line at 541-693-6911.

OPINION

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.

Call a spade a spade

To the Editor:

In support of the letter from February 4 by Glen Roper. I completely agree that the editorial article “ Tumultuous Times” by Jim Cornelius was strangely void of reality-based objective commentary on the extraction of Venezuelan President Maduro by a U.S operation lauded for its efficiency and effectiveness. Nevertheless this kidnapping of a world leader is nothing but an international crime against modern accepted and legal values.

Please call a spade a spade!

Congrats also to several other thoughtful letters from Laurie Danahy, Bruce Campbell and Stephen Blauvelt in that issue. I’m so proud of Americans for standing up for their 4th Amendment rights against search and seizure! ICE must have a judicial warrant for these invasive activities. Other law enforcement agencies have complied with this requirement for a very long time. Why can’t ICE?

Sharon Booth

Editor’s note:

1. The column Ms. Booth refers to was not titled “Tumultuous Times,” it was titled “Thoughts on a strategic manhunt.”

2. The Biden Administration increased the bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Nicolas Maduro on narcoterrorism and conspiracy charges filed in the Southern District of New York in 2020 from $15 million to $25 million. That was their reaction to Maduro flagrantly stealing an election. The Biden Administration considered Maduro illegitimate. Per the New York

Times: “The announcement is Washington’s retaliatory measure for Maduro’s decision to assume a third term in office... Maduro has presented no evidence that he won a July election, while his opponent Edmundo González has presented thousands of publicly available vote tallies that he says indicate he easily won the most votes. The U.S. has recognized González as the president-elect of Venezuela and has urged Maduro to step aside.”

The removal of Maduro was a bipartisan priority until it actually happened, at which point it became one more tribal litmus test. That, unfortunately, is what the spade looks like.

Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

s s s

Supporting wildlife

To the Editor:

One of the big draws for our family, and I know for a great number of residents and visitors to Central Oregon, is our beautiful and pristine outdoor environment. Most everyone would agree that their trip to Central Oregon is enhanced greatly by sighting wildlife. I’m sure we’ve all seen cars stopped along the highway, gazing at a herd of elk off the distance, or a few deer trying to cross one of the streets in town. When hiking we marvel at beaver dams, or a porcupine up in a pine tree, or a falcon hunting dinner. These

See LETTERS on page 7

Sisters Weather Forecast

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Where were you?

By Steve Woodside Guest Columnist

Headlines have screamed about abuses of power, corruption, and failures for years, yet the streets of Sisters stayed quiet from certain quarters, during certain administrations.

When a president faced multiple credible allegations of sexual misconduct, including rape claims from Juanita Broaddrick, groping accusations from Kathleen Willey and others, plus a settled sexual harassment lawsuit from Paula Jones, where were you?

When that same president was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice over lies under oath in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, involving witness tampering and cover-ups, with acquittal along strict party lines, where were you?

When Whitewater dragged on with questions about shady real-estate deals, failed savings-and-loans costing taxpayers millions, and ties to criminal convictions of associates, where were you?

When Operation Fast and Furious let thousands of guns “walk” to Mexican cartels, resulting in the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and contempt findings against the Attorney General with no real accountability, where were you?

When Benghazi saw inadequate security, misleading public statements on the attack’s causes, and allegations of cover-up to protect political narratives, where were you?

When massive NSA surveillance programs bulk-collected Americans’ data with limited oversight, revealed by Snowden, where were you?

When a Secretary of State used a private email server for official and classified business, risking national security with “extremely careless” handling, where were you?

When drone strikes escalated, including on U.S. citizens without due process, and aggressive prosecutions targeted whistleblowers and journalists’ sources, where were you?

When Tom Homan, performing the exact same job under the Obama Administration, deported more than 4.5 million illegal aliens, where were you?

When the Afghanistan withdrawal turned chaotic, leaving 13 U.S. service

members dead, billions in equipment for terrorists, and allies abandoned, where were you?

When record border crossings overwhelmed systems, leading to housing shortages, and a depletion of entitlement programs, where were you?

When hundreds of thousands of these immigrant children went “missing” into the system, including to known traffickers, where were you?

When police officers in blue cities were essentially told to stand down during the George Floyd riots, forcing everyday citizens, like David Dorn and Kyle Ritttenhouse, to take up arms to protect property and lives, where were you?

When governments deemed liquor stores essential but churches to be shuttered during COVID, where were you?

When persistent high inflation crushed working families, and influence-peddling allegations tied to millions from foreign entities swirled around family dealings, where were you?

When a president gave preemptive pardons to the J6 Committee and people involved in COVID research, and gave his son an oddly specific pardon for crimes committed during an 11-year time horizon, where were you?

When an administration pursued a criminal case of a former president, while running to become president, for real-estate fraud where there were no victims, where were you?

When our national museums stopped telling our nation’s history and turned, instead, into struggle sessions, and progressive talking points, where were you?

When children were told that they weren’t born perfect, but instead were born into the wrong bodies and required a lifetime of chemicals and surgery to feel affirmed, where were you?

When our public schools here in Oregon fell from the best performing to the worst performing in the nation, but the unions continued to feed the Democrat party, where were you?

The people of Sisters do not need endless testimonies each week in The Nugget explaining why protesters are out on the streets. As the saying goes, “if you are explaining, you are losing.” Just admit that you don’t care about what is being done, just who is doing it.

to

STA watches over Whychus Creek

By Maret Pajutee

River lovers are fortunate that we have two federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in the backyard of Sisters. These rivers were identified as unique on a regional or national scale and are to be managed for the enjoyment of present and future generations. The Metolius is well known and developed with summer homes, trails, and many campgrounds in its upper section.

Whychus Creek is much wilder. The Wild and Scenic River Management Plan completed in 2010 recognized that its wildness is a special feature to protect, while also making lower

reaches of the river close to town, more accessible for people to enjoy.

A key part of the plan was building community stewardship. The Forest Service knew they couldn’t do it alone with recreation budgets in decline and growth in Central Oregon skyrocketing. That’s where partners stepped in to help. A committee of the Sisters Parks and Recreation Department was interested in trails. They were willing to take on some technical aspects of trail construction and manage grants. They soon got their nonprofit status and emerged as the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) that we know today. Today STA and its organized volunteer cadre of

trail stewards regularly walk the trails, remove garbage and graffiti, rehab new user trails, clip brush, and engage with visitors to answer questions about this unique river. They note trail issues such as fallen trees or erosion from winter floods, providing detailed information and GPS coordinates to STA crews that spring to action, packing in chainsaws and organizing work days in cooperation with the Forest Service to address larger problems.

Perhaps no one person has had a greater role in the hands-on community stewardship of lower Whychus Creek facilities than Gary Guttormsen. Guttormsen led

Fire district to seek local option funding

The Board of Directors of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District has voted to place a local option levy on the May 18 ballot for consideration by District voters.

The proposed levy is intended to provide funding to maintain and improve emergency services in response to increased service demands, staffing challenges, and rising operational costs. Voters within the District will determine whether the measure is approved or rejected through the May 2026 vote-by-mail election.

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District provides

fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue services, wildfire response, and community risk reduction services to a rural area of approximately 800 square miles. Over the past decade, the District has experienced a nearly 65 percent increase in emergency calls for service, while dedicated emergency response staffing levels have not increased in more than fifteen years.

Medical emergencies now account for approximately 70 percent of all emergency responses and ambulance transports have increased over 30 percent in the past four years. Many

Youth soccer registration is open

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is now accepting registrations for its Youth Spring Soccer program for youth in kindergarten through eighth grade. Practices will begin the week of March 23, with games running from April 4 - May 10. Families are encouraged to register early, as space may be limited. The registration deadline is Friday, February 27, at noon.

This marks the second consecutive year SPRD has offered a spring soccer season. The program was

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al -Anon

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

Alcoholics A nonymou s

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 t he 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 Tye rs G uild

For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelef ly@msn.c om Central Oregon Trail A lliance (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 Cent ral O rego n 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.

G o 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 Par tner Suppor t Group. 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Park & Recreation District Communi ty Center. 541- 588 -0547.

Mili tary Parent s of S isters 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., meeting 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 Woodworke rs First Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 5 41-231-18 97

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters C ommunity Church. Email sister sbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregi ver Sup por t G roup 2nd & 4th Weds., 1-2:30 p.m. Siste rs Library Communit y Room. 5 41-588 -0547. (M eets with Living Well 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 Kiwani s 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 11:3 0 a.m. to 1 p.m., at S PR D in Sisters 541- 632- 3663

Sisters Parent Teacher Communit y 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School Commons. 917-219-8298

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon to 1 p.m., at SPR D. 541-76 0- 5645

Sisters Veterans no- host lunch, Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Rest aurant. All veterans welcome, 5 41-241-6 56 3.

Sisters Trails A lliance Board

Meetings take plac e ever y other month, 5 p.m. In- person or zoom. Contact: info@sisterstrails.org

Three Sister s Irrigation Distric t Board of Direc tors M eets 2nd Tuesday, 10 a.m., TSI D Of fice 541- 903- 4050

Three Sister s Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:3 0 p.m., Spoons Rest aurant. 5 41-419 -1279.

VF W Po st 8138 and A merican Legion Post 8 6 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., The HUB, 2 91 E. M ain Ave. sistersveterans@gmail. com.

first introduced in 2025 in response to feedback from the district’s fall soccer program and to help meet the growing demand for youth soccer opportunities in the community. The inaugural season welcomed 86 participants across eight teams, and the district looks forward to continuing to grow the program in the coming years.

Currently, the spring soccer season is offered in partnership with Redmond Area Park & Recreation District

SCHOOLS

Black Bu tt e School Board of Dire ctor s 3rd Tuesday, 9 a.m., Black But te School. 541- 59 5- 6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors O ne Wednesday m onthly, Sisters School District Administr ation Building. See schedule at www.ssd 6. org. 5 41-5 49 -8 521 x5 002.

CIT Y & PARKS

Sisters Ci ty Council 2nd & 4t h Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters Cit y Hall 541- 549- 6022

Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Dire ctor s 2nd & 4th Tues., 4 p.m., C of f ield Center. 5 41-5 49 -2091. Sisters Pl anning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:3 0 p.m., Siste rs City Hall. 5 41-5 49 -6 022.

FIRE

& POLICE

Black Bu tt e Ranch Polic e Dept. Board of Dire ctor s M eets monthly 541- 59 5-2191 for time & date

Black Bu tt e Ranch R FPD Board of Directors 4th Thurs., 9 a.m., BB R Fire Station. 5 41-595 -2 28 8

Low snowpack becoming dire

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Nearly all of Oregon is carrying less than 50 percent of normal snowpack, with western and central regions largely stuck in the 30 percent range. The Upper Deschutes and Crooked River basins are especially low, holding only 28 percent of normal snow water, numbers officials describe as abysmal. Although total precipitation this water year has been fairly typical, at above 80 percent of average, the state’s mountain snow stores remain dramatically depleted.

Meteorologists and water managers point to unusually warm temperatures as the primary culprit. Warmer air has shifted much winter precipitation from snow to rain, and accelerated melt of the snow that does fall. Average temperatures across most of Oregon were about five degrees or more above normal in December, reducing both accumulation and retention of snowpack.

The thin snowpack raises immediate concerns for the spring and summer water supply. Snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, slowly releasing water into rivers and streams; without it, soils and streams can dry out sooner, increasing the risk of major wildfires and stressing agricultural users who depend on mountain runoff.

Regions such as the Ochoco and Blue Mountains, which store winter water as snow for downstream farms, are particularly vulnerable. Low snowpack also complicates forecasting of stream flows and water availability for the rest of the year.

State drought reporting shows abnormally dry conditions in parts of Deschutes, Lane, and Douglas counties, and an area of moderate drought in Douglas County. Officials note that, historically, western Oregon would not typically show drought at this time of year, but precedent exists for winter and spring drought persistence.

Experts emphasize there is still a window for recovery. Peak snow season runs through March and April, and large storm events can sometimes erase deficits. Long-range forecasts hint at the possibility of stormy weather returning in the second half of February, but forecasters stress high uncertainty.

Given current conditions, managers say the state is increasingly reliant on a few large storms to make up the shortfall, an outcome that is possible but statistically less likely.

Oregon Water Resources Department hydrologist Cameron Greenwood warns that above-normal temperatures not only convert snow to rain but also cause rapid

melt of existing snow.

Oregon Snow Survey supervisory hydrologist Matt Warbritton cautions that the low mountain stores make the season’s water outlook difficult to predict and that the state will be watching for any large storm events that could replenish the snowpack. If those storms do not arrive, communities, farmers, and wildfire managers will face a much tighter water year.

Expect to pay more for hay this year.

Low snowpack usually pushes hay and alfalfa prices higher, sometimes sharply. In Sisters Country, mountain snowpack acts as a natural reservoir. When it’s low, spring and summer runoff into rivers, reservoirs, and irrigation canals is reduced. That limits water available for hay and alfalfa fields, which are among the most

water-intensive crops.

With less irrigation water, growers may cut acreage, take fewer cuttings per season, or see lower yields and poorer quality forage. At the same time, drought conditions often reduce pasture growth, forcing ranchers to rely more heavily on stored feed. The combination of lower supply and stronger demand puts upward pressure on prices. Transportation costs can also rise if local production drops and hay must

be trucked in from wetter regions. In severe low-snow years, prices may spike early and stay elevated through winter, particularly for premium dairy-quality alfalfa. In short, low snowpack tightens forage supplies, increases reliance on purchased feed, and typically leads to higher, more volatile hay and alfalfa prices.

The Three Sisters Irrigation District’s manager is away for a conference and not available to comment at this time.

Outlaws split games on the hardwood

By Rongi Yost Correspondent

Sisters started their week with a hard-fought 59-66 loss at home to Creswell on Tuesday, February 3, but bounced back on Friday with a 67-50 victory at home over Elmira.

On Tuesday against Creswell, the Bulldogs came out firing in the opening quarter, and knocked down four three-pointers. Despite their hot shooting, the Outlaws stayed within striking distance until the Bulldogs closed the period on a 7-2 run to take a 20-13 lead.

Sisters responded with strong defensive intensity in the second quarter, and held Creswell to just nine points. The Outlaws put together an 11-0 run to take a 33-27 advantage. Keegan Dunn sparked the run with a threepointer, followed by a free throw from Charlie Moen. Will McDonnell grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on the putback, Bauer Ellis added a score from behind the arc, and Moen capped the run with a transition layup. Creswell scored on an offensive rebound at the buzzer to cut the lead to 33-29 as teams headed into halftime.

The Outlaws scored first in the third quarter when Ellis spun through the lane for a right-handed layup, which gave Sisters its largest lead of the night at 35-29. Momentum shifted and the Outlaws committed three turnovers on consecutive possessions, and Creswell scored five quick points. The Bulldogs were also strong on on the offensive glass, and grabbed six rebounds that led to seven second-chance points.

In the fourth quarter, Creswell continued to find success with outside shooting and dribble penetration against the Outlaws zone

defense. Sisters battled to the end and cut the deficit to two possessions late in the game, but the Bulldogs were able to hold on for the seven-point victory.

McDonnell led all scorers with 23 points. Teegan Schwartz added 11 points, Ellis finished with 10, and Moen contributed seven.

Coach Chad Rush said, “This was a game I thought we could get after how we competed for most of the game a couple weeks ago at their place. We showed we could get the win with our aggressiveness in the second quarter. Unfortunately, we couldn’t sustain it in the second half. We were down a player again tonight, and I was once again proud of the effort and energy the team put forth.”

Friday’s game against Elmira was a rematch of a game played in January where the Outlaws played with only five players and were able to take the Falcons to overtime on a Thomas Hamerly layup as time expired. Sisters eventually lost and so this game was a must-win for the Outlaws to keep their league playoff hopes alive.

The Outlaws got off to a slow start and were down 0-6 before Ellis scored on a contested layup. McDonnell connected on two consecutive layups to pull Sisters to within one at 8-9. Schwartz scored on transition for Sisters’ remaining points in the period and at the end of one the Outlaws trailed 10-19.

Sisters scored first in the second quarter when Marshall Durham found a cutting Moen for an uncontested layup. Later, the Outlaws went on a 14-2 run to close out the quarter with a three-point advantage at 27-24. Highlights in the run included Durham going three-for-three from the line, and a baseline long ball

from Ellis.

The Outlaws goal in the third was to keep the pressure on and keep the Falcons from getting back into the game. Teams traded baskets throughout the period, but the Outlaws maintained the lead to close out the quarter on top 46-41. Ellis and Schwartz carried the bulk of the scoring with Ellis putting up nine points, including two long balls from behind the arc, and Schwartz who scored six.

In the final period the Outlaws defense stepped up and held the Falcons to single-digit points. Sisters offense exploded for its biggest scoring quarter of the game with 21 points. The Falcons scored first to cut the lead to three points at 46-43, but that was as close as they would get. With 5:40 left in the game, the Outlaws outscored the Falcons 15-2 and put the game out of reach, with McDonnell scoring 10 of the Outlaws’ 15 quarter points.

McDonnell, Ellis, and Schwartz were the Outlaws top scorers and combined for 53 points.

Rush said, “This was an important game for us. We felt like even though we only had five players the first time we played them, we could have beat them at their place. Coming in one game behind them in the standings it was essential that we win this game to come even with them as we finish league play and try to secure that third place league finish in order to give us a chance to earn another state playoff berth.

“The guys responded well to some early adversity and were able to maintain a lead this game once we got one in the second quarter,” Rush added. “I am excited to see what this final week of the league season holds for the team.”

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The Outlaws will head to Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, February 10, and then wrap up league at home against La Pine on Friday.

THURSDAY, FEB 12 • 6:307:30 PM

THURSDAY, FEB 19 • 6:307:30 PM

Brian Trapp presents Range of Motion, Trapp’s debut novel that follows twin boys from infanc y to the cusp of adulthood. The family tries to interpret what twin Sal, who speaks only eight words, is think ing and feeling. A wrenching, beautiful, sharply comic story transforms perceptions of disability and interdependence.

MONDAY, FEB 16 • 5:306:30 PM

Fic tion Book Club discussing The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich Third Monday of every month, see website for upcoming books

Jane Hiatt presents Deep Medicine for Trauma: 5 Power ful Treatments for Healing That Exper ts Have Overlooked. Healer and hypnotherapist Jane Hiatt guides readers into the hidden territories where trauma actually lives — the subconscious — alleviating distress through ve power ful, often overlooked treatments delivered within the container of hypnotherapy.

MONDAY, FEB 23 • 1011:30 AM

Writers in Community is a 90-minute unstructured quiet time around the big table for writing with others. Drop in for a few minutes, or stay the whole time! No RSVP required

SECOND SATURDAY AT 10 AM

MONDAY, MARCH 2 • 5:306:30 PM

The Pause Button: A Monthly Poetr y Gathering around the big table to pause for poetr y exploration. Bring a poem or two to share. Listen, discuss, and do a little writing. No experience necessar y. First Monday of every month.

Senior Resource Fair on tap

By Sue Stafford Correspondent

Sisters folks can learn about the range of services available to local seniors all in one spot next week.

They are invited to come out Tuesday, February 17, noon to 2 p.m. to the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department Community Hall, 301 S. Elm Street, to explore services for seniors offered in Sisters by over 20 agencies, organizations, and individuals.

The Senior Resource Fair, sponsored by Citizens4Community and Age-Friendly Sisters Country, will offer information on services for seniors ranging from in-home nonmedical care to transportation for nonemergency medical appointments to Meals on Wheels and many more. Seniors desiring to age in place in their homes, family members who are caring for or plan to care for aging family members, those who want to begin planning for their senior years, and the public are welcome to attend.

Sisters is an officially

recognized Age-Friendly City. Efforts to improve the ability for people to age in place in Sisters certainly supports that designation. Data supports the fact that Sisters has many residents who are 60-plus in age.

Previous census figures included in the January 7 Nugget article, “Aging in Place in Sisters,” were incorrect. The correct figures for Sisters 2020 census total population, 3,022, broken down as follows: 60-plus 1,317 (43.6 percent), 62-plus 1,301 (43.1 percent), 65-75 939 (31.1 percent), 75-plus 235 (7.8 percent).

The City of Sisters website says the city’s population is now 3,738. That would equate to 23 percent population growth since 2020. Extrapolating 2020 census data and assuming the age percentages/ ratios have stayed the same, that would mean there are now the following population counts in Sisters: 60-plus 1,620, 62-plus 1,600, 65-75 1,157, 75-plus 289.

Exhibitors participating in the Senior Resource Fair include: Transportation

– Sisters Transportation and Ride Share, Cascades East Transit, Sisters Delivery and Shuttle; Residential – The Lodge Retirement Community, Carey’s Care Homes, High Lakes Care Homes; Resource and Support – Thrive Central Oregon Drop-in Consultations, Council on Aging of Central Oregon, Senior One Source; Living Well with Dementia Sisters; In-home services – Home Instead of Central Oregon, Hallmark Home Care, Right at Home, Visiting Angels, Heart and Home Care; Hospice and Endof-Life Care – Clear Path Healthcare and Hospice, Partners in Care, St. Charles Hospice, Peaceful Presence Project; and Miscellaneous Services – Christie Martin elder attorney, Ashley Tuttle elder attorney, SistersCamp Sherman Fire District Fire Corps, Furry Friends Foundation, Kaufman’s Home Maintenance.

The Senior Resource Fair is free to attend, and light refreshments will be provided. Come anytime between noon and 2 p.m. Learn more at bit.ly/sos-fair.

FUNDING: Fire District will seek local option support Continued from page 3

ambulance incidents require extended time commitments — averaging approximately two hours per call — due to transport distances to hospitals located outside the District. In addition, overlapping or back-to-back emergency incidents have increased by approximately 35 percent over the past eight years, increasing reliance on mutual aid from neighboring agencies and the potential for delayed response times.

Wildfire activity in Central Oregon and within the District has also increased in frequency, intensity, and complexity. These conditions have heightened the need for year-round wildfire preparedness, community wildfire risk reduction efforts, and emergency response to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure. Seasonal wildfire staffing and community risk reduction programs are currently supported by grant funding, some of which is scheduled to expire in 2026 and is not guaranteed in future years.

If approved by voters, levy funds would be used for purposes including, but not limited to, hiring additional full-time firefighter/ paramedics, supporting wildfire preparedness and community risk reduction programs, funding seasonal wildfire staffing, adding a full-time mechanic to maintain emergency vehicles, and ensuring reliable emergency response capabilities across the District.

The District currently operates 22 emergency response vehicles across three fire stations and relies on outside vendors for many maintenance and repair services. Rising costs for fuel, equipment, training, medical supplies, and staffing have outpaced existing revenue sources despite ongoing cost controls and operational efficiencies.

Additional information about the proposed levy will be made available to the public through District communications and public meetings. Final approval of the measure rests with voters within the SistersCamp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District.

For more information, contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District at 541-549-0771.

Author event at Paulina Springs

Author Jane Hiatt will present “Deep Medicine for Trauma: 5 Powerful Treatments for Healing That Experts Have Overlooked” at Paulina Springs Books, on Thursday, February 19 at 6:30 p.m.

Transformational healer and hypnotherapist Jane Hiatt guides readers into the hidden territories where trauma actually lives—the subconscious—alleviating distress through five powerful, often overlooked treatments delivered within the container of hypnotherapy. Rather than a clinical manual or a personal memoir, this book reads like a sequence of riveting inner expeditions: real client journeys that move through developmental, prenatal, intergenerational, and even past-life wounds to reframe the stories that keep people stuck.

Hiatt brings more than three decades of practice (hypnotherapist since 1992; ordained Unity minister since 2015) to help readers identify the “story potions”—inherited beliefs, buried emotions, and protective patterns—that quietly shape a life. With compassion, imagery, and spiritual insight, she shows how the sacred and subconscious can meet to release pain and restore wholeness.

“Trauma changes our inner story,” Hiatt said. “When we enter the subconscious with love and curiosity, we can rewrite that story—and reclaim the brilliance that was never lost.”

Unlike traditional trauma books, “Deep Medicine for Trauma” is an accessible, page-turning read that blends gripping session narratives with practical tools. Through clear explanations and imaginative exercises, Hiatt makes complex inner work feel safe, understandable, and empowering.

Paulina Springs Books is

LETTERS

Continued from page 2

are relatively common species, but Oregon is home to many other, less common critters as well. Recent work by the state has shown a great number of our native species are declining. Habitat loss is the biggest threat, but vehicle impacts, poaching, wildfires, and displacement, are other reasons that certain species of wildlife may be having trouble. But the biggest of these is habitat loss and displacement.

Oregonians now have a great chance to change that: currently working its way through the legislature, again, is a bill that nearly passed last year. HB 4134 would add a 1.25 percent fee on lodging across the state (from the current $1.50 to $2.75). The money would then go towards funding work in habitat enhancement and species protection across the state. On $100 hotel room, an extra $1.25 charge won’t have much impact. Yes, there will be people who squawk “no new taxes!” However, a modest fee levied on visitors who come here to see nature and enjoy wildlife isn’t much to ask. It’s true that hunting and fishing license fees also go to support wildlife, as does an optional checkbox on our state income tax. None of these fees, however, would specifically target imperiled wildlife and enhancement of their critical habitats.

Please let our state representatives (Emerson Levy and Anthony Broadman) know, right now, that HB 4134 – 1.25 percent For Wildlife — is important to you! Wildlife across the state, and country, are having a hard time these days and this would go a long way towards making life easier on them. HB 4134 had strong bipartisan support last year but was shut down at the last minute by a procedural move. Let’s not let that happen again.

Scott R. Bowler

To the Editor:

s s s

Vote

Hello Citizens, I wanted to express the importance of voting. Please be sure you vote as it is the Voice of Democracy. It is a privilege and a Right. In Oregon we have mail in ballots. Please use a ballot drop box. One is at Sisters City Hall.

To find all ballot drop box sites go to Deschutes County site and there is a list of ballot box sites. To make sure you are registered to vote currently you can go to Oregon Secretary of

State site for voter registration and look under “my vote.” If you do not have internet , you can get help at any library and/ or Deschutes County offices in Bend. The U.S. Constitution begins with a 52-word introduction known as the Preamble. It starts with the words, “We the People of the United States, In order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure Domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

There was a reason our founders started it with those words. “We the People” signifies that the power of the government comes from its citizens, establishing the principle of self-government. Vote: it is the voice of democracy.

Vickki Hickmann s s s

Outrage response

To the Editor: Re: “Selective outrage” —To the writer of this letter to the editor: So what I get from your outrage is that people have a right to protest, vandalize buildings, cars, burning the same and obstruct law enforcement without impunity. If that is what you were implying then the January 6th protest falls into that category. Oh yeah and the Capitol Police officer that killed an unarmed Ashli Babbitt who was exercising her right to protest. Did you protest this? Sounds one sided and hypocritical wouldn’t you say?

I find it amusing when reading these letters to the editor regarding “saying part of having a life is to care about others and speak up.” Oh really! Well all of you must not really care about the murder of well over 100,000 in Nigeria because they are Christians.

Lets not forget the 30,000 to 40,000 killed just recently in Iran. Just to make this real, that amount is half the attendance at Levi’s Stadium for the Super Bowl. They were wiped out in less than a month.

I guess you don’t care about those people unless they were living in Gaza. Where are you and your signs marching around the Stallion? Does that make one a hypocrite?

Marvin Inman

— Forrest Bennett, SAC member since 2025

Cyrus will remain on Deschutes County Planning Commission

By Susan Cobb Correspondent

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) voted 2-1 on February 4 to reappoint Matt Cyrus to the Deschutes County Planning Commission.

Cyrus was recently unanimously voted to be chair by six members (one member was absent) of the County Planning Commission (CPC). Cyrus is also president of the County Farm Bureau, and had been appointed by County Commissioner Patti Adair to be a member of the District Mapping Advisory Board. The Cyrus family owns Aspen Lakes.

CPC Chair Cyrus represents the Sisters area, and his four-year term completes end of June. The other six commissioners’ terms also complete end of June but in varying years. Toni Williams represents South County into 2029, Kelsey Kelley represents Tumalo into 2027, and Jessica Kieras representing Redmond/Terrebonne will have served two four-year terms (hitting the eight-year limit) this coming June. For the Bend area there are two CPC representatives, Nathan Hovekamp serves into 2027 and Susan Altman serves into 2028. There is one at-large member, Mark Stockamp, serving into 2027.

Commissioner Tony DeBone gave a special thanks to Kieras for her eight years of service. BOCC Chair Phil Chang appreciated Kieras’ ability as a CPC Chair who listened to and “translated public requests into broad planning policy decisions.” Adair added her appreciation and noted she would make sure to find a cake to Kieras’ liking for a special last meeting event.

Two CPC members’ terms complete this year. One is to fill the Redmond/Terrebonne area, Kieras’ position, for which reappointment is not an option due to the maximum serving time of eight years. Therefore, filling this position requires the County to implement the recruitment process which has begun. Applicants

for the Redmond/Terrebonne position have until 4 p.m. on March 5 to apply. Interested parties can learn more at https://www.deschutes.org/cd/ page/planning-commission.

The BOCC had two options in filling Cyrus’ seat. The BOCC could decide the seat for the Sisters area should be open to recruitment — to which Cyrus could also apply or the BOCC could reappoint Cyrus to the seat.

Commissioner DeBone felt by reappointing Cyrus the CPC would have continuity; it aligns with the CPC members voting Cyrus in as their Chair, and DeBone saw no need to disrupt that. Commissioner Adair felt that the fact that the CPC recently unanimously voted Cyrus to be their Chair indicated Cyrus is a leader to reappoint.

BOCC Chair Chang noted that he has heard from members of the Sisters community that Cyrus does not represent them; several reportedly told Chang that Cyrus, “does not listen,” that he minimized public concerns for preserving habitats, forests, and water resources. Chang shared his opinion that Cyrus was spreading false information to the public, and the County had to implement new email rules because of Cyrus’ behavior.

In response to two issues raised during public comments related to emails to the county on February 3, Chang stated that Cyrus has back taxes and fees past due to the County, which is not model behavior for a representative of the County. The other issue raised was a concern that the composition of the CPC was out of compliance by having more than two members who represent the buying and selling or developing of real

estate. The current CPC composition has three associated with these fields.

County’s legal counsel spoke to House Bill 3136 which lifted such limits on commissions of over five members as of January 1. The County’s legal support would need to dig further into the details to find out whether the CPC was out of compliance

prior to January 1. The legal representative added that, “to the extent there is ambiguity or appearance of noncompliance,” it would be advisable to update the County procedural code.

Counsel also stated relative to Cyrus that Aspen Lakes has been built out for five years. Chang responded that Aspen Lakes has filed some land

use applications for more development in recent years. Counsel has research to complete, but advised that if the BOCC wants more than two from the real estate or development fields on the CPC, they should put their reasoning on record. When called to a vote by the BOCC, Cyrus was reappointed.

Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery offers surprises

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

Most readers will likely be surprised by this: There really isn’t a Wizard Falls. Yes, that one, the highly popular spot frequented by thousands of recreationists every year. Built in the late 1940s, the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery required diverting the Metolius River upstream to supply water for its rearing ponds, which left the natural 3.5-foot Wizard Falls dry except during full hatchery shutdowns for cleaning or maintenance.

A nearby rapid by Lower Bridge (Bridge 99) is often mistaken for the waterfall, but the true falls only flow when the hatchery is taken offline.

Originally constructed in 1947–1948 and upgraded over time, the hatchery maintains a rainbow trout broodstock that supplies the Deschutes subbasin and southeast Oregon. None of the fish enter the Metolius.

It incubates and rears kokanee salmon and rainbow trout to support recreational fisheries, and it raises spring Chinook and summer steelhead as part of a reintroduction program in the upper Deschutes Basin. On odd years the facility rears brook and cutthroat trout fingerlings for air-stocking, while kokanee is spawned remotely.

Luke Allen runs the hatchery. He also manages the Fall River hatchery south of Bend. Between the two there are 6.5 employees. He was born for the job.

“I grew up in Eastern Oregon and have hunted and fished my entire life. I was fortune enough that I had family that worked for ODFW so I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do at a young age,” he told The Nugget.

When asked what was the most rewarding part of his job, he said, “Living very rural and enjoy working outdoors and getting to work with fish every day. I have made great friends and worked with very talented people over the years that are passionate about resource.

“Have gotten to do some cool things like electrofishing, fishing for work, being on the helicopter ground crew for air stocking. Raising my kids at hatchery and getting to show them all the cool things we do. Having a flexible job where I can take time off if the fishing is hot or if the elk are bugling.”

It’s a lot of fish. Allen gave The Nugget the number for 2025. Rainbow trout — eggs taken: 1,400,000 from on-site broodstock. Direct stocking and transfers: 268,000 fish were stocked as legals and

fingerlings; 250,000 sublegal fish and fingerlings were transferred to other facilities and used for air stocking.

Some 389,125 fingerlings were reared as triploid legal - size trout for release into standing water bodies and to evaluate resistance to bacterial cold-water disease in the hatchery environment.

Some 3,000 fingerlings and 1,075 trophy trout were stocked as part of spawning and trophy programs.

The net rainbow output, combining stocked, transferred, and triploid production, yields about 911,200 fish derived from the broodstock egg take.

Kokanee — eggs taken off station: 350,000. Fingerlings stocked: 261,250. Sterile kokanee stocked: 32,000.

Other species produced and stocked are Lahontan cutthroat: 40,000 fingerlings. Summer steelhead: 100,000 smolts produced for acclimation. Tiger trout: 40,000 fingerlings. Brook trout: 30,000 fingerlings.

These production numbers support a mix of objectives: sustaining recreational fisheries, conducting disease-resistance research with triploid trout, supplying other hatcheries and air- stocking programs, and contributing to acclimation and reintroduction efforts for anadromous species.

The hatchery is open yearround. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. The best time to see Canada goose goslings is May through June.

The site offers a park-like setting with a display pond, interpretive signage, and a viewing platform over the settling pond. Group tours are available by advance arrangement.

Visitors can expect to see a variety of wildlife, including birds of prey, freshwater mammals, hoofed mammals, and wading birds, in addition to the hatchery fish.

ODFW operates 33

hatcheries, four separate rearing ponds, eight acclimation facilities, and nine adult trapping sites. Facilities vary widely in size and production. Combined, the hatcheries produce 40 million fish a year. Annual operating costs are

about $22.9 million, funded by a mix of federal, state, and other sources: $16.2 million from federal agencies, $3.1 million from state general funds, and $3.6 million from other sources such as license fees and contributions from power and water users.

High

Luckey’s

The

R

Sisters

Sisters

Sisters

Takoda’s

Three

Three

PET OF TH E WE EK

Humane Society of Central Oregon 541-382-3537

COMM UN IT Y AN NOUNCE ME NTS

Al ig ni ng Your Invest ment s with Your Va lues

Free edu cationa l c lass , u rsday, Febru ar y 19, at 6 to 7 p.m . i n Sisters . A rr ive at 5:45

p. m . for a f ree b u et d in ner, but a endees must R SV P to 541-549-18 66 , E dw ard Jones

o ce . L oc at ion a nd det ai ls wi l l be s ha red once you R SV P.

Topics: How to a lig n you r invest ment por tfol io w it h

sust ai nable c au ses; w hether

sust ai nable i nvesting c an

meet you r n ancia l goa ls , a nd more. P resented by K aren

Ka ss y, c ha rtered ret irement

professiona l cou nselor a nd na nc ia l adv isor w it h E dw ard

Jone s

Ar tist Ta lk : Colors of the Horse with Ki mr y Jelen Tuesday, Febr ua r y 17, 5:3 0 to 6:3 0 p.m . at t he P ine Meadow

Sisters Ga rden Club Mont hly Membersh ip

Sh rove Tuesday Pa ncake Supper

Meet ing Satu rd ay, Febru ar y 14, at 10 a.m . Door s open for hos pit al it y at 9:3 0 a .m . Car y s W il ki ns , fou nder of M ahon i a Gardens , wi l l d iscuss “ Tech niques for Hig h Deser t Gardeni ng.”

Meet ing loc at ion i s e Hub, 291 E . M ai n Ave. P ublic i s welcome. F or i nfo c al l 5 41-42062 39

Craf t & Connec t: The Joy of Photo Book s Satu rd ay, Febru ar y 21, f rom 10 a .m . to 12 p.m . at t he P ine

Tuesday, Febru ar y 17, 5 to 7 p. m . at t he Epi scopa l C hu rc h of Tra ns gu ration, 121 N Brook s Camp R d . O pen to the com mu nity. e menu includes bu ermil k a nd blueberr y panca kes , sau sage links , homemade applesauce, a va riet y of s yr ups , ora nge juice, milk , co ee, tea , a nd g lutenf ree panca kes by request . Cal l Ph i l w it h quest ion s at 5 41-2 807612

by a ent ion a nd ready to lear n w it h a l i le g uida nce.

If you’re looki ng for a f un, a ect ionate c ompa nion, B ee might be you r m atch!

— SPONSORED BY — and w il l bene t f rom lea sh traini ng. Bee’s mot ivated

!

Sisters Muse um is Reopen ing e Sisters M useu m (151 N Spruce St.) reopens on Friday, Febr ua r y 13 . O pen hou rs are Friday s & Sat urdays , 10 a.m . to 4 p.m . e museu m

i s f ree a nd o ers e xh ibit s on loca l h istor y a nd c ultu ra l ex periences for a l l age s . e ree Sisters H istorica l Soc iety

541-549-4151 & SUPPL Y

Free Lu nches for Seniors For t hose 6 0+, t he Cou nc il on A ging of C entra l O regon o er s a f un, no-cost soc ia l

lu nc 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

reserv at ion s needed . No-cost

Grab-N -G o lunche s t ake pl ace wee kly on Wed ne sd ay and u rsday, f rom 12:3 0 to 1 p. m . Cal l 5 41-797-9367.

Week ly Food Pa nt ry

COR E M arket , loc ated at 22 2 N. Trinit y Way i n Sisters

Ma rket h ou r s a re 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 , 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Si sters Com mu nit y C hu rc h, 13 0 0 W. McK en zie Hwy

Info: www.Fami lyKitc hen. org.

Free Pet Food

Need pet food for you r dog or c at? Cal l t he Furr y Friends

pet food b an k at 5 41-79740 2 3 to s chedule you r pic kup.

Located at 412 E . M ai n Ave., Ste . 4, beh ind e Nug get.

Kiwa nis Food Ba nk

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

Ra nc h Center for A rt s & Agricu lt ure, 6 8467 ree Creek s R d., Sisters . Color s of t he Hor se i s a proje c t t hat ex plore s hor ses t hrough color, appreciat ion, a nd l ived ex perience. Jelen w il l sha re how t he concept eme rged , w hy it m a ers , a nd how t he work i s mov ing for wa rd . i s t al k ma rk s t he r st public sha ri ng of t he project , o ered on t he night of t he Lun a r New Yea r, the Yea r of t he Fire Hor se. i s e vent i s f ree a nd open to t he public . R eg istrat ion i s requi red at www roundhou sefou nd at ion.org/ events/. For more i nfo c al l 5 4190 4- 070 0 or ema i l i nquiries@ roundhou sefou nd at ion.org.

i s seeki ng vol unteers to b ring its mi ssion to l ife . Museu m hosts , ma rket ing s upport , resea rc hers & wr iter s a re a l l needed . No pr ior museu m e xper ienc e i s requ ired – just a n i nterest i n loca l h istor y a nd a w illi ng ne ss to c ontr ibute a l i le t ime a nd energy. Contac t volunteer@ th reesis tershi stor ic al societ y. org.

Hang s @ The Hangar

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

A safe place to h ang for m iddle and h ig h school student s . Two certi ed adu lt volunteers a re present to help w it h homework, etc . Fol lowi ng t he school schedu le for c losu res . Contact jfol in @sisterschurch .com or 541-549-12 01 e xt .208

Song wr iters’ Sharing

Ci rcles — Su n. & Wed.

B e i n c reat ive com mu nity and be i ns pi red w hile sha ri ng songs, bei ng a g reat l istener, and prov id ing feedback. Second

Su nd ay of t he month, 6 to 8 p. m., ups ta ir s i n t he Sisters

Ar t Work s bui ld ing , 2 0 4 W

Ad am s Ave. SPE CI A L FOR

FE BRUA RY: Wed ne sd ay, Febr ua r y 11 at e Hub, 291 E . M ai n Ave., accessible grou nd- oor loc at ion . Free. Info: cal l/te x t 5 41-9 77-8494.

Ca lling Al l Submariners

Cent ra l O regon SubVet

Quar terly Mee ting w il l be

Su nd ay, Febru ar y 2 2 , 1 p.m at e A merica n L eg ion H al l, 70 4 S W 8t h St., R ed mond

Loca l due s a re due a nd oat

ch ri sten ing w il l h appen on

Satu rd ay, M arc h 7, i n B end.

Te x t only 5 41-527-5 48 4.

Craf t & Connec t u rsday, Febru ar y 12 , 3 to 5 p.m . at t he P ine Meadow Ra nc h Center for A rt s & Agricu lt ure, 6 8467 ree Creek s R oad i n Sisters . Bri ng

any sma l l projec t a nd mater ia ls you need to work a longside commun it y member s a nd enjoy conversat ion w it h fel low arti sts . i s e vent i s f ree a nd open to t he public . R eg istrat ion i s requi red at www roundhou sefou nd at ion.org/ events/. For more i nfo c al l 5 4190 4- 070 0 or ema i l i nquiries@ roundhou sefou nd at ion.org.

Serv ing Ou r Seniors: Senior Resource Fa ir Tuesday, Febru ar y 17, 12 to 2 p. m . at Sisters F ire H all, 3 01 S . E l m St . L ea r n w hat loc al resource s a re ava il able to help older r esidents of Sisters Countr y “age i n place.” 2 0+ orga nization s a nd ser vice prov ider s . Free admi ssion, ref resh ment s provided . V isit bit.ly/sos-fai r.

Meadow R anc h Center for Ar t s & A gr ic ultu re, 6 84 67 ree Creek s R d , Sisters

Joi n PMRCA A a nd t heir loca l photog raphy c ol lect ive, Li le R ad ic a l Fil m S hop, for a morning ded ic ated to t he joy of photo books . A l l a re welcome to bring one , or m any, of t heir f avor ite photog rapher’s books to s ha re or s imply come to brow se a nd enjoy. i s e vent i s open to a nyone w ho loves photog raphy, books , a nd t he ac t of sha ring c reat ive wor k, rega rd les s of e xper ienc e or sk il l level . i s e vent i s f ree a nd open to t he public . R eg istrat ion i s requi red at h ps:// roundhou sefou nd at ion.org/ events/. For more i nfo c al l 5 4190 4- 070 0 or ema i l i nquiries@ roundhou sefou nd at ion.org.

Check-In Ci rcle:

Come As You Are

A welcoming s pace to be seen and hea rd . e g roup fol lows a ser ies of simple c heck-i ns th at o er s tr uc ture w it hout pressu re a nd honest y w it hout perfor ma nce . Fir st a nd t hi rd Mond ay s . Nex t meeting sta rt s at 4 :3 0 p.m . on Febru ar y 16, at e Hub, 291 E . M ai n Ave. RS V P to M ic hael Gra nt at 503- 688-48 81

GO FISH Group Mond ay, Febru ar y 16 , at Sisters Commun it y C hu rc h at 7 p.m Spea ker Gar re Le sco w il l present “St il l Water S trateg ies or P roduct ive Ban k Fishi ng” For more i nfor mation c al l 5 41771-2211

s Fr id ay, Febru ar y 13, 12 to 2 p.m . Meeting R oom. Joi n t he meowg ic w it h t hi s tabletop role-pl ay ing game! Elementa r y school aged prog ra m.

Decodi ng the Ocea n: How Waves Form and Shape Ou r World Satu rd ay, Febru ar y 14, 11 a.m . to 12 noon . Com mu nity Room . Underst anding ocean waves, f rom t su n ami s to t ides and e very thing i n bet ween Adult program

SIST ER S- AR EA CH UR CH

A magical meeting

I met my husband, Matt, in a way that still feels quite magical to me.

At the time, we were living across the country from one another. I was in Vermont and he was in Southern California. About a month before we met, I had a vivid dream about a man I did not recognize. It left me confused. I was engaged to be married later that year, and yet something in me was stirring in a way I did not understand. I tried to ignore it and focus on the life I was building.

By Jillian Faldmo

A few weeks later, I traveled to San Diego to teach a Biofield Tuning class. Many people in Sisters know me as the woman with the tuning forks, and that weekend Matt walked into my classroom as a student. The moment I saw him, something shifted in my body. I felt a rush of energy, almost like my whole system lit up. I did not know why, and it made no sense at all.

As the weekend went on and we talked a little, I realized he was the man from my

dream. Despite the distance and the logistics, it felt clear that we were meant to find each other.

When I returned to Vermont, I made a very hard but honest and clear decision. I ended my engagement, not because I knew what would happen with Matt, but because I knew I was not meant to continue on the path I was on.

We started dating long distance, and five months later he came to Vermont. We packed up my things, got married, and moved to Southern California. I became a stepmom to his two wonderful daughters, which has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.

Almost nine years later, we have been living in Sisters for five years and have built a life here that we truly love. Our relationship has been tested, and it has not always been easy, but our love has stayed steady and strong. From the very beginning, it felt like coming home, and it still does.

A steadfast partner

By Steve Woodside

There are certain moments in life where time slows down, the aperture widens, and we find that we are both participant and quiet observer of an event, capturing every detail, and every sense at that time. Such was the case when my future wife, Marianne, poked her head down into our college apartment’s basement window to say hello

Kindness in Sisters

It can be easy to show love when life is uncomplicated and when time feels abundant. What is harder is showing up in moments of uncertainty and grief.

A few years ago near Valentine’s Day, my mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis. In the midst of shock and sorrow, she made a request: she wanted to gather our family together and celebrate a wedding with her incredible partner.

Planning a wedding ceremony on short notice is daunting under any circumstances, but trying to book a reception dinner on Valentine’s Day weekend felt nearly impossible. We reached out everywhere we could, expecting polite refusals and closed doors. What we did not expect was the resounding “yes” from the Rickards family.

By Laura Leis

compassion and care. They treated my mom with tenderness, transforming a bittersweet gathering into one filled with warmth, dignity, and light. I still remember the message they wrote on their chalkboard: “Let’s eat, drink, and celebrate the life we have together.”

True to their name, The Open Door, they opened their restaurant to us on their day off. Co-owner Julia cooked for us, and her daughter Emily served us at our table. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was not simply a business accommodating a request, it was a family showing up with

The Rickards family’s kindness did not end there. In the weeks that followed, they came by to drop off meals for our family; they showed quiet, steady acts of support that required nothing in return. We had little shared history beyond living in the same town, but that proved enough for them to extend their love. These gestures may have looked small on the surface, but they were enormous in meaning. They reminded me of what real community looks like.

We no longer have our mom with us, but my family will always have the memory of that day and the love that surrounded it. The Rickards family showed us that community is not just something we feel, it is something we do. I am so grateful for them, and for a town with people like this at its heart.

She had no reason to be there, no interest to be there, and yet came with her friend, who was friends with my roommate’s friend, who was visiting for the weekend. The particulars are of little importance.

While that moment was brief, later that night both girls came back to our apartment, after ditching a fraternity party, and they were quickly inaugurated into our apartment policy for firsttime visitors of having to watch the greatest movie ever made: “Valley Girl,” featuring Nicolas Cage. Soon, we found ourselves alone on the couch and talked while the movie played.

Technically, I was sort of dating someone off and on at the time, though it felt like we were both treating each other as placeholders until someone better came along. Stephen Chbosky’s line in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”

Marianne, I had always felt I deserved what came easily, not what was worth pursuing with everything I had. She was beautiful, of course, but also complicated, and worth a lifetime of trying to figure out. A sorority girl, of modest means, working multiple jobs to pay for school because her parents and a former roommate had let her down. One of only a few women pursuing a Forestry minor to go along with her International Business degree. I was anti-Greek, attending school on an athletic scholarship, with no other ambitions in life other than to want to get to know her better. Note: watch the movie “Valley Girl.”

Forty years, eight countries, and more than 20 moves later, I’ve only begun to understand her depths. She continues to evolve, growing wiser, kinder, more extraordinary with every season. Marianne didn’t merely alter my life’s path; through her commitment to ministry, she has touched and uplifted thousands of children worldwide, spreading love on a scale I never imagined.

She remains the love of my life, my steadfast partner in every adventure. In her, I found not just romance, but the kind of love that challenges you to become better,

LOVE STORIES

This is love

Looking at an old photograph of us as a young couple, it doesn’t seem possible that it’s Gary and me. It’s evening; the sunlight is shining on our thick dark hair. We’re beaming as we look confidently into the camera at a party in the backyard of my parent’s home in 1990. We’re dressed for a summer evening, looking blissfully happy.

I was 29, and Gary was 36. Because we’d kissed a lot of frogs, when we met on San Geronimo golf course in Marin County, we recognized each other as something different. First, we became friends in a casual, comfortable kind of way. For a year, Gary’s job as a flight engineer, had him flying to New Zealand with NASA shuttling scientists high into the sky to study the stars from a giant telescope built into the C-141’s fuselage. Gary had a sometimes sweetheart in New Zealand and I was in a relationship I knew needed to end. We weren’t romantically available to each other, but we felt an exciting possibility just beyond the horizon.

By Katy Yoder

relationships, we met up for a golf game with friends at Castlewood in Pleasanton. I hadn’t told Gary I’d ended my relationship and neither had he. Without saying a word, we both knew things had changed. We began to date and quickly decided there was no reason to wait. We were engaged in three months and married six months later. Walking down the aisle of the little white church in Walnut Creek, I knew I was marrying the right man… no doubts, no regrets, just pure joy.

support made all the difference, once again reminding me what a loving partner he has always been. When my hair began to fall out and my scalp hurt with every touch, he carefully shaved my head, so the remaining tiny nubs of hair didn’t get in my eyes when they fell on my pillow. I have a photograph taken through the mirror in our bathroom as Gary applied shaving cream and carefully removed the hair on the back of my head. In that moment, I remember thinking… this is love!

When we broke off our

That day, January 5 in 1991, was over 35 years ago. Two years after we married, we moved 500 miles away from our home in California and raised our precious daughter near my parents. We never grew tired of watching the Cascade Range’s magnificent cavalcade of clouds and vibrant colors.

Over those 35 years, we’ve cleaved onto each other during the passing of loved ones, challenges at work, and in 2013, my diagnosis with breast cancer. As the experience unfolded Gary’s love and steadfast

There have been more moments like that than I can count. Precious snippets of a married life that bind us together with unbreakable thread. It has been the hardest moments that revealed the fact that no matter what, we are there to support each other.

Looking at that old photograph with our smiles, fit bodies and comfortable closeness, it’s easy to look back and long for what was. We’re older, slower and have scars to prove we’ve been through a few damaging moments. As we age, and transition to a new way

of being together, I’m grateful every day for knowing, until we take our last breaths, we have each other to get through whatever may come.

During our morning routine, I sip coffee Gary has made before my feet touch the floor. I hear the clicking of our dog’s toenails upstairs. When I rise and look out the window, I watch Gary walking to the barn to throw hay and feed a slice of bread to our ten-year-old hens, Taylor and Reba. I watch our black poodles, Beau and Obi, race ahead of Gary, then tear

back for pets before roaring around in the Sagebrush jumping over bushes and kicking up dust.

This is love. The patterns we’ve drawn from repetition and consistency. I see Gary turn left and walk to my mother’s house, where he waits for her poodle, Coco to come out for her morning constitutional. He greets Coco with pets then walks to mom’s door to say, “Good morning.” Through love we’ve created a cherished life. For that I’ll always be grateful.

Lemon Juice Love By LD

A spark, faintly glowing

Cradled between the tender of letters

Carefully carried out of sight.

Little ember,

If you breathe–

What will be left

Of the familiar warmth?

Built over all these years

Will you blow

Into the recess?

Where smoke rises

And blinds draw

Out this fantasy.

Where silhouettes dance

On the walls

Of this house,

We all used to visit.

Only to become

Covered in soot.

To steal a flame

And write a secret

Only two souls can know

Is to write about

Love in lemon juice

On a page

That burns itself.

Poetry Corner

Valentine Edition

What’s Happened!!!

By Edie Jones

You feel the rush of tingling in your fingers and your toes. Your heart takes a double cartwheel as the tingling grows and grows. What’s happened to your knees as they wobble back and forth?

Why confused, and muddled, where is South and where is North?

What has overtaken your decisions and your thoughts, as you struggle to make sense of this bug that you have caught?

Not to worry – it’s okay – It may go, or it may stay.

You’re head over heels in love, in whom I do not know.

Just relish this new feeling, enjoy, and go slow.

Who knows what will happen as you decide what to do.

On blustery breezes when the birds on the beaches

Begin to bed down in the branches of treeses

You might be aware of barely audible babble

That bubbles up from the bay’s backwater rabble.

For beneath the billowing waves of the shore

Baritone barnacles beat out a score.

Then beta fish and blue snails join in the band And belt out the ballad of their beloved brigand.

“Beware! This barracuda, the bane of the deep,

A backstroking barbarian that made bonny Bess

It’s Barnacle Bart, the black-hearted bore,

Who beguiled every beauty along the sea floor.

Perhaps Cupid will shoot an arrow, and they’ll fall in love with you.

That Day By The River By LD

We followed the irrigation pipe

Jumping over the welds

And concrete corners

Ignored time and place

That day we kicked off our shoes

Waded out to an island

And let our feet

Float in the water

That day

We didn’t care

You weren’t married I wasn’t me

That day we talked And talked and talked Opened each other’s souls

Without looking away That day

If we glanced down

We’d see our feet

Had left the ground

He was brash and a braggart, a bristly brute,

This belligerent bandit with only one boot.

The blight of the barges rode a boat through the Buckled onto the bulge of the bilge like a vine.

The boat came to bask midst boulders and backwashes

In a benevolent berth in the barrier reef mosses.

Bart bathed in the briny sea blithely and brisk

And binged on its bountiful bacterium bisque.

Together with his bedraggled bedlam of buddies

He brawled at the sand bar, beating all of the guppies.

They blurted out blarney, bellowed and booed

‘Til the bewildered bartender banished the bulk of

From Sisters

Daniel Boone once said: “All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse — and a good wife.”

Now, you can’t argue with a Frontier Partisan authority of the stature of Daniel Boone. He was in a position to know, after all, having put Rebecca Boone through the trials and tribulations of separation (Boone put the long in “long hunter”), multiple moves to wild country, and the loss of two sons to violent encounters with Indians. He well knew that it was she who held it all together…

The good wife

The horse days are long behind us now, but the other two legs of that three-legged stool are well in place, for which I am profoundly grateful.

asked him who the dude in the hat was...

By Jim Cornelius

several of them. She kinda likes that stuff. By way of illustration, an anecdote:

PHOTO BY JAROD GATLEY

My Sisters Valentine

By Tahni Hamilton

Marilyn and I have been married for going on 33 years. We met when she was working at the Southern California printing firm where my brother was a hotshot salesman. I came in to have lunch with him, and she

A few days later, John mentioned this particular young lady and swore that he wasn’t trying to set me up, but... Well played, John. Turned out this adventurous lass had just returned from running off to Alaska for a few years. She loved the outdoors and music and it was clear we were most simpatico. And we both had a handful of country song-material relationships in our romantic histories, and were ready for something with a little staying power. And we found it. My

appreciation for her grows on the daily. She’s the most resilient person I know, wise and funny — and for whatever reason, she “gets” me and my arcane enthusiasms. Music moves her profoundly; you know a song is connecting when it finds her crying in the kitchen. She indulges my fascination with obscure historical things, and is gentle in suggestions that I might want to organize my piles of books and put them on, like, actual book shelves. As far as the Boone Triad goes, she was more the horse person than I, but she understands the importance of a good gun. Or, ummm...

Someone said somewhere that if your girlfriend or wife will watch “Strike Back” with you, she’s a keeper. Lo, these many years ago, I brought home the DVD of Season 1 of that juicy chunk of pulpy goodness, and we fired up the first scene, with Michael Stonebridge leading an assault team into a warehouse in Lahore, Pakistan, to rescue a kidnapped John Porter. The suppressed H&K MP5A3s went pew-pew! and Marilyn went:

Like most good love stories, this one took time. It started with years of pit stops at Three Creeks on the way to Bend. Airbnbs as basecamps for McKenzie Pass rides. Late-night real estate scrolling and rechecking bank accounts in hopes the stars would align.

In November 2023, we put a ring on it. The “certificate” was a title to a little cabin on five acres behind the golf course.

“What is that? Can we get one? I WANT ONE!”

I know. Be still my heart. Seriously, though, to walk with someone through life, to share adventures and Story — as well as the day-to-day, with all of the good times and bad times… that is a rare blessing, and I do not let a day go by without expressing my gratitude to have been so blessed.

Then, in shimmering sunset a sequined sparkly queen,

Sweet Stella the Starfish, came onto the scene.

She stuck to the skiff and surveyed the sleek starboard, Spying the scrumptiously succulent sushi it harbored.

Stella’s superlative splendor seduced all psychology And blindly, Bart bypassed his brain and basic biology.

Bewildered and befuddled beamed our poor star-struck Bart And bestowed on his bicultural beloved his bleeding heart.

“I’m completely bewitched, Oh beauteous babe!

May I be your beau and you be my maid?”

With benign benediction, he begged and he bartered And batted his curly foot cirri to charm her.

beaches rabble. weep.” brine backwashes guppies. of the brood.

Sweet Stella the Starfish, so subtle and stoic, Swept swiftly on by him, scorning salutations heroic. She couldn’t be bothered by his burly bravado, While her stomach surmised a satisfying scenario.

The sea star on suction cups slithered to swallow, The savory shellfish, a smorgasbord in the shallows. She smiled and stretched to straddle the spread And slurp up surrounding sealings squeamish with dread.

But, just as she scooted to suck up the sailor, A seagull came soaring, a starfish to savor.

“Be gone, you bad bird!” bellowed Barnacle Bart And baffled the beast with his bodacious bark.

To save his sweet Stella, Bart brandished his barbed lance And bruised the bird’s beak, thus breaking its balance. Into the swells of the sandy surf the bird sank, Then, sputtering, surfaced and scurried to the bank.

Surprised she survived the seagull’s swift bite, Sweet Stella sang sprightly of her savior’s superb strike. Suddenly smitten by the selfless sacrifice of this scamp, She serenaded his brilliance and beckoned him to dance.

By breakfast, Bart became a bonafide bridegroom Betrothed to a starfish; they’re on top of the moon.

A barrage of barbed babies they sent into the bracken

To bestow a bevy of blessings on all of the kracken.

So, listen to this story and beware of its scandal, Barnacles don’t budge while starfish tend to scramble.

Besides all the balderdash of sentimental sympathy, When marrying your enemy, shower lots of chivalry.

We came with open hearts and a simple goal each visit: try a new restaurant, support a nonprofit, buy local, walk a new trail. Soon we were here more than we expected— even transferring all our ACE Hardware rewards to the Sisters location. Somewhere along the way, we realized this wasn’t where we came to escape Portland, it was home. There wasn’t one defining moment in our relationship. There were dozens. A snowplow driver answering my wild armwaving, clearing our driveway, and accepting only a protein bar. The owner of Home Styled offering pickup keys so I could haul a Habitat for Humanity treasure. Sinclair gas station treats slipped to two already-spoiled dogs. A side chat with Meghan at trivia turning into a birthday surprise. Handmade welcome coasters from Mountain View Ranch Vintage shop. A bike repair at EuroSports done with care, not a sales pitch. Neighbors sending weather reports and wildlife photos. Practical, kind advice about fire insurance from folks at Sisters Forest Products. Deep friendship born from a Facebook Marketplace meet-up. Sure, we’ve had bumps. I’m still not fond of my Highway 20 speeding ticket — but I respect the sheriff.

Around me

By Jess Draper

Like a scarf in the breeze

The real turning point came during evacuation for the Flat Fire. Neighbors, firefighters, strangers — the whole community — showed us how to hold gratitude and uncertainty at the same time. A life lesson that stays.

Your love wraps around me

Not too tight, gentle, just right

Close enough to breathe you in

Yet there is space for the wind

No matter how strong it may blow wrapped in your love, steady I go

Until our Portland commitments fully wind down, life keeps us in a long-distance relationship. But our hearts live somewhere between the two roundabouts.

Thank you for the generosity, the decency, and the way this town quietly teaches people how to belong.

Sisters High School students develop financial literacy

By Bill Bartlett Correspondent

More than 50 students took part in a Bite of Reality Financial Literacy Workshop at the high school last week. Over a two-period time slot in the library they applied digital tools in balancing budgets and making real-life choices.

The largely app-driven experience was aided by representatives from the City of Sisters, the Sisters Rotary Foundation, Oregon Community Credit Union, and the High Desert ESD who volunteered to play merchant roles that day.

“It was a fun and interactive event where the students stretched their financial decision-making muscles and get to hear wisdom and tips from our community leaders during the debrief,” said Rachel Shultz, Community Engagement Specialist for MOCU (Mid Oregon Credit Union) who sponsored and produced the event.

Sisters is the fifth setting for the popular MOCU event. The simulation supports and reinforces several of the requirements included in Oregon Senate Bill 3 for Personal Financial Education.

Each student receives an occupation, income, partner or single parent role, children, credit score, medical cost, and debt. The student then moves between merchant booths purchasing monthly necessities, including housing, transportation, groceries, childcare, and lifestyle preferences.

They also navigate financial surprises such as medical emergencies, surprise bills, and cash windfalls. When students overspend, they must return items or adjust their lifestyle to compensate.

The students themselves spoke enthusiastically and appreciatively of the experience. “I would recommend this activity to future students because it provides a realistic and engaging experience about managing your finances. It encourages responsible money management skills,” said sophomore Efrain Gonzalez.

“This is a good way to understand spending, debt, credit cards, along with understanding what matters to you. The biggest thing I would change immediately is how spontaneous I am about spending my money,” added sophomore Elizabeth Beaver. Sophomore Bennitt Hayes gave emphasis: “This simulation helped me realize how much things cost and why you might want to save money. I also learned a lot about building up a good credit score.”

Junior Grant Roberson

shared his reaction: “This helped me understand how important it is to track my purchases and not spend without really thinking about it. Eating out is also really expensive and I probably need to stop. It made me think about what life might be like as an adult and how to budget.”

There were five domains of learning: Credit and Debt; Banking, Investment, Saving and Repayment; Budgeting, Spending and Money Management; Personal Income, Taxes and Services; and Maintaining Financial Well-Being.

“Helping young people build strong money habits early is one of the most impactful ways credit unions invest in their communities. Building a solid foundation in financial literacy can shape a person’s future — influencing everything from career choices to long-term financial well-being,” said Alyse Knudsen of GoWest Foundation.

“By meeting students where they are — and making financial literacy feel relevant and real — credit unions are helping young people gain the confidence and knowledge to take control of their financial futures.”

Practice focuses on women’s health in Sisters

By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief

Navigating perimenopause and menopause can be challenging. Tracy Erfling, ND, has launched Sisters Womens Health to provide guidance and collaborative care through the transition.

“Dr. Tracy,” as she is often called, brings deep experience to bear in her practice. She received her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2000, after studying biology and chemistry at Willamette University. She practiced from 2000-2021, working with health and hormones, in Astoria, before making the move to Sisters. She has also worked in public health.

She is well versed in conventional modalities of care, along with nutritional supplements and diet with the goal of treating the whole person with the least invasive, most

natural methods possible.

“Any time women are going through a transitional phase in their life, there are things to look at around hormones that can make the transition smoother,” she told The Nugget. “We know so much more about using hormones to help with transitions than we did even in medical schools [previously].”

The challenges of menopause are different for each individual, which puts a premium on real engagement with patients.

“I think I’m really well versed in collaborative care,” Erfling said.

Sisters Womens Health is a cash practice, which alleviates pressure to move patients through quickly, and facilitates Dr. Tracy’s desire to really listen to and engage with her patients.

She offers testing options to determine status regarding hormones, nutrition, and basic health markers. She encourages women who

are not in perimenopause or menopause to “think ahead to what is coming,” and “think about ways to nurture healthy aging.”

She finds the Sisters community very receptive to those efforts.

“People are really taking care of themselves,” she said. Sisters Womens Health, which is part of the Sisters Wellness Collective,

offers telehealth services, which Erfling finds valuable. However, she notes, “I’m finding that people in Sisters really want to see me face-to-face.”

Those interested can sign up for an initial consultation at https://www.sisters womenshealth.com. The website offers extensive information about perimenopause and menopause, and the range of approaches that can be taken to work with each woman’s particular needs.

Dr. Tracy is excited about opening this chapter in her medical practice in a community that is receptive and welcoming. Erfling has always been drawn to Central Oregon.

“I grew up in Boulder, Colorado, and Central Oregon has always really spoken to me,” she told The Nugget. “Living on the coast is great, but I really prefer the mountains — so that’s what drew me here.”

The move was facilitated by inheriting a home in Tollgate built by her husband’s grandfather. For more information, visit https://www.sisters womenshealth.com.

Sat., Feb. 21 • 7 p.m. AN EVENING OF AL OHA

Bill Ke ale & F riends Bugs • Kurt Silva • Hokulea Ohana Dancers Aloha show before Bill Keale returns to Hawaii after 30 years in Bend. bendticket.com...$22.94

Thurs., Feb 26 • 7 p.m. Brothers Ree d Their style evokes fingerpickingfolk singersofthe60sand70s with a contemporaryandboundlessedge bendticket.com...$2080

WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 11

The Belfr y Live Music: Gadan — blending Irish and bluegrass music with folk and Appalachian. 7 p.m. Presented by SFF Presents. Tickets: aftontickets.com/gadan.

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 • FEBRUARY 12

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

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tom Nechville & Linda Leavitt "Handpicked Series," 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Lazy Z Ranch Wines Sip & Sketch: Partner Sketch 6 to 8 p.m. A playful “draw your date” night with Sisters Art Station (no art skills required). Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Brian Trapp presents "Range of Motion." 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 13

Lazy Z Ranch Wines GALentine's Day! 5 to 8 p.m. Grab your besties for Galentine’s Day Friendship Flights and chocolate pairings. Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa 6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

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

SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 14

Lazy Z Ranch Wines Valentine's Pairing Dinner 4 to 8 p.m. Gourmet charcuterie board for two, desserts, curated drink pairings, and a romantic atmosphere with the best views in Central Oregon. Reservations recommended, but not required, 541-588-5299 Info: www.lazyzranch.com/events.

SATURDAY • FEB. 14 (cont.)

Frankie's in Sisters Music & Connection: New Friends & Neighbors 5 to 9 p.m. Meet new people for a relaxed evening of connection. Generous grazing table beer or wine, and live music 5:30 to 7 p.m., then karaoke 7:30 to 9. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • FEBRUARY 15

Famille Lounge Live Music: Scott Johnson & Bob Baker 5 to 7 p.m. Bend's premier jazz guitarist and Sisters' favorite violinist playing jazz manouche and standards. 21-and-over event; 370 E. Cascade Ave. Paulina Springs Books Sunday Scrabble 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Play Scrabble socialize, and drink coffee. Info: www.paulinaspringsbooks.com.

MONDAY • FEBRUARY 16

Frankie's in Sisters Cooking Class: Soup –Dips & Spreads We Love 12 to 3 p.m. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 17

The Belfr y Frontiers in Science Lecture Series: “Genetic Engineering and Gene Therapy" by Dr Eric Schuur presented by Sisters Science Club Social hour begins at 6 p.m., lecture at 7 p.m. Adults $5 at the door; teachers and students free Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Trivia 6 to 8 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. Episcopal Church of Transfiguration Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5–7 p.m. Suggested donation: adults, $5; children under 12, $3; family of 4, $12; children under 4, free

WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 18

Suttle Lodge Live Music: Dirty Jazz Come hang and listen to jazz with Wolfe House records 6 to 8 p.m. $15, or free for Suttle guests Info: www thesuttlelodge.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).

FEBRUARY AT FRANKIE’S Mediterranean-inspired, scratch-made food. Craft cock tails. Live music. Private events

Upstairs in the speakeasy – main dining room closed in Februar y. Groups of 15+ welcome in the main dining room with custom prix-fixe menus Enjoy our full menu and to- go options (order online). Check out all our events at frankiesinsisters.com. 541-90 4-4660 250 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters info@sistersdepot.com

Wed., April 1 • 7 p.m. Vanessa Collier Award-winningpowerhouse of modern blues—amagneticblendofsaxophone soulful vocals,andunstoppableenergy bendticket.com...$28.29

Pub opens 30 minutes prior to shows 302 E. Main | BelfryEvents.com

SISTERS-AREA EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY • FEB. 18 (cont.)

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

THURSDAY • FEBRUARY 19

Lazy Z Ranch Wines BYO Vinyl Night 5 to 8 p.m. Bring your favorite records — we’ll spin guest picks in a cozy listening-lounge vibe Info:www.lazyzranch.com/events.

Paulina Springs Books Author reading: Jane Hiatt presents "Deep Medicine for Trauma: 5 Powerful Treatments for Healing That Experts Have Overlooked." 6:30 p.m. Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 20

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114. Frankie's in Sisters Live Music: Tony Lompa 6 to 8 p.m. No cover! Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave. Paulina Springs Books Magic: The Gathering nights Booster Draft at 5 p.m. $20 Info: paulinaspringsbooks.com.

SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 21

The Belfr y An Evening of Aloha: Bill Keale & Friends (Bugs, Kurt Silva, Hokulea Ohana Dancers) 7 p.m. Aloha show before Bill Keale returns to Hawaii after 30 years in Bend. Tickets, BendTicket.com.

Hardtails Outlaw Countr y Dive Bar & Grill Karaoke 9 p.m. Information call 541-549-6114.

SUNDAY • FEBRUARY 22

Sisters Fire Hall Fireside Series: "John C. Fremont Slept Here" by Loren Irving, historian and photographer who has traversed our state documenting the path of the 2nd John Fremont Expedition as it came through Oregon in 1843. Presented by Three Sisters Historical Society. 2 p.m., doors open at 1 p.m. $10 at the door Info: 541-610-6323

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

MONDAY • FEBRUARY 23

Frankie's Cooking Class: Fondue & Raclette Fondue and raclette may sound fancy, but at their heart they’re about sharing food, slowing down, and gathering around the table 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets: frankiesinsisters.com. Upstairs at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 24

Sisters Saloon Bingo Night 5:30 p.m., upstairs, BINGO supporting Sisters GRO Foundation. Info: 541-549-7427

STA: Volunteer trail stewards help maintain experience

the charge to perfect the surface of the popular Overlook trail, conducting endless tests of various clay and fine gravel combinations to create smooth travel for wheelchairs and baby strollers. He built the signboards in his woodshop, and manages the trail stewards group, sharing their reports with the Forest Service and trail crews.

Walking the trails is a pretty nice part of the job but STA has been there for the less pleasant parts as well. They funded a temporary toilet for the Overlook for four years which helped the Forest Service secure funding to build the accessible toilet that serves today.

After early years of trailside garbage and abandoned dog poop bags the stewards presence has made a huge difference. Guttormsen explained, “People are very respectful of the whole area, even in the parking lot of the Overlook Loop, you rarely see any kind of trash on the ground. And, of course, we pick it up, if we do see something. It’s really heartening to see a place that is being loved so much and used so much by both locals and visitors that is really holding up well. It’s pretty amazing really.”

In 2024, with a focus on accessibility for everyone, STA also obtained grants and managed a complicated modification of the Overlook to improve visibility for wheelchair users and children

while maintaining user safety on the cliffside. It turned out beautifully and has been much appreciated.

Currently there are nine volunteers that wear a vest identifying them as a STA Trail Steward, with their name, and the Wild and Scenic River Logo. “People just go overboard, thanking us for everything we’re doing, making the trail so nice. We rarely have any problem at all up there,” Guttormsen said.

The Wild and Scenic River Plan requires monitoring to ensure people’s experience is maintained at prescribed levels as use grows. Besides being an outdoor enthusiast Guttormsen is technically skilled and has worked to install and tend sophisticated trail counters funded by STA. He analyzes and supplies this data to the Forest Service. For example, peak use in 2025 was in June and July from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Average daily totals on the north Overlook loop have increased in the past two years from 44 to 52 people per day.

During the recent extended government shutdown STA was one of many partners that had the Forest Service’s back. They checked and cleaned the Overlook toilet, even restocking toilet paper until other arrangements were made.

Stephanie Presley has served as the executive director of STA for almost 2 years. With a background in natural resource management and social psychology she understands that land management issues require many hands. “It’s all about collaboration

and cooperation with our many partners and community stakeholders to accomplish similar goals. Our community is fortunate to have partners at the Sisters Ranger District who balance recreational use with other natural and cultural resources on public lands. Working with the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife, and other nonprofit trail groups, STA volunteers have filled the gap created by funding and staffing cuts at the federal level over many years. Exceptional volunteers like Gary and the Whychus Trail Stewards, STA sawyers, and trail maintenance crews have helped to make Sisters Country an amazing place to live and recreate for everyone.”

Next time you are out enjoying the Whychus trails with friends and family keep an eye out for STA volunteers and give them a thank you for a job well done. To learn more about STA, contribute to their efforts, or volunteer for one of their many teams or committees, visit https:// sisterstrails.org/.

Maret Pajutee is a retired Forest Service specialist who served as team leader for the Whychus Wild and Scenic River Management Plan.

SISTERS IN 2031:

Growth will challenge community

Continued from page 1

within the UGB expansion moves forward. Historically, Sisters residents have balked at measures that could alter the character of our town.

“For example, like many, I am conflicted about increasing building heights; however, the growing pressure to provide affordable housing through additional apartments may become compelling. Notably, a fourth floor of apartment homes would cost approximately half as much to construct as the three floors below. These are precisely the kinds of tradeoffs that Sisters residents, the Planning Commission, and the City Council will be compelled to contemplate.

“Currently, our partnership with Sisters Habitat for Humanity is slated to deliver 31 additional affordable homes to the Sisters community within the next 18 months. With UGB expansion, our goal would be to add another 40 or more homes to the affordable housing pool by 2031.

“Similarly, Northwest Housing Alternatives’ Trinity Place project — consisting of 40 affordable apartments – is underway, and given the organization’s strong track record of providing affordable housing throughout

Oregon, I am optimistic that UGB expansion will create an opportunity for NHA to pursue a similar or largerscale project in Sisters by 2031.

“Growth is a challenge for any community — balancing access and opportunity for those of us fortunate to call this town home, as well as for those who, like many of us once did, hope to relocate here. We don’t always agree, but our track record of thoughtful, respectful debate will guide us toward positive outcomes, provided we continue to engage one another with grace.”

Public Works types tend to see things more concretely. After all, they can’t wait until folks get here; they have to be ready with enough water, electricity, sewers, streets, and sidewalks.

Bill Kelly is chair of the volunteer City of Sisters Public Works Advisory Committee and talks about Sisters 2031 this way: “As Sisters plans for the next five years, it’s great to see infrastructure projects that match our growth expectations and are built with the community we cherish in mind. When it comes to transportation, projects like the US 20/126 roundabout and intersection upgrades, the completion of Barclay Drive with a three-lane cross section and 10-foot sidewalks, and new multi-use paths on South Elm Street and Camp Polk Road will make our roads safer and

easier to navigate, while also encouraging walking and biking. Plus, we’re adding more pedestrian improvements, like RRFB crossings on North Locust at Black Butte, and making CET transit services better with improved schedules and maybe even connections to other areas. This shows that we’re focusing on people and keeping Sisters’ small-town charm.

“It’s also important to invest in our main utilities. We’re building a new 2.2-million-gallon water reservoir, adding a 16-inch transmission main to the reservoirs, working on projects to make our systems more resilient, building new wastewater pump stations, updating the treatment plant, and improving the Lazy Z Wetlands effluent. All of these things will help us be more reliable and take better care of the environment.

“Finally, planning for a new Northwest Park and more green spaces shows how much we care about making our town a great place to live. This growth is thoughtful and well-planned, showing that we’re taking care of Sisters now and in the future.”

In next week’s 2031 installment we will get a picture of public safety.

Sisters Country birds

By Douglas Beall Correspondent

As the seasons change from the warm leaves of autumn to the leafless branches of winter, the Darkeyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) comes down from their mountain breeding area to feed in the towns and farmland of Central Oregon. Jumping and hopping along the ground with a flash of white on their tale which may distract predators. They pick seeds and insects off the ground while chirping and occasionally snipping at other Juncos. This diverse bird displays numerous combinations of eye and feather colourations. There are 15 specified races with the most common in our area being the pinkbilled Oregon Junco. The female and male Junco weave their nest using fine grasses

and rootlets on higher altitude forest floors and lay 3-6 blue and gray speckled eggs. Incubation lasts only 12-13 days and the young exit the nest in 10-13 days. and enjoy a life span of 3-11 years.

Unique to the Junco are the white outside tail feathers which flash as they fly, warning others in the flock of possible dangers. Our local Juncos have slightly shorter wings than Juncos that migrate long distances. A group of Juncos are known as a “ubiquity,” a “crew,” a “flutter,” or a “quarrel.” To enjoy the small things and more Junco images visithttp://abirdsingsbecauseithas asong.com/.

Oregon bill takes on spec ticketing

By Mia Maldonado Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill to ban resellers or people affiliated with resellers from offering event tickets they don’t actually have, unless they have a written contract to obtain the ticket from an initial sale.

House Bill 4024, which has bipartisan support, comes as states including Maryland, Minnesota and Maine in recent years passed restrictions on speculative tickets while many other states have introduced legislation to prohibit the practice.

Bill sponsor Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, told lawmakers on the House Commerce and Consumer Protection committee this week that she’s heard countless stories of Oregonians unknowingly buying fake tickets.

“Someone in my district paid $3,000 for two tickets to see Willie Nelson at the Britt,” she said, referring to a hillside venue in Jacksonville. “They turned out to be speculative. Up north, a Portland resident spent $446 for tickets purchased through a reseller to see a live performance of ‘Wicked.’ When she arrived at Keller Auditorium, people with the real tickets were already in those seats.”

Several arts and culture venue managers testified in favor of the bill, telling lawmakers that within hours of announcing an event there are usually online listings for tickets that haven’t yet been made available, and online platforms often use language suggesting ticket scarcity and listing them at prices much higher than the actual price.

“This deceptive practice happens for every single show we announce at the venue,” said Marney Smith, an owner and general manager of Hayden Homes Amphitheater, a popular Bend venue.

The bill advanced on a 7-3 committee vote Thursday and is headed to the full Oregon House for a vote.

Republished under Creative Commons license

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, courtesy https://oregoncapital chronicle.com/.

LETTERS

Continued from page 7

To the Editor:

s s s

Patti Adair

Many years ago, I voted for Patti Adair for Deschutes County Commissioner. She took positions that I supported. Then, after she was elected, she flip-flopped, proving that she was in the pocket of special interests. She has been so until the present day.

Adair moved to Oregon from California and apparently believed she could have her way with the Deschutes County rubes who were not paying attention. The uncharitable might call her a “carpetbagger.” Having steadfastly voted against measures that would have benefited most of the people in the county, she knows her future election prospects are dim.

Thus, she wishes to rig the election by trying to gerrymander the county in her favor. She says she may run for our Congressional seat if she gets Trump’s endorsement. I hope so. She will be blown out, perhaps back to California.

Gary Leiser

To the Editor:

s s s

Lyin’ King

The video posted by the president of the United States depicting the Obamas as apes is completely in character and indicative of the warped mindset of Donald Trump, the megalomaniac. Makes you wonder, what did this pathetic man miss out on in childhood?

But I must say, posturing as king of the jungle in the video did hit one note perfectly — Donald Trump is a cartoon character. He just doesn’t understand his place — he is not the Lion King, he’s the Lyin’ King.

Kevin Staham

To the Editor:

s s s

Thank you

As we begin this new year, I’ve been reflecting on how grateful I am for this community — and for your trust in Seed to Table Oregon throughout 2025. Your support carried us to our fundraising goal, and more importantly, it positioned us to

look ahead with hope, confidence, and purpose.

Because of you, we are starting 2026 with momentum — ready to deepen our impact, strengthen our farm, and continue growing a place where children learn from the land, a place where neighbors share fresh food, and a place where people feel truly connected at the Sisters Farmers Market.

What means the most to me isn’t only the dollars raised, but the belief behind them — belief in our educators, our farmers, our partners, and in what a small, community-based farm in Sisters can become in the years ahead. That shared belief is what allows us to dream bigger, plan thoughtfully, and build something that will outlast any one season.

This year, our focus is on growing what lasts. For us, that means investing in healthy soil, resilient systems, and strong relationships that will sustain our community for generations to come. It means continuing to welcome new learners, new partners, and new neighbors to the farm — and creating more opportunities for people to experience the power of growing and sharing food together.

Thank you for walking this path with us. With your partnership, Seed to Table will continue to be a place where learning, nourishment, and belonging take root — and where the seeds we plant today will bear fruit far into the future.

With gratitude and hope,

Audrey Tehan, Founder and Executive Director Seed to Table Oregon s s s

Behind the scenes

To the Editor:

I’m writing in response to recent criticism directed at our newspaper’s editor for not publishing an immediate commentary on the tragic shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis earlier this year. Pretti’s death has reverberated across the country, sparking intense public debate and widespread calls for accountability.

Before keyboard warriors assume selective outrage or editorial neglect, I’d like to offer a behind-the-scenes perspective from someone who lived through our own newsroom’s Monday morning.

We were on deadline, rushing to get the paper to press and following up with businesses to make sure their ads were in. Mondays around here are chaotic. We often don’t eat and grunt at each other ’cause who has the time for complete sentences (I joke).

See LETTERS on page 19

Obituary

November 7, 1949 – January 12, 2026

Molly M. Faria (Barbour), 76, of Sisters, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2026, in Portland. A beloved wife, mother, sister, nonna, teacher, and friend, Molly will be remembered for her kindness, patience, sense of humor, and the joy she brought to everyone who knew her.

Born on November 7, 1949, in Salem, Molly was the daughter of Marshall “Mush” Barbour and Margaret “Jeanne” Barbour (McLaughlin). The second of six siblings, she grew up with a deep love of family and a passion for learning. A proud 1967 graduate of Woodburn High School, Molly continued her education at OCE, graduating in 1971. That same year, she married Robert (Bob) Faria, and they remained happily married until her passing.

Molly and Bob had two children, Joseph and Jessica. As an elementary school teacher in Wasco, Molly was adored by her students and colleagues alike. A few years after retirement, Molly and Bob moved to Sisters, where they resided for the last 15 years. There, they built new friendships while staying close with old friends, enjoying travels to Scotland and Ireland, as well as many road trips across the U.S.

One of Molly’s greatest joys was watching her granddaughter, Isla, play volleyball. In the fall of 2025, she had the special opportunity to watch Isla play at Woodburn High School in the Barbour Gymnasium, a facility named after her father.

LETTERS

Continued from page 18

The air in the office felt heavy that morning. I overheard Jim down the hall express uncertainty, saying, “I feel compelled to write something, but not sure I have anything to contribute.” That honesty should matter. Most people want quick, loud reactions, but sometimes our collective need is not more noise — it’s thoughtful reflection.

I was already emotional. Trying to juggle a move across county lines while working and being a mom “Most people won’t get past the first couple sentences,” I said. “They will only want to hear what they want to hear.” Then, I lost it. “There are some of us who need to hear a guiding voice amongst all the noise.” And there I was, sobbing in his office taking up a good chunk of his morning.

We spend so much of our public discourse demanding anger — get angry, protest, write, fight. But sometimes it’s OK to stop. To acknowledge that tragedy weighs on us all, even those tasked with interpreting it for the community. Sometimes a newsroom needs a moment to breathe, to process, and to guard against rushing commentary that adds fuel to an already volatile situation.

Our editor did not ignore the event because of indifference or selective outrage (he, in fact, wrote a column on the February 4 edition). He paused because real people were trying to understand the weight of what is going on in the world. Maybe consider that not every delay is a dereliction of duty and sometimes it means being human.

Kimberly Young

To the Editor:

s s s

No surprises

There were no surprises at the Deschutes County Commission meeting on February 4, where Commissioners voted on whether to send a plan to divide our county into separate voting districts (Map C) to the voters for approval.

Prior to this important vote, all three commissioners heard overwhelming opposition to Map C from the majority of nearly 100 citizens during eight-plus hours of public hearings. They also received many emails/letters urging a “no” vote. But did our commissioners listen to the people, the voters

who had expressed their concerns both in person and in writing? The majority of them did not. Commissioners DeBone and Adair chose to ignore the voices of their constituents and instead voted to forward Map C to the ballot for voter approval. Only Commissioner Chang voted to reject the gerrymandered Map C proposal.

But this was not a surprise! Since DeBone and Adair had originally concocted the plan to divide county voters, then appointed the majority of the committee members charged with creating a map to represent newly formed voting districts, and then placed strict limitations on the committee’s options and processes resulting in the gerrymandered Map C produced, their vote to support this effort was clear from the start.

Make no mistake: this is a map which would strongly favor the minor political party over the majority of voters for years to come. It was based on voter registrations rather than population as required by Oregon State Law, thus leaving the County open to lawsuits, and the risk of exorbitant legal fees in the future.

Commissioners DeBone and Adair chose to ignore the concerns of voters and the very real legal risks to the County when they voted to approve district Map C because it represents the political outcome they wanted. No surprise.

Donna Lipscomb s s s

A heartfelt thank you

To the Editor:

Words feel small compared to the gratitude I carry, but I want to offer my deepest thanks to everyone who donated to my GoFundMe, prayed, sent messages, shared kind words, or simply held me in their thoughts during my liver transplant journey.

This experience has shown me the extraordinary kindness that lives within our community, and amongst my dear friends. I am profoundly grateful for the compassion, encouragement, and love that surrounded me and my family during one of the most challenging chapters of our lives.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping carry me through and for being part of my healing.

With sincere gratitude,

Patti Jo Beal

Molly is survived by her husband, Bob Faria of Sisters; son, Joe Faria of Wasco; daughter, Jessica Faria and granddaughter, Isla Faria of Portland; sisters Marsha (Jerry) Brittan, Joan (Rob Mangold) Barbour, Susan (Gary) Packer, and Sarah Barbour; brother, John (Linda) Barbour; and her beloved dog, Goose.“May the wind under your

you

and the

the

of the

stories and photos link present-day landscapes to the expedition’s experiences at 37 campsites, including Whychus Creek and the Metolius River Other members of this party were Kit Carson and young Billy Chinook. Our speaker’s expertise was utilized as Curator for the “Finding Fremont: Pathfinder of the West” Exhibit, which traveled the Northwest for several years.

DISTRICTS:

Commission vote was 2-1 in favor

Continued from page 1

commissioner districts.

In BOCC’s February 4 meeting, Chair Phil Chang allowed for public comments on the topic at hand: Shall the five district Map C be put on the ballot in 2026 and, if so, in the May or November election? Commissioner Tony DeBone called for a point of order, objecting to having a public hearing, as there already had been plenty of public input during hearings on the topic.

Chang clarified that he was allowing “public comments” not a hearing. The Chair does have procedural rights to call for comments, but if contested, the BOCC could put it to a vote.

Commissioner Patti Adair suggested a compromise giving each speaker less time, and thus public comments were allowed.

Last year, without a public hearing, the BOCC decided in a 2-1 vote that five districts were needed. The BOCC appointed a District Mapping Advisory Committee (DMAC) and defined the focus, criteria, and timeline for that committee’s work. The DMAC had public meetings from August 27 through November 12 of 2025. In December, the DMAC had three recommendations; a five-district map (Map C), to randomly select the numbering of the five districts on Map C, and redistricting (if Map C is approved by the voters) should not occur until after the 2030 census.

During the BOCC’s annual retreat on January 15, the numbering of each district on Map C was randomly selected (see accompanying map).

The BOCC listened to 32 public comments, of which 63 percent were not in favor of Map C (20 against, 12 in favor). The primary reasoning against Map C was timing: Why confuse voters by voting on both county commissioner candidates and on a county commissioner five district map; why not wait until after the 2026 elections, or why not after the next population census? Others in opposition determined that Map C was gerrymandered in favor of Republicans.

The public who spoke in favor of Map C were primarily advocating for letting the voters decide, felt that the five districts gave political voice to rural areas, and saw districting the BOCC as fairer representation.

The BOCC went on to discuss whether Map C should go to a vote, and, if so, in which 2026 election, May or November. Commissioner DeBone said he was ready to vote weeks ago. Commissioner Adair shared that based on ballot arguments she had read, which were in favor of having five county commissioners (voted for in the November 2024 election), she determined three had also argued in favor of having districts, including an argument for, submitted by Commissioner Chang. Adair thereby determined that creating five districts was what was expected.

Chair Chang noted his support of having districts in the County, but that it needs to be “done right,’’ and gave various reasons as to why the current district mapping effort failed to be done correctly. He stated that, whether by intent or not, the recommended Map C gives the Republican Party a majority in three out of the five districts.

Chang voiced concerns over how the district elections would be conducted.

He warned that unless voting at large for BOCC candidates continued, voting for only one’s district candidate would likely lead to parochial behavior by the BOCC into the future. Chang gave an example: All the BOCC will agree that a new waste dumping station is required for the entire County, but each district population will not want one located in their district.

The BOCC discussed the DMAC’s recommendation to assure redistricting would not occur until after the next census based on population. The BOCC was given options to put the census requirement in the text of the Map C ballot measure, to put it into a related measure, or put it into the County code should Map C be accepted by the voters. If added to the text of the Map C legislative measure, there could be an appeal of the ballot title, as to whether or not the measure is following the “single subject” guideline. If the appeal were successful,

the measure would not qualify for the ballot. BOCC asked County support to draft a County code decision, assuming Map C is voted for by the public, which would

limit redistricting to every 10 years following a census and to alternatively draft what that might read in a related measure for the November election.

Where to pick up your FREE copy of The Nugget…

SISTERS LOCATIONS:

• Angeline’s Bakery • Bedouin

•Best Western Ponderosa Lodge • Bi-Mart

• Black Butte Realty Group

• Cabin Creek Home & Style • Cascade Fitness

• Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s • Central Oregon

Eyecare •Chevron/McDonald’s • Country Coffee

• Dairy Queen • Dixie’s • Eurosports

• Fika Sisters Coffeehouse

• First Interstate Bank • FivePine Lodge

• GrandStay Hotel & Suites • Habitat Thrif t Store • Habitat ReStore

•Hard Tails Outlaw Country Dive Bar & Grill

• High Camp Taphouse

• Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply

• Lef t Coast Lodge • Les Schwab Tire Center

• Luckey’s Woodsman • Makin’ it Local

• Martolli’s of Sisters • Mid Oregon Credit Union

• Oliver Lemon’s • Paulina Springs Books

• Philadelphia’s Steak & Hoagies

• Pine Desert Dental • Ponderosa Properties

• Rancho Viejo • Ray’s Food Place

• Sinclair Gas Station • Sisters Ace Hardware

• Sisters Apothecary • Sisters Art Works

• Sisters Athletic Club • Sisters Bakery

• Sisters Bunkhouse • Sisters City Hall

• Sisters Coffee Co.• Sisters Community Church

• Sisters Creekside Campground

• Sisters Dino Market •Sisters Depot

• Sisters Elementary School

•Sisters Feed & Supply

• Sisters Gallery & Frame Shop

• Sisters High School • Sisters Inn & Suites

• Sisters Library • Sisters Liquor Store

• Sisters Meat and Smokehouse

• Sisters Middle School • Sisters Moto

• Sisters Movie House & Café

• Sisters Nails & Spa • Sisters Post Off ice •Sisters Pumphouse & Country Store

• Sisters Rental

• Sisters Ranger Station

• Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill

• Sisters School Administration Building

• Sisters Veterinary Clinic

• Ski Inn Taphouse & Motel

• Sno Cap Drive In

• Space Age Fuel

• Spoons Restaurant

• Sisters Park & Recreation District

• St. Charles Family Care

• Stellar Realty NW

• Suttle Tea • Takoda’s Restaurant & Lounge

• The Barn in Sisters • The Gallery Restaurant

• The Gallimaufry

• The Lodge Retirement Community

• The Nugget Front Porch

• The Pony Express • The Slow Down State

• Three Creeks Brew Pub • Three Sisters Floral • Western Title & Escrow Company • Your Store

BBR & CAMP SHERMAN: • Black Butte Ranch General Store • Black Butte Ranch Post Off ice • Black

SOCCER: SPRD is organizing programs for youth

Continued from page 3

(RAPRD). This collaborative model allows SPRD to provide a more robust program by giving Sisters teams the opportunity to play against teams from outside the community. Teams will practice locally in Sisters, with games primarily held in Redmond. New this season, SPRD is working with RAPRD to potentially host select weekends of games in Sisters, helping to reduce weekend travel for families.

Like all SPRD youth sports programs, spring soccer is a recreational league and focuses on fun,

Science Club seeks board members The

The nonprofit Sisters Science Club is actively recruiting new board members who bring diverse perspectives, strong community ties, and a passion for the mission.

That mission is to create and maintain a community culture where the study of science is visible, valuable, and celebrated, supported by practical and innovative contributions to our schools and to the public.

The club is especially hoping to find candidates who are willing to help with creative fundraising efforts;

fundamental skill development, participation, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The program is designed to foster a love of the game in a supportive and active environment. The program welcomes and encourages players of all skill levels to participate.

SPRD youth sports programs rely on the dedication of volunteer coaches. Without their commitment, these programs would not be possible. Individuals interested in volunteering or learning more about coaching requirements are encouraged to contact the district for additional information.

For registration details, visit www.sistersrecre ation.com/activities/youthathletics, email sprd@sis tersrecreation.com or call 541-549-2091.

able to help with programming and planning for Frontiers in Science lecture series; and are willing to take on leadership roles and use their skills to support the organization.

Board terms are two years, and we meet approximately four times a year, both in person and remotely. They’fre looking for up to six new board members to join the board. No prior board experience is required.

For more information or to express interest, email scienceinsisters@gmail.com or call 541 706-1838.

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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.

CLASSIFIED RATES

COST: $3.50 per line for first insertion, $2.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1.50 per line 10th week and beyond (identical ad/consecutive weeks). Also included in The Nugget online classifieds at no additional charge. There is a minimum $5 charge for any classified. First line = approx. 20-25 characters, each additional line = approx. 25-30 characters. Letters, spaces, numbers and punctuation = 1 character. Any ad copy changes will be charged at the first-time insertion rate of $3.50 per line. Standard abbreviations allowed with the approval of The Nugget classified department. NOTE: Legal notices placed in the Public Notice section are charged at the display advertising rate.

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:

102 Commercial Rentals WORKSHOP SPACE

Sisters Industrial Park 1,277 sq. ft., heated, roll-up. Available March 1, $1,550/mo. 541-280-7354.

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 FOR RENT

2-bed, 2-bath apartment for rent $1,500/month

240 E. Cascade Ave, Unit 203 (Located above Dino Mart) Call Shelly at 541-647-4986.

One-bed Apt., kitchenette, 415 sq. ft., 2 miles from Sisters. $850/month includes utilities. Call 541-588-0669.

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 SistersVacationRentals.net Great pricing. 503-730-0150

202 Firewood

NEW DISCOUNT PRICES SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS

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Order Online! 541-410-4509

205 Garage & Estate Sales MOVING SALE

February 13 & 14, from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 69975 Holmes Road, Sisters. Park on the Road!

Mahindra Tractor 3616 HST & implements, Craftsman Riding Mower 550 3-blade & implements, PJ Buggy Trailer 20 ft., yard tools, misc. house items. Lots to pick through! 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

Mountain High RV & Boat Storage – Large unit available. 541-410-0458.

We Buy, Sell, Consign Quality Cars, Trucks, SUVs & RVs ~ Call Jeff at 541-815-7397 Sisters Car Connection da#3919 SistersCarConnection.com

CAR TO SELL?

Place your ad in The Nugget Call 541-549-9941 or email nugget@nuggetnews.com

Deadline is 5 p.m. on Fridays.

403 Pets

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

SISTERS WHISKERS

Your purr-fect friend is waiting for you at our local nonprofit cat rescue! Apply to adopt at: sisterswhiskers.org

500 Services

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.

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

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

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

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504 Handyman AlpenGlow Handyman Services

Small & Large Jobs 20+ Years Experience CCB#180099

Call/Text: 541-728-8607

AlpenGlowHandymanServices. com • Credit Cards Accepted 600 Tree Service & Forestry

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

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

Tree Removal • Tree Pruning Good for Trees. Good to People. SparTreeArborist.com (916) 619-6317

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

Pat Burke LOCALLY OWNED CRAFTSMAN BUILT

CCB: 228388 • 541-588-2062 www.sistersfencecompany.com

Construction & Renovation

Custom Residential Projects All Phases • CCB #148365 541-420-8448

Custom Homes Additions - Remodels Residential Building Projects Becke William Pierce CCB# 190689 • 541-647-0384

Beckewpcontracting@gmail.com — Serving Sisters Since 2010 —

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

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

LOCAL CONSTRUCTION

• 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

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 VALLEY CONTRACTING, LLC

General Contractor CCB#180099

Custom Remodels • Additions • Decks • Firewise Upgrades 20+ Years Licensed, Bonded, Insured. Call/Text 541-728-8607 T H E N U G G E T N E W S P A P E R NuggetNews.com

CASCADE GARAGE DOORS

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

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

CASCADIA DESIGN BUILD

Remodel / Renovate / Repair

Full home remodel, little home fixes, and everything in between. cascadiadesignbuildllc.com 541-974-2282

602 Plumbing & Electric

Electrical Service & Repair

Est. 1947, CCB#54572 Local in Sisters 503-357-2146

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

Remodels

Generators

Hot tubs/Saunas monteselectric@hotmail.com

CCB#200030 • 541-480-9860

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

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

L E A

Trucking

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!

BANR Enterprises, LLC

Earthwork, Utilities, Grading, Hardscape, Rock Walls

Residential & Commercial CCB #165122 • 541-549-6977 www.BANR.net

BRANCHWATER EXCAVATION & SEPTIC, LLC

541-408-4204 sophia@branchwater excavation.com

Sisters owned and operated

Josh & Sophia McCarthy

Experience you can trust. All Septic Systems: New Install & Repairs * Driveway Refurb & New * Fire Breaks * Site Prep * Land Clearing & Clean Up FREE ESTIMATES CCB# 256753

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

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

606 Landscaping & Yard Maintenance

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

All Landscaping Services Mowing, Thatching, Hauling Call Abel Ortega, 541-815-6740

– 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

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

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

LCB #9958 • CCB #222039

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

Seeking a friendly, reliable, and detail-oriented part-time team member to add to our front office. To apply, please email your cover letter, resume, and references with “Front Desk Application” in the subject line to info@greenridgept.com.

NOW HIRING

Housekeeping and Maintenance Team Members

Join the crew at our cozy camp style retreat nestled in the forest! We're looking for friendly, dependable individuals to join our team at Lake Creek Lodge. PT/FT. We offer flexible schedules & excellent compensation. www.lakecreeklodge.com 13375 SW FS Rd. 1419

Camp Sherman

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

– Advertise with The Nugget –541-549-9941

999 Public Notice

Notice of

District Measure Election

Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, a measure election will be held in Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District located in Deschutes County, Oregon. The following shall be the ballot title of the measure to be submitted to the district’s voters on this date:

CAPTION: Levy to Fund Fire, EMS, and Wildfire Preparedness Staffing

QUESTION: Shall the District levy $0.70 per $1,000 assessed value for operating purposes for five years beginning 2026/2027? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.

604 Heating & Cooling Sisters, Oregon's Exclusive HVAC Service

701 Domestic Services

Residential & Commercial Heating • Ductless Air Conditioning • Maintenance Installation • Repair 541-588-5667 SistersHeatingAir.com ACTION AIR

Heating & Cooling, LLC

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

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

For all the lastest from Sisters, Oregon... go online to NuggetNews.com

801 Classes & Training

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM THE NUGGET

To Mama Neu

Happy V-Day! Love, Lil' Neu

To my precious grandbabies Marlee Jo, Sabrina, and Rebekah, Grandma Wendy Loves You!

Found: Love. Turns out timing matters. Happy V-day Matthew

Dear Waylon, You light up my day every time you walk through the door. I'm so blessed to have you in my life. Thanks for making me so happy!

SUMMARY: The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District provides fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue, and wildfire response across approximately 800 square miles along providing mutual aid to neighboring fire districts. Emergency calls for service have increased 65% over ten years. Medical calls now account for 70% of responses, and overlapping emergencies have increased 35% in the past eight years. Wildfire activity, remediation, and wildfire preparedness efforts have also illustrated a need for additional resources and staffing. The levy would fund three additional firefighter/paramedics, one wildfire risk reduction coordinator, a mechanic to maintain vehicles, and seasonal wildfire risk reduction personnel. If approved, the measure would authorize the District to levy taxes at a rate of $0.70/$1,000 of taxable assessed value for five years. The estimated revenue over five-years is $5,807,284 (Fiscal Year 2026-27, $1,093,828; 2027-28, $1,126,643; 2028-29, $1,160,443; 2029-30, $1,195,256; and, 2030-31, $1,231,114).

It is estimated for a property having a taxable assessed value of $317,000, the annual cost would be $225. The revenue for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available at the time of estimate.

Retrofit • New Const • Remodel Consulting, Service & Installs actionairheatingandcooling.com CCB #195556 541-549-6464 605 Painting Interior/Exterior Painting Deck Refinishing Jacob deSmet 503-559-9327

peakperformancepainting1@ gmail.com • CCB#243491

Do you offer lessons or workshops for ...

YOGA? DRAWING? VIOLIN? SWIMMING?

Let our readers know with an affordable classified ad!

$3.50 per line the first week,

$2.50 per line for repeats.

$1.50 per line starting the 10th week . And your ad goes online at no extra charge!

Call before 5 p.m. on Fridays to place, 541-549-9941

SUDOKU SOLUTION

for puzzle on page 18

Notice of Receipt of Ballot Title Notice is hereby given that a ballot title for a measure referred by Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District has been filed with the Deschutes County Clerk on February 4, 2026. The ballot title caption is: Levy to Fund Fire, EMS, and Wildfire Preparedness Staffing. An elector may file petition for review of this ballot title in the Deschutes County Circuit Court no later than 5:00 p.m., February 13, 2026. Steve Dennison, Deschutes County Clerk

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