The Nugget Newspaper // Vol. XLV No. 43 // 2022-10-26

Nature’s paintbrush...

Could City park shelter homeless?

The Sisters Fire Community Hall was packed to overflowing, with people spilling out the doorways, for the October 20 town hall forum “Houseless in Sisters.” Panel members, all of whom are engaged in providing services to those lacking stable housing, provided salient information, and one man spoke representative of those living in the forest.

suggestion, which has come up numerous times over the years, surfaced once again at last week’s meeting. Why not allow

Hearing continued on Sisters development

Council chambers at City Hall was packed last Thursday, October 20, for a Sisters Planning Commission public hearing on a proposed 12.92acre residential development along the McKenzie Highway at the west end of Sisters.

The hearing addressed a master planned develop-

ment, tentative subdivision, and minor partition on the Sunset Meadows property located in the multifamily residential district (MFR). The heavily treed property is located along the north side of Highway 242 across from Pole Creek Ranch, and backs up to The Pines senior housing community and the Oxbow Flats apartments on the north. The Episcopal

Citizens learn to adapt to wildfire

When it comes to being wildfire ready, one of the biggest questions from the Sisters community is: How do we “harden” a home, and what does it mean to be wildfire ready?

On Monday, October 17, Citizens4Community (C4C) hosted their Let’s Talk community event at Paulina Springs Books — a panel discussion about how to make Sisters a fire-adapted, and wildfire-ready community.

Keeping an eye on the Metolius

Readers of The Nugget have noted seemingly low flows at the headwaters of the Metolius River, one of Sisters Country’s most beloved and revered resources.

The latest reading by Oregon Department of Water Resources (ODWR) shows 55 CFS (cubic feet per second). In June of 2018 that was 102 CFS, followed a year later by a 95.6 reading, and last June it registered 74.

Kyle Gorman, ODWR regional manager in Bend, recalls his very first reading of the headwaters in 1991 when it logged in at 61 CFS. The stream, its source bubbling from underground springs, closely parallels water years, and the past three years have seen highly elevated drought throughout Central Oregon. So Gorman is not surprised by the measurements. He’s not alarmed, but concerned.

Earliest recordings are from 1972, when the flow was 133 CFS, so the longterm trend is deceleration.

Old-time Camp Sherman locals partly blame the reduced flows on the growing numbers in our area.

“Drought is playing a large part, penetrating into the water table, but as the community grows we are drilling into the water table more and more and more,”

Jeff Perin, the owner of The Fly Fisher’s Place in Sisters told the Deschutes River Conservancy.

The Nugget visited with resorts and RV parks along the river in Camp Sherman, and the source of all things Metolius: the Camp Sherman

General Store. To a person, all agreed with Gorman’s assessment, but were quick to point out that such ebbs and flows are common.

Their clients, in large number anglers, have not said a word, as nobody fishes the headwaters. Indeed, a mile downstream from the source it’s good fishing, according to anglers we interviewed between the bridges.

Norm Kaufman of Bend said, “Streamflow seems normal and the water is clear.” Miles Milliken, his

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.

Deschutes County treasurer

To the Editor:

I’m Bill Kuhn, and I’m running for the nonpartisan position of Deschutes County treasurer. The County collects revenues of over $650 million a year, and that money is managed by the County treasurer, who has responsibility for the management of cash, all banking relationships, and the investment

of County funds. The work requires a leader with significant financial expertise and a clear understanding of our community’s priorities and needs.

The funds collected by the County go to programs that serve the public in healthcare, public safety, economic and community development, and special service districts.

Real change for Oregon

We have an opportunity to set a new course for Oregon by replacing decades of one-party leadership. For 40 years we have anointed the next Democrat in line for governor even while a large majority of Oregonians believe our state is heading in the wrong direction. Yes, I am unsure that Republicans have the answers, but we can all agree that Democrats have proven that they don’t.

Governor Brown has consistently ranked as the least popular governor in America. She has worked hard to earn that distinction, to the dismay of even those who voted for her. A review of some of her actions the last two years and how Tina Kotek would be different is in order:

During the pandemic, Governor Brown closed down local businesses while allowing the bigbox stores to remain open. Many locally owned businesses didn’t make it, but it appears corporate America did just fine under her leadership. Instead of educating citizens as to the risk of COVID, Brown took it upon herself to determine which businesses were “essential” and which ones were not. You were safe to shop at an “essential” business, but if you went to one that didn’t make her list, well that would be dangerous. She had outdoor masking recommendations/requirements in place long after the science was clear that being outdoors was not contributing to transmission.

As for Brown’s “medical facility” mask requirement, less than 10 states have such a mandate. Are the other 40-plus states piling up COVID bodies at the morgue? No, they are not, but the rest of America is laughing at Oregonians as we mask up for a cleaning at the dentist.

Governor Brown moved teachers to the front of the vaccine line — ahead of the elderly and immune-compromised. Then she failed to compel teachers to return to the classroom despite millions of children in other states having already moved back to in-person education. We are just now beginning to see the tremendous educational loss and mental health issues as a result of

this terrible mandate. After eight years as the leader of the legislative branch (that controls the budget) Kotek still has Oregon schools ranked in the bottom 10 percent. Why should we expect solutions from her now? Mississippi and West Virginia rank ahead of Oregon schools.

As speaker of the House, Tina Kotek had the power to rein in Governor Brown’s overreaching use of her powers at any time. Yet, she did not. It is pretty much a given that Kotek will use emergency powers in the same way as Brown did to control our lives and livelihoods. As governor, maybe she will declare a climate emergency and mandate how we should live to save the planet. Just let that sink in for a minute. We already know that the state legislature will do nothing to stop a Governor’s executive overreach.

Under Brown/Kotek “leadership” Oregon continues its reputation as one of the more unfriendly places to do business, and misses out on attracting good-paying jobs. Our cost of living ranks as the fifth most expensive in America — which is obvious when we see our housing costs, tax burden, etc. The Brown/ Kotek solution? More regulation and taxes.

Tina Kotek claims to have solutions to crime, homelessness, jobs, and education, yet she spent eight years as Speaker of the House where she controlled legislation to address these issues, and either did nothing or her ideas were abysmal failures.

Fortunately, we have two other options as we vote for governor this time around. Betsy Johnson does not appear to have enough support to actually win, so Christine Drazan is our best hope to change the future path of Oregon. For all you one-issue, pro-abortion folks, while Drazan is pro-life she has repeatedly stated she will enforce the laws and constitution of Oregon. Abortion is legal in Oregon and those laws are passed by a Democratic super-majority in our state legislature, making her personal opinion irrelevant.

As we prepare to cast our ballots, I will close with a common definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Two hundred goats mow meadow in Sisters Country

It takes 200 goats 21 days to clear 50 acres of vegeta tion. This ancient form of mowing is having a resur gence, with a powerful demonstration right here in Sisters Country.

Homeowners in Cascade Meadow Ranch have hired Scott Martin to tackle weeds on a 50-acre portion of the Ranch’s 310 acres of com mon area.

The Ranch, with 24 twoacre lot homes, is surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest, giving homeowners

lots of incentive to mitigate wildfire risk. Conventional tractors with mower attach ments are not practical, unable to navigate easily among the ponderosa pines and other obstacles.

They turned to Martin from Terrebonne, who has a few hundred Boer goats. Boers typically weigh 130 to 140 pounds and stand about three feet high. They origi nated in South Africa, bred for meat. Highly resistant to disease, they adapt well to hot, dry semi-desert climates like ours in Central Oregon.

They are voracious graz ers, and are not picky about

their diet. They happily dine on juniper, sagebrush, black berries, nettles, thistles, and even poison oak. Goats are also sure-footed, munch ing away in rocky and steep terrain.

They’re also quiet com pared to mechanized mow ing, and, as Martin said, “Goats are one of the most effective fire prevention tools available. Areas cleared or thinned by goats recover more naturally, and resist wildfires, giving fire crews the upper hand, and protect ing life and property.”

He also let us know of the added benefit of the fields

being mowed that are simul taneously being fertilized.

“A win-win,” he chuckles.

According to Martin, goats are an environmentally friendly method for clearing areas containing endangered or sensitive vegetation and animal life. Thinning by goats is a natural method that results in a naturally balanced environment over the long term. Erosion from over-stripped, recently cleared land is eliminated safely and effectively.

The Cascade Meadow homeowners agree and are paying Martin north of $5,000 to tackle the

50-acre section.

The goats, all 200 and all nannies, were delivered in two double-decker stock trailers along with hundreds of feet of portable fencing and three pure white Great Pyrenees guard dogs to pro tect the goats. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as a large, thickly coated, and immensely powerful working dog bred to deter wolves and other predators on snowy mountaintops.

Pyrs are big, immensely strong mountain dogs

SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR

BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS

Al-Anon Mon., noon., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-610-7383.

Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration / Mon., 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 541-548-0440.

Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild

For Saturday meeting dates and location, email: steelefly@msn.com. Council on Aging of Central Oregon Senior Lunch In-person community dining, Tues. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grab-and-go lunch Tues., Wed., Thurs. 12:30 to 1 p.m. Sisters Community Church. 541-480-1843.

East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061.

Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All ages welcome. 541-771-2211.

Heartwarmers (fleece blanketmakers) 2nd Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sisters Community Church. Materials provided. 541-408-8505.

Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. 541-668-1755.

Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk 3rd Monday, 6 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP at citizens4community.com

Military Parents of Sisters Meetings are held quarterly; please call for details. 541-388-9013.

Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469.

SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation District. 541-549-2091.

Sisters Aglow Lighthouse 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Zoom. 503-930-6158.

Sisters Area Photography Club

2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters Community Church. 541-549-6157.

Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-231-1897.

Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846.

Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church. Email sistersbridge2021@gmail.com.

Sisters Caregiver Support Group 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., Sisters Episcopal Church. 541-771-3258.

Sisters Cribbage Club Please call for details. 541-923-1632.

Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Location information: 541-549-1193.

Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870.

Sisters Parent Teacher Community 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Saloon. 541-480-5994.

Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group 2nd Thurs.,1 p.m. Sisters Library 541-668-6599

Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday.

Location information: 541-848-1970.

Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-760-5645.

Sisters Trails Alliance Board every other month, 5 p.m. varies from in-person to zoom. Info: info@sisterstrails.org

Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123.

Three Sisters Irrigation District Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Office. 541-549-8815.

Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Restaurant. 541-419-1279.

VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., The Hanger, Sisters Community Church. 847-344-0498.

Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654.

SCHOOLS

Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203

Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wednesday monthly Sisters School District Administration Building. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002.

CITY & PARKS

Sisters City Council 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022.

Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m., SPRD bldg. 541-549-2091.

Sisters Planning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022.

FIRE & POLICE

Black Butte Ranch Police Dept. Board of Directors Meets monthly. 541-595-2191 for time & date.

Black Butte Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thursday, 9 a.m., Black Butte Ranch Fire Station. 541-595-2288. Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Wed., 5:30 p.m., 67433 Cloverdale Rd. 541-548-4815. cloverdalefire.com.

Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541-549-0771.

Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771.

This listing is for regular Sisters Country meetings; email information to nugget@nuggetnews.com

A sister for Sisters?

An ad hoc citizen task group has submitted two nominations to City Council for sister city relationship. A sister city relationship is a broad-based, long-term part nership between two com munities in differing coun tries. Wikipedia tell us: “The relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and polit ically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cul tural and commercial ties.”

“While there are early examples of international links between municipali ties akin to what are known as sister cities or twin towns today dating back to the 9th century, the modern concept was first established and adopted worldwide during World War II.”

The nominations are Wānaka, New Zealand and Göreme, Turkey. Scott Bowler proposed Wānaka based on personal experi ence. Situated on the shore of Lake Wānaka on the South Island, the town sits among and is surrounded by the Southern Alps, notably nearby Mt. Aspiring National Park.

The town and surround ing area have a population of about 10,000, which is growing rapidly, home both to active retirees and a large population of adventure some younger people. On the shore of Lake Wānaka with an elevation of about 1000 feet, Wānaka has a

semi-continental climate, with about half of the national average precipitation: cold and snowy winter, somewhat wetter spring weather, and warm dry summer and fall.

Wānaka, and the neigh boring city of Queenstown, is at the center of a large resort area similar to the Sisters/ Bend/Deschutes County dynamic. Both Sisters and Wānaka are primarily fourseason resort and tourist towns, with some diversi fied local businesses and industries. Both sport active, outdoorsy lifestyles with a wide variety of active and adventure sports paramount: skiing, hiking, fishing and hunting, climbing and moun taineering, adventure sports, mountain and road biking, and a wide variety of lakeand river-based water sports.

Native Maori have impor tant cultural connections in the area, and when the area was settled by Europeans it was via a pioneer agricultural land rush and gold rush min ing. It was home to the first ever sheepdog trials, a tradi tion which continues now with teams coming from around the world to compete. Wānaka area has several win eries and a vibrant agricul tural farm-to-plate and local food scene, even including a salmon fishing-to-plate expe rience on the lake.

The community hosts several arts, music, and cul tural festivals; farmer’s and craft markets; food and beer festivals; bike, kayak, and ski competitions; and even a rodeo. Several large ski

resorts surround the town, and it’s the proud home of both of two Olympic champi ons: NZ’s first gold medalist, and the country’s youngest gold medalist. Wānaka has a rich film history and has hosted several major films (“The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “A Wrinkle in Time,” and several more), and a big economic devel opment project currently in progress is building a major film set and studio complex in the town.

Göreme (pronounced guhreh-meh, uh, like er in “her”) is a town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. The town is centered in the middle of an internationally popular region that is best known for its nat ural rock formations, often called “fairy chimneys.”

Göreme was recom mended by this correspon dent following a visit in 2021, finding a similar size of 3-5,000 (Sisters) in a wider geographic area of 10,000, (Sisters Country) with a comparable climate (three or more seasons) and

topography (mountains, high desert, rivers, lakes, streams).

Each city’s economies are fed by tourism, green tech, craft foods or beverages, and farm-to-table gastronomy. There are common bonds with nature, among them conservation and stewardship of land and animals.

Both cities thrive on an active lifestyle of hiking, biking, water sports, fishing, climbing, and snow sports, and each boasts cultural appreciation of music, art, food, languages, and travel.

Additionally the cities pair compatibly with Göreme

having an elevation of 3,662 feet, with similar volcanic topography. The principal art is pottery. The predominant religion is Muslim, with wellpreserved Christian sites.

Göreme is famous for its hot air balloons and being home to Göreme National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The task force is asking the City to authorize an offi cial outreach to Göreme and Wānaka to gauge interest. No monies are involved at this point in the effort.

Scott Bowler contributed information for this story.

Artwalk celebrates fall at Sisters galleries

This week, get ready for the Sisters Arts Association’s Howl-O-Ween Fourth Friday Artwalk.

Start with “Owls and Their Friends: A Tribute to Jim Anderson” at Sisters Gallery & Frame Shop. Anderson, the one and only and beloved Oregon naturalist, passed on September 22. The gallery features owl images by Jennifer Hartwig-Klingbiel, Lynne Myers, Barbara Berry, Caroline Stratton-Crow, Danae Miller, Kimry Jelen, Kim Black, and guest artists Yuji Hiratsuka and Sheila Dunn.

& Frame Shop. Anderson,

Part of the proceeds from the sale of owl art will be donated to the Jim Anderson Scholarship at Sisters High School. Karen Lord and John Klement established the scholarship to honor Anderson. When Anderson was just 11, his grandfather told him, “You eat what you shoot” after he’d shot a great horned owl, which firmly established his conservation work ethic. The scholarship is awarded to a full-time student majoring in environmental science, biology, botany, earth science, or a related field.

Toriizaka Art introduces Donald MacLane and his kinetic sculptures. After several sculptural apprenticeships, MacLane completed an undergraduate degree from Antioch College and a master’s in fine art while sculpting and crafting in

various art forms. He moved to Oregon, earned a mechanical engineering degree from Portland State, and embarked on a career developing color printers for Tektronics/Xerox.

As a student, then engineer, MacLane had little time for sculpture, but started to play the hammered dulcimer. This led to a study of the science of musical instruments. He discovered that their vibrations were remarkably close to the oscillations of his kinetic sculptures. This led him to start making portable instruments that he could take with him on extended business trips to Japan. “Early retirement from Xerox, and all my years as a welder, engineering student, and engineer provided skills and knowledge to make instruments and kinetic sculpture.”

Cindy and Duncan Campbell Gallery’s featured artist is mixed-media creator Linda B. Wolff. She paints white tissue paper with

watered-down acrylic paints, and then glues pieces of this tissue to heavy watercolor paper, playing with different shapes and sizes to reflect nature’s changing colors as landscapes. Last year, she challenged herself to try a different technique with each collage – even a three-dimensional piece using the skeleton of dead prickly pear cactus. Wolff also collaborated with Joyce Burk Brown on “The Magic in Listening,” a book for readers, ages 4 to 8. The book helps children and their significant adults understand how to listen, and the importance of listening. Half of the proceeds from art sales in this show will go toward distributing this book to Head Start, the Children’s Book Bank, and others. Wolff and Brown will be at the Campbell Gallery during Artwalk, and the book will be for sale.

Wildflower Studio has new products including Aster Raine skin care, felted soaps, wildflower candles, diffusers, copper necklaces, and more.

nations fly on a challenge: include a small “slice”

The Stitchin’ Post gallery hosts “A Slice of Orange,” an exhibit of art quilts from the Central Oregon chapter of the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). More than 30 local chapter quilters let their imaginations fly on a challenge: include a small “slice” of orange in an 18-by-40-inch art quilt. Orange can be a challenging color for quilters, but they met the test with designs ranging from landscape to collage to abstract.

Hood Avenue Art is showing plein air acrylic landscape paintings by Barbara Hudler Cella, diverse landscapes by Diane L. Farquhar Hallstrom, and ceramics by Annie Dyer. Hudler’s work captures the richness of Central Oregon’s water and mountains. Farquhar Hallstrom, a native Oregonian, shows her “wild side” with random nonobjective abstracts. Dyer leaves raw clay beside shiny glazes in functional and decorative pieces. Music will be by Mark Barringer.

Dan Rickards is unveiling his new show, “Imagining Creation,” at Clearwater Gallery. Rickards has been imagining, “if God was also a painter, what would his design process look like?” His conclusion? “If we let go of what we understand a landscape to be, and instead imagine all the things that it could have been, then we’re able to discover new ways of realizing our surroundings.” Rickards will be the featured artist at this month’s “Meet the Maker Dinner” on Wednesday, October 26, with a six-course dinner curated by Executive Chef Julia Rickards. Call 541-549-6076 or visit www. opendoorwinebar.com/special events for reservations.

Bryan Lee Brown will be closing Metals Studio Gallery permanently on November 24. “It’s time for a new chapter in life,” he says. “I’d like to thank everyone for their patronage and friendships.” Stop by to thank Brown for his creativity and beautiful art.

Sisters Elementary School (SES) students had the oppor tunity to get their hands dirty at their hometown creek last week.

For the last month, the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC) has been working with students on planting plants, trees, and grasses along the riparian zone of Whychus Creek at Creekside Park. The planting is part of the larger restora tion project taking place in that area of the creek.

The species students are planting are all native to the area and will help protect the creek bank and prevent erosion into the creek. The UDWC collaborates with the Sisters schools through out the year — working with juniors in the IEE class, and this fall, working with ele mentary age kids to promote ownership and stewardship of their community and creek.

“The students have an opportunity to be hands-on and become invested in their plants and how they help their creek,” said Education Director, Kolleen Miller. “The goal is to plant 2,300 plants in the upland and riparian zones.”

The SES students are working with their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) teacher Jocelyn Blevins, who was hired last year and has integrated a lot of envi ronmental science curricu lum. The hands-on planting with the students provides an experience that allows for integration of environmental science with stewardship and restoration to their own home area.

According to the UDWC’s website: “Through educa tion, we guide local students to forge a lifelong, caretak ing bond with our home watershed. By helping stu dents develop a sense of place while they also foster an informed sense of envi ronmental stewardship, we seek to ensure the health of Central Oregon’s rivers and streams for generations.”

The area alongside Creekside Park will be offi cially the elementary school’s

adoption site. Blevins also incorporates hands-on oppor tunities with the garden pro gram as well as incorporating arts into STEM programs, which makes it STEAM.

“These sort of hands-on stewardship projects and incorporating the garden program is just priceless for these kids and getting to see the area change and how their actions impact the creek below,” said Blevins.

The educators have a goal of using this oppor tunity to help the students remember native plant names and get excited about doing activities like this and being good stewards in their community.

“We see a longer change in behavior and attitudes, and take accountability for this area,” said Miller.

A parent said, “This is why we wanted our kids to go to school here, to have the opportunity to do stuff like this.”

Sisters Elementary School Principal Joan Warburg echoed the sentiment: “We want our students to con nect with their environment and community, and it really echoes how and what we

want to be. It is a great way for students to give back and have an invested ownership in their community area and a responsibility to care for the treasures that are unique to this town.”

The elmentary school is not only collaborating with UDWC, but also with the Sisters Ranger District, with three differ ent scientists working with Blevins and students through out the year incorporating

environmental science.

“We want to encourage connections with adults and become inspired to see career paths and opportunities to pursue their passions that they didn’t know they could make a career out of,” said Warburg.

The students planted over 100 plants during their time alongside Whychus Creek.

To learn more about the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and their work in the community, visit www. upperdeschuteswatershed council.org/.

Dumanch takes new role in public works

Jackson Dumanch, the City’s new public works project coordinator, is a young man with a firm hand shake, who looks you in the eye when you meet him.

Before taking his new job, he worked as a utility tech nician for the City of Sisters Public Works Department for 2.5 years, where he was a certified playground safety inspector in addition to his many other duties.

“The Public Works crew is amazing. I always felt wel come, and they helped me learn and gain so much expe rience,” Dumanch said of his time as a technician.

When former Project Coordinator Troy Rayburn announced he was moving, the decision was made to find his replacement from within the City crew. Dumanch was delighted to accept his new position and the opportunity to keep learning, while con tinuing to interact with the Public Works crew. He likes the variety offered by his new duties, with every day being different.

One of his main responsi bilities is to serve as the point

person at City Hall for all public events, from the initial contact and application with the City through removal and cleanup. He will also coordi nate the many public works projects that are necessary to keep the city’s infrastructure up and running.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dumanch earned his bachelors degree in geo science in 2015 from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee. Being an out doors person, he enjoyed the field trips involved in many of his classes. While in school, he met his future wife, also a Wisconsin native, at work. They were married in 2016.

The Dumanches came to Oregon after Jackson accepted a position as a park ranger with Oregon State Parks at Prineville Reservoir State Park. They packed their belongings in a U-Haul and set out on a five-day drive west. Jackson worked two summer seasons in Prineville and during the winter he pro vided customer service for Bend Parks and Recreation at the Pavilion and Juniper Swim. The arrival of COVID cut the usual seasons short, so Jackson took the position

on the Sisters Public Works crew.

They lived both in Prineville and Redmond before moving to Sisters, which they had driven through early on, wish ing they could live here. Jackson’s wife also works in local government in Central Oregon.

“I feel fortunate to be working with everyone here,” Jackson said of the City Hall staff. “I’m look ing forward to serving my community.”

Lady Outlaws earn a crown

The Lady Outlaws soccer sqaud emerged as conference champs after their 1-0 win over Central Linn (CL) on Wednesday, October 19. But the win and claiming the conference title didn’t come easy.

In order for the Outlaws to have a chance, Central Linn had to finish with a tie in their game against Pleasant Hill on Monday, October 17, and then the Outlaws had to beat Central Linn on the road on Wednesday, October 19. That’s just what happened. Central Linn ended their game with Pleasant Hill in a 1-1 tie, and on Wednesday the Outlaws edged out the Cobras 1-0.

On Tuesday against CL, both teams played exceptional defense, and both offenses had limited opportunities to score. It came down to a game of who was going to work the hardest.

The Outlaws, for the most part, controlled the pace of play, won every 50/50 ball, and were on the Cobras’ side of the field the majority of the time.

At the half it was an even contest at 0-0.

In the second half, the Outlaws came with the same intensity and focus. They continued to press and didn’t make anything easy for Central Linn.

In the 55th minute, the Outlaws got on the scoreboard. Tatem Cramer received the ball and passed it wide to Marley Holden, who pushed the ball past her defender, and got a toe-poke into the lower right corner of the net for the score.

The Outlaws were excited with the goal, but the defense immediately got together to strategize, while the offense continued to celebrate. With still 25 minutes left in the game, the Outlaws had to stay calm, and focus on finishing strong.

Lily Sundstrom had a great opportunity to score, but unfortunately the ball went off the post. Ella Davis and Becca Clausen continued to attack on the wings, and didn’t allow the Cobras to generate any offense.

However, in the final five minutes, Central Linn pushed hard and had a couple of great opportunities, but Outlaw goalie

Josie Patton was there for the saves. Patton and her defense stayed organized, didn’t commit any fouls, and physically outplayed the Cobras and held on for the win.

Coach Brian Holden was very pleased with his defense and said, “I’m proud of my defense for continuing to grow and improve every practice and every game. This game was an example. They stayed organized, calm, and closed the game.”

At the final whistle the Outlaws could easily have jumped up and down and screamed over their win, but they treated the game like any other game, and respectfully congratulated Central Linn on a good game.

Holden added, “After we got back to the locker room and gathered as a team the emotions came out. These girls are such good kids! They work hard for each other, genuinely love each other, and deserve everything they’ve earned this year.”

The Outlaws not only finished first in league, but moved from eighth to fourth place in the state rankings.

Marley Holden finished the game with a hat trick, and Izzy Schiller scored

two goals. Ella Davis, Tallis Grummer, and Lily Sundstrom added one goal each.

The highlight of the game was the goal that came from Grummer, her first goal of the season. Zoee Bafford received the ball in the middle and passed it through the gap to Grummer. Grummer outran her defenders and shot the ball from 22 yards out up and over the keeper’s hands.

The entire bench and field players came unglued when Grummer scored. Holden stated they screamed

Outlaws honor standout seniors

The five seniors on the Lady Outlaws soccer team, Josie Patton, Trinity Alvarez, Analise Backus, Sage Wyland, and Tatem Cramer were honored prior the Outlaws’ 8-0 victory over the Elmira Falcons last week.

Patton has been the Outlaws’ starting goalkeeper for the past four years, and has only been scored on three times this season.

varsity for four years, and is a very versatile player.

“Analise can play center back, wing back, and midfield when needed,” said Holden. “She’s always been a leader in the back. She plays strong defense and successfully distributes the ball out of the back.

Wyland is a four-year varsity defender.

and cheered, and he said it was great to see the support.

The final goal of the contest came from Alvarez, who beat her opponent on the outside and delivered a dangerous ball straight into the middle of the goal.

“Josie is a positive, natural role model, and people are drawn to her energy and work hard for her,” said Coach Brian Holden. “She’s matured over the last four years as an athlete and her confidence has grown each year. She’s a big body in the goal and has a large wingspan. She’s got strong hands and good eye coordination, which is why she’s hardly been scored on this season.”

“Sage is hardworking and has a lot of grit,” said Holden. “She’ll out-work any person on the field and she defines the word dedication. She is fast, relentless, and covers her team well in the back.”

the goal and has a large

Alvarez plays wing for the Outlaws, and is a very experienced player, as she’s grown up playing with her older brothers and her dad.

“Playing with her siblings and dad has given Trinity strength and grit,” said Holden. “Trinity is a soft-spoken and quiet athlete, but on the soccer field she opens up. She has physical strength and a really great outside shot.”

Backus has played on

Cramer has also played four years on the varsity squad, at both the forward and midfield positions.

“Tatem defines what a powerful player should look like,” said Holden. “She’s tall, strong, and fast. She’s a generous player and has done a great job this year in wearing down the opponents’ center backs. Tatem has also done a great job of finding the goal this year, and playing with her back to her own goal.”

After the seniors were honored, the contest got underway. The Outlaws racked up their eight goals just minutes into the second half, and since they held an eight-point advantage the game was called.

And the better the money is managed, the more resources that are available to provide those ser vices. It’s a job where experience counts. As the former Bend president of First Interstate Bank, I oversaw six branches in the Bend and Sunriver area, along with a commercial banking team. I also directly supported Deschutes County with its depository and lending needs. As a result, I have a detailed knowledge of the County’s finances and operations. That’s why I’m running for this office. It gives me an opportunity to use my experience in a way that will serve the community I love. This experience will help our county to grow, while pre serving the track record of strong financial stabil ity Deschutes County has established over many decades.

I’m not a politician, and it matters to me that this office is nonpartisan. But it is an elected office, so I’m writing to ask for your support. I hope you’ll be sure to vote, and to work your way down the ballot to the section for Deschutes County trea surer, where you can fill in the bubble next to my name. I look forward to working for you. Bill Kuhn is a candidate for Deschutes County treasurer. You can learn more about me and my supporters at www.billkuhn4treasurer.com.

s s s

Keep Sisters City Council nonpartisan

To the Editor:

This election Sisters has four highly qualified candidates for City Council. The City Council positions are by tradition nonpartisan. The Council deliberates, debates, and reaches consensus on key community issues. Unlike other elected offices in parts the state we do not have an ‘R’ or ‘D’ or ‘I’ after our names on the ballot, nor do we consider that when we work as a council. We do not hide our party affiliation, nor do we flaunt it. Ask any one of us what our political views are in a personal

conversation, and we will gladly share them.

Unfortunately, many of you have received information from the Deschutes Democrats sug gesting that you support a particular Council candidate based solely on party affiliation. A party- line approach has no place in our Council elections. Three of the candidates have policy statements in the voters pamphlet. One candi date, Sarah McDougall, entered the race late and was unable to get a statement into the pamphlet. You can learn about Sarah at Facebook.com/ SarahForSistersCityCouncil. Read about all four candidates carefully and make a decision based on what you have read, or contact any of the candi dates directly if you have questions beyond what is available in print.

Sisters deserves a carefully considered Council, without regard to party affiliation or politics. It is why Council positions are nonpartisan and should remain so.

City Council Candidate

To the Editor:

I am writing to ask you to vote for me, Sarah McDougall, for Sisters City Council.

My husband, cats, and I chose Sisters as our home for the same reasons as many of you who moved from somewhere else and those of you who were raised here and stayed. This is a special place. There is access to a large variety of outdoor spaces and activities where we can find a sense of peace. There is also a fierce sense of community and small town that we do not want to lose.

While I have been watching City Council meet ings and studying issues for several months, I started knocking on doors to talk with more people in our community. This is a task that has rewarded me with many thoughtful conversations and the honor of meeting neighbors in a few areas of town.

To all of you who have answered your doors, or taken time from yard work to speak with me, thank you for sharing your day. It has been truly lovely

to meet you.

The concerns I’ve heard about most were rapid growth and how it is affecting housing prices and quality of life, continued water availability, and separate concerns regarding speeding and pedes trian safety.

I will not pretend that I have all of the answers. However, I am confident to say that I will take the time to break down these issues and work with our experts to understand where improvements can be made. I will also listen to you to hear what other topics are important to you.

I know growth is painful and sometimes unde sirable. However, I’m a realist and believe that our best course of action is to recognize that it will continue and put the strongest efforts toward ensur ing our infrastructure continues to be upgraded and that our policies and plans have clear guidelines on how we choose to grow so that we do not lose our sense of community and home.

I spent my career in IT working in roles as a computer programmer, project manager, systems analyst, and many others as needed. I have a back ground in analyzing issues to understand where small changes can be made to make systems resil ient. I have a robust volunteer resume that shows my dedication to spending time helping my com munity be stronger.

I would appreciate your vote of confidence on the ballot. Please reach out with questions or com ments to sarahbmcdougall@gmail.com.

Sarah McDougall

To the Editor:

s s

Spiritual battle

The definition(s) of darkness in the dictionary include “absence of light or illumination; absence of moral or spiritual values.”

America over the past six years has been con sumed within a spiritual battle like never seen

Church is to the west across Brooks Camp Road, and the East Portal owned by the City is to the east across Hood Avenue.

Woodhill Homes is seeking approval to allow for a 71-lot residential development with 22 lots for singlefamily detached dwellings, 48 lots for attached townhomes, and one parcel for a multifamily residential development, including approximately 72-124 units (to be determined by a subsequent site plan review approval). The development is proposed in five phases.

There are a number of variances and modifications requested by the applicant including a reduction in lot sizes, density, square-footage of dwellings, setbacks, and length of driveways.

Several planning commissioners expressed concern that the plan as proposed has no buffer on either the north side between the attached townhomes and the adjacent Pines development or on the west side along Brooks Camp Road. They also noted there is no open space or common area within the entire development, other than the buffer between Highway 242 and the development.

The 94-foot-wide buffer along Highway 242 accounts for 30 percent of the property, twice the 15 percent required. The City wanted to preserve the setback from 242 that had been applied when the property had been in rural Deschutes County, to protect the scenic qualities of Highway 242, which is a designated scenic highway all the way into Sisters. Several suggestions were floated to possibly reduce the size of the south buffer a little and add a 10-foot buffer at the back.

Scott Woodford, community development director, explained that the City has no requirement in its code to have buffers between developments.

“If there was, we’d certainly follow that,” Woodford said.

The increase in traffic coming from Sunset Meadows, the Sisters Woodlands, and the new elementary school when it is built was also a concern for one of the commissioners, and many of the citizens in the chamber.

Prior to the October 20 hearing, the City received significant written comments related to tree removal, traffic impacts, density, architectural design, building mass, and building height.

Of the 15 people who testified at the hearing, 13 were opposed to either the entire development as proposed, or had concerns about increased density, noise, and traffic, loss of significant trees, impact on The Pines, erosion of Sisters’ small-town feel and beauty, blow-down of remaining trees, and strain on the city’s infrastructure.

Longtime Camp Sherman resident and local developer Shane Lundgren asked a philosophical question of the commissioners: “The State mandates that we provide a 20-year supply of residential land. What would be the recourse from the State if the City decided to not go that way? … It’s a difficult discussion because you can’t really move somewhere and pull up the ladder. That’s not really how society works. But we also have to protect and preserve things like Sisters that are unique. What’s the State going to do?... I think we just need to ask ourselves a bigger question.”

In order to give the public another opportunity to voice their opinions on

Sunset Meadows, the public hearing was continued to the November 3 Planning Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. There were two other large meetings in town the night of October 20.

The record has been left open for both oral and written testimony. Written testimony can be sent prior to the November 3 meeting via email to principal planner Matthew Martin at mmar tin@ci.sisters.or.us or mailed to Martin at City of Sisters, PO Box 39, Sisters 97759, or dropped off at City Hall, 520 East Cascade Ave. Reference file numbers MP 22-01, SUB 22-01, MNR 22-02.

Detailed information on the project is available on the City of Sisters website

at ci.sisters.or.us. Click on Community Development then Notable Active Projects, and Sunset Meadows Master Plan.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the commissioners will deliberate, and can either approve the application, approve with conditions, or deny the application on the basis of whether the applicable standards and criteria can be satisfied either as submitted, or as mitigated through conditions of approval.

The applicable criteria from the City of Sisters Development Code are listed on the front page of the Staff Findings and Recommendation, which can be found on the City website.

PUDDY

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long journey

Florida. She graciously gave up her

to help create

displace

due to Hurricane Ian.

now resides in one of our comf

kennels awaiting her new forever home in beauti ful Central Oregon. Her

y lets us know she may enjoy her alone time yet will let you know when she is wanting your attention.

let her adjust slowly, get to know her kitty signals, and let her blossom into your loving house cat. Let this gal

the journey was well worth it,

Sisters High School Graduation Night Fundraiser

Join us this Saturday, October 29, 5 p.m., at SHS , for Octoberfest! is is a f undraiser for the class of 2023 g raduation party and it will have some amazing ra e and auction items including a week’s stay in Hawaii, a week’s stay in Nashville, and vacation stays in Sonoma , Scottsdale, and Pacific City. FivePine, Hoodoo, Sisters Rodeo, and Sisters Folk Festival packages . Pacific NW Meat Locker, wine wagon, art, dinners , co ee, massage, 10 yards bark dust delivered, and the list goes on. Ticket s are $40 and include dinner and a drink as well as access to the festivities and fun! Ticket s can be purchased at Sisters High School, Deri’s Salon (20 8 N . Cedar St.) or online at: www.eventbrite. com/e/oktoberfest-tickets417568186687?a =ebdssbcity browse

Tempor ar y Help Needed for Tuesday Free Meal Service Seeking a sta er/leader for November and December 2022 Tuesday f ree meal ser vice. On-site need is f rom 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Sisters Community Church ere is some planning/ shopping to be done ahead of time. Call 541-760 -5677 for more information

Weekly Food Pant ry e Wellhouse Church will have a weekly food pantr y on ursdays at 4:30 p.m. (222 N . Trinit y Way) Both drive through pick-up and shoppingst yle distribution are available Plea se call 541-549-4184 for information.

Save the Rubb erbands Business owners: Are you the recipient of a bundle of Nug gets each week? ose f at rubberbands are highly valued by the Nug geteers that bundle your papers each week . If you can save them, we’d love to use them again. Questions? Call Janice at 541-549-9941.

Sisters Seeking Applicants for Advisory Boards e Cit y is accepting applications for its boards and commissions . ere are positions open on the Planning Commission, Budget Committee, Urban Forestry, Parks , and Public Work s Advisor y Boards . More information can be found at ci.sisters .or.us/bc. Applications are due by November 13 . Call 541-549- 6022 for more info.

Sisters- Camp Sher man Annual Halloween Event Sisters community children and f amilies are invited to a howling good time at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station f rom 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 31. Come check out our carnival games and , if you dare, venture into the new haunted maze at the annual Halloween event ere will be ref reshments, prizes , and candy for all the trick-or-treaters . Grab your friends and join our volunteers for a screaming fun time! For more info call 541-549-0771.

Sisters- Camp Sher man RFPD Communit y Flu Shot Clinic BestMed will be coming to make it convenient for you to protect yourself and those you care about against the flu! Wednesday, October 26 f rom 10 :30 a .m. to 1 p.m. at Sisters Fire Communit y Hall, 301 S Elm St. Most insurance pays 10 0% of the cost. No insurance? No worries! It will only be $4 0 for the regular flu shot and $80 for the senior. Please bring a photocopy of your ID, insurance card.

Historic Sisters Landmark Walking Tour Join a guide from the ree Sisters Historical Societ y and learn about Sisters’ histor y and hear some entertaining stories We will walk for approximately one mile. Tours are f ree donations are happily accepted! Reservations are necessary as space is limited due to the availability of headsets (but they are wonderful so you can hear everything!). Wed ., Oct 19, 10 a .m.; Sun., Oct . 23 , 2 p.m.; and Wed ., Oct . 26, 10 a .m. If you can join us , please leave a message at 541-549-1403 or threesistershistoricalsociet y@ gmail.com with your name, number in party, and contact information.

Volunteers Needed

Furr y Friends is looking for volunteers to help with its bottle and can f undraiser drive once a week (Wednesday, ursday or Saturday). It takes about 45 minutes to put donated bottles and cans in blue f undraiser bags. e bags are processed at the donation drop o spot on e Nug get Newspaper ’s porch; bags are then delivered to the Bottledrop at Ray ’s To volunteer please call 541-797-4023 or email info@ furr yf riendsfoundation.org

Craf ters Wanted Qualit y craf t consigners wanted for 46th Snowflake Boutique, November 4 & 5, 2022. Jur y will be held at Highland Baptist Church, Redmond , October 17 at 6 p.m . Fore more information: www.snowflakeboutique.org ; Tina 541-4 47-164 0 or Jan 541-350 -4888

Central Oregon Health Council Seeks Input

If you’re having trouble paying for the things you need to live and you’re earning too much money to qualify for financial assistance, the Central Oregon Health Council wants to hear f rom you. Join us on Tuesday, November 1 f rom 6 to 7:30 p.m. for an evening listening session in Sisters and share your story. You will receive $50 and a f ree meal for participating. Your input will help shape f uture decisions about f unding To R SVP and get location information, call 541-610 -4317 or email lquon@quondc.com

Downtown Sisters Halloween Parade e Halloween Parade returns to downtown Sisters on October 31. Sisters Park & Recreation District is partnering with Rotar y Club of Sisters to put on this communit y event designed to be a s afe and fun way to trick-or-treat at downtown businesses . Starting at 3:30 p.m. on Halloween, f amilies will check in at Fir Street Park , before being led around town by volunteers in a parade of costumes . Families are encouraged to preregister with SPRD to simplif y the check in process . e event will run from 3:30 to 5 p.m., with the last group leaving Fir Street Park at 4:30 p.m. e Halloween Parade is designed for kids up to the age of 10. Participants should come in their costume and must be accompanied by an adult Canned food donation is highly encour aged; all donations will go to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank. For information or to register, visit www.sistersrecreation.com or call 541-549-2091.

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Outlaws still have a shot at playoffs

The Outlaws football squad lost 20-7 on the road against the Siuslaw Vikings on a very cold and rainy Friday night, October 21.

Sisters started out with an interception by Patrick Silva less than five minutes into the contest. They got the ball down to the 45-yard line, but offensive penalties stalled the drive. The Outlaws’ defense held strong, and at the end of the first quarter it was dead locked 0-0.

Early in the second period Siuslaw got on the scoreboard with a five-yard touchdown run, but failed on their two-point conver sion attempt. The Outlaws’ offense struggled and they went into the half trailing 0-6.

Sisters came out in the third quarter and scored on their opening drive. Justin DeSmet found room on the right side of the offensive line and ran the ball in from 10 yards out. Adam MaddoxCastle kicked it through the

Another wolf killed in Oregon

DURKEE (AP) — A col lared wolf in the Lookout Mountain pack was shot and killed earlier this month in northeast Oregon and police are seeking the public’s help to find the person or people responsible.

On October 3, state Fish and Wildlife troopers received information from the agency that a collared female wolf known as OR88 might be dead in northeast Oregon near Little Lookout Mountain, about nine miles (14 kilometers) from Durkee, Oregon, State Police said Wednesday.

Fish and Wildlife troop ers and personnel responded to the area and found the wolf’s body on Bureau of Land Management property. Troopers believe the wolf was shot at the location on October 2.

The Oregon Wildlife Coalition and conservation partners are offering to pay an $11,500 reward that leads troopers to an arrest and/ or citation in this incident, police said.

In Oregon last year, wild life troopers found eight dead wolves in same region. The animals were poisoned, but the deaths remain unsolved and rewards also have been offered for tips leading to convictions.

uprights for the PAT, and the Outlaws pulled ahead 7-6.

The Vikings struck back just three minutes later and went up 12-7, and held that lead to close out the period.

The score stayed close for most of the final quarter, but the Outlaws had trouble mov ing the ball against a good Siuslaw defense. With 3:21 left on the clock, the Vikings punched the ball into the end zone and took a 20-7 lead, and secured the win.

DeSmet led the receivers with three receptions for 17 yards, and also led in rushing with 12 rushes for 62 yards and one TD. Maddox-Castle had six rushes for 42 yards and Tony Gonzalez had four rushes for 30 yards.

Maddox-Castle led the defense with nine tackles, followed by Jessey Murillo, who had seven. DeSmet and

Dolan Pool recorded five tackles, Gabe Bailey had four, and Gonzalez, Henry Rard, and Hudson Symonds added three each.

Coach Clayton Hall said, “This was a hard-fought, close football game, and was a lot closer than the score indicates. I felt our boys played hard and competed all night long. I’m proud how they battled all night against a good Siuslaw team, but we don’t have time to hang our heads. We have to take care of business next week.”

The Outlaws will travel to Harrisburg for their last league game of the sea son on Friday, October 28. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Outlaws are currently tied for third place in league, and if they can post a win over Harrisburg they will make the playoffs.

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 28

MONDAY

before; with the end results seeming to remove all connection to God and our found ing principles (Ephesians 6:12, John 3:19).

All are free to reject the Bible and God’s truth, but most with a “conscience” will agree there is evil and good in our world that affect behavior. Created not as robots, but humans with free will, the spiritual battle is for our minds. Who we listen to matters. From our Creator’s perspective all have sinned (Rom. 3:23). I would suggest however that many are unknowingly possessed by Satan’s power over their mind that ranges from the subtle (Isa. 5:20-21) to undeniable evil, such as the recent shooting at the Safeway store in Bend, and numerous school shootings in the past years even more horrific.

The current spiritual battle within esca lated dramatically when Trump announced running for president with two key objec tives: “Make America Great Again” and “Drain the Swamp.” You can figure out yourself which one caused the level of hate and targeted destruction of a person and his family that has been ongoing 24/7 to this day, can’t you? It surely wouldn’t be “Make America Great Again” would it? The list of who, what, and when is almost infinite in describing what I believe is an insatiable lust for power of the darkest kind. Maybe Lenin, acknowledged as pure evil, can summarize what is going on: “We must be ready to employ trickery, deceit, law-breaking, with holding and concealing truth…We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revulsion, and scorn toward those who disagree with us.”

Thankfully I believe time, common sense, and light/illumination (not from fake news — or maybe is?) is finally shining on the darkness of the spiritual battle in America. Matthew 6:33.

s s s

Supporting Emerson Levy

To the Editor:

Here in Central Oregon, we have an opportunity to be represented by a pragmatic leader who shares mainstream values, and to keep extremist views out of the Oregon State House. To have Emerson Levy in the State House of Representatives as our District 53 representative would mean we’d have a true “representative.”

Emerson is focused on making people’s lives better by addressing the basic life issues, such as: housing, broadband, and available clean water. Her motivation comes from her deep commitment to a safe society. In this nationally perilous time for democ racy, we need to trust our State legislature.

Her opponent, Michael Sipe, has dem onstrated his alignment with the extreme right-wing that have caused so much divi sion. Given the jarring rhetoric published by Sipe regarding the 2020 election, the January 6 insurrection, and his difficulty separating church and state, he has disqualified himself to be trusted as our state House representa tive. We would not be well served by some one who serves his own rigid and irrational beliefs rather than the constituents he is sup posed to represent.

Thankfully, we can count on Emerson to make decisions in support of people and communities, not corporations or ideologies. Emerson’s character can be seen in her efforts to ensure children’s safety and her respect for an open and fair dialogue in a free, demo cratic society. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have endorsed Emerson. Please join me in voting for Emerson Levy as our new state House representative in the upcoming election. Thank you.

s s s

Bad planning

To the Editor:

It’s a shame that two meetings took place on the exact same date and time, the town Hall Citizens4Community “Houseless in Sisters” at the Firehouse and City of Sisters’ public hearing on the new Sunset Meadows Development at Sisters City Hall, both on October 20 at 5:30 p.m.

Which one do you attend when both are so important to those of us who live in and care about Sisters, the one that breaks your heart or the one that just makes you shake your head at how ridiculous a new housing development is when we all know it will only add to an already stressed traffic problem and diminishing water supply?

Reading the articles in The Nugget October 19, “Laird closing up shop,” “Challenges of forest-dwelling,” “Public hearing set on new housing,” and “High rents” makes you real ize that all the talk about affordable homes in Sisters is not about affordable at all, yet we need those to pull workers in who support our small businesses and to help people like the Blair family, who have jobs but can’t find affordable housing. The Sunset Meadows development will be expensive to move into, there is no doubt about that. Do we need to build yet another development somewhere else to house these workers?

The Woodlands development got citizen support because of the affordable housing label put on it, and now we find out those homes will start at $500,000; is that afford able? This puts a lot of stress on Habitat for Humanity to get affordable houses built. We already know affordable apartments are a joke unless the renters can get assistance from the government. The rents remain high in Sisters, and I don’t see those coming down.

I only wish it were possible to be in two places at once, but it isn’t.

s s

Vaccine

To the Editor:

In the October 19 issue of The Nugget, Gary Hickman, RN presented an emotional smear response to my well-referenced com mentary on mRNA vaccination concerns. Not once did Mr. Hickman use scientific data to argue my references. He relied on highly politicized government agencies supporting the lucrative vaccine market. Sorry to report, Gary, after having COVID, against my better scientific judgement, I took two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. My wife took the Johnson & Johnson product. She made the better deci sion. The only mistake you found in my com mentary was a typo! After which you politi cized the source.

Fact: Biden said the pandemic was over. He then extended emergency-use authoriza tion for the experimental mRNA vaccines. Why? There have been no long-term stud ies on the new Moderna vaccine. None. Why did Pfizer seal its records on the testing of its vaccine for 75 years? Why can you not hold Pfizer or Moderna responsible for serious vaccine complications? The truth is trickling out through freedom of information lawsuits.

Please challenge my references with scientific studies and data. Challenge the American Heart Association researchers who found the spike proteins to cause cardiac muscle hypertrophy, remodeling, and to be intensely inflammatory. Challenge the Thai study and the growing number of doctors and nurses around the world with safety data.

I am respectful of your RN degree. I believe it is the most valuable two- to fouryear degree attainable. Taking a poke at my degree was stupid on your part. It took me 12 years to complete my DVM, board-cer

a

in Giving

appearing in the November 2, 2022 issue of The Nugget.

Advocates for Life Skills & Opportunity Age Friendly Sisters

Assistance League of Bend Bethlehem Inn Blazin Saddles

Citizens4Community CASA of Central Oregon

Central Oregon Veterans Ranch Council on Aging Destination Rehab Family Resource Center of Central Oregon

First Story / Hayden Homes Healing Reins

Heart of Oregon Corps

J Bar J Youth Services Kids Center

Native Bird Care Oliver Lemon’s Partners In Care Ray’s Food Place

Seed to Table

Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Sisters Cold Weather Shelter Sisters GRO

Sisters Habitat for Humanity Sisters Kiwanis

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District St. Vincent de Paul Street Dog Hero

United Way of Central Oregon

Nugget Newspaper

Panelists for the talk included Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District (SCSFD) Fire Chief Roger Johnson, Andrew Myhra, U.S. Forest Service assis tant fire management officer, and Doug Green, program manager of the Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) program at Headwaters Economics.

Moderated by Kirstin Anglea, and facilitated by Josie Newport, community mem bers were able to pose their questions to experts.

“It is important to recog nize there is not one single magic bullet to being wildfire ready. There is the National Cohesive Strategy that has three legs of a stool, which includes protective land scapes, emergency response within the community, and having a fire-adapted com munity,” said Johnson.

Sisters’ local fire depart ment works with partners to help create an emergency plan, as well as public pre paredness which includes hardening your own home. Many participants at the talk wanted to know what it means to have a hardened home, and where to start.

“It is important to

understand the problem of fire burning in communities doesn’t come from a flame front coming into town; they usually originate within the community, and it becomes a home ignition problem,” said Doug Green.

Clearing debris and items away from your own home can help prevent an ember fire from sparking and spreading to neighboring homes.

“What you do has an effect on neighbors and the action happens within our own community,” said Green.

The SCSFD partners with the USFS on fuel reduction treatments, and looking at fire behavior around prop erties and homes as far as saving structures and hard ening homes. Myhra works throughout the year on fuel reduction treatments in Sisters Country forests.

“We work to provide a safe environment for fire fighters to go in and fight a fire,” said Myhra.

Educating the public on how to act on their own home hardening was an ongoing theme throughout the talk. Green echoed throughout the talk that “a fire is not going to start on South Sister and move into town; it will most likely start from ember spark house-to-house, and create a situation where departments can’t put out structure fires,” he said.

Home hardening includes:

clearing gutters of pine needles, clearing the sur rounding five feet of your home of brush, pine needles, and any sort of low-to-theground fuels that put out a lot of heat. Keep your wood pile away from the surface of the home, cover boats and RVs, and keep them far ther than five feet from your house.

“When embers spark in gutters and corners where they can collect by a home, the fire bounces from home to home and it becomes over whelming for a department to respond to. When a home has that first five feet cleared, it creates a home that is eas ier to save from fire,” said Johnson.

With the USFS working on fuel reduction in the sur rounding Sisters Country forests, and the community working to harden its homes and protect itself, the commu nity is working toward being a fire-adapted community.

“Working in an extensive area of forest of mixed coni fer, we treat as many areas as we can around communities,” said Myhra.

For example, the Milli Fire in Sisters in 2017 entered flatter, treated areas where it subsequentially landed on its face and allowed firefighters to attack it.

“We really want to educate the public to explain control burns and fuel reductions and what they can do for us,”

said Myhra.

One of the toughest aspects of tackling home hardening in communities is whether to make details of it voluntary or regulatory. Most residents don’t want more mandates and rules for their property, but, if it is volun tary, not everyone might do the work.

“If we can educate peo ple and people start seeing their neighbors taking action on their homes, hopefully it can become something that everyone is able to do, and at least clearing those five feet around their house, we can work toward more defensible space in the community,” said Green.

Green and a team at SCSFD will go out to your home for free and a defensible

space assessment and tips on where to start hardening your home.

“That’s a great place to start,” said Green. Call the local fire department and request a home tour at 541-549-0771.

Chief Johnson suggested another conversation topic of looking at affordable housing in Sisters Country, and how we balance densification and growth with protecting our homes. More homes mean they are closer together, and a greater risk if fire were to enter the community.

To learn more about C4C Let’s Talk events and to sug gest a topic for an event visit www.citizens4community. com/events, or email Josie Newport at director@citizens 4community.com.

Allen Bruce “Bud” Cravens

Allen Bruce “Bud” Cravens passed away in Bend on October 10, at the age of 84.

As a youngster he lived on Catalina Island and then spent his formative years in California’s San Fernando Valley. In 1960, with his wife, Judy, and their infant daughter, he moved to Camp Sherman, following his par ents, John and Bettie, and younger brother Ross, who had purchased the Metolius River Lodge, now known as Metolius River Resort.

Bud worked a number of temporary and odd jobs until he was hired by the U.S. Forest Service, Sisters Ranger District, where he worked in timber, law enforcement, fire control (including an interagency crew), and recreation, where he was assigned to the campgrounds on the Metolius River, and at Suttle and Scout Lakes.

He built a home for his family in Camp Sherman, learning construction, in part, from the magazine Popular Mechanics. He was instrumental in estab lishing the Camp Sherman Volunteer Fire Department. He was active in the Sisters Jaycees, the Sisters Rodeo Association, and the Bend Elks Lodge.

When early retirement was offered by the USFS, Bud jumped at the chance. He was introduced to the Los Cabos area of Mexico and fell in love with the life style. He spent a few winters

Reelect

there, coming back to the Sisters area in the summer, but nearly 30 years ago made the permanent move to La Playita, BCS Mexico. He truly was in his element there and could not imagine how anyone would want to spend winters in the snow if they had the choice. One of his favorite quips about liv ing in Mexico was, “I’ve got nothing to do and all day to get it done.”

Bud was preceded in death by his parents and a sister. He is survived by his former wife, his three children, Debbie (husband, Kim; step-daughter, Rosie), Rob (wife, Teresa; son, Minam) and James (com panion, Melinda). He is also survived by his brother, a nephew (Terry), and a niece (Shelley), and their families.

Additionally he is survived by a close-knit community of ex-pats and villagers in his beloved village of La Playita.

No services will be held. His ashes will be spread at a later time in Camp Sherman and in La Playita.

Reposar en paz, Sr. Bud. No Bad Days!

Rollo (Skip) Simpson Wheeler Jr. passed away from a rapid progression of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Rollo was always known as Skip.

Born in Oakland, California, Skip attended kindergarten in Berkeley. He then attended grades 1-3 in Germany, when his fam ily relocated there. The fam ily then moved to Orinda, California, and he attended local schools for grades 4-8. He then attended and graduated from Piedmont High School in Piedmont, California.

As a teenager, Skip thoroughly enjoyed work ing on and maintaining sailboats, particularly his father’s 60-foot brigan tine, Rendezvous. He later enjoyed living on sailboats and the challenge of sailing up and down the coast of California.

After two years at Oregon State University, Skip joined the U.S. Army, and was sta tioned in Okinawa, Korea, and Vietnam. When he came out of military service in 1969, he continued his edu cation at U.C. Santa Cruz and Cabrillo Community College. His major was art.

Skip’s love and apprecia tion for art was interwoven throughout his life with his photography.

However, his love of the outdoors and his proximity to the ocean, both in Santa Cruz and his parent’s home in Hanalei, Kauai, caused him to capitalize on surfing

as an exhilarating sport.

Also during this time, he became a ski instructor and stayed with that means of livelihood on and off for 20 years. He was known as a downhill racing coach and team manager.

Skip’s passion was the outdoors, the mountains, rivers, and oceans. His love for the mountains took him most summers and fall to the mountain states to fly fish. He had a great love for Montana. Skip worked as a professional fly-fishing guide on the Green River in Utah, until he started his own business, Mountain States Flyfishing. In these last sev eral years, you could find him on the Metolius River.

Skip met his wife, Kristi, in Carmel Valley, California, and married in 1984. They were blessed to have over 38 years together. He was a devoted father and men tor to his two sons, Matthew and Michael, living in several states and sharing many adventures in Carmel Valley, California, Colorado,

Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon. He had the heart to share, always ready to talk “story,” and make new friends. Skip had compassion for others, and a kind heart.

Summing up his life: Skip was an avid sailor, skier, surfer, professional fly-fish erman, and a photographer.

He is survived by his wife, Kristi; sons, Matthew and Michael; sister Carolyn; niece Danielle Wheeler; fam ily and friends spread across several states.

E. Hoomau Maua Kealoha (May our love last forever).

Special thanks to Partners In Care Hospice in Bend, and Shannon Orf of Deschutes County Veterans Services.

Council

I have been a Sisters resident since 2017. For the past two years, I have been privileged to serve as a City Councilor Sisters is growing and changing. Decisions made by elected and appointed o cials will determine where Sisters as a community is 10 to 20 years from now

I bring extensive experience in long-range planning, public/private partnerships, and public budgeting.

I will carefully consider all perspectives, seek information necessary, and make decisions based on community wants and needs.

WisdomScottie &Faith

Scottie contentment

Fall is in the air. Nights are cool and crisp, and days offer golden sunshine. This is the best time of year to me and my Scotties. We aren’t fans of too much heat, and we’d rather not deal with 10-degree walks. This is perfect. It’s why we live in this amazing country.

It’s now nine months since we lost our third and youngest Scottie, Chewy. During those nine months we’ve watched our big boy, Bernie, and our little girl, Piper, turn into the most contented pair of dogs we’ve ever lived with. It’s amazing.

Piper fell head-overheels in love with Bernie when we first rescued her and Chewy. It took Bernie a while to return the admi ration, but he became more and more fond of Piper as time passed.

Now, with Chewy out of the mix, the two Scotties remind me of a loving cou ple whose kids have moved out of the house. Their affec tion and contentment could be the envy of any married team. They hold no grudges or unkind thoughts from the past. They just enjoy each other in the moment.

I’ve often said that dogs are God’s gift to us because they show us, the closest thing possible to uncondi tional love. Bernie and Piper are offering a wonderful illustration of how beautiful

love is as expressed in a long-term relationship.

Why is it often so chal lenging for mature couples living in “empty nests” to be content? I’ve known many men and women who get a job or start a business soon after retirement just so they can “get out of the house.”

I’ve heard women say, “Thank God he plays golf all the time, so I don’t have him underfoot.”

I’ve heard men say, “I told her to get a job so that she would have something to do.”

These are people who would tell you that they love their spouses. Yet they don’t want to live with them full-time after retire ment. Something’s miss ing. Probably some of that unconditional love.

First Corinthians, chap ter 13 gives us a good defi nition of love. It is speaking to us of the general love for our fellow human, not romantic love. But the love a couple has as they get older must have turned into the “fellow human” kind of love, rather than the roman tic love of youth. If it hasn’t matured into that, then the relationship is not reach ing anywhere near its full potential.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Long-term relationships must be both patient and kind. Often, time has caused us to be less patient with our spouse. The grind and crush of many arguments over the years, often without total forgiveness for some offenses, can make one less kind and considerate to their partner than they are to their friends.

Surely you have heard of envy being a problem in marriage. He or she has a better job, more friends,

more time to play and relax. These are just a few of the challenges, and one’s pride can fuel such fires.

Rudeness. Have we been saying “thank you” for all the help we give to one another? We say thank you to our friends and cowork ers. Let’s make sure we say it often to our spouse.

Self-seeking. There are studies that show that people spend 96 percent of their time thinking about themselves. In a marriage, all movement toward reduc ing that to at least a 50/50 level of thinking about one’s spouse causes amaz ing improvement in the relationship.

Now we move to anger/ forgiveness. The more closely one reads the teach ings of Jesus and any of the other great spiritual lead ers in the world, one finds that forgiveness is the most important aspect of true love. Be slow to anger and fast to forgive.

Complete forgiveness for all past perceived transgres sions can take a long time and a great deal of intro spection. Once all the old grudges and hang-ups have been emptied from one’s heart and soul, the most glo rious transition takes place in the person and in any relationships that person has.

Evil. The truest mean ing of evil in the Bible is our own wrong think ing or thinking negatively. Negative thinking lets in fear, and fear is the greatest evil of them all. When we let fear control us, we lose control of ourselves and our lives. Without fear, only you and God are in control, and God is perfect and complete Good. Without fear, you are safe and at peace. And that is the truth.

May God bless you and your relationships, that you may find complete contentment.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Halloween Parade is back on October 31

The Halloween Parade returns to downtown Sisters on October 31.

Sisters Park & Recreation District is partnering with Rotary Club of Sisters to put on this community event designed to be a safe and fun way to trick-or-treat at down town businesses. Starting at 3:30 p.m. on Halloween, families will check in at Fir Street Park before being led around town by volunteers in a parade of costumes.

Families are encouraged to preregister with SPRD to

simplify the check-in process.

The event will run from 3:30 to 5 p.m., with the last group leaving Fir Street Park at 4:30 p.m. The Halloween Parade is designed for kids up to the age of 10. Participants should come in their costume and must be accompanied by an adult. Canned food dona tion is highly encouraged; all donations will go to the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank.

For more information or to register, visit www. sistersrecreation.com or call 541-549-2091.

Winter is coming.

Sure, autumn has been one long Indian Summer so far — but snow will fall, and you want to be ready. That’s where Sisters Rental shines.

Sisters Rent al has you covered for your winter equipment needs — but you want to be proactive and make any purchases now. Don’t wait for snow to actually fall to get your blower for snow removal; Sisters Rental’s stock always sells out quickly when the storms hit Wi nter is wonder ful in Sisters Countr y,

and it doesn’t h ave to drive y ou indoors for months. Sist ers Re nt al offers Big Timber heaters for both s ale and re nt — they are great for outdoor eve nts or just out on your deck to keep the winte r bite away and ex tend your season for outdoor entertaining.

When the big storms hit, Sisters Rental has a wide variet y of front-end-loader-t ype equipment such as tractors, backhoes, skid steers, and Toro Dingos to move snow.

They also carr y roof rakes for when the snow star ts to stack up on your house.

Sweeney Plumbing

Sweeney Plumbing is always looking for ways to better ser ve the Sisters community. Now they have a newly renovated, up -todate showroom that is designed to be spacious and user-friendly, displaying a wide range of fix tures — from toilets to sinks. The freestanding soaker tub always draws attention.

“Seems like ever ybody wants that clawfoot tub,” says owner Zak Sweeney.

Tw o staff people are on hand in the showroom and office to be available fo r customers.

OrganicScapes

Being an o wner operated landscape design and maintenance company allows

to be responsive to clients’ needs and desires, and exceptionally good at what they do

And what they do is prett y much every thing you might need to make your prop er ty a beautiful, functional place you ca n enjoy year-round.

O wner Chris Ridenour is on the job site, so you have one point of contact to make sure communication is solid and y ou’re getting the results you want.

Sweeney has eight plumbers in the field, which means they can be re sponsive to the high demand in Sisters Countr y — from emergency repairs to new construction. Sweeney has always operated on an ethic of treating each customer and proper ty with care and respect, and every plumber works carefully and mindfully of your home

Now is the time to act on winterization needs, e specially for snowbirds who are heading south for the winter. Call now for an appointment to get your property ready for the cold weather

A Bend native, Chris knows what it takes to make your landscape thrive. He emphasizes the impor tance of a good i rrigation system, both to maximize effect and to be efficient with water. Many clients are look ing for water efficiency and moving away from grass lawns toward trees and other plants — and even artificial turf. Conver ting to drip lines can s ave significant water.

Plan now to make your landscape what you want it to be come spring and summer And inquire of OrganicScapes about their winter ser vices.

Sisters

Whether you are looking for commercial or residential fencing; horse corrals or a privacy screen; a custom gate or just a repair — Sisters Fence Company has the equip ment and exper tise to do the job

“We do a little bit of all t ypes of fencing,” says owner/operator Pat Burke.

Their ranch and agricultural f encing includes lodgepole f ence, railr oad tie , ACZA , and metal pipe fencing.

Work is done to customer specifications and tailored to the specific application.

“We really tr y to match the needs of

the homeowner and ultimately what they want,” Burke says.

Sisters Fence Company also builds cust om entrances, including cust om metal gates and automatic entr yways.

Burke, a local raised in Sisters, is committed to outstanding qualit y and ser vice for his hometown folks. Large jobs or small, they’re equipped to do the job.

As winter looms, it’s a good time to connect with Sisters Fence Company for your re sidential or commercial snow removal requirements — driveways, walkways, roofs.

Hardwood F loors by Fred Silva

The installation of fine hardwood floors is much more than a trade for Fred Silva — it’s a lifelong passion. A youthful visit to Hearst Castle — seeing the floors’ distinctive inlayed roses — stuck with Silva and shaped a career

Af te r more than f our decades as the go-to contractor for hardwood floors in the Ce ntral Valley of C alifornia, Silva and his wife moved to Sisters.

“I’m just grateful to be here,” he says. “I love this place — it’s so magical.”

Magical, to o, is the beaut y that Silva’s

Sisters Self Storage

The demand for storage space in Sisters is high — and Sisters Self Storage has just opened an annex to meet that need. But y ou’ll want to act fast — the large units are already spoken for, and other units are going fast

The new facilit y hosts more than 200 units on 2.5 acres at the west end of Sisters near Best Western Ponderos a Lodge.

It’s a secure facilit y with fencing, gates, and c ameras — a safe place to keep your valuables in 1 0x30 (all re ser ved), 1 0x20, and 10x10 units.

S ist ers Self-St orage opera te s on a month-to -month basis. C all Angela fo r information on discount packages fo r multi-month payment.

Whether you are storing your possessions while you build or move, or just need some ex tra space you don’t have at home, Sisters Self Storage offers a clean, secure resource fo r you. But act now — demand is ve ry high; the anne x has only been open a couple of w eeks and it’s already filling up

Sisters Self Storage is family owned.

w ork brings to a home. Silva create s his inlays by laying down a template and care f ully cutting down about a q uar te r inch using a tangent router

Silva specializes in beautiful inlays, espe cially flowers. The painstaking process is like painting or engraving. The wood is cut so that the grain looks like a flower opening.

While he loves the ar tistr y of the work , he doesn’t m ind doing straightfor war d work with the highest standard of qualit y.

“If they can’t affo rd ar twork, we just go back to laying the floor straight,” he says.

Vacay

Tr av elers ha ve disco ve r ed the joy of having their fridge filled when they arrive in Sisters — with just a phone call to Vacay Grocer y Deliver y.

That kind of ser vice isn’t just for visitors though — locals can enjoy the s ame conve nience of ordering through Vacay Grocery D eliver y. Having Va cay Grocer y D eliver y handle the shopping is not an indulgence. It’s super efficient, saving you the time and expense of driving and the hassle of shop ping at the end of a workday.

Va ca y Gr ocer y D eliv er y also deliv ers

fr om local re staurants. Just place y our order and pay for it, then send Angelena a text with the time that your order will be ready, and your to- go meal will be delivered right to your door

Va ca y Gr ocer y D eliv er y also offers a subscription ser vice — e ssentially a CSA — where you c an get weekly or biweekly deliver y of the produce of local farms. That ser vice is available region-wide

Visitor or busy local, working with Vacay Grocer y D eliv er y s ave s y ou time — and greatly enhances quality of life.

Tewalt & Sons Excavation

There’s nobody in Sisters Countr y with more talent and experience in moving dir t than Tewalt & Sons Excavation. Whether it’s a push-out for new construction or digging out a septic system and drainfield, they ’ve got t he full range of excavation ser vice s c ove red. It pays to get them i nvolved as early as possible in your planning process.

“We can help you out a lot if we can get there before you star t making plans,” says Dar yl Tewalt.

M aking sure y our w ell and y our sep tic system are separated appropriately is

Sus an Waymire, CTC

Travel in 2022 has been off the char ts! Travel industr y exper ts say that the indus tr y has reached pre -pandemic levels again in record numbers.

If you are looking to travel in 202 3, now is the time to consider that bucket-list trip for next year With international travel now open, travel advisors have made a come back in assisting clients with those trips of a lifetime. There are many options to choose from between cruises, t ours, and guide ser vices.

Finding r eliable operat ors r equir es

valued ex pe rt ise. Wi th ove r 30 y ears’ experience, why not sit down with y our local travel advisor to personally help you navigate these options. Some of Sus an’s r ecently planned trips include privately guided tours of Egypt, Turkey, and It aly, as well as organized cruises and tours of France, Alaska, and Tahiti.

Her own travels include epic adventures such as heli-hiking in Canada, an African sa fari, and cruising the Amazon Riv er Co nt act Sus an at 541-719-8997 to create your own memories.

critical — and it c an get overlooked in the planning if somebody isn’t used to paying attention to such things.

“Just a little prior planning — that’s a big deal,” Tewalt says.

And getting y our ex ca va to r i nv olv ed early c an help make sure that whateve r you need to do on the ground allows you to maximize and preser ve your views.

With Tewalt & Sons, you get more than exper tise in the operation of heavy equip ment — y ou get the benefit of y ears of experience and problem solving in the field.

Bath Tune -Up

Your bathroom is an impor ta nt room in y our house — y ou want it to be both pleas ant and functional. Bath Tu ne -U p c an help you get the bathroom that suits your needs, efficiently and affordably From small upgrades to full remodels, the Bath Tune -Up team will turn your dream bathroom into realit y.

Co nv ersion fr om bathtub to walk in showe r is a popular upgrade. Most adults don’t use bathtubs much, and fo r those aging in place, a walk-in showe r is a much sa fer option. Showe r or bath

upgrades can gi ve y ou b ett er function and a fresh look without having to make hundreds of decisions. And if y ou wan t to do a full remodel, the Bath Tune -U p team c an provide that as well. Their goal is to pr ov ide y ou w ith all the information you need to make an easy, informed decision. They listen to y our desi re s an d communicat e effectively throughout th e process.

Call for a free virtual or in-home consultation — and get started creating the bathroom space you truly want.

Back In Action Fitness

To get and stay in shape, Back In Action c an provide y ou with any thing y ou may want or need. From a foam roller to a treadmill; from dumbbells to a rowing machine

Whether you’re setting up a small gym at home or have a commercial facilit y, you can get your equipment delivered and set up with Back In Action Fitness Equipment’s full deliver y and installation.

Since 2008, Back In Ac tion Fitness Equipment Sales & Ser vice has been sup plying equipment for home users and commercial facilities alike. O wner Ke vin

Hounds 2 Horses

Kristine Warren has loved animals since she was young.

“Animals get me up in the morning,” she says. “I just love them.”

Through Hounds 2 Horses Pet & Ranch Care Ser vices she is able to translate that l ove and ca re into a valuable ser vice fo r

from ranchers with many animals to a person with a couple of kitt y cats living in town.

Roll says that the most popular pieces of equipment are treadmills, with bikes and ellipticals coming in second,  followed by free weights and functional items.

Qualit y cardio equipment has become increasingly affordable — and it is adapting to the needs of the population. Recumbent elliptical machines are popular among an aging population. Staying fit is more impor ta nt now than eve r, and Back In Ac tion Fitness Equipment Sales & Ser vice makes it easy to get what y ou need to make it happen.

kinds of animals, from dogs a nd cats to chickens and goats to horses and llamas. They ’ve milked goats; they clean wa te r troughs, and grain and blanket horses; they help administer pet or large -animal shots or oral meds — any thing that is needed to make your animals’ lives better, and yours as well.

If you’re heading out of town for a day or for an ex tended period, there is tremendous peace of mind in leaving your beloved pets under the care of people who care as much about them as you do.

TRUSTS

When student becomes teacher

“Many of the kids who enroll in the flight science classes are curious about flying, but Max is one of the few who are passion ate about it, really commit ted,” Sam Monte of Outlaw Aviation told The Nugget.

He was describing Max Tintle, a 2019 Sisters High School graduate. Tintle com pleted the academic course work, and “with huge sup port from my parents” got enough inflight hours to earn his pilot’s license.

Even at reduced rates for students in the school’s Outlaw Aviation Academy, the cost of building enough flight hours is steep. Now, Tintle is himself a CFI — Certified Flight Instructor — with Leading Edge Aviation in Bend. He currently has six students under his tutelage.

Tintle holds a CFII cer tificate, meaning he can instruct pilots seeking their instrument rating.

Tintle strikes an observer as being just what you’d want in a pilot, or more so a flight instructor — calmness. Think about teaching your teenagers to drive and then multiply that by a factor of 10. Keeping your own anxi ety in check is no mean feat.

He speaks evenly, fac tually, no embellishments.

You’d have no trouble trust ing him with your life, which at some point his students must do.

The program at Sisters High School, somewhat unique in the country, describes itself this way: “The Outlaw Aviation Academy is a unique experi ence for high school students to earn credits and gain realworld experience through the lens of aviation. Students participating in the academy can begin building skills and gaining knowledge neces sary for a career in aviation while in high school.”

Tintle “can’t imagine being where I am today with out the program.” Or without hometown Outlaw Aviation, which has suspended its operations this September pending a reconfiguration.

Monte said: “We’re trying to figure out how to make this sustainable, financially viable.”

That includes the pos sibility of relaunching as a not-for-profit, perhaps com munity owned or foundation granted.

Outlaw Aviation is owned and operated by Monte and Walt Lasecki, both military veteran officers with a desire to lead and educate stu dents who share a passion of flight. Outlaw Aviation has partnered with the school, the school’s foundation, and

Sisters Eagle Airport, as well as numerous private donors.

Putting airplanes into the air is expensive, fuel being just one of the major coats. Interestingly the day we interviewed Tintle, our com munity airport was excep tionally busy as pilots from the region dropped in to gas up at $5.80 a gallon, the low est price in Oregon. It’s well over $7 in Bend and Sun River, and in California some gas prices are approaching $11.

Benny Benson, who with his wife, Julie, owns Eagle Airport, jokes that he hasn’t figured out how to change the price gauge. In fact, they are intentionally keeping the price where it is as a public service.

Tintle’s employer, Leading Edge, has operated for 20 years. Their Flight Academy turns out pilots for, among others, Skywest and Horizon Air. Skywest pro vides planes and crews for the smaller, regional markets served by Delta and United. Horizon is the regional arm of Alaska Air.

They train for both winged aircraft and heli copters. Tintle is one of 26

instructors for the company.

From Sisters High School, Tintle went to COCC in Redmond and earned an associate’s degree in aeronautics. Continuing his own career advancement, he is a remote student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. U.S. News & World Report named EmbryRiddle No.1 in three separate

categories, and in the top 10 overall.

Tintle, in his measured, steadfast manner, doesn’t have a master plan with a defined end goal, such as flying a large commercial jet for a prestigious interna tional carrier. He is incre mental in his approach, taking one career step at a time.

standing as high as 32 inches at the shoulder and often tip ping the scales at more than 100 pounds. These steadfast guardians usually exhibit a Zen-like calm, but they can quickly spring into action and move with grace and speed to meet a threat. The lush, weatherproof coat is all white, or white with markings of beautiful shades of gray, tan, reddish-brown, or badger.

To manage the goats and the dogs, Martin supplies a goat herder who lodges in a nearby RV. He’s aided by a four-wheel ranch utility vehicle the herder uses to set fences and supply water to the herd.

Try finding a goat herder in Oregon. You won’t. Martin has to import them from Peru. They come on an H-2A tem porary agricultural visa and stay for three years. Peru is legendary for goat herders.

The herder sets up the solar-powered electrified fencing in two- to threeacre patches and herds the goats inside. From there nature takes its course. After the goats clear the section, the fence is moved and the process repeated under the watchful eyes of the Pyrs. Even with fencing, coyotes,

plentiful at the ranch, would menace the goats unless the dogs were on hand.

Male goats are precluded from the mix for the obvious reason — unwanted breed ing. And they are known to be occasionally uncoopera tive. Just ask Rand Rietmann of Cloverdale, who recently borrowed his neighbor’s billy to clear some vegetation.

The goat, tethered to a tree with a long rope so it could work sections, got his rope tangled with his water dish. Rietmann, in trying to free the rope, found himself on the ground, butted hard by the goat.

Some of Martin’s goats are fitted with bells, mak ing it easier for the herder to find them, and in the unlikely event that they escaped their fencing, one has a GPS tracker. Being herd animals they would of course all be bunched together.

Jane Stayer, one of the homeowners involved in finding Martin, took us on a tour where we met the goats and saw first-hand evidence of their handiwork.

“We are very pleased with the outcome so far,” she said. “It’s actually a very costeffective way to mitigate the fire danger.”

She imagines the goats returning next year.

The goats will be finished with their job next week, and Martin will move them to their next contract.

Senior players recognized

The Outlaws soccer pro gram honored seniors Gus Patton, Tate Kaczmarek, Aidan Eckert, Corbin Fredland, Taine Martin, and Zenus Ortega prior to their game against La Pine last week.

Patton has been a varsity starter for two years, and this year was a co-captain. Husmann noted that Gus is a strong leader, a special individual, is always posi tive and works hard, but reminds everyone it’s all about having fun.

Kaczmarek is a four-year starter and a co-captain this year. Tate is a highly skilled player and led the team in scoring. Husmann said that Tate has high expectations of himself and others, and is very capable of playing at the next level.

Eckert is a skilled soccer player, who has incredible field vision. He’s a fouryear starter, a mentor to the younger players on the squad, and also a next-level player.

Fredland is a three-year varsity player, who has started for the Outlaws the past two years, and this year was a co-captain. Husmann noted that Corbin is a very

intelligent and versatile player, has grown tremen dously this year, and is a balanced scholar-athlete.

Martin is an athletic and versatile player, who has played varsity the past two years. Taine didn’t play soccer until he entered high school and learned the game quickly. Husmann stated that Martin is a ‘super-sub’ with a positive attitude, and a scholar-athlete who plans to run track in college.

Ortega rounds out the senior players and has played one year on the var sity squad. Husmann told The Nugget he can’t say enough about “Z” (Zenus). Husmann stated that Zenus doesn’t see much time on the varsity pitch, but is so loved by his team, and has learned to balance all that life throws his way. Husmann added that Zenus gave such important energy to the team, and that he is also a scholar-athlete.

Of his seniors Husmann said, “This is the first group of guys that I have coached all the way through, and it has been such an honor to be their coach. Our first year, we won just two games. This group of guys has shown great leadership and commitment to help ing raise the bar of this

program. I have so many great memories with this group of young men.”

After the seniors were recognized and honored, the game then got under way and Sisters had control from the get-go. Scoring was balanced and unself ish as the Outlaws got two goals each from Eckert and Kaczmarek, and one goal each from Christian, Dean, Carson Bell, and Gus Patton.

At the half, the Outlaws were on top 7-0. Husmann opted to shift senior Gus Patton from his usual defen sive position up to forward and slide Kaczmarek back to defense, and both boys were excited for Patton to get a chance to play up front.

Patton is the rock of the Outlaws’ defense, so never gets a chance to score a goal. He was moved for ward and given a rare opportunity. After some beautiful passes through the middle of the pitch, Patton struck the ball into the back of the net for the final goal of the match.

Husmann said, “The team and fans erupted! He is so very loved by his team mates, such a good human, and it was such a fitting way to wrap up senior night.”

GOATS: Process is quiet, and environmentally friendly

Outlaws claim conference title

The boys soccer squad entered their final game of the season at home against Central Linn (CL) on Wednesday, October 19, with the conference title on the line. Sisters (No.2) and Central Linn (No.1) both entered the contest with one loss in league play. It was a fierce battle, but the Outlaws emerged on top in a final score of 2-1, and were crowned league champions.

Sisters took the field amid an energized crowd of sup porters. During their warmups it was announced that the girls soccer team had beat Central Linn on the road to claim the league champion ship, which gave the boys team extra motivation to get the win.

Coach Jeff Husmann told The Nugget his boys were poised and positive coming into the match, and stated that all year they’ve stressed the importance of staying focused and confident.

In the opening minutes of the contest, the Outlaws were a bit flat and quickly found themselves defending. They survived the first 10 minutes and then settled in and took possession.

Central Linn had a target player up top who would often try to isolate the Outlaws’ defense by playing a direct ball over the top to him. The Outlaws recognized this early, but the Cobras managed to get the ball to him inside the box. Husmann

told The Nugget the center of the Outlaw’s defense made a rare mistake and CL scored.

Husmann said, “We knew we had a game on our hands. What impressed me was how our boys didn’t panic. We knew we had advantages, particularly in our ability to control the midfield.”

The Outlaws’ defense was able to stifle the Cobras’ attack, and they began to cre ate more offensive opportu nities for themselves. Sisters had some very good looks and shots on goal, but just couldn’t find the net.

title, so they came into the second half with the same intensity and focus. For much of the second half, CL slid their most athletic player to defense. The Outlaws con tinued to play a balanced and unselfish game and again created chances, but couldn’t find the net. Central Linn’s goalkeeper looked rattled at times, but the Outlaws still couldn’t break the deadlock.

With 12 minutes left in the match, Baylor Dyer got his second yellow card on what Husmann called a “botched call.” That penalty resulted in the Outlaws playing the remainder of the game with just 10 players.

Husmann said, “We could have folded, and accepted the tie, but the grit and character of this team came through. We controlled this game, and to come out with anything less than a win would have been a disappointment.”

The Deschutes National Forest will close a section of the Suttle Lake Loop Trail for public safety while con tractors conduct tree removal work, as part of the Suttle Lake Vegetation Management Project.

Starting Monday, October 24, the Suttle Lake Loop Trail will be closed in the area of Blue Bay Campground. Visitors will continue to be able to hike out and back along open sections of trail during this time. The Suttle Lake Loop Trail closure

within Blue Bay Campground is expected to last for one week. Vegetation manage ment work in Blue Bay Campground is slated to last for up to one month; how ever, no additional closures are anticipated.

The Suttle Lake Vegetation Management Project pro vides treatment and removal of dead and dying trees or trees showing signs of future failure within organizational camps, campgrounds, and along roads in the greater Suttle Lake area.

In the 27th minute the Outlaws scored. Aidan Eckert ripped a beautiful shot off a Tate Kaczmarek assist to make it even at 1-1. The energy and momentum were in the Outlaws’ favor and they stayed focused and kept the pressure on.

Sisters had more chances to score, but couldn’t con vert. Husmann stated that Kaczmarek, Eckert, Vincent Christian, and Austin Dean are the core energizers of the team and they definitely showed it in this game.

At the half the score was deadlocked 1-1.

Sisters knew a tie would give the Cobras the league

The crowd’s energy helped motivate the Outlaws and with just over four min utes left on the clock, Danny Benson somehow got a foot on the ball and poked it into the net off one of the Cobras’ defenders to go up 2-1. The Outlaws held on and finished with a dramatic win and the league title.

Husmann said, “I am so very proud of this team! We are excited for the playoffs and look forward to going as deep as we can.”

The Outlaws finished their regular season 8-1 in league and 9-5 overall. Playoff dates and times are yet to be determined.

I am so very proud of this team!

—Coach Jeff Husmann

buddy, gave his assessment: “The hatches are really good, especially mayfly. Nymphing is really good.”

Last week’s ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) report said, “The Metolius River contin ues to fish well. Streamers are a good bet for bull trout that are following kokanee on their spawning migration.”

Perin’s report from Saturday was bullish.

“Spent another day on the Metolius yesterday and had much better success than the last skunking I got. I got fish on Purple Comparaduns and PMD Film Critic and Tina got a couple on green drakes and Purple Comparaduns. There are a lot of PMDs, BWOs, caddis, Mahogany Duns going. Drakes are wan ing fast, but we saw some yesterday.

“Bull trout fishing has still been good and many people have seen bulls hunt ing down kokanee! Big Streamers are a must when we see that. Nymph action is excellent, with a lot of good euro nymph action, plus Oct Caddis Pupa, Golden Stones, Orange Pat’s Rubber Legs, eggs, and Rainbow Warriors.”

“While flows at the head waters have fallen off, the height of the Metolius River has remained relatively sta ble,” Gorman said, reporting that at one gauging station north of Camp Sherman, the river had dropped just 0.2 of a foot from its usual height.

Once you get to Lake Creek, roughly a half mile from the headwaters, the river looks full.

And, for the most part, it is. At Grandview, just before the Metolius enters the sprawling Lake Billy Chinook Three Rivers res ervoir, flows Sunday were 1,260 CFS, off slightly from its 1,350 median.

Closer to Camp Sherman, at the Allingham Station reader, average flows for October run around 250 CFS. Since the drought it’s been closer to 200. This is consis tent with nearly all the rivers in the basin, Gorman said.

Between the head and just below Lower Bridge, no fewer than seven year-round creeks flow into the Metolius — Lake, First, Jack, Canyon, Abbot, Candle, and Jefferson. Suttle Lake, as it drains out Lake Creek, provides a big portion of the water in the Metolius. Nearly two dozen high mountain lakes contrib ute to the pristine river.

Metolius derives from the Sahaptin word for “white fish,” referring to the light-colored Chinook salmon. The river is a sacred place for the Wasco, Warm Springs, and Northern Paiute

of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, who have hunted, gathered, and fished from the river for thousands of years.

Bart Wills, a geologist with the Deschutes National Forest, has written about the source: “With a 300-foot hydraulic gradient, the water passes beneath Black Butte and emits in two springs that come together to form the Metolius River, with a flow that ranges from 67 to 130 cubic feet per sec ond. The discharge varies in response to precipitation and snowpack in the Cascade Range.”

At 29 miles, the Metolius is short, but its natural beauty and legendary fishing more than match its length. The river is protected by the National Wild and Scenic River Act of 1988 and Oregon’s Metolius Protection Act. In 2009, the Legislature designated the 448 square miles of the Metolius River basin as an Area of Statewide Concern arising from two proposed destination resorts in the basin. The legislation prohibits the development of residences, golf courses, and large resorts within the watershed.

ONFIFTH-GRADE FIELD TRIPS

For Sisters Middle School student s, a “field trip” is much more than just a chance to get ou t of the classroom for a few hours . The fifth-grade teaching team of Ti any Tisdel, Emily Surgeon, Melissa Stolasz , and K athy Few lead their charges in “place-based learning” — which is, simply put , just getting kids out in the local en vironment and oppor tunities in Central Oregon,” Tisdel explained.

The field trips tie in with their classroom learning. A trip to Bend Science Station focused on cardiology, which ties in with a classroom unit on health.

The students got to take EKG readings and “ they got to hold a cow ’s hear t in their hands — if they wanted to,” said Few.

More than that, “ they got to be on a college campus and they got to work in a real lab,” Tisdel noted. Such experiences can le ave a lasting impression.

Trips to Seed to Table Farm and out to local rivers with Trou t Unlimited o er hands- on learning about agriculture and abou t riparian zones — and students often have oppor tunities to plant and do other work that enhances those experiences .

S tolasz notes that the work in the f ield can be a big boon to student s who may struggle with understanding an abstrac t concept — until they can relate to an experience they had on the river or in the dir t.

“I think the crossover for science has been ridiculous,” she said.

For ex ample, she watched student s argue out where element s belong among the four spheres of ear th — “lithosphere” (land), “ hydrosphere” (water), “biosphere” (living things), and “atmosphere” (air).

That discussion grew direc tly ou t of f ield trip experience — and she watched light bulbs go o “The thing that could be an abst rac t thing is now a concrete thing because you can refer back to that shared experience,” S tolasz said.

“It’s that critical thinking,” Few said. “And they have to collaborate.”

That builds not only knowledge, bu t work and interpersonal skills. Thanks to the natural setting of their f ield trips, student s can be treated to unforgettable life experiences

“My group watched an osprey f ish in the river, get a

On Saturday, October 29, my clan will head down to Bend for a Thoroughly Modern Productions staging of my favorite Shakespeare play, “Macbeth.” I’ve seen many a version on the screen, but this will be my first time seeing The Scottish Play as it was intended, as live theater.

It’s just the thing for the Halloween weekend, since “Macbeth” is the spooki est and most supernaturally laden of Shakespeare’s plays. Even people who know nothing else about the play recognize the song of the witches who prophesize Macbeth’s rise to kingship and ultimate doom: Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon’s blood, Then the charm is firm and good.

Like all of the Bard’s “history” plays, “Macbeth” is not very historical. If you think Hollywood takes liberties with history, ol’ Will gleefully pillaged the past for propaganda with which to please his patrons — Tudor and Stuart monarchs — and cast shade upon their enemies. Written in 1606-07, not long after Catholic extrem ists attempted to blow up Parliament and King James I along with it in the infa mous Gunpowder Plot, Macbeth is a meditation on the soul-searing sinful ness of regicide. James I certainly approved of this message.

The presence of the witches is also a nod to James I, who was also James VI of Scotland. James was obsessed with witchcraft so obsessed that in 1597 he published a book about it entitled “Daemonologie.” The tome was a “scientific” treatise on witches and their work, and as is so often the case in history, the pathol ogy of the great percolated

down to rip society apart. During James’ reign, hun dreds of women were tor tured, hanged, garroted and/ or burned. Nasty business.

Witch hunting burnt out for a couple of decades when James died, and his son Charles I suppressed the practice under law. But the chaos and dislocation of the English Civil War in the 1640s, and the rise of Puritan power, led to another bloody spasm — which would echo down the decades and play out one last time in 1692, on the forested frontier of the New World in the notorious Salem Witch Trials.

The Puritan narrative is part of the warp and weft of the American narrative, and the equating of the wil derness (and its indigenous inhabitants) with terrifying satanic doings created a dark thread of paranoia and anxiety that runs through the fabric of the American psyche to this day.

There is a counternarrative to this thread, of course. At this year’s Sisters Folk Festival, singer-songwriter Emily Scott Robinson previewed a set of songs she wrote for a production of “Macbeth” in Colorado. The full album of those songs, titled “Built on Bones,” drops on

October 28.

She explained her pur pose for the songs to the audience at the Village Green, and to an online Americana publication called The Boot:

“The Witches of Macbeth are traditionally cast as scary, ugly, and evil creatures to which we attribute the darker magic of the show and Macbeth’s descent into madness. Our theory was this: What if the Witches were instead beau tiful, tempting, sexy, power ful, and playful? What if the Witches held the capacity, just like Macbeth, for both light and dark magic? After all, in the time of King James I and the witch trials in England, the ‘witches’ targeted by the Crown were not supernatural beings — they were folk healers, spir itualists, and teachers.”

It’s best to remember that Macbeth (with prod ding from his wife) chose to damn himself to tor ment, madness, and ulti mately death in pursuit of raw ambition. For, what ever the witches may be, it is Macbeth that they see approaching on the moor when one sister proclaims:

By the pricking of my thumbs

Something wicked this way comes.

FINANCIAL FOCUS

What should you know about IRA and 401(k) rollovers?

If you’ve been contributing to an IRA, you’ve chosen a great way to save and invest for retirement. All IRAs have potential tax benefits and a range of investment possibilities, but not all IRA providers offer the same features. So, if you decide that your current IRA provider is charging higher fees than you’d like, or perhaps doesn’t offer as many investment choices as you want, then you might choose to move your IRA assets to another provider. How should you go about making this switch?

Here are some options to consider:

• Trustee-to-trustee transfer or direct rollover – You can ask the financial institution holding your IRA to move the money directly to another IRA. No taxes will be withheld from the amount transferred at the time of the transfer. This method is generally hasslefree, but some IRA sponsors will still only mail the check to your address of record, so you’d have to forward it to your new IRA.

• Indirect rollover – If you take an indirect rollover, also known as a 60-day rollover, the assets from your existing IRA will be liquidated and the custodian or plan sponsor will send you a check or deposit the funds directly into your bank or brokerage account. This payment may be subject to withholding for federal taxes, and possibly state taxes, unless you opt out of withholding. You have 60 calendar days from the time the funds were withdrawn to deposit the money, including any amount withheld, into a new IRA. If you miss this 60-day deadline, the withdrawal may be taxable at your personal income tax rate, and it could also be subject to an early

withdrawal penalty if you’re younger than 59 ½.

Given the immediate withholding and the possibility of further taxes if you don’t move the money into a new IRA before the 60 days are up, you’ve got much to consider before initiating an indirect rollover. Consequently, you should consult with a financial advisor and tax professional before you make this type of move.

In addition to a rollover from an existing IRA, you may someday want to move the money from your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan to an IRA. This can occur when you retire or change jobs, although if you do take on another job, you might have the options of leaving your 401(k) with your former employer or rolling it over into your new employer’s plan. However, if you do want to move your 401(k) funds into an IRA, you can make what’s known as a direct rollover, in which the administrator of your old retirement plan will send you a check made payable to the custodian of your IRA. No taxes will be withheld, but you need to get the funds transferred within 60 days to avoid any potential tax issues.

You spend years contributing to your IRA and 401(k) — and for good reason. So, when it’s time to move that money, be careful and consider getting help from your financial and tax professionals. These funds can play a big role in your retirement income, so manage them wisely.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor Karen Kassy.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

WORD OF THE DAY…

Sisyphean

Denoting or relating to a task that can never be completed.

“The pursuit of perfection is a Sisyphean task.”

The word comes from the name of Sisyphus, a character in Greek mythology who was punished by being forced to continuously roll a boulder up a steep hill.

Thankyouforjoiningus!

government,

environment,

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forestry,

scene,

The Nugget is also the place to find interesting stories of people in our community living intentionally

helping to make our community special.

let’s not forget

opinions of our diverse community

Nugget is a place to discover what others

thinking

(and a place for you to

well).

financial support to keep our community journalists and staff doing what they love to bring The Nugget to everyone in the Sisters community — for free — each week. Support online at NuggetNews.com (click on “Subscribe & Support”) or drop a check off at the

we’d love to thank you in person!

Veterans engage in forest work in Sisters

Jake Dailey from central Washington is a military vet eran and founder and forester of U.S. Rake Force, which he describes as a mobile response team for biomass reclamation and carbon nega tive conservation services.

“We use regenerative and permaculture strategies to restore ecosystems and individuals.”

Among his services, in which he employs other vet erans, especially those living with PTSD, are practices for regenerating forests to their optimum level of health with the help of goats to reduce hazardous fuels and noxious weeds (see related story, page 3)

The Nugget caught up with Dailey Saturday as he was plying his trade on Forest Road 4606, near Peterson Ridge. Aided by

Adrian De La Rosa, a Marine veteran and operations and program manager for Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, and Army veterans Robert Shaw and Michael Robinson, they were gathering wood remains from a prescribed burn, haz ardous fuels, to convert them to carbon-rich biochar, and reapply to the soil at the Veterans Ranch, located in Bend. The Ranch is engaged in a regenerative agriculture project as part of its veter ans outreach work. For more information, visit www. covranch.org.

It’s all part of a burgeon ing movement in regen erative agroforestry. Dailey, who served as a medic in the Iraq War, will return to the Ranch for Regenerative Veterans Day Weekend, November 11-13, where he will lead a workshop. In describing the movement, De La Rosa summarized: “It’s soil to soul.”

tified specialty credentials, and become a tenured associate professor of veterinary medicine.

By the way, did you know the highly vac cinated director of the CDC just tested posi tive for COVID? The editor of The Nugget should be commended for allowing this free dom of speech platform for open debate.

s s s

McDougall for City Council

To the Editor:

I urge all of my Sisters friends and neigh bors to vote for Sarah McDougall for City Council. She isn’t in the Voter’s Guide, but she’ll get my vote. I met Sarah when we worked together on the Sisters City Parks Advisory Board. The Parks Master Plan update was part of the “to-do” list, and Sarah

reached out right away to see how she could help.

As a new resident, she visited all of the city parks, read the very detailed parks plan, and was quickly up to speed. I appreciated Sarah’s commitment to regular meeting atten dance and she was always prepared to offer thoughtful insights to board discussions.

Sarah and I recently met again at a C4C Community Builder meeting, which she regularly attends. Once again, I was impressed with her insights and willingness to step up. Since moving to Sisters, Sarah has volunteered her talent and time to several organizations and taken a thoughtful look at various ways to participate in her new community.

I’m encouraged to see such a dedicated and talented individual committing her skills and passion to work for the City of Sisters as its newest Council member. I’ll be voting for Sarah McDougall for City Council and I urge you to do so, too.

AD VERTISING in The Nugget

Nugget

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S isters area. W hen I was starting my law practice here in Sisters, I went with the recommendations from other locals to ‘Put an ad in e Nugget!’ is turned out to be the best advice I could have received. I saw

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people, when asked, heard about my ser vices from

“My par tnership with e Nugget has become the cornerstone of my marketing plan in the S isters area, and I encourage anyone wanting to reach the

population and grow their business to give serious thought to advertising in our local paper I guarantee you will see results!

“We are so fortunate to have a local newspaper that delivers valuable information and is so well utiliz ed by the area’s businesses. W hen I am in need of a ser vice, I always look to e Nugget ads rst. W ho needs the internet when we have e Nugget?!”

SUDOKU

Easy Peasy!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down, and each small nine-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

MATH SQU ARE

se the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations. Each number is used once. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation. Remember that multiplication and division are per ormed before addition and subtraction.

A UTUMN W ORDFIND

D T L V

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D O

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T J T N H K R

Q O

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C T Y R S I R U B O H J J

T M N N Z U J I W S K L

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I N E C O N E R P

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Gun measure: The devil’s in the details

Measure 114 may seem to some folks like a reason able effort to quell the vio lence we’ve all seen play out across the country — and right here in Central Oregon.

It’s not.

The measure creates a permit-to-purchase system that is built to fail, imposing an unfunded administrative burden on law enforcement that will cost local depart ments significantly, and take resources away from actual public safety work. And it leaves legitimate, lawabiding gun purchasers high and dry, mandating training that it makes no provision to provide or even to make accessible, creating a redun dant system of background checks, and setting no time frame for the processing of permits. It could take months or years to obtain a permit.

The way Measure 114 is constructed leads some gun owners to believe that it is intentionally crafted to wield bureaucracy to throt tle their rights. Creating laws that are impossible to comply with is wrong, and further erodes the already threadbare belief in the good faith of our institutions.

Sheriff Shane Nelson told The Nugget that he is opposed to Measure 114. So are many other sheriffs across the state.

The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) legal counsel said that, “OSSA believes that it will cost local governments in excess of $40 million the first year alone, dwarfing the revenues collected by permit fees. If passed, these permit programs will be required — not optional — so local governments will have no choice but to real locate other public safety funding to the purchase per mits program.”

The OSSA estimates that 275 new employees would be needed across Oregon if law enforcement is to com ply with Ballot Measure 114. That’s in a climate where it is already difficult to recruit law enforcement officers.

Nelson notes that the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is backlogged to February to process con cealed carry permits, which represent a fraction of the numbers projected for permit-to-purchase under Measure 114. He estimates that he would have to hire additional staff at approxi mately $100,000 FTE sim ply to process permits and run background checks — not the most effective use of funds for law enforcement.

As Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler notes, “Currently in Oregon, background checks are already required on all gun purchases. All Concealed Handgun License permit

holders are required to com plete a firearm safety course and undergo an additional background check. Measure 114 will do little to reduce illegal gun ownership but will certainly add a signifi cant barrier to law-abiding citizens in their ability to purchase a firearm and pro tect themselves.”

“There’s a cost to it, and it doesn’t solve the prob lem (of mass shootings),” Sheriff Nelson told The Nugget. “The problem is a mental health issue.”

He’s right. Oregon should be putting its resources into tackling what virtually everyone in the state recognizes as a mental health crisis that is affecting everything from homeless ness to education to public safety — not into creating more dysfunctional bureau cratic mazes that, by design, only affect people who are willing to follow rules and abide by laws.

It would be a good thing

if those behind Measure 114 were serious enough about making sure that Oregon’s armed citizenry is welltrained that a measure could be crafted that would pro vide funding for accessible safety education and train ing on a broad scale. Firearm ownership is a responsibility as well as a right, and we can hopefully all agree that our armed citizenry should be safe, responsible, and accountable.

As Sheriff Nelson says, “Every safe, responsible, accountable gun owner is a benefit to public safety.”

Unfortunately, while Measure 114 purports to enhance safety and reduce violence, what it really does is throw up bureaucratic barriers for ordinary folks who seek to purchase a fire arm, and create enormous financial and administrative burdens on law enforcement that actually detract from public safety.

Vote no on Measure 114.

Children’s Listening Project kicks off The Nugget

“The Children’s Listening Project” kicks off its first event in the Campbell Gallery at Sisters Art Works through November 7.

Listening is the great est gift we give one another — to be truly heard on the path to understanding, see ing another, valuing their experience. Listening well transforms a young person’s life. Children are asked — even told — to listen, but are rarely taught how to lis ten. The Children’s Listening Project creates tools for par ents, educators, and children to enhance listening skills at all levels.

Patrons are invited to enjoy the art, find something you like to take home – 50 percent of all art sales will go toward distributing the book “The Magic in Listening” to those who may not other wise have access. The proj ect will provide books to Head Start, the Children’s Book Bank, and other set tings to share “The Magic in Listening” with children and parents.

Translated from Mandarin, Ting is an ancient Chinese concept that symbolizes the art of listening. Deep listening, empathic listening is an art. By listening with Ting you turn the focus away from yourself, and toward the other person. You demonstrate that the other person matters. Ting dates back thousands of years and reflects the five essential

components of listening.

• The ear: To hear the words the other person is speaking

• The mind: You provide presence, quiet these inner voices in order to hear with out distraction or judgment.

• The eyes: To see, to sense the non-verbal signals.

• The heart: To listen wholeheartedly — openheartedly —and to appreci ate the speaker’s experience from their perspective.

• Undivided attention: To give the other person 100 percent of your focus.

Parents and children learn together the magical art of listening — they practice together, they deepen skills together, and family relation ships grow.

Two local professional women, Linda B. Wolff and Joyce Burk Brown, collabo rated in writing “The Magic in Listening.” It is an early reader fiction book for ages 4-8 years, and was published by Windemere Press.

The objective of the book is to help young people understand many of the key elements involved in suc cessful listening.

Tissue paper collages will be for sale at The Campbell Gallery in the Art Works Building, 204 W.Adams until November 7, highlighted with the Art Stroll on Friday October 28, when both the authors and the artist will be available to answer any questions.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS

N EWS PA PE R

The health benefits of massage

Massage is widely acces sible and viewed as an impor tant tool in promoting men tal and physical health. It is increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.

At one time, massage was available only at highend spas or health clubs, and considered a luxury for the wealthy. A common mis conception about massage is that it’s part of a spa day, and intended for pamper ing yourself. While this may be true for some people, it is most frequently used as a tool for stress reduction and pain relief.

Massage is a general term for the rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body with the hands, espe cially to relieve tension or pain. It may range from light stroking to deep pressure. If you have never tried mas sage, read on to learn about its many benefits.

Some specific condi tions that massage may help include: anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, headache, insomnia, scar tissue, sports injuries, TMJ disorders, and postoperative care.

“When I feel pressure building in my head I know it’s time to get a massage. Massage helps keep the migraines away.” — C.P., Sisters

Physical benefits

For most patients, massage therapy is an important part of specific medical treatment plans to help them return to daily activities. For example, massage therapy is helpful after joint replacement sur gery or recovering from an injury. (Most physical therapy and chiropractic offices have massage therapists on staff.)

Physical benefits of mas sage include: improved circu lation, reduced muscle stiff ness, better quality of sleep, improved flexibility, less pain and soreness, and strength ened immune response.

As one local massage patient noted, “I feel taller and much more flexible after a massage.”

Mental benefits

Massage also has many mental health benefits. Even people who are focused on the physical benefits say they feel less stressed after get ting a massage. Other mental benefits include: lower stress levels, improved relaxation, improved mood, decreased anxiety, more energy, increased feeling of wellness.

“I look forward to my monthly massage; it helps me relax,” says C.F. of Sisters.

After a massage

It’s common to feel relaxed, tired, or even sore after a massage. This is because the massage thera pist is working your muscles. After a massage, it may feel like you completed a work out. It is possible to experi ence a headache after a mas sage. This can be a form of detoxing, often alleviated by drinking a large glass of water and staying hydrated.

Some people think that massage must hurt to help. But a massage doesn’t need to be painful to be effective. Massage pressure is unique to each individual, and to their needs. Most people enjoy a medium amount of pres sure and others enjoy light pressure. There are specific types of massage, like Cranial Sacral Therapy, that use extremely gentle techniques to assist you to relax.

If your massage therapist is pushing too hard, and it does not feel good, speak up and ask for lighter pressure. By communicating with your therapist, you are insured to get the experience you will enjoy.

Finding a massage therapist

Like choosing other health care professionals, it’s impor tant to be clear on your goal when selecting a massage therapist. Are you looking for relaxation, or to reduce muscle stiffness? Ask some one you trust to recommend a therapist. There are many massage therapists trained in numerous techniques, so find ing someone who is compat ible to your needs may take experiencing more than one style of massage. Don’t give up!

When making your first appointment, don’t be afraid to ask the massage therapist questions that are important to you, such as, “I’ve never had a massage.” Then explain your issue and ask what is the best type of massage for the first time. “I am still wear ing a mask in public. Will you be wearing one?” and “What’s the cost, and do you take health insurance? If not, can you recommend someone who does?”

A skilled massage thera pist has a vast array of tech niques that can be incorpo rated based on your needs, and he or she will respond and modify these techniques based on your feedback. It is extremely important to com municate with your therapist.

Massage therapy is safe and effective for people of all ages. It is not only a feel-good way to pamper yourself. It is a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being.

C L A S S I F I E

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 know- ingly 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: $2 per line for first insertion, $1.50 per line for each additional insertion to 9th week, $1 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 $2 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: MONDAY, noon preceding WED. publication.

PLACEMENT & PAYMENT: Office, 442 E. Main Ave. Phone, 541-549-9941 or place online at NuggetNews.com. Payment is due upon placement. VISA & MasterCard accepted. Billing available for continuously run classified ads, after prepayment of first four (4) weeks and upon approval of account application.

S

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— Certified Arborist — Nate Goodwin 541-771-4825 Online at: www.tsi.services CCB#190496 • ISA #PN7987A

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Native / Non-Native Tree Assessments, Pruning, High-Risk Removals, 24 Hr. Emergency Storm Damage Cleanup, Craning & Stump Grinding, Debris Removal.

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Serving Black Butte Ranch, Camp Sherman & Sisters Area since 2003

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Domestic

City of Sisters Utility Technician I

Full-time, benefits, 40 hours per week (shifts may vary and/or include weekend work) compensation depending on experience. Duties will include all aspects of the Public Works Department. This includes working with water, sewer, streets, parks, vehicle/building maintenance. Knowledge and ability to operate back hoe, dump truck, snow plow, street sweeper and various other public works related equipment is preferred. Special requirements/licenses: Minimum of Oregon CDL Class B, current State of Oregon Water Distribution Level I, Wastewater Collection System Level I

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Alpine Landscape Maintenance Sisters Country only All-Electric Landscape Maintenance. Text/Call Paul 541.485.2837 alpine.landscapes@icloud.com

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Event Services

Events

9-5

certifications and Flagger/Work Zone Traffic control card. Possession of or required to obtain within 1 year of appointment. City of Sisters is a drug and alcohol free work place and an equal opportunity employer. Salary Scale is grade 17 and the compensation ranges from $18.63-$27.75 per hour. The proposed starting salary is based upon qualifications, skills, and experience. Application and detailed job description are available at City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave., or at www.ci.sisters.or.us

803 Work Wanted

Position wanted in Sisters COMPANION CAREGIVER

are looking for a person who is friendly, outgoing, and reliable; someone who enjoys working with the public in a team environment. Full-time position

at the Stitchin’ Post, 311 West Cascade Ave. in Sisters or by email: diane.j@stitchinpost.com

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WALKER

Redmond 3 times per week, from 10-11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. $20 per walk. Call 458-899-2592

Available after October 12. Current client is moving to CA. Please call or text 503-274-0214 for more information.

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A D V E R T I S E H E R E !

Do you offer lessons for... YOGA? DRAWING? PIANO? Let our readers know with an affordable classified ad! $2 per line the first week, $1.50 per line for repeats. And your ad goes online at no extra charge!

Call before noon on Mondays. 541-549-9941

The audience at the Three Sisters Historical Society’s (TSHS) October 18 Fireside Story Evening enjoyed a pre sentation by historian and author Steve Lent on the his tory of early transportation in Central Oregon. As historian at the Bowman Museum in Prineville for 20 years, he has developed a treasure trove of vintage local photos of freight haulers, stagecoaches, carriages, early bridges, some very rough roads, toll gates, and the first autos, among others that were projected on the big screen. This was a great asset in visualizing the many interesting stories and timelines he was sharing.

Lent also brought an array of the many historical books he has written, and donated 40 percent of the proceeds from sales that night to TSHS.

Diane Prescott reported that it was the TSHS’s good fortune that he was available

and willing to fill in at the last minute when Elizabeth Woody, the scheduled speaker, had to cancel due to health reasons. “The Three Sisters Historical Society wishes to apologize to any who were inconvenienced or disappointed that Elizabeth had to cancel, but she has promised to reschedule at a later date when possible,” Prescott said.

Lent has offered to lead TSHS guests on an in-person tour of the historic Santiam Wagon Road which was so important to early travel. If you are interested in joining them, call 541-549-1403 or email threesistershistorical society@gmail.com to get on

the list and you will be noti fied when it can be scheduled.

The next speaker will be Aurolyn Stwyer, a Celilo native living in Warm Springs, who is a master beadwork artist and one of few in the Pacific Northwest who is currently creating traditional horse regalia. She also competes in Native American dance competi tions, recently winning first prize out of a class of 50, and will be demonstrating some of these skills. Read more about her at www. nativeartsandcultures.org/ aurolyn-stwyer. This event will be Tuesday, February 21, at the FivePine Conference Center.

Outlaws VB sets sights on State

The Lady Outlaws volley ball team continued to domi nate league play last, week and proved why they’re at the top of the pack. Sisters recorded a sweep on the road over Siuslaw on Monday, October 18, and two days later swept the Hawks at La Pine.

On Monday the Outlaws took the long, windy trek to Florence to take on the Lady Vikings of Siuslaw. Sisters came out composed and focused in a match that Coach Rory Rush wanted the girls to treat as a state playoff game.

Rush said, “With State right around the corner, we have been preaching emo tional composure throughout an entire match. I was very proud of the girls to see their focus tonight through the natural ups and downs of a match. They have shown a lot of growth emotionally as a team.”

The Outlaws’ composure was evident from the first serve. Siuslaw started the game with a raucous crowd, and the Lady Outlaws were unfazed. Middle blocker Bailey Robertson led the squad with some spectacular blocks and very aggressive

hits, and Sisters sailed to an early first-set win.

Rush told The Nugget she felt that as the game went on the Outlaws hitting and blocking along the front line just got stronger and stronger.

In addition to strong blocks and hits, libero Mia Monaghan passed the ball from the back row with pin point accuracy.

“The girls seemed to get their hands on every ball over the net, which made for a quick-strike offense,” said Rush.

which was highlighted by a slightly changed lineup.

Rush said, “As we approach the state tourna ment I want to continue to build our team depth. We wanted to tweak our lineup tonight to give some girls an opportunity to shine in new positions on the floor. I was incredibly proud of how they adjusted and played loose tonight.”

The lineup changes most evident were sophomore Kathryn Scholl, who moved from right side to outside hit ter, and junior Gracie Vohs, who shifted from outside hit ter to middle blocker for the match.

“The change created some unique looks for us,” said Rush. “I thought both Kathryn and Gracie played extremely well tonight on the front line with their attacks.”

When the final ball fell to the floor, the Outlaws cele brated their three-set win that ended with scores of 25-14, 25-17, and 25-13.

Two days later, the Outlaws headed to La Pine to finish up their conference play with a match against the Lady Hawks. Sisters quickly showed why they are the No. 1-ranked team in the state with their fast-paced offense,

With the two dominant victories with scores of 25-11 and 25-10, the Lady Outlaws headed into the third set and looked to finish out their conference schedule with a solid win. Junior out side hitter Gracelyn Myhre went back to serve, and with her multiple aces and intimi dating spot serves, she rattled off 12 straight points for the Outlaws. They coasted from there to a 25-13 win.

Creekside Park was pitched as winter shelter

forest dwellers to camp during the winter at the Creekside Campground? They could be closer to ser vices and employment.

There are bathrooms and showers there, dumpsters for garbage, Wi-Fi, and electric ity. However, as with many municipal situations, what appears simple to the aver age citizen is fraught with complexities upon closer examination.

A little history of the campground is in order: No one knows the exact date, but it is believed the campground was estab lished in the late 1930s by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Parks and Recreation Division (PRD), before Sisters was even incorpo rated as a city.

On July 7, 1983, the state of Oregon, through ODOTPRD, conveyed to the City of Sisters the property that now constitutes the Creekside Park and Campground along Whychus Creek. There were expressed conditions, reser vations, and restrictions that accompanied the deed, and would forever bind the City and its successors. Several of those conditions are relevant to the running and use of the campground/park.

If the campground/park, or any portion of it, is used for purposes other than pub lic park, scenic, and recre ation purposes, title to the campground or any portion used for other purposes, would automatically revert to the State. A master plan for the campground/park was to be prepared by the City and approved by the State in writing before any improve ment or alterations could be made to the premises.

In 2014, then-City Manager Andrew Gorayeb had plans to make changes to the campground, but they were halted because no master plan could be found. The City had minutes from 1990 indicating the Planning Commission approved a draft master plan for the property. The minutes indi cated the City Council sub sequently approved the plan. The City has a draft of that agreement, but there was nothing in the City or State records indicating approval by the State. ODOT and OPRD had split into two agencies by 2014, and there were questions as to which one had the responsibility for approving changes to the Creekside Campground.

Since that time a Parks Master Plan and several updates have been prepared. Right now, in the works, is a new Parks Master Plan which should be ready for adoption by the end of the year. Creekside Park and Campground has a sepa rate master plan, adopted in December 2015, which guided many of the improve ments which have been made in the campground, including the new bathroom facilities and the Whychus Creek res toration project and bridge improvement.

Anything proposed for the park/campground must be part of a master plan, which is then incorporated into the Parks Master Plan, which in turn becomes part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Any changes or improve ments must be approved, in writing, by the OPRD, and that all takes time.

Over the years, the camp ground has grown in popu larity and is often fully booked between April 1 and October 31, the period it is open for camping. Camp hosts are hired every year to monitor and maintain the campground during the sea son. The income generated

by camp fees helps to sup port all the parks in the city.

In April 2017, a new precast concrete rest room/shower building was installed in the campground. The building was constructed to provide ease of assembly, ease of maintenance, and indestructability, making it extremely cost-effective in the long run.

The building came fully equipped from CXT of Spokane, Washington, and was trucked to Sisters in three sections of 37.5 tons each. It had toilets, sinks, showers, and light fixtures ready to be hooked up to the in-ground water and sewer lines and power. The total cost of the building was $280,000, half of the cost reimbursed by a grant from OPRD.

According to Public Works Director Paul Bertagna, the building was constructed to be used only during the warmer months, which coincide with the campground dates. The water lines must be blown out at the end of the sea son to avoid freezing dam age during the cold winter months and the building is closed.

If the campground was open during the winter, public works crews would have to regularly monitor it. The bathroom would be unusable.

Museum exhibit celebrates Black rodeo

Black cowboys have long been an integral part of the American West. Thousands of Black cowboys, for instance, rode in the Western cattle drives of the 1860s. Their stories are largely untold in popular narratives, but mod ern-day Black rodeos keep their traditions alive. A new, original High Desert Museum exhibit celebrates this thriving culture.

In the Arena: Photographs from America’s Only Touring Black Rodeo opens at the Museum on Saturday, November 19. Through the lens of San Francisco Bay Area photographer Gabriela Hasbun, this exhibit docu ments the exhilarating atmo sphere of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo—the only touring Black rodeo in the country—and the showstop ping style and skill of the Black cowboys and cowgirls who compete in it year after year.

“We are proud to bring the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo culture to the gal lery walls of the High Desert Museum,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “Hasbun’s vibrant images reveal the rich heritage and pride of Black

cowboys and cowgirls, who are not often represented in popular culture.”

One of the most endur ing symbols of the American West, the cowboy evokes selfreliance, strength, and deter mination—qualities found at the Black rodeos held each year across the United States. Historians estimate that in the latter half of the 19th cen tury, one in four cowboys were Black. They often faced discrimination when pass ing through towns, barred from restaurants and hotels. But their skills were in high demand.

At the start of the 20th cen tury, opportunities for work ing cowboys dried up. The existence and popularity of Wild West shows and rodeos grew thanks to the American fascination with cowboy cul ture. Black cowboys were once again excluded from these events, being made to wait until after the crowd went home to display their roping and riding skills.

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo was founded in 1984 by media impresario and creative spirit Lu Vason (1939-2015). He decided to do so after attend ing the famous Cheyenne

Frontier Days rodeo in Wyoming and noticing that none of the riders were Black. For 38 years, the Rodeo has been a highly anticipated event celebrating the skills and talents of Black rodeo stars and their contributions to the West. The Rodeo tours all over the United States from California to Georgia, bringing together families to embrace cowboy culture.

In-the-Arena photogra pher Hasbun grew up in El Salvador during its civil war in the 1980s. Inspired by her upbringing during a brutal time, her work focuses on the humanity that thrives in unexplored communities and the power of storytelling. Her images have appeared in

publications ranging from The New York Times to Rolling Stone to Sunset Hasbun’s images from the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo capture competitors in the arena and behind the scenes, as well as candid shots of the people in the stands. The imagery reveals the gen erational shifts of the events as young competitors bring with them new perspectives and fashion, including Gucci sunglasses and Louis Vuitton saddles. As the classic and contemporary merge, new generations of kids from urban areas are inspired to ride.

“I hope to share images that tell stories truthfully and honestly, without embel lishments,” Hasbun said in

an interview with Snapixel Magazine posted on her web site. “I love photographing people as they are, doing what they love, showing who they are through my perspective.”

Hasbun published the pho tographs from the Rodeo this year in “The New Black West: Photographs from America’s Only Touring Black Rodeo” (Chronicle Books). Explore her work at gabrielahasbun. com.

In the Arena: Photographs from America’s Only Touring Black Rodeo (highdesertmu seum.org/in-the-arena) will be on display through June 25, 2023. The exhibit is pos sible with support from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation.