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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2015)
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Subpoenas arrive as governor departs By Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press SALEM (AP) — Just hours after Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber announced his decision to resign, a sub- poena arrived in a state office building confirming that fed- eral agents are looking into the influence-peddling scan- dal that led to the abrupt end of a four-decade political career. The Democratic governor gave in to mounting pressure Friday, abandoning his office amid suspicions that his live- in fiancée used her relation- ship with him to land con- tracts for her green-energy consulting business. His resignation cleared the way for Secretary of State Kate Brown to assume Oregon’s highest office. “This is a sad day for Oregon. But I am confi- dent that legislators are ready to come together to move Oregon forward,” said Brown, also a Democrat. Unlike most states, Oregon does not have a lieutenant governor. The secretary of state is next in line to suc- ceed the governor. When Kitzhaber closes the door on his life in pub- lic office, the scandal that toppled Oregon’s longest serving governor will still linger. Subpoenas deliv- ered to the Department of Administrative Services Friday request a massive array of documents from Kitzhaber’s administration. The subpoena was the first acknowledgment of a federal investigation against Kitzhaber and his fian- cée, Cylvia Hayes. It seeks records pertaining to 15 other people besides Kitzhaber and Hayes, including Kitzhaber’s chief of staff, policy advis- ers, Kitzhaber’s lawyer and secretaries. The subpoena orders the agency to produce docu- ments for a federal grand jury before March 10. An agency spokesman, Matt Shelby, said it would provide what- ever requested records are in its possession. Kitzhaber insisted he broke no laws. “Nonetheless, I under- stand that I have become a liability to the very institu- tions and policies to which I have dedicated my career and, indeed, my entire adult life,” he said in a statement. The announcement of the planned resignation capped a wild week in which Kitzhaber seemed poised to step down, then changed his mind, but ultimately bowed to calls from legislative lead- ers that he quit. It’s a stunning fall from grace for a politician who left the governor’s office in 2003 and then mounted a come- back in 2010 and returned to his old job. In a long statement announcing his decision, a defiant Kitzhaber cast blame on the media and on “so many of my former allies” who did not stick up for him. His staff released an audio recording of him reading the statement. Near the end, his voice trembled and he seemed to choke back tears. Kitzhaber handily won re-election in November to a fourth term after See goVErNor on page 15 Discover…Watercolor ! 392 W. Main Ave., #3 (Across from Bright Spot) 541-588-0931 A creative place to call your own! T Y S E E N B E SWE ALLS THE INST DL Y! IEN eekends . R F & w . F AST ice on ode l s erv 2 ur s o h - 4 m rs. Re nts. Repai eplaceme R 541-549-4349 260 N. Pine St., Sisters Licensed Bonded / Insured CCB#87587 11 SPRD youth basketball thrives The youth basketball league running through Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is midway through their season. The basketball league, which includes a 1st- and 2nd-grade league and a 3rd- and 4th-grade league, has been playing since January 5. The league has more than 70 kids playing in it this year. All games are played at the Sisters Elementary School gym on Saturday mornings. Parents nearly fill the bleachers as they cheer on their kids. The atmosphere at the elementary school on Saturday morning is festive and fun as teams, coaches, and spectators file in and out to watch the youth basketball league. There is a strong line-up of coaches at all levels this year with Andrew Schar, Chance Beckwith, Erik Pronold, Mark Greaney, Brad Tisdel and Derek Mcnamara heading up the 1st- and 2nd- grade league. This league has been playing 3-on-3 games this year, and players’ skills have been developing rap- idly throughout the season, according to coaches. Kids have been learning how to cut off the ball to get open, perform layups with each hand, and play good man-to-man defense. The 3rd- and 4th-grade league has been competitive this season with each team taking some wins and losses. Coaching the teams this year are long-time coaches photo by Jerry baldoCk youth basketball is instilling good habits and a love for the game. Paul Patton, David Tolle, Kyle Fischer and Cenobia Gonzalez. Each coach brings a unique coaching philoso- phy to the table, and all are committed to developing the fundamental skills of their players. The game format for the 3rd- and 4th-grade teams has been full-court 5-on-5 basket- ball. At the end of the season, these teams will play in an end-of-the-season tourna- ment after being seeded from regular season play. Making sure everyone plays by the rules is the job of referee Katie Aryanfard. Katie is a high school bas- ketball athlete and has been helping develop the younger kids on the court as their ref- eree. At games, Aryanfard takes the time to explain the fouls to the players so they can learn from their mistakes and become better players. According to SPRD, ref- erees are hard to come by in youth sports and Aryanfard has been doing an outstand- ing job this season enforcing the rules and being firm with both coaches and players. The final games for the 1st- and 2nd-grade teams will be played on February 28, along with the 3rd- and 4th-grade tournament. End of season awards will be given out to the teams, and partici- pants will begin to look for- ward to their spring activities.