Rodeo personnel make Sisters event shine page 4 Outlaws’ Jensen is Coach of the Year page 11 The Nugget Vol. XXXIX No. 22 Rotary provides books for kids page 12 P OSTAL CUSTOMER PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15 News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon www.NuggetNews.com Wednesday, June 1, 2016 Cyclists stampede in Sisters race Traffic stop leads to meth bust By Jim Cornelius News Editor It’s become a signature Sisters event, the unofficial kickoff to the summer season: 500 cyclists hit town to race the 25 miles on the Peterson Ridge Trail in the sold-out Sisters Stampede. “The course is in really good shape,” one rider shouted to another as they headed for the start line for the elite men’s start. And it was; firmed up by recent showers, but dried out by the sun. It was, however, dusty. Very dusty. “We’re going to have a real stampede — in a cloud of dust,” said Andrew Loscutoff, who was riding with a formi- dable Blazin Saddles team. Casey Meudt, owner of the Sisters bike shop, said the team is “bigger than ever,” with a solid 10 riders who are “doing well in the point standings for the Oregon XC Series.” The Sisters Stampede itself is bigger than ever. A horde of spectators lined the course for a hundred yards photo by Jerry baldock MJ Murphy launched mountain bikers onto the course at the start of the Sisters Stampede. from the starting line. They erupted in cheers as Sisters cowgirl MJ Murphy galloped her buckskin mare Warbucks out of the gate to launch the race. Dozens of riders followed in a tight pack. Meudt noted that the Stampede sold out to its 500- rider limit a week in advance this year. A planned traffic stop on Highway 20 west of Sisters yielded a significant drug bust on Tuesday. Detectives with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit developed information that Mason Suehs would be trav- eling from the Portland area with a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, which he planned to sell within Deschutes County. With the assistance of the CODE team (Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team), detectives stopped Suehs on Highway 20 at the entrance to Suttle Lake, approximately 12 miles west of Sisters on Tuesday, May 24. Suehs and his passenger, Tyler Binkley, were found to be in possession of over one pound of methamphetamine. This amount of methamphet- amine has an approximate See METH on page 27 EDCO promotes Sisters Sisters remembers the fallen economic development By Jim Cornelius News Editor By Sue Stafford Correspondent Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is an organization that has been around for over 20 years — and yet many do not really know what they do. EDCO, which opened their doors in 1981 in Bend, is an independent, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. They have the same IRS designa- tion as most Chambers of Commerce and industry asso- ciations. Support comes from private and public members and stakeholders. “Overall, 45 percent of Inside... EDCO funding comes from private businesses and indi- viduals, 45 percent from the public sector (cities, counties, college, university, and the State Economic Development Department), while the bal- ance comes from earned rev- enue from ticket sales and sponsorships for events,” explained EDCO Executive director Roger Lee. According to their web- site, their “mission is to cre- ate a diversified local econ- omy and a strong base of middle-class jobs in Central Oregon.” To do that, they See EDCO on page 23 With a new designation as a Purple Heart City, the people of Sisters gathered at Village Green Park on Memorial Day to honor those who have fallen in America’s wars. The solemn yet uplifting annual event is staged each year by Sisters VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 and includes a set of familiar rituals that honor the sacrifice of military personnel who paid the ultimate price. The Redmond High School Marine Jr. ROTC posted the colors; Chelsea Anttila’s voice soared in the national anthem; Earl Schroeder led photo by GreG Waddell Marine Junior ROTC members bear the flag. the Pledge of Allegiance; American Legion Chaplain Gordon Golden offered up a heartfelt invocation. Sisters City Councilor Andrea Blum welcomed the many attendees seated in the park and announced the new Purple Heart City designation. The keynote speaker was See FALLEN on page 22 Letters/Weather ................ 2 Sisters Salutes .................. 9 Movies & Entertainment ....11 Bunkhouse Chronicle ........15 Classifieds ..................28-30 Meetings ........................... 3 Announcements ............... 10 Home and Garden........ 13-20 Crossword ....................... 27 Real Estate ..................31-32