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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2017)
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon AFFONSO: Aspen lakes golf pro provided clothing, equipment 21 July was warm and dry in Sisters Continued from page 1 Lizzie graduated from Sisters High School in 2003. In the past she participated in the Special Olympics in bowling and basketball. This year, Lizzie partici- pated in the Skills Division of the golf program. It’s an individual contest that focuses on the skills of put- ting, pitching and driving. Marilyn Rowland, her coach, has worked with the Special Olympics golf athletes in Central Oregon for the past 15 years. “Lizzie has a natural apti- tude for hitting the ball,” Rowland says. “She hasn’t had a chance to play on the full course yet.” The Special Olympics golf program offers four different categories, beginning with the skills competition. In addition, there is a 9-hole game; 9-hole partners game; and 18-hole game. “There is no cookie-cutter to people with special needs,” Rowland said. “We try and find their strengths and inter- est — what works for one individual is not going to work for another. Some have never swung a club before; all they’ve done is putt-putt. Some will like the skills and some will not. You try it out, just like a coat; if it doesn’t fit you move on to another sport.” Those athletes that play either the 9-hole or 18-hole course are under the same rules as the PGA of America — except they don’t get a caddy. “They have to walk the whole course,” said Rowland. “They work harder than the PGA athletes because they are PHOTO COURTESY ANN MARLAND Lizzie Affonso of Sisters participated in the Special Olympics in golf. hauling their own clubs on a cart. It’s really fun and very rewarding.” The Central Oregon team practices at Awbrey Glen beginning in April. The ath- letes meet at the course once a week and go through a “test- ing” program to see what their skills are. Once they have assessed the athletes’ skill level they begin practices. The 16-player team this year was able to play once at six differ- ent courses throughout Central Oregon prior to attending the Regional Games at River’s Ridge Golf Course in Eugene. Any athlete who receives a gold medal at the Regional Games automatically qualifies for the state event. Eight par- ticipants from Central Oregon attended the state games held at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis. “The best thing for me at this time in her life is to build relationships,” said Lizzie’s mom. “Relationships with peers are key. It’s (the Special Olympics) all supportive; they Fun Events & Great Food Music Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Cover by donation) Barbecue Friday Nights 6 to 8:30 p.m. Free Open Mic Saturdays 6 to 8 p.m. 541-549-2572 | 250 W. Cascade Ave. Mon.-Wed. 11 to 4 Thurs. & Fri. 11 to 8:30 Sat. 8 to 8 | Sun. 8 to 5 DON’T MISS OUT on this week’s inserts in the Nugget: Bi-Martc There is still plenty of summer left to enjoy, but don’t miss the big savings now for School Backpacks! They’re 30% off Bi-Mart’s everyday low price! (selections vary) Ray’s Food Placec Wow! The Fantastic Friday One-day Deal on August 11 is Buy One Boneless Rump Roast, GET ONE FREE! (equal or lesser value) all root for each other.” Lizzie lights up when talk- ing about her participation in the State Games. She didn’t get there on her own. She and her mother are quick to men- tion the generous help from Howie Pruitt, the golf pro at Aspen Lakes Golf Course here in Sisters. Pruitt helped Lizzie prepare and gave her her very own golf shirt, skort, and hat to wear. She proudly displays her medal and ribbon from the Regional Games and shows pictures of the state event. Lizzie lives at A Home to Share, a non-profit group home for people with develop- mental disabilities, in Sisters. Her favorite sports are basket- ball, baseball, tennis and foot- ball and she loves the Oregon State University Beavers. According to preliminary data received by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Pendleton, temperatures at Sisters averaged warmer than normal during the month of July. The average temperature was 67.5 degrees, which was 3.2 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged 91.2 degrees, which was 6.1 degrees above normal. The highest was 98 degrees on July 7. Low tempera- tures averaged 43.8 degrees, which was 0.3 degrees above normal. The lowest was 38 degrees, on July 17. On 17 days, the tempera- ture exceeded 90 degrees. No precipitation was mea- sured during July — that’s 0.53 inches below normal. Precipitation this year has reached 6.70 inches, which is 1.03 inches below normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at Sisters has been 11.65 inches, which is 0.96 inches below normal. The highest wind gust was 43 mph, which occurred on July 10. The outlook for August from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-normal temperatures and near- to below-normal precipitation. Normal highs for Sisters during August are 84.5 degrees and normal lows are 42.8 degrees. The 30-year normal precipitation is 0.44 inches. Taking a dip in the lake... PHOTO BY GARY MILLER Nugget photographer Gary Miller captured CL-415 “Super Scoopers” Canadian-built specialty fire-fighting aircraft that picked up loads out of Detroit Lake last weekend, fighting the Whitewater Fire. That blaze has grown to encroach on Sisters Country trails in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness and will likely continue to impact the area with smoke for some time.