8
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Millions will take to
the roads this week
More than 107.4 million
Americans (33 percent of the
population) will travel for
the Christmas and New Year
holidays, according to pro-
jections by the Automobile
Association of America
(AAA).
This is the most on record
and a 3.1 percent increase
compared to last year.
In Oregon, roughly 1.35
million will travel. This
marks the ninth consecu-
tive year of growth in travel
for the year-end holidays.
The year-end holiday travel
period is defined as Saturday,
December 23 through
Monday, January 1, 2018.
“We’ve seen travel vol-
umes increase this year for
every major travel holiday —
Memorial Day, Independence
Day and Thanksgiving —
and now we’re seeing the
same growth for Christmas
and New Year’s. The increase
in holiday travel this year is
being driven by the strong
economy and growing con-
sumer confidence,” said
Marie Dodds, public affairs
director for AAA Oregon/
Idaho.
The vast majority of trav-
elers — 91 percent or 97.4
million people — will take a
holiday road trip, an increase
of 3 percent over last year.
In Oregon, about 1.2 million
will drive.
Gas prices are about 15
to 40 cents a gallon more
than a year ago and the most
expensive pump prices for
the year-end holidays since
2014. However, pump prices
are still relatively low com-
pared to 2010 through 2013
when gas prices averaged
more than $3 a gallon.
The most conges-
tion is expected before
the holiday week — on
Wednesday, December 20
and Thursday, December
21 — in the late afternoon
as commuters leave work
early and mix with holiday
travelers.
Drivers on some inter-
states and highways could
see travel times peak at three
times a normal trip. The most
congested times are expected
to be Wednesday afternoon/
evening from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
and Thursday from 3:30 to
7 p.m.
“You can avoid the big-
gest traffic bottlenecks if
you can travel outside of
these times. Consider leav-
ing in the early morning
hours or right after the morn-
ing commute,” said Dodds.
“Whenever you travel,
expect lots of company due
to the record number of trav-
elers this year. Pack your
patience and give yourself
extra time to get to your
destination.”
Travelers should note that
Highway 22 between Sisters
and the Willamette Valley
has been closed due to dam-
age from a fuel tanker crash,
which led to a fuel spill and
a fire (see story, page 4).
Consult ODOT Trip Check
to get up-to-date informa-
tion on road conditions and
closures.
Call Scouts for tree recycling
Local Boy Scout troops
will begin the collection and
recycling of Christmas trees
in the community the week-
end of December 30-31 and
will work again on January 7.
The troops request a
donation of at least $8 and
will gladly accept any dona-
tion over that amount. All
the money raised from the
boys’ efforts goes directly to
the individual Scout troops.
Donations fund local troop
activities, community service
projects and to replace worn
out camping and other out-
door gear that the boys use
throughout the year.
Individual troops will post
door flyers specifying which
days they will be picking up
trees in your neighborhood.
Have your tree cleaned of all
decorations and place it by
the street where it is easily
visible to Scouts and drivers.
Make your check out to Boy
Scouts of America or as spec-
ified on the door flyer within
your area. Place donations in
a plastic bag and secure it to
the tree with a rubber band.
The troops will be cruis-
ing the area picking up trees
starting about 9 a.m.
If you did not receive
a door flyer, wish to make
other payment options,
need special assistance with
your tree or have general
Our Promise to
Our Community...
…We’re here for you every day
and after hours with medical care
you can count on!
fire danger and teaches orga-
nizational skills and team
building efforts to the Scouts
involved at all levels of the
project.
“This is a boy-led and
boy-managed program. We
estimate that these boys
recycle 7,500 trees each year.
A big thank-you goes out to
the communities who have
made this event a big suc-
cess and improved the lives
of so many boys through
scouting.”
Let there be peace on earth.
Let it begin with me.
Dr. Bonnie Malone, Chiropractic Physician / 541-549-7141
Come celebrate
t the
h e so
o u r ce o of f o our
u r
source
FAITH
Christmas Carol
Ch
C lW
Worship
h S
Service
Sunday, December 24 • 10 a.m.
Our gift to you…
Bring in this ad through January 2 for a
FREE fl u shot! (While supplies last!)
Walk-In & Urgent Care Serving
our Sisters Community...
O
Open
every day
d except t Christmas
C i t
Ch
541-548-2899 | 3818 SW 21st Pl.
Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns, and you’re
there! (Near fairgrounds) YourCareMedical.com
m
questions, call and leave a
message at 541-385-2640 for
pickup in Sisters.
“We see this as a win/
win situation for the commu-
nity and for the local Scout
troops,” said John Mason,
tree recycling coordinator
for Troop 25 of NW Bend.
Mason pointed out that the
recycling project provides
a service to the community;
reduces the incidents of
dumped trees in building lots
or on public lands; reduces
Special Christmas choral music
& Christmas carols
Happy s!
y
Holida
Traditional Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
Sunday, December 24 • 9 p.m.
Christmas carols, Christmas story
and message with candlelight
All are welcome!
Shepherd of the Hills
Lutheran Church
386 N. Fir St., Sisters • 541-549-5831
www.shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com