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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2018)
The Nugget P OSTAL CUSTOMER News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon Vol. XLI No. 24 Wednesday Wednesday, June 13, 2018 McKenzie Highway to open June 18 2018 Sisters Rodeo a record-breaker By Cody Rheault Correspondent The 78th annual Sisters Rodeo saw more than just bulls, beer, and balaclavas this year. Under chilly skies — and surprising record- breaking crowds — the rodeo weekend saw fur fly and his- torical moments made. Spectators and competitors alike traveled from around the country and worldwide to participate in and watch the historical event unfold in Sisters. From regions as far as Louisiana, Texas, and Canada, cowboys and cowgirls com- peted for bragging rights and a lot of cash. The rodeo also reached a number of specta- tors from as far as Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and Finland who to came to take in “The Biggest Little Show in the World.” Leading into the week- end were some weather con- cerns. Predicted forecasts By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief showed rain and low tem- peratures throughout, with thunderstorms on Saturday. Temperatures remained cold, Watchdog group seeks answers on tree-killing By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief Central Oregon Land Watch is seeking some answers regarding the death of a thousand or more pon- derosa pine trees along Highway 20 west of Sisters. Paul Dewey, the executive director of the land-use advo- cacy group told The Nugget that “we’ve done FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and public records requests to try to track down who is responsible and who was making decisions.” The problem began devel- oping from 2013 to 2015 when an herbicide named Perspective was used along the highway corridor, within the Oregon Department of Transportation’s right of way, to remove brush. /nside... PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15 The herbicide harmed ponderosa pines and other trees in the area where it was applied. As the trees began show- ing distress and started dying in 2014, the Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) conducted a joint analysis to determine the cause. The analysis indicated that the manufacturer of the herbi- cide Perspective originally stated it may harm suscep- tible trees, but the label did not say it specifically would harm ponderosa pine trees. However, in 2012, additional language on the manufactur- er’s label was added specifi- cally stating it would damage ponderosa pine trees. ODOT has discontinued use of See TREES on page 22 The McKenzie Highway — Highway 242 — is scheduled to open on Monday, June 18. The historic route across the Cascades is closed each winter due to snow. The winding, climb- ing road west of Sisters attracts numerous cyclists seeking to ride it before The weather was chilly but the it’s open to motor vehi- cle traffic. However, rodeo action was hot last weekend. Oregon Department of Record crowds and record rides marked the Transportation spokesman Peter Murphy clarified last annual “Biggest Little Show in the World.” week that the route is not actually opened to cyclists PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK before it’s open to cars. That’s a point of sig- with some gusty winds, but the Sisters Rodeo witnessed to everyone’s relief, the rain record-breaking attendance nificant confusion, Murphy never fell. See RODEO on page 18 See HWY 242 on page 20 Despite cold temperatures Class of 2018 springs to By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent The gathering of 101 seniors at Sisters High School’s 70th commencement ceremony Thursday, June 7, included music, memories — and one last academic, and inspirational, lesson. Just after 6 p.m. in a gym- nasium packed with friends and family of seniors, the school band, under the direc- tion of Tyler Cranor, struck up the processional “Fanfare and Flourishes” prompting the high school staff, led by Rand Runco and Samra Spear, to file in ahead of the students. The traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” set the tone for the celebration as the seniors, in groups of twos and threes, made their way to the seats at the base of the stage. Principal Joe Hosang then the future “Surround yourself with people who make you better.” — Valedictorian Cassidy Ling-Scott See GRADUATION on page 24 PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK Letters/Weather ................ 2 Father’s Day Finds ............ 10 Entertainment ..................13 Obituaries ....................... 25 Classifieds .................. 27-29 Meetings ........................... 3 Announcements ................12 Fit for Sisters ................... 23 Crossword ....................... 26 Real Estate .................29-32
