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Wednesday, March 11, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Battle of the Books
descends on Sisters
By Charlie Kanzig
Correspondent
Hundreds of young readers
descended on Sisters Middle
School for the annual Battle
of the Books regional compe-
tition on Saturday, March 10.
According to co-director
Deb Riehle, a total of 43
teams from all grade divisions
attended this year9s event,
which serves as a qualifier for
the state competition, which
is set for April 6. Teams came
from throughout Central and
Eastern Oregon, from as far
away as Fossil and Burns.
Preparation for Battle of
the Books begins months
ahead of the actual compe-
tition as participants must
become intimately familiar
with 16 books. During com-
petition teams score points
based on correct answers
from two categories: <In
Which Book= and <Content.=
Sisters was represented in
the grade 3-5 category by a
team of fifth-graders, which
included Olivia Nieto, Grace
Fendall, Haven Heuberger
and Norah Thorsett. <The
Hatchets= as they dubbed
themselves, qualified for
Saturday9s competition after
surviving many rounds of
battles with the 13 other
teams made up of Sisters
Elementary and Sisters
Middle School students.
Clare Nieto stepped in to
coach them Saturday.
The Sisters team in the
grade 6-8 division comprised
of Zoey Haney, Madison
Haney, Kiara Martin, Layla
Hicks, and Violette Kennedy
made it to the semi-finals.
They were coached by
Angelique Haney.
<We had great participa-
tion in our own school sys-
tem,= said Tiffany Tisdel,
Riehle9s co-coordinator. <It9s
heartening to have so many of
our own students who choose
to take part in this competi-
tion. It9s amazing that the ele-
mentary alone had 10 teams
and that it is all done through
teachers volunteering and
kids giving up lunch time and
recess time to do it all.=
Tisdel continued, <I am
so proud of our staff and stu-
dents who put in a very long
day Saturday. It takes a tre-
mendous amount of effort
on the part of our staff, par-
ents and students to host this
event. Everyone stepped up in
a huge way.=
Tisdel felt especially
thankful for all of the students
who gave up their Saturday.
<This generation of kids that
we often hear of as inactive,
un-motivated, video-gaming
individuals worked enthusi-
astically together all day, tak-
ing on any role asked that was
needed,= she said. <It makes
me proud to be an Outlaw
and a part of this school
community!=
Riehle felt overwhelmed
by the generosity of the com-
munity as well. <Angeline9s
Bakery, Melvin9s Newport
Avenue Market, and Sisters
Coffee provided refreshments
for our many volunteers, and
Kerry Prosser organized it
all for us as well as serving
as a shepherd for any way-
ward volunteers who needed
direction.=
<Paige Bentley of Sisters
Public Library provided gift
bags and goodies for the win-
ners and Becky Aylor was a
miracle worker in operating
the concessions, providing
signage and even stepping in
as a moderator when we need
one,= she said.
Miller Elementary of Bend
won the grade 3-5 title, Seven
Peaks, also of Bend, took
top honors for grade 6-8 and
Mountain View captured first
among high school teams.
High Desert Chorale sings into spring
By Jim Anderson
Correspondent
Despite our recent heavy
snowfall, Connie Gunterman,
director of the Sisters High
Desert Chorale, has her eye
and ear turned toward spring.
<Well,= she announced,
<the sun is out and the birds
are singing, so it9s time for
our Chorale to start practicing
for our spring concerts&.=
The Sisters High Desert
Chorale Spring Performance
is tentatively planned for
the weekend after Mother9s
Day (May 17 evening and
May 19 afternoon concerts).
The Chorale will be again
joined by the popular third-
and fourth-grade choir from
Sisters Elementary School
under the direction of Sara
Miller. They are working
toward a March Festival in
Bend with an animal theme so
they will already be prepared
for the concerts in May.
Sue Edgerton, who has
been singing with the cho-
rale since its inception, said,
<I love to sing in the High
Desert Chorale in Sisters,
under the direction of Connie
Gunterman. She helps the
singers to be our very best;
we have fun, and love mak-
ing music together. I am lucky
enough to have sung in a com-
munity choir in Sisters since
We’ve got you covered
from head to toe!
COLUMBIA
PHOTO BY SUE ANDERSON
Connie Gunterman and the Sisters
Christmas performance.
we moved here in 2002, under
three different directors. I
hope to see more new singers
this spring... Come! You will
be welcomed and will also
enjoy singing with us!=
Practices started last week
at the Episcopal Church of
the Transfiguration (68825
Brooks Camp Rd., Sisters)
in the community room.
Practices are held 6:30 to 8:30
p.m. each Monday until con-
cert week in May.
Gayla Nelson, another
soprano, said, <The hills
come alive with the sound
of music. Singing with the
Sisters Community Chorale,
under the direction of Connie
Gunterman, with accompanist
Donna Moyer, is pure joy!
<Connie is gifted with
amazing musical talent and
knowledge. She challenges
chorale members to achieve
levels of music many of us
High Desert Chorale at the 2018
never thought personally pos-
sible. We laugh, we have fun
and, in the process, we learn
and are continuously inspired
to work hard to be the best we
can be. Each season, when the
last strains of the final con-
certs fade away, for singers,
it9s on a par with leaving sum-
mer camp.=
Gunterman notes that,
<The choir will sing favor-
ites from old and new shows,
movies and musicals. No
audition is required and all
singers are welcomed. This is
a fun group that truly enjoys
the chance to not only sing,
but be a part of the commu-
nity and give back with the
gift of music. We9re recruit-
ing, so if you want to sing
with a wonderful group 4
please join us!=
For more information, con-
tact Gunterman at 541-588-
0362 or any Chorale member.
Remember
to clear
the snow
off your car.
It can be
dangerous to
you and others!
SS •
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