Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 17, 2019)
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Continued from page 1 even using the word <radical.= He framed his comments by explaining, when starting with small numbers it doesn9t take a lot to significantly increase percentages. However, even given that, he said, <The rate of growth for Sisters is off the charts. The 32 percent increase over the past eight years is not nor- mal numbers; a whole differ- ent scenario.= The employment numbers, he said, are more volatile than the population numbers. In 2007, prior to the recession, employment figures reached a peak of 2,264 with a big drop through 2012 to about 1,800. In the past six years, the num- bers have consistently climbed back up to 2,408, or a six-and- a-half percent increase since the 2007 peak. By compari- son, the number of residents has steadily increased. Runberg said the good news is the jobs that have been added back since the recession are different types of jobs, not just tourism-related. And that is good because it means the local economy is becom- ing more diversified, which means Sisters may be more resistant to the next economic downturn. Central Oregon in general was in the middle of a build- ing boom in 2007 when the bubble burst and building- related businesses were the hardest hit. Comparatively, in the earlier dot-com bust, Central Oregon wasn9t partic- ularly impacted because there weren9t many dot-com-related businesses here, although recessions do impact tourism as people cut back on discre- tionary spending during such times. However, statistics indicate that in both 2006 and 2018, Deschutes County had the fourth most diversified econ- omy in the state of Oregon, behind Clackamas, Lane, and Multnomah counties (according to the Hachman Diversification Index 3 2006, 2018). Despite the best economic planning, Runberg said, luck plays a part in which geo- graphic areas are hurt by eco- nomic downturns. He used the Columbia Gorge area as an example. Those towns were not particularly impacted by the 2008 downturn because the things they are good at, like agriculture and food and beverage manufactur- ing, weren9t hard hit so they had great resistance to that recession. He thinks resiliency is a more important component of economic vitality than diver- sity. How quickly can an area bounce back from a down- turn? Aside from two areas, Deschutes County has experi- enced the most robust expan- sion in the country. Runberg pointed to the <huge deficit in homes= that currently exists in Deschutes County. The overall number of building permits has been down, with only two of the last six years seeing enough homes built to meet the need. One way to build in safety, according to the economist, is to add other elements to the economy. In Sisters that is happening with increases in the healthcare, manufac- turing, accommodations and food services, administrative support and waste manage- ment, and professional, sci- entific, and technical indus- tries. Retail trade and arts, entertainment, and recreation industries are remaining fairly level. Again, keeping in mind the small scale of overall employ- ment in Sisters, it doesn9t take very many increases or decreases in employees to have a noticeable affect on percentages of growth or decline. In 2010, tourism/ser- vice industries employment was at 45.9 percent. In 2012 it increased to 46.9 percent and then began a slow decline to 38.9 percent in 2018. Runberg told the Council, <Tourism is one of the best incentivizers.= People come to visit, love it here, and decide to move their business here or start a new one. CHAMPION: Rider is on to high school rodeo competition Continued from page 1 to take a ribbon from the steer9s tail. At the end of the rodeo, Steffan and her part- ner 4 Gator Goodrich from Stanfield, Oregon, were sit- ting in second place. Then a door opened. <We were very last in the go,= she recalled. <The peo- ple who were right behind us missed.= The pressure was intense. A clean run meant a champi- onship 4 but so much can go wrong. Goodrich got his job done, catching the steer. <After he caught, I knew I just had to grab the ribbon,= Steffan said. But she was in a tough position to get at it, and was clotheslined and knocked down by Gator9s rope. With one sole focus and plenty of determination, she got back up and swiped the ribbon. <I kind of thought we lost it,= she said. <And then they announced it as I was hand- ing the judge the ribbon. It didn9t really sink in.= Steffan took a bit to pro- cess the reality that, in her final year of junior high rodeo, she is a world cham- pion. That9s not hyperbole, either. The massive annual rodeo draws competitors from Canada and Latin America as well as many of the states 4 including PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS Adrienne Steffan won a saddle, several belt buckles, a Yeti cooler — and a championship — at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo last month. even Hawaii. The 10-day event is chal- lenging outside the arena as well as inside. It was hot and humid in South Dakota, with occasional thunderstorms. Competitions last all day and into the night. <It9s hard on you and the horse out in that,= Steffan noted. <Definitely makes me glad I live in Oregon. Winning a championship stokes the fire in the young rodeo competitor, who is now looking to ride into the next level in high school competi- tion. She says she9s got a lot of work to do in barrels and poles. It’s hard on you and the horse out in that [heat and humidity]. Definitely makes me glad I live in Oregon. — Adrienne Steffan <Practice, practice, prac- tice= is her mantra. She9s also looking to improve her skills in other events. <I9d like to work harder in team roping, 9cause I9d like to get better in that, more consistent, too,= she said. SISTERS 549-9388 Tasty THURSDAY 5 to 7 p.m. Camp Sherman LIVE MUSIC Andean Blue Opal, Pearl, White Topaz, 14k & 22K Open 7 days a week, 12-9 p.m. 541-595-6420 Sat., July 20, 7-9 p.m. NTT 391 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-2675 corkcellarswinebistro.com LANDSCAPE MATERIALS Come see the BEAUTIFUL MURAL 3/4" Pink Rock Decorative ...............$42/yard 2.5" Drain ( Round ) ............................$58/yard Pea Gravel ................................................$54/yard Sand ............................................................$38/yard Bark Mulch Hemlock ...........................$45/yard Dirt ..............................................................$28/yard 2.5" Ballast ...............................................$42/yard 3/4" Minus ................................................$24/yard Bio Fine .....................................................$38/yard $10 minimum order Delivery in town, $30 | Delivery out of town, $50 1 yard material minium on delivery 541-549-9631 Sales Service • Rentals • Accessories 506 N. Pine St. www.sistersrental.com by the ultra-and mega-talented @vividesign_co Com ult e soa rav k u ray iolet p so s! art me GROWTH: Small scale makes percentages loom large 21 Serving S erving Breakfast Br & Lunch 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 403 E. Hood Ave. 541.549.2699
