Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 25, 2019)
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon CELEBRATION: Trail has become a destination for region9s riders Continued from page 1 the poster for the event. Displays were set up by active partners of STA includ- ing Central Oregon Trails Association (COTA), Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET), and Sisters Park and Recreation District. Three amazing gift baskets, each filled with donations from numerous local businesses and worth well over $1,000, were raf- fled off to lucky winners who paid $10 for three chances on a hiker, cyclist, or equestrian basket. During the event, early trail proponent John Rahm of Sisters told the assembled crowd, <What we have is a mature destination trail sys- tem& People come to Sisters because of our trails. One per- son moved here because of the trails.= Rahm gave those assem- bled a detailed history of the origins and development of the trail, crediting Eurosports owner Brad Boyd with get- ting the first <lollipop= sec- tion of the trail constructed in two years, beginning in 1989. Volunteers, partnerships, donations and grants have literally built the PRT. Thank- yous were plentiful and heart- felt on Saturday. Thousands of volunteer hours have con- tributed to the construction and maintenance of the trail system. Currently, each sec- tion of trail has an STA vol- unteer who surveys their sec- tion regularly and sees to the maintenance. STA President Catherine Hayden shared, <I am thankful for our collabora- tion with the Forest Service. I value the strong relationship with them.= Thanks were also extended for significant financial sup- port from former Sisters resident Mike Ilg, The Roundhouse Foundation and Kathy Deggendorfer, and cycling advocate Jerry Norquist and Cycle Oregon. Amy Radke, Recreation Team leader with the Sisters Ranger District, echoed Hayden9s sentiment from the Forest Service perspective, thankful for the partnership. She has been able to build on the relationships formed through the partnership with STA. <What we have is an incredible trail system with important cultural sites,= Radke said. She talked about how the PRT increases the USFS capacity for recreational opportunities. She cited the stability of the STA with its membership, finances, and ability to get grants all add- ing value to the Deschutes National Forest. Former Sisters District Ranger Bill Anthony, an avid cyclist, and Rahm, were instrumental in the formation of the partnership between the USFS and STA. Among those in the park on Saturday were longtime STA members and a num- ber of relative newcomers to Sisters who either had already joined the STA or came to check it out and planned to join. One couple visiting from Eugene stopped by with their young son. Mountain-biker David Purviance, who brought his World9s Children nonprofit to Sisters, said, <I appreciate Upcoming Adult Programs! Ad Advanced d Casting Skills: 10/5 & 10/12 Learn to Play Poker: (Ages 18+) Adult Ukulele: Starting 10/17/19 View activities & classes, and register online! www.SistersRecreation.com 1750 W. Mckinney Butte Rd. | 541-549-2091 MINI STORAGE Sisters Industrial Park 157 Sisters Park Dr. • 541-549-3575 www.SistersStorage.com • State-of-the-art Security Technology • Sizes from 5x5 to 12x40 • Individual Gate Codes • Long-term Discounts • On-site Manager STA earns Big Chainring Award By Sue Stafford Correspondent T h e S i s t e r s Tr a i l s Alliance was recently awarded the Big Chainring Award for nonprofits by the Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee (BPAC). Since 1996, the annual Big Chainring Award has recognized individuals, businesses, and public agencies that make impor- tant contributions toward improving bicycling and walking conditions, encour- aging children or adults to walk and ride their bikes, and making Deschutes County communities health- ier and happier. According to the BPAC recognition, <The Sisters Trails Alliance has long been an outstanding exam- ple of dedicated volun- teers creating an incredible community resource. Gary Guttormsen and Patrick Eckford, the STA trail coordinators, are two of the individuals behind this success. Gary has devoted an incredible amount of time, energy, talent and imagination to the preserva- tion and promotion of our public forests and lands. Patrick has been instrumen- tal in securing a grant for a new trailhead facility at Peterson Ridge and is work- ing with the Forest Service to gain approval for new trails.= BPAC is comprised of 13 volunteer citizen mem- bers with regional rep- resentatives from across Deschutes County. Their mission is to promote and encourage safe bicycling and walking as a signifi- cant means of transporta- tion in Deschutes County. The committee serves to advise Deschutes County, the cities of Bend, La Pine, Redmond, and Sisters, plus the Oregon Department of Transportation concern- ing bicycling and walking interests and priorities, as well as stimulating public awareness. The City of Sisters received the Big Chainring Award several years ago for their accomplishments in cycling and walking pri- orities and safety as a public agency. CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S NUGGET INSERTS! Ray’s Food Place Honeycrisp Apples $1.49 per lb. Russet Potatoes 89¢ per lb. Essential Everyday Batteries 25 % off! Fall Harvest Pumpkins 34¢ per lb. Bi-Mart Starting 10/7/19 SNO CAP what they (STA) have done.= He and his wife, Jean, plan to join STA. Mary and Michael Fry, who are building a home in Aspen Lakes, have been com- ing to Sisters to vacation for 20 years and moved here per- manently a year-and-a-half ago. They enjoy the trails on their mountain bikes and came Saturday to <learn about the outfit.= The trailhead for the PRT, currently located on the south side of Sisters off Elm Street and Tyee Drive, will have a new location in spring 2020, a little further south on Elm (Three Creek Road), to remove it from the Buck Run neighborhood. The new trail- head will offer more parking and restroom facilities, but is still close to town. Other future plans include improved equestrian trails and two new trails to pro- vide more connections on the Whychus Creek and Brooks- Scanlon trails. A new regional organization is forming, the Deschutes Trails Coalition. Karen Matheson Thrower has been using the trails since the late 1990s, when she came to visit her parents who lived in Sisters. Her dad built the play structure in Village Green Park. She moved from Portland three years ago and joined the STA. She is on the trails regularly with her dogs or bike. She thinks <the trail system is an incredible resource.= All Centerfi re Rifl e Ammo $3 off! Western Chief Kids’ Rubber Boots $16.97 All Men’s & Women’s Jackets & Vests 25% off! 19 SHOE SALE! $15 OFF $40 OFF ONE PAIR OF SAS SHOES TWO PAIRS OF SAS SHOES Offer good September 21–October 5, 2019 S Se Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 541-385-7405 Costco Forum Center 2680 NE Hwy. 20, Ste. 380, Bend