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The Nugget
Vol. XLIII No. 5
P OSTAL CUSTOMER
News and Opinion
from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
People’s
Choice
Awards
honor five
PRE-SORTED STANDARD
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U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Sisters, OR
Permit No. 15
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
City makes
changes to
event rules
Out for a stroll...
By Sue Stafford
Correspondent
By Helen Schmidling
Correspondent
More than 250 Sisters art-
lovers streamed through the
doors of the Sisters Library
Friday night to mingle with
their friends and local art-
ists, and cast final votes for
the People9s Choice Awards
at the Sisters Library Annual
Art Exhibit. While anxiously
awaiting the results, people
strolled through the library,
nibbled on veggies, shrimp,
and mini-wraps, and listened
to music provided by The
Renaissance Sisters, under
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
A pair of Sisters residents forded Whychus Creek on a wintery day last week.
See WINNERS on page 22
See EVENTS on page 30
Man arrested on child
pornography charges
A 44-year-old Sisters man
faces 22 child pornography-
related charges after being
arrested on Tuesday, January
21, in the wake of a six3
month investigation by the
Deschutes County Sheriff9s
Office.
The sheriff 9s office
reported Wednesday, January
22, that the detectives divi-
sion had acted on a tip from
Internet Crimes Against
Children (ICAC) regarding
Michael Wills possibly pos-
sessing and distributing child
pornography. The Internet
Crimes Against Children Task
Force Program is a national
network of 61 coordinated
task forces representing over
4,500 federal, state, and local
law-enforcement and pros-
ecutorial agencies.
During the investigation
Inside...
Creekside City Park will
be closed to large events,
and event-related street clo-
sures will be cut back and
streets will not be closed
for events during the sum-
mer 4 with exceptions for
the Rodeo Parade and the
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.
Those are key results of new
City Ordinance 500, having
to do with public events, and
Ordinance 501 regarding tran-
sient merchants, passed on a
four-one vote at the January
22 Sisters City Council
meeting.
See the accompanying
detectives reportedly con-
firmed that Wills was the per-
son involved.
On January 14, detec-
tives contacted Wills at
his residence near Sisters.
Detectives interviewed Wills,
and a search warrant was
later served at his residence.
During the search warrant ser-
vice, detectives seized various
electronic devices belonging
to Wills. A search warrant to
analyze the electronic devices
was later granted, and,
according to DCSO, a foren-
sic examination of the elec-
tronic devices revealed Wills
was in possession of images
of child pornography.
Wills was contacted
again on January 21, and
interviewed regarding the
See WILLS on page 29
New Habitat
home dedicated
The sun came out as Sisters Habitat for
Humanity dedicated a home with the Likens
family on Tuesday, January 21, in the Village
Meadows subdivision.
Seth, Kastle, Araya and Malita are the
69th family to benefit from the Sisters
Habitat Homeownership Program.
Board President Chuck Harper welcomed
the crowd of about 100 people as everyone
celebrated and honored the donors, volun-
teers, and the family. The home was built by
Youth Build students and Habitat volunteers.
James Collins from Heart of Oregon
spoke about the Youth Build Program and
how it impacts the lives of young adults
who choose the path of learning a trade. Ray
Hendricks, an AmeriCorp volunteer with
Youth Build, grew up in a Habitat home and
stressed the importance of stable, affordable
housing as he was growing up.
Family Partners Berni Huggett and
Pat Woollard presented gifts to the family
including a Children9s Bible and a handmade
quilt by Susan Cobb.
Michelle Ehr welcomed the Likens
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
The Habitat community celebrated with the Likens
family as they dedicated their new home in Sisters.
family to the neighborhood on behalf of the
other neighbors. Following the blessing by
Nate Kaping, the family cut the ribbons to
their new home. Refreshments were served
and guests were invited to tour the home.
Letters/Weather ................ 2 Scottie Wisdom & Faith ...... 9 Entertainment ..................11 Crossword ....................... 26 Classifieds .................. 27-28
Meetings ........................... 3 Announcements ............... 10 Data Dave’s Commentary . 25 Obituaries ....................... 26 Real Estate .................29-32