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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2020)
See NuggetNews.com or Facebook.com/NuggetNews for breaking news and COVID-19 updates The Nugget Vol. XLIII No. 13 P OSTAL CUSTOMER News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon www.NuggetNews.com Sisters doctors urge resilience PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15 Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Sisters navigating COVID-19 response Calm during the storm... By Jim Cornelius By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief Editor in Chief Dr. Kevin Miller has a message for Sisters: The dra- conian measures we are taking to battle the COVID-19 virus are necessary 4 and Sisters can stand up to the test. Dr. Miller, who partners with his wife, Dr. Eden Miller, at High Lakes Health Care in Sisters, says that self-isola- tion is the most powerful tool available to stave off rapid and destructive spread of the virus. <The power is in the people in this,= he told The Nugget last week. <We9re using age- old technology to combat it. It slows the spread.= Dr. Miller explained that COVID-19 is roughly twice As new restrictions con- tinue to be imposed on activi- ties, Sisters residents and busi- nesses are trying to navigate an uncertain path. On Monday, Governor Kate Brown issued a stringent <Stay Home, Save Lives= order that restricts any recre- ational or social gathering of any size and requires <non- essential businesses= to close. Restaurants will still be able to offer takeout, but gyms, indoor party places such as jump houses for children or laser tag facilities, hair salons, furniture stores, boutiques, ski resorts and museums will be required to close. The whole of Sisters Country is working to navigate the evolving response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See RESILIENCE on page 8 PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT See COVID-19 on page 9 Gonzaga students volunteer Sheriff investigates explosion on Fryrear Rd. The Deschutes County Sheriff9s office is investigat- ing an explosion on Fryrear Road east of Sisters. On March 21 at about 11:45 a.m., Deschutes County 911 received a report of a loud explosion in the 68000 block of Fryrear Road. Deschutes County Sheriff9s Office dep- uties responded to the area along with Cloverdale Fire Department personnel. Upon arrival, deputies located debris strewn about the area and found a couch frame hanging from the power lines. The investiga- tion revealed unknown per- sons detonated an explosive device, which blew up a mat- tress and couch. The blast was significant enough to launch the couch frame into the air where it hung up on the power lines, which were approximately 20-30 feet above the ground. A resident approximately a mile away reported the blast Inside... shook the windows of their residence. No significant power outages were reported in the area. The sheriff9s office reports that a late model, white, full- sized Chevy or GMC pickup was seen leaving the area. It was described as lifted with off-road tires and pos- sibly had out-of-state license plates. The truck was oper- ated by a white male and white female with long dark hair. They are believed to be in their 30s. An Oregon State Police bomb technician responded and investigated the scene along with a Central Electric Cooperative crew who removed the frame from the power lines. The Deschutes County Sheriff9s Office is asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911. Reference case number 20-70067. Eleven Gonzaga University students out of Spokane, Washington, spent their spring break in Sisters, volunteering for Sisters Habitat for Humanity as part of Habitat for Humanity International9s <Collegiate Challenge.= They were among the last groups allowed to travel before Habitat International suspended all builds requir- ing domestic or international travel in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The students installed siding on the Neal fam- ily9s home, and built heat PHOTO PROVIDED pump surrounds for two Gonzaga University students were hardworking and picked up skills quickly other homes in the Village on Sisters Habitat for Humanity projects. Meadows neighborhood. Only two of the students team to make sure their work Lutheran Church provided had any previous construction met Sisters Habitat9s quality shelter for students; Sisters experience. Habitat9s experi- standards. Athletic Club allowed them enced construction crew took The community of Sisters to use their showers; and most of the first day to famil- embraced the students with teams of Habitat volunteers iarize the students with safety open arms. Sisters-Camp provided lunch to the jobsite protocols and introduced Sherman Fire Department each day. them to power tools and con- opened their Community No stranger to volun- struction techniques. The Room for a <Welcome to teerism, most of the students construction crew worked Sisters= potluck the first See VOLUNTEERS on page 18 closely with each student day; Shepherd of the Hills Letters/Weather ............................2 Announcements ........................... 10 Kids in Print ............................. 16-17 Classifieds ...............................19-21 Meetings .......................................3 Businesses are Here to Serve ... 11-14 Crossword ................................... 18 Real Estate ............................. 21-24