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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