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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2020)
The Nugget Vol. XLIII No. 51 P OSTAL CUSTOMER News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon www.NuggetNews.com Wednesday, December 16, 2020 Painting the town... A career in raptor rescue Sisters man killed in Highway 20 wreck By Katy Yoder Correspondent Rescuing an injured raptor is best left to the profession- als. Large birds of prey like golden or bald eagles with wingspans sometimes close to eight feet, require expert han- dling and a licensed rehabili- tator. In Sisters, for the past 20 years, Wild Wings Raptor Rehabilitation was the place to call when a raptor needed help. As of January of 2021, Gary Landers, a permitted raptor rehabilitator is retiring. He and his wife Kellie have dedicated countless hours res- cuing injured animals. For Landers, helping rap- tors has been a volunteer vocation born of his pas- sion for wild animals and See LANDERS on page 17 PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK Sisters Elementary School students turned out for their annual window-painting spree, getting downtown Sisters into the holiday spirit. High school sports further shortened By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent In response to the spike in COVID-19 cases around the state over the past month, the Oregon Schools Athletics and Activities Association (OSAA) announced last week that it will further con- dense the competitive sea- sons planned for this school year 4 down to six weeks apiece for all sports and will move winter sports to late spring. The latest changes shuffle the order of the three com- petitive sports seasons and shorten each season to about six weeks from the nine orig- inally planned. In its press release the OSAA wrote, <While dis- appointed that we need to adjust our original schedule, we believe that keeping three distinct seasons, albeit in shortened seasons, maintains potential opportunities for all students moving forward.= Inside... Traditional <fall= sports of soccer and cross country will begin official practices on February 22, while vol- leyball, as an indoor sport, will only take place if the virus diminishes enough for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to give the green light. As a full contact sport, football falls into the prohib- ited category until further notice as well. The fall sports will con- clude by April 11. The next season on the calendar, beginning prac- tice April 5, will feature traditional <spring= sports, including golf, baseball, softball, tennis, and track and field. This season will conclude by May 23. The final season of the year, starting May 10, fea- tures <winter= sports includ- ing basketball, wrestling, and swimming. The rationale of having indoor sports later in See SPORTS on page 19 PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15 A Sisters man died in a single-vehicle wreck east of town on Saturday. Oregon State Police reports that on Saturday, December 12, at approxi- mately 1:40 P.M., Oregon S t a t e P o l i c e Tr o o p e r s and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 20 near milepost 8 in the area of Fryrear Road. Preliminary investiga- tion revealed that a Toyota Highlander operated by Neil Muller, age 35 of Sisters, was eastbound when it went off the roadway and struck a utility pole. Muller sustained fatal injuries. The wreck closed Highway 20 in both direc- tions for an extended period. STARS provides essential service By Sue Stafford Correspondent <The service offered by STARS means we can con- tinue to live in Sisters,= Joann Powers told The Nugget. Powers is 87 years old and doesn9t like to drive in Bend traffic, where her husband Bill has regular medical appointments. By calling the dispatch center for Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) on Tuesday or Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Bill can arrange for a free ride to Bend and back with a STARS volunteer who has passed a background check and has approved automobile insurance. <I call Tuesday and Thursday between 10 and 3 and give them enough time to find a driver for me. They like to have at least 48 hours notice,= Bill explained. <In Sisters we don9t have good ways to get to appoint- ments in other cities. If you hire someone, it costs $100 PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD Volunteer driver Ann Marland, right, greets Lorraine Barrier, who uses STARS transport services to get to physical-therapy appointments. roundtrip to Bend and back.= So, Bill9s choices are to take the bus or call STARS. With his vision issues, taking the bus is problematic and the bus schedule doesn9t fit with his appointment times. <I think it9s great,= Bill said of the STARS program. <They are all good drivers and very pleasant. During the pandemic, they are doing a temperature check when they pick me up, we both wear masks, and use disinfectant.= <I would absolutely rec- ommend STARS to anyone needing a ride to a medical appointment,= Bill added. <I think it9s a great service for the community and for me.= There is no charge for the rides and drivers don9t accept tips. If a passenger wants to somehow show their appreciation, they are See STARS on page 18 Letters/Weather ............... 2 Obituaries .......................10 Entertainment .................13 Fun & Games ................... 26 Classifieds ................. 28-29 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements ...............12 Fit for Sisters ...................19 Crossword .......................27 Real Estate ................ 30-32