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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2021)
The Nugget Vol. XLIV No. 5 P OSTAL CUSTOMER News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon www.NuggetNews.com Wednesday, February 3, 2021 Sisters loses a beloved resident Sisters and the Aspen Lakes Community recently lost a beloved resident. Pete, a male trumpeter swan and mate to Eloise, had to be humanely euthanized after battling a lethal infec- tion. The loss not only has the local community mourn- ing, but is also a blow to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife/The Trumpeter Swan Society breeding resto- ration program. Pete was recently discov- ered to be lame by an Aspen Lakes resident. He was taken to Broken Top Veterinary Clinic for examination and X-rays. Dr. Lodge found no evidence of a break or frac- ture, so it was hoped that he had a sprain. Pete was trans- ferred to Think Wild in Bend for rehabilitation. When he didn’t respond to initial treat- ments, a further work up was done and those results revealed a bacterial infection. At that point, Pete was diagnosed with septic arthri- tis. The source of the infec- tion is unknown, but was likely a cut or scrape on his leg that allowed bacteria to enter his blood stream. Septic arthritis is usually Correspondent The City of Sisters is not letting waste go to waste. The Sisters City Council last week awarded a public- improvement contract in the amount of $153,092 to Clear Harbors Environmental Services of California for the Biosolid Removal Project at the City’s wastewater treat- ment plant. The project is part of the 2016 Wastewater Capital Facilities Plan and was esti- mated to occur in 2021 — 20 years from when the plant was started up. Establishment of the City sewer system was approved by the vot- ers in 1997-98. Mayor Steve Wilson acquired the 160 acres at the end of Locust Street from the U.S. Forest Service for locating the sew- age treatment plant. Inside... and three avian specialists on the East Coast, the decision Sisters Folk Festival (SFF) is packing up its big tents and moving to October. The Festival has announced a permanent move away from the traditional festival weekend that could begin as early as 2021 — if the pandemic is controlled enough to allow the event to take place safely. Sisters Folk Festival pro- duced a COVID-safe Close To Home concert at their out- door backyard venue in early August of 2020. Seating was sold in pods of two to four people, with ample spacing in between, and mask use was required. Since SFF had to be postponed last year because of COVID, staff built on that successful concert model and planned to host a weekend See SWAN on page 18 See FESTIVAL on page 8 PHOTO BY AL KRAUSE City launching major biosolids project By Sue Stafford Sisters Folk Festival moves to October Pete, Aspen Lakes’ trumpeter swan, has succumbed to a bacterial infection. a fatal infection that causes crippling pain. Pete’s case was no exception. In spite of aggressive treatments and The removal of the bio- solids required the creation of a Biosolids Management Plan (BMP) to determine the disposal method and location of the disposal site. Staff developed the BMP and received Department of Environmental Quality approval last November. Three bids were received from companies in Iowa, California, and Washington, all coming in under the bud- geted $250,000. Biosolids removal includes the removal of “sludge,” or the material that remains in the ponds after treatment. These biosolids accumulate in the ponds and reduce their capacity over time. The City’s treatment plant is comprised of three ponds with the 2.1-acre, 10-foot-deep primary lagoon, See BIOSOLIDS on page 15 therapies, Pete continued to be unable to bear weight or eat on his own after a week. At the suggestion of local vets PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15 City of Sisters Public Works crew keeps city rolling PHOTO BY TROY RAYBURN The City of Sisters Public Works crew performs countless daily tasks to keep Sisters operating properly and looking good. Pictured from left to right: Todd Milburn, Josh Stotts, Jackson Dumanch, Gus Johnson, Travis Quimby, and Doug McIntosh. Not pictured, Troy Rayburn and Paul Bertagna. By Sue Stafford Correspondent It’s 1 a.m., and there is a big windstorm coming down off the mountains, whipping the trees and power lines back and forth. Without warning, a large ponderosa tree on the south side of town is blown down across the street and lands on a homeowner’s car. The City of Sisters Public Works crew is there within a mat- ter of minutes, removing the tree. Just as quickly, for safety’s sake, they are gone. One of the best-kept secrets in town is the City’s Public Works headquar- ters and shop located down at the end of South Locust Street, behind a modest gate. Public Works truly is See PUBLIC WORKS on page 22 Letters/Weather ............... 2 Roundabout Sisters .......... 4 Entertainment ................. 11 Fun & Games ....................16 Classifieds .................. 19-21 Meetings .......................... 3 Announcements ...............10 Gotta Have It! ..................12 Crossword .......................18 Real Estate .................21-24
