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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2021)
The Nugget Vol. XLIV No. 33 P OSTAL CUSTOMER News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon www.NuggetNews.com Sisters city manager in running for new post in Hood River PRE-SORTED STANDARD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sisters, OR Permit No. 15 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Scholl affirms school standards in Sisters Oh, what a beautiful morning... By Sue Stafford By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent Correspondent The City of Sisters may soon be looking for a new city manager. Cory Misley is a finalist for the city manager position in Hood River, a town of 8,313 residents with a city staff of about 70. When hired for the posi- tion in Sisters, Misley agreed to stay for at least three years in light of the rash of person- nel changes at the City before he was hired. He has reached the three-year mark and has been looking for a new News last week regard- ing the passage of Senate Bill 744 and subsequent approval by Governor Kate Brown might be compared to the wildfires burning all around the State this summer. Citizens are hot. The change in the law suspends for three years the graduation require- ment for students to show proficiency in <Essential Learning Skills,= which After several days of unhealthy air quality due to wildfire smoke drifting in from all over the West, Sisters awoke to a beautiful sunrise on Monday morning — and we could see our mountains again. PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS See MISLEY on page 14 See SCHOOLS on page 23 Sisters Country faces surging delta variant As the highly contagious delta variant of COVID- 19 surges across Sisters Country, St. Charles Hospital is urging residents to get vac- cinated and, whether vacci- nated or not, to wear a mask in public places. Joe Sluka, president and CEO of St. Charles Health System sent out a Central Oregon-wide message last week urging individual action. <We already know the best way out of this pandemic, and that9s by vaccinating more people, wearing masks in public places, and practic- ing good hand hygiene,= he said. <When people get vac- cinated, they greatly protect themselves against severe ill- ness and death from COVID- 19. When you wear your mask, you slow the spread of the virus, protect others from infection and hospi- talization, and reduce strain on our health system. And please believe me: We need to reduce the strain on our health system. Right now.= The strain is significant Inside... enough that the National Guard has been called out in support of the healthcare system. St. Charles Hospital will receive a deployment of 150 National Guard personnel next Friday. This is part of a deploy- ment of up to 1,500 Oregon National Guard members in support of frontline health- care workers as hospitals face a surge of hospitaliza- tions due to the rapid spread of the delta variant. Guard personnel will provide logis- tical support as materials handlers and equipment run- ners, as well as assisting with COVID-19 testing and other necessary services to support hospital operations. <The stress on Oregon hospitals right now is truly unprecedented. Our resources are stretched woe- fully thin at the same time we are seeing a frightening rise in COVID cases,= said Sluka. <We are grateful for the Guard9s help. We look High Desert drought affects SISTERS AGRICULTURE PHOTO BY KATY YODER Seed to Table is fortunate to be able to utilize a well to water crops on its three-acre farm off East Black Butte Avenue. By Katy Yoder Correspondent Waves of record-high temperatures, combined with low rainfall and dwindling snowmelt needed to replenish aquafers and river systems, are affecting Sisters Country. Farmers and ranchers have known for years that the area is in trouble. How it9s affect- ing them varies based on how they get their water and what kind of agricultural practices they have in place. Efforts focus on maximizing avail- able water while minimizing losses through water-saving practices. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System (Drought.gov), June 2021 was the driest year over the past 127 years. One hundred percent of Deschutes County is at least D2 3 Severe Drought, 55.31 percent is considered D4 3 Exceptional Drought status. Dry condi- tions result in less production and food for people and live- stock. Reservoirs and lakes are low and irrigation water is scarce. As the cost of doing See AGRICULTURE on page 22 See COVID-19 on page 21 Letters/Weather ............... 2 Sisters Naturalist .............. 4 Announcements ...............10 Obituaries .......................14 Classifieds .................. 19-21 Meetings .......................... 3 Of a Certain Age ................ 6 Entertainment ................. 11 Crossword .......................18 Real Estate .................21-24