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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 2022)
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon C O M M U N I T 3 Y Commentary... Lending a hand in a moment of need By Hollie Foster Guest Columnist On January 3 at about 7:30 p.m., during a win- ter storm, Jefferson County Reserve Deputy Mark Foster received a 911 call from dis- patch for a motor assist in Camp Sherman at the <Four Corners= stop sign. A large semitruck had slid off the road into deep snow at the stop sign, blocking one lane. Why and how did it get there? Having passed through Sisters, the semi was on Highway 20 en route to Corvallis to deliver cargo. Santiam Pass was closed. Nearing the Camp Sherman Road junction, the driver had received an errone- ous GPS notice to detour to Camp Sherman for an alter- native route over Santiam Pass. Being first-time visi- tors to Central Oregon from the Deep South, the driver and passenger 4 two young women 4 were quite unfa- miliar with Oregon9s routes, mountain passes, winter snow storms, avalanches, and potentially lengthy pass closures. Traveling through the dark forest on the Camp Sherman road during a windy, swirling snowstorm, the driver finally reached the stop sign 4 and got stuck. After calling 911, she called several nearby tow- ing companies for assistance; unfortunately, no one was available to help them that night due to other stranded motorist 911 calls. What the stranded driver and passenger didn9t know then was that, in Camp Sherman, the best place to get a cell signal is precisely at the Four Corners stop sign area, known locally as the <cell phone booth.= They had unknowingly picked the per- fect spot to become disabled and successfully reach 911 as well as their own trucking company dispatch. Responding to the call, Mark Foster set out traffic cones to mark the hazard spot. By then, in addition to being stuck in deep snow, the truck had completely run out of diesel fuel and also had an untimely battery failure. The women had started walking toward Highway 20 to seek help. Finding no one in the truck, Mark pro- ceeded to look for the driver. He found the women walk- ing on the road. They spot- ted the sheriff9s truck with flashing lights and, relieved, turned and walked toward it. They told Mark of their predicament. Since the semi could not produce heat for the sleep quarters cab due to an empty fuel tank, Mark9s plan was to transport the women to the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge in Sisters for over- night lodging. Before head- ing to Sisters, Mark stopped to pick me up at my daugh- ter9s home to accompany him. Along the route, the young women excitedly called their worried moms back home in the Deep South, retelling their unfolding story play by play. We could hear the voices of their grateful moms thanking us. In Sisters, we bought the women dinner and paid for their lodging at the Best Western. We also bought them a U.S. Rand McNally Road Map and an Oregon road map for handy and much-needed use. They greatly appreciated all of our assistance and continually PHOTO PROVIDED Jefferson County Reserve Deputy Mark Foster helped a pair of truck drivers who got stuck in Camp Sherman during last week’s snow storm. PHOTO PROVIDED Rochelle, Jacquela, and their stuck truck. addressed <Mr. Mark= as their guardian angel. The next morning, on January 4, Mark brought the driver and passenger back to Camp Sherman along with two 40-pound diesel tanks of fuel in an attempt to spark the engine to start. Two tanks were not enough, so back to Sisters he went for more fuel. After returning to the Four Corners with fuel, Mark drove to House on Metolius to exchange his truck for Big Blue 4 the resort9s snow plow 4 as a backup if needed at the Four Corners. By then, Davis Towing had arrived on the scene. Inch by inch, creaking all the way, the large semi was suc- cessfully hauled out of the snow onto the road. During the tow truck operation, I enjoyed spend- ing time and talking with Jacquela, 30, the semi driver; and Rochelle, 25, the passenger and soon-to-be semitruck driver. Throughout their entire winter storm rescue event, Jacquela and Rochelle both had main- tained a positive attitude, dis- played humor, were greatly appreciative for all of the assistance received, and were absolutely delightful to get to know. It is evident to me that this event was not a coincidence of random events, but rather God9s hand of impeccable timing and detailed organi- zation for a rescue from a humble Camp Sherman man whose heart just keeps on giving and joyously serving his community. We have corresponded since their departure, and Jacquela and Rochelle have said that they plan to return to Camp Sherman in the summer and rent a cabin. Happy journey and return, friends! SISTERS AREA MEETING CALENDAR East of the Cascades Quilt Guild 4th Wednesday (September-June), Stitchin’ Post. All are welcome. 541-549-6061. Sisters Area Woodworkers 1st Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m. 541-231-1897. Al-Anon Mon., noon. / Thurs., 10 a.m., Sisters Astronomy Club 3rd Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Go Fish Fishing Group 3rd Monday, Tuesday, 7 p.m., SPRD. 541-549-8846. 541-610-7383. 7 p.m. Sisters Community Church. All Sisters Bridge Club Thursdays, 12:30 ages welcome. 541-771-2211. Alcoholics Anonymous Thurs. & p.m. at Sisters Community Church. Sun., 7 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Email sistersbridge2021@gmail.com. Heartwarmers (fl eece blanketmakers) Transfi guration / Sat., 8 a.m., Episcopal 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Sisters City Sisters Caregiver Support Group Church of the Transfi guration / Mon., Hall. Materials provided. 541-408-8505. 3rd Tues., 10:30 a.m., Village Green 5 p.m., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Park. 541-771-3258. Hero Quilters of Sisters Thursday, Church / Big Book study, Tues., noon, 1 to 4 p.m. 541-668-1755. Sisters Cribbage Club Please call for Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / details. 541-923-1632. Citizens4Community, Let’s Talk Gentlemen’s meeting, Wed., 7 a.m., Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board 3rd Monday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. RSVP at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church / of Directors 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m. Sober Sisters Women’s meeting, Thurs., citizens4community.com Location information: 541-549-1193. noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Military Parents of Sisters Meetings Church / Step & Tradition meeting, Fri., are held quarterly; please call for details. Sisters Kiwanis Thursdays, noon, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran 7 to 8:30 a.m., Brand 33 Restaurant at 541-388-9013. Church. 541-548-0440. Aspen Lakes. 541-410-2870. Oregon Band of Brothers – Sisters Sisters Parent Teacher Community Black Butte Ranch Bridge Club Chapter Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m., 2nd Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at Sisters Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m., BBR community Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-549-6469. Saloon. 541-480-5994. room. Partner required. 541-595-6236. SAGE (Senior Activities, Gatherings Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild & Enrichment) Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. Sisters Parkinson’s Support Group 2nd Thurs.,1 p.m. Sisters Library. For Saturday meeting dates and to 4 p.m. at Sisters Park & Recreation 541-668-6599 location, email: steelefl y@msn.com. District. 541-549-2091. Sisters Red Hats 1st Friday. Central OR Spinners and Weavers Sisters Aglow Lighthouse Location information: 541-279-1977. Guild One Saturday per month, Jan. 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., meeting by Sisters Rotary 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, thru Oct. For schedule: 541-639-3217. Zoom. 503-930-6158. Noon, Aspen Lakes. 541-760-5645. Sisters Area Photography Club Council on Aging of Central Oregon Sisters Trails Alliance Board 1st Senior Lunch Tuesdays, noon, Sisters 2nd Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at Sisters Monday, 5 p.m. Sisters Library. Community Church. 541-549-6157. Community Church. 541-480-1843. BOARDS, GROUPS, CLUBS Public welcome. 808-281-2681. Sisters Veterans Thursdays, noon, Takoda’s Restaurant. 541-903-1123. Three Sisters Irrigation District Board of Directors 1st Tuesday, 4 p.m., TSID Offi ce. 541-549-8815. Three Sisters Lions Club 2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Spoons Restaurant. 541-419-1279. VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-903-1123. Weight Watchers Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in, Sisters Community Church. 541-602-2654. SCHOOLS Black Butte School Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 3:45 p.m., Black Butte School. 541-595-6203 Sisters School District Board of Directors One Wed. monthly, SSD Admin Bldg. See schedule online at www.ssd6.org. 541-549-8521 x5002. CITY & PARKS Sisters City Council 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022. Sisters Park & Recreation District Board of Directors 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m., SPRD bldg. 541-549-2091. Sisters Planning Commission 3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Sisters City Hall. 541-549-6022. FIRE & POLICE Black Butte Ranch Police Dept. Board of Directors Meets monthly. 541-595-2191 for time & date. Black Butte Ranch RFPD Board of Directors 4th Thursday, 9 a.m., Black Butte Ranch Fire Station. 541-595-2288. Cloverdale RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Wed., 5:30 p.m., 67433 Cloverdale Rd. 541-548-4815. cloverdalefi re.com. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Board of Directors 3rd Tuesday, 5 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 541-549-0771. Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Drills Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Sisters Fire Hall, 301 S. Elm St. 541-549-0771. This listing is for regular Sisters Country meetings; email information to beth@nuggetnews.com