Salem-News.com Sisters articles

Washington Man Takes Own Life after Standoff with Oregon Police

If you or someone you know needs help with suicidal thoughts or is otherwise in an immediate mental health crisis, HELP is available.

(SISTERS, Ore. ) - Oregon State Police, with the assistance of Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and Bend Police Department, are investigating the death of an adult male following a standoff Saturday during a stop along Highway 20W between Sisters and Bend.

Oregon Candidate Esterman Hopes to be State`s Second Independent Governor

"I'm a commoner running for Governor and that's my main issue" - Richard Esterman.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon has a new opportunity, and his name is Richard Esterman. This resident of Sisters, Oregon is running for the office of Governor.

He's a photographer and very much considers his role in life to be that of the common citizen.

Sisters Man Arrested for Attempting to Elude Police

The driver was arrested on charges of Felony Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, 3 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and DUII.

(SISTERS, Ore.) - A Sisters-area man was arrested early Sunday morning on multiple charges after police say he tried to elude an Oregon State Police trooper on Highway 20. The man was taken into custody after a Black Butte Ranch police office successfully deployed spike strips.

It apparently began at approximately 1:37 AM when OSP Trooper Sean Belding was at the scene of an abandoned motorhome on Highway 20 near milepost 83 preparing to have it towed as a hazard when a green 1995 Toyota Previa van drove past westbound.

Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash Near Sisters

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

(SISTERS) - A North Plains-area man died Monday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle on Highway 20-W about twenty-five miles west of Sisters.

Lake George Fire Near Sisters Now 70 Percent Contained

The lightning-caused fire is being managed by Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 under a joint delegation from the Deschutes National Forest, Willamette National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry.

(SISTERS) - The Lake George Fire west of Sisters is now 70 percent contained and has blackend 5,253 acres.

Lake George Fire Near Sisters Grows to Over 5,000 Acres

The lightning-caused fire is being managed by Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 under a joint delegation from the Deschutes National Forest, Willamette National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry.

(SISTERS) - The Lake George Fire west of Sisters is 20 percent contained and has black end 5,150 acres.

The continued air and ground battle focused on an intense spot east of the main fire front and within a half-mile of still-shut McKenzie Highway, Highway 242.

Crews on the north side focused on spot fires and reinforced a line anchored Tuesday, while, four 20-person crews were brought in by helicopter west of the Cascades crest to establish a "spike camp."

Lake George Fire Near Sisters Doubles in Size

Heavy smoke from the wildfire has worked it way into Sisters and Black Butte, prompting the closure of the McKenzie Highway and prompting DEQ to issue a health advisory on Tuesday.

(SISTERS) - Winds-fanned Lake George Fire on the Mt. Washington Wilderness Area to 4,250 acres Tuesday and kept firefighters busy, 850 firefighters were even pulled back for safety reasons, but officials still called it "a good day".

Crews worked on a second contingency line to the east of the fire, burning in very heavy timber.

Lake George Fire Near Sisters Grows to Nearly 2,000 Acres Monday

The fire has forced the closure of the McKenzie Highway.

(SISTERS) - The Lake George Fire burning 13 miles west of Sisters in the Mt. Washington Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest, is currently 1,950 acres in size.

Agencies on this fire include the USDA Forest Service, the USDI Bureau of Land Management, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the National Guard from Cheyenne WY.

Homes Spared at Black Crater Fire Boost Interface Protection Effort

Fire officials say residents listened, and their creation of firebreaks saved every threatened home, while promoting the entire fire prevention effort. Good work Sisters!

(SISTERS) - As the Department of Forestry implements the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act in high fire risk areas of the state, accounts of residents who helped save their homes from the Black Crater Fire by creating fuel breaks are helping promote the prevention effort.

The 9,200-acre fire threatened hundreds of homes near Sisters and prompted the evacuation of several small communities. That no homes burned can be credited in great part to residents' foresight in cleaning up their landscaping, making structural modifications, and completing a self-certification process.

Citizens and Firefighters Begin Returning Home as Black Crater Conflagration Contained

Crews breathe a sigh of relief as a fire that had significantly grown worse over the weekend, came under firefighter control.

(SISTERS) - Cooler temperatures and a secure fire line contain the Black Crater Conflagration burning southwest of Sisters allowing both the evacuated residents and structural firefighters to return home.