Oregon
Sisters Joins Oregon’s Dark Sky Movement With Prestigious Certification
The Milky Way above Sisters, Oregon
Sisters, Oregon, has been certified as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International, making it the state’s second such community and the seventh International Dark Sky Place overall in Oregon. Sisters joins an elite list that includes Eastern Lake County (Phase 1 of the proposed Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary), Oregon Caves National Monument, the city of Antelope, Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Prineville Reservoir State Park, and Sunriver International Development of Distinction.
This prestigious designation represents years of dedication by the Sisters community to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the nighttime skies. By protecting this natural resource, the town ensures future generations can marvel at the stars while supporting wildlife that depends on darkness. The designation also paves the way for educational initiatives, lighting retrofits, and sustainable lighting practices, all while enhancing tourism—a cornerstone of Sisters’ economy.
“Advocates in Sisters have shown a strong commitment to preserving their dark night skies. Their application underscores the town’s dedication to conserving its natural night sky through proactive conservation efforts and community engagement, said Amber Harrison, International Dark Sky Places Program Manager.
“Students, advocates, and local officials have played key roles in raising awareness and enhancing community lighting, ultimately improving both night sky quality and the overall environment for residents and visitors alike. We congratulate the Sisters team on this significant achievement and are thrilled to welcome another International Dark Sky Place in Oregon.”
USA, Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Central Oregon, Bend, High Desert at night. (Photo by: … [+]
Nestled in central Oregon, Sisters is a picturesque western-style town of 3,475 residents surrounded by forests and the Cascade Mountains. Recreational opportunities abound, with hiking, alpine lakes, and nearby ski areas all within a three-hour drive of Portland and the Pacific Ocean. Bend, a popular recreation hub, is just 20 miles away.
The town’s geography transitions from lush Ponderosa Pine and alpine forests in the west to junipers, sagebrush, and the expansive high desert to the east. Wildlife thrives in the region, including a town herd of deer, as well as bears, cougars, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Sisters is also home to significant fish populations, such as the native interior Columbia Basin redband trout and federally listed Steelhead salmon, thanks to conservation efforts.
The area’s history began with the Paiute, Warm Springs, and Wasco peoples, who fished in Whychus Creek and gathered huckleberries in the nearby mountains. European settlers arrived in the late 1860s, establishing the town of Sisters in 1901.
Over the years, Sisters evolved from a small pioneer hub with industries like sheepherding, cattle ranching, and timber production to a thriving community known for its Western architectural charm and tourism, particularly following the development of Black Butte Ranch in the 1970s.
Sisters’ commitment to dark sky preservation began in earnest in 2000 with the launch of an astronomy program at Sisters High School. This commitment led to the city’s Dark Skies Outdoor Lighting Ordinance and extensive community engagement. Through newsletters, social media, newspaper articles, and events, the town raised awareness about light pollution. The city also established astronomy clubs, retrofitted lighting to meet certification standards, and secured support from local officials and residents. Compliance monitoring and ongoing data collection further solidify Sisters’ dedication to its night skies.
“Being able to gaze at an infinite sea of stars and feel our place in the universe has been an integral part of living in Sisters. The community values caring for and connecting with the natural world and came together to make sure the legacy of our starry skies continues,” said Rima Givot, a Sisters High School Science Teacher. “The International Dark Sky Community certification will ensure that we can continue to feel wonder as we gaze at the Milky Way on a clear night over the mountains, and feel our sense of place and connection”
The Milky Way over Central Oregon at Prineville Reservoir State Park.
Mayor Michael Preedin expressed pride in the achievement: “We tried really hard to become the first city in Oregon with the designation, but alas, Antelope became the first just weeks ago, so we will take pride in being the second. This is another accomplishment that the Sisters community can proudly enjoy. Fostering our local environment by removing light pollution is something that helps all of humanity and we are excited about the astro-tourism opportunities. What a great accomplishment!”
The mayor also credited the Sisters Astronomy Club for its pivotal role in securing the designation: “We all need to thank the people that have been working on this for years before the city and the rest of the community joined the movement, namely, the Sisters Astronomy Club, who created the momentum to see this through.”
Bill Kowalik, Ph.D., Chairperson of DarkSky Oregon, added, “The city of Sisters has now set a community standard for responsible outdoor lighting in Oregon. It’s a standard that benefits residents, visitors, and the surrounding wild environment. This international certification brings recognition to Sisters, known to visitors for culture and arts, and now globally, for environmental protection of dark skies too,”
Moving forward, Sisters plans to emphasize education about the benefits of dark sky preservation and the steps residents and businesses can take to retrofit non-compliant lighting. Outreach efforts will include newspaper articles, community events like stargazing parties, and funding assistance for lighting upgrades, ensuring that Sisters continues to lead by example in preserving its starry skies.
OREGON CITY Ore. (KPTV) – The Reformation Covenant Church in Oregon City caught fire on Christmas Day, according to Clackamas Fire.
“I personally, in my 25-year career, haven’t seen such a disastrous fire on Christmas Day,” said Clackamas County Fire Battalion Chief Josh Santos.
Firefighters responded to a reported fire at the church near John Quincy Adams St and 12th St just after 2 p.m.
Crews found the fire between the old and new roof of the church, and had to attack the fire from above as a result, according to the fire department.
“We prioritized putting people on the roof, cutting holes across the entire roof because of that void space and fire crews inside fighting the fire,” said Santos.
Clackamas Fire says while the fire was put out at around 3:30 p.m., crews will remain at the scene to ensure the fire doesn’t reignite.
“It breaks your heart,” said Santos. “The entire congregation is ruined with fire and smoke, and then holes in the roof, and then the office space itself has a lot of smoke damage and holes in the roof.”
Church was reportedly not in session at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“It’s unfortunate this won’t be in service for a while,” said Santos. “But we just have to celebrate being healthy, we have to celebrate being with your loved ones, and we’ll fix the church.”
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The Oregon Ducks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to face off against each other in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. As this College Football Playoff quarterfinal game gets closer, the betting odds are moving in the Ducks favor.
Oregon Favored By 2.5 Points
When it was confirmed that Oregon would be advancing to play Texas Tech after their first round playoff win over the James Madison Dukes, the betting line opened up on DraftKings Sportsbook with the Ducks as a 1.5-point favorite. Over the past few days, that number has increased a full point.
Oregon is now a 2.5-point favorite over the Red Raiders with odds of -125 to win outright. Texas Tech has odds to win outright of +105. The current over/under is at 52.5 points.
The movement indicates the public backing of coach Dan Lanning’s Ducks over the Big 12 Champion Red Raiders. Notably, ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Texas Tech a 51.6 percent chance to beat the Ducks.
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Ducks Coming Off First Round Win
Oregon comes into this game with a 12-1 record. Their lone loss came to the undefeated No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers.
The Ducks beat James Madison by a final score of 51-34 in the first round to advance to the quarterfinals. The Ducks earned the No. 5 ranking in the playoff bracket, meaning they were the highest ranked team to not receive one of the four first round byes to the quarterfinals.
This is different to what happened last season for Oregon, as they entered that year’s playoff as the No. 1 ranked team with a bye to the quarterfinals. It didn’t end well, as Oregon was bounced immediately in their first game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Could not getting a bye this time around change the Ducks’ fortunes for the better and set up a long playoff run?
Texas Tech’s Elite Defense
Texas Tech also enters this game with a record of 12-1. The Red Raiders last game was a Big 12 championship victory over the BYU Cougars. They earned the No. 4 ranking and first round bye to the quarterfinals. Their one loss this season was to the Arizona State Devils.
The Red Raiders are anchored by an elite defense that has allowed opponents to score an average of just 10.9 points per game. This is the third lowest points allowed in all of college football this season, behind only Indiana and Ohio State.
This defense will be a major challenge for Ducks’ quarterback Dante Moore and company. If Oregon wants to advance to the semi-finals, they will have to be on their “A game.”
Kickoff for this matchup is an early one for those on the west coast at 9 a.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and announced by play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore and color commentator Jesse Palmer.
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The Oregon Ducks’ 2025 season has looked a lot different from when they went undefeated in the 2024 regular season and won the Big Ten Conference Championship. The Ducks entered the postseason with a loss on their record and a handful of young players gaining their first College Football Playoff starts in the first round vs. Jams Madison.
The path for Oregon to make a deep postseason run is still there. Coach Dan Lanning went on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday and revealed what he thinks his team’s biggest superpower is ahead of their quarterfinal matchup against Texas Tech.
What Dan Lanning Said About Strength in Numbers
The Ducks’ regular season didn’t lack adversity. Between a high-pressure overtime game, having to comeback with two minutes left on the road and a plethora of injuries, Lanning’s squad has had a lot to overcome. Throughout all the adversity, the team stuck together.
“I think our superpower is our love for our teammates,” Lanning said. “I think our superpower is the amount of guys that make an impact on this team.”
Quarterback Dante Moore said after the Ducks’ first-round win that the group has grown throughout the season because of the way they’re connected.
With players like wide receivers Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr., as well as various players on the offensive line, coming in and out the lineup, the offense has barely missed a beat. Other players have stepped up when their number has been called.
“I think strength in numbers has really been a superpower for us. We’ve been down players and then we’ve had players available,” Lanning said. “We’ve had guys that you didn’t expect to make an impact, make a huge impact. So, I think really our superpower is the strength in numbers and the buy in from our players.”
Lanning’s roster seem to be getting healthy at the right time. Moore and Bryant both returned to the field vs. the Dukes after missing over a month of action. Wide receiver Evan Stewart and defensive back Trey McNutt have both been seen practicing in the past week despite not playing yet this season.
The Ducks should become harder to scout with more players returning from injury. The way that players like wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan have stepped up for Oregon when its needed creates a variety of options for the coaching staff to choose from, and it makes the team more unpredictable.
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The Team’s Trust in the Coaching Staff
The players on the Ducks may have a lot of chemistry and trust in one another, but part of their “superpower” seems to be the trust they have in the coaching staff.
After Oregon had a lackluster second half against JMU, Moore said that he’s confident the team will clean up its mistakes because he knows his coach is going to continue to push them in practice.
“Coach Lanning’s our leader. We go as he goes,” Moore said. “He’s going to make sure that he’s going to push us very hard next week. We’re going go watch film. Of course, he’s proud of us for us making it this far.”
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