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Articles by Bill Bartlett
E-bikes add to urgency of helmet use
Medical researchers and safety agencies increasingly point to helmets as the single most effective piece of protective equipment available to cyclists. As e-bikes grow in popularity and riders travel faster than ever before, trauma specialists report a corresponding rise in serious head injuries. Photo courtesy Bundo Biker Helmets are critical for adult cyclists, not just kids.
Does Sisters have enough water?
Will Sisters run out of water? That question isn't as strange as it may sound upon first reading. With all the talk this summer about record drought and some news stories about wells petering out, low river and stream flows, low snow pack, and another 700 settlers expected in the next five years, it's reasonable to ask. The short answer is no. We may experience scarcity in a number of things - beef, rare earth minerals, cheap gas - but water isn't among them. To the contrary.
Sisters Country continues to shine in golf
With a regional population of around 300,000, the area around Sisters Country might be expected to support a handful of decent courses and a modest amateur scene. Instead, it has built one of the most formidable golf ecosystems in the American West with nearly 30 courses, several with national reputations, a robust competitive calendar, and a year-round playing culture that most regions can only envy. Photo by Bill Bartlett An exultant golfer celebrates a great shot at Aspen Lakes.
Recent work doesn't affect Conklin's
Drivers on Camp Polk the last three or four weeks were getting excited as they assumed construction work in front of the Conklin House was perhaps the start of restoration of the historic lodging establishment. It's not. What passersby were actually seeing was work done by the City of Sisters, the construction of an eight-foot wide, paved multi-use walkway on the west side of Camp Polk Road between East Barclay Drive and an already completed walkway just south of Sun Ranch Drive.
Sisters 2031: Part 4
If, as seems inevitable, we are in for another 500 or so folks in the next five years, they will have to be accommodated both in a place to live and the underlying infrastructure to support them. The Nugget asked those with some expertise in this area to help paint a picture of what the footprint might look like in 2031. Scott Woodford is the Community Development Director for the City of Sisters.
Sisters 2031
Sisters stands at around 3,800 folk living in close to 1,800 dwelling units, 2.1 per household. That number is expected to grow to around 4,500 by 2031, at an annual rate of 3.57 percent based on estimates from Portland State University whose numbers are widely considered the most accurate of all forecasters. The number now works out to 3.07 persons per acre.
Robbie McDougal retires
Robbie McDougal of Inverness saw his last day at St. Charles Health System December 10. The 11-year-old therapy dog logged over 20,000 patient, family, and staff visits during his career. Photo by Bill Bartlett Robbie McDougal has retired after logging thousands of hours visiting patients. He has many friends among EMTs and police officers. He began at only 19 months of age, the youngest dog to enter the program at Asante, a three-hospital network in Southern Oregon.
E-bikes get green light on forest trails
After nearly two years of scoping, environmental assessment, analysis, and public comment, the Forest Service gave approval to allow Class 1 e-bikes access to approximately 160 miles of system trails and paved paths throughout Phil's Trail Complex and Wanoga (both in Bend), Sunriver, and Peterson Ridge Trail (Sisters) locations. These soft-surface or paved trails, some 67 in number, are already conditioned to heavy bike use.
Larch Commons project faces delay
Passerbys have been curious as to why work suddenly stopped a few months ago on a housing development at the corner of Larch Street and Adams Avenue, after a flurry of infrastructure work was completed. Photo by Jim Cornelius Infrastructure work is done on Larch Commons. Home construction is expected to resume in late spring or early summer, after a delay.
Home for the holidays
Sisters is full of hundreds, possibly thousands, of families and friends that have dropped into town for the start of the holiday season. The Redmond Airport, like all U.S. airports saw large influxes of passengers starting last Monday and continuing all week, even Thanksgiving Day when passengers snapped up discount tickets to travel on the holiday itself. Arriving just in time for dinner.
Petitioners work to repeal gas tax
Sisters activists were out over Thanksgiving weekend harvesting signatures in opposition to the transportation bill recently signed by Governor Tina Kotek. Oregonians across the state are being asked to sign on to a referendum to repeal HB 3991 – the emergency transportation bill enacted in a special legislative session in late October to fund road maintenance and stave off layoffs of Oregon Department of Transportation personnel.
Washboarded roads fact of life in Sisters
Recreationalists in Sisters Country must contend with washboarding on popular roads leading to lakes, streams, trails and camp sites. They often mutter under their breath or shake their fists at the windshield with misplaced exasperation aimed at the Forest Service or ODOT. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the four primary causes of washboarding are driving habits, lack of moisture, poor gravel quality, and lack of crown on the road surface.
ODOT yard spared by special legislation
The Oregon Senate passed a transportation funding package September 29 written to raise $4.3 billion over the next decade and rescind layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation. Locally, that means that the Sisters maintenance yard off Highway 126, which had been on the chopping block, will stay in operation. The package was approved a month after lawmakers began the special session to consider Gov. Tina Kotek's proposal. The session was delayed twice to allow Sen.
Flat Fire reaches $29 million in cost
As the fire season comes to a close, only three fires were burning in Oregon as of September 26. The largest, the Emigrant Fire, 24 miles southeast of Oakridge, dropped smoke on Sisters early in September and has consumed 33,000 acres with 41% containment. It has exceeded $50 million in cost and counting. It was started by lightning. There are 2,113 personnel still at work on Oregon fires.
Trailgrams: Trail blazin' around Sisters
When you're tired of Ponderosa Pines, but don't want to go over the pass for firs, feast on some gnarly and ancient Junipers nearby in the Tumalo Canal Historic Area, BLM land within sight of Cline Buttes. There are several good adjoining hiking options as well, such as the Maston or Juniper trails situated on 4,000 acres, all three within 20 minutes of Sisters. Maston is a favorite of mountain bikers and equestrians. Juniper is popular with runners and dog lovers.
Craters abound near Sisters
Most folks in Sisters can identify at least two or three craters close enough to visit in under a day. Black Crater and Millican Crater can be viewed in the distance from most anywhere in town. Covered in snow half the year, Black Crater is a shield volcano (7,251 feet) located near McKenzie Pass featuring a broad conical shape with gentle slopes. The volcano likely formed during the Pleistocene era and has not been active within the last 50,000 years.
Community volunteers tackle illegal campsite
In an ongoing series of cleanup and removal efforts of abandoned or burned-out campsites in the Deschutes National Forest on the Sisters District, around 24 volunteers took to the woods less than a half mile from Sisters homes and businesses for the dirty job of restoring the land left scarred by an abandoned campsite.
Sisters' love affair with popular Highland cattle
Walk up and down Cascade Avenue and you will find various shops selling Highland cow-themed merchandise. Denelle Martin who owns Open Range Gifts, Furniture and Décor is known for her metal art animals – elk, deer, bear, coyotes, bison, and western rodeo pieces, some nearly life-size. And now in her iron menagerie are the iconic Highland cows.
Expert saves deer from trap
Coleen McNerney and her husband Craig Rychlick are used to wildlife roaming their yard. From their vantage point in Whychus Canyon Estates they have seen their limited share of cougars, coyotes, bobcats, and an occasional fox, but are entertained daily by an abundance of deer. "There is a dozen or so in the herd," McNerney told The Nugget. "But it's usually four or five that routinely visit. I think they are checking in on us," she chuckles describing their regularity and closeness to the house.
Changing retail climate in Sisters
Last week’s Nugget reported on the closing of The Paper Place after a 40-plus year run. While retail merchants open and close businesses routinely in any market, and Sisters is no exception, The Paper Place closure was notable in the sense that its current owner is also a co-founder of the Sisters Business Association and spoke candidly about his perceptions of a declining retail environment is Sisters. Numerous retail businesses tell us that the last few years since COVID have been difficult.
Conservationists react to wolf plan
Recently the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its findings for gray wolves in the Western United States, and its launch of a national "path to support a long term and durable approach to the conservation of gray wolves, to include a process to develop - for the first time - a National Recovery Plan under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for gray wolves in the lower 48 states." The announcement does not make any changes to the legal status of gray wolves in the United States.
Seizing Success: The Compelling Case for Investing in a Sandler® Franchise Amidst Today's Business Landscape
In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, the entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive despite economic challenges. With the right vision, strategy, and support, aspiring business owners can still find golden opportunities even in uncertain times. In this article, I will explore the benefits of purchasing a Sandler franchise in the current business economy and why it might be the perfect move for you.
From Corporate Soldier to Sandler Franchise Owner: My Journey to Entrepreneurship
In December of 1993, as the snow fell gently outside the Detroit airport, I found myself sitting alone in a bar, waiting for my flight home on Christmas Eve, reflecting on the life I had been living. I was Bill Bartlett, the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) for a consumer products company, and my job had me on the road for a staggering 100 days a year. It was a demanding and relentless role that had taken its toll on my personal life and well-being.
How to Optimize Your Sales Process
Table of Contents Toggle Sandler Advisor The Sandler Advisor is a complimentary quarterly e-newsletter filled with relevant, real-world sales and leadership topics designed to help you succeed. From business development and sales prospecting to leadership coaching, management, and recruitment, the Sandler Advisor has it all.
Ninth edition of the High Desert Stampede Rodeo set for Redmond Wednesday through Saturday
The High Desert Stampede is gearing up for another action packed rodeo at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond Wednesday through Saturday. Promoters say this 2023 renewal will be both bigger and better than its eight previous editions. Denis Fast, Stampede board chairman, recently reviewed the list of competing cowboys and said it is the most talented group to ever dig their boots into the Redmond dirt.
High Desert Stampede thunders back into Redmond on April 5
The High Desert Stampede is gearing up for another action packed rodeo at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center April 5-8. Its promoters say this 2023 renewal will be both bigger and better than its eight previous editions. Denis Fast, board chairman, recently reviewed the list of competing cowboys and said its the most talented group to ever dig their boots into the Redmond dirt.
Sportsmen’s Show offers shelter from the storm
Snow showers and colder temperatures Thursday and Friday were brushed aside by a steady stream of outdoor enthusiasts eager to take in the 24th Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show at the Expo Center & Fairgrounds in Redmond. Exhibitors inside the warm and dry First Interstate Bank Center fared better than their outdoor counterparts. More than 230 exhibitors filled three hall buildings and the Hooker Creek Arena.
Should you stay or should you go?
The headlines are full of stories of airline flight cancellations or delays in the thousands affecting millions of travelers. Add to that the systemwide FAA failure on Jan. 12 — and the Southwest Airlines systemwide meltdown during the Christmas break that canceled 16,700 flights for 2 million passengers — and you may be asking if you should just stay home this summer or limit your vacations to driving.
The art of shoveling snow
Redmond, like much of Central Oregon, got dumped with more snow than anybody cared to shovel. The number one question on everybody’s mind: Is it time to trade the old scoop and handle for a masculine, powered blower? Here's some information to help you decide. What kind should I use? Shovels come in varying shapes and sizes, serving different purposes. Generally, there are three categories: lifter, pusher and sleigh.
Get a grip on winter driving
Many in Redmond, especially skiers and boarders and others who thrive on cold weather activities, hope for big winter storms that dump snow on our mountains and cities. And while winter storms are good for winter recreation and summer agriculture, they can be dangerous for drivers. Already a good number of motorists have switched over to their winter tires or studded tires, the latter seemingly annoying some Redmonders due to the noise and perceived damage to the roads.
SALES COACHING … AND THE ART OF DISPELLING DISEMPOWERING BELIEFS
In order to contribute at the highest level, salespeople need to understand and follow a clear system – also known as a sales process. Most CEOs we work with get this. What they sometimes struggle with, however, is the related principle that in order to succeed as a sales leader, it’s just as important to identify and follow a system. The part of the sales leader’s job description that has the biggest direct impact on the team’s bottom line is coaching.
Getting a grip on winter driving
Many in Redmond, especially skiers and boarders and others who thrive on cold weather activities, hope for big winter storms that dump snow on our mountains and cities. And while winter storms are good for winter recreation and summer agriculture, they can be dangerous for drivers. Already a good number of motorists have switched over to their winter tires or studded tires, the latter seemingly annoying some Redmonders due to the noise and perceived damage to the roads.
Growing crowds using bicycles to commute, recreate in Redmond
If you are seeing more bicyclists on Redmond streets, some of them sporting neckties, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. The number of local cyclists is growing while the popularity of cycling grows nationwide. And with gas prices still near $5 a gallon, biking as an alternate means of commuting is gaining traction as well. Redmond residents may be curious if their city is bicycle friendly and safe for two-wheeled travelers.
Air show drops in on Madras
Hundreds of Redmond residents headed north Friday and Saturday, making the 30 minute journey to the Air Show of The Cascades in Madras. If you’ve never been to an air show you might reconsider for next year, it’s 23rd annual event. “What folks need to think of is not a textbook air show but a festival,” said Joe Krenowicz, who heads the Madras Chamber of Commerce.
Livestock still have homes in Redmond
As Redmond has grown to more than 36,000 human residents, you might think that farming and ranching in city limits is done. You’d be right when it comes to large scale, commercial ventures. But dotted around its borders, and in a few cases close to downtown, you can still find plenty of horses, cows, goats, a few sheep, lots of chickens, some alpacas and a fair number of rabbits, too. Redmond’s deep farming and ranching heritage is alive and well despite urbanization.
Mellow mood for Redmond Music & Arts Festival
The second annual Redmond Music & Arts Festival took place over the weekend and crowds, while not large, appeared pleased with the three day happening at the High Desert Music Hall. It was a family affair with younger families chief among the attendees. “It’s a place where we can come, have a beer or two, check out the music and not worry that our kids will be bored,” said Redmond resident Tanya Estrada.
Gas prices keep some Redmonders close to home
High gas prices are causing Redmond residents to rethink their summer travel plans, and some have canceled far flung adventures to stay closer to home. Hal and Lindy Cunningham used to go to British Columbia each summer, an 11-hour drive covering the 461 miles to Nanaimo, a city on Vancouver Island where the temperature last week was 20 degrees cooler than Redmond. But high gas prices, and the rising prices of everything else, convinced them to vacation closer to home this year.
Dog days of summer arrive in Redmond
As hundreds of Redmonders took off for the long holiday weekend, hundreds of dogs from a half dozen states rolled into the Deschutes County Fairgrounds for the 40th Annual AKC All Breed and Obedience Trials held by the Mt. Bachelor Kennel Club. The event brought together competitors from more than 50 breeds to compete in agility trials and races, called FastCAT. FastCAT is a timed 100-yard dash where dogs run one at a time, chasing a lure. Sure, you think your dog is fast.
Guest column: Montana DEQ needs to hold Big Sky accountable
A Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT DEQ) Engineer recently testified before a federal jury during a Clean Water Act lawsuit that the Big Sky Water and Sewer District (BSWS) should “certainly” repair leaky liners of their treated sewage lagoons. The manager of BSWS then told the jury the BSWS District will not fix the leaking holding ponds because it is not their priority. The Montana DEQ must protect the water quality of the Gallatin River.
Coaching Salespeople in a Hybrid Work Environment
The world has changed in countless ways since early 2020, and that means sales coaching has to adapt. How do you maintain a strong coaching regimen with salespeople who are spending some or all of their working day out of the office? Here are seven powerful best practices we share with our clients on coaching salespeople effectively in a hybrid work environment. Do your best to recreate the right in-person environment for the remote session. Set the stage.
Crowds pack Central Oregon Sports Show
REDMOND — If you were among the thousands of avid campers, boaters, RVers, hunters and anglers who descended on the Expo Center in Redmond last weekend, you would be among the delighted. From the Central Oregon Sports Show’s opening Thursday through late in the afternoon Saturday, May-like temperatures were icing on the cake attendees were heard to say.
REDMOND — As cemeteries go, Redmond’s is not particularly historic nor picturesque. It is not one of the more than 1,500 Oregon Pioneer cemeteries in the manner of Camp Polk Cemetery in Sisters or Masten Cemetery in La Pine. In fact, it could be designated historic as it meets the primary qualification given that it has at least one burial of a person who died before February 14, 1909 — 50 years after Oregon became a state. Redmond Memorial Cemetery has eight such burials among its 5,600.
In memoriam: History Preserved at Redmond Memorial Cemetery
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Redmond 'Museum of Art' is the city itself
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Pinched by prices: Redmond neighbors caught in beef squeeze
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Walkabout: Local man walks every street in Redmond
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Destination Redmond: Tourism in Redmond is serious business
REDMOND — Putting tourism and Redmond in the same sentence may seem odd to readers. That was the takeaway when The Spokesman dropped in on the regulars at Proust Coffee. Speaking for the java group, Don Patterson said: “Tourists coming to Redmond? I can’t imagine people wanting to vacation here.” His caffeine buddy, Brady Connor, added: “Maybe some folks just passing through.” As longtime residents, they weren’t being derogatory.
Volunteers critical to Redmond, making it a more livable city
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Redmond's future is grounded in high tech firms
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Sales Leaders: Five Steps for Instilling a Growth Mindset
Let’s say you’re a sales leader coaching an underperforming salesperson, someone who has missed quota and is spending a lot of time in what might be called a scarcity mindset. This is someone operating with the belief that there are limited prospects in the marketplace for your products and services. How do you help that salesperson to instill a mindset of abundance and growth? Here are five steps we follow. STEP ONE: UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE NOW. Start by accepting that this person is stuck.
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