12/23/08 Sisters
 
As last minute Christmas shoppers make their way around in downtown Sisters-- they'll have to fight for parking spots. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has requested that no one park on Cascade Avenue because of snow. "Not only do we have it down the center of the road but we also have lots of piles of snow on our side streets that's also going to be taking up parking," said Tanya Edwards, Owner of The Culver House on Cascade Avenue.
 
Edwards has lived in Sisters for over 10 years and owned The Culver House for one. She remembers back in the early 90's, snow in the middle of the road was so high she couldn't see the other side, but she doesn't remember ever being asked not to park on the main street. "It would be nice to be able to park in front of a store and get out and go in," said Edwards.
 
ODOT says it's a safety issue. "This is a highway, there's a lot of vehicles that come down it so in order to make things safe we have to get the snow out of the way and this is the only place we have to put it right now," said Peter Murphy with ODOT.
 
Snow is sitting in the middle of Cascade Avenu, essentially taking up a lane of traffic. ODOT says Tuesday as Central Oregon saw a break from the snow and some sunshine, they're main priority was clearing the pass. "Crews are focused on keeping the passes open, taking advantage of this opportunity where it's clear for awhile to move the snow out of the way," said Murphy.
 
Another storm begins Wednesday, which will add more snow to the pile. ODOT says they do plan on removing the snow from Cascade Avenue but the date is weather dependent.