The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

I just finished reading the March 18 edition of The Nugget ("School board explains loss of interest money"). If Mr. Lasken (Glen Lasken, school board chairman) really believes that disappointment among taxpayers is gone, I have news for him. The letter signed by the board and other school officials only served to anger me all over again.

There are two words that describe their management of these public funds: "total incompetence." At the very least, these people should all submit their resignations.

The explanation that they did not understand or were not informed is the weakest possible excuse. Their job was to get informed and safeguard the public's money.

I do not know what Mr. Swisher's salary was during this project, but it seems to me that the citizens of this community were badly shortchanged. There is simply no excuse for this type incompetence by hired or elected officials.

A million dollars is still a lot of money. In the private sector this type of inept performance would be rewarded with immediate dismissal.

Hal Nichols

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To the Editor:

I was impressed with the integrity of Sisters School Board in submitting a letter to the taxpayers and general public regarding construction and renovation in our district.

Yes, there may have been error in not digging deeper to determine how much additional money (in collateral management expense) was required for this construction. And there may have been an exaggerated optimism in how much interest would be accrued over two years. (Who invested in that period of time whose personal projections weren't disappointing?)

However, the school board did act in the best interest of the school district, and therefore in the best interest of the community.

How many communities have had a school board so willing to dedicate so much time in their lives to making theirs one of the best school districts in the state?

How many school districts have built two excellent school facilities in a 10-year span of time which have enhanced the ability of students to learn in an environment which prepares them exceptionally for advanced learning and future careers?

How many school districts can note new residents in the area who have moved to Sisters primarily because of the record of the schools and the community's focus on care and development of its youth?

Our school board has done a great job of managing district monies to ensure that we continue to have the best education available in the midst of having to make horrendous cuts in programs because of state income losses.

I am amazed by how full our school curriculum continues to be, even though the board has more cuts to face over the next two years. I don't envy them their responsibility, but I do thank them for doing a most-of-the-time thankless job. They continue to be creative, inventive and resourceful, resulting in a net gain to the Sisters community. The balance is skewed favorably toward our future taxpayers, those kids who benefit the most.

Bonnie Malone

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To the Editor:

I can understand why some object to a couplet through Sisters. Take a close look at Redmond or Newberg, Oregon, for examples of the detrimental impact couplets have on downtowns.

But to use the Brooks Scanlon roadbed to route traffic around Sisters would destroy the character of the Tollgate and Crossroads communities.

Admittedly, I've got the "not in my backyard" syndrome, as I live in Tollgate. Some houses, our neighbors included, are less than 50 feet from the roadbed. What a lousy environment that would be for kids and adults alike. Elk, coyote, deer, harrier hawks, white-headed woodpeckers and more, also call this corridor home.

I hope a better answer can be found for fixing Sisters seasonal traffic problem. But I pray the bypass outlined by Brad Boyd is an idea whose time never comes.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Banks

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To the Editor:

As the future of the current library building has not been determined, may I suggest a Senior Center be considered in the city's future plans for this property.

The present structure is one of the most attractive buildings in the city. Many current residents contributed to its construction and most of us are senior citizens.

We have all been enthusiastic and supportive of school construction, sewers and most improvements to our unique and beautiful city.

A Senior Center draws a city together and this might be the time to consider this possibility.

The churches of the community have been more than generous with their space. However, a center which would be accessible for all without motor transportation would allow many more seniors to participate. In addition to the senior luncheons, the uses are endless... meeting friends, card games, classes, reading, computer availability, slide shows, "Lunch & Learn" ... dancing!

We do have an active senior population and a centrally located facility would enable those without automobiles to be included and actively involved.

June Brandon

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To the Editor:

There has been a great deal of criticism of the present administration for invading Iraq.

Even if is shown that the only reason for the invasion was because of the bombing of the World Trade Center on September 11, consider whether the course of history would have been different if the reaction of the Clinton administration had been different to nine attacks attributed to radical Islamists in which Americans lost their lives.

These include:

Bombing of the World Trade Center -- 1993 -- five killed. Assassination, Karachi, Pakistan -- 1995 -- two killed.

Bus bombing -- Jerusalem, Israel -- 1995 -- one killed.

Car bombing of a building -- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- 1995 -- five killed. Car bombing of a bus -- Jerusalem, Israel -- 1996 -- three killed.

Truck bombing of Khobar Towers -- Dhahran, Saudi Arabia -- 1996 -- 19 killed.

Assassination in a vehicle -- Karachi, Pakistan 1997 -- four killed.

Bombing of U.S. Embassy -- Nairobi, Kenya 1998 -- 12 killed. Bombing of cruiser U.S. Cole. Aden, Yemen -- 2000 -- 17 military killed.

Space doesn't permit a description of the response but it should be obvious.

While we're at it let's dispel the allegation that we've incited the terrorists to commit atrocities in Iraq.

Prior to September 11, we had done little or nothing to aggravate them but they took out 3,000 lives.

Now where do we stand? Think about it.

Jack Berry

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To the Editor:

Re: Israel's recent illegal assassination of the leading Islamic cleric Yassin:

This deliberately inflammatory action shows once more that Israel is a rogue nation with no respect for international law, no concern for human rights and no intent to ever make peace.

It is insanity for grown men -- leaders of countries! -- to play the childish game of "Who wins?" when the "prize" is human life.

June Forsyth