Letters to the Editor

Last updated Feb 20, 1996 12:0pm0

To the Editor:

I, like so many others remember the 1964 Christmas flood. That is why our local volunteer firefighters from Cloverdale are collecting new toys for the children who were victims the flood.

Please help us to put a smile back on the small faces and warmth in the hearts of those children who lost not only their homes and belongings, but also that special (truck, doll, stuffed animal, book, color books, game or puzzle)that Santa brought just a short month-and-a-half ago.

In times of great loss we as grown ups sometimes forget that these things are as important to our children as a home, car, yes even food.

So if you can find it in your heart to help us with this special need, you may go to Ray's Food Place, the post office, or fire departments in Sisters, Redmond, and Bend with your donations. They will be collecting till February 29. For more information call 389- 6548.

On the behalf of the children, God's Blessings.

Linda Holt

To the Editor:

In response to your editorial of last week concerning the bond proposed by the Sisters School Board, I can understand your displeasure at board members' unwillingness to begin planning a year-round schedule for K-8 students. However, rather than throw stones at the board, perhaps it is better to recognize the few alternatives. Measure 5 leaves us.

Because of this tax limitation, small districts find it almost impossible to pay for operational cost of an additional building. We can tax ourselves to build the building, but the state funding per student doesn't stretch far enough to pay for the utilities and additional staff needed for a separate school.

Because of the loss of local control Measure 5 has brought, the board was left with the less than perfect solution of placing the previous bond before the voters again. As a teacher, parent, and member of the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee, I understand the board's frustration. Every member of the LRFPC preferred building a middle school. However, when we looked at operational cost, we couldn't figure how to pay for one.

We must do exactly what Charles Warren stated: pass the bond and immediately begin looking at the possibly of alternative scheduling or building a middle school at the point in the future that we can afford to operate it.

I think that a `yes' vote on this proposal gives the district time -- time to discuss the merits of year-round education, time to grow enough to support a middle school. The facilities added to the downtown campus would be needed as our K-5 population continues to increase.

And more importantly, this bond provides money to pay for capital projects such as fields, equipment, textbooks, and building repair. This part of the proposal is vital to the future of our students, because included in these funds are capital items and short-term loan payments currently in the operational budget. By paying for them with the proceeds of the bond, money can be freed to keep class size from rising. It is on of the few avenues open for us to raise money locally.

I hope the editor of TheNugget and the voters in the school district will consider the merits of this bond measure. Next fall there will be over 600 students in the middle/senior high school. It will be beyond capacity. We must do something.

Respectfully,

Sue Beck

P.S. At this time, about six large school districts in this state are receiving $634 more per student than Sisters and most other districts. Doesn't sound like much? $634 multiplied by the 1,100 students we have is almost $700,000. Measure 5 was to bring equity between school districts. Talk to your legislator about what your child is worth.

To the Editor:

A hawk was brought to me this morning with a shattered wing and severed spine. His legs were paralyzed by the bullet that hit him. Unable to repair the thoughtless damage done to this magnificent bird, he was humanely euthanized.

I hope the person who shot this bird regrets his actions forever. The fine for intentionally killing this bird is $1,000. The fine for killing a protected species, such as an eagle is $5,000.

I hope gun privileges for this person are revoked and that this person takes a hunter safety course. All non-game birds except starlings, crows, ravens, and certain types of jay birds are protected and it is illegal to shoot them.

So, for anyone else out there tempted to target practice, shoot all the tin cans and pine cones you want but leave the wildlife alone.