Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

What can you buy with $75? A good pair of athletic shoes. A couple of rounds of golf at a nearby resort. A lottery ticket each week for most of a year. One new tire for the 4x4.

How about badly needed classrooms, textbooks, buses, building maintenance and technology for the children in the Sisters School District?

On May 21 voters will have the opportunity to approve a school bond measure that will help keep class sizes down and quality of education high in Sisters, all for about $75 a year for the average home- owner.

Please, for the sake of our children, vote yes for the school bond election in May.

Jim Harrison

The Nugget, March 27 had an article entitled "Who will play in Sisters' sports?" The Bend Bulletin, same date, had an article, "Business gives academia poor grades," relating to educators' failures in preparing students for work careers. Business also complains of the cost of "remedial training."

Business is partly at fault for not demanding that educators stress the basics they require. They could use some of those remedial dollars by creating early work- place jobs for the same teens they will later employ.

School boards represent, in my opinion, a cross- section of the affluent segment of our community and as such concentrate efforts on such items as sports rather than the more difficult task of overhauling curriculum.

Probably no more than 2 percent of students will ever make a living at sports -- the rest may keep an interest in them, but not necessarily engage in them after high school. Harold Gott's statement about the need for another teacher versus more sports seemed to be the only voice of concern on the board.

We as taxpayers are partly at fault. We let our educational administrators ignore the message of tax limitations by not insisting upon separate funding for sports versus education. Let those who want sports pay for them, but don't shortchange the other 98 percent who need the basics of a trade or skill.

We are not following closely enough the actual progress of these administrators in advancing basic education. By third grade, when students are as yet inefficient in long division, they are introduced to calculators where a button suffices for actual knowledge. One educator said that "in today's world, a student no longer needs to know that the world revolves around the sun -- only which button on the computer to push to access the information." What empty heads that leaves them, when the computer or calculator is not at hand.

Let's see if our new Superintendent of Schools does anything to overcome this basic failure of education, before we even consider thinking about a bond issue. Let's see a better balance between accent on sports and basic education.

Russell B. Williams

Our thanks to the businesses and people who supported the 1996 Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Sisters-Camp Sherman Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Association.

The fine assistance given by the volunteers of Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District is recognized; and yes the Easter Bunny (Spurge Cochran) did a great job. Our thanks also to the City of Sisters and Gary Frazee.

We had a great time at the Sisters City Park with the many children and their families who participated.

Stephen Fisher, Al Shupp

Co-Chair, Easter Egg Hunt

The retail committee of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all who participated in the first treasure hunt held on Saturday, April 6.

Comments were positive and activity was lively. Special thanks to all the businesses and volunteers especially Donita Lovett who came up with all the clues.

Sandy Goodsell, Chairman

To all the sponsoring merchants of the Sisters Treasure Hunt: Thank- you.

We had a blast. The weather was great, I made friends on the run (my legs are still sore) and you got me in shops I hadn't been in for awhile.

Your clues were cleverly thought out and though my cohorts in puzzle-solving and I were one step behind the winners (literally) we'd love to do this again next year.

Our special thanks go out to Sandy of Something Special for her generous consolation prize. It made our loosing by "a hare" easier to bear.

Heidi Molenaar, Larry Fernandez, Aaron Leis and Amber Leis

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their outstanding support of the "Jump Rope For Heart" event at Sisters Elementary School.

We collected a total of $6,762.67 in pledges. This money will help the American Heart Association reduce disability and death due to cardiovascular disease and stroke. The best way to do this is through prevention. The educational materials provided to schools and communities by the AHA are helping in this effort.

Besides being a worthwhile fund-raiser, this event is also a great fitness activity which promotes a heart-healthy lifestyle. We had nearly 300 students jump this year. Thanks again to everyone that made this such a success.

Sincerely,

Shelley Randall

I am looking for survivors of 3-1/2 million enrollees of the Civilian Conservation Corps who served during the depressions years of 1933- 1942. The National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumnibelieve there are one million survivors whose average age is 75.

Lewis- Clark Chapter #28 NACCCA at Lewiston, Idaho, will hold a reunion June 8 and 9, in Lewiston. We urge anyone who served in any capacity with the CCC to attend. The NACCCA will recognize ex- CCC members who served in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

For further information contact:

Douglas S. Eier

1403 15th Avenue

Lewiston, ID 83501

Phone: (208) 743- 6892

Fax: (208) 743- 6207