Letters to the Editor

Editorial...

We agree the existing Sisters City Hall is woefully inadequate and support a move of city services and employees to better quarters.

But does Sisters really need a new city hall worth $1 million? We think City Administrator Barbara Warren is siphoning cash from various departments to build a facility far in excess of need.

The $95,000 taken from support services last year and the $75,000 from water and garbage this year probably have good use in those departments. If not, taxpayers should get a refund.

Under the current budget, the money just slides into a city hall remodel fund and is bundled with other cash to total $501,000 to remodel a building already worth $520,000.

If the current city hall is worth $200,000, and the gift of the old bowling alley is worth $520,000, then perhaps the city should sell both and build or buy a facility worth $720,000 at no cost to taxpayers or city employees scrounging for every dollar.

For that amount, depending on the outcome of the bankruptcy, the city might be able to buy the Arthur C.F. Pratt building from the estate of Joe Fought. From the second floor city employees could then keep an eye on what may soon become the center of downtown Sisters.

Health and safety issues must be addressed at the Sisters Quilt Show. The handout map must show the fire department, police department and first aid station. A handicapped restroom should be identified.

Volunteers manning the water stations should dress uniformly for easy identification. They must be trained to recognize signs of heat prostration and have ready access to emergency information and telephones.

More police officers are needed to prevent pedestrians from impeding traffic. Highway 20, a major business route, needs to be identified as such on the handout map. Taking 45 minutes to pass through Sisters at 10 a.m. with a truckload of livestock on a hot day is a correctable problem.

The map should also remind pedestrians to obey traffic officers, cross only at crosswalks and not impede Highway 20 traffic. Ignoring these problems will have serious legal consequences.

Cordially,

Helene M. Houge

To the Editor:

I am writing because I'm concerned about why there was no article about Earl Armbruster's condition in The Nugget.

It was Monday, July 8 when I heard about Mr. Armbruster's stroke, and I thought I would see some information about him in that week's Nugget. Unless I missed it, there was nothing.

I asked around, and one of the girls I work with told me he was home and doing okay.

The following week there still was no article about his condition. On Thursday, July 18, I read in The Bulletin that he was home and rapidly improving.

This is a small town. The Nugget is our paper. What's up? I don't know how many years Mr. Armbruster has been with our school district, but I have step-children that are in their 20s, and he was the principal when they were in school here. He is certainly local. I thought our local paper would report on local news. I consider Mr. Armbruster's condition local news. Am I wrong?

SueAnn Palmer

The Nugget erred in not reporting on Earl's condition through what we now consider an excessive delicacy about invading the privacy of a family facing a health crisis. Like so many others in the Sisters community, we have followed Earl's progress with great concern and fervent hopes for his full recovery. With his blessing, we will in the future pass on news about Earl's health to the rest of the community. See story on page 3.

To the Editor:

Sisters is an extended family to us. Once again, you reached out to us, when we needed you, with prayers, food, calls, cards and company.

We are blessed with an excellent EMT crew, hospital and staff so near to us. Earl has quickly recuperated physically from the stroke and is in speech therapy.

Thank you all for your acts and thoughts of kindness.

Zoann Armbruster

To the Editor:

The Sisters High School Cheerleaders would like to thank all the individuals and businesses who contributed their services and/or supplies to the School House Bed & Breakfast. It was a fun learning experience and it exceeded our expectations.

The Sisters H.S. Cheerleaders