Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

As I was contemplating the upcoming vote on the county fair proposal, I couldn't help lamenting the recent failed Sisters School District proposals this past spring. Even as this is written, students from the middle/high school are attending math classes in the Baptist Church because increasing enrollment has overburdened existing facilities.

I personally favor a more adequate county fair facility, but not at the expense of a future "yes" vote for our kids! Schools can't operate on a "something for nothing" philosophy. Our elected board members and administrators are honest and far-thinking individuals who understand that the quality of our community is most affected by the intellectual capacity of its members. Good schools pay off in terms of good citizens in the future and continuing commitment to high community values.

I am reluctantly going to vote "no" on the new fair site. The burden on property taxes following a "yes" vote could influence voters to again turn down needed improvements within the Sisters School District. In addition, I urge all of my fellow citizens to vote "yes" to the next Sisters School District bond request.

Respectfully

Jim Anderson

Tollgate

P.S. I am not the Jim Anderson who writes regularly for The Nugget

I am writing in response to the letter from Sherry Silva in the August 28 edition of TheNugget.

If I had been the "rude and discourteous employee of the Northwest Land Management" whom she encountered, I would have thrown Ms. Silva and family out of the campground with a strong invitation to stay out of the forest from now on.

It is difficult to believe that anyone is so stupid as to start any kind of fire in the woods during such a horrendous fire season as we are seeing this year.

What does it take to get through to people that even small fires can get away? Look at what just a spark from a cutting torch did to Smith Rock Park.

Hats off to the attendant who made them put out the fire. Perhaps the Suttle Lake area is still beautiful because of him.

Sincerely,

Joy Estabrook

The recent Park Meadow fire in the Three Sisters Wilderness once again brought out all the best in our local citizens, businesses and services.

A big thanks to the Sisters Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff for assisting with road blocks and military convoys. Clifton Clemens deserves a huge pat on the back for his willingness to host a small air force at the airport. Cellular One loaned us a dozen cellular phones that were a great help in a remote area.

Some local folks even loaned us some ice chests when we couldn't find any of our own. And last, but not least, thanks to the citizens of Sisters for their support and patience in all the various activities and noise that undoubtedly affected their lives.

Rock Gerke

Fire Management Officer

Sisters Ranger District

(This letter was sent to Task Force Vanguard, 3d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado).

On behalf of my neighbors in Sisters, Oregon, please accept our thanks for your efforts in fighting the 700-acre Park Meadows forest fire just south of our town.

As those of you who came here as fire-fighters have found, the Sisters area is a beautiful part of the country where fire is a common occurrence. Your actions to contain the fire are deeply appreciated.

I have had the privilege of serving in the 4th ID on three occasions: Ft. Lewis, Vietnam and Ft. Carson. During my service, the civilian community rarely saw our military professionals in action. Please be assured that the people of Sisters know what you have done for us and are deeply appreciative.

Sincerely,

Wayne Kimball

Colonel, USA (Ret)

Judy and I would like to thank and recognize all of the wonderful people who took action to control the fire on our Tollgate property on August 23.

We were away from our home for a short time that evening. At approximately 7:30 p.m. lightning struck our large ponderosa pine tree and set fire to our wood pile and the surrounding grass and bitterbrush.

Prompt action by Susan in calling the Sisters Fire Department probably kept the fire from spreading to neighboring homes. The fire department responded in minutes and the neighbors helped to keep water on the burned area until we returned later that evening.

We are very grateful and thankful that Susan, Joan, Joe, Jim, Richard, Bob, Jeff (others we didn't hear about) and especially the Sisters Fire Department who did what was needed to protect homes and property that evening.

In spite of the recent controversies involving our property owners' association, we wish to affirm that this is a great place to live among really considerate and responsive people. Thank you.

Ken and Judy Johnson

The firefighting tool used by Army Spc. Nashadka in the front page photo of the September 4 issue of TheNugget is correctly spelled "pulaski" not polaski.

The pulaski was named after the Forest Service's most famous fire-fighting ranger, Edward Pulaski who in 1910, while surrounded by fire, led 42 of his men through smoke into a deserted mine tunnel. The cool air in the tunnel was replaced by heat so intense that it set the tunnel timbers on fire.

Pulaski ordered his men to lie face down with their mouths to the ground while he kept the fire in the tunnel under control by dipping water with his hat from a stream which ran to the mouth of the shaft. He was badly burned and eventually passed out, and from time to time they all fell unconscious.

Pulaski and 37 of his men survived the ordeal on that day.

Cathy Ehlers

Welcome to the U.S.A. today!

I would like to say that Greg Brown has got my vote come election time. He is a good man for the job. But the problem I see in our justice system, Greg is really not going to be able to solve it.

That problem being in the District Attorney's office and how they conduct their business. They are so afraid of losing a case in court that they won't take half of the cases that's given them by our hard working police officers. Since my wife and her sons and friends did the things they have done to my family and me, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of the very fine police officers. I also got to understand our legal system quite well.

I now understand how thieves, drug dealers and just plain low lifes are able to just continue to prey upon good tax-paying, hard-working people.

I read an article in the Bend Bulletin in regard to jails and prisons. It said that Oregon has 8,000 criminals in these various institutions and they expect by year 2005 to have 18,000. Now I'm not real smart but it sure sounds like the justice system is doing something wrong?!! We need to change the system so that we don't need more cells; we need less criminals. Maybe if we spent more money on classrooms and activities for our kids instead of babysitting these low life, bubble gum gangsters, the tax payers, like myself, would start having once again faith in our system.

Oh! I know it's the best system and country in the world, but it sure could use some big changes.

Just sign me one American who cares,

Bob Burdick

Let's see, Rawhide George Renner, "The Cedar Chest Gypsy," (The Nugget, 9/4/96) served in the submarine "USS Pelius" (???) during World War II "traveling around the world."

If World War II started on September 1, 1939 and ended on August 14, 1945, then that means that Rawhide George, now 61 years old, was about four years old when World War II started and about 10 years old when World War II ended.

Now, having been in a World War II type submarine myself on a service call, I can see how they liked little people in their crews, but I wonder if they had people who were from four years old to 10 years old in their crew.

Whew, Shades of Wes Cooley.

Gordon Parkhurst

My fourth grade class is studying geography and we would like to know what your area of the country looks like.

Would you please help me by sending a postcard or a picture of what your area looks like? When our unit is over we will have a picture travel guide of may parts of the country and the world. Please send your postcards to:

Paige Willardsen

43 Willowleaf Drive

Littleton, CO 80127

Sincerely, Paige Willardsen