Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

Reference comments regarding the disaster on the North Santiam: I sincerely hope the Forest Service stays with their plans to finally address this time bomb ready to explode with a lightning strike or man-caused fire.

For whatever reason, the environmentalists in this country have been running the government agencies. There are over 13 environmentally active groups addressing timber problems and most of them have probably never set foot in the forest. Yet they are experts and have been able to tell professionals how to manage the forest.

The facts are, at the time the thousands of acres of timber died in the North Santiam the value of all that timber -- had it been removed within 12 months -- would have been worth multi-millions of dollars. These dollars would have gone to the government and to help fund the schools.

Also would be a major assistance to many mills which continue to shut down every day for lack of timber. Now, six years later, the timber is rotten, falling down like kindling, ready to explode. Instead of being a major asset to the government by having it cut when the value was there, it will be a major cost to attempt to clean up this mess and the taxpayers will be expected to pay their fair share. Too bad that bill cannot be sent to the environmental groups and let them foot the cost.

Diseased and fire-killed timber should be removed promptly and replanted when and where necessary.

If you want to take a look at another war zone drive out Century Drive and note all the timber that is now laying down, rotten. This should have been removed and replanted the year it happened. It would be a green forest today instead of black snags.

Sincerely,

Norman L. Perry

To the Editor:

In response to the letter written last week by Joy Estabrook: Perhaps your facts should have been gathered before casting your opinion on this issue.

First of all, no one made us put out our fire. Campfires were permitted at the time. We were well within our rights. That was not the issue. It was the lack of professionalism and human decency that urged me to write that letter. You obviously missed the point.

So, before you accuse anyone of being stupid or even assume that you could keep us out of the woods, leave your hat on and research the facts.

Sincerely,

Sherry Silva and family

To the Editor:

Jim Anderson's letter last week brings to light again the staggering problems we have in Oregon regarding the wise use of less and less tax dollars for a wide variety of public projects.

I agree that it would be nice to have a new county fair ground facility, but not at the expense of the future of our children. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Our budget problems go far beyond the Sisters school crowding and the need for year-round education, teachers, space and supplies.

There's another shortfall coming down the track like a runaway train: a dramatic cut in operating funds for the county library system.

According to the latest word, the 1997-98 county library budget will be down from $1.6 million dollars to somewhere between $350,000 to $500,000. Trying to operate a library system the size of what is required for Deschutes County on that little money is preposterous.

The county library staff warned the Sisters Library District Board that if something isn't done by 1997-98 to replace the lost dollars in the library's budget some of the branches will have to be closed next year.

The mere suggestion of closing the Sisters library is a more horrifying nightmare than any scenario I've heard regarding the Sisters Schools or county fair grounds.

From what we're told the county needs all the funds they can get to budget for more state-mandated legal personnel and juvenile court system.

When will we learn that if we would only spend more money on libraries, we wouldn't have to spend so much on jails!

It's time to seriously consider establishing a County Library Service District. That way our libraries will not be under the thumb of the county budget, and specified tax dollars will be used only for library operations and staffing.

Until then, we've got to make sure we get the biggest bang for our bucks. Putting money into a new county fair grounds is, in my opinion, a low priority for what little we'll have to spend in Deschutes County.

Respectfully,

Jim Anderson

(The one who writes for The Nugget.)

To the Editor:

I watched the news Sept. 10 and four issues really pushed my buttons.

All four issues are no-brainers for average folks, but they are being systematically pushed down our throats by a small minority of people who know they are 2 percent of the population.

The issues are cougars, guns, gay marriages and leaf blowers.

Skip the first three, what about leaf blowers? Hand-held and backpack leaf blowers are on the ropes in Eugene as the city council considers banning them. The reasons:

1. People blow leaves into other peoples yards. This is inconsiderate, but a leaf blower is only one tool capable of piling leaves in your neighbors' yards. What about rakes, scoop shovels and wheelbarrows? Should they be banned? Of course not, ridiculous logic.

2. Pollution. Immediately following the blower story, the Eugene weather and pollution report showed the valley completely socked in with smoke/pollution from field burning and they have the gall to insist leaf blowers are a serious pollution threat. Ridiculous logic!

3. Noise. Let's face it; when was the last time anyone was driven from their home by the constant drone of leaf blowers? How about yelling children, barking dogs, screaming music, motorcycles, thunderstorms. They're all loud, too.

If you've been like me, complacent but you care about anything, be part of the solution, not the problem. Donate some of your time or money to an organization you believe in.

This minority of people had a detrimental agenda and worse yet, a system and plan to push it down our throats using our liberal media.

I joined the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association about three or four years ago to combat this type of ridiculous agenda in my work. I will continue to support groups of people dedicated to a realistic view of our world and I'm not standing on the sidelines anymore. I suggest you do the same. These people insist they're not going away, so quit thinking about helping, do it!

Sincerely,

Roy Manbeck

To the Editor:

The Sisters Teen Court will be having their first session on September 24.

Putting together a Teen Court for the Sisters community has been very challenging and rewarding for me. All this would not have been possible without the help of many different people in the community. First, I'd like to thank all the youth who volunteered their time this summer on many evenings helping me put together the guidelines for this program. Thank you, Calli and Claire Conrad, Tammy and Jason Willis, Kay Marquez, Christy McCann, Stephanie Cordes.

Thank you Bryan Henry for your inspiring logo. I'd like to thank Westmoreland Graphics for donating their services to create our logo. Thank you Figaro's Pizza for donating pizza for our jury training. Many thanks to the Honorable Judge Forte for volunteering to be our judge for Teen Court and my heart-felt thanks to Pat Davis for always lending an ear and making me look so good on paper.

I know this program will benefit many youth in the Sisters community.

With sincere gratitude,

Kirsten Werner

Teen Court Coordinator

To the Editor:

The Sixth Annual High Mountains Dixieland Jazz Festival is now history.

The success of our festival was made possible in no small part by the efforts of over 230 volunteers. Their treatment of our numerous "guests," musicians and other visitors made each one of them Goodwill Ambassadors for our town.

I wish I could say "thanks" to each of them individually, but instead I will just say "Thanks to you all!" You are a deserving crew. I want you back next year!

Gary Woods

Volunteer Coordinator

To the Editor:

It's a long way from Sisters to Zagreb but your internet version of The Nugget is a big help for keeping in touch. After seeing the situation here in the Balkans, I'm even more grateful for the life we have in Sisters.

Jim McWilliams