Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

Roy Manbeck's letters is incorrect. His dispute over landscaping at Mt. Shadows R.V. Park was not with me, but with another subcontractor. He chose not to pursue.

My fence issue was proposed and built by a local contractor who lives and works in the Sisters community; the work done at Mt. Shadow is done by local contractors.

Roy Manbeck's statements are 100 percent incorrect. I never made such statements.

In view of the fence the city disapproved. We attempted to correct it to their satisfaction; some plants have died we will replant them in the spring.

Upon the discussion with the planning department, we immediately removed the plastic from the windows and raised the roll up doors. They will remain up, the plastic will remain off. The planning department has approved this.

We want to be a good business neighbor.

If we were to nit pick, several businesses are probably in violation of some of the 1880s theme. It is not my intent to do it with anyone.

We built that building to provide a gathering place for large groups in our R.V. and motel. In addition we also make it available for community-type events.

This community is wonderful to provide events for its citizens and general public to come enjoy and support local business.

Please allow us the opportunity to correct a violation if we have one as any other person is allowed. We simply want to be a good neighbor and good business in this fine city.

I apologize to all whom we offended with our plastic up and the metal doors. Please accept.

Sincerely,

A. Wayne Scott

About the Mt. Shadow RV Park, in my opinion the park was very much needed, and is the best looking facility in town.

As far as the planning commission and our city council and the 1880 western theme, they don't have a clue just take a good look around town.

Their canoe has sunk. Our town is just what it looks like, a tourist holdup, a town full of little shops with no restrooms or ones the public can't use. The merchandise is not what the local townspeople want or need. A little of both would be nice.

Sisters City Council and the planning commission should take more into consideration than: Do you have money? Are you in the click (sic)? If so, they play the game.

In my opinion, our city leaders should stop harassing Mr. Scott and wasting taxpayers' money and get night jobs.

Joe Martin

Again Deschutes County is in the unenviable position of having nationwide attention focused on our recent dog problems.

Being one of five unpaid volunteer members of the Deschutes County Dog Control Board (all of us being dog owners), has up to this point been fairly cut and dried and a decision attainable. We are there to make sure both the dog owner and the livestock owner are given equal representation plus hearing the facts given to us by the Deschutes County Dog Control Officer.

We follow the state law which states that "any dog, off of its owner's property, found chasing, wounding, injuring or killing livestock, not belonging to the dog's owner, may be killed immediately by any person." This is a state law, not a Deschutes County law and not a law that we, as members of the Dog Control Board, can change.

We feel introducing new legislation that would make the death sentence an option creates a "gray" area that will add expense to already depleted county coffers and personnel, and will be difficult to oversee.

Legal counsel and effective witnesses can and will be a hurdle in determining what happens to the errant dog and will likely close the possibility of compromise between the dog and livestock owner. With the law remaining the way it is, it is possible to call the owners of dogs found on your livestock-inhabited property before a problem arises and easily explain to them how the law reads.

I have found this especially effective in our rural area with a close subdivision and often-changing neighbors. I think you'll find that most livestock owners are dog owners themselves and do not find great joy in killing or wounding neighborhood dogs passing through their pastures. Taking the "teeth" out of the existing law and adding "but if" situations is hardly a wakeup call to irresponsible dog owners, and the burden of proof, lost time and negative publicity involved in a hearing is a plain nuisance to the livestock owner.

I believe more dogs, not fewer, will be shot by livestock owners if a statute is added to the existing law.

In closing I'd like to say that "chasing" is not the end product, "catching" is. Please remember that the livestock being chased have feelings too, as do their caring owners.

It's a normal reaction for any unsupervised dog to chase. Hopefully this is a wakeup call to all dog owners, that if you care about them like you say you do, be a responsible pet owner and don't let them get into a situation where they can break the law and possibly lose their life, just because we, as their owners, were negligent.

Sherry Morris

SnoField Farms

On January 18, I had the opportunity to hear House Speaker Lynn Lundquist speak at a town meeting in Baker City. While I have usually agreed with the things that he has proposed, his latest idea did not make much sense.

Mr. Lundquist is proposing that the state fund only a "core curriculum" in schools, leaving individual districts to pay for other programs. He cited the example, "Do we really need school orchestra?" This question raised a red flag for me.

While I understand that school funding is a major concern in Oregon and that school districts in the state do not receive equal funding, this proposal will not solve the problem. This will only emphasize the difference between rich and poor school districts. It also does nothing for accountability besides drive the overall quality of education down.

As individuals, we are a product of our educations. We are drawn to certain subjects that will influence our careers, and our status as human beings. To that end, schools must offer a wide variety of classes that feed the brain as well as the soul.

Music does both! If programs such as school orchestra are eliminated because they are not considered "core," some students will be alienated, and the next generation of music educators will be at risk.

Human beings need to experience the joy that comes from belonging to a group, making an important contribution to the whole, and creating something beautiful.

Even if you are not a particular fan of school music consider this: There are other subjects that may not be considered "core." Subjects like foreign languages, visual arts, vocational agriculture, and others may be cut as well. Each of these subjects has value and give students a place to belong.

If you feel, as I do, that education must be fully funded, write to Speaker Lundquist. Make your voice heard. Ultimately it is the students who will benefit or suffer from whatever choices we make today. We must consider the hearts and souls of students as well as their financial future.

Sincerely,

Judith L. Trohkimoinen,

South Baker Music Teacher