Letters, letters, letters

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To The Editor

This is a comment on an article in the September 3 Nugget which states that Paul Dewey, representing The Sisters Forest Planning Committee, and the Deschutes Chapter of Trout Unlimited, is filing an appeal which, if successful, could prevent the Forest Service from allowing boating on the lower Metolius River, from Lower Bridge to Lake Billy Chinook.

Rafting does not threaten the "esthetic, scenic, historic, archaelogic and scientific features of the river" as he maintains.

The "natural qualities" of the river are already impaired. There is a negotiable road (it is to be gated) down the river a long way and, according to the map, a long road up the river from Monty Campground. Only about one-sixth of the river is roadless.

There is a path all the way down the river, although many years ago I found this obstructed by large chunks of cement that reached the river holding up the road.

There are three primitive cabins on private property on the way down the river and a luxurious spread of green grass and buildings up the river from Monty Campground.

Dewey and his committee advocate "no human presence on the lower river," which is untenable considering the human presence and the work of human presence already in place.

I disagree with the Forest Service's policy of allowing boating and not allowing completely unsafe obstructions to be removed, but that is another matter.

Mary Kate Spencer

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To the Editor:

On Friday, September 5, my wife, Susan, and I were in Sisters picking up some groceries before heading back to a friend's cabin near Camp Sherman.

For us, these getaways from Portland to enjoy the quiet beauty you call home have been a special experience for us over the years. But the events of this particular evening have brought about greater appreciation of what the people of Sisters are all about.

You see, we were the couple whose Jeep Cherokee was broad-sided that Friday evening on the west side of town, (where the McKenzie Highway branches off from the Santiam Highway).

The moment that Susan and I recovered from the initial shock of the collision, we were aware that several citizens had come to our aid. There was a kind gentleman that spoke quiet assurances and held our hands until the emergency team arrived, and a woman who promptly took charge of our two puppies and saw them safely to the veterinarian, among others who saw to our needs in those first moments.

We also wish to acknowledge the tremendous professionalism of the police, fire and ambulance personnel that responded to the crash. I wish I was better at recalling names. Not only were they there with astonishing speed, but they worked with skill and great care. We owe them so much.

As we mend our broken limbs at home, we continue to be overwhelmed by the great spirit of generosity shown to us by these many fine folk. You, as members of the Sisters community, have much to be proud of. The spirit that motivated so many to come to our aid, the spirit that has voluntarily made an addition to your school materialize, is the essence of your community.

As beneficiaries, we thank you for that spirit and we congratulate you.

Bruce and Susan Goschie/Worsley

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To the Editor:

In a frenzy of building four new classrooms as a grassroots project, other programs are working mostly quietly to improve their functions.

One of these is the new woodworking shop at SOAR, which also doubles as a middle school woodworking classroom. It is developing with donations of woodshop materials of all kinds, from simple tools to power tools and workbenches.

The program can use more of any of these, especially if they are sitting idle in your garage or junk drawer. SOAR would like to thank Darwin South for his donation of old bowling lanes, which make great work benches. When he was asked if he would be willing to share a few of his lanes with the SOAR program, this Sisters native responded with genuine enthusiasm and immediately supplied Tom Coffield (SOAR Director) with as many lanes as the two of them felt the project could use, nearly 40 feet.

Another donation of a beautiful new table saw, dust collector and cash for purchasing necessary equipment came from a SOAR friend who made a point of saying no public thanks was needed. This response to the woodshop was far beyond our expectations, and helped the program begin running when school started.

These are the kinds of actions that assist SOAR in creating and improving programs for youth and adults in an era when available funds are minimal. Thanks, Darwin and Lynn. You got the woodshop off the drawing board and into the noise of construction.

Bonnie Malone,

SOAR Vice President

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To the Editor:

It's Chamber Auction time again, but this time we are going to make it an event.

Black Butte was gracious enough to allow us the utilization of one of their large wedding tents (with heaters, tables and chairs) and the auction committee decided this was an appropriate time to increase the attendance and the potential for greater income for the Sisters Chamber - more money to work on fall and spring promotions for the city.

We will have plenty of hors d'oeuvres, liquor and wine (by the ticket, of course, cash bar), and we are trying to put together music and an increased value of auction items to make this truly "The Fall Event" for Sisters.

We need your continued generous support, and that of your friends, to make this event an ongoing chamber fund- raiser. So, when the chamber volunteers contact you for your auction contribution, please provide them with some classic items that truly represent the spirit of Sisters.

Looking forward to a wonderful evening.

Your Auction Chairman,

Roland Bliss

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