Letters, letters, letters

How we vote

Measure 51: There is much more to this ballot measure than first appears, and much less. The contradiction of unendurable suffering is that it is, in fact, endured. Until it is not. Then it is no longer suffering.

Pass or fail, this will not change, little will actually change.

We believe some things are simply too personal to be subject to government intervention. Measure 16 took a faltering step toward removing government from the bedside of those in their last months of life. Measure 16 was flawed. But the correct action is to fix this law which represents the will of the Oregon people, not revoke it.

We offer no anecdotes, will not indulge in what-ifs. We simply believe that the decision of when to die belongs to the person whose life is in the balance, their God, and those who love them. It is for no one else to judge, it is for no one else to intrude.

We will vote no on Measure 51.

Measure 52: We will vote in favor of Measure 52. While we have long been opposed to state-sponsored gambling, we are apparently in a decreasing minority. Oregon needs to invest in education. These lottery-backed bonds are apparently the only way Oregonians will agree to meet that obligation.

To the Editor:

Poor Tim Clasen, first he gets lost in the woods and then he gets lost in Deschutes County zoning.

The sheer irony of his situation would be laughable if it were not for one thing. The zoning laws are out of control. The "neighbor with a bad attitude" has all the rights and a working stiff has none; i.e.. Clasen vs. Schwab, now county vs. Clasen.

Landscapers fall in a gray area in Deschutes County zoning, and are permitted outright only in full-scale commercial/industrial-type property.

Our own recent move to the industrial park was prompted by a similar situation to Tim Clasen's. Several other Central Oregon landscape contractors and businesses have faced identical experiences at the hands of the county, requiring one I know of to seek out industrial property for his operations, one that costs him $2,000 a month rental.

Property of this type runs $150,000 per acre in Bend, and most landscapers, like Tim, need several acres to have full-scale operations. On five acres, a building with a shop, office, and restroom facilities, we're talking about a million dollar investment. For landscaping, folks. Compound that with the fact that we have only three-quarters of a year, (because of the weather), to pay a full year's bills!

Could you afford it? Would you like to pay us enough that we could afford it? I think not!

As an active member of the Landscape Contractors Association in Oregon, I will speak out against these ridiculous zoning laws in Oregon and Deschutes County so that guys like Tim (and the Taylors) can afford to go to work.

But like Paul Harvey says, "Self-government won't work without self-discipline." It would be nice if people were reasonable in their demands of others and asked more of themselves instead.

Sincerely,

Roy Manbeck

Roy's Blue Boy Irrigation

Editor's note:

The zoning question Mr. Manbeck refers to - requiring Tim Clasen to obtain a conditional use permit to operate a home-based business in a residential zone - involves the City of Sisters zoning ordinance, not Deschutes County's.

J.C.

To the Editor:

You have done it again.

The residents of the Sisters community have amazed me again with an outstanding display of community involvement.

On this past Saturday, over 40 people helped paint the Sisters Library. To all the members of Kiwanis, Rotary, the High School Key Club, Friends of the Library, and even fifth grader Ben Bushnell, a big thank you. With all their help, the entire library was painted in half a day!

As many of you remember, last spring, due to a budget deficit, the $5,000 annual contribution by the city to SOAR was going to have to be deleted. I approached the city council with the idea of taking $5,000 from the library painting fund to give to SOAR if we could find volunteers to paint the library.

Both Rotary and Kiwanis readily agreed.

I've stated many times that if the members of the Sisters community work together to develop positive solutions, we can overcome any challenge.

Thanks again.

Respectfully,

Steve Wilson, Mayor

To the Editor:

On Wednesday, October 8, our young nephew, Adam Spencer, died in a tragic accident at our home in Tollgate.

It has been a very difficult time for our family. We can not, however, let much time pass without expressing our heartfelt appreciation and sincere thanks for the outpouring of love and support which we have received from so many wonderful people in the Sisters community.

We moved to Sisters 6-1/2 years ago because we wanted to be part of a community that took care of each other. While we have been blessed with opportunities along the way to give of ourselves to our community, never in our wildest dreams did we ever anticipate the incredible kindness and compassion this community has offered us in our time of need. We have been deeply touched.

Thank you to all those in our neighborhood who stood by in support the day the accident happened, particularly James Johnson and Lois and Tom Worcester. Much thanks to Pastor Steve Mickel and the Three Sisters Fellowship for their tremendous support in so many ways. Also thanks to Pastor Ron Gregg and Ellen for their support, the Helser and Hoyt families, the Meyer family, and all our dear friends who sent beautiful flowers, food, cards and phone calls.

We'd also like to thank the Sheriff's Department, Sisters Fire Department and 911 for responding so quickly, the staff at St. Charles Emergency Room for handling a difficult situation in such a compassionate way, our wonderful friends at Hospice of Redmond & Sisters, Redmond Memorial Chapel, and anyone else we may not have mentioned here who has contributed to helping us through this time of grief and loss.

Though Adam's parents, Steve and Traci, and brother Ray have taken Adam's remains back to Hawaii to be laid to rest, they, too, send their most heartfelt and sincere thanks and are looking forward to being part of such a wonderful community in the future.

We pray that Adam's passing will help us all to see and remember what a precious gift each and every moment is and how important it is for us to love one another. God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Tim, Judy and Chris Neall

To the Editor:

On September 10, The Nugget published a letter from our daughter, Kristina, who wrote to thank family, friends and community for the six years she lived in Sisters, and to say good-bye.

What a surprise it was to pick up The Nugget and read a letter from our daughter. Six weeks later we are still receiving compliments from friends and acquaintances who read her letter. We would like to thank you all for their kind comments. Yes, we are very proud of Kristina and what she has done and plans to do with her life.

Kristina has now gone back to the big city she came from six years ago, and is attending college at Portland State University. She plans to become a preschool or kindergarten teacher. We are sure she'll enjoy the city life again, but she will always have a special place in her heart for Sisters.

A small community like Sisters can have such a positive force on our young people - if they are willing to take advantage of all it offers. We are glad we moved here six years ago.

Regardless of her final destination, whether it be life in a big city or a small town, we are glad Kristina has experienced the community of Sisters and its people.

Bob and Jan Martin

To the Editor:

I have been closely related to the Hospice Redmond/Sisters organization. I have proudly served several families in the Sisters area as a hospice nurse.

This organization is one of the finest, they offer quality home Hospice care, on-going bereavement services and education to the community.

Now the time has come for United Way to request support from our community to help facilitate support for organizations like Hospice and I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all to give to the United Way of Redmond/Sisters in this effort.

I have also volunteered with the United Way of Redmond/Sisters and know that the money received from our community stays in our community.

Please contact Gloria Phillips 548-2497 or Jean Miller 595-6859 or send your contribution to PO Box 853, Redmond, Oregon 97756.

I know the families we have served thank you for your support.

Mary Dickinson RN