Letters, letters, letters

To the Editor:

Recent letters to the editor by Michael Blumm and Roy Manbeck have expressed concern over a lack of balanced reporting in The Nugget on the issues of the proposed sewer for the City of Sisters.

The editor's reply to Manbeck's letter has convinced me that we do indeed have reason for concern about the newspaper editorializing through its reporters. Editorial opinions belong on the opinion page, not masquerading as reporting!

The editor fails to point out that the reporter covering the sewer issue is on the board of the chamber of commerce, and as we have seen, the chamber has taken a strong public stand in favor of the sewer.

Not only that, the director of the chamber of commerce, who is actively pushing the sewer, is also a reporter for The Nugget. How can the paper expect the public to believe its coverage of the sewer issue is balanced, when its reporter is a member of the chamber's board? Isn't there a serious conflict of interest here?

Joseph Bottero

Editor's reply:

This newspaper interviewed Mr. Bottero's wife, Libby, and gave extensive coverage to her opposition to the sewer (The Nugget, January 28, 1998, and February 4, 1998). We also published on the editorial page (February 25, 1998) her opinion of the proposed sewer, and the opposition of others to a sewer (January 28, February 4, February 11, February 18 and March 11).

We appreciate Mr. Bottero's concern whether a reporter can serve as a volunteer for any civic organization. We have spent hours weighing this issue, which is especially difficult in a small town, where the attributes of a good reporter are similar to those of a valuable, participating member of the community.

In the end, this editor decided it would be wrong to dictate to an employee what that employee did with his or her spare time. The editor decided that with adequate awareness of potential conflicts, the sewer issue could be presented in a fair manner by a reporter who is one of 12 members of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

By the way, the vote by the chamber board to support a sewer was taken before our reporter joined. He has not participated in any decision by the chamber regarding a sewer, and will abstain if the matter is brought up in the future.

We believe the sewer issue has been presented fairly.

There will always be those who allege bias in our reporting or editing. (The fact that another individual from whom we buy unrelated stories also works for the chamber is irrelevant.) What is remarkable in this case, again, is the fact that Mr. Bottero talks only of reasons why the reporting might be biased, yet offers no facts to support his accusation.

We have on a number of occasions reviewed our coverage. Taken as a whole, we feel it has been balanced. We will review it again.

And while we think the personal, ad hominem attacks are unnecessary, we do welcome everyone's opinion about the sewer. We urge anyone who has information about the sewer, or a point of view, to write or call either the reporter or the publisher of this newspaper. We will try to make sure your voice is heard.

The phone number is 549-9941.

E.D.

To the Editor:

It is with anxious anticipation that I await the Sewer Focus Group's newsletter to be mailed March 13. This will probably have the mayor's and city hall's spin on why the proposed sewer project will be so good for the residents of Sisters.

Amazingly, city hall attempts to convince us that we need to approve the sewer project. In turn we will then be able to accommodate more tourists, create more congestion, and spawn more unwanted growth. And the best point is that we would get to pay for it for the next 40 years!

It would not only be interesting, but also fair, if letters of a differing view were allowed to be mailed with the water bills.

Ken Emmerich

To the Editor:

Mountain Shadows and Mr. Scott don't seem to understand the word "NO."

Time and again he seems to violate the city's ordinances and edicts - and get away with it.

Mr. Scott obviously is not the quality of businessman we need in Sisters. The city council should enforce its rulings and Mr. Scott should seek some other small town to thumb his nose at.

Leslie Bolton

To the Editor:

Hopefully, everyone is becoming familiar with the Sisters Community Action Team (CAT). I would like to clarify for the community how we came together and what our intentions are.

We are grassroots volunteers representing a full spectrum of values, views and backgrounds. Over the past year, individuals from various interest groups who didn't volunteer initially, were referred, interviewed and solicited to become involved in this collaborative planning process. There's no one leader, and no one is excluded from the table.

Together, we hope to envision a future for the Sisters community that's compatible with everyone's values and create an action plan in order to get there. This plan in turn will be used to solicit grants for community improvements. It's not an easy task. This process begins with trust building: educating one another, exploring differences, and discovering common ground. But we have an enormous reservoir of collective energy, talent, and inspiration.

Anyone with a viewpoint to share or who cares about the future of Sisters is welcome to attend our meetings. The doors are always open! All opinions and ideas are important to us. For further information, contact Lorri Craig, committee chair, 549-1410 or Adrienne Banks, committee public relations, 549-4357.

Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Sincerely,

Lorri Craig, CAT Chairperson

To the Editor:

Another fun season has ended with "Kid's Club." The weather was superb, the children enthusiastic, the instructors - well, how about fantastic.

The instructors are such seasoned professionals. I appreciate the kindness and patience they showed each and every student. Staying with the kids after each class until parents came was also a relief for all of us.

I value all these instructors and look forward to finishing this season knowing my kids will be better skiers. I'm excited about next year and know my kids are too.

Thanks again Hoodoo,

Denice Cristiano

To the Editor:

I'm beginning to realize I'm not much of an American; I have no interest whatsoever in my President's sex life.

I do like what he is doing for my country, though I can't imagine where he finds the time to give it much thought.

An effort is being made to impeach him because he told a lie. I've watched constantly but somehow I've lost sight of "The Lie." Did it jeopardize the country?

Poor CNN. It has to give us news 24 hours a day - everyday. Obviously the word "news" has lost it's meaning.

One thing that truly frightens me is hauling the men that protect the president's life into a questioning session that could throw them into jail on contempt charges. If they wind up as Susan McDougal has, who will take their place? They are human shields, absolutely ready to take a bullet to protect the presidency.

Glory Daggett