Letters, letters, letters

To the Editor:

Regarding all the hype surrounding SOAR, I would like to express my feelings on the subject: I am SORE with SOAR.

One of the recent advertisements in The Nugget depicted a boat full of young people having a wonderful day boating down a pristine river. Gaiety, fun loving exchange between the participants, was the order of the day. The alternative to this beautiful scene, were news clippings depicting rampant killing and violence by some distraught young person.

The theme of the advertisement seemed to be that if the general population did not vote and approve to financially support the SOAR program, then we can expect violence and mischief to be the order of the day by young people in the community. There is something terribly wrong here.

First and foremost is that young people, as well as all people, need to learn that they do not obtain what they want by inflicting indiscriminate harm on others. Second, the young people who have been involved in these violent acts are not necessarily materialistically deprived. Third, if the voters acquiesced to the idea that indiscriminate violence and murder will occur if they do not vote and approve an increase in tax revenues for certain special interest groups, then we are setting a precedent for other special interest groups to do the same.

SOAR may indeed be a noble concept. And the test of that nobility is this: If those who truly believe in SOAR pool their energy, talents, time, and monetary resources, then their efforts will be rewarded by having a program that works and the destiny of SOAR will be theirs.

Attempting to hold the general population hostage in the creation of SOAR will never work. Even if 51 percent of the voters approve funding for the program, 49 percent disapprove and the best that will be obtained is another bureaucracy sponsored by the government.

John Culp

To the Editor:

I am an older parent and have different obligations than the younger folks.

I, for one, train trail horses and SOAR is always there for me. It's close to the schools and the kids can walk and be safe while getting there.

One time I called from high up on the Cascades and asked Barbara to stay a little longer and she did with a smile. SOAR is never sick or not there. Baby sitters have family emergencies etc. but SOAR is there for us when we need them, don't have to call ahead, just tell our kids to go there after school and they are looked after.

We live 11 miles out of Sisters and have neighbors, a few, but no kids, so Bryan gets to visit and play with the others there. They also help him with his homework. All of the high schoolers that help with SOAR are real good with this.

Bryan plays in all of the after school sports that SOAR puts on. He looks forward to going to SOAR and it sure gives us a longer day to do what we want or have to do. Thank you all of the folks at SOAR. The price is affordable also.

Gerry Jimerson

To the Editor:

As a member of the Sisters community for over 14 years, I have seen many changes. The most obvious are growth in population, building, traffic, road building and cultural activities.

With this growth it seems natural to also have available organized activities so that we may best take advantage of the wonderful opportunities our area affords.

So was born Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation, running successfully now for four years.

SOAR is also changing and growing to match the needs of the folks who live here. As a recreation district, a stable funding base will enable SOAR to offer an even wider variety of activities as well as improvements to many of the existing facilities such as the old tennis courts at the elementary school.

Sailing, mountain biking, volleyball camps and soccer, to name a few, will continue to be made available; fun for all ages in the area supported by all of us in the greater Sisters community. Let s back Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation District with our "yes" vote at the polls on November 3.

Sincerely,

Ruth Schaefer

SOAR Board Member

To the Editor:

A healthy body and a sound mind. That's what we all want for our children and grandchildren and also for ourselves as we age.

Sisters has two fine organizations working toward these ends.

SOAR provides physical activities which indirectly teach children the roles of leadership and cooperation as well as developing skills through activities and respect for a healthy body.

Our library is the unequaled place for developing a sound mind with the wealth of printed materials in every form - books for both pleasure and information, magazines, newspapers, public service bulletins, reference materials - as well as access to the technological advances in computer information search and retrieval.

Both of these need permanent funding. Going around with your hat in hand seeking donations takes time that could be better spent on directly working with children or providing library services.

Vote "yes" for SOAR. Vote "yes" for library funding.

Please vote for future healthy bodies and strong minds.

Sincerely,

Gordon and Shirley Petrie

To the Editor:

In September, the community voted overwhelmingly to approve a tax levy to fund the libraries for one year. In the precincts around Sisters, the support was even higher than the 68 percent yes vote for the county.

On the November ballot, we will have the opportunity to secure the operations of our libraries beyond the one year period by voting "yes" for the library tax district.

We should vote "yes" for the tax district for the following reasons:

Approval of the tax district will not increase taxes. The levy passed in September and the tax district have the same tax rate. The tax district will not take effect until the levy expires.

Approval of the tax district will ensure a predictable source of revenue that can only be used for funding libraries. This will permit the elected library board to budget expenses for upgrading our libraries to Oregon library standards and for meeting expanded services as the population grows. There should be no further ballot measures for library funding if the tax district passes.

I urge voters to vote "yes" and secure the future of our libraries.

Sincerely,

Cal Allen

To the Editor:

In America we are blessed with amazing gifts. We have a democracy, a system that requires participation by its citizens to function. We have freedom of speech... and we have marvelous public libraries.

Just take a moment to think about it; an endless resource center, a zillion words, ideas and learning with no end, all at our fingertips.

In order to maintain our library, we need to participate in our democracy and vote! And please vote "yes" on the library measure.

I have spent some of the happiest hours of my life in the treasure chest we call our public library. I've discovered new ideas, acquired new skills, been inspired, transported and educated.

One of the happiest days of my life was taking my two-year-old son to the library for the first time and watching him toddle through the stacks, at last locating the children's' section. He picked out a book and was dazzled that we got to take it home with him. It became his favorite book and mine, too, because he had picked it himself from the myriad of choices.

Our library is the heart and soul of our community, and we need to feed it and keep it healthy, and this measure is an affordable way to create a stable source of funding (less than the cost of a couple of hardbacks).

For all of us, please vote "yes" in November.

Karly Drake Lusby

To the Editor:

The upcoming initiative regarding system development charges is not only misleading, it is dangerously ambiguous.

We already have an SDC for water. The city can't charge an SDC for parks or transportation until a plan is in place for each. A sewer SDC is not possible until there is a sewer in place or at least there is an approved plan to proceed.

The biggest danger in this initiative is litigation. The city does not have the resources to fight a lengthy court battle. It would have to knuckle under to anyone with the money to sue.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Our city council is now in charge of SDC applications and they should remain in charge. Vote no on the initiative to require that the city charge the maximum SDCs allowable by law. We can still get maximum SDC charges without subjecting the city to possible law suits.

Allan Herauf

To the Editor:

Are you confused? Me too. When we elected Gordon Petrie to the council we knew what his agenda was. When the council elected him president they also knew he would do his very best to fulfill his promises to the citizens of Sisters - "Keeping Sisters livable and affordable."

No easy task, but Gordon Petrie knew there must be other sewer systems that would be more compatible to Sisters and less expensive to install but still do the job.

Gordon Petrie succeeded in getting the Oregon Economic Development Department to "Encourage the city to look at all viable alternatives for cost reduction."

He is trying, and succeeding in doing what we elected him to do and now we are being asked to vote him out of office?

Go figure and think about it.

Edna Harding

To the Editor:

I have worked with Councilor Gordon Petrie very closely for years and have always found him well informed, willing, able, dependable and affable.

He gets to the heart of matters that concern the citizens and asks how will this affect those who live here and how much will it cost and is it really necessary? He has worked long and well with county and state agencies over important and complex issues and has established excellent communications with them.

It's hard to believe that some of our councilors believe that there should not be some dissenting votes on the council. What kind of representation is that? Agreeing to disagree is at the heart of our democracy. Thank goodness we all don't think alike! And what kind of thanks is a recall for all the years that Gordon has given to Sisters just for thinking and voting differently on issues?

Gordon has unselfishly given his time to better his community; no councilor has given more time to better his community; no councilor has given more or worked harder for the citizens than Gordon has.

Let's keep him on the job for us!

Virginia Groom

To the Editor:

My sister and I, along with more than 200 other sisters had the joy of spending time in your beautiful community this last weekend.

We would like to give each of you a huge thank-you! You are so very lucky to live in such a wonderful area.

We were made to feel so welcome by everyone we came into contact with. A special thanks to Steve, our guide from the Forest Service. I think we really wore him out and we apologize. The hike was so beautiful and the river unbelievable.

Though we tried to "see it all" while visiting, of course we were not able to.

What a treat to be able to enjoy such beautiful weather, cold air in the mornings and evenings, sun in the afternoon and we even played in the snow just a few miles out of town.

We are going to come back again next year and plan to spend more time visiting. We hope that if you ever have the chance to visit our home towns you are able to find it as enjoyable.

Once again "thank you all" for your warm hospitalities. We appreciated it all.

Sisters in Sisters,

Barbara Kamna, Tillamook, Oregon

Gloria Hueske, Cottage Grove, Oregon

To the Editor:

Citizens, what has suddenly awakened you?

When did you last hear what Clinton has been telling you about the world situation? Everytime he would visit a foreign country you were told it was to avoid the Ken Starr imbroglio.

The poor Pentagon has been begging for an upgrade for our airforce. They couldn't get what they need, only what was produced in Newt's state.

I believe Clinton was in college during Vietnam. Where was your son, Canada or college?

Gloria Daggett