Letters, letters, letters

To the Editor:

It was with great interest that I read The Nugget's recent story on surveying for sensitive species at Suttle Lake ("Rare species delay Suttle Lake project," November 25, p. 1).

The need for such a survey serves as a metaphor for the larger picture of why further development at Suttle Lake is not wise. In a nutshell, the largely intact ecosystem at Suttle Lake holds many unknown, irreplaceable values that would be threatened were the plans for expansion of the resort to continue.

The Suttle Lake area is already developed sufficiently to allow for a reasonable level of recreation activities, in fragile balance with the surrounding ecosystem. The area is already jam packed with visitors on many summer weekends.

Contrary to what the Forest Service believes, adding more facilities at Suttle Lake will not displace users but will simply attract them in greater numbers to this confined area, degrading this unique habitat further. A quota system, along the lines of the ongoing Wilderness Strategies Project, would be more effective in lessening the impact on the lake and lakeshore environs.

Sisters, Black Butte Ranch and Camp Sherman residents, as well as all Oregonians, have a very precious resource in Suttle Lake. It would be a crying shame if this beautiful public land was forever marred in the pursuit of private profit. It is time we speak louder.

Michael Cooper

To the Editor:

The annexation vote city residents have gives the community some control on how Sisters develops. It was overwhelmingly supported because, I believe, residents felt ignored by city government.

Because voters have spoken, developers now have rules to follow before they can place their land on the ballot for annex voting. The rules are in Ordinance 281 which "established the procedure for annexation to the City of Sisters." That procedure means providing detailed information on the impacts of the annexing or development and time for public review before deciding to place it on a ballot.

However, the city council may authorize an exception to any or all the information requirements of the ordinance "with a favorable vote of three or more council members."

What could be an excellent planning tool for future growth instead goes out the window with the exception vote - and with it the will of the people.

In the past, the council voted to place the school industrial land and Conklin's Bed and Breakfast on the ballot without following the ordinance. That was wrong. City council voted to place the land area to the urban growth boundary (UGB) on the March, 1999 ballot.

Deciding to annex the full UGB will put the control back in the hands of city government. Developers will not have to sell their product to the community, but rather to the planning director and planning commission.

I'm a believer in getting as much information as we can about each development and using it for better planning; that is the purpose of the annexing ordinance. Why have an ordinance if we don't intend to follow it?

With the annexation policy, residents now have more responsibility to learn about and incorporate what we want into future development. City leaders should be encouraging more information and public participation, not ignoring that responsibility. Call the community hotline, 549-6022, press 9, and express your views.

P.S. Thank you Sisters Outlaws and congratulations on your incredible football year.

Tim Clasen

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the Sisters Outlaws Football Team, the 1998 3A State Football Champions. We all knew you were Number 1 and you have proven it!

As parents of a football player for the last four years, we have laughed and cried with you, been happy and sad with you, have experienced the ups and downs with you. We didn't actually feel the aches and pains the day after a game, but we understood them and were always there with an ice pack when it was needed.

We congratulate the entire team on a great year - with a special thank you to the seniors who have just played their last high school football game. We want to thank the coaches for their hard work. The traditional hug from Rob Phelps after each game became more important with each win. We also want to thank the fans and community. We organized an impromptu season celebration pizza party for this past Sunday evening. The turnout was incredible with the cafetorium full of players, coaches, parents, families, and community members. The parents who planned the party, as well as the football players and coaches, really appreciated your support.

Thank you also for your donations that evening. It will go a long way towards paying for the pizza party, sack lunches and snacks that have been provided for the players and coaches on their playoff trips, as well as awards for the team. (It's still not too late to get in your donation.)

Another big thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time preparing the sack lunches, snacks, locker room surprises and helping with the party.

We have one more thank you that is the most important - and that is to our son, David. We have always been proud of you, David, and we have been especially proud of you throughout this football season. You have given the sport your heart and soul and it showed on the field each and every game. You are a very special young man.

Bob and Jan Martin

To the Editor:

In light of the 8-year-old boy who is lost in the woods, may I suggest that you carry a regular old whistle on any outing into the woods?

The sound of a whistle carries a long way and it would certainly increase your chances of being found.

Thank you,

Judy Bull

To the Editor:

In the Spirit of Christmas, the "Magical Voices of Christmas" rang clear on the evening of December 4 at Sisters High School.

The Rotary Club of Sisters would like to thank all of our singers including Mrs. Small's third grade class, Rudi and Ned Booher, Kelly Hervey and Matt Poynor, the Sisters High School Jazz Choir, Kristin Lamoreaux, the LaPine High School Advanced Choir, Peggy Tehan and the High Desert Harmoneers.

We especially appreciate our sponsors and all the many people who worked behind the scenes to help make this year's concert a great success of joy and Christmas spirit. We would also like to thank everyone who came. As a result of the community support, the Rotary Club will be able to donate over $2,000 to our schools' music departments.

We wish you all a warm and Merry Christmas.

Jim Craig, Rotary Club of Sisters

To the Editor:

This is really a letter of acknowledgment and heartfelt appreciation to some very special people. On December 11 some members of the Sisters Veterans Group and two men who are not members went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Herb Ormsby at Black Butte Ranch.

The Ormsbys had graciously given the Veterans Group several cords of excellent firewood for our annual wood program for the truly needy.

Assisting us in the loading, hauling (using their own equipment), and the unloading of three cords of wood were Mr. Ormsby, Tim Wolfe and Dave Vitelle. They assisted us on their own time and at no charge.

Gentlemen, we salute you for your public service to a needed project for the Sisters community. We cannot thank you enough.

The Sisters Veterans Group does not sell any wood. It is donated free of charge to the truly needy, the elderly, families with children and others who just cannot afford to buy wood to keep warm and eat, too. This is an emergency program and we are not able to supply a complete winter's need to everyone who asks. But we will help to the best of our ability. The program is coordinated by Theresa Slavkovsky at Family Access Network, 549-0155.

Please call her if you need assistance or if you have any good firewood you might want to donate to the Sisters Veterans Group. Any donations to either the VFW or the American Legion is tax deductible.

Many thanks to those who help.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8138

American Legion Post 86

To the Editor:

I merely wanted to inform the Citizens of Sisters and surrounding areas that were looking forward to the Christmas light display located one mile east of Sisters on Highway 126.

I apologize if you look forward to it each year, and have noticed that it has not made its appearance as of yet. This year I am afraid to say that it will be the shortest year that you will be able to see them. Normally it is up by Thanksgiving and down well after the new year.

However you can look forward to it starting the December 19 ending December 29.

Happy Holidays,

Adam Rosencrantz and the "Land of Many Lights"

To the Editor:

I voted for Bill Clinton twice. Hillary seemed to know of his strong libido when she married him. She is still married.

Enter Ken Starr and the House of Representatives. I see constant harassment since Clinton was Governor of Arkansas.

At least our children of this country have had a liberal sex education.

I haven't turned in a federal tax return since the fun began.

I still want Clinton as president until January 20, 2000. He has a very healing effect on the rest of the world. He also manages to work some wonders for this country.

Glory Daggett