Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

* * *

To the Editor:

The committee that is looking into alternative uses for the effluent generated by the new wastewater treatment facility would like to acknowledge and validate the December 22 editorial in The Nugget.

We, the undersigned, feel volunteer burnout is a very real issue within small rural communities, especially as Central Oregon deals with its unprecedented growth combined with dwindling resources. Efficient use of volunteer time is critical to continued participation.

But this particular committee, while realizing some frustration about operating under misinformation for a significant period of its deliberation, would like to express the view it feels its time was not entirely wasted.

We have been considerably educated on the pluses and minuses regarding all the alternatives initially mentioned. This will help us when our neighbors see us around the community and take the opportunity to discuss with us their own view. We should now be informed and articulate.

In some ways, this process is like a family who has been building a house and realized they don't currently have the money to do the landscaping. But they now have a plan and a general sense of how much they have to save in order to realize the landscaping plan as they move in and begin to prepare the ground around the house. And so it is in this instance.

The committee invites the community to participate in two very real and important ways to this process. CATS will be sponsoring a community forum on the effluent usage on Jan. 11. We urge local residents to attend and hear what we've learned, then give us additional input for possible inclusion into the report we will give to the city council.

Secondly, there is a Central Oregon Web Page whose URL is http://www.centraloregon org. By January 1, the forum at this web site will be "What should the City of Sisters do with the effluent from its new wastewater plant?" The committee urges those with a view to participate in this forum.

And again, thanks to The Nugget for discussing the issue of volunteer efficiency and burnout. Let's hope more residents volunteer.

Citizens Effluent Committee:

Dorene Fisher, Melanie Curry, Lee Currie, Dave Moyer, Gary Miller, Daryl Carper, Dorro Sokol, Vickie Patterson- Hornbeck, Terry Whatley

Editor's note:

We read that a turn-of-the-first millennium Roman, Gaius Petronicus wrote:

"We trained hard... but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing, and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization."

For his trouble, Petronicus was charged with treason and forced to commit suicide.

* * *

To the Editor:

Jim Anderson's column in the December 15, Nugget was charming and informative. Unfortunately, his anti-hunting zeal obscured some key facts.

Anderson is correct that the decline of egrets (and many other birds) was caused in part by gun-toting humans. But he skims over the fact that they were responding to the demand of millions of co-conspirators ("the market").

But to call those individuals at the base of the marketing chain "hunters" degrades the term.

True hunters, who respected their quarry and participated intimately in the circle of life, were actually the saviors of virtually all wildlife in this country. While the Audubon Society took a small but active role, food-sport hunters led the way:

After formulating legislation, hunters lobbied for, and helped pass in Congress, an excise tax on all their hunting gear that is still the primary source of funds for wildlife enhancement and restoration in the U.S. (In a bizarre twist, birders and other "non-consumptive" recreationists, led by the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America, vehemently opposed and killed in committee a similar excise tax that would specifically support non-game wildlife and their habitats).

Hunters created the federal (and most state) migratory waterfowl stamp programs, which provide virtually all the funds used to purchase and maintain federal wildlife refuges. Those refuges, as most birders know, provide habitat for hundreds of species that are not hunted as well as the few that are.

Hunters formed Ducks Unlimited, the leading wildlife conservation group in the world, which has pumped almost a billion dollars into purchasing and maintaining habitat that benefits hundreds of wildlife species besides ducks.

If birders truly want to become a part of the wildlife conservation movement, they should look beyond a once-a-year bird count. In fact, all wildlife lovers can have a positive impact by putting their money where their mouths are, just like hunters:

1. Buy federal and state migratory waterfowl stamps, even if they don't hunt.

2. Join groups such as Audubon, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever, which put money on the ground where it does the most good.

3. Lobby for upcoming legislation that would add an excise tax to binoculars, hiking boots, birding scopes and field guides just like hunters and fishers have . . . and pay their fair share.

4. Get their hands dirty year-round by joining the thousands of volunteer-members of DU, Quail Unlimited, and the Oregon Hunters Association, who spend hundreds of hours creating and enhancing wildlife habitat.

Scott Linden

* * *

To the Editor:

I just got word in Winterthur, Switzerland, about the death of Frank Dale.

It rips me apart to know that a peer of mine was taken away... while I am sitting comfortably in front of a computer writing simple notes to my friends back home. It is beyond understanding to think how lucky some of us are ... and how trivial all of our lives really are.

Frank Dale was known by all. I remember teaching his little sister about the game of soccer, staring curiously at his deep forest brown backpack covered in patches and rebellious messages (stenciled with a black marker from Mr. Baynes' third period Basic Art class) while following him through the bustling cafeteria to fifth period English with Mrs. Dixon.

I remember laughing hysterically at his classic Spanish video and Mrs. Quiros eventually accepting the undeniable fact that Frank was never going to learn the simple past form of "estar."

After all of his decisions, he was a genuinely good person who never wished pain on another.

Frank's closing is unbelievable... my sincere regards go out to the entire Dale family, his friends at Sisters High School and anyone who ever had the pleasure of his presence.

Chad Brokopp

* * *

To the Editor:

Mele Kalikimaka!

Just wanted to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who supported me and made donations in my name to the Leukemia Society of America.

The Honolulu marathon was really an experience. There were over 30,000 participants and 2,400 of them were walking or running as members of the Leukemia Society Team in Training. Together we raised over $8 million that will be used for research and patient support! I was so grateful to be a part of that.

Due to some medical problems prior to the race, I was unable to finish the 26.2 miles, instead only reaching a little under eight miles before having to quit. But, I was so happy to be there it didn't matter. It was an experience I'll never forget.

My goal was to raise $7,000 and by race day I'd reached $6,326. So close!

If you're interested in helping me reach my $7,000 goal, there's still time. Donations can be made in my name to the Leukemia Society of America, 6501 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, OR 97201. Just include my name in the memo section of your check.

Have a great new year and thank you again.

Melanie Curry

***

To the Editor:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the paramedics of Camp Sherman, Black Butte and Sisters, that responded to our emergency call for our daughter at 3 a.m. November 25.

Everyone was so kind, even down to the dispatcher, the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

We have worried what would happen if we ever did need to make a emergency call that way, what the response time would be. Well, we found out, and it couldn't have been better.

It was a very scary time for all of us and you were like angels in the night, faces without names. Thanks for calling and checking up on how Deborah was doing. We headed back over the mountains to Eugene on Sunday and ended up having to call 911 half way across and meeting an ambulance in Vida.

They took her to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene and they were going to keep her there until she delivered the baby. They finally took the baby December 6. She was 3-1/2 weeks early , but both mother and baby are doing just great.

Thanks again and may God bless all of you.

Donald and Deborah Phelps

Dean and Myrna Bowers

* * *

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Sisters Community Choir, I would like to thank Chris Berger and Megan Pagano for sharing their musical talent with us in our Christmas concerts.

Chris is a terrific drummer and Megan a lovely flutist. They are both delightful, personable and gracious young people and we all enjoyed their participation.

Jeni Foster

* * *

To the Editor:

On behalf of Sisters Habitat for Humanity, I wish to express our sincere thanks to all those in the community who helped us match the Ford Family Foundation challenge grant.

We have received over $20,000 in cash and in-kind donations from local residents, property owners, businesses and organizations. The donations will be matched by the Ford Family, putting us well on our way to funding the 13th Habitat home in Sisters.

Construction will begin soon after the first of the year and another Sisters family will have a decent affordable home to live and grow in.

Many thanks for the blessings and support you continue to give Habitat's housing ministry.

Sincerely,

Betsey D. Williams

President, Sisters Habitat for Humanity