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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 existing Sisters High School was design-engineered to provide for future expansion to the two-story structure. We have exterior stairways at both ends of the building.

Would it not be prudent to seriously consider adding on to the high school to accommodate the middle school student requirements? Providing of course for anticipated future growth.

This would not only be a considerable savings to the projected building costs, but would provide a smooth transition for our youth from middle school to high school.

Additional savings would no doubt be realized in maintenance, transportation and administration expenses.

Karl Buehler

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To the Editor:

When we moved to Tollgate four years ago, we knew that horses were allowed, but made the decision not to have them ourselves.

We felt that these lots were too small to have horses. When you have from 1/2- to 3/4-acre lots, with space taken up for a house, a garage, and some landscaping, there is not much room left to properly care for even one horse, let alone two or more.

Having horses in this small area constitutes animal abuse.

The only way it could work at all would be if the animal was taken out and exercised at least an hour each day. That means summer, and winter. Rain or shine. Not many of us are willing to make that kind of commitment.

And when horses are kept in a confined space, as the lots are here in Tollgate, daily clean-up is a must. How many do that? My wife and I have both been involved with horses all of our lives, either ranching or rodeoing, so we are definitely not anti-horse people. But horses in a subdivision is ridiculous. Five or ten acres out in the country is the only way to go, if one is keeping horses.

We still have our saddles and tack and may one day have horses again, but if that should happen, we will rent pasture elsewhere or buy an acreage. It was stated in The Nugget ("Letters to the Editor," February 14) that Tollgate was never intended to be a city subdivision, but, like it or not, that is exactly what it has become.

We do need to have some consideration for our neighbors, but even more importantly, we need to consider the horses' welfare. It is wrong to imprison them in a small space such as is available in Tollgate.

The bottom line is that everyone has an opinion, and we don't all agree. Tollgate is a wonderful place to live. Let's all work to keep it that way. And remember, the issue is not to get rid of horses that are currently in Tollgate, but to phase them out over a period of time. I don't think the public has been aware of that fact.

Frank Getty

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To the Editor:

As a Tollgate resident and non-horse owner, I would like to thank the Board of Directors for the careful process followed in issuing the current ballot (regarding horse properties in Tollgate).

Before considering the issuance of this ballot measure, the Board of Directors authorized a survey to determine the feelings of all Tollgate residents. Over 70 percent of the residents returned the survey, and two thirds of those residents responding supported changes to the current horse policy.

The ballot measure was prepared with the participation and involvement of horse owners and non-horse owners within the Tollgate community. The language of the ballot measure was, in large part, constructed using survey results. This measure preserves the right of current horse owners to have horses within our community. It protects their investment made in the horse property, by allowing the property to be sold as a horse property.

The time has come to give my personal viewpoint on why this measure is needed to serve the over 90 percent of us residents who do not own horses. This is a densely populated family community of small lots, not ranches. The close proximity to our neighbors gives rise to problems when a horse is corralled up against one's lot line.

All of a sudden one day I had a horse for a neighbor. Our quality of life changed significantly and immediately. It was no longer possible to enjoy having lunch or dinner on our deck because of the odor, flies, and dust. When driving to Bend or Redmond, I would observe horses romping around on large acreage, and then I would come home and feel badly upon seeing my neighbor's horse stuck in a small pen.

There is no doubt in my mind that, if we had tried to sell our home under those conditions, we would have been greatly disadvantaged both in the asking price and the time it would have taken to sell at all.

The Board of Directors was correct in protecting the rights of the Tollgate horse owners. They are also correct in responding to the needs and wishes of the other 90-plus percent of us nonhorse owners.

Please support this measure.

Sincerely,

John C. Soutter

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To the Editor:

On January 10, we had a very devastating house fire. We are just very grateful that no one was injured from it.

It started in a "CADET" wall heater. I would like to give the information I have received since the fire, so that it might help some one else from going through what we have had to and maybe even save a life.

Cadet has a web-site you can log on to and get all the information about their recalls. It is http://www.cadetco.com or call 1-800-567-2613.

They have a recall on their heaters between 1982-1999. Ours were 1980. So they may have to go back even further. It had nothing to do with the age of the heaters, ours probably only had three to four years' total use.

I would like to also take this time to thank all the firemen that responded to our fire. We were not there at the time to personally thank each and every one of you. I know I should have written sooner, but there has been so much to take care of. It can be a bit overwhelming some times.

It was only about a year ago that we had to call on your help in the middle of the night. Who would have ever dreamed we would need you again so soon.

It's those little extra things you do. Like when we arrived at the house the next morning at 8 a.m. here were three or four firemen up on our roof, with about three inches of fresh snow, cold and slippery trying to cover the damaged roof.

We didn't get your names. So, whoever you were, thanks. We really did appreciate your extra effort.

After 20 years it will not be the same, but we will start new and with new memories.

Thanks again to all involved,

Dean and Myrna Bowers

Camp Sherman and Harrisburg

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To the Editor:

The Valentine's Day fund-raiser for SOAR was another moment in time in which the spirit of the Sisters community was expressed at its fullest.

We at the Community Chest find our greatest reward in the loving response of you, the people of Sisters, when we ask you for help. That response at the dinner/fund-raiser was far beyond our expectations. Because of people like you, SOAR has become one of the most unique and successful programs for youth enhancement in the nation.

Our tax base covers only about 1/4 of the SOAR budget. User fees and grants from the government and private industry are also a major factor in supporting the programs offered. But what makes it possible for SOAR to create exceptional programs is the added financial support from its hometown citizens.

The result is a community that gains from all these programs, very simply by having a place for kids to go, things for kids to do, in a healthy-growth environment. Adult activities also have a substantial number of participants and continue to grow. Our community and our children are safer and happier because of SOAR.

Special thanks to Cascade Meadows Ranch homeowners for hosting us, Bob Grooney for his superb marketing skills, Marsha Marr, Kathy Helser, Joni Brooks and Harold York.

Also, thanks to Sisters High School students who served as dinner attendants, Tessa Durdan-Shaw, Jaqueline Mansker, Jamie Cundiff and Anna Evered.

Jan Reed, Ronda Sneva and Bonnie Malone

Sisters Community Chest