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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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,

I have some loved ones living in the Sisters neighborhood, and I read The Nugget quite often just to keep up with the events taking place there. We love visiting Sisters. It's a great little town. We'd likely live there if it were not so expensive. Guess we'll just stay in Mississippi.

Have enjoyed reading about the "problem" with deer in your neighborhoods. We have deer too. They like peas, daylilies, iris, tomatoes -- just about anything we plant. We also have squirrels that consistently raid our bird feeders. Raccoons, too, eat the bird feed and anything else they can find.

This week, we had a visit from a gray fox who dined on sunflower seed left for the birds. He must have been awfully hungry. But we just leave them alone, and their populations seem to look after themselves.

That reminds me of an incident that I followed closely in The Nugget last year. There was a careless cougar that wandered down from the mountains, knocked off a domestic animal, and got himself shot for his misdeed. I wonder now if the cougar was possibly hunting, not for a domestic animal, but for a young deer.

Because, all of a sudden now, the deer feel free to wander into Sisters neighborhoods devouring all the tasty plant life they can find. Could it be that they feel less threatened now that the cougar is gone?

Makes me wonder: if the cougar had been released to return to the wild that was his home, then maybe the deer would be less likely to come down town as often as they do.

Just shows what can happen when we make such irrational decisions in our desperate attempt to control nature. When will we learn that we are not the ones to control nature? We're just the ones who have the power to destroy it, aren't we?

I guess I'm getting both old and odd. I personally find a great deal of pleasure in watching these wild creatures invade my property. I love watching them enjoying a meal that I provided for them.

True, I don't harvest as many tomatoes or peas or flowers as I would like; but I rejoice in knowing that, long after my plants are gone -- either eaten or killed by frost -- I can take pleasure in knowing that I have fed some of the most beautiful and intelligent creatures in the world.

They are part of what we call creation. When dealing with creation, we should always think creatively.

The Rev. Gene Asbury

Tupelo, Mississipi

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To the Editor:

This is in reply to Sylvia Cara's letter of March 28:

I realize some people do not see this explosion of deer population within the city limits as a problem, but I do.

Sylvia has lived in Sisters 13 years. I have lived in the same house for over 34 years. When we bought this house we bordered the forest, actually the very forest Sylvia lives in.

Everything south of St. Helens right across the street was woods. There were no dwellings past our street.

For the first 15 years we lived here we never saw deer in the city. When people moved in and started feeding them, they started staying around. Wild animals are attracted to food. They didn't come into town to visit "Grandma."

The deer population of Sisters no longer migrates from lower country to upper country as deer are suppose to. They just stay here year around because they have a ready food supply.

There are people who feed them willingly and then you have the people who would really like not to have their rosebushes and lilacs and any other plant the deer decide to destroy, stripped of foliage and bark in the fall and winter.

When we move into spring and summer to have all the other flowers and shrubs destroyed on an ongoing basis.

Sylvia may only have three to six deer a day in her yard, but I have seen over 40 in my yard and I sure do not feed them.

Judging from the "leavings," they are here pretty darn often. I really do not believe they just come from Buck Run either. I have a friend who lived in Buck's addition across from the school and her next door neighbor fed them.

My sister lives on Adams Street and she has deer in her yard.

This isn't just deer who come from National Forest land, through Buck Run, across Squaw Creek, etc., etc., etc.

This isn't just a rural problem. There is an article in this month's Reader's Digest that suggests it is a big city problem too.

I realize that I won't change anyone's mind, but you might like to know, there hasn't been one person who has told me I was wrong and a large number of people who agreed with me.

Maybe a 12 foot fence around town wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

Shirley Miller

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To the Editor:

Why is it that you can't vote until you are 18, but you are allowed payment from the state if you have children at age 15 with food stamps and free health coverage?

I don't think it takes a "village" to raise a child. It takes a person to have the nerve to spank their butt and say "no" and mean it and have consequences for the little brat.

I think a paper clip or baggie could be a weapon in the hands of one with malicious intent. But if you kill someone with a baggie or gun then I think your execution with a similar death should be televised in every grade school -- just to prove there are speedy consequences.

I think everyone should own a gun if they want. If you don't want one that is fine too. Don't tell me I can't have one.

I think if you are an American Citizen you should speak English. . . no matter if you work for the government or Taco Bell.

I know how to count votes and I know what sex is and that there are no varying degrees of it...ask any junior higher, I bet they can even count their sexual experiences. But our government officials continue to stuggle.

I think it is lame that we don't teach our children academics until they are almost five, sometimes six, yet any psychologist or parent, will tell you that the ages between 2- 5 are the most formative years. No wonder the foreign cars last longer, and the exchange students bust the curve in all your college courses.

It is ridiculous our currency has "God" all over it, yet we pretend we know nothing of Him by our actions and lack of morals and character. Maybe our children will change that by saying "In myself and myself alone I trust."

It sucks that people are taxed on their gratuities given them. Isn't that money taxed already? Maybe I should request persons to make their "tip" made payable to my son's dentist or something? Wouldn't go over well I fear.

Becky Aylor

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To the Editor:

On March 24, my husband and I were watching T.V. with our fireplace going, when I noticed smoke around two recessed lights and then the fire alarm went off.

I ran downstairs and picked up the portable phone and called 911. It was just a matter of minutes when a police officer and two fire trucks were there. They were ever so efficient and checked everything out quite quickly.

On behalf of my husband, Dick, and myself, we would like to express our appreciation to the Sisters fire department, the responding police officer, and the lady with 911.

We were truly blessed to have such a fast response to a very scary situation. We both wish to thank you all.

Helen and Dick Mason