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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 want to personally thank the people of Sisters for being so gracious to us during our visit to your fantastic city last week (from May 20 to May 28).

Everyone we met and dealt with was so pleasant and helpful... even though I've heard so much about how Oregonians hate Californians!

We especially liked the gluten free bakery products, all of the stores and shops on Cascade, and the antique places on the back streets.

We stayed in a "for rent by owner" cabin in Tollgate that backed onto the meadow with a view of all the snow-covered mountains. We saw all of the sights in the area... even out to the Warm Springs reservation, the Mt. Batchelor loop road and McKenzie Pass road that opened just for us, a visit to Camp Sherman, and a lunch at Black Butte Ranch.

It was one of the best vacations we've ever had! I even got to visit and party with an old Navy buddy who now lives in Bend that I haven't seen since about 1957... a totally wonderful experience.

Sincerely,

B.J. and Sally Broadbent

Santa Ana, CA

P.S. We aren't planning to move to Oregon and further raise your real estate prices... we just came up to spread our money around.

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To the Editor:

We have concluded our Ninth Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the old Camp Polk Cemetery.

We want to especially thank those who are not members of our group, who assisted us and cooperated with us to make the ceremony possible.

Our bugler this year was Gene Harries, who did a fine job. Our very faithful drummer, Billy Kelleher, did an admirable job keeping our honor guard in step. We always have a special thanks for Ron Bliven for the loan of his sound equipment for the ninth time.

Our thanks to Mr. Karl Farr for video taping the ceremony. We thank Pastor Tim Kizziar of the Sisters Community Church and Pastor Greg Strannigan of the Sisters Christian Church for their opening and closing prayers. It would not be a memorial service without them.

We thank our speaker, Ronnie Frigulti, for his powerful message. It was obvious to those who know, that he has "been there and done that." We know he spoke the absolute truth and that his words showed honor to those who have fallen so that the rest of us can remain free.

Our thanks and our gratitude go to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Anderson for allowing us to park vehicles on their property during the ceremony. Further, we want to thank Mr. Brad Chalfant and his crew from the Deschutes Basin Land Trust for handling our parking problem. Thanks goes to Bob Macauley and the Sisters High School for the shuttle bus. And as usual to the Sisters Community Church and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District for the use of their chairs year after year.

There were also people who assisted in setting up chairs and equipment. Our thanks to them all.

Last, but certainly not least, we thank the people who came out and participated in our ceremony. Without you we could not make the ceremony meaningful.

On behalf of the Sisters Veterans Group, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86,

Phil Chlopek

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To the Editor:

This letter, or rather experience, involves and concerns every one that lives in Sisters and the surrounding area, Deschutes County.

On June 16, 2000, I was involved in a fender bender, in front of the Chevron Station on W. Cascade (Highway 20) at approximately 7 p.m.

A Deschutes County Sheriff Deputy, Mike Biondi, was called to the scene to take reports. I quickly found that not living in the area, gave me an immediate handicap.

Officer Biondi said, "I smell alcohol," and placed me under arrest and then proceeded to tear my car apart, in spite of my telling him that's a little strange, because I haven't had a drink in over nine years.

My car was impounded and given an expensive ride to Bend at 8 p.m. At 9:15 p.m. I was given a breathalyzer, and blew a .00!

Anyone that heard Officer Michael Biondi say "I smell alcohol," prior to my arrest, it is very important that I speak to you as soon as possible. You can call me toll free at, 1-877-549-8661.

Ted Brenner

Editor's note:

According to sheriff's office reports, Mr. Brenner acknowledged using pain killers and muscle relaxants for an injury problem and also failed a field sobriety test. "Driving under the influence of intoxicants" includes medications, according to law enforcement personnel.