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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

Are deer domestic or wild animals? I was taught that deer are wild animals. Well, not in our neighborhood. I learned this the hard way (see story, page 1).

At about 6:30 a.m. last Thursday I was walking our dog in the street within 100 feet of our home in Squawback Woods. I had just collected the morning paper at the foot of our driveway and looked up from the headlines to see a doe within 20 feet charging at us. I yelled and waved my hands and she stopped not more than 10 feet away. Still yelling and waving my hands with the dog barking along side me, the doe got so close that I actually hit her on the nose with the paper!

Again on Saturday morning after 8 a.m. the same doe charged both my wife and me while we were walking the dog in the street.

Later on Thursday, we discovered that the doe had two very young fawns. She no doubt was making attempts to protect them from us, the dog or both.

Why is the doe with her fawns in our neighborhood in the first place? The answer is easy. They are being fed by some stubborn people who think it's cute to see them walk through their yard.

They are being fed cracked corn and alfalfa by the buckets and the bail and they are being attracted by salt licks put out for their pleasure. This doe, her fawns, and more than 20 others are wreaking havoc with gardens in the neighborhood.

Are the few residents feeding the deer selfish or what?

What if the above incident had occurred if the dog was being walked by a child rather than a 6-foot-6-inch, 230 pound man waving a newspaper? Having been on the receiving end of the deer attack, there is no doubt in my mind that both the child and the dog would have been injured or worse.

Jim Smith

Squawback Woods

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To the Editor:

This letter is in response to the letter written by Ted Brenner printed in last week's Nugget Newspaper (regarding police response to an accident).

I have lived in Sisters all 19 years of my life and have experienced many such occurrences as the one described by Mr. Brenner.

Earlier this year after a trip from Bend, I gave a friend a ride to his car that was parked near the center of town. After leaving him, I began the drive to Crossroads to deliver another friend to his house.

What I didn't know was that the friend that I had just left had a dead battery and was going nowhere. Realizing that it was starting to snow and seeing a police car across the street in the parking lot of the Sisters Market the friend ran over to ask the officer for a jump start.

The officer said that my friend's request was against regulations and that the only assistance that he was able to offer was the service of calling a tow truck. Not wanting to invest money in a tow truck ride he politely refused the offer and returned to his car.

The officer, in turn, continued his duty of "clocking" the cars passing along Cascade Avenue.

Luckily I had to pass back through town to return to my own home and I saw my friend's car in the same position as I had last seen it in the Town Square parking lot. After several failed attempts of fixing the problem we folded and began to push the car into a parking space.

The officer went by on Cascade Avenue and, seeing us, he pulled around the block. He first pulled up behind my car, I suspect to check my license plate, then he pulled up with his bright lights on us as we were trying to push the car back into a parking space. He then asked us when we would be back to pick up the car and informed us if we took too long to retrieve the car, that it would be towed.

I have been involved in numerous occasions as that described above and talking to my friends and townspeople I know that I am not alone. It seems to me that these police officers in Sisters have so little to do that they have changed Serve and Protect to Hassle and Annoy. It makes one wonder why they need that money that the community just voted to them.

Luke Seile

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To the Editor:

My name is David Helton. My name was featured in your newspaper in November; unfortunately it wasn't about anything good.

During the months of September to November I committed many acts of vandalism in Sisters to many of the local businesses and homes.

I'm writing this as an apology to those businesses and to the whole community. I have a job and I'm hoping to pay back everyone by the end of the summer.

What I did was really foolish and I realize that now, so I'm very sorry and I hope that everyone will forgive me and we can get this past us.

Sincerely,

David M. Helton

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To the Editor:

Ten eventful years ago Sisters Habitat for Humanity began establishing its mission of affordable home building in our town. The credit goes to the vast numbers of donors, men and women volunteers, covenant churches and businesses that wanted to work with us.

We will celebrate the 10 year mark of Sisters Habitat for Humanity on June 16 at the Village Green Park from noon to 2 p.m.

Prior to the event at the park, where folks can enjoy food, music and awards, is a tour of homes by bus. All are invited. To reserve a seat, please call Jan Baldwin: 549-2015; Carolyn Gabrielson: 595-5655, or the Habitat office: 549- 1193.

In the mid 1980s Hort Hammond was living in Long Beach, California, when he read a Reader's Digest article about Habitat for Humanity. He said to himself, "That sounds like a good idea to be involved in."

It wasn't until he moved here to Sisters that he put the idea into action. He saw an invitation in the Bend newspaper inviting people to an open meeting for Habitat for Humanity. At that point Hort got involved. He assisted in building Bend's first house.

Hort Hammond told us, "In 1988 with the help of Bob Wood and Howard Peterson, minister of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, the first step was taken. In November of 1989 we got a steering committee of 10 people together."

It took until March of 1991 to become a full fledged affiliate (in Sisters). Becoming an affiliate required filling out a 50 page questionnaire and raising a minimum of $3,000; $7,000 was raised.

An office and committees were set up. The first property was donated and valued at $19,500. That house was completed in November of 1991.

The monumental creation of the Thrift Store followed with the energetic dedication of Kathy Goodwin and Jan Baldwin in leadership roles. The major amount of revenue from the Thrift Store goes to purchase of lots and construction materials for the construction of Habitat homes in the Sisters area.

Hort Hammond gives all the credit to the community: "They are who make it all happen."

Joan Quigley and Darla Neiss

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To the Editor:

The CATS (Community Action Team of Sisters) board was recently contacted by the "Grand Club of Central Oregon." This is a group which is looking for donations to purchase a nine-foot Concert Grand Piano for the benefit of the Cascade Festival of Music, Sunriver Music Festival and the Central Oregon Symphony.

To date, every time one of these organizations has needed to use such a wonderful instrument they have had to rent one from Portland at great expense.

The Grand Club suggests that individuals or communities pick a key and "purchase" it for $1,000.

The CATS board was unanimous in their support of this purchase. We feel that our community will be enhanced by the acquisition of the instrument and Sisters residents will have a greater opportunity to hear wonderful music more frequently and closer to home if the piano can be acquired.

We suggest that the Sisters community fund a key and are looking for contributions from service clubs, arts associations, music festivals and individuals in the Sisters area to contribute $100 toward the purchase of the Sisters Community Key.

Interested parties can contact the CATS office at 549-2287 or Kathy Deggendorfer 549-4072.

Sincerely,

Kathy Deggendorfer

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The Sisters Rodeo Parade was held on June 9, and even under early morning cloudy skies, we had a large turnout with 90 entries.

It was the "Best Parade Ever," so thank you to each and everyone that participated.

Volunteers, this parade couldn't have been completed without each of your help; you are greatly appreciated. Mike Scherrer, thank you for so willingly doing the Pooper Scooper job for us again this year and having such a good time.

We look forward to having each of you join us again next year, as we start planning for the year 2002.

Herman Woll, Sisters Rodeo Parade Director

Alinda Dunn, Sisters Rodeo Parade Coordinator

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To the Editor:

Safety and fire prevention requires a community effort and this community is involved! A great big "thank you" to the Sisters community.

The volunteer and career members of the Sisters-Camp Sherman, Cloverdale, and Black Butte Ranch Fire Departments, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the United States Forest Service, Air Life of Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Deschutes County 911 District appreciate the community participation in the annual Fire and Public Safety Fair on Saturday, June 2.

A special thanks to local merchants for product donations. Also, the Sisters area schools and various businesses were very helpful in distributing flyers to help communicate the event.

Jim Gentry

Volunteer Coordinator Sisters-Camp Sherman R.F.P.D.