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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

In response to a letter to the editor, I am appalled at the statement referring to "an ugly faction in the community" that takes issue with the wasteful and unnecessary construction of a new high school.

It was further stated that, "I guess this is just part of being in a small town where people feel they can speak up, even if it is after the fact." This slanderous label of people who have a different viewpoint is highly unprofessional and only serves to divide the community and bring distrust upon those who are in official positions.

Speaking of "after the fact," may I remind the writer of the fact that in November 2000 the voting public voted not to incur a bond assessment for a new high school, demonstrating the concern that the current high school was nowhere near capacity, particularly in light of current and projected enrollment.

However, those in this city who demand to have their own way were not content with this majority outcome and set about to hoodwink the voters by pressing for another vote the following May. Through the manipulative process of playing on the emotions of a "Vote for our Children" campaign, the general apathy, and uninformed voting public, the bond issue passed.

The recent tax bills make it painfully clear that the price tag for this mistake is upon us all.

So the question is what can be done about it now? Observation and suggestions have been made by some, and rightly so, that we halt all further activity regarding preliminary work on a new high school and concentrate on channeling the bond money towards a much greater need for a new middle school.

This cost would be far less and much more in line with the educational needs of the community. The result would be to significantly pay down the bond and reduce the tax burden for everyone affected within the school district.

A NO vote for annexation of the UGB area by the citizens of Sisters next March would allow time for a common sense re-evaluation of future educational needs and ultimate school construction.

Roy R. Schulke

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To the Editor:

There really is a Santa Claus, but he didn't come down my chimney and he didn't come in his sleigh with his eight tiny reindeer.

On that cold, wet and windy day, Thursday, December 13, in Central Oregon, on Cloverdale Road, the wind was blowing so fierce and the rain was so cold, it knocked over my mailbox, right out of the ground to my dismay.

Within the hour of finding it fallen over, I had gathered all the tools to repair the fallen down mailbox -- I returned and lo and behold Santa had already been there with his sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, with shovel in hand and fixed my mailbox, putting it right back into the ground!

Thank you so very much for doing this for me, dear Santa, on that cold, rainy windy day.

There really is a Santa Claus.

Janet Herring

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To the Editor:

We appreciate so much the Christmas spirit displayed by Gary Lovegren and the Sisters Fire Department in their light display. It's a treat to drive by and take our grandkids.

The Conklin family

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To the Editor:

An open letter to Chief Mark Kroeker; Portland Police Department:

Like you Chief Kroeker, I also wear (proudly) the uniform of law enforcement. Unlike you, I have not, and would not, dishonor my badge and refuse to interview those people that could possibly have clues to the murderers of thousands of men, women and children in the September 11 attack on America.

I feel, as well as my fellow officers, that you have dishonored the police and firefighters that are still entombed in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Why don't you do the honorable thing and resign; I'm sure your new friends at the ACLU and City of Berkeley, California, would welcome such a 'courageous' man to join their little bands of do-gooders.

Richard John