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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 don't know David Douthit, but we will add him to our Christmas card list. His point is well taken. I am one of the property owners who will be greatly affected by the development of Barclay Meadows. I am not anti-growth, nor do I find fault with developers realizing profit from an investment. They take risk and are entitled to a reward.

I do, however, take exception to any notion that a challenge to Barclay development some how puts us at odds with the Sisters community. Barclay Meadows is a development and when the investors' goals are met, they will move on to other projects.

The school district, one assumes, wants to maximize the opportunity for its land for the benefit of schools and these ends are acceptable and proper. These issues, however, are in obvious conflict with ours. We have property which will be devalued and more importantly, perhaps a "quality of living" which will be significantly reduced.

Barclay Meadows investors and the school district own land, but these are our homes, where we live -- a big difference.

So, while we have limited resources and in the absence of meaningful and continuing negotiations to help us keep some of the quality of life which brought us to Sisters in the first place, we will do what we can.

Given the relative size and stature of our "opponents," if you will, the ultimate outcome is probably predictable. That doesn't make our cause irrelevant -- or less important.

Ritchie C. Langfield

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To the Editor:

The great annexation debate is over!

Both sides now agree that annexation is the best thing for our environment, our children and our community. Therefore, we can stop the letter-writing competition and just let the annexation vote pass so that we can all move on in life.

The leader of what used to be the vote no campaign, Mr. Mel Bryan acknowledged that even he agrees that annexation is necessary and proper. In last week's letter to The Nugget, Mr. Bryan stated "The January 23 Nugget said that I was an anti-annexation activist. I am for the annexation, but only for a $14 million middle school."

After agreeing that the school property should be annexed, he suggests to the voters that they reject the annexation in March with the hope that this will lead to a request for a middle school in May.

However, we have seen that this cannot work.

First, the school district cannot legally use high school bond money to build a middle school, even if it wanted to. Second, the school board has gone on record as saying that they will not back down and ignore the vote of the people. Rather, they are going to build this high school, with or without annexation.

Third, the enrollment figures pertaining to our high school reveal that this plan to build the high school is still the most cost effective plan for the district.

Therefore, since both sides now agree that we need to annex this property, let's annex it on the first try so that we can save the taxpayers some money.

Thank you, Mr. Bryan, for your help in generating this useful debate over annexation, as many good issues have been aired and discussed. Most importantly, Mr. Bryan, thank you for finally acknowledging that we do have to annex this property, thereby ending this controversy. Let's go on with the process of building this school and uniting as a community.

Dave Moyer

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To the Editor:

The purpose of a group of concerned citizens raising questions about the need for the new high school as opposed to a new middle school is to try to determine the real needs of the community.

It's not to be " mean spirited" as has been suggested. If the school board had been open and honest with the voters up front instead of making it necessary for this group to dig out the real numbers, I doubt we would be having this debate.

Now that the new data is available the question is, does the school board have the courage and integrity to review the issue with the welfare of the students and the taxpayers in mind.

If not I wonder how long it will be until we have another request for an additional bond measure to provide furnishings, equipment, computers and operating funds for the new school.

Sincerely,

Bob Hindman

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To the Editor:

We were deeply saddened to learn of Dave Haynes' death. Dave was a good cop, a good chief of police and a good friend.

He managed his force with toughness and tenacity, but always went to the mats on their behalf on issues of safety, training and fairness in city employment practices.

Thank you for remembering him in your article.

Jim Massey and Leslee Bangs, s/v Trilogy

San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico.

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To the Editor:

To the friends and customers of Dan's Mobil, I regret to inform you of Norris "Dan" Klein's passing on February 7.

He always asked about those of you that became special to him and there were many.

His ashes will be spread in the Three Creeks area where he cut firewood.

Rick Klein

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To the Editor:

My family and I enjoy visiting Sisters a few times each year and this lovely town is at the top of our places to live when we retire.

It was with great concern that I read a letter in the January 30 issue that discussed adding walking paths, lights and worst of all, a bridge over Cascade Avenue! Along with that, the desire of the author was to have vendors selling glass beads, cheese, cigars and rabbit pelts. Mamma mia!

This is utter nonsense. If some people want this kind of junk in Sisters, I pity the future of the town. They should simply visit any large city if they want to see all of that "pollution."

Don't "citify" Sisters. Let it keep its small town charm. There are more than enough cities to go around!

Richard Gray