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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

Why do you publish letters like that of June Forsyth (The Nugget, March 20, page 2)?

Perhaps it's to show how incredibly naive people are?

Ms. Forsyth obviously doesn't have a clue as to what is going on in the world.

If she is ashamed to be an American, then I have a suggestion to help her. Give her a one-way ticket to Iraq! I'll be glad to make a contribution.

Sincerely,

James Walz

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To the Editor:

We have all recently read the articles both in The Nugget and the Bulletin regarding the drug and alcohol statistics in our schools.

Although this is definitely something to focus our attention on and try to find solutions to, I would like to take this moment to share the other side of the spectrum.

I was very fortunate to accompany a group of 19 high school students this past week on a four-day trip. This trip focused on reaching out to inner-city Portland children and bringing them closer in their relationship with God. These incredible kids from our community chose to spend the first part of their spring break serving others.

Their hearts were beautifully given in time, patience, and energy, with the purpose of loving God and loving others.

To stand quietly and watch these committed young adults as they responsibly and compassionately embraced this opportunity was an experience that filled me with pride, awe, and hope.

The younger children of Portland that were touched by their interactions with our high school kids were enhanced by the experience. Many, if not most, came from the worst of conditions. Abuse, poverty, and hopelessness were their daily conditions and yet for three days they were shown through example that there is something different possible.

We live in an incredible community that is filled with awesome young adults. There have been many other similar trips taken as well, with sometimes as many as three times the number of students able to attend. It always requires that they spend precious vacation time away from home, family, and activities... and they are always eager for what awaits them.

There are problems to address within our community, absolutely, but there are reasons to applaud and celebrate as well... I witnessed so many this past week.

Carol Statton

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To the Editor:

Thank you Kris Calvin for your recent letter in support of the Tollgate pathway. I agree, children should not be used as traffic control devices.

I have had two very close calls with oncoming vehicles that made me jump out of the way, one time receiving some minor abrasions from the incident.

In each case, I don't believe the drivers were speeding (though I see plenty of those on a daily basis), but just weren't paying attention.

Tollgate is not the community originally planned: a vacation subdivision for horse lovers. Our population is larger than the city of Sisters and most homeowners are year-round residents.

Pedestrians, especially children, are at risk sharing the roadway with vehicles.

A pathway in Tollgate will remove most all non vehicular traffic and make our community far safer and much more enjoyable.

Please join me in voting "yes" on this issue.

Adrienne Banks

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To the Editor:

It seems a small group of people living in Tollgate don't understand the meaning of "no" and are trying to achieve by ballot a paved walk/bike path that was voted down in a previous election.

I guess they figure that if they trot out a bad idea enough times it will eventually become a good idea.

Why can't some people just accept the democratic principle of majority rule and quit trying to jam a bad idea down our collective throats?

It is a bad idea for several reasons.

1. It violates property rights by crossing driveway right-of-ways.

2. It compromises common area buffers, one reason many of us chose to live here in the first place.

3. Although some people still exceed the speed limit in the Tollgate subdivision there has never been an accident involving pedestrians, bikers, joggers, or equestrians that I'm aware of. Safety, while it may be a concern, does not seem to be the issue.

4. It will cost money. Since the pathway is unnecessary it would also be a waste of money.

I'm not sure of the real motivation behind this misguided effort to cover some more of our good ol' Central Oregon dirt with asphalt.

Maybe they all moved here from Portland or Los Angeles and they want to create another world of asphalt like the one they escaped from.

It could be that they are like the Democrats typical of Salem or Washington D.C. and simply want to waste somebody else's money on an unneeded and unwanted project.

It is apparent that it is a bad idea as evidenced by the volume of letters to the editors against it. Perhaps the proponents of this scheme should volunteer to pay for it themselves, putting their money where their mouth is.

I urge all Tollgate residents to vote against the pathway like I have.

John F. Ferguson

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To the Editor:

We are not in agreement with Ms. Beterbide's recent letter (The Nugget, March 20, p. 11).

This issue is not the people speeding in Tollgate. The issue is the safety of all, both children and adults, as they use our roadways for walking, biking, etc.

If you examine closely our roads, you will discover that they are narrow, just barely wide enough for two cars to pass, which leaves very little room for the pedestrians and bikers.

Even if everyone drove the speed limit as does Ms. Beterbide, our roads are still not that safe for non-automotive users.

As for the solution of speed bumps, you would certainly need that SUV to travel in Tollgate as the maintenance people would be unable to plow the roads. We do not own an SUV and we want the roads to be plowed when it is necessary.

To the other letter writers that complain that they would be losing their privacy, join the real world. That area between your lot and the roadway is not your own "Private Preserve."

Check your map and the CC&Rs; it is "Common Area," the same as the tennis court, basketball court, swimming pool and the area around the office and recreational building.

Article 1.7 in the CC&Rs states the common area is "intended to be devoted for the common use and enjoyment of the members of the association."

It certainly has not degraded the property values of the residents of Black Butte Ranch or Sunriver (to have a path).

We are voting for the pathway and urge other concerned residents to do so also.

Gary and Evonne Woods

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To the Editor:

On behalf of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, Chief Don Rowe, the Board of Directors, the officers, staff and volunteers, and the entire Sisters Community as well, we wish to express our deepest sorrow to the family and friends of Hal Coe.

Hal was a vital part of our department for over 22 years, serving as a director. For several years he was board chairman. During all these years of service, thanks to his leadership and ability to work well with the other directors, we all saw a dramatic improvement in our ability to fight fires and provide vital emergency services.

Under his leadership we saw the construction of the Sisters Fire Hall, two substations and a remodel of the Camp Sherman Fire Hall. That was just the beginning. Then came new fire trucks, engines, tenders, rescue rigs and the latest in state-of-the-art ambulances with advanced life support equipment.

For all of this, our whole community as well as the members of the fire department holds a special sense of gratitude to Hal Coe for his vision, commitment and dedication.

His life made a difference. Comments from the various members have ranged from "He was a great man" to "He will be missed."

Former Chief Don Mouser said of Hal, "His door was always open to all." He was deeply admired and appreciated. We will all miss this director in his department- jacket and trademark "cowboy hat" asking "Is the coffee on?" -- because what came next was some one-to-one contact time as he would ask various members how it was going and what they needed to do their jobs better.

For a fire department to work well, it must be a joint effort, with all personnel doing their part. From the firefighter to the medics, to the administrative officers and the directors, each plays a valuable role. Hal was a vital part of our operation for a long time and will be deeply missed.

We wish to express our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to you, his family, for sharing him with us. His vision and compassion have helped change our corner of the world and we shall forever be indebted.

Sincerely,

Ed Beacham, Chaplain

Steve Spear, Board Chair

Don Rowe, Fire Chief