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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 for one am grateful to our French allies for telling us how the Bush Administration's war plans look from their perspective and for resisting the rush to war.

True friends don't tell you only what you want to hear; they tell you the truth as they see it.

France's resistance to war authorization reminds me of a good friend who takes away your car keys when you've had too much to drink.

You may get angry at the time. But by morning, you wake up with a hangover and thank them for getting you home safe and keeping you from killing innocent people while under the influence.

France has been a good friend to the U.S. since before we became a nation and they deserve better treatment than they're getting.

When we finally sober up after this episode, I hope we'll have the good grace to thank them for trying to stop us from making a foolish and dangerous mistake.

Bill Stevens

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To the Editor:

Every day I walk down Ash Street I see what is happening on the progress of the new park. Now I'm not saying that it won't be a good addition to the city, even though we have more parks per capita than a large city.

I just wonder if it bothers anyone but me that the residents voted a few years back when the city fathers wanted to close the street and we voted to keep it open.

Thinking back, I don't think the wording on the ballot was to keep it open for a time and then just go ahead and close it anyway. We had to take petitions around and obtain enough signatures to be able to bring it to a vote to keep Ash Street open.

Why was the city able to close it without a vote? What ever happened to government by the people? Did we have to close a street to provide restrooms for the tourists because no one would donate a piece of high priced real estate to do so?

If this park was for the good of the residents, maybe I wouldn't feel so betrayed. But I think the residents will not use this park nearly as much as the tourists.

Since I was old enough to vote, I have voted, because I truly thought my vote counted. I have never voted "no" on a school issue. I have voted every election be it for president or just state elections.

I voted "yes" on every sewer issue until it passed, even though I knew it was going to cost me money, because I thought it would be good for the city. When my vote by mail envelope comes, I fill it out and get it sent back so I won't forget.

Now, I question how much my vote really counts. There is so much voter apathy now days; maybe it's the things like this that just turn voters off.

Maybe one good thing will come out of this. I hope they plant all kinds of stuff in the park for the deer to eat and the deer will stay out of my yard.

Shirley Miller

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To the Editor:

We are writing to publicly thank Theresa Slavkovsky of Good Samaritan Ministries and her dedicated volunteer staff for their annual gift to our community of the Sisters Act.

For each of the 10 years that she has tirelessly produced and directed this super-talent show, we have sat and marveled at the marvelous assortment of gifted and talented community members of all ages who so graciously provide us with a taste of their abilities to delight and entertain. We also never fail to feel a strong sense of pride in our hometown, not only because it contains such talented members, but also because it is a community of compassionate, generous, giving people who, year after year, come out to support the work of Good Samaritan Ministries in Africa.

In our opinion, Sisters Act is the best value around. Where else can one enjoy an entire evening of singing, poetry, dancing, drama and music that produces an abundance of smiles, laughter, community pride and sense of unity for just a few dollars? It's pure, wholesome, old-fashioned entertainment that people of all ages may enjoy. There's literally something for everyone and all without the offensive visual and auditory garbage that keeps many of us away from movie theaters these days. Give it a try next year. We guarantee that you'll leave smiling.

Sincerely,

Steve and Cindy Johnson

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To The Editor:

Recently, there was a significant event in this little town of Sisters that went mostly unnoticed. Fred Johnson, a teacher at Sonrise Christian School, was presented with the Golden Apple Award.

The inscription reads: "With deep appreciation for the faithfulness that has been evident in your outstanding commitment to the students, parents and your colleagues at Sonrise Christian School."

The award was presented to Mr. Johnson at the new Student Center/gym located just next to the baseball fields. This remarkable structure alone is a testament to the dedication of the administration of this little school to provide the highest quality education to its students.

I cannot tell you how indebted I am to the teachers at Sonrise, and especially Mr. Johnson, for the ceaseless efforts they put forth for our kids. They do, indeed, have our deepest appreciation.

Mark Francis

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To the Editor:

Bob and I would like to thank all of the folks that have donated their time, toys, lumber, stuffed animals, dolls, and doll quilts the past nine years to help us present free Christmas Gifts to needy children all over Central Oregon.

Needy children from Warms Springs down to Christmas Valley have received a gift at Christmas time that otherwise would go without.

We appreciate each and every one of you who have helped work on The Kids' Christmas Project for Bob and Lorena's Toyshop. We also appreciate the organizations that have distributed them for us.

We are in hopes some folks will help fill in the gap to provide gifts during the holiday season in future years, as this was our last year for the project.

There are several women who will provide dolls and Bob is willing to build doll beds and they will provide their own doll quilts.

The need for helping the needy children is very great in Central Oregon due to the high unemployment rate, and many working for minimum wages.

Over the past nine years we have been able to deliver over 10,000 free gifts for these children, thanks to all of the helpers who were so willing to give many hours of their time and donations.

Lorena Bliven

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To the Editor:

What a miracle!

Thank you, Lord, for looking over Elizabeth Smart.

Her disappearance really hit home with me, as I am a harpist as well. This sweet young lady is back safe.

Whitney Kelleher