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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 am sure I am not the only member of our community who took offense at the man from Albany who was rather impatient with the traffic on June 14 (see Letters, June 25, 2003).

He called it a "nasty traffic jam." It was our usual slower traffic flow when there is an event in progress. He called our city "a small tourist trap of a town" that causes the slower traffic to force people to stop and shop.

Give me a break. We value and respect our pedestrians and that is why we have a 20 mile an hour speed limit.

People visit Sisters because of the ambiance and yes they often stop and shop because shopping in Sisters is more exciting than many other big cities, like Albany.

I am sorry to hear that the children were late in seeing their cousins in Redmond, and as far as Mr. Rabe threatening not to return soon, we probably won't miss you. Has he won many popularity contests?

Elayne Clarke

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To the Editor:

Today, Sunday June 29, I had the great fortune to be able to attend an event held at Black Butte Ranch. It was a benefit sponsored by the BBR Women's Association and The Friends of Carol Woosley -- who seem to be many (see story, page 3).

The outpouring of love, friendship, and support moved my soul. It made me pause and reflect on how truly wonderful people are. How, in someone's hour of need, they are there, to hold out a helping hand.

I can't let this extraordinary day pass without saying from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU, for I am that, many times, blessed woman. You are all amazing! Every single one of you!

To those of you who worked so tirelessly on my behalf, I know thanks can never be enough to let you know my appreciation and gratitude. I love you!

To all the rest of you who were there, or there in spirit, I will remember this day, your well-loved faces and good wishes as a bright light held out to guide me through the challenging days ahead.

Some of those days will be very difficult to bear, but in my heart and mind I will see you reaching out to me with your helping hands!

Love and peace to you all,

Carol Woosley

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To the Editor:

My story is one of "Good Samaritan Bails Out Swamped Fisherman"... a good human interest story apparently helped by a probable Sisters resident.

This past Wednesday, June 25, after I had completed some unsuccessful fly fishing in the Metolius River near a Camp Sherman campground I clumsily dropped my wallet on the ground near the rear of my SUV while taking off my waders.

I didn't notice my missing wallet until I arrived at home in Bend. After doing a complete house search three times, I drove back to the Camp Sherman site but my wallet was not there.

After hanging my head and asking nearby campers if they had happened to find my wallet, none had found it but they were very friendly nonetheless.

I left my telephone number at the Camp Sherman store and headed home upset with myself and praying some kind person of good repute, integrity and character would find my wallet and return it to me. My wife lectured me when I told her the news.

Wasting no time, I called my credit card company and reported the lost card and canceled it. Then I reported my "lost" wallet to the Deschutes and Jefferson County Sheriff's offices since there's been concern about "identity theft."

After getting a duplicate Oregon driver's license, and other missing identification cards I felt a bit easy.

Today, in the mail, I received an anonymous padded envelope with my wallet and all its contents intact... even the credit card and three single dollar bills! Man, did I ever feel a burden lifted off my mind.

Consider this a huge THANK YOU to the kind Sisters area resident who found my wallet while riding his/her bike and returned my wallet to me!

It makes me feel great that Good Samaritans still exist in even our sometimes evil world.

The included kind note signed "R.G." is an wonderful example of exemplary moral grit mostly missing in our society.

Thanks again, whoever you are. I'm sure your community and neighbors are very proud to know you, as I am in my own way.

Best regards,

Robert Cooper, Bend