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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

We find it very sad that the Head Start program in Sisters has fallen victim of budget cuts.

While Head Start will no longer operate out of the building on George Cyrus Road that they shared with the Little Cloverdale Preschool, it is important to clarify that the Little Cloverdale Preschool is a separate entity and will continue to operate at that location.

The Little Cloverdale Preschool is a co-operative preschool. Our teacher, Ann Kauzlarich, is a certified teacher with 25 years of teaching experience in elementary and preschool settings. We are fortunate to have her begin her fifth year with us this September.

The Little Cloverdale Preschool is also the home to Together for Children, which will continue to meet once a week when the school year begins in September. This building is also part of the library outreach program, with the Book Buggy visiting every other Wednesday during the school year.

Again, it saddens us to see a quality children's program that is needed be closed (due) to budget cuts, but the Little Cloverdale School and its building will remain open and vibrant to the children of Sisters this fall.

Sharie Peasley

Board Member, Little Cloverdale Preschool

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To the Editor:

The July 23 issue of The Nugget had two pieces about the removal of American flags from Cascade Ave. (Letters to the Editor, page 2; "Removal of flags raises questions for some," page 7).

The letter from Jim Smith makes a compelling case for their perpetual display. The comments attributed to Ms. Stein are pathetic. Since when has it been shown that continued flying of the American flag minimizes the patriotic impact? And since when do travelers come so often so as to be jaded by seeing the flag all the time?

I live here and I take pride in seeing it whenever I'm in town. Something else seems to be going on. What is the real reason for the decision to display the flag only on special occasions?

I was not a flag sponsor but I know some who were and they categorically deny they were told the flag would be only flown on special occasions. But as a member of the Sisters American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, I'm in total disagreement with what the city council has done.

John (Jack) Berry

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To the Editor:

I was pleased to see the picture of past and present SOAR members on the front page of The Nugget (July 23).

My husband and I support their work and contribute funds whenever possible.

I was also distressed that Tom Worcester's picture was missing. If he couldn't have been there for the photograph, then his name should have been included.

If I remember correctly, he worked with Tom Coffield through Kiwanis to get SOAR off and running.

Tom and (his wife) Lois have both given so much to this community. Tom needs the thanks and appreciation due him.

Sincerely,

Julia Hammond

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To the Editor:

Do any of the charitable organizations in Sisters need more volunteers?

We have a number of people without jobs or hobbies that walk around Tollgate trying to write and complain about real or imagined infractions of homeowners.

A week ago, one association member was in my neighbor's yard trying to find something wrong (which they didn't) and looked over at my uncut and unstacked wood and wrote me up on that.

My neighbors don't have a problem with my wood at all, they told me.

I have two incurable diseases that I live and work with and the doctor gives me leeway at my pace.

I've gotten much worse now and this year I cut and hauled 12 cord of wood for the future, knowing that I won't be able to do it much longer.

Eight cord is cut and stacked very neatly now and I planned on doing the rest in October-November this year. but that wasn't good enough for Tollgate. I have 60 days during the hottest time of year to finish it or risk a fine which I don't plan on paying.

Many Tollgate homeowners are being written up every day, some on very ridiculous charges.

With every year raises on dues, water, property taxes, during a worsening recession is putting a lot of stress on people and causing much resentment.

I will get the wood finished on my own timeline, no matter what anyone says.

Chet Davis

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To The Editor:

I have expressed my opinion from time to time on the Indian social problem in America. The domestic social justice situation we are facing is more important it seems to me than crucifying and sanctifying foreign countries in the name of lofty ideals as we seem bent upon doing.

A lot of you probably feel I should take my crusade elsewhere. I am committed.

Shanele Shaw writes that we need social justice for minorities, however, it is more important that we keep our word. In other words, she recommends that we need to remain faithful to our mistakes. Human rights principles are much loftier values than hanging on to bad policies. Changing the way we perceive Indians is long overdue. They deserve equal rights.

If we were to cling to bad policy as Ms. Shaw suggests there would have been no Emancipation Proclamation authored by Lincoln. If we are to keep our word then PERS should continue with a guaranteed 8 percent annual growth. Changing bad policy is how we make progress.

When Eleanor Roosevelt drafted The Declaration of Human Rights in 1934 she intended that all citizens are to be born free and equal. Human rights is our number one responsibility.

We now own a dysfunctional relationship where we have differentiated the mainstream public from Indians who we have placed in the victim role. We feed this unethical relationship (and actually strengthen it) with ethnic pandering, birthright stipends, and gambling concessions.

Reservations are aptly described as follows... Reservations are the evolution of suppressive institutions enhanced through divisive and sympathetic legislation and court rulings in defiance of human rights.

That is bad policy. It is mired in a tradition of ongoing, unethical and unsuccessful political and judicial attempts toward making it better.

Change won't be easy. It involves accepting our brothers as equals, not as our dependents. It involves voicing our opinions openly in favor of progressive human rights legislation. Preserving equal rights is far more important than preserving an ethnic group with public money or dividing our country with public money. A man named Chesterton once wrote and I quote, "Patriotism is hating your country enough to want to change it, but loving your country enough to think it worth changing."

Doug Wood

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To the Editor:

Four weeks ago, I fell off a bicycle and got hurt.

The last thing I remember before crashing was that I was going too fast to make the turn. Then I was in the hospital. I didn't remember how I had gotten there. If I hadn't seen the photo in The Nugget, I would have sworn I had never in my life been on a helicopter.

I suppose there are other things I don't remember as well. But something I will never forget is the kindness and generosity of this community. It has been overwhelming.

What could have been a large bummer has actually become a very special experience for me. So many people have helped me in so many ways. I want to thank each and every person but I'm not even sure who they all are. Can you imagine that?

I've had four weeks to think about it and I'm still confused. All I can say is that, with awkwardness and gratitude, I accept your gifts of love.

I am so honored to be part of this community.

Dennis McGregor

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To the Editor:

I was in the town of Sisters at around 4:30 a.m. this morning. I was passing through returning from a trip to Madras. My family was sleeping and I had not found an open gas station since I departed at roughly 3 a.m. My gas gauge was heavily weighing on empty and I was due at work in Depoe Bay by eight.

As I was driving through town I noticed a couple of law enforcement vehicles parked in town. I proceeded forward as I noticed a lit up Chevron sign and sighed (with) relief. Unfortunately, my relief quickly turned to panic as I got closer and noticed the station closed. I had no idea what amount of wait I was in for.

I decided I would head back to the law enforcement vehicles and ask them where the closest open station was. I pulled the car in and asked the officers where I could find a open station. I was told it would be an hour-and-a-half before one opened. The look on my face must have been easily read.

One of the officers from the sheriff's department noticed our children in the car and offered to provide us with enough fuel to get to the next service area. I can't even begin to explain the emotions we were feeling at that time. You can quite imagine we were thrilled and very grateful.

The officer who helped us went out of his way including providing us with directions. I am sure this was not the first time he ran into unprepared travelers. We will forever remember Sisters because of this gentleman's kindness.

I am a resort manager of a large property on the Oregon Coast. I will no doubt recommend a drive to Sisters after this uncommon experience. So the next time you get angry about a ticket remember at least in Sisters that's not all they are there for.

Sincerely,

Chris Morrissette, Depoe Bay