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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

Sometimes I would like to go back to the way Sisters was in 1958 when I first moved here. There was one paved street, Highway 20. The rest were dirt or gravel. Certainly there were fewer conflicts about what was going on in the city and the surrounding area.

But alas, after a few moments of daydreaming, reality sets in and my eyes are set on present times and current events.

I don't know Mr. Allely or any of the others that have expressed their anti-McDonald's views here in this paper. Although I respect their rights to do so, I wonder where they were in the early to mid 1960s when residents, like me, were trying to figure out how to keep the community as it was.

If many of us could have had our ways, with the ways things were then, we probably wouldn't have a Ray's Food Place or any of the other stores in the Three Wind Shopping Center. Certainly there would be no medical offices or convenience gas stations. There would be no gift related shops that we felt only catered to the tourists. However, each of these businesses, regardless of personal biases, is playing a role in this community's development.

Mr. Allely's example of someone eating three meals a day at a McDonald's and gaining weight and increasing his cholesterol is at best ludicrous. I suggest that if I were to pick out any of our fine restaurants in town and eat all of my meals there for a period of time I could expect the same results. This is a matter of personal choice.

The point is, times change and people change. Whereas I may not patronize all of the new businesses that have come to Sisters in the past 46 years, for the most part they have been a good addition to our community and the ones I don't patronize still have a valid right to do business and make a living.

Are there businesses on the horizon that I would not particularly want in the area? You bet. We need to deal with the porn shop and liquor store issues when they come up. I would be right there in making sure that these types of business would have the least impact possible on our livability.

But, a McDonald's located nearly a mile outside of the core of the city? Come on folks, let me indulge in my occasional "Big Mac" attack and allow some good people to indulge in a dream of doing business in the Sisters area without being treated as detriments to the community.

Wayne Rowe

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To the Editor:

I am sure that Mr. Allely's letter has generated a lot of comments, both good and bad, throughout the community. I would like to respond to his letter.

I did not see the movie "Super-size Me" that he was referring to. I do not disagree with the filmmaker about how healthful the food is at McDonald's. However don't you think if he had come to Sisters and chose to eat at the drive-ins that we have here, the results would have been similar? They are pretty much fast food restaurants without a franchise.

I am also curious as to how he managed to gain 26 pounds if he was vomiting up his meals.

The main issue here is choice. Believe it or not there are healthy foods at McDonald's and a lot of people choose them. We as individuals have to be responsible for the food we eat. To blame fast food restaurants for our weight gain and our high cholesterol is ridiculous.

As to having a restaurant with a little more class. Get real Mr. Allely. Not everyone in Sisters can afford to eat at the classy restaurants in town. There should be a place to go where they don't have to spend a day's salary just to have dinner.

Finally, Mr. Allely, the last time I looked this was still a free country and we still have the right to choose where we want to eat and the Cache Mountain Development Company has the right to build what they want.

I, for one, am looking forward to its opening and I don't even like McDonald's hamburgers.

Diana Pepperling

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To the Editor:

In view of the public resistance to the Forest Service logging plans for the Biscuit Fire in Southern Oregon, it seems likely the USFS will move swiftly to implement its second of three alternatives calling for extensive logging in the wake of the Eyerly Fire north of Sisters.

In speaking to Oregon Public Broadcasting about the Eyerly alternatives, a Forest Service spokesman belittled public comment resulting in the third alternative by saying it would just "provide more snacks for wildlife." It's inconceivable the USFS would adopt the first alternative; to do nothing.

One cannot help but wonder what goes through the minds of Forest Service officials when a forest fire starts. Surely the promise of all that revenue to the government must have some impact upon the manner in which resources are deployed to stop a fire.

Roger Detweiler

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To the Editor:

Now is the time to pull weeds. They are just starting to flower and haven't set seed yet. Mowing will help if you can't pull them all, but they will be back next year.

Knapweed (looks like bachelor buttons) and Dalmation toadflax (looks like a yellow snapdragon) are classified as noxious weeds. The city can fine you for allowing them to grow on your property.

Cheat grass, filaree, common mallow, wild lettuce, lambsquarters, red-rooted pigweed, chickweed, burr clover, and mullein qualify as noxious weeds. If you let them set seed in your garden, they will be back with a vengeance next year. One year seeding means seven years weeding. Some seeds will even last 50 years.

For help on noxious weed identification call Maret Pajutee at the Forest Service, 549-7727 or me at 420-3730. For cost-share information call Dan Sherwin, County Weed Manager, 322-7135.

Bruce Berryhill

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To the Editor:

This letter is direct to all the citizens of Sisters. Because lets face it, it's past time to start thinking of our children here.

The law says no bikes or skateboards on the sidewalks. Others don't want them on their parking lots, others don't want them in the streets, yet others don't want them in the park 'cause they are trying to read or snooze.

Great, we can all respect that. But still there is a question of what to do? Yes! There is a solution to this problem. Let's all get together and find a place where it won't bother anyone.

If you parents are too busy there is a gentleman that will help them build a skateboard and bike park with bleachers so people can watch them do their sport. Eventually have skateboard and bike riding tournaments. That will bring in people from all over to Sisters and isn't this what Sisters, Oregon, is all about?

Come on folks lets do it for our children. They will be supervised and have someone there to help at all times. They too will be very thankful. If you are interested in helping, contact me at 549-1084.

Thank you very kindly,

John Barreras

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To the Editor:

When asked by Bob Woodward if he ever got advice from his father, President Bush replied, "I listen to a higher father," meaning, of course, God.

What an unbelievably arrogant, narcisistic attitude. It essentially means Bush doesn't listen to anybody since it's impossible to prove or disprove that God speaks to him -- or indeed if God even exists.

This probably explains why he can't or won't acknowledge any mistakes in the Iraq fiasco or anyplace else. His circular logic goes: "God is advising me what to do and I am carrying out God's will. And since God is perfect, I therefore can't be making any mistakes."

How comforting. This is the same reasoning utilized by the Muslim lunatics that perpetrated 9/11. It seems we have our own lunatic leader confronting the Muslim lunatics. I sure hope there is a God out there. Someone has to save us from these madmen.

R.T. Tihista

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To the Editor:

This letter is to say thanks to all of the residents of the Camp Sherman/Sisters area for promoting a very safe Fourth of July holiday weekend.

I am pleased to report that the fire district crews did not respond to any fireworks-related emergencies or incidents over the weekend and, as a result, the district was fire- and injury-free during the holiday.

This fact is a reflection of the commitment everyone in the community has shown as we all work to prevent fires and injuries through safe use of fireworks and campfires. My hope is that we can continue this commitment this summer, and maintain our awareness of the potential for devastating wildfires in our community. You can make a difference!

I would also like to thank all of the career and volunteer firefighters in the area for their hard work, training, readiness, availability, and patrols during the holiday weekend.

We have the remainder of the summer before us. Please be safe and do not hesitate to contact your local fire agencies if we can be of assistance in any way.

Sincerely,

Tay Robertson, Fire Chief

Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District

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To the Editor:

My Father was Rodger Hall and I wanted to share a very dear thank you to the E.M.T.s of Sunriver and La Pine Fire Departments.

They were very quick to our rescue when my father had his accident at our house in Sunriver.

There were many of them that showed up to assist; not only did they do all that was possible for my Dad but they also stayed to look after my dog and wait for my husband to return from work.

They were very kind to my mother and me during this terrible experience.

They actually came by the hospital I.C. unit to ask about my Dad and all signed a card and brought it to the house after my Dad went on to heaven.

I thank them deeply for their abilities in emergencies and also their love and kindness.

Cheurice Rhoades