Letters to the Editor 2/16/2005

To the Editor:

There were a couple of factual errors in the February 9 article regarding the sale of the Sisters Ranger District Administrative Site (“Ranger District sale could start this summer”).

These were likely due to a failure on my part to accurately communicate to Jim Fisher about a pretty complex process.

The property will not be offered for sale this year. We do intend to make a decision on what to sell and what to keep by this fall. But there is considerable work – seeking formal approval from Congress to sell lands using the pilot authorities, extensive market analysis, and other pre-sale work that will take some time. Optimistically, we should be able to begin offering parcels to sell by late 2006.

The site will most likely not be offered for sale as one parcel. Market analysis and our needs to fund construction of a new facility before we can vacate the current location will largely determine the size, location, and number of parcels to be sold.

Finally, the Forest Service will not seek changes to city zoning prior to sale of the property. While it is possible that changes in zoning might enhance the value of the property, rezoning can be a considerable expense for which we do not have funding or expertise. We believe that the open market is an appropriate place to determine the value and future use of the property. Any future rezoning and development would occur via the City of Sisters’ approved public processes, ordinances, and rules for development.

The Sisters Ranger District looks forward to further discussions with the community about the future of this important piece of Sisters. Please call or e-mail me if you have questions, comments or ideas, or would like to be included on our mailing lists.

Rod Bonacker

Resource Planner

Sisters Ranger District

549-7729; [email protected]

•••

To the Editor:

For the past 10 years the Sisters community has supported a drug-and-alcohol-free party for the graduating seniors, which 95 percent of the graduates attend.

The parents of this year’s 120 students in the class of 2005 are responsible for putting on the Safe & Sober Graduation Celebration after the graduation ceremony on June 3 and are asking for your help once again.

The cost of the graduation party is over $8,000 and tickets for the event are a donation per student of $25. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Therefore, the parent committee is currently trying to raise money by offering a quilt for raffle and silent auction items.

A beautiful hand-made quilt by Shireen Hatton is on display at The Harvest Basket. Raffle tickets for the quilt are on sale for $2 per ticket, three tickets for $5 or “do the stretch” (a string of tickets as long as your arm) for $20.

The quilt will be displayed at the last basketball game on February 18.

Lake Creek Lodge has donated two nights’ lodging for two guests and Eagle Crest donated one night’s lodging and two putting passes (restrictions apply) for silent auction.

Send your bid with name and phone number to [email protected]

The winner of the quilt as well as the lodging will be announced May 4, just in time for Mother’s Day or graduation gifting.

We hope you can help with this worthwhile event for our graduating seniors by donations of items for prizes and raffle at the party, or monetary gifts made payable to SHS Class of 2005 at Sisters High School, P.O. Box 3099, Sisters, OR 97759.

Call Jan Reed at 549-3000 or Linda Fitter at 549-0878 with donations for pickup or questions regarding the event. All gifts are tax deductible.

Jan Reed