Letters to the Editor 05/31/06

To the Editor:

Several well-meaning local citizens have expressed opposition to ODOT’s proposed improvement of Hwy. 20 between Indian Ford and Sisters. As much as I agree that this is a beautiful stretch of Highway, I must express whole-hearted support for ODOT’s plans.

Simple logic tells us that we cannot put a moratorium on road construction and no moratorium on the rapid residential growth in our area. The effects of rapid development with far too little highway expansion is not only unsafe, but crippling Central Oregon economically in terms of transportation costs in both time and money.

Whether we like it or not, Central Oregon’s rapid human population growth requires that major arterial highways such as Highway 20 are expanded to handle the additional traffic. This is not only a Sisters issue, it is a Central Oregon issue, as this highway is a major arterial in and out of here.

I sympathize with those who wax nostagalic about Central Oregon of 40 years ago, but that Central Oregon no longer exists. It is short-sighted and unreasonable to suggest alternatives such as lower speed limits on major state highways. Stalling needed improvements for emotional reasons will only make the problem worse in the near future.

Quite simply, modern life requires that many people travel over major arterials for business reasons and every drive is not a sight-seeing tour; there are plenty of side roads for beholding nature.

It is also very illogical to suggest that a two lane highway is safer than four. Two lanes in each direction will allow slower drivers to move over and those with more pressing business to go by. As it is now, it takes only one slow moving vehicle to hold up a large volume of traffic. Many drivers are then forced to pass in the oncoming lane, which can result (and has) in tragic head-on collisions.

This ODOT proposal is only one of the many issues that rapid human population growth brings. Like it or not, it appears that Central Oregon will continue this rapid growth.

I am not happy about explosive growth here, but am realistic enough to realize that as it continues, it is imperative that our transportation infrastructure keeps pace.

Mike Mitchell

Redmond

To the Editor:

I was saddened and angered to learn from Kellie Landers, who works as a volunteer saving raptors, that an osprey was shot in our neighborhood, east of Sisters. She found the wounded bird on Hinkle Butte Road. Unfortunately it was shot in a wing joint by a bullet, rather than a shot gun and couldn’t be saved. Last October a blue heron was shot in the same area.

These are fish eating birds and it makes one wonder if someone is unhappy that they are eating expensive fish from a backyard pond.

When we first built our house at Black Butte Ranch in 1989 the lake just below the house that I could see from nearly every room was never visited by eagles or osprey. Then slowly, we began to see an occasional eagle or osprey. By the time we sold the house in 2004 we would see as many as three osprey or two eagles at a time fishing the lake. I’d literally stop what I was doing just to watch those magnificent birds dive for a fish.

If a person doesn’t appreciate the wonders of these birds, take the time to pick up a copy of Jim Anderson’s extraordinary book, “Tales from a Northwest Naturalist.” Written as well or better than “All Creatures Great and Small,” you will come to know owls, hawks, and eagles in a whole new way. You’d never be able to shoot a bird after getting to know some of Jim’s characters.

Please, please, please respect the wildlife we all want to enjoy!

Jean Nave

Sisters Country Historical Society

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To the Editor:

I am a resident of a small community, Ponderosa Cascade Community. We have been asked by way of notes on the outside of our mail boxes to contribute $50 (from) each family toward a play set for the kids.

PCC has a playset out there. Maybe it is not the best, but it surely is better than what we grew up with (the tire in a tree). They need a new one because the little darlings bump their heads or the slide is hot?

Kids need to learn that all problems in life are not smoothed out by the adults throwing more money at it. They are smoothed out by learning to be responsible. Being careful of not only their own heads and hot fannies, but of the rights and responsibilities of being in a neighborhood where we have rules and regulations that all are expected to abide by.

If these same children are allowed to ride their motorized vehicles on the common land, which is against the CC&Rs, are allowed to use these vehicles in a manner that throws dirt, dust and loud noise across the fences into the neighbor’s yards and homes, then, yes, they do need some help with use of their spare time — but not by buying a play set for them.

They need to do some things for the community, not always against the community. They need to develop a sense of belonging, living with other people, developing an earned respect for and from others. Some of the kids probably do belong to some sports activities. They are then learning to play by the rules; good for them!

There are lots of things to do. We used to read books,(imagine that), go on hikes and explore nature ( not just rip it up). We learned to take care of our animals. There were scout projects, 4-H projects, church projects, lots of things to do. We learned to visit with older neighbors and do little things for them in return for their knowledge of life and their respect.

We learned to live, knowing that all our needs are not met by someone else buying and giving to us something to fill our spare time.

Mary Smith

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To the Editor:

With the conclusion of this year’s Sisters Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series, we would like to thank our sponsors, planning committee members, volunteers, student performers and hosts, school district staff, Starry Nights audiences and headliners Lyle Lovett, Leslie Satcher and Hanna-McEuen for making this yet another successful season.

Special thanks go to music teachers Jody Henderson, Tara MacSween, Debi Schlatter and Brad Tisdel for their time and assistance with this year’s series. Through band, choir and Americana, they have helped develop and nurture the talents of our fine student musicians and singers in this school district. This year’s Starry Nights audiences enjoyed stellar performances from the Elementary, Middle and High School singers, the SMS and SHS Jazz Ensembles and our “house band” of Benji Nagel and Travis Ehrenstrom at our final show—congratulations to all!

We’re pleased to announce that the 2006 series earned $80,000 in net proceeds for the Sisters Schools Foundation, and the overall net earnings are now closing in on $600,000 since the event began in 1997. Nine years and twenty-five shows later, we celebrate the community spirit that has made this possible.

Four shining examples of that spirit were Joel Meyer, who was one of our wonderful student MC’s, long-time committee member Peggy Parker, and Jan and Bill Reed, who were sponsors, volunteers and dedicated supporters of Starry Nights from the beginning. This year’s series was dedicated to the memories of these four special people who will always inspire us as we continue on.

Jeri Fouts and Susan Arends

Sisters Starry Nights Co-Chairs

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To the Editor:

It has been said that those who don’t learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them. We have been through this immigration reform insanity in 1986. That spawned our present problems in this area, because the government had no will to protect their country and the people who have a legal right to be here.

However, there is one major difference in the two bills. In 1986 it was called amnesty. I am not sure what the U.S. Senate is calling this, but in this age of political correctness, I am sure they will come up with something that will not offend anyone, particularly illegal aliens and the Mexican government.

I quote Edmund Meese, U.S. Attorney General under Ronald Reagan, “Like the amnesty bill of 1986, the current Senate proposal would place those who have resided illegally in the U.S. on a path to citizenship, provided they meet a similar set on conditions and pay a fine and back taxes. The illegal Mexican immigrant does not go to the back of the line, but gets immediate legalized status, while law-abiding applicants wait in their home countries for years to come. In the end, slight differences in process do not change the overriding fact that the 1986 law and today’s bill are both amnesties.”

Beginning the process of legalizing 11 or 12 million people will allow them to bring in family members, etc. This could mean an additional 30 or 40 million people, who will also have access to all of our social systems, medical care and other ancillary benefits.

Finally, I want to express my extreme disappointment with George Bush and John McCain. They are both willing participants in this legislation that will change the character and composition of America over the next 20 or 30 years. They have violated their oath to protect this country from enemies both foreign and domestic and have basically allowed this unchecked onslaught of immigrants with no conscience.

I have enjoyed my life here and I don’t want to live in a third world country. The Mexican government has done a masterful job of exporting their poverty problems to the U.S. and I feel deep sadness that Americans are not in the streets protesting this assault on our freedom and our soverign nation.

Terry Burke