Letters to the Editor 12/27/2006

To the Editor:

There is probably a reason the deli yapper didn't want to be quoted with the idea of moving downtown Sisters businesses to the Patterson Ranch. He or she obviously is not a main street business owner. One word will sum it up: "Wasco, Oregon." Ok, two words. Google it if you don't understand.

How about a split level highway - north bound on top and south bound below. Not so 1800ish. Or a subway tunnel - that would be cool.

Thankfully, I don't work for ODOT. A tunnel would seriously be a great idea for crosswalks at each end of town - just like Paris, only a little different!

Becky Aylor

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To the Editor:

Recently there have been numerous articles printed in The Nugget regarding the proposed Cline Buttes Recreation Project. This letter is a plea directed to all horseback riding enthusiasts in Central Oregon.

I am the Central Oregon Chapter Chair of the Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET) for 2007. I am inviting all people who are interested in keeping trails open to horses to come to our next meeting, being held January 2, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. at Ray's Supermarket in Redmond - across Highway 126 from Redmond High School. At this important meeting we will be discussing the rides and service activities for the coming year.

It came to my attention that the Cline Buttes Recreation area has been recently and greatly abused. Many people have used this area for many years for recreational purposes. Now the beauty of the land and atmosphere is in jeopardy.

We will all have a better and stronger voice in keeping this area for use for equestrians if we have a strong force of numbers to convey our message. Please don't think to yourself that for one reason or another you can't join us. It's up to each of you to help.

On January 6 we have a scheduled chapter ride, leaving from my house on Fryrear Road, in the Cline Buttes Recreation area. For information call 382-4492.

OET was formed in 1970 to promote trail riding and the development of and maintenance of equestrian trails and camps throughout the State of Oregon. We cooperate with all governmental agencies to make sure all state and federal fish, game and forest laws are enforced fairly and help improve the regulations that govern these activities.

Thank you,

Marilyn Ball

OET Central Oregon Chapter Chair

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To the Editor:

Our public schools are in trouble. First is the scandal around the money to a private religious school program. Is it just me or has no one asked the Sonrise Christian School to pay back to the Sisters public schools what it received in error? To take some fiscal responsibility for what its program has helped create?

(As the attorney general's report states): "Specifically, the district paid approximately $357,000 in salaries and benefits to its homeschool program tutors who also taught at Sonrise. These payments effectively offset some of Sonrise's personnel costs."

This would reduce by almost one third the monies in question.

The director of Sonrise said last year, and I quote, "The teachers involved were within the parameters of the program." A statement which claims no professional or personal responsibility for an overall flawed program.

So it seems that in this case the needs of the many will make way for the needs of the few. Who's going to pay for this? My four children, and all of the children in the Public System will be short of funds by a million plus.

We also spent thousands of dollars and an unknown number of hours to find our now leaving superintendent. Here we go again! It would be great, if this time, we promoted from within. I believe in most of our School Administrators, and would like to see the school board save money and time. I believe that we have the right people right here in Sisters. Rob Corrigan or Tim Comfort come to mind.

How many new homes are being built as our school system is scrambling for space? It would be nice if we quit hiding behind procedural justifications and actually made decisions based upon the interconnected impact on all areas of our city. We may just survive our own adolescence as a municipality. Let's grow our little town up on intelligent all-inclusive impact decision making, not just dollar signs.

Michael Valoppi