Letters to the Editor 02/14/2007

To the Editor:

I seem to recall Shane Hall's mother and wife writing letters published in this newspaper proclaiming his innocence just after his arrest and that they were amazed at how an innocent man could be made to look guilty before he had his day in court. We were to wait until the facts came out and then we would be owe them an apology.

I wonder if they wish to comment now?

Ken Pearce

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To the Editor:

Mr. Rexford is one of the finest teachers at Sisters High School. I consider it a privilege to have my daughter in his AP History class.

We are lucky to have him as part of our school district and community.

He's obviously pushed someone's button.

Lynne Fujita-Conrads

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To the Editor:

Parents, this community needs your help. I am so disappointed and saddened by the prevalence of theft at the high school. My son has had many jackets, sweatshirts and even money taken from his wallet. His name has been put in almost all his sweatshirts and jackets and still they are taken.

I don't understand how this can happen. If you see your child wearing something you don't remember getting them - maybe you can question it. Or buying things with money you don't remember giving them - question it. Just because it was left in a classroom or at a sporting event or on the bus, does not mean it's up for grabs.

I know mistakes are made; a child can accidentally grab the wrong item, but they should then be diligent about returning it. Please talk to your child about doing the right thing and turning the found item into the office. If we all work together maybe we put a stop to this unacceptable behavior.

Jeanne Sellgren

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To the Editor:

The outpouring of support from the Sisters community for the restoration of the Maida Bailey Old Library Building has been nothing short of extraordinary. We have found that our project isn't a good fit with the large Oregon foundations, but Sisters area people and organizations have been doing a wonderful job of making up for the foundations' lack of interest. Most recently, the Friends of the Sisters Library voted this week to support the restoration with a $5,000 donation.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Friends of the Sisters Library, this organization has made substantial donations to the building funds of the two most recent library buildings. They also are now offering a scholarship to a Sisters High School graduate. The majority of their funds come from memberships in the organization and the annual book sale held during Quilt Show weekend.

The Maida Bailey Old Library Building was originally built with donated labor and materials from Sisters area residents. It is quite fitting that the restoration of the building is being made possible by a new generation of Sisters area people. This latest donation will go far in helping us open the doors of this wonderful symbol of Sisters history. We hope to soon be offering local history talks, walking tours and visual displays in this warm historic building.

If you would like to donate time, skill or funding to help us get the doors open, please contact me at 549-8755. Keep watching; this new center for community activity will soon be open making life in Sisters just a little more enjoyable.

Jean Nave

Volunteer Executive Director

Sisters Country Historical Society

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To the Editor:

Our town is changing so quickly! I was out on my daily walk through town and saw a building coming down that has special significance to me. This special place is at the corner of Washington and Oak. It was Nellie Zook's house from 1972-2000.

The wonderful person living in this house was known by absolutely everyone in Sisters. It is sad to think that there will be generations here in Sisters that will never meet her, never know her enthusiasm, her love of people. Now that both she and her house will be gone, I feel compelled to tell a little bit about her. The only things left are wonderful memories.

Nellie was raised on a homestead in the John Day Country, on Sourdough Ridge. Life was hard on the homestead, but she loved it. She attended a one-room school and then went back as a young adult to teach in that same one-room school. During her lifetime she taught all age levels - from kindergarten through college. For many years she taught seventh grade in Sisters.

She received an award from the State Department of Education for being an educator and student for over 43 years, never missing a day because of illness. Nellie was extremely proud of this award. She had an amazing work ethic and stayed in great health until suffering a stroke.

Nellie was a mover and a shaker. If you wanted to get something done in town, you convinced Nellie to help - and it would get done with class! Nellie spent many years helping at the public library here in Sisters. She volunteered, kept many scrapbooks of library events and was a lifetime member of the library board.

Nellie never knew a stranger. She would have loved meeting all of you who have moved into town since her death in 2000. Now, her house is coming down, and many new houses will be built there. I can only hope that these houses will be affordable for young families with children so they will be able to play in "Nellie's backyard".

Diane Jacobsen

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To the Editor:

In response to Terry Burke (The Nugget, Letters to the Editor, February 7). Just because our country was built on spilled blood, does not mean that we should strive to repeat the past. We are intelligent beings; we can use this intelligence to recreate the future based on high ideals of diplomacy, peace and kindness. Every living thing is valuable to the whole planet and her people. We are one ecosystem; what we do each day affects everyone and everything.

We live on one world; the invisible boundaries do not change this fact. We are a strong country with many amazing amenities and luxuries. We are blessed; let's use these blessings to be world leaders in peace and progression. If we start thinking, we can change many issues that our world faces. Yes, there are humans that have bad behaviors and bad hearts. Why should we be those people?

Gentle humans that have high ideals do not threaten this country or the world, they agonize over the fact that many humans suffer greatly each day. These humans want to make a difference in "the nature of the human condition" as you called it. Many people do not want to accept the way things have been in the past, for the way things are, or will be in the future.

We are on the same side of the fence; division is lonely and counterproductive.

Let's be the change we want to see.

Amy Berg

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To the Editor:

My first response to those who marched for peace in Bend is profound sadness. I know your intentions are noble and you think that your public demonstration can positively influence the direction of this country. A rudimentary understanding of history will tell you that your influence will not be positive. The truth is that those who would see our society brought to ruin, see your demonstration as an example of why America must be destroyed. To them it is a matter of natural selection.

It is not our "boots on the ground" that provoked the attack on 9/11, it was the Birkenstocks in the streets which convinced them we would peacefully tolerate the attack. The enemy who slaughtered our innocent on that day did not attack because of our military might. They attacked because of our societal weakness. Osama Bin Laden made that perfectly clear.

America now finds itself in the crosshairs of those who would send us to the ash-heap of history, not because of our military intervention but because of the social tolerance and moral permissiveness exemplified by secular progressives.

Every American soldier that has ever stepped on foreign soil has been part of an army of liberation, not occupation. Our military fist has been raised against tyrant, dictator and murderous regime, always on behalf of the oppressed. Is there no historical perspective left among these people?

Do the self-righteous "peace at any price" crowd remember that 1.2 million were slaughtered in the wake of America capitulating to the cry for "peace" in Viet Nam?

The enemy we face does not want our tolerance. They do not want peaceful coexistence. They want our subjugation to their theocracy, dead or alive. A cry for peace at any price is fuel for the fire of jihad.

The words of Patrick Henry should still ring loud and clear, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God!"

I respect the conviction of those who marched for peace. I fear their lack of understanding.

Mike Summers