Letters to the Editor 07/02/2008

To the Editor:

RE: "City mulls intersection fix," (The Nugget, June 25, page 1):

These suggestions don't solve the problem, they simply create new ones.

How about a flashing yellow light west of town to warn incoming traffic of a speed change and intersection. Perhaps a greater presence by the Deschutes County Sheriff enforcing obvious and routine speed violations?

"People drive fast anyway," Councilor Bill Merrill said. "It doesn't matter what the sign says." With an obvious problem, why not seek the obvious solution - greater enforcement of the law?

The intersection is used as a main access for traffic going/coming to the high school. Do we plan to create a right-turn-only on the south side of the intersection onto eastbound Highway 20? If not, have you solved the problem?

While we are at it, let's get a jump on the intersection at Highway 20/FivePine development before there is an injury accident, especially with the opening of the brew pub... not to mention the Locust/Highway 20 intersection where traffic enters town 10 m.p.h. (or greater) above the speed limit.

Bryan Summers

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To the Editor:

This is in response to last week's letter about the abandoned cat found in a box in the forest.

One wonders what straw broke the camel's back and led someone to such action. I do think the veterinary and animal rescue community need to bear some responsibility for the burden of guilt they put on someone who cannot care for an animal and wishes to have it humanely put down.

Let's face it - the reality is that there is not a home for every unwanted cat, dog, horse or hamster. For every success story of spectacular rehabilitation, there are millions more animals suffering. Why is it so abhorrent to allow someone to euthanize a healthy animal?

A few months ago, my daughter-in-law, several months pregnant and with her husband deployed in Iraq, had two cats that needed to be out of her home. None of the shelters in her area would take them, so I said I would see what I could do.

The story was the same here in Central Oregon. The shelters were full, and my vet would not put them down unless I had exhausted every possibility. There was a time factor involved, with a baby on the way, and we just needed the cats gone.

What could have been a painless and relatively inexpensive way to rid the world of two unwanted cats became a huge stress for my daughter-in-law. Her mother was finally able to get them into a shelter in Portland, where they no doubt will spend the rest of their lives in a small, smelly cage with minimal human contact. That is more humane than euthanasia?

I am not against animal rescue - I dearly love my rescued Boston Terrier and my mare with issues from past abuse. But I think we're out of balance, and that more animal suffering is occurring because options are so limited. Guilt-free euthanasia needs to be allowed for unwanted animals.

Kathryn Godsiff

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To the Editor:

Thank you for the informative article about Bob Johnson and his involvement with Sisters track.

To me, Bob Johnson is truly one of Sisters' "treasures" and I'm sure many other parents would agree!

Jim Knapp

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To the Editor:

To all firefighters - I have long admired you men and women for your dedicated work in keeping our homes and property as safe as it is humanly possible.

You lose some, but you save a lot more than you lose and put your own lives in jeopardy to do so.

You work in all kinds of weather in heavy protective gear and under dangerous circumstances. Many of you suffer from the heavy loads you have to carry as you retrieve someone from a raging fire.

You often see sights that churn into your memories over and over. You witness the families as they watch their lives change forever as their homes or businesses burn to the ground. You struggle against the lack of sleep, knowing that every minute counts and manpower is imperative.

I lived in Paradise, California, for 32 years and spent hours on the Internet (from Sisters) to keep up with the news from the fire that threatened my beloved town where I raised my family.

Some of them still live there and the fire in the area of Neal Rd. was stopped within a mile of my granddaughter and her family. I know that without you they would have lost their home as would my daughter.

I thank you, we all thank you and want you to know that our prayers are with you.

Patricia Nieland Collins