Letters to the Editor: 07/01/2009

To the Editor:

Gayla Nelson, thank you for coming to the 69th Sisters Rodeo. And if you didn't, that would explain your lack of knowledge about Team Bronc Riding (see Letters to the Editor, The Nugget, June 24, page 2).

Yes, the sport was called Wild Horse Riding until 1976. It is one of the oldest events of the Sisters Rodeo. The horses that are used are far from wild. These horses are two- and three-year-old bucking horses. Their mothers and fathers were also bucking horses. They are older than the horses that run in the Kentucky Derby.

They have been around and handled by man their entire life, unlike wild horses and wild burros. These bronc horses are hand-fed and raised on large Oregon and Washington pastures, just like their parents and grandparents.

A horse or burro on the other hand that has been born in the wild, lived in the wild, then rounded up and put in a small pen, eventually loaded into a small, noisy metal trailer, taken to a strange place then forced to live most of their lives in a corral, now some may think that that is inhumane.

Team Bronc Riding competitors are governed by a strict set of rules that protect the horses and competitors. The equipment used by the teams is designed and regulated for the safety of the animals. All livestock and equipment are checked by judges before competitions. Also, the horses are checked by the veterinarian before and after any Sisters Rodeo event.

Team Bronc Riders love and respect horses.

Thanks for listening. See you at the 70th Biggest Little Show in the World.

Curt Kallberg

Vice President, Sisters Rodeo Association

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To the Editor:

Chief Zaccaro and I met soon after I joined the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office in 2004.

"Chief" soon became "Gil" as our friendship evolved and our professional relationship found common theme.

I came to experience Chief Zaccaro as one of those very few police senior administrators who had not only "done it all" but had not forgotten his roots while climbing the promotion ladder.

As both a friend and gentleman, and Gil Zaccaro is both, there is no one I could count on more, day or night, regardless of situation.

A fellow combat veteran, Gil understands more than most the challenges those that have served in combat can come to experience. He's one to never leave a fallen comrade behind.

BBR was blessed to have him as its senior law enforcement officer. I counted on him and his officers numerous times in Sisters when on patrol, and was glad to have them.

Vaya con Dios, Chief - you will be missed.

Greg Walker

Deschutes County S.O. (Retired)

Portland, Oregon

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To the Editor:

In regards to the AT&T cell tower that threatens an historical site: it need not be a threat if it is done properly. The tower can be camouflaged to look like a pine tree. This has been done in many other places and no one is the wiser.

I certainly believe that an AT&T tower is a necessary item for the Sisters area. It is needed for emergency purposes. People with AT&T service are at a loss without it and find it difficult with no phone service in the Sisters area.

After all, this is 2009, not 1899, with all of the new technology available we must be able to make phone and other services available to everyone.

Myra Gordon