Letters to the Editor 12/16/2009

To the Editor:

The electrical outage which occurred last week during the sub-zero cold spell in Central Oregon had all the potential for a significant disaster.

Regional and county emergency operations centers were activated, a shelter was established, and the Greater Sisters Emergency Plan was implemented.

Had the power not been restored quickly, additional damage to property would have resulted along with the threat to life and health with many of our residents without heat and power.

I would like to commend Central Electric Cooperative for their proactive and professional approach to this emergency. As the emergency planning and response effort was just beginning with local fire departments and law enforcement, Doug Ertner and Alan Guggenheim of CEC were there for the community along with their staff.

The speed with which their crews worked in bitter cold to repair significant system damage, and their cooperative spirit and information-sharing, exemplifies what partnerships in emergency management should be. Thanks for all you do.

Tay Robertson, Fire Chief

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To the Editor:

Regarding the December 9 issue of The Nugget Newspaper, in a column devoted to the SHS girls soccer team all-leaguers, correspondent Rongi Yost failed to give credit to two of our team's finest players, both of whom were recognized by the coaches in choosing the all-league teams.

Sara Small, a sophomore, was also selected for the second team all-league, and is the greatest keeper by far that the girls team has ever had (according to popular opinion).

She never fails to pick all our spirits up with her upbeat attitude.

Her performance in the goal has been incredible this year, as well as last's, when she was chosen as co-keeper of the year.

This season, Sara was a single vote away from becoming the 2009 Sky-Em league keeper of the year.

She made 82 spectacular saves over the entire year, and even scored a goal for herself during one of our regular league games.

We all love her because no matter how many times she hits the ground, she never shows any pain.

Sara refuses to give up in anything, and will be ready to face all challengers in the next season.

Jodie Reoch, also a sophomore, moved back to Sisters from California just in time to help our team become the first SHS soccer group, boys or girls, to reach the semifinals in the state playoffs.

She received Honorable Mention from the all-league coaches.

Our own coach Nik Goertzen calls Jodie our "secret weapon" and the "spark plug," and in truth, she gave us a much-needed boost with her incredible speed.

With 16 goals, Jodie is the second-highest scorer on our team.

She also assisted nine other goals, and works well with Michelle Young, another sophomore.

Both keep our team grinning, even through the hardest games.

Jodie can score from any position, and everyone is expecting another great year for her in 2010.

Amity Calvin

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To the Editor:

Driving east into Sisters, I have encountered numerous drivers exiting Black Butte Ranch who "coast" through the stop sign as they enter traffic on Highway 20. Please realize that you are entering a highway with speeds of 55-60 mph and that pulling in front of 55 mph traffic is very unsafe.

I ask drivers from the Black Butte Ranch and Tollgate areas to use the stop sign for what it is intended. Stop, assess the speed and flow of traffic and enter the highway when you have enough room to get up to the speed of the oncoming traffic without causing an accident. This is not only the courteous thing to do but the safest for all highway travelers. It may take an extra minute but it might also save a life!

Linda Gustafson

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To the Editor:

This is just a thank you to all the friends and business acquaintances I have made over the past 13 years in Sisters.

I sent my girls through the school system with many highs and some lows, mostly highs. I coached softball at SHS for five years with just a pat on the back, and lots of smiles; that's all I needed. I employed dozens of carpenters in my construction company and got to know their families; that's all I needed.

I had a roof over my family's head; that's all I really needed.

Now, I find it funny how when some of these things are gone, I realize they were the only things that I really did need.

Chris Peters

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To the Editor:

The charter Web school (AllPrep) has been a wonderful option for our high-school son.

It totally turned his thinking around back to getting excited about all the great opportunities a solid education gives. We have had the gift of a child that academically flew through Sisters public school from first through 12th grade. We have had the experience of seeing a child who seemed to be a square peg being ground into a circle in the school system.

Our family now has the gift of a great online education option and a wonderful teacher, Ms. Suzanne Moore.

Policies, power, politics all seem to neglect what's really best for all children.

Kevin Shirley McBride

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To the Editor:

As Black Butte Ranch homeowners know, the high school swim team is practicing at their Glaze Meadow pool facility. What they may not know is how thankful and appreciative we all are to have such a wonderful area to practice. In years past we have had to practice at pools that cost lots of money which can make it hard for some people to participate.

Another benefit we all see as a new, and hopefully winning, advantage is having the pool for two whole hours instead of the regular one hour that we have had in years past. The extra time is improving our strokes and our soreness and I can't wait to see how much it helps us in all of our events. From everyone on the team, we can't thank Black Butte enough and we are very grateful for the time and facility they graciously are allowing us to use.

Holden Sellentin, SHS Senior

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To the Editor:

As an advocate for issues relating to autism, I was very pleased with the recent introduction of bills in both the house and the senate to prevent the use of harmful restraint and seclusion in schools. HR 4247 and S 2860 are crucial pieces of legislation for the autism community because restraint and seclusion in schools is disproportionately used against students with disabilities and autism.

Please protect these students who are often more vulnerable, and sometimes unable to express the abuses they've suffered by cosponsoring this essential legislation.

Freedom from non-emergent restraint and seclusion is an issue of human rights.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish the first federal standards to protect students from misuse of restraint and seclusion and ensure the safety of everyone in the classroom. It would apply to public schools, private schools and preschools receiving federal education support. Specifically, the legislation would:

• Establish important minimum federal safety standards in schools, similar to the protections already in place in hospitals and other non-medical community based facilities;

• Limit physical restraint and locked seclusion, allowing these interventions only when there is imminent danger of injury, and only when imposed by trained staff;

• Outlaw mechanical restraints, such as strapping kids to chairs, and prohibit restraints that restrict breathing;

• Require schools to notify parents after incidents when restraint or seclusion was used;

• Call on states, within two years of enactment, to establish their own policies, procedures, monitoring and enforcement systems to meet these minimum standards.

Please help ensure that our kids, with and without autism, are safe in their schools. Please sponsor this legislation by writing to your state legislators.

For information visit http://www.autism-society.org

Andrea Clarke

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To the Editor:

There is a "Charlie Brown" tree beside the road as I drive into Sisters. Every year one of Santa's elves decorates the tree with balls and glitter and the tree becomes beautiful. I just want to thank that elf for putting a smile on my face and adding to the Christmas spirit.

Yvonne Chelew