Letters to the Editor 12/22/2010

To the Editor:

In last week's Letters to the Editor, Mr. Kenneth Ehlers explained to those who do not understand the meaning of marginal cost of production with regards to water production.

I agree with his assessment totally.

I am a resident of Squaw Creek Canyon Estates just off Wilt Road north of Sisters. Currently, the owner of the company who supplies our subdivision's water is asking for, and the PUC (Public Utilities Commission) staff have submitted, a 109.5 percent increase in water rates over 2009 rates to the commission for approval. If approved, the owner of the water district would realize a net profit of 40-percent-plus in after-tax dollars. How many businesses in Sisters make 40% profit in after-tax dollars?

Back to Mr. Ehlers' marginal cost of production. It costs X amount to produce one gallon of water but the costs do not rise in direct relationship when more than one gallon is produced. There are fixed costs that remain the same regardless of producing one gallon or one thousand gallons.

So why are the homeowners of Squaw Creek Canyon Estates asked to more than double their costs for water? There is no shortage of water in this aquifer, any water master will tell you, so it is not for conservation. So with our current economy, can someone explain to me: is this too much government, too much greed or am I just too dumb to understand?

Wayne Warren

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To the Editor:

I would like to thank everyone in the community who made this year's Key Club Food Drive such a great success. The students collected over 3,100 food items to help re-stock the shelves at the food bank. The senior class made it a major project and they alone collected over 1,700 items. The teaching staff opted to not participate in a gift exchange and instead made cash donations to the food bank. Thank you to everyone who donated to such a great cause.

Michele Hammer

Key Club advisor

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To the Editor:

I wish to convey my thanks to you and The Nugget Newspaper for running the story about my situation in September. At that time, I was recovering from my second hospital admission after having a low-back spinal fusion surgery.

The donation account set up by my son did receive a few donations that helped clean up several very small "loose ends." I cannot thank you, the newspaper, and the community enough for just being who you are. Living here in Sisters is a gigantic blessing.

Since that time, I have required and had a second spinal fusion surgery on November 17 (this time in my neck) for the same degenerative disc disease that caused my low back to have the issues that it did. That surgery went perfectly, and I am healing quite well.

Similarly to the last time, however, it has put me even deeper into debt with medical bills and also required two weeks of unpaid time off from work for recovery.

I also have yet another surgery scheduled for December 27, in order to get the most out of my medical coverage benefits before the new year. That one, like the others, will also require time off of work unpaid and further medical expense.

It seems that even though we have "health insurance," it isn't what people imagine it to be. There are deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, as well as co-payments that many don't realize that have to be paid regardless of how good the coverage is. That amount can become enormous. For me it's grown to nearly $20,000 in the last six months of this calendar year, including a loan on my vehicle that I had JUST paid off in June.

My prayer is that all this will be handled for myself and all the others who are looking into the darkness of debt with me. Somehow, somewhere, God will provide a path to make sure that all the needs are met. Of that, I am absolutely sure. How He chooses to do so is the mystery.

May everyone at this time of year have the incredible blessing of community here in Sisters that I know is here.

Jennifer Knowles