Letters to the Editor 08/17/2011

To the Editor:

The Sisters Trail Alliance in partnership with public entities has worked long and hard to build and protect trails that provide recreational opportunities for residents and tourists alike. There is very specific signage on the trails that prohibit motorized vehicles. That means you, on the bright green and white dirt bike, flying down the trail between the sewage treatment plant and the FivePine campus. Clearly, this person knew that he was not allowed on the trail as I was told I was number one with his middle finger. Dude, you picked the wrong person to flip off.

I live in the neighborhood that abuts these trails and I have the good fortune of walking my big black, drooling dog on the trail 365 days a year. The trails are used all year and are packed with folks from mid-April to mid-October from dawn to dusk. Folks like me walking their dogs, runners, hikers, mountain bikers. All ages at all times. We look out for each other and each others' animals. Every single one of those people using those trails deserves to use them without fear of being mowed over by someone on a motorized vehicle.

The City of Sisters has also been a partner in public safety by putting in a stop sign and crosswalk where the trail crosses Locust Street. It slows city and contractor vehicles down as they make their way to the sewage treatment facility and protects the trail recreational user.

The Nugget will probably have a sheriff's call from me, who only wishes that she was able to get the license plate number of the dirt bike. I am clear that the sheriff's office does not have the resources to do anything about this, however, the users can. It is not acceptable for one person, one pet to be injured or killed by a motorized vehicle on trails where they are not allowed. 

Lisa Clausen

•••

To the Editor:

I just came home from working at the Kiwanis Food Bank this morning and wanted to give a huge thank you to everyone in the community who responded to the article that appeared in Wednesday's Nugget.

I worked sorting, and it was hard to keep up with all the food donations coming in. It is so great to live in this community where we help each other.

The article failed to give the Kiwanis post office box address to anyone who would like to send in cash donations. The address is Sisters Kiwanis, P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, Oregon, 97759.

Shirley Lalli