Letters to the Editor 09/05/2012

To the Editor:

Re: "Ditch piping leads to tree die-off," The Nugget, August 29, page 3:

Can I just say it? So what! Cut down the dying trees before they blow over. Use them as the great resource that they are for lumber and heat, etc. Replace them responsibly. Plant two or three hundred more in their place if need be. Duh!

According to this article, the piping was a necessary improvement. The rules were set in place for the easement. Roots were cut on trees that were "taking water from the ditch illegally."

How many old-growth trees burn up every fire season here in Central Oregon? How many die from disease and bugs?

People ... These are trees! A renewable resource that we have in abundance! Or, at least we did before a slurry of liberal regulations were forced upon us.

Has anyone else noticed the dying trees along our city and county roads from the poison that's sprayed to prevent weeds on the shoulders? Where's the outcry for those trees?

This is so silly. We have to ask permission of our local government before we cut down a tree on our own property?

If you're a tree-hugger: Make sure you have a job or money that you're not bilking from the tax-payers, then go buy a bunch of trees and plant them on your own property. If you don't have your own property, ask if you can donate them to those that do.

Why does it have to be so complicated? What if a lightning strike hits those very same trees tomorrow and the fire destroyed them all? Plant more. Move on.

Steve Gardner

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To the Editor:

The Sisters City Council, business-owners (especially the ones along Cascade Avenue/Highway 20) and some at ODOT really can't see "the forest because of the trees" when it comes to the road project on Cascade Avenue.

Businesses are not going to lose business when they shut down for the road construction, widening, tree-planting, etc., they are losing business because of the traffic and congestion that is already there and has been for many years.

I have a unique perspective on this in that I live in Sisters but I work in the Willamette Valley, at Lane County's biggest employer, Sacred Heart Medical Center. A lot of my co-workers/colleagues love to come to Central Oregon for vacations, events, or the great outdoors; and the first thing out of their mouths when they find out I live here is, "how do you handle that traffic?" I tell them as a local, "to make a left on Cascade Ave., it's a right, left, left, left and right. No problem."

I am always pushing for them to stop and see the Sisters area, if not stay a night, at least visit one of our restaurants and/or shops.

And their response to me is no way, "not with that traffic." I had one nurse tell me the story about the one time she stopped in Sisters for the day to eat and shop with her husband and two young daughters and how with the traffic, no parking spots, congestive sidewalks, etc., would she ever do that again.

How she was afraid to let go of her daughter's hand because the big rigs seemed to be right on top of them, and how crossing the road was a life-and-death adventure (colored flags or not).

More then one colleague has mentioned witnessing "near-death" (their words not mine; I know we usually just bruise and batter) pedestrian vs. car

encounters.

How many consultant groups have we paid, seven or more, to talk about what to do about the traffic issue we have. Most have said something to the effect we need to route/bypass through-traffic around Sisters, and what the latest suggestion from our city council, business groups, roundabouts at the east and west ends of town. Boy, that's a real solution! Maybe they should think about the one where they limit Cascade to foot-traffic only and route east/west traffic to one way. That way you will give people who want to stop in Sisters a fighting chance and the ones who want to just go through a faster, safer

way.

Maybe the city council, business owners and ODOT can come together (many have their doubts) and get a handle on the real problem, because if not, shutting down Cascade for road repairs will be the highlight of the business season and the "trees and forest" of downtown Sisters will be a thing of the past.

Joe Johnson

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To the Editor:

I would like to second the kudos sent to the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District! (Terri Daniel's letter, August 29.)

11:30 last Wednesday night I was peacefully reading in bed when I was startled by a thump followed by a muffled gushing sound (my cat ran under the bed). It took a while before I realized the sound was coming from outside. I grabbed a flashlight. When I opened the door, I heard the snarling and screeching of an animal(s).

Hmmmm...

Eventually, I found the source of the gushing; a two-foot fountain of water spouting from the ground; lying next to it was the spigot. Gallons of water had pooled under the aspens and seeped under the fence out to the street. There was nothing I could do! Except, of course,

dial 911.

I explained my problem to a patient and reassuring woman who assured me that someone would be there soon. Literally, minutes later the rescue arrived. Looking over the situation, Ray decided he needed his back-up team. Almost immediately the fire truck was at the scene. Because there was so much water and the fountain was in the way, it was difficult to find the lid to the cut-off. It wasn't easy, but perseverance prevailed and these fine men were able to turn off the water.

The only name I got was the first arrival. His name is Ray. When I told Ray about the screaming animals, he nodded and surmised that they were probably responsible for all the mischief... raccoons!

Thank you, Ray, and thank you Back-Up-Team. By 12:30 I was back in bed; so was my cat.

And thank you Terri for your battery story. I, too, have beeping smoke detectors, with or without batteries.

Virginia Rhett