Letters to the Editor 10/30/2013

To the Editor:

The Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) is dedicated to developing and maintaining recreational and commuting trails in Sisters Country. STA is also committed to including the Sisters community in the entire process of trail-building, from concept to execution.

The STA was born in 2003 when a large group of Sisters residents came together to write the Sisters Community Trails Plan. This plan established community priorities for expanding, upgrading and maintaining the trails system. These priorities were recently updated and reaffirmed in 2011, following additional community meetings and surveys. Over the last 10 years STA volunteers have raised thousands of dollars and invested thousands of hours in building and maintaining an extensive trails network, a network that is used every day by both Sisters residents and visitors.

During the past two years, the STA has been working with community partners to develop a new trail from Sisters to Black Butte Ranch, and one from Crossroads to the high school.

These proposed trails reflect the innovative approach of the Forest Service to promote non-motorized, multimodal trails on national forest land in rural communities in Oregon, designed and built according to rigorous, widely accepted nationwide processes and standards.

When paved they would notably expand access to national forest experience for a wide demographic - the young, the old, the infirm - under-served by existing trails and routes.

It would add to the recreational assets that help underpin the economic vitality of our entire community.

During the development of this trail, a lot of people have participated in meetings, surveys, and field trips, and offered written comments to guide the process to develop and locate this community trail. Yet, despite the best-intentioned efforts of the STA, the Forest Service and other partners, there are a number of people in the community who still feel unsatisfied by this consultative design process and who feel their voices have not been heard.

The STA rests on a foundation of openness, of transparency, of community voice, and we therefore want to apologize to anyone who feels she or he was not adequately consulted or whose voice has not been adequately recognized.

STA has tried to listen to the many community voices, both positive and negative, about this project.

Some are eager for it to move forward.

Some want more information.

Some have reservations, especially as to its route.

As always, our goal remains to acknowledge and to take on board the concerns of all these stakeholders, and, as a community, to come up with the best solutions and compromises we can find to allay and to accommodate these concerns.

The only way we can reach that goal is to work together, as openly and as constructively as possible, with everyone who wants to participate in a positive, respectful dialogue to help move forward on this important regional asset.

It is too important for our community to do otherwise.

The consultative process, as with trail design and maintenance, can always be improved, and STA commits itself to even better collaboration with all stakeholders in Sisters Country.

We encourage folks to come to the community meeting (Tuesday, November 5, 6 p.m. at Sisters fire hall).

Gary Guttormsen, Sisters Trails Alliance

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To the Editor:

Mr. Norman, in his guest column, "Concerning Annexation," pulls an old argumentative device: The non sequitur. "If there was an aircraft crash, it must be the fault of the airport." Horsefeathers! The pilot of the plane that "crashed" was totally lost and the existence of the Sisters Airport had very little to do with that ridiculous accident. In fact, no high school-age student pilot in Sisters would make a series of errors that would lead to such an idiotic climax. Most opponents to aviation quickly learn that if you want to throw a wrench in the works, just play the safety card, whether or not it makes sense.

He claims to be arguing against annexation, but his argument has little to do with annexation ... it's against the airport. The airport has been here since 1936, and will continue to be an airport, regardless of whether or not annexation occurs.

Airport activities, such as airplanes landing and taking off, are protected under State of Oregon statutes. They are not affected by whether the Sisters airport is located in Deschutes County or the City of Sisters. Oh, and by the way, annexation of airport property into the City of Sisters was voted on by the people and was overwhelmingly approved by 85 percent of the voters last November. I guess some folks don't think the people should have the right to make that decision.

Most knowledgeable aviation professionals simply shake their heads at rare, but occasional silly accidents like the one Mr. Norman cites or the common and ridiculous assumption that failure to file a flight plan causes a wreck. Could it be that Mr. Norman's argument is actually the one of a person who buys a home next to an airport and then objects to airplanes?

Mr. Norman also blindly assumes that a flight school for high school students will automatically "represent a severe safety issue". Yeah, I guess we shouldn't encourage these motivated young people to learn about aviation... let's just let 'em play video games and hang out downtown.

Herb Kelleher, the founder and former CEO of Southwest Airlines, recently sounded the alarm of a growing pilot shortage. The current Science of Flight class at Sisters High School is the only such one in Oregon. It not only stimulates these young scholars with a subject which demands maturity and responsibility, but it also prepares them for real, necessary and well-paying jobs... Oh, goodness, let's not help create jobs ... after all, our country has no job shortage!

I sincerely hope that the Bensons are successful in their passionate attempt to help this community and its youth, in spite of the efforts of a very small number of vocal obstructionists.

Brian Lansburgh

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To the Editor:

I want to stand up and applaud Marti Dale and the Silver Fins for having the courage and the moxie to finally learn how to swim. I have been a lifelong swimmer and waterman, and the benefit water has added to my life is immeasurable.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately three-quarters of a million people swim recreationally every day. Unfortunately there are about 10 drownings every day as well. It is beyond my comprehension how we can lose 10 people a day while so many more people seek out water for their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

As a former aquatic instructor I have experienced people make excuses like, "I've had a bad experience," "I'm a sinker," "It's just not my thing," to simply not wanting to be seen in a bathing suit or not wanting to get their hair wet. I have even met parents whose fear of the water transferred to their children without any basis. As a former instructor, however, I have also taken children and adults who were petrified by the water and guided them through the process until they were able to swim laps. This is proof enough to me that everyone can swim. Even infants can learn how to float face-up before learning to walk for goodness sake. No excuses allowed!

I understand that not everyone is destined to be a swimmer or waterman, but everyone... yes, EVERYONE, should know how to swim. I firmly believe that swimming is an essential life skill and learning how to swim sooner rather than later can only add value to one's life. Once again I stand up and applaud Marti Dale and the Silver Fins for leading the charge and showing others they can learn to swim at any age.

The benefits to swimming are extremely well documented. I challenge you to find out for yourself. I'd be happy to talk with you directly about it if you would like.

Jeremy Storton

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To the Editor:

Mr. Norman's long diatribe addressing the airport annexation (and his other pet peeves, like back-in parking) is so disingenuous (The Nugget, October 23, page 2). He's been to meetings on the subject and shouldn't propagandize. The Nugget should perhaps weigh credibility before bestowing "Guest Columnist" on a writer. Reporter John Griffith has been at some of the meetings when public testimony was taken.

The 120 number was an admitted mis-speak by attorney Dixon. The 120 number was actually a reference to future job creation at the airport. The attorney has corrected the mistake wherever it comes up, and Mr. Norman knows that.

The airport has existed since the '40s and was not near homes for scores of years. The homes to the northeast of the airport appear to have been built since the '80s and '90s. Maybe some discord should be leveled at the county planners that allow such foolish mis-planning. However, we are where we are today and I saw good effort on both sides of the issue, working to get along in harmony.

The airport is in full compliance with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 836.616, which is available online. It is also in compliance with the county zoning as it presently exists. Benny (Benson, owner) has bent over backwards to ensure compliance now and in the future, as well as instituting very particular noise compliance rules. Admittedly, the noise compliance issues will be a work-in-progress, as it is at some other airports.

Jack Addison