Letters to the Editor 04/16/2014

To the Editor:

In the March 26 issue of The Nugget, Rep. Walden put forth a bill, H.R. 4272, to change the way travel in the national forest can be done. What irritates me is this is another political statement from Walden which he knows will never take place.

According to Google's first page, one can find that bill has very little chance of getting out of committee and its chance of passing if it ever does is five percent. In addition, Walden didn't write the bill; a Union County commissioner and a motorized recreation leader wrote the bill, which may be why the bill has no other sponsors in the House. What Walden is trying to do is to create distrust for a government agency. "Far too often, though, management decisions are handed down from Washington D.C. by agencies who have likely only seen the forests on a map."

What is overlooked by those wanting their own way in a bill like this is the wide range of effect it could have in every national forest in the whole United States.

I feel that every ranger district in the U.S. has a better understanding of what the local needs and conditions are than Walden's bill to satisfy the vote-getting rhetoric he employed for some voters in La Grande.

B. Graham

s s s

To the Editor:

We are fortunate here in Central Oregon to be able to get out and enjoy spring bike rides with clear roads, great views and, oh my, cans and bottles and trash!

On a recent bike ride along Indian Ford Road from approximately Mile 1 to Hwy. 20 (five miles), I counted 80 cans and/or bottles on the north side of the road and 50 on the south side. Some areas were better than others and I thank the surrounding homeowners for stepping up and doing their part to keep Sisters Country clean.

I encourage youth groups, individuals or property owners to help clean up the roadsides in their community.

With increased visitors, bikers and hikers in the area, let's show them the real beauty of this area and not the trash and negligence of others.

I, for one, will start right here in Camp Sherman doing my part to make Sisters Country clean and trash-free.

Linda Gustafson, Camp Sherman

s s s

To the Editor:

Many thanks to the Sisters School Board members and staff who are working hard to balance the budget for next year while continuing to deliver quality education.

Since our school taxes are lower than any other district in Central Oregon, and our district could not collect all of the local option tax that was approved by voters, we're happy to make a donation to the Sisters School District that helps us pay the full bill we pledged to pay and helps the schools pay their bills.

If everyone who is able contributes $100-$200 to the district (or more), it will help address part of the budget shortfall. We realize this is just a small part of what is needed, and the district and community will need to implement longer-term solutions, including a strategy for attracting more students and a bond for technology and maintenance.

If you can help, please join us and send a tax-deductible donation to Sisters School District, 525 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters, OR 97759. Also, please continue to attend school board meetings and be part of the ongoing dialogue about the future of our district. If you want to learn more, there will be an information table at the Community Dinner and Bingo evening Monday, April 21, 5:30 p.m. at Sisters High School.

Jim and Peyton Griffin