Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

Recently I had a larger propane tank installed, which required running a new gas line. I decided to do it legally so I had it inspected by the county. They charged me $150 for a 10-minute inspection.

This defeats the whole purpose of inspections, because next time I will think twice before I call for an inspection. We pay substantial property taxes, and in my opinion it would benefit the general public if such inspections were done for no charge rather than revenue-producing fees.

Drew Berding

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To the Editor:

Say what you want about the knuckleheads out by Burns, but they do have a point. If, for example, the portion of forest around Sisters Country would belong and be managed by a more local entity, maybe it would employ a few people AND some dollars would help fix the schools (why they don't budget for maintenance is a mystery to me).

But as it is, T2 (a logging company that is currently doing a job south of town) only gets to thin a little parcel here and there at the pleasure of the Overlords from the Cirque du Forest, if you would pardon my French.

And before you get yer knickers all in a bunch, let us discuss the pros and cons of thinning and responsible logging. We can do it, and sequester some carbon, or Mother Nature will "thin" it for us a la Pole Creek and release more pollutants than a fleet of VWs.

Maybe you're of the opinion that WE messed up the natural cycle fires; read the book about the Big Burn in 1910.

Or perhaps the school district can sell some land it has on Locust/Cascade to ODOT and we can have an up-to-date school AND a roundabout on the east end of town. I know, I know, roundabouts are dangerous, confusing and don't work, but, personally, I never got stranded on one waiting for the signal to change while riding my bicycle or motorcycle.

Marco Gnos

A happy if slightly sarcastic resident of this great town

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To the Editor:

I am writing this in memory of Charlotte June Mouser.

Charlotte was my friend, my adopted grandmother, my teacher, and I did her hair for 35 years.

When she passed she was 97 years of age, born June 16, 1918, passed January 7, 2016. Charlotte was born in Oklahoma; yes, she was as determined (or stubborn as an Oklahoma mule) as any woman I had met - she taught me patience and made me understand why thriftiness was so important.

Charlotte's husband passed when her two children were young. In those days, public assistance was not an option. Charlotte was asked to help out at the post office over the holidays and she worked there till 1983. That is where I met Charlotte; she helped my sister and me set up general delivery mail service and gave us the information on how to get permanent mail at our home address. That was in 1978.

Charlotte loved to travel, the ocean, fish, garden, play cards and above all she loved her family. Charlotte's family is scattered around many states; she was the last of her brother and sisters, but she has grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She loved them all equally. Her daughter-in-law Carol Mouser lives in Redmond.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband Ray, daughter Delores, son Don, and two grandsons.

When her son passed away, Charlotte asked me to help her with her finances and legal things. I spent many hours with her and she was a treasure to me. We shared many life stories, had good laughs, good food, and she was there for me when I lost my husband. I miss Charlotte very much, but she always told me not to grieve for her when she passed, just smile and always help people, even if I didn't know them. I'm going to try to keep that promise.

Thank you, Charlotte, for being my friend.

Love and respect,

Becki Neal