Letters to the Editor 11/02/2016

To the Editor:

I, for one, will be so glad when the Cyrus family gets their hemp crop in and they can turn off their fans and helicopters.

I'm exhausted.

Judy Bull

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To the Editor:

Thanks to Craig Rullman for his thoughtful and informative response to the recent "Looking Outward" column "Just Look at the Facts."

In a country that has become so bitterly divided politically, I think we are all simply waiting for honest and balanced political candidates male or female to help bring this country together in a more mutual and positive direction.

We will get though this election regardless of the many distractions or the outcome, and thanks to our freedoms will live to vote another day. 

Greg Vandehey

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To the Editor:

It was quite revealing when Commissioner Alan Unger said in last week's Nugget that, "I think we do need a trail between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch."

Really? I think that even folks that wanted the asphalt path would unanimously agree that what Sisters NEEDS are living wages and affordable housing that will attract young families; that will, in turn, support our local economy year-round and keep our school district solvent. That's what Sisters needs.

This is not just quibbling over semantics, as the difference between need and want is huge. It is imperative that our entrusted elected officials can responsibly discern between the two.

Alan Unger doesn't get it, and he won't be getting my vote, either.

Steve Madsen

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To the Editor:

Our crew was flying a 12-hour mission off the coast of Vietnam (1972) looking for communist vessels attempting to bring weapons into the north. 

During a time of boredom a "deplorable" brought out a copy of Playboy Magazine.  Naturally, being "normal" males and away from our wives for five months, we ignored the magazine and continued our discussion on flower arrangements and favorite recipes.  Yeah, right.

You're offended as a woman? Then you ought to be terrified at what is at risk for our country; the self-righteous hypocrites feigning disgust in the face of $20 trillion in debt, Benghazi cover-up, top-secret emails cover-up, fast and furious, voter fraud, Obamacare disaster, IRS as a political tool, open borders, intercity crime raging, terrorism, and the attack on our Constitutional rights. 

The fact is that the "good-ole-boy-and-girl" establishments of both parties are terrified that Trump wants to clean house, so the only way to stop him is character assassination. 

Yes, men can be pigs. I would like to meet, however, the woman that never made derogatory, sexual, demeaning, racial, religious, or appearance remarks about others in private or otherwise. Will you please step forward? That's what I thought. Now get out and vote to make America great again!

Jeff Mackey

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To the Editor

Please consider the re-election of Alan Unger as Deschutes County Commissioner.

It appears that we do have two good candidates to choose between. I will share with you why I support re-electing Unger and allowing him to continue the good work he has been focusing on.

I know Alan through working together in collaborative organizations to restore the health and wellbeing of our Central Oregon watersheds and forests. Alan chairs the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, and is also a member of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, the Deschutes River Conservancy, and the Watershed Alliance. Alan believes, as I do, that the missions of these organizations are very important to the sustainable ecological, economic, and social well-being of our region.

I have been very impressed and appreciative of Alan's commitment to stay involved in the work of these organizations as a County Commissioner.

Alan believes that a community functions best when everyone contributes in a civil and respectful way ... understanding and respecting our differences and looking for common ground to build on and move forward. These values have become apparent in my work with Alan.

I also noticed on his website that he is involved in many different organizations in Central Oregon - seemingly focusing mostly on job creation, K-12 education and career preparation, forest and watershed management, and transportation issues. Alan represents us as a county commissioner, as chair of six organizations, vice-chairing two, and as a member of 13 others.

In this way he is working hard for and with us. Let's re-elect him so he can continue his good work.

Bill Anthony

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As a member of the liberal contingent you have labeled as a "shame-based, militant, secular-fundamentalist, virtue signaling, self-loathing, malignantly seething, accusatory, devisive, segregationist, exclusivist cult" who has female "plumbing" and believes in "rules of discourse" and civility, I appreciate Mr. Rullman's exposing his apparently true "content of character," according to reference he made in the October 26 Nugget, to Martin Luther King's dream.

Now we all know that the good old cowboy full of folksy stories sports a flipside, which appears to be full of the vitriolic anger that prevents discussion to find common ground with anyone of differing opinions. As a woman, I recognize the fear that many men harbor in the prospect of losing control, as women continue to seek equality and opportunity on all levels.

Perhaps Mr. Rullman could read the report from this week's October U Magazine as to the status of women right here in Oregon in terms of violence, wage and wealth gap, systemic racism, health barriers, and economic fragility, among other areas. And then he could do more than a "cursory study of world history" to get his facts straight about gender issues and the place of women historically, up to this very moment!

Thank you, Dan Glode and Ken Serkownek, for "getting it" and for your civility and clarity of expression. Meanwhile, many of my "secular cult" members will pray for relief of the pain behind Mr. Rullman's anguish, just as soon as they finish their volunteering to help all people with "fundamental" needs and rights for education, food, homes, opportunities, healthcare, safety and well-being.

Wendie Vermillion

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To the Editor:

I need to tell you about a young man, who is honest and caring. He is my eldest son.

In 2013, my husband took ill, my son cancelled all his obligations to come to our aid and care for his father. He stayed with us until the dreaded day in January of 2014, when his father passed from this life to the next. I cannot tell you how devastating that was. You can only imagine that almost 60 years of being with someone as close as we were and losing him, can be so devastating.

Our son, came to my rescue by being here for me. He lives in Sisters, Oregon, and travels quite a bit for his work. He has been here for me very often. He took me to Europe twice and has brought me to Sisters to visit. We went on a cruise last year.

There was a water leak while I was away in Oregon for over two months. It damaged the whole downstairs. My son immediately took over and has been overseeing the repairs.

He has been here for me and has cared for me through the good and bad. If you are wondering who son is, he is Richard Esterman.

Tell me, Mr. Allen (Rick Allen, interim city manager), do you have parents and are you as caring to them?

Myra Esterman

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To the Editor:

I'm issuing a purposeful provocation in support of principled apathy on Election Day. 

The 2016 presidential candidates offer us a shambolic, imbecilic vulgarian on one hand and a shrewd, manipulative charlatan on the other.

If enough voters opted out by staying home, there would be no mandate for a feeble head of state. Of course, this is unlikely to happen, but one must ask, "Who's the real deadwood of democracy? Those who vote or those who don't?"

Jonathan Leahey

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To the Editor:

There have been a number of issues in recent weeks surrounding the Sisters Eagle Airport. We want to let you know that your County Commissioners are aware of these issues and are monitoring the situation. It is important to understand that the airport proper is located within the City limits of Sisters, and that the Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) has primary jurisdiction regarding the actual boundary of the airport. That said, Deschutes County will be involved to a certain extent in the coming weeks and months.

Deschutes County does have code enforcement jurisdiction with regard to the landing area associated with sky diving operations. Recently, Deschutes County has entered into a compliance agreement with the operator including a mandate that all sky diving operations cease by November 30, 2016.

The paved runout adjacent to the end of the runway appears to have been installed without required county permits. Community Development staff continues to work with the airport operator and adjacent homeowners to address this issue.

It is our understanding that the Sisters Airport is seeking to secure upgraded status from ODA. This public process, outlined under Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 738-090-0040(2), requires ODA to ascertain the present boundary of the airport. The final boundary of the airport is determined by Oregon's State Aviation Board. Once that process is completed, should an application be submitted, the airport operator will be able to proceed with local (city and county) applications to expand the boundary consistent with Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 836.610. The allowed land uses must be consistent with those identified under ORS 836.616.

We acknowledge the concerns we have received from Sisters area residents, and will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.

Deschutes County Board of Commissioners

Alan Unger

Tammy Baney

Tony DeBone