Letters to the Editor 03/28/2018

To the Editor:

On Wednesday, March 14, students across the country protested "lack of gun control legislation." As an American student I am deeply heartbroken for the families and communities experiencing the aftermath of mass school shootings and naturally think about how to contend with such a complex problem. Yes, stopping mass shootings is a complex issue.

One of the solutions proposed is raising the possession age to 21 which not only overlooks the shootings committed by college-age students but neglects the fact that many kids have access to firearms before turning 18 via family and friends.

Another suggestion is stricter background checks, which doesn't do any good if the perpetrator is not on file for any previous criminal activities: felonies, drug use or addiction, is an alien, convicted for domestic assault or subject to restraining order, fugitive from justice or dishonorable military discharge.

Lastly the proposition to ban certain types of firearms has limits when mass shootings are committed with the most common guns in America and some shooters manage to obtain already illegal weapons. It is important to note that all fully automatic weapons, silencers, sawed-off shotguns, sawed-off rifles, semi-automatic assault weapons and guns without serial numbers are already banned.

Naturally I am with my fellow students when they shout, "Enough is enough!", but let's start within our Sisters community. I propose we create a fund for full-time armed police officers at SHS, supplying them with bullets, tasers and perhaps another officer on staff. Train students to be able to spot warning signs of potential shooters and report it; take all warning signs seriously. Finally we create mandatory counseling for troubled teens: teens with depression, drug addiction, violence or even difficult home lives.

Freedom, whilst essential for democracy, is never free from our responsibility to posterity.

Bethany Bachmeier

Sisters

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To the Editor:

The implication in both the article and the guest editorial about the Christian school is that values are not taught in public schools like they are in private religious-based schools. Without any named sources, "studies show" is not proof of superiority of morality nor respect in non-public schools.

It is a bit offensive to suggest that our Sisters schools are not great sources of getting kids involved in service and in treating others with respect while they are getting educations superior to many Oregon schools' abilities.

Sisters School District has been at the top of the stack as one of the two best schools in Oregon. That's a result of our youth learning to treat others with courtesy and compassion while becoming involved, caring citizens.

With programs such as Starry Nights, the Americana Project, Kiwanis Key Club and youth-generated community projects, along with SOAR/SPRD, Sisters has become a most desirable place to raise children. Youth who know they are appreciated are youth who become productive and happy citizens.

The school district also has the luxury of hiring superior credentialed teachers wanting to teach in a district that makes its children its most important resource.

We care about our kids enough for those kids to know that it is their responsibility to be concerned about others. These kids do this with great enthusiasm and inspiration. They are inventive, creative and wondrous.

I wish SCA well, but I cannot accept that our publicly educated kids don't meet the standards of private education in scholastics, community service or moral character, especially in Sisters Country.

Bonnie Malone

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To the Editor:

Procurement of property for a new hotel and restaurant, the Grandstay hotel will definitely be a huge asset to our community.

We have had many family members and guests visit us over the years. If they don't make reservations a year in advance, they end up staying in Redmond or Bend. That has created an issue for us to share with our family and friends wanting to visit us about the lack of availability for short stays.

We have many military friends on the East Coast and the southern states that have wanted to visit, when they inquire about motel facilities, particularly during the Quilt Show, Rodeo and other events throughout the year, we do our best to locate accommodations for them.

Congratulations to the Rodgers family, this facility on the west end of our great city has been needed for a long time.

Tom and Lorraine Barrier

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To the Editor:

Congratulations to Danae Bennett Miller for winning the roundabout art contest and to the art committee for choosing the one and only choice! You have made me proud!

Sisters is a gateway town, and I moved here for the small-town, Western theme, beautiful mountains, and ponderosas. As stated by Joellyn Loehr, "True art pushes limits," I guess that's what the piles of bent and twisted metal in Redmond and Bend do? I just look at those and think "what a waste of public money and time." I also don't think we need an artist from out of state telling us what will look good in our town.

I know what looks good, that is why I moved here. I also fail to see how the "Butte" would have reflected the colors of the forest, and how the metal bars would have made me feel like I'm driving through ponderosas. My second choice would have been Brennan Frutos's suggestion of cowboys on horses. Funny how a 9-year-old gets it.

While some might want to change the character of Sisters by saying that we should be known for "contemporary" or "abstract" art, I don't believe that notion reflects in most of the Sisters residents. There is absolutely nothing wrong with art that showcases real nature, or photography of real places from our beautiful surroundings. Adding the cast bronze elk and antelope amidst the beauty of real rock and natural landscaping is going to appeal to the vast majority of the population and welcome outsiders to our special town and the rest of Central Oregon.

Gary Wall