Letters to the Editor 08/01/2018

Our home in Sun Mountain burned on Thursday, July 26. We want to thank the firefighters from all the districts who worked so hard in the fight. Thanks to the Sheriff's Department personnel, and to those neighbors who were so supportive in offering their homes, food, water and friendship. Thanks also to the Red Cross who arrived to help.

Carolyn and Hurshel Russell

••••

To the Editor:

This past Saturday, July 28, Naomi Smith was laid to rest in her family plot at Camp Polk Cemetery.

She was a true Oregon Pioneer.

As a young girl, Naomi came to Sisters as a Carroll.

She went to school and graduated from Sisters High School and soon married Raymond Smith, a good-looking man, husband and provider.

Together, they raised three boys and three girls.

Michael, Jan, Sonny, Laurie, Jeffery and Cecil.

And they helped many young men in their lives, all from a small home on Larch Street.

Ray died in an auto accident in his early 40s, leaving Naomi with his strength and courage.

She transformed that courage into her children.

So we wonder, what makes Naomi someone who is special, who stands out above the crowd.

Someone who makes the news and catches the eye.

She doesn't.

If you look at Naomi Smith at 98 years old, you may ask, "How can this frail, small woman have done so much in her life?" Simply put, Naomi Smith had the spirit of a giant, the will of Hannibal, and the strength of Sampson.

Her kindness and pleasant manner were her attractive quality.

She made you feel welcome and right at home.

God was looking after her when her daughter Jan and family took her in for care and attention in her elder years.

So you may ask, "What does Naomi's life have to do with me?" Just to let you know, those who met Naomi Smith were blessed to meet and know her. The citizens of Sisters, Oregon, salute you. God bless Naomi Smith and all her family, a true Oregon Pioneer.

Lance Trowbridge

••••

To the Editor:

My bad: I complained last week about the "live" ODOT Sisters roundabout cam not being "live." It turns out the live roundabout cam IS available on tripcheck.com

Judy Bull

•••

To the Editor:

Just say no to drugs! The vote to allow legalized marijuana sales in Sisters is not about letting people get a little high in the privacy of their homes. This vote is about an in-your-face attempt at making drugs socially acceptable and being able to publically advertise it.

I travel a lot for work, and people now openly smoke marijuana on the streets of Portland and Seattle. It is readily available; Sisters will be no different. The Sheriff's Department is spread too thin to have officers walking the streets of Sisters looking for violators.

The argument that legalized weed will attract additional business in Sisters is ridiculous. The same could be said about porn shops, strip clubs and casinos. Sisters is a family-friendly tourist town. In the long run, many tourists will avoid Sisters if they have to walk down the streets looking at signs which promote drug use. I can see it now:

Son: "Mom, can we go into that shop?"

Mom: "No, that one is for adults only. It's where they buy drugs."

Son: "Oh cool, I can't wait to be an adult!"

And to our "Leaders": Shame on the City Council for even considering marijuana sales and changing the ambiance of Sisters. The additional revenue would amount to less than 1 percent of your operating budget. This is a TOURIST town. Regardless of how hard you try to bring in additional businesses or make it a bedroom community to Bend, it will first and foremost be a tourist town. Please don't destroy what is left of our quaint little town by making it a drug mecca.

If pot sales are allowed, then Sisters should add yet one more sign to the hundreds that already exist. It should read: "Families are not welcome."

Eugene Trahern

•••

To the Editor

I have a theory about Trump and his wealthy friends, especially those in the White House and Congress. Some of these people are smart. They must realize that scientists are right when they say that global warming is changing the world's climate. So why do they continue to get rid of policies meant to help this terrifying situation?

The smart ones do believe that our climate is changing in frightening ways. But they also believe that they-rich people and their families-will be able to survive in style. The more money they have, the better the style. They can build their own private islands, pay architects to construct floating buildings, and fly on private jets to visit wealthy friends. That's why they're doing everything they possibly can to make more wealth flow into their bank accounts now, before the weather and climate get even worse.

Some of the not-so-smart privileged people don't want to believe anything odd is happening. They want to protect the system that made them rich, so they wear the best earplugs and blinders money can buy in order to ignore reality. Finally, we get to the "upper class twits of the year," as the Monty Python players named them.

People who fall into any of these three groups probably have a better chance to survive than average or poor people. The smart ones have a plan, and it doesn't include the rest of us. They simply don't care if we survive or not, and they don't care what happens to our planet as long as they can continue to live in style. This is the only theory that makes any sense to me.

But we can't give up. We have an entire planet to protect. Most of Oregon's congressional delegation believes as we do and is fighting those who are rolling back protections. That leaves Greg Walden. Call his office in Bend at 541-389-4408 or send him an email at https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me and tell him how you feel about climate protections.

Paula Surmann

•••

To the Editor:

We would like to thank all of the first responders for their efforts in controlling the fire that occurred on West St. last week.

It's very unfortunate that our neighbors lost their home and a couple others suffered some property damage, but it could have been so much worse with the dry conditions and the wind that always seems to be blowing.

We would like to especially note the Cloverdale volunteer firefighters. They arrived quickly, and I think it was largely due to their efforts that more damage wasn't done. They are a very dedicated group that give up their time and put themselves in danger to help their community.

To just say thank you doesn't seem adequate, but do know that we all appreciate you! This is the second time in two years that they have saved homes close by due to fire (2016 fire on Fryrear Road).

We wish you the best and safety in your work.

Jo & Bill Kilmer