Letters to the Editor 8/21/2024

Expand county commission

To the Editor:

I am writing to express my appreciation to those making the effort to expand the size of the Deschutes County Commission. With a current membership of only three representing the rapidly expanding population of the county, adding to the viewpoints of those representing us is long overdue. Approving this expansion is particularly critical since only one of three current commissioners shows any interest or ability to properly manage the county.

The rampant violations of the county code and ordinances so pervasive in the county must be addressed. Essential to this effort is the election of those to the proposed new positions who have a demonstrated will and the leadership ability to undertake what is necessary to see that the county government carries out the existing mandates of the governed.

Roger Detweiler

STAR project

To the Editor:

This is my first time writing into The Nugget, but Bill Bartlett’s “journalism” regarding the STAR project incensed me enough to write in. Mr. Bartlett is vague and misleading throughout the article, only mentioning specific parts of the far-reaching STAR project once and not making it entirely clear if those named trails are the “downhill” trail(s) he’s referring to (all of the proposed trails are two-way FYI).

His use of a quote from the comment section of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife makes it seem more like it was the Department itself commenting on the effect of mountain bikes on trails, versus a random person who chose to comment. Additionally, the quoted information that “bicycles can cause degradation of wildlife habitat through erosion and widening of trails.” is opinion, as there is not sufficient evidence that mountain biking causes more trail degradation than hiking does and in reality it’s actually how the trail is constructed, frequency of use, and other factors that have a greater impact than user type.

Studies have also shown that hikers and joggers do in fact disturb wildlife so to take aim at bikers, especially using the term “downhill” is purely a way to evoke emotion from opponents of bikers. I think there exists a solution that meets the needs of mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians and reduces user conflict among these groups while also accommodating for the vibrant wildlife around Sisters, but choosing to create and promote an “us versus them” narrative through reporting like this is not that solution.

Scott McBride

To the Editor:

Regarding Bill Bartlett’s August 14 article “Trail plan raises wildlife concerns,” he restates some of ODFW’s comments on Sisters Trail Additions and Replacement project (STAR). These comments are very misleading regarding the Brush Creek Trail and “Trail A” as transecting “important summer ungulate habitat that is currently intact and functionally uninterrupted by roads or trails.” To be correct, these are not new trails in a roadless, trail-less area and are not located in an ODFW Priority Wildlife Connectivity Area nor a Conservation Opportunity Area.

Brush Creek Trail (BCT) is an existing wilderness trail, built in the 1930s. It is in the eastern part of Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area, about 25 miles from Sisters and south of the Cabot Lake Trail. Being a ridge-top trail, it offers spectacular mountain views and also provides close access to the PCT. Currently, the lower 1.5 miles of trail tread is largely non-existent due to thick, post-fire revegetation and maintenance neglect. The upper 2.5 miles has tread, ranging from faint to very evident. Because the trail is difficult to follow from its trailhead, signage has been removed to discourage hiking and minimize potential search and rescue missions. The STAR project proposes to build a realigned, sustainable tread on the lower portion and “harden” the upper portion tread. The accompanying “Trail A” is a 1.7-mile trail that will follow a decommissioned road outside the Wilderness and connect the BCT trailhead with the Cabot Lake trailhead. This will allow hikers to complete a 13-mile loop from a single trailhead, visiting beautiful Carl Lake, traversing a unique volcanic/alpine section of the PCT, and enjoying the grand views from the BCT.

I believe the BCT and Trail A will be well-received by the Central Oregon hiking community, where limited entry wilderness permits and population growth are demanding more hiking opportunities.

Greg Kallio

To the Editor:

The Nugget’s August 14 story “Trail plan raises wildlife concerns” was so misleading and lacking in context that it was a disservice to objective readers.

Despite the hyperbolic lede, Adam Bronstein’s photos hardly reveal some improbable discovery of a “wildlife superhighway” in the Peterson Ridge Trail system.

It’s well known in the local trail community that a family of cougars live near the upper picnic tables. They’ve been there for at least the 12 years I’ve ridden PRT. It’s not hard to find their tracks in the dust around the Hello Kitty Connector trail.

Black bears also roam the PRT system. Same with coyotes, deer and elk. None of this is news to people who spend time on these trails. It’s not hard to see them or their sign.

The article also failed to disclose that all of the three proposed downhill trail additions (designated Trails B, F, and H in the STAR proposal) are within rock-throwing distance of, and connect to, existing trails. Trail H will run parallel to the Metolius-Windigo trail to minimize conflict with equestrians. It beggars belief that adding three trails close to existing ones will create (in Mr. Bronstein’s words) “a wildlife desert”.

It’s really disappointing The Nugget chose to publish Mr. Bronstein’s overwrought hyperbole and misinformation without critical evaluation. Especially since Mr. Bronstein has a known agenda. Search his comments and writings in The Nugget and Oregon Capital Chronicle for examples.

We should expect more objectivity from The Nugget’s news reporting.

Bob Hoffman

Move on to what?

To the Editor:

Response to August 14 Bunkhouse Chronicle:

I always look forward to reading Craig Rullman’s column and his unique style of communication, and life experiences. As a brother in VFW Post 8138 I am thankful for his service to this country, and as a police officer.

In this issue something Craig said caught my attention “With our political organs — it seems — only capable of producing candidates this bad, this vacuous, it isn’t difficult to predict what the next four years are going to look like, whoever wins.”

This rather flippant word salad ought to be followed up with some factual columns given the venue Craig’s been gifted by Jim Cornelius to express free speech.

Is the implication those representing our two different parties are in essence no different? What I find disturbing is the recommendation to “file the next four years, in advance, in the ‘History Repeating Itself’ drawer and move on.” Move on to what? Eliminate fracking, continued open borders, decriminalize illegal immigration, free healthcare for illegals, eliminate private healthcare, infanticide, stop school choice, oppose Title IX, defund the police, oppose parental rights, sexual mutilation of children, replace cash bail systems, destruction of our military with woke agenda and CRT, continued weaponization of justice system, mandatory electric cars, colleges breeding hate for America and vicious antisemitism, and just maybe leadership weakness that leads to World War III.

We must not forget the ominous warning by President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the blood stream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

I would love to see written factual move-on-to-what truth offered by the candidates; given a mainstream press totally void of journalistic integrity. Time to pull out that big target sign again?

Jeff Mackey