© 2002
The Nugget Newspaper
Sisters, Oregon
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Letters, letters, letters
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

My letter (The Nugget, April 24, page 2) on the proposed Squaw Creek Land Exchange apparently caused some concerns.

While my letter expressed my opinion as a private citizen, some may have connected it with my position as a Forest Service employee. I regret any confusion.

Also, it was not my intention to imply that our democratic legislative process does not allow for public review and comment. Your elected officials will listen to you on this issue, and they will seek public support for the proposal before they act.

But it is time to turn this discussion towards the issues. The debate should not be about my professional credentials, or Mr. (Paul) Dewey's well-earned laurels as an environmental activist. Nothing is gained by an argument about how far the property may be from town or how easily accessible it may be.

You all can judge for yourselves.

Rather, the community needs to determine if the Squaw Creek property is better served in private or public ownership. The community also needs to decide how much they value public ownership of the forest and streambank, and if the proposal will be a reasonable and fair trade-off for the loss of ownership and access. Ask questions, visit the property, and form your own opinion. If and when the proposal reaches your elected representatives, let them know what you think.

Rod Bonacker

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To the Editor:

The April 30, 2002 issue of The Nugget Newspaper presented an opinion by Paul D. Dewey defending the Squaw Creek land swap.

He spoke of draft legislation, although everyone I have talked to says no draft legislation exists. I have obtained a map of the proposed Squaw Creek land that should be made public along with the proposed legislation, rather than keeping it under cover from public comment, but still on a "fast-track" schedule before Congress recesses.

Mr. Dewey says public access is guaranteed to Squaw Creek; yes it is, but not on one mile of the west bank of the creek. He dismissed any concern that the creek would not be accessible to the public since "only a couple of existing parcels of private land exist" along the creek.

True, but under the proposal, there would be one mile more of private land on the west bank, limiting public access.

He echoed the statement of supporting groups that basically say the lands are not being effectively managed and protected by the Forest Service, so they should be locked up in private ownership. Are we going to trade all federal lands that are abused? Maybe Congress should provide better funding.

His statement about the Forest Service being excluded is incomplete. The Forest Service at three levels declined interest in the initial land swap proposal, so the local private landowner went out and upped the ante by acquiring more desirable Steens Mountain property to trade, hired an out-of-state land lobbying firm and Mr. Dewey to work the swap around the Forest Service and through Congress.

Rather than providing a "cow-free wilderness with almost two miles of Wild and Scenic River and habitat for the Redband trout," as Mr. Dewey proposes, let's keep "house-free" public lands on a mile of Squaw Creek just below its Wild and Scenic River designation for all Oregonians.

Contact members of the Oregon Congressional Delegation and request a formal public review and comment period on this proposal not dictated by the schedule of Congress.

Senator Ron Wyden

259 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510; (202) 224-5244; Fax: (541) 330-6266; (541) 330-9142 (Bend); senator@wyden.senate.gov.

Senator Gordon Smith

SD B-359, Washington, D.C. 20510; (202) 224-3753; Fax: (202) 228-3997; (541) 278-1129 (Pendleton); web:gsmith.senate.gov/

Rep. Greg Walden

1404 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515; (202) 225-6730; greg.walden@mail.house.gov.

Submitted by,

Jim Fisher

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To the Editor:

Honestly, I am pretty certain I could do much more easily without the City of Sisters bureaucracy than I could without the local library.

Sincerely,

Micheal Partridge

* * *

To the Editor:

In the upcoming election, Deschutes County voters will be asked to fill the newly created Circuit Judge position.

Of the four candidates on the ballot, I believe Stephen Forte to be the best choice. That opinion is shared by the great majority of local attorneys responding to an Oregon State Bar poll.

In 20-plus years of practicing law, I have had the opportunity to represent clients in almost every Oregon county. Overall, the Deschutes County bench stands out as one of the most capable and hard-working. Stephen Forte will maintain this high standard.

As Deschutes County's population continues to increase, and state funding for basic infrastructure continues to decrease, the importance of an intelligent, fair-minded and industrious bench becomes even more significant and fundamental. In all likelihood, the person who wins this election will retain that position for as long as he or she wants.

That is why I am voting Forte for Judge.

Sincerely,

Charles N. Fadeley

* * *

To the Editor:

I have known Bill Hopp for 33 years, having met him at the outset of undergraduate school at Vanderbilt in late 1968. I recently had the privilege and pleasure of presenting him for admission to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Bill Hopp is a man of courage and integrity and has a quick and incisive mind, an even and stable temperament and the personal presence which lends dignity to the office he seeks. He has the necessary experience from 26 years as a trial lawyer and 11 years service as a pro tem judge. He has the ability to decide issues fairly, impartially and with the poise displayed by the best judges.

The quality and integrity of the bench is dependent upon minimizing the role of political favoritism in the election process. Competence is the criteria and Bill Hopp is the candidate of choice.

Michael Campbell

Campbell & Campbell, Chattanooga, TN.

* * *

To the Editor:

To the residents of the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District and the Black Butte Rural Fire Protection District -- I would like to thank you for the outstanding participation in our second annual fire free dump at the Fryrear landfill.

On Saturday, May 4, we had 110 loads and on Sunday, May 5, we had 72 loads. That nearly doubled our participation from last year.

You all made my weekend a great one. Thank you. Let's have a fire free summer, everybody.

Deanne Dement

Cloverdale Fire District

* * *

To the Editor:

I would like to acknowledge the hard work that the Sisters High School Culinary Arts students did on the preparation of the food for the high school ground breaking ceremony.

Under the direction of Pat Lamoureux, Catering Manager for Sisters School District, the culinary arts students did a wonderful job.

Many comments were made at the ceremony regarding how good the food looked and tasted. Many people do not realize the work that happens behind the scenes.

They deserve a big hand for the recognition of their work.

Thanks,

Janice Comfort, Nutrition Coordinator, Sisters School District

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