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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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

I was born and raised in a small town similar to Sisters.

Everyone seemed friendly, with great family virtues. You would hear about all the crime and vandalism in the big city and think, "sure is nice that kind of thing doesn't happen in our little town!"

For 40 years I enjoyed that dream, but on Monday, June 17, reality moved into Sisters.

My son left for a week of football camp on Sunday and on Monday his car was vandalized beyond repair (see story).

He only had $2,500 into the car, which to him was a bundle of money. He was trying to sell it to recoup some of his money so he could add that to his savings to buy a car that may be more reliable.

Without that money, it isn't possible.

I don't know whether it was revenge, jealousy, envy or someone just getting their thrills at Drew's expense. Whatever the reason, it left a sick feeling in my stomach and a tear in my eye for my son's loss and for the person responsible.

I hope someday, when my son is walking past the service station on his way to work to re-earn the money to buy himself a car, that the person responsible for breaking all the windows out of Drew's car is there getting his window washed and he thinks about what he did and how Drew can't get his window washed anymore and just maybe give Drew a lift to work while he apologizes for his actions.

Sorry doesn't bring it all back, but it's a step in the right direction.

Melvin and Sandee Herburger

* * *

To the Editor:

On behalf of the many volunteers who assisted the Sisters City Council in planning and announcing their June 18 workshop on the proposed Squaw Creek land exchange, thanks to all of you who came.

Just as a businessman never knows how many people will come to his open house, we had no idea of how many people would attend and how deep the feelings for Squaw Creek are in this community. It was very rewarding for us when over 200 people came to the workshop.

It was clear that this area means so much to most people and in different ways from the comments of the 30 some people who testified in opposition of the exchange.

We now await a position of the city council. Hopefully, they soon will be telling Senators Wyden and Smith, and Representative Walden, that this exchange is not good, and that it is not necessary to lose a Central Oregon treasure to save a Steens Mountain treasure.

In the meantime, you as individuals can tell our congressmen the same message. They understand that public opinion is quickly transformed into votes.

Jim Fisher

* * *

To the Editor:

I must also respond to Eric Dolson's editorial regarding the abolishment of the Oregon State Police.

That would not, in my opinion, be a good move. Those people who poach game, kill eagles, destroy our natural wonders and otherwise raise havoc with whatever makes a target would cheer if the Oregon State Police were not around.

Don't ask the Deschutes County Sheriff Department to take over OSP's responsibilities, they're already overworked, over budget and asking for more help. Those good people can not do it all.

There are no more effective men and women in our state's law enforcement community than the game officers of the Oregon State Police. I have had the pleasure of working with these admirable people for over 40 years, apprehending shooters, poachers and falcon crooks, and have never been let down or seen them fail to do their job.

Let me tell you about one of those great men: Avon Mayfield...

Officer Mayfield was a true gentleman, a wonderful policeman and good friend. I fished with him and enjoyed the friendship of him and his delightful wife, Peggy. Every time I heard of or witnessed someone killing a raptor -- be it owl, hawk, eagle or falcon -- I called Avon for help. He always responded with the same statement, "Wait 'till I get my uniform on..." That attitude is still the same today throughout the Oregon State Police.

There was also Kenny Roach -- who put the fear of God in many a poacher. And retired game officer Gary Hayden, a man who arrested people who killed game animals illegally, but was also forever diligent in catching those miscreants who maimed our nongame wildlife. And the list goes on...

There is no other police agency in our great state like OSP officers that can effectively apprehend people who needlessly destroy our natural resources. I for one would never vote to disband such a valuable component of Oregon's law enforcement community.

Jim Anderson

Editor's note: Jim Anderson is a freelance writer for The Nugget.

* * *

To the Editor:

As the school year comes to a close I would like to take this opportunity to thank some very dedicated people who assisted the Sisters High School's Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition class with their spring group projects.

One of our goals is to provide students with project opportunities that allow them to do field work with professional mentors, working on sites in and surrounding the Sisters community. These projects allow students to explore, work together, research and then report on subjects ranging from fish to birds and from vegetation to history.

First, a special thanks goes to Bill Anthony from the Sisters Rangers District for his continued support of this unique and rewarding program. Also, our sincere appreciation goes out to Cindi Glick for her help in coordinating communication between the school and Forest Service and her work, along with Pete Miles, with the Urban Forestry Project.

And a big "thank you" goes to the following Forest Service personnel: Mike Riehle working with the Squaw Creek Fish and Water group; Lori Turner and Chris Hennings with the Trout Creek Wildlife group; Jeff Sims working with the Sisters Trails project; Dave Priest and his crew with the Black Butte Swamp Vegetation group; Jeremy Fields and his crew working with our school greenhouse and finally, Martin Winch and the Deschutes Basin Land Trust, for their assistance with our History and Archeology group.

Sincerely,

Glen Herron, Rand Runco, Samra Spear and Rob Phelps

IEE Teachers, Sisters High School

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