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The Nugget Newspaper
Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

Why are all of the statements about drug use in Sisters qualified with, "But the problem here is no more severe than in other cities in Deschutes County," ("Sheriff addresses drug concerns," The Nugget, August 14).

It's like saying, "Sure we have crime here, but it's no worse than in New York City."

Denial! Over the last few months I have heard school officials admit to drug and alcohol abuse in our school system. And I have heard repeatedly, "BUT the problems with the (unnamed) team is no worse than with other sports."

Or, "BUT the results of the student surveys on drug/alcohol use in our schools are no worse than the rest of the state."

Or, "Sure there's a problem, BUT my kids aren't involved."

After stating that "the problem appears to be limited and of relatively low intensity," Sheriff Stiles "concluded that drug use in Sisters conforms to that in Deschutes County in general."

This was followed by the statement that Deschutes County is rated as one of the highest drug trafficking counties in the state.

"Relatively low" is a contradiction with "highest," is it not?

Let's just admit that there is a drug and alcohol abuse problem in Sisters and start to deal with it.

Jim Mitchell

* * *

To the Editor:

In response to your article regarding the new training officer, John Thomas, at Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District (The Nugget, August 14), it is indeed a great feeling to see Cloverdale receive coverage of this nature.

As a constituent of that district, it is rewarding to know that steps to improve the overall effectiveness are being taken to provide fire protection for our homes.

Thank you for providing this information. I trust that others like myself and my family are pleased as well to know that their fire department is progressing in a manner to keep up with the kind of protection that is needed.

We live in an area, particularly at this time of year where fire is a big threat to our property and our well being.

It was certainly experienced recently with all the fires that basically surrounded the greater Sisters area and the job that all of the fire departments performed preventing the fire from destroying a lot of personal property. It is indeed unfortunate that two homes were lost in Black Butte Ranch as a result of these fires, but it could have been much worse.

A note regarding the number of new homes being built in the Cloverdale district. I'm sure the number of 32 pertains to the number of homes that have been built each year for the past three years in lieu of 32 being built over the past three years.

Our area is growing rapidly and our boundaries are bulging with new development, as previously mentioned. It is comforting to know that proper steps are being made to provide that ever so important protection from fire.

Thank you,

Tom and Lorraine Barrier

* * *

To the Editor:

As Principal of Sisters High School, it has pained me to watch the school funding crisis unfold. In talking with my colleagues from around the state, I have listened to one story after another about schools being crippled by cutbacks they have had to make.

Fortunately for us the "Sisters story" has not been so dire.

Through the generosity of our local community, we passed a local option funding measure that brings in close to $700,000 a year to our district. While this has not prevented us from having to make cuts, it certainly has helped us avert a catastrophe.

Teachers, textbooks, technology and programs are all in place this fall that surely would have disappeared if the local option were not in place.

I would like to thank the community on behalf of the educational staff and the children of our district for your continued support for our schools. Your financial contribution is making a difference in the lives of kids and you should feel very proud of that support.

The local option, combined with efforts from individuals like Jeri Fouts and Susan Arends of the Starry Nights Concert Series, mean that our kids will continue to enjoy first class educational opportunities. There are very few districts around the state that have been so supported and we appreciate it!

While I am giving out thanks, I would like to give kudos to our school board for the outstanding job they have done on the very complicated task of designing and building the new high school.

Under their watchful eye, in particular those of Steve Keeton, the board has been able to save thousands of dollars in construction costs that has meant more building for the buck. Great job crew, keep up the good work.

Boyd Keyser
Principal, Sisters High School

* * *

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the board and management of Tollgate for providing the beautiful entrance into our community.

Tom and I have lived in Tollgate for 12 years and have watched Tollgate develop with the guidance of boards and manager Betty Fadely. Ken Birkes, our maintenance manager, shows his pride in caring for Tollgate.

Our community is a special place to live.

Lois Worcester

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