To the Editor:

My family and I have been going to Central Oregon for many years, and my husband and I have recently purchased a home just six miles outside of Sisters off of Highway 126.

In the past few months an event has taken place along the highway going into Sisters that has prompted this letter (I'm not usually moved to write my opinion or feelings to the Editor).

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However, every time we travel this highway into Sisters we are sickened by the defacing of the property that has taken place on the chopping down of many beautiful ponderosa pines in the area just before you get to the intersection of Highway 126 and Highway 20.

Whoever owns this property must be in desperate need for the money they received in logging off all of those beautiful trees. There are several miles along the highway on the left that have been completely raped of these beautiful trees leaving ugly stumps and gaping holes in what was once a regal and beautiful landscape.

Why anyone would want to ruin this once beautiful property is just beyond our comprehension. I assume they got a permit from the City of Sisters to cut down all of those trees? How did that happen? What a shame for tourists to have to look at this destruction when driving into our very "special" town. If only the decision to cut down all of those beautiful trees could be reversed!

Carol Griffin

A concerned resident

Editor's note:

The land along the highway that Ms. Griffin refers to is private property. No permit is required from the City of Sisters or from Deschutes County to cut down trees on private land. J.C.

To the Editor:

I would have preferred to contact Mr. Buzz Hanson directly regarding his letter to the editor, but we do not have a record of his phone number or address. I could not find a listing in the phone book for him. It is not my purpose to embarrass him.

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Mr. Hanson: Mayor Steve Wilson asked me to respond to your letter to the editor in the May 13, Nugget. No one at city hall is aware of your request to the council to reconsider the installation of 36 more street lights. I was aware that you had corresponded via e-mail with the executive director of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.

The procedure to have an issue considered by the Sisters City Council would be to contact the mayor or city administrator to have the item placed on the agenda of the council. Individual councilors may also be contacted but that would be an indirect approach.

My personal opinion is that before a person writes a letter to the editor, it is that persons' responsibility to check their facts. Making allegations in a public forum that are untrue can damage a person or organization.

If you had checked your facts, you would have found out that the Sisters City Council was among the first in Oregon to adopt a Dark Skies Ordinance to protect the night sky from light pollution.

The Sisters Community Improvement Commission independently shared the concern to protect the night sky. In their search for appropriate street lighting to make streets safe for pedestrians, only fixtures that would not shed light above the horizontal plane, were of relatively low wattage (70 watts per fixture) and with relatively short poles (12 feet) were considered.

The fixtures and the ordinance were decided upon in open public meetings that were advertised. Careful deliberations were carried out by responsible public servants who volunteered their time. They deserve our gratitude but at the least they should be shielded from irresponsible allegations.

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A person with your knowledge and obvious enthusiasm for this issue would be a valuable addition to these efforts. Please avail yourself of the opportunities to become involved in community activities.

Sincerely,

Neil Thompson,

Planning Director, City of Sisters

To the Editor:

By now the election on the sewer system has taken place. But before we move forward with the outcome of the vote, I would personally like to thank a number of people for their efforts on this issue:

The members of the independent citizen sewer focus group, who worked together to make sure the voters had the facts before voting on the issue.

To city council members, Sheryl Whent and Kathy Pittman, who voted with me to give you the voters, the opportunity to decide this important issue.

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To the number of concerned citizens who wrote letters to the editor, or went door-to-door encouraging people to get out and vote regardless of their view. I appreciate their commitment to stick to the facts, and not resort to personal attacks or fear tactics.

To Richard Nored, HGE Engineering, Inc. who went above and beyond his job by going with me to Salem, to fight for as many grant dollars as possible. All while weathering attacks against his expertise and his motives for wanting to see Sisters deal effectively with its waste water.

And finally, to you, the residents of Sisters, who choose to view this as a community. I can truly say it is an honor serving you on the city council.

With sincere admiration,

Steve Wilson

Mayor of Sisters

To the Editor:

As I write this letter, the fate of the sewer measure is unknown. I have a lot of time and effort into this campaign, and I hope it has passed, but regardless of the outcome, I feel compelled to "wave the white flag" in the face of the opponents.

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Being in opposition does not make us enemies. I hold no ill feelings toward anyone and I hope that sentiment is shared by everyone. Emotions are bound to run high when what we value is threatened.

We all have a vested interest in the future of this lovely town and though we may have been on opposing sides with this issue, we are still going to be neighbors. As such, I hope we can work together to secure Sisters' future as a beautiful, thriving community.

Respectfully,

Melanie Curry

To the Editor:

To everyone who helped so generously in the search for Ed Benton:

There is no way that we can express the true nature of our thanks to each and every one of you for all of the love, support and caring that you demonstrated in your thoughts, prayers, food and kind deeds.

Living in a place like Sisters has allowed us all to know the true joy of being part of a community. Your support has been overwhelming. Those of you whom we did not personally know, we have come to think of as friends. And those of you whom we have previously welcomed into our homes and hearts, we have come to think of as family.

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In particular, Wayne Inman, Bill Good, Terry Silbaugh and volunteers from the Deschutes County Search and Rescue Team; Mark Foster and the volunteers from Jefferson County Search and Rescue; and Greg Brown, Deschutes County Sheriff, all deserve our everlasting gratitude for their thorough, sensitive and professional handling of the search for Ed.

Jim Knapp and Rachel Beck ... both of you should know that we could not have made it through this without you.

And finally, we want to thank the entire staff of the Sisters schools. You were there for us at the very moment that we needed you, and gave of yourselves so freely. Because of you we, as a family have been able to experience some measure of peace and will be forever grateful.

The entire Benton family,

Peggy, Becca, Craig, Todd, David, Sally, Kip, Erik, Megan, Sarah and Emily

To the Editor:

The generous, caring side of little town Sisters is still alive and well, I am happy to report. Last week, some 32 businesses and 22 individuals contributed over $1,000 to the Kevin Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund by pledging to my 20-mile Saturday hike from Sisters High School to Redmond High School.

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Remarkably, only three of those pledges were over $20 and each of the three was under $100. It was truly a grassroots loosening of the purse strings.

I feel honored to be the link between the Sisters community and the carefully chosen recipient of this scholarship. My pledge money will be combined with the $800 realized by the recent high school 10K run and 3K run/walk. Kevin's father will serve on the selection committee.

Thanks to each business and individual for your encouragement and support of my trek, but most of all for the money you gave to the scholarship fund.

And thanks to Fotos In A Flash for lettering my shirt so I could be identified from afar; and also to the students in the school leadership class who made the big sign to slow traffic behind the support car. My husband driving the porta-potty motor home, and daughter herding the sag have already had their thanks for making the real thing happen. Without either one of them it might not have... Bless all of you.

Sincerely,

Peggy Lutz

To the Editor:

Wow! The first annual art auction to benefit the high school softball team was a huge success. Everyone had a great time. The high school jazz band kicked it off with some hot music. Thanks also to the Jefferson Trail Band who took time to play despite a busy schedule.

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The Hotel Sisters was very generous to let us use the outside deck complete with canopy, tables, stage and much appreciated heaters.

The fantastic collection of artwork was all donated by local and regional artists. Thank you all! For without your generous support this couldn't have happened.

Thanks to the community for your support and contributions. There were some good bargains. It was truly a win-win situation.

The girls' softball team had a good start this year playing a J.V. schedule. Next year they'll be jumping into the Capital Conference. The money raised will go toward new equipment, uniforms and field improvements.

We'd also like to acknowledge the Sisters Little League who helped us get started this season by donating equipment and along with the Baptist Church allowed the use of the softball field.

Thanks to everyone who helped this season. The girls had a good time and played hard.

Mitch Deaderick