The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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 would like to clear up a few facts about Squaw Creek Irrigation District (SCID) that were in error in an October 16 Letter To The Editor (The Nugget, from Matt Cyrus, page 2).

1. Every piping project we have completed has an engineered plan and a goal of conserving water and protecting the water rights of our users.

2. I read a copy of the Water for Life proposal to enhance stream flow in Squaw Creek dated August 29, 2000. It has a $1 million total cost of project which does not include the 15 percent administrative fee WFL would add on.

3. The first three miles of the Cloverdale Canal was piped with a grant from the Deschutes Basin Resource Conservancy of $260,000. SCID matched the cash with in-kind service, i.e. the trenching, back-filling and labor.

4. Total ownership of the Cloverdale Canal has not been awarded to anyone. The judge stated that SCID has an irrevocable right to use, operate and maintain the canal.

5. The Cloverdale from Watson Reservoir down stream to the end of Aspen Lakes Golf Course has been improved by four pipelines. To claim that it now loses more water to seepage than before is not supportable .

6. The return of 3 cubic feet per second (about 1,350 gallons per minute) to Squaw Creek is yet to be decided. The Oregon Water Resources Department will make the decision in the near future. I sincerely hope the issue can be decided in a more economical manner than the courts.

Just the facts.

Lee Christensen

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To the Editor:

I am so disappointed by this year's fall festival (Sisters Harvest Faire). Why did the times change from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday instead of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as usual?

Instead of being the best festival ever, it was a disaster.

Instead of being only on Hood Avenue many vendors, without prior knowledge, were sent over to Main Avenue.

I went on Saturday and noticed some tents on the other side of Cascade, but I had no idea there were as many vendors on that side as on the Hood Avenue side. I didn't even venture over there until just before 4 p.m. on Sunday and did I get an earful!

The vendors were furious and rightly so! The ones "stuck" over on Main Avenue paid the same as the ones on Hood Avenue and didn't have even close to the same amount of traffic as the lucky ones on Hood. What's more, I heard over and over how the Chamber employees "quit" leaving the mess they created behind for others to distress over.

What happened to communication? What happened to follow-through? What happened to professionalism?

The disorganization displayed left a bad taste in the mouths of those who come year after year to our little town to buy and sell as well as those of us who live here and bear witness to such disasters.

Many vendors said they will not come back again. What a shame.

And shame on those of you who let the ball drop and are not accountable for your actions.

Dawn Richerson

Editor's note: We asked the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce to respond to Mrs. Richerson's letter. The response follows.

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To the Editor:

The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the annual Harvest Faire on October 12-13.

In an attempt to improve on the historical success of the event and accommodate many vendors who had been turned away in previous years, the chamber decided to expand the Faire.

This ambitious undertaking took courage on the part of the chamber.

Last year we booked almost 200 vendors, while this year we were over 300, better than a 50 percent increase in one year.

The choice of expanding it to cross Cascade Avenue is currently being critiqued by those involved in the planning and execution of the event.

While some of the buyers and sellers appreciated a more spacious, less crowded venue with the expansion across Cascade, our evaluation forms tell us that others felt differently.

We will be calling the vendors that did not submit evaluation forms to gather as much information as we can to improve next year's event.

Clearly, our efforts to increase the size of the Harvest Faire didn't go as smoothly as we would have liked. We are in the process of reviewing all facets of the event in hopes of maximizing the enjoyment of the attendees while making it profitable for the vendors.

Sincerely,

Ed Fitzjarrell

President, Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce

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To the Editor

I'm writing in response to the letter written by Jack Addison in the October 9 issue of The Nugget.

I agree with Mr. Addison's frustration with the theft of his daughter's sweater. I have two kids and we've lost sweaters, water bottles, T-shirts, tennis shoes, jackets, hats, etc.

We've returned to where we left them only to find that they have been pilfered. We have also found many sweaters, water bottles, T-shirts, etc. and we've always turned them into lost-and-found. I believe most people in this community would do the same. Unfortunately a small minority of individuals follow the old rule of finders-keepers. It's always been this way no matter where you lived or when you lived.

I also agree that parents need to take greater responsibility for their children's behavior and set a good example. One way to start is to discourage stereotyping and bigotry.

I was offended by Mr. Addison's opening statement, characterizing Mexico as a nation of thieves. I am a guest in this country from Mexico and every time my kids lost something, I never implied that America is a nation of thieves. I know that thefts occur in Mexico, just as they do here, but to stereotype an entire race or nation doesn't set a good example for anyone's kids.

If Mr. Addison finds the thief who took his daughter's sweater, he shouldn't be too shocked to learn that the thief isn't Mexican.

Rossy Gomez-Pullig

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To the Editor:

Regarding the advice from The Nugget to vote "yes" on Measure 23:

As it has been said, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Passage of this measure would have a negative impact on this state in more than one way. First, it is going to cost in taxes. At a time when the people of this state are paying some of the highest taxes already; at a time when this state is in one of the lowest economical periods; at a time when this state's budget is having to be slashed almost daily to make up for budget shortfalls and at a time when this state has one of the highest unemployment rates is not the time to be seeking more tax dollars.

Secondly, the measure appears to hit the more affluent disproportionately. There will come a time when those folks will up and move out of the state completely to avoid the ever increasing tax burden put on them. And where will the revenue come from to replace what they having been paying?

Thirdly, what happens to the insurance companies and the folks they employ when there is no longer a need for them? They also will take with them revenue they have been paying in taxes.

Then what happens when the rest of the country finds out that Oregon has free medical and health that is open to everyone including illegal aliens. It has the potential of the old Oklahoma land rush. Folks will flock to Oregon adding to existing problems such as unemployment.

Lastly, what do you think will happen to the good doctors that work in this state that will tire of having to accept only the fees that the state approves for their services or starts to dictate what is proper medical treatment? They too will move on leaving us with something less than the best care available.

I speak from an individual who has had medical coverage provided for almost 30 years and is close to having to provide his own coverage upon retirement. I am appalled by the cost of coverage for my wife and me. Measure 23 looks like the answer to a problem that needs to be solved. IT IS NOT.

Wayne Rowe

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To the Editor:

I agree with your rejection of Measure 25 increasing the minimum wage to $6.90 per hour. As you mentioned this measure would have negative effects on the fragile economy of Oregon. However, the same arguments you made for not supporting Measure 25 could be applied to Measure 23, which you do support.

Measure 23 would increase every Oregonian's income tax rate from the current 9 percent to 17 percent and businesses would be taxed an additional 11.5 percent. Although they promise that only the wealthiest individuals and biggest companies will pay the maximum 8 percent or 11.5 percent there is no way Oregon can take on an additional $12 billion obligation without raising everyone's taxes to the maximum 8 percent or 11.5 percent for businesses.

With Measure 23, an individual with taxable income of $50,000 would end up paying $8,320 in state taxes, $4,000 more than he would have paid in 2001. Coupled with federal taxes of $10,376 and a property tax of $2,000, an individual living in Oregon could pay $20,696 in taxes for the year, over 40 percent of one's income.

Measure 23 also promises to cap taxes at 8 percent for individuals at a maximum of $25,000 and 11.5 percent for businesses, but it says nothing about capping our current 9 percent we pay now into the general fund. This program will inevitably blow out of control requiring additional revenues from higher taxes and other sources such as a sales tax.

If government managed health care is more efficient than private health insurance, as the proponents of Measure 23 claim, then let's expand the existing Oregon Health Plan to cover all Oregonians. OHP can charge premiums comparable to private insurance and provide the same amount of coverage.

OHP can also continue to receive tax revenue to support health care for the indigent. Since administration costs for government managed care are only 2 percent of overall cost compared with 25 percent for private insurance, as the Measure 23 proponents claim, then the savings should be substantial.

These savings could be passed on in the form of lower premiums for lower wage earners. Premiums could be balanced between what one can afford and services offered, while competing directly with private insurance for middle and upper class wage earners. This would open health coverage for the 400,000 uninsured Oregonians.

Jeff Pullig

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To the Editor:

All of us at TriAd are saddened to hear of Greg Brown's admission of guilt.

Like many Central Oregonians, I've known Greg for many years and supported him in two elections. It's disappointing to learn that a man with such vision and promise chose a path of deception.

We were not aware of any irregularities regarding funds used for the purchase of radio, television and newspaper advertisements, or any other contract services.

Sue Fisher, President

TriAd Advertising, Inc.

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To the Editor:

Earlier this year, residents and friends of Central Oregon were shocked and then mad at a proposed land exchange being drafted for a "90-day fast-track" through federal legislation that would have exchanged 690 acres of national forest land along Squaw Creek south of Sisters for private lands acquired within the Steens Mountain Wilderness.

This exchange of prime recreation land would have taken place quickly and quietly without any public review or comment period had the proposal not become public knowledge.

As a result of public awareness, many groups and individuals spoke out loudly and strongly opposing this trade, including the Sisters City Council, the Sisters Organization of Activities and Recreation Board of Directors, and more than 200 people who attended a Sisters City Council workshop.

Central Oregon news media kept the issue before the public, including three editorials by The Bulletin opposing any exchange.

Representative Greg Walden stated no exchange would be proposed without local public support, a position also taken by Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith.

By mid-July, local forest fires pushed the issue out of the news. Many people thought we had won both the battle and the war to keep Squaw Creek in public ownership.

However, because the private landowner presented a slightly reduced exchange proposal to the Sisters City Council workshop and mentioned it again in a late June letter to the council (producing no change of opposition from the council), and because the lobbyist drafting the legislation has been quoted as saying "we will be back next year," we wondered what was the intent of the private landowner.

In late August, we met with the landowner's representative and asked the question -- "What are his plans for the future?"

In the eight weeks since that meeting, we have had no response.

Therefore, we believe a land exchange proposal has not gone away and that concerned citizens must remain vigilant for the next proposal to have their voices heard again opposing any loss of public lands in the Squaw Creek corridor.

We thank all of you who helped in this grass roots effort.

Wayne Jack

Jim Fisher

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To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to share my once in a lifetime experience with the community. In Sisters we are very privileged to have many outstanding teachers. I would like to thank four specific teachers for the experience of a lifetime.

On Thursday, October 17, at 9 a.m. my group of nine set out on Pole Creek Trail Head. We started the trek with stream testing, tree life observation, geology, glacier climbing and poetry writing.

Through the next two days my group learned to do no-trace camping, and compassing. The duties of our group were to find our campsite through certain compassing coordinates, set up our tents, make our meals, and find our water.

Deep down I feel saddened for those students in different school districts that don't have the opportunities to have such an eye opening experience! To experience the sunrise at a viewpoint above the tree line, to eat a snack at the base of the Three Sisters at Damerist Lake and to watch the sunset on the glacier of the Middle Sister.

First and foremost I would like to thank the IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Education) teachers, Glen Herron, Rand Runco, Samra Spear, and Rob Phelps.

Not to mention the seven co-op interns, the community members of Sisters and other high school staff who volunteered their time. I am overwhelmed with joy to have shared this once in a lifetime experience with all of these people.

As I was sharing my stories with a friend I told them that I could never drive to school without looking at the Three Sisters and remembering my wonderful experience.

Krista Pagano

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To the Editor:

Friday, October 18, while on a school expedition, our daughter Rosita experienced a medical situation which resulted in her evacuation by Air Life to St. Charles Hospital in Bend. Our family wishes to thank everyone who assisted with Rosita's emergency.

Instructors Rand Runco and Brad Tisdel carried Rosita down the mountainside and continually assessed her medical condition. Search and Rescue volunteers Kirk Metzger and his son were there to lend aid.

Pinky Pagano, communications "point person" at Sisters High School, kept us apprised of the situation and was most supportive in this extremely tense situation. Boyd Keyser, Chuck and Debbie Newport, fellow group classmates, instructors, and volunteers all contributed to this well-executed and successful rescue.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to you all and to the Air Life personnel and St. Charles Medical Center staff.

Fortunately, the instructors of the Interactive Environmental Expedition (IEE) class were thoroughly prepared for just such an emergency and as a result Rosita is home, safe and just fine. We are so very grateful for your expertise and excellent judgment.

With appreciation,

The Rerat Family

Phil, Kris, Rosita, Claire

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To the Editor:

Everyone knows what a wonderful organization Kiwanis is -- they raise money and do real hands on work for some of the most worthy causes we have here in Sisters.

They operate a very active Food Bank, they give generous college scholarships and they support the wonderful work of SOAR to name the few I can bring to mind.

I want to thank them for something personal.

I own Sisters Bakery and after my Dad died in June, Kiwanis brought a memorial bench to rest on the boardwalk outside my door.

It has his name on it -- "Buzz Clarke" on a little brass plaque -- and it looks pretty comfortable out there. I'd like to invite his many friends to come by and visit, park for a bit on the bench, and think warm.

You'll find a number of other memorial benches around town; this just happens to be my favorite.

Thanks Kiwanis. It's a beautiful bench and I am very glad to have it so close.

Melissa Clarke Ward

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To the Editor:

It has been over a year since Oregon voters passed Measure 7, which requires compensation to landowners when regulation unfairly restricts use of their lands and reduces its value. But the court system has sabotaged it.

The Oregon Supreme Court decided the measure violated the "single subject rule" even though it is very clear that it contains no more than one subject, and if it did, everything in it is very closely related.

Private property owners have been suffering for years from government land use regulations that take away the use and value of their property.

Government must either compensate the property owner for loss of value or return the right to use the land as the owner sees fit.

The people were forced to use the initiative process to protect property rights, but again the courts are a part of the problem, not the solution.

If the courts will not allow the people to act, and the legislature refuses to act, then the only recourse is to install new leadership to the governor's chair.

That leadership will come from Kevin Mannix, who believes in the intent of Measure 7.

Sincerely,

Barbara Prete