Wednesday, April 15, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
at Hwy. 20 and Barclay, I noticed it really
reduced the excess speed of eastbound traffic
through Sisters, and it was easy to get across
the highway there.
One sheriff’s deputy told me that the inter-
section of Highway 20 and Barclay as it is
now with no traffic lights, was one of the most
dangerous in Deschutes County. Given that,
I’ve always wondered why the traffic light
wasn’t permanently installed.
Additionally, I was told by the Deschutes
County Sheriff’s Office that Sisters was going
to have some radar speed signs installed like
the ones seen on Highway 20 in Tumalo.
We really need them, as its hard to cross the
highway in town with people driving through
20-mph zones at speeds well in excess of 35
mph and upward — and I have to wonder why
this rarely seems to be enforced.
Let’s spend our money on radar speed signs
at both ends of town, put in traffic lights, save
considerable expense, and put the roundabout
idea into the scrap bin along with the back-in-
parking fiasco, where it belongs.
Steve Allely
s
s
s
To the Editor:
I am a frequent visitor in Sisters and
have stayed at Black Butte Ranch for years.
Recently, my grandchildren rented bicycles in
Sisters because the bikes at Black Butte Ranch
were already rented. We all talked about how
wonderful a paved path would be for return of
the bicycles.
This led to a talk about how much more
fun it would be for them and their friends if
they could ride to Sisters for treats, movies,
books, etc. We adults also talked about how
much we would like to be able to safely ride
to Sisters for groceries, etc. In addition to sav-
ing fuel, we would also work our muscles in a
very manageable way. A paved path, safe from
cars, taking us on a fun and short enough ride
for us would be a fine addition to the commu-
nity. I hope this path happens.
When contemplating a second home we
often compare Black Butte Ranch to Sunriver
and talk about our families’ wishes and rec-
reational opportunities. The bike path would
be a major plus for our rental/second home.
We spend way too much time in the car, and
our family members all enjoy biking. As the
grandchildren age and want a little freedom, a
safe, smooth path would provide that. It would
be such an enhancement, not only for our use,
but for fuel economy in general. Hope this
helps with the decision-making.
Ann Ruttan
s
s
s
To the Editor:
At the start, the proposed roundabout
was not recommended or desirable by
either Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) or the trucking industry. Currently,
a roundabout intersection is published as the
option supported by the general community
and ODOT.
Undoubtedly there are people in the com-
munity that want a roundabout on the high-
way. However a small but active and influen-
tial group can often appear to be the major-
ity, case in point is the back-in parking on
Cascade Avenue [sic]. Back-in parking will
soon be converted into conventional parking,
at an economic loss, compared with installing
conventional parking in the first place. The
roundabout decision seems to be following
the same pattern as back-in parking.
I grew up in New Jersey, where there
were many circles on highways. Even a few
decades ago these circles were being decom-
missioned or modified because of the high
rate of accidents. There is difference in right-
of-way rules between roundabouts and circles,
but the basic difference remains between cir-
cular intersections and lights. Do we really
want to see Oregon become more like New
Jersey?
Looking at Bend’s roundabouts on the
more heavily used intersections, it is apparent
they are failing and creating long lines dur-
ing busy times. I can’t speak to data on round-
abouts in highways in Oregon, not sure if we
even have any. Common sense dictates that a
traffic light would be safer than a roundabout,
and regulate traffic much better, particularly
during times of increased traffic.
A number of people still do not understand
rights of way or usage of roundabouts, driv-
ing through Bend’s roundabouts makes this
apparent. Everyone knows what to do at traf-
fic lights.
If we install a traffic light at the intersec-
tion of Barkley and Highway 20 instead of a
roundabout, we would not need to experience
“back-in parking 2.0.”
Thomas Pryor
19
Obituary
phyllis gertrude saunders
July 11, 1923 — April 1, 2015
Phyllis
Gertrude
Saunders of Sisters passed
away peacefully at home
with her family at her side.
She was 91.
A private committal ser-
vice took place at Forest
Lawn Memorial Park in
Covina Hills, California, on
April 13, 2015.
Phyllis was born July 11,
1923 in London, England,
to Ernest and Gertrude
(Summerton) Ansell. She
married Robert C. Saunders
on December 26, 1941 in
London. In 1950, they emi-
grated from England and
became naturalized U.S.
citizens in 1962. Phyllis
moved to Sisters in 1998 to
be closer to family.
Phyllis enjoyed quilt-
ing, knitting, and going to
dog shows. She also took
great pride in following her
son Al’s coaching career
in the NFL. But, most of
all she enjoyed spending
time with her family, espe-
cially her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
Phyllis is survived by
her son Alan (wife Karen)
Saunders of Alameda, CA;
daughter Denise (husband
Mike) Hooey of Sisters;
five grandchildren; and six
great-grandchildren. Other
survivors include her sister,
Audrey Hunt of London,
England.
She was preceded in
death by her husband,
Robert C. Saunders, and
both parents.
Memorial contributions
in Phyllis’ memory can be
made to Partners in Care
Hospice, 2075 N.E. Wyatt
Ct., Bend, OR, 97701 or to a
local animal shelter.
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