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Wednesday, December 7, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
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Keeping it civil
in Sisters
To our friends and
valued customers:
Open at 9am – closed for lunch – open until 5pm
Happy Holidays!
Letters to the Editor…
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer’s name, address and phone number. Let-
ters 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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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.
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To the Editor:
A dangerous situation exists very near
Sisters. Target shooting at the McKenzie
gravel pit west of Sisters is endangering
Crossroads residents and guests as well as
users of the Jimerson trail, the nearby forest
roads, and Highway 242. We all have a right
to be in this forest, including target shooters,
walkers, cyclists, equestrians, motorists, and
others, and I’m sure we all want everyone to
be as safe as possible while exercising their
right to recreate in the forest. The McKenzie
gravel pit is only about 650 yards from
Crossroads and 170 yards from the Jimerson
hiker and horse trail. In addition, between the
pit and Crossroads is Trout Butte Creek, a
favorite spot for children.
Bill Lewis of Central Oregon Shooting
Sports Association (COSSA), who has 58
years of experience using target pits and 27
years designing them, visited the McKenzie
pit and feels it is definitely unsafe for tar-
get shooting. Among other problems, the
See LETTERS on page 23
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Wednesday
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The Nugget Newspaper, Inc.
Website: www.nuggetnews.com
442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, Oregon 97759
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for disrespect and divisive-
ness in a community.
Guest Columnist
One of the issues that
We have just suffered has been raised as we have
through the most nega- promoted civility in Sisters
tive and, likely, the most is that having to be respect-
polarized presidential cam- ful encroaches on our First
paign in living memory. Amendment right to free-
Regardless of our political dom of speech. We all want
leanings, many of us were to be respected. If a person
thoroughly disappointed is in fear that he will be
with the angry accusations, personally attacked if he
the incivility, and the bit- speaks his mind respect-
ter, personalized nature of fully, his sense of personal
the campaign. Sadly, the freedom of speech is nega-
level of acrimony during tively affected. Of course,
and after the campaign has some people are not put
spread to other public and off by a conversation that
private places, including our becomes hostile and may
schools. Even families have even relish that. But when
experienced bitter divisions people choose to remain
because some members sup- quiet, we lose important
ported one candidate while ideas from these citizens. In
the rest supported another. a disrespectful environment,
Friends, both local and out- residents become less likely
to participate
side Sisters,
in public dis-
who are mem-
cussions and
bers of threat-
ened minority We have influence as organizations,
and we lose
groups, have
individuals,
but
we
are
their valuable
stated that they
are frightened much stronger when participation.
Unless we
and uncer-
t a i n a b o u t we come together in continue a pro-
active effort to
their future in
a common purpose. maintain civil-
America.
ity, the toxicity
We have
of the national
considerable
clout in what happens in and state conversation will
our community, however. likely further invade our
The positive culture that community.
In addition to making
has long been present in
our community is definitely sure that we practice civil-
at risk in the current toxic ity daily as individuals, it is
atmosphere that has perme- also important that we learn
ated our country. We have how to speak up when we
influence as individuals, but witness an act of incivility
we are much stronger when or bullying. All it takes is
we come together in a com- one or two people to speak
up in a respectful way and
mon purpose.
For the last year, the state their discomfort with
Citizens4Community group the tone of the dialogue to
has been raising aware- change the atmosphere. And
ness of the importance of this is a skill that each of us
maintaining civility as we can learn with practice.
We in Sisters Country
deal with the many difficult
and sometimes contentious have at our disposal a large
issues in our community. group of concerned citi-
The introduction of the 9 zens and others who value
tools of Speak Your Peace the friendly, connected,
has been well received. involved, and commit-
They are important aspects ted nature of our special
of how each of us can, by community. It is some-
practicing those principles, thing that, once lost, is dif-
make our own individual ficult to get back. Let’s
contribution to maintain- all work individually and
ing a civil environment in together to keep that part
Sisters Country. Like the of Sisters the way we want
flu vaccine, which provides it — a way that includes all
protection from the annual of us.
Kent Neff is a board mem-
flu outbreaks, practicing
civility serves as the vaccine ber of Citizens4Community
By Kent Neff
The Nugget will be closed from
11:30am to 1:30pm Thursday, December 8
for our annual employee holiday lunch.
To the Editor:
I have enjoyed the Christmas parade for
years, it is a tradition and a cherished one.
Thank you to all the participants, you were
wonderful and appreciated.
If not for the large number of fire trucks
(thank you), I fear we would have had a very
short parade this year. How about for next
year we actively recruit participants, even
participate ourselves (my job is on notice that
we WILL have a float next year). Missed the
bands, the little kids in tutus, the imagination
and surprise of new participants, and many of
our old favorites.
I challenge us to pump up the fun next year!
Karly Drake-Lusby
N
Publisher - Editor: Kiki Dolson
News Editor: Jim Cornelius
Production Manager: Leith Williver
Classifieds & Circulation: Teresa Mahnken
Advertising: Karen Kassy
Graphic Design: Jess Draper
Proofreader: Pete Rathbun
Accounting: Erin Bordonaro
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Opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and
are not necessarily shared by the Editor or The Nugget Newspaper.