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Wednesday, September 30, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
We can do better. We must do better. We
will do better. Good science will lead the way.
Matt Wessel
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
because when you put your name out there
with your opinion on it, well, careful what you
wish for.
But I do feel compelled to write about the
current forest fire situation in Oregon. In my
humble opinion, climate change is a signifi-
cant driver of the increasing size, strength and
intensity of the fires we9ve witnessed over the
last several years, with this year9s events here
in Oregon being amazingly horrific. I believe
we must continue to enact energy policies
worldwide (not just in the US) that will reduce
CO2 and methane emissions.
But this is what else I think we need to do.
We must better manage our forests, improve
our electrical infrastructure, and rethink our
development policies (to list three areas of
concern) as we continue to encroach on our
forests. Think about it 4 if the entire human
population stopped emitting greenhouse
gases tomorrow (other than what we breathe
out and flatulate in order to actually live),
what impact would that have on next year9s
fire season? It would likely have no measur-
able impact for several years. And of course
we aren9t going to magically cut our emis-
sions to near zero tomorrow anyway, it will
be a gradual reduction. It took humans 300+
years to change the climate in one direction,
it will take many years to change it in another
direction.
Some scientists believe it9s already too
late to do anything. I don9t subscribe to that
viewpoint, but they could be right. So, how
do we prevent a forest fire calamity next year?
Unfortunately, it won9t be through address-
ing climate change. Near-term prevention has
to be achieved with actions that will have an
immediate impact.
Listening to our politicians debate over
whether it9s climate change or forest manage-
ment that is responsible for wildfires reminds
me of the age old nature or nurture question.
Well duhh, it9s both! I think they all know that
(I hope?), what they say is just more rhetoric
for their respective bases. Yes, climate change
is having a negative impact, but we9re already
here. We can9t make the climate go back to
normal tomorrow. And if we somehow man-
aged this (impossible) feat, does anyone really
think it will also prevent forest fires next year?
Addressing climate change, while the right
thing to do, will take years to have an impact.
It is my sincere belief that we must address
climate change for the long-term health of our
planet and we must address forest-manage-
ment practices and policies for the near-term
prevention of massive destruction of public
and private lands and properties due to wild-
fires. It9s not an either/or proposition. To see
our politicians argue over it as such is, at best,
disappointing.
s
s
s
To the Editor:
I read the Letters to the Editor in The
Nugget written by Marvin Inman and Gary
Leiser regarding the development on the
Forest Service property. There is an old adage,
<you can9t fight City Hall.= I know. I have
tried several times to no avail. That doesn9t
mean we can9t stop trying.
Driving down Barclay Road past that
Forest Service property, I absolutely cannot
envision 300 homes crammed into that acre-
age. I have seen cars lined up as far back as
Pine Street and beyond waiting to access the
roundabout. Try to imagine cars from that
development trying to ease into that line up.
Next to impossible!
Think about the pollution, the drain on the
water system, the loss of our dark skies and
probably the view of the stars and, most of all,
the peace and quiet of our city.
The Planning Commission made the deci-
sion to allow Laird9s CEO to develop this
property to benefit his employees. The com-
mission does not care about the people they
are supposed to serve and represent. They do
not care about the quality of life we enjoy and
expect. This will be gone forever.
This development should not be allowed to
go forward. I believe the public has the right
to demand a vote on this development that will
greatly affect and destroy our beautiful com-
munity as we know it today.
Donna Holland
s
s
SPECIALIZING IN:
Cut • Color Highlights
Hair Extensions
The Sisters-Camp
Sherman and Cloverdale
rural fire protection districts
reopened recreational burning
4 not including yard debris
4 on Friday, September
25, in all areas within the
Sisters-Camp Sherman and
Cloverdale fire districts.
This does not include
Forest Service land or camp-
grounds, including the Tract
Cabins in Camp Sherman.
Earlier this month several
local fire agencies banned all
burning including recreational
fires due to red flag warnings
and extreme predicted fire
behavior in the area.
Recreational fires include
those used for pleasure, reli-
gious, ceremonial, cooking,
warmth or similar purposes
and does not include yard
debris burning.
Open yard debris burn-
ing typically opens around
November 1 each year.
Residents are strongly
encouraged to contact their
local fire protection agencies
for additional burning infor-
mation and regulations. Local
fire departments will continue
to monitor weather and fuel
moisture conditions in their
district and may make modifi-
cations on a day-to-day basis.
Call your fire agency for
more information: Cloverdale
Rural Fire Protection District,
541-389-2345 office, 541-
548-4815 burn information,
www.cloverdalefire.com;
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire
District, 541-549-0771 office,
541-549-2333 burn informa-
tion, www.sistersfire.com.
Sisters’ police rigs...
s
To the Editor:
Regarding our local citizens who have
been courageously standing in Sisters to sup-
port Black lives, I hope they really do stand
for all Black lives, even being aware that the
BLM organization does not and is actually
doing damage to them. Being a family with
both Black and white members, and also with
members in law enforcement, I am very con-
cerned that BLM has used the horrible death
of George Floyd to co-opt the conversation,
playing on people9s natural sympathies, creat-
ing needless <white guilt,= using them in order
to further the organization9s dangerous goals,
which were spelled out in Owen Herzberg9s
letter of August 26.
In truth, we are all descended from the
same original parents 4 nobody truly white,
just many shades of brown depending on the
amount of melanin in our skin. But BLM
(and many Democrat leaders) incite racism
by both whites and Blacks in order to further
PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office patrol cars that cover
Sisters now bear the City of Sisters seal, signifying the new law
enforcement contract that provides Sisters-specific deputies.
See LETTERS on page 8
WE’RE GOING ON
KE IT
THE ROAD TO MA
NOW OPEN!
Bl m
Studio
Area fire chiefs re-open
recreational burning
Preschool Spots
Still Available!
the fun!
Join in on
U!
EVEN EASIER FOR YO
COMMUNITY FLU SHOT CLINICS
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Dept.
Thursday, Oct. 1 • 10 a.m. to Noon, 3 to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 • 2:30 to 6 p.m.
Black Butte Ranch Fire Dept.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 • 7:30 to 11 a.m.
All you need is your ID and insurance card.
Most insurance plans will cover 100% of your flu shot.
Discounted cash-pay price of only $25.
For more information
Casey Gardner • 110 S. Elm St.
541-548-2899
yourcaremedical.com
SistersRecreation.com
3818 SW 21st Pl., Ste. 100, Redmond • Open every day
541-549-2091 • 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters
WALK-IN • URGENT CARE• OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE • X-RAY