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5/10/08 Bonanza Hills residents advised to keep pets indoors at night Dear Editor, On Monday, April 21, I let my solid black house cat out for his morning stroll, expecting him back later in the day, as was the routine. When he didn’t return that evening, I wasn’t too concerned, it being spring and he being known to like to be outside. After three days of him not coming home to be fed, I began asking around the neighborhood, thinking the whole time, he would eventually show back up. It’s now been two and a half weeks and I have since learned five, yes five, other cats are missing from my Bonanza Hills neighborhood, within one block. These are not feral cats, but very obviously well-taken-care-of and loved pets. I went and talked to our local Animal Control and was informed that cats can be trapped without any consequences, nor any responsibility to notify the owner. How can that be? Can you trap your neighbor’s dog for leaving deposits on your lawn? I doubt it! If this were dogs disappearing five at a time in one neighborhood, it would be front-page news, so I’m taking it upon myself to inform fellow cat-lovers to keep your pets close and do not let them stay outside at night. Someone is lurking in the shadows with traps or snares, leaving no evidence. You know who you are and you should be ashamed! Jack Drew Editor’s note: Jack Drew is offering a $250 reward for any valid information or recovery of his missing black cat.
Cat disappearances
disturbing Mr. Grey, Snaggy and Saturday. All were healthy housecats that were our beloved pets, gone within two weeks. Was there a scent in the air that lured them away from the safety of their homes? Their temperaments implied that there was, as they were drawn outside two different Tuesday evenings. The idea that someone may be deliberately trapping, killing, or hunting our pets is malicious and sickening. Five families have had to deal with the sorrow, shock, and anger that has occurred from the disappearance of these cats. The city officials were notified; their help was only to remind us of unrealistic rules made for cat owners and to say that, yes, it is legal to set traps on one’s own property. But…what about cruelty to animals? Let’s change the city law in that regard, and ban trapping within the city limits unless it is warranted by health and safety issues and done by animal control. I feel very sad for all our losses, but feel even worse for whoever committed these heinous crimes. Diane Brosseau
Writer has
concerns over city purchase of Paris Cleaners The Paris Cleaners
property that the city is buying and turning into a park has a yearly
tax of $1,500 or more that we, the big dumb taxpayers, have to pick
up. There were no letters sent to property owners/renters in the
neighborhood to find out if they wanted a park right next to the
truck bypass. If a truck loses brakes, what is going to stop it
from running over the children that might be playing there? Dennis Cosner Lewistown Butcher Listens Dear Editor, Several groups that are important to me are glad for a gentleman with the strength of character as Ed Butcher running for re-election to HD 29. He has stood firm on the values that Central Montana shares and we have chosen him for four sessions now. He sure listens to the Second Amendment advocates, the Pro-Lifers, the Traditional Marriage believers, the Multiple Use and Recreation groups, opposing the monument debacle. He listens to property owners that cringe at the thought of taxes increasing due to “School Funding.” Even Schweitzer said a 50-percent increase was enough and he was not going to raise taxes (from $6,000 per student to $9,000 per student in just the last session). Ed stood up
for Central Montanans when he publicly opposed the removal of the
phrase “God Given Rights” from a Thanksgiving proclamation.
He said it was “Nonsense Revisionist History to remove God
from our rights and blessings.” They removed it anyway. Sincerely, Robert Snyder
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions
to the Fergus County Commissioners and residents of Central Montana What would have been your response? Would anyone of you have made calls to complain? What if a series of calls had been made to the county commissioners, by people who were upset because of a demonstration by a group who were for the war? How would the commissioners have reacted? Would they have gone out to investigate? Would they have told the demonstrators to leave? Would they have gone to their attorney for legal advice? Would they have put on their agenda an item to look into the county’s policies Governing the use of public property? And then would they consider changing or writing new policies because someone did not like how the demonstrators were expressing their views? Roger H. Johnson
Electric bills will be higher To electric bill payers of Montana: Small, well-organized groups such as Montana Environmental Information Center and Citizens for Clean Energy are determined to make your electric bill higher by seeking to stop development of dependable energy sources in Montana. Soon, the region will be hit with a generating capacity shortage and the current generation is aging. Southern Montana Electric (SME) has been working hard to build electrical generation to meet its members’ energy needs. Much of the facility’s cost is to meet state and national emissions standards. SME is willing to make this investment using available emissions technology so the Highwood Station will be as safe as it can be. Fergus Electric Cooperative purchases its power from SME. If you are driving 65 mph in a 65-mph zone and are stopped and ticketed, citing you should drive 45 mph, that would be unreasonable. The Board of Environmental Review is now asking SME to go beyond the Environmental Protection Agency and state standards in considering the particulate matter 2.5 issue. This is unreasonable. Wind can supply a portion of our energy needs; however, the effect on consumers’ power bills must be considered. Mr. Raney of the Public Service Commission stated that power plants to back up wind are coming to Montana. Maybe next, he will share what power will cost when one-third of the time it is supplied by wind and two-thirds of the time by natural gas. Additionally, as they divert natural gas to produce electricity to back up the wind, how much will the price to heat your home increase? When discussing energy, ask, “Why isn’t the cost of my power bill a consideration?” David Dover Kalispell legislator urges voters to support Butcher Dear Editor: As a Montana legislator who has worked closely with Ed Butcher, I urge voters in Central Montana to re-elect Ed. I am concerned that he has been unfairly attacked because he is willing to stand up to special interest groups. Ed and I served together on the House Education Committee, which had continuous streams of bills being proposed to add millions of dollars in bureaucratic expenses and government growth. As a former teacher, Ed understands the needs of students and the classroom. He has been a true leader who is willing to stand up to the teacher’s union and special interest groups attempting to waste tax dollars on questionable programs. He is a businessman, rancher, environmentally conscious but logical about resource development. We need his common-sense approach to our current energy and fuel crisis. Ed Butcher listens to the arguments, digests the information, and is willing to take decisive positions. We have too many legislators who “compromise away” our rights and our tax dollars. We need individuals in the Legislature, like Representative Butcher, who are articulate and willing to take a stand. Ed is not only a “listener” and a “teacher”, he is a lifetime Montanan who believes in traditional values. All this is what makes him a real leader for the needs of our state. The voters of Central Montana should be proud of Ed Butcher as their representative and a State Leader. I have appreciated the opportunity to work with him. Sincerely, Rep. George
Everett, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4/30/08 Response To A Plea For Christian Unity Dear Editor, A few days back you ran an article with the above title to which I would like to respond. I would wholeheartedly like to join in that plea. In fact, I find that such would delight the Father, answer the prayer of the Son and carry out the command of Paul. “How good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Psa. 133:1). “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou Father art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (Jn. 17:20, 21) “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (I Cor. 1:10). But we do not find unity among those who profess to be followers of Christ nor did it exist in the days of the New Testament. The New Testament reveals that in Jesus’ day there were divisions among those who professed to be “children of Abraham”. There were the Pharisees who loved to walk in their long robes, to be called “Rabbi”, to make long prayers, and engage in many ritualistic practices which had been added to, or substituted for, the word of God. (Mt. 15:1-9; Mk. 7: 1-13). They believed in spirits and angels and that there would be a resurrection of the dead. A second prominent group was the Sadducees. These were more liberal in their beliefs and practices, had more political clout, and did not believe in the resurrection, nor spirits or angels (Acts 4:1,2; 23:8). A third group was the Samaritans, whose origins we read about in II Kings 17:24-34. Their distinction was part racial and part religious. One of their distinctions was whether Jerusalem was the proper place to worship. These individuals were shunned by the Jews (Jn.4:6-26). These sects, though holding many beliefs in common, were divided from each other and most faithful Jews by their distinctive doctrines and practices. Jesus came on the scene preaching that men ought to worship God in spirit and in truth, neither adding to, nor taking away from, the word of God. He was neither Pharisee, Sadducee, nor Samaritan. He taught and associated freely with them all, and condemned their doctrines and practices that deviated from the law as it had been given through Moses and the prophets, and recorded in the scriptures. He told the Pharisees that their worship was vain because they taught for doctrine the commandments of men (Mt. 15:1-9). He said to the Sadducees that they erred because they did not know the scriptures, nor the power of God (Mk.12:18-27; Lk.20:27-38). He told the Samaritans that they did not know what they worshipped (Jn. 4:22). These divisions did not come about because men could not understand the scriptures, but because they were unwilling to accept every word of God without addition, subtraction, or substitution. God had warned against this practice (Duet. 4:2, 5:32, 12:29-32; Joshua 1:7; Prov. 30:5,6; Ezek. 8:4). The New Testament continues in this vein (Jn. 12:47-50; Gal. 1:6-9; I Thess. 2:13; I Tim. 4:1-5; II Thess 2:2; Titus 1:9; I Pet. 4:11; Rev. 22:18,19). In spite of these clear teachings, divisions began to creep into the New Testament church. In Acts 15, there were some who had been Pharisees who wanted to add circumcision to what God required to be saved. The church at Corinth began to divide into groups according to who had baptized them (I Cor. 1:10-13; 3:1-7). The Sadducees who were converted wanted to keep part of their doctrine (I Cor. 15:12-20). Gentile converts also wanted to bring in part of their “heritage” (I Cor. 10-14-21). The division that began in the first century has multiplied exponentially. Just as those at Corinth were saying: “I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ (I Cor. 1:10-13), men today are saying: I am of Jerusalem, and I of Mecca, and I of Rome, and I of Constantinople; I of England, I of Luther, I of Wesley, and I of Smith, and so on and so forth, chopping the body of Christ into over three hundred pieces. Any rational-thinking person can easily see that this is not what God wanted, or what Christ prayed for, nor what the apostles worked toward. Is there a possible solution to this chaos? Is compromise the solution? Will the atheist compromise with the believer? Will the Jews compromise with the Muslims, will Rome compromise with Constantinople, and so on? Not likely, and even if such a compromise can be brokered, would the end result be acceptable to God? Certainly not! The only unity acceptable to Him is when everyone yields to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. It was this One who was crucified for us. It is this One who said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn.14:6). It was of this One that Peter said “…there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). And it was this One to whom Paul referred when he said: “…every knee will bow…and every tongue shall confess…”(Romans 14:1-12). Yes, Christian unity, for which Paul admonished Christians to work,(Eph.4:1-6) is a wonderful and beautiful thing. Then all believers could go from church to church and hear the gospel preached, worship in the same way, and be in full fellowship with all who profess to be just Christians. Henry C. Pendergrass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4/23/08 Pilot’s
death touches members of local art community
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4/19/08 A
Plea for Christian Unity Some churches trace their origin to the 16th century and the teachings of those who protested what they saw as abuses in the Catholic church. Yet I believe that the real genesis of all Christian churches was Christ and His ministry. The church which He established “on this Rock” has survived for centuries and I believe all Christian churches can trace their origin to Christ. I believe we must recognize this genesis. Certainly our most critical beliefs are compatible and quite similar. I believe we all do accept the Ten Commandments and Christ’s teaching of how we are to live in accord with His plan for our lives. I believe we must affirm Christians of all denominations and join with them in living as He wishes. Should we not heed His plea that we be not concerned with what we shall eat and with what we shall be clothed. Let us notbe like heathens in this matter, but rather seek to love one another as He has loved us. Christ’s statement that “upon this rock” I will build my church, is a point of division in come Christians. Some regard “this rock” as Peter, some interpret “this rock” as “this foundation.” Should this be a point of critical distinction between church doctrines? Cannot this reference to “this rock” be interpreted as both to a person and to a basic belief? George Jimmerson
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current year
reminds former weather service employee of 1919 Sincerely, ‘What
a blessing to live in this community …’ Sincerely,
Student seeks
Montana information Vanessa Hall
After-Prom
party chairperson appreciates support of community
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4/9/08 Roundup landowner responds to column Dear Editor, I am responding to Mark Henckel’s article, “More Warfare Coming on Hunting Access Front.” I am a landowner, not an outfitter, I am not squaring off against real sportsmen, but I am squaring off against the FWP commission and the so-called “hunters” who want to open access to all private land in Montana Members of United Property Owners believe that the commission is limiting hunting permits as a punitive measure to punish landowners who are using recreational leasing to stay in business. We believe this will diminish recreational opportunities for sportsmen, discourage private stewardship for wildlife, and reduce the ability of family ranches to stay in business. Many of Montana’s ranching and farming families have diversified to include niche markets related to agri-tourism and hunting operations in order to stay in business and not sell out to “trophy ranchers” who allow no hunting. Proposed constitutional initiatives aimed at limiting landowner entrepreneurship will harm sportsmen-landowner relations. Montanans have a long history of working together to restore and enhance the restoration of wildlife. Landowners, especially those who have been here for generations, have what conservationist Aldo Leopold called a “land ethic.” Through cooperation with sportsmen, that ethic has expanded to include a “wildlife ethic.” It’s not about cash cows or farming up fragile ecosystems, but about diversity and sustainability; managing for all resources in a holistic manner. The flourishing wildlife that you see today on private land is directly linked to this mindset. Restriction by the FWP commission and proposed constitutional initiatives undermine this ethic. Aldo Leopold also said that land and wildlife stewardship are “unknown to the sportsman who works for conservation with his vote rather than with his hands. It’s only realized when some art of management is applied to land by a person of perception.” All around the country, hunter numbers are declining, Montana included. Forcing access through constitutional initiatives won’t stop this decline. It will reduce private incentives to enhance wildlife and put undo hunting pressure on wildlife resources. United Property Owners believes in a hunter’s right to hunt, an outfitter’s right to outfit, and a landowner’s right to choose how he manages the resources and to determine who accesses those resources. We want to continue the Montana tradition of cooperation between landowners and sportsmen. Thank you, Locking land and gates Dear Editor, Commercial outfitter Deanna Robbins of Roy complains about the FWP decision to limit archery elk permits. Mrs. Robbins declares archery is a recreational sport but she herself has turned archery hunting into a business by leasing up access in the Breaks. This has locked gates and shut off access to a lot of private and public land that used to be open to sportsmen. Have any of you tried lately to use the Maybee Road north of Roy? It’s now locked, blocking access to thousands of acres of public land. Mrs. Robbins notes how small towns are dying. Studies show that the more leased and outfitted the land, the fewer sportsmen will be in the field and the greater the negative financial impact on the small towns. Mrs. Robbins complains about elk numbers over objective. More than enough hunting permits are issued by FWP to control the elk herds. She fails to admit that the public elk hunter is locked out of access to those elk by (guess who). It is scary to think that someone so negative whose business causes less hunting opportunity and blocks access to public lands and degrades FWP is vice-chair of the FWP Region 4 Citizens Advisory Committee. Public hunters, wake up! Demand that your county commission stop this locking of public roads. You can also go online to www.plaai.org, Public Land/water Access Association. Help protect your right to access your public lands and waters. And thank you to landowners who do allow access. David A. Pavlicek Police patrols near school appreciated Dear Editor, I would like to thank Brad Doney and the Lewistown Police Department for patrolling Garfield School. I am employed at Garfield and I have seen a noticeable decrease in speed by vehicles in the morning when Brad is parked across the street. Keeping our children safe is everyone’s responsibility and I commend Brad for a job well done. Thank you, 4/5/08 U.S. presence has brought good things to Iraq Dear Editor, I want to share with fellow readers some of the positive outcomes our presence in Iraq has made. The facts listed, as well as numerous other positive outcomes in Iraq, can be found on the Department of Defense Web site, http://www.defenselink.mil. We must take pride in our success in Iraq. Did you know 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq, the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people, 3,100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction, 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq, Iraq’s higher educational structure consists of 20 universities, 46 institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating, 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program. The Iraqi Navy is operational, they have five 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment, Iraq’s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes nine reconnaissance and three U.S. c-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and four Bell Jet Rangers. Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion, the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers, there are five Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3,500 new officers every eight weeks, there are more than 1,100 building projects going on in Iraq, which include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 60 electrical facilities, 96 percent of the Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first two series of polio vaccinations, 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid-October, there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158 percent. Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations, the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004, and two candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently. Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positives in Iraq undermines the world’s perception of the United States, thus minimizing consequent support, and discourages American citizens. We must take pride in our success in Iraq! Proudly presented by a citizen and supporter of the government of the United States of America, Michele McLaughlin
Big Tobacco and the media Dear Editor,
Instead of focusing on the importance of the topic that Mr.Goerlitz was here to discuss, Mr. Murray chose to highlight the number of magazine ads in which Mr. Goerlitz has appeared during his time as a model for Winston cigarettes. I am sure this comes as no surprise to Mr. Goerlitz, who spoke at length about how the media has historically swept any negative press about big tobacco companies under the rug. There was a lot more substance to Mr. Goerlitz’s presentation than Mr. Murray chose to put in his article. As a former smoker and current nicotine addict (not a day goes by when I don’t crave a cigarette) I was sucessfully taken in during high school by Big Tobacco’s campaign to entice young smokers. Mr. Goerlitz pointed out that Big Tobacco spends approximately 15 million dollars annually trying to create new smokers. He went on to say that these new smokers are predominantly between the ages of 13 and 18 because, in his words, “People my age don’t start smoking and chewing.” Later on, the presentation became much more alarming. Mr. Goerlitz asked how many students in the auditorium currently smoked or chewed. Predictably, only two students raised their hands. He followed that by asking, “How many of you are sitting near someone who uses tobacco?” Approximately 75 percent of hands went up. He then asked, “How many of you think you could buy cigarettes in Lewistown right now?” Again, approximately 75 percent of hands were in the air. Then, addressing the administration, Mr. Goerlitz said, “Mr. Dubbs, we have a problem.” Indeed we do have a problem. Until we as a community stop giving our tacit approval, our young people will be in danger of falling prey to a killer. We can start by relaying these facts to the rest of the community and then perhaps something can be done about this problem. The News-Argus missed an excellent opportunity to do this. We should not let our kids be drafted into an army of smokers whose senior members need to be replaced due to death. Finally, Mr. Goerlitz pointed out, “Cigarettes are the only product for sale today, that when used properly, will kill you.” Talk to your kids about tobacco. If you need some more information try tobaccofreekids.org. Sincerely, Luke Brandon English Department
Foster responds to ‘totally false’ statements in Kendall article Dear Editor, I wish to respond to the article entitled “Scouts want stones returned to Kendall,” as written by Jim Dullenty, and as published on April 2, 2008. As usual, Mr. Dullenty did an outstanding job in reporting on the historical aspects of Kendall; however, he quoted Glen Pegg on two historical statements that are totally false. I wish to deal with them here. First, he quotes Mr. Pegg as stating that “walls of three structures still were standing, the bank, the Methodist Church, and the mercantile store.” And that is true, except that the remaining stone walls of the church are not from the Methodist Church, as so stated, but are of the Presbyterian Church. While people often confuse the denomination of Kendall’s only church building, it was with certainty the First Presbyterian Church of Kendall, and none other. In 1901-02, the early years of the camp, three church groups were formed in Kendall: The Methodist, the Presbyterian, and the Catholic. They were served by traveling clergy. Yet the Scotch Presbyterians were by far the largest group in Kendall, and thus the only group that later had a resident minister and a church building. In 1905, the town site company donated two lots to the Presbyterians, and in that year the Presbyterians built a Manse to house the first resident pastor. The stone church was built in front of the Manse in 1907-08. A pastor served the Kendall Presbyterian Church until 1911, when the dwindling population no longer supported a resident theologian. Services for the Methodists and Catholic population were held in various public buildings by traveling clergy, until after the resident pastor left in 1911. Then, all three faiths used the Kendall Presbyterian Church building for services via their traveling clergy. Thus, many confuse the Kendall Presbyterian Church as being either Methodist or Catholic, because the latter two services were held there after 1911, but it was not. The second and most serious issue that I wish to call attention to is that made by Mr. Pegg when he was quoted as saying: “Only the stones remained because decades ago, two forest fires roared through Kendall, burning all the wood structures.” That is just not so. While there were 11 stone buildings built in Kendall, all of the other buildings in the gold camp of 1,500 people were of the wood frame variety, and at no time did a forest fire roar through Kendall, burning all the wood structures. There were, however, two major fires in the town site of Kendall. One was in 1908, where most of the original buildings on the east side of Main Street South of the stone Matlock store were burned to the ground. The other was in the fall of 1911, when about two business blocks in the upper town site on the west side of main street burned to the ground. In this 1911 fire, the few remaining miners were dismissed from work to fight the blaze. They all formed a bucket brigade around one of two neighboring houses of prostitution, thus saving that two-story wood framed building and its occupants, while all the other buildings were incinerated by the flames. Other than that, none of the buildings were destroyed by fire, and that included forest fires. What happened to the wooden buildings is this: When the town was vacated, the homestead era began on the vast open ranges north of Kendall. The Milwaukee Railroad, which was scheduled to come from Lewistown to Kendall in 1911, instead moved over and started the farming town of Hilger when Kendall’s gold supply ran thin. Many businesses moved from Kendall to Hilger, including the bank and the newspaper. Additionally, many miners took up homesteads on the prairies. In the process, the stone buildings were literally gutted and the wood was used to build business buildings in new homestead towns and homestead buildings on the prairie. Some buildings were moved “intact” to a new location. Many of the stones were hauled off to provide foundations for the new homestead structures. Photos of the old town in the late 1920’s clearly show no wood structures with the few remaining stone walls completely gutted of wood. Early-day Kendall photos show little in timber on the slopes of the North Moccasin Mountains. And while some photos show stumps of burned out timbers, there were not forest fires in the heyday of Kendall. The Fergus County Argus indicates that in the fall of 1886 a huge and fierce fire burned in the North Moccasin area, and that most of the timber in the Moccasins was probably destroyed by that blaze. In 1902, the Fergus County Argus also noted that all of the available timber from the Moccasin Mountains had been cut and used up, and that lumber then had to be hauled in from other parts of the state. Thus, there was nothing much to create a forest fire in the Moccasins during Kendall’s heyday. Why? Because there were no forests left! In the 1930’s, a new cyanide mill was built north of the town site, and closed during WWII. While this mill burned in the late 1950’s, no forest fire was involved in the blaze. And only a few other buildings were left at this “north end” site. Yet, by 1930, nothing was left of the town site but a few stone shells, with one exception. The Matlock stone store was not gutted. T.R. Matlock had moved to Hilger in 1912, but kept his building intact, thinking Kendall would always revive. In time, the interior wooden part of the Matlock store decayed and rotted away. Mr. Matlock died in 1958. Any forest fire that may have come close to Kendall in the late 1930’s or thereafter found nothing to burn of Old Kendall buildings, as all burnable wood (except the Matlock store) had long ago been hauled off to the homesteads and neighboring town sites and re-used for a new human purpose. It is my hope that the Boy Scout Organization can stop the theft of stones from the town site. Frequent vandalism to, and theft of cut stones from these stone structures has not been uncommon through the years. It needs to stop. Kendall is the only ghost town in the nation that is part of a Boy Scout Camp, and as such its history and its artifacts must be kept accurate and intact. The donors of the town site to the Boy Scouts insisted in writing that the town site always remains open to the public, and this wish needs to be honored. An on-site caretaker is indeed one answer to the ongoing stone theft and stone ruin vandalism problem. Respectfully submitted, John R. Foster Historian ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fellow legislator says Butcher’s leadership is needed Dear Editor, Several people have filed against Ed Butcher in House District 29. I know that there were a number of pretty vicious personal attacks on Ed during the last legislative session and I want to let the people of Central Montana know that many of us in the legislature appreciated Ed’s leadership. His willingness to take a strong stand on fundamental issues important to Montana was greatly appreciated in the face of a big spending legislative session, which was out-of-control. Many citizens do not realize that our state budget currently amounts to over $12,000 annually per Montana household (over $24,000 per household for the two year budget cycle). Reversing this trend towards ever more spending and big government requires legislators who are willing to stand firmly against the notion that more government is the solution to all of our problems. As Chairman of the House Education Committee, I can verify that Ed represented his district well, a strong defender of the smaller schools in Montana. He was one of the principle supporters of efforts by the Big Sky community to separate from the Bozeman school district and establish their own high school. Because Ed supported efficiency and opposed big spending programs with questionable benefits to students, the teacher’s union has been especially nasty toward Rep. Butcher. Ed is a former teacher who promotes local self-government powers, which are specifically vested in school trustees by Art. X Sec. 8 of the Montana Constitution. Locally elected school trustees should have the opportunity to efficiently use their funding to supervise and control their local schools without state or federal mandates. Many in the legislature are pleased that Ed is willing to run for re-election. I would like the voters of Central Montana to know that Ed Butcher’s leadership is needed once again. Sincerely,
Early screening
could save your life
Janet Bowman
responds Dear Editor, I should have clarified myself and said we are not ready for a woman president that stands behind her husband who stood in front of our nation and blatantly lied and she stood right alongside him while he did it. Get it? Stick a fork in me... I’m done. Janet Bowman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3/29/08 An open letter to Janet Bowman Dear Editor, What you are saying is you’d rather have another male president than a woman who can’t control her husband? Who is to say the next male president or the rest of them from now on are going to be faithful to their wives? Out of 43 male presidents we’ve had, there were several of them who cheated on their wives. Even in high offices right now, men are admitting to having affairs. I don’t care if you are a woman, or a man, no one can control the other person’s actions. Put the blame where it belongs, on the person who is doing wrong. I think Hillary is very brave to stand up and have the courage to face people after what she’s been through. She has done nothing wrong except to forgive and forget. Aldora B. Savage This war we are in Dear Editor, Most of us think of our war in Iraq when we speak of this war. Yet there is a war, which has been going on in our society since 1973, a war which has much greater consequences for us and for future generations. This is the battle for the sanctity of life, a philosophy sometimes described as a “culture of life.” This is an ongoing battle for the God-given right of life. This right is manifested in our society by an acceptance of the life of humans as a right, which must not be denied to any human from conception to natural death. That concept is reflected in the acceptance of marriage as a life-long commitment, in the acceptance of children as a blessing, not a curse, in the acceptance of the family as the cornerstone of our society. That concept is supported by a citizenry, which honors liberty and the pursuit of happiness as God-given rights. The great war, the great evil we battle is that of a culture of death. That culture, that concept is manifested in our acceptance of abortion, of rape and incest, of euthanasia, as a freedom of choice without regard for the consequences of that choice. Our next president will face many challenges, first and foremost is the appointment of judges to the courts, judges who will uphold the sanctity of human life or will prolong the sacrifice of a million plus human lives each year to the holocaust of abortion. These judges will legalize or deny actions of our government, which seek to justify man-made rules by which we are to live, rules by which we upset God’s rules. So, sanctity of human life is what this election is about. This is the battle, the war in our society, which is the real issue of this election. Let us not let politicians or the news media define for us what this election is about. The Declaration of Independence defined what the role of government should be. That role was, and is, to recognize and protect the God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Of these the right of life is paramount. George Jimmerson Lewistown could use an indoor playground Dear Editor, I read in the paper of yet another park in Lewistown. Parks are swell places for children and adults to enjoy in many ways. However parks can only be used and enjoyed on nice weather days, which in reality are much fewer than not nice weather days during an entire year. I have thought many times how nice it would be if one of the big empty buildings was an inside playground for young children, with slides, monkey bars, merry go-round, sand box, etc. Lots of mamas with little children would really appreciate a place like that on rainy, windy or cold days. They could take turns watching their own and their friends’ children at the playground while other mamas went shopping leisurely or had coffee or stayed home to get caught up. I’m sure there would be a lot of loops, etc. to work through but there is with everything these days Maybe some of that government money for parks could be used for that instead. I’m sure a lot of mamas and kids would be grateful. This is a very good idea. Sincerely,
3/26/08 Peace
seeker clarifies courthouse events I am writing this letter in response to the article about the peace rally and the county commissioners’ plan to adopt an ordinance about using the public grounds at the courthouse. I found it interesting that the article stated what I said as if I had been interviewed and had made the written statement; however, I had never made such a statement as was written. I would like to clarify what actually lead up to the commissioners addressing myself and another peace activist about the use of the courthouse lawn. Commissioner Ken Ronish came out and told us that we had to take down the chain links because he had received several “calls from people that did not like it.” I placed a call to my attorney and was told by my attorney “that was not a good enough reason.”Ken Ronish then left, only to return with the groundskeeper. We debated over what the groundskeeper had told us on the phone earlier that week when we called for permission to hold our peace rally. After several minutes of getting nowhere, Ken Ronish asked if we would come in to speak with the City Attorney, to which we said yes. The City attorney could not find any ordinance that stated we could not display our signs on the Courthouse lawn and we were then asked if we would join Ken Ronish and the other commissioners upstairs. We agreed, sat down, and meet with them. Once again we refused to remove the signs from the lawn and quoted my rights under the first amendment.I also laid out to the commissioners the procedure on how to enact an ordinance that would dictate future use of Public property.We completed our healthy debate agreeing that we could complete our demonstration and that the County commissioners would move on setting up some guidelines on future use of the property. John Payne Who is this governor? Dear Editor, Everyone who reads Ed Butcher’s missives knows that the governor of Montana is named “Governor Big Spender.” Recently he wrote an editorial and called our governor, “Governor Sweitzer.” Who is this guy Sweitzer and what happened to Ed’s real governor? Mary Jean Golden An opposing view on a woman as president Dear Editor, My opinion is that our country is not ready for a woman president, especially one that has a hard time controlling her own husband. Janet Bowman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Woodward responds to Butcher’s comments Dear Editor, I want to thank Representative Butcher for responding to my discussion of his Guest Column about global warming and his other edifying comments. He suggested that “Global Warming theories are in the same category as the debates regarding the solar system, “life”or “no life” on Mars, and even unidentified flying objects and visitors from outer space!” I must admit I was unaware of these debates. I thought that everyone agreed that the Sun is the center of the solar system with the planets revolving around the Sun in the manner proposed by Copernicus and Galileo, and to think that I have been teaching this concept and never mentioned that it is debatable. I was so upset that I asked many of my friends about this and they universally said they thought the Sun is indeed the center of the solar system. However it is certainly easy to believe that Representative Butcher knows people among his constituency that think otherwise. I seemed to have missed the controversy about life on Mars. I assumed that the NASA mission to Mars with the Rover landing craft indicated no evidence of life there. I suppose that it is possible, however, that any Martians would not want to be photographed by the landing craft and hid behind boulders, so that I cannot prove conclusively that there is no life on Mars. I can readily imagine that Representative Butcher knows people that think this is debatable. When I heard that Steve Running of the University of Montana, my alma mater, had received the Nobel Prize I was elated. Many of my colleagues told me that Dr. Running is a world-class scientist of immense professional stature. However this was before Representative Butcher told us that Dr. Running is doing “junk science” (Representative Butcher’s words). Maybe Representative Butcher thinks that a Nobel Prize is really not a very big deal. Personally, I greatly admire scientist recipients of the Nobel award as Albert Einstein, and Marie Curie, etc. A visit to Glacier National Park to view the small receding glaciers and compare them with photographs taken 100 or more years ago showing how much larger they used to be is a profound experience. I always thought they are receding because of the warming climate, but perhaps Representative Butcher has a better explanation. I must confess that Al Gore is not my “leader.” In fact, a number of scientists regard him as a fraud, a charlatan, and an opportunist that saw a chance for some free publicity with global warming. His personal waste of energy and use of “carbon credits” has been described as extraordinarily hypercritical. An underlying theme of Representative Butcher’s writing seems to be that only leftists support the concept of global warming because of liberal political considerations. My distinct impression is that the many scientists I know consider each issue on its own merit without regard to their own political leanings. As a matter of fact, I have thought of myself as being rather conservative, but I suppose I will just have to get used to being another leftist liberal. Liberally yours, Thanks for the First Amendment Dear Editor, We would like to express sincere thanks to all the people who drove or walked by the Fergus County Courthouse last Wednesday the 19th of March and supported our right to free speech and our right to assemble peaceably. We erected our “Too Many Years, Too Many Lives, Too Many Dollars” paper-chain memorial to the thousands who have perished in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past five years. We also held a candlelight vigil that evening. We know that not all of you share our opinion of the politics and policies that keep our military forces fighting in Iraq, but we appreciate your willingness to discuss your viewpoints with us while allowing us the freedom to express ourselves publicly. Lewistown Peace Seekers Rose Koffler, Bruce Marsden, Mary V. Jones, Louise Kuester, John Payne, Veronica Sweeney, Brett Thackeray, Andrea Payne, Charles Kuester, Harry Felton, Nancy Archer, Janice Trieglaff, Clint Loomis, Linda Stiff, Nickie Edwards, Judy Kellogg, John Daniels Great job
second graders! The realism of the costumes, props and scenery added to the delight of the trip. The students sang songs in the native language of the country that was portrayed, adding to the authenticity of the presentation. A highlight was Mary dancing on stage with the second grade students following her steps. I am sure an enormous amount of hard work and dedication went into this performance and the results were awesome! Great job everyone! Sincerely,
Does anyone recall this man? Dear Editor, This was from a Spokane paper my brother sent me. But the reason Ryan is remembered is because he wrote the popular tune Hot Rod Lincoln. In 1960, both Ryan and cowboy balladeer, Johnny Bond, recorded it. The catch phrase: “My pappy said, “Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’t quit drivin’ that Hot Rod Lincoln.” Charlie Ryan died in Spokane Feb. 16 at the age of 92. Kleiv Johnston ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3/19/08 It’s
a woman’s turn to be President I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I vote for the person I think could do the best job. It is a known fact that we have had 219 years of 43 male presidents, and look at what a bad mess the United States is in. There are women all over the world holding high offices and there have been for years. Why can’t the United States have a woman president? Hillary Clinton, you have my vote. Thank
you. Have a nice day. 3/15/08 Library
officials grateful for help with survey We wish to thank all those who thoughtfully filled out this important survey. These comments and statistics will help the Ad Hoc committee formulate plans to assist all Fergus County libraries. I close with the following quote from the survey: “The library is one of the most essential elements of any town. Reading and knowledge are critical to any democracy. It is a community service that brings people together as they share knowledge.” Thank you again to all those who participated in this countywide project. Sincerely, Carol Wicks, Lewistown Library Board Bobbie Rouns, Community Council Dist. 2 Carlene Daugherty, Moore Library Sarah Leonard, Winifred Library Council Ad Hoc Survey Committee
Asbjornson
heritage is doing, not talking Pen
is mightier than the sword? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3/12/08 It’s time
to fix Lewistown’s streets A few examples of bad spots in town would be: turning off the truck bypass onto First Street near Highland Park School; the section of Boulevard between 9th and 10th; and the road between the Super 8 and Doc’s has an enormous pothole at the stop sign. If Lewistown wants people to come to our town, shouldn’t we think of fixing our streets to match the new street signs? I don’t mean just filling the potholes with gravel, because every time it rains it’s back to the potholes. Why not do it right the first time by re-paving the streets? I believe this would be a much better investment than $500,000 walking paths, or another park on Joyland Road for the kids in the area. Please, let’s think about the streets many of us have to travel on every day. Shanda Romero Not all environmentalists are ‘pot-smokers’ Dear Editor, As someone who has deep concern for the world and its inhabitants, I consider myself an environmentalist; however I’ve never smoked pot. Does this mean that I’m really not an environmentalist? I would love to know which study Mr. Butcher referred to that has implicated environmentalists as pot smokers, or is this perhaps yet another instance of character assassination that Mr. Butcher resorts to whenever anyone has the audacity to disagree with his pronouncements. Sincerely, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3/8/08 Butcher’s insights appreciated Dear Editor, Thanks Ed Butcher for thoroughly explaining the Y2Y - “Yukon to Yellowstone,” a selection of vast amounts of private properties from Wyoming to the Yukon for a special designation. This designation is a good setup for government take over if not new world order take over in the future for the good of all, right? Maybe someone should point out the wonder of Big Spring and Spring Creek and then have a half-mile on either side of the creek set aside for special designation and or preservation. Wouldn’t that sort of be what is happening with Y2Y? All homes and residences could eventually be removed to keep the area more pristine. Sort of like the monument on the river! Sort of like annexing and or zoning private properties around the city for future expansion. How about this Feingold thing and the 200 special interest groups trying to set up some sort of special designation and protection of our waters, which could eventually lead to government take over? What is happening to eminent domain? I know how they must have felt in Russia before the revolution. It is scary. Seems like we are losing our rights right and left. You explain things so well. Thanks, Pat Irish Lewistown
Toastmasters teaches communication skills Dear Editor, In response to the editorial from Jack Behl on Feb. 27, 2008. In no way were the views on Jack Behl related to or connected to the views of Toastmasters or Toastmasters International. We apologize for the article reference on Feb. 27. Below you will find the club and Toastmasters International Mission Statements. “The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member had the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in return foster self-confidence and personal growth.” Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide reality. Through its member clubs, Toastmaster International helps men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening, and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding, and contribute to the betterment of mankind. It is basic to this Mission that Toastmasters International continually expand its worldwide network of clubs, thereby offering ever-greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from its programs. You are all cordially invited to club #609 in Lewistown. Respectfully, Paul Schroer Area Governor Area 21B, District 78 Jack Behl Member: Club #609 Lewistown
Student asks for information on Montana Dear Editor, I am in the fifth grade at Ripon Christian Elementary School in Ripon, Calif. I have adopted your state as a class project. I will be doing a report and making a display about Montana. Towards the end of April or beginning of May, my class will be having a “State Fair.” I will display and show everything that I have gotten and learned about your great state to my whole school. It would be helpful to me if you could ask your readers to send me postcards of your state, maps, brochures, information about wildlife, industry, neat places to visit, statistics, sports teams and any other information and items your readers feel would be helpful. I hope your readers will help me with my project. I’m looking forward to hearing from them and promise to send a thank you to them for helping me. I am excited to learn about your state! Thank you from California, Josh Donoho Mrs. Terpstra’s class Ripon Christian School 217 N. Maple Ave. Ripon, CA 95366 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3/5/2008 Congratulations to Winifred Red Raiders Dear Editor, What a weekend for Northern C Basketball. I would like to congratulate this group of young men from Winifred. What an outstanding show of Team Basketball and sportsmanship. You can’t have first-class young men without first-class parents and coaches. I have had the privilege to get to know some of these first-class parents, and the coaches. Dave Udelhoven and Jim Foran need to be commended for an outstanding job of leadership, and helping direct this group of young men to state champions! These two coaches are two of the finest men I have had the privilege to meet. I travel the state of Montana and believe me, Winifred, Mont., is a First Class Community. In this fast-paced world we live in, we sometimes overlook history-making events that are accomplished by our young men and women of Fergus County. My family and
I would like to congratulate the parents, all the coaches, the community,
and this outstanding group of young men. Thank you, Junior High should remain in use Dear Editor, I am writing this letter concerning the future of the Lewistown Junior High School building. I encourage the study committee to recommend continued use as a Junior High. I believe the building is basically structurally sound. Concerning the stress fractures in beams at the auditorium roof, I recommend repairing these areas. It makes no sense spending millions of dollars for a new school when repairs cost $300,000 to $400,000. Also, if the school needs renovating, then I would recommend this. But under no circumstances should it be torn down. With today’s energy crises and a growing attitude that towns and cities are more desirable and people-friendly when businesses, schools, entertainment, etc. are centrally located, why would one even consider building elsewhere? The Lewistown Junior High School is a historical building. People in other countries take pride and greatly value their buildings, and continue to maintain and update them. My daughter recently returned from a trip to the Czech Republic. She visited the school where my grandfather went in the late 1800s. It is still being used today. I would like to see my grandchildren going to the same Junior High School that I attended. Sincerely,
Carnival committee wants more team members Dear elementary school parents, grandparents, friends, etc., This letter
is to sincerely invite you to come and join us this season as we
began planning the All-school Elementary Carnival 2008. This function
has been a part of our school history for years and we (the committee
members) would love for you to be part of our team. We continue to put on the Carnival year after year for our children and teachers in hopes that we can subsidize the financial hardships our schools face today. The biggest reason we put on the Carnival is because it continues to be a fun and safe function for families and their kids. The kids absolutely love it. The goal is not to throw you a huge task that is nerve-racking for you, but to put you behind one of us so you can better equip your knowledge of what happens in making the carnival. There are several committees you can choose from: Carnival Chairperson, Raffle Committee, Food Committee, Prize Committee, Game/-Classroom Committee, Theme Room Committee, Carnival Ticket Sales, Hall Monitor or Cake Walk. The problem that we are beginning to run into is that our children are getting older and moving into new schools, or we have one left in the elementary along with older ones in higher schools and we the parents are getting spread too thin. A lot of the committee members are moving on with our children to help their current schools and activities; therefore few are left to continue the wonderful tradition of the All-school Elementary Carnival. We don’t want to see that happen, so we would love to see you come and learn what we know to help your experience as an elementary parent be extra rewarding. Don’t miss out on the fun. Come and join our next meeting on March 11 at the Garfield Elementary School Library at 7 p.m. Thank you for your support. Angela Alaers Butcher offers rebuttal to Professor Woodward Dear Editor, I normally do not respond to critical letters to the Editor, but I could not resist commentary on Professor Woodward’s (U of New Mexico) defense of “Global Warming” (3/1/08). Professor Woodward—I would not consider the scientists supporting the “Global Warming theories” as “…liars and incompetent…”, but I do have concerns that they are promoting “political agendas” based on theories of Global Warming (or cooling!) which are disputed by a very evenly divided academic and scientific community. (There is no agreement among the “experts” as to human causes for the “climate cycles” which have in fact been occurring since the beginning of time and varies dramatically from one area of the earth to another.) Since Prof. Woodward is a retired “Prof. of Planetary Sciences,” I would respectfully suggest that his “Global Warming” theories are in the same category as the debates regarding the solar system, “life” or “no life” on Mars, and even unidentified flying objects and visitors from outer space! I want to assure Prof. Woodward that I would not accuse him of being “…a wild-eyed, tree-hugging greenie out in left field…” because I have no knowledge of the rest of his environmental positions. I spent 10 years teaching in universities and enjoyed stimulating debates with my academic colleagues about the world and human behavior—including climate. However, in the 1960s and 1970s the “left” was promoting “global cooling” and the predicted ice age with a sheet of ice covering North America to Kansas using the “same facts” as Prof. Woodward’s Global Warming crowd uses. I was equally skeptical of their facts at that time as I am now about global warming! Unfortunately, this generation of college students is being taught “Global Warming” as a “fact” rather than simply a controversial “theory.” However, the damage to America is in the political arena with “left-wing” media support and legislators (their former students) passing laws which are causing serious harmful results on our economy. Prof. Woodward—with all due respect, I attempt to rely on information from NASA experts and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as being more independent and less politically motivated than your Global Warming Experts led by Al Gore. Of course Gore’s famous Global Warming “documentary” can only be shown to British students with admonishment that “it is only theory!” I think that the required restriction by the British Government to their teachers says it all! Regards, 2/27/2008 Haiti needs our help Dear Editor, Quote: “In some of Haiti’s most impoverished neighborhoods, cookies made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening have become a regular meal, according to an Associated Press report about coping with rising food costs in the region. “Cookies are a bargain at five cents apiece, but depending on them for sustenance risks malnutrition, some doctors say.” What if you had to feed your children and yourself dirt cookies? What is being done to help solve this serious problem? What is being done by the United Nations, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the Red Cross, our churches, ou |
