Letters to the editor

Nothing to smile about

Karen Cooper (DOL) made comments about hazing buffalo that were out of line and incorrect. Responding to the Buffalo Field Campaign's gathering in Helena on May 8, where 278 headstones adorned the capitol lawn, representing the buffalo DOL killed this year, Cooper condescendingly stated that BFC should "do 1,246 happy faces" for the buffalo that were "moved back into the park from the west boundary." The DOL has grossly inflated their "success" because they've hazed no more than 100 of the same buffalo over and over again. Hazing operations are cruel, fruitless, and disruptive to the entire ecosystem. Not to mention 100 percent federally funded. Taxpayers spend three million annually for "cowboys" to chase buffalo with ATVs, snowmobiles, horses, and helicopters, fiercely running them through barbed wire fences, back into Yellowstone until they are exhausted. Pregnant moms and calves suffer the same treatment, and last year two calves died from being hazed; nothing to smile about. DOL plays cowboy while you and I pay for them to disrespect America's last wild buffalo. Maybe hazing is better than slaughter, but it is still unacceptable. Buffalo will roam free again, and that, Ms. Cooper, is when we'll put on those happy faces.

Stephany Seay

P.O. Box 957

West Yellowstone, Montana

Fairgrounds barn

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Walk-a-thon Saturday, May 8, to save the Historic Fairgrounds barn, and for all the pledges.

Wasn't it a beautiful day to walk? When you were walking you were either looking east towards the mountains, north at the Sleeping Giant, west at MacDonald Pass or south at the barn. If you could pry your eyes off the scenery, you saw deer tracks on the track. We heard birds serenading us from the old trees, and we were walking on soil that was brought from Kentucky in the 1890s; at least we hope the winds of time had left a few particles.

Couldn't you just feel the past, present, and hopefully the future of the fairgrounds — exciting, wasn't it?

The person that turned in the highest amount in pledges received a certificate from the Hardware Cafe in Montana City.

Please be looking for more fun fund raisers for the barn and support them.

You can also send a tax deductible donation to: Fairgrounds Barn Restoration Fund c/o First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 5299, 59604. Thank you.

Chick Smith

P.O. Box 1284

East Helena

Support education

Why is it that the Legislature always thinks of education last? I know that there are some things that are more important. However, if I were a legislator, I would always make education the very first thing on my list, because enough school funding is something we do not have for the Montana school system. We need to change our ways and make education everybody's business!

Alexandra Corbett

A Smith School student

2320 5th Ave.

Rotary train trip

A big thanks from the Helena Rotary clubs to all those who made the Great Rotary Train Trip, held April 25, a success. Rotary raised $10,000 to support the programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena. Montana Rail Link deserves special thanks for providing its passenger train to host the event. The Great Northern Hotel, Silver Star Restaurant, Carol Weisert, Jeff Heil, Wilbur Reiman and Steve Rains contributed to a wonderful pre-trip reception. On board, Benny's, (Margaret Corcoran and staff), George's Distributing, Sleeping Giant Brewing, Harrington Bottling, The Hopeful Troubadours, The Helena Forest Foundation, and naturalists Deb Anderson and Sam Chapman all worked to make an enjoyable afternoon. Treasure State Transit safely transported the travelers to and from the event. Special thanks to Teresa Geremia-Chart, the board of directors, staff and supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena for their hard work in making the trip a success. The most often heard question was "When are you planning the next trip?" Hope to see you all on the next Great Rotary Train Trip.

Robert Throssell, President, Rotary Club of Helena

Alice Hinshaw, President, Helena Rotary Club Sunrise

P.O. Box 1189

Drilling history

The recent editorial opposing gas drilling in the foothills west of Bynum neglects to mention that petroleum drilling has been a part of the landscape there for over 50 years.

As a 10 or 12-year-old kid hunting deer and elk, I walked past an abandoned drilling pad in the Blackleaf Canyon. In high school, I used to help a pal deliver bags of drilling mud to well rigs just a mile or so from the front. There was lots of game there then. There are gas wells operating there now, if memory serves me correctly. And there's still a lot of wildlife.

I don't know if it's the "American Serenghetti" (as tabbed by someone who probably hasn't been there), but it is a potential source of needed energy. I'll bet if you asked the people in Teton and Pondera counties what they think about drilling, the majority would say "go ahead."

Too often decisions about resource development are based more on the starry-eyed visions of wilderness advocates in New York or Chicago than on the views of the people who live on and love the land.

Good resource development and wildlife are not inimical. Let 'em drill, but make 'em responsible.

Jim Crane

9609 Noche Vista Dr. NW

Albuquerque, NM 87114-4372