Letters to the Editor

Tourney for tots

The 9th Annual Toys for Tots Pool Tournament was held Dec. 2 & 3, at the Valley Hub.

There were 79 players entered in the events. In the mens division, taking 1st place was Randy Phillips; 2nd place, Rob Korth and 3rd place, Kurt Kubicka.

In the womens division, taking 1st place, Janice Osborne; 2nd place, Becky Beaner and 3rd place, Anita Rasmussen.

With the help from local businesses of Helena and East Helena by donating items for the raffle and donating money to the tournament, over $26,000 was raised for Toys for Tots.

Thank you, to everyone who played and donated. Hope to see everyone next year.

Chris Strout

1041 Phillips Road

Global warming

I am writing in regard to the two global warming articles in the Oct. 23 and Nov. 7 newspapers. I was astounded to find out that, even though the U.S. is responsible for 21 percent of all greenhouse gases emitted, our government isn’t taking adequate steps to control our output. At the same time, Kenya and other African nations are seeing drastic climate changes. The changes, in turn, are affecting not only their food source, but much of ours as well. Also, it is expected that by the year 2100, average temperature changes will have increased by 10 degrees fahrenheit. This change in temperature will cause many ice sheets to melt which would raise the sea level. As the sea level rises it would move the coasts inward. When you think that as many as one third of all African species may lose their habitats along with many of Africa’s cash crops disappearing by the year 2085, don’t you think this should concern all Americans? What America does environmentally is impacting the rest of the world and what impacts the rest of the world will impact America. The future depends on the decisions we make today and I believe global warming needs to be stopped.

Anna Weber

610 Franklin Mine Road

Not MORE troops!

Redeploy troops to more intelligently chosen tasks and locations. We do not need to send more troops to Iraq! Why can’t the politicians get the message? Stay the course has failed and it’s time to re-think, plan (should be re-plan but there apparently never was one), and change the focus to Iraqi sovernienty, and a negociated peace in Israel. Why is it that the plain citizens have to point out these obvious facts to stubbornly, intentionally ignorant politicians?

Gordon Levin

PO Box 1961

It’s obvious

Some truths that seem obvious to us appear to be beyond the reach of the Bush administration and even Democratic leader Harry Reid. If you agree that no foreign occupying power could ever hope to achieve victory if it occupied the USA, then you should be able to see that American occupying forces can never achieve victory in Iraq. Patriotic people resist foreign occupying forces. More troops generate more resistance. More troops for Iraq would result in more violence for the Iraqi people and for those unfortunate U.S. troops sent there. Why does the obvious seem so difficult for our leaders to grasp?

Jonathan Matthews

1601 N. Benton Avenue

Leave deer alone

I heard on the 10 o’clock news where a committee has been formed to solve Helena’s deer problem. One of the solutions was to euthanize them, which to me is extremely stupid, since they are God’s beautiful creatures. What if the tables were turned? How would the committee feel being euthanized? It’s man’s fault for chasing the deer out of their habitat to search for food. The best solution is to leave them alone because the only real danger is to watch for them while driving.

Russell L. Myers

2835 Fisher Lane, East Helena

Great employer

Counting my blessings brings to mind American Chemet. My husband worked for them, at good pay, benefits and if the employees participate in some of the benefits, they are even better.

This company remembers its employees, both past and present, at Christmas. Though my husband has passed away, they still remember his family.

Therefore, I nominated American Chemet as one of the best employers in the state of Montana. May they and their employees have a happy, healthy and profitable New Year.

Edith Naef

1629 Aspen #528

Protecting the Front

As a landowner on Montana’s matchless Rocky Mountain Front I am elated that Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., has finally taken effective action to protect it from exploitation by the profiteering and irresponsible oil and gas industry.

For decades the front has been a target of that set of greed-driven pirates and the senator’s action will end that disgraceful history.

Contrary to the ill-informed and cynically misleading nonsense offered by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., the maximum amount of oil and gas that could be extracted from the front would do nothing to alter American dependence on foreign sources. What it could conceivably do is to enrich a few companies at the price of degrading an irreplaceable national treasure. That prospect is now gone and Sen. Baucus is to be lauded for ending it.

The next essential step is to protect the front in its entirety — including both Forest Service and BLM lands — by a comprehensive Wilderness Bill which will preserve its wild character for Montanans to cherish and enjoy forever.

All Montanans who value wild, unspoiled country—camping families, fishermen and hunters, outfitters and horsemen, and wilderness loners — owe Sen. Baucus their thanks for his defense of the front.

Paul Edwards

Stecker Ranch

Augusta

Developers’ pawn

The sooner that Lewis and Clark County and its good citizens are rid of the “developer’s and realtors pawn,” Anita Varone, the better! Ms. Varone’s recent position, comments, and actions on the issue of zoning should be proof positive to everyone that she does not represent the citizens of Lewis and Clark County evenly and fairly. During the last election, the electorate sent a clear message that we, the “majority” of the citizens of Lewis and Clark County are tired of the special interests, i.e., realtors, developers, etc., dictating or unduly influencing the outcome of the commission’s decisions.

The Lewis and Clark County Commission must and should protect the rights of all its citizens evenly and fairly, without regard to their social or financial standing in this county. I sincerely hope that the make up of our new commission understands this concept, and that they will develop zoning that protects everyone’s interests as squarely as possible.

Larry Sickerson

1000 Wild Wind Roa

Drink responsibly

During the holidays, many of us enjoy joining friends and family to celebrate and share in the warmth of the season. Celebrating the spirit of the holidays for some includes enjoying their favorite adult beverage in good company.

The Montana Tavern Association would like to remind those adults who legally choose to enjoy beer, wine or spirits this holiday season, to do so responsibly and safely. That may mean designating a driver or taking advantage of Safe-Ride programs during this special time of year.

Alcoholic beverage retailers strive to make the experiences of their customers pleasurable and offer a safe and friendly atmosphere for everyone. They also know that they play a major role in preventing drunk driving throughout the year, and especially this holiday season.

From all of the members of the Montana Tavern Association, we ask everyone to enjoy the holidays responsibly and, should you choose to celebrate with adult beverages, please remember to “Drink Responsibly. Drive Responsibly.”

Have a happy and safe holiday season.

Sincerely,

Diana Koon

Executive Director

Montana Tavern Association

Next year’s headlines

This morning I gave a friend a daily tear-away calendar titled “Fact or C--p” (I’m not sure about the IR’s restricted word list so I leave you all to fill in the blanks.) In any event, this got me thinking about the headlines we read versus stories that we would like to see however wishful thinking they may be.

As we move towards a new year, I’m offering a selection of Fact or C--p Headlines for 2007. You be judge as to which I pulled from this week’s papers and which I might have invented:

“NBA suspends seven players for brawl.”

“Violent crime rose in 2006.”

“North Korea defiant at start of nuclear talks.”

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., on Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.: “He’s a friend and colleague and I have a very high regard for him.” (This one is a trick category).

“Eight Cincinnati Bengals awarded citizens of the year.”

“FBI closes down due to lack of work.”

“Iran seeks friendship pact with U.S.”

“President Bush apologizes to nation for the last six years of mistakes.”

And finally,

“City council unanimously approves local hunt to fix deer problem.”

Mark Huber

609 S. Sanders

Act of kindness

The other morning I was the beneficiary of a good Samaritan. While waiting to pay for gas, a woman in front of me in line turned as she was leaving and handed me a gas card she’d just purchased. I was dumbstruck and did not act quickly enough to thank her. The clerk informed me that the card was worth twenty dollars and asked if I knew the woman. I said that I did not. It was merely the kind act of a stranger. This is my thank you to that stranger and my best wishes for her and her loved ones this holiday season.

Linda Stueven

220 5th Avenue