Letters to the Editor

Donations appreciated

Helena's 4th of July Baseball Tournament Committee and Board would like to extend our gratitude to the following businesses and individuals for their donations of materials, money, and time in making the baseball tournament a success: D&D RV, Golden West Electrical, Montana Army National Guard, Montana Public Employees Association, National Institute on Money in State Politics, Hastings, The Bagel Company, Costco, CVS Pharmacy, Fastenal Company, Mann Mortgage, Tammy & Paul Swanby, Francis Calhoun, High Country K9 -- Larry Heigh, Albertsons, all participating teams' coaches, parents and players, umpires, field crew and the Helena All Star Teams' coaches and parents. We could not have done it without you!

Kathi Tiefenthaler

4th of July Tournament Director

60 Ruby Mtn. Rd.

Try peace

If we are to be a warring nation, we must be willing to support that effort with heart (deep resolve), mind (injuries), soul (deaths), and substance (money).

If we are to be a warring nation, we must be willing to sacrifice our own personal comforts and freedoms.

If we are to be a warring nation, we must be willing to send our loved ones into harm's way, while totally supporting their efforts emotionally and financially.

If we are to be a warring nation, we must be willing to provide the wounded with first-rate emotional and physical attention.

If we are to be a warring nation, we must be willing to bury our fallen heroes with dignity and honor.

If we are to be a warring nation, we must be willing to pay the price, for we are the people on whose shoulders this burden lies.

On the other hand, maybe we should try peace.

William Peter

8490 Applegate Dr.

Gov thanked

My name is Debra Hoppe, and I have lived in Helena since 1986. I have been married to my husband, Terry, for the past 15 years. We met at West Mont Rehabilitation Services and now both work night shifts at Spring Meadow Resources. I tell you this for one reason and that is to thank you for the bill that was passed earlier this year to increase our wages.

When I heard about the raise I was skeptical. Nowadays, I don't have much faith in our government. I have to say that I am glad that you are our governor because you have the heart the size of Montana and the guts to get the job done.

I respect the job that you do, because you honestly have the people's well-being in mind and forget about what the politicians think. It really takes a courageous soul to stand up to peer pressure these days, but I am so glad that you do so.

Thanks again for all that you do and may God bless you richly.

Debra Hoppe

810 Breckenridge St.

Good, bad, ugly

THE GOOD -- Many, many thanks go to all the fire crews and Sheriff's Department for saving our animals and homes at Blue Cloud. And a very special thank you to Stan and the crew at "The Stove Man" for volunteering to help. "I mean it, call me even if it is in the middle of the night and we will be there." (Customer service above and beyond.) Also thanks to those that boarded our animals for free.

THE BAD -- Desperately trying to get home to save our horses, dogs and cats, the traffic was unbelievable. Fire trucks hampered trying to reach us through the thick smoke. Don't people realize that these fires may reach 2,000 degrees and their cars will explode? Every onlooker should receive HUGE tickets. Then after we were allowed back into the area, many people were driving up our private road. Not only do we have to contend with the smoke and our upset animals, these autos are causing much unnecessary dust and danger. Please stay away!

THE UGLY - The scorched hills, but we all know the grass will grow back next year. The bushes covering the fox den, maybe never.

The Adams and Knight Families

Blue Cloud Ranch Estates

Praise for VA Hospital

Kudos to administrator Joe Underkoffler and to everyone at Fort Harrison VA Hospital!

The problems at Walter Reed and other VA hospitals have been widely publicized, and they must be remedied. Our veterans deserve only the best.

I wish that every sick or injured American veteran could be treated at Fort Harrison. This facility should be the prototype for VA hospitals nationwide.

We are a military family. My husband, Ray, is permanently brain injured and wheelchair bound.

For the past 17 years, Ray has received outstanding professional care at Fort Harrison, both as an outpatient, and occasionally as an inpatient.

The doctors are highly qualified. The nursing staff is well trained. The supportive staff is competent and helpful. The pharmacists have filled Ray's prescriptions without delays. Everyone has treated us with genuine, friendly concern.

Recently Ray was an inpatient for a few days. After some tests, I brought him in his wheelchair to the cafeteria. There, the hospital administrator greeted us, and he carried Ray's tray to the table for him.

Excellent service and sincere dedication start at the top. The management and staff at the Fort Harrison VA Hospital exhibit both in spades! Thank you, one and all!

Renate Callahan

4675 Liberty Dr.

Thanks, Town Pump

Three years ago, my department received the first of three grants from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. An automatic external defibrillator (AED) was received and added to our medical equipment in the command vehicle.

Last year we received a grant for $8,400 to purchase two new self-contained breathing apparatus systems (SCBA).

This year our department was fortunate enough again to receive another Town Pump grant for funds to purchase an additional two SCBA breathing apparatus with the latest "heads-up display systems," including the talk-about feature, allowing the crews to communicate with each other, and command staff, during an incident.

The acquisition of this equipment will greatly enhance the abilities of Lewis & Clark County Volunteer Fire Department to safely provide emergency services to the customers of Lewis and Clark County.

Town Pump is leading the way, reinvesting in their local communities with your Charitable Foundation program.

Your generosity has directly contributed to our effective response for life-saving emergencies in our neighborhood.

Walter Jester, Lewis & Clark VFD Chief

1996 Oro Fino Gulch Dr.

Fitting tribute

Wouldn't it be a fitting tribute to a wonderful lady, Lady Bird Johnson, if the Queen City of Montana were to honor her and her Highway Beautification Program by tearing down the ugly row of billboards lining Highway 12 along the west side of town?

Paul W. Turley

6558 Big Rock Rd.