Letters to the editor

Auction a success

Thank you Helena for attending our "Help Raise the Roof" for the Episcopal Church of the Nativity on Aug. 18, and a very special thanks for the contributions received from Helena Merchants: Eagles Lodge, Allegra Print and Imaging, Tori's Antiques & Exquisite Jewelry, Aunt Bonnie's Books, Crazy Woman Beading, Maxine Blackmer Pottery from Andrea Bateen, The Broadwater Athletic Club, Futura Lane, Inc., John Frisch and Bright Star Stables, J4 Automotive, Dillard's, Macy's, TireRama, Grimes Motors, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Hair Hair Salon & Spa, Mary Kay Representative Grace Berger, Mt. Glass Liquor Store, Karmadillo's, Jade Garden, Mediterranean Grill, Grub Stake, Blackfoot River Brewery, The Stove Man/Mattress Madness, Birds & Beasley's PETCO, Star Montana and The Open Circle, The Pan Handler, Home Beautifiers, Montana Book & Toy Company, Sleeping Giant Lanes and the LaFrance family for sapphire earrings, necklaces and rings for the silent auction and raffle.

We are also grateful for the many members of The Church of the Nativity who contributed both auction items and their time.

Chris Blazer, senior warden

Brenda McLellan, priest

East Helena

Thanks for supplies

This school year, 25 children from Helena and Lincoln received a new backpack filled with school supplies. Several of those kids also received new shoes.

These kids, whose ages range from 5 to 14, receive services from the Center for Mental Health -- which provides outpatient, in-home, and in-school mental health services for children and families throughout the Tri-County area.

Many thanks to the following civic organizations, churches and individuals who donated the funds and went out and shopped for the children and youth: First Lutheran Church, Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church, St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, East Valley Four Square Church, First Christian Church, Helena Exchange Club, Marine Corps League, Soroptimist International Heritage Club of Helena, Mignon and Ron Waterman and Joan and Dave Smith.

An estimated $1,500 was spent on school supplies and shoes to fully equip these kids to have a successful school year. We at the Center for Mental Health Foundation are truly grateful to the generous people in Helena and East Helena who contributed to this annual project.

Joan Higgins-Smith, program developer

Center for Mental Health Foundation

PO Box 744, Helena

Thanks to firefighters

West Helena residents spent late Sunday afternoon and early evening watching and waiting as a fire burned through an area of undeveloped land and near homes around the Spring Meadow State Park toward the Joslyn trailer court area. When the area lost power, our residents at Motor Home were evacuated.

The immense power of this fire hit home Monday morning as our employees drove in to work at Spring Meadow Resources. It came close to our property, but we sustained no damage as many of our neighbors did. Thank goodness, no one was hurt.

Spring Meadow Resources wishes to thank the volunteer and career firefighters, law enforcement, and other emergency services, for their excellent response to this potentially terrible fire, as well as the neighbors and Good Samaritans who pitched in to fight this fire.

Our property sits on a beautiful piece of land, and we work hard to maintain it in a manner that provides a safe environment for recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the Helena area.

But that Sunday, it became apparent that all of us truly depend on the quick response from our emergency services and neighbors to keep us safe. Thank you all.

Tiffany Sauer

Spring Meadow Resources

Price difference unfair

I recently inquired about getting my 15-year-old son enrolled in the public school's driver's education class. I was rather taken aback by the $225 fee I would be required to pay for the course.

As I read further, I was astonished to see students who were on the reduced lunch program had to pay a mere $20 for the class.

Before you stereotype me, I am not against reduced lunches, housing and other social programs. I simply did not know driving was included as a basic human need and that my tax dollars were used to offset the cost for lower-income families.

I think it is a bit unfair for there to be such a huge price difference. I am a hard-working man with a family, mortgage, and two jobs. Am I being penalized for this? I am by no means rich, just hard working.

I send both my kids to Helena Christian School, and therefore I pay taxes for the public schools, yet my kids don't use their resources. I believe that entitles me to a few reduced-price driver's education classes.

Scott A. Yebba

5780 Palomino Court

Saved a life

On a recent morning, a young man came to our assistance and saved a life at the Early Bird Cafe.

He worked at Lawn Pro and, as might happen at any crisis, we did not get his name.

The family of Fern Hedstrom had taken her to a steak-and-egg breakfast, and the first bite did not go down. We jumped in and worked on her to get her breathing, but this young man came right over and gave us some further instructions and took over with the Heimlich maneuver.

He did what anyone could have done, but he is the one that did. May God bless you.

Karla Flanders, Art and Becky Hedstrom

7130 Gunn Road

Purse returned

I would like to thank the "Good Samaritan," who found the purse I had left in a shopping cart at Wal-Mart, and turned it in.

B. Randall

910 Maple

Daughter's accident

On July 6, our daughter, Melissa Douglas, was in an accident. At 3 a.m., they rushed her to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she has been for the last several weeks. She has had six surgeries and is slowly recovering.

We would like to express our gratitude to the officer who pulled her out of her van, David Gleight, and the deputy sheriff who was there with the oxygen.

So many people in the community have helped. The wonderful business owners, staff and friends of our daughter at High Country Growers. Our thanks to our friends, neighbors and those who are praying for her.

With heartfelt love and appreciation to everyone.

Bob and Dawn Douglas, and her twin daughters, Mikala and Monika Martin

1866 Colorado Gulch Drive

Deer not in the way

One hundred and fifty years ago, Indians got in the way of white expansion, so we killed them.

Now the deer are in the way of our expansion and our response is the same --lets kill them. Is this still the only response we have to anything that gets in our way?

We are an intelligent, compassionate and relatively wealthy community. Surely we can do better. Aren't deer wandering around town indeed a tourist attraction? If not, perhaps Helena's motto should be "Come to the Capital City, we kill the friendly deer!"

Beth Wilson

815 N.Park