Letters to the Editor

Pond solution

We have been trying to make sense of the "Footprint Plan" currently dictated by the county. Then along came the ban on fishing at the dedicated kids' fishing pond. Here's our solution. We think it makes a lot more sense from an economic and historical point of view:

Dedicate a duck pond in the race track infield. No big construction costs, no turning the voters against their elected officials (oops -- too late). No more concerns about water drainage on the grounds.

Barbara and Michael Thomas

3471 Lincoln Rd. East

Elizabeth Tobel

8635 N Montana Ave.

Rude motorists

The Sunday IR featured an article and pictures called "Everyone loves a parade." Unfortunately, I found that everyone did not love the Stampede parade.

A number of individuals including myself volunteered to work as "crossing guards" along the parade route. Just before the parade we placed cones across streets to block traffic.

The first rude passenger surprised me. Additional irate drivers followed. A woman in a green Subaru called us "bastards" for blocking the street. Other volunteers had similar experiences. They were sworn at, threatened and gestured at obscenely.

The Last Chance Stampede parade, fair and rodeo are integral to Helena's heritage. The spirit of service of the many volunteers is the same spirit that makes Helena a wonderful place to live. Drivers who find the parade an inconvenience should remember the Stampede parade takes place on Saturday of fair week. Avoid the parade route for two hours. Perhaps we can ask the local media to remind you next year.

The parade workers and the numerous other laborers at the fair and rodeo are volunteers working for the benefit and enjoyment of others. We should not be the target of your angry words, cursing or obscene gestures.

Sarah M. Bauer

P.O. Box 4895

Successful fundraiser

Helena continues to generously support the Florence Crittenton Home. Our Annual Golf ShootOut Fundraiser was a great success this year. We're grateful to those who supported us with sponsorships and contributions. Thanks to the Independent Record for providing us this opportunity to thank these generous people:

Sponsors: Hamlin Construction, Dr. & Mrs. Dick Paustian, Rick & Betti Hill, United Building Centers, Century 21, ETC Cars, Placer Motors, Finstad's Carpet One, Lindsay Real Estate Team - Linda & Carrie, First Boulder Valley Bank, Western States Insurance, Floor Show, Helena Sand & Gravel, Flynn Insurance, Ron Thompson - Big Sky Realty, Vann's Appliances, CookHillGirard, and Eckmann Chiropractors.

In-kind contributions: Bear's Den, Ghost Art Gallery, Bearing Point, Cat Rental Store, Dr. and Mrs. Peter Wendt, Perkins, Doug Teders, Ray Hunthausen, Scott Longnecker, Benny's, Parrot, Los Casadores, On Broadway, Tim's Exxon and River Grill.

Thanks to our golf courses who made this event possible: Green Meadow, Bill Roberts, and Fox Ridge. Also we are grateful to the many volunteers who staffed the event.

Thank you for supporting the girls of the Florence Crittenton Home.

Barb Hamlin and

Betti Hill, co-chairmen

Thanks for dinner

This is a special thanks to the governor and his lovely wife for the dinner at the mansion on July 11. Also to the 16 fish and game employees who also attended. I don't remember everyone's names. If you really enjoyed the pot holders, they can be purchased at the Good Samaritan Thrift Store.

Merle and Mona Bracken

3440 Wonder Drive

Support VA care

Upon finding myself a patient at the Fort Harrison Veteran's Hospital for several days, I must relate to all Helena area veterans and their families how very fortunate we are to be the home of perhaps the best facility in the entire VA hospital system. However, we must keep in mind that of 172 VA hospitals throughout the country, the one here in Helena at Fort Harrison, is probably one of the smallest facilities in the system.

Veterans should be aware that the Bush administration and Congress have fallen shamefully short in funding health care for veterans. This shortfall is worsening, and funding problems will increase with the influx of returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. Our hospital faces ever increasing funding threats.

Although the hospital is small, the fine staff and administration make up the difference by providing superior quality care for our Montana veterans.

I look forward to the groundbreaking for Liberty House, a short-term residence for families visiting hospitalized veterans at the Fort.

I ask all veterans to support "the Fort" and to tell President Bush and members of Montana's congressional delegation of our appreciation of and support for our VA Hospital at Fort Harrison.

Herb Ballou

Evergreen Center, Room 111

Clancy

Fix those pets

Tia Nelson is right on in her article "Creature Comfort" (8/2). The only way to end the tragedies caused by companion animal overpopulation is by spaying and neutering. PETA urges local residents to take advantage of the Lewis & Clark Humane Society's lifesaving SNIP event.

If you're unsure about having your animal companion spayed or neutered, consider these numbers:

67,000: the number of dogs one female dog and her puppies can theoretically produce in six years.

420,000: the number of cats one female cat and her offspring can produce in seven years.

3-4 million: the number of cats and dogs euthanized in animal shelters in the United States each year.

Aside from drastically reducing the number of unwanted animals, sterilization can make your animal healthier and happier: spaying eliminates the risk of uterine cancer and greatly reduces the chance of mammary cancer. Neutering helps prevent testicular cancer. Sterilized animals are much less likely to roam, fight, urinate indoors, or have behavioral problems. For more information on spaying and neutering, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.

Lindsay Pollard-Post, staff writer

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

501 Front St., Norfolk VA 23510