Letters to the editor

Take it and run

For those of us who qualify for the $400 property tax rebate I suggest, take the money and run. Most of us realize eventually we will have a property tax hike and this $400 will not last. More than likely this will happen soon rather than later. There may be a bit of relief if those "tax and spend" Democrats who feel increased tax is essential would graciously refuse to file for this rebate. Then just perhaps we may see a longer period of time between a rise in property tax. I will take the $400 and wait to spend it again on my tax burden. Wouldn't it be nice to see a moratorium on property tax increases? The legislators do not possess the gumption to support this, but are brazen enough to give us this false token of their appreciated till they soak us once again.

Doug Magee

103 Spencer

Flip-off

Oh oops! I was catching up on my stack of newspapers over Saturday coffee and opened the August 30 YourTime edition. I was certainly taken by surprise as I viewed the photo content of the WeeklyPix on page 2. The photos start out very benign and friendly: Bruce Anfinson and a note about an upcoming Farm in the Dell fund raiser, Thaddeaus Rex and info concerning a Mom's Club fundraiser, and then the biggest photo on the page featuring The Flying Rickshaw and a very blatant "flip-off." I had to do a double take just to be certain I was really seeing what was on the page. I am giving the Independent Record a great big thumbs down for lack of photo editing...certainly there was another, more appropriate photo that could have been used to advertise the Ear Infection Music Festival.

Cindy Sparing

6310 Twin Pine Road

Bike paths

In the wake of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said more more money has not been spent repairing because "... there's about probably some 10 percent to 20 percent of the current [transportation] spending that is going to projects that really are not transportation, directly transportation-related... like bike paths or trails." She was wrong on at least four counts. First, only 1 percent of current transportation spending goes to bike paths or trails. Second, bike paths and trails are places where real transportation happens. When I commute to work by bike paths I am traveling to my destinations without clogging the streets with more motor vehicle traffic or adding to pollution -- and I'm getting exercise to boot! Third, our president and Congress are wasting billions and spending our grandchildren into debt with their disastrous foreign wars, rather than spending our money on something positive and necessary, such as street and bridge maintenance and new bike paths. Fourth, global warming, bulging waistlines, and Helena's relatively small size are reasons why many more of us should be walking or biking for transportation, rather than driving.

Jonathan Matthews

Member, Helena Area Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

1601 N. Benton Ave.

Great workers

This was our summer for the installation of an inground spinkler system and new shingles on our roof. With the front page story on today's IR about Working-class heroes, I wanted to write and "sing" about the unsung laborers who worked on our home. We have nothing but praise for the two crews who did the work for us. The sprinkler system was a logistical nightmare. We have lived in our home for almost 30 years, and have a mature lawn divided into many different areas with sidewalks and landscaping. The crew from AAA Quality Sprinkler & Landscape did an amazing job of laying out the system and making sure that our yard was restored to its original condition. The crew was friendly and polite at all times. The two young men from M.R. Quality Roofs again, did a fabulous job. They were prompt, polite and hardworking, installing our roof and all the hardware that goes with a complete job in record time. I really want to sing the praises of these workers who were out in the smoke and heat of this summer, and did top quality work in spite of it. Thank You!

Trudy and Eric Erickson

East Helena

Another idea

I want to expand on the idea Dave Lewis proposed for solving the deer problem in Helena in his "Your Turn" article on Labor Day. He indicated that hanging CDs by thin silver wire from trees and bushes will repel the deer! This is great news but we will still have all the deer around and their numbers will continue to increase.

I want to take Dave's discovery to the next level. Let's hang the CDs from the deer's necks. In this way instead of keeping the deer from the trees and such, we'll be keeping them away from each other! They will no longer be able to breed and their numbers will soon begin to decline. Voila! In a few years no more deer in Helena.

Dave is a smart guy and I'm surprised he didn't come up with this idea on his own. But I'm happy to help.

Joe Beausoleil

2506 Gold Rush Ave.