Letters to the editor

Time to deal with deer

In the wake of the deer "attack" Wednesday, hopefully our city and county managers will finally mobilize and take steps to deal with the urban deer problem that is only growing worse with each passing year. If a two-point buck can do that kind of damage to a 110-pound dog, just imagine what one of those six-pointers roaming our yards would do to a smaller dog or even worse yet, to one of our children innocently playing in their own backyard.

Many municipalities across the country have deer management plans in which the herds are thinned, the meat is processed, then given away to the needy. Granted this will cost some money to implement and carry-out, but what price would you put on protecting your pets, property and family? Will we have to wait for another attack for our elected officials to finally do something about this problem or will they just keep talking about it?

Andy Wyciskalla

420 S Roberts

Good dealership

In 2000, I purchased a 1999 van from ETC in Helena. When I bought the van, I bought the 100,000-mile extended warranty. I recently had mechanical problems with the vehicle that were to be covered by the warranty, and took the vehicle to the respective dealer. After the initial assessment, I was told by the dealership that the warranty company had been located in the Twin Towers and had been destroyed on 9-11.

I was told repairs would have to be paid out of pocket, and I would have to contact the insurance company handling the warranty company's affairs to be reimbursed. I was told repairs would cost $2,400, and a $150 assessment fee was added to the $2,400. I contacted Mike at ETC and told him about the problems, and the cost of the repairs. I didn't have an extra $2,400. I was told not to worry, and to take the vehicle to another dealership. The repairs were completed, ETC paid the entire cost.

Thanks Mike and the other people at ETC for the way your company does business and backs your products. I will definitely buy from you again.

Denny Davis

3885 Kiki Drive

Take a Carroll class

Last year in a history class at Carroll, Professor Swartout described a scenario and then asked, "Diana, is that inflation or deflation?" Diana answered "yes!" and vowed to take an economics class.

I kept that vow. This semester, economics is one of my four fascinating classes. (Our economics text book covers such contemporary subjects as Social Security, the war on terror, China's emerging economy, Bush tax cuts, budget deficits, and the Microsoft antitrust case.)

Yes, I'm still one of the few females whose belly button doesn't show when I raise my hand in class. And with colder weather coming on, I do worry about those young women with ample embonpoint -- an opportunity for the Carroll pre-med program to develop a "love-handles" frost bite treatment? Once you look at a Carroll class schedule, you'll have a hard time deciding what not to take: there are eight different history classes alone and a plethora of other choices from anthropology to theatre.

Spring semester at Carroll begins Jan. 10, and although Carroll has doubled its tuition rate for seniors to $50 a class (and I still don't know if this is inflation or deflation), this price is a real bargain.

Diana S. Dowling

519 N. Rodney

Tie up your dogs

To Don and Paula Lais and other dog owners who let their dogs run loose: There is a leash law in Lewis and Clark County. Dogs are to be confined by leash, fence or voice.

If I had hit your dog, I would have taken it to a veterinarian, called law enforcement to file a report, assessed damages to my vehicle and myself, had you ticketed for dog at large and pay all bills incurred by your thoughtless, incompetent, irresponsible action of turning your dog loose.

You claimed to have loved your "beautiful little boy Harley" as if he were a child. Turning a dog loose is like letting a 4-year old child loose and then expect it to follow the rules of cars and roads they don't understand.

I hope the animal control officer shows up at your door with a ticket. To me, people who write in crying about a dog being hit is like writing that they drink and drive -- it is against the law.

I have dogs and cats myself and have lost two cats due to stray dogs in my yard, so boo-freakin'-hoo. Tie up your next dog or build a fence.

Valli Garrett

P.O. Box 583

East Helena

Get rid of the deer

Our family has owned property on 8th Avenue since 1926. It has only been in recent years that deer have been causing us problems. We can't plant fruit trees without having them stripped and destroyed, or enjoy the tulips and roses in our garden any longer. We can't go outside at night without looking first for a few big bucks that have startled us in the dark more than once. Yelling, tossing rocks or raising a broom stick is no longer effective. I think we can learn some lessons from other cities in our nation on how they got rid of urban wildlife, before more than someone's beloved pet dog is destroyed.

Leona Harris

739B 8th Ave.

Great party

On behalf of the bigs, littles, and families of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena, I want to sincerely thank the Carroll College Circle K International Club for organizing and hosting a Halloween party for our group. Particularly Tyner Kuehn and Brittany Burton devoted countless hours to organize the food, games, activities and the haunted house. The families in our program were impressed by the effort and results. We also wish to thank the local businesses who supported the Circle K and donated products to the event and Carroll College administration who encourage and support this type of community involvement among their students.

Teresa Geremia-Chart, executive director

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena

34 W. 6th Ave., Ste 1-C

Alarmed by Brian

I am disgusted. My initial alarm over the candidacy of Brian Schweitzer has only grown as I watch him prepare to take office. Reasons for my alarm? I have no idea who this guy is other than he has a pleasant smile and packs a gun. Now my alarm grows as I do get acquainted with his character as revealed by his recent behaviors. First he quibbles over his request to transfer two state employees to his transition team. Now, he gives tacit approval to sic the garbage Gestapo on that state's trash. Oh puh-leez! Finally, Mr. Schweitzer, would you please get some nice dress trousers? I wonder if Montana's highest office is going to run with the same casualness as your manner of dress. Perhaps there is some comfort in seeing a guy in jeans; it lends itself to a "Montanan-just-like-me" feeling.

But therein lies the problem. I don't want a Montanan-just-like-me. I want a leader. Make that a leader with character and class.

Theresa Lode

1927 Jerome Place

Find deer solution

I saw the front page story in the Nov. 18 IR about the deer who killed a dog. If a buck deer does that to my dog Snoopy, I will be really mad and want to get my hunting rifle and protect her. But I hope our city managers will find a solution to dangerous animals roaming the streets in my neighborhood. I think it is sad when I see more deer on the sidewalks than I do when I go hunting in the forests!

Michael Harris

728 Breckenridge

Little has changed

Few people know anything about Gideon J. Tucker other than it was he who in 1866 said, "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session."

There are those who would suggest that in the ensuing 138 years little has changed.

Dick Stafford

P.O. Box 956

East Helena

Demos wrong on Lewis

For most of my adult life, I have agreed with the policies of the Democratic Party, but the request to County Commissioners by the Democratic Central Committee to oppose Dave Lewis as a replacement Senator for Senate District 28, disgusts me.

How in the world could they send an e-mail suggesting there are better qualified candidates than Dave Lewis? Although I may not agree with some of Mr. Lewis' philosophies, I don't think there is a better qualified candidate for this position. His many years of governmental and legislative service, particularly in the area of finance, make him uniquely qualified.

It is comforting to see that the Lewis & Clark County Commissioners plan to make their decision on the facts, and not by a Democratic Party e-mail.

Richard T. Munger

12 Evening Star Drive

Montana City