To quote Tom Cruise in the “Jerry Maguire” movie, “Show me the money.” In January 2009, the Ravalli County Commissioners received $1.2 million from the federal government from Secure Rural Schools stimulus money. Of the $1.2 million the county received under this act, valley schools received zero dollars. In March 2010, the State of Montana received $80 million as a down payment from coal leases on School Trust Land. The schools received none of this money. September 16, 2010, it was announced that the federal government was awarding $30 million to Montana to preserve teacher jobs. Once again, the schools will receive none of this money. You read that correctly. Of the $111,000,000 recently awarded to state and local governments in the name of schools, the reality is, schools have received nothing – nada – zilch! It is important for the local taxpayer to realize that money being handed out in the name of schools is not going to schools.

Our state government is playing a modern day shell game. The state is moving money out of the school budget and replacing this money with federal dollars designated for schools. Although this makes the state look good by balancing the budget, the intent of the federal dollars is undermined, and local public schools are left with none of the additional dollars. The outcome of this financial shell game by the state will almost certainly result in a loss of teaching staff in fiscal year 2012.

In 2000, the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act was passed. The federal government committed in passage of this act to mitigating the impact of lost revenue from federal timberlands that were taken out of production in the 1990’s. The Act was reauthorized in 2008 and is set to expire in 2012. Money received under the Act is required by statute to be used in four major funds to offset levies on the local taxpayer. The money is allocated by formula to: 1) the state equalization fund; 2) the high school teacher retirement fund; 3) the elementary teacher retirement fund; and 4) the county transportation fund including the school transportation fund. None of the money goes directly to schools.

The Enabling Act of 1889 set aside sections 16 and 36 in every township in Montana for support of the common (public) school. Subsequent selling, trading and other adjustments have brought the total acreage set aside for the public schools and endowed institutions to 5.1 million acres. The mineral acreage is approximately 6.3 million acres. The Enabling Act provided that proceeds from these lands be permanent funds for the support and maintenance of public schools. The Montana Constitution provides that these funds forever remain inviolate, guaranteed by the State of Montana against loss or diversion. Today, these set asides are called School Trust Lands. The current state government (executive and legislative) is failing to keep the trust. They are using this revenue to fund other areas of state government. The result of this action is twofold. The shortage in school funding is made up in local property taxes and/or the local school is told to do more with less. We all need to understand that less means less, not more. By choosing the more-for-less tenet, we are short changing future generations and sacrificing our own future for short-term gain.

Finally, without passing judgment on the wisdom of accepting federal dollars, it is startling that our state government would divert these monies away from Montana children. When you are quizzing the candidates for state and local office, you might ask them where they stand on this issue.

Letters to the Editor

Tired of waiting for road paving

Dear Editor,

Attention, taxpayers on the Middle Burnt Fork Road:

I have solved the case of the missing asphalt on Middle Burnt Fork Rd. It is from Sula Store on the East Fork Road all the way up past Jennings Camp. It might go farther but that is where I stopped. I am assuming this is a county road. I am looking for reasons or projects that have been keeping the county from our area. The county promised the Middle Burnt Fork Road would be taken care of, blamed the city for the hold up, and now what? Are we going to have to go through another winter with our road in the condition it is in? I would like to know who lives up the East Fork that has enough pull for the work to be done up there, and I would like to ask them to please move to the Burnt Fork, we are all pretty nice people down here, they would enjoy the company, I’m sure. Would all the people who have to drive on Middle Burnt Fork please call our county Road Supervisor to inquire about work promised but not done? His phone number is 363-2733. I’m sure he will have a story to tell you. That is what he is good at, but a little action is what we are looking for.

Shana Anderson
Stevensville

Birds of a feather

Dear Editor,

“Birds of a feather flock together.” This is a saying which is as true today as when it appeared in an English dictionary in 1599. What I refer to is not starlings but a different kind of bird, those who would impose their liberal-progressive ideas of large government on the citizens. Those of you who think that the Democrat philosophy as practiced by President Obama is different from what we have seen here in Ravalli County are sadly mistaken - they are identical birds.

In case time has dulled our memory, let me cite a few examples intended to refresh it. Do you remember the 56-page "Ravalli County Growth Policy”? Little did we know that the passage of this benign sounding document was the legal mechanism that would open the floodgates of zoning. Scattered through the document were goals that carried with it the statement, "This goal shall not infringe upon the private property rights of any individual or property owner." This was expressed 10 times in the document. After the growth policy was voted into law, we read the following question directed to the County Attorney in the local paper: "Do the statements regarding private property rights set forth in Ravalli County's Growth Policy prohibit adoption of lawful zoning?" County Attorney George Corn answered NO! There was no explanation of how the obvious conflict between property rights and the loss of those rights by restrictive zoning could be reconciled. As I read Attorney Corn's decision, he knowingly ignored the solemn promise contained in the Growth Policy. He destroyed my confidence in him as a fair and impartial practitioner of the law.

Let us now deal with County Commissioners Grandstaff, Driscoll, and Rokosch. They are running for a second term in office. As individuals, they are friendly, well spoken, and well informed. Despite those qualities, I will not vote for them based upon their actions during their four years in office. Standing front and center was their unwavering efforts to institute restrictive zoning of rural Ravalli County and as a consequence, destroy many of the property rights we as citizens have enjoyed since the founding of this country. Using the offices and resources of county government and hundreds of thousands of dollars, they attempted to impose their will upon the citizens whose interests they were elected to represent. Compounding this, they had the arrogance to refuse to allow putting the zoning regulations to a public vote.

Now it is your turn. Your vote has seldom been as important, both to the future of our county and national government.

W.J. Hester
Florence

Support for true Republicans

Dear Editor,

Everyone wants to be a Republican this year. A recent ad by Republicans for Responsible Candidate (Chuck Dewitt, Treasurer) claims he and others are Republicans for Carlotta Grandstaff. As chairman of the Ravalli County Republican Central Committee, I can say that I do not know Mr. Dewitt and can’t comment on him being a Republican. I would assume, however, that anyone who would want to promote Republican ideas and values would at least bother meeting with some of the Republican candidates or Republican committee people in the county before forming a PAC that claims to be Republican. Furthermore, to promote Carlotta Grandstaff as a champion of Republican ideals is laughable. Her campaigning and voting record would indicate otherwise. She normally voted with Jim Rokosch and Kathleen Driscoll (Democrats). Stewart Brandborg normally supports her and she attends Bitterrooters for Planning meetings at his request. I do not want to denigrate her, but clearly her beliefs and values strongly reflect Democrat Party philosophy. To claim anything else would be fraudulent.

This deception goes to the heart of what this election is about. The Democrats want you to believe they are Republicans and that Republican candidates are extremist. Please remember that these candidates all chose their party affiliation, based on party platform, and should represent their platform.

I applaud Pam Erickson and Terry Moran in the recent article in the Ravalli Republic about their tour of Sunelco. It points to a distinct difference in the Parties and they clearly support their parties’ values in the article. The Democrats believe that more governmental control can fix our problems. The article talks about tax breaks for renewable energy. Taxes should be fairly and blindly assessed to pay to run government, not used for social engineering of what we may want people to buy or not buy. Federal mandates for florescent lights just impose more restrictions on what you can or can’t do or buy in your own home.

Any Democrat, Libertarian, or Independent candidate who wants to be associated with the Republican Platform should run as a Republican and adhere to the Republican Platform. Anyone who wants to start a PAC to espouse Republican beliefs should at least be associated with the Republican Central Committee, Pachyderm clubs, or Republican Women groups in the valley.

Do not be deceived by the wolf in sheep’s clothing in this fall’s election. If you believe more government regulation can solve our problems, vote for the Democrats. If you value the personal freedoms you still have, vote Republican.

Terry Nelson
Victor

Names of serving soldiers sought

Dear Editor,

It has come to my attention that there are many members of our community who are not familiar with the Tribute Wall which American Legion Post #94 installed in the Veterans Park located at the intersection of the Stevensville Main Street and Eastside Highway approximately eight years ago.

It is our intention to honor those men and women who are serving our country during the War on Terror. Although the number of names displayed has grown to over 300, Post #94 will be honored to place the names of others if we are notified.

Additionally, when individuals are home on leave, we also like to provide them with a certificate thanking them for their service to our country. There is no cost for this service, although contributions are always welcome.

If you know of someone we should honor, please call Jerry Esmay (777-5517), Bob Smith (777-3909) or Ron Toomer (777-3834).

Thanks again for your support!

Jerry Esmay, American Legion Post #94
Stevensville

Thanks from North Valley Library

Dear Editor,

On behalf of the North Valley Public Library staff, Board of Trustees and volunteers, I want to express our sincere appreciation for all of those individuals and businesses that helped make 2010 Hispanic Heritage Month a grand success. Thank you to Marshell Woodgates and Betsy Ballard for their travelogues on Puerto Rico and Peru. Thank you to Jorge Morales for his excellent cooking class on Cuban cuisine. Thank you to Oscar Macz, Joseph Gallagher, Marina Weatherly, Ana Napolitano, Wa Correia, Marge Wood, Cookie Green, Lupe Thornton and Patricia Meakin for their many hours of hard work on the play “Cenicienta.” Thank you to the Missoula Community Foundation for supporting our annual events this year. And, most of all, thank you to the community of Stevensville for embracing our cultural events at North Valley Public Library. What a wonderful and diverse community we live in.

Amy Ling
North Valley Public Library

Vote Republican to stop Brandborg

Dear Editor,

To all freedom loving citizens of Ravalli County: I have written this letter as a concerned citizen of Ravalli County. I am not representing any group, organization, PAC or political party. The two primary issues in Ravalli County for this Election in November are: 1. Property Rights. 2. The Economy and Jobs.

This is the most significant election in my 29 years as a resident of this County.

Are we going to allow Mr. Brandborg and “Friends” to finish what he calls “The Grand Experiment” for Ravalli County? If we do not defeat all three incumbent anti-Constitutional County Commissioners and his politically oriented legal arm, County Attorney George Corn, here are 13 things that will happen:

1) The Growth Policy which is the platform for Countywide Zoning, Streamside Setbacks, etc. that was repealed in 2008 will be put back in place. 2) Streamside Setbacks will be implemented. 3) Countywide Zoning will move forward to accomplishment! 4) Highway 93 – Historic and Scenic Highway, with all of its restrictions and regulations, will become a reality. 5) The “Old Corvallis Road” Plan with all of its requirements and restrictions will be completed. 6) The Revised Subdivision Regulations will not be rescinded or revised. These Revised Subdivision Regulations are almost finished and have lots of negative impacts on your property. 7) The Wildlands Urban Interface (WUI) map affecting 266,000 acres of private property in Ravalli County will be put in place. This is terribly restrictive and controlling on private property. 8) The inability to use and manage the National Forests will continue. No logging, no cattle grazing, no mills, no jobs! 9) The economy of Ravalli County will remain depressed with lack of jobs. (Some businesses that have wanted to locate in Ravalli County have not because of the current Political Agenda and discouraging government controls.) 10) The wonderful “Quality of Life” as we have known it will be destroyed. 11) Property and Property Rights will be further regulated, controlled and taken with accompanying higher and higher taxes. 12) Stewart Brandborg’s “Grand Experiment” completed. 13) Liberty, Freedom and Property Rights lost forever!

Is this what you want? If your answer in no, we can stop this “Grand Experiment” by this small, activist, radical, extreme environmental “friends” on the 2nd of November. Please do not allow this election to be lost. If even one of Brandborg’s anti-Constitutional Commissioners remain in office they will continue on with secret meetings, high spending, lost lawsuits and continual anti-constitutional strategies to regulate, control and eliminate your property rights. We all must vote in large numbers and vote out the current incumbent anti-Constitutional Commissioners and the County Attorney, George Corn. We must all spread the word, and help get out the vote Tuesday, November 2nd. Vote for Matt Kanenwisher, Suzy Foss, Ron Stoltz for County Commissioners and Bill Fulbright for County Attorney.

For Love of Liberty and Property.

John D. Greathouse
Florence

Response to Dem Chair

Dear Editor,

John Meakin, Democratic Chair of Ravalli County, wrote a letter in the Star a couple of weeks ago, stating that Denny Rehberg did not answer questions about health care for employees of a local business. He went on to say either Denny didn’t care, or doesn’t know anything about the health care bill. Seriously? I called the owner of the plant in Stevensville. Not only did he tell me personally that Denny more than answered his questions, and took care of his concerns, but that part of Mr. Meakin’s bullet points, in his letter, were wrong about the health care bill. Turns our Mr. Meakin was in the audience at that meeting. Didn’t really know about anything that happened between Denny and the owner of that business before or after the meeting. Again, I have seen Denny speak about 20 times this year. The man knows his stuff.

Lilya McAlister
Stevensville

Republicans out of touch

Dear Editor,

Republicans are out of touch. No one is going to take your hunting guns away, when it hasn’t been proposed or supported by any Democrat.

Are you worried about the debt of the United States? Under President Bush the Republicans supported raising the debt limit again and again. Republicans put us in the financial predicament that we are in. The State of Montana’s finances are in good shape. Governor Schweitzer, a Democrat, has taken steps to lower costs before there is a problem. We are only one of two states in the black.

Republicans worry about their own financial health, but they could care less if anyone else can afford to see the doctor. They are so concerned that they will have to pay more taxes. Of course this proposed change will only affects people who make over $200,000. Less than 5% of Montanans are affected. What would happen if some of this money went to raise a teacher’s wages? I think most teachers would spend the extra money and that would help stimulate the economy. Leave the money with the wealthy and it may or may not be spent.

Take time to check out the issues. When you vote on Nov. 2nd look at the person, look at their energy level so you know that they will spend time working for you, look at their commitment to their community, make sure they will listen to all viewpoints and keep balance on the County Commission.

Democrats work to make things better for all people. They try to use and invest money wisely.

Candace Jerke
Florence

Support for Libertarians

Dear Editor,

As another election season draws near and the autumn air fills with a fog of paranoia and panic as to the outcome (the saviors have arrived if my candidates win and doom and gloom should the others take control), I see little change, no matter the outcome, until the individual voter demands that the winners of these elections uphold the oath of office taken upon entry of office to defend all the individual rights designated within the Constitutions (both State and Federal). Since nearly all of local and national candidates neither understand nor have even read either of these documents, the paranoia and panic comes to naught once the elections are over, leaving the frustrated voter to another time period in which to complain that something is still terribly wrong and to wait for another election to be the fix.

Every election comes to the same ending for those in the election box staring at a ballot, giving the voter usually two choices (the two party big girl and boy clubs, who have managed to ignorantly, unknowingly, or just maliciously usurp individual rights out of the documents, which they promise to uphold). Any individual or third party choice is usually regarded as a wasted vote.

Just why is that? "There is no chance for candidates other than those presented by the major parties to be elected, so why waste my vote," they say. Indeed, why?

Let's say, for example, in a somewhat fictitious election for mayor of Jerusalem that pits Pontius Pilate, representing the leading political party of the Roman Empire versus the leading Rabbi, representing a party of like-minded religious followers, comes before the voters. The latest polls have Pilate at an advantage 45% to 40% for the Rabbi. At the voting booth, you notice that a third choice has been placed on the ballot: Jesus of Nazareth, who you have heard speak out against the control of the Roman Empire and the unscrupulousness of the leaders of the ruling church. With only a 15% chance of getting elected, why bother to waste your vote on someone who believes that you as an individual should be the one to choose what your life should entail? There have always been those in authority to make those choices for you, so what's the point in changing now?

There has been somewhat of a sea change in Ravalli County starting at the turn of the century and culminating with the repeal of the Growth Policy in 2008. This Growth Policy was put into effect at the start of this century by the Republican Party "officials" and fully supported by the "officials" of the Democratic Party. And, it is common knowledge that once a general plan for the "benefit and protection" of the general public is put in place that it will stay in place as long as those elected "authorities" wish it and citizens will have to live with it; change coming only by amendment or by individual complaints allowing for exception.

So when a partition was distributed to repeal the Growth Policy, "authorities" of both major political parties refused to support a vote on the issue. In fact, it was determined by all elected authorities as un-passable, even when more than enough signatures were garnered to place the measure on the ballot. A victory party was even planned the night of the election to celebrate its defeat. Yet, the nearly impossible did happen. A little freedom for the individual landowner was granted temporally when the vote was counted and the Growth Policy was repealed.

I say granted temporally, because the present elected officials have been hard at work finding ways around having an actual overall Growth Policy document that grants overview and interference with the individual's right to utilize the use of property. The locally elected state authorities (Republicans) have managed to change subdivision rules, institute legislation such as the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and other legislation mandating or allowing the local authorities (Democrat and Republican) to reintroduce land use legislation and fees through other methods. Sort of like Pilate passing some of his power down to the local authority to institute a general plan for the masses. The plan is, when dissatisfaction arises, to enable the state "authorities" to excuse themselves by telling their constituents "take your problems to your locally elected officials. They enact local land use measures," and the local "authorities" placing the blame on "mandated" state legislation, which is out of their hands, and must be instituted.

How does one get out of this circular mess?

A good start would be to remove all local incumbents with a warning to their replacements: "You too will soon be replaced, if you don't recognize that we have and will exercise our rights to use the fruits or our labors in any manner that does not infringe on the rights of others!" And - to defeat those state candidates running as Republicans and Democrats, whose parties sponsor legislation which suppresses the rights of its citizens to plan and use their property without interference and outside demands of authority.

Therefore, I recommend, as I did for the repeal of the Growth Policy, to vote for those who helped repeal and support the repeal of land use regulation and also support repealing any law denigrating or usurping our civil liberties by a government compelled by Constitutions to protect those liberties. They are:

Dan Cox-Senate District 44

Tobias Martin-House District 87

James Morris Pearson-House District 88

Arlin Bird-House District 90

Wayne Kelly-Sheriff

I say to those who scoff at these fine gentlemen's chances at being elected to remember: It was only two years ago that it was the general belief that it was an almost impossible long shot (since it had never been done before) that individuals could repeal a general land use plan once it is in effect. Will this be the start of thinking outside the box of right and left wing politicians, who have always exercised the power to control the power of the purse and sword or will the voter choose to remove "control" from the equation and demand that the elected officials defend their individual rights? We shall soon see.

David A. Merrick
Corvallis

Page One •	Valley News •	Op/Ed •	Sports •	Calendar •	Classifieds •	Legals •	Links •	About Us •	Back Issues •	Email Us •	Home
©2009 Bitterroot Star This site was Done By Dooney