By Phillip Taylor, Victor

On March 1, according to the newspaper, the County Commissioners were to auction off set aside park land acreage that was originally set aside as mandated by the Bonanza Lands subdivision application.

I am opposed to the sale of these lands and I don't believe Montana law permits the County Commissioners to sell them without a hearing on the modification of the original Bonanza Lands subdivision application and approval. They were a part of the original subdivision application and the purpose of set aside park lands is to conserve open space. Long term, and in the face of ever increasing unfettered development, these set aside parcels will play a very important role in the intended quest to conserve open space.

If the County Commissioners sell these lands they will, in effect, be modifying the original subdivision application as it related to density of development and the required open space or parkland set aside provisions. As an example, a developer may purchase a parcel in the subdivision or elsewhere and build another unit increasing the subdivision density, a process that was not permitted in the original subdivision application approval. The County Commissioners are arbitrarily changing the criteria of the original subdivision review.

I suggest the County Commissioners look at these sales cautiously before continuing.

Re: Stevi athletic program meeting

I went to the Stevensville School board meeting on February 28 to listen to discussion about the girls athletic program. I was very upset that the meeting turned into a bashing of the high school girlsą basketball program and coaches. There are several other girls' sports programs that have had very bad records also and this was not even mentioned. There were several students and parents including myself that supported the coaches and the program. I think the problem lies with the girls not starting young enough into sport programs. We need school programs to get kids involved in sports early in the third and fourth grades. Coaches have taken their own time to open the gyms, both at night and in the summers, only to find a few kids showing up. Parents must get involved if we want to see our athletes do well and compete and have fun. This was the first school board meeting I have ever attended and I think it all went well, with both sides being addressed, until the end when one of the school board members took a personal issue with one of the head coaches. He lost his temper and was very hostile. This was very inappropriate and I cannot believe this type of person sits on the board. If one of the members uses his position on the board for his own personal issues with a coach or teacher, this person should be removed from the board. If we let the school board decide on coaches, where does it end? Do we also let them decide on plays and bad ref calls? I am very proud of our girls and the coaching staff in Stevensville and only hope that the board overlooks this one member's opinion.

Darren Newsom
Stevensville

County should fund study commission

Dear Editor,

The Constitution for the State of Montana allows for a local government review study every 10 years. The voters of Ravalli County voted in 2004 to commence with this process and it is currently underway with the leadership of three elected plus one appointed Government Review Study Commission officials who have the responsibility to take input from all citizens who wish to participate. They are not salaried and receive no compensation of any kind. Uncounted hours have been volunteered by hundreds of valley residents working together to seek ways to make county government more responsive to our growing needs. It should be noted that the purpose of this process is not to research the personalities currently in office. It is intended to research the efficacy of the structure of our county government. It is asking questions like: should the position of county commissioner be partisan or non partisan? Should a commissioner continue to serve six years or should terms be limited to a shorter period of time? And, should we have more than three commissioners to represent our large and diverse area?

Unfortunately, our county commissioners have refused to adequately fund the Government Review Study Commission. The bulk of the Study Commission's budget has been targeted to get information out to you, the citizens, so that you can make an informed decision next November on the form of our county government. The commissioners have allocated only $10,000 or 25% to 30% of the amount funded in 1994.

I am distressed that the possibility of citizen directed change has, to date, kept our current commissioners from committing adequate funds to this important function. If you are also concerned that the County Commissioners are not representing the will of the people by their refusal to adequately fund this project, please take a few minutes to send an e-mail to Commissioners@ravallicounty.mt.gov or, send a fax to 375-6507, or, write to them at 215 S. 4th, Suite A, Hamilton MT 59840. If you are unable to do that, simply pick up the phone and call Glenda at the courthouse at 375-6500 and briefly tell her that you want this project funded at the same level as 1994 plus a cost of living increase.

Barbara Ellis
Stevensville

Strip mining bad for Montana

Dear Editor,

Open letter to Governor Brian Schweitzer:

The reality of strip mine reclamation in Montana today is a much sadder story than you told on the 60 Minutes TV program run on February 26th. The reality is no better than lipstick on a corpse.

What we have today are postage stamp pieces of showcase reclamation, vast acreages that are yet to be even regraded, a weakened law that invites introduced monocultures of only limited value for erosion control - let alone good livestock and wildlife range - and no effort whatsoever to restore vital groundwater resources.

Before you promote massive strip mining of eastern Montana on national television, you should demand restoration of the state's reclamation law and regulations to at least their original strength. To revive land torn up by mining requires serious commitment to rebuilding soil structure, diverse vegetation that can withstand our periodic droughts, and reconstruction of shallow aquifer systems as part of the backfilling plan.

You talk the talk on reclamation, but we have yet to see you walk the walk. What counts is what people do, not what they say - that's the cowboy way.

Equally unrealistic is your notion that pouring billions of dollars into centralized, polluting, boom and bust, untried coal-to-diesel complexes is sound energy policy.

The focus of wise investment should be on decentralized farmer fuels (biodiesel and ethanol from crops and forest products) and other proven renewable energy technologies that have the potential to generate new businesses, jobs and local profits for every county in Montana and across rural and small town America. Biofuels and their high quality feed byproducts compliment rather than displace our existing agricultural communities and assets. Renewables coupled with smart energy efficiency investments offer a better, cheaper, faster way to achieve American energy independence.

The Stone Age didn't end because people ran out of stones; they just found a better way. It is time to let the Fossil Fuel Age end; not because we have run out of fossil fuels, but because we too have found a better way.

Steve and Jeanne Charter
Shepherd, MT

Republican Party self-destructing

Dear Editor,

It is sad to see a political party in the self-destruct mode.

According to a report in the Lee Newspapers on March 3, 2006, House Republican leader Roy Brown said what brought about the years of Republican successes were, "The principles of less government, lower taxes and more freedom."

The Party leaders listed their platform of money and schools. I don't know where Roy Brown and the present leadership of the Republican Party have had their heads. Everyday they sound more and more like the Democrats.

The last time the Republican Party made gains was during Ken Miller's and Joshua Boswell's leadership of the party. What is the difference? Leadership under Ken and Joshua were not afraid to mention the Party's stand on the moral or family issues of which abortion, pornography, homosexual marriage, the drug problem and crime are just a few. The Party is now led by moderates.

A prime example is the failure of the Republican Party to address the moral issues in the last election for Governor. When you put Schweitzer and Brown together there was not much difference. They even look alike. But if the moral issues had been addressed there were major differences.

Governor Schweitzer's support of virtually every homosexual bill in the last session of the legislature was totally contrary to where a Governor Brown would have been. The Montana public never heard that in the election. That is unforgivable in a year that 70% of Montana voters turned out to vote against gay marriage.

Roy Brown and the Republican Party are dead wrong. Their "handshake" is more of a "slap in the face" to most conservatives. Money, for schools or families, was not what gained them seats in the legislature. It is not what garnered a 70% vote on the Marriage Amendment. Until they wake up and get their heads out of, wherever, they will continue to lose races and issues. Until then I consider myself more of a Zell Miller Democrat than a Roy Brown or George Bush Republican.

Dallas D. Erickson
Stevensville

Thanks from driver's ed instructors

Dear Editor,

The Stevensville High School traffic education department recently completed the Skid Monster program. This program allowed the current driver's ed students to experience driving under adverse conditions - ice, snow, slick roads, etc. We've had a number of very complimentary remarks from everyone who had the opportunity to partake in this program.

The Skid Monster is currently on loan to our school, and we would like to thank the Office of Public Instruction and Mr. David Huff, the director of the state's Traffic Education Program. We would also like to thank everyone who helped put this program on with a special thanks to the LDS Church for allowing us to conduct the program on their parking lot.

We sincerely hope that we will be permitted to offer the Skid Monster program again in the future!

John L. Munk Coordinator
Stevensville Traffic Education

U.S. could learn from Brazil

Dear Editor,

Brazil expects to become energy independent this year.

Will our country now marshal the will and resources to do the same? Do we truly appreciate the implications of our 'addiction to oil' in every aspect of our society from the price of gas to the trade deficit? The benefits of energy independence are endless: jobs, a more rational foreign policy, improved homeland security, reduced air pollution and on and on. At last, America is beginning a serious discussion of this most fundamental issue. Many factors (gas prices, instability in the Middle East) have brought us to face the fact that oil is a finite and costly resource. We know that we can find a better way.

With strong leadership this country can and must find energy alternatives that are clean, reasonable and plentiful. The President's budget makes a mockery of his emphasis on decreasing our oil dependence while Governor Schweitzer's leadership in the effort to develop synfuel from coal is but one example of the interesting possibilities being considered all over our country. And we, the people, have spoken: in a recent NY Times/CBS poll, the majority (59%) were willing to pay an increased gas tax if it resulted in a reduction of global warming. Hear that, President Bush!

We can begin today to truly support the use of known alternative energy sources and then invest in research and technology that will lead to permanent, affordable self-reliance. Many times America has demonstrated the old adage that where there's a will there really is a way. With respect for the environment, with the can-do American attitude, and with a unified political will we must transform our country and catch up with Brazil!

Mimi Sauer
Stevensville

Open letter to neighbors

Dear Editor,

So, a couple is headed back to their Woodside home after a day of shopping at the super box stores in Missoula. As they drive up the valley, the wife turns to her husband and says:
a) "Honey, we should get a townhouse off Reserve."
b) "Don't you just love the strip?"
c) "Boy, am I glad to get out of there!"

Attention: "There" is coming here if we don't stop it now. The good news is that Bitterrooters have a chance at keeping big box stores from forming a strip lining Hwy 93. The first step has been taken. The County Commissioners recently voted to draft a temporary ordinance limiting the size of retail stores to under 60,000 square feet (about 1-1/2 times the size of the Hamilton K-Mart).

After the draft has been completed, there will be a period of time when public comment is accepted. (You could also say something now.)

If possible, please attend any appropriate board meetings. You don't have to talk, just nodding your head will make your views known. I realize that these meetings are often scheduled in the middle of a work day and many people cannot attend. If you can't, you can't. But, you still need to let the County Commissioners know that you want to preserve the Valley's wonderful uniqueness.

As far as that goes, even if you aren't sure how you feel about it, wouldn't it be smart to give ourselves two years to think and talk about it before we allow something that could change the Bitterroot into McAnywhere forever? "McAnywhere" is coming now and we need to get a temporary ordinance passed before one of the big boxes gets their foot in the door. We probably have one shot at it.

Please, contact the Commissioners and tell them you don't want big boxes. We can stop them if we yell now: Commissioners, 215 S. 4th St., Suite A, Hamilton, MT 59840; phone 375-6500; fax 375-6507; e-mail commissioners@ravallicounty.mt.gov.

If you want to help more, contact Bitterroot Good Neighbors, bitterrootgoodneighbors.org, or talk to Russ at Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton (363-5220).

Tom Potts
Victor

Thanks from American Legion

Dear Editor,

The members of the American Legion Post #94 and our Auxiliary would like to provide a sincere thank you to everyone involved in our Valentine's Day Dinner & Auction. The 2006 event was the best ever, both from the Post's fund raising history as well as the number of compliments we received from those attending.

We are very aware that the success of this event was in large part a result of the generous gifts donated to us by local businesses and community members.

We also want to thank those members and non-members involved in putting this event on. This includes those involved in the setup and tear-down crews, the cooks and dishwashers, the FFA servers, the musicians, and all those others who worked "behind the scenes".

Thanks again for your support!

Jerry Esmay, Commander
American Legion Post #94

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