Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Opinion & Editorial

by Kay Gervais, Corvallis

We are in the midst of another drought year although we had plenty of rain and snow at the beginning of the year. Already we have had several fires, whether they be lightning- or man-caused.

We have a new fire manager for the Forest Service. I truly hope his job is to prevent forest fires, not to encourage them so that there will be more money next year. We see piles and piles of slash everywhere all ready to burn. Someone suggested chipping these piles. Wouldn't that be a better option than starting fires that almost always get out of control?

Campfires being set in 100 degree weather is ridiculous and allowing campfires of any kind when we are at such risk of another horrible fire season is asking for trouble. Wouldn't it be a good idea to not allow them when we are in such danger of fires and when they are allowed to have fires only in designated fire pits with spark arresters?

Starting fires intentionally should be treated as a serious criminal act and punished accordingly.

Last year we had over twenty fires set by at least one person. The Forest Service allowed the fires to burn into one of the greatest wilderness areas and the reason for that, was it was a "natural fire." So as a result the Gash Creek fire totally burned out three wonderful lakes and thousands of acres of wilderness that will never come back in our lifetime. The Forest Service policy of "letting it burn" has destroyed forever some of the most beautiful forests in the world. This is affecting the use and enjoyment of these lands by fishermen, hunters, outfitters, bikers, hikers, and anyone else who uses the wilderness and forest areas.

Once the trees are burned they present a hazard on trails, with dead burned trees falling, holes where fires have burned into the root systems, injured trees are also not resistent to disease.

Rye Creek is a perfect example of mismanagement and abuse. The Forest Service sold the land cheap to a logging company who clear cut the whole area and then the Forest Service bought the land back with taxpayer money. Deer Mountain was once a beautiful area. No longer. I wouldn't even want to go there.

I see here in this valley a population that is dependent on firefighting for its economy and that is so sad. The amount of money overpaid for firefighters, and concessions and property owners is a huge temptation. The conversation you hear is that "we can't wait for the fires to fatten my wallet "or "pay for my irrigation system."

How about finding these people a job taking care of the forests? How about the Forest Service administrators taking another look at this "let burn policy." Common sense should tell them that it makes no sense in most of the cases to burn trees where the soil is so shallow and allowing burns to the point where the ground is sterilized so nothing will grow but weeds. We need trees to keep moisture in the ground, to prevent erosion, to protect our streams, for the very air we breathe. Montana ranks high for lung disease, could it be all the smoke?

In the long run, we all are paying for these fires and the devastation, and the loss to our economy will be long range. No one wants to look at charred, over logged mountains. The beauty of Montana which was the big draw for everyone will be gone forever if we are not careful.

Smokey the Bear says, "Help prevent forest fires." Let's listen to Smokey.

Governor an embarrassment

Dear Editor,

I will serve as president of an international service organization next year. As I travel, I represent Montana, which makes me extremely proud.

At the SLC airport recently, returning from giving a speech in Phoenix, another Butte resident asked me if the sale to BBI would go through. I offered my opinion that it would and that it was the best of the alternatives I had seen. I also indicated that I believed it would help ensure long term stability in Butte. Obviously I was surprised when I got home and the proposed sale had been rejected. In my opinion, that’s not good news for the city and state that I love.

The reason that I am writing was what I read next. When I read the Governor’s comments, “pack your bags and ride a Kangaroo because you’re not going to be in Montana,” I was horrified. The Governor has been touting Montana as a business haven throughout the country and indeed the world. He should be very careful in undoing such efforts with careless analogies and seemingly anti-business sentiment. I have always voted my conscience and voted for Brian this last election. Governor, please tell us you were kidding and would embrace the investment in Montana of such a solid firm as BBI.

I have the opportunity to serve in my international position because NorthWestern has given me the time. I also serve on a local committee that oversees the funds that NorthWestern spends in the Butte community on projects that benefit our area. I can tell you that NorthWestern is a good corporate citizen. That would not change under BBI.

My wife and I recently returned from Ibarra, Ecuador, where we sat down with members of a service club who built a school in a poor section of town. The club members indicated that because of the local economy it was difficult to get much funding, so they could only provide schooling for kindergarten and first grade students.

Our schools are funded by the government, they get their money because of the economy. Many aspects play a role in economic development, including perception. PSC Commissioners and Governor, you represent more than just your perception of voter’s wishes in this matter, you are a significant part of a complex business environment that tells the story if we are a business-friendly state or not.

Dave Curry
Butte

Our Governor!

Dear Editor,

I recently had the opportunity and privilege to attend Montana’s Economic Summit in Butte. Senator Max Baucus had invited several foreign ambassadors, including Chinese Ambassador Zhou, to tour Montana, learn about its economy, and participate in the Summit. At the Senator’s urging and in light of the economic opportunities Ambassador Zhou saw during his April trip to Montana, the Chinese sent a delegation of 40 investors and government officials to Billings on May 23, where they participated in an Expo which gave Montana companies a chance to pitch their products to the Chinese.

During the Expo, more than 100 one-on-one meetings took place between Montana companies and the Chinese, not counting various other informal meetings. The Chinese delegation had been touring several U.S. cities, including a recent stop in San Francisco, where the delegation inked deals worth more than $4 billion. Thanks to the efforts of Senator Baucus and many others involved with the Summit, some tremendous steps in the way of economic development were taking place within our state.

And, in one fell swoop, our Governor single-handedly tarnished the years of planning, hard work and accomplishments surrounding the Summit. Just a few weeks after the Summit, and in regard to the sale of Northwestern Energy to Australian firm BBI and the resulting vote of the Public Service Commission, The Billings Gazette reported the following quote from Governor Schweitzer: The 5-0 vote is a “resounding no” on BBI’s ownership. “This is a vote that says, pack your bags and ride a kangaroo, because you’re not going to be in Montana.”

Could such an ignorant and derogatory comment truly come from the man elected to lead our state into the future?

Senator Baucus commented to the Chinese delegation during his address, "Throughout Montana's history, when a newcomer arrives, they have been welcomed by a generous spirit. We will show you the lay of the land. We will introduce you to how we do things. We will listen to your ideas. And we will promise to work together where we can. This is what today's event is about. Working together. Learning from each other. Identifying opportunities."

Seems our Governor has different ideas.

How terribly, terribly sad for our great state to have taken a giant step backward in terms of economic development – and in the eyes of our nation and the world – because of the words of one man.

Shari Schmit
Great Falls

Thanks from SHS traffic education department

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 numer of very cmplimentary 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 special thanks to Mr. Mike Sherman and Super 1 Foods for coordination and 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, Corodinator, Roger Cassidy, Pete Lethenstrom, Cory Johnson, Bruce Kubler
Stevensville Traffic Educators

Thanks to legislators

Dear Editor,

Alarm bells went off all over the country in 2005 when the U.S. Supreme Court said Connecticut “eminent domain” law allowed city officials to jerk property out from under homeowners and turn it over to big-time developers.

Why the land grab? The city could collect more taxes from big biz than from mere homeowners. And guess what—Montana eminent domain laws allowed the same kind of shenanigan.

But some of our legislators—and our Governor—were on the case:

Senator Christine Kauffman put together a bill to stop urban renewal projects from taking land through eminent domain “if the purpose of the project is to increase government tax revenue.” Bravo!

Representative Jim Elliott’s bill said that cities and towns can’t “condemn” property through eminent domain powers unless the property is going to legitimate public use—not just to enrich some private outfit that will kick in more taxes. Good job!

Governor Schweitzer signed these bills into law. Excellent!

Thanks are due to Kauffman and Elliott and their co-sponsors for these bills. And thanks are due to Governor Schweitzer for making them the law of the land.

In some quarters, the 2007 Legislature got a bad rap (and used some bad language), but let’s not ignore their accomplishments. Our home is our castle, as the saying goes, and Kauffman, Elliott and Schweitzer just helped fill the moat.

Bill Rossiter
Missoula

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