When bald eagles soared off the endangered species list last summer, there were champagne toasts from coast to coast. Americans were proud to have restored another symbol of freedom and wildness. It was a success that mirrored previous restorations of elk, mule deer, black bears, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, mountain goats and a host of other wildlife—long before anyone dreamed of drafting an Endangered Species Act.

Now, 13 years after gray wolves were officially reintroduced to the northern Rockies, federal biologists have moved to free them from “the list,” too. You’d think the people who argued longest and loudest to bring wolves back would be slapping backs and celebrating. Instead, they’re filing lawsuits. Could be these folks are just terminally gloomy. Or maybe it was the old bait-and-switch.

The Endangered Species Act was never intended to create a permanent witness protection program for wolves. It’s meant to recover robust self-sustaining populations, to create un-endangered species.

And wolves are so there.

Ed Bangs is wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He’s been in charge of restoring wolves to the northern Rockies from day one. Bangs has lived in the crucible since those first Canadian wolves hit the ground in 1995. He’s earned a reputation as a man absolutely committed to good science, not politics or opinion. On wolves, he says, “We’re rock solid. The Endangered Species Act did its job. It’s time to move on.”

What does it mean to move on? The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation believes the sooner states take on the responsibility for managing wolves, the better.

Maybe the lawsuits can be settled and control fully passed to the states before another year goes by. It’s high time we start treating wolves as wild animals—more specifically, game animals.

Apart from the bald eagle, all of the once-rare species listed in the opening paragraph have been plentiful and actively hunted for 50 years. States have used the best available science to set seasons and quotas. They’ve teamed up with hunters as hands-on managers, keeping wild populations within local environmental and cultural tolerances. In the process, millions of families have collected a bounty of healthy meat, powerful connections with wild country and lasting fond memories.

“We strongly support hunting wolves,” Bangs says. “Look at the success we’ve had with hunting mountain lions and maintaining strong lion populations. There is no reason wolf management cannot be just as successful.”

Could wolves have made their comeback if their main prey consisted of hares or Herefords? No. It was hunters who financed the restoration—and continuing stewardship—of the big-game populations that made wolf recovery possible. Hunting licenses and excise taxes on guns, ammunition, bows and arrows still provide most of the funds that states use to study and manage wild species. But rather than supporting hunters and America’s proven system of conservation, lawsuit plaintiffs are condemning both.

Certainly, proponents of perpetual wolf protection aren’t the only ones who can get a little emotional. When wolves kill elk or cattle, the carnage makes it easy to imagine that wolves might soon lay waste to all wildlife and livestock. Sometimes it’s good to step back and look at the numbers.

Cumulative 2007 numbers for Idaho, Montana and Wyoming: 3 million people, 1,500 wolves—and around 350,000 elk.

In 1995, there were a half-million fewer people, no wolves—and around 350,000 elk.

That’s right. Since wolves were reintroduced, Montana’s elk population has grown by at least 30,000 animals, Wyoming’s elk population is down 8,000 and Idaho’s is 10,000 lower. Hunter harvest totals have remained very similar since 1995, averaging 20,000 in Idaho, 25,000 in Montana, and 20,000 in Wyoming.

This doesn’t mean that wolves haven’t taken an extremely heavy toll on elk and livestock in some places. They have. They will. And that’s another reason why we should be actively managing wolves through regulated hunting.

From where I sit, the biggest change on the northern Rockies landscape since 1995 is not the return of wolves. It’s the way our wild places and open spaces are filling up with houses and roads and box stores. There is no Endangered Habitat Act. That’s why I’m so proud of what the Elk Foundation has accomplished. Just in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, our organization has helped conserve a quarter-million acres of prime habitat, and enhance habitat on another 1.5 million acres, for elk and other wildlife.

Your role? Support state-based wolf management via hunting. And, even more importantly, support organizations working to ensure that all of us—you, me, our children and grandchildren, and all wildlife—have plenty of wild country to roam.

Letters to the Editor

Believe it!

Dear Editor,

I know where there is a city owned public airport with a single airstrip 5,100 feet in length. This “people’s airport” does not have a FAA required level safety zone at either end of the runway. In fact if a pilot lands short the pilot has the option of crash landing on a busy city street or crashing headlong into a bluff below the runway threshold. If the aircraft overshoots the end of the runway, the pilot has no choice, the plane will crash into a residential community. This short runway is reportedly host to about 9,000 jet operations a year including aircraft in the $50 million range.

I am very familiar with this airport because I have flown off it, worked as an aircraft mechanic adjacent to it and lived less than a block from it. The city that owns this airport has decided jet operations at this airport must cease. The past chairman of the Federal Transportation Safety Board has stated jet operations should not be allowed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken this city to court and obtained a cease and desist order preventing the owners of the airport who believe the airport is unsafe for jet operations from carrying out their decision even though the owners of the airport are obligated to operate the airport in a safe manner according the FAA regulations.

It is true no tragic plane crashes has happened yet, but tell that to the families that live below the end of the airstrip. The surface vehicle traffic at the other end of the runway plays the odds every day.

To deny jet operations would deprive the Governor and the “beautiful people” who infest the area, plus Fortune 500 corporations and the entertainment industry and jet charter businesses renting out multimillion-dollar corporate jets for hire.

This airport is a long way from here, but the FAA is on the back of our County Commissioners to make the Ravalli County Airport the same length as the airport runway I have described. I have no doubt the FAA will revise the present Airport Layout Plan before construction of the jet runway begins and extend the runway to 6,000 feet, thereby establishing the base for converting the airport into a scheduled seat revenue bearing commercial airport servicing short haul scheduled operations complementing the Missoula International Airport. The FAA has the agreement of our County Commissioners providing for a parallel runway airport with two runways and no air traffic control. We, citizens of Ravalli County and the owners of our County Airport had no part in that agreement. There is a County Resolution that extension of the present runway must have approval of the public. But, the FAA has no intention of extending the existing (small aircraft) runway, thereby bypassing public approval and the County Commission knows this. I hear that the FAA has raised the proposed Flat Iron Development as a subject of interest because it will be located under the traffic pattern and landing approach of the new jet runway.

Our airport is about 3,000 feet in altitude above the airport I have described. That is a significant pressure altitude higher than the airport described above, leading to faster jet aircraft approach and landing speeds.

There is a decisive way to prevent the future tragedies that will inevitably occur. Simply, the County Commission notifies the FAA that population trends surrounding the County Airport have now forced the Ravalli County Commission to reverse the decision to expand the County Airport. An FAA Airport Engineer made this same observation in the mid-90’s. The airport will remain in its present configuration. In the past the Commissioners have done exactly that, and after the threats and blustering by the FAA Airports Office went away, our small aircraft sport flying community has thrived and continued to receive FAA funding support.

The County Airport is a very important part of the master FAA General Airport Planning for the entire country and the FAA will not close the airport by refusing funding support. Take away the exhibited influence of the very wealthy people who are working hard to make sure the airport is expanded for their convenience and everyone is happy except a specific element with influences that far exceed their importance in our lives.

Earl Pollard
Hamilton

Ah, Plum Creek!

Dear Editor,

Does the name conjure up childhood memories of fishing in a clear mountain stream using your willow pole and a tobacco can of grasshoppers? Well, the Plum Creek that is now in the headlines has nothing to do with plums or creeks. It is a Holding Company for Great Northern Railroad which later merged with Burlington. Hence the name Burlington Northern.

As time passed on the Railroad didn't worry too much about fulfilling the commitment that had been agreed upon between the rich owners and President Abe Lincoln who was a lawyer before he became President. Every time a Congressman wanted some publicity or a little pocket change he would hit the news with some information saying that the railroad wasn't hauling freight or passengers as had been agreed upon. So, the Holding Company was created. Now it wasn't railroad land anymore, it belonged to Plum Creek.

From the beginning these rich investors would have built the railroads but they got together with Honest Abe and decided that they could use a little icing on the cake. They decided to donate every other section of land within 25 miles of each side of the railroad. That is half the land in a 50-mile swath, everywhere they wanted to lay track. They soon sold off their farmland and grazing land but hung onto the timberland. This they sold, part to large outfits such as Anaconda Copper, Weyerhauser, Georgia Pacific and other smaller outfits. Over the years they set up their own sawmills.

Between all the timber land selling and their mills they had to make a zillion dollars more than the railroads cost to be built, plus all the money they made with their trains over the years.

Now they are not satisfied. After they have logged all of their remaining land and messed up all the habitat for all the animals and birds, have helped to put many on the endangered species list, now they want to scatter houses all over, disrupting the critters even more and costing the taxpayers a bunch to fight fire to save their homes, grade roads, plow snow, silt up more streams from road dirt, on and on we go.

Do you folks realize the problems staring us in the face, to say nothing of the problems that will raise their ugly heads on down the road? It sure looks like Mr. Rey is feathering his nest big time. I say stop Plum Creek dead in their tracts. Just say no to building on railroad land, period.

Floyd Wood
Corvallis

Watershed protection essential

Dear Editor,

Our county commissioners appointed seventeen residents to develop interim streamside setback protections. After the civic minded committee did their part the commissioners dodged political flak by saying wait for zoning.

Then our elected representatives abdicated their duty in a representational democracy by ducking for cover behind Darbarian voter intimidation results whereby Darby seceded from Ravalli County zoning.

Now that streamside setback protection will not be coming to Darby from zoning, what will be the next ruse from our commissioners?

I would guess there are more stream miles in the Darbarian realm than the rest of the county. Certainly some of the more egregious ego-mansions on the brink are being erected there. And these dry-docked houseboats are upstream of the rest of the county.

Hellooo…Bringing watershed protection to the lower valley while allowing urban refugees that think the rivers framed by their windows are still-life art works trash the upper watershed makes less sense than painting a wall from the bottom up.

If certain commissioners can’t muster the leadership to protect our critical public waterways from the brinksmanship of these few status-starved castle builders and their realtor minions, then it’s time for new representative commissioners.

Larry Campbell
Darby

Support for zoning process

Dear Editor,

Recently, a relatively small, but vocal group of folks began insisting we should vote on zoning. Some say vote to zone or not to zone. Some say vote on the regulations. Either option is a huge waste of our time and money.

To vote on zoning or no zoning: We’ve already voted several times regarding zoning and planning. In 2004, county voters passed the Growth Policy. In 2006, we passed the 1 per 2 Interim Zoning and the Open Lands Bond (showing that we value our open spaces and rural community). In 2007, we elected three county commissioners who ran on pro-planning platforms. Based on these results, the majority of county voters support some sort of zoning and planning in Ravalli County.

To vote on the regulations: The zoning process is not finished. Public input at all steps has been highly encouraged. Each CPC meeting, open house, and draft comment period are opportunities to “vote” on the regulations by making comments on how we want the regulations to look.

The Planning Department, Clarion Group, and Commissioners continuously encourage everyone to make their feelings known and to suggest changes that we, the county residents, think are reasonable and desired. All of the opportunities to view and comment on the maps and regulations mean that when the commissioners finally vote to enact zoning/planning regulations, they will vote on a document designed by our residents. This is not a “top down” process, where only our elected officials make all the decisions, but a bottom up process from the citizens. This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to have your say in what you would like our valley to look like in 5, 10, 20 years.

Are the first draft maps or Draft B (“everything including the kitchen sink”) regulations perfect? No—these are works in progress and need further refinement. This is why the commissioners are currently working to edit Draft B based on suggestions from the public. This will lead to a more streamlined Draft C and an opportunity for more public input.

Rumors and false information are flying around. Misleading ads, emails, and letters to the editor all contribute. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but let’s stick to the facts. I’ve found over the years that the more outrageous the statement and the louder someone yells it, the more likely it is that the person yelling isn’t right—just loud. As my parents taught me, if you resort to lies, name calling, and bullying to make your case, then you lost something bigger than an argument—you’ve lost trust, dignity, respect, and honor. We are better than this. Aren’t we?

If we allow the “No-Growth/Restrict Everything” vs. “Anything Goes” crowds to monopolize this discussion, we will all lose. This process should not be about “winner takes all.” It should be about outlining appropriate uses in the appropriate places in a document we can all live with.

This is our home, folks. We can trash it and rip at our neighbor’s throats or we can work together and guide this valley into a future that has healthy communities supporting a diverse economy without sacrificing our beautiful setting. The choice is up to us.

We all won’t agree on everything but perhaps we can agree one thing—our valley is far too precious to waste.

Deb Essen
Victor

Thanks from Legion Auxiliary

Dear Editor,

“…the blood of heroes never dies
But lends a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders’ Fields.”

On behalf of the American Legion Auxiliary, Fort Owen Unit 94 of Stevensville, I would like to extend my gratitude to our kind and generous community. Several members offered Poppies to the public, honoring “Armed Forces Day”, on Friday, May 16th and Saturday, May 17th at Bitterroot Community Market, Super One Store and the Main Street Businesses; your support for this annual program was amazing and greatly appreciated.

Thanks also go to the Stevensville Junior High students who participated in our annual Poppy Poster Contest, your talent and ingenuity is inspiring. Many thanks go to Ginger Davey, Poppy Chairman and Jay DeVore, SASS and first judge, along with the many volunteer judges who helped with our selections.

And the winners are: Kyle Constantino, age 14, First Place; Cheyenne Sundberg, age 13, Second Place; Katie Bartlett, age 14, Third Place; and Leah Abdich, age 13, Honorable Mention.

Kathy Frazier
American Legion Auxiliary, Fort Owen Unit 94

Last best place to have a garage sale

Dear Editor,

Montana truly is "The Last Best Place" for whatever one might want to experience. I recently held my first garage sale since moving to Stevensville, Montana in 1998. The morning of the sale I shuffled toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical garage sale Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.

Cars began rolling down our dirt road at 8:30 a.m. In the world of garage sales those are the "early birds," out to discover a treasure or a deal. “Are you open yet?" They would politely ask before turning off the car engine. There was a steady stream of visitors that traveled by truck, car, bike, on foot and in wheelchairs until 6 p.m. Some of these visitors found a treasure to take home while others were just out enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and good company of local folks. I delighted in meeting and talking with each person that stopped that day. They left behind stories shared and the strength of a handshake.

My heart was touched by the older couple holding hands on my deck while looking out at the river being thankful for another day to love one another. The wife had been very ill with cancer. I smile when I recall the two young mothers teaching their daughters the art of shopping at a garage sale. I can still hear the sound of joy when one young girl discovered she had enough money to purchase her treasure! As the last car drove out the driveway at the end of the weekend I found myself standing in awe of the people I met. What I discovered that weekend is so often what is missing in our world today. The key to a healthy community is taking time to carefully listen and share with your neighbors. It comes back to relationships between human beings.

There are many reasons folks decide to hold a garage sale: to clean out unneeded and unwanted items, to make a little extra cash, or to pass on an old treasure. I wonder if the visitors to my sale realized the treasures they left behind. What a delightful weekend full of many unexpected gifts and a few items sold. Montana is… ''The Last Best Place.”

Diane Hipp
Stevensville

Opposed to new Wal-Mart gun policy

Dear Editor,

As a stock holder and a private citizen, I really resent the fact that Wal-Mart is going to get into the business of taking pictures and keeping records of gun sales. It is bad enough that we have our own government involved in so many areas of our private lives, now Wal-Mart wants to be big brother also?! Wal-Mart’s support of the mayor of New York is in itself an affront to me, my family, and everyone else I have talked to about Wal-Mart’s position on gun rights and the first and second amendment and the bill of rights of the United States of America.

Wal-Mart’s employees on the floor are going to be able to dictate what I can buy? This is utter nonsense. If Wal-Mart is against guns, then get out of the gun and ammunition business. K-mart tried it a few years ago and paid a heavy price with gun owners of the U.S.A. Didn’t take them long to change their policy but I know people ho still will not shop there because of their initial decision to try and control what the customer wants to buy. Good thing I am not the CEO of a gun manufacturer because I would not sell a gun to Wal-Mart under any circumstance. Why would you want to sell to a company that is trying to undermine your business?

I strongly suggest that Wal-Mart takes a poll of its own employees and let them say what they think of their company trying to take away their freedoms. I have and all of them that I have talked to think as I do that Wal-Mart has no business dictating gun buying in any shape or form.

I have written to Wal-Mart requesting that as soon as possible they send me a comprehensive policy letter on what exactly they intend to do. This clearly is a very serious affront to me and all gun owners in the U.S.A. As a stock holder and private citizen I have every right to know what the plan is and how it is going to affect my civil rights and my association with Wal-Mart.

Paul Joseph Galipeau
Stevensville

Thank you from Main Street

Dear Editor,

Thank you, thank you so very much to all of the wonderful volunteers who made Western Heritage Days 2008 such a great success! Bigger and better than ever and more than we ever expected! The community was so supportive of the event and the above and beyond gift of music from Huey Lewis made the Downtown Saturday Night event an extreme success!

We are so fortunate to have a community filled with such giving, talented people. The Joan Zen Band, Blue to the Bone and beautiful setting of the Historic Stevensville Hotel made for an evening none will soon forget. A special note of thanks to Gene Mim Mack and Robbie Springs for all of their help making the evening such a success. To all of our supportive sponsors of the event, thank you for your sponsorships, which made the day’s activities possible. A heartfelt thank you to the Stevensville Police Department for doing such a fantastic job of security for our special guest, Mr. Huey Lewis. From the parade to the evening activities, the Stevensville Police Department's professionalism, attention to detail and great attitude made the day and the evening event safe and enjoyable for all. Thank you!

The weekend events were all well attended and the volunteers who worked diligently to make it informative, accommodating and fun are very much appreciated.

Thank you, one and all, and thank you so very much, Mr. Huey Lewis, for the incredible music, for sharing your time with us and supporting the community!

Joan Prather, Director
Stevensville Main Street Association

Move beyond the rivalry

Dear Editor,

Like many of you I’ve read the letters from Art Baker and Dallas Erickson that have been going back and forth for a long time now. And I for one am sick to death of them using the newspaper for their personal issues. If either of you have something to say about issues that are affecting those of us who live in the Bitterroot Valley please just say it and stop attacking each other. What I see is Art Baker using the local media to attack Dallas so that he could win District 19. I don’t see how any of it is helping those of us who haven’t been able to divide our land and make lots of money (illegally according to some!). How is it helping those of us who are still trying to figure out how to put gas in our rigs and food on our tables? I agree with both men in some of their positions but I don’t agree with the personal attacks that have been going on. If you truly care about the Bitterroot Valley and the people who are trying to make it here, Art, use your new position to affect positive change and stop engaging Dallas in this childish, non-Christian-like behavior!

Sarah Hankinson
Stevensville

Support for Erickson

Dear Editor,

Sometimes politics brings out the worst in people. There are a lot of emotions and strong feelings involved in the issues being addressed by our presidential candidates, that is the nature of politics.

Debate is good because it gets people talking and thinking about the issues. This forum, the letter to the editor, has always been a good way to speak our minds and make our voices be heard. To use this forum to voice our political concerns is a good thing. To use this forum to destroy and degrade someone's reputation because they are vocal about political views that differ from yours is not okay.

It saddens us deeply that Art Baker felt he had to use lies and "half-truths” to try to do this to Dallas Erickson. We felt he went way over the line of what is appropriate for political debate. You may not always agree with Dallas Erickson's political views, but even his critics can agree that his intentions are honest and honorable. His experiences and the ugliness he has witnessed against children and families while in law enforcement and his work fighting against the evils of pornography are the foundation of what drives him today. His is often the only voice for what is right when no one else will speak.

We have known Dallas for a lot longer than Art Baker has and can assure everyone that he is a true patriot when it comes to the rights and well being of children and families.

There is deception going on within the Republican Party, but it is not happening with Dallas. In this presidential election year we have heard and seen a lot involving presidential candidates and what they stand for. You can tell a lot about a candidate by those who support and endorse him or her. What kind of person is Ron Paul to attract such reckless and hateful people supporting him? No one on this earth is perfect, especially politicians! When a flaw or problem is pointed out in Ron Paul, these supporters take personal offense. Such blind devotion can lead to disaster. Dallas has witnessed this before and has merely tried to prevent a friend from following a dangerous path. Dallas has never tried to destroy someone's character, he has only pointed out a politician's flaws.

The truth is Ron Paul cannot win the nomination by any stretch of the imagination. Why are they (his supporters) beating a dead horse? To do what is best for this country sometimes requires sacrifice and compromise. If Ron Paul's supporters keep this up, the Democrats will win. Ultimately the Lord knows all and we must trust Him. If we do all we can He will help us through whatever is to come, Democrat or Republican. We stand firmly by Dallas Erickson's side.

Kevin & Mya Fadely
Stevensville

Right to be a mother

Dear Editor,

There is a petition called the "Personhood Amendment", or CI-100, promoted as a way to end abortions in the state of Montana. The idea is to amend our Montana Constitution so that the word "person" in the constitution is defined as beginning at conception. I abhor abortion and do wish this practice would cease, however, I am deeply disturbed at the implications of this proposed amendment. I fear it will launch the greatest attack on the family ever imagined. Article 2, Section 4 of our Montana Constitution reads in part, " All persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights. They include the right to a clean and healthful environment ... "

Applying the proposed amendment to this section it would read that "all persons are conceived free and have certain inalienable rights. They include the right to a clean and healthful environment ... "

I ask, "How can the state guarantee the right to a clean and healthful environment to a fetus?" Anything a pregnant woman eats, drinks or breathes affects the environment of the fetus, even a pregnant woman's emotions affect the fetus. In fact, the health history of a woman contributes much to the environment of the fetus.

There are some who would say, well see, it is just too complicated for the government to try to guarantee such an environment, therefore there is no worry that it will ever try. To this I would quote George Washington, "Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is FORCE! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

This amendment would open the floodgate to broad new governmental powers over the lives of women and would have the most damning effect not on harlots and abortionists, but those who wish to be mothers. It would justify laws requiring women to have doctor’s exams and mental health screening before being permitted to conceive, laws requiring the sterilization of some women as unfit to conceive, perhaps women over the age of 35 or those with diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of birth defects, unhealthy pregnancies or "emotional problems" -- as broad as that could be used. Women living or working in a "stressful" or "unhealthy" environment may be sentenced to birth control until a doctor pronounces them OK. All girls could be put on mandatory birth control since they are free to have sex but are not free to expose a fetus to an unclean or unhealthful environment. This would require the monitoring and charting of all women as in China where the one child policy is enforced.

All this government control might indeed end abortions. But at what cost? And what would happen to a woman should she conceive against the "rules"? Would the baby be aborted as punishment or could she be locked up and then have her baby taken from her at birth, then be forcibly sterilized?

All these things must be considered beforehand. This is not a question of whether abortion is right or wrong, but rather how much power over women are you willing to give the government to stop it? Does mandatory birth control and sterilization sound like a moral alternative? Please do not be so naive as to assume that men, or even women for that matter, given such broad powers would have the moral integrity to not abuse it.

A wise man said, "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion."

There comes a point in trying to enforce morality that the means to doing so is more immoral than the thing you are trying to stop and this amendment would most certainly open the door to just such malfeasance.

Please consider this petition at a deeper level before endorsing it.

Michelle Jensen
Stevensville

Chickens coming home to roost

Dear Editor,

Let the fun begin! The Presidential race now comes down to our choosing between McCain who is about 75% conservative, and Obama who is 110% liberal.

As soon as Obama announced his win, I am sure I heard the sound of clucking and the nervous rustling of feathers. Why, yes, it was the sound of Obama's very large flock of chickens as they prepare for their "coming home to roost" event!

These chickens all have names, some of which are: Abortion, Rev. Wright, Rev. Moss, Rev. Pflegel, Inexperience, Appeasement, Tony Rezko, More Taxes, Liberal Courts, Same-sex Marriage, Socialism, Empty Suit, G.D. America, Silver Tongue ... and on and on. You can add to this list your names for his chickens. There appears to be plenty.

Suddenly McCain does not look so bad after all!

Joel Olinghouse
Hamilton

Bush: pro-life and pro-death

Dear Editor,

President Bush is "pro-life" on the abortion issue. But he is clearly "pro-death" in opposing lifesaving stem cell research, cutting Medicaid benefits, resisting expanded health insurance coverage, ignoring 35 million Americans below the poverty level, opposing stronger gun control laws, weakening endangered species laws, overlooking thousands of annual global warming related deaths, and in not promoting greater penalties for cigarette companies. He was further pro-death in a slow response to Hurricane Katrina.

Globally, about a million persons die monthly from malnutrition or lack of clean water. Many of these lives could be saved for literally a few cents per day. With no real effort to save these lives, President Bush is not only pro-death but also pro-famine. How can so many millions of Americans be so deceived by all these positions of this pro-death president?

Terry Taylor
Missoula

Invitation to school meeting

Dear Editor,

Stevensville residents: Please consider attending a special meeting at the Stevensville School to revisit our school's goals and objectives. The meeting will be on Monday, June 25 at 7 p.m. in the High School Learning Center. Your input and your feedback will greatly assist the board and administration towards prioritizing goals and objectives at our school for the coming years.

Bill Goslin, Trustee
Stevensville

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