Land, water conservation bond supported
To the editor,
What a breath of fresh air! The Flathead County Commissioners are considering putting a land and water conservation bond on the November ballot.
Such a move will prove widely popular and would help protect our natural beauty, clean water and access to hunting, fishing and the outdoors. That sounds like a good deal to me.
The Siderius family has been in the Flathead Valley for 100 years. I have been around for much of that time and — believe me — I have seen a lot of change.
But some things should not change. We should always have clean water that is the envy of the rest of the world. We should always have access to hunting, fishing, lakes and streams. We should always protect our natural beauty and richest soil (they aren't making any more of it.)
That is why I support a land and water bond aimed at conserving those things through voluntary conservation agreements. Any investment we make will return itself many times.
No doubt, the usual nay-sayers will voice their opinions and try to sow doubts. But those opinions do not reflect the facts or mainstream values. Most people in the Flathead agree that our clean water and outdoor traditions are critical to our economy and way of life in the Flathead Valley, and we need to protect it as we grow and develop.
A land and water bond is a proven way of doing just that. That's why so many fast-growing Montana counties like Missoula, Ravalli and Gallatin have already passed such bonds. Some of them twice.
Look around one of these beautiful summer evenings. Isn't the magnificent Flathead Valley something to invest in? Yes!
Ken Siderius
Creston
Wildfire soot, smoke a car care concern
To the editor,
The soot and smoke from wildfires can be a serious concern for both vehicles and passengers, unless the air filters and cabin filters are in optimum working condition. The Car Care Council suggests that these filters be checked to ensure they provide maximum protection during this difficult time.
The vehicle's air filter traps dirt particles, including soot, which can cause damage to engine cylinders, cylinder walls, pistons, piston rings and bearings. The air filter also plays a critical role in keeping smoke and soot from contaminating the airflow sensor on fuel-injected cars.
Air filters are a normal wear item that requires regular checks and replacement. As a rule of thumb, air filters should be inspected at each oil change and replaced annually or when showing other signs of contamination.
The cabin air filter is responsible for cleaning the air entering the passenger compartment. Under normal circumstances, it helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases that may find their way into a vehicle's heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The filter also prevents leaves, bugs and other debris from entering the HVAC system, which could also cause problems.
More than 80 percent of new domestic and import vehicles sold in the U.S. today come equipped with cabin air filtration systems or a slot where one can be installed. Most filters are accessed through a panel in the HVAC housing, which may be under the hood or placed within the interior of the vehicle.
A cabin air filter should not be cleaned and reinstalled. Instead, it should be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or per the owner's manual. In areas with heavy airborne contaminants, it should be changed as often as necessary.
To help you make sure your vehicle is in proper working condition, visit the Car Care Council's Web site at www.carcare.org to order a free copy of the 56-page Car Care Guide designed to help you save money, conserve energy, improve highway safety and help protect the environment.
Rich White, executive director
Car Care Council
Firearm proposal pandering to NRA
To the editor,
The proposal of several U.S. senators to allow transporting of firearms in National Parks is political pandering to the NRA. Common sense citizens should voice their objections to these changes to the National Park Service before the Aug. 5 deadline. Send Sens. Tester and Baucus a copy.
Existing regulations have worked for decades. In the 18 years I was a seasonal NPS employee, I never heard a visitor complain about his firearms being unloaded and put away. I recently attended a memorial service in Glacier National Park for a former ranger and spoke to many NPS employees before and after. Not a one had received a complaint about the present regulations.
Personal protection against crime isn't a valid reason.Crime rates in all major categories in the NPS are lower than Montana's. Check rates back to 2001 you'll find major crimes are three to 40 times more likely in Montana than a national park. The likelihood of being a crime victim in a national park is 1 in 1,708,333.
If crime is a consideration, the solution is simple: properly fund the National Park Service so it can hire an adequate number of rangers rather than reduce their numbers. The arguments citing personal protection are merely a form of fear mongering.
Changing the rules endangers park rangers who spend time attempting to solve domestic confrontations, many arising from alcohol and drugs use. Studies show an NPS officer is 12 times more likely to be killed or injured as a result of an assault than an FBI agent.
Present regulations aren't confusing. A change to state provisions would lead to massive inconsistencies from state-to-state, and sometimes in a single park since some parks embrace land in two or three states (Yellowstone).
Visitor safety will be at greater risk from persons shooting unnecessarily at animals, almost all of which pose no threat to them, including most grizzly confrontations. Stray bullets and wounded animals would endanger families. There is a group of "slob shooters" who would be firing at almost anything; think of the bullet-riddled highway and Forest Service signs you have seen. Some persons view any wildlife as a danger and would blast away. At Sunset Crater National Monument I had a family come off the trail with a snake draped over a long stick, a harmless king snake. It was flatter than a pancake. They had beaten it with sticks because they thought it was a young rattlesnake and the "young rattlers are more dangerous and deadly than full grown ones," according to them. If they had possessed a gun, bullets would have been flying everywhere.
Poaching is a serious problem in several parks and will become worse if regulations are changed.
Poaching deer and bear, the latter for certain parts, is a major problem in Shenandoah Park and would get worse. In the 70s a Point Reyes ranger was fatally shot in the back by a poacher. Some elk have been poached in national parks and all that was taken was choice teeth.
Unfortunately present NPS employees cannot speak out since they would lose their job. This happened to NPS Park Police Chief Chambers when she spoke out against the dangers of understaffing in 2007.
There are many other federal, state and local properties on which you cannot carry or possess firearms. Postal properties, some schools, some school events, courtrooms and buildings, portions of airports and certain airplanes are among them. Montana does not allow firearms in financial institutions.
Ernest Scherzer
Trout Creek
Thanks for support of local baseball program
To the editor,
As president of Glacier Babe Ruth, I want to take this time to thank everyone in the community who has supported our baseball athletes. The state tournament was a success and it couldn't have been without you as a community. It excites me to see the re-energized community for baseball. Any program is only as good as the community backs it.
Congrats to the 13-year-olds for a job well done. Thanks again Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork. We look forward to serving your kids with the best baseball possible. Little League and up to Babe Ruth (ages 13-15).
I personally would like to thank the following people and families for their contribution of time spent to make things happen these past two years. Chuck and Brenda Houston, the Sapa Family, Don Bestwick, Frank Sizemore, Ron Olson and all the other umpires, Eric and Amy May, Kirt Blades, Bill Roche, Dan Blakemore, Blair LaGranduer, John Kalbfleisch, Kevin Slaybaugh, Carl and Kelly Talsma, Rich Newberry, Jordon Venezio, Derek Hutton, Julio Delgado, Sterling Hitchcock, Seth Carr, Trevor and Tina Kjensrud, Doug and Lori Jones, Caron Harwood, Liz and Tim Seymour, Tim and Lisa Olson, Dave and Jan Prier, Kris Queen and Morgan Campbell-Queen, EJ Walp, Tom Schuster, Mark Hayder, Todd Dowen, Benny Bee Jr., Hill Brothers and family, Treyson Hopkins and all the sponsors that supported Glacier Babe Ruth. My apologies go to the people I missed that have contributed.
We look forward to the future.
Ray Queen, president
Glacier Babe Ruth
Altering, releasing cats not the answer
I have been a board or advisory board member of our shelter, Humane Society and ARC, and have several years experience in coordinating foster care homes for them and 30 years fostering. Also, I worked as a veterinary technician (almost every clinic for six years) for FSNTF (Flathead Spay Neuter Task Force) for many years and with other animal welfare organizations, a local veterinary clinic and pet stores. I have operated a pet care business for 35 years and have lived in this valley since 1961. This is what I base my opinion on.
I stood by Mimi Beadles' side to start the FSNTF to provide spays/neuters for companion animals, not for the following.
FSNTF saves thousands of cats from the shelter. The shelter gives FSNTF numbers out for cat problems. FSNTF moved the cats from the Whitefish Train Depot, and an Evergreen business, which sold out. The owners didn't want the cats. The ones FSNTF has trapped and relocated that cannot be caught again, the people with trailer houses full of cats that cannot find a place to park them, the foster person that said "don't forget the 18 in my basement" and the hundreds of barn kittens that are bottle fed or trapped to be placed in an already saturated market.
Altering kittens six weeks of age is inhumane. Altering this young is so homes can move them faster, as they are irresistible. Dr. Yunker will not fly in if he cannot have numbers; young kittens are faster to alter. What I do not like is that FSNTF has had waiting lists of 400 cats and they do (alter) kittens that come in with mothers and foster kittens before the adults. I see cats on the list becoming mothers, many want to keep them after they're altered and turn them loose. When we do a clinic, more than 100 kittens will be done (altered) and the only ads in the paper are the cat organizations and little to none from owners. This tells us they are more disposable now.
There is no law to protect or prevent the damage of long-term mismanagement of homeless cats. Caregivers extend lives by double and barn kittens do not make it to adulthood. Telling people when cats are altered and returned, the numbers will stay the same. This is unbelievable. Cats are animals, the more food you put out the more you will get. There never will be an end to homeless cats or dogs. Altering cats and turning them loose is not the answer. This will only cause grief for cats owners because people will take it into their own hands as we are already seeing.
Mimi says the clinic's break-even. Grants and feral cat organizations pay for vaccines and altering of ferals. If you have money to donate, a better cause would be birdhouses for the birds that eat mosquitos, not the food to feed the cats. Birds need protection. They have plenty of natural predators and we need them in our ecosystem.
Gee Weaver is a Kalispell resident.