Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Opinion & Editorial

by Sarah Monson (for) Bitterroot Valley Community College Exploratory Committee

At the beginning of January, the Bitterroot Valley Community College Exploratory Committee (BVCC-EC) along with numerous volunteers and over 45 local businesses gathered enough validated signatures to put the formation of a community college district before valley voters. Because of the efforts of everyone involved, 5017 signatures were gathered in just three months. We would like to thank everyone who helped with the signature gathering process along with those who signed the petition. Residents of Ravalli County (with the exception of the Florence-Carlton district) now have the chance to vote on the issue at the upcoming school elections on Tuesday, May 8 of this year.

The next steps are important ones for Ravalli County, as a community college will affect everyone in the Bitterroot Valley, not just people who want to go to college. Members of the committee have been approached by many residents who have asked questions about the project. We encourage all questions, as everyone needs to have the information that is available. People need to start talking; to start asking how this will affect them personally as well as the impact it will have on our community.

Economic Development Authority, Workforce Services, Adult Literacy and Adult Education banded together to research adult training and educational options when problems of affordability and access in the valley were continually being brought to their attention. The questions that were asked in regards to the adult education problems facing Ravalli County led to the proposal of a solution. That solution is now a reality for our valley. This is not just a step up for Ravalli County; this is a leap in the right direction for everyone in our community.

A community college is a locally managed entity; putting the control into the hands of the people who will gain the most from it, the residents of our wonderful valley. Local control is one of the main reasons that this type of institutional structure was singled out by the researchers. You have a right to know how the formation of a community college district will affect not only you individually but the community as well. Now is your chance to ask questions and have them answered.

Everyone has a voice here and everyone has the ability to use it. No question is too small and no answer will be given lightly.

Become involved for yourself, for your children, for your children's children, for our economy and for our community. One of the best things we can pass on to the next generation is the chance for higher education. Don't just sit on the sidelines and watch, become a part of something that will take our community to great places.

Start a community dialog with us. Log onto www.bvcc-edu.org and take advantage of the blog section that has been set up. Respond to us through the local newspapers. Speak up, we want to hear you! We want to hear your questions, your concerns and let you voice your ideas. This community belongs to all of us.

If you never ask, you will never know. If you never seek, you will never find. If we never jump, how can we ever expect to fly?

Legislators on wrong track for sex offenders

Dear Editor,

I once wrote a letter called "The Good News About Sex Offenders." As an example of the general lack of knowledge and persistent myths surrounding evaluation and treatment advances in this specialty field, one reply stated, "There is no good news...Hudak offered no proof..." He went on to misquote Bureau of Justice statistics claiming, "40% re-offense (sic) within a year of release." The actual statistic is a 3.8% re-offense rate after three years! This included non-treated and high-risk offenders.

The Montana Sex Offender Treatment Association (MSOTA) was founded in 1987. It's purposes included developing a state-of-the-art network of evaluation and treatment of sexual abusers and community safety.

Here are some other "good news" facts:

• Over the last 30 years, our field has successfully developed scientific objective measures that separate sex offenders into different levels of risk to reoffend.
• The vast majority of sex offenders are low and moderate risk clients, and treatable in the community.
• Montana's prison and outpatient programs have consistently demonstrated recidivism rates of less than 1%/yr. These percentages are checked by polygraph, monitoring of support people, and probation officers.
• The Montana Board of Crime Control funded a study for several years in the 90s. It found similar low recidivism rates with adolescent offenders. 89.7% of the evaluated sex offenders' risk level allowed them to be treated successfully in the community.
• Sex offenders in community-based treatment must pay their own way -- not the taxpayer. It's part of accountability, and amends for their betrayals.

As we've demonstrated such striking success, the irony is that sentencing and other laws have grown harsher. Of course, the constant drumbeat and focus of the media on the less common high risk offenders not only unnecessarily frightens people, but also unknowingly perpetuate common myths. Exploiting fear works. It makes news. It gets people to tune in after the commercial. It also secures votes.

The same types of clients that we successfully treated in the community in the 80s and 90s today would go to prison at huge cost to the taxpayer. Conservatively, that's $5-$10 million per year.

You'd never know about the treatment successes from the various legislation that Representatives and Senators will introduce in the coming legislative session. Registration and residency restrictions for low and moderate risk sex offenders, irresponsibly grouping many adolescents with adult predators, and putting adolescent sex offenders on the internet sex-offender database for twenty-five years, are just several.

Registration unnecessarily frightens people. Residency restrictions are already enforced individually by POs when they apply. In fact, many of these laws create a force against recovery. This is particularly true in light of the fact that 90% of all child molestations occur at the hands of somebody in the victim's own family -- not the stranger down the street. Most of those registered have been treated, and are being monitored, polygraphed, etc. Constant media attention on the much smaller percentage of sexual predators has been a formidable obstacle to getting out the positive aspects of this story.

Let's support rational laws and interventions that are successful and based on science -- not on the parts of our brains that think black-and-white, deal with fear through punishment and repression, and are responsible for much of the prejudice and suffering in the world.

Andy Hudak, Co-founder
Montana Sex Offender Treatment Association (MSOTA)
Northwest Family Recovery Program

60th Legislature begins

Dear Editor,

On January 3, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. the Secretary of State rapped the gavel and announced: "The Representatives-elect will please come to order." In the next few minutes the 100 Representatives took their oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Montana. With that, the 60th Legislature was underway.

The second day was devoted to an orientation to the legislative process by the Montana Code Commissioner (the Legislature's chief attorney), Chief Justice Carla Gray, and Professors Elison and Griffing of the School of Law at UM.

The first few days were mostly filled with organizational meetings, orientations within the various committees and introductions of the staff that will support the committees. Many committees took tours of the various state agency facilities that are affected by the bills that will be heard by the committees. For example, the Transportation Committee took a tour of the MDT headquarters and yard in Helena. The Local Government Committee toured the Montana Association of Counties facility and held a discussion of MACO legislative concerns. The Taxation Committee, which I am also on, had three mornings of classes on Montana tax law presented by the Department of Revenue.

In the second week, beginning with Day 5 of the session, we began hearing bills on the House Floor. These are typically what we refer to as "house-keeping bills." They are usually simple and do things like cleaning up antiquated sections of Montana law. On Friday, we adopted House Resolution 1, the Rules of Procedure by which the House will operate. By the end of week 2, fifteen bills had passed second reading, and three passed third reading, ready to go on to the Senate.

Numerous bills regarding issues that were discussed during the recent campaign are being introduced; some do not even have bill numbers yet. Four different "water tax" repeal bills have been introduced. The Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee scheduled all four bills for hearing on the same day, in order to save time. After the hearings, he sent them to a Special Subcommittee to hammer out the differences and come back with a single bill that can be moved forward and sent to the House floor.

Getting started is kind of a slow process, but it will go faster. I will let you know as various bills proceed over the coming weeks.

Specific bills, by number, subject, or sponsor, can be found at: http://www.leg.mt.gov.

Rep. Gary MacLaren
House District 89

Thanks from Victor Garden Club

Dear Editor,

The Victor Garden Club's Blue Star Memorial for the Victor Park has been ordered, thanks to so many generous individuals, businesses, and military groups. The landscape design is being planned now which will include plantings, benches, and a "circle without end" for the marker foundation area. To make the Blue Star Memorial setting beautiful, the Club is asking for continued monetary support with tax-deductible contributions. Names of all contributors will be on the Dedication Program planned for Armed Forces Day in May.

Tressa Baker, President
Victor Garden Club

Not the right person for the job

Dear Editor,

Last week I came home after work and turned on the evening news to catch up on the day's events. One of the top stories that night was Gail Kimbell, US Forest Service Regional Forester in Missoula, being picked to be the new chief of the Forest Service.

The local TV news coverage of Kimbell's appointment included footage showing a beautiful old growth forest with birds and a person hiking through an old growth forest. While it was actually quite striking to see images of beautiful, old growth forests on TV, I couldn't help but think to myself how ironic!

Of course, nobody would know this by just watching the newscast, but the old growth forest footage was shot in 2005 and provided to local TV stations by the WildWest Institute. In fact, that beautiful, old growth footage on TV was actually taken from inside old growth logging units that are part of the Middle East Fork "Healthy Forest" logging project on the Bitterroot National Forest. I know all of this for certain because I'm the person that was hiking through the old growth forest during the newscast.

The Middle East Fork logging project was not only approved on Kimbell's watch, but as Regional Forester she personally went so far as to reject or dismiss every single official objection point and concern brought by homeowners and families that live up the East Fork and also scientists from the University of Montana.

So as you can see, it's pretty ironic that images of beautiful old growth forests would be used to promote and celebrate Kimbell's appointment to Chief of the Forest Service, especially when those very old growth forests are part of Kimbell's Middle East Fork logging project.

Jeanette Russell
Missoula

Llama Sanctuary needs your help

Dear Editor,

Safe Haven Llama & Alpaca Sanctuary, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Due to unforseen circumstances in 2006, all but a few llamas had to be disbursed. We are in need of a new President, Vice President and a place to house these few animals. I will educate and train anyone who will take this project on. These are wonderful animals and it's very rewarding to care for them. It will be up to the Board to decide on fostering and all care. Volunteers to raise funding is also needed.

This 501(c)(3) is desperately needed in the state of Montana, working with animal shelters and other llama and animal sanctuaries throughout the country.

SHL&A is in need of donations as well as a couple tons of good hay and llama pellets. Hay must be delivered.

"Arley," the little rescued llama from Arlee, who had both hind posterns broken, is doing well after one surgery. Thank you to everyone who donated to help with this and all medical and other bills and needs.

Please contact Char at 961-4027 or 780 Old Corvallis Rd., Corvallis MT, 59828. A new President and Vice President must be in place by February 28 or we may have to give up the 501(c)(3) and sanctuary.

Char Hakes
Safe Haven Llama & Alpaca Sanctuary
Corvallis

Thanks from American Legion Auxiliary

Dear Editor,

150 placemats were created by Mrs. Lewis' Stevensville morning and afternoon kindergarten classes, the Lone Rock Cub Scout Pack 34, Wolf Den 6, and members of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 94 for the Christmas meal at the Columbia Falls Veterans Home. Lots of candy canes were sent along with the placemats by the Auxiliary Unit 94. We would like to thank the following talented young people for their time and creative efforts:

Morning Class: Audra Kniffen, Skylar Pearson, Dani Mosser, Ana Williams, Adam Giese, Dylen McKay, Joey Devine, Cecy Ponce, David Haacke, Logan Roth, Savannah Conover and Kylie Alfred.

Afternoon Class: Alli Emery, Jeremy Struzynski, Nate Weiss, Prestley Robinson, Cecilia Hoornbeck, Ivan Yazvac, Sammy Mickelson, Leilani Loofburrow, Ashley Smart, Mikayla Newman, Teddy Robinson, Adrian Flansburg, Anola Goodson, Michael Kamps, and Dustin Seeley.

Wolf Den 6: Garrett Cleveland, Matthew Cowan, Arron Johnson, Caleb Morton, Lance Nelson, Alex Shepard, Joe Skaggs, Matthew Smith, Greeley Whitson and Annalie.

Squadron 94: Adam Giese and Hunter and Ty Street.

Kathy Frazier (for)
American Legion Post 94 Auxiliary

Valley unprepared for human element

Dear Editor,

I think the Bitterroot Valley is approaching a critical point that very, very few souls living here want to hear mentioned, let alone talk and write about. Ravalli County officials, specifically the County Commissioners, their Planning organization and the amorphous Office of Environmental Health, even the Sanitarian have given thought to the impending fork in the road into the future. However, at the same time no one is prepared to take the flack that is one of the hallmarks of leadership. The truth is we are short in that trait around here. We do have a few individuals who cast around the state looking for answers in all the wrong places. There is no place like our Bitterroot Valley. Our erstwhile leaders don't want the pain and suffering of leadership. Instead we try to relate to other "successful" situations elsewhere. Our "human element" is leaderless, opinionated and saddled with baggage carried from wherever the individual came from. Worst of all, some of us hide behind political and religious philosophical bulwarks.

OK, here is my point. The valley is either an urban community or it isn't. Back in 1980, I wrote that the agricultural lifestyle would disappear in proportion to the infusion of out-of-state money and residents with imported incomes. This is a greater truth today. We cannot vest a "Right to Farm" rule, ordinance, law or whatever. The idea in itself is simply a poignant gasp of a historic way of life that is on the way out. The same fate will happen to the "Open Space" concept. The idea of buying open space is dreamlike, impractical, and will collapse when the general public realizes they will pay the tab.

The "human element" is overwhelming and unstoppable. The activists in the different persuasions may win a skirmish now and then but the final outcome is inevitable. On the other hand the "human element" is susceptible to influences beyond our control. Empirical evidence is mounting that awareness of the limitations already imposed by nature are looming and demanding recognition. All the hoopla about development is actually all about the eventual character of the urbanization. Right soon, whatever the "human element" decides, natural resource limitations will have the final word.

I hope our ersatz leaders are courageous enough to get their collective heads out of dark places and realize we are running out of water. Not because the availability is diminishing, but because the "human element" is demanding more than is available.

Earl Pollard
Hamilton

Bookbinder announces candidacy

Dear Editor,

After much encouragement and consideration I have decided to run for County Commissioner in the upcoming countywide election.

I am an Independent, with moderate views. I appreciate certain aspects of our diverse political parties. Yes, in the past I ran on the Democratic ticket and here's the main reason why: The local Republican politicians were telling you anything they thought you wanted to hear and then represented the desires of local and out-of-state private developers, the Board of Realtors and the Board of the Bitterroot Builders Association. I will not be a part of those deceptive practices. Any time you have a special interest group funding their chosen politicians into office, i.e. Chilcott, Thompson, Lund and now Lyons, the decision-making will not and cannot serve the best interest of the citizens of Ravalli County.

It is my firm conviction that political leaders should make decisions based on what is good for the majority of the people while leading us toward the best outcome for future generations.

I also believe that growth and development are going to, and need to, happen. I have never advocated for "no growth" because I know that it is one of many valuable components of a healthy economic base. But we need to avoid being so heavily weighted in one sector, so stabilizing our economy with a diverse base is the best practice.

I advocate preparing for population growth, because projections of an additional 40,000 or more people warrant planning. A good start includes getting the real estate industry out of our government; in case and point, look at how they are inappropriately attempting to control our streamside setback laws. It also includes promoting the Planning Department to take a more active role in planning, appoint a diverse group to the Planning Board, re-establishing the intentions of our Growth Policy, write subdivision laws and stick to our criteria, granting variances only under very unusual circumstances.

The commissioner race should be about the issues, not about partisan politics or religion. It really is choosing between candidates that truly want planning and those backed by some in the real estate and development industry that say they want planning, but really don't.

It is time for a change and most Ravalli County residents are ready. I encourage all of you to get involved. This is the last chance we will have for years to elect leaders that will make proactive decisions about protecting our quality of life and its relationship to growth. If you worked on the Growth Policy, or if you voted for temporary zoning, or if you voted for the Open Space Bond, or if you voted to change the Commission from three members to five, or if you want planning, then you are part of the strong bi-partisan group that doesn't trust the current county commissioners to represent us.

United, we can fight for the Bitterroot and elect candidates who truly favor progressive planning. Let's do the right thing for the valley and leave our children a legacy of which we can be proud.

Phyllis Bookbinder
Corvallis

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