This is in response to the factually inaccurate posting by Stevensville resident Rosemarie Neuman entitled "Global Warming Myth" published in the Bitterroot Star on April 25th.

As a visitor to the Bitterroot valley, I thought I had seen enough horse manure to last me to the end of my days. That was until I saw the letter by Ms. Neuman, which was such a large pile of crap that it shocked my senses. There is an old adage about computers: "Garbage in, garbage out." The same is true of the dogma being fed by the shovelful to the zombie-like minions of the oil and coal lobby and right-leaning politicos. But I have to ask which is worse: the original horse manure, or the regurgitated version. It seems as though Ms. Neuman has begun her own manure recycling program.

I usually let senseless drivel stand on its own lack of merit, but I was compelled to respond by the stench of Ms. Neuman's remarks. Take for example her question: How can we possibly judge Global Warming when temperatures have only been recorded for the past 150 years? Glad you asked, Rosemarie. There are several sources of information scientists access when assessing temperature change on the planet. The first is the historical record of mean global annual temperatures kept by human beings. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, "eleven of the past twelve years (1995-2006) rank among the 12 warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature (since 1850)." Note, Rosemarie, that none of those 12 warmest years were in the 1930s, so your statement that the warming in the last ten years is not much different [than] the warming we saw in the 1930s holds no water.

Furthermore, the IPCC report states that "Mountain glaciers and snow cover have declined on average in both hemispheres." Now there's something residents of the Bitterroot valley ought to be able to confirm with their own observations. Have any of you noticed that spring arrives a few weeks earlier and winter a few weeks later? Have you noticed a decrease in the level and/or duration of snow pack on your mountains? And how are the glaciers in Glacier National Park doing? Are any of you worried about the future availability of flowing fresh water? That could be the #1 negative impact of Global Warming.

As concerns Hurricane Katrina, no scientists have said that it was caused by Global Warming. What has been theorized is that Global Warming will increase the intensities of hurricanes, with monsters like Katrina becoming more common (that theory is still being debated). And Rosemarie: if you think Katrina was an "average hurricane", tell that to the residents of Mississippi who lost everything and have not been able to return to their homes after nearly two years. You said that "It was solely the breech of the levees in large part due to environmentalists nixing stronger protection that made the storm so destructive." Perhaps you ought to refuse the next few shovelfuls of crap sent your way. Levee construction has been under the control of the US Army Corps of Engineers since 1965. Hundreds of millions of dollars were (allegedly) spent on their construction and maintenance, regardless of any protests by the "environmentalists." A recent study by the American Society of Civil Engineers placed the blame for the failure of the levees squarely on the Army Corps of Engineers. And the wetlands of the Mississippi delta have suffered catastrophic decline as a result of Army Corps work on the levees and other projects on the Mississippi. Sounds like the "environmentalists" lost the battle you claim they won.

The fact that storms have always occurred has no bearing on the issue of Global Warming. The reasons an estimated 10,000 people died in Galveston in 1900 were that they had no early warning and the city was built near sea level without sea walls. The facts that New Orleans was built below sea level and that "only" 1,836 people died in Hurricane Katrina is a testament to the advancements in meteorology over the past hundred years. According to the National Weather Service, only one of the deadliest hurricanes occurred in the past twenty-five years; in contrast, two thirds of the costliest hurricanes occurred in that period. John Berlaw's logic is flawed; he is in effect saying that since there have been strong storms in the past and because more people died in those storms, Global Warming must be a myth. The only connection between hurricanes and Global Warming is that some scientists have theorized that intense storms will become more frequent due to higher ocean surface temperatures.

The United States is currently the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet Earth. Yes, Rosemarie, China and India are growing and are using dirty coal burning plants to fuel their energy needs. But how can we convince those developing nations to curb their greenhouse gas emissions when we won't curb our own? And besides, much of China's and India's growth in energy demand is due to multinational corporations based in the US and Europe off-shoring their manufacturing. In effect, we're doubly to blame.

You quoted Dr. Richard Lindzen of MIT in your letter. The funny thing is that Dr. Lindzen does not deny that Global Warming is occurring. He simply questions whether the impacts of Global Warming will be as severe as many scientists are predicting. In his July 2006 testimony before the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce, National Academy of Sciences President Ralph J. Cicerone stated that "There is no doubt that the Earth is warming." Period. But Dr. Cicerone agrees with Dr. Lindzen that it is very difficult to predict what the climate change will be in the future. So there is consensus among scientists that Global Warming is occurring, that it is in part caused by human beings and that the Earth's climate will continue to change as a result. What scientists do not agree on is the severity of the impacts of Global Warming. But look around you - you can actually see it happening, particularly in the Bitterroot and surrounding areas. Your choices are to do something to mitigate the causes now by seeking alternatives to "dirty," unsustainable sources of energy such as oil and coal or to do nothing and pay for it later.

Letters to the Editor

Does underburning show love?

Dear Editor,

I am writing in regards to a letter that Wesk Fork Ranger Dave Campbell put in the Ravalli Republic. He was chastising Larry Campbell (no relation to Dave) about logging on the Bitterroot. I wish to comment on only one portion of the Ranger Campbell letter. Dave got a little misty about how he loved the big old-growth yellow pine as much as the public does.

If this is true, why is he preparing to do his so-called underburning? Why doesn't Ranger Campbell have his crew rake the pine needles and the shed bark back from the base of these trees? Then when it burns it doesn't set the trees on fire. The same goes for the fir leave trees in the proposed burning areas. There are many instances where Ranger Dave Campbell has killed many yellow pine and fir with his burning programs.

I've suggested to all the Rangers that the raking away of debris under the trees involved should be part of the burning program. It doesn't appear to have done much good with Ranger Campbell at least. But then, if you kill the trees by burning them you get to log them, which is the new way to get out the cut. If you can't legally log the old-growth yellow pine and fir without running into a snag, just kill them with fire.

Floyd Wood
Corvallis

Blue Star Memorial coming to Victor

Dear Editor,

It appears your readers could appreciate some positive, upbeat news for a change. Victor Garden Club, three military groups, and the Victor Civic Club are planning a most memorable event for the Memorial Weekend. On Sunday, May 27th, at 10 a.m., there will be a large gathering at the Victor Park to dedicate the new Blue Star Memorial sponsored by the Garden Club in cooperation with three veterans' organizations who are providing three new flag poles for the site. The Civic Club will be serving a fund raiser dinner at Victor High School for the continued maintenance of the Victor Cemetery.

Landscaping for the Memorial site began on Friday and will continue next Friday, April 27th and volunteers will be welcomed to help with the Garden Club members serving lunch to the workers. Wayne Mooney coordinated the Veteran Groups for the flag poles, the Garden Club ordered the Blue Star Memorial to which many individuals and organizations have contributed funds. The Victor Civic Club has arranged for Pat Easley to plan and prepare the dinner. For a great amount of camaraderie, patriotism and pride, you will find it at the Victor Park. Please join us!

Tressa Baker, President
Victor Garden Club

Thanks from Beta Sigma Phi

Dear Editor,

Thanks to the citizens and businesses of the Bitterroot Valley, the Ravalli County Beta Sigman Phi annual Good Friday Tulip Sale was a great success.

We are grateful for the generous support and helpfulness of Tom and Dorothy Parker for the use of the Cannery. We also appreciate the use of the reader board space at local banks, and the use of their facilities for selling the tulips. The Bitterroot Star, the Ravalli Republic, KLYQ and the other newspapers and TV and radio stations were most helpful in printing and broadcasting the information about our sale. Thank you.

The support and generous donations of the community will help the Bitter Root Humane Association to buy new equipment, give emergency veterinary care and help with ongoing upkeep of their 22-year-old facility.

Reine Hilton
Beta Sigma Phi

Impact fees and golden eggs

Dear Editor,

I was talking with my friend, Russ Cleveland, the other day about a new bond issue for Lone Rock School. I was on the board with Russ 12 years ago, and found out how little things had changed regarding funding for building new additions. ANB money, the main school funding from the state, barely pays for kids' schooling. Nothing is left over for building classrooms, and building projects are always behind need.

This is a fact of life in an area experiencing rapid growth. Lone Rock has grown from 150 students when I was on the board to 310 now. We have had to repeatedly go back to overtaxed property owners and beg them, "Please, this is for our kids."

We know that new homeowners' taxes don't cover the increases in infrastructure that their presence demands. We can't keep up with the demand for roads, police protection, social services, and especially schools.

So I ask, where is the fairness in this? Why must we who are residents be asked, again and again, to pay for the degradation of our community by the rapid influx of new population?

On June 5th , we get to choose three new county commissioners. Candidate Dave Hurtt has been quoted as saying: "Many of the impacts of a large subdivision are internal and do not impact county services. There maybe some impact on the schools, but ANB money is provided by state law. School districts should not look upon a development as a 'golden goose' and expect new developments to cure their financial ills."

I can't agree with this twisted logic. After all, it is this new influx of students that is creating the problems. We need impact fees to fund our future school building needs. We need new leadership, like Jim Rokosch, to see that these fees are implemented. To me, it's our children that are the golden eggs, not some fancy house up on the hill.

Steve Schwartzman
Stevensville

Thanks for Stevi cleanup

Dear Editor,

Saturday, April 21st was Earth Day and Community Clean up in Stevensville. Young people of all ages and folks from all around showed up to help.

Main Street shows the results of a thorough sweeping and cleaning. The painting crew renewed the benches, tables and outhouse at the River Park. Irrigation systems on the River Trail and Creamery Park were maintained and checked, weeds controlled, and flowers planted. The Forest Service Crew cleaned up the Cut Off Road, and the Town Crew disposed of all the bags of trash.

After all the efforts, Feed and Farm treated everybody to lunch.

The Stevensville Civic Club and the Main Street Association would like to thank every single person who took part and helped. It is nice to see all that pride in taking care of our community.

Tim Schreiber, Stevensville Civic Club
Joan Prather, Stevensville Main Street Association

Thoughts on Legislature

Dear Editor,

The legislature, and the governor, have not been able to do their jobs in a timely fashion.

This is not unusual if one takes the long view. Montana had several years of one party control of both houses of the legislature and the governorship. In this circumstance, agreement in the 90 day legislative period is mandatory, there is no one else to blame. Divided government tends to cause more special sessions.

There is enough blame to go around this session. Representative Lange calling the Governor names was not cool, the Governor going to California to raise money the last week of the session when he should have been here to work with legislature was not a good idea, and the Senate adjourning a day early was a bad idea. It may be that the Democrats wanted a special session to put pressure on the House.

At this time the House is Republican, the Senate Democratic, and the Governor is a Democrat. Republicans want a long term tax reduction, and a smaller budget increase. The Democrats want a one time tax rebate and a larger budget increase. Neither party is frugal; the Republicans' goal is a 12% or 13% increase in spending, and the Democrats as much as 25% or 26%. The percentage depends on how you figure which proposals pass the legislature. Neither spending increase is sustainable.

The governor has called the House's hand. The Senate, to support the Governor, adjourned a day early. This move made the House either take the budget, tax, and education bills passed to them from the Senate as they were, with no compromise, or follow suit. The House had no choice but to adjourn. The last day often leads to a "deal," in the 2001 session a bargain was struck about midnight on the 90th day; by leaving early the Senate insured a special session, which may have been the Governor's game plan. His threats not to pay the legislature for a special session, for which he was as responsible as the legislature, is disingenuous and would put pressure on the legislature to do his bidding. While a legislator's pay is only $83 per day, it helps pay the bills when there is no other income.

We are in posturing mode, but the special session can go relatively smoothly if both parties cooperate. However, before the special session an agreement should be in place.

Sen. Jim Shockley
District 45

Page One •	Valley News •	Op/Ed •	Sports •	Calendar •	Classifieds •	Links •	About Us •	Back Issues •	Email Us •	Home
©2006 Bitterroot Star This site was Done By Dooney