Autism stories raise awareness
Editor,
Elizabeth Humble commented in the Feb. 28 Leader that "disappointed didn't even begin to describe" how she felt after reading the article on the Cote child. I find this very disheartening coming from a mother of an autistic child.
Nowhere in the first article did I read anything that would make a person believe that all autistic children have the symptoms and/or actions of Will and Charlie's son. This article is simply following their child's life with autism and how they have come to notice differences, and their story of learning to come to an understanding of this diagnosis of their son.
It's more of an awareness issuance for the readers of the Lake County Leader. And it's not just for those who don't know about autism and the effects it can sometimes have on the family. I enjoyed reading the article tremendously. I know both Charlie and Will, and I also have a daughter with an autistic son. No, Ethan doesn't have those extremes. But yes, he does have his own extremes in other aspects. Ethan has functioning autism and seems normal to most who just happen to meet him now and then. His little brother Caden has also been tested and has a form of functioning autism.
I have sincere adoration and appreciation for you and all families who have autistic members in their lives. I hope that you are able to rethink the word "disappointed" in your feelings for the article and can find it in your heart to see that this young couple is only sharing a few days in their lives, whether it be good or bad, with us as the Lake County Leader follows this story.
Johanna B. Zundel
Nome, Alaska
Broadcast team thanks Ronan fans
Editor,
As the voice of the Ronan Chiefs, we would like to take the time to thank the people who have made our season a success. The community of Ronan has been behind and supporting us since the very first game of the season.
As play-by-play broadcasters, it is our job to be at as many games as sponsorship allows, bringing you (the listeners) exciting coverage. After the divisional tournament, the Ronan School District and the Ronan Booster Club came up in a very big way for us. Out of their own generosity they provided a hotel room for the weekend in Billings so that we could have a place to stay as we broadcasted from the state tournament.
We know that it is hard for everybody to make every single game, especially when they are on the road. As broadcasters we understand and that is why it is our pleasure to bring you live coverage of the games at the convenience of your radio dial. Thank you again and we are pumped and ready to bring you live broadcasts of Chiefs basketball during the 2008-2009 basketball season.
Reed Tobol
Bridger Wayman
Ronan
Gillettes are moving to Casper, Wyo.
Editor,
I am writing to let you know that I have resigned my position with the St. Luke Hospital effective March 18. I will be moving to Casper, Wyo., to be closer to both my husband's and my mothers. They are both in their advancing ages and need us. I will be working for St. Anthony Tri-Parish Catholic K-9 school raising money for a $12 million new school. I love the people that work at St. Luke and value the high ethical standards for which Shane Roberts, the CEO operates. I have only positive things to say about my tenure working at St. Luke and will hold them dearly in my heart. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get to know all of you. Many blessings,
Paula Gillette
Ronan
Delegate process: Looking for answers
Editor,
The voters of Montana are wanting to know why Mitt Romney has not officially released the Montana delegates. The Republican delegates are bound by the rules to vote for Romney at the convention if he does not officially release the delegates. That is my understanding, but am not sure. Can someone explain?
What sense does it make to have the delegates go to the convention and not be able to vote for someone that is still running for the presidential nomination? Can someone tell me what the official rule is for releasing the delegates? Is there a time frame when it needs to be done? If he is not going to be in the campaign, then it is only fair he release the Montana delegates so they can vote for their choice. This campaign with the caucus and primaries has made it hard for people to understand what is going on. Someone needs to explain to the people how the Republican system works, what goes on at the convention and how the presidential candidate is really chosen for the November ballot.
The people have the right to know how the voting system works. You wonder why more people don't vote? They make it so complicated.
Kelly Bailey
Polson
Differences both a challenge, gift
Editor,
I don't often express myself in such a public forum, but after reading the two articles in the Leader and the letter to the editor today, I feel very strongly about stating some facts and feelings I have personal knowledge of.
My name is Kathie Sammons and I live in Charlo. Like the Cote family, we have been blessed with a wonderful little man who was diagnosed with a form of autism three years ago. Our grandson Ethan is now five years old and an amazing kindergarten student. At present he is attending classes at Lowell Elementary in Missoula and is so fortunate to have caring an progressive teachers, para-professionals, therapists and a great administrator.
I know there are days that everyone around Ethan is pushed to the limit, but he always comes out the winner in these situations because his difference is looked upon as a challenge and a gift.
Ethan progressed normally as far as physical ability and language skills until he was about two years old. At the time his father, Eric, was in the Navy and had been deployed to Iraq, and Ethan came to live in Charlo with our family while my daughter Brianna finished her degree in forensic science.
We noticed that Ethan had quit calling us by name and would merely point at objects and make a guttural noise to get what he needed. He also became very anti-social and exhibited many repetitive behaviors. We had him tested at the CDC center in Missoula and from that point on Ethan was put into a program at the University of Montana called Co-Teach. The program is led by Mary Bunce-Finnegan. By the end of the school term in 2007, Ethan could express himself verbally as well as with sign language and had begun to "make friends" and play with his peers.
My point to this letter is to say that even though Ethan will always be autistic, it isn't a label that needs to denote something demeaning or negative. Like the Cote family, we have chosen to be pro-active in our approach toward Ethan's education and development. As any parent or grandparent would tell you, we all just want to see our children be given all the tools they need in order to realize their utmost potential.
Please remember that autism is being diagnosed at a rising rate in America. It affects one in every 150 births (Autism Society of America, 2007). Autism affects roughly one in every 94 boys. There is no medical detection or cure for autism. There are 24,000 new cases diagnosed every year in the U.S. Autism costs the taxpayers of the U.S. $90 billion a year and 90 percent of those costs are in adult services. Costs of lifelong care can be reduced by two-thirds with early diagnosis an intervention.
Kathie Sammons
Charlo
VFD needs items for Charlo auction
Editor,
On April 5 at the Charlo School, the Charlo-Moiese Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services United, Inc. will host the 14th Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auction. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the Charlo School lunchroom. The silent auction starts at 5 p.m. in the Charlo School's gym. The live auction will follow at 7:30 p.m.
Our volunteers strive every day to improve the speed and quality of our services. We will continue to commit our personal time for training and for responding to an need or emergency in our community and neighboring communities.
Our annual dinner/auction enables us to enhance the resources available to fight fires, respond to emergencies and protect firefighters and emergency personnel.
With this goal in mind, any help you or your business may wish to contribute by way of donations, products, services, etc. will be greatly appreciated. Receipts will be available at the event or will be mailed upon request. For questions or concerns, contact Mark Young fire chief, (406) 207-0323 or Ken Strowbridge, EMS coordinator, (406) 261-1329, or e-mail charlofed@compuplus.net
The Fire Department thanks all the people and businesses that have donated in the past for their time and generosity.
We also thank you in advance for your time and attention regarding our fundraiser in 2008.
Mark Young, Fire Chief
Charlo/Moiese VFD and EMS Unit, Inc.
Screening may save your life
Editor,
March is Colorectal Cancer Screening Awareness Month and I thought you might like to share with your readers, these interesting facts:
? Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States.
? Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States.
? When colorectal cancer is diagnosed at an early stage the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. However, when it isn't diagnosed until after it spreads to distant organs, the five-year survival rate is just 10 percent.
? Today only 39 percent of colon cancers are diagnosed in the early stages, despite the fact that colon cancer can be prevented if pre-cancerous polyps are found during screening and removed.
In light of these facts, I encourage everyone to talk to their doctor and come up with a plan of action that works best for them. The American Cancer Society has screening guidelines and other information available at www.cancer.org
Educate yourself and then talk to your doctor. It may just save your life!
Crystal Stipe
Moiese
Update on trying to get Charlo drug policy instituted
A couple of weeks ago I submitted a letter to the editor with this same title, this week I would like to update the public on what I have done so far in my quest to get a drug testing policy instituted in Charlo school.
So far I have typed up and placed petitions for signatures in the Charlo Grocery store as well as at Coulter Automotive. I have also given these same petitions to a few concerned citizens in the Charlo school district who are asking folks for signatures. My goal is to get 200 to 300 signatures from the Charlo-Dixon citizens who are willing to help in protecting our children against drugs and alcohol. I have also talked to various organizations about putting on a community meeting in Charlo to educate the community and hopefully to gain support in protecting our children and community. Prior to creating this petition I was "allowed" to address the Charlo School Board in regards to this issue. I say "allowed" because I was required to do so in a closed session. During this session it seemed to me the board was split on their views of the drug situation in our community and school. Some seemed concerned enough to ask questions and to possibly consider my request for a drug testing policy, while others seemed to feel that there is not a drug/alcohol problem in our community and further felt that a drug testing policy would "punish the good kids (non-users?) for the actions of a few "bad kids."
By the end of this school board meeting I knew that my work was cut out for me when a comment was made to the effect of, "if you have enough pull in this community to get support for this we as a board will have to listen to you and consider this request."
Well, I have no pull in Charlo, or anywhere for that matter, but should it take pull to protect my kids from drugs? Must I have "pull" in this community to get folks to admit that there is a serious problem and to help our kids? I would hope not!
It should not take a petition to institute something in our schools that will help to protect our students from the pitfalls of drugs and alcohol, but if this is what it takes, this is what I am doing. The children of this community are too important to sit back and not do anything and everything we can to help protect them.
As parents, teachers, coaches, grandparents, relatives and community members it is our job to mentor these children and give them the tools to get through life successfully. For some of these children random drug testing may very well be a tool that will stop them from trying drugs. For those that do try them and want to continue in sports, well there are other tools. Along with the drug testing there are various methods for the students who make a wrong choice to correct their choice and redeem themselves.
So once again I come to you, the community of Charlo-Dixon, and ask that you show your concern for our children by helping to give them another tool to "Just say No to drugs and alcohol." Please sign one of the petitions located at either the Charlo Grocery Store or at Coulter Automotive. Or if you are interested in helping with this please contact me at 644-4617 or e-mail me at tjdalke@montana.com (if you e-mail please put "drug policy" in the subject line.)
Tracy RobinsonDalke
Charlo, Mt.