Letters to the editor

Dec. 10

Nothing proven on global warming

Dave Marshall wrote several weeks ago that apparently he thinks anyone who doubts global warming — man-made or otherwise — are “… people who can neither understand or trust science and scientists.”

Why is it that people continue to take the arrogant position that “If you don’t agree with me you’re ignorant?” The point is, there are some of us who are not satisfied with the assurances of “scientific consensus” and want to see the evidence for ourselves.

There is space here only to address the question of consensus. To put it simply — there is none!

Now what scientists would Marshall take seriously? Roger Revelle, the Harvard professor who inspired Al Gore to his vision, who now believes the data has been manipulated or Claude Allegre, French scientist who was one of the first global warming alarmists, who now repudiates it because the science didn’t match the predictions? How about the 31,000 scientists who have signed the Oregon petition denouncing global warming? What about Stephen McIntyre and Ross McKitrick who proved that the famed “hockey stick” graph was produced by a faulty computer program that was unable to produce any graph but a “hockey stick” regardless of the data entered? I take seriously the 700 scientists at the International Conference on Climate Change who disagreed with Al Gore’s science.

In England, numerous scientists testified in a court trial against every major assertion made in Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” movie. The decision of the court was that not even one of the assertions could not be proven scientifically.

Dr. S. Fred Singer has summarized it this way. “Among climate scientists there is a split. There are those who believe in models and those who believe in observations. When the observations show that the climate has not been warming in the last 10 years, which contradicts the models, who are you going to believe?”

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to side with Dr. Singer and go with the observations. I don’t think that makes me ignorant or uninformed.

Al Onsager, Ronan

Share Reggie Sims stories

Recently, the family and friends of Reggie Sims gathered at Reggie’s favorite fishing spot in Marion, Ohio, on Thanksgiving evening by candle light to give thanks for all the things that Reggie had brought into their lives.

Reggie passed away in February of this year after losing a battle with heart disease and dementia. There was laughter and tears shed by all who attended as they shared stories of times they had spent with Reggie. These stories are being placed into a book for Reggie’s youngest son, James, who was four when his father went to be with the Lord.

These will be memories for James who in time may forget his moments with his father but his family will provide all the visual and verbal reminders possible to keep his memory alive. We would like to extend an invitation to the friends Reggie had in Montana to share some of their stories with James as well. You may e-mail your stories to James at chubbybubby2005@wmconnect.com.

Also, if you have pics to share please feel free to include them as well. Reggie spoke very highly of Montana and loved it with all his heart. I hope that in the future with stories about his father, James will understand the man that his father was.

Debbie Sims, Marion, Ohio

Abortion is harmful

I have often been tempted to answer some of Bob McClellan’s letters because as he proclaims love and peace to all, he doesn’t always show this to those who do not agree with his views. But this time, his letter made me very angry.

“Smoking has been proven over and over to be a cause of cancer. Whatever has been proven to cause harm to a person choosing abortion?” he wrote [Letter to the editor, Nov. 26].

For one thing, it is a proven fact that a woman who has had an abortion has a higher risk of breast cancer. Women have a higher rate of emotional problems after having an abortion.

I had the opportunity to view my grandson in the womb, via a sonogram. He had all his arms and legs, and was definitely a boy. He was moving around and when the nurse tapped his mother’s abdomen, he moved away. He has a heart that was beating. The nurse said that he weighed about 2 ounces. If this wasn’t a tiny, living human being, what was it?

A little boy with no rights whatsoever, not even the right to life? God said he knew us while we were still in the womb. What the heck did he mean?

We, who believe that this baby does have a right to life, cannot accept otherwise. This is not a matter of religion. Even those who do not believe in God can believe in life. And we do have a right to demand that the government not extract money from us to pay for something we believe is wrong. If this causes chaos in Congress, so be it. It should.

To have so little compassion as to compare abortion to smoking cigarettes is ridiculous to say the least, and especially to find abortion the lesser evil of the two. I also find it quite contrary to the views of one who professes to love all God’s creations.

Justice for all? Yes, justice for all. Abortion definitely is harmful, it kills every time.

Jolanda Ingram, Yuma, Ariz., winter address

Country Store thanks

The Country Store would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of the community for their tremendous support this past year, both by shopping in the store and by donations of reusable merchandise. 

In order for the workers to enjoy the holidays with families, the store will be closed again this year during the Christmas Season beginning Thursday, Dec. 24, and reopening on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010.

We are asking that people refrain from dropping off donations during that time, since there will no one at the store to receive them, and we do not have a weatherproof area available to leave items.

Again, thank you, and have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.

Country Store Board and Workers

 Phyllis Dresen, Secretary

Support Gene Sorrell

The 2009 Tribal Council candidates said in recent surveys what they will do once elected to serve

We have to get new people on The Tribal Council. Gene Sorrell has listed experience and knowledge that is needed to bring about changes. I say it is time for a new councilman from Ronan.

P.S. Who about those Griz?

Fred Cordier, CSKT member, Ronan

Ronan speech and debate thanks

The coaches and students of the Ronan High School Speech, Drama and Debate Team would like to extend a special thank you to the following community members who judged rounds at Saturday’s Ronan Invitational Tournament: Frances Abbey, Shirley Baker, Beth Bartholome, Bob Bartlet, Jim Benn, Susan Bruggeman, Bob Bushnell, Janice Cates, Joell Conklin, Judy Cook, Jean Cummings, Judy Doyle, Naomi Dulmes, Phil Engeldrum, Michelle Fenger, Lynette Fisher, Rhonda Fisher, Janet Gardner, Cathy Gillhouse, Diane Gilliland, Justin Grandon, Tanya Gray, Eric Hall, Tyr Hawkaluck, Sarah B., Cryse Heiner, Dana Huddelston, Renee Kenmille, Greg Knabe, Bill Koberg, Mike Lozar, Dan Miller, Zach Miller, Patty Mocabee, Carmine Mowbray, Dave Myers, Karen Myers, Carol Olson, Albert Owen, Gloria Perry, Jennifer Rolfsness, Doug Ruhman, Dan Salomon, Janey Salomon, Kelsey Salomon, Stacey Sherwin, Craig Waldron, Susan Weaselhead, and Cheryl Weatherell.

Without your continued support and your generous donations of time, an event like ours would not be possible. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Thank you again, and we hope to see you again at next year’s tournament.

Melissa Knabe, Amy Miller, & the Ronan High School Speech, Drama and Debate Team

Boys and Girls Club thanks

Over the past six months, the Boys & Girls Club has been anxious to conclude one of the most exciting fund raising activities it has done so far. A suggestion by one of our board members turned into an effective way to not only raise needed operational funds, but to bring people into our club who had never set foot in the door. A bright and shiny classic automobile reconditioned by volunteers literally

slowed traffic in front of our club for weeks. Thanks to you, the raffle participants, our club members will benefit every day after school through the winter.

 Meeting all those people and showing them the club when they had time continued to build our  enthusiasm for keeping steadfast with our mission. We blame it, in part, on the ‘67 Mustang Coupe!

Living in this small rural community is an indescribable privilege. To the benefit of this nonprofit organization and many others, our friends and neighbors are conscious of and willing to show their support locally. To everyone who helped us recondition the car, sold tickets, made signs, published news stories or announced them over the air, you have our most humble thanks. Thanks also to the Christmas Treasures Committee for allowing us to kick off the Christmas drawings for 2009.

To those who bought tickets for a chance to win the Mustang, because of your generous participation, the real winners are the children who attend our club. They continue to have a safe place to go after school, they get a choice of supervised and wholesome activities and when the opportunity presents itself, are given some character-building tools to get along better in this world.

Congratulations to Mandy Smith, who won the beautiful classic. Youíre the envy of a multitude of generous, hopeful participants and weíre proud the club could see your dream come true.

For our Board of Directors, our Staff and especially nearly 650 club members whom we cherish, I say

thank you all for a successful and fun event.

John Schnase, Boys & Girls Club director