Letters to the editor
Thanks, Mrs. Gillhouse!
Long before there was Glee on TV, there was Mrs. Cathy Gillhouse and the Ronan High School Show Choir, a Ronan tradition that has been influencing lives and bringing entertainment to the valley for over 30 years.
My family moved here when I started sixth grade. That spring, I was able to be a server at the Show Choir’s Cabaret. I thought it was just about the coolest thing ever. I looked up to those high school performers like they were rock stars. I knew that I wanted to be on that stage someday.
Three years later, I was up there singing and dancing. We learned many things from Mrs. Gillhouse. She taught us about music and performing, but more importantly, she modeled respect for diversity and showed us how to get along. Show Choir was a place for everyone willing to work through the audition and rehearsal process. We had scholars, jocks, nerds, native and non-native, straight and gay alike from each of the high school classes. Few other school groups are that inclusive and work that well.
Show Choir was not only about rehearsals and performances and teamwork, it was also about firsts for many of us—first time seeing the ocean, first Broadway play, first trip to Disneyland, first trip out of state, even a first trip out of the country (one year she took our whole group to Edmonton, Alberta Canada). Mrs. Gillhouse was willing to lead 35 high schoolers around the state and nation on friendship tours, performing everywhere from the tiniest nursing homes to Dodger Stadium.
She built a reputation that opened doors and gave us incredible opportunities.
I was out of state and unable to attend this year’s Cabaret. I cannot believe that it was Mrs. Gillhouse’s last Cabaret. She will be missed in the years to come, but she has left a legacy for the entire community.
I wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank Mrs. Gillhouse for her years of work and dedication to the Ronan schools. As she enters retirement, I hope she will remember that, “Life is a Cabaret, old chum, Only a Cabaret, old chum, and I love a Cabaret!”
Joelfre Grant
Ronan
Thank you
Area VI Agency on Aging would like to thank Polson Community Bank for graciously hosting the Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes these past six weeks. We were able to meet in their lovely meeting facility and also were provided with refreshments each week.
Thanks so much for helping us support local caregivers, who are taking care of family and friends in our community.
Jane Morton
Polson
Cleaning up
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the Clean-up Green-up event in Polson. There were a fair number of people who braved the elements on Saturday morning to get the cleanup started. Due to the weather, cleanup was suspended until Sunday afternoon which brought out a larger crowd of volunteers.
The Polson Business Association had its sidewalk clean-up on Sunday with the street sweeper coming along on Monday. Other groups that participated were: Key Club, Kiwanis Club, Masumola Club, Finley Pt. group, Jette Store, Lions Club and many other volunteers. At the end of Sunday, a gathering at the Glacier Brewery for burgers grilled by Lou Marchello was a great success. John Campbell’s ward won the “Best Participation” award.
Sponsors included were: Alpine Landscaping, Ace Hardware, Allied Waste Services, City of Polson, Carla Buffington, Community Bank, Delaney’s Landscape Center, Glacier Brewing company, Penny Jarecki, Masumola Club, Dorene Parise, Polson Chamber of Commerce and Agnes Rinehart. Thank you to all.
Curbside pickup of yard waste by the City of Polson will be May 18, noon-5 p.m.
Dorene Parise
Polson
Corporate influence
Regards Carol Cummings claim (Lake County Leader, May 10, 2012) that Senator Jon Tester was dishonest in accusing Denny Rehberg of pay raises and using a tax-payer-funded SUV, I think she overlooked a critical point.
In the ad in question, Jon Tester does not accuse Denny Rehberg of the above activities. In fact, Jon Tester is neither part of the ad nor does he have anything to do with it. The ad was produced by one of the many PACs that are operating behind the scenes for both parties.
Thanks to a terrible 5-4 decision by the conservative Supreme Court, which expanded corporate influence in elections, these groups now operate with little accountability and plenty of money. If Ms. Cummings is concerned about honesty, she might want to join the nationwide and Montana efforts to repeal this decision. At the same time she might question why the Lake County Republican Central Committee joined Citizen’s United in a lawsuit against the state of Montana in their effort to outlaw such campaign influence.
Kirwin Werner
Ronan
Thoughtful and informed
With the primary election nearly here (June 5), and with numerous great candidates on the ballot, I wish to applaud and recommend the electorate support of incumbent Senator Carmine Mowbray, Montana District 6 candidate. Sen. Mowbray was appointed to the position following the resignation of incumbent, John Bruggeman.
Because Sen. Mowbray was seated after the last legislative session, she had to “learn the ropes” quickly and on her own. She did so rapidly and, from my own observations, comfortably fitted in with the veteran lawmakers.
Full disclosure: Carmine was my employer for a number of years at the Lake County Leader. I have also worked closely with her in aviation matters, including as her flight-instructor. As an employer, I found the incumbent senator one of most thoughtful and informed people I know. Further, while exacting, she was also one of more compassionate bosses I’ve had. Senator Mowbray understands the business private sector and has the crucial understanding of individual rights and the U.S. Constitution.
Carmine Mowbray has served Senate District 6 constituents well — both in and out of office.
Glenn Timm
Polson
Go, Carmine
We have become desensitized to the virulent political speech that blasts us from the national and state level, but when it comes to the local level about folks I know, I take offense.
I know Carmine Mowbray. She was my neighbor for close to 20 years. I was invited to her children’s outdoor summer plays, concerts and home grown projects. When I was called away for professional duties outside of teaching, Carmine substituted for me. I saw the positive parent, community member and leader she has been throughout her time in Polson. I trust her completely.
I respect Carmine. I did not always agree with her educational stances, but as our community leader and as our senator, I watched her grow and become a positive force serving all of Montana. I know that Carmine will listen when I talk with her about my concerns. She is a true public servant looking out for the best interests of all of her constituents.
The distortions and misrepresentations of facts from “Friends of Janna Taylor” reek of dirty politics. Hopefully, local candidates, especially those from the same party, would be above attempts to eviscerate each other. Apparently not.
I know who gets my vote. Go, Carmine!
Judie Woodhouse
Polson
Mowbray supporter
A recently mailed political hit piece on Senator Carmine Mowbray caught my eye as I was leafing through the daily deluge of these mailings. To back this up a little, Ms. Mowbray voted “No” on HB456, which (had it passed) would have contradicted our Montana Constitution and taken away local control of school curriculum, then leaving the door wide open to eventual takeover of the Montana educational system to whichever political philosophy was in power at the time, possibly even Planned Parenthood. Most know Planned Parenthood for what it is, so we won’t go into that here and now, but this possibility is a legitimate factor.
Ms. Mowbray’s opponent has had to stretch and skew the truth in order to attack our current senator. We as voters are receiving “surveys” and attack mailings with wildly false claims that our schools (for one) include sexual details in kindergarten classes. Rubbish!
Mowbray, the mother of four children, had researched our sex ed curriculum and found that claim to be patently false! I know Ms. Mowbray – an intelligent, caring, conservative minded person – who would never take a position so totally off the wall as is stated in the mailed leaflet you readers in her district must have also received in your mailbox of late. This area, Senate District 6, includes the west of Flathead County and much of Lake County.
Her response can be read here: “Thank you for your confidence and support after the recent attacks on my campaign. You deserve integrity and it’s sad when someone manipulates facts to try to get votes. I prefer to rely on my experience and qualifications to earn your vote in this important primary election. Parent of four, traditional family values, 38 years in Montana business. I follow the Constitution. You, as voters recognize hard work, ethics, dedication and the will to serve and I ask for your vote on June 5 to continue serving you in the Montana Senate.”
Thank you in advance for also backing senator Carmine Mowbray for re-election to her state senate seat. She truly does deserve our confidence, and will continue giving the voters 100 percent as she represents us in Helena. I am a Mowbray supporter.
Will Elliott
Polson
Facts, not rumors
As a nurse and teacher in middle and high school health classes for Polson Schools, I would like to clarify information regarding the Montana Family Foundation and their claim of “teaching sexual details” in our schools. Teaching health education is an essential yet often difficult component of a school nurse’s day. From kindergarten through high school, elemental life processes are taught, emphasizing healthy choices. We do not, as the foundation would have you believe, promote any agency’s agenda and make every attempt to teach details that are within each child’s grasp.
As children age, their needs for evolving information grows with them. Our health education programs teach students attributes of their changing bodies at age and developmentally appropriate times with parental participation encouraged at each level. Parents are able to either audit information prior to class or opt their child out of said classes for any reason.
We, as health professionals, attempt to educate students on a diverse array of topics to encourage healthy choices that we hope will last a lifetime. We live in a world that offers children many opportunities to make harmful choices. Please be involved in your child’s education and be careful, especially in this politically charged atmosphere, to do your homework, seeking facts rather than rumors.
Amy Nelson Knutson, R.N.
Polson
Support Ken Miller
When I look for important and necessary qualities for a candidate to be the Montana Governor, I find them in Ken Miller. My first favorable impression was his knowledge of the Montana and U.S. Constitution. I have listened to him speak over the past two years and am also impressed with his knowledge of the Montana government procedures and the details relating to all the issues facing the state. He has said that because of his total life experiences, it has made him ready to become governor at this critical time. One very important decision he has already made is choosing Bill Gallagher for his running mate. Please support Ken Miller for Governor.
Andrew Speer
Polson
Fear and greed
Most of us do not like it when one person controls things, controls our actions, blocks us and holds power over our heads. But an interesting psychological phenomenon takes place even in such rather blatant abuses of our freedom to make our own choices.
Case in point: Grover Norquist’s hold over the Republican members of Congress. His power and reach are awesome. His ability to control the party politics is unchallenged. Here is the ‘psychological phenomenon’ I mentioned: Even though the facts known to individual Republican members of Congress do not square with Norquist’s beliefs and agenda, because these members of Congress believe so firmly in their party, they allow themselves to be ruled, controlled and bullied by one man.
There is a psychological term for this: “Cognitive dissonance,” and it is the psychological experience of having to hold inconsistent ideas in one’s head. Now the most interesting thing about all this is that people choose, over and over again, political loyalty over facts, even when they will be hurt by it.
Amazing, right? But it is a fact. And I bring this up as an example of just one more of the many effects and problems within our present political system operating out of fear and greed. The only answer to a mindset of fear and greed is a change of mind. No legislation, rules, laws or judicial decisions will change individual mindsets. It is an inside job.
So, what is the bottom line as I see it? Until each of us is willing to look at ourselves and our mindsets honestly and with clarity, are willing to make mind-changes as needed and then act accordingly in our daily lives and relationships, we will continue as a nation to flounder within the fear and greed mentality.
The opposite of fear is love. The opposite of greed is generosity. The picture seems clear to me.
Bob McClellan
Polson
Good vs. evil
One thing alot of people who don’t read or study the Holy Bible and it’s Other Testaments don’t understand is that the scriptures make it very clear that many are called but few are chosen. The scriptures also tell us that there will be very few who will find the way and endure to the end.
Christianity is growing. The church of Christ is growing. The Body of believers is growing. Finally we in this election have a true God fearing, family oriented man who has actually worked his whole life and has been faithful and true to his God (Jesus Christ) his family, his wife and his country. He is no pretender with any aims other than to secure the freedom and liberty of our country for all of it’s legal citizens. We must get behind and support wholeheartedly Mitt Romney.
This is literally becoming a choice between good and evil. Obama is a lier! His administration is fraught with scandal and corruption. He tells everybody what they want to hear and panders to money in any form and from any source. He is no Christian. To even say his name and Christian in the same text is an abomination. Once again the scriptures tell us that you will know a believer and a true follower of Christ by the fruit that they bare.
He makes empty promises and has no intention of keeping us a Christian free nation. He is a radical Islamist to the bone. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing and will stop at nothing to make us worse than a third world nation. He is totally in bed with Jihadists and the Muslim Brotherhood. Not to mention all of the Marxists he hired on his staff.
I challenge all of you that consider yourself a christian, to sincerely pray and ask God to tell you who is the best for America. Romney is a Christian. Mormons are Christians. You have a doubt call me and ask me. I will be glad to tell you what we believe. “ The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”
James Pettit
Ronan
Tax exemptions
Here is an issue of vital importance to those of us owning property in the Flathead. I am a property owner on the west shore of Flathead Lake and I realize there are agricultural tax exemptions available to legitimate cherry producers.
It is a matter of public record that Representative Janna Taylor owns 15 acres including 660’ of Flathead Lake shore property near Rollins for which she pays $19 annual property tax, plus a little over $2,000 for the improvements on the land – house, dock and outbuildings. Her taxable value is $400,031.
We own 4.87 acres with 180’ of lakeshore with two older houses and a mobile home. Our taxable value is $1,064,136.
Ms. Taylor is a state legislator, entrusted to fairly serve her district. She lists “rancher” on her biographical information, but their ranch is in central Montana, far from this legislative district. I have not seen “cherry farmer” on any of her information. One could conclude that she is taking advantage of the agricultural exemption, and I find this disturbing.
I also see they received $1,017,491 from 1995 to 2009 from the federal government in farm subsidies.
Perhaps it’s time to retire Taylor from politics as she is trying to unseat incumbent Senator Carmine Mowbray from Polson in the June 5 primary elections.
I am addressing the state tax issue in a separate letter to Montana Department of Revenue Director Dan Bucks.
Anne Marie Semsak
Big Arm