Why didn’t hospital help woman?
In response to the article titled, “Report criticizes handling of inmate” (Missoulian, Nov. ), I have to respond.
In the article, it states, and I quote, “Adele was arrested late on July 1, 2006, for a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, which carries a bail amount of $100. She was initially arrested at St. Patrick Hospital after falling into a dispute with emergency room personnel who refused to treat her.”
Sure, the county will probably resolve this out of court, but why not go after the professional medical personnel and St. Patrick’s Hospital, who were the original point of contact? Call me stupid, but there is something totally wrong with going after the second party when the first party should be trained to notice this condition.
Missoula County detention officers don’t have the professional medical training that St. Patrick’s Hospital staff should have, other than basic first aid. So guess who is going to pay the civil lawsuit? Mr. Joe Sap Taxpayer, you and me. And it’s great that we have nonprofit lawyers investigating this situation - but we don’t have doctors diagnosing this situation that could have helped this woman.
D.R. Schuler, Missoula
Proposal will provide opportunities
I am writing to support the development of the proposed Bitterroot Resort. I believe that organized, maintained public access to our forests is a privilege that should be accessible to residents of the Bitterroot Valley as well as visitors to our area.
For several years, I lived in Squamish, B.C. - a community that bills itself as the “outdoor recreation capital of Canada.” In Squamish, there are hundreds of miles of mapped and maintained trails that are open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and other users. There is also spectacular skiing 30 minutes’ drive north in Whistler.
Squamish is a vibrant community where the local children and youth (including a large Native Canadian population) find some identity in their recreation skills and fitness, rather than alcohol, drugs or video games. There are also tremendous employment opportunities for young adults in the local recreation industries.
When my family and I moved to Hamilton four years ago, I was disappointed to find scant development of trail systems on public land. There are plenty of epic backcountry treks available, but not local networks accessible to kids on their bicycles. Tom Maclay’s vision of a year-round resort would provide opportunities for both children and adults to access safe, maintained trails. It would also create hundreds of needed jobs, both part- and full-time. I funded my nursing degree partially through work on local resorts and believe that the customer service experience has made me a better caregiver.
Please accept Maclay’s proposal. As a motorized and nonmotorized backcountry user, I agree completely that parts of the forest must be left undeveloped and with limited access. However, I also believe that public access to our forests is a right of all Americans and one of the privileges of living in our great country.
Lisa Hill, Hamilton
Latest approval step in right direction
I am writing in response to the great news that the Bitterroot Resort passed through another hoop in the voyage to establishing the Bitterroot Resort (Missoulian, “Bitterroot Resort given initial OK,” Nov. 12).
Being a Missoulian and a future mother, I am very excited for this project to come to our area. I feel that the opportunities for recreation will be extremely beneficial to the surrounding communities in providing a fun outdoor recreational place to have fun biking, hiking, skiing and enjoying beautiful Montana. Also, I am excited to see this project come to fruition as I know it will bring more jobs to our area, more tourism, and thus better our economy.
Yay to another step in the right direction!
Kate Ward, Missoula
NRA’s job is to defend right to bear arms
In his recent column (Nov. 12), former Rep. Pat Williams was unjustly critical of the National Rifle Association.
Let me start by thanking Williams for his service and for understanding that all forms of gun control levied on law-abiding citizens have no effect on criminals. However, to pat himself on the back for upholding the Second Amendment is somewhat disingenuous - is it not the sworn duty of a congressman to uphold the Constitution?
While as an American I support President-elect Barack Obama’s record regarding the Second Amendment is terrible. Maybe because of his political shrewdness and wish to be successful, he will be pragmatic and not govern to the left. But he owes a lot of debt to many left-wing groups and legislators, most of whom are anti-gun.
Contrary to Williams’ statement, it is not the mission of the NRA to improve habitat. While we support hunting and conservation, the mission of the NRA is to promote marksmanship and defend the Second Amendment. While there are many fine conservation groups, only the NRA is devoted to uphold our right to own and use firearms responsibly.
Yes, Williams, it would be nice to have (our grandfathers’) NRA budget devoted to shooting sports and not have to spend money fighting the anti-gun crowd. Maybe with your political savvy you could get the left wing of your party to abandon anti-gun legislation.
I might add that Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, and Gov. Brian Schweitzer, have been exceptional in their support of the Second Amendment.
Terry Kien, Missoula
Obama, Democrats must act now
The time to take significant action on the global climate crisis is now. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that evidence of global warming is “unequivocal.” Barack Obama, as our nation’s president-elect, and the new Democratic majority in both the U.S. House and Senate enable the bill proposed by House Democrats to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
80 percent to become a reality. What steps must we take to accomplish this vital goal?
First there must be massive investment incentives for renewable energies such as wind, solar and geothermal. By using these industries we will not only reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and create thousands of new jobs, we will also lessen our dependence on foreign oil. A second step in the right direction is the improvement of Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, if we raise CAFE standards by 5 percent annually for 10 years and 3 percent thereafter, we will improve fuel economies to 50 mpg by 2020. A third step is to embark on a national campaign to improve building code standards. The best model is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, which include constructing buildings with better insulation and energy-efficient windows and lighting.
These are only three of many steps that must be taken to confront global warming when the new administration takes power in January. However, it is immediately necessary that we citizens encourage Obama to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland this December. This is an ideal situation for our nation to commit to a global initiative to confront the threat of climate change, and prove that the United States is willing to cooperate with the global community on a solution to this urgent crisis.
Ruston Mitchell, Missoula
Stop using bullets that contain lead
While stopped at the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River on Alternate 89 in northern Arizona, I met a researcher who was monitoring the condors that were reintroduced there.
Much to my surprise, he told me that the primary threat to the birds was lead poisoning. Condors eat only carrion and are exposed to lead when they eat an animal, or parts of an animal, which has been shot by a bullet containing lead.
Years ago, lead was banned from shotgun shells used to hunt migratory waterfowl because of the damage it did to those birds when ingested during feeding. Now we learn that lead is poisoning grizzly bears in the Yellowstone ecosystem and, I would submit, poisoning all types of animals everywhere who feed on other animals killed by lead-containing bullets. This is unnecessary, especially since there is an easy fix available.
Since I learned of the problem, I have been using solid brass bullets with very good results. Even better results than with lead-containing bullets. So I would encourage all hunters to act responsibly - yet again - and stop using lead-containing bullets in favor of all-brass bullets. This simple act will help protect the animals and environment we all respect and treasure.
Earl Owens, Missoula
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