It takes a community to raise healthy, well-informed children. Our community includes involved families, caring and qualified teachers, and community mentors...

Levy amount shows fiscal responsibility

On May 20, patrons of Mountain View School District #244 will have the opportunity to show their support for education. The school board has proposed a supplemental levy of 1.6 million dollars. This is a minimal increase from the 1.5 million we passed last year. I commend the school board for their willingness to consider public input in the process of deciding the levy amount. With a substantial increase in the cost of living, I feel that this levy amount demonstrates the board’s commitment to exercise fiscal responsibility and restraint...

Invest in your community

Wow! It's levy time again for School District 244. Do you know why we need this levy? Our state taxes don't provide enough money to fund our schools. In the past the district relied on federal dollars that came from timber cutting on the national forests...

Worthwhile investment

Let’s make a worthwhile investment in the future – our children. The property tax levy request for District 244’s operation is less than last year. The 2008-2009 levy will support valuable staff that work with our children, including counselors, a nurse, and classroom teachers. It will also support sports and activities that provide opportunities for children to learn and practice life skills...

Momma knows who to vote for

I just talked with your momma and she said to go ahead and endorse Doug Giddings for sheriff for Idaho County. He’s a good guy, very personable, very qualified, and has a heart to serve. Doug Giddings deserves to be sheriff of Idaho County, and the residents of Idaho County deserve Doug Giddings...

Judges should have term limits

There should be term limits on judges. When you are a judge for 20-30 years because you are unable to advance because of inexperience or lack of job qualifications...

Vote Yes on the levy

With the dwindling federal and state funding to our schools, like it or not, the burden lies on us to supplement the growing deficit in funding. Many arguments can and have been made against funding the school district with a supplemental levy, however, these are becoming less and less applicable as time and circumstances change...

Read these letters in their entirety in the May 8, 2008 issue of The Clearwater Progress.

Would you like to voice your opinion on an issue? Please view our editorial policy here, then submit your Letter to the Editor by clicking here.

All I Have to Say

Today is the second best time to do...anything

By Ben Jorgensen

The Clearwater Progress editor

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

The Chinese proverb above is as true for growing a community as it is for planting trees.

But how does such wisdom apply to our community?

The City of Kamiah and Chamber of Commerce along with the Upper Clearwater Community Foundation recently invited a handful of professionals from across the state to visit town. They looked at what works, what is broken, and what potential has yet to be tapped.

Read the rest of this editorial in the May 8, 2008 issue of The Clearwater Progress.

Guest Editorial

Give students the best education we can afford

By Joy Lee

Mountain View School Dist. #244 representative

Well, we are back to that dreaded word again. “LEVY”. None of us like it, but it has been a fact of life in most communities for decades. As a resident of Kooskia, as well as your representative on the board of Mountain View School District #244, I know how hard it is to think of levies as being a part of our budget every year. But, I feel that our children are the future of our town as well as every town around us.

Read the rest of this editorial in the May 8, 2008 issue of The Clearwater Progress.

News Around the Region

#171 voters to decide $1.5 million levy

OROFINO - School District #171 board of trustees will ask voters to pass a $1,490,000 supplemental levy in an election May 20. Polls will be open at the Pierce, Weippe, Peck and Orofino elementary schools, Cavendish-Teakean School, United States Forest Service building on Hwy 12 and Orofino Junior High School.

-- Clearwater Tribune

Hospital wine tasting raises $4,000

OROFINO - The Clearwater Valley Hospital 34^th Annual Wine Tasting attracted close to 175 guests and netted over $4,000 to provide camper scholarships to CVHC’s pediatric patients with diabetes. Two of the past scholarship recipients, Mariah Cunningham and Sarah Stemrich, worked in the kitchen helping prepare and serve food at this year’s event.

“The summer camp makes a world of difference to Mariah and each of the campers because they all have something in common and, for once, they are like everyone else rather than being singled out as someone different,” said Mariah’s mom, Shirley Cunningham who also volunteered along with Sarah’s mom, Betsy Stemrich.

The Annual Wine Tasting, held the last Friday in April for the past 34 years, is sponsored by the CVHC Auxiliary and Foundation.

-- Clearwater Tribune

Sandpoint to host GOP convention

SANDPOINT -- Sandpoint will be the GOP capital of Idaho this June when more than 1,000 Republicans travel to the city for the 2008 Idaho Republican party state convention.

The event, which begins on June 12 at the Bonner County fair grounds, will host many of the state’s top Republicans, including Gov. C.L “Butch” Otter and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

Nearly 300 county delegates, 300 more alternates, their spouses and an assortment of party officials will gather with the goal of selecting Idaho’s 32 delegates and 32 alternates for the party’s national convention in Minneapolis, Minn., in September. Eighty percent of the delegates will automatically be designated in proportion to the results of Idaho’s May 27 presidential primary vote, with the final 20 percent — save three spots held for party officials — chosen by district representatives, said Verna Brady, chair of the Bonner County Republican Committee.

For information about how to volunteer for the convention, contact Brady at (208) 263-6307, and for information about reserving tickets to the event, contact the GOP state headquarters at (208) 343-6405.

-- Bonner County Daily Bee

Wolf problems?

The following list of numbers is offered for anyone who experiences problems with wolves.

Suspected Livestock Predation

Call USDA Wildlife Services, 1-866487-3297 or contact Justin Mann, local Wildlife Specialist at 208-869-3297. Personnel will be dispatched to investigate.

Frequent Wolf Sightings

Contact the Nez Perce Tribe, Curt Mack at 208-634-1060. They will gather and record information, then provide advice.

Report Sighting of a Wolf

Go to Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game website to fill-out a wolf report form—http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/wolves/

Health and Human Safety Concerns

A wolf may be killed if life and human safety is at risk. Contact Idaho Fish & Game at 208-799-5010 or call Nez Perce Tribe at 208-634-1061 or 911 Sheriff dispatch. All wolf kills will be investigated.

Editorial Policy: Letters to the Editor may be up to 250 words in length. A handwritten signature (unless emailed), address and telephone number must be included. Letters must be received by no later than Monday at noon. Letters should pertain to a local issue and not be libelous or distasteful. Letters may be edited for content and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Clearwater Progress.