Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913

Letters to the Editor

More Criticism for the Critic

I’m deeply saddened by the critic’s article about “Steel Magnolias” printed in the Courier. I drove from Havre with my family to support the Fort Peck Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 29, and I’m so happy we didn’t read the article before we came. All of us we very entertained and thought that the play was wonderful. All of the actresses did a fabulous job and brought laughter and tears to the whole audience, the few that attended, that night. I believe the critic’s review probably harmed the attendance, what a shame. I have acted in and attended many plays at the Montana Actors' Theatre in Havre and I have never seen anything but positive reviews from our local newspaper, as it should be. As a long-time financial supporter of the Fort Peck Theatre, I am appalled that a local newspaper would discourage people from coming to their local theater by printing such a negative article. Maybe the answer to the article is the author get involved with one of the productions next season to see firsthand the hard work and dedication that goes into each play.

Cheers and thank you to the Fort Peck Theatre, directors, actors, set designers, costume designers, board members and community who put the love, passion and time into bringing wonderful entertainment to all who attend.

– Darren Overlie

Havre, MT

Open Letter

to BLM

Dear Mr. Rhodes,

As bison ranchers for 23 years, we would like to comment on the APR’s proposal to tear out their interior fences and let bison graze all year long, apparently without grazing management of any kind.

As we suspect you are aware, it is a myth that bison do not overgraze their habitat. They have preferred plants, must like any species, and they will hit the same plants over and over, until those plants are severely damaged or gone.

Let us give you a personal example: When we first started raising bison, we adopted the “free-ranging” ideal. We had a small herd of 200 bison on 11,000 acres of diverse habitat, ranging from creek bottoms to pine-covered foothills – about 5,200-6,400 feet elevation. We did not supplement with mineral tubs, because we had been told by other “knowledgeable” ranchers that with that amount of ecologically diverse habitat our herd would find the mineral it needed naturally.

After about five years of such misguided management, we noted that the Indian paintbrush was almost gone. The bison were hitting all the selenium concentrators, and using them heavily, because they could not find enough selenium in the environment. Once we started adding mineral tubs and using rotational grazing, the problem ceased. The bison were healthier and the plants were healthier.

Even a small herd amid vast acreage will overgraze the grasses, brush, and forbs they need or prefer. In fact, one of the ways you can tell a herd has a manifest parasite problem or sickness is when you find them remaining stationary in specific areas filled with medicinal plants. The plants in such situations suffer greatly.

The BLM has always taken grazing management on public lands seriously; please do not stop now solely because “free-ranging” mania has swept the country.

If we can be of any assistance to you in this matter, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

– W. Michael Gear

and Kathleen O’Neal Gear

Red Canyon Buffalo Ranch

Thermopolis, Wyo.

 

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