() Photo by Steve Allison

 

Wednesday, Mar. 10

Council passes first reading of cell phone ban
By Elaine Forman
The Miles City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance banning handheld cell phone and two-way radio use while driving, by a vote of 4-2 Tuesday night in City Hall.
It now goes to the Public Safety Committee for review and returns on the council agenda on March 23 for a public hearing and a final vote.
The ordinance deals with calls, messages, texting and internet use. Hands-free communication is allowed.
Law enforcement and other emergency responders, as well as operators of governmental transportation and public works vehicles, will be exempt when on duty or acting in their official capacity. Also exempt are those people calling 911 or other public safety forces, or those using phones and radios while the vehicle is parked and not in gear.
The penalty would be $50 on first conviction, $100 for second conviction, $200 for third time and a fine not to exceed $500 for any conviction after the third time.
Voting in favor of Ordinance No. 1196 were Bill Melnik, John Uden, Mark Ahner and Tony Ackerman. Leroy Meidinger and Arvid Ronning opposed the ordinance. Leif Ronning and Jerry Partridge were absent.
Uden, whose effort brought the ordinance to the council, said he’s personally seen a number of Lincoln School students nearly hit by someone on a cell phone.
He reasoned that, since high school students can’t text or use cell phones in school, as soon as school gets out they get in their cars, take off and start texting.
Uden noted the large percentage of drivers using cell phones and asked, “Is it so inconvenient for people to pull off and take the call?”
He stressed the people, especially children, who are put at risk by pre-occupied drivers.
Ahner said he was behind one girl talking on a cell phone while driving. He watched as she ran a red light while driving. He knew the girl and told her later, and she was adamant she hadn’t.
Arvid Ronning objected to the ordinance.
“Basically, what you’re doing is shutting down all taxi cabs, all utility divisions, all trucking companies and all contractors from using their radios,” he said.
“I have no problem with shutting off cell phones. I have a problem with shutting off two-way radios,” Ronning added later.
In his 30 years working on fires for the Department of Natural Resource and Conservation, Ahner used two-way radios, and he doesn’t think it would have been “inappropriate” to have pulled over to use it.
According to Ahner, originally the ordinance did not include two-way radios, but in a memo City Attorney George Huss said he felt it would be seen as discriminatory that someone could visit on a two-way radio but not a cell phone.
Spencer Jarrett of Jarrett Construction said he uses two-way radios while taking wide loads through town to increase the safety factor.
Police Chief Doug Colombik said that the officers will show some flexiblility with heavy equipment loads.
People had several comments about police officers using cell phones on duty.
Ronning objected to police officers using cell phones for private calls while driving on duty.
“I have personally seen police officers going down the street, making turns without signaling, talking on their cell phones,” he said, adding that they are as much a risk as the general public.
“I almost got hit by a police officer on a cell phone,” Ahner said.
Chief Colombik had talked with the officers about cell phone use, and Ahner said he has noticed “a greatly diminished use of cell phones” by police in the last six weeks.
Ahner said some studies show that the probability of having an accident while using a cell phone is higher than driving while intoxicated, and for people to drive intoxicated and use a cell phone the risk goes up substantially.
“Make no mistake about it, we are legislating behavior,” Ackerman said, stressing he is against that, but he feels that in this case it is called for, similar to drunk driving laws, because “we are protecting others from the irresponsible behavior of a few.”
Chief Colombik said, “Not everyone on a cell phone will be pulled over, and not everyone pulled over will get a ticket.”
In other citizens’ comments on the proposed ban:
— Doug Martin noted that there already are violations drivers can be cited with if driving recklessly. He said a new ordinance is not needed. He referred to a study that looked at high population areas that have banned cell phones and could find no proof it reduced accidents.
— In 2004 Antonia Klein was broadsided in Billings by a distracted driver on a cell phone who ran a red light going 65 mph in a 25 mph zone. She credited being in a Land Rover for saving her life. She did suffer many fractures, a blood clot, a detached retina, and other injuries.
“There is no reason for using a cell phone while driving,” she said.
— Deb Shaw supported the ordinance, saying, “It’s a very good idea.” She asked if there is more that could be done on a state level or in drivers’ training classes to stop kids from texting while driving.
— Rock Wankel supported allowing large trucks to use the radios for safety reasons.

 

Tuesday, Mar. 9

Deadline to file for county, state offices
By Elaine Forman
The election filing deadline for county and state offices ends at 5 p.m. Monday, and many candidates have filed for the positions.
In Senate District 20, Carol Lambert of Broadus, John Laney of Miles City and Frederick “Eric” Moore have filed. All are Republicans.
No one has filed in Senate District 22.
In Senate District 23, Kathy Galbreath of Roundup, Mark Noennig of Billings and Alan Olson of Roundup are running. All are Republicans.
In House District 39, Republican Jesse Barnhart of Broadus, Democrat Cody W. (C.W.) Drew of Circle and Republican incumbent Lee Randall of Broadus filed.
Incumbents Bill McChesney (House District 40), D-Miles City, Republican Duane Ankney (House District 43) and Republican Tom Berry (House District 45) have faced no opposition so far.
Filing for county seats are:
- For County Commission Dist. 1: Vicki Hamilton, former commissioner Duane Mathison, former mayor Mike Metzenberg and Jack Raymond.
- For County Commission Dist. 2: Incumbent Milo Huber, Keith Holmlund and Jack Larson.
- For Clerk and Recorder: Linda Corbett and Jennifer Haddock.
The following incumbents are the only ones who have filed for their positions: County Attorney Wyatt Glade, Justice Court Judge Don Neese, Sheriff/Coroner Tony Harbaugh, Superintendent of Schools Doug Ellingson, Treasurer/Assessor Carol Bean and Public Administrator Amber Trenka.
In a press release, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch said that, as of Monday, 274 candidates have filed for both legislative and non-legislative races.
“Voting and running for public office are two of our most fundamental rights as citizens of this great state,” she said. “The steady number of candidates filings indicate 2010 is going to be a strong election year.”
For a complete list of candidates and eligible offices, log on to her Web site at sos.mt.gov. This list is updated throughout the day.
Candidates may file electronically through the Secretary of State’s online candidate filing service, in person at her office, by mail or by FAX. Forms must be received by Monday’s deadline.
Those interested in running for a county office may inquire at the clerk and recorder’s office at the Custer County Courthouse.
The deadline for write-ins will be April 30.
The primary election will be held June 8.

Monday, Mar. 8

Cell phone ban for drivers on agenda
By Elaine Forman
Banning drivers from using cell phones while operating their vehicles is on the agenda of the Miles City Council’s Tuesday meeting at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
The action concerns the proposed Ordinance No. 1196, which outlines the exceptions and the penalties that could be imposed.
According to the ordinance, banned would be “handheld cellular telephones and other voice and electronic communication devices by vehicle operators while the vehicle is in motion.” It notes that this practice “constitutes an unreasonable distraction to the vehicle operator.”
The ordinance states that the distractions cause a hazard and increase the potential for accidents.
It defines “mobile communication device” as a text messaging device or a wireless, two-way communication device designed to receive and transmit voice or text communication which includes talking or listening on a mobile communications device, text messaging, sending, reading or listening to an electronic message, or browsing the internet via the mobile communications device.
The exceptions are law enforcement and other emergency responders; operators of governmental transportation and public works vehicles, when on duty or acting in their official capacity; or those people who use a mobile communications device by means of a hands-free device; using a device to call 911 or other emergency numbers to contact public safety forces; or using it while the vehicle is parked and not in gear.
The penalty would be $50 on first conviction, $100 for second conviction, $200 for a third time, and a fine not to exceed $500 for any conviction after the third time.
The ordinance calls for signs to be put up giving notice that the ordinance is in effect.
The signs will be on the city limits line at the Tongue River bridges on Main Street and on Pacific Street, on the Yellowstone River bridge on Highway 59 North, on South Haynes Avenue, on South Strevell Avenue and on Valley Drive East.
If the proposed ordinance passes both readings (on March 9 and 23), it will go into effect 30 days following the March 23 vote. A public hearing will be held on March 23 if the ordinance passes the March 9 vote.

Friday, Mar. 8

Group works to restart ride program
By Amanda Breitbach Ragsdale
Organizations, businesses and individuals interested in helping restart a program that offers senior citizens free rides from Miles City to Billings for medical appointments are invited to a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday, March 9, at 8 a.m. at Eastern Montana Industries.
Kindra Bragg, coordinator for the Custer County Council on Aging, which operated the ride program before its suspension last month, said it is a valuable service to area residents, and the council hopes to work with other organizations to have it back in place by July.
The program was started in January 2009 as a grant-funded pilot project offering rides on demand to people over 60, she explained. The council worked with volunteer drivers from the local Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and rented cars – provided at cost by Frank’s Body Shop – to arrange an average of 10 rides per month.
Bragg estimated that 100 people used the service over the past year, at a cost of about $100 per trip for car rentals and fuel.
Between July and December of last year, volunteers made 53 trips from Miles City to Billings, serving 36 unduplicated seniors.
According to figures provided by RSVP Director Betty Vail, in that six-month period eight RSVP volunteers donated 378 hours of their time.
“Our volunteers want to do that,” Vail said. “We realize the importance of the program and definitely feel that it’s a necessity. It helps the seniors in our community maintain their independence.”
Despite the help of local volunteers and discounted rental rates, one-time grant money available for the program ran out in February and the service was suspended.
“We didn’t realize it would happen this soon,” said Bragg.
Bertha Kowis, who will turn 94 this month, has to go to Billings every three months to get shots for a bad back.
While she does have a daughter in town who helps her run errands and go grocery shopping, Kowis used the transportation service for her medical trips.
“They were real good to us,” she said. “(The drivers) come right to the door and pick you up.”
Kowis heard about the service through RSVP. Still a member, she had to give up volunteering at Saint Vincent DePaul Thrift Store when the pain in her back became too severe.
She enjoyed the convenience of the transportation service and made a point of donating something to the program each time she used it.
“I’ll do anything I can to get it back ... It was wonderful,” Kowis said.
Jim Minette, 63, has volunteered as a driver for the program for almost a year.
“Some of these people that have to go there ... they just don’t have anybody to drive them,” he said.
As a driver, Minette provided rides for people with all kinds of medical appointments.
Once he had to leave Miles City at 5 a.m. because a client had a surgical procedure planned in Billings at 8 a.m., and sometimes people with scheduled appointments in Billings used the service after their own vehicles broke down.
He, himself, once used the service to get to an eye appointment because he couldn’t drive afterward.
“It’s one of the best programs that I’ve come across,” Minette concluded. “I can’t say enough about it.”
Volunteer drivers and users of the service hoped to attend Tuesday’s meeting to convince local leaders of the ride program’s importance.
Restarting the program needs to be a community effort, Bragg said, and donations of any kind can help.

 

Thursday, Mar. 4

Emergency preparedness session set
By Amanda Breitbach Ragsdale
Members of the Citizen Corps Council of Custer County will host an interactive emergency preparedness session based on the Map Your Neighborhood program on Thursday, March 18, at Miles Community College room 106.
Map Your Neighborhood is designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters of all kinds, explained Glady Turnquist, who will host the session along with her husband, Allan.
Participants will learn nine steps to take immediately following a disaster to secure their homes and protect their neighborhoods, identify the skills and equipment each neighbor has that could be useful in disaster response, create a neighborhood map identifying the locations of natural gas and propane tanks for quick response if needed, and create a contact list that helps identify those with specific needs such as elderly or disabled people or children who may be home alone during certain hours of the day.
“It’s just neighbor helping neighbor is what it’s about,” Turnquist said.
Although they have hosted Map Your Neighborhood sessions in Miles City before, the Turnquists are taking a different approach this time, inviting individuals who have attended before and new attendees alike to come and bring their neighbors with them.
“We are encouraging all people who are trained and people who haven’t been trained to go out and invite their neighbors to come,” Turnquist said.
She asked participants to prepare for the session by learning the exact location of their home’s gas meter and drawing a simple layout of their neighborhoods (facing homes in two-block increments), including house numbers and the names of people who live there.
The Turnquists became involved in the program at the request of Custer County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Jim Zabrocki.
Several years ago they attended a Map Your Neighborhood session in Billings and brought that knowledge back to share with residents in Miles City.
After meeting with the Custer County Commissioners, the mayor and the Miles City Council, they held a city-wide training for first responders including law enforcement officers, firefighters and public health providers. Those individuals formed an executive committee that divided the community into neighborhoods. So far, that session and the ones that have followed have reached 140-150 people, Turnquist estimated.
The original idea was for trained individuals to take the information back to their own neighborhoods and put together trainings there, but some people have struggled to implement that, she said. By inviting people to bring their neighbors to this year’s session, organizers hope to simplify the process and increase the number of neighborhoods with emergency plans.
“I think the hardest thing to get across is people think nothing can happen, and things can happen,” said Turnquist.
One reason she and her husband became interested in the Map Your Neighborhood program was their experience with a severe hail storm in Miles City in July 1978, which caused $20,000 in damage to their home.
“We had not a window in our house,” she said. “And we had no one to help! It can happen.”
The mission of the Citizen Corps Council of Custer County, which includes members of CERT, Map Your Neighborhood and Disaster and Emergency Services, is “to harness the power of every individual through education, training and volunteer service to make our community safer, stronger and better prepared, to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds.”
For more information about Map Your Neighborhood or any of the council’s programs, visit their booth at the Miles City Community Health Fair on Saturday, March 13.