Sierrah, left, and Sarissah Hagemeister look after Crackers. The week-old survivor of a mass donkey shooting. Five donkeys were shot while they were kept in a local field. A reward is being offered for information on the guilty party.   Photo by Steve Allison

Friday, May 9

Joseph Boushee
By Joseph Boushee
Six of the wooden yellow ribbons on the light posts along Main Street have been taken down permanently. The area military personnel for whom the ribbons hang in tribute have returned home.
Those from the area who have returned from active duty overseas and have completed their tours are: Sgts. Chelsea Billing, Travis Helm and Casey Dusatko, Cpt. Steven Webber, Spc. Brian Gray, and Maj. Robert Rodefer.
Their ribbons have been given to their families and will be replaced with new ribbons with the names of others now serving.
Each ribbon is displayed with the names of full-time active duty military personnel from towns in eastern Montana. In total, there are 101 ribbons stretching from the new Main Street bridge over the Tongue River to South Haynes Avenue.
Some of the ribbons are down temporarily to undergo some updates.
“Quite a few of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been promoted since their ribbon went up,” said Christine McCarthy-Christensen, of the We Support Our Troops organization, in a press release. “So, over the next few weeks, you will see some of the ribbons being removed in order to update them with their new ranks.”
McCarthy-Christensen said she expects the updated ribbons to be re-hung very soon.
“We plan on having them all updated and re-hung in time for the Bucking Horse Sale Parade and Memorial Day. They will be placed back in their original location, so you won’t have to search for them.”
She said that anyone who has not contacted her about a promoted rank for the ribbon should do so as soon as possible, so that it can be included in the update project.
We Support Our Troops members started the idea for the tribute ribbons last year. Members of the group and many volunteers helped paint, cut out and hang the wooden ribbons.
McCarthy Christensen and We Support Our Troops can be contacted by calling 853-4700.
“Once again, we wish to thank all the citizens of Miles City and the surrounding areas who are so generously supporting our military through their prayers, donations and financial support for care packages.”

Hawaii rep visits Miles City, promotes Obama
By Barb Cole
Congressman Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, was a keynote speaker at the Custer County Democrats’ Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, held Saturday night at the Elks Lodge.
Abercrombie, who is in Montana representing the Barack Obama campaign, began his remarks by requesting a moment of silence in honor of Captain Drew Pearson of Billings, killed last week in Iraq.
As he talked about the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Abercrombie made several positive comments about Hillary Clinton, Sen. Obama’s opponent.
Though complimentary of Clinton, Abercrombie emphasized his belief that Obama is the candidate who can “grow the vote” by galvanizing “undecideds” and new voters to the polls. Abercrombie noted that he attended college with Obama’s parents and has known the senator since he was a child.
Representing Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign was former State Sen. Tom Towe of Billings. Program emcee Patrick Kelly, in introducing the former senator, noted that Towe had “provided a permanent heritage for the people of Montana in establishing the coal trust fund.”
Towe emphasized his belief that Clinton is the more viable candidate to defeat probable Republican nominee John McCain, and he encouraged those present to visit Sen. Clinton’s website for specific information on her campaign platform and positions on issues.
Other notables attending the dinner included State Auditor John Morrison; Monica Lindeen, candidate for State Auditor; Billings Mayor Ron Tussing, PSC Commission candidate; Jim Hunt, candidate for the U.S. House; Claudette Morton, candidate for Superintendent of Public Schools; Tom Curry, PSC Commission candidate; State Sen. Lane Larson of Billings and Rep. Bill McChesney of Miles City.

U.S. rep weighs in on war, politics
By Barb Cole
Many people attending the Democrats’ Jefferson-Jackson dinner on Saturday night said they’d never heard a speaker more inspiring than Congressman Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii. Abercrombie was in Miles City over the weekend, representing the Barack Obama campaign.
In an interview preceding the dinner, Abercrombie’s passion for people and his commitment to serving them were highly evident.
When asked about his position on the Iraq War, Abercrombie’s initial response was to mention reading of Captain Drew Pearson’s death in Iraq. Pearson, from Billings, left behind a wife and four children. This type of story, Abercrombie noted soberly, is one that he has read “again and again.” The congressman stressed that while he opposes the war in Iraq, support of our armed services everywhere is absolutely one of his top priorities.
He noted that his service on the House Armed Services Committee is basically about “life and death,” adding that commitment to our armed forces “is not and cannot be political.”
Responding to a question about attempts by some to portray the Democratic Party as “anti-military,” Abercrombie stated that “cheap rhetoric is a staple of politics.” and Democrats need to take action to eliminate this false impression.
The leading sponsors to bring the GI Bill up to 21st-century standards, Abercrombie said, are Democratic Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Jim Webb of Virginia.
He also noted that it was the Democrats who, in 2006, attempted legislation to pay for the Iraq War but were defeated. Instead, the war continues to be financed entirely through deficit spending, paid for with monies borrowed from China and other nations. President Bush, Abercrombie noted, has just submitted a supplemental bill for $70 billion, on top of the pending $108 billion bill, to continue funding the war effort.
Abercrombie expressed his concern for troops who are under-equipped, often insufficiently trained and experiencing multiple deployments. The National Guard was designed to be a “reserve force,” he said, but has become a means for a “backdoor draft.” Those who object to this turn of events often have their patriotism questioned.
“Patriotism,” Abercrombie said, “is being used as a smokescreen to mask our political failure in Iraq.”
“The people whom American troops came to free (Shiites) are now designated as the enemy, and we are bribing and arming former Saddam supporters against the Shiites,” he said. “This is a total contradiction of our original intent. We have become armed participants and simultaneous referees in a civil war.”
Abercrombie noted an article mentioning Captain Pearson’s involvement in efforts to open schools and hospitals in Iraq. Though they are performing many positive actions, he noted, “Our Army is not constituted to go off on a mission of goodwill.” He continued by saying that coverage of actions like these, although positive, serves to further mask our political failure in Iraq. He mentioned another article that addressed the possible closure of schools or classrooms in Billings because of insufficient funds, and questioned where our government’s priorities lie.
On the topic of Veterans’ care, especially in light of last year’s scandalous findings at Walter Reed Hospital, Abercrombie stated that the situation at Walter Reed is being watched closely, and the physical facility has improved. However, he noted that it is the programmatic issues for veterans that need to be addressed. He noted that sufficient resources simply are not available for treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; brain trauma; long-term commitment for physical rehabilitation; and mental health services.
Intensive and, in many cases, life-long support will require billions of dollars, he said, and “…the Administration has not come to grips with this reality.”
Abercrombie, also a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, which includes the Office of Indian Affairs, was asked about comparable issues affecting American Indians and Native Hawaiians. He said both groups deal with a problematic legacy of land tenure – what was promised and who owns what. A major difference in these native groups is that Indian tribes have distinct tribal structures and sovereignty, while Hawaiians do not.
Abercrombie said a priority issue facing a new administration will be the resolution and settlement of the Indian Trust Fund case, in litigation since 1996. The Department of the Interior has been criticized in a U.S. District Court decision for mismanaging more than $100 billion in royalties held in trust from Indian lands.
The government’s management of the trust funds “has become a complete and utter debacle,” he said.
Commenting that this is his first trip to Montana, Abercrombie discussed his drive to Miles City from Billings. The open country, he said, took him back into the 1800s, and he found the ‘Big Sky’ to be a true phenomenon.
Abercrombie touched upon the concept of distance, both here and in Hawaii. “Distance,” he noted, “is more than geographic.” With the exception of Honolulu, Hawaii, like Montana, is made up of many small rural towns. However, the separation of Hawaiian towns and islands by water creates its own unique travel challenges.
Noting the importance of roads to Montanans, Abercrombie mentioned the current proposal of a gas tax holiday, supported by both Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain. The proposal to suspend the 18.3-cent federal gas tax for three months would temporarily lower fuel prices at the pump, but would also greatly reduce monies going into the federal Highway Trust Fund.
“Montana would lose $67 million in highway funding and 2,350 jobs if that plan is adopted,” Abercrombie said, referring to data projections accompanying the proposal.
The drive to Miles City made another impression on the congressman. Hawaii, he noted, with a population not much larger than Montana’s, has two representatives, while our huge state has only one.
“There is nothing magical about the number 435,” he stated, referring to the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I think an additional seat should be added for Montana.”

Thursday, May 8

MCC graduation, pinning this week
For the Star
The 68th annual Miles Community College Commencement Exercises and the Nurses Pinning Ceremony will be held at Miles Community College this week.
The Nurses Pinning Ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Friday in the Miles Community College Kailey Gymnasium on the MCC campus.
The blessing of the hands will be given by Dorothy Zabrocki. MCC President Stefani Hicswa will give the welcome. A slide show of the 2008 nursing graduate class will be given by Marcie Hines.
Kathleen Wankel, MCC Nursing director, and Russ Mann will present nursing scholarships and Wankel will present the MCC nursing faculty.
Featured speakers are Mary Quintus and Pauline Flotkoetter. Wankel will present the Class of 2008 and family and friends will make presentation of pins.
Those receiving pins are: Stacia Armes, Saurus Arneson, Jessica Beehler, Trista Berry, Sheri Daugherty, Tracie Fox, Jade Gilmore, LeAnn Harrison, Elizabeth McGrath, Diane Molstad, Paula Petersen and Rhonda Reinhart, all of Miles City; Amanda Mitchell of Baker; Susan Monson, Pamela Rorvik, Nancy Simien, Kelsi Clingingsmith and Jessica Reynolds, all of Glendive; Yvonne Rank, Marcie Hayes and Chrystal Martin, all of Billings; Laura Fuhrman of Larslan; Marcie Hines of Walden, Colo.; Gina Martin of Great Falls; Alisa Maurer of Roundup; Jessica Mount of Livingston; Erin Murnion and Sarah Nordlund, both of Jordan; Kaycee Phillips and Krista Phillips, of Broadus; Danielle Piseno of Forsyth; Tori Schedel of Glasgow; Sarah Sommerfeld of Colstrip; Groovy Weaver Cartwright of Pilot Station, AK.; and Natasha Young of Trinidad.
The music “One Step At A Time” will be the recessional. A reception will be held in the MCC Smith Center following the pinning ceremony.
On Saturday at 10 a.m., the Commencement Exercises will begin in the Kailey Gymnasium at the Centra Athletic Center.
Brenda Richards will play the processional. Kale Eike, MCC student, will give the invocation followed by a welcome from Hicswa.
Student Senate President, Roy Tisdell, will give the student address. MCC Student Services Dean, Darren Pitcher, will present the MCC Alumni Hall of Fame award. Hicswa will present Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who will give the commencement address. Annette Gorton, director for the Center for Academic Success, will present the G.E.D. diplomas.
Ronald Anderson and Rezart Sina will be honored as valedictorians and Paula Petersen as salutatorian of the MCC 2008 graduating class. Honor graduates with a 3.75 grade point average or higher are Jenna Bolstad, Blair Borgen, Stephanie Dana, Sheri Daugherty, Greg Hire, Amanda Johnson, Brennan Vander Esch, and Merle Blankenship.
Hicswa will present the candidates. Garth Sleight, associate dean of Academic Affairs and Kathleen Wankel, director of Nursing, will provide introduction of the candidates. The MCC Board of Trustees will present the diplomas. Stephen Patterson, MCC Student Senate vice president, will give the benediction and Richards will play the recessional.
A reception will be held in the MCC Smith Center following the commencement ceremony.
Students who will be receiving degrees, certificates and GED diplomas are:
Associate of Arts
Tanys Abbott, Katherine Cain (fall 2007), Holly Chapmon, Michelle Erb, Jamie Fasthorse (summer 2008), Danielle Gunnare (summer 2008), Garrett Lamach, Camille Slight (fall 2007) and Kristine Yother, all of Miles City.
Ronald Anderson of Ismay, valedictorian; Steven Antone of Rupert, Idaho; Danielle Derenburger Becker, Stephanie Dana (honor graduate, 3.75 GPA or higher over two years) and Crystal Pellant, all of Forsyth; Thomas Boyce and Shane Thurston, both of Three Forks; Denise Brown of Rosebud; Ryan Dennehy of Butte.
Brian Dukart and Christopher Round, both of Billings; Kale Eike of Melstone; Greg Hire of Australia (honor graduate); Amanda Johnson of Opheim (honor graduate); Lawilton Joseph of Jeanerette, La.; D.J. Kovach of Malta; Joe Locke of Polson; Sarah McNamee of Kearnes, Utah; Ashley Oliver of Denver, Colo.; Stephen Patterson of Columbus.
Philip Perez of Stevensville; Jake Rios of Bozeman; Paul Sparks of Missoula (fall 2007); Brittany Tattersall of Riverton, Vt.; Roy Tisdell of Plevna; Colby Tongnetti of Lewistown; Spurr Watson of Pompeys Pillar (Phi Theta Kappa — graduates will be wearing gold stoles); and McCoy Worthington of Pual, Idaho.
Associate of Science
Kelsey Anderson, Merle Blankenship (fall 2007) (honor graduate and Phi Theta Kappa), Holly Chapmon, Skyler Cozzens, Kimberley Evans, Jamie Fasthorse (summer 2008), Tayler Kennedy, Jackie Meckel (Phi Theta Kappa), Valerie Trams and Kristine Yother, all of Miles City.
Nathan Anderson of Manhattan; Ronald Anderson of Ismay (valedictorian); Steven Anotone of Rupert, Idaho; Jenna Bolstad of Homestead (honor graduate and Phi Theta Kappa); Kali Christianson of Glendive (Phi Theta Kappa).
Stephanie Dana of Forsyth (honor graduate); Sheri Johnson of Sand Springs; Joe Locke of Polson; Marta Micula of Poland; Jacob Mindt of Billings; David Olson of Broadus; Crystal Pellant of Forsyth.
Kahen Reinhardt of Livingston; Rezart Sina of Albania (valedictorian); Joseph Studiner of Absarokee; Roy Tisdell of Plevna; and McCoy Worthington of Paul, Idaho.
Associate of Science Registered Nursing
Stacia Armes, Saurus Arneson (Phi Theta Kappa), Jessica Beehler, Trista Berry, Sheri Daugherty (honor graduate), Tracie Fox, Jade Gilmore, LeAnn Harrison, Elizabeth McGrath, Diane Molstad, Paula Petersen (salutatorian) and Rhonda Reinhart (Phi Theta Kappa), all of Miles City.
Jenille Brugger of Jordan (fall 2007); Kelsi Clingingsmith of Glendive; Laura Fuhrman of Larslan; Marcie Hayes, Chrystal Martin and Yvonne Rank, all of Billings; Marcie Hines of Walden, Colo.; Gina Martin of Great Falls; Alisa Maurer of Roundup; Amanda Mitchell of Baker; Susan Monson, Jessie Reynolds, Pamela Rorvik and Nancy Simien, all of Glendive; Jessica Mount of Livingston; Erin Murnion and Sarah Nordlund, both of Jordan; Lacey Norby of Sidney (fall 2007); Kaycee Phillips and Krista Phillips, both of Broadus; Danielle Piseno of Forsyth; Tori Schedel of Glasgow; Sarah Sommerfeld of Colstrip (Phi Theta Kappa); Groovy Weaver of Pilot Station, AK; and Natasha Young of Trinidad (Phi Theta Kappa) (fall 2007).
Associate of Applied Science
Health Information Technology — Medical Coding — Kira Aberle of Colstrip.
Computer Science — Andrew Carlisle of Rupert, Idaho; and Shane Niederklein of Deer Lodge.
Health Information Technology — Medical Transcription — Michele Trimble of Miles City; and Maureen Cremer-Schaak of St. Xavier.
Small Business Management — Matt Kercheval, Roberta Roelfsema and Brennan Vander Esch (honor graduate), all of Miles City; and Tonya Murphy of Lewistown.
Automotive Technology — Mathew Madsen of Miles City.
Building Technology — Channa Peabody of Ekalaka; and Sid Sorge of Billings.
Certificates
Heavy Equipment Operator — Denna Amsden of Miles City (summer 2008); Keri Ayers of Miles City (summer 2008); Camilia Buck of Rosebud; Damon Ceynar of Glendive (summer 2008); Bradley Coates of Forsyth (summer 2008); Darian Diede of Livingston (summer 2008); Clayton Elmore of Ekalaka (summer 2008); Luke Flaherty of Cut Bank (summer 2008); Shane Kiltie of Miles City (summer 2008); Ryan Kyzer of Miles City (summer 2008); Jakob Lea of Judith Gap (summer 2008); Alvin McNabb of Cut Bank (summer 2008); Judd Normandy of Miles City (summer 2008); Thomas Rhoades of Miles City (summer 2008); Jenika Samuelson of Helena (summer 2008); Christopher Sattler of Sidney (summer 2008) ; Edmund Schaefer of Miles City (summer 2008); Christopher Tauck of Hammond (summer 2008); Jimmy Tushka III of Colstrip (summer 2008); and Christopher Wright of Glendive (summer 2008).
Agriculture — Ronald Anderson (valedictorian) and Katherine Ayers, both of Ismay; and Stefan Wittman of Roscoe.
Health Information Technology — Medical Coding — Wendy Dahl of Whitetail.
Health Information Technology — Medical Transcription — Crystal Jokela of Boulder (fall 2007); and Jenna Jones of Scobey.
Building Technology — Derek Banhof of Plains; Jason Meyers of Broadus; and Taner Sorge of Billings.
GED Diplomas
Ashley Baldwin, Alicia Flegel, Darla Harris, Marie Hopkins, Garry Loomis, Leah Loomis and David White.

Wednesday, May 7

River official: Summit, local work progressive
By Joseph Boushee
A Yellowstone River official told a federal official that he thought last week’s River Awareness Summit was the most progressive event done for the Yellowstone River.
But the official, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, thought bigger. She characterized the summit as the most progressive river event in the nation.
That was an encouraging remark for Dr. Don Youngbauer as he prepared to give the keynote address for the summit later that day. He spoke in front of about 125 people at the Miles Community College Centra before joining a panel to answer audience questions.
Youngbauer is chairman of the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council, a 12-member board representing conservation districts bordering the Yellowstone River. The districts stretch from the river’s origin at Yellowstone National Park to its confluence with the Missouri River northeast of Sidney. A 13th member represents the Montana Association of Conservation Districts. Youngbauer is also a practicing dentist in Forsyth.
“I don’t consider myself to be an expert by any means, but I have a real interest in it,” Youngbauer said of the Yellowstone River in his speech. “What we’re doing here is extremely important.”
The council’s mission is to provide leadership, assistance and guidance for the proper use and conservation of the river and its resources.
“They were given the task of developing a management plan for the Yellowstone River,” Youngbauer said.
He said the summit is a positive step toward addressing a possible flooding threat in the future.
“I think Miles City is solving problems that every city in the nation will face,” Youngbauer said recently in a phone interview from Forsyth.
Led by local, state and federal agencies, the all-day summit on April 29 was created to help residents understand the recreational opportunities the Yellowstone and Tongue rivers present, but also to educate the public about how changes to the city’s flood map and flood risk will affect them.
During his speech, Youngbauer said a thriving river and landscape is considerably important in a time of flood.
“The best way to deal with a flooding situation is to have a healthy river and a healthy landscape...” Youngbauer said. “The river is not in perfect shape, but it’s quite good.” Healthy landscapes better absorb flood waters.
“We have good fishing in the river, and it’s going to get better.”
As part of its work toward river conservation, the council conducts various studies — analysis of riparian areas, wildlife and more.
“The Yellowstone River will be paid attention to, and we have the studies to prove it,” he said, adding that the waterway is “a very important river worldwide. The river is a very famous river,” he said.
“One of my favorite studies is the cultural study,” he said. The study involves interviews with the people who live up and down the Yellowstone.
He said the conservation district council studies various projects on the river, including the Muggli Fish Passage and the Intake fishing access site near Glendive.
“When we are all done with this, we’ll consider the Pallid Sturgeon a friend to eastern Montana,” he said. “Miles City, in my opinion, is on the leading edge of what’s happening on the Yellowstone.
“Other cities are paying the price for bad decisions 30 years ago. I look at this and I say, ‘We’ve got a real challenge ahead of us.’”
Youngbauer referenced a quote in a book from a man who once lived near the Missouri River, but later lived on the Yellowstone.
“He says, if the Missouri River is the old granddad, then the Yellowstone is the prom queen,” Youngbauer recapped.
The river is constantly changing, although it is a slow process.
“The future holds population increases, demand for food and, importantly, water,” he noted in his speech.
The impact of people living on the river also can change it.
“One of the greatest impacts is changes to the landscape,” he said in the interview.
Youngbauer referenced a process called “armoring,” which are man-made measures undertaken to try to control the river and protect property. One way of armoring is to build “rip rap,” or a permanent cover of rock used to stabilize riverbanks and prevent water erosion.
Armoring affects land on both sides of the river, sometimes resulting in the process occuring across long stretches of the river.
But armoring can interfere with the river’s natural side-to-side meandering and normal sculpting of the river bank over a long period of time.
“The really neat thing is, we don’t have a major problem with that right now,” he said.
Youngbauer talked about the possibility of an easement paid to landowners in the event of property damage due to the river’s natural formation of the riverbank and the resulting change of riverside property.
“I’m very anxious to protect people’s rights on the river,” he said in the later interview. “The critical thing here is that the people who own property on the river are not to be taken advantage of.”
He urged people to have a respectful and harmonious relationship with the Yellowstone.
In closing his speech, Youngbauer said, “This is not a river that should be tamed. This is not a river that should be harnessed. We should find a way to dance with the river, and I think the river needs to lead.”

Scheid, Wagner keep board seats
By Joseph Boushee
Incumbents Bob Wagner and Fred Scheid were re-elected to the Miles City Unified Board of Trustees, unofficial results from Tuesday’s school election showed.
Voters elected two candidates for two open seats on the board. Scheid is currently chairman. Wagner was seated in January, replacing Ken Stabler. Also running for election was former teacher Jan Munroe.
Scheid won one of the two seats by capturing 263 of 368 votes cast. Wagner earned the second seat, receiving 238 votes. Munroe got 184 votes.
The 368 voters represented just 7 percent of the 4,955 registered voters in Custer County.
The district did not need to run a mill levy for either the elementary or high school budget.
Results remain unofficial until the next board meeting, when trustees will hold a reorganizational meeting to canvass the results and seat the new members.
Miles Community College did not have any ballot issues Tuesday, as Board of Trustees Chairperson Sharon Wilcox and Garrett McFarland were unopposed and were elected by acclamation.
Also, no trustee or clerk candidates for the rural schools were opposed, and they have been elected by acclamation. They are: SD #3, Kircher, John Kuntz; SD #13, Trail Creek, Patrick Phalen; SD #38, Cottonwood, Patricia Herzog; SD #63, Kinsey, Sue Bellows; SD #83, SY, Scott Crevier; and SD #86, SH, Charles Bumgardner.
District Clerks for rural schools are: Kircher, #3, Jennifer Beardsley; Trail Creek, #13 Theresa Zook; Spring Creek, #16J, Theresa Zook; Cottonwood, #38, Jeannie Drange; Kinsey, #63, Geneal Bott; Twin Buttes, #82J, Kally Billing; SY, #83, Theresa Zook; SH, #86, Theresa Zook.

Tuesday, May 6

Donkey reward up to $3,775
By Marla Prell
There have been several calls to the Crime Stoppers hotline regarding the recent shooting of several donkeys, and the reward is up to $3,775, but as of yet no tips have led to an arrest.
“The right people have not come forward yet,” Custer County Undersheriff Pat Roos said Tuesday.
“I’m confident that somebody out there knows some information,” Roos said, adding, “I believe more than one person is involved.”
Six donkeys were shot along Sheffield Road either April 18 or 19. Four donkeys, one of them pregnant, died in the field. A jennie died a day later, leaving a week-old colt. Another jennie was injured, but she is recovering. A six-month-old filly was not injured. The donkeys belong to Bonnie and Garry Loomis.
“We’d love to have a good, substantial lead that we can follow,” Roos said, “but we don’t have one yet.”
“We will follow up on every single lead we have,” he stressed.
Authorities have received many tips, but most relate to what people have heard, rather than what they’ve seen.
“We have sent some evidence to the crime lab, and we’re waiting for results,” Roos said.
As of Monday, the Crime Stoppers reward was up to $3,775.
According to Miles City Police Sgt. Mark Reddick, Crime Stopper rewards are typically limited to $1,000, but if funds are earmarked for the donkey investigation the reward can exceed that amount. If the donkey case goes unsolved, the donations will be used for other Crime Stoppers investigations.
If you have information about the crime, you may call Crime Stoppers at 853-7777. You may remain anonymous. The reward is for for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who shot the donkeys.
Those interested in making a donation to Crime Stoppers for the donkey investigation may call Reddick at 951-4110, Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A local citizen, Clark Malvin, has taken it upon himself to approach businesses and others to raise reward money. Malvin also donated $100 of his own money. He is now working with Crime Stoppers.
Malvin said his initial reaction to the donkey shootings wasn’t suitable for print, adding, “I’m still very upset about it.”
Others he spoke to felt the same way, and they readily donated reward money.
Malvin was involved with a similar effort when he lived in Minnesota. Tips and reward money led to arrests and restitution for paintball vandals there.
Referring to the local offenders, Malvin said, “If it’s kids, it’s too bad, but the parents, they should be held responsible. If it’s adults, I can’t tell you what I’d do to them.”
“What did those little donkeys ever do to anyone?” he asked.
The Loomis family also don’t understand why their donkeys were targeted.
“I would like them (the offenders) caught,” Bonnie said in an interview Tuesday. “And I don’t have hatred in my heart for people ... I just think they should pay for what they did.
She also expressed a desire to know “‘why did you do it?’”
The Loomises have been surprised and pleased by the community response, however.
“We’ve got a lot of wonderful people that have called,” Bonnie said. “We’ve had people who’ve called crying, we’ve had people that drove by (before), and said they missed them.”
The remaining three donkeys are doing as well as can be expected.
The older jennie is recovering, Bonnie said. “She’s up on her feet now. She gets penicillin shots daily. She’s still dragging one hind leg; we’re hoping she’ll get the use of it, but she’s still hurting.
“Crackers (the filly) is doing good. She runs, bucks and kicks, happy as a little meadlowlark.”
Initially Crackers had difficulty taking a bottle and was wobbly due to a lack of vitamins, but a shot remedied that.
The uninjured 6-month-old filly is doing well.
In addition to the Crime Stoppers reward, there is a fund to assist the Loomises with veterinary bills and other costs. Jeff and Bernie Skidmore, who admired the Loomises’ donkeys and had bought one from them, have been seeking donations on their behalf.
To make a donation, make checks payable to Garry or Bonnie Loomis, 1014 Alice Street, Miles City, MT 59301. For more information, contact Jeff or Bernie at 232-3622.
“It’s been very wonderful of people,” Bonnie said of the donations and support. “I just can’t possibly thank them enough.”

Monday, May 5

Co-op sees widespread outages
By Elaine Forman
More than 900 rural electric customers are out of power after the snow storm that swept through the area Thursday night.
Some areas may be out of power for two weeks.
The affected area includes parts of the counties of Custer, Fallon, Carter and Powder River, with additional customers in Wyoming and South Dakota.
All the residents are customers of Southeast Electric Cooperative, which lost its whole system, according to Marlene Waterland in the main office in Ekalaka.
She said there are more than 1,100 poles, 2,000 meters and 1,600 miles of line affected. (Ranches often have more than one meter.)
In April 2006 there was a power outage that affected 180 poles, compared to this storm’s 1,100 poles.
They received a couple feet of snow and 4-1/2 inches of moisture from the recent storm, Waterland said.
As of Monday, there are still 70 percent of the meters without power.
Three construction companies and other co-ops have made crews available to help with restoring power.
“We have a lot of supplies coming this way: a lot of poles, cross arms and hardware,” Waterland said.
Marilyn Kelly in the Knowlton area said her family has a small generator and “we are playing switch-a-roo with the appliances.”
They are trying to keep their refrigerator and two deep freezes going by taking turns plugging the different appliances in.
At night the family doesn’t use heat, and they use a gas barbecuer to cook.
The power has been out since Thursday night, but in Knowlton the phones didn’t go out until Saturday morning, then phone service returned that night.
“Two years ago we were out of power for 10 days and the weather was worse. That was more of a nightmare,” Kelly said.
The power in Knowlton may be restored by Monday night.
“We’re thankful for the moisture, despite the inconvenience. It’s going to do wonders for our grass and hay,” Kelly said.