Eureka Montana News - Eureka MT News Blog - Eureka Montana Real Estate

6/17/08

What is a High End Home ?

Some folks think that a high end home is a home with a high price tag.

ATTENTION: Anonymous Poster whose Daddy is a Local Contractor
Email me at SavvyBroker@yahoo.com and I will tell How I know what I know
and Kiss My Job Goodbye, I already have, Realtors cannot stand by bad construction.

Realtors are NOT trained nor given the tools to even spot bad construction. I know from local builders and workers how bad things are, and if your Dad is a Good One than Great, I hope he is, I hope he stands by his work for years to come, if the home is deemed structurally deficient in ANY way I hope he will come to the home owners aid. As a Native of Eureka, I do know of a Whole lot of bad construction, and I do know that Buyers are seriously being harmed. Without RULES and incentives to keep contractors from building an inferior product there is no system in place to protect the consumer.

I do know of a couple of good builders in Eureka and there are definately a couple
that I have not heard negative about, I have posted positive posts on these folks.

If your dad has integrity, prove it, build a website about it, show the house plans, write testimonials, show lots of photos before during and after construction and you will be on
top of the construction game, because most won't show photos of during construction, cannot show electrical schematics,

The Point is People are Being Harmed by The Real Estate Industry, there is NO protection against faulty construction, Seller Lies or Realtor lies. If you have build a GOOD HOME, guess what it appraises for the same as a home of the same square footage on the same lot that is build bad, that was closed up to soon and has mold spores, homes that are inferior, the system is the problem and the good contractors with integrity must make it known to the consumer.

I cannot go to every single client of "your dads" and ask if they are happy. I know there are some good homes in eureka but they are not the ones going up 2-4 at a time, these developers are building house after house and NOT with integrity, Sellers are building their own homes and lying to consumers, Buyers are in Serious danger and this hurts everyone, and yes it hurts the "good ones" like your daddy. However, the bottom line is the BUYER better take a deeper look at all homes. And Maam, I have done more homework than you can possibly imagine, there is a BIG problem, and the CONSUMER is getting HURT.

So Slam me If you like, it won't make Things Change.

My Blog is to Open the Eyes of Consumers and Believe me after the Wilderness Club Lawsuit was overturned, the blind eye to the date rape drugging, the Contractors who will not protect or even tell the truth to protect home buyers, the Drug dealers that Repeatedly get out of jail, the Dog murderer let off, WR Grace not having to pay the actual victims for killing the Families of Lincoln County and the lack of accountibility of Realtors and Appraisers for selling structurally defective homes - your right I might as well say
as you said "not to buy any of the homes here and to run far far away".

You ask me "if I care so Much about the Buyer than I must Be telling them everything Wrong with a house" You bet maam, I certainly do but guess what, I don't know, the builders, the sellers, and the listing agents hide the defects and I cannot Protect the Buyer. The truth would protect them but a Buyers Agent does not know the Truth.

Guess What Else,
I certainly AM writing off my Meal Ticket To Protect Consumers
I have dedicated EVERYTHING to protecting Buyers and to
be "honest" about a home, as you say.

You tell me that I don't Stand by my Product, WHAT?
I don't know what the Contractor, the Builder, the Seller
is hiding behind the drywall unless I get an engineer and
open up the walls. I Stand By my clients, but I am alone in

that and therefore cannot seem to protect them.

I am not saying All Local Contractors are Bad
but certainly the Home Value system is.

The Laws protecting consumers are BAD

and seemingly not enforced.

And the ones who build with integrity get the
same value basis as the ones who do not.

The system is Not Good.

You say Potential Clients are going to Believe the Word of a Realtor
your Right, and there in lies the Biggest problem of all, Realtors
go to school for ONE week, they do not learn anything about building a
home, about engineering, about contract law or really anything they need to know to
protect the Buyers and Sellers of real estate.

The real estate industry is truly a house of cards in a hurricane.

And I love the Community so much that I am
one of the VERY few who have the backbone to stand up for the victims
of real estate fraud.

The Good Contractors, had better find a way to prove it.
Not for Me, for the Consumers, this way they will get a better
price, they will get more business and they will stand out.

Oh and sorry for my

"grammatically incorrect trash"
I did not major in English and don't
always structure my sentences perfectly...

I will Go Ahead and Post your Comment
Feel Free to Blather and Defend the Local Contractors
as much as you like...

But Have a Backbone and Don't Be Anonymous about it.

Original Post Below

I have heard local builders actually say To Me that
a home is “High Quality” because it was listed for 3 million.

I said that I had yet to see a high end home in the area and he was very upset saying that there were several and he listed homes with high price tags. I want you the Reader to know that quality has NOTHING to do with Price. Even if the Local Builder thinks it does.

Some assume that a high price tag has a direct correlation to the quality of a home.

This is NOT true.

In this same conversation I suggested that new construction in the area was inferior and that contractors were getting away with building homes that were not to code, not quality, and substandard. The builder said that the county is cracking down on subdivisions, drainage and how roads are built. Obviously This Has nothing to do with home quality but this is what he said.

If builder do not know what Quality is than how is the end user suppose to know.

I had said that I have YET to see “High End” homes here. This does not mean that they do not exist. I still have not seen a quality built home in the eureka area. But than again I don’t go to all the new homes, and mainly feel this way about the homes that are going up in developments and not the ones built on a one to one basis. But even the “Good Builders” don’t all have good stories out there about them.

If there are builders of integrity, that do not cut corners and do a really good job that lasts.
I suggest you build a website, with photos, videos of happy customers, engineered plans, your experience – insurance and qualifications and let the end user know that you WILL stand behind your product.

However, with NO building codes, buildings going up that have NO plans - builders telling stories of "how bad the project" they are on really is, and witnessing first hand situations that have hurt people financially and physically. I can say there are issues here that consumers need to be aware of.

I have been accused of “Hurting Builders” by my comments, I have been told that it is not my job to police the local construction industry. I ask you, the reader, whose job is it? If I am selling the homes for builders, and I am responsible for the end user buying the home than why is it not my job to “police”. I have heard many stories of different homes around the valley that are not built well and there is nothing I can do. I cannot disclose on listings that are not mine, and I cannot warn buyers when I am NOT the Seller or the Realtor, I have to sit by and watch Consumers be harmed.

I do not believe that the Construction Industry or the Real Estate industry is currently operating in the best interest of the consumer.

I would love it if their were builders here that would do what you ask, treat you with respect, bring a quality product, stand behind the product, do what they say they will do and if years down the road the house falls down they will back up their part in the project or at least point the buyer in the right direction.

I do know a couple of builders in which, I believe have built quality homes, but have never actually seen the homes that they have built.

My opinion is based on 8 years as a Broker Owner, obviously, no one has to believe me. But at least know that it is possible to buy a New Home that has been closed up to early and is full of moisture, has inferior construction and may not be what you think it is.
The rumor mill, the folks that work on the job sites tell lots of stories and for me it is VERY sad because the unsuspecting buyer has no clue what they are getting into.

Having worked with several contractors and seen nightmares in building standards here and witnessing situations where buildings have been made up as the builder went along I can safely say that it does happen here.

This is in NO WAY to threaten the livli-hood of those doing a good job. However, just because homes have a high price tag, does not mean they are HIGH END, nor does it imply in anyway that they are high quality.

I have seen situations where buyers have lost everything, contractors don’t stand up for them, and they are LEFT to rebuild on there own ~ where is “LIABLE” in that ?

If you know of a quality construction project in the Eureka area, and it can stand up to Montana Building Codes (international codes) and engineered inspections where no one was harmed and all parties were honorable and ethically. Please make a video of it and show the buyers that we do have that here. I am CERTAINLY out of that loop.

If YOU love this community than help protect the consumer from “unscrupulous builders” don’t assume they are not out there. THEY CERTAINLY ARE.

People talk in bars, workers tell their chiropractor, I can see rain and snow on buildings that WILL cause MOLD, do your homework, why do people talk amongst themselves about how bad some houses or builders are but there is no protection for the buyer.

Some say that construction has risen to a high quality” in Eureka, but I see no proof,

This Person told me I could find quality homes in eureka by “setting up an appointment with any of the agents at Coldwell Banker and they will show you plenty of quality properties. Heck...just take one moment and do a search online! There are plenty of video properties for you to easily check out.” How could I possibly tell a High End, a Quality Home from a Video.

He told me “If you have not seen quality work here then you have not been doing your job. You have not been out touring homes on the market.” My point was that there is a problem in the Construction Industry, buyers are being harmed and this is not just one builder.

He Said, “It is not your job to police and I believe that the county is taking steps to do this correctly. I believe that your energy needs to be directed to the growth committees that have formed and to the county officials by making positive recommendations.

Progress is made in every community by being involved and having care to promote and guide the place you love.” This is so far from the truth, the county has changed subdivision laws but subdivision laws have NOTHING to do with the Quality of the Construction you are buying.

Growth Committees, I have been there, this is not a place where they talk about construction quality, they cannot even agree on Growth issues, which are acreage sizes and dedicated areas. The Growth Committee met so much opposition it gave up.

Making Positive recommendations NEVER works in Lincoln County, the biggest money making recommendation is the only one that gets noticed. And believe it or not, the Real Estate Brokers are at the top of the list for deciding or pushing for what really happens.

I have been to the growth committee, they can barely keep up with land parcels changing hands and have no concern with building codes or engineered plans. If it is not my job to "police" this, which I am not doing, than whose job is it? People look to me to sell them these homes and I have to attest to their quality. So if not ME, than who ?

I know the subdivision process has changed, but this has nothing to do with the workmanship of the homes standing the test of time.

The folks at the growth meeting, did not want a growth plan, I was involved. The only plan some folks wanted was to stop the subdivisions, and the locals have a right to sell their land.

If you have been here ONLY 4 years, than how could you possibly know about the changes in building standards?

How do you know what really went on during construction ? The chiropractor knows, the bartender knows, the waitress and the store clerk knows but the Buyer does not, the Realtor claims to not know and where do you go from there.

He Also said, “If you are in the real estate business, then you know that the quality of work in this community has escalated by leaps and bounds. You also that Montana building codes and the permit process for subdivisions have increased to protect the public.” Again Soooooo NOT TRUE, quality has NOT escalated, just quantity.

Are you intimately familiar with what some buyers go through ? I do not, at this point, intend to name names, but head builders have been talking about how bad these homes are. Consumers are in distress. Builders have told me stories that are down right scary. My "hidden" agenda is to protect the consumer.

Yes, there are lousy builders in every community. The number here is not as low as you think. Again, shutting me up will not change the TRUTH, if I lie and say it’s not true it won't change the fact that there are a large number of contractors that are not building with plans or codes and are putting homes together as they go. It is True. And there are no quality control systems in place to protect the consumer.

I feel that the locals in the building industry doing a good job, need to be treated right. If you build a good quality home or a home of inferior quality, you will get the same “Home Value” attached to it, so there really is no incentive to build quality.

Looking at a home, or doing a walk through will NEVER tell you the Quality of the Home. There is only so much that the naked eye can pick up. Even if you have a Home Inspection, you CANNOT tell the Quality of Home.

It won’t tell you what w what happened when the roof went on, I don't know what was done or not done inside the walls, and walking through can NEVER tell me if it was properly designed and has the proper mechanically engineered attributes. How could I possibly tell if a home was “well built” by walking through and seeing that it is “Pretty”.

6/16/08

Brutal Dog Hanging, Beating, Killing

Folks did you check out the Comments on the Daily Interlake Article.

http://dailyinterlake.com/articles/2008/06/16/news/news02.txt

Particularly this Comment

"I heard that the kids that did this taped it and the mother of one of the kids has the tape but won't turn it in until the reward is higher. If this is true she should be charged with withholding evidence when she finally decides to turn it in. I also have heard that many people including the police know who did this, but that there is no proof so nothing can be done. If this is true why don't the police question the parents of these kids and look for the tape or other evidence? This is just sickening! "

I heard this also, there is a tape, and this mother is condoning this action and therefore is partly responsible. I also heard that the shooting in eureka a couple of weeks ago was somehow related and that the guy shot had told the police who one of the boys were, Innocent Until Proven Guilty I guess. Funny, the MOTHER has quite a few animals herself and should seriously be ashamed, why are the police not following up on this, cant' they get a warrant and get the tape.

I mean C'mon. If Mr. Harry Dukehart Sultzer, that was in the recent news really did tell the police who it was and the police did nothing and he did not get the reward, than why in the world would this mother, but she has SO MANY connection she will wait for the reward to get higher and than she will get someone else to turn the tape in and share the money... SICK...

Dog Cruelty - Eureka Montana

Dog killing case under investigationPosted: Sunday,

Jun 15, 2008 - 11:52:03 pm MDTBy NICHOLAS LEDDEN/

The Daily Inter Lake

Despite publicity stirred by public outrage, breaks have yet to materialize in the case of a dog found brutally tortured and killed near Eureka in April.The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has received several tips, but they didn’t amount to anything and no arrests have been made, Detective Jim Sweet said.The case is still active and under investigation.

Full Article Click Below

http://dailyinterlake.com/articles/2008/06/16/news/news02.txt

Folks Don't Let This Go, this is a VERY big deal and must NOT be swept under the rug.

Please Go to Our Forum and Check out the Petition and the Reward Posting.

I heard that it is known who did it and there was someone who turned them in.

6/15/08

Rock Creek Mine

What is the Truth about Revett Minerals

The Motto Seems to Be:
Attention: W.R. Grace, Revett Minerals, and Sterling Mining Company Type of Big Business… Come On Over, Get your Piece of the Montana Pie. Montana Does not Give a Damn about the Waters, the Fisheries, the Bears, the Wildlife or the People affected.

Read the Comments Folks and Hear what People are Saying.

I am accused of not not knowing the mining process. Well Of Course I don't
and certainly Revett has NOT spend 20 years and millions to be "environmentally responsible" that is just ridiculous, didn't they just start that new business name for Revett a few years back. And Sterling mines has a very bad track record, don't believe me, I don't care, look at the links read the reports, and make an intelligent decision on your own - not based on what the supposed Environmentally conscious Revett Minerals has to say. Revett Minerals will IN NO way benefit Montana, just as WR grace only benefited WR Grace, people are left to die and there is no help, and there is proof that 4o years were let to go buy while the folks at the top and the State of Montana new the damage that was being caused, if Jobs is the benefit that the commenter is talking about than why not better jobs that don't harm our hard working men and woman.

Why not take some of that County Tax incentive Money and give it back to to the hard working people and the people of Montana work VERY hard, they deserve the break - the benefits but if you look closely and STOP blaming environmentalist you will see that Revett Minerals is out to make big bucks as they poison your fisheries - your waterways, your big game, and ruin what beauty that Northwest Montana has left. Why in the world would the Cabinet Wilderness be considered a Wilderness by ANY means when Big Business out for Big Bucks on the backs of local laborers are ruining the very reason it is a Wilderness.

They say that the People's taxes paid for the supposed clean up of what WR Grace was let to do to Libby Montana, but now that State has got over 200 million for this, Will they Reimburse "The People" NO WAY...

Folks, KEEP on Defending Revett... But when you meet the folks dying of asbestos related diseases do to turning a blind eye to what big business was doing and instead letting them "Do Good Things for Montana" you cannot help but wonder why we would be Ignorant enough to let it happen again. Montana WILL benefit from Revett, BIGTIME...

WR Grace's recent settlement does not give my dying uncle a respirator, it does not give families money for funerals, hardship or suffering, it gives the State of Montana BIG MONEY for environmental cleanup. Montana currently is making Big Money for Environmental clean up
so yes Revett is Good for Montana, the State of Montana but not the working men and women, not those who love to hunt, to hike, to fish and breath fresh clean air and drink non-polluted water.

Amperatt.... Do your Homework, I am not claiming that I know how to clean up polluted water... I am Saying Don't Pollute it in the First Place, it's NOT worth it....

Look at the Mill Town Dam Situation.

http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/wq/Milltown_Dam/Milltown%20Dam.htm

http://www.montanariveraction.org/milltown.dam.html

http://www.clarkfork.org/programs/milltown.html

http://www.doj.mt.gov/lands/naturalresource/milltowndam.asp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISLInzprz3M

http://www.slate.com/id/2188979/slideshow/2189027/fs/0//entry/2189028/

Look at W.R. Grace. Why is Montana letting this happening again. Oh I know, because it's not surface. This it a bit of a stretch. The water we drink is NOT surface, the Vegetables we eat don't all grow on the surface, what effects the ground, the water, the soil beneath the surface CERTAINLY affects the Surface.

Rock Creek Mine being safe for any person, animal, or Water Shed in any way is Wrong.

They make you mad as they blame environmentalists, its not true, it is the Fat Cat at the top that gets all the money while you work your fingers to the boney and you get sick, while barely making it pay check to pay check. They divert your attention by feeding on your anger of the Conservative Groups so that you will not really look at what they are doing. While Mill Owners and Mine owners become Multi-Millionaires.

Dig Deeper Folks, Please, In honor of our families who suffer at the hands of W.R. Grace, who cannot breath on their own, who have bleeding bones and extreme pain even now in the 20s, this problem still affects libby montana, Yet the EPA, The DEQ and Montana Gov. Officials want you to think they are Cleaning it Up, how culd they possibly clean up all this toxin, where will it Go? Ask Questions, Read, learn all you can, not only is your lifestyle in Montana at stake but your life and the life of your children and grand children are at stake, don't let the powers that be pull the wool over your eyes AGAIN....

Please Read this Article

http://missoulanews.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=5565AFE7-14D1-13A2-9FF3BC5AA93BA8E2

http://missoulanews.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=5565AFE7-14D1-13A2-9FF3BC5AA93BA8E2&useLayout=0&print

History Repeats and Repeats and Repeats and YOUR Family will PAY the price.

Last Week News Article

HELENA, Mont. -

Another lawsuit seeks to block development of a copper and silver mine beneath the federal Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in northwestern Montana.

Conservation groups claiming the Rock Creek Mine would jeopardize sensitive bull trout filed a case this week charging the tentative state permit for the project is the wrong kind and imposes only run-of-the-mill requirements.

The suit in state court seeks an order demanding a comparatively stringent permit for the mine proposed by Washington-based Revett Minerals Inc., which has said mining would not disturb the surface of the wilderness area. State work preceding that permit would include a study to assess the potential for water degradation from mining.

Full Article Athttp://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/10/ap5101539.html

Will NOT Disturb the Surface, WHAT ? you poison the Water, you drill under neath and it will not affect the surface, you will not feel the ground vibrate on your hikes in the wilderness? You will not drink the water, eat the fish or the wildlife affected, the lakes will not drain and your Surface will not be affected - WHAT ?

There is No Doubt in my Mind that Lincoln and Sanders County will let Revett do what ever they want. They will ignore Scientific Fact just like with W.R. Grace and they will have their hand out for Tax Dollars and ??? They will give them tax breaks and beg them to stay to keep their tax base happy and able to pay their taxes and the wages of the politicians.

Lincoln County, Montana has this unique and wonderful gift of hind sight. With the W.R. Grace experience they can make an intelligent decision. Now they Know.

But they will not use this gift, they will let Big Business kill their people – AGAIN, poison the animals that the people will hunt and eat, poisen the water that will travel down to sandpoint and the Columbia River, and If you Stand up Against them you are called an Environmentalist and you are blamed for men and women losing their livelihood when in truth it is the big corporation who is taking their life, their lifestyle away and they cannot see it do to hatred for Environmentalists.

I tell you what, If these So Called Environmentals had KNOWN what W.R. Grace was up to and made a stand, and some wonderful judge had stood with them, we would not have had to watch our families die a tortuous death at the hands of Big Business who knew of Environmental Problems that WOULD certainly Kill the people and make them Suffer. And let it happen anyway, hey it was OUR families and NOT theirs so - Who Cares !!!

Some look at Environmentals as stopping them from making a living, but in hindsight, stopping W.R. Grace 30 years ago would have saved Libby’s economy, reputation, the lives of the citizens, the loss, the suffering and the pain that STILL goes on even in the youngest that are NOW still affected. The article in the begining of this post claims that libby is still very unsafe
and though Montana got over 200 million, Libby folks are stuck in Libby, and stuck suffering.

So I ask you to really look at ALL the data on this situation and take a hard look at the comparison of Revett Minerals and W.R. Grace, and Protect Your Family for the long run and not just the paycheck of today, which could never be worth your life or your needlessly suffering 10 years from now.

Your Fisheries, Your Water Quality, Your Big Game are all being poisoned an you will ingest the water, the fish, the Big Game and well Won’t you Be affected ??

Ask questions Now. My Grandad did not have the luxury to know what he was getting into, you do. Check the Facts before you lay your life on the tracks for Revett Minerals to Get Rich.

I am not asking you to listen to me

I am asking you to Read more than what Revett Minerals says.

Protecting Grizzlies, People, Fisheries, Wildlife and Wilderness has become the new “Spotted Owl” if you want to side with the Conservative Groups than you are the Enemy when in truth, they want to protect YOU and your lifestyle.

“Bull trout there are experiencing a death by a thousand cuts and this is the worst of all," said Rob Roberts, coordinator with Trout Unlimited, the nation's leading trout and salmon conservation organization.”

This being said at the same time Rox Rogers, John Muhlfeld, Fish – Wildlife and Parks and the Kootenai Network spent millions pretending to save the Bulltrout in Grave Creek, Eureka Montana. Hmmmm….

“Native fish in Rock Creek cannot tolerate sediment beyond the existing level, the conservation groups say.” In a State where the Fish, Wildlife and Parks KILLS all the Fish in a Lake to Save the native fish, they don’t seem to care that the rock creek mine will kill the fish and who knows what it will do to the people that eat the fish. But that is not a problem for the DEQ in Helena or Kalispell, they won’t be drinking that water or eating that fish. Sandpoint will, Sanders and Lincoln County will, so lets just let it slide.

It is said that Revett is considering the grizzly habitat and does care about responsible land management. How does a Company Responsibly Drill Caverns under a Wilderness area in the Mountains of Northwest Montana and go undetected, cause no harm to people, wildlife or fisheries for 50 years to come? How are they going to “double treat” the water before they let it into the pristine high mountain water shed of Montana and send down in the gorgeous Lake and on into the Columbia River Gorge and into the Ocean.

The article also said, “Revett has for years sought approval for the mine and recently began constructing warehouse and office buildings at the site.” Of course they are building a warehouse, just like the Wilderness Club did in Eureka, they know the forces that be in Lincoln and Sanders County Montana will let them keep it and they know that they will FORCE this mine to open, banking on the Emotions of the locals who already blame “Conservative Groups” for taking away their right to log. They make these groups look like the devil when they are protecting the water, the fish we eat, the game we hunt, the water we drink and the air we breath.

The Article also said “On the issue of the permit classification and public involvement Rife said, "We feel Montana DEQ knows the law, knows the process and is following the law." What, DEQ makes the law, and they follow preceding in accordance to which group benefits tax dollars best. DEQ should protect the waters of Montana, they are PROTECTING big Business just Like they did with W.R.Grace, I mean they were just in the news with a settlement on this. But 40 some years after the fact, certainly the DEQ folks than are retired or passed away and the DEQ of today will not be looking to “Hindsight” for Real Answers on what SHOULD be done.
The article also said, “Revett has for years sought approval for the mine and recently began constructing warehouse and office buildings at the site.” Of course they are building a warehouse, just like the Wilderness Club did in Eureka, they know the forces that be in Lincoln and Sanders County Montana will let them keep it and they know that they will FORCE this mine to open, banking on the Emotions of the locals who already blame “Conservative Groups” for taking away their right to log. They make these groups look like the devil when they are protecting the water, the fish we eat, the game we hunt, the water we drink and the air we breath.

Why Can’t Revett Mining leave our wilderness Alone. Hasn’t Libby and Northwest Montana suffered enough over big industry. W.R. has taken the lives of our families.

I realize that Jobs are needed, but at what expensive? The lakes in the Cabinet Wilderness are more pristine than Flathead Lake due to mining upstream from there. The recent news spoke of pollutants in Lake Koocanusa coming from Mines in British Columbia. When does it end. I applaud those who keep fighting, the thing is, it is hard to win. Fresh Water and Clean air is not the priority of our Forest Service or Seemingly the State of Montana, the Land Loses pretty much EVERY time.

Real Estate is the Biggest Economic Factor that Will be Hit. Who wants to move to Northwest Montana, the land where the Forest Service always big industry to drill under their wilderness and with a process that WILL pollute the waters forever.

The mining company will take the BIG money and run and maybe even change their name like they did before, and North Idaho and Northwest Montana will be left with the mess. Just like the Vermiculite Mine in Libby Montana.

There is NO DOUBT that the mine will drive away, kill and poison local wildlife.

6/12/08

Owens and Hurst Secret Meetings ?

A HUGE part of Eureka and Supporting local men and women for many, many years. Owens and Hurst was started, I believe by a Block Grant such as was the Pellet Mill.

Over the years the owners became very wealthy on the backs of the workers, in the mean time there were land trades and the buying of cheap land from the mill owner who is now a Real Estate Mogul in the Tobacco Valley, as the workers have moved on to other jobs.

Quite a few years back there was a big uprising about Timber Dollars, and Shovels for Solidarity, having been “Raised on Timber Dollars” myself – I get it. However, it was not being portrayed right and there was more blame put on “Environmentalists” than was truly accurate. I went to one rally, where there was a WHOLE lot of people, people that you don’t usually see out because they work so hard, apparently they were given the day off, without pay (so generous) to attend the governors speech on the state of the timber industry. Years went on with This Business Supported by Timber Dollars and making a stand for the hard working folks of Eureka Montana. As these years went on the Mill Owner got rich, the wages went down, timber prices went up, real estate prices went up and eventually those who made the owners rich were out of a job.

It was made to look like an environmentalist issue when really it was about Big Business being built on the backs of the local citizens.

What went on behind the scenes was really Secret Meetings, too Much Blame on the Environmentalists to divert attention from the Mill owners who were really making the money and collecting land.

When Owens and Hurst Closed, my sources at the time, told me that Hurst had 2 years left on a logging sale. So it seems that he exited at the perfect time, which is, of course the sign of a good business man. However, they seemed to make it look like there was no timber and laid everybody off when really they had 2 years left and was selling the timber. The top Workers got to stay on and over see this project.

A few years back, folks told me that there were Secret Meetings among the local Logging Companies, Hurst being one of them, and at these meetings they would take turns “Bidding on Timber Sales” meaning they would all bid but low prices and have a pre-determined bid winner before the Forest Service even had a chance to look at the bids and pick a winner, and if you were not “in the Club” you did not have a chance.

I was told that at the Last “Secret Meeting” before Owens and Hurst Closed It’s Doors, unknowingly the folks at the supposed “Secret Meeting” meeting agreed to let Hurst HAVE ( have the winning bid) on this one last Timber Sale and than he would not bid on any more. So they gave him the bid, according to my sources which was a couple of million dollars less than what the timber sale was really worth, and than after Hurst won the bid, he announced he was closing the doors of the Owens and Hurst Mill. He Had 2 Years left on the Timber Sale when he closed the doors.

And now, he is a Real Estate Developer, that was inevitable. He has SOLD some land off but has a whole lot more to go, and as he lets the Mill Thing settle and slowly gets into the real estate game, he will, most likely get more and more back into the public eye with commercial development, low incoming housing and subdivisions. He Knows the System better than 98% of you and He will Get even richer off of our Owens and Hurst workers backs…

Go to http://www.gis.mt.gov/ CLICK on parcel Search, than Click on Owner and see what they STILL own, from your Timber Dollars

Look under the Name Hurst, O-H LEASING, OWENS & HURST LEASING, OWENS & HURST LUMBER CO INC, and OWENS & HURST LUMBER CO. Some has SOLD and some may be in another name but you get the point. Be Sure and Check Flathead County, Missoula County, Sanders County, Lake County, as well as Lincoln County, they own Plenty there as well.

And most likely in Idaho and Other Montana Counties.

So while the Hard Working Folks of Eureka Montana were focused on “Those Nasty Environmentalists” and Marching in Support of Each others Jobs, the Mill owners were securing their legacy on your backs.

What Have You Heard ? What do you Know about ALL this?

6/9/08

Eureka Montana Business Directory

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Email Sherry@SherryCox.com or Call Sherry at 297-7767 for More Information.

6/8/08

Animal Cruelty and Domestic Violence Connection

Awesome Discussion on the Connection Between Animal Cruelty and Domestic Violence at Our Eureka Montana News Forum, Check it Out, Click Here.

Lincoln County Meth Laws

You think I am Passionate about the Dog Murder, and the Date Rape Drugging?

Wait to See How Fired Up and Passionate I am about Meth in Montana and the LAWS that Leave The Children of Meth Addicts to Fend for Themselves and Follow a Drug addicted path like their parents, it’s what they know.

The Motto is “Criminals Have Rights” “Addicts have Rights” and “the Children of Montana Meth Addicted Parents have NONE”, the Children are Expendable.

So No More Meth Billboards, no more Signs of Spotting a Meth Addict, Get Rid of Them and spend the money on Lobbyists to GET the Laws Changed and ENFORCED.

The State of Montana and those who make the laws
Do not CARE but they Want YOU to.

Maybe the Meth campaign is just a tax right off, it does not target the problem at the root which is with the State Lawmakers and Those who are suppose to enforce those laws.

Those Shocking Anti-Meth Signs, Websites, Billboards, Magazine and Newspaper Ads, all USELESS with out the Laws in Place and enforced to back them up….

Tell Us your Experience with trying to help a loved one out of the Meth System…

Whose involved, who lets these Children live like this even though they know the truth.

There is a whole lot of Money in Meth.

Kids, Your Life, and the Reputation of our County
can not stand up to the Money that somebody is making.

Drug Deals are Daily and are in Plain Site, in Eureka I know that dealers pull up to businesses and Deal right there in plain site. The Law is Blind or AFRAID….
Why Should the People Speak out - the Dealers WILL get out
and the Informers WILL SUFFER.

It might cause a bit of stress to Stop a Drug Dealer, and why should the Police in Eureka Montana risk their life putting a Drug Dealer away when the County will Let them out of Jail and they will Continue….. It is the Way it is. Lincoln County cannot even Convict a Torturous Dog Murder, how are they going to Convict and make it stick for the Dealers who are KILLING our Children.

Your Voice, Your Outrage is the Only Thing That WILL get Heard. Tell Us Your Thought on issues Surrounding Meth in Lincoln County Montana.

If Adults Stand Buy and Watch These Things Happen to Children than How can We look in the Mirror? How can we stand by and let Meth Addicts Be somehow Above the Law.

When I was a Kid, family members stood by while another family member was Molesting his children, they may or may not have known, but they Certainly had to suspect. It went on for years and even happened to other children. Adults hid in the corner with their blinders tied tightly around their eyes and their ears plugged.

The screams still haunt me and I did not even hear them.

Please, I beg of You to have a voice for the Children in your life, in your Circle of Experience, You Can Make a Difference … They Will Hate You For It…. But one day, they will be Alive and Well, happy and have a family of their own and you will be the ONE, the One that Made the most incredible difference that ANYONE could make. You had the Backbone to STAND up for them AGAINST all odds. Thank YOU !!!

Check out My Personal Story on this at our Libby Montana News Forum, Click Here…

Montana Meth Addicts

6/7/08

Water Rights Research Tips

Water seems to be getting to be a bigger issues every day. I heard 2 years ago that the state was going to put meters on our Rural Wells to charge us for usage. Water Rights creates huge fights among neighbors, and may just get worse. Here are Some Internet Search Tips for you to Research Water Rights.

Here is One Really Good Website for Ground Water Research
http://mbmggwic.mtech.edu/

Here are More Useful Links Concerning water Rights Research

http://nris.mt.gov/dnrc/waterrights/default.aspx

6/6/08

Crazy Story - Dog Cruelty

Well the Rumor Mill tonight tells me this, it is a bit shocking but believable. I am not claiming to believe this or not I am just telling you what I heard.

The Story Goes Like This.... Apparantly

Remember the Guy in the news that was shot by local police? The news article had said that folks saw him urinating in front of kids and than he was driving erratic, the cops tried to pull him over, he drove home and than pulled a gun on them. This was VERY wrong. And certainly no way to deal with things...

Tonight I heard that Earlier that day or some point in time earlier than the incident, the guy went to the police and told them who had Abused - Killed the Dog off of pigeon bridge. Sources tell me that he overheard the folks who did it and than he wanted the reward so he went to the police. ( not sure if the police are giving the award or the Friends of the Shelter), anyway he supposedly told the police who did it and wanted the reward. He did not get the reward and was very upset about it so he got drunk and later did the unthinkable, pulling a gun on someone.

So Did he tell the police who did it? Why doesn't he get the reward? Do locals know who did it, some seem to be planning to up the Reward. Yet it seems that Authorities know who did it.

Sources tonight tell me who, apparantly was turned in as doing it. I won't be using that name here at this time. However, I do hope that family members of these young men do the right thing here. And I do want to hear what you think and what you have heard.

Please Post your Thoughts at our forum... Click Here.

more on the Drugging of Drink in Eureka

About the Disclosure of the Location of the Drugs Being put into Drinks.

They are Huffing and Puffing, they believe my Blog eludes to the location and demand that I remove what I have now. They say I am hurting their business, but its not me spreading the truth, it’s not me that this happened to, I am simply the Messenger.

They have accused me of “Trial by Blog”, They acknowledge that they” have heard rumors of date rape drugs being given to people in the Tobacco Valley and the Flathead Valley . It can be a serious and frightening experience. And those who do it should be held accountable.” But they Deny it is happening at their place of business or at least exclusively. And they have not offered to take any precautions to make sure that this does not happen any more.

So many people talk about it and know it and ????

Apparently the Police Report is not Public Information. It Should Be. The Public has a right to know of violent crime and where to stay away from them.

I am Told that “ The investigative reports are confidential criminal justice information under M.C.A. Section 44, Part 5, and may not be disseminated absent a court order. The only time such information should become public is when the accused is a charged with a crime and even then they are presumed innocent.”

They demand that I don’t tell you about any of this. They won’t stop the rumor mill or the ACT from happening but they will stop me. Is it within their right to tell you that you cannot talk about something that happened to you?

Well it did not happen to me so I guess I better put my blinders on and shut up, NOT.

The words at the Top of my Blog are NOT meant to Be a Disclaimer as I am accused of them being they are just to let the reader know what they are in for.

As far as anonymous accusers, this is for the forum, the folks this happened to do not need any more negativity, however, I know who they are and they are not anonymous.

I am Accused of “a false statement with the purpose to damage a person’s reputation or business” I have a right to opinion, I have a right to believe what I want, I am not a court of law nor am I trying to have a “Trial By Blog”, though that would be interesting.

My Point is and Always has been to Protect the Innocent, to Protect the unsuspecting and to have a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

The “Perp” can ruin businesses, ruin lives, embarrass and put people very lives in danger but I had better not tell YOU where this is happening or I am Liable, I am involved in Defamation. Who defamed the Victims. Those trying to Shut Me Up, simply don’t care about the victims or they would stand with them instead of fight to Shut Me Up.

I am told that “Crimes should be investigated by law enforcement, not bloggers”. Guess their attorney is not familiar with Lincoln County. Crimes are Investigated…. I do want to say, AGAIN that according to my sources the Eureka Police Department has been sensitive, caring and thorough with this issue. I thank them on behalf of the Tobacco Valley Community. But investigating this will not work out.

Videos, Taped Confessions posted online, YOUR STORIES, the Truth is the only thing that will Really STOP this from happening.

I am accused of “Rather than desiring to examine the truth you have shown your need to be the center of information and thus attention.” Those who know me know that the Center of attention: NOT ME.

They accused me of being of “narcissistic character”. WHAT ?

So Bottom Line, Tell Your story at our Forum, help each other. We won’t disclose the location for now, you all know anyway. And whether it is happening elsewhere or not it can. So best solution get beer in a bottle and open it yourself or ??? Watch out for Each out there folks, that’s what Eureka is all about…

It's your Story Now Folks, do right by each other.. Post Your Thoughts... Click Here

Dog Cruelty Case - Solved?

Update on the Beating, the Severe act Of Cruelty on Local Dog.

Sources tell Me that the Sheriff has dropped the case. What have you heard folks?What do you want to do about this? This act of aggressive, deliberate violence on this animal – this pet – this innocent dog affects Every Single One of Us. This is not who we Are, this is NOT what Eureka or Lincoln County stands for. Don’t let this just go away. Tell Us what you Think.

The Public Spoke out by Giving Money to Find the Criminals.

But it seems like the Local Law has decided that it is not that important of an issues. It is my opinion that Animal Cruelty and especially to this degree should be punishable by law and that it will undoubtedly lead to Acts of Violence on Humans.

Who are the Folks involved? Is it a Local Family, a Drug informant Family, a family above the law? I don’t know who it is but I do know that EUREKA will NOT STAND for this and if the Sheriff is going to Drop the Case, as is aBuzz in the Rumor mill, than you can be assured that the People of Eureka will Not Drop the Case.

We will keep it alive and we will Demand Justice. If we do not than this can happen again and we are saying that Lincoln County, the Tobacco Valley and the State of Montana Does not Care about heinous acts of violence on animals in our “Neck of the Woods”.

Lincoln County already has a Reputation for Letting Horse Abuse run rampant. And letting Money walk over the Rights of Tax Paying Citizens and Animal Issues.
It is time that Lincoln County takes a Stand for What is right for the people
and not what is right for tax dollars and Corporations.

It’s time to Put an End to Acts of Abuse and Cruelty on Animals in Eureka Montana.
Comment on our Forum… Click Here

Steins

Well, I heard that Steins is breaking ground next week on their new building and that they are going to have an Organics Section, a Pharmacy, and a Deli, well an of course the Regular Store. So keep your eye out. This will be AWESOME for the Residents of Eureka Montana.

Low Income Housing

What have you heard About the Low income housing supposedly going in off of the Old Highway? People have emailed me quite often over the last year wanting to build low income housing here. It seems with the HUD laws, tax credits and the like it can be very lucrative to build low income housing. Those in line first will do well. Not sure who is doing it, I know who owns the land. I had heard last year that Jim Hurst was going to build low income houseing. That would make sense. Tax Credits may come in handy there. Anyway, whoever it is I hope the homes are built with integrity and that the Eureka Folks will be able to afford the homes on a widespread level. We will See how it plays Out.

Dog Cruelty - Eureka Montana

Folks, What have you Heard? I heard that the Criminals were caught or the Authorities Know who it is. I heard that it was teenagers, and that they may only get a slap on the Wrist. I Heard that they may have video taped the incident and put it on youtube. I would like to have the truth here, so please comment if you know anything.

Read Our Discussion, Start your Own Discussion,
Or Comment on our Forum About this Topic.
Click Here to Go to Comments on the
Dog Cruelty off Pigeon Bridge In Eureka

Drugging Drinks at Local Bar

Well the Owners of the Establishment where People claim they have been drugged, refuse to help in anyway to find out who is doing this. They are not answering my emails and are waiting for me to ANNOUNCE the location and than they plan to Do Something About it.

This IT, they plan to do something about is not the problem of someone drugging drinks at their establishment event after event, year after year or Finding out Who it Really is if it is NOT who I claim it is.

But the IT that they will most likely do something about is me. Finding a Way to Keep me From talking about this seems to Be the best possible solution option.

Now the Rumor Mill Has been talking about it for years. But most likely they will claim that my comments are hurting their business. The thing is their business is Hurting My Town, the people I care about, the men and women in Eureka Montana that have meant something very important to me for my Entire Life.

So I do Intend to Disclose the Location, to Encourage Comments on My website and Forum and to Shine a VERY big light on this issue. I hope that I do not stand alone, but if I do, than I do.

I am on the right side of the law, the right side of the moral compass and I am on the side that speaks for those who may not be able to speak for themselves.

So, Again Defamation laws seem to be about “Verifiable Facts”.

It is a “Verifiable Fact” that the Drugging at this establishment is affecting peoples lives and in turn their livelihoods.

It is a “Verifiable Fact” that the Police have been to this establishment and talked to them about “Over Serving”.

It is a “Verifiable Fact” who handed the folks their drink.

And it is a “Verifiable Fact” Where This Incident IS HAPPENING.

Once this announcement is made, the Right Thing will be for this establishment to find a way to stop it from happening. To make a public statement that they are behind us in finding out who is doing this and they will make every effort to STOP it from happening ever again. And to show ANY sign of Remorse or Compassion that this has happened to innocent men and women at their Place of Business.

To Comment On Our Forum about this Issue, To Tell Us Your Experiences
or to Stand up For These Folks
Click Here to Comment or View the Discussion.

Now is the Time to Comment, The Powers that Be
are accusing me of "Trial by Blog" so Speak out Now
before this issue is swept under the rug for good.

6/5/08

Drugging Drinks at Local Bar

Folks, it has been told to me that this same Bar has seen men drugged as well. It is as if it is about control, or watching people lose control. This is causing a backlash in the life and careers of the folks this is happening to. It must be stopped. It happens year round and it happens to Men and Woman. It is said to get your drink directly from the bartendar, not leave your drink and watch it closely. But what if, just what if it is the Bartendar Drugging the Drink? We have heard story after story about this happening and where it happening, I have personally emailed the owners of the establishment to get them to join us in Stopping this Horrible Act.

I have heard nothing from them other than "Cease and Desist". They apparently feel that Shutting me Up is a Good Way to stop SOMEONE from drugging drinks at their establishment.

I have emailed them and their attorney today and we are giving them one more day to do the right thing and join us to find out who is doing this. Tommorrow we will let you look at details of the police report and we will tell you Where it is Happening. Stay Tuned....

Do The Right Thing Folks... Stick Up for Each Other

Check out the Discussion on this topic at our forum
Click Here

Eureka Montana News Online

6/4/08

W.R. Grace's Asbestos Settlement

PITTSBURGH, June 2 -- A federal bankruptcy judge on Monday approved an agreement for W.R. Grace to reimburse the federal government $250 million for the investigation and cleanup of asbestos contamination in a Montana town.

Full Article Here

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/02/AR2008060202889.html

If WR grace now has to pay back the money that Montana Taxpayers, Lincoln County Tax payers have been footing the bill on than will the taxpayers get that money back or will it going into the pockets of politicians or where they think it should go?

From What I have Heard on the Topic of W.R. Grace and the asbestos issues it is far from Justice Served. I have family members who have died from asbestos, and who are dying painfully from it, I know people - young people with bleeding bones from issues to with asbestos in libby. The folks in the town of Libby have suffered endlessly, they have gave all they can, even their lives.

My sources tell me that W.R. Grace has spent over 10 million dollars on attorneys, while over the last 10 years my family suffers and dies, our citizens die a painful death and they wait for help with medical bills, their property values suffer and they lose everything while W.R. Grace fights to NOT help them and now this supposed settlement is with the Montana Government, while the people get nothing, there is No End in Site....

Watch Some Video(S) Below on the Issue

Home (Kit) on the Range

Lets not Forget this Mother Earth News Article on Construction in Eureka Montana.

Story and photos by Paul Steffy · Eureka, Montana

Our initial plan was for me to retire at 55. We'd buy a large pickup truck and a fifth-wheel trailer and would travel the United States indefinitely - a retirement many couples enjoy immensely. After doing our homework and considering the options available in this lifestyle, we changed our minds. The value of a truck or trailer drops immediately after you buy it, and even though you're using the vehicle or trailer, it's an expensive proposition.

At this point we changed the plan: We would buy land and build a home far from the maddening crowds of Southern California.

Our next step was to decide where to live. My wife Sherri and I have traveled extensively and know what type of terrain and geography please us. I ordered literature on eight states from a national real-estate chain. After eliminating several options, we decided on Montana, land of Charley Russell and Fred Remington, of mountains and pine trees, abundant wildlife and scant people, rich in history and really cold winters.

At that time, neither of us had actually visited Montana. So checkbook in hand, we flew to Missoula, rented a car and began our trek to find a spot to spend the rest of our lives. The idea of long winter months spent cloistered indoors doesn't appeal to everyone. That's fine with us.

We eventually settled on Eureka, a town that seems to still be cruising in the 1950s. With a population of 1,500, Eureka lies eight miles from the Canadian border. Its small-town atmosphere, clean air, semi-arid climate, friendly people, superb hunting, fishing and wildlife-viewing year-round were just what we wanted.

Full Article At

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/2002-02-01/Build-A-House-With-A-Kit.aspx

6/3/08

Eureka Montana Forum

Folks, Join Our new Eureka Montana News Forum. It is where you get to tell us what is news to you, whats going on in "your neck of the woods", comment on local "Hot Topics", Give us Your Opinion, tell us what is bothering you in Eureka Montana. Or just comment on our Our Forum.

Eureka Montana News Forum Here

Time To Ask

Folks after years of questions asked of me, after years of hearing the stories from nurses - friends- and neighbors - it is time for me to ask the question.

What is Going on at the Eureka Schools that seems to create a high incidence of health problems and miscarriages. Awhile back someone asked me (again) if I knew, historically of what was on the site of the schools before the Eureka School was there. I checked the local history mill ( ya know local folks who know) and I heard that there was an old farm there. Where was the Eureka Chemical Plant located back in the day? I am not really sure.

A nurse in Whitefish a few years back, actually more like 10 years ago asked me why there was such a high incidence of cancer in eureka, she claimed that they had a high percentage of clients from eureka with the same health problems.

I don't know if it is air quality, water or somethng else. But after 15 years or more of the same stories, don't you think it is time to ask that our local gov. - our public school system finds out more.

I am making NO CLAIMS. I am simply asking the question. Please comment on this Blog if you have a Story or an opinion on this situation.

Check Out the Discussion on Our Forum on this Topic
Click Here

6/2/08

DOJ Strikes Deal With Realtor Group

A recent settlement struck between the DOJ and the National Association of Realtors — over an antitrust suit alleging that the NAR improperly controlled how home listings are displayed on the Internet — might be a boon to home buyers and sellers. Or it might not.
The DOJ’s Deborah A. Garza, the deputy assistant AG for antitrust, called the settlement “a win for consumers, certainly, who will now have the benefit of unrestricted competition.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/05/28/