Tough Laws and Trash Talk

Some call the United States Senate, "The most powerful club in the world." Maybe it is and maybe it isn't but The U.S. Senate is the "Upper House" of the nation's Legislative Branch of government, while The House of Representatives is called "The Lower House." In college and while working in Washington for the U.S. Senate, I had it pounded into my head that the members of BOTH houses are called "Congressmen" or "Congresswoman." Members of The House do not seem to prefer being called "representatives," but do not mind "Congressman." Senators prefer being called "United States Senator." You can look up this kind of information in any good dictionary, American history book, or World Almanac.

The reason I'm preaching on this is because of a disagreement with the Associated Press. They sent down a wire story on the 11th saying "Montana's 'lone congressman' voiced his support for a house bill that would crack down on illegal immigrants." AP was referring to Denny Rehberg and I immediately sent their Helena Office a memo saying Montana has three Congressmen, and included the Webster definition of Congress: 1. Legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives.

AP fired back a fax saying: "George, according to the AP Stylebook, we have only ONE congressman, because the term is used ONLY to refer to a member of the U.S. House. I believe we've had this discussion before."

Would it be mean of me to fax them back and suggest they find out who wrote the Stylebook and then send that person back to college? I probably won't do that but if any of you want to, they can be contacted at apbookstore.com/ap.org.

Monday was Valentine's Day and there was a wire story about a Seattle Psychotherapist, Cherie Byrd, who teaches kissing. Cherie holds one-day "playshops" in which couples learn to "engage the electricity" in their bodies. The story does not say how much the lessons cost or if they have recess.

A more startling Valentine news story told of a radio station in New York that was giving away a free divorce. The promotional contest was for people who hate Valentine's Day, but the divorce had to be uncontested with no custody issues.

Chery Sabol who covers the crime beat for the Daily Interlake, makes the Law Enforcement Roundup very entertaining by just reporting the facts. Examples: "Kalispell police went to Third Avenue East where a woman was seen pounding on the windows of a vehicle. She told officers she was trying to break into the vehicle, which she owns." (Another) "A man reported on North Meridian Road with no clothes on, actually wore light colored pants, but no shirt."

One of her best recently told of two men who got into a fight and were hitting each other with sticks and making death threats at the Columbia Falls garbage-box site. This was all apparently started by "trash talking."

All reporters who cover the police beat see crazy things every day, and the style Cherie is using really hits the spot. Wonder what she'll say about the lady who called 911 at 3:30 Sunday morning because "the neighbor's rooster is crowing."

A man down in Ravalli County illegally used a bighorn sheep permit which was issued to his daughter. The ram he shot rates very high in the big game records and last week the judge said the fine was $30,000 because the sheep was such an outstanding trophy. Game Warden Jeff Darrah said if the animal hadn't been of trophy quality the penalty would have been $2,000. Fish and Game said the ram would be mounted and used to educate people about the consequences of illegal hunting.

M e a n w h i l e . . . two young men from Great Falls have just been charged with felony poaching for shooting a trophy-class ram more than two years ago. The newspaper story said the 22 year olds could be facing five years in prison and $30,000 in restitution. Their trials will be later this spring.

I don't know when or how the Fish and Game people got these new penalties on the law books, but it would be good if we could get something that tough for the rapists and child molesters.