Bonnie Raitt’s Warbling Sour Notes Letter Of The Week From Dec. 7, 1997

Mon., Dec. 22, 1997

Bonnie Raitt has joined Robert Redford, Whoopie Goldberg, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda in deciding what’s best for the people of Northwest Montana. I’m sure Raitt has learned a lot about what’s best for rural America from writing and singing country songs.

She has joined with four groups dedicated to turning Northwest Montana into a national park by stopping all base industries. Rock Creek Alliance, Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Coalition, Island Mountain Protectors and the Montana Environmental Information Center are all radical groups that intend to stop any industry, mining or logging in this area. And it doesn’t matter that taxes from these base industries are the lifeblood of our economy schools and roads especially, because they are funded straight from the activities of these industries.

Raitt has divided the money from the Missoula and Helena concerts among the mentioned groups to be used, I’m sure, to keep jobs and opportunity out of this area.

Country music is supposed to be the music of the common people, not something to promote a performance at the White House.

Raitt, get your priorities straight. Sing for the people, not the radicals. Joe B. Gilmer Troy, Mont. xxxx

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Bonnie Raitt’s Warbling Sour Notes Letter Of The Week From Dec. 7, 1997

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Supreme Court says state bans on ‘conversion therapy’ violate counselors’ free speech rights

Judge blocks Trump's $400 million White House ballroom plan for now

Updated: An award-winning U.S. journalist was kidnapped in Iraq. Here's what to know.