Time Capsule: Flathead salmon population decline explained

The Ronan Pioneer, December 22, 1982

State reverses Its driver’s license rule 

One man’s battle with the state of Montana’s use of Social Security numbers as identification on driver’s licenses has ended … at least for now … and Tom Stetson of Charlo won the skirmish. 

Stetson returned his newly-issued driver’s license to Attorney General Mike Greely last month when he noticed that instead of his birthdate as an identification number, the license contained his Social Security number. 

Until about 13 months ago, license numbers were compiled from applicants’ birthdates. For instance, if your name was Smith and you were born December 30, 1944, your license I.D. number was S443012, your birthdate backward. 

Stetson fired off a letter to the state’s top legal officers, citing a number of constitutional provisions, which Stetson said were violated by the change. Greely didn’t budge, citing a number of reasons. 

Last week, Sarah M. Power, assistant attorney general for the state, returned the driver’s license to Stetson. “I am returning it to you due to a recent change in policy by the Division of Motor Vehicles." The license used a “manufactured” I.D. number instead of the Social Security number. 

The Division of Motor Vehicles had passed an administrative ruling establishing the Social Security number as the “distinguishing license number.” Stetson, Dr. Harry Disney of Ronan, and others protested in the form of a flurry of letters to the editor, to top state officials and others … 

Taxes are going up 

Property tax rates have increased in 66 percent of Montana’s municipalities over one year ago, according to the Montana Taxpayers Association. This means that property owners in 83 of Montana’s municipalities face property tax increases, while property owners in 43 cities and towns are paying less of a mill levy rate than for 1982. 

The total mill levy for Ronan’s population bracket is 301.32 mills or $301.32 per $1,000 taxable valuation, as compared to $289.62 for 1982. The average tax levy for Ronan’s population bracket is $312.17 for 1983 as compared to $297.21 for 1982. 

Broken down for 1982 and 1983, levies for Ronan compare as follows: county levies 1982: 42:81, 1983: 42.74; public school levies 1982: 168.21, 1983: 176.59; municipal levies 1982: 72.60, 1983: 72.20; state levies 1982: 6.00; 1983: 6.00; total property tax levy 1982: 289.62; 1983: 301.32. 

On a statewide basis, property taxes are estimated to hit $486.3 million for 1983, an increase of $24.1 million over one year ago. This is less than the percentage increase of recent years because Montana’s new automobile fee system has placed part of the property tax burden with state revenues of $15 million for the tax year 1982 and an additional $15 million for the property tax year 1983, according to the Association … 

Flathead salmon population decline is explained 

On Nov. 10, the Fish and Game Commission met in Billings and established the tentative fishing regulations for 1983-84. 

The only significant change for northwest Montana was a proposal to eliminate salmon snagging and reduce the salmon limit to 10 fish a day and 10 in possession in the contiguous Flathead system. This would include Flathead Lake, the Swan River below Bigfork Dam, and all streams in the Flathead drainage north of the lake. 

This proposal was recommended by the staff in the Kalispell Regional Office of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It is aimed at decreasing the fishing pressure to allow more salmon to take advantage of the controlled flows out of Hungry Horse Dam. The overall objective is to increase the number of salmon in the Flathead drainage. Salmon have been decreasing in the area since 1978 …