Reward offered for info on vandals

Real estate, business, and conservation groups are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of members of an anti-development group that in May vandalized three new subdivisions.

Citizens for a Better Flathead joined with the Flathead Business and Industry Association and the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors to create a reward fund to be managed by the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

"We need to make it perfectly clear that this kind of behavior is clearly out of bounds and that lawbreakers should be punished," said Mayre Flowers, director of Citizens for a Better Flathead. "Whatever the motivation, these actions disrespect the rule of law and in the end are bad for our environment."

The reward is being offered in response to vandalism by a group calling itself Americans Stopping Sprawling Development, which has taken responsibility for damaging property in the Bear Hollow subdivision on Montana 35 north of Bigfork, the Tamarack Heights subdivision on Meadow Lake Drive north of Columbia Falls, and the Cedar Pointe Estates subdivision at the southern end of Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls.

Damage most often included ripped-up survey stakes and spray-painted curbs, sidewalks, roundabout rings, and signs - often painted with the words "stop sprawl."

"Developers and Realtors have important work to do and contribute to this valley every day," said Denise Smith of the Flathead Business and Industry Association. "There are appropriate ways to sort out our differences - but vandalism is clearly not one of those ways."

George Culpepper Jr. of the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors said everyone should have a say in planning as the Flathead Valley grows, but resorting to vandalism crosses the line.

Citizens for a Better Flathead has pledged $100 to the reward fund, and Smith and Culpepper said their boards will consider contributions as well.

At one of the vandalized subdivisions, the anti-development group left behind a typed, three-page letter.

In it, the group says its goal is to raise "awareness of sprawl among the general populace, especially with respect to the negative impacts it has on our lives, and stopping sprawling developments across the country and the world."

The letter also included a definition of sprawl, a list of Web sites for further suggested reading and an e-mail address to contact the group for those wishing to get on a mailing list.

In an e-mail, the group explained that using vandalism was a way to get people's attention.

"The only way to stop sprawling development is by informing people who can in turn go to their government and say: 'This is not what we want. We want smart growth policies implemented in our communities,'" the e-mail read. "The vandalism may be a bit extreme, but we felt it was necessary in order to get the word out. We would like to say one further thing concerning the vandalism. We do not intend to harm any people who have bought lots in the developments we target. We hold the developer, not the home owner, responsible for the sprawling development."

The Montana Department of Justice is investigating whether Americans Stopping Sprawling Development is an actual, legitimate organization and if the group is active in other parts of the country or just the Flathead Valley, according to Flathead County Sheriff's detectives.

When apprehended, the vandals most likely face felony criminal mischief charges.

Anyone with information on the group is encouraged to call the Flathead County Sheriff's Office at 758-5610 or CrimeStoppers at 752-8477.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden may be reached at 748-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com