Billboards draw more criticism

Editor,

As I sit at the traffic light — often quite a long wait — after visiting either Mission Mountain Medicine, Wheat Montana, Wash 'N Go, the new Eagle Bank, SportsPage Bowl and Lounge, or Wal-Mart and waiting to turn onto Rt. 35, I am confronted with crass and totally out-of-place commercialism in the form of 24 advertising signs.

And while the property behind the signs may not be beautiful in some eyes, it certainly represents a bit of our great state of Montana with its goats, little road, trees and brush. And, if you cast your eyes beyond that property, you can see the lake and mountains. The 24 obnoxious signs cover up that entire scene.

I cannot tell you how many people I talk with who abhor those signs. In fact I know of a proposed movement to boycott the businesses being advertised!

The reason for these signs seems clear enough. I am told that the owner of the property collects $5,000 per year in advertising fees, certainly a legitimate business decision.

When, I ask, will the values of scenic beauty replace greed?

When, I ask, will those considering defacing the landscape consider the feelings of those who love our beautiful Montana surroundings?

When, I ask, will a ban be placed upon obviously misplaced billboards?

When, I ask, will people's love of nature and scenic beauty replace love of the almighty dollar?

When, I ask, will those responsible for this entire fiasco realize that maybe that almighty dollar income from our great tourist trade each year may be compromised little by little as tourists who have left scenes such as these to visit beautiful, unspoiled Montana, sit at that traffic light and shake their heads saying, "Look, Dear, what in the heck did we come all the way out to Montana for? — we can see this at home."

Bob McClellan

Polson