Ingrams express their gratitude for kindnesses
Editor,
It is hard to express our gratitude to you, the community of Polson, for all you've done for us, the family of Randy Ingram. Words just cannot do it. We felt your compassion and caring with every card, your food and flowers, your attendance at the memorial service and at our homes.
Most importantly, you've shown us your love for Randy. We were not alone. You shared our heartbreak, our loss as we cried together.
Randy's heart was so big. He loved his family and he loved his community. He was your friend, your son, and your mayor. He only wanted to serve you, his people.
There are so many to thank. Doug Chase and James Raymond for their heartfelt tribute to Randy at the service; Doug Chase and Lucky Larson for the way they handled their job. They did it with the utmost caring and compassion for the family.
To Rev. Esther Angel, Karen Sargeant, Dave Rensvold and Rick Skates who came in the middle of the night to be with us when we were informed of our tragedy, and stayed with us to weep with us.
To Rick and the staff at First Citizens Bank, who have tried to attend to our every need. To Merrie Lewis, who brought us many home-cooked meals. To Lisa Skalski, who kept coolers full of water and soft drinks for us daily. To Esther Angel, who has come everyday to hold my hand and broken heart.
To all of you who have shown your love for Randy and for his family. You have comforted us and blessed us.
We ask our loving God to take Randy into his arms and to bless each and everyone of you.
Bill and Jo Ingram and family
Polson
Super Wal-Mart is not a done deal — at least not yet
Editor,
Wal-Mart's Super Center in Polson is not a done deal. They put up their sign, "coming soon," practicing the marketing art of repeating something often enough so that people will believe it is true, whether or not it is the truth. Even some of the decision-makers on the council said, before they made their decision, that it was a done deal.
It is in the best interests of this corporation that public citizens feel powerless, that people feel all the deals already have been made by powers beyond them. Citizens, themselves, even find comfort from the assurance that they couldn't do anything even if they tried, because this relieves them of the guilt they might feel about not bothering to make the time. If they believe that they can't make a difference anyway, why bother?
The deal will be done one way or the other next Friday, Aug. 10. Judge Nelson Swandel from Livingston will decide whether it is legal for the City Council of Polson to have changed their zoning plan for the sake of one entity, the Wal-Mart Corporation. No judge around here wanted to touch the controversial issue.
Judge Swandel will decide whether Montana legal precedent allows public officials to vote against the stated values of their own Growth Planning and Master Plan documents to allow Wal-Mart to lead the way in the strip development of Highway 93 and to damage the viability of their downtown business district. He will decide whether this zoning change follows the legal precedent of Lowe's 12 points, which require that a change of zoning consider the safety, health and welfare of the community, minimize congestion in the streets and limit excessive concentrations of population.
I hope he decides that a government must follow Montana law and their own planning documents in the decisions they make. I hope he decides that a government body must clearly present to its citizens the reasons for their actions, rather than collectively vote against a recommendation of their City-County Planning Board and the preferences vocalized by a majority, without a word of explanation. I hope he decides that zoning plans matter and cannot be arbitrarily altered for the sake of the profitability of one out-of-state business.
As of now, the deal should not be done or decided. If it is, then something illegal has been going on.
Carolyn Beecher
Ronan
Law enforcement funeral escort service appreciated
Editor,
Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory expresses its sincerest gratitude to the City of Polson Police Department, Lake County Sheriff's Department, City of Ronan Police Department, and other agencies helping serve our community with their presence escorting loved ones to their final rest place.
These departments take time out of their busy schedules and make it an honor to serve our community.
The professionalism executed in their duties makes a lasting impression to the families we serve and to our community.
Again, we greatly appreciate the services provided by these agencies and thank them for this service the community.
Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory
Ron and Diane Grogan
Fred Nelson
Tom Jones
Eva Bray
Steve Nelson
Polson
Landscaping work is appreciated by District 23 staff
Editor,
The staff of Polson School District's Administration Office thanks Lake County Extension Agent Jack Stivers and the Master Gardeners class for their wonderful landscaping around our Administration Building.
We appreciate their incredible talents and the many hours they donated. Our building has never looked better.
Many thanks to all of you. You have beautified our corner of the world.
SD 23 Administration Office Staff
Polson
Irene Anderson families say thanks
Editor,
We wish to thank everyone for your support at the time of the loss of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Irene Anderson.
Whether it was a card, flowers, food, phone call or thinking of us during this time, we want each and everyone to know how much we appreciated your caring.
A very special thank you to Phyllis and Ralph Foster, for all the food you prepared, the flowers and the nightly visits.
We sincerely thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts.
The family of Irene Anderson: Diana & George Kopecky family; Merlin & Janet Anderson family; Sharon McCall family; Den & Ginger Anderson family; Steve & Kristin Anderson family; Jeniel & Mike Benefield family; Gloria & Tom Haynes family; Judy & Melvin Murphy family; Roy & Charlene Anderson family; LaRene & Rich Kinkade family