Burglars stole family memories, too
Editor,
This letter is addressed to the individuals who broke into our home on Sunday night, Aug. 5. I don’t need to tell you what a lowlife you are because you already know that. You knew our niece, maybe you even knew her as a friend or relative, was close to death in critical condition and needed all of her families’ support. I don’t need to tell you this because you already knew when you planned to break in, thinking you would have a lot of time to ransack and steal from us knowing we needed to be with her and the family.
What right do you have to go through our things? Have you worked for years to get anything — or even worked? I doubt it. You think everything should be handed to you. Wake up, nothing is free; you lose in the end one way or another.
I don’t know if any of you still have a conscience but if you do know this: You didn’t just steal material things from us, you stole our family memories and history. The .30-06 Remington BDL rifle, with a tiger-striped stock you took was part of my husband’s memory of time spent with his children; it meant so much to him. He worked overtime to pay for that gun while still recovering from a heart attack.
The gold wedding band you took was my grandmother’s wedding ring when she married in the late 1800s. It’s inscribed with my grandparents’ feelings about each other. These things are our children’s and grandchildren’s inheritance, not yours.
There are other things but I’m sure you don’t care. Maybe you are only interested in your next fix or drunk, but people matter, feelings matter and family matters. Someday, if you live long enough, you might find that out. Be sure of this, you will be caught. You’re on the path to nowhere and only you can change it.
We want these things back, especially the ones I mentioned. Our family is angry, as you will soon find out. To all the people who read this in all of the nearby areas, please stay alert and make sure you keep your memories safe. These people don’t care about others, only themselves. Take precautions when you leave and never take safety and security for granted.
It is a tough lesson but we have learned it. If anyone knows or sees these items, we are offering a reward.
Peter and Nancy Plant
Arlee
Finley Point sign vandalism
Editor,
Sad to note that there are certain individuals residing on Finley Point who suffer from a case of misplaced self-entitlement. These persons see themselves as judge and jury as to what is “acceptable” on a sign. We have had six incidents of vandalism to our rental sign … each one more egregious than the last.
The defacement progressed from bending our metal sign to ripping it off the board, painting over our phone number and then totally covering the sign in white paint. The last action was to steal not only our rental and directional signs but also signs of other residents who had placed their signs under ours. A report has been made to the proper authorities.
We are Cristina and Mondell Metz. The Metz family has owned property on the Point since 1913! Rentals have been ongoing for the Metz family since the late ‘40s. These individuals consider rentals to be beneath the “exclusive” atmosphere of Finley Point, which is ludicrous given the number of rentals located on the Point.
Just imagine the time and energy it has taken for these “grown-ups” to gather the spray paint, plan how they will deface and damage someone else’s private property and waiting for the cover of darkness to do their dirty deeds. How pathetic their lives must be that they have nothing of value to devote to worthwhile endeavors. No volunteering to worthy causes, to help those in need, to be of service to the community.
We ask that the residents and visitors to Finley Point be aware of what is happening for to do nothing encourages the ne’er do wells to do more damage. Others are also being vandalized. Police reports have been made, but this kind of crime depends on the community to band together to fight this misplaced sense of self entitlement.
Cristina and Mondell Metz
Finley Point
Why all-day kindergarten?
Editor,
Why on earth do we have to pay for all-day kindergarten? Who really believes children of that age have the attention span for an all-day classroom environment?
This just sounds like another way to gouge the taxpayers more, more and more money. Schools are already getting 40 percent of the budget. How much would be enough?
Parents are told what their children have to buy in supplies. What is the money being spent on? I try not to ask silly questions, but the school entities keep pushing and pushing. I am capable of spending my own money.
Frances Reid,
Polson
Which is more cost effective?
Editor,
After seeing pictures in several newspapers of the horrendous fires burning up Montana, I would like to suggest people cut out those pictures and send them to their favorite environmentalists and ask how close did the fire get to their cabins?
Twenty years ago, the green side of the ledger proclaimed logging should be eliminated because it was not “cost effective.” How cost effective is it now to watch the state go up in smoke?
Clare Hafferman, Kalispell
Poor records resulted in wrongful arrest
Editor,
I was involved in a little fender bender downtown last year. Like anybody else, I was given a ticket by a police officer (he was nice about it). It took some months, but the $170 fine and the $383 damage to the other guy’s truck was paid off in cash. My van stayed in the mechanic’s shop for one year.
So I was very surprised to be served a warrant at my home seven months later, on Sunday, July 15, 2007, for “Failure to pay court-related fines, fees, surcharges, or restitution” for the exact same incident. The Honorable City Judge Doug Olson signed the warrant for my arrest exactly four months after his office gave me a receipt of payment. Three months after that, I was taken from my home, cuffed by a Polson police officer and put behind bars for what was done and paid for.
I asked the arresting Polson police officer if he would be interested in seeing proof of payment from the City Court’s office. He wasn’t. But he was nice about it as he put the cuffs on me in front. We chatted about the hot weather in his nice air-conditioned truck and talked about the fires soon to come. He was nice.
I had called my 70-some-year-old mom to get me at the jail and bail me out (I was supposed to be at work in one hour; I was arrested five minutes before I was going to jump into the shower), and she was waiting for us when I was led into the jail in cuffs. She paid the $383 cash and I was “processed.” The officers were nice. The jailer who took my fingerprints was very nice. It was nice and cool behind the bars. I actually had a not-so-bad time! I got out in time to be about one hour later at my job — to the amusement of my co-workers. I imagine some people might have difficulty dealing with this particular little deal. I was okay.
Two days later, I was again in front of Judge Olson, this time slapping the receipt down in front of him from his own office, with all other receipts. After a short, polite discussion, Judge Olson told me, “Sure am sorry for all the trouble. I better make copies of these.” He was very nice. I mean that sincerely, no sarcasm.
My mother was refused her $383 cash bond refund until Aug. 1, two weeks down the road. Her emergency cash was gone. Not so nice.
Being falsely accused was embarrassing enough and yet my name was still submitted to the news for “Arrested for Contempt of Court.” That’s a public statement isn’t it? Should I get a public apology for that? I had customers and coworkers tell me that they saw my name in the paper after it happened. How does that make me look in the eyes of the general public? Does it put me in bad repute?
I’m not hunting for restitution or compensation of time lost. I am aware that I am not allowed to sue City Court for defamation of character and I can (but I won’t) sue Polson City Police for false arrest. The officer refused to consider a legal court document for the city court. I feel he was just doing his job as he saw it. But I will talk to an attorney sometime just to get some legal facts. Just in case it happens again.
Judge Olson agreed with me (after the fact) that I should have made copies for his clerk to put in my file so any typos (non-payment of restitution that was not even ordered by the court, etc.) would not have occurred. Take note of that little fact, readers.
Monty Hughes
Polson
St. Joseph staff gave great care
Editor:
I wish to thank St. Joseph Hospital, the staff and all the donors who have made this facility possible.
When my husband and I moved into the area four years ago, we were told by more that one person not to use St. Joseph Hospital for any reason. One said that we should not even consider taking an animal there. Well let me tell you that those comments are strongly disputed by my personal experiences, one of which is as follows.
On July 28, my sister had a stroke at 7:15 p.m. at my house in Big Arm. Minutes passed until we called 911. Polson Ambulance personnel responded and had my 73-year-old sister in the emergency room by 8 p.m. They were absolutely wonderful, as were the ER staff and Dr. Irwin who was on call, working quickly and making decisions professionally. Dr. Palmieri, our family doctor, along with the nursing staff on the second floor showed deep compassion and attentive care for the patient and each of her visitors. We the family, some of whom came thousands of miles, cannot shower enough praise on each member of the medical team.
From the initial fast response, the high level of treatment administered, the answering of hundreds of questions, counseling, consoling until the end, you all were so wonderful.
Our family believes that my sister, Evelyn, couldn’t have gotten better care had she been in the fanciest of hospitals. We are ever thankful; may God bless each and every one of you.
Eva L. Sisler
Big Arm
Objectors need to ‘get real’
Editor,
Frequent naysayer-activist Carolyn Beecher would very much prefer that we all maintain the status quo and shop downtown Polson, or as reality would require, continue our long and winding ways over sometimes icy and treacherous Highway 93 for shopping needs.
I say to Carolyn, please get real! For one thing a Wal-Mart or any others of these types of diverse store chains offering more competitive shopping would not for a minute consider a location in or near Polson’s “old downtown.”
You will notice if you travel that they almost always locate to the edges of the promising newer communities. So, Carolyn, please, with your letters or personal appearances before us, try to be more accurate with the facts and reality as they truly are. Please refrain from handing out for our consumption a lot of unrealistic “blue sky.”
As for the few who are calling themselves “Lake County First,” I ask again these months later, “Who do you think you are who would expect from the Polson city council, or we the people indirectly - ‘business protections’?” Please admit it, that’s really what is driving your ire toward a more vibrant community versus new and more competitive business ventures, be they a Wal-Mart Superstore, a Target, or any other such. You folks who comprise Lake County First really do need to get real.
Thank you very much.
Will Elliott
Polson
A belated thank you to Ronan VFW
Editor,
The Ronan School District #30 Band Program would like to send a belated thank-you to the Ronan VFW. It was out of complete oversight that you have not been thanked properly.
Over the past few years the Ronan VFW has done a wonderful thing for area music programs. They have been able to get surplus instruments from U.S. military bands. They have then picked a school in the area to donate them to. The Ronan band program has been the lucky school twice.
We have received clarinets, flutes, trumpets, percussion equipment, sound equipment, trombones, and even a beautiful brass sousaphone and electric bass. I have neglected to thank the VFW and I do apologize.
I would like them to know, however, that I brag them up every chance I get. When we played for the Veterans Hospital in Salt Lake three years ago, we showed off our wonderful surplus horns as well as at our performance at the Veterans Home in Barstow, Calif., this past year.
My students know how lucky they are to have the opportunity to play a professional level instruments. Again, Ronan VFW, you are the greatest. Keep up the great work you do for our community. Sorry it took so long to tell you.
Alicia Lipscomb
Ronan School District #30
Band Director