Don't forget the Food Pantry
Editor,
The Polson Loaves and Fish Food Pantry has recently achieved the Town Pump match goal of $5,000, but needs additional donations to capture Treasure State Concrete's and Les Schwab Tires extended match offer.
The extended offer runs through Dec. 31 and I encourage anyone wishing to make a difference by lending a helping hand (providing emergency or supplemental food packages) to folks in our community that need help. With the rising cost of living, most particularly heating fuel and gasoline, many lower income families are truly in need of help.
The Polson Pantry works on an all volunteer basis, is open to serve clients on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The pantry is located at 10 8th Avenue East in Polson and is always looking for reliable volunteers wanting to make a difference in our community.
Please consider making a "match" donation and/or volunteering to serve.
Sid Rundell
Board member
Big Arm
Beware of torn up streets in scaping
Editor,
Kalispell got tricked into doing the same thing that put a lot of downtowns out of business.
They now have less downtown parking, less reasons for people to be downtown.
Many of the small independent businesses that were growing before they started Streetscape were out of business by the time it was done. Those were families trying to be part of the American dream — put out of business by torn up streets.
The city told the businesses that when people saw the pretty sidewalks, they'd want to park their cars just to walk on them.
I don't know about you, but a forest path might make me want to walk — but a colored sidewalk?
What makes me like to walk on a town's downtown sidewalks are a variety of small little shops that I've never seen before. Then, like that forest path, it speaks to my sense of adventure.
Some new small shops are beginning to come back in Kalispell, but I miss the ones the torn up streets put out of business.
And those fancy colored sidewalks look less fancy every winter.
Ruth Baer
Polson
Dec. 7, 1941 was tragic all around
Editor,
In March 1938, Hitler took Austria. The conquest was over in a few days. The world simply looked on.
The same year, Hitler threatened Czechoslovakia, German speaking people inhabited western Czechoslovakia, and Hitler argued that all German-speaking people should be under one flag. On Sept. 29, 1938, the Munich Pact was signed giving Hitler what he wanted.
Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of England, was largely responsible for this decision, even though Winston Churchill, who was then in the House of Commons, strongly opposed the decision. Then Poland fell in 1939, France and Finland surrendered. Norway was conquered, and England was attacked from the air.
Now this is 1940. We began to call up the National Guard units in America. The 45th Division out of my State of Oklahoma, for example, was called to active duty.
Let us now move to the Pacific. In late 1940, the U.S. placed an embargo on the shipment of high octane petroleum to Japan, after Japan seized a part of French Indochina. The rest of Indochina was then taken by Japan in July 1941. At that time Great Britain and the United States froze Japan assets in their banks. A the same time, Japan, as begun earlier, was continuing to seize land in China.
In mid-November 1941, Japanese planes were taken on board their respective carriers. Then they headed toward the Kurile Islands, traveling singly and on different courses to avoid attention.
Then on Nov. 25, 1941, the 28-ship task force, including six carriers, left the Kuriles.
On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese task force was 230 miles north of Oahu. Just before dawn, the order was given to take off. Within 15 minutes, 183 aircraft took of from the carriers. The time was now 06:15 a.m. Included were torpedo planes, level bombers, dive bombers , and fighter aircraft. At 7:49 a.m. the attack began. Target were Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field, Bellows Field, Wheeler Field, Ford Naval Base and certain others.
A few minutes later, 167 more aircraft attacked. In addition, 25 to 28 submarines arrived slightly before the aircraft together with midget submarines (five in number) fastened to the decks of the large submarines.
There were 94 ships of the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack; 70 were combat vessels including eight battleships.
As a result of the attack, seven of the eight battleships had been sunk or badly damaged. Crumpled hangars collapsed, burying men and planes in the debris.
The tragic and heroic story of that Sunday long ago can never be fully told. Many of the men who could have told it died before it was over.
2,403 persons died. The channels were jammed with sinking hulks, the airfields were a welter of smoldering planes, and hundreds of men lay dead in the widespread wreckage. Fifteen men won the Congressional Medal of Honor, and of these 15, 11 were dead.
War was declared on Dec. 8, 1941. I was in Texas in Aviation Cadet Training.
Bill Ingram
Polson
Remember Tokyo Rose in WW2
Editor,
I'll never forgive President Ford for forgiving Tokyo Rose. You should hear the things that Tokyo Rose said during the war from Japan. They were terrible. December 7 means more to me now than back then.
The things she said were designed to undermine the morale of the American and Allied troops in the South Pacific.
Anyone who heard her would confirm that.
This day is also the anniversary of the founding of the American Legion, which is one reason that I'm thinking about this. My father, Harry Bonser, was a charter member of the American Legion post in Polson. He was in the U.S. Marine Corps during two different wars.
Emerald Barker
Polson
Country Store has a problem
Editor,
This is a letter to the people of the area who have donated so generously to the Country Store and continue to do so. We thank you for your donations of clothing, bedding and small household articles.
However, a problem is arising and is becoming worse as bags and boxes of stuff are left on weekends and after store closing hours.
When bags are left at the back of the store, very often they are opened, ransacked, left scattered leaving the contents to get dirty, rained and snowed on, and very often in a condition only to be thrown out when volunteers come to work the following morning.
Therefore, we ask again that you do not drop donations off behind he store when it is not open or on weekends.
Also, since our floor space is so limited, there is no room for large items — furniture, beds, computers. Please do not bring them and leave them for us to dispose of.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Phyllis Dresen, secretary
Polson
Thanks to PHS Honor Society
Editor,
During this time of preparation for the Christmas season, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the members of the Polson High School Honor Society for helping us decorate downtown Polson. Your time and talents were greatly appreciated.
Ken Avison, president
Polson Business Community
Several tribal issues need addressing
Editor,
There have been two great letters in the paper in the past week or two, from Louise Stasso and Doug Morigeau.
Louise expressed her disappointment at the light voter turnout in the most recent tribal primary election. Regrettably, the turnout for the general election may be smaller than the primary, if the weather is bad on election day. Several years back I recommended that the election schedule be changed to coincide with state and national elections, which would, hopefully, provide for better weather by five to six weeks, and, thereby, to allow more elderly voters and homemakers with small children better access to the polls, and perhaps to impact state and national elections.
Doug's letter was also right on, and I am in agreement with him on a number of his comments, including the observation that there is a much more courteous and hospitable, and less of a threatening and retaliatory, environment in the council chambers. As a private businessman, Doug has been in disagreement with the counciI on gaming, and I agree with him on this issue, which I believe clearly shows that we can agree to disagree agreeably.
Other issues and questions that need addressing by the council candidates are as follows:
1. A free press, or a censored "free press?" Literally, all other papers appoint an editorial board. This board is appointed by the publisher and serves at their pleasure. This board is primarily charged with making sure that what is printed does not fall into the realm of libel, slander, journalistic assault, or nonsense. Most importantly, it takes this constitutional right out of the hands of a censor, and out of the realm of political manipulation.
2. Should council members be permitted to hold full-time jobs with the tribes?
3. Should the tribal constitution be amended, perhaps in the following ways:
a. to redistrict according to the population shifts? For example, there are more than 1,000 voters in the Ronan district, and fewer than 100 in the Dixon district. At times there may be 50 viable council candidates in Ronan and maybe only two or three in Dixon. It should also be noted that one of the more recent membership studies showed that 73 percent of the membership reside within 14 miles of the Ronan-Pablo area.
b. to provide for a popular vote on the split family enrollment issue. Our tribal organic documents badly need updating.
4. When will the membership be provided a financial report on gaming and the Eagle bank?
Wyman J. McDonald
Ronan
Tribal reorganization is long overdue
Editor,
The Tribal Council's plan for Tribal Government reorganization is long overdue. The exercise of our sovereignty, the needs of our people, and the millions of dollars spent demands a better organization. The Council has been engaged in planning over the past two years with the full knowledge and participation of its executive staff and management level.
One of the most important reasons for reorganization is improved communication. The scope and complexity of Tribal affairs is overwhelming. The goal is to help the Tribal membership be more informed, more knowledgeable, and more involved. In doing so, we have a stronger, more united Tribe for all of our benefit — which is how we have survived for centuries.
A recent political advertisement suggested that services and per capita payments may be in jeopardy. To prevent this from happening, the Tribes must prioritize its most crucial needs and plan for them. The quantification of water rights is such an example. The Tribal Council must make funds available for the successful negotiation of water rights prior to 2009, and as a safeguard, must make funds available for litigation if negotiation does not succeed. These activities are costly and will take years.
Another political advertisement alleges misguided spending and deficit spending in the Tribal Government, and pleads, "we must prevent the Tribal government from modeling itself after white corporate America." Call it white corporate America or whatever you want, at the end of the day, the Tribe has only so much money. Services, jobs, and per capitas WILL be in jeopardy if budgets aren't tied to priorities, if we fund programs that do not produce, and if we tolerate Tribal leaders who carry on personal politics, narrow agendas, and self-interests. Ruth Swaney
Pablo
MVA recreation district mail vote upcoming
Editor,
This past year has been very exciting for Mission Valley Aquatics. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest and share a few of our recent successes.
The year started out with a donation of $10,000 from The Shores Condominiums and $2,500 from The Soroptimists of Polson. More recently, Wal-Mart contributed a $5,000 donation and the Live Locally 5K on Oct. 20 raised $2,161.
This spring, in an effort to increase our organization and fundraising viability, a committee spent "weekend work sessions" with Sandy Welch, author of the MVA Business Plan. She completed the business plan in May. The business plan includes detailed information on the general organization, services, marketing plan, operational plan, financial plan and more. It can be reviewed on our website, www.mvaquatics.org
During the summer many of you signed the petition in support of creating a recreation district tax. Thank you! We met the required number of signatures and the County Commissioners approved the creation of a recreation district. The Commissioners are allowing MVA to proceed with a mail-in ballot to request a levy of 7 mils in the proposed district (same boundaries as School District #23).
The ballot will be mailed out on Jan. 10 and should be returned by 8 p.m. on Jan. 29. Please review the attached form for more information about the recreation district and the mail-in ballot. In the next two months it will be important to spread the word about the mail-in ballot to other community members.
The most exciting news we received this summer was that there are two anonymous donors willing to donate $1million each if the community approves the recreation district tax. We are hopeful that the tax will pass and with the $2 million, we are confident many more donations will follow.
Mission Valley Aquatics has two bank accounts, a checking account and a savings account. The checking account ($9,292.46) is money acquired through fundraising and used for operation of the project. The savings account ($50,188.81) is pledge money collected and will remain there until construction of the aquatic facility begins. Currently MVA has received pledges totaling $74,128.43.
Mission Valley Aquatics sincerely appreciates you being an early supporter and for sharing the vision of a state-of-the-art aquatic center.
Please contact us if you have any questions or ideas, (406) 883-4567 or mvaquatics@polson.net
We continue to have monthly community meetings that are held every fourth Monday of the month at 5 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Due to the upcoming holidays the December meeting will be on Dec. 17. Please join us if you can.
Tana Seeley, Project Director
MVA Board of Directors
Co Carew
Mac Binger
David Waterman
Barbara Monaco
Raina Stene
Hu Beaver
Mitch Young