A modern Good Samaritan situation
Editor,
On Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, my mother-in-law was walking to Insty Prints in Polson. As she was crossing the alley she stumbled and fell. She was hurt and bleeding, sitting on the ground trying to collect herself. A nice lady, Jeannie Robinson, who works at Insty Prints came to see what had happened and helped my mother-in-law to the store, helping her clean up and then assisting her back to her car.
My father-in-law was waiting in the car and had not seen anything that happened. But when he saw her, he drove her to the hospital where she got her top lip stitched. She was lucky, her face is bruised and swollen, but she is going to be fine as she is a very tough lady.
We would like to thank Jeannie Robinson for her kindness in helping my mother-in-law and also the staff at St. Joseph Hospital for taking good care of her.
It saddens us to say though, as she was bleeding on the sidewalk, a man looked at her and just kept walking by. He didn’t ask if she needed help or anything. So to him we would like to say, if you ever are down and out and need help, we can only hope that someone will show you more kindness than you showed that day.
Jeff and Debbie Lynn Jones
Polson
Team approach worked at crash site
Editor,
My name is Ron Virnig. I’m an EMT for the Lakeside Quick Response Unit. I was one of many involved in responding to the head-on accident south of Lakeside a month ago, and helped to rescue Inger Johnson. I read the letter written by Inger’s husband, Gene, in last month’s Leader and it touched my heart.
We arrived on the accident scene and everyone immediately went to a patient. I went over to Inger as I knew she was our most critical patient and still pinned inside her car. I had to be Gumby-like to get in the back seat of that car and stabilize her head, neck and spine. There I stayed for 45 minutes to an hour (or what seemed like forever in that situation) while the Rollins and Somers fire departments worked diligently together to extricate her from the vehicle.
Being with her for this time was something I will not forget. My heart was with her that night, as she was badly injured and in such a great deal of pain. Every little movement of the car or attempt to lift the dash off her would cause such agonizing pain and she would cry out.
I can honestly say I felt her pain that cold winter night. Again, all I could do was to hold and comfort her and let her know we were all doing our best to quickly get her out.
All the great volunteers that night (Lakeside QRU, Somers Fire, Rollins Fire and Polson Ambulance) worked so well together, and I’m sure it was an amazing thing to watch. We had three patients and four departments teamed up as one and delivered exceptional care from the time we arrived at the scene until they were all delivered to the Kalispell Regional Medical Center ER.
This letter certainly wasn’t about one person that night. It was about a dedicated and professional team of well-trained fire and medical volunteers. The people of Flathead and Lake counties should be proud and comforted to know we are here, caring, volunteering and doing something that at times is very difficult, and often has a tearful outcome, but for the most part is truly very rewarding.
Ron Virnig, Lakeside
Sovereignty, not race, is the card
Editor,
Referring to the reservation, a recently letter lamented, “What happened around here?” Although the letter aired many complaints covering mascots, gambling, and the Bison Range, most of the writer’s comments were directed at the Tribes. As such, a special response is needed.
A perception always in need of correcting is the notion that establishing reservations was racist and has led to discriminatory practices. Not so. To avoid the very real possibility of protracted warfare the federal government treated with Indians as sovereign, self-governing peoples, not races.
The reservations were not “given” to Indian cultures; they were “reserved” for them from land they already occupied. And the millions of acres given up by tribes in the name of peace still have immeasurable value.
The resulting treaties were legal and binding documents which are still the “law of the Land.” However, they have made Indians the most regulated minority in the nation. Why? Because, as sovereigns, they were granted rights that social justice demanded — but rights which the dominant culture has long resented. And tribes have correctly perceived they must exercise those rights or lose them.
Sadly, most non-Tribal residents of the Flathead reservation have never even read the Treaty of Hell Gate or they remain unmindful of the huge body of federal Indian law which the Tribes must deal with on a daily basis. Such ignorance promulgates more misunderstanding than enlightenment.
For example, as the federal government can require American citizenship preference in hiring, the Tribes have every right to be preferential in their hiring. Remember, race is not the playing card here, sovereignty is.
The writer ended with the statement “I love it here, but it is hard to stay …” thinking that the reservation had been “… abolished a long, long time ago.” This is not the state of Montana. It is a reservation that is not going away and non-tribal residents must learn to live with, or get a life.
As they should, white power and privilege have limited scope here. And if non-Tribal people wish to share in the beauty and resources of this land, respecting the culture and honoring the Treaty are never too much to offer in return.
W. Bennington, Polson
Some haven’t been told new addresses
Editor,
Every effort to improve emergency services in our community is greatly appreciated. The new E911 system is one of those efforts, and I, as a citizen and member of one of the volunteer groups providing emergency services in Lake County, want to thank everyone that has tried to implement this new system.
The recent letter from our county commissioners and the article in the Leader suggest the last step left to finish is for us to post our new addresses. However, the step before that one still has not been finished and that points out a failure in the implementation of the new E911 system. I still have never received a letter or card or anything telling me what my new address is, and I know I’m not the only one.
I contacted the county last fall to ask when I would be notified and was told everyone had already been informed of their new address. Well, that wasn’t correct, and still isn’t. The county did give me the following toll free phone number. For those of you that haven’t been notified or your new address, try calling Jim Stoden at GeoCom, 1-888-436-2666. GeoCom, apparently, is the private company Lake County contracted with to readdress our county.
I have my new address posted and have started the long process of letting all my contacts know my physical address has changed. Fortunately I have a Post Office Box so my mailing address hasn’t changed. I can’t help but be frustrated by the thought that my tax dollars were spent with a contractor that couldn’t even mail me a letter. I know the county has my mailing address, as they seem to be able to mail me my property tax bill every year.
Please make the effort to learn of your new address and post it properly so I, and all the other volunteers that provide emergency services, can find your home in an emergency.
Robert S. Rosso
Rollins
Ignoring global warming dangerous
Editor,
In view of the recent statement by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, comprised of an esteemed group of scientists from various nations around the world, the problem of climate change does not appear to be the work of liberal Americans. Even President Bush has recently acknowledged the problem.
These scientists have not based their conclusions on conjecture, nor personal opinions, nor half-baked notions of the reasons for climate change. Denying the reality of climate change and attributing the effects to imagined ideas is dangerous, indeed.
The IPCC report describes a long-term problem which will not be solved by a head in the sand attitude, much less attributing the problem to poor science, or so-called natural forces. To be blunt, we humans are desecrating our small planet.
We are concerned about our pre-emptive invasion of Iraq, based on information that has been shown to be false and misleading. The human and financial costs are scandalous.
As liberal Americans, we are more than saddened about the quantity of American troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The terror that Hitler unleashed on the world, much less his wholesale attempt to eliminate the Jewish religion and race, was on a scale that leaves a relatively small group of Muslim terrorists far behind. Hitler also declared that he would conquer the world. As we recall, he didn’t win.
Bob Bushnell
Olga Lincoln
Student Built House event went well
Editor,
On behalf of the Lake County Building Association members and its associates, we wish to wholeheartedly thank the following businesses, individuals and organizations as contributors to our successful Student Built House #2- community open house, which was held on Thursday, Jan. 25:
Sharon Procopio - Glacier Bank, Polson; Bob Olson - Community Bank, Polson; Brenda Dennis and staff - Community Bank, Polson; Wheat Montana, Polson; Safeway Stores, Inc., Polson; Ace Hardware, Polson; Brian Moldenhauer - WBC, Polson.
Your help was greatly appreciated.
Gehrand Bechard
President
Lake County Building Assn.
Polson
Our futures are in a united country
Editor,
On Jan. 8, I introduced myself as a lifelong resident of Polson, born and baptized here. I emphasized my respect for my forebears who worked hard and sacrificed for the good of all U.S. citizens, particularly in providing food from farming.
I also wrote of the respect I was taught for all people. I wrote about the collision of cultures which produced so many bad effects, many of which still linger.
Past treaties and agreements have been broken by our leaders, and seem to be continuing. It was sad. I apologize as a citizen. My forebears and I have faced powerful forces in bureaucracy which seemed out of reach to us common folks; mine were farmers, not soldiers or officials, as far back as I have been told. I try to be grateful that I am able to feed and responsibly contribute to the needs of others, rather than claim some benefits or privilege over them.
I like to consider our future together as United States, not divided. There are tremendous blessings of being and working together. Indians were amazed by the thousands of helpful tools and devices brought by the pioneers and settlers — and many kind Indians aided settlers. Now the U.S. is the world superpower, and will continue strong if united.
Asian people may have crossed to North America thousands of years ago. They could be the first inhabitants. Would one need to consider their percentages of ancestry — Japanese, North Korean, Chinese, Russian, etc. for sovereignty? (Incidentally, my little family is trying to adopt a baby girl from China).
Who or what provides a people with the ability to rule over a place or others? Is there something beyond what we do? Could it be based on what people trust or believe in, like a person, things, animals, images, or places?
I am a follower of Jesus, and I am well aware how failing I am in comparison to Him.
Suppose I were to have a model of our solar system to show you, and I told you it just appeared out of nowhere. Would you believe it? Most would insist that definitely someone had to have made it.
Local Indians long ago invited the Black Robes here to learn more about the Creator who intelligently and amazingly designed this place. We do have a wonderful creator named Jesus Christ. We just celebrated Christmas, His first coming. About 2007 years ago He walked this earth and taught about real love, forgiveness, salvation, hope, joy and place. We enjoy hunting, fishing and seeing creation, but I choose to worship the Creator rather than the creation or creatures. We can always learn more in Holy Scripture.
Ray Kackmann
Polson
Tribal game law needs to be revised
Editor,
This letter is a warning to tribal members concerning current policy regarding our Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep populations; it is also a story about a young single Mom named Kelly and how difficult it can be when you do the right thing.
A tribal member selected to hunt a ewe from last year’s drawing received two ewe permits to hunt in the Little Money Wildlife Management Unit. The Little Money area has more sheep than it can support.
Kelly received two ewe permits and had from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31 to fill her tags. She couldn’t find anyone to take her to Little Money. When she asked me, I took her since my grandmother is usually in Little Money at that time of year.
On Dec. 27, Kelly bagged two ewes, or so she thought. But one of her animals was a young male ram. Wanting to do the right thing, she flagged down a tribal game warden patrolling Little Money. It was explained to us that ewes’ horns grow no longer than 11 inches. Under orders, this warden confiscated the ram and issued Kelly a ticket for possessing a ram without a valid permit. This ticket carries with it a fine of $1,000. She may also lose her tribal hunting privileges for life.
The horns were 16 inches. From 100 yards away, it is tough determining what is a ewe and a young ram, especially for first-time sheep hunters. The one ewe picture provided by Tribal Fish and Wildlife hardly helps.
Humiliated and insulted for being honest to report what happened, Kelly sought relief from the Tribal Council on Jan. 4, 2007. The Council decided she can have the meat, but no horns or skin and she must still go to tribal court.
In the Dec. 28, 2006, Char-Koosta News Tribal Council minutes from Nov. 7 stated, “a request from the Rocky Boys Reservation to obtain bighorn sheep from the CSKT for the purpose of developing a population at their reservation … Due to the low interest in hunting for bighorn sheep ewes by CSKT tribal members and the high population levels, the tribal council approved exploration of potential relocation of sheep to other reservations”
I was informed that 27 sheep will be given to the Rocky Boys.
In one hand, tribal members are fined for reducing our Big Horn Sheep population. In the other hand, we are giving away our sheep because we have too many. If an example is to be made of Kelly to curb people from killing a ram, the opposite effect could happen. If a young ram is accidentally taken, who is going to keep it and have to pay at least an extra $1,000 in fines? This isn’t fair to the Indian people much less our sheep. Tribal law is making criminals out of the Indian people as they exercise their treaty rights within their own reservation.
We could have another extended hunting season until the end of January. Or more permits could be issued. Only 40 of the 170 permits issued were filled. Maybe sheep could be moved to underpopulated areas on the reservation. No leniency was shown toward Kelly for willfully turning in her honest mistake. Only perfection is demanded. Only punishment seems to be the answer.
I want to see fairness for sheep hunters and our sheep. I probably wouldn’t have written this letter if Kelly had not received a ticket. We are not all poachers and headhunters. Tribal game wardens need to uphold our laws, but our written law and policy are flawed. Tribal wildlife managers write laws and policies telling us tribal members what we can and cannot hunt. The council approves what they suggest.
Kelly waited six years for a ram permit as well as a ewe permit. It took me eight years to get my ewe permit. It is ridiculous to say “Due to the low interest in hunting for bighorn sheep ewes by CSKT tribal members.” Interested people have to wait quite awhile to get a chance to hunt.
For an accidental ram kill, I suggest: Have it stated in the application for a ewe permit if a young ram is accidentally slain, you may keep horns if under 18 or 19 inches, but they won’t be plugged so they cannot be sold legally. Make it illegal to sell the capes without a valid ram permit. Inform local taxidermists they cannot purchase it legally. It is ludicrous to burden the Tribal people for the killing of a Big Horn Sheep with a valid permit when tribal wildlife managers are giving them away.
Isaac Dupuis
Arlee
Watch for this political dark horse
Editor,
With less than two years to go before the next presidential election, all Americans need to wake up and forget their ideas of voting either of the front running Democrat or Republican candidates into the White House. The two-party system of governance is what has brought this country to the brink of destruction. There’s more to it than that, but unless this chain of command is broken now there might not be another chance to regain our Constitutional footing.
So what is the alternative? Unknown to most of the nation is a common sense grassroots candidate who, although he will be running as a Republican, is that man — Congressman Ron Paul of Texas. Each time Congressman Paul has stood up in Congress to make a point, he is dismissed as an opponent to the political status quo, and so he is.
That’s why in 2008 the American voting public must abandon its blind adherence to a political system that has been working to destroy this country’s Constitutional founding, and vote a return to grassroots common sense.
Congressman Paul has not yet announced his candidacy but he has begun an exploratory committee to weigh his chances. Congressman Ron Paul will most likely be a dark horse in the contest for president, and for that reason perhaps will not be able to raise the millions of dollars needed to continue to maintain an aggressive campaign.
We have gone through 70 years of political destruction and it’s well past time to change it, or as Thomas Jefferson said, our children and grandchildren will wake up one day homeless in a land their forefathers sought to gain for them.
I’m saying that if you don’t vote to change the political status quo in 2008, you will have made a mistake you will regret for the rest of your life.
If you haven’t already guessed, I do not support the party line of either political party, but I do support grassroots common sense and of course any candidate who has common sense. So far, Ron Paul is the only common sense candidate about to enter the presidential race for 2008.
Now, being a dark horse and considering his views, it’s not likely that he’s going to get much campaign money from the big spenders who buy their political favors, so Ron Paul will need your support and your campaign contributions as well.
Ron Paul is a medical doctor by profession, one who set aside his professional ambition to make an attempt to contribute to the preservation of this nation as a free and independent republic, and if you value your own freedom, you need a leader who thinks and feels like you do.
Would you support doing away with the IRS? How about doing away with every law that violates the Constitution? In reality, there can be no valid law that violates the Constitution, and they all need to be nullified. If the election of 2008 doesn’t change it, nothing is going to change if either front running party candidate emerges as president, unless that candidate is Congressman Ron Paul.
Keep than name in mind and pay attention to what he says.
Don Basta
Polson