Feels board member over-reacted

Editor,

Thank you, Bob Hanson, for identifying yourself as the thin-skinned Polson School District Board member so easily aggrieved by a letter from concerned parents about the faulty doors at Cherry Valley School. Your letter and explanation in the Leader aside, you obviously must not believe in the Polson School District Public Relations Plan that you proffered at the April 2, 2007, board meeting.

The Plan beginning with the District Mission is, "to partner with families and the community; provide a safe learning environment; and prepare students to succeed in a changing world. The first goal of the plan is, "to encourage and enhance communications, understanding, trust and mutual support between the District and the people it serves. The public relations mission of that policy (4000 / Community Relations) is, "open and effective communication with all of the district's constituencies (students, parents, staff and the community in order to develop relationships that support and improve student achievement."

In each case from mission through goals, a primary objective of the policy is to foster communications with the public. You trash that mission and those goals with your witticism about your colleagues "playing nice" with people who make unsubstantiated charges and malicious comments; except that what you prattle about didn't happen.

In light of the recent events at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., concerned parents have every right to feel extremely disconcerted when a school in your district experiences continuing problems with securing its doors. Parents have every right to bring their concerns about such an issue to the school board's attention, to ask hard questions and receive reassuring answers.

Instead, you chose to attack a polite presentation to the school board and you continue your attack when a simple clarification of news reporting on the meeting was enunciated. Take a deep breath, Bob, and remember that you chose to serve on the school board, as ungrateful a job as it may seem at times. We thank you for that much.

Cesar Hernandez, Polson

Military personnel are honored here

Editor,

We attended city council meeting when the Freedom Day Celebration request was presented for renaming the Polson Bridge. After that city council meeting we left feeling blessed to live in a community who will unite in such a positive way to honor military men and women of past, present and future generations.

Although our son-in-law has not been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, he and our daughter live among soldiers who have. The realities of war could not be any closer to anyone, except for those who are in direct combat and the families who support them.

As we watched an excerpt of the CNN production of a combat hospital in Iraq, it was so humbling to watch a wounded soldier show more bravery than we could ever hope to have, even as he was not sure he would live.

For those who have had courage enough to serve our country, this Freedom Day Celebration, is our opportunity to have courage enough to care and honor them.

We will be involved and let military servicemen and women know that they will always be honored in the City of Polson.

George and Joleen Barce

Polson

HR 808: Peace is patriotic, too

Editor,

Last month's letter, "Dept. of Peace is a Dangerous Proposal," was thoughtful and well-written by the Milheims. I heartily agree that, "Our greatest desire is a peaceful and nonviolent world for our grandchildren." But, there are other means of interpreting H.R. 808 than were voiced by their letter.

The Milheims found the bill, "ƒtotally unrealistic and irresponsible in a world where there are evil tyrants and religious fanatics who are dedicated to destroy our people and our nation."

I believe that a Department of Peace (DOP) is needed because our world is so dangerous. Tyrants and fanatics are generally created by desperation and poverty, where many feel hopeless and lack the most basic needs.

Nothing is more dangerous than large groups of desperate people. People who feel hopeless will turn to violence. The ranks of Al-Qaida swell each day as the number of war orphans increase because their only hope of survival are these radicals who take them in and feed them. These children learn to emulate evil because it was evil who cared for them. Similarly, if children are taken in by compassionate people, fed, clothed and given safe shelter: They learn to emulate compassion.

These are the types of situation the DOP is meant to take on, addressing the root causes of violence. Government agencies supposedly responsible for this work are not handling their responsibilities effectively mainly because they are reactionary against violence instead of pro-active.

A DOP would address domestic issues of violence at root causes, instituting the most successful national level programs to reduce school, gang, and domestic violence, and prison recidivism rates.

The same would go for other proven violence reduction programs. For the last 20-odd years, Missouri's restorative justice program in the 18 -25 year olds convicted of crime has resulted in recidivism rate of only 8 percent. The national average is between 40 and 70 percent.

Peace is considerably cheaper than war. One month's price of waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan is $8 billion, the same amount of money that would fund a DOP for one year.

The Milheims believe our money is better spent on the military as a deterrent to aggression; but nuclear missiles or smart bombs couldn't protect us from 9/11; No weapon can keep us safe from one person with an aerosol can of anthrax or smallpox walking down a city street. Terrorism is a deadly war that cannot be won with money and military might. It has to be torn out by its roots of poverty and desperation. We have to find ways to help others instead of harm them „ to make them friends instead of our enemies.

We believe in enabling the military to do what they do best. But then let them withdraw, and allow the reconstruction be supervised by a DOP. Surely our country could be considerably more effective, and fiscally responsible, this way.

Every State Coordinator and Congressional District Leader in this campaign is a volunteer. We believe this country can be a world leader in peace instead of the most hated country in the world. Peace is patriotic, too.

Debi Strong

Bigfork

Ronan Safety/Health Fair went well

Editor,

We thank the community for their participation in the Safety/Health Fair held last Monday. We had over 100 participants come through and engage in our booths. The students learned along with everyone else and it was a great experience.

Many thanks to Danica Clairmont and the SKC dental assistant students with their booth; KHJC medical assistant students and their information; Fire Control for bringing us Smokey Bear and hand-outs,; SRO Dan McClure and his fingerprinting and child find information, and Safe Harbor and DOVES for having a booth there.

We would also like to give much appreciation to Amy Griffin for the help in organizing, setting up, taking down, and being our support system; to Patti Mocabee for registering everyone and giving us a tremendous amount of posters, hand-outs, and ideas; to Janet Sucha for supplying costumes, activities, and much moral support; to Margene Asay for supplying bikes and helmets to give away.

K. W. Harvey staff were very supportive and cooperative in allowing us to have this event in their school. KWH/PTA was generous in the funding of this fair and open to our ideas. I thank the NHS chapter members for providing the community with an avenue to learn.

Ronan High School/National Honor Society members performed a very well organized task and made us all proud.

Marlena Jensen

National Honor Society

Ronan High School

Successful Trade Fair

Editor,

A huge thank you to KERR radio for the successful trades fair last Saturday. As a new business in town and first time vendor, I didn't know what to expect. It was very well organized and ran smoothly. The turnout was overwhelming, we were busy all day. Thanks for making a new business feel welcome.

Sharon McDaniel

MadeToOrder

Polson

Quick emergency response appreciated

Editor:

I'm writing this letter to say thank you to the Lake County Sheriff's Office 911 dispatchers for their quick response for paging Mission Ambulance so very quickly on April 10, 2007 so that they could respond to the 911 emergency call to my mom's house really fast. Thanks to Ken Scott for responding to the 911 page really quickly and taking control of the emergency while Mission Ambulance was on the way to the scene. Thanks again to all involved.

Lynn Delecaris

St. Ignatius

School board urges levy approvals

Editor,

Our children are our future. The one thing that we can count on is that one day, they will grow up, and some of them will assume positions of authority in our world.

As District 23's Board of Education, we owe it to our community to make sure that our students are well educated, well informed, and curious about the world around them. To that end, we are asking you to support our request for additional funding on the May 8 ballot.

Because of the uncertainty of this year's legislative process in funding our state's schools, we are struggling to meet our district's financial responsibilities for the coming school year. Soaring energy prices, inflation, and normal increases that our budget incurs each year mean that our elementary schools and our high school will experience serious monetary shortfalls for the 2007-2008 school year. We are asking for your help.

The amount we are requesting is $218,947 for our elementary schools and $103,287 for our high school. These amounts, for a home valued at $150,000 will mean an increase of $25.56 (elementary) and $9.96 (high school) to your yearly property taxes.

We are not asking for extra dollars to expand what we offer to our students and staff, but to maintain the things that we think are necessary to have schools that are an asset to our community.

As trustees, we are charged with providing a quality education for our students, maintaining highly qualified staff, and regular maintenance and repair of our buildings and grounds. We do this while always trying to remain sensitive to a reasonable level of taxation on the citizens of this district. We feel that at this time, we have no other choice but to ask our community for help.

As School District 23's Board of Trustees, we have proven that we are fiscally responsible to you the voters. We give our word that if the legislature adequately funds our schools, we will not use, and there therefore you won't be taxed for, any monies over the above the budget shortfalls.

Thank you for the years of support that you have given to the children and to the schools in our community, and we ask for your continued support by voting in favor of the proposed levies on May 8.

School District 23 Board of Trustees

Elke Allik, ohn Laimbeer, Bob Hanson, Tracy Bauer, Mark Russell, Vernon Finley, Kim Maloney, Theresa Taylor

Recycle cell phones, ink/toner cartridges

Editor,

Have you ever wondered if there were something you could do with your old cell phones? What about the empty ink cartridges from your printers? We have just the answer for you.

The Sharing Place, 511 First Ave. SE, in Ronan has started a new recycling programs. We are now recycling used cell phones, used ink cartridges and used toner cartridges to raise funds for our day to day expenses.

We appreciate your support and everything that you do for The Sharing Place. If you have any questions about the recycling program or any questions about The Sharing Place, please feel free to give us a call at 676-8460 or 250-9237.

Elaine Cramer

Director, The Sharing Place

Ronan