Grandmother helps autistic child
Editor,
After reading the articles on autism, I wanted to let everyone know about a lady I used to work with. Her name is Kristy. When her grandson was diagnosed with autism, he and his family came to live with his grandparents.
Kristy quit her job so she could spend more time with her grandson. She also went to seminars to educate herself about autism.
She is an amazing lady, never ever saying a negative word about her grandson.
I miss working with Kristy but I know she's right where she is supposed to be. This is truly her higher calling. She has set the example of what a grandmother will do.
Thank you, Kristy, for not making autism negative. I wish everyone could meet her. Autism isn't horrible.
Kristy's grandson is wonderful. Please, before judging autism, educate yourself and meet someone who is living it first hand. You will truly change your perspective. I have, thanks to Kristy.
Gail Jensen
Polson
Autism presents challenges
Editor,
I think that the reader ("Degree of Autism can be varied," Feb. 28) mistook the spirit in which Decker's article was written.
I know Charlie Cote: she is a close personal friend of mine.
She and Will are both dedicated parents who love their children as well love our kids, with our whole hearts.
A parent is responsible for making decisions in the best interest of a child. What is best for one child may or may not be best for another, a parent does the best they can.
As parents we take on obstacles with the desire not to eliminate the obstacles, but to give children tools to overcome them.
The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy that Charlie and Will have decided for Decker was chosen because of great love for their child.
Decker may never talk, that is a reality, but as a parent you are obligated to give him every opportunity you can.
As stated in part two of Decker's story, this isn't a cure or parent's goal of having a "perfect" child. It is two loving parents trying every avenue in the hope of giving Decker life skills that will help to enhance his experiences, so he can enjoy his life to the fullest. Isn't that what we want for all of our children?
Parents of autistic children should offer as much support to each other as they can, their journey is not easy and isolation can be the hardest part.
As a community we should become educated so we can be a part of offering hope to these children and their families.
RaLynn Brown
Polson
Questions should be asked
Editor,
Recently I watched a documentary of the "New World Order" and saw some things that raise questions.
I work in the field of Addiction Medicine and have watched some of these things happen.
I wonder why alcohol, the number one killer of humans on earth and the top health concern, is regularly ignored.
Alcohol is sanctioned by government and billions of dollars are made by producers with blessings of Uncle Sam.
I found the sun getting hotter and melting ice on some other planets in our solar system.
I have a hard time with the idea that our children, by their emission of carbon dioxide, are actually causing global warming.
"Experts" say we need to reduce our population by 80 percent to save our planet.
Planned Parenthood has preached for two decades that parents should only have 2.5 children per household. Now we are at zero population growth, so how do we reduce populations by 80 percent?
Maybe we should take a look at what is going on. We have a government that answers to nobody and agencies that we don't even know about, and we secretly pay people we probably would not hire ourselves.
I have lived in this county for 60 years and watched wars start and finish and watched certain companies get rich on those wars.
The politicians start wars, reap the profits and soldiers die so other people can make money.
Do you know how many idiots our government has sponsored in power and then attacked them with our military?
Just for the sake of argument, say that global warming is a scam to get us to focus on that instead of what is really going on. Let us say the powers that be want us to all start working on saving the planet, so they can take advantage of our kindness and slowly take control of everyone.Maybe it's a "sleight of hand" trick — while we worry about global warming, we ignore being sold down the river.
NAFTA has put more people out of work.
The oil companies say we need to reduce our use of carbon based fossil fuels, but only keep raising the price and report that is how they plan to control its use.
Did you know we could cut ourselves completely off from the rest of the world and produce everything, we would ever need right here and be just fine?
We need to ask ourselves some important questions such as: Where did all these drugs come from and how did they get so big in this country?
Where are the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Fund, which do nothing they said they were going to do?
Why do certain political entities push so hard to take our right to keep and have firearms?
Are they afraid we will try to fight back when they come to take away the rest of our freedom?
Chuck Ripley, LAC
Polson
Great Ronan / basketball season
Editor,
Basketball and the Mission Valley have had a special bond for a long time. I continue to have a special interest with Ronan sports, as I am a Ronan Alumni. Congratulations to the Ronan Chiefs and Maidens basketball teams for their achievements throughout this past season. I had the opportunity to stay up to date with the basketball action by listening to the live play by play of Reed Tobol and Bridger Wayman. The young gentlemen brought a new style of play by play to the Chiefs' basketball program. Their enthusiasm drew many new listeners to the Chiefs' programs.
In my occupation I deal a lot with local radio stations and the team of Tobol and Wayman are not only known in the Mission Valley, but in Flathead Valley and all over Western Montana.
After the Chiefs won the divisional title in Kalispell, I was looking forward to listening to the broadcast of Tobol and Wayman from Billings. I talked with many friends from the Mission Valley and learned that the duo announcing team was not going to be able to broadcast at the state tournament due to conflicts with the management of Anderson Broadcasting. I could not believe that the management would not fully fund the team of broadcasters to represent their station, the Ronan School District, and the community of Ronan. I found out the next day that the Ronan Booster Club came together to help with the costs associated with the broadcast and that Anderson Broadcasting contributed a small amount of funds to the trip.
I was thrilled to listen to the two Chief games that were broadcasted from Billings. Even though the team lost out in the state tourney early, Tobol and Wayman kept the broadcast upbeat and outstanding. I look forward to keeping up to date on Ronan Basketball next year with Reed and Bridger.
Thank you, gentlemen, for stepping up to the plate and taking on such a big task and coming out on top. Congratulations to the Chief team for your efforts and kudos to the entire community of Ronan for supporting these Ronan activities.
Justin R. Rody
Kalispell