Better person for having worked with Paul

Editor,

I'm writing to express my appreciation for how much Paul Fugleberg meant to me during my time at the Lake County Leader. I can't put into words how much he helped me grow and develop as an editor and as a person during the three and a half years I spent working with him. Paul always provided a calm, rational perspective that helped ease my frustrations when dealing with a particularly verbally abusive caller, and provided sound advice when we had to discuss the tough "calls" a newspaper editor occasionally has to make about what to print and what to leave out. Paul was always there for me during the first year when I felt like I was just treading water, and he was largely responsible for the confidence I gained later on, which came in part from knowing he was there to help guide me through the rougher waters.

While many people in the Mission Valley know Paul as a wonderful, down-to-earth, and gifted writer, I'm not sure if they realize just what he has meant to Montana journalism over the span of his career. Paul's name is well-known throughout the state and is synonymous with journalism and the newspaper industry as a whole, and I only wish that for his next venture, he writes a book about all the people he interviewed and experiences he had along the way. It would be quite an historical contribution!

In the meantime I hope that Paul's retirement from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of the newspaper industry will provide him with the opportunity to focus on those many other projects he's mentioned, while allowing him to spend more time with his family. While the Lake County Leader will lose his daily guidance and steady hand, at least readers will still benefit from his Among Other Things column, which remains one of the most popular aspects of the paper to this day.

In closing, I just wanted to thank Paul publicly for all of his support over the past few years. I wouldn't have learned nearly as much without his guidance and knowledge of the valley's history if he hadn't been there for me and the editorial staff as a whole. He made me a much better editor in the newsroom, and a better, more compassionate person outside the office. His commitment to quality and the readers he served is unsurpassed and we can all say our lives were enhanced by his presence at the paper. I am a better person for having had the opportunity to work side by side with Paul, and there's no greater compliment I could give a coworker.

Thanks Paul.

Ethan Smith

Polson

Examining Hwy. 35

This is in response to "Spook" Stang's (executive vise president of the Montana Motor Carriers Association) letter in regards to his statement about the safe driving of his association members on Highway 35. Safe driving is not the only issue here. It is the nature of the highway and continued abuse of it.

Let's briefly examine what really happens on Highway 35. It is the residents and property owners along Highway 35 who really know the daily "incidents" that occur. Mr. Stang writes his letter as he sits in the safety of his office in Helena collecting his pay check for representing Montana Motor Carriers Association. It is, after all, his job. In my nearly 30 years of living along the highway we have had our share of "incidents." On one occasion my children were getting off their school bus, it was stopped with red lights flashing along a mile and a half straight a way. The two kids were crossing in front of the bus when a tractor trailer comes speeding by the bus and only by the grace of God did the truck go behind one child and in front of the other. The bus driver told me afterwards that he was sure both children had been hit. There are several sections of the highway where harassment occurs with jake break usage. Highway 35 from Bigfork to Fulkerson Corner is possibly one of the longest and narrowest "communities" in the country with private entries every two hundred feet in many areas. The many times we travel Highway 35 we encounter a speeding tractor trailer passing on a solid line at speeds of 70 mph or better in the 50 mph zone. In the winter and with a little snow on the highway one is completely blinded for a short time when meeting a truck. Last week I followed a fuel tanker with a pup north bound on highway 35 and in the ten miles that I was behind him, his pup was across the fog line four times. It is nearly impossible to pass a tractor trailer as it ascends a steep climb towing a pup as its length is comparable to a three story building. Law enforcement attempts to keep track of these issues but, of course, we all know the truckers are on their radios warning each other ahead of time.

To the readers who have been following the story of the fuel spill and the nightmare that the displaced families have experienced: I want to say that the residents along Highway 35 are not "crying wolf." If you could hear from all of them they could tell you things that would scare even "Spook" Stang. And just a reminder: a bill was proposed in 1991 to make Highway 35 a scenic highway which would restrict truck usage. This bill died in committee with the help of, then, state legislator, Mr. Stang. He has since become a strong advocate and vice president of the Montana Motor Carriers Association. Go figure! I wonder what Mr. Stang would have to say if he and his family were the ones driven from their dream home that was built piece by piece and much by hand?

We have endured the near misses, the blaring horns, the speeding trucks and the reduced visibility on snowy days and we are tired of it. The amount of taxes the trucking industry pays does not give them the right to endanger our families and reduce the value of our property. Highway 35 is just too narrow to safely have all the truck travel when there is a better alternative using Highway 93. What a glorious time it was when the rains washed out the highway a couple of years ago and the trucks disappeared for a few days!

Larry and Dorothy Ashcraft

Yellow Bay

Golf course open to the public

Editor,

The citizens of Polson can well be proud of our city owned golf course. I have lived in the area for over 40 years and have enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors at the golf course as well has my time at our city parks and baseball/softball fields. I, for one, am very happy with the availability of these public lands. The city of Polson can be very proud of their accomplishments in creating and maintaining these wonderful facilities.

It is important to note that the golf course is maintained solely from golf revenue so there are fees associated with playing golf to cover the maintenance and operation of the facility. The city has strived to keep these fees reasonable and in line to cover maintenance costs as well as improvements over the years. The golf course offers free practice areas in the two putting greens located near the Pro Shop and a free chipping area adjacent to hole No. 4 on the old nine near Boettcher Park.

It was said in a previous letter that the golf course is a great asset that benefits the city, its citizens, and local businesses. I agree because when the golf course can attract tournaments and special events that bring in people from out of town those people usually will spend additional dollars in our local businesses that help our local economy. The golf course in the past was called Polson Country Club. A few years ago it was decided to change the name to Polson Bay Golf Course to eliminate the idea that the golf course was a private facility. It is not private and has never been a private facility and has always been open to the public. There are no members at the golf course and no memberships are sold at the golf course. This has been many times confused with season pass holders who simply pay an annual fee versus a daily fee to play golf.

Charity and the support of junior golf has been a mainstay with many golfers and non golfers as well. Over the years there have been many events at the golf course to aid fallen soldiers' families, children with cancer, boys and girls clubs, junior golfers, college scholarships, and many others.

The golf course offers junior golfers the free use of equipment and lessons to introduce kids to the game of golf as well as very reasonable season pass rates. Thank you to the city council, the Golf Course Board, the Head Golf Course Professional, the Head Golf Course Superintendent, all of the many employees, and volunteers that help make our public golf course such a wonderful place for all the citizens of Polson to enjoy.

Tracy Dooley

Polson

Great service for animals

Editor:

To all the people who helped and took their pets to the spay/neuter clinic. Thank you. To the people that spent many hours organizing and working the clinics. To the people that took the time to gather their animals and spay/ neuter them thank you. You have all done a great service to the animals. I was able devote a small amount of time. To the people of Life Savers Animal Rescue you are all awesome. You devote so much of your time and yourselves for the animals. To spay/neuter task force of Montana hats off to all of you also. Awesome. To the others that maybe I did not have contact with thank you. A special thanks to Life Savers Animal Rescue as they were the ones to get me involved. Please people there are so many homeless animals . When thinking of a pet please check with your local shelter or for sure Life Savers Animal Rescue in Polson. Please spay/ nueter. You are the pets only help they cant do it on their own. Thanks again.

Chris Cairns

Polson

Creativity showcase a success

Editor:

The Creativity Showcase at the Polson Middle School last Wednesday was a resounding success! The quality of the projects and artwork on display was a credit to both the students and to their teachers. The student performers did an outstanding job - and the cookies were magnificent! Our sincere thanks go out to the Middle School teachers, staff, and administration for the time and effort they put into making this the best-attended Showcase to date. Many thanks to the parent volunteers who devoted hours to baking cookies, putting artwork on the walls, and taking artwork off of the walls a few hours later. The custodial staff of the Middle School has our undying gratitude for their patience and hard work, not to mention their wizardry at coming up with extra tables on short notice. The kids, especially, want to thank Pepsi for the donation of soda and bottled water. And special thanks this year to the exhibitors from local organizations who work with middle school-age students, whether in mentoring, performance, or service. When you see what kids this age can do with talent, enthusiasm, and a little guidance, the thought of passing the torch to the next generation doesn't seem quite so scary. Thanks to you all.

Connie Carte

The PMS Parent

Advisory Council

Thanks for hard work during teacher appreciation week

Editor,

The administration, teachers, and support staff of Ronan High School would like to thank the parents who contributed lunch and goodies during Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you for your delicious meals, hard work, and continued involvement with your student, school, and community.

Ronan High

School staff