Letters to the editor
April 9
Easter celebration for Him
On Resurrection Sunday people across Montana, our nation and around the world will celebrate a living savior, Jesus Christ. Tested by sound historical inquiry, the physical resurrection of the crucified, dead and buried Jesus really happened. In conjunction with what happened outside Jerusalem at the place called Calvary, it becomes the most significant act of God in human history.
His resurrection is the decisive divine testimony to Jesus Christ; it proclaims with finality the absolute virtue of His life, and the absolute value of His death as an atonement for sin. Moreover, when God raised Jesus from the dead, he thereby declared to the human race that Jesus is His standard for human life. Jesus is the One who God accepts; the Bible states that God accepts us too when we are rightly related to Jesus (John 1:10-13; Ephesians 1:6-11). Its no wonder that church bells will ring; choirs will sing and Christians will celebrate, Jesus is alive; God can and will forgive our sins when we put our faith in His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ (Acts 13:38-39; 1 John 1:9). “He is risen!” “He is risen indeed!”
Harvey A. Town, Polson
Thanks for supporting softball
The Ronan-Pablo Youth Softball Association would like to thank everyone for their generous support of our bake sale this past Saturday at Harvest Foods in Ronan. It was a great success and the funds will help purchase uniforms for our two new teams.
Dale Sassaman, President, RPYSA
Afghan question has long history
“It’s like fighting sand. No force in the world can get the better of the Afghans,” said Oleg Kubanov, a stocky 47-year-old former officer with the Order of the Red Star pinned to his chest at an anniversary concert in Moscow. “It’s their holy land, it doesn’t matter to them if you’re Russian, American. We’re all soldiers to them.”
This was in an article by Conor Humphries of the International Herald Tribune last February entitled, “Soviet Vets, 20 Years On, Warn Obama on Afghanistan.” Space is limited here, but the many quotes from Russian military men in this article are very revealing.
Soviet tanks and troops rolled into Afghanistan in 1979 to prop up a puppet Communist government in Kabul. As we all know, it didn’t work, not one bit! After a decade of pouring in more and more troops and money, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ordered a withdrawal in 1989.
Just who are the Taliban, anyway? In the early days, the U.S. military talked of “AQT” - referring to al-Qaeda and the Taliban as a single entity. They were not before 9/11 and have not been so afterwards despite undoubted alliances at different times and in different places. Are they terrorists? Well, I suppose there are terrorists among them. Maybe they consider themselves patriots. We Americans have our own brand of terrorists right here in this country. What do you call those who hang someone from the nearest tree because of their color? What do you call young men who plan and execute the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City? What’s in a name? How broad is the brush with which we paint different groups?
And now we are reading headlines suggesting “no end in sight in Afghanistan,” and “U.S. pouring in more troops.”
Barack Obama was elected in large part by a ground-swell of American resolve that it is time for the U.S. to step back from trying to control the world through military might and get about the business of repairing our own problems and being a world leader through sensible diplomacy, sharing the wealth, peaceful solutions to rising conflicts, and demonstrating that it is possible for a nation to actually “be the change we wish to see.”
This is something to ponder.
Bob McClellan, Polson
Thanks, Arlee for your generosity
Josy Mann’s children and friends would like to express their gratitude to the Arlee community as a whole for the emotional and financial boost given the weeks after Josy’s car accident. The benefit held on March 29 fed 232 people and raised over $2,400. Arlee certainly looks out for its children. The money went to covering funeral costs.
Rainy has now begun a new life with his older brother, Jason, and Jason’s wife, Jane, and their two children. Rainy also has the support of his older sister, Angela, who lives just five doors down. He begins a new school this week.
Arlee definitely showed the strength that it has as a united community. Thanks to all who attended the benefit, donated cash and food, and people power to organize the event. With the sudden loss of their mother, the Arlee community has shown Josy’s children how appreciated Josy was and also what a special boy Rainy is to many throughout the community.
Thanks again to all for your support.
Sincerely,
Josy’s Family and Friends
Carefully consider trustee vote
During the month of April 2009, the residents of Polson Rural Fire District will be voting for a new trustee for the board of trustees for the Fire District. There are a number of good candidates.
I have concerns about one of the candidates, a Mr. Jack Clapp, who is a fireman on the Polson Rural Fire Department. As a fireman, he works directly for the Polson Rural Fire Chief John Fairchild. If elected to the board of trustees, the fire chief would work for Mr. Clapp, which would make him his boss’ boss. This is a definite conflict of interest.
Furthermore, Mr. Clapp has a lease agreement with the board of trustees to house two fire trucks at his residence. If he becomes a trustee, he will become a part of the board which makes decisions on how much rent he would receive, how much he would receive for utilities and which fire trucks would be stationed at his home, not to mention liability and insurance issues, MORE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
I understand that Mr. Clapp is a lawyer by profession, therefore, if anyone should know about conflict of interest, it should be him.
We seem to have at this time in Washington, D. C. a number of politicians with conflicts of interest, who do not pay their taxes, and lie to their constituents. They also spend our money as if there’s no end to it. We don’t need this kind of politics in Polson.
I hope all of the residents who are voting for Polson Rural Fire District Trustee will take this into consideration.
Roger Rogers, Big Arm
‘The Rock’ rocked
Thank you, Karen and Neil Lewing, for your wonderful production of “The Rock.” How well the actors portrayed their characters, and the music was beautiful. But beyond that, I applaud you for bringing the Gospel message of redemption through Christ Jesus to the stage. I can’t imagine that anyone left untouched by it. Each of you portrayed, with excellence, the beauty of a transformed heart. May each of us aspire to that as we journey through life.
Jan Irwin, Polson
Reserve deputies are selfless, vital
I wanted to make you and your readers aware of a truly fantastic group of people. For the past several years I have had the honor of coordinating the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy program. This dedicated group of people donates thousands of hours annually to the sheriff’s office. Reserve deputies go through a training academy of 200 hours. In addition to the academy, they must then volunteer hundreds of hours riding and training with full-time deputies. On top of all of this, they are required to purchase most of the necessary equipment.
Reserve deputies perform a variety of tasks for the sheriff’s office such as providing security at social and sporting events, protecting crime scenes, covering shifts for patrol deputies, and transporting inmates from one facility to another. Reserve deputies volunteer countless hours responding to all manner of criminal complaints as well as “in-progress” crimes in the middle of the night regardless of weather. I cannot count the number of times that reserve deputies have volunteered for a holiday shift so that another deputy can spend it at home with their family. I never cease to be amazed at what a classy bunch of people the reserves are. It truly is a pleasure working with them.
The people in the reserve deputy program stepped up to the plate and got involved. They are volunteering to make Lake County a better place. They have sacrificed their own money and time with their families to dedicate time to our community. We all would do well to follow their example … even if only to a small extent.
Dan Duryee, Pablo
Bowling scores should be a priority
We find it very disappointing the Lake County Leader has decided not to further publish our adult bowling league and tournament results, especially when it’s provided for you on a weekly basis. As the golf season is about to start, we then can assume the golf leagues and tournament results this summer will also not be printed in your paper. That is too bad. Our annual Mission Valley USBC banquet is on May 2, and when I address the more than 100 bowlers in attendance, I will remind them which local publication is supporting the bowlers of Lake County and to remember that when it comes time for their subscription renewal.
Tim Corbett and Lisa Jennison, Luck Strike Lanes, Ronan
More questions for the council
I think Mr. Blumberg is the uninformed one. Mr. Ryan has every right to his opinion on Polson City Council and their underachievement. The true facts are that the council has failed to accomplish (at this point) what they were elected to do. I am also wondering how the bridge contract is coming along. Work was supposed to start April 1, according to the mayor. One can only wonder how those negotiations went and if there is a contract. I also wonder if our Anderson Broadcasting would broadcast the city council meetings live for the public. More folks would be informed that way.
Allan Marcus, Polson
Thanks from summe rec programs
Ronan Pablo Summer Rec and the Ronan Pablo Youth Softball Association would like to send out a huge THANK YOU to both the Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council for their generous donations to our programs. It is due to their ongoing donations that we can continue providing baseball and softball to our areas youth. Thank you very much.
Missi Probst, Ronan Pablo Summer Rec
Skate Ignatius news
It’s springtime, or so the calendar says, and that means projects that have been dormant over the long winter can once again begin to move forward. So is the case with The Skate Ignatius Project, with a small caveat.
I recently received a request from the Montana Skate Park Association to redistribute the $45,000 matching grant that we received from them last fall. Although there is no deadline in which I was required to attain the matching funds, the MSA was unable to secure further grant money from that grant source because they were not able to release our money to us prior to the time their new grant request was reviewed. I cannot allow my circumstances to stand in the way of them securing funding for skate projects in Montana.
Along with their request came the promise to continue to work with us and to aid us in recouping grant funds in the future, up to the $45,000.00 range. What they understand, and what I must share publicly now, is that I have been managing health issues that have exacerbated over the last couple of years making it impossible for me to function at the same “crazy, make things happen” level I have in the past. While I have been able to keep the upper hand for many years, currently I am struggling to meet even the pared down demands of my life. It is very humbling and quite frustrating to have to share this publicly, but this is a very public project and I trust that people will understand. The good news is that it’s nothing fatal, and I am managing to retain most of my good humor! The bad news is that full tilt Skate Ignatius Project Phase II fundraising has got to be put on hold.
The Skate Ignatius Project is held in high esteem in the skate world and I look forward to the time when I can crank up the fundraising machine to a higher level. In the meantime, I beg your pardon and your patience as I take a break to get my health back on track.
I have agreed to allow MSA to redirect the grant funds, heartened by their commitment to our projects completion, and for their concern for my health. Please understand that this is a very generous offer on their part and I am so very thankful for their friendship and understanding. MSA is a great group of people who will continue to provide support to our community.
In the meantime, I will begin writing grants with the assistance of the Lake County Community Development Corporation and keep my antennae up for any possible funding sources. If anyone would like to assist in grant identification or with grant writing please contact me. I will gratefully accept your assistance. Also, if you wish to fundraise for the park please, feel free to do so. The Skate Ignatius Project will gratefully accept your donations.
True to their word, the Missoula skate community will be helping us out with a skate competition fundraiser at the 52 Skatepark in Missoula. Owners, Dylan Tucker and Jamie Erickson, have graciously offered to host this fundraiser for us at 6 p.m. on April 18, at their facility in Missoula. The Skate Ignatius Project will be selling t-shirts and concessions and the 52 Skatepark will be running the skate competition with tons of great prizes and giveaways. For more information you can call Dylan or Jamie at 542-6383 or Kristie Nerby at 745-4888.
Kristie Nerby, St. Ignatius