Letters to the editor

Oct. 8

Shooting Club improvements coming

As a member of the Mission Valley Shooting Club, I had put together a grant request to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for a Range Grant under their program. I started the application back in January and worked with their personnel up to the time of submittal. We were lucky to have been given the full amount of the requested grant of $64,726.57. The state had received applications for double the amount of funds available so many applications were not successful. 

The improvements will include: A) 12-foot by 48-foot range house and range for 22 LR rimfire. The range will have 50 and 100 yard lanes with handicap access to house and target stands. It will have 8 concrete benches and seats. B) New gravel access roads and parking areas for year round access. C) A much needed handicap latrine. D) Safety berms that will enclose the rimfire range. E) An archery area will have earthen berms placed at varying ranges for backstops. F) A culvert will be added to provide access to the 200 and 300 yard backstops. G) Electrical underground service will be added to the existing range house, the new pistol range, the 22 rimfire range and the archery area. H) Every effort has been made to provide handicap access to all areas of the range.

This grant requires us to match 50 percent of the funds so we need to obtain $32,930. This can be done through contributions, labor donations and expenditures. The Job Corps will be doing all of the excavation and earth work and had started that phase the third week of September. All of their work will apply as would any volunteer labor or donations from anyone or businesses. I expect that we will be able to reach that goal without having to incur any debt at all. Already I have been given some contributions from various businesses through discounted purchases that will allow us to expand a few improvements.

Due to a deadline on the completion of the grant we need to be done by June 1. The Job Corp was able to start in September so we were lucky. This spring they were hampered by the soft ground during the Pistol Range project, I was worried that if we waited until spring we might have run into a deadline problem. The Job Corp is donating all of the machine, labor and fuel costs.

 The supervisor, Ken Howlett, and the kids from the Job Corp have been doing a super job so tell them thanks if you get a chance. If they need to close the range for short periods of time respect that and remember that safety is the main concern. We don’t anticipate closing the rifle range very often but it is up to their discretion to do so.

So far, all of the project has been done with volunteer labor and I hope that we can continue that. We will be needing volunteers to help construct the range house and the latrine building within the following month. It should only take about a week for the range house, which is a wood frame building. The latrine, was suggested by member Bill Rogers, to be built with masonry blocks, which is a great idea. Bill has had experience with that so he has volunteered to help with that. If anyone has any questions or you can assist us please call Tom at 250-3386 or Bill at 676-0326. Thanks for your time.

 Tom Fieber, Polson

People’s Center thanks

The staff of The People’s Center Museum & Gift Shop in Pablo wishes to extend our great appreciation and thanks to all those that participated in our annual Native American Awareness Days here Sept. 22-24.

Once again, it was a very successful and fun event. We enjoyed having the kids, teachers and chaperones. Our goal with this event is to have each person leave learning something new about the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai people and our history. We believe we did that based on the letters coming in from the students already and their comments as they left. We were very tired at the end of each day but very satisfied with everything. A special thanks and grateful appreciation to the following volunteers who manned each station, we couldn’t have done this without you: Clara Bourdon, Janie Wabaunsee, Felicite McDonald, TERS Students, Aggie Incashola, Barney Finley, Al Bone, Arnold Torosian Sr., Bryce Finley, Mike Irvine, Shawn Blixt & family, Roian Matt, Naomi Kuka, Vernon Finley, Shirley Trahan, Linda Ferris, Yolanda Romsa, Kristina Mays, Sophie Mays, April Charlo, Stan Healy, Travis Pierre, Clarinda Burke, Evelyn Joseph, Yvonne Grenier, Pat Matt Jr., Ken Camel, Darrel Joseph and Shawn. If we have forgotten anyone it’s not on purpose just an oversight.

 Lucy Vanderburg, Marie Torosian, Tammy Hamel, Leslie Kallowat, Loushie Charlo,  Pablo

Chief Cliff thanks

The Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department once again extends its thanks to Dennis and the gang at the Idle Spur for hosting another fabulous Dayton Daze celebration.  The bands were fantastic, the parade was a hoot, the pig was roasted to perfection and the sun couldn’t have shined any brighter.  Raffle sales for the beef helped replenish the fire department’s coffers, and once again we realized how grateful we are to be part of the Dayton, Proctor and Elmo communities. Thanks, too, to all of the people who contributed time, effort and money to make this year’s Dayton Daze a whopping success.  We couldn’t do what we do without your support! What a great way to end the summer! 

Zoe Lilja, Secretary/Treasurer, Chief Cliff VFD

Area gas prices ridiculous

Gasoline prices nationwide average $2.49 per gallon. I purchased fuel in Bozeman two weeks ago at $2.52 per gallon. Why then is it that the gas bandits in Polson, Pablo, Ronan and Saint Ignatius are priced anywhere from $2.72 to $2.83 per gallon? To my way of thinking, this area is an economically depressed area. Maybe there’s not enough competition and the various stations in the area feel they have a lock on the business. The hard working folks in this area need a break, I think it’s about time they be given one.   

Robert L. Starks, St. Ignatius

Thieves should be ashamed

I hope whoever entered our shop and stole our chainsaws and tools, I sure hope you get a lot of money for them. I had knee surgery and can’t work right now so there is no way I can replace these items. I use these tools in my business to support my family. I would like to thank you so very much for kicking us while we are down. If you decide to come back and visit our shop you might find a big surprise this time, I hope being a thief makes you feel better about yourself. We work hard for what we have, unlike you. Thanks again.

Wayne Knutson, Polson

Fire wise city saved lives

I think I often have fallen victim to believing I was prepared for any eventuality, but that sure was not the case last weekend when a fire ignited by an outdoor fireplace smoldered to the point of destroying part of the deck attached to the rear of our Bennington Lane home.

The blaze quickly spread to pine needles in the back yard and headed out onto the property and very close to a neighbor’s house, torching a 50-foot tree on the way. Fortunately, it ran away from the house. 

If not for neighbors, Pat and Kathy Mateas, being alerted by their dogs of the fire and quick work by the Polson Rural Fire Department, far more severe damage would have occurred.

While I can’t totally fireproof the house, I know I’ll be more aware of possible ignition sources and potential fuel near the structure. And I won’t put off cleaning that chimney every fall before I use it.

And most importantly I’ll continue to respect the volunteer firefighters whose efforts so readily are taken for granted. Again a hearty thank you to all!

Mick and Carleen Holien, Polson

Options, options

Webster’s Dictionary defines “options” thusly:

The right acquired for a consideration to buy or sell something at a fixed price within a specific time.

An option is a thing of value and will be paid for, unless the party providing the option lacks knowledge and is not being properly advised.

One type of option commonly in use today is not the subject of this document. I speak of an option used by stock market brokers. Subject option provided the buyer the right to buy or sell a given stock at some time in the future. None of these are free. They all cost money. Often these options are provided high-ranking company executives for services rendered. Of course this action costs the stockholders, because if exercised the number of stock in the corporation affects the value. Sometimes cheating occurs because of a maneuver called back dating. Nothing more will be said about these types of options. Our focus herein is on “Real Estate Options.”

So, let us turn to real estate options, which are an item of value. Real Estate Options may be employed with or without a lease. Real estate involved may be either commercial or residential. It may involve land only or may involve developed property.

Let me say at this time that real estate options are a good way to establish a relationship between a buyer and seller. Certainly in a meltdown such as we are going through now, with supply and demand out of kilter, together with liquidity at a low ebb, using the option process under these conditions can serve the best interests of the would be buyer and the wanna be seller. Subject option may or may not involve a lease. However, if proposed buyer wishes to take possession of property immediately, the lease/option format should be adopted.

Unfortunately, offers such as the above described are not employed to the extent as in the past. The reason for this turn around the fact that franchises and real estate broker/agents desire to move at a faster pace than once was the case. I believe that sometimes they are on the wrong track.

Nevertheless, the real estate market is flooded with thinly veiled unpaid for options presented to the seller by real estate agents and accepted by the seller. Anytime the buy/sell agreement is loaded with contingencies an option is created in the event the seller accepts the offer.

One example of this type of option results from a situation wherein an offer to buy hinges on proposed buyers present home selling. The house may be new on the market, or may not be listed. Subject home may be in an area where the job market is weak, as well as the home market. Another hope and wish example involves financing. Any proposed buyer should have cash or have basic credit essentially approved by a lender prior to looking for a house and making an offer. In come cases, owner financing should come in handy.

For a myriad of reasons it is difficult to formulate a standard option agreement. However, a straight option agreement should at least include the following:

Buy/Sell agreement with option attached

Lease agreement if lease is involved

Real estate agents play their role by providing those involved with information necessary to make a legitimate decision.

I am not an attorney. This is simply a journalistic attempt to provide some useful information to persons involved in real estate transactions.

Bill Ingram, Polson

Bread Basket needs donations

Be a friend in deed helping those in need.

What a great slogan. The Town Pump Inc of Butte is celebrating its eighth anniversary of their Be a Friend in Deed food drive campaign where they meet monetary donations gathered by food banks throughout the state from September through November. The funds raised within each community will be used exclusively by each community’s own local food banks. With that kind of incentive, we have moved our holiday drive for monetary donations to an earlier time period while working keeping the food donations closer to November and December. We are already working hard to meet the goal of $5,000, which Town Pump will  match wna with the continued support of our generous friends and neighbors the Break Basket will be assured of being able to meet the needs of our hungry neighbors in these troubling economic times.

All of us are seeing or feeling the change in circumstances in our country and with winter coming and jobs scarcer than ever, it is reassuring to know that we live in a community that believes in working together and that by giving a helping hand to those in need everyone benefits. Our community already works hard at being Friends in Deed. Thank you.

The Bread Basket has had a very good summer with wonderful donations of fresh fruits and vegetables being supplied by many of our thoughtful neighbors. It has been an excellent harvest year on we hope no on will go hungry this year. In addition, we are very grateful for the $1,000 grant we received from the Catholic DOPs Aid the Needy Program. Again, they have reached out to answer the call to help feed our neighbors and friends. Then, there are the Boy Scouts, who donated as well as College Campus Corp. from SKC, that collected and brought in food every week throughout the summer session. Every little bit helps someone.

There are so many individual ranchers, farmers and organizations that unfailingly keep us going by donating their time and energy, food and financial support. Than you, one and all. The Bread Basket and your neighbors appreciate your efforts more than you know.

The Bread Basket is an emergency food pantry, which means that we provide each eligible family with enough food for only four days a month. Approximately 40 percent of our recipients have jobs, but do not make enough money to be above the poverty level, according to state income guidelines. Many of our receipients are elderly and cannot work. In these times, it gets harder and harder to find work and part-time work often does not support a family. During the holidays, we try to give out special baskets in addition to regular staples. Any specialty items, such as cranberries, jello, pie, cake or candy and treats for the children would be received with great appreciate iation.

All food donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Bread Basket, 10 Sixth Ave SW. Monetary contributions can be mailed to Bread Basket, P.O. Box 346, Ronan, MT 59864. Please remember, our goal we need to reach by November for matching Town Pump funds is $5,000. You can mail your donation to the Bread Basket or there are special collecting points at your local Town Pump. We are extremely grateful for anything offered. Thanks again. God Bless every one of you for your support. We could not share food with our neighbors who are hungry without it.

With warmest wishes for a blessed holiday season,

Gloria Kramer, vice chairman of the Bread Basket Board

Health care problems multiplying

In watching the American debate on health care I am struck by our collective inability to solve a problem which shouldn’t be this difficult.

It is my observation that human beings have an upper and lower nature. We all are aware of our strengths, I know I am; but must of us are oblivious to our vulnerabilities. Each of us has one, boozer, womanizer, gambler, greed, temper; we all have a vulnerability which threatens to overwhelm our upper nature. I am 55 years old. It is my observation that most Americans are aware of everyone else’s vulnerability as well as knowing exactly what they should do to eliminate it and they are almost always correct. The same people are usually clueless about their own vulnerability. In essence we know what to do about those we have no control over and we are oblivious to problems and solutions we have complete control over.

We have become a limited people who do a lot of finger pointing.

I have suggested for years that the only way to solve the health care problem is to get the affected parties together and force a solution of a triangular formed by insurance companies, medical professionals and lawyers.

I call this the triangulation theory. Right now each corner blames the other two corners. All agree there is a problem. The problem is unsolvable until all three parties are present to come up with a solution. The solution will require all three corners to moderate their needs to guarantee each corner’s survival. Each corner will have to acknowledge the needs and importance of the other two corners.

This is how you come up with an effective, functional, long term plan for health care which benefits the entire nation. Until we go through this process we have no idea what the solution is. We will do publicly what we do privately, finger point, rationalize, and alienate ourselves from success!

We have become a limited people, devastated by excess, limited in our ability to govern ourselves, let alone accomplish a difficult complex task like health care. It is laughable to see our elected officials, media, and lobbyists beating their chests on their soapboxes when we are too stupid to begin a rational, reflective process which would provide real solutions to then debate.

Rolf Harmsen, Polson