Letters to the editor
Blessed
My husband and I enjoyed the Artwalk and Christmas parade in downtown Polson on Dec. 3, with all the twinkling lights, cheerful faces and conversations, and the connections we made with friends, neighbors and people we hadn’t seen in awhile.
When we walked into the new Bistro and Art Bar run by Julie Berry and crew, we discovered that all the profits of this enterprise would be funneled back into the Coalition for Kids. What a gift of compassion and community-building energy!
This experience sparked an idea. Over the next few days, we created a list (with help) of service groups that involve volunteerism with the sole purpose of coming together to make this valley a better place.
The list kept growing and growing, and is still a work in progress. It is too long to name all the groups in this letter, for right now we have forty-nine organizations listed! How amazing! This is all due to people from all walks of life who come together in the spirit of building true community, which includes compassion, communication, cooperation, a positive attitude and lots of time and energy.
We are truly blessed to live in this beautiful area among so many caring and giving people.
So let’s try to keep in mind the qualities that make this valley a great place to live, and the wonderful giving nature of so many people who live here. The spirit and energy are contagious. As the new year approaches, let’s keep the momentum going by helping to bring more people together in this loving community effort.
Nancy and Gary Teggeman
Polson
Good people
My brother of 49 years of age had a brain aneurysm March of this year and was in a coma, with multiple strokes. The family was called in to Lake Charles Memorial, as he would not make it through the night.
He did make it and is alive today thanks to many wonderful medical staff and prayers answered. We were then told he would be a vegetable and he almost died again due to complications but again survived.
When this happened I prayed to God, as many did, to let him be a miracle for all to see. In September they replaced his skull cap and since then, a new life was born. He now talks, writes, has feeling in his whole body and remembers things I had forgotten.
I got to go see him in November and could not wait to ask him if during this time if he saw a bright light and he got so excited and said yes, very bright. I then asked, was anyone in the light to greet you and he said yes, our Dad and Evelyn, his favorite aunt (both passed away many years ago) and they sent him back.
Michael McMillan’s family would like to thank all staff that made this possible and Westwood Manor for taking care of him during this transition. Miracles still happen everyday, just believe.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
God is good and there is still a lot of good in people.
Patricia Lundgren
Polson
Talking heads
Why is it that all this discussion is going on between Republicans and Democrats, between all the ‘talking heads’ and between all the media outlets focusing upon tax cuts, the national deficit, budget cuts, and a myriad of lesser problems and nothing is being said about getting completely out of both Iraq and Afghanistan? Why is this? I simply do not understand!!
Barack Obama was elected president in large part because he energized a vast number of younger people and energized many older people, too, with his ‘seeming’ desire to end the military activities in the Middle East. But ‘seeming’ does not always translate into actually taking the action and our president did not take that action. In fact, he increased the Afghanistan military might by 30,000 troops.
I was just listening to, once again, a CNN discussion from favorite ‘talking heads’ about tax cuts, the national debt, budget cuts, and the myriad of lesser problems but no talk about getting our armed forces out of the Middle East!
It is so clear to me that Obama was elected for a change in leadership which would stop these ill conceived wars and to put our money and efforts into establishing honesty, reducing greed, possibly even establishing term limits, and having our great collection of legislators work for the American people, the American workers, the American infrastructure, and the American dream which has existed since the Mayflower landed.
Many today think we have lost our way. Many today think this president has not lived up to what he ‘seemed’ to project as his policies. Many today are disillusioned and will speak for change about the only way they can, in the voting booth.
So, isn’t that a good thing? The vote? The ability to ‘throw the bums out’ and get the good guys in? Well, yes, I suppose it is if our nation really has all these ‘good guys’ to put in.
Let’s stay tuned. I suppose there is always hope!
Bob McClellan
Polson
Taxed enough?
Not according to a recent vote by the Polson Rural Fire District. This board voted to enter into a contract with a third party billing service to bill you and I directly for responding to auto “incidents.”
The amounts billed are to be negotiated by the board, but preliminary numbers range from $435 to $2,200 per hour. This amounts to a new, stealth tax on rural fire district residents. And — it looks like the city of Polson will approve an identical contract.
If you are as concerned about this as I am, let your voices be heard.
Tom Eddy
Polson
Who will pay?
The fire department just voted in a hidden tax. Who will pay? The tax is for “incidents” responded to by the department. The Polson Rural Fire District residents already pay a property tax for this service. It seems like double dipping to me. This tax will be billed to you and me and maybe even our insurance companies. If insurers have to pay, then all of our rates will increase. Who decides how much to and who the tax will be billed?
Some of the Polson Rural Fire District board said the chief would decide, some said only those who do not pay taxes in Lake County would have to pay.
Isn’t this taxation without representation? Citizens, please investigate this new tax and tell the fire department you want a say in how any new taxes are charged.
Leanna Fillman
Polson
To clarify
The Polson Rural Fire Board wishes to clarify what it feels may be a misunderstanding by some members of the community.
For nearly two years, the Board, both past and present, has looked at recovering costs for responses to motor vehicle accidents. This has been on the Board’s agenda and discussed for the past three meetings.
There are a number of reasons this has been considered. First, the Fire Department provides a high level of service including use of the latest rescue tools which can cost upwards of $8,000 each.
Second, the complete cost of this service has been borne by the local taxpayers, wherein the majority of people utilizing this service are from outside the community and contribute nothing toward it.
Third, drivers are paying for this type of service through their automobile insurance which pays the reimbursement charges. Fourth, a number of communities in Montana, including Ronan and Pablo, already have such a program in place.
In light of the foregoing, the Board has entered into a contract with a local company to seek reimbursement for costs associated with motor vehicle incidents which is in line with what Ronan, Pablo and other communities charge.
However, we want to be clear, that we will NOT charge for fire response which is already being paid for by members of this community through their taxes.
It is our hope that as those utilizing these services help cover their costs, that we will be able to pass these savings on to the community as a whole.
The Polson Rural
Fire Board:
Fred Nelson, Jack Clapp, Beth Hoel, Steve Stanley
and Dean Sams
Ronan thanks
We are so very proud to be a part of a wonderful group of people who supported and volunteered for the Ronan Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Ronan Community Center. There was a true sense of community with eating together, sharing stories, laughter and wonderful music and dancing. We served over 375 people and 72 volunteered their time and talents.
A special thank you to the Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Lake County Commissioners, Lake County Community Development, John’s Fuel Farm, Jim Petit, the generous donations, and all those who provided desserts, prepared and served the dinner. We have so much to be thankful for in Lake County. Thank you.
Cheri Houle and
Adina Fuchs