Letters to the editor

Jan. 28

Event an eye-opener

I would like to thank the group “Calling All Conservatives” for the great event they put on Tuesday evening, Jan. 12, at the Ronan Community Center. The crowd was large (I’m sure at least 300), enthusiastic and very polite. Regardless of your political affiliation, there were very informative speakers and a video that put things in perspective. The section about the Federal Reserve was an eye-opener. There’s enough shenanigans coming from both parties. If people are willing to educate themselves about our history, our Constitution, and how are our elected officials are conducting business, they can become informed and decide for themselves which way to vote.

I was also impressed with focus groups they have started that will meet separately from their main monthly event. This will give people a chance to dig deeper into issues they are interested in. I don’t remember each group, but there was a Second Amendment focus group, 10th Amendment, preparedness, property rights, voter issues and Constitutional studies (I can’t remember the others). People can attend these focus groups that I believe will meet at least once a month at different nights and locations. What a great way to become informed and involved in issues that interest you the most.

I was told these will be monthly events held on the second Tuesday of each month, with the next being Feb. 9 at the same place. I encourage everyone who is concerned about the direction of our government, be it local, state or national, to attend and become involved with a great bunch of people from all walks of life. No one will agree on 100 percent of the issues, but regardless of party affiliation, I think most people can agree on most of the things that are either hurting or helping our great country! Thanks to everyone who had a hand in putting on this wonderful event! It’s been long awaited.

John Rayford, rural Polson

Fire station use needs focusing

I am writing this letter in response to the Dec. 24, 2009, article titled “Fire station ready.” It seems that trustee Nelson and Chief Fairchild have forgotten why the new fire station was built north of the bridge. During numerous Rural Fire district trustee meetings which I attended, it was stated we needed equipment on the north side of the bridge to ensure adequate structural fire protection should the bridge become impassible for any reason. Never did their comments say only wild land fire protection. This time of year wild land fires are not much of a threat, but structural fires are!

If we just needed the station to spread out equipment, we could have rented storage space for a lot less than $230,000. This is starting to look like a bait and switch.

Now that we have a new fire station we should ask what kind of effort has been made to get volunteers to staff the new station.  Maybe at the next Rural Fire district board meeting each board member can share along with Chief Fairchild what specifically they have done to get Rural District volunteer firefighters for the new station.  In addition to this, Chief Fairchild, the Rural Fire Chief, no doubt wants to get any new firefighter trained ASAP and so maybe he can share how he is accelerating a training program for any new rural volunteers.  

If Chief Fairchild was to assign current volunteer fire fighters to the new station that live north of the bridge, he could with a single executive order make the new fire station a fully active station. I doubt any current Polson city firefighters that live in the rural district would object to being assigned to the new station as they will be protecting their own homes! The re-assigned firefighters could be complemented with new volunteers.  It is my understanding that some of the firefighters assigned to the Polson fire station are grandfathered into retirement benefits for both their city and rural firefighting. The reassignment of some of them seems like a natural way to go as the Chief tries to maximize fire protection in the city and rural areas. In essence, I do not see how not making the new fire station fully active improves the Rural District’s fire protection.

Lastly, trustee Nelson stated we need a radio for the new station. This I do not understand as we have two other stations, Big Arm and Irvine Flats, currently operating without radios. If the Rural Fire District was not partnering with the city fire company via the inter-local agreement then we would need a radio for dispatch, etc. 

Rural district voters, I recommend we all attend the next trustee meeting which is 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the new fire station and ask some tough questions about why the new fire station is not going to be fully utilized as quickly as possible.  

 Paul Maurer, Big Arm

More military not the answer

We must all pay attention to the following: It makes no difference our political preferences, our race, our gender, our age, or our prejudices. At some time a “tipping point” will be reached in which drastic corrective action will have to be taken. We simply cannot go on defying universal  laws of peace and justice through our human obsessions with greed and divisiveness without reaping the consequences. 

I refer, once again, to the grand dame of journalism, Helen Thomas. She wrote this in the Jan. 19 issue of the Albany Times Union:  “The United States spends more for its arsenal [referring to our bloated defense spending] than any other 10 countries combined.  According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the U. S. accounts for more than 42 percent of the world’s total military spending. China is in second place, at a relatively puny 5.8 percent.”

Do we think that this is somehow making us safer? This is making us more vulnerable to angry and diabolically motivated elements of radicalism within the world which have been labeled as “terrorists.”

What is terrorism, anyway? According to my Funk and Wagnalls it is: “A system of government that seeks to rule by intimidation.  Unlawful acts of violence committed in an organized attempt to overthrow a government.”

Very interesting.

I submit that this is exactly how many in the Middle East, especially, view the U.S. Now, I recognize that this is not what we want to hear, but we must also be willing to look at the facts. Again, I say, we cannot go on defying universal laws of peace and justice through our human obsessions with greed and divisiveness without reaping the consequences. 

We aren’t the only nation of people in the world obsessed with greed and divisiveness, but we surely are the most visible. So all I am suggesting is that we must look at this and consider what our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are inheriting.

There must be a better way, and I firmly believe that we had better begin to look for and find it.

Bob McClellan, Polson

Fight worth fighting

Response to the “War  Answers” letter, Jan. 14: While I understand we need responses from our elected officials, I suggest you move to Afghanistan, and write to the Taliban and their friendly open minded buddies Al Qaeda, who are murdering many more of their countrymen than we are accidentally. I suggest you make sure they know your address so they can come and tell you how sorry they are and will stop immediately per your request. Maybe you don’t remember 9/11. There were almost 3,000 innocent folks who were murdered on that day. I hope you sent a complaint to Afghanistan on that day.

 Allan Marcus, Polson

Middle East fight noble

Response to the “War Answers” letter, Jan. 14:  Is this what you think we do? Really? Going around slaughtering and torturing the people of Iraq and Afghanistan? My husband and I are both Captains in the U.S. Army, him a Medevac pilot and me an ER/Flight Nurse. Both of us have served two deployments in Iraq and have multiple friends in both Iraq and Afghanistan and have never seen the atrocities that you speak of.

We both, as well as our fellow soldiers have fought hard to save and spare as many lives as we can. Have you ever held the hand of a dying Iraqi child that was blown up by her/his own people? Well, I’ve held too many, I’m sorry to say. But our men and women over there put as much blood and sweat into helping these countries as we can, and the fact that you have the nerve to disrespect our sacrifices so you can make statements like that is insulting.

It’s letters like these that I read while over in Iraq, that would make me sad to think that this is what our country thinks of us. If you are such an educated and informed citizen as you claim to be, then you would not have made such ignorant remarks. You not only show a lack of respect for the soldiers currently serving, but also to all veterans that have served in the past. With our sacrifices, you’re welcome.

CPT Natalie Skates Farley, (born and raised in Polson)

Dog hit and killed

On Jan. 18, around 12:20 p.m. my mother and her Pomeranian puppy were going to get the mail and some lady in a green car hit and killed my 75-year-old mother’s puppy and never left her name or any way to get ahold of her. This dog was my mother’s closest companion and she is very sick, about the loss and physically. I am writing this so whoever this person is will contact us and make it right.   

Gen Huitt, Polson

Prescription prices a scam

The Japanese government tells drug manufacturer XXX that they cannot charge Japanese citizens more than $10 for prescription ABC.  Several European countries do likewise. My government says it is OK for drug manufacturer XXX to charge American citizens $90 for prescription ABC.

My question is: Where does the extra $80 go? If it remained with me, I would attempt to stimulate the economy and alleviate unemployment by spending it on American made products or services.

Peter Daniels, Polson

Thrivent thanks

From pancake breakfast to spaghetti dinner, day camp to weekend work retreat, and fitness walk/run to softball tournament, people of Lake and Sanders counties generously volunteered their time, talent and dollars to benefit many individuals and non-profit organizations in our communities this past year. Members of the Sanders/Lake County Chapter Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are grateful for the generosity of all who, during 17 benefits, events and projects, raised $38,146 in local funds. Because of this overwhelming generosity, Thrivent was able to contribute $8,520 of matching funds to individuals with medical needs and to non-profit organizations like Helping Hands, the Thompson Falls Food Bank, and the Mission Valley Christian Academy. 

The local Thrivent chapter donated an additional $1,750 to six other area food banks and to Lutheran congregations who

have special service projects like quilting and prayer shawl ministries. This was a record year for the local Thrivent chapter.

While we had fewer total dollars to give out, we supported more fundraisers, benefits and service projects than ever before! Working

with the generous people of Lake and Sanders Counties, we were able to encourage and increase volunteerism while helping our neighbors in need. Many, many thanks to all who helped us help you!

In 2010, Thrivent will continue to support individuals, families and community groups through volunteerism, matching fund benefits and

grants for hands-on work projects. Please contact your local Lutheran church if you know of needs within the Sanders/Lake county area.

Michal Delgado, outgoing president, Sanders/Lake County Chapter Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

More firefighters needed

The new fire station at the Polson Fairgrounds will eventually guarantee fire protection to the residents who live north of Polson in the event the bridge is out of commission.

 Nearly all areas of the 200 square-mile fire district have increased their population from Valley View to the south, Turtle Lake to the south-east and Big Arm to the north. However, the biggest population growth has been in the area just north of Polson including Jette Lake  and Jette Meadows.

The current Polson city and district “inter-local” agreement enables the city fire company and rural fire companies to work together when responding to emergency calls. The Polson City Firefighters have done an amazing job of responding to both city and rural emergencies, we thank them for their dedicated service. Thank you also to the Big Arm and Irvine Flats firefighters, who are always willing to help with the city’s emergencies and respond to every corner of the District when needed. 

The new station will be established with a rural fire company just like the Big Arm Volunteer Fire Company and the Irvine Flats Volunteer Fire Company. These companies have their own by-laws, elect their own officers and are under the jurisdiction of the Rural Fire District Board. They will respond to emergency calls with the Polson City Fire Company under a shared fire chief who organizes training, oversees emergency calls and manages equipment and buildings.

To make the new Fairground Fire Station a fully functioning station we need more residents to volunteer to become fire fighters. The fire chief has advised the board that splitting the current firefighters between the two stations will delay response time. His plan to house brush and wild-land fire equipment in the new station should change as new volunteer firefighters are recruited and trained. We give a warm welcome and a big thank you to Greg Perkins and Paul Iverson who are the first volunteers for the new station.

Will you consider joining them?

Being a firefighter can be a very personally rewarding experience. It is an opportunity to provide an invaluable community service through protection of lives and property of your family and residents of this fire district. We will train you to be a knowledgeable and safe responder and outfit you with all the necessary safety gear. 

The board’s plans do not stop with this new station. Recently Trustees Manley, Meslin and Laisy applied for a federal grant that will assist in recruiting, training and retaining more rural firefighters throughout the district. If successful, the board will work towards establishing substations in the ranching communities of Valley View and south of Turtle Lake. An increase in firefighters will bring us into compliance with national fire protection standards and will ensure increased fire protection for communities located more than 5 miles from the city of Polson.

 Please consider helping your community by becoming a volunteer firefighter. Please contact us for further information.

 Trustee Alison Meslin and trustee Paul Laisy