Letters to the editor, June 3
Jay Doyle
During my long law enforcement career, I have met and worked with many outstanding men and women. In the 14 years I have known and worked with Jay Doyle, he has proven himself to be one of the most outstanding. Jay is an honest, dedicated, hard working officer that truly cares about the residents of Lake County.
We have candidates that didn't know Lake County is a Sheriff Office, not a Sheriff Department or the differences between them. It is imperative that your Sheriff completely understand the office, the power and the responsibility that comes with being your Sheriff. This is not an "I" office, it's a "We" office, it's "The People's" office. Jay Doyle is the only candidate that truly understands this. Jay Doyle worked under three Sheriffs and one Chief of Police. He learned things in the four different leadership styles that will assist him in his leadership as your next Sheriff, and he is the only Republican candidate that is a certified coroner.
I was your Sheriff/Coroner for two terms. I know how difficult this position is and how important it is to put the right individual in this office. We had some of the biggest cases in Lake County and Jay Doyle led many of them himself or was an active part of the command staff in others. When I gave Jay a job to do, I knew I could count on him to get it done, and get it done right. Jay Doyle is the right man for Lake County Sheriff. Jay Doyle was born here, lived here most of his life, raised his family, has a long career of professional service in the Sheriff Office, is highly trained and has a one, five, and ten-year plan for the Sheriff Office.
You're interaction with the Sheriff Office could affect the rest of your family's lives. We want a Sheriff with experience, common sense and compassion.
Please vote Jay Doyle Sheriff/Coroner.
Bill Barron
Former Lake County Sheriff/Coroner
Teen pregnancy
Teen pregnancy in Montana is an issue that has far-reaching implications. In addition to being costly to Montana's taxpayers, teen pregnancy affects education and poverty rates in our state. Teen parents are less likely to complete high school or post secondary education, more likely to live in poverty, and have more unintended births than women who postpone childbearing until their twenties.
In Montana in 2008, 1,312 live births were reported among teenagers ages 19 and under for a rate of 50.4 per 1,000. Here in Lake County we observed 215 teen pregnancies, at a rate of 66.7 per every 1,000 girls during 2006-2008 which is significantly higher than the state rate. Considering approximately 82-percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned and almost half of Montana's high school students reported having had sexual intercourse at least once, this is an issue we can't ignore.
The Montana Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition (MTPPC) is made up of partners ranging from public health nurses to educators to parents and is dedicated to bringing Montana together to address this issue. May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, and as a member of MTPPC, I urge all Montanans to support MTPPC on its goal to reduce teen pregnancy. For more information on MTPPC, please contact Suzanne at 406-457-2470.
Sheri Clark
Polson resident
To parents of graduates
A letter to the parents of the Senior Class of 2010:
Graduation is here and you must be proud of your high school senior. Celebrate their successes and enjoy the time you have with them. Let them have fun, but please make sure you know where they are going, who they are going with and what they will be doing. The All-Night Senior Party at the Sports Page is a great place for them to be on graduation night, but please make sure that you know what they will be doing after that. Data shows that an alarming number of teens will be drinking and driving on graduation night. Don't let your child become a statistic. At your own celebration, be a good role model for your children by not drinking in excess. Remember, it is illegal to provide alcohol to minors in your own home.
Celebrate safely! Make sure your graduate lives to go on to the next adventure in his or her life.
Congratulations to you all!
Julia Roberts
Family Matters, Polson Family Resource Center
Parable
The setting: A press conference in the White House.
A questioner: Mr. President, we are hearing all manner of reactions to the oil spill in the Gulf. There is finger pointing in every direction. Your administration is being accused of this and that. People are in fear of losing their livelihoods in the New Orleans area. Experts' accusations of bungling seem endless. Why isn't something effective being done? Where is the leadership in all this. What have you to say?
The president: I fully appreciate everyone's concerns. And I, too, feel the great frustration everyone is experiencing. As your president, I consider it my duty to be able to lead from strength rather than fear. This means a leadership which is able to address the overall root causesof our problems, be they oil spills, bail outs, or immigration problems, and address them while at the same time dealing energetically and thoughtfully with every issue which presents itself.
The reason I ran for this office was because I want to be a catalyst for change in the attitudes and motivations which presently drive our nation. We are a nation obsessed with greed, fear, and selfishness. This must change.
There are many fine individuals, social, religious, educational and community groups, plus various movements and philanthropic organizations working toward just such changes in attitudes and motivations. We need more of this, much more.
The oil spill? Just look at the finger pointing, the revelations, the hearings, the cover-ups, the lies and the occasional admissions of guilt. The basic problem is clearly defined. What is the solution? Is it a mystery? Does it take some legislative action? How do you legislate honesty, integrity, working with, listening to, and caring for others?
So, in answer to your excellent question: Each of us must look within. Look within, America, at your own attitudes and what motivates you, what your beliefs are, what you are teaching your children. It is only through a change in attitudes and motivations that our problems will be solved, personally or nationally. Otherwise, greed, fear and anger will simply continue to produce problems in other forms down the road.
Bob McClellan
Polson resident
CASA thanks
The recent CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) of Lake County golf tournament at the Polson Bay Golf Course was a huge success even given the usual poor weather conditions for this annual event.
Even with the challenging economic conditions area businesses stepped up in a big way with hole sponsorships and while our tournament field was down a few teams the tournament raised more than $11,000 to continue funding to this most valuable non-profit program.
A special thanks to our board members who donated so much of their time to make the event a success; to Roger Wallace and Cameron Milton at the golf course for their outstanding organization; to the CASA golf tournament committee headed by Bill Harrington for their dedication and to the most valuable CASA volunteers and others helpers who gave of their Saturday time; to the golf course restaurant, Susy, Mike and Jean, for a superb breakfast at an extremely reasonable cost; to Diane Richard, our director, without whose expertise this program would fall into shambles; to the celebrities who donated their time to be auctioned and participate in the tournament as extra players; to Matt Olson, who bailed me out with auctioneer assistance; and to Jeff Andrews, of State Farm Insurance, without whose underwriting this tournament could not exist.
It is extremely gratifying to all of us that Lake County residents and others who came from outside of the area to help with this event realize the importance of providing volunteer advocates to displaced children. These dedicated folks provide the child's primary voice in District Court proceedings.
This golf tournament provides a large part of the operating budget for this extremely necessary organization. If I overlooked anyone, know I sincerely appreciate and thank you for your dedication and help and hope you will continue to support us in the future.
Mick Holien
CASA of Lake County
volunteer advocate and board chairman