Letters to the Editor
March 18
Polson Pirates full of pride
You may not be aware, but NorthWestern Energy sponsors the awards for various state-wide high school activities. This past Saturday evening, I was afforded the opportunity to present the trophies to the teams for the State Class A Boy’s Basketball tournament in Butte. Being an employee of NWE I am proud we participate in programs to recognize excellence in our schools and was doubly proud that, as an alum of PHS, I was able to present Polson’s second-place trophy to them. As the team came to get their trophy I could tell they were disappointed by not winning the title. But, I could see in their eyes they were very proud of what they had accomplished in the tournament. As well they should be.
During the course of the tournament it was fun to hear the band play the school song and watch the familiar purple and gold colors run up and down the floor. It brought back many memories from long ago. Congratulations to the team, school and town on a successful year.
Thomas C. Alexander, Butte, PHS class of ‘75
Consider joining trustee board
The communities of School District No. 33 (Dayton, Proctor Rollins) and School District No. 35 (Valley View) have remained unrepresented on the Polson High School District Board of Trustees since last May. We need candidates to step forward and file for that trustee seat on the Polson board.
I encourage such participation, especially from folks who have children in the Polson schools. You will find the experience rewarding, even when you aren’t in agreement on every item. Deadline for filing is near: Interest should be expressed to Pam Owen, 883-6355, at the district building in Polson. She serves as the clerk of the board and can give all the assistance required.”
Bob Hanson, Dayton
Thanks for bike donations
We would like to offer a big thank you to the Mission Valley Masonic Lodge and Wal-Mart for their wonderful generosity in donating bicycles to local schools in support of the reading programs. We would also like to thank the teachers and staff at Cherry Valley Elementary School, where our daughter won a drawing for a bike, for their tireless support and encouragement of our children in their early childhood learning. What a wonderful community we live in!
Steve and Jill Todd, Polson
Alternate quarry space an option
Joe Usher, in response to your March 11 letter to the editor (re: the Chief Cliff issue) and directed to me: Let me just say ignorance is a deplorable thing, but human.
In my case, it’s not (and shouldn’t be) linked to my disrespect toward the tribe, which I hope I didn’t demonstrate. I know in some areas I have more than my share of it. But I do truly endeavor to keep it to myself as much as possible. However, at times when one makes a public statement it does creep out and is construed to be a show of ignorance.
I’m hoping that in your rebuttal to me, and mention of your doubts about my own personal religious convictions that I might be in lack of (by the way, has absolutely no bearing or significance to the subject or point) was then on your part not just a show of ignorance, but a gross misconception of it on my part, and of the possibility!
In your letter you bring up a good point: That being that there must be some other lode of rock in this area that those quarrying at Chief Cliff could exploit for the needs in this area.
My suggestion would be then, and for the betterment of all possible, to soon find that location of the cubical in nature, one that is close to nearby accessible roads and a place of that type of plentiful rock. This then could be offered to the quarriers, and being reasonable about it I’m sure, a legal exchange could be made of the work sites! This then would make all entities happy (I would suppose and hope). Surely this is worth consideration, and some effort. Thanks for your input Mr. Usher! Now those with the time can possibly work on this idea.
Will Elliott, Polson
Thanks for helping us grow
With the conclusion of 2009 and spring 2010 approaching fast - growth and renewal come to mind.
To that end, St. Luke Community Healthcare would like to extend a hearty thanks to the residents of Polson, Ronan, St. Ignatius and those throughout Lake County for all of the growth that we experienced in 2009.
Since we’ve been monitoring the data, for more than 20 years, you have made St. Luke the largest provider of healthcare services in Lake County. We are both proud and humbled by this accomplishment. In 2009, you overwhelmingly made St. Luke your choice when it came to emergency care, inpatient care, obstetrics and surgical services. It is a direct reflection of the confidence you have in our physicians, mid-level providers and the rest of our 385 plus employees.
Our staff renews their commitment to excellence every day as they work to care for our neighbors, loved ones and fellow community members.
Along with our commitment to be the best we can be in health care, we are committed to the economic vitality of our community. Total wages paid to employees in 2009 were just over $19.5 million. In your hometown this equates to just over: $7.31 million for Polson, $8.41 million for Ronan/Pablo, $1.86 million for St. Ignatius, and $1.05 million for Charlo.
We believe this makes St. Luke the largest private employer in your hometown. To see the true economic benefit that an employer provides to a community, many economists believe these wage figures should be multiplied by seven times.
We look forward to continuing the growth trend you have helped us establish by adding new technologies and expanding needed services. It is our goal to continue to be your trusted leader in health care services, your provider of choice when you need medical care and your employer of choice when you look for a job. Thank you for putting your trust in us.
Shane H. Roberts, St. Luke’s CEO
Activism, discussion positive
Calling All Conservatives met on March 9, in Ronan and are now calling themselves Citizens Acting for Liberty.
Why the name change? Nobody explained, leaving some to surmise there was a break away from Mona Docteur and her CAC followers. Perhaps the reason is related to the emotionally charged musical video, “Born Again Americans,” which opened the meeting, followed by, “Did that hit something down deep in your heart?”
The comment was drawled by our host who said he’s from the deep south, not even a local.
How does he relate to those of us who are trying to decide “what kind of community we want?” Do we want folks walking down Main Street with their weapons displayed on their person as many from the extreme right have been doing at public meetings lately? With the level of alcoholism and anger management problems prevalent in our community, the last thing I want to see is guns in the mix.
The John Birch Society spokesman who addressed the CAL talked about “exposing the enemies of freedom,” followed by a photo array of President Barack Obama, Osama bin Laden, George Bush, Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi. Where do his sympathies lie?
Kind of confusing. However, I do want to commend the Citizens Acting for Liberty for their mission statement to “exist to educate and empower citizens by providing them with the information and tools necessary to understand, actively participate in, and take ownership of their responsibilities as a citizen.”
Be careful which materials you pick up at their break out groups. Pay attention to who published the pamphlets and who runs the Web sites they direct you to for your research. In closing, it is heartening indeed to see so much controversy and discussion going on in our community. Go, Americans, go!
Sheila M. Bell, Polson
Unfair health care tax burden
The American health care problems spark a passionate debate without easy solutions. Finding a solution that medically insures everyone and is still cost effective is a tall order, but it’s vital to the health and security of us all and a must to balancing the budget.
Health insurance companies are in the business to make as much money as possible. Their profits are huge even in this economic downturn. Huge numbers of Americans are turned away from insurance at any price! Others simply can’t afford it or they aren’t covered for their primary medical condition.
We need a healthcare system that does not unfairly burden the tax payers with only the high risk groups. Medicare’s the program that insures people 65 and older and people who are disabled. The American tax payers pick up the tab for this and for VA medicine and for people on Medicaid who are too poor to afford health insurance. We need these programs, but it is no surprise why the Medicare system is in financial trouble now. The working class insurance dollars is going to private insurance company profits! This is an unfair burden to the working class tax payers of America. We need change!
I want my healthcare dollars to go to the insurance company that will stand by me and provide my medical expenses when I am sick and old, disabled or just too damn poor to afford health insurance anymore. Support the public option and support real healthcare reform now.
Lee Wallace, Ronan
Fire board narrow in thinking
As a Polson Rural taxpayer and a former career firefighter, I am very concerned about recent actions by some members of the Polson Rural Fire Board. At the March 10 meeting, trustees Alison Meslin, Paul Laisy and Jim Manley voted to hire a consultant to advise them as to “the best use of the new Regatta Road station.”
This concerns me.
Last year, when plans for the station were being considered, the board had the opportunity to hire a consultant to study its location and use with two-thirds of the cost being paid by the city of Polson and the Polson Firefighters. The board rejected that proposal. Now, less than a year later, the same board members who voted against a jointly-funded study want to spend thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to hire a consultant to do a study. This is simply not fiscally responsible.
Apparently, board members would like to have the rural fire pumper that is currently stationed at the city of Polson to be relocated to the Regatta Road station. This, in their view, would make the station “fully” operational (and not just for wild land fires). The issue is the current response, firefighters can more rapidly respond to a fire in the city or district by having both the rural and the city pumpers at the city station, which is less than a mile from the new Regatta Road station.
So, if John Q. Citizen’s house is on fire, chances of saving the house is greatly enhanced by having a quicker response with both pumpers at the city station. It is my understanding that this issue was looked at by Polson Fire Chief John Fairchild, in consultation with firefighters who will be responding from that station, and they determined that having a coordinated response to wild land fires was the best use of the station at this time and indeed provides the greatest service to the community. Chief Fairchild took action to implement this. In other words, all the wild land fire apparatus is stationed at Regatta Road and both the rural and city pumpers at located at the city of Polson fire station.
Rather than throw away thousands of dollars on a study that isn’t required or needed at this time, doesn’t it make more sense to fund
the replacement of a 27-year-old wild land pumper? I would ask that the board actively listen to the chief, the firefighters and rural
residents and recognize that the current allocation of equipment is the best for the greater Polson community at this time.
As a former career firefighter, I know that our firefighting volunteers, who put their lives on the line each time there is a call,
are in an excellent position to determine what will best serve the community.
Dean Sams, Polson
Charlo actors say thank you
The Charlo production “Entertainment That Stands Time” was a great success.
We at Charlo would like to thank some of the people that made it possible.
Kate Acapaldi, a dance instructor, was a great help in teaching the students the jitterbug and the swing dance. She also helped with our rendition of “The Thriller” dance.
We want to thank the Ninepipe Arts Group, via Judy Shafter and Cindy Hill, director of our afterschool program funded by 21st Century, for paying Kate to come to Charlo.
21st Century also provided costumes for the play.We want to thank all of the promoters that helped us advertise, such as Anderson Broadcasting and The Lake CountyLeader for doing a great job.
Lastly, the Charlo PTA was the foundation for the success of our production. Thank you to all the people that attended the show. Charlo students love to bring a little drama to their town.
Keith Grebetz, Charlo speech/drama teacher