Around the county

Cop's corner

Another giant of a man and community icon left us just recently. Don Dubuque passed away from cancer, but not after giving it one heck of a battle. Don's obituary, even though quite complete, was in reality not totally so in that so much more about the man can be told by those who knew him best. We were blessed with Don being a part of the Polson fabric and each time while on patrol by his home I will remember why I grew to respect him so much.

How about First Interstate Bank and the Country Food's donation of a combined $20,000 gift to our Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry? Plus, have you been by the new building located where the old Folk Shop used to be? Hu Beaver and his crew turned a sow's ear of a building into a silk purse. Thanks crew. Congratulations to all of you who are involved as worker bees, volunteers, fundraisers. You truly deserve these new digs.

That new Indian Health Center at 4th Avenue and 1st Street East is such a wonderful addition to our downtown. Between that and the makeover of the old Golden Rule building across the street is a shining example of what people with vision can accomplish.

So much is going on in our schools' that is positive. As the school year winds down, I wish to re-iterate that we are blessed by our schools administrative people, the faculty, staff, bus drivers and all who contribute to the success of our youth as they grow in wisdom.

I want to again point out how special our youth are. I continuously marvel at how many full-hand waves I get as I traverse each school zone, the skate park and throughout the city. Of course, it isn't easy for some to acknowledge us due to peer pressure, or just outright dislike for our positions in the community. However, I for one will, as will other officers, continue to smile, wave and visit with them as they allow because indeed we are in full approval of the 97 percent who are such a credit to our community.

To you, Polson High School seniors, congratulations. For some, it will be bittersweet and for some, sweet. However, three groups in general got you to where you are. Your parents, the faculty and staff that give and give and, of course, most importantly yourself. For in the end, it is only you that can pursue your dream. Life is not always fair but life in general is good. However, it is our responsibility to decide what we make of it. A glass half full is surely better than one half empty.

So, to you graduates and other students: believe in yourself, be safe, care about one another and wear that seat belt. We admire you both close up and from afar.

From the police information corner know that you can be charged for disturbance when you proceed down the street in your vehicle or are stopped and the noise from that instrument is so loud that it hurts the ears of the receivers or vibrates so as to bother those near and far. This also applies to residences, apartments and other buildings that are occupied.

I know that's a drag, but many of us in Polson are from the Lawrence Welk era and just can't buy into this new stuff. Also, keep in mind that those who choose this avenue of entertainment may find in your waning years you will be visiting a hearing specialist.

The fudge factor regarding parking in yellow zones is seeing growth. There is a reason for yellow curbing and that is so as to not obstruct the driver vision regarding oncoming traffic. You may find yourself with a "reminder gift" under your windshield wiper. Which in turn leads you to visit city hall and if you plead or are found guilty you leave with a lighter wallet. Does this last statement aggravate you? It might until you are the victim of those who choose to park there, thus obstructing your line of sight and you end up with crumpled fenders and paint from two vehicles that seldom match. Also we have responded to these events where frustrations have boiled over and we then revert to being a referee.

Finally, even though school days are waning we are having a real problem crop up by parents dropping their children off in school zones while they are still in a driving lane. This is so dangerous, especially when done from the driver's side of the car.

This week I observed this occur at Linderman Elementary. The child not only was in danger from someone trying to go around the vehicle, but a vehicle parked correctly alongside the curb and started to pull away, nearly hitting that child as they ran in between vehicles. We all would carry a heavy load if we either caused that to happen to our child or were the innocent victim driver of another car that got caught in that moment of a errant driver being in too much of a hurry and failing to pull curbside for drop off.

Well, so much for that gloomy stuff. It's already been gloomy enough around here with the clouds and rain this week. The only silver lining is it may well slow the fire seasons beginning in what promises to be a banner year for our firefighters.

So to all, pray for warmth and sunshine, interspersed at night by rain. Be good to yourself, love yourself, and help your friends and neighbors as the need arises.