Letters to the editor
Parents!
What were you thinking? When I drove to work this morning I found two little girls standing on the side of Rocky Point Road by the Stone Quarry subdivision. No cars in sight. I knew Polson Schools and their busses were delayed two hours due to weather, so I stopped to tell the little girls and try to figure out what to do with them. The older of the two, maybe second or third grade, said another lady had gone to a neighbor’s house to call her mother.
The youngest girl wanted a ride home (she was so cold she would have gone with anyone who offered her a ride), but the older girl was hesitant to take a ride from a stranger, which is good. My car said it was 10 degrees and the wind was really blowing. As a former school bus driver and as a mother and a grandmother, when it’s this cold out NEVER EVER leave your children standing on the side of the road waiting for the bus. It only takes a few minutes in temperatures like that for frost bite and hypothermia to set in.
Kathie Newgard
Polson
Robbing
This letter is to the person or persons who broke into Mission General Store on Wednesday night (Wednesday, Feb. 23) and stole some money from them. The owners work hard for what they make, they trust their customers, and then some-body goes and breaks into the store at night and takes what’s not even yours.
How would you like it if you were the owner of a business and then somebody breaks into your place of business at night to steal or take something that isn’t and wasn’t theirs? Now you know how the owners of Mission General Store here in St. Ignatius feel. So who-ever did it I hope you are happy with yourselves, and have a guilty conscious and that you feel really bad for what you did.
Lynn Delecaris
St. Ignatius
Support Shawn
I am writing this letter to show my support for Shawn Hendrickson, against the non-renewal of his contract as Vice Principal of Polson High School. I am a PHS alumni (Class of 1992) and have known Shawn since 1987. He and my brother have been great friends for over 23 years. It’s been exciting to see “one of our own” make it to the position of Vice Principal in the school we all attended as youth. You can’t imagine my shock to hear that his contract is not being renewed for the upcoming school year, despite vigorous protests by his supporters demanding that he be allowed to stay in his position.
I understand that in the world of employment, sometimes people simply lose their jobs for no particular reason, even if they are outstanding workers. However, what strikes me as particularly unfair, in this case, is that the opinions of the very people whose lives Mr. Hendrickson has an effect on, are being dismissed and discounted. If this were merely a private sector job where there were differences of opinions, or personality conflicts, I could understand it. But the students and other faculty who admire and respect Mr. Hendrickson deserve to have their voices heard, and for their wishes to be weighed against the decision of the school board. Perhaps this is an opportunity to allow the students and other faculty a chance to vote on the matter, and not just the “powers that be.”
Jeanette (Strole) Parks
Polson
Abandon ship
School District 23 is a mess. The personal and political agendas put forth by the superintendent, principal and the school board have become diluted in personal agendas and vendettas. The “without cause” removal of vice principal Shawn Hendrickson is the latest of a list of personal agendas from superintendent David Whitesell and principal Rob Hankins.
Knowledge of personal threats to job security and tenure against current staff for taking a stance and objecting to these agendas has diluted the integrity of the school board and this school district. Giving ultimate power to hire and fire at will to Mr. David Whitesell places a significant burden upon this community. We need to stand up, speak out and right the irreprehensible actions that the school board self righteously continues to “rubber stamp” its approval on. Relieving Mr. Shawn Hendrickson “without cause” is something these cowardly individuals should be held accountable for. Their self-promotion and lack of respect for the community is deplorable. Absent any reason other than absolute personal agendas the school board blindly endorsed this cowardly request by a 7-1 vote in favor of removing Mr. Hendrickson.
I ask this community to educate itself and ensure this atrocity doesn’t happen again by removing these self-gloating individuals as quick as their terms allow. David Whitesell and Rob Hankins are nothing more than an embarrassment to our school district. Thanks Carolyn Cox for standing on your own personal foundation.
Josh Richards
Polson
Crash fees
In 2009, I was a trustee on the Polson Rural Fire District board. At that time, we were given an informational booklet from a billing company named Fire Recovery USA. Included was a press release from the International Association of Fire Chiefs which announced their partnership with this company in a nationwide campaign to promote accident fees as way for fire departments to raise money.
The booklet portrayed the accident fees as a good deal for the fire districts as there was “absolutely no charge”. “We simply take a portion of what we collect as our fee.” They also discussed the objections that many local residents had raised. In June 2009, these accident fees were debated and the majority argued against them. Now, the current Polson Fire District board has implemented these fees.
They say the potential of increased insurance rates is a “myth” and added “The lack of logic behind this statement should be apparent.” However, the billing company states “it is possible a portion of the insurance companies increased costs will be spread to all policy holders.”
When taxpayers complained the fees were double taxation the current trustees also called that a “myth,” reporting that the property taxes only pay for fire protection. Yet the billing company appears to agree with the taxpayers as they recommend only billing non-resident drivers and thus “this program is not double taxation.” (As long as I can remember, the rural fire district taxes did pay for the accident response services.)
I agree with many other taxpayers that these accident fees are wrong. Our fire department does not need the money, and the statements by the Polson Rural Fire District supporting the fees contradict even the billing company promoting the program.
Many towns across the nation have canceled these fees and 10 states have prohibited them entirely. Huntington Beach, Calif., has recently reversed their decision saying it could “tarnish the city’s reputation as a tourist-friendly spot and could negatively affect those who work in the city.” The fees may bring additional money to the fire department for new equipment etc., but it comes as the expense of local tax payers and businesses. For more information please call 319-6102.
Alison Meslin
Big Arm
Fee unfair
I am against the accident tax for the Polson Rural Fire District. I believe the PRFD board should create a fiscal budget based on their projected income from taxes and the anticipated expenses for the year. If the anticipated expenses exceed the income, then the board should be upfront and try to raise the tax income or decrease the expenses.
The idea of charging a discriminatory tax on individuals unfortunately involved in a traffic accident is unfair. The PRFD has had budget surpluses each year for the past several years and does not need the additional funds from the proposed accident tax.
Lynn Weaner
Rollins
Fact and opinion
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but everyone is not entitled to their own facts. Facts are the way the world is. When scientists come to a consensus, and we deny it, it is like declaring that the world is not round, but flat.
An overwhelming consensus of the world’s climate scientists agree that the world’s climate has warmed dramatically, due to increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The increases in those gases have been tied definitively to human burning of fossil fuels (mainly coal and oil). Not one single peer-reviewed article in a professional climate science journal has disputed these critical conclusions.
For all of human history prior to the industrial revolution, the average CO2 level was about 280 parts per million. We have now reached about 390 parts per million. Climatologists are warning us that we may be reaching tipping points, when warming will become an irreversible cycle with catastrophic effects.
Non-expert opinions may differ, but that’s not science. For over 20 years, the oil industry has funded the biggest deniers of global warming with the explicit goal of creating enough doubt to obstruct effective action. A survey carried out by the UK’s Royal Society, for example, found that in 2005 ExxonMobil distributed $2.9 million to 39 groups that “misrepresented the science of climate change by outright denial of the evidence.”
So we should all be alarmed when our representative in Helena chooses to waste precious Montanans money and time to try to make into law his own opinion, as if he can negate reality.
At a time when our world faces one of the biggest challenges of its existence: the excessive heating of our planet so that species like ourselves will no longer be able to survive, Joe Read tries to make a law that: (a) global warming is beneficial to the welfare and business climate of Montana; (b) reasonable amounts of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere have no verifiable impacts on the environment.
Joe Read makes our state the laughing stock of the world. The repercussions of the climate crisis are no joke.
Here in Montana, some of the main predicted effects include: dramatic reductions in water supplies in late summer and fall, which will cause serious harm to agriculture and fisheries, and big increases in the frequency and severity of forest fires. There may be more fires for him to fight, but the extreme weather patterns will cause many natural disasters that will take a huge toll on our economy.
We are truly a backward people if we subscribe to irresponsible and ignorant opinions like Mr. Read’s, rather than facing reality and stepping up to the challenge of the future. We will lose money if we do not accept reality, and bet instead on hopes or fears. Thinking clearly in times of crisis is important.
Let’s not muddle through this, but choose policy makers who recognize reality for what it is and know the difference between fact and opinion.
Carolyn Beecher
Ronan
Unspeakable suffering
The Iditarod Race was conjured up to "honor" the dogs that carried a vaccine to villages to save lives. It now has nothing to do with that, as it has industry and egos involved, big money and little concern for the dogs. The main problem today is that there were teams of dogs that were switched off regularly and fresh dogs used for each leg of the race. The race today uses the same team for the entire 1000-plus mile race. It's horrific and does not copy or honor the original dash to save lives. Instead it kills and puts dogs through unspeakable suffering.
Patricia Bowers
Polson
Veterans care
The Montana Veterans’ Home has a long and proud history of care and concern for the welfare of our veterans in this state. I see that Senator Dave Lewis and Representative Bill Beck, as well as others on the Appropriations Committee think this facility should be a “for profit” nursing home run by the private sector. I couldn’t disagree more. It is the obligation of the state of Montana to provide quality care – whether short or long term – to its men and women who sacrificed to serve their country.
Let us remember that in 1895 the Montana Veterans’ Home was one of the first institutions established by the Legislature in this state. At that time, its mission was to care for Civil and Indian War Vets. Columbia Falls was selected as the location for the nursing home from approximately 15 different communities that wanted it in their area. The citizens of Columbia Falls raised $10,000, a good deal of money in 1894, and Mr. Talbott from Butte donated the forty acres of land on the Flathead River.
The Montana State Veterans’ Home has always been sustained by the taxpayers because they thought it important to care for the veterans who fought valiantly for their country. The land made it possible to be self sufficient in many ways: they raised their own cattle for milk and meat; they established gardens to grow food for the members. Every veteran was proud and thankful to have a place that welcomed them in a time of need. This concern for the state’s veterans continued as men and women served their country in other wars throughout the years and came home.
The MVH residents have always felt the support of Flathead County folks, as well as the support of surrounding communities, school children and teachers, various service organizations, and the state itself. Most everyone considers it an honor to assist in helping our state veterans as a tribute to their patriotism and service.
This tradition of Montana caring for its veterans continues to this day. During WWII many of the veterans were members of the 169th. National Guard – a unit comprised of men and women from Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell, Libby and other towns in northwestern Montana. Throughout this war, they were proud to serve in the Pacific and then return to the state to make their living in the Flathead area. As they aged or became ill, they looked to MVH to provide for their health needs so they came “home”. Most stayed until they were buried on the grounds with full military honors from the VFW, American Legion, or Disabled American Vets.
As the administrator of the Montana Veterans’ Home during the ‘80’s and 90’s, I remember many of the residents well and their stories. They took care of the dead on the beaches of Normandy, were captives in the Bataan Death March, were faithful marines in China, and battled in the South Pacific, the Korean War and Vietnam. They were proud to have served their country. So, it’s an historic tradition that Montana citizens give back to the men and women who sacrificed for others. The State Legislature, too, felt an obligation to give back to our veterans through this state institution…and, they have done so since 1895.
I think the proposal to turn this proud institution over to the private sector not only rejects the history of service to its veterans that has distinguished Montana citizens, but more importantly, does not save any general fund money. It DOES free up money from the cigarette tax to be used elsewhere in the budget. This cigarette tax was proposed and guided by the veterans of the state to be used for the care of veterans, not for other state expenses, as currently suggested.
Call Senator Dave Lewis and Representative Bill Beck (406-444-4800) and tell them to delete the “for profit” proposal from HB2 for appropriations, and continue the fine tradition of state support for Montana’s veterans in Columbia Falls.
M. Patrick Estenson
Rollins
Thank you
We have just completed hosting two basketball tournaments and are so thankful for the assistance we received throughout both weekends. The community volunteers were dedicated, our school district staff and students participated many hours, ticket takers put in countless hours, and our athletic director kept us organized and running smoothly.
The coaches, referees, and workers were gracious and appreciative of our endeavors. The hospitality room was a place for workers to take a break and I thank the Middle School for allowing us the space and a room for the cheerleaders to use.
Having law enforcement and EMTs around the clock kept us assured that emergency situations were handled appropriately.
From the announcers to score table workers, and radio personnel who were there each time we thank you. I commend all who were there and showed the true spirit of a community that cares about young people.
Many thanks to Lucky and Theresa, administration, and supporters of these tournaments. It makes one proud to be a part of Ronan.
Marlena Jensen
Ronan