Letters to the editor
Gill netting
My passion is fishing and I am compelled to do something to protect our resource. I am against gill netting.
I have lived and fished here for 36 years and will continue to fish Flathead Lake. I fish every month of the year and would venture to say that I spend more time than most on the lake. I am a sports fisherman and devote my time to catching trophy lake trout. I release these fish and have developed a respect for the fact that the large ones are up to 20 or 30 years old. I donate fishing trips to charities and non-profit organizations and enjoy watching kids and adults catch the biggest fish of their life.
I have seen the rise and fall of our fisheries over the years. I remember the lake trout, bull trout, cutthroat and salmon all co-existing together for a wonderful fishery. It was me and a couple of other friends that discovered the salmon schooling outside Pine Glen Resort in Skidoo Bay, during the winter months. Later came the time that the river levels up north were lowered below the spawning beds of the fish now gone and on the verge of extinction. This wiped out the fish, except the lake trout, within two years and then the shrimp introduction caused problems with salmon reintroduction. The lake trout suffered but rebounded after changing diets, which now makes them a very good table fare.
I have fished in all the Tribal derbies but target my fishing toward catching the big one. The last few years, I have noticed that the derbies are having a negative impact on our sports fishing for large fish. I don’t mean to brag, but I never get skunked. This year, I have fished five long days and have not caught a fish. I fish differently for the big ones and I know the other anglers are targeting for numbers in the derby. They catch smaller fish in general, and jig for them in schools. I have not even seen a large fish on the bottom and have gone to many areas around the lake.
I feel the derbies are impacting the lake trout significantly and there is no documented evidence that the bull trout will ever come back to the levels we once enjoyed. I do not want to gamble with losing our fishing all together and possibly polluting the lake with algae due to the elimination of the main predator of the shrimp.
The risk is far too great to add gill netting to the equation for inhumane slaughter of all the fish. I believe Mother Nature will take care of what is best for this lake and fisheries without man’s tampering with the intervention of experiments.
Rick Skates
Polson
Awesome speaker
On Friday, April 27, the Big Arm Association held its monthly potluck and heard the most awesome speaker. Dr. E. B. Eiselein spoke about Montana Indian history and culture prior to the 1830s. He was scheduled for about an hour and talked for a longer time and took questions after.
Folks, his presentation was fabulous and we highly recommend him if you are looking for a speaker. We want to extend our thanks to him and his wife for the informative presentation and the attendees for the great potluck. (It was like Thanksgiving all over again.) Please look for our announcement coming soon for next month’s speaker. Thank you again Dr. Eiselein.
Leanna Fillman
Big Arm
CASA thanks
A deep sense of gratitude is due to everyone who recently participated in the Sixth Annual CASA Golf Tournament.
Participation was outstanding as usual and without the golfing support of area law enforcement, probation, banks and teachers, this event just couldn’t survive and continue to provide vital funding to such an important program.
A special thanks also to those businesses and individuals who dug deep in their pocketbooks to support the event by purchasing hole sponsorships.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children of Lake County provides volunteers who are assigned by District Court to investigate the status of abused, neglected or displaced children and make a recommendation about their eventual placement to guarantee a safe environment.
The need for such advocacy continues to grow and provides an independent voice for the affected children.
The event raised some $12,000 which is vitally needed each year to sustain the non-profit program that has but a single part-time paid employee. Media also play a large role in promoting the event and the CASA gold committee and volunteers did an admirable job organizing the day.
Our thanks as well to Polson Bay Golf Course, not just for their tireless work on the day of the event and guaranteeing excellent weather, but how the continued excellent condition of one of the best courses in northwest Montana is maintained.
Mick Holien
Polson
Dianetic counseling
Do you ever wonder what is holding you back? If you found out what it was, would you want to handle it? Well, I never understood what it was that caused me to make bad decisions, or say hurtful things, or even neglect my responsibilities.
Your reactive mind stores lots of useless data and regurgitates it during moments of stress. I can tell you first hand, after receiving free introductory Dianetic counseling, I have never felt better. The realizations that I had about past instances of pain and loss, and how they affect my daily life were astounding.
The process is simple and straightforward. It is a workable solution to the problems of life without medication or costly therapy. You can do it with a friend or family member at virtually no cost and the results are truly amazing.
I encourage everyone to come to the free introductory Dianetic counseling sessions at the Polson Library Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Now I don’t pretend to have a perfect life, or have it, “All figured out,” so I am definitely going to be there for the free sessions. What do you really have to lose but your reactive mind?
Troy Ricciardi
Polson
Thanks to Polson schools
Polson teachers and staff; thank you. With all the micro-mismanagement and egocentric behavior in the leadership of the district, the teachers have continued to maintain their focus where it should be; on the education of their students. It is difficult to maintain morale with all that has occurred over the last few months, especially since the teachers do not have a renewed contract.
This leaves them with having to pick up all the increases in health insurance and cost of living. I would hope that the district leadership will work to resolve the divisive behavior that has persisted. It is the job of any board to reach a consensus that serves the best interests of the community, students, and staff.
Garth Cox
Polson
Here we go again!
Two weeks ago, our local newspapers were kind enough to publish a LTE in which I was critical of fellow trustees who make decisions on the basis of ‘comments’ they hear from anonymous sources. The local papers, in their issues of the week of April 22, published a response from Alan Mikkelsen of St. Ignatius. To begin, I expect criticism of any vote I might take as a trustee of the Polson School Board. That comes with the territory. I vote my conscience based on reliable information available to me and do not expect all to agree with me.
I clearly recall Mr. Mikkelsen being at that meeting and seated in the front row near Mr. Hendrickson. He indicated his support for Shawn at the start of the public discussion, so I am not surprised that he might be unhappy with the board’s decision that night. Mr. Mikkelsen, however, crosses over the line when he calls me a hypocrite and cites, as his foundation, the action taken at that board meeting wherein Mr. Hendrickson was relieved of his position at PHS.
Mr. Mikkelsen would be well-served to be sure of his facts before calling ’the kettle black.’ There were no trustee references to ‘anonymous comments’ that affected our decision; to the best of my knowledge there were no such ‘anonymous’ negative comments to be considered by any of the trustees.
There were, in fact, no comments at all from the board. We simply listened to those of the public who wished to speak to the issue. The board did not act in a vacuum but, as always when dealing with a serious and emotional issue, sought expert legal counsel so as to avoid incurring potentially damaging legal liability for the taxpayers of Polson... those same conditions apply today, so this is the only time I will enter into any public dialog on the matter!
Bob Hanson
Polson
Impact fees
Does the city really need impact fees?
In the “findings” portion of the proposed draft of Ordinance 661, Sec 6.2(a) you can read the following statement, “The City has experienced an unprecedented rate of New Development in recent years increasing the strain on the City’s ability to provide necessary public facilities and services.”
Continuing in subsection (d) it further states, “Fees are a reasonable method of regulating New Development.” The findings are the basis of the city’s argument for imposing impact fees on new development. Are these arguments reasonable?
The city has experienced other high rates of growth like when the reservation was opened to white settlement and again in the 1930s when Kerr Dam was under construction. It is simply not correct to state that in recent years there has been an unprecedented rate of development.
The $7,000 in impact fees on every new home, in addition to building permit costs and connection fees have, however, successfully regulated new development. Our construction workers now leave their families in Polson and commute to North Dakota for work in response to a lack of new development. Those workers would agree that the regulating has been extremely successful. The city has dramatically demonstrated that when government adds costs to something the public produces less of that something, in this case, construction jobs.
Unless the citizens of Polson speak out at the May 7 council meeting when the second and final reading of this new ordinance will occur, impact fees will continue to be imposed on new development with the predictable result that less new development will occur.
If you are concerned about Polson’s growth, please make your voices heard.
Bob Fulton
Polson
Support Ken Miller
Sorry to say, I am a bit pessimistic about our federal government regardless of who will be elected to Washington, D.C. in November. That is why I am placing all my hope in Montana and it begins now with the primary on June 5. Seven GOP candidates seeking nomination have crowded the field, but one stands much taller, literally and figuratively, than all the rest — Ken Miller.
I am not the kind of person to write a negative critique of his opponents, by name, but it would be so very easy to do so! While some do have good qualities, they are found lacking when compared to Ken. Only Ken Miller is the ideal governor candidate. He is a man of character, strength, and strong morals. He is a former state senator and GOP state chair and has remained actively involved in Helena. Ken truly understands how to run this state! He has had plenty of Montana small business experience. Ken is a bold leader with the most impressive work ethic. He starts his day before sunrise; he says that habit was formed from his early days on the dairy farm!
For more than a year and a half, his goal has been to meet and/or talk with every Montanan and his odometer is proof of that effort! He is the only candidate with his cell phone on his website and literature. Phone him. Really! Talk to him about the issues that matter to you.
This message is not only for republicans. Many democrats are proud to support Ken. He is honest and tells where he stands, not what he thinks someone wants to hear. I am extremely excited and optimistic about Montana’s future under his leadership. Vote in the June 5 primary! Thank you!
Diane Speer
Polson