LETTERS TO THE EDITOR _ Aug. 28, 2014

Compact laws

Time to give Thanks to three Great individuals that were in the line of fire and corruption of our great Compact Commission: C.B. McNeil, Brian Shuck and Lloyd Ingraham thanks for your insight for us to keep digging for Laws that were to be forgotten.

Federal water rights owned by the United States were appropriated thru Acts of Congress, signed by the Presidents, for the benefit of the Flathead Irrigation Project; not by the State and its Department of Natural, Resources and Conservation.

Thank God there are many honest citizens of the state working there. With their help we have uncovered the largest corruption against private property in the state of Montana.

Your original appropriations have been magically changed from “Irrigation, Power and other Purposes,” to Irrigation only.

The Compact Commission, coerced by Federal, State and Tribal lawyers, have all devised the coverup of head-water benefits from the lease of our personal water rights. I hope the “IRS or taxpayers” do not find out about this?                     

Gene Erb, St. Ignatius

Ruling goes against The People

Editor,

The vilification of ordinary citizens apparently doesn’t stop with a tainted judicial decision against them; it carries on through court records that are more fiction that fact.

I sat in the courtroom with 12 other aging adults (all over 60), in silence, while watching the miscarriage of justice take place before us.  We were raised to be respectful of the courtroom and the government.  There were no outbursts, no “a little too vocal,” no nothing; respectful silence. How can a district court judge write, “The group also includes some people who have been disruptive and insulting at city meetings,” when first, it had nothing to do with the case at hand and second, not one person in the “group” or courtroom had ever been disruptive in any city council meetings, much less this court case?  The city meetings are run with an iron hand and law enforcement is present to ensure that control.

Whether or not the city desires to conduct some business in the quiet, non-disruptive confines of ‘executive session’ has nothing to do with the flagrant breaking of Montana law for “Open Meetings.” The hiring process of a City Manager is not an item for executive session.  It has a process and that process is open to the public. Someone needs to explain why the ‘bench’ felt it necessary to have two (2) bailiffs in the courtroom for 12 old people…like we were a real threat to the conduct of judicial process.  Who, in their right mind, would feel threatened by a dozen senior citizens?

And what judge would ignore the issue of a lawsuit and judge the case on events that were not generic to it, while marginalizing the plaintiff’s themselves?

The court records are apparently just as much a sham as the court proceeding itself.  Justice and truth have taken flight.

Michael Gale, Ronan

Throwing gas on the terrorism inferno

Why does the US and the other responsible nations continue to flounder in addressing international terrorism?  Why, when obviously a different strategy is called for?

Bottom line?  You cannot bomb an ideology to kill it.  It feels nothing.  The only way to defeat an ideology-driven movement is to get to the source of the ideological teaching, recruiting, planning, plotting and performing.

9/11 should have alerted the U.S. and the world to the need for new strategies.  Instead, the Bush administration used 9/11 as the timely opportunity to go after Iraqi oil, extend our military might for control purposes, and act as if we were doing all this in the name of fighting terrorism.  All we did was throw gas on the fire of the most radical and extreme ideological elements trying to emerge in the Middle East to spread their influence as far as possible.   

The U.S. and world intelligence has known about these terrorist, ideologically driven groups for decades.  This is not new. What is new is their ability to grow and move with impunity.   Poverty, fear and anger feed right into their recruiting strategies.  And they are well funded, too.

We are way behind the curve in all of this.  The present situations in Iraq are the perfect proof of that right now.   In my opinion, ITEM, an International Terrorist Elimination Movement needs to be formed with a team of qualified personnel in the fields of military, diplomacy, education, religion, economics, and intelligence.  They are to form sub-teams, plan strategies, infiltrate, and meet constantly with troubled and vulnerable nations leaders.  They are to be a coordinating power to help change thinking, change young people’s hope for the future, change attitudes, change behaviors and change the present trend in world thinking from fear to a clear vision for peace and prosperity.

As a world, I feel we are capable of this.  This may sound idealistic, even unrealistic, but how about what is happening now?  Is this the realism we are to get used to and live with?  I don’t think so.

Bob McClellan, Polson

The Great Polson Barbeque Dilemma

For 22 years I have lived in the Salish Point section of Polson. The quiet neighborhood and beautiful view of the lake has been enhanced by the generous neighbors around me. I have worked, played, paid my taxes and volunteered for several non-profit charities during my time in the community.

My question is who do I turn to when my rights are being ignored? Once again I have been woken before 6:00 AM by the stench of burning animals coming from Cherries Barbeque and the smoke that lingers in my house, garage and yard. The smell of barbeque is not offensive in most cases but when you are forced to endure it 24/7 it becomes intolerable.

My first thoughts were to alert the fire department and describe what I consider a public nuisance and fire hazard. Next I contacted the Air Quality Program manager for the tribe. My last conversation was with Polson EPA. My concerns were not just for the smoke but the possibility of a fire hazard due to the makeshift set-up the business owners have constructed. A huge barrel of oil sits a few feet from the alley and the barbeque pit borders the drive-thru lane. The owners continue to pollute and add fear of a terrible fire.   

Several city agencies have conferred on this matter and equate the burning with the burning of other local wood stoves. Most citizens burn their stoves in the winter time when windows are closed. I am on a fixed income and work part time. My budget does not include room for additional utility bills or lawyer fees. It is not in my nature to give up and I am appealing to the community for help.

Thank you for your consideration and time.

Pat Salmon, Polson

Thanks Wings For Wishes sponsors

With Your Help and with the help from all that came to this event ~ We have all Granted A Wish for One Child through the Make A Wish Foundation of Montana .

Our heartfelt Thanks to Everyone ~ See you next year at Wings For Wishes 2015.

Marie Henry, Wings for Wishes