Letter: Stop for school buses

Stop for school buses

Please remind people to stop on both sides of the road for school buses.

You’d think people would know.

Early in the morning the school bus stopped for the kids at our stop — Highway 35 (east shore), Polson. It had all lights flashing, stop sign out, and my grandkids started to cross the highway to board when all the sudden a little pickup headed north zoomed by between the bus and us. Thank God the bus driver hit the horn. I grabbed the kids and pulled them back — just in the nick of time.

You’d think that was enough, one random law-breaking driver. But no. After I walked them across the highway and got them on the bus, I was starting back across the highway to my car (bus lights are still flashing, stop sign still out) and another big pickup was going to pass the bus, — on the same northbound lane.

The bus driver laid on the horn again and got this one to stop.

Apparently not everyone knows that a bus stopped with lights on and stop sign out means stop on both sides of the road.

There are little kids out there. Once they see that stop sign go out, they think they are safe (and they should be). Typically once they see that stop sign go out they run to get on the bus. This time it was only by the grace of God and a fast-thinking bus driver that these kids weren’t hit.

Please take care. Please, please remember a stopped school bus with lights flashing means stop on both sides of the road.

Julie Weber, Polson

Good game, Joe

My name is Lisa Pavlock, and I just finished my first campaign for election to the Montana House of Representatives in District 93.

It was a hard-fought race, and although I was deeply saddened not to win, I was grateful for the chance to run to represent the people of Lake County. Upon hearing the results, the leadership of the Democratic Party recommended I get in touch with my opponent, Joe Read, to congratulate him.

And, as difficult as it was, I understood the importance of this act -— as an athlete who has played and coached in hundreds of games — it is the way we acknowledge the humanity of our competitor. It is a way of thanking them for the dance we just went through, together. Because without him, there would have been no competition. The win would not feel so good, the loss not hurt so badly.

I was surprised the next day when Joe and his wife, Jill, came by with flowers. Looking each other in the eye really made a difference and helped to bring the campaign to its completion. I was glad for the chance to be able to have had this opportunity. Thanks to all of the people of Lake County and everyone who left their hearts out on the field of this campaign.

Looking forward to the next time.

Lisa Pavlock, St. Ignatius