Editorial

Honor veterans by first recognizing their contributions, sacrifices

Drawing by Sherman Violette, first grade, K.W. Harvey Elementary School

Letters to the editor

Freedom comes with a price

Editor,
I know that Veterans Day was on Wednesday, Nov. 1 this year. So I am dedicating this letter to all the veterans here in St. Ignatius, Arlee, Ronan, Polson, Charlo, and all over the state of Montana, as well as all over this great country of ours for all the sacrifices that they have made for our freedom.
Without our brave veterans from then and now we would not have the freedom that we have today.
My heart goes out to the families of the soldiers that were lost at Fort Hood in Texas on Thursday, Nov. 5. May God bless you and keep you safe. To all of our brave men and woman in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan, we all support you and wait for the day that you all will come home. We hope it will be soon.
Lynn Delecaris
St. Ignatius

Polson bypass is a top priority

Editor,
Congratulations to newly elected Polson Mayor, Pat DeVries. I wish you much success in the coming months as you and the other members of the commission work toward making Polson a better place for all of us to live.
I'm not going to list here some of our municipal needs, we are all aware of street surface conditions, high water costs, and some other issues.
I would however like to stress the glaring need for the U.S. Highway 93 Polson bypass. Please, I say to you, make this issue one of the top items on your list of things 'to do' for us.
And lets all hope that this need won't become a hazy, back burner issue of priority like it has been for the past 50 years in Kalispell.
Let's learn from their mistakes of what the doldrums in leadership, or priorities can cost the taxpayers when it comes to acquisitions of right-a-ways later down the road.
The Polson bypass, I've learned isn't a new issue. I've also learned that whenever brought up to local leaders, the local tribe was quick to show the thumbs down on the whole idea.
Please Ms. DeVries, in a progressive manner, use all your resources to bring this project and need to the forefront with the necessary Feds. for their help. And if anyone at the tribal level docents in some way, don't give up.
This is an issue a lot bigger than a tribal, or any other naysayer, and it needs to be considered and acted upon as so.
Will Elliott
Polson

Careless driving victimizes family

Editor,
Do you love and care for your family?
Of course you do. Who doesn't?
Recently, a member of my family was abruptly taken from me due to the carelessness and inconsideration of an individual in our community.
On Nov. 4, our family pet was hit and killed on Crow Dam Road, northwest of Charlo. Another family member witnessed the whole event from inside the residence on Crow Dam Road.
It wasn't bad enough that the individual hit the animal; the witness saw the individual driving the vehicle speed up to intentionally hit the black and white dog who had been on the side of the road.
The driver hit the dog slightly after 8 a.m., when there was plenty of light to see, and could have prevented this incident. To begin with, the individual was driving entirely too fast to be considered safe on the graveled county road. If the individual would have been driving at a safe speed, ample reaction time could have been exhibited, and the loss of a member of my family would have been prevented.
To put the icing on the cake, the individual stopped to let the family members know what had occurred. This person exhibited no remorse, compassion, or care for what they had just done, and the precious life that they had just so wantonly taken from us.
Stupidity, carelessness, and lack of compassion for another life form caused this incident. If common sense had been used, this incident would never have happened, or could have been prevented.
Let this be a lesson to those of you who speed on the gravel roads of Lake County. An alert and conscious driver scans the road and ditches. Pay attention to your surroundings, watch for loved ones both human and animal in the roadway, and drive at a safe speed on graveled county roads.
I wonder how this individual would have felt if this had been a child, waiting for the morning school bus?
Shantell A. Frame
Dillon

Student thanks Charlo Schools

Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents who opened up their homes and made team dinners for the Charlo Football team.
Over the past four years I have visited many homes and got to know many of my teammates and their parents on a personal basis. I believe that these dinners have been a great addition and have helped bring us closer together as a team.
I've enjoyed my time at Charlo Schools and appreciate all the teachers, coaches, staff and community members that have helped me achieve my goals and become the person that I am.
I'd like to thank my parents for allowing me to attend the school of my choice and who've always said it was a privilege and an honor and I better not mess it up.
I can say that I have only a few regrets and that is not getting to go to the prom with Mrs. Dekmar, letting Mrs. Delaney wear my jersey for homecoming and bringing Mrs. Hollow more candy bars.
I'd also like to thank Mrs. Murphy for laying the foundation while I attended Dixon School.
My list could go on so if I've forgotten anyone, I'm sorry, but know that you played a part and for that I'm forever grateful. It was a privilege and honor to attend this school.
Kaileb Gillingham
Charlo Viking student
Charlo

Mustang Winner to be announced soon

Editor,
The phone at the Boys & Girls Club has been ringing steadily the past few days and we wish to make a clarification for your loyal readers and our many great friends.
Our club would like to thank all those who have purchased raffle tickets for the 1967 Mustang Coup that is currently being restored and readied for a brand new owner. Our original intent was to draw for the car sometime in October. Our ticket sales goal has not been met however (3,000 tickets) and we will continue to finish the sales goal.
It is very likely that we will reach that benchmark within the next two weeks and have the drawing soon thereafter. Please watch for notice of the exact time and place. Anyone having questions, please give our office a call at 676-5437.
Thank you for being patient.
John Schnase,
Executive Director
Boys & Girls Club
Ronan

Mankind shows lack of compassion

Editor,
I actually wept last Wednesday morning, reading the account of the five British soldiers killed in Afghanistan at a check point in Shin Kalay, in the southern Helmand region.
Their job was to mentor Afghan police officers, living and working side-by-side with them. P.M. Gordon Brown stated that apparently the Taliban infiltrated the police force and one 'rogue person' shot and killed five British men.
Why do we weep? Is it because of numbers killed? Is it because death seems so final? Is it because we feel so sorry for the families left behind?
Sgt. Matthew Teford, one young man killed, leaves a wife, Kerry, and two boys, 9 and 4-years-old. Teford's uncle says he loved his job over there. What, exactly, is this "job" accomplishing?
We don't even really understand who the Taliban are. We don't understand the deep rooted and convoluted allegiances between tribal leaders, Taliban, normal citizens, and the Afghan government. And here we are, U.N. military forces running all over that vast and difficult land mass wondering who's who, whom do I trust? Is that innocent looking person going to shoot me or shake my hand?
Did Sgt. Teford ever ask, "What the heck did I sign up for here?" or did he just 'soldier on' like the good trooper that he is/was?
I weep because of the mind-set of fear which permeates our world today. I weep, as Jesus wept, for the lack of wisdom, compassion, understanding and demonstrated-love by human beings who are created in the image and likeness of God which is Love. This is such a waste, such a missing-the-mark in life, such a repudiation of all that has been taught to us down through the ages from such great spiritual teachers and guides such as Jesus.
But through my tears also comes a great cleansing as I focus upon the great hope and potential we have, as a human race, to shift our minds from fear to love and create a world that works. It can be done. It will be done.
When? That depends on how soon we each, individually in our own lives, begin this process, this inner-most connection with our 'true source' which is love. Stay tuned within.
Bob McClellan
Polson

Mandatory minimums should be overturned

Editor,
Every day, 50 people get a one-size-fits-all mandatory minimum sentence in federal court. It doesn't matter if the sentence doesn't fit the crime. It doesn't matter if the judge disagrees with the sentence. His or her hands were tied when, twenty years ago, Congress created mandatory minimums. And today, this day, another 50 people will suffer and sacrifice years of their lives because of that legislative mistake.
Fifty people a day may not sound like a big number, but it has big consequences that add up. Think about it. Every day, that's 50 parents leaving their children; or, 50 spouses separated from their partners; or, 50 sons and daughters removed from their families.
In one year, that's an overwhelming 18,250 nonviolent offenders going to federal prison.
Most of them will serve at least five years. Most will work from prison for less than 50 cents an hour. It's big business. Big profits. Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) knows well the human toll of mandatory minimum sentences. Indeed the price is dear. That's why it's worth the fight.
FAMM is working hard to fix the mistake Congress made 20 years ago. Legislators are beginning to hear, see and feel how desperately these laws need reform, and Congress is unifying. Real reform looks more doable now than it has any time in the last 20 years.
Primarily FAMM had been focused to overturn the 100-1 disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine sentencing. Case in point, the disparity has been exposed and the laws relating to those crimes are being changed, one life at a time.
A victory, yes, but still there's much work to be done. There is so much at stake for so many. Nearly everyone's life is touched in some way by excessive imprisonment of someone they know or love. It is an insidious and far reaching injustice. We have to stand together for positive change.
Please, check out www.FAMM.org online and support a campaign for bringing balance and fairness to the sentencing laws.
Wilma Mixon Hall
Polson

Thank you for your dedication

Editor,
We watched the Pirates lose a very tough football game last weekend with pride and sadness. They played their hearts out and we are very proud of all of them but one in particular has special meaning to us.
The Patterson/Shima family has had a student in the Polson school system since 1962. The last grandchild, Kyle Patterson, was part of that awesome offensive line and will graduate this year. Kyle, you've done good.
We've spent a lot of years either as participants ourselves or sitting in those bleachers with Grandpa Walt leading the cheers watching children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. We know the dedication and hard work it takes to be out there on that field, or on that track, or in that gym, or in that cheerleader uniform, or playing in that band, or on that stage.
We want you to know we know what you went through to get there.
We appreciate your efforts and hours of practice. You have all been fantastic. Thank you for all of your hours of hard work and dedication. Thank you for giving us all countless hours of enjoyment.
We may not have been the loudest family in the stands but we've certainly been the proudest.
Thank you from Granny, Uncle Bruce and Aunt Jane, Aunt Joyce and Uncle Mike, Mom and Dad (Uncle Gary and Aunt Patti), Aunt Teresa and Uncle Scott, and Crazy Aunt Ruth.
Joyce Shima
Polson

Health agencies work tirelessly

Editor,
I wanted to take the opportunity to offer public thanks to a team of professionals who work tirelessly, usually behind the scenes, to help ensure the health of our community.
They are the men and women of the Lake County Health Department and the CSKT Public Health Department. Throughout the year, these dedicated professionals offer a myriad of programs and services to our community. In recent months, however, their duties have been increased tremendously as a result of the widespread outbreak of influenza-like illness in our community.
Responding to the greatly increased volume of phone calls from concerned citizens, conducting testing and monitoring of this and many other communicable diseases, providing regular communication to all of the health care providers in Lake County, and now conducting immunization clinics around the valley — all in addition to their normal duties. They do so with great poise and professionalism.
In particular, the immunization clinics have been very well organized and run to handle a large volume of people in a short time and with a minimum of "red tape." While some may have differing opinions regarding the H1N1 vaccination (that's really not the point of this letter), the fact that these two agencies have come together and have met the current need with such efficiency deserves a big thank you from all of us.
We are all very fortunate to have these agencies working for us.
David Vaughan
St. Ignatius