| March 25, 2010
Editorial
Tap into our web site calendar to plan your spring and summer
By Jim Blow
Editor
Signs of spring surround us and that means we're just going to get busier and busier. All this warm weather has got us heading outdoors more and more, whether it's to take care of chores we've put off until the snow melted or to get some shirt-sleeve fishing in while the sun is out.
 Jim Blow
Events also begin to pick up as we look toward day and evening events that start to fill up our spring and summer calendars. Good weather or bad, there will be plenty of things to do until next fall.
In an effort to help families with that planning we've published our Youth Guide in this week's Valley Journal. The Youth Guide includes a very useful calendar of events that cover fun stuff all the way through September.
We'll be refining and adding to that events calendar as we prepare to produce our Summer Guide in May, so we invite you to keep us informed of any events you have coming up that wasn't previously included. If you're involved in organizing an open-to-the-public, non-profit activity that's coming up, send the details of your event to news@valleyjournal.net and we'll shoehorn the overview of your event into our calendar section.
It's a good idea to keep the Youth Guide on hand at your home or office as a ready reference throughout the spring and summer. But we've also included the calendar of events portion on our web site in order to keep it handy for everyone.
You can navigate to the Summer Calendar from our home page (www.valleyjournal.net) by clicking on the button at the bottom of the left column, below the weather and "more news" section. You can also go directly to the calendar by entering the following page in your browser: www.valleyjournal.net/more/calendar2010.html
We'll keep the Summer Calendar up-to-date with new additions and changes as they develop. As always, send all your calendar items to Aleta, our copy editor, at news@valleyjournal.net
Building a web site is like building our Valley Journal every week — it's a ton of work but we love doing it and welcome your feedback. Send your comments and recommendations on our web site to me at
vjeditor@valleyjournal.net
Letters to the editor
Restoring America involves active participation
Editor,
This letter is in response to Sheila Bell’s letter published last week. As one of the founders of Calling All Conservatives (CAC), I wanted to answer her question about the change of name. It changed because the group has new leadership, and had nothing to do with the Hamilton group as Sheila surmised.
It became very clear after our first two successful events that several people on our planning committee disagreed on how to move the group forward. Some thought we should take advantage of the upcoming elections to become a forum for candidates, pushing political issues, while others believed that we should adhere to the original mission of educating citizens.
While I believe that all members of the original group have the same goal of restoring sanity back to our country and moving back to the standard of the Constitution, unfortunately we could not agree on how to get there.
Replacing our representatives with honorable men and women is a step in the right direction, but it will not fix the problem, nor will it restore our country back to the Constitutional Republic our Founders envisioned.
America’s true salvation lies not with political parties and politicians, but rather with educating our citizens about the Constitution and expecting them to take responsibility and action as needed to hold their representatives accountable for upholding their oath to defend the Constitution, and to protect our liberties.
The founders of CAC and a few others from the original group chose the path of citizen education, and left the group. To be clear, candidate forums were never the mission or vision of CAC. We’re currently developing a new strategy to achieve the original mission and intent of CAC.
Please look for additional information in the paper in upcoming weeks, and e-mail your questions and comments to fedupinmontana@gmail.com
I wish all the best to Citizens Acting for Liberty, and hope that the people of Lake County support both efforts going forward.
Please get involved. Become part of the solution. The future of our country depends on it.
Terry Backs
St. Ignatius
Health care bill is a good start
Editor,
I am relieved that the national health care bill passed and will be put into law this week. There are people living without health care coverage right now, and more losing it every day. This bill is by no means perfect — but it is a very good start to keep people from losing insurance when they get sick, and from keeping people from getting affordable insurance because they have been sick and have “pre-existing” conditions.
I have health insurance now, but was concerned that I could be put in a situation where I lose my home if I got sick, and couldn’t get my health care costs covered. I currently have an HSA plan, which is a high deductible, catastrophic plan. This year my premium went up 25 percent.
I hope that the new health care legislation will help with out of control premium increases, which have been happening for years. Hopefully this law will help curb the for-profit, monopoly insurance companies from making large profits on the backs of the American people. I also hope that the democrats and republicans can figure out how to work together instead of the extreme partisanship that has been so unproductive and frustrating for the last year.
Judy Preston
Polson
Charlo Ghost Out was a great success
Editor,
I would like to take this time to thank everyone who participated and helped in the Charlo Ghost Out. It was a great success and I’m glad that I was able to have this program brought to the Charlo High School to teach the students about drinking and driving.
I would like to send a special thanks to Mr. Love, Nate Lundeen and the Charlo High School Staff members for all the help and cooperation they had while I was putting the Ghost Out together. Darwin Hensley, Officer Orsino and the volunteer personnel did an amazing job with the Ghost Out.
This was a great success and it couldn’t have been done without all the help I had from everyone. I am very glad that I got the chance to bring this presentation to the Charlo High School and I hope that the students learned from the Ghost Out and will think the next time they decide to drink and drive. Thank you again to everyone that participated and helped out with the Ghost Out.
Jessica Anderson
Charlo High School
Charlo
Webb leaves Polson with many heartfelt memories
By Doug Chase
There is so much to visit with you about. As most all of Polson knows our Honorary Downtown Police Beat Officer Barry Webb has left us. We know he is looking down and no doubt frowning at times about the way we are handling things.
In my eight years, Barry worked his way into my heart and my wonderful memories of Honorary Officer Webb. He was a joy to see as he “gumshoed” the beat. Main Street, 1st Street East and the Senior Citizens Center were just part of his normal route. Barry brought many a smile with his smile and various euphemisms he would call out as he and Polsonites' paths would meet.
The memorial service was Saturday March 20, at 2 p.m. in the Linderman gym. Several hundred citizens were in attendance. Presbyterian Minister, Dave Anson, the church choir and some of Polson's best people recounted their days and memories. All did a splendid job. Laughs abounded as we heard the memories expressed and most of us experienced. There were a lot of moist eyes at times but far more smiles. Yes, that was Polson's Barry. Doesn’t get much better than that.
It also reminds each of us that some have more than less frailties. However, it’s how we treat people that in the end develops our reputation.
How about those fall and winter accomplishments of our Polson High Schoolers? Three peat Rausch was one tough hombre as were several other wrestlers both here and down the road southbound 14 miles. Then the men's basketball team did us proud at State. Yes, we can be proud of our youth. Speech and debate, drama, band, Lady Pirate hoops, and chorus groups plus soccer — what a richness they all bring to our city.
As you most likely have noticed, Main Street is having new water lines placed deep down. Jensen Construction of Polson is doing the work. They are did a yeoman job so as not tie off Main Street traffic or pedestrian crossings too long. Kudos. Our Street Department sprang into action quickly trying to corral the dust left over.
The city's sweeper failed to cooperate and went to the repair shop. The State of Montana Department of Transportation's local crew immediately pledged their support and the streets are pretty doggone clean. That dispels negative rumors about inter-agency cooperation. Thanks Bill, Shad and Kasey.
While unable to attend The Annual Firefighters Ball, we understand a large crowd was present. Our own Director of Water and Sewer and 18-year veteran of the department, Tony Porazzo was awarded Firefighter of the Year.
I also noted from their brochure that Assistant Chief Pete Bishop has recorded 27 years of service along with Captain Ernie Butts 25 years. Five others have 13 years or more in the traces. That makes a powerful statement about our fire department members headed up by former Polson City Police Officer, John Fairchild. A salute of our coffee cups to all mentioned above.
Now on to more in the way of traffic matters you may find interesting. Should you open your car door as a bicyclist or car goes by, we hope all that happens is minimal damage to all involved. However, it is your responsibility to be sure there are no hazards headed your way prior to exiting your vehicle.
Of course leaving your vehicle with the car keys in the ignition is just a recipe for disaster. Not locking your vehicle only invites a thief to enter and take your personal items. You will feel violated, I assure you, if you are a victim.
You may wonder why we enforce speed zones so diligently. If you are going 20 mph and a need for a emergency stop develops, it will take (under ideal conditions) 46 feet to complete the stop. At 30 mph, it takes 87 feet to stop.
With spring officially here we will hopefully see a fair amount of rain given the lack of moisture this winter. However, with rain — especially in copious amounts, traction in your car, on a bike or motorcycle can be seriously challenged. Hydroplaning will cause your car to loose traction with the street or highway thus your safety is greatly imperiled.
Well, time for this writer to close. Remember it’s nice to be important but so much more important to be nice, a practice our Barry made an everyday ritual.
(Doug Chase is the Polson Chief of Police).
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