Voters investing in valley's future

Voters in various parts of the Flathead Valley were asked in Tuesday's election to shell out almost $55 million for four building projects.

And they said yes to all of them, by comfortable margins.

The biggest-ticket item, $39.8 million to build a new high school and renovate Flathead High School, passed by more than 2,000 votes overall. Only five of 26 precincts voted against the project, which will be the largest school project ever undertaken in the valley.

The $10.9 million question to revamp Kalispell Junior High got even stronger support: a 60 percent to 40 percent margin and a majority of "yes" votes in every precinct.

School support was similarly strong in the Swan River School District, where voters resoundingly approved $867,000 for a new facility to replace the cramped Quonset hut that currently serves as a gymnasium.

And Kalispell voters, on top of backing the junior high and high school projects, voted to tax themselves another $3 million to build a new fire hall for the fast-growing north side of town.

Financial decisions involving this magnitude of money surely don't come easily.

But voters are to be applauded not only for their generosity but also for their very real votes of confidence in schools and firefighters - and their response to the infrastructure needs of a growing area.

Local soccer teams put on another sterling showing last weekend, bringing home one state-championship trophy and notching one runner-up finish and one third-place triumph.

Leading the trophy parade were the Columbia Falls Wildkats, who blasted their way to the Class A title in girls soccer - a first for Columbia Falls girls.

The next day, the Columbia Falls boys finished No. 2 in the state, nipped in overtime in a heartbreaking championship game.

And the Flathead Braves, who had their title dreams shattered in a post-overtime shootout loss in the semifinals, bounced back (with a goal in the second overtime) to capture third place in Class AA boys soccer.

Congratulations to all these winners on the soccer field.

There was some good news on the job scene this week in Kalispell, when TeleTech started hiring for its new call center at Gateway West Mall.

The company has about 150 jobs available now and has agreed to create 425 jobs in three years.

TeleTech's revival of the call center formerly operated by Stream International is another welcome boost to the Flathead economy.

Add the TeleTech jobs to the new ones being provided by Lowe's, Walgreen's, Blue Cow and others, and the job scene is looking strong around here.