Heat bodes ill for fire season
Hot enough for you?
The National Weather Service is forecasting record or near-record temperatures for today in much of Northwest Montana and the hot, sunny weather is expected to linger into next week. That's great for those of us who are floating, boating or taking advantage of the Flathead's myriad water sports. It's not so great for our forests and grasslands.
Flathead County isn't in a drought zone, but the Weather Service listed it as "slightly dry" in May and precipitation for the year is more than 2.5 inches below normal.
Montana's fire season started early this year in the central part of the state with the Madison Arm Fire just outside of West Yellowstone and the Middle Fork Fire southwest of Utica.
Flathead residents know well the devastating effects of wildfires, so be careful out there. Use an extra measure of caution with campfires or other activities that involve fire. Let's not fuel the fire season with carelessness.
A small story the other day caught our eye. Motorcycle fatalities in Montana are up 171 percent in the first six months of 2007 compared to the same time span last year,
Maybe it was just a blip or maybe it represents a significant change. We don't know. The story quoted officials as speculating that higher gas prices might be encouraging more people to ride motorcycles. Maybe so.
What the story didn't address is the question of helmets. In Montana, motorcycle riders are not required to wear a helmet, and many therefore choose not to do so.
It appears our state's cowboy culture is resistant to being required by the government to do something "for your own good." People around here like to decide for themselves what's good and what's bad.
Unfortunately, the statistics bear out that many people make bad decisions, costing them their own lives or their health, causing their families much grief and sorrow, and often leaving society with millions in unpaid medical bills.
The Legislature is unlikely to pass a helmet law anytime soon, even though helmets are proven to be the No. 1 factor that can make a difference in the outcome of a motorcycle accident.
But that doesn't mean people who ride motorcycles shouldn't care about themselves enough to do what makes sense. If you won't wear a helmet because the government tells you to, then wear a helmet because it may save your life.
Barry Adkins found a way to turn a personal tragedy into a triumph by completing a 1,450-mile walk to raise awareness of teen binge-drinking. Adkins' 18-year-old son, Kevin, died from alcohol poisoning on July 10, 2005, and immediately after the memorial service, Barry Adkins was determined to make something good come from his son's death.
His crusade, Kevin's Last Walk, started in February and ended in Kalispell on Sunday. Adkins carried his son's ashes from Arizona to the Flathead Valley and spoke to some 15,000 people in numerous lectures and assemblies along the way.
By sharing his family's pain, Adkins hopes to spare others from the tragedy spawned by the deadly mix of teenagers and alcohol. Adkins can now rest, assured that his son's life - and death - mattered.