Local angels make Miracle happen

Inter Lake editorial

Workers have been rolling out the green carpet in the past week for people with physical and mental disabilities.

That green is the new rubberized surface at the Kidsports Miracle Field. That surface, placed atop an asphalt base, is one of the finishing touches for the unique ballfield.

Once lines are painted and a few exterior touches added, the Miracle Field will be ready for play for the estimated 600 people who can take advantage of its special surface.

The Miracle Field and several surrounding baseball and softball diamonds are the newest additions that are sure to make Kidsports even more of a crown jewel for sports and recreation in Kalispell.

The Miracle Field in particular is the culmination of an ambitious and commendable community effort spearheaded by the Kalispell Rotary Club.

The club and major donors, the Robert and Lillian Howard family, deserve appreciation for making the dream of the Miracle Field come true.

Montana was one of 19 states that saw an increase in the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2007.

There were 100 impaired drivers involved in highway deaths in 2007 compared to 92 in 2006.

That certainly should remind all of us not to take our safety on the highways for granted. But not everyone has gotten the message, so here it is again - Don't drink and drive. It's not just dangerous; it's plain stupid. No one we know wants to be either an accident statistic or dead behind the wheel of a car.

So do the smart thing - If you drink, get a ride and stay alive. And if you are sober on the highway, remember that the other guy may not be. Drive cautiously.

The case of Yi-Jien Hwan, missing in Glacier National Park since Aug. 11, is another sad reminder of the risks involved with hiking alone in the park or other backcountry areas.

Hwa intended to finish a solo hike on a route covering roughly 90 miles by Aug. 18, and when he failed to show up at Kintla Lake as planned, a massive search was launched. Hwa's route went through areas that presented all the hazards Glacier has, waterfalls, fast water, cliffs and grizzly bear habitat.

Just an injury in this kind of rugged country, with no one to help, can have serious consequences. Always let someone know where you are hiking, and if possible don't hike alone.