Crash sends powerful message

Inter Lake editorial

So far we don't know all the facts about the California train crash last Friday that killed 25 people, but what we do know is scary enough.

Apparently, it has been confirmed that the engineer driving a commuter train was text messaging on his cell phone that day while he worked. It isn't definite yet whether he was sending or receiving messages when he ran at least three red lights before ramming his train into a freight train traveling in the opposite direction.

But this is a loud and clear signal to us all that what is perfectly acceptable during leisure time is not only inappropriate but potentially deadly when lives are at stake.

Cell phones are a contemporary convenience which we are grateful for in many ways, but they are a curse when it comes to highway safety, and apparently (we now learn) railroad safety.

It's time to clamp down with laws and sanctions against people who take unnecessary chances when they are handling any kind of dangerous machinery or driving any kind of vehicle. Text messaging while driving is just as dangerous as driving while drunk, and something needs to be done about it.

There soon will be a new place to serve as a safe haven for youths.

Ground was broken Monday on a $1.1 million youth shelter in northeast Kalispell. The 10-bedroom, two-story home will be able to house as many as eight youths ages 10 to 18.

The Flathead Youth Home, which has bounced around at a series of locations over the past seven years, finally will have a permanent place once the new building is completed.

About $400,000 still needs to be raised for the home, which takes in children whose family lives are typically in crisis, providing temporary housing until they can return to their families or secure foster care.

Congratulations to Whitefish horsewoman Bryna Closson, who topped the competition at the prestigious Masters Tournament in Calgary earlier this month.

Closson not only won her event, but in doing so she and her horse, Rip Tide, defeated Eric Lamaze, a gold medalist for Canada in the recent Beijing Olympics.

That's quite an impressive feat for Closson, 24, who along with her family opened a show-jumping arena in January north of Kalispell.