Waging war against 'silent killer'

Inter Lake editorial

The death of a Creston teen-ager from carbon monoxide poisoning in December was a tragic reminder that this 'silent killer" can reach into any home where fuel-burning heating and cooking equipment is used.

Ian Hineman's death probably reminded many of us that we should purchase a carbon-monoxide detector, but Ian's father, Scott, wants to make sure you do more than "think" about it. He has launched Ian's Challenge in honor of his son and in hopes that no more local lives will be lost to the deadly gas. Four local stores - Western Building Centers, Lowe's, Cardinal True Value, and The Home Depot -have agreed to offer 10 percent discounts on carbon-monoxide detectors. Consumers can ask for the coupons at the stores and use them anytime before March 31.

Firefighters and emergency workers already know the terrible toll of carbon monoxide, and for years they have been working to spread the word to the public. This year, the Ferndale Fire Department has a campaign to install carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms free to homes in their district. Lowe's is participating in that campaign as well, with a donation. Contact Chief Marvin Eaves at 837-6900 for more information.

Thanks to all involved in both campaigns.

We need more young people like Tony Brockman getting involved to find solutions for societal problems such as drug abuse.

The Flathead Valley native is taking a leadership role in the Montana Meth Project after he saw a documentary about methamphetamine use and realized that some of the drug users in the film were people he'd gone to high school with.

Brockman, 22, is wrapping up his studies at the University of Montana and is committed to educating young people, teachers and legislators about the dangers of meth use. "We're not going to let this powerful drug beat us," he said.

His passion and can-do attitude are inspiring, and we hope they're contagious. Far too many lives already have been hampered or ruined by this very destructive and addictive drug.

We can all thank many snow Samaritans who helped out during the onslaught of snow (and then rain and slush) that we've been digging out of for the past week.

These include people such as Donald Towe, who spent most of the day Jan. 2 helping hapless drivers get back on the road. He used his Ford Bronco to rescue more than a dozen motorists mired in the Flathead's 18-inch snowfall that day - and although some people tried to pay him, he refused.

Towe was not alone. All across the valley, people pitched in to free stuck vehicles, clear out their neighbors' driveways and, later, shovel off roofs threatened by the snow load.

It's especially important for people to pitch in like this to help out our senior citizens and others confronting weather crises.