North shore project gets big boost

Inter Lake editorial

Congratulations to the Flathead Land Trust for securing more than $1 million in federal grant funding that will be applied toward land conservation projects near Church Slough and undeveloped farmland along Flathead Lake's north shore.

Considering how much building has occurred around the lake and in the lower valley area, it's remarkable that considerable agricultural land remains undeveloped.

And this is the best time of the year to see how important the sloughs and fields north of the lake are, serving as stop-over habitat for thousands of northbound waterfowl. It's valuable land, in more than real-estate terms.

We add our voices to the chorus of people lamenting the loss of Craig "Finny" Finberg.

Finberg, who died last week of pancreatic cancer, left a big legacy, particularly on the Montana basketball scene.

First as a star player at Columbia Falls High School and Montana State University, then as a high school and college coach in Dillon, Finberg left an indelible stamp on Montana basketball.

He was a hall-of-famer for his skills on the court and from the sideline. His skills as a pinpoint shooter, deft ball handler and passer were evident during his playing days (that included a dalliance with the NBA) and then passed on to a host of players he coached over the years.

Finny was famous for his parting quote when he left his high school coaching job: "I think the best coaching job in the world would be in an orphanage."

But he probably should best be remembered, in the words of one colleague, as the kind of guy "who made people better when they were around him."

The timber industry has again showed why renewable natural resources can be a vital part of a strong local economy.

In the midst of gloomy news, F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. restarted its sawmill this week, putting up to 70 people back to work when production is ramped up to full speed.

Of course, this is no panacea, and mills will ultimately count on a resurgence in the construction industry to keep their doors open. But it's also a reminder that Western Montana and the country as a whole would be foolish to turn our backs on an industry that helped build our economy in the first place.