Educate yourself about FVCC

Flathead Valley Community College’s trustee election campaign promises to be anything but boring.

Five newcomers are challenging three incumbents in the election, which will be held on May 3. Incumbent Bob Nystuen is also running unopposed in his district.

We are happy to see contested races for these important positions. Too often in the past, trustees have been elected by “acclamation” because no one has run against them.

There’s nothing wrong with that process. In fact, it saves the taxpayers money by avoiding meaningless elections, but we much prefer the idea of candidates challenging each other, and debating the issues.

Absentee ballots have already been sent out, but we encourage everyone to learn about the candidates and the issues before voting. The first of several forums has already been held, and there will be more news coverage, too.

Educate yourself. Then vote, and help to shape the future of the Flathead Valley. Our community college is important to all of us.

ROBIN STREET wanted a “hole in the ground” where kids could fish, and the result is a top-notch fishing pond that opens to the public next week.

The Pine Grove Fishing Pond north of Kalispell was stocked Wednesday with fish — including some lunkers — in advance of its official opening on April 30. That’s the day young anglers get the first opportunity to enjoy the five-acre, 17-foot-deep pond that marks the realization of a dream for Street.

Street sold 13 acres for a pittance to the state and the pond was carved out after gravel was extracted to build the U.S. 93 bypass to the west of Kalispell.

The land off Rose Crossing has been in Street’s family since his grandparents homesteaded there in 1883.

The Street family was instrumental in starting and maintaining Pine Grove School in that area (hence the name of the pond), and there’s a pleasant symmetry in that the land once again will benefit youths.

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for the successful resolution of a dilemma involving firefighters’ pay in Kalispell.

The potential for a rancorous union-versus-city struggle was averted when firefighters offered (and city officials accepted) a variety of concessions, particularly on complicated work schedules.

Those concessions staved off the planned layoffs of seven Kalispell firefighters and prevented a new contract from sending the city fire budget into a deep hole.

We applaud both union and city negotiators for coming to an accord that should not only preserve staffing and public safety but also be within the city’s fiscal restraints.