Police work nabs vandal suspects
The recent rash of vandalism in Kalispell has been shocking, shameful and senseless, so there is some satisfaction that four alleged perpetrators were apprehended so quickly.
The teenage boys are accused of using BB guns to shoot out windows on more than 100 vehicles all across the city in the early morning hours of Sept. 15. A low-ball estimate for damages was $20,000. For victims with no insurance or high deductibles, laying out hundreds of dollars for repairs has to be painful. And judging by the number of vehicles being around Kalispell with plastic windows already, it may be too painful for some.
Getting restitution from four teenagers or their parents may be a long, hard haul, especially when the total damages are so astronomical. But we wish the victims luck in securing some measure of economic justice.
Finally, the only silver lining in this cloudy story is that Kalispell Police were able to locate and arrest the four suspects within a couple of days. Detectives were able to use surveillance video provided by businesses to pinpoint who the suspects were. Great job!
The community is grateful, and with any luck, the next group of bored teenagers will remember the hard lessons of this case and stay home in bed in the middle of the night rather than go out looking for trouble.
A great role model, mentor
Substitute teacher Glenn Young has a simple yet profound approach to dealing with students: “I lift them up, build them up any way I can.”
That attitude has served him — and students — well during his 15 years as a substitute teacher.
Young, 76, is not only beloved by students for his classroom manner, but is involved in many other aspects of their lives: He attends plenty of music concerts, plays and sports events.
He is recognizable by his two-part sweater — Glacier High School colors on the left and Flathead High School colors on the right — that showcases his pride in both schools at which he teaches.
Our students benefit from the dedicated efforts of substitutes such as Young.
And he benefits, too. He says students keep him from “getting old” in his thinking.
Going extra (million) miles
Charlie Strong has gone the distance on many levels during his 32 years as a Kalispell mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service. Literally he has gone the distance. During his long tenure he has traveled one million miles on his route through the years, and he’s done so without a single accident.
The National Safety Council recently recognized Strong’s accomplishment with a plaque and a special jacket. The fact that Strong navigates the heavy traffic in North Kalispell along his 800-stop route is a testament to his driving prowess.
This award is well deserved. Strong has been a loyal carrier, delivering the mail and making customer service his priority. Congratulations, Charlie.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.