Zoning can make good neighbors
A recent zoning violation involving a Bigfork wedding facility is a good example of how the process of enforcing zoning regulations should work.
When Alana Myers was asked to shut down her Ten Arrows Ranch wedding facility over a year ago, it was because the property wasn’t zoned for commercial weddings. Neighbors complained about the intrusion, from traffic to loud music playing at late hours.
After Myers agreed to no longer take wedding fees and only hold small family weddings at the ranch, it was later discovered she’d accepted a sizable fee from a bride-to-be and essentially had resumed commercial activity. She was cited with a criminal misdemeanor for violating county zoning laws.
Enforcement of zoning laws can be difficult and lengthy, but in this case the evidence enabled the county to pursue action.
Not everyone in Flathead County agrees with zoning laws. Some say they violate private property rights. But we’re guessing the neighbors of Ten Arrows Ranch believe zoning is a good thing.
If the ranch property were unzoned, the wedding celebrations would have continued with no recourse for neighbors because the county has no noise ordinance.
Like it or not, zoning is an effective tool in protecting our citizens and the things they hold dear.
Job fair makes a nice splash
The first autumn job fair sponsored by the Flathead Job Service was a great idea, and a big success.
Although intended originally as a way to match potential employees with seasonal and part-time work through the holidays, the fair turned out to be a perfect way for employers to look for workers to fit any niche.
More than 30 businesses, including the Daily Inter Lake, participated in Wednesday’s job fair.
Local runners triumphant
There were eight races on Saturday at the state cross-country meet in Helena — and Flathead Valley runners won four of them.
Bigfork siblings Makena and Logan Morley raced to individual championships in girls and boys Class B races respectively; Glacier’s Annie Hill ran away from the Class AA competition and Samantha Mundel of Columbia Falls was the top girls finisher in Class A.
That’s quite an impressive showing — to triumph in half the races at the state meet.
Most impressive of all was Makena Morley’s finish to her Montana high-school cross-country career. It was her fourth straight state title (she’s only the fourth girl to accomplish that) and she set an all-class state record of 16:33.20 in winning her final championship.
What a run for Makena and the other state champs. Congratulations to them and all the other runners who participated at state as well.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake's editorial board.