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Support SB97 and principles of American law

Senate Bill 97 has been sent to the governor for his signature after passing both the House and Senate. It is titled, “Prohibit the Application of Foreign Law in Montana Courts.”

Unfortunately, there are those who seem to entertain “making nice with everyone” and trying to use specific excuses to allow “Foreign Law or Doctrine” to subvert our own state laws.

In the not too distant past, there had been discussions about the United Nations taking a position of precedence over U.S. law or making our precious Constitution subservient to some UN sponsored committee. Those attempts have rightfully failed. But still, it must be remembered there have been attempts to use foreign laws in our courts. Our state must guard against such foolishness, and the governor should sign SB97.

Let us not allow any type of chink to appear in the armor of our state laws or indeed our U.S. Constitution. Our freedoms and our liberties are sacrosanct, and it is our laws that protect them from tyranny and abuse. —Gerald R. Molen, Bigfork

Donation box not a dump site

I witnessed an appalling situation Monday morning at the donation area of the Salvation Army. I stopped between 9:30 and 10:00 to leave a few boxes of dishes only to find that I could not pull my car into their drop-off area because someone had “dumped” what appeared to be an entire truck load of stuff directly onto the concrete area designated for car drop-off. It appeared that they had most likely shoveled or pitched the contents of, perhaps, a pickup bed of jumbled items. Four or five employees of the Salvation Army were picking through the pile and sorting some into bags and carrying some items inside. In my estimation, they should have taken a front-end loader and scooped it all into a garbage receptacle.

After my overwhelming exclamation of the mess, I asked one of the men if that happened often. His answer was, yes, every Sunday. I asked him if they had tried to do anything about it and he indicated they had but to no avail.

When I got home I called the city attorney’s office to ask what the city rules were about “dumping” in the city. They said there were regulations, but that since that was private property, the Salvation Army had to file a complaint.

Next I called the Salvation Army’s main office and talked to one of the office staff. She told me they have tried various things — security cameras, attendant watch staff, etc. She said they cannot afford to employ someone to stay there to monitor on Sundays when they are closed. And unless they can find out exactly who it is, they cannot file charges.

The entire community should not accept and allow this kind of behavior to take place. I am writing this to inform others about what is going on in our community and hope SOMEONE can stop this sort of behavior. —Judy Elwood, Kalispell

Dog park not appropriate

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter was received before the Kalispell City Council OK’d a dog park at Begg Park. It is presented now because the author’s concerns remain relevant to Kalispell residents.)

The City Council is considering taking 3 1/2 acres of Begg Park for a dog park and leaving a 1/2 acre for the children. There are hundreds of houses in the area. A new school and an apartment complex building are going to be built on Airport Road. This is the only park in the area! Begg Park was donated because of the high density of the houses. A place for the hundreds of children to come and play. Add to this the parking and traffic problem. I went to the Whitefish dog park on a cold Wednesday afternoon and there were 11 cars there. Kalispell has three times the population of Whitefish, so we can expect at least 33 cars in and out at any time.

During a Lakers ball game there are cars parked on both sides of Begg Park Drive and down Bluestone Drive and there is barely enough room to pass by. The mailboxes are also on Begg Park, where you cannot get there to get your mail. It is very dangerous for children, as I have seen children from the game run out on the road from between cars.

I was told by Chad Fincher this was an underused park. The pavilion is under water every spring. There is one swing set with holes knee deep under the swings that haven’t been filled for years. It would be used a lot more if it was maintained. You put the $50,000 into playground equipment and drainage for the park, it would be used by the families.

People and their dogs have used the park for years with no problems. Don’t take this park away from the children! —Marilyn Brady, Kalispell

Oh how I wish I was a dog or cat! Then I could count on someone to help me if I suffer in extreme pain or am both deaf and blind. I would like to be able to request help in my living will. However, those with a conflict of interest would rather I spend my money on drugs and care, and if the new bill on aid in dying passes they will do very well. —Daphne Rudolph, Polson

Bill will put kids at greater risk

As a CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care) volunteer, I have been heartened to see the Montana Legislature work to protect foster children.

It is odd then to see a bill that moves in the exact opposite direction and puts children at greater risk.

SB117, as it is written is an unregulated private transfer of children via “power of attorney.” It allows for a named faith-based organization to temporarily care for a child if a parent voluntarily asks for help.

As written, it does not provide adequate accountability. It does say that the child will be in their temporary care for around six weeks but does not address the issue of when and if the child is actually returned to the parent. Therefore, leaving the door wide open for the child to pass from one caregiver to another via “power of attorney.”

Accountability is the key component here. No one has been named in the bill to serve as its cross reference.

It needs to allow Child and Family Services or implement, within its own named organization, a viable system of checks and balances. Nothing has been identified within this bill to satisfy this concern. As the bill stands now, there is no way to be able to monitor whether these children are at risk of being abused and neglected.

For this reason I ask our House representatives to vote NO on SB117. —Chany Ockert, Bigfork