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Support Sheriff’s Posse project in Evergreen

Please receive this brief note as the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce’s strongest possible encouragement for our dedicated Flathead Sheriff’s Posse and their recent announcement of establishing a permanent “home” in Evergreen.

As many of you know, Evergreen is one of the largest population centers in all of Montana, and as adjacent to the city of Kalispell, of course unincorporated. Regardless, our Evergreen community is densely populated, and absolutely full of wonderful, caring and hard-working people. Also of course, with population density, comes a certain element of unsavory behavior and crime.

For a very long time, the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce has been discussing these issues, and attempting to find a pathway for more law-enforcement presence and engagement in our community. With limited resources, the solution to this question has been rather challenging — actually daunting. For some time we were even considering the possibility of using a donated but too small building in which to house our Flathead Sheriff’s Posse.

But to the current and very exciting present point, the Flathead Sheriff’s Posse has made the decision to purchase the property previously known as Evergreen Roller Rink. This building and land, once put into appropriate condition for service to the posse, is ideal. It is centrally located, with easy access and egress, and will prove to have all of the necessary components to serve the needs of the posse as well as our community at large.

Please consider your own personal, financial and emotional support. We need this in our Evergreen community very much, and will be notably better for it. No gift is too small, and now is the time.

Thank you for your time, thought and consideration. We live work and play in a wonderful community, full of great citizens. This is one of those projects to which we must pay attention and provide our support. —Ken Kalvig, Kalispell, president, Evergreen Chamber of Commerce

Thanks, librarians

Unsung hero of the day: The librarian. Are these kind folks trained mental health professionals? A few of them are bound to be, but for the most part, no. Yet I have seen so many instances of difficulty navigated so kindly and with so much compassion by the warm and wonderful people who serve us in our public libraries.

They have to police a very difficult head space in those internet computer hubs. Homeless individuals seek refuge in the public libraries, especially in the winter. Many homeless individuals are often afflicted with one or more major mental illness. Librarians deal with these individuals on a daily basis. Law enforcement is called sometimes. I have never once seen a librarian treat an individual who was out of line in a way which was what I would call undignified.

Thank you kindly for remembering these soldiers for peace and justice. They are kind people and they just want to see us be free to explore knowlege, granting each other dignity and space to do so peacefully. Give your librarian a flower today. Pick it from your garden and go give it to the children’s desk. I hope you will. —Elle Visco, Lakeside

Not afraid of wireless towers

I am a retired ATT communications engineer. The students at Creston and/or Flathead High, Whitefish High and others are exposed to more radiation from their smart phones and wi-fi systems in their homes and stores than they would be from these proposed new towers. If people could see all the radio waves that surround all of us, they would “freak out.” —Dexter Hamilton, Creston

Defense of Rep. Jordan questioned

Poor Jim Jordan. Now, according to P. David Myerowitz’s letter of July 13, and whatever right-wing Fake News source he prefers to view, Jordan’s accusers are all guilty of “lying and criminal behavior.”

One such right-wing source did report, “Two former Ohio State University wrestlers accusing Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan of ignoring sexual misconduct by a university physician more than two decades ago have a history of failed business dealings, lawsuits, harassment allegations, and in the case of one accuser, an 18 month prison sentence for fraud.” With a rap sheet like that, Donald J. Trump could have been a co-conspirator, or at least a cellmate, if all who commit such acts would get what they truly deserve.

Of course, Mr. Myerowitz portrays the accusers as part of the non-existent, liberal “Deep State” plot — to do what? Exercise their right, as victims of sexual assault, to make credible allegations of criminal conduct, without being tried in public opinion by a warped minority faction for being the true culprits?

Mr. Myerowitz, in continuing his whine, indicts the Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie, the firm chosen to investigate the Jordan affair. Mr. Myerowitz opined that “most law firms” are “politically biased and actively anti-Republican.” If such is really the case, could it possibly be that a legal education provides attorneys with an insight into constitutional law that better enables them to recognize the danger that a totally ignorant, totally incompetent, and ethically and morally corrupt-to-the-core president, along with a radical right-wing faction in Congress pose to our democracy and national security?

Mr. Myerowitz also questions why “... none of the wrestlers who support Mr. Jordan’s claim of not knowing of the abuse are being aired by the drive-by [i.e., mainstream] media?” One good reason would be that NO ONE can honestly claim to know what someone else does NOT know. It’s called, “trying to prove a negative.” In other words, no witness can be deemed “competent” to testify about that which someone else does not know. Proof of knowledge is another matter. That can be readily proven by the testimony of those who imparted such knowledge, or by documentary evidence.

It should be noted that Jordan’s accusers now number eight. I don’t know how many of those accusers might have been found guilty of “lying and criminal behavior,” but I have my doubts that all eight have criminal records. Does Mr. Myerowitz have any information regarding “lying and criminal behavior” on the part of the 15, or so, women who accused President Trump of sexual assault? If he does, should it make any difference to anyone if they are telling the truth about the assaults? —Al Weed, Kalispell

Business owners question why state put up new roadblock to Hecla mines

As owners of a business that creates over $10 million in gross annual sales, we have long awaited the construction and operation of either the proposed Rock Creek or Montanore mines in Northwest Montana. We have had a front-row seat to the endless barrage of obstacles put in their path for 30 years by environmental extremists.

With both projects recently acquired by Hecla Mining, and the end of the permitting saga within sight, we now have our own state government attempting to block what is the brightest spot on our economic horizon.

We’re not bureaucratic lawyers or politicians looking for an opportunity to make good on campaign contributions. We are simply Americans, hard-working businessmen living in a community that desperately needs steady, family wage jobs that these mines will create. We also are people who care that these mines are developed right and environmental impacts are minimized.

But to have our state conclude that Hecla, a 127-year-old mining company that has never owned or operated a mine in our state, is a “Bad Actor” is ridiculous. It’s also an oxymoron. Open for business, Gov. Bullock? We think not. You are a detriment to our economy! —Terry L. Andreessen and Terry R. Andreessen, Timberline Auto Center, Libby