Letters to the editor April 25

Support the school levy

I strongly support the high school levy for Kalispell Public Schools.

As a parent, I appreciate how Flathead High School challenges my daughter academically and exposes her to new challenges and opportunities in the rich variety of extracurricular activities. It is rewarding to see her excited about new concepts, succeed after setbacks and take on leadership roles. I feel confident the education our high schools are providing is preparing her to become an adult and a citizen of our community.

As the director of the Flathead Youth Home, I am aware of how our high schools work with youth who at times need more support due to trauma in their lives. I have been impressed by the professional and caring conduct of the administration, educators and supporting personnel. They are distinctively aware they are responsible for educating all the youth who come to GHS and FHS, those who are excelling in IB and AP courses to those with special needs.

As the board chair for Kalispell Public Schools, I know how conservative our schools are in spending taxpayer money. Trustees and administration went through an extensive process the past two years to trim the budget to bare bones without sacrificing the course and activities our youth need to learn and excel. I am proud our graduates are ready to pursue diverse individual interests of higher education, the trades, or the workforce.

It has been 12 years and 300 additional students since our last general fund levy passed. I urge our community to support this levy to keep our schools the high achieving centers of education that they are.

— Lance Isaak, Kalispell

No-risk policy

Regarding rotenone, a fish poison proposed to be used in Glacier Park:

Having already proceeded with a rotenone poison project against strong controversy nearly 20 years ago, what were the results? This should be the basis for future rotenone decisions. You haven’t heard about that? Why? Chris Downs stating “there’s always a chance something could go wrong but as I look at it it’s low risk.” Glacier Park’s lakes deserve a no-risk policy. Flathead Lake didn’t get a no-risk policy; and biologists artificially introduced myasis shrimp, ruining a natural fish population.

— Carol Nelson, Bigfork

Mueller’s statements

If Mueller’s statement that if he had found evidence of Trump’s innocence he would have so stated, is true, then the converse of that statement must also be true.

— Jim Laidlaw, Bigfork

Where will it end?

I often see the pictures of adorable newborn babies born in the Daily Inter Lake. I can’t help but wonder if the babies being aborted as they are being born or if they live through the abortion are killed while being “made comfortable” look anything like the babies shown in the paper.

The child so close to being born and aborted and after being born feels extreme pain from the procedure. They are innocent, not guilty of any crime. At that moment the child is no longer the mother’s body and she has no right to murder her baby because the baby is a separate body. I cringe at the thought of hearing the babies cry out, while being murdered.

If this ungodly act is not prohibited who else will it be decided to eliminate. Where will it end? Is this just the camel getting his nose under the tent? God says He will punish those committing evil, and murdering innocent babies is evil.

— Pat Malberg, Kalispell

Great day at Blacktail

Thank you Blacktail Mountain. The last day of skiing/snowboarding was Sunday, April 14, the only day my daughter and I got to go to Blacktail Mountain this year, but it was fantastic. We have both worked there as snowboard instructors in prior years. The snow was awesome, the slopes very quiet and the staff friendly and helpful.

To all the folks who have moved to the valley, who have lived in the valley, or who have never been to Blacktail, please try one visit. The Spencer family and owners and their staff have created a local family oriented ski area that has sun, great views and no crowds. What a nice change! The snow total and top elevation at Blacktail is very comparable to Big Mountain, and the programs and food are very reasonable. You will be amazed at the memories you will have!

— Marguerite Kaminski, Whitefish

Internet infrastructure

We all know how important internet access is to a thriving community. It’s no less significant than the roads, bridges, water lines, sewer lines, and other infrastructure that serve as the framework upon which our local, state, and national economy operates.

But internet access isn’t everything. These days, we need high-speed internet to compete. Other states are adopting public policy to incentivize the development of broadband fiber to homes, businesses, governments, schools, libraries, and consumers. They realize how important it is to future economic prosperity.

Montana shouldn’t be any different, and thankfully there is a bill that passed in the Montana House and Senate – SB 239 – that offers a property tax exemption to broadband developers to install more high-speed fiber all over the state. There would be a full exemption for five years that ratchets down 20% per year for an additional five years. The bill is on its way to Governor Bullock’s desk.

The need for better internet access is acute in Montana. According to BroadbandNow.com, stats on access in Montana are underwhelming. We are ranked 48th in the “most connected state” category – third to last. Twenty-five percent of our population is underserved. There are 213,000 Montanans without access to a wired connection capable of 25 megabytes per second – the FCC’s standard for adequate access.

It’s time to bring Montana’s internet infrastructure into the 21st Century. SB 239 is a good start, so please join me to urge Governor Bullock to sign this bill into law.

— Dan Wagner, Billings