Lakeside park expansion will benefit all

Philanthropy has benefited Flathead County communities in myriad ways, from improving our community college to building new sports complexes and performing arts centers. Our lives are richer here, thanks to the generosity of civic-minded folks.

In Lakeside, philanthropic giving has come in the form of improved access to Flathead Lake, and that access is about to be expanded once again. Lakeside residents Margaret Davis and Bruce Ennis, who donated lakeshore frontage and acreage that became the county-owned Volunteer Park in 2010, propose to purchase more property and an additional 243 feet of lakeshore to add to the park.

This is an astounding gift to Flathead County residents and the many visitors who use this scenic waterfront park in Lakeside. Davis and Ennis originally were inspired to create the park after they discovered how limited public access to the lake was in Lakeside.

Flathead Lake’s shoreline is a finite commodity, and in an area that values access to our pristine waters, this couple’s generosity is a gift that will keep on giving in perpetuity.

We’re guessing some local residents are still talking about the raucous storms that rolled into the Flathead last weekend, causing power outages for some 20,000 Flathead Electric Cooperative members.

The storm caused trees to fall on power poles and lines, leading to outages across the co-op’s service territory, from Libby to the west, Whitefish to the north, and Swan Lake to the south, the co-op reported. The hardest hit areas were Bigfork, Ferndale, Somers, Lakeside, Many Lakes, Kalispell and Creston, due to substation damage.

It took a herculean effort to restore power in the aftermath of widespread storm damage. Bonneville Power Administration crews worked to repair transmission lines as Flathead Electric crews worked on distribution, according to the co-op.

Our hats are off to all of the linemen and utility workers who rallied to help get the power back on for so many households. These employees get called out at all hours in all kinds of weather, and we appreciate their efforts.