Letters to the editor July 12

East-side shoppers

So there I was, chompin’ at the bit, anxious to read the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Guide that came with the paper last week, hoping beyond hope that in it I’d find the news I’ve been waiting for. It was such a great read, filled with many interesting tidbits about our area, however, as I read from cover to cover, my heart sank. Not one mention in it about another department store relocating to the Evergreen area, preferably in either the old Shopko or K-Mart locations. I was devastated.

Our area needs such a business to open and serve the hundreds of customers who now must drive miles and miles and miles to shop for various necessities. When you reside on the east side of town, one almost has to pack a sack lunch to “go shopping.” And, by golly, you best have a tank full of gas and your best wits about you because you’re going to tangle with some mighty vicious traffic. Remembering those old days when we had it so good, little if any reckless, wild traffic and convenience at our fingertips makes me sort of tear up. Gone are the days when one could bid farewell to those left at home, saying: “I’ll be back in 45 minutes.” Now, it’s a good two to three hours to make simple purchases because getting there is the real challenge!

Seeing the Shopko and K-Mart buildings just sitting there being a haven for pigeons, is just not right ... not when so many folks on the east side of town could really benefit from having those stores reopen or some other businesses step in and serve us.

I’m still very hopeful and look forward to the day when we can, perhaps, go back to the simpler way of life we “easterners” once knew. I know it’s going to be a challenge, however, with the way our area’s growth has exploded, there must be a solution.

—Brenda Anderson, Columbia Falls

Drought is serious stuff

I’d like to comment on the recent article about the heat wave and megadrought in the West.

Studying tree rings, scientists found a 40 year long megadrought across the West in the 1100s and another, 30 years long, in the 1500s. The current drought is in the initial years, but its pattern matches the others closely, suggesting that we have two or three decades more to go.

The scientific analysis shows that without human caused climate change we would still have this megadrought, but that climate change will force this drought to be 45% (more or less) worse than it otherwise would be — both longer and drier. This once-in-a-thousand-years megadrought is serious stuff and will be worse than the previous two.

We need to act. It’s time to stop talking about the problem — the debate is over. We need to talk about solutions. Regulations aren’t the answer. Effective legislation must use conservative-friendly principles. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act uses a market signal to decrease carbon use, support displaced workers and promote American innovation to make us the world leaders we should be.

Call Representative Rep. Matt Rosendale and Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines and ask them to support HR2307. Act now.

—Walter Rowntree, Kalispell

Illegal border crossings

Senator Daines,

Here is a recommendation that will motivate the Biden administration to take action that will stop the flood of illegal immigration we are experiencing since early January. The influx is not sustainable

Washington D.C. should become a sanctuary city and the illegal immigrants being apprehended at our borders should all be bused to Washington D.C. and tent cities should be set up around the Capitol complex to house them until they can be deported. You already have a fence surrounding the Capitol that could be used for this purpose. I predict that housing, feeding and providing health care to these people over the next five months would change the administration’s attitude of “there is no problem, our borders are closed” to a bi-partisan Congressional action of “our borders are now closed! Do not continue to enter our country illegally.”

I implore you to take this action. I predict there will be an immediate change in attitude and policy addressing this problem

—James Malone, Kalispell