Letters to the editor April 28

Value of trees

I very much appreciated the Daily Inter Lake letter from Shirley Folkwein lamenting the continuing loss of trees in the Flathead Valley (April 21, Plant a Tree on Earth Day). It is encouraging to know there is someone else who notices and cares how we are rapidly changing the beauty and character of our corner of the planet due in part to the little regard current developments place on trees.

Rather than viewed as an asset worth preserving, developers seem to consider trees an impediment to their projects, clearing them away in the name of efficiency and profits. One example of many is the ongoing project in Whitefish named, foolishly and ironically, Eagle Lake. The pond behind the Whitefish mall used to be lined with a tall stand of larch and Douglas fir where bald eagles would station scanning for an easy fish to catch. Every last tree is now gone, replaced with yet another condominium complex. Imagine how much more beautiful and interesting this development might have been by downsizing a bit and preserving a portion of the trees — and not just for eagles but for the enjoyment of the potential owners. The intrinsic value of these trees was entirely disregarded, undoubtedly to maximize units and perceived profit.

This is a big mistake. And ultimately, we will pay the price — hellbent as we are, transforming what we once loved, our beautiful, green Flathead Valley.

Thus, my hat is off to Shirley for planting 430 trees to help offset the loss of probably thousands in just the last couple years. Her efforts are visionary.

As for me, I will accept Shirley’s proposal. This Earth Day weekend I will take up a shovel and plant four seedlings in a corner of my own one-acre wood.

— Leo Keane, Whitefish

Health officer search

I’m writing to express my disappointment and curiosity about the decision of the Flathead Country Commissioners to interview Michael Chambers for the very important position county health officer.

While I’m sure Mr. Chambers is a very nice man, how do they expect that someone who currently oversees the health needs of a county with 15,000 population to be qualified to administer the health needs of the fastest growing country in Montana with almost 110,000 residents, plus 3 million visitors seasonal visitors? That would be like hiring the health officer from Hill County. Ridiculous!

Sadly, Flathead County has the third largest number of Covid deaths in Montana (272), although it is the fourth largest county by population. Our death rate is significantly more than the larger counties of Missoula (201) and Gallatin (119). I attribute these senseless deaths to the lack of leadership among the county commissioners, the endless revolving door they created at the country health department, and their appointment of Annie Bukacek to the board of health (who repeatedly cast doubt over the number of Covid deaths, the need for social distancing, the efficacy of vaccines, and need for masking).

One would have hoped they would be interviewing someone who has the proven diplomatic skills to be an administrator in a highly politicized health environment, a county with a growing and huge seasonal population, and a demoralized and fractured health department. One can only hope they go back and start over.

— Lana Batts, Lakeside

Koocanusa decision

I want to thank Jerry Bennett, Brent Teske and Josh Letcher for their astute letter to the editor (Politically motivated Koocanusa standard has negative consequences, Feb. 27) regarding the DEQ’s lack of due process when coming to this horrendous decision they’ve laid on the shoulders of all Montanans. This article should be used in Montana public schools as an excellent example of critical thinking and how to keep unelected officials in check.

I’ve lived in the Flathead since I was 9 years old and I’m now 59, and I’ve seen the inhumane action of these bureucrats far too long. Either they produce the long-term studies and data that hold up their concern or they put a halt to the decision until such data can by gathered. This is our fight.

Where to look to when it comes to quick unfounded decisions like like is no further than to the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and their “17 sustainable goals.” Do your research and find out whether their sustanable goals are turly sustainable. The onus is on us to become educated. Are you willing?

— Dave Binegar, Kalispell

The Marxist party

The old Democrat Party that represented the working man and women no longer exists. It has been hijacked by theˆ radical, work elites, big tech and the mainstream media.

It’s now just he Marxist party. They want to control every aspect of our lives. That’s Marxism. Covid was the best thing for the Marxists. It allowed them to be tyrannical.

When Trump was president, our enemies behaved themselves. After Biden’s catastrophic, contemptible, cowardly, despicable, disgraceful, feckless, pathetic and spineless (did I miss any?) surrender in Afghanistan, our enemies knew Biden was weak.

Putin invaded Ukraine because he knew Biden was incapable of doing anything meaningful to stop him.

I believe Biden is using our enemy, Russia, to represent us in negotiations with our enemy, Iran, for a new nuclear deal.

The most horrifying sentence in the history of the English language is: Biden is president and commander in chief, and Harris is second in command.

Can anyone help me find one major decision that Biden has made in 50 years that was good for America? Just one?

The Marxists invited and allow millions of illegal immigrants to break our federal laws by invading our southern border. The Marxists don’t care about Americans or the illegal immigrants. It’s all about creating more Marxist voters so they can stay in power. It’s criminal, disastrous, unconscionable, unforgivable and evil.

The difference between the Marxist and a pack of wolves is that wolves would never allow the weakest member to lead.

— Dave French, Eureka