Letters to the editor Aug. 6

CFAC cleanup plans

I was pleased to learn that the Environmental Protection Agency is providing funding to help our community take a deeper look in to really understand and raise meaningful questions about the proposed leave-the-toxic-waste-in-place cleanup plan for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund site. 

Kudos to the Coalition for a Clean CFAC for leading this effort and for their plans to hold community meetings in August, September and October to share and discuss what they are finding. 

CFAC and their consultants had five or more years to draft this plan which was only released a year ago with a brief time for public comment. It is vitally important that we have time to understand this plan and get the input from some independent consultants. While I appreciate recent meetings that CFAC has held to answer the community’s questions, I want to hear more than CFAC’s general response that our experts think this is the best plan.   

I want to hear from independent consultants and community members taking time to study these plans in more depth than most of us have time for, and I plan to attend their upcoming meetings to learn more. Thanks EPA and the Coalition for a Clean CFAC for your important work. 

I was deeply disappointed to learn that Flathead County commissioners (with only one day notice on July 16) and Columbia Falls City Council (with no public notice on their city agenda July 15) voted at the end of their meetings to reverse their earlier support of this pause in the decision-making and sent letters to the EPA urging them to finalize their cleanup plans now.   

I think if either local government had asked for public comment, they would have been flooded with comments asking that they continue to support this additional study and review of the cleanup plan. 

Please join me in emailing EPA and thanking them for their funding and ask that they give us more time to study and understand what is being proposed and possible other solutions.

— Rachel Potter, Columbia Falls

Protect democracy

When our founding fathers created our Constitution, they had democracy in mind. A shared vision of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. We have learned that it is fragile, but we can keep democracy alive and well only if we work at it and keep united. President Lincoln worked hard to keep our nation as one, he believed if we could keep united we would not fall as a nation (United we stand, divided we fall).

When I learned the Pledge of Allegiance in grade school, I also learned what those words meant and stood for. I still believe in that pledge — pledging my allegiance to our flag and our country, but never to a person. With my power of one (my vote), I will be looking for, supporting and voting for candidates that support and promote these ideals: Democracy, the Constitution, and rule of law. I will reject, and encourage others to reject, any candidate or politician that runs counter to that vision. Yes, that means rejecting the Autocratic MAGA movement candidates and their leader.

May we keep united and keep democracy strong and very much alive.

— Linda Edwards, Polson

Excellent care

I would like to express my sincere and special thanks to the wonderful and caring team at The Natural Path under Dr. Paul Raish. His experience and passion re well founded as he is a fellow survivor himself and understands his patients struggles and special needs.

No better testimony can be shared than success in our health recovery journey. I have found that relief at The Natural Path with Dr. Raish.

He is an understanding and educated caregiver like no other I have experienced.

I am a traumatic brain injury survivor and heart attack victim that has found hope and confidence in the blessed care I have received.

— Kevin Moore, Kalispell