Letters to the editor April 28

Land grab a bad deal

We have seen the words “land transfer” popping up in the news lately.

In Utah, the state has been trying to transfer the ownership of federal lands to state control. But the threat isn’t just in Utah; it’s here as well.

During the state legislative session, House Joint Resolution 24 “supporting Utah in their land lawsuit against the United States,” was proposed. While I’m grateful that dozens of people spoke against it and no one spoke for it, it is still a very real threat to the places that we love: Streams where we dip our toes on a hot summer day, forests where we take our kids and dogs hiking, the waters where we fish or recreate, or the mountain we hike up to escape the business of life.

According to a recent report, it could cost Montana taxpayers $8 billion over the next two decades if these lands come under state control. Montanans will not be able to shoulder that cost. Transferring lands to state ownership is the first step towards selling them off, reducing public lands for us to enjoy, or even reduce development risk.

It’s a land grab, pure and simple. Once they are gone, we will never get them back.

These lands are a foundation of the American West, and we want them to be there for the next generations. Keep public lands in public hands.

— Annie Young, Lakeside

Hometown team

We can know that it is spring, despite the snow flurries, by the fact that baseball is being played around the Flathead Valley. Kalispell Lakers, my favorites, have four teams this year playing on two fields in Begg Park: Griffin and Archie Roe. The players are 13 to 19 years old and the younger players tend to play most of their games on Archie Roe. Thanks to the members of Flathead Electric Coop who “Round Up for Safety,” the dugouts on Archie Roe have been upgraded from old and rickety to solid and attractive. The FEC grant was combined with funds from the Treacy and Town Pump Foundations and material donations from WBC to make an investment that will serve a couple of generations of ball players.  

The Kalispell Lakers would like to thank Round Up for Safety, FEC members, Treacy Foundation, Town Pump, Western Building Center and Montana Fence for supporting youth sports in the Flathead. The grants and donations made it possible to re-build a crucial part of the field and now teams from all over Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alberta and  British Columbia will enjoy using them.

We invite the community to come down to the field, take in a game, enjoy a Laker’s Burger and cheer on your hometown team. The Lakers are a Legion organization so military personnel, seniors and kids under 12 get in free! In between innings, check out our new dugouts. You can find the schedule for all four teams at KalispellLakers.org.  

— Kim Morisaki, Kalispell

Reagan Republicans

My grandfather was President Ronald Reagan’s talent agent, friend and political advisor over a near four decade span. He was the person who, in Reagan’s own words, developed the GE theater show that launched his political career, and he was a member of Reagan’s kitchen cabinet of advisors when Reagan was governor of California.  

I rarely, if ever, mention that to people because it is history, not present.  But three congressional representatives in Montana have dragged that past into today, arrogating to themselves the mantle of Reagan. It’s not theirs to take, and they certainly haven’t earned it by spending the entirety of their careers grasping for power by throwing Republican colleagues and voters to the wolves.  The former governor of California would be horrified. 

Instead of Reagan’s commandment, I’d suggest another for this trio. How about the Ninth.

— Matthew Schreiber, Helmville