Letters to the editor Feb. 15

Short-term help

In response to Mr. Adams letter regarding people receiving taxpayer funded assistance: I’m not sure how many legislators you “ticked off,” but you have certainly offended me by assuming I’m “too stupid and too lazy” by virtue of receiving taxpayer funded assistance for a period in my life. 

My family was on assistance while I worked full time as a social worker for the state of Montana and my husband worked for a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center. Yes, two adults in one household working full time requiring assistance does not match your rhetoric, I’m so sorry. We were on taxpayer funded assistance another time while I pursued an advanced degree and did not have health insurance as my husband’s employer did not provide it. 

During this time our son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This taxpayer funded assistance was a blessing to our family. Because of this help, we now have three well-adjusted, productive young adult children making their way in the way, and I am working as a supportive resource to our veteran community. 

Instead of sitting in judgment and condensation, you owe it to yourself and others to get to know people who are not like you and hear the reality of situations. I know our family is not an anomaly. 

Taxpayer funded assistance works, and is good at what it is intended for: short-term help, for long-term gain. Don’t believe everything you think. 

— Gretchen Brown, Kalispell

Expand public transit

As the Flathead continues to grow, now is the time for our city councils to commit to meaningful investment in public transportation and formally include it in our long-term growth goals. Transit is not an afterthought. It is foundational to building a connected, safe and sustainable community.

Right now, transportation options in the Flathead are not meeting our existing needs. For many members of our workforce, especially those commuting between Evergreen, Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell, reliable transit options are limited or nonexistent. Anyone who has dealt with car trouble, rising gas prices, or winter driving conditions understands how quickly mobility can become unstable. We have all been there.

Expanding reliable and frequent routes would reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety, and make it easier for residents to move between communities without adding more cars to already strained intersections. It would also support small businesses by increasing access to jobs and services across the valley, especially during bad weather.

Investing in transit aligns with climate goals and prepares us for Montana’s aging population, many of whom will not always be able or willing to drive long distances. Restoring and expanding services that existed prior to Covid, including direct commuter routes, would provide dependable options for daily travel and help keep our communities connected.

Public comment on the growth plan is open, and now is the time to engage before chapters are finalized. Early participation ensures that transportation is treated as essential infrastructure, not an optional add-on. If you cannot attend meetings in person, written comments can be submitted by email to Kalispell (publiccomment@kalispell.com), Whitefish (atiefenbach@cityofwhitefish.gov), and Columbia Falls (citymanager@cityofcolumbiafalls.com).

By speaking up now, we can build a Flathead that moves people safely, strengthens local economies, and supports everyone who calls this valley home.

— Bella Brown, Whitefish

Hemp industry

As a small hemp business owner in Montana, the past year has made it clear how vital this industry is to our communities. Hemp-derived products provide real, daily support for veterans and seniors managing chronic pain, mobility issues, and service-related injuries. For many of my customers, these products are not optional — they are essential to maintaining quality of life.

That reality is missing from the federal debate. A last-minute provision quietly added to the November funding bill now threatens to dismantle the hemp industry altogether. This decision ignores both the small businesses operating responsibly and the Montanans who rely on legal, regulated hemp products.

At a time when opioid misuse has already taken a devastating toll on veterans, eliminating safer alternatives makes little sense. I didn’t open my business solely for profit. I opened it after seeing neighbors — especially seniors and veterans — struggle to find affordable pain relief that didn’t come with the risk of addiction or severe side effects. For them, hemp products are lifelines.

Public safety matters, but prohibition will not achieve it. History shows that bans push consumers toward unregulated markets where products lack testing, labeling or age restrictions — making communities less safe, not more. The responsible solution is clear and enforceable regulation that keeps products in trusted local businesses.

Commonsense safeguards such as 21-year-old age limits, child-resistant packaging, standardized labeling and independent third-party testing protect consumers while preserving access. 

I urge Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines to support the Baird-Craig extension, providing an additional 24 months beyond the current sunset. 

This time is needed to implement safeguards, continue research, and ensure Montana’s veterans and seniors are not left without safe options.

— Dan Margenau Lakeside