Letters to the editor March 16

Profit on public land

Remember three years ago when the Flathead National Forest, Holland Lake Lodge and POWDR tried to slip a massive expansion of the lodge under the public’s nose? Well they’re at it again.  

The Flathead Forest recently held a public meeting where they discussed plans to increase the capacity of the wastewater/sewage treatment system that services the campground and the lodge from 350,000 gallons to a massive 1,550,000 gallons, a 5x increase.

There is no planned expansion in the campground, which means that 90% of this project benefits the lodge. But why does the lodge need such a huge wastewater system? And how much will this cost us taxpayers?  

Those questions were asked, but the Flathead Forest cagily refused to answer them. How will the general public benefit from this estimated $3-5 million expenditure?  Well, most of us won’t benefit at all. Because the lodge is going for the big moneymaker; 200 person private weddings/events. The lodge does not plan to open to the general public. In fact, if they have their way, there will be no general public access on the public land at all. Their elite guests want their privacy, after all.  

Wouldn’t it be less expensive to rebuild the leaking system at the original planned capacity, which is still more than twice the actual capacity? Sure it would. Way less impact too. 

This project would mean over 1,500 truckloads of fill, piled 10 feet high, to collect sewage from the lodge’s private parties and expansion. Right across the road from the campground. Sounds dusty.  Stinky. Loud. Gross.  

If you don’t want to write a blank check to the Forest Service so that an exclusive lodge can make a hefty profit operating on public land while you get smothered in dust and stink, please submit a public comment on their project page.

— Jennifer Nave, Polson

Manipulating the vote

Howdy folks! This is Kimberly A. Persico, independent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives District 1.  

The past week has seen some very dramatic happenings in Montana politics.  Both Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sen. Steve Daines dropped out at the last minute, hoping to foist their handpicked candidate on the people without an election. 

The war in Iran is already causing gas prices to skyrocket, right before the spring planting season and the summer tourist season. This administration is telling us affordability is a hoax as their policies continually drive prices up. These moves are so Biden-esque that it’s mind numbing to think the voters won’t notice.  

Meanwhile, Democrats are diving deep into dark money and using that influence to pick and choose the candidates they will allow to run.  

Both parties are trying to manipulate the vote to be their yes-person anointing process. They have come together to make it incredibly difficult for an independent candidate to get on the ballot. They know that allowing Independents reasonable access to the ballot would make it much harder for either of them to win an election.  

As an independent, I will represent all of the people of District 1, not just the people in one party.  

Please come to see me in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Missoula on Saturday and sign my petition to get me on the ballot.

— Kimberly A. Persico, Hot Springs