Bigfork Flag Honors Veteran
The Bigfork Fire Department recently and proudly received a United States
Flag. The Flag was originally presented to the family of Milton Wolf by the US Navy in honor of his service to our country.
Milton Wolf served in the Navy on an ocean going tug. His tug was stationed in the Pacific during the famous testing of the A-bomb out in the Bikini Islands. Mr. WolfÍs wife Omay and son Rodney presented the flag to the Bigfork Fire Department. Rodney said that his Dad would have wanted that.
Milton was born on December 22, 1927 and passed away on November 27, 2005.
Bigfork Fire has a goal to construct a landscaped flag pole site outside our station to fly and display this flag. Montana Cad has already agreed to donate the landscape rock, Swan River Nursery will donate landscape weed fabric and labor, but we still need to purchase the flag pole itself ($1,500) and the necessary wiring for lighting. If anyone would like to donate to this project contact Bigfork Fire at (406) 837-4590.
In the meantime, we would like to again thank the Wolf family for this honorable donation.
Chuck Harris, Chief
Bigfork Fire Department
In an Associated Press article reported in the Missoulian on April 18th, 2007, regarding a measure that would have allowed police to stop drivers who were not wearing seat belts nor have their children properly restrained,
Rep. John Sinrud, R-Bozeman stated, "It's not about seat belts; it's about the acceptance of life." "When it's your time, it's your time."
As a Republican I am not only embarrassed but truly disappointed that an elected official of our state would make such an absurd comment regarding Senate Bill 300 which would allow police to stop drivers who aren't wearing seat belts or have failed to properly restrain child passengers.
Motor vehicle-related injuries kill more children and young adults in the age group 1 to 34 than any other single cause in the United States (CDC 2005). More than half the people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2004 were not wearing safety belts (NHTSA 2005). Child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers ages 1 to 4 (NHTSA 2005).
I do understand concerns about infringement upon personal rights but should we look the other way when our children are put in harms' way? Who will be their advocate?
As a registered nurse who has worked at a Level 1 Trauma center, I have personally witnessed the tragic effects of non-restrained adults, infants, and children. I have put trust in our elected officials to do the right thing. Since some parents are not responsible in restraining their children we must have the courage to DO THE RIGHT thing and pass legislation to protect these precious children…. And yes adults too, when they choose to act irresponsibly?
In the end, we all pay the price in insurance increases, higher medical costs and the tragic losses of family and friends.
Janet D. Loranger, RN
Bigfork
Many, many thanks to the County Park Board for their forward-thinking, unanimous decision saving Bigfork's only park large enough for sporting events. Carlyle-Johnson is 3.5 miles from the village of Bigfork, and the Ferndale facility is 5.6 miles out of town.
I hope consideration is given to upgrading Potoczny. Perhaps an exercise area, some playground equipment, installing a few picnic tables and improving the restrooms. It is a beautiful spot, and with a few minor changes, could be enjoyed by more people.
A few things bothered me during the whole process, and I have some questions:
Who is the Bigfork Advisory Committee?
Are you supposed to pledge to agree with other committee members before you sign up or what? ("It was stacked…the committee was hijacked by interests that had only one view.")
Who is the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork?
Who is the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee?
Are any people on more then one of these Committees or a member of the Foundation?
What percentage of members have school-aged children?
Who is the School district? Who is the Chamber of Commerce? Who are the representatives who speak for them? Does each organization have an official spokesperson? What are their names?
Since Mr. Mutascio deems the signatures presented to the County Park Board "improper" because there where obtained during baseball sign-ups, could he please tell me what he considers a "proper" area for voicing opinions in Bigfork? Eagle Bend? The Cultural Center? The Garden Bar? IGA? I'm all ears.
Although many of us knew that Potoczny was donated as a park in perpetuity, I was glad to see that important fact addressed by Mr. Pederson. I chuckled when I read that one of the straw-grasping arguments was that the open space around the library would be called Potoczny Park. Did then mean the parking lot?
My children are grown, but I certainly see the need for preserving whatever small pieces of land we have left for the children and young people of Bigfork. Has anyone suggested expanding the library at its current location and moving the Cultural Center? That way it would remain centrally located for everyone to enjoy. Just an idea.
No, Mr. Mustascio. The process what not a ñsham.î The process worked. It just didn't work the way you planned. When you finish swallowing you sour grapes, perhaps you can move on.
Carolyn Coon
Bigfork
In reporting on the Potoczny Park situation, I feel that you have passed over information that the community should be made aware of.
Potoczny Park was obtained by the county from the federal government. The deed to the county contained a number of stipulations that limit what the site can be used for and the procedures to follow if they propose to change the current use.
The deed stipulates that the site be in perpetual use for public park and public recreation purposes. The deed also stipulates that any change in use from what was stated in the Jan. 9, 1981 application requires written concurrence from the Secretary of the Interior.
As I interpret the deed, the Secretary of the Interior must approve any change; therefore, it seems that it would be appropriate to contact them and ask their opinion regarding the library proposal.
I sent a letter to the Department of the Interior together with a copy of the Bigfork Eagle article of Jan. 11, 2007, which included the conceptual plan for the library. I asked two questions:
1. Is written concurrence required before any change can be made?
2. For an opinion on the stipulation regarding perpetual use of the property exclusively as and for public park and public recreation purposes as it relates to the library proposal.
I received the following reply from David Siegenthaler of the National Park Service:
ñDear Mr. Pederson:
ñThank you for your letter dated Jan. 12, 2007 regarding your concern that the Flathead County may be considering development of Potoczny Park in ways that are inconsistent with the terms of its ownership of the property.
ñThe property, as the documentation you provided indicates, is subject to the terms of public benefit conveyance for park and recreation purposes (Federal Lands to Parks Program) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, and by the terms of grant assistance received under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.
ñThe county was determined to be an eligible recipient of federal surplus property under the Federal Lands to Parks Program based upon its application dated Jan. 1981. It is the ñProgram of Utilizationî provided in that application that details the countyÍs plans for the park, and to which the county is bound unless it is amended with the concurrence of the National Park Service. You are correct that even if libraries and fire stations came under a category that was an acceptable use of park lands, any change from the most recently approved program of utilization would require NPS approval. NPS must also approve all leases and concession contracts.
ñThe countyÍs ownership of the property is based upon its commitment to use the property exclusively for public park and recreation purposes in perpetuity. Under the terms of the deed of conveyance, a violation of this condition may result in the property reverting to the United States Government.
ñThe Land and Water Conservation Fund Act requires that if a grantee is contemplating changes in facilities or types of recreation, it must first receive NPS approval. any uses of the protected parkland that are not consistent with the public outdoor recreation purposes of the program would trigger a conversion. Conversion of public parkland to other purposes (even if they serve other valuable public needs) must receive NPS approval in advance and require that the converted parkland be replaced. The replacement must be, among other requirements, not already in public recreation use, of at least equal appraised value and of equal or greater public outdoor recreation value.
ñLibraries and fire stations conflict with the purposes of both the Federal Lands to Parks and the Land and Water Conservation Fund programs.î
William Pederson
Bigfork
Parents are seeking reassurance that their sons and daughters are risking their lives for a good cause of high order. However,æthe majority of Americans are becoming aware that they have been misled and that the cause and merit have been deceptive and highly inflated. We have a President who has no more stature or depth of thinking and understanding than any self-centered, immature brat of a boy. He has at his disposal, due to the wealth of our nation, an arsenal of highly developed military weaponry and the sophisticated equipment to dispense them. It is the ultimate "cowboys and Indians" war, little more than a game completeæwith "toys" and professional military leadership eager to test the effectiveness of their weapons of mass destruction. The collapse of the twin towers and destruction of those lives provided the perfect means of arousing the American people to a unified retaliatory force. Emotion, ignorance, power and toolsæwere in place. All that was needed was the target country to accuse ofæthe crime, coincidentally one with oil that we coveted.æ
It is largely family and friends of the troops who fiercely defend what we are doing over there while seeking to reassure themselvesæthat it is all worth it. They loosely throw aroundæthe noble virtues of, "defending our freedoms, our rights,æour Democracy. Our brave soldiers fighting and dying for our country!î These words ring hollow as we lose these values here at home throughægovernmental policies and practices, undermining the interests and welfare of our citizens. Meanwhile, we are antagonizing the people of the world. In countries we have attacked with our weapons of mass destruction we have destroyed the homes, communities, and lives of the people, and the economy and heritage of their country. Through fear and hatred thus generated we have created terrorists with a mission. We cannot expect gratitude, love and respect from these peopleæif they eventually arrive in our country. They bring with them bad memories and hatreds. We are fighting the mosquito with a hammer while it flits around to bite us.
I think that parents of the military would do well to acknowledge that this war is a dreadful mistake, and join the informed, concerned public that is now exerting pressure on our President and military leaders to end it and withdraw as soon as possible in the interests of preserving lives of our own troops. The Iraqis would be left to solve their own internal problems, many of which are historic, in the interests of saving their own people. But it has become apparent that through our presence we areæbecoming part of the warring factions, feeding antagonisms, stimulating killing, creating more problems and solving few, if any.
Sincerely,
Clarice Ryan
Bigfork