Is Bigfork High School taking it too far?

Hello, our names are David and Justin and we are currently Juniors at Bigfork High School. We are writing to you, the community, to let you know of an unacceptable series of events happening at Bigfork Vikings basketball games. This series of events started on Friday, Jan. 18 when the Bigfork Vikings hosted the Libby Loggers. As the minutes wound down in the fourth quarter, a few of our friends and us wanted to see a player go in, Zac Bruer. Zac Bruer is a great friend of ours and we started chanting his nickname "Chubbs." After a while almost the whole student section started chanting his nickname. We chanted for about ten seconds and realized it may be a little early. Our spirit kicked in and we noticed that this "Chubbs" chant was one of the loudest chants all night. A couple of minutes went by and as a crowd we started chanting again. This time, our great friend Zac got put in along with all the other reserve players. It was a harmless chant for one of the members of the Bigfork Vikings basketball team. A little team spirit, but I guess we were wrong.

The next night, Jan. 19, the Bigfork boy's basketball team hosted the Kalispell Braves. During the first quarter our athletic director, Mr. Shannon Smith came up to us and said no more "Chubbs" chant. He said it was disrespectful to the other players and we can't cheer someone's name. Yes you heard right no cheering for one of the players. First, Bigfork is a small school and everyone knows everyone. So we know everyone on the basketball team and we've talked to at least half the team and they think it's ridiculous to cancel a cheer as harmless as that chant. Then we asked, "Why can we cheer '7-Footer' at the girls basketball games?" "7-Footer" is a nickname given to our All-state Alyssa Fierro after a block. His reply was that, "'7-Footer' was not a name." "OK, well 'Chubbs' is not Zac's name," was our response. After the butting of heads we were infuriated.

First our school takes away our right to wear hats, then open campus at semesters. These rules made me mad too, but they at least have a point. Taking away our right to cheer, taking away team spirit has no point and seems to us someone is abusing their powers. If we can't cheer for a member of the team what is the point of coming? Is Bigfork High School taking it too far? We believe so. Who do you think they are to pick who we can cheer for, it's our friends on the team, not theirs. This is not even the worst part, listen to this. With 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Coach Jim Epperly and Mark Hansen put in their reserve players, but to prove a point to the student section, they do not put in Zac Bruer. How can they punish a member of their basketball team, that goes to every practice, suits up to play the game he loves and can't because a few of his friends chanted his name? Zac Bruer was suited up to play varsity, waited the whole game and with 57 seconds left, down by over 30 points, was not put in. Yes, Zac might not be the best player on the team, but he tried out and has the gosh darn right to play. They may argue that the chant wasn't the reason Zac never went in, but if you'rer down by that much with only a minute remaining, a coach should put all their reserve players in.

Some of you might think this is stupid and it's just us kids trying to get back at their teachers, but its not. Mr. Epperly is one of our favorite teachers and it kills us to say this about him. It's just seeing what these three "adults" did to try and punish us, the crowd, by not putting Zac in. It didn't do anything to us, we weren't the ones that woke up some mornings at six to practice or the ones that skipped homework for late night practice just to suit up for varsity. We just want them to know that Zac Bruer, our friend, is owed an apology for what they did Saturday night. We also believe that Mr. and Mrs. Bruer also are owed an apology, they went to watch their son play and he didn't. Some of you probably think we are the ones that need to apologize. Well, we're sorry for being kids and cheering on our friend. We really don't see the harm in that. Thank you for reading this and we just want to let you, the community, know what our school system is coming to, outlawing team spirit.

David Meyers and Justin Edwards

Looking to Ron Paul

I am appalled. In the State of the Union address our President reported reassuring optimism over the economy and reconfirmed a need for ever greater militarism in our current war as well as expanded fighting elsewhere. Members of Congress leaped up and down obediently, and apparently unquestioningly, in compliant support. Our campaigning for the presidency has turned into a popularity contest to determine who is the most charismatic, compassionate, and pleasing in appearance, while attracting the least uncovered scandal. Sorry this is not a popularity or beauty queen contest.

Our country is facing major problems, probably the most critical in the history of our nation. We are verging on losing our form of government, our constitution, our country, which have achieved for us admiration throughout the world for our high standard of living, advanced technology and freedoms. Unfortunately we are now in an apparent state of decline. Daily we see increased crime, drugs, poverty, poorer education, health problems, loss of industries, attacks on our private property and personal freedoms.

None of this is being adequately addressed by the candidates, Democrat or Republican except for Ron Paul. He has made open statements on all. Meanwhile from other candidates we are repeatedly assured of "hope and change" . . . you can fill in the blanks. Everyone in the world knows of things that need "changing" and we are all "hoping" for someone to take the top office to provide for our "dreams". These are politically safe promises, offensive to no-one, designed to instill the comfort level to gain votes. Candidates carefully tap-dance around the very critical issues that worry people, that we feel uncomfortable about. . . not quite fitting or traditional for vote-gaining hype.

Ron Paul has the intense drive, sincerity and honesty to openly state with conviction his position on every issue. First and foremost he would bring present wars and military bases to a close and bring troops home, with no plans for future wars unless for true defense under attack. He knows we must secure our borders and control illegal entry. He would implement only those regulations and controls essential to protecting our productive capacity and the environment in a business-friendly manner to regain a stable economy and restore our freedoms. Of the many problems in need of solving, these are probably the most critical, needing immediate action, but with understanding that it will require time, skill and dedication to achieve turn-around and correction.

As a doctor Ron Paul maintains deep compassion for the welfare of the country and its people. He is ready and qualified with years of experience in public service and in the medical field to take on with urgency the social, economic and diplomatic issues we face.

Respectfully submitted, Clarice Ryan

Dear Editor,

The Lake County Detention Officers Association would like to express our thanks to the people of Lake County for your continued support. Lake County Detention has the critical task of detaining and caring for the needs of inmates standing accused and awaiting the adjudication process. Some inmates are actually serving out sentences already handed out while some inmates are awaiting transfer to treatment programs or incarceration with Montana Department of Corrections.

Detention Staff recognize that their jobs are not to determine guilt or innocence of inmates but to treat each inmate equally. Detention Staff must deal with persons under the influence of alcohol, physical distress and often physically violent people. This is for the most part a very thankless but essential task.

Detention Officers are highly trained and motivated individuals. With the unprecedented growth in Lake County, there is an unprecedented growth in the needs for Detention Services. In 1998, Detention Staff took 900 people through the booking process. In 2007, there were 1,535 people that went through the Lake County booking process. This increase is being handled by the same amount of detention personnel with the same funding in the same facility as 10 years ago.

To say that the Lake County Detention Facility and personnel are being stretched to the limits would be an understatement. This is equally true of the Lake County Law Enforcement Officers and the Lake County Judicial Facilities.

Some people that are booked through the Detention Facility are only there for a few hours while others can spend days, weeks, and even months. Lake County Detention Staff will continue to provide professional services to the best of our abilities.

Our goals have been, and will always be, public protection and safety, inmate protection and safety, and staff protection and safety.

If you have comments or questions, please email us at: lakecountydeputies@gmail.com

Thank you sincerely for your continued encouragement and support.

Sincerely,

Sgt. Lonnie Erickson Lake County Detention Officers Association