Extra postage on ballots
To the editor,
I discovered this morning that Montana's Primary Absentee ballots cost 59 cents to mail (not the standard 42 cents), because of the extra weight of enclosing the unused Republican or Democratic ballot. Postage rates just went up one cent on Monday.
The election officials have not indicated this anywhere on the ballot envelope, and the post office was unsure as to what would happen with the ballots if the postage was not sufficient, i.e. it is possible that they could go uncounted.
So I am sending this out to all of you in hopes that you will also pass this information on so that if you use the convenience of voting with an absentee ballot, your vote will be sure to be counted!!
Debi Strong
Bigfork
Thanks for help with Clean the Falls
To the editor,
Glacier Bank would like to thank everyone who helped with Clean the Falls this year. We had a great turn-out and the town looks terrific!!
A special thanks to the following businesses: Cimarron Cafe, Pee-Wee's Porta-Potties, Glacier Disposal, Flathead County Landfill, M.A. Smith Tax Pro and Insty Prints. Columbia Falls is a cleaner community because of your help! Hope to see you all again next year!
Glacier Bank staff
Columbia Falls
Parker best choice for Attorney General
To the editor,
Because there is a former Flathead resident that I know, but not related to, running for the office of Attorney General for the State of Montana I decided to attend the Attorney General debate held in Kalispell on May 2. Until that, time I had no idea how important the position is until attending the debate. I usually read and try to learn about candidates — listening to what they say with an open mind. This is what I did at the debate.
In my opinion, there was only one candidate that actually answered the questions with concrete facts to back up his qualifications. John Parker had facts, examples of his bills passed as a three-term representative and No. 1 Democrats in the house, and experience that counts. I want to challenge all voters to go to whitefishradio.com and listen to the hour-long debate and decide who should be our next Attorney General.
Judy Thorsen
Kalispell
With modulating lights motorcycles easier to see
To the editor,
Dear motorist,
Spring is here and with it, motorcycles will hit the road. If you have been paying attention while driving, you have noticed motorcycles that have their headlights modulating (pulsating). But did you know what was happening? No, probably not. I am going to tell you what you're seeing.
Modulating headlights, are after market safety equipment. The device plugs into the back of the headlight; a fiber optic cable sends a light signal to the unit. If there is enough daylight, you get flashing headlights. If there is not enough daylight the headlight will not flash, a factory default won't allow the unit to modulate. The next time you see a motorcycle with modulating headlights, they don't have a loose wire, so don't flip the rider off, flash your lights, get off the road, turn on your emergency flashers, or play some other game because making the highway safer for everyone.
Bikers, these really work! Cost is $25 to $175 depending on your bike, available through your dealer, and easily installed. You can do it yourself. Remember, you're trying to stay alive and come home in one piece. For the skeptics among you, modulating headlights are legal in all 50 states and Canada. If you wish to know more you can read Federal Standards 108 of the D.O.T.
Ten or 15 years ago, motorcycles were the only vehicles that ran with lights on during the day. Now most vehicles use their headlights during daylight hours. Law enforcement wants the public to use lights during the day, and there goes the biker's visibility advantage. Now, all or most of the vehicles on the road look the same, just a bunch of lights coming toward you. With the modulating headlights, bikers now have that visibility advantage back. There are always going to be bad drivers, both automobile and bikers, but with modulating head lights, everyone wins.
Gene Kopitzke
Columbia Falls
Steps to mitigate North Fork Road dust
To the editor,
Flathead County Commissioner Gary Hall recently wrote to the Hungry Horse News in which he promotes paving the North Fork Road as far as Camas Creek.
Who does Mr. Hall think he is serving? Certainly not the taxpayers of Flathead County.
Commissioner Hall would be hard pressed to gain sympathy for this proposal from the many citizens (including myself) who live on heavily traveled unpaved roads in other parts of the county. Those who live on Jensen Road, McMannamy Draw, Lost Creek Drive, Mountain Meadow and many others find it outrageous that taxpayers would pay for paving a road to the wilderness of the North Fork while heavily traveled roads go unpaved. Roads with hundreds more people living nearby and driving daily.
These roads generate clouds of polluted particulates into our atmosphere and are extremely harmful to human respiratory systems, particularly children, the elderly and those who do strenuous outdoor work.
The road dust problem in Flathead County unfortunately might be with us for some time. Both federal and local dollars for paving are scarce. But there are some steps to mitigate this serious problem.
? Follow up on a proposal from the County Road Advisory Committee to use a different type of gravel that holds dust to the surface of the road.
? Require developers rather than taxpayers to pay for subdivision access road in addition to interior roads.
? Stop approving subdivisions before adequate road infrastructure is in place.
? Fix the much-abused Family Transfer loopholes that allow developers to bypass county review.
? Enforce speed limits.
Solutions like this are what Commissioner Hall should advocate — not wasting tax dollars on expensive boondoggles that serve very few people.
Bill Breen
Kalispell
Paul still in running
To the editor,
Ron Paul is getting closer to the finish line all the time, thanks largely to ongoing fall-out. I think it is time to get the big story out that he is very much in the "running," his name is on the ballot, he is the keynote speaker at the Montana State Republican Convention, in Missoula, (June 19-21) and he is still living and practicing by the same characteristic high principles he has always followed.
Too many people are unaware that he is still very much a candidate for the presidency of the United States. Voters do not have to agonize over deciding between "three" candidates — each with individual shortcomings . There are four choices out there.
Clarice Ryan
Bigfork