Letters to the Editor

Energy meeting

Energy costs will continue to rise as people seek access to limited energy resources. Natural gas, gasoline, heating oil and even coal will become more expensive. Eventually there will be shortages.

For many folks this will mean spending the winter in smaller spaces. Old timers used to close off much of the house and move into the kitchen and living room for the winter. This permitted them to save on wood and heat only the spaces needed until spring.

Many will install better insulation, convert to newer, more efficient heating systems and bring families together again for energy savings. Because of economic doldrums, more people will be living in RVs, small mobile homes, campers and small cabins.

These economic and living issues, especially around heating our homes, lighting our way and keeping in touch, will be paramount in coming months and years. Energy — its availability, price and utility — is an issue we need to consider.

The Essential Stuff Project of Bigfork will hold an energy gathering on September 24th. There will be a panel of folks from Flathead Electric Co-op, Sliters Ace Hardware, Northwestern Energy and a local handyman. This is an opportunity to ask questions of the experts, and begin to plan for a low-energy future. Please join us for a round-table discussion of energy issues.

Clementine's is located at 265 Bridge St., in Bigfork. Contact Edd Blackler (blackler@acrossmontana.net, 837-5196), Edmund Fitzgerald (edmund@montanasky.net, 837-5548) or Catherine Haug (cmhaug4@earthlink.net, 837-4577) for more information.

Edmund Fitzgerald

Bigfork

Peck gone

I agree with last weeks' editorial about the way Mr. Peck was removed as BHS principal, there should have been a more "public" understanding or a list of grievances and reasons why he was removed.

But, I for one agree with Margaret Stiger, I'm glad to see Peck go. It's about time the school board did something about Peck's reign of tyranny. The reasons for his removal I'm sure are countless, and perhaps out of compassion for Peck and his family the school board chose not to put it out there.

I also had a kid at the Bigfork school who couldn't conform to Peck's ideal of what a student at Bigfork School should be. I agree schools should have rules and regulations, but I felt Peck made it his mission to target disadvantaged and "at risk" kids, and created an environment of prejudice and pressure that led some of these kids to forget about school all together.

My step-son was kicked out of school so many times my family was heartsick as to what we were going to do about his education. After he was expelled for the fifth time his fresh man year (for finding a washed out cigarette butt in a jacket pocket). I began to question Peck's lack of empathy, and compassion when it came to "troubled" or "at-risk" kids. I realized his way of dealing with them was to continue expelling them for every misdemeanor in the handbook, as a way of getting rid of them. It was easier for him to concentrate on the kids who conformed to the "system" he created than to make any effort to educate those who think "outside" the box. His explanation to us as parents was that "some kids" just don't make it in this system.

In the end, Peck actually did my family a favor. My stepson ent on to get his GED and took a full course load of college courses where he made A's and B's. He didn't take "basket weaving." He took, math, science, English and shop, the very courses that he sat in and FAILED at Bigfork High School under Peck's administration. This kid had completed the 8th grade! He bypassed high school all together, thanks to Peck. Thankfully, the quality of education he received at the Bigfork middle school and grade school was strong enough to carry him into his first semester of college! So I commend Mr. Loeffler for his stern love and guidance of the little ones at the grade school and middle school in this community.

I'm sure Thom Peck has many friends in the community and some who are stunned at his removal, but I for one am thankful to the school board for finally seeing the truth about Peck. They definitely have my vote in the next school board election. I just hope this next time they find a principal who actually likes ALL kids and who is passionate about helping kids who have problems and doesn't pass wrong judgments on them and give up on them so easily.

I usually want to know reasons why a public figure is getting the ax, but in this particular instance, I could care less, as long as he is gone. All students and their families in this community can now move forward.

Chris Friar

Bigfork

Danger Ahhead?

In 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's summary of national waters reported that about 40 percent of streams, 45 percent of lakes, and 50 percent of estuaries that were assessed were not clean enough to support fishing and swimming, polluted mostly by sediments, excess nutrients and harmful microorganisms.

Could that happen in Bigfork?

At present, the water quality of our rivers, bay and lake is still good though it is showing signs of stress. We can keep it healthy if we act now. But to do so, we must deal with a major threat - storm water. Storm water and snow melt carry myriad pollutants that contribute the majority of total water pollution. Storm water from roofs, yards, streets, alleys, parking lots, roads, homes, and businesses ends up in Bigfork drains where it travels directly into the Bigfork Bay.

Bigfork's storm water system was built in the 1950's, prior to present standards. Over time it has greatly deteriorated. Bigfork's storm water system flows unfiltered directly into the bay. Bigfork's Sewer system wasn't designed to handle storm water, but storm water does encroach on the sewer system during a torrential, sustained rain, or big snowmelt. The net effect is that the additional water overcomes the treatment facility and the bay receives the results.

During rain events, storm water races across buildings, land and roadways carrying with it roofing material, litter, animal waste, fecal bacteria, degreasers, solvents, pesticides, insecticides, Styrofoam, plastics, fertilizer and much more. Everything spilled on the ground or pavement is swept along with the free flowing water. Bigfork doesn't have the storm water or filtering system to protect the Swan River, Flathead River, Bigfork Bay or Flathead Lake from the damage this volume of unfiltered water can cause.

The growth spurt Bigfork has experienced with new homes and businesses with additional roofs, paved areas, roads, driveways and parking lots contribute to making the situation worse. These hard surfaces don't allow rainwater to be absorbed into the ground. They prevent storm water pollutants from soaking in where it can be reduced by the soils, gravels and sands of the subsurface ground. Instead, storm water pours off these surfaces, causing stream bank erosion and the destruction of habitat for fish and other stream biota as it carries with it gasoline, tar, oil, bits of tires tread, anti freeze, salts, de-icer, animal droppings and more in it's race down to our waterways.

Many in our community find it obvious what we lose if we lose healthy water. Economic loss would occur if our beautiful bay and lake were no longer attractive for water activities. The bucolic setting of Bigfork, brought on largely by its proximity to freely flowing and clean water, is worth preserving.

In January 2008, the Flathead County Commissioners appointed local citizens, the Bigfork Storm Water Advisory Committee, to advise the Commission on solutions to the storm water problem. A grant from Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Flathead Basin Commission provided funding for a recent engineering study to determine the current condition of our storm water system and offer solutions for upgrading. Flathead County is currently in the process of applying for a grant from the Treasure State Endowment Program to partially fund the restoration of Bigfork's storm water system. To be successful they need everyone in the Bigfork zoning area to share their experiences with storm water run off and snow melt. Personal stories and citizen participation strengthen the probability of receiving the grant. The grant funds will make it possible for Bigfork to restore a quality storm water system that can help keep our water healthy and beautiful.

For more information contact Sue Hanson, BSAC Chairman, at 837-5323 or btrfly@montanasky.net. The Bigfork Steering Committee website has a page dedicated to the Stormwater effort at bigforksteering.org/

Sally Janover

Bigfork