Too narrow

Dear Mayor Mike Jenson and Whitefish City Council Members:

Today I was heading north on Central Avenue and contemplating the narrow street when I was confronted with the rear end of a camper parked in front of Tupelo's. I had to stop and wait for a car coming the other direction. There was not enough room for us to pass each other.

I went around the block and took a photo of the camper to show to all of you. I will develop the picture and bring a copy to the city. Narrowing Central Avenue is not a good idea in the summer, and in the winter it would be a nightmare.

The ice on Central Avenue the past two winters has been so bad that it is an embarrassment — not to mention deadly for both drivers and pedestrians. Narrowing the street would add insult to injury. The sidewalks are fine just the way they are. I have never tripped on another person while strolling down the street.

I am delighted that the downtown beautification plan includes new low-impact street lighting and more trees. A visitor to Whitefish asked me the other day why we don't have hanging baskets like Bigfork has (and Third Street Market has), and they complimented the beauty of the flower barrels on each corner. There is so much we could do to dress up the downtown area without a huge budget.

Thank you for listening to your constituents. We appreciate the opportunity to be heard.

Jeanne Tallman

Whitefish

Top-notch coach

I was glad to see that former Whitefish High School head boys basketball coach Eric Stang took a new position. It's very clear that he was a top-notch coach that Whitefish High School and the community would have had a hard time keeping very long.

However, our local athletic director, school district administration and school board made no effort to do so. If anything, it appears they did whatever they could to run coach Stang off, which baffles me beyond reason.

I think it's high time the community and school board look at the fact that, since Jackie Fuller has taken over as athletic director, five head coaches have resigned in two years. (boys and girls basketball, girls soccer, drama and girls softball).

It's evident that something is taking place with the curent leadeship or lack of leadership that is causing such a high turnover. The young people in this community are too important to let this matter fly under the radar like it has been.

Marcus Brainard

Whitefish

Fix the bad sidewalks

I am much more concerned about fixing the sidewalks in uptown Whitefish so that people like me don't trip and fall on their faces like I did recently.

I have heard of others who have done the same thing due to the uneven sidewalks on Central Avenue and other places.

I don't think it's right that the businesses have to warn their customers to be careful when they walk down the street, like the business I was visiting said they had done.

I have lived in Whitefish more than 70 years, and this is not a new problem.

Carol Newbury

Whitefish