Nighttime thieves
On Saturday night (Nov. 21), someone took it upon themselves to help themselves to the contents of our truck. It was parked in front of our house, and obviously these people decided to wait until the house was dark and then went to work.
What was stolen? The ashtray full of change (they even took the ashtray), our GPS system and a bunch of McDonald's gift certificates that we were using to treat our grandsons. Besides feeling violated, I have other problems with this low-classed thievery.
We moved to Whitefish just two months ago from the East Coast for a new start away from the city attitude, etc. My husband is a retired Marine (which is clearly marked on our truck) as well as a volunteer at the food bank. Before we moved, he was a full-time volunteer at the local fire department and ambulance squad.
So he definitely did not deserve this sort of treatment. It is my hope that someone will see this and possibly notice some of these items at their homes (there was a photo memory card of our grandsons in the change that we would like to have back).
We can only hope that whoever got this money and items needed it more than we did and are putting it to good use.
Whitefish is a beautiful and friendly town, and it's a shame that the actions of a few can tarnish our opinion of that just a little.
To the person who did this, shame on you. How dare you take advantage of a person who sacrificed so many years of his life to make this country a better place for your to live in. I hope this helps you sleep better at night, because we're not sleeping very well knowing there are people like you out there.
Bertha Bronson
Whitefish
RV park is
out of place
Regarding Dan Averill's request to allow motor coaches to temporarily substitute for single-family homes in the Viking Creek subdivision, what does "temporarily" mean?
I can't believe the Whitefish City-County Planning Board would even consider an RV park in this neighborhood — no matter how much the developers have promised that it would not exist in perpetuity. With the size of these motor coaches, it will be impossible to shield them from view.
What will the impact be on the value of existing homes in this neighborhood — both on the lake on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue and the homes on the east side of Wisconsin?
How soon we forget the controversy that existed just a few years ago when Phase II of this subdivision was proposed and the wetlands were compromised.
It is not necessary to put RVs on the 17 single-family lots accessed from Wisconsin and Colorado avenues while future lot owners construct their homes.
Historically in our community, future homeowners rent a home or a condo while they are building. Let's not set a new precedent in Whitefish.
Jeanne Tallman
Whitefish
Rash of car burglaries
Recently there has been a rash of car burglaries in Whitefish. According to police reports, the vast majority of the cars that were burglarized had valuables, including purses, cell phones, iPods, computers and expensive tools — in plain view and the doors were not locked.
It's unfortunate that we have to protect ourselves against those who prey upon good, hard-working people, but economic times, drug abuse and a transient population make it necessary for these precautions to be in place.
Please take your valuables into your home or lock them in the trunk. Lock your car and don't leave money and other valuables in plain view where a predator will see them.
Officers routinely patrol neighborhoods on foot and in police cars. Unfortunately, patrolling is not enough, and we need the community to use good judgment to help us deter and apprehend these criminals. If you see or hear any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the police. Lock your vehicles, lock your homes and keep valuables in a secure area.
Bill Dial is the Whitefish Police Chief.