Letters to the editor July 29
Project hurts Yaak grizzly bears
The Kootenai National Forest is waiting for a grizzly bear biological assessment from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Black Ram timber sale in the Yaak.
As proposed by the Kootenai Forest, Black Ram would “likely adversely affect” the Yaak’s 20-plus remaining grizzly bears. Despite requests for the Forest Service to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement like they did for smaller projects — Buckhorn and O’Brien Lower Yaak — the larger 57-million-board-feet and 95,000-acre Black Ram project has only undergone the lesser-required analysis of an Environmental Assessment.
In March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s five-year Grizzly Bear Status Review confirmed what our members have speculated: that, of the six grizzly bear ecosystems, only the Cabinet-Yaak “resiliency” is “low.” Yaak grizzlies are doing the worst of any population.
The Black Ram cutting units we question that are critical grizzly bear recovery areas are largely backcountry, and thus Rampike Creek, Midge Creek, and Unit 72 areas should be dropped.
We support the Shared Stewardship project efforts near Libby, Troy and rural neighborhoods. The Kootenai Forest should prioritize the collaboration, permitting, and harvesting of these overgrown areas. The Kootenai Forest should not rely on a liberal Wildland-Urban Interface definition to justify some remote Black Ram units.
The Kootenai Forest should correct itself on Black Ram and reassess the negative effects to grizzly bears and forests far from town.
—Aaron Peterson, Troy
Addictive games
I must admit, the article on the pediatric gaming specialist threw me for a loop.
Almost every one knows someone addicted to those games — especially kids. I have a 70-year-old friend who carries a pocket solitaire game and also keeps one beside the toilet.
The gentleman was quoted as saying that game playing has been a big part of his life from a young age. He sounds addicted to me. One has to wonder just how many kids he will introduce to gaming, and they too will become addicted.
I see no difference between this and so many other pastimes we waste our time and money on. Thank God there are no open crap games I have access to. I know of what I speak. I well remember splitting a Cornish game hen with my wife on a Thanksgiving because of a gambling addiction.
Surely there are other ways to take their minds off of whatever they are going through in the hospital other than those harmful games.
—Glen Hook, Kalispell
Stand for facts
As a nation, do we want to live in a world based on facts or conspiracy theories and misinformation?
FACTS: On Nov. 3, 2020 this nation went to the polls.
On Dec. 14, 2020 all states’ electors cast their ballots in the Electoral College, there are 538 electors.
On Jan. 6, 2021 Congress sat in a joint session and certified the election results for president and vice president. Results: Biden 81,268,731 popular votes (51.3%), 306 electoral college votes. Trump 74,216,035 popular votes (46.9%), 232 electoral college votes. Jorgensen 1,864,724 popular votes (1.2%). Hawkins 402,716 popular votes (.03%). De La Fuente 88,214 popular votes (.01%). La Riva 84,905 popular votes (.01%).
On Jan. 20 the inauguration took place with Biden becoming the new president.
I congratulate all the secretaries of state, their staffs and volunteers for handling the great voting turnout and most secure voting that took place in 2020.
I stand for a world based on facts and science and against conspiracy theories and misinformation.
Conspiracy theory: No, Trump did not win. He lost. He can’t be reinstated. He needs to quit whining, be an adult and move on. He is becoming an embarrassment to this nation with all his whining.
Please stand for facts. The election is over, let’s move on!
—Linda Edwards, Polson