Democrats blind to road closures

Shannon Hanson, fresh off the campaign trail, has spoken. But, a guy should step back from the shoeshine stand long enough to avoid not being blinded by his own over wrought brilliance. Governor Schweitzer's lip service to our dying forests will not be discharged by calling up the National Guard. The National Guard is not his personal socio-political tool. We are all grateful for their heroic actions during natural disasters. Heaven forbid they should actually be deployed to Guard the Nation!

Rather than making political hay as the de facto commandant of his private military force, Mr. Schweitzer might consider not sucking up to groups like the Buffalo Field Campaign and Alliance For the Wild Rockies. Look, I realize all Green Weenies are smarter than the rest of us and bear no responsibility whatsoever for their cockamamie "forest health" concepts. However, should Brian and Shannon actually wake up and smell the wood smoke, we'll be a lot safer. I purposely asked Schweitzer on the radio what he was going to do about the "let 'er burn" fire situation on Federal Lands and he basically said- Nothing. I can't.

At least he's a man of his word. I've repeatedly warned Whitefish residents about the imminent destruction of Forest Service Road 316, which runs across the back of Big Mountain. It's now "permanently" closed and slated to have 7 miles completely erased from the ski lifts to the Warner Peak lookout road. Never mind how much it's going to cost. It's the only "loop road" providing fire protection access for Whitefish. The Forest Service and Fish & Wildlife agree that a seasonal closure would be sufficient to make the bears happy. Forest Supervisor Cathy Barbouletos tells us the heaviest concentration of grizzlies in Northwest Montana is at the bottom of the drainage below that road, regardless of any motorized travel there.

But, Brian can't see this powder keg smoldering.

J.B. Stone

Whitefish