Blockade F.S.

To the editor,

I attended a meeting of the Forest Service on Feb. 10 in Eureka about the future of the logging on National Forests.

I must admit, the future is bleak. One of the two local mills will close its doors in May for the lack of logs. I would ask why, when there is 97 million board feet of dead, downed and dying trees going to waste on the Kootenai National Forest.

It is a criminal act to let it go to waste and to put people out of work. It not only puts unnecessary hardships on the mill workers, but also the loggers, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, hardware stores and county road crews.

Yes, county road crews also get their funding from Forest receipts for maintenance snow plowing. Schools receive PILT money (payment in lieu of taxes) from timber receipts, too.

Therefore, I am calling for a statewide blockade of all Forest Service ranger stations and supervisor's offices. We need to tell them, if we don't have a job, neither do they. They might as well go home, because there is no need to manage "our" forests so they can go to waste.

The blockade needs to be done on all National Forests - the Kootenai, the Lolo and the Beaverhead forests as well.

I ask all the loggers, mill workers and other concerned citizens to join together in a blockade of these National Forests in a peaceful way. If you are interested, please call or write me.

Patrick D. Keller

Eureka

Dirt in our faces

To the editor,

This is a response to the letter written by Judy Rabidue about Cabin Fever Days.

I have lived in Hungry Horse for three-plus years now. I am a business owner and operator that has nothing to do with alcohol. I have a gift and consignment shop for more than 20 Montana crafters and artisans. I was also a volunteer for two years with the Trapline Association that put on the Cabin Fever Days event.

Judy's statement that the proceeds do not got to any emergency services is totally false. In 2003, I was the treasurer for the Trapline. I know for a fact that we gave the Fire Department that she has referred to a check to purchase a $400 nozzle they needed. We also wrote checks to the QRU and to Laura at the Dam Town Tavern for the Children's Christmas Fund.

Judy's statement that the only people who benefit are the bars and people who drink alcohol is also false. I set up my art to sell, along with other vendors who have nothing to do with alcohol. We all do well on this weekend, which falls in the middle of the winter. We are a seasonal community and this helps get us through the winter.

Now that I have addressed the false statements made by Judy, I would like to voice my thoughts on this matter.

I feel this was a malicious attack by a person who doesn't have all the facts. The letter was published one day before the event took place so no one could respond before the event was held.

We live in a poor community with much ridicule. Instead of throwing dirt in our faces, why not appreciate any volunteers. Better yet, the Trapline Association is open to all in our community, so join in.

Stephanie Dahl

Hungry Horse

More response

To the editor,

In response to Judy Rabidue's letter concerning Cabin Fever Days:

For many years, I was involved putting Cabin Fever Days and Trapline Days together.

This event doesn't just happen by itself. It takes many hours of planning, footwork and just plain-old hard work to bring it all together.

Do you think that Heritage Days and Whitefish Winter Carnival is one "big drinking party?"

To me, Cabin Fever Days is a time to renew old friendships, make new ones and, yes, to having a good time.

A percentage of money taken in is always donated to different charities or organizations every year.

These people don't get paid for doing this-they just donate their time for a 27-year-old tradition.

As I recall, Judy, you use to be one of these "party revelers," or have you forgotten?

My hat is off to the Cabin Fever Days committee and to all that help.

Keep up the good work with many more Cabin Fever Days to come.

Brenda Johnson

Hungry Horse