Thanks for the help
The recent news regarding an infusion of $1.29 million in state funds for the new Flathead Community Health Center is a wonderful example of what can happen when dedicated, compassionate legislators get together in a bi-partisan effort to provide much needed services to the community.
Locally, State Rep. Bill Jones, Republican of Bigfork, and State Senator Dan Weinberg, Democrat of Whitefish, were among the legislators who cooperated to make it happen. We owe them our thanks.
In Flathead County the 2006 Census indicates some 35 percent, or 29,860 local citizens, many of them children, fall below the line of 200 percent of the federal poverty level, meaning they will be eligible for discounted health care at the new clinic. Before the Flathead Community Health Center opened in December, the closest clinics serving the poor were in Libby and Missoula.
With the new funds, our local clinic will have not only a doctor and two nurse practitioners, but will be able to add a medical caseworker along with mental health and substance abuse counselors. Local health care not only makes compassionate sense for those in need, it makes economic sense in preventing more costly emergency care by attending to medical concerns before they reach the crisis level.
Thanks to Rep. Bill Jones and Sen. Weinberg for setting a good bi-partisan example. Imagine what other community benefits we might reap by working together.
Gil Jordan, Coram
Once in a lifetime opportunity
Access to public land and water is very important to us. We have just learned of two projects in Flathead County that have potential to provide much needed access to land and water.
The first project, 440 acres of School Trust land, was described in the April 3 edition of the Bigfork Eagle. State owned land near Woods Bay is being considered for sale by the Montana Department of Natural Resources (DNRC). The purpose of School Trust Land per statute is to provide income for schools. However, this land has not produced significant revenue because of lack of access, which qualifies it to be sold via the land banking statute.
The ideal solution for public access would be to solve the access problem so that DNRC can manage the property to prevent fire and sell wood products. If access can not be obtained, then an exchange with the Flathead National Forest which surrounds the land on two sides may be feasible. As has been the traditional use of this property, people could continue to use the property for hunting, fishing, hiking and other uses as permitted by DNRC.
The second project is 62 acres of land with 767 feet of Flathead Lake frontage with a deep bay. It is located four miles south of Lakeside just before the county line. Highway 93 borders the west property line. This land is up for sale by the owners who prefer that it be a park to provide boating, hiking, camping, swimming, and other recreational activities.
Both of these projects are going to require much public and legislative support to become a reality.
Bob Keenan, Bigfork
Mark Blasdel, Somers
Verdell Jackson, Kalispell
I can't help but wonder why Don Loranger?s support of democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama rates front page news in the Daily InterLake. Can it be because Loranger has been trying to pass himself off as a ?Republican? for so long that its nice to see him finally come out of the closet?
This self proclaimed "Obamacan's" only claim to fame (aside from his dismal failure when he ran as a republican for the state senate) was his founding membership in an organization calling itself "Republicans for the Flathead" a group that has always supported democrats and done everything possible to undermine the champions of real Republicans running for political office in Flathead County through lies and deceit.
Come to think of it, I guess that when Don Loranger tells the truth that IS front page news.
Perhaps with Loranger?s newfound honesty he?ll consider changing the name of his group from Republicans for the Flathead to "Obamacans for the Flathead"
In the meantime, get in your Obamamobile and ride, General. And don°Ot forget to plaster its sides with that symbol that most appropriately represents your past, present and future forays into the political arena: the jackass.
Denise Cofer
Kalispell