Land swap proposed for Jesus statue

A proposed land swap between the federal government and Whitefish Mountain Resort could eliminate legal challenges and allow the statue of Jesus on the side of Big Mountain to remain where it is.

According to draft legislation by Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg, the Secretary of Agriculture would convey the land currently used for the statue to the resort in exchange for the same amount of land given to the federal government.

The statue is a World War II memorial established on the side of Big Mountain nearly 60 years by a local chapter of the Knights of Columbus. The statue recently become the subject of controversy after a Wisconsin-based organization objected to the Forest Service renewing a special-use permit for the 25-by-25-foot parcel of land where the statue stands near the top of Chair 2.

"Fortunately, the public outcry in Montana and around the country bought us some time," Rehberg said in a press release. "I certainly hope the Forest Service will respect the wishes of just about everyone in the local community, but if they decide to fold to out-of-state lawyers, it's important to have an ace in the hole."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., claims it has received numerous obscene and threatening hate mail through e-mails and social media. Co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said the hate mail contained religious and physical threats.

The Forest Service has determined, and the Montana State Historic Preservation Office has concurred, that the statue is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, based on its historic association with the early development of the Big Mountain ski area.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Flathead National Forest is requesting public comments on the proposal through Dec. 8. No additions or modifications to the permit are proposed. If reauthorized, the permit would be granted for 10 years.

Comments should be written and sent by e-mail to comments-northern-flathead-tally-lake@fs.fed.us, mailed to Project Leader Derek Milner, Tally Lake Ranger District, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell MT 59901 or faxed to 406-758-5367. For more information, visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/projects.