Supports Fern

I had the privilege of helping Dave Fern win his first Whitefish School Board election 20 years ago. He has served Whitefish schools since that time, presiding several years as board chairman, as well as chairing the Montana School Board Association for a term.

I am now helping him with his Montana senatorial campaign in District 2. He has been knocking on doors throughout this large district, asking questions, visiting with all the constituents, wanting to know what concerns them most.

I had the opportunity to visit the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls with him last week and was so impressed with that facility, which houses and cares for up to 132 different veterans and spouses. This home has taken care of veterans since after the Civil War in 1896.

Located along the Flathead River, it boasts beautiful historical buildings, along with a baseball facility for the community, where our boys played in many games and tournaments. Today the home employs almost 180 people from across the valley, serving alongside nearly 400 volunteers who help provide for the residents’ activities and needs.

The legislators in the last session claimed that privatizing veterans’ facilities would save the state a lot of money, a contention they tried to support by comparing the cost of the relatively new, privately operated Glendive Veterans Home to the Columbia Falls facility.

Comparing these homes is like comparing apples and oranges. The Glendive home cares for 80 residents and was opened in 1995. The Columbia Falls Veterans Home offers physical therapy, operates its own pharmacy, takes its residents to doctor appointments, and offers other necessary services that a nursing home should require.

And the sense of community that this facility carries is vitally important to Columbia Falls and the Flathead Valley. Still it seems like this issue is going to be coming up again in the next session.

As he considers the Montana Veterans Home question, Dave Fern declares that he “will work hard to retain state ownership, living wages and outstanding care for our veterans.” Dave cares about the people of this valley — about good jobs, our veterans and the economy. Please vote for Dave Fern, Senate District 2.

Dianne Grove

Whitefish