Good job to the organizers and volunteers at a mock disaster near the Flathead/Lincoln county line Saturday.

Prepare for worst… but drive safely

Led by the Marion Rural Fire Department, the exercise gave emergency-service volunteers and workers a chance to hone in practice the skills they use in reality.

Hopefully, those skills won't be used on the grand scale of Saturday's mock disaster, which simulated 41 people hurt or killed in a school-bus accident.

Most of the people who sacrificed a spring Saturday for training are volunteers. They donate their time to learn what to do when people really do need help. They deserve our thanks.

The Flathead Valley has had its share of real disasters on the roadways this spring. The Montana Highway Patrol has tallied more fatal accidents in this part of the state than anywhere else so far this year. That's not a designation we are proud to have.

As of Tuesday, there were 22 traffic deaths in this region of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders counties. Sadly, they didn't stop there. Another Kalispell woman lost her life in a crash on Tuesday night.

Generally, things heat up in the valley, both literally and figuratively, on the Memorial Day weekend. Campgrounds start to fill, people get outside, and roads become more congested.

So protect yourself: Drive defensively. Wear a seat belt. Watch for motorcycles. Obey traffic laws. Don't drink and drive.

There are already enough floral reminders along our roadways of people who have died in crashes.

A new wetlands preservation group called Friends of Wisconsin Avenue Wetlands has organized with the goal of buying and conserving all or part of a 40-acre tract that was proposed for the Boardwalk resort development.

It's encouraging to see a citizens group that's willing to put its money where its mouth is. With Whitefish real-estate prices briskly escalating, this is an ambitious project. Even if it becomes financially impossible for the group to acquire the land, the group's efforts will raise awareness of the importance of preserving wetlands in a high-growth corridor.

In this case, the property is located near the base of Big Mountain and contains historic drainage channels that filter runoff water before it reaches Whitefish Lake. Margaret Murdock set a precedent for land conservation in that area by putting nearly 200 acres of her property into conservation easements.

The water quality of Whitefish Lake depends in part on the preservation of wetlands surrounding the entire lake. Friends of Wisconsin Avenue Wetlands is a wonderful example of citizens stepping up to the plate to preserve a neighborhood and ultimately a lake we all enjoy.

Cha-ching! That's the sound of Flathead Valley banks pouring millions of dollars into expansion projects, both in new construction and renovations of existing buildings. The projects are wide-ranging, from the new tribally owned Eagle Bank in Polson to the independently owned Freedom Bank in Columbia Falls.

Our local financial institutions are meeting the needs of a growing valley not only by investing in bricks-and-mortar facilities but also by expanding services and giving time and money to community projects. These are investments that make "cents" for everyone.