Letters to the editor April 14

Hyperbole hall of fame

In his opinion piece on Bigfork’s historic, 112-year-old single lane bridge, Rep. Ryan Zinke states that “just last month, the town of Bigfork saw their only bridge traversing town abruptly condemned and closed to even foot traffic.” Having just one bridge to serve the needs of a growing community would indeed be a troubling reality if it were true. Thankfully it is not.

The Montana 35 bridge on the west end of Bigfork Bay continues to serve the unincorporated village and function as a critical link in the transportation corridor that connects the Flathead Valley to Lake County and beyond via Montana 35 on the east shore of Flathead Lake.

I know something about Bigfork’s storied old bridge. In the 1960s, my family lived in a cottage just a few feet from the south end of the bridge. My brothers and I passed over it innumerable times over several years on our way to school, basketball practice, Boy Scout troop meetings, and to play the pinball machines in the old bank building on main street, then a dingy laundromat.

As a lifelong Bigfork booster, I am offended by Zinke’s ill advised attempt to make cheap political hay by comparing the recent catastrophe involving the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the third most important commercial port on the East Coast, to Bigfork’s significantly less dire situation. I would suggest that Zinke’s assertion that “the city of Baltimore is no more important than the town of Bigfork” instantly qualifies him for membership in the hyperbole hall of fame.

— Mark Holston, Kalispell

Oil and gas reform

Montana taxpayers have been cheated out of millions of dollars due to out-of-date oil and gas policies. Oil and gas operations on Montana public lands have robbed us of tax revenues, hindering access to our public lands for recreation and welcoming outside speculators into our state. Additionally, inadequate federal bonding rates enable companies to walk away once they’re done drilling, forcing taxpayers to spend millions, if not billions, to clean up any mess that the oil and gas industry has left behind.

Fortunately, Montana taxpayers are about to find some relief. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to finalize its new oil and gas leasing reforms in the next few months, ensuring taxpayers receive a fair return from using public resources. The rule also includes additional reforms that hold oil and gas companies responsible for cleaning up their wells after production has ended.

With several oil and gas lease sales set to take place in Montana this year, the BLM needs to finalize these taxpayer-friendly reforms as quickly as possible. Montanas have waited long enough, and we are done footing the bill for a trillion-dollar industry.

— Chris Rost, Kalispell

Supports Sprunger

It is with great honor that I share my support of Rep. Courtenay Sprunger in her candidacy for HD7. I served as Kalispell’s chief of police for nearly five years. I became a police officer to serve the community regardless of any political affiliation. During my time in the position I was able to work with a number of political candidates.  Courtenay is among the most respected and trusted on that list.

It was immediately obvious to me during her first term that she had a true focus on serving the Flathead community. Courtenay would meet with law enforcement leaders on identifying challenges and finding solutions that would be effective at the community level. Courtenay would challenge us on tough questions and seek clarifications further solidifying respect.  

More than meeting with myself and other law enforcement leaders, I observed Courtenay take that attitude to Helena and get things done for the Flathead. In today’s world of partisan politics and tribalism, I witnessed Courtney bring forth solid solutions that work. This included bills addressing our fentanyl crisis and supporting our valued and needed auxiliary officers.

Courtenay was alway responsive to questions and available for conversation. You could see her deep concern and care for Flathead County.

I am honored to share my endorsement of Courtenay Spunger for Montana HD7.

— Doug Overman, Kalispell

Sheehy’s service

I served in the Marines for eight years in a Special Operations Qualified Advanced Landing Party as a combat M60 machine gunner and am airborne qualified. Men in my unit died.

I know that sometimes when political candidates are trying to get elected, they will say things about the other candidate that are not favorable.

But for Sen. Jon Tester to attack the character and integrity of Tim Sheehy, who is running for one of our U.S. Senate seats, is downright shameful. Jon endorsing commercials that portray him as “shady” is an absolute disgrace to him, his office and anyone involved in creating those advertisements.

Tim Sheehy volunteered for our armed forces, something I don’t think Jon ever did. Tim became an officer in the SEAL teams and repeatedly led young men into terrible harms way for all of us. Then, after been severely wounded four times, he was forced to be medically discharged.

Tim, through his Montana-based arial fire fighting company, has created over 200 good paying jobs right here in Montana. He is still risking his life by personally flying the super scooper airplanes to fight forest fires.

How dare Jon try to smear Tim’s character for his political gain.  

My father used to tell me, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I am writing this letter to show the good men and women of Montana will not sit back and do nothing while Jon and his party play dirty political word games, smearing our veteran’s integrity and character.

Maybe Jon should have joined the military, so that he could better understand the sacrifice, service, dedication, integrity and character these men and women have and who people like Tim Sheehy really are.

— Lee Ettinger, Bigfork