Wounded vets are inspiration
Inter Lake editorial
Four special military veterans who visited the Flathead Valley last week said they couldn't believe the hospitality heaped on them during their stay. We're glad our folks made an impression on them, because these four surely made an impression on us.
All of them recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan. All of them are wounded warriors, recovering from injuries sustained in the United States' wars in those countries.
Thanks to the local chapter of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, these disabled veterans were able to enjoy many of the amenities the Flathead has to offer, including a fishing excursion on Flathead Lake and a red bus tour in Glacier National Park.
Beyond the hospitality here, these veterans found healing on many levels - spiritual, mental and emotional. They won't forget their time in the Flathead, they agreed. And we won't forget them, or their courageous service to our country.
EVERY MONTH matters these days for Columbia Falls Aluminum Co.
The firm so far has staved off planned plant closures a month at a time, and now it looks like the plant may be able to stay open into this fall.
Price improvements for aluminum, a short-term power deal with the Bonneville Power Administration and improved availability of raw materials have given the Columbia Falls plant a reprieve for now.
That's good news for the 86 workers whose jobs are in jeopardy if the plant, a mainstay of the valley economy for more than 50 years, has to shut down.
For CFAC and its workers, every month matters.
VOTERS GAVE their approval to a consolidated 911 call center last November, and work has been under way for quite some time. Now we learn that the project is apparently under budget and ahead of schedule.
Too often, we see inefficiency and mismanagement in government, leading to a loss of confidence among voters. But this time it is just the opposite, and the 911 board and all those involved should be complimented for their hard work and dedication to a good cause.