Letters to the editor Feb. 7

After being in the 19th Judicial District Court in Libby under Judge Matthew Cuffe several different times, I have a few observations that I think all of us would benefit from knowing. I’m pretty amazed.

For one thing, Judge Cuffe is remarkably able to identify with the common petitioner. He doesn’t seem to look down on the people. He seems to be inclined to speak in order to be understood, instead of speaking to intimidate the petitioner.

If you are tempted to believe he’s soft, don’t. Judge Cuffe is in total control of the entire courtroom and is not adverse to speaking LOUDLY and FORCEFULLY to get the attention of anyone going out of bounds.

In short, justice will be served. When leaving the District Court room in Libby, you’ll have the straightforward understanding that you’ve just been in the presence of a bona-fide fair judge; one who can understand the issues presented because he’s taken the time to press the two parties into revealing everything needed; and one who will study the details carefully.

I think Judge Matt Cuffe is a fair-minded judge who is catching up where previous courts may have been slack. His sharp mind and reputation for caring for our community is growing by leaps and bounds. He has so far served three full years of his six-year first term.

I hope our Montana court system will benefit from this fair judge for decades to come. However, it’s a possibility the federal court system of the United States will take notice of our fair District Court judge in Libby. He’s that valuable.

—Dianne Hansen, Eureka

This is an open letter to all the health care providers in Flathead county, doctors, nurses, support staff, and yes, even the kitchen at the hospital.

I recently had exposure to the beyond excellent professional and incredible caring service of many of you. All the people that contributed to my care were in one word - exceptional! All of them made me feel as if I was the only person they were responsible for at the time. They gave me an extremely comforting feeling, many even going out of their way to accommodate my wishes and needs. All this care was accomplished in the most professional manner possible. Words cannot describe the degree of thorough care I was given. All who live here in the Flathead are fortunately blessed to have such care available. Hopefully it will continue.

I particularly want to cite Flathead Valley Orthopedics – all the doctors, nurses and support staff there are truly incredible professionals and helped me immensely in my recent surgery. They have also been there for me in several past events over the last 20 years or so – keeping me mobile and healthy both physically and mentally. I would be nothing without them and their professional execution of the miracles of modern medicine. They are still helping me as I write this.

In addition, my stay in the hospital though only overnight was a wonderfully caring experience! Everyone connected with it was extraordinary and made it a pleasing episode in my life, and as mentioned above the food was excellent.

—Tom Oppel, Bigfork

Three dead deer in less than a month and a half! Have you been on Columbia Falls Stage Road lately? Perhaps, in the warmer, drier weather, you’ve walked or jogged alongside the ditches or maybe even attempted to ride your bike or have even tried using the road to cut over to a side road via horseback? Well, HANG ON! Columbia Falls Stage Road is now another copy-cat to U.S. 93. From Trap Road clear down to McWenneger Slough, the road is now a speeding blaze of cars and rigs of all sizes and shapes. And, although the road is clearly posted 45 mph for the most part, drivers highly exceed that speed without a single thought or care for wildlife, pedestrians, pets or, bike riders. It’s let ‘er rip, hell-bent, no fury, gotta get there.

There’s absolutely no regard for children who may suddenly dart out from a side road onto Columbia Falls Stage Road, or, God forbid, should a child be unaccompanied by an adult and be found riding their bike on Columbia Falls Stage Road. However, thank goodness, mothers watch their children like hawks and would never permit this.

For the most part people who chose to live in the area did so because it was remote and quiet and once, teaming with wildlife. Most people took the time to explore the area and know that the river (and McWenneger Slough) borders a large portion of the road — and that, yes, animals would be crossing the road to come from the river or the slough after drinking to then bed down or graze in the fields that embraced the road on both sides. For the most part, people respected and appreciated the area they were moving into. And for the most part, the people — especially the ones who’ve lived here for years and years when Columbia Falls Stage Road was a dirt road all the way from Montana 35 up to Columbia Falls — respect and obey the posted speed limits.

So, buckle up, wear your brightest colors, be aware if walking or riding your bike and get ready to be passed at a high rate of speed when you are driving the posted speed limits. I sure wish there was a way to provide safe crossing for the many deer, elk and other species of wildlife. But, I guess you can’t corral people who are truly ignorant and disrespectful of the law. Be safe!

—Brenda Anderson, Columbia Falls