Any news article that mentions or proposes some form of wood harvesting from forests these days tends to draw out many opinions regarding what is good or bad for the forest. Words and concepts such as ecology, biodiversity, sustainability, science, and conservation are often used to oppose industrialism, greed, pollution, global warming, erosion and environmental […]

A recent editorial indicates that there may be quite a differential between Flathead and Kootenai National Forest policies regarding the work of collaborative groups. Noting that the Flathead National Forest’s team leader for forest planning remarked that the consensus reached by the Whitefish Range Partnership was commendable and that their recommendations “will be given a […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is wasting $10 million dollars trying to apply a crop-based biomass utilization model to our rugged and remote national forests! While Cool Planet Energy Systems’ turning of farm waste into gasoline and biochar may have merit, it does not apply well to dead trees on remote public lands. In a […]

Great article on Brock Osweiler and players in the NFL (Dec. 25 Beacon: “Land of Oz”). As a long time NFL fan, I noticed one key player missing from your list of Montanans in the NFL: Sam McCullum. He was a 1970 graduate of Flathead High School who played on the Flathead basketball state champion […]

I have been attending meetings and following the Whitefish City Hall and Parking Garage project for the past few years as the issue has been at the forefront of council business. This project will be important for the business and character of downtown Whitefish and deserves the attention it has received. As we all know, […]

The American people are becoming increasingly disenchanted with their government. Recent polls indicate the greatest dissatisfaction rate ever. Stupid laws, excessive regulation, exorbitant taxes, wasteful spending, immoral behavior by our leaders and corruption at all levels suggest to me either a high level of incompetence or else our elected officials are under the control of […]

When the state of Washington announced they were taking the unheard-of step of including Montana mines and transportation networks in the scope of an environmental analysis related to a costal port in Washington, a lot of Montana industries took notice. The move was designed to undermine coal mining in Montana, but the precedent it would […]

Allen Chrisman’s letter (Dec. 18 Beacon: “Work Collaboratively on Forest Plan”) defending the Flathead National Forest from criticism by Keith Hammer asserts that “The Forest Service made no commitment to the Whitefish Range Partnership that they would adopt our recommendation intact.” That’s correct — but Hammer never alleged such a commitment. He merely argued that […]

As a Constitutional Conservative, I find the Tea Party Express endorsement of Congressman Steve Daines for U.S. Senate openly hypocritical. The Tea Party Express claims “six simple principles” as part of their mission statement: • No more bailouts • Reduce the size and intrusiveness of government • Stop raising our taxes • Repeal Obamacare • […]

A recent letter to the editor from Keith Hammer in the Flathead Beacon (Dec. 11: “Lack of Objectivity from Forest Service”) chastised the Flathead National Forest. Hammer stated that comments made to the Whitefish Range Partnership (WRP) demonstrated favoritism. The WRP met over the course of a year and a half to develop a collaborative […]

It is truly disappointing to watch the Flathead National Forest make a mockery out of the Whitefish Range Partnership collaborative and its Forest Plan revision public involvement process. In local newspapers the past week, the Forest Service demonstrated its utter lack of objectivity and fairness when it comes to public input. The Flathead National Forest […]

The process that federal regulations go through from proposal to enactment is simply baffling. There are seemingly countless comment periods, public hearings and reviews. Keeping up with the process is simply impossible for any small business in Montana. But with 739 regulations that directly affect small businesses under consideration by various federal agencies, it’s a […]

Although a democracy is the most equitable form of government ever devised, it has an inherent weakness that makes it vulnerable and short lived. This weakness is the realization by voters that they can give themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. This flaw in the design of a democracy results in its being temporary […]

Public school students in Montana under the direction of Denise Juneau, state superintendent of public instruction, are moving forward into the 21st century to implement Common Core Standards. After years of slowly slipping behind in student achievement, compared to other countries, Juneau not only worked with colleagues on this process, she also wanted to make […]

As a former student of Flathead Valley Community College and the University of Montana, and a current student of the University of Great Falls, I was appalled by the decision to limit adjunct facility hours. I personally know the majority of the 25 adjunct teachers who are currently teaching more than 10 credits. These teachers […]