A big difference in attitude about planning exists between the city of Kalispell and Flathead County. It’s a big enough difference to cause one to wonder if the two jurisdictions live on the same planet. Kudos to the city of Kalispell for taking a 40-plus year view of re-development of the original, industrial core of […]

If you value your right to own a firearm, you should consider the consequences of voting for President Barack Obama and Sen. Jon Tester in November. Obama nominated two of the most anti-gun individuals in Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. Jon Tester, along with a Democrat majority in the Senate, […]

Choosing a president is not a personality contest. The ability to mesmerize voters with eloquent oratory catering to special interest groups is not the criterion for leading our nation. Many examples could be given of the following points if space permitted. President Barack Obama’s administration has eroded our free enterprise system to the extent that […]

A recent letter from a Kalispell resident provided definitions of “treason” and “traitor” to bolster her claim that, as she put it, “our government has been infiltrated openly with socialists, communists, Marxists and the Muslim Brotherhood.” She also asked readers whether they want to “live under the rule of the United Nations or the Constitution.” […]

I echo the sentiment of your article, “Kalispell Icon at a Crossroads” (Sept. 5 Beacon). Having grown up in the valley with seven generations of family here, I take a certain amount of responsibility in seeing my community flourish and progress, while valuing the good history that is here. I really want our valley to […]

Here is a thought for all the President Barack Obama haters: When the economy went into the dumpster in 2008 (Republican president), 90 percent of the country’s top economist stated that it would take 10 years to recover. So what have we seen? The stock market is nearly back to its previous high; corporate profits […]

I am writing in support of the Whitefish Legacy Partners work with the city of Whitefish to purchase an easement to permanently protect public access and recreation in the Beaver/Skyles areas, a recreation license in the Spencer areas and to expand The Whitefish Trail. As a Whitefish resident for 29 years, I have been a […]

I wish to make a proposal: The standards we deem appropriate for our students must be applied to our national halls of Congress. All members are equal: women, men, rich and poor, landed, unlanded, all races and creeds. Members must pass a test of adequate intelligence. Discourse is civil and respectful, giving everyone an opportunity […]

You have probably heard arguments from some individuals and groups that are critical of the proposed increase in coal movement through Montana by rail. One of the concerns is the health issues caused by coal moving through cities and towns. Coal has been moving through Montana on a regular basis since the early 70s. Coal […]

As hard as it is to believe, the leisurely days of summer are drawing to a close as schools across the country are opening their doors for the first day of school. Students in Flathead County will return to classes on Aug. 29, and this year’s group of kindergarten students will be the graduating class […]

I read with interest the about the battle between homeowners needing shoreline protection and speedboats pulling skiers on Echo Lake (Aug. 22 Beacon: “Flooded Again, Echo Lake Residents Call for No-Wake Zone”). For 18 years I’ve owned a home on the lake. Watching my shoreline erode is painful. This is the second high-water summer that […]

I am very concerned about our entire political system, Democrats and Republicans alike. And I realize the tremendous frustration in America today with unemployment, deficits, health care problems, family financial problems, and the great desire for all this to be solved, and that possibly a change in presidential leadership is the answer. Well, before we […]

It’s no secret that President Barack Obama thinks that businesses should pay more in taxes. However in Roanoke, Va. he recently made some sorely misguided statements about business success when he said: “If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people […]

The front being created that Montana is “behind the times” as far as “school choice” is a myth. We have many choices in our state: public education at a school of choice, private academies (Montessori for example), church affiliated schools, online classes and home school programs. Students are blessed with many choices in Montana. Just […]

Conservative. That’s how I would describe the way Montana has managed 5 million plus acres of public land held in trust for the schools and universities on Montana. While Oregon holds only one quarter of its original land grant, Montana holds 95 percent. These lands, particularly the 13,000 acres around Whitefish, provide valuable conservation, recreation […]