Good morning to the editor and all who work at a wonderful newspaper. Great job! Anyone can tear down people, their dreams and aspirations. It doesn’t require any degrees, or training. Parents, teachers, mentors, pastors have a lot to do with what our kids do, good or bad. That goes for the public as well as they all become adults.
I am writing to you about the comments from Ed Greef. I am on board 100% as to the content of the ‘what is the real intent’ commentary. We had better do something about the way all of Montana’s rivers, streams and mountains, roads and trails access are handled.
I grew up in Washington, born in 1950, and I and my wife and kids saw firsthand what happens to quality of life losing access to our mountains and waterways in the late 70’s through the 80’s. Paying it forward is a person’s way of showing all around you… you will take care of this beautiful place, OUR planet! I am now seeing the same mistakes happening here in regards to stewardship, illegal campfires, awful graffiti on rocks in the Sapphire Mountains, garbage, signs shot off trees, public access signs for the Bolin Ranch so full of holes it looks like John Dillinger came by.
Is any political representative perfect? Of course not! Who is? We came to Montana to be with family and enjoy all that Montana has to offer, not to change it but to enrich and cherish it.
I pray that clearer heads will prevail in the years to come as the rich and powerful exercise their agenda of “No Trespassing” and stay out. If Montanans are locked out of all the prime areas of Montana it’s going to be paradise lost. When they can’t take their family to peaceful spots away from wi-fi, facebook, never ending phone calls, texts, it’s game over for quality of life for all.
The old boat ramp in Stevi and all the articles you wrote about it is what I am talking about. What an eyesore to look at those cement barriers ordered in by Roy Capp, all the while never facing any of us at town hall meetings, is a crystal clear example of all the above comments. He has rights too, and if he would face us publicly he could share his side as well.
Anyway, keep up the great work, it’s not easy putting ourselves out in front of people with different agendas.
I know. I have done it all my life, sticking up for the little guy at school, the union building trades in Seattle running a lot of construction jobs as their foreman. I loved providing a safer place to work, good conditions, lifting up my crews, doing beautiful work I and my crews were proud of. I took a lot of heat for going the extra mile for customers, and my sisters and brothers in our union. Paying it forward is one’s legacy. Staying under the radar was never who I ever was and I am proud of that, it’s how I was raised.
Anyway you see where I am coming from, along with many others who fight for their rights as well. I have never sent in anything to your newspaper before. Ed’s commentary resonated with me, so I responded to him by e mail and here we are.
Have a great day and thanks for doing a job few have the guts to do.
Gary Hren
Stevensville