'Fire' unfair

I was appalled at the biased presentation in the PBS film "The Fire Next Time" public screening at the Liberty Theater in Kalispell recently.

The number one message in the film was obviously to demonize John Stokes, owner of KGEZ radio, his talk show, and his supporters because that portrayal got more time than anything else in the movie.

Secondly, professional preservation activists such as Keith Hammer and Caesar Hernandez were presented as reasonable people trying to reach reasonable solutions to natural resource issues. Nothing could be further from the truth, as anyone knowledgeable about these issues in the Flathead for the past 20 years knows. There is not a shred of evidence anywhere in Keith Hammer's record that I know of to back up his own portrayal of himself (and as adopted by the movie) as a person interested in reaching reasonable solutions.

The movie made no disclosure of the fact that Keith Hammer's history of non-stop appeals and litigation supported by out of state foundation money has been a primary cause of the unacceptable condition of our National Forest. His actions have been a major cause of adverse effects on our local economy and quality of life we have experienced in the Flathead. Anyone who has enjoyed the multiple use benefits of the Flathead National Forest in past is frustrated and understandably angry about the current situation.

It is very naive for the filmmakers to suggest that if only local people will "collaborate" the problems on Federal Forests can be solved. What can and must be done if for everyone who is frustrated with the current National Forest situation is to demand change in Federal Laws (such as the Equal Access to Justice Act and Endangered Species Act) which permit Keith Hammer and his cohorts to abuse those laws through litigation and impose their will over professional resource managers and general public desires.

The film portrayed the professional activists and their supporters as victims of hate rather than the cause of anger that has resulted from their actions. I believe the film unfairly portrays hate as a pervasive part of life in the Flathead that is simply not true. The despicable acts of a few individuals can and do happen in most any community, but I believe these individual acts are less frequent here than other places. This film and others that the "Working Group" has produced appear to market hate as their commodity. I was hoping this production was going to be more fair and balanced regarding the fire issue as the producer tried to market it prior to the release. I was disappointed.

"The Fire Next Time" is a finely honed propaganda film that is a product of The Working Group sponsors' hate for John Stokes and KGEZ radio.

Sincerely,

Fred Hodgeboom

Bigfork

Many thanks

The Bigfork Food Pantry would like to gratefully thank the community for their continued support, most recently during the Realtors Food Drive. We especially thank Connie and Dylan Gunderson of Re/Max of Bigfork and Stan Converse of Sotheby's for all of their hard work and positive energy. We also thank Deb Hendrickson for coordinating the drive.

Through the caring generosity of the Bigfork community, our job in serving our neighbors in need is made possible.

If anyone in the community would like more information regarding our services, please contact the Food Pantry at 837-2297.

Thank you and may God bless you all.

The Bigfork Food

Pantry Managers