Flanagan on the O'Shaughnessy

To Mr. Andy Palchak: Sir, I am sorry if you or any other resident were offended by the quote published in the Whitefish Pilot April 20 edition. Unfortunately, it was taken out of context.

In my impassioned plea to the city council to allow Flanagan's to operate to it's fullest potential, I was trying to make a comparison of the two concert facilities, not a reproach.

Flanagan's Central Station is not the O'Shaughnessy Center. In comparison, both venues provide something most 5,700-person towns do not have.

Both venues provide award-winning entertainment. Both venues offer culture to a remote outpost on the map, and both do it well. Those comparisons end there, and that was my point.

The O'Shaughnessy Center does not have a gambling license. Flanagan's has a 20-game and poker-table license granted by the state of Montana. This was the point I was attempting to make.

Again, Flanagan's apologizes, as the result of a quote taken out of context. I hope this corrects any misunderstanding.

Flanagan's Central Station respects, applauds and hopes to promote shows at the O'Shaughnessy Center in the future.

Lastly to Mr. Palchak: Blues superstar Roy Hytower performed in my lifetime for Pope John Paul on his trip to Chicago at the First Street Baptist Church in the early 80s. You should know your music history before you bash it.

Jim Flanagan

Whitefish