Community Galvanized Against Marina

In today's Eagle you'll find another story concerning a proposed marina on the Flathead River. This story revolves around a public meeting that was held last week at the Hilton in Kalispell.

It was a good thing the Flathead Conservation District chose such a swank venue for the meeting, the hotel's conference room was packed to bursting.

It was clearly a community galvanized for — or in this case, against — a common cause. More than 100 people showed up and 70 percent of those stood up and spoke about the project. Most were passionate and clear; all but one were completely against the marina.

The meeting was an opportunity for the various agencies involved in the permitting process to inform the public about the process, but on a much more important level, it was a chance for people to make sure their voices were heard.

Few people complain more about public comment periods than journalists. While we stand for freedoms of speech and of the press, we also attend a prodigious amount of meetings. In these meetings, we often have to endure huge quantities of rambling, pointless and often loony public comment. Even if a person shows up with one minute's worth of prepared remarks, they somehow find a way to fill up their allotted time, be it three minutes or five.

I have filled more notebooks than I care to count with well-conceived arguments against a subdivision or in favor of it that have digressed into diatribes about property rights, the glories of the past or airplanes and their chem trails.

But for all the insanity, and inanity, of many public comments, there are few things more heartening to a journalist or a governing body than seeing droves of people to show up to say their peace. Yes, it takes a while. And yes, by the 15th identical comment the point has been driven home. But it is democracy in action and it's a clear sign that apathy has not gripped our country as the media sometimes likes to imply.

And if the showing at the Hilton last week was any indication, this marina proposal won't go through without a fight.

Another good ride, Vals

Though the Bigfork Valkyries didn't come back from Hamilton this weekend with a state championship in hand, they've done Bigfork proud.

For someone who hasn't cared about high school sports — especially basketball — since, well, ever, watching the Vals run through their opponents this season was a treat. Watching how many fans came out to support the team was a blast, as well.

Regardless of how people voted for the high school bond, it's clear that BHS is the rock of the community for those of us who spend the whole year looking at Flathead Lake.

-Alex Strickland