Letters to the editor

A thanks from Babe Ruth Baseball

On behalf of Babe Ruth Baseball, I would like to thank and commend the Glacier Babe Ruth League and the communities of Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Whitefish for an outstanding job in hosting the Montana State 13/15 Tournament in Columbia Falls and Whitefish on July 21 to 25.

Approximately 150 players and coaches, plus hundreds more of their families and friends, visited the North Valley and were treated to a first class event. This doesn't happen without knowledgeable and energetic volunteers such as James LaFontaine of Bigfork, the Sapa family in Columbia Falls, Kelly Talsma of Whitefish and their leader, league president Ray Queen, who at times resembles the proverbial bull in a China shop, but gets things done.

From opening ceremonies featuring Mac Bledsoe and a wayward skydiver caught in Thursday evening's storm, through games broadcast by Bee Broadcasting and announced by the professional Benny Bee, to an exciting championship game epitomizing the agony and ecstasy of the sport, memories were made and lessons in life were learned.

Thanks to the volunteers too numerous to mention. Babe Ruth baseball does not exist without your energies and your commitments.

Bruce McEvoy

Assistant state commissioner

Montana Babe Ruth League, Inc.

Positive votes for levy sustain funding

On behalf of the steering committee, I want to thank the voters who passed the levy in support of the new North Lake County Library District. Your positive votes not only sustain funding for current programs, materials, equipment, facilities and personnel, your votes ensure funding to enhance and expand crucial library services.

Public libraries always have and always will connect people to information and ideas. Yet, as people's interests and needs for information change and as the capacity to access and manage information evolves, libraries are challenged to change and evolve in order to meet these needs.

Your positive votes will support our library's capacity to remain a strong, vital link among people, information and ideas. Your positive votes reflect an even deeper belief that libraries are essential to a healthy democracy and a healthy community.

Malcolm Forbes described the value of public libraries this way, "The richest person in the world — in fact all the riches in the world — couldn't possibly provide you with anything like the endless, incredible 'loot' available at your local library."

Sue McCormick

North Lake County Library District Steering Committee

Recognizing contributions

As the volunteer coordinator for the North Lake County Public Library District, I would like to thank the many people who supported the effort to obtain sustainable, equitable funding for the library. The consistent funding will enable the library to continue to be a valuable and vital part of the community and to provide the best possible service.

During the past four years, members of the steering committee have met with members of many different clubs, civic, fraternal and political organizations, neighborhood associations, the business community, the tribal council, Lake County and Polson City commissioners and staff, senior groups, the RSVP Council on Aging, Lake County principals, school staff and librarians, parent-teacher groups, student participants in the National Library Week Poster and Coloring Contest and their parents, Friends of the Library, writers and staff at newspapers serving our community, the library board of trustees and Polson City Library staff.

Thanks for listening and for helping. You all contributed in so many different ways.

We have traveled north as far as the communities of Rollins-Dayton-Big Arm, west to Valley View, and east to Finley Point and Yellow Bay.

It has been quite an endeavor and an amazing and enriching experience. What a wonderful, gracious and caring extended community!

Thank you all for your interest, concern and support.

Bonnie Triepke

Polson

Future looks bright

How wonderful for our community that the voters have passed the North Lake County Public Library District levy!

On behalf of the Friends of the Polson Library — an organization devoted to supporting that institution — I want to express our gratitude to the voters who considered the facts of the issue and stood up in favor of it.

Thanks to them, the future is looking bright.

Mary Ann Jones

President

Friends of the Polson Library