18 minute read
Valley Views
from 09-15-21 issue
valley views Instead of forgiveness, try togetherness
Weeks ago I started out contemplating a list of seven words that led me to some universal life truths.
I wrote about two: kindness and compassion. I had three more columns written and in the hopper when one of life’s universal truths happened. My computer crashed and all my information was lost, including the written, albeit unpublished, columns.
Welcome to life.
As the days wore on my viewpoint of those seven crucial and critical words changed. The columns I’d so carefully crafted about the key words were no longer key. The words changed because my perspective changed.
Because the world changed. Because it is always changing. I wish I could tell you I have it all figured out, but I don’t. I’m still figuring it out and I’ll continue to attempt to communicate this figuring as I go along.
One of the words I wrote about was forgiveness. In it, I explained that forgiving others liberates us because harboring ill-will tethers us to others in a negative sense.
That’s still true, but I no longer believe forgiveness is necessary to a life best-lived. Here’s why: forgiving isn’t our responsibility, or even our right.
Big thought, I know. And a big thought deserves a big answer.
We aren’t here to forgive. We are here to live out our own story, without a focus on the good or bad deeds of others. Believing someone needs forgiveness gives them a power over us that I don’t think we want to give. Simply put, it’s a waste of time.
People will come and go in our lives. Sometimes, from our perspective, they will do us wrong, but forgiving isn’t necessary for our continued growth or well being. Most often when someone “wrongs” us, they have no desire, intention or even knowledge of this wrong. Even if they do, their actions aren’t based on the outcome that affects us, but more likely the outcome that affects them. We are a byproduct, yet we see ourselves as the center of the action needing forgiving. Welcome to the human condition.
Even if the wrong is intentional, especially if it is intentional, it isn’t our responsibility or prerogative or even our duty to forgive.
It is our duty to move on.
And, while doing so, maybe, instead of forgiveness, I suggest empathy. Forgiveness implies me versus you; It implies I am right and you are wrong. Empathy implies us. To empathize is to
understand the perspective and the situation of another. It is putting yourself in their shoes to literally feel the blisters. It is hurting when they hurt. Because they hurt. Slices of Life Sometimes we all hurt. It is understanding Jill Pertler Syndicated columnist
letters
Tickets issued for parking near water level
Editor,
Fair warning for all of us who have always parked our cars near the water level of Mission Dam or other lake on the reservation when the water level is low. CSKT is now giving out tickets and the fine is no little thing at $95. I have parked there to launch my kayak which is too heavy for me to carry far. Even using a rack with wheels would mean having to push a heavy kayak uphill and over rough terrain. I’m not sure I would be strong enough to do that. It pretty much eliminates kayaking on the lakes in the summer. Also, just because it looks like a road doesn’t mean it is.
Heidi Riddle St. Ignatius
Healing, harmony starts from ground up
Editor,
Six years ago I wrote about serious concerns we all are having. I called it “The Birth and Growth of Terrorism.”
The following are some questions I posed only six years ago.
How many hundreds of years ago could these same questions have been asked about terrorist type actions?
What is the world to do?
What is our nation to do?
What is our community to do?
When will it end?
What does it take to wake up a world of humans to sensible and productive ways of addressing our problems?
We humans have been created with the power of sensible reasoning, helpful choices, and good judgment. This is our gift from God.
This world is a classroom. Classrooms are for listening and learning Learning the lessons of God’s Love are available to each and every one of us moment by moment. We simply have to make the choice. This takes thought, understanding, and practice, practice, practice. And it works.
This is a personal choice for each of us, of course. Healing and harmony start from the ground up, not from the top down.
Bob McClellan Missoula
see page 11
LETTER POLICY
Letters to the editor are welcome. The content is the opinion of the letter writer and not the newspaper. The decision to publish letters is made by the editor.
Letters must be 350 words or less. A writer will only be published twice per month.
Letters may be edited for content or length, or may not be published if considered libelous, in poor taste, spiteful, self-promotional or of limited interest to the general readership. Space limitations also dictate when or if letters are published.
Letters must be signed by the author and name, address and phone number must be included – phone number is for verification purposes only. Letters from organizations must include the name of at least one author.
Please limit “thank you” letters to four people/organizations or less. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday to publish the following week.
Opinions expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the newspaper.
Lake Mary Ronan man withdraws no contest plea, opts for trial
By Jeff Smith of Anderson
Broadcasting for the Valley Journal
POLSON — District Judge James Manley has allowed a Lake Mary Ronan man to withdraw his no contest plea to one count of felony criminal endangerment after he rejected a plea agreement that called for sentencing being deferred for three years. Brendan Edward Adams, 58, entered into a plea agreement at District Court in Polson on May 20 that amended one count of felony assault with a weapon to felony criminal endangerment.
According to court records, on July, 2, 2020, A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Geiger Lane near Lake Mary Ronan on a report that a neighbor was “menacing people with a gun.” At the scene a man reported that Adams had pointed a gun at his wife and threatened to shoot her if she touched his fence post again. The man said he retrieved his own gun to protect his wife.
Judge Manley told Adams during a sentencing hearing Aug. 18, that although he has never been convicted of a felony before and should be afforded the opportunity of a deferred sentenced, this should stay on his record due to a similar incident that was handled in federal court before U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen. In that matter, records show Adams had a civil judgment against him for claims of battery, trespass, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment. In the findings of facts, the jury found that Adams wrongfully imprisoned another person by intentionally and aggressively blocking the person’s ability to cross an easement the person had permission to use. The judgment against Adams, dated May 10, 2021, totaled $850,000.
Judge Manley told Adams he wanted to sentence him to three years with the Montana Department of Corrections with all but 30 days jail time suspended. Judge Manley told Adams he could serve the 30 days jail on home arrest. Adams chose to take the case to trial. Judge Manley set a trial date of Dec. 6.
In a separate matter, Adams entered a plea of not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of unauthorized work. According to court records, Adams is alleged to have knowingly and without permit, permanently altered the lake shore protection zone by maintaining a 200-foot floating dock and extended his lawn into Lake Mary Ronan by depositing rock fill below the annual mean high water mark. This was allegedly recorded on video by an area resident.
Judge Manley set this case for trial Feb. 14, 2022.
Instead of forgiveness
from page 10
their mistake, because we all make mistakes.
It is even understanding their selfishness because we have all been selfish at one time or another.
There is a quote that ties in with this idea. It is attributed to a Christian pastor named Steven Furtick, but I believe it is a thought that goes beyond religion and illustrates my point on forgiveness nearly perfectly. “Even people who betray you are part of the plan. Jesus couldn’t get to the cross without Judas.”
Harboring ill-will is burdensome. It weighs us down. We have the notion that forgiveness alleviates that weight, but what if we never harbored the ill-will in the first place? What if we realized that it isn’t for us to forgive, because it isn’t?
If someone needs forgiveness, it can come from only one source: themselves. True forgiveness must come from within. Often forgiving ourselves is one of the hardest things to do, because self-forgiveness takes the focus off the self and onto others. It is examining our actions and feeling empathy for how they may have affected and hurt others. It is taking the focus off me and putting it on we.
It is coming to the understanding we are all in this together; so much more so than just on our own. We are better together, especially when we buoy each other up, even when we have been wronged.
And together is the only way we will get there – blisters and all. I’m rooting for us.
Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.
vj
Correction
Sentencing for Bojai GrantSchmidt was listed incorrectly in the 9/15/21 issue of the Valley Journal. Grant-Schmidt was sentenced to 15 years with five suspended for a total of 10 years with the Montana Department of Corrections. The Valley Journal regrets the error.
Polson man pleads not guilty to criminal endangerment
By Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal
POLSON — A Polson man is accused of brandishing a sawed-off shotgun. David Michael Fox, 66, pled not guilty at District Court in Polson on Sept. 16 to felony charges of having a sawed-off firearm and criminal endangerment.
According to court records, on July 25, a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of unsafe shooting. At the scene a nearby resident told the deputy that Fox had been yelling for the past two or three hours. The resident also claimed to have observed Fox fire a round from a sawed-off shotgun, point the gun at his residence and issue a verbal threat to kill. Fox was reportedly upset because he had recently been kicked out of his mother’s house. The mom confirmed the statements made by the concerned area resident and Fox was detained. Fox denied firing a weapon and claimed to have set off fireworks. The deputy located three shotgun shells in Fox’s front pocket.
Fox also denied having a sawed-off shotgun but later confessed to having one and directed the deputy to its location.
District Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set a trial date of Jan. 24. Fox remains at liberty.
sports Rivalry week ends with Polson sweep
By Rob Zolman Valley Journal
POLSON — The Polson Lady Pirates opened rivalry week on Thursday evening with a 3-2 five set volleyball victory over the Ronan Maidens while the Polson Pirates completed the sweep on the gridiron Friday night with a 62-8 rout over the Ronan Chiefs.
In Ronan, Northwestern A conference rivals Lady Pirates and Maidens battled back and forth in a cross-valley volleyball match with the Lady Pirates coming out on top 3-2 (23-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-25, 1511) over the Maidens.
The previously undefeated Maidens jumped out early in the match by taking the first set 25-23 but gave up the next two sets narrowly to the Lady Pirates 27-25, 25-23.
With the Lady Pirates up 2-1, the Maidens controlled the fourth set 25-15 sending the match into the fifth and decisive set. The Lady Pirates prevailed 15-11 winning both the set and match.
“The game didn’t end how we wanted but we played hard. Maiden effort was there, just wasn’t in a focused or disciplined way,” said Ronan Maiden head coach Lacey Phelan. “Polson played a great game. They were scrappy and served us off the court.”
Olivia Clairmont booked 21 kills and five blocks to pace the Maidens while Reina Cordova posted 25 digs and four aces. Rylie Lindquist added 25 digs on the night.
“I felt good about our offense, especially from Olivia Clairmont, we just couldn’t get into an offensive rhythm often enough,” said coach Phelan. “We saw a small piece of our tempo in the fourth set, but it wasn’t consistent enough to get ahead in the fifth game.”
For the Lady Pirates, Camilla Foresti led with 33 digs, four aces, and 10 kills followed by Liz Tolley with 33 digs, seven kills and four blocks.
see page 18
BOB GUNDERSON PHOTO Polson Pirate Jarrett Wilson completes a pass to an open wide receiver.
SUSAN LAKE PHOTO Ronan Chief running back Sage Coffman looks for some downfield running room. Polson Lady Pirate Camilla Foresti swats one over the net.
BOB GUNDERSON PHOTO
Gold at home: Mission girls take 1st, boys 2nd at hosted meet
By Rob Zolman Valley Journal
ST. IGNATIUS — The Mission Bulldogs cross country team hosted a 14-school mixed class meet on Tuesday, Sept. 14, and used the home course to its advantage, with the Lady Bulldogs winning the girls’ team title and the Bulldogs placing second in the boys’ team standings.
“I feel that my team really stepped up and performed amazingly well,” said Mission cross country head coach Chris Eichert. “I’m very proud of each and every one of my athletes on both my high school and middle school teams. I see improvement in every one of them. I hope to continue that as we get into the second half of the season.”
The Lady Bulldogs boasted four top-25 finishes en route to a team victory with 47 points. Mission narrowly defeated Powell County, the second-place team, by five points.
Junior Cedar Hunt led the charge for the Lady Bulldogs with a seventh-place finish of 23.04.23. Madyson Currie (14th ,25:01.76), Heaven Diaz-Morigeau (23rd, 28:58.99) and Kason Page (25th, 29:04.07) rounded out the rest of the Lady Bulldogs’ performances.
Bulldogs cross country standout Andrew Rush captured individual honors with a first-place time of 16:42.81, a high mark for Class B cross country so far this season. Rush also eclipsed his own personal record and finished nearly a minute faster than second place Thompson Falls runner Will Hyatt who finished the course in a time of 17:40.90.
Mission runners besides Rush seeing top five success were Zoran LaFrombois in third with a time of 17:41.90 and Robbie Nuila with a time of 17:52.82 in fourth. All of them set personal bests noted coach Eichert.
“Right now, I feel that my boys’ team is running great. As a group, they are very competitive, even within the team,” said Eichert. “Andrew worked hard in the off season and came into the season ready to go. He is currently sitting number one in the State B Boys. His hard work is definitely paying off. Also, Zoran LaFrombois, Thomas Nuila and Robbie Nuila are right behind him with their times.”
The Polson Pirates edged out their hosts with 39 points to the Bulldogs’ 45 for the boys’ team top spot with strong showings by Ryan Dupuis (6th , 18:00.08), Drifter Skillicorn (7th, 18:39.79), Kai McDonald (9th , 19:08.29) and Noah Roberts (10th, 19:09.15).
Lady Pirate junior Ashtyn Wagner finished first in the girls race with a time of 21:01.88 followed by fellow Lady Pirates Adison Carlson in third place with a time of 21:37.74 and Halle Heninger in fourth with a time of 21:58.98.
For Ronan, both the Chiefs and Maidens finished in third place in the team standings with Maiden Olivia Heiner placing second with a time of 21:21.77 and Keyan Pretty On Top pacing the Chiefs with a time of 19:28.09 in eleventh place.
Top finishers for Charlo were Lady Viking Guinevere Contreras in tenth place with a time of 23:49.79 and Viking Hayden Smith (32nd) with a time of 21:41.94.
Malacye Piapot (46th , 23:07.90) led the Two Eagle River Eagles while Lady Eagles Janelle Afterbuffalo (35th, 33:07.36) and Sarah Gardipe (36th , 33:09.90) crossed the finish line together.
Rounding out the Mission Valley high schools competing in Tuesday’s event, the Arlee Warriors were led by Drew Knoll (37th , 22:19.31) followed by Arlee Scarlets Princess Bolen (21st , 8:06.46) and McKirah Fisher (22nd ,28:26.75).
ROB ZOLMAN / VALLEY JOURNAL Above: Mission Bulldog Andrew Rush wins the Mission Invite with a time of 16:42.8. Bwlow: Polson Lady Pirate Ashtyn Wagner leads a group of runners.
Torrin Ellis Kila Cannon Cooper Clary
Pirates win own tournament, Lady Pirates finish second
Story and photos by Rob Zolman / Valley Journal
POLSON — Christian Lund fired a two over par 74 finishing in a three-way second place tie to help lead the Polson Pirates to a team score of 302 and a first-place team tie with Whitefish at its own Polson Pirate Invite on Monday, Sept. 13, held at the Polson Bay Golf Course.
Placing in the top 10 on the leader board for the Pirates, Torrin Ellis shot a fifth place 75 followed by Carson Hupka in seventh place with a 76 and Hunter Emerson shooting an eighth place 77.
The Polson Lady Pirates carded a team score of 391 to finish five strokes behind first place Frenchtown. Clare Konen shot a 91 to place fourth for the Lady Pirates while Ashley Maki tied for fifth with a 92.
Kylee Neimeyer and Alyssa Pretty On Top both tied for seventh place shooting a 93 for the Ronan Maidens.
Top boy finishes for the Ronan Chiefs were Ruben Couture who carded a 90 followed by
Dillon Pretty On Top with a 96 and Nash Neimeyer with a score of 97.
Playing in the Class A and AA Kalispell Invite Tournament held at the Northern Pines Golf Course on Wednesday and the Buffalo Hill Golf Course on Thursday, both the Pirates and Lady Pirates placed fifth in the team standings.
Hupka tied four other golfers with a two-day score of 156, placing fourth in a scorecard playoff and tenth overall for the tournament.
For the Lady Pirates, Ashley Maki finished ninth carding a score of 193.
On Saturday, both the Ronan and Polson golf programs finished the week out and wrapped up their regular seasons on the road playing in the Hamilton Invite held at the Hamilton Golf Club.
The Pirates scored a 324 and the Lady Pirates booked a 401 to take first place in the overall boys’ and girls’ team standings.
For the Pirates, Emerson topped the boys’ leader board carding a four-over par 76 followed by Ellis in fourth shooting an 81, Lund in fifth with an 83 and Hupka in ninth scoring an 84.
Maki and Seifert each scored 91 for the Lady Pirates. Maki placed fourth in the score card playoff. Konen shot a 106 finishing in 15th place.
Alyssa Pretty on Top shot a third place 89 to pace the Ronan Maidens. Rounding out the top 15 girls’ leader board finishes were Kylee Niemeyer with a 10th place 100 and Aaliyah Decker in 11th place with a score of 101. Nash Niemeyer led the Ronan Chiefs with a 92.
On Thursday, both teams will return to Hamilton to compete during the Western A Divisional Golf Tournament.
Vikings crown homecoming king and queen
Story and photos by Rob Zolman / Valley Journal
CHARLO — Charlo High School’s senior Coyle Nagy and Mona Reich were crowned 2021 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime festivities at the Viking football game against the Choteau Bulldogs on Friday night.
Earlier in the afternoon the Viking faithful celebrated homecoming with an all-class parade on Main Street. The third grade won this year’s best float contest for the elementary school followed by the sixth grade who won the junior high best float award while the senior class took top float honors in the high school.
The junior class won the all-school spirit award.
Under the lights Friday night, the Vikings moved to 2-2 on the season with a 44-34 win over the Choteau Bulldogs.
Homecoming king and Viking quarterback Coyle Nagy went 9 of 18 passing for 89 yards and one touchdown. Nagy also rushed 84 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns.
Also for the Vikings, Keaton Piedalue rushed for 100 yards on ten carries and a touchdown. Piedalue also snagged a one-yard pass from Nagy in the second quarter for a touchdown.
On defense, Braydon Zempel led the Vikings with seven tackles while Hayden Hollow snatched two interceptions.
