Updating the Flathead National Forest Plan is almost as much of a controversy as what to do with the North Fork Road. Same thing with the passage of a Montana wilderness bill.

Apparently the Forest Service is going to try again to create a new, updated Forest Plan. According to Flathead Forest supervisor Chip Weber, the Forest is taking preliminary steps, and the process will probably gear up for action in mid-2013.

At least three environmental groups with a big interest in the Whitefish Range have decided to put together a diverse collaborative group to try and influence what happens in the Whitefish Range.

The group includes North Fork residents — all three presidents of North Fork organizations plus a few others, Whitefish Mountain Resort representatives, logging interests and a couple of recreationists.

Also present for the first meeting were two representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The Kootenai people have strong historical ties to the upper North Fork.

After a two-hour meeting moderated by former Montana Secretary of State Bob Brown, the group decided it was worth meeting again to explore reaching some agreement that would aid the Forest in writing a new plan.

The group will meet again in early December. Since the Whitefish Divide is the border between the Kootenai National Forest and the Flathead National Forest, I presume at some point both Forests will have to be involved in the process.

Also, it needs to be noted that most of the interests involved feel that the once proud U.S. Forest Service has failed to manage the national forests properly and may be in such disarray nationally that effective management in the future will be difficult. I will keep you informed.

In the meantime, we are rapidly approaching an important election. Nearly everyone I have talked to thinks that the contest between Denny Rehberg and Jon Tester has been particularly negative. One neighbor told me they both looked so bad that this neighbor voted for the Libertarian candidate. I can’t help but wonder how many voters will do that.

Flathead County, once about 50/50 Republican/Democrat, has become a Republican stronghold. Currently there are zero county offices filled by Democrats. Likewise, our representatives and senators in the Montana Legislature are predominantly Republican.

I will vote a split ticket. On the state level, and especially on the county level, I believe in voting for the person, not the party. Our obligation as voters is to educate ourselves and vote intelligently, not just follow the party — any party — line. What do you think?