Letters to the editor March 4

Traffic circles

In response to Mr. Van Fleet’s latest letter regarding the roundabout proposed for Batavia Lane, I need to question the assumption that 1,000 feet is not enough time to go from 60 mph to 0 (if necessary). It takes the average vehicle about 300 feet to stop from 60 mph including reaction time and braking distance, assuming ideal road conditions. That is less than a third of the distance the signing provides warning for. I would think this is adequate unless, as pointed out, people are driving like maniacs anyway and not paying attention. We know many are and that kind of driving does not belong near a school.  

I, too, have traveled in many European countries as well as a couple in the UK where roundabouts are widely used in rural areas. Though they are not common on motorways or what we might call a freeway, they can appear anywhere there are intersecting roads and not just in populated areas. You are often called upon to reduce from highway speeds to a slower rate of travel through the roundabout. These are considered a safe and efficient way to manage traffic flow especially where multiple roads meet.  

Seen as a safer option than traffic lights (where drivers often increase their speed to “make it”), they regularly lead to reduced accidents and much less violent collisions if they do occur. Several local valley intersections controlled by traffic lights are mentioned. If you are curious, do some research and see how many violent collisions there have been at these locations then do the same for our existing roundabouts.  

I’d rather take my chances at low speed through a traffic circle.  

— Paul Fifield, Condon

Fox is mainstream

I would like to thank William Fry for so graciously proving what was only a secondary point of my previous letter questioning his assessment that President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech was a message of hope and unity. He responded by stating that he doesn’t watch or read mainstream media because he doesn’t trust it to tell the truth, and that Fox News is a reliable source of information (and it makes him feel happy). I find that amusing. 

Interestingly, Mr. Fry used mainstream media in the form of this esteemed newspaper to present his initial questionable diatribe as well as to present his response to me in which he firmly stated that he avoids mainstream media in favor of Fox News. I feel compelled to inform Mr. Fry that both the Daily Inter Lake and Fox News, by definition, fall into the category of mainstream media. The difference is that the Inter Lake and many other sources present facts. Fox News spews fiction with a smattering of truthiness, biased strongly to support the current criminal in the White House. 

— Tim Wiley, Kalispell 

Fire protection

In the Flathead Valley we live in a fire prone area. Many of us have evacuated because of fires or have packed and been ready to evacuate as we’ve watched smoke and flames advance. Don’t expect as much fire protection this summer.

The Trump-Musk team is telling the public that no fire crew employees are among the 3,400 Forest Service employees who have been fired recently. This statement is misleading as it doesn’t take into consideration how wildfire deployment works. It is not just fire crews that work on wildfires. When a forest fire occurs, non-fire crew employees who work on timber and trail crews are called upon to pause their normal tasks and work alongside the fire crews to fight the wildfire. They represent a large part of the firefighting team. These other employees are among those getting fired, thus reducing firefighting staff. When not fighting fires, these employees maintain trails, manage timber — tasks that themselves reduce the chance of wildfire. It is deceptive to imply that after these mass firings our fire season will have the same protection as usual.

Montana has vast areas of Forest Service lands, and these layoffs affect our local forests and fire protection in a big way. We need these people back on the jobs.

— Stephanie Brancati, Big Arm