Rebuttal to Gunderson from the Swan Valley "Few"

SWAN VALLEY - I would like to offer a response to a letter written in the Pathfinder’s Sept. 15, 2016 opinion section.

First off, I would like to commend and thank Jim Boyd for his time, thoughts and voice concerning the Flathead National Forest Draft Revision. He has offered many ideas and thoughts that more accurately address the needs and concerns of this community. The Forest Service has failed to offer a plan that considers the Swan Valley community and its fire safety, economic hardships, cultural and historical use of the land and recreational opportunities.

I would like to offer my opinion on the rebuttal written by Kari Gunderson and some of the information she presented.

She writes, “[Boyd] seems committed to spreading inaccurate information and using fear mongering and hyperbole with local residents about forest management practices on our public lands. He is a relative newcomer to the valley and is not ‘the voice’ of the Swan Valley.”

I have not heard of anything in Mr. Boyd’s discussion or ideas that supports this statement. Yet, one could find some of these same claims in Ms. Gunderson’s letter and in her performance at community meetings.

The Swan Front Proposed Wilderness does in fact bring the wilderness closer to our valley floor and your home, while having a lower elevation than the existing Bob Marshall Wilderness line. The proposed wilderness overlaps some of the existing wildland urban interface (WUI) lines as represented in the existing 2013 Seeley Swan Fire Plan. As referred to by Ms. Gunderson “we need to support professional state and federal firefighters and the conducting of planned ignitions to reduce threat of fires.”

Our local SVES and professionals at the DNRC such as Allen Branine have stated their disapproval of the Forest Service plan and need for community safety. Our local timber professionals would argue that we could just harvest the natural resource and provide for our local economy. As for chasing down mountain goats for fun, hyperbole?

I appreciated the information on tourism and recreation. While Ms. Gunderson stated that the recommended wilderness area would not limit recreational opportunities, I assume she forgot about snowmobilers and mountain bikers. Wouldn’t they fit into the tourism category?

The ITRR research on Montana’s Outfitting Industry, she refers to a little more than $110 million spent in the state, the whole state and on every possible outfitting experience. The actual percentage from the Swan Front is a much smaller number.

In speaking with our local game warden, he confirmed that there is only one operating outfitter within the Swan Front. This outfitter utilizes the valley floor, the Swan Front and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

In closing, I would like to question Ms. Gunderson’s “Voice.” Did I miss her appointment as spokesperson for the Swan Valley? Was there a vote for her “Voice of the Swan.” Does she speak for you?

She refers to a “few” local voices dividing our community, when in fact that few was an overwhelming majority of nearly 100 residents, that opposed more wilderness at the Sept. 7 Swan Valley Community Council meeting. The few, less than 10, were the number in favor of more wilderness.

I ask, because this is the second time I have heard Ms. Gunderson publicly disregard a handful of our respected local community members and their voice. She stood in front of the community council and referred to the guys in the back as “Not the Real Voice of the Swan.” I fail to see how such an arrogant and condescending attitude will help the community move forward.

I am excited to see a “Few” local voices arouse interest and conversation in local and federal issues that affect this community. I would prefer to think and ask questions than stand in line like one of the sheep.

Holl Hubbard, Swan Valley resident & some of “The Few:” Stacye Hubbard, Kvande Anderson, Josie Anderson, Carol Field, Nathan Richardson, Melissa Richardson, Marcia Tapp (community citizen), Dr. John Tapp, Alan Richardson, Owen Conley, Dana Conley, Rodger Thompson, Katie Wright, Randy Williams, Glen Gray, Sally Gray, Jenny Motz, Brad Motz, Manuel Kesterson, Robin Kesterson, Chris Auchenbach, Kelly Auchenbach, Justin Thornsberry, Chantel Thornsberry, Lacey Mcnutt (as swan resident), Todd Mcnutt, Fred Styler, Valery Styler, Barry Kaser, Dale Conley, Karen Conley, Boomer Alexander, Bill Anderson, Renae Anderson, Leita Anderson, Jim Danzer, Chris Danzer, Jessi Siloti, Jim Webb, Jenny Webb, Tiger Hulett, Debbie Hulett, Chance Hulett, Gary Styler, Linda Styler, Mark White, Gina White, Chris Barnes, Robin Barnes, Joe Anderson, Becky Anderson, Christopher Anderson, Nicholas Anderson, Tony Hulett, Wanemah Hulett, H.L. Stevenson, Clay Stevenson, Emily Grotbo, Neil Young, Christian Jette, Justin Taylor, Crystal Taylor, Bo Holst, Lisa Holst, Rhonda Feucht, Steve Feucht, Lloyd Hahn, Shirley Hahn, Russ Kessler, Shannon Kessler, Maynard Freyholtz, Deloris Freyholtz, Gary Freyholtz, Wanda Freyholtz, Wayne (Butch) Harmon, Alan Childs, Dennis Jette, Billie Jette, Ray Opp, Ron Ream, Michelle Ream, Michael Phillips, Mercedes Phillips, Randy Styler, Denise Styler, James Thurston, Sheldon Cameron, Alex Cameron, Jim Boyd, Stacey Boyd, KeAnna Conley, Ken Donovan (as private citizen), Andrew Anderson, Josh Anderson, Mary Joe Anderson, Brian Auchenbach, Treitia Pace, Philip Leishman, Mary Leishman, Mikkie Gleason, Allen Branine, Pat Tabor, James Freyholtz, Kris Anderson, Charlie Grant, Tary Middlesworth, Randy Gordon, Tracy Gordon, Jocelyn Nelson, Joe Watmuff, Monte Love, Cindy Love, Dan Estey, Paulette Estey, Lance Love, Janice Ericksen, Hayden George, Josh Wood, Amanda Edwards, Ira Edwards, Ronnie Matthew, Tori Matthew, Karen Anderson, Dar Kearney, Dan Maloughney, Ray Haera, Robert Post, Philip Gregory, Lianne Gregory, Jonathan Matthew, Jamie Matthew, Ryan Maloughney, Rick Krantz, Debbie Krantz, Grace Siloti, Jennie Siloti, Alex Blendermann, Cobralee Ruth, Travis Gleason, Katie Gleason, Kris Anderson, Dan Hamilton, Danielle Anderson, Matt Schnabl, Val Hopkins, Lars Hansen, Valli Bigley, Tere Stoll, Lane Mcnealy, Elda (Ellie) Greenough, Todd Bender, Lisa Bender, James Robertson, Beverly Robertson, Thurman Burgess.