When did we stop thinking about others?

Snow, snow, snow and, oh my gosh, more snow. It's bad enough that it's coming down from the heavens and naturally filling up the yards and streets, but now my neighbor has allowed a "commercial" snow remover to haul mountains of snow from another county no less, onto an empty lot at the southeast corner of Dearborn and S. Third Avenue in Sandpoint because this snow plowman does not want to pay to have someone haul away the snow he is getting paid to remove and it saves the owner a few bucks because he plows her drive for free.

My home sits next to this empty lot, which is a flood zone. I called Public Works to see if I and my neighbors, who it turns out also have called Public Works, have any rights regarding being put in harm's way. We were advised that we'd have to "wait and see when it melts and if you flood, sue the owner." So on Jan. 31, when this huge rig was pushing this snow higher to make room for three more trucks of snow, I stood in front of this rig to put a stop to it.

I called the police hoping they would do something. The best they could do was check the driver who had alcohol on his breath. When did we, as neighbors, stop considering our actions that could harm our neighbor? I think I must have missed that class and I am pleased to say I am glad, thank you very much.

JANUARY ROBERTS

Sandpoint