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Jerry Clemons writes about the assessment process. He states the assessment is based on current market value, price your property would sell for on the open market. I asked why my property was assessed by the if-it-was-built-today value, I was never told why but “we never said you could sell your property for assessed value.” Their assessment was $470,000, the bank’s appraisers assessment was $330,000.

I asked for a hearing. Dan McDonald asked in hearing, if it was legal to assess property this way. The assessors said “yes.” The assessment was upheld. The so-called Board of Equalization” did not even know the laws they are supposed to uphold.

Sheriff Daryl Wheeler is for the shooting range in Ponderay. Officers get a better facility for firearm practice. The sheriff’s office needs better training in Investigations and crime scene preservation. Two unsolved murders, a rush to judgement in one, no clue in either one now. Other agency assists might have been helpful at the time.

Our mindless conservative president, a religious right idol, has cut taxes on the wealthy, cut services to the middle class, cut school funding, cut health care, cut environmental protections for water, air and national monuments and spent more keeping his sex partners from talking than we make in a lifetime. No shame, there.

I am for the Scotchman Peak Wilderness, not a federal land grab, but a way to preserve and protect one of our local natural wonders.

GEORGE THORNTON

Clark Fork