4-H: There in times of need

Tina Bothwell is right on the money! I too believe that all our elected officials don't have a clue about what really goes on in the community.

4-H is indeed a community within a community. A perfect example is how everyone pitched in to help longtime leader Marian Crumb. Recently, a call went out and within an hour dozens of people helped move her out of her home. Then there was a benefit held just a week ago to help Marian get back on her feet. Would people from the Kroc Center or Boys & Girls Club do that? I seriously doubt it. When someone in the 4-H family needs help, they answer the call!

It is my opinion that this is a calculated way to grab the fairgrounds property. Get rid of 4-H, essentially get rid of the fair. Without 4-H, there would be three vacant buildings at the fair: Jacklin, goats and Building 8. Rabbit, poultry and sheep barns would be pretty bare as well. So without 4-H, there would be no fair!

They're talking about cutting the $160,000 the county gives to the 4-H program. So if there were 160,000 people in Kootenai County, that would mean $1 from each resident. A family of four is out $4. Is it THAT much of a burden for such a worthwhile program?

Our elected officials need to get their heads out of their ledgers and see the real picture and all the ramifications associated with cutting such a worthwhile program as 4-H.

MARGI DOMME

Athol