Two vital hearings

We know the public usually doesn't attend hearings, but there are two coming up where attendance is vitally important.

First is the Feb. 9 hearing before the school board to solicit ideas for where cuts should be made in the school district -- and what cuts the public is willing to support.

Right now, the district is in serious trouble due to the latest round of state funding holdbacks. The district has to cut at least $300,000 (and really needs to find $800,000 in savings) from its current fiscal year budget. These cuts will go to the bone. They're looking at everything, including eliminating using No. 2 pencils and dropping to No. 1.5 pencils. The school board seriously wants and needs your input.

The second hearing involves the long-term future of the community -- the possible selection of Mountain Home AFB as the home of the new F-35 squadrons.

There are a lot of ways you can get involved. See our story in this week's issue, but massive community support is one of the vital factors.

We can't stress enough how important this is. Cards, letters and most importantly, participation in the Feb. 19 hearing at Hacker Middle School (one of four being held throughout southern Idaho) will go a long ways to help bring the F-35 mission to the area.

Other communities across the nation are fighting to get this mission. Many have far more powerful political allies in Washington, D.C. And at the hearings in Twin Falls and Boise for the Mountain Home option, you know the anti-military cliques are going to stand up and object.

That's why a massive show of support locally is important, and will go a long way toward helping win the mission.

Numbers, in this case, will count a lot. Flood the Air Force with cards and letters (see our story on how to do that). But take a few hours out of your life to help secure the future of the community by attending the hearing.

The public needs to mark their calendars for both of these hearings. It really is more important than watching re-runs on TV.

-- Kelly Everitt