Thanks, neighbor

In April 2008, my wife and drove up to Montana from California and fell in love with this place. We moved to Plains in August 2009. This is, indeed, our “Final Destiny.” No matter where we live, we live relatively private lives and do not bother our neighbors or ask anyone for favors of any kind. That being said, we are most always readily and willingly available when others ask for our assistance. With this in mind, I’ll get to the main point of this letter.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank a few people who reside in and around Plains, especially, the gentleman who owns the saw mill out on Swamp Creek Rd, west of Plains.

Last August and into September, we all suffered and endured extreme chaos and panic due to the Eddy Peak/Sheep Gap fires. Under the guise of being neighborly, this gentleman went from neighbor to neighbor offering to assist in making a fire trail to help protect our homes. In doing so, this gentleman came to me and asked if he could bring some brush and trees over to our pasture and chip/burn it to reduce the wildfire’s fuel. At this time, he promised that he would ensure I would not be left with anything in our pasture. When we returned home from our second evacuation, we were astonished to see, by my estimation, roughly 50 to 60 tons of brush and two cut fences, one of which was right next to the gate.

April 1, 2018, I started working, depending on the weather, by myself, cleaning up the aftermath of the 2017 wildfires. I am not quite halfway finished with this cleanup, but through diligence, I should have everything completed and my fences repaired sometime in the next 2 or 3 years. Hey, I’m retired, so what else do I have to do??!!

In closing, I wish to thank ALL of the residents in and around Sanders County who had a part in the protection of our neighborhood during these trying times and for giving me something to do when or if I get bored in my retirement.

Thanks,

Rick Williamson, Plains

p.s. Asking for favors/help from others is setting yourself up for disappointment and failure.