Spelling errors frustrating

Dear Editor,

There is a heavy burden, indeed, for those of us who are most often correct. So…if you'll give me a boost up onto my soapbox made of Webster's dictionaries…I shall rail and rant.

Page 1…Valley Press, July 3rd edition; story regarding the Sanders County Yard Sale-ing event. The caption on the photo reads, "Mary Myers PEAKS out behind a display", etc., etc. YIKES…..Mary Myers PEAKS? What? Surely the author of the article meant Mary Myers PEEKS? I certainly hope so. If Mary Myers has "peaked” …perhaps someone needs to inform her that it's all downhill from here.

The sad part is…..we have become dependent upon the dreaded "SPELLCHECKER" function which can only check for accuracy in the spelling of a word and is not intended to be a cure-all for those who are clueless as to the difference in meaning of similarly-spelled and identically-pronounced words.

My other recent favorite gross misuse of the English language was a large billboard at the top of Evaro Hill which read, "FIREWORKS!!!, YOU JUST PAST US". Oh my… Gratefully, a recent windstorm blew the entire billboard and misspelled sign down. May the sign rest in piece….um…PEACE.

AARGH….

Susan Schroedel

Plains, MT