Letter to the Editor March 19

For five months taxpayers endured letters to the editor blindly condemning the Fair Board and Manager regarding the Stand Down.

This letter isn’t to condemn the worthy original of the Stand Down.

Now, with more facts, it’s clear the situation in Sanders County is suspicious. In my opinion, taxpayer money - all Veterans Administration funds come from the nation’s taxpayers - has been grossly mishandled by the person running the Stand Down.

Let’s hope the Veterans Administration undertakes a full investigation of Mr. Hill’s handling of money provided by taxpayers and gets moving on the matter of prosecution or recouping of funds. And does for all the years they were not spent for rent as Mr. Hill requested and the Veterans Administration earmarked.

Certainly common sense people in Sanders County can see the mishandling of this money and should encourage the Veterans Administration and/or the appropriate Congressional committee[s] to fully investigate.

Will any of those vociferous supporters of Mr. Hill retract their words to the Fair Board or letters to the editor now that they are getting some of the facts? Perhaps they should have done some investigating before blindly allying themselves with Mr. Hill.

Mr. Hill also solicited donations from local businesses for the Stand Down. He told many of them, when offered items, services, etc., that he preferred cash. How much cash did he collect from those establishments? Where did it end up? Is there any accounting for it? Perhaps one of the merchants involved will make those facts known to the proper county, state or federal law enforcement agency.

Newspapers should be highly skeptical of any information they print from Mr. Hill. The money he received for rent but did not pay he attempted to explain in two contradictory ways. One county newspaper almost printed a false story about cancellation of the Stand Down based on information Mr. Hill provided. Only checking with authorities for verification of a fact avoided that happening. The Veterans Administration let the paper know what Mr. Hill said untrue. That should be a warning flag to both papers in this county. Hopefully the Trout Creek Park Board will investigate the Stand Down fully to determine if they have been given all the facts.

Veterans should loudly condemn Mr. Hill’s improper actions. Mr. Hill’s improper actions border on criminal and could lead to repercussions detrimental to Stand Downs across this nation. The missing taxpayer money could go to help fellow veterans.

Ernest Scherzer,

Trout Creek