Tollefson: County bars and restaurants should be smoke-free

Former Crow Wing County Commissioners Terry Sluss and Ed Larsen need to be commended for trying to protect the public from secondhand smoke in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, etc. There are more and more people like Ron Hobson, an American Legion member who rarely goes to the club because of the smoke.

As businesses begin to realize that 80 percent of the community does not smoke, they may want to market to the 80 percent. I have a home in Crow Wing County. I was hoping the county commissioners would take a lead and make county bars and restaurants smoke-free. I am choosing not to go to smoking bars and restaurants.

I am disappointed the county commissioners and some of the leaders in the community didn't believe what the U.S. surgeon general just reported: Secondhand smoke hurts you. It doesn't take much. It doesn't take long.

Jo Tollefson

Lower Whitefish

New Brighton