Week of May 1, 2024
Week of May 1, 2024
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Montana Highway Patrol, St. Peter’s Ambulance, Montana City Volunteer Fire Department, and Clancy Volunteer Fire Department responded to a vehicle vs. bicycle incident that occurred on Montana Highway 282 between Clancy and Montana City on the afternoon of Saturday, April 27th, 2024. The incident resulted in the death of a Canadian citizen, and our office would like to express our deepest sympathies to the friends and loved ones of the victim. The Montana Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation...
The Whitehall Assembly of God Church hosted their second annual Bob Ross Paint Night on Sunday, April 28th. Over two dozen attendees tried their hand at a Bob Ross-inspired painting. Grace Frazer (right) received the award for best...
The Whitehall Town Council held a special meeting at 11 AM on Monday, April 29th, to finalize the proposed Infant-at-Work Policy submitted for approval in March. Before the discussion began, councilman Roy McBride called a point of order and made the motion to adjourn the meeting and move it to an evening time, as the agenda did not have “Approval of Agenda Items” as an action item. However, after conferring via phone with town attorney Ed Guza, Town Clerk Kennedy Kleinsasser said that the agenda was adequate to Guza’s knowledge, and...
One Valley Community Foundation’s Give Big Gallatin Valley is a 24-hour celebration of giving to connect generous community members with causes they care about most to raise important funding for Gallatin County nonprofits. The initiative has raised over $14.3 million for 425 organizations in just nine years. In 2023 alone, Give Big brought 6,650 community members together to raise over $2.92 million for 250 local nonprofits. This year, as they celebrate the 10th annual Give Big, the goal is to raise $3 million for over 260 local nonprofits...
At the April meeting of the Town of Whitehall Recreation Board, held on Monday, April 29th, at the Town Hall, summer was on everyone’s minds. The Whitehall Pool's tentative opening date is June 19th; however, manager Kelley Seccomb said that the pool still needs at least two more lifeguards. Anyone interested in the lifeguard position may apply at the Whitehall Town Hall. Rodeo representative Tim O’Donnell said that several investors in North Dakota are interested in bringing a PRCA Rodeo to Whitehall the weekend before the annual...
The WHS Class of 2024 will be graduating in less than a month! Once again, the Ledger will be putting together its keepsake Graduation Section. Is your business interested in running an ad of congratulations for this section? Please let the Whitehall Ledger know as soon as possible! The deadline for inclusion is May 13, 2024; the graduation section will run in the May 29, 2024 edition of the Ledger as well as be handed out at graduation. Congrats ads in this section are priced as follows: • Business card: $40 • Large Rectangle (3 column x...
Whitehall native Erica Ronsberg has opened the doors to her home and created Ronsberg Music Studio. Ronsberg is pleased to offer engaging children's music classes in Whitehall, with classes for infants through preschoolers to come with an adult. Ronsberg, the daughter of Dan and Brenda Volz, graduated from Whitehall High School in 2014. She moved back to the area in June 2023 after teaching elementary music in Minnesota for five years. Ronsberg is a licensed K-12 Music Educator. She is also...
Whitehall resident and Butte High graduate Chloe Brown is currently a student at the University of Montana. As a member of the UM Woodsman Team, she competied at UM Forestry Days on April 26th at Fort Missoula. Photo courtesy RITA...
May 5, 1999 The Jefferson District Ranger office of the Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest in Whitehall is located just north of the interstate on Whitetail Road. District Ranger Grant Godbolt said the Forest Service is interested in relocating to the existing Forest Service Property on Legion Avenue next to the Whitehall A&W. Godbolt noted the reason for the potential move is simple: money. A benefit dinner and auction to raise funds to help defray the medical cost of seven-month-old C.J....
Have you heard the news? The 2nd Annual Whitehall Wonder's Enchanted Faire will be held at the Main Street Green and the Star Theatre on Saturday, June 22nd, from 11 AM to 3 PM. Now that you know, it's time for all community members, young and old, to "build" or create a fairy, troll, gnome, or other enchanted dwelling for the Enchanted Faire. But you might be asking, "How?" To make an enchanted dwelling, you can use all kinds of materials, from cardboard to old birdhouses, big pieces of bark,...
Former Whitehall resident Marian Carr turned 85 on April 20, 2024. She is the mother of Whitehall resident Kitty Reed. Kitty recently counted up the family members: her mother has 55 grandchildren (with one in heaven), 69 great-grandchildren (with one on the way), and six great-great-grandchildren, for a grand total of 130! What a blessing! Photos courtesy KITTY...
CLEANING UP: The Whitehall Garden Club and students from WHS joined forces to combat weeds, leaves, and overgrowth at the Memorial/Native plant Gardens. Thank you Mayor Mary Janacaro-Hensleigh, the WHS students and staff, and the Whitehall Garden Club for working together at one of Whitehall's landmark entrances to our town! Springtime...
The Cottontail Astronomical Observatory in Twin Bridges, Montana, will open its doors for its first public night for the 2024 season on May 11th. The observatory hosts various free events throughout the year, though donations are greatly appreciated. Owners Joe and Gwen Witherspoon invite everyone to take part in a visit to the observatory. The weather plays a big part in these events; overcast skies block out the stars, as does rain and snow, and winds greater than 15 MPH move the telescopes. In such an event, the Witherspoons will give an...
A few years ago, I turned a carport into a bedroom. But first, I had to empty the carport of books, papers, furniture, rugs, and tools. Then, I took it all to a storage unit, where rent was $50 a month. After three years of thinking about it, and only occasionally pawing through the storage unit for a lost item, I finally sorted out a handful of books and items that meant something—I could have fit them in a suitcase!—and held a yard sale for the rest. I think about that when I see storage facilities spreading and expanding nationwide. At...
Geology seems to be the theme of the month with the Rockhounders special speaker, and now we are having a special night of fossils for the entire family! Lauren Owen, from the Lewis and Clark Caverns, is coming Thursday, May 2nd, at 6 PM to share her knowledge of fossils and the caves! It will be a great night for everyone! Lauren presented our Arbor Day programs last Friday and is a great asset to the community. The staff is having inquiries about a summer children’s quilting class. If you have a school-age child who wants to learn how to...
Grilled cheese is ideal comfort food. It's crispy, buttery, and full of warm, gooey cheese. Many people grow up enjoying grilled cheese as children and then continue digging into this delight as they get older. While grilled cheese may seem like simple fare, there are some techniques to make it even more delicious. This includes strategies to make it golden brown with perfectly melted cheese. When preparing grilled cheese, you do not want to rush the process and end up with burnt bread. Try placing the grilled cheese in a cold pan and then...
The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program (BOW) invites you to a hike at Glendive's Makoshika State Park on Saturday, May 4, from 10 AM to 3 PM. This guided event is designed for beginning hikers, but all skill levels are welcome. Attendees will listen to a short presentation on how best to prepare for hiking and how to stay safe on the trail. Lunch, snacks, and drinks are included. The event costs $20, and participants must be 18 to register. Enjoy the beautiful vistas and varied trails at the park, get some exercise and fresh air, meet other...
Nikki Buck, FNP-C, a new Whitehall resident and the newest addition to the Mercury Street Medical team in Butte, has a smile and a tone of voice that puts you at ease. This is precisely what's needed when dealing with family medicine and reproductive issues. Buck, a family practitioner who started part-time at Mercury Street in February and began seeing patients on the first of April, is originally from Helena. In 2005, she moved to Bozeman. She and her husband have had property in the Radar...
Choosing the Right Security Camera System for Your Home or Business In an era of security concerns, selecting the right camera system for your home or business is crucial. With many options available, navigating through the technical jargon can be daunting. However, understanding key factors can simplify the process and ensure you make the right choice to protect your property and loved ones. 1. Determine Your Needs: Before delving into the world of security cameras, assess your requirements....
The Whitehall Chamber of Commerce will be hosted by Telesystem Services (TSS) for the May Business After Hours on Thursday, May 9th at 6 PM. Stay tuned for more...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your friends have stepped up to support you, and it is time to get together and enjoy one another’s company. Think about an activity that everyone can get behind. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, the people around you may work more slowly than you, so you will likely need to be patient while working on a particular project this week. Eventually, things will work out. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, exercise caution when dealing with people who currently promise significant returns on your investments. Avoid financial...
Dear Editor, SB 442's failed veto override was a sickening display of political theater. Given today's political climate, it's not often that members of our Montana Legislature show overwhelming, bipartisan support for a piece of legislation. SB 442 was that special unicorn that brought Democrats and Republicans from across Montana together to champion a few things we can all agree on: allocating marijuana tax revenue to support our veterans, maintain roads, and increase access to our public...
Dear Editor, This letter is in response to a letter published in the Whitehall Ledger's April 19, 2024 issue, submitted by the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC). The JCRCC's letter states its opposition to rank-choice voting and ties it to Constitutional Initiatives CI126 and CI127. My intent is to use reliable sources to define the meaning of these initiatives more clearly. If approved by the voters, CI126 would combine the Republican and Democratic primaries into one open...
Dear Editor, It is disappointing, but not surprising, that the Republican supermajority in the Montana Legislature failed to override the Governor's veto of SB442, which would have distributed a portion of marijuana revenue for county infrastructure. This bill was unique for the 2023 session because it garnered bipartisan support. It was also unique in that the Montana Supreme Court allowed the Legislature to exercise its constitutional right to vote to override the Governor's veto. The...
Dear Editor, Did you get your new property tax bill? Well, if you're not crying or in a fit of rage, the Montana Republicans just gave you another increase in your taxes! Last week, the Secretary of State announced that the Legislature failed to override Governor Gianforte's veto of SB442, a bi-partisan piece of legislation that flew through the House and Senate by overwhelming majorities. This important legislation would have directed the use of Marijuana taxes and, according to the...
Dear Editor, Rank Choice Voting: Ballot issues CI126 and CI-127; most of this explanation of Rank Choice Voting came from Ballotpedia. The way to think of it is election by elimination. Let's say six candidates are running for office. Under today's system, whoever gets the most votes wins. Done. Finished. With Rank-Choice Voting, a candidate wins when they have 51% of the votes. (The legislature could require a supermajority of 61%, though I don't know why.) In the first round, Candidate A...
Dear Editor, VETERANS: Make your voices heard! Montana's veterans deserve to live with dignity and independence. The Department of Public Health and Human Services is conducting an important survey to understand and improve the living conditions of our veterans. We at the Veterans Navigation Network encourage every veteran, caregiver, and family member in Montana to participate. This survey will help the state understand what veterans need to live well in their communities. It looks at...
Dear Editor, I am writing to ask your support for Ray Shaw's election as your Senator in Senate District 35. I served with Ray in the 2013 Legislative Session and worked with him in the 2015 Session. Ray is dedicated, focused, thoughtful, and honest in his deliberations. He is not a robot, blindly supporting ideological issues just because some think he should. He listens to his conscience and constituents, carefully considering what is best for his constituents. As a retired military veteran...
Having a T-Rex coexist with a stegosaurus is less accurate than a T-Rex coexisting with a human being. They tell people to get married so they won’t die alone, and then half of them die alone anyway because their partner has already died. You never hear about pirating music anymore. Everyone loves detectives but hates cops. You are the center of the observable universe. Being tipsy is 10x better than being drunk. You know you’re getting old when police officers start looking like kids. Technically speaking, we have all kicked a pregnant...
Georgia, I have a question, I have a relative whom we always invite to dinner parties, whether for a holiday or just for fun. She always replies that she’d be happy to attend. My issue is that she doesn’t eat our meals. She will place a small amount of food on her plate and maybe eat half. Her excuse is always that she’s not hungry at the moment. She behaves this way at the homes of other relatives, too. Also, when we go to restaurants, she never finishes her plate. I think she’s being rude in accepting a dinner invitation and never...
We all have good days and bad days, but our character is constantly tested through every experience. I would say the test is much more difficult in the latter. Life is good when you’re on “Cloud 9.” Jesus makes this point in his teachings about loving one’s enemy and the danger of being hypercritical of others. We must be cautious about lambasting others, sometimes the plank is in our own eye. There is a place for correct judgment while incorrect or harsh judgment is off the table. Within the context of the church Paul states that...
Harley Granville Yarnell III passed away on February 28, 2024, from complications from a hip fracture. Harley was born on January 28, 1943. He was living in Sheridan, Montana, at the time of his hip fracture. Harley was a member of the Twin Bridges congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses and enjoyed attending meetings via Zoom. Harley worked as a trucker and also spent time working on and building trails for the U.S. Forest Service. Harley loved Jehovah’s creation and enjoyed painting landscape scenes. Harley lived off-grid for many years in...
SUNDAY, APRIL 21 02:25:43 Burglar Alarm: N Whitehall St 06:01:57 Medical: Skyline Dr 06:52:38 Medical: Skyline Dr 12:19:18 911 Misdial: Rustler Rd 12:33:50 Traffic Stop: Whitehall Auto & Glass 14:01:01 Fire/Smoke Structure: Hwy 55 14:43:53 Traffic Stop 15:00:41 Traffic Stop: E Legion St 17:18:48 911 Hang Up: Sheep Camp Rd 17:21:48 Citizen Assist: S Lincoln St 18:57:07 Animal: Piedmont Rd 20:08:20 Reckless Driver: I-90 20:09:46 Reckless Driver: I-90 20:33:46 Traffic Stop 23:01:56 Citizen Assist 23:36:47 Traffic Stop: Hwy 69 MONDAY, APRIL 22...
