Week of October 9, 2024
Week of October 9, 2024
Educational vouchers are a mechanism designed to give families the ability to choose an educational path for their child, by using public dollars and redirecting those resources towards non-public education. Sometimes vouchers are used to pay for private school tuition and other times they are used to pay for homeschool programs or opportunities. While universal vouchers have not yet made it to Montana, we are on the pathway to their full introduction. Please check out what is happening in other states, like Arizona, that shows the pathway to...
Our Town 100+ Years Ago, October Part I: By the fall of 1898, the Jefferson Valley Zephyr highlighted news of the upcoming election and the increase in property values in the 24 Montana counties. Silver Bow was on top with $11,401,665, and Jefferson was well down the list with $1,330,921 for all land, real estate, improvements, town sites, mining claims, telegraph and telephone lines, and railroad property. Still making front page news was the horrible death toll of American soldiers from...
STEPPING INTO THE PAST: Whitehall third graders visited the Jefferson Valley Museum on Wednesday, October 2nd. They learned about ways of communication in the past via old phones, typewriters, record players, and more. They also learned about postcards and stamps, addressing an old postcard to be mailed. The classes made pencil holders, mod-podging old stamps onto them. A huge thanks to the Jefferson Valley Museum volunteers Diane Jensen, Ron Hunt, Arcylle Shaw, Arlene Weber, and Danette Simon...
Recognized by Travel Pulse Magazine as Montana’s top haunted house destination in 2022, Whitehall’s Screams Come True Haunted House is actively prepping for its sixth season. This year, the haunt – held at the Whitehall Community Center (13 N Division) and presented by Whitehall non-profit Gold Junction Presents – will run three weekends (October 17-19, 24-26, and 31). The haunted house capitalizes on all things scary, all things that creep into your nightmares, and relies on true...
The Friends of the Whitehall Community Library will meet Thursday, October 10th at 5:30 PM in the library. They have many things to discuss and welcome anyone who would like to join them. The Friends will be working on Christmas activities, grants in processes, and other projects. The library will be closed for the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, October 14. The library will be open the rest of the week at regular times. The staff are training new volunteers this month so if you see someone...
Whitehall resident Ron Roginske has refreshed his original October 22, 2008 article in the Whitehall Ledger to reflect the 2024 candidates. Have you ever thought how birds are very much like politicians and political parties? This realization came to me as I walked out on my deck one sunny morning and heard the loud overpowering squawking bird noises coming from a huge flock of blackbirds gathered in my yard trees. I thought, this noise sounds just like an election year! While it may be a...
The Whitehall Garden Club held its first official meeting of Fall this past Wednesday, October 2nd, in the Borden Conference Room located at 103 W. Legion. Our hostesses this month were Kathy Ross and Barbara Lien. With a theme of "Hayrides and Apple Harvest," attendees enjoyed a delicious repast of curry chicken salad croissant sandwiches, apple cobbler with whipped cream, link sausages, mulled cider, hot cocoa, and fresh fruit. The business meeting was called to order at 10 AM by President...
At the October meeting of the Whitehall School Board, held Tuesday, October 1, the board approved two applications by seniors for early graduation at semester. While the students' names were not released, it was noted that one was a female who had already been accepted into MSU and the other a male who desired to work full-time at his job. Whitehall High Principal Jason Slater noted that these were not spur-of-the-moment decisions and thought they were the right next steps for both students. Whitehall Elementary principal Kurtis Koenig...
October is the official beginning of spooky season...it is when we place sheets on our pets and pumpkins on our heads for themed photo sessions. You can find us binge watching our favorite scary movies and splurging on our favorite fall drinks. We embrace the falling leaves, crisp mornings, and long evenings. It is a time for softening, slowing down, and resting. October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is a time of purple ribbons and fundraising events. It adds an extra layer of...
Holiday hosts recognize it's not always so easy to feed a crowd. That pressure may be even more notable come the holiday season, when food is an integral component of gatherings with family and friends. It may be impossible to always please everyone, but few can resist a hearty comfort food like baked ziti. That makes the dish an ideal option for holiday hosts tasked with feeding a crowd. This holiday season, hosts welcoming loved ones into their homes can consider this easily prepared recipe...
Preferences change every year, and keeping up with the latest trends in Halloween candy can be a daunting task. Kids these days have tastes that might baffle grown-ups, and with the sheer variety of bulk candy options out there, it’s hard to know what will be a hit or miss in those treat bags. Decision fatigue is real, especially with endless candy options online and in stores. Candystore.com is here to cut through the noise, helping you choose the most popular Halloween candy and avoid the duds with our data-driven guide. How did we do it?...
The Whitehall community will reunite as rehearsals for the annual community cantata begin. This year’s theme is “This is My Word,” and Janet Heilig will direct the cantata. Rehearsals will begin on Sunday, October 27th at 7 PM at the First Christian Church. The performance will be on Sunday, December 15 at 7 PM at the church. All who wish to sing for joy are welcome; please consider joining...
The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) announced that effective today, a typical NorthWestern Energy residential electric customer using 750 kilowatt-hours per month will see a decrease of $6.13 or 5.57% of their monthly electric bill. The decrease comes due to a recent submission to the PSC of NorthWestern’s Annual Power Costs and Credits Adjustment Mechanism (PCCAM). PSC Vice President Jennifer Fielder noted, “This decrease brings welcome relief for Montanans. It’s always a good feeling when we are able to reduce energy costs for...
Feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, or anxious is a problem that many people regularly face. Work, family, extra activities, and current events can all contribute to making life feel fast-paced and chaotic. It can feel like there’s never enough time to truly rest or reset. But what if it didn’t have to be this way? What if you could learn how to find a place of peace and calm no matter what situation you find yourself in? You can do just that by attending Just Breathe - Finding Calm in the Chaos, at Sage Wellness Center on Monday, October...
The Benefits of Remote IT Support for Small Businesses In today’s fast-paced digital world, small businesses face numerous challenges, especially when managing their IT infrastructure. One solution that has gained significant traction is remote IT support. This innovative approach offers a range of benefits that can help small businesses thrive without needing an in-house IT team. One of the most significant advantages of remote IT support is cost savings. Hiring a full-time, in-house IT...
This is one in a series of articles focusing on estate and legacy planning. Authors are Kaleena Miller, Madison-Jefferson County Extension Agent, kaleena.miller1@montana.edu and Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension Family Economics Specialist, marsha.goetting@montana.edu. Are you one of those who have had a traditional IRA for years and years, perhaps since the creation of IRAs in 1976? At the time, you may have designated your spouse and/or your children as the beneficiaries. This made sense because your spouse could roll the IRA into their IRA....
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you might have considered making changes for a long time. One of the most significant changes could be moving home base. Consider real estate. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, even if you’re unsure what to do this week, you may have to decide quickly. Take an innovative approach when mulling your options if need be. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Nothing but pleasant energy will surround you this week, Gemini. Use it to your advantage to accomplish many things at your own pace. Then, you can enjoy a night or two out this...
Dear Editor, The Montana Senate race seems to be a highly emotional campaign. With one candidate an incumbent it should be more fact than emotion, that is do you approve of Tester's voting record or not. Tester has a 100 rating from Planned Parenthood. If there is more to a US Senator, please read on. Other national organizations rate Tester: • NRA: "F" on Gun Rights • Eagle Forum: 17%, same as Chuck Schumer • Heritage Action: lifetime score 8%. Average Senate Democrat 11% • Americans...
Dear Editor, I am opposed to all elective abortion, but I hope to find common ground with all voters regarding CI-128. I urge you to look beyond the language that will appear on the ballot and take five minutes to read the language that will appear in the Montana state constitution in its entirety if voters approve CI-128. In reading the actual language, it is clear that CI-128 would radically expand abortion in Montana, enshrining in the Montana Constitution a right to an elective abortion...
Georgia, I have a question, Is it appropriate to show up for the reception if you have not attended the funeral? My brother-in-law passed away, and we traveled out of town for the funeral, staying at a hotel. My daughter lives about an hour away from where we were staying. She has only met my husband’s family four times in 10 years. She could not attend the wake or the funeral but wanted to attend the reception and family meal at the restaurant. I told her it would be inappropriate and intrusive to just show up at the meal if she did not...
Dear Editor, Will Montana be the next Epstein Island? Montanans should be cautious about what they vote for. Ads supporting CI-128 lead voters to believe that this initiative will give women the right to “make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to an abortion.” Women in Montana already have that right. However, they are leaving out critical information of what this bill will allow. If successful, CI-128 would establish an island of protection, via a constitutional amendment, for sex and drug...
The President of Montana Farmers Union, Walter Schweitzer, recently penned an op-ed taking Tim Sheehy to task for his opposition to laws requiring meatpackers to label beef’s country of origin, also praising fellow third-generation Montanan and Big Sandy dirt farmer Jon Tester for working across the aisle to introduce a mandatory country of origin labeling bill. Recently, I listened to a radio interview with Tim Sheehy on Working Ranch radio show that is very concerning. When Tim Sheehy was asked about MCOOL (mandatory country of origin...
Dear Editor, I am so tired of hearing, “A woman has the right to choose what she does with her body, etc.” We make thousands of choices every day! There are consequences to any choice, good or bad. It comes to this: A woman makes a choice that results in pregnancy, which could have been prevented. Is the solution to kill the life that resulted from that choice? And then there are more consequences - emotional, maybe infertility, etc. Women who have chosen to abort a child need our love, care, and understanding, not condemnation. Amending...
If our weeks were designed to be shorter, we would have more weekends. If you’re over 18, some kid has probably used your birthday to lie about their age. A broken clock is correct three times during winter daylight savings and only once during summer daylight savings if it stops from 2:00 to 2:59. Employers would be more amenable to remote work arrangements if commuting time is legally mandated as paid work hours. A metaphor is a convolution to make a point clearer. People born in the 90s were likely the last humans to know someone born in...
During the short three-year earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, news quickly spread across the Middle East region about His message and miracles. Crowds were drawn to Him on most occasions, either in the streets or synagogues. Listeners were receptive to His teachings, others were on the fence, and, of course, some blatantly rejected Jesus. Luke records Christ’s Parable of the Sower in Chapter 8, reflecting this truth about receiving or rejecting Jesus. In this context, four powerful miracles occur, displaying Christ’s authority. Specific...
Karen Lee Sacry was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She left this world after a long battle with posterior cortical atrophy on September 27, 2024, at age 63. She was born to James and Nancy Graham on February 18, 1961, in Long Beach, California. She moved to Montana in 1971. She met the love of her life, Kerry Sacry, in high school. After graduating from high school, she went to beauty school. They moved to Iowa for Kerry to finish college and had their twin girls....
Sharon Hinton Brand, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, Grammy, and great-grandmother, peacefully returned to the arms of the Lord, surrounded by her family who trust she is now embraced in His eternal grace and light. Sharon was born on December 13, 1950, in Whitehall, Montana, to Lois and Gene Hinton. She was joined by her brother Gary Hinton five years later. Sharon's early life was spent in Montana, where she spent cherished days on her grandparents' ranch. There, she fell in love...
With November 5th approaching and election season nearing an end, you may need clarity on who to vote for and why. This week, you have two opportunities to educate yourself on the 2024 Montana elections. Both are held on Thursday, October 10th. BOULDER MONITOR 2024 CANDIDATE FORUM: Thursday, October 10 at 7 PM in the Volunteer Hall in Boulder. Meet the candidates for Senate District 38 (Becky Beard and Jeffrey Benson) and House District 38 (Marta Bertoglio and Nancy Jane Lien) at this...
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 04:24:03 Animal: I-90 05:16:08 Fire/Smoke Vehicle I-90 06:15:15 911 Hang Up: E Second St 13:09:13 911 Open Line: N Whitehall St 13:45:16 Vehicle Accident (Non-Injury): I-90 13:53:29 Vicious Dog: Hwy 55 14:21:24 Mental Crisis: Hwy 55 15:03:36 Burglary: Hwy 41 15:31:49 911 Hang Up: N Centurion Way 18:36:00 Abandoned Vehicle: Hwy 2 E 19:59:29 Traffic Stop 23:43:14 Traffic Stop: N Whitehall St MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 00:46:54 Traffic Hazard: E Legion St 08:44:46 Traffic Hazard: Hwy 55 10:42:14 Traffic Hazard: Hwy 2 W 12:18:10...
