Week of April 16, 2025
Week of April 16, 2025
On Thursday, April 10, at the Whitehall CTAC meeting, it was announced that the Rocky Mountain Development Council was considering the closure of Whitehall’s Rocky Head Start, located at 405 W Legion in Whitehall. In their letter, RMDC stated: “We want to begin by expressing how much we care about your children, families, and this community. We recognize and deeply appreciate the hard work you put into supporting your children’s learning, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you in this important work. “We also want...
Local author Raylynn (Lauderdale) Van Oort will host a special hometown event to celebrate her debut memoir, From Sh*t to Sunshine, sponsored by Whitehall business Tona's Treasures, located at 1 E. Legion St. in Whitehall, Montana, on Saturday, May 3 from 1 PM to 4 PM. The event will feature a special reading and book signing. Raised in Whitehall, Van Oort is excited to return home with the untold story of her life. From Whitehall High Class of 1974 Valedictorian to jailbird, and now, Hope...
WHITEHALL THEATRICS TAKES ON BUTTE: Whitehall Theatrics - Junior Division, shared information at the Out of Darkness Campus walk at Montana Tech on Saturday, April 12, then returned to Butte the next day to present I Don't Want To Talk About It at the Covellite Theatre. After the play, Whitehall actresses Jeanette Blazevich and Rylee Einboden (below) participated in the first annual Covellite Film Festival script reading...
Whitehall FFA chapter is celebrating a strong showing at this year's State FFA Convention, with two teams securing impressive results in their respective competitions. The Poultry Evaluation Team, consisting of junior Zane Downey, junior Hannah Frazier, junior Addisyn Gray, and eighth grader Halle Downey, triumphed in the highly competitive event. The team took home first place in the Poultry Evaluation Contest, earning them a coveted spot at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis this...
The Whitehall Garden Club (WGC), in cooperation with the Town of Whitehall, is planning the fifth annual Arbor Day Celebration. It will be held on April 25th, a Friday, in Whitehall’s Community Center from noon until 3 PM. The Town of Whitehall will raise our 32nd Tree City USA flags along Legion Street to celebrate our 32nd year as a Tree City USA. Mayor Mary Janacaro-Hensleigh will welcome the crowd and read a proclamation recognizing Arbor Day, its history, and its future. The WGC members...
Join the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce's Executive Director Chiara Schober for a special field trip edition of Coffee & Connections on Tuesday, May 6, as we head out for a full day of exploration in the Visit Southwest Montana travel region! This familiarization (FAM) tour is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who interacts with visitors-whether you're in hospitality, retail, tourism, or just passionate about your community-to gather fresh ideas and firsthand experiences to help guide and...
APRIL 12, 2000: Two grass fires, both apparently human caused, scorched land east and west of Whitehall on Tuesday, April 4th and 5th, 2000; although the flames burned approximately 220 acres, no homes were lost in the fires. On Saturday, April 8 the Whitehall Senior Citizens Transportation committee held a fundraising spaghetti dinner which was a great success. Prestige Assisted Living from Butte sent a busload of residents to join them. Through all those generous people and businesses who...
I'd never heard of "net metering" until my electric bill hit $600 last February. Desperate for a way to reduce utility costs that skyrocket in the winterbecause we use electric heaters, I started getting quotes for rooftop solar power. That's when I learned about a state law that requires Colorado utilities to credit homeowners who send power back to the grid at the same rate they would pay to buy power from the power company. This "net metering" policy made adding solar to my home a good...
It is always great fun to have the Montana State University student teachers visit the Whitehall Community Library. Seeing all of the enthusiasm and excitement they have for learning is a real inspiration for the future. Libraries and schools are a natural partnership, and we enjoy doing many things with our local schools. We have many types of learning in the greater Whitehall area, including public, private, religious, and homeschools. The styles are different, but the students are all...
The aroma of barbecue is hard to resist, and the flavor is even better. Barbecue is an art form; that enticing aroma and undeniable flavor is truly a labor of love. But even novices can try their hands at barbecue and have delicious results. For those who want to craft their barbecue concoctions, this recipe for Barbecue Spare Ribs from Lines+Angles is easily followed, and the finished product is undeniably flavorful. INGREDIENTS: 2 Tablespoons paprika 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 Tablespoons...
It is always great fun to have the Montana State University student teachers visit the Whitehall Community Library. Seeing all of the enthusiasm and excitement they have for learning is a real inspiration for the future. Libraries and schools are a natural partnership, and we enjoy doing many things with our local schools. We have many types of learning in the greater Whitehall area, including public, private, religious, and homeschools. The styles are different, but the students are all...
This is one of 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. Summertime often is the occasion for family reunions. Those who are not present this year may remind us that we need to give some thought about whom we want to leave our assets to upon our death. Granted that may be a dreadful thought, but we must face reality. If we do not...
Upgrading Your Home Office: Essential Tech Tips In today's world, having a comfortable and efficient home office isn't just a luxury-it's a necessity. Whether you work remotely full-time or just need a reliable space for managing household affairs, a few smart upgrades can significantly boost your productivity and comfort. Here are some essential tech tips to elevate your home office setup. Invest in a Reliable Internet Connection: A fast and stable internet connection is the foundation of any...
As moms, educators, and lawmakers, we came to the Capitol this session with one clear goal: to improve opportunity for Montana's kids. But with just weeks left in the legislative session, we're concerned that we may leave Helena having done only the bare minimum-and that's not good enough. Montana's future depends on the investments we make in our children today. If we want strong communities, a skilled workforce, and a healthier, more prosperous state, we must prioritize the health, education,...
Dear Editor, I am writing to inform you of a concerning development that will significantly impact families in the small rural community of Whitehall. Rocky Head Start, based out of Helena, is moving forward with a plan to close the Whitehall Head Start Classroom. This closure would be a significant loss for Whitehall, a community with limited resources where the Head Start program provides crucial support for many families. The potential loss of this program will undoubtedly have a detrimental...
Dear Director, Policy Members, and Board Members of Rocky Mountain Head Start, (and Ledger Editor), My name is Melissa Einboden, and I am writing to you today not only as a mother, but as someone whose life-and whose family-has been deeply impacted by the Head Start program. I hope you'll take a moment to read our story, because it speaks to how truly powerful and essential this program is for families like mine. When my youngest son, Ryder, was a baby, I was working a demanding, high-stress...
GEORGIA, I have a question, When my son Liam (17M) was born, I started saving for his college education. I wasn’t rich, but I saved a little each month so he wouldn’t struggle when ready. Over the years, I would joke with him, telling him, “If you don’t go to college, I’ll spend this on a trip to Europe to drink the best beer in the world.” He always laughed, rolling his eyes, knowing I was only half serious. Tragically, Liam passed away in an accident just before his 18th birthday. The pain was unbearable. His mother (my ex-wife)...
Dear Editor, Congratulations to the fourth grade author Aleena McDonald. It's so refreshing to read this and see a young author pursuing her dream! Thank you, Liz, for printing Aleena's bio and her fiction piece in the Whitehall Ledger. May this young author go far in her writing! Best Regards, KATIE SMITH Whitehall,...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Expect some valuable insight regarding your future to emerge in the next few days, Aries. It won’t be difficult to set plans in motion when you have the right people on your side. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, take a breather and give some careful thought to your recent experiences and your expectations going forward. You will benefit from this in the long run. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You are focused on your work, Gemini. However, distractions are beyond your control right now and will pull your attention away from...
In many Mario games, gathering one hundred coins nets an extra life. In Super Mario Odyssey, Mario’s boxer shorts cost 1,000 coins... ergo Mario’s life is worth less than his underwear. Mount Everest is still growing, which means every time someone climbs to the top, they’re breaking a new world record. Contortionists probably have a better chance of surviving a car crash. Phone companies should release plastic versions of their phones for people who would otherwise keep them in a bulky case for their whole life. Solar power is the only...
Discipleship, as taught by Jesus, involves unconventional thinking based on the principle of servant leadership. He lived out His teachings, taking on the attitude and position as servant, even to the point of death, as He laid down His life for us. Jesus's sacrifice as the incarnate God speaks to His nature, character, and love for humanity. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is referred to in many ways: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master of the Universe, Creator of everything, all of which speak to His authority and dominion over all creation....
SUNDAY, APRIL 6 00:44:43 Traffic Stop: N Whitehall St 01:36:33 Motorist Assist: Hwy 2 E 06:51:20 Extra Patrol: W Legion St 07:43:09 Medical: Hwy 55 12:11:04 Vicious Dog: N Jefferson St 12:32:59 Reckless Driver: I-90 13:27:42 Welfare Check: N Jefferson St 15:08:14 Domestic Violence: Sowden Ln 15:23:51 Vehicle Accident (Injury) 17:52:41 Vehicle Fire: I-90 18:31:57 Citizen Assist 20:33:59 911: Upper Rader Creek Rd 21:11:13 Vehicle Accident (Non-Injury): I-90 MONDAY, APRIL 7 01:50:18 Suspicious...
Montana lawmakers are considering a proposal to unwind parts of a 2023 bill that guaranteed large nonresident landowners access to a big-game hunting license. House Bill 907 strikes portions of House Bill 635, which narrowly passed the Legislature two years ago. HB 635 established a new nonresident preference pool program that effectively guaranteed nonresident landowners with 2,500 acres of land access to a big-game combination license good for one elk and one deer. Proponents of HB 907 say that it preserves the desirable portions of HB 635...
A bill that would ask voters to vote on a constitutional amendment to define personhood as starting at conception sparked contentious debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee before ultimately advancing to the full Senate. Sponsored by Rep. Lee Deming, R-Laurel, House Bill 318 is one of the few surviving bills seeking to restrict abortion access in the state. The bill would start the process of amending Montana’s Constitution to define a fetus as a living being by putting the issue to voters via ballot in the November 2026 election. Erin...
A bill to add vaping as prohibited under the Clean Indoor Air Act is on to the Senate after passing the House last week, with proponents saying it will help to address an issue in Montana’s youth, and opponents saying the bill will not be effective in preventing vaping in kids. Carrier of Senate Bill 390, Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls, said the number of children and health organizations who came to testify in support at the bill’s committee hearing showed the need for the addition. He said the issue of vaping in Montana is...
Legislators in the House and Senate passed bills this week that define sex as a binary and reduce any punishment of individuals at schools for not acknowledging pronouns and chosen names other than those assigned at birth. Senate Bill 437, which earlier passed in the Senate with a 31-18 vote, is one of a series of bills passed this session that proponents say are clarifying definitions under law, and opponents say are reducing the rights of the transgender community. SB 437 passed the House with a 55-44 vote last week and now heads to the...
The House of Representatives passed a bill on April 8 that would provide continuous eligibility for two years for kids younger than six enrolled in the Healthy Montana Kids program. The sponsor says it will address gaps in health insurance coverage for children. The current system for the free or low-cost health insurance program for low-income families requires families to reapply for eligibility every year. Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, said this can be difficult for busy families, leaving children in a back-and-forth of losing and regaining...
A draft of Montana’s state budget for the next two years continues to push through the Legislature, now heading to its last major round of debate on the Senate floor this week. The current version sits at around $16.6 billion in spending, with a large portion going toward healthcare and education. Now, with about 15 days left in the session, lawmakers, organizations and Montana citizens are scrambling to make sure all of their bases are covered for the next two years, all with the backdrop of a chaotic federal funding picture and questions...
The Senate debated and passed a bill last week that would tighten residency requirements for voters, which proponents say will make sure that each county’s voters are a permanent part of the community. But, opponents say the measure will unfairly restrict student voters. House Bill 413, sponsored by Rep. Jane Gillette, R-Three Forks and carried by Sen. Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade, would mean that a person could not be considered a resident in an election if they live in a community for “temporary work, training, or an educational...
