Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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From UK to Russia with love: This little tale involves cryptocurrency, Bulgarian spies, “golden passports,” a pro-Moscow influencer, an oligarch in Moldova, and a former professional soccer player in Scotland. The National Crime Agency in Britain reported last week that two UK-based networks were allegedly laundering billions of dollars of money from street-level drug dealing and other crimes and indirectly helping to fund the Russian war effort in Ukraine. “For the first time, we are tying drug trades in our community all the way throu...
Here are a few things I’ve read this week. • GPS Spoofing: The act of jamming the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). On October 25, the airspace around the west coast of Ireland was being jammed, affecting 87 planes and on October 29, the airspace over Utah was jammed, affecting 25 aircraft. GPS has been in use since 1983, but GNSS isn't infallible. In the past, a South Korean airliner was shot down when it accidentally flew over Russia; on December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijani airline crashed in Russia due to jamming. Russia and North Kor...
I, for the life of me, can’t understand how people haven’t figured out that when the government gets involved, prices will soar. Year after year cost will increase. A good example is university tuition. The original program was the G.I. Bill, created at the end of WW2. This was available to servicemen and women at the end of the war. In 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Defense Education Act of 1958 (NDEA) into law. They were direct loans capitalized with U.S. Treasury funds. This program was recommended by economist Milton Fri...
Dear Editor, I knew I would get blowback from my thoughts on the hate I see. Especially since I spent time on the leaders of the Democrat party. And it was as expected. First, I want to thank Liz, Whitehall Ledger Editor and the Queen of Halloween Scream, for publishing my op-ed. Liz has always treated me fairly, and I appreciate that. The letters that mentioned my op-ed mainly blamed me for fueling this hate by attacking the democrat party. I find that curious because what I see is the leaders...
Sad. The hate I see is sad. A week ago, last Friday, I was talking with a friend whom I have known for years. Pleasant, smiley conversation. We talked about the study commission and the lack of citizen care. Joked about things and then he turned to me in a complete change of mood and asked if I was still an avid Trump supporter. I told him what I tell everyone: I'm not an avid supporter; I am a supporter of a person who will work in the interest of the United States and its citizens, not other nations or non-citizens above citizens. He harshly...
Dear Editor, Let me ask you a question. Your answer doesn't need to be long or wordy, because the answer should be simple. When it comes to the Town of Whitehall's Mayor, do you want someone who is experienced and has selflessly donated hours daily to see the town operate more smoothly? Or someone who has no experience, has never held a committee position, or regularly attended any meeting? I have had the pleasure of working with Linda Jung (pronounced Young, which I also have to remind myself)...
Dear Editor, What is a Living Constitution? Since I have become politically involved (thanks to my youngest daughter), I have occasionally heard references to the Constitution as a living document. I have always regarded the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. What our great country was based on, and without it, the United States would just be another kingdom or worse. And of course, the only way to understand something is to learn about it. After many hours of researching the concept...
The Whitehall Study Commissioner met Tuesday, April 29th for a short meeting from 5:30 to 6 PM. A Public Meet and Greet followed until 8 PM at the new ambulance barn, located at 200 W. Second. Notice of the Meet and Greet was advertised for two weeks in the paper and public notices hung in various locations. About .02% of the population in the area (or 3 people) came by. I would like to thank Terry Ross, Maxine Samuelson, and Kerry Buterbaugh for their participation. The next Whitehall Study Commission meeting is May 20 at 5:30pm in the...
Dear Editor, I can't wait to talk about it! Oh my....what a load of hubbub. I listened to people I know and heard about the "woke" play I Don't Want To Talk About It. One thing I have learned in dealing with politics is to do research. I encouraged others to check it out: read the script, talk to Liz [Pullman], ask the school board. I read the article published by Montana Talks. It was distorted at best. I read about all the awards and praise from Missoula (honestly, I don't put much weight behi... Full story
The Whitehall Study Commission will be mailing out questionnaires to all postal patrons in the Whitehall Post Office area. Originally these questionnaires were planned to be released in early February; however, they will now be mailed in March. Each questionnaire will be addressed to the postal customer registered to that post office box. The Local Government Review process is complicated; its scope and intent are easily misunderstood. But it's important to know that the review is not a...
The Whitehall Study Commission will be mailing out questionnaires to all postal patrons in the Whitehall Post Office area. Originally these questionnaires were planned to be released this week; however, they will now be mailed in March. Each questionnaire will be addressed to the postal customer registered to that post office box. The Local Government Review process is complicated; its scope and intent are easily misunderstood. But it’s important to know that the review is not a platform for airing discontent or mobilizing change in the ways t...
What a sorry state of affairs our political system has become. Running for office has always been a dirty, ugly business, but in all my years, I have not seen anything like the last ten years. The lies in the past have always been there. But this….wow. It’s so blatant. It’s so obvious. Tester’s voting record: I never thought that auditing something was a bad idea, like auditing the Federal Reserve. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what we have in a bank? Yet, when it comes up, Tester votes against auditing the Federal Reserve. Why is that? Eve...
I read Don Lepinsky's op-ed with great awe. Amazing. Capable of analytical thought? Distressing? Feel-good talking points? Oh my! Now, I realize Don is a hardcore Democrat. The proof is in talking to him and his ridiculous sign by the Interstate. I have had many discussions with him, and we are always civil. The one thing that had always bothered me was that I would give him facts and where to find them on the internet, but I don’t think he ever looked them up. But his op-ed. It is so full of it that I can not let it be. The first thing that m...
Dear Editor, Recently, two representatives (male and female) from the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee went to the Republican National Convention. Upon their return, they presented the Platform of the Montana Republican Party, a 16-page summary of our position on Montana and national issues. America needs determined Republican leadership at every level of government to address the core threats to our very survival: our disastrously open border, our weakened economy, crippling...
Dear Editor, Tester Testing...so tired...tired of the lies. I have grown accustomed to the fact that many politicians would rather tell an 'untruth ' than admit they are worthless. But the commercials I see on TV threaten my ability not to put my remote through the screen. I write of the commercials where you hear, "I am John Tester, and I approve of this message." Tester claims he has been after Biden to secure the border. Except Tester has supported Biden's open border policy. Tester claims...
Dear Editor, I know this is two weeks too late, but better now than never. I am writing in support of Stacy Zinn, a candidate for the congressional seat Matt Rosendale left vacant. I have met with Stacy several times; when she was in town last week, I had lunch with her at the Two Bit. (great food, by the way). She is a small ball of fire. She has spent 23 years with the Drug Enforcement Agency. As an agent, she spent time at the southern border in operations targeting Mexican drug cartels. Duri...
Dear Editor, Good Wednesday, Jefferson County. This is a little note about last week's letter to the editor trying to mislead on Rank Choice Voting. The writer stated that I misrepresented Ballotpedia's explanation of rank-choice voting, saying we would only vote once as usual. He stated that the only thing that would be required is multiple tabulations and instant run-offs. How do you get multiple tabulations and instant run-offs? It seems to me you must vote. Nothing is wrong with the system e...
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 recei...
Dear Editor, Last week I wrote a letter to the editor stating that “politicians lie.” I need to correct that thought. While we are used to politicians saying one thing to get elected and then doing another in office, that reference was too broad. In Montana, we are fortunate enough to have representatives in office who say what they will do and then do as they say. Or at least try to. This last session we were fortunate enough to have many. Theresa Manzella, Becky Beard, and Marta Bertoglio to...
Dear Editor, Our country was built on the Constitution and Bill of Rights. It cannot survive the days when the government places itself above the people it governs. Our representatives that we elect are meant to be just that, OUR representatives. Not Washington's. The Governor we elect is OUR Governor, not Washington's representative. If you have any doubts about the wonders of our life under the laws that our forefathers created, look at other countries. Look at the life they have today. Look a...
On Sunday, October 15th, the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee held its annual Fall Harvest Festival at the Keffler Ranch, and what a dinner it was! 175 attendees enjoyed an evening that started with a Happy Hour to meet and mingle with the hosts and sponsors while Lance Handyside provided some great country music. The special speaker for the night was Nick Adams. Many stated that they were so busy listening to Nick that they forgot to take pictures. Nick Adams is the founder and CEO of the Foundation for Liberty and American...
Dear Editor, What is a Living Constitution? Since I have gotten political (my youngest daughter’s fault), I have heard from time to time references to the Constitution as a living document. I have always thought of the Constitution as the law of the land. What our great country was based on and without it, the United States would just be another kingdom or worse. And of course, the only way to understand something is to learn about it. After many hours of researching Living Constitution I have come to the conclusion that it basically means that...
Dear Editor, Whether you are for or against the Convention of States (COS), please take a moment to read this and consider heavily what I have to say. I was at the Helena Capital building to absorb the words of others and testify against the COS. As I listened to those in support, I could feel the strength of their belief. They talked of budget requirements, term limits, and restricting the federal government. That sounds so compelling, doesn't it? The supporters stated that those who oppose...
Dear Editor, One of the jobs the House side of Congress has is to plan a budget for the government to operate the following year. They are required to have this budget presented for a vote by the end of September, thirty days before the end of the fiscal year on October 31. Unfortunately, over the decades, those in charge have figured out that they can put it off until after the fiscal year ends and force a vote on a budget package that has little to do with the budget of the United States. This year is no different. Except for this year, the...
Dear Editor, Well now, this is different. I know that my letters are usually long, but this is in response to the letter last week wondering whether or not big corporations were going to get any more tax breaks when the republicans take charge of the house next month. I tire of this misleading dribble. I have a suggestion and this is to everybody, do not listen to the dribble from either party. When you hear garbage about anything in politics, Google it. Quick, easy, and very informative. Corporate welfare or research and development subsidies...
