Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Dear Editor Thank you, Jim Buterbaugh. I totally agree with you! A couple of the things Trump has done: Peterbilt trucks in Texas have hired 1,000 employees, and production has escalated! Soon, a titanium mine in Nevada with around 8,000 jobs. We will no longer import titanium from China. Also, Obama shut down the government for 17 days, forcing people to take Obamacare. I have so much more I could write -- probably pages! It is so sad people can't see that Trump loves America and wants it to...
Dear Editor, Montana's public lands, wildlife, and resident hunters deserve representation that stands up for everyday sportspeople-not organizations that cater to wealthy interests and push policies antithetical to true conservation. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has consistently shown it is out of touch with the realities of living and hunting in Montana. By actively opposing critical wilderness designations and aligning closely with right-wing political agendas and heavy...
Dear Editor, CI-132 proponents assert that banning a judicial candidate from running as a Democrat or Republican helps voters better know their qualifications. That's absurd. That's like telling a man with extremely poor vision, "If you close one eye, you'll see better." Party alignment doesn't provide a perfect line of sight. But it's a key data point. Imperfect, but highly useful. When it comes to voting for judges and justices, Montana voters do indeed suffer from very poor vision. It is...
In the future, professional athletes will be tested not only for performance-enhancing drugs, but also for genetic alterations that give them a physical advantage. Though HR is a highly disliked department, we almost never see a post dissing HR on LinkedIn. That makes it the most feared department also. In 5 years, everyone with a smartphone will have their own personal AI assistant. Talking to ChatGPT is like telling your ideas to a golden retriever. They’ll get hyped no matter what idiotic thing you say. If flying cars become normal, will we...
If you are uncertain about the role of the Montana Supreme Court when it comes to the Montana Constitution, you shouldn’t be. Because you and your fellow Montanans own them both. Since Montana became a state, we have had only two Constitutions, one adopted in 1889 and the second in 1972. The U.S. Constitution is a separate document from the Montana Constitution, which only applies in Montana. The Montana Constitution has an important distinguishing feature. It has always belonged to the people. For over 100 years, the Montana Constitution has s...
Currently, there is an escalating push to put one of the most powerful and moneyed industries above the law. After months of lobbying and backroom deals, legislation has been introduced in Congress that aims to shield fossil fuel companies from laws or lawsuits that would hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis. Given what has been documented about the fossil fuel industry, this effort raises serious concerns. No industry should be exempt from the legal standards we apply to everyone else. Oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell...
When did Montana change? Change, after all, is inevitable, and most changes are matters of preference that we eventually get used to. Some changes, however, go far beyond preferences. History shows us some fundamental changes that tear down societies and completely destroy the day-to-day life of citizens. One such ominous change is looming on the horizon here in Montana and in America as a whole. That change is a shift to the liberal philosophy that has been called many names, but at its core is the evil ideology of socialism. The socialist...
GEORGIA, I have a question, I am 28. I am getting married in four months, and last week my future in-laws sent their conditions via a lawyer's email, with a PDF attached and my name already typed in. My fiancé's family has money. Mine has a mortgage. When we got engaged, his parents offered to help with the wedding, and I asked them, the way a daughter would, if they could manage $50,000. They said yes. We put $4,600 down as a deposit. I tasted cake. I argued about linens with his mother like we were already family. The prenup arrived last...
The Gospel of Matthew is only 28 rather short chapters long, and it ends with Christ instructing the disciples, and us, as we follow along, to go and make believers of “all nations.” It is a direct conclusion, and for centuries it has been called “The Great Commission.” Beyond the point of Salvation, however, Christ matures us in our faith if we take him at his word. Jesus was purposeful in everything while here on earth. Thirty-three years is a brief span, so He had to be intentional. We understand the big picture of Christ teaches that He...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, be especially patient and affectionate towards your loved ones this week. Someone close to you will need your help, and only you can provide it. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, after months of figuring out what you want in life, you may finally be able to put a plan of action in motion this week. Enjoy the ride. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, clear your mind of cobwebs and any other errant thoughts. Right now you need to relax and unwind for a bit. You will feel better after a few days of recharging. CANCER - Jun...
Editor - a letter to our Jefferson County Commissioners, Hello, County Commissioners; Whitehall Indivisible wants to publicly express gratitude to the Jefferson County Clerk & Recorder's Office overall, to individual staff in particular, and to the volunteer election judges who step up to train and serve throughout Jefferson County on Election Days. As confidence in elections wanes in many parts of the country, we believe it is important to acknowledge that in our part of Montana, elections are...
Dear Editor, I don't have enough words to thank the people of Whitehall, Butte, and the surrounding areas. I have shed a thousand tears over your incredible kindness and generosity. You have given so much love so generously. I’ve had hundreds of visitors and mountains of gifts. I truly had no idea how much I meant to you all, and please know that every single one of you means just as much to me! The gifts, cards, and fundraisers are absolutely incredible. Thank you so very much. While I am still...
Dear Editor, As someone who represented some large corporations in the last decade, I understand the frustrations about transparency in political spending. More money is pouring into Montana elections than ever, and with less information about where it's coming from. Proponents of Initiative No. 194 (I-194) want to do something about this "dark money" problem, and I applaud their intent. Unfortunately, the consequences of I-194's approach – no political spending as a condition of doing b...
Dear Editor, For 33 years, I've worked as a clinical social worker in Yellowstone County supporting thousands of young people within Montana's criminal justice system. Over the course of three decades, I've learned that every kid should be treated fairly and that our assessment of their potential should not depend exclusively on our understanding of their past. For these reasons, I'm voting for Constitutional Initiative 132, which would keep our courts nonpartisan. As the former Executive...
Dear Editor, If your neighbor were being robbed in broad daylight, would you come to their aid? Would you at least yell "stop!"? Would you call the police? What if the police or any other public servants were the robbers? All three Madison County commissioners voted to ban certain development of private property on Raynolds Pass. This was done to accommodate the desire of local special interests to create a wildlife corridor, which would limit the rights of other property owners. Not only are...
Whether you’re voting on a ballot issue or a candidate for office, my advice to you is always the same: cast an informed vote or skip it and move on. Voting because it’s “good citizenship” is, in fact, bad citizenship if you don’t know who or what you’re voting for. Judge and Supreme Court justice races scream out as the biggest examples of voter ignorance – and thus, bad voting. We know this instinctively. Proponents of CI-132 (the measure banning judicial candidates from ever running on a party label) keep telling us “Judges should be elect...
When you read fiction, you are not getting an opinion on life from every group of people, only from writers. In terms of protein mass, the average American is probably 20-40% cow. Career Fry Cooks must have visibly better-aged skin due to all the oil. A chart of most popular birthdates can be reverse-engineered to be a chart of most popular conception dates. With Ozempic/GLP-1 now being available in pill form, all those “Take this diet pill and you will lose weight!” advertising scams in magazines back in the day are not scams anymore. If the...
GEORGIA, I have a question, My wife of 22 years hasn't spoken to me since I suggested she get her hormones checked last week. We're both in our late 40s, and we have two teenagers. Over the last six months, she's been constantly on edge, getting angry over things that never used to bother her. Last weekend, I watched football with our son; our daughter was upstairs playing video games. My wife had been cooking most of the day when the dog got into something outside and made a mess. She started yelling from the kitchen that she was tired of...
At a traffic stop, during rush hour, did some bozo behind you honk his horn when you didn't jump immediately at the change to green? We will forgive him or her. But under some circumstances, I wish to point out that things are clear. Green is the main color for “Go.” Did you know Jesus gave Christians the “green light” to train disciples and share the Gospel with others? Yup. “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to t...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 This is a great week for you, Aries. You are empathetic and tuned into your surroundings. You might feel warm and friendly to everyone. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, this is a feel-good week. Enjoy some private moments to reflect on what you want to accomplish. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, sympathy for a cause or a friend may prompt you to get involved with a charitable organization. You also are interested in learning more from others. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Use the fact that others are noticing you to your advantage,...
Dear Editor, What typically drives who and what you vote for? Is it your allegiance to a political party, information you get from outside sources like TV ads, or your religious values? Regardless of your answer, all three factors share one common thread: morality. A 2024 Psychology Today article explains that "values are universal standards that guide our behavior, shape who we aspire to be, and, ideally, extend to the political landscape, where we vote in alignment with them." If that is true...
Dear Editor, I am writing to enthusiastically endorse David Kosola for Jefferson County Sheriff/Coroner. Having the unique perspective of knowing all three candidates in this race, I can say with confidence that David is the most qualified choice. Beyond knowing David since childhood, I have witnessed his integrity, dedication, and competence as both a law enforcement officer and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). While Tom Grimsrud and Tom Voigt are pleasant individuals, David Kosola...
Dear Editor, In my opinion, all three op-eds opposing I-194 in last week's Whitehall Ledger are political false narratives that seem to rely on no verifiable evidence. In other words, gaslighting! Given the choice between corporations controlling Montana and Montanans controlling corporations, I choose the latter. Switching gears, Representative Reinschmidt (HD75) has gone on record as a proponent of ending Federal public land ownership and transferring those lands to the state. His premise is...
Dear Editor, We thank The Monitor for hosting last Tuesday's 2026 HD-75 candidate forum (audio link: 2026 HD-75 Candidate Forum.mp3). The informal conversations with all three candidates and their answers to questions from The Monitor's publisher and editor were helpful. Because the audience could not ask follow-up questions, however, we would like to offer additional issues that arise because of the candidates' responses. We focus on the following questions from the forum: • Should federal p...
Dear Editor, Vote yes to CI-132 Here's why: CI-132 is a simple measure that adds just FIVE words to the MT Constitution: "Judicial Elections shall remain Nonpartisan." Note the word REMAIN. This constitutional initiative preserves the 90-year tradition we have had of voting for judges in nonpartisan elections since 1935, when we stopped Montana's powerful Copper Kings from buying judges to rule in their favor. Montana judges interact with people statewide in all sorts of circumstances; it could...
