Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1778
If ghosts produce cold rushes, then having a ghost friend around in the summertime would be nice. If a woman engineer had been the first to design pickle jars, they would never require a man to open them. Dogs have been domesticated for at least 14,000 years, which means they have been domesticated for all of recorded history. Public beaches remind us of how much the marketing and movie industries distort our reality. An item’s potential future value is usually inversely proportional to how hard it is marketed as a collectible. Professional g...
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) passed by Congress and signed by President Trump is a game changer that will benefit middle-income, working-class Montanans. Yet Montana Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers (Montana’s top Democrat) said “I just think it is a betrayal of working Montanans and Americans,” mirroring national Democrats’ political talking points. One must wonder if elected Democrats even read or understand the bill. Regarding Medicaid, it does not “gut” the program as Democrats claim. It will reduce Medicaid growth from 5% to 3%, r...
Dear Editor, The passage of Trump's so-called "Big Bad Budget Bill" is a tragic milestone - not just because of what it contains, but because of what it reveals. To the conservatives who pulled the lever for Trump and the Republicans behind this legislation: this is the result of your vote. This bill guts healthcare, undermines clean energy, hikes household costs, and throws public lands to the wolves - and for what? More tax breaks for billionaires. More profits for polluters. More corporate...
Dear Editor, I'm extremely disappointed in every legislator who voted for one of the most harmful bills in history, Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill." Many people in our state and nationwide likely don't understand what this legislation means for our families and communities. Here's a breakdown of how some parts of this bill will directly affect us: • Phase out tax credits for wind and solar power, which will drive up our energy costs. • Withdraw aid for agencies like FEMA that monitor ext...
GEORGIA, I have a question, I need some advice, and I figured if anyone’s heard of a crazier situation, it’s you. I’m 34, divorced just eight months ago. My ex-wife recently asked me if I’d attend her wedding. Yes. Her wedding. To the guy she cheated on me with. She said it would “mean a lot” to her. Apparently, it’s important for our daughter (6) to see us both there, because she’s going to be the flower girl. And I do get that. I want to be a good dad and be emotionally mature, especially in front of my daughter, but this feels like a sl...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your confidence is peaking, and people are noticing. Even though you are on a roll, don’t let it go to your head. Midweek might be a test of your patience, but you’ll keep your cool. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 You are craving creature comforts, Taurus. This week, you might be happy with keeping things slow and relaxing. You also may want to splurge on a treat. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, this week, your brain may be best compared to a Wi-Fi signal. In other words, moving fast, seeking new information, and maybe a l...
In the business world, decisions are made constantly based on the “bottom line,” which is often referred to as net income or profit. We also use this phrase to refer to what matters most or in making a final decision regarding various aspects of life. For the follower of Jesus, the bottom line is that we should strive to live unoffendable and be free from anger. Brant Hansen says, “Being unoffendable involves constantly reminding ourselves that we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness- and yet God has chosen to forgive us anyway.” Living by this pers...
Without joining together, our democracy will fail. The definition of indivisible is that it is unable to be divided. It is an essential part of our democracy. It is even incorporated in the Pledge of Allegiance to signify its importance. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and many others of the Founding Fathers recognized that, as the Constitution was written, it would create political parties, making it difficult for a democracy to stand. They felt that they could...
Rubik's Cube and Sudoku are almost perfect opposites. The inside handle of the bathroom door can be the cleanest or the dirtiest in the house, depending on the inhabitants. An alien invasion wouldn’t unite humanity; nations would be selling each other out at the first opportunity. A large percentage of websites that don’t have ads are websites for ad companies. The human condition is an effort to optimize your environment for maximum relaxation and enjoyment. Some day, most combustion engine cars' trips will have to be planned out with availabl...
One year from now, you will not be able to turn around without receiving notice of America’s semiquincentennial jubilee. The jollity of the occasion will not change the fact that it will be seven years premature. The historical significance assigned to July 4, 1776, the date the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress, is befuddling. Without victory in the Revolutionary War, which began over a year earlier, any declarations regarding American independence made during the summer of 1776 would have the same s...
GEORGIA, I have a question, Last week I was on a solo trip, staying at an all-inclusive resort, so I didn’t have to worry about finding places to eat by myself. The hotel used club-style seating, which meant tables were set for eight and guests were seated together to encourage conversation and a sense of community. On the third night, I was seated first and poured myself a glass of wine. A family of five joined me at the table - two parents and three kids (two were teenagers). The mother immediately told me that they did not want their c...
I’m a “Jack-of-all-trades guy,” or at least attempt to fix or take on projects often, sometimes out of the wish to save money, or even to assist other people. One of my favorite resources is YouTube, where you can find a “how-to” tutorial on almost anything. Sometimes these videos are beneficial, and other times I learn little; it just depends on the presenter. At other times, I rely on instructions, but I’ll admit that there are days when I skip over reading them, dive into the task, fail to understand how something works, and then return...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Fill your mind with positive and motivational thoughts, and you’ll be much happier in the long run, Aries. It’s easy to focus on negatives, but a change of perspective is liberating. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 A lack of energy may be affecting your ability to do the things that you normally enjoy, Taurus. Figure out ways to get more rest so you will not lack energy. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 It seems your social skills have been less consistent than in the past, Gemini. Do you have a reason why you have been pulling away from oth...
Dear Editor, I was at first glad to see the apology from Ruth Lott in the June 25, 2025, Whitehall Ledger edition. That gladness soon turned to disappointment. First, Ms. Lott blames the mistake on "reliable sources" being "duped." While I'm not sure to which sources she refers (the meme or quote itself, whomever posted the meme/quote, etc.) she does not make it clear that she, herself, was "duped" into both believing and passing along this false quote. Second, Ms. Lott, by using the word "duped...
Dear Editor, Social Security can benefit future generations – if Congress acts. Every year, the chief actuary of the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports to Congress on how many years the program has left in the Social Security Trust Fund to fully meet the obligations of current and future beneficiaries. Last year, that number increased by a year as the economy and jobs grew under the leadership of President Joe Biden. This year, the system lost ground - going from 2036 to 2033. The anti...
If dogs sweated like human beings, they probably would not be popular pets. There are no nights in outer space. If puberty is confusing for humans, metamorphosis must be even more confusing for caterpillars. During your life, you will walk by, drive by, sit near, and occupy the same rooms with hundreds of thousands of people that you will never meet. My watch history has shifted from shows where kids act like adults to ones where adults act like kids. Teenagers and adults finding each other gross is a feature, not a bug. Sperm donation is human...
Over 80% of Montana schools are "Title I" schools. That means students in the school qualify for free or reduced lunch. Montana receives more than $2,000 in Title I funding per child, compared to the national average of $1,489 (2017 figures). Here's what a search for data from the current administration turned up (a subject for another post): To feed hungry kids, the Montana Food Bank Network partnered with 148 schools (as of 2022) and provided weekend nutrition to 3,600 children. In Kalispell,...
GEORGIA, I have a question. My wife and I recently (silently) changed our son’s name after my brother and sister-in-law (SIL) gave their son (our nephew) the name, too. They are now mad at us - but is it any of their business? My wife and I had our son four months ago. We had a name chosen early in her pregnancy. We kept that name to ourselves, but my SIL found it out when she was still pregnant with my nephew (almost 7 months old). She never said how; she just told us she loved the name, congratulated us, and said they couldn’t wait to meet hi...
We’ve grown accustomed to a litany of cries for injustice, some for honorable causes and others not so honorable. How can a person delineate a true cry for injustice? Does it come down to the colors of the political parties, red or blue? Honestly, I don’t think that’s the proper litmus test. In recent weeks, some so-called “peaceful” protests turned quickly into destruction, anarchy, and chaos. Fortunately, here in Montana, movements were much tamer, but this question of injustice is certainly on people’s minds. Interestingly, the timing of a...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Career developments may be a bit unclear this week, Aries. Your motivation may need a little extra boost. You may need to consider whether a career change is in order. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 A lack of information is proving confusing, Taurus. If you suspect there are more details to uncover, choose a course of action and do your best to get as clear a picture of the situation as possible. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Keep your money in your wallet this week, Gemini. You might want to spend it or give it away impulsively, which...
Front lawns are mostly just for show. If you drop soap on the floor, is the floor clean, or is the soap dirty? Before getting a license, everyone should have to experience a simulation of a crash on the highway. If two vegans are arguing, is it still considered beef? When you’re born deaf, what language do you think in? How does your towel get dirty if you get out of the shower clean? Statistically speaking, the most common final words men across history have heard before dying are probably “I love you” or “Fire.” If your life flashed b...
If a public information request becomes too costly for an individual or organization to pursue, constitutional access to public documents is denied. On May 8, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law House Bill 100, which was requested by the Department of Administration and sponsored by Rep. Bill Mercer of Billings. The bill amends Montana’s public record laws by defining fees a public agency may charge when responding to a request, setting an hourly fee limit, establishing response deadlines for certain agencies, and creating a private cause of a...
Dear Editor, In response to a letter from Ruth Lott published on June 18th, 2025 in the Whitehall Ledger, it should be pointed out that Karoline Leavitt did not say "America cannot function if President Trump has to deal with co-equal branches of government having the ability to check his power," or anything close to that. Snopes and Politifact both agree on this, as was determined with a quick and easy search. Respectfully, TIMOTHY S. BENNETT Whitehall, Montana...
Dear Editor, I owe an apology to your readers. It has been brought to my attention that Karoline Leavitt's quote in my letter to the editor last week appears to have been manufactured. It would appear that even reliable sources can be duped. The deliberate misrepresentation of Fox News skewing the intention of the NO KINGS rally into disrespect for our military remains a fact. Respectfully submitted, RUTH LOTT Cardwell, Montana...
Dear Editor, While Gaza smolders under relentless bombardment and Palestinian families bury their women and children, Senator Steve Daines offers his usual response: absolute silence. Perhaps he's too busy polishing Trump's golf shoes to notice the genocide happening on his watch - and with our tax dollars ($17.8+ billion). Recently, the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church - representing faithful from Montana and neighboring states - passed a resolution condemning Israel's...
