Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 1290 - 1314 of 1914
Dear Jo, Happy New Year! I wish I could say that I had a lot of hope for the new year. I am bummed already. I cannot seem to get my act together. What really does this year have to offer me?! I have not had any luck in so many years, I just don’t even hope for it anymore. I have a home, food, family, it just is not enough. Signed, Bored and Bummed Dear Bored and Bummed, What does the new year hold for you? Three-hundred and sixty-five opportunities to quit feeling sorry for yourself, get off your ass, and make a life! Signed, Jo Dear Jo, I f...
Every person in life is on a quest in one respect or another. Daily, people search for happiness, love, purpose and so much more. Reason and emotion make humans the pinnacle of all living organisms, and many exude exceptional physical abilities as well. On the other hand, “a rodent’s struggle for life,” became coined in American fiction: Christopher Morley’s book, turned into a movie in 1940, describes a modern problem: “The rat race”. It seems that we all want to win. King Solomon was the third and last king of ancient Israel and for 40 years...
The ink is dry on another historic cattle ranch in the Upper Missouri River Breaks consumed by the non-profit organization American Prairie Reserve (APR). With a deal to acquire the 73 Ranch, another piece of Montana’s history and leading industry has been gobbled up by the billionaires that fund APR, at the expense of Montana taxpayers. Non-profits claiming to be conservationists rob taxpayers in a couple of different ways. Donations to APR to purchase ranch property come with lucrative tax deductions. With their privileged tax status, every d...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Your finances need a little extra work, Aries. Start to focus on investments, money, and other financial matters. Your mind is quick and you catch on quite fast. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Romance is on your mind this week, Taurus. This is the time to focus on solidifying your relationship with someone special in your life or to find that perfect match. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Matters involving work are at the forefront of your mind, Gemini. You may need to put in some extra hours on the job this week. Keep your head down and your...
It’s been a year since I took over the Ledger! What a wild ride! While I know where I’d like to improve in the next year, I would really appreciate hearing what readers think should and should not be in the paper, where coverage is lacking, what new features you like and what you don’t, etc. Please use the survey link https://bit.ly/3pS9FM5 and provide your honest answers. I hope to hone in on what I can be doing better. There is so much room for improvement and growth that just weren’t possible in the first year. In the next year I hope to... Full story
Somewhere in the world exists the most perfect partner possible, just how you both want each other to be, whom you probably won’t ever meet. If someone saw you with a lighter, they would think you smoke, even when the lighter has a hundred other uses. Hunting is more frowned upon than fishing, but they both follow the same concept. When we were kids, the milk and cookies being gone on Christmas morning seemed like unequivocal proof that Santa was real. Neo in the Matrix chose to take an unknown drug from a stranger in a strange room after being...
On New Year’s Eve last year, I anxiously awaited the clock to strike midnight. Why? Because my big news about purchasing the Whitehall Ledger could officially be released as of January 1, 2021. Was I scared of this new adventure I was about to embark on? Absolutely. I still am. But I know I’m where I’m supposed to be. This time last year, there were a lot of unknowns in my life. My family and friends pulled me through these what-ifs with their support and love. Taking on a life dream is super scary, super exciting, and, I’ve found, super f...
Dear Jo, Well, here we are. The holidays are almost over, the gift wrap is in the trash. I was so looking forward to relaxing, taking a deep breath. Why do I feel so wound up? I cannot settle down? I find myself pacing, thoughts racing with all that the year ahead holds. How can I relax and enjoy the downtime?! Signed, No Chillin Dear No Chillin, For heaven’s sake, you have me pacing! Take some melatonin, followed by a meditation podcast and end with a hot toddy and bed! Signed, Jo Dear Jo, The holidays make my spouse amorous. To the point t...
Perhaps Americans are more individualistic than any other citizens in the world. But, regarding Christmas, my caution is to choose wisely between fact and fiction. Some embrace the folklore of Santa Claus, reindeer, and elves. Some believe Christmas simply represents giving and receiving of gifts, while others completely abandon any concept of Christmas in any light. I admit I am in the category of people who love Christmas. For the record, my beliefs go far beyond religion or superstition. A Biblical worldview recognizes the ample evidence...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, group dynamics could be tricky this week. Emotions are tense and putting too many people together may lead to friction. Make a concerted effort to stay calm. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, individuals often are judged by the company they keep. Surround yourself with honest, supportive and accomplished people as much as you can. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 It is tempting to want to help in every situation, Gemini. But this week you may need to observe from the sidelines and let others work things out on their own. CANCER Jun...
The Grinch changed as soon as he stopped listening to the Narrator tell him what a horrible person he was. The fact that Oreos are vegan is proof that a Vegan diet is not necessarily a healthy diet. If you listen to the Grinch song, you realize it’s just a huge diss track on the Grinch. And the Who’s get real creative with the insults; no wonder the Grinch hates Christmas. Being born increases your chance of death by one hundred percent. Banjos are guitars with southern accents. Both main characters of Veggie Tales aren’t even veget...
Dear Editor, South Jefferson County is truly a great place to raise your kids...if you have money. All you need to do is buy your local officer or give him hunting rights. I call this Officer Pick and Choose. A local officer was given a complaint and a string of text messages between a man over forty years of age attempting to buy the panties from a fourteen-year-old girl, among other inappropriate things. The man was never charged with any offense. My question: who dropped that ball? I love and served this country. But when you call Jefferson...
Dear Editor, I’m not what most people would call a patriot. Don’t get me wrong, I love where I live, but I’m not willing to die for the American Way. I certainly don’t view this country as my Fatherland or Motherland, for that matter. However, I DO appreciate the relative freedom we still enjoy in this nation compared to other countries. It would seem that we still enjoy more personal freedom than other areas of the so-called Third World. Even what personal freedoms we have seem to be fading fast, but we can still freely exercise them, to what...
Dear Editor, A Big THANK YOU to everyone who made our second Covenant Community Christmas Celebration a success. Thanks to each of our special friends and neighbors that made up our planning committee, singers, and decoration crew. They include Maxine Samuelson, Ron & Linda Jung, Jim Stearns, Ellen Wagner, Maggie Stuart, Samuel Wagner, and Steve Wallace. Bethel and Ruth Wagner’s talent on piano and violin is always superb; thank you, ladies! Our friend from Page Arizona, Ward Fenley brings not only music wherever he goes but laughter and a h...
Dear Jo, I was in a relationship for five months; we broke up in September. Recently he came over with a box of gifts for my birthday and Christmas. I really appreciate the gesture, but it also makes me a little uncomfortable. I feel like I should buy him a gift, but I don’t want to encourage something I cannot reciprocate. What do you think I should do? Signed, Grateful, But Unsure Ex Dear Unsure Ex, I am assuming you are both adults. That being the case, he decided to purchase gifts. It is not your responsibility to “make things equal” or tr...
Although times seem troubling, we can have a full assurance that peace is possible through Jesus Christ. Some believe the “world” to be on fire, everything from politics, economics, health issues, and a litany of other flashpoints. The mere mention of these items causes some people to feel their temperature rising. Christ’s peace is essential in such times. The truth is turmoil has always been present in human history. We or our parents and grandparents have faced the 2008 housing market crash, 9/11, WWII, and the Great Depression in moder...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, the stars have been keeping you on your toes lately. There has been much going on but somehow you have been able to wade through it all like a rock star. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Others are asking you to stretch yourself beyond normal limits, Taurus. Do your best, but weigh the effects that this could have on your overall well-being. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Aim to be honest and direct with others as much as you can this week, Gemini. If you can prove you are trustworthy, then more people are likely to follow you. CANCER Jun...
Confusion and misunderstanding flourish in today’s America. A pet peeve I wrestle with is when people throw around words that don't fit the context of Scripture. Here are two humorous examples of how poor translation caused issues for companies. KFC’s “Finger-Lickin’ Good” in China came out as “Eat your fingers off.” Mercedes-Benz, a prominent high-end automaker, launched in China, and it was rough. “Benz” in China was translated as “Bensi,” which for them meant “Rush to die.” One of the most misunderstood topics of the Bible is found in Ephesi...
GEORGIA, I have a question, My in-laws are giving their four children/spouses (7 total) and four grandchildren a trip to Disneyland for Christmas. Before my mother-in-law (MIL) purchased the gift, she checked with each couple/child to see if we would accept the gift. Each of us obviously said Yes! Now that my MIL has spent $15K for thirteen of us to spend a week at the happiest place on Earth, my sister-in-law has decided she does not want her children (7F, 3F) to receive the gift on Christmas but would like to wait until Easter. She reasons...
While House District 69 Representative Ken Walsh sponsored HB 680, it passed with overwhelming support from the Legislature, making it a mistake shared by many that never should have happened. HB 680 changes how Montana treats two of its most important historic places: Virginia City and Nevada City. These towns are not just state-owned property. They are living parts of Montana’s story, held in trust for future generations. HB 680 breaks that trust. The bill allows the state to enter into 99-year lease agreements. In simple terms, that gives p...
Maybe the homes of the rich look soulless because they fill them with things just because they can afford them, not because they have any personal meaning. The Robinhood trading app allows the poor to participate in getting robbed by the rich. I wish humans had more time to evolve a better spine before we effectively locked in our body structure through modern medicine. If you were born in the ‘90s, you may be the last generation to remember what it was like to go to the internet rather than always being on it. Autocorrect and talk-to-text h...
Dear Editor, The science has been conclusive for decades. The polar ice caps are melting. Sea levels and temperatures are rising. Forest fires, hurricanes, droughts, and flooding are increasing in intensity and frequency. The human-induced climate crisis is real and is escalating out of control. The federal government is not taking the crisis seriously enough. The Democrat mitigation policies and spending included in “Build Back Better” is a positive step, however, would it not be better if congress considered a stand-alone bill mitigating the...
Dear Editor, This may be controversial. This might cause a bit of a stir. It could even be esteemed to be a bit negative; but when, if ever, is it okay to lie? Much less, to our kids? For example, one of our kids comes up to us, asking what we think of their artwork. If it’s poorly done and even ugly as sin, do we lie and tell them what a beautiful picture it is? Sure, it might boost their psyche for the moment, but what happens when one of their peers, who are usually more brutally honest than most adults, tells them it sucks? They come c...
Dear Editor, As a kid raised on a farm in northern Minnesota, I attended the last one-room schoolhouse of all eight grades. Graduating eighth grade and starting high school I recognized how privileged I was at Sunnyside school where I listened to classes for all eight grades. First graders were partnered with older students and given the privilege of raising and lowering the flag. We were taught respect for the flag, by making sure it never touched the ground and folding it properly until raised the following day. By listening to the lessons...
If Wile E. Coyote could afford all of that high-end gear, why didn’t he just go buy dinner? Most modern adults are less equipped to survive in the wilderness alone than average 10-year-olds from 200 years ago. It’s not the roof of your mouth, it’s the ceiling. As you climb up the social ladder, people become less and less funny. Wealthy people have a poorer sense of humor, while poorer people are usually hilarious. The truest genius in MENSA is the one who convinced people to pay a recurring fee to be labeled a genius. Cheesecake has no charact...
