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  • Dear Editor: Apologies, She Didn't Say That

    RUTH LOTT|Jun 25, 2025

    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: Daines Does His Usual - Silence

    KATHY AND DOUG JAMES|Jun 25, 2025

    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...

  • Snitch on Sitting Bull?

    MONICA TRANEL, Montana Connections|Jun 25, 2025

    In 1863, one year before Montana became a territory, John Bozeman built a trail across Indian country to reach newly discovered gold fields. When Montana became a territory in 1864 through the Organic Act, one of the first acts of the territorial government was to pass a resolution to appropriate land that Native American tribes had called home for thousands of years. The Indian Wars between 1865-1890 are a profound part of our story. Michael Punke's book Ridgeline tells the story of the battle...

  • Just Ask Georgia: 6/25/2025

    GEORGIA|Jun 25, 2025

    GEORGIA, I have a question, I (27F) got pregnant unexpectedly after a short relationship. The father isn’t involved, but I decided to keep the baby. My family has been supportive - except for my older sister (34F), who has been struggling with infertility for years. From the moment she found out I was pregnant, she kept making comments like, “It’s not fair that you get to be a mom when you’re not even married.” She even suggested multiple times that I let her and her husband adopt my baby since they’re “better equipped” to raise a child....

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Domino Effect

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 25, 2025

    The effects of anger are overwhelmingly negative, creating physical, emotional, and spiritual issues. I’ve appreciated sitting with other Christians for several weeks to discuss the myth of righteous anger. We’ve mistakenly bought into this idea that somehow anger is good. Ultimately, discovering that God or Jesus is the only one who can have righteous anger. Too many people go through life holding onto anger and, in return, suffer, often having a domino effect on their personal lives and the relationships surrounding them. What happens whe...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 6/25/2025

    Jun 25, 2025

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Nothing is too much for you to handle right now, Aries. But don’t take on even more as a way to prove something to someone. That could be a recipe for trouble. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Your physical energy is strong right now, Taurus. This may work to your advantage regarding your relationship. Your desire for love and passion is intense right now, so explore it. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Matters of the heart may need a little work right now, Gemini. If things haven’t been going too smoothly, you might have to examine the dyn...

  • Dear Editor: Clarification on Whitehall Senior Center Budget Cuts

    DAVE POFF|Jun 18, 2025

    Dear Editor, I must clarify my Letter to the Editor to the Whitehall Ledger, which I submitted on June 6, 2025, about the lady being fired from the Whitehall Senior Center. It was my mistake that some misunderstood that the Whitehall Senior Center fired her. The Senior Center is operated by Rocky Mountain Development Council in Helena; this entity does the hiring and firing. It has been brought to my attention that some folks are going in to the Whitehall Senior Center upset over the firing; I...

  • Dear Editor: No Kings Clarification

    RUTH LOTT|Jun 18, 2025

    Dear Editor, When I returned from the "NO KINGS" protest in Butte on Saturday afternoon, I turned on Fox News. The Fox News spin on the hundreds of NO KINGS rallies which took place across the country Saturday was to portray them as disrespectful to the men and women who serve in the various branches of the military, which marked June 14th as its 250th Anniversary. Not true. The thousands of people protesting all over Montana and the millions of people protesting across the rest of the country...

  • Open Letter from Montana Indivisible Groups to Our Federal Representatives

    Jun 18, 2025

    Dear Montana Congressional delegates Daines, Sheehy, Zinke, and Downing, Every member of Congress takes an oath, “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Donald Trump has broken the oath he took to defend the Constitution many times and is on his way to becoming a tyrant. We respectfully ask this question: Where is your line regarding the balance of power and preserving the Constitution? How far can Trump go to dismantle our democracy and disregard the rule of law, before you wil...

  • Thought Provokers: 6/18/2025

    Jun 18, 2025

    Millennials learned to Google, Gen Z learned to prompt, and Gen Alpha will wonder why we ever had to ‘ask’ machines anything. If you didn’t watch it when it aired, you’d never be able to catch up with The Truman Show. I don’t like to go to sleep because finding a comfortable position is difficult. I also don’t want to get up in the morning because this means I have to abandon the perfect sleeping position I’ve spent so much time searching for. IKEA has likely provided more hex keys to consumers than any other supplier. The change in your pocke...

  • Americans Face Test of Community, Citizenship

    STEPHEN TRIMBLE, Writers on the Range|Jun 18, 2025

    Each of us Americans conducts our daily life in bubbles, all shockingly siloed from each other. These days, we don’t share much common ground between our circumscribed worlds based on culture, zip code, religion, and political beliefs. We feel empathy toward others inside our comfortable corrals. But too often, mutual support doesn’t reach outward. Mistrust replaces compassion. I spent late April in my conservationist bubble. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, I’ve tried to take stock of how we treat our home planet. For this year’s “Earth...

  • Just Ask Georgia: 6/18/2025

    GEORGIA|Jun 18, 2025

    GEORGIA, I have a question, My father-in-law has breakfast every Saturday morning at the same restaurant. He arrives at 6 AM when they open and usually stays until 8:30. His kids and grandchildren drop in and out; most do not stay the whole time, and they either pay their checks on the way out or leave him cash to cover their bill, which he pays before he leaves. Last Saturday, my family and I went late, barely catching him. They headed home while I went ot the counter to pay the check. It was $171! I immediately asked for an itemized receipt,...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Shocked

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 18, 2025

    I must be honest; there are days when I’m shocked by another person’s behavior. Maybe you’re a bit like me? Life is cruising along, and the day is going well, then suddenly, someone says something or acts in a certain way, and now I’m leaning towards an offense. I certainly don’t live like my heart is on my sleeve all the time; I’m a bit more guarded and hopefully a little more graceful. Yet, those moments arise when someone’s behavior catches me by surprise. Such a “strange” experience. After all, we are human, and we all act human. Brant...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 6/18/2025

    Jun 18, 2025

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, the universe is giving you a chance to rest and relax before you have to tackle your very long list of tasks. Soak it all up while the break lasts. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you value comfort and security, which is probably why you will want to revisit some of your investments over the next few days to determine if you are maximizing your money. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You excel at seeing both sides of a situation, Gemini. Follow your intuition as you navigate a tricky situation at work that requires you to...

  • Dear Editor: Budget Cuts at Whitehall Senior Center

    DAVE POFF|Jun 11, 2025

    Dear Editor, My name is Dave Poff; I’m 69 years old, retired, and participate in the Whitehall Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program here in Whitehall, Montana. Our community is very small; approximately 2,500 citizens live within town limits, and many more live in the outlying area. Today, (Friday, June 6, 2025), when I went to check the mail and get my senior meal, I found out from one of the two ladies who are the operators of our senior center some news. One of the ladies who has been working there for some years is being fired, as she sa...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 6/11/2025

    Jun 11, 2025

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 This is a terrific time to understand your inner emotions and thoughts, Aries. You may feel extra sensitive and loving toward others, especially your partner. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you may encounter some rough spots that need to be ironed out this week. It may not be easy, but if anyone can handle it, that would be you. Make some firm choices. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 It’s easier to express how you feel to someone important in your life in person, Gemini. Set up a meeting to get things off your chest. CANCER - J...

  • Just Ask Georgia: 6/11/2025

    GEORGIA|Jun 11, 2025

    GEORGIA, I have a question, My husband’s stepmother passed recently after a long illness, and her children specifically wanted our family, including our 2-year-old, to be at her service. When we arrived at the church, I tried to sit in the back pew to take her out when she was antsy, but they put us in front with the rest of the family. Predictably, we lasted only about 30 minutes before my daughter started being disruptive. I took her out to the vestibule where she had a tantrum, so I then took her down into the basement playroom. I...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Badge of Offense

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 11, 2025

    There are certain myths that we somehow learn to accept, and if we aren’t careful, they can take root in our lives and become a reality. Many of which are dangerous, harmful to our relationships, and unbiblical. One specific myth is the notion that we can have righteous anger. Brant Hansen, radio host and author of Unoffendable contends that this notion is incorrect. In life, the opportunity to be offended can occur daily, and some people carry unrighteous anger as if it were a badge of honor, believing it to be righteous anger. A neighbor l...

  • Thought Provokers: 6/11/2025

    Jun 11, 2025

    Human waste disposal networks are some of the most important infrastructure for our way of life, but very few people ever see them. Toasters should have lids. The “Richest People” list is actually the “Legally Richest People,” which is only close to the actual richest people list. There are tons of illegal super-rich people. The Grinch’s enlarged heart was likely a medical cause of his personality change, not a symptom. Contained in a pastry shell, we can cook anything semi-solid in a toaster. Yet we underachieve with just Pop-Tarts and Toast...

  • Op-Ed: Rural Libraries At Risk As Federal Funding Freezes

    MADELINE FABER, Center for Rural Affairs|Jun 4, 2025

    Federal grants often serve as the backbone of rural library services. Without their local library, many communities would lose access to basic resources. However, recent federal actions have placed critical funding for public libraries and museums in jeopardy. Following an executive order from President Trump, the future of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been uncertain. Staff were placed on administrative leave, and grant processing came to a halt. The consequences are especially severe in rural areas. In Nebraska,...

  • Dear Editor: Thank You For Attending

    MARTHA FARRAND|Jun 4, 2025

    Dear Editor (Liz), Thank you for attending the wax museum, photographing all of the kids and publishing the paper with a full page dedicated to them. They put a lot of work into their research and did a great job presenting. MARTHA FARRAND Whitehall, Montana...

  • Thought Provokers: 6/4/2025

    Jun 4, 2025

    In a more futuristic post-apocalyptic world, no one can use the machinery they find on their travels because they won’t have the app. As people die and atoms shift around, there might one day be a worm completely made up of atoms that once knew about cosmic horrors and taxes. Dating apps have created a sliver of human history where it’s possible to flirt with someone while using the restroom successfully. Future archaeologists (and treasure-hunters) will have intense love-hate relationships with landfills. The NSA probably knows the top com...

  • Just Ask Georgia: 6/4/2025

    GEORGIA|Jun 4, 2025

    GEORGIA, I have a question, I need to know if what I did was so very wrong, as my sister swears it is. My sister (25F) has a four-month-old baby, and I (28F) have a six-month-old. We’re really close, and she asked me to watch her baby overnight. She dropped her off with pumped milk and bottles, letting me know she had never tried giving her a bottle before, but believed it “should be fine.” Then she left, traveling over 300 miles away. A few hours in, her baby got hungry. I warmed the milk and tried feeding her from the bottle, but no matte...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Suspended in the Moment

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 4, 2025

    In the darkest times, a person’s faith can be challenged. This has long been the case, dating back to Christians in the First Century, especially those difficult days between Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection. Although Jesus had been teaching and preparing His followers for what was to come, they didn’t quite grasp all that had taken place. As we read the Bible and the prophecies of Jesus regarding His betrayal and death, we can put two and two together; however, we are far removed from the intense emotions and experiences that His f...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 6/4/2025

    Jun 4, 2025

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 This week, you might feel a surge of energy, Aries. It’s a good time to get moving on a long-term project or any passion projects you may have avoided. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, this week is all about finding balance. You may be torn between your career and personal life, but don’t forget to set aside time for yourself. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, your creativity is at an all-time high, so use this week to explore new hobbies or start a creative project that excites you. You can also be creative at work. CAN...

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