Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 191 - 215 of 1910
Throughout history, certain people have clamored for signs regarding the Second Coming of Jesus. Some lean towards honest curiosity, others towards shaky intuitive thinking, which can be problematic. Who better to address the question than Jesus? In Luke 21, we read of this conversation, “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown d...
Montanans are being crushed under the weight of skyrocketing property taxes. Longtime residents are watching their tax bill soar as wealthy out-of-staters scoop up land and inflate home values across Montana. Families, seniors, and working people across the state are pleading for relief. This session a group of Montanans – Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals – came together to deliver meaningful property tax relief. Unfortunately, a group of Montana lawmakers stood in the way and are now actively campaigning to get Gov...
The 2025 Legislative Session is over and it is time to look back at what was accomplished. For 85 days, Montana House Republicans worked hard to make Montana a better place to live, start a business, and raise a family. Property tax relief was our number one priority. The property tax package passed by the Legislature provides significant relief to Montana resident property taxpayers. The current property tax rate on residential property is 1.35%. For the 2025 tax year, the property tax rate will drop to 0.76% on the first $400,000 of market...
We’re lucky that pigeons make gentle cooing noises, not loud squawking noises. The idea that you master something after ten thousand hours does not hold much water, as people still bite their tongue when they eat. If human beings laid eggs, consuming them would be considered anything from taboo to ritualistic, varying from culture to culture. By the laws of logic, “to be or not to be” is always true. The day technology reaches singularity will be known as Independence Day for robots and Doomsday for mankind. You never realize how loud your...
GEORGIA, I have a question, I have five siblings, all over the age of 27. None are employed, and all are on government support or disability. Every Mother’s Day for the last 22 years, I have paid the bill for dinner for all of us, which is hundreds of dollars. I have paid because I am the only one with a stable income; I make a good, comfortable living, but I am not rich. This year, I am finally a mom. As a 38-year-old, I also don’t feel that it is still my responsibility to pay for all of my siblings. Yes, I can afford it, but it has now bec...
The subject of wealth and prosperity comes up often in the New Testament. Jesus taught about money and possessions nearly 15% of the time, including the matter in 11 of His 39 parables. As a truthteller, He most often cuts to the motive of an individual’s heart, which reveals that person's character. First-century Jewish society was extremely polarized. The affluent treated the poor harshly, including the religious leaders who were excessively judgmental. Jesus stood up for people of good character. “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich put...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you soon find yourself pushing forward with great determination. Your drive is unstoppable, but tread carefully and respectfully in pursuing greatness. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Introspection is paramount right now, Taurus. You may reflect on your values, goals, and personal growth. This week, there are chances to change. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, right now is a good time to collaborate with others, whether at work or in personal projects. Use any time this week to your advantage to attend social events. CANCER -...
House Bill (HB) 477, to phase out single-use expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam food containers across Montana, has passed both the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support and backing from a diverse coalition of stakeholders. The bill, aimed at protecting public health, reducing litter, and supporting agricultural and timber business opportunities, is now before Governor Greg Gianforte. Since first introducing an EPS phase-out bill in 2019, sponsor Representative Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula, has worked to address lawmakers’ concerns and c...
The first 2/3 years of The Truman Show must’ve been boring to watch. Depression and anxiety are symptoms of social isolation, but without having a pandemic. While obviously even, it just feels wrong for a number like 777,777,772 to not be odd. An advanced aquatic civilization would have a harder time space-faring. Some of the most critical decisions that guide our futures are when we are inexperienced, hormonally unstable, and cognitively underdeveloped. Every left-handed Beatles member is still alive, while every right-handed member is d...
Dear Editor, On the last day of his presidency, in his last speech, President Ronald Reagan recalled what someone had once written to him: "You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or a Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American." "We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people-our strength-from every co...
Dear Editor, A big THANK YOU to the Whitehall Country Store for being available to utilize the leftovers from the Cardwell Church Mission Trip Bake/Garage Sale from last week. The town of Whitehall is very blessed to have this wonderful resource for shopping for quality, affordable clothes as well as household items, toy,s etc., etc. The location is perfect for parking and/or unloading items, and it provides funding to the Town, Jefferson Valley Museum, Whitehall community swimming pool,...
GEORGIA, I have a question, My daughter is away at college. Since she will stay in the city this summer for an internship, she asked me to send the rest of her things out of her bedroom. While doing this, I came across an item I was uncertain about what to do with. Way back in the corner on a high shelf in her closet, I found a shoebox that contained a....toy. I imagine she would be beyond embarrassed to know I discovered it (if my mother had found something like that in my room, I would have died!) Should I put it back and wait and see if she...
Christians worldwide just finished celebrating Easter, an event that commemorates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The central theme of the Bible hinges upon one powerful truth: Jesus came to redeem all of us who are lost in sin by His atoning sacrifice on the cross. We can be seen as righteous through Christ’s accomplished work of the cross and the empty grave. All through a simple act of faith and repentance by placing our trust in Jesus Christ. Is it possible for rocks to cry out loud? This may seem odd, but the theme is seen t...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you may want to take charge of your professional life this week. Trust your instincts, but remember that you may have to leave your comfort zone at some point. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, expect a week of self-reflection. Old emotions might resurface and offer you a chance to grow and heal. Plan to hang out with close friends if you feel out of sorts. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Make sure you are not spreading yourself too thin this week, Gemini. Even though you are eager to connect and socialize, you might want to...
A common sentiment throughout cultures and history is the dreaded visit of a tax agent or tax collection day. In the U.S., April 15 annually is set for income taxes, although hundreds of thousands of businesses file quarterly. There are also strong sentiments on what our government does or does not do with our money as taxpayers. Rather than getting into a tangled mess about taxation, I would like to draw your attention to the streets of Jericho during the first century. A chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, had a life-changing conversation with Je...
Dear Editor, I was once again amused to read another extreme Op-Ed by Roger Koopman in the April 23 edition of the Ledger disparaging those of us peacefully demonstrating against President Trump's policies. As usual, Mr. Koopman weaponized his editorial with name-calling and derogatory statements. Once again, little or no substance was included in his misleading rant. I do concede that his tirade of abuse could be found entertaining by uninformed extreme conservatives, but not constructive. Why...
It’s illegal to let your child/pet starve, but legal to let them get morbidly obese. It’s crazy how the previous generations were so addicted to cigarettes that they had built-in lighters in their cars. The children most impacted by peak leaded gasoline fumes are now 50-75. Grape soda is always purple, which completely ignores the existence of green grapes. There was only a short time between the “Oh, this is Al” phase and the “Is this Al? I’m not sure” phase. Some people chew the dry skin off their lips. They’re eating themselves. Tha...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, there’s a secret that you have been holding on to, and you are ready to let it go. It won’t weigh you down anymore, and you can finally focus entirely on the future instead of the past. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, certain ground is tough for people to travel, but you have the conviction and grit to get things done. You have a history of thriving when faced with adversity, and that’s an asset. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, keep an eye open for a challenge. When given an opportunity that will require your fulle...
Dear Rocky Mountain Head Start Board of Directors and Whom It May Concern, My name is Melissa Einboden, and I am writing with a sincere and heartfelt request on behalf of our local preschool program's families, children, and supporters. In the past year, I have been in the classroom a lot. Just ask Whitehall classroom staff. I have developed a passion for these kids and just like the Head Start kid I was, my mom would have told you- I have a hard time accepting, uh, not getting my way.... We...
Dear Editor, We must stop shifting state burdens to the community! At a recent Whitehall Indivisible meeting, someone suggested our community "come together" to fund the preschool program being cut from Whitehall. But that's not a solution-it's a symptom of a larger failure. Rocky Head Start is closing, and families here are losing access to those slots so they can go to Helena. Why? Because we only filled 13 of 16 spots. That doesn't mean the need isn't real. It means the system is failing smal...
Dear Editor, Well, it finally happened... I knew it would happen sooner or later; I'm more than willing to accept full responsibility for my lawless actions. I was pulled over the other evening while traveling into town. I've been traveling around town like this in my golf cart named "Sunshine" for a bit over 5 years now, without so much as a "BOO" from the cops, or anyone else for that matter, so why now? I understand, as I have from the beginning, that technically, it is illegal to travel on...
Humans get more instructions on how to microwave packaged meals than they do on raising a child from birth and beyond. Eventually, the “share-sized” candy bars will be the original-sized candy bars before shrinkflation. The social value of a sneeze changes throughout the year. In winter, people assume you’re sick; in spring, people assume it’s allergies. Billions of people have lived and died who no one remembers, but a specific, individual spider I let crawl on my arm 30 years ago exists in living human memory. If a supernatural event happene...
In case you hadn’t noticed, Montana is a heavy whine-producing state. The vintners are many, from the Marxist professors and ranting radicals brought onto our campuses, to the farmers, corporate welfarists, and chamber of commerce types, looking to government for special favors, subsidies, and protections from competition. Montanans are intoxicating our politics with cases of expensive whine. Witness the “Republican” legislature’s latest budget bill (HB 2) that imposes on us an 18 percent increase in future spending. Another session where,...
GEORGIA, I have a question, My son just told me his daughter, age 26, is getting breast enhancement surgery. How do I address that when I next see her, probably in several months? It’s not like commenting on a new hair color or hairdo. Old men commenting on female anatomy, particularly that part, are not looked at favorably, and I don’t want her to think her grandpa is creepy. As I see it, this goes in two ways: 1. She mentions it to me, though this is probably not likely to happen. So, since she got the surgery to make a visible dif...
The subject of prayer never gets old, and the Bible is filled with valuable principles and advice. The pages also discover both exemplary and poor examples of prayer. As readers, we can learn from all this by examining our motives and personal practices about prayer. Luke chapter 18 begins with two parables, but I contend they are interrelated. Over the last two years, I’ve spent considerable time exploring the parables of Jesus as recorded by Luke. I find them powerful, interesting, and insightful. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to s...
