Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 35 - 59 of 1980
Dear Editor, There are many times in our lives when common sense clashes irritably with policies established by higher authorities. Our current era seems to be one of those times. Granted, it was back in the 1770s when a group of founding leaders drafted the U.S. Constitution, which was later ratified by the established colonies. Its introductory paragraph, known as The Preamble, summarized the precepts of legitimate governance: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more...
Dear Editor, Thank you, Jim [Buterbaugh], for your opinion on Northwestern's plan to build an AI data center in Missoula. ESSI states that one single data center may use up 5 million gallons per day! I, and I hope others, will contact the Attorney General, our Congressmen, and the PSC. Our concerns in this drought state the threat of depleting our water supply. KATIE SMITH Whitehall, Montana...
What is the Dumbest Tradition? Thinking corned beef & cabbage is an Irish tradition. (Originates from the beef sold by Jewish butchers in New York). Colcannon or Irish Stew would be a far more sensible dish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. (Or my personal favorite, potato cakes.) - NH I don’t like the retail tradition of going straight from Halloween to Christmas and skipping Thanksgiving. I like my holidays in order and I like to finish one before moving on to the next one. - HD What Corporate Jargon Are You Sick of Hearing Circle Back!!! - B...
6 years ago we used to doomscroll text(Twitter, Facebook statuses). 10 years ago we doomscrolled images(Instagram, FB image posts. 5 years ago we started doomscrolling videos (TikTok, Insta Reels, YouTube shorts). Hairdressers go through more schooling than cops. If you’re skinny, shaving your beard makes you look skinnier. But if you’re fat, shaving your beard makes you look fatter. The universe is 13.8 billion years old, but heat death is around 10¹⁰⁰ years away, so it has effectively used 0% of its lifetime meaning the universe is still ba...
GEORGIA, I have a question, I (34F) am happily married to my husband (38M). We are having a little tiff about his gas, and he said I could post here to weigh in on the situation. We are happily married, he’s just smelly. I tend to go to bed before my husband does. He arrives as I’m drifting off to sleep every night. He consistently, nightly, proceeds to unleash the loudest, smelliest farts possible. Multiple. Zero effort to restrain them. Absolutely nauseating in odor. I usually have to get out of bed because the smell is so gross. It kee...
Satan targets Christians. There is no simpler conclusion to understanding the Book of Ephesians. Paul now pulls out the power of his oratory, his clarity, and his love for humanity. Distraction from Christ and His mission requires our vigilance in praying with the Bible and being equipped with God’s provided armor. It is essential to consider the broader context, as Paul emphasizes that Christians submit to one another, bringing honor to Jesus and to each other. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Minor obstacles are in your path, Aries. It’s easy to get frustrated right now. Once you clear the hurdles, it will be smoother sailing before long. Remain patient. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 You treasure family and friends, Taurus. This week calls for an important decision that could affect them all. It may be challenging, but you will make the right call. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you may need to reset your priorities, as new information has come to light. Prioritize responsibilities so major issues are addressed f...
Times are tough for a lot of Montana families right now. Interest rates are high, housing is expensive, and grocery bills aren’t getting any smaller. And when life feels tight, it’s easy to buy what the pessimists are selling—especially on social media—and before long that “old man” talk seeps in: “Kids these days.” “Nothing works anymore.” “We’re headed downhill.” We start pining for a past that never really was. But my gray hairs—plus a few wins and hard lessons—have taught me this: we’re limited less by circumstances than by this very negati...
Dear Editor, Another few questions that deserve answers. When do CAPTURE and KIDNAP become synonyms? When do INTIMIDATION and THREATS become non-criminal offenses? When does adding $3 trillion dollars to the National debt become fiscal conservatism? And finally, why are we having such wonderful January weather? Is it because of climate change? I am sure that other people have more important questions to ask, but these are simply four of the many that have occurred to me. Thank you in advance...
What Bad Behavior on the Road Annoys You Most? People not checking their blinker fluid regularly! -CP People not coming to a complete stop at stop signs - MH Tailgating, especially at night on roads with lots of deer and/or in inclement weather. Your rush to get somewhere is not more important than my safety (or yours, for that matter). Pass, or be patient until you can pass or I can safely pull over for you to pass. - SK People who drive slow until you’re ready to pass then act like they’re in the Daytona 450 and gonna take home all the gli...
Our safest time of day is a nightmare landscape for nocturnal animals. If upside-down cake were served upside down, it’d be the right way up but not look like it. Most of life is not shaped by big decisions, but by the small habits we repeat without noticing. Over time, those quiet routines become our personality, our future, and our limits. What feels insignificant today is often what defines us tomorrow. X-rays expressed as a radio station would be 10 billion FM. An unmarked Costco receipt would be really hard to find outside of a w...
A bit different this week: I’ve listened about the data centers needed for AI; the power required to operate, along with the amount of water, makes it a bit frightening. Then I received an email from a trusted friend, complete with links. In August of 2025, The Missoulian ran a story about Northwestern Energy’s plans for an AI data center, which would be the largest in the state and require 1,000 megawatts of energy (enough to power 800,000 homes). The Missoulian reported the 2024 census stated there are 539,670 housing units. Water usage? Acc...
GEORGIA, I have a question, I live with my girlfriend - we’re both in our early 20s. She recently got super into productivity stuff, like watching TikToks about optimizing your life, cutting wasted time, etc. Last weekend, she said she was starting to meal prep for the week to “save time.” I said, "Cool, thanks, sounds good." Monday morning I open the fridge and there’s literally one giant container. Just one. With a sticky note on it that says “MEALS.” I open it, and I genuinely didn’t know what I was looking at. It was chicken, rice, pasta,...
Winters in Montana can be brutal, and while the weather in the Whitehall Valley has been unseasonably warm lately, I know that when the temperature drops into the single digits or below, I will not go outside without being properly dressed. The chilly wind cuts like a knife to the marrow. For the Christian, being prepared is not an option but a necessity. Spiritual disciplines help us win the day, as found in Ephesians 6 and The Armor of God. The first piece mentioned is the “belt of truth.” For the soldier, this item was a core element bec...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, look for ways to boost your income this week. Be open to dealing with people who might otherwise not come to your attention. Some extra earnings will be useful. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you may be happy to socialize this week, especially with new people who are friendly and congenial. Enjoy some time out on the town and the chance to meet new people. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Right now, you are anxious to work and be productive, Gemini. However, obstacles seem to get in your way left and right. You might need to...
Dear Editor, November 8 was Montana's 136th statehood birthday! Most Montanans felt little to celebrate-a lack of affordable housing, healthcare, food, and opportunity. Mostly, the lack of representation by our Congressional Delegation. Four men lacking Montana values. They say anything to get elected, deny their voting record, lie about their legislative actions and votes, and sponsor bills that benefit Montana. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, a Libertarian, or an Independent, we can...
As the year comes to a close, we’ve taken a look back at the questions Montanans brought to us in 2025. Each request offers a window into the kinds of information people know they can ask their government for, and the gaps show what you might not think to request but still have a right to access. Taken together, the requests we received and those we didn’t show how public records can help resolve problems and that many avenues for understanding our state and local governments remain untapped. The most common requests were those related to loc...
If your first-ever attempt at gambling went completely unsuccessfully, that was probably the better outcome. Since human memory fades over time, Google Photos could be retroactively using AI to alter details in pictures we took years ago, and we would likely rewrite our own memories to match the file rather than notice the change. You never see good news written in the fine print. Very few people can actually keep their watch 5 minutes fast anymore. On most family Christmas trees, you can tell where the kids hung ornaments by the clusters and...
GEORGIA, I have a question, My daughter-in-law enjoys knitting and crocheting. For her birthday last year, my husband and I gifted her a generous gift card to a local yard store, for which she thanked us and seemed pleased. Imagine, to my dismay, that when this Christmas I opened a lovely temperature bedspread for each day of 2024 (as it was the year of our 50th anniversary), she told me she made it with yarn purchased with the gift card! I told my son that we’d, in effect, paid for our own present and that he needed to tell his wife how improp...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Strange things are happening, Aries. It may be better to go with the flow right now. You might like the change that ensues, and the change in pace could be a positive. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Better days are ahead, Taurus. It's just a matter of having a little patience and waiting a little longer for things to settle down. Start a new project to take your mind off things. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Make the most of time spent with friends and family this week, Gemini. You may need to step away for a little while, so cherish...
If you think money buys happiness, that means you still have hope. The more the world moves towards a cashless economy, the harder it becomes for an average person to participate in money laundering. East and West aren’t opposite destinations; they’re the same place, just reached by different distances. You only realize how loud modern life is when the power goes out. Mall Santas must get sick a lot. Rice Krispies Treats may be the only reason Rice Krispies cereal is still being made. Architecture made by animals in fiction often inc...
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter six, is well known for its “Armor of God” teachings. Paul uses strong metaphors to draw comparisons to spiritual disciplines we Christians can utilize to stand firm against deception and temptation. Humans tend to focus on physical strength and agility, so Paul’s metaphor is typically illustrated by large, muscular soldiers. For a second, Google “The Armor of God,” and you will see what I am getting at. I would contend that spiritual discipline and Godly attributes have little to do with physical mu...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 If you are feeling half-hearted about what you are working on, then put it off for a little bit and focus on something more interesting this week, Aries. You can use the rest. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Make it your business to remind others not to take life so seriously this week, Taurus. The best way to do that is to show them how to laugh by example. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Your thoughts are on an important decision that you need to make, Gemini. It’s best to wait a few days before you get into the thick of things. You n...
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...
For weeks now, Montanans have been treated to a steady stream of op-eds from legislators—among them Jane Gillette, Shannon Maness, and Tracy Sharp—denouncing the recent property tax legislation. Their criticisms have focused on SB 542, which created a homestead exemption for primary residences and a different tax rate on second homes. Here is the real question: If SB 542 is so bad, why did Gillette, Maness, and Sharp vote for it? It sounds like Gillette, Maness, and Sharp voted for SB 542 without reading and understanding its contents. After re...
