Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

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  • HOROSCOPES: Week of 3/4/2026

    Mar 4, 2026

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your natural charisma is at an all-time high right now. A bold idea you’ve been sitting on finally gets the green light. Put your plan into action this week. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Comfort and luxury find you this week, Taurus. Expect a heartwarming moment in your personal or professional life that restores your sense of peace and well-being, GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Your social circle may expand this week in the best way possible, Gemini. A new connection brings a refreshing perspective to a creative project. Now you...

  • Thought Provokers: 2/25/2026

    Feb 25, 2026

    It’s likely your left and right feet haven’t taken the same number of steps. You can turn any bad movie into a good one by pretending it’s a satire. There’s a specific point in a person’s life where a beard goes from making you look older to making you look younger. Considering that the brain treats social and emotional pain as being just as bad as physical pain, it’s weird that we don’t have an equivalent to “ouch” or “ow” for social distress. It’s hard accept that the toilet brush is the final form of toilet-cleaning technology. Turning our...

  • Dear Editor: Montanans deserve straight talk, not dark-money bushwhackers

    LLEW JONES, Montana Representative, House of Appropriations|Feb 25, 2026

    Dear Editor, Montanans deserve straight talk, not dark-money bushwhackers. I ardently defend free speech as the cornerstone of democracy. Montanans should always be able to speak their minds freely, criticize leaders, and hold us accountable without fear. But free speech is not a license for anonymous attacks or faceless smears. When accusations fly in elections, the person being attacked has every right to face their actual accuser and respond directly. And voters have every right to know who's...

  • Dear Editor: SNAP was my Safety Net

    TIFF S.|Feb 25, 2026

    Dear Editor, SNAP was my safety net when life quickly took a turn. I spent 7 years in animal welfare, a full-time job that I loved. It was through helping homeless animals that I learned how important welfare was for humans who've also fallen on hard times. My income was enough to scrape by with, though I was always wary of impending emergencies. Eventually, I left the shelter with intentions of moving out of the state. But plans changed and I stayed in Missoula... without a job. During this...

  • Dear Editor: Butte is on the Move

    RICK EDWARDS|Feb 25, 2026

    Dear Editor, Butte is on the move. As a fourth-generation Butte resident, I am thrilled to see the growth and development that is occurring in our community. Looking around, we see new developments at the Mall, Cornerstone Plaza, Uptown Butte, and various other areas across town. If you take a ride west of Butte to the Montana Connections Business Park, you will be amazed at the growth in that area, coming from both large and small businesses. That is exactly what was expected when that...

  • Just Ask Georgia: 2/25/2026

    GEORGIA|Feb 25, 2026

    GEORGIA, I have a question. Last night I was driving home with my girlfriend, and she asked if I farted. I answered no, but she didn’t believe me. She kept on saying I was lying or joking, even after I told her a solid 15-20 times, “No, babe, I’m not joking, I’m not lying, I didn’t fart.” After that, I gave up and turned off the radio because I was upset she didn’t believe me. We sat in silence until I dropped her off. I called her today to try to explain that I was upset because she wasn’t taking me seriously, and I wasn’t feeling heard. She t...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 2/25/2026

    Feb 25, 2026

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Unleash your inner architect, Aries. Your focus is laser sharp this week. Use this incredible mental clarity to map out a long-term goal that can lead to professional success. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you might uncover a previously unnoticed talent or find a fantastic, easy way to increase your income stream. Your instincts about finances are particularly sharp. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You are stepping into a week of elevated confidence and personal magnetism, Gemini. It’s the perfect time to make a splash, meet n...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Pressures of Life Can Have Two Outcomes

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Feb 25, 2026

    We are considering the epistle Paul to the Philippians, where Paul testifies personally how Jesus is more than your most treasured possession. He continues with a fellowship of joy. In many of his letters to churches, he expressed this intense desire to see the return of Jesus and described it as a great hope; however, Christ’s Second Coming did not occur in Paul’s lifetime. Consider all the pressures he faced alongside the believers in the ancient, ancient city of Philippi—incredible persecution and suffering. Through everything, Paul press...

  • Dear Editor: What is up with Montana Medicaid?

    CHARLES HADDON SHANK|Feb 18, 2026

    Dear Editor, What is up with Montana Medicaid?! Some people here in Whitehall are probably somewhat familiar with my personal struggles last year, what with spending several days in the hospital, losing my Medicaid, and, of course, my struggles with the legalities of driving my 'Sunshine.' Long story short, regarding my 'Sunshine' golf cart, when I was pulled over earlier last year, the deputy had told me, before she let me off with a warning, that I didn't need to register her, but I DID need...

  • Dear Editor: Christi Jacobsen's "Voter Fraud" Witch Hunt

    DOUG JAMES|Feb 18, 2026

    Dear Editor, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is once again riding bravely into battle against a terrifying threat to our democracy: non-citizens voting. Yes, you read that right. Somewhere out there-possibly hiding behind a grain elevator or lurking near a Flathead Lake fishing dock-an undocumented voter is just waiting to steal your ballot. Or at least that's the story Jacobsen keeps selling. Her latest stunt? Sending postcards across Montana that prominently feature President...

  • Dear Editor: Montana Representation Should Stay Local

    MARK JACOBS|Feb 18, 2026

    Dear Editor, Montanans value independence, local control, and practical problem-solving. That's why the recent wave of political mailers targeting Ken Walsh deserves a closer look-not just for what they say, but for who is paying for them. Groups such as Americans for Prosperity have every right to participate in public debate. But when national organizations spend heavily in a small rural district, voters should ask whether the goal is to strengthen local communities or to enforce national...

  • Thought Provokers: 2/18/2026

    Feb 18, 2026

    From the patient’s perspective, a surgery under general anesthesia never actually happened. The movie Free Willy was a pro-abolitionist story produced with slave labor. Documentaries all take place in the same shared universe. When the movie is better than the book, most people never even know it's based on a book. You can miss a place and still be glad you left it. The only moment to exist in all of history is right now. It’s interesting that trauma dumping is far more socially acceptable when done through song. You likely don’t know if the c...

  • Ledger Social Media Convos: Week of 2/18/2026

    Feb 18, 2026

    WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PEEVE WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING HOUSE GUESTS? When they don’t follow house rules. Like no shoes in the house. Pick up after yourself. - LDN When they open bathroomcupboards and drawers. - KB Leaving... I always want more days - AKP They don’t bring food.- MM WHAT’S THE WORST THING TO WATCH SOMEONE ELSE FAIL AT? Instructing you to skydive.- NH Staying sober. - HD Knowing that they’ve given everything they had and it just wasn’t quiet enough. - TO Asking for a date. - TD WHERE IS THE MOST ANNOYING PLACE TO GO? Great Falls - H...

  • Just Ask Georgia: 2/18/2026

    GEORGIA|Feb 18, 2026

    GEORGIA, I have a question, Last weekend I (26f) had my friend (27m) watch my place and my cat. I told him he could “help himself to whatever” in the kitchen, which I thought clearly meant snacks and stuff. I get back and realize he opened this $120 bottle of vintage Barolo I was saving for my promotion. He literally drank the whole thing alone while watching Netflix. When I asked him about it, he got all weird and said I “gave him permission” because the wine was in the kitchen. But my question is, who drinks a $100 bottle of wine without...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Rubbish or Treasure

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Feb 18, 2026

    Paul’s letter to the Philippians is called “the letter of joy” because its tone reveals a tenderness in Paul that other writings do not. Again, it clarifies that being imprisoned for preaching Jesus as Lord and Savior makes this a favorite epistle, and thus moves me to write and preach on this theme. Recently, in Butte, my youngest daughter took me treasure hunting in one of their thrift stores, which I endured because of my sheer joy of being with her. I appreciate time better, I think, when I “drift my time a little,” stopping to smell the...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 2/18/2026

    Feb 18, 2026

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You have the cosmic green light to start that major project you’ve been planning or to take a leap in your career, Aries. Trust your intuition -it’s sharper than ever. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Abundance is knocking, Taurus. Your hard work is translating into tangible rewards, and you may receive unexpected good news regarding finances or resources. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Your mind is sparkling, Gemini, making you the most magnetic person in the room. Use this vibrant energy to connect, share ideas and lead discussions. CAN...

  • Thought Provokers: 2/11/2026

    Feb 11, 2026

    American Football is essentially an IRL turn-based strategy game. One day in the future, “Do you smoke?” will mean marijuana by default, not nicotine. Unlike other content on YouTube, music videos tend to see their view counts increase consistently over time. When exercising, fat is broken down into components, and the carbon from it is breathed out. Losing weight is difficult because it involves changes at the molecular level. Much furniture design is limited by door size. It’s absurd that we accept rock losing to paper just because “pape...

  • Ledger Social Media Convos: 2/11/2026

    Feb 11, 2026

    WHAT ARE YOU SICK OF SEEING ONLINE: Everything - JB Armchair Warriors - KJT Commercials - AKP Division - LRB Politics - PP AI - MM and BK Mean People - LSA WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE SMELL? Boxer brief farts - MM Fishing worms left in the fridge since last summer - SH Rotten potatoes - JB Stale cigarettes - CW Cigarette smoke & Durian - SO Patchouli - KK Moldy Oranges - MP Diapers - AKP Peanut Butter - FR Vomit - MM Lavender - MB Diesel - JJ Bacon - KL Eggs - KH Dog/cat pee - LSA WHAT HUMAN BODY MALFUNCTION DRIVES YOU THE CRAZIEST? That r...

  • Dear Editor: The Business of Fueling Rage with Fake Policy Analysis and Scorecards

    BRAD BARKER, Montana State HD55|Feb 11, 2026

    Dear Editor, The short game in Montana politics is not about governing or solving problems. It's a business model built on fear, anger, and resentment that substitutes fake policy analysis and ideological scorecards for honest debate. There are several central players in this short game: the Montana Freedom Caucus (MFC), Art Wittich (the Montana GOP's Florida-based staffer), Americans for Prosperity-Montana (AFP), the Frontier Institute, and the multiple groups they operate under pseudonyms. Whi...

  • Dear Editor: Montana's Elections are Secure. Our Leadership is the Problem.

    REILLY NEILL, U.S. Senate Candidate|Feb 11, 2026

    Dear Editor, Montana's elections work because of the people working on the ground. County election officials and clerks across Montana are the best in the nation. Local election workers follow the law, verify voter eligibility, protect private information, and protect ballots. Non-citizens don't vote in Montana because doing so is illegal. Our county officials enforce the law carefully and consistently. Election fraud in Montana is extraordinarily rare. Strong election systems and professional c...

  • Dear Editor: Who Speaks for Montana?

    JOHN FULLER, Montana Senator|Feb 11, 2026

    Dear Editor, Who speaks for Montana? In 1842, 91-year-old Levi Preston, who had fought at Concord as a Massachusetts Minuteman in the American Revolutionary War, was asked why he took up arms against the British on April 19th, 1775. Preston ignored the familiar list of grievances historians often cite and dismissed the idea that he had been inspired by the philosophical writings of John Locke, claiming he had "never heard of 'em." What motivated Preston and others like him who fought for...

  • Op-Ed: Internet Lies Ruin Lives

    ROGER KOOPMAN, Montana Conservative Alliance|Feb 11, 2026

    Lies can wreck a business, destroy a career, kill relationships, and ruin lives. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is right. When an internet service provider hosts a defamatory, fabricated personal attack that accuses the target of reprehensible and criminal behavior, that provider possesses a certain degree of accountability for their refusal to take it down. Not unlike the print media knowingly publishing a libelous letter or op-ed, the internet carrier may, based on the evidentiary record, be found justly liable for allowing the damage and...

  • MT & WY Corner Crossers Want Lawmakers to Step Up

    KARLEE PROVENZA and JOSHUA A. SECKINGER, Writers on the Range|Feb 11, 2026

    Last summer, hunters and anglers stepped up in a huge way to help defeat a proposal by Utah Senator Mike Lee to sell off millions of acres of public land. In the end, public land defenders won. Confronted by an outpouring of grassroots opposition, Senator Lee removed his amendment to the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” But the struggle demonstrated that we need to act sooner. Four elk hunters in Wyoming showed us what stepping up can look like. Instead of sitting back and looking sadly at a huge chunk of prime elk country block...

  • Just Ask Georgia: 2/11/2026

    GEORGIA|Feb 11, 2026

    GEORGIA, I have a question, Yesterday, I saw that my ex-boyfriend’s mom had posted on Facebook that she’d broken an arm and leg and was going in for surgery. Apparently, my ex didn’t know anything about it and is now angry with me for ruining his morning and causing unnecessary stress. He demanded that I unfriend his mother immediately and quit keeping tabs on his family. Little background: We broke up seven months ago after six years together. We still speak every day, see each other a couple of times a week, and live a couple of streets apart...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 2/11/2026

    Feb 11, 2026

    ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 A spark of excitement brightens your week, Aries. You may rediscover enthusiasm for a goal you set aside. Take one confident step and watch momentum gather. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 This week brings steady comfort and satisfying progress, Taurus. Something you’ve been nurturing starts to show real signs of growth. You’re building something meaningful. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Your mind is in full brilliance mode, Gemini. New insights, clever connections, and energizing conversations fill your days. A fun invitation or une...

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