Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 451 - 475 of 1910
I last talked about my reunion with a college classmate from sixty years ago. I’ve kept in touch with several others, including a couple from grade school, through all these years and the many changes we have each been through. I was just reading an interesting article about the current state of life expectancy and found I am nearly two years past my expiration date. Statistically, the average American male in my pre-Baby Boomer class will last 77 years and five months. The ladies, generally mor...
Georgia, I have a question, I (30M) recently ran into my ex-wife’s sister (28F) at a grocery store. After some small talk and catching up, she asked me out on a date and I’m not sure how I feel about it. My ex and I divorced amicably and she moved away. I did as well for a time, but I ended up coming back home last year. I had no idea what my ex was doing and didn’t really care. My ex’s sister filled me in that she is engaged and happy, which I was actually happy to hear. When my ex’s sister asked me if I would like to have a drink with her som...
For the entirety of the summer, I’ve been exploring two of pastor and author Kyle Idleman’s teaching series with many great friends. As we go through life learning what it entails to be a Christian the Bible emphasizes perseverance and the development of a “never quit” attitude. As a pastor, my goal is to create and cultivate disciples of Jesus, not to produce posh parishioners. Jesus exemplified what it means to be self-sacrificial, and if we are to be Biblically guided, we too will “take up our cross daily” (Matthew 16:24) and practice de...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 You are the master of leaping before looking, Aries, and this week is no different. You are not satisfied with hanging back and assessing the situation before acting. You are right in the mix. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, do not pretend to be a neutral party when two people come up to you seeking advice. You are too loyal to avoid taking sides, but it could affect the relationship with the other person. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, it may be time to step in and help a loved one refocus their energies. Work to offer them a ne...
Most would be hopeless on a battlefield, considering video games and movies have conditioned us to expect the enemy to be terrible at aiming. The best-behaved child is often not the parent’s favorite. If Disney can’t be sued by customers who have used Disney+, it has no financial incentive to keep its park rides safe. Parking your car directly in front of someone else’s house when you have your own driveway is like a guy who chooses the urinal right next to you when other open urinals are available; it’s not against the rules, but you’ll...
Dear Editor, In my experience, the best of the best are the people who are confident enough to share what they have learned to help others improve. This is a shout-out for Whitehall High School Junior Zane Downey - who has won national recognition showing cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs all over the country – and who (as he does throughout the year) once again took the time last week to help kids in Whitehall and Harrison 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters to shine at the Madison/Jefferson County F...
Marla Runyan is an American athlete and former Olympian distance runner; her life story is remarkable. She was the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympics, placing 8th in the 2000 1500m Sydney Games. However, her physical impairment didn’t stop her from reaching goals or pursuing a dream. Her self-described running strategy was to be “Focused on the blob of bodies ahead of her, to try and get in front of the blob.” Most of us are fortunate to have most of our faculties; in fact, you’re reading this article and are not blind....
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You may have renewed energy and motivation right now, Aries. Capitalize on that to tackle a laundry list of projects on the back burner. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, your sense of humor and quirky personality could get you a few extra chuckles from friends this week, but try not to take it too far—factor in time for serious pursuits. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, when focusing on your health this week, remember that stress reduction is important to getting healthy. Aim for activities that focus on relaxation. CANCER -...
Dear Editor, Do you own a home and wonder what it's worth? You can easily look up your address on Zillow and see the estimated value is rapidly rising, translating to more property taxes. Too many Montana families cannot keep up with an annual $249-million property tax increase imposed by Republican Governor Gianforte and his party in the Legislature. Yet, after months of analysis by the Governor's property tax task force, they recommended a complicated process that will raise our taxes again!...
Dear Editor, In the Montana Senate race, Sheehy is running as the successful businessman versus the professional politician, parallelling Trump’s presidential campaigns. However, some people are questioning how successful Sheehy is. The first claim is that Sheehy had an unfair advantage in his start-up from his wealthy family. It is reported that he received around $400K in seed money. Tester inherited 1,800 acres of farmland from his grandparents’ estate. Assuming a modest value of $500 per acr...
When a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Montana feels funding a campaign in our state is meaningless, it disenfranchises voters and undermines the democratic process. On August 14, I officially filed a write-in campaign for Reilly Neill as a candidate in Montana’s Second Congressional District. Voters deserve a choice on the ballot, someone fighting for them. They deserve a Democrat on the ballot elevating important issues and supporting a robust democracy. The concerns of the f...
Dear Editor, We are writing as former office holders and candidates. Though we are less politically active than we used to be, we step up when motivated. Mark O’Keefe served as Montana State Auditor for 8 years, from 1992-2000, after having served 4 years as a state representative from Helena where he still resides. Dorothy Bradley served as a state representative from Bozeman for 16 years, and resides in Clyde Park. Both were Democratic nominees for governor. The 2024 race for Montana State A...
Georgia, I have a question, I took in a project horse about 1.5 years ago to keep her from going to a kill pen or killing someone. It had extreme behavioral issues (still has some quirks to work out but is no longer trying to kill people). I took her home and began rehabbing it. It was coming along nicely and I became pregnant. I still worked it in hand and was happy with it’s progress; it really came out of her shell and was becoming quite impressive. I spent my entire pregnancy having body work, acupuncture, and other corrective work done t...
It’s nice that water has such a low viscosity. It would not be very pleasant if it was thick, like syrup or honey. As the years go by, owning a car with a manual transmission lowers the chance of theft since fewer new-generation thieves know how to drive it. Crunchy foods soften as they become stale, while soft foods become crunchy as they go stale. A whole generation of people have only ever experienced simulated television static. Typically, “evil” people are referred to by their last/second name. Some bars have a traffic light sign lit g...
Dear Editor, Recently, two representatives (male and female) from the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee went to the Republican National Convention. Upon their return, they presented the Platform of the Montana Republican Party, a 16-page summary of our position on Montana and national issues. America needs determined Republican leadership at every level of government to address the core threats to our very survival: our disastrously open border, our weakened economy, crippling...
Dear Editor, I don't mean to be a Negative Nelly or even too much of an alarmist; however, the proverbial $h!t is hitting the fan in many ways! A predicted stock market crash... the attempted assassination of what some see as the best hope for a floundering nation ... the cost of living skyrocketing across the board ... preppers all over preparing, maybe even hoping, for the worst. With all the military action around the world, not JUST in the Middle East, it seems World War III is looming on...
Tim Sheehy, the Republican seeking to unseat Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester, is a business executive born and raised out of state. That same description applies to Troy Downing, a Republican running for one of Montana’s two Congressional seats. Same for Montana’s Republican Governor Greg Gianforte and his challenger, Democrat Ryan Busse. I have nothing against out-of-staters moving to Montana or working at a business. I fit both categories myself years ago. But I think this change in politicians’ backgrounds reflects a change in how M...
I had a reunion last week with a friend I will have known for 60 years at the end of this month. We were freshmen in the Montana School of Mines dormitory in 1964. Although we kept in touch, primarily via email, we had not seen each other for nearly thirty years. Over a few days, we relived our early time together, much of it wasted, and shook our heads in amazement at the things we did without thinking. It’s an established fact that young men’s brains don’t fully develop their reasoning and sel...
Tim Sheehy, the Republican seeking to unseat Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester, is a business executive born and raised out of state. That same description applies to Troy Downing, a Republican running for one of Montana’s two Congressional seats. Same for Montana’s Republican Governor Greg Gianforte and his challenger, Democrat Ryan Busse. I have nothing against out-of-staters moving to Montana or working at a business. I fit both categories myself years ago. But I think this change in politicians’ backgrounds reflects a change in how M...
You may have noticed the 2024 Summer Olympic Games are underway. This tradition dates back approximately 3,000 years to the Peloponnese in Ancient Greece. This year, there are 45 sporting events with more than 200 representatives from various nations. Go, Team USA! Writers in the New Testament often used illustrations or themes associated with Olympic events, and they understood the relevance closely associated with Christian life. Over the past few weeks, I’ve dedicated this column to examining Hebrews 12 in-depth, “Therefore, since we are...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you hold the key to success right now, so everyone wants to be in your corner. Take things in stride and maintain your focus while accepting all the support. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, it is important that you streamline your workflow this week; otherwise, you may not meet the deadlines imposed upon you. Start implementing a new strategy. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 This is the week to take the road less traveled, Gemini. Blaze your own trail, get out into the wilderness and possibly expand your horizons. A...
Dear Editor, To my dismay, as it should be for all Montanans, a new gold mine using cyanide washing near Norris, Montana. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) okayed the Bear Claw mine. The cyanide ban law was passed in 1998. According to the DEQ, the permit was issued without public notification before the banned law! This is a new mining company; therefore, the ban law should be in place. The new mine is 1.75 miles from Hot Springs Creek and the Headwaters of the Madison River...
There is probably a tiny percentage of identical twins who received their names a short time after birth, were mistakenly switched when they got home, and no one realized. When you’re poor, no one wants to give you a credit card or loan, but when you’re rich, you are pre-approved for credit cards you don’t want. The magic school bus could be in your bloodstream right now, and you wouldn’t even know it. It is impossible to see the exact current version of yourself. It seems that cereal companies no longer think their products should be eaten a...
Dear Editor, Any uninformed or misinformed extremists who are spoon-fed their political views can save time and stop reading this short op-ed. Go ahead and turn to the comics section of this publication. My intent is to reach out to individuals who are open-minded, exercise a little forethought, and, most of all, are able to think for themselves. This week I have several comments based on the 2024 Social Security Trustees Report which can be read at SSA.gov. Thanks to a stronger economy based on wage and job growth, more money than expected is...
Who among us hasn’t thrown out a cliché or two? Merriam-Webster defines cliché as “a trite phrase or expression.” Some clichés are untimely, and others can be inappropriate for a situation. In Christian circles, clichés are common and, at times, can be misguided. Some include “Let go and let God,” “When God closes a door, He opens a window,” and one that I particularly refrain from using: “God will not give you more than you can handle.” In my opinion, the last phrase is far from the truth; life is filled with challenges or hardships. The Bib...
