Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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GEORGIA, I have a question. My wife and kids have been begging for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), so I picked it up on my way home. They were at the grocery store when I got home with the food, and I couldn’t fight my inner demons not to eat the skin off every single piece of chicken (it was only 12 pieces). When my wife got home, I told her I had dinner plans with my buddies - we play golf every Saturday and then do dinner after. I’m at dinner, and my wife calls me FURIOUS. She’s demanding I come home and bring them new food. I refused. She’s...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You’re pure rocket fuel this week, Aries. Charge ahead with all of your bold ideas. Your charisma is off the charts right now. Use it before your energy starts to wane. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Treat yourself to something delicious and expensive this week, Taurus. Just do not blame the cosmos when you get the receipt for this luxury. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Say yes to spontaneous plans this week, Gemini. Your brain is going a mile a minute, so you may need someone along for the ride to keep you grounded. CANCER - Jun 2...
Seven hundred years before Paul walked this earth, Isaiah compared God to a potter (cf. Isaiah 29:16). As Paul brought Christ’s message to the Roman Empire, he presented Jesus in an intimate way, in the same tradition. In the United States, this “God with us” has held until the current generation. The second book of Timothy shocks me: “But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, is obedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, u...
Dear Editor, Teddy Roosevelt is often known as one of the biggest supporters of conservation and protecting lands from overuse. During his presidency, he was able to protect many areas for future users. Since then, we as a country have done a fabulous job of setting aside lands for public use. I believe if President Roosevelt were to see our public lands today, he would have some harsh words of criticism for what has happened to our public lands and how we have stewarded what he left behind for...
Dear Editor, The writer of last week's Op-Ed attacked Montana's STUPID laws regarding traffic cameras. I must respond. In my life, I have served as a member of the Montana Legislature a total of fourteen years. An area of greatest concern to me has always been protecting our citizens' right to privacy. Traffic cameras are an unacceptable invasion of that privacy. When you leave your home in the morning, where you go and what you do for the rest of the day is nobody's business but your own. Surve...
Dear Editor, The Koopmans came to America in 1910, in the steerage section of a ship headed for Ellis Island. Grandpa was a man of peace, seeking peace. He wanted no part of Prussian militarism and "the Kaiser's wars." So he packed up four kids and a wife, and three generations later, the Koopmans are still seeking peace, not war. I guess I have it in my blood. Pop would often say, "The Democrats are the war party." Even as a kid, that stuck in my head, and probably had a lot to do with me...
Dear Editor, THEY DID IT AGAIN!!! The play performed by the Whitehall Jr. Theatrics was FANTASTIC! Everyone knew their part, even little Linkyne! I can't believe she only rehearsed with the cast for two days! Another successful performance under the director's leadership. Each night was a little different from the night before but still quite funny. I definitely do not want to be a college entrance interviewer. I could get puked on, hit on, or bitten, among other things- a very dangerous job....
You cannot use someone else's map to find yourself. Maybe your garden isn't growing because every time a flower grows, you cut it to prove to someone you're a gardener. Both fear and faith ask you to believe in something you can't see; you choose. Maybe "forever" was a word meant for memories, not people. The meaning of life is to give life meaning. If you're persistent, you'll get it. If you're consistent, you'll keep it. If you're grateful, you'll attract more of it. I know it's heavy, but it...
For 250 years, our nation has stood as a beacon of freedom-not because prosperity was guaranteed, but because generations before us were willing to work hard, sacrifice, and leave something better for their children than they inherited. As we continue to celebrate America's 250th birthday, that responsibility now belongs to us. When I was appointed to serve in the Montana Legislature, I understood that my responsibility was simple: represent the people of this district with integrity, listen bef...
Guess what Montana is really good at. Amongst the best in the world. Just behind Cuba, Rwanda, and Turkmenistan. Any idea? Locking people up. Yep. Montana's incarceration rate is not just one of the highest in the United States. It's one of the highest in the world. Roughly 758 people per 100,000 population. Locked up. If Montana were a country, its incarceration rate would be higher than any democracy. Think of the cost. Take a minute. Really think about it. Roughly $50,000 to $60,000 per...
GEORGIA, I have a question. Am I wrong for refusing to babysit ever again after my brother’s wife charged me for dinner? A bit of history... For the last two years, I’ve babysat my brother’s three kids (3, 6, and 8) completely free, twice a month, so he and his wife can have their date nights. I’ve never asked for a dime. They’re family, and I love those kids. Last weekend they asked me to take them from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning, as they wanted a night away. I gave up my whole weekend just to help and spend time with the kids. The...
The return to self-control and godliness is perhaps in the air. For example, the latest Pew Research poll showed that the young subset of scientists, approximately aged 25 to 40, were 1/3 rd more likely to believe in God than older scientists. Is it the exploding national debt? Are people who have lost all faith in the fairness of national media again looking to God? Pastors and congregants are to work together to fulfill the mandate that Jesus left us. Institutional breakdowns are all around us: marriage, family, government, naming the big...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your bold approach is magnetic right now. If you have a big idea that you’ve been waiting to share, present it now. Everyone is ready to listen. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Think about how you can treat someone else to something nice, whether it is a gift, time spent with you, or whatever it is that they desire. Build the foundation for a stronger friendship. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 This week is all about clearing out the old to make room for the new, Gemini. Begin decluttering your physical space and then move on to c...
Dear Editor, I'm pretty sure some of your readers are aware of the most recent Jefferson County Commissioner's meeting (July 14), which might well be called a travesty! This may seem a bit petty, but "How many commissioners are required to hold a valid assembly?" If one is missing, which is more than understandable (condolences to the Kirsch family), would it not STILL be a requirement? I'm not sure what the law is regarding conflicts of interest, but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing...
To the Editor, The recent lawsuit filed in the name of the Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee (YCRCC) et al. against the Montana State Republican Party, without the consent or vote of the precinct representatives, is a glaring example of how our local YCRCC executive committee has centralized power at the top vs. being run as the grassroots political organization it is meant to be. The Executive Board decided unilaterally on July 1st that suing the GOP party over its new bylaws was...
What are other communities doing to make roads safer? Here's a clue. It is illegal in Montana. Using technology. Communities across America are using automated red-light enforcement cameras, speed cameras, and automated ticketing systems to make roads safer. They are saving lives. Preventing injuries. But not in Montana. In the absence of modern technology, driving defensively is critical. It's a survival strategy. Why? Because we have to assume that every stop sign, traffic light, and speed...
Dear Editor, I voted for Alani Bankhead in the Democratic primary because I didn't think the alternative was the better choice. That said, she wasn't my first choice-Seth Bodnar was, but he wasn't on the ballot. I had hoped Bankhead would recognize that much of her support came from voters looking for an alternative rather than from broad enthusiasm for her candidacy, and that she would step aside to give the strongest possible candidate a chance to turn the Senate seat purple. Then, trying to...
It’s envying to see a nice house from the highway, until you realize you can see it from the highway. The growth-maturity moment of boys/men needing to run to the store for feminine hygiene products has largely been eliminated by self-checkout. Civilizations started from kids running away from home. Comparing Armageddon (1998) and Don’t Look Up (2021) shows how mindsets have changed over time. We know humans experience time at approximately the same rate because our reaction times are so close. Having a photographic memory must have been har...
GEORGIA, I have a question. My daughter (23) adopted a two-year-old cat about two months ago from the humane society. She was a plump cat, about 12lbs. We scheduled her a vet appointment, but there’s a 6-week wait. Three weeks later, she gave birth to three kittens. We still have a two-week wait for the vet. While a surprise, we are all in love. She is keeping two kittens with mom, and my other daughter (25) is keeping one. Unbeknownst to me, one of my good friends has taken it upon herself to rehome all three kittens, without talking to my d...
Have you ever been on the road and suddenly a yellow display light alerts you, “Maintenance Required?” Quite often it is merely a timed alarm indicating a needed oil change; however, there are trouble codes that can indicate serious problems, and in those cases, your trip (or vacation getaway) turns into a headache. Just last week, my alternator was failing, but with some help from a friend and tools in the truck, the problem was resolved. Acts 2:44 reads, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” This raises the questio...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 How you respond to a situation matters more than how quickly you react, Aries. Interactions with others will feel more charged than expected, but will be effective. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, slow down so you can see what actually matters right now. You may feel slightly off if you move too quickly; give yourself time to respond to those seeking your help. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You may want to say yes to something quickly, Gemini, without giving it ample time for consideration. Do not jump into things without careful...
Dear Editor, Montana taxpayers expect their tax dollars to be spent responsibly, transparently, and on priorities that benefit everyone-not directed to private organizations with the strongest political support. That expectation is reflected in Article V, Section 11(5) of the Montana Constitution, which states: "No appropriation shall be made for religious, charitable, industrial, educational, or benevolent purpose to any private individual, private association, or private corporation not under...
Dear Editor, My name is Erin Foley. I am the President of the Montana AFL-CIO, the Principal Officer/Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Union Local 2, and a proud born and raised Butte, Montana resident. Across Montana, working families are feeling the squeeze. Whether you're a nurse pulling a double shift, a firefighter awaiting the next call, a construction worker putting in long summer hours, or a truck driver hauling goods across our state, the rising cost of groceries, gas, housing, and...
Dear Editor, I want to thank the City of Helena and the 30 individuals who came together on July 8th for the 250 th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. If you were not able to attend the rally, I encourage all Montanans to join a small group of family members, neighbors, or friends to read it aloud and absorb its relevance today, just as it was 250 years ago. Whenever many of us reflect on the 1776 Declaration, we often consider this paragraph: "We hold...
Any articulate person whose personal lexicon exceeds a fifth-grade reading level will be accused of being a bot or using AI. It’s already happening: The Great Regression. Insect populations are collapsing around the world, which has dire consequences for agriculture and the natural order. Healthcare will be essentially out of reach for a large proportion of Americans soon ALL of the Beech trees and ALL of the Ash trees in North America will be dead or dying within 15-20 years. The country will look very, very different. The dead internet t...
