Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Figures of speech abound all around us. I’m certain in the past week you’ve used some form of a figure of speech, I certainly have. I want to examine with you today a “sacred cow.” Dictionary.com defines this as “an individual, organization, institution, etc., considered to be exempt from criticism or questioning.” Sometimes we hold dearly to our own “sacred cow” and expect others to fall into line. Well, Jesus in Luke chapter 6 addresses the topic. “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Take a few days off from work if you find you have been running yourself ragged, Aries. The pressure to be the best may have gotten to you and you need a rest. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Powering through a situation sometimes works, but not if you are feeling ill or injured, Taurus. Prioritize your health right now and take a step back if need be. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, there are always two sides to every story, so resist the urge to weigh in on a situation between friends right now. Get all of the information first and...
Dear Editor, I just read your story regarding Tactical Civics (Ledger - 6/9/2021), why the softball? Had you gone to the website, you'd have read something far different than the hooey spouted in the story. "This republic of sovereign States, founded in the Name of Jesus Christ and blessed for centuries, is now under Communist occupation by D.C., Beijing, and many state palaces. The massive fraud in the 2020 election, combined with the criminal COVID-19 hoax was the work of criminals in the...
Dear Editor, Well, the next step in your residential property tax increase is happening. Banks are sending updated "mortgage bills" to homeowners. Guess what? You owe more money! Recently, a young friend reached out, concerned about his $100 monthly mortgage increase and he didn't know why. That's a lot of money - $1,200 a year. Drumroll for the explanation. Since the bill comes from the bank, it's the lender's fault, right? Nope. By law, a residential mortgage statement must show the escrow...
Dear Editor, Hunting, angling, and ranching are the cornerstones of our communities in Southwest Montana. As such, our public lands should be managed to support these activities, which are significant economic drivers for our local economy. However, most of the public lands in Beaverhead and Madison Counties are still available for oil and gas leasing. This is surprising, given that there's very little history of drilling in our counties. According to BLM, the industry has never drilled "a...
Everything that comes out of the human body smells bad. Sneezing while driving is very dangerous. Addictions are normally accepted if you generate revenue from them. Naming children after dead relatives is very common, but naming a pet after a past dead pet is incredibly weird. All firearms are a sophisticated way of throwing rocks at each other. Everyone’s an idiot and only smart people are willing to admit it. It’s unfathomably easy to ruin your entire life. Finding a dollar in the 1800s must have been so exciting. People are much more int...
Georgia, I have a question, I got a new neighbor. She came to say hello and in the same sentence said she was getting a privacy fence and asked if I would pay for my side. I looked at her and laughed. I thought she was messing with me. Woman was dead serious. I told her that’s not how that freaking works and I shut my door in her face after she told me I had no choice. She’s been living in the neighborhood for a week. Am I in the wrong for thinking if she wants to put up a fence she should pay for it herself? Don’t Want a Fence Dear Don’t Want,...
I recently found myself digging through the fridge to grab some milk, I was looking forward to enjoying a rare bowl of cereal. Disappointment set in as I took a whiff and squinted to read the expiration date on the milk container. Dina, my wife, pointed out a small amount of heavy cream in the fridge door so I watered that down to enjoy the rather rare bowl of cereal since the expiration date was safe. In Luke 5 we read of Jesus describing two parables: new and old patching of garments and new and old wineskins to make a point, all the...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, a measure of controversy has found its way into your life, but you may want to avoid letting others know your feelings. Keep conversations to trivial topics this week. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Advice about how to handle a confusing financial matter may not be resonating right now, Taurus. You may need to review the data a few different times. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, consider another’s perspective more closely in the days to come. A different point of view may help you to more clearly define your own outlook. C...
Dear Editor, I'm going to try to kill two birds with one stone! Neither of my subjects, Voting & AI, are necessarily about anything currently happening in Whitehall, though voting is probably on the minds of many. AI, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. This letter is somewhat in response to the article by Keith Hammond of the Boulder Monitor, published in the January 31, 2024 edition of the Ledger. Whatever one's opinion about voting, it must be represented that, it hits closer to home than voting for the next president of these United States!...
Dear Editor, Now that it's open and being utilized by many, I want to thank the Town of Whitehall for funding the installation of the new playground along Legion Ave. It's a great addition to our community and I appreciate all the work that went into the project from vision to reality. To all the naysayers and NIMBYs, I hope you recognize the value this project brings to the residents of Whitehall, our surrounding neighbors, and the visitors to our special little town. JASON SALVAGNI Whitehall, Montana...
There is a non-zero chance you have unknowingly broken a world record. Showering without glasses is an unspoken everyday struggle for many glasses-wearers. There are many more instances of scientists finding out something is less healthy than previously thought than finding something is more healthy. Taking out your earbuds when someone enters the room is the 21st-century form of respect. For being so famous, the average person can only identify a Freida Kahlo painting if she is in the painting. Kidney stones are human pearls. The most average...
"O, wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, An' foolish notion." Robert Burns Translation: Oh, what power it would give us, to see ourselves as others see us. It would free us from many a blunder, and foolish notion. How we see the world and the people around us is the most personal of perspectives. How other people see us is one of life's greatest mysteries, probably second only to what happens when life ends. The end of life is...
Plain and simple - people get sick. Right now, more than 250,000 predominantly low-income Montanans get help with health care through Medicaid - a state-federal partnership. Montana has overall and primary responsibility, while the Feds pick up most of the costs, averaging 80% (of total Medicaid spending). In 2022, the Federal government provided $1.8 billion to cover health care for Medicaid-eligible Montanans who live in every county across the Big Sky. Remarkably, two-thirds of Medicaid...
Georgia, I have a question, I’m a mom to a little girl named Jubilee Sunflower Fern and I wanted to get her her first pet. I’m stuck between if I should get her a raccoon or a badger. She’s three years old so I think those would be my best options as she was born out in the woods, and has always loved wildlife. My friends tell me I’m being dumb and that I should just get a kitten. Where’s the fun in that? I really think her having a badger or a raccoon would be more beneficial. Opinion? Or do you have any other suggestions for a pet that’s no...
A large percentage of us are used to hospital trips, either regular doctor’s appointments or even periodic emergency room visits. As a pastor, I’m accustomed to visiting people in these circumstances, some for routine care and others in serious condition. Although this is a familiar practice, I wouldn’t dare say I’m comfortable, mostly recognizing that those I visit are experiencing pain and discomfort. To be candid, there are times when I don’t have what seems to be the “right” words, however, being present can be a source of comfort for t...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Creativity may prove elusive this week, Aries. You want to get into a crafty project but you simply can’t find traction just yet. Don’t give up too soon. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, a distracted friend or loved one may not be good company over the next few days. Reach out and offer to be a sounding board to help this person re-center their focus. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Are you feeling preoccupied, Gemini? You can’t seem to focus on one thing or another and friends will start to notice when you are in their company. CANCE...
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Dear Editor, Happy New Year from all of the Volunteers at the Whitehall Country Store! As a team, we would like to take some time to extend our thanks to everyone who donates to and shops with "our" store. While we may often refer to it as that, the store is actually yours, the Community's. Each item donated and then sold goes back into the community as a whole. As a result of this teamwork, this year we were able to return money to many needed areas. We awarded $20,000 in College scholarships to four graduating 2023 Whitehall Seniors, Gold...
It’s funny how no one will read an email that’s more than a paragraph in the professional world. But as you progress through college, they ask you to write longer and longer papers. A significant portion of our efficient energy is generated simply by boiling water. Our advancements haven’t strayed far from the steam age; instead, we’ve honed our ability to heat water effectively. It’s interesting how close to absolute 0 the temperature needs to be for life to exist (as far as we know) considering how hot other parts of the universe can get....
When I was a kid, I started getting hay fever around the age of four or five. Since we lived on a ranch and harvested hay from mountain meadows, the prognosis was gloomy for the summer months (summer being any time it wasn't winter.) My eyes would swell shut and become glued that way overnight, itching. along with my throat, and my nose would run down to my toes. Antihistamine medication in the 1950s was little help and just made me sleepy. I didn't know about karma then, but if I had, I would...
Georgia, I have a question, I’m going to try and make this short. I live in an apartment complex and we do not have assigned parking. I know that I am not entitled to any parking space, but I feel like it’s common decency to not take a spot someone has worked to clear the snow out of. I have had an issue with a neighbor constantly taking the spot I dig my car out of and clear for the past few winters. I confronted them and asked if they wouldn’t take the spot I cleared for myself. They just claim no assigned parking, so first come first serve...
I love reading about Jesus’ ministry in the Bible, we learn about His character and how well He interacted with everyday people. Jesus was compassionate and kind rather than disconnected and pious. The Jewish culture of that day was marked by arrogant priests who chose to distance themselves from most people, especially those who were ill and poor. Adopting the mindset of Jesus is of great value today for all of us. Luke gives us inside details into the ministry of Jesus and in Chapter 5 we read of two instances where Christ’s character shi...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 There is a new person in your life who may become a source of inspiration, Aries. It’s a new year and you are ready for all the novel experiences you can encounter. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you could be feeling more grounded in your personal life than you have in some time. The people you surround yourself with accept and love you unconditionally. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, if a suggestion goes against your instincts this week, give it careful consideration nonetheless. This person may have some good ideas that you m...
The 90s have become for Gen Z what the 50s were for Gen X. Scrabble’s difficulty depends massively on the language you play. When you learn a new word you start to see it everywhere as if it has never existed. Despite all the incredible strengths and abilities many animals have, it’s pretty neat that humans easily live so much longer than almost all of them. Static shock must have been wild before electricity was discovered. A shrimp sees colors that we will never be able to fathom. In TV shows when a character gives birth, all their fri...
