Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 7 - 31 of 2031
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Your confidence is at an all-time high, Aries. This is the week to pitch an idea or finally send that text you’ve been mulling over. The universe is backing your bold moves. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, this week you’re entering a cycle of “treat yourself.” You deserve it right now, so enjoy. Whether it’s a brunch out with friends or a mental health day, lean into the experience. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Expect a random invitation to create a new connection, Gemini. Your wit is extra sharp this week, so use it to charm...
Dear Editor, I wish to thank and to praise the firefighters who handled the fire just east of Doherty Mountain. The effort was incredible considering the heat and the wind they had to deal with. The widespread cooperative support was gratifying. Whitehall Fire, Willow Creek Fire, Three Forks Fire, Harrison Fire, Montana DNRC, U.S. Forest Service, Jefferson County EMS, Jefferson County DES, Jefferson County Sheriff, Jefferson County Dispatch, and Gallatin County Dispatch all deserve the utmost...
Dear Editor: In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote in The American Crisis, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country." Paine was describing those who are eager to stand up when times are easy, but disappear when real sacrifice is required. That passage has always stayed with me because it reminds us that public service is supposed to be exactly that-service. Not convenience. Not ambition. And...
Dear Editor, In the last few election cycles, the people of Montana have voted consistently Republican. The Republicans now hold all state and federal offices and majorities in both chambers of the legislature. While in some instances this has been a good change and we have made some progress, in many cases these majorities have not translated into conservative governance of our state. Our state government is still growing, our budgets have not shrunk, and it is operating well outside its consti...
Dear Editor, Who is speaking, and why? One need go no further than the mailbox to realize another election season is upon us. Inside were the usual glossy flyers telling me who to vote for, who not to vote for, and all the reasons why. I filed them where most of them appropriately belong: the trash can. Normally, I file them in bulk. This time, I tossed them in one at a time. As I closed the lid, jumped back in my truck, and started down the road, a thought crossed my mind. Not one of those...
It’s so dumb that if you bite your lip while chewing, it will swell, so it is now much more likely you’ll bite it again. If someone visited Clark Kent’s apartment and found Superman paraphernalia, that would probably actually work with the Clark Kent cover story and make it more believable that he was just a nerd. The power of invisibility would make you blind when active, because light would just pass straight through your eyes. Companies near the airport could make money by selling billboard space on their roofs. It’s hard to poop without pee...
As a member of the Senate Finance and Claims Committee during the 2025 session, I was there for every budget debate, both in committee and on the floor. Term limits have me stepping away from Senate District 14, so I can speak plainly, without worrying about a campaign. A recent editorial column featured a “17% budget explosion” untruth and a rehashed miscategorization of why members of the House and Senate banded together with Democrats to vote on important finance and budget bills. Carl Glimm’s fiscal math and session history could use some...
Montana is a state rooted in fairness, equal rights, and community. I’m willing to wager that the vast majority of Montanans deeply cherish their Constitutional rights, like the First Amendment. And yet, the First Amendment in Montana is under attack from the very people who claim to represent us. Governor Gianforte quietly decided that because he doesn’t spend time at the Capitol on the weekends, neither can the general public. At Gianforte’s beck and call, state officials changed permitting rules to effectively ban weekend rallies at the P...
GEORGIA, I have a question, I was dining within inches of an occupied table for two at a restaurant. One of the men at that table asked his dining companion whether he knew where the restroom was. He didn’t. I had asked the same question of a waiter, now nowhere in sight, 15 minutes earlier. I told the diner that the restroom was outside the main room of the restaurant, in the hallway of the office building in which the restaurant was located, and pointed out the exit to use to get there. The diner snippily said, “Thank you for the inf...
The Church, as recorded in the Bible, then as now faced counterfeit messages. Colossae, pronounced [call’-aw see], is our next focus from Paul’s imprisonment, and I am using the word counterfeit because Paul warns of severe deception he’s learned about, that this small community was facing. The richness of cultures that lived side by side in this fertile land fostered great learning. Call it an earlier Melting Pot. The mysticism faced by the ‘baby’ Christians lured them toward hot water. Jewish legalism was also mixed with Greek and other anc...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 A project you have been working on for some time finally reaches a successful conclusion, Aries. Enjoy the benefits it brings and take a well-earned bow. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, sensory delights might fill your week. Good food, music, and company are your rewards. Enjoy everything and savor each moment. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 A long-awaited response brings a smile to your face, Gemini. It is just the news you were hoping for, and maybe even better than you expected. Now you can move forward with confidence. CANCER...
Dear Editor Last week's letters to the editor I found interesting. Terry Murphy's thank you narrative highlighted firefighting cooperation between the local, state, and federal governments working together to serve us in an expedient and efficient manner. In the future, I hope this cooperative example between agencies remains the rule and not the exception. Tony Hudson's letter pretty much defines the problem and the frustration many of us feel over corporate dark money in election campaigns....
Dear Editor, Montanans Should Support Christi Jacobsen – PERIOD. Montanans have never been afraid of a fight-especially when it's a fight to protect our state, our freedoms, and the integrity of our elections. That's why I believe Montana needs to send Christi Jacobsen to Congress. When Christi first ran for Secretary of State, the political insiders in Helena said it couldn't be done. She wasn't the candidate the establishment wanted. Her opponent was a former Secretary of State and the P...
Dear Editor, I would like to comment on both Letters to the Editor published in the Whitehall Ledger's March 11, 2026, issue by Roger Koopman and Senator Phalen (MT SD-17). Concerning Mr. Koopman's letter, I find myself agreeing with a few of his points. Specifically, I agree with the negative impact on democracy caused by Senator Daine's political manipulations in his attempt to ordain his chosen successor. Daines has proven to my satisfaction that he is a politician first and foremost and is...
Dear Editor, President Donald Trump wants to put Katie Lane, a Virginia attorney, on the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Let's skip the polite fiction. She is not qualified. This isn't about ideology. I practiced before conservative judges for decades. I respected them because they were prepared, disciplined, and deeply experienced. They understood judging because they first mastered trying cases. That is the point. The U.S. District Court is not a debating club or a...
Dear Editor, Montana doesn't need more data centers. Period. Our state built its economy on clean water, public lands, agriculture, local businesses, and responsible resource development. If more data centers come to Montana, they need to pay the full cost of the infrastructure they require. They must not drive up electric rates for existing customers or make a call on our water. Without fair compensation and careful planning, this novel industry has the potential to displace productive...
If you are worried about the impact of climate change on our shared future, you’re not alone. Many of us are familiar with the economic impacts of climate-fueled disasters, including recent widespread flooding in Libby. A report from Climate Central calculated that climate change caused $115 billion in economic damages in 2025. Yet, you may not have considered the growing emotional and psychological toll of the climate crisis. Young people are especially worried about the future we’re lea...
Serving the people of House District 69 has been one of the greatest honors of my life. For the past six years, we’ve worked together to strengthen water policy, protect our health care system, support public education, enhance conservation and infrastructure, ensure fiscal responsibility, and stand up for rural communities. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished — and I’m running for re-election because there is more work to do to keep SW Montana the best place to live, work, and raise a family. I’ve spent my life in Madison County. I graduated...
With neural implants, we are probably close to a “Sleep Now” switch for the human brain. Squirrels and guinea pigs both figured out how to solve the rat charisma problem, but in different ways. Chicken might be the only animal for which Googling it often shows pictures of it cooked instead of alive. You know you are overthinking when a simple text turns into a full conversation in your head. In 2006, a ringing phone was a social invitation. In 2026, it’s a suspicious activity report. Phone cameras need a “junk photo” setting for all those thr...
GEORGIA, I have a question, I’ve found out some pretty disturbing information, and I need you to tell me who I should tell. My best friend Ava is in a relationship with a good friend of mine, Mike. She’s recently been saying how she doesn’t feel very well, and she has put on some weight. I’ve come to the conclusion that she is pregnant. Here’s the thing...Mike, I know for a fact, is sterile. The baby can’t be his! He tried many times with his first wife to get pregnant, but it never happened. It was one of the reasons their marriage di...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Sometime this week, you may discover a hidden talent you didn’t know you have, Aries. Embrace this new aspect of your identity and put it to good use. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 This is a time when you might feel grounded and secure, Taurus. Your inner strength will allow you to take a calculated risk that will pay off, either with your finances or relationships. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You might find that this week a mental fog will lift, leaving you with a crystal-clear vision for the future, Gemini. Start moving toward y...
Dear Editor, Time to see the fairness of a children's game. Time for men to stop and learn to do the same. - The Kingston Trio We know the story. But how did we react to it? Montana's highest federal office holder, US Senator Steve Daines, did what almost every small child is taught not to do. He was a bully -- the big kid on the block who would only let his close friends step onto the field and play the game. That is the essence of the sleazy, deceptive, manipulative action Daines took by...
Dear Editor, Since the 2025 session convened, the Montana Freedom Caucus and other conservatives have been planning to expose HB231 and SB542, which are supposed to take effect in 2026. The Montana Chamber of Commerce knew it would impact property tax shifts to businesses, and that's why they lobbied so hard against it. Legislators were adamant to pass something, despite the ramifications. Now we see some calculations of the estimated impacts. Phillips 66 Company had an increase of $11,301,544...
Those who pick their nose are the same as those who marry for money. Both are Gold Diggers. Nothing makes the last bit of your toiletries, like toothpaste or deodorant, last longer than actually remembering to replace them ahead of time. The only establishment where customers frivolously throw dollars away more than at a strip club is the gun range. A movie or TV show about working in a mall in the 80s or 90s could be really interesting. There are so many different stores and so much weird stuff going on behind the scenes. You lose a lot of...
What ails politics in our great state? It’s not honest disagreements, differences of opinion, or differing policy objectives that afflict our system of government. It is those who present themselves and their motives falsely, masquerading to curry favor with those they hope to influence; all the while harboring hidden agendas and motives. For example, in 2024, a PAC called Conservatives4Montana, representing the “Solutions Caucus”, spent record amounts of money in primary elections. But where did this money come from, what does it represent, an...
