Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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I was in Billings recently when a young woman, Devin, told me a story that happens all too often. Devin’s daughter, Brooklyn, had cancer, and her husband routinely had to make the hard choice between working shifts at his job to put food on the table or going to their daughter’s doctor appointments. Devin and her husband are looking for solutions, but instead all they see is politicians standing in the way of doing what’s right. I’ve heard many stories like Devin’s while traveling across Montana over the past year in my run for our state’s l...
Few issues on this year’s ballot seem as innocent as Constitutional Initiative 116. The proposed amendment to the Montana Constitution would create a set of codified rights for crime victims. It also has the potential to be one of the biggest changes to the constitution since it was ratified in 1972. Who could oppose that? Derek VanLuchene, president of the Helena-based non-profit Ryan United, said the initiative, also known as Marsy’s Law, would ensure crime victims have a legally required voice in criminal proceedings. “I think CI-116 would...
My childhood is filled with wonderful memories of the teachers in Helena Public Schools who inspired me to think creatively and strive to learn more, and ultimately led me back to Montana and the Helena School District as an elementary teacher and instructional coach for the last 12 years. Today, I’m still inspired by the amazing teaching and learning that goes on in Montana’s public schools. It’s what inspired me to become your next state superintendent of public instruction. Touring the STEM lab here in Glasgow reinforced my belief that...
Recent news articles concerning internet scamming of sites that a lot of online shoppers use makes me remember earlier days and methods of shopping and banking. First, I am sure that our parents and grandparents could never have visualized that we would one day order so many necessities for our lives with just the click of a button. Of course, past generations had the convenience of mail order catalogs, but that required the accompaniment of a check. Checks couldn’t be used in a scam like our credit and debit cards of today. Of course, the s...
When I first came to Montana more than 40 years ago, I fell in love with the natural beauty and the people. I knew, back then, that I wanted to make a life in Montana. When my wife and I founded a technology company in our home in Bozeman nearly two decades ago, people told us that a global business could not succeed in Montana. They told us the state was too rural, they told that we didn’t have good enough connectivity, they told us that we couldn’t attract qualified workers. Well, we proved the naysayers wrong, and built a business that grew...
A few days ago a commercial on television was of two young boys talking. One asked, “What is that?” The reply came, “I don’t know. Google it.” It made me stop and think. When I was young and I would ask my parents what something was, they told me to look it up in the encyclopedia. Which meant I had to go to the library to get my question answered. And in writing papers in high school, the encyclopedia was well used for my research. The commercial also made me wonder what it will be like in another 10 or 20 years when a child asks, “What is...
Responding to... I think it is only fair to point out that many Christian leaders, ordained and laity, do not support a presidential candidate who displays misogyny, uneven temperament, lack of diplomacy, inexperience in governing, adultery, disrespect for our foreign allies, lying (proven by legitimate fact-finders) more than he accuses his opponent of lying and is very divisive. Compared to these factors and more, the use of crude language is, indeed, a triviality. As for Mr. Neil’s letter, I am still trying to get my mind around the c...
As a 23-year U.S. military Commander, I’ve always been mission-focused, and no mission is too big or too small to take on with everything I have. Whether it’s hunting terrorists in the Middle East, winterizing the house, or fighting for Montana in Congress, I always take the same mission-critical approach as your Representative in Congress. For the past 22 months, you’ve tasked me with the mission to strengthen Montana’s voice in Congress. It’s no secret that Montana priorities were being ignored. Before you sent me to Congress, we didn’t ha...
Do you remember the Halloweens of your early years? The years before you could purchase a “cool” trendy Halloween costume and had to come up with your own ideas? Some kids didn’t have a mother that was into sewing and arts and crafty stuff, so it was not uncommon to see a lot of ghost costumes. However, if you were one of the lucky ones, you had a mother or grandma that would come up with some really clever costume ideas. It was always fun to attend the school Halloween parties (this happened in country schools anyway) and see all the neat...
You were never wanted in our lives. But you entered them anyway. You are a destroyer -- of lives, of hopes, of dreams, of peace and tranquility. Because of you, patience is put to a test, it should never have to be. Sleep sometimes is difficult to come by. Conversations are a thing of the past because of you. No longer can we talk about what not only is going on in the world, but about family, grandchildren, friends. We try, but at times it takes a while. And memory - in so many instances it doesn’t even exist anymore. Oh, yes, he remembers s...
Yoga has been attributed to giving people better bodies, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. As owner of the Yoga Wellness Center, I am both a teacher and a student. I continually study multiple areas that lead to health and wellness. This continuing education includes both our physical systems: anatomy, physiology, biomechanics; and the inner world of human beings; thought, emotions and physiological wellness. Recently, I was in the Seattle area studying the foundations for inner health. Driving through busy city traffic, I looked over...
On Sowing Notions I get the Glasgow Courier here in Casper, and I read your “Green Spaces in Rural Places” faithfully. I tried your pie crust (that didn’t need to be rolled out) made in the first apple pie recipe with crumb topping. It turned out exactly as you said. It was a very flaky crust and it cooked over into a baking sheet just like you said. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your contributions. I am enjoying it here. We have a little garden in containers and have enjoyed tomatoes, green peppers, strawberries, plus some...
The statewide, national and international press coverage of the Martin Blake case over the last week has generated a lot of interest in the current state of our judiciary and victims advocacy resources here in Valley County. We embrace this added emphasis on victims and intend to pursue the topic with increased and sustained attention. Our ability, as a community, to protect and support victims of sex crimes must be our first concern moving forward. As editor, I’ve chosen to avoid revisiting the details of the aforementioned case in the p...
Last week my husband and I celebrated our 48th anniversary. I remember thinking years ago that anyone who had been married 50 years was amazing. Now I hear about couples who have been married not only 50 years but 60 or 70, even 80 years. My husband’s parents were married 65 years and he has a brother who has been wed for 63 years. When you commit yourself to a marriage, your intentions are, as said in the marriage vows, until death do you part. But for some, a marriage can end for other reasons. However, my thoughts this past week centered aro...
I am shocked at the hesitation people feel when confronted by the idea of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Ignoring the basic corruptions of the Spanish conquest, Columbus wasn’t an explorer as much as he was a merchant captain attempting to shorten his trip to the Indies for the reasons of profiting from shorter shipping routes. Miscalculating his position and finding the Caribbean did not make him the first European to set foot in the Americas. Lief Ericson holds that distinction. Furthermore, the idea that Columbus discovered America is p...
Living on the Milk River bottom all my life, something you learn to expect and accept as part of life are the floods. I don’t think you ever really get used to them, as each presents a different challenge. I have memories back to grade school days of the floods – the enjoyment of getting to stay home from school for a few days until it became apparent the water was not going to recede quickly. Dad and Uncle Lee walked the distance of the road under water and staked the sides so you knew where you were on the road. They then went through the wat...
Do you remember when all baby portraits, boy or girl, were taken with the child wearing a dress? Of course that was the day before colored photographs, but I have often wondered if those garments were colored or white. My thought is that the dress might have been worn for baptism and was white. Thinking of the generation, it might well have been used for every baby in the family, unless you happened to have multiple births. Both my husband and I come from a family of savers and I have had the occasion to see these delicate white dresses. The...
What are the memories that warm the heart after the years have swept past? Is it not the simple things? . . . and so it is with the Kientz family. Fifty years ago, the town of Shelby, Mont., was rolling out the red carpet in preparation for the World’s Heavyweight Championship fight between Gibbons and Dempsey. The main road, which is the route of Highway 2 now, was experiencing muddy conditions, so the traffic was rerouted north. The sparsely-traveled Frenchman Creek Road became a bypass road for many travelers en route to the fight and the K...
It’s getting on to election time. Are you ready? Have you heard enough about the candidates for the next POTUS? Do you believe most of the trash both candidates are talking? Is the Trump fortune enough to sway your good judgment to his side? Is the fact that Hillary is a woman enough for you to cast your vote her way? Here’s the way I see it. Stay tuned for this important message from your friendly ambulance chasers at Dewey, Chasem and Howe, 666 Faked ‘em Lane, Thoeny, MT 592 and a half. We’re back, thanks for sticking around. Now here’s the r...
Several weeks ago we took a trip to Boulder to visit my husband’s brother for a few days. As we drove along, I noticed quite a few cottonwood trees whose leaves were turning yellow. On a day trip to Butte, I saw a few places in the mountains where a lone bright yellow cottonwood stood alone amidst the dark green pine trees. Seeing them brought back memories of the woods where I grew up. Hillsides would be covered in trees robed in gold, green, brown, tan, rust and crimson. The picture they created was impossible to duplicate. With the turning o...
Valley County is a large county, over 3 million acres with nearly half of that being BLM, CMR, Corps of Engineers, and State of Montana lands. The policies and plans of these agencies can have either positive or negative effects on our economy and our future. Last week I attended the “Coordination” training held at the Malta library. “Coordination” refers to the requirement that Federal agencies coordinate with local governments in developing and implementing plans and management activities. The training was primarily attended by County...
The Kienitz family now numbered four: Otto, Lizzie and their two lively daughters, blond Leona, nicknamed “Toots,” and the dark-haired Luella, who is known as “Babe.” The members of this family were closely knit and have remained so over the years. Luella, number two daughter, now living in Bremerton, Wash., reminisces about her childhood out on the windswept prairie. “Winter snows brought out the homemade sleds, scoop shovels or toboggan for sliding down the rocky hills. With my long tresses trailing behind and lying flat on the sled, I g...
The furor over Colin Kaepernick’s “lack of respect” has not died down. Other famous people are blasting his actions. Mike Ditka has now declared that he believes if “they don’t like this country” they should “get the hell out.” He did go on to say this is his (Mike’s) “choice, I like this country, I respect our flag, and I don’t see all the atrocities ... I see opportunities if people want to look ...” I’ve seen arguments on both sides of this issue. There are soldiers, active military members, who’ve written and signed a letter saying they...
Yikes, folks I haven’t heard so many unanswered questions, so much evasiveness and so many half truths and outright lies since my last face-to-face with my managing editor. The first lie was uttered by Hillary when she told Donald something like “Donald it’s good to be with you here.” In my opinion The Donald came off as extremely boorish, bullysome and rude to the maximum. I simply cannot see him sitting down with any foreign power without insulting that person and maybe putting a screeching halt to any trade deals he could have made. He cons...
In watching the debate on Monday night I was dismayed by the spectacle. “Is there really a choice?” I asked myself cynically. I felt as though I was watching a deranged and unabashed clown try to entertain the stiff, stuck up, and literal kid in school. You know the kid who corrects your grammar, and smiles awkwardly when someone points out that they, too, make mistakes. That was the scene at Monday night’s debate. Here was the long-winded, overly prepared, untrustworthy and suspect Hillary Clinton taking on the underprepared, pugnacious and j...
