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 would like to voice my opinion - keeping it short and sweet - about an issue that could be catastrophic to our Missouri River and the surrounding bodies of water that flow downstream. Many are not aware of a movement that is happening right now to our neighboring state in North Dakota. The Bakken Oil company is now wanting to place a pipeline “black snake” that could run through Standing Rock Indian Reservation on sacred ground and burial sites in North Dakota, which could carry up to 570,000 gallons of crude oil a day downstream. When it doe...
So when I consider the following realities I am overwhelmed by irrational emotions and I tend to overreact but here goes. First, how do we justify paying people wages they can’t live off of? Seriously, how many of you privileged people out there would work 40 hours a week at anything for $8.00 an hour? Trick question… none of you. The second, why do we allow employers to pay so little? If people have jobs and can’t live off their salary, where do they turn? Oh yeah, they turn to Uncle Sam for help. As a result, by allowing employers to not p...
On Board Members and Bobbleheads I know a little bit about boards... There’s the wood kind – a board, a slice of a tree. Then there’s a hole made with a bit or an auger, bored holes; bored people, like some 9th graders in algebra class; and finally, there are church boards or councils, boards for non-profit organizations like some hospitals, charitable foundations, and nursing homes. Oh, how could I forget the school board? They signed my contracts and checks and hired the boss (the superintendent) as well as my colleagues. I felt I neede...
Religion played an important part in the community life of the homesteaders. The Kienitzes belonged to the Lutheran congregation, which met once monthly at the Gus Pehlke home, beginning in 1916. Members would take turns meeting Pastor A. Jordan at Saco, where he arrived by skidoo. Pastor Jordon was stationed at Chinook and was single at this time. He was silent about possible romantic attachments and his congregation might have been in the dark to this day if it hadn’t been for Mark Wright’s sheepherder’s weekly Chinook newspaper. One Sunda...
On September 11, 2001, the world changed forever when nineteen radical Islamic terrorists hijacked commercial jets and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. These cowardly attacks killed 2,977 innocent civilians and hundreds of first responders. In the fifteen years since the attacks, nearly 5,000 troops have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation in the Global War on Terror.While America suffered a great loss and was pushed to her limits, we came out stronger as a nation – a nation whose...
School is now back in session for all schools. Remember when school started after Labor Day? Most of us cannot go into detail about the week or days prior to that first day, especially when we were in the early years of school. I remember getting to sit down at the kitchen table with catalogs, Sears, Aldens and Montgomery Wards, going through pages of dresses, trying to make a choice. (Oh, yes, dresses only back then). Mom had a budget amount (dictated by my dad I am sure) that each of us girls could spend. That included any new under-clothes w...
I’ve heard people of all ages say “It’s not my fault” when something goes wrong. I heard it from my own children over the years and my answer was “Well, whose fault was it, then? Sorry but that doesn’t cut it with me. You need to accept the responsibility of your actions and its consequences.” Responsibility for one’s actions should and must begin at an early age. Even a 5-year-old knows what is wrong and right. They know they were the one who broke a vase or took a piece of candy or cookie when they were told not to. Taught properly, they...
A couple weeks ago, the FBI reported that Arizona and Illinois’ election systems had been hacked. It could have just as easily been in Montana. Election security is a serious matter! As I campaign for Secretary of State across Montana, I am reminded of how important it is to balance our desire for larger voter participation with assuring the integrity of our voting process isn’t compromised by expediency or carelessness. If we have the mindset that it’s not a matter of “if” we get hacked, but “when” we get hacked, then we’ll be more vigilant a...
Rooted Reflections Getting the Courier is always a time to reflect on my roots. I enjoy the feature writers, the lady from Nashua, Mrs. Honrud, and the lady from Saco. Vaupel borders on the surreal, but I know there are a number of subscribers who believe in his twisted stats, etc. I was born and raised in Valley County. Here in Arizona due to my wife’s ill health. -Carlo Porteen, Gold Canyon, Arizona Welcome to Nashua I just wanted to take this time to thank the Nashua community and all of Valley County and adjoining area for their great hospi...
Several weeks ago, during the Olympic Games, a Facebook friend weighed in on the flap over Gabby Douglas’ mistake of not putting her hand over her heart during the playing of the National Anthem. He saw it as a “WAH!” lament for some unspoken reason. She’d already apologized and said she’d thought she was showing respect by standing at attention. That apology was rejected by this friend. He still saw her lapse as a whiny, poor-me statement. I innocently commented, amongst all the others scorning her, that I hadn’t seen what they saw. I went...
I commend Congressman Ryan Zinke and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau on their civil debate earlier this week. At a time when it seems like politics is anything but cordial, I am filled with hope and impressed by the healthy civil discourse. It should be an example for the nation. These two candidates have demonstrated what American democracy is really about—open dialogue and respect. The only way America can become stronger is by working together which requires us to engage with those who might not share the same p...
Over the years I’ve learned that something we all need to have to get through our life’s journey is a sense of humor. Even when we hit some serious bumps on our path, it helps to have a good sense of humor to get past them. I grew up with a Dad who liked to tease you and pull a practical joke now and then. It didn’t take me long to learn how to give a retort to his teasing. And afterward we’d both have a good, hearty laugh. An example. My brother loved adding a large slice of onion to his hamburgers. One night, when he was 16, he had a date on...
The thought came to my mind the other day just how much my generation’s lives were affected by our parents and grandparents. All of those crazy little things like ironing, even though we now have no-iron clothing, being aware of how much water we might be wasting as it runs from the faucet (remembering the days you packed it in a bucket from the well), always scraping the cooking pans and serving dishes clean, (I am not sure if that was to not waste food, or to prevent your dishwashing water from getting so soupy). Never throw away any f...
Oh yeah, you see water all around the United States in our rivers, lakes and streams and think “How can we ever run out of drinking water?” Stay tuned and I’ll give you a tutorial on our diminishing water supply right after a word from our sponsor How Long’s sake’ batter dipped prairie slugs on the half shell. Yum Yumm, and available at your favorite grocery store’s freezer department. Wrapped in either rice paper or corn husks. Your choice. Thanks for stickin’ around. Now to the water situation. The globe is 75 percent covered with water. H...
Whenever I visit rural Montana and see the public schools at the center of each town, I am immediately reminded of Montana’s strong public education system and how important it is to the success and livelihoods of our rural communities. I strongly believe a good public education is one of this nation’s great equalizers. Whether you live in Glasgow, Scobey, Billings, or Missoula, a public education gives every Montana student an equal opportunity at building a successful future and being part of our robust economy. As Governor, I’ve made it a...
One philosophy of the homesteaders was, “Don’t buy it if you can make do with a satisfactory substitute.” Resourcefulness became second nature to these Montana settlers, and the Kienitz family was no exception to the rule. For example: a nearby pit of sand became the source of their house insulation. It proved to be an excellent insulating material for their modest home, keeping it cool during torrid summer days and helping to warm it against the sub-zero temperatures prevalent in northern Montana. Lizzie’s job came next; painting the interio...
Harvest is upon us and we see combines and semi trucks any time we venture away from our city environment. This makes me think of a picture I have of a “grain train” heading to Glasgow from the North Country. The picture was actually taken about 10 miles north of Glasgow in the early 1920s. I would guess these people were in the second or third day of their trip. This stopping place had a barn that would hold 100 head of horses. The total number of horses on this particular run was listed at 194, and the total bushels of grain were 5,811. Mos...
Fahlgren Correction Note: The Courier regrets any misrepresentations resulting from a poor quality recording and apparent miscommunication between candidate Fahlgren and reporter Dane Osen. I was surprised and disappointed that my interview was presented without the other two candidates. My understanding was all the candidates were to be asked the same questions and my assumption was all would appear in same issue so as not to allow anyone to benefit. At the least there should have been a lead-in saying this is the first of three interviews...
As I harvest fresh vegetables from my garden, I travel back in time to when I was growing up. I can remember as a 3-year-old watching my grandfather push a one-share hand plow tilling up our garden space, which was quite large. I would walk behind him picking out any rocks he turned up and putting them in a pile. From then on I was in the garden every year assisting with the planting, the weeding and picking the vegetables. When I was 6 years old, Mom said I was big enough to help with canning. And so I began washing the vegetables and fruit...
Note: Superintendent Juneau will debate Congressman Ryan Zinke at Frazer School on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public. There is no greater beauty than the unspoiled view of Montana’s open spaces. From the Bears Paw Mountains to the clean and clear Blackfoot River, our prairies, forests and streams stretch from one edge of the horizon to the other. Montana is home to the last best places on Earth. It’s what sets Big Sky country apart from anywhere else. But beyond their breathtaking beauty, Montana’s public lands are a sourc...
Some young men’s thoughts turn to love in the spring, but for Otto Kienitz, during this period of his life, his thoughts centered on the “Land of Opportunity,” which was the vast prairie land of Montana. It was none too soon, as three years before, this territory was thrown open to homesteading and the days of the one-open range were quickly drawing to a close. Anyway you look at it, this planned adventure, from Minnesota to Montana, took the courage of rugged individuals. The succeeding years proved this definitely was the “survival of the...
Note: Congressman Zinke will debate House candidate and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau at Frazer School on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public. A couple weeks ago, my good friend, Congressman Trey Gowdy visited Montana. I shared with him the history of our logging and mining industries. Explained how agriculture is not monolithic in our state, and talked about tourism in the west and coal, oil and gas in the east. So after about 450 miles of windshield time, around 1:30 a.m. he said to me, “Ryan, M...
The past few weeks have been rough, but through it all there were some bright spots, [like] receiving a surprise visit from a daughter and her son. When I asked her what brought them to Nashua, my daughter replied, “You.” My 4-year-old granddaughter brought me wildflowers on several days. And there was a day when I saw countless butterflies in my yard and garden. I had to smile as I watch them fluttering from one spot to another. Because I was unable to make it to church for several Sundays, my son brought me Communion. His doing that helped me...
I tend to get a tad bit radical in my thinking from time to time. It helps clear my brain. Now, for the benefit of my 18.3441 readers, I would expound my theory as to why I think Trump is the Chump. I’ll have more on that later in the broadcast, but first a word from the friendly folks at Mother Mabel’s Merry Matrimonial Manor and A-One Crematorium conveniently housed in the same building as Jakes Juicy Jackalope Jerky. Our motto is “Only the best road kill is good enough to be called Jakes.” Strange things happen in this country that are somet...
Songwriters have an allure with the law. See, for instance: “I Fought the Law” by the Clash, “Lawyers, Guns, and Money” by Warren Zevon, “End of the Innocence” by Don Henley and Bruce Hornsby, “This Side of the Law” by Johnny Cash, and “Alice’s Restaurant” by Arlo Guthrie. There are many more songs about the law. This crossed my mind when one of my neighbors asked me recently about the “rule of law” and what that meant exactly. Of course, this was in the context of the decision not to prosecute Hillary Clinton for her email security lapses. Wh...
