Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Sorted by date Results 1626 - 1650 of 2308
“Did you hear about the new baby the Murphys had?” “No. Is there a problem?” “Yes. The child is retarded. What kind of life will she have?” Two people take seats at a table in a restaurant. As they look to the occupants at the table to their right, one whispers to the other, “Let’s move. I don’t want to sit by a kid who can’t keep his tongue in his mouth.” As a couple who have been looking at a house they are interested in buying are leaving they notice a man across the street pushing a young man in a wheelchair. The occupant of the wheel...
Last week a friend asked me what I would write about if there were to be no repercussions. He said he’d choose politics, and confided he didn’t think very highly of the current crop of presidential hopefuls. I’m in agreement with him on that topic. And of course, he got my mind working on this subject. In the past, the general feeling in this country was that campaigning for political office was distasteful and beneath a person of worth. One should sit and wait to be chosen. In 1821, Representative William Lowndes of South Carolina stated, “The...
As I read what used to be called the funny papers — which was actually the news section of a newspaper, not the comics — I continually wonder how people come up with viewpoints that are based on misinformation that is completely different than the facts warrant. I probably wouldn’t worry so much about it if it didn’t matter so much, but since I like being in a democracy and since voting is so important to that and since whatever passes for information influences voters, I do. I worry even more when I hear politicians complain that people...
Time and time again, when our nation is in need, Montanans answer the call of duty. We are all grateful for our veterans’ service to our nation, but just saying “thank you” is not enough. Vietnam veterans are entering their retirement years and a younger generation of veterans is coping with the unseen wounds of a decade of war. This combined with a strain of resources and a bureaucratic health care process at the VA has caused increased wait times that are unacceptable. I’ve heard from veterans here in Valley County and all across Montana...
“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies of magistracy as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.”–James Madison Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson were wary of the ratification on the Constitution in 1788. They feared it would give too much power to a centralized federal government. Rightly so, our founding fathers had profound distr...
One of the great things about growing up and living in the same community most of your life is the opportunity to “Remember” with others who recall the same memories. I enjoy the opportunity to visit with readers, and have them share with me. Recently one of the Courier readers was commenting on warm footwear of the past, mentioning the sheep (fleece) lined boots and felt boots that were worn. Yes, I also remember seeing that footwear during the winter. Of course these were not the outerwear, but usually worn inside bulky rubber overshoes. Ano...
I totally agree with Howard Pippin’s letter and his words about Virgil Vaupel’s “tell-it-like-it-is” articles in the Courier. Virgil’s great experiences, supported by facts, were a pleasure to read and it is too bad to lose his interesting articles. It seems like it is always easier to criticize than to compliment. Hopefully he will have a change of heart and continue entertaining us. – Andy Strommen Mesa, Arizona...
Last week I wrote a column titled To My Grandchildren. There was more I wanted to add to that column but wasn’t able to, so this week I’m finishing what I wanted to say. Refrain from gossiping. It isn’t good for anyone -- not for the person you are talking about and especially not for you. Many times when not all the facts are known about a person’s situation, people will add their own idea to the story. Don’t be a part of saying things about another person that are not true. Gossip has been known to destroy a person’s life. You don’t want...
The news of the death of rocker David Bowie and the listings of all his accomplishments has me thinking of my mortality and what kind of legacy I’m leaving behind. (David was the same age my big brother is now. I admire the both of them.) I’m afraid my obit notice will be very short: she loved to garden and crochet. However, legacies are for famous people such as presidents and rock stars. I’m not in either category, so it’s not really something over which I need to obsess. I will be content with what I’ve accomplished. I hope my daughters...
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) season is here and nonprofit Student Assistance Foundation encourages all Montanans who want to pursue postsecondary education in the upcoming academic year to complete this form. With the nation-wide concern about student debt, it’s important to emphasize that the FAFSA isn’t all about student loans. Instead, it is about access to a wide range of education funding opportunities. Students and families who complete the FAFSA open doors to about $150 billion in different forms of federal stu...
What happens if we lose Colstrip? “It’ll look like Ground Zero.” That’s what the mayor of Colstrip told me during a recent visit. To Colstrip moms like Cheryl Fulkerson, it means her husband and her son may both lose their jobs in the coal industry. And, it means the place that she has called home for 21 years may no longer exist. I could see the tears in Cheryl’s eyes as she introduced me to local officials and business owners concerned about the future of Colstrip. Even the realtor told me, “No homes are selling.” But it’s not just Cheryl...
Last week, in two separate stings in Texas and California, the FBI arrested two Iraqi refugees for connections to terrorism. These individuals were screened in accordance with the Obama Administration’s “rigorous” vetting standards, which include interviews, fingerprinting and running refugees’ names against databases. It didn’t work. As I have long warned, these individuals cannot be properly vetted because such counter-terrorism databases simply do not exist in the nations the refugees are emigrating from. Back in November, I introduce...
I love seeing the pictures of old Glasgow buildings, or other historical places that are often in the Courier. I am sure that comes as a shock when you consider that I like remembering the “old stuff”. The old County Courthouse often comes to mind, as it is prominent in a lot of pictures of Glasgow in an earlier era. Remember when you licensed your vehicles in January and February. I don’t recall the cut of date for updating your plates, but I do remember that you could count on finding a line of people at the Treasurer’s office. This was pro...
On Jan. 3, a group of armed extremists took hold of a government facility, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, in Oregon. They apparently want the government to hand over this public land to local ranchers, loggers, and miners. The three brothers Bundy, whose father was in the BLM standoff in Nevada in 2014 over grazing rights, are supposedly taking this action in support of the Hammond men who are serving time in prison for burning public land. Especially to the people in this area, their anger is understandable. People who...
Some of you are adults, others are in school, and one is in pre-school. But whatever your age, this is for all of you. For those still in school, you have a very important job -- getting your education. Pay attention in class and do your homework before you do anything else. Respect your teachers. Be honest and truthful. There will be people you may not like, but don’t be mean to them. It will not make you a better person. Being kind to others will. Once you’ve graduated high school, you will have to decide if you are going to college or tra...
This is the time of year when we start thinking about—well—time. If you are reading this you are wondering why time passes so quickly. Many of those who are not reading this—because they haven’t learned how to read yet—are wondering why it passes so slowly. There are students who wonder how a school year can be an eternity and a summer vacation gone in an eye-blink, and then there are some of us who must have too much time on our hands because we are actually spending some of it wondering about this. One theory I’ve heard and liked is that a y...
As I come down to the deadline for getting my opinion piece sent into the Courier (noon on Mondays, in case anyone else needs more pressure to perform in their lives), I’m scrambling for new ideas. As I know I’m expected to fill that space (whether anyone cares to read my offerings or not) what has popped into my mind is this: the difficulties of being both a procrastinator and being reliable. Being a fantastic life-long procrastinator, the first thing I did was look up the definition of that word so I could share it with you, as well as fil...
Do you remember the days when most of the livestock feeding during the winter months was done using a team of horses or mules? Once there was snow on the ground a Bobsled was used. Most of us can picture a team of horses pulling a wagon. Thanks to various members of our community we have had the privilege of seeing a team of horses pulling a wagon, usually at Christmas time or parades. The wagons used for feeding on snow did not have 4X4 drive, but were equipped with sled runners both front and back allowing for easier pulling. Feeding...
It is the time to be thinking of New Year Resolutions. I searched my mind for anything I might remember about these resolutions and the only thing I could remember is the fact few of us keep them for very long. So I decided long ago to not make that effort. I did discover the fact that resolutions for the New Year started some 4,000 years ago. I don’t think many of them were kept for long either, as it seemed most of them had to do with finance and debt. Yes, even then. So my mind has skipped over the resolution issue to other memories. Do y...
Another year is ending. Seems like I just get started on a new year and it’s over, leaving me to wonder how it could have flown by so fast. With a new year approaching, people are going over resolutions they want to make - things they hope to do, goals they wish to reach, changes they want to make in their lives. I gave up making New Year’s resolutions a long time ago. Simply because the year ended without my resolutions being accomplished. It wasn’t for lack of trying to keep them. It was more because I’d eventually forget what they were. T...
I was recently asked to write a letter to the editor of our local newspaper and was provided a template written by a coalition to reduce underage drinking to base my letter. Although well intended, I decided not to use the templates because it didn’t sound like me or reflect the point I wanted to get across, so, I started from scratch and here it goes. The holidays are a time of celebration for all ages and for many, it includes the use of alcohol, whether it be used traditionally or creatively. I myself annually make a big batch of hot b...
I keep seeing and getting annoyed by memes on Facebook that want you to “type amen” if you love Jesus, and/or to share that meme to “prove” you are “a Christian.” Jesus already knows this. He doesn’t need you to prove it on Facebook by mindlessly sharing a meme. Rather, he wants your actions to show it. Those actions would include helping others, treating your fellow humans decently, and following the commandments to the best of your ability. (And really, many agnostics and atheists perform these same actions.) There are many other memes a...
I would like to clarify some questions regarding the property taxes in Valley County. The Montana State Department of Revenue sets forth the tax formulas and it is a very complex system. To break it down, the amount billed out for fiscal year 2016 (that Valley County would receive) amounts to $3,824,672 and the amount billed out in fiscal year 2015 was $3,746,394. The total increase is $78,278 of which $58,726 is the two voted mills for the library. This leaves a total increase in non-voted tax revenue of $19,552 for Valley County. Have a...
I would like to express support for the letters and opinions that have been expressed by Mr. Vaupel in your papers. I don’t have to always agree with him to enjoy a different view. Please encourage him to resume, I understand he has stopped. I think it’s sad when political correctness makes one spend so much time to defend their statements that are not derogatory but just a different outlook. Is it wrong to call a spade a shovel? We know abortion is murder. Do we need to discuss as to what degree? – Howard Pippin Saco...
While researching on how gun-free zones are not working to curtail mass shootings but exacerbating them, I came to the conclusion that a person can find irrefutable evidence to support either side of this argument. What? How is that possible? Breitbart, a conservative website, has data from the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) showing 92 percent of mass shootings are happening at gun-free zones. That data was completed in response of Everytown for Gun Safety producing data that showed 14 percent of the same data. Why the difference?...
