Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Sorted by date Results 1876 - 1900 of 2308
This past Sunday was such a delightful day. I had the opportunity to be on the north side of Glasgow in the early afternoon to enjoy the water running down the streets. Can you remember all of the fun that can be had playing in water like that? You could devise a boat out of most anything, from paper to a small chunk of wood. Lots of kids were kept busy floating things down the stream of water, building dams out of debris that always accumulates along the curbs of streets, and even having races with whatever they had that would float. I had to...
Some days my mind is just so filled with the present that I forget about the past. However, today I spent some time looking at the painting of Glasgow, 1914, that is located in the lobby of the courthouse. What really interested me were the buildings that remain standing to this day. I could pick out the spire of the Evangelical Church in the background and of course the cool building on the corner across from the present day Farm Credit Services. (Cool, when you think of those lovely green... Full story
For quite a long time now immigration has been a hot topic in our nation. There are so many facets to this it is extremely difficult to address all of them. In reading article after article concerning immigration, I was reminded of all four of my grandparents who were immigrants. My mother's parents arrived here from Croatia. My father's parents were married when they took the long journey to become American citizens. Grandpa was from Prussia and Grandma was from Germany. What drove my grandparents to leave where they were born and take on the...
As I sit here reading through the amendments to the U.S. Constitution one thing jumps out at me in the First Amendment. Here's how it reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. The conundrum here is that I don't see where it is written “unless the speech or the press offends someone.” Seems anymore our freedom of speech has deteriorated from its original purpose. Maybe that's one reason our communication skills have dete...
Hello again from the capital. Now that the Super Bowl is over (much to the dismay of the Seahawk fans), we can get back to business here in Helena. My SB 88 passed the Senate 48-0, and that is the bill that gives the conservation districts the same and equal bidding rights that the cities, towns and counties were granted last session in my SB 77. It will go to the House, and I would think it will pass there as well. We are very fortunate to have in the Senate this year retired District Judge Swandal. His SB90 to revise penalties and eliminate j...
The last few decades in Montana have seen a remarkable recovery in wildlife populations. For example, Montana’s elk population was down to almost 20,000 animals in 1940. By 1970 it had increased somewhat to 55,000. But after that we’ve seen rapid growth to nearly 160,000 animals today. That’s simply an astounding recovery. And other species, like deer and antelope, are at or near all-time highs. The restoration of Montana wildlife is due to a number of factors, but the predominant reason is the efforts of landowners. A great deal of the credi...
I am writing in response to Virgil Vaupel's article “Gay Marriage and the Media,” which was posted in the January 14, 2015, Glasgow Courier. I am concerned about Mr. Vaupel's article because it is important for people among us who are gay or lesbian, or wonder if they are, to know that not everyone thinks they are deviant. Some would say they are created in the image of God just like everyone else. I have been a local church pastor for 35 years. I have been an active member of a church all of my life. I have read and studied my Bible in sev... Full story
If you don’t think Facebook has changed the world, take a look at the letter to the editor section. What used to be one of the more popular sections of the paper is now nearly non-existent. Of course we still have our columns and guest opinions in the opinions page. You just don’t see responses to those opinions anymore. Why? Well I argue the internet has changed it all. Two weeks ago, our Hinsdale sports correspondent and contributing Opinion page columnist wrote a piece on gay marriage. I spoke to him myself and said that I didn’t think...
According to an article in last week's Glasgow Courier, the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribal Council legalized medical marijuana, and tribal members will vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana in October. These decisions are reportedly consistent with the Obama administration's policy of allowing Native American tribes to regulate marijuana use on reservations (sovereign nations). However, the practice of growing and smoking marijuana merits further consideration with regards to Fort Peck's tribal goals and history. Historical...
Last Saturday I attended the basketball games at the Nashua School. When the school band started playing the national anthem, three elementary students – I'm guessing third or fourth grade – began singing the words. How wonderful, I thought, that they not only know the words but sing them with such sincerity. Part way through the girls' game, a girl ... possibly 9 or 10 years old ... was telling the teacher who was selling admission tickets that she is already saving up her money so she can go to college. She said she knew there were a cou...
Do you remember your parents or grandparents keeping a diary or journal of each day’s activities as well as what the weather was for that particular day? Some people may still do that, but I am willing to bet that it is a small minority. I am not sure why any of us would actually take the time to do that anymore. After all, we are all so busy with our lives and if you want to know what the weather was like two years ago all you need to do is Google weather on your computer or “smart phone.” What is missed by not doing journals anymore is the a...
Opinions are like shoes. Everyone has got them. Not all of them fit and each person has an acquired taste and comfort zone. When it comes to marijuana and legalization, there's no difference. You'll find a whole array of opinions, from the adamant against legalization, to the very pro pot. With the local tribes legalizing medical pot, and a vote on the way for recreational pot, it's probably a good time to have open discussions with each other on marijuana. By open discussions, I mean being open to the opposing view and trying to gather the rea... Full story
Hello to everyone in my massive BIG Senate district that goes from the North Dakota border to north of Hingham. I have 285 miles of the 545 miles of the U.S./Canadian border, and it equates to 52 percent of the border. We are now at the start of the third week of the session, and the bills and meetings will come to us in a fast and furious way. Please give me a call if you come up to Helena. I especially like to have school and other related groups come and visit me so they may be introduced to the Senate. The Governor has put forth a grand...
Victory. It doesn't always have to be a huge one. In the case of people working to overcome serious health issues, the little victories can be and often are the sweetest. For almost five months, I was unable to turn over on my left side in bed at night. The pain that accompanied this particular movement was enough to make me stop trying. And then one night, I decided to see if I could accomplish turning over. When I did, I had to smile and give a sigh of relief. To celebrate my achievement, I bought a book I'd wanted for quite a while....
As many as 2,000 temporary high-paying blue-collar jobs will be created in Montana if the U.S. government approves the much publicized Keystone XL pipeline. More than twice as many similar private-sector construction jobs, however, will result from state government approval of the "Build Montana" program proposed by Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and sponsored in the legislature by Republican Rep. Jeff Welborn of Dillon. The Montana proposal includes badly-needed improvements in infrastructure in Montana's end of the Bakken energy development,...
I recently heard radio advertisements promoting “no ethanol in our gas.” I wonder if the sponsors of the advertisements understand the implications of that message? I realize that not everyone understands the nuances of that message, so I would like to share my thoughts. What does “no ethanol” in our gas really mean? First, consumers should understand that gasoline is made from many petrochemical components produced during the refining of crude oil into gasoline. Some of these compounds are are added to increase octane. They include toxic chemi... Full story
The Glasgow Courier shares the views expressed in this column with other publications in Stevenson-Hicks Newspapers. As predicted, the closure of scores of mail processing plants and rural post offices has waged a heavy toll on postal customers. Mail service has rapidly declined, especially in small towns across the United States. The U.S. Postal Service recently announced the elimination of overnight delivery as well as a one-day delay in first-class and periodicals mail. While Congress mandated that Saturday delivery continue through at...
One of Montana's major daily newspapers scored yet another hit with the gay and lesbian community with another article about gay marriage in Montana. What is that now? The fourth or fifth time since Montana made gay marriage legal that that publication has advocated this deviant practice. I say deviant because I would ask that you take a moment to physically check yourself, then check your spouse, partner, significant other, better half or lover. If you are with someone of the opposite sex you will notice, at first glance that your...
I am sure that many of us senior citizens received “new tech” gifts or have needed to purchase a new cell phone, new appliance or even a new vehicle. The sad part of these purchases is that they do not come with a training session. We all have experienced that frustrating period of trying to make the new gadget work. I recall my dad getting a new vehicle and being very upset because he couldn’t get the air conditioner to work. Now just how many folks in the older population would look for a “snow flake” icon on the A/C button, rather than the...
The 64th Legislature began last week with the formal ceremonies and swearing in that surround each new legislature. It is always a treat to see all of the families and children sitting in the galleries and walking in the halls. Many will endure weeks of separation so that their loved ones may spend the next 4 months doing their very best to serve the state. The first order of business that we took up in the Senate was to confirm Sen. Debby Barrett (R) from Dillon, as the first woman to serve as the president of the Montana State Senate. I was...
The music world has lost a true legend with the passing of Little Jimmy Dickens. No one promoted the Grand Ole Opry and country music any more than the diminutive Dickens. During the early 1960s, the KRNT Theatre in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted a country music show the first Sunday of every month from September through May. My mother loved hearing Dickens sing, so when I saw that Dickens was on the schedule, I immediately purchased tickets for us. When he came out on the stage, my mother was completely mesmerized. Afterwards she told me that day... Full story
How many of you remember Howell and Ellen Davies? When I first became acquainted with them, they lived in the North Country and worked for the Ruffcorn Ranch. I remember the first time I was at their home – you got your drink of water from a dipper in a water bucket. Wow, that impressed me. Well, I was pretty young and we didn’t worry about germs much. The thing that most will remember about Howell Davies was his magic entertainment. He loved to do magic shows any place there might be an audience. I think he might have entertained at the Nor...
Does anyone see the hypocrisy in that headline? Is it oxymoronically incorrect? Wouldn't that be sorta like giving a convicted burglar a set of burglar tools upon his release from the joint? Or an arsonist a box of matches? Or how about issuing a “Slim Jim” to every person who has been in trouble for stealing cars? (For those of you who have led a sheltered life, a Slim Jim is a flat, flexible tool with a hook on the end used for opening locked cars without benefit of ownership or keys.) Also, I suggest giving every yegg (safecracker in 192...
During my recent trip home to Glasgow in mid-November, I realized my visit was too short but nevertheless full of activities and fun. As a result, I wanted to send a note and say Glasgow was such a great place to grow up! I spent a year teaching and coaching in Glasgow in 1992 after undergrad but other than that, my family and I have only been back a few times for a holiday or reunion. I had no idea how much fun I would have seeing people again, from the cowboy I rode with on the 1989 Montana... Full story
In just a few days another year comes to an end. Somehow the years seem to pass much more quickly than they used to. Before I know it, I’m looking at a new year beginning before I’m finished with the old one. Each year fills our lives with happiness, sadness, milestones and achievements. I received word yesterday (Sunday) that a woman I knew for 50 years had died. For a long while afterwards I walked back through the years of our friendship. I’d met her on my very first weekend trip to Chicago. Her father was a brother to my uncle. We conne...
