Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Sorted by date Results 1947 - 1971 of 2351
Christmas shopping? Do you remember when a Schafer or Parker fountain pen and ever sharp pencil were a sure gift for someone in your life? This was way before ball point pens. You needed a bottle of ink to fill this pen. Put the pen in the ink bottle, extend the lever on the pen and let it fill. Good for another several letters. Then there was the nice blue bottle of Evening in Paris cologne. I think that every mother looked forward receiving at least one of these bottles under the Christmas tree. The lovely blue bottle was an enticement for...
News releases sent out cited the Montana Lands Bill Agreement as historic. The announcement came Dec. 3 and caused some confusion as it was included in the National Defense Authorization Act. Sen. Jon Tester, Sen. John Walsh and U.S. Rep. Steve Daines all stood by the legislative package that included eight Montana-based lands and resource bills. While that agreement doesn't seem to have any direct impact on Eastern Montanans, information is still being released on the agreement. The package included changes in the Rocky Mountain Front...
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., last week released the following statement after the president signed the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act into law. Tester, along with Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced and successfully pushed the bipartisan legislation through Congress earlier this month. Tester's statement: “The men and women of the Border Patrol work tough jobs to keep us safe and deserve a pay system that meets their needs. This new law will ensure a predictable pay system, save taxpayer dollars, make government work better and strengthen...
There are small moments in a person’s life that are huge. Other small moments turn into victories. As I stepped out of the church pew at the end of the service, one of my grandsons looked up at me and said, “Grandma, I’m going to light a candle for you.” I put my arm around him, gave him a hug, and replied, “Thank you. You are very special to me.” With a very serious expression on his face, he told me, “You are very special to me!” A small moment but one filled with complete love and compassion. Lately there’s been other small moments fil...
The Billings Gazette reported Wednesday that the Federal Government has decided to try and balance the budget by reducing payments to counties which contain Federal Lands. See “Montana counties take $20 million hit in spending bill” by Tom Lutey. Areas of our state which once had thriving economies and strong communities have been decimated by the mismanagement of these lands and prohibition on the use of those natural resources. Just as disappointing is the failure of the Federal Government to fulfill the obligation to our rural schools and pr...
A month or so ago Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) gathered up over 100 Yellowstone Park bison that had spent the last 5 years in quarantine on Ted Turner’s Green Ranch (for a percent of the calf crop) and hauled them to the sovereign nation of Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Apparently with only one mortality this time! While no one has a problem with the Reservation receiving Yellowstone Park bison, some may question why FWP was involved. Some answers to this question were provided by Ken McDonald, Chief of the Game Division for FWP, i...
There’s a saying in the commodity pits in Chicago that goes something like this: “The cure for high prices is high prices.” The price of a barrel (44 gallons) of “Texas Tea” these days is hovering around the $67 bll mark and declining. Why the decline you may ask? So do I, but here’s what I think is going on. Russian President Vladimer Putin is getting very pushy these days and hinting nuclear stuff. As we all know, we have reduced our nukes, getting rid of some still-in-good-shape bombs, while Russia has been 86ing worn out stuff. Fair trade?...
During this holiday season, the Board of Directors of the Northeast Montana Veterans Fund, Inc. extends our appreciation to everyone who has supported the Memorial. We are coming closer to our goal, thanks to the combined efforts of our patron donors, local businesses, in-kind professional assistance, all VFW/American Legions & Auxiliaries, and generous contributions through raffles and fundraisers. It is a privilege to work on a project that honors the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of NE Montana Veterans. With help from...
23. Christmas. It was going to be a great Christmas because my brother had returned safe and sound from a year's tour of duty in Vietnam and had reached the end of his two years of service in the U.S. Army. He'd been discharged early in November. On his leave of absence before being sent to Vietnam, he made a comment that the Army issued T-shirts could be a little longer. It was a remark that was to result in a practical joke. The day I started shopping for Christmas gifts, a catalog filled with novelty items arrived in the mail. Browsing...
With a president whose credibility and ability has been questioned by nearly 60 percent of the population and a Congress that's in the dumper with an 18 percent for and 82 percent against approval rating, I believe it's time to take a closer look at the folks running our affairs. Obama says, “Anyone who has been in this country for five years or more” should be awarded citizenship or at least a legal green card. He doesn't qualify those here legally, quasi-legally or illegally. To me it's a no-brainer. If you are in my country illegally, get...
This is definitely the season of coughs and colds. Do you remember when the standard treatment for a chest cold was getting your chest rubbed well with Vick’s Vapor Rub, or Mentholatum. I think that “Mom’s” personal preference dictated which of these ointments were chosen. After you got your chest all covered with whichever ointment, it was usually followed with a nice warm cloth cover. Probably a piece of old flannel sheet that was pulled from the rag drawer and big enough to cover your chest and then be pinned around your neck. Was that fo...
Creating desired results in challenging times was the opening for the 89th Rocky Mountain Fair Convention held Nov. 13-15. At present there are 111 fairs in this association and 168 service members. For those of you who are not familiar, this is one of the venues where fair board members and managers attend to preview and visit with individual service members who showcase their acts, music and carnivals in hopes that fairs will book them for their upcoming fair season. So for those reading this can get a good picture, this particular convention...
Not long ago, I read of a high school science teacher and how he has inspired a love for science in his students. The article reminded me of my science teacher when I was a freshman. His name was Max Cousins. Of course, he was Mr. Cousins to the students. He had a deep love for teaching. When you were in his class, you were always paying attention because he presented the day's lesson in a way that made you not want to miss any part of it. As well as teaching science, he was also the assistant football coach. Besides instructing the football...
Do you remember “mock weddings?” There was recently an invitation in The Courier inviting friends and relatives to attend a mock wedding and 50th anniversary celebration. It was hard for me to believe the number of people who had not heard the term “mock wedding.” Many assumed it was a renewal of wedding vows. I guess the term MOCK escaped them. I cannot believe people of the North County invented this entertainment. Surely other communities shared in the fun. Mock weddings most always took place when a couple celebrated a 25th or 50th anniver...
I've heard comments from many that remember the huge Christmas tree that stood at an intersection of 2nd Avenue South. As I remember, it was located in the intersection of the street where Markle's Hardware, Gaffany's, Soma-dis, and Nel's Kent are currently located. I am not sure what the businesses were at that time, maybe Woolworth's, Adrian's, the old Smith Clinic and Newton Motors. Just a guess. Has it really been 20 years since we have had a tree that graced 2nd Avenue during the holidays?...
I had to remove the alternator from the Versatile tractor last week in near cold weather (9 below one day and 3 below the next.) The tractor was outside and no windbreak in sight. It took six and a half hours in two days to perform a task that normally could be done in 20 minutes. See, the bottom bolt was so rusted in that nothing could move it. Finally after using a full can of Sea Foam Deep Creep Rust Buster and working the bolt back and forth, forth and back, a sixteenth of an inch at a time I got it to move. But then when I had pounded it o...
This Thanksgiving, as you're gathered around the table about to give thanks – for good health, for loving friends and family members, for our soldiers overseas – consider adding another blessing: for living in a state so rich in wildlife. This is a state wild enough to have wolverines, after all, not to mention lynx, grizzly bears, mountain goats, and arctic grayling. Few places on earth offer such diversity of both coldwater and warmwater fisheries – from cutthroat trout in cold mountain lakes to channel catfish in warm rivers. As for bird...
Democrats have had big losses across America this past election, and they are once again puzzled and confused because they believe that “people are voting against their own self interests.” Is it possible that Democrats themselves are not very good at understanding the self-interests of others? The Democrat’s perception of the issue is that Democrats stand for everything that Americans want and need; lower taxes on individuals, universal and inexpensive public education, social programs for the old, poor, and infirm, etc., and that the voter...
This was written based off comments that have been expressed at meetings across the state. Fish, Wildlife, and Parks put wild and free roaming bison on a refuge, but there was nothing to keep them there. The refuge was rugged and had undesirable forage and poor water. Bison prefer flatter ground and better food, so the bison crossed the road. The bison found private property that had been managed by the same family for over 100 years. Generations of water development and good grazing plans created desirable forage, so the bison helped...
This seems to be another week for a this and that column. For the past several months we've been attending Nashua volleyball games and the JAM basketball games as our granddaughter plays volleyball and we have two grandsons playing basketball. The time all these athletes have spent in practice was quite evident in their games. And I was impressed by the team work and sportsmanship displayed. A sports expert I'm not, but I feel that in a couple of years, the boys' JAM basketball team is going to be a tough team to go up against. Congratulations...
Dear Editor: The article on the deputy campaign complaints on Wednesday, Nov. 5 was misleading. De minimis – adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for “of minimum importance.” It is not “application de minimis, it is “de minimis.” The meaning is not as you stated. The Courier stated that it meant “the error was unintentional and it was corrected before the complaints were filed.” Misleading. This is quoted from the COPP, Jonathon R. Motl, of the State of Montana, “These violations are excused upon application of the de minimis principle such th...
This was released by Gov. Bullock's office. Governor Steve Bullock released his budget proposal for the 2017 biennium. The proposal aims to build on and maintain the state’s fiscal strength, while making common sense investments that will allow the state’s economy to continue to grow. In his proposal, Bullock encourages the Legislature to follow his lead as they construct a budget for consideration, by: 1. Leaving a $300 million ending fund balance on June 30, 2017, that will ensure that state is prepared to weather any rainy day. 2. Ens...
Hello, this is Sen. John Brenden sending a letter to the folks in my Sen. District #17. Since the last election, my senate district has increased to include Chinook and everything north in Blaine County and everything north of Highway 2 in Havre, angling northwest by Fresno, ending about straight north of Hingham, but not including Hingham. My district goes from the North Dakota border about 282 miles west and that is 51 percent of the 545-mile border with Canada! It is the largest state senate district in miles that borders Canada; it...
There have been two more state bison meetings since last I wrote. One was July 14 and 15 in Billings to propose testable alternatives for an Environmental Impact Statement, and one was Oct. 9 in Great Falls to develop those alternatives. There was a lot to be depressed about at those meetings. A depressing number of people travelled from western Montana to Billings to say they want a herd of bison, and they want to keep it in our backyards. They didn’t comprehend why that was an issue for us. Depressingly, the bison discussion group r...
After being confined in a closed space for the first nine months of our lives, when we finally find the exit our first action involve movement of arms and legs a-flailing wildly as the doctor slaps our bottom. Our first wobbling steps into mobile freedom are accompanied my shrieks of laughter and buckets of tears from parents and other assorted family and neighbors. The second milestone has been achieved and our little brains aren't even able to comprehend what we've just done. Folks my age can recall with fondness the “Baby Tender.” It was...
