Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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On Aug. 25, two days after the US Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 vaccine, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered "full vaccination of all members of the Armed Forces." Cue outrage and objection. Some officers have resigned their commissions; some enlisted personnel seem willing to risk court-martial and dishonorable discharge rather than get vaccinated. Some claim the mandate violates their rights or lacks a legal basis. In the quarter century since my honorable discharge from the US Marine Corps,... Full story
This summer, I heard from small business owners about how Montana’s lack of housing is holding back our economy. It’s a story I keep hearing, that Main Street wants to hire, and Montanans want to go where the jobs are, but they can’t find a home or apartment they can afford. The typical price of a home in Montana has risen more than 10 percent in the last year, showing us the housing struggles that were localized to just some of our communities have spread to hamstring communities throughout this state. It’s unacceptable that hard-wo... Full story
This month, U.S. Senators began the markup of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget resolution package. This rubber-meets-road moment seems to have given pause to some in their party whose votes will be needed to get a bill through Congress and across the President’s desk. Among them is Montana’s Senator Jon Tester. The President and the progressive left members of Congress have proposed financing the Administration’s marquee spending bill largely by raising the U.S. corporate tax rate. It is a moral imperative, they say, to make big business “pay it... Full story
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat could use a refresher on Freudo-Marxist psychiatrists. Douthat chides libertarians — or at least “the kind of libertarian who identifies forever with his 13-year-old self” — for taking a laissez-faire attitude to “a novel, obviously addictive technology that might well be associated with depression and self-harm” (“Instagram Is Adult Entertainment,” Sept. 30). Douthat refers to social media websites, but he should take a closer look at “the people who panicked over the moral effects of comic books” befo... Full story
Clever tweets tend to morph in content and meaning over time. I don't know where this one originated, and I've edited it to taste as people will do with such things, but I'm sure you'll get where it's going: "It's just 15 days to flatten the curve. It's just a mask. It's just six feet. It's just no large gatherings. It's just preventing 'misinformation.' It's just a shot. It's just a mandate. It's just showing your vaccine passport on demand ..." Naturally, anyone who objected at any waypoint on that trail, or predicted the next waypoint, was... Full story
The fourth Saturday in September marks a national day of recognition for two things Montanans already value every day: National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day. As Montanans, hunting, fishing and access to public lands is part of who we are. It is the lifeblood of our economy, and public lands are where many of us create the memories we cherish with our families. As your Congressman and Secretary of the Interior, I led the charge against the sale or transfer of public lands. I was often the lone Republican voice in the... Full story
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of people have moved to rural America seeking to establish a livelihood fueled by entrepreneurship. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in July 2020 alone more than 550,000 new businesses were established in rural areas nationwide - which is a 95% increase over the previous year. The pandemic may have forever changed the way we all do business, but the one constant that has not changed is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) commitment to helping entrepreneurs a... Full story
Despite APR’s Pete Geddes’ 9-15- 2021 opinion piece in the Lewistown News Argus that proclaimed everything is going swimmingly for APR, CEO Alison Fox told APR’s membership in a September 2021 email that APR is changing its name and logo to ‘American Prairie’ and claims to be focusing more on public land access and preserving biodiversity on the prairie in northcentral Montana. For those of us who don’t drink APR’s Kool-Aid, we note that APR’s web site does not reflect any particular revisions to its goal of creating a multimillion ac... Full story
Throughout its short history, these United States have been the go to place for immigrants the world over. Most of us here today are either immigrants ourselves, or the progeny of immigrants. Native Americans, of course, are the one caveat. ellis For the rest of us, many immigrated lawfully - either through Ellis Island or some other port of entry. I began thinking about my immigrant history when considering the more than 10,000 Haitian nationals currently living under a bridge in Del Rio,... Full story
I am writing to thank the Downtown Association for hosting the Alive at Five. Even though [the most recent] one was not very well attended, it was a nice time. To those of you that didn't attend, you missed out on good music [and] the chance to see the few children that were there having a great time. You also missed out on the chance to visit with friends and neighbors you don't normally see. Should the association continue this next year, I hope you will attend and enjoy all the festivities.... Full story
Imagine seeing an old dilapidated house. The paint is flaking off; exposing the bare wood siding to the elements. Its gutters are falling off random parts of the roof and the blinds behind the broken windows are in a state of total disorder. This old house has not always been in this condition. Based on its age, it looks to have been originally built in the early 1900's. I am told, houses like these were mail order kit homes offered by companies like Sears and Montgomery Ward from 1908-1940's.... Full story
The Montana Nurses Association has referred to the recent emergency rule from Montana DPHHS regarding not masking in school as "promotion of junk science." One might be wise to use caution as well as introspection in using such a bold statement. MNA expressed frustration that the department did not site peer reviewed studies in explaining its rule. For every peer reviewed study showing the effectiveness of masks, one could find at least as many showing they are not effective in reducing the... Full story
History is littered with social and political movements which, while failing to survive as movements, largely achieved their goals. The Prohibition Party's national conventions could take place in a phone booth these days, but its disastrous single policy proposal was adopted as a constitutional amendment, mutated into the equally disastrous war on drugs, and continues to torment the modern marketplace with draconian regulation. Most "socialist" parties have either disappeared into the dustbin o... Full story
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is "not about freedom or personal choice," President Joe Biden said during a Sept. 9 speech about the pandemic. During the prepared remarks, Biden announced Draconian measures aimed at forcing 80 to 100 million Americans to get jabbed. If they do not comply, they could be fired from their jobs. (Read the entire speech here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/09/09/remarks-by-president-biden-on-fighting-the-covid-19-pandemic-3/) "...what... Full story
We must remember that there are many who were not here 20-years-ago when the terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers and Pentagon, and almost hit the U.S. Capitol. The horrors of that day must not be forgotten! Teachers ans schools must not be allowed to try and cover up this attack. Several years back, I was awoken one night when God spoke the words 'Sycamore Tree' to me. I had no idea what that meant, but remembered it was mentioned in the Bible. But why these words now? I awoke the next... Full story
"We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin," US President Joe Biden said on Sept. 9 as he announced his plan to require more than 80 million private sector American workers to consent (sic) to a COVID-19 vaccine, or submit to weekly testing, or be fired by companies with more than 100 employees (those companies will be fined $14,000, by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, for each instance of failure to enforce the edict). The ostensible purpose of the mandate is to... Full story
The pandemic has shown Montanans the critical importance that small business plays in both our local and national economies. It was critical for entrepreneurs to immediately change their business models and pivot to a new way of selling their products and services overnight. The U.S. Small Business Administration is highlighting the resilience of America's entrepreneurs and the renewal of the small business economy as they build back better from the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic. T... Full story
Lately, deliberate misrepresentations have been circulating regarding American Prairie’s proposal to graze bison on six federal allotments in Phillips County. While most Montanan’s who have commented thus far clearly welcome our proposal, some remain committed to a misinformation campaign based on rumors and misdirection. This only serves to perpetuate divisions and erode our civic fabric. As such, I am compelled to set the record straight. The Bureau of Land Management can issue grazing permits or leases and modify existing permits to sub... Full story
"So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among thieves?" Luke 10:36 Who is our neighbor? Is this a question we ever ask ourselves? There are many responses. Our neighbor works with us at work. Our neighbor lives next door to us, or across the street or down the road. We stand next to our neighbor on an elevator. These answers are all correct. But in our text today, Jesus takes the emphasis off the location of a neighbor. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, there is... Full story
Lost in dreamland, I heard the door to my bedroom open. It was my mother, but the sun was barely shining. Irritated at being stirred from my slumber, I told her to go away. But, something was wrong. I could see it on her face. I don't remember exactly what mom said, but she walked quickly to the little box TV at the foot of my bed, turning it on. Still halfway between unconsciousness and waking, I propped one eye open. I saw a building on fire. 'Why does my mom want me to watch a movie at this... Full story
Portions of our countrymen have been at a near fever pitch of panic since the first wave of COVID-19 invaded Washington state in early 2020. What are they so afraid of? Is it those who refuse to get vaccinated or wear masks? No, such folks flexing their rights are just a physical scapegoat, a convenient target upon which can be laid the palpable fear and anger prompted by circumstances largely out of the control of anyone. So what is it then? It is death itself. It is interesting to note that... Full story
Many times drought, stress and civility don't travel together. If I heard any complaints about water delivery in 2016 it was probably from too much of it. In a year like 2021, it has been very difficult to deliver water through a canal system that had a very limited supply of water and also a limited capability for delivery through the complete system. I have been on Antelope Creek in Valley County for 70 years, and I don't remember any other year when the creek didn't even trickle in the... Full story
A lot of children are asked "the question" throughout their adolescence 'What do you want do you want to be when you grow up?' A common response when I was going to school was firefighter, police officer and astronaut. Given the current media coverage and political climate the response of police officer is fading in our youth. I would like to walk you on my path to becoming a Glasgow Police Officer. When I was a young Scottie running around bleeding the red and white plaid, I was frequently...
For the first time I can think of, I actually applaud President Joe Biden for comments he has made. During a speech on Friday, Biden spoke of the realities of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Here is an excerpt from his speech: "...I do not regret my decision to end America's warfighting in Afghanistan and maintain a laser-focus on our counterterrorism missions there and in other parts of the world. Our mission to degrade the terrorist threat of al Qaeda in Afghanistan and kill Osama... Full story
I am writing to the community to try again to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. While the incidence of the virus was quite low locally through the late spring and summer, it is clearly starting to reappear in Valley County and across Northeast Montana. Our part of the state (specifically Phillips, Valley, Roosevelt and Daniels Counties) has a vaccination rate similar to that seen in the devastated areas of the Southeastern US, between 37-40%. Right now, even in rural parts of... Full story
