Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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Dear Editor, A cold snap in October is not unusual in Montana. No big deal, right? That is, until you consider all your neighbors who struggle daily to make ends meet, pay their bills and keep their homes warm. The vast majority of us don’t think twice about whether the furnace will go on when we turn up the thermostat. However, 15 percent of us (three out of 20 people you meet on the road) have to think about that every day. Energy Share helps Montanans who are facing home energy emergencies. Since July, 50 percent of these emergencies i...
Dear Editor, The Congressional Desert Land Act of 1877 severed the non-navigable surface water and the ground water from the western federal lands and gave them to the states. This resulted in a split estate of the western public lands. The Act of 1890 declared all lands west of the 100th meridian were under the “Prior Appropriation Doctrine” as it applied to water rights. It contained three main components: A. First in time, first in right, B. The user of the water and not the owner of the land gets the water right, and C. The water must be...
Dear Editor, I take serious offense to the Glasgow Courier November 4, 2020 headline “Community Hopes For Change After KKK Costume.” Really? The Courier seems anxious for a comment from somebody so let me give them one. And for clarity, let me get this straight. Because of the distasteful and unintended actions of one person and a couple friends participating in Halloween festivities in our community, we are all to blame? I wasn’t even there but one thing I do know about celebrating in a bar during Halloween is this, your common sense can l...
Dear Editor, My name is Becky Anderson, and I would like to address the story printed in your paper on November 4, 2020 regarding the “KKK” costume controversy. I find it quite astonishing how the title of the article: “Community Hopes For Change After KKK Costume,” seems to imply a certain disposition of the people of Glasgow. That we, as a community, felt that this incident revealed a certain degree of racism hidden within the hearts of the people here in rural Montana. As for myself, I thought no such thing. As a matter of pure fact, w...
Dear Editor, It’s been almost six years since I wrote my last piece for The Courier and even longer since my first guest column in 1991. I have always enjoyed returning to my hometown. Last year was especially fun as I was able to show off Glasgow and Ft Peck to a few dozen of my visiting Norwegian relatives prior to our historic 150th family reunion in Scobey. You may have seen photos and read about the pre-reunion tour in a July 2019 Courier story. My relatives told me I could be a local tour guide and possibly work for the Montana tourism in...
The Valley CARE Coalition proudly presents stories from Valley County residents who have struggled, continue to struggle, or have found peace surrounding mental health, substance use disorders, or behavioral health. Battling this is a symbol of strength and courage and should be highlighted as such. My story starts many years ago as an eight-year-old. I was abused in foster care, did not fit in, and was teased. I tried suicide but thank god I was unsuccessful. I never told anyone about the abuse or the suicide attempt and did not feel anyone...
Dear Editor, A friend and I recently spent eight days hunting birds in North Dakota and eastern Montana. The Covid-19 pandemic troubled us, but we decided to travel anyway. We spent time and money in restaurants and diners, bars, sporting goods stores, some service spots, hotels, and county conservation offices. We were treated with great friendliness wherever we went except for one thing: very few local people wore masks. My friend and I cut our trip short by a week. During that lost week, we...
Dear Editor, As the end of the election season approaches, the Peck Yes Team would like to thank the people of Glasgow for participating in this exciting campaign to bring backyard chickens to our town. At a time when national politics can be so polarized and contentious, it has been a change of pace to see a relatively minor local issue hold the spotlight. Driving through town, you will see more Peck Yes! And Cluck No! signs than any other political sign. Whatever the result of the election,...
Dear Editor, Let's just admit it: 2020 has been a real challenge. It all seemed to happen right around the time when we reset clocks in mid-March. Now, as we prepare for the end of daylight saving time in early November, and after recently spending some valuable time away, I've found a renewed energy, positive perspective and several new memories that will keep me focused. I take pride in a strong work ethic. Being raised on the farm, vacation was a novel concept because there was always work th...
Dear Editor, Earlier this year, I joined two Montana families at the United States Supreme Court. I went to hear the oral arguments for a landmark case very relevant to the State of Montana. The case was about equal protection under the Constitution, religious freedom, and protecting Montana families and children from being discriminated against because of the school they choose. I saw nine brilliant Supreme Court justices ask tough questions to both sides. Frankly, I saw the finest hour of deba...
According to an old ballad, “Saturday night” was the loneliest night of the week.” Not so for the Circle Diamond cowboys. After their once-a-week bath, either in a creek during the heat of summer days or with a tub full of water heated on the kitchen range, the next step was dressing up in clean attire. With permission of the ranch foreman, they were off on horseback to Malta where they encountered a few girls quite interested in accompanying them to a dance at Wagner, a tiny but lively town west of Malta. After locating the off-duty stage...
Dear Editor, I'm a veteran, and through the VA Health Care System in Montana I'm able to get the care I need. Ninety percent of all medications prescribed through the VA are delivered via the USPS. I receive several life saving medications through the mail. Normally it takes seven to 10 days for my prescriptions to arrive, but thanks to Postmaster General DeJoy and his asinine changes to the Postal Service it takes two to three weeks for me to get my medication. I also can't order my...
Dear Editor, He was a boy among men, a freckled, wide-eyed 12-year-old spending his first week in elk camp. From a low-income family, he listened intently to evening conversation reclined on a folding chair next to a rusted barrel stove in a canvas wall tent. On the third day, one of the hunters harvested a young cow elk. That evening I grilled its tenderloins, skewers of shrimp and whacked together mushrooms stuffed with bacon bits, parmesan cheese and minced peppers. Chowing rapturously throug...
Dear Editor, Agriculture is facing very pressing issues today that will determine the viability of family-owned operations. Future Federal and state administrations, governors, senators, representatives, and local governments are all going to have to make these issues a priority if our rural economy and communities are to remain viable as we know them today. Trade: It is imperative that we move past bilateral trade discussions and trade wars. It is generally understood the Trans Pacific...
Dear Editor, Indecisive? Shooting from the hip? NO, ALL was planned 2 years ago. When we came into this mess, we looked at what WAS and what NEEDED to be done- "FIAT." ...Latin- "Let it be done." A Review Decree with authorization with the Board Directors of NVCW/S District to spot trends and investigate past actions, both good and bad. Set priorities/ identify non-essential spending. What improvements were needed? Audit the books, evaluate the systems. Spend the money necessary to hire the...
I am sure not many grow sugar beets in this area anymore. However, “back in the day,” there used to be sugar beet dumps at many of the rail depots, as well as dumps at most every side stop, all along the Milk River Valley. I think that growing sugar beets may have been very labor intensive. I do know that Mexican labor was utilized for thinning and topping beets, but must admit that I cannot visualize that at all. I also think that the Prisoners of War that were housed in facilities at the old Glasgow Airport were used for Ag labor. Where was...
Dear Editor, There is a well funded international movement to convert the Northern Great Plains, from Saskatchewan to Nebraska, into a nature preserve. To start the process their plan is to restore huge herds of wild, free-ranging bison to immense tracts of land in selected areas. Guess what. Valley, Phillips and Blaine Counties are one of those selected areas! It is interesting that many people support these wild, free-ranging bison but only if they are in someone else's backyard. In 2014, the...
Dear Community and Donors to the FMDH Foundation, Greetings from the FMDH Foundation Corner. It’s hard to believe it’s already the time of year to have our annual meeting and fill you all in on what the Foundation has accomplished in the last year. We, like you, are learning to be adaptable. Though we won’t be meeting in person this year, we wanted to share the positive things we were still able to help our community with. The Foundation gifted $25,000 in scholarships to the following students pursuing a medical field: Kiauna Barstad Teaga...
The Valley CARE Coalition proudly presents stories from Valley County residents who have struggled, continue to struggle, or have found peace surrounding mental health, substance use disorders, or behavioral health. Battling this is a symbol of strength and courage and should be highlighted as such. Just Talk There are a few memories that I can never seem to shake. I was alone in my room at two in the morning and nothing was going right. I had no motivation or direction. Neither my school life nor family life seemed to be working. I remember...
No, I did not retire completely—just semi. Actually I was not aware of a change to the Courier e-mail. When my items did not get published I just assumed they had enough news with the Covid, politics, sports, etc. that they did not need any fillers. Reading about Brian Austin’s new business venture has brought back memories of Brian’s heritage. Do you remember the old Austin Packing Plant located on the Tampico Highway close to the Milk River Bridge? I would guess that the majority of butchering and preparing for the freezer was done at this...
Dear Editor, The devalue of property is still real in Glasgow. I checked with real estate agents here in Glasgow. They said that although it isn't a 100 percent guarantee that property would be devalued with city chickens, but it is a very high probability. I agree that Billings and Missoula still have high property value. We could also claim that if we had a college, malls, big box stores or more Hi-Tech business, etc. There are many reasons why we shouldn't be compared to Billings or...
Dear Editor, Here in Montana we are granted the right to vote on ballot initiatives once they clear a number of hurdles, including having the related petition garner enough qualifying signatures. Not achieved, however, is the ability to hold public hearings on the proposed issue – such as is accomplished during legislative debate, fiscal review and the amendment process. On Nov. 3, we will be voting on CI-118 which would legalize marijuana here in Montana. Aside from what the proponents and oppo...
To Glasgow Residents, The City of Glasgow’s priority work area for this year’s Annual Paving Project is the two City blocks on 2nd Ave. South between 4th Street South and 6th Street South. The City recognizes this two block stretch of street as the downtown hub for many of Glasgow’s businesses and public attractions. In an effort to improve access and to keep our down town vibrant, we will be rehabilitating the street grade and resurfacing that section of 2nd Ave. South. The cost of this project is $138,000. Street improvement/Rehab Proje...
Dear Editor, Our current world has been turned upside down and created a deep sense of uncertainty and stress. Our normal routines and patterns of activities are no longer routine, we have developed new protocols such as hand-washing and wearing a mask, and we are careful to limit our social interactions and maintain appropriate social distancing. A year ago, this was not even in our awareness as a potential way we would start to live our lives. In the times of uncertainty and transition, we...
Friends and Neighbors, The Empire Builder has been a life-line in northern Montana for decades, however another cloud hangs over the Passenger Service. There is effort to re-establish the Southern Mt. Hiawatha Passenger Service (terminated 1979) from Chicago to Sand Point Idaho, by creating the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. It will comprise of counties from Dawson Co. (Glendive) to Missoula Co. Once established another study will ensue, then funding and approval of the Southern route by...
