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, Have you noticed that 'sustainability' is the latest buzz word related to ranching? Ever wonder what they are talking about? I have attended several workshops and read many articles in an attempt to determine what they mean by 'sustainable ranching.' To date I have not heard a specific definition. Generally, the ranchers on the panels will fall back on, "if the ranch has been around for over 100 years it is probably sustainable." However, after listening to the proponents of the pro...
Well it seems winter finally arrived with snow and zero temperatures. So I imagine that four-footed rodent was right. We are in for a few more weeks of winter. The winter of 1968-1969 saw a lot of snow. I remember that on a day in January of 1969 my husband went out to start the car so we could go to church. But we never made it there because with the temperature at 47 degrees below zero the car wouldn’t start. February of 1978 is still embedded in my memories. For me and my family we were snowed in for right at three weeks. That length of t...
Do you remember when the Class C Boys’ basketball tournaments were held in the Glasgow Civic Center? I think that schools were even let out for the event. Coming from a Class C school, it was a real treat to have friends that I could stay with and take in the tourney. I am sure that a pep bus was provided to take in the games, but actually staying in Glasgow for the games was a real treat. Were those type of events held in the Civic Center until the building of the new high school? I do remember the old high school having two gyms, the l...
A quick word, Valley County Voter. I know I am in the minority party here. I accept that my representative will not vote my ideals. However, I do expect our representatives to listen to their constituents and to aubject matter experts. Tonight (Wednesday, Feb. 27) a voter from across the aisle reached out to me to express dismay at Casey Knudsen's committee yes votes on three anti-vaccination bills today. This voter also expressed frustration that Rep. Knudsen was blowing off his constituents' input in light of his own views. Of note, Rep....
Dear Editor, Recently a friend handed me a Letter to the Editor written by Ed Butcher, a former State Senator, retired teacher, and outspoken critic of the American Prairie Reserve – the subject of that letter. "Read this, Stan, and tell me what you think," he said with a grin - knowing that I like what APR is doing. Mr. Butcher's letter was an attack on the American Prairie Reserve, a privately funded, tax-paying enterprise in eastern Montana's dry-land prairie. It isn't competing with a...
Dear Editor, If zebra mussels are allowed to gain a foothold in Montana waters, it could cost Montanans hundreds of millions of dollars per year. It might seem dramatic, but it's true-certain invasive species of mussels could do a massive amount of damage to Montana lakes, rivers, and water supply. And if we don't do anything about it, it'll be Montanans footing the bill. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation released a new report outlining the enormous economic damage to...
The following is a statement from the Superintendant of Glasgow Public Schools Bob Connors on the recent drop off of students in St. Marie last Friday. Details about that Story can be found in Saint Matie News in section C of this edition of the Courier. Friday, Feb. 15, due to the snowy road conditions in St. Marie, the school buses that service that area released students as close to their homes as possible, not at designated stops. We apologize for the lack of communication on the District’s part. These commitments are for all routes that t...
“When the elderly die, a library is lost and volumes of wisdom and knowledge are gone.” This is a line I happened upon sometime ago and have thought about so often. How many times has an item crossed your mind and you have that brief thought about asking your Mom or Dad about it, or maybe an elderly neighbor? The sad thing is that there are not too many of those people left anymore. Not long ago I found myself reminding someone that Glasgow did have a bakery and was surprised they did not remember. The tables were then turned somewhat, as I w...
Dear Editor, Montana Farmers Union is a longtime supporter of Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) and truth in labeling in general. MFU and National Farmers Union fought alongside several other industry groups for years to label meat, both to give consumers a choice in what they purchased at the meat counter, and to aid US producers, because when given the choice, consumers in this country will buy US Beef and not think twice. The meat packing industry has always fought against COOL, stating that...
Dear Editor, Just read the story about Michael McFaul. Every time I see him on the news I would think of the band director. I had no idea they were related! How fun. I was in high school when Kip McFaul was band director. My dad was publisher of the Courier, 1958-1966. Glasgow has a very special place in my heart. Thanks for allowing me to follow on FB....
Dear Editor, My father, Art Walby, homesteaded in 1917 and the following letters home recorded the weather. History repeats itself and now the East is getting what farmers experienced 100 years ago. Dec. 22, 1922. Believe me, we have had real winter here after it started. We had dandy weather out until Nov. 29 – then it started in. We haven't had much snow, but believe me, it has been cold and stormy all the time. I hope I will never have to put in another spring like last year-horses poorly a...
We will be celebrating a holiday this week -- Valentine’s Day. The usual purchases will be made -- candy, flowers, jewelry. But have you thought about a different way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? It could be so much fun to surprise someone with an unexpected gift. I’m sure we all know of people who are living alone. Granted there are some who have family or close friends who will celebrate the day with them. But what about the ones who have no family around or who are hospitalized or in the nursing home? Even a single rose or small bouqu...
All good things must come to an end. We had a good run boasting about the slower pace of the legislative session. Apparently, all it takes to speed things up is a nasty cold snap and suddenly we all decide it’s a much better idea to stay indoors and discuss bills. This week we testified on many bills covering some very diverse topics. We talked early in the week about funding mechanisms for the Aquatic Invasive Species prevention program and legislation clarifying fossil ownership. The week rounded out with discussions on hemp production in M...
Dear Editor, I am writing to thank Glasgow residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. Because of the generosity of donors in Glasgow and across the United States, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, collected more than 8.8 million shoeboxes in 2018. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2018, the ministry is now sending more than 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children suffering from poverty, natural disasters, war, disease and famine. These s... Full story
Dear Editor, Where’s the beef…from? No one wants to be mislead, but it is happening every day at your meat counter. “Product of USA” is now gracing your beef and pork labels, even though your beef and pork are quite possibly not from an American farmer or rancher. This loophole in the USDA process which allows this to happen has to stop. We can start reversing this process by correctly informing Montana consumers with accurate Country-of-Origin-Placards at grocery stores. In 2005, we banded together as Montanans to demand accurate placard... Full story
Dear Editor, What do rural hospitals, small businesses, and 1 in 10 Montanans have in common? They all benefit from Montana’s Medicaid expansion. That’s why I’ve introduced the Keep Montana Healthy Act, which will continue a program that works well for the health of all Montanans. During the 2015 legislative session, I proudly co-sponsored a bill that expanded health care coverage to 1 in 10 Montanans. Now, four years later, Medicaid expansion is firing on all cylinders. Here’s what we know: First and foremost, Montanans are healthier than ev...
Those hardy individuals homesteading on the northern plains of Montana never expected the services that society now enjoys: There was on exception, though: doctors’ house calls. Living an austere life 40-plus miles from the nearest town was handled readily – that is, until illness struck. This happened in our family during the late 1920s. My only sister, Hazel, was struck by a mysterious malady. Word was sent to Malta with a neighbor who had already planned to make the trip. A horse-drawn farm wagon could travel the distance in two days – i...
Do you remember the winters of 49-50, 50-51 and 64-65? Those are only the years that come to my mind and I do know there were many other winters etched in memory. If you remember, I need go no further. For those who do not remember, let me help with some of those past winters. Do you remember driving from Point A to Point B along roads with snow banks higher than your car? Winds and snow so bad that you had small snow drifts along the base boards inside your house. Ice on top of the water bucket (your source of household water) that was broken...
Save the dates! Join in the fun and learning at the Glasgow City-County Library. We would love to have you and your child or children join us every Thursday at 10 a.m. for story time. The kids learn many social skills interacting with other kids, various reading skills such as numbers, shapes, rhyming patterns and much more. Adults have an opportunity to meet, interact and learn from each other as well as make new friends. February Highlights: The first Thursday of each month, September through June, we have story time at Valley View Home. Due...
“Don’t ever think your voice isn’t important.” This was the key message we hoped to impart on the Young Farmers & Ranchers who attended our Calling on the Capitol event this week in Helena. Attendees met with agency officials, bill drafters, committee chairmen and had the opportunity to participate in committee hearings. These events are a highlight of our time in Helena; getting farmers and ranchers in the halls of the Capitol is one of the key priorities to passing strong agricultural policy. In last week’s column we predicted the pace in H...
Dear Editor, These words come as no surprise to many of us. It is our lived experience that Native American women are more likely to go missing, more likely to be murdered, and less likely to have justice in our state. It is our lived experience that when we seek justice for Native women and children who go missing, law enforcement may not take action for weeks-if at all. It is devastating. Right now, we are facing an epidemic of missing and murdered women, many of them Native, in the state of...
Dear Editor, Central Montana is “ground zero” for the destruction of America’s food industry as the international investors bring their millions of dollars to buy private property surrounding public land to gain control of the agricultural leases. The American Prairie Reserve (APR) is methodically destroying the heart of American agriculture while also destroying our future hunting heritage. Sportsmen are being deceived by the APR propaganda as their future hunting will disappear—how much hu...
The year was 1951. A larger bed for Baby Gregory was very much needed after sleeping in the convenient bassinet. Mother could, and easily did, rock with one foot while hands were busy with garden fresh green beans. Soon baby was asleep and one step in meal preparation was complete. This was Montana prairie life. Forty-seven miles were traveled to the nearest furniture store, McFay’s, in Malta. Mr. McFay was most pleased to show a lovely blond crib; no choice as this was the lone one. After examining this piece of furniture, the young parents w...
As many of my readers remember, I really do miss having the dimmer switch on the floor on my vehicles. That thought came to mind again the other day and made me think of all the good progress auto manufacturers have made. Things like the ability to lock all of your vehicle doors with one click, as well as rolling your windows up or down. What about seat adjustments—not only up or down, but closer or further from the steering wheel, not to mention lumbar adjustments and heated seats. Makes me wonder what we will progress to. Though, electric c...
With over 3,000 bill draft requests and only a few hundred bills actually introduced, the Legislative Session is off to a remarkably slow start. While we don’t expect the lull to last, it has made the first few weeks of the session surprisingly bearable! Since committee hearings have been few and far between in recent history, we’ve had time to work on pieces of legislation that aren’t yet introduced. It’s often helpful to reach out to legislators before they even have a committee hearing scheduled. Sometimes we’re able to prevent bad bills...
