The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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This past week, I enjoyed not one, but two days off. It's been awhile since I've had two in a row. It was glorious. I slept in, spent time with my other half and our pets at home. He and I got out briefly on the back of his motorcycle, and I spent a long afternoon in the saddle with my horse. For me, these days are treasures as they are so few and far between. I'm working to change that. Everyone I meet reminds me how busy I am. And I am, but not nearly as busy as I was even...
I have known Bob Brown for years, and I even ran for Lieutenant Governor with him when he ran for Governor in 2004. He is a good guy who is fun to sit and visit with. But he has one failing, which probably comes from his growing up in the trees in Whitefish – being able to see the forest from the trees. I was saddened to see his editorial announcing his withdrawal from the Republican Party and blasting Senator Daines and Congressman Gianforte for supporting President Trump. There are forces at work that want us to become a so...
We find the things we love when we take the time to encourage growth in ourselves. Think about it, did you just wake up and realize one day that you like to (fill in the blank) or, was it something you learned? Better yet, was it something you learned from someone special, important or influential in your life? For me, it was learning how to crochet with my grandmother. I remember growing up as a child watching her create the coolest things. They may not have been cool to...
Hummingbirds are stunning creatures: not only for their jewel-like beauty and gravity-defying aerial acrobatics but also for their sheer fortitude. Every fall, they migrate thousands of miles to Mexico or Central America. Their wings thrum at up to 80 beats per second. When they sleep, their body drops into a state of torpor: their heartbeat and breathing slow to a state almost near death. Yet when they awake, their first order of business is hovering about trees and...
Badger-Two Medicine: From Birch Creek and Family Peak in the south, to Lubec Ridge and Elk Calf Mountain in the north, the headwaters of Badger Creek and the Two Medicine River flow down from the sacred summits of Feather Woman and Heart Butte, Scarface and Morningstar, Half Dome and Kiyo Crag, Goat Mountain and the Bruin Peaks. This is classic east-of-divide country with the northern Great Plains of the Blackfeet Nation stretching far to the east. Immediately south of...
Racism: the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. 2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. Democrats have always used race to obtain power. At first they championed slavery and divided the country, and after the civil war they used their political and police power to pass laws and actions denying blacks basic human and civil rights. After Supreme Court rulings; Republican legislation;...
When the Corps of Discovery passed through Montana in 1805 Capt. Meriwether Lewis described a "new kind of white or silvery trout,"-the Arctic grayling, a member of the salmon family that depends on clean, cold-water streams. Montana is now the only place in the lower 48 states with native populations of fluvial (river-dwelling) Arctic grayling. Over time, its historic range has been drastically reduced due to habitat loss, fragmentation, overharvest, nonnative species, and...
Remember way back when this whole virus thing started? Yeah, although it's only been about four months, it feels like forever to me too. But, think back, I wrote a column about it, probably in early April. In it, I talked about fear, and how I was less scared of the virus itself, and far more frightened by the ugliness of people and the divisiveness that I was feeling. Sadly, my fears have become more of a reality than I could have imagined, and believe it or not, they are...
Montana's economy has wilted and withered since the so-called pandemic arrived in early March. Our "wannabe president/wannabe senator/lame duck governor" has done little except bankrupt main street merchants. Revenues for state government are sinking. As veteran state legislators and members of the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, this troubles us. It appears that our state coffers are being drained so the next legislature will inherit serious red ink. President Trump,...
In the past five months, Congress has responded to the coronavirus public health crisis with several emergency relief measures, including the stimulus checks sent to individuals and households, payroll protections to small businesses, expanded unemployment payments, fee waivers for borrowing against 401(K) plans and more. Now, Congress will get the opportunity to pass a relief measure that protects your access to trustworthy local news, helps grow local businesses through ads...
To: Kate and Tommy Applegate, Helmville MT Congratulations with the success of obtaining AEDs for the Helmville Community through a grant received from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. I didn't realize there's a tie between Town Pump's Kenneally family and the Gearys of Helmville. And, kudos to you, Kate, for working toward becoming an EMT. You both are wonderful assets to your community, Powell County, and our state. Thank you both for all of your hard work and...
There was a song that came out back in the early 80's when I was in high school: "I Can't Drive 55," by Sammy Hagar. Well, with my moving, I have been taking my things down to Drummond in my little blue van, with the many ducks glued on the roof. I find that as I am getting older, the song I sing is "I Can Drive 55." Occasionally, I will go 65 but my little van is getting old and I have to take 'er easy, especially when it's loaded down. I think back when I was a young kid,...
Dear Roger and Erin, We just received our first copy of the BVD in its new format. Congratulations on the new look; the broadsheet takes it "uptown" so to speak. A community newspaper serving small towns is the nuts and bolts of the news media and should be welcomed and supported by all who can. Granted, most of us have access to the Internet and can receive newspapers online and other dubious news articles but its small community newspapers that keep readers informed on the...
Our state, and our country, has never faced a challenge like the one we are confronted with today. COVID-19, and the ensuing shutdown sent shockwaves through our economy. The consequences have been devastating, and we are only beginning to see its full impact. Over the last few months, we've experienced economic carnage unlike any period in my lifetime. Many business owners had to make the difficult decision to tell loyal employees that the paycheck they were depending on...
Sheriffs take an oath to support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Montana. We will uphold our oath, protect public safety and respond to our shared constituency through open communication and education as we continue to face the public health risks of COVID-19. As leaders in your community and the elected officials who represent you and your constitutional rights, we want to ensure we are all doing our part to protect the vulnerable citizens in our state while...
Editor, No good comes from a house divided so it is my hope that a middle ground can be found. It's my aim to find a commonality in an effort to reduce single-minded intolerance aimed at public servants. The definition of transparency: free from pretense or deceit, can be found inside a dictionary. Let's go one step further and apply this concept within the Private and Public sectors. The private sector is governed by a CEO (Chief Executive Officer). This individual is the...
Dear Editor, It is time to make some noise for the Red, White, and Blue.Many Patriots want to let their voices be heard against the lawlessness we see in our country, but don’t know how to go about it. Well, together let’s say to Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioters, spineless Democrat and Republican politicians, and the news media that we are fed up with their crap and that we support America, our Law Enforcement, and Constitution. Enough already of this “destroy America” garbage. When I was 20 years old, I had orders...
Editor's note: This op-ed from the American Legion went out three weeks ago, but we were unaware of it until this week. Nevertheless, it's a subject that remains relevant, so we have chosen to include it in this weeks BVD As we celebrated our independence on July 4th, it is important to reflect on those who brought us to this amazing republic in 1776. A great part of our success in establishing this republic can be attributed to the 'rule of law' and our country's willingness...
With my time here vastly coming to a close, I am sadly not going to be able to thank all the people, organizations and businesses for all they do for this wonderful little town, I apologize for that. Lincoln is truly fortunate for all the great services it provides; grocery store, gas station, bank, restaurants, newspaper, just to name a few. One of the businesses I wanted to thank before I go is a business that folks here in Lincoln are extremely fortunate to have. Grizzly...
This past weekend I was able to attend and teach at my first fiber festival for the year. In any other year, this would have been my seventh or eighth show of the season. It felt strange, in a way, loading up the car to make the trek, but once headed to my destination, it felt right. Most of the trips I make are by car, but I'm usually so far behind and in such a rush, I rarely get to "enjoy the ride" so to speak. This trip was different. I was ready ahead of time (this is a r...
I want to thank everyone who helped and had any part in the parade, especially the Chamber of Commerce who stepped in at the last minute and took over and finished organizing and running the parade, when I felt it was not in my best interest to be involved. That was a hard decision for me. We made 100 goodie bags for the kids that were in the parade. Mountain View Co-op, Lincoln Telephone Co, Citizens Alliance Bank, Hi Country Beef Jerky and the Lincoln Library were all very...
Keeping Montanan small businesses afloat during the coronavirus shutdown was one of the most important actions taken by our federal government. The relief package kept many people working and may prevent, in the long term, the closure of thousands of businesses. Some have characterized the relief for business owners as "bailouts." They're not. A bailout is a government handout to businesses that lost money due to their own mismanagement. The government bailed out financial...
A few weeks ago, The New York Times ran an article noting that with the US preoccupied by the coronavirus pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and massive unemployment, "its competitors are moving to fill the vacuum, and quickly." Russia, China, North Korea, Iran... All are testing how far they can go, seeking to exploit our weaknesses and fill the vacuum they perceive in world leadership. Our allies, meanwhile, are expressing dismay at the US's inability to come to grips wi...
Letter to the Editor I'd like to take a moment and thank Sheriff Dutton in his role in ensuring the annual Independence Day Parade and the Lincoln Rodeo are able to move forward as planned. I appreciate his, (and his staff's) commitment to our town and trusting the community and its' guests over the holiday weekend to practice safety and respect during the festivities. In his words, "if you're sick, stay home, if you're more comfortable wearing a mask, do so, and practice...
As the country celebrates its birth as a nation, one of the most patriotic things Montanans can do is stand up and be counted--in the 2020 Census. Or, more accurately, go online and be counted. Or mail in the census form. Or chat with a census worker. Every 10 years, the country counts how many people live in the United States of America. The stakes are large. Results of the census determine how much money Montana gets from the federal government. That's about $2 billion a...