The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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Today I euthanized a chicken. Nothing starts the day like a little mercy killing before breakfast, right? In case you weren’t aware, chickens are by and large conscienceless, carnivorous little jerks who will devour any flesh available to them and have been known, like junior high girls, to turn on their own in the blink of an eye. The lone Banty in our coop was always a bit of an underdog, perhaps due to her smaller size. They don’t call it a “pecking order” for nothing, and in our little brood, she was at the bottom...
Almost immediately upon departing the Three Forks area, the newly formed Missouri is neatly tucked into a mini-gorge. Then, only 16 miles from its inception, the Toston Reservoir and Dam decelerate its flow. After traversing the "Little Gates of the Mountains," so noted on Clark's map of July 25, 1805, as "2d range of mts - little gate," near the small village of Toston, the river will soon ply the last of the big southwest valleys. Officially established when the post office...
Dear Dietitian, I recently read an article that said we should eat whole-fat dairy products like whole milk and yogurt. We've always heard that we should choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products. What gives? Signed, Laura Dear Laura, You're right; for years dietitians and physicians have warned against consuming full-fat dairy products. Skim milk and low-fat yogurt, right? Well, maybe not. In a recent study of 3,000 people age 65 or older, Otto et al. found no link between...
We’ve reached the second week in October, and summer is over. Summer, that tantalizingly brief season of Vitamin D and seemingly endless evenings, officially ended at midnight on September 21 in North America. We made it through relatively unscathed by fire or the shaking of the earth this year and have reached that time when grasses are gilded and oftentimes rimed in frost, the leaves drift gently earthward in a palette of warm shades, wood smoke flavors the trailing edges of suddenly sharp gusts and the propane bill spikes....
I have the propensity to make decisions with little forethought, then when things fall apart, cast around for help to get out of the situation I created. My siblings have always come through, although I have never been deserving of their help. Some years ago I was making a decent wage, and decided that the only way I´d ever be able to reciprocate for their patience and generosity would be a healthy life insurance policy on myself with them as beneficiaries. So, like always,...
On Aug. 12, 1805, Meriwether Lewis penned in his journals, "the road was still plain, I therefore did not dispare of shortly finding a passage over the mountains and of tasting the waters of the great Columbia this evening. At the distance of four miles further the road took us to the most distant fountain of the waters of the mighty Missouri in search of which we have spent so many toilsome days in wristless nights." Lewis was describing today's Distant Fountain Spring, part...
Dear Dietitian, A close friend of mine has recently lost thirty pounds on an intermittent fasting diet. It reminds me of crash diets that were once popular. Is intermittent fasting a good way to lose weight? Sincerely, Judy Dear Judy, Intermittent fasting (IF) is the one of the latest fads in weight loss. This is a type of weight-loss plan where one eats during certain times, then fasts for so many hours. There are always diets that claim to have the magical formula for weight...
Lisa and I have been on the road for over two weeks. It has been an awesome and wonderful trip. We have made new friends, renewed old friendships, and am getting to know and love our new daughter-in-law’s family. There has been a great spirit in all of our interactions with people. We have had nothing but friendship, politeness, and respect from people as we travel. People are genuinely excited about our Nation. It seems everywhere we have gone people are hopeful. There is a...
Here in western Montana most ranches are what's called "cow/calf" operations. The owners maintain a herd of cows and sell the offspring at about six months of age, the calf crops go to feedlots, most of which are in areas that produce a lot of grains, especially corn. They'll stay in the lots until they weigh 1,100 to 1,200 pounds, at about a year of age, when they are sold to the packing plants. It varies from property to property and region to region, but in this area most...
Dear Dietitian, I am trying to lose weight, so I often skip breakfast. My husband insists that this is not good for me and actually works against my efforts to lose weight. What do you say? Shirley Dear Shirley, We have always heard, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." However, recent studies have challenged this age-old standard. Some studies have found that people who skip breakfast do not overcompensate for this and overeat later in the day. Other studies sho...
Dear Dietitian, Why are nutrition studies so confusing? One day we hear a certain food is good for us; then the next thing we know, the same thing may cause cancer. It's very frustrating! George D. Dear George, Good question. I am always skeptical when I read a new nutrition study. Take fish oil supplements, for example, which contain omega-3-fatty acids. At first, studies showed that omega-3s did everything from preventing cancer to heart disease. After further research, a sp...
Our mother was out at the clothesline while the rest of us were in the house. Suddenly, she burst through the back door, so frightened and angry she couldn't speak clearly. She kept asking for a shotgun or a rifle, and all I could imagine was that a mountain lion or something akin was in the back yard. Finally, our mother calmed down enough to say, "That damned duck!" and we understood her fright, but we knew it wasn't a big deal. One of us had dragged home an old male Muscovy...
One buzzword that seems to be getting a lot of airtime these days is “sustainability.” Most often, the word is used to mean the responsible maintenance of the world in which we live, so that the planet’s resources will be able to support many future generations, and the word comes up in discussions on a variety of topics, from the economy to environment to lifestyle. The first thing that comes to my mind when someone mentions sustainable living is the modern “homesteader” movement, in which a growing number of hipsters...
By the time this is in print I will be in Springfield, Ill. Then on the 23rd Lisa and I will be sharing our ministry with Zion Hill Baptist Church in Chatsworth, Ga. The following week it is on to Cleveland, Ohio to officiate our oldest son’s wedding, then a mad dash across country to get home! A vacation you say; hardly, although there will some “vacationing” along the way. We will be visiting with many old friends along the way, but not all and that is too bad. In order...
I had been incubating a case of pneumonia for some time before I got sick enough that a woman whose name I didn't even know took action and saved my life. For some weeks, I had been getting weaker and becoming more short of breath. I couldn't walk 100 feet without sitting down, and my legs were getting wobbly. I figured it was a combination of Paraguayan cigarettes and lack of caloric intake, but a change of lifestyle would fix me. I met Rosana one evening when she was...
Dear Reader, The Food and Drug Administration developed a new Nutrition Facts label which was released in the beginning of 2018. The new label more clearly illustrates the serving size and the calories per serving, and among other things, lists the amount of added sugars. A recent European study found that one in three men do not read nutrition labels. The purpose of a Nutrition Facts label is to help consumers make healthier choices. However, many find them confusing....
The 2016 20-year anniversary of the capture of the Unabomber, and the recent presence of film crews in Lincoln have prompted a renewed interest and a lot of memories for many of us about that surreal time in our little town's history. Likewise, the resurgence of interest in the case of the serial killer who eluded authorities for more than twenty years, hiding amongst us, has brought up conversation and questions regarding Ted Kaczynski amongst many of my out-of-town friends....
Dear Dietitian, I have been using sea salt for most of my cooking. It's more natural than table salt, and I feel that it is a healthier alternative. But my husband challenges me on this point. What do you think? Signed, Suzanne Dear Suzanne, Many Americans are opting for sea salt with the idea, "It is more natural, so it must be better for you." According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly two-thirds of Americans have tried to decrease their salt intake....
In the New Testament book called “James”, written by Jesus’ half-brother, there are several verses that people misread, or misapply on a regular basis. I hope that for most people it is an honest mistake. It is easy to come to a section of Scripture and read it, but fail to grasp the intent and application the author intended. Yes, there are some real basic and time-tested principles to properly interpreting and applying God’s Word in to our lives. Some read verse 22 of chap...
Along with the beaverslide stackers and teams of horses, the family milk cows have disappeared into the past. I don't think anyone misses them. The state of Montana initiated brucellosis testing of all the cattle in the state during the late 1950's and early 60's, and a lot of milk cows showed up as carriers. The Brucellosis microbe in the milk can cause undulant fever in humans, plus make some young cows abort their calves. A few milk cows showed up positive on almost every...
Is Coconut Oil Bad for You? Dear Readers, This past week a Harvard doctor referred to coconut oil as “pure poison,” which set off a social media firestorm. What’s all the fuss about? Another doctor was quoted as saying coconut oil is safe to use in moderation. What, exactly, is moderation? This what we know from thirty years of research: Coconut oil is high in saturated fat. A diet high in saturated fat is a risk factor for high cholesterol, which in turn, is a risk facto...
For many years it was traditional for almost every ranch to run 100 – 200 head of sheep. "Farm flocks" they were called. That lasted until to the mid 1970's when the coyotes and prices both got so bad, most ranchers just gave up and sold the ewes. Our father always had a small bunch around the house and corrals. They provided an extra income for our family. I don't know about the present, but in the 1950's and 60's the sheep provided four paychecks a year. We got paid for t...
Dear Dietitian, My fourteen-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. We made an appointment with a dietitian, and she is doing her best to follow a gluten-free diet. The problem is she still has stomach aches and diarrhea three to five times a week. What should we do? Signed, Mandy Dear Mandy, Today as many as 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease. As you have learned, gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, and triticale (a hybrid...
While writing this today it is currently raining! First time in 40-plus days for this immediate area. And temps are in the 50's. And it is mid-August? What the heck? It is wonderful and may be just what we fisherpeople needed to get the fish back on the bite. It's been a slow month following the infamous spruce moth period where fish were filling up their bellies with those obnoxious little brindle moths. Every day we get hit with the two big questions: "How's the fishing? What are they biting on?" I think I scratched a bald...
Over the past several weeks I have thought a lot about the balance of life principle. Maybe a better way to frame that is so say life is full of uncertainty, both in us and others. So what do we do when things turn upside down and inside out? Do we throw up our hands and retreat to the alcohol cabinet? Or maybe it is the little pill that will soothe our troubled minds? It can be the weight room, shooting range, ATV trails, or the river. But even those things do not really seem to satisfy the deep longings of the wandering...
