The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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Three decades ago the spotted owl was used to obstruct tree removal and to force unreasonable “hands off” forest management that has helped result in today’s mega fires. So, forgive me for not believing the water pollution calamity story now being told by similar activists promoting I-186. This initiative will instead just hurt young Montana working-class families and harm local small businesses that depend on mining. The corporations pushing I-186 are distracting voters with a nonexistent clean water crisis to hide their...
During our final days of filming TED K this August, there were many teary eyes among the cast and crew. We are going to miss Lincoln and our new friends there. We would like to sincerely thank you for welcoming us to your town. You worked alongside us both behind and in front of the camera, you scrambled to help us solve problems, you allowed us to film on your property, and you leant us vehicles, equipment, and props. Beyond all that, you fed us, you housed us, and, yes, you...
I just returned from the Helmville Rodeo. I stood in silent prayer with several hundred people, every single person there stood with their hand over their heart as some little gal with the voice of a meadow lark sang our national anthem – while another one stood up on a barrel and did sign language for the audience. The tears that ran down my cheeks made me a proud man. I shall watch the NFL no more forever. Thank you God, thank you America, and thank you Helmville, M...
When I voted for the Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Act, also known as Medicaid Expansion, in 2015, I did so for two reasons. First, to ensure that vulnerable Montanans had access to affordable health coverage. Second, to ensure that we were giving those same people the skills they need to get higher-paying jobs so they would no longer need to rely on government assistance. I continue to support Medicaid Expansion, but I do not support Ballot Initiative 185 (I-185). I ask that you join me this...
Do you value the PRIVILEGE of recycling in Lincoln? Hopefully you do. We must work to keep TRASH from being thrown in the recycling bins next to the Senior Center, located across the street from the public school. The front-page headline in the Great Falls Tribune on Sunday, August 19, 2018 was titled “Montana Recycling Program May Get Trashed.” The article mainly focused on issues related to recycling plastic. But the secondary subject was the problem of people throwing TRASH in recycling bins of any kind. The art...
We want to thank all those in the community for the great turn out for the clothing giveaway; to the generous people who cleaned closets and donated all items they didn't use and to the many who shopped for clothing that they could use. This was the purpose of the giveaway when it was started so many years ago. A special thank you to all who came to set up tables and sort, fold, stack, to those who came to box up all unclaimed items for donation to some worthy organizations....
Jon Tester works hard. He cares about his constituents. He listens. He acts. For years my husband, Bob, doctored at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Many 5 a.m. Mondays, he and I joined Jon and Sharla at the airport. Jon never failed to ask about his health and to genuinely express his concern for us. When everyone’s seat light went out, Jon’s light was on, reading piles of paper from his briefcase, marking in the margin the important points. On the Thursday. or Friday evening flights back to Great Falls, there they wer...
You know these words, but how often do you stop to think about them? "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..." They belong, of course, to the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. That remarkable document is not just the blueprint for our political system. Its Preamble...
Well another year in the books for the Heather Terman fun run. We had quite a few more new riders and sold 160 hands/cards. Everyone had a great time and we gave out some good prizes. Congratulations to the winners! Julie Lynn Zarr got high hand, Dawn Fisher got low hand, and Barb French took the middle hand. The money earned will go to the Jr. High Track and help with a new scoreboard. Again, I'd like to give a big shout out to everyone that donated prizes, bought hands, and...
There's an old saying that, "If it can't be grown or raised, it must be mined." In Montana-where mining is among our largest economic drivers and our state motto is Oro y Plata (gold and silver)-mining plays a critical role in sustaining communities and families across Montana. I-186, the misleading initiative that claims to promote "responsible" mining, is backed by a coalition of out-of-state environmental groups, and if successful in November, would stop future mines. The...
Recently, a group of media took flight with University of Montana professor Rick Graetz to take in the stunning landscape of the southern Crown of the Continent area, centered on Lincoln. This flight highlighted Graetz’s effort to map, explore, and include this landscape of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest into the coveted Crown of the Continent, which could bring an economic boost for Lincoln. With increased visitors to the area, that tourism influx could assist in cushioning and leveling out the historic b...
Thank you, Bill Cyr, for donating a five days and four nights Summer Pack Trip in the Scapegoat Wilderness for the 2018 LFD Fireman's Ball Auction. I won the bid! We put the word out about the trip to our adult children, and three daughters from Oklahoma said, "Me, Me, Me". On Friday, July 13, we met Billy Cyr and Derek Perez at the Indian Meadows Trail Head. We watched them saddle the horses and load the packs on the five mules. After a briefing from Bill Cyr and a shove to...
Radical environmentalists funded by out-of-state billionaires would have Montanans believe I-186 is only about clean water, and that Montanans wrote this “citizens initiative”. They would have us believe Montana’s mining revenue and the local services it funds will continue despite new onerous regulations. Yes, all Montanans want clean water! And although Montana already has the strictest environmental laws in the nation, we should do more if we can. It is also true that if I-186 passes, it will drive mining companies from th...
As I stood at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers recently, I was again reminded of how lucky I am to live in Montana with its abundance of outdoor opportunities. A wonderful part of my job as director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is traveling around the state to enjoy public lands and check in on the resources we steward. Earlier this summer, it was my pleasure to participate in the dedication at the grand opening of the Confluence at Milltown State...
Toby Dahl United Property Owners of Montana Governor Bullock’s decision to eliminate the State Land Board’s oversight of multimillion-dollar state conservation easements is troubling to say the least. No elected official should have the power to spend taxpayer dollars so casually, without any checks or balances. That type of power breeds corruption. That’s exactly why the Land Board exists in the first place—to ensure that big, expensive land deals are handled properly. In other words, the Land Board was established in our...
Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I was always taught that you don't fix what isn't broken. And when it comes to Montana's mining regulations and the environmental protections we have in place, they are far from needing fixed. Even a cursory look at Montana's permitting process for mines reveals that our regulatory standards are among the world's most stringent when it comes to protecting our land and water resources. But I-186, a recently proposed ballot initiative, completely...
Summer is upon us and traffic is indicating what most already know-it's going to be another great tourism season in northwest Montana. Recent headlines show that many cities are trying to mitigate the crush and diversify their venues so that it doesn't happen all at once. The recent audit of the Department of Commerce shows that bed tax collections have continued to climb in the state. What it doesn't show, however, is that about half of the collections are from Montanans....
Every so often, I jot down a list of the things that discourage me about our country. There's the widespread disregard for our core values of tolerance and mutual respect, for instance. Our declining national optimism. Our relaxed attitude toward fixing our election machinery, overseeing financial institutions, and making sure that our key democratic institutions and processes are working effectively. There's wage stagnation, income inequality, a high poverty rate, failing inf...
In my letter to the editor dated May 30 in the BVD, I was only asking for transparency. Let the people of Lincoln know what is going on. I want the Rodeo Club to stay in Lincoln and to prosper, as does everyone else. The majority of the people in Lincoln are of the age that they cannot climb the hillside, so they do not partake of the rodeo, so you are losing attendance. To answer your question, I have never put on a rodeo. If I did, I would keep the people informed of the expenses and the profits. I know there are hidden...
Headlines report positive statistics about our low unemployment rates, both nationally and statewide. The national report, as of June 1st, has the US unemployment rate at 3.8 percent, the lowest in nearly two decades. In Montana, it's at 4.0 percent; a generally static figure here in the Treasure State. However, by county, McCone County (northeastern Montana) has the lowest rate of 2.3, and Lincoln County (northwestern Montana) experiences the highest rate of 12.7 percent....
Rural and agricultural areas of Montana and the nation face tougher and tougher challenges. Our hospitals are struggling; our schools operate with reduced state and Federal funding, and our infrastructure is deteriorating. Our friends in agriculture experience uncertainty, higher expenses, and farm bills that are being used as political footballs. Over the past months, a group of rural, ag-involved Montana Democrats have met to talk about what support for our rural, agricultural areas looks like. We believe that it’s time f...
In regards to the letter to the editor from Mike Mullens in the May 39th BVD: Mr. Mullens have you ever put on a rodeo? Do you know the cost involved with putting on a rodeo? The Lincoln Rodeo is not a huge money maker. Sometimes it barely breaks even. The club tries to maintain a reserve to cover the costs of the rodeo on years that are less than profitable. The Forest Service rented the grounds for a short time in 2015 and then again in 2017. The club did not receive anything close to $50,000 for this rental. The club has...
And again, with no improvements on the grounds. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Forest Service had firefighters camped on the Rodeo grounds and paid big money for this service. In 2017 alone, the Rodeo Club should have made well over $50,000.00. I was hoping to see some more bleachers with shade and maybe shade over the existing bleachers. Sitting on a hill side in the hot sun is no fun. The Rodeo Club should be self sufficient so therefore the monies made from the Forest Service should be free and clear and as a non-profit...
It is optimistic news for Montanans that with only two months remaining in the first year of the current two-year budget, revenue projections are back on track with the Legislature’s original estimate. But even as we optimistically watch the revenue numbers climb each month, we are seeing our most vulnerable citizens suffering the effects of the cuts to human service providers the Governor chose to make when he called the Special Session. Feeling optimistic about revenue projections at the time of the special session, the L...
Water rights are the cornerstone of our agricultural economy. Without certainty, protection for existing water right holders, and a plan to define the federally reserved water rights of the tribes, Montana’s water users would be forced to foot the bill for decades of costly litigation and risk losing their existing water rights. That’s why we support the CSKT Water Compact and why we believe it is critical that our Congressional delegation act now to ratify the agreement that was passed by the Montana State Legislature in...
