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  • Republicans should look to Johnson as an alternative

    Liz Mair and Marco Nunez|Updated Oct 28, 2016

    In light of recent revelations regarding Donald Trump’s past, admitted sexual assaults on women, new and emerging allegations regarding the same, and Trump’s anti-democratic comments regarding his unwillingness to respect the outcome of the 2016 presidential elections, many Montanans are looking afresh for an alternative to supporting the Republican nominee for President. For many, they will hold their noses and vote for Hillary Clinton. But for any voter who prioritizes fiscal discipline, limited government, civil lib...

  • Humans vs wild things gets wilder

    Pam Burke|Updated Oct 28, 2016

    As fall set in and hunting season has gotten into full swing that old rivalry between man and beasts of the wild is getting into full swing. The polar wars Some disputes are expected, like from polar bears, which aren’t anywhere as cute and cuddly as a white teddy bear. NBCNews.com reported Sept. 13 that five meteorologists conducting research on a remote island high in the Russian Arctic had been trapped in their weather station for two weeks by a gang of polar bears. The m...

  • Gen. Quinn on veteran suicides, suicide in Montana

    Matt Quinn|Updated Oct 27, 2016

    For the past 30 years, Montana has ranked in the top five states for suicides and currently has the highest suicide rate per capita. This is an ongoing and serious problem and we must all work together to stop the unacceptable losses we are experiencing. On any given day across this nation we lose an average of 20 Veterans to suicide. Montana is not immune to this painful reality but our state and nation have vowed to be better and are taking active steps to provide resources to those who have served this nation. Earlier...

  • What this election comes down to

    Ryan Zinke|Updated Oct 27, 2016

    As a 23-year U.S. military commander, I’ve always been mission-focused, and no mission is too big or too small to take on with everything I have. Whether it’s hunting terrorists in the Middle East, winterizing the house or fighting for Montana in Congress, I always take the same mission-critical approach as your representative in Congress. For the past 21 months, you’ve tasked me with the mission to strengthen Montana’s voice in Congress. It’s no secret that Montana priorities were being ignored. Before you sent me to Congre...

  • Vote Bullock, Romano to keep Montana moving forward

    Valerie McMurtry|Updated Oct 27, 2016

    Editor, Elsie Arntzen and Greg Gianforte both want to divert tax dollars to fund private schools, limit access to public lands and sell those lands off to the highest bidder. That is wrong for Montana. Greg Gianforte dismisses Steve Bullock as a career politician. Governor Bullock is a career public servant who has worked to better the lives of all Montanans. He has funded public schools, kept public lands public, worked across party lines to expand Medicare to Montanans without health care and works tirelessly each day for...

  • Looking out my backdoor

    Sondra Ashton|Updated Oct 27, 2016

    Back in March, the first day I moved into my wee casita, a noise, like a 747 on the runway awaiting clearance for take-off, startled me into combat position. (It ain’t pretty.) Once my heart quit pounding in my ears, I realized the racket came from my refrigerator. Three days later I began accompanying the noise with pilot to control tower “conversation.” Another three days and the sound was background noise, like cars on the highway, ignored. Something is wrong. The fan r...

  • I-181 will give hope, attract research dollars

    Guest opinion|Updated Oct 26, 2016

    Our state cannot afford to ignore the very serious brain diseases and disorders and mental illnesses that affect tens of thousands of Montanans and their families. Montanans of all ages are impacted when our loved ones are dealing with devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, PTSD and depression. We strongly encourage all Montana voters to support the Montanans for Research and Cures initiative (I-181), which will responsibly fund innovative research toward treatments and cures, giving hope to...

  • Time to vote for patient's rights ... again

    Amanda Curtis|Updated Oct 26, 2016

    It’s crazy to me that we have to vote for medical marijuana again in Montana, but we do. So allow me to explain how we got here, what the proposed law actually does and why everyone should vote yes on I-182. In 2004, 62 precent of Montana voters approved Montana’s first medical marijuana program, providing access to medicine for thousands of patients with serious medical conditions. In 2001, the Republican Legislature pulled one of their favorite moves — they repealed and replaced the voter-mandated law with a new syste...

  • Dreams do come true

    Paul Dragu|Updated Oct 26, 2016

    When I was the tender age of 28, I learned what I was supposed to be if I ever grew up. It was really a thing of beauty, the way it happened and all. I was staring at my laptop, in the middle of the day, unemployed and recovering from a failed relationship, when an ad to a writing program miraculously appeared on the screen. Then — suddenly! — an arch of bright light swopped over the screen and an invisible choir of angels sang a harmonious and epiphanous Ahh! I had seen the light. I was supposed to write. I spent the nex...

  • I-182 lets Montanans vote on life-or-death issue

    John Vincent|Updated Oct 26, 2016

    This election, Montana voters will be deciding the future of medical marijuana in Montana. This is quite literally a life and death issue, and I hope that my fellow Montanans will vote with compassion by casting their ballots with a yes on Initiative 182. This issue is personal for me. My wife, Peggy, has suffered from multiple sclerosis for 37 years. None of the medications prescribed to treat her excruciatingly painful leg spasms have worked. Tears come to her eyes when the spasms strike. Painful, sleepless nights occur sev...

  • Representation of Gianforte company unfair and dishonest

    Updated Oct 21, 2016

    The continued unfair and dishonest bashing of RightNow Technologies, as a way to try to undercut Greg Gianforte, needs to stop. This has created huge buzz in the technology and business communities. The bashing is being perceived as anti-business, and, in our view, it is damaging to the business climate in Montana. Democrats, the Bullock campaign, and much of the media are at fault. Gianforte’s successful business career and the creation of an outstanding tech company in Bozeman is an amazing story against all odds. It is p...

  • View from the North 40: No, Canada, you are great

    Pam Burke|Updated Oct 21, 2016

    A famous line in poetry says “Good fences make good neighbors,” but Canada is proving instead that good websites make good neighbors. The country which has already given us the Canadian standoff of politeness (“Go ahead.” “Oh, no, you go.” “Thank you, but I insist you go.” “Thanks so much, but I couldn’t possibly. You go.” “No, please ...”), has just launched www.TellAmericaItsGreat.com. Reported by the New York Times as the brainchild of Toronto-based agency Gard...

  • Our View: People should look at what they get - or would lose - on mill levy votes

    Updated Oct 21, 2016

    Taxes. Most people don’t seem to like paying them. But, most people probably would miss what they would lose if they didn’t. A major part of governing wisely is looking at what services the government will provide and how to pay for those services. A few items on the November ballot in Hill County ask the voters to decide whether they want to pay for some county services. One is a request to continue a tax level that would drop unless the voters approve its continuation. The county took out a bond to build, across from the...

  • Village Idiot: A wing and a prayer

    Jim Mullen|Updated Oct 20, 2016

    We tried a new restaurant, and it was extraordinary. I gave it four stars. One entire wall was a giant television screen ­— the football players on it were larger than life. It was as if you were on the field with them. Every second, I kept expecting one of them to lean over the table and say “Hey, if you’re not gonna eat that, can I have it?” Of course, I’m kidding. The sound was off. If all the 30 or 40 other 50-inch TVs hanging on the other walls had the sound on, how would people hear their cellphones ring? How would they...

  • 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,' celebrates 50 sincere years

    Danny Tyree|Updated Oct 20, 2016

    Remember a time when autumn meant burning leaves instead of burning Samsung Note7 phones? It’s hard to believe, but on October 27 the animated TV classic “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” celebrates its 50th anniversary. It was the third “Peanuts” special, following “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and the mostly forgotten “Charlie Brown’s All-Stars” (which, if it took as long as a typical Major League Baseball game, would be reaching the seventh inning stretch any day now). Of course the characters remain frozen in time...

  • Looking Out My Backdoor: Maybe behind the bathroom door

    Sondra Ashton|Updated Oct 20, 2016

    I’ve lost my robe. I’m beside myself with anxiety. I didn’t realize it was gone. In fact, I have no idea exactly when I misplaced it. Surely, I couldn’t have thrown it away. I depend on that robe. It is a piece of me. My hermit robe. A “security blanket.” I wore it from the day I moved to Mazatlan. Protection in my desert of solitude. It circumscribed my hermitage, defined my retreat. Yesterday, Bonnie said, “Sondra. You look so different.” We met in March, when I bought my ca...

  • Some problems raised about candidate forum and coverage

    Tim Leeds|Updated Oct 18, 2016

    Some representatives of local Republican parties have raised some issues — that are valid — both about the setup of and the coverage of the political candidate forum the Havre Daily News sponsored Thursday and an article about the forum that ran in Friday’s edition. The first issue is that the forum was just that — a forum — not a debate. The article about what was presented in the time allotted to state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, and Democrat Jacob Bachmeier of Havre called the event a debate in the first paragraph...

  • My message to Millenials on the 2016 election

    Updated Oct 17, 2016

    I know you are busy but I hope you will take time to read this. My first presidential campaign was in 1960. The candidate was John F. Kennedy. I went to rallies, walked door to door, talked to everyone I could because I believed in him, and he passionately supported the issues I cared about: nuclear disarmament, women’s rights and civil rights. I knew if Kennedy lost, these goals would not be achieved. For these past five decades, many in my generation have fought — tirelessly — for what we believe in. We have campaigned and...

  • Juneau misrepresents truth in her advertising

    Updated Oct 17, 2016

    Every election cycle, I’m reminded of the sad reality that politics are often void of truth. Just look at our own congressional race. Montanans have been barraged by a series of false attacks coming from Denise Juneau. It’s frustrating to see the truth become an afterthought. I’ve known Congressman Ryan Zinke for years. He is an honorable man, who speaks his mind and serves his constituents without prejudice or fear. I’ve come to appreciate his no-nonsense approach, because I know that whether we agree or not, when dealing...

  • View from the North 40: Skills in the art of avoidance

    Pam Burke|Updated Oct 14, 2016

    In support of this year’s presidential candidates, I’ve stopped listening to them and have pursued a few hobbies instead. I’ve written about the yoga, and yes, it’s still reminding me that I have pursued a lifetime of poor fitness choices. The interesting thing about yoga is that it gives me enough physical exertion to burn off some agitation, but it also focuses on breathing, controlling your breathing, improving your breathing, using your breathing to improve your activit...

  • Leadership needed to head off Social Security cuts

    Updated Oct 14, 2016

    While the race for the White House dominates this fall’s news, new findings about Social Security should concern Montana workers who are paying into Social Security today. We have long known that Social Security is headed for a fiscal cliff unless our political leaders take action to make the program financially sound. But an analysis by AARP makes clear just how damaging the cuts would be for residents of Montana and all future retirees. Here is a glimpse of what a 25 percent cutback would mean to future retirees in our s...

  • Looking out my Backdoor: Meanwhile, back at the rancho

    Sondra Ashton|Updated Oct 13, 2016

    Those dratted leaf-cutter ants are at it again, drilling holes, raising mounds of pebbled dirt around their nests. Their chain-saw jaws can strip my hibiscus, roses, oleander and hydrangea in minutes, leaving bare-naked stalks. Unsated, they turn to the rest of my garden. I gently escort spiders out of my house. But when I see fresh ant hills, I show no mercy. We were driving out the Rancho road to the highway, going to Guadalajara to pick up Pam at the airport, when I saw a...

  • Cemetery district asks for support in mill levy request

    Hill County Public Cemetary District|Updated Oct 13, 2016

    The Hill County Public Cemetery District is asking the residents of Hill County to increase funding to maintain the nine cemeteries in the district by requesting a mill levy increase on the ballot in November. The Cemetery District currently cares for and maintains nine cemeteries located within Hill county. This includes all aspects of landscaping care for cemeteries as far away as Inverness to the west, Spring Coulee to the north, and Box Elder to the south. The district relies heavily upon tax dollars to maintain its...

  • Stewardship, not transfer, needed on public lands

    Michael Korn|Updated Oct 12, 2016

    Two years ago, the Conference of Western Attorneys General initiated research into the legality and precedents of efforts to move federal lands from public ownership. Recently, they released their conclusions, which have been endorsed by a bipartisan group of attorneys general of 11 Western states, including Montana. In a nutshell, they found that this current round of efforts to radically alter America’s century-old legacy of public land ownership has no legal basis in state or federal constitutional law. They soundly r...

  • Attacks on Supreme Court candidate Sandefur false

    John W. Parker|Updated Oct 11, 2016

    I have spent my entire legal career as a prosecutor. Judge Dirk Sandefur presided over many of my most significant cases. He possesses a brilliant legal mind and a work ethic no one can match. Now unscrupulous political operatives backed by dark money are attacking him using half-truths and lies. I wholeheartedly endorse Judge Sandefur for the Montana Supreme Court, and I will set the record straight. Judge Sandefur has rock-solid credentials on criminal justice issues. Judge Sandefur imposes tough sanctions on criminals who...

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