News you can use
News you can use
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 1423
Editor, If Elsie Arntzen were your batty aunt, she’d be kind of fun, inspiring incessant family gossip. As in, she did what? Noooo! Tell me more! The problem is, she is our state superintendent, Montana’s chief public education officer, and she is doing a simply awful job of it. Her management has caused 90% of the Office of Public Instruction staff to abandon ship, fleeing her fanatical temper tantrums. Without their experience, OPI is no longer functioning, and superintendents across Montana are in open rebellion, cir...
Editor, While families are counting down to the holidays, many are also anxiously watching a different clock — the one that is running out for the Senate to take meaningful action to address hunger and poverty in communities here in Montana and nationwide. Unless Congress acts before the end of the year, families will get their last monthly check this month through the enhanced Child Tax Credit, one of the programs of the Build Back Better Act now under consideration in the Senate. This benefit has been a lifeline for f...
Editor, In 2020, we couldn’t see a safe way to move forward with the Community Thanksgiving Dinner as life was full of uncertainties. Out of concern and respect for the health of the members of our community, we made the difficult decision to cancel the dinner. This year, we re-assessed the situation and made the choice to continue with the delivery of the meals, but not sit together in the dining room, instead we handed out grab and go meals. The team accomplished the goal of preparing a traditional Thanksgiving meal; we box...
Editor, Let’s not beat around the bush. I am tired of ignoring the obvious. Donald Trump wants to run this country whether he has the votes or not. Donald Trump refused to recognize that he lost the election to Joe Biden. He tried to get the Georgia secretary of state to “find” enough votes for him to win Georgia. He tried to get Mike Pence to certify that he won even when the official vote tallies showed he did not win. He encouraged his supporters to go to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and storm the capitol. It is am...
Dear Editor, As an honorary Missoulian, I can confidently say Montanans in particular have a deeply rooted connection to the environment. Jack Rich, the hardworking owner of local family-owned Rich Ranch, said “our hearts belong to the wildlands, wildlife, and waters.” The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, a bill that Rich and many other Montanan experts have contributed to over the past two decades, would designate 79,060 acres of new federal wilderness. This is vital not only because of the 2,013 acres that would be...
Editor, When you see Gov. Greg Gianforte, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale in new Carhartts, baseball caps and shiny shovels attending infrastructure groundbreaking ceremonies, don’t believe them. They all criticised and failed to support this legislation that will funnel tens of millions of dollars to our state for much needed infrastructure projects and high paying jobs. They didn’t support the COVID rescue plan either, but have since taken credit for the good it has done for Montanans. Gianforte and his min...
United Way of Hill County would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for helping to make our 2021 Crab Boil a success! We couldn’t have done it without the support of this community. Property West, Taco Johns, Holly Young, Lewis Heating & AC, Infinity Bakery, Melissa Kapperud, Valley Furniture, Gallery Lounge, Chris Preputin, Ben Franklin Crafts, Havre Tavern Association, Bear Paw Credit Union, Havre Distributors, Bearly Square Quilting, Scheels, Havre Hi-Line Realty-Kim Cripps, Mary Naber, Heberly & A...
Editor, Sen. Jon Tester is in support of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, BCSA, as are many Montanans and Missoulians. This bill is intended to expand protections to the headwaters of the Blackfoot and Clearwater Rivers, while improving and expanding outdoor recreation areas for the public. The BCSA has already given Sen. Steve Daines what he says he prioritizes: jobs and investment in Montana. According to a Missoula Current article, 153 union jobs and 57 million dollars have been given to the local economy through...
Editor, Like many Montana residents, I grew up in a small town. Our rural areas certainly have their own charms, but it is no question that these same charms pose obstacles to getting involved in politics. After moving out of my small mountain town for college, I was able to become engaged through MontPIRG, a student-led, non-partisan nonprofit where I now serve on the board of directors. As a statistical woman in a male-dominated field, leaders like Denise Juneau are an inspiration to college students like me fighting to mak...
Editor, In 1977, I watched admiringly as Orrin Hatch ran for U.S. Senate on a platform of voluntary term limits. He ran against three-term Utah Senator Frank Moss, saying, “What do you call a Senator who’s served in office for 18 years? You call him home.” Hatch’s point of view had solid backing in American constitutional history and tradition. James Polk ran for president in 1844 on a pledge to serve only one term, as did the candidate for the other party. The citizenry at that time were well aware that term limits were nece...
Editor, The Friends of the Havre-Hill County Library set-up a silent auction in the library. The silent auction items are older slightly used Montana books, local authors and a few other classics; with fiction and non-fiction books by favorite authors such as Doig and J.R.R. Tolkien. Stop by the library, located at 402 Third St., to view the display and to place your bid. This silent auction is running Sep. 17 until Oct. 21 after The Friends of the Library’s annual meeting. The Friends of the Library meet at noon on the t...
Editor, When I was in school, our director of nursing education, who had been in the military service, said that her recurring nightmare was having to do triage. This is the protocol described in the Sept. 20 article “Montana in dire straits as COVID rages,” where it becomes necessary to restrict medical services to those who have the best chance of survival. Come on people, get vaccinated. As a country we should be better than this. The vaccines have proven to be safe and effective but misinformation travels fast while the...
Editor, I’m a CASA volunteer and a Havre Public School bus driver. In each of these positions, I am not only entrusted with helping ensure children’s safety. I am also required by law to report instances of suspected child neglect and abuse as I see them. The most egregious offenses are those that negligently threaten children’s well-being and safety and those that abusively deny protections that place children in jeopardy. These can include the absence of proper clothing for weather conditions, proper diet for healthy devel...
Editor, Cattle ranchers, like me, are dedicated to caring for our animals and the land every day of the year. On our ranch, we believe that cattle are part of the climate solution. First, they are incredible recyclers, and by feeding them parts of the crop people cannot eat, we are solving a food waste issue. In the winter, when less feed is available, we feed our cattle the tops of the sugar beets and corn stalks we grow as a cash crop. Additionally, our ranch has improved the quality of the grassland and soil. By reseeding...
Dear Friends Your past support of the NAMI Walk has meant a great deal to us, and we can’t thank you enough for the generosity! We have this walk for the awareness to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness will be held on Sept. 19, 2021. This a major NAMI fundraiser for the year so after it we will not be asking for further donations until the next walk. Our portions of the funds raised through the walk goes to our state office so we can continue to offer education programs to family members. We offer presentation to p...
Editor, How ironic: The US Supreme Court just allowed a law passed by Texas Republicans that effectively bans abortion while Republicans in Montana have been chanting, “My body, my choice,” in protests against vaccine and mask mandates. But then again, the trademark of Trump’s party is shameless hypocrisy. The Texas ban is diabolically dystopian, a nightmare much like Margaret Atwood imagined in her novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Instead of the state of Texas enforcing the ban, the law deputizes zealots, letting them sue an...
Editor, The Gianforte administration issued a new rule discouraging mask mandates in schools. The governor rationalized this by contending that several studies show masking has adverse effects upon children. His office released a supporting document titled “Research Report on Mask Mandates”. The “research” consisted of six Twitter posts, three magazine articles, one study still awaiting peer review and one actual study that concluded, “This study highlighted the importance of masking and ventilation for preventing [COVID] t...
Editor, No one has a constitutional right to infect others with a deadly disease. There is no “freedom” from vaccination or from required wearing of masks. We are not free to disregard a stop light or a speed limit. There is no constitutional right to impregnate a woman without her consent. That is absurd. In fact, Russ Doty suggests that the contrary may be true. Article II, Section 3 of the Montana Constitution provides that all citizens have a right to a clean and healthful environment. Spreading the COVID-19 virus cer...
Editor, The once well-known comic strip hero Pogo wisely proclaimed, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” This wisdom is an appropriate description of today’s American society. Among the millions of independent, Democratic, and Republican voters there are millions of hardworking, honest, patriotic, and loyal Americans. Unfortunately, there are also some bad people in each group. It is also true that the overwhelming majority of local, state, and federal elected officials are dedicated, competent and skilled negot...
Dear Editor, It’s awful … the smoke, wildfires, drought, heat, loss of crops, dead fish, algae blooms -- all impacts exacerbated by our changing climate. Here’s a bipartisan solution that benefits all of us. Plenty of Republicans and Democrats support putting a price on carbon because it boosts businesses while addressing climate change. Please ask senators Daines and Tester to support a price on carbon this summer. Here’s more info: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/senate/ It will take you all of five minutes to contact...
Hill County commissioners, I am in receipt of the letter asking for my resignation from the Great Northern Fair Board. I am disappointed that the commissioners have made the decision based on false allegations. Yet not one commissioner or fair board member have asked me to address the accusations. I am interested in what evidence was used in making your decision? It is for that reason that I’m asking for a show cause public hearing wherein I have an opportunity to give a full account of what actually took place. You state t...
Dear Hill County commissioners Diane McLean, Mark Peterson, Jake Strissel, There is a preliminary upgrade plan being drafted on a seven-mile stretch of Highway 232. I was surprised to learn at the open house, last Thursday, that the proposed plan is a new plan, not what has been discussed for nearly a decade. Safety has always been of prime consideration, yet there is no mention of the largest safety issue, the viaduct. With petroleum products being transported from Canada every day, traveling over the viaduct and spilling...
Sen. Jon. Tester, If you vote yes for the confirmation of David Chipman, that’s a no vote for you, in your up coming election. Responsible gun owners will not forget to vote no for you. Roy Johnson Heron...
Editor, In 2017, Montana’s outdoor recreation economy generated $7.1 billion. Two years later, Montana Sen. Jon Tester introduced the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act — BCSA — a piece of federal legislation to bolster Montana’s economy by protecting 80,000 acres of land for conservation, recreation, and restoration. Ninety-eight percent of Montanans believe that outdoor recreation is important to Montana’s economic future. With thousands of acres dedicated to snowmobiling, mountain biking, hiking and fishing, the BCSA...
Editor, Havre is definitely one of those places that is filled with pride and support for their small-town community. It is also one of those places that holds very few events because of its small population — which is why a small group of community members got together and created Beaver Creek Jam. Beaver Creek Jam is a fundraiser, July 9-10, for a proposed Veterans Memorial Campground. The event is a two-day event consisting of 10 bands plus overnight camping plus a community scavenger hunt and corn hole competition. C...
