News you can use
News you can use
Sorted by date Results 729 - 753 of 1423
\friends and neighbors, The Havre commission-city manager proposal is on the ballot Nov. 8. While its appropriate to consider ways of improving how Havre functions, the timing of the proposal puts the cart before the horse, so to speak. Our primary objective at this juncture should be looking at ways to enhance the economic viability of Havre and the Hi-line’s lagging economy. We need to be working with our Local Officials in adopting an economic plan with the first objective being the constructing of an adequate highway ...
Editor, I’m a lifelong Montanan, an angler, a wife and a mom, but one thing I’m certainly not is political. However, when I heard that gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte tried to stop families like ours from accessing public lands near his home by putting up gates and intimidating signs, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines. That’s why my husband and I decided to partner with the Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund to film their television ad. I was hesitant to jump into the political fray, but having Greg Gianfor...
Editor, Greg Gainforte is a job creator, a true leader with a proven track record who genuinely cares about Montana. I met Greg when I joined RightNow Technologies upon graduating from Montana State University in Bozeman in 2000. At that time, in-state jobs for technology majors were rare. Of the nine Montana engineering friends I attended classes with, I was the only one fortunate to find a job in Montana. Staying in Montana at Greg’s start-up company was a gamble. The company was relatively new, and previous attempts to s...
Editor, During all my years serving Havre in the Montana Senate and observing my colleagues in the Legislature, I learned a great deal about the qualities that make an effective legislator on behalf of his or her local district. As I have gotten to know Jacob Bachmeier, candidate for House District 28, I have been impressed with his complete commitment to what is best for the people of Havre, his constituents. I’ve found his approach to issues is informed by your input, feedback and advice. I believe that Jacob will not f...
Editor, I am proud to have lived in Montana my whole 56 years. One of the things that I am so proud of is the common sense we have here in Montana. Initiative 177 is an attack on our common sense. It requires the state to trap predators, vermin and sick animals after doing so is outlawed on public land. Added regulations cost, and ridiculous new rules make no sense. The silly things these people say about trapping are not believable; they are lies. They should be required to go on an actual trap line for one week. No animals...
Editor, In just a few short weeks we will all be going to cast our ballot in the 2016 election. One of the ballot initiatives we will be voting on concerns the Montana medical marijuana program. In 2011, the legislature, after attempting a repeal of our medical marijuana law, put in place a law with the intent of getting as close as they could get to repeal of a law that passed by 62 percent of Montana voters. One of the provisions of this law was that law enforcement could, if they desired, conduct unannounced inspections...
Editor, I-177, if passed, would ban all trapping on public lands — one third of the state — in the state of Montana. A similar measure was defeated four years ago, as I recall. Public lands include schools, post offices, court houses, city halls, federal buildings and offices, military facilities, state offices, roads, BLM and Forest Service lands and offices. Some of the traps outlawed are listed as body grip trap. Translation — It would be illegal to set a mouse trap in any of these facilities including food service areas...
Editor, I am writing this letter to encourage the voters of Havre to re-elect Stephanie Hess to the Montana House of Representatives. I have known and worked with Stephanie for six years. We serve together on the local Board of the Hi-line Pregnancy Resource Center and the Abundant Life Church Council. In addition, Stephanie has been on our worship team for several years and is currently the worship leader. In all of these activities Stephanie demonstrates responsibility, honesty and a willingness to serve. In her first...
Editor, Let me be clear. Nasty slanting of the issues and the distorting of a person’s picture is wrong and disgusting. Saying that you would not personally do it is not enough. As a candidate for the state Legislature, I strongly condemn all ads that attempt to vilify. Both parties and individual issue groups have filled this district race with fog. Cut through that fog and look at the candidates for who they are, not what others say about them. Jacob Bachmeier Havre...
Editor, Reviewing both candidates seeking to succeed me as the senator for Senate District 16, I strongly support Democrat candidate Frank Smith. Since I cannot run for re-election due to term limits, I thing Frank Smith will be the better choice to succeed me. 1. I have served with both of the candidates in the Legislature and I find that Frank Smith’s voting record and the bill he introduced are more in line with all constituents in this diverse district. 2. On the other hand, freshman Republican Rep. Bruce Meyers, HD 3...
Editor, Recently, a letter was published in the Havre Daily titled “Zinke has failed our trust.” I was astonished to read the negativity about Zinke mentioned throughout the letter. So in this letter, rather than list the reasons why Juneau is not fit to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, I’d like to talk Zinke’s accomplishments and why he is absolutely the right choice for Montana. Ryan Zinke has accomplished a lot for our country and our state in his two years of serving in the House. Several of the bills he supp...
Editor, I have been a member of the Havre-Hill County Library board for several years. This experience has made me appreciate all that our library does for our community. It is certainly more than checking out books. A very informative pamphlet has been prepared summarizing information to help you decide how to vote on the matter of the mill levy for the library. This pamphlet includes the financial background for the library and the benefits of an increase by 2 mills to the library budget. A very interesting statistic: Our...
Editor, Recent letters to the editor accuse Stephanie Hess of not supporting small business. The 2016 NFIB Voting Record shows Stephanie lined up with the NFIB choices which clearly support their mission statement — to defend the right of small business owners. Annually, I receive a guide from the NFIB called the Voting Record. It reports the state legislators’ voting record in regards to the support of small business. For those who do not know the NFIB is the leading advocate for small business owners, with offices in Was...
Editor, As the daughter of two parents who served in the Marine Corps, I see firsthand the challenges our veterans are facing across the state. My father was deployed to Iraq following 9/11. When they moved back west, they failed to get the care they needed because of limited health care access in rural areas. Congressman Ryan Zinke has been a champion on legislation to give our heroes easy access to the care they deserve — voting for the VA Accountability Act and Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act. My father lives e...
Editor, Recently, I saw a political article that reported that Ryan Zinke was holding a lead in the race to represent Montana in the U.S. Congress. I was disappointed to see this report. Based on Mr. Zinke’s voting record and public statements, it appears that Mr. Zinke does very little to actually represent most of the citizens of Montana. His own actions demonstrate that after less than two years as Montana’s lone member of Congress he does not have much interest in representing Montana. He offered himself up to serve wit...
Editor, As a retired teacher, I am very offended with Common Core. One of our senators explained it this way: a large package arrived from Washington. The wrappings were torn off, the package removed from the box, but little was discovered regarding the contents. Parents ask to see the tests before their children take them. The answer is no. Perhaps the no comes because the teachers are unaware of the content. A big question remains: What is being done with the data collected? There is a law in Montana that states that...
Editor, As everyone hopefully knows, the Montana Constitution requires that the Legislature balance its budget every session. That means that priority programs get funded to a certain level, and then the money goes to other programs or runs out. Rep. Hess knows this and she had to vote on House Bill 2, the state budget bill, and all of the proposed amendments. Amendments to HB 2 are individual legislators’ attempts to reprioritize spending. Mr. Alan “Woody” Woodwick tries to assert that Hess did not support economic devel...
Editor, Letters to the editor by opponents/trappers are replete with untruths and attempts to misconstrue what I-177 is about. It is not about stopping people from killing skunks or “nuisance” animals. It is not about hunting/culling wolves, which is still governed by the target numbers set by FWP. It is not about stopping regulatory agencies from monitoring populations by hunts, or trapping, on public land. It is about ending commercial, recreational trapping for money or entertainment on land that belongs to all of us. Whi...
Editor, It really is all about The Donald. When he walked into the dressing room of the 1997 Miss Teen USA beauty pageant, where some of the contestants were naked, he said, “Don’t worry, ladies, I’ve seen it all before.” The possibility that the young women, some of them only 15, might not want to show him anything, apparently didn’t occur to him. As he explained to Howard Stern, “I’m allowed to go in because I’m the owner of the pageant and therefore I’m inspecting it.” His awesomeness, in other words, entitles him to see...
Editor, I’ve heard your question, “Why should we vote for G. Bruce Meyers?” Here is my response. 1. My opponent did not bother to show at the forum last week in Havre to face me. Someone said that he did not want to answer the hard questions. I think that the real reason is because he is taking the Indian vote for granted. 2. I’ve talked with voters in Fort Belknap who said that my opponent has no platform (what he would do for the people). Again, taking the Indian vote for granted. 3. I am for transparent state governm...
Editor, On the 2016 ballot, Initiative 177 appears for a yes or no vote. The people who voted absentee have already decided and chose either yes or no. There are still those who will be voting on Nov. 8. Initiative 177 will be affecting every person and animal if passed. This initiative will ban trapping on public land using foothold traps and snares. This has proven to be an effective wildlife management tool used by trappers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Fish, Wildlife and Parks. If these tools cannot be used to...
Editor, I’m writing this letter in support of Jacob Bachmeier. Jacob was born and raised in Havre and understands the area and that small businesses are the heart of our community. He has expressed a practical plan for growing real wages for all. First, he wants lower taxes on small businesses. Then he wants to fight to provide a living wage for employees with the money that small business owners would save. Being born and raised in Montana, he has expressed his strong support for public lands, and fish and hunting access. U...
Editor, I decided before I ran for public office that I would not participate in negative campaigning. And to this principle I have remained true. The honest discussion of ideas and solutions is a healthy part of the process. In Montana it is legal for other entities to send mailers during an election cycle. It is against the law for candidates to coordinate or even know about these mailers. In order to know who sent a specific mailer you have to read the fine print where it will read “Paid for by … .” This statement is re...
Editor, I have known Kristen Juras for a long time. Born and raised in Montana, Juras practiced law for many years and has a broad range of legal experience. She taught extensively at the (University of Montana) law school, has a keen intellect, and would bring to the court new expertise in multiple areas of the law, including family law, taxation, property, and, critically, water law, which is a growing part of the Supreme Court’s caseload and a critical issue to Montana’s future. Juras has been awarded the highest rat...
Editor, For over 18 years I had the privilege of serving the citizens of Havre, first as city attorney and then as the 12th Judicial District judge for Chouteau, Hill and Liberty counties. I met Dirk Sandefur when he was a beat cop in Havre. I found his judgment, demeanor, knowledge of the law, common sense and actions under pressure to be outstanding. Later, I had the honor of serving on the Montana Supreme Court. As a Supreme Court justice I reviewed a number of District Judge Sandefur’s ruling. Judge Sandefur also sat as a...
