Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Remember the Biblical story of the Judgment of Solomon (I Kings 3:16-28)? That’s the one where two prostitutes, living together, have babies three days apart. On waking one morning one of the women finds that her baby has died and places her dead infant next to the other woman who is still asleep and takes the other woman’s live baby as her own. Wanting her live baby back, the woman asks that King Solomon make things right. Solomon listens to the women, each of them claiming that she is the chi...
8 Local Government Review A resolution was passed at our February 12 City Council meeting to put this on the June ballot as described below. This information can be reviewed in greater detail on the Montana Secretary of State website; search for Local Government Review for a more complete description of the process and FAQs. What is the Local Government Review all about? The 1972 Constitution established that the Local Government Review Election is to be held by each Montana city and county government every 10 years. This requirement can be...
One day last week, I got home to let my dog outside in the afternoon and in the field behind our house, a massive golden eagle was demolishing a turkey. I was taken aback because I didn’t understand what was happening at first and couldn’t tell what was out there. The predator was massive against the small “town turkey” and I was shocked at what I was seeing. It caused quite a ruckus among the flock of 50 or so turkeys that was congregating in groups in the field. When the large eagle took off, it looked like a creature from a fantasy movie a...
The woman everyone called Nana was my stepdad’s mom, with white perfectly coiffed hair, makeup always in place, and ironed slacks with blouse and cardigan ensemble. She was hardly the sort of woman you’d think would inspire anything beyond a fleeting feeling that fun needs to be left outside. But her formal Catholic looks were at odds with her quiet sense of adventure, her ready smile and laugh, and her deep and far-reaching kindness. Nana was always up for a good time, whether a play, travel, or a beer tasting. We’d all become so sick of heari...
Construction loans can be a great way to help you achieve the goal of building your dream home. Construction loans are typically a 12-month line of credit. Funds are disbursed from this line to pay the contractor to build your home. During this construction period, you are only required to pay the monthly interest, which is based on the principal amount of the loan. Once the construction of the home is completed, the construction loan will either be converted to a traditional mortgage loan, or it will need to be refinanced into a mortgage...
In between the Mr. Swift show and the Usher concert on Sunday, I had the chance to review some fifth-grade Social Studies. My young friend was studying the Declaration of Independence, and she was surprised at how much I remembered and knew about it (she was also impressed that I knew the names of Christopher Columbus's three ships). I was a little surprised at how much I remembered as well. I was also surprised at how much still applies today. Life was different in the 18th century, no one can deny that, but I'm pretty sure most Americans...
I was disappointed to see the letter opposing a four-day school schedule last week. It followed the formation of a calendar committee at the school, which happens before every school calendar is submitted to the board. No plan was presented, for either a four- or five-day schedule, so having an opinion was premature. Once the proposed calendar, or calendar options, become(s) available, I'll look it over, and maybe ask a few questions, before forming an opinion. I'd encourage other concerned people to do the same. Pat Crowder, Thompson...
I am reading a history of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin and their role together in the creation of America. It depresses me greatly. It depresses me because of the stark contrast with the caliber of people we now elect to office. The Senate recently created a bi-partisan bill to address the border issue. It was spearheaded by one of its most conservative members, James Lankford of Oklahoma. It addressed issues of great concern to Republicans and did not address issues of great concern...
The year 2023 was a great year to be a gamer, and no matter what type of games you are into, there really was something for everyone. And 2024 is shaping up to be another fantastic year for gamers. Every year, we get new entries into established franchises such as Call of Duty, Madden, or the globally popular Fifa. With all of these huge titles, it can be easy to miss out on some great games, and that's why I made this list to showcase three games that I am personally looking forward to in 2024. The first game I want to talk about is Pacific...
I've been making an effort lately to practice some skills that I haven't used very often in the last few years, and I think are becoming lost arts. The first is writing hand-written cards. I have a friend who, after every holiday or birthday, has her kids sit down and write thank-you cards. It makes a person feel special to get a card in the mail. It's nice to know people think of you with texts and emails, but taking the time to write a card, address the envelope and put it in the mail is worth the extra effort. Opening your mailbox to find mo...
Dear school superintendent and school board members, I am sending this email to express my concerns with the possible switch from a five day to four day school week. I am writing as a licensed clinical social worker, who has been working with children/teens and their families for over 20 years. I do not need to educate you on this poor rural community and the economic disadvantages many of these children/teens and families are experiencing today. The school has always been a refuge in times of stress and insecurities for many of those who are...
Questions: Why does halftime at the Super Bowl last 100 years and feature stuff football fans have no interest in? Is it just me, or do others have no idea what or who Usher is? Does the NFL book halftime entertainment to fool people not remotely interested in football into watching. Do these people Tevo halftime and fast forward through the ads? Is halftime a plot by Budweiser to give fans time to run out for more beer? And just who the heck is Taylor Swift? If she’s so damned cool, why isn’t SHE the halftime show? I confess: Until I saw Ms....
Welcome to a leap year! I recently asked an artist friend what she planned to do with her “free day.” I expected to hear something funny but true like “sleep!” or something inspiring but exhausting like “try a new technique.” Instead, she said, “it’s a Thursday: I’m going to work out and then work.” Wha-wha-wha. How terribly disappointing. Still, she’s not wrong…there’s this meme going around, you’ve probably seen it: “You can’t read all day if you don’t start in the morning.” This is something I haven’t done in years. Possibly because I hav...
I love going back and looking at past Ledgers, but this week was a special adventure. This edition you're reading begins the 120th volume (or year) of our weekly publication. That first edition was published February 24, 1905. The Ledger back in 1905 focused on what was happening throughout the nation and the world. Bakers in New York City were on strike, causing a bread shortage. Russia was dominating the world news. There were proceedings over oil leases on the Osage Nation. This topic is back in the forefront with last year's "Killers of a...
I had been eyeballing a piece of property in Trout Creek for about a year. It was cheap enough, I had the money, why not? So, I bought it. It was what around here people generously call a stump farm—stripped of timber, and in this particular case, filled with two-foot-deep ruts from logging equipment. A strip of land that could only generously be called a road led a half-mile to the property from the county road. When the seller’s son heard his mother was putting it up for sale, he and a fri...
When Justin Timberlake performed during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2018, I joked with everyone that they were going to try and play football during the Justin Timberlake concert. I’ve been making the same joke this year because one of my good friends loves Usher (the 2024 Super Bowl halftime entertainment) just about as much as I love JT. However, this year, with the possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs making the big game, there’s a whole new level of celebrity surrounding football. In case you’ve been under a rock this NFL seaso...
Earlier this month, Annie Wooden wrote an editorial about trying new things, about surprising ourselves with what we can accomplish when we step out of our comfort zones and do things we could fail at. Perhaps you’ve heard the encouragement to “fail spectacularly,” a quote that seems to be attributable to multiple sources, none of which are familiar to me and all before I was born. Still, I love this bit of advice and try to live my life with it in mind. When I watch my children try something new, going all in, I’m reminded to be fearles...
Sanders County Community Housing Organization, doing business as Community Housing is an independent, non-profit organization that was formed in 2003 to provide affordable rental housing solutions for working and retired individuals and families in Sanders County. Community Housing currently has ten rental units in Plains that house members of our community. Sanders County, along with much of Montana, is experiencing a housing shortage for renters as well as buyers. Affordable housing is the backbone of community, housing essential workers as...
For years, gaming has been seen as an antisocial activity. A lot of people still have the stereotype of a person who locks themselves away in their room, eyes glued to a screen, and has little to no social life. There may have been some truth to that in the years before the rise of multiplayer gaming; however, in 2024, this stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth. Gaming has evolved into one of the most socially engaging hobbies a person can have. Depending on which study you want to look at, the number of gamers varies, but the a...
I'm not sure you can put enough "r"s in the word "Brrr" to fully capture last weekend in northwest Montana. It was fascinating to watch the temperature go lower and lower. Saturday morning, as the thermometer was hovering at -21, I was one of the only people venturing out. I wanted to make sure the office was toasty and delivered water and heaters to some friends whose pipes had frozen. There were not many people out and about. I worry about the animals in the cold — the wildlife and the farm animals and stray dogs and cats. They were all hunke...
I finally subscribed to a local paper again after quite a lapse due to the lack of engaging content and the slant of my former small town's paper. Upon receiving my first copy of the Ledger, the first article I read is "On being worried and enraged in 2024." What an introduction! I (one who chooses to be neither worried nor enraged in 2024) feel compelled to respond. Please note, it seems appropriate to use the "new word" a couple times. I hope you won't mind. 10. I could not care less. 9. That one did make me laugh. 8. I enjoyed the use of...
Due to medical reasons, I was unable to attend the Thompson Falls City Council meeting on 8 January, but I certainly heard about it, and for all the wrong reasons. Members of the council were elected by voters to do the business of the city on behalf of citizens. Whether you voted or not, and whether or not you voted for those elected, our council members are the people elected by majority vote. As a long time resident of Thompson Falls, I am watching the behavior of those attending city and county meetings deteriorate over time. There is a...
As I write this, it is Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We have holidays to celebrate great people and great accomplishments. As time passes the great people seem to become even greater, but the magnitude of the great deeds, having been accomplished, seems to shrink as time passes, memories fade, and the participants die. As great as Martin Luther King was, there are so many others who made sacrifices of time and life whose names and deeds should also be celebrated on this day. There are...
by Michael Scharfe Mortgage Minute – Escrow Accounts Escrow accounts are very common with mortgage loans, although not all mortgage loans require an escrow account. Escrow accounts are, essentially, a bank-controlled savings account that is used to pay the property taxes and insurance associated with your mortgage loan. If your mortgage has an escrow account, a portion of your monthly payment will be placed into the escrow account to build up enough funds to pay your property taxes and insurance. Once a year, an analysis of the escrow a...
by Rusti Leivestad, Thompson Falls Mayor What is community? Definitions…a social unit with a shared socially significant characteristic. It’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter – caring about each other. Strong communities have a sense of purpose. They promote engagement. They can be rural, urban, or suburban. Community values; respect for the rights, differences, and dignity of others; honesty and integrity in dealing with all members of the community; accountability for personal behavior. Some other words that descr...
