Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
Sorted by date Results 751 - 775 of 1504
“When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it.” – Clarence Darrow Dick Vinson, Thompson Falls...
Fairness is not a partisan issue. Fairness is the goal of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act currently being considered in the United States Congress. The bill has bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. H.R. 1735 / S.673 is critically important to protecting the future of high-quality, local journalism in Montana and across our nation. Support is growing for the legislation, yet much more needs to be done before it can become law. This bill would make negotiations for fair compensation possible...
Last week I read the transcript of a New York Times podcast with longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz. It gave me hope, not because Luntz was changing his politics, but because he was worried for the future of our country because of the divisiveness and bitterness between political factions which he, in part, has helped to fashion. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he doesn’t see a way out of it. Luntz has been very good at what he does, which is not just conducting polls on who...
This year National Travel Advisor Day was May 5. Now, more than ever, the value of booking with a travel advisor is clear. Last year, as borders were closing and travelers scrambling to get home, I stepped in. When travelers spent hours on hold negotiating refunds or navigating their way home, my clients didn't have to lift a finger because it's my job to handle that on their behalf. When things go wrong, I have your back. It's my job to read the fine print and understand what's a good fit for my clients. Like an attorney or financial advisor,...
A good rule of thumb in journalism is having three sources in an article. When our reporters go out to do interviews and get details for an article, I encourage them to talk to other people involved in the subject. We've all heard the saying there are two sides to every story. But how often do we actually open our ears, hearts and minds to the "other side?" Take national news networks, for example. If someone says they watch Fox News, and if another says they watch CNN, it's probably pretty easy to determine how those two people feel about...
I never know what I’m going to write about for this column until I actually sit down at my keyboard. Today, oddly, the first thought to pop into my mind is the fact that I don’t swear much anymore. My hand hurt, and I remembered that the other day my wrench slipped and I smacked the back of my hand on a pipe. All I did was holler ouch while shaking my sore hand. Years ago, that same act would have had me shouting profanely and throwing the wrench. Not what one would call a mature response! That...
A shout out to the handful of Sanders County Dems who faithfully on Earth Day, grabbed gloves and garbage bags to pick up trash along Highway 200 near Whitepine Cemetery. Big job, well done. It looks so clean and green. Thanks, Colleen Hinds, Heron...
In a lecture to Hillsdale College (Imprimis, a Hillsdale publication, March 2021), Christopher F. Rufo explains “critical race theory,” which he says is a “default ideology” that has seeped from American universities into “government agencies, teacher training programs … diversity training programs … and school curricula” over the past 30 years. In a nutshell, he says that critical race theory sees American public life through the lens of racism rather than through class warfare, but nevertheless is just old Marxism in new clothes. If you...
When The Ledger first started publication, the owners would take the copy to Missoula on the train, and produce the articles and pages at The Missoulian. Then they would return to Thompson Falls on the train with the printed papers. The process probably took a couple days. The newspaper in its first year was four pages. Each week, Ledger reporters conduct interviews, take photographs, attend meetings and events and seek out news. On Mondays, they finish writing their articles and file stories. While we used to process articles on a computer and...
Of late I have been watching wild turkeys mate. It’s not that I am particularly interested in their personal lives, but as I have been cleaning out culverts on my road, they have been practicing their intimate moments about 50 feet from me, so it’s hard to ignore. Also hard to ignore (and actually more interesting) is to watch the toms compete for the attention of their potential mates. At first, they seem to do it solo, in this case in the middle of a newly seeded pasture. Why they would str...
In response to Keep Business Local (April 22, 2021): As a member of the Thompson Falls Booster Club board, I wanted to respond to the concern recently brought up about the booster club not selecting local businesses as suppliers for some of our merchandise. To be clear, we have not had an official vote on this issue, but we are considering it. This is not a decision we will make lightly, and we are reviewing it from many different angles in the hopes of finding the best possible solution for the students we support. One of the largest issues...
When I heard that Quinn's Hot Springs Resort was offering a bonus to employees as an incentive for them to get vaccinated, my initial response was "that's awesome." At The Ledger, we've been strongly encouraging masks and my employees still wear masks when we can't social distance. Masks and precautions as a result of the pandemic have been met with all sorts of comments or political opinions. We have had several customers angry with our policies, when what we are trying to do is simply look out for our neighbors and families. This week, I wrot...
I have to admit that I seriously underestimated the Biden/Harris administration. Shortly after the election, I made several predictions regarding how I expected Biden/Harris to dismantle all the accomplishments of the Trump administration. I’ve been pretty accurate on my predictions so far, but it never dawned on me that they could screw things up so quickly. We’re not even five months into the year. These two are clearly over achievers! I anxiously watched Biden’s press conference on March...
Fried, boiled, baked, fricasseed or slow cooked, no matter how you cook it is still crow, and I have been eating my share of it because of a serious error in my article on voting restrictions of March 29 called “Rainy Night in Georgia.” In that article I stated that people who did not have a picture ID to prove their identity when voting would have to get an official Montana ID card as proof before they could vote. Because that card costs $16.48 I likened it to having to pay a poll tax. I completely ignored the fact that supplying the last fou...
Thompson Falls Beautification Days 2021: My greatest praise, appreciation and thanks to the organizers and all the volunteers (groups and individuals) for their enthusiasm, dedication, and very hard work in the community, at public places, as well as on private property. Being one of those “older folks” no longer able to rake pine needles and pinecones, I especially want to thank each individual who raked and gathered at my place on Friday. They comprised two crews, one from Wood Creek Academy and one from the Mormon church. Thank you, won...
I was just made aware that the Blue Hawk Booster Club board is in the process of deciding to go with a corporate vendor company for the shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc., they sell at the Blue Hawk games. I am a bit disgusted with this decision. This is a group that I will admit works hard on projects related to our kids and their sports. However, the majority of the money that is raised to support those projects comes from home town, home-grown people supporting the school and the community (through a pandemic no less), yet the booster club...
Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Tuchman (1912-1989) is a name bound to appear on any list of 10 best American historians. With profound scholarship and colorful style, she wrote about history from medieval to modern times, and interestingly, she did so without having studied history in any university. The First Salute (Alfred A. Knopf, 1988) is her account of the American Revolution from the time of the Declaration of Independence to the surrender of British General Cornwallis at Yorktown near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay – roughly 1776 to 1782. T...
This week, The Ledger is publishing profiles of candidates for local school board elections. You'll find these on pages 4 and 5. Local boards and special districts rarely have contested races. This year, we have multiple candidates for several board positions. Part of our job in providing local news is making sure our readers are informed on important issues such as elections and what's happening in Sanders County towns. The first year I owned The Ledger, I missed providing the school board candidate profiles. The election snuck up on me and...
“Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” – Chico Marx Sometimes it seems to me that everything we do in life is an attempt to solve mysteries. While that includes how a crime was committed, it also applies to things from “what is life all about”, to putting a jigsaw puzzle together, or figuring out how to do something we have not done before. We look for solutions, we look for reasons, we look for constants, we look for people who can teach us. Mostly we get things right, but not a...
This past week, Montana’s Senate passed SB 379, 27-21. It’s a bill that’s equivalent to a “Get Out of Jail Free’’ card for NorthWestern Energy. This bill legitimizes the “business plan” of NWE to directly charge its ratepayers for the buy-out and repair costs for its deteriorating Colstrip plant. ‘Mom and Pop’ ratepayers would pay a minimum of an additional $600/year for 20 years. Yep! You read that right. So even if the Colstrip plant closes – expected by 2030 - each NWE ratepayer would continue to pay out a total of $12,600 through 2042....
I am writing in response to Jim Elliott’s column from April 1, regarding his comments about recent changes to voting laws. One take was that it is difficult and expensive to obtain photo ID for some, and for Montanans, you need a state-issued picture ID (or US passport) which requires a fee to obtain, thus resulting in having to pay a fee to vote. After a quick internet search about how to vote in Montana, I was directed to the Montana Secretary of State website, clicked on the Elections tab, and easily found answers on how to register to v...
While in agreement with the editors statements about the need for, and value of, interested folks running for school boards, the statement got me thinking about the other side of the coin. We, the constituents, need to be aware of, and recognize, the service provided by the people we elect. I’ve attended Thompson Falls school board meetings for around 30 years, with Bud Scully the sixth superintendent during that time, and more board members than I can remember. The last three years have been the most challenging I’ve observed, and our sch...
In the age where just about anything can be delivered to your doorstep in a couple of days, it's important to remember the importance of vital services such as medical care. My brother and I were born at Clark Fork Valley Hospital. When I was 8 and broke my foot in a snowmobile accident, Dr. Randy Lovell met us at his clinic on a Sunday to x-ray it and put a cast on. When my friend had an accident a few years ago that resulted in a huge gash on his forehead (also on a Sunday), the physician at the hospital that day said he could find a plastic...
The controversy surrounding guns is in the news again. It seems to happen at least once a year and almost always after a shooting involving multiple victims. And, as usual, the so-called assault rifles are the focus of the anti-gun activists. It’s odd to me that one weapon can command so much attention. I think it’s caused by confusion. It’s my belief that many in the anti-gun crowd simply don’t know anything about firearms and are not interested in learning. In many of these people’s minds, gu...
At Clark Fork Valley Hospital, patient safety is at the core of our mission. Recently, Rep. Denley Loge took a common-sense approach to protecting the health and safety of patients during this legislative session. Specifically, he helped stop House Bill 415, which would have prohibited your local hospital and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes) from requiring staff to be vaccinated. Hospitals in Montana are not required by law to require vaccinations, but most do. Vaccinations are a clinical best practice and a longstanding,...
