Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Jim Elliott once again took to the pages of the Ledger to push the party line agenda of the new, progressive, Democrat party. Jim seems to think that everyone with a heartbeat and maybe some without a heartbeat should be able to vote as often as they like with no identification. He thinks the process of getting a photo ID is too complex for many prospective voters, but those same ID challenged individuals are able to comprehend the issues and can evaluate the candidates with no problem. Jim then tries to walk us through the complicated process...
Our question to readers this week (page 3) asks about Easter traditions. When I lived in Everett, Washington, I attended a large church. The number of people was always higher at Easter, and at Christmas. Hence why the pastor joked that it was the "C&E Club." This weekend, as people gather for church and Easter egg hunts and family dinners, it feels like one of the most normal holidays we've had in awhile. I joked with someone the other day, when they asked me about something in 2020, that I'm pretty sure last year just didn't happen. Last...
A few days ago, Georgia’s Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, signed a bill that narrows the ease and ability of Georgians to vote by saying, “With Senate Bill 202, Georgia will take another step toward ensuring our elections are secure, accessible and fair.” Meanwhile in Arizona, Republican Representative John Kavanagh, the chairman of the house government and elections committee, said, more candidly and much more accurately, “everybody shouldn’t be voting.” Kavanagh went on to say, “Not everyb...
I read a book recently called "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. He proposes that success is due to the opportunities we are given. Yes, hard work and diligence have something to do with it as well. But he provides examples of how people who are given chances and opportunities have a jump start against those who don't. The book got me thinking about how our lives can change based on what opportunities we are given. Sometimes opportunity is a parent putting their child at a piano when they are young, providing lessons throughout childhood and then...
In my last column, I discussed what I believe to be the problem with a numbers-based evaluation system for police officers in large cities calling for reforms. In my opinion, basing an officer’s performance using a numbers-based matrix creates the potential for all sorts of problems. As an example, in the numbers-based system I worked under, picture the following scenario: An officer makes a stop for a simple traffic violation. Under that numbers-based system, the officer may feel compelled to w...
I really appreciate the description of a peace officer attitude in Blaine Blackstone’s March 11 letter. We need peace officers as described. “The officer DID NOT write a large number of citations. He didn’t make a lot of arrests. Yet...the people he served loved him (along with anyone who had the good fortune to work with and learn from him).” I bet he did not hide in the dark along a straight stretch trying to “catch” someone 10 or 15 mph over. I bet he did not sit at the edge of speed zones “catching” people coming down from highway speed t...
Dear People of Sanders County, Please be aware of HB273 introduced by Derek Skees of Kalispell. This bill seeks to eliminate public participation in siting nuclear facilities in Montana. In 1978 Montanans passed I-80 by over 60%. This initiative gives “We the people” . . . a say in our state as to nuclear power alternative. An initiative should not be overturned by legislative vote. There are no solutions to nuclear accidents. Vote NO. Sincerely, Colleen Hinds, Heron...
In the last several weeks, we have had letters to the editor and articles regarding a proposed Second Amendment sanctuary ordinance. A group of residents approached the county commissioners about a possible ordinance. Whlie the commissioners chose not to pursue an ordinance designating Sanders as a Second Amendment sanctuary county, it was inspiring to see the level of interest residents took in local government. Dozens of people attended meetings at the courthouse to discuss the matter, and dozens more sent letters to the commissioners both...
Recently, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, used his power to forego the traditional abbreviated process of introducing a bill in the Senate and substitute the long version; in this case to introduce President Biden’s COVID relief bill. Johnson’s motion required the Senate clerks to read the 628 page bill aloud to the Senators, who rapidly vacated the premises for the next 10 hours while the bill was being read. By having the text of the bill read aloud, Johnson took up hou...
The picture to the right is after Trae Thilmony won his second state wrestling championship over the weekend in Shelby. His younger brother Lane ran up and gave him a hug. He was so proud of his big brother. This moment that his mom, Doree, captured with her phone made me so proud. Trae's little brothers look up to him, and I'm sure a lot of kids in the school look up to him and other student leaders. Helping kids realize the impact they have on those younger than them is an important part of...
I’ve spent the last three weeks in Seattle and the difference in the city since my last visit is glaring. Seattle is one of the epicenters for the “defund the police” movement and the scene of tremendous civil unrest in 2020. While the civil unrest seems to have died down a bit, the “defund the police” movement has clearly had a tremendous and negative impact on the city. I was bored today and drove around Seattle for a while just to look around. I drove near last year’s CHAZ zone in the Capi...
The Ledger dated 3/3/21 contained an article concerning our Second Amendment. It stated there is a proposal under consideration by the Sanders County commissioners to make Sanders County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County. I am writing today to encourage the citizens of Sanders County to contact the Sanders commissioners and send a message of support for this proposal. If you can’t send a message on the county website, call the commissioners at 827-6942 and leave a message, it only takes a couple of minutes. They need to hear your support f...
Editor, So what have we learned from the election? Hopefully to never elect any official on personality versus policy. I will gladly debate, discuss, negotiate, compromise, or argue with anyone on policies of the present administration compared with the policies of the past four years. I’ll let you go first. Give me one of the policies from the last four years you feel hurt this country. Now it’s my turn. For instance, consider abortion. Science proves life begins at conception, therefore any state that allows abortion up to the day of birth sh...
Dear Sen. Brown, On Thursday at the Legislative Update at our courthouse, you asked the group, “Do you know who pays my salary?” Stacy (Vice Chair of Sanders County Republicans) and I (Chair of the Sanders County Democrats) blurted out in unison, “We do!” But you went on to try to correct us by explaining why it’s wealthy people who pay our salaries. Sen. Brown, I beg to differ. You see, I feel Stacey and I do indeed pay your salary. Our commissioners aren’t paid by wealthy people. I’m a retired public school teacher; I wasn’t paid by wealthy...
There have been few if any legal meetings regarding this wastewater improvement project in Paradise. The Paradise Sewer Board directors have met and continue to meet in violation of the Montana Open Meeting Act. They have meetings and do not notice them. They have discussions on matters of “significant importance” and do not notice them. They spend money and approve funds from the CBDG grant held by Sanders County without board approval. Over the previous four years, they have held meetings that the public had no knowledge of. No board-approved...
Dear Editor: We have to agree, the newspaper’s political agenda is ironically polarizing. The media is Anti-Trump, strictly TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome. We love the usage of “Whataboutism” as a recent letter to the editor proclaims. That technique is called “Projection,” accusing the other side of the very same things that they are quite guilty of doing! Always the liberal left claims President Trump has lied many times without ever citing a single truthful example. Likewise, they say he has tried to overturn the election results and again...
Dear Commissioners of Sanders County, Glenn Magera, Carole Brooker, and Tony Cox, While I understand that Second Amendment Sanctuary Resolutions are merely a statement of support for the Second Amendment. Such resolutions represent a redress of grievances towards unconstitutional limits placed upon citizens right to keep and bear arms. Forwarded to our state officials, and specifically our Governor such resolution makes a solid statement that Sanders County does not waver in support of FREEDOM. A Resolution to establish Sanders County as a...
Most of us at The Ledger have at least one pet. Most days you can come in and be greeted by Walter or Buster, our office dogs. We work with them to make sure they are on their best behavior, but once in awhile one of them will bark at a customer. Especially on days we're producing the newspaper, it's important for us to make sure our pets have some attention, too. Thoughout the county, and beyond, we see examples of the extremes of pet ownership. On one end, you have dog owners like me who dress them up and spoil them to no end. Walter...
The soul of democracy is the ability of individuals to have a say in their own future, embodied in the right to vote. The spirit of a democracy is to expand the participation of citizens in elections so that every citizen of that democracy is not only eligible, but able to cast that vote. That expansion has not been easy or trouble free, and it has not been without opposition and bloodshed. It is the duty of those who run elections to ensure that the integrity of an individual’s vote is p...
Does it seem a bit ironic that Blackstone’s recent column titled “Political agendas get in the way” (February 11, 2021) is based on promoting the political agenda of the right-wing media? The pro-Trump media’s defense of Trump’s indefensible behavior is based on a technique called “whataboutism.” Since there is no credible justification for Trump’s many lies and attempts to overturn the election, the focus of this defense is on trying to claim that the Democrats are somehow worse. But even if the exaggerated claims about Democrats were...
Have you noticed that what appear to be junk vehicles proliferate in this town faster than wild turkeys and geese? Does anybody think those vehicles add to the attractiveness and appeal of Thompson Falls? You know who does like them a lot? Feral animals! Such vehicles provide shelter and protection for mice, rats, skunks, feral cats and, worse yet, a good place to birth even more mice, rats, skunks and feral cats. Besides being a nuisance, these animals can harbor and share disease. Prospective buyers appear to be lacking enthusiasm to...
We've been watching the broadcast and reading the news of the devastation happening in the South due to winter storms. States such as Texas were battered with winter weather, frigid temperatures and several inches of snow. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex got between four and seven inches of snow. Powerlines were down and people were stranded without a heat source. Dozens of people have died in the winter storm, some of hypothermia because they weren't prepared. In Montana, we don't even cancel school for four inches of snow. We're prepared for...
I like to listen to music when I exercise. The right beat can motivate me and take my mind off the pain I'm inflicting on my tired old body! A few weeks ago, my granddaughter and her best friend were visiting and I very briefly heard a song they were playing. It had the type of beat I like to exercise to, so I asked the name of the tune (Colt 45) and downloaded it. The next day I played the song and was completely disgusted when I actually paid attention to the lyrics. I deleted the song immedia...
Editor, As a retired high school registrar and former junior high principal’s secretary and office manager, I write to express my deep concern over the recent lifting of the state mask mandate, the lowering of the vaccine priority for our teachers from 1B to 1C and what appears to be stubbornness and/or indifference on the part of the school district administration regarding the danger posed by COVID-19 to our teachers, building support staff, students and by extension, all our families. I believe I heard the CDC will raise the vaccine p...
This week as we were editing articles and putting the newspaper together, we felt good about all the feel-good news. At The Ledger, we aim to provide accurate, engaging local news articles. We want to tell the stories of our friends and neighbors and those friends we haven't yet met. We want to show how local businesses are expanding, report on local COVID-19 effects and your local candidates for upcoming elections. Our sports editor, John Hamilton, works hard each week to make contact with every coach and publish information about every high...
