Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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As former wildland firefighters, we learned what’s required to take on complex and difficult tasks. We learned that when the going gets tough, there’s no substitute for hard work, experience, and clear thinking. We know that excellent leaders consider all sides of a problem and work with their teams before making critical decisions. That’s why we’re supporting Monica Tranel for the Public Service Commission. As a lawyer who’s dealt with public utility issues for decades, Monica will get right down to work as soon as she’s elected. Because she...
Veterans and Spouses – You know this: Military training instills a distinct attitude for honor, service and reliability for the country. Chris Stough has this and more. As a commissioner, Chris will bring a new perspective to the Sanders County Commissioner job, a job that has had the same people in office for a combined total of 40 years. A vote for Chris Stough is a vote for dependability, professionalism, honesty and trust to do our county commissioner job very well. Nancy Mehaffie, Thompson Falls...
To be honest, having Monday as a holiday was a little inconvenient for some of us. I checked the mail each day looking for my ballot. The anticipation was exciting. It's a little comparable to kids on Christmas morning, or many of us next week when we start to get our packages from Amazon Prime Days. I've been an absentee voter for several years, and I appreciate that our county commissioners and elections staff chose an all-mail election this year. I feel like I make more informed choices when I sit down with my voter pamphlet (the official...
Now that the election season is full upon us, I, like you, have had my mailbox jammed full with large and glossy pieces of light cardboard informing me about the merits and flaws of the various candidates. While I am glad that the post office is making money off of politicians instead of having politicians trying to de-fund the post office, I have been concerned to learn many things about the candidates that I could not have imagined just a month or two ago. This is especially disconcerting...
In the October 7 Ledger column by Mr. Blackstone there are several comments I would like to respond to. Kamala Harris made critical statements about Joe Biden during the Democratic debates earlier in the political season. Opposition research in each party makes careful notes of those types of remarks and uses them against the candidate of that party later in the campaign. Lindsey Graham, among other conservatives, is on record disparaging Donald Trump before Trump became the Republican candidate and has usually supported the president since...
Hello Western Montana... This is short and simple! I know Jennifer Fielder personally. She is an honest, hard worker who cares about all of the people of Montana and has our best interests at heart. If you want someone who will fight to keep our utility prices down and service quality up... Vote Jennifer Fielder for Public Service Commission. I encourage you to fact check her background and accomplishments at www.JenniferFielder.com. Jeff Reed, Trout Creek...
Last week I worked as an election judge to prepare ballots to be mailed. I was aware, typical of this community, poor consistency in the mandate for masks. On Thursday everyone was told to wear masks while in the building because there was someone that tested positive and there may be more. Some of our election judges opted out and left for personal reasons. I respected and appreciated that. I learned the number of cases of COVID-19 has been steadily increasing not just in the courthouse but in our county due to persons unwilling to comply and...
“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”- Bertrand Russell Life involves risks; loss, death, sickness and hardships that affect our well-being. As free citizens we make decisions and weigh costs about risks daily, like the vehicle we drive, how we drive, lifestyles we live, outdoor activity, jobs we work. Often these activities have more risk than getting sick or dying from COVID-19. Despite the lower risk, the Plains School Board and administration dec...
Have you ever noticed that when you can't have something is when you really want it? Such is life in quarantine. Most people have enough groceries to last at least a week. Living in rural Montana, you learn to stock up on most things. Last week, I found out I was in close contact (more than 15 minutes with no masks) of two people who tested positive for coronavirus. Immediately I did the right thing and went into quarantine. And immediately, I thought about how I would occupy myself for 10 days. How I would run my business and everything I need...
There’s so much happening that it’s hard to pick a topic. I’m going to take another ‘shotgun’ approach and paraphrase conversations I’ve had with friends and family over the past two weeks. There’s a lot going on! The Presidential Debate was a debacle. While I proudly support President Trump, I was disappointed with his performance. I think he let his anger and frustration get the better of him. I also think though, that his anger was somewhat justified. It seemed to me that, at times, he was...
Editor, Tony Cox is running for re-election as the County Commissioner for western Sanders County. As an incumbent, Tony has a record of accomplishments that are outstanding. He has worked diligently to improve the roads, which is always a main topic of interest to voters. The Clark Fork ‘Back’ Road has recently been paved as far as the Idaho border, making it a safer for logging trucks, school busses and cars. Tony was instrumental in bringing a modern bridge to Heron, that meets all the requirements of Highway 200 traffic. His persistent wor...
Veterans are noticing the failure of a couple local businesses and some government buildings to adhere to American flag protocol. I recognize the inconvenience of lowering and raising flags on weekends and holidays to honor our patriotic national holidays, first responders and deaths of national figures. But imagine the inconvenience of serving in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, not to mention serving daily, often away from family, in other distant parts of the world. And consider the heartache of...
Editor: The Montana Public Service Commission is a five-member board responsible for the regulation of energy, telecommunications, water/sewer, transportation, and pipeline utilities. PSC District 4 spans Lincoln, Sanders, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Granite, and Ravalli counties. The total square miles of these counties rivals that of New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware combined. District 4’s population is larger than that of Salt Lake City, Utah. Therefore, the board member position requires someone who can think big and consider what is best...
The 2020 election is pivotal to our liberty, individual rights and security. This is the time to push back and not allow our country and communities to be fundamentally transformed by some who hate this great land and our freedoms. We owe it to our children and their children to give them a future with leaders who cherish our way of life, the right to life, the ability to speak freely, worship openly, bear arms, pay less taxes, and are committed to limit government intrusion. We need to elect members of our community who have courage under...
There’s a feisty feminist bumper-sticker that reads “You say ‘b…’ like it’s a bad thing,” and it seems to carry paradoxical attitudes similar to those conveyed by the word “liberal” in Montana politics. To Republicans, “liberal” must mean really bad things because it accompanies images of riots and dark money and socialism. I assume there are Democrats who disagree with those images and might claim liberal credentials, but you don’t hear them saying so during campaign season. I’m not sure why Democrats haven’t turned around and demonized...
To the Editor: When election year comes around, I like to evaluate the candidates as if I were hiring them to work for me. Their experience and education prerequisites may vary, depending upon the position they seek. This year we select a Commissioner for the Public Service Commission. This is one of the more technical selections I have to make. I’ve reviewed the qualifications of both candidates: Monica Tranel and Jennifer Fielder. The results brought Monica Tranel to the top because of her education with a Bachelors degree at Gonzaga U...
The other morning I went to search for something on the Internet. I typed "how many days" and Google automatically finished with "until the end of 2020." That's not what I was searching, but that's how I feel about 2020. Can it just be over already? I joined the Thompson Falls Chamber board recently and we're already planning Christmas on Main Street festivities. I'm so excited to play a role in Thompson Falls's holiday event Dec. 3-5. It's going to be festive and magical and awesome. But then a friend reminded me how much I always talk about l...
Attorney General Bill Barr and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have been using extraordinary means to advance their goal; confirming a Supreme Court nominee before the election when four years ago they refused to even hold a hearing for Obama’s nominee, suppression of fact, encouraging violence, threatening to refuse to accept defeat—it goes on and on. This, I can only assume, they are rationalizing with the old lie, “The ends justify the means.” So, since I can see what the means a...
Thank you, Harold. A true community leader passed away recently. Harold Hudson left a lasting impression on me from the first time I met him a few years ago, after I became the regional information and education program manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Harold was very passionate about mentoring young men and women in firearm safety and hunter education. He was also dedicated beyond belief. In the 25 years he served as a volunteer instructor for the Montana Hunter Education Program, he led 57 hunter education classes that certified...
Thank you to the workers and everyone involved in taking down the tree at the corner of the east ramp in Thompson Falls. It opened up my view of the river and across immensely. Joan Freed, Thompson Falls...
The Public Service Commission is a critical race this fall. The PSC regulates the rates and quality of privately owned utilities. They’re to be fair to both the company and see we are not overcharged. They work for us citizens. Last year Northwestern Energy made $200 million in profit. Its profits have steadily been rising for 5 years. Who pays for such profits? We the rate payers. Monica Tranel is the best choice for PSC District 4 - she has relevant training, knowledge and experience. She worked as a staff attorney on the PSC; she worked a...
This year’s state and federal elections are the most consequential in our lifetimes. The outcome will define the character of Montana and the United States in the years ahead. We must choose candidates who place the good of state and country ahead of self-serving goals. The contest for Public Service Commission (PSC) District 4 deserves special attention. Monica Tranel is highly qualified. She thoroughly learned the workings of the PSC through service on its legal staff for a number of years. She has represented clients with cases before the c...
Negative Political Ads: Who should be damaged by them? When you point the finger at someone else, three fingers are pointing back at you. When you sling mud at your opponent, you’re left with mud all over your own hands. Rather than telling lies, half-truths, and innuendoes about your opponent, get votes by telling the truth about your qualifications for the job. “All politicians lie” is the response I get when I object to the lies told by Trump and others whose campaigns are full of negatives about their opponents. When the voter takes the t...
Colleen Hinds, House District 13 candidate, is a registered nurse who spent decades practicing her profession. She has an acute understanding of the profound necessity of affordable, quality health care for all. Now that ballots are on the near horizon, it’s time to carefully consider specific issues, one of them being health care. Under the leadership of Governor Steve Bullock, Medicaid Expansion got instituted in Montana. The expansion took a lot of heat off of our rural hospitals. It provided the opportunity for affordable, quality health c...
Dear Sanders County Ledger Editor, This is in response to Ms. Hassan’s letter on September 24. Letters like yours that speak from the standpoint of authority and are not factually backed up represent the entangled ambiguities which confuse and distort reality. For example, Val Demings, a Black woman now representing Florida in congress, was previously Orlando’s chief of police. Because of her leadership, crime in that area was reduced. Regarding protesting, are you aware that your right to vote might be dependent upon it? The persistent pro...
