Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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When my grandparents landed in Montana long, long, long ago, they brought with them some interesting sensibilities. They were of the pioneer type, but missed the big push into the country and so ended up being, in reality, settlers. They arrived 34 years after the Northern Pacific, more or less, and so found other folks on the ground already. But not on the ground that they moved onto. They were conservative in a liberal sort of way, and they passed those views on to many of their grandchildren. Being a member of the cadre who lived the...
I love a good discussion. Let's talk about books, whether cats or dogs are better pets, or the latest episode of "The Bachelor." I bet we can be friends after. But bring up topics such as education, public health or individual freedoms, and you probably won't make any friends. Having thoughtful, respectful discussions is what makes communities stronger. That's where you find growth and progress. Some of my most memorable conversations have been with people who I don't agree with, but can respect from where their argument is coming. Lately...
In San Francisco and other cities there is a big homeless issue. It is due to many factors both economic and drug related, but in this most liberal city solutions such as building high density housing are rejected because those neighborhoods fear that the projects would, take your pick: increase crime, lower property values, ruin the neighborhood. Living in tents on the sidewalk is common, but not throughout the city because it is restricted in “sensitive” areas which seem to be those areas whe...
At the dinner table last weekend, talk naturally turned to the topic of Ukraine. Since Russia’s February 24 full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbor, most Americans have thrown their support behind Ukraine. According to a March survey from Pew Research Center, approximately one-third (32%) of Americans say the U.S. is providing the right amount of support for Ukraine, and a larger share (42%) say we should be providing even more support. Interestingly, both parties (51% of Republicans and 50% of Democrats) consider Russia’s violence a “ma...
After a short drive down Highway 200 or through any neighborhood in Sanders County, it becomes apparent an election is underway. Candidates have filed, signs are up, meet and greets and candidate forums are being held. Letters to the editor in support of one candidate or another are appearing. Some of us may wonder, “What’s the fuss about?” In the United States we are fortunate to have free elections. A right not granted to all citizens of the world and a right that was hard fought for by gener...
Trails of smoke rising in the sky across the county are a sure sign of the spring burning season. It’s also a little reminder of the wildfire season that will most likely come later this year. Not only are wildfires a threat to humans, but they can devastate wildlife and our beautiful landscape. There are many ways we can protect ourselves and our area. It's our duty to pay attention to air-quality alerts and alarms. As property owners, we have a responsibility to provide defensible space around structures. Keep areas free of leaves and o...
In 1999 I traveled to China as a member of a bipartisan group of state legislators belonging to an international educational program. One of my most memorable moments was a visit to a school for the children of migrant workers in Shanghai. Unlike in America at the time, the migrant workers in China came from the country to work in the electronics factories in the cities and the government had set up schools for their children. After watching these kids of age seven through 11 learn English in...
Spring is here! The birds are chirping, the hillsides are a little greener, the skies are blue, the sun is coming up earlier and leaving later and the glorious promise of all things new is upon us. For the world, Easter is filled with adorable, fluffy, baby chicks and bunnies, candy-filled egg hunts and a special-occasion Hallmark cards. But for those who know and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, Easter is the day of biblical-prophesy fulfilled and a gift of everlasting life bestowed...
Driving to Paradise to see the latest production from The Paradise Players this weekend, there were definitely signs of spring. The grass is getting greener. Residents are doing their spring burning. The snow is disappearing from the mountains. With the renewl of spring comes something that stands out even more — the trash. Walking trails and roadways are dotted with the cans, paper and other random garbage that was covered by the winter snow. Thompson Falls is preparing for its annual Beautification Days in April, and as a community we should...
Spring managed to surprise me this year. Again. I walked to the river yesterday and discovered fresh-grown catkins hanging from an errant Sitka alder that has taken root in the stream bank. I have no idea what that alder is doing there, for most of my experience with said plant has been traversing patches of it above 4,000 feet. Where it belongs. Each spring, I take a picture of the last of the snow where it has shed from the shop roof or the north side of the house. The latest date I can find in this series is May 9, 2011. We will beat that...
In a moment of passion, it's difficult to keep emotions and reactions in check, especially when the topic is personal. By now, everyone has heard the jab that comedian Chris Rock took at Will Smith's wife, Jada, at the Oscars on Sunday. We watched as Smith's response to the joke was to walk up on stage, slap Rock across the face, and return to his seat warning Rock twice to keep his wife's name out of his (expletive) mouth. The moment was censored on American television, but the full video began circulating on the Internet within moments....
On September 13, 2001, two days after the incredibly horrific destruction at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the loss of thousands of lives taken by aircraft commandeered by Muslim terrorists, President George W. Bush met with congressional leaders and Cabinet members to discuss the situation and how to return air travel, which had been suspended, to normal. David Bonier, Democratic congressman from Michigan, told the President of his Muslim constituents’ fears about being rounded up and detained. The President responded, “David, you...
There was a recent interview with a basketball player. He was asked if the upcoming game was stressful. His response was that it wasn't stressful, it's fun. He noted that stressful is not having enough food on your plate. Stressful is not being able to pay your electricity bill. That comment put things into perspective. We're all very lucky that we have this thing called basketball. When you turn on the news these days, you see a lot of death, war, destruction and other terrible things going on in the world. But for nearly three weeks each...
Are we doomed by not knowing history? As a middle school student, I recall disliking history class. My instructor was dry as old corn husks and made history just as exciting. What was the point? All those people were dead anyway. I studied the textbook trying to keep my eyes open to read enough to say I had completed the assignment, absorbing little. High school changed that for me, I learned to love history. The teacher made a difference. Studying the Second World War in high school was...
It's hard to imagine being in Ukraine right now. The devastation and deaths from any war are overwhelming, but the threats and constant danger to my fellow journalists are just as unsettling. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money to buy personal safety items like helmets and bulletproof vests for journalists to continue doing their jobs. Reporters and photographers need life-saving gear to cover what is happening and to tell Ukraine's story. I'm thankful to live in the United States — as a civilian, certainly, but especially as a...
There was an old Scrooge McDuck (world’s richest duck!) comic book story called “Christmas in Shacktown” which opened with McDuck’s three grand-nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie taking a shortcut home from school just before Christmas by going through Shacktown. The people and kids of Shacktown are dressed in patched rags, the children tote firewood in washtubs and kids play with toys made of boards and tin cans. It is snowy and cold, and one of the nephews says, “I wish we hadn’t come this way, it makes me feel like a fat pig.” Which is how...
Early Tuesday morning I heard my first "cheeseburger" bird of the season. Now I know it's not really called a cheeseburger bird, and hopefully someone will have the answer of what species it is. But I distinctly remember standing in line on the playground in second grade and Mrs. Calvert getting our attention by listening closely for the bird that sings "cheese-bur-ger." I'm lucky enough that I get to live in my hometown and now I get to share memories such as the cheeseburger bird with my former teachers. Over the weekend, I was a judge for...
“There are men in the world who derive as stern an exaltation from the proximity of disaster and ruin, as others from success.” Winston Churchill In 2001, I travelled to the “new” Russia. The USSR had dissolved a decade before and the country was full of optimism for the future. It also had a new president — Vladimir Putin, who was appointed to Boris Yeltsin’s seat when Yeltsin resigned on the eve of Y2K, December 31, 1999. Putin was then elected to the Russian presidency in 2000. When I returned to Russia in 2005, the mood of hope had eroded...
Isn’t love wonderful? The warm feeling you get when you hug your children, the excitement when you see your loved one, the joy you have when you spend time laughing with your friends. The comfort you receive from family during difficult times. Or sometimes it is simply the satisfaction of eating your favorite foods. Love comes in so many shapes and sizes. Everybody has a deep desire to love and be loved. But what is love? Why are we innately drawn to love? And does love always make us feel g...
Several times during the week, I check the county website to see if new candidates have filed for local elections. This year we are electing several county and state officials, as well as school board members and special district representatives. Very few open positions thus far are uncontested. We have five candidates to file so far for county sheriff, and each of the two open county commissioner positions have two candidates, with the filing deadline still a few weeks away. It makes me optimistic that so many people are filing for positions....
I have been writing this article in my head for the past week, and now that Ukraine has been invaded and perhaps by now, conquered, my thoughts remain the same, and they are that the level of dissent in the United States of America plays directly into the hands of the leaders of Russia and China and so threatens the freedoms of Americans in the future. Russia and China have entered into a mutual aid pact that has as a major goal the lessening of America’s power in the world. Putin and Xi J...
This past Tuesday was really "Twosday." It was 2-22-22. On a Tuesday! Something like this happens every so often and people use it s a reason to celebrate, or just as a distraction. This Twosday phenomenon got me thinking about how we look at data. Facts and figures are everything, and how you choose to represent or interpret them can make a huge difference. Think about good old Punxsutawney Phil, the furry little groundhog who tells us each February whether we have six more weeks of winter or if we only have six weeks left until spring....
While doing some research for the book group that meets monthly in Thompson Falls, I stumbled across results I found unbelievable. According to the Pew Research Center (2021), less than 25 percent of adults read a complete book per year, including audio books and plays. I had to do a double take. Less than 25 percent of adults read a full book per year? Of course, I thought, this is only one survey, so I began to dig deeper, believing that as much as I love a good book, most other people do...
This week I interviewed the Sanders County wrestling coaches, getting some final thoughts on the season and the state tournament. For both Mike Thilmony and Shane Angle, the state tournament was an emotional one. Not just because of the intense competition at First Interstate Arena and the realization that the season is suddenly over, but both coaches also had kids who were senior wrestlers. On Saturday, Mike coached his son Trae in his final high school match. Shane coached his daughter Taylor...
Courage is a virtue that we Americans value in our culture. An act of courage transcends ideology, it is a personal characteristic that belongs to the individual or group and to call it bravery without thought of personal consequences is as good a definition as any. We award medals for it. It is the soldier who risks his life to save those of others just as much as it is the passerby who jumps into rushing waters to save a drowning child. It is a strictly personal quality, and we recognize a...
