Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Over the years, I’ve read the phrase “May you live in interesting times,” in fortune cookies and heard the same statement used as a toast. Legend says that the saying originated in China, and, although perceived as a blessing, is actually intended to be a curse. I have no idea which is true, but I don’t think there’s anyone reading this who wouldn’t agree that we definitely live in interesting times. Based on the way 2020 has gone so far, I’m pretty much leaning toward the ‘curse’ defin...
I recently spent some time with a law enforcement officer from another Montana county. We had a great discussion about the state of the country and how current events are affecting law enforcement. She said that lately, residents have been bringing all sorts of gifts of appreciation. There are cookies and coffees and other gifts regularly being brought to the office. The law enforcement officers appreciate the gifts of gratitude. With all the mumblings of the defund the police movement and blue lives matter and Black lives matter and all lives...
I have a difficult confession to make. In 2016, I was very reluctant to vote for Donald Trump. However, when it came to ‘crunch time’ I ended up voting for him more because of the two things he wasn’t, rather than what he was; he wasn’t a career politician and he wasn’t Hillary Clinton. In my 45 years as a voter, I’ve developed a pretty jaded opinion regarding career politicians. Simply stated, I don’t trust them. As for Hillary Clinton? Well, she’s Hillary Clinton…no need to elaborate on that...
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...
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...
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...
Ruth Bader Ginsberg fought for equality not just for women, but for all Americans. She reached celebrity status for her ability to stand up for human rights. With the passing of Ginsberg, the Supreme Court Judge, it has us thinking about strong women who have influenced us throughout the years. My first job out of college was at The Herald in Everett, Washington. I had family in the area, but my work buddies at the daily newspaper became my family. One of my coworkers was Theresa Goffredo. She was a reporter and then a night city editor, and wi...
I first met my friend Bob in March of 1984. I was the FNG (Google it…I can’t write the definition here!) in Metro and Bob was an assistant squad leader in SWAT, which for me at the time was the epitome of what I aspired to be. Bob impressed me from day one. He was easy going, friendly and an absolute professional. Bob is an Oklahoma cowboy who joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1972 after serving in Vietnam. Over the years, I got to know Bob really well and we developed a clo...
Let's not talk about politics for a minute. Let's instead talk about a sense of community. We live in rural Montana. Most people see it as a positive that we know our neighbors and don't have a stop light in the county. However, that also means that resources such as volunteers and donations are stretched. We often see the same people involved in nonprofits or community events. Often, you see those same people burn out and some of the events or organizations disappear. Being involved creates a sense of community. Where can you help out? The...
It is hard for me to understand why many politicians are able to abandon principle in order to get re-elected. I know that they want to be re-elected above all else — I understand that. As a legislator I wanted to win re-election, but I like to think I didn’t have to sell my soul to do it. There is something that drives public officials to seek election in the first place, whether it is a sense of obligation to a nation that has treated them well or a belief that they can make America a bet...
As you drive out of Thompson Falls on the west end, you'll notice a huge difference in the aesthetics of the city's Ainsworth Park. The park's renovation is nearly complete. Ainsworth Park is not yet open to the public, with the city planning a grand opening in the spring. But the improvement is breathtaking. The veterans memorial, the walking path, the picnic shelter and the restrooms are surrounded by established grass and some lovely landscaping. The park project took a long time, but it's worth it. There were times we questioned whether...
Two weeks ago, I threw myself a whiny little pity party because I was a little discouraged. I want to say thank you to all the wonderful people who called and wrote letters and emails encouraging me to continue writing this column. I needed the kick in the pants! Thanks! A friend sent me a “meme” via email last week that I’d like to share because it cracked me up. It was a political cartoon that had two separate panes. The first depicted the Republican symbol of the elephant holding a micro...
We're going to miss the cheesy curly fries, the fair burgers, the demo derby, the rodeo and the kids crashing in the car on the way home from the sugar rush they get at the fair. Yes, this Labor Day weekend looks a bit different in Sanders County as the fair is limited to the 4-H displays and competitions. Even with the pandemic restrictions, Sanders County 4-H kids have spent the year preparing their animals and project for the Sanders County Fair. The MSU Sanders County Extension staff and the club volunteers and parents have been working har...
It was a stirring sight to see the beautifully illuminated White House from the South Lawn, all awash with American flags and the President of the United States standing before it at the podium. If the occasion had been, say, a memorial for American victims of the COVID pandemic or a recognition of America’s servicemen and servicewomen, it could have been truly inspiring. However, it was nothing more than an opportunity to use the “people’s house,” as Ronald Reagan used to call it, as a prop fo...
by Nils Rosdahl My first summer out of high school (age 18) I worked for the Forest Service in Noxon. The job for our team was to work on building a trail over a mountain ridge into the wilderness area of Wanless Lake. A crew of about 15 of us hiked into the lake area and set up a camp with tents and trail-working supplies. A designated cook would make the meals, but firewood had to be cut to cook them. That was the job of my friend Bruce and I. We had a stack of 18-inch rounds cut from logs...
This has been quite a year. We are living through a pandemic that very few alive today have ever seen. Chances are, we probably won't see anything like this again in our lives. As our kids go back to school, there is so much of the unknown. They are excited to go back to school and see their teachers and friends. As parents, we're anxious about whether we — and the school — have done enough to keep our kids safe. The fact is, no one knows what to do in these situations. School districts and local governments are tasked with keeping stu...
When I first started writing this opinion column, I thought it would be fun and challenging. I was right about the challenging part but wrong about the fun! I had something completely different in mind for this week’s topic, but feel compelled to share my thoughts. I was talking with family and friends about this whole writing process the other night. I came to the realization that it’s just not that much fun. I guess that’s probably my own fault. When I take on a project, I go full bore. I don...
I am writing to you all to tell you my story about my experience having COVID-19. I hope this will encourage you all to be kind. My heart’s desire is to see more people reaching out to help others in need. First, I want to thank all the people who texted, called and brought food over to my house and to my friend’s house. To my friend Jane Taylor who was available day or night when I, myself and my friends needed her the most. And to my Thompson Falls School family that checked in on me to make sure I was ok. Last week, I went live on Fac...
I love the Post Office as much as I love the flag that flies over it. In every city or small town in Montana, the American flag flies proudly over the buildings that house the oldest public service in America. It was founded in 1775 and Benjamin Franklin was its first postmaster. I do not understand the attacks on a public institution that is older than America, itself, whose people go the extra mile to deliver service promptly and pleasantly. The only objection I can fathom some people having...
As August begins, thoughts naturally turn to reopening schools. We are not going to debate the decision to send students and staff back to school — either locally or across the nation. Instead, we will use this space to look over our to-do list. And because it is lengthy, let's look at what we do NOT need to do. 1. We do not need to think we are out of the woods yet. Near the start of this pandemic four months ago, we circled around some of the most vulnerable in our society: the elderly and the young. Now we are sending youth back into an u...
As I read of the use of federal officers sent to Portland against the wishes of the Governor of Oregon and the Mayor of Portland for the purpose of “protecting federal property,” I thought of these words from the Declaration of Independence enumerating one of the reasons for rejecting the rule of the British King; “He [King George III] has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.” The few hundred federal agents sent might not constitute standin...
At a meeting we attended last week, some people were there in person social distancing and some were attending via Zoom video conference. Let's face it, six months ago few of us had heard of Zoom. There were issues with the audio and Internet connections during the meeting. People attending the meeting via their phones and computers were getting frustrated. The response from a board member at the meeting was "we can't fix the Internet." In another meeting, attendees were saying that they thought more notice should have been given to residents....
