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Independently owned since 1905
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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...
Dear Neighbors, As of September 18, 2020, only 43% of Sanders County residents have responded to the Census. But it’s not too late to be counted! It only takes five minutes and the staff at your library can help. The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data. The results of t...
Editor: A big thank you seems in order to Kiewit Corporation for its many significant contributions to the local area while it maintained a presence here repairing the Trout Creek bridge. Not only were their employees a boon to the economy, but Kiewit also generously donated many of their gently used items — office furniture, appliances, electronics, etc. — to charitable groups here when they left. We’re all glad the bridge is completed but we will miss the workers who made it happen. Jan Manning, Trout Creek...
Editor, It is illegal to steal and remove the signs of your political opponents. Some signs that were legally posted, with the landowner’s permission, on their private property, have been removed on the “back" Clark Fork Road. If you disagree with a candidate, contact them with your concerns, don’t illegally remove their legal signs. These actions get reported and there are consequences for those actions. Attempted intimidation and verbal threats are also uncalled for. This thief-bully mentality reflects society at its worst. Debbie Lyman...
Dear Editor: Rumor has it there’s a critical election coming November 3rd. Rumor has it the very fabric of our Republic and U.S. Constitution is at stake. Rumor has it your vote should count only with proper validity. So let’s consider this: if you agree with the message of Anti-Fa and Black Lives Matter, vote the Biden-Harris Ticket because they do not condemn the violence, destruction, and looting of businesses and private property nor the brutal attacks that severely injure or murder citizens. If you think it wise to Defund Our Police, vote...
I first met Monica Tranel during her 500-mile bike trip from Lincoln County to Ravalli County to meet with her constituents. She was as fresh as a daisy despite the 90-degree heat the day she arrived at Cascade Campground. She took time during her Sanders and Mineral county visits to listen and answer questions from residents who met her along the route (masked and socially distanced). Not all people pay much attention to the duties of the Public Service Commission. Tranel explained the job of regulating utilities and her former experience as...
On September 4, I sent the following letter to Noxon School Board Trustee Chris Stough. It should be noted Stough is running for county commissioner. “There is talk that your children no longer attend Noxon Public Schools. If this is not the case, please disregard my question. If it is true, why have you lost confidence in the school’s ability to provide an education, so much so that you took this drastic measure? You highlighted the fact you are a parent during your school board campaign and in your bid for county commissioner you are tou...
I have known Bryce Bennett for 10 years. There is no one I’d rather vote for as Secretary of State. As a State Representative and Senator, Bryce fought so all Montanans, regardless of their party affiliation, had their voices heard. He was instrumental in passing the Disclose Act, our nation’s toughest anti-dark money law, and is dedicated to keeping corruption and special interests out of Montana elections. Bryce helped ensure access to healthcare for over 90,000 of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors by voting to expand Medicaid and...
I first met Diane when I moved to Montana and we were both involved with the ACS Relay for Life, but I didn’t get to know her well until after the 2016 election when she and another community member put out a call for people interested in reactivating the Mineral County Democratic Central Committee. This group quickly formed, and Diane was elected Chairperson. Over the next four years I witnessed her quiet but effective leadership and her willingness to step out and involve herself in community activities, from attending hospital board m...
This a BIG THANK YOU to three Sanders County residents. I’m sorry I don’t have your names so everyone would know how kind and thoughtful you are. Hopefully when you read this and know who you are and how grateful we are. Right now, this world we live in is all turned upside down and it is really great to know that there are still people willing to help an elderly couple. We hear so much negativity but not so much positive. My husband and I went to the Trout Creek Refuse Station on Saturday, Sept. 5. Even though it was Labor Day weekend, thr...
Dear Editor, As a former long-time resident of Sanders County, I recently subscribed to the Ledger to see what was going on in my hometown of Thompson Falls. Frankly, I have been disheartened to see that the Sanders County I once knew is not quite the same as it used to be. Although there have been several pieces published by the Ledger that stir me to the quick, the recent article regarding the tobacco use ban at several recreational areas has prompted this letter. The rule of law in this country is intended to apply equally to everyone....
Editor, Leave the mule pasture alone. The left side of the mule pasture has an open meadow which the deer and turkeys feed. If it is developed they will all move back to the yards in town which we already have enough of. I have counted as many as 140 turkeys and 25 deer in the clearing feeding. That is where they belong. I have also seen elk beds in the field. The bearproof garbage cans will just bring in more bears. We also have enough of them in town. The mule pasture on the left side is a nice place for walking and looking at the animals....
To Your Readers: Colleen Hinds, running to represent your district in the state legislature, became my friend in Sunday School at our small farm community church west of Minneapolis. Over the decades we’ve kept friendship alive on bare bones of occasional letters, e-notes and visits. Colleen became a Montanan while she was still a young nurse and I was putting down roots in Minnesota. Political candidates’ positions on issues are make-or-break important. You can learn everything you need about Colleen’s stances on your concerns on her websi...
For more than 14 years, the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Coalition (KFSC) has brought together individuals, businesses and organizations that take an interest in the management of our public lands. In particular, we’ve been focused on how we can make the Kootenai National Forest work for all of us. The Forest is central to our way of life in northwest Montana. We rely on it for timber, tourism, hunting, recreation, education and personal rejuvenation. It’s the KFSC’s mission to represent all of these interests. We are loggers, foresters, conse...
I’d like to thank the Sanders County Historical Society (Old Jail Museum) for creating a wonderful military exhibit for 2020, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The exhibit, which covered other times than WWII, was well put-together, and the description of each displayed item was informative. My mother, father, sister and step-father (Dolores Aldrich Hill Burrese, Paul Hill, Diane Hill Larango and Bob Burrese, respectively) were featured, along with several other people. Having grown up in TF, the exhibit brought b...
Editor: While many long-time residents of this area are concerned about the constant influx of “outsiders” moving here, I’d like to put in a good word for some of those newcomers. My husband and I were newcomers 13 years ago. When we moved here, we immediately got involved in some community projects like the Elks Lodge, Huckleberry Festival, Noxon Rod and Gun Club, the dog training club and several others. Now that we are somewhat established (albeit still newcomers), we are soliciting the help of other community members for our current proje...
I’d like to extend a very heartfelt “Thank You” to the Thompson Falls community, the surrounding towns, many non-profits, and especially the youth who attended the Project ASCENT (PA) camps while I served as Chairman of the Board. I am stepping down as chairman to attend to other aspects of my life and can’t leave without a few words of gratitude for the board and community. First to the founder of Project ASCENT, Rob Christensen, and the person who holds it all together, Andrea Christensen. These are two amazing individuals who love and bel...
Yesterday I had another opportunity to be trained as a Election Judge for Sanders County. It is unimaginable the complexity and detail behind the scenes that make your right to vote happen as flawless as it may seem. We are so fortunate to have Nichol Scribner and Bobbi Christenson and their team serve SC with heart, passion, integrity and respect consistently. Their attention to detail is stunning with surgical precision and purpose. All their efforts are intended to protect and save guard your vote. I can almost get teary eyed experiencing...
I would like to express my appreciation to Kathy Logan, Rebecca Murray, Kyle Revier, and Terri Henry for appearing in this week’s Ledger (Aug. 13) with masks in place; last week (Aug. 6), this example of community concern and personal responsibility was demonstrated by Bebe Townsend Kennedy and Patrick Walt. Kudos to each of you for doing what has been shown to be an effective way to help slow the spread of the virus, especially as we see cases continue to increase in Sanders County. Thank you for showing your maturity, your willingness to b...
Recent reminiscences by Blaine Blackstone regarding his personal experiences with race reinforced something I’ve known for a long time. Our personal world views are often based primarily on our personal experiences, and unless we make a concerted effort to examine those experiences in a broader context, it is difficult to have an open discourse. Our experiences may be spot on, but they are still just our own experiences, with no weight of truth to them, until we take that next step. I don’t doubt Mr. Blackstone’s childhood friendships, or hi...
Editorially it appears The Ledger says one thing and does just the opposite in the very same issue. In the August 13 issue, the editor writes that candidates should not be “badmouthing and insulting” each other. That is a desirable concept, not only at election time and not just limited to candidates. Yet, less than six inches away a regular columnist for the paper refers to a group of citizens as “dimwits” which is derogatory when referring to a group or class of persons. This use of such terms by that columnist is not an isolated instanc...
