Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Editor: I would like to use this venue to ask your readers if they have any U.S. military memorabilia and war effort materials, pre-1955, they would be willing to loan the Old Jail Museum. This year’s exhibit is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. No uniforms please, we have enough in the museum to outfit a small army! To donate please call Vonn at 827-4728 by April 1. Sherry Hagerman-Benton, Old Jail Museum, Thompson Falls...
Last weeks editorials caught my attention! It seems with some folks it’s all about themselves and their little world. Thank you Mayor Lacy and council for seeing the future and working for the greater good to the city and surrounding community, everyone’s sanitation and the extended benefits to the water table and our descendants! We, as a community all need and use the water table in one way or another! The alternative ways to escape the expense seem even less affordable - buy your own place in the country and foot the entire mul...
Dear Editor, In your viewpoint this week (February 27, 2020), you incorrectly stated that Coronavirus started in China. This is incorrect. The current strain of Coronavirus, called COVID-19, started in China. However, strains of the viruses that are together called Coronavirus are of unknown origin and have been known to science since 1962. More people will get sick and die from the flu this year than this coronavirus. Media outlets such as yours have caused this heighted state of concern that has now spread to the marketplace. I encourage you...
I would like to address this sewer project that the city council and mayor have forced upon their residence. A petition against the sewer system was presented to them with over 55% of the people affected by it. Yet they would not listen to citizens and could not give us a reason why we needed this system. We were promised they would listen if we got 50% of the people to sign. We did and they did not keep their word. They already went ahead with their plans. We were never told that an environmental impact study had been made to prove we needed...
Last week’s Ledger had a letter, “City should have restrictions for cats…..”. It would seem that the words of Governor Aldlai Stevenson are most appropriate. “It is within the nature of cats to do a certain amount of unescorted roaming.” Governor Stevenson included that sentence in his one-page veto of piece of state legislation relating to having cats on leashes in 1949. It was a most fitting presentation of why such legislation is not proper and the logic of that one-page veto is still applicable today. Ernest Scherzer, Trout Creek...
A few years back, there was a pious Norwegian Lutheran lady named Lena who had dealt with alcoholism in her family for some time. As a result of those troubles, she became a rigid critic of any imbibing, to the point that her friends and even her pastor were getting tired of the constant ranting about the evils of alcohol. Finally her pastor said to her, “You need to remember that even Jesus turned water into wine.” “Ya,” Lena replied, “and dat’s vat I don’t like about Yesus.” Maybe it’s not a true story, but it is a familiar one in Lutheran a...
I am a long-time resident, taxpayer and former dog owner and I would like to use this venue to ask the City of Thompson Falls to address the problem of the over abundance of stray cats in this town. When I asked the city council about doing something about the stray cats in my neighborhood, I was told that cats don’t have to be licensed and the leash law does not apply to cats. If dog owners need to have their dogs in a fenced yard or on a leash, why aren’t cat owners also required to do the same? Cats carry diseases, cat scratch fever, for...
Ledger Couldn’t help but notice the photo in the Feb. 6th edition of the first graders celebrating their 100th day of school depicting their physical impressions of what a 100-year-old person might “look like.” Is decrepitude what we are all headed for if this is already their sense of our cultural norm? Bent-over, cane leaning, bathrobe-wearing…. Wondering if this may be an opportunity to model and practice by example that “age” is relative to a person’s own expectations and attitudes. Perceptions can influence how and what we prioritize, i...
Editor: There is no safe form of tobacco. Smokeless tobacco (dip, chew, snuff, snus, and dissolvable tobacco products) can cause cancer of the mouth, tongue, cheek, gum, esophagus and pancreas. It also causes gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss. Montana’s smokeless tobacco rates are higher than the national average for both male youth (10%) and male adults (12%). Feb. 16-22 is “Through with Chew Week,” an entire week dedicated to educating Montanans about the health risks of smokeless tobacco and the health benefits of quitting. The Monta...
Hello neighbors, Per last week’s Ledger, I see that the Trout Creek Bridge schedule is set. I was diligently anticipating a mention of Black Tail Rd., Martin Creek Rd. or Stevens Creek Rd. and the Noxon (one-lane) Bridge, I read none the such. This is a disappointment because I suspect our neighboring town of Trout Creek will avoid Blue Slide Road when they need to come west. I was reading that the Blue Slide Road Detour is getting a “check/fix,” new signage will be posted, “no large trucks, new guard rails & striping,” Montana Dept. of Transp...
I haven’t picked up a Ledger in a while, but I was curious to see what our local political heroes had to offer. First I read that our local candidates’ top priorities are “predator management.” I assume that means seeking penalties for local religious leaders who face no penalties because of archaic religious law? Or maybe it means finally trying to put a cap on the number of hunting outfitter days in this county? Next I read that there were 250 people at a local meeting in Trout Creek with FWP. I was there and I only counted 105. Either...
Editor: There is no Constitutional crisis, only a need to follow the United States Constitution. Our forefathers gave with faith in God and courage to sign their names to a declaration. Creating a Republic, if we can keep it! Do we have the common sense to teach our children at home and at school, that freedom is important? Can we put God back where He belongs? We are being shackled by laws and regulations that hamper the free enterprise system. If our young school children don’t know the history of our country and respect for how we came to b...
I appreciate last week’s letter on the wolf problem (Hunters can get things changed, December 12, 2019). I don’t dislike wolves, but I am appalled by the mismanagement of the wolf population. The suggested number for wolves was attained in 2002 to 2003. No management was put in place until 2011 to 2012, on a very limited basis. Presently, there are very few elk in the high country, which is their normal habitat most of the year. The elk are amassed in the low areas, mostly on private land, ranches, etc. A small herd of elk were present on the...
The Lake and Sanders County commissioners received a draft of Senator Steve Daines’ “Montana Water Rights Protection Act,” a proposal to provide a settlement to the CSKT water compact, on December 10. After reviewing the framework of the draft proposal, the commissioners request that the senator delay introduction of the bill into Congress until the commissioners can meet with the senator to discuss the significant negative consequences of the “Act” to our counties. The senator’s draft “Act” does not in any way accomplish its stated objectiv...
The Education of an Idealist, by Samantha Power (Harper Collins 2019) In this wise, informative, autobiographical account from recent history, author Samantha Power details her youth in Ireland, her years as an international journalist and her experiences as ambassador to the UN under President Obama. Some of Power’s early foreign policy assignments were met with criticism in connection with what has been called Obama’s “apology tour,” after Obama himself spoke about past American mistakes. And if the intent of those efforts, whether by Powe...
Dear Editor: Last winter local sportsmen held a meeting in Trout Creek with the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to discuss the wolf problem in Region 1. Over 300 people attended the meeting and openly expressed their concerns that the wolves were decimating the deer and elk populations. FWP told the public they didn’t feel there was a wolf problem and our elk and deer were doing just fine. It was obvious that FWP was not going to listen to what the sportsmen had to say. Our local legislators were listening. Bob Brown and Jennifer Fielder both s...
Mr. Blaine Blackstone: Just now I have had the opportunity to read your article in the Sanders County Ledger (Nov. 21, 2019) entitled “Quid Pro Quo Happens.” Let me start by simply saying, “Wow! Right on!” I have privately been saying this for months. My association with the justice system is somewhat two-fold. My wife worked in a municipal court for years and my oldest brother was a Superior Court Judge in the state of Washington until his death (at times I worked as a private investigator for him). And without getting much more sidetracked in...
Dear Editor, I appreciate the overall positive writing in your paper and the transparent coverage of local news. I’m writing after reading several of Blackstone’s recent columns and especially his 21 November piece. It’s not that Blackstone is either a Trump supporter or detractor; my concern is with the lack of balance in his argument and with the lack of historical perspective. In these divisive times, my hope is that your paper will insist on arguments that are balanced in their approach and description of the subject regardless of the c...
Oh my goodness, the TV does not work this morning. Signal loss due to weather. I suspect it is upset at me for accusing it of spying on me. No news today. Like most of you out there, I have already formed an opinion about current events anyway. I just need the news to reinforce what I already think. At least we get to learn some words we have not heard much before. One of my favorites is oligarch. I could not help but picture those short, round people with pantaloons on, dancing around the stage in The Wizard of Oz. Eventually I had to ask Mr....
After six years of being president of Huckleberry, Inc. and chair of the Huckleberry Festival, I am stepping down. It has been a fantastic run and I am grateful for every minute of it. I have met some amazing people along the way and they have opened my eyes to all sorts of possibilities. At the time I entered into this nonprofit, I agreed to stay for one year to help out due to the passing of the previous chair, Liz Citrino. Needless to say, time marched on. The challenges, the accomplishments, the improvements, the smiles, the laughter, the...
Recently I watched a portion of an interview with an articulate young conservative black political activist. She (I missed her name) has given up on liberalism, believing that liberal policies deliberately entrap African Americans in a government-subsidized victimhood, in effect replicating slavery or Jim Crow laws in preventing equality as citizens. Her views have gained her a million-plus social-media followers, and she seems to be leading a considerable black citizen’s rollover from Democrat to Republican. I guess it was an interesting s...
Dear Editor, I would appreciate your assistance in getting information out to our community in an effort to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who played a part in ensuring that our honored veterans were taken care of properly this past weekend at the Elks Lodge, annual veterans dinner and silent auction/raffle. This annual event provides a free homemade turkey dinner to all veterans and their families in the Sanders County area. It is co-sponsored by American Legion Post No. 52, who conducted the ceremony to honor our veterans, prisoners...
Dear Editor, I am writing today in response to your August 22 article published about a friend of mine, Mark Legard, who was murdered in his house in Plains, Montana. As you mentioned, his father Pat, is begging for information about what happened to Mark that evening of March 14 and is not getting any from the local law enforcement. This is so exceedingly troubling for those of us who loved Mark dearly, and for everyone living in this small community. Why has there been no leads or updates? Why has there been so many mistakes made by law...
Jim Elliott, I liked your article in this week’s paper titled “Why Columbus?” (Oct. 17 Ledger) It’s true the European invaders did inadvertently introduce Smallpox and measles to the native inhabitants. However, you forgot to mention that in return they were gifted with the curse of tobacco and syphilis. In the long run I don’t know who won or lost in that exchange. Robert Cheshire Noxon, Montana...
Editor: To all who are stupid, or who have never read the Constitution, or if having read it did not understand the plain language contained therein. Article 1 Section 2 paragraph 5: “The House of Representatives shall ... have the sole power of impeachment.” This includes of the President. But, it means, specifically “the House of Representatives” – NOT Nancy Pelosi, nor any of her lackeys in chairmanships of committees. It MEANS, the ENTIRE “House of Representatives.” Unless, and until, the FULL House of Representatives votes to impeach AN...
