Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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To Area Representatives and Senators Jennifer Fielder, Bob Brown and Denley Loge We, the Sanders County Commissioners are writing this letter in support of our local medical facilities regarding the sun setting of the HELP Act. It’s impossible to put into words how important to Sanders County our Critical Access Hospital is in Plains, MT. Beyond the obvious benefits of having medical services including ER, OB, long term care, primary clinics, surgery and orthopedics Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) alone, employs 225 people with a payroll o...
Really? Mr. Blackstone are you really challenging us to hunt for and find facts to prove you wrong regarding the border security issue? That shouldn’t take long, and I accept the challenge. As the kids would say, “Wait for it!” In the meantime, I guess you will only hear the ‘unicorns and rainbows’ speaking as I say my piece. I am truly offended by your take on the matter. Thousands of people are unable to feed their families, are unable to afford their medications, cannot pay their vehicle insurance or buy gas due to the government shutdown....
Blaine Blackstone’s latest column, Street Smart, in last week’s Ledger did not truly take me by surprise. He has been very vocal in our community. What will take me by surprise is if no one else challenges his thinking. Is this what we all have become? Is this what we want to be? Must we all carry a Glock in our pocket when we attend bingo at the senior center? Must we teach our children to physically fight for their rights? I applaud our high school kids for peacefully finding a way to call attention to local bullying. Must we all be whi...
Editor, In response to Mr. Blackstone’s article I’d like to pass on to your readers one way to help find the facts. Here is the latest report from DHS (Department of Homeland Security). It was published December 2018. Title: Population Estimates, Illegal Alien Population Residing in the United States 2015 And can be found and printed or downloaded here: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/18_1214_PLCY_pops-est-report.pdf Dieter Jaegers, Trout Creek...
By now you should have received a letter from the City of Thompson Falls regarding the wastewater system. If you are unfamiliar with this subject you need to obtain further information. If this project goes forward it could be financially devastating to property owners on the north side of the tracks. The actual cost seems to be a mystery. Be aware that your letter of protest must be in the hands of the city treasurer prior to February 8 at 5 p.m. or you will automatically be considered in favor of this project. For more information in...
In late December I watched a CBS interview with, and performance by, a young singer named Ashley McBride, who is good enough to be recently mentioned in Grammy terms. One of her songs repeated the refrain “not bad for a girl going nowhere,” and in the interview, she talked about teachers who told her that’s exactly where she was going. Now, of course, she’s getting some sweet payback. This is a common story – the kid who does well despite the negative judgments of teachers. In fact, it reminds me of my graduation interview with a high scho...
Editor, When did the voters in Thompson Falls request this sewer? Who or what agency is manipulating or dictating to our elected local city government? In my mind local elected officials do bidding of constituents who elected them, not the bidding of external councils influencing government or special interest conglomerates. Lark Chadwick, Thompson Falls...
Dear Senator Fielder, Congratulations on your position as Chairperson of the Fish and Game Committee during this upcoming legislative session. I met you many years ago as you came door to door talking to folks in Plains and wanted to wish you well this session. Our big family has property in Plains, Noxon, Trout Creek, and Swamp Creek, Lakeside, Lolo, Billings, Bozeman and Fairview. We are a family of long hunting and fishing traditions exploring all of Montana. We rely on these natural resources for our food. We have grown gardens and eaten...
Regarding “Bigotry is not the answer” (Dec. 13, 2018), Jeannnie Burke’s response to Blaine Blackstone’s article “Street Smart” is right on target. Thank you, Jeannie! Jean Morrison, Plains...
It was early Christmas morning, around 5 o’clock. I had woken up and looked out the window to see a clear, moonlit night. A good time for a walk, I thought. I was 16 years old — almost, my birthday was the next day — and I rose and dressed quietly so as not to wake my parents. I went very slowly down the back stairs from my bedroom, trying to avoid the steps that creaked, found a coat and hat and unlocked the back door. Outside, I discovered that it would be an even better walk than I thought. There was about a foot of snow, which would have...
Letter to the editor I must respond to the recent op ed (11/22) expressed by Blaine Blackstone concerning gun laws. Mr. Blackstone states that 20 years ago we had the same laws, but we didn’t have these mass shootings and he addresses what he thinks has changed. I’ve wondered the same thing. Having grown up in Thompson Falls, I saw many a truck with a gun rack visible in the back window. I didn’t give it a second thought as the town had numerous hunters and ranchers who wanted a gun handy. My father, Doc Rosdahl, loaded his own bullets and h...
Sanders County Veterans Transportation (SCVT) is honored to report its performance this year is very productive with the purchase of this Ford Flex. We thank our supporters, mainly people living in Sanders County, who are shoppers at Harvest Foods in Thompson Falls and visit our fundraising table there. Their donations and raffle participation has made this and our other vehicle purchases possible. Thank you Sanders County, you made it happen when you said “Thank You” to our veterans in a way your tax dollars cannot! Two raffles garnered the $1...
Recently, The Sanders County Ledger published a column called “Street Smart” written by Blaine Blackstone, titled “Group hug mentally won’t work.” (November 22, 2018) I am writing in response to the first line of that column and I quote: “ I am a white, pro-life, Christian, heterosexual male, Republican, who supports a strong immigration policy.” My question is for Mr. Blackstone. Is that sentence not the definition of bigotry? Why do we, the Sanders County Ledger readers, care about your sexual orientation or what color your skin is? Are...
To the high school students on the walkout about being harassed and bullied, good for you. I was not surprised that the administration did not really know what was going on after talking to a student from last year who was bullied and made fun of. It did not do that person any good to report it. Trinity, you did the right thing to stand up to the person making the rude remarks, apparently you hurt his pride. Why wasn’t the school counselor more aware of the problem? Instead of bringing in outside help next year what about the school resource o...
The Neva Wood Memorial Handbell Choir, under the direction of Dan Whittenburg, entertained the Sanders County employees at their Christmas Party last Thursday at The Elks. The Handbell Choir (with Mary McCoy) was amazing! How fortunate we are to have such a talented musical group to provide beautiful, inspiring music during times when we all need a lift in life. Thank you for your generosity and your music! Sanders County Board of Commissioners...
A letter for the many victims of the Montana veterans Choice Program. This program is highly promoted as helping and saving veterans lives. As a Choice Program Veteran, I did not expect a nine-month battle trying to get my life-threatening 911 emergency ambulance and hospital treatment paid. I encountered numerous phone conversations and phone transfers, document preparation, faxing, travel meetings with a Veterans Advocate and experienced the most sophisticated, diplomatic put-off-run-around. The VA still denied payment so after months of frus...
I want to extend deep gratitude and appreciation to business’s and individuals in our county that contributed to renovating the kiosk in front of the courthouse. Generous donations from ACE/Inland Empire Builders, THRIVENT a community based membership with the motto of “ Live Generously” and Stud's in Plains. Like any community project without many hands this project would not have happened. Support from Jen Kreiner Community Development Director, Kim Roberts, owner of Inland Empire Builder and his staff, Susan and Andy. The owner of Stud'...
At the outset let me say that I never want to change anything that is not broken. However, when we consider the vast differences between rural and urban election results, it becomes painfully clear that something is amiss. Doctor Roger Wicke, a columnist living in the rural community of Hot Springs, Montana, published an article to his distribution that reveals an aspect of this problem, titled “ I DO NOT TRUST THE MONTANA ELECTION RESULTS.” Roger points to the difference in rally attendance numbers between Democrat and Republican rallies: “Wa...
Thank you to all the local veterans who graced our students and staff with your presence at our Veterans Day lunch at Thompson Falls Elementary School. It was truly our honor to serve you lunch as a small token of our gratitude for your service. The benefit to our students was beyond measure. Watching our students have the opportunity to converse with veterans from different eras and branches of service was both educational and uplifting. Thank you all for sharing your stories, photos, and your time with us. We hope to have started a new...
As we have the pleasure of talking with friends and neighbors about the CSKT Compact, the common theme is that no one understands it. The typical response is, “I really don’t know much about it. There are people I respect on both sides so that just confuses me more.” If you find yourself agreeing, you are in good company; this behemoth of a document wasn’t understood by most legislators, either. But much like the Bible, it isn’t the parts we don’t understand that are troubling, but the parts we do. Article I of the Hellgate Treaty begins, “Th...
Regarding The good and the bad Montana Viewpoint (Nov. 1 Ledger), could I just add “and The ugly” to that title by Jim Elliott. Jim’s account of good is very accurate. We all know good people in our valley and throughout the entire county that surpasses way beyond good. And it is a bad state of affairs that a newsman loses his life the way that he did. And another newsman was body slammed, and the guilt fell on “a president” because he says what he thinks, sometimes without thinking of how the fake news such as CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Ne...
Editor, Five days in October. Those “boys of the summer” and the Series. It was a refreshing break to watch opponents with different goals, experiences and backgrounds (and their supporters) cheer enthusiastically. What a great lesson in humanity to see opponents react positively for the good plays and attempts of both their own and the other team. Equally heartening were the acts of sportsmanship when athletes may have knocked another down or mistakenly hit another and then extended a hand or an apology. Also missing were comments den...
On behalf of those of us who have diligently and doggedly worked to get community decay properties cleaned up in Thompson Falls, we want to thank Chief of Police Nichols for taking the issue seriously and assigning police resources to enforce the city ordinance. Those of us calling attention to this issue have attended city council meetings for the last 2.5 years, attempting to generate concern by the council regarding the many harmful ramifications of community decay to property owners, neighborhoods, and the community. We are wishing Officer...
Editor, Talk about a smokescreen! Paul Fielder’s claim that he will reduce smoky air if elected county commissioner is pretty easy to see through. Paul may be forgetting that the responsibilities and authority of a county commissioner do not include managing our public lands. A good county commissioner is focused on running county government efficiently and based, not on political ideology, but on being respectful and responsive to the needs and preferences of county residents. Both Paul and Jennifer have been working hard to make political h...
Clean water is possible with responsible mining. Responsible mining costs the mining companies more money. Montanans must ask why these companies will spend millions of dollars to defeat legislation ensuring the purity of our rivers when it makes more sense to invest that money in the mining process to maintain our clean water during the extraction of our treasures? Taking those extra measures to mine responsibly also creates jobs; as does reclamation. The difference is who pays for it; the companies who profit in the first instance, or the...
