Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women, claiming more lives each year than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Despite these alarming statistics, many people remain unaware of the life-saving benefits of early detection through screening. Raising awareness and encouraging screening can drastically improve survival rates and offer hope for those at risk. The Prevalence of Lung Cancer: Lung cancer occurs in two primary forms: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for about 85% of cases, and...
Butte author and former Whitehall resident Debbie Sorensen recently had her first book published. "Beyond the Jump Shot. The Elevated Life of Kenny Sailors," was ranked #1 on Amazon in the Youth and Young Adult Basketball book category on its release. In her first book, Butte author Debbie Sorensen tells the fascinating life story of Kenny Sailors, who rose to basketball fame for developing the modern-day jump shot. However, "Beyond the Jump Shot: The Elevated Life of Kenny Sailors," is less...
Dear Editor, Montanans should demand better for our wildlife and our democracy. I am a 70-year-old, retired farmer. I am a 4th generation Montanan and a lifelong avid hunter, angler, and conservationist. I have a degree in Wildlife Biology and research experience on large predators. I started farming in 1977. I own Circle S Ranch in eastern Montana and pay property taxes in 5 counties. I have always shared the bounty of the ranch with sportsmen, sportswomen and conservationists for free. No one...
Jefferson Valley Community Foundation issues a call to all area nonprofits that the grant cycle has begun. Grant applications for worthwhile long-term community-oriented projects can be obtained at the Whitehall Community Library or by going to the organization’s website, jeffersonvalleycf.com. Notice to all non-profit organizations contemplating applying for a JVCF grant: Please be aware that the deadline date was incorrect in the previous information. The correct deadline date for grant applications is October 9, NOT October 19, as originally...
I suppose it’s the human thing on a hiking trail to acknowledge one another when passing. But on a well-used trail, the same comments come up time and time again. “Good Morning.” As an introvert I don’t understand why I have to say Good Morning to every member of a 30-person group. Nor does Good Afternoon roll off the tongue as nicely. Too many plosives and fricatives. Yesterday I got yelled at for not saying a cheery enough “Good Morning” to a passing hiker. I did not realize I was at a Downton Abbey garden party. Then there’s the consoling “Y...
Tim Sheehy, the Republican seeking to unseat Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester, is a business executive born and raised out of state. That same description applies to Troy Downing, a Republican running for one of Montana’s two Congressional seats. Same for Montana’s Republican Governor Greg Gianforte and his challenger, Democrat Ryan Busse. I have nothing against out-of-staters moving to Montana or working at a business. I fit both categories myself years ago. But I think this change in politicians’ backgrounds reflects a change in how M...
Tim Sheehy, the Republican seeking to unseat Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester, is a business executive born and raised out of state. That same description applies to Troy Downing, a Republican running for one of Montana’s two Congressional seats. Same for Montana’s Republican Governor Greg Gianforte and his challenger, Democrat Ryan Busse. I have nothing against out-of-staters moving to Montana or working at a business. I fit both categories myself years ago. But I think this change in politicians’ backgrounds reflects a change in how M...
The Bill Baycroft Memorial Rod Run, in memory of Bob Casagrande, was held during Whitehall's Frontier Days on Saturday, July 27, 2024. The car show had 100 registered vehicles and awarded 20 awards for the top 20 cars. Al Johnson and his crew of helpers chaired and organized this event. • Bill Baycroft Memorial Award: Gary Galetti's 1948 Cadillac • In Memory of Bob Casagrande Award: Casagrande family's 1963 Chevrolet Comet • In Memory of Bob Casagrande 55 chev award: Don & Georga Tamietti • In memory of Bob Casagrande 39 chev award: Rick St...
Celebrate our wild heritage at the Butte-Silver Bow County Fair with music and mad stunts, vendors and fair food, A Wyldman Scramble and Rodeo, a cornhole tournament, and free concerts under the stars by High Ore Road. Highlights include the final stunt of stuntman Spanky Spangler’s storied career, the wild antics of the Kamikaze Kid, and the high-flying daredevilry of Levi Renz and the 406FMX Freestyle Motocross team. Rockin’ country band Little Texas is headliner of the indoor concert with opener Rob Wolf. Tickets to the concert are ava...
What fun: You're going on a guided outdoor trip. As you get ready, here are some tips from actual guides about what to expect, as these patient men and women have experienced a few trips that did not go well. First, follow the packing list. Do not leave your raingear at home because your brother tells you it never rains in the desert. If it is 100 degrees in the shade at your house and the list recommends a down parka: bring it. It can and will snow at 10,000 feet in midsummer. If the guide...
Dear Editor, I am neither a lawyer nor a business advisor, but I have danced with a few 501C3s. A tax-exempt charitable organization may or may not have a relationship with a business or entity. The entity may sever that relationship, but that doesn't dissolve the 501C3. The charity can only dissolve by not renewing its certificate with the State or by a majority vote of its officers. Before that, it could only deal with tax-exempt funds by following the outlines of its charter or by-laws. It...
“I love to spend my day in a bookstore,” said Amy Sweet. She lives in Red Lodge, Montana, and was explaining why she and her husband Brian opened Beartooth Books in her town of 2,300. “It was part of the life we wanted—to live in a small town, walk to work, and enjoy outdoor adventures and wonderful people.“ She’s not alone. For many of the same reasons, bookstores have been opening in small Western towns, said Heather Duncan, executive director of the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Since 2020, more than 100 booksto...
State and local public health officials remind Montanans to be aware of rabies exposure risks as summer approaches. The potential for encounters between humans and wild animals increases during the spring and summer months as Montanans spend increased time engaging in outdoor activities. Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease. The rabies virus is carried in the saliva of infected warm-blooded mammals and is usually transmitted to people and other animals through a bite. Post-exposure prophylaxis, a series of injections administered after...
Dear Editor, Ever promise yourself that someday you'd start reading your Bible every day but never got around to it? You're not alone. We will start a new round of free daily phone texts this week, designed to help you read your Bible cover-to-cover in about one year. This ministry is entirely non-denominational. You can use whatever version you prefer, and it doesn't cost you a penny. This will be the seventh year the Whitehall Church of Christ has done this. We forward these texts worldwide;...
Spring in Montana is a popular time to forage for morel mushrooms, a type of mushroom that is often considered a delicacy by restaurants and the public. However, morels can cause human illness if the proper identification, storage, and preparation steps are not taken. An outbreak of gastrointestinal (GI) illness occurred in Montana in the spring of 2023, when 51 people got sick after eating raw or only partially cooked morels at a restaurant. Three hospitalizations and two deaths were...
The Cottontail Astronomical Observatory in Twin Bridges, Montana, will open its doors for its first public night for the 2024 season on May 11th. The observatory hosts various free events throughout the year, though donations are greatly appreciated. Owners Joe and Gwen Witherspoon invite everyone to take part in a visit to the observatory. The weather plays a big part in these events; overcast skies block out the stars, as does rain and snow, and winds greater than 15 MPH move the telescopes. In such an event, the Witherspoons will give an...
Climate change was primarily perceived as a distant threat for a long time. But Oregon biologist Pepper Trail, 70, who often writes for the opinion service Writers on the Range, said he and other close observers have noticed climate shifts for decades. He’s seen it in the premature blossoming of flowers, the diminishing snow caps on mountains, and, most strikingly, the increasing frequency of wildfires scorching the landscapes around him. “I’m a naturalist,” Trail said, “and like many who have been sounding the alarm for years, I’m increasingl...
As of the writing of this guest editorial, there has been a 30 percent decrease in FAFSA submissions by students and their parents across the United States compared to last year. In Montana, the decline is also substantial at 25 percent. What is FAFSA, and why is it important? FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and students must complete it before applying for federal grants, work-study, and loans. Colleges and universities use student FAFSA data to determine their federal aid eligibility. It is administered by the U.S....
When my friends and I encountered the fresh grizzly bear scat, we were deep in Wyoming’s Teton Wilderness, 20 miles from a trailhead. I’d seen grizzlies before—from the car. But this experience was on a whole other level. I felt vulnerable, nervous. I also felt fully alive. That feeling owes much to the Wilderness Act, which became law 60 years ago, in 1964. When President Lyndon B. Johnson created a nationwide system of wild landscapes “untrammeled by man,” it gave physical expression to an unusual attitude toward land. The attitude could be...
Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton today announced one-time incentive payments and targeted, historic wage increases to recruit and retain employees at Montana’s state-run healthcare facilities. The new effort is designed to reduce reliance on contracted clinical staff and demonstrates DPHHS’s continued, strong commitment to reforming and investing in the facilities that serve Montana’s most vulnerable patients. Dir. Brereton announced the Hiring Incentive Program for direct patient care positions a...
The opportunity to serve as a volunteer on the High Peaks Federal Credit Union Board of Directors is one of the most significant differentiating factors that separates credit unions from traditional banks. They set the direction of the credit union and collaborate with the CEO to manage it according to the wishes of the membership. Credit unions are owned by their members, which allows them to have a say in how their financial lives are run. Instead of serving corporate stockholders, the Board...
The final two faded wood panel murals have been replaced with two vibrant, bright, beautiful new murals at the Rocky Mountain Bank and the Billsgary building (K-Bar). The murals were again beautifully created by local Whitehall artist Kit Mather. Kit committed her entire summer and portions of her fall to their completion! The murals were both put in place by Tim Geary and his crew. Tim gave his equipment and labor to ensure that the murals would be put in place securely and safely. Besides Tim,...
Federal, state, and local officials are urging medical providers to be on the lookout for possible cases of lead poisoning in children after at least 22 toddlers in 14 states were sickened as of November 7, 2023, by lead linked to tainted pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce. The following were recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to reports of elevated levels of lead found in certain units of the products: • WanaBana brand apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches • Schnucks brand cinnamon applesauce pouches • Weis b...
The Jefferson Valley Community Foundation was pleased to present several community awards to community non-profit organizations at their annual Short and Sweet awards night at the Whitehall Community Center on November 8 at 7 PM. The following grants were awarded that night: • Whitehall Middle/High School: $2,500 for tools and job box for FFA, that grant being the Barrick Co. Grant. • Whitehall Garden Club: $750 for seedlings for Arbor Day. • P.U.L.S.E.: $3,200 to finish the community room...
Montana collects $2.1 billion in property tax, with allocations as follows: 56% to schools, 28% to counties, 11% to cities/towns, and 5% to special districts. The 6 statewide university mills stay at the state, while the 95 statewide school mills are redistributed to local community schools, accounting for 35-40% of the $1.1 billion annual state school funding distribution. According to the latest Department of Revenue (DOR) appraisal, Montana properties have a total market value of $259 billion, spread across 18 tax and rate classes....
