Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 220
Dear Jo, Happy New Year! I wish I could say that I had a lot of hope for the new year. I am bummed already. I cannot seem to get my act together. What really does this year have to offer me?! I have not had any luck in so many years, I just don’t even hope for it anymore. I have a home, food, family, it just is not enough. Signed, Bored and Bummed Dear Bored and Bummed, What does the new year hold for you? Three-hundred and sixty-five opportunities to quit feeling sorry for yourself, get off your ass, and make a life! Signed, Jo Dear Jo, I f...
I hope you’ve had a wonderful and safe holiday season thus far! Since 2021 has come to a close, I wanted to take a moment to round it out by sharing some of my highlights for the year. We’ve had quite a year here in the United States Senate, and all along I’ve been focused on delivering real results for Montanans. 1. The signing of my bipartisan infrastructure package into law.No surprise here, my top highlight is the bipartisan infrastructure package, which delivers urgently-needed investments to Montana that will support our small busin...
Dear Jo, Well, here we are. The holidays are almost over, the gift wrap is in the trash. I was so looking forward to relaxing, taking a deep breath. Why do I feel so wound up? I cannot settle down? I find myself pacing, thoughts racing with all that the year ahead holds. How can I relax and enjoy the downtime?! Signed, No Chillin Dear No Chillin, For heaven’s sake, you have me pacing! Take some melatonin, followed by a meditation podcast and end with a hot toddy and bed! Signed, Jo Dear Jo, The holidays make my spouse amorous. To the point t...
We are beginning our sixth year helping people read their Bibles cover-to-cover in one year. All you need is a Bible, a cell phone that receives text messages, and a desire to read your Bible. Here’s how it works: you phone me using the phone where you want the texts sent, and beginning January first, I will send you a text specifying what Bible passage to read that day along with points to notice in that passage. It’s free, and you can start or stop anytime you choose. Some people have started this just within the last few months, so they wil...
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced today an investment of $3.7 million over the next 18 months to provide a financial boost to over 1,300 Montana Medicaid recipients with significant medical needs. “This investment puts money back in the pockets of over 1,000 vulnerable Montanans with challenging health care needs,” Governor Greg Gianforte said. “This will not only help these individuals with their health care costs but will also ease everyday living expenses for those who need it most.” Montanans who w...
Dear Jo, I was in a relationship for five months; we broke up in September. Recently he came over with a box of gifts for my birthday and Christmas. I really appreciate the gesture, but it also makes me a little uncomfortable. I feel like I should buy him a gift, but I don’t want to encourage something I cannot reciprocate. What do you think I should do? Signed, Grateful, But Unsure Ex Dear Unsure Ex, I am assuming you are both adults. That being the case, he decided to purchase gifts. It is not your responsibility to “make things equal” or tr...
The Jefferson Valley Community Foundation has received grant funds from The Dennis and Phyllis Foundation by way of Montana Rail Link. The Jefferson Community Foundation is soliciting applications from area nonprofits for community service projects that could be greatly enhanced by additional funding. The Jefferson Valley Community Foundation has always tried to help and support nonprofit organizations that benefit the area we all call home. When we all are involved together in the improvement of our community, the community moves forward...
Dear Jo, I am just sick of ugly sweaters! I have actually seen some of my own sweaters on people at these dumb parties!! What the hell?! It is literally insulting. I wore one of my best, favorite sweaters just to show people how dumb this ugly sweater idea is and they gave me the award for the ugliest sweater! I am furious. How do I let my friends know that I was insulted at the party and am determined not to go again? Signed, No Ugly Sweater Dear Sweater, If you can’t beat ‘em, (and you can’t), join ‘em. You just wear your not ugly sweater and...
KEEGAN SMOUT Q: What's your favorite Christmas cookie? A: Ummmm...the Christmas tree ones (makes a Christmas tree shape with his hands) Q: How much does Santa weigh? A: 100 pounds. Q: Is that a lot or a little? A: A lot! (laughs) Q: How does Santa bring presents to your house? A: He uses his sleigh! Q: Does his sleigh have a fast engine? A: No (rolls eyes) it has reindeer! Q: Do you know their names? A: Comet and Prancer....that's it (with certainty) Q: How big is an elf? A: Ummmmm...small? Q:...
“The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is pleased that a federal court has issued an order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction against implementation of CMS’s vaccine mandate for health care workers, particularly in light of its legal shortcomings and the dire impact it would have on frontier states like Montana. With the court’s decision, House Bill 702, which makes discrimination on the basis of vaccination status unlawful, remains the law in Montana. Thus, Montana health care facilities cannot require staff to b...
One Jefferson High School student is dead and another is hospitalized after a crash between Clancy and Montana City on Monday night. Makinzy Rynearson-Gray, a 17-year-old senior at the school, died in the crash, according to Jefferson High School Superintendent Tim Norbeck, who confirmed the death in a phone call on Tuesday morning and said that additional counselors were at the school to help students and staff process the death. He said that the school notified parents of the death and the student’s name via email around 11 a.m. The school d...
Dear Editor, On November 10th and 11th, Cardwell and the Whitehall Schools presented the military Veterans of the surrounding area with multiple patriotic programs that were a salute to the military Veterans’ service. These patriotic presentations were incredible in their content and preparation! The children at Cardwell School were well-rehearsed and enthusiastic in their songs and poetry! The Veterans, parents, and families that were present were treated to a typical “Panther” show! At the end of the program, all the children presented the V...
Dear Jo, Are you competitive? I am!!! There is going to be a local Christmas light display contest and I want to win. Actually, I MUST win!!!! I find myself driving around town checking on who is decorating, and thinking to myself, “I will buy more lights, more tinsel, more yard displays and more, more, more!!!!” How can I stop before I put myself into debt or worse? Signed, Ready to Self Destruct! Dear Self Destruct, First, DO NOT self-destruct, or do anything that will be worse. You need to settle the heck down, take a few deep breaths and...
The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced today that donation boxes have been set up at various locations across the state to receive holiday gifts to benefit Montana State Hospital (MSH) patients. The effort is part of the annual Gifts With A Lift program that has played an instrumental role in spreading holiday cheer to patients for the past 69 years. The program ensures that all state hospital patients have a gift this holiday season. MSH Gifts With A Lift coordinator Trent Martin said the program continues to...
Dear Jo, I’ve got a question for you. I hope this isn’t beyond the pale or anything, but why is it becoming more and more acceptable for women, models especially, to let it all hang out so to speak, as long as that slippery little (she) devil, the nipple is covered? Not that I am complaining, but this kind of behavior seems to be growing in popularity! Since the gland in question is pretty much a glob of fat, shapely as it may be, and the nipple actually serves a purpose, could that be the answer to my query? Might it be that simple? Sig...
Dear Jo, Here they come! The holidays, that is! Along with all that “holiday spirit” come the expectations, the inevitable weight gain, seeing family you might be better off keeping your distance from, etc. It’s not like I’m all HUMBUG or anything. I just have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. How can I make it?! Any ideas? Signed, Not a Grinch Dear Grinch, Well, there is no avoiding it; the holidays come whether we are ready or not. Although you say you are not a grinch, nor a humbug, your letter leads me to believe you actuall...
A female Montana Army National Guard Soldier graduated from the U.S. Army Sniper Course at Fort Benning, Ga on Nov. 5, becoming the first woman in history to complete the course. At this time, the military is not identifying this Soldier by name. “We are extremely proud of this Soldier’s achievement and recognize that this is a milestone for not only Montana, but the entire National Guard and Army,” said Maj. Gen. J. Peter Hronek, the Adjutant General for Montana. “This Soldier had to volunteer several times to reach this goal, which is a demon...
The eclipse begins on November 18th at 11:02PM MST when the Penumbra part of the Earth’s shadow touches the edge of the Moon. The Moon’s brightness at this point is -12.5. The Penumbra will continue covering the surface of the Moon until the Ulmba part of the Earth’s shadow touches the Moon’s edge on November 19th at 00:17AM MST. The Moon’s brightness is now down to -0.01. Maximum Eclipse: The Ulmba will continue to cover the Moon’s surface until only a little crescent part of the Moon is not covered. The time is approximately 2:02AM Nove...
My Ole Man He was a giant, when I was a kid But I was always trying, to do everything he did I still remember, no matter how hard, every lesson he taught me Growing up, just learning how to be like My Ole Man He was a giant, a lion, and father of his pride But as I got older, I became defiant And he made me walk the line He knew, someway, somehow, When to lift me up and when to let me fall Looking back, he always had a plan My Ole Man His hands always callous, his clothes sometimes dusty, My...
Medicare beneficiaries in five additional Montana counties will now be able to purchase low-cost, high-quality Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) Medicare Advantage plans for 2022. BCBSMT will now offer Medicare Advantage products in Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson and Powell counties, in addition to Carbon, Cascade, Flathead, Gallatin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Missoula, Ravalli, Yellowstone and Silver Bow counties where plans continue to be available. The expanded footprint and new options detailed below build on...
Dear Jo, There are life changing moments in everyone’s life; a moment, an opportunity to do something that could turn their life in a new direction. I have such an opportunity. It will cost me financially, not to mention the stress of a loan, the burden and pressure of taking the opportunity and making it work to my advantage. If I succeed, it will be an amazing boost to my career and life. If it doesn’t, I could spend several years recovering from the investment. I am scared, excited, and stuck. Help!!!! Signed, Golden Opportunity Dear Golden,...
Dear Jo, I live in a small town, which means everyone pretty much knows everyone else. Generations know generations. There is a home here in town that not only looks like a junkyard, but is home to a dog that has bitten people, and killed at least one dog that I know of. How does the town not do something about it? How can someone have such a negative effect on neighbors and not have to answer for it? Help! Signed, Dog Tired Dear Dog Tired, The squeaky wheel gets the grease, it is said. It sounds like both the owner and the dog need a little...
Dear Editor, Many of us here in Jefferson County are tired of party politics and feeling ignored by political elites who only care about their own agendas. These days it seems like elections are so partisan that no one really wins. We have to ensure that our elections are fair from the very beginning when drawing our state’s congressional maps. States are required by the constitution to redraw congressional and state legislative district lines every ten years to account for changes in population size. These maps can determine the outcome of a...
Dear Jo, Not only do I look younger that my 24 years, I apparently look like my husband’s sister instead of his wife. We constantly get comments about looking alike, those are not too bad. The awkward moments are when we are affectionate (respectfully so) in public. People stop and stare at us like we are “kissing cousins”. Is it the red hair? We both have it, but do people honestly think that because we both have red hair we are related?! I wish for a smart comment to put people in their nosey places. Do you have anything?! Signed, Red Head Ma...
Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials announced today a voluntary recall of rice cereal for infants and babies has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recalled infant cereal was distributed nationally through Walmart stores and online. This recall is a result of a routine sampling program by the FDA which found that a sample from three production lots of Parent’s Choice Rice Baby Cereal tested above the guidance for naturally occurring inorganic arsenic. Parent’s Choice Rice Baby Cereal lot...
