Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Thursday, February 11th wasn't just one of the most frigid days of the year, but it was also one of the busiest for the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department. The day started with a serious vehicle accident on I-90 which blocked traffic for several hours and spurred a multi-community search and rescue mission for a lost Labrador involved in the accident. At 8:25 a.m. on Thursday the Whitehall VFD was dispatched to mile marker 237 Eastbound, as a semi had jack-knifed due to weather conditions....
As you know, on February 12, 2021, the statewide mask mandate expired. Masks have been proven to reduce the incidence of disease, protect others and ourselves from COVID-19. "Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. Masks work best when everyone wears them" CDC. Masking is an important non-pharmaceutical intervention we need to adhere to as we work to distribute vaccine. Jefferson County has just begun its vaccination...
The Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment to aid the development of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the potential environmental impacts from a proposed tailings reprocessing project at the Golden Sunlight Mine. The Golden Sunlight Mine is located approximately five miles northeast of Whitehall, MT in Jefferson County. The project, an amendment to the current operating permit, would allow Golden Sunlight to excavate and reprocess tailings and extend the life of the mine by up to 12 years. Golden...
The Whitehall Wrestling team was able to take advantage of COVID this time. Due to exposure, their matches in Townsend were cancelled. After some creative thinking and many phone calls, teams were invited to Whitehall on Friday. This lead to some good wrestling against Thompson Falls and Fairfield. Whitehall started with a dual against Fairfield. When the dust settled, Whitehall came away with a 48-15 victory. Matches started with Isaac Skogen, Dallon Lanes and Michael Reiff receiving forfeits....
When you're looking for fast food, there are only so many locations in Whitehall. The A&W/KFC, which has been open for decades and owned by Michelle & Curtiss Lafountaine for the past twenty-four years, is a bit of rarity when it comes to a population such as Whitehall's. Most franchise locations are in bigger cities, but Whitehall has held its own – even throughout the current crisis of COVID-19. For nearly a year, the Whitehall location's dining room and lobby have been closed due to the pande...
With COVID procedures in place and having the blessing of the IRS, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is scheduled to begin offering its free tax service to seniors and low to moderate income taxpayers of all ages. Unlike past years taxpayers will be served by appointment only from its locations in Butte, Anaconda and Deer Lodge and may not get their completed returns back the same day as the appointment. To make an appointment in Butte taxpayers are asked to call 782-8106, in Anaconda, 563-6932 and Deer Lodge, 846-9789 extension 2. Returns are prepared...
We are in a day and age where general knowledge is relayed daily via social media, and sometimes no where else. We receive important information via text message instead of phone calls, emails instead of in-person communications. Sometimes we hear the news from our neighbors, or our children, and it may be circumstantial at best. For the most part, this is all fine and dandy. It’s become the norm. But when it comes to major items of importance, we need to take into consideration what the item of information is and how the distribution of t...
Dear Editor, This is in response to Jim Buterbaugh’s letter from the February 3, 2021 Ledger issue. Glad to hear that you can’t forgive a mob attacking our Capitol with the intention of overturning an election and threatening to kill political leaders. Also known as an attempted coup. This was not a “group of Americans” who got carried away emotionally in the moment. They came armed with guns, bombs, hockey sticks, pepper spray, zip ties, and a noose. They killed a police officer; chanted “Hang Mike Pence”. Why? Because they lost the electio...
Dear Editor, Just had to let you know how happy I was with the changes you have made since you have acquired the Ledger newspaper. It’s the only paper I read aside from the Montana Senior NEws. It’s absolutely delighful to read stories about the local citizens - Laurel Ovitt and the gentlamn who grew up on the Salvagni Ranch. Happy to see a recipe again. It’s been a long time - love bread pudding! The article about the Naitonal debt was an eye opener. Happy to see the days of the calendar filled and your personal story. You’re doing a super j...
Jim Stearns has been a proud member of the Whitehall community for 15 years, but his ties to Whitehall go back far longer. Jim was born in Butte, Montana in 1947 due to Harlowtown not having a hospital. His parents, Hal and Jean Stearns, purchased the Harlowtown Times and Jim was raised in the newspaper business. Through his work at the paper he was able to learn unique skills like reading backwards, upside down, backwards upside down, and upside down backwards. Jim would often visit his...
The United Nations’ health agency has listed the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and drugmaker AstraZeneca for emergency use, days after a panel of experts recommended the use of the products in settings where variants of the coronavirus are circulating. A statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday said it had approved the relatively inexpensive shot produced by AstraZeneca-SKBio (South Korea) and the Serum Institute of India. “We now have all the pieces in place for the rapid distribution of vac...
The judgment of God, all would agree, is complex. So not making this a “can of worms,” let me be as direct as possible. God’s purpose being to create loving people who love Him back, let us humans leave His judgement large. But, let me put this into the perspective of a country that is unrepentant. Let’s again tackle the Book of Lamentations. When one admits his sinfulness, the process of reconciliation begins. I will not say here that humans can break God’s heart. I will say, God’s overall goal front and center is all about forgiveness...
Carol Helen Focher, age 80, of Helena, passed away February 10, 2021 from a battle with cancer since October 2019. Carol was born December 31, 1940 in Virginia, MN to Nilo and Tyne (Hietala) Palmi. She was raised in Minnesota with her brothers Ron and Roger Palmi. After she graduated high school, Carol went to nursing school in Minnesota and obtained her LPN license. Carol married Curtis Griffis in 1959 and moved to Montana where they raised their four children. The family loved to spend time...
• Jefferson County is now vaccinating in Phase 1B-Tier 2: Persons 70 years and older • Beginning this week, Jefferson County Health Department will administer COVID-19 vaccinations in Montana City at Montana City Fire Station 1 • Whitehall Medical Clinic is offering Covid-19 vaccinations for patients receiving primary care services at Whitehall Medical Clinic • On February 27, 2021, Jefferson County Public Health will hold a vaccine event at Jefferson County Fairgrounds Please note: • All vacci...
As a small business owner and a lifelong sportsman who hunts on public lands, I have a deep appreciation for the outsized role that both play in making Montana the Last Best Place. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, especially in our rural communities. Montanans grow up hunting and recreating on public lands and raise our daughters and sons to value the land and the cherished opportunities it provides. This legislative session, I’ve introduced a bill that would not only help Montana small businesses, but would also generate m...
The Missoula Aging Services group has received reports of scammers pretending to be Medicare calling to update information over the phone. The callers ask if a person has received their new Medicare card and then ask for the number and the dates of enrollment from the card. They may reference real details about the cards. For instance, one person was asked if their card was “blue on the top, white in the middle, and red on the bottom.” If you are on Medicare, be aware: Medicare does not call people to update or upgrade their Medicare inf...
The Whitehall Lady Trojans may have lost their battle against Boulder last weekend, but they are looking ahead towards their matchups against Townsend and Three Forks this week. “It was a well-fought inner county game - so there’s a little bit of rivalry there,” Coach Mecklin Davis said. “There was great atmosphere, the girls gave good effort and worked hard.” Davis said there were several shots the team could have made to make it a win, but they will just hit the gym harder and practice those shots for this weekend. The Lady Trojans,...
Whitehall Baseball sign-ups are open for the 2021 Spring Season. Registration will be conducted strictly online this year and will close on February 28th. Players age 4-15 can participate in the league. Playing age is determined on May 1, 2021. T-Ball and Rookie games will begin around April 19th and will end the last week of May. Minor & Major teams will begin games around April 5th and will complete the season at the end of the year tournament scheduled for June 5th. T-Ball & Minor games will...
It is book club week at the Library next week. Due to the way the February calendar fell, all three book clubs will meet the week of February 22-26. The History Book Club starts us off on February 22 at 6:30 p.m. They will be sharing a reader’s choice this month on any fiction or non-fiction book dealing with a person or period in history. On Tuesday, February 23rd the Mystery Book Club will be sharing their latest reads at 5:00 p.m. The Holocaust Discussion Group will meet on Thursday, February 25th at 6:00 p.m. They will be sharing different...
Dear Jo, Why am I not taking care of my hygiene? I never brush my teeth or even shower. Changing my clothes is a chore and shaving is an impossible task, just too overwhelming and exhausting. I just wear the same clothes over again and keep using spray. I never leave the house and I eat easy and unhealthy foods. Help! Signed, Alone and Stinky Dear Stinky, Hiding is the first word that comes to mind. It seems you are working hard to make sure no one wants to get too close. Try this: close your eyes and imagine you are standing in the...
The International Fly Fishing Film Festival, coming virtually to all of Idaho and Montana beginning on Feb. 24, features 11 films, 6- to 16-minutes in length, from all corners of the globe showcasing the passion, lifestyle, and culture of fly fishing. Admission to the Idaho and Montana International Fly Fishing Film Festival is $15 and may be accessed at https://watch.eventive.org/if4us/play/6019861b47cac5005b0cd57f. Viewers may log on to the site anytime within 48 hours of the showing at 7 p.m. Once logged in, access to the film will be grante...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new research on FEbruary 10, 2021 that found wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask offers more protection against the coronavirus, as does tying knots on the ear loops of surgical masks. Those findings prompted new guidance on how to improve mask fit at a time of concern over fast-spreading variants of the virus. For optimal protection, the CDC says to make sure the mask fits snugly against your face and to choose a mask with at least t...
Governor Greg Gianforte issued two new directives and an executive order on Friday, February 12, 2021. The first directive rescinds and replaces all prior directives implementing Executive Order 2-2021, which the governor issued on January 13, 2021. Consistent with the governor’s announcement on February 10, the new directive allows the statewide mask mandate to expire. Local jurisdictions may still choose to implement their own mask requirements. “Since January 5th, I have provided a clear, consistent path to rescinding the mask man...
WHS High Honor Roll: 3.5-4.0 GPA SENIORS: Ryan Alley, Jadyn Andrews, Wyatt Biggers, Kyle Ervin, Hannah Haverland, Dallen Hoover, Kenzie Hugulet, Jacy Johnson, Meagan Johnson, Kendra Klapan, Breeanne Lanes, Tucker Miller, Anna Nelson, Marta Nelson, Macee Patritti, Geoffrey Porter, Dawson Powers, Dalaney Scafani, Hope Schockley, Kobe Shields, Dylan Smith, Trentin Walker, and Kathryn Whitehurst. JUNIORS: Joe David Benner, Haley Briggs, Avrey Coombe, Eleana Cross, Keara Hugulet, Brendan Wagner, Kaden Weber, and Brynna Wolfe. SOPHOMORES: MacKenzy...
The 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act), signed into law on December 13, 2016, is designed to help accelerate medical product development and bring new innovations and advances to patients who need them faster and more efficiently. Federal regulations implementing the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 were recently finalized and require the immediate release of most types of medical information and documentation held within a patient’s medical record. While the release requirement has been delayed nationally, large healthcare systems have begun t...
