Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Dear Editor, Three weeks ago, I received a dreaded phone call late at night from Whitehall Emergency Services; our sixteen-year-old son was involved in a serious vehicle crash. Today, my wife, Cori, and I write to express our deepest gratitude to the Whitehall community for your overwhelming support during this trying time. On October 26, our son made a mistake that many experienced drivers have made before, including myself. While driving, I have momentarily removed my seatbelt to reach for...
Tall people get hotter showers. Island countries are sea-locked countries. Coffins should be biodegradable. It’s a little surprising there isn’t a driving test between getting licensed and being elderly. The faster we go East to West, the slower we’re going. AI will eventually lead people away from being creators to being curators. Fictional characters get their memory erased every time you rewatch the movie/episode or restart the game. You can’t prove that a bottomless pit is bottomless. The first person to discover that you could nail ho...
GEORGIA, I have a question, This morning, my husband showed me a great sale on an artificial Christmas tree. It was about the price we paid for fresh trees for two years. We both want to switch to an artificial tree. My 23-year-old daughter lives with us, and she insists that we continue the tradition of getting a real tree. I feel that since she plans on getting her own place soon, she shouldn’t get a vote. She can have whatever kind of tree she wants when she moves out. I also feel that even if she did get a vote, her opinion doesn’t hav...
Communities, large and small, have been turned upside down for various reasons, including political unrest, crime, natural disasters, economics, and more. Word travels fast, whether living in the 1st century or the 21st century; that’s the nature of humanity. However, technology seems to have enabled this to occur at lightning speed today. If you’ve ever thumbed through the Bible, particularly the first four books of the New Testament, a reader quickly recognizes that the earthly ministry of Jesus turned communities upside down. Word of mou...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, put aside any errant musings and give important tasks your utmost attention this week. Energy is better spent on others, so keep this in mind when busy. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, your coworkers are all excited and fussing over a new development. Maintain an even keel as you assess the situation. You can be curious but be guarded as well. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, your love life is perfect this week, enabling you to spend quality time with your special someone. A romantic dinner sounds like a good plan. CAN...
Dear Editor, Thank you to the supporters and donors to the Lien for Montana citizen campaign for the Jefferson County district in the Montana House of Representatives. Your activism is the lifeblood of our democracy. The county’s concern about the future of Medicaid expansion and public dollars for public schools was notable, and I will continue to lend my voice to these important local issues. I entered the race to provide voters a choice, and in my congratulatory call to Representative B...
Dear Editor, Enough with the misinformation: Whitehall's haunted house builds skills, not "satanism." Let's set the record straight about Whitehall's haunted house. We've heard the accusations, and they're as wild as they are unfounded. Words like "satanism" and "corrupting our kids" are being thrown around, but these claims couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, the haunted house is about giving young people a safe, constructive outlet to learn new skills and have a little Halloween...
What if all the ancient Greek sculptures are the victims of Medusa? Sleeping in is considered lazy, but going to bed early is considered smart. The object of golf is to play the least amount of golf. Brushing your teeth is the only time you clean your skeleton. If people don’t recognize Clark Kent as Superman in his classes, does his eye doctor know his true identity? Have you ever noticed how Supervillains always try to change things and Superheroes are the ones trying to prevent change? The only thing that makes speed bumps work is your d...
Georgia, I have a question, Last Sunday, I saw something at church that really unsettled me. A woman, probably in her 40s, walked in covered in tattoos and numerous piercings. She looked homeless, her clothes were fairly ratty, and she didn’t smell the best. For me, the church has always been a place to put your best foot forward, a place of modesty and reverence, and I couldn’t help but feel like she could have tried harder when visiting such a sacred space. After the service, I decided to approach her. I tried to be polite, but I told her...
In last week’s Connecting Point column, I raised a valid question about what authority and power Christians have today. My challenge to you as readers is to properly interpret and apply the Bible and cautiously refrain from “reading” ourselves into the text too literally. Here’s what we read in Luke 9:1-6: “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Think about resting and being a bit reflective, Aries. Focusing on your inner world can help you recharge your energy levels, and solitude may also provide some clarity. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Personal growth and self-improvement may be on your mind right now, Taurus. Set some new goals that align with your values. You may want to take a class to learn new skills as well. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, focus on long-term financial goals in the days to come. If you don’t have a meaningful investment plan, you could sit w...
Sayings like “the understatement of the year” are often overstatements. Biologically, evolution automatically creates the illusion of intelligent design. Maturity is knowing when to be immature. Most dogs understand more human words than humans understand dog words. Coming up with a new, unique, random idea is impossible because you can only combine preexisting ideas with observations/memories of the things that happen around you. Anything you think of out of “thin air” can be linked to these things. For some premodern folk, public executi...
Georgia, I have a question, Last year I (16F) went prom dress shopping with my grandma (54F) and my mom (35F). I found a lovely dress, and they each paid for half. I was cleaning my room a few weeks ago when my grandma stopped by and mentioned how she would “love to try it on and borrow it for a weekend.” I laughed her comment off and again hung the dress in the back of my closet. Yesterday she asked if she could borrow the dress for a formal party this weekend. I said NO. She then went on a rant about how she paid for half of it and it...
I’m a staunch proponent of proper Biblical interpretation and application; holding such a position establishes a strong foundation for theology and life practice. Since Christ created the church with the first-century apostles and disciples, confusion or chaos wove into Christian circles as false teachers; this is why sound teaching is vital. Most importantly, we should understand that not every teaching available is from God, false teachers still exist (John 4:1-3). One area of debate over the past two decades has been what authority and power...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, this week, you may find yourself with some extra energy and enthusiasm for new projects. Figure out what you want to accomplish and develop a plan. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you may have a strong desire for stability and security. Now is an excellent time to focus on financial matters and investigate potentially valuable investment opportunities. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Communication will be key for you this month, Gemini. Whether you aim to strengthen or start new relationships, be transparent and honest in your inte...
Kids get disappointed on Halloween if they don’t get a good haul, and some adults get disappointed on Halloween because no kids visit them. Someone, somewhere, has gotten their first menstrual cycle on Halloween. It was probably traumatizing. Cocaine and Gillette razor blades cost too much to end up in some random kid’s Halloween candy. Hardly anyone gets a trick on Halloween. Everyone just gives a treat. October 1st feels more like Halloween than November 1st. No company loves an abandoned strip mall building more than Spirit Halloween. It's r...
Dear Editor, After reading the scathing letter regarding Senator Tester in last week's Whitehall Ledger, it is time for the other side of the coin. Tester is bipartisan, voting twenty times for Trump bills, and yes, he did vote in favor of the Keystone. To say different is false. Certain bills that are voted NO on are not always stand-alone issues. On the plus side, Mr. Tester voted for Mcool, and his opponent is on record saying it is OK for packers to mix foreign beef with domestic. Tester...
Dear Editor, We all have at least one thing in common: we all began life as infants in the womb. Despite our common beginnings, a widespread disregard for vulnerable human lives at this early developmental stage is wreaking havoc here in Montana, where I grew up and have practiced as an OB/GYN for more than 20 years. A far-reaching amendment on the ballot in November, CI-128, would allow unlimited induced abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. CI-128’s utter disregard for innocent h...
Dear Editor and Fellow Voters, Like many of you, my absentee ballot recently arrived in the mail. There are a lot of important choices to make this election season, but the one that will affect the children in our community the most is the choice we make for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This person will lead our public schools for the next four years. She will act as a go-between for our schools and the federal government. She will advocate for our rural way of life and the...
This Op-Ed is in response to Jim Buterbaugh’s last two Op-Ed submissions to the Whitehall Ledger in the last several weeks. First, Jim was correct in stating that we civilly discuss political topics and usually agree to disagree. Although once in a blue moon, we agree on an issue or two. I thank Jim for the past invigorating and civil discourse. Ok, enough with the pleasantries, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. In last week’s Ledger, Jim stated that Senator Tester voted against auditing the Federal Reserve Banks, but he did not cite the law...
Georgia, I have a question, My best friend is getting married. We’ve been lifelong friends and have dreamt of this day most of our lives. I am so very happy for her. She asked me to be her maid of honor; however, I cannot be at her wedding due to an overseas deployment with the military, which I leave for in about a month. She understood and asked another close friend. Last weekend, we went dress shopping with her mom and the maid of honor. The bride found a dress she absolutely loves—it is beyond gorgeous. However, it is also EXTREMELY out...
When was the last time you were interrupted in a conversation or action you were carrying out? Most of us don’t like interruptions. I marvel at the example of Jesus, He ministered to people with ghreat compassion but did so in wisdom and truth. He certainly wasn’t a pushover when the Pharisees and Sadducees tried to pin Him down with their legalism. He stood strong when the opposition pressed and had this incredible ability to connect with hurting people. In the greatest sense, Jesus was a multitasker, after all the Bible refers to Him as the...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Your energy levels are soaring this week, Aries. Channel this vitality into a new project or personal goal. Be cautious of being too impulsive, and think things through before acting. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Embrace flexibility in your personal life, Taurus. Being open to change will lead to unexpected opportunities and strengthen your relationships. There are a few surprises ahead. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Communication is key for you this week, Gemini. You may find that your words carry extra weight and influence. Use this...
Hi there, everyone! This is Bill Brown, a good ole Butte boy who was fortunate enough to meet and be married to a Cardwell Cougar girl, Barbara Hedges, for the past 60 years. I couldn’t have married into a nicer family with Howard and Judy Hedges, Delores, and little Mike. Having been a teacher at Butte High School for thirty years, my daughter Kim McLean at Willow Creek and Whitehall for 34 years, my grand=daughter Megan 11 years at Whitehall, and my youngest grand-daughter 3 years at Helena High, we have a total of 78 years of teaching e...
Dear Editor, About the recent hub-bub about CI-128, I honestly do not care one whit if it passes or not! I know some readers are up in arms concerning certain parts of the text, particularly parental consent. Having just read the entirety of the text, I can't help but think that this, as well as other objectionable language, seems to have been inferred. However, I do not wish to get into a political discussion or argument here but to explain my stance on abortion. The why and when, in my view,...
