Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 1112 - 1136 of 1552
Dear Editor, THANKS to Elizabeth Pullman for an excellent, balanced article on Steve Wagner and Jim Buterbaugh’s project. John Leyzorek Marlinton, West Virginia...
Dear Jo, I am a procrastinator, really. I put off anything I can until the last moment. I pick up the mail, put the bills under my fruit bowl and carry on. I see my prescription bottles emptying, know I should call, and still put off filling it until the last day. There are many more examples. Yes, it stresses me out. Yes, I know lots of things would be easier if I did not procrastinate. At this point, I am unsure how to change what has become a habit I have had most of my adult life. Any advice? Signed, Procrastination Specialist Dear...
This weekend we like to celebrate fatherhood. It’s time to crank up the BBQ, get out into nature, and spend some leisure time together. The history of Father’s Day is directly tied to a West Virginia church which commemorated the death of 362 men who tragically died in a coal mine accident, the first annual holiday was on July 5, 1908. The following year a widow, Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington, rallied support from local churches, YMCA and other businesses to memorialize fathers. Presidents Wilson and Coolidge followed suit and urg...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 You may be confused about a love interest’s seeming lack of communication this week, Aries. What may seem like silence to you could be patience to him or her. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 It may be challenging to see the progress you are making when it comes in small quantities, Taurus. Rest assured you are getting things done and moving along. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, others have a lot of interest in you, and that can lift your spirits especially if you are looking for a new job. Being in demand also can lead to new f...
ACROPHONOLOGY: Acrophonology is the study of sound in space by using the alphabet and its vibrations. Acrophonologists can use your name to describe your talents and your birth date to tell you why you are here and what you are expected to accomplish. A local Whitehall resident is offering her services in acrophonology! She has over sixty years of experience in acrophonology! Want a free reading? Contact the Whitehall Ledger at 406-287-5301 or whledger@gmail.com with your full name, date of birth, and contact information. The Ledger will relay...
I am always amazed when people tell me what they are passionate about. Whether it's music, skateboarding, video games or books, their passion for the topic shines through. The light in their eyes sparkle and their smiles are genuine. But when someone tells me about a passion project that helps someone else in some small way - which could be a monumental way to those they are helping - that's truly amazing. Rhonda Brant Hampton, a local resident, stopped into my office to let me know about the...
Dear Jo, I am a people pleaser, have been all my life. It literally pains me to have people not approve of what I am doing and how I am doing it. I know it is not healthy either physically nor mentally to be this way. How do I gather the confidence to make decisions and go about my life without seeking the approval of others? Signed, Exhausted People Pleaser Dear People Pleaser, Ahhhhh, I have suffered from that one during my life also. I think everyone would like to be accepted and approved of, it is just more pleasant and easier. BUT, you...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 This week’s agenda is a clean slate, Aries, and that gives you plenty of time to rest and recharge. Spend a few moments each day to think only about yourself. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 The nature of a relationship with a close partner may get a bit confusing this week, Taurus. Do not react quickly to a situation without processing your thoughts first. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, focusing on spiritual things this week can help you get your priorities in order. It also may help you to slow down and smell the roses for a change. C...
Dear Editor, Regarding Terry Minow Big Sky 55’s article on big pharmacy: Corporations do not pay taxes no matter their tax rate. If Zoom, which no one had heard of pre-pandemic had it’s profits grow 600%, they would in theory be taxed at a higher rate. No matter the rate paid, the cost are passed on to paying subscribers. t doesn’t matter if it’s a utility, pharmaceutical provider or a food distributor. If you set your prices to the customer you include your tax costs. If we were to tax drug suppliers at a higher rate we would each see it in t...
Dear Jo, What is it that makes people think going ANYWHERE outside their homes in their pajamas is a good idea? Is it such a hardship to simply put on a pair of pants and a shirt to leave your home? Also, now that the weather is warm, people are going out in skimpy clothing, which is not usually something that bothers me. But, when I (along with everyone else) can see more of them than we need to (ie...hiney parts, chest parts, ect.) it seems like people might want to take more pride in how they appear. Am I old, a prude, or justified in my...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 You feel most comfortable when things are organized, Aries. However, flexibility is handy as well, and sometimes things may not be in order as much as you like. Adapting is key. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, once you get into a groove, you will find that many of your tasks are much easier to manage. Keep plugging and you’ll hit your stride soon enough. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, sometimes it may seem like the smallest issue is suddenly a major mountain that you must scale. Change your approach and you’ll soon realize you...
I rarely get upset about politics to the point that I am vocal about them. I usually just don’t see the point because my little voice has most likely already been echoed by many others on the same topic. But last Thursday at the ARPA meeting in Boulder I became upset with what I am simply calling a lack of transparency. And the more that I think about it, there is a lack of transparency in nearly every aspect of our every day lives. We should make ourselves aware of that and how we can change for the better. When the Chamber of Commerce was inf...
Dear Editor, It’s no big secret; I, along with quite a few others in this part of the country, to say nothing of a growing number around this ‘great’ nation, make a living, to put it rather crudely, ‘sucking off the government tit’. Quite a vivid picture, maybe, but the meaning is clear. ‘Yes, there are those who, probably undeservedly ( more or less ), ‘milk’ the system, while others, arguably, like myself, do ‘deserve’ it.’ The question might well be asked, though, ‘Is it REALLY a matter of who deserves it or not?!’ One objection you may hav...
Dear Editor, Some more insight from the Horseman. Last week I received a letter from Montana Department of Revenue billing me for my livestock per capita fee on my horses, due May 31, 2021. They did not seem to have record that I paid it in February, so I gave them the check number. I had no idea what they were going to do next. Then, this Saturday, I get a letter from the Department of Revenue, Marla Wolstein Auditor of Business and Income Tax Division. The letterhead top right corner was Greg Gianforte and his director, Brendan Beatty. They...
Dear Jo, How can you tell if someone is really sorry? I feel like people say “I’m sorry” because they believe it will make me feel better or ease a tense situation, not because they genuinely are sorry. Signed, Sick of sorry Dear Sick, You are right! I feel the only way to tell if people are really sorry is to see if their behavior changes. If the sorry is followed by the same attitude or behavior, you know it was not truly meant. Signed, Jo ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Jo, I am a nurse and I am pregnant. The other day a patient actually asked me if wa...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, love and romance are definitely in your favor this week. If you have been pondering setting up a date or taking a spouse out for a night on the town, do it. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Even the best partnerships can be challenging, Taurus. Right now neither one of you is looking to take the lead. Even if it means flipping a coin, someone has to step up. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, grab what you want this week, but remember that the more tightly you try to hang on to it, the more likely it will slip through your fingers....
If you’re strapped for time, we’re going to let the cat out of the bag right away with the theme of this email: Scrap multi-tasking. Focus on doing one thing at a time. Focus on in-the-moment unitasking. Unitasking is a practice of immersing yourself fully in the execution of the present moment. It’s an ability to be more fully aware of questions like: What exactly is happening in this moment? What do I want to get out of this moment? What do I need in this moment? Unitasking involves training—or practicing—the skill of attention, and doing one...
I’ve lived in Whitehall for 22 years now - which means I have seen nearly all of the graduating class of 2021 grow up in one way or another. And man, does that make me feel old. In 2008 when I worked for the Whitehall Ledger, I interviewed the kindergarteners about Santa and Christmas. Those kindergarteners are now the graduating class of 2021. Here were some of my favorites from those interviews: Mason Alexander: Q: What’s so special about Rudolph? A: I don’t know...oh, its special cuz his nose is red! Jamus DuBois: Q: What do you want for Chr...
Dear Editor, The most recent furor from the East has many of us scratching our heads . . . I mean, filling trash bags with gasoline, if you can believe it! What could possibly motivate someone to do something like that?! I mean, how much sense does it take to know that’s anything but safe?! Even filling plastic totes with the flammable liquid is well past the limits of common sense. So there’s a gas shortage, I get that, but why do some people have to horde it, knowing that means there may be none for somebody else? Do they just not think about...
Dear Editor, Jefferson County expects to get $2.4 million as part of the Covid-19 federal government spending program. Our County Commission is developing a plan on how to spend these monies. Their efforts, to date, appear to require some serious, thoughtful input. It appears the folks planning how to spend (or is it invest?) this windfall have overlooked where this money is really coming from. It is being stolen from our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. How anyone can justify spending this stolen money to improve our current standard of...
Dear Editor, Another one from the Horseman: I sure would like to know who the person or person are who are trying to convince our Governor to suspend the stimulus program on June 27th. This whole thing is a scheme to force people to work for cheap labor. With the shortages of everything you can imagine, workers are scrambling for good paying jobs so they can afford the high prices they have to pay. The $484.00 pandemic check, if you add 32% for benefits and taxes, comes to $638.8 a week or $15.97 ah hour minimum wage. I think being a leader in...
Dear Jo, I recently became a grandmother for the first time. My daughter-in-law does not believe in circumcision. I have known many men who have suffered later in life because they were not circumcised. Can I step in and let them know how strongly I feel about my grandson’s future health?! Signed, Concerned Grammy Dear Grammy, To circumcise or not to circumcise is, well... not your decision. It is the decision of your beautiful grandson’s parents. It may be time to take a step back and let the scalpel fall, or not fall, where it may. Sig...
Does a day go by without news that America is a racist country? Isn’t it one of the most divisive matters of modern America? Media outlets are complicit, and they fan the flames, while at the same time chiming in “Racism has to stop.” The Democrat Senators canceled South Carolina’s Tim Scott’s bill that addressed police reform. Most objective observers concluded that their reason for doing so was to prohibit Republicans and Donald Trump success before the election. To the large issue of racism, I would like to point out an actual solution...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, altruism is a noble trait, but remember to also devote some time to your own interests. There is a way to find a balance between all of your actions. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Travel plans may be on your mind, Taurus. Weigh all of the pros and cons of traveling before purchasing your plane ticket or booking that hotel. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, when opportunities spring up sometime this week, you may need to grab that golden ring quickly or it is bound to pass you by in a flash. Then regrets may sink in. CANCER Jun 22/J...
Fairness is not a partisan issue. Fairness is the goal of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act currently being considered in the United States Congress. The bill has bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. H.R. 1735 / S.673 is critically important to protecting the future of high-quality, local journalism in Montana and across our nation. Support is growing for the legislation, yet much more needs to be done before it can become law. This bill would make negotiations for fair compensation possible...
