Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 1226 - 1250 of 1558
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...
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...
I have lived in small towns most of my life – with my longest tenancy of over 20 years being in Whitehall. As I’ve said, I was a military brat who moved A LOT and we were always lucky to find small towns to live in, suburbs or subdivisions, that were just outside the “bigger” cities where my dad was stationed. I remember growing up knowing a few neighbors here and there, but we were never somewhere long enough to know the whole neighborhood, let alone the whole town. That is, until we moved to Whitehall, which is one of the things I love mo...
Dear Jo, So, have you ever looked up into the night sky at the stars and heavens and wondered if “we’re alone”? I’m here to tell you- WE ARE NOT! I’ve met someone and she or maybe he is just the person or thing for me. Do you think we can make it work? Signed, VERY Long Distance Relationship Dear Long Distance, I am assuming you are referring to the aliens, little green people, purple people eaters? Most people have trouble with relationships that span a few hundred miles, let alone a few hundred light years. My advice would be to keep your...
We all joke about what we need or want in life. Gosh, I’d love to win a million dollars! Dang, I wish I could see The Beatles play live just one time! Man, I wish I had paid attention more in school when I was young! Me? I NEED more time in a day. I WANT more time in a day. That’s all. If anyone can figure out how to do that for me, I’ll pay you a VERY pretty penny. Since taking over the newspaper January 1st, I have also been working my previous fulltime job. Before the paper I worked as a Project Manager for a very busy HVAC manuf...
Dear Editor, Do you hunt with out of state family and friends? Do you hunt private lands without an outfitter or guide? Have you been applying for a Missouri River Breaks or Elkhorns bull tag for every single year? If so, you better pay attention. SB 143, sponsored by Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, would turn the vast majority of non-resident big game licenses offered in Montana to “outfitter sponsored” tags favoring hunters with money who use outfitters. It would also create landowner licenses, and require that one quarter of special per...
With this being my “official” second paper, I’ve got to admit – not much has changed from when I worked here over a decade ago with Greg Corr. Greg and I shared the majority of the work, both of us writing and designing ads as needed, so that part isn’t different from my previous stint. However, what’s hit me the hardest this week is something I never thought of, something I wasn’t prepared for, and something I doubt I ever will be prepared for. And frankly, something I will never be able to keep a poker face on. Receiving and reading, then edi...
Without trying to sound too much like Lord Eddard Stark on "Game of Thrones", winter is coming in southwest Montana and its pending arrival has already brought the return of nasty roads to the Treasure State. Last weekend morning served as a preview of what is to come as many parts of Interstate 90 and local highways turned into in icy and snowy mess, especially over bridges. And it is still October. This is always the time of year that it is important to remember slow down and drive cautiously...
During her monthly report at the October 13 Whitehall Town Council meeting, Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh urged local voters to approve a mill levy that would generate funding for the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department and for the contract with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. She also reminded local residents the Town of Whitehall has not asked for a general mill levy increase since the 1970s. For those who have yet to mail or drop off their ballots for the November 3 election, t...
If you happened to read the Albuquerque Journal recently you would have learned about a family who used their (galloping) goats to gobble up weeds and earn some extra money while keeping the city's weeds and grass trimmed. In the Orlando Sentinel, you would have discovered that a man was attacked and bitten by an alligator while hunting near one of the local lakes. Neither of these stories are life-and-death issues, unless you happen to be the hunter, but they provide interesting glimpses into...
Since the middle of March, there have been numerous activities cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19. The start of the high school sports season has also seen very restricted attendance guidelines in Jefferson County. While it is very unfortunate many family members and students will not be able to cheer on the Trojans, this Saturday and Sunday will give local residents the opportunity to cheer on a very talented group of athletes at the 2020 Whitehall High School and Junior High Rodeo. The annual event is moving forward with open attendance,...
I often find myself writing about technology and how I am kind of in this never-ending loop of it driving me crazy while at the same time being an absolute necessity in my life. A perfect example of this would be last Tuesday evening when I had to use my phone to record a county commission meeting. It’s a very convenient thing to be able to not have to attend everything in person and it is even better to be able to fast forward when somebody will not stop rambling – saying the same things about the same issue. As happy as I was to be able to...
Over the past few weeks, I've heard numerous reports of campaign signs and flags being vandalized and unfortunately, this is something that seems to happen all the time. In the paper a few weeks ago, there was a story about a local resident who helped to replace a sign that had been vandalized and while this was a feel-good story, she really shouldn't have ever been placed in that situation. Now perhaps more than ever before, politics has divided the residents of the United States and the...
It's cool this morning. There is a different feel to the air. The days are slowly getting shorter, my bird dogs are getting restless and I am listening for that first bugle of a bull elk down in the river bottom. It's that time when I, and all hunters, anxiously prepare for the glorious days we spend pursuing our quarry in the forests and uplands of our Montana. But this year things are different, and as we take to the field we must acknowledge that difference and change our behavior for the...
I'm writing this on a Wednesday and just moments ago I spent a few minutes glancing at the Internet and found out it was National Hot Dog day. I know in this day and age there seems to be a "national" day for just about anything, but in my mind, the hot dog is very well deserving of having its own day. If I had read the article just a few minutes earlier, I might have walked down to the convenience store and picked up a couple of hot dogs and loaded them up with toppings. The only problem with...
A few weeks ago, a letter to the editor in the Whitehall Ledger written by Chris Wagner discussed frustration with the condition of the Cardwell Sanitation Site. Wagner discussed his frustrations with the appearance of the site for both residents and those visiting the county as well as sharing pictures of what was being left at the site that is located near a fishing access site in Madison County. Wagner has every reason to be upset. First and foremost, I will have to say that the site is very...
As we celebrated our 244th Independence Day on July 4th, 2020 it is has become apparent for us to reflect on our nation builders who brought us to this amazing republic in 1776. A great part of our success in establishing this republic can be attributed to the 'rule of law' and our country's willingness to enforce that rule of law by supporting our law enforcement. In the second decade of our new millennium we once again remember our resolve. The Preamble of the Constitution of the American...
By Sheila M. Stearns Presiding Officer, Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission As the country celebrates its birth as a nation, one of the most patriotic things Montanans can do is stand up and be counted--in the 2020 Census. Or, more accurately, go online and be counted. Or mail in the census form. Or chat with a census worker. Every 10 years, the country counts how many people live in the United States of America. The stakes are large. Results of the census determine how much money M...
At last week's Town Council meeting, the governing body voted to open the Whitehall Community Pool early next month. The decision came after it was decided in May the pool would not open because of issues related to COVID-19. The decision was very well-received by many in the community who felt strongly about the issue. It was some really positive news -- people wanted to have a place for kids to go after being stuck at home for the past several months. Many also wanted a place for adults to go...
Hi Folks, The COVID 19 crisis can make everything else, including the Census, seem less important. But completing your Census form only takes 10 minutes and will benefit and influence our community for the next ten years. Census counts are used to determine how federal funding is distributed. Montana receives almost $2,000.00 every year for each Montanan counted in the Census for things like highway projects, health care, education, housing, and more. But for every person not counted, our...
This evening the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce will honor Whitehall Eighth Graders with a special event scheduled for Legion Park. This event is just one of the many recent hosted by the chamber in an effort to not only honor local students but to also help local small businesses. A very dedicated board of directors is making a difference during a time when they are needed the most and they are doing a fantastic job. With the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, events like "Rally...
There was some great economic news last week with the Golden Sunlight Mine announcing they have secured a customer for their Tailings Reprocessing Project. Mine officials have been working meticulously with the project and this is a very positive sign. Not only will this allow the mine to reduce their overall environmental liability, but this will also add additional jobs at the site near Whitehall, as well as tax revenue. By securing Nevada Gold Mine's (NGM) as a customer, it is a win-win for b...
For about five straight days I don’t think I slept more than a few minutes. Just about every type of trouble I could get myself into I did, and it felt so good doing it 2,000 miles away from home. There were rules, but I was like a 1970’s punk rocker in London and I didn’t care. Despite all of this, I also learned a lot about the history of the United States. I was scrolling through social media the other day, which I complain about all the time, but spend half my time on anyway. I came across someone talking about how their kid would not b...
I have witnessed a lot of aggressive debate over the past several weeks about how the government has been handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Some feel they are doing the right thing by keeping people at a distance and slowing it down, while others feel their rights have been stepped upon. That is certainly a debate I will never get into because nobody wins, people just seem to get mad. I also see non-stop bickering between political parties and that is also a can of worms I just cannot open....
