Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 1301 - 1325 of 1558
When Oliver Lucas created the first vehicle horn in the 1910 it was a much-needed invention that is still as relevant today. It has also become a major pain in the back side. Rather than just use it for what is intended, the horn has become as source of communication for people and it is beyond annoying. People really need to tone it down with honking. The other day we were driving home in a 35 mile per hour zone by a school. Despite the fact we were going nearly 10 miles under the speed limit s...
Over the past weeks kids from across the area were able to wrap up the school year with their annual spring field trips. I was able to read online about what seemed to be some pretty amazing trips and the kids really seemed to be happy about where they were going. It's really great local schools plan these trips for the kids. After a long year in the classroom it is always nice for them to get out and have a little fun. Looking back on my time in school I certainly had quite a few end of the...
When I was in seventh grade it was a very normal routine to go to the high school for every home football game. I'm sure there was some cheering going on for the Tigers, but it really was more about socializing. The first year of junior high was a very awkward time and I remember trying so hard to fit in and the social aspects of the Friday Night Lights were certainly important. I really don't remember any of the actual football games, but I do remember an event that has stuck in my mind since....
About three minutes ago I was abruptly woken up by a semi driving way too fast in a 25 mile per hour zone. I'm writing this on May 15 which just so happens to be my birthday so I decided I would take a quick post lunch nap. Wednesday mornings are a little hectic and when I finished updating two websites and completing the calendars for the newspapers, I decided to reward myself. While I certainly wasn't happy with the way the nap ended, I was however pleased it happened because it cut it to...
In the last few issues of the Whitehall Ledger, Jefferson County Commissioner has done an exemplary job discussing economic development and ongoing projects in his "State of the County" articles. I'm very thankful to Commissioner Wortman for taking time to give Ledger readers a thorough look at various issues. In the articles he has mentioned several economic development opportunities and also addressed the issue during a meeting in Whitehall in late April. Wortman was on hand for discussion...
Throughout the years I've moved around quite a bit and had a lot of different neighbors. Some of them have become friends, some of them barely said a word, there were plenty that were mean, and have made for some very interesting stories. The one thing they all had in common from the oddities of my college next door neighbor Bodan to the way Larry Hall used to mow his lawn about 15 times a week is the fact they were very much human. This isn't quite the case anymore. Right off of my backyard...
As I type this article, I'm still in the process of moving which as I have said before in my weekly column is one thing, I do not enjoy doing at all. Later this afternoon will be the absolute worst part because it is time to move all the big stuff like couches and beds, but I'm trying my hardest to stay positive and realize that it will soon be done. One of the things I like best about the new house is that the kitchen is about twice the size of the last one and that brings a huge smile to my...
I'm not sure of how old I was, but I remember as a kid spending a great deal of time with my Uncle Howie. It was always a lot of fun until he brought out his records. I've always been a huge fan of music, but as a younger child I was very frightened of his vinyl collection because his KISS records scared the living crap out of me. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but something about those guys dressed up in their make-up made me want to cry and would keep me up late at night hoping they... Full story
With a winter that won't seem to stop, I haven't been this is excited for summer in a really long time. Although I'm moving in a few days, I'm not getting too depressed about everything that goes along with packing up everything and taking it somewhere else and instead am looking forward to sitting in the back yard and enjoying the wonderful weather. I can't wait to fire up the grill and cook outside several days a week. This is probably the first time I've been this excited about the onset of...
The other day I was at the grocery store searching for some chipotle peppers in adobo sauce when I overheard two ladies having a conversation. They had not seen each other in quite some time and were very happy to see each other and exchange pleasantries with a few questions about how things were going. I could tell at a point in time they were very close as they both asked about their spouses, kids, and jobs. At the end of the conversation, they both said they really needed to get ahold of...
The past couple of years I've spent a great deal of time with a beard. Every so often I would let it get a little too long and perhaps look more like a Grizzly Adams than a newspaper guy. It is just really convenient to have a beard. I don't have to worry about shaving in the morning and it means more time in my warm bed. I know there are a lot of morning people out there in the world, but I am not one of them. I literally time my morning routine so I can get in the shower, pet the cats, and...
In late March, Barrick Gold officials announced a final mill run has been scheduled for May at the Golden Sunlight Mine in Whitehall. This was certainly tough news to take for the community. The Golden Sunlight Mine has been such an important part of the local economy. The tax revenue generated by the mine as well as jobs created have been a huge asset to Whitehall and the surrounding area. The mine has also time and time again played a huge role in making the Whitehall area a better place to...
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how karma may have played a part in two wonderful spills I had while walking around town. After another horrifically embarrassing fall inside of a school on my way to a building, I'm beginning to think that it probably has far less to do with karma and more to do with the fact that I am a klutz and it is only getting worse as I get older. My two wonderful escapades on the snow and ice were one thing, but my predicament inside was a whole other level of not being...
I can't remember a time in my life where I was ever so excited for the transition to spring and eventually the high temperatures of summer. This was a brutal winter with a few weeks I thought would never end. Driving was of course a nightmare and even walking at times was a difficult task and I still have bruises from some of my more epic slips of 2019. We did our best to keep up with our driveway and sidewalks but during the week plus of non-stopping snowing we kind of gave up and instead just...
It's time to start thinking about the annual Black Tie Blue Jeans fundraiser scheduled for May 4 at the Whitehall Community Center. The event is the largest annual area fundraiser and is vital to so many non-profit organizations in the Whitehall area. With the event less than two months away, we encourage local businesses and residents to purchase tickets and start to make donations for an event that truly does make a difference in the area. The money raised is first given to local non-profit...
I'm by no means a spiritual guru who spends hours a day cross legged on the floor mediating, but I'm a firm believer in karma. What goes around often does come around. While I certainly have my moments, I try to do the best I can and treat people the way I would like to be treated. It's a simple mantra but it usually works out for the best. Despite my best intentions, I sometimes mess up and usually get a swift kick in the butt from my good friend karma. Last week was a perfect example of this....
I had written a column about bullying for this week but decided at the last moment to not run it. It was perhaps a bit too aggressive and I'm sure it would have ruffled some feathers, so I decided to go with something a little more lighthearted. Some of my favorite times writing are about stories from the past and this is a real gem. This is the story of a cat and a dog. While it certainly has some of those random chaotic moments that seem to happen to me far too often and may show some good in...
When a severe winter storm hit recently, I didn't think it would stick around for nearly a week. I'm over the freezing cold, horrible roads, snow everywhere, crappy drivers and everything else that has to do with winter. For the first time I really understand snow birding and how all the local residents must really be enjoying the warmer temperatures while the rest of us adjust the pillows in our igloos. While I own a 4-wheel drive vehicle, it has a problem with the battery, so we have had to...
When I first started in journalism, I always thought a dream job would be a major movie critic. Several times a week I'd be able to watch movies and then would get the opportunity to write about them. I don't watch nearly as many movies as I used to, I've kind of transitioned to binge watching television shows, but at a time I would spend multiple hours a week watching a wide variety of cinema. I think for a year or two I was going to try and work my way into a position where I could be a movie...
I'm a little bit ashamed of how much time I spend a day on social media. I cannot imagine how productive I would be without it, but it does connect me with friends and family from afar, and is also useful for work, so it does have value. It also drives me crazy when I see the same things over and over and have recently been thinking about the type of posts I see on a day-to-day basis and figured I'd share this information in a column. These are certainly not trying to bash on anyone, in fact I...
In the days after the Super Bowl social media was on fire and it wasn't about the actual game that just so happened to be probably the least exciting championship affair in recent memory. Instead of talk about how the Patriots defense played or how the Rams had trouble getting a first down, it was instead about the Super Bowl Halftime show and Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine. While the ladies at my house may have swooned a bit when he removed his shirt, 99 percent of what I read was negative...
The past few days of below zero temperatures reminded me of growing up in what is known as the "high desert" of Wyoming. It is full of wide-open spaces and plenty of outdoor opportunities and also has some cold temperatures during the winter months. Even more so than the temperatures, I grew up with biting winds that could make even a fair day feel awful. Over the past week I have seen multiple news reports of the crippling cold front that hit the Midwest with the force of a Mike Tyson punch...
A few years ago, my mother Janet retired after working many years at a coal fired power plant in Wyoming. While it was a great job with outstanding benefits, she was very eager to move on with her life. While many people have an elaborate list of things, they want to accomplish during retirement she kept it pretty simple. There would be a little bit of traveling, organizing her 40 year's worth of recipes, spending time with family and her dog Bella Mia and wine. After seeing her make the daily c...
'm a little late to the party for a "New Year's" column, but there are certainly some things I would like to see unfold a little bit different in 2019. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely happy with my life, I would just like to see few minor things changed in 2019. I would love to say that the year will see people start using their phones a little less, but I know that is never going to happen and I'm sure I'll probably once again miss a few huge touchdowns or three pointers because I was taking...
I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes find myself so busy that I will forget to truly enjoy the little things that can make life so enjoyable. Last weekend I learned a valuable lesson from my kitten Jerusha that was a great reminder to always take time to spend a few moments each day finding something small that can bring a smile to my face. It didn't take long after finding Jerusha as an abandoned small kitten in the summer of 2017 for her to become part of the family. At her age she...
