Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 1412 - 1436 of 1558
I'll be the first to admit that I really don't care much for Halloween. I rarely dress up, and the only reason I have the past couple of years is to take Shayla trick or treating. A person dressing up elaborately does not bother me; it is just not my cup of tea. Everyone at the house thinks I'm the Halloween "Grinch", but I'm not going to pretend to like something that I don't. While I'm sure that people had a lot of fun this year and really enjoyed seeing the various costumes for those both you...
With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about those who are less fortunate during the holiday season in the Whitehall area. A profound help to those in need would be donating money through a Town Pump statewide food drive, or via a direct donation of food or money to the Whitehall Food Pantry. Town Pump is hoping to raise $3 million throughout the state and will match up to $3,500 on behalf of the Whitehall Food Pantry. This is a tremendous campaign that really does make a difference not only d...
Despite the fact the volume is turned down as low as it can go, when the phone rings at the office it sounds like the town siren is going off about five feet from me. I should really invest in a new phone because it honestly does startle me and I cringe whenever anyone calls. I know getting phone calls is part of the job, but there have been plenty of times I wanted to throw it against the wall because of how violently loud it is. It is even worse when Melissa or myself picks up the phone and someone who can barely speak English says, “Can I pl...
In my three seasons covering the Whitehall/Harrison High School football team there have been plenty of wins by the Trojans, perhaps none bigger than a heart stopping 19-14 win Friday night over Manhattan. In a game with the conference title on the line, Whitehall stood its ground against a tremendous opponent and made big plays when they needed them to finish the regular season 9-0. While the team has a lot more work to do to achieve their goals, it's important to look back on just how special...
As is the case with many small community newspapers, my job involves a lot of time at the local schools for activities and sports. While I have been out of school quite some time, every time I visit I always admire just how hard students, staff, administrators and coaches’ work for the students. They are not paid near enough for what they do, but day in and day out they make a real difference. I from time to time will be at the school and something will remind me of a teacher in my life that made me a better person. To put it bluntly, I was a...
It doesn’t matter if you drive, walk, arrive via horseback or hang glider – just make sure to be at Trojans Field Friday night for one of the biggest regular season games in Whitehall/Harrison High School football history. The Trojans will not only be looking to cap off an amazing regular season undefeated, they will also be looking to secure home field advantage at least through the semifinals of Class B Playoffs. The Whitehall/Harrison team will face no easy task when they take on the 6-1 Manhattan Tigers, a team they have not beaten sin... Full story
Everyone who has ever been on a road trip is surely to have stopped at one of numerous and often times convenient state operated rest areas. They are a great way to stretch your legs, use the bathroom, sleep for a few hours, or let the family pet take care of some business. I travel every once in awhile for a Trojans football game, but also make a few personal trips here and there and always find myself at a rest area. I’d like to say that all of them are similar, but that is not really the case. A recent quick trip through Utah showed me j... Full story
Early in 2018, the Ledger will be publishing the annual Whitehall Area Phone Book. The staff at the paper has currently started work on the edition and is using this editorial to remind residents and businesses about the publication. While a phone book has become a thing of the past for many in larger communities, it remains a viable and well used in the Whitehall area. There are several people who come into the Ledger office each week looking for a book, and the 2017 edition was so popular that we have run out of them. The 2018 book will be...
A few weeks ago, I was able to reconnect with one of my best friends from high school. It had been years since I had talked to him and it was a great feeling to chat with him and relive some crazy stories from the past, some I had forgotten, and probably for a good reason. One of the stories he reminded me of was when we were taking a CPR class and the teacher had left the room. I thought it was a good idea to jump off my desk like a pro wrestler onto the mannequin. I landed with enough force... Full story
While no one should ever say “I know it’s real because I saw it on the internet,” everyone should be able to say, “I know it’s real. I read it in the newspaper.” Real newspapers reporting real news have never been more important or more valuable to readers and communities. This week, newspapers across the nation recognize National Newspaper Week and the theme — Real Newspapers…Real News — points to the importance of accurate reporting, watchdog journalism, strong editorials, comprehensive public notices and a free, open public forum that... Full story
It was business as usual last Wednesday at the Whitehall Ledger office. While Melissa is making the weekly jaunt to Anaconda to pickup the paper, I stay put and get the website updated, as well as a variety of other tasks to get ready for the next edition. Sure there is probably a lot of surfing true crime web sites, but I do use the day as an opportunity to get ahead for the next week. When Melissa had returned around noon I had started to get hungry so I made the short trip to KFC for lunch. When I was walking back into the office I felt some... Full story
Whitehall High School is only one week away from one of the most exciting times of the school year. The annual Homecoming Week festivities will take place from October 2 to 6. It will be a fun week for both students and local residents with a parade, a wide variety of school activities, a volleyball match, and a rivalry football game against Jefferson. The week is also a chance for local businesses to show their Trojan Pride with a decorating contest being organized by the Whitehall High School... Full story
One great thing about my job is that I can do it from just about anywhere if need be. While I often times will bring my computer home on the weekend, I've worked at home a few times during the week as well as a couple times while I was visiting family in Wyoming. Last week, my poor IPhone finally stopped taking a charge and I had to order a new one. I had to sign for it, so I planned it out to stay home on Thursday so I could be there when UPS came to the door. It was one of those things where t... Full story
After two away games to start the 2017 season, the Whitehall/Harrison High School football team was able to open their home season earlier this month against Red Lodge. While the game had the importance of the home fans getting their first chance to see the Trojans play in Whitehall, it also was of extreme significance because it was the first game at Trojans Field with the new bleachers. The previous bleachers had been at the field for around 60 years, so this was an amazing day for the... Full story
While I was attending the University of Wyoming, I was waiting tables to help pay for school and expenses, and it was getting really old. While it certainly not the worst job I’ve had, my nerves were getting fried by people who were downright mean, would come in three minutes before closing, or would try to do everything they could to get a free meal. I get that a steak can be cooked wrong, but when you eat three-quarters of it before telling me it was medium instead of medium rare, than you are probably up to something. I was looking through t...
The past few months have been devastating for Montana as wildfires have burned throughout the state. There was over a 2,700-acre fire locally, and over a million acres have burned in Montana. People are losing their homes, firefighters have lost their lives, and there are a variety of health related issues for both residents and animals. Simply put, it is a horrible situation. There are always going to be wildfires started by lighting, but at the same time it does not have to be as bad as it is in 2017. It’s time for our lawmakers to stand u... Full story
I’ve always had a fascination with movies and books about a post-apocalyptic world or dystopian society. While they would often times make me feel uncomfortable, it was almost like rubber necking at an accident – you want to turn away, but often times you don’t. This summer I have had two instances that have made me feel like the world has been ending, and I think I’m not alone when I say that I can’t wait for the cooler temperatures of fall and winter to arrive. In July I woke up to my bed shaking and my cat flying. I had no idea what was... Full story
Every weekday while I’m at the office, my desk will shake because a semi truck is going too fast down Legion Avenue. I certainly understand the importance of transportation by truck, and that the main street of town is on a highway, but that doesn’t mean they cannot abide by the same rules as everyone else. I welcome anyone who thinks that I might be exaggerating to come sit and my desk for about 15 minutes and try to type or read the screen while my entire desk shakes. There is no reason to be going that fast through a town, especially a loc... Full story
I think it would be pretty safe to say I had a memorable Labor Day weekend. I’m usually not one to travel over a holiday weekend, but when I saw that Guns and Roses was playing last Sunday at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to go. I was planning on possibly leaving Saturday morning and making about a six-hour drive to meet some of my friends from Seattle at Blue Lake. I was going to attend the Whitehall football game on Friday and come back and write the story as well as getting a few more t... Full story
A few weeks ago, I wrote an editorial about commending the Whitehall Chamber for their decision to select the local volunteer fire department as the Grand Marshal of the 2017 Frontier Days parade. This noble gesture said so much about the community and how residents feel about those who risk their lives for the betterment of society. They should also receive a huge thank you for working their tails off on the Conrow Fire. There was also an amazing gesture made by local residents last week when a “Back the Blue” event took place in downtown Whi... Full story
When I was growing up I used to relish Friday evening. My family would make our way to Warehouse Video and rent several movies for the weekend. I can still remember the smell of fresh popcorn they would always give to each customer, and the owner Matt who always had on an impeccable vest and smelled of the bar across the street. I could spend hours trying to find the right movie. I would from time to time go the local Blockbuster or Hastings, but there was something special about that little store and how they would always reserve a movie for... Full story
“There is nowhere better to be on a Friday night than a high school football game.” – Mark Correll Late last year, the Whitehall High School football team was on a tear as they made their way to the Montana Class B Semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Eureka. There were plenty of wins and celebration, but this was much more than just a game. It was a community coming together to support a group of kids who gave everything they had every snap of every game. Everyone in Whitehall was abuzz as the Trojans started the season winni...
This week’s issue of the Whitehall Ledger has a front-page article about the upcoming Shakespeare in the Parks performance. The event will take place August 28 in Whitehall, and is a tremendous opportunity for residents of all ages to get out and experience a wonderful performance in a beautiful setting. The value of having events like this in Whitehall is immeasurable. The arts are vital to any community and having a chance to see this quality of a production in Whitehall is a big deal. While the 2017 performance of “You Never Can Tell” by Ge...
Earlier this month I was able to make a quick trip to my hometown. I closed the office on a Friday and headed out of town around 8 a.m. While an 800 mile round trip is certainly not fun, it’s important from time to time to take a quick break and get the chance to see family and friends. Because my new kitten really couldn’t be left alone for three days we took her along, and to be fair also brought along Peaches. Little Jerusha found riding in a car a very enjoyable experience. She was happy as can be and also took the time to pester Peaches ju...
There is something special about a small town county fair. It just so happens that local residents will have the chance to attend two in the month of August. The Madison County Fair starts today, and the Jefferson County Fair will run from August 24 to 27 in Boulder. These both present great opportunities for some quality family fun. People often make the excuse there is nothing to do in a small town, but that is not true. The two events have a variety of things to that should be able to please even the pickiest person. A story on the front...
