Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Young people’s goals have shifted from having a house by 30 to not having a roommate by 40. People are vastly overestimating their capacity to hit a target with a gun. Everyone in The Simpsons universe has hair that’s a different color than their skin, except the Simpson children. Some person in history has the record of feeling the most pain ever. The using of clockwise and counter-clockwise will eveually die out after people gradually stop using rotating clocks and watches. There’s a good chance that someone you don’t know has told a story a...
Georgia, I have a question, Why don’t people say what they mean? Alright...here we go. I was invited to the birthday party of a colleague I don’t know all that well but am friendly with. He invites me and states, “No gifts, please.” So, I went to the party and, per request, I didn’t bring a gift; I then discovered that everyone else had. So, he was a bit upset with me the next day at work because I didn’t bring a gift. I reminded him, and he said, “No gifts,” but he seemed upset about the situation. Should I have taken a gift? Does No Mean No...
Jesus had an uncanny ability to communicate truths for everyday life because He is known as the “author of life” (John 1:3). His perspective matters and there is wisdom in listening and applying His teachings daily. In last week’s column, pointed out in Luke 6 how Jesus offered a different approach to what it means to be “blessed,” one that we are not accustomed to. Typically, we associate “blessing” with the good stuff; those things in life which center around positive physical and emotional experiences. Jesus turns the message a complete 18...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, this week you need to get back to business, especially if hobbies or other interests have been taking up much of your time lately. Avoid distractions at all costs. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 You may be excited about new prospects on the horizon, Taurus. With so much change coming, it can be exciting to see what lies ahead. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you may discover that you are devoting much attention to others late, sometimes cutting into your needs. Be attentive and caring, but also pay attention to your needs. CANCER...
In the early 1980s, I ran the farthest-north underground mine in the United States, halfway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, in the Brooks Range, eighty miles north of the Arctic Circle. The haul road to the North Slope oil fields was over thirty miles away, so our operation depended on air transportation. Everyone who came to work on the project, including me, was new to Alaska and couldn’t wait to fly over the mighty Yukon, with images of crystal-clear water surging through rocky canyons. W...
A healthy diet, exercise, and drinking plenty of water dramatically increase your chance of having a tragic death. Mater is technically a surgeon, considering that being a "mechanic" in the Cars universe involves operating on somebody’s internal organs. The more you understand life, the less meaning life has. So many photos on old phones will never be seen again. There’s something that’s entirely normal for you but very unusual for everyone else. When talking to animals, it’s always good girl and good boy, not good woman or good man, even if th...
In recent months, I’ve gotten to know more about Luke, the physician who wrote about the life and ministry of Jesus. For most of my life, I’ve assumed that Luke was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, but I was wrong. Luke was a close friend to Paul and accompanied him on several trips as they spread the message of Jesus across the region. Many scholars believe Luke is the author of Acts, and as a physician, one can understand why the healing power of Jesus caught his interest. You may be familiar with Matthew’s writing, and the ...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, if you notice you have been facing obstacles as you work to achieve your goals, you may want to step back and consider another course of action. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you will receive an offer that notes your efforts and achievements. Do not let this immediately go to your head; instead, enjoy the fruits of your labors. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Your willpower has been weak lately, Gemini. If your diet plans are getting sidelined by your inability to stay on track, you may want to enlist a buddy to keep you motivate...
Dear Editor, There was an article recently in the New York Times about rural rage. I thought this comment from a fellow reader was worth passing on: "I am a non-indian, cattle rancher on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. I sold some feeder cattle last Friday at the highest price in my 50 years of ranching. The price beat my previous record high, which was in 2013. Both of these record-high cattle price years occurred during Democratic administrations. The USDA gave billions o...
Dear Editor, The Whitehall Town Council held a "Special" Council meeting on Friday, March 1, 2024. The meeting was called to order and then went directly into Executive session. The following two items were listed to be discussed: A. Updating the Maternity Policy B. Adopting a Babies at the Workplace policy Seeing how the meeting was publically posted, what was discussed in executive session, nothing can be discussed outside the meeting. However, I can say the council voted to table what was...
With the birth rate higher than the death rate, not every birth can be a reincarnation of another person. In 20 years, bars and casinos that still allow smoking will smell like cotton candy and strawberry instead of cigarettes. Rocket science is simple; it’s rocket engineering that’s hard. Duramax sounds more like a brand of condoms than a truck engine. Only bilingual people genuinely know how terrible Google Translate is. Trying to carry all your grocery bags into the house in one go is ambitious and lazy. Most animals have never drank anythin...
Georgia, I have a question, Do I have a right to be mad? My husband says I’m overreacting. My brother (30) was laid off with severance at the beginning of the year. His wife (25) had quit her job a week prior. They have a one-year-old child. They decided to use the severance to travel. They've spent a month in Italy traveling, two weeks in the Florida Keys, and two weeks in Turks & Caicos. My husband and I (both 45) work full time; we have two children of our own. Yesterday MY brother reached out to MY husband and asked him to pay their m...
I’m going to go out on a limb and date myself regarding age since many in this audience share a similar experience. Many of us grew up watching The Lone Ranger and Tonto, the iconic 1950s western show about a presumed dead Texas Ranger who travels to the West to assist the helpless affected by lawlessness. Such a theme resonates and has been recreated in other movies and sitcoms. The only problem is that in real life, going after injustice alone is not practical or wise. We need others in our lives for accountability, correction, and e...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, think about collaborating on a fun project with someone close to you. Find out if anyone needs help on something they may be working on if you don’t have a project in mind. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 An excitement concerning work goals or a business venture may compel you to take some action to get your ideas heard by higher-ups, Taurus. The audience will be receptive. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, trying to resolve issues in a relationship this week may leave you feeling unsettled. You might be trying to avoid sensitive t...
Dear Editor, I read the three letters to the editor in the Ledger's February 21, 2024 publication. The following is a brief response to all three. Jan Lombardi's letter on the increased property tax problem was both informative and right on. The state dropped the ball on addressing this issue, no matter whose fault. It is an example of a political lack of foresight in mitigating issues before they become problems. State government should be proactive in governance, not reactive. Would anyone be...
Dear Editor, Are you concerned about our great country and its preservation for our future generations? Do you recognize an enemy infiltrating our borders through lawless deeds of government? Have questions arisen in your being about all sorts of propaganda being pushed on us and our children? Do you want joy and assurance for your neighbor, and a strong country that can be a beacon of light and hope for the rest of the world while maintaining our sovereignty? Do you understand that a sharp...
Dear Editor, There is much discussion and misunderstanding about the electoral method we use to elect the President of the United States. It is really a simple and good way to do it as I see it. It is set up in the Constitution as follows: "Each State shall appoint in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person...
Sweatpants were made for physical activity, but wearing them in public makes you seem lazy. People get more upset when their tax money is used to help their neighbors than they are when it is used to bomb strangers. 8 hours of drinking is binge drinking, 8 hours of TV is binge-watching, 8 hours of sleep is barely enough. Deep conversation shows an interest in the topic you’re discussing but small talk shows interest in the person you’re talking to. CEOs earning more is justified through the importance of successful decision-making, but whe...
Georgia, I have a question, I (M46) am in a great relationship with a lovely lady (F45). However, she has an 18-year-old son, who I believe may have Asperger’s, who I don’t get along with at all. He’s a bit strange and never makes an effort to clean up after himself, he has poor hygiene and is socially awkward. I just bought a two-bedroom house on my own - my girlfriend did not contribute towards the house - it was all my money. I asked her to move in. I did not invite the son. I don't want him living in my home - I’d be giving up a room fo...
Figures of speech abound all around us. I’m certain in the past week you’ve used some form of a figure of speech, I certainly have. I want to examine with you today a “sacred cow.” Dictionary.com defines this as “an individual, organization, institution, etc., considered to be exempt from criticism or questioning.” Sometimes we hold dearly to our own “sacred cow” and expect others to fall into line. Well, Jesus in Luke chapter 6 addresses the topic. “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads...
ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Take a few days off from work if you find you have been running yourself ragged, Aries. The pressure to be the best may have gotten to you and you need a rest. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Powering through a situation sometimes works, but not if you are feeling ill or injured, Taurus. Prioritize your health right now and take a step back if need be. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, there are always two sides to every story, so resist the urge to weigh in on a situation between friends right now. Get all of the information first and...
Dear Editor, I just read your story regarding Tactical Civics (Ledger - 6/9/2021), why the softball? Had you gone to the website, you'd have read something far different than the hooey spouted in the story. "This republic of sovereign States, founded in the Name of Jesus Christ and blessed for centuries, is now under Communist occupation by D.C., Beijing, and many state palaces. The massive fraud in the 2020 election, combined with the criminal COVID-19 hoax was the work of criminals in the...
Dear Editor, Well, the next step in your residential property tax increase is happening. Banks are sending updated "mortgage bills" to homeowners. Guess what? You owe more money! Recently, a young friend reached out, concerned about his $100 monthly mortgage increase and he didn't know why. That's a lot of money - $1,200 a year. Drumroll for the explanation. Since the bill comes from the bank, it's the lender's fault, right? Nope. By law, a residential mortgage statement must show the escrow...
Dear Editor, Hunting, angling, and ranching are the cornerstones of our communities in Southwest Montana. As such, our public lands should be managed to support these activities, which are significant economic drivers for our local economy. However, most of the public lands in Beaverhead and Madison Counties are still available for oil and gas leasing. This is surprising, given that there's very little history of drilling in our counties. According to BLM, the industry has never drilled "a...
Everything that comes out of the human body smells bad. Sneezing while driving is very dangerous. Addictions are normally accepted if you generate revenue from them. Naming children after dead relatives is very common, but naming a pet after a past dead pet is incredibly weird. All firearms are a sophisticated way of throwing rocks at each other. Everyone’s an idiot and only smart people are willing to admit it. It’s unfathomably easy to ruin your entire life. Finding a dollar in the 1800s must have been so exciting. People are much more int...