Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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GEORGIA, I have a question, At Thanksgiving dinner at my inlaws this weekend, my mother-in-law handed me several napkins in the middle of the meal. I became very self-conscious, thinking I must be making a mess. I checked my mirror, and everything was fine as far as I could tell, but I still felt embarrassed. Sometimes, I need extra napkins, but I prefer to ask for them myself. On the other hand, I appreciate my mother-in-law's kindness, so I wouldn’t want to discourage her from being alert and helpful. What’s your take? NOT MESSY MESSY EAT...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your energy is impressive and contagious this week. You can use it to tackle tasks you have been putting off. A surprise message could brighten your weekend. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, review your budget and consider a new investment opportunity. This week brings a chance to reconnect with someone special. Don't avoid vulnerability, as it could enhance things. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You might find yourself in discussions leading to exciting new projects, Gemini. Be open to collaboration and work on improving...
Throughout history, numerous views of Jesus exist. Likewise, the same is true today, depending on your audience. Christmas is fast approaching, and many of us acknowledge that this holiday is all about Jesus; others consider Christmas a time of giving or cheer minus Christ. Ultimately, the question is up to each individual to decide whether to accept the claims of Jesus Christ. I’m certainly not ashamed to share my beliefs regarding Jesus; the foundation of my faith rests on the Bible and solid historical evidence that affirms Christ’s cla...
Dear Editor, The "Deplorables" showed up for the election and demanded change. The economy is the number one issue and needs fixing. Cutting waste and programs is a good start, but not enough. The issue of theft must be addressed. "In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. There is no safe store of value... The financial policy of the welfare state requires that there be no way for the owners of wealth to protect themselves....
Dear Editor, I don't know Donald Trump personally, so I can't say whether I love or hate him. I am definitely NOT a Trumper, for what it's worth. Did I approve of his first stint as President? Does it really matter? Do I believe, as some have implied, that he is America's Messiah? It depends on what one means by Messiah or how they think he will save America. What would that salvation look like? What makes America great? Will we ever see peace in the Middle East? For that matter, what WOULD peac...
Dear Editor, I receive my paper my mail, so it takes me a week to get it. I just read Chiara Schober's letter in the November 13, 2024, issue today, November 22nd. I 1000% agree with her! In looking for the simplest explanation online to refute these rumors, I found an article written by Catherine Beyer in 2018 that says it best. "The truth is that Halloween is associated with Satanism only in certain circumstances and in very recent times. Historically, Halloween has nothing to do with...
In the United States, a national day of giving thanks for what we have is followed by a national day of buying new things to replace what we have. One of the most exciting feelings in the world as a kid was finding a Chuck-e-Cheese token left in the coin return hole. It’s amazing how often we ask questions that we don’t want the real answers to. Your friends will tell you the “Truth” even if it hurts your feelings because they’re concerned for your well-being. This doesn’t necessarily mean their “Truth” is factually or morally correct. Double...
Montana has weighed in on the national, state, and local elections. The most important election results reflect concerns raised by our residents right here in Montana. We look forward to supporting the Governor’s recent “Path to Security and Prosperity” by focusing on economic development, creating more good-paying jobs, and improving family success and prosperity. We are committed to increasing student outcomes through enhanced educational options and greater funding transparency. The statistics show that more school funding does not neces...
Shame on us. In our political discourse, we throw the “isms” around willy-nilly without really discussing – or understanding -- what they actually mean. Liberalism, socialism, Marxism, fascism, conservatism, libertarianism… At election time, we employ these labels to blast or boast about a given candidate. But words have meaning beyond being political hand grenades. Fundamental philosophies of government pace the course of human history and cast the die of our destiny, for good or evil. We fight over government policies and practices, and that...
Georgia, I have a question, My fourteen-year-old daughter just had her baby last week. She chose to name her daughter Prayerleigh Annnejanston. I absolutely hate the name. I don’t know what to do. Do I voice my concerns or just let her do her own thing since she’s an adult now? NAME HATIN’ Dear HATIN’, Oh my, oh my, oh my. There is so much to unpack in that one short paragraph. 14. Fourteen. FOURTEEN. Your 14-year-old CHILD just had a CHILD of her own. She IS NOT an adult, as you stated, but a little girl who is probably scared of what her futu...
One of the couple extraordinary scenes in the New Testament includes the days when Jesus miraculously feeds thousands of people; two separate accounts occur, all of which are recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Numerous other miracles occurred as Jesus interacted with people. He defied normal logic yet was down-to-earth and practical. Let’s focus on Luke’s account… “When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, be careful what you ask for, as things have a funny way of coming true for you this week. Censor your thoughts for now, and perhaps hold your cards closer to the vest. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you may have a lot of anxious thoughts right now. Friends provide a welcome diversion later in the week, and you also may want to put in more hours at work to stay distracted. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, plans aren’t panning out as you’d hoped, so consider other opportunities. Stop and consider all the pos...
Dear Editor, Three weeks ago, I received a dreaded phone call late at night from Whitehall Emergency Services; our sixteen-year-old son was involved in a serious vehicle crash. Today, my wife, Cori, and I write to express our deepest gratitude to the Whitehall community for your overwhelming support during this trying time. On October 26, our son made a mistake that many experienced drivers have made before, including myself. While driving, I have momentarily removed my seatbelt to reach for...
Tall people get hotter showers. Island countries are sea-locked countries. Coffins should be biodegradable. It’s a little surprising there isn’t a driving test between getting licensed and being elderly. The faster we go East to West, the slower we’re going. AI will eventually lead people away from being creators to being curators. Fictional characters get their memory erased every time you rewatch the movie/episode or restart the game. You can’t prove that a bottomless pit is bottomless. The first person to discover that you could nail ho...
GEORGIA, I have a question, This morning, my husband showed me a great sale on an artificial Christmas tree. It was about the price we paid for fresh trees for two years. We both want to switch to an artificial tree. My 23-year-old daughter lives with us, and she insists that we continue the tradition of getting a real tree. I feel that since she plans on getting her own place soon, she shouldn’t get a vote. She can have whatever kind of tree she wants when she moves out. I also feel that even if she did get a vote, her opinion doesn’t hav...
Communities, large and small, have been turned upside down for various reasons, including political unrest, crime, natural disasters, economics, and more. Word travels fast, whether living in the 1st century or the 21st century; that’s the nature of humanity. However, technology seems to have enabled this to occur at lightning speed today. If you’ve ever thumbed through the Bible, particularly the first four books of the New Testament, a reader quickly recognizes that the earthly ministry of Jesus turned communities upside down. Word of mou...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, put aside any errant musings and give important tasks your utmost attention this week. Energy is better spent on others, so keep this in mind when busy. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, your coworkers are all excited and fussing over a new development. Maintain an even keel as you assess the situation. You can be curious but be guarded as well. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, your love life is perfect this week, enabling you to spend quality time with your special someone. A romantic dinner sounds like a good plan. CAN...
Dear Editor, Thank you to the supporters and donors to the Lien for Montana citizen campaign for the Jefferson County district in the Montana House of Representatives. Your activism is the lifeblood of our democracy. The county’s concern about the future of Medicaid expansion and public dollars for public schools was notable, and I will continue to lend my voice to these important local issues. I entered the race to provide voters a choice, and in my congratulatory call to Representative B...
Dear Editor, Enough with the misinformation: Whitehall's haunted house builds skills, not "satanism." Let's set the record straight about Whitehall's haunted house. We've heard the accusations, and they're as wild as they are unfounded. Words like "satanism" and "corrupting our kids" are being thrown around, but these claims couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, the haunted house is about giving young people a safe, constructive outlet to learn new skills and have a little Halloween...
What if all the ancient Greek sculptures are the victims of Medusa? Sleeping in is considered lazy, but going to bed early is considered smart. The object of golf is to play the least amount of golf. Brushing your teeth is the only time you clean your skeleton. If people don’t recognize Clark Kent as Superman in his classes, does his eye doctor know his true identity? Have you ever noticed how Supervillains always try to change things and Superheroes are the ones trying to prevent change? The only thing that makes speed bumps work is your d...
Georgia, I have a question, Last Sunday, I saw something at church that really unsettled me. A woman, probably in her 40s, walked in covered in tattoos and numerous piercings. She looked homeless, her clothes were fairly ratty, and she didn’t smell the best. For me, the church has always been a place to put your best foot forward, a place of modesty and reverence, and I couldn’t help but feel like she could have tried harder when visiting such a sacred space. After the service, I decided to approach her. I tried to be polite, but I told her...
In last week’s Connecting Point column, I raised a valid question about what authority and power Christians have today. My challenge to you as readers is to properly interpret and apply the Bible and cautiously refrain from “reading” ourselves into the text too literally. Here’s what we read in Luke 9:1-6: “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Think about resting and being a bit reflective, Aries. Focusing on your inner world can help you recharge your energy levels, and solitude may also provide some clarity. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Personal growth and self-improvement may be on your mind right now, Taurus. Set some new goals that align with your values. You may want to take a class to learn new skills as well. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, focus on long-term financial goals in the days to come. If you don’t have a meaningful investment plan, you could sit w...
Sayings like “the understatement of the year” are often overstatements. Biologically, evolution automatically creates the illusion of intelligent design. Maturity is knowing when to be immature. Most dogs understand more human words than humans understand dog words. Coming up with a new, unique, random idea is impossible because you can only combine preexisting ideas with observations/memories of the things that happen around you. Anything you think of out of “thin air” can be linked to these things. For some premodern folk, public executi...
Georgia, I have a question, Last year I (16F) went prom dress shopping with my grandma (54F) and my mom (35F). I found a lovely dress, and they each paid for half. I was cleaning my room a few weeks ago when my grandma stopped by and mentioned how she would “love to try it on and borrow it for a weekend.” I laughed her comment off and again hung the dress in the back of my closet. Yesterday she asked if she could borrow the dress for a formal party this weekend. I said NO. She then went on a rant about how she paid for half of it and it...