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  • Horoscope: Week of 2/9/2022

    Feb 9, 2022

    ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you may be feeling romantic lately, but there will be little time to act upon it. Bide your time for a week or two until you can spend time with a special someone. TAURUSÐ Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, craft an eclectic guest list for an upcoming party you’re hosting. The more points of view you can hear, the more engaging the event will be. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, a loved one needs you and you’re the right person for the job. Find a way you can lend a hand. Your efforts won’t go unnoticed and pitching in will prove...

  • Dear Editor: Climate Crisis

    DON LEPINSKY|Feb 2, 2022

    Dear Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune recently published a letter to the editor by a young Republican who stated that an overwhelming majority of young, college-age Republicans are in favor of conservative leadership on climate issues. He is a proponent of legislation that will expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure and promote clean energy technologies, like carbon capture. Access this letter at https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/letters/2022/01/19/letter-young-utah/. Well of course young men and women are for mitigating the climate crisis....

  • Thought Provokers: 2/2/2022

    Feb 2, 2022

    White shoes go well with everything except outside. It’s crazy to think how incredibly easy it is to ruin your life while it’s considerably harder to manage your life as it is. If you’ve ever stood up on a bus, you’ve effectively made it a 25,000 lb skateboard. History says dinosaurs laid eggs and evolution gave us chickens from dinosaurs, so logically the egg did come first and not the chicken. The fuller your phone battery is by the end of the day, the better your day was. Everyone hates being used, but no one wants to be useless. The kit...

  • Dear Jo: 2/2/2022

    Jo|Feb 2, 2022

    Dear Jo, I need your thoughts about a good friend who, at the end of the month of my birthday or the first week of the next one, hits me with a birthday card. Then she says she doesn’t know my exact birth date but at least she remembers the month and, therefore, I should be thankful. Four years later, I am tempted to tell her if it’s not important enough to remember the day, then why bother? Am I wrong for feeling this way, or should I just be thankful she at least remembers the month? Sincerely, Birthday Girl Dear Birthday Girl, A little fin...

  • Connecting Point: Toil and Time

    BILL LANES|Feb 2, 2022

    The self-serving slogans “Make America Great Again” and “Build Back Better” contrast with the wisdom of the Bible’s Ecclesiastes. Most Americans find a purpose for living beyond daily living. The great poet Robert Frost said, “Most Americans are deeply spiritual,” and I agree. Today, again studying Ecclesiastes, I hope you’ll find inspiration. Solomon explores the topic of life’s purpose throughout the entirety of Ecclesiastes. The maturing Solomon found that wisdom and pleasure in and of themselves were meaningless. In the process, he exami...

  • Horoscope: Week of 2/2/2022

    Feb 2, 2022

    ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 It is time to slow down a little, Aries. Even you cannot keep up a hectic pace for very long. Invest time in relaxing pursuits like yoga or reading to unwind your brain. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you may feel it necessary to prove your point at all costs. Stubbornness will get you nowhere right now. Listen to what others have to say. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 There are two sides to every story, Gemini. It is best not to attach yourself to one version of the tale just yet. Hear everyone out and then come to an informed...

  • Thought Provokers: 1/26/2022

    Jan 26, 2022

    White-collar workers often recognize the value of blue-collar workers, but not the opposite way around. If we could normalize first dates where we run errands together so that if there’s no chemistry at least we’ve picked up our dry cleaning and got our lightbulbs. We are already in the 2020s, but if someone says 20s, it is implied that they are talking about the 1920s. ‘We need to talk’ is one of the scariest sentences in the English language. These past few years have probably been the happiest ever for the average house pet. An actor p...

  • Dear Editor: Dan Haggerty for County Commissioner

    JOHN KREIS|Jan 26, 2022

    Dear Editor, Dan Haggerty for County Commissioner! We as concerned citizens are always looking for honest, conscientious representation. People who want to be involved in public service and want to do it truly for public service are few and far between. Dan Haggerty is that person. Dan represented and protected all of Jefferson County for years and established a reputation as a person who really cared about the people he served and protected. Dan served for years in a dangerous and thankless job; a job whereas Deputy Sheriff obviously he did...

  • Dear Editor: Whitehall Should Hop on the Cannabis Tide

    CHARLES HADDON SHANK|Jan 26, 2022

    Dear Editor, Yes, Virginia, federally speaking, cannabis/marijuana is STILL illegal! However, that being said, there are at least 16 states in this Union that have legalized marijuana for recreational use, including our own beloved Montana and (GASP!) Washington, DC, the ONLY truly Federal District in this Union! It should be noted that, even though cannabis has been legalized for medical use in a majority of states, the main reason is that said states have begun to realize how lucrative it is! That being said, I would like to get into the...

  • Go Ask Jo: 1/26/2022

    Jo|Jan 26, 2022

    Dear Jo, People always say follow your dreams. Well, how do you know what your dream is? How can people be so confident about what they want to do and have? Am I the only one who still (in my fifties) is not 100% sure of what my dream is? Signed, Dreamin’ Dear Dreamin’, You cannot look at what others do and apply it to yourself. Your journey is, well, yours. Embrace your life, your experiences, all that is uniquely you. Signed, Jo Dear Jo, I keep hearing that this is the end of times. The world is entering the period of Revelation. After the...

  • Connecting Point: Wealth & Sexuality - Isn't America Out of Balance?

    BILL LANES|Jan 26, 2022

    Pleasure seeking isn’t anything new, but isn’t part of the turmoil of our age due to plain old generational conflict? Aren’t millennials rightly concerned that the baby-boom generation is going to bankrupt the nation? Don’t older people talk sensibly about out-of-control sexuality? We’ve been turning to the book of Ecclesiastes for inspiration. Known for the phrase, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” King Solomon put things into perspective. We may point out that America is highly sexualized and driven by consumerism. However, this i...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 1/26/2022

    Jan 26, 2022

    ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Your affection for someone could affect your impression of a certain situation, Aries. You need to take a step back or remove yourself from the situation. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Someone in a position of authority may want to invest in your future, Taurus. Even though you may be flattered by the interest, you have to weigh all of your options. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 You may learn something about a person if you’re willing to get involved in deep conversation, Gemini. Have a talk with someone you’re eager to get to know. CAN...

  • Dear Editor: Response to Chuck Denowh

    GENE WALBORN, Former Director, Montana Department of Revenue|Jan 19, 2022

    Dear Editor, Your paper recently published an editorial by Chuck Denowh discussing American Prairie’s recent purchase of the 73 Ranch. Some of the statements made by Mr. Denowh can lead the reader to the conclusion that American Prairie doesn’t pay taxes and doesn’t contribute to Montana’s economy. I have prepared a response to Mr. Denowh. American Prairie does more than pay taxes. Those claiming to be property rights advocates are once again saying charitable organizations should not be allowed to own land. The recent purchase of the histori...

  • Thought Provokers: 1/19/2022

    Jan 19, 2022

    If you run 26 miles, it’s because you’re an athlete. If you walk 26 miles, it’s because you can’t afford a car. Poems only rhyme in the language they were written in. A microwave can show you how clean someone really is. You have to wait until you’re 36 to date someone half your age. Given how long your bones stick around after death, you really only get to use some parts of your body for a fraction of their existence. Ventriloquists probably have better conversations than most at the dentist. Gold digging was just a normal relations...

  • Go Ask Jo: 1/19/2022

    Jo|Jan 19, 2022

    Dear Jo, I have heard a lot of people complaining and/or asking about what to do about receiving thank-you acknowledgments. Here is the other side of that dilemma. What does one do when receiving gifts that for whatever reason are unfortunate picks for the receiver? I feel as if I’m lying when I say “thank you.” I’ve tried not sending a thank you, but that felt icky and did not work. Signed, You Shouldn’t Have Dear Shouldn’t Have, Always be gracious and kind. Send the thank you, it really is the thought that counts. Signed, Jo Dear Jo, I am tr...

  • Connecting Point: What are you chasing?

    BILL LANES|Jan 19, 2022

    The desire to be “top of your game” or “top of the world” is a near-universal want. For centuries, people have aspired to great heights, achieving some of life’s “greatest” passions. Individuals like Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, Oprah Winfrey, or even Henry Ford are known as individuals who sought to be better and better. In ancient times, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Alexander the Great excelled at both political and military power. We’ve been focusing on King Solomon lately, reading through Ecclesiastes, from the Old Testament....

  • Thought Provokers: 1/12/2022

    Jan 12, 2022

    The older you get, the more you appreciate a good pair of socks. When you are a teenager you hide things like sex or drinking from your parents. When you are a parent you hide things like sex or drinking from your kids. The fact biting your tongue when you’re just casually chewing is so painful gives perspective on how strong even human jaws really are. All meat is plant-based meat. You have done things for strangers that you don’t even remember but it might have become a special memory for them. From an extraterrestrial viewpoint, all the spac...

  • Dear Editor: The Stick and the Carrot

    JIM BUTERBAUGH|Jan 12, 2022

    Dear Editor, THE STICK AND THE CARROT: Dishonesty in politics is a given. Those running for office have always whispered sweet nothings into our ears (the carrot). Promises that once in office, they either can’t convert or they just blow them off (the stick). The carrot is also used to get public support for passing a bill. The bill is introduced by the talking heads heralding the good parts (the carrot), but you never hear about the sticks. The Build Back Better Act is no different. This bill is 2,135 pages. You have no doubt heard of the c...

  • Go Ask Jo: 1/12/2022

    Jo|Jan 12, 2022

    Dear Jo, All the New Year resolutions are everywhere! Every time I turn around I see another message meant to inspire, enlighten or encourage me. Am I the only one who is already sick of the unasked for advice?! I feel like screaming when I see “drink more water.” Seriously, is it not a basic human instinct to drink water? We need it to survive after all! Here’s another one…. ”go to bed early and wake early”….said no fun person ever! “Move more, sit less.” Dear Lord, I have been hearing that since I tried to fit into my sister's prom dress at 1...

  • Connecting Point: Nothing New Here

    BILL LANES|Jan 12, 2022

    You’ve heard it, or perhaps have said it a thousand times yourself, “History repeats itself.” While we long for life to be full of new experiences, we often view everyday life as monotonous—you know, the same old stuff. Citizens of industrial countries give Mondays a bad rap; whereas, they look forward to the last day of the workweek, Friday. Meanwhile, those in undeveloped countries are more concerned about basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter. How do you view life? King Solomon was never in want. In fact, he had everyth...

  • Horoscopes: Week of 1/12/2022

    Jan 12, 2022

    ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you are self-confident and know who you are, which helps you take charge of situations. Many people rely on you, and you feed off that accountability. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you may feel like you have to be a mediator between two sides, and that only adds to the tension you have been feeling recently. Take a deep breath and a step back. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, perceptions can be misleading. Look at a confounding situation from another angle. A new perspective may be all you need to see things more clearly....

  • Thought Provokers: 1/5/2022

    Jan 5, 2022

    History makes a lot more sense when you realize we are the soberest generation there has ever been. The morning after a snowfall, it’s easy to tell which cars have garages and which ones don’t. Reading gives us the ability to learn in minutes something that took a lifetime to discover. If you are one in a million then there are 8,000 people just like you. Eagles may soar but sloths don’t get sucked into jet engines. Fried eggs and fried chicken are the same food in different stages. If you lost the ability to feel emotions, you would...

  • Dear Editor: A Clean Slate

    CHARLES HADDON SHANK|Jan 5, 2022

    Dear Editor, It’s that time of year again; the time for New Year’s Resolutions. Time for all the “New Year, new me” promises we make to ourselves. It IS that time of year. Yes, in fact, what better time to make those promises, those resolutions? Aren’t we basically starting with a clean slate, in this new year that’s opening before us? Isn’t that what we’ve been told from day one? Looking at it like we’re getting a fresh start is not altogether a bad thing, I guess, but is it really a fresh start?! Can it truly be said that we’re writing on...

  • Go Ask Jo: 1/5/2022

    Jo|Jan 5, 2022

    Dear Jo, Happy New Year! I wish I could say that I had a lot of hope for the new year. I am bummed already. I cannot seem to get my act together. What really does this year have to offer me?! I have not had any luck in so many years, I just don’t even hope for it anymore. I have a home, food, family, it just is not enough. Signed, Bored and Bummed Dear Bored and Bummed, What does the new year hold for you? Three-hundred and sixty-five opportunities to quit feeling sorry for yourself, get off your ass, and make a life! Signed, Jo Dear Jo, I f...

  • Connecting Point: Winners and Losers

    BILL LANES|Jan 5, 2022

    Every person in life is on a quest in one respect or another. Daily, people search for happiness, love, purpose and so much more. Reason and emotion make humans the pinnacle of all living organisms, and many exude exceptional physical abilities as well. On the other hand, “a rodent’s struggle for life,” became coined in American fiction: Christopher Morley’s book, turned into a movie in 1940, describes a modern problem: “The rat race”. It seems that we all want to win. King Solomon was the third and last king of ancient Israel and for 40 years...

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