Columns

There are certain truths that are universal, but unspoken. They are numerous - all around us. So numerous they couldn’t fit into one column. (Watch for part two coming soon.) Often, these truths aren’t even recognized. They are so universal - so clear and obvious to us - that we we’ve stopped seeing them. Or maybe we never were aware of them at all. Either way, they are there. And when pointed out - when outed - most of us catch our breath, or giggle, or maybe both and think, “Yes, of course, why didn’t I see that before?” They are the little things. The big things. All universal. All true. Universal truth number 252: When you are vacuuming an...

Property tax appraisals are currently arriving in the mail. It’s important to review the valuation and appeal it if you do not agree with the valuation. The appeal instructions are in the letter that was mailed to you. You only have 30 days, so do not wait. If the value of your property increased by...

To get there, you head up the Pete Creek Road #338 in the Yaak (no one seems to know who Pete was, and I’m keen to know the name the first people called it before Pete rolled into the country), way on up past Mushroom Mountain. At the dust blown hairpin curve left, continue straight into what looks lik...

This month Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission moved to sharply increase the kill of mountain lions in the state, up to 40 percent of the population in many areas.  The move came over the objections of mountain lion hound hunters, sporting groups, and conservation interests. FWP Biologists d...

We would wager that nearly every Montana family has struggled in some way with mental health, diabetes, or postpartum health care. The 2023 Legislature made unprecedented investments in all three of those areas that together will positively impact families in every corner of our state.  Not only did ...

In a book I’m reading, the author relates a lesson taught by one of his teachers, who told him, “You can’t shut other people’s mouths.” I found this thought to be genius. It’s a simple, but profound statement. You can’t control what other people say. You phy...

The Montana Legislature enacted a bipartisan solution in the form of House Bill 819 to make historic investments in workforce housing. The State of Montana is in a workforce housing crisis and the negative effects of this crisis have hit every county in the State.    The Montana Community Reinve...

Construction continues on our library building. You can check out progress photos on our website. The crew is doing an amazing job and we are so happy to see progress on the new entrance, reading areas and windows for the new children’s area. Please remember that you absolutely cannot enter the buildin...

The ability to transcribe and share information has impacted the progression of technology and society immeasurably. So much of our daily lives revolve around reading and writing, thus most of us learn these skills from a very early age. I still vividly remember the practice sheets of paper with the dotted l...

The United States’s health care system is a mess of complex regulations and layers of bureaucracy. It’s also expensive. But Republicans in the Montana Legislature have made great strides in recent years to address what problems we can at the state level.  We’ve emphasized improving ...