Columns
These are tumultuous and troubling times. Many of us are struggling to keep peace and hope alive in our hearts and minds. Even though our small valley has not experienced the extremes of the pandemic, severe natural disasters or violent riots, we are all affected by what’s happening in the rest of the world because we are all connected, regardless of race, religion, politics or economics. In recognition of the oneness of our human family and the universal need for justice and peace, the local Bahá’í community has hosted a public observance of Race Unity Day for many years. Now, we are excited to share with you the following recent (abridged) message from ...
I have actively listened to parents from around the state as school sports are kicking off. I have heard that some parents are being banned from their children’s school-sponsored activities along with other spectators. As a mother, grandmother, and educator, I know that parents are more than just spect...
2020 has been a year of drastic change, and like everyone else, your homegrown newspaper is adapting to new pandemic realities. Come Oct. 1, Valley Journal staff will be working entirely remotely. Yes, we’re closing our office. No, we’re not closing the newspaper. Our business phone numb...
Many do not realize that reliable green electrons are now up to 4½ cents a kilowatt hour (kWh) cheaper than fossil fuel generated electricity in most places; that LA’s municipal utility buys solar power with battery backup at 2.9 cents/kWh. This disconnect is why Vice-President Pence was mislead...
Governor Bullock has issued another edict. This time, it’s taking away your right to choose how you vote in the November general election. While I didn’t publicly oppose an all-mail ballot for the June primary election, it was a different time – we were still evaluating the coronav...
COVID-19 has changed so many things for so many of us. I haven’t been able to see my dad (in a nursing home) for four months. My daughter is quarantining for two weeks before the birth of her baby so we can’t see her family. My son lost his job. We are in a state of unknowns about our youngest so...
We are living in a serious world. I’m not going to write about this seriousness. Others have already explained things much more eloquently than I ever could. Instead, I’m shooting for silly this week. We’ve all had our fair share of serious in the last few months, and while serious...
Amid all the controversy surrounding Senator Steve Daine’s “Montana Water Right Protection Act,” two facts have become abundantly clear: there will be no disclosure to taxpayers and the public as to how the $1.9-billion-dollar figure attached to the act was arrived at nor, once the money is...
I moved to Switzerland earlier this year from Polson, and I’ve been somewhat captivated by the fascinating and long history of Europe. Many incredibly consequential and cascading events have been packed into this relativity small continent, across the millennia. While chatting with a friend and fellow ...
Are there walleye in heaven? As weird as it may sound, this is a question I’ve pondered lately. I’m willing to take a bet that very few reading this have thought about walleye (as in the fish) being in heaven. But you aren’t the daughter of my dad. For those not familiar with walleye, th...
