Opinion

Editor, Christian Bumgarner, a well-loved fixture in the Mission Valley’s musical community for more than three decades, has retired and moved to Idaho. He has directed six choirs, three of which he founded, and his history with Mission Valley Choral Society dates back to the early 1990s. Christian and his wife, Viktra, have moved to Blanchard, Idaho, to be closer to their 14 grandchildren.  Christian has been planning for his retirement as director of the Mission Valley Choral Society for the past couple of years. He developed a MVCS board of directors and under his leadership the group became a 501(c)3 non-profit in January 2023. He was passionate about leaving the choir ...

Editor, I thought I would be relieved when our legislative session was over. I am relieved that I no longer have to spend hours every day tracking whatever unkind, hateful, controlling bills were in the pipeline and emailing various committees to express my horror and disapproval. For the party of less go...

Editor, The debt ceiling bill, championed and passed thanks in part to Representative Zinke, is a small step towards finding a sustainable and effective trajectory for healthy economic growth. Both Parties have for too long willfully created inflation through the false belief that as long as they have a p...

Editor, I would like to take the time to recognize and thank some outstanding citizens and Healthcare workers. Recently I was walking near the intersection of HWY 93 and Main Street when my hip gave out and I subsequently fell to the sidewalk. A very kind lady was stopped at the red light and got out of h...

Is it just me, or has life gotten more complicated? So many variables and tough decisions. So many crossroads. And it’s all happening at lightning speed.  Even on days when I don’t tune in to the cable news networks. The world feels like is spinning faster and faster on its axis. Or...

Montanans approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the 2020 election. I didn’t support the initiative, but I accept the will of the people and am devoted to working within the law to benefit all citizens. Following through has not been easy. Federal law still classifies marijua...

The 68th Session of the State Legislature has ended, but the harm done by a Republican supermajority drunk on power will continue to be felt for a long time.  From the very beginning of the session, Montana Democrats made it clear that our priority was fighting for long-term solutions for our state&r...

The 68th Session of the Montana Legislature is one that every Montanan can be proud of. Voters sent a Republican supermajority to Helena and the first thing we did was return overpaid tax dollars to you as well as providing the largest tax cut in Montana state history.   As Republicans our primary co...

And so it begins. The construction crew arrived early on Monday, May 1 and started tearing out the ceiling and built-in circulation desk. The space looks so huge when it’s empty. Our library staff has worked so hard over the past few months to pack up and move out everything we want to save from the bu...

Editor, Wednesday, April 26 was a sad day for Montana. The Montana House of Representatives voted along party lines barring Representative Zooey Zephyr from the house chamber’s floor, anteroom, and gallery, but she can vote remotely. Which impedes her ability to represent and speak on behalf of her ...