Opinion

Montana’s elk population has tripled over the last 40 years. For decades we have exceeded the sustainable objective levels in most hunting districts. FWP’s goal is 92,000 elk in Montana, but today there are an estimated 175,000. That excess elk population causes immense damage to family ranch operations in overpopulated areas, and it’s a problem that grows worse every year. What’s frustrating is we saw this problem coming years ago and set policy to address it. In 2003 I sponsored House Bill 42, which mandated that the Montana Fish and Game Commission use all management tools available to keep big game populations at objective levels. That legislation specified th...

Editor, There are strong moral and constitutional reasons to protect women’s right to choose. There are strong practical reasons, as well. If we do not support family planning and abortion when necessary: More women will die. They will die from non-medical abortions, and because our health care s...

Editor, Watching a famous sporting event the other day, I saw thousands of happy people lined up enthusiastically cheering the participants of the Tour de France. I hated to think of what might happen had this race been in the U.S. and the anxieties and fears such an event would evoke. I don’t reall...

Editor, I was sad to see how few people were attending the Port Polson Players’ performance of the ‘Home Games’ last night. To those who didn’t attend, you still have time to go this coming weekend- July 21- 24. The production was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! It is a heartwarmi...

Packrat likes Prius. Wonderful engineering, mysterious passageways, fun, twisty-turns, tubing, wild sculpture unheeded expressions of unhinged art; must be a wonderful nesting opportunity somewhere in here, if she could only find it.  And so she looks, she’s young, the world is hers for explori...

Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Incredible Hulk all possess superpowers, but I enjoy supremacy even greater than x-ray vision, unlimited strength, or the ability to fly. My capabilities come from grocery lists in my pocket and canned goods on aisle seven. It’s the power of food acquisition and I’...

I have a confession to make: I love whiteboards. Even as a child, I was completely transfixed by the infinite possibilities they presented. I even remember asking my parents if I could cover all the walls of my room with whiteboards when I was around 11. Not surprisingly the answer was “no,” but ...

I think the difference between a politician and a statesman is that the people believe a statesman will do what he or she believes is the right thing regardless of the political consequences.When it gets down to it, a statesman would rather be right than reelected. It is generally accepted that Mike Mansf...

Editor, Do you want to reduce the number of abortions that occur? Here’s a practical strategy. Vote for universal health care. Vote for free childcare. Make education free for all so women can improve the conditions of their lives. Vote for a living minimum wage. Ensure that women make equal pay and...

Editor, America’s constitution does not condone abortion - neither does it oppose it.   The opposition to abortion may be from one’s personal viewpoint about an unborn life but mainly it stems from the tenets of an organized religion. Freedom of religion IS in our constitution, as well...