Opinion

Editor, I’m appalled by the fact that an 18-year-old can just walk into a gun shop and buy two A-15 assault rifles, then walk into a elementary school and barricades himself in a classroom of innocent children, and start shooting to kill 19 children and two adults - well three, if you count the gun man. I agree with what President Biden said, “When are we going to start standing up to the gun lobbyists in this country?” The only problem is that the Republican party is a bunch of cowards who are afraid to lose their biggest supporter, and that is the NRA. Well, it is time for the Republican party to grow a pair and start thinking of the children and not themselves. This ...

I was flying home after facilitating my Difficult Conversations workshop at Idaho State University. It was the first leg of my return journey, a puddle-jump on a small turbo-prop from Pocatello to Seattle. It was a short flight, but long enough to teach me something. During the boarding process, I had swi...

Paparazzi - love them or hate them, they have become a fixture of our modern world. The word “Paparazzi” evokes images of pushy hordes of photographers crowding celebrities, all angling to get the best shot. While it might feel like this is a normal part of celebrity culture, it hasn’t alwa...

Lately, I’ve been learning a lot about plants. I’m late to the party, I know. A few thousand years late, really. I’ve always appreciated plants for their beauty and nutrition, but that was always where my attention stopped, despite the vast wealth of plant knowledge available from centuries...

I remember a book from early childhood written by Charles Schulz. It was titled, “Happiness Is” and it caused quite a stir amongst the preschool crowd (and beyond). For good reason. Its message was simple, meaningful, ageless, and timeless. So timeless, in fact, that its simple idea remains me...

Editor, I just voted in the 2022 state primary, like many civic-minded Montanans. I was utterly dismayed to learn that my “write-in” section of the ballot doesn’t count. I filled in all my choices on my ballot. When it came to the “write-in” section, I chose to write-in ca...

Editor, America has an emergency: a nationwide shortage of baby formula. The U.S. Congress voted on a bill to address it by boosting inspections of foreign and domestic suppliers of infant formula to increase the supply, so that in U.S. grocery stores parents can be assured that what they buy to feed thei...

Editor, I read where Clarence Thomas voiced his opinion that public trust in the Supreme Court has become voided because of the recent proposed decision to curtail or end the right to a woman’s abortion choice. Not true. It began several years ago when the Senate took control of appointments and mad...

Editor, If you want to see the real facts concerning Renewable Energy, you need to watch this five minute video. Just do a search with the words “How Much Energy Will the World Need?” A few sites will come up with the link to watch this short video. This is the best explanation of our situatio...

Editor, Steve Stanley has my vote for County Commissioner. In the short time Steve has been in the commissioner’s office, he has worked diligently and successfully to improve the lives of all the citizens of Lake County. His work on the living conditions in our county jail has substantially improved...