Apr62024

Senator Jon Tester, talks conservative when in Montana, but votes with Joe Biden …

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

      If we want to keep our representative form of government, change is critical.  Our Senior Senator, Jon Tester, talks conservative when in Montana, but votes with Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer in Washington, DC.    We are experiencing an all-out attack on our Constitution, implemented by a weaponized judiciary.  What we have seen since Joe Biden illegally came to office, is government tantamount to third world dictatorships.  The CIA, FBI and DHS are being used to track and persecute law abiding US Citizens.  Merrick Garland, Biden’s Attorney General who has been enthusiastically endorsed by Senator Tester, is in the process of prosecuting misdemeanor trespassers at the Capitol, who were asking for a review of the 2020 election.  Many are still in the DC prison, under deplorable conditions, waiting for trial.  The Injustice department is now searching for January 6th rally attendees who did not breach the capitol and were not lured in by federal officers.  The Injustice Department has labeled parents at read more

Apr52024

Despite Opposition, Commissioners Approve Laurel Growth Policy

Top Stories • Yellowstone County

On Tuesday, Yellowstone County Commissioners gave their stamp of approval to the Growth Policy developed by the City of Laurel. The public hearing drew comments from a number of citizens opposed to its adoption, believing that it advances the construction of the natural gas power generator being built near the CHS Refinery.

Kurt Markegard, Laurel Public Works Director, cited the events involved read more

Apr52024

HP School to Move to 4-day School Week for 2024-2025 School Year

Top Stories • Huntley Project

In a vote of four to one Tuesday morning in a special board meeting, the Huntley Project School Board voted to move towards a modified four-day school week starting in the 2024-2025 school year. With the recommendation from School Superintendent Mark Wandle, who spoke to the board before they cast their votes, community surveys as well as multiple community meetings were conducted to gage the concerns and support from staff, parents and community members.

The clarification to call it a modified school schedule was due to some weeks will be two or three days a week while others will actually be five-day weeks.

About 20 schools throughout the state have already gone to four-day school weeks, according to Supt. Wandle.  

This change comes after school officials have been discussing the change for some years.

Board trustee Tim Ley, who attended the board meeting by zoom, said that as he did not attend any of the public community meetings, he did get feedback from some in the community.

In his nay vote, Ley said, “It is in my opinion that less school days is to hurt the students even though I read more

Apr52024

Obituary: Garold (Gary) Fredericks

Obituaries

Garold (Gary) Fredericks

Garold (Gary) Fredericks, 66, of Worden, Montana, stepped into the arms of his Heavenly Father, on March 09, 2024, in Billings surround by his loved ones and close friends. Gary was born on August 13, 1957, in Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho, to Shirley Rea (Grier) and Donald Jack Fredericks. Gary was the oldest of three siblings followed by his sister Corina and brother Eddie. One of the memories that Gary would talk about as a young boy was when he and his cousins were at grandpa’s farm and would take the baby kittens, hold them up to the baby chickens telling them that they could not eat the baby chicks, and oh boy, did they all get a whooping. They lived in Idaho until 1963 and then moved to Billings, MT.

Gary went to school at Billings Senior and graduated from Huntley Project High school in 1975. He played football and ran track. He loved to play chess and was the school champion. Gary knew a lot about computers and remembers the first one at school which was the dos read more

Apr52024

Neither Initiative Establishes Rank-Choice Voting.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

What do constitutional initiatives CI-126 or CI-127 do? The petition language is:

“CI-126 amends the Montana Constitution to provide a top-four primary election open to all voters and candidates followed by a general election. All candidates appear on a single primary election ballot, and the four candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election. The ballot may list a candidate’s political party preference, but a candidate is not required to be nominated by a political party to qualify for the ballot. If candidates are required to gather signatures, the number required may not exceed five percent of the votes received by the winning candidate in the last election. CI-126 applies to elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States Senator, and other offices as provided by law”.

“CI-127 amends the Montana Constitution to provide that elections for certain offices must be decided by majority vote as determined as provided by law rather than by a plurality or the largest amount of the votes. If it cannot be determined who received a majority of votes because two or more candidates are tied, then the winner of the election will be determined as provided by law. CI-127 applies to elections for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, state representative, state senator, United States representative, United States Senator, and other offices as provided by law”.

Neither initiative establishes rank-choice voting.

CI-126 would mean that elective ballots would list candidate names with read more

Apr52024

It’s Time to Kick Them Out of the House–or in this Case, the Senate.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

You’ve got to hand it to the Jon Tester reelection campaign. After watching Jon on his tractor as the old Montana dirt farmer, he comes across as a big, fuzzy puppy you want to scratch behind the ears and tickle his cute little tummy.  That Image is much more appealing than the reality of Jon Tester’s voting record.   If you were paying attention, a few weeks back you would have noticed that Jon read more

Mar292024

UPDATE: Heights Water Board Rejects All Applications to Replace Drager on Board

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings-Heights

A quorum of the Heights County Water District Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, March 26, with the intent of interviewing candidates who had applied to fill the position of Laura Drager, who resigned, on March 20, in order to apply for the position of General Manager.

At the Tuesday meeting the board cancelled the planned interviews and asked for candidates to reapply.

President of the board, Doug Kary, began the meeting with a statement about a board member, who he said was not present. He related an incident that happened earlier in the week, in which he said he encountered two other board members at the district office. Kary said he was going to leave, because with Drager’s resignation, three members of the board created a quorum and constituted an illegal meeting.

The other board member was upset, according to Kary. “He spoke with me afterwards. He was so out –of- control, he was shaking. I really thought he was going to read more

Mar292024

McNiven Meanderings – My Two Cents on the National Perspective Viewpoint

Montana-Statewide • Politics • Meanderings

Well, Folks, there are a lot of things happening nationally so here’s my two cents this week on a national perspective.

  1. Look at the comparisons of the bond amounts for Bernie Madoff who defrauded tens of billions of dollars from his investors and charged $10 Million but Donald Trump is charged $455 Million when there were no victims as well as the banks testified in court that they were paid back early with interest, and all the banks want to still do business with him. The New York Appellate Court overturned Judge Arthur Engoron’s amount of $455 Million and slashed the amount by more than half in the appeals court ruling to $175 million just this week. I guess this is not the first, second, third or fourth time this New York Judge Arthur Engoron has been overturned.  But here’s the deal, Democrats and the deep state are just trying to make him spend his money to defend himself and tie up all his money so he can’t have it available to run his campaign. In my opinion, this is not the only frivolous lawsuit that Democrats and the Biden administration are trying to underhandedly dish out. Then you have Fani Willis and her case that is also taking up more money and time all within an election year. That’s how political opponents use the legal system to weaponize it just because one is opposed to another politically. If you think anyone can use this tactic against an opponent or someone they don’t’ like, it could happen to you just like that. Personally, I think it’s going to backfire on them all, and I’ll explain why later as I see the landscape clearing for this upcoming election in Trump’s favor.
  2. Inflation: Look at the image I got here about inflation compared to three years ago. How’s that “bidenomics” working out for you and me? Well. . . It’s not for me, and I’m sure it’s not for you as well, but I’ll let you decide for yourself. Let me know what you think with your letters.
  3. Here is the irony of what happened this week with the Francis Scott Key Bridge accident crashing down due to the big cargo ship crashing into it. Is it foreshadowing and somewhat symbolic of the future of our country as Francis Scott Key was the one who penned the words to our National Anthem? I’ll let you consider, chew and then digest that thought for a little bit.
  4. In my opinion, these Trump cases are truly frivolous lawsuits in order to make Donald Trump use up all his cash, resources and distract his time, and energy where he could have been campaigning and communicating with the American people instead of dealing with all the side noise and distractions. Are we truly in perilous times? I’ll let you be the judge of that.
  5. Former Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his running mate this week. Kennedy initially launched his presidential bid as a Democrat last April, but he later announced an independent run in October 2023 after the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said it would not hold primary debates and was standing behind incumbent President Biden. This independent run on a third-party ticket will hurt Biden and the Democrats in a big way and will help Trump to the presidency. That’s why I think national liberal pundits and Democrats are so upset this week about him running especially after he announced his Vice-presidential pick of Entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan. Shanahan’s wealth and connections to major donors will benefit Kennedy as he aims to improve his fundraising efforts preparing for the general election.

read more

Mar252024

“This is Unconstitutional” Has Cecome a Frequently Used Phrase

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

“This is unconstitutional” has become a frequently used phrase intended to subvert the logic and rational understanding of the Montana Constitution. When improperly applied, it perverts the intended checks and balances of our three-branch state government system. If a person, group, or political party doesn’t like the political content of an issue, they cry “unconstitutional”. This takes our process of state government that was intended be a matter of adjudication and inappropriately inserts politics. An egregious example is current Montana Supreme Court candidate, Jerry Lynch who stated at a December fundraiser, “The judiciary is the last bastion against a supermajority, so to speak. And you know what I’m talking about.” (montanafreepress.org) This exemplifies perversion of the judicial process with read more

Mar222024

State Proposes Adding 3 Judges to 13th District Court

Montana-Statewide • Top Stories • Yellowstone County

The Montana Judicial System and Yellowstone County officials are organizing an effort to ask the next Montana State Legislature to fund three additional District Court Judges for Yellowstone County.

Yellowstone County’s 13th Judicial District Court has the highest case load in the state by a wide margin, according to a recent survey, which concluded that the case load actually justifies the addition of 4-plus judges.

Beth McLaughlin, attorney for the Montana Court Administrator, in the company of District Court Judge Jessica Fehr, presented the data to the commissioners during a discussion meeting, last week, seeking their support for the proposal. McLaughlin said that they never recommend additional judges for a county without that county’s support.

McLaughlin said there was actually a lot of read more

Mar222024

Obituary: Georgia Coburn Moore

Obituaries

Georgia Moore

Georgia was born on March 18, 1937, to Lyndon and Lydia Coburn. She attended and graduated from Billings Senior High School. After graduation, she married Wally Henman and they had one son, Doug. After their divorce, she married the love of her life, Marion Moore, on June 20, 1969.

She worked in Billings at Gibsons. In 1975, they, along with her stepson Scot, moved to Colstrip, MT, where she worked for read more

Mar222024

Yet I hope He Found Christ Before He Died

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Rev. Gene Douglas, I’m not taking exception to your commentary of 3-15-24, but I do question your remarks on salvation. Yes, John 3:16 is a favorite verse for some, and I believe it’s a verse that many will question, will be driven to read the Bible and hopefully accept Jesus as Saviour.

I disagree with your thought that “believing is just step 1 of 100 steps that get us to the heavenly goal.” And you also say that answering an alter call is not enough for salvation. If that is not enough in your view, what must we CONTINUE to do for our salvation? You must have missed the verse that assures us that God’s salvation is free: Ephesians 2:08 states that God saves us by His Grace, (His gift), and it’s NOT a read more

Mar202024

Only Difference Between Madoff and Trump

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The only difference between Madoff and Trump is one played people and the other played banks.  A version of the check kiting scheme. Borrow money from one bank to pay the other and forget to pay for construction and or contractors. 

      I will be honest I never was a Trump fan.  After I read his and Robert K’s book about wanting everyone to be rich, I was less impressed. Of course, Robert took the fall for that university catastrophe. 

   You are right a third party does divide up the votes so the wrong person will win. Then, again, there are enough people fed up with both parties an independent might have a chance.   

    As for inflation where have you been? That ten-cent candy bar I bought in high school is now a read more

Mar192024

Two “Crisp” thoughts;

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,                                                                                    

Two “Crisp” thoughts;

     My money is on the fact that David Crisp, the person, is a very nice, well intended, good hearted person. I personally read all of his columns; however, very seldom do I agree with his points more than I disagree.

     This past week, he referred to Donald Trump as digging a deep hole and keeps on digging. David states of Trump’s “unwillingness, perhaps inability, to even admit he’s wrong”. Could that apply, at least, on occasion, to David Crisp as well?

     For example: David’s final closing argument, and I quote: “For Trump, a big shovel isn’t enough. He needs a bulldozer.” A bulldozer does not dig a hole. It digs a trench. One can typically walk out of a trench. The primary purpose of a bulldozer is to “MOVE DIRT”, which in my opinion, needs to happen in order to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”.

   To my second point: I mentioned last week, that I am currently reading read more

Mar162024

Taxpayers are also to blame for not speaking up and demanding officials do regular maintenance before things go to hell.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

            Maintenance – our friend Webster defines it thus: to preserve or keep in a particular state or condition; the preservation and upkeep of buildings, roads and machinery.

            There are those in city and county, public and private places who do not seem to understand that definition.

            In private places we cannot demand maintenance until the place becomes a public nuisance and usually by then it can only be torn down. Those places usually belong to greedy slumlords who do not maintain their rentals.

            In public places, government places funded with our tax dollars, we should expect better maintenance than what we see and hear read more

Mar152024

Shepherd School Confirms Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Resignations

Top Stories • Shepherd

After posting a message on social media that read, “As of this morning, I have been let go as the football coach at Shepherd High school. I’ll post a video later today addressing what I know.”  Assistant Coach Russ Hale’s message quickly ignited lots of speculation on what happened and his reasons for his termination with the team.  [His comments were inappropriate enough that we won’t include them in this article.]

In a later Facebook live video online, Hale addressed the reasons he learned through Head Coach Lucas Logan as why he was being let go.   

Assistant Coach Russ Hale addressed the inappropriate read more