Guest Post

By Brandon Dewey, Mayor of Stevensville This communication aims to answer citizen questions and dispel misinformation in the petition that was circulated by Leanna Rodabaugh to recall the Stevensville Mayor. The recall petition alleges violations of Montana Code and Town Code as well as the Mayor’s Oath of Office. These allegations have been thoroughly reviewed […]

By Penney Howe and Jimmy Canton, Stevensville The tents are down and the cleanup is almost done. We are sad but happy that we were able to give such a great tribute to our Veterans on short notice. We thank everyone that came, everyone that helped and all of those who have gone before us, who […]

By Jim Crews, Stevensville The Mayor will not resign. That means a special election. Probably around the first week in August, I suspect. Recalls generally go very badly for elected officials. That is why most resign. It is embarrassing to have that many people in the community lose faith in you as an elected official. For […]

By Patrick Shourd, Stevensville Shortly after Governor Bullock issued a “shelter in place” order, many Montanans stepped into action. Nurses, police officers, and other essential workers risked their own health to perform the duties Montanans rely on. Non-essential workers stayed home as instructed to insure the health and safety of their fellow citizens. Schools closed down, […]

By Mike Mercer, Stevensville Some things are meant to be fought for, no matter what; I put the handshake in that category. Too much has been swept away in the name of progress, science, love, economics and now safety. The manner in which we greet one another has always been intimate not distant, inclusive not isolated. […]

By George Wuerthner, Livingston Gifford Pinchot, first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, often said: “Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.” It has become the agency’s motto.  Yet in the age of climate change, the Forest […]

By Mary Fahnestock-Thomas, Hamilton I just think it’s important to put his name out there, so that anyone who doesn’t recognize it and know why it’s important can look it up. Thank you.  

By Walter Schweitzer, President, Montana Farmers Union When I looked up “food security” this definition made the most sense to me. “Food security incorporates a measure of resilience to future disruption or unavailability of critical food supply due to various risk factors including droughts, shipping disruptions, fuel shortages, economic instability, and wars.” COVID-19 has revealed […]

By Archie L. Thomas and Merry Schrumpf, Corvallis We love the return to normalcy from the season’s first Hamilton Farmers Market. The hardworking vendors’ first spring harvest is regenerative. In these conflicted times, they further enhance the Bitter Root Valley’s rich sense of community. Even the signs and bumper stickers on display provide revealing unique […]

By Gary Milner, Corvallis Regarding the State Land east of Corvallis: To the mountain bikers who are building jumps, making their own trails, and constructing their own routes and play area; please stop. What you’re doing is illegal. To local ethical mountain bikers, please educate the above bikers about proper behaviors on public lands. Their actions […]

By Gene Mallette, Helena I am disgustingly appalled by the notion that we should keep the names of pandemic victims a big secret! Sure, we need to protect personal discords against our names, reputations and privacies, but to have the name of a positive tested person not appear in the newspaper is a travesty against all […]

By Bob Brown, Bigfork The study of history allows us the luxury of 20-20 hindsight. Looking back, we can see the little events that led up to the big moments, and we can wonder “how could they not have seen it coming?” Of course, it’s much harder to see clearly when you’re living through history in […]