Opinion

By Elliott Oppenheim, MD JD LLM Health Law, Florence I am dizzy. How can any one of us make sense of anything in these confusing times? What is true?  I get my mail at the Lolo Post Office. I often talk to folks at the Post Office in order to metaphorically take the dual counties’ […]

By Charles E. Wissenbach, Pinesdale I’m celebrating the patriotic July Fourth by joining with others in “investing” in a phantom subscription to the only independent, historic-type paper remaining in this region–the Bitterroot Star. Without a free press America wouldn’t be what it has become, and there wouldn’t be a voice to counter anti-U.S. ideologies of politics, […]

By Maureen Powell, Michael Moran, M.D., Terry Moran, M.S., R.N. Montanans like to joke about having nine months of winter and three months of company. As the snow fades from the mountain tops we can say we’ve been lucky in Western Montana. Thanks to a relatively small stable population, a proactive business community and good State guidance, […]

By Nan Christianson, Hamilton Yet again, Montana gives me good reason to be proud.   We watched in disbelief, and some in horror, as the Covid-19 virus marched its way around the world. Our Governor wisely placed then began methodically lifting restrictions on our social and business interactions to give us time to prepare as best […]

By Mark Van Loon, Hamilton We’re in the middle of pandemic and people won’t even do the simplest, easiest thing to stop the spread – WEAR A MASK. Inconvenient? Off putting? Not cool? Would you rather be in a medical coma with the breathing tube down your throat? And if not you, how about someone you […]

By Grace Wilson, Stevensville Who is that behind the mask, Someone I know, or should I ask? I can’t see the smile I once knew so well, Is she happy or sad? I really can’t tell. Who is that who covers their face? A health care worker Who stays in their place Doing their job […]

By Star Jameson, Hamilton It has come to my attention through conversations with three people in the billing office that our local hospital is charging for Covid-19 testing. They are asking $79 from folks getting the initial testing, which is either charged to the patient’s insurance, or requested outright, or put into the billing system.  I […]

By Shey Joy, Stevensville If you are curious about the character of those behind the current recall effort directed at Mayor Dewey, I suggest you take a minute to visit the “Recall of Brandon Dewey” Facebook page. The anonymous author(s) of this page hide behind their keyboard, eschewing any personal responsibility for their distribution of misinformation […]

By Mark Adams, Stevensville I recently was party to a conversation concerning the turnover at the Stevensville Town Council. It was stated that there have been seven people on the Council. There have actually been nine council members, ten if you count Bob Michalson’s recent reelection to the Council. For the Mayoral supporters, I will name […]

By Jane Lambert, Stevensville I hope people stand behind Brandon Dewey and keep him as their Mayor. He ran for office for the right reasons — to serve the people of Stevensville, and work to make our community better. Even when mean spirited council members made him choose between giving up a beloved position on the […]

By Tonya Eckert, Stevensville Mayor Dewey is proposing to push through a budget in early July, prematurely asking for extreme increases that are irresponsible and frankly make no sense at all in light of the economic impacts of Covid. Last year the Mayor did not even present a preliminary budget until Aug. 12th, the budget isn’t […]

By Bill Kelly, Stevensville To clarify Mr. Crew’s position on serving as mayor of Stevensville again: Despite several past and current council members’ apparent interest in bringing Jim Crews back to the Council, Mr. Crews made abundantly clear during a social media post on June 29, 2020 that he has no interest in serving as Stevensville’s […]