Opinion

Thank you for providing a forum for political dialogue. I respond to two August 15th letters. First, regarding “Liberals create despair.” Most liberals, like most conservatives, are working people who […]

  Once again, I am compelled to respond to Van P. Keele’s left wing political blather published on opinion pages of Ravalli County newspapers recently. I generally agree with much […]

  On behalf of Pantry Partners Food Bank I would like to thank Colleen Miller who manages the Stevensville Community Garden for all she has done for us. Thanks to […]

  We made it! The project is near finalization and the summer weather has cooperated beautifully. The information below is provided to advise about the planters and amenities. How the […]

  By Tonia Bloom, Hamilton I have been following with great interest the controversy over the management of the Chief Joseph Pass cross-country ski area.  For decades my family and […]

My friend John Ormiston has decided to put his hat in the race for Ravalli County Commissioner. John has asked that I be his campaign Treasurer even though I have […]

When the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 2012 data report last week, it provided a mixed bag of statistics that suggest both progress and problems in terms of how […]

You’ve got to hand it to Mitt Romney and fellow Republicans. They’re bold, in-your-face, and generally honest about their vision for America. Their agenda was made ever more clear in […]

By Kelsey Milner, President, Bitterrooters for Planning As you may be aware, our county commissioners are in a public process of editing a draft policy for natural resource use on […]

  Should we have three commissioners or five? The real question is, should we let the people decide? If we look carefully at the events since the last people’s decision […]

  There are too many people on the dole in too many solidly blue American states. A conservative’s chances of getting the electoral college majority in those solidly blue states […]

  The time has come once again to replenish our hay supply for fall and winter to feed our 60+ llamas and alpacas. If you have a good grass or […]

  Sometimes the important things get lost in a campaign. “Issues” are easily manipulated by the press or partisans. For 41 years I was associated with the American Legion Montana […]

  In 1938, Austria was conned by Adolph Hitler into believing that if you voted for the National Socialist Party to run your country every problem would be solved. In […]

  For a good number of years, I was a banker here in Montana. If you were to go any bank and asked for a $100 withdrawal, the first thing […]

By Pat Williams, Missoula Montana is a composite; its identity defined by the beholder. The journalist Joe Howard saw it as “high, wide, and handsome;” the historian Harry Fritz as […]

  This is written in response to “Extreme ties that bind.” Once again LaCroix is looking for vampires and boogiemen in mirrors ready to jump out that aren’t there. Jeff […]

  Having gathered the required signatures to file for office, I am now an official candidate for County Commissioner, District 4. I am very grateful to all my supporters that […]

  The U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce supported the last increase in the federal minimum wage on July 2009 and we believe another raise is overdue. The business owners I […]

In 1942, the quick and effective response of the U.S. military seemed almost miraculous in light of the beating it had taken at Pearl Harbor. Defeating Japan depended on an […]