Opinion

I signed an executive order forming the Montana Forest Action Advisory Council, a statewide collaborative group charged with updating the Montana Forest Action Plan. We can and we must work together for the well being of our forests and to reduce wildland fire risk. I’m confident that through this council and new partnerships we can protect our outdoor recreation economy, wildlife and fisheries habitat, drinking water and soil health, all while treating more acres and investing in priority forest areas around the state. As part of my Forests in Focus 2.0, the Council will examine current and anticipated conditions and trends affecting all forested lands in Montana. This will be ...

After sending our newspaper to press last week, we anxiously awaited community response to the news of the shift in our business model. Though continuing to be a free newspaper was no longer an option for us, we understood that moving from free to paid isn’t an especially popular idea. We spoke with...

Editor, I attended Polson’s city commissioners meeting to hear of their progress toward finding a new city manager: the form of government the public voted for, instead of mayor-council leadership. Since that election, the city commissioners have found it necessary to hire and fire two city managers...

Editor, What a tribute to a “Life Well Lived” with our family, friends and neighbors attending the memorial for Larry Gleason. Thanks to Faith Lutheran church, Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen and Ronan Woman’s Club for all the help and food. God bless. The Gleasons (Alice, Gen...

Editor, Mr. Onsager’s accounting (5/15/19) of the number of Christians in Colonial days is reminiscent of counting the number of angels who can dance on the head of a pin – lots. One omission is that this leaves out who else was dancing. A second is that having a religious title does not guara...

Editor, Two years ago, the Polson Beautification Committee was discussing potential new projects. It was decided that more flowers on the island at the intersection of Highways 35 and 93 would be a colorful welcome for visitors and community members driving by. Last year, with community donations and l...

I remember how exciting it was to go on a field trip as a kid at school: the getting out of the classroom, the bus ride to a new place and the endless chatter between seats, the excitement in the air that something magical might take place on this adventure. Those days are long gone for me, or so I thought. ...

Editor, Several letters recently have stated that we can’t know what our country’s founding fathers believed yet on the other hand are certain that none of them were Christians. One might as well claim the sun rises in the West. Let me illustrate. Robert Paine, Lyman Hall and John Witherspo...

Editor, Here is my letter to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell. I had two recent encounters with your deputies that I decided to tell you about because on both occasions the men not only did their job quite professionally but confidently and competently. The first circumstance occurred when I was driving...

The 66th legislative session has come to an end. As Speaker of the House, it was my goal to uphold the integrity of the House. As a leader in my caucus it was my goal to foster unity not conformity. We can be united behind the primary ideals of our party without losing individuality. It has been an honor to ...