Opinion

Editor, Lisa Pavlock will be effective as a legislator, not only because she has good ideas and values but she also has the intelligence and experience to carry out her policy without offending people. She will think things through so that she does her work right and doesn’t create problems for Montana with unintended consequences. Joe Read, on the other hand, has just had to apologize about offending everyone in the state. His own party was distressed with one climate policy bill he introduced. Seven-out-of-ten of the bills he introduced as primary sponsor died in process. He believes global warming will be good for the Montana economy and was lampooned for it nationally. ...

Editor, I recently tuned into “The Foreign Desk,” a podcast entitled “How did the GOP become the party of Trump” with Tom Nichols, Linda Chavez and Bill Kristol. It was an hour of interesting analyses addressing this question on Trump and the GOP. The initial agreement by all wa...

Editor, Having spent four sessions immersed in the Montana State Legislature, I assure you Gerry Browning is a perfect fit as representative for House District 12.  Browning’s professional and personal experience makes her a versatile candidate for the 90-day, biennial legislative session. ...

Editor, I wrote to Senator Daines. I wrote to Congressman Greg Gianforte. I asked both to make a public statement rebuking President Trump for disparaging the US Armed Forces, calling soldiers losers, calling prisoners of war dummies. I did not hear back from Senator Daines. Neither did Governor Bulloc...

Editor, I retired a few years ago following a 45-year career in retail and moved to Polson, Montana, from the Chicago area. I have noticed how folks here tend to keep their politics to themselves, for the most part, which is understandable with the intense divide we find ourselves in today. While companie...

This month we are highlighting two displays. Our library received the “Rightfully Hers” popup display from the National Archives in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the women’s suffrage movement. This display is in our library atrium along with a selection of b...

Plastic! Yeah, it’s everywhere ... not just in grocery store aisles and department stores and every other commercial outlet you can think of, not to mention your own cupboards and closets and trashcans, but on the grass and on the sidewalks, in the landfills, in the lakes and rivers, in the oceans. And...

Editor, On behalf of the teachers and families of special needs preschoolers here in Polson, a big “thank you” to the Greater Polson Community Foundation for their recent grant. This foundation continues to annually assist so many local organizations and non-profits in the community. Specifica...

These are tumultuous and troubling times. Many of us are struggling to keep peace and hope alive in our hearts and minds. Even though our small valley has not experienced the extremes of the pandemic, severe natural disasters or violent riots, we are all affected by what’s happening in the rest of the ...

I have actively listened to parents from around the state as school sports are kicking off. I have heard that some parents are being banned from their children’s school-sponsored activities along with other spectators. As a mother, grandmother, and educator, I know that parents are more than just spect...