Sorted by date Results 451 - 475 of 2883
In my last article, I wrote about the prophet Isaiah. His response to God’s call was, “Here I am, send me.” He was willing to be used by God before he even knew what God was asking of him and was faithful to carry out every difficult task. In this article I want to focus on the prophet Jonah. God specifically told him to go to Nineveh, calling the people to repent of their wickedness. Instead, he ran in the opposite direction to Tarshish. Jonah ran because Nineveh was a very evil place, enemi...
There are a lot of harsh criticisms of Governor Greg Gianforte and I agree with almost every single one of them. I don’t mind telling you that I take great exception to his stances on environment, housing, welfare, journalism, and Donald Trump - just to name a few. But while many of my contemporaries in journalism have been quick to insult his banning of TikTok, I won’t be joining them. Gianforte made millions as a California tech investor before becoming a Montana politician and as such, I do believe that he knows something about technology. W...
Editor, One of the greatest things about the valley has always been its diversity, from its timber base to its wildlife. The complexity and abundance of both would be hard to dismiss for anything other than a great blessing. This abundance has supported and bolstered human life since man first set foot here. That is all changing. The timber base is being eroded away by a multitude of reasons. Disease, fire, logging, road widening and development. They are all contributing in one degree or another. the end result is a loss of habitat to...
I applaud Representative Matt Rosendale for being one of the strongest advocates for fiscal responsibility in DC. As negotiations between the White House and Republicans have had little success, our congressman has continued to voice strong solutions that will keep the US from defaulting on its debt. Both parties admit that defaulting on our nation’s debt is the wrong course for the US. But unless Democrats are willing to cut back on their erratic spending, a deal will not be reached. Montana’s small businesses are at serious risk of becoming t...
In response to your letter in the May 11 edition, I just wanted to relay that I am pleased with the Pathfinder’s progress. You have particularly improved dramatically the editorial quality. By all means, expand local content as you can, but I think you are doing a very good job. Keep it up! Sincerely, Andrew Chritton (Woodworth area)...
This year is the fourth time I’m reading through the Bible in a year. In the past I read all the books but not all in one year. Seems like there are always verses I seem to not have noticed before, or forgot after. Like this year, in Genesis 6:6 “The Lord was grieved that He had made man on the earth and His heart was filled with pain.” As I read that over and over I began to realize “God’s heart was filled with pain.” I wonder if we can really grasp that - ‘God’s heart was filled with pain!’ Can anyone even come close to know how God felt...
As I write, loons are claiming their nesting territories and another loon year begins. Montana’s common loon population is currently “stable” chugging along as a relatively level line that may be slightly increasing. That was not the case when the Montana Loon Study began in 1982 to determine basic biological information about these birds, when they didn’t seem to be reproducing successfully. I joined the well-developed, albeit small, loon team in 1985. My research determined that human recreational activities (especially spring fishing...
In this issue I interviewed a tree. Obviously not quite literally, but I did write a profile about one. Gus is a local wonder, the world’s largest larch tree. At over 1,000 years old, Gus is a truly remarkable historical figure. Right here in your small town is a natural feat of incredible height. Something profiled by many publications before this one. I want to express what a joy it is to find something so novel and have the absolute privilege to see it first-hand. I found Gus simply by accident. I was trying to find a street address on a G...
Several years ago coming back from Arizona about the end of March of first part of April we witnessed one of the saddest slaughters of nature ever. Coming north from Searchlight, NV onto the Veterans Memorial Highway the air was alive with migrating Monarch butterflies. As they attempted to cross the highway only a few feet off the road, cars, trucks were crushing them all over the road, sucking them into their radiators by the thousands. It was a sight to behold!!! If it happens every year or not I cannot say. There is a way to cut down on...
Governor Greg Gianforte’s attempt to veto Senate Bill 442 is unpopular, inexplicable, and contrary to the wishes of both the legislature and the people of Montana. His veto ignores 132 legislators from both parties who voted for SB 442. It ignores 56 county commissions and numerous local governments who support the bill because it supported needed county road maintenance, enabling farmers and ranchers to get their products to market and EMTs to respond to emergencies. It ignores the needs of veterans, who would benefit from increased funding f...
Recently I had a phone conversation with a childhood friend. As we had not seen each other, nor talked, for quite some time we first exchanged health updates; and since he is wrestling with some very serious and life threatening issues, I asked about his eternal security (future destination and plans). He laughed and said he planned to go to heaven. So I asked if he’d made his reservation. He said he had. So I asked who he had made them with. And, this led us to a conversation about church, church doctrine, and hypocrisy within the church. I...
INTEREST RATES, CASH AND BUYER CONFIDENCE Thirty-year mortgage rates have more than doubled this year, and after running up above 7%, now have settled out around 6.5%, and 15-year rates are currently at 5.95%. Compared to prior decades current mortgage rates are good, however over the past 8 years most homeowners have obtained new mortgages with 3 to 4% interest rates, and many have been unwilling to sell their current home and give up their 3% mortgage rate and move on to a new home with a 6.5% interest rate. This has resulted in less homes...
Iggy Peck has been an architect since birth. He begins building towers with diapers at age 2 (not exactly clean), churches from apples, and even pancake arches. Don't let your kids get too many ideas about playing with their food after this one. Most folks are impressed with Iggy's wild imagination - that is, until he enters Miss Lila Greer's second grade class. Because of some bizarre childhood experience in a skyscraper, this teacher forbids any talk of architecture. Iggy's passion is...
I would like to take this time to respond to a letter sent to the editor a few weeks ago which expressed some frustration in a lack of local coverage. I have been trying to refocus the paper on local events as best as I am able. If there are things which readers want to see more of or would rather not see, please email and let me know. I hope that my photo-essay type pieces have been enjoyable, but I don’t know without any public input. But any frustration in my not being as engaged or connected as the Bournes is beyond valid. I am not the same...
Livestock Industry’s War on Wildlife at Montana Legislature At Gov. Greg Gianforte’s behest, the Montana Legislature’s anti-wildlife bias was on full display this session. It’s easy to see the direct connection between a number of extreme anti-wildlife bills and a small cabal of privileged ranchers who exploit our public lands for their private profit. These ranchers want Montana to be the last best place exclusively for their sheep and cattle, at the expense of native wildlife and their habitat, and the people who value Montana’s unique tr...
Theft and vandalism of local art is disrespectful Dear Editor, Most residents of Seeley lake are aware of the Disney, Comic book heroes, and many other cartoon characters. I am sure many of you residents have seen and enjoyed the wood carvings displayed on property along Double Arrow Road, especially the children passing by. I know my grandchildren look forward to seeing them when they visit Seeley Lake. I can’t Imagine the time spent by this elderly gentleman to produce such impeccable craftsmanship. However, recent theft and vandalism to t...
Seeley Lake readers are in for a special treat this month as Jamie Ford returns to the Alpine Artisans Open Book Club to read from and talk about his latest novel 'The Many Daughters of Afong Moy'. Jamie will be reading on Saturday, May 13 at 7 pm at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation building. Jamie’s initial and epic visit to the AAI book series was soon after the publication of his first novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (currently being made into a feature film), and those w...
A memorable experience in my teenage years was a strenuous hike up Mount Rainier in Washington State. I ascended the mountain to an elevation of just a little over 10,000 feet at Camp Muir. This camp contains shelters that are important staging camps for mountaineers desiring to summit the peak of Mount Rainier. Those planning to reach the summit of the mountain rely on the refuge of Camp Muir to provide shelter while awaiting a mountain summit. There is no way to accurately plan or predict...
As winter stubbornly makes its exit, many of us are busy making plans for summer adventures. The wealth of public land that surrounds our community means we don’t have to go too far afield to enjoy the great outdoors and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is happy to have played a part in ensuring our access to some of those places. Most recently, we completed an exciting two-phase transfer of approximately 11,000 acres of land on Game Ridge, above Nine Mile Prairie - stretching from Dunnigan Gulch t...
Why is it important to know the difference? It’s due to the fact that life is full of experiences, both while we’re awake and sleeping. Reading, watching a movie, reviewing a dream, fantasizing, imagining, listening to music and much more make up our experiences. Each experience is filled with symbols, signs or both. Signs are most familiar to us. As an example, a stop sign comes to mind but our language also includes signs. Each word has a specific meaning. This specificity indicates the wor...
Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” tries to use dazzling shots and brilliant colors to make up for a silly story but ends up conveluted and full of cliches. Diehard anime fans might enjoy this adventure story for its dedication to anime stereotypes but casual anime-watchers will likely be unimpressed. This animated Japanese fantasy film follows a 17-year-old girl who’s roped into battling a life-threatening magical phenomenon. Suzume, voiced by Nanoka Hara and Akari Miura, encounters a mysteri...
Where I’m from we don’t really have any public lands. Much like Europe, New England is all privately owned. The 300 years of land purchasing, developing, and trading has left little unclaimed by some entity or individual. The American East, and especially the colonial region known as New England, has been a part of this nation since long before the concept of communal land occurred to the European settlers. My hometown of Proctor, was originally called Southerland Falls but was renamed when it was purchased by the Proctor family with the int...
Time to act! Update on the current situation regarding the purchase of Holland Lake Lodge, Swan Valley by POWDR Corporation proposing a destination resort. A critical and crucial US Forest Service decision on this public land use is about to be made. What can you do? Be bothered! Be upset! Be vocal! Reminder! Swan Valley, Montana is a small community situated in the middle of public lands and two wilderness areas. Over the past 40 years, there has been extensive work by property owners, timber companies, conservation groups and the USFS to...
I want to welcome you to the early phases of Land Management Plan Revision for the Lolo National Forest. The Lolo National Forest is an exceptional place, and it is my honor and privilege to be the Forest Supervisor for this landscape that is highly valued by so many people. I know it will be both a challenging and deeply rewarding responsibility to facilitate this process and ultimately, decide on the framework that will guide this Forest for many years. We are excited and eager to invite the...
The Administration for Community Living, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, published their “2020 Profile of Older Americans” in May of 2021. They predict that by 2040 there will be 14.4 million adults over the age of 85 living in the United States. In 2019 this number was less than 7 million. As the population of older Americans grows, so too should our focus on ways to stay healthy and live well in the later stages of life. Recent studies by the National Institutes of Health suggest that good oral health may help...
