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Children are the most precious gift; to the parents, to the future of a nation and the future of humankind. Without children there is no future. Yes, parents are responsible for their children and in bringing them up for the future of the nation and humankind. But a civilized society does not use children as a means to admonish, correct or punish the parents for acts which the parents may have knowingly or unknowingly committed. There are supposedly cases where people are crossing the border with children who are not their own and may not even...
GOP Senate candidate Matt Rosendale is not the person he claims to be and is not particularly well informed or interested in protecting Montanans. He is not right for Montana. He has never been a rancher, despite using the title. In 2002 he bought a ranch, but Montana’s Revenue Department reports that neither he, his wife, nor his ranch has registered ownership of any cattle since January 2003. He also admitted, in a 2017 radio interview, that he leases out the entire ranch, and although one lessee runs cows there, that does not make him a r...
In a state like Montana where hard work is valued and our word is our bond, you would think that Matt Rosendale would make an effort to follow through on his commitment to attend the first debate of the election. Instead, Rosendale decided to take a vacation to DC to schmooze with lobbyists and donors, and then backed out of the debate. Maybe someone could get away with that in Maryland—but Rosendale’s behavior won’t cut it for Montanans. As soon as Rosendale became the Republican nominee for this Senate race, Jon Tester invited Rosen...
Hi, friends and neighbors! I’d like to thank everyone in Seeley Lake and surrounding areas for your support and votes in the Democratic Primary, June 5th! I look forward to continuing what I’ve been doing, which is attending meetings, events, meeting one-on-one with folks and listening to your concerns for our rural District. I knocked on more than 2,000 doors in the primary and enjoyed the conversations we had, including with Republicans and Independents. Your thoughts and ideas are important to me. Regardless of your party, whether you...
The gratitude and admiration I have for this community’s support in the recent primary election is difficult to convey in language. Despite the fact that I was not the nominee for the general election, I’m overwhelmed by your turnout at the polls. The resilience of this community has clearly been evident in the unprecedented wildfire season last summer, a long winter and subsequent spring floods. Your determination to face all of these challenges with dignity, humility and a spirit of unrelenting optimism is a wellspring of inspiration for man...
To our dirt road friends and neighbors of the Glacier Creek, Styler and Remicks area, Your considerate driving makes the air around the area cleaner. If particulate in the air were compared with other parts of the valley, ours would be cleaner. Not just because of the dust abatement participants but because so many of you drive slower during dust season. More than a dozen local residents walk, jog, bike and horseback ride these neighborhoods throughout the year, especially the dusty months. Thanks for driving slowly on dirt roads in the...
I am writing this letter to give my strong support for Duane “Cecil” Schlabach as our representative for HD 92. I’ve known Duane for 18 years, and in the process watched him travel his “Montana road” - first as a wilderness packer/guide, followed by a stint as a rodeo bronc rider, then as a carpenter, as a university student pursuing higher education and for the last several years as a teacher at Seeley Lake Elementary. Over the years he has earned and continually increased my respect for his motivation, drive, work ethic and strong core valu...
I don’t remember when I’ve been so excited about an election -- maybe 2008? A major reason is that I have had the amazing opportunity to work on my friend’s campaign. Lee Bridges is running for House District 92 -- it’s a unique district stretching from East Missoula, east to Clinton, north to Seeley, then Condon. Lee has lived in the district for decades and is very involved in the community. She is a union sheet metal worker, very hard-working, scary smart, quick to understand, creative, a natural consensus seeker. I have spent hours with he...
As a lifelong resident of East Missoula (HD92), I believe we need a strong and independent voice for the working class dogs, the tough blue collar folks who make up the majority of District 92. Lee Bridges is that voice and she’s getting my vote. Lee has been a neighbor and friend for over 34 years. You won’t find a better representative than her. She’s a union sheet metal worker and mechanic, an entrepreneur who restores and rides Harleys, a skilled tradesman and union supporter, a volunteer firefighter, an East Missoula Community Counc...
Dear Seeley Lake Residents: I just had the most amazing visit to your elementary school. As I walked in, I felt like I was in the most amazing learning environment. There was a bench by the opening door made from snowboards and the wood trim on all the indoor doorways, windows and shelves were made from recycled pine beetle wood. I saw a table made from an old wooden bleacher and met some of the most enthusiastic educators. While visiting with the educators I learned about an outdoor program you had for your students and learned how this was...
I find it interesting and intriguing that Mr. Keith Virga found the need to write a letter to the Editor in the May 10th Pathfinder. His support of Freshman Representative Hopkins is his right, as is mine to support and promote Mr. Derek (DJ) Smith, a strong conservative Republican. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to look at an idea without agreeing with it. (Aristotle) I am on the ballot and filed my C-1 in December of 2016. If I did not think then that I was better qualified than Mr. Hopkins, why file? I have followed the...
SEELEY LAKE - Shout out to the Seeley-Swan Community. I’m thinking Saturday night’s art auction, talent show and scholarship fundraiser was a success. The talent in this community is astonishing. Regulars such as Trace and Mark wowed the folks as always...and Pete on the banjer and his wife Rachel on guitar did the same. Two high school students did their own original poetry and Steve Fraker did original Cowboy verse. A group of hand bellers hushed the crowd with quiet melodic bell music. How’d they do that? And more good stuff too numerous to...
I live in East Missoula and was very intrigued when I read one of Lee Bridges’ (HD92) intro cards. So I called her and she actually came over to my house and we talked for over an hour. I find her incredibly thoughtful, understanding and insightful - I have since volunteered for her campaign, and am impressed with her commitment to hard work and her ethical practices. I hope you will join me in voting for Lee Bridges for HD92!!...
With proud enthusiasm, I support Cecil Schlabach for HD92 in the upcoming primary election on June 5. I have known Cecil for the past seven years as both a teaching associate and a friend. We both teach junior high at SLE. Cecil works tirelessly to promote well-educated students through his teaching of History, Civics and Communication Arts, along with coordinating the educational trip to Washington D.C. Embracing higher education, Cecil just completed a Masters in Educational Leadership. Cecil is hardworking, dedicated and honest as the day...
Tired of asking our state representatives to allow for more renewable energy development? Ready for a just transition to renewable energy? Do you think it’s time voters had a say in expansion of renewable energy options in Montana? THEN I-184 IS THE ANSWER. This proposed initiative is being circulated to gather enough signatures from 25,468 registered voters by June 22 to qualify it for the November 2018 Montana ballot. To learn more about I-184 and sign the petition, go to the website mtcares.org and click on the “About” tab. The page that...
We have come to expect that the Federal Government does not do its job. When it comes to State Government, we expect the opposite. We expect our State Legislature to get things done, to work together to tackle serious problems affecting us as citizens. I ran to represent you in 2016 because it seemed like our state government had lost touch. Instead of creating an environment where small business can grow, the legislature had created one where small businesses were forced to jump through a seemingly never-ending set of hoops and red tape....
MISSOULA - I’ve known Josh Slotnick, candidate for Missoula County Commissioner, for nearly 20 years. We have worked together in various capacities and we occasionally hunt elk and deer together. You don’t need to spend a lot of time with Josh, however, to sense his deep integrity, his singular ability to listen well and consider other points of view carefully, his sincere commitment to his community and his farmer’s fierce work ethic. I also know Jean Curtiss, have worked with her and think highly of her. She has been a darned good commi...
MISSOULA - I met Jean Curtiss over two decades ago while I was a school board trustee. The board was grappling with the agonizing prospect of neighborhood school closure. Representing the Missoula PTA, Jean brought a calm and rational voice to the rancor, always advocating for the decision that would ensure the best education possible for all of the students in the sprawling district. She earned my respect. Jean has demonstrated that same steady hand for 17 years as County Commissioner, helping guide Missoula County through difficult economic t...
Friends and neighbors, primary season is here and our House District (92) has a clear choice to represent us in the Montana State Legislature. Lee Bridges is an incredible candidate and citizen willing to work around the clock for us. She has more than 40 years of experience in hands-on blue-collar work and has been an active public servant as a volunteer fire fighter, community organizer, and community committee member. Her main issues are fair wages, good jobs, unions, public lands, fire management and public education. She is actively...
In 2008, my father, a World War II veteran, was receiving medical care at the Billings Veteran’s clinic. I had medical POA for my father and had questions about his health and left several messages for his doctor, but my phone calls weren't returned. After the third attempt, I was told by a staff member at the clinic that it was hard for the doctor to return calls. I was very frustrated with the lack of response and sent an e-mail to Senator Tester. Within a couple of days, I received a phone message from Tester's staff informing me that t...
MISSOULA - Please join me in support of reelecting T.J. McDermott for Missoula County Sheriff. As the current Sheriff of Missoula County, Sheriff McDermott has a proven track record of running a jail, making improvements with the diversion program and overseeing a budget. Sheriff McDermott’s work experience includes time on the street as a police officer, county deputy, detective and Sheriff. Sheriff McDermott has also made improvements to the uniform that is being worn by deputies on the street, the Missoula County Bomb Squad and the Special R...
For those of you who vote by mail you should have received your ballot by now. The actual primary at the polls is on June 5. For whatever it’s worth, here is for whom I am going to vote. Grant Kier for US House. Despite two worthy opponents, Grant is my clear choice. During his thoughtful and highly astute five years of leadership, Five Valleys Land Trust expanded exponentially, protecting many thousands of acres, most after difficult but highly collaborative negotiations. He would bring a solid and wide-ranging grounding in science to a C...
Floodwaters in three of the four sub-districts of the Seeley Lake Sewer District should give present and future Board members pause. Those areas should probably never be built on because they are wetlands and the homes already in those areas should get special sewage treatment attention. Sewering those areas will encourage growth and at present the Seeley Lake Water District is at capacity. It will not be able to supply the new development with water unless it makes considerable, expensive new capital investment. If new owners want water they...
I know our minds are all on the high floodwaters, the obstructed roadways, and flooded homes, but looking at the long game, I see a very vibrant Spring season for foliage and fire fuels. If we get a dry period this summer, that will be prime dry fuel for fire season. I urge everyone in the Potomac area to attend the Potomac Community Wildfire Preparedness Event at the Potomac Community Center on Tuesday, May 22, from 6-8 p.m. There will be a community BBQ and showing of the documentary, Era of Megafires, by Dr. Paul Hessburg. The Era of...
As the saying goes, “experience matters.” I could not agree more. What kind of experience do we want? Being raised by a single mom who had to work for everything in life has taught me that nothing good is just handed to you, you need to work for it. She also showed me compassion and being there for people that are less fortunate than ourselves. I remember serving at a very young age at Mission 3:16 where we gave the little we had to people who needed it more. I have brought these lessons and others to the private sector where I started my own...
