Sorted by date Results 1119 - 1143 of 1183
SEELEY LAKE - Why would anyone think it’s acceptable to sell alcohol at our elementary school grounds??? There are laws to prevent it!!! Yet, the Seeley Lake Community Foundation (SLCF), which normally does wonderful things for our community, was able to obtain a permit to do so for the Bob Marshall Music Festival. SLCF can you explain to me how that this lines up with your mission statement, because I can’t see it? Seeley Lake Elementary Administration/Board... REALLY??? You think this is acceptable for our grade school??? SLE Adm...
President Barack Hussein Obama is arguably the most maligned president in U.S. history, thanks to the U.S. Congress, the NRA and special interest groups that are opposed to his policies. President Obama has survived the most vile accusations with dignity and honor. We should all have such grace....
To the left is the future for Montana if Governor Steve Bullock, the Missoula Mayor, his City Council and the Missoula County Commissioners bring unvetted Muslim refugees to Montana as planned. They are all contributing to President Barack Hussein Obama's Muslim pipeline to America, and they are all contributing to Islamic jihad on American soil. Protest this insane proposal and remember these misguided "public servants" on Election Day. If it's refugees they want, bring those who do not grow...
On Tuesday, June 28 there was an article in the Missoulian newspaper about the memorial service for David Thatcher. Mr. Thatcher was one of the famed Doolittle Raiders and was a hero in every sense of the word, helping to save four of his fellow crew members after their plane crashed. Gov. Steve Bullock attended the June 27 service and ordered flags in Montana be flown at half-staff. That’s pretty straightforward. Tuesday I had occasion to run some errands downtown and was saddened to see no less than seven different flags at full staff. T...
I’ve never been concerned about the chatter for transferring federal lands to the state because I always presumed those people don’t know what they are asking for. Other than being frustrated about the modern quagmire of legal challenges and budget constraints preventing everything everyone wants to do or wants done on federal public lands, I’ve never seen a specific example of what the state could do better. But recently during a road trip through the Midwest, I woke up one morning very afraid the proponents for transferring federal land...
I often wonder how many times are people asked, prior to an election, "Are you a Republican or a Democrat?" We as a Nation have become so indifferent to the future of our great country that we need only to identify with an animal foreign to our shores or a jackass. This Great Nation and those that sacrificed so much to create and maintain it deserve better. If you vote for someone solely because they are a woman, a minority, an incumbent, a Republican or a Democrat, you do a great disservice to...
MISSOULA - This year I had the opportunity to participate in the processing of mail-in ballots for Missoula County in the 2016 primary elections. I was one of 42 people selected to remove ballots from the blue, secret envelopes and unfold them so they could be fed to the vote counting machines. I was impressed with the percentage of ballots returned this year as compared to previous years – per the Missoulian. I am sure people who mail in their ballots really want to have a voice in government, so I was disappointed in how many of the b...
Recently there was an article in the Missoulian by George Ochenski suggesting a way to “enhance access to public lands” is to “paint the corner posts on all state land sections blue.” He thinks that would make it so “any member of the public would know immediately whether the land they seek to access is public....” Well, that may identify the state land but it wouldn’t necessarily make it available to any member of the general public. First of all, assuming they could get there without trespassing on private land, according to State statutes, a...
MISSOULA - I want to thank the more than 10,000 Missoula County voters who supported me in the Democratic primary for Missoula County Commissioner. With that victory, I’m now ready to take on the Republican candidate in the general election this fall. It’s been a pleasure meeting residents across this great county over the past few months, from Condon to Lolo to the Ninemile—hearing your concerns and visions for the county, and looking for creative solutions that balance competing interests. I also want to thank my opponent in the race Stacy...
MISSOULA - Several have called me in regard of the air conditioning unit for The Missoula Animal Control building of which many of us contributed to. So, I called Jeff the head of Animal Control and he stated pretty much the following. Before Animal Control could have it installed they had to have a structural engineer check out the building where the unit would be placed and he found problems in the upper building. This has been fixed. By the time it was fixed, the business, who had said they would install it at no cost, found the cost and it...
SEELEY LAKE - Now that the badly-planned central sewage treatment system is proving to be unaffordable, it’s time for city mothers and fathers to step back and consider a new approach for Seeley Lake. In the world of sewage treatment there are three steps: collection, treatment and disposal. The most expensive aspect is generally the collection...that often represents two thirds of the cost of building a treatment system and easily 90 percent of the subsequent operation and maintenance, as the local sewer board is finding out. There are new t...
MISSOULA - I have read with interest several letters in the Missoulian and the Pathfinder for or against each of the Democratic Party primary nominees for County Commissioner. Regardless of my political affiliations, I am a supporter of Commissioner Stacy Rye, who I have met on several occasions, with whom I have communicated frequently since her appointment to the Board of County Commissioners and whom I believe has the interests of we, the people, uppermost in her activities as a commissioner. But in favoring Mr. Dave Strohmaier over...
MISSOULA - I was surprised to read the vindictive letter Jean wrote about Stacy Rye. Is Jean afraid of losing her power she has held for to long? If Jean checked she would know Stacy is in Helena Thursday, May 26 trying to get the state to lower the speed limit in Seeley Lake and other smaller communities. There are people going at least 60 miles per hour as they go through our town and I am sure it is that way with other small towns. Stacy is working for Missoula but also for our small communities. Jean endorses Dave because he is also as Mr....
MISSOULA - Several months ago the two voting Commissioners selected Stacy Rye as the best person – on their very first ballot – and appointed her to fill the third Commissioner’s position. Now, after working with her for only seven months, one Commissioner has said Stacy’s management style is not a good fit for the Commission and has endorsed Dave Strohmaier. The other Commissioner is not endorsing Stacy. A county board that appears to have become dysfunctional in such a short time does not bode well for an effective county government over th...
I fell in love with Montana during a pack trip in the Bob Marshall wilderness when I was eight years old. Twenty years later, I’m still finding new streams, lookouts, forests and ridgelines that amaze me every time I head out. One of the best parts about living and working on the land (as I do during the summers) in Missoula County is that you don’t have to go too far out your front door to access this beauty. In the face of expected development and a changing climate, though, we need to elect a county commissioner devoted to conservation and...
MISSOULA - Stacy’s latest political trick to do an op-ed on Missoula County’s new parental leave policy with her campaign photo and only her signature is a perfect example of a politician not a statesperson. This is just one more reason to vote for Dave Strohmaier, a qualified leader of integrity. She had only been in the appointed position for a short time when I realized how county staff and our partner agency representatives were looking at me with the same questions in their eyes- “What is it that she doesn’t like about my work? Does my...
Last year after Missoula County Commissioner Bill Carey announced he was retiring mid-term, the Missoula Democratic Central Committee held a forum which resulted in three people being nominated for presentation to the Board of Commissioners. The two voting Commissioners agreed to APPOINT Stacy Rye on the first ballot. Now, after working with Stacy for seven-plus months, one Commissioner has endorsed Dave Strohmaier and the other has NOT endorsed Stacy. To me that means Stacy does not play well with others and that she has created what will be...
MISSOULA – Hopefully you read the big card from Stacy Rye who is running as a democrat to retain her seat as Missoula County Commissioner. Stacy has been endorsed by the mayor, all the council members, Carol Williams and many county leaders. Why, you ask? It is because she feels the people want and need more transparency from the commissioners such as minutes taken and meetings recorded. Before they make a decision, which affects all of the people of the county, they will have a voice, and decisions will not be made behind closed doors with n...
Dave Strohmaier has my vote in our June 7 Missoula County Commissioner primary. Two years ago I encouraged Dave to run for House District 92 in northeast Missoula City and County. What a great job he did, traveling the county, experiencing the landscape, knocking on doors, meeting people and learning about issues. Because Northeast Missoula County is part of my Senate District, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the hardworking people who are making great strides to preserve, protect and enhance the area. I’ve watched Commissioner Jea...
I met Stacy Rye five years ago and I have been grateful ever since. She is a strong friend and an even stronger leader. I supported her when she put in her name for the appointment of Missoula County Commissioner because I knew she would work harder than anyone else at the job. She is extremely passionate about local government and making Missoula a better place to work and live. While I could repeat other letters about openness and transparency, helping families and partnering with local governments, all things Stacy ardently believes, my...
I am responding to recent allegations by my Public Service Commission (PSC) primary opponent and her supporters about recent automated phone calls that I left in voter’s answering machines. The state statute they quote is not as clear-cut as they would like to think. In all likelihood it is unconstitutional. The same law in South Carolina was found to be a violation of free speech. It is regularly used by candidates on both sides to get their message out. I stand behind my decision to drop a 15-second, pre-recorded voice mail that was delivered...
Dave Strohmaier is the best candidate for Missoula County Commissioner. We have known Dave for the last 15 years when he kindly helped our son Kevin Furey with his candidacy for the Montana house. Dave is a hard working, committed candidate with a wealth of experience. Since we live in Bonner, we are thrilled with the planned extension of the Kim Williams Trail and the new state park. With that expansion also comes risks. Dave is committed to helping establish a system to protect users of the trails and the environment. Dave is a strong...
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Water Compact is much more than just a piece of legislation—it is a negotiated agreement that ensures the future of agriculture in our state. Without the Compact the Tribes would have to define their water rights through litigation in the Montana Water Court—a costly, time consuming and uncertain process that would have dire impacts for Montana taxpayers, landowners and water users across our state. The Tribes would have the earliest priority date of any water users. Failure to ratify the Com...
I live in a rural area of Missoula County where sometimes it’s de rigeur to complain about the policies, directions and goings on “in town.” But I love Missoula and I fiercely love Missoula County. Our issues do not have black and white solutions, nor even gray ones. Our solutions must be more kaleidoscope in nature, structured but brilliant and varied. Missoula County is diverse, complicated and our County Commissioners maintain the necessary tension that makes this place so livable. Dave Strohmaier is endorsed by Montana Conservation Voter...
I met both 2016 commissioner candidates long before they were candidates and I have chosen to support Dave Strohmaier for the following reasons. Teamwork to Dave means working together with the other Commissioners to resolve disagreements and make the best decisions for Missoula County. It means developing good working relations with staff members and department heads, motivating staff and department heads to put forth their ideas without fear, developing a consensus or acceptable compromise and moving forward with the group’s decision as d...
