Sorted by date Results 553 - 577 of 1183
Hell yes I am going to vote for Bernie Sanders!! He is going to give me free medical, free dental, free housing. B.S. is going to buy me a new car – free, free, free! Meals on Wheels will pull up to my door free times a day – but wait, if you order right now you can get a second dose of B.S. free! And last, but not least, a free education! But wait – B.S. is going to do all my thinking for me so I won’t need an education. The Democrats have spent the last three and one-half years doing nothing, and I mean nothing, but bad mouthing our great P...
ELBOW LAKE - I have been camping, fishing, floating and boating on Elbow Lake since 1977. In 2001, we acquired a DNRC lease on Elbow Lake. It was a dream come true. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be part of this area and the Elbow Lake ecosystem. I consider myself to be a good steward of the land. On the other hand, I find that the Department of Natural Resources and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks have not held up their end of being good land stewards through their lack of communication with Elbow Lake stakeholders, not being inc...
Our family is one of over 20 that own a cabin on Elbow Lake. Although we have been owners for only a few years, many families have had cabins on the Lake for decades. Our family has come to love this beautiful portion of the Clearwater River watershed – we are devastated by your proposed action! On page 12 Section IX. Draft Environmental Assessment Conclusion Section 3, you state: “Is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required? No. We conclude, from this review, that the proposed activities would have an overall positive impact on the...
I just want to set the story straight once and for all. The Water District’s name and my name in particular keeps being brought up at the Sewer District’s meetings as well as in the newspaper in regards to the proposed sewer project. A couple months ago I was falsely quoted at a Sewer District meeting as telling an individual that the Water District is expanding due to the Sewer District project, and consequently would be raising rates. TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT I DID NOT SAY THIS, NOR IS IT TRUE. In the notices section of the Pathfinder dat...
SEELEY LAKE - President Trump’s trade war with China is expected to cost Montana families an extra $1,000 next year. Missoula County Commissioners have just announced an 11 percent increase in property taxes for 2020. Medical costs are out the roof. Electrical utility leaders are asking for rate hikes. Also, they say because of the trade war with China, monthly water bills here exceed $50 and are among the highest in western Montana. Gasoline is consistently 10-15 cents a gallon higher here than in Missoula. With these costs in mind, how can S...
When the snow starts falling, a reverent quiet seems to settle on my spirit, inviting me to hold my heart open to possibility. Being quickly propelled into this blustery season, it seems a good time to let my faith wonder. Come along, if you like. Here in my house in the forest, I like to collect myself in front of the wood stove with a hot beverage - licorice tea this time - close my eyes and imagine what's in store for the season. What sorts of daily Divine occurrences will emerge, drawing me...
When President Trump was duly elected by the American people I was shocked at the rage of some people. I heard a woman say she wanted to blow up the White House. I heard some Democrats promoting violence against President Trump and his supporters. I saw a woman hold up an image of President Trump’s bloody severed head. I saw an image of President Trump hanging from a rope and then knocked down and clubs handed to CHILDREN to beat the image of our President of the United States of America. Shame on those people. In my lifetime I have never s...
SEELEY LAKE - I want to alert the 182 people who signed the grassroots petition opposing the mandatory hookup to the sewer system that your voice has been disregarded. Moreover, my constitutional right to formalize opposition through a petition for a referendum has been rejected on a number of false arguments. I feel that there is a great deal of resistance to the construction of a centralized sewer system – the most recent vote for the Seeley Lake Sewer Board members is clear proof of the opposition. For example, challenger Troy Spence r...
SEELEY LAKE - The Sewer Board has published proposed rules for governing its sewer operation. They are a must-read and are available online, at the County annex and the Seeley Lake Public Library at Seeley-Swan High School. They are disturbing. They violate your civil rights and they absolve the District Board of any liability. As they are proposed, a sewer district employee can enter your home and examine “the manner in which the water is used” to ensure compliance with their rules. The installation is at your expense except for a narrow win...
MISSOULA - Perhaps many of you in the Seeley-Swan Valley area are aware there is an old bridge down in Missoula on the west side of town. It has been the subject of debate and controversy for over 25 years. Undoubtedly, most of you believe you have bigger things to worry about than some “neighborhood” dispute about a bridge. Let us take a minute and give you some reasons why you should be very concerned about what some of your County Commissioners are up to. In 1994, studies began to see if replacing the old Maclay Bridge was feasible, and at...
SWAN VALLEY – She was born on a cold winter day, wrapped and warm, high above the headwaters, in the same landscape where she later gave birth to celebrated triplets. Her neighbors loved her and many people experienced firsthand the wonder of those young siblings following mama through the forests they called home. Last week this shining example of creation died a quiet, sobering death – not because she had failed but because this now grieving community had failed her. She was so greatly admired that we gave her a name from the mountains themse...
Rural Montana is facing some pressing challenges. We must provide quality medical care for an aging population, so our seniors can enjoy healthy, vibrant lives in the communities they’ve always called home. And we need to create more jobs for the next generation of rural Montanans so they have the opportunity to live in our great state. These two objectives both require enhancements to our health care system, but we need to implement these enhancements in a way that will not jeopardize access to healthcare for people who live and work in r...
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (S. 1765) represents the best of Montana politics: collaborative, consensus-based policy intended to benefit everyone who lives and recreates in the Blackfoot River watershed. Diverse stakeholder groups have spent years creating a comprehensive plan for one of the most productive and storied landscapes in all of Montana. I will note that the BCSA’s incredible broad base of support – ranchers, timber companies, hunters, anglers, conservation groups, off-road enthusiasts and die-hard wilderness adv...
SEELEY LAKE - The sewer debate is about justice and fairness. Here are a couple of parameters. We all perform the same daily bodily functions, whether we’re registered to vote, own property or not. Fairness suggests we ALL have a say in this sewer debate, because even though a majority of the citizens don’t vote or own property they will pay for this new proposed sewer. Business people, the principal landowners, will certainly pass the increased sewer costs through to their customers and take a tax deduction for the expense. So, as it stands no...
It seems that everyone in Montana except Cory Stapleton knows that he is unqualified to fill any elected position. Stapleton seems either incompetent, corrupt or possibly both. Cory has done damage during the short time he has been in this office. He openly violates the law requiring he live in Helena. He improperly uses a state-owned vehicle and fuel to go home frequently. He claimed less than 0.1 percent error in voting was proof of massive voter fraud. He awards contracts to friends. etc. What Montana needs is a person working to make...
Climate change and global warming are important issues for Montanans. Coming changes will broadly impact our economic sectors and put inevitable strain on state resources. Challenges need to be addressed, especially in agricultural, business and tourism sectors where impacts are already being felt. The unpredictable weather patterns of a changing climate continue to have drastic consequences and Montana needs to be prepared. Along with planning for the future, we need to address the causes of climate change and hold fossil fuel industries...
Dear Mr. Goodover and Board Members - The Missoula City-County Health Board supports the resolution to require connection of all properties within the Seeley Lake Sewer District to the public sewer system as it becomes available. The Health Board is concerned about the nitrate levels in Seeley Lake’s groundwater and public sewer is a proven way to reduce the impact of septic system pollution in a community. However, in order to reap the benefit of public sewer, it is important that the number of connections be maximized. Recent water quality da...
Primary election season is upon us. It’s our responsibility to thoughtfully select candidates for our respective parties. Republican candidates for the governor’s seat present unique qualifications, temperaments and records. All have served in government positions. Each have held private sector roles. Two of the candidates Al Olszewski and Tim Fox are lifelong Montanans. Only Olszewski is a military veteran. In April 2019, Fox joined with David Yost, Ohio AG in filing an Amicus Brief supporting the preservation of Obamacare. While Fox’s motiv...
SEELEY LAKE - The sewer board’s attorney comes across as being overly aggressive and occasionally patronizing and seems to take an awful lot of liberties and “willful interpretations.” Such behavior distorts the law and results in minimizing the rights of the public to have their will respected. The board then feels confident to go its merry way in carrying out anything they want to, including overriding public sentiment. I presented a petition signed by 182 Seeley Lake constituents, who are in Phases 1-4, opposing the mandate to hook up to the...
Senator Steve Daines and Representative Greg Gianforte, according to press reports, are in Montana for the August congressional recess (or “state work period”). They are holding invite only roundtables and discussions (like Daines’ guest speaking slot at the RSVP-only, pay-to-get-in Missoula City Club luncheon) and other private events, but not public, open town halls. In other words, Daines and Gianforte are continuing to hide from their constituents instead of meeting with them in public. Senator Jon Tester, on the other hand, is the only...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer Board continues to abuse the citizens it was elected to represent. At its meeting last week it quickly disregarded a petition signed by 182 residents opposing mandatory hook-ups and voted 3-1 to mandate them. It caved to Pyramid when its spokesman pointed out Pyramid pays 20 percent of the administrative fee, around $9,000 a year, but does not and will not enjoy 20 percent of the “benefit” of the sewer system. The manager and one Board member immediately voiced their intentions to re-visit the assessment met...
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” This quote is from the movie “V for Vendetta” and it is a perfect example of for what is happening in our state. Steve Daines and Greg Gianforte are so afraid of the citizens of Montana that they are refusing to hold in-person public town hall meetings during their congressional recess. They seem to have forgotten that they were elected to serve ALL Montanans, not just those who agree with them. They are ignoring the fact that great ideas come...
SEELEY LAKE - I wanted to personally write and thank the community for your kindness in donating much needed school supplies for our students at Seeley Lake Elementary. Your act of kindness will undoubtedly benefit our students and their education. When you gave selflessly to our students, you exemplified the character of the community and the heart it has for kids and education. Needless to say, I am grateful and appreciative of your gesture on behalf of our young students and their success in our school district. In my experience as an...
they say or how they vote during the re-election cycle. Focus on the voting record from earlier in their term. That’s an important thing for Montanans to remember about Senator Steve Daines in relation to public lands, wildlife habitat and public access. His re-election rhetoric doesn’t match his record. He’s crowing about his support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a critical funding mechanism for conservation efforts on public lands. In Montana, the fund has spent more than $600 million. In 2015, newly-elected Senator Daine...
County Health employee Jim Erven misrepresented and exaggerated (yet again) the dangers of nitrates in a recent letter to the Sewer Board. He says high nitrate levels in the groundwater can cause blue baby syndrome and fish kills, neither of which have occurred in Seeley Lake. And he overlooks the fact most of the residents in the Sewer District drink out of the lake...not the groundwater he claims is polluted. He stated one test well had gone over the state standard occasionally for groundwater pollution but neglects to tell you all three...
