Sorted by date Results 988 - 1012 of 1183
In response to Elizabeth K. (Betsy) Wood’s letter in the May 25 Pathfinder, the special election was held to replace Ryan Zinke who was in the U.S. House of Representatives not the U.S. Senate. Also, if she would rather have a U.S. Congressman charged with assault versus one who broke a music contract, it appears she got her wish....
The special election to replace Ryan Zinke has generated a lot of talk about what makes “Montana values” and which of the candidates best exemplifies them. This sort of thing opens the door to a multitude of opinions and interpretations, ranging from thoughtful and astute to downright goofy. Place of birth, financial status, religion, education and political philosophy are among the issues put forth as useful criteria. I believe there is a much simpler one. An old saying suggests that a person’s real self is shown not only by what they do bu...
SEELEY LAKE - The recent Blackfoot Clearwater legislation put together by Senator Tester protects some amazing roadless country such as the Monture Creek drainage and the Swan Face among other areas. However, the legislation could do more to benefit Seeley Lake if the proposed mountain biking and snowmobiling were closer to town. The Spread Creek Mountain biking area and the Otastsi snowmobile areas both are in the middle of a roadless area far from Seeley Lake. It’s like building an interstate that by-passes a community and doesn’t create an...
It is with a sense of civic obligation, due to the extremely important nature of the office of United States Senator from Montana, that I write this letter. My concern about the upcoming election to fill Ryan Zinke’s vacant seat centers on candidate Rob Quist. I have worked with a non-profit entertainment presentation group in the Flathead Valley for many years. While we have primarily secured our artists through a national booking agent, we have also always booked a few “local” artists. In the very early spring of 2016, we were conta...
Regarding Montana’s special election, May 25: “Native son” Rob Quist may have been born in Montana but his character hardly represents the qualities that are necessary to represent the majority of the citizens of the great state of Montana. He feels that it is necessary for the United States Government to register all our firearms. He has publicly stated, “If you register your car, why not your firearms?” If elected, he will fall in line with the liberal democrats’ goal of watering down our Second Amendment rights to nothing. It is no secret t...
A lot (perhaps too much) has been said, written and broadcast about the upcoming special race for Montana’s lone Congressional seat on May 25. While I disagree with some of Rob Quist’s positions, and even more so with Gianforte’s views, the race comes down to a single issue in my opinion. Rob Quist is a true Montanan, who has lived among us all his life and encountered many of the difficulties and challenges that the average Montanan faces. Gianforte, on the other hand, is a billionaire, moved from New Jersey, who is now on his second attem...
SEELEY LAKE – A quick “Thank You” to our church family for all the food, cards and visits. Also, we want to thank the community of Seeley Lake and my neighbors for being here for Jon and I. What a caring and thoughtful community we have. God has my life in His hands. Blessings to all of you....
So many people are extremely upset about Governor Bullock’ veto of Senator Regier’s SB97 “Prohibit Application of Foreign Laws in Montana Courts.” How can he veto a bill that passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives? Well, he can because he is the Governor of Montana. If all the Montanans who voted for President Trump would have voted for Greg Gianforte, we would have had Governor Gianforte and SB97 would now have been signed into Montana law. This, ladies and gentlemen, is another example of “Why Elections Matter and Have Cons...
The biggest issue of the Montana special election is the Montana mail-in ballot. Risking defeat by doing the right thing is the very definition of courageous. And in this case what’s right was profoundly clear, unequivocal and laid squarely in the hands of one Republican candidate Greg Gianforte - a failure in this test of courage. Rob Quist showed courage by doing the honest thing and calling for a mail-in ballot. He was told that any one of those mail-in votes could be cast while a love Trump and hate Democrats commercial was blasting on a T...
Greg Gianforte, a devout family man, moved to Montana decades ago and founded a company that evolved to develop “high tech” $90,000 jobs. When his growing company had a shortage of skilled labor, he started a scholarship to encourage Montana students to learn computer tech skills so they could stay in our state and get high paying jobs. He has devoted time with thousands of voters on a 75,000-mile campaign across the state to meet and listen to Montanans at rallies in big communities as well as small towns. Greg will fight for a balanced budget...
SEELEY LAKE - On March 16, a meeting was held at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Office in Missoula to discuss the issue of whether the Rice Family should have vehicular use of the Cottonwood Lake Road for year around access to their property. Those in attendance were John Rice representing the Rice Family, John’s fiancée Lizzie Lescantz, Andi Bourne co-editor of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, Seeley Lake Ranger District Ranger Rachael Feigley, USFS Region 1 Realty Specialist Mark Petersen and Lolo National Forest Supervisor Timothy Garcia. The me...
SWAN VALLEY - I wish to extend my thanks and gratitude overwhelmingly to the folks in the Swan Valley. For the past 10 years since my husband Rod died, dear care people, folks and friends have enabled me to live a happy, active and productive life to which I’m eternally grateful. Unfortunately an accident has sent me to extended care out of the Valley. But I have my memories and friendships. I send my love, thanks and gratitude. Most sincerely, June Ash...
What is a REAL (NATIVE) Montanan? Reading the editorials, it seems that a Real Montanan MUST be completely honorable and trust worthy. No other person can be capable of these traits. I have looked at several reference books with little success. If one is a Montanan, is it an imperative that they are honorable and upstanding? If one is NOT a Real Montanan, I suppose that they cannot be trusted. I have found that back when Montana became a state there was already a need for ac justice system and law enforcement. Obviously, people living here in...
That was a great guest column article by Senator Fred Thomas in the March 21 edition of the Missoulian. Senator Thomas was right on target with respect to mismanagement of our public lands by the Federal Government and the tremendous waste created by senseless lawsuits filed by environmental groups. Given the facts that Senator Thomas has exposed in his article to the Missoulian, if Governor Bullock thinks the State of Montana cannot do a better job of managing our public lands, then just imagine what a competent governor that believes in his...
It may interest the voters of Montana to know that Rob Quist, the democratic nominee for the special election to the U.S. House of Representatives, is a supporter of Sanctuary Cities. He recently stated such on the statewide radio program, Voices of Montana. The practices of sanctuary cities are in direct violation of the rule of law and US immigration policy. Why would any candidate for any office support a blatantly illegal practice? If Mr. Quist doesn’t respect the rule of law, how can he uphold the Constitution? If he should be elected, h...
Ovando, Mont. rancher Jim Stone said it best when he mentioned “neighbors working together” to craft the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project which has resulted in introduction of the bill to create the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA). And he’s referred to “conservation and community.” To me, that is the essence of the BCSA: a community of diverse interests coming together to negotiate a conservation effort. That truly is “conservation and community.” Is the BCSA perfect? No. But if it were, then negotiation would not have been...
Hello people of the great state of Montana! I’m a fourth grade student in North Carolina. In fourth grade, we do state reports and I have chosen your state! I am very excited to learn more about the great state of Montana as I work on my report. Most of the information that we get for our reports will be from books and websites. We also like to get information from people who live in the state, too. This is why I’m writing to you. I was hoping that you would be willing to send me some items to help me learn more about the best things in you...
Amidst continued news coverage of the debate on public lands, Montana’s lone Democrat in Congress, Senator Jon Tester, has announced a bill to create two new Recreation Management Areas totaling almost 6,000 acres. Within the two new Otatsy and Spread Mountain Recreation Management Areas, timber harvest, permanent roads and mining are prohibited and motorized access is limited. The areas which remain open for snowmobiling are not areas of desired snowmobile use because of their low altitude and limited snowfall. Motorized recreationalists h...
Once again we see the horrors of puppy mills, with 38 dogs found last week. Will you please stop this terrible cruelty by calling your Representative and Senator and ask them to vote ‘Yes’ on House Bill (HB) 570, the bill that is in the House and Labor committees and requires licensure and inspection for pet breeders. Please call 406-444-4800. When someone answers tell them you want them to vote yes on HB570 and leave a message for our Representative Mike Hopkins to please vote yes. I have called Hopkins twice and have not received an ans...
From what I read about the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA), there is very little local opposition to adding another 70,000 acres of wilderness to the millions that we already have. I must wonder what local they surveyed? How did they know the political affiliations of all those surveyed? Why would that be pertinent in a survey unless one was trying to justify a result that might not necessarily be valid? It is very nice that we have people coming from all over the world to go into the wilderness but we have people that LIVE HERE...
When the timber industry can sit down with conservationists and ranchers can see eye to eye with recreationists – we need leaders who will listen and honor those efforts. That’s why the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project (BCSP) is so unique. It’s a Montana-made model for managing our lands – a much better alternative to selling off our public lands to the highest bidder or settling for top-down, one-size-fits-all land management directives from Washington, D.C. As a tech entrepreneur, our public lands provide a competitive advanta...
SEELEY LAKE - I couldn’t agree more with Libby Langston and Douglas Waldron about the proposed Elbow Gravel Pit. It defies common sense to locate a gravel pit – with all the inherent noise and disruption – smack in the middle of a wildlife corridor. The scoping notice states the activity would occur “primarily” over three to six months but does not state the proposed hours of the activity. According to the Montana DEQ website, LHC holds six open cut permits: 2379, 1388, 1432, 2635, 2411, 650. Of the three that I scanned, one (2411) allows op...
In Montana, we know how to turn casual conversations into collaborative policies that work for the benefit of all. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project is a model for homegrown collaboration that works. It includes the support of a diverse group of local businesses and individuals. Through the passing of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, the Forest Service will be given more tools to actively manage our forests and continue to put our neighbors and friends to work. This Act and the tools provided therein is an example of how...
SEELEY LAKE - It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent. It makes no difference if you enjoy snowmobiling or hiking or both. Regardless of personal preferences, all Montanans can be proud of the proposal a group of local folks generated over ten years. The proposal is now known as the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. If passed it will enhance timber, recreation and conservation forever in about 80,000 acres near Ovando and Seeley Lake. It turns out working together is valued by most Montanans. A poll, conducted b...
SWAN VALLEY - I read in the Feb. 23 issue of the Pathfinder about the article, “Condon House Fire Total Loss”. What a great group of volunteers we have in the Swan Valley Emergency Services! They responded to this house fire at midnight on a cold winter night, to find the driveway to the house pretty much impassible to the fire truck. They were not deterred—they chained up the truck and BACKED it down the quarter mile of curving driveway to respond. Unfortunately, the fire was fully involved before they got there (maybe even before they were...
