One Nation, Under God
One Nation, Under God
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Ethel A. (Cummings) Hoover passed away November 6, 2024 at the Chinook Sweet Home Nursing Home. Ethel was born in Phillips County on July 28, 1937 and stayed in the community until 1976 when she moved to Ronan, MT. She worked as a head cook for Ronan School District until she retired. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family, playing cards, live music and dancing. Ethel returned to Eastern Montana in 2021 where she enjoyed visits from her extensive family and friends of all ages. Ethel is... Full story
On January 6, 2025, the state of Montana begins its 69th Legislative session. In order for that to happen, a number of things come first. Beginning with the elections that many of you either worked on, voted, or ignored, if that was possible. That brings us to this past week in Helena, where I was introduced to new fellow Senators and Representatives at the Session Legislator Orientation. We first met in party training, which included new legislator orientation and training. Republicans then met in a caucus and Democrats in their own group cauc...
I have a friend who always disappears around this time of year. “When you can’t find him he’s out killin’ stuff,” an old buddy of ours used to say. It’s true. The closer the end of the season, the scarcer my friend is to find, and without a doubt “he’s out killin’ stuff.” The general big game hunting season wraps up the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Until then there a lot of hunters still looking to fill tags. “Git yer elk yet?” is an often-heard query at the bar, the gas pump, the grocery s...
Life is complicated. We face numerous problems and concerns every day. Sometimes living can feel like a complex geometry problem with points, lines, surfaces, and higher dimensional analogs - all begging for a solution that requires us to show our work. God wants to help us with life’s complications. His intervention, however, requires that we ask for aid in operating our ruler, compass, protractor, divider, and set squares. Geometry also involves theorems which provide proven answers by reasoning and acceptance of mathematical truths. O...
My buddy Smoke missed a big bull elk last week. His first shot was high. There was no second shot. The extractor on his rifle failed to grab the empty brass. He worked the bolt to no avail as he watched the bull run by at 100 yards. Now he’s haunted by that image. “I can still see him,” Smoke told me, as he wiped away a tear. Hunt long enough and something similar will happen to you. We’re haunted by our misses. Who hasn’t seen the tail end of an elk or deer or pheasant — that earlier off...
I’m a sucker for compliments, but they have to be somewhat based on reality. Tell me I look pretty today I’ll blush, and bat my eyes knowing full well it’s nonsense. Tell me I’m “handy,” however, and I’m at your service. That was the compliment I received recently from the electrical contractor wiring my latest building project. If I could help the electrician, it would save me a few bucks on the job, he said. “Whatever you need,” I replied, suddenly full of myself without any idea of what lay...
I have never been a fan of the commercialization of Christmas, but I have had a change of heart. I wouldn’t call myself a Grinch, but perhaps a levels below one. I typically loathe the crazy amount of Christmas movies and the strain it puts on my paycheck. The most important issue in my opinion is that many forget about the first part of the word Christmas. Despite my disdain for the commercialization of the holiday, this year, I am looking forward to it. Yes, I am looking forward to c...
Locally, before the breaking of the dawn’s early light, volunteers from the local Volunteer Fire Department and other volunteers will be methodically placing the nation’s colors around town at businesses, while some aren’t even aware that the flags will be flying in honor of all those who have served in the military. Monday, November 11th is national Veterans Day, or Armistice Day, as some remember it from way back. The turmoil of the world will be set aside for the 24 hours that the U.S. flag is posted, as we remember our men and women, who p...
For November 6 Election Day is here. Get out and VOTE! I voted absentee ballot. We don’t have a voting place here in Whitewater. It is November, Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversay to all those celebrating this month. Get well wishes to Dallas Green and all who are sick. Many attended the Big Flat Electric Annual Meeting. SommerGreen sang the National Athem. I won a set of tools. Thank you to whoever donated them. Several ranchers, including Sally Austin won beef bundles. The Big Flat E...
I don’t like to think I’m slipping. While I’ll readily admit I’m not as strong or fast as I once was, I can still accomplish most tasks without looking like an old man. Or so I think. The backyard building project — Barb’s sewing shed — is coming along fine, despite a few setbacks. I had apparently forgotten how to do some things, at least correctly, but consoled myself with the old builder’s axiom “good enough for who it’s for.” Like sausage, the shed will be great when it’s finished but you...
Last week, Parker wrote about his experience with Australians and guns and it triggered a memory. For those that don’t know, in the late 2000's I lived with several Australians for about three years of my life. I was a drummer in an Australian Christian Rock Band. There was a time that we were on tour in my home state of Illinois that our crew stayed on a rural property and on this property, we were introduced to some of the finer things in American life; frog legs, Rocky Mountain Oysters, four...
This Saturday evening, as you prepare to settle in for the night, which for “some” of my friends means placing your dentures in water, and making one last passing of the refrigerator and bathroom…Montana will join many of the states across this great nation in the ritual of “FALL BACK” for the end of implementing daylight savings time. Whether you care for it or hate it…it is inevitable. We adjust, because we are like that. Now, I didn’t say we were happy with it, but we comply. As this goes to press and then hits the airwaves and streets o...
Can you believe it is almost the end of October? Time continues to march on, but I think it’s flying now. Happy Halloween to all. I think I might have three goblins show up at my apartment. We already had a Halloween party with costumes and special snacks! I’ve seen evidence that the Clark addition is looking like an addition now! Maybe Cindy will have her bedroom back before the snow starts building up! Congrats to Shelbi LaBrie for being the Class C Cross Country State Champion! That’s two y...
After backing out of two traditional debates, Gov. Greg Gianforte agreed to meet me for only one smaller debate this fall. We’ve posted the full debate, which he doesn’t want you to see, online at busseformontana.com. I invite all Montanans to watch. See for yourself how Gov. Gianforte refused to explain why he jacked up our property taxes by as much as 111%, or why he gave tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires like himself. Gov. Gianforte also refused to explain why, under his watch, Montana surpassed California to become the most una...
Out for a morning walk during a recent trip to Australia I struck up a conversation with three 10-year-old boys who were fishing the Patalawonga River near Adelaide. I asked what they were catching. “Brim and bass,” they told me. Recognizing my accent, they asked if I was from the U.S. “Montana,” I replied. “Do you have any automatic weapons?” they asked in unison, eagerly awaiting my reply. “No,” I said, explaining automatic weapons remain off-limits to most Americans. “Do you have Jolly Ra...
I know it’s not a popular take, but I am not a fan of the two-party system. I tend to vote for whoever I want, not whoever you or the majority of folks want. I agree that it is a better system than most, at least we have a couple of options, rather than being forced to bend a knee to a king, queen, or dictator. Voting is an honor and privilege. Even though things might not go your way, voting is crucial for democracy. That being said, there are more than two types of people in the U.S. I am n... Full story
I hope everyone who reads this column got to check out the unusual sight in the evening sky this week! That comet really put on a show! I enjoyed all the photos of it too! And the full moon earlier this week really was outstanding! I had several visitors this week. Tim and Sheila Watts-Heine came over and visited while I presented her a 50-year pin for OES Sacajawea Chapter membership (Photo on Page 12). It was great to connect with her! Then the Wishers stopped in. Sammie was going to run a...
Sympathy to the victims of the recent hurricanes down south. I now have a hurricane named after me “Helene” from good ole Whitewater, Montana. The fall days are beautiful, sunny, and warm, and no wind. The ranchers are preparing for winter. There is plenty of hay for feed. The high school is in full session with the kids going four days a week. When I grew up, we had school five days a week. Saturday, Sommer Green and I went to the Big Flat Electric annual meeting. It covered a lot. “Hope they...
I’ve put more than 100,000 miles on Montana’s highways over the past year, listening to people in every corner of our state. There are two issues that come up everywhere I go: The first is Gov. Greg Gianforte’s record high property taxes and the sky-high cost of living here. The second is the governor’s dangerous war on access to our public land and wildlife. While the cost of living in Montana has skyrocketed, Gov. Gianforte made the problem worse by raising property taxes by as much as 111%. Don’t let him point his finger at anyone else. The...
There are two Montanas. One struggles to control rampant development and growth. The other simply struggles to survive. Plans for a destination resort on 90 acres in Park County’s Paradise Valley are drawing heat from local residents. The development, which includes 100 cabins, a restaurant and retail space, will change the character of the area, they say. Opposition is growing. In Phillips County, where development is lacking and population is declining, there isn’t enough money to pay she...
I handled that better than I thought… For the past week, or what seemed like five years, my wife was in Michigan for a work conference. It was a different type of week because I had more alone time with the kids. Which was great! Instead of them venting to mom, I got to hear all of the details. I was responsible for every dinner and getting them to school on time with or without the newspaper deadline. My sons took it pretty well, though they struggled with the idea of her leaving. If you k...
The fall always brings the migration of birds back south. Lots of geese and cranes have been sited and heard flying over! The robins and meadowlarks at Loring should be flying out soon if they haven’t already! Preconditioning of the cows is happening as they are moved to the winter pasture closer to the home place. Preconditioning is getting the calves ready for shipping. I hope the prices are high! I’ll be cleaning out my garden this week. I’ve saved seed from my cantaloupe which was very...
“Get Well” wishes to my sister Janet Brown in Billings, and also to all who are sick. It is a beautiful day in Whitewater. Time sure goes by fast. Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating in October including Leona Siewing. She and Paul came to Whitewater and had dinner at the North 40. Congratulations to all the athletes in sports from Whitewater and the county. Basketball will start soon. The Fall Bazaar will be Saturday, November 2 at the Malta Lutheran Church, 1:00-4:00 p.m. Con...
If you live in Montana, there’s no doubt you feel the sting of this sobering fact: Montana just surpassed California to become the most unaffordable state in the nation. That’s not political hype; that’s according to the National Association of Realtors. Out-of-state millionaires and billionaires are flooding into our state, buying up property and jacking up our prices, turning Montana into their own personal playground. Many of our small schools can’t afford to hire teachers or have five-day weeks. The Bozeman School District is trying...
Dear Editor, If you have a stake in Montana’s agricultural future—whether as a farmer, rancher, advocate, or simply a concerned citizen—I strongly encourage you to attend the Montana Farmers Union State Convention October 17-19 at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. This annual event offers a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and contribute to the well-being of our rural communities. The convention is much more than a gathering of agricultural professionals; it’s a place where vital conversations take place about the future of family...
