Week of March 10, 2024
Continuing a series of campaign reversals, Republican Montana Congressman Matt Rosendale announced Friday morning that he will not seek re-election to the state's eastern U.S. House district. Rosendale, a hardliner who was elected to the House in 2020 after serving as Montana State Auditor, launched a long-anticipated campaign for the U.S. Senate Feb. 9, only to call it off six days later. Then, at the end of February - by which point several Republicans had already begun...
On about Dec. 21, the occasion of the winter solstice, the sun takes a brief respite on the tropic of Capricorn at 23 1/2 degrees south latitude. Then it begins its six-month odyssey north for a rendezvous with the tropic of Cancer at 23 1/2 degrees north latitude. Along the way, at a precise second in March, its rays are directly overhead on the equator, declaring the Spring Equinox. This year that instant occurs at 10:57 a.m. Montana time on Thursday, March 20. In Montana,...
Reports of the demise of the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce have been greatly exaggerated, and the latest version of their website is a key part of the plan to reinvigorate the business organization. The new, updated website went live in early February after about a year in development. It marks the fourth iteration of the LVCC website since 2013. The decision to once again revamp the chamber website stemmed from ongoing difficulties in keeping the last site updated, the...
A handful of Legionnaires from Lincoln American Legion Post 9 spent the morning of March 6 gathered at the Lincoln Community Hall. Standing around tables piled with boxes of hygiene supplies and cold weather gear like socks, gloves and caps, they filled nylon sacks for distribution to homeless veterans. Although helping veterans in need was the main goal, the morning's effort was also related to the upcoming Montana American Legion District 6 meeting slated for March 17. "At...
Despite the historically warm and dry winter Lincoln has been experiencing the Ponderosa Snow Warriors had a good turnout Feb. 24 for their annual Vintage Rendezvous. More than 40 vintage snowmobiles, including some very rare machines, graced the oval at Hooper Park after warm weather prompted cancellation of the Snow Moxie and the move to town from the Rodeo Grounds. "We didn't want to tear it up," Snow Warriors President Forest Mercill said. "We'd harvested snow and we were...
A Veterans "Meet and Greet" Pancake Breakfast is planned for Friday, March 29 at the Lincoln Community Hall. The get together is sponsored by Lincoln American Legion Post 9 and is open to all Veterans, of all branches, whether they are members of the Legion or not. The breakfast is part of effort to help connect Lincoln's Veterans with one another and to help build a local support network. Lincoln is home to a high number of Veterans and there is a concern that many of them...
The annual Science Fair for the Lincoln Public Schools is set for March 6-7, 2024. Students in grades 7-10 are required to participate, and the science fair counts for a large portion of their science grade. During this long-term project, which begins the day students return from winter break and runs through March 7, when judging takes place, students come up with a hypothesis and then test and experiment to prove or disprove their idea. They then write their results and... Full story
More than one-fifth of the continental U.S. is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Winter storms brought heavy (in some areas, record-setting) rainfall and flooding to California, offering the state an expected two-year reprieve from widespread droughts, that covered nearly 100% of the state from 2020-22. But in other parts of the country, especially dry conditions continue. New Mexico currently is the state with the...
When four hunters used a specially constructed ladder to step from one corner of public land in southern Wyoming to another, the ripples from that decision were initially small but have since ignited an impassioned debate that could open - or unequivocally restrict - access to more than eight million acres of public land across the West. Here, in the second of our three-part series, we explore why Montana lacks a clear "test case" on the legality of corner-crossing. Nearly a...
When four hunters used a specially constructed ladder to step from one corner of public land in southern Wyoming to another, the ripples from that decision were initially small but have since ignited an impassioned debate that could open - or unequivocally restrict - access to more than eight million acres of public land across the West. In a three-part series, Montana Free Press will explore "corner-crossing" and what it might mean for public access in Montana. This is the... Full story
HELENA, Mont. – March 5, 2024 - The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest has partnered with the Montana Conservation Corps to offer five AmeriCorps positions that would serve together as part of the newly formed Helena Youth Corps. "We are excited about this new partnership and hope to better engage young adults in meaningful work experiences across the forest," said Recreation Program Manager Rory Glueckert. "One of the projects interested applicants may work on is... Full story
HELENA, Mont. – March 4, 2024 - From March 4 through March 15, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest will be accepting applications for twelve entry-level permanent wildland firefighter and dispatcher positions. These positions allow for paid training and travel, overtime, hazard pay, and federal employee benefits, such as medical and retirement. Additionally, these positions enable employees to gain experience and knowledge to be promoted within a fire management...
HELENA - The Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest invites interested parties to submit project proposals for funding consideration by the Helena-Lewis and Clark Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC will consider proposals for projects that are on or provide substantial benefits to National Forest System lands within Broadwater, Teton, Lewis and Clark, Fergus, Judith Basin, Pondera, Meagher and Wheatland counties. The deadline to submit project proposals is April...
Montana beer is a unique industry. Local breweries are dedicated customers of Montana farmers, buying locally grown raw agricultural ingredients. They brew those ingredients into a wide array of delicious, value-added, made-in-Montana products that routinely win national awards. Breweries have become community hubs for activities like live music and philanthropy. Many are now centerpieces of rural towns. A great example is Libby, where Cabinet Mountain Brewing is known as... Full story
Some readers, especially those with Scandinavian heritage, may be familiar with the stories of Sven and Ole. I grew up hearing them from my late grandfather. One story comes to mind in the context of our current political climate. Sven and Ole, were two farmers with neighboring farms who had always been very competitive. Ole's father had always been a Ford man, and the bigger the better, especially the F-350s. So, of course, Ole grew up as a Ford man, too! Sven's father had...
Russia's invasion of Ukraine began just over two years ago, and the devastating war that has followed has been a catastrophe for Ukrainians and Russians alike. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed, tens of thousands more have been wounded and maimed, and an almost incomprehensible level of destruction has occurred across much of Ukraine and parts of Russia. While the immense human and material toll of the war cannot be undone, the fate of democracy,... Full story
My wife Doreen and I recently returned from a tour of the southern border in the Douglas, Arizona area. Since we once lived there and managed a Registered Charolais ranch between Douglas and Bisbee, we wanted to see for ourselves the differences from when we were there. The evening we arrived in Douglas we stopped at a convenience store and by chance ran into three Border Patrol agents with three horses in a horse trailer just going out on patrol. We had a conversation on...
We're all just "one away" from something. One day, one choice, one decision, one contact, one drink, one hit, one breath away from something different in our lives. Sometimes our "one-aways" are insignificant, or at least they seem so at the time. And other times, they are life-changing. For an addict or an alcoholic, that one drink or one hit and the decision to take it or not is the difference between sobriety and falling off the wagon. For the procrastinator (and yes, this...
Well, the next step in your residential property tax increase is happening. Banks are sending updated "mortgage bills" to homeowners. Guess what? You owe more money! Recently, a young friend reached out, concerned about his $100 monthly mortgage increase and he didn't know why. That's a lot of money - $1,200 a year. Drumroll for the explanation. Since the bill comes from the bank, it's the lender's fault, right? Nope. By law, a residential mortgage statement must show the...
My wife Doreen and I recently returned from a tour of the southern border in the Douglas, Arizona area. Since we once lived there and managed a Registered Charolais ranch between Douglas and Bisbee, we wanted to see for ourselves the differences from when we were there. The evening we arrived in Douglas we stopped at a convenience store and by chance ran into three Border Patrol agents with three horses in a horse trailer just going out on patrol. We had a conversation on...
AA Tradition One if you need to talk, call Jay at 406-750-1238 or Dawn at 406-362-4697 Alcoholics Anonymous, Lincoln Chapter 6-7 p.m., Lambkins restaurant back room. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. American Legion, Post 9 7 p.m., Third Wednesday of the month, Lincoln Community Hall Blackfoot Community Conservation Area Council Meeting 7 p.m., First Thursday of the month, Ovando Fire Hall Cal 406-739-3900 to confirm Blackfoot Challenge Board... Full story
Lincoln Community United Methodist Church Worship, 10:30 a.m. First and Third Sunday of the month, Pastor Terry Turner. For Food Bank information, please contact Diane Ironi at the Senior Ctr. Blackfoot Valley Bible Church Sunday Worship 11 a.m. Adult Sunday Bible Study, 9:45 a.m.; Ladies Bible Class, 2:45 p.m. Tuesday at the church; Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study, Friday 7 a.m.; Sunday evening Prayer Meeting, 6 p.m. Pastor Art McCafferty, 362-4714. Community Bible Church of Lincoln Sunday Worship Service, 11:00 a.m. at... Full story