Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

This week I'll be traveling, and for the first time in a very long time (three years to be exact), I'll be "heading home." I'm excited for the trip and the opportunity to spend... — Updated 1/24/2023

Well, we’re a week into 2023. I’m happy to report I haven’t broken any New Year’s resolutions, but that’s mostly because I didn’t make any this year. Instead, I opted... — Updated 1/10/2023

It’s been almost a month since I’ve written a column. I’ve had a lot come at me in these last few weeks. Some good, some bad, a lot scary, some that’s tested me and I know... — Updated 12/15/2022

There are jokes about it everywhere. There are memes on social media, conversations at the bars, and everywhere in-between. Wonder what I'm talking about this time? Well, it's... — Updated 11/14/2022

It's October, almost November, and what that means for most of the country is fall, autumn. Pretty leaves changing colors and a briskness in the air. For those of us in Lincoln,... — Updated 11/1/2022

As I’ve been talking and reconnecting with people these past two weeks, there seems to be a common theme among the conversations. Things are changing. Well, of course things are... — Updated 10/17/2022

We all have this notion that things are black and white, right or wrong, or ‘my way is better and your way can’t possibly be right.’ But, what if I told you just because your... — Updated 10/3/2022

This is sort of a surreal column for me to write this week. While it’s not my last column ever, it is the last one to be in print…for now. If you would have asked me, almost thr... — Updated 9/21/2022

There’s been a lot of talk about student loan relief lately. There are those who are for it, those who are against it, and some who haven’t totally weighed in on the subject. I... — Updated 9/7/2022

Life is changing, there’s no way around it. It changes each day. Sometimes those changes are small and incremental, while other times, they are a wham, bam, thank you, ma’am,... — Updated 8/31/2022

The Lincoln Council for the Arts is bringing the Empire Trio for a night of music and entertainment to Lincoln on Thursday, April 6th at 7pm. The performance, which will be held at... — Updated 8/31/2022

Let’s face it, we’re always trying to live up to someone’s expectations. Some of those expectations are our own, some of them are from others and still other expectations are... — Updated 8/23/2022

Last weekend was my annual trip to Whitehall for the Copper K Fiber Festival. This festival holds a spot near and dear to my heart for many reasons. The first is that it is the... — Updated 7/26/2022

There’s been a lot of uncertainty in my life as of late. A lot of things going on with family, other things going on with friends, and even in my business. There are things I can... — Updated 7/13/2022

Something occurred to me this past week that I thought I would share with you all. As most of you know, I knit (among many other fiber-related activities). I knit small things and l... — Updated 6/28/2022

Over the past several weeks, there has been something missing in my day-to-day life. Not a person, not a place, not even something to be bought. My heart was feeling heavy, and... — Updated 6/14/2022

We all have a to do list of some sort. Many of us are ruled by all of the things we have to get done, and often one thing becomes more urgent and knocks something else off or down... — Updated 5/31/2022

More than 130 people from throughout the state of Montana, Washington, and Oregon attended the annual Blackfoot River Ducks Unlimited banquet and fundraiser Saturday, April 23.... — Updated 5/18/2022

Yeah, this one should prove to be a little controversial, but maybe that’s what we need. A calm, explanation and an opportunity for dialogue that helps. Here’s to hoping… So... — Updated 5/18/2022

I may not watch the news, but that doesn’t mean I’m not informed. Most of my friends who do watch the news hadn’t even heard of the destruction of our food processing and... — Updated 5/4/2022

The Lincoln Community Garden has scheduled an open meeting for garden members and individuals interested in gardening on Tuesday, April 26. The gathering will be at Valler Coffee... — Updated 4/21/2022

There’s been a lot of talk lately about gender, gender identification, choosing a gender, sexuality, biology, how it affects our kids of today, and the age they or their parents... — Updated 4/21/2022

If you’re breathing, you’ve heard about the recent Oscar Awards fiasco involving Chris Rock and Will Smith. Photos of the punch and the constant talk of it have it front and... — Updated 4/6/2022

Planning is underway for the Blackfoot River Ducks Unlimited Chapter's annual banquet. The committee began meeting in January to organize the event, which is scheduled be held... — Updated 4/6/2022

I grew up in a very small town. I was five years old when we moved there in 1975, and the population sign read something just over 1,000 people. That same population sign as you... — Updated 3/23/2022