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

We all have a family. Some we are born into, and others we find along the way. Sometimes the family we’re born into isn’t the family we spend the...

In recent weeks I’ve had a lot of people ask me where I come up with the ideas for this column. Usually, my response is something to the effect of ...

This past week I had to say goodbye to my canine companion and best shotgun road trip partner. It was a tough few days, especially those leading up...

Well, the garden season is suddenly upon us. It's already June and our soil is finally dried out a bit from the rain and warmed up a bit from the...

Sometimes, circumstances, differing opinions, actions from others and even our own actions, call for conversations in order to clear the air, make...

If you take a look around, almost anywhere in the state (and likely the country) you’ll notice something in almost every place of business: a...

There are several things in life that are personal in nature. Some remain private forever, while others are private things you talk over with close fr...

As I was visiting with a young man from Illinois recently, the obvious difference between the open space in Montana vs. Illinois came up. He felt...

If the last couple of weeks kept me busy preparing and this week has been all about recovery, then I’m here to tell you, moving forward has me...

As humans, it seems we're always preparing for something. As children, we're more being prepared for things than actually preparing for ourselves....

It’s often said gardening clears a person’s mind, puts them in touch with the land and relieves stress. I’ve gardened pretty much since I moved...

One day, I’ll get it all together… I say this every year about the time I get ready to file my taxes. And each year, I do have it a little more...

People have often said that there are always two sides to a story. In actuality, there really are at least three sides to every story, especially in s...

From the center of the state at Lewistown, it is 262 miles to Sidney and just a few miles further to the Dakota line. At night you can drive 50 miles...

As a country, we've just come through easily the worst election of my lifetime and one where obvious weaknesses in our system were exposed. Most...

At any given time, there could be anywhere from three to twenty books that I’m reading. While most people keep their books neatly stacked on their n...

I'm not going to lie, last week was a rough one. Two friends came to the end of their lives, another received some discouraging news regarding an...

This is not something I normally write about, but it is something I believe in. I have recently been reading a book written by Christian writer Joel...

When it comes to life, I’m one of those live it to the limit kind of folks. I have things I want to do, places I want to go, dreams and aspirations...

This past week, as if we need to be reminded, brought about three feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures we haven’t seen in a really long time...

Welcome to the second week in February. Yes, most of you know what that means… Valentine’s Day is approaching. The day of love. Some people...

This week I thought I would write about control, and if you know me, this is kind of a funny topic. For those who don't know me, the reason this is...