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The Assembly of God Church in Watford City, ND, is a church of vision. WCAG, as it’s commonly known, is led by senior pastor Sheldon McGorman and a church board. Previous but ongoing visions have been to impact every country in the world with the gospel by 2030 and to start satellite churches in small communities. They’re over halfway finished on the 2030 vision and so far, have started campuses in Fairview, MT, Belfield, ND, and Kenmare, ND, and a Spanish service at their main campus. But for the year 2024, WCAG had another big vision; to sen...
Lower Yellowstone Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. would like to thank everyone that helped with another successful toy drive. Many people and businesses contributed to this worthwhile endeavor. We donate all of the proceeds from this toy drive to the ’Gifts From The Heart” program, which are then distributed to families at the Masonic Temple. We are so lucky to live in our great community. Richland County, you rock! Please thank and support these great businesses as they have supported us. Ace Hardware, API, American Welding & Gas, Amunrud’s RV, Armstron...
The Richland County Jaycees are sad to announce that we will not have the ability to host many of our annual events and projects this year. These events and projects include posting flags and the 4th of July fireworks show. We will be re-evaluating our situation later in the year to determine our ability for Halloween candy donations, Thanksgiving meals, and our toy drive for Christmas. If you are part of a business that has participated with our flag posting program please reach out to one of our members if you would like us to drop a flag...
By Dr. Haley Menge, Dr. Jon Kolstad and Dr. Kristen O'Brien For Montana's elderly citizens, nursing home residents, and others who struggle to travel long distances for medical care, access to trusted eye care close to home is essential. Yet, outdated laws in Montana restrict highly trained doctors of optometry from performing certain in-office procedures that could safely and effectively be done in their offices. It is time to modernize these regulations to ensure Montanans can receive timely,...
As the Montana Legislature meets again, a handful of Republicans are promoting bills to change the way that Montanans elect our judges. These Republicans want to change judicial elections from non-partisan to partisan because they don’t like the way judges across Montana have struck down a handful of previously passed bills as unconstitutional. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts noted in his “2024 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary” that: “tension between the branches of the government is inevitable and criticism of judicia...
This New Year, consider making a resolution that not only transforms your life but also the lives of our furry companions: commit to kindness and care for pets. Dogs and cats are more than animals; they are family members, often bringing joy, comfort, and companionship. Sidney, Montana, organizations like the Prairie to Peaks Animal Assistance Foundation work tirelessly to support these animals and their owners, but they need our help. You need to support these efforts, as do other livestock focused businesses in the area. Positive...
The Sidney Area Dollars for Scholars Board wants to extend a huge thank you to the community for their generous support shown during the 2024 phonathon. Last January, the high school students spent two nights calling the community for financial support for the scholarship fund for graduating seniors. We are proud to announce that we have collected $28,790 which allowed us to offer 45 scholarships to the class of 2024 totaling $66,300. We would like to thank the community of Sidney for their generous support. The vision the founders in 1992 had...
Having been elected to the Montana Senate, I wanted to give you a few updates. Even though there’s not a super majority this time, I’m encouraged to say we’ll have a conservative coalition this session and my hope is that we will stick together on the contentious bills we face. I anticipate another busy year with bills. The committees aren’t finalized yet, but the possibilities for me at this time appear to be Business & Labor, State Administration, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, or Energy & Technology. We’ll see whether different possibili...
Bullying has become a pervasive issue in schools and communities, often leading to severe emotional and psychological consequences. One of the most tragic outcomes of bullying is an increased risk of suicide. By understanding the connection between bullying and suicide, we can take proactive steps to reduce both. The Link Between Bullying and Suicide * Emotional Distress: Bullying can cause significant emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can contribute to suicidal thoughts and...
As a longtime rancher and legislator, protecting rural Montanans from legislation that infringes upon economic liberties and promotes government interference is my top priority. This is why I vehemently oppose the Biden administration’s new tailpipe emissions rule. The rule dictates that by 2032, at least 56% of new vehicle sales must be Electric Vehicles (EVs). This will severely hurt Montana ranchers, farmers, and workers by increasing personal expenditures to comply with the EPA mandate. Requiring Montana families to purchase electric c...
My main concern is regarding CI 128. This is worded in such a way that it sounds so concerning about women and their health and reproductive rights. It is attempting to change the Montana Constitution to forever state that Abortion is OK with absolutely NO limits. Also, there cannot be any charges brought against anyone for any reason for doing the abortion-no matter what the outcome may be. It also allows minors to get abortions without their parents even knowing anything about it. We absolutely do NOT want ANY of that in our Montana...
Dear Editor, Voting season is here again. It is a little bit like voting in the Legislature—you have to sort a few things out. Let me give you some tips I use when deciding how to vote on a bill. The first thing I do is see who is sponsoring the bill. Then I look at who supports or who opposes the bill. These two principles tell me a lot. Let’s take a look at what is on the ballot. First, let’s talk about Constitutional Initiatives 126 and 127. Both of these initiatives are being pushed by liberal Republicans and a Democrat. Most of the money...
As a candidate for State Auditor, I know very well how challenging it is to raise the profile of the office. It is an important office that has a direct impact on all Montanans, but a lot of folks don’t know much about it. Per Montana law, the purpose of the office is to ‘protect Montana insurance consumers.’ My campaign is focused on that role and my qualification for the position based on four decades of ethical business experience. Unfortunately, my opponent is running on lies and issues unrelated to the Montana State Auditor’s office....
It is my honor and pleasure to write this unsolicited endorsement of Susie Hedalen to be elected as the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction. I have known Susie her entire administrative career having worked with her going all the way back to her first administrative position in Grass Range. Since that time, we have worked together on a wide range of activities. Specifically, we served together in leadership at the Office of Public Instruction and now serve as chair and vice-chair of the Montana Board of Public Education. I...
Dear Editor, District Court Judge Katherine Bidegaray is the right choice to be the next justice on the Montana Supreme Court. Having appeared in front of her in court and gotten to know her over the years, I have seen her be impartial, fair, and respectful to each party in all cases she has. She was born and raised on a Richland County farm and ranch, and she knows the importance of preparation, hard work, and self-discipline. Judge Bidegaray cares deeply about the state of Montana, the rule of law and fundamental fairness, and the...
CI-126 Will Put More Power In The Hands Of “We the People.” When something is no longer working for the benefit of our state and country, “we the people” have a duty to lawfully and peacefully work to reform our government. Not long ago, Montana had a proud tradition of being a purple state. We valued the character and competence of a person running for office, over their party label. A person may be a Republican or Democrat because that’s the political philosophy they generally agreed with, but both the candidate and voters cared more abou...
For Christians, forgiveness and letting go of resentment and anger toward someone who has wronged is central to the Lord’s Prayer. In the Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever forgives a Muslim, Allah will forgive him.” The holiest day in Judaism, the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, is a time for seeking forgiveness. Yom Kippur will begin at sunset on Oct. 11 and will end with the night of Oct. 12. This year in Montana, Oct. 11 is the day by which all ballots will be mailed to voters on the absentee list, and the bulk of votin...
I was elected seven times and served more than 30 years as a Justice of the Peace in Richland County before my retirement in 2016. During my long career on the bench, I worked with both of the district court judges who are now running for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court. They are Judge Katherine Bidegaray of Sidney and Judge Dan Wilson of Kalispell. I got to know Judge Bidegaray very well in the nearly 15 years we spent working in the same judicial district. I also got to know Judge Dan Wilson very well over the six years that he served as...
Dear Editor, Montanans cannot afford to continue Elsie Arntzen’s bumbling leadership of the Montana Office of Public Instruction by voting in her deputy superintendent. Remember, auditors of THEIR OPI found that Elsie and her staff were unable to account for $ 67.5 million dollars of federal funding. In addition, the current leaders at OPI have supported “school choice” which means your tax dollars will go to private schools not toward providing your children a quality education we all expect from Montana schools. It does not make sense to ta...
Dr. Kessler offered some opinions on Montana’s current Senatorial race between incumbent Tester and Republican Sheehy. While my wife and I are grateful for the excellent and compassionate care we receive in Sidney, we live in Watford City, so Montana’s Senator will represent us only indirectly. None the less, I’d like to make a couple observations on Dr. Kessler’s remarks. I’ve practiced medicine for over 30 years myself, in communities more rural than Sidney, so I’m familiar and concerned about the trends over time. While Tester’s pr...
As I returned home from my eighth swing through the many small communities of eastern Montana, I was disappointed to learn from the PBS-YPR-Lee Newspapers debate coordinator that Commissioner Downey had not responded to staffing coordination requirements such that the big debate scheduled for Oct. 3 has been cancelled. That’s unfortunate for eastern Montana’s voters. I was looking forward to a cordial exchange of views. From my many visits in eastern Montana it’s become clear to me that people want candidates to make an extra effort on their...
In nuclear war fighting the United States maintains a counterforce strategy, aiming our nuclear weapons at an adversaries missile silos, command and control centers and other military infrastructure, with the purpose of destroying their nuclear capabilities before they can be used. In recent years there has been a debate within U.S. policy circles about adopting a “No First Use Policy,” which would state that the U.S. would only use nuclear weapons in retaliation, not as a first strike. Right now, the U.S. does not endorse a first use policy, b...
The Senator Tester campaign ran a full-page ad in our local newspaper on 9/4/24. The ad brazenly said that “Sheehy’s Plan Closes” our local hospital and that “49 Rural Montana Hospitals” will close if Tim Sheehy gets elected. The lies about the “privatization” of VA medical benefits need to be exposed. Veterans are understandingly concerned about this issue. Tim Sheehy and his wife are combat veterans themselves, and they would never propose or support efforts to reduce veterans’ medical benefits. Sheehy is opposed to nationalizing o...
“Good for Ms. Neil for filing as an independent write-in candidate in this Fall’s general election for Montana’s Eastern Congressional District’s Representative. Clearly she feels strongly that Democrat voters should not have nominated me of the four of us running in the Primary. I get it but do not equate raising and spending lots of other people’s money to ‘campaigning” for public policies important to Montanans. In 2002 after I got home from the Pentagon, having worked as Deputy Crisis Action Team Chief for Operation Enduring Freedom in th...
District Court Judge Katherine Bidegaray is the right choice to be the next justice on the Montana Supreme Court. Having worked as her law clerk for four years and appeared in front of her this past year, I have seen her be impartial, fair, and respectful to each party in every case she has. She was born and raised on a Richland County farm and ranch, and she knows the importance of preparation, hard work, and self-discipline. Judge Bidegaray cares deeply about the state of Montana, the rule of law and fundamental fairness, and the...
