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For most Montanans, this is not just another fire season. The 2017 season started early and is predicted to continue until a season-ending event such as rain or snow by November. Unfortunately for the thousands of people evacuated from their homes, and the tens of thousands that breath unhealthy air every day, we are in it for the long-haul. Montanans know that summer brings wildfire, however, over the past 15 years fire season starts earlier, ends later, and burns hotter. According to the Northern Rockies Coordination Center, over 5 million...
Summer is not the only major event that arrives in June of every year. Another annual occurrence is the appearance in mailboxes all over the State of new property appraisals from the Montana Department of Revenue. The receipt of this document is met with trepidation by taxpayers of all sizes. It is the rare occasion that the value of a taxpayer’s property decreases. The more likely circumstance is that the value has increased, sometimes at an alarming rate. When this happens the taxpayer has several options from doing nothing to paying their t...
It is time to celebrate another Father’s Day. We should honor our fathers, but that doesn’t always happen. At this time of the year I reflect on what it was like when I was a kid, and what it was like between me and my dad. Of course I loved my dad, but when I was a kid I couldn’t believe how many things he did not know. He was a good dad and a good husband to my mother. He tried his best to provide for us as well as he could. He worked hard. He made just enough money to support his family of ten – providing he worked several part time jobs in...
When my wife Sharla and I sit down to do our budget each year we outline our priorities. Whether it’s spending more money on new equipment or spending a little less and fixing it up yourself—it’s a balancing act and you see what our priorities are. The same can be said of our government’s budget. Earlier this year, President Trump presented Congress an outline of his budget and at first glance I’m concerned about how his priorities impact the economic security of Montana and rural America. I applaud the President for strengthening our natio...
In President Trump's recent joint address to Congress, he called for a national time of rebuilding, while recalling the last great infrastructure undertaking in our country, the Interstate Highway System under President Eisenhower. A few weeks ago I toured the modern marvel that is the Hoover Dam-an infrastructure investment that has provided irrigation for millions of acres, electricity for millions of homes, and which after 80 years, is still used today. Here in Eastern Montana, we can quickly...
This letter is in regards to local government over reach and the total disregard for the constitution of the United States. By not only the federal level but also just as importantly the local level my personal testimony to my latest encounter with the Big Brother. Blow by blow how my constitutional rights have been violated by an out of control government. I do here-by step forward to volunteer my service to my country by draining the swamp at a local level. Wednesday, November 2, 2016: I arrived in Fairview approximately at 5 p.m. and...
I’m a millennial woman. I voted for Donald Trump and I am not sorry. I did not vote for him because he’s a man; because he’s inspiring me or because I agree with everything he says. I voted for him because I thought we would have more economic opportunities with Donald Trump than Hillary Clinton. I agree with many of you that his rhetoric is offensive. The stories of how some of this rhetoric is perpetuated by his followers make my heart sad. Just because I voted for Donald Trump doesn’t mean that I agree or support any sort of behavio...
The E-rase your E-waste committee would like to thank everyone who participated in our 2016 E-rase your E-waste events in Sidney and Fairview this past spring and fall. The official results are now in for our fall event held Sept. 9-10 in Sidney where MonDak businesses and residents recycled another 22,471 pounds of electronic waste. That brings the total for both our 2016 spring and fall events to 45,754 pounds - the 7th time in 12 years we’ve collected more than 44,000 pounds of e-waste in a single year! It also brings our grand total to m...
Election to the State Auditor’s Office means the individual will serve as Insurance Commissioner for Montana. This person will play a critical role in setting policy which will effect nearly every man, woman, and child in our state. Whether through health, life, homeowners, automobile, workers’ compensation insurance, or the myriad investment products available, everyone in our state is impacted by this office. The Auditor’s Office provides for the licensing and oversight of the firms selling insurance and investment products and deter...
My brother, Billy Bolken, passed away last month from Alzheimers disease. I am challenging all clients that Billy did work for to make a tax-free donation to the 2016 Walk to End Alzheimers-Fargo, ND on behalf of Darin Bolken at http://act.alz.org/goto/BillyBolken. Billy spent 8 years as the mayor of Watford City and served on the McKenzie County Fair Board. Most of this service went unnoticed to the public because he would work into the night. Every year this walk is made by his son, Darin, his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Carter and...
The MonDak Yak...
My brother, Billy Bolken, passed away last month from Alzheimers disease. I am challenging all clients that Billy did work for to make a tax-free donation to the 2016 Walk to End Alzheimers-Fargo, ND on behalf of Darin Bolken at http://act.alz.org/goto/BillyBolken. Billy spent 8 years as the mayor of Watford City and served on the McKenzie County Fair Board. Most of this service went unnoticed to the public because he would work into the night. Every year this walk is made by his son, Darin, his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Carter and...
My brother, Billy Bolken, passed away last month from Alzheimers disease. I am challenging all clients that Billy did work for to make a tax-free donation to the 2016 Walk to End Alzheimers-Fargo, ND on behalf of Darin Bolken at http://act.alz.org/goto/BillyBolken. Billy spent 8 years as the mayor of Watford City and served on the McKenzie County Fair Board. Most of this service went unnoticed to the public because he would work into the night. Every year this walk is made by his son, Darin, his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Carter and...
Where are your dollars going every month? More specifically, where are your food dollars are going? Montanans spend more than $3 billion dollars per year on food. Up until 2010, the value of all the livestock and crops produced by farms and ranches in Montana was $3 billion. Of all the food consumed in Montana, only about 10% of what Montanans eat is produced in the state. Again, Montanans only eat 10% of food produced locally. Therefore, Montana businesses are losing about $2.7 billion dollars to out of state businesses to produce food that,...
Attend Public Meeting In Billings Notice of an upcoming meeting to all interested in not removing the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project Diversion Dam at Intake. There is another group that wants to remove the Intake structure. We are inviting the public to attend an informational meeting at the Elks Club in Sidney on June 21st at 5:30 p.m. We are also asking people to attend a public meeting in Billings at the Lincoln Center at 6 p.m. on the 30th of June in order to protest this groups’ intentions to have the dam removed. We need a lot of p...
Sidney School Board Members, We are writing this letter in support of Mr. Ross Hall, the activities director at Sidney High School. We believe Mr. Hall is truly an asset to our community and we encourage the school board to change their vote and follow the recommendation to rehire Mr. Hall. The commitment to our community that Ross exhibits is inspiring. Mr. Hall is involved on many boards in our community including the Active Richland County, Richland Community Complex, the Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Sidney’s recreation board. He is...
I just heard the Governor for our great state of Montana say he tried to get an “Infrastructure Bill” passed during the last legislative session. He said it was due to “partisan politics” that it didn’t happen. I have been trying to get the truth out about this so-called “Infrastructure Bill”. This is what I’ve discovered: Senate Bill #416 was introduced by Senator John Brenden from Scobey. When you read SB 416, the first line says, “an act providing funding and authorization for Capitol and infrastructure projects state wide.” If you ask...
For years the GOP has controlled the Montana Legislature, and the Democrats have fought against them. Prior to this partisan divide both parties worked together for the greater good of all Montanans. This is no longer the case. Instead of both parties working together for the good of the people, they have focused primarily on the needs of their respective parties. When you have politicians that are more willing to vote to satisfy their party’s agenda rather than what is best for the people you HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM. This system is obviously not w...
Dear Voters, My name is Dustin Manuel; this is to announce my candidacy to run for the Fairview School Board. I am asking for your support. Growing up in New Town, ND I know the challenges of a small town and the importance of a good education. When I was 17 I joined the Army National Guard, serving for 11 years during which time we were deployed to Iraq - 2004-2005. My wife, Sarah and I moved our family to Fairview in 2008 for the small community and better education for our 2 children. There is no reason to doubt the education here, our...
I’m a loud and proud Democratic socialist and atheist. Bernie Sanders is my candidate, yet I will be casting my vote for Casey Brock, a Republican, Christian candidate for Senate District 18 during the primary on June 7. Why? A recent decision of the Montana Supreme Court has left many Veterans without access to legitimate medicine that treats injuries sustained fighting for our freedom. Many more Veterans do not have access to a drug that is proven to alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. I have multiple military friends w...
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is an attack on American sovereignty and must be stopped. Of all the TPP’s attacks on Americans’ prosperity and independence, perhaps the worst is its termination of American sovereignty and property rights. The TPP gives foreign investors special rights to buy American land, businesses, natural resources, ports, and investments but doesn’t require they follow American laws. Even worse, if we ask them to follow our laws, the TPP lets these foreigners actually SUE the U.S. for prohibiting them from makin...
I am not sure how to start. Do I start at the end or the beginning? I thought that I would start at the end then go back to what I believe is the beginning. My son Ryan James Chatterton committed suicide on November 25th 2015. He shocked his family and friends because none of us saw this coming. He left us all wondering WHY? I am going to piece together his story as best as I can through my eyes and the eyes of many of his friends and family. I am thinking back and I believe that 1 ½...
Dear Editor, Since launching my campaign a few weeks ago, I have been asked by a few friends and family members who knew of my political leanings in high school and college, why I am such a committed Republican now, when I used to support Democrat candidates then. I thought it would be good to set the record straight and explain how my political and especially my economic world views have matured since then. During parts of high school and college I felt the government should be in the position to help the poor and disadvantaged. This was a...
If it’s broke, let’s fix it. That’s what Montanans need to do with our dysfunctional office of Lt. Governor. The dysfunction dates back for at least a half-century. After serving as Governor in the nineteen fifty’s, Republican Hugo Aronson once commented in my presence that he rarely left the state because of his deep distrust for his Lt. Governor, Democrat Paul Cannon. In the 1960’s the relationship was probably even worse between fellow Republicans Governor Tim Babcock and Lt. Governor Ted James. Babcock was out of state when a car crash kil...
It has been a privilege to watch the progress as the Northeast Montana Veterans Memorial takes shape in Fort Peck. This summer, with the help of some heavy equipment, cleared and leveled ground gave way to the 38-foot high main monument, 10 walls of honor, pathways, and bases for sculptures. The dedication on May 29, 2016, will fulfill five years of planning and work by scores of Northeast Montana volunteers. On that day next May, nearly 900 black granite tiles carrying the names of veterans and their branch of service should be placed on the...
