Opinion / Columnists
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 226
By 
Should you handload your own ammo?
I know most of you reading this do not hand load your own ammo. Let me attempt to convince you that you should. These are my reasons. First is always economy. It doesn't matter what cartridge you want...
Individualism versus individuation
The word individuation is not heard very often. On the other hand, individualism is commonly expressed in our culture. Many people consider the two words to have the same meaning but the two words are...
Apply for the Medicare Savings Program
The beautiful weather is finally here and we can get outside and enjoy! It's also a great time to save money on Medicare by applying for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP)! If you have or qualify for...
Hardening, aphids & quackgrass
Q: What on earth does it mean to "harden" a plant? A: It is gardeners' slang for helping an indoor plant to adapt itself to outdoor weather. The same techniques are used for plants grown in a...
Thanks for the ride...
It's been a ride here, friends. A good one... I've decided to hang up the reins for now on my column "Cowgirl Ramblings" and turn the page on this chapter of my book. My life is a little busy, my...
The trail awaits
Won't be long now many will be look'n to head on down some trail. There's noth'n quite like it - horses and mules and good company. Many moons ago Will Kats and Paul Ossowski and I headed for the...
Great choice in the auto pistol
Previously I discussed the advantages a revolver has as a concealed carry/self defense firearm. Now I will discuss why the auto pistol is also a great choice. First, the auto pistols come in many...
Pertussis outbreak spreads to Seeley Lake
Here we go, we find ourselves smack-dab in the middle of a whooping cough outbreak here in Seeley Lake this week. You may have been hearing about the outbreak in the Missoula high schools. Well,...
Learning together: 22 years of Swan Valley Connections' college field programs and counting
It's May, and universities across the nation are growing quiet and empty. But in four days, college students will arrive in the Swan Valley for their first day of class. Since 1997, Swan Valley Connec...
Mee, Mee, Mee, Mee
When opera singers warm up, they sing mee, mee, mee, mee, mee. There is an old joke relating opera singers and the psychological focus of this article, which amounts to a play on words. The joke...
Basil and fertilizers
Q: I love basil and would like to grow my own but I need some instructions. Also, once I have basil plants outdoors, will I have to protect them from deer? A: Basil is easy enough to grow, once you...
Born {game}
"Baby sister, I was born game, and I intend to go out that way." ~ Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) "True Grit" It's a funny, enlightening, scary and humbling thing to write out a list of things you feel...
What is the Veteran Directed Care Program?
With Memorial Day coming up, I am acutely reminded of all the benefits we enjoy in our country due to the service and sacrifices of United States Veterans. The purpose of today's Note from Linda is...
Wrap up of productive session
The 66th Legislative Session has come to an end. Out of all the Legislative Sessions I have seen, this has been the most productive. When I first got involved in politics, the State Budget was...
Infrastructure package comes through
HELENA - We are coming up on our last week here in the Legislative session. During the 2018 election, I said that if you elected me to represent you in Helena that I would chair the states infrastructure committee and work to shepherd a complete...
Spring at last
Everywhere I went this last winter seems like everyone sez "Are you tired of winter yet?" Ya, I guess the older I get the more I long for spring. At about the 21st of March, the red, red robin came bo...
Revolver or auto?
When asked that question, my reply is, “what do you want the gun for?” Let’s talk about only concealed carry for now. I will address other purposes later. There are so many choices it can be...
Many unknowns in the home stretch
The Legislative Session is coming to an end. I have heard rumors that Republican and Democratic leadership are thinking we might be done by Easter but we hear that leadership wants us to be done early every session and it usually doesn’t work out....
State Budget closing in on final days
HELENA - Monday was the final day for general bills to transmit back to the chamber they originated in, so any policy bills that weren’t returned to the House or the Senate, depending on where they started are now dead. Moving forward, most of the...
Consciousness varies
In past articles, I described consciousness as awareness but we must ask: Does awareness differ from person to person? Clearly, everyone has consciousness, however, like so much of psychology each...
Sprinkler woes and when to start planting
Q: Watering always is a problem for us. We hand water some raised beds but that doesn't work if we are going to be gone for several days. If we use sprinklers with timers, we end up watering areas...
Prevent loneliness from wrecking your retirement
Dear friends, Retiring in Seeley-Swan Valley? What does that look like? We know it is an extraordinarily beautiful landscape. We absolutely love it here for many reasons: fishing, hunting, hiking,...
Closing in on transmittal
HELENA - This week was the final week before transmittal, meaning that every bill that started in one chamber, had to pass through to the other chamber in order to stay alive. So at this point, any bill that started in the House and has not passed...
How cold was it?
This past winter we had some normal cold spells. It's winter in Montana folks. Watching the TV and to hear the weather people ramble on you'd think we lived in the Arctic. Oh, that's right all the...
Budget and infrastructure legislation
HELENA - Last week, the State Budget passed out of the House and is now on its way to the Senate Finance and Claims committee. As Finance and Claims begins having hearings on the budget, the legislature will receive another update on the State’s...
