Mineral County reduces school property tax mills

Mineral County Commissioners on Oct. 12 voted 2 to 1 to reduce the amount of state school property taxes it plans to collect, a move that falls in line with many other counties across the state.

Comments sought of Fish Creek State Park

Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) announced today it is seeking the public’s input to help guide recreation planning for Fish Creek State Park, located about 35 miles west of Missoula, near Alberton.

Abortion clinics sue state over new restrictions

Montana abortion providers on Friday sued the state health department in an attempt to block a new rule adopted by the Gianforte administration’s health department that restricts how the state will pay for abortions through its Medicaid program.

United States of America: corporation or nation?

Speaking of freedom - an update from Senator Fielder

Speaking of freedom, Montana received a rare visit from Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia last week. He appeared by invitation of the Federalist Society, a national organization that is “committed to the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.”

Lady Hawks' Baxter gets All-State nod

As expected, the unbeaten Class B state champion girls from Bigfork dominated the recently released Western 7B all-conference and All-State basketball list, placing the Gunlock sisters, Braeden and Paeten on the first team conference roster and as selections to the Class B All-State team.

Elected officials shouldn't run us down

Recently, Republican state representatives Pat Ingraham and Gordon Hendrick and state senator Greg Hinkle met with Sanders County school administrators to talk about the school funding challenges facing the 2011 legislature. The meeting was arranged by Sanders County Treasurer Carol Turk who is running for re-election on the Republican ticket along with Ingraham and Hendrick. All three of the state officials expressed their concern about school funding issues. I would find their concern a lot more credible if any of them had ever actually voted for state funding for education.

Officials say hunting wolves from aircraft prohibited

Despite a recent interpretation of Montana state law that aerial hunting of wolves is not prohibited, doing so runs afoul of federal law.

Ribbon cutting held at state park

THOMPSON FALLS –  Montana State Parks hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony held at Thompson Falls State Park last week to honor the permanent easement purchase at the park.

Public library expands digitized services

SUPERIOR – The Mineral County Public Library announced that it now offers access to a collection of digitized historic and current Montana state government information through its own library catalog.

Montana Viewpoint

Jim Elliott

ALC works to put public land in the states control

SUPERIOR – At a December 12 meeting, the County Commissioners and members of the public learned about the issues, which surround federal versus state public land and how it affects Montana residents.

Sanders County GOP joins lawsuit

SANDERS COUNTY – The Sanders County GOP recently joined a lawsuit against open primary elections within the state of Montana.

Russell Kujala

Plains-Hot Springs 145-pound wrestler, Russell Kujala stands on top of the podium following last weekend's B-C State Tournament in Billings. With the state championship, Kujala, a senior, became the first Savage Horsemen wrestler to win two state championships.

State Tournament

Carley VonHeeder shoots over a Columbus defender Friday afternoon in loser out action at the girls' Class B state tournament in Great Falls. In 1987, her father, Derek VonHeeder competed in the same arena during the boys' state tournament for the Plains Horsemen.  

Thompson Falls wrestler wins state

At the State Wrestling tournament in Billings, only six wrestlers from the western region of Montana made it to the Championship round. Of those six, only two walked away with a state title. Ben Conover of Thompson Falls was one of those wrestlers after winning state in the 145-weight class.

Federal land comment period nears end

SANDERS COUNTY – An ongoing yearlong study will soon be coming to a close as state senators will determine what steps are to be taken in regards to federal forest management.

Thompson Falls trail project receives substantial RTP grant

THOMPSON FALLS – Montana State Parks recently announced grants to various community projects through its annual Recreational Trails Program.

Rights in jeopardy

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Water Compact is essential to the future of Montana’s water resources.

Plains' VonHeeder competes in U.S. Olympic Trials

Montana State's Carley VonHeeder, the state javelin champion from Plains and a Big Sky champion with the Bobcats, competed in last Friday’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon.