There is something to be said for the number of economic symposiums that have been held in Kalispell since the first of the year. It’s evidence that political and business leaders alike are fully aware that the Flathead economy is in dire straits and there is no easy answer as to how it should be […]

In response to a recent editorial suggesting that Montana Sen. Max Baucus should share some blame in the case of three Navy SEALs being prosecuted for roughing up a known terrorist in Iraq, I would suggest it is more appropriate to blame the application of a legal paradigm rather than our senior senator of 30 […]

Given that we have so many trees around here, there must be a ton of customers on them. Judging from a few (but not all) retailers, that’s just the case and they’re apparently doing just fine. It must be all those trees we have. They’re so full of customers that businesses just don’t need any […]

Ron Paul had a good week after winning the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Meanwhile, Flathead County is on the hook for $1 million. HIGH BRIAN SCHWEITZER – The Montana governor traveled to Vancouver to sign a historic agreement banning mining and drilling in the Canadian Flathead. RON PAUL – The […]

Sportsmen take charge. The gill netting proposal for Flathead Lake (Feb. 17 Beacon: “Proposed Flathead Lake Gill Netting Angers Anglers”) is no more than a jobs program and educational experience for a select few. Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks should be ashamed for side-stepping the real issue being that no matter what action is taken […]

Roger Koopman, the former state representative from Bozeman, has returned this primary season with hopes of grooming Republicans in his image and fielding challengers to those who don’t make the conservative cut. He has sent out a questionnaire to GOP candidates under the banner of his newly formed group, Montana Conservative Alliance, so he can […]

I would like to address the horse slaughter issue (Feb. 10 Beacon: “Hard Times for a Western Icon”) and put it in terms that can be understood. One of the first principles of life is that we all must eat. In the animal world there are some that eat vegetation only, but many do not. […]

I sit here in front of my computer with some residual morphine and about 10,000 other drugs making writing a lot of work for the first time in my life. My broken back offers only some minor pain right now because of who-knows-what. I know I will be rambling, but at least I am back […]

There’s been a lot of talk in the Columbia Falls and Bad Rock Canyon area about the potential closing of Canyon Elementary School. While some may feel like celebrating because they object to public education or public funding of education, most of the folks I’ve spoken with are concerned about losing a neighborhood school. Enrollment […]

Jim Clark’s letter (Feb. 3 Beacon: “Now a Nation of Big Business”) about the Supreme Court’s decision on campaign finance left out a very important point and was factually incorrect on another. The unions were also included in the decision along with corporations. Union membership comprises about 12 percent of the working people of this […]

Love politics? Well, you’ll have more to love soon now that the Supreme Court recently knocked down a major hunk of “campaign finance reform.” Conservatives are treating the ruling like the Second Coming, while liberals are acting like the Supremes shot their puppy. The issue was the federal McCain-Feingold 60-day blackout period on “independent” expenditures […]

By now, most folks will attest that the Legislature does not have a clue about the pain caused by high property taxes. On many policy decisions, we’re mired in partisan argument with no appetite for fixes, listening only to lobbyists. If the Legislature had the will, we could easily impose a fix. I voted against […]

I don’t normally respond to letter writers who disagree with me. But in the case of Mr. Jim Spaulding’s letter (Feb. 10 Beacon: “Allegations Against the Planning Office Overstated”), I have no choice but to respond. Mr. Spaulding was my client back in 1998, and I did a big job for him by my company […]

Butte native Bryon Wilson is having a good week after winning a bronze in men’s moguls. Meanwhile, the Revenue Department is facing another lawsuit over property taxes. HIGH GORDON CAMPBELL – The administration of the British Columbia premier announced a ban on mining and drilling in the Canadian Flathead. BRYON WILSON – This Butte native […]

Those tasked with estimating state budgets and federal deficits are coming under fire after many of their predictions have proved grossly inaccurate over the last several months. And while much of the blame is coming from politicians hoping to deflect criticism away from themselves, the numbers do provide a glimpse at how rarely forecasters predict […]