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Disclaimer: The views expressed in Op-Ed’s published in the Three Forks Voice are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication. Over the last several weeks we’ve seen a number of articles—both editorial and from news reporters—that lay blame for the need to purchase electricity on the open market at the feet of NorthWestern Energy and their recent efforts to expand their portfolio to include more reliable energy from coal and natural gas. In no uncertain terms, the litany of articles published since the... Full story
Every so often, I visit realtor.com and search for my hometown of Rock Springs, Wyoming. My search isn’t because I’m interested in moving back. I’ve been in Montana for nearly a decade, and outside of family and a few select friends, there isn’t much desirable for me at the place I called home for so long. The reason why I check for homes is to see if my favorite place growing up, my grandparents’ home at 206 Dickson Avenue, is up for sale. Granted, if I were super rich, I would definitely snatch up the house in a heartbeat, but... Full story
6 Three Forks Volunteer Firefighters will ascend to the top of the fourth largest skyscraper west of the Mississippi River later this week as part of the 33rd annual LLS Stairclimb. We want to take some time to wish Charles Eastty, Cheryl Carrasco, Chase Moore, Trevor Aune, Josh Brigham, and Rachel Follet good luck at the annual event on March 10 at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle. Three Forks is undoubtedly proud of all the time you've put into training and fundraising, and the fact you are going up 69 flights of stairs in full gear... Full story
Disclaimer: The views expressed in Op-Ed's published in the Three Forks Voice are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication. By Zach Brown Gallatin County Commissioner Gallatin County is a close-knit community, and as one of your commissioners, I see so many helpers across our communities working to support their vulnerable neighbors and make our community safety nets stronger. A recent act of goodness came in the form of a successful mill levy in 2022 that voters approved to maintain the only skilled nursing...
Disclaimer: The views expressed in Op-Ed's published in the Three Forks Voice are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication. When my friends and I encountered the fresh grizzly bear scat, we were deep in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, 20 miles from a trailhead. I'd seen grizzlies before-from the car. But this experience was on a whole other level. I felt vulnerable, nervous. I also felt fully alive. That feeling owes much to the Wilderness Act, which became law 60 years ago, in 1964. When President Lyndon B....
Weather pending, the day this column is published, I'll travel to Billings to cover the Three Forks High School Boys' Basketball team at their opening round game against Lodge Grass at the Southern B Divisional Tournament. While I have covered basketball tournaments across the western United States over the past two-plus decades, there is nothing quite like the atmosphere at the Southern B Divisional Tournament. The combination of great basketball, rabid fans, and a venue perfect for a high school basketball make it one of my absolute favorite... Full story
Plain and simple — people get sick. Right now, more than 250,000 predominantly low-income Montanans get help with health care through Medicaid — a state-federal partnership. Montana has overall and primary responsibility, while the Feds pick up most of the costs, averaging 80% (of total Medicaid spending). In 2022, the federal government provided $1.8 billion to cover health care for Medicaid-eligible Montanans who live in every county across the Big Sky. Remarkably, two-thirds of Medicaid recipients live in our rural communities. So, what...
The other day, Melissa worked a little later than usual, so I decided to watch some television. Because I will get in trouble if I watch any of our favorite shows, I usually try to find a basketball game to watch, and if one isn't on, I'll often watch a cooking show. On this occasion, I watched a show where they showed the absolute theatrics of someone ordering fajitas at a restaurant. It was a pure spectacle as the server brought the cracking and popping piping hot cast iron skillet to the... Full story
As you learn about all the candidates for various offices this year, the most important ones are the ones that most Montanans know the least about. The politicians you need to do the most research on are not the would-be congressmen, governors, or even legislators. It’s the judges. Although they claim to be above the political fray, judges in Montana are in fact politicians. From the district courts to the state Supreme Court, they’re elected. They have to run campaigns, raise money, and their fate is ultimately decided by voters.... Full story
The other day, I was excited to read that the band Pearl Jam would be releasing a new album soon. From the moment my friend Paul loaned me the Pearl Jam debut album "Ten" in the early 1990s, I fell in love with the band. I would spend hours in my room in the basement listening to Pearl Jam, and it was such a phenomenal experience to see them, at the height of their popularity, open a tour in Casper, Wyoming, just a few hours from my hometown. While I certainly don't listen to them as much as I u... Full story
As a fifth-generation Montanan, I have fond memories with my Grandpa Daines of learning how to fish and hunt north of Big Timber, and my goal is to pass these traditions on to my own children and grandchildren. There is no better way to experience Montana than backpacking, hunting, hiking or fishing. I share this passion with many Montanans, which is why improving access to our public lands is such a high priority. That's why I introduced my "Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act." Montanans should determine what is best for our public lands, not... Full story
Whenever I visit my hometown in Wyoming, my first stop is always Grub’s Drive-In. From the first time I had a “Shamrock” cheeseburger, I was hooked, and it is one of my all-time favorite things to eat. On my last visit to Rock Springs, I was horrified that the local landmark had shut down. I was also dismayed that nobody from home bothered to tell me about this, but maybe it was because they knew it would not go well. Shortly before Christmas, I heard the fantastic news that one of my former classmates who worked at the restaurant while... Full story
Over the years, I’ve learned that a first impression is not always the best way to judge a person. Sometimes, people are standoffish, and you’ve got to get to know them a little bit better, and sometimes, people have bad days. One of the best examples is my friend, “Granny.” When I moved to Montana nearly nine years ago, I was overwhelmed. While I had plenty of experience in the newspaper business, I was not quite prepared for how difficult it would be to take over an established publication in Whitehall. Every day was a learning... Full story
Human trafficking is not just a big city problem — it’s happening right here in Montana. Which is why, during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, I’m encouraging Montanans to learn the signs of human trafficking and report it if they see it. If folks don’t know what it is and how to report it, they can’t help us stop it. Let’s call human trafficking what it is: modern-day slavery. Traffickers — often organized criminal enterprises — are profiting at the expense of adults and children who are forced to perform labor or e... Full story
With the NFL playoffs now down to four teams, plenty of football has been on at my house lately. While I would love to throw some ribs on the pellet grill, the temperatures as of late have not been ideal for outdoor cooking, so I’ve instead used my trusted friend, the crock pot. I’m unsure how old our crock pot is, but it is getting up there. While its days are numbered, it’s still doing its job, and there is no better time to use it than for a big game. We will do a lot of roasts and soups, but I cannot think of anything better than... Full story
When I was younger, there wasn’t much that scared me. One of those things that frightened me was snakes, but in seventh-grade biology class, I could still hold four or five different ones without being too nervous. I was proud of myself because now in my 40s if I saw a snake in my house, I would probably run out the door and never return. One of the other things that has always scared me is driving in inclement conditions. The first time I drove in snow, I had a minor accident. The weather conditions were fine when I went to play practice at... Full story
By Jason Ellsworth, Becky Beard, and Greg Hertz There’s no way Republican legislators would rather ring in a new year than with lower taxes, and that’s exactly what we’ve done to kick off 2024. As of Jan. 1, Montanans of all income levels are now paying lower income taxes, thanks to legislation that just went into effect. Those tax savings will be felt either on upcoming paychecks or when you file your 2024 taxes next year, depending on where and how you get paid. Senate Bill 399, passed in the 2021 legislative session, made a number of...
It’s always a great feeling to share positive news about area residents in the Three Forks Voice and Lewis and Clark Journal. This was certainly the case at the conclusion of 2023 with an article about Three Forks Mayor Randy Johnston stepping up for the betterment of the community by taking a job as a driver for the HRDC. With the Three Forks paratransit service in dire need of a driver to continue service, Johnston went above and beyond for both Three Forks and neighboring communities. It was also wonderful to recently see pictures online o... Full story
In grade school, there was little doubt about what I wanted to do when I grew up. Not only had I decided by eight years old that I wanted to be a play-by-play announcer, but I was already preparing myself to be the replacement for University of Wyoming legend Mr. David Walsh. I’ve listened to countless games on the radio and watched even more on television and have never seen anybody quite as good as Walsh, who retired a couple of years ago. Growing up in a family who were huge Wyoming fans, there were plenty of trips to Laramie and across... Full story
Advancement in technology is rapidly changing the world we live in, the careers we pursue, and undoubtedly affecting nearly every aspect of our lives. Traditional “big iron” companies like John Deere and GM have become “technology companies.” Electric vehicles, medical devices, military innovation, energy production and storage, are a small sampling of how technology is inextricably woven into our lives. This is the new frontier, with businesses and our nation investing massive sums in advancing technology to reclaim global leadership,... Full story
I am not going to lie -- it felt awesome and very relaxing to take a week off at the end of 2023. This had been only the second time I had been able to take off that much time in the past eight years, and I tried to enjoy it the best I could. While I had planned to get out of the house a little bit more, I won’t complain about putting a permanent dent in my couch cushion from watching countless hours of games and binge-watching some fantastic television shows. After a few days, it started to get a little bit weird because I wasn’t quite... Full story
The Montana Supreme Court’s recent order upholding the Montana Department of Revenue’s calculation of the 95 school equalization mills provided a protective shield for residential property taxpayers and students educated in Montana’s public schools. The court’s decision respected and preserved bipartisan decisions made by the 2023 Legislature estimating revenues and appropriating funds to fund Montana’s public schools. Some county officials erroneously asserted that levying 77.89 instead of 95 school equalization mills would have... Full story
With this being the last edition of the Three Forks Voice for 2023, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the new year. While 2023 was not my favorite year, it wasn’t the worst. There were a few great memories, another year of questionable decisions, and a flying off-the-road incident in the middle of nowhere I’d like to forget. As I look to 2024, I have a few things I’d like to try and see if they will help with my constant aggravation in the world. The older I get, the grumpier I seem to be, so I hope a... Full story
This holiday season, more Montanans will be navigating the annual open enrollment period for health insurance, seeking quality and affordable health insurance plans for their families. Cover Montana has a team of health insurance navigators who can help Montanans make sense of their options during this crucial period, which runs from Nov. 1, 2023, to Jan. 15, 2024. But this year stands out because more than 100,000 Montanans are no longer covered by Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids (HMK). Like all states, Montana's DPHHS is reviewing its... Full story
Sometimes, the little things in life can make someone happy. After living without trash service for four and a half years, I was delighted to finally have a can that would be picked up once a week. Going to a sanitation site several times a week was never fun, and I would have much rather just wheeled out a can. When we got everything moved into the house, we discovered we had two wheelable cans, which was ideal after the torture of unpacking, but I figured outside of Christmas, there might not be an occasion when we would need to use the two... Full story