Guest Opinions

Thank you from Northwestern Energy

Every age faces events that help define them. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is such an event for this age. While we are physically distancing ourselves from one another, we are coming together in countless other ways.

Health care workers and first responders are heroes. We all value the people who make it possible to buy groceries, fill prescriptions, get the mail, read the paper, communicate online or by phone, and carry on with life in countless ways.

Putting local control back into education in Montana

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Local control is returning to our school districts. During these unprecedented times, as the State Superintendent, I have made strong recommendations to the Governor to honor local control and flexibility for our schools. The Governor’s new directive for a phased reopening of our state includes that education decisions should be made by local school trustees while ensuring social distancing guidelines are met. In Montana, we trust our trustees.

Remember to vote in your local school election by May 5

Voting is one of the most important responsibilities we have as Americans and Montanans.

While most of the state is focused on elections happening this November, important local elections are taking place in your community in just one week.

On May 5, communities across the state will elect school board representatives who will shape our children’s future for years to come. Voters might also be asked to decide on local bonds and levies that help school districts support essential programs and services the state does not fully fund.

We are in this together

A recent editorial suggested some of our citizens should leave this country. That approach has never been an historical stance in this country. Our approach has been to agree and disagree, to debate and find common agreements which enable working together for our citizens. If our approach becomes only one point of view on anything, we are moving from a democracy to a dictatorship. Beyond Republican and Democrat, I speak of business and science – the larger constructs of our culture and society.

Time for medical community to reopen for all medical needs

As a Montana physician practicing emergency medicine in rural communities for over 25 years, I feel it is time to share my thoughts and feelings with all my neighbors as our state prepares to transition from “shelter-in-place” to the next phase of our battle against COVID-19.

Reopen but proceed in stages

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As a Montana physician practicing in a rural community I feel it is timely to share my thoughts and feelings with all my neighbors as our state prepares to transition from “shelter-in-place” to the next phase of our battle against COVID-19.

COVID-19: A local view and some things you can do

When we set our economic development goals for 2020, one of them was “Business Retention and Support.” We never imagined a pandemic, or that business retention would become so important in Lewistown and Central Montana.

Hand in Hand heroes: childcare and communities

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Across Montana essential workers begin their toils; some with the daylight and some burning the midnight oil.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day

Today, April 22, people around the world recognize 50 years of Earth Day celebrations; 50 years of collaboration in the efforts to educate and inspire us all to take interest and responsibility for the condition of our environment, for our benefit today and for the generations to follow.

Hysteria, indeed

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Here we are—déjà vu all over again, as the late, great Yogi Berra once said. Since my old friend Ed Butcher didn’t pay any attention to my response to his earlier News-Argus opinion piece on COVID-19, I’ll roll up my sleeves and try again.

Poll

Do you think Montana is ready to move on to the next phase of the governor's re-opening plan?