If the Boulder City Council requires a maximum of six chickens per household within city limits, what is to become of our other 14 chickens?  Read Article Much ado about chickens

I do not live in Boulder but would like to address the article about the city writing codes regarding limiting chickens in Boulder. The timing of such coding comes while we are experiencing economic instability and record inflation. Food costs are high, the soaring cost of eggs being the sub… Read Article City should reevaluate limiting chickens

Not wanting to ruffle any feathers, I would like to comment on the proposed ruling in Boulder, limiting chickens to six per household.  Read Article Taking egg-ception to chicken restriction

Republican legislators just passed the biggest tax cut for the wealthy in Montana’s history, a whopping one billion dollars. That’s billion, not million. Meanwhile, the needs of regular Montanans, like affordable housing, care for the elderly, and child care for workers, are pushed aside und… Read Article Legislators should prioritize public schools

It was an honor to serve as manager of the Elkhorn Bistro Cafe for the community and to become a part of so many of your lives. I gave this role everything I had. Whether I was cooking, cashier, waitress or dishwasher, I always gave 100%. Many hours and long days were given to sprucing it up… Read Article Elkhorn manager grateful for experience

Regarding the Boulder City Council’s proposal to limit residents to a maximum of six chickens (Boulder Monitor, Mar. 1): My husband Dean and I have been raising chickens off and on for many years, including when our youngest was in grade school. He cared for ducks, geese, rabbits and quail. … Read Article Local chicken owner wants more info from City

The Republican majority has just flexed its muscle to pass Senate Bill 93, thereby limiting the ability of Montana’s citizens to pass laws through the ballot issue process. SB 93 is unbelievably restrictive in scope, including imposition of a $3,700 filing fee for ballot issues and affording… Read Article Passing of SB 93 concerns Montana attorney

With the legalization of recreational marijuana and the ensuing tax, the State of Montana has exceeded tax revenue expectations. Since then, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has received 20% of the marijuana tax income for the purpose of funding wildlife habitats. The Habit… Read Article Speaker Regier offers support for Bertoglio's bill

In Montana, we care about protecting our children and ending bullying in schools. Instead of seeking to prevent hate speech and bullying in our public schools, Montana House Bill 361 would protect the bullies. The text of this bill would make it impossible to discipline students who use a tr… Read Article Don't protect the bullies

Last week’s trial and subsequent conviction of John Russell Howald on federal hate crimes and firearms charges is a reminder of how bigoted ideas and hateful talk can eventually escalate into tragedy and violence. Three years ago, on a Sunday morning in March, Howald, armed with four guns, i… Read Article Will the Basin shooting be our wake-up call?

Excellent articles on Wicks and surrounding areas by Eliza McLaughlin in last weeks Monitor.  Thanks for putting out a great little paper. Read Article Writer appreciates recent ‘Paper Trail’

The construction project continues to move forward with a tentative groundbreaking date in April. Dick Anderson Construction put the project out to bid, and those bids are due to them on Feb. 22, 2023. The bids will be opened for Dick Anderson to evaluate. After this evaluation, they will br… Read Article Jefferson High construction slated for April

Thank you for reaching out to me regarding my thoughts on Montana House Bill No. 328. House Bill 328, as it reads, states: “An act providing for increased transparency and accountability in government by requiring certain government entities to record their public meetings in audio and video… Read Article Here’s to greater government transparency

I live a block away from a trailer being torn down. Mike and John are doing a great job. The area looks better now than before. It’s a dirty job, but these two guys make the Boulder trailer court look better than before. Read Article A job well done

It has been over 15 years since the Animal Shelter and Care of Jefferson County formed a partnership with Dr. Cory Tebay and Western Veterinary Service. This partnership was formed for the welfare of county  animals and to educate their owners on the importance of vaccinating and to spay and… Read Article Animal shelter grateful for partnership

This letter is in response to Jan Anderson's letter last week questioning the sources used by Jane Hamman in her recent guest editorial. Read Article Clancy resident defends The Daily Signal

Jane Hamman's submission published in the Jan. 25 Boulder Monitor cites three sources in support of her contention that Montana needs election reform. Those sources: Read Article A closer look at sources used in guest editorial

Montana’s 68th legislature is in session and is considering over 1300 bills to date.  Most of us will only take note of a few high-profile bills that will have a direct and immediate impact on our lives.  For example, tax relief bills, a couple of which will pass with little opposition.  How… Read Article Be wary of SJ 2

There is more to the abortion bans being promoted by Republicans in Montana’s Legislature than simply a difference on moral or cultural grounds. Republicans have pieced together an entire suite of policies aimed at one goal. That goal is to control and disempower workers by a broad assault o… Read Article Low wages, underfunded public services and abortion bans

Whether you are for or against the Convention of States, please take a moment to read this and consider heavily what I have to say. I was at the Helena Capital building to absorb the words of others and testify against the COS. As I listened to those in support, I could feel the strength of … Read Article COS: Ignorance is bliss

In the Jan. 25, 2023 Boulder Monitor, Jane Lee Hamman wrote an Op Ed piece on Election Integrity. In it she references several headlines that are not factual and outrageously misleading.  Read Article Column writer should be more critical of sources

Greetings,  Read Article An update from Commissioner Kirsch

The current and former Jefferson High School Board of Trustees and Administration have failed our school’s mission statement.  Jefferson High School’s mission is to provide the best possible education for our youth for whatever path of life they choose; to be the school of choice for student… Read Article JHS Board slow to consider weighted GPA

Nearly every citizen in the state has a personal experience, rumor or disconcerting fact about the integrity of our elections. Most have seen dozens of recent headlines challenging the integrity of registered electors, ballots, and elections: Read Article ‘Freedom, Knowledge & Justice’ Election Integrity: Division, dialogue and progress

Wow, winter came early this year! Thanks to the many areas of ice outside (causing me trepidation) as well as projects and learning my new job, I have been indoors much more this winter. Usually I don’t let winter slow me down much and I still enjoy the outdoors and going for walks, but this… Read Article Be mindful of seasonal depressive disorder

This New Year many will make goals for 2023. However, we are at a critical juncture today and each one needs to take the information below into account. Read Article A New Year is here, but many concerns persist

Those who value Montana’s Constitution are concerned—terrified, actually—of what the Legislature’s supermajority (and its new Freedom Caucus) are going to try to do to it this session. Read Article On the chopping block: constitutional rights?

The 68th Montana Legislature is officially in session. As Senate leadership, we’re excited to see Senate Republicans getting to work on enacting conservative policy for our state.  Read Article Senate Republicans agenda for this legislative session

What a wonderful "Lives" issue! I shed a few tears remembering friends and neighbors, and enjoyed your great annual report to the citizens of Jefferson County. I hope more residents will read and share your outstanding Dec. 28 issue, and then become paying customers so that they, too, may be… Read Article Clancy resident comforted by 'Lives' issue

Thank you for the tremendous issue of the Monitor featuring loving profiles of community members who departed from us in the past year. The tribute to Candace [Hecker] was terrific and captured her gentle spirit perfectly, as did other entries.  At a time when many newspapers charge an arm a… Read Article Former publisher touched by 'Lives' issue

Our soul is the essence of who we are. Our spirit, our individual life force, is developed through the relationships, knowledge and experiences of our life journey. We learn and we teach the children through the season of the year that extends from the gratitude of Thanksgiving to the hope, … Read Article Thanksgiving and Christmas prepared us for the New Year

In the early 1970s, frustrated with the corporate boot that dominated and bullied Montanans, the state's people rose up. Led by ordinary citizens like Pastor George Harper of Helena, local historian and mother of six Louise Cross of Glendive, and League of Women Voters leader Dorothy Eck of … Read Article Attack on Montana Consumer Counsel is Revenge by Utility Lobby

Thank you to the many people who contributed to make the annual Boulder Community Christmas Dinner a success! We especially appreciate Vicki Peterson, George Teeling, the Boulder Grade School kitchen staff and custodians, representatives of the JHS BPA group and the Helena Kiwanis members. T… Read Article Kiwanian grateful to community for successful holiday event

With the holiday season it is a time to be thankful, and as important, to express that thanks.  This year I was fortunate to draw a moose permit in the Elkhorn Mountains, which included the Boulder Valley.  Given the drawing odds, this has become a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Read Article Hunter appreciates kind community

Government has an obligation to make our lives better. Will congress enact more corporate tax cuts now that Republicans have taken control of the House of Representatives? Will they extend current corporate tax cuts? How about tax cuts for the rest of us? That's right, the 95% of us who do n… Read Article Tax burden takes a toll

I am encouraged by the outcome of the midterm elections. Not because all the candidates and ballot issues I voted for succeeded, but because winners and losers alike were for the most part, gracious and accepted the will of the people. Civility may be making a comeback in politics. In my opi… Read Article Time to move on

As Thanksgiving fast approaches individuals prepare themselves for debate on all political matters. However, this year I ask each of us that we set aside our political differences and look at each other not as opponents, but as family and friends. Our nation is fractured, and every day new b… Read Article This Thanksgiving, remember civility