Fifty registered nurses at Marcus Daly Hospital in Hamilton have reached a tentative contract agreement with hospital administration. The nurses, represented by Montana Nurses Association (MNA), voted unanimously to ratify the terms of their new collective bargaining agreement, which represents a win-win for the hospital, the nurses, and the patients they serve. “It’s a…
Daily Archives: 4:42 pm
Emergency medical marijuana ordinances expire
By Michael Howell The emergency ordinances passed by Hamilton and Stevensville to control the location of medical marijuana dispensaries in the respective municipalities have both expired. But city officials are not worried for a number of reasons. Hamilton’s interim emergency ordinance, enacted in March 2011, required medical marijuana dispensaries or storefronts to be located in…
County adopts noxious weed complaint and compliance policy
By Michael Howell The Ravalli County Commissioners recently adopted a noxious weed complaint and compliance policy that includes a five-step process designed to initiate a dialogue with any landowner about whom the agency has received and initially verified a complaint. If the five-step process does not at any point result in some response or some…
County looks for new planner
Ravalli County Planner Tristan Riddell put in his last day of work on Friday, October 21 before heading off to work in Cascade County. Riddell’s resignation leaves the county without a planner just as one of the county’s largest proposed subdivisions, Legacy Ranch, is coming up for review. Riddell said he is making the…
Planning board president resigns
Planning Board President Lee Tickell submitted his resignation last week. Tickell said that the resignation had nothing to do with any dissatisfaction on his part with the volunteer position he has held for a few years. He said it simply had to do with the fact that he no longer owns property in…
Occupy Main Street
Dear Editor, “Occupy Wall Street” is a protest against the concentration of wealth among the privileged few. This concentration has only been made possible by the flow of wealth from our communities to the centers of economic power. Whether you agree with the protests or not, the results of this net outflow of money affect…
Saying Right Things
Remember those times when what you said was so completely wrong Wanting to take back the words and feeling like an utter ding-dong? It’s a matter of putting the mouth in action before the brain, Thought of as insane and having to explain. We all have said the wrong thing at the wrong…
Connection?
Dear Editor, I read the CWD story, on page 5 of the 19 October Bitterroot Star hunting supplement with considerable interest. Your story specified that CWD disease has been confirmed in wild game of several states, but not Montana. Further, the story specifies that CWD is a rare brain disease that causes big game animals…
New name for Florence center
Dear Editor, We are making some changes at the Local Living Family Center, a new name and new hours! We are changing our name to the North Valley Family Center, or, for short, The NOVA. We believe this better describes the families and community we serve. After much consideration and many 12-hour days, we have…
Get rid of ‘green’
Dear Editor, I despise the concept of “green jobs” hatched by this dreamer that occupies the White House. It has been a total disaster since Day 1. Simply, America’s biggest problems are separated from America’s best solutions by a huge ideological wall. It’s called Obscurantism. The Beltway keeps sticking a regulator boot on the necks…