www.MontanasTrailhead.com

Picture of Jonathan McNiven, who is currently seeking election for the Montana House in District 44

Born and raised in Huntley, Jonathan McNiven is seeking election to House District 44 as a first time candidate.  “As a small business owner, I am committed to creating jobs, keeping our taxes low and getting Montana back on track”, says McNiven. Jonathan and his wife Tana have been married for eight years, and enjoy living in the country just east of Billings with their three boys.  Jonathan comes from a large family of six brothers and sisters who were reared on a small farm in Huntley. 

Jonathan holds a bachelors degree from Arizona State University where he graduated.  Jonathan also holds two associate degrees from Mesa Community College with honors as well as a Certification in Arizona General Education Curriculum.  While earning his degree, Jonathan was awarded the U.S. President’s Council Service Award.  Mr. McNiven initially attended college at Montana State University-Billings where he served as the LDSSA President for one year and chaired a committee that brought to pass a successful young single adult conference of 300+ adults.       

Jonathan brings valuable experience, leadership, and renewed energy to this State Legislature office as a small business (more…)

Global Cooling

Global Warming

Climate Change

Weather

I finished this book recently and quickly because I had read a later book by the same author a few weeks ago. As the excerpt from the USA Today review says: “A richly textured portrait of a small Southern town . . . . Immensely moving. In describing his own odyssey as a healer, Verghese displays rare candor and eloquence.”

As I mentioned in the review of the later book,—?sequel or ?prequel—there seem to be a lot of Indian expatriates writing in English these days and putting out a lot of good stories. This one is non-fiction with just enough gory detail to be persuasive. He says he is writing about his own journey but the journeys of his (more…)

Tea Party on Grand Ave

By the way, I must recommend as highly as I can Arby’s Jamocha shakes. I’m pretty sure this delicious beverage played a major part in healing my abdominal incision after a diverticular perforation back in February. That and my nurses, Carol and Kellie, and of course my surgeon, Dr McKenzie. And a little of Capt Morgan too now that I think about it. They have all agreed to give me a discount after this advertising.

Sierra Club wackos chat with Tea Party Protesters

I asked the guy in the blue shirt above what the occasion was. He said that some of them were (more…)

Each booth educates the public and demonstrates how a product was harvested, whether for sugar beets, wheat, corn or barley or any other product.

Montana isn’t known for the big city lights like New York City and the famous Las Vegas.  However, it does have it’s share of history, events and Old West specialties!  Put that in modern times and it becomes an active, interesting and thrilling event to see.  The annual Threshing Bee is centered around old machinery, history, and education wrapped in one.

Have you ever envisioned the Old West and the effort it took in order to harvest crops, cut hay, or even haul product to a (more…)

Is that a Rolls-Royce at the pawn shop?

I happened to be heading west on Grand Ave this afternoon, doing some errands, when I drove by First National Pawn. I saw this car parked in front of the pawn shop out of the corner of my eye, so naturally I had to turn around to see if my eyes had played a trick on me. I have not seen any Rolls-Royces in Billings in thirty years.

It sure looks like one

But sure enough, there it was, right in front of me, parked on the sidewalk of course, so that lesser breeds of car wouldn’t come close enough to cast a shadow on this beauty. I went in to the pawn shop because I was curious to know if someone driving a Rolls needed to pawn something, or whether the Rolls (more…)

Billings Farmers Market starts this Saturday at 8:30am in their usual downtown location.

SummerFair also starts this Saturday at 9am at Veterans Park. Please note the new location. It looks like you should go to the Farmers Market in the morning because it is over by noon, and then to Veterans Park for Summerfair in the afternoon.

And then you have a choice: Rimrock Opera Summer Festival with two one-act operas in English starts Saturday evening at 7:30pm at the Babcock Theatre and Sunday afternoon, 3pm, at Shiloh United Methodist Church. This looks like a lot of fun: The Telephone by Gian Carlo Menotti, remember him from Amahl and the Night Visitor? And then Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti.

Wow, this is going to be a busy day. Look for pictures later.

So my sister-in-law posted this.  I got a good chuckle.  Enjoy.  

As we were driving home from Utah this past weekend, we passed this semi. I noticed the oversize load sign and wondered why it was on there considering the actual size of this dude’s load. Then as we started passing him I just started laughing. (more…)

Global Warming: The Long View

In order to counter the frequent spreading of BS by the climate alarmists it seems necessary to keep telling the truth. This graph comes from a useful website on this matter.

Laurel v. Blue Jays at PIrtz Field

I managed to see at least a couple of innings of two American Legion games on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays—the younger A level team for the AA Royals—were playing the Laurel Dodgers at Pirtz Field, just beyond Rimrock Mall. See the picture to the left.

I probably should say that Laurel was thrashing the Blue Jays unmercifully. It was 16-1 when I left in the 5th inning. The boys from Laurel look strong and may well repeat their State A Championship from last year.

Scarlets Get it Going in the 4th Inning

The Scarlets looked like they were in trouble until they broke out in a rash of runs in the bottom of the 4th inning thanks to wildness on the part of the Great Falls pitcher. He hit a few batters and a few more walked and then some bats came alive to the tune of 8 runs. Joe Barta looked good on the mound. The hitters need a little more practice, especially to replace some of those big hitters from last year.

According to the Gazette the Scarlets managed to sweep the Chargers fairly easily in both the afternoon and early evening games. Another 8 run outburst in the 2nd game put that one away as easily as the early game.

The Scarlets and Royals will be pretty busy (more…)