Editorials

GUEST EDITORIAL: Don’t kick Land and Water Conservation Fund down the road

Published on Tue, 02/07/2017 - 3:46pm

With so much on its plate this session, the new Congress could do itself and future Congresses a favor by breaking its long-standing habit of kicking simple but important measures down the road with only partial funding and temporary authorization. Clearing its schedule of these items would allow it to devote more energy to resolving the more complex matters facing the nation.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Public servants cannot ignore public record laws

Published on Mon, 02/06/2017 - 3:22pm

Though the Montana Constitution states public records must be provided to anyone who asks for them, the state is giving our public servants an easy way out.

ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL: Updating procedures for closing I-90 should be priority

Published on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 3:18pm

Lt. Tom Totland walked away from this one.

He’ll attend his son’s basketball game today in Belgrade and return to work after his day off from the Park County Sheriff’s Office.

But looking back, he might tell you, “That was a close one.”

Totland responded to an accident Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 90, only to have his parked patrol rig severely damaged by a semi-trailer driving through the area of the crash scene. Thankfully, Totland wasn’t inside his patrol vehicle when it was struck, and he wasn’t injured.

ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL: You have the right to peace of mind

Published on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 2:34pm

The current American political climate, the 24-hour news cycle and constant social media stimulation is enough to drive an otherwise happy person to distraction, unhappiness and even clinical depression. 

Life doesn’t have to be like this — you have the right to peace of mind. 

Here are some suggestions for regaining equanimity in a modern world. 

GUEST EDITORIAL: Mugshots are public information

Published on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 3:40pm

Last week the Montana House Judiciary Committee pulled the rug out from under police chiefs and news organizations who jointly supported a simple measure to clarify that booking photos are public information and should be treated as such. Unbelievably, the committee chair submitted a request to amend the bill to instead prohibit the release of these photos.

ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL: Get out and exercise your First Amendment rights

Published on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 2:45pm

Reports estimate that about 10,000 women — and men — attended the Women’s March in Helena last Saturday. That’s about 1 percent of Montana’s population who were willing to stand outside in 20-plus-degree temperatures. 

Park County was well represented in Helena, and a few locals even made it to the big march in Washington, D.C.  

It is right that they did so. The right to protest, to peaceably assemble, are deeply American rights guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL: Seat belts and other laws: How far is too far?

Published on Fri, 01/27/2017 - 3:52pm

Montana lawmakers on Jan. 13 tabled a bill that would have allowed police to stop you simply for not wearing a seat belt.

Right now officers can cite you for a seat belt violation only if they stop you for some other cause.

Text your zip code to 888777 and stay informed

Published on Thu, 01/26/2017 - 3:35pm

If you could take less than a minute to prepare yourself for disaster, would you?

It goes without saying that most Park County residents would take this short amount of time to safeguard their family and friends while also preparing for the worst.

That’s why all area residents should take advantage of a slick new emergency notification system that gives instant updates via text or email during disasters or other emergencies.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Lady Justice and the blindfold

Published on Tue, 01/17/2017 - 3:29pm

So it turns out Zach Zenner is a decent running back.

At least that’s what Michael Bennett says.

Except he said more than that, and that is what caused a fuss last week.

For people not tuned into the NFL — bear with us — this takes a bit to set up.

Michael Bennett plays for the Seattle Seahawks. Zach Zenner is a running back for the Detroit Lions.

GUEST EDITORIAL: Updating sexual assault laws

Published on Fri, 01/13/2017 - 3:02pm

Missoula has made vital progress in recent years on the subject of sexual assault. Following the launch in 2012 of a federal Department of Justice investigation into local handling of rape reports, the Missoula Police Department, Missoula County Attorney’s Office and University of Montana dove into a groundbreaking process of improving education, prevention and response systems, and emerged as national leaders for best practices.

Now it’s time to take that progress to the next level — the state level.