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Looking North – The Nation State
In the course of several sociology classes, I would introduce the thought that the nation state may just be a fad we are going through. The idea, when you spend a few minutes thinking about it, is uncomfortable – as it should be. There is a reason why the fall of Rome marks the beginning of the Dark Ages. So I’m watching the movement for an independent Alberta, disconnected from Canada, with a scholar’s interest. My first conclusion is that Canada is held together by money – and Alberta is, and has long been, the source of money that holds…
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A Simple Explanation of Recent Research Scientists have been studying how the body’s immune system responds after multiple COVID-19 booster shots. Some recent research suggests that repeated boosters may change the type of antibodies your body makes. Here is a simple explanation of what that research is saying. Your Immune System Uses Different “Tools” Your immune system…
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(Example using a $19.5 million bond like North Lincoln County) Category Typical % Approx. Amount (on $19.5M) What It Covers Actual Building Construction 65–75% $12.7M – $14.6M Concrete, framing, roofing, classrooms, gym, mechanical systems Architects & Engineering 6–10% $1.1M – $1.9M Building design, structural engineering, planning Site Work & Infrastructure 5–10% $975K – $1.9M Parking…
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In North Lincoln County, it is common for students from smaller communities such as Fortine and Trego to attend middle school and high school in Eureka. Because these communities fall within different school district boundaries, many residents ask a reasonable question: If students from Fortine and Trego attend school in Eureka, how do those communities…
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When I went to get some repair work done, the person I was consulting advised fixing the structural issues and then putting the same ancient dilapidated siding back on the building. The rational? Property taxes. Last summer, we joked about how much the nice flowers my mother had on their porch raised their taxes. They…
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I spent most of a year away from the school after I finished my term. I attended a couple of board meetings because I was asked – on one hand, there was, at the least, the appearance of an unlawful board meeting . . . unlawful because it appeared to violate Montana’s open meeting law.…
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Historically, independent voters, and voters for minor third parties, do not get a large percentage of votes. Often, they’re considered “spoiler” candidates, who lose the election for someone by dra4wing critical support away during a close race. Or their thought of as simply “protest candidates” with no chance of winning. In Montana, for the presidential…
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Not many years ago, if you were faced with a cluster of unacceptable clowns on your ballot, you could write a name in and cast a protest vote. Hell, I guess you still can – the thing is, your write-in protest vote won’t be counted or reported. With the elimination of subsection 7 last year,…
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I’m having trouble summarizing this one, not least because I lost my notes. In short: The meeting did discuss prayer, but did not discuss a four day week. About prayer: The discussion was specifically with regards to having prayer on the agenda as a part of each school board meeting. The result- no. Community presence…
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The proposed library district has me looking at taxation again. One of the great things about Lincoln County is that, with three high school districts, it’s easy to figure out which communities provide the funds that keep our county going. Market Value Taxable Value Percentage Libby $1,687,186,708 $21,911,499 36.42% Troy $831,354,553 $10,966,329 18.23% Eureka $1,974,407,031…
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Now it takes a single click to get the data. So what does it mean? I measured the record lows back in 1977 – this chart, from the Grave Creek site, shows how the critical snowfall that brings us up to normal or above occurs between the February measurements and April 1. I don’t know…
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The USDA has updated plant hardiness zones, and despite last winter’s impressive cold, we’ve jumped up a zone (to 5a from 4b in 2012; the average low went up by 6 degrees) Hardiness zones are a (partial) climate description that’s been in existence for a bit over a century, though the government didn’t get involved…