Although I commute to Bozeman from Livingston, I leave a bike at work so I won't have to spend anymore money on gasoline.
CK

John Hassert pleaded guilty July 22 to misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and must serve 100 hours of community service, pay a fine of $27,855, spend two days in jail and two years on probation. In exchange for his plea, a felony charge will be dismissed. What do you think? Is the agreement a just outcome?

The United States is headed for a major meltdown. With the increase price of fuel, natural gases, groceries, etc., as a country we are heading for the next depression and maybe one worse than the one my Grandparents lived through. “The dollar isn’t worth a dollar anymore” as my Grandmother put it too me so many years ago. I didn’t really know what she meant at the time, but now it is coming full circle to me and I realize what she said is becoming horrifyingly true. It seems that every other generation screws the next one to it. For instance my Grandparents were young through the Depression of the 1930’s and that generation had to come through and save the whole country ruined by the generation before them, by winning WWII, and getting the country back on track economically. Then my parents generation reaped a huge wave of success from the 1950’s until the end of the century. Now it seems that the Baby Boomers have totally ruined the country and have us right back where we were 80 years ago. I guess...

For those who take the time to click--it went extremely well. Here is the interesting part, good and bad, the first PHCs in both Billings and Missoula only had about 60 attendees. Bozeman's had 98! Hope everyone took the time to read the article--there were some interesting little facts there in.

For Bike Ryder, if you read this--did you come help out? The lady you judge every day was there--maybe you could offer to pick up the price on her script some day so she can get her meds. Being mentally ill is expensive--check out the script prices some day. Also, do you have any idea how hard it is to find housing around here without good credit and an income? Do know how hard it is to find a job when you suffer from serious mental illness? I would love your input--what is your solution to this?? Please come and help us out as we are really struggling with how to help this group of people.

For Berrymountain, hope you stopped by--it was a great day and we are getting some wonderful feedback. For everyone else...

Please come and help! This is the first time this has been done in Bozeman--it will be a learning experience--and we would love any and all help you can provide. Let's make a difference instead of sitting on our hands and placing blame for society's ills!!

Today's front page Chronicle story details growth in Montana. With over 10,000 new residents, Bozeman is now the fourth largest city in Montana. Will the growth ever slow down?

There is a convicted con man in Belgrade who is stealing from businesses throughout the area--from Livingston to Three Forks. he has also taken a lot of money from people connected to churches--he seems to have a knack for finding vulnerable and/or compassionate people.

He claims a variety of the following--sells sponsorship on ads, provides a free service to children K-12, needs money to help with his documentary film. If you live in Belgrade--you may have even seen an ad in the paper. He recently was turned into the FBI, Sheriff, and Attorney General.

Please, if someone contacts you about donating to something that sounds too good to be true--follow your gut!! Call the Belgrade or Bozeman Chamber. Do some research--may I recommend the website www.dogpile.com to search a name. If you call about a job--check it out before you waste your time as this person does not pay any debts including--employees wages, landlords, accountants, insurance, advertising companies...

I am posting this because I have seen the...

The State of Utah has announced that their government employees will be working a 4 day work week beginning next month. This is a year long experiment designed to reduce energy consumption. The employees will work 4 10 hour days and have Fridays off to do what they please.

What are your opinions on this?

Personally, it sounds great, but, I also enjoy having a more flexible schedule; a strict 10 hour day just doesn't work for me. I guess I'm lucky in that I have a career with a flexible schedule that allows me to retain my gig as a local high school coach.

CBS News link: http://video.aol.com/partner/cbs/utah-polygamists-assured/yc


FLDS Polygamists have found a wonderful haven in Montana, just south of Missoula.

FLDS practice what was taught and practiced by Joseph Smith Jr. the 1st "Prophet" of the LDS Church. For anyone that might be curious about those wives, here's a site for you; http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/

Brigham Young the 2nd "Prophet" also practiced and taught polygamy. Here's another link, this one that will confirm Brigham Young's wives: http://www.cc.utah.edu/~jay/Brigham_Young/Brigham_Young.html

Here are some famous quotes by Brigham Young regarding blacks and polygamy: (cited/sourced)

Brigham Young comments about blacks:

"You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind....Cain slew his brother. Can might have been killed, and that would have put a termination...

With "Montana" defense attorneys like this fellow, should we even bother to report crime? Why waste taxpayer money?

FYI: THIS IS THE ATTORNEY WHO WILL REPRESENT THE "DEFENDANT" IN THE CASE REGARDING MISTREATMENT OF 33 SLED DOGS... "Why" bother an attempt at prosecution?

Law Office of Chuck Watson
1700 W. Koch, Ste 2
Bozeman, Montana
59715
(406) 586-4707


NOTABLE CASES
The felony cases remarked upon below constitute only a few of my cases. In addition, I have won acquittals in dozens of felony and misdemeanor cases over the years, including two wherein my clients confessed to the crimes. In one county alone, I have won ten out of my last twelve jury trials.

The names and captions on these cases have been removed to protect the privacy of my clients.

CASE: Academy Award nominated actor of Easy Rider fame accused of threats of violence against a female prosecutor.

RESULT: No charges/no prosecution as a result of precharge negotiations with the Attorney General's Office. Client sent alleged victim a nice apology on Tiffany...

So since we have been debating about what we as a society should do about those who can't do for themselves. What about this guy, who got away with stealing his mom's social security benefits for years? What really kills me here is that he didn't need much to survive on his own, but instead of at least helping his own mother out with what he didn't need, he went to bars, restaurants and bought tires for himself. Freakin rediculous. Thoughts?

Man pleads guilty to Social Security fraud

By KARIN RONNOW Chronicle Staff Writer

A 49-year-old Three Forks man illegally used his elderly mother’s Social Security benefits to buy tires, pay taxes and cover his restaurant and bar bills, while simultaneously neglecting his mother’s health and well being, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Pendelton Bernard Merriam pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud in Helena on Thursday, according to the U.S. attorney for the District of Montana.

Merriam entered his plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, was released...

HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- The state Department of Corrections has backed off from a proposed rule that would bar anyone on parole or probation from obtaining medical marijuana without a judge's approval.

Proponents of the medical marijuana law, passed by voters in 2004, argued during a March hearing that the law does not allow any penalty for using medical marijuana, regardless of a person's criminal history.

"Our hands are tied by the way the initiative-passed law was written," Diana Koch, chief legal counsel for the department, said in a statement Thursday. "As a result, those who have broken the law cannot be subject to this reasonable restriction."

Tom Daubert of Patients and Families United, a medical marijuana advocacy group, said the decision "recognizes that medical marijuana is entirely legal for any Montanan suffering from a qualifying medical condition whose doctor recommends it.

"I think this decision only affects a tiny number of Montanans, but it's hugely important to their quality of life and their ability...

The only joke I see is her thinking that she can win. She knows that she doesn't have a snowballs chance of winning honestly so she will do whatever it takes.

Here's WHY people should pick up the dog and cat poop in all public places. Maybe the Chronicle needs to do a story on basic biology, and why it is unhealthy (basic biology 101) for animals and people to play where there's poop. Not to mention having CHILDREN picking up the poop.


Why SHOULD You Scoop Dog Poop?
Many parasites and diseases are transmitted through feces


There are many reasons why dog poop should be scooped, not least of which it pollutes our groundwater, attracts disease-carrying pests and flies; it could endanger the health of your family, and pets. Odor is another huge reason for clearing dog poop. Not only is the smell offensive to you, it could also present a problem with your neighbors if left for any amount of time. It should NEVER be used as garden compost. Dog and cat poop can carry many parasites, even in "healthy" pets.

Roundworms are the most common type of parasite found in pets. They are almost always found in puppies that have yet to be vaccinated and often have the unpleasant habit...

As the 60th Anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel, maybe a new tactic should be introduced. Every person, of Palestinian blood, every Arab in the borders of Israel, Gaza, West Bank, and any other settlement within Israeli borders should be packed up and shipped off to other nations. You might think that this is harsh, however let me point out to you the Palestinian disregard for life, man, woman, or child. The whole Arab communities disregard for life. The same way we separate different gangs in prison we should separate the Israeli and Palestinians from each other. Ship all the Palestinians to other locations with in the Arab world. Nations have done it all through out time, Czechoslovakia did the Germans after WW2, Turks did to Greeks, and Greeks did like wise. The separation of certain people, even though it may be harsh at the time, ultimately leads to a safer environment. The Palestinians refuse to co-operate with a reasonable plan of co existence, then it is time for a drastic measure....

District Judge Holly Brown ordered the 33 sled dogs seized in the Hessert's animal-cruelty investigation be given to the suspects father in Maine. What do you think?

Do you believe the claim by Cara Greger, who has been fostering some of the dogs, that no one can supervise the dogs in Maine?

Should dogs valued at a minimum of $33,000 be handed over to foster homes in the sled dog community?

Oh, I was so compelled to post my comments at BozemanTalks.com. I don't know why. It is almost like someone is inserting thoughts into my brain--not unlike a subliminal ad which is inserted right in the middle of a TV show, or maybe a NEWSPAPER STORY!

Chronicle, if you want to advertise your site in your newspaper, go for it. But I am disgusted that you use your NEWS platform and the news story itself to advertise. It distracts from the news, and is invasive to those of us who would like to read NEWS.

To those of you who say "Hey, it's their paper, they can do what they want with it!" I say, just because they have the ability doesn't mean it's right. I also say I have the ability to cancel my subscription.

We are [Go shopping downtown!] inundated with advertising on a [Eat at Joe's!] daily basis, even when [Support local business] we PAY for a service, such [Elect the lesser evil for President!] as a movie, an [Post a nasty reply to this message!] automobile, or a newspaper.

I have no problem with advertising...

Lets talk figuratively for a second. What chance does a snow ball have in hell? Take those statistics and put them into the case of John Lebrum. First of all it is clear that he didn't kill Wright. So why he would get the max sentence makes absolutely no sense. However, it makes sense that a BLACK man would get the max sentence for killing a white man in a 90% white community. That means 10% of the community is African American, Asian, Indian, Mexican, ect ect. Do you honestly believe that a Black man arrested by white cops, prosecuted by a white DA, sentenced by a white judge, really had a chance to receive anything but the max? Now you are probably shocked, saying that YOU would never have thought of something like that. I was at work when we saw the newspaper cover story about Lebrum, a white co-worker grabbed the paper quickly scanned the head lines and then dropped the paper yelling, “F##k yeah, the n####r got the max!” You really think that a white DA is going to allow black on white crime?...

Here's some "live" and up to date FACTS as of May 14, 2008 in regard to Illegal Immigrants, and the impact on our society.



Illegal Immigrants in Country: 21,524,286



Money Wired to MEXICO Since Jan 2006: $30,140,929,576.00



Money Wired to LATIN AMERICA Since '01: $265,028,456,964.00



Cost of Social Services for Illegal Immigrants Since 1996:
$398,457,654,173.00



Children of Illegals in Public Schools: $4,352,938.00



Cost of Illegals in K-12 Since 1996: $14,145,482,926.00



Illegal Immigrants Incarcerated: 364,842



Cost of Incarcerations Since 2001: $1,414,666,057.00



Illegal Immigrant Fugitives: 678,630



Anchor Babies Since 2002: 1,985,653



Skilled Jobs Taken by Illegal Immigrants: 10,499,895

So you got this guy Murdoch callin' the gravel pit owners thieves in the night. Nice try! You go DEQ with a 10 year back log? Really! Now who is the thief in the night? Looks like DEQ is run by a bunch of eco-terrorists. THe commissioners kept draggin their feet in earnest while the came up with a plan to stop land owners from exercising their legal land use rights. Government likes 3 things, control, control and control. The commissioners are the thieves in the night and they steal land owner freedom. THese guys along with DEQ want the state of Montana to become a national park.

The opinion piece in today's Chronicle gushes the same typical, anti-gun diatribe that gun-control supporters regurgitate every time: We MUST restrict legal, law-abiding gun owners to insure they don't go off and shoot up everything!!!

There are several faulty arguments here.

1. The requirement to unload and make gun "inaccessible" is "simple": Who defines whether a gun is accessible or not? Where is the "inaccessible" place for the millions of owners of pickups, vans, SUVs, and yes, even Subarus? Is disassembling my gun considered "simple"?

2. If a law-abiding citizen has easy access to a loaded gun, he/she will be much more likely to haul off and take pot shots at wildlife: Really? There are already laws coving the discharge of firearms in National Parks. Do you really think that if some gun owner is going to break one or two laws, that he/she will really be all that concerned about another?

3. There are no systematic searches of vehicles: It all depends on the attitude of the park officer who pulls you over...

Published 4.25.2008

PrintingForLess ordered to pay worker overtime wages
By Peter Vandergrift, Enterprise Staff Writer

In an April 18 Montana Department of Labor and Industry decision, more than $16,000 was awarded to a former PrintingForLess employee from the company.

The case centered around whether a technical service representative, a widely held position at PFL, was exempt from being paid overtime wages.

PFL claimed that a TSR fell under a professional and administrative federal law exemption, and it did not have to pay time-and-a-half overtime wages.

Former employee Julia Kenny challenged the no-overtime policy and received a favorable ruling at a Department of Labor hearing, official documents stated.

In a response crafted by PFL media contact Danton Rice, the Livingston-based online printing company vowed to appeal the ruling of what it labeled a “nuisance claim.”

An appeal would be heard in District Court in Livingston and could be appealed all the way to the Montana Supreme Court.

If the ruling is not overturned,...

Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter had to partially shut down on Tuesday as a result of a puppy infected with parvovirus. As a result, all four of the puppies that were dropped off were euthanized.

What do you think?

Should the state grant State Auditor John Morrison's request for a 50% increase in funding for the "Insure" insurance program? The "Insure" program is an insurance pool that helps businesses cover the costs of health insurance by pooling the businesses and helping them pay their insurance premiums (story on page A3).

What do you think?

Whoa, and I thought PFL was a great company because you could bring your dog! I am shocked by this ruling, shocked! ;)


http://dli.mt.gov/hearings/decisions/2008/whdec284_2007.pdf