by Mark Hebert and John Q. Murray

Judy Stang has filed as an independent write-in candidate for the Montana Senate.

After losing to Paul Clark in the Democratic primary by just 166 votes, Stang said she has been approached by many Frenchtown and Mineral County voters who said they planned to write her name on the ballot.

In addition to the pledged votes, she has also received donation offers from ranchers, farmers, developers, and people in Helena, she said.

by Mark Hebert

Today is a day that I have looked forward to for five and half years, but it's also a day that I've dreaded.

My daughter will be leaving for her first day of school this morning, signaling the end of a partnership that has spanned some 1,800 days, give or take the occasional leap year.

To the editor:

As new members to the Nine Mile Community, my husband and I recently attended the August Community Center Board meeting. I would like to thank each and every Board member for volunteering their time to make this a better and more wholesome community.

by Denyse Traeder

Binge drinking and drinking and driving have been a long-standing problem in Mineral County. In recent weeks, we have seen assaults take place, young men needlessly struck down by an intoxicated driver, and reports of underage alcohol use precipitated by adults of the communities we live in.

Although the traffic accident that left Alberton Mayor Joe Hanson’s grandsons dead happened in Missoula County, it could just as easily have happened here. Alcohol use and abuse touches just about all of us, and has long been thought of as a “rite of passage,” or something "that everyone does."

by Michael Becker, MSU News Service

The culture of alcohol abuse on college campuses jeopardizes the future successes of America’s university students, said U.S. Surgeon General Steven Galson during a visit to Montana State University last week.

by Dick Darne

"Elder, where the heck have you been?" one of the thinkers asked. "We haven’t seen you or any of the others for quite a while now."

by Dan Pope

This week our Moon is not in our evening sky and that will make it easier to locate the dim constellation Cepheus (SEE-fee-us), the King. When we locate the Delta star in Cepheus, we are looking at one of the most famous “standard candles” in the history of astronomy.

Air Force Col. David P. Ripley has retired from the U.S. Air Force after 33 years of faithful, dedicated military service.

Help Wanted: MINERAL COUNTY JUSTICE COURT P.O. BOX 658 SUPERIOR, MT 59872 PHONE: (406) 822-3550 – FAX: (406) 822-3821 INTERNAL/EXTERNAL POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT MISDEMEANOR PROBATION OFFICER Applications/Resumes accepted until Friday, September 12, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. Pick up applications from either the Justice Court Office or the Clerk and Recorders Office Job Description: The misdemeanor probation officer shall monitor offenders for misdemeanor sentence compliance and contract pre-trial supervision for District Court. This is a half time – full time position, depending on caseload. Starting wage will be based on experience/education. (MCA, 46-23-1005). Education, Experience and Training: A college degree or formal training in the behavioral sciences is required. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the county. Related work experience in the areas listed in 2-15-2302(2) . . . academic training that has qualified them for professional practice in a field such as criminology, education, psychiatry, psychology, law, social work, sociology, or guidance and counseling. Related work experience in the areas listed may be substituted for these educational requirements) at the rate of 1 year of experience for 9 months formal education if approved by the county. (2) Each probation and parole officer must, through a source approved by his employer, obtain 16 hours a year of training in subjects relating to the powers and duties of probation officers. In addition, each probation and parole officer must receive training in accordance with standards adopted by the board of crime control, as provided in 44-4-301. The training must be at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy unless the board finds that training at some other place is more appropriate. (2)(a) Misdemeanor probation officers: must have the minimum training required in 46-23-1003.