PORCH PONDERINGS

Cold Front Coming

There's a cold front coming. It's going to get cold here tomorrow for a few days. But then again, it's January in Montana. It is okay to be cold. A few days in the single digits will do everyone good. Get the germs dead. Kill the bugs.

But I know it's hard on those in the other parts of the world that aren't used to cold weather. So, button up. Turn on that heat. Break out the wool socks and hats and mittens. I think I've mentioned I have at least 5 winter coats. So now I'll morph into the -20° rated one. And my knee high Keen boots rated also to -20°. Snug and warm in those plus hat and mittens and wool sweater and lined pants.

I've been attending the county commissioner meetings on Friday for a few weeks now. The three commissioners are a fun group of gentlemen. If there is nothing on the agenda, we chat about all sort of things. My pass into the meetings is my press pass. I gather info for the paper. But really I'm just there for the company and the free heat in the courthouse. It's heated with coal, so it's toasty warm.

Today I listened to a conversation with the community health worker. Really a social worker the county has hired to help, especially in the schools. She is trying to get established, but having trouble getting all her 'ducks in a row' with the foundation funding her, getting an office established, and getting a county vehicle. Then I listened to another person who is helping with the funding of a long vacant property the county bought. It is a historic structure, 30,000 sq feet with immense potential. But it's been sitting empty for perhaps 40 years. So lots of rehab to be done. It has to have hazardous waste remediation then they want to sell it to a developer for a multi-use space. Retail and housing. Good idea, I hope it pans out.

On Tuesday, I listened to an aide from the office of our district's House of Representatives to the US Congress. This young man was quite personable. But boy oh boy, he was a talker. I tried to distill what he said in the two hours he was there with the commissioners, and I am still working on it for the paper.

During both these occasions I spoke up and gave my personal opinions. Perhaps I won't be allowed back in. But sometimes, you just have to state the obvious. Like, why isn't someone helping the healthcare worker get established? It's been 3 months. Don't let this certain developer get the project, he already has one in town he's been working on for 5+ year. And do you know about this in SE Montana? Tell your boss.