Tag Archives: DUI

Thursday Numbers

Happy Valentine’s Day!

If this is your first time visiting The Western Word, “Thursday Numbers” is my weekly column where I take a look at the numbers in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes laced with just a little sarcasm.

Please note that if you read this column you may be able to use the information to impress your family, friends, and co-workers. Then again, when they find out that you spend your time reading blogs they may not be too impressed…

This week I write about Valentine’s Day facts, State of the Union, unemployment, Carol Brady, Saturday mail delivery, most religious and non-religious states, term limits, 14th DUI, MT Highway Patrol, Minimum wage, and much more!

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Monday Morning Politics

Welcome to Monday Morning Politics – this is the “circus” edition in honor of the 63rd Montana Legislature that starts today!

In case you are a new visitor, this column is where I take a look at some of the political stories that caught my attention from the past weekend and put them in one place for my readers to see. I also provide some commentary!

Today I write about the Circus beginning in Helena and some advice to those in the media covering it. I also chime in about the GOP Chairman’s views on voting, Daines’ disaster vote, Chuck Hagel, John Brennan, Crapo paying for his DUI, and a salute to Virginia for their DUI laws. There’s a lot more so read on…

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1.6 Years Per Life

Many folks in the Great Falls (Montana) community woke up Sunday morning September 25, 2011, and heard about a horrible accident that happened early in the morning at the Loading Zone bar.  As details emerged over the next few days, we found out that a driver plowed into the bar killing three people (Jeffrey Scott, Tony Hiatt, and Daigerrys Leon) and injuring two others.

With the case coming to a close and a sentence rendered last Friday, it’s time for me to offer my personal commentary.

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That Darn Car Radio

With the National Transportation Safety Board saying that all cellphone use should be banned while driving an automobile, the issue has been brought to the forefront.  Of course, here at The Western Word I like to comment about things like this – so here goes…

Some cities have already taken up the cause and banned cellphone use while driving, and I like to call those cities wrong.

Yes, people have been killed or injured by someone using a cellphone while driving, but maybe they should ban hamburger and French fry eating, along with drinking coffee in automobiles, too.

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Caught My Eye…

Congratulations readers – you’ve made it to another Friday (a cold one in Montana).  You deserve to take a short break and catch up on the news and commentary via The Western Word’s “Caught My Eye” (Psst…your boss is probably reading it, too).

The “Caught My Eye” column has been posted here for 69 weeks, and it’s where I take a look at some of the stories in the news that I did not have time to write a full column about and offer some commentary – sometimes I add a little sarcasm.

Today I take a look at Castro and Congress, the Supercommittee, a local newspaper’s dilemma with comments, Jonestown, I crack open my political inbox, I look at a gift, and I salute the Occupy folks in Great Falls.  So read on… Continue reading →

Thursday Numbers

Here we go – another Thursday!  Just one more day and we’ve made it to another weekend – it’s downhill from here!

For the new folks stopping by for the first time, “Thursday Numbers” is the column where I take a look at some of the numbers in the news and put them in one place for all to see – and offer some commentary about each.

This week I take a look at campaign fundraising, unemployment, “Likes” on Facebook, football, baseball, pitchers of beer, and much, much more! Continue reading →

Thursday Numbers

In the last few weeks, The Western Word has taken a look at some of the “numbers” in the news.  This week we take a look at unemployment filings, fines, campaign fundraising, protestors, polls, miles, teams and there’s a lot more.

It all comes with some comments – so read on! Continue reading →

Come on…

Here we are about 71 days into the 90 day session of the Montana Legislature and they have done little to tackle the problem with drunken driving in Montana.

But we sure know which legislator receives health insurance through the state and we’ve seen our state take up the “birther” issue and that major piece of legislation, called the Cowboy Code, went down in flames.

And we pay these folks for this “work?”

As I’ve written several times before the Montana Legislature is a circus – a big three ring circus – but even the most cynical of people (like me) expect them to handle the major issues facing the state in a timely manner. The DUI problem in the state was THE major issue. Of course, medical marijuana and workers’ comp are a couple of issues, too.

Cutting ties with the Federal Government was not a major issue…

According to an editorial in the Billings Gazette, there are about six DUI-related bills up for consideration. In my opinion, all of them should be passed quickly. It is time to for Montana’s citizens to kick their legislators in the pants to get them in gear. Time is wasting. Continue reading →

Final Word: The Boat Crash

In what seems like has taken forever, former GOP State Senator Greg Barkus has received his punishment for his involvement in a boat crash that happened in August 2009.

Barkus reportedly accepted a four-year deferred prison sentence, $29,000 in fines and supervised probation.

At first glance, that seems like a pretty hefty fine. But since he almost killed several people, it might be considered a pretty light sentence overall because there was no jail time. Continue reading →

Beer and Tomato Juice

It did not take long for the “MT Lawmaker cited for having open container” story to make its way across the web – and embarrass Montana and become the first embarrassment for this session of the Montana legislature. It also hinders the plans to toughen the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws in the state.

For those of you who have not heard about it, Montana State Senator Jim Shockley (R-Victor) was cited for having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle Friday evening in Missoula. The Missoulian reported Shockley “was drinking a beer and tomato juice concoction when he was stopped.”

That’s another embarrassment (drinking beer and tomato juice), but that’s a story for another day. Continue reading →