Quote for the Day…
After six months of listening to people talk with masks on, I finally understand what Charlie Brown’s teacher was saying. – iFunny
In today’s column, I take a quick look at these people/issues:
- Montana COVID Crisis
- The Western Word Poll
- Reading Assignments
MONTANA COVID CRISIS:
Each case and death are on your watch, Governor. It’s time to man up and help Montanans get a handle on COVID.
The latest report (Monday) from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services shows that There were 1,939 new COVID cases reported in Montana on Monday along with 7,713 active cases in the state.
According to MTN News which received a copy of the press release, “Six counties reported over 100 cases including Gallatin (694), Missoula (299), Yellowstone (159), Cascade (137), Flathead (136), and Lewis & Clark (135). We know the highly transmissible Omicron is spreading in the state.”
It is also being reported that the total number of Montanans who have died due to COVID is now 2,921.
Monday afternoon, the Great Falls Public Schools (GFPS) announced they were going to remote learning: In their press release, they said the following:
Great Falls Public Schools has been monitoring the COVID-19 spread since school started. This morning information was shared with the District COVID-19 Task Force that the number of COVID-19 infected students and staff has skyrocketed over the weekend. Today we have over 125 staff out on COVID related illness. Our substitute fill rate was below 46%, which meant that there were roughly 54 classrooms without substitutes across the district. The total number of students and staff that are confirmed COVID Positive as of 12:00 noon today was at 185 individuals. That is the highest number of infections that we have experienced this year to date.
They will try to resume regular classes on Tuesday, January 18.
GFPS had a mask mandate in place, but that was lifted on January 3. In my opinion, they should have waited two weeks after the holiday break to prevent an outbreak.
There were the Facebook “medical experts” who chimed in about the remote learning. Some were assholes.
School boards, superintendents, administrators, and teachers do their best to protect the students and provide a healthy learning environment. They cannot help it if they get sick and need to stay home. This is an unprecedented time, and we need to support them.
Finally, the number of COVID cases and deaths in Montana is falling squarely on the poor leadership of Governor Greg Gianforte. He tries to speak a good game calling for personal responsibility and says it’s a freedom issue, but what he needs to do is mandate mask-wearing inside all public places.
Each case and death are on your watch, Governor. It’s time to man up and help Montanans get a handle on COVID.
Read the news story from MTN News HERE.
Read the press release from the GFPS HERE.
THE WESTERN WORD POLL:
Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) just completed his first year in office. To mark the occasion, he gave a speech and held a press conference in Helena. There are some articles about his speech HERE and HERE.
This week’s poll question asks, “Do you approve or disapprove of the first year of the Gianforte Administration?”
The results will be posted later this week.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Here are some articles you might find interesting…
Gianforte files brief before SupCo in dispute between state lawmakers, judges
Government lawyers are keeping busy in Montana…
In 1st, US surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient
Let the jokes begin…
Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday
This is a good thing – if you can find them.
The Western Word 
Re Gianforte’s performance in office: His boasts about his “accomplishments” were almost entirely – exaggerated, originated in the previous administration, irrelevant to his official responsibilities, or simply not true. So………approve or disapprove? Gee, let me think about that………….OK, it was a tough call but I think his performance has been poorer than the average high school student’s would be if given the opportunity. I hope I haven’t offended any high school students.