Congratulations on making it to Friday! Here are the topics that caught my eye for this column:

• Tryon’s Latest Tirade
• A Half-Baked Idea
• Butte America
• One More Thing

TRYON’S LATEST TIRADE:

I must admit that Great Falls City Commissioner Rick Tryon makes life interesting in Great Falls. He always seems to give me something to write about. I try to limit writing about Tryon to once per week, but that does not always happen. 

This time, Tryon’s tirade on his Facebook page was about people complaining and not doing anything except sitting behind their keyboard:

It’s interesting to me that the folks who whine, complain, and moan the loudest and most often on social media about everything that happens or doesn’t happen FOR THEM in Great Falls –

– have never bothered to attend a city commission meeting, stood up, said their name, and addressed their issue civilly.

– have never volunteered to serve on a city advisory board.

– have never offered actual practical solutions, just complaints.

– have never put their name on a ballot for public service.

– have never bothered to learn the facts before spilling their misinformed, regurgitated rumors and rude opinions all over the community.

Step out from behind your keyboard, step your ass up, and DO something other than running your mouth.

And if you don’t even live in Great Falls, mind your own business.

This has been a public service announcement from Rick Tryon, who doesn’t care even a little bit whether you approve of it or not.

The MAGA folks in and around Great Falls worship Tryon because he is one of them. Tryon supports Mayor Cory Reeves in his reelection bid and predicted that Reeves would win in a landslide. He also supports City Commissioner Joe McKenney and his reelection bid.

The job of city commissioner must be getting to him. Raising taxes and fees on Great Falls residents must be hard on the conscience, and sometimes, he just needs to throw a tantrum.   

A HALF-BAKED IDEA:

In case you missed it, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Thursday morning that he was ordering “…a new and highly accurate CENSUS…” 

I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

In other words, Trump wants to keep the majority in the U.S. House, which is based on Census data. He will do anything to remain in power – even destroy the country. Since 1790, there has been a Census that counts people, not citizens. It’s in the Constitution, so Trump will need to change that. 

Here is some handy information about counting all people and not just citizens, written at about a 3rd-grade level, so even the MAGAs can maybe understand it. (Source)

The Associated Press (AP) reported on this issue and interviewed Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former congressional staffer who consults on census issues:

“He cannot unilaterally order a new census. The census is governed by law, not to mention the Constitution,” Lowenthal said. “Logistically, it’s a half-baked idea.”

Well, he kind of did order one, but unless some changes in the Constitution are made, it won’t count for reapportionment. 

I worked for the U.S. Census Bureau for a couple of years during the 2010 Census and learned a lot about how the information is used. It’s fascinating what information they can provide from doing a Census count and surveys that will help local communities. The questions are approved by Congress about three years out, and there are surveys happening all the time. We need a complete count of PEOPLE to know how many are using city, county, and state resources (like water, sewer, streets, transportation) so the money can be allocated properly. Wanting a complete count of people is not coming down on one side or the other regarding illegals. 

BUTTE AMERICA:

MTN News recently reported that after months of treatment for cancer, 16-year-old Grace Underwood received a very special welcome home at the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte.

Underwood recently completed cancer treatment for Ewing’s Sarcoma of the spine, a rare type of cancer that required nine months of treatment in Salt Lake City, Utah. “She did 55-plus days of chemotherapy and 25 days of radiation throughout her stay down there,” says Ryan Underwood, Grace’s father. About a week ago, Grace rang the bell, signifying she was done with cancer treatment, and her journey home began.

Check out Grace’s amazing story HERE, which tells how Butte showed up for her return in a big way! 

ONE MORE THING:

It must be miserable to genuinely think scientists, historians, and journalists spent their entire lives lying to you, but a reality TV celebrity with decades of documented fraud is your sole source of truth.

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##