Thanks for starting your week with The Western Word! Here are the topics for today’s column:

• White Lives Matter Flyers
• Great Falls Municipal Election
• Des Moines Public Schools
• Monday Night Football
• One More Thing

WHITE LIVES MATTER FLYERS:

According to a report from the local ABC/Fox station and some social media posts, plastic bags filled with sand and “White Lives Matter” flyers were found throughout several Great Falls neighborhoods over the weekend.

Hate has no place in Great Falls. I hope people check their cameras to see if they can identify these idiots.

GREAT FALLS MUNICIPAL ELECTION:

We are just at the end of September, and things are getting heated in the race for mayor of Great Falls. 

The current Mayor, Cory Reeves, is running for reelection. He is being challenged by Jasmine Taylor. You can go to their Facebook pages by clicking on their names. 

There’s been a lot of hatred directed toward Taylor in this race. I just hope the hate does not go too far from either side. It’s just a race for mayor. 

I commented on one post saying:

I think you’re missing an important point here! While Mayor Reeves is posting on social media, it’s taking time away from him voting to raise our taxes, rates, and/or fees! Remember the 27% utility rate increase when voting in November! 

The current city commission, with Reeves as the leader, has raised taxes, fees, and rates quite often in the past two years. I see nothing to stop them from doing it even more unless there are changes.  Reeves will not be getting my vote. 

DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

I said “Wow” when I read the following…

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Des Moines arrested Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien from Guyana, in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed blade hunting knife. At the time of his arrest, Roberts was working as the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools despite being an illegal alien with a final order of removal and no work authorization. (Source)

NBC News reported that Roberts had entered the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa and was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, according to ICE.

As I have said before, I don’t have a problem with people being removed who are breaking the law by staying in or coming into the USA illegally. Roberts could have left when ordered to and then applied to return. Being arrested with a loaded handgun probably means he will receive a lifetime ban. 

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

Hey football fans – there are TWO, yes TWO, Monday Night Football games tonight! 

The Jets play the Dolphins on ESPN at 5:15 p.m. (Montana time). 

The Bengals play the Broncos on ABC at 6:15 p.m. (Montana time). 

Is this a great country or what?

ONE MORE THING:

Live your life in such a way that if the escalator stops, you don’t assume it’s because people hate you. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##