We have a new man stepping into the Mayors office. I have high hopes that under his guidance our city counsel will take a long look at some of the programs our city has in place. We are spending somewhere around a half M. dollars a year on the police force. There are other areas of duplication of services that should be looked as well. I would like to wish them good hunting.

I just heard something that is very disturbing. Apparently the St. Anthony Police Department is not willing to do it's job. The Fremont County Prosecutor complained that the city officers would not do the work needed to prosecute felony cases that occur in the city. So, the Fremont County Sheriff is now handling felony cases that occur in the city. So, why do we need a police department? And why do we pay these officers over $20 an hour to write tickets and sit in the office? This is crazy. It is time that something was done!! The citizens need to let the Mayor and Council know that they will not stand for this. I certainly hope the new mayor will take care of this disaster we call a police department. The whole department needs to go. If the Sheriff's office is going to handle felonies, they might as well take care of it all.

I see by changing the format for bloggers on The Standard Journal Newspaper articles, they must have accomplished what they wanted. To stop people from commenting on what is written. That is to bad. Jeers to the Standard Journal.

I am outraged by what I've just read in this news story. I encourage all to browse to http://rexburbia.com/2009/09/23/soldier-gets-mocked-by-sugar and read for yourself. We can't let our soldiers be treated like this, especially our young recruits, otherwise what will happen to the volunteer military we depend on so much?

Tuesday's speech to students by President Barack Obama could be considered one of his most controversial so far. In recent days, school districts around the area have been flooded with e-mails and phone calls regarding the President's address. Many parents are threatening to take their students out of school for the day if their school airs the presidential broadcast. This conduct by parents sets a very poor example for the kids. I wonder what the parents are afraid of? This conduct opens the door for the KKK and other white supremacist groups. If they establish a foot hold you will get to see first hand what a burning cross looks like. That is what they do when they don't want you around.

Former Mayor Bill Beck is on the aggenda for the next Council meeting to discuss the City Budget. This raises a question or two, Has Bill become more stupid since he resigned as Mayor, and now he believes that he can talk to them on their level. Or Has the Council become smarter since he resigned so that they will be able to understand what he will be discussing at his level. Either way this should be an interesting meeting. Especially since his (Beck's)former right hand man is now the Mayor. His former right hand man (Rose) basically went along with whatever Bill wanted which in many ways put the City in the economical problem it is in today.

We the people deserve and should have the same health care as Congress period. Not what ever they shove down our throats. EITHER WAY WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE WHAT THEY (Congress) HAVE NO IF'S AN'S OR BUTT'S

I SUGGEST SCOTT KAMACHI START RUNNING FOR MAYOR NOW. HE HAS THE BUSINESS SENSE FOR THE JOB AND HE PROVED IT WHEN HE WAS ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE. BRYAN HAS PROVED HIMSELF AS BUDGET MINDED AND THAT HE WAS REASONABLE AND PRUDENT WHEN HE WAS THE POLICE CHIEF. HE WOULD MAKE A GOOD MAYOR ALSO. HOWEVER IF HE WILL CONTINUE ON THE COUNCIL AND SCOTT AS MAYOR WITH A COUPLE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT KNOW HOW TO SAY NO THIS CITY COULD TURN AROUND IT'S SPENDING AND IT'S IMAGE. FIRST THING TO CHANGE THE IMAGE WOULD BE TO GET A NEW POLICE CHIEF THAT KNOWS THE PEOPLE AND HAS A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS. THAT WOULD BE AN EASY PICK, APPOINT LUKE DAVIS AS POLICE CHIEF IF HE WOULD ACCEPT. HE IS JUST THE MAN FOR THE JOB. A LEVEL HEADED COMMON SENSE INDIVIDUAL. HE GREW UP HERE, HE KNOWS THE COMMUNITTY AND IT'S PEOPLE. HE HAS THE GOOD SENSE AND GUTS TO CLEAN HOUSE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND TO BRING BACK THE WELL KNOWN AND KNOWLEDEABLE IMAGE IT HAD STATEWIDE PRIOR TO THE FORMER CHIEF'S RETIREMENT. GARTH PROVED HE WASN'T MAYOR...

I would like to know why it is ok to publish something about one officers family and not another. Recently there was a article in the paper about Bryan Fullmer's son and there has been one the paper about Donald Powell's son in the past about drinking, but when it was brought up about the chief of police's son being arrest for murder in California it wasn't ok to run that article because it wouldn't be right. Why is not ok to let everyone know about the chief son when its ok to let them know about other officers children? I guess I don't see the difference.

A civil rights case against Fremont County has been settled. Seems Jordan Carter got mouthy with the deputies daughter who was a ride along guest in the patrol car. I think it would have been really good if Deputy Griffel would have gave him a right good thrashing. Maybe Jordan Carter would have learned some manners.

Isn't it nice the St. Anthony Police Chief now has an Assistant to do his menial chores for him. The Assistant is paid $400.00 per week? How in the world did Bryan Fulmer ever do his job with way less pay and no chore assistant. Oh that is right Bryan served the taxpayer not the other way around. What is the Police Department Budget now?

Read the story here, please: http://www.henrysforkcountry.com/printatf.php?sid=230

Word is that freedom of press or speech is not allowed in Fremont County buildings. Our famed Joette ordered removal of some papers in Island Park at the County Shed? The employee first ordered by Skip and then Joette refused to do so. HIS DAYS COULD BE NUMBERED SAME AS ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE THAT IS WILLING TO STAND UP TO THEM. Fear and Intimidation are wrong! IT IS TIME FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO STAND TOGETHER AND FOR THE TAXPAYERS TO BACK THEM UP AND STAND WITH THEM TO STOP THE INTIMIDATION. UNITED THEY CAN STAND DIVIDED THEY WILL FALL HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT. If anyone has more information please post it. Has this job gone to Skip and Joette's head. We know it has gone to the little man and now these two. Mr. Miller please help the people of this County. Step up to the plate and stand up for the taxpayers andespecially the County employees working under fear and intimidation.

Parker-Egin Elementary second- and third-graders present "The Cheese Stands Alone." They are the students of Sandra Angell and Chris Brown. The music teacher is Jeffrey Coletti.

It is interesting to see that a sign is now posted at the entrance of the Fremont County Landfill. IT HAS AN ORDINANCE NUMBER AND THE FOLLOWING. BEGINNING MAY 15TH ANY UNCOVERED LOAD WILL BE CHARGED $10.00. BEGINNING JUNE 15TH ANY UNCOVERED LOAD WILL BE CHARGED 15.00. Just another way to steal money from taxpayers. Instead of stopping and fining someone that is transporting items to the dump because items are falling off and into the road or ditch, Someone probably the Police have decided to charge everyone. Quite possibly the ordinance was already in place, who knows. Don't know if it is true but I have been told that a cargo net can be bought at the office at the landfill. What a wonderfull idea in this period of economic stress for taxpayers. Do not be suprised if this isn't something the City of St. Anthony cooked up.

Did anyone besides me happen to notice that the majority of the front page of yesterdays Standard Journal (April 25th edition) was filled with articles on the ridiculous ways The City of Sugar City finds to spend money. The first article is No Takers for Sugar City Business Park. According to this, the business park was built on a conditional grant that it would employ thirty-nine people within two years. What happens when this doesn't happen? Are we, the taxpayers, going to have to make up the difference for the mistakes of what was the personal agenda of the mayor and a city councilman in the first place. Let me explain. Mayor Glen Dalling owned the land on which the business park is being built. Councilman Harold Harris is the primary contractor on the project. Who really stands to gain the most here? The community? I think not! The next article is titled, "Save it or Blow It Up." Once again they've drug out the grainery issue. According to this article the city wants to spend upwards of a half...

The St. Anthony Police chief is now wanting a seventh Officer on his staff. According to what has been said by him in the Law Enforcement Building. 7 Officers and 1 Chief is a little over the top for the small town of St. Anthony. One thing about it if he keeps spending the City will be broke. Plus the more staff he has the more pay he will get to supervise them. Does a town of this size really need that many Policemen/women? The Chief has mentioned to some of the Council, the ones he has now don't have enough to do on night shift. That is why they issue parking tickets at night. I am sure he thinks can justify it to some, I just hope the Council doesn't buy into it. It begs to ask, how do the towns like Ashton, with 2 Policemen, Teton, 0, Newdale 0, Parker 0 survive. I realize the populations are different. Is this town that crime infested. How has this City managed to survive for so many years? Is St. Anthony 4 times the size of Ashton to justify 8 policemen including the Chief? Does that include...

Today was an especially nice day, made even more incredible when one considers the wild mixture of weather we've had over the last month or so.
I was blessed enough to be able to take our motorcycle out on a ride through town, then Twin Bridges, Idaho Falls and back to Rexburg. As we cruised through town at about 4:30 there were quite a few people out and about on foot, bike and even rollerblades.
When we got back into town at about 6:30 the number of joggers, walkers, skaters and bicycilist had increased dramatically. Not only were there singular people but many strollers were being pushed as well.
I became freightened and alarmed when I saw a jogger pushing a stroller emerge from the curb and cut across the street toward Porter Park. Not in the crosswalk but in the middle of the street. There were two cars that, even at 25mph, had to hit the brakes to avoid hitting this idiot. Oh, did I mention he had his headphones on too? Not that this would or could impair his vision or mental status...
We ALL...

Alaska's Mt. Redoubt volcano erupts with five major explosions; ash cloud ascends 50,000 feet.

Its the wolves fault and they caused the earth quake in Jackson too.

No - it was the Repuclicans.

I think rebuilding the Teton Dam should be weighed equally with other water-storage options.
Still, I wasn't around for the flood, so I was wondering what any of those who lived through the disaster think about the idea of rebuilding the dam.

It is my understanding that the County Commissioners gave Mr Vance Derricott a pink slip and he no longer is a member of the P & Z commission. That is what happens in this county when you run contrary to the opinions of the high and mighty commissioners who think that they are the only ones who have a worthwhile opinion. It is too bad that the only way to get rid of a commissioner is to recall or vote them out of office on election day. They only know two things - one is to spend somebody else's money (exa- their extra ordinary pay raise), and how to penalize someone who does not follow their warped thinking. I hope at the next election, voters in Fremont County will wise up and leave two of the three commissioners at home.

It has been stated that the Mayor of St. Anthony is 3 and a 1/2 years behind on his taxes. It is a fact at the Fremont County Treasures office.

Question,

If a person is going to hold an elected office in government, and decide how to spend tax dollars that honest taxpayers have paid, should they be allowed to do so, if they owe taxes thenselves? Taxes that they cannot or will not pay.

Does it matter the excuse as to why they have not paid, if they hold an elected office.

Should they step down unless they pay all back taxes in full?

Are our elected leaders supposed lead by example?

Should they be held to a higher standard if they are an elected offical?

Is it right to oversee taxdollar budgets if not paying your own taxes? It is legal to hold the office but is it the right thing to do?

Just wondering peoples thoughts on this.

This should be headline news, I wounder why it is not.
Please go read the referenced site,

Reston, VA - North Dakota and Montana have an estimated 3.0 to 4.3
billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil in an
area known as the Bakken Formation. That seems to be a little less
than some odd trillion?
A U.S. Geological Survey assessment, released April 10, shows a 25-
fold increase in the amount of oil that can be recovered compared to
the agency's 1995 estimate of 151 million barrels of oil.
The Bakken Formation estimate is larger than all other current USGS
oil assessments of the lower 48 states and is the
largest "continuous" oil accumulation ever assessed by the USGS.
A "continuous" oil accumulation means that the oil resource is
dispersed throughout a geologic formation rather than existing as
discrete, localized occurrences. The next largest "continuous" oil
accumulation in the U.S. is in the Austin Chalk of Texas and
Louisiana, with an undiscovered estimate of 1.0 billions of barrels
of technically...

Please comment on the Standard Journal's decision to go three days a week. We want to hear from you!

It is a common misconception that a newspaper relies on money made from subscriptions for its main profit. This is incorrect. We do rely on subscribers, but not in the way one might think.
We rely on all of you to go out and spend money in the local economy. When your money circulates to local businesses, they in turn have more money to spend. They also spend it in local businesses, including the Standard Journal in the form of advertisements.
Advertising is a funny thing. When businesses feel like they are doing well, they want to advertise because they have the money to spend. When things are not going so well, advertising is one of the first things cut because they don’t have the money. But getting the word out enticing people to spend money is the very point of advertising. Like the old cliché: You’ve got to spend money to make money.
Thus the conundrum in this economic downturn. We rely on ads, but people don’...

We recently ran an article that made us groan, “Not again!”
It was “Family: Steiner had no Trigon connections,” which appeared on the front page Jan. 23. The article quoted people trying to discredit a rumor spread by another news organization.
Just to narrow down where this rumor came from, the TV reporter cited “sources.” That’s it.
This is the same mindset we’ve written about before — when a 10-year-old girl gave birth in April, government and law enforcement officials were tight-lipped about the details. They wouldn’t even confirm it happened. Plenty was said off the record, but finding an official who would put a name to a statement was next to impossible. But the news must go on, so the information about the young mother was given to the TV stations through “sources,” or to be more specific, “sources close to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.” That still could have been anybody: an official from another agency or a janitor who overheard something while cleaning toilets, perhaps. It could have come from...