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NorthWestern Energy has submitted its annual natural gas supply cost tracker to the Montana Public Service Commission for review and approval. The annual tracking period begins July 1 and ends on the following June 30 of each calendar year. The supply cost rate that appears on customer bills fluctuates on a monthly basis depending on market supply costs and other factors. The annual filing serves to true-up actual vs. estimated costs over the previous period and set the new benchmark for coming tracker year. The rate, when multiplied by the...
(StatePoint) Father’s Day and graduation season are the perfect opportunities to beef up your gift recipient’s garage -- and high-quality tools are a must for anyone -- from DIY novices to professional handymen. “A quality tool goes a long way toward getting a job done quickly and efficiently,” says Jon DeArment, president and COO, Channellock, Inc., a leading manufacturer of tools. “Damaged gear can slow down work and be dangerous to the user.” Here are a few gifts to consider: • Every one needs a good set of screwdrivers designed to withstand...
Q: I know you’d probably say we ought to be honest and always tell the truth, but in my experience no one really gets ahead if they act like that all the time. You have to cut a few corners if you’re going to be successful, no matter what the Ten Commandments say. A: You’ve probably looked around you and seen people who appeared to be getting ahead by being less than honest—and in the short term perhaps they were. But at what cost? In the long term they are on a dead-end road—and so will you be, if you decide to follow their example. You see,...
Gardening tips for the month of June • Gardeners who want to eliminate crab apple fruit on the lawn can use ethephon or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Spray when fruit is small. Follow label directions. • Hand thin apples to no more than two fruit per cluster. • It is impossible to kill worms in apple trees after they have penetrated the apples. To protect apples form worm damage, clean up debris around the tree and spray at 10 day intervals after the petals have fallen. Malathion works well using 1 tablespoon/gallon of water). Follow label...
A picnic is a fantastic way to gather with friends and family. Enjoy a summer breeze on the beach or host a backyard soiree -- you can make your al fresco meal as casual or as elegant as you’d like. Pack the best basket with these simple tips. Find the Right Location The first step to a successful picnic is finding the perfect spot. If you decide not to host at your home, choose a space at the park or beach with tables or a shelter to make setup a snap. If you select a location without amenities, you’ll need to bring chairs and blankets to pro...
Lawn Management and Drip Irrigation Information The MSU Extension Master Gardener program provides research based information for gardeners. Below are a few notes taken from the turf management portion of the program. • Rough bluegrass is probably the best grass in Montana for shady areas. • Kentucky bluegrass is the best grass for open sunny areas with well-drained soil. • Annual ryegrass can be used as a cover crop following vegetable production. • The standard lawn mix is 60% Kentucky bluegrass, 30% creeping red fescue and 10% annual ryegras...
(StatePoint) Too often, the kitchen is the first room of a home to suffer the consequences of tight living quarters. But there’s no need to forfeit big-scale cooking in a small-scale kitchen. Ditch the compromises and maximize the space you do have to make your kitchen work for you, and all your culinary aspirations. Cut the Fat Do a top-to-bottom inventory of your kitchen implements to assess what you need and what you can discard or donate. Sleek newer designs of certain appliances tend to take up less space than their clunky, older c...
Every January, for the last 4 years, I have written columns about New Years Resolutions. For the most part, these columns have talked about why most resolutions are unsuccessful, offered suggestions regarding strategies for succeeding at changing habits/behaviors, and looked at what the Bible says about change. This year, as I was writing my annual New Year’s column, I had a humbling realization. I will be 40 this year and I have never made a resolution or tried to change anything based on a January 1st urge to “live better this year.” I confes...
For me Easter is all about the music. It always has been. For years in the old Van Orsdel Methodist Church I thought I had died and gone to heaven when Pearl Ann Houtz sang “Jerusalem” each Easter. That is until just a few years ago I heard Tom Bede sing that same song and he all but knocked the walls off the sanctuary. At Easter I play Handel’s Messiah on the boom box each chance I get and it is wonderful. On my computer I have one of those trick scenes where a food court is all eating food until almost one at a time they break into song,...
On Monday, March 14, 2016 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Memorial Ambulance Building (810 15th St) in Fort Benton, Dr. Marsha A. Goetting, Professor and Extension Family Economic Specialist, will conduct a free presentation on estate planning. Why would one want or need to attend? One fact of life that is very difficult for most to accept is that we are all going to die someday. Something even harder to tackle is planning for what happens to your assets and property upon your death. This topic of discussion is not one that most family members want...
(StatePoint) Prom is a time-honored tradition and a rite of passage for teens. Originally inspired by graduation celebrations and debutante balls, prom today is now an extravagant, defining moment in a teenager’s life, and bears little resemblance to the promenades of the past -- especially when it comes to cost. Going to the prom can put a fairly large dent in one’s wallet. In fact, the average family with a teenager spends nearly a thousand dollars on the dance, according to a recent prom spending survey by Visa. Take a look at the bud...
(StatePoint) Tax season can be one of the most, well, taxing times of year, especially for chronic procrastinators who make up about 20 percent of the American public, according to research conducted at DePaul University. Why drag out the stress? Here are some great ways to streamline the process of preparing and filing taxes: Review Forms As you receive your W-2, 1099s and other tax forms, review each document right away to ensure it’s accurate. Then, file these forms in one place so they will be ready for you when you’re ready to file. E-F...
The theme for National Nutrition Month® (March 2016) is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” which encourages everyone to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors and social experiences food can add to our lives. It is just as important to develop mindful eating patterns that include the how, when, where and why in addition to what we eat. The following are some budget-friendly tips for healthy eating: * As mentioned in a previous article of this column, planning your snacks and meals a week or two week...
Twenty-four hours, 1440 minutes or 86,400 seconds per day. Regardless of how you think of it, every day has the same amount of time. But, somehow, it feels like the time in a day decreases the more tasks and responsibilities we face in our lives. February is National Time Management Month. However, as one source cited—the term “time management” is a misnomer—you cannot manage time. You can manage the events in your life in relation to time and how you use that time depends on self-analysis, planning, evaluation and self-control. Time is both...
The week of February 22-27, 2016 is America Saves Week. It is a national effort to promote good savings behavior and encourage individuals to assess their own saving status. It can be hard to put aside money for savings when we can be overwhelmed with our expenses. Savings can help you be better positioned when emergencies or unexpected costs arise. Or, maybe you have been dreaming about taking a family vacation or are planning ahead for college or retirement. The time is now to start putting money away for your savings goal. Even if it is a...
For the last couple of months, my family has faced some challenges as a result of illness. These challenges have put us into a position where we have strained a bit under the basic tasks of life. Perhaps the best thing that has come of this time in our life has been that folks have rushed to assist us. Last night, a couple of friends from church, while visiting, took the time to clean my kitchen and wash dishes. In addition, brothers and sisters in Jesus have brought us prepared meals, helped out with our kids, sent us cards, and in all sorts o...
(StatePoint) Deciding to lose weight is a great first step toward wellness. But goal setting is the easy part. Staying on the weight loss track and maintaining that weight loss are where the challenges begin. Here are 10 tips to help you get started and stick with it long-term. • Drink up: Hunger and thirst can often be confused, so stay hydrated. But remember, beverages are not a place to splurge on a ton of calories. Drink water. For a flavor boost, add fresh fruit slices or mint leaves. • Snack mindfully: It is all too easy to derail an oth...
For most families, food is one of the highest monthly expenses. How about making a “game plan” before going shopping? Having a “game plan” will help in making fewer trips to the grocery store and buying only the things you need, thus saving you money. Before you go shopping, your “game plan” will include planning your meals for a determined amount of time. First, check your cupboards, freezer, and refrigerator and make a note of what you have on hand. Next, make a list of meals that will use the items you have on hand. Begin a shopping li...
A new year brings a feeling of revitalization. Many of us may be attempting this in many different areas of our daily lives, hoping we can make an improvement by following through. One major area you may be concentrating on is your financial expenditures. However, it can be overwhelming to get started. The basic first step is tracking where your dollars go. After you have gotten into a routine of doing this, you will be able to identify the essential living expenses and then create a spending plan in hopes of spending your hard-earned dollars...
The overwhelming majority of families agree that college is an important and worthwhile investment, yet fewer than half are saving for it, according to “How America Saves for College 2015,” a recent study by Sallie Mae and Ipsos. Why the reluctance to put aside money for something deemed so important by so many? “One of the greatest obstacles for families to overcome is simply getting started,” says Charlie Rocha, executive vice president, Sallie Mae. “We know those who have a plan and save are more likely to attend college, more likely to...
Each New Year, thousands of people across Montana resolve to improve their lives, vowing to give up their bad habits in exchange for healthy lifestyles. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line wants to assist people who attempt to quit tobacco and has free programs designed for all Montanans. The Quit Line has expanded services and now offers a dedicated American Indian Quit Line, dedicated female coaches and additional incentives for pregnant and pre-natal women, with electronic enrollment for all services. For 2016, the Quit Line aims to help those...
While flu and cold are common to every region of the world, different cultures have developed their own solutions to tackle the all-too-familiar and dreadful symptoms. Today it’s thought that 70 percent of your immune system lies in your digestive tract, so many of these alternative healing methods rely on food for its curative properties. While some alternative treatments have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration for efficacy, many people swear by them. If you are suffering this cold and flu season, incorporating these r...
(StatePoint) Nearly 99 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday season, according to AAA. So how do you ensure it’s the most wonderful time of the year for guests and hosts, alike? Don’t wait until the last minute to tidy up. Instead, prepare your home with these helpful tips. Mudroom Makeover It’s the first place guests see when they step inside the house. But it’s also where coats are strewn about, shoes are kicked off and winter gear is hung out to dry. Declutter with a row of hooks to hang item...
(StatePoint) Most parents expect their children to one day ask to use their cool, expensive tech devices. But adult tech for kids is now more accessible than ever, so parents don’t need to hand over their pricey tablets, smartwatches and smartphones. Just remember that when investing in technology for kids, there are a few things to keep in mind. Fun Gadgets The number of products designed specifically for children is growing, particularly when it comes to wearable tech. And these items are not only more affordable than their grown-up c...
(StatePoint) While flu and cold are common to every region of the world, different cultures have developed their own solutions to tackle the all-too-familiar and dreadful symptoms. Today it’s thought that 70 percent of your immune system lies in your digestive tract, so many of these alternative healing methods rely on food for its curative properties. While some alternative treatments have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration for efficacy, many people swear by them. If you are suffering this cold and flu season, incorporating...
