Archive for the ‘All News & Opinion’ Category

Hamilton Native Tony Neaves Shares His Paralympic Experience

By MARK VOSBURGH - When Nancy Stevens moved to Summit County, Colo., 21 years ago, her guide dog kept bringing her to the door of the same shop. Blind since birth, Stevens, 52, finally went inside. ... more

Heightened Avalanche Danger on Mount Jumbo For Next 48 Hours

Police officers are visiting homes in certain Missoula neighborhoods to let residents know of heightened avalanche danger on Mount Jumbo and Mount Sentinel for at least the next 48 hours. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 3

Featured Jobs this week include: Plastic Fabricator, Full and Part-time Caregivers, Loan Processor, Commercial Delivery Driver and a Front Desk Position at a local TV station.... more

City of Missoula Responds to Winter Storm

Mayor John Engen has directed City snowplow crews to work at maximum capacity 24 hours a day with a focus on streets designated as Priority throughout the weekend’s winter storm.... more

Recreation Program Cancellations and Currents Aquatics Center Closure

Due to severe weather conditions, Parks and Recreation and Currents Aquatics Center announce the following schedule changes. Please check local media or the City of Missoula website for updates.... more

Before There’s Smoke, There’s Fire (Fighters)

By CHERY SABOL - Training for forest firefighting jobs begins months before the first whiff of smoke in mid-summer and is over long before ash starts to fall--so plan NOW!... more

Big Sky “50 Greatest Men’s Moments”: No. 8: Don Read Goes Out on Top

(VIDEO) - They'll never forget the 1995 Montana Grizzly football season. Decades from now, grandfathers will tell there grandkids about quarterback Dave Dickenson, or where they were when Larson kicked the fiel... more

Win On Low Price, Lose On Low Price

By MARK RIFFEY-Do you depend on having the best price to win business? If so, are you sure that's really how you want people to choose your company? ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 24

Featured Jobs this week include: Digital Media / Marketing Specialist, Paralegal, Misdemeanor Supervision Officer, Branch Manager, Speech Language Pathologist and full and part-time registered nurses. ... more

Your Business Culture is Embedded in Daily Conversation

By MARK RIFFEY - Here are a few commonly-used phrases in business conversation that raise the hair on my neck: 'Industry Norms', 'Best Practices', 'Human Capital' and 'Innovation'.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 17

Featured Jobs this week include: Digital Media / Marketing Specialist, Paralegal, Misdemeanor Supervision Officer, Branch Manager, Speech Language Pathologist and full and part-time registered nurses. ... more

Missoula Runners: Get Ready to Run for the Arts

Missoula Big Sky High School seniors Mackenzie Miewald and Julia Dobie organize run and live music event to raise money for School Drama Department.... more

February Blues

By ROB BREEDING - February is the lousiest month on the calendar. It might not be so if I were an ice fisherman or a hockey player. But I’m neither, so my options are limited.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 10

Featured Jobs this week include: Journeyman Millwright, Respite Provider, Assistant Asset Protection Manager, Systems Installation Engineer, and Software Developer.... more

What if You Actually Followed Up?

By MARK RIFFEY -Does your business follow up with your clients and prospects like you should? Consider what "like you should" means, before deciding whether you follow up properly or not.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 3

Featured Jobs this week include: Administrative Assistant/Partnership Sales, Welders, Accounting Clerk, and Maintenance Worker.... more

Montana Riffraff Win Again

By ROB BREEDING - You’ve probably heard the most recent attack on Montana’s Stream Access Law has been tossed out by the state Supreme Court. It’s still safe to plan on fishing your favorite river this su... more

Next Stop Sochi for Whitefish’s Voisin

By DILLON TABISH - Whitefish's Maggie Voisin builds momentum for Winter Olympics where she will be considered a top contender.... more

They Really Aren’t Very Good At Marketing

By MARK RIFFEY - One of the most common marketing mistakes I see is focusing solely on new clients and doing so in a way that annoys everyone else who has (or had) a relationship with your business.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 27

Featured Jobs this week include: Licensed RN or LPN, Groomer, Daycare Cool / Primary Caregiver, Trip Planner / Sales, and Warehouse / Delivery position.... more

Habit Forming: What Do You Do Every Day?

By MARK RIFFEY - Having a routine, a ritual or habit is a good way to start the day. Not only does it go well with coffee, it signals your mind that it's time to switch to "work mode". ... more

Montana Split in Support of Neighboring Super Bowl Contenders

By JIM O'DAY - Montana was put in a unique situation last week when it was the only state where residents were able to purchase tickets to both the NFC and AFC championship games.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 20

Featured Jobs this week include: Sleep Technologist, Smoke Jumper, Development and Communications Manager, and Chaplain.... more

Keep Working After the Lottery

By CHERY SABOL - According to a Gallup survey of U.S. workers, two thirds of those surveyed would continue to show for work even if they won the lottery. Would you?... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 13

Featured Jobs this week include: Automotive Technician, Sales Manager, Logistics Coordinator and Lead Staff for at-risk youth. ... more

Crittenden Maintains 4.0 GPA and is Named to All-District Team

The University of Montana’s Derek Crittenden has been named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District Division 1 first team with 4.0 GPA.... more

Everyone is Someone’s Hero

By MARK RIFFEY -What if you could leap tall buildings, throw balls of fire or swing from webbing that shoots out of your wrist? What's your superpower? Does anyone know about it?... more

Rattlesnake And Paxson School Zones Get New Safety Signals

F.Y.I. - Reduced-speed zones around two Missoula elementary schools gained new flashing yellow lights this week. ... more

Citizens Encouraged to Recycle Christmas Trees

Missoula Parks and Recreation’s Urban Forestry Division is inviting citizens to drop off their cut Christmas trees to be recycled into productive mulch. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 6

Featured Jobs this week include: Senior Software/Application Developer, Scholastic Dean and Program Manager for a teen recovery program.... more

Put Your Mask On First

By MARK RIFFEY - Flight attendants ask us to put on our oxygen mask first, then help others, because we can't help others if we're unable to breathe. What about your business mask?... more

Missoula Firefighter to Compete in Combat Challenge During the Cotton Bowl

By JUSTIN WALSH - Missoula firefighter Joe Waggett to race in a special Firefighter Combat Challenge at the AT&T Cotton Bowl on January 3rd. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 30

Featured Jobs this week include: Senior Software/Application Developer, Scholastic Dean and Program Manager for a teen recovery program.... more

Lifelong Learning Center Offers Computer Based High School Equivalency Exam

By MONIQUE FORTMANN - Montana has adopted a new exam to assess if an individual has the knowledge and skills equal to or greater than one who graduates from High School and it is called the HiSET®.... more

Enjoy the Holidays: Drive Sober or Don’t Drive

FYI - The Missoula Police Department is increasing patrols through Jan. 5, 2014 to deter impaired, unsafe driving and keep the public safe on Missoula’s streets.... more

Doing Ahead vs Thinking Ahead

By MARK RIFFEY - Quite often, I talk with business owners about thinking ahead. But I'm concerned that small businesses are thinking ahead, but stopping there. And here's why that concerns me:... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 16

This week's Missoula Jobs: A legal secretary, licensed clinical social worker or licensed addiction counselor, general laborers, and a science writer/ecologist.... more

Which Customer Wants to be an Insider?

By MARK RIFFEY - This past weekend, I checked off two to-do list items with one coffee stop. I was looking for a good place to sit, sip and write. I got more than I expected.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 9

This week's Missoula Jobs: Preschool Teacher, Lead Clinician Program Supervisor, Pre-trial Supervision Officer, Spa Manager, Outside Salesperson, and an R & R technician.... more

It’s Time to Break Out the Snow Shovels

The City of Missoula asks all residents to keep their sidewalks clear. Shoveling the sidewalks in front of your property is not only a basic courtesy, it's the law.... more

Looking for the Purple Squirrel? Training Might be Easier

By CHERY SABOL - The weak job market has many companies feeling that they can demand a top-notch candidate who is willing to take a temporary job for relatively low pay-- a purple squirrel.... more

2013 Parade of Lights and Lighting of the Tree Sat. Dec 7

By LINDA McCARTHY - The quintessential holiday event in Missoula, Montana is the 11th annual Parade of Lights and the Lighting of the Tree, which this year will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 2

This week's Missoula Jobs: Finance Director, Corporate Advisor, Magento Developer and a Permit/License Coordinator.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 25

This week's Missoula Jobs: Class A Drivers, Jouneyman Plumber, Contract Administration Manager, Vehicle Washer, and Human Resource Manager.... more

How Do You Create The Right Surprises? Baby Steps

By MARK RIFFEY - One of the best ways to figure out ways to transform your customers' experience is to walk through the process of doing business with you in little, tiny steps: Baby Steps.... more

Another Important Griz-Cat Football Game is Upon Us

By JIM O'DAY - Call it the “Brawl of the Wild,” or “The Great Divide,” but regardless, Saturday's 113th Annual Brawl of the Wild is easily the biggest sporting event in the Treasure State each year.... more

Shopping on ‘Small Business Saturday’ Builds Local Economy

By LINDA MCCARTHY - Downtown Missoula is rolling out the red carpet for 'Small Business Saturday' which encourages people to shop at small, locally-owned, bricks and mortar stores the Saturday after Thanksgivi... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 18

This week's Missoula Jobs: Development Officer, CNC Programmer, Scholastic Dean, and a Director of Wilderness Institute.... more

Are You Uncoachable? Drips Can Help

By MARK RIFFEY - Frustrated with the rate of change or accomplishment of new work in your business? I had a conversation recently that might help. It involved coachability and drips.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 11

This week's Missoula Jobs: Two junior graphic designers, a furniture salesperson, a mental health professional, and a property manager.... more