Ed Kemmick

Ed Kemmick has been a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist since 1980. Except for four years in his home state of Minnesota, he has spent his entire journalism career in Montana, working in Missoula, Anaconda, Butte and Billings. "The Big Sky, By and By," a collection of some of his newspaper stories and columns, plus a few essays and one short story, was published in 2011.

Recent Posts

Joe Medicine Crow featured in Economist obituary

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Joe

In my estimation, there are few posthumous honors quite like being the subject of an obituary in The Economist, a weekly news magazine based in London but widely available in this country. Each week, the last page of the publication carries an obituary, sometimes of a person quite well known but often of relatively obscure people. No matter who it is, the obituaries are so well written that I can’t imagine anyone ever questioning the wisdom of the latest selection. This week, the subject of The Economist’s obituary is Joseph Medicine Crow, the last of the Crow Indian war chiefs who died earlier this month at 102. It is a beautifully written piece, built around the story of how, as a young soldier in World War II, Medicine Crow made off with a herd of horses belonging to some German SS officers. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Joe Medicine Crow, The Economist

After strong start, Art House Cinema selling memberships

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Cinema

After a successful first year as an independent movie theater in downtown Billings, Art House Cinema & Pub has launched a membership drive. Selling memberships was always part of the plan for the nonprofit theater, which raised startup funding through an Indiegogo campaign and other donations, but founder Matt Blakeslee figured waiting a year was a good idea. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Culture, 'Makoshika', Art House Cinema, Caitlin Hart, Dennis Deppmeier, Indiegogo, Matt Blakeslee, Ryan Kaybeary

Minutes of closed session released by Red Lodge mayor

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Williams

The minutes of a closed meeting of the Red Lodge City Council in March show that it was Mayor Ed Williams’ idea to seek the resignation of Police Chief Steve Hibler. The council met in executive session on March 17. On April 6, Hibler announced that he had resigned, effective June 30. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: News, Ed Williams, Freedom of Information Hotline, John Heenan, Mike Meloy, Red Lodge City Council, Red Lodge Police Department, Sam Painter

Prairie Lights: Sad reporters? Not at the Butte Press Club

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Club

It was reported last week that a survey of job satisfaction in the United States ranked newspaper reporter at the very bottom of the list for the third year in a row. You’d never have guessed it Friday evening at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Uptown Butte, site of the annual meeting of the Butte Press Club. There was some talk about the dismal state of print journalism, but the prevailing mood was anything but gloomy. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: From the Outpost, Prairie Lights, Auld Malcolm, Butte Press Club, Jim Larson, John Adams, Knights of Columbus, Montana Free Press

Red Lodge gallery owner moves to downtown Billings

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Tyler

After operating an art gallery in Red Lodge for three years, Tyler Murphy was ready for a change. One option was to expand into the second floor of the building that housed his Montana Gallery, at 22 N. Broadway. But most of his friends lived in Billings, so a move there was also a possibility. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Culture, Ben Steele, Carbon County Arts Guild, Ebon Coffee Collective, Elliott Eaton, Kevin Red Star, Kira Fercho, Margaret Murphy

Story spills the beans on former Missoulian editor

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Rock

The Missoula Independent is reporting some details about the Missoulian editor who resigned earlier this week, after being suspended for bringing a gun to work. From the sounds of it, Matt Bunk’s brief tenure at the newspaper was such a disaster that his showing up in the newsroom packing heat gave the powers that be an opportunity to get rid of him with little fear of being sued again. Here’s the key paragraph: “Current staffers and former reporters who spoke with the Indy this week describe a newsroom that was nearing revolt against an editor who they say bullied reporters and routinely threatened their jobs during disagreements. Some say they expected further resignations, or even a walkout, had Bunk been permitted to return.” Much of the blame lies with Missoulian Publisher Mark Heintzelman, who hired Bunk seven months ago after demoting longtime editor Sherry Devlin, who later resigned and sued the newspaper for wrongful discharge. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Darrell Ehrlick, Mark Heintzelman, Martin Kidston, Matt Bunk, Missoula Current, Missoula Independent, Missoulian

Photo gallery: One last look, possibly, at fleeting spring

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Park

It was Mrs. Kemmick who directed my attention to the weather forecast Wednesday morning. The way it looked, she said, we were going to have a fairly pleasant morning and early afternoon, followed by rain that might come and go over the next several days. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Photo Galleries, Mary Queen of Peace, McCormick Building, Moss Mansion, Rims, Spring, St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, Zimmerman Trail

Map offers comprehensive, enticing guide to SE Montana

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Capitol

Karen Stevenson remembers talking to a Miles City Economic Development Council class this winter in Miles City about the Buttes, Breaks, and Badlands map published last fall by the Montana Wilderness Association. Subtitled “Off the Beaten Path in Southeast Montana,” the two-sided map pinpoints dozens of parks, wildland areas, camping, hiking and birding locales, historic sites, areas of geologic and paleontological interest, battle sites, museums, restaurants and watering holes from Roundup to Alzada and Belfry to Sidney. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Diversions, Bureau of Land Management, Charlie Smillie, Forrest Theisen, Karen Stevenson, Leadership Montana, Montana Wilderness Association, National Geographic Society

Kat Hobza revives cheeky ‘Sistah,’ moves it online

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Kat

Kat Hobza—and her very funny “Sistah”—is back. A lot of people in Billings will remember the original Sistah, a tabloid newspaper published every two weeks between 2003 and 2008. It was a cheeky, profane, in-your-face-funny publication aimed at women but appreciated by men of good sense as well. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Culture, Good Housekeeping, Kat Hobza, Maxim, Sistah, Sistah Diaries