Ed Kemmick
![Prairie Lights: No bad days on Montana’s rivers](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/Smith-River.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Prairie Lights: No bad days on Montana’s rivers
In all my years of floating Montana rivers, I can’t remember a single bad experience. Oh, there’ve been some disasters, some wrecked watercraft and some near-death experiences, but never a disappointing trip.
![Billings Clinic names new CEO in Dr. Randall Gibb](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/Randall-Gibb.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Billings Clinic names new CEO in Dr. Randall Gibb
Dr. Randall K. Gibb has been chosen as the new chief executive officer of Billings Clinic, which also owns Missoula's Community Medical Center. Gibb is a gynecologic oncology surgeon and has been with Billings Clinic since 2006.
![Laid-off Tribune reporter launches independent news site in Great Falls](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/The-Electric-logo.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Laid-off Tribune reporter launches independent news site in Great Falls
Montana has another online news site started by a former daily newspaper reporter. The Electric, dedicated to covering the city of Great Falls and Malmstrom Air Base, was launched by Jenn Rowell, who was laid off by the Gannet-owned Great Falls Tribune last October.
![Prairie Lights: Stapleton’s empty charges erode trust in election system](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/Corey-Stapleton.png?w=980&q=75)
Prairie Lights: Stapleton’s empty charges erode trust in election system
Among the duties of the secretary of state, surely one of the most important is to ensure that Montana elections are conducted fairly and that votes are counted accurately. A good secretary of state would do everything in his power to accomplish those goals.
![Billings lawyer faces sanctions for obstructing dark money investigation](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/emily-jones.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Billings lawyer faces sanctions for obstructing dark money investigation
A District Court judge has agreed to impose sanctions on a Billings lawyer accused of attempting to obstruct an investigation into a so-called dark money group by the state Commissioner of Political Practices.
![Prairie Lights: In accident’s wake, reflections on fate, luck](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/05/1Kemmick.mug-copy-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Prairie Lights: In accident’s wake, reflections on fate, luck
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make use of “deer in the headlights” again. The idiom will always remind me unpleasantly of the actual experience of having a deer directly in my headlights and then crumpling the hood of my car and causing both airbags to deploy.
![Bicycle-borne theater troupe on the road across Montana](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/bike-theater.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bicycle-borne theater troupe on the road across Montana
Mark July 28 on your calendar, Missoula, because a unique bicycle-borne theater troupe is headed to town that day for a Montana-inspired presentation that's whimsical with a message.
![Prairie Lights: Fleeting memories of terrible heat](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/05/1Kemmick.mug-copy-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Prairie Lights: Fleeting memories of terrible heat
I figure that because the weather is something you can’t change, what’s the point of reading about what it is expected to be? But it’s hard not to be interested in the near future when you’re looking at a string of six days with temperatures of 100 or above.
![Bluegrass in Billings: Gibson Brothers christen return of Cisel Recital Hall](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/Cisel-Fenderswon-9088.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bluegrass in Billings: Gibson Brothers christen return of Cisel Recital Hall
Trent Inderland is looking forward even more keenly than usual to a bluegrass concert in Billings this week. Inderland, vice president and concert coordinator for the Yellowstone Bluegrass Association, is excited partly because the group that’s playing July 7 is the Gibson Brothers band, winner of numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association and veteran of the Grand Ole Opry.
![In Missouri River country, a nice chance to slow down](http://townsquare.media/site/1098/files/2017/07/Outing-Old-highway-9004-771x514.jpg?w=980&q=75)
In Missouri River country, a nice chance to slow down
What no photos can quite convey is how good it felt to be out in the wide-open country of central Montana on a perfect June morning; before I got back on a real highway and started barreling for home, I spent more than four hours driving at speeds that averaged 30 miles an hour.