Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — The Special Olympics torch run from Havre to Billings started this week. U.S. Border Patrol officers took off from their station to run and bicycle from Havre to Great Falls. Special Olympics has a long tradition of providing special athletes with an exciting experience. Law enforcement officials and firefighters have been especially helpful in supporting this cause. Next week, the best special athletes in Montana will gather for a good time and an educational experience. They go knowing there is a lot of community support behind them.

Dart — The United States and Canada have the world's longest border, and there has never been a hint of conflict. The two nations agree on trade and international issues. One could not ask for better neighbors. So why can't the two nations agree on one of the simplest of matters: when the Wild Horse port of entry will be open. Once again, we find out later in the game that one side will open the port longer hours than the other. Canada has decided to extend summer hours. That's admirable, because the longer the hours the more traffic there will be and the more business people and tourists will be able to move back and forth. But it really doesn't help much unless both sides agree to stay open the same hours.

Laurel — Hi-Line people should be proud of their role in "Winter in the Blood," the movie that details the life and problems of a Fort Belknap resident who struggled to find himself. Much of the movie was filmed in Havre, Chinook and Fort Belknap. The movie will be premiered at the prestigious Los Angeles Film Festival. Later on, it will be shown at Havre and at Indian reservations around the country.

Laurel — The federal investigation into allegations that the University of Montana looked the other way at allegations of sexual abuse by football players and others is over. The university has promised to implement policies to change things. The university, like many organizations, is concerned with its image. Most organizations have now discovered that if they want to be publicity conscious, they ought to promptly bring sexual abuse allegations to light and deal with them forthrightly.