Hi-Line Darts and Laurels, July 5, 2013

Laurel — All the community residents and groups who helped to make the Fourth of July celebrations a success deserve a pat on the back: the Havre Jaycees, the Woodwick family, the Blaine County Cruise organizers, Saturday Market folks and many others.

Laurel — Thanks to the people who worked on July 4 so others could enjoy themselves: everyone from the police officers and firefighters to the nurses and emergency personnel officials. We appreciate your work.

Dart — Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer was the rallying point in behalf of people sick of the use of dark money in Montana’s once pristine political scene, so it was disappointing to hear that Schweitzer might have some dark money problems of his own. The former governor has been unavailable for comment on the issues. Reporters calling his cellphone got no answer. It’s rare that Schweitzer declines comment on anything. We hope he comes clean with a full disclosure on this matter.

Laurel — Gov. Steve Bullock has taken the bull by the horn and is lobbying President Barack Obama to provide federal aid to area people whose property was damaged by the recent floods. The water damaged much of north-central Montana, but Blaine County, Hill County and Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation got hit the most. We hope Obama moves quickly. The damage here was minor compared to some floods and fires in other parts of the country, but to those who got hit hard by the storms, that doesn’t matter. They have a right to expect that their government will help them out.

Dart — The details aren’t in yet, but someone sent a suspicious looking package to Gov. Steve Bullock on Wednesday. The governor’s office received a cloth wrapped in tape. There may not be criminal intent, but what bozo would send such a package to the governor, knowing that everyone is on edge?