Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels, October 18, 2013

Laurel — East Hall, as the first building on campus, is an important part of Montana State University-Northern and Havre history. But time took its toll on the historic structure, and it fell to the wrecking ball. Many Havre residents and most Northern students wouldn‘t remember the building, but because the Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission and the Montana Historical Association purchased a nice plaque, the history of the building will be told for generations. It sits near an engraved building stone where the building once stood.

Dart — Just about everyone involved in the recent budget crisis and government shutdown is deserving of contempt. Rep. Steve Daines, R-Montana, promised to work across the aisle when he was elected, but early on in this disgraceful episode, he didn’t seem to be doing that much. Instead, he latched on to the folks who demanded that Obamacare be defunded. There was no chance in the world that was going to happen, so a lot of time was wasted. In the end, Daines came around and voted for the reasonable compromise that kept the government from defaulting.

Laurel — The head of an albertosaurus, one type of dinosaur that roamed this area in prehistoric times, is now on display at the H. Earl Clack Museum at Holiday Village Mall. It is a nice addition to the museum, which tells the story of the Hi-Line from the pre-human days to the era before the arrival of Europeans to more modern times. The people at the Clack Museum will hold a contest for area young people to name the dinosaur. It is important to get youngsters involved in Hi-Line history, It will soon be their task to carry on the tradition for the next generation to learn about.