Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels, November 1, 2013

Laurel — The Highway 2 Association will hold its annual meeting at the Duck Inn Friday, Nov. 8. The group has been actively pushing for construction of a four-lane highway across Montana for some time now. The group is sometimes a thorn in the side to people in power. It is a group we sometimes agree with and sometimes disagree with, but they are a group of good people pushing hard for what they believe is best for Havre. We wish them well in their meeting and in the future.

Dart — The hours at Wild Horse port have reverted to the winter schedule, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You almost have to make an appointment to cross the border. First, for the convenience of citizens of the United States and Canada, and second for the economies of southern Alberta and northern Montana, the ports should be open around the clock year-round. If that isn’t possible right away, people on both sides of the border need to push for expanded hours so people aren’t always afraid they will miss the closing time if they come to Havre for business, shopping or pleasure.

Laurel — Northern Montana Health Care is going to renovate the former Behavioral Sciences Building, now vacant, into a women’s and family clinic. That will centralize services, make it easier for patients and allow doctors to be close to the hospital’s main building in case of emergencies. Northern Montana Hospital faces a lot of challenges that larger facilities, even those in Montana, don’t face. It’s difficult serving a rural, spread out clientele and the hospital will forever be, we’re afraid, counting every last penny. But by providing quality services in the Women’s and Family Health Clinic, they will be attracting more people to this class facility.

Laurel — Halloween is a special time of the year for young people. It’s great in Havre that there are so many Halloween activities for children to be involved in. Schools, businesses and social agencies all took part.