Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels, August 22, 2014

Laurel — Bullhook Clinic is now officially open. The successful decade-long effort to get its own building was celebrated with a ceremony that included local, state and national officials. Volunteers, staffers and community leaders who helped out with the project are responsible for much of the success. But, to be honest, the federal stimulus legislation and Obamacare paid the lion’s share of the new building. They are decried as being government interference in our lives, but the truth be told, lots of people will be way healthier because of those programs.

Dart — In recent months Charter Communications and NorthWestern Energy have had major outages in services that spread over much of the Hi-Line. Providing electricity, cable television, telephone and Internet services to remote areas such as the Hi-Line is difficult. But the fact that the area is so remote makes it all the more important that the services be available. At best, massive outages are a major inconvenience. At worst, they create dangerous situations in which communications between people and authorities are impossible. We hope both companies will come forth with plans to reduce the number and scope of the outages.

Laurel — Havreites have a long tradition of helping out people in need. This week, they have been letting friends and relatives pour ice cold water over their heads. People who are delighted to see the spectacle offer go pay money to help the fight against ALS. ALS debilitates people and is nearly always fatal. An unusually high number of people have the disease in Havre and, maybe because of that, people in Havre have been especially willing to help out the current fund drive effort. The disease has destroyed a lot of lives. We hope the money being raised this month will help find a cure.

Laurel — A benefit will be held 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the Eagles Club for the latest Havreite to come down with ALS. Dan Stratton learned not long ago that he has the disease. Friends are putting together the benefit to help him pay for the costs of treatment and travel to that treatment.