Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — Chinook Sugarbeeters worked hard all season, and after a disappointing start to the year, they bounced back to make it to the state finals in Class C 8-man football. They tried very hard to win, but it was not to be this time. But they were fine representatives of their city. We hope the team is proud of its accomplishments.

Laurel — The future of Rocky Boy is in good hands. Two young people at Rocky Boy High School have been an inspiration to the rest of us. Isiah Murie and Tristen Belgrade are heading up Operation: Help Santa, a program aimed at ensuring that every youngster in grades K-6 at Rocky Boy gets a Christmas gift — toys for younger kids, winter clothing for older ones. They have been successful at raising money and donations for their project. We wish them more success in this project and in future endeavors.

Laurel — Havre and the Hi-Line have shown their volunteer spirit in recent weeks. Everywhere we go we see people off to help others enjoy their holidays. In Havre, people helped out at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner and will do so again at the Santa Run and the Community Tree Lighting ceremony. Folks are out in the bitter cold today in Chinook for the Festival of Lights. At Rocky Boy, folks helped get turkeys ready and then delivered them to homes across the reservation. While these people are serving the community by volunteering, we hope each and every one of these model citizens will take some time off to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with their friends and families.

Dart — Several employees at the Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder's office are refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. If someone requests one, they pass them on to a colleague who is willing to comply with the law. The clerk and recorder, for now, is willing to go along with this. The dissenters say they are morally opposed to gay marriage and don’t want to take part in any way in promoting it. What about clerks who are opposed to divorce? Many legitimately do oppose divorce, but can they refuse to comply with that law? What about police officers who don’t believe in the law that bans texting while driving? What about county attorneys who don’t believe in Montana’s law barring those 16 and under from having an abortion without parental consent? The answer: When clerks and recorders are sworn in they vow to uphold the U.S. Constitution. They should require their employees to do the same. And federal judges have ruled that same-sex marriages are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

The Lewis and Clark clerk and recorder said she will issue same-sex licenses and expects her employees to do the same.