Our View: Hi-Liners who care

We in the newspaper business often spend our time covering the dark side of society — the fires, arrests and political corruption.

But we also spend a lot of time dealing with some really great people. Many are the people who stay in the background because that’s the way they want it. They volunteer in the community, they go the extra mile, they help people when no one is watching. They are the last ones to want to be mentioned in the newspaper.

As we look back at 2014, we reflect on just some of these people we worked with during the year.

Of course, at the top of the list is Bonnie Bennett. For the better part of four decades, Bonnie was at just about every event that required volunteers. She helped serve food, haul trash away, recycle items, organize races and so much more. As sad as we are at her passing, we are so grateful we knew her for so many years.

Gilbert Horn for many years was quiet about his service in World War II. Today, a resident of Northern Montana Care Center, he’s more willing to talk. With tremendous patriotism, he recalls his days as a code talker. He helped win the war by talking in his Assiniboine language that stumped the Japanese.

Pam Hillery got the terrible news that she had ALS. It hasn’t stopped her a bit. She is keeping up her family life, her job, her civic work and her new-found task of raising funds for the ALS Foundation. Now, she has been appointed to Havre City Council. She has been one of the most effective council members. She is an inspiration.

Ever heard of Hannah Pepprock? If you haven't, you will in the future. The Havre High School senior, who is president of Key Club, has been active in a whole host of school and community activities, including her most recent effort, an anti-suicide campaign. Suicide is a topic so many people avoid talking about because it is so unpleasant. But that is exactly why it should be discussed. It needs a lot more attention, not less. We hope Hannah will be a community leader in Havre for decades to come.

In a time of upheaval on many levels at Montana State University-Northern, then-Dean of the College of Technical Sciences Greg Kegel stepped up to become interim chancellor, helping to still turbulent waters and lead the university forward into the new school year.

Writers and directors Alex and Andrew Smith brought "Winter in the Blood" to the big screen in a poignant film adaptation of the James Welch Hi-Line story. They used local actor Alex Escarcega to portray the lead character as a young boy and caught the spirit of north-central Montana — both community and countryside.

The volunteers who operate Feed My Sheep Kitchen work hard, have fun and get great satisfaction out of providing quality food to people in need.

Cape Air took over Essential Air Service flights in Montana, providing affordable commercial flights in and out of Havre, as well as Billings, Sidney, Glendive, Glasgow and Wolf Point. As promised by company officials, they have had consistent service and worked to become a part of the community.

John Ita has a way of convincing students at Havre High School that they will enjoy volunteering. From helping out at the food bank to ringing the red kettle bell for the Salvation Army, when you ask young people why they are volunteering, you will hear them say “Well, Mr. Ita convinced me.” He’s starting his students out on the right path.

Havre High freshman Sheradia Linton was diagnosed with the fast-growing cancer Burkitt's Lymphoma in July and dropped her band camp, school and other immediate plans to start her months-long treatment in Seattle. Rather than feeling depressed or doomed about the situation, she and her family made the conscious decision to use this as an opportunity for growth, and a journey in life and faith. She came home in mid-December, cancer-free.

John Musgrove spent much of his life preparing young people for adulthood. Many students recall his days as a Havre High School teacher. He has been in politics, education and numerous community projects. He is a prime example of volunteers in Havre.

How many times do you hear the phrase “the event will be held at the Havre Eagles Club.” Volunteers from the club provide space, publicity and volunteers for benefits, special occasions and all sorts of community events. The Eagles has become a community center.

Toni Hagener is a hero to generations of Havreites. She is the unofficial historian of the city and has made a great deal of history herself. She is the first woman in Havre to do lots of things. She is a volunteer at many, many causes and a mentor and inspiration of hundreds of people.

The people of Hingham annually put on an event “Men Who Cook for Women Who Wine.” It is a grand affair that includes auctions, music, food and other fundraisers. It raises thousands of dollars to put toward health care needs of people in north-central Montana. It attracts a crowd larger than the population of Hingham.

For a quarter-century, Father Pete Guthneck has been a spiritual adviser to the large number of Catholics in Big Sandy and Rocky Boy. He’s developed a special relationship with the people of Big Sandy and Rocky Boy, and has shared the births, deaths and special moments in the lives of many. He’s been involved in an overblown flap about his vote in the tribal elections, but his good work must be remembered.

Trying to preserve the many rich facets of Hill County history is no easy task — lots of work to do, little money to do it with. Judi Dritshulas chairs the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum Board. She’s shaped it into a great organization that is making progress in the difficult jobs of preserving history for people of the next generations.

For the last three years, students at Rocky Boy High School have raised funds so they can buy gifts for elementary school students gifts at Christmas time. This year, Star students Isiah Murie and Tristen Belgarde took charge of the program. They worked through the fall and winter so that this year, every student would get a gift. It was a heart-warming program when Santa handed gifts to the students last week.

Havre is the kind of place where you don’t expect to see a 21-hour standoff right in the middle of town. But that happened earlier this year. Many area law enforcement agencies were on hand to help out, but Havre police led the way. They kept the city calm, kept the public informed and worked long, hard hours to try to save the life of the man who threatened suicide. We were terribly saddened when this troubled young man pulled the trigger on himself, but so happy we had a police agency that handled the matter with professionalism and compassion.

Mary Stevens is a talented musician and has shared her talents with the Havre community for years. She volunteers at Havre High School and with Montana Actors’ Theatre and performs weekly concerts at Atrium Mall.

These are just a handful of the tremendous people we work with every day at the Havre Daily News. We could never name all the great people who work together to help make this very special city and area operate.

To these and to the hundreds of volunteers, public relations directors and good-hearted people we work with, we wish you the happiest of holidays.

To the folks who write history columns, religion and other columns, and contribute with letters to the editor, to all of our extended Havre Daily News, we hope you have the merriest of Christmases.