Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — The Montana Legislature has given final approval to a proposal to help preserve Montana’s Native languages. Gov, Steve Bullock is almost certain to sign it. Sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, the bill would help school districts create language immersion programs whereby students would spend at least half of their day in classes spoken in Native languages. Locally, that would almost certainly be in Cree. Native languages are dying out, and Windy Boy’s bill will hopefully stop that trend. Young people have shown an interest in learning to speak the language of their ancestors. That’s tremendous. Students seem to realize that you can be an American while at the same time retaining cultural traditions. Every time a Native language dies out, part of us dies. Many native African languages have disappeared. It’s not too late to preserve Native American languages.

Dart — Sen. Steve Daines says that if the U.S. Senate approves the confirmation of Loretta Lynch — and it has — as attorney general, they might as well repeal the Second Amendment. Rest assured the senator was wrong, the Second Amendment is still in effect. Wrong, senator. You can support or oppose President Barack Obama’s appointment if you wish, but there is no clue that the new attorney general would in any way repeal the Second Amendment or its provisions. Daines arguments are over the top. Such empty arguments and hysteria hurt the cause he’s trying to protect.

Laurel — Four couples, Wayne Koepke and Renelle Braaten of Enell Inc., Christina and Kevin Tweeten of Circle Inn Motel, Ken and Faye Brubaker of Hi Line Lanes, Roger and Wanda Meredith of R Glass have received environmental heroes by Recycle Hi-Line. Each in their own way is making efforts to recycle more and clean up the environment. Congratulations.

Laurel — Havre Public Works Director Dave Peterson presented a bleak but accurate outline of the infrastructure problems the city faces. Millions will be needed to fix water, sewer and drainage problems and $50 million will put a dent in the street problems. On top of that, Mayor Tim Solomon warns that the city may have to sell off some of its park lands because there isn’t enough money to pay for upkeep. City officials, city council members and us everyday residents have got to address these seemingly insurmountable problems. Previous generations have built this infrastructure we enjoy. We must do something to maintain it.