Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — It’s Festival Days weekend, and lots of people will return home to Havre to see the parade and take part in the various programs and special events. Thousands of people will take part in the festivities, but it also takes thousands of people to put them on. The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce coordinates the efforts of the weekend, but most of the work is done by various groups that put on the shows, games and entertainment programs. We could start listing the volunteers who run the events, but we could never finish. Businesses, schools groups, theater groups, softball leagues, civic organizations — the list goes on. To all those who are in some way helping Festival Days be the success it always is, we give you a tip of the hat.

Dart — Montanans for Community Development. That sounds like a pretty innocuous group. We’re still waiting to hear of any group named Montanans Against Community Development. But just who are Montanans for Community Development, and how do they want to develop our communities? Well, frankly, Montanans for Community Development thinks that is none of your business. They plan on doing “advocacy ads,” meaning television commercials that convince you to take a stand on an issue without supporting any particular candidate.

Most of these ads, though, are designed to run just prior to an election. Montana Political Practices Commissioner Jonathan Motl thinks the group ought to be required to disclose who is funding them. Motl has this peculiar belief that the public’s business ought to be the public's business. The case is in federal court, and District Judge Dana Christenson has ordered MFCD to provide some information on who is funding this mysterious outfit. The so-called community development people are appealing. We hope they don’t win.

Laurel — Triple Dog Brewing Co. brought the craft of homemade beer to the Hi-Line and has made quite a name for itself. Now it has won an annual award for innovative small businesses put out annually by Montana State University. Congratulations.

Laurel — The Hill County Sheriff’s Office has secured a $70,000 grant to help provide mental health services to inmates at the Hill County Detention Center. Lots of good people who land in the clink have mental health issues. They will live a far more fulfilling life if they receive professional help. Even people with relatively minor disorders will find life far more tranquil. And the chances they will land back in jail will be far less likely if they get care.