Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — The tiny town of Turner has a fighting spirit. Turner has seen a dramatic loss in population in recent years. Some small, rural towns have died out, but don’t count Turner out. The residents of this northern Blaine County community are fighting to stay alive. They have vibrant support for their high school basketball team as shown in a Havre Daily News story Wednesday. In the past, when the market wouldn’t support a privately owned grocery store, the community opened up a non-profit store. It’s a town full of spirit.

Laurel — On March 8 at 7 p.m., at city hall, the Havre Study Commission will hold a public hearing to get ideas on how city government should operate in future years. There are a lot of good ideas out there, and we hope people will come forward with their suggestions.

Dart — Sadly, the projections are out. The amount spent on Montana’s gubernatorial election this fall will be at least double what has ever been spent before. Blame the Supreme Court’s catastrophic Citizens United decision or whatever, more than $10 million in above-the-board money — to say nothing of the millions in dark money — will be spent trying to convince you to vote for Gov. Steve Bullock or his Republican foe, Greg Gianforte. Montana always had the reputation as a place where you could decide who to vote for by attending rallies or forums and listening to candidates and by asking them questions. Instead, television and Internet ads have taken over. You will be bombarded by commercials, mailings and telephone calls.

Laurel — Marion Williams retired this week after 34 years with the Havre Post Office. We share her concern for the future of the institution she has dedicated her life to. Few institutions, private or public, have the effect on people’s day-to-day life than the post office. Even with the invention of email, the services offered by the post office are invaluable. Nowhere else can you have something delivered from Havre to Key West, Florida, for the cost of a stamp. We hope that the uncertainn prospects for the postal service don't deter dedicated employees like Williams from working for the post office.