Mayors efforts for businesses draw praise, criticism

You can thank Havre Mayor Bob Rice for the new 3-inch-wide, yellow stripes marking the Atrium Mall parking lot on Third Street.

Or you could find him in the wrong.

Rice said today he volunteered to paint the stripes, primarily because Atrium owner Richard Hanson couldn't afford to. Hanson, who owns Western Drug Co. in the Atrium, couldn't be reached for comment today.

"The parking lot has been in need for a long time, and Mr. Hanson is trying," Rice said. "Unfortunately, I think he's struggling to make ends meet."

The lot, Rice added, is typically packed at lunchtime. Most of the cars, however...