Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Here are some highlights and lowlights of recent events on the Hi-Line:

Laurel —A lot of adults can look to Nadir Greytak for a lesson in community service. Greytak wanted to say thank you to his adopted hometown and honor his late cousin, Grace Gibson. He took a dilapidated county park in North Havre, and, in an effort to get his Eagle Scout badge, raised money, solicited help from friends and donated hundreds of hours of his time to create Gracie's Place, a neighborhood park where residents can take their children to play.

Dart — There may be good reasons for it, but it was depressing to see that Montana State University-Northern saw a cut in funding for next year, while every other campus in the system will get an increase. Northern is the heart of our community. It educates the Hi-Line's teachers, nurses and other key workers. It is the center of economic development efforts in our community. Once again, we in north-central Montana feel like the lost and forgotten. We feel ignored by the Helena elite. We hope Reps. Wendy Warburton, Kris Hansen and Tony Belcourt and state Sens. Jonathan Windy Boy and Craig Tilleman will keep up the good fight to increase funding for Northern.

Laurel —Joey DeVries and Leigha Hansen were named Havre High School's Homecoming king and queen Wednesday morning. They will preside over festivities this weekend. Congratulations.

Laurel —It was a great weekend for Northern and Havre High football teams. They defeated Rocky Mountain and Belgrade respectively. The teams provided a lot of enjoyment to their fans. May this weekend be as successful.

Dart — The debate in Helena has become vile in recent years. Earlier this year, Rep. Ellie Hill, D-Missoula, said Rep. Kris Hansen's "days were numbered." We're sure she didn't mean her days on Earth were numbered, just her days in Helena. But there must have been a better way to get her point across. Now Rep. James Knox, R-Billings, is back in the news because he talked about "attacking" socialists and mentioned getting "ammo." He says he didn't mean he was going after socialists with guns. But he must have known that the heated rhetoric would get attention. We should all agree to disagree without sounding threatening.

Laurel —People will be coming from all over the state to attend the Governor's Conference on Aging in Havre Thursday and Friday next week. Some high-powered speakers will be in town to address the audience. The public is invited. We hope lots of people show up. It should be an educational program.

Laurel —Montana Department of Transportation and the Havre Department of Public Works are working together to make some vital improvements to the Highland Park neighborhood. The city is putting in new water lines and MDT will repave 11th Street and some neighboring thoroughfares. If any street in the city needs repaving, it's 11th Street.

Laurel — Tim Brurud is a class individual who has made great contributions to the youth of Hill County in his role as director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line. Now he has won more respect by being named an Afterschool Ambassador by the national Afterschool Alliance. Congratulations.