Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — Havre High School and Montana State University-Northern have a great program which allows high school students to take college courses. The program have been successful and popular, it wasn't until this week that we came to know just how popular and successful. Only Great Falls and Helena high schools have similar programs that have attracted more students than Havre's. There are many reasons why the program is good for students, mainly it provides high schoolers with a taste of college life, it stimulates their desire for learning and helps keeps students from coming down with a case of senioritis. It's good to know that the local program is one of the more successful in the state

Laurel — Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation have received two grants totalling nearly $900,000 to help in the effort against violence and sexual abuse on the reservation. The reservation has problems with violence and sexual abuse, and it has some dedicated people who have been working hard to eradicate the problems. But they have been hamstrung by a lack of funds. Money will enable the folks at Rocky Boy to take these issues head on. We wish them the best of luck.

Laurel — Community groups, schools and the Boys & Girls Club of the HiLine have been taking part in Red Ribbon Week this week. It is sort of a nationwide effort to let young people know the danger of abusing drugs. There were few lectures. Instead, the groups used fun programs to get the message across to young people. One week of education isn't enough to ensure that children won't someday dabble in drugs, but it is a good start.

Dart — Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, has jumped into lots of controversial issues in her two years in Helena. Democrats have lots of issues they could raise in their bid to unseat her, but a leaflet put out by the party and mailed to some of her constituents last week said that she is putting Social Security in danger. What? Because she voted in favor of a state nullification bill, she might try to nullify the federal legislation that supports Social Security, a Democratic spokesman opined. Oh, come now. Helena has nothing to do with Social Security, As far as we know, Hansen has never offered any opinion of Social Security until the Havre Daily News asked her in the wake of the baseless Democratic charges — she strongly supports it. Enough already. Dart to the Democratic Party. Now let's move on to the many important issues that should be discussed.

Laurel — The H. Earl Clack Museum's foundation will hold its annual dinner at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Duck Inn. Martin Holt will be there to portray President Teddy Roosevelt. The foundation helps out the museum and the buffalo jump. Both are essential in helping to preserve Havre's intriguing history. Both operate on a shoestring. If you attend the banquet, you will enjoy a fine meal, be entertained by a first-class actor, enjoy some great company and have a good feeling that you helped a very valuable cause.