Doing things right - by the numbers -

There were some interesting numbers that surfaced in the past week that suggest that Montana must be doing the right things in a number of its public policies.

For instance, our state was one of only 10 that have met the upcoming federal requirement to place at least half of welfare families in jobs or approved training programs.

Montana's rate of 85.9 percent was, in fact, the second-best in the country. It's refreshing to see Montana at the top of national lists instead of the bottom.

The other noteworthy numbers had to do with jobs: The December unemployment rate for Montana dropped to 3.7 percent, the lowest in 30 years of record-keeping. That jobless rate was down from 4.3 percent in November and 4.5 percent a year earlier.

Northwest Montana helped contribute to the positive job news. Flathead County had a 4.2 percent unemployment rate in December and Lincoln County's rate of 7.8 percent is a marked improvement from its 10.1 percent in 2004.

These unemployment numbers seem to underscore a healthy Montana economy.

There's quite a nature show going on down in the Mission Valley this winter.

Snowy owls - visitors from the Arctic - have been spotted in unprecedented numbers south of Polson.

Owl researchers have counted as many as 29 owls in a single field and estimate there are at least 40 in the Flathead and Mission valleys together.

The gathering of the showy raptors - officially called a parliament - is unusual outside the owls' breeding grounds in the Arctic.

They're drawn here, apparently, by a high population of voles (field mice) upon which the owls feed.

"This might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance - or a few-times-in-a-lifetime chance - to see lots of snowy owls together in one place," owl researcher Denver Holt says.

As you're driving through Western Montana, keep an eye out for these birds that resemble miniature snowmen.

At venues in Columbia Falls and Butte this weekend, local orators will be at work to maintain Flathead Valley dominance in high school speech.

Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Bigfork will compete in the Class A state speech and debate meet in Columbia Falls; Flathead will vie in the Class AA meet in Butte.

If history is any indication, there could be plenty of individual and team honors for local competitors and teams.

Flathead, which lost only one meet this season, will be shooting for its fourth straight state championship and eight in the last nine years.

Whitefish won last year's Class A title; Columbia Falls won four of the five preceding state championships and heads into this weekend's finale on the strength of a dominating divisional triumph.

Good luck to all our local speakers and debaters.