We often complain about judicial foolishness, so it is a rare pleasure to take note of at least one time when the judge got it just right.

Fake Marine's sentence fits the lie

William Horvath of Whitefish had claimed to have served his country as a Marine, but never did. It's the kind of offense that could easily be glossed over, but not for real veterans. Unfortunately for Horvath, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy is a real veteran.

Molloy fashioned a unique sentence for Horvath. For 50 hours, Horvath must walk the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse from Missoula, revealing his shame on a sandwich board.

On the front will read, "I am a liar. I am not a Marine." On the back will be the words: "I have never served my country. I have dishonored veterans of all wars."

Horvath also must write letters of apology to local newspapers and to veterans groups.

Of course, one doesn't have to be a veteran to be offended by someone like Horvath, who basks in the service and honor of others.

It is enough of a problem that some organizations have formed specifically to track down and expose impostors who claim military service they never performed.

No, it's not yet a federal offense to feign a past of suffering as a POW or to tell chest-thumping stories of courageous service that never happened. But in Horvath's case, he made the mistake of telling his phony tale to a probation officer, prompting the charge of making a false statement.

Now, the glory that Horvath tried to claim as his own has been transformed into public scorn, thanks to a creative sentence by Judge Molloy.

Thanks to a new location, the local Red Cross office will be able to provide better services to the community in a number of ways.

That's good news for the staff and volunteers who assist in everything from blood collection to emergency preparedness and disaster assistance.

It's also good news for the people they serve. The bigger office will allow separate spaces for classes, blood draws and council meetings. It will also mean the Red Cross now has a private space for victims of fires and other disasters to start the often difficult process of recovery.

An open house is planned July 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the new facility, located between Snyder Bakery and Ace Hardware on North Meridian.

Congratulations to Nellie Lutz and Nico Venteicher of Columbia Falls. The high school students won $2,000 each for their 200 hours of work this spring crafting fashionable prom outfits from duct tape.

The two students, who have been dating all through high school, were second best in the nation out of 233 entries in the Duck Brand Duct Tape Company's national Stuck at Prom Contest.

Anyone who saw the photograph of the couple's prom dress and tuxedo knows exactly why they prevailed - a good eye for design and LOTS of hard work.

We hope they had fun, too. Their success certainly made a lot of folks smile.