Arrests in 2001 slayings welcome
Inter Lake editorial
No one who lived in Montana seven years ago will forget the news of the brutal, cold-blooded slaying of three women in a Florence hair salon, nor the fact that police seemed to come up empty-handed in their search for a suspect.
It left all of us a bit uneasy, and left a town in shock by what had happened - who could do such a thing?
Federal prosecutors this week announced their answer - a drug-distribution ringleader and one of his henchman were charged with the murders and several other-drug-related crimes. The indictment still leaves an unanswered question why the crime was committed, but suggests that an unpaid drug debt by an unknown party may have played a role.
It is reassuring to know that even when a crime seems to have gone cold, the authorities are still working diligently in pursuit of justice.
Nonetheless, closure in this case is a long way off. The trials must still be held, and convictions obtained before anyone can say with certainty that Brian Weber and Lincoln Benavides are the killers. And there will be the inevitable appeals and delays, especially if the death penalty is sought.
But for now, the good folks of Florence, Montana, are probably sleeping a little easier.
It's not every year, or even every decade, when Glacier National Park is recognized with a nationally circulated commemorative coin.
But after a century, the time has certainly arrived. Glacier's centennial arrives in 2010, and Montana's congressional delegation is appropriately pressing for legislation to mark that milestone.
Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg's bill would authorize the Treasury to mint up to 200,000 coins to be sold in 2010 to collectors. Proceeds would be directed to the park's non-profit partner, the Glacier National Park Fund.
Congressional rules allow for only two commemorative coins to be minted each year, so hopefully Glacier's centennial rises to the top.
If Americans turn to the right, can it solve the energy crisis?
If motorists make only right-hand turns, it seems, they can save a lot of energy.
When UPS rearranged its routes to eliminate as many left-hand turns as possible for delivery drivers, the company saved 3 million gallons of fuel by trimming 30 million miles last year, according to Parade magazine.
Think of the savings if we all go right.
Added to the energy efficiency of right turns (not as much gas is burned because we're not idling in turn lanes) is the safety factor.
Some traffic-safety experts recommend that motorists go out of their way to make right-hand turns, since left turns across oncoming traffic are also more dangerous.