Ring the bell! Help your neighbor

Inter Lake editorial

'Tis the season…

Every year at this time, we are all asked to do a little more for each other than usual. That's partly a reflection of the example of Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this month, and partly because wintertime brings increased hardships for many families.

This year, the economic downturn has resulted in even more stress for many families, so it's important for those of us who are fortunate enough to not need help to do something for those who are less fortunate. And that doesn't just mean giving money.

One opportunity for service work is to spend time as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army during the group's annual kettle campaign. In general, bell ringers work two-hour or longer shifts at major retail stores or grocery stores.

People interested in volunteering to ring bells should call Jeriann Hayes at the Salvation Army at 257-4357.

The honors keep pouring in for the second-most-prolific passer in Montana high school history.

Flathead's Brock Osweiler last week was named Gatorade Montana Football Player of the Year. And a few days later he was named the offensive most valuable player in Class AA football (as well as all-state).

Those are just the latest honors that the 6-foot-8, 230-pound senior has chalked up in his amazing career with the Braves.

For the record, Osweiler threw for 8,655 yards and 80 touchdowns in his noteworthy high school years. Both totals put Osweiler second for career totals among Montana quarterbacks in all high school classes.

Football fans in the Flathead Valley - and across the state - have been privileged to watch Osweiler in action these past few years.

Now we'll get to watch from afar, first at Arizona State (where Osweiler begins classes next month) and perhaps in a few years in the NFL.

Osweiler isn't alone in etching his name into Montana record books. Libby High School senior Joel Fuller moved into fifth on the all-time passing-yards list with 6,399 yards.