Lex's next milestone - NFL?

The next time Lex Hilliard carries the ball, it might be in National Football League play.

Hilliard followed his star-studded career at the University of Montana and Flathead High School by being selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.

Hilliard is scheduled to participate today in the Dolphins' mini-camp. He's projected as either a short-yardage back or a blocking back in the NFL.

Getting a shot at the NFL is a just reward for Hilliard, the second-leading rusher in Griz football history who also holds the UM career record for touchdowns.

Fans who remember Hilliard's exploits both during his high school days in Kalispell and his college career in Missoula will no doubt be watching hopefully to see if Lex ends up playing on Sunday afternoons.

Congratulations, too, to two of Hilliard's Griz teammates, defensive end Kroy Biermann and kicker Dan Carpenter. Biermann was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and Carpenter signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.

That's a pretty good showing for home-grown Montana talent on the national football stage.

The devastating fire that hit Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery last week was a big loss not only to the owner, his family and dozens of employees, but also a loss to the community.

The restaurant is a popular eating establishment and its temporary closure due to the kitchen fire will be felt by many patrons.

However, it's a positive sign that the restaurant will not have to be razed and rebuilt from the ground up. It's still going to be a huge project to counteract the fire damage and revamp the interior of the restaurant and all its furnishings - but that option means Perkins may be back in business sooner.

Owner Craig Witte says it might take as little as 60 days to undo the fire damage, or perhaps twice that long.

But Perkins fans will certainly be pleased when the restaurant reopens.

A reminder to local voters: The primary election in June isn't the only important election coming up.

The annual school election day is Tuesday. Five school districts are asking for extra tax levies (totaling $407,500) for school operations, and some districts have contested races for trustees. Flathead Valley Community College has trustee elections that day as well.

If you want to have a say in how schools are run, Tuesday's election is the way to do it.