PRAIRIE ROSES: To the Happy Hooligans and all other members of the National Guard from North Dakota and Minnesota who have been deployed to disaster duty on the Gulf Coast. They will be on the job for an indefinite term, most of them doing the very difficult work of rescue, rehabilitation and infrastructure support. Their skills are impressive (water purification, for example) and will go a long way to building a foundation on which long-term recovery can be built. Their states can be proud of the men and women in uniform doing very tough work in conditions most of us can't imagine.
LEAFY SPURGE: To members of Congress, Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., apparently among them, who want to attach unrelated riders to special appropriations bills for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. Apparently some members seen an opportunity to get funding for projects in their districts. While many of those projects are worthwhile - certainly water management projects in Minnesota's 7th District are needed - taking advantage of a national disaster is the wrong way to go.
LEAFY SPURGE: To the Northwest Airlines spokesman who said, apparently with a straight face, that the addition of an NWA Fargo-to-Las Vegas flight had nothing to do with the announcement that another airline would be starting the same service Nov. 1. While the travelers of the Red River Valley should be pleased about Northwest's decision to add new service, the airline isn't fooling anyone. The new flight is about competition. Allegiant Air, the company that announced its Vegas flight a couple of weeks ago, is competition for the air traveler's buck. No one would fault Northwest for being honest about it. Instead of public relations piffle, Northwest could have said it plans to provide better service than the competition.
PRAIRIE ROSES: To the Barnesville (Minn.) School District for providing Kids Club day care during the summer months and extending the service into the school year. The club serves families with children in kindergarten through grade 6 before and after school. In a time when high-quality day care is harder and harder to find, the school district offers a safe and nurturing environment for young children, and peace of mind for parents who work. Other school districts might want to take a look at Barnesville's progressive idea.
PRAIRIE ROSES: To Fargo-Moorhead colleges and universities for opening their campuses to students displaced by the hurricane on the Gulf Coast. Most importantly, the schools waived routine requirements and fees in order to get the storm victims into classes as soon as possible. It's possible some of students will stay and get their degress in the north. Others will return when they can and, thanks to the schools in F-M, will be ready to resume their studies back home.
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Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper's Editorial Board.
