A WEEK OF UPS AND DOWNS

Ups and Downs Gives a Quick Take on News of the Past Week

Fast save. After years of work, portions of Montana were finally
included in the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
last year, making the state part of a regional drug interdiction
effort and eligible for federal aid that is supposed to total $500,000
this year. But on Feb. 26, Montana officials were notified the
promised money wasn't available. Sen. Max Baucus responded with a
letter to White House drug czar John Walters. On Wednesday, Baucus'
office got word from the federal drug agency that the Feb. 26 letter
was an "oversight" and that Montana would get the money it had been
promised to fight the methamphetamine epidemic.

Meth money. Meanwhile, a methamphetamine distribution case in U.S.
District Court in Billings put the drug-fighting budget in
perspective. In just one case, one dealer stands accused of buying
more than 70 pounds of meth. A Gazette reporter calculated that if all
the meth was sold at the per pound price alleged in the indictment,
the drugs netted the supplier $600,000. No mystery where the money is
in the drug trade; the dealers have it.

Wrapping up victory. In a beautiful display of sportsmanship and
tradition, the Brockton Warriors boys basketball team took time for a
star quilt ceremony before the Class C championship game at MetraPark.
The team honored members, opponents and others before going on to win
the Class C title by two points in a great game with Big Sandy.

CD settlement. More than 12,000 Montanans who purchased compact discs
will receive refunds and 95 Montana libraries will receive CDs in the
settlement of a price-fixing case against music distributors and
retailers. The settlement is the result of an anti-trust lawsuit
brought by attorneys general in Montana and 42 other states.