Malta's eponym brought up in a Seattle newspaper on issue of Cannabis

Dear Editor,

We received a clipping from a Seattle newspaper about "Malta," an island in the Mediterranean Sea, our namesake here in Phillips County from Pat Milne Hitchcock, a 1953 MHS graduate. Her father, C.R.Milne, was a fuel distributor for Standard Oil and Mayor of Malta in the 1960s.

The article was about cannabis and its use, which is comparable to our new laws here in Montana. "Malta (the Island) legalized cannabis possession and cultivation in December for personal use by adults, took steps to set up what could become Europe's first cannabis regulatory authority. Under the new law, those over 18 could possess up to seven grams of cannabis and cultivate up to four plants. Growers for personal use can store up to 50 grams of dried marijuana. Consuming cannabis in public or in the presence of minors remains illegal and subject to fines."

Malta and other towns on the Hi-line received their names in an interesting way in 1889. The station agents along the railroad were perturbed because the numerous sidings were designated only by numbers, several met in St.Paul. It was suggested taking a globe, giving it a spin, blindfolding an employee, and naming the sidings as he brought his finger down. Thus we have Glasgow (Scotland), Saco (Maine), Havre (France), Harlem (New Netherlands), Zurich (Switzerland), Nashua (New Hampshire), Hinsdale (Illinois), Vandalia (Ohio), and Malta (Island of Malta).

Interesting to learn of similar situations in the two countries.

Ted and Norma Kelly

Malta, Mont.