Make the (local) stop

Notes from the Newsroom

I timed myself last weekend, and made it from north of the Polson bridge to the Reserve Street exit in Missoula in an hour and 15 minutes. Cross my heart, I went the speed limit the entire time.

This was incredibly refreshing after the longer, sometimes 2 hour trips all of us endured this summer.

Granted, we’ve lost the heavier summer traffic. But most effecting the time was the near completion (finally!) of the construction of U.S. Highway 93 through Arlee that slowed traffic to a crawl all summer.

More important than slowing us down, it changed the entire road plan within the town and disrupted business throughout what should be the busiest season.

It’s done now, but with the couplet leading southbound traffic around the middle of the town, it’s easier than ever to drive by Arlee.

There are more than 18 operating businesses in town who rely on the traffic to thrive. They were hit hard this summer by the construction.

So consider this: The improved roads will make travels along the road more efficient than ever. You’ve got time to stop.

Reporter Aimee Niles stopped in to the Hangin’ Art Gallery last week to grab coffee before an interview. It won’t be long before she’s back again. I have the grocery store there to thank for saving me from starvation several times when a commute to one place or another stretched long past lunchtime. I didn’t stop last weekend, no, but started writing this column as I drove through.

As we reported last week, Ronan could be faced with the same disruption in the coming years. Business will be affected there as well when the time comes to redo Highway 93 there.

A community up and down Highway 93 conscious of the wealth of goods and services local businesses have to offer will grow and be better together.

The next time you drive through Arlee, as you make your way to visit family or to cheer on the Griz during the final week’s of the college football season, why not stop and get tailgate supplies in Arlee? On your way back up, grab dinner at one of the local restaurants. 

Let’s wave goodbye to the construction crews and say hello to a prosperous Mission Valley by reminding ourselves what a quick stop in a town like Arlee can provide.

Speaking of the Grizzlies —and in a show of solidarity —we can’t end this column without scolding University of Montana football head coach Bobby Hauck and his ridiculous behavior toward the student journalists of the Kaimin, the UM student newspaper,  this past month.

Hauck and the Grizzly team have refused to speak to reporters for the school’s newspaper after they reported on an incident where several of his players allegedly beat another student at a summer party.

The reporters did their job and told an accurate story, although the incident was not reported to police.

Hauck’s silence is ridiculous. Talk about picking on the small guy, and for no other reason than a third grade-like reaction to a mistake those he’s in charge of made. Let’s think about what silence does for Hauck? Nothing.

It hurts his image, is a violation of his duty to positively represent the university as one of its paid officials and it hurts the journalists who are trying to promote his team.

All of us at the Leader aren’t too far removed from being student journalists ourselves. Really, you don’t have much power beyond putting out a good product for students to read. 

Hauck being a bully is stunting the growth the students are trying to gain.

To the Kaimin, we say we’re with you guys.