The Bee publishes letters from readers across the Gallatin Valley. Letters are edited for length, never for truth, because we wouldn’t know where to start.
The North 19th Speed Limit Conspiracy
I have lived in the Gallatin Valley for thirty-two years, and I’ve noticed a troubling trend regarding North 19th. Everyone complains that the traffic is too heavy, yet when I am driving my F-350 to the hardware store, I find myself trailing people doing exactly 22 miles per hour. If we are going to have all these new condos and luxury developments on every corner, the least we could do is get through the green lights before they turn red again. I moved here to avoid the gridlock of a big city, but sitting behind someone browsing their phone at a green light feels a lot like being in traffic.
— Gary P. Henderson, Belgrade
Too many choices at the Co-op
I popped into the Co-op yesterday for some organic kale and a bit of serenity, but I found myself overwhelmed. There were six different varieties of locally-sourced, small-batch, heritage-grain sourdough bread. When I moved here in 2014, we had one loaf, and it was enough for the whole neighborhood. Now, the selection is so expansive it feels a bit like a big-box store. I appreciate the variety, truly, but I came to Bozeman to simplify my life, not to spend fifteen minutes deciding between sea-salt-crusted and rosemary-infused loaves. It’s hard to stay grounded when you have to overthink your lunch.
— Susan Weatherby, Bozeman
The wind is not a personality trait
I’ve been reading a lot of newcomers moving to Livingston lately who say they chose this town because the wind gives it “character.” I have been fixing fence lines here since 1988, and I can assure you that losing three hats in a single Tuesday is not character. It is just physics. My neighbor recently installed a fancy wind chime, and it has been screaming at us since Thursday. If you want to experience the true soul of Montana, I suggest you try standing outside in a gale without a parka while looking for a lost calf. That is the real experience.
— Dale “Buck” Miller, Livingston