🌱 Mental Health Awareness Display + City Concerns Over E-Bikes

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Bozeman Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Some sun with showers around. High: 61 Low: 39.
• Saturday: A morning shower; some sun. High: 54 Low: 42.

Business owners and marketers in Bozeman: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Bozeman:

1. Montana State University Veterans Services and the Montana 988 Project collaborated with graphic design students to create a display of military challenge coins promoting veterans' suicide awareness and mental health support. Each coin carries a unique design, conveying messages of support and unity among veterans. The project aims to extend beyond Montana and develop a standardized coin for broader use, emphasizing the continued service and camaraderie among veterans. The challenge coins are currently exhibited in the Veterans Services office, while the 988 service stands as a crisis resource available to anyone in need of support. (Montana Right Now)
2. City officials in Bozeman are considering how to improve the city's policy on electric bicycles after complaints were raised about poor parking, reckless operation, and lack of accountability. Five ideas are being proposed to seek guidance on the issue and the city commission deciding to hold further discussions on the matter. The director of transportation and engineering for the City of Bozeman, Nick Ross, stated that the staff would be evaluating the progress and adjustments made throughout the year and considering some or all of the proposed big ideas at the end of the season. (NBC Montana)
3. Aspen Washburn, a junior at Montana State University, had her car stolen from an on-campus parking lot after class on Apr. 12, and it was later found in a Billings parking lot with signs that people had been living in it. Washburn believes the incident could have been prevented if there were security cameras on campus and emphasizes the importance of installing them for safety. While automobile theft is rare on campus, the university plans to roll out security cameras in the core areas of campus and consider installing them in parking lots in the near future. (KBZK News)

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Today and tomorrow in Bozeman:

Friday, May 12

• Toddler & Preschooler Storytime At Bozeman Public Library (10:15 AM)
• Happy Hour Open Mic At Last Best Comedy (5:00 PM)

Saturday, May 13

• Gem, Jewelry, Mineral, Fossil And Bead Show At Gallatin County Fairgrounds (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• According to recent data, the state of Montana had the sixth-highest rate of U.S. teen driver fatalities in 2022. Bumper.com reports that “young drivers are statistically more likely than other age groups to be involved in fatal accidents.” (Bumper.com)
• Bozeman's Cannery District welcomed a new Asian restaurant called Shan, which offers a variety of Thai and Chinese dishes paired with craft beer and wine. With its delectable menu featuring noodles, curry, and Asian-style barbecue, Shan is a pleasant addition to the vibrant culinary scene in the area. (XL Country)
• Bozeman's Genuine Ice Cream, after having to close its Main Street location, has now found a new home near 7th Avenue and Peach Street. (XL Country)

That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.