🌱 Hobby Lobby At Southgate + Mayor Hess' Water Policies Praised

Hello, friends! It's Saturday in Missoula and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in the community.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 93 Low: 56.
• Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 92 Low: 59.

Here are the top three stories in Missoula today:

1. For a week now, the Southgate Mall has been promoting an upcoming Hobby Lobby, with no debut date in site for the location. KGVO News interviewed mall manager Tim Winger earlier in the week to nail down the specifics, with an opening date for the first fiscal quarter of 2024. The new location is expected to be on the larger end of Hobby Lobby locations, and feature over 70,000 distinct products for different arts, crafts, and hobbies. (Newstalkkgvo)
2. Karen Knudsen writes in the opinion section of Missoulian in favor of the policies enacted by Mayor Jordan Hess to retain local water resources for the community's use alone. Some of the actions on the part of the mayor's office that Knudsen approves of include the city's refusal to accept the ownership of former-Mountain Water water mains and infrastructure by the Carlysle Group. Mayor Hess' administration, unable to buy Mountain Water from the Carlysle Group, initiated a condemnation process and took the Group to court, according to Knudsen, to protect the affordable rates paid by Missoulians. (Subscription: Missoulian)
3. Local institution Roemer's Tire and Auto is celebrating its 70th year operating in Missoula, and 70 years of local ownership, too. The business — co-owned by John Roemer, the son of the business' founders Jack and Pat Roemer, who opened it originally as a Conoco franchise in 1953 — spoke to Missoulian about how he and his family have kept the business in the local community for nearly a century. Roemer emphasized that service and relationship-building have been key to their lasting success and customer loyalty. (Subscription: Missoulian)

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Today and tomorrow in Missoula:

Saturday, July 8

• Missoula Farmers Market At 534 N Higgins Ave (8:00 AM)
• 4th Annual Northwest Margarita Fest At Caras Park (12:00 PM)
• Chris Sand Sings Songs for Sprouting At Missoula Public Library (2:00 PM)

Sunday, July 9

• Yoga & Cider At Western Cider (11:00 AM)
• Irish Music Session At Cranky Sam Public House (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• MSU is spotlighting the Hyalite Reservoir, just 12 miles south of Bozeman, which is a 206-acre site beloved for fishing, camping, hiking, and more! (Montana State University via Instagram)
• Kittens the Humane Society of Western Montana are calling Spider and Mantis have been found nearby in Florence — the Humane Society is asking for help identifying them and pairing them back with their owners! (The Humane Society of Western Montana via Facebook)
• The Missoula Public Library will be helping us out to hopefully see spiders in a new light from 2-3:00 p.m. on Jul. 12, at the Imaginarium! (Missoula Public Library via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Amy Mayo

About me: Amy Mayo is a writer, visual artist, and political scientist, living in the NC Research Triangle. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has worked in a variety of fields outside of copywriting including policy advocacy, the healthcare industry and pharmaceuticals, and education. She hopes one day to live up to the stringent expectations of her cat, Morty.