🌱 Housing Crisis Continues + Reserve Street Safety Study

Hi all. I'm back with your new copy of the Missoula Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out the most important things happening these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 93 Low: 52.
• Sunday: Warm with plenty of sun. High: 87 Low: 53.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories in Missoula today:

1. As of Thursday, Jun. 29, city officials have cleared out people who were living in Downtown Lions Park. As there are no shelter beds available for homeless people in the Missoula area, many say they will simply move to another piece of public land to shelter until other options become available. The ongoing housing state of emergency declared by Mayor Jordan Hess has led to the compilation of reports of "urban camping" by unsheltered people, with the city reporting that there are as many as 60 known encampments — down from the total of 70 marked the week of Jun. 9. (Subscription: Missoulian)
2. Madelein M. Owen, 35, faces multiple charges after allegedly attacking two street performers and using mace on a man in downtown Missoula. According to authorities, Missoula police responded to a call just after midnight on Friday, Jun. 30, for an assault that was reported near a downtown bar. Owen reportedly approached a man unprovoked and sprayed him with Gel mace. (Subscription: Missoulian)
3. Reserve Street in Missoula remains one of the most dangerous streets in the state due to its heavy traffic. A group of Missoula residents is actively advocating for increased safety on Reserve Street by forming the Reserve Street Public Working Group, founded in 2018 by local business owner Kevin Davis. In part due to the group's effort, the city recently applied for the Safe Streets for All Grant, seeking $400,000 to conduct a comprehensive safety study with the goal of identifying priority intersections and finding effective solutions.(KPAX)

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Today and tomorrow in Missoula:

Saturday, July 1

• FUPS Summer Carnival At McCormick (8:00 AM)
• Altered Books For Everyone At The Missoula Public Library (2:30 PM)

Sunday, July 2

• Plant Church: Forest Communing At Greenough Park (4:00 PM)
• Missoula Funk Festival 2023 At Silver Park (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Destination Missoula is shouting out the Clark Fork River as a summertime destination, including tubing, rafting, fishing, and more! (Destination Missoula via Instagram)
• The Humane Society of Western Montana is at a surplus of dogs of every age, size, breed, color, and personality — although adult cats are no longer eligible for waived adoption fees now that June has ended. (The Humane Society of Western Montana via Facebook)
• Missoula Downtown is taking to Instagram with a few suggestions as to how to spend your Happy Hour downtown. A full roundup, including menu options, can be found at the link! (Missoula Downtown via Instagram)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday. 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.