Taking the "southern " route

Welcome to the newest project of the Great Falls planning board. A 7.5 mile "corridor" that
will run from Gore hill to Gibson Flat road. The road is meant to relieve pressure off of
10th avenue. (Stop...Rewind...restart) . Didn't we just have 3 lanes put onto 10th avenue
to relieve pressure? The fact is Great Falls may have a few hours of thick traffic a day, but
it is by far not Heavy Traffic.

The Southern Arterial as it is planned now takes out 13-21 homes in it's process. Sure, not
an enormous number, but really when your talking about a town with a population of about
56k, that's a good sized impact. 100-162 million dollars is planned to spent on this road.
With such a huge price tag in dollars and in homes are we really willing to build a road that
doesn't even go into town?

I personally would like to propose these questions.

1. How much relief is this road going to take off of 10th ave south?

2. In cost matters, is the road going to be able to pay for itself?

3. Will this road take away from business on 10th south?


Some people have stated that the southern arterial is a good move, taking bearing off truckers
and relieving traffic by elks riverside park. Lets revert again back to the fact that 10th has
3 lanes. I have seen in some cities that to resolve congestion trucks are to remain in one lane,
leaving 2 lanes for the flow of traffic.

Also currently trucks use the river drive as a truck route. Would it be possible to clearly mark an across town truck route using one of the bridges (10th st or 15th) divert trucks past walmart,
kmart and the j-bar, then back on to central? It seems a long way but really not as long as 7.5 miles.

I know I am concerned about the city just shoveling out the money from this road. We need more funding for schools and long term better jobs. I'm not against the Southern Arterial per se
but before we jump into 2 giant projects I think that the consequences need to be realized first.

South of Great Falls is some of the most beautiful property, Has the city checked for animal habitats? There is a bridge involved and river banks house bald Eagles, cranes , Swans, geese
deer, beaver etc etc. Has anyone bothered to take a trip to see if any of these animals are on the
sensitive, or endangered lists? Some of the lower areas house other habitats for fox, marmots
and other animals.

Then there is also the loss of homes. 13-21 homes the average Montana family is the size of 4
that 52-84 or more people who will be forced to leave their homes. Not to mention those who may end up having to give up some of their property.

It's sad when the dollars start flashing and the humanitarian aspect is lost.

Before building this road it is my opinion that the city should do a little more homework and listen to the voice of it's people before progressing.

Walter Bruenings 111th B-day Speech.

The worlds 4th Oldest person is Walter Breuning of Great Falls Montana.
Walter is the oldest living retired railroader as well as the second
oldest person in our Nation.

With all that under his sleeve you would think you would be looking at a
stooped over elderly man with little recollection of his past. That is not the case however,
The Tribune reports that Breuning appeared before the 'Free Masons" dressed
in a sharp out fit and with a sharp memory to boot. Here is his birthday speech
delivered to the Free Masons on his 111 birthday . (Speech given to the Tribune)



"Life begins each morning no matter if we are 10, 20, or more,
no matter whether we have succeeded, failed, or just muddled along.

Life begins today.

Life is a school.

The world is neither a prison nor a palace of ease but
a place of instruction and discipline.

This world has been formed, framed and furnished and
is a thing to be thankful for to all men and women alike.

Remember that life’s length is not measured by its hours and
days but by that which we have done therein. A useless life
is short if it lasts a century and asks nothing of us that
is not possible.

There needs to be much more of the spirit of fellowship
among us and more forgiveness.

The power of gentleness is too little seen in the world.

Men and women should take care that they learn. The use of
knowledge is to distinguish good from evil.

Knowledge is the more genuine and real of human treasures
for it is (to) light as ignorance is to darkness.

The good and evil we do contribute to form the character to
which we are to be judged.

How unworthy are the men and women who never did anything —
only lived or died.

To live free is a privilege. We shall be free when our days are
not without a care nor any nights without a want.

There is more here than the world we live in; an unseen and
infinite presence is here.

Who can separate his faith from his actions or his belief
from his occupation? Who can spread his hours before him,
saying, “This (is) for God, this for myself, this for my soul,
and this other for my body”?

If you would know God, be not a solver of riddles. Look about
you and you shall see Him playing with your children. Look
into space and you shall see Him walking in the clouds,
outstretching His arms in lightning and descending in rain.
You shall see Him smiling in flowers and kissing His hands
in trees.
Religion is natural for all people. Religion is power,
and this power is the invisible chain that binds the ranks
of mankind together. The thirst for power is never satisfied
by nations or people. All that ever existed has a basis for
truth. Let us ever remember the words of an old writer.

It is a pleasure to stand on the shore and to see ships
tossed upon the sea, a pleasure to stand in the window of a
castle and see a battle and the adventures thereof. But the
pleasure is comparable to standing on the vantage grounds
of truth and to see the errors and wanderings and mists and
tempests in the vale below.
So always, this prospect be with pity and not with pride.

Certainly it is Heaven upon Earth to have a man’s or woman’s
mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the
wholes of truth.

Lift mine eyes from Earth and let me not forget the uses of the stars.

Forbid that I should judge others lest (I) condemn myself.

Let me feel the glory of the world but walk calmly in my path.

Give me a few friends that shall love me for what I am.

Though age and infirmity overtake me, and I come not within sight of the
castle of my dreams, teach me still to be thankful for life and time’s golden
moments that are good and sweet. May the evening twilight find me gentle
still, and if you can remember me only with tears, then don’t remember me at all.
This is the day the Lord has made. We shall be glad and rejoice in it.

He has given us new opportunities, new arms, and new life.

Life begins today. What are you going to do with it?"



Walter had a run for the title of the worlds 4th oldest person last year
as Theresa Lamebull turned 110 on Sept.17 of last year. possibly, the oldest
Montanan, The oldest Gros Ventre indian, Theresa Lamebull died this Summer of
natural causes less then 3 weeks before her 111th birthday.