Now is Not the Time to Be Divided

SWAN VALLEY - For two days this past week, my granddaughter and I have had to stop and let elk cross Kraft Creek Road on the way to her bus stop on Highway 83. Over the years we have seen bears, coyotes, wolves, deer and, of course, the elk. We have also seen a multitude of waterfowl. This is the best entertainment nature has to offer and we, like the majority of residents, want to keep this from disappearing. Believe it or not, there is a minority of people in this valley who are ashamed of the very things that draw people to this valley: the clean air, clean water, and lack of noise/light pollution and the wildlife. Do not forget the wildlife.

Some of the residents here are very apprehensive about the real estate market in the valley. It is slow compared to other times but this is happening to many other small communities in Montana. Any economic ripple in our nation affects us here in Swan Valley.

People are in fact still coming to the valley. One of the local churches has three new members and two are building new houses. Another completed his new home last fall. A neighbor just off Kraft Creek Road just finished renovating an 8,000 square foot home.

But with all this gloom and doom being put out locally, people are wondering if every business on Highway 83 is going to close and they wonder if the school will survive. Do not buy into this fear tactic. It is designed to make us fight each other over the environment and the environment is the very thing that draws people to our valley. 

We need to take a hard look at the positive things we have in this unique, beautiful valley. On top of the list are the hard working families which work hard and play hard here. Many have family businesses to include: property management, home building, logging, small lumber mills, transportation, road maintenance, food services, grocery business, plumbing, auto repair, auto body repair, artists and the bar business. Many of these businesses operate year round. Others, like contractors to the US Forest Service, fishing guides or outfitters, operate seasonally. We have residents who work at home on their computers. Others work for Swan Valley Connections, the Sheriff’s Department and the two schools.  Want to learn how to play the piano or guitar? You can do it here.

 Regarding our small schools, they are second to none. If you are worried that we will run out of kids, go to church and see all the little preschoolers or take a look at the preschoolers at the Swan Valley Elementary School. Also, there are more than one set of grandparents raising their grandchildren right here and more will come.

Why is there such a high turnover of property in this valley? People do die and some leave to be close to their children or medical services but others move in. Others came and quickly burned out.

My friend, who has lived here 40 years, explained that people from large cities move here and have burn out in two years because there are no malls or places for the wives to go shopping! Others mention no entertainment.

Do we really want the large stores, shopping centers and entertainment centers like gambling casinos to come? Are we ready for our own police force and jail? Are we ready for the drug and behavior problems in our schools? Our 4th of July is real entertainment. Our rivers, mountains, lakes, and forests are entertainment. We have it all here like nowhere else.

Like it or not, the older generation is coming and they will need the services that are already in place. We are slowly turning into a retirement community. Some of them worked their whole lives getting here and many spent their whole lives working away from home. The Swan Valley will now be their permanent home.

And the kids.....? Many will return as foresters, technology specialists or teachers. Others will operate the many family businesses. We will have a mix on old and young. As for the retirees, have you ever heard of a retirement community going broke? It ain’t gonna happen.

Now is not the time to be divided. Now is the time to pull together and make this valley click with what we have and be thankful.