Fundraiser aims to keep decoy car on the road

Volunteers are throwing a fundraiser Wednesday for the decoy patrol car that aims to dissuade speeding along U.S. 93.

On June 30 from 5 to 9 p.m., head out to the Tamarack Brewing Co. in Lakeside for a party that aims to raise money to keep operating the patrol car and its mannequin driver, known as Lucky, and buy equipment to increase speed awareness on U.S. 93 along the west shore of Flathead Lake.

“My husband and I brainstormed about the horrible accidents and the people killed, and we were like, ‘Other towns had done it, surely we could do this,’” said Deb Newell, explaining her rationale for asking Lake County Sheriff Lucky Larson to donate a retired patrol car to encourage motorists to drive more safely.

Newell said her friends wanted to help out, and the volunteer organization called Saving Lives On the West shore was born.

Every day, SLOW members and their husbands take turns driving Lucky to various locations along U.S. 93, and every night return to take it home so it does not get vandalized.

The decoy also is equipped with a device that alerts people with radar detectors that there is a radar gun in the area.

“Slowing people down and making people aware is an urgent problem,” Jan Kerley of SLOW said.

According to another group member, Cindy Lewis, the stretch between Montana 82 and Dayton is “especially dangerous” for Lakeside residents, and U.S. 93 is Lakeside’s main street.

An elementary school is half a block off the highway and all school buses, parents’ cars and pedestrian traffic have to cross or make turn from the highway to reach the school.

The crosswalk is at the bottom of a steep grade, where traffic must slow from 55 mph to 35 mph in less than half a mile.

Also affected by the heavy summer traffic are busy public docks and a new county park that is being built. Each have parking areas on the opposite side of the highway.

In the last few years, the Somers/Lakeside area has had three fatalities directly related to speeding traffic, according to Newell.

But SLOW members said there have been even more undocumented close calls.

The women said they have been lobbying for years to get the speed limit reduced in the Somers area by meeting with county commissioners, writing letters to the director of the Montana Department of Transportation, keeping Lucky running and actively spreading the word.

They have thus far been successful in lowering the speed limit from 70 mph to 55 mph between Lakeside and Somers.

But a lower limit means nothing if drivers don’t heed it.

Lucky’s presence “makes people pay attention to the speed limit,” said Newell. “A lot of people weren’t aware of the issues. But when they were, they were happy to slow down.”

Lewis chimed in: “We don’t want anyone else to die.”

Last year’s fundraiser raised $5,702, enough money for the group to buy insurance, gas, tires and a new battery for Lucky, as well as fix its radar equipment.

This year, SLOW hopes to raise $7,500, which will go toward general maintenance for Lucky and help to purchase a speed indicator trailer and two radar guns.

At Wednesday’s event, 75 cents from every pint sold from 5 to 9 p.m. will be donated. The event also will have a raffle including prizes of an “instant wine cellar,” an etching by Barbara Coppock, a watercolor by Gary Spetz and $100 gift certificates from A Able Fishing Charters and Tours. There also will be door prizes.

For additional event details, visit www.tamarackbrewing.com.

Reporter Melissa Weaver may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at mweaver@dailyinterlake.com.