The open-air asylum and drug market on Cedar street, by the Poverello Center, got new neighbors last December. After Winds of Change moved OUT, a Christian organization, called Living Waters House of Prayer, moved IN.
To better understand who these Christians are, and where they came from, I gathered information from Montana Cadastral, 990 forms, and Facebook to ascertain what brand of of Bible-thumpers we’re dealing with here.
Since “Grace Unexpected” is a non-profit, based in Florence, I was able to find information online about other organizations “Grace Unexpected” supports, including a very old fraternal order called the Odd Fellows:
Historically, Odd Fellows have helped bury the dead. Also, they’re not big fans of getting fucked up on alcohol and drugs, or letting non-whites into their club. They were, however, ahead of the game when it came to women:
Like other fraternities, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows began by limiting their membership to white men only. On September 20, 1851, the IOOF became the first fraternity in the United States to include women when it adopted the “Beautiful Rebekah Degree” by initiative of Schuyler Colfax, later Vice-President of the United States. Daughters of Rebekah are an auxiliary organization to the Odd Fellows.
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Over the next half-century, also known as the “Golden age of fraternalism” in America, the Odd Fellows became the largest among all fraternal organizations (at the time, even larger than Freemasonry). By 1889, the IOOF had lodges in every American state. Compared to Masonic lodges, membership in the Odd Fellows lodges tended to be more common among the lower middle class and skilled workers and less common among the wealthy white collar workers and professionals.
While the Christians at 1120 W. Broadway help insane drug addicts by feeding them with food and Jesus, someone went nuts on E. Broadway recently and scared the shit out of the guy who suddenly found himself fighting back against a violent crazy person.
The officer conducted a further interview of Doe, who reported that he was inside the accounting office when he heard what sounded like glass “falling” outside, though he did not initially know what caused the noise. Doe stated he then looked out the front door and observed Roberts outside. Doe said he asked Roberts if everything was okay, at which point Roberts responded affirmatively before throwing water on Doe.
Doe stated that Roberts then struck him with a bag, which hit the left side of his head. The bag, which was subsequently seized as evidence, was observed by the officer to be a cloth bag that contained a hard, insulated 20-ounce stainless steel-style water bottle.
Doe stated he retreated back into the accounting office and attempted to close the front door. However, Roberts forced his way inside before Doe could secure it. Doe stated that while both individuals were inside the office, Roberts “hit me one or two more times with the bag.” Doe stated he then took the bag from Roberts, at which time Roberts pushed him against a desk located to the right of the front entrance. Doe stated he asked Roberts, “What’s the matter? What I do?” Doe stated that Roberts then “punched” him.
Doe stated he then pushed Roberts away, exited the accounting office through the front door, and subsequently heard the front door slam shut behind him. Doe stated he was “scared and trying to get away” when he ultimately made his way to a nearby business and called for help.
After going berserker, taxpayers are now providing James Roberts with three hots and a cot inside the Missoula County Detention Center, where he’ll probably be for awhile, since the judge set a quarter million dollar bond for his felony charges.
James Roberts allegedly committed these violent criminal acts in VERY close proximity to the Children’s Theater, which is across the street from the new library, which is next to the old library, which is sitting on a donated parcel of prime downtown real estate that our public officials have been trying to sell and develop for 7 years now like they’re the WGM group (because maybe they are?).
The Missoula Redevelopment Agency and partners invite the community to an open house on Monday, January 29 for the redevelopment of the former library block.
The Payne family donated the old library block to the City of Missoula in 2019 which created an opportunity for city officials to work with partners to develop the block to meet the 2019 Downtown Master Plan.
Another historic parcel that our dead former Mayor, John Engen, died without developing, has inched closer to finally coming to fruition. No word yet on where Engen’s statute will be placed.
Could human death on a pre-developed parcel of land help consecrate it for development? Yes, that sounds crazy, but this crazy-sounding line of thinking first started forming in my head while I was walking the crazy streets of Austin, Texas, researching the Smiley Face killer phenomenon several years ago. And before you think I’ve totally lost it, have you ever thought about the ceremonies surrounding ships before they’re launched into the water?
The new 180-room riverfront hotel will be built on the site of Lee Nelson’s brutal murder. Similarly, the new Midtown Commons project will be going right where Ross Robertson was killed by Missoula police in 2024.
Authorities released the name of the man who died while in Missoula Police Department custody on May 29, 2024.
According to Missoula County Sheriff Jeremiah Petersen, 39-year-old Ross M. Robertson of Missoula died on the afternoon of May 29.
The death came after the Missoula Police Department responded to a reported structure fire in the 2400 block of Dixon Avenue.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends during this very difficult time,” Sheriff Petersen stated.
The Coroner’s Inquest into Ross Robertson’s death will be performed–and I do mean PERFORMED–this Friday in a Missoula court room. For those who haven’t witnessed the empty pageantry of accountability this bullshit process provides, this post of mine is a good place to start.
Who was Ross Robertson? According to his obituary, just an energetic guy who liked to work and hang out with friends, and the last job he had was working maintenance for the mental health company that moved out of 1120 East Broadway so the Living Water Christians could move in.
Ross had a great work ethic and started at young age working for dad Dan by placing A-1 Rental stickers on all equipment and working his way up to equipment maintenance man and front desk jockey. At the end of his senior year, he spent a summer working for his dad Rick building bridges for Sletten Construction, then went off to attend the University of Montana. He came back to Helena worked for the Independent Record in the equipment press room, Van’s Thriftway in produce, moved back to Missoula and had worked as property maintenance person for Winds of Change in Missoula MT.
Ross had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. His close friend Tom Wood and him would send hours in discussions of all subjects and theology. He was blessed to have Tom in his life as a friend – a gift from God. In addition, his friends Robert and Charles always encourage him.
Since I have already been in contact with an eye-witness to this “police custody” death, I will say right now that the phrase “police custody” appears to be VERY misleading, but I will wait until after the Coroner’s Inquest to say why.
Before working for Winds of Change, Ross did some work building bridges for Sletten Construction, and it’s the building of bridges I would like to conclude with, since this type of infrastructure is something I’ve been VERY vocal about, considering my kids used to take a decrepit bridge across the Bitterroot river before it was deemed unsafe to do so.
When you zoom in to the end of South Avenue West, where a new bridge across the Bitterroot river has LONG been opposed by the likes of County Commissioner, Dave Strohmaier, and the neighborhood that refuses to accept reality at risk of MY kids safety, you will see a parcel of land that you can click on to see its owned by a Jeremiah Peterson.
Is this Missoula’s Sheriff Peterson? I can’t say, because the last name is spelled different, but I’ve also seen local media use an “o” instead of an “e” when reporting on Missoula’s current Sheriff. Hmmm.
Today, on Montana’s primary Tuesday–while political winds change out some of the faces pitching the same old tired agendas–be cautious near the living waters of raging rivers in Big Sky country.
Why?
Because, if you haven’t noticed, the storm is here, and the flood isn’t far behind.
Thanks for reading!