Masks put ‘us at odds with’ shoppers

Montana town copes with the fallout from local, state decisions

Ransier asked her staff to wear rants, recently chose to close masks, but a few customers temporarily after several workberated her employees — some ers tested positive for the coof whom are in high school — ronavirus. over the decision. One customer Complicating the choice for told staffers that they were business owners and customers “bending the knee to tyranny” alike is that the pandemic has by following Bullock’s order. been slow to affect Ravalli HAMILTON, Mont. — OutOther patrons wanted RanCounty, which is part of the side River Rising Bakery sits an sier to require masks for all and Bitterroot Valley, an approxiolder gentleman, his face uninstall Plexiglas barriers. She mately 100-mile strip of southcovered. He’s here every mornfelt she couldn’t please anyone, western Montana. The county ing, greeting customers as he so she decided her policy would is 2,400 square miles, but it has drinks his coffee and reads. focus on what she could control: had just over 300 cases of the Inside, people mill about, waitemployees. She would let cuscoronavirus and four deaths ing to order. A group chats at a tomers choose, but ask her 14 from COVID-19 since March. corner table. workers to wear masks even More than one-quarter of those

The employees wear masks, though it can be hot and miseracases have cropped up in the but patrons are not required to. ble. past week and caused several Most don’t. It feels almost nor“We have a lot of older local schools to shut down for mal. As if the pandemic had customers,” Ransier said. “And multiple days. never happened. in my heart, I was just like, The town, with just under

Half a block away in Hamil‘What if I were to get Bob — the 5,000 residents, is home to ton, at Big Creek Coffee Roastman who sits out front every Rocky Mountain Laboratories, ers, most customers don’t go day — or someone sick?’ I would where researchers are trying to inside; instead they wait to just feel horrible.” develop a vaccine for order at a makeshift to-go winBut the commissioners’ move COVID-19. dow. There are a lot of strollers frustrated Randy Lint, the It is also the county seat, and Lululemon tights, and most owner of Big Creek Coffee luring many to shop and do people in the line are wearing a Roasters. He thought the goverbusiness, and is a gateway to mask. If anyone did go inside, nor’s order would put an end to trout streams and other outdoor wearing one would be mandamask conflicts. Instead, he said, recreation. tory. the commissioners’ decision That means everyone is mix

One Montana block, two “puts us at odds with customing on Main Street: white collar, small businesses — and two ers.” blue collar, wealthy ranchers, different decisions about asking “Dealing with fallout from scientists, lifelong bartenders, customers to wear masks. stressed customers has been multigeneration residents, tour

This summer, Gov. Steve one of the hardest parts of the ists, hunters, kayakers, conserBullock mandated face covpandemic,” Lint said. vatives and liberals. erings in public spaces to comHe’s thankful for the to-go Most business owners, whatbat a spike in COVID-19 cases. window and the reprieve it ever their politics, keep their But the sheriff in Hamilton, offers — at least while the social media and public statebacked up by the Ravalli County weather is nice. He added a ments neutral. But masks have commissioners, elected not to propane heater to extend the become a public symbol onto enforce the order, saying indioutdoor season, but once winter which people imprint their own vidual rights took priority. That hits and customers come inassumptions. decision left small businesses doors, he knows his policy will “It’s quite exhausting,” said stuck in the middle of a monthsbe an issue again. Still, he said, Shawn Wathen, a co-owner of long national conflict over mask he can’t risk having any of his Chapter One Book Store, which wearing as they try to keep staff seven staff members contract is kitty-corner from Big Creek. safe and their doors open withCOVID-19. If one did, he would “If we could go one day and not out alienating customers. have to shut down for two have to talk about masks — that

For the owner of River Risweeks so everyone could quarwould be just quite astonishing, Nicki Ransier, the commis-ing.”antine.Lintsaidhewasn’tsure sioners’ decision made her life he could survive that experiMara Lynn Luther, the other easier: “It kind of took some ence emotionally. owner, added, “The governor’s pressure off of us, because we’re “The danger is that it will all order was supposed to handle not having that confrontation crush my spirit,” he said. that for us so that we could with our customers when they It’s a fear based in reality: focus on staying open as a walk in.” Down the block, Naps Grill, one business, right? And that’s so

Before the governor’s order, of the town’s busiest restau- frustrating.”