Who else is sick of seeing these three Bums standing on the same corners every day, for 3 weeks now! I know I am! They are living under the bridge by Guesthouse and have so much trash under there! If I can get fined for throwing something out my window why the heck aren't they in trouble? Make them clean that crap up and send them on their way!!!

Call the Police Dept. and tell them, maybe they can help.

I saw the pile of garbage today.

They need to move on...

Maybe Diane can get permission from the city council to take them in. They can help her manage all the dogs she wants to keep.

I have they said they have been talked to and that she would advise the officers that I called! ARRGG!!! LOL

Part of the problem is officer's responses are limited. Do you what them arrested so we pay for their housing and food at the county jail? As far as fining them goes, a lot of luck on collecting on those tickets. Tickets and fines work on you and me because we live and work here and want to style out of jail and other trouble, take away those motives and police response gets much trickier. Do the wrong thing and we could end up having to hire the lawyer that sues us, which might be another of their goals.

Bummer could not resist.

Put 'em on a midnight train to Georgia.

Or perhaps a Wonka-vator.

Really??? Bums are an iconic part of the fabric of any growing community. Your concern about them indicates you have lived sort of a sheltered life. You should view them as an indicator of increased economic activity.

You shouldn't talk that way about homeless people. You don't know their circumstances and how they became homeless. I see them, I drive by them every day. How can you be so heartless to call them 'bums' when you never know what lies ahead in YOUR future.

Perhaps it is an Easter lesson:

Matthew 25:34-40
English Standard Version (ESV)

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.'

Taking care of the so-called "bums" has absolutely nothing to do with "easter". We ought to care for them because it is the right thing to do, not because we have to derive a sense of morality from a book.

T. Anderson and Sioux,
Thank you for your responses. No one knows what tomorrow brings. Circumstances change. The woman who originally posted seemed to have an agenda..something about being in trouble for throwing garbage out? That seemed to prompt her anger that these people have garbage under the bridge. Instead of anger I would have hoped she could have used the fact that three people are living under a bridge as a lesson for her own kids.

I know there are professional bums. But they work the corners here in Billings by Walmart and Costco where there is a massive amount of daily traffic. I don't give money to people on street corners but I do offer help by letting them know what resources are available through city or church organizations or local charities.

There is a difference between homeless people and bums.

Not all homeless people are bums.

Not all bums are homeless people. Here in Helena, I see plenty of bums, in nice clothes with cell phones, standing on a corner with their signs, and when they have collected enough money, they walk a block to their cars, get in, and drive home with enough money for a 12 pack of Bud Light and a pizza.

Homeless people can become homeless for a variety of reasons. Many seek ways to end their situation, and are accepted at a variety of shelters and charitable programs.

Many homeless people have mental illnesses that prevent them from getting jobs, making rational decisions, etc.

And some homeless people are....bums. They chose to live that way. They spurn living at shelters as that means they have to give up alcohol and meth.

Its hard to tell them apart just from driving by....but I tend to think the generators of refuse of being of the bum variety.

The garbage under the overpass is more a factor of wind out of the southwest/northeast and the overpass acting as a vortex, than anything else.

I drive by them every day, I do not see that they have alot of garbage under the bridge. I saw a couple large peices of cardboard, maybe that's what they use to sleep on?

Taking care of the so-called "bums" has absolutely nothing to do with "easter". We ought to care for them because it is the right thing to do, not because we have to derive a sense of morality from a book.

What ever motivates you, Richard.

I drive by them every day, I do not see that they have alot of garbage under the bridge. I saw a couple large peices of cardboard, maybe that's what they use to sleep on?

No comment, other than suggest you look to the left on the interstate entrance ramp headed toward Terry. I drove by yesterday afternoon. I think the stuff under the bridge may have originated from this spot.

i think everyone just needs to get over it, the town is growing its goin to get worse and the city sure isnt goin to stop it, so lock your doors and keep an eye on women and children, life goes on and we have to be thankful that we are not on the streets with they way prices are rising around here, i cant even get my family back home cuz landlords would rather rent to oil field people than a local who really needs a place.

There is difference between being homeless and a "bum." Homeless people usually have had some sort of bad situation happen to them that resulted in them not having a home (whether it is a rental or they owned). They might have lost there job, can't pay their bills, medical expenses, etc. often times they are not strong willed enough to leave the area and go to an area where there is work, or they don't have the means to get to the new area in the first place. They are poor and usually under-educated like their folks were before them. Generational poverty is very real and everywhere you look. It's in big cities and small cities alike. However, there is something to be said about rural poor vs urban poor. But that is a whole different discussion. There are many folks in Miles City who are one bad break from being homeless.

Bums on the other hand are usually drunks and vagrants. They don't want to work. Work for them is begging for money, and they live off the generosity of others. I hate to see people give bums money, because all they are doing is reinforcing their negative behavior. In Denver, we call them the walking dead because their lives are already over. All they care about is how they are going to scrounge up their next $2 for their next 40 oz. They are the trolls living under the bridge, and we all know what the sign says...."DON'T FEED THE TROLLS." The bums choose their life style. Some are proud of their "freedom" and most wouldn't sober up and change their lives if given the oppurtunity.

There is yet another category to the homeless problem and that is the mentally ill. We used to care for the mentally ill in this country...I believe it was Ronald Regan who cut the funding. The mentally ill I feel bad for, as they can not help it.

Government style work camps that involve detox and career training would solve the problem. Work or die. The other option would be for someone to go talk to the bums and find out of what variety they are. The number of empty beer bottles/mad dog bottles should help to determine.

I prefer the term "hobo".

You really shouldnt judge someone when you don't know whats going on in there life.Maybe thats not there choice. just saying mean no disrespect to you.

according to wikipedia..."Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not work at all, 'hobos' are workers who wander."

On a side note..the movie "hobo with a SHOTGUN" was horrible

I think they should stand where people could see them. Off ramps are dangerous.They hold signs to get money so they can go back to where they are staying.

Buy them a plane or bus ticket out of town like some cities in CA do.

u buy the tickets its your idea. plus i really dont think anyone gets it, even if they leave it will only be a matter of time, before more people as "bums" or "homeless" or "hobos" arrive, and dont forget our on locals could wind up in the same position. like i said be thankful for what u got, keep and eye on women and children, the town continues to grow...

Exactly!! Judge not lest you, yourself, be judged.

Ashamed to admit that Bozeman was one of those towns that gave the homeless a bus ticket to Butte, as recently as a year ago. We now have a shelter that is open from November to the end of March. Only open from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am, but it's better than nothing. And much better than just shipping them out of town. It's called compassion people. Most of the country is a very few missed paychecks away from being in the same position. "There but for the grace of God go I" We would all be better people if we remembered that more often. Not rippin on anybody in particular, cause I need to remember that thought more often myself.

It's called "Greyhound therapy." Buy a ticket for the next town up the line and let them deal with it.

Technically, you buy them a ticket to the nearest loved one and it's not such a jerk move.

The next time some one takes a fabulous trip to the sucky town of Glendive...give them a ride!!

Just wonder about the conventional wisdom here: are Kirby Salespeople to be considered "bums" My guess is not as they pick up trash.

Just an idea- how about a job application?

Ok, Maybe if every one wants to find out their history, go interview them and write an article her about them. Just a thought

Make them wifi hotspots.

There was a guy hitchikeing today out by the Zip Trip. I walked over and asked where he was headed. He needed a ride to Billings and then to Idaho. I thought about takeing him to Hathaway. It was in the right direction.He mentioned a guy had wanted beer and had it on his sign.That I might of been able to do.These people are still strangers.

Taking them to Hathaway is leaving them in the middle of nowhere with the people who live here. Hathaway is an empty exit.