Writer disappointed in Loyal community

Marci Augustine

Loyal

Dear editor, My name and my family in Loyal won’t be from generations past, like those with money or property owners. My husband, our son, and I have lived in Loyal for 23 years and we don’t know anyone. When we moved into town 23 years ago, it was a place where we drove down Main Street and people honked and waved — little did we know that little town, small-minded people saw a new plate and a new car. They were being nosy; they weren’t the welcoming committee.

So, as we’ve been here I have worked in town in three different grocery stores and three gas stations that couldn’t sustain themselves. All the local people talked about was having the business. Yet, what is wrong with everyone? They complained about the prices and chose to shop in Marshfield. Does it take a genius?

It’s the same thing as the gas station and overdone food court. What about the local business? You are only seasonal — you can’t make money if you aren’t open! What about getting breakfast here, going to the bakery or getting haircuts? How dare you close when you are most needed and complain you can’t make it or shut down. You can’t make money if you aren’t open.

What else? I will get a real investigation going on with law enforcement because I don’t care who hates me — something will happen because every day of the week, people are sitting at the bars and drinking their asses off. No one is arrested — they’re drinking all afternoon and all night. I don’t care what their name is or who they work for. Until you lose someone in a drunk driving incident, it won’t matter to you. My uncle, on a Sunday afternoon, was murdered/killed by a drunk driver. Stop protecting people in a small town for minor crimes/infractions, drunk driving.

What is this really about? It’s about friends, family, unity and caring people. When we arrived in town, our backyard looked out toward the American Legion. There were many parties, receptions and activities. Of course, we weren’t invited. As a little boy, he just always said, “Why can’t we go there?” We didn’t know then — still, years later, we have never received an invitation.

I think someone should be ashamed of themselves for all those years we go to the same church and the kids went K-12 in the same school — and we’ve always been available for any volunteer work.

Thanks, Loyal. Go to someone else for hospitality and friendship.