Granny takes on school-zone speeders

By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer

She’s the Vigilante Granny.

ERIK PETERSEN/CHRONICLE Juelie McLean and her grandson Aaron McLean, a first grader at Irving Elementary School, carry a sign reminding motorists of the speed limit on South Eighth Avenue in front of the school Wednesday afternoon. Armed with only a homemade sign, Juelie McLean of Bozeman is taking justice into her own hands, reminding motorists to follow the law and slow down to 15 mph when they drive by Irving Elementary School.

McLean, 60, bundled in a red coat against Wednesday afternoon’s snow flurries, marched in the grassy median of South Eighth Avenue, accompanied by her 7-year-old grandson, Aaron.

She gave a friendly wave to drivers who slowed down, and waggled her “15 mph” sign disapprovingly at those who sped past.

“I walk my grandson to school,” she said. “He and I have been almost hit by vehicles many times -- once by a (Streamline) bus.”

She decided that instead of just complaining about it, she should do something.

Irving School Principal Jim Bruggeman agreed that speeding vehicles are a problem.

“The Police Department has been outstanding in patrolling the area and ticketing,” Bruggeman said. “Almost every day they have a squad car or motorcycle. People still speed.”

McLean, a retired teacher who pushed to start Irving School’s International Day celebration 20 years ago, seems to have faith she can teach people to do the right thing.

“When I first get here, people go zip, zip, zip,” she said, but they do tend to slow down after she’s been standing with her sign for a while.

“I figured if I did it for a week, in the morning and afternoon, more would get in the habit,” she said. “We have university people tearing up the street in the morning.”

Part of the problem is that some drivers seem to think that because there’s a median in the middle of the street, they can zoom through one lane even if children are crossing the other, Bruggeman said.

Another problem is that people don’t realize the school zone starts a half-block before the school and extends a half-block past it.

And every fall, there’s a new batch of Montana State University students who fail to notice the school zone.

But it’s not just college students who speed up Eighth Avenue. Plenty of older adults are guilty of ignoring the speed limit, McLean said.

“At least 95 percent of the people going too fast are on their cell phones,” she said incredulously.

One young driver, who didn’t appreciate her scolding look, yelled at McLean, “You don’t count!”

But another college student stopped and told her, “‘Thank you, I forget and look down and I’m doing 25 in a school zone.’”

McLean said she feels she’s actually doing motorists a favor n saving them a possible $100 fine for speeding.

Aaron, a first-grader, supported his grandmother’s civic action.

“It’s perfect,” he said.

Gail Schontzler can be reached at gails@dailychronicle.com or 582-2633.

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