Guest Opinion: There must be another way for the 371 project

For 27 years, Letnes Restaurant Group — and Poncho and Lefty’s in particular — has been part of the very heartbeat of this community. We are more than just a restaurant. We are a gathering place, a landmark, a piece of Baxter’s identity. Generations of families, friends and neighbors have celebrated milestones, shared meals and built memories within our walls.

Today, we write to you not simply as business owners, but as deeply invested members of this community — concerned for the future of our employees, our guests and Baxter itself.

As you know, the uncertainty surrounding the Highway 371 bypass has forced us to put a much-needed remodel on hold — a project we have been working toward for over a year. Only to find ourselves unable to move forward. This is not just about a remodel — it