Reader_February12_2026

The week in random review

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

having a break (or two)

I broke my first bone at the age of 5, after falling off a piece of playground equipment. I broke my arm again in a bike wreck in the summer between sixth and seventh grades. Since then, I’ve fractured a collar bone, my hand, an elbow, and my pinkie and big toes. I’ve also royally tweaked my knee, been shot in the face with a BB gun, bashed over the head with a baseball bat and contracted a parasitic insect infection in one of my eyes. My younger brother’s catalogue of breaks and wounds is even longer. I didn’t think this level of physical misfortune was unusual, until I learned that a number of people close to me have never even broken a bone. Apparently, there’s some special attraction we have to accidental bodily damage. I didn’t really believe that, though, until my 13-year-old son fractured his arm during a track-andfield practice at the end of seventh grade last year, then (again) just this past Sunday in a snowboarding crash on Schweitzer. Fewer than six months after his first cast came off, he’s about to get another one (thankfully on a different arm). I feel for the guy, but I’m afraid he’s inherited some kind of curse. As for everybody else — especially those who have avoided similar mishaps — stay safe out there.

best spectacle

DEAR READERS,

Seahawks fans are walking a little taller after their win at the Super Bowl on Feb. 8. With the Winter Olympics also in full swing, it’s a good time to cozy up on the couch to watch worldclass athletes go for the gold.

But don’t be a slacker all weekend; there is a ton of fun going on around town. The 53rd Sandpoint Winter Carnival kicks off Friday, Feb. 13 with the Parade of Lights, which has expanded to include First Avenue and has more than two dozen floats, followed by a block party in front of the Pend d’Oreille Winery, where the Winter Carnival king and queen will be crowned.

Check out our events calendar on Page 22, or, better yet, the entire rundown of Winter Carnival events for Week 1 on Page 24.

Finally, if you know whose palms to grease, please ask them to send at least one more snowstorm before spring?

Pretty please?

– Ben Olson, publisher

111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com

Soncirey Mitchell (Senior Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com

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There’s been an awful lot of spectacle over the past week — between Super Bowl LX (which resulted in a win by the Seahawks over the Patriots), its halftime show featuring Puerto Rican pop sensation Bad Bunny and Turning Point USA’s alternative “All-American Halftime Show,” tens of millions of people have been fixated on a stew of mass media, mass sports and mass politics. I want to say the last Super Bowl I watched was Patriots vs. Rams in 2001, making this the 25th year I haven’t partaken of that particular unofficial holiday. And you can be damn sure I wasn’t tuning into TPUSA’s “All-American” thing (I guess the implication being that Bad Bunny isn’t “all-American” enough, despite hailing from a U.S. territory located in the Americas). Anyway, much too much has already been written about the dueling halftime shows, so I’ve been distracting myself with the 2026 Winter Olympics. So far my highlights have been women’s hockey (rooting for the Canadians), curling (feeling divided over the U.S. beating undefeated Canada), the mixed relay biathlon (Julia Simon, of France, was a sight to behold) and the ski jump (Slovenian Nika Prevc’s upset to Norway’s Anna Odine Strøm was awe-inspiring). Away from the sound and fury of U.S. identity politics and international wrecking, this is the kind of spectacle that I’d much rather be fixated by.

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House committee advances bill deregulating short-term rentals

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

A bill to dramatically reduce the powers of counties and cities to regulate shortterm rentals cleared the Idaho House Business Committee following a hearing Feb. 9, where legislators decided with a sole dissenting vote to advance it to the full House with a do-pass recommendation.

House Bill 583 was introduced by Committee Chair Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, and written in collaboration with international vacation rental company Airbnb. In his closing remarks at the Feb. 9 hearing, Redman described the bill as “part of a three-year discussion,” referring to previous attempts to reign in STR regulations that have all failed to make it to the governor’s desk.

“This is just part of restoring property rights back to our constituents in the state of Idaho,” he said.

Testimony at the hearing leaned toward support for H.B. 583, with almost all proponents framing the issue as one of overreach by local governments, placing undue restrictions on a specific class of property owners.

Idaho Realtors Government Affairs Director Max Pond said H.B. 583 provides “clarity” for both governments and property owners, establishing that because current law states that municipalities cannot prohibit the number of STRs in their communities and are defined as residential uses for zoning purposes, “they can’t be subjected to the overreach we’re seeing across the state, forcing them to meet commercial standards rather than residential standards.”

Representing the Coeur d’Alene Vacation Rental Alliance, Melissa Radford told lawmakers that counties and

cities around the state have “weaponized” existing statute to “turn our inherent property rights into revocable government favors.”

Meanwhile, she said STR operators have been “scapegoated for failed housing policies,” referring to critics’ claims that STRs reduce the availability of long-term housing and erode neighborhood integrity.

The issue has been frontand-center for the city of Sandpoint over the past year, as threats of a lawsuit have loomed over a cap on the number of STRs that are allowed to operate within city limits.

Idaho court rulings have found that municipalities cannot prohibit the number of STRs operating within their communities and, while some have claimed that a cap does not constitute a prohibition, Sandpoint City Attorney Zach Jones has repeatedly warned officials that it would likely be deemed a functional prohibition if taken to court and found to run afoul of current Idaho law.

Following that, the Sandpoint City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 4 to repeal and replace its former STR regulations — removing the cap and putting in place a number of new regulations including occupancy categories, permitting policies, parking requirements and administrative changes.

While city officials have said the new ordinance brings Sandpoint into compliance with existing statute, if H.B. 583 becomes law, it would again need to be repealed.

“Basically it supersedes cities’ ability to regulate STRs at all,” Sandpoint Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker told councilors on Feb. 4.

According to the text of H.B. 583, “A county or city may enact or enforce such reasonable regulations as are necessary to safeguard the

public health and safety as long as the reasonable regulations do not impose different restrictions or obligations on short-term rentals than are imposed on single-family dwellings or similar structures not used as short-term rentals, or unless the regulations are permitted by this section.”

That means cities like Sandpoint could not impose separate regulations for STRs based on owner occupancy, require professional property management, additional insurance, reporting of use or other statistics, additional fire protection, additional or improved means of access, additional parking, structural modifications or inspections.

Among other stipulations, H.B. 583 would bar municipalities from requiring STRs to obtain a license, permit or certification, or pay a fee or register in order to operate.

Among those who spoke against the bill on Feb. 9, McCall resident Gregory Irvine said that a large STR next to

his home had created a “nearly intolerable environment” with trash, litter, trespassing, uncontained bonfires, drunken brawls, disrespect and nudity.

“It’s been like living next to a luxury hotel — no, a fraternity house,” he told members of the Business Committee.

However, McCall’s STR regulations, which were upheld after a legal challenge, have since improved the situation, and Irvine said those policies should remain within local control — a consistent theme throughout the testimony.

He called on legislators to “maintain common sense regulation and licensing of these businesses that have invaded our neighborhoods. ... Full-time residents of our communities should at least be afforded equal rights.”

The bill “strips Idaho cities and counties of nearly all the tools they need to manage these short-term rentals,” she said.

H.B. 583 proponent Julie Hill, of Lava Hot Springs, said that while local control is preferable “in theory,” “in practice, however, many cities ... have abused that control to directly harm property owners and guests.”

Lava Hot Springs, like McCall, has been through the courts over STR regulations, though Lava Hot Springs’ policies were found to be unlawful because they contained a prohibition.

The bill doesn’t eliminate municipalities’ authority, Hill said, “it restores balance.”

Jonathan Wheatley, of the Idaho Association of Cities, testified in opposition, saying

Short-term rentals in Sandpoint, courtesy of Airbnb < see STR, Page 5 >

Driggs resident Josie Gray, who said she owns two properties that operate as an STR/ work force housing and longterm rental, opposed H.B. 583 because when STRs “saturate” neighborhoods it “undermines the very character of Idaho’s small towns.”

‘The ordeal is over’

County settles suit with former deputy prosecutor after 5 years

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

After five years of legal battles leveled at the Bonner County Board of Commissioners, Clerk’s Office and other employees, the county recently reached a $1.5 million settlement with former-Deputy Prosecutor Dustin Scott Bauer. The resolution brings an end to multiple suits — beginning with a 2021 tort claim — that, if awarded, would have cost the county more than $4.7 million in damages.

According to previous reporting and the details in the full memorandum, decision and order issued in August 2025, in 2022, Bauer filed a civil suit against the county, former-Commissioners Jeff Connolly, Steve Bradshaw and Dan McDonald, as well as former-Chief Information Officer Brad Ptashkin, alleging “malicious defamation” and libel. In it, he claimed that McDonald and Ptashkin “discredited his professional competence” and “spread lies,” such as alleging that Bauer “attempted to or did install hacking software on county employees’ computers.”

The issue arose shortly after the creation of the chief information officer position, intended to centralize management of the county’s electronic data. In the complaint, Bauer alleged that after hiring Ptashkin, the county “began disregarding Bauer’s legal advice and took actions to control and manage the records and data of other county officials,” leading to “adverse employment actions” against Bauer.

“I felt like it was mostly a whistleblower retaliation case,” Bauer told the Reader in a Feb. 11 interview. “We had a First Amendment retaliation claim, which was, I felt like, our biggest claim. The nature of the retaliation I felt

was defamation.”

That’s not how McDonald saw it.

“I believe this was a frivolous lawsuit not based in any facts and it cost the taxpayers a large sum of money,” he told the Reader in a Feb. 11 email. “Its unfortunate that he received a payout of any kind. I’m not sure what the total cost to the county ended up being, as my second term ended in January of 2023, but the cost in the disruption and emotional turmoil to the county employees who lived through that is incalculable.”

The complaint also accused Ptashkin and the commissioners of “falsely accusing Bauer of committing errors and mistakes in his work for the county, of bullying another county employee until she died by suicide and of misspending county funds.”

Those claims stemmed from the controversy surrounding the alleged misappropriation of between $40,000 and $247,000 in Bonner County Fairgrounds

funds, the investigation of which was complicated by the death of then-Fairgrounds Director Darcey Smith in late 2022, which the county coroner confirmed as a suicide following consultation with a forensic pathologist.

Bauer filed a tort against County Clerk Mike Rosedale for $500,000 in 2023, again alleging defamation, and accusing the Clerk’s Office of failing to audit or disclose potential fraud at the fairgrounds.

Because the Fair Board is a

< STR, con’t from Page 4 >

H.B. 583 is “giving a lot of weight to those who are not necessarily living in the community day in, day out.

“Those that are living day in, day out in our communities should have their rights heavily weighted,” he added. Lawmakers struggled most with the notion of striking that balance between local government control and private property rights.

Rep. Rick Cheatum, R-Po-

quasi-autonomous organization under state statute, the Clerk’s Office could only access and audit funds run through the county, such as the tax levies and employee salaries. Expenses and revenue from fair activities are the responsibility of the Fair Board to oversee, though the BOCC voted in 2024 to hire an external auditor to assess the financials, and has since worked with the Fair Board to establish new bookkeeping practices and increased oversight.

When asked his opinions on the Bauer settlement, Rosedale responded, “No comment.”

Bauer filed an additional suit in 2024 against Bonner County Deputy Clerk Veronica Dixon, claiming she gave him a counterfeit copy of her job description, falsified to require that Dixon report directly to the BOCC rather than the Prosecutor’s Office.

The commissioners removed Bauer as the board’s adviser in 2022. He remained a deputy prosecutor, eventually going on indefinite administrative leave. Commissioner Asia Williams confirmed at the Feb. 10 BOCC meeting that Bauer no longer works for the county.

The 2026 settlement addresses Bauer’s claims of “reputational injury” and

catello, said that while he normally speaks forcefully for local control, “This time I’m going to have to vote the other way, because I think there are some local government violations that have become egregious.”

Rep. Mike Viele, R-Soda Springs, said that while “certainly cities have overreached, I really dislike this issue.

I wish it would have been solved before it reached here.”

He worried about the effect of unregulated STRs on local sewer and septic systems. Re-

“emotional distress,” but both sides ultimately agreed to drop his claim of “future lost wages,” according to Bauer. The final iteration of the complaint listed the county, McDonald, Ptashkin, Rosedale and former-Commissioner Luke Omodt as the only defendants, alleging that the latter “maligned” him and “retaliated against him by requesting an audit of his work expenses.”

According to Williams, the self-insured county paid $500,000 in deductible, leaving the lion’s share of the $1.5 million to the insurance company. As part of the settlement, District of Idaho Judge Amanda Brailsford dismissed the case with prejudice.

“Bonner County spent $500,000 defending itself from Mr. Bauer’s claims before the insurance company took over the case,” Omodt told the Reader in a Feb. 11 email. “The insurance company made the decision to settle with Mr. Bauer, and as such, I have no comment. As a taxpayer, I am absolutely disgusted by this whole affair. If anybody wonders why the public distrusts politicians, lawyers and the judicial system, look no further. Good grief.”

When asked if the matter was truly finished, Bauer told the Reader, “It was a global settlement — the ordeal is over.”

gardless, “In general, this bill needs to happen,” he said.

Casting the lone dissenting vote, Rep. Steve Berch, D-Boise, said, “This is probably going to be the single most difficult vote” he’ll make in the session.

“The most difficult decisions are where you’re trying to balance the valid rights of two parties that are in conflict with each other,” he said.

H.B. 583 now proceeds to the full House.

City to host public meeting on proposed downtown zone changes

By Reader Staff

The Sandpoint Planning and Community Development Department will host a public meeting to review amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance that would create two new downtown districts, as well as a historic overlay. Downtown business and property owners, as well as members of the public, are invited to participate in the meeting scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19 from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. at the Marigold Bistro (located inside the Columbia Bank Building at 414 Church St.), which is intended to provide Sandpoint planning staff with input early in the process that can be used to help inform the Planning and Zoning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and City Council.

The council is not expected to decide how — or whether — to adopt changes to the code later in the year.

Current planning efforts related to downtown zoning stem from the Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2024 and identifies several goals, including “strengthening eco-

Bits ’n’ Pieces

From east, west and beyond

Leaders of congressional agriculture committees have been warned by former USDA officials that farmers are threatened by the Trump administration, with barely half of farms will be able to report a profit this year due to a U.S. trade deficit, lack of a reliable labor pool, increased costs, disrupted markets, and defunding of agricultural research and staffing. Also a problem: federal cuts to rural health care.

A Super Bowl ad featured Epstein survivors calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to release the remaining Epstein files. Some lawmakers said unredacted Epstein files indicate that the DOJ improperly shielded those implicated in sex-trafficking. Some Epstein victims were as young as 9

According to The Guardian, “resignations, denials and excuses” have rippled through European elites following revelations in the files showing their association with the late-Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex trafficking before his death in prison.

Reuters reported that a newly revealed FBI interview shows President Donald Trump told the Palm Beach, Fla., chief of police in 2006 that “everyone has known [Epstein’s] been doing this” and that Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell was “evil.”

A map highlighting the city of Sandpoint’s proposed creation of two downtown districts, as well as a historic overlay. Image courtesy of city of Sandpoint

nomic vitality, reinforcing community character, enhancing placemaking, supporting historic preservation, improving walkability and guiding urban form.”

City planners have been working with P&Z and the Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission to craft new commercial zoning regulations aimed at approaching those goals.

For those unable to attend in person, a follow-up survey will be distributed to collect additional feedback. Further discussion of the proposed zoning amendments will be on the agenda at upcoming P&Z meetings, held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.). Meeting agendas are posted in advance and available at sandpointidaho.gov/calendar.

To review the most recent discussion of the zoning amendments presented at the Feb. 3 P&Z meeting, go to the city of Sandpoint’s YouTube channel.

However, Trump recently said he may consider a pardon for Maxwell, who says she will share information if she gets one. She pleaded the Fifth at a recent House committee deposition.

One Epstein email said Trump’s cognitive decline was noticed as early as 2017, when he did not recognize friends at dinner. According to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Trump was mentioned “at least 1 million times” in the unredacted Epstein files as of Feb. 10, according to The Guardian

Republicans are pushing to enact the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. It would require proving citizenship to vote, and to register to vote. That would be problematic for those whose names don’t match that on their birth certificate, such as married women. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, if the Act passes, about 21 million Americans could lose their votes.

Politico reported that former-Trump strategist Steve Bannon supported the president’s suggestion to “nationalize the voting” under the Republican Party and went even further, saying on his podcast, “We’re going to have ICE surround the polls come November.

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor

According to historian Thom Hartmann, “prison camps” is not the correct term for U.S. migrant detention facilities. While prisons hold people convicted of crimes, concentration camps detain people under armed guards, such as refugees or ethnic or religious minorities. By the end of his first year in power, Hartmann said Hitler had around 50,000 people held in 70 concentration camps, such as converted factories. Today ICE has detained more than 70,000 people, including children, in 224 U.S. concentration camps.

Various media reported on a recent congressional hearing where victims and survivors of abuse by federal immigration agents gave testimony. On Oct. 4, 2025 an unarmed woman was shot five times in Chicago, survived, then accused of assault. The case was dropped. Members of Congress called for her shooter, Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, to be arrested and prosecuted. Siblings of shooting victim Renée Good said they at first thought her death would bring about change, “but it has not.”

Another woman, caught in a Minneapolis traffic jam caused by ICE vehicles, was on her way to a medical appointment when she was pulled from her car by federal agents and carried face down by her arms and legs. She can no longer lift her arms normally. Martin Rascon testified being in his car with family, and being fired upon by federal immigration agents. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., who was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed when he tried to ask Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question at a press conference last summer, lamented seeing no Republicans at the hearing.

At a recent meeting of the House Committee on Homeland Security, top immigration agent officials refused to answer questions about the fatal shootings of two white citizens in Minneapolis, The New York Times reported. Over the past year, DHS officers have shot 16 people, then blamed the shooting victims only to have those cases fall apart in court. Meanwhile, some lawmakers are calling for a stop to ICE ads featuring a neo-Nazi anthem Blast from the past: “If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” — George Orwell, English writer, particularly known for Animal Farm and 1984 (1903-1950)

Sandpoint City Hall considering local option tax for May 2026 ballot

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

The city of Sandpoint is exploring the possibility of putting a new local option tax on the May election ballot, looking at a range of potential funding areas and gearing up to craft draft language to put before voters.

Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm kicked off the discussion at the Feb. 4 meeting of the City Council, recapping the unsuccessful 1% LOT measure in 2024, which asked voters to allocate revenues specifically to streets and related infrastructure but failed to garner supermajority support.

This time around, Grimm said, in addition to streets, dollars brought in by the LOT could be applied to pay down some of the future bond debt on the wastewater treatment

plant reconstruction project in order to lessen the burden on ratepayers.

Other ideas included allocating some funding for the SPOT bus, EMS, securing public access to the waterfront and some form of support for affordable housing.

“If we had a broader, dedicated, consistent fund for roads, that might free up a little money from our General Fund that we could do some other things with; because, right now ... [there’s] not a lot of playroom or new project money,” Grimm said.

City officials parsed through lessons learned both from the failed 1% LOT measure in 2024 and the successful wastewater treatment bond in 2025, with general agreement that the differing outcomes came down to marketing.

“The last option tax, I don’t

think it was advertised well at all,” Councilor Pam Duquette said. “I think that’s why that one fell apart kind of.”

By contrast, the wastewater bond sailed through the 2025 election with nearly 90% approval — despite being a much bigger ask, granting the city authority to borrow up to $130 million.

“This time we’ve heard from the downtown business groups that they will support this,” Grimm said, going on to suggest that the city consider working again with Boise-based communications firm Portman Square, which managed the surveys and education components of the 2025 wastewater bond effort.

Councilor Joe Tate said he would support putting a LOT on the May ballot, but only with clear, transparent communication that ensures voters

know “exactly where their money is going, and maybe an ongoing system of being able to help deliver that message.”

“In the climate of politics, there’s not a lot of trust,” he added. “I kind of ran on that platform of transparency and trust-building and relationships and all that stuff. So I would back this, but I would want some things in place where we can be very clear.”

Councilor Kyle Schreiber agreed, and supported proceeding with a narrow scope — specifically highlighting the broad community support for improving street and sidewalk infrastructure.

“I think that that would be something that would be pretty popular and not very controversial,” he said.

Councilor Joel Aispuro also felt that “less is more” in defining the scope of a future LOT.

“What is something we can put in there that your Republicans, your Democrats, your strange creatures in between are all going to say, ‘Hey, this is something we can get behind’?” he said. “Is affordable housing going to be it? I would say no. Is SPOT going to be that? I say no. I think gearing toward that would be roads and sewer.”

The clock is ticking, however, with approved ballot language due to the county in early March for inclusion in the upcoming election. Grimm suggested that draft language could be considered and approved by the last council meeting of the month, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

“Ideally we could get this across the finish line,” he said.

County missing official zoning district map

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

At a Feb. 5 land use hearing, Bonner County Board of Commissioners Chair Brian Domke admitted that the county is not “able to currently locate” the official zoning district map, adopted by the BOCC in 2022, and is operating with the version adopted in September 2010.

As required by Bonner County Revised Code, the board and Planning Department will need to adopt a new map going forward if staff cannot locate the current version.

“Our civil counsel [Nate Adams, of the Prosecutor’s Office] indicated his opinion to me was that, because the county relies on ordinances that get passed for each individual zone amendment or zone change, that essentially, we have whatever prior map that’s available, plus every ordinance that’s been used to make a zone change since that time — essentially a series of amendments to the zoning to rely on,” said Domke, adding

that Adams “didn’t have a concern” about “being able to currently locate an assigned 2022 map.”

BCRC 12-310 stipulates that the county shall keep both a physical and an electronic copy of the zoning district map, continuously updating it to reflect any amendments to zone classifications or boundaries, and adding each respective “file number, ordinance number and effective date.”

Should the map become “damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions,” BCRC 12-312 stipulates that the board must pass a resolution to adopt a new official zoning map to replace it. Adopting the replacement does not constitute an amendment, meaning the new version must be essentially the same as the previous map, though the county can fix any “errors and omissions.”

The BOCC regular Feb. 10 business meeting initially included the agenda item,

“Adoption of a Replacement Official Zoning Map,” which commissioners voted to remove at the request of the Planning Department. Neither the BOCC nor planning staff gave a reason for removing the item.

When asked if staff were still looking for the 2022 official zoning map, or if the county had plans to host public meetings on the adoption of a new map, Interim Planning Director Alex Feyen told the Reader Feb. 11, “I’m not going to comment on that at this time.”

Domke did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.

Bouquets:

• Here’s a Bouquet for Rep. Mark Sauter for being one of the only Republicans in Boise to vote against House Bill 557, which, if passed into law, would forbid cities from enacting non-discrimination ordinances. It’s crazy how far most Republicans have strayed from their “small government” arguments of yesteryear. The thought of a state demanding a local municipality not protect its own citizens was ludicrous to Republicans during pandemic times, but now that it’s boosting and protecting state-sanctioned bigotry against LGBTQ+ people, they don’t seem to have any issues with it.

• Bouquets to the Sandpoint City Council for swiftly and unanimously voting to move forward with the RV park renovation at City Beach instead of caving to the increasing demands of Averill Hospitality. I think Sandpoint resident Jayce Bordenave said it best during the public testimony portion of the council meeting on Feb. 4: “Quite frankly, the people of Sandpoint are pissed. Crap or get off the pot; build your hotel or not.” My thoughts exactly. If Averill has such a problem with their snob clients rubbing elbows with folks who might utilize an RV park across the street, build your damn hotel somewhere else. I don’t know what type of leverage the Averill group thinks they have over us Sandpointians, but if they want to lose the millions of dollars they’ve already spent and pull up their stakes, I’ll gladly stand and wave them a hearty goodbye. It was never about the RV park, it was about a private developer trying to throw their moneybags around and bully the city into ceding public property for their private gain. The funny thing is, this backlash against the Averill development is a total self-own. Nobody was paying much attention, or were generally OK with their plans, until they sent that demand letter insulting the community they claimed to be benefiting.

Catchphrases…

Dear editor,

The catchphrase, “Bring Back Our Doctors” ignores basic elements of our rural life, and tries to create another category of local victims.

According to the March 2023 BGH release announcing Bonner Women’s Health was closing, “Without pediatrician coverage to manage neonatal resuscitations and perinatal care, it is unsafe and unethical to offer routine labor and delivery services.”

The pediatricians left first because of lack of work. An absence of medical specialists is common here.

Traveling for medical issues to Kootenai County or Spokane has been a part of life here. Many specialties are not represented here at all, or have limited access days here.

Our family and many we know regularly use routine and specialty medical services located outside of Bonner County.

But once the women’s health practitioners left, there is suddenly a desperate need to address, and bemoan, and have political displays and forums at the publicly funded and legally mandated politically neutral library, and claim they are educating others on the lack of medical care availability here — as if it is new and unique to only a small group of women touting victim status.

Why don’t you be honest, and make “Bring Back Our Abortions” your political catchphrase?

Mark Watson Sandpoint

‘Stand up and do something’…

Dear editor, “Stand up and do something” was the quote heard during celebrations surrounding MLK Day. I believe that idea should apply everyday, everywhere, throughout the country.

Stand up and do something about the unconstitutional actions of these masked thugs invading our homes, schools, hospitals and shops nationwide. Stand up and do something to encourage our state and federal lawmakers to worry more about the opinions and concerns of their constituents than the egomaniacal rantings of a fat old man who only cares about personal wealth and power.

The most important right that we have is our vote. It is a dereliction of duty not to vote. It is a dereliction of duty as a citizen of this hard-won democratic republic we called the

United States of America. It is a slap in the face to all those who came before and sacrificed so much. Trump claims the only limit placed on the power of the president is his own morality. He is wrong! The Constitution places clear limits on presidential power and it is up to Congress to ensure those limits are enforced. Primaries are near and the outcome of the midterms will determine if we survive as a democratic republic.

Gil Beyer Sandpoint

‘Appalled’ by bullying over Canadian flag in Bonners…

Dear editor,

I’ve lived in Bonners Ferry for 29 years and, as a voter in Idaho, I’m appalled at attempts by the attorney general to bully us into not flying our Canadian flag with the U.S. and Idaho flags next to our visitors’ center.

We’re the gateway to and from Canada for the entire state.

In spite of hostile speech and actions by our current president against Canada, we here in Boundary County love our Canadian neighbors. We also thrive as a community when we have two-way trade, conversation and positive actions between our two countries.

H.B. 561, in Section 1, 67-2303A (2), states that no government entity shall display any flag in any public area except “official flags of countries other than the United States to commemorate special occasions but excluding countries with which the U.S. is engaged in ‘hostile action.’”

It’s plain that this bill is to give the state attorney general legal right to do what he tried to do to Bonners Ferry before: force us to remove our Canadian neighbors’ flag “except to commemorate special occasions” or face horrific fines compounded daily for our small municipality.

Clarice McKenney Bonners Ferry

‘Pro-life: Making your choice for you’...

Dear editor,

An editorial letter in the Bee asks what the pro-choice movement is fighting for? It is really very simple. When a woman becomes pregnant, there are only two options: have an abortion or have a baby. Pro-choice means supporting the option the woman believes is

best for her. It means valuing both options.

Most of the women involved in the pro-choice movement are themselves mothers. They are involved because they believe that a woman needs to be able to make her own choice based on her own beliefs, values and religion. They believe women should not be forced to have a child because others, including legislators and the pro-life movement, want to make that choice for them.

The pro-choice movement includes both choices for all women; the pro-life movement only provides one choice for all women. This is why the pro-choice movement makes abortion their cornerstone, because it is the only choice that is threatened. It needs to be protected to continue being available, safe and legal for women making that decision.

In Idaho the threats to abortion are also clearly detrimental to the availability of medical care for pregnancy, labor and delivery for women choosing to have a baby.

Kam Majer Sandpoint

Statehouse eroding local control…

Dear editor, H.B. 557 just passed the Idaho House. On the surface, this bill is about discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. It’s about much more. The bill’s architects are using a culture war issue to cloak a power grab. I don’t want to diminish the real fear that the targeted community must be feeling about this attack. And, we should fight this bill for the right to decide how our community runs.

Idaho values local control, solving problems based on community values. H.B. 557 takes that control away. It explicitly states that local governments operate “at the pleasure of the state.” Boise would like our local elected bodies to be their administrators instead of our local problem solvers.

Lawyers will get richer. Taxpayers pay the bill. Local governments will cower under the threat of expensive, private lawsuits. We’ve already seen this on short-term rental problem-solving. Would Boise outlaw RV parks within city limits? Boise shouldn’t tell us we have to discriminate against anyone.

H.B. 557 sets a precedent for the state to override local judgment anytime and anywhere and make sure

we are left to pay the tab. Only one of our District 1 representatives backed this bad bill.

Kathryn Larson Sagle

Send letters to the editor up to 200 words to letters@ sandpointreader.com. Please elevate the conversation. No trolls.

What would Samuel Adams Do?

By Diane Wheeler Reader Contributor

Cheers to Betty Gardner for her op-ed in the Bee [“Franklin’s essay echoes in today’s political climate,” Feb. 1, 2026]. Inserting Benjamin Franklin’s “recipe” into our current atrocities is the medicine that we need.

The time has come for the “Party Spirit” to exit our local, state and national stage. Instead, let us reach back to the past so we can know the best way to move forward.

In May, there will be another primary — unless Donald Trump and Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon get their way. In the meantime, let us form our own questions instead of following partisan endorsement slates.

If you are putting your hat in the ring, we want to know where you stand on the First, Second, Fourth and 10th amendments to our Constitution, as it relates to the office that you would like to hold. This is not the time for you to tell us how Christian you are or give us drivel on your partisan pedigree.

In lieu of holding the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, our friends in the Bonner County Republican Central Committee are throwing a MAGA celebration. Imagine their latitude at a time like this! Every promise has been broken and every principle has been violated.

I comfort myself with the thought of what Samuel Adams would do if he were alive to witness this mess. We would experience his disquietude. He would parade a casket with a copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights through the town, hire a band to play a dirge and invite the locals to dress in black, so they could publicly mourn our current state of affairs.

Idaho Supreme Court upholds private education tax credit

By Ryan Suppe IdahoEdNews.org

The Idaho Supreme Court upheld the state’s private education tax credit Feb. 5.

The five-member court unanimously agreed that challengers failed to show the Parental Choice Tax Credit violates the Idaho Constitution’s mandate that the Legislature fund public schools. The credit is Idaho’s first private school choice program, enacted last year through House Bill 93.

The court also granted attorney fees to the Idaho State Tax Commission, which defended the credit and was represented by Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s office.

Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan wrote the Feb. 5 opinion. Justices Robyn Brody, Colleen Zahn and Cynthia Meyer concurred. While Justice Gregory Moeller also concurred, he wrote a separate opinion.

The court ruled that a coalition of challengers — including the Idaho Education Association and Moscow School District — failed to show that the tax credit violated Article IX Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution. The provision says that the Legislature has a “duty” to “establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.”

The coalition argued that taxpayer funding for private education creates a separate system that’s tuition-based and not open to all students.

The court concluded that this reading of the Constitution is “inapt.” The interpretation is “unduly restrictive” and disregards the Legislature’s “plenary power” to enact laws that aren’t prohibited by the state or federal constitutions, Bevan wrote in the opinion.

“Rather, it establishes a floor, and not a ceiling,” Bevan wrote. “When a constitutional provision mandates

the Legislature do something that it has authority to do, it is not reasonable to read that mandate as restricting the Legislature’s broader power to do something more.”

The opinion came fewer than two weeks after the court heard oral arguments in the case.

In a joint statement Feb. 5, the coalition said that while the court found the tax credits “are not unconstitutional,” this “does not mean that they are good policy.”

“Despite this setback, our organizations will continue to advocate for Idaho’s students and public education and believe the Legislature and the voters of Idaho should look critically at this program,” the coalition stated.

Justices also rejected the coalition’s argument that the tax credit violates the “public purpose doctrine” implicit in the Idaho Constitution. This legal principle requires that the state spend taxpayer dollars in the public interest, not in private interests.

The tax credit may “incidentally benefit private enterprise,” Bevan wrote, but this doesn’t transform its purpose into a private one.

The chief justice noted that the credit covers more than private-school tuition — it also can be claimed for books, curriculum and other expenses in private and homeschool settings.

“The fact that some educational services are provided by private actors who may limit the scope of admission to their schools does not make the educational services less beneficial to the public as a whole,” Bevan wrote.

Moeller agreed with the other four justices. But he also penned an addendum directed at court-watchers who might call the decision a “landmark” or “watershed” that would make a “fundamental change in the constitutional landscape.”

“I wish to stress that I do not believe that is what has oc-

curred today,” Moeller wrote. He went on to write that the “constitutional foundation for public education ... remains firmly intact.”

The coalition brought its challenge before the tax credits have been distributed, and the harms they claimed were “hy-

pothetical and speculative.”

“[Y]et they may be reexamined in the future when the impact of this legislation can be properly ascertained,” Moeller wrote.

Idaho Education News is a nonprofit online news outlet based in Boise and supported by grants from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation, the Education Writers Association and the Solutions Journalism Network. Read more at idahoednews.org.

EBCL Board tables petitioning policy change to March meeting

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

The East Bonner County Library Board met Feb. 9 to take testimony and consider changing its policy regarding petition signature-gathering, ultimately voting to table the item until its March meeting when it would review the final language.

That wasn’t before hearing from a handful of residents, including several who felt that an incident of petitioning in late January related to the Idaho Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act citizens’ initiative was inappropriate.

Life Choices Pregnancy Center Executive Director Janine Shepard testified that allowing petitioners “for what you would call ‘reproductive

freedom’” gives the appearance that the library is “aligning itself” with the content of the petition.

“Public trust depends on neutrality,” she said, adding that she wanted to see “a viewpoint-neutral policy.”

Others said they felt “accosted,” including former-EBCL IT Manager Brendan Mooney, who filed a complaint on Jan. 26 and said he was “shocked and hurt” by the petitioning because it offended his Christian beliefs.

“I’m just trying to go to the library; I don’t really want to see the place turned into partisan politics. I’d rather have my ideas challenged in the stacks,” he said.

EBCL Director Vanessa Velez agreed that the current

policy is “not great,” and proposed several changes — including that signature-gatherers simply inform staff of their intentions, rather than receive “approval” that implies endorsement.

She said multiple legal reviews found that outright prohibiting signature-gathering would be a rights violation. Those activities can be restricted from inside the “limited public forum” of library buildings, but outside property is a public forum — so long as petitioners stay 15 feet from the entrances and refrain from impeding access or pressuring patrons.

The EBCL Board meets on the second Monday of each month. Go to ebonnerlibrary. org/about/board-of-trustees for more info.

Science: Mad about

pickaxe

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

You could ask any kid today what a pickaxe is, and they’re likely going to regale you with an entire saga of their Minecraft adventures. A couple of sticks and some stone across the top and, voila, you’ve made your first pickaxe.

This was very likely a similar thought process shared by our ancient ancestors, but not for a very long time after having developed the earliest tools.

The first sharpened stones came in the form of the handaxe, which was essentially a triangular rock sharpened on two sides and held from the back. It was used for chopping and slicing things, and the first signs of its use date back more than 3 million years.

The first hafted tools began appearing in Africa 500,000 years ago, with evidence recovered from the Kathu Archaeological Complex near the town of Kathu, South Africa. The use of flintknapping, or forming rock with other rocks, seems to have predated the use of hafted tools considerably.

You may be left wondering why early humans spent so long being very haft-averse. The appearance of hafts to give tools leverage is a multi-layered evolutionary conundrum. This is a form of early composite technology, merging two completely different mediums in order to create a new object. This alone is a complex mental feat in an age when humans were somewhere near the middle of the food chain. It requires planning and foresight, both

of which were likely in short supply when early hominins were preoccupied with thoughts of avoiding turning into lunch for a Smilodon.

A second major problem was the availability of structurally sound adhesives. It wasn’t enough to wedge an axe head into a branch, you had to bind it with cordage and secure it with adhesive that would withstand intense percussive forces.

The final point is that unless kept under very precise conditions, wood is subject to decay, which has possibly left a gap in the archaeological record. Hafted tools may well have been developed long before the first ones we’ve found half a million years ago, but we wouldn’t know because the hafts could have decomposed without ever fossilizing.

It’s fun to think about it this way: How often do you set a tool out and forget to put it back? I have my fair share of rusted pocket knives and crusty hammers simply because food distracted me long enough to abandon them on a project. How many grilled mammoth steaks may have led to an irreversible gap in the archaeological record and, more importantly, what would grilled mammoth steak have tasted like?

Pickaxes as we know them first entered the record around 2500 B.C.E. in Egypt. These tools were used largely for the same purposes as they are today: to dislodge stone and ore while also agitating soil. The pickaxe was also used as a weapon throughout much of its existence. This makes a lot of sense to me, as I can attest to the fact that it hurts really badly to get hit with one.

The usefulness of the pickaxe increased through antiquity and into the medieval period as metallurgy advanced. Metal pickaxes had a much greater benefit over stone pickaxes because of their strength and the leverage that could be exerted by creating a curved surface at the front and back, allowing miners to use the tool as a pry lever. This is still one of the most useful functions of a pickaxe.

The military pick found its footing on medieval battlefields, eventually evolving into the war hammer. Unlike fantasy depictions of war hammers, actual war hammers very closely resembled pickaxes with a pointy and a blunt end. The pointy end could punch through armor while the blunt end could deliver concussive force. While useful and lethal as a weapon, it also came with a serious liability: the pick itself was prone to getting stuck inside of armor after delivering a blow. Even if you had killed your adversary, you were left effectively disarmed and exposed while trying to pry your weapon from their dying body.

The invention of dynamite by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel forever shifted the use of pickaxes in mining. A relatively small amount of the explosive could blast apart rock and minimize the need for miners to chip and dig their way through the earth. This didn’t greatly affect mining jobs, as laborers would spend more time hauling than digging. The pickaxe was still a vital tool for collecting ores and coal, as disintegrating these resources with high explosives was far from ideal.

Heavier machinery came

to largely replace the pickaxe in mining today. Huge boring machines with rotating heads lined with metal teeth grind up rock and spit it out onto conveyors that either dump it in a spot or deposit it into trucks for hauling. Huge macerators grind up raw ore at processing facilities to help separate ore from stone.

Explosives clear the way while machines haul huge amounts of stone from place to place.

Yet we never would have been able to make all of those big fancy machines had it not been for the humble pickaxe and its hundreds of thousands of years of service.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner

• The Olympic rings represent the world’s five major regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

• The first winter Olympic games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924. The early Olympic games, however, date to 776 B.C.E., running as a religious festival until 393 C.E. when they were outlawed because they were considered pagan. They weren’t revived into the modern Olympics until 1894, when Baron Pierre de Coubertin brought them back.

• The last time Olympic gold medals were made entirely of gold was in 1912. Today, gold medals are required to contain at least 92.5% of their mass as silver, with a minimum of six grams of gold as a covering. The host city designs medals for the games

• During the opening ceremony, the Greeks lead the athlete procession, which is ended by the host county’s team. All others proceed in alphabetical order, as labeled by the host country’s language.

• The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, grants the privilege of hosting the games to the city, not the country.

• London is the only city to have hosted the event three times, in 1908, 1948 and 2012.

• No games were held during the years 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to world wars.

• Following the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, 66 nations boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

• The Olympic motto, “Swifter, Higher, Stronger,” was originated in 1921 by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern games, who used the Latin phrase, “Citius, Altius, Fortius.”

• During the ancient games, the only married woman allowed to watch was the priestess of Demeter. Any others caught watching were thrown off a cliff.

PERSPECTIVES Emily Articulated

Halftime show

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

Like roughly 124 million other people, I watched the Super Bowl on Feb. 8. I even (reluctantly) cheered on the Seattle Seahawks with the sliver of my heart not permanently reserved for the Green Bay Packers. This cheering was lazy and apathetic — less about stakes, and more like how a grandma might respond to her grandkid’s job description.

“You work from your computer? That’s nice, dear.”

“Oh, another field goal? How sweet.”

That casualness, though, freed me to take in everything else. I consumed copious amounts of chips and guacamole, second only to pro-AI and gambling commercials, along with a hearty helping of nostalgia, firmly cementing Millennials as the target audience for modern consumerism (looking at you, Backstreet Boys à la T-Mobile).

But more than the commercials or the snack bar, I was able to fully take in the Apple Music Halftime Show. Because I hadn’t been living under a rock, I’d heard the rumblings. The performer would be sixtime Grammy Award-winner Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, a.k.a. Bad Bunny. The show would be mostly, if not entirely, in Spanish. It would be star-studded. And certain people, most notably the president of the United States, would have a problem with it.

What I was wholly unprepared for, however, was the absolute masterclass in performance art: joy and vibrancy wielded as resistance. The show was dense with metaphor and visual storytelling, putting real people at the center of one of the biggest stages in the world.

And while my college Spanish is mostly kept on life support by Duolingo, I didn’t need to understand the lyrics to hear the message loud and clear: “This is our humanity. This is what you’re being told to fear.”

The performance opened with a nod to Puerto Rico’s agricultural roots before unfolding into a series of scenes that felt deliberately ordinary. A nail technician. A paragua stand. A casita. Each scene landed like a gentle but insistent poke to the fear-monster’s chest. These weren’t symbols of threats or invasion, but of normalcy: work, family, community, lives lived authentically.

Creative director Harriet Cuddeford described the performance as “celebrating normal people, and what it is to be human and love and have joy, and really appreciate one another.” She continued, “This was to show how much [Benito] values his community ... especially people who are of importance in Latino culture.”

From dropping into a living room to a real-life wedding, the show stayed grounded in markets, small businesses and shared spaces. Representation wasn’t abstract, it was intimate. That intimacy peaked when Benito handed his Grammy to a representation of himself as a child, watching

his idols on TV (I’m not crying. You’re crying.) Throughout it all, people were plainly dressed, unmistakably real, quietly demanding an answer to the same question again and again: “Really, this is what you’re afraid of?”

He closed with a statement of unity, turning a football toward the camera, inscribed with “Together, We Are America.” In that moment, the performance became irrefutable (or if refuted, deeply revealing). Because rejecting it required exposing a desire for an America that is fundamentally un-American — one where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are reserved for a few and built on the backs of everyone else.

I can understand that not everyone experienced the show in the same enthralled way as me. Perhaps, some people were mid-seven-layer dip refill or bathroom break and missed the message entirely, left tapping their toes to unapologetic Latin pop rhythms or focusing on the vocal power of guest stars like Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga. Others may have been distracted by not knowing the lyrics or by the discomfort of unfamiliarity.

But, what I can’t understand is choosing not to look at all. Being so afraid of encountering something different (an alternative representation of culture, community and, frankly, patriotism), during a 12-minute performance that you physically avert your eyes. I can’t fathom a worldview so fragile that merely tolerating another culture feels like a threat. One so small that you choose entertainment manufactured to keep your mind — and your sense of America — narrow and contained (ahem, Trump’s “All-American Halftime Show”).

Worse still were the people who changed channels because they “didn’t want to get political,” even though the alternative was orchestrated by one of the most overtly political figures alive. In the name of neutrality, they chose spectacle over substance, familiarity over curiosity. They turned away from a performance centered on unity — from a jumbotron declaring, “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate Is Love.”

But here’s the thing: Looking away doesn’t make something disappear, it just narrows the world you’re willing to

see. And when you repeatedly choose comfort over curiosity, sameness over complexity, you don’t stay neutral. You become smaller.

So if celebrating community, joy, family, language and love on one of the largest stages in the world is “political,” then maybe the problem isn’t the performance. Maybe it’s how narrow we’ve allowed our definition of “American” to become. And in the name of expansiveness, when “Together, We Are America” is the message, we can all use second helpings.

Retroactive By BO

Why clean water infrastructure matters more than tax cuts

By Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm Reader Contributor

At both the state and federal levels, leaders frequently emphasize affordability, economic growth and the importance of letting hard work pay off. Those goals are broadly shared. Yet across Idaho, a growing contradiction threatens to undermine them: the Clean Water Act — while well-intentioned and essential — has increasingly become an unfunded mandate, shifting the financial burden of compliance onto local communities with little meaningful federal or state support.

In Sandpoint, approximate population 10,000, we face a $130 million wastewater treatment plant replacement required to meet Clean Water Act standards. This is not a discretionary project. It is the replacement of aging infrastructure — much of it dating back to the World War II era

— that has reached the end of its useful life. The project is unavoidable if we are to protect public health, Lake Pend Oreille and downstream waters.

As communities grew and environmental standards evolved, wastewater systems nationwide were upgraded to meet federal law. Compliance with the Clean Water Act was originally achieved through a shared federal-state-local funding model, reflecting a longstanding recognition in Idaho that clean water infrastructure is foundational to economic and community stability.

mandated project. The state of Idaho has provided only limited assistance, leaving local utility customers responsible for the overwhelming majority of the cost through long-term debt with anticipated sewer-only rates of $200 per month. This is not unique to Sandpoint — it is increasingly the norm for communities across Idaho.

The consequences of this approach are now measurable.

According to a May 2025 study by the University of Idaho McClure Center for Public Policy Research, wastewater infrastructure needs in Idaho for Fiscal Year 2026 exceed $730 million alone.

This matters because water is not just an environmental concern in Idaho — it is economic infrastructure. Agriculture, tourism, recreation, manufacturing, housing values and drinking water protection all depend on reliable wastewater systems. When those systems are pushed beyond their design life or fall out of compliance, the risk is borne not just locally, but across the state’s economy.

That shared funding model has eroded.

To date, Sandpoint has received no federal grant funding for this federally

According to an analysis by the Idaho Conservation League, more than 50% of Idaho’s wastewater treatment facilities are currently violating their Clean Water Act discharge permits, with hundreds of documented violations statewide involving bacteria, toxic metals and other regulated pollutants. This is not a marginal compliance issue; it is a clear signal of a statewide infrastructure problem driven by aging systems and insufficient reinvestment.

At the same time, fiscal reality at the federal level cannot be ignored.

The U.S. is operating under historically large deficits and a national debt measured in the tens of trillions of dollars. We are, quite plainly, out of money to fund everything.

That reality makes prioritization essential.

If resources are constrained, public spending must focus on foundational investments that allow Americans and Idahoans to prosper. Few investments are more foundational than clean water. Allowing wastewater systems to fail — or forcing compliance costs entirely onto local ratepayers — does not represent fiscal discipline. It represents cost shifting, reduced affordability and increased economic risk.

Low taxes alone do not create prosperity. Functioning infrastructure does.

If state and federal leaders are serious about economic growth, affordability and rural resilience, then Clean Water Act mandates must once again be paired with meaningful investment. The intent of the law remains sound. What is missing is the funding structure that once made compliance realistic.

The question before Idaho’s Legislature and congressional delegation is not whether clean water standards should be enforced — they must be.

The question is whether we will restore a funding approach that recognizes clean water for what it is: essential infrastructure that underpins public health, economic opportunity and long-term stability.

Clean water is not optional. And it should not be treated as a local problem alone.

Jeremy Grimm has served as Sandpoint mayor since 2024, served as Sandpoint city planner from 2007-2015 and is owner/land use planner at Whiskey Rock Planning + Consulting.

PERSPECTIVES

By Georgia Earley Reader Contributor

As of November 2025, 60-70% of U.S. citizens said our country is headed in the wrong direction. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, since 1964 polls have shown more than 50% have had a lack of trust in our government with a few brief exceptions: February 1991, post-first Gulf War; January 1993, after President Bill Clinton’s inauguration; and for nine months following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

So why the dissatisfaction and distrust? One can easily point to fiscal policies that continually widen the gap between the wealthy and the poor, growing overt corruption and fragmented media fueling polarization. But it’s mostly because of us: our lack of civic education and our complacency.

Thomas Jefferson said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” Yet most U.S. citizens do not know the reasons the U.S. Constitution has endured longer than any other written national constitution. Most Idahoans don’t know that in 2025 the Idaho Legislature introduced 1,385 bills and

have little knowledge of the 340 laws that it did pass.

Most concerning is that the majority of citizens have never attended a public meeting of city, county or state officials; don’t know who or what is on the ballot in local elections (even the primaries); and a huge percentage don’t vote at all.

Why does that matter?

The direction of our country is largely determined by citizen engagement and primary, rather than general, elections. So if you don’t like the direction the country is heading, attending public meetings and voting in primary elections are your best chances to change it — that’s where individual citizens’ influence is greatest.

Those who attend public meetings are often highly motivated and agenda-driven, so lawmakers listen to them because they show up and vote. And candidates who win primaries set their party’s direction for the next two to six years. By the general election, voters are left choosing between candidates who have already been shaped by the motivated few.

When fewer than 40% of U.S. citizens and less than 30% of Idahoans typically vote in national primaries,

and even fewer attend public meetings, the few rule the many.

How can a country go in the right direction for the majority if the minority is calling the shots?

Furthermore, if primary candidates fear backlash from their base, they’ll resist compromise and push narrow agendas when elected. This breeds partisanship, which compromises both the democratic process and our constitutional freedoms.

If we continue to vote for lawmakers who we expect to “stand firm” for our agendas, we’ll continue to have increasingly wider swings to the right one election and to the left the next. And the more unyielding the party nominees for the general elections, the more partisan the politics.

We’ve seen partisanship intensify in Idaho after the Legislature closed Republican primaries in 2012. Closed primaries limit independent and moderate voters — who typically vote across party lines — to voting for candidates of a single party. This reduces the chances of more moderate candidates being elected and increases the influence of ideological extremes and partisanship.

How are we supposed to know

Civic education is needed to ensure majority rule Counter protest

By Lonna Bernard Reader Contributor

“Protester” — hardly the occupational pronoun I was looking to add in my retirement, but here we are.

I have answered the call: made my signs, guilted friends and family, flooded my social media to spread awareness, dropped Hulu, Paramount+, Spotify — all the things. But let’s be clear: I. Don’t. Like. This.

I am exhausted, I don’t want to cheer, make and wave signs and continually monitor the news for the next daily assault on our democracy. I don’t want to go out in the freezing cold, on another Saturday, in the middle of the darn day. But the alternative is worse and I am haunted by the following encounter:

The day is Oct. 18, 2025. Somewhere near the corner of Cedar and Main. I was riding the bubble of relief that “our protest was over” and the prospect of meeting up for a cold beverage at Idaho Pour Authority

where candidates stand on issues and what our Legislature is doing? Aside from briefings from elected officials at public meetings, government websites have voting records and legislative updates. Most importantly, we need to insist that our news sources include newsletters from, and interviews with, lawmakers and candidates across the political spectrum clearly outlining their priorities and positions on issues. If a news source doesn’t, switch — and tell them why.

If the majority chooses to be uneducated and complacent, and if we continue to choose uncompromising leaders who do not prioritize preserving a fair democratic process and our constitutional freedoms, we’ll continue breeding more partisanship, distrust and discontent.

In 1949, Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.” If we don’t want our country’s direction to reflect the priorities of only the minority, it’s up to us to put it back into the hands of the majority.

Georgia Earley is a Bonners Ferry resident.

‘I feel sorry for you’; ‘I feel sorry for you, too’

to congratulate ourselves for at least showing up. I was broken from my walking reverie by an attractive, welldressed woman getting out of her car to approach me.

An important fact about me to understand is that I have a mild case of social anxiety, and one of my coping skills for getting through uncomfortable situations is to dress up — basically replacing myself with a character of myself who is totally cool in the situation that she’s in.

For this day, I had dressed in a costume that I thought both supported my community and also would be perceived as threatening to no one. (Rainbow Pride skirt and sporting a giant doll on my head.) In light of our current times, some might say I was looking for trouble.

“Excuse me, excuse me. I don’t understand why you are doing this,” the well-dressed woman said to me.

“I am here for our democracy and for the 170 U.S. citizens who have been unlawfully detained,” I said. She responded that that wasn’t true;

and, “If anything, you should be out here for Charlie Kirk.” Well that certainly caught me off guard. My words in response weren’t my finest — not the ones I have honed and redelivered a dozen times in my head since then. Regrouping, I managed to blurt out something like:

“My family isn’t welcome in Charlie Kirk’s America. My family has brown people, gay people and most of us are women. In fact, only my husband would be considered on sight as ‘worthy’ of all the constitutional rights and freedoms our country provides. Our son’s skin color would be cause for pause if they were airplane pilots. Our love isn’t considered as good or as worthy.”

At that point, her co-traveler — a young woman who appeared to be in her early 20s, perhaps her daughter? — told her they had to go. The older woman began walking toward a handsome-looking SUV but continued to speak (with a slight accent of some sort), telling me she was from South America. Her last words as she slid

into her seat: “I feel sorry for you.”

“I feel sorry for you, too,” I replied. Looking back now, oh how I wish I could have rattled off the sins of this regime like an Amy Siskind list: the tariffs; DOGE; Palm Beach Gaza; ballrooms and gold Visas; attacking Canada, Mexico, NATO and most of our other allies; Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Qatar jets; climate change; Ukraine and Putin; Amendments 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 and 14; attacking our trans community; pardoning white-collar crime; internal law violations; murder; oligarchy; the Epstein files!

That day, I was shocked and a little shaken by the encounter. These months later, it still holds real estate in my head and my heart. My expression of sympathy that day was for her ignorance and (admittedly) laced with cynicism. Today, when I think of her, I am sorry and fear that she and her family may not be safe.

Lonna Bernard is a Sandpoint resident.

N. Idaho human rights groups oppose bill aimed at anti-discrimination ordinances

By Linda Navarre Reader Contributor

The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force has joined with human rights organizations in Boundary, Kootenai and Latah counties to voice their opposition to House Bill 557.

This bill, which has passed out of the House and moved on to the Senate, would strip away fundamental protections and undermine the authority of local governments to represent and protect their residents.

H.B. 557 seeks to nullify local anti-discrimination ordinances including protections based upon sexual orientation and gender identity. It would force cities and counties to repeal protections already enacted and relied on by communities.

It is not true that these protections already exist under state law for LGBTQ+ individuals. In fact, the effort to amend the Idaho Human Rights Act to include them as protected classes has, for more than a decade, been unsuccessful.

What is true is that enacting H.B.

557 would replace local decision making with statewide mandates — contradicting the longstanding principle that government is most effective when it is closest to the people.

It would nullify the city and county ordinances already in place to affirm that no person should face discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodations. Repealing them sends a damaging message that Idaho is willing to tolerate discrimination and silence local voices, negatively impacting businesses and economic growth.

H.B. 557 represents a serious overreach that undermines local governance and weakens human rights protections.

The human rights task forces, in four counties, respectfully urge you to oppose this bill — and make your opposition known to your elected representatives.

Sandpoint is not wholeheartedly in favor of this bill — nor are we all pleased that our own non-discrimination ordinance has been nullified by our City Council.

Linda Navarre is president of the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force.

Native Plant Society announces grant

By Reader Staff

The Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society is now accepting applications for the 2026 Lois Wythe Grant. KNPS awards up to $500 each year to an individual, school class or group proposing a Bonner County project designed to promote awareness and appreciation of area native plants.

Established in 2009, the most recent grant was awarded to the Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center for establishing a resilient native plant garden. Other supported projects have included signs for the ReWilding the Playground project at Kootenai Elementary School, the creation of a story and coloring book featuring an adventurous bee visiting the KNPS Native Plant Arboretum and a graduate student’s inventory of native plants.

The grant is named for Lois Wythe, who was born and raised in Idaho and moved to Sandpoint in 1977. Her love of the Northwest, its natural ecology and its people influenced her involvement in many local organizations. She was there at the beginning of the Panhandle Environmental League and the Sandpoint Farmers’ Market, while her influence led to the addition of organic gardening to the Master Gardener program. Wythe formed the group that became KNPS and was the driving energy behind the creation of The North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum in Lakeview Park.

Application forms for this year’s grant can be found at nativeplantsociety.org/lois-wythe-grant. Applications must be received by Tuesday, March 31. A follow-up report outlining project results is due to KNPS by the end of 2026. The recipient is invited to make a presentation at a KNPS monthly meeting, which is open to the public.

BTAA releases 2025 Annual Report

By Reader Staff

Better Together Animal Alliance recently released its 2025 Annual Report, tallying the thousands of animals and families the nonprofit helped throughout the year and looking to the future. The statistics highlight the organization’s shift from primarily caring for animals in the shelter to providing free supplies, medical assistance and rehoming services to keep pets at home with their families.

“As the largest animal welfare organization in our region, BTAA serves as a safety net for both animals and people,” stated BTAA Executive Director Mandy Evans. “This year’s work reflects our commitment to breaking down barriers to care and meeting our community where they are, with compassion and practical support.”

In 2025, BTAA found homes for 1,471 animals, returned 142 lost pets, spayed and neutered more than

1,000 animals at little to no cost, and responded to more than 4,000 helpline calls, providing affordable veterinary care and assistance to countless families.

Using the national Home To Home program — which gives community members the resources to keep animals at home or in foster care until they’re adopted — BTAA also rehomed 429 local pets who never set foot in the shelter.

“No matter the circumstances, animals in our care received the medical attention they needed and a chance at a new beginning,” Evans stated. “People received compassionate, nonjudgmental support and the resources they needed to care for their pets.”

The community supported these programs in 2025 through more than $960,000 in gifts, $332,500 in grant funding and $244,568 in bequests, and by donating more than 12,000 hours of their time volunteering with the

animals and at the BTAA Thrift Store. The store itself raised $1.27 million and diverted hundreds of thousands of pounds of goods from local landfills.

According to Evans, “Our impact is only possible because of the people who show up — volunteers, donors, partners and community members. Together, we are building a more humane region where people and pets are truly better together.”

For more information, visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org.

COMMUNITY

Hoot Owl soup kitchen marks 12 years

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

For the past 12 years, the Hoot Owl Cafe has hosted a soup kitchen every Monday night to feed the community — an anniversary celebrated by volunteers and patrons on Feb. 9.

Volunteer Dave Diehl told the Reader that the idea came when former-Hoot Owl owner Wendy Franck asked her daughter Savannah Mort what she wanted for an upcoming birthday.

“Savannah’s a godly woman and she said she wanted to use the restaurant as a soup kitchen,” Diehl said. “That’s how it began. People from the community bring the food in and we serve it.”

The Hoot Owl soup kitchen aims to resemble a dining-out experience, instead of a cafeteria-like serving style.

“There’s a menu out front when they come in and they grab a salad and sit down,” he said. “We ask if they want coffee, water or tea. They place their order and eat a sit-down meal. It’s very dignified.”

Diehl has volunteered at the soup kitchen for eight years, having been introduced to it through his church.

“I went to Cedar Hills Church and asked the pastor how I could get more involved,” Diehl said. “I realized that this was something special and I’ve been at it ever since.”

Diehl stressed that neither he, the new owners, nor Mort were seeking recognition for the success of the soup kitchen.

“The glory all be to God,” he said. “This town is amazing. There’s a soup kitchen for every day of the week, which is pretty awesome.”

The Hoot Owl soup kitchen is held every Monday evening from 4-6 p.m. All are welcome.

To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Top right: Sailing in the Andaman Sea in Thailand with three generations and the Reader (L-R): Taran, Lena and Kara White; Tyga, Mik and Odin Villelli; Melissa Dowd and Chris White.

Middle left: “In light of ICE being a subject of this week’s Reader [Feb. 5], I thought I’d share a photo with you from last Tuesday’s FSPW hike up Blacktail Creek (just past the Star Peak trailhead) led by Rebecca Sanchez. Here are Tyce and Immanuel with icicles.” Photo by John Harbuck.

Bottom left: “Lots of amazing sunsets lately,” wrote photographer Ron Bedford, who took this shot from the boat ramp at War Memorial Field.

Bottom right: “My hats are ‘Waiting for Godot’... I mean snow.”

Photo by Bill Preuss.

Kaniksu Land Trust holds trivia fundraiser

By Reader Staff

The conservation nonprofit Kaniksu Land Trust is partnering with Idaho Pour Authority to put on a special fundraising trivia night on Monday, Feb. 16, beginning at 6 p.m. at the taphouse (203 Cedar St., in downtown Sandpoint).

To celebrate the Sandpoint Winter Carnival, trivia questions will be themed around the event, as well as local flora and fauna, conservation activities and history. To get a leg up, learn about KLT’s 40 conservation projects, which account for 6,733 acres — including Pine Street Woods — as well as its educational outreach pro-

grams at kaniksu.org.

Winning teams will earn prizes in each of the three rounds, and the event will also feature hourly raffle drawings, with tickets available for $5 each or $10 for three. Prizes include a KLT “swag bag,” dinner and massage gift cards, a goodie bag from La Chic Boutique and a gift certificate to Aster Garden Center, among others.

Throughout the night, IPA will donate $1 from each beer sold to KLT to support conservation and community outreach programs.

See Page 24 for a full list of Winter Carnival activities.

Nominations open for 2026 Women of Wisdom

By Reader Staff

Women Honoring Women is now accepting nominations for inclusion in the 2026 Women of Wisdom, which has recognized some of Bonner County’s leading residents for their service and leadership since 1999.

To date, WHW has recognized more than 140 recipients. Candidates must be 65 years or older and “have made a lasting, positive impact through service, leadership and mentorship,” the organization stated.

“The Women of Wisdom program shines a spotlight on the women who make communities stronger — often without fanfare,” organizers stated. “These are the mentors, volunteers, artists, educators, advocates and leaders whose lives reflect vision, integrity, collaboration and deep dedication to others.”

To submit a nomination, write a

letter of recommendation describing how the nominee meets all of the criteria. Letters of support from others may be included. Include the name, phone number, and email of both the nominee and the nominator.

Posthumous nominations are also welcome.

Nominations can be emailed to womenhonoringwomen@gmail.com or mailed to Women Honoring Women, 419 Upper Humbird Drive, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Nominations will be accepted until April 20.

“The most powerful nominations often tell simple, heartfelt stories — moments of leadership, service, kindness, resilience or quiet impact that reveal a woman’s true character,” organizers stated.

BY THE NUMBERS

at least 1,000,000

The number of times President Donald Trump has been mentioned in the Epstein files, according to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who spoke with reporters Feb. 10 after viewing the unredacted files. Raskin also told the press he found direct evidence undermining Trump’s claim that he barred Epstein from staying at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Raskin quoted from an email exchange between the late-sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, where Raskin said Trump is paraphrased and quoted as writing, “No, Jeffrey Epstein was not a member of Mar-a-Lago, but he was

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

a guest at Mar-a-Lago, and no, we never asked him to leave.” Raskin’s findings are a drastic departure from previous reports that found 38,000 mentions of Trump, his wife, or Mara-Lago in the redacted files released by the Trump administration at the end of January.

733

The number of confirmed measles cases reported nationwide so far in 2026, according to the CDC — with 95% of cases involving people who were unvaccinated. That’s about a third of the cases reported the entire year in 2025.

dumb of the week

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

It’s pretty disheartening when you notice how racist some people are. It’s even worse when you realize one of the worst is currently our president.

President Donald Trump posted a blatantly racist video clip to his social media platform on Feb. 5 that depicted former-President Barack Obama and former-first lady Michelle Obama as apes. The clip was part of a longer video that spread more bullshit conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

If Trump’s racism was a dog whistle before, this video clip was a bullhorn plugged into an amp turned to 11. It even drew the attention of Sen. Tim Scott, a Trump ally and the only Black senator, who said it was “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”

At first, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, slammed reporters for asking about the video, telling them, “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

Since almost 50 million U.S. citizens identify as Black, I’d say this story matters to a large swath of the American public. Shortly after, the video was taken down and Leavitt then claimed it was a mistake that was posted by a “White House staffer.”

When asked about the video, Trump refused to apologize, saying, “I didn’t make a mistake. I mean, I look at a lot of, thousands of things, and I looked at the beginning of it, it was fine.”

Ah, you know the old saying, “The buck stops... somewhere over there. I did nothing wrong!”

I get that Trump is a busy guy with all of his golfing, ranting about windmills and devolving the country into fascism, but let’s just agree that the president of the United States should use more care when communicating to the American people. Also, and this is a big also, racist statements don’t just spawn from innocent mouths. If you “get caught” using a racial slur or posting racist garbage, you’re a racist. I long for the days when our president — Democrat or Republican — encouraged the best from Americans instead of inspiring the worst.

In other news, it seems like the entire right wing of America was in peak outrage mode on Super Bowl Sunday when Bad Bunny performed his halftime show in, gasp!, Spanish.

All the usual talking heads were churning out the outrage, claiming simultaneously that they were refusing to watch the show and that they did watch it and it offended them.

Former Fox News anchor and soulless MAGA cheerleader Megyn Kelly launched into a racist tirade during an interview with Piers Morgan on Feb. 9, in which she labeled Bad Bunny’s halftime show a “middle finger to the rest of America.”

During her on-air breakdown, Kelly was incensed that Morgan defended the rapper’s Spanish-language performance, turning it back on his native Great Britain.

“This is why you lost your culture! ... Who gives a damn that we have 40 million Spanish speakers? We have 310 million who don’t speak a lick of Spanish! This is supposed to be a unifying event for the country, not for Latinos,” she concluded, affecting a mocking Hispanic accent.

“We don’t need a Black National Anthem. We don’t need a Spanish-speaking, non-English performing performer, and we don’t need an ICE- or America-hater featured as our halftime entertainment! ... Football, that kind of football, is ours!” Kelly concluded.

Far-right activist and close ally of Trump Laura Loomer didn’t mince any words at all: “Illegal aliens and Latin hookers twerking at the Super Bowl. Not a single white person or English translation at the Super Bowl. This isn’t White enough for me,” she wrote on X.

In one particularly hilarious selfown, the YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul urged people to “Turn off this halftime. A fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America. I cannot support that.”

Point 1: Puerto Ricans are, in fact, American citizens, you sentient can of Axe body spray found in a dumpster.

Point 2: Jake Paul actually moved to Puerto Rico in 2021 to avoid paying taxes.

Turning Point USA offered an alternative to the show, the biggest safe space in the world, with Kid Rock headlining a who-the-hell-is-this group of country artists followed by one of his prerecorded songs, which he lip-synced so badly wearing denim and fur that the entire internet roasted him the next morning. Rock claims he was really singing, it was just the audio and video not in sync.

OK, Hillbilly Vanilli.

I wonder which of Kid Rock’s songs conservatives like more. Maybe it’s his song, “Cool, Daddy Cool” in which he sings: “Young ladies, I like ‘em underage / See, some say that’s statutory / But I say it’s mandatory.” Or maybe they enjoy his song, “Balls in Your Mouth,” or perhaps “Kyle’s Mom’s a Big Fat Bitch.”

Ah, the moral virtues of the right wing in America. What a clown show.

¡Ay, Dios mío!

POAC adult art classes expand with new instructors, styles and mediums

By Reader Staff

Four new instructors are joining the Pend Oreille Arts Council’s Joyce Dillon Studio, which offers classes for adults of all skill levels.

Beginning Friday, Feb. 20, Collista Krebs will teach a different ceramic class each month. Her upcoming class is scheduled for 1-4 p.m., with participants creating a unique, hand-built teapot using the oldest form of pottery craftsmanship. The deadline to register is Saturday, Feb. 14.

Meanwhile, Bill Mather will host sessions of his class on portrait drawing and painting on Saturdays, March 7, 14 and 21 from 3-5 p.m. The first class will feature introductory portrait drawing, with no experience. Register by Sunday, March 1.

Laurie Carlson’s series of threehour beginning oil painting classes will begin Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and focus on water scenes. All materials are supplied. Register by

Sunday, March 8.

“Beginning gourds” with Eileen Marcotte will be held on Wednesday, March 18 with a six-hour class starting at 9 a.m. Register by Thursday, March 12.

Returning teachers continue to offer classes in weaving, metalworks, macrame, kimekomi, mosaic art and oil painting at the Joyce Dillon Studio (313 N. Second Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).

Go to artinsandpoint.org/jds-studio for the full schedule of classes, attendance fees, registration and more.

In addition to classes in the Joyce Dillon Studio, POAC provides Kaleidoscope, a hands-on art education program in local elementary schools; Art for Life classes at the Senior Center; and the Expressions after-school program for teens.

POAC also offers a Performance Series, which continues with musician Abby Posner, on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Panida Theater (300 N.

First Ave.). For more information go to artinsandpoint.org or visit the gallery at (212 N. Second Ave.).

If you could erase your traumatic memories, would you?

Coeur d’Alene family’s sci-fi thriller Recollection to screen at Panida Theater

By Reader Staff

After an award-winning 2025 film festival run, independent Paradox Studios announced that its first feature has landed worldwide distribution.

Recollection will be playing in select theaters and launching on streaming this spring — and that includes a screening Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave.).

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the film starts at 7 p.m., with a Q&A session to follow with producers and cast members. Tickets are $17.50 and available at the door or panida.org.

The film creates a world on the edge of dystopia, in which brothers and co-writers Caden (who also served as director) and Rylan Butera (composer) give a stark warning about advancing technology without considering the harm it can cause the human spirit.

“Recollection is a bittersweet story of how one woman, hiding from her past, uncovers a conspiracy and learns that memory-erasing technology isn’t what it’s cracked up to be,” according to the film’s promotional material.

“Sometimes in forgetting your pain, you forget yourself — Recollection reminds us to remember who you are.”

Recollection was filmed entirely in North Idaho and eastern Washington with a tight-knit, local crew, and a casting mix of veteran actors and indie hopefuls. It features Academy Awardand three-time Golden Globe-nominee Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, The Dark Knight, The Expendables); Falk Hentschel (Knight and Day, Welcome to Marwen, DC Legends of Tomorrow); Cesar Garcia (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Circle); and the late-Gary Graham (Robot Jox, Alien Nation, Star Trek Enterprise) in his last appearance in a feature film.

Paradox Studios is an independent film production company founded by Caden Butera in Coeur d’Alene in 2015. A family-run operation, Caden writes, directs and edits, and his brother Rylan writes and composes music. Their father, Mark Butera, is a commercial banker who serves as executive producer and CEO/CFO, and their mother, Jackie Butera, is a retired mental health therapist who serves as producer and production manager.

“So many movies about loss are

about moving on and learning to let go,” stated Caden. “As someone who maybe compartmentalizes and moves on too quickly, I wanted to tell a story that encourages you to hold on and remember.”

For more information, email paradoxstudioscompany@gmail.com or visit recollectionmovie.com Screenshots from Recollection, playing at the

Florida man turns state’s frozen iguanas into tacos: ‘Chicken of the trees’

As record cold temperatures have set in across Florida, one man has been going viral for turning the frozen iguana population into dinner.

Gray Davis has gone viral on TikTok for sharing videos outlining how he turned iguanas into tacos, what he called “a Florida Man taco.”

The invasive green lizards have been dubbed “Chicken of the Trees,” as Florida locals like Davis are finding creative ways to deal with the population boom.

Meanwhile, the unusual cold weather in South Florida has left many iguanas “cold-stunned,” a condition that leaves reptiles immobilized, causing them to fall from trees. Since green iguanas are an invasive species blamed for damaging vegetation and infrastructure, wildlife officials have allowed residents to humanely remove cold-stunned lizards without a permit to help curb their proliferation.

In Davis’ video clip, which has generated hundreds of thousands of likes, he collects an iguana that has fallen from a tree during a recent cold snap and prepares it like traditional taco meat.

Davis bites into the taco in his video, saying, “Mmm, mmm, mmm, now that right there is a Florida Man taco. If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em.”

While iguana meat videos are going viral, selling iguanas or their meat in Florida is illegal. For now.

Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com

THURSDAY, february 12

$5 Movie: The Royal Tenenbaums • 7pm @ Panida Theater

Wes Anderson’s iconic film about a dysfunctional family of former child prodigies. Sponsored by La Chic Boutique and Pend d’Oreille Winery

Bingo w/ Dusty 6-8pm @ IPA

Weekly pool tournament

6pm @ Roxy’s Lounge

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Acoustic pop, indie and easy rock

Live Music w/ BTP

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Angel Urrea

5-7:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.

Live Music w/ Marcus Stevens

5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33

Live Music w/ Carl Rey & Truck Mills

6-8pm @ Smokesmith BBQ

Live Music w/ Todd Cowart

8-11pm @ 219 Lounge

Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments

5-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar

Live Music w/ The Border Stones

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Seattle-based trio, easy rock and pop

Live Music w/ Sheldon Packwood

6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Sydney Dawn

5:30pm @ Barrel 33

Live Music w/ Hannah Siglin and John Wayne Williams

6-8pm @ Smokesmith BBQ

Line dancing lessons

6pm @ The Hive

$10/person, 21+, every Thursday

FriDAY, february 13

Winter Carnival: Parade of Lights

5:30pm @ Downtown Sandpoint

Parade route goes from the city lot at Church St. to Second Ave., Main/Oak streets to Fourth Ave. and back

Winter Carnival: Block Party

6-8pm @ Third Ave. outside PO Winery

Hosted by Pend d’Oreille Winery, bonfires, music, fire spinners, belly dancing, food and more

Concert: Paper Flowers w/ The Waiting 8pm @ The Hive

Fleetwood Mac tribute band playing with a Tom Petty tribute band. $30/$35

SATURDAY, february 14

Winter Farmers’ Market

10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library

Live music, festive vibes and seasonal shopping from local vendors

$5 Movie: The Notebook 7pm @ Panida Theater

‘Love or Luck’ Couples Trivia 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Bring your sweetie and try your hand at couples Valentine’s trivia. $5 entry

Music w/ DJ Sterling 9pm-midnight @ Roxy’s Lounge

Live Music w/ Aaron Golay and the Original Sin

9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee

Magic with Star Alexander

5-8pm @ Jalapeño’s

Weekly pool tournament

6pm @ Roxy’s Lounge

SunDAY, february 15

Winter Carnival: Tea Time Winter Serenade 2pm @ Little Carnegie Hall, Music Conservatory A faculty recital with funds benefiting student scholarships. Adults $25, students $15

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Outdoor Experience group run

6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome

Live piano w/ Andrew Martinssen

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Classical music on the grand piano

Free calligraphy class

10-11am @ Sandpoint Library Email peaceanjel@gmail.com for info

Wednesday tango night

6pm @ Barrel 33

Beginner Argentine tango lesson 6pm, pracitca 7pm. No partner needed. $15

Live piano w/ Bob Beadling

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

monDAY, february 16

Hearthside open bluegrass jam

5pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Front-porch style bluegrass jam with local musicians. Come to play or listen

tuesDAY, february 17

KRFY Little Live Radio Hour: Ltl Wlf

7pm @ The Hive

Featuring Ltl Wlf, with Josh Hedlund and Justin Landis. Listen at 88.5FM, stream krfy.org or come watch live!

wednesDAY, february 18

Family night & live music w/ John Firshi

5-7:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.

Good music, good vibes, good food

Brain Freeze Trivia Throwdown

7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

$5 entry fee per person

February 12 - 18, 2026

Cribbage tournament

6pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Lunar New Year celebration and kickoff 4 & 6:30pm @ Sunshine on Cedar Head to Sunshine on Cedar on the Cedar St. Bridge for two dinner performances of lion and ribbon dancers. Dinner and drinks available

Sandpoint Lions’ Poker Night 5:30pm @ Lions Den, 609 S. Ella Ave. Funds raised support Lions’ programs

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin

6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar

Live Music w/ Aaron Kimbrell

5-7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Live Music w/ Chris Paradis

6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Drop-in swing class 4-6pm @ Barrel 33

“Walk the Line” country swing dance

Valentine’s Day Dinner Theater 6pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

SOLD OUT

Concert: Paper Flowers w/ Jojo Dodge 8pm @ The Hive “Rumours Unplugged”: A new experience from Paper Flowers. Seated show

Ltl Wlf EP release show co-headlined by Idaho Shining Star and potluck

5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Potluck at 5pm, Music at 7pm w/ Josh Hedlund, Justin Landis, Kjetil Lund

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 5-8pm @ 1908 Saloon

Live Music w/ Float Like a Buffalo 7-10pm @ 219 Lounge

Denver-based high-energy funk, ska, reggae, jam, rock band. Ticketed show

Celtic folk jam

3-6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Trivia night w/ Kaniksu Land Trust 6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Questions about Sandpoint Winter Carnival and local conservation. IPA will donate $1 from each beer sold to KLT. Come early for a comfy seat

Macrame workshop: Chic plant hanger

5:30-7:30pm @ Verdant Plant Shop

$35 includes supplies. bit.ly/49UMqqF

Karaoke 9am-1am @ Roxy’s Lounge

Open mic w/ Kjetil Lund

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Music and poetry

SHS Dance Team 2026 Dance Showcase

5:30pm @ Sandpoint High School

$10/$5 to attend the Ponderettes’ celebration dance performance

StarfleetAcademy and Fallout: Anatomy of a review bombing

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

On the surface, Fallout and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy couldn’t be much more different. The former is a post-apocalyptic wasteland romp with hard-MA violence and more gallows humor than an executioners’ convention. The latter is a sci-fi teen dramedy centered on a group of cadets and their mentors as they reestablish the eponymous academy on a sleek, super-advanced campus in 32nd-century San Francisco.

That said, the shows actually have more than a bit in common: they’re both set in a future fractured by strife and disaster; based on beloved, longtime media properties with dedicated fan bases; focused on young people finding community while navigating unfamiliar territory under the eye of more experienced elders; put extreme high technology at their center; and their protagonists are committed to improving the world (or universe) around them. They even share persistent themes of parental abandonment and/or betrayal.

Fallout concluded its second season on Feb. 3 and Starfleet Academy reached the halfway point of its debut season on Feb. 5; however, despite their basic similarities, the space between their respective reviews couldn’t be wider.

While Fallout has an 8.3/10 on IMDb and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, Starfleet Academy still languishes with a 4.30/10 on IMDb and 88% on RT (though it should be noted that that last score only reflects the critics’ feel-

ings; audiences give it 43%).

There has been little to no complaint even from Fallout superfans, but the vitriol poured on every aspect of Starfleet Academy is kind of stunning when you consider that the fandoms for each are video gamers and Trekkies, respectively, and both notorious for their persnickety zeal.

Scroll through the reviews on IMDb and you’d think Fallout was the greatest video game adaptation of all time (and it’s definitely up there), though Starfleet Academy’s user reviews read like an extended mourning wail from people who feel like Gene Roddenberry was their grandpa and someone just dug him up to desecrate his corpse.

Review bombing is nothing new, of course, and the concerted effort to drive down the stats on Starfleet Academy can be boiled down to a few essential elements: everyone’s too young, good-looking and they talk like Gen Zers; the episodes are too focused on interpersonal relationships or rooted in contemporary “issues”; and there are too many women in positions of high

authority at Starfleet.

Mostly, though, a lot of people really, really hate how Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) walks around in bare feet and the way that she sits on chairs, with her feet curled up “like a toddler,” “like she’s on her couch at home,” “like she doesn’t respect the chair” or something like that.

Despite their protestations, those who write such reviews are simply saying Starfleet Academy is too “woke” or “DEI” or “pandering.” Fallout is not, apparently, though its female protagonist Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) would fit in with those 32nd-century do-gooders.

I suggest a core reason that the trolls have piled on Starfleet Academy while leaving Fallout alone is that the first presents a fundamentally optimistic vision of humanity’s future and the other shows one in which almost everyone and everything is corrupt, vicious or otherwise nasty.

Operating from that premise, it’s no surprise why far-right commentators — up to and including White House

Panida celebrates Valentine’s Day with The Notebook

By Reader Staff

It’s the season of love, and the Panida Theater is celebrating with a special Valentine’s Day showing of one of the most famous modern love stories: The Notebook. The bestselling novel-turned-blockbuster is the latest installment of the theater’s $5 movie series, and will appear on the big screen Saturday, Feb. 14, with doors at 6 p.m. and the film at 7 p.m.

The historic romance is perhaps author Nicholas Sparks’ most famous of his 23 novels, all of which have landed

on The New York Times Bestseller List. Set in South Carolina in the 1940s, the story follows the young, well-to-do Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams), who falls in love with mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling), who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. While her family attempts to keep them apart, Calhoun soon goes off to fight in World War II, apparently marking the end of their forbidden romance. When Calhoun returns on the cusp of Hamilton’s wedding to another man (James Marsden), the three have to sort out a love triangle of epic proportions.

The first 50 attendees will enjoy a free Valentine’s Day chocolate from Sugar Tooth Sweet Shop, which will have a booth in the lobby especially for the Feb. 14 showing. Get tickets at panida.org or the box office (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).

Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller — would despise Starfleet Academy. There’s too much hope, fellowship, and willingness to work through difficult differences with empathy and compromise to appeal to them. Better to imagine a future when only the few will survive through brute strength and the comfort (and license) to do extreme violence in service of individual survival.

This is not to say that Fallout is a right-wing fantasy — far from it, it’s a cutting satire on techno-fascism, tribalism and capitalist hubris — nor is it to say that one show is better than the other. I’ve happily anticipated, binged and appreciated both, because a person can like two things at once. (And Fallout is legitimately stellar.)

Rather, don’t let the irritable mental contortions of bad-faith reviewers sway you from Starfleet Academy. It’s full of hope, humor and feeling, and more of that is needed throughout this universe.

Find both seasons of Fallout on Amazon Prime and Starfleet Academy on Paramount+, with new episodes every Thursday.

Winter Carnival 2026: Week 1

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

It may feel like spring outside, but that doesn’t mean the Winter Carnival won’t be in full swing Friday, Feb. 13, through Sunday, Feb. 22. Sandpoint and Schweitzer have prepared two weeks of special events for outdoor adventurers, gamers, couples and families. Here’s what’s happening during Week 1:

Friday, Feb. 13

Galentine’s Day

Bella Terra Boutique (223 N. First Ave.) kicks things off at 10 a.m. with a permanent jewelry station, photo booth, all-day sales and Northpoint Spa giveaways.

Parade of Lights

Floats created by local organizations and businesses will gather at 5:30 p.m. in the city parking lot off Church Street. From there, the procession makes a loop, heading from Second Avenue, down Oak Street and Main Street to First Avenue, then returning via Cedar Street.

Block Party

The night continues with the Pend d’Oreille Winery Block Party — co-hosted by the Festival at Sandpoint — in front of the tasting rooms (301 Cedar St.). The celebrations run from 6-8 p.m. and will include cocoa, s’mores, food pop-ups and performances by area fire spinners and belly dancers.

Lunar New Year celebrations

Lion and ribbon dancers from the Spokane Chinese Association will perform around Sandpoint at Sunshine on Cedar on the Cedar Street Bridge (343 N. First Ave., Suite 208), Burlwood Dreams (201 N. First Ave.) and Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s (503 Cedar St. and 102 S. Second Ave.) to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Sunshine on Cedar will offer commemorative gifts, as well as dinner and drink specials, along with the 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. performances.

Live music w/Double Shot Band at Connie’s Cafe and Lounge

This local duo will perform classic rock covers from 4-6 p.m. and then 7-9 p.m. at 232 Cedar St.

Live music w/Todd Cowart at the 219 Lounge

Beginning at 8 p.m., this one-man-band will play classic folk and rock covers at 219 N. First Ave. Listen at toddcowart.com.

Live music w/Paper Flowers at The Hive

The area’s favorite Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Paper Flowers, begins their set at 8 p.m. at 207 N. First Ave. Tickets start at $35 at livefromthehive.com.

Live music w/The Van Stone Band at Taps Bar

The Spokane-based group will perform a mix of rock, soul and reggae covers from 3-6 p.m. at 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Road.

Sleigh ride, dinner and concert at Western Pleasure

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a sleigh ride, dinner and a country concert with Steve Starkey at 1413 Upper Gold Creek Road. Tickets are $140 per adult, $85 for children ages 6-12 and FREE for ages 5 and under. Reserve a spot by calling 208-236-9066.

Schweitzer activities

Celebrating Presidents’ Day weekend, Schweitzer Mountain will set up its usual “snow bar” near the village’s clock tower, highlighting No-Li, Grand Teton and Firestone Walker Brewing companies from 3-7 p.m. Other events include a snowshoe hike, snowmobile tours, snowtubing, twilight skiing and the Adult Starlight Race Series. Visit schweiter. com for a full breakdown.

Saturday, Feb. 14

Music w/DJ Zoozy, DJ No Ego Nights and Lady Oda at Taps Bar

Three disk jockeys and EDM musicians will perform all day, beginning with DJ

Zoozy from noon-2 p.m., DJ No Ego Nights from 2-4 p.m. and Lady Oda from 6-9 p.m.

Music w/Aaron Golay and the Original Sin at the 219 Lounge

Golay will pick favorites from his three Americana, roots, rock and soul albums beginning at 9 p.m. Listen at aarongolay.com.

Music w/Paper Flowers at The Hive

This Paper Flowers concert will be dedicated to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and begin at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35 at livefromthehive.com.

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Marigold Bistro

The local breakfast and lunch spot (414 Church St.) will host a special dinner event from 4:30-8 p.m. with a unique menu inspired by 41 South, a gone-but-not-forgotten favorite. Reserve a table by calling 208-253-9514.

‘Love or Luck’ trivia at Connie’s Lounge

$5 gets teams of two into this special, couples-themed trivia event. Questions begin at 7 p.m.

Country swing dance lessons at Barrel 33

Walk the Line will teach dance lessons from 4-6 p.m. at the wine bar (100 N. First Ave.).

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market at the library

The summer market is hosting a monthly winter popup at the Sandpoint branch of the East Bonner County Library (1407 Cedar St.), featuring local bakers, farmers and other artisans selling their goods from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sleigh ride, dinner and concert at Western Pleasure

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a sleigh ride, dinner and an Americana and Celtic concert with Bridges Home.

Schweitzer activities

The outdoor snow bar near the village’s clock tower will highlight No-Li, Grand Teton and Firestone Walker Brewing companies from 11 a.m.-7

p.m. Other events include kids crafting and s’more-roasting.

Sunday, Feb. 15

Music w/ DJ No Ego Nights and Jason Perry at Taps DJ No Ego Nights will spin some disks from 1-3:30 p.m., followed by live funk and rock with Jason Perry from 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

Teatime Winter Serenade

The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint (110 Main St.) will serve tea and treats to accompany a cozy performance of classical and contemporary-inspired music by its faculty. The concert runs from 2-3:30 p.m., and tickets are $27 for adults or $17 for students and seniors at sandpointconservatory.org.

Live music w/ Float Like a Buffalo at the 219 Lounge

This self-described funkska-reggae-jam-rock band will follow up on last year’s sold-out show at the Niner, starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door or online at 219lounge.com.

Schweitzer activities

The outdoor snow bar near the village’s clock tower features No-Li, Grand Teton and Firestone Walker Brewing companies from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. At 6 p.m., skiers and snowboarders can grab lights and proceed down the mountain in the Let It Glow Parade, followed by a fireworks display visible from the slopes and village.

Monday, Feb. 16

Open bluegrass jam at Connie’s Lounge

Local musicians will come together for a bluegrass jam session by the fire beginning at 5 p.m.

Kaniksu Land Trust fundraiser trivia

Idaho Pour Authority (203 Cedar St.) will partner with Kaniksu Land Trust for a special fundraiser trivia night at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Live music w/ Ltl Wlf at the KRFY Little Live Radio Hour

The Hive will host the first 2026 installment of Panhandle Community Radio 88.5 KRFY’s live variety show with performances by Justin Landis and Josh Hedlund — a.k.a. Ltl Wlf — and the Mighty KRFY players. Doors open at 6 p.m. and attendees must find their seat before the 7 p.m. broadcast begins.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Brain Freeze Trivia Throwdown

Connie’s Lounge hosts a winter-themed trivia night at 7 p.m. Bring a $5 entry fee.

Thursday, Feb. 19

Pegs on Fire cribbage tournament

Connie’s Lounge will hold a special cribbage tournament at 6 p.m., charging $5 to play.

ToastyFest at Matchwood Brewing

Rounding out the week, the brewing company will once again join forces with Evans Brothers Coffee and Toasty Mobile Saunas for a cozy, mini-festival at the Granary District (513 Oak St.), running from 4-8 p.m. The celebration is meant to promote health, wellness and community, with saunas, cold plunges, massages, tarot readings, food and music by DJ Lady Oda.

For all Winter Carnival updates, visit sandpointwintercarnival.com.

MUSIC

Paper Flowers to play two-night tribute to Fleetwood Mac

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

There’s always been something cool and soothing about the music of Fleetwood Mac.

Now, you can experience the music of the iconic band live, with a double feature by Coeur d’Alene-based band Paper Flowers, which has perfected the art of tribute shows, as evident after the band has played four sellout shows at The Hive.

The first night will feature Paper Flowers’ high-energy performance of Fleetwood Mac songs, with special guests The Waiting, which has celebrated the music of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, as well as his solo work and songs with The

Traveling Wilburys since 2013.

The kickoff to the Sandpoint Winter Carnival concert will open its doors at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 at The Hive (207 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).

Tickets are $30 if purchased in advance, or $35 the day of the show (if any are left). Find tickets at livefromthehive.com.

Night two is a special seated Valentine’s show at The Hive on Saturday, Feb. 14, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and the show starting at 8:30 p.m.

This fully-seated, intimate room-style show will showcase Paper Flowers’ newest experience as they play “Rumours Unplugged,” a fantastic rendi-

Step back into what it was like to attend a live performance in the 1970s, with accomplished musicians leading the sonic journey.

Visit livefromthehive.com for more info. Listen at paperflowersmusic.com and thewaitingmontana.com.

Two chances to see Ltl Wlf: EP release/potluck at IPA and KRFY concert at The Hive

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

While it was certainly a bummer that local indie folk duo Ltl Wlf canceled its Feb. 7 potluck/EP release party due to illness, the party has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14 with the potluck starting at 5 p.m. and music starting around 6:30 or 7 p.m. at Idaho Pour Authority (203 Cedar St.). There’s no cover, but guests are asked to bring a dish to attend. Ltl Wlf — consisting of longtime local favorite musicians Josh Hedlund and Justin Landis — will officially release

their new EP Longshot, and be joined by Idaho Shining Star, a.k.a., Kjetil Lund.

If that wasn’t enough, Ltl Wlf will also serve as the featured act in the kickoff to KRFY Community Radio’s 2026 Little Live Radio Hour monthly concert series on Tuesday, Feb. 17. New this year, KRFY has switched venues to The Hive (207 N. First Ave.), where Hedlund and Landis will perform for a live audience, as well as over the airwaves at 88.5 FM or streaming at krfy.org.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show — and live broadcast — begins at 7 p.m. Produced by

KRFY in partnership with The Hive and the Festival at Sand-

point, get more info at KRFY. org or livefromthehive.com.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Todd Cowart, 219 Lounge, Feb. 13

Guitarist, vocalist and one-man-band Todd Cowart — a.k.a. “Todd and the Drum” — is a talented and seasoned performer, playing more than 200 gigs per year in and around his home of Whitefish, Mont. As a teacher with a degree in jazz guitar, Cowart demonstrates masterful control of his instrument, playing covers of classic rock and folk by the likes of Free and Bob Dylan, among

others, that do the originals justice. He pairs his electric guitar with a dash of harmonica, an innovative foot-operated drum set and his own smooth, gentle voice, creating the sound and feel of a full band while alone on stage.

— Soncirey Mitchell

8 p.m., FREE, 21+. The 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208263-5673, 219lounge.com. Listen at toddcowart.com.

Float Like a Buffalo, 219 Lounge, Feb. 15

From mile-high Denver, everything floats like a buffalo. The six-piece Colorado-based powerhouse band has gained a reputation for delivering horn-forward, high-energy shows that run the gamut of genres, but mainly orbit around rock ’n’ roll, funk and jam. They’ve shared the stage with an eclectic list of legends, including Sting, WAR, The Motet, Turkuaz and many more. With a robust

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

READ

I read with great sadness about how The Washington Post was laying off hundreds of journalists, effectively ending their reign as “our nation’s paper.” If you’d like an excellent take on this disaster, read “The Murder of The Washington Post” by Ashley Parker in The Atlantic. It’s an excellent explanation of how Jeff Bezos, the fourth richest guy in the world, systematically dismantled this treasured institution piece by piece because of his external economic interests and conflicts.

LISTEN

touring schedule and a growing fan base, Float Like a Buffalo will bring the party to the 219 Lounge for a special ticketed Sunday show. C’mon, the skiing sucks right now. Get your funk on.

— Ben Olson

Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., $12, 21+. The 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208-263-5673, 219lounge.com. Listen at floatlikeabuffalomusic.com.

Iceland’s musical output has always fascinated me. From Björk to Sigur Rós to Kaleo, the island nation has a quirkiness that becomes evident in every new artist I hear. One of my favorite Icelandic bands is Múm, an indietronica group characterized by soft, delicate vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and unconventional instrumentation. As my friend once said, “It’s good house-cleaning music.” Even better than a single album, listen to “Múm radio” on Spotify to broaden your vibes.

WATCH

As much as I loathe sending more viewers to NBC, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. It’s such a pleasant diversion, watching as these worldclass athletes reach the culmination of their lifelong training and hard work to vie for a gold medal. There is very little political intrusion into the games, which means (for perhaps a few hours) we can get lost in something pure and good that hasn’t been tainted by today’s ugliness. You’ll have to subscribe to Peacock to watch the Winter Games, but just cancel it after the first month like I plan to do.

From Pend Oreille Review, February 14, 1907

RESOLVED AGAINST SABBATH WORK

With the discovery that workmen were working Sundays on the new Cedar Street bridge which the city is building under contract, Rev. Samuel Harris brought the question of Sunday observance before his congregation Sunday, and a petition was signed to the fact and asking for its discontinuance and the enforcement of a rule that in future no work shall be done for the city on Sunday. The petition, which was presented to the congregation for signatures, really opens the way for a political line-up and reads as follows:

“We, the citizens of Sandpoint and members of the Presbyterian church, hereby petition your honorable body to require all labor on public works to cease on the Sabbath day, and will in all honor aid in selecting such men as will follow this rule in all public works.”

Trustee Whitaker was in the congregation and when the resolution was placed before the audience he made a speech. He said persons who signed the resolution and who did not stand for men who would carry out such policies were hyopcrites.

My bloody valentine

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

At this time of year, the world is abuzz with thoughts of love. Young and old couples turn their minds to chocolates and romantic dinners, and schoolchildren cut out paper hearts to pass out to their favorite valentines. Unfortunately, the Reader has written just about everything there is to write about this amorous holiday, so instead of meditating on sweethearts (both the lovers and the candy), let’s talk about anthropophagy.

Anthropophagy: from the Greek anthrōpos, meaning “human,” and phagein, “eat.”

Cannibalism: from the Spanish rendering of the Indigenous Taíno Caniba or Carib, denoting the Kalinago people of the Lesser Antilles. This is also where the term “Caribbean” comes from.

While “cannibalism” can now apply to any species that eats its own kind (and there are more than 1,500 recognized species that do so), “anthropophagy” specifically denotes human cannibalism, which is likely as old as the species itself.

According to Science, there is evidence of Neanderthals eating one another as early as 100,000 years ago in modern-day France, and fully fledged humans engaged in forms of cannibalism beginning at least 15,000 years ago in England. Almost every culture around the world has recorded instances — either widespread or specific — of one human eating another, and the reasons for the act are as diverse as the people who engage in it.

Anthropophagy can be separated into three distinct categories: institutionalized, survival or psychopathological. Institutionalized cannibalism is an action that the culture at large accepts as mor-

ally acceptable or correct. This can vary from widespread practices of consuming one’s enemies after a battle, sacrificing and eating someone in a religious rite, or, as was especially popular in Europe, the act of medical cannibalism.

From the 11th through the 19th century in Europe — particularly during the 15th century — it was en vogue to consume blood or body parts to treat a range of ailments and, apparently, the most coveted of these medicinal corpses were mummies.

According to National Geographic, a series of misunderstandings and mistranslations likely led Europeans to grind up Egypt’s mummies into digestible powders. In the 11th century, when Europe was just getting to know the Islamic world, word spread of a black, tar-like substance coveted by the Persians for its healing properties. They called this natural material mumia, which European scholars apparently confused with “mummy,” leading them to believe that the medicine came from embalmed bodies. What followed was a rush on the mummy market that had graverobbers digging up random corpses and passing them off as the genuine article to hungry customers — literally.

Modern cultures see survival or famine cannibalism as a bit more understandable, if disgusting, having heard tales of the Donner Party and the members of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 doing whatever it took to stay alive. People only resort to this type of cannibalism when faced with the possibility of starvation and death, and the desperate act can be further divided into two subcategories: necro-cannibalism (eating someone who has already died) and homicidal cannibalism (which is self-explanatory). According to A People’s Tragedy:

The Russian Revolution, 1891–1924, thousands resorted to anthropophagy during the Russian famine of 1921, with bands actively hunting and butchering people for food.

The least common form is psychopathological cannibalism, which is only found in the extreme cases of murderers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Albert Fish — a.k.a. the “Moon Maniac” — who often derive sexual pleasure from the act. In one particularly famous case, cannibal Armin Meiwes spent most of his life fantasizing about consuming human flesh, but wanted to do so consensually. In 2001, he met volunteer Bernd Brandes online, and after talking every day for months, the two arranged Brandes’ murder and subsequent ingestion. Meiwes was later charged with murder and “disturbing the peace of the dead” under German law.

There are other forms of consensual anthropophagy, including autocannibalism — or autophagy — which is the act of eating oneself. Often, this stems from curiosity or pathological behavior, but history has shown it can also be used as a means of torture. Some consider disorders like onychophagy (fingernail-biting), dermatophagy (skin-biting, usually around the nails) and trichophagy (hair-eating) to be forms of self-cannibalism, but there are at least four confirmed instances in the past decade of people taking things a step further. Many people, with or without the influence of mental health issues, drugs or alcohol, have reportedly consumed their own flesh after medical amputation or self-mutilation. Several of these cases involve carefully cooked fingers, but the more extreme self-cannibals have consumed raw eyes or flesh stripped from their thighs.

I think I’ll stick to Valentine’s candy.

A. Overland, an N.P. brakeman with his home here, was badly hurt at Clark Fork Tuesday, being knocked off a car and striking his head against a gin-pole. Overland was brought here and Dr. Page found that the man was so badly injured that he ordered him at once to the Missoula hospital. Overland’s condition is serious and it is feared there was a concussion of the brain.

Laughing Matters

Solution on page 26

By Bill Borders

/VIL-uh-pend/

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Old Jewish scholars 6. Cut back 10. Taxis 14. Hush 15. Ardent

16. Double-reed woodwind 17. Extreme 18. Sexual assault

19. Nothing more than

Soaking up 22. Implored 23. Dogs wag these

of the

Week

[verb] (used with object)

1. to regard or treat as of little value or account.

“Despite being the fourth richest person in the world, worth an estimated $240 billion, Jeff Bezos has vilipended the beloved Washington Post by gutting its journalism staff, ushering in a new age of fecklessness for the newspaper.”

Corrections:

In the Feb. 5 edition, we misidentified the short-term rental bill moving through the Idaho Legislature. The correct bill number is House Bill 583. We regret the error (and have broken our mistake-free streak for 2026).

Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, what if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn’t seem quite so funny.

Sleighs 25. Grave 29. Say again 31. Talismans 33. Arousing intense feeling

37. Come back 38. Kind of gown

39. Smiled scornfully

41. Lack of light

42. Nearest orbital point 44. Moveable fence barrier 45. Discovered 48. Jargon 50. Dugout shelter

Coquetry

Erotica

Fair attraction

Push

Surveyor’s map

Anagram of “Seek”

Solution on page 26

Diner

Cheers

Exam

Be upright

DOWN

Blue shade

Onion or tulip or light

Morsels

Pertaining to flight

Begin

Social gatherings

8. Comeback

9. Biblical garden 10. Finishing

11. White poplar

Uninterested

Sows

Associate

Tempest

Seafarers

Portent

Silence

Architectural plans

Of the surrounding area

Made a mistake

Bright thought

Huge

Apart from this

Aversion

Honey

Moves effortlessly

Joyful

Deadly virus

Impressive display

Not solids nor liquids

Worry

Not this

Infinitesimal amount

You bake with it

Geek