Reader_March21_2019

compiled by Susan Drinkard

DEAR READERS, (wo)MAN on the street

Has this winter been harder on you than past winters? How so?

“I couldn’t afford to pay for my medication and my insulin, and I was getting so sick, so I had to move into an RV. When it was very cold I was struggling because the brakes were locking, and the power steering was making a racket. Now that the weather has changed, my mechanical problems went away. Otherwise, with this neuromuscular disease, I am invigorated by the cold.”

Mark Broggi

Disabled

Lives on the road

“It’s supposed to be like this in North Idaho. I remember it snowing eight feet during a twoday period one winter. Some may think this winter was a hard one, but that’s because the two previous winters were so lightweight, like Mother Nature was sad.”

Aubree Greenwood

Stay-at-home mom and Idaho native Spirit Lake

“Not really. We had much harder winters in Pennsylvania.”

Charlie Haggerty

Retired warehouse worker for P&G 10-year resident of Troy, Mont.

“I have a double answer. It was one of the hardest winters for me due to the physical exertion required for snow removal, but I did get a lot of exercise and I am grateful for that. Praise God for what he allows and what he sends to us, and for his son, Jesus.”

Al Rankin

Part-time custodian Sandpoint

“The very cold temperatures and dark days made me depressed. Now the snow is staying too long.”

Mike Price

Retired volunteer Sandpoint

Well hello there, spring! Welcome back.

It’s been an absolutely beautiful week in North Idaho. Schweitzer has had some epic spring skiing, green is gradually emerging from the forests under the a blanket of white snow and everywhere you go the locals all have smiles from ear to ear. Also, I found the key to my motorcycle where I dropped it in the snow this winter. Score.

We got the results back from this year’s media survey, which you can check out on page 23. The Reader did well again, with 75 percent of the more than 600 people who responded indicating that they regularly read our publication. We appreciate that!

Each year we select a participant at random and award them a gift certificate to a local restaurant. This year, we selected Diane Bomgardner from Priest River. Congratulations, Diane, you won $100 to spend at MickDuff’s Beer Hall or at the MickDuff’s Restaurant, both located in Sandpoint.

Finally, it’s our editor Cameron Rasmusson’s birthday Tuesday, March 26. If you see him out and about, wish him a happy trip around the sun.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724

www.sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Editorial: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com

Lyndsie Kiebert lyndsie@sandpointreader.com

Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)

Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com

Contributing Artists:

Arian Stevens, Susan Drinkard, Ben Olson, Bill Borders, Racheal Baker, Joel Pett, Ross Hall Collection, Lexi Jamieson, Liam Gallagher.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Brenden Bobby, Emily Erickson, Daniel C. Radford, Shannon Williamson, Tim Bearly, Gabrielle Duebendorfer, Ammi Midstokke, Mike Wagoner, Priya Sullivan.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

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Web Content: Keokee

The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community.

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pa

The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.

The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics.

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About the Cover

This week’s cover photograph is by Arian Stevens for the Fly Fishing Film Tour this weekend at the Panida.

Missing person found dead with gunshot wound

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

A suspect in the death of 26-year-old Robert Cameron Hegseth Wohali is in custody, according to the city of Sandpoint.

Michael R. McDermott is incarcerated at the Bonner County Jail since the weekend on charges unrelated to Hegseth Wohali, who was found dead of a gunshot wound after going missing Sunday, March 17. McDermott became a suspect

early into the investigation of Hegseth Wohali’s disappearance after police received information indicating the missing person had been shot and killed.

Police believe that Hegseth Wohali was killed at 2208 Great Northern Rd. in the early morning of Friday, March 15.

Police began their investigation after Hegseth Wohali was reported missing over the weekend, starting their efforts with an area-wide search. After receiving information pointing toward potential foul play,

Sandpoint detectives found Hegseth Wohali’s body in a rural location south of Sandpoint. He had been struck by a gunshot to the chest. Autopsy results from the body are expected next week, and law enforcement personnel are processing the crime scene.

Law enforcement recovered a gun from the scene which is believed to have been used in the crime. The investigation is ongoing in cooperation with Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police.

Ballot initiative bill heads to Senate

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

A bill meant to increase requirements for ballot initiatives is headed to the Idaho Senate’s 14th Order for possible amendments.

SB 1159, sponsored by Sen. C.Scott Grow, R-Eagle, heightens requirements for voter initiative movements. Organizers must gather petition signatures from 10 percent of registered voters — rather than the current 6 percent — and get those signatures from 32 of Idaho’s 35 districts, rather than the current stipulation of 18. Current law states these standards must be met within 18 months, which Grow’s bill shortens to six months.

Under Grow’s bill, neither the Medicaid expansion or historic horse racing initiatives from the most recent election would have made the cut.

According to Grow, the legislation is an attempt to give rural voters a voice in statewide initiatives. Critics see it as backlash against the Medicaid movement, which garnered over 60 percent of the vote in November.

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 6-3 Wednesday to send SB 1159 to the Senate’s 14th Order after Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, said he saw an “error” in the bill, the Idaho Press-Tribune reports. Winder didn’t elaborate on the specifics of the error, but added “maybe if it gets off our

floor the House can deal with it.”

Any senator can suggest changes when a bill goes to the 14th Order, the IPT reports.

Boise State Public Radio reported Friday that Grow drafted the bill with the help of John Sheldon, proponent of the failed horse racing initiative and lobbyist for Moneytree. The report detailed emails sent between the two men in which Sheldon provided information on laws in other states that made the ballot initiative process harder.

The Idaho GOP released a statement Wednesday to dispute the report, contradicting BSPR’s findings by saying, “No representative of a payday lending business had a part in drafting this bill.” The GOP also said Grow’s bill “is the result of a House-Senate working group made up of elected legislators who are concerned about the integrity, transparency and fairness of the initiative process.” Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, told IPT no such group was ever

GOP lawmaker proposes Medicaid ‘sideboard’ bill

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

formally created.

Luke Mayville of Reclaim Idaho, the group that spearheaded the Medicaid expansion movement, acknowledged the GOP statement and released one of his own.

“They are attempting to shine a positive light on this bill, but there is too much darkness surrounding the legislation for any such light to penetrate,” Mayville said. “The people of Idaho understand Senator Grow’s bill is an attack on our constitutional rights.”

Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, told the Reader Monday that he doesn’t support SB 1159 as is.

“It goes too far,” he said. “To date, we have not seen a problem come about from our initiative process.”

Woodward did say, however, that including a fiscal note, limiting pay-per-signature and possibly increasing the number of districts could be good changes to the current initiative process.

Conservative state legislators continue to push additional requirements for Medicaid expansion, this time proposing private insurance and work requirements for some Idaho residents.

The Idaho Statesman reports that Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, introduced the bill Monday, which then received a hearing Wednesday. After hours of testimony from activists, medical professionals and affected citizens opposed to the additional requirements, the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee advanced the bill to the floor, albeit without a recommendation that it be passed.

Included in the bill are requirements that Medicaid beneficiaries work at least 20 hours a week or be enrolled in education or training programs. It also stipulates that those with incomes between 100- and 138-percent of the poverty line purchase private insurance.

Critics of the proposal say the bill would simply create “sub-

gaps,” locking a certain set of Idahoans out from Medicaid and private insurance alike.

“This bill fundamentally changes the will of the people who voted to expand Medicaid from zero to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level,” said Brian Whitlock, president and CEO of the Idaho Hospital Association.

“This bill changes the good intent of that ballot measure, and I think at the end of the day, you will find that it creates more bureaucracy, not less. It will cost more, not less. And, it will do bad things to good people.”

Bill allowing theater beer and wine sales signed into law

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Venues like the Panida Theater received a gift from Boise last week when Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill permitting the sale of beer and wine at historic theaters.

The new law is a boon for the Panida Theater, which can now sell beer and wine at all of its events without undergoing the tedious and expensive process of securing catering permits. That means fewer expenses and more money in the theaters’ coffers, which Panida Theater Executive Director Patricia Walker said is very much needed.

“This bill makes a monumental difference to the work historic theaters do to preserve the past and continue to contribute to their communities and local economies,” said Walker. “We are so grateful for this bipartisan effort many years in the making.”

The new law allows theaters constructed before 1950 and

listed on the Historic Registry of Theaters to sell beer and wine, provided they apply for a beer and wine license. According to Rep. Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, who sponsored the bill, about 13 theaters in Idaho were built prior to 1950 and will potentially benefit from the bill.

“After traveling the state, I came to understand the importance of these historic theaters,” he said in a press release. “In many towns, the theater in the center of the action. The theater holds plays, movies, special events and all sorts of other events. It’s a place where people can come together as a community to be entertained, informed or just to celebrate.”

Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, was also instrumental in moving the bill forward. He worked with Walker to understand the challenges the theater is facing and bring them into the bill’s development.

“Sage Dixon knew this was a challenge for the Panida, because in order for us to do it,

we had to get catering permits,” said Walker. “It’s been a huge financial burden for us.”

According to Erpelding, historic theaters are ingrained into the cultural heritage of their communities and are a treasure worth preserving. That’s doubly true when theaters face more challenges than ever in the age of video streaming and instant gratification.

City contracts GreenPlay for parks plan

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

The city is rolling out the next phase of its parks planning process by hiring contractor GreenPlay.

A Colorado-based company specializing in parks projects, GreenPlay will work with the city to develop a master plan encompassing a comprehensive vision for the system as a whole, as well as individual parks, open-space areas, trails, recreation facilities, amenities and programs.

“I was very happy and excited for the potential this will give our planning for our parks, recreation and trails,” Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Director

Kim Woodruff told Sandpoint City Council members Wednes-

day night. “This is programming for 10-plus years.”

The city identified four priorities for the master plan officials envision: orderly and consistent planning; acquisitions; development; and administration of Sandpoint Parks and Recreation’s resources, programs and facilities. Beyond providing a comprehensive plan for the parks system, the master plan will also provide insight for a 20-year optimization plan, with a focus on strategies, financial forecast and scheduling through 2040.

The planning process will begin in April with a strategic kick-off, then unfold over several months with workshops and public engagement. The GreenPlay team will also conduct its own analysis and surveying, leading up to the development of

a strategic action plan from August to October. In October and November, the team will develop a draft plan and then a final plan for the city to utilize.

After putting out a call for parks master plan proposals, the city received three qualifying responses from contractors. A selection committee conducted a complete evaluation of each proposal, ultimately recommending GreenPlay as the winning bidder for its team’s experience, proposal cost and project history.

“We’ve been reactionary for a long time, and I’ve been here a long time — over 30 years,” Woodruff told council members.

“I’ve been wanting a plan like this for probably 25 (of those years,) so I’m really, really excited.”

“The reality for historic theaters today is that it’s a tough world to be successful in. It seems that all of the costs have gone up: insurance, building repairs (and old theaters have plenty of those), movie rentals, advertising,” said Panida board member Susan Bates-Harbuck in a press release. “With Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, not as many

people are realizing the enjoyment to be gotten from watching a movie with others. There you are in a beautiful setting, laughing with others, sharing the feelings that movies bring to us, and then talking about it on the way out into the lobby, maybe even to the coffee shop afterwards. The theaters need all the possible sources of income they can find.”

Weight limits in e ect on county roads

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

Thanks to the abrupt arrival of spring and the thawing that comes with, weight and speed restrictions have been posted on all Bonner County roads in districts 1 and 3, as well as on roads south of Priest Lake in district 2.

Current weight limits are 250 pounds per inch or 98 pounds per centimeter of tire width, and the maximum speed allowed for trucks over 16,000 GVW is 30 miles per hour.

“This beautiful sunshine and sudden warm days are a nightmare for roads,” said Road and Bridge Director Steve Klatt on Tuesday. “The sun and heat are creating gelatin road base over

rock-hard ice substructure, and our roads are in for a rough time over the next few weeks. We hope heavier vehicles will drive slowly.”

For more information, visit www.bonnercountyid.gov/departments/roadbridge or call the Road and Bridge department at 208255-5681 ext. 1 between 7 a.m.-4 p.m. After hours, choose ext. 8 for weight limit details.

Science: Mad about

naked mole rats

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

What the heck is that thing?!

Worry not, for you gaze upon the majesty of the naked mole rat, one of the wildest, weirdest and most wonderful critters in the whole wide world!

Despite being more closely related to guinea pigs than rats or moles, they don’t behave anything like any of those. In fact, these weird little guys are ectothermic (cold-blooded) like reptiles. Because of this and the fact that they’re subterranean, they are extremely social creatures. You won’t find them gallivanting about at any hoity toity socials or galas, however. You’re likely to find them huddled into a weird writhing mass that, should you be digging into the ground when you find them, could be mistaken for some kind of portal into the nether.

The fact that they look like your weird uncle Danny at the spa isn’t the weirdest thing about them. Heck, I’m not sure I could peg down what the weirdest thing about them even is. They’re cold-blooded mammals that breed like insects, with one queen mole that sustains unit’s population. Should any up-and-coming female start getting frisky with male breeding stock, the queen will go full Lannister and bully, intimidate or even kill her rivals to maintain her status as queen and matriarch. And just like a Lannister, is likely to get a little wild with her brothers. What? That’s in the first

episode, it’s not a spoiler! On top of taking after ants reproductively, their social castes are very similar to ants as well, having workers that are delegated certain tasks depending on their size. Smaller workers maintain their tunnels and build new ones while the biggest workers become the first and last line of defense against predators. Think of the Cleglanes to the Lannisters: big brutish warriors, except they’re also the first to die. I guess that makes them more like the Night’s Watch, which makes sense as all but a few males in a colony are incapable of reproduction.

I bet you never thought you’d be see weird naked rat monsters being compared to your favorite TV show or book. Don’t worry, witches and warlocks, you won’t be spared, either.

Much like Lord Voldemort, naked mole rats have unnaturally long lifespans. While most rodents live hard and die young after a couple of years, NMR’s can live in upwards of 30 years. On top of this, their longevity is further boosted by a natural resistance to cancer, which we have been researching for at least 10 years to try and figure out how we can do that.

What a weird and ugly horcrux that would be.

Speaking of He-Who-MustNot-Be-Named, look at the face on these things! Their lips actually seal behind their teeth to prevent dirt from falling into their mouths while they burrow. As well, their muscles are rigged to move their teeth

independently for grabbing or shoveling things. Some would compare this function to how we use chopsticks, which is freaky in and of itself. This utility is valuable for them, as their food sources are fairly limited in the eastern horn of Africa. They need to eat enough of a plant’s roots or tubers to let the plant recover and regrow. If they kill it, they need to spend more effort to find a new plant than they gained from eating the first one. Talk about a weight watchers diet.

Because they live vicariously through their face, NMR’s also carry a quarter of their total muscle mass in their jaws. Could you imagine if humans were like that? Those giant jawbreakers from my youth would have been a joke! Their intestines are also specially adapted to host bacteria that can break down the flesh of tubers other animals (like humans) could never digest, and convert it into fat. They’re also capable of and often do eat their own feces. Gross as that may be, it’s important for naked mole rats as it provides them with nutrients they need. Rodents are gross. These weirdos are surprisingly intelligent as well as industrious. They build elaborate tunnel systems that can reach lengths in excess of three miles long, with rooms dedicated for certain functions like hiding from predators, huddling for warmth, and even restrooms, which I guess can be considered a dining room when we look at that last paragraph. Ew. Now that I’ve completely

disarmed the horror of the villains from our favorite books, I think it’s time to go check out a copy and enjoy it in the sun,

Random Corner

Don’t know much about nudity?

We can help!

•In 2011, scientists managed to sequence the precise moment in time when head lice evolved into body lice: it was 170,000 years ago, and they reckon that must have been the first time in history that humans regularly wore clothing of any kind, as the lice needed a safe environment to encourage them to evolve. Why did we suddenly decide to get clothed? Likely temperature: the development of body lice coincided with an Ice Age.

•For the ancient Spartans, according to the Greek writer Plutarch, nakedness had a couple of societal functions, and they ricocheted madly between awesome and terrible. Young men and women were encouraged to parade naked and go to feasts without clothes on, and sing lots of songs about war glory to inspire the male warriors. However, unmarried men were ordered to “march naked around the marketplace, singing as they went a certain song to their own disgrace.” In winter. Brr.

•The origins of the nakedness in ancient Greek sport, particularly at the Olympics, stems from a legend about an athlete called Orsippus of Megara, but the myth goes one of two ways. In one, Orsippus is competing in the games, loses his loincloth, and wins his race, prompting copycats to discard theirs in pursuit of victory and starting a centuries-long trend. In another, though, Orsippus’s loincloth falls as he’s sprinting, gets caught under his feet, and causes him to fall, crack his head open and die. So the moral of the story is that nudity is good? Or bad? I’m confused.

•Female toplessness was once considered much less risqué than exposing legs or ankles. Queen Elizabeth I may have had an outfit that showed the entirety of her breasts, including a slice of flesh underneath, depending on how you interpret a letter from a slightly shocked ambassador at her court; 18th century French fashion was all about the sudden coquettish exposure of a nipple; and there are records of fashionable court dresses for royal women of the 17th century that exposed the entire breast, but covered all the arms and legs to prevent even a sliver of flesh being seen.

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

I grew up surrounded by very few examples of healthy relationships, with “f*** you” thrown out as frequently as affirmations of love and affection. Arguments would begin in attempts at discreteness, but would almost always evolve from heated whispers to shouting matches of oscillating insults and digs at character.

The idea of resolving conflict through thoughtful conversation or with a blood pressure below that of a raging bull felt fictitious, the rituals of a far off land, performed by aliens far more evolved than human beings.

I reflect on this conflict without blame or anger toward my parents, but rather, as a phenomena of unhealthiness that affects so many people that engage in relationships and cohabitation today.

And although I’ve managed to escape my childhood as a believer in the possibility of a life partner (after an extensive string of bad relationship habits to correct), I find myself transfixed by the psychology of it all.

Dr. John Gottman, founder of the Gottman Institute, has been studying the psychology of relationships and emotion through psycho-physiological measurement since 1975. With his colleague Dr. Robert Levenson, he developed a system that could predict divorce in couples with over 90-percent accuracy, after spending as

little as an hour with them.

From this 14-year-longitudinal study, he derived, “the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” or four indicators that, when present even during times of conflict, almost guaranteed the couple being studied would split up, succumbing to a seemingly inevitable end to their unhealthy partnership.

The first of the horsemen Gottman discovered was Criticism, or ascribing flaws to your partner’s character, instead of to flaw in situational behavior. For example, criticism is calling your boyfriend an asshole, assigning that to his character, instead of believing him to be a genuinely good person, just temporarily in a situation prompting behaviors of assholeness.

The next of the horsemen identified by Gottman was Defensiveness. He explains that “when you attempt to defend yourself from a perceived attack with a counter complaint, you are being defensive.”

If you meet your partner’s, “I can’t believe you’re late again!” with, “Well, at least I don’t drive like a maniac,” that is defensive behavior, and it

isn’t a habit of conflict resolution in healthy relationships.

Then, there is the Contempt member of the four horsemen; the proverbial Grim Reaper. Contempt is best understood as any behavior, verbal or nonverbal, in which you situate yourself above your partner. Like criticism, this is attributing some character flaw to your partner, but even more than their flaw, is thinking that you are better than your partner because of it. Nonverbal examples of this behavior include sneering or eye rolling when your partner is talking, or verbally, something along the lines of (to the therapist), “Hunny, why don’t you start by describing your day, because that surely can’t take long.”

The final of the horsemen discovered by Gottman was Stonewalling, or the act of shutting down completely during conflict, either physically leaving the conversation or simply withdrawing into oneself. Gottman explains, “The stonewaller may look like they don’t care, but they more often are overwhelmed and trying to calm themselves down ... This seldom works because their partner assumes they don’t care enough about the problem to talk about it.” It’s a vicious circle.

The interesting thing about identifying these communication failures is that they are entirely correctable. Even better, they are much less likely to occur when measures are taken by both partners to repair and foster connection and play.

When you are feeling close to your partner, understanding them as your friend above all else, you are less likely to

engage in the negative conflict behaviors that lead to relationship breakdowns.

Now, never having been married, I don’t personally claim to be an authority on marital success, nor do I have the life experience or years spent in successful long-term relationships to even join the conversation from my own point of view. However, the research shows that the relationships built on a foundation of mutual respect and admiration

are the ones that do well.

And, as a gal whose formative years were spent seeing the alternative, giving Gottman’s theory a try feels like a happy concession to the sneer. Or worse … the eye roll.

Emily Erickson is a freelance writer and bartender originally from Wisconsin, with a degree in sociology and an affinity for playing in the mountains.

Retroactive

Bouquets:

•I just used the Engage Sandpoint app, SeeClickFix.com for the first time and really enjoyed the experience. It was quick and easy to report the issue (it was a street sign that I saw had been knocked down), and the sign was reinstalled within two days. If you haven’t had a chance to use the app yet, give it a shot. I think it’s a really great way to report city issues that need addressing.

GUEST SUBMISSION:

•I wanted to make a guest submission to the Bouquets this week. A Bouquet to Ben, Cameron, Lyndsie and Jodi for bringing this publication to us every week. Having a place to submit my weird humor and seeing people genuinely enjoy it has finally given me the courage to pursue my dream and begin the process of independently publishing my own novels. I never believed I’d actually get to do that. Thank you!

-Brenden Bobby, Hope

Barbs

• Here’s a Barb for both of our Senators from Idaho: Sen. Mike Crapo and Sen. Jim Risch, both Republicans. Sen. Crapo and Sen. Risch decided to vote against the resolution last Thursday to overturn President Trump’s flim-flam attempt to declare a national emergency on the southern border so he can fund his wall. Twelve Republican senators joined all the Democratic senators to vote for this resolution to overturn the national emergency declaration, which was vetoed shortly after by Trump. Sen. Crapo and Sen. Risch have shown us they are nothing but partisan toadies of Trump if they can’t even stand up for what is right. The question is not immigration or border security. The question is a president using these national emergency powers to subvert Congress and use money that is earmarked for actual emergencies. This is not how you fund a project. Trump is not solely to blame. GOP senators who refuse to stand up to this bully of a president share blame because their partisanship blinds them. The fact that some GOP senators were appeased at the announcement that a forthcoming bill would eliminate another president from doing this in the future is yet another indication that something is broken in Washington. They agree that no one should declare a national emergency to fund projects that aren’t emergencies, but they won’t hold Trump accountable? Ridiculous. Grow a pair, Sen. Crapo and Sen. Risch. Stop with the partisan nonsense and think of the Idahoans you are not serving.

BY THE NUMBERS

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

31%

Cut to the EPA’s budget in President Trump’s 2020 proposal. His budget also proposes major cuts for Medicaid, food stamps, cash welfare, public housing, transportation, clean energy and economic development.

22

States in the U.S. Climate Alliance, a group committed to upholding the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change. President Trump pulled America out of the agreement, making it one of the world’s only countries not participating. Nevada is the latest to join.

$583,332

Amount of money paid to Michael Cohen from an entity known as Columbus Nova LLC, an investment management firm controlled by a Russian oligarch with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Cohen was President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer and “fixer” who was recently sentenced to three years in prison for five counts of tax evasion, one count of making false statements to a financial institution, one count of willfully causing an unlawful corporate contribution, and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution at the request of a candidate (Trump) for the “principal purpose of influencing [the] election.”

60.6%

The percentage of registered Idaho voters who voted in favor of the Proposition 2 Medicaid expansion on the 2018 ballot. A Republican Representative introduced a bill this week that would restrict Medicaid expansion by adding work requirements. Proposition 2’s wording is what’s known as a “clean” Medicaid expansion as it contains no language defining work requirements or other stipulations for eligibility.

Up to $1,000

The amount of money the federal government could pay to people who adopt wild horses, thanks to a brand new incentive program aiming to reduce the animals’ chronic overpopulation. Adopters can receive $500 within 60 days of purchasing an animal, with an additional $500 available after the animal is titled one year after the adoption date.

Oh, Robert Mueller...

Robert Mueller, Robert Mueller, making accounts so much fuller.

With diligence and exactness, provide us with so much fact-ness.

How you’ve conducted your investigation, please now enlighten, our great nation.

May your report, … drop with a thump! about what you found, on Donald Trump. Phil Deutchman Sandpoint

Honesty...

Dear Editor,

Honesty. Is it an old fashioned word and concept? Has it disappeared from our daily lives? Does it matter? Do we want to raise our children without it? Do we want our banks, schools and churches to forget about it? Are we trying to live lives with or without it? How important is it?

Perhaps it is time to truly consider how everything pertaining to our daily lives is impacted by the actions of family, friends, neighbors, teachers, sales clerks, employers, bankers, newspaper editors, politicians and even clergy based on their real honesty. As parents we all want our children to always tell the truth. Consider the examples they now have to use! Every day they can hear on television, read on the internet, view on social media and hear in conversations much which is not based on honest information. It starts in the home and goes to those whom we would like to hold in high esteem, but can not!

This erosion of honesty impacts us now and will most certainly in the future. It is time for us all to evaluate the sources of information and behavior and say to ourselves, with truly an honest appraisal, is this honest! Is this person or organization giving us honesty in their words, actions and deeds. Often it is easy to overlook this when we would like to believe. Right now it is very it is imperative for each of us to question ourselves honestly and to answer to ourselves honestly, is this person an honest person and if not, what does the fact dishonesty prevails do to our children and our daily and long term lives. Honesty is necessary in all areas of our lives. Hold yourself and those with whom you deal to a high standard of honesty. It will make life better for all.

Marty Bowne Sandpoint

Change Your Voting Habits...

Dear Editor,

Recent articles both here and in the Bee along with Sam Sandmire’s opinion illustrates what I’d like to talk about.

Republican efforts to make citizen ballot initiatives nearly impossible along with our county’s Republican party chairman imposing his will on the county commission.

Those of you, the 61% who voted for the Medicaid expansion, should consider an alternative. Try, just try for one election, voting for the Democrat candidate for local and state seats. Just once, then if you don’t like things, go back to automatically voting for the Republican in the following election.

Something else that has come to light, Senator Grow seems to be cozy with Lending Tree. Could they have influenced his anti-initiative bill?

Republicans trumpet local control, people determining their own destiny, non centralization. Yet as you can see with the Medicaid issue and their local chairman, centralized power is okay if it is in their hands. Boise stifling the will of the majority and a local Republican leader dictating policy when it comes to our county’s communities talking with each other.

Isn’t it communist nations where the legislature is merely a rubber stamp for the party chairman who is also the head of government? And isn’t it one big Republican complaint that to many unelected people are setting policy? Well, who elected the Republican county chairman? No one, that’s who. Again, in the next election try changing you voting habits, just once. You can always go back if you don’t like the results.

Lawrence Fury Sandpoint

Second Railroad Bridge...

Dear Editor, I agree 100 percent with the opinion article in last weeks Reader by Matt Morrison. This certainly makes sense. That new bridge is definitely needed, and hopefully will be built as soon as possible.

Dave Reynolds Hope

Have something to say?

Write a letter to the editor. We print letters under 400 words that are free from libel or profanity. Please elevate the conversation.

On the Lake:

A column about lake issues by the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper

Why BNSF rail infrastructure expansion demands the highest level of environmental review

By Shannon Williamson Reader Columnist

I am writing in response to Matt Morrison’s article titled “Rail investments provide access to foreign markets and job growth for Idaho.” I am not going to spend my time addressing Mr. Morrison’s enthusiastic testimonial on the virtues of rail and global economic development. Instead, I want to point out his grossly negligent mischaracterization of the draft Environmental Assessment that has been produced for the proposed BNSF Sandpoint Junction Connector Project.

Coast Guard. What could possibly go wrong?

It’s not completely unusual for a private applicant, in this case BNSF, to author or co-author their own EA. After all, the applicant has the most in-depth knowledge about what they are proposing and needs to share that information with whoever is creating the document. However, there should be some modicum of impartiality, which is sorely lacking in this instance. If the permit applicant drafts their own EA, the likelihood that the EA’s findings support what the applicant is proposing skyrockets. BNSF wants to build three new bridges. The draft EA concludes that the project would not result in any significant environmental impacts. How convenient.

reach that conclusion, but that conclusion is fictitious. Here’s why. The draft EA says that spill risk is a function of the amount of freight moved and the number of rail miles traveled. Fair enough. It then asserts that the project wouldn’t increase either of these factors. How can they possibly come to this conclusion when the stated project need “is based on the limited ability of existing infrastructure to handle the continued growth of freight rail service demand in the BNSF northern tier?”

shortcomings of the draft EA. I could elaborate, probably for days. Mr. Morrison calls those that are concerned about the very real potential for increased transport of hazardous materials through our community and over our water “alarmist”. What’s really alarming is the sad state of the environmental review that has been conducted so far.

Mr. Morrison is correct in saying that the U.S. Coast Guard is acting as the lead federal agency with respect to environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. The rest of what Mr. Morrison shares about the validity of the EA’s findings is way off course. First, everyone needs to know that while the Coast Guard is overseeing the environmental review process, BNSF and Jacobs Engineering Group, which is the firm that authored BNSF’s permit application, wrote the EA, not the

The draft EA is a deeply flawed document, littered with inconsistencies, errors, shoddy references and assertions based on zero evidence. At least, no evidence is provided. The draft EA even states that a permit was obtained from the city that doesn’t even exist for this type of project. That’s not OK.

Mr. Morrison shared “that the draft EA stated unequivocally that the new bridge would not increase the risks of any kind of spill in the area”. He’s right, it does

Idaho Writers’ League announces winners

They try to get away with this kind of “analysis” by not providing any numerical projections of future rail volumes. If they’re just not sure what future rail volumes are going to look like, then they can make the argument that there might be no changes in rail volume in the future. I find it extremely hard to believe that BNSF has no clue what future rail volumes might look like. But there they are, shrugging their shoulders, and repeating their mantra of a market-driven economy. Do you really think that BNSF would invest $100 million in this project if they just weren’t sure what the future was going to look like, even just a little bit? You know what could help solve this mystery for the ages? A thorough, independent Environmental Impact Statement.

This is just one example of the many

Laughing Matter

For the record, LPOW is neutral on this project. We have and will continue to strongly advocate for a thorough, independent EIS. Why? Because a project of this scope deserves the highest level of environmental review. The future of our community and lake deserves the respect that an EIS would afford. An EIS would provide the framework to legitimately study all the impacts and fully assess all the risks and benefits. Most importantly, an EIS would identify measures to mitigate impacts resulting from the project. Please join us in asking the Coast Guard to require an EIS by March 25 by submitting a comment through regulations.gov. You can find the link on our website at www.lpow.org.

Shannon Williamson is the executive director of the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper.

By Bill Borders

Undemocratic:

A call for Idahoans to defend our politics from predatory big money interests and senator Grow’s undemocratic,

By Daniel C. Radford Reader Contributor

Idaho has a new political force on hand, Reclaim Idaho. And it looks like it’s making the elites upset. After we, the people, voted at over 60 percent for Medicaid Expansion, at a major blow to the costly and bureaucratic government-insured market exchanges, Idaho’s predatory banking industry is taking aims to undermine our access to political power. This threat to democracy comes from the payday loans industry, which fears that its exorbitant, exploitative interest rates will become the target of the next ballot initiative. In short, they are scared that democracy will challenge the stranglehold they have over so many Idahoans’ pocketbooks.

This is evidenced by Sen. Grow’s testimony on behalf of SB 1159 Wednesday, March 13, to the Senate State Affairs Committee. He began his remarks in favor of his anti-initiative bill (which was crafted with industry lobbyist John Sheldon) by stating that the word democracy does not appear in the U.S. and Idaho constitutions, nor the Declaration of Independence. It seems he seeks to imply that democracy should not appear in Idaho either. Predatory lenders’ fear of democracy should be taken as a compliment to the strength of everyday Idahoans political will.

Indeed, this industry has reason to be afraid. In the last few years consumers made clear their concerns and we have started to see action. In Caldwell, the city council reacted to the proliferation of payday lend-

ers by voting to oversee and approve their establishment on a case by case basis. This came after the legislature voted in 2014 to add protections to Idaho’s Payday Loans Act. The legislature voted to limit the cash amount of loans, to restrict the use of loans to pay back loans, and to require lenders to offer different payment plans for borrowers who have difficulty repaying.

However, they did not cap the interest rates that could be charged for payday loans. It is important to note that Idaho’s payday loans average with an interest rate of over 650 percent, the third highest in the nation (after Texas and Utah). This causes borrowers (who are already in a precarious-enough economic position) to be caught in a destructive debt trap from which there is little hope of escape.

It is estimated that nearly $100 million a year is sucked out of the pockets of Idahoans, siphoned off from our economy in the forms of fees and fines, and added to the profits of payday lenders.

Democratic action in the form of a ballot initiative is already threatening the payday loans industry’s mega-profits in Colorado, in the form of Initiative 126 (which passed with 77 percent and capped interest rates to 36 percent last year). This is what has prompted Senator Grow’s anti-initiative bill to increase the number of signatures needed from 6 percent to 10 percent, to raise the number of districts needed to get an initiative on the ballot from 18 to 32 out of 35, and to decrease the time to do so from 18 to 6 months. No surprise he consulted heavily with Money

anti-initiative bill

Trees lobbyist John Sheldon.

And all this coming from Sheldon, the failure behind the Prop 1 initiative which would have allowed gambling on horse races that have already happened. After failing to get Prop 1 passed, Sheldon’s political interests have now shifted to undermining the initiative process, making propositions like the one he failed to get passed harder to get to voters.

Luckily, this bill remains held in committee, after the committee members voted unanimously to pigeonhole it following hearings last Friday, March 15. Only two of nearly 60 spoke in favor of the Grow’s anti-democracy bill. It is likely this bill will resurface before the end of the legislative session.

It is up to everyday Idahoans to keep it that way and let this anti-initiative bill die in committee. If you want to maintain sovereignty over our politics and keep the deep-pocketed, moneyed interests from eroding our democracy, please call or email Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, the head of the Senate State Affairs Committee who can bring the bill back at her discretion. Thank her and the rest of the committee for setting this bill aside at the moment. But, most importantly urge her to let it die in committee.

Patti Anne Lodge – Huston, District 11palodge@senate.idaho.gov (208) 332-1320

The other members of the committee are as follows:

Brent Hill – Rexburg, District 34 bhill@senate.idaho.gov

(208)332-1300

Mark Harris – Soda Springs, District 32 mharris@senate.idaho.gov (208)547-3360

Chuck Winder – Boise, District 20 cwinder@senate.idaho.gov (208) 332-1354

Mary Souza – Coeur d’Alene, District 4msouza@senate.idaho.gov (208) 332-1322

Kelly Anthon – Burley, District 827 kanthon@senate.idaho.gov (208)332-1327

It would be a good idea to call Sen. Grow and let him know what you think of his bill. And remind him that, contrary to the desires of his industry bosses, that he serves us, and we, the people, think democracy does have a place in Idaho.

Scott Grow – Eagle, District 14 sgrow@senate.idaho.gov (208)332-1334

And let’s not forget about what the payday loan industry is doing to Idahoans. Maybe it’s time for the next ballot initiative to challenge their mega profits and cap their exploitative interest rates. Not many people were thinking about it before Senator Grow’s bill, but the more I research the practices of payday lenders, the better an initiative like Colorado’s 126 starts to sound.

Daniel C. Radford is an aspiring journalist and sophomore in college who is from Sandpoint.

INTELLECTUAL [intellect-shill]

Please ignore the funding behind the curtain

By Tim Bearly Reader Contributor

“It is the responsibility of intellectuals,” Noam Chomsky wrote in a 1967 essay, “to speak the truth and expose the lies.” Regrettably, for some intellectuals, such a function — a duty to be honest — would be more of a bug than a feature. Indeed, like all shills, the intellect/shill has his corporate masters, and to please these masters he is required to do the opposite of what Chomsky asserts: He has a responsibility to suppress the truth and regurgitate the lies.

Though he may speak with conviction, the corporate and/ or political shill is a man (or woman) utterly devoid of honesty and integrity — that is to say, he has no conviction that cannot be amended with a carrot and a stick. Where the needle on his moral compass points depends on the source of his remuneration.

The shill in Congress is easy to unmask. His modus operandi is all too familiar: he receives money from, say, Big Oil or Big Pharma and subsequently introduces legislation which benefits the executives of those industries. Of course, he does all of this under the guise of wanting to help “create jobs” and “grow the economy.” His motives, if you’re so inclined to

believe him, are never selfish.

For his ability to play his role so convincingly — with such good stage, screen, and vocal presence — and for his willingness to recite the script written for him by Think Tanks, corporations and political parties, this year’s Academy Award for best actor goes to him.

Cue the scene where he declares: “The best way to help the poor is to give to the rich!”

“Some heroes wear capes, but our heroes prefer suits and ties.” The plutocrat in the audience raises his glass. “To our (public) servants! Such a concentration of wealth would not be possible without them.”

“Hear, hear!”

Not wanting to be typecast for the role of Igor — infamous for the catchphrase “yes, master” — other shills and hacks prefer to play more dignified roles: They find it to be more gratifying to act the part of “intellectuals.”

A bit like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the shill in intellectual’s clothing has a more enlightened and literary facade. This enables him to more effectively gain the trust of others. In costume, like the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, he preys on credulous and unsus-

pecting targets.

“Oh Granny, what big donations you have!”

He is adept at pretending to be “objective” — ostensibly he has no dog in the fight. He’s just here to share his wisdom. He will often have an advanced degree, which lends him more credibility. This is why he is sought out by partisan “research institutes” and other “foundations” (usually with words like “freedom” and “liberty” in their name) who endeavor to propagandize.

The “appeal to authority” makes us focus less on the evidence for his particular assertions and more on the prefixes and suffixes attached to his name. You may notice this when he is invited on political talk programs to share his opinion: “Here to tell us that our president is a genius is Dr. so-and-so,” and “Up next, soand-so Ph.D. is here to tell us all about the makers vs. the takers.”

Of course, as an advanced degree generally indicates a better knowledge and understanding in a particular field, it makes sense that we value the opinions of someone with an M.D. or Ph.D.; however, erudition notwithstanding, a person with a degree is obviously still

capable of being illogical and deceptive. There are innumerable paid shills who are doctors and scientists.

The ranks of the bought priesthood are filled with disingenuous “authorities” who have no desire to inform — in fact, they have more of a talent for the fine art of misinforming. They don’t necessarily have to receive money directly from some “puppeteer” — as beneficiaries of the existing state of affairs they have a vested interest in making sure the economic and political system isn’t tinkered with too much (allowing, of course, for a bit of innocuous social change here and there). It is not uncommon for these status quo apologists to cherry-pick data which helps their case and to ignore data which hurts their case — many of them are, in fact, professional lawyers.

If you’re ever unsure about whether or not someone may be shilling for this or that group or industry, try to focus not only on what he condemns but on that which he is too afraid to condemn. He may spend a great deal of time and energy on denouncing corruption (like the corruption of his adversaries), but he will turn a blind eye

to the corruption that lines his pockets. He may invoke, with crocodile tears, the people who have died because of some other ideology or economic system, but he will omit, unabashedly, the people who have died because of the doctrine to which he subscribes. This is the kind of hypocrisy which helps to separate the wheat (the honest intellectual) from the chaff (the intellect/shill).

One could argue, because we all have vested interests, we all shill (to different degrees) for that which benefits us the most. Consciously or unconsciously, it appears we all have a propensity to promote the political ideas and economic systems that increase the probability of our own survival and advancement. However, for some who have no conscience, avarice knows no bounds.

To help curb this behavior, it’s high time that we created an 11th Commandment. (No, I’m not talking about Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”) How about, contrary to the decree of the Jelly Bean Man, we simply inscribe: “Thou shill not.”

Photos

from the 6th annual

SHS SCIENCE circuit

Photographer Racheal Baker attended the sixth-annual Sandpoint High School Science Circuit this week. Here are some of the highlights. All photos taken by Racheal Baker.

“Money to Burn” with Brady Nelson.

“How Electricity Travels Through Mediums” with Zane Razor and Tyler Almeida.

“Heat Treating Metal” with William Dorin and Blake Christiansen.

“The Beat of Your Heart” with Kathy Kessler.

“Wheel of Bones” with Lily and Clara Sigman.

Sorting scienti c facts from ction

Addressing the climate change doubt

By Gabrielle Deubendorfer Reader Contributor

I recently had a delightful meeting with somebody who had genuine doubts about climate change. Having seen the impact of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill on the Florida coast, he was very concerned about the state of our planet. However, the persistent hyperbole, the seeming hypocrisy and the impossibility to discern fact from fiction in the climate change discussion had him quite disenchanted about possible actions.

A friend of mine has repeatedly expressed hesitations about climate change policy out of concerns about increased government interference. It turns out that this basic distrust derived from her husband having been sent involuntarily to Vietnam while she was at home with young children. Both of them are not alone with regards to climate change discussion disenchantment and distrust of government overreach. These are two factors that have kept viable climate change action from being implemented effectively. While 97 percent of climate scientists agree that global warming is mostly caused by human activities and advocate for action, according to the 2018 Yale Climate Opinion Study (http://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycomus-2018/) only 50 percent of Bonner County residents do. Overall, 62 percent of Americans polled in 2018 believed that climate change has a human cause, up from 47 percent in 2013.

The lack of trust in scientists and the belief that there is still a scientific debate

contribute to this as well. The media has done its part in skewing this perspective with giving 50 percent of media coverage to the 3 percent of minority experts. But change is happening even in Idaho.

According to the Idaho Statesman, governor Brad Little said in January: “It’s here. We’ve just got to figure out how we’re going to cope with it. And we’ve got to slow it down. Now, reversing it is going to be a big darn job.” In accordance, House Resolution 22 has just been adopted to form a committee to study the effects of climate variability on Idaho’s state agencies that are responsible for resource management. The resolution is based on the facts of earlier winter snowmelts, longer fire seasons and higher intensity and occurrence of storms necessitating impact mitigation strategies.

On a larger scale, Fortune Magazine this February reported that human caused climate change has reached the gold standard of certainty. “Using a statistical analysis common in particle physics … scientists evaluated volumes of satellite data. The implications are that there is only a one-in-a-million chance that the pattern of atmospheric heating is not the result of human activity.”

So the question remains, why the public perception difference? What seems to be primarily driving this misperception is a deliberate fossil fuel industry misinformation campaign. Last fall, the independent panel tasked with reviewing EPA draft assessments on air pollution health risks, has just been replaced with a committee, whose members are sorely lacking in relevant scientific expertise and/or have ties

to the petroleum, chemistry and tobacco industries. The report affirms previous evidence of small particulate matters causing premature death via cardiovascular and respiratory, and likely cancer and nervous system effects. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is causing 4.2 million premature deaths globally — the leading environmental health risk. The fossil fuel industry has waged a campaign against these facts since the first studies were published in 1990, as both ozone and particulate matters are closely related to production or consumption of fossil fuels. Challenging the EPA report with fake scientists sounds very familiar to tobacco industry attempts to discredit the connection between health effects and smoking.

Industry lobbyists are not only very skilled with sewing doubt about scientific facts that go counter their pocket books; they also excel in taking advantage of citizens’ fears. For example, media

campaigns exaggerating restrictions on personal freedom and government overreach with regards to climate change action, have blinded people to the social, economic and environmental possibilities of gradually switching over to cleaner energy sources. Who can possibly argue with agreements that reduce air pollution while reducing CO2 emission?

I will give a presentation about how to sort out facts from fiction in the climate change debate as part of earth day activities at the library on Tuesday, April 16, at 5:30 p.m. If you have any doubt about the impact and solutions of climate change, please do consider coming.

As a naturopathic physician, Dr. Gabrielle Duebendorfer is concerned about the health effects of climate change. She has founded the Sandpoint Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, advocating for viable solutions for climate change. Contact cclsandpoint@gmail.com

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Girls Pint Out

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

6pm @ Matchwood

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Good until the keg’s dry

Trivia Takeover Live

6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Family friendly interactive trivia

Live Music w/ Bright Moments 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA

Cool Chicks! Great Beer! No Dudes!

Join Vicki and the big table for an evening tasting and talking about Red, Amber and Irish style beer Storytellers Workshop

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Indie rock multi-instrumental trio

Live Music w/ BareGrass

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Progressive bluegrass and Americana

Live Music w/ Browne Salmon Truck

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Blues, jazz, Latin and more!

Live Music w/ BOCA (Ben & Cadie)

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Live Music w/ The Rub 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

CDA trio with an eclectic mix of titles and eras

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs

8:30-9:30pm @ Connie’s

Come listen to your neighbors bravely share and true stories. Open Open Mic Night

8-11pm @ A&Ps Bar

Live Music w/ Reverend 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Uplifting positive soul

Live Music w/ Kevin 8-10pm @ The Back Door

Live Music w/ Muffy and the Riff Hangers (bluegrass/folk)

6:30-9:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Company

Live Music w/ Steve Neff Duo

8:30-9:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Live Music w/ Bridges Home

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Americana, folk and Celtic tunes

A duo w/ Ben and Cadie from Harold’s IGA

Live Music w/ Off in the Woods 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

Rock n’ reggae roll with funk on the side

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am

Live Music w/ Red Blend

8-10pm @ The Back Door

Join Chris, Meg and Brian for a night of your favorite songs

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 4-6:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing

Piano Sunday w/ Glenda Novinger 3-5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills

7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Cribbage Tournament

3-6pm @ Tervan Tavern

Night-Out Karaoke

9pm @ 219 Lounge

Join DJ Pat for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen

Triva Night

7pm @ MickDuff’s

Show off that big, beautiful brain of yours

Wind Down Wednesday

6-9pm @ 219 Lounge

With live music by blues

man Truck Mills and guest musician Denis Zwang

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Trivia Takeover Live

2,400 Feet 6:30am @ The longest -a fundraiser Foundation. Driftwood

7pm @ The Five-piece state New

Bowling for Wildlife

12-2pm @ Huckleberry

Come out and support life Foundation. Reserve Eventbrite or AHWF

Lifetree Cafe

2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant

An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s topic: “Family Do-over”

Djembe class

5:45-7:30pm @ Music Conservatory of Sandpoint

Join teacher Ali Maverick Thomas

SFN Movie Night: “Mad Max: Fury Road” 7pm @ Little Panida Theater Geezer 2:30-4pm Hosted turing “Thriving ing: Building Trauma”

Magic Wednesday

6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s

Enjoy close-up magic shows by Star Alexander right at your table

6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Interactive, lively triva game

Dine (and Drink) to Save the Wild Scotchmans All day @ Baxter’s

A delicious fundraiser to save the wild Scotch mans. All day a portion of Baxter’s proceeds be donated to FSPW

Thursday Night Solo Series w/ Benny Baker

6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Benny plays in a few bands in Sandpoint - Miah Kohal Band, Beat Diggers, Other White Meat. Come hear his solo work. Food by Sandpoint Curry

Restaurant

Storytellers Workshop Part Two

Matchwood Brewing Co.

listen to your friends and bravely share their honest stories. Open to the public

Mic Night A&Ps Bar and Grill

w/ Reverend Doctor

Pend d’Oreille Winery

positive soul pop

w/ Kevin Dorin

The Back Door

Hangers (bluegrass/folk) Company

March 21-28, 2019

A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com.

Reader recommended

Thursday Night Solo Series w/ Scott Taylor

6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live music with Scott Taylor and food by Sandpoint Curry

Sandpoint Community Sing

7pm @ Downtown Yoga

A 90-minute weekly journey of songs about nature, life and more

Animal Shelter fundraiser

8-11pm @ A&Ps Bar and Grill

$1 of every Tito’s Vodka drink will benefit PAS. Prizes and giveaways, plus DJ Skwish from 9-close

Hive Jam Night • 8pm @ The Hive

Inaugural Jam Night at the Hive featuring Breadbox and other local guests. $5

2,400 Feet of Schweitzer

6:30am @ Schweitzer

The longest giant slalom in the U.S. a fundraiser for Cystinosis Research Foundation. 24HoursforHank.org.

Driftwood in Concert

7pm @ The Heartwood Center

Five-piece Americana band from upstate New York. $18/door, $10/youth

for Wildlife fundraiser Huckleberry Lanes and support American Heritage WildFoundation. Reserve your space through or AHWF or Huckleberry Lanes

This

Karaoke night

8pm-cl @ Tervan Tavern Best song selection in town

DJ night

9pm-cl @ A&Ps Bar and Grill

Featuring DJ Skwish

Karaoke night

8pm-cl @ Tervan Tavern Best song selection in town

Sandpoint Shows off its Talent - Take 2

@ A&Ps Bar and Grill

Cabin Fever Dance

7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall

Following a salsa lesson at 7, general dancing will commence from 8-10pm with refreshments, door prizes, social mixers. 699-0421.

Fly Fishing Film Tour

7pm @ The Panida Theater Trout Unlimited and North 40 Fly Shop bring you this year’s F3T, with proceeds benefiting Trout Unlimited and the Pend Oreille Water Festival. Lots of great raffles and door prizes. Tickets $12 and available at North 40, Eichardt’s or online at flyfilmtour.com. Cash only event. Tour de Thrift

Tour de Thrift

All Day @ Participating Thrift Stores Shop at area thrift stores and win $200 in groceries! See ad p. 23

Your time to shine with any magic or physical talents you have. 21+ only. Sign up at A&P’s at least 48 hours in advance. Cash prizes.

Geezer Forum

2:30-4pm @ Columbia Bank

Hosted by Paul Graves, featuring “Thriving vs. Surviving: Building Resiliency After Trauma” w/ Keely Brannigan

Wild Scotchmans

the wild Scotch-

Baxter’s proceeds will

PFLAG Sandpoint meeting

6-7:30pm @ First Presbyterian Church

PFLAG meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Free and open to all Away with Words 5:30-6:30pm @ Sandpoint Library Email kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org

“Les Miserables,” School Edition (Mar. 27-28)

6:30pm @ Panida Theater

Presented by the Sandpoint Waldorf School. $7 tickets available at Waldorf School, Eichardt’s and Panida.org

Story-Poury Hour

4-5pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.

Do your kids need a break from you? Let the kids unwind with milk and cookies while listen to award-winning stories told by Matchwood’s finest storytellers

March 29

Blues Night with Big Phatty & The Inhalers @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

March 29

POAC Presents Northern Stars Rising @ The Heartwood Center

March 29

‘80s party @ A&P’s Bar and Grill

Pearl Island

From family homestead to island for the people

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

The view from the Jamieson’s dining room table is familiar but still breathtaking.

Beyond the curtains and glass lies Lake Pend Oreille, sprawled out beneath the Hope hillside. Punctuating the dark blue water are distinct islands: Warren, the largest, is most near; Cottage and Pearl sit just to the left; and Memaloose hides behind the Hope Peninsula.

It’s Pearl Island that Lexi Jamieson cares about most, or, more specifically, the last person to own Pearl: her sister, Lorraine van Schravendyk Haecker.

Jamieson pours over photographs and letters at the dining room table, detailing Lorraine’s life, flipping through

binders to find certain dates. Jamieson inherited this Hope house from her sister, and with it, stacks of history she’s determined to organize. While Jamieson catalogues her sister’s legacy in binders, another part of Lorraine’s legacy lives on within view.

The story begins in 1900, when Henry van Schravendyk made Hope the final destination on his journey from Holland.

“So, in the year 1900 I first set foot in Hope,” he wrote later in his life when asked by schoolchildren about the town’s history. “As many others, beginning the new century in a new dwelling place and with a new outlook on life. It was in the autumn ... Attracted hither by the prospect near this beautiful mountain lake which the ‘Old Timers’ have come to know and love so well.

Life was still new with much to look forward to, with some troubles and sorrows in retrospect, but not too much to regret.”

He set roots on the 10-acre Pearl Island, receiving his official homestead certificate in August 1907.

“The little place I call home is a unique little spot. It is a little island out in one of the most beautiful lakes in the world,” he wrote, adding that the climate in Hope was mild and the island had wildflowers from March to December. “At present it is roses and wild hyacinths. I have quite a number of fruit trees planted and take delight in watching their growth. The cherries are as large now as garden peas and are in such quantities that I think I shall have to ‘prop’ the trees.”

Henry’s parents came from Holland

to live with him. His mother, Anna van Schravendyk, also described the mild climate and flowers to her sister through letters, adding that the soil seemed very fertile and she’d been able to grow potatoes “as big as a milk jug.” She also wrote about early Hope tourists.

“As the countryside here is so beautiful, many strangers come here in the summer, sometimes also for their health, they imagine they’ll be strong and healthy here,” she wrote to her sister in 1908. “As you know,

< con’t on next page >

rich people have their whims and so they’re walking in our pine-forests, breathing the air and they feel their lungs growing stronger everyday. We are patient with them, they pay well for … eggs and vegetables, but it takes a lot of time, for they have nothing to do and the Americans love talking.”

Henry married Augusta Beck in 1909, and they lived on Pearl for a short time in a two-story house. However, living on the island was determined unsafe since it is mostly below the 100-year flood plain, so the family barged the top story of the house to the mainland where it still sits today on Ridgewood Avenue. This would become the home where Lorraine van Schravendyk Haecker grew up.

Lorraine was born in 1916 in Dover. When her mother left her father alone with three children under three years old, she was sent to live with grandparents in Kootenai. After the grandparents opened a grocery store and determined it wasn’t an appropriate place for a little girl, Lorraine ended up with her eventual adoptive family: the van Schravendyks of Hope. She spent much of her youth on the island and always dreamed of living there. In 1949, on her 33rd birthday, Lorraine received Pearl as a gift. After living elsewhere for most of her married life, the Haeckers — Lorraine and her husband, Ed — moved back to

Hope in 1972 and began building the house Jamieson would eventually inherit. That same year, Ed died. Lorraine lived in Hope until her death in 2008. Jamieson said Lorraine was deeply involved in the community, particularly with the cats at the Panhandle Animal Shelter.

In her will, Lorraine said she wished to have the island transferred to a conservation entity chosen by her cousin, Jeanne van Schravendyk Green. In 2009, Pearl made the transition from private family homestead to wildlife management area under Idaho Fish and Game.

Chip Corsi, regional Idaho Fish and Game supervisor for the Panhandle, said Pearl has traditionally been home to nesting eagles. While overnight stays aren’t permitted on the island, day use is encouraged. Corsi said it’s a good spot for a picnic or nature-watching excursion.

“It’s a neat thing,” he said. “The islands are interesting and kind of unique, and when you have one that’s undeveloped like Pearl it’s fun to go poke around.”

Lorraine’s ashes were spread on Pearl, and a plaque mounted on the island reads: “Pearl Island was donated to the State of Idaho by Lorraine Haecker in July 2009, and is dedicated to her memory and the memory of Augusta and Henry van Schravendyk. The island will remain unchanged and available for both wildlife

and the public.”

Henry wrote in the history for the schoolchildren that Hope was home to people both born there and those who found it and made it their chosen home, like him.

“Yet all were destined to take part in the drama of life for which nature has set the stage at a time so dizzily remote that even the old hills can tell but part of the story,” he wrote. “For, without doubt, The Almighty has planned that in this beauty spot Man shall see some of his worthiest aspirations fulfilled.”

Author’s Note: This story would not have been possible without the guidance of Lexi Jamieson. She provided the bulk of the information in this story in hopes that more people will know what future her sister wanted for Pearl Island.

Farmers’ Market seeking 2019 vendors

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The Sandpoint Farmers Market was first launched 30 years ago, when local businesswoman Lois Wythe distributed flyers around town asking locals if they would be interested in having “high quality, locally-grown vegetables available to buy” in Sandpoint. As a result, dozens of interested people showed up and subsequently established what is considered to be one of the brightest parts of Sandpoint.

Today, the market is as vibrant as ever, with vendors selling locally grown produce, garden starts, plants, crafts, art and much more every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and every Wednesday from 3-5 p.m.

With the first day of the 2019 Market season approaching on Saturday, May 4, market staffers are seeking new vendors who may want to sell their wares, especially on Wednesday markets when attendance is a bit lower than the weekend market.

“We’d love to get more vendors interested in selling on Wednesdays,” Stanford said. “So we’re making Wednesdays really affordable this year.”

Stanford said the fee to sell your wares on Wednesdays is only $5, as opposed to the weekend rate of $20.

“It’s a really good opportunity. I feel a lot of people are intrigued by the market but don’t know where to start,” Stanford said. “It’s actually quite a simple process and we’re always welcoming new people.”

Stanford said potential vendors will need to apply via the SandpointFarmersMarket.com site. Once their application has been received, a jury process will commence to avoid duplicate items and vendors. This helps provide a wide variety of items available for sale at the market.

“Farmers don’t have to go through the juried process, but a board member will do a farm visit with them,” Stanford said. “This is to get to know the farmer and get a feel for their farm.”

Stanford said the market is also interested in planning more community outreach events this season.

“We are really interested in doing

food education and cooking with kids,” she said. “If there are any local nonprofits or community groups that want a table to do outreach like this, please let us know.”

Stanford said special events have been planned for every second Saturday of the month, with the following schedule planned:

May 4 – Opening Day

June 8 – Customer Appreciation Day

July 13 – 31st Anniversary Day

Aug. 17 – Kids’ Day

Sept. 14 – Taste of the Market

Oct. 12 – Harvest Fest (and last day of Market)

Nov. 9 – Holiday Market at the Bonner Mall

Local musicians interested in playing live music at the market should also check out the website and fill out a quick application.

“We’d love to hear from musicians, performers, or anyone who thinks they could be a good fit for the market,” Stanford said.

Also, this year Stanford reminds shoppers that the market will accept food stamps.

“We’re working on a foot stamp incentive program,” she said. “We’d like to do a market match, to give extra bang for their SNAP dollars. We’re working on getting funding for that.”

To keep up on Farmers’ Market news, check their Facebook page every Monday morning for their weekly Market news tidbits.

Finally, Stanford said vendors and market staff are interested in setting up a celebration for Tami Martinsen, a longtime vendor who passed away last year.

“Tami sold so many flowers and plants, so there’s talk of trying to grow flowers that were her favorites and get donations to make a plaque or bench,” said Stanford. “She was such a great part of our market, and we’ll miss her.”

Fly Fishing Film Tour hits the big screen

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

In the book “A River Runs Through It and Other Stories,” author Norman MacLean wrote that growing up in Montana, “there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing.”

That line pretty well sums up the fanatical nature of many fly fishermen and women. It’s not just a thing to do, it’s a connection to the place in which we live.

For those of you who use a fly rod, the annual Fly Fishing Film Tour, or F3T, will be returning to the Panida Theater on Saturday, March 23. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.

The original and preeminent exhibition of fly fishing cinema, F3T is brought to Sandpoint by North 40 Fly Shop and the Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Each year, anglers from all walks of life gather to soak up films from around the world, spin a few yarns amongst friends and dream about casts yet unmade. With an emphasis on the people,

places and fisheries that help make up the vast world of fly fishing, the 2019 F3T will take you from Alaska to Florida, South Dakota to French Polynesia, British Columbia to the coast of Austrailia and right here in Idaho.

Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance at the North 40 Fly Shop (208) 255-5757 (ask for the Fly Shop). They are also available for purchase at Eichardt’s Pub and online by visiting www. FlyFilmTour.com. Remaining tickets can also be purchased at the door on the night of the show for $15. This is a cash only event. No debit cards or credit cards will be accepted, so plan accordingly

All proceeds from this event will benefit Trout Unlimited and the Pend Oreille Water Festival, which teaches Bonner County fifth graders about water quality and fisheries.

For more information, contact Reg Crawford: reg@panhandletu.org, or Calvin Fuller, calvin.fuller@north40.com.

More event information is available at panhandletu.org.

Rock n’ reggae at the Niner

By Reader Staff

It all began as a band of four young men with roots firmly planted in Montana. They sprouted, strengthened and branched out over time, adding three members to the group and depth to their repertoire and eventually calling themselves Off in the Woods.

Specializing in rock n’ reggae with a funk-flavored soul, OITW’s four original members, Jon Schumaker (vox/guitar/ bass), Nathan Noble (drums/percussion), Layne McKay (sax/guitar) and Sean Burress (bass/guitar), released their debut album “Smoke Signals” in 2011. The nine tracks display unique abilities of meticulous guitar picking, savvy woodwind melodies, morphing rhythms and soulful vocals. Kyle Daugherty (trombone/shaker) brought his horn to the mix in 2013. Kai Salmonson (auxiliary perc/bass

synth) and Kia Adibzadeh (keys) have since joined, rounding out the multi-instrument, multi-genre sound and energy that defines the band today.

OITW has played a wide variety of shows; big summer festivals, bars, clubs, live radio shows, benefits and small auditoriums. They’ve provided support for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, The Wailers, Polyrhythmics, Rusted Root, John Brown’s Body, Pimps of Joytime, and more. Their music has even been used on film, the documentary “Ride the Divide” and the independent film “Bella Vista.” With multiple live sets prepared, they are ready to fill any time slot and are eager to perform their music throughout the country.

OITW will play the 219 Lounge on Saturday, March 23, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. There is no cover for this 21-plus show.

SFN Movie Night: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Come by SFN Movie Night next week for what is already regarded as a classic of action filmmaking: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Released in 2015, the most recent entry in the Mad Max post-apocalyptic action series is also its most acclaimed. The film finds protagonist Max struggling to survive in a ruined society. Captured by a band of raiders, he sees a chance to escape when their despotic warlord unleashes his forces in pursuit of his escaped wives.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is a breathless action movie with some of the most incredible stunts and car chases ever captured. (It’s also the favorite action movie of this newspaper

editor, who will be there celebrating his birthday.)

SFN Movie Night takes place 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at the Little Panida Theater. It is free to attend, but a suggested $5 donation is recommended to help cover the cost of the theater rental. Beer and wine is offered for sale by the Panida Theater. Although a private event, it’s simple and free to join SFN: simply go to http://www.sandpointfilmmakers.net/ join or sign up at the screening.

A grain of salt

A

health column... sort of

In defense of your doctor

By Ammi Midstokke Reader Columnist

I can always tell that I’ll like a patient when they tell me that they’ve spent years with the same doctor. It means they have been taking care of themselves. When I request their medical records, they are filled with metrics and notes that indicate said doctor has been assessing risk and developing rapport the entire time.

They need to do both, so when they warn you about increasing risk, you’ll actually listen to them. And maybe, just maybe, even follow their recommendations to take cholesterol medication.

Because chances are, 20 years ago, when they suggested you watch your junk food intake, you forgot to pay attention.

In a community of alternative and complimentary medical practitioners, a town like Sandpoint is loaded with every modality of health that you could possibly need. We should take advantage of them and know that they are not mutually exclusive.

In fact, the term ‘alternative’ has a negative connotation because of its association with patients or practitioners who are inclined to drastically separate the two (well, and purveyors of snake oil and the reality of big pharma). In the interest of your health, I recommend you create yourself a sexy cocktail of healthcare professionals to guide you through the ownership, injuries, and maintenance of your body. You’ll have it until you die.

That’s right. Find your massage therapist, your dentist, your acupuncturist, get some hippie sauce brewing herbologist in the mix, maybe a few mad scientists (so far as the pocket book allows and you actually feel a difference), and don’t forget your doctor or nurse practitioner. It just so happens, they have extensive training and expertise and can do rad things like run labs, prescribe medications, and decipher research papers.

Sometimes, when I spend 40 minutes explaining to a patient the science of a single ingredient’s effect on intracellular communicators of inflammation called cytokines, a patient will wonder out loud,

“Why didn’t my doctor tell me about this?”

They did. A long time ago, before you were sick or diseased, when they saw you and said, “Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.” Remember that day? You were probably in your 30s, doing a mandatory physical or down with Strep Throat (the only reasons we seem to proactively schedule appointments these days).

Also, your doctor can diagnose anything from an ingrown toenail to cancer — an incredible breadth of knowledge — and another reason you want to go regularly. They worry about us like our mothers, without the nasal whining. Our medical professionals are always advocating for our health, but it is our job to advocate for ourselves by eating well, resting enough, exercising and for the love of your lungs, not smoking. And check-ups.

By the time people are unwell, they are highly motivated see a doctor, make changes or avoid “having to take a pill”(which some associate with pathological unhealth). In fact, they are often so motivated, they’ll show up in my office knowing full well that they are probably going to have to give up cheese, or worse, bread. One has to be pretty desperate to give up cheese and bread.

So get a massage. Do some craniosacral, some sound therapy, some yoga, some Chinese medicine, exercise, eat your vegetables and go to the doctor on occasion.

If they ask you a billion seemingly unimportant questions that you’ve maybe already answered, remember they have fifteen minutes to figure out how much damage you’ve done with Twinkies over the last decade. And when you get those mysterious chart notes and lab records, know that the strange combination of data spells the same word every time: care.

Ammi Midstokke is a nutritional therapist and author. When she isn’t saving people with vegetables, she is trying to get lost in the mountains. She can be contacted at ammi@twobirdsnutrition.com

‘Les Miserables Jr.’ comes to the Panida

By Priya Sullivan Reader Contributor

Sandpoint Waldorf School takes a new twist on a timeless classic. Each year at SWS every class puts on a play, and this year the seventh and eighth grades have come together to create a stunning musical performance of “Les Miserables.” The play will be directed by class teachers Kelly Kietzman, Sarah Shaffer and drama teacher Molly St. Pierre.

“Les Miserables has been one of my favorite plays ever since I was a little girl,” Kietzman said when asked what inspired the pick. “Though much of the subject matter went over my head when I was six years old, I fell in love with the songs and characters. Directing it as an adult has given me an even richer understanding of what this masterpiece portrays.”

“Les Miserables” is a novel by Victor Hugo that takes place in 19th-century France following the story of the peasant Jean Valjean. Valjean served 19 years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving child. He is put on parole for life, but

decides to break it after a bishop teaches him forgiveness with an extreme act of kindness. As a result he is tirelessly hunted by Javert — a police inspector who believes everyone’s first duty is to the law. Jean Valjean adopts a girl named Cosette, as a last promise to her dying mother. Valjean and Cosette start a new life in Paris, though they are still pursued by Javert. Many characters from the French Revolution become entwined throughout the story, as the revolutionaries are trying to overthrow the government.

The Sandpoint Waldorf School’s production puts a new face to this classic.

“I am really excited for our portrayal of this story, as it diverges from the original,” Kietzman said. “Historically, the play is set in post-revolutionary France, with the backdrop being the “student revolution,” which protested the lingering gap between rich and poor. We have designed our play’s time and space to be left up to the individual viewer: it could be two hundred years ago, present day or futuristic. The socio-economic injustices still exist, but our revolutionaries are not exclusively male, but mostly female. We also intentionally cast Jean Valjean as a

woman who harnesses both the masculine and feminine throughout the play. Our hope is to portray and honor the strengths and challenges of both genders.”

Putting on a play of this level has been a major undertaking, Kietzman said: “It has truly taken a village to create this play. We have three co-directors, 25 teenage actors, an administrative dream team, a talented musical director/accompanist, a vocal coach, a professional set designer/builder and his team, costumes from all over Sand-

The cast and crew of “Les Miserables Jr.” which will play at 6:30 p.m. on March 27-28 at the Panida Theater.

point and the support of our historic Panida Theater.”

Don’t miss Les Miserables at 6:30 p.m. on March 27 and 28 at the Panida Theater. To purchase tickets, go to www.panida. org, Eichardt’s Pub, or Sandpoint Waldorf School. General admission tickets are $7.

COMMUNITY

View Cafe set to reopen after re last year

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Nearly a year after The View Cafe was gutted in a fire, the business is building a second life from the ashes.

The Cocolalla restaurant reopens this Monday after a struggle to recover from a 2018 fire that devastated the business. According to the owners, they’re working with all-new equipment and may have a few kinks to work out of the system, but once The View is running like a welloiled machine once again, they will announce a grand re-opening event.

“We have some of the crew back, (and) we have a couple people that worked at the Hound we were able to find jobs for,” said owner Kerri Newsome. “I could go on and on about the past year and how excited we are for this new start.”

The excitement is well earned after the devastation of last year’s fire. On April 10, firefighters responded to reports that The View was smoking heavily. While the fire was extinguished quickly and was relatively contained to the kitchen, the damage was extensive. Business owners were forced to close for an indeterminate period of time, which they ruefully announced on Facebook.

“Yes we had a fire,” read a post on The View Cafe’s Facebook page. “We will be closed for a while but we will be open again and I will let you all know as we get through the process of it all.”

It was a huge setback for a restaurant with true community roots. According to Newsome, The View Cafe’s location has served up good food in one form or another since the late ‘40s or early ‘50s.

“We are happy everyone

was safe, and we are hoping to rebuild,” she told the Reader shortly after the fire. “I will say it is so heartbreaking for all the time my crew and myself have put into the place in the past two and a half years.”

After such a long period out of business, Newsome said it’s exciting to be back doing what

The View does best. But it’s no small amount of work getting set up once again. The restaurant staff has an all-new kitchen to work their way around, and they still need more employees before they can return to the full hours of operation. The View begins with breakfast and lunch service, and it will be open from 7 a.m.-2

p.m. seven days a week.

According to Newsome, full operation will begin once again when the restaurant is running at full capacity. In the meantime, it’s enough to celebrate the end of what has been a tough experience.

“It’s been a long year,” Newsome said.

Annie Hendricks named Chamber Volunteer of the Month

By Reader Staff

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating their March Volunteer of the Month, Annie Hendricks.

John and Annie Hendricks moved their business from Seattle to Sandpoint in 2006 with three small children and set up their office for Hendricks Architecture on Pine Street. The business has grown over the years with projects ranging from small cabins, mountain and lake homes to lodges. These projects are not only spread throughout Bonner County but throughout the U.S. and have been featured in several printed and digital publications.

Annie manages the office and has a great boss who gives her flexibility and time to volunteer in a variety of areas, most of

which are related to her children’s school, church, sports and activities. Education has always been a top priority for Hendricks and her presence at her children’s school has been constant. She has served as the Sagle Elementary PTA President for six years, is a current Care board member, graduation night volunteer, Idaho Tech Mars Rover parent volunteer, parent volunteer for Sandpoint Middle School and Sandpoint High School Band, Kaleidoscope art program, Junior Achievement teacher volunteer for eighth grade. Outside of school activities, she has spent eight years as den leader for her boys Cub Scout troop, two years as Cub Master, secretary of her church council for seven years, current treasurer of Little Lambs School Board, class volunteer for preschool, children’s church teacher and coordinator and

active in Vacation Bible School, a CHAFE 150 volunteer, and a coach and team manager for countless athletic teams.

Hendricks says even though her children are grown, this is not slowing her down. “The kid’s activities are scarcer, but now I can volunteer for things like Beerfest and Winter Carnival.” She not only sponsors, but volunteers for Beerfest, Scenic Half, Summer Sampler and Winter Carnival. She provided an elaborate complimentary hot chocolate bar at the Winter Carnival After Party, complete with different flavors, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and matching outfits for her and her crew. Hendricks is also a Chamber Ambassador.

“The chamber is so grateful for volunteers like Annie Hendricks”, said Chamber Office Manager and Membership Specialist Ricci Witte. “Her

enthusiasm and ideas always bring a positive energy to our events and we always know we can count on her. She is a dream volunteer.”

Thank you, Annie, for all your hard work and dedication to the chamber and our community over the last 12 years. Annie

Hendricks is the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce March Volunteer of the Month.

2019 media survey results are in

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Each year, the Sandpoint Reader and SandpointOnline.com conducts a media survey to better understand what local media consumers read, listen and watch. The results have come in for 2019’s survey, which you can view to the right.

A total of 603 people participated in the survey both online and in person around North Idaho. As we do every year, we selected one of the participants at random to award them a $100 gift certificate at MickDuff’s. This year, Diane Bomgardner of Priest River was selected as the winner. Congratulations, Diane!

In the first category, we asked participants which print media they regularly consume in the region. The Reader came out in the lead with 75.5 percent of participants, followed by Sandpoint Magazine with 65 percent and the Bonner County Daily Bee with 50 percent. The Co-Op Roundup came in with 37 percent, followed by the Inlander (34 percent), Living Local Magazine (25.5 percent), Neighbors by the Daily Bee (10 percent), Northern Journeys (3 percent), the Wise Guide (6 percent), Out There Monthly (5 percent) and the River Valley Beacon (1.5 percent).

In the radio category, KPND 95.3 FM came out ahead with 33 percent, followed

by KRFY 88.5 FM Panhandle Community Radio with 24 percent, K102 County with 17 percent and KPND 106.7 FM with 16 percent. Rock 103 took 13 percent, KSPT 1400 AM took 7 percent and KBFI 1450 AM took 1 percent.

In the online category, SandpointOnline.com leads the pack with over 50 percent, followed by BonnerCountyDailyBee.com with 39.5 percent and SandpointReader.com with 37 percent.

In the social media question, nearly 70 percent of participants said they regularly use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube, while 16 percent said they regularly use the Weekly Town Crier newsletter. In a sub-question for social media, Facebook took the clear lead with 85 percent of participants regularly using it, compared with Instagram (34 percent), YouTube (31 percent) and Pinterest (17 percent).

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s media survey. These results, as well as the hundreds of comments we receive, help us create a better product. They also help us show potential advertisers that the Reader is widely read throughout the county, and it only gets better every year. In 2016, the Reader took 57 percent of votes, followed the next year with 67 percent, 64 percent in 2018 and 75 percent in 2019.

See a pattern? We hope so.

READER, FAT TUESDAY EDITION Get to know rhythmic and acrosport gymnastics

Nellie Lutzwolf and Nick Wolf brought the Reader down to the Bywater, a district of New Orleans, for Mardis Gras. Looks like you guys had a blast! Lutzwolf recently opened a boutique shop on First Ave. in Sandpoint called Wolf & Bell.

By Reader Staff

Sandpoint Parks and Recreation is offering classes exploring rhythmic and acrosport gymnastics in the coming weeks to those aged five and up.

Rhythmics is a beautiful activity that combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, dance and manipulation of five apparatus: ball, clubs, hoops, ribbon and rope into skills and routines to music.

Acrosport uses partners and groups working together to perform acrobatic skills of tumbling, lifts, balances, tosses and catches of partners in combination with dance. Gymnasts of all sizes are needed. Bases are bigger and strong. Tops are petite.

The next class session will take place April 10 through May 16.The registration deadline for

this session is April 6. Classes will take place at Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 N. First Ave. Beginners classes will be Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for ages mature five and up. Intermediate class will be Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. for ages 6 and up. Advanced classes will be Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. for ages 7 and up.

Class fees are $43/session (with a $5 discount for in-cty residents). Multiple family member discounts apply. Scholarships are also available - apply in the Parks and Recreation office.

A minimum of five participants are needed in each class level and a maximum of 12 are allowed, so be sure to register early.

For more information, contact Sandpoint Parks and Recreation at (208) 263-3613

By Reader Staff

Recently, we added a PayPal button to our website to offer readers a chance to support the Reader, similar to our Patreon account. Here’s a quick list of some of those awesome supporters that donated to the Reader recently. We really appreciate your support.

PJP Insurance Services

Loraine Lassen

Don Mutchler

David Smith

Laura White

Laura Forsberg

James Mellen

Kathe Murphy

Annie Kuster

Linda Oens

Susan Howard

Klayton Johanson

James DeCleur

Eileen Keller

Kristina Kingsland

YourChoiceInMyBusiness.com

Ann Evensen

Nancy Cosgrove

Ellie Lizotte

Laura Bethke

Justin Schuck

Lynn Briggs

Nancy Wilder-Williams

Chris Chambers

Sherry Ennis

Matthew Nykiel HGWT, SP

Selkirk Fire named Chamber Business of the Month

By Reader Staff

It should come as no surprise that firefighters have earned some major kudos in the last couple of months. They work tirelessly, in the worst of conditions to keep our community safe. They cannot simply call in sick or hit the snooze button. When an emergency strikes, there are no excuses. Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating the Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS as the March Business of the Month.

The mission of the Selkirk Fire District is to preserve life, property and the environment through dedication, preparedness

and quality customer service.

The Selkirk Fire District wants to provide the public with the best service possible. They proudly serve Bottle Bay, Careywood, Cocolalla, Dover, Garfield Bay, Laclede, Sagle, Sandpoint, Westmond, Willow Bay and Wrenco. Chief Ron Stocking informed Chamber Members at last weeks luncheon of some exciting new developments for Selkirk Fire. As of Jan. 12, they have started staffing the Careywood Fire Station 24 hours a day/seven days a week. They are hoping to do the same at Wrenco with the support of the area voters. They were also able to lower the fire insurance rating for Sandpoint which could result

in lower insurance premiums for our businesses and commercial properties.

With the devastating fire on First Avenue last month, the firefighters were met with extreme conditions. Chief Stocking reported at the height of the fire there were 40 firefighters on the scene. five chiefs, 12 engines, two trucks and two rescues. BCEMS, SPD and BCSO all responded. Almost every Bonner County fire agency assisted.

We are grateful to their continued support and service to our community and the surrounding area. Please join us in thanking Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS. They are the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce March

Business of the Month. For more information about Selkirk Fire find them on Facebook or on their website at www.selkirkfire.com.

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert

Northern Stars Rising at the Heartwood Center

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Coming back for a second year after a spectacular 2018 debut, the Northern Stars are rising again.

The auditions, rehearsals and endless practice sessions are coming to an end, and a talented array of Sandpoint’s best and brightest are ready to showcase their performances for the community. Sponsored by the Pend Oreille Arts Council, Northern Stars Rising is an opportunity for up-and-coming local performers to shine in front of an audience — as well as compete for cash prizes and attention from talent scouts. This year’s show features performances from Sandpoint Hight School Choir Barbershop Quartet, Emily Grace Nicholson, Milla Coggin, Brendan Kelty with Pete Hicks, Riley Anderson, and Stone Cloud 4.

“I’m very excited about the line up this year,” said POAC director Hannah

Combs. “We have a barbershop quartet, a rock band, some stellar vocalists and three of the six acts have written all of their own music. So we have some seriously talented up-and-coming singer-songwriters in the

mix.”

According to Combs, the first year of Northern Stars Rising had a broader focus to determine exactly how to serve the needs of the performers. Based on that experience, the planners decided to shift gears for the second year.

“We realized that we already offer opportunities for local dancers and actors in some of our other productions, so we decided to tighten up the Northern Stars show by highlighting only musicians and vocalists, who otherwise weren’t being served by our programs,” Combs said. “Through much brainstorming, we evaluated how we could create an experience that could be a launchpad for ambitious

and hardworking performers. Our goal is for them to practice the professionalism and receive the exposure that could further their careers as performers and potentially elevate the level of engagements they are able to book in the future.”

This year, performers get a longer set, and they’ll need to make good use of it. They’re competing for up to $400 in cash prizes and the bragging rights as 2019 Performer of the Year, which also yields a professional headshot and more performance opportunities.

Northern Stars Rising takes place at the Heartwood Center Friday, March 29. A reception takes place at 6 p.m., followed by seating at 6:30 p.m. and the performance at 7 p.m. Tickets are already sold out online, but proactive individuals may still find a few available at the local locations: Eve’s Leaves, Eichardt’s, Winter Ridge and 7B Bistro in Ponderay.

Auditions set for Ting merit scholarship

By Reader Staff

If you have aspirations for the big stage, or a career in music, and have at least four years’ experience playing a musical instrument or singing vocals, you may be interested in auditioning for the last of this spring’s three Ting Merit Scholarships to the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. This $300 scholarship, to be used toward tuition at the Conservatory this summer or fall, will be awarded to the student who exhibits a desire for high levels of achievement in musical performance and study. Auditions will be held on Friday, May 10 and Saturday,

May 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. These auditions are open to piano, strings, theater and voice students of middle or high school age. Students can pick up an application at MCS (110 Main St.) during business hours. Each student is expected to prepare a performance piece, be ready to play scales and test in music theory and site reading.

“Our tech-savvy partner, Ting, has helped us offer three scholarships this year,” MCS development director Katie Greenland said. “Two have been auditioned for and received. The winner of the last spot will be announced on May 28 at our Fourth Annual All Stars Concert

For more information about the merit scholarship audition or other classes offered by MCS call 208-265-4444.

I’m a North Idaho kid raised by a North Idaho logger, so I take any chance to more about the history of PNW timber management. I recently began reading “Deadfall: Generations of Logging in the Pacific Northwest” and I didn’t anticipate the incredible storytelling delivered by author James LeMonds. He puts anecdotes within the context of history, when timber ruled the PNW, while also acknowledging the industry’s dramatic decline and attempting to envision a future. I can tell LeMonds cares about the history of logging and the men who call it their profession in the way he tends to their voices.

I can’t recommend Driftwood’s latest single “Lay Like You Do” enough. I got into this band recently while I prepared to interview them for the March 14 Reader about their shows in North Idaho this weekend. Driftwood’s most popular tracks feature that “foot-stomping fervor” touted in the band’s bio, and they do that style well, but “Lay Like You Do” brings something new to Driftwood’s repertoire that has me playing it on repeat.

READ LISTEN WATCH

Alright, alright, I know I’m late to the party, but Brooklyn Nine-Nine is great. It took a few episodes for the humor to grow on me, but the chemistry between the quirky characters kept me coming back. Main character Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) has his own (weird, annoying) appeal, but my personal favorite is the very dry Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher). If we’re being honest, though, I see a lot of myself in high-strung, overachiever Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), and I can’t say I’m proud of that.

From Northern Idaho News, March 25, 1919

OLD SMELTER CASE DISMISSED BY COURT

The dispatches last week contained the announcement that the supreme court had upheld the order of District Judge R. N.Dunn dismissing the attachment of Heaton et al against the Panhandle Smelter company. As the smelter several years ago had gone to the bondholders through foreclosure proceedings, very few people had the remotest idea of what the suit meant. In fact, the smelter has been so long out of business that the name was not readily recognized.

The suit in question dates back to 1907. Heaton was the manager of the smelter and he had induced friends of his, mostly St. Paul and Duluth people, to put up money for the operation of the plant and the completion of some of the buildings which had not been finished. The money advanced amounted to $55,000, and attachment proceedings were to secure repayment of these funds. Attorney G. H. Martin was the referee in the case to take testimony and he had to make a trip back to St. Paul, where most of the testimony was taken in 1908. The defendants gave a bond and the property was released and the case dragged through the courts.

The attachment was later dissolved by Judge Dunn of the district court on the grounds that it had been irregularly and improperly issued. The plaintiff appealed this decision to the supreme court, and the decision just rendered confirms that decision of the district judge.

I awoke this morning to the sound of a fly, trapped behind a transparent prison that was my window. First with one eye, then with two, I watched as it continued to spend valuable energy hurling itself against something it would not, could not, understand.

How could it, I quipped, with nothing more than a tiny entanglement of nerve cells contained within a non-existent skull. Yet its behavior suggested awareness.

My eyes slowly retreated into themselves once again, but my ears continued to listen. That’s when it occurred to me — such a simple insignificant soul... that still under-

the fly

By Mike Wagoner Reader Contributor

stood the value of freedom.

Mike Wagoner has a dual personality. By day he is a science teacher and by night a singer-songwriter. He has recently moved to the area from Nashville, where he taught school

Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don’t know what your rights are, or who the person is you’re talking to. Then, on the way out, slam the door.

myopic /mahy - OP - ik / [adjective]

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1.Shoestring

5.Plaster

10.Printer’s unit

14.Distant

15.Not together

16.Nameless

17.Preachy

19.Not this

20.Mire

21.Bay window

22.Mountain crest

23.Fables

25.Work hard

27.Terminate

28.Pu ness

31.Tribes

34.Future fungus

35.Foot digit

36.Awestruck

37.Donkey

38.Horn sound

39.“___ Maria”

40.1/100th of a ruble

41.Mountain lakes

42.Theater area

44.An unskilled actor

Solution on page 26

59.French school

60.A single time

61.Nonsense

62.Typewrote

63.One who colors cloth

DOWN

1.Young sheep

9.And so forth

10.Guard

11.Heir

12.Jacket

13.Blind (poker)

18.Groin

22.Adept

24.Lease

26.Relating to aircraft

38.Pack down

40.Composer

Jerome ____

41.Domesticates

43.Flail

44.Intense dislike

46.Inscribed pillar

47.Bonkers

48.Draw forth

Week of the

1. unable or unwilling to act prudently; shortsighted.

“The myopic administration decided to cut back on employee benefits.”

Corrections: We’re fairly certain there are no corrections to list this week. But you never know, do you? -BO

45.Half of six

46.Tried out

50.Butter maker

52.Not glossy

54.Lyric poem

55.Unusual

56.A tornado over water

58.Beers

2.Underway

3.Freight

4.Historic period

5.Coupled

6.Orbital point

7.Be worthy of

8.A framework of metal bars

28.Binge

29.Midday

30.Obtains

31.Poop

32.Magma

33.Openings

34.Domination

37.Drill

49.Discourage

50.Fourth sign of the zodiac

51.Angel’s headwear

53.At the peak of

56.Damp

57.Detachable container

BRINGINGIT

From the food on your table, to the car in your driveway and the television on your wall, just about everything you use once rode on our rails.

BNSF Railway moves millions of carloads of freight through Idaho and Washington each year, delivering consumergoods to local businesses, and connecting our region'sfarmers and manufacturers tocustomers throughout the world.

Learn more about the critical role BNSF plays in the local economy at BNSFNorthwest.com.

�,Ill�..F'" ConnectingthePacific RA/LWAY Northwestsince 1873