My wife and I have two major wishes for our kids’ personalities: that they are kind and funny. I dare say we succeeded. I was reminded of this in the past week, when our 13- and 11-year-old dropped a couple of good-natured burns on each other that have kept us laughing ever since. First, the 13-yearold was forcefully expounding on his preference for Carhartt clothing because he “trusts” it over other (much more affordable) brands. I was doing dishes and only half listening to the conversation he was having about this sartorial snobbery with his sister in the other room. My ears pricked up when I thought I heard her dismissively refer to him as “Carharttman,” as in the South Park character Cartman. I immediately busted up laughing and congratulated her on such an epic takedown. However, it turned out that she only sort of called him that, but the intent was there. She’s been stewing over the fact that she didn’t 100% coin the phrase, and her brother has been reveling in her disappointment at not totally landing the jab. That went on for a few days and reached a head when we were all sitting at Evans Brothers enjoying some afternoon refreshment. Someone called the 13-year-old “Carharttman” again and the 11-year-old got exasperated about her half-landed barb all over again. At that point, the 13-year-old looked stone-cold at the 11-year-old, leaned back in his chair and said with pure Carharttman sass: “You had all the ingredients for a cake, but you made an omelette.” I almost choked on my tea. I mean, that’s a solid-gold smackdown that somehow hits so hard on so many levels. Needless to say, the gauntlet has been thrown and we’re in a low-level insult war at my house. I couldn’t be prouder.
an easy win in the kitchen
I made merguez for my family the other night, and it was such a hit that I’ll share the recipe, taken from Jacques Pépin. These are basically little lamband-pork patties that are Jacques’ take on a popular North African street food. Ingredients: 1 pound ground lamb, 1 pound ground Italian sausage, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin, ¾ teaspoon paprika, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, kosher salt, four 6-inch flour tortillas (brushed with olive or canola oil and seasoned with herbes de Provence), 16 bibb lettuce leaves. Directions: Combine the spices and meats and form into about 16 patties. Grill them over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes until browned. Set aside and keep warm. Grill the oiled and seasoned tortillas until browned and crispy, then quarter them. Put the lettuce on the tortilla pieces, plop a pattie on each and prepare for the applause.
READER DEAR READERS,
This week’s cover photo was submitted by Steve Johnson, a longtime Bonner County resident who happens to be my elementary school principal and sixthgrade teacher. The photo below is the same truck in 1960 showing the four Johnson brothers (L-R): Lester, Richard, Steve and Ron Johnson. “Behind the 1939 Ford stud truck,” Steve wrote, “our dad Roy Johnson talking with neighbor Floyd Rex.” Have a great week, everyone.
–Ben Olson, publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com
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Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Kyle Pfannenstiel, Emily Erickson, Jennifer Ekstrom, Sandy Compton, Tim Bearly
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The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson, Zach Hagadone and Soncirey Mitchell. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, bluster, 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.
The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. For back issues, contact the publisher. Free to all, limit two per person, please.
Letter to the Editor Policy:
We welcome letters to the editor on all relevant topics. Please, no more than 200 words, no excessive profanity or libelous statements and no trolls. Please elevate the discussion and stay on topic. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinons expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publisher. Send to: letters@sandpointreader.com
About the Cover:
This week’s cover photo was submitted by Steve Johnson.
Commissioners address usage, animal concerns at solid waste sites
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners’ business meeting on March 17 drew a large and vocal crowd due to two agenda items considering the closure of the Lakeview and Schweitzer solid waste sites. The unattended sites have been a longtime issue due to bear activity and illegal dumping. Still, due in part to public outcry, the commissioners voted to work with Bonner County Solid Waste and the local communities to find alternative solutions to closing the dumps.
The Lakeview Site, located off of U.S. Forest Service Road 278 near the seasonal community at Lakeview, is only accessible in the summertime. The site collects between 400 and 500 yards of trash annually, excluding non-household garbage such as tires or building materials illegally dumped at the site. The next closest collection site is Careywood, located 27 miles west.
“The Lakeview collection site has long served residents and visitors; however, its remote location, seasonal high usage and limited oversight have resulted in conditions that are no longer manageable through routine operations,” said Waste Management Director Bob Howard. “In addition to ongoing wildlife issues, particularly involving bears, the site has increasingly been used in ways that violate county solid waste regulations.”
According to Howard, who cited concerns from various Idaho Fish and Game officials, the frequency of bears at the site not only represents a safety hazard to humans, but results in “scattered refuse” in and adjacent to the forest, disrupting “natural foraging patterns” and contributing to “ecological imbalance.”
“Members of the public routinely leave waste outside designated containers, including
containers of human sewage and hazardous waste, creating the public and health concerns,” Howard said. “These activities increase cleanup costs, accelerate container wear and diminish the intended purpose of the facility.”
According to Commissioner Asia Williams, the question of Lakeview’s viability comes up almost every year. A live-in employee previously staffed the site to ensure proper use; however, “with no accountability, that didn’t turn out to be financially feasible,” according to Howard. In the past, the county attempted to curb illegal dumping by installing game cameras, only to have them stolen.
Members of the public commenting on the issue argued that closing the site and directing homeowners to Careywood would simply result in more illegal dumping and trash burning, causing risks to public health.
Commissioner Ron Korn conceded the possibility that much of the household waste scattered around the site may
have begun in the cans and been removed by wild animals, but, “there’s no way to control that without spending tens of thousands of dollars.”
Further, both he and BOCC Chair Brian Domke argued against unattended sites in general, as they allow users to circumvent fees and dump illegally, thereby adding costs that taxpayers must shoulder. The majority of Solid Waste’s budget comes from user fees, rather than taxes.
Though the commissioners unanimously voted down the motion to close the site, they instructed Solid Waste to seek alternative sites or management
practices to better serve the area.
The majority of meeting attendees came on behalf of the Schweitzer site, which in 2025 accumulated 4,000 yards of trash. The site is owned by Schweitzer, operated by the county and supervised by the Schweitzer Fire District. The county pays the district $1,200 a year to oversee the site — a fee that the Schweitzer Mountain Community Association matches.
According to Independent Highway District Commissioner Mel Bailey and members of the public, the site is only an issue during the winter, when the influx of seasonal residents
and weather-related reduction of collection days coincide, leading to overflow and attracting bears. Schweitzer and the county have worked together in the past to restrict wildlife, adding “bear-resistant containers” and fencing, which lessened the problem.
Bailey said that area residents have already begun brainstorming additional measures to keep the dump clean and safe, including installing a camera system and trash compactor, having volunteers conduct morning and afternoon checks, and raising funds to hire an attendant.
“This site up there is invaluable to the community, and it’s something that I would look at [in] the future as being a manned site, but at this time the homeowners can do quite a good job of maintaining it and doing more, because we’re willing to put more into it,” he said.
The commissioners voted unanimously to instruct Solid Waste to work with Schweitzer on possible improvements to the site.
Sandpoint swears in new city clerk, announces new business hours
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Sandpoint City Hall announced some big administrative changes in the past week: first, that Meri Jane Bohn would take over as city clerk following the retirement of Melissa Ward from the position, effective March 26; and second, that city offices would be closed to walk-in traffic on Fridays beginning April 10.
The closure is intended to “enhance service delivery and provide more accessible hours for the community,” according to officials, including extended hours from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Utility payments can be
made at any time using one of the two City Hall drop boxes — one located on the street and the other by the front doors — as well as at sandpointidaho.gov or through ACH, or dropped off during the new business hours.
Despite being closed to walk-in traffic on Fridays, staff is still available for appointments as needed by scheduling with the appropriate department. Contact information is available on the city’s website.
Police and fire services will remain available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year, and other city services will continue on the new four-day, 10-hour schedule with Parks, Building and Grounds
working seven days per week and utilities and streets crews working Monday-Friday.
For general questions regarding the Friday closure, call 208-263-3158. To provide feedback on the schedule changes, contact Central Services Director Cheryl Hughes at 208-255-2657 or chughes@ sandpointidaho.gov.
Incoming Clerk Bohn was sworn in at the regular March 25 meeting of the Sandpoint City Council, filling the role held by Ward since 2019, who also served 10 years as deputy city clerk.
Bohn comes to Sandpoint from Tonasket, Wash., where she served as clerk and treasurer. She also previously worked in municipal utilities in western and central Washington, as well as Rathdrum.
“Meri Jane, we are lucky to have your skills and your background and I work with the city clerk daily and it’s a super close position to the mayor and certainly supports the council and everything we do here to run the city,” Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm said prior to Bohn’s swearing in.
For her part, Bohn said she was “humbled and honored to be here.”
The clerk operates at the center of City Hall operations, encompassing everything from managing meeting agendas and minutes to processing public records requests, serving as the city’s risk manager and more.
The Lakeview solid waste site. Photo courtesy of Bonner County Solid Waste Dept.
BOCC, Fair Board look to the future
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting March 23 with members of the Fair Board, discussing the future of the fair and addressing various operational questions with input from legal counsel. Though neither side has made any official decisions, the Fair Board will consider drafting a memorandum of understanding between the two boards and broadening the scope of the fair’s events.
Fair Board Chairman Ben Wood first suggested the idea of an MOU inspired by the Kootenai County Fair, which he described as an “operating agreement, basically” so that the county and fair “have a path forward, you know, without trying to reinvent the wheel” every time the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners turns over.
“We would like to move forward with operating the fair,” said Wood. “We’d like to move forward — the community would like to move forward — and kind of get the fair up and going. Get the fair out of the hot seat, if you will.”
The question of the Fair Board’s powers over county employees and property has long haunted both the county and the fair and, recently, bogged down operations. The controversy stems from a Dec. 4, 2025 BOCC meeting, when Human Resources Director Jonathan Holmgren requested permission to update fairgrounds employee job descriptions to clarify that they work for, and report to, the county — not the Fair Board. The commissioners voted to proceed with the revisions, noting that the fair manager and related positions “have no direct reporting responsibility to the Fair Board.” They overturned that vote on Dec. 30 after public outcry, with many arguing that the decision would have undermined
the Fair Board, which works closely with fairgrounds employees throughout the year.
The MOU would clarify the balance of powers between the Fair Board and the BOCC.
Wood did not propose any specific language as he and his fellow board members hadn’t “necessarily discussed” it, but wanted to gauge the BOCC’s receptiveness to the idea.
“Is that possible, or are we going to be locked horns in this battle for eternity?” asked Wood.
The commissioners each stated they were open to an MOU, with Chair Brian Domke cautioning that, even if adopted, the “board can’t bind a future board in their actions” should they have a different interpretation of statute.
The BOCC gave the Fair Board the green light to draft an MOU based on Kootenai County’s example. To further clarify future operations and the relationship between the boards, Domke also requested
that the Fair Board submit “quarterly financial updates.”
“Each year we’re about $60,000 short-ish, with a little bit more every year,” said Commissioner Asia Williams. “We’re not a profitable fair; we’re not self-sustaining. Even if we knock down a little bit of that money every year, that would help us see that we’re headed in the right direction.”
Staci McBrayer, who stepped down from her position as Fair Board treasurer on March 10 to take up the position of fair manager, asked for clarification on what the commissioners “think success looks like” for the fair.
“I don’t mind jumping in: Financial stability, right? Because that’s what makes things viable long-term,” said Williams.
“I don’t have any answers, but my perception is we’ve been losing community engagement year over year, and how do we change that trend?” added Domke.
“I think there are aspects of that, that may have a little bit to do with, culturally, people’s interests are also shifting somewhat, and I don’t ever want to lose our agricultural roots, because it’s critical ... That said, I think being more open to what other types of things can be a part of the fair, I think, is part of the future of success with attracting a broader audience as our community grows.”
Domke suggested hosting events and activities that are
“not commonly done” at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, but are popular at other regional fairs to boost attendance. Commissioner Ron Korn seconded that idea, adding that attracting new audiences will also introduce people to the fair’s staples, such as 4-H activities, which have lost participants in recent years.
Applications are open for the two remaining Fair Board seats. Visit bit.ly/BoCoFairBoard for more information.
Schweitzer to end winter season early
By Reader Staff
After historically low snowfall and losing two feet of snowpack in the past two weeks, Schweitzer announced March 24 that closing day would be Sunday, April 5 — a week earlier than expected.
“It’s no surprise that this winter season was incredibly difficult,” stated Tom Chasse, president and COO of Schweitzer. “Resorts within our region and across the West were challenged with delayed openings, unseasonably warm temperatures, dramatic rain and wind events, and significantly less natural snowfall than we’ve seen in decades. The fact that we maintained operations consecutively from December to April feels like something we should be proud of considering the circumstances.”
Total snowfall at the Schweitzer village is currently at 164 inches, which is 54% lower than an average winter season. By comparison, the 2024-’25 winter season saw a total of 292 inches.
“I want to thank our staff for their unmatched optimism, their adaptability and for showing up each day with positivity, something that we affectionately call the Schweitzer Difference,” Chasse added. “In addition, our pass holders are the heart of our mountain community and continue to gear up and make the most of it. We even have several folks who have skied or boarded every day we’ve been open.”
Closing weekend festivities, including the annual Pass Holder Appreciation Day and Schpring Finale, will take place on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5. Previously
scheduled events for the weekend, including Hillside Hustle and Easter celebrations, will
still be held as planned. For more information, visit schweitzer.com.
The Bonner County Fairgrounds. Courtesy photo
Photo courtesy of Schweitzer
Dist. 1 legislators, ID school superintendent will gather for local town halls March 28
By Reader Staff
Legislative Dist. 1 Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, and 1A Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, will host their third in a series of legislative updates and town halls in Bonner and Boundary counties, with three events planned for Saturday, March 28. This time, however, they will be joined by Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield.
First, from 9-10:30 a.m., the lawmakers and superintendent will gather with constituents at the Boundary County Fairgrounds Valley Event Center (6567 Recreation Park Road, in Bonners Ferry), followed by noon-
1:30 p.m. at the Sandpoint Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.) and from 3-4:30 p.m. at the West Bonner Library (118 Main St., in Priest River).
The Sandpoint event will be broadcast live by KRFY 88.5 FM and later made available at krfy.org.
The first town hall series took place Jan. 31 and the second on Feb. 28. The March 28 event will likely be the last before the 2026 Idaho Legislature adjourns for its annual session.
“Please join us for an update and, more importantly, to provide your thoughts and feedback,” Woodward stated in a newsletter. “I hope to see you there.”
Sandpoint ‘No Kings Day’ rally and forum set for March 28
By Reader Staff
Sandpoint Indivisible will host a “No Kings” street rally and forum Saturday, March 28, from 2-4 p.m. on First Avenue in front of the Bonner County Courthouse, in conjunction with a community forum during the same time at the Sandpoint Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.).
Organizers stated that the event is intended to give attendees the opportunity “to celebrate their First Amendment rights” and represents the third national day of action in the past year in response to the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The nationwide movement includes multiple participating organizations, which brought an estimated 5 million people together at 2,100 events in June 2025, and a further 7 million at 2,700 events in October 2025.
“It is anticipated that there will be over 3,000 events on Saturday, and that it will be the largest single-day protest in U.S. history,” Sandpoint Indivisible stated in a news release.
Sandpoint Indivisible and 1 Million Rising Sandpoint, who are working together on the March 28 demonstration in Sandpoint, emphasized the event is
Bits ’n’ Pieces
From east, west and beyond
Sweden’s V-Dem Institute, which tracks democracy, recently reported that, “The speed with which American democracy is currently being dismantled is unprecedented in modern history.”
Prominent Jeffrey Epstein reporter Julie K. Brown recently said that after the convicted sex offender was found dead in his prison cell in 2019, a corrections officer told the FBI an investigation team was “shredding huge amounts of paperwork” while FBI agents were in the building. Another officer told the FBI “you may want to investigate why the [prison] employees are destroying records.”
nonpartisan and peaceful.
“The No Kings Day of action is intended to send clear messages to current and future elected officials, not to campaign for individual candidates or parties,” organizers added.
Participants are invited to bring a sign, wear a costume and “come to have fun.” Materials will be available for participants to make their own signs. Trained peacekeepers will be present for the entire event.
The associated forum will include music, refreshments, and space for conversation and connection. Attendees can share information about how federal and state policies affect local life — from public lands and health care to education and infrastructure — and join in creating collective actions that reflect regional priorities.
“The ultimate goal of the events is to find common ground across a broad range of people with varying political viewpoints,” organizers stated.
For more information on Sandpoint Invisible and to sign up, go to tinyurl.com/NoKings3-28. Sign-ups are used in the estimate of national crowd size. More information and training on peaceful protest is available at nokings.org.
After a February CBS story about a past investigation of Epstein and 14 others for drug trafficking, prostitution and money laundering, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., raised the concern that the Drug Enforcement Agency and Department of Justice under the first Donald Trump administration “moved to terminate this investigation.” Wyden posted on social media that Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche, who is now deputy attorney general, has blocked “the DEA from providing details of a mysterious Epstein investigation to my Finance Committee team.” He called it “stunning interference,” especially since the documents are marked “unclassified.” AG Pam Bondi has been subpoenaed to answer questions on April 14 about the Epstein files.
Various media reported that Trump is considering winding down the Iran war, but the Pentagon wants $200 billion more for the conflict. When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked why $200 billion more is needed if the war is ending, he responded, “It takes money to kill bad guys.” Meanwhile, Trump has threatened to “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the Gulf of Hormuz is not opened to more oil traffic. Iran promised retaliation against its neighbors, which Trump has admitted was not anticipated. Due to the Iran war, the head of the International Energy Agency said the global economy faces a “major, major threat.” Iranian officials want a ceasefire, monetary compensation and no resumption of war. Alternative energy interests said the fallout from the war is a “global wakeup call” for renewable energy, since more than 90% of new renewable power projects in 2024 were cheaper than fossil fuel.
Trump said on social media that “good and productive conversations” are happening with Iran, though that was after Trump backed away from threats
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
to destroy Iranian infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened within 48 hours. No such direct talks are occurring, Iran’s parliament speaker posted on X, calling Trump’s statement “fake news” intended to manipulate the financial and oil markets, and “to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped.” According to the International Criminal Court, “intentionally directing attacks” against infrastructure is a “crime against humanity,” intended to cause widespread civilian suffering and deaths.
The New York Times reported that Israel’s assassination of Iran’s top security leader could allow the nation’s military to “tighten its grip” on the ruling system, reducing negotiation outcomes with Iran’s remnant leaders.
Over the past weekend Trump posted: “Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party! Thank you for your attention to this matter...”
Former-FBI Director Robert Mueller, 81, died. As special counsel, he probed Trump and Russian 2016 election interference, which did not exonerate Trump and led to the conviction of five Americans, who were later pardoned by Trump. Former-President George W. Bush said Mueller’s post 9-11 FBI work prevented “another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.” Former-President Barack Obama said that Mueller’s FBI leadership saved “countless lives.” Trump said, “Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people.”
According to The Hill, longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon described the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports as a “test run” for stationing ICE at election polls. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library recently awarded a Profile in Courage to the people of Minnesota’s Twin Cities for peaceful resistance to often violent federal immigration agents. Blast from the (recent) blast: “Some in this room are going to prison, myself included,” if Democrats win 2026 midterm elections and the presidency in 2028, former Trump aide Steve Bannon recently told a crowd of conservatives as he urged passage of the Safeguard America Voter Eligibility Act. If signed into law, the Act has the potential to shave off enough Democratic votes to favor Republicans in the upcoming elections.
Photo by Ben Olson
Northside and Westside fire districts seeking levies in May 2026 election
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Voters in the Northside and Westside fire districts will have levies to consider on the Tuesday, May 19 election ballot, after fire commissioners in both districts voted 3-0 to ask patrons for additional funding.
The upcoming levy requests follow two failed ballot measures asking for a permanent levy in 2025, which resulted in fire services leadership working to retain levels of service and staffing throughout the area.
Returning to voters in May, the new Northside levy would put in place temporary funding for two years, intended to “give the fire district some budget relief, allowing leadership to explore long-
term plans, alternative funding and other ways to maintain the current service levels,”
Northside Fire officials stated, adding that recent sales of land and fire engines from outlying stations have provided “some temporary budget relief; however, without financial relief or alternative programs that will bring in revenue, the current level of staffing is not sustainable.”
The Northside levy would add a tax of $21 per $100,000 of taxable assessed property value per year, based on current conditions, and raise an estimated $689,112 per year. If approved, the overall tax burden on residents in the district would be $41 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value.
“Increased demand for
services, old fire engines costing more to repair, a decline in volunteers and inflation far exceeding the 3% annual increase allowed by statute without voter approval, have created an insurmountable challenge for the district and its leadership,” Northside officials stated.
The Westside override levy seeks a lower amount than the 2025 measure, requesting an increase of $24 per $100,000 of assessed value annually in order to fund an additional firefighter position.
“Based on feedback from the community, we lowered the amount, removed the capital funds — the amount requested for a fire engine — along with focusing on only two firefighters per day,”
Westside officials stated. “Other factors have had an impact on our budget and the ability to continue to provide services. Increased calls, older fire engines costing more to repair, a decline in volunteers and inflation far exceeding the budget growth have created an insurmountable challenge for the district and its leadership.”
The language to be put before voters in the May election states:
“The levy will be used to increase the number of firefighter/EMTs, from one per day to two per day, in the Westside Fire Protection District (an increase of three full-time firefighter/EMTs to a total six full-time firefighter/ EMTs), maintain the Fire District’s operations and will
ID Senate to consider bill criminalizing trans people using preferred bathrooms
By Kyle Pfannenstiel Idaho Capital Sun
The Idaho Senate is one of the last stops for a bill that would criminalize “willfully” entering public and government bathrooms and changing rooms designated for another sex.
The bill would effectively block transgender people from using their preferred public bathrooms in Idaho, expanding on the state’s transgender bathroom ban in public schools.
House Bill 752 would create criminal misdemeanor and felony charges for people who “knowingly and willfully” enter a bathroom or changing room designated for the opposite sex, with some exceptions. The bill would apply in government-owned buildings and places of public accommodations, like private businesses.
A first offense would carry a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison. A second offense within
five years would be a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Bill sponsor Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, told senators in a March 23 committee hearing that the bill protects “common-sense realities.”
“The Legislature has a fundamental duty to protect the bodily privacy and safety of Idaho citizens,” Toews said.
“House Bill 752 provides a clear, proactive tool to secure sex-separated private spaces in our state, while accommodating common-sense realities.”
Nikson Mathews, a trans man with a beard, told senators this bill “is about criminalizing trans people.”
”What this bill does is create confusion. It forces someone who looks like me into the women’s restroom,” Mathews said.
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on March 23 advanced the bill to the full Senate on a party-line vote. The committee’s two Democrats, Sens. Melissa Wintrow,
of Boise, and James Ruchti, of Pocatello, opposed it.
The House widely passed the bill on a 54-15 vote. If the bill passes the full Senate, it would next go to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration.
In a statement, ACLU of Idaho spokesperson Taylor Munson said the bill is about threatening trans people.
“Lawmakers ignored overwhelming evidence that trans folks do not harm people in bathrooms, and instead resorted to demonizing the trans community without offering any robust evidence to justify their stance,” Munson said.
Committee rushed through bill, cutting off public testimony early
The committee sped through the bill, in what appears to be the near end of the 2026 legislative session. Just five people testified after committee Chairman Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, cut off testimony. Two were in support of the bill, and three were against.
The bill outlines sever-
be a tax increase of $24 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based upon current conditions, for a total of $67 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, per year, based upon current conditions.”
Northside Fire commissioners meet on the third Wednesday of the month and Westside commissioners meet on the second Wednesday of each month. Northside commissioners gather at 4 p.m. at 437 Cedar Ave., in Ponderay, and Westside commissioners meet at 8 a.m. at 825 Railroad Ave., in Dover. Check the districts’ Facebook pages or visit selkirkfire. us for more information, including locations and times of other meetings and town halls.
al exceptions, including to give medical assistance, law enforcement assistance, and if someone “is in dire need of urinating or defecating and such facility is the only facility reasonably available at the time of the person’s use.”
Earlier in the committee hearing, Wintrow pressed the bill sponsor on how law enforcement would be able to know if someone truly had a “dire need” to use the bathroom that prompted them to use a restroom designated for another sex. She said the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police had flagged that exception as concerning.
“I have the utmost faith in our law enforcement to do an investigation and figure out whether or not there was really an emergency,” Toews replied.
In a letter to a House committee, the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police wrote that the bill “presents significant practical enforcement challenges for law enforcement officers in the field,” the Idaho Capital
Sun reported.
Ruchti said the bill “is really about trans people.”
Sen. Brandon Shippy, R-New Plymouth, said the bill doesn’t target trans people. But he doubted the existence of gender identity as a concept.
“There is no oppressed community that we’re dealing with here. Because there is only male and female,” Shippy said.
After the committee adjourned, audience members immediately sang in a choir.
“Hold on, hold on. My dear one, here comes the dawn,” they sang.
Then they gathered outside the room, hugging each other as some cried.
This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com.
Bouquets:
• As someone who rides a bike to work during the warmer months, I always appreciate drivers who understand bicycling laws. This means not stopping randomly and waving bikes through an intersection when a car clearly has the right-ofway. While drivers might think they’re being polite, it gums up the works when you stop and wave bikes through. Just treat them like another vehicle. Also, try not to loom behind a bike because you’re afraid to pass them. Give as much space as you can and drive past. Trust me, bicyclists are used to it and won’t be offended when a car passes them. Finally, please don’t yell out the window at a biker when they’re just following the rules. Remember the “Idaho Stop”: bikes can roll through stop signs when no one is coming and they can stop and go through red lights when the way is clear. Bikers, do your part and don’t ride on sidewalks or against traffic.
Barbs:
• Here’s a brief breakdown of a press conference that President Donald Trump gave on March 20: 12:03 p.m., Trump tells reporters he wants a ceasefire with Iran; 12:05 p.m. he declared victory; 12:07 p.m. he announced he was sending Marines to the conflict; 12:08 p.m. he said no boots on the ground; 12:11 p.m. he said he did not want a ceasefire; 12:16 p.m. he declared victory again; 12:17 p.m. he asked for a ceasefire; 12:23 p.m. he told NATO members they were cowards; 12:29 p.m. he said Iran was begging for a ceasefire; 12:31 p.m. he said everything was perfect; 12:36 p.m. he said $500 oil was a good thing; 12:37 p.m. he demanded Iran open the Strait of Hormuz; 12:39 p.m. he said Hormuz was never closed; 12:41 p.m. he said the U.S. was not at war with Iran; 12:42 p.m. he declared victory in Iran. Yikes.
‘Mops do have their uses’…
Dear editor,
Ben Olson recently suggested a mop leaned against a wall would make a better state senator than me [“Bouquets and Barbs,” March 19, 2026]. Fair enough — mops do have their uses.
But I don’t think a mop could have led the effort to override Gov. Brad Little’s veto of H.B. 292 in 2023, delivering $317.4 million in property tax relief — money North Idahoans still see every year as the Homeowner Tax Reduction on their tax bills.
I stopped the Priest Lake Siphon Project. I united Republicans and Democrats to kill Bayer/Monsanto’s pesticide immunity bill — then held the line when Bayer came back twice with rewrites. I passed S.B. 1258 through the Senate 33-2 to protect public access to Idaho’s public lands.
Then there’s Sen. Jim Woodward, who voted “yes” on S.B. 1086 — a bill that would have made it a crime for Idahoans to access their own public land when the federal government posted a restriction. While I was fighting to keep public land open, my opponent was voting to let Idaho criminalize you for setting foot on it.
Mops are great for cleaning up messes. I’ve been working to prevent them.
Scott Herndon Sandpoint
[Editor’s note: S.B. 1086 was introduced in the 2025 Legislature with the following statement of purpose: “[W]hen the government or a landowner allows recreational use of land subject to terms or limitations, and gives notice of those terms, and a recreationist acts contrary to the terms of that permission, then the recreationist shall be considered in criminal trespass. The penalties shall be the same as those for criminal trespass.” It passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 18-16 but did not advance past the House Resources and Conservation Committee.]
blackmail, intimidate, extort, and find all the loopholes and vulnerabilities of our democratic republic. He has exposed all our institutional weaknesses — all the ways our Constitution and the rule of law can be twisted and manipulated. We owe him a huge thank-you.
After he’s dead and gone, we will have the information we need to make our country stronger, more effective and a more perfect union than ever before.
Steve Johnson Sagle
‘Marking my mark for Mark’…
Dear editor,
A recent letter to the editor was headlined “Jane is the ‘right’ Sauter” The letter had me asking, “How do we pick the ‘right’ Sauter?” [“‘Jane (the “right”) Sauter’...,” March 19, 2026.]
Consider three points: labels, campaign contributions and IFF ratings:
A newbie wing of the Republican Party has taken to labeling those not sharing their views as a closet Democrat or RINO. This is not the GOP most of us have known.
The GOP I know supports Idaho values, including solid infrastructure, favorable business climate, good jobs and a decent quality of life. Mark Sauter works hard to ensure his bills are constituent driven. Whether it is maintaining water levels in Lake Pend Oreille or defending local control, Mark is on the job.
Mark Sauter’s campaign contributions are balanced between corporate donors and individuals. The individuals represent Idahoans. The corporate donors are North Idaho and Idaho businesses that make our economy strong and provide jobs for our families.
IFF ratings are based on how the legislator votes on IFF-favored bills. Do you want your legislator working for the IFF or for you?
Yes, it’s important to pick the right Sauter.
nihilism is what a lot of mainstream comedians keep offering up these days, so any laughter is likely nervousness and a little release of fear. It is more than just our declining rights and jobs with a living wage — the consequences of criminal warmongering leaders. The headlines that trump all of that political depravity are the following: global storming, drought, fires, famine and overpopulation of the most destructive species. There is nothing funny about our unmistakable mass suffering on this sad, abused planet. However, our stress levels require laughter more than ever, so I suggest looking to other species. My cats are my favorite comedians and they do make me laugh aloud. Lately, they have been rolling in fresh catnip and going crazy for spring. Dogs, squirrels, mushrooms and many types of birds can be really funny, also.
Jodi Rawson Sandpoint
‘War or conflict or excursion’...
Dear editor, Definition of the word “excursion”: A short trip for pleasure. Trump and Mike Johnson both used the word “excursion” when talking about the war in Iran. Trump stated that, “the war in Iran was over in the first hour, and we won.” If Trump is telling the truth, why does he want $23 billion for weapons? Another war without an end in sight, continuing to isolate the U.S. from what used to be our allies.
I guess if you insult those who were our allies and lay heavy tariffs on what those countries export to the U.S., how can he expect those countries to be supportive of him? He is a bellicose idiot with no idea what havoc he’s creating and how he’s weakened and potentially destroyed America. But be sure and divert everyone’s attention from the Epstein files. What is the definition of a pedophile?
Rights Task Force recently hosted a panel presentation entitled “Faith Leaders Who Support the Separation of Church and State.” We would like to thank the participating clergy who represented the Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Quaker faith communities in North Idaho. These leaders, drawing upon the Bible and the teachings and traditions of their denominations, spoke to the importance of maintaining the separation of church and state so that their faith communities can worship and provide ministries as they see fit.
We hosted this event to shed light on concerns expressed by many of our citizens about the rise of Christian nationalism and the risks this ideology poses to our freedoms. Over 110 people from Bonner, Boundary and Pend Oreille counties attended the presentation. Many attendees asked how they can learn more. In response, we are building a resource page on our website including the program from the presentation, suggested books and podcasts, and links to other organizations working to maintain our time-honored and cherished ideal of religious freedom for all.
Please visit our website at BCHRTF.org to access these resources or to join and support the work of the BCHRTF.
John Lawrence BCHRTF Board member Sandpoint
‘Potty police’…
Dear editor,
If Dist. 1 Rep. Cornel Rasor’s transgender bathroom ban bill (H.B. 752)is enacted, it will criminalize select people who just want to go to the bathroom, like we all have to. It will penalize them with from one to up to five years in prison for just taking a potty break! And how is this going to go over when a transgender man goes into the women’s bathroom, matching their biological sex? I think we all know how that will go.
Counterintuitive tutor… Other species of humor…
Dear editor, Who has the best advice on how to protect your home and your assets? Is it a policeman? An insurance agent? A lawyer? Actually, it’s a thief. A thief can give you the best advice, because they know firsthand how to steal.
So how do we protect our home, our country and its assets? Who is the biggest thief in our country?
Donald Trump has answered the call. He knows how to steal, lie,
When I get my May 19 Republican primary ballot, I’m making my mark for Mark.
Mary Ollie Bonners Ferry
Dear editor,
I mostly agree with Zach Hagadone’s back-page piece on the decline of comedy [Back of the Book, “The death of comedy: A political tragedy,” March 19, 2026].
I have been saying that human comedy died during COVID. Pathetic
Meanwhile, Putin is laughing at how easily Trump can be manipulated. Didn’t Trump state a few months ago that the bunker buster bombs had “annihilated Iran’s nuclear program for years to come”? Does anyone else wonder why Trump unilaterally started this war and what’s the actual plan? Where’s Congress?
Michael Harmelin Sandpoint
Resources offered for learning more about separation of church and state…
Dear editor, The Bonner County Human
Also, what’s not explained in this insane prohibition is how a person’s biological sex is to be determined. Will there be bathroom monitors, like ICE agents, who people have to show their genitals to? Or X-ray machines with AI to determine a person’s biological sex?
Perhaps Mr. Rasor should be the first to demonstrate how a person’s biological sex will be determined. Kill this bill!
Preston Andrews Sandpoint
PERSPECTIVES Emily Articulated
@Connection
By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
I’m always looking for the unseen things — the meaning between the lines, the unwritten rules, the subtle forces nudging us to act, think or feel a certain way. For this, I don’t look toward the divine, but toward the entity we become when we are together: our collective self, the zeitgeist, “society.”
This captivation with how we create order and meaning began in my first freshman-level sociology class and has shaped my worldview ever since. It peeled back my understanding of reality (a flimsy lens forged in a rural Midwest upbringing) and revealed the pre-determined quality with which people move through systems designed to guide how we arrive, think and behave.
These systems have been on my mind lately as they relate to social media, where meaning is evolving in real time, and behavior is becoming codified in our relationships. Increasingly, I find myself on the outside of understanding, no longer part of the group writing the rules, but instead fumbling to interpret them.
Two recent examples brought this into focus. The first involved one of my best friends, someone I deeply cherish but don’t see as often as either of us would like. For a few months, our communication dwindled to scattered texts, biweekly Instagram DMs, and sporadic “likes” on each other’s stories and posts.
When we finally talked, she shared that she’d felt hurt by the distance, despite what I had perceived as regular (albeit surface) contact. She also admitted — somewhat embarrassed — that my inconsistent “liking” of her posts made her
feel insecure in our friendship. My social media behavior created a real-life rift.
If we haven’t seen someone in a while, we used to call, text or make plans. Now we check their stories, scroll their profiles, and maybe send a dog video or meme. Interactions that, for one person, might signal care, while the other barely registers them at all.
The second example comes from a person close to me reentering the dating world after a long, post-divorce hiatus.
Our group text has become a running analysis of digital behavior: What does it mean if a man doesn’t reply to an audio message but is one of the first to watch her Instagram stories?
We’re left trying to construct rules from inconsistent signals (an exercise that, I’ve decided, is mostly a waste of time).
This is intimacy, friendship and courtship in the age of social media: closeness versus its junk-food alternative. The original promise was connection, yet we’re often left with a proxy — something that feels like interaction without delivering its substance. The question lingers: Are the ever-expanding ways we can keep in touch actually preventing us from truly connecting?
Contemporary sociologists might argue that the same
frameworks used to understand labor apply to social media. Originally, Karl Marx described alienation as a condition in which workers become detached from their work, their products and each other — reduced to cogs in a machine rather than fully expressed humans.
A factory worker assembling one small part of a car is distanced from the full process, the finished product and the pride of building something in totality. They are also separated from their peers, forced into competition rather than connection.
Similarly, social media can alienate us from our social lives. The interactions we have online are fragments of relationships. They’re partial, performative and easily misread. At the same time, we’re positioned against one another, competing for attention, validation and visibility, while platform owners profit from our continued lack of connection (driving us further and further online).
Symbolic interactionism offers another lens through which to consider social media’s effect. It focuses on how we create meaning through interaction — how a meme, a “like” or a story view comes to signify care, interest or indifference. What does it mean to share a meme with a friend? What does it mean to watch a story or “like” a post, and what does it mean when someone doesn’t?
We construct our identities and evaluate our relationships through how we believe others perceive us, increasingly mediated and quantified by likes, comments and views. But these signals aren’t fixed. They mean different things to different people, creating space for misinterpretation, unintended
conflict and quiet breakdowns in connection — like the friend who feels unseen despite my “engagement,” or the date whose attention shows up everywhere but the inbox.
When social media becomes a primary mode of connection, it often fails to deliver the emotional depth of real interaction, paradoxically undermining the relationships it promises to sustain.
So where does that leave us? What does it mean to be “present” in someone’s life? What counts as care? What actually
builds closeness? All we can do is use these tools cautiously: talking to people, writing our own rules within relationships and making the unseen things seen whenever possible. And, most important of all, definitely not dating the guy who doesn’t respond to texts.
Emily Erickson is a writer and business owner with an affinity for black coffee and playing in the mountains. Connect with her online at www.bigbluehat.studio.
Retroactive
By BO
Emily Erickson.
Science: Mad about
carnivorous plants
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
Carnivorous plants are a curiosity of the natural world. Most plants are stationary and docile, presenting very little threat outside of the occasional falling tree or poisonous berry. Then there is the Venus flytrap, a horrifying little bit of flora that eats insects alive. How can a stationary plant be an alpha predator, and more importantly: Why?
The “why” behind floral carnivory is one of the clearest answers scientists have regarding the enigma of carnivorous plants. Plants need nutrients to survive, and if plants can’t get all of those nutrients from the soil, then they have to figure out a different way to procure those nutrients.
The common thread between all carnivorous plants is that they exist in nutrient-poor environments and create specialized adaptations to counteract those conditions. If the plants were growing in soil with more phosphorus and nitrogen, they wouldn’t produce as many specialized leaves for catching insects.
This is often seen by amateur botanists that transplant a store-bought Venus flytrap into rich potting soil. The plant may appear to be dying, but it really realized it doesn’t need so many traps anymore, and will instead produce more photosynthesizing leaves, because carnivorous plants still need photosynthesis to survive — just like any other plant. However, their specialized leaves (while often green) don’t actually photosynthesize sunlight like their other leaves. In their natural environment, carnivorous plants have to balance their resources very
carefully in order to survive.
The most recognizable type of carnivorous plant is the Venus flytrap, but this isn’t the only form of carnivory found in the plant world. Pitcher plants grow throughout the world, including a wide variety in North America. These have specialized leaves called pitfall traps that act like a well. They form a hollow structure like a pitcher that is partially filled with digestive liquid designed to drown and digest insects that fall into the plant’s leaf. These pitfall traps have myriad methods for luring insects. Some utilize ultraviolet coloration patterns while others use an aromatic nectar that also makes the brim of the leaf slippery.
These types of plants frequently use substances they produce to attract and entrap prey. Sundews are particularly diabolical, creating long and colorful stalks lined with glands and little tentacles that secrete a sticky mucilage. The sticky substance is sweet and attracts insects like flies or beetles, which become trapped by its stickiness. The mucilage acts not only as an attractant and trap, but also a digestive enzyme that breaks down the body of the prey to create a nutrient soup that is consumed by the plant through specialized sessile glands.
Native to South Africa, the cape sundew has a mechanism that mirrors the action of more aggressive plants like the Venus flytrap. Insects triggering individual hairs on the surface of the plant cause its leaf to curl and wrap around its prey, absorbing the maximum amount of nutrients from the entombed insects. This is a mechanism called thigmotropism, which is also seen
in vining plants like beans or grapes. This is the plant altering the direction of its growth in response to physical stimuli, particularly touch.
Waterwheel plants also use this mechanism, and are the only known aquatic species of carnivorous plant to employ this method of snap trapping. Their trapping leaves are quite small and best suited for capturing very small marine invertebrates.
Snare traps, such as South Africa’s corkscrew plant, are ingenious tricksters that create an elaborate root structure to entice single-celled organisms to enter the roots and feast, only to be guided down through the plant’s roots by hairs that send the organisms into digestive bladders to be broken down and consumed. The way this occurs very closely mirrors human fish traps using a narrow opening lined with sharpened sticks to dissuade fish from trying to escape the trap.
Suction traps exist in aquatic environments and have a more complex trapping structure than snares. Suction traps such as bladderwort are rootless, but have specialized sensors near the mouth of the trap that detect the presence of moving prey. When the prey is close enough, it bursts an air bladder on the inside of the plant to create negative pressure that pulls the prey in as well as sealing a trapdoor mechanism at the same time. The mechanism seals shut with a slimy secretion and the prey is digested while trapped inside the plant.
Not all carnivorous plants are killers. Low’s pitcher plant cuts to the chase, not wasting resources on trapping, killing and digesting prey. Instead,
it attracts the mountain tree shrew with sweet nectar. The tree shrew will feast on the nectar and, while doing so, it poops into an opening in the plant that then digests the nutrient-rich waste. Comically, this plant’s specialized leaves look somewhat like a toilet.
Are you curious about cultivating carnivorous plants of your own? Many of these plants are often very beautiful additions to any home, while
also helping rid your space of a few common pests. You can check out books about carnivorous plants from the library, found in the nonfiction section filed under 635.9 in the Dewey decimal system. That’s downstairs, behind the information desk and to the left in the Sandpoint library. Hit the Teen Zone and you’ve gone way too far.
Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner
•There are five oceans on Earth; the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Southern oceans. The Pacific is by far the largest, covering approximately a third of the Earth’s surface. The deepest part of the Pacific is the Mariana Trench, reaching a depth of 36,089 feet, or almost seven miles.
•The longest mountain range on Earth isn’t located on land, but inside the Atlantic Ocean. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge was discovered in the 1950s and separates the North American Plate from the Eurasian Plate, stretching more than 9,941 miles. While the majority of this ridge is located underwater, some points extend above the surface to form islands such as Iceland and the Azores.
•About 30% of the world’s coral reefs are located in the Indian Ocean. The most varieties of coral are found around the Maldives, where there are more than 2,000 different species. The Aldabra Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Seychelles, known for its untouched coral reefs and vibrant colors.
•We have lost an estimated 50% of all coral reefs in the past 40 years due to rising sea temperatures and ecosystem degradations.
•The only ocean to flow entirely around the world is the Southern Ocean. Unlike other oceans, the Southern Ocean’s currents aren’t blocked by land, allowing it to circulate continuously around the globe. It’s also the youngest ocean basin in the world. The ocean was formed when Antarctica drifted away from South America, creating the Drake Passage and isolating Antarctica as a continent.
•During winter, up to 75% of the Arctic Ocean’s surface is covered with ice. In summer, ice coverage drops to about 25% before expanding again in winter.
•Oceans contain 97% of all the water on the surface of the Earth. They also provide around half of the Earth’s oxygen.
•Sea water contains about 3.5% salt.
The Venus flytrap. Courtesy photo
To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.
left: Kim and Julie Keaton enjoying the Reader during a stop on Isla Floreana in the Galápagos Islands, Equador.
Top right: “Sandpoint snowbirds, Debra Kellerman, Dee Ann Smith and Pat Engle enjoy the Reader online, But today we were thrilled that Mitzi Hawkins came to Arizona to visit and brought the March 5 issue. There’s nothing like holding your paper issue in our hands!” wrote photographer Dee Ann Smith. “We were also thrilled that our gal pal Marcia Pilgeram had a recipe for us in honor of International Women’s Day!”
Bottom left: “Gray, my neighbor in Dover, has been tapping all the sugar maple trees in our neighborhood for years,” wrote photographer Perky Smith-Hagadone. “He taps all the viable trees on our block. Every few days he pulls his wagon from house to house to collect the gallons of sap produced by each tree. He usually gets over a hundred gallons. When the trees slow, he has the neighborhood and friends over for a day of boiling over homemade 50 gallon fire boxes. Everyone pitches in to keep the fires consistent while skimming foam off the boiling sap. During all of this activity, the neighborhood bonds, drinks and eats.”
Bottom right: Maebeth
Top
Photo taken by Fernando Gil, guide extraordinaire.
Fulmer of Sandpoint celebrated her 105th birthday last week. Photo submitted by her daughter-in-law Mary Armstrong.
Development in the Coolin wetlands threatens Priest Lake’s water
By Jennifer Ekstrom Reader Contributor
Wetlands are invaluable natural resources. The lakes and rivers that define North Idaho depend on intact wetland systems to filter water, store snowmelt and release clean, cold flows back into aquifers and surface waters.
That’s why a proposed subdivision in the Coolin-Chase Lake Wetland Complex at the south end of Priest Lake is so concerning. A developer seeks to build on up to 35 lots across 60 acres of this high-value, irreplaceable wetland.
The Coolin wetlands include a Class 1 peat bog and fen system — one of only a handful of wetlands in North Idaho still in near-pristine condition. These peatlands act like natural sponges: storing spring runoff, filtering pollutants and slowly releas-
ing clean groundwater through the summer. They also store enormous amounts of carbon, support rare species and help maintain the clear, cold waters that define Priest Lake.
Because peat bogs form over thousands of years, they are extremely sensitive to disturbance. Even small changes to drainage or soil can cause permanent damage.
Recent monitoring documented unpermitted excavation on at least three parcels. Heavy equipment has trenched out a channel connected to Priest Lake, leaving dredged material piled next to the water. Culvert-like pipes piled on the property near the dredged channel suggest possible plans to drain the wetland. Such activity can send sediment into waterways, degrading water quality, and harming fish and wildlife — while potentially altering the fragile peatland forever.
In addition, a 2022 dredge-and-fill permit issued for a different parcel has expired. That permit — intended for projects with minimal impacts — allowed gravel and rock to be placed in wetlands for driveway and shop pad. But this project is part of a much larger subdivision plan. When impacts are evaluated lot by lot, we risk masking the cumulative damage of developing 35 parcels within a wetland complex. If each parcel were filed separately, the total impact would be devastating and could exceed what is allowed without individual permits and a full environmental review.
The work has not been completed, and the Idaho Conservation League has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers not to extend this authorization, as it was flawed to begin with.
There is also broader concern. The developer has asked the Corps to remove this area from federal Clean Water Act protections. The request relies on a single report commissioned by the developer during the driest time of year, which identified just 5.57 acres of wetlands within the entire 60-acre site. This finding conflicts with multiple scientific assessments identifying the area as a far larger, highly valuable and sensitive Class 1 wetland system.
If this ill-founded request is successful, the consequences would be dire: the entire area could be destroyed, large-scale impacts could proceed with little oversight and construction would run rampant — putting Priest Lake, a crown jewel of North Idaho, at risk.
Wetlands like those at Coolin are not just habitat; they are essential to the region’s groundwater system. When wetlands are filled, ditched or drained, less water is stored for dry summer months, more sediment and pollution reach nearby lakes, flooding risks increase during spring runoff, and streamflows decline and water temperatures rise, potentially harming fish.
Because the Coolin wetlands are directly connected to Priest Lake through creeks and groundwater, damage here can quickly affect the lake itself.
The expiration of the current permit gives the Corps an opportunity to consider the full scope of this proposal. When multiple parcels are part of a single development, the law requires cumulative impacts to be evaluated together — not piece by piece.
Given the rarity of Class 1 wetlands in North Idaho and their direct connection to Priest Lake, this situation calls for a comprehensive environmental review and continued oversight. Healthy waterways are not an accident. They depend on intact natural systems and careful decisions about where and how we build.
The Coolin wetlands are a rare and irreplaceable part of North Idaho’s landscape. Allowing them to be filled, excavated or removed from protection would put Priest Lake — and the region’s economic and ecological health — at risk.
We still have a chance to get this right — but it depends on the Corps doing the right thing and taking a careful, comprehensive approach to protect the wetlands that protect our water.
Jennifer Ekstrom is North Idaho director of the Idaho Conservation League.
By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist
It appears to be spring. I’m writing this on the second day thereof, because I’m taking my semi-annual trip to Nespelem tomorrow and deadline is the day after that. Donnie Boy has managed to further malign his promise of no wars and also piss off the Japanese, who have been pretty good allies since World War II and its immediate aftermath had passed. They may even have forgiven us for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If they have, maybe they will forgive the idiot-in-chief. Which is better than I can do. Every time I consider it, he does something else that seems unforgivable. Fortunately — maybe — for all of us, he’s also managing to erode his base, though I’m sure oil companies with sources other than the Middle East are laughing their asses off.
“I thought they’d never leave.”
Sorry. I was going to abandon politics a whole paragraph ago. Wanta talk about religion? Just kidding. Well, maybe just a little bit, because that’s also one of the major things we like to fight about. We were fighting about religion a long time before the internal combustion machine got us to fighting about oil. It’s amazing — and alarming — what some humans will do to other humans who don’t see God the same way as they do. And God forbid that some people should find out that other people don’t believe in God at all.
On spring, God and (heaven forbid) politics
near and the plan is to get done with it so tomorrow is uninterrupted with thoughts of a deadline.
Donnie isn’t really an idiot. He just acts like one to keep us from knowing what he’s really up to. We need to remember that everything Donnie does is for the direct benefit of Donnie. Maybe he has some stock in domestic oil. Maybe not, but it seems like he might. Enough of political B.S., which most of politics seem to be these days. Oh, wait. I guess it’s been longer than that. We, as a species, may be doomed to fight about stuff for the rest of (our) time. When we finally extinct ourselves, the rest of the planet may breathe a big sigh of relief and say,
Long ago, while I was still trying to push the Storytelling Company into a big-time radio show (I failed) one of the characters in the “Shoreline” stories was Virgil French, who owned and operated Sparebucks Coffee and Overpriced Sandwiches. In his fictional persona, Virgil was a “diagnostic agnostic.” He didn’t know if there was a God, but he was thinking about it. He was also in love with Pastor Maggie and she with him. Pastor Maggie was sure enough that there was a God that she was the pastor at First Community Church. But she didn’t let Virgil’s agnosticism stop her from loving him. His doubts did not cause her to doubt. And Virgil himself — for a time, at least —was much more afraid of Maggie than he was of God — whoever or whatever God is or was or evermore shall be.
Whew. How did I get over here? That’s what happens when deadline is
Tomorrow will be — I’m pretty sure — my 63rd visit to Nespelem. It should be a pretty nice day. I’m taking my golf clubs, just in case the course at Wilbur is open. I will spend too much on gas and drive more than 400 miles to stand for a few minutes in the Nez Perce Cemetery on the hill above the decaying little reservation town. Not much has changed there since my first visit, with the exception of a few places that have burned or fallen down. The place is a pretty good example of what some humans do to other humans because they either want something the other humans have or the other humans don’t see God the same way as some humans or look the same or have the same values.
I’m getting kinda old, and I’ve become kinda like Virgil — a diag-
nostic agnostic. Sometimes I feel like God is real, or at least benign, and at best, helpful. I’ve had experiences that led me to that conclusion, but I really don’t have a good clue what God is up to. And I don’t think anyone else does, either, as much as they might think they do. And I certainly don’t think anyone else can honestly tell me what God is about. I highly doubt that God is about throwing missiles at each other, though many people seem to believe that.
I’m going to forget all this tomorrow and enjoy a day on the road, off to visit Thunder Rolling in the Mountains and Yellow Wolf at Nespelem and witness the western Palouse greening up as new wheat and canola push up out of the soil.
I think God might be happy with me for that.
Sandy Compton. File photo
OBITUARY
Kevin Kittleson,
Kevin Peter Kittleson, M.D. (73), passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from complications of ALS, surrounded by friends and family. He was a beloved father, brother, doctor and friend to many.
Kevin was born on June 18, 1952, in Lansing, Mich., to Arthur (Bud) Claussen Kittleson, M.D., and Christine VanderZalm Kittleson, P.T. He and his brother, Kyle Mason Kittleson, Ph.D., were raised in Ann Arbor, Mich., during the school year and alongside the lake in Grayling, Mich., in the summers. He graduated from Ann Arbor Huron High School in 1970, where he was a captain of the ice hockey team. Growing up, Kevin, Kyle and sister-in-law Stephanie spent summers road-tripping across the western United States, hiking, camping and building deep relationships with the land.
Combined with his formative years on the lake in Grayling, Kevin developed a deep love and respect for the natural world. An avid outdoorsman, he lived for the rivers, mountains, lakes and trails; skiing, rafting, hiking, fly fishing, birdwatching and kayaking. He passed that love on to his daughter, Kelsey, who turned it into a career and lifelong passion, being reminded of her beloved dad and best friend in every hike, every new bird she spots and every stroke of her paddle.
Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree at Albion College, where he designed his own major in biochemistry with a focus on prostaglandin biosynthesis, and played college lacrosse and ice hockey recreationally. He went on to medical school at Wayne State University in Detroit, developing a passion for emergency medicine as it emerged as a new specialty. After completing his internship at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Wash., and his residency at Detroit General/Receiving Hospital, he moved to Coeur d’Alene. There, he served as president of Kootenai Emergency Physicians, helped launch the Kootenai County Paramedic Program and Mountain West Rescue Dogs, working alongside his loyal dog, Fang.
Drawn by the river’s epic whitewater, he later moved to Boise, where he kayaked and rafted for many years while serving as director of the Emergency Department at St. Luke’s, director of the Ada County EMS Department and chairman of the Idaho Medical Association EMS Committee. While in Boise, he met and married Leanna Paulsen (married 1988, di-
73 (June 18, 1952-March 10, 2026)
vorced 2017). After seven years in Boise, they took a year off to travel the country before settling in Sandpoint, where Kevin joined Bonner General Hospital’s Emergency Department, directed several local EMS services and worked with the Schweitzer Ski Patrol.
Kevin and Leanna lived in the Selle Valley, where they welcomed their only child, Kelsey, in May 1998. As a family of lifelong environmentalists, they spent winters on the mountain and summers on the lake. In 2001, the family moved to Sun Valley, where Kevin worked as an emergency physician at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. He retired in 2011, and the family returned to Sandpoint to enjoy all that the lake and Schweitzer had to offer. Kevin also excitedly awaited a new issue of the Reader each week, and believed deeply in independent journalism.
In 2017, Kevin embarked on a grand adventure through the Southwest in a motorhome; a trip meant to last six months that stretched into eight years, split between winters down south and summers on Lake Pend Oreille. Among Kevin’s and Kelsey’s favorite memories were the stretches they shared down south, exploring the deserts of the Southwest, filled with lots of laughter and Kevin’s witty sense of humor.
Kevin is survived by his daughter Kelsey, his sister-in-law Stephanie Ortino Kittleson, Kelsey’s partner Alex Knudtson, Kevin’s granddog Millie and many friends who became family. He is preceded in death by his brother Kyle; mother, Christine; father, Arthur (Bud) and Bud’s wife, Lois.
Kevin loved life and lived a good one; a celebration of life will be held in the summer.
Submitted by the family of Kevin Kittleson.
Chamber honors HMH Engineering as March business of the month
By Reader Staff
The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce named HMH Engineering as its March Business of the Month, highlighting the North Idaho-based company’s regional support for “meaningful community involvement and a comprehensive suite of professional services.”
Most recently, HMH Engineering sponsored local events including the annual Sandpoint Christmas tree lighting and Fire and Ice Winter Carnival. In addition, the company has donated infrastructure, including the Travers Park shelter and a bike ramp for the Pend Oreille Pedalers, and supported youth programs such as Sandpoint Sasquatch Baseball and 4-H programs by purchasing auctioned animals and donating a structural design for a swine wash rack at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.
“Their mission is simple: They are dedicated to the communities they serve because their work makes a difference,” the chamber stated. “HMH Engineering’s vision is to leverage the
strengths and talents of their team to transform where we live, work and play, creating a positive, lasting legacy of engineering excellence.”
Headquartered in Coeur d’Alene and with locations in Ponderay, Wallace, Lewiston, Meridian, Twin Falls, Rigby and Missoula, Mont., HMH Engineering provides a range of services, including engineering, surveying, planning and environmental services to municipalities, state and federal
agencies, private developers, businesses and local property owners.
Locally, their work has included everything from single-family grading and stormwater management to roadway and bridge design, park and trail improvements, and other infrastructure projects.
Drake Scott and Kayla Kassa, of HMH Engineering, with Chamber Executive Director Joan Urbaniak. Courtesy photo.
Annual KRFY membership drive supports public radio
By Reader Staff
The only independent radio station in Bonner and Boundary counties — Panhandle Community Radio, KRFY 88.5 FM — continues its annual membership drive now through Sunday, March 29 at 4 p.m. The event highlights KRFY’s entertaining, informational and educational programs with specialty “drive time” games and competitions every night from 5-7 p.m. and an open house at the studio.
The nonprofit began as a conversation at Eichardt’s Pub in 2006 and, after years of work, brought commercial-free radio to North Idaho in 2011. It now produces shows like Democracy Now!, which covers national news, and North Idaho News of the Week, featuring local journalists from the Daily Bee and the Sandpoint Reader KRFY also broadcasts perspectives from regional movers and shakers working in fields such as mental health care, nature conservation, theater and more, in addition to diverse music from metal to jazz.
“Without the support of community
members, the radio station would not be able to continue doing what it has been successfully doing since 2011,” stated Associate Station Manager Jack Peterson in a recent news release.
“The station relies on individual listener donations for the bulk of its operating budget,” he later added.
“Broadcasting and station governance are done entirely by volunteers, which number in the dozens, and the station staff consists of two part-time employees for its technical operations.”
During the ongoing membership drive, regularly scheduled programming continues with minor interruptions until 5-7 p.m., with operators standing by from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (or later) each night. The evening shows will include trivia contests, game shows, music requests from listeners and a contest to create a new jingle for the radio station.
The event concludes with an open house on Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at the KRFY broadcast studio, upstairs at 323 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint. The party includes refreshments and live music from Chris Paradis, Justin Lantrip and KRFY business
manager Brian Jacobs. Visit krfy.org/donate to contribute any amount to the cause and become a KRFY member.
Bonner General Hospital welcomes Dr. Dean Kubacz to Family Practice
By Reader Staff
Dr. Dean Kubacz, M.D., has joined Bonner General Family Practice as a primary care provider.
According to an announcement from BGH, Kubacz came to family medicine practice following undergraduate studies in wildlife biology in the 1990s. He journeyed from South Carolina to Colorado and, though he never planned to leave the West, graduate studies in forestry brought Kubacz back to the Southeast, where an unexpected shift led him to medical school.
Together with his wife — also a family practice physician — Kubacz completed residency and fellowship training in international medicine in Kansas. The couple’s work took them to France for language training before moving to Chad and Niger, where they spent several years providing medical care in underserved regions. With a growing family, they later returned to South Carolina in 2019, and, compelled by their enduring passion for the mountains, made their way
back to the West.
“Living and working in Sandpoint excites me for several important reasons: watching my children enjoy friends and experiences in a community with a reputation for friendliness and safety; working at a clinic and hospital whose smaller size allows them to respond more personally to the needs to the community; finding pleasure in pursuits outside of work so that work itself can remain more pleasurable.” Kubacz stated.
Throughout his career, Kubacz has practiced outpatient care, hospital medicine and obstetrics. Outside of the clinic, he enjoys exploring the mountains, forests and lakes with his wife and children.
“Finding a physician who balances deep clinical expertise with a heart for service is difficult and we are very fortunate to have him join BGH,” stated Dr. Stacey Good, chief medical officer at BGH. “Dr. Kubacz’s previous roles of running his own practice, being chief of staff at his previous hospital and his work in underserved global regions demonstrate a profound
dedication to both patient care and leadership.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Bonner General Family Practice at 208-2652221 or visit bonnergeneral.org.
Potential future DJ James Peterson inside the KRFY sound booth. Photo by Jack Peterson
Dr. Dean Kubacz joins Bonner General Family Practice as a primary care provider. Courtesy photo
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
Anna Moss in concert
7:30pm @ The Heartwood Center
An intoxicating gumbo of bedroom pop and existential R&B, with special guests Laurie Shook and Sari Jordan
Open bluegrass jam night
5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Hosted by Jim Rosauer. All welcome
Live Music w/ Tucker James
5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Carson Rhodes Band
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Hannah Siglin, Lillee Sennett
6-8:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Sennett at 6pm, Siglin at 6:30pm
THURSDAY, March 26
Wild and Scenic Film Festival
7pm @ Panida Theater
A curated collection of indie films about wild places and the people working to protect them. Presented by Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. More info: panida.org
FriDAY, March 27
Live Music w/ Angel Urrea
6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Carli Osika
6-8pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
Country and classic rock
Live Music w/ Benny Baker, Sheldon Packwood
8-11pm @ 219 Lounge
Clark Fork Friends of the Library book sale 10am-4pm @ Clark Fork Library
Live Music w/ Angel Urrea
5-7:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Live Music w/ Rhys Gerwin
5-9pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ TJ Hoopes
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Carli Osika
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Headwaters
9pm @ 219 Lounge
Live Music w/ Mason Van Stone
6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar
Sandpoint Chess Club
9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Magic with Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalapeño’s
Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip
6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar Sandpoint singer-songwriter
SATURDAY, March 28
An Evening with Corb Lund 7pm @ Panida Theater Canadian songwriter playing outlaw country, indie-folk and Western. Opener Branson Anderson. panida.org
Music w/ DJ Sterling 9pm @ Roxy’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Tim G. 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Mobius Riff
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
SunDAY, March 29
Annual 10,000 Easter Egg Hunt 11am @ Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church For children ages 2-12
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi
7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Acoustic guitar w/ John Firshi
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Beginner Argentine tango class
7pm @ Embody Center, 823 Main St. No partner needed. $15
Open Irish jam night
5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Hosted by Seamus Divine. All welcome
March 26-April 2, 2026
Mellow Film Tour
5:30pm @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Support the Sandpoint Rock Gym with a screening of climbing films, plus a raffle. Tickets only $10
Paint and Sip with Nicole Black 5:30-8pm @ Barrel 33
Sandpoint Senior Center monthly breakfast 8:30am @ Sandpoint Senior Center
A fundraiser for SASi, with breakfast by Wendy Franck of The Hoot Owl. Please RSVP: 208-263-6860. $10
Live Music w/ Kristie and Chris
8-11pm @ St. Bernard (Schweitzer)
The piano man rides again, with a new talented female vocalist covering multiple genres of classics that you all know and love
‘No Kings’ community forum/rally 2-4pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Music, refreshments and a chance to learn/share impacts of federal and local policy on life in North Idaho
Sandpoint Senior Center Bingo 1-3pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center Three cards/$10. 50/50 raffle also
Clark Fork Friends of the Library book sale
10am-4pm @ Clark Fork Library
Palm Sunday Concert 2-3pm @ First Prebyterian Church Also with performance by handbell choir
Live Music w/ Blue Krawdad
3-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
monDAY, March 30
Outdoor Experience group run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome
tuesDAY, March 31
Karaoke w/ Big Rock Karaoke 9pm-midnight @ Roxy’s Lounge
Trivia hosted by Ben Olson 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Open mic night hosted by Kjetil Lund
5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
wednesDAY, april 1
Live piano w/ Dwayne Parsons 4-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
ThursDAY, april 2
Family Night w/ John Firshi 5-7:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Acoustic tunes, chill vibes, good food and delicious beer
Free film: From Sea to Shining Sea 4:30pm @ Sandpoint Library, Room B Katherine Lee Bates and the story of “America the Beautiful,” a film sponsored by the Bonner Co. Museum
The Mellow Film Tour is anything but boring
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Sandpoint Rock Gym will host a screening of the international Mellow Film Tour, showcasing some of the most defining moments in rock climbing over the past few years. The four films in the series will screen Thursday, March 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the gym in the Granary Arts District (522 Church St., in Sandpoint).
Unlike most outdoor adventure films that highlight danger and adrenaline, the Mellow Film Tour promotes atmospheric, calm and understated films that prioritize behind-the-scenes storytelling. The films are meant to give audiences an intimate look at the pinnacle of athleticism, showcasing climbers pushing the limits of the human body, with only a touch of drama.
A Not So Mellow Adventure follows two expert ice climbers — Jackson Marvell and Matt Cornell — as they teach boulderers Shawn Raboutou and Nathaniel Coleman the tricks of the trade
before ascending rugged Alaskan peaks.
The rising star of the climbing world, Connor Herson, stars in Drifter’s Escape, where he takes on one of the world’s hardest traditional climbing routes. Duality of Man follows Sean Bailey as he completes America’s first 5.15d route — the most difficult grade — in Dry Canyon, Ariz.
Finally, Excalibur: A Pursuit in Progress, documents Brooke Raboutou’s quest to become the first woman to freeclimb Excalibur, a 5.15c route in Arco, Italy.
Tickets are $10 at bit.ly/MellowFilm.
Screenshot from Duality of Man. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY Festival at Sandpoint announces 2026 poster contest winners
By Reader Staff
The Festival at Sandpoint has announced the three winners of its 2026 poster contest, naming artists Cyndie Hammond, Fennik Johanson and Ellie Gibson to visually represent this year’s summer concert series.
Hammond’s piece “Shadow Serenade” was selected as the Festival’s Fine Arts Poster, while 9-year-old Johanson’s artwork was selected as the winning piece in the Festival’s 2026 Youth Poster Contest. Gibson’s piece, “Sunset on the Byway,” was selected as the Series Lineup Poster for the 2026 Summer Series.
Hammond is a third-generation resident of North Idaho, where her grandfather homesteaded on the south end of Lake Pend Oreille just east of the Long Bridge. Her winning piece is inspired by her experience and memories of the area’s lakes, rivers, mountains and forests.
“Memories and joy underpin all my pieces — especially this one,” Hammond said. “My work is an invitation to the
viewer, a visual feast of exuberant color and light to evoke personal memories — the warm, often forgotten snapshots of happiness, comfort and celebration.”
Each artwork includes between two
and 20 layers of colored pencil, with the final piece requiring up to 45 hours to complete, depending on the complexity.
“My work is an act of meticulous building, where layers of brilliant color accumulate to form surfaces that pulse with energy and optimism,” Hammond said. “By pouring this heartfelt intention into every stroke, I hope to connect the viewer to the profound, enduring embrace of joy — not as a fleeting moment, but as a rich, layered and resonant experience.”
The winning art piece will be revealed on July 7, following the Festival’s annual Poster Unveiling and Sponsor Appreciation event.
The artist’s donation of the original piece is not only a tradition but a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization’s mission. The original art is auctioned,
with bidding beginning on July 7 and concluding at the Grand Finale performance on Aug. 9.
Johanson’s piece features the state of Idaho, a guitar, a piano, sheet music, fireworks and more. The Festival’s Youth Poster Contest is a new and separate division of their annual Poster Contest for artists aged 14 and younger.
Gibson’s piece is inspired by the view from a turn on the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway. As a college student pursuing a degree in Graphic and Web Design from North Idaho College, she was also selected to receive the 2026 Poster Contest Scholarship.
Hammond’s poster will be live to view on festivalatsandpoint.org on July 8. Learn more about the artists at festivalatsandpoint.org.
NAMI offers mental health support classes for loved ones
By Reader Staff
The Far North Branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will offer free family-to-family classes every Thursday from April 2 to May 21.Meetings will take place from 6-8 p.m. covering resources for people living with mental health issues and their loved ones at the Sand Creek Connections Clubhouse (513 N. Fourth Ave., in Sandpoint).
“Taught by NAMI-trained leaders with lived experience, this class offers a safe, supportive place to learn about current mental health research, treat-
ment options, navigating the system, coping strategies and how to care for yourself while you care about someone else,” stated Far North Board President Dawn Mehra in a news release.
Teachers will draw from their personal experiences, offering practical communication and connection strategies to help loved ones better support and understand those struggling with mental health, while also giving them access to a community of their own.
To reserve a spot, call 208-6273398 or contact info@namifarnorth. org. Visit namifarnorth.org for more information.
Panida to host western Canadian songwriter Corb Lund
By Reader Staff
There is no easy way to define the rural Albertan singer-songwriter Corb Lund. Hailing from the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains with a long family lineage of ranchers and rodeo people, Lund plays a curious mix of outlaw country, Western and indie-folk songs, all with an honest curiosity and rowdy devotion to each genre.
Lund played bass
and toured with the 1990s indie-metal band the smalls before breaking out into his own solo career to write Western songs. He has created a unique and quirky style along the way, which has led to his winning 14 Canadian Country Music Awards, and a debut at the historic Grand Ole Opry. Lund has released 12 studio albums, three of which were certified gold.
The Panida The-
ater will host Lund at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 for a special show on the main stage (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
Branson Anderson will open the night, followed by a headliner performance by Lund.
Listen to Lund on all streaming platforms, or at his website corblund.com.
Corb Lund will play the Panida on Saturday, March 28. Courtesy photo
Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra starting rehearsals for spring concerts
By Reader Staff
The Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra is beginning rehearsals for its free spring concerts, scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, June 12 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. Both concerts will be held at the First Lutheran Church (526 S. Olive St., in Sandpoint).
Chorale rehearsals begin on Monday, April 6 from 6-8 p.m. and continue on every following Monday. Practices will take place at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (2235 Pine St., in Sandpoint) in the west classroom. Attendees are asked to bring black three-ring binders, and music
will be provided as well as practice CDs or an internet site to access vocal parts.
The first orchestra rehearsal is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, and every Sunday afternoon thereafter until the concert dates, at a venue to be announced.
The featured piece on the program will be Mark Rein-
Close your eyes, and you might mistake multi-instrumentalist Rhys Gerwin for a full band, not just one man and his guitar. The Coeur d’Alene-based bassist, pianist, drummer, guitarist and singer performs everything from alt-rock to gospel music using live-looping, allowing him to record and layer sounds in real time. In his free time, in addition to teaching, Gerwin produces his own studio
er’s “Meditation Mass” in six parts, composed in 2000 with chorale and orchestra together. The mass has both choral and solo movements. Instrumentalists will form the first half of the concerts with a trio, quartet, quintet, solo and a string chamber group.
“We would love to have singers and string players join
our community volunteer musicians,” stated Director Mark Reiner. “We are still presenting free concerts at this end of our 33rd year.”
For more information on joining the chorale, call 208946-9306. Interested string performers are asked to call 208-603-1277.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
Presbyterian Church, March
29
This week’s RLW by Ben Olson
READ
If you’re seeking a more nuanced view of U.S.-Iran relations over the years, don’t expect the mainstream news or the current administration to enlighten you. Read a book. Check out Afshin Matin-Asgari’s Axis of Empire: A History of Iran-U.S. Relations for a modern take on the conflict. Dive deeper with The Coup: 1953, the CIA, and the Roots of Modern U.S.-Iranian Relations by Ervand Abrahamian. Find them where books are found.
LISTEN
albums, such as White and Grey Matter Casserole and Integrants, which straddle genres with an overarching, retro vibe. Catch him on Saturday to hear his takes on national hits and perhaps sneak a peek at his upcoming album, What It Is.
— Soncirey Mitchell
5-8 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St, 208-2658545, powine.com. Listen at rhysgerwin.com.
The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint’s Music Matters! handbell choir will present a special Palm Sunday performance of Stabat Mater, as interpreted by Italian Baroque composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi in 1736. Based on a 13th-century Christian hymn devoted to the Virgin Mary, depicting “the sorrowful mother standing” (Stabat Mater dolorosa) during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Pergolesi’s composition
is both moving and powerful. Performed by the MCS handbell choir, Pergolesi’s composition is also uplifting and vibrant — a meaningful accompaniment to the season. Admission to the Sunday, March 29 concert is by donation.
— Zach Hagadone
2-3 p.m., admission by donation. First Presbyterian Church, 417 N. Fourth Ave., 208-263-2047, fpcsandpoint.org, sandpointconservatory.org/events.
I first heard the Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit as their song “My Silver Lining” played on the soundtrack of a ski film I was watching. I’ve been entranced by the sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg ever since. Their harmonies and approachable sounds make them like a Swedish version of Americana. Two of my favorite of their albums are The Lion’s Roar and Stay Gold. Listen where you listen.
WATCH
I’ve been on an old movie kick lately. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe just a repulsion for anything modern, but some of these classic films were quite ahead of their time. I knew nothing about the 1946 drama The Best Years of Our Lives before stumbling onto it. The film depicts three servicemembers returning home from WWII and was one of the first to explore issues like PTSD and isolationist policies of the U.S. There’s a reason it won seven Oscars. You can watch it with ads on Tubitv.com.
Rhys Gerwin, Pend d’Oreille Winery, March 28 Palm Sunday Concert, First
The Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra. Courtesy photo
From Pend d’Oreille Review, March 29. 1906
THE TIGER IS CAGED
The lid is on once more in Sandpoint and Marshall Moran Friday informed the saloons and cigar stores that the state law against gambling would be strictly enforced.
The enforcement of the law and the clipping of the tiger’s paws are said to have come about after this fashion: E.R. Coonley, who has been employed at the Humbird company’s store, lost his position. A few days previous he had tried the tiger at the Stockholm saloon and won about $50. Before leaving town, after losing his position, Coonley had a raffle for a guitar. With the proceeds he again tried his luck gambling, but this time he did not win and the dealer got about $40 from him. It is claimed Coonley immediately thereupon bethought himself that he was not of age and upon that score insisted that Marshall Moran should get his money back for him. The upshot was that the sheriff decided to close down on all the gambling and word to that effect was given the gamblers by Marshall Moran Friday. Gambling for the past year or two has consisted only of blackjack and draw poker playing, no wheels or chuck lucks being brought in after the decree of council two years ago suppressing gambling entirely.
Coonley, besides closing up the gambling, got himself otherwise talked about, and the marshal has a warrant which he is waiting to serve on him, if he returns after his possessions, which he quit town hurriedly without. Friday evening Coonley met Orville Frazier, another employee at the Humbird store, and after passing him, turned and struck him from behind. Frazier started after Coonley and after about a block’s chase overtook him, and the two came to blows. Coonley got out of town the same night, and Frazier got out a warrant against him for assault and battery, but Coonley had made his getaway.
BACK OF THE BOOK Death to lawns
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
I have a bone to pick with Louis XIV — and it has to do with the lifeless, homogeneous, herbicide-riddled tracts of land that we call lawns.
The word “lawn” comes from the Old French launde, meaning “wooded district,” which later became the English laund or “glade, pasture.”
There is evidence that the British began intentionally keeping meadows and grasslands mowed by scythe or animal in the 12th and 13th centuries as pitches for various sports, such as lawn bowling. Lawns resembling our modern ideas first appeared in the late 1600s to early 1700s, made popular by landscape architect and gardener André Le Nôtre, who designed the gardens at Versailles for, you guessed it, Louis XIV.Le Nôtre referred to his lawns as tapis vert, literally “green carpet.”
From there, gardens all over France began incorporating lawns, and what’s fashionable in France would inevitably become fashionable in Europe, Britain and North America. It is around this time that the cropped “English” lawn became a major status symbol for the aristocracy and gentry, who were the few able to afford the labor and/or animals needed to maintain the grounds.
Even after Edwin Beard Budding invented the lawnmower in 1830, lawns remained a status symbol, and do to this day. Americans have long idealized the “white picket fence,” and now middle-class subdivisions and million-dollar country clubs all include massive slabs of monotonous green monoculture.
Why take it up with the Sun King?
STR8TS Solution
Because, thanks to the deeply entrenched love of manicured lawns, the U.S. is full of “biological deserts” that have no natural diversity; glut themselves on water, herbicides and pesticides; and force native pollinators to travel long distances to find food.
The National Science Foundation conducted a yearslong study of residential lawns bordering Phoenix, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Miami, Boston and Los Angeles, revealing in 2018 that lawn maintenance is “contributing to a continental-scale ecological homogenization.” Researchers confirmed that modern lawn culture reduces biodiversity not only by planting the same grasses over and over again, but also by creating environments where the same types of “weeds” — i.e., anything unwanted by the landowner — thrive. One such plant is, of course, the dandelion, which, despite originating in Eurasia, still feeds native pollinators. Too bad that people hate these happy little flowers so much that they risk cancer to kill them.
Still, kids need a soft, green place to play. People need spaces to sit outside in the sun, have a bonfire, stargaze and generally live, so lawns can’t go the way of the dodo entirely. The solution is as simple as it is beautiful, and harkens back to the pre-Versailles days of trimmed meadows: tapestry lawns.
These lawns are durable enough to tolerate foot traffic, yet provide far more ecological benefits and visual interest than old Kentucky bluegrass, because they’re largely comprised of short, flowering groundcovers. Here in the United States Department of Agriculture Zone 6, tapestry lawns can be a mix of sweet-smelling (and
Sudoku Solution
“Leave the dandelions — they aren’t hurting anyone.” Courtesy photo
drought-resistant) creeping thyme, clover, violets, wild strawberries and Roman chamomile. Each plant provides a stable food source for bees, butterflies and other pollinators, while adding a more whimsical feel to green spaces and lowering summer water bills.
If you want to save money and the environment, rip out your yellow grass this spring and throw down a few bags of clover and wildflowers. Leave the dandelions — they aren’t hurting anyone — and water deeply for a season without using pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer to let everything get established. You will have a better home for it and be a better neighbor to Mother Nature. In other words, “Death to lawns.”
I think one way police departments could make some money would be to hold a yard sale of murder weapons. Many people, for example, could probably use a cheap ice pick.
Solution on page 22
Laughing Matters
By Bill Borders
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1.Without delay
6.Category
11.Construct
12.Hairy
15.Quieted (down)
16.Became skilled in 17.American Sign Language
18.Feminine
20.Henpeck
21.Boat
23.One single time
24.Domestic
25.Anagram of “Sent”
26.Not false
27.Domicile
28.Jittery
29.S
30.Weary
31.Christian principles
34.Earth tone
36.Staff
37.Behold, in old Rome
1. excessive pride for one’s own achievements
Solution on page 22
Solution on page 22
52.Errors
54.Craziness
56.A form of pool
57.Alpha’s opposite
8.Pretentious
9.South southeast
10.Family name
32.Superior limb
33.Equine
34.Acquire
35.Red
58.Destitute
59.Intestine Word Week of the
“The president’s speech was one part campaign rally, three parts vainglory, as the dimwitted rubes lapped it all up with boisterous appplause.”
