“What meal from a Sandpoint restaurant do you most often crave?”
“Probably Serv-A-Burger. I like their chicken strips.”
Jocalyn Gors Student technician at White Cross Pharmacy Elmira area
DEAR READERS,
Snow is here! Looks like we’ll get some more snow off and on throughout the next week, so bust out that ice scraper and prepare for the long winter. I’m one of those people who love the fact that we have four seasons of weather here in North Idaho. Bring it on. At the very least, it might scare away those less-hardy souls who thought it was all sunshine and roses up here. There is a certain morbid pleasure that North Idahoans take in dealing with our seasonal weather. This is only the beginning! Now that the election season is past us (congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden), maybe we can start putting our collective energy into being better to one another. I have empathy for those who voted for and support President Donald Trump. It’s never easy to see your candidate lose an election. I am looking forward to the days ahead when we no longer divide ourselves between those who support one candidate or another and embrace the fact that we are all in this together. Let’s put our best foot forward and make it a collective goal to embrace kindness a little more.
– Ben Olson, publisher
READER
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“I like the chicken enchiladas at Fiesta Bonita. And I like the Cuban sandwich at the Pie Hut, as well.“
Douglas Scobee Manager of The Express Lane Bonner County
“A chili relleno burrito from Joel’s.”
Julia Knadler
Bakery manager at Winter Ridge Sandpoint
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This week’s cover is a painting by Bruce Duykers called “Rebirth.” Duykers painted it with oil on canvas. Check out a story about Duykers on Page 16 of this week’s edition.
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
The 2020 General Election is still ongoing, according to President Donald Trump’s lawyers, but the results are in for Idaho Legislative District 1 and awaiting canvassing, which elections officials say will occur Friday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. No results are final until then.
Barring that, the local totals remain the same as they were on Election Day, Nov. 3, as incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Risch captured 17,964 votes for 66.43% to Democratic challenger Paulette Jordan’s vote of 29.88%, or 8,079. Likewise, incumbent Republican Rep. Russ Fulcher took 68.11% of the vote in District 1, with 18,213, to Democrat Rudy Soto’s turnout of 7,601 voters, or 28.42%.
Idaho District 1 Sen. Jim Woodward won a second term with 17,192 votes, amounting to 75.22%, versus Democratic challenger Vera Gadman’s 5,623, totaling 24.6% of the vote. Blanchard Republican Rep. Heath-
Bonner County continues to workshop mining code Election postgame 2020
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff
The Bonner County Planning and Zoning Board has chosen for the second time to postpone a hearing on proposed changes to county mining code. The board took the opportunity Nov. 5 to further workshop the amendments, which many have criticized as an attempt by the county to expand certain mining operations into rural areas.
Bonner County Planner Halee Sabourin presented the proposed code amendments at the Nov. 5 meeting, which was originally scheduled as a hearing — where the board would take a vote — but later changed to a workshop due to a “clerical error,” according to Planning Director Milton Ollerton. He said a hearing will
er Scott earned yet another term in the Idaho House with 14,911 votes to Democratic challenger Gail Bolin’s 7,859, shaking out to 65.3% and 34.41% of the vote, respectively.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Sage Dixon held onto his District 1B seat with a handy 67.43% of the vote, pulling 15,421 votes, to Democrat Stephen Howlett’s 6,856 votes, amounting to 29.98%.
Republican Commissioner Steve Bradshaw bested Democrat Steve Johnson by a wide margin, 66% to 33.81%, with 17,566 and 8,999 votes, respectively. Republican Commissioner Jeff Connolley, unopposed, drew 20,673 votes for 97.07% of the vote.
Incumbent Sheriff Daryl Wheeler secured reelection with 17,925 votes to Democratic challenger Cindy Marx’s 8,806 — breaking down to 66.87% to 32.85%.
Finally, voters retained unchallenged Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall with 20,833 votes, or 97.56% of the vote. Magistrate Judge Tera A. Harden kept her seat with 18,718 votes, or 83.28%
now take place after the first of the year, but no date has been set.
At the center of the proposed changes is something called a “certificate of zoning compliance” — a new administrative permitting process that Sabourin said serves a two-fold purpose.
“One, we want to give an opportunity for those who apply to verify the legality of land uses and development of structures, just as we have a [zoning certificate] that verifies the legality of a lot or parcel,” she said. “Second, [the purpose] is to provide a review process for certain uses that have very specific and narrow standards, and ordinances to address those concerns that may not pop up in a public hearing process.”
Sabourin said concerns specific to mining operations
Idaho results to be canvassed Nov. 13, conservation candidates claim victory statewide
and the constitutional amendment HJR4 passed in District 1 with 15,695 votes to 8,236; that is, 65.58% to 34.42%.
Trump won 66.91% of the local vote, with 18,369 votes, to President-elect Joe Biden’s 30.27%, garnering 8,310 votes. That victory notwithstanding, the president has refused to recognize the result of the election, which delivered about 75 million votes to Biden and 70 million to Trump —
both record-breaking turnouts.
As the national drama plays out, with Trump and his lawyers challenging the legitimacy of the election — citing unconfirmed and so-far baseless claims of vote tampering — groups closer to home celebrated the “pro-conservation” bent of statewide election results.
Nonpartisan lobby group Conservation Voters for Idaho noted that “Idaho voters turned out to the polls to elect 20 pro-conserva-
P&Z hearing rescheduled for 2021
include emissions, noise, light, odors, dust, safety and more.
“The purpose of these amendments is to provide very clear standards for operation of these uses while ensuring that the uses will still be compliant with state and federal regulations,” she said, noting that language in the current county code regarding mining is “a little vague.”
Under the new ordinance, certificates of zoning compliance — issued administratively by the planning director and without a public hearing — will be used to permit existing and temporary mining stone quarries, gravel pits and stone mills, as well as open pits. New permanent mining stone quarries, gravel pits and stone mills will require a conditional use permit, and therefore a public hearing. Rock blasting, which used to be defined as its
own mining operation, would be allowed in any permanent quarry.
Causing major concern among Bonner County residents who caught wind of the proposed changes in August was an amendment that would have allowed asphalt batch plants to operate in forest, agricultural and rural zones with only a certificate of zoning compliance. The public outcry was exacerbated by an ongoing legal battle between Sagle residents, Interstate Concrete & Asphalt and Frank and Carol Linscott surrounding a proposed batch plant in the Linscott’s gravel pit.
In response to those concerns — which argued that public input is crucial when permitting such operations — the planning board decided to continue requiring a conditional use permit for batch plants outside of industrial
tion candidates in local and state races across the state,” stating that “voters of all political persuasions, from the capital of Boise to remote rural regions, have overwhelmingly shown their support for these candidates who ran on the platform of protecting our clean air and water, our parks and trails, and farmland and open space.”
zones. Within industrial zones, however, a CUP is not required.
The Nov. 5 workshop saw comments from community members largely opposed to the changes, seeing them as opening the door to more mining operations in rural parts of the county. Ollerton ended the meeting by stating that the planning board was simply trying to find “the best solution” for improving the code.
“That’s why we continue to postpone this, have public hearings and allow for more public comment,” he said. “Some of the challenges are that folks often — they don’t do this everyday like we do, so understanding the codes and understanding the things that we are trying to adopt is sometimes difficult.”
“Mining is a part of daily life. We need it,” Ollerton added. “It belongs somewhere.”
Courtesy image.
Gold Hill Trail parking could see expansion
Bonner County seeking funds from USFS Resource Advisory Committee
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff
Bonner County commissioners approved an application for funding through the U.S. Forest Service Resource Advisory Committee on Nov. 3, which would enable the Bonner County Parks and Waterways Department to expand parking at the Gold Hill trailhead on Bottle Bay Road in Sagle.
The popular 5.6-mile trail is well used by locals and visitors alike due to its accessibility and close proximity to Sandpoint. However, limited parking at the trailhead presents traffic issues each summer.
“Gold Hill is just one of those examples, where the parking lot was made to hold maybe eight vehicles on a good day, whereas you could easily see double that on a weekend during the summer,” Bonner County Parks Director Nate Demmons told the Sandpoint Reader. “With no overflow parking at this busy trailhead, people who come to recreate and can’t get a spot in the parking lot decide to park their vehicle in the ditch alongside Bottle Bay Road.”
Bits ’n’ Pieces
From east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling, with a focus on various reactions to Joe Biden’s election to the presidency:
With 4.4 million more votes for Biden than for President Donald Trump, and with Biden having secured the Electoral College as well, Trump nonetheless refused to concede — albeit, there’s no legal requirement to do so — stating the election was stolen from him and “this is far from over.”
Fox News’ Brett Baier: “We have not seen hard evidence” of Trump’s claim of electoral fraud.
Robert Reich, former secretary of Labor, stated that Trump’s presidency was “the closest we have come to a dictator.” He predicts Trump will try to prevent states from meeting the legal Dec. 8 deadline for choosing electors, forcing a special election commission to decide the winner a mere two days before inauguration. Given Trump’s personality, Reich also suspects Trump will constantly work to inflame national tensions both before and after leaving office.
The international community of foreign leaders showed relief at news of Biden’s victory, according to The New York Times. The Washington Post said traditional U.S. allies were “celebrating.”
Demmons said this creates a safety hazard, disrupting traffic and increasing the likelihood of an accident in the area.
He said that safety is a high priority for both USFS and Bonner County officials, making an overflow parking area a feasible solution to mitigate traffic congestion.
“This, in turn, would help the community by creating a safer recreational experience and help decrease local resident/ visitor use conflicts,” he said.
According to grant submission documents, the county would utilize existing county right-of-way to create the new paved parking area. Demmons’ proposal would accomodate an additional eight vehicles near the Gold Hill trailhead, drawing on about $32,000 in RAC funds and a $4,000 in-kind match from Bonner County.
The deadline to apply for RAC grant money is Nov. 20 and decisions regarding accepted project proposals will be announced after. If accepted, construction on the Gold Hill overflow parking project would begin in fall 2021 and take about a week to complete.
On Fox News, having witnessed the huge voter turnout, due in part to use of mail-in ballots because of COVID-19, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said U.S. election laws need to change or “there will never be another Republican president elected again.”
Families Belong Together, which works on immigration issues, including separation of children from parents at the border, said the results show “family separation and cruelty are against our values.” They aim to right the wrongs perpetrated by the Trump administration. With three months to go, FBT remains on alert since learning of an immigration “blitz” planned by Trump adviser Stephen Miller.
QAnon members, who number in the millions, were alarmed when their anonymous leader went silent as election results indicated Trump will not serve a second term, Slate.com reported. Followers of QAnon believe top Democrats are pedophiles and that Trump was secretly fighting them to save the world. A national poll showed 50% of Trump supporters believe the conspiracy theory. While there had been
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
predictions of QAnon violence, Forbes reported there was only one arrest of two people driving to Philadelphia to deliver an alleged truckload of ballots. One suspect was linked to QAnon, and both were arrested on weapons charges after a tip to law enforcement. An investigation is ongoing.
The Economic Policy Institute noted that the new administration pledged to prioritize the needs of working families. To the EPI that would include more bargaining power for workers, curbing income inequality, addressing infrastructure and education, protecting social insurance programs, and working on closing gender and racial wage gaps. Broad support for that, EPI stated, was indicated by Florida voting to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and Colorado approving a 12-week family and medical leave program. Arizona approved higher taxes on those making over $250,000, to be used for education.
“This is not a time for timidity or austerity,” EPI stated. “This is a time for courage and ambition.”
Whether Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell retains power depends on Georgia voters, where two U.S. Senate races saw the candidates each get less than 50% of the vote, forcing a Jan. 5, 2021 revote. If both Democrats win, McConnell will lose power, since there will no longer be a majority of Senate Republican lawmakers. As of Nov. 10, Biden appeared to be ahead in Georgia.
The environmental community was glad to see on Biden’s webpage that he’s pledged that climate change will be prioritized and the transition team will exclude fossil fuel profiteer-types.
Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was permanently banned from Twitter after calling for the beheading of infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray. Bannon said the heads should be put on pikes at the White House as a warning against dissent there. Bannon faces charges of fraud for taking money from donations for a border wall; his attorney withdrew from his case.
Blast from the past: In the election cycle of 1800, votes were cast on dates set by each state, resulting in votes rolling in from April to October. It was a chaotic election cycle and gave rise to the 12th Amendment, which dodges deadlocks, and which also gave rise to today’s Electoral College system.
The parking lot at Gold Hill trailhead. Photo by Ben Olson.
By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
Emily Articulated
A column by and about Millennials
#NotMyWinter
I know a guy who absolutely hates winter. His face turns sour at the first sign of fall — a crumpled expression like the brown and gold leaves soon to be blanketing the ground. He cringes at the sight of pumpkins perched on front porches, with their mean, carved faces staring as an omen of the dreaded season to come. He groans in disgust when stores start shifting their stock, their neat window displays swapping out tank tops and sandals for woolen socks and sweaters.
This guy recently dropped by my house, with its warm glow a contrast to the wintery scene around it, and I knew I was in for his contemptuous cloud of seasonal disdain. But, as he hopped out of his truck in shorts and a sun hat, he met me with an expression that wasn’t exactly sour. Instead, it was hard-lined and stubborn, with a decided set of features that made him look immovable.
“Hello?” I greeted him with a confused tone, cracking open the door while pulling on my big, heavy jacket. “How are you?”
In a mixture between a grunt and grumble, he retorted, “Fine, fine. Everything’s fine.”
I pulled a knitted hat over my ears and trudged to the gate, leaving snowy boot prints in my wake. In an attempt to skirt around the questions like, “Why are you here?” and “What’s with the shorts?” I settled on, “How about this
weather, huh? It’s like winter arrived overnight.”
At this, fire shot into his eyes and his nostrils sharpened into narrow points. “Summer’s not over,” he barked with finality.
Not getting the joke, I squirmed in discomfort, chuckling awkwardly through pointed gestures at the wintery scene around me.
“I’m serious,” he responded. “This isn’t winter. The snow isn’t even real. Big trucks drove around to everyone’s house in the middle of the night and dumped it here. It’s fake. I heard on good authority they manufactured it up the mountain to keep us all from continuing to use our boats on the water. It’s fake.”
Shocked by the absurdity of his statement, I prodded him, grasping for any bit of clarity I could find. “What do you mean this isn’t winter? What about the ice coating all the roads? It’s so slick out there!”
“That’s not real ice,” he replied with a conspiratorial air. “They mixed glass into the asphalt so it would look
like ice, but it’s not real ice. They’re trying to keep us from driving our cars.”
My thoughts swam at the ridiculousness of that conclusion, with one contradicting thought after another nearly bursting from my mouth. I wondered, “What about the ice on the dirt roads?” and, “Logistically, how could that even be close to possible without someone — anyone — with authority finding out?”
Instead of being blunt, I asked, “And the temperature? What about these freezing winds? It’s as blustery today as any winter day I’ve ever experienced.”
Through gritted teeth and a glare, he spat his reply: “That, I guess, depends on what weather station you’re watching. If you only listen to broadcasts run by winter-lovers, you’re only going to get one side of the story. In fact, just this morning I watched a very professional YouTube video by a person with a weather education certificate explaining that winter isn’t even a real season. She described, with statistics, that it’s actually quite warm outside right now. And, I mean, who are you going to trust?”
Considering this conversation a lost cause, I shrugged my shoulders and flexed my fingers inside my warm, winter gloves. A frigid breeze swept across the property, and I knocked an icycle off the edge of my gate.
“Interesting thoughts,” I concluded, dismissively. “Thanks for stopping by.”
He turned on his heel, with the edges of his hat flopping in the wind. As he picked a path through the snow in his shorts, he turned around for one last incredulous glare. He cranked open the door to his truck but, before hopping inside, he hoisted a large, yellow flag above the cab, boldly stating, “Always Summer.”
Turning over the key and revving the engine, he peeled
out of my driveway, his tires spitting snow and ice out from under him. As the yellow flag whipped in the frigid wind and the truck began to fade into the snowy distance, he leaned out the window, shouting “Not My Winter!”
Disclaimer: This story was not based on true events. Well, not all of it, anyhow.
