Reader_October31_2019

compiled by Susan Drinkard

(wo)MAN on the street

‘What frightens you?’

“Death.”

Angie Laws Sandpoint

“The prospect of four more years of Trump as president.”

David Lien

Forrest Bird Charter School teacher Sandpoint

“Heights.”

Janae Miller Respite supervisor Kootenai

“Success. When you make enough money then it’s hard to find someone who really cares about you.”

Eric Cortes Life Care employee Sandpoint

“Losing family members.”

Kali Gooby Laundry attendant Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

Salutations on this macabre Halloween Thursday, ghouls and zomboys. This week’s cover photo was taken by Joshua Hoffine and features Sandpoint locals Gregg and Cindy Kopsa. Way to get into the Halloween spirit, guys! We’ve had fun counting down the weeks until Halloween these past few weeks – rest assured, we’ll return to normally scheduled programming (in other words, no more skeletal covers).

This is our last issue before Election Day, and we’ve included a candidate questionnaire with Ponderay mayoral and council candidates, as well as Lake Pend Oreille School District candidates. The Sandpoint candidate questionnaire published in the Oct. 24 Reader, which is available online at sandpointreader.com. Please don’t forget to vote Tuesday, Nov. 5. Remember, Idaho allows voter registration on Election Day as long as you bring photo ID and proof of residency. If you need help finding your polling place, visit idahovotes.gov.

If nothing else, you earn the right to gripe if you vote. I pity the fool who tries to take away my right to complain. Good luck candidates!

-Ben

Olson, Publisher

READER

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

www.sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Boo Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Editorial: Zachtor Hagenstein zach@sandpointreader.com

Lyndsie Ki-scare lyndsie@sandpointreader.com

Cameron Rasmusson (editor-at-large) John Reuter (emeritus)

Advertising: Jodi Scourge Jodi@sandpointreader.com

Contributing Artists: Joshua Hoffine (cover), Boo Olson, Zachtor Hagenstein, Lyndsie Ki-scare, Susan Drinkard, Bill Borders.

Contributing Writers:

Zachtor Hagenstein, Boo Olson, Lyndsie Ki-scare, Emily Erickson, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Tom Albertson, Brenda Hammond, Cameron Rasmusson.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

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The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community.

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

SandpointReader letter policy:

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

–No more than 400 words

–Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers.

Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com

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About the Cover

This week’s cover photograph is a beauty, taken by photographer Joshua Hoffine of Gregg and Cindy Kopsa.

Decision 2019 Candidates’ Forum

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

A week before the Nov. 5 election, candidates for Ponderay, Lake Pend Oreille School District board of trustees and Sandpoint city office gathered Oct. 29 at the Sandpoint Community Hall to answer questions from constituents and make the case for why they should prevail at the ballot box.

Sponsored by the Sandpoint Reader, SandpointOnline, KRFY 88.5 and Selkirk Association of Realtors, the candidates’ forum drew an estimated 100 audience members, who heard from all but two local office contenders — Ponderay City Council candidates Gary Kunzeman and Brenda Thompson did not attend.

Leading off the night were Kendon Perry and Angelo Lonzisero arguing for and against a ballot measure that could make permanent LPOSD’s supplemental levy. Perry, representing Citizens for Better Schools, underscored how critical the $12.7 million in funding is for the district: the levy supports 300 full- and part-time positions, providing them with competitive wages and helping maintain staffing so as to keep class sizes at a “reasonable level”; funds professional-technical training, curriculum development and extracurricular activities; and enables teaching tools including the district’s technology budget.

“Those are all part of that pot of money,” he said. “We’re getting a good bang for our tax dollars.”

Sagle resident Lonzisero represented the con side, repeatedly coming back to the argument that “we cannot afford these tax increases.”

“We have tax increases coming at us from every direction,” he said. “We cannot afford to make this a permanent levy that takes away any oversight that the citizens have at the ballot box.”

LPOSD trustee candidates for Zone 4 include incumbent Geraldine Lewis and challenger Tara Tribbett. Lewis, whose children

Ponderay, LPOSD and Sandpoint office seekers make their case

went through local schools, said she would continue to bring “continuity and perspective to the district” while touting that “we’ve never outspent our budget.”

Continuity wasn’t on the agenda for Tribbet, a Ponderay resident. Rather than talk about per-pupil spending as a benchmark for educational support, she said, “This is a class issue that we’re talking about.”

As a candidate for Ponderay mayor, facing incumbent Steve Geiger, Tribbet also took aim at the proposed 1% local option sales tax on the ballot in Ponderay, calling it part of a “gentrification project” that wouldn’t benefit Ponderay residents.

If approved, the LOT would levy a 1% tax on retail sales in Ponderay, funneling the money to development of the 50-acre Field of Dreams sports facility and efforts to connect the city to the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, including a path beneath the Burlington-Northern Santa Fe tracks.

Geiger, who is finishing his first term as Ponderay mayor, said “I do absolutely 100% support the 1% tax.”

While Tribbet said Ponderay is a poverty-stricken city where workers have been relegated to “blue-collar serf-level wages” and “our quality of life issue … is just staying alive,” Geiger said “what Ponderay actually offers is prosperity” by way of 3,000 jobs and economic activity that benefits “our entire region.”

Tribbet vowed to “implode the city government there and start over,” and Geiger closed by saying, “Ponderay is just a really great, unique city. … I’d like to continue to be a part of that.”

By comparison, the Sandpoint city candidates were generally more low key.

Questions came from the audience on a variety of topics, including affordable housing, turf versus grass at War Memorial Field, firearms at the Festival at Sandpoint and the city’s reputation for inclusivity.

The turf issue spurred the most contention, with incumbent Mayor Shelby Rognstad and incumbent City Councilwoman Deb

Ruehle defending their decisions to vote in favor of synthetic turf at Memorial Field.

“At the end of the day it was a return-on-investment decision,” said Rognstad, who stressed that the city is in a critical time and continuity is needed to steer planning into the future.

Mayoral candidate Ken Lawrence, a former pastor, said he still wasn’t sure how he would have voted, but mayoral candidate and current City Council President Shannon Williamson was clear that she opposed both the turf decision and how it was made absent a comparative analysis with grass.

Council candidates Andy Groat, Jacque Guinan, Kate McAlister and Shannon Mitchell all echoed Williamson’s point about wanting a comparison between turf and grass. As McAlister said, “We were presented with the GreenPlay [design] and it was all turf. For me, there wasn’t a choice.”

On guns at the Festival, and the current lawsuit over the issue filed by Bonner County against the city, Mitchell, a 10-year county employee, said “this never should have come to what it has come to. The city and county should be able to come to the table.”

That sentiment was shared by most of the candidates, though with varying degrees of support for the arguments in play. Guinan characterized it as “a mistake” that the issue should go to court, but added that “I am a Second Amendment supporter and we should

Festival announces 2020 concert dates

By Reader Staff

In an Oct. 30 post on Facebook, the Festival at Sandpoint announced its 2020 concert dates, providing some indication that business would continue as usual — or mostly as usual — amid a season of turmoil surrounding the Festival’s weapons ban, which spurred a lawsuit between Bonner County and the city of Sandpoint; the resignation of its paid administrative staff; and loss of its longtime executive director following a drunken driving arrest this summer.

“As you may have noticed, The Festi-

val has been in the limelight recently,” the post reads. “The Festival has been a staple in our community for the past 38 years and likely everyone in the community has had a connection to this event and organization, as a viewer, sponsor, business owner, student or neighbor. We are proud of the $1.8M+ revenue we bring to our beautiful region every year, the education we provide and the music with which we fill the summer nights.”

The 2020 Festival at Sandpoint will take place Aug. 6-16. Season passes are $239 and will go on sale online Friday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. and in the Festival office Monday, Nov. 4.

Festival at Sandpoint officials confirmed in a comment on the Facebook post that the 2020 season will take place at War Memorial Field, its traditional venue, which by next summer will be resurfaced with artificial turf. Meanwhile, Bonner County is in litigation with the city of Sandpoint over whether the Festival — which is leasing the field from the city — has the right to ban firearms.

“We are deeply honored by the community’s shared passion for The Festival and continued and unwavering support,” the post reads. “Thank you, Festival Fans! As they say, ‘The show must go on!’ and that we shall!”

follow the law.”

Saying “I’m really pissed off that this is how my tax money is being spent,” McAlister, who serves as president and CEO of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, expressed concerns that should guns be allowed at Memorial Field during the Festival, it could threaten the event, thus damage local business.

Williamson proposed a committee of city and county officials to “work out our differences face to face, rather than in the media, because this is getting ridiculous.” Meanwhile, Lawrence said he would need “to dig in a little deeper” on the issue.

On the issue of inclusivity and North Idaho’s reputation for intolerance, Rognstad found himself defending his “social equity and inclusion initiative,” which council members removed from the FY 2020 budget this summer.

“I certainly don’t think it represents or community as a whole, but that doesn’t mean we should just ignore it,” he said, referring to instances of discrimination and racism. “This is a problem, however small it may be, and it has the potential to impact our community.”

Lawrence characterized efforts such as the inclusion initiative as “a solution looking for a problem, and I disagree with the way Mayor Shelby has handled that whole situation and I believe it causes more division than it helps.”

Williamson agreed, saying, “If I felt like this city was full of white nationalists, I wouldn’t raise my family here.” Rather, the initiative, which was included as an $8,000 line item in the budget, was removed because its purpose and function were too vague.

The other candidates decried discrimination and intolerance, though agreed that day-to-day actions, rather than city policy, are more potent in combating hate in the community.

“You can’t legislate kindness,” Guinan said, while Groat added, “We can do better than training, we can be good neighbors.”

To watch the full Oct. 29 candidate’s forum, access a recording by Idaho News Report at bit.ly/Forum-INR.

October surprise(s)

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

Political reporters have long called it an “October surprise” — a piece of news coming on the verge of an election with the potential to alter its outcome. Typically reserved for the high politics of national campaigns, the 2019 local election in Sandpoint has been uncharacteristically fraught with insinuation, rumor-mongering and allegation — much of it stewing on social media.

Two main controversies have simmered throughout the election season: one dispelled by a Sandpoint police investigation and the other only now breaking.

The first turned on the suggestion that candidate Jacque Guinan had falsified her residency in order to run for Sandpoint City Council.

The second, as the Sandpoint Reader learned Oct. 30, is that Sandpoint City Council President and mayoral candidate Shannon Williamson has been terminated from her job as executive director of the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper.

“I received notice of termination today [Oct. 30],” she told the Reader. “This has been a very difficult time for me and my family.”

Though all were contacted, Waterkeeper board members did not respond to requests for comment.

Williamson’s position as leader of the local Waterkeeper organization, which she held for eight years, had come up repeatedly in letters to the editor and online forums throughout the election season, with some casting doubt on whether she would be able to balance her efforts effectively between the full-time, high-paying job and the office of mayor. Others have publicly called on her to drop out of the race in order to avoid splitting the vote between her campaign and that of incumbent Mayor Shelby Rognstad, who some contend has a similar policy orientation and voter base, thus handing the election to contender Ken Lawrence.

Sandy Lange, who served on the Waterkeeper board for nearly three years until her resignation Oct. 22, said Williamson’s termination was “politically motivated.”

“The board was apparently offended that she did not ask them for their permission on her running for mayor,” Lange said, adding that a few weeks after Williamson filed her declaration for candidacy at noon on Sept. 6, the board expressed its concerns about

her campaign.

On Oct. 8, the board met to discuss the issue with an agenda, shared with the Reader by Lange, including items such as, “Mayor race potential outcomes and possible damage to LPOW reputation”; “Appropriate salary level of ED”; “Can a full time employee also serve in capacity of mayor”; “How funding bodies may react”; and “Tacit support of opposing mayoral candidate.”

Lange said the board then gave Williamson the choice of resigning as executive director or dropping out of the race, “Which of course she turned down.”

In her letter of resignation, which she also shared with the Reader, Lange put a finer point on the matter: “I became a Waterkeeper Board member to pursue water quality issues, not to malign, slander and smear a human being’s right to pursue a political ambition.”

According to Lange, the board had never expressed any displeasure with Williamson’s performance at the Waterkeeper during her six years on the City Council — four as council president — saying, “They entrusted her implicitly” and her position in city government was “a favorable thing.”

“They ruined a good thing. We had an excellent working relationship among us,” she said. “It’s been very unsettling. I was just appalled, really appalled that they would come to this.”

The other controversy of the election season, surrounding the residency of council candidate Jacque Guinan, played out only a week or so before the news of Williamson’s termination.

It all started with a social media post dated Aug. 7, in which Guinan — a well-known commentator on conservative websites such as Redoubt News — seemed to suggest she lived in the county, rather than the city, and called on county residents to attend an upcoming City Council meeting to oppose Rognstad’s “social equity and inclusion initiative.” The post — which was subsequently found to be copied and pasted from

Mayoral candidate Williamson terminated at Waterkeeper while Guinan’s residency is affirmed

another Facebook user and taken out of context — prompted Sandpoint resident Gail Bryan to contact City Clerk Melissa Ward to formally challenge Guinan’s candidacy on the grounds that she had not been a resident in the city for the required minimum of 30 days prior to filing her declaration for candidacy, which was due between Aug. 26 and Sept. 6.

Bryan contacted the clerk’s office with her concerns on Oct. 7, and four days later Sandpoint Police Officer Steve Chamberlain filed a report detailing his investigation into Guinan’s residency. After interviewing Guinan and her husband, her former landlord in Ponderay, current landlord in Sandpoint and a neighbor — as well as reviewing rental agreements and a utility bill — Chamberlain concluded, “the Guinans have resided [in Sandpoint] for over a year prior to Jacque’s Declaration of Candidacy.”

“This is the first time we have to investigate a complaint like this… that I am aware of,” Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon told the Reader in an email.

As word of the investigation started making the rounds in various Facebook and email groups, the matter was brought to the attention of the Idaho Secretary of State. According to records, Guinan remained a registered Ponderay voter until Aug. 16 and cast a ballot in the 2018 general election, despite signing a rental agreement in Sandpoint effective Sept. 1, 2018.

Concerned that this discrepancy may represent an instance of voter fraud, another constituent took the matter to the city of Ponderay.

“Wherever you live in the county or the city, you can vote in a county election,” said Ponderay Mayor Steve Geiger. “I don’t see

any major issues.”

Charlie Wurm, senior elections clerk for Bonner County, said “it’s not unusual for people to move and wait to change their registration address. … As far as elections are concerned, that’s fine. We’re not ready to push anything toward [Bonner County Prosecutor] Louis [Marshall] on this.”

That said, Wurm added, “We have not run into anything like this before, since I started here anyway.”

Despite the lack of any identifiable impropriety, there has been drama aplenty surrounding Guinan’s residency and voting record.

“I will be honest; my life has been a living hell over the last few weeks, with false accusations, embarrassing visits to my neighbors by police, public slander and harassment, covert threats for my safety if I didn’t drop out and fears of prosecution for crimes I have not committed,” Guinan wrote in an email, characterizing the “false and frivolous investigations” as “an attempt to smear me and derail my campaign.”

Gail Bryan, who brought the initial complaint to the Sandpoint city clerk, said she’s satisfied with the outcome of the investigation and stands by her decision to raise the issue with officials.

“I’m glad I did it because I think it needed to happen. There were questionable postings that made me doubt whether she was a valid candidate,” Bryan said. “I did what I thought I was supposed to: Went to the city clerk and said, ‘I have these questions.’”

That said, “Would I do it again? Probably not,” she added, saying that she has undergone harassment mostly online via social media, but also in the form of late-night phone calls.

“It’s gotten crazy,” she said.

PAVING THE WAY

Fire Chiefs Association shares EMS proposal

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

The Bonner County Fire Chiefs Association hosted a series of presentations last week to share its findings from months of research on how to improve Bonner County Emergency Management Services. Though prompted by an initial understanding that county commissioners were seeking changes to EMS, the board has since decided that the system is functioning fine as it is thanks to recent improvements.

BCFCA President Mark Sauter led the presentations, the first of which on Oct. 26 attracted about 50 people to the Bonner County Administration Building, sharing the results of “hundreds of hours in interviews and data research” in an effort to build a feasible fire-based proposal for BCEMS. Sauter touched on what the chiefs association saw as the county’s main challenges: “geography, agency communication, call stacking, duplication of effort, remote locations and limited responders.” He also advocated for reallocating current EMS personnel and equipment to better serve the county.

“Our general belief is that we could have a more cohesive system for the same cost if we work together,” Sauter said.

The chiefs association began research in January after Bonner County commissioners said they may be considering a new direction for the county’s EMS system — possibly to a nonprofit model. The board noted at the time that it might release a request for proposals in the coming months.

“If there was an RFP, we wanted to make sure we could get our plan out there,” Sauter said.

Commissioner Dan McDonald told the Sandpoint Reader in May that the RFP would be postponed until the end of 2020. On Oct. 29, BCEMS Chief Jeff Lindsey told the Reader that the county is no longer considering an RFP — a statement commissioners confirmed Oct. 30.

“By every measure, Bonner County EMS is functioning at a far higher level than we believe they ever have,” McDonald wrote in an email Oct. 25.

Commissioners hired current BCEMS Chief Jeff Lindsey in December 2018 as an interim chief, but made the position official over the summer. Lindsey worked as operations captain for BCEMS from 2011 to 2014 and currently serves as part-time chief for Boundary Ambulance, Boundary County’s nonprofit EMS service.

Lindsey said that by making a number

of “positive changes” to BCEMS over the past year, he’s seen employee morale and performance improve. Some of those changes include restructuring management and updating equipment.

“You’ve got good employees, you’ve got a solid system in place,” he said. “The problem all along has been poor management.”

Lindsey said he was surprised to hear that the chiefs association still planned to release findings for how to improve BCEMS, considering what he felt were huge improvements since the initial talk of change in January.

“At the beginning of the year [the worry] was, ‘Are we going fire-based, are we going nonprofit, is some private [company] coming in here, what’s going to happen?’” Lindsey said. “Now, their jobs are safe, I’m appointed the director, commissioners are happy with the way EMS is going. The morale is getting to where it needs to be, and then I find out [the chiefs association is] still looking at how they’re going to get their hands back ahold of EMS.”

Commissioner Jeff Connolly attended the Oct. 26 presentation, while Commissioners McDonald and Steve Bradshaw did not, citing open meeting law.

“I want to thank you for all the time you’ve put into this,” Connolly said to Sauter at the meeting. “It’s been a long project for you and I appreciate the time and effort. You’ve done a lot of groundwork for the county that can be utilized regardless of how we move forward.”

McDonald said he’s looked over the chiefs association’s suggestions for bettering EMS and “their plan would be less accountable to service as we see it, be financially a bigger hit to taxpayers and logistically challenging.”

“The BCFCA was warned that there is a legal process that we have to go through, and since we haven’t gone out for a competitive RFP, that their attempts to push the issue are highly irregular and border on potentially illegal should we consider their proposal outside of the legal process,” McDonald said.

Lindsey said he hopes the issue “quiets down.”

“If EMS is going to move forward with working with fire departments — whatever that might look like — it’s not going to be done in this current environment,” he said. “It’s very poisonous. It’s very toxic.”

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:

Sugar could be more addictive than recreational drugs, according to cardiovascular research scientist James DiNicolantonio, quoted in The Week. He said animal studies have shown rats on intravenous cocaine will ditch cocaine in favor of sugar.

A federal appeals court said earlier this month that internet service providers like Comcast and AT&T can be classified as “information services,” instead of “telecommunications services,” thereby dodging responsibility to provide open and non-discriminatory access to their networks — and allowing them to create fast and slow “lanes.” The New York Times reports that while that may sound like the death of net neutrality, an appeals court ruled states would be allowed to create their own net neutrality requirements. So far, 34 states and the District of Columbia are undergoing that process.

Two United States senators are urging customs officials to investigate and ban cocoa imports if they are linked to forced labor. Three major U.S. chocolate companies admit they won’t be meeting their 2020 deadline for eliminating child labor. This month, some 300,000 tons of candy ($2.5 billion-worth )are anticipated to be sold; only a fraction of which will be “fair trade” chocolate, says the Organic Consumers Association.

“Income volatility” during formative earning years can impact the brain, according to a study in the journal Neurology Subjects aged 23 to 35 were followed for 20 years, with MRI brain scans showing smaller brain volume for those who endured two or more significant income drops (25% or more) and reduced connectivity between brain parts for those with one or more income drops. A study author noted that, since the early 1980s, income volatility is now at a record level.

According to Americans for Financial Reform, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to create a banking system using a new currency called Libra for the “unbanked” and “underbanked.” But the tech giant doesn’t want to use bank rules. Facebook may be unreliable, AFR says, since this year it paid more than $5 billion for various violations, such as misleading investors. There are alternatives to address banking problems, AFR points out, such

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

as bringing back banking at post offices. A sturdier monument to Emmet Till has been erected in Mississippi, where the 14-year-old African American boy was tortured and murdered in 1955. Other monuments had been destroyed. The new one — a commemorative sign — weighs 500 pounds, is made of steel and is coated with bullet-proof glass. According to the Emmet Till Memorial Commission, the monument intends to keep alive the significance of the boy’s murder, which increased the focus on the Civil Rights Movement.

FOX News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano shared with viewers that Congressional closed-door hearings “are consistent with the rules,” which were last written in 2015 and enacted by a Republican majority. On Oct. 23, in defiance of those rules, more than 30 Republican lawmakers forced their way into a closeddoor presidential fact-gathering impeachment hearing regarding the Ukraine, delaying the hearing for five hours. They also brought into the room electronic devices that are prohibited for national security reasons. According to Business Insider, the speaker scheduled for an interview with committee members was a Pentagon deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia. Of the intruding lawmakers, 12 had already been granted access, but said they were protesting the secrecy of the hearing. The contents of the hearings, which both parties attended, are to be released once the initial hearings are completed.

Blast from the past: Historically, cities have regarded noon as the time when the sun reached its overhead apex, a.k.a. solar noon. That of course meant time was slightly different in the nearest city. So standardization of time resulted in time zones; it may not be “high noon” when your clock hits 12 p.m. A century ago, efforts were made by farmers to kill Daylight Savings Time, since they could not work early morning hours with dew on the ground. But their concerns were bypassed, Scientific American records show, since it was discovered that the time schedule saved on lighting bills and use of coal “which we cannot afford to ignore.”

Speaking of time, turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Another blast: “It’s not who votes, but who counts the votes.” Joseph Stalin, 20th-century Russian totalitarian leader.

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

Lessons of a Halloween tale

Moonlight shone on the nighttime fog, its beams clinging to the moisture in the air. The cobblestone streets were quiet except for the scuttling of sewer rats and the clinking of bottles from behind the near-unnoticeable door of a warehouse.

Inside the warehouse was a polished man, respected in his community for his academic prowess and charitable nature. He was feverishly measuring, pouring and concocting, creating the potion that would ease his lifelong struggle. This newly finished potion, when consumed, would enable him to separate the evil that lurked inside from the goodness by which he tried to consistently abide.

His name was Dr. Jekyll. And his “strange case” was about to begin.

As Dr. Jekyll drained a dose of his duality-inducing potion, he transformed into a “pale, dwarfish man of no particular age.” Exhilarated, Dr. Jekyll felt the restraints of decency and societal expectations melt away, completely consumed by the primal urges he usually kept at bay. On that dark, foggy night, in the dilapidated, unassuming warehouse, Mr. Hyde was born.

Dr. Jekyll surprised himself with the euphoric relief he felt when transforming into Mr. Hyde. Unburdened by his morality as Mr. Hyde, he could run the streets and engage in deplorable acts, seemingly

without consequence. After running amok, he could merely transform back into Dr. Jekyll, his urges satiated.

But, as with any addiction, Dr. Jekyll transformed into Mr. Hyde with greater and greater frequency, ramping up the severity of his actions with each transformation.

Upon reaching the peak of evil, Mr. Hyde committed murder, leaving a regretful Dr. Jekyll to struggle for control over his transformations. It was too late. Mr. Hyde had consumed him, no longer needing the aid of a potion to become his most evil self. The monster within had won.

For anyone who has read Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you’ll know the story comes to a dramatic end. For those who haven’t, I encourage you to read the tale for yourself.

For the purpose of this article, I’d like to stop the plot there.

In addition to being an excellent Halloween prompt, the case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.

Hyde has particular relevance in our lives today.

With news stories and opinion pieces swirling around a president teetering on impeachment, local politics verging on an election and national campaigns filled with candidates’ conflicting ideologies, the stage is set as contentiously as the mind of a man in a moon-lit, potion-filled warehouse.

Within each of us is a Dr. Jekyll, capable of navigating our days with decency and humanity, engaging in political conversations with empathy and reason. Our Jekylls understand that divisiveness isn’t productive, and that people’s beliefs are the culmination of their life experiences. In this understanding is the ability to tread the middle ground from which progress is made.

Our Dr. Jekylls see our neighbors post articles on social media platforms and seek to see where they’re coming from. They leave thoughtful, information-based comments or, if “triggered,” merely scroll on in preservation of a relationship that’s more important than being “right.”

Also inside of us are our Mr. Hydes, lashing out in thrilling exhilaration at the people who think and feel differently than us. The Hydes within us comment with emotionally-charged responses to the Facebook shares our Jekylls scroll by. They make snide remarks about the character of others, and dig in their heels on carefully crafted policies aimed at strategically provoking the people “across

the aisle.”

As in the case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, indulging our Hydes feels good. Lashing out, disregarding empathy and embracing ugliness is a temporary release of the pent-up tension within us all. But, the more we give our monsters a voice, the more we are consumed by them. The more we act on behalf of Hyde, the harder it is to live within the morality of

Jekyll.

It’s human nature to be comprised of good and evil; of morality and immorality. But every day we have a choice to act on behalf of one or the other. As Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “to cast it in with Hyde was to die to a thousand interests and aspirations, and to become, at a blow and forever, despised and friendless.” What a sad fate, indeed.

By BO

Bouquets:

• We went to see the Cade Prophet Memorial Productions take on The Laramie Project at the Heartwood Center on Oct. 26 and were blown away by how great of a job everyone did on stage. Here’s a Bouquet for Director Dorothy Prophet, as well as her cast of versatile actors and actresses who brought that important work to the stage here in Sandpoint. It took guts to take on that project, and I respect that.

GUEST SUBMISSION:

•Downtown businesses are struggling with little to no traffic due to construction obstacles and shoppers “wanting to avoid downtown.” I understand — completely! But those making the extra effort — in any form — to support downtown businesses are so very appreciated! As if the struggle of the lack of shopping wasn’t enough, our store was vandalized (a tenant responsibility to repair). Ben from the Reader donated money toward the repairs! Additionally, a local company asked Azalea to put together their employee Christmas gifts — a HUGE compliment and a generous way of supporting our little local business, and downtown Sandpoint. — Submitted by Brooke Deccio.

Barbs:

• Sometimes people will try to be snarky and say, “The only thing I use the Reader for is firestarter.” That’s actually great. We love when our newspaper is used for practical purposes. Line the parakeet page with it, too, we don’t care. However, this time of year we struggle to keep enough copies of the Reader on the rack because people sometimes take more than their fair share to use for firestarter. Do us a favor: If you want free copies of back issues to use for kindling your kindling, we usually have a recycling can containing plenty of back issues. You can always help yourself to any and all of those, since they are bound for the recycling plant anyway. Just poke your head into our front door at 111 Cedar St. and look for the big blue recycling can. Whatever is in there is open to grab. Burn on, readers.

Dear editor,

Sandpoint is the place I call home. I love the town and its people. But in recent years, it’s become increasingly hostile to differing viewpoints and tougher and tougher to shop downtown.

From the near-constant road destruction to the steady increases in fees and regulations, our city council has grown more and more detached from those they were elected to represent.

It’s time for a change.

That’s why I’ll be casting my vote for Jacque Guinan for city council. Guinan brings budgetary experience to the table, as well as experience in owning and operating a small business. She’s dedicated to looking for ways to save taxpayers money, the prioritization of urgent needs such as the long-neglected sewage issue and placing area residents and businesses first.

Please consider voting for Jacque on Nov. 5.

Dianne Houts Sandpoint

Undecided but anti-incumbent…

Dear editor, This is not a letter of endorsement, but some observations of the current city government.

First, I support the city letting the Festival at Sandpoint set the rules for their eight-day event as they are paying for it. It is not general admission as the pro-gun forces would have you believe, such as a country fair. So we taxpayers are being dragged along to pay for both sides’ legal bills because of a political vendetta by an out-of-towner, Scott Herndon, Dan McDonald and the sheriff.

This being said, here’s a few highlights from the current city council. Approximately 30+ garbage cans purchased at nearly $4,000 each. Transporting the geese at the beach to Coeur d’Alene to eliminate their poop. But a new generation is back folks, so I suppose now they’ll kill them for the sake of the almighty tourist dollar.

Next, the city had a public input forum to see what type of turf should be at the newly citizen-paid-for Memorial Field. Overwhelmingly the consensus was natural grass. What did they do? Vote for expensive artificial with the tie-breaker coming from the mayor, who had been in favor of natural. I’d call this more like natural gas. Then there’s the constant digging up of First Avenue and part of Cedar to install a California-style street design. I bet the merchants like the way this situation is going to last at least until next year’s Lost in the ’50s. Perhaps longer because, as I understand, the construction crews are running into all types of unexpected obstacles. Then let’s see how this two-season design works in the winter. Customers climbing berms of snow to get to the stores, cool.

Oh, and this particular project, $3 million. All the while the residential streets in town give an off-road vehicle pause.

I haven’t decided who I’m voting for yet, but it won’t be any of the incumbents.

Lawrence Fury Sandpoint

Do’s and don’ts of the LPOSD levy...

Dear editor,

Despite what some opponents of the Nov. 5 school levy say, passage of the stabilization levy will not take away your voice in matters relating to school funding and priorities. Voters select members of the school board who meet regularly in open session to set priorities, including budget details. A vast amount of information about the Lake Pend Oreille School District is available on the website (lposd.org) including contact information, the schedule of board meeting, minutes of prior meetings, details of district finances and much more.

What a “yes” vote does do is secure stable funding to continue the excellence in our schools that has been made possible by consistent levy support over two decades. Steady funding will end the every-two-year fear of closing rural schools, laying off teachers and cutting extracurricular activities.

Unfortunately, Idaho does not provide adequate funding to meet the expectations of students, parents and businesses in our communities. Stabilizing local funding will assure that we can pursue our local goals for the long haul, not just the next two years. Please join me in voting “YES” on Nov. 5.

Mindy Cameron Sagle

that is only twice as high as Sandpoint’s. Sandpoint did cut its budget down to $39,314,035 for 2020 and Coeur d’Alene’s went to $97,303,279.

Admittedly the cities are different with unique situations, but it’s interesting to see that if you use Sandpoint’s spending per person amount as the correct one, then Coeur d’Alene should budget $231,750,883 in 2020. If Coeur d’Alene’s spending per person is the correct one, then Sandpoint should budget $16,506,450.

We are not a wealthy city, and to subject taxpayers to those budget increases while spending on questionable projects like artwork on multiple downtown corners and an extravagant roundabout art project means the Council is out of touch with ordinary citizens. Common sense would dictate that crumbling curbs and buckling sidewalks would be taken care of before we see exotic artwork in the business areas.

I think in this election, “common sense” is the operative word. My vote will go to Ken Lawrence, a longtime local businessman who will restore some of that and put us on a conservative fiscal path.

John Oldfield Sandpoint

Editor’s (mathematical) note: The FY 2016-’17 budget, the first one adopted under Mayor Rognstad, was $39,419,820,makingforadecreaseof .2% between FY ’16-’17 and FY ’19-’20. Furthermore, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the 2018 population of Coeur d’Alene at 51,303 and 8,703 in Sandpoint. Based on that, spending per personinFY’20wouldbe$1,896and $4,517,respectively.FollowingMr.Oldfield’s comparative budgeting formula, Coeur d’Alene’s FY2020 budget would be$231,734,651andSandpoint’s wouldbe$16,500,888.—ZH

Lawrence: A common sense choice... Support Williamson for mayor…

Dear editor,

On Nov. 5 we have a choice of three candidates for mayor of Sandpoint, two of whom currently serve on the council and have been guiding the city in a fiscal direction that is of concern. It does not match the city’s vision statement that calls for “excellent stewardship of public resources.”

I’m speaking of the budget increases we’ve witnessed between fiscal years 2015 and 2019, when Mayor Rognstad and City Council President Shannon Williamson were, and still are, leading the council.

During that time, the budget jumped from nearly $32 million to more than $44 million, an increase of close to 40%.

In a city of 8,000, this is completely out of line. By comparison, the city of Coeur d’Alene, with approximately 44,000 residents, had a budget of $90,685,504 in FY 2019. So Coeur d’Alene has almost six times more residents and a budget

Dear editor, I met Shelby when we worked shoulder to shoulder helping launch the Sandpoint Transition Initiative in 2008. The community garden and single-stream recycling are vestiges of that effort.

Back then, Shelby worked as hard to improve our community and quality of life as he does today. He loves this town and the people in it that make it so special.

As a father and a husband, Shelby has strong family values. Values he’s demonstrated with his actions in the 12 years I’ve known him.

With Shelby as mayor, Sandpoint created the first Strategic Master Plan this city has ever had that is being implemented as we watch. As our little town grows, his vision is clear about keeping Sandpoint one of the best places in the world to live, work, play and raise a family.

Perhaps most telling for me was when I asked him why he was running for mayor again.

The first word out of his mouth wasn’t “I,” but rather “we.” He is a true public servant.

Shelby plays well with others, has the courage to stand up for the greater good and a strong vision for Sandpoint’s future. He also has the most experience of any of the candidates.

One more thing. What he says and what he does are the same. I trust him. We need more of this in politics, yes? Sandpoint deserves a strong, smart, courageous and experienced leader. I truly believe Shelby Rognstad to be that person.

Suzen Fiskin Sandpoint

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

The members of Selkirk Firefighters believe Shannon Williamson is a good candidate with strong beliefs and values. Shannon knows how to communicate effectively, does her research and asks the important questions.

Shannon has made herself available to listen to employee concerns and is not afraid to slow the process or go against the grain for the right reason.

Shannon has worked hard as a city council member over the last five years, has put in a tremendous amount of time and effort into maintaining our way of life and we know she will put forth the same dedication into our city as mayor. We believe these values and previous experience is exactly what our city needs. This is why we encourage you to vote for Shannon Williamson on Nov. 5.

Selkirk Firefighters Local 2319 Sandpoint

What happens in Sandpoint doesn’t stay in Sandpoint — at least that’s the attitude of the Sandpoint mayor and City Council president when it comes to their leftist objectives.

Rognstad and Williamson are vying for the position of mayor on Nov. 5. They are officials well known to champion radical environmentalism regardless of cost, property rights or city boundaries.

Two years ago they proposed something called the Greater Sandpoint Area Greenprint. It was an arrogant attempt to control about 95,000 acres outside Sandpoint city limits, much of it private property. I live in the west end of the county where the city has no jurisdiction, but that didn’t stop them from trying to push their environmental notions on those property owners outside their jurisdiction with that very same Greenprint.

Taxpayer funds were used to partially fund the plan before anyone even knew anything about it. As it turned

out, Williamson participated both in helping to get the plan under way as well as voting for it as council president because of the “potential benefits it will provide for the city.” Rognstad, of course, was on board all the way.

These two candidates now want to be considered for the upcoming fouryear term as mayor.

You have a better choice: Ken Lawrence. During the Greenprint issue he showed up at the council meeting and spoke decisively against it. I appreciated that. When I heard he was running for mayor, I was delighted. The Sandpoint City Council is overdue for a change.

Glenn Rohrer

Priest River

Three running for mayor, Shelby is the best...

Dear editor, Shelby Rognstad and two others are running for Sandpoint mayor. Shelby is the incumbent, so we have information on which to evaluate him. Shelby is an effective communicator and does so frequently. He is articulate. Shelby explains his positions logically and that enables us to better understand issues.

Is Sandpoint better than it was four years ago? I see Sandpoint as a vibrant, energetic, welcoming city that serves its citizens well and attracts visitors. There is so much going on. We live outside of Sandpoint. When we come to town there may be music concerts, boating, car shows and people biking, swimming, running and walking. There is a wonderful farmers’ market with the Corn Man.

Sandpoint is more than just a special place to come to. It is a city with an expanding business community. It is a city with a heart and a soul. Sandpoint provides a safe place for all citizens. It reaches out to children and adults in times of need.

Shelby is not solely responsible for what Sandpoint has become. It has been a team effort involving current and past city officials. Shelby is the current team leader. He has been Sandpoint’s highest elected official for the past four years. He is the official with the highest level of responsibility. Shelby has done his job well. Sandpoint is better now than it was four year ago. Keep Sandpoint moving forward as one of “The Best Places.” Vote for Shelby.

Kenneth Meyers Sagle

Hold trustees accountable...

Dear editor,

“Just Give Us the Money…” it’s the common call from school (LPOSD) and hospital (POHD) taxing district trustees. Biennial levy elections serve to protect taxpayers from unsavory taxing district policies. Levy elections force trustees to demonstrate the need

for tax revenue and often regulate how and where tax dollars are spent.

LPOSD wants to make permanent a $25 million tax levy. The permanent levy will allow LPOSD to be unaccountable to the taxpayers. Tax and spend operations will, in essence, be “secretive” without the requirement of levy justification or explanation. Of greater concern is that $1.7 million of the $25 million tax was taken under the false pretense of lost state funding, as claimed by LPOSD in January 2019. The loss of state funding to LPOSD never materialized, but LPOSD opted in July 2019 to take the $1.7 million from taxpayers without any justifiable need and now wants to lock-in this “theft” permanently upon unsuspecting taxpayers.

The POHD failed to take an indebtedness question, required by Idaho Code 39-1339, to the electors immediately after the Idaho deputy attorney general ruled that decades, $16 million+, of POHD funding was unconstitutional.

Trustees of the taxing districts are violating their FIDUCIARY (legal and moral) DUTY to you. The electorate’s responsive duty is to hold trustees accountable at re-election and levy elections. For eyes and ears to see and hear, the November election offers the opportunity to confront taxing policies built on lies, deceit and insults to taxpayers’ trust.

Vote AGAINST the LPOSD levy and Trustee Geraldine Lewis.

Dan Rose POHD Trustee Samuels

Vote for stability…

Dear editor, On Nov. 5, Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD) residents have an opportunity to approve a ballot measure to stabilize funding and maintain the current school levy. This is not a proposal for a new levy and will not increase taxes. The current maintenance and operations levy is 35% of the LPOSD budget, largely because Idaho’s public school funding ranks 50th in the nation. The levy pays for one-third of staffing, extra-curricular activities, technology, curriculum, and assures our small rural schools remain open.

Approval would remove the necessity of voting every two years. Just imagine if every other year over one-third of our police, fire, and city services were at risk of disappearing. That is the current reality for our school district.

Every resident of LPOSD can rest assured that fiscal responsibility and transparency is a top priority. LPOSD must submit an annual budget in a public meeting. This budget is audited externally and internally yearly and a public report is required. All budget and expenditures by law are posted

on-line for further public scrutiny. Remember, this is not a proposal for a new levy. A “yes” vote is a vote to stabilize funding for our schools by continuing an existing levy already approved by voters last March. Taxes will not increase, fiscal responsibility and transparency are built into the process by law, and we can continue to be proud of an outstanding education for our children and grandchildren.

Judy Hull Sandpoint

Editor’s note: According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, based on 2017 figures and released in May, Idaho ranks 51st in the nation for the amount it allocates for public school per-pupil spending. The state ranks 50th in the nation for the amount of money it actually spends per pupil, ahead of Utah. -ZH

Shannon Williamson will bene t all…

Dear editor,

Shannon Williamson is an excellent candidate for mayor. She is a proven leader, thoughtful, intelligent and has a thorough understanding of the issues the city faces both internally and externally. Some may argue with the timing of her run. I have some concerns about that as well. However, she is the best choice and will make an excellent mayor who will exercise the duties and responsibilities of the office in a way that will benefit all.

Carrie Logan Sandpoint

Guinan won’t represent all…

Dear editor,

Jacque Guinan advertises that she is for the voter and the small business owners, but that wasn’t my experience with her. When she was campaigning on Cedar Street, I tried to ask her how she felt about guns at the Festival. I was told by her followers to shut up, that I was a troublemaker and to go back to where I came from (I’m from North Idaho). Jacque Guinan watched in silence as I was shouted at. When she finally answered, it was that she approved of the lawsuit and that it was “a shame” that my county taxes had to be used to sue my city.

Jacque Guinan made it abundantly obvious that she has no intention of representing all the residents or businesses of this city. On her website she portrays tourism a bad thing that destroys local culture. Getting rid of the Festival is her kind of progress. She has published a Redoubt News article against the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, “white, middle to older age hippy types,” and spoke in favor of banning refugees. She wants to bring this Redoubt agenda to Sandpoint.

Ken Lawrence and Shannon Kaye Mitchell were endorsed with her in a

letter in the Daily Bee. Do they feel it is acceptable to destroy the Festival and the millions it brings into this town? Where does this no-compromise gun philosophy end? Will they represent everyone or just themselves?

Mary Haley Sandpoint

with Deb Ruehl, Kate McAlister and Andy Grout to council.

Rebecca Holland Sandpoint

Politics 101: Don’t split the vote... I support Shelby Rognstad...

Dear editor,

A vote for Shannon Williamson could elect Ken Lawrence as mayor by splitting the votes of the majority. The smart choice is a vote for Mayor Shelby Rogstad, which positions Shannon to continue in her important position as our council president. Many of us admire both Shelby and Shannon for all their fine work in our community, but facing our political reality, there isn’t any compelling reason to replace Mayor Shelby with Shannon when we examine our basic policy issues.

Make no mistake, Ken Lawerence as mayor would be a disaster. He launched his campaign at the Freedom Festival, tacitly endorsing speakers who advocate for biblical basis of war and the Redoubt movement. He’s a vocal Trump supporter, backing One America News Network filled with conspiracy theories.

When extremists blanketed Sandpoint with hateful literature left in residents’ yards and robocalls, Mayor Shelby strongly opposed them. It felt much like the Aryan Nation’s assaults in the ’80s, which stained NorthIdaho’s reputation for years. On this point, we know we can count 100% on Mayor Shelby to stand tough in opposition to hateful rhetoric.

Mr. Lawrence recently claimed that “the budget has more than doubled” since Shelby became Mayor. Fact is, 2016 budget was $39.4 million and now its $39.3 million. Chime-in Anita Aurit in her letter endorsing Jacque Guinan, stretching number to “over $40 million.” Obviously, dishonest and fabricated to sway voters!

For the goodness of our community, vote for Mayor Shelby Rognstad

Dear editor,

Early in his first term, he proposed an initiative declaring Sandpoint a city welcoming to all. That prompted a huge anti-immigrant reaction and crammed the council chambers with angry, shouting people, despite there never being any plan to relocate refugees here. The signs and rhetoric in opposition promoted fear of foreigners invading our city and raping our daughters.

Shelby had nothing to gain, personally or politically, by that first initiative. But it tells you where is heart is.

Throughout his tenure, Shelby has supported human rights, and worked to reverse Sandpoint’s “very white is very right” reputation--knowing it dampens economic prosperity as well as cultural richness.

Recently, he proposed an initiative for “Social Equity & Inclusion.” This prompted criticism from those who somehow interpreted an effort toward inclusion and equity as being divisive. It was not supported by the councilwoman who opposes him as mayor, and was criticized by others using the same rhetoric that was aimed in July against BSU for offering multi-cultural education, and fellowships for under-represented minority students. These were described as “antithetical to the Idaho way.”

Once again-- Shelby knew that, as stated in the Reader, “I’m aware that I’m kicking a hornet’s nest here, but I’m coming at this in a way that brings us together around common values.”

These values-- of inclusiveness, respect, kindness and equity-- are the values I have seen him consistently uphold--and are the reason that I support him for mayor.

Brenda Hammond Sandpoint

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

Science: Mad about

halloween

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

I’ve never been a Halloween humbug, so I wasn’t about to miss out on the fun of writing an article on one of my favorite holidays — but where would I start? The Reader staff had my back, and came up with a bunch of suggested topics for me to research and share with the world.

Buckle up, this is going to be a lot of info to cram into 900 words.

Ben Olson: The science behind vampires, werewolves, ghosts and other paranormal things.

Vampire lore is believed to have originated sometime in the 17th or 18th centuries, hailing mostly from eastern Europe. Stories such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula were largely inspired by a mix of local folklore and history, primarily Vlad the Impaler. Vampirism may have actually been inspired by or misinterpreted from a host of diseases called porphyria, which sometimes affects the skin to create photosensitivity, which is sensitivity to light. Porphyria can be treated (but not cured) with regular blood transfusions, which could have caused the blood-drinking myths.

Lycanthropy, or the affliction of a werewolf, is a story far older than any vampire lore, dating as far back as the Epic of Gilgamesh from 2100 BCE. The root of the story seems to come from humans’ primal fear of wolves. Wolves are highly intelligent and perhaps the second-highest predator on the food chain, behind humans. Interestingly, the idea of the full moon making people turn into werewolves may have been an

introduction by the medieval Catholic Church to stem paganism. The moon was revered in many pagan rituals, and if the medieval Church did one thing well, it was abolishing things with systemic fear.

The science behind ghosts and the paranormal is much harder to pin down. Fear of the dark and unknown is hardwired into our brains from well before the Stone Age, while belief in a life beyond death is the core tenet of most religions.You’ve probably seen plenty of ghost hunter shows, in which they use some sort of electronic device to “track” the ghosts in an area. This is an EMF reader that tracks electromagnetic fields. Before you buy one to look for ghosts in your attic, you should know these things are primarily designed for locating wiring or other sources of electromagnetic fields in your home, so you don’t accidentally electrocute yourself during a remodel.

Lyndsie Kiebert: The cultural significance of skeletons. Also, mummies.

Skeletons have played very different cultural roles throughout history, depending on where you look. In Western cultures, skeletons are harbingers of doom. This originates from the idea that the only time you see a skeleton is after someone has died. During the Middle Ages criminals would be stuck in gibbets — hanging metal cages — that would serve as a warning to passersby: Don’t do what this guy did, or you’ll have a gibbet waiting for you. Needless to say, these weren’t cleaned very often, and over time a skeleton was all that would remain. The fear of mummies is a little more intri-

cate. Caring for and preserving the dead was culturally important to the ancient Egyptians. Due to Napoleon Bonaparte’s excavations in Egypt in 1788, ancient Egyptian culture became couture in the late 1700s, the same time America was forming as an independent country in the wake of the Revolutionary War. The Egyptians left warnings in the form of written curses in the tombs of those they buried to deter grave robbing — warnings that would become the center of our fear of mummies. Besides, what’s scarier than an undead monstrosity?

Zach Hagadone: The science behind Halloween candy. How’s it made? What does it do to you when you eat it? How long can it last?

There are a lot of different types of candy out there, so I’ll just have to cover the core here: high-fructose corn syrup. The most widely available artificial sweetener in the United States is in almost everything for two reasons: it’s cheap and addictive. HFCS is produced by milling corn, crushing it into corn-starch powder and adding water, as well as an enzyme from bacteria that breaks down the starch into glucose. After that, another enzyme from a fungus is added to create the perfect 55-45 mix of glucose and sucrose.

HFCS has been linked to obesity and diabetes in the US for multiple reasons. Manufacturers put it into just about every food, which adds unnecessary calories to our everyday diets. It’s extremely sweet and our brains are hardwired to seek calories, so we eat a lot of it.

Finally, because of its chemical composition, our bodies

don’t have to break it down, making it easy to absorb directly into our bloodstream, and from there it’s consumed and converted into fat cells our body intends to use later. Since we don’t hunt and gather anymore, it just ends up expanding our waistlines.

As for how long candy lasts while still being safe to consume, that number ranges widely from type to type. Things like peanut butter cups can

remain safe to eat for six to nine months, while dark chocolate can remain totally fine for up to two years. Most of the candy has a low moisture content with lots of sugar, similar to honey, which makes it difficult for bacteria and mold to thrive in.

Share some of these facts when you visit the dentist, just not while the drill is on. Trust me on this.

Random Corner

•Afraid of Halloween? You’re not alone. You might have Samhainophobia, the fear of Halloween.

•Halloween has also been called All Hallows Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool, Snap-Apple Night, Samhain and Summer’s End.

•Halloween was brought to the US by Irish and Scottish immigrants during the late 18th century to the early 19th century.

•During medieval times in Ireland and Scotland, the Samhain festival was held at sunset on October 31 and lasted through daylight on November 1. It marked the ending of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or the “dark season.”

•Pumpkins originated in Mexico.

•The word witch comes from the old English word wicce meaning “wise woman.” According to popular belief, witches held one of their eight meetings, or sabbats, on Halloween night.

•Original trick-or-treaters received mostly fruits and nuts, not candy.

•Though the practice dates back to ancient Celtic tradition and was widespread in the Middle Ages, trick-or-treating didn’t become popular in the United States until the late-1920s and early-’30s.

•Chocolate makes up about three-quarters of a trick-or-treater’s loot, according to the National Confectioners Association. Also, more than twice as much chocolate is sold for Halloween as for Valentine’s Day.

•Halloween is the second-highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas. Americans spend an average of $74.34 per adult on candy, costumes and decor, according to the National Retail Federation.

•Over 90% of parents steal some of their children’s Halloween candy. But, as comedian Seth Meyers noted, “100% of kids steal 18 years of parents’ lives.”

PERSPECTIVES

‘Clean’ external audit report for LPOSD and update on accountability

By Tom Albertson Reader Contributor

As we approach Nov. 5, Election Day, it is timely for me to share with you the financial accountability report presented at the Oct. 22 school board meeting by the lead external auditor from Magnuson, McHugh and Co. accounting firm.

The external auditor explained the job of his team was “not to make the school district look good but to give findings of financial position and to obtain reasonable assurances that financial statements are free from material misstatements.” This includes giving a ruling on “checks and balances” in place to assure financial handlings are accurate.

For the 15th consecutive year, I am happy to report the audit was designated “clean” with no material misstatements, strong internal controls and in compliance with all major federal programs. Furthermore, the report commends operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting and compliance with all laws, regulations and policies. The external auditor commended LPOSD for being a model for other government agencies and school districts to follow.

You may ask why is this important? Prior to 2007, education in Idaho was partially funded through a non-voter approved property tax called “equalization.” The property tax rate at that time was $300 per $100,000 of net taxable value, about 30% higher than the current 2019 rate for LPOSD. In 2007 the equalization property tax was repealed and replaced with a statewide 1 cent sales tax increase as an alternative tax to fund schools. This sales tax increase did not generate sufficient funds (less than the property tax), thus, requiring local school districts to depend on voter-ap-

proved supplemental levies (maintenance and operation) to bridge the funding gap. LPOSD has had a maintenance and operational levy in place for 20 years, which currently makes up 35% of the operational budget. State law allows a district to ask voters to approve this type of levy either every year, every two years or on a continuous basis if the levy has been in place for more than seven years and is more than 20% of the budget. On Nov. 5, LPOSD is asking voters to approve this flat dollar amount levy on a continuous basis. In previous messages, I have elaborated on the importance of the current levy to the operation of our district from staffing to maintaining small rural schools, curricular materials, professional development and extra-curricular activities, to name a few.

Through an election process, patrons have the opportunity to vote on their representation on the five-member governing school board. By Idaho law, the annual budget must be set by the school board in an open meeting allowing public input and, by law, an external audit must be conducted annually to assure sound financial practices. Furthermore, all the budgets and audits are available for patrons to view on the LPOSD website (lposd.org). Additional accountability will always be in place, as the levy dollar amount cannot increase without further voter approval.

It is extremely important to me, as superintendent, to assure you these accountability measures must continue by law, regardless if the levy is voted on annually, every two years or on a continuous basis. Stabilizing funding for budgeting and planning purposes is essential to our continued trajectory as a notable and highly effective school district.

Tom Albertson is superintendent of the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Working toward civil discourse

Human Rights Task Force asks candidates how to counter community division

By Brenda Hammond Reader Contributor

The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force recently sent a questionnaire to all the candidates for city office, asking their positions on a number of issues. We asked them about discrimination, about countering North Idaho’s reputation of being a haven for racism and white supremacy and how that reputation affects our community. We asked them what they would do, if elected, to ensure that Sandpoint is a place where everyone is welcome, safe and able to thrive.

If these issues are important to you, read the questions and their responses on our website: bchrtf.org/candidate-q-a. Only one candidate failed to respond.

Although we cannot officially endorse any candidate, we can help voters know where they stand. Over the many years since the task force was founded to counter the Aryan Nations threat of expanding into Bonner County, we have found that it is critically important to speak out against any attempts to establish racist, anti-Semitic and hate-fueled ideologies in our community. We believe that leadership implies having the courage to do this. As Thurgood Marshall said, “Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out. This is your country. This is your democracy. Protect it. Pass it on.”

On a related topic, the BCHRTF is concerned about the divisions in our community that seem to keep growing wider — and we are looking for ways to bring people together.

We all have different beliefs and vary-

ing opinions about important issues. This is as it should be in a country where freedom of thought and expression is valued. The conflicts and divisiveness come from the assumptions we make about people whose ideas are different than ours. What makes it worse is the labels we use to describe those people — labels like right wing, left wing, redoubter, liberal, radical, snowflake and RINO, etc. We use those labels because we don’t really know each other. We assume that our values are different because our opinions are not the same.

Although our opinions vary, the BCHRTF thinks that we actually share many common values. We all value a place where differing views are accepted; we value the freedom we have to express our beliefs without fear of repercussion. We value a place that is kind and uplifting to our young people growing up here. We value a community in which we can feel safe and respected.

Therefore, we are working on some ideas to bring people of differing ideas and opinions together — to listen to each other and to participate in civil discourse. If you are one of those who has said, “I wish there was a way we could just talk to each other face to face,” please consider joining us in this effort.

We will be hosting an informal meeting soon to discuss ideas about how to do this. If you’d be interested in joining us, please contact the BCHRTF by email at bchrtaskforce@gmail.com, calling 208-290-2732 or by talking to one of our board members. You can also learn more about the task force by visiting our website at bchrtf.org.

COMMUNITY Chamber welcomes Rick Rickert Insurance

By Reader Staff

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce welcomed Rick Rickert Insurance to its membership on October 11. The former professional basketball player turned insurance agent, Rickert has made North Idaho home base for his family and business.

Rickert retired from a 15-year international basketball career in 2018 and has transitioned into the health and life insurance business. He says there is a connection between basketball and health insurance.

“I have many personal experiences playing across the globe and trying to find health insurance options for myself (during the offseason) and my family,” Rickert said. “Often, not always, in overseas basketball, teams insure the player only and leaving the family to find alternative options for full coverage. Having lived in nine different countries, this was especially confusing to navigate during my playing days with travel between the States and various countries. The insurance process is never clear and can be overwhelming.”

Rickart said he understands the need to find personalized health care meeting individual needs, and works to help his clients navigate the confusing process.

Board certified and licensed nationally and statewide, Rick Rickert Insurance specializes in health, life and dental insurance, and is licensed to operate in Arizona, Florida, Idaho and Minnesota.

Rickert and his wife, Cici, are raising their girls Pepper and Coco in Coeur d’Alene.

“I am always a phone call away as a personal insurance broker,” Rickert said.

He is part of Chicago-based Healthcare

Solutions Team and has access to every type of health insurance available, enabling him to access a range of policies in order to find the best, most affordable fit for his clients.

For more information, visit rickrickert.com or call 208-651-4699.

VA outreach planned in Clark Fork

By Reader Staff

A representative from the Bonner County Veterans Service Office will be in Clark Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Clark Fork Public Library, 601 Main St. Bonner County Service Officer Bryan Hult will see veterans by appointment, only to answer questions about current veterans’ benefits, assist with ongoing claims and take new claims for benefits for eligible veterans and their dependents.

Schedule appointments by calling Lyndsie Halcro at 208-255-5291.

City announces leaf pickup dates

By Reader Staff

The city of Sandpoint has scheduled its annual citywide leaf pickup to begin Tuesday, Nov. 12.Community members are asked to place unbagged leaves in the roadway next to the curb for pickup no later than Monday, Nov. 11. Bagged leaves and branches will not be picked up.

CAL named Chamber’s business of the month

By Reader Staff

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce named the Community Assistance League October’s Business of the Month.

In the summer of 1979, four women sat on a beach in Sandpoint. They were discussing ways in which they might become more involved in local projects and issues, especially education, as they all had young children. By the end of the year, CAL was born.

The mission of CAL was — and still is — to support community through education, service and philanthropy. For its first 20 years, CAL’s main role was to assist other entities with projects, principally in education. After year 20, CAL observed the need for more money to better assist even more projects. The result: CAL’s annual rummage sale, “Bizarre Bazaar,” grew into the brick-and-mortar retail shop Bizarre Bazaar, “an upscale resale store,” located on Church

Street in Sandpoint.

CAL has grown from four women to 260 women and one man. The members, all of whom are volunteers, manage and work in B.B. (as they call it), which is open six days a week, with all proceeds going directly back into the community.

“When I was told we were being honored as the Chamber Business of the Month, it was a surprise. I had never considered us a business; just a group of volunteers trying to make a difference. But I guess we have grown into a business and we are honored to receive this recognition,” said CAL President Sherry Ennis, when receiving the award Oct. 10 at the Chamber’s General Membership Luncheon.

Since its inception, CAL has given close to $2 million in grants, scholarships and other aid in Bonner County. This year, CAL is celebrating 40 years of service, giving members occasion to feel especially proud of their accomplishments and to be part of a commu-

nity as active and caring as Sandpoint. Find out more information about the Community Assistance League by visiting calsandpoint.org, or by visiting Bizarre Bazaar at 502 Church St. in Sandpoint.

Parks and Rec. round-up

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Salsa in Sandpoint (ages 12 to adult)

Salsa is an energetic, social Latin dance form in which participants commonly pair off with partners they’ve never met before.

Salsa dancing will take place Thursdays, Oct. 31-Nov. 21 from 6-7 p.m. at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave. The fee is $43 per month. Pre-register at sandpointidaho. gov/parksrecreation or at the Parks and Rec. office, 1123 Lake St., by Sunday, Oct. 27.

Family dance

Sandpoint Parks and Recreation joins Emily Faulkner and Beth Weber to host family dancing Sunday, Nov. 3 from 3-5 p.m. at the Sandpoint Community Hall. Live music provided by Beth Weber and friends. All dances called, including big circles, long lines, square dances, even family waltzes. Dances called and taught by Emily Faulkner. No experience is necessary.

Suggested donation is $5 per person or $20 per family.

Youth open gym basketball (grades 3-12)

Sandpoint Parks and Recreation has teamed up with the Lake Pend Oreille School District to offer free open gym basketball at Sandpoint High School. Open gym will take place Sundays Nov. 10-March 15 from 3-4:30 p.m., availability permitting.

The sessions are reserved for grades 3-12. Although a gym monitor will be present, this is not a supervised activity. Parents must sign in youth on the waiver form provided by the gym instructor.

Adult open gym basketball

Adults will have their turn at open gym

BGH Hospice holds 22nd annual Rose Event

By Reader Staff

It’s all coming up roses for Bonner General Health Community Hospice as they host the 22nd annual Rose Event Wednesday, Nov. 6. This annual fundraiser offers participants a dozen roses for every $20 donation they make to BGH Community Hospice, which provides direct client support to families in the community.

To order roses, contact Lissa DeFreitas at 208-265-1185 or buy them from the information desk in the main lobby at BGH on Rose Day. Roses can be picked up Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. in the BGH classroom, 520 N. Third Ave. in Sandpoint.

Sundays, Nov. 10-March 15 from 4:30-6 p.m. The entry fee for adults is $2 per player, payable at the door.

Beginning drawing (ages 10-adult)

Basic drawing elements of line, shape, contour, textures, values and perspective will be explored in a beginning drawing class for ages 10 and older.

Classes are scheduled Tuesdays, Nov. 12-Dec. 3 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Sandpoint

Community Hall. The class fee is $43, with a $5 discount for city residents. Register online by Friday, Nov. 8. Participants are asked to bring a mix of graphite and charcoal drawing pencils with three different grades, a gum eraser and sketch pad measuring 8-inch by 10-inch or larger.

For information about these and other Sandpoint Parks and Recreation events, call 208-263-3613 or visit sandpointgov. parksrecreation.

SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN

Valerie Corsiglia snapped this photo of her son Tony enjoying an ice cream cone from Panhandle Cone & Coffee on First Avenue: “The construction didn’t stop us from enjoying some dairy-free, gluten-free goodness.”

We’re sending Valerie and Tony a little treat for supporting downtown businesses affected by the road construction. Send in a photo of you, your friends or family supporting a business affected by construction and we’ll reward you with a surprise! Thanks to folks like Valerie and Tony, we’ll all get through this period of construction.

31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Good until the keg’s dry

Coins Arcade Costume Contest

6pm-12am @ Coins Arcade (Cedar St. Bridge)

Kids welcome before 9pm. $50 prize for best costume

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Beer and jazz: the final frontier

Live Music w/ Elephant Gun Riot

9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

One of best live rock bands in PNW

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin

8-10pm @ The Back Door

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Singer-sonwriter from Sandpoint

Live Music w/ Letter B 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

Folk/rock/indie/hip-hop

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Popular hits and a wee bit of folk

Flamenco Pacifico concert

7pm @ The Heartwood Center

Candy, coffee and cars, hosted Sandpoint Subies. Free event

Edgar Cayce Study Group

9-11am @ Gardenia Center Meets every Thursday Trunk or Treat 3-5pm @ Bonner Mall Parking

Live Music w/ Devon Wade

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Independent country from Sandpoint

The Purple Xperience in concert 9pm @ The Hive

Halloween party with Marshall Charloff and the Purple Xperience Prince tribute band. Costume contest! $30

Forrest Harvest Bazaar

10am-2pm @ Forrest Bird Charter School Farm goods, live music, arts & crafts

Free First Saturday at the Museum 10am-2pm @ BoCo History Museum

Tour the Museum free of charge!

Bella Note Musical Program 10:30am @ Sandpoint Library

Geared for families with young children

Flamenco Pacifico presents a dynamic range of modern, original Flamenco composition by Berto Boyd. Part of POAC’s 2019/20 Performance Series. Live music w/ two skilled Flamenco dancers

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills

7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Karaoke 8-close @ Tervan

Night-Out Karaoke

9pm @ 219 Lounge

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

Trivia Night

7pm @ MickDuff’s

Live Music

8-10pm @ The

ICL Seed Sowing Planting Event 10am-3pm @ Creek Wildlife Volunteer to www.bit.ly/BoundaryWMA Seeding

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Meets every Sunday at

Lifetree Cafe

2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant

An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s topic: “Has God left the Building?”

Live Music w/ Liver Down the River 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

A high energy bluegrass band from Durango, Colo. playing one night only at the pub

Show off that big, beautiful brain of yours Djembe class

5:45-7:30pm @ Music Conservatory of Sandpoint Join Ali Thomas for this djembe (drum) class

Wind Down Wednesday

5-8pm @ 219 Lounge

With live music by blues

man Truck Mills and guest

musician Drew Browne

Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Magic Wednesday

6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s

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

Open Mic Night w/ KC Carter 9pm-cl @ Tervan Tavern

Sip and Shop for Pend Oreille Pedalers

4-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery The Winery will contribute a percent age of purchases to P.O.P. who build maintain biking/hiking trails in N. Idaho

Sandpoint Nordic Club Season Kickoff 5-7:30pm @ The Heartwood Center

All are invited to help kickoff the nordic ski season. Learn about the club’s exciting plans and updates for the new Recreation Center and new ski trails at the Pine St. Woods

Oct. 31 - Nov. 7, 2019

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

7th Annual Trick-or-Treat at City Hall

Group

Center

Thursday Mall Parking Lot cars, hosted by Free event

3:30-4:30pm @ Sandpoint City Hall

Join the mayor and city of Sandpoint employees for candy, decorations and a special dance presentation of “Thriller”

First Friday art and shopping event

4-8:30pm @ Various

Shop downtown retailers starting at 4pm, view a contemporary fiber art exhibit at the Power House Gallery and after-party at the Pend d’Oreille Winery with an art exhibit and live music from 7-8:30pm where Dalec Baylor will be playing (5-8pm) live music

Live Music w/ Tom Burr

8-10pm @ The Back Door

ICL Seed Sowing & Planting Event

10am-3pm @ Boundary SmithCreek Wildlife Management Area Volunteer to register: www.bit.ly/BoundaryWMASeeding

Chess Club

Evans Brothers Coffee Sunday at 9am

Restaurant stories. This Building?”

River Duranthe pub

Reader recommended

Trick-or-Treat at the Museum

4-7pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum

Trick-or-treat at the Museum and head over to the Lion’s Den for drinks and sweet treats

The Zombie Nest (Oct. 31-Nov. 2)

5-8pm @ North of the Hoot Owl Cafe Held by LPOSD students. $5 entry

Dj Nights 9-close @ Tervan

Live Music w/ Ron Keiper Jazz

8-11pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Teen Role-Playing Games

3-5pm @ Sandpoint Library Teens play Magic the Gathering, D&D and other RPGs

Truck Mills and Carl Rey in concert

6-8pm @ Create, 900 W. 4th Newport Truck and Carl have performed together over 15 years, playing everything from blues to jazz. Tickets $12 or $15 at door

Explore Virtual Reality

2-4pm @ Sandpoint Library Reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room online at ebonnerlibrary.org

Piano Sunday w/ Annie Welle

3-5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Solo jazz, improv and original works

Outdoor Experience Monday Night Run

6pm @ Outdoor Experience

A chill, three-mile(ish) group run with optional beverages to follow

Bonner Mall Seniors Day

9am-12pm @ Bonner Mall in Ponderay

All are welcome to walk the mall, plus a featured speaker or entertainment, free refreshments, games and a drawing

Conservatory of Sandpoint (drum) class

Oreille Pedalers

Winery contribute a percentwho build and in N. Idaho

Kickoff

nordic ski

plans

Karaoke 8-close @ Tervan

Dj Nights 9-close @ Tervan

Friends of the Library Book Sale

10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library

The Friends of the Library is holding their November book sale, with Christmas cook books, crafts and home decor and so much more! Proceeds funnel back to the Library

Family Dance

3-6pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall

Big circles, long lines, perhaps square dances. Dances taught and called to live music. $5/person

BGH Community Hospice Rose Event @ BGH

Receive a dozen roses for each $20 donation. Order roses by calling 208-265-1185. Pick them up Nov. 6 @ BGH

Live Music w/ Jake Robin

7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Sip and Shop for SHS Grad Night 4-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

A portion of sales will benefit the Sandpoint H.S. Grad Night fund

Bonner County Economic Development Summit

8am-6pm @ UI Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center

Join 100+ business and community leaders for a day of networking, learning, and strategic discussion featuring panels on our economy, housing, workforce development. entrepreneurship and more. Attendees must register at bonnercountyedc.com. Limited tickets remaining.

Nov. 8

Hope Harvest Dinner @ Memorial Community Center

Nov. 8, 10 ‘A Night with Janis Joplin’ @ Panida Theater

Nov. 9

Holiday Farmers’ Market @ Bonner Mall (Ponderay)

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Election day Nov. 5, 2019

Ponderay City Council • Ponderay Mayor • Lake Pend Oreille School District

As we do every year, the Reader is offering a candidate questionnaire to help better inform you about the candidates. This week, we conclude our coverage with responses from Ponderay City Council and mayoral candidates, as well as Lake Pend Oreille School District No. 4 candidates. Special thanks to those who took the time to respond to our questionnaire.

Questions for Ponderay City Council and Mayoral candidates:

1.What inspired you to run for office?

2.What are the top three issues facing Ponderay right now and how will you address them?

3.The LOR Foundation gave the city of Ponderay $100,000 in 2018 to plan the McGhee Sports Complex in Ponderay. Are you in support of this plan? How would you bring this plan to fruition?

4.Do you support the 1% Local Option Tax?

5.There is a lot of commercial activity in Ponderay. How does this activity benefit the residents?

*For mayoral candidates:

6.For the mayoral incumbent, what have been your biggest successes been? For the challenger, what would you do differently?

Ponderay City Council

Gary W. Kunzeman

Age: 71 Years of residence in county: Since 1992. Marriage/ Family: Carol Kunzeman, married over 55 years, three adult children, two adult grandchildren Education: A.A. Degree. Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Ponderay City Councilman, seeking second four year term. How can voters contact you?: Ponderay City Hall.

--ANSWERS--

1.I was inspired to run for office in Ponderay because I saw the progress with the past administration that was being made and I wanted to help continue the projects benefitting our community. This is election I am running for re-election and another four year term as city councilman.

2. I will continue to work alongside my mayor and council to help educate our residents and voters on why the Local Option Tax is so important to our community. I think at this moment everything hinges on the Local Option Tax passing as to where we go next. We will always have the issues of a small town population trying to keep up with the responsibilities and services of Ponderay being the large commercial hub of Bonner County.

3. The LOR Foundation actually gave the City of Ponderay $500,000 to plan and implement the sports complex. $100,000 to

plan the complex and $400,000 to help implement the complex. I am totally in support of this project. The city of Ponderay has put on the ballot the measure for a Local Option Tax and if passed that will allow 1% of the sales tax revenue to stay in our community to use to build the complex. Without the measure passing it will take years if not decades to build the park if ever. Our community needs this complex.

4. Absolutely

5. Ponderay is the commercial hub of Bonner County. We have approximately 275 businesses in our town. We are a very business friendly town and we make it very easy for businesses to relocate here or start up. These businesses contribute taxes that help our community grow, they provide jobs for our residents, and gives our locals the convenience of shopping and services. We also have many hotels that support our city with local bed tax which in turn provides bus transportation on the SPOT bus – a free service to our residents which does not cost them a dime. Our local businesses also are very generous and contribute and donate to our local Santa Sack project, 16 years of providing sacks of goodies to our Ponderay children and seniors at Christmas. But with these wonderful businesses in our small town the amount of people coming to shop from all over our county, Canada, and Montana not to mention visitors who are here to enjoy our natural beauty and recreation areas brings a high cost to the 1150 residents of Ponderay. We must maintain our roads and provide police services to protect our residents and guests. This is why

a Local Option Tax is on the ballot to help us with the projects that will benefit our community and the residents who live here.

Brad Mitton

Age: 61 Years of residence in county: 61 years.

Marriage/ Family: Arlene, married 30 years. Son Jarret attending Idaho State Univ. Pocatello, Id. Education: Sandpoint High School.

ideas to supply the city with sewer for further development.

C. Affordable Housing. Work with the council and mayor to figure out how to create more low income housing.

We need to address each of these areas. Prioritizing importance, immediate necessity and determining what works well, what are the inefficiencies and who we collaborate with in order to overcome obstacles. Then we can work on funding. Adequate infrastructure is essential to growth and sustainability.

Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Fire Chief, Northside Fire District. I have many years’ experience working with governmental rules and regulations, general public, administrative duties, incident command and emergency situations, demanding patience, critical thinking and compassion. How can voters contact you?: bdmitton58@gmail.com.

--ANSWERS--

1.I have been a resident of Ponderay Idaho all my life, going on 62 years. I have been attending their meetings on a regular basis. I know the City of Ponderay has a lot of room for growth and is in the process of evaluating a lot of different projects. I would love to be a part of a well-organized city council to accomplish their goals.

2.(top three issues facing county):

A. Water/Fire flows for the city. Work with the council and mayor to come up with solutions to remedy this situation.

B. Sewer. Work with the council and mayor and Kootenai/Ponderay Sewer district to come up with

3. I am not against the plan as long as it has been thoroughly thought out, and we have reached out to our citizens to obtain their input and support. And the infrastructure is put in place, prior to construction and doesn’t put a burden on the City of Ponderay taxpayers. I am as interested as anyone else to see it become a reality.

(How would you bring this plan to fruition?)

To continue to work with the council and mayor and gather input from the public on what they would like to see as a part of the plan for this complex.

4. Yes, the initiative is on the upcoming ballot for voters to determine. The projects to be supported by 1-percent would be tough if not impossible to accomplish without this initiative. I see many areas the city needs funding through the normal budgeting process. I support the initiative as long as we have the support backed by voters, and that a concise plan is firmly in place with specifics regarding the budgets and future maintenance.

5.Residents benefit from the commercial activity in various ways. First, the tax revenue generated via the sale/purchase of goods and services. Secondly, commercial < con’t next page >

< con’t from previous page > growth commonly equates to jobs benefitting Ponderay and Bonner County residents. When we see increased revenue and employment, opportunities to provide services increase. Supporting projects such as the current initiatives: Field of Dreams and the railroad underpass, as well as parks, street maintenance and safety; all benefit the residents.

Steve Geiger

Age: 52 Years of residence in county: Over 27 years.

Age: 56

Marriage/

Family:

Married.

Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Employed by Farm Bureau Insurance for 15 years and have served on the Ponderay City Council for 2 years. How can voters contact you?: brendahappytrails@gmail.com

--ANSWERS--

1.I chose to run for office because our city is evolving and growing. I have been a Ponderay resident for 25 years and see so much change. I appreciate our community and I would like to continue to serve Ponderay and help protect and form it’s future.

2. Growth, infrastructure, and maintenance are three issues facing Ponderay. I plan on continuing to work with the council, city planners and all of the experts how to best deal with the issues. No one individual plans it all.

3. Yes, I support this plan. I am not an expert in planning things of this magnitude. As in the previous question, I would work with my fellow council, city planners and other experts to bring these things to fruition.

4. Yes, I support this because I would like provide our future generations with safe access to the lake and provide more recreational opportunities the Field of Dreams will offer.

5. The commercial activity in Ponderay benefits residents by providing more jobs.

Marriage/ Family: I have been married to my wife Debra for over 30 years. We have raised our three sons here in Bonner County. Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: I have worked at and owned In & Out Painting, Inc. for 27 years. How can voters contact you?: 208-290-1966.

--ANSWERS--

1. About 15 years ago I was asked a couple of times to be on the City Council and at the time I was too busy working at my business and raising my family. In 2008 I was appointed to the City Council and ever since I just like the challenge and having a voice in our city’s future. This will be my 5th election which I have served 6 years on City Council and almost four years as mayor. It has been an honor serving our city.

2. A. We only have sewer and water to about ½ of our city, this is controlling and regulating our growth and we need to find a solution.

B.Revenue sharing. Our city is the commercial hub of Bonner County, we have over 260 businesses, a work force of close to 3,000 and we produce over $18 million dollars in sales tax revenue for our state. The decades old formula only returns $120,000 to our city. If you would like more information on this subject please call me on my cell 208-290-1966.

C.Regarding the sewer it comes down to whether or not there is enough capacity and the cost of the needed improvements to encompass more of our city. Basically it boils down to money. Our city relies on the Kootenai Ponderay Sewer District for our sewer needs.

As far as water goes we are thankful for the city of Sandpoint for our water service. There is plenty of capacity and the majority of our city is in the water boundaries. The revenue sharing formula

hurts our city and I have brought attention to this matter by talking with our local legislators and I have also talked with our Governor regarding this concern as well.

3.Yes I support this plan. We have been doing our research regarding the “Field of Dreams” property for over a year. We have had council meeting discussions, 8 or 9 park committee meetings and 2 city “Ponderay Neighbor Days” events where we received a lot of positive feedback about recreational opportunities. Our city purchased this property over 10 years ago for this purpose. What we have heard is having some kind of an indoor facility that would accommodate an indoor walking or running track around a field so our kids could practice during the winter months with an area for a community center. We would also have outside fields, walking paths, outdoor amphitheater and possibly an area for an ice skating rink. We still are currently working on this.

4.I am 100% behind the tax. Without this funding option our city would not be able to pursue “safe lake” access. During the summer months we have 400-500 people that cross the tracks illegally every month and with more people moving to Idaho every year the problem is only going to get worse.

For the “Field of Dreams”, I have lived here for over 27 years, my kids have played on the original fields over 20 years ago and there have been several attempts to try to get something started out there. About 10 years ago there was a recreational district tax proposed, which at the time failed. The last couple of years we have had a lot of interest in having a recreational site at the old U of I property. With the increased interest over the last couple decades in having some kind of recreational opportunities, I think that this would be a great asset for our city’s future.

5.We are the commercial hub of Bonner County with over 260 businesses, a work force of close to 3,000 that produce well over $300 million dollars in annual sales. Our little city with a “big future” does more annual sales than the rest of the cities and the entire county combined. Our residents have some benefits by being able to live and work in our great city due to how many jobs our city has to offer. Also when it comes to property taxes our commercial

sector pays for 75% of all the property taxes that we receive.

(Question for the mayoral candidates only):

*6. I think our biggest successes as a city have been bringing our community together for our annual city clean up weekend and the “Ponderay Neighbor Days”. We have also continued our city Santa sack program. We have a very generous city that gives back to our community in many ways. I think we are good at listening to our city residents concerns like getting the old S&W motel cleaned up or any other issues that they have requested.

You should also know that our city council, city hall staff and our police department all work very well together and they are truly dedicated to doing what’s best for our city. I really appreciate all of them and I could not do this job without them.

Questions for Lake Pend Oreille School District Trustee Zone #4 candidates:

1.What inspired you to run for the school board?

2.What are three examples of successes for the school district? What are three examples of areas that need improvement?

3.LPOSD is seeking a permanent levy this election cycle. Are you in favor of this option? Why or why not?

4.The Greater Sandpoint area has seen a population increase over the past decade. How have those demographic changes affected rural schools within the district? How would you manage those changes?

5.How would you rate the school district’s level of transparency with community members and why?

Lake Pend Oreille School District Trustee Zone #4

Geraldine Lewis

Age: 52 Years of residence in county: 25 years.

Marriage/ Family: Husband is Jim Lewis, a native of Sagle. Raised four children through the public schools.

Education: Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. How can voters contact you?: 208-290-7148. geraldine.lewis@ lposd.org

--ANSWERS--

1. I have been a Zone 4 trustee for the past 4 ½ years and the commitment I have toward public education has only increased over that time. I also bring continuity and perspective to the School Board that is vital at this time. With a new Superintendent, I am the longest running trustee we have on the board. That experience is so valuable. Prior to being a trustee, I was involved in volunteer work in the schools that my four children were in: Sagle Elementary, Sandpoint Middle School and Sandpoint High School. I am also a board member of the Panhandle Alliance For Education. I see first-hand the importance of the entire community being supportive and engaged in the health of our schools.

2. The successes in this district are many:

1.Excellent teachers and staff

2.Our district ISAT scores have been above or at state average across all content areas

3.The Homeschool Academy is a great example of how public education can fit the needs of all students in the district

Areas that need improvement:

1. focus on raising our math scores across the district

2. recruiting and retaining teachers

3.Continuing to communicate with all community members.

3. In August, the school board voted to add an indefinite term supplemental levy to the ballot and let the voters finally weigh in on this important issue. We have been hearing from the community for several years that they would

like the chance to vote on it. We’ve had a maintenance and operations levy in place for 20 consecutive years, being approved by the voters every 2 years. That is a lot of time and money spent every two years to renew what we all see as a critical part of our budget. I am in support of this ballot issue, because it allows the community to stabilize the current maintenance and operation funding. In this district we have a large geographical area with many small rural schools that come with added expense. We also have a commitment to continue our Career Technical Education programs and Advanced Placement classes. We are also interested in recruiting and retaining excellent staff in this district. These are all areas that rely on the funding provided in our existing supplemental levy.

4. Our district enrollment numbers have been slightly increasing over the past years and I think this growth is a reflection of the health of our area. The growth has been slow and steady, not creating a hardship in any one school. In

fact, a few of our outlying rural schools still have low numbers, but it’s my hope that we never lose those schools. They are such a vital part of the smaller communities. We also know that as more people move into the area, the property tax base increases, making each individual tax burden slightly less.

5.We are a very transparent district. We post all our financials and budget on our website, keeping it up-to-date. We have annual audits that show our fiscal responsibility and oversight is strong. I know that Superintendent Albertson is eager to meet with anyone in the community who has questions or needs more understanding of how the district operates. He has already met with many people in these first few months of his new job.

Tara Tribbet

Did not respond.

Library announces Family Reading Week

By Reader Staff

The annual Family Reading Week party is one of the most highly attended events of the year at the East Bonner County Library. Families in the community come together to celebrate reading, meet other families and engage in activities based on that year’s statewide theme.

The Idaho Library Association has chosen “Adventure Awaits — Reading Takes You Anywhere,” as the theme for the 2019 Family Reading Week, which takes place Sunday, Nov. 3-Saturday, Nov. 9. The library will host special events related to that theme all week long.

On Monday, Nov. 4, kids and families can drop in to Karen’s Room in the Gilmore Family Children’s Library at the Sandpoint branch for “Build Your Own Adventure” open play. Regularly scheduled Tuesday storytimes will have a special adventure theme. There will be a magic class at 3 p.m.

on Wednesday, Nov. 6 for third- through sixth-graders, followed by a magic show for all ages at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 9 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., kids can enjoy the following activities: a library scavenger hunt, storytime, block and marble free play, building challenge, geography trivia, storywalk, free books, snacks, postcard making and “Wild Thing” masks.

The highlight of every Family Reading Week party is a visit from a beloved children’s book character. This year, “Wild Thing” from Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are will make a special appearance.

The event also marks the official kickoff for the library’s Winter Reading Challenge. Instructions and sign-ups will be available.

For more information, contact Suzanne Davis at 208-263-693 ext. 1211 or email suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

What’s on the ballot?

A quick and handy guide to what will appear on Nov. 5 election day ballot

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Here’s a quick rundown on what you should expect to see on the ballot (all names are listed in alphabetical order):

In the Sandpoint mayoral race, voters will choose between Ken Lawrence, incumbent Shelby Rognstad and Shannon Williamson, who currently serves as Sandpoint City Council president. Sandpoint voters will also choose three City Council members from five total candidates, including Andy Groat, Jacque Guinan, Kate McAlister, Shannon Mitchell and incumbent Deb Ruehle.

Ponderay voters will select a mayor from two candidates, including incumbent Steve Geiger and challenger Tara Tribbet. The Ponderay City Council has two seats up for grabs, with incumbent Gary Kunzeman running against challenger Brad Mitton and incumbent Brenda Thompson. Also on the ballot in Ponderay is the 1% local option sales tax, intended to support the Field of Dreams sports complex and lakeshore accessibility, including a railroad underpass connection to the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail.

Voters throughout the Lake Pend Oreille School District No. 84 will choose a Zone 4 trustee between incumbent Geraldine Lewis and

challenger Tara Tribbet. LPOSD voters will also decide whether or not to authorize a $12.7 million indefinite term supplemental school levy. West Bonner County School District will hold an election for Zone 1 and 3 trustees. Lakeland School District will also vote on Zone 1 and 2 trustees.

Aside from Sandpoint and Ponderay, city elections will be held in Clark Fork, Dover, Kootenai, Oldtown, Priest River, East Hope and Hope.

The Bayview Water and Sewer District will hold a recall election for two board members, Robyn Edwards and Sharon Meyer.

To obtain a sample ballot, visit bonnercountyid.gov or visit the Bonner County Elections Office inside the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 U.S. Highway 2, Suite 124 between 9 a.m. and 5p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 208255-3631 or email elections@ bonnercountyid.gov with any questions. In-person absentee voting will conclude Friday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. Polls will be open between 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5 at voters’ regular polling places. As it does every year, Idaho allows for Election Day registration — be sure to bring a photo ID and proof of residency. Visit idahovotes.gov to find out your correct polling place.

Momentum builds for Bay Trail underpass

Trail group eyes federal grant dollars and 1% Ponderay local option tax

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

The images are blurry and no faces are visible, but it’s clear what people are doing: two are hauling a kayak, one has an inner tube slung over his shoulder, others carry fishing poles. Some are kids, some are families. All are traversing a user-made trail leading from Railroad Avenue in Ponderay across two sets of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe and Montana Rail Link tracks that separate the residential neighborhood from the nearby shoreline of Lake Pend Oreille.

“It really demonstrates that there’s a great attraction there,” said Susan Drumheller, president of the nonprofit Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail.

Drumheller spoke at a recent open house in Ponderay, highlighting the need for a railroad underpass providing a safe means to access the lake. Pointing to a large placard depicting stills from the motion-activated camera, she noted that 260 people were seen crossing the tracks over a two-week period in June — a situation that is not only dangerous for residents, but hazardous for the railroad companies. A technical feasibility study has already received positive feedback from BNSF.

“They recognize they have a safety issue,” she said, adding that BNSF and Montana Rail Link have both written letters of support for the underpass project.

That’s good news for the trail group, but of even greater significance is the outcome of a federal transportation grant, which the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail submitted in June. Drumheller said federal officials are expected to make a decision sometime in November.

“I really feel like we’ve done our homework and have a really good proposal,” she said.

The proposed underpass would cost about $9.82 million, paid for primarily by the grant — a funding vehicle under the Obama era TIGER program — which would cover design, engineering and construction.

The city of Ponderay would also kick in its support, in the form of $40,000 per year from the city’s bed tax over four years. If approved, the project would be administered by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council.

Meanwhile, a big “what-if” is how the railroad-right-of-way will be made available for construction. Drumheller said Pondery would need to acquire an easement from BNSF in order to build the underpass, but that has yet to be negotiated. The grant could potentially cover that cost, but the best-case scenario is that BNSF donates its right-of-way to the city.

More immediately, the other big question heading into the Nov. 5 election is whether Ponderay voters will approve the proposed 1% local option sales tax. Drumheller said that if Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail win the grant, the LOT could help fund amenities at the underpass-equipped shoreline, “so it’s not just a hole under the railroad tracks.” Some examples include a picnic area, fishing pier and bathrooms.

The grander vision positions those amenities as paving the way for commercial development on a nearby parcel of property south of the proposed underpass and immediately west of the tracks, which Ponderay has already acquired. That could lead to the establishment of a “new little downtown” leading to the underpass, and also open the way for connecting the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail directly to the commercial core around the Bonner Mall — in a sense, stitching together the town via its access to the lakeshore.

Ultimately, though, the underpass would facilitate a much broader connectivity, with the longtime dream of estab-

A concept drawing from 2010 showing potential underpass locations. Courtesy Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail.

lishing an unbroken trail from Sandpoint to Ponder Point south of Kootenai. Farther down the trail, so to speak, would be the hope that more connections could be made to the University of Idaho property on Boyer Avenue, with a pathway over Sand Creek on the Popsicle Bridge. The 75-acre property is in the process of being purchased by a private developer, so plans are still up in the air. Still, Drumheller and Ponderay City Planner Erik Brubaker are optimistic that a multi-city trail network could be in the future.

“It’s emerging,” Brubaker said.

Focusing more on the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail itself, another possibility would be using LOT monies to purchase additional private property or public easements in order to increase how much shoreline is accessible to the public.

However, Drumheller said, if the feds deny the grant, the LOT could be leveraged for local matching fund, making a future grant request more competitive.

Between the upcoming grant decision and the LOT ballot measure, Drumheller said that whatever happens there is a lot of momentum for moving the trail forward.

“Being able to pull this all together at around the same time is really beneficial,” she said. “I’m feeling really confident about it.”

Sound and color

POAC brings Flamenco Pacifico to the Heartwood Center

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

Growing up in Ventura, Calif., Berto Boyd remembers being surrounded by creative and talented people. He also recalls how drugs and gangs were becoming more prominent.

“I was always drawn to the heaviest characters, the heaviest scenes. The guys who surfed the biggest waves or the fearless skateboarders, but that lifestyle comes with a really big price tag,” Boyd says in a YouTube video chronicling his early life. “So instead of following that herd, I locked myself in my room for safety and practiced classical guitar 14 hours a day.”

After his guitar teacher noticed Boyd had a knack for interpretation, he suggested the budding musician pursue flamenco. The first time he encountered the genre, Boyd said he was hooked.

“It was so intense, so heavy,” Boyd said. “I remember the hair standing up on my arms and my neck. I remember thinking that, ‘This is what I was born to do.’”

Today, Boyd is an accomplished flamenco guitarist writing original compositions that come to life when he and his performance group Flamenco Pacifico play together — a powerful and enriching experience Sandpoint will get the chance to experience when Flamenco Pacifico plays the Heartwood Center on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

“Berto incorporates elements of traditional and modern flamenco,” said Flamenco Pacifico guitarist and vocalist Grant Ruiz, “along with elements of other music like rock, jazz and samba.”

In Flamenco Pacifico, Boyd is joined by Ruiz, percussionist Terry Longshore and bassist Randy Tico. However, the group’s performances would lose color without emotive and passionate physical interpretations from Elena Villa and Melissa Cruz, both classically trained and well-traveled flamenco dancers who complete the Oregon-based six-piece. Together, Flamenco Pacifico is known for interactive and educational performances.

“We like to provide background on the pieces that we do, so that the audience gains some insight into the cultural context of Spanish flamenco,” Ruiz said, noting that oftentimes audience members thank them for the extra information, saying that it enhanced their experience.

“This is also very gratifying to us as performers because it helps us connect to our audiences,” he added.

Flamenco Pacifico is coming to Sandpoint as part of the Pend Oreille Arts Council’s 2019-2020 Performance Series, filling a vital role in the series as the annual world music installment.

Flamenco Pacifico

Sunday, Nov. 3; 7 p.m.; $15 for adults, $10 for youth. The Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St. Contact Pend Oreille Arts Council at 208-263-6139. Listen at flamencopacifico.com.

“We find that it’s a really important part of what we do — to bring in shows that people wouldn’t have a chance to see otherwise in Sandpoint,” said POAC Director Hannah Combs. “World music is sort of our wheelhouse at POAC. It’s something that a lot of the other [local arts] presenters don’t do much of.”

In past years, POAC has invited performers of traditional African, Japanese and Ukranian art forms to take part in

the annual performance series. Flamenco Pacifico is a perfect fit for POAC’s mission, which aims to help local artists and students alike connect with performers from a variety of backgrounds.

“It’s a really cool message, especially to our students — somebody was exposed to this music, fell in love and used

all his energy to pursue it,” Combs said, referring to Boyd’s journey to performing flamenco music. “It’s an inspiring story and a great example of a creative collaboration.”

First Friday:

Where shopping and art intertwine

By Reader Staff

The Sandpoint Shopping District teams up with Pend Oreille Arts Council and the Pend d’Oreille Winery every First Friday in Sandpoint to promote shopping and local art.

First Friday will feature sales and festive shopping with participating downtown retailers from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. With ongoing street construction in the downtown core limiting access, now is an especially important time to support local merchants.

Two separate art exhibits will be showcased from 5-7 p.m., the same night at the Old Power House and the POAC Gallery,

120 E. Lake St. and 110 Main St., respectively. A contemporary fiber exhibit at the Power House will feature everything from art quilts to baskets to custom clothing and felt sculpture. A mixed-media exhibit from Coeur d’Alene artist Jesse Pierpoint will be on display at the Pend d’Oreille Winery, using a combination of paper, acrylic and spray paint. Pierpont mixes typography, expressive brushstrokes, patterns and collage media into his work to create depth, texture and movement.

Following the shopping and art will be an after party at the Pend d’Oreille Winery from 7-8:30 p.m. with food and drink provided by the winery.

Students host Forest Harvest Bazaar

By Reader Staff

Economic students from Forrest Bird Charter School are presenting the Forest Harvest Bazaar from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Forrest Bird Charter School, 614 S. Madison Ave. in Sandpoint.

The bazaar will include community arts and crafts, farm and food vendors, and charter school economic students will sell their

handmade products from the businesses they created in class.

Sandpoint’s own Bridges Home will play live music during the bazaar.

Attendees who donate a non-perishable food item will receive a chance to win a door prize.

For more information, contact the charter school at 208-255-7771.

Community Cancer Services hosts A Night To Remember

By Reader Staff

Since 2002, Community Cancer Services has been connecting cancer patients throughout North Idaho with resources to help them in all facets of life. Thanks to community funding, CCS is able to continue its work.

One way people can support CCS is by attending A Night To Remember, the nonprofit’s annual dinner and wine tasting.

Held Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. at the Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., A Night to Remember will feature catering from Tango Cafe, a photo booth sponsored by Ting Internet and Fresh Sunshine floral arrangements sponsored by P1FCU.

Tickets are $95 per person or $1,500 for a table of eight people.

Pend Oreille Pedalers sip and shop Wednesday

By Reader Staff

Chances are, if you’ve hiked or mountain biked trails in the region, the Pend Oreille Pedalers probably had something to do with building or maintaining them. Show your support for this organization of trail builders by attending the Sip and Shop fundraiser from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Pend d’ Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St.

A percentage of all purchases that day will be donated to the Pend Oreille Pedalers

For more information, contact CCS at 208-255-2301. contrib-

so they can further their mission to build and maintain area trails, organize rides and contrib ute to the recreational community.

Visit pendoreillepedalers.org to find out more information about this club, and better yet, become a member of the coolest network of bicycle enthusiasts around.

Wasteland week

Four days of Halloween with Mad Max fanatics

enD

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Contributor

Alot of questions go through your mind when a strange woman is about to spit wine in your face. Chief among them: Why did I agree to this? And the answer is peer pressure.

My friends were committed to joining the Cult of Catmeat, one of the many tribes that comprise the social backbone of the four-day post-apocalyptic Wasteland Weekend festival, hosted each September since 2010 in the desert outside California City, Calif.

To join the Cult of Catmeat, you must agree to be baptized. By wine. Expelled from the mouth of its ranking member. It’s no light spritz of merlot, either. My friends had just undergone the ceremony and came out looking like Carrie after prom night. The volume and velocity of Catmeat baptismal wine is best described as torrential.

There’s a reason why so many Wastelanders subject themselves to the ordeal (I happened to be the 100th Catmeat inductee and won a special patch for my luck). The cult formed when its founding member rescued a stray cat from the California desert where Wasteland Weekend takes place. In that sense, the Cult of Catmeat is illustrative of Wasteland Weekend as a whole — it’s an experiment in community building constructed through a whole lot of weirdness. Wasteland Weekend takes its most direct inspiration from the Mad Max movie franchise conceived by visionary action director George Miller and ranging from 1979’s Mad Max to 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Peripheral influences come from other iconic post-apocalyptic franchises — for

instance, the festival’s unofficial bottle cap currency system lifted from the “Fallout” video games. To reinforce that sense of immersion, costumes are mandatory. Try to access the City — where the majority of events, live music and the most colorful camps are located — in plainclothes and risk being turned away by the guards.

It’s like four days of Halloween, with bartering for supplies or collectibles replacing the search for candy.

My first full day of Wasteland Weekend was spent in an uncaffeinated slump for want of coffee. It was just my luck, then, that I came across the Caffiends, a Wasteland tribe that brews up vats of coffee every morning. To enter the Caffiends’ good graces and gain access to their coffee, I offered fair trades: first, one of the bottle caps from my tribe, the Cult of the Cup and, second, a lucky kazoo I had salvaged days earlier.

Collectibles are a major part of the Wasteland Weekend experience, and bartering for new, unique bits of swag is a point of pride for longtime participants. Many integrate the bottle caps, patches, dog tags and other valuables into their costume, creating an evolving visual history of their Wasteland exploits. They aren’t just bits of painted or printed cloth and metal — they’re treasures to be shown off on the festival Facebook group after the fact.

And they’re treasures with real value during the festival. One of the most surprising things about Wasteland Weekend, now in its 10th year, is its resistance to commercialization. There are almost no

opportunities to spend real-world money, with only the official Wasteland Weekend merchandise store, the independent retailers of Barter Town and the precious few food vendors charging for goods or services. Even the booze, typically a cash cow for any festival, is free. The Atomic Cafe in the city is stocked entirely with donated alcohol, and its surly bartenders will mix up any simple drink upon request.

There’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy at Wasteland Weekend. The evenings are flush with live music, particularly of the industrial, electronica and metal genres.

The Thunderdome is a spectacle unlike any other, where combatants clash together while affixed to bungee cords and armed with padded sticks. Various classes, special activities and events — like bounty hunting for attendees who have had a hit put out on them — are available throughout the day.

Perhaps my favorite diversion was a theater showcasing heavily degraded VHS tapes. The curators of this primo schlock encouraged the audience to wisecrack during screenings like liquored-up cast members of

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Ultimately, the people make up the key appeal of Wasteland Weekend. This is a festival where you’re more likely to be greeted with an upturned middle finger or a four-letter word than a simple “hello.” But underlying the entire festival is a spirit of kinship and cooperation. Race, gender, political identification, sexual orientation and every other dividing line fade into the background. All that’s left is immersion in a society constructed from salvaged metal and rubbish.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to return to the Wasteland, although I’d like to. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be back in school next year and the festival takes place during important early days of the fall semester. Regardless, the experience stands out as entirely unique and unforgettable. After all, I am the 100th member of the Cult of Catmeat, and no matter what happens, no one can take that away from me.

Bonner Co. Economic Dev. Summit offers ‘insight into our economic picture’

By Reader Staff

As residents of the fastest-growing state in the nation, Idahoans have many opportunities for maintaining and expanding a healthy economy. The Bonner County Economic Development Corporation invite business and community leaders from across Bonner County to the annual Bonner County Economic Development Summit from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 at the University of Idaho Organic Agriculture Center, 10881 N Boyer Road in Sandpoint. By gathering for a day of speakers, discussion panels, networking and more, the BCEDC seeks to identify the hurdles current business owners face and find strategies for overcoming them.

Tickets are $49 each and attendees must register in advance of the event at bonnercountyedc.com.

The summit is brought to Sandpoint by keynote sponsor Ting and additional sponsors Washington Trust Bank, Idaho Forest Group, Litehouse Foods, Columbia Bank and Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

The summit brings together more than 100 prominent business owners and community leaders each year, providing networking opportunities for small, medium and large

businesses in Bonner County. Also on the guest list are strategic public and private community partners and investors, keynote speakers and local success stories.

“The day will include discussions and solution-oriented breakout sessions that address the opportunities and challenges facing current businesses,” said Eric Paull, Bonner County Economic Development board chair. “Additionally, there will be a panel discussion about entrepreneurship and available resources. Between speeches, panels, sessions and discussions, the summit provides insight into our economic picture — for today, tomorrow and the years to come.”

Keynote speakers include Marc Brinkmeyer and Bryce Ralson. Brinkmeyer began his career as an accountant with Arthur Anderson in Portland, Ore. He worked with medium-sized and large companies, including several in the forest products industry. From 1973 to 1981, Brinkmeyer was the chief financial officer for Brand-S, which operated processing facilities in Oregon, Idaho and Montana. In 1981, Brinkmeyer purchased the Laclede sawmill from Brand-S and formed Riley Creek Lumber Co. In 2003, Riley Creek purchased two additional mills from LP located in Moyie Springs

and Chilco. Brinkmeyer plays an active role in guiding the strategic direction of Idaho Forest Group and is heavily involved in the promotion and development of the Idaho forest products industry.

Ralson brings more than 17 years of investment experience, with the past 12 years in bank trust and wealth management. He has expertise in technical analysis and global asset allocation, with a focus on international developed markets research. As a portfolio manager, Ralson is the primary contact for

investment relationships for individuals, trusts and nonprofit accounts. Based in Coeur d’Alene, he works with clients across eastern Washington and Idaho. Ralson received his B.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He holds a chartered market technician (CMT) designation and is currently a member of the CMT Association, a not-forprofit professional organization devoted to expanding the field of technical analysis. For a full schedule of events and to register, visit bonnercountyedc.com.

BGH Hospice holds 22nd annual Rose Event

By Reader Staff

Everything’s coming up roses for Bonner General Health Community Hospice, as it hosts the 22nd annual Rose Event Wednesday, Nov. 6. This annual fundraiser offers participants a dozen roses for every $20 donation they make

Community

to BGH Community Hospice, which provides direct client support to families in the community.

To order roses, contact Lissa DeFreitas at 208-265-1185 or buy them from the information desk in the main lobby at BGH on Rose Day. Roses can be picked up Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the BGH classroom, 520 N. Third Ave. in Sandpoint.

Party like it’s 2019

Marshall Charloff and The Purple Xperience brings Prince to Sandpoint

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

It’s one thing to admire the musical oeuvre and sartorial style of iconic pop-rocker Prince, and another thing entirely to imitate him. Many have tried, and the sonic graveyard is littered with karaoke poseurs who dared approach the unapproachable.

Rarest of all is the ability to step into Prince’s shoes — 3,000 pairs of custom-made high heels, women’s size 5 1/2 or 6, according to Vogue — but that’s exactly what Marshall Charloff and The Purple Xperience have managed to do.

The five-piece band has all the necessary bona fides: frontman Charloff was discovered by Pepe Willie, who was also instrumental in putting Prince on the road to superstardom; played keyboards and bass with Prince on lead vocals for the album 94 East; and performed with Willie and The Revolution

alum Doctor Fink at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame benefit concert. The band even hails from Prince’s birthplace of Minneapolis, Minn.

Sadly, no one will ever experience a live Prince show again, as the artist died in April 2016 at the age of 57. Sandpoint, however, will have the chance to “xperience” something damn close on Friday, Nov. 1 with a post-Halloween Halloween bash featuring Marshall Charloff and The Purple Xperience at The Hive, 207 N. First Ave. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m.

“We offer a suspension of belief; it’s like being transported,” Charloff told FlipSidePA in 2016, only five months after Prince’s death.

In the interview, Charloff said that while The Purple Xperience began

Marshall Charloff and The Purple Xperience

Friday, Nov. 1; doors at 7:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m.; $25 advance online, $30 at the door; 21+.

touring in 2011, its shows had become more meaningful as they became tributes in more ways than one. “In the song ‘1999,’ Prince talks about how our time here is limited and that tomorrow isn’t promised,” he said.

The Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 208457-2392, beeswaxsystems. com/thehive. Listen at purplexperience.com.

What is promised is that audiences at The Hive

Elephant Gun Riot, Nov. 1, 219 Lounge

Having opened shows for Sick Puppies, Buckcherry, Adelitas Way and the like, it’s safe to say Spokane-based band Elephant Gun Riot holds its own in the modern-rock realm.

Female vocalist Caitlin Rose fronts the five-piece outfit, known for some of the best live rock shows in the Pacific Northwest.

Unlike the high-octane rock bands that fall into a trend of dull repetitiveness, Elephant Gun Riot manages to inject new life and new complexities into each song.

Plus, while the band’s instrumentation is undoubtedly hard rock, Rose’s versatile vocals add a layer of artistry that goes beyond genre.

— Lyndsie

Kiebert

9 p.m.-midnight, FREE, 21+. 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208263-5673, 219.bar. Listen at elephantgunriot.com.

will enjoy a visual and musical spectacle, as Charloff expertly takes on the stage mannerisms, fashion and vocal style of the master himself. The crowd will be a spectacle, as well, with a costume contest for cash and prizes in categories including best overall, scariest and best couple or group costumes. Whether you party like it’s 1999 or party like it’s 2019, there ain’t no party like a Prince party.

Liver Down the River, Nov. 5, Eichardt’s Pub

Hold onto your livers, party people, a high energy jam-grass band touring from Colorado has set their sights on Sandpoint.

Liver Down the River is a five-piece with origins in Durango, Colo., where the high peaks of bluegrass meet the deep pockets of funk. The group has its roots in countless river floats, campfires and late-night picking sessions — with a shared mission to have nothing but a good time and make those sweet picking tunes ring.

Bring your dancing shoes and prepare for a spirited Tuesday night. — Ben Olson

7-10 p.m., 21+, FREE. Eichardt’s Pub, 212 Cedar St., 208-263-4005, eichardtspub.com. Listen at liverdowntheriver.com.

This week’s Halloween-themed RLW by Ben

READ

This isn’t necessarily a scary book, but it gave me goosebumps. Many Lives, Many Masters is a book by psychiatrist Brian Weiss, who specializes in past-life regression.

One of Weiss’ patients in the 1980s began discussing past-life experiences under hypnosis and the result is this mind-blowing book that even the most skeptical of us agree is unsettling and oddly comforting. I won’t say any more.

There is a sub-genre of music generally referred to as “dark indie” that really rings my bell sometimes. Indiana band Murder By Death have this genre absolutely nailed.

Whether it’s the deep, mysterious voice of frontman Adam Turla or the eclectic song arrangements, this five-piece band has been killing it. See what I did there?

Their 2012 release Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon is by far my favorite album of theirs.

LISTEN WATCH

I enjoy a spooky film from time to time, but when I watched The VVitch: A New England Folktale last year, it damn near forced me off the edge of my seat. Set in 1630s

New England, this morose, macabre and downright unsettling film follows a family banished to the woods following a religious dispute. What follows is a downright terrifying tale — scariest because of the quiet, even tone and sudden horrifying images. The end of this film is glorious. Trust me.

From Pend d’Oreille Review, Nov. 1, 1912

POLICE ARREST TWO FORGERS

PURCHASE GOODS AT SANDPOINT MERCANTILE COMPANY AND ATTEMPT TO PASS CHECKS

Giving their names as Eddie Hanley and George Spekalley, two young men, were arrested last night while attempting to pass a forged check on the Sandpoint Mercantile company.

One of the young men purchased a pair of shoes and other wearing apparel at the Sandpoint Mercantile company, offering in payment a check for $39 over Dr. Guy’s signature. When the check was referred to President Brown he was suspicious about the genuineness of the signature and called in Chief of Police Traue.

Upon being questioned the young man said he had bought the check from a man at the depot for 50 cents. The “man at the depot” was picked up there by the police later.

At the police station both confessed to the forgery and gave as their reason that they needed the money to get to Seattle where one of the boys had a brother.

They gave their ages as 19 and 21 respectively and claimed this to be their first offense, through the fact of their having a large number of pass keys in their possession looks bad.

Hanley was sentenced to three months in jail in probate court this afternoon.

I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and think, yes, you can talk, but listen to yourself!

Word

Week of the

snollygoster /SNOL-ly-gos-ter/

[noun]

1. One, especially a politician, who is guided by personal advantage rather than by consistent, respectable principles. “The snollygoster incumbent launched another pointless attack on his opponent.”

Corrections: There was a mistake in the “Reader Radar” section of the calendar page in the Oct. 24 issue. Not sure how it happened, but it listed Follies auditions on Nov. 3 - that was incorrect information. Sorry about the mixup. When Follies auditions are announced, we’ll let you know the (correct) dates. Thanks. -BO

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1.Dad

5.Chocolate source

10.Leave in a hurry

14.Desiccated

15.Fruit of the oak tree

16.Vagabond

17.Sanctify

19.Govern

20.Large ightless bird

21.A pungent stew

22.Flowing tresses

23.Mottled

25.Tribes

27.Consume

28.Idlers

31.Not tall

34.Coral island

35.Legislation

36.Tight

37.The air in some bars

38.Daughter of Zeus and Demeter

39.Arrive (abbrev.)

40.Practical

41.Seraglio

42.Mount up

44.To make a fool of (archaic)

45.Relieves

46.Adult male chicken

50.Kind of lily

52.Spook

54.Furrow maker

55.Apiary

56.Deprive

58.Biblical garden

Solution

59.Not lower

60.Leave out

61.Gala

62.S S S S

63.Female chickens

DOWN

1.Walked nervously

2.Fragrance

3.Cover girl

4.Commercials

5.Seal of approval

6.Nasty

7.Anthracite

8.Cynara

9.In song, the loneliest number

10.Became smaller

11.Attorney

12.Skilled

13.Foot digits

18.Panache

22.A crumbling earthy deposit

24.Sassy

26.Easter ower

28.Filched

29.Unusual

30.Travelled through water

31.Knife

32.Rabbit

33.Re exive form of “us”

34.Near the center of a ship

37.Anagram of “Ties”

38.Automobiles

40.Constellation bear

41.Owl sounds

43.Ability

44.Givers

46.Indian monetary unit

47.Motif

48.A red uorescent dye

49.Relaxes

50.Cook

51.Orderly

53.Vipers

56.Fitting

57.Comes after Mi and Fah

fa Mayo *

"SandpointissoluckytohaveShelbyRognstadasmayor." Harvey Brannigan * ''Thankyou forbeingourMayor.rt Marilyn Haddad* "ThankyouforruDDingagain.Thistakesso muchcouragetoleadduringsuchdifficulttimes." Linda Larson * "Iappreciateyour wisdomandequanimityandyourwillingnesstotakethetimetocommunicatewiththe community.WeareluckytohaveyourJackie Henrion * l,j 4moreyearsforMayorShelby Rognstad!" Deborah Dickerson* ..Itisnotenoughtorefertooneselfas pragmaticunlessyoucanspecificallystatehowthatwillplayoutinthe job.... Becauseyouhavetheexperienceandunderstandingofthe actualeffectaMayorcanhaveinasmalldtyyouneedtobegiven anotherfouryearstoseesomeoftheseissuesthrough."Chris Krais er * ,.You'vebeenworkingyourassoff." Sandi Nicholson * ljThankyou. Ireallyappreciateyourservicetothiscommunityandyourcourage totakeastandonanInclusionInitiative.,, Ned Brandenber er* "Youhavemysupport." Mike Brock* "I'mwithYOU, Shelby.. You•reanintelligent, competentandhonesthuman." Suzen iskin * "Ihopeyouwinagain...Competenceis hardtofind."Chari on A hur Wimberly* uThank you, Shelby H Youhavemysupport." Sharon cCahon * �wearefortunatetohaveyouas mayor.n Donna arris * 14 Smartestvote1sShelby forMayor+ShannonWilliamsonretainsCouncil Presidency. Ilikeboth,haveworkedwithbothon communityissues.." cca o 1 *