Reader_Sept8_2022

The week in random review

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

quotable

“Happiness, n. An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of others.”

— Ambrose Bierce, from The Devil’s Dictionary

The world of bubbles

READER DEAR READERS,

This week’s cover shows most of the cast and crew for the new student-made film debuting at the Panida Theater Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. The Fade: Resistance is an effort led by Tim Bangle, who enlisted the help of local students to take his script and run with it. The full story is on Page 19, but I just wanted to make sure to bring some attention their way and hopefully drum up a few more ticket sales for Friday night. These kids put a lot of effort into this film, so let’s show them some love and head to the Panida at 6 p.m. to cheer them on the red carpet before the film.

The fires burning north of town are concerning, especially with low humidity and high winds in the forecast. Let’s all stay diligent and get through this fire season without too many smoky days ahead.

Finally, we have a special tribute to classical guitarist and longtime local Leon Atkinson on Page 21. Leon passed away Sept. 1 and left behind a legacy of beautiful music, and admirers far and wide. Rest in peace, Leon.

–Ben Olson,

publisher

111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 946-4368

www.sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson

ben@sandpointreader.com

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

Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com

Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)

Advertising: Jodi Berge

After a month of backpacking through the entire country of Vietnam, my girlfriend and I were exhausted. We spent a day recovering inside a hotel room in Ha Noi by watching movies and bad TV shows. One show, though, completely blew our minds. It was about bubble physicists, or “bubbleologists” as the show cheekily called them. These strange specialists dropped a fact on us that still makes me scratch my head. Every single noise we hear from crashing waves, from babbling brooks, from tinkling fountains and rushing rivers comes from bubbles popping. Mind = blown. This is because every time a bubble is popped, it makes a pulse of sound, like a musical tone. It’s like hitting a bell with a hammer. Smaller bubbles radiate higher and higher tones, so one can figure out the size of the bubble based on the tone. The more bubbles there are, the louder the noise. When a wave breaks, bubbles are pushed into the water and, as they do, they transfer gases from the atmosphere into the ocean. About a third of all the carbon dioxide we produce ends up in the ocean and bubbles help carry it there. So next time you’re sitting beside a crashing sea, remember those noises are millions upon millions of bubbles bursting, just for your enjoyment.

kindness

Occasionally, when Junk Drawer topics don’t come easily, I open one of my many folders filled with mail I call, “Love & Hate” behind my desk to root through some funny hate mail from the past. There are some gems in there, like one I just read, from an anonymous writer, of course: “You are a dangerous idiot, a loud voice, a mad mind and a barbarian at the gates of a great society,” or this one, also anonymous: “On behalf of the vitriol-spewing-obscenity-oozing scumbag community, I would like to thank you for leaving your cozy home in heaven to return and set us loathsome deplorables straight.” However, I’m also overwhelmed by the piles and piles of kind notes you have sent us over the years. One that caught my eye was sent a couple of years ago: “Once again, our summer in Sandpoint (ever since 1975) has been greatly enhanced with your weekly Reader. We look forward to every Thursday’s issue. We salute and support all your good work. Bravo for now being the last and only independently owned alt-weekly in Idaho. Forward!”

We couldn’t keep doing this without all of your support.

up at night

While staying at a hotel last weekend, Cadie asked one of those questions I didn’t think about at the time, but late at night, I couldn’t stop. She asked, “I wonder how many people have died in this hotel room.”

Jodi@sandpointreader.com

Contributing Artists:

Ben Olson (cover), Clark Corbin, Bill Borders, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service.

Contributing Writers:

Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Clark Corbin, Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Christina Lords, Lauren Necochea, Paul Sieracki, Marcia Pilgeram

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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

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

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About the Cover

This week’s cover photo shows several of the cast and crew for the new student-made film The Fade: Resistance. See Page 19 for more info. Photo by Ben Olson.

City Council roundup

Libraries, ‘taking the heat,’ public engagement, streets and arts funding

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad had strong words at the Sept. 7 regular meeting of the Sandpoint City Council, related to a number of “things happening out there in the public sphere and the media that have been heavy on my heart.”

First off, during the announcements portion of the meeting, Rognstad addressed the resignation, effective Saturday, Sept. 10, of Boundary County Library Director Kimber Glidden, who left her position following a sustained campaign of protest by some members of the community over alleged inappropriate materials in the library’s collection.

While Glidden and Boundary County library trustees have repeated that none of the materials cited by concerned citizens are even within the catalog — much less being “promoted” to harm patrons, whether they be children or adults — the pressure campaign has drawn national attention, with recent reports by CNN, NBC and NPR covering restive library board meetings and officials confronting personal attacks.

“I’m disheartened to see Ms. Glidden resign as a result of bullying,” Rognstad said, going on to commend her and the board for upholding intellectual freedom in the face of “intimidation and harassment.”

Glidden announced she would step down Aug. 16, amid a recall effort mounted against library board members characterized by “an increase in harassing behavior, derogative accusations and a purported threat of violence,” district officials stated in July.

“[N]othing in my background could have prepared me for the political atmosphere of extremism, militant Christian fundamentalism, intimidation tactics and threatening behavior currently being employed in the community,” Glidden wrote in her own statement.

“This is the latest example of how extremism, like a cancer, can

affect our communities,” Rognstad said Sept. 7, describing the agitation against the Boundary County library as a broader problem, representing “evil deeds” that “proliferate in the darkness” and pose “real threats to our way of life.”

Not only the Boundary County library, but all libraries, Rognstad said, are “committed to the project of protecting freedom and information from those who would take it from us.”

He also addressed a recent flap over the appearance of City Council President Kate McAlister in an advertising campaign by Ting Internet that appeared in recent editions of the Sandpoint Reader and Bonner County Daily Bee, with some claiming in letters in the editor that it was inappropriate for McAlister to be featured endorsing an individual business.

McAlister is the longtime president and CEO of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, and addressed those concerns in a letter to the editor in the Sept. 1 edition of the Reader.

Emphasizing that she was not an elected member of the council at the time she agreed to be photographed and appear in the ad, McAlister wrote:

“As president of the Chamber of Commerce it is my job to support local businesses and, yes, once my tenure is over on City Council, I would support other chamber members with a photo, if that is what they would like. I support chamber members now, in person and verbally.

“Ting happened to ask for a photo and I agreed to be part of their marketing campaign. I had no idea Ting was going to publish this photo now as part of their current campaign. I would have asked them not to if I had known about it.”

Former-Sandpoint City Clerk and Councilor Helen Newton touched off the criticism of McAlister’s ad appearance, writing a letter to the editor in the Aug. 25 edition of the Reader that McAlister “overstepped her bounds and absolutely does not speak for

either the city or the chamber in promoting a singular business.”

Rognstad called “vilify[ing] her in the paper for doing so is shameless.”

He said serving the community as an elected official is performed out of care, “and you take the heat for it.”

However, “I would expect that the public, and especially former public servants themselves, would understand that,” Rognstad added, later saying, “I don’t know if we’ve had a stronger council than we have today.”

Surveys, workshops and other events

Much of the substance of the Sept. 7 meeting came during announcements, including a raft of upcoming surveys and workshops, for which city residents were asked to save the date:

Surveys will be floated by the city related to parks usage — and specifically for the new James Russell Sports Complex. Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton said to watch for that survey being made available in the next week. Meanwhile, a survey on snow removal policies and operations is forthcoming, along with a survey on a proposed dog park at Lakeview Park behind War Memorial Field.

Stapleton said designs are underway for the dog park, which last time the issue came before the public garnered more than 800 responses — making it one of the most heavily engaged surveys for the city.

Sandpoint Parks Planning and Development Manager Maeve Nevins-Lavtar said there will be a dog park kick-off meeting Mon-

day, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m., with attendees gathering at the picnic shelter at Lakeview Park by the boat launch.

“Lots of great things are going to happen there,” she said. Meanwhile, residents along Ruth Avenue should expect to receive door-hangers and other notices of an upcoming water main project that is expected to be completed at the end of October. During phases of the construction, which is scheduled to take place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day, neighbors will be advised to boil their water as a precaution — however, Sandpoint Infrastructure and Development Director Amanda Wilson emphasized that, “Not until you’re notified do you need to boil your water.”

Finally, Nevins-Lavtar said, a fundraiser will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. at Sandpoint Strength and Conditioning — 215 S. Olive St. — intended to benefit the all-wheel skate park at Traver’s Park.

Stapleton underscored that residents can keep up to date on city surveys, workshops and events by downloading the Engage Sandpoint app from Google Play or the Apple store, which enables users to receive notifications and access surveys from their mobile phones. Information will also be posted on the city of Sandpoint’s Facebook page and website (sandpointidaho.gov).

Streets, arts and historic preservation

City councilors voted unanimously to accept a $250,000 grant from the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council for pedestrian safety improvements on Division Avenue — a project that has been

in the works for years, but which finally secured funding in a second round of state grant making in July. Wilson reacquainted the council with some of the specifics of the project, which aims to make Division safer from Superior Street south to just before the Division/Highway 2 intersection. That stretch of roadway, immediately adjacent to Sandpoint High and Middle schools, would see widened sidewalks and bike lanes, as well as treed buffers, providing for greater multi-use access.

“This grant really focuses on kids … and improving safety of existing systems,” Wilson said, emphasizing that while there are 6,600 vehicle trips per day on Division, more than 2,000 children also go to school along the corridor, which will take about 10 years and $10 million to bring up to standard.

“This Phase I is the first step in moving the project forward. It’s far from solving all the problems on this corridor,” Wilson said.

The work is expected to be complete by Dec. 9, 2023.

Heather Upton, the city’s first Arts and Historic Preservation director, provided her first briefing to the council, with a request that Sandpoint authorize seeking grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 to benefit local nonprofit arts organizations through the National Endowment for the Arts and American Rescue Plan. Council members voted unanimously in favor.

A total of $100,000 from the program can be tapped for pass-through funds to support nonprofits’ staffing, artists fees and stipends, facilities, day-to-day operations and more.

“The things that really help those nonprofits move forward,” Upton said.

The application period will open Sept. 15 with a Sept. 30 deadline. Awards will be granted Oct. 24.

More information will be available in the coming weeks, but, as McAlister said, “It’s already abuzz.”

Idaho Legislature passes tax cut, education funding bill in 2022 special session

Gov. Brad Little signs legislation into law; Legislature will decide how to appropriate the funding come January

By Clark Corbin, Kelcie MoseleyMorris and Christina Lords Idaho Capital Sun

The Idaho Legislature’s 2022 special session got off to a quick start Sept. 1 with the House Revenue and Taxation Committee only needing nine minutes to introduce a $1 billion bill to cut taxes and increase education funding.

By 5:30 p.m. later that day, the measure had made its way through the legislative process in the House and Senate. By 6:30 p.m., Gov. Brad Little had signed the bill into law.

The Idaho House passed the bill on a 55-15 vote, while the Idaho Senate passed the measure 34-1, with Sen. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, as the Senate’s lone dissenter. The 14-page bill was the only bill on the agenda for the special session, and the Legislature adjourned in a single day.

“Returning the people’s money is the right thing to do, and the education investments support families, help us keep up with growth, enhance our quality of life, and prepare a workforce to meet the changing needs of employers,” Little said in a statement Sept. 1.

The bill does four things, said House Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman Steven Harris, the Meridian Republican who presented the bill.

It spends $500 million of the state’s record $2 billion budget surplus on tax rebates for all Idahoans who filed 2020 taxes. The rebates are for a minimum of $300 per individual or $600 per married couple who files jointly.

It reduces the income tax rate from 6% to 5.8% and creates a new flat tax rate for all filers. It also exempts the first $2,500 of income for all filers.

The bill transfers $330 million annually from sales tax collections to a K-12 public school fund.

It directs $80 million a year to a new fund for in-demand careers, where the money could be directed to career-technical education programs, community colleges or four-year colleges and universities.

How the money will be specifically distributed will be decided

during the 2023 legislative session, which begins Jan. 9.

Although most legislators ultimately voted in favor of the bill, few seemed truly pleased with all aspects of the legislation.

Some argued it didn’t offer enough tax relief to Idahoans struggling under high property taxes and crushing inflation. Others argued the state is in such a hole when it comes to education funding from previous economic downturns that the education funding portion of the bill is only a start to paying teachers more and fixing dilapidated school infrastructure.

Many lawmakers also argued that the bill went against the state’s Constitution by including multiple topics in one piece of legislation.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little calls for special session due to massive state budget surplus

Little called for the special session in late August, saying the state should return a large portion of the $2 billion state budget surplus to Idahoans who are facing high gas prices, high housing costs and inflation.

Harris served as one of the bill’s sponsors and said he agrees with Little’s rationale for calling the session.

“Why a special session?” Harris asked as he presented the bill.

“From my point of view, we have a boatload of money that needs to be dealt with appropriately.”

The bill legislators introduced Sept. 1 included one change from Little’s draft bill. The new bill does not include an automatic 3% increase in the money directed to K-12 public schools, which was put in to address inflation. One of Little’s aides told the Idaho Capital Sun that the 3% annual increase was not scheduled to take effect until the 2025 fiscal year, so there was no need to handle that this year during the special session.

During an afternoon debate on the Idaho House floor, a handful of the more conservative Republicans in the House tried to derail the bill or separate the tax cut provisions of the bill from the education funding proposal.

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, made an unsuccessful motion to suspend House rules.

Scott said schools have already received big funding increases over the past two years.

“I do not believe that our schools need another dime until we stop teaching critical race theory, until we remove the explicit sexual content from our libraries and the books in our libraries I don’t feel comfortable giving any more money,” Scott said in floor debate.

Rep. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, also made an unsuccessful motion to send the bill out for amendments.

Some of the more conservative members of the Legislature voiced support for the tax cuts in the bill but opposed the increases in education funding. Others argued against the special session procedures, saying the Legislature needed to do more to assert its independence rather than follow Little’s lead.

“This bill and this entire process is very disrespectful to our Constitution, to our voters, to our taxpayers and to the incoming class [of legislators],” Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, said in floor debate. “We are telling them we do not trust them to make decisions, and we don’t want to listen to their ideas on what they think about school funding.”

On the other hand, Rep. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, said he supports the bill and was not swayed by other arguments alleging the bill is unconstitutional because it addresses more than one different subject.

“It seems like one subject to me, and that subject is revenue,” Chaney said on the floor. “This isn’t on the

line, this is well inside the line.”

Rep. John McCrostie, a Garden City Democrat and public school music teacher, said Idaho schools have produced great results despite finding limitations. He said he supports the bill because schools across the state have teacher shortages and also struggle to recruit substitute teachers.

“If we continue to attack public education, we will not continue to see those types of results,” McCrostie said in his floor debate.

Rep. Laurie Lickley, R-Jerome, said Idahoans are struggling with high costs and still support their local schools.

“My voters, my constituents, across the board are asking for help and I think this bill, House Bill 1 does that,” Lickley said.

Idaho Senate debates constitutionality of House Bill 1

Legislators in the Idaho Senate discussed the bill for roughly 90 minutes before voting 34-1 in favor of its passage.

Mirroring the debate in the House, several senators from both parties said they did not like that the tax changes included in the bill were paired with education funding.

Two senators, including Zito, thought the combined bill was unconstitutional because it addressed different subjects. Earlier in the day, Harris, the bill’s sponsor in the House, said an opinion from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office stated it was not unconstitutional.

Sen. Regina Bayer, R-Meridian,

said during the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee meeting before the floor vote that she received many emails opposing the bill, but she ultimately couldn’t bring herself to vote against a tax cut.

“I think, had this been discussed in a general session where we have more time, we would have had more [attorneys general] opinions or things along that line, because I do believe this is throwing too many issues into one bill,” Bayer said. “And it’s forcing us to vote in support of one and vote for another one, even though we would rather not, because who doesn’t need tax relief at this point?”

Bayer, who is retiring from the Legislature at the end of her term this year, added that she challenges the incoming 2023 legislators not to “fall for the line that we have done tax relief” with the special session bill.

“I have had umpteen people say they need property tax relief, or sales tax relief — I’ve never had one say they need income tax relief,” Bayer said. “So please, tackle that early.”

Zito said the legislation was written to put legislators between a rock and a hard place, and she would be violating her oath of office by voting for it because she believed it was unconstitutional.

“I cannot violate that oath that I made when I came in here, no matter if it has good parts or bad

< see IDLEG, Page 7 >

LPO drawdown begins Sept. 19

Lakes Commission critiques use of Flexible Winter Pool Operations

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

The fall drawdown of Lake Pend Oreille will commence on Monday, Sept. 19, marking the beginning of the slow season for local waterways.

According to a news release from the Lakes Commission, an advisory board to the state of Idaho that advocates for water quality and stewardship in the panhandle, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers typically initiates the drawdown “after Sept. 18. or the third Sunday, whichever is later” with the use of the Albeni Falls Dam. Until Oct. 1, the lake will remain at or above 2,060 feet at the Hope gauge, which is about two feet below summer pool.

The lake will gradually be lowered to winter pool — about 2,051 feet — leading up to Nov. 15.

“Winter pool elevation needs to be reached by Nov. 15 so shoreline kokanee spawners are not left high and dry,” said Lakes Commission Executive Director Molly McCahon. “Kokanee are an important food source for threatened bull trout and many other species.

“Actual operations may differ depending on changing hydrologic conditions,” she added.

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:

President Joe Biden recently delivered a primetime speech, “The Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation,” wherein he stated that American democracy is under attack from within. “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans” were singled out as attackers, not other types of Republicans. Biden supported his statement by pointing out MAGA-style tactics: lack of respect for the Constitution, failure to uphold the rule of law or the will of voters, promotion of authoritarian leaders and political violence, attacks on privacy and even contraception.

After listing his administration’s accomplishments, in the face of Congressional Republicans’ opposition, Biden reiterated a favorite sentiment: “There is not a single thing Americans cannot do — not a single thing beyond our capacity if we do it together.”

While the lake is lowered, it gives dam operators and the Bonneville Power Administration the opportunity to manipulate flows and harness more hydropower in the winter — a system known as Flexible Winter Pool Operations.

McCahon told stakeholders that FWPO are “rarely needed,” so the Lakes Commission would prefer “Lake Pend Oreille not be used as the dial for this infrequent operation.”

“There are plenty of reservoirs on the Columbia River System less populated and less dependent on year-round water recreation,” she said. “At 2,051-foot winter pool, scenic beauty is lessened, there is far less fish habitat and our abundant boat launches and dock systems are left high and dry, making mooring and access very difficult for our active fishing groups and emergency response teams.

“There was a time when Lake Pend Oreille was held at 2,055 feet in the winter, but the last time that occured was 10 years ago, in 2012,” she added.

In a typical year, the lake reaches summer pool by mid-June. McCahon reports that summer pool wasn’t reached until July 3 this year due to the cold, wet spring bringing on a late peak runoff.

Trump told his MAGA fans it was “the most vicious, hateful and divisive speech ever delivered by an American president.” Others accuse Trump of similar attributes. In July, Vanity Fair reported, Trump stated that the U.S. should follow the lead of dictators that execute drug dealers, and that, if re-elected, he would fire all non-MAGA federal employees. Further backing his dictatorial leaning was Trump’s comment in office that “when somebody is president of the U.S. the authority is total, and that’s the way it’s got to be.” The Washington Post said legal scholars were “astounded” by the statement.

The biggest threat to free and fair elections at this time lies in the hands of voters who may not carefully consider who is running for their state’s secretary position, The Guardian reported. There are 27 Trump loyalists running in secretary of state nationwide. Elected secretaries play a significant role in overseeing presidential elections. Many of the Trump-leaning candidates have confirmed histories of falsely claiming voter fraud, tampering with election equipment, election denying or having links to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Another angle on forgiving student debt loans: Indiana Rep. Jim Banks tweeted, “Student loan forgiveness undermines one of our military’s greatest recruitment tools at a time of dangerously low enlistments.” The general in charge of Army recruitment in 2019 said in the Army Times that the specter of student debt helps spur enrollment in the military.

A recent rainstorm caused the Rio Grande River to swell, sweeping migrants

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

downstream. At least nine died. Flooding in Mississippi damaged Jackson’s water system (population 150,000), shutting down schools and triggering strict water use regulations. Northwest Georgia has emergency status from flooding. In July, almost 6,000 U.S. temperature records were broken.

The impact, from The WEEK: heat prevents some from working outdoors for days in a row, costing billions, and more people now die from heat in the U.S. than from extreme weather. Quick responses include new forest management strategies, sea barriers and plans for protecting the elderly, disabled and poor. Past predictions for weather extremes for 2050 are occurring now, The New York Times reported.

A Trump-appointed judge OK’d the former president’s request for a “special master” to review close to 11,000 improperly stored U.S. documents the FBI seized in August from his home. In The New York Times a University of Texas law professor said the action was “an unprecedented intervention by a federal judge into the middle of an ongoing federal criminal and national security investigation.”

An unintended consequence of the ruling: the DOJ could lay out evidence of obstruction of justice. The judge said a review of the documents by the office of the director of National Intelligence could continue.

While some say the FBI raid was “unprecedented,” former-Trump Attorney General William Barr said “it’s also unprecedented for a president to take all this classified information and put them in a country club.”

Blast from the past: In August 2016, candidate Trump declared that he would create lengthy jail terms for those mishandling classified information. At the time he was thinking of presidential opponent Hillary Clinton, who used a private email server while serving as U.S. secretary of state. Others using private email to conduct official business have included Trump’s White House senior advisers Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner. A three-year investigation of Clinton found no evidence of systemic or deliberate mishandling of classified information. As regards Donald Trump’s holding of U.S. documents at his home in Florida, the FBI has seized haphazardly stored, highly sensitive top-secret info at the unsecured home. Affidavit info says agents recently found 31 documents marked “Confidential” at at Mar-a-Lago, as well as 54 marked “Secret,” 18 labeled “Top Secret” and 48 empty folders marked “Classified.”

Kootenai River Complex grows beyond 13K acres Firefighters battle hot, dry conditions

By Reader Staff

A handful of fires in the Bonners Ferry Ranger District in Boundary County have been grouped into what is now being called the Kootenai River Complex. Fire officials reported it at 13,704 acres on Sept. 7. There are currently 207 personnel dedicated to the blaze, which is 0% contained.

Residents living on Westside Road closest to Ball, Burton and Clark creeks have been placed in the “set” fire evacuation status, which is the stage just before evacuation.

“If not voluntarily evacuating already, residents in this stage are advised to at least gather their evacuation supplies or pre-load them into their vehicles to enable a quick exit if evacuation is triggered,” officials stated Sept. 7 in a news release.

Due to the fire and associated suppression efforts, several roads and trails are closed, including Ball Creek Road (FR 432), Trout Creek Road (FR 634), Russell Mountain

(No. 12), Russell Ridge (No. 92), Ball and Pyramid lakes (No. 43), Pyramid Pass (No. 13), Pyramid Peak (No. 7), Fisher Peak (No. 27), Trout Lake (No. 41), McGinty Ridge (No. 143), Clifty Mountain and Clifty/Burrow (No. 182), Myrtle Peak Trail (No. 286)and Burton Peak Trail (No. 9).

In addition, Westside Road is restricted to residents only.

Most of the current suppression efforts are indirect, focused on deploying sprinklers, constructing fire lines and using helicopters to drop buckets of water as conditions allow.

At press time, firefighters were currently under a red flag warning as temperatures rose, humidity dropped and wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour were anticipated throughout the evening of Sept. 7.

To track updates on the Kootenai River Complex, go to inciweb.nwcg.gov/ incident/8378. Bonner and Boundary County residents can visit nixle. com or text their zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts.

parts,” Zito said. “My heart tells me it’s unconstitutional.”

Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, said he was concerned about having multiple topics in one bill, but not enough to make him worry about violating his oath of office. Vick said he did not like other aspects of the bill, but his desire for Idaho to move to a flat tax outweighed them because he has wanted a flat tax system for the past 10 years he has been in the Legislature.

Sens. Grant Burgoyne and Melissa Wintrow, both D-Boise, said they voted yes because of the education funding, but Burgoyne, who will not be in the Senate by January, cast doubt on the idea that the funding would go anywhere with the incoming Legislature.

A map outlining the numerous fires burning in what is now being called the Kootenai River Complex. Map courtesy U.S. Forest Service.

County plans secondary access point to Whiskey Jack Road

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

Bonner County commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 30 in favor of contracting surveying services to plan a route for a secondary access to Whiskey Jack Road in West Oden Bay.

Bonner County Road and Bridge Director Jason Topp presented the contract to the commissioners during the board’s weekly business meeting, and emphasized that the project was an effort to increase “public safety” for those using the road, which is located just east of Kootenai.

The county is contracting with Provolt Land Surveying to locate a route through both private and railroad land. Bonner County will pay a $5,000 deposit and all surveying work is estimated to cost about $10,000, with a limit not to exceed $12,000. Work is set to begin in September and continue into October.

Commissioner Dan McDonald said it is “good to see” efforts going forward to increase safety for residents of Whiskey Jack.

“We’ve been working on this for a long time,” he said. “This is a can that the county has kicked down the road for decades, and we’re finally going to get it resolved. Thanks to the landowners who have been so good to work with.”

“I won’t be surprised if the education money here never really materializes,” Burgoyne said. “If the next Legislature decides, ‘Well, that means we can take $410 million less out of the general fund,’ then we really haven’t gotten anywhere. The investment remains the same.”

Fate of Reclaim Idaho’s Quality Education Act unclear heading into November

The bill passed by the Legislature on Sept. 1 is designed to repeal and replace the Quality Education Act education funding initiative that will also be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Reclaim Idaho organizers and volunteers gathered signatures to qualify the Quality Education Act for the Nov.

8 election, saying their initiative would raise $323 million annually for K-12 education funding by increasing the corporate income tax rate from 6% to 8% and creating a new top income tax rate of 10.925% for individuals earning at least $250,000 per year.

Little’s aides have told reporters the special session bill is written so it would take effect Jan. 3, two days after the Jan. 1 date the Quality Education Act would take effect if voters pass it.

Luke Mayville, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho, said in a statement that the bill was clearly intended to subvert the Quality Education Act and the tax provisions overburden the middle class while giving unneeded tax breaks to large corpora-

tions and the wealthy.

“Nevertheless, even as this bill aims to subvert the Quality Education Act, it hands a major victory to Reclaim Idaho’s thousands of volunteers and supporters,” Mayville stated. “It’s clear that an investment in education on this scale would never have been considered by this Legis-

lature before the Quality Education Act earned a place on the ballot.”

This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com

Editor’s note: In a late afternoon news release Sept. 7, Reclaim Idaho announced that it would withdraw its citizens initiative Proposition 1 — the Quality Education Act — from the Nov. 8 general election ballot. “[E]ven if our initiative were to pass, it would be repealed by the Special Session law,” Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville stated in the announcement.

Furthermore, he added, the failure of Prop 1 at the polls would “embolden those who oppose funding for public schools” and “cause unnecessary confusion and frustration for thousands of Idaho voters.”

Bouquets:

•It’s Ponderay Neighbor Day time of year again. The city of Ponderay and the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail put on an excellent family-friendly carnival day for the community to enjoy for free every year. Stop by and check it out this Saturday, Sept. 10, from 1-6 p.m. It’s in the field behind the Hoot Owl. There’s tons of fun stuff for the kids (and adults) to enjoy all afternoon. Thanks, city of Ponderay.

•Whenever we have fires close to home, I think about how thankful I am for the wildland firefighters who drop everything at a moment’s notice to gear up and head into the woods to protect us from these disasters. I can only imagine how miserable some of their days are while fighting fires in the woods. Here’s a Bouquet to our firefighters. May you stay safe through the end of this fire season.

Barbs:

• This is a couple weeks late, but whoever knocked down that tree on Cedar Street gets a Barb this week. It was already painful enough to watch as they cut down all the trees along Cedar Street a couple years ago, making room for the “improvements” to the street and sidewalk. After they planted new trees along the curb, I was looking forward to watching them be fully grown someday. However, while walking home from work in mid-July, I saw one of the trees had been knocked over, likely from a car going up on the curb. This is why we can’t have nice things! Seriously, though, don’t hit trees with your cars, jerks.

•One final Barb for pet owners who yank harshly at their dog’s leashes. It makes me wince every time I see it, but I never say anything because we live in America, land of the we’re-freeto-do-what-we-want-withoutany-accountability.

As Dist. 1 senator, Johnson will protect education, rural lifestyle…

Dear editor,

To pass his driver’s test was what kept Calvin in class — 15 years old and still unable to read. For 22 years I taught high school and Calvin was one of far too many young men we lost. How many more children does Scott Herndon want to fail by pulling money out of public education? Steve Johnson, who is running a write-in campaign for District 1 Senate [against Herndon], has plans that support the education standards and funding that we Idahoans need for future growth. And not just the whooping 21% population growth that Bonner Counties have seen in the past 10 years — Steve will fight to preserve our rural lifestyle. Steve also has the best plans to cut our property taxes and also not turn our back on the federal dollars that fund 45% of Idaho’s total budget.

Please vote early, in person on your election date or request an absentee ballot at voteidaho.gov.

Carole Friedman Sandpoint

Make fairgrounds cleanup a priority…

Dear editor,

I’ll give it one more shot at the past failed requests in cleaning up the fairground piles of dung. Perhaps, Commissioner Dan McDonald, there is a miscommunication between yourself and your contractor. Whatever that may be, it would surely be wonderful if those nasty piles were removed. Winter will soon be upon us; however, I doubt the snow will lessen the odor/dust problem.

Thank you once again and I hope this will become a priority in your busy schedule.

Jo Reitan Sandpoint

‘Just a thought’…

Dear editor,

Last summer I picked up a hitchhiker on my way to the summit of Lunch Peak. She was from North Dakota and thankful for my lift. As we drove to the summit, we both felt awe at the mountain landscapes and greenery. I remember commenting, “Why do so many people come to a place like this to be angry?” She laughed, exclaiming, “I’ve wondered the same thing!”

I’ve been a lot of places in the world and Idaho has some of the

most wondrous land and waterscapes anywhere. It’s one of the reasons I choose to live here. Towering jagged mountains, twisting lava canyons, deserts, rock formations, refreshing lakes and rivers, volcanic cones, ancient forests to name a few. You can look on any map or Google Earth to discover that any anonymous part of Idaho has taller mountains and more dramatic landscapes than any famous place east of the Mississippi. I’ve been told by a couple of people that Idaho is so rugged that if you ironed it flat it would be bigger than any state in the Union.

In the pre-1990s, the people and politics here were a lot different from what I understand. Idaho used to be known for friendly people, potatoes, Ernest Hemmingway, Ezra Pound, Cecil Andrus, Frank Church and other conservationists. The politics here used to be very moderate.

The Aryan Nations, Ruby Ridge, anti-gun control and the anti-Clinton ’90s unfortunately changed all that. My thoughts are the same as they were atop Lunch Peak: Why would anybody come to Idaho to be an angry, violent, gun-bullying, narrow-minded, racist, lifestyle-choice-hating, Mother Earth-hating, chauvinist, anti-art, anti-intellectual, hyper-bloated patriot (patronize me about my patriotism!), neo-Confederate, apocalyptic, religious fanatic sack of rotten potatoes? (Yes, I regret I’ve had multiple run-ins with them). Chill out dudes! Just a thought.

Jack Green Sandpoint

Herndon is self-serving, write-in Senate candidate Johnson will serve…

Dear editor, Scott Herndon won the Republican primary against Jim Woodward. He is running for LD1 state senator against independent write-in candidate Steve Johnson in the Nov. 8 election. Scott Herndon will be our next state senator unless enough people write in Steve Johnson.

A quick Google search revealed that Scott Herndon sued the city of Sandpoint after he tried to enter with a gun and was denied entry. His actions nearly caused the Festival to shut down and his actions cost taxpayers more than $150,000 in legal fees.

The Festival brings in $3 million every year to our local small businesses. Some would not survive without those dollars. Scott Herndon’s actions show that he cares more about himself than he does about the community he says

he wants to serve.

In contrast, Steve Johnson has served the public of Bonner County for more than 40 years as a teacher, principal and library trustee. He was on the team that helped our community transition from the old cramped library to the new library. He even carried books from the old library to the new library.

When I vote, I ask a simple question: “Is this candidate running to serve their special interests or the community?” Scott Herndon’s actions are self serving. Steve Johnson’s actions show that we will serve our community.

Please join me by writing in Steve Johnson on Nov. 8. You may register to vote and request an absentee ballot at voteidaho.gov.

Linda Larson Sandpoint

Thank you, Kate McAlister…

Dear editor, Kate McAlister, thank you for your decades-long commitment to our community and its people. You are a classic example of servant leadership. It has been an honor to learn from you and to serve with you. Remain encouraged though dignity and strength.

I will, and possibly others may, reflect on the words of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900): “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster,” and, “If you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back at you.”

Andy Groat

Sandpoint City Council member Sandpoint

Support for the Food Bank is support for the community…

Dear editor,

Thank you to Bonner Community Food Bank. They support so many in our community with food and other commodities, such as hygiene products (basic soap, shampoo, toilet paper, etc.). We can all help by donating items or money. One of the easiest ways to donate money is to set up a monthly contribution through your bank. Regular contributions allow the Food Bank flexibility in ordering specific items of need. In looking at your budget, see if there is a monthly amount that can go to the Food Bank. Even $10 per month is helpful. If enough of us can manage this, our community needs will be met.

Lynn Bridges Sandpoint

What’s wrong with this picture?...

Dear editor, Is it just me or do others feel outrage at the selling off of Bonner County and our precious way of life?

The immediate events come to mind:

1.On one side of the equation, our new planning director buys a 6.27-acre parcel, zoned Suburban, breaking it into four lots — three of which would be one-acre lots. Lots in Suburban Zones are only allowed to be one acre where urban water is available, and held to 2.5 acres where urban and sewer water service are not available (BC Code §12-412).

The very “public servant” who should be listening to the “public” cry for preserving the “rural nature” sets a new dangerous precedent? How is that action representing the public interest?

2.Meanwhile, Kristina Kingsland gets fired from the Zoning Commission for having the courage and commitment to stand up against rampant development and tries to protect our county.

3.And three out of five of our zoning commissioners are realtors? The other two were developers, according to the Bee article Aug. 31, 2022. Where is the balance in perspectives?

This “system” of “land use decisions” is not working. It appears to be a monopoly.

Is it just me who vacillates between anger and hopelessness as I watch the region be carved up, with little thought as to the impacts of our warming world on declining ground/surface water supplies? Where’s the modeling or scenario planning regarding the future needs our forested, wildfire prone, unique habitats and warming lake with dangerous algae.

Please speak out: Enough! How do we harness the good in ourselves as stewards of this earth and take care of it? How do we expand our vision for what could be a “model county” preserving — not destroying — the riches of this precious place?

Nancy Gilliam Sagle

Responding to McAlister ad flap, bike safety…

Dear editor,

Concerning Kate McAlister’s role in the TING/City Council debate and Mr. Litsinger’s rush to judgment — Kate responded great in last week’s issue, so I won’t rehash it here [Letters, “Response to Helen

< see LTE, Page 9 >

This time, we got something for kids

By Rep. Lauren Necochea Reader Contributor

When I worked as a policy advocate for children’s issues at the Idaho Statehouse, I had a mentor who also operated in a majority-Republican state. He used to say, “You can’t get anything for kids unless the rich get more.”

Sadly, this proved true during Idaho’s Sept. 1 “special session.”

We saw the same sort of upside-down tax package that Republicans have been passing for years. They remained laser-focused on cutting income taxes at the top and indifferent when it comes to the fairness of our sales and property taxes. The resulting legislation cuts the corporate tax rate to 5.8%, which is lower than the 6% sales tax. Soon a corporation will pay a lower tax rate on its profits than regular Idahoans pay when they buy food, diapers, medicines and other necessities. On top of that came

Newton…,” Sept. 1, 2022]. But, just in case, how would this be any different than the county commission stacking the Planning and Zoning Commission with realtors and developers?

Also, Judy York’s letter [Letters, “‘Smile, wave and keep going’...,” Sept. 1, 2022]; As a former biker, I know what she’s talking about. Motorists complain that we bike riders don’t follow the rules, well, you can go look in the mirror. No matter how well intended your actions in letting us cross in front of you, if you have the right of way, go! If you are required to stop or yield, do so. Anything else just causes confusion.

Lawrence Fury Sandpoint

Reject Herndon’s ‘extremism,’ write in Steve Johnson for Dist. 1 Senate…

Dear editor,

Do you want more extremists in the Idaho government? That’s what we’ll get unless enough mod-

another round of lopsided onetime rebates, with a minimum of $300 for working folks and an average check of $6,485 for households in the top 1%.

These perverse tax priorities don’t represent the values of ordinary Idahoans and yet they have become inevitable under the Republican supermajority. We were almost certain to see this tax package pass in January, if not during the “special session.”

erate voters pay attention to the November election, and vote Steve Johnson, not Scott Herndon, for Idaho Senate.

There is no word other than “extreme” to describe Herndon’s positions. One example: he wants to reject federal funding — all federal funding. Does Herndon understand that federal dollars play a crucial, and appropriate, role in supporting many vital services? Does he understand the impact of even moderate budget cuts on public education, disaster preparedness, medical care and veterans services?

Steve Johnson is running as a write-in candidate against Herndon for Idaho Senate District 1. Steve Johnson wants to work to lower property taxes, support quality education and preserve our rural lifestyle. He will not spend his time grandstanding on extreme policies that won’t work and won’t help us.

Steve Johnson knows Bonner County — he has lived here since 1957,

So, what was different? This time we got something for kids.

The bill we passed sets aside $410 million for our schools and higher education. I’m proud that the entire Democratic Caucus voted to support our students and teachers.

For decades, the Republican supermajority has chronically underfunded education. Our facilities are in disrepair, classrooms are overcrowded and vacancies are going unfilled. We have the unfortunate distinction of coming in last in the nation for education investment. This new injection will not solve our funding woes, but it is a desperately needed step in the right direction.

We didn’t get here because Republicans finally saw the light when it comes to

he was a teacher/principal for 42 years, he’s a business owner. I’ve worked with him and respect him for his genuine concern for others and willingness to work hard.

I don’t believe that the majority of voters here want a legislator who supports extreme positions. I hope people will be motivated to vote in November to prevent that from happening. Please go to Steve’s website: stevejohnsonforidaho.com. Make sure you are registered to vote (voteidaho.gov). Then you can write in Steve Johnson’s name below Scott Herndon on your ballot.

Jean Gerth-Anderson Sagle

‘Building a new society’ requires building…

Dear editor,

Many new residents to our communities speak ambitiously about “building a new society” or

supporting our kids. In fact, many Republican legislators only went along with this bill because it was a way to get the revenue cuts they crave. The anti-education rhetoric I heard on the House floor was hard to stomach.

The only reason Republicans agreed to boost education investment was because their backs were up against the wall. The entire “special session” was an end-run around the Quality Education Act, a ballot initiative by Reclaim Idaho. The initiative would have reinstated the income tax rate that the wealthy and corporations used to pay and dedicated those new funds to schools, starting Jan. 1. This was so offensive to Republican lawmakers and their donors that they had to preempt it. The Republicans designed their bill to go into effect on Jan. 3. This puts their rewrite of the tax code on auto-pilot, undoing the ballot initiative just 48 hours after it would go into effect.

“creating a new community.” However, accomplishing these bold ideas requires far more than flamboyant bumper stickers, angry protests or threatening Facebook posts. Yelling “no” is easy, but what are you for?

Where is the Redoubt food bank, the militia kids fishing derby, the Christian fundamentalist trash pick up?

You say this is your Promised Land, but how are you investing in it?

I’m sure some will try to brush this off with political arguments, but those don’t hold water. This area has voted consistently conservative for the past 50 years. We have been driving trucks and shooting guns long before you got here… but we also went to football games, community concerts, spaghetti feeds and pancake breakfasts. Pools, schools, parks and libraries were built by those who gave to their neighbors and paid into their community. The classic political answer to “Big Government” has been volunteerism and private charity, but I don’t see

I thank Reclaim Idaho for putting pressure on the Legislature to make this investment. We would not be here today if not for the more than 1,000 volunteers who collected 100,000 signatures to put education funding on the ballot.

My family and I were among those volunteers and saw the strong support across the state for adequately funding schools and asking the well-off to contribute their fair share. As we knocked on doors, nobody told us they supported the kind of upside-down revenue cuts the Republicans keep passing.

Idaho Democrats will continue to fight for strong investments in our schools and fair tax policies that lift up working people and families — not just those at the top. It’s what we do and it’s who we are.

Rep. Lauren Necochea is the House assistant Democratic leader, representing District 19. She is also chair of the Idaho Democratic Party.

evidence of these either from the new ideologies.

If beautiful North Idaho is your answer to the evils of Somewhere Else, then care for it and invest in it. You are here crafting your little Mecca on the back of our roads, trails and grocery stores, but are you paying in? Remember, those who take resources from a host without contributing back are called parasites. In fact, that kind of sounds like a bumper sticker.

Alex Awbrey Bonners Ferry

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Write a letter to the editor. We accept letters under 300 words that are free of libelous statements and excessive profanity. Please elevate the conversation. No trolls or I’m-bored-onthe-toilet type letters.

Science: Mad about

Banned Books, part I

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

Banned Books week is my favorite library holiday. Proclaiming such a thing always elicits a unique response from everyone around me. Usually shock and confusion — why would I like to ban books? I work at a library!

Celebrating banned books is about being rebellious, fighting the power and sticking it to the man — not about banning books. Every September, libraries around the U.S. shine a light on books that have been challenged or banned for their perceived offenses, which are generally for laughable reasons.

Battling censorship is a core function of the library, because blocking everyone from something you don’t like opens a door for people to block everything they personally don’t like. This is more than a frustrating inconvenience, this is the main step that autocracies have taken throughout history to cement tyrannical power and oppress the population.

Blocking ideas blocks dissent and puts a muzzle on the democratic process, robbing everyone of freedom: the freedom to think, to feel and, eventually, the freedom to live at all.

Often, the act of censorship has the opposite effect of its intention. Someone trying to block an idea by censoring it puts a spotlight on the very thing they’re trying to hide. There are two terms for this: “The Cobra Effect,” coined by the international intelligence community, and the “Streisand Effect,” born of the internet.

“The Cobra Effect” anecdotally originated during the British rule of India. The British

government wanted to reduce the population of venomous cobras in India, and offered a bounty for every cobra head that was delivered to them. Rather than killing all of the cobras, the Indian people started breeding them and cutting off their heads to make more money, thus making the problem much worse.

“The Streisand Effect” originated in 2003, when a photo of Barbara Streisand’s mansion was taken as part of a series of aerial photographs meant to showcase coastal erosion of the California shore. Barbara Streisand filed a $50 million lawsuit against the photographer to have the image removed from public record. Ultimately, the judge dismissed the case, forced Streisand to pay the photographer’s legal fees and accidentally triggered the internet to descend upon the image in a fervor, downloading it in excess of 420,000 times.

Both of these ideas are examples of “perverse incentive” — a situation in which the outcome either runs contrary to, or makes the problem it’s trying to solve, much worse. This is the driving force behind Banned Books Week.

Over the next two weeks we’ll share historical examples of how extremists of various political stripes have used censorship and book banning to their own advantage, as well as the resultant disastrous outcomes.

This week, we’re going to look at book banning by a government that was considered to be to the extreme left.

The Soviet Union began purging books in 1923, a full decade before the subject of next week’s article. The driving force behind Soviet leaders Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin purging books throughout the USSR was

essentially identical to every other tyrannical force in history: to suppress ideas at their conception. The official language was much more flowery.

Huge swaths of books were deemed “harmful” to the Soviet Union and its people. These books were grouped into subjects and labeled as “opposition to the worker’s class struggle and harmful to the working class, religious propaganda, pro-tsarist [pro-aristocratic] ideas and books that incited national hatred or questioned national pride.”

Among these were virtually all religious texts, as well as the works of Plato, Rene Descartes and Leo Tolstoy — you know, the most prolific Russian writer of all time.

More than 720,000 books were removed from Moscow in a single year alone. These book purges lasted for more than two decades, though strictly enforced censorship remained until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The sheer quantity of books banned and collected by government officials in the Soviet Union was so high that it created a logistical problem, as they began running out of places to store the banned materials.

Before anyone jumps on the Reader with angry mail about how tyrannical the left is, I feel it’s worth pointing something out about the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union under Stalin was extremely divorced from the actual practices that it preached. Stalin’s Soviet Union was a proletariat dictatorship, a far cry from the idea of a communal group working together for the benefit of the group. The practices employed by Stalin throughout his reign were that of an emperor — one who mur-

dered at least 25 million of his own people because they were in his way.

This had nothing to do with his politics, real or perceived, and was entirely about cementing power and stealing from others — an ambition made reality by suppressing knowledge and inciting fear. It all began with banning books that were a threat to his power.

Stalin died alone in a pool of his own urine sometime between

Feb. 28 and March 5, 1953. If you’re curious to see more of the books Stalin was afraid of, stop by the library and check out our display.

Next week, we’re taking a trip to the right side of the political spectrum to find out what scared German dictator Adolf Hitler.

Spoiler alert: It was books and the people who read them. Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner

•When a Pennsylvania woman reported that her home was burglarized in broad daylight, police responded to find the thief had taken two diamond rings. During their investigation, they also found the burglar had used the victim’s computer to check his Facebook profile, forgetting to log off before leaving. Police later visited his home and placed 19-year-old Jonathan Parker under arrest, where he’ll face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

•Scottish shoplifter Aaron Morrison was arrested after stealing a bottle of vodka from a liquor store. How did the police determine he was the thief? He left his name and phone number with the clerk after asking her out on a date.

•When a trio of thieves broke into a home in Silver Springs, Fla., they found what appeared to be three jars of cocaine. After taking the jars home and snorting the contents, they discovered that the jars were in fact urns and they had been snorting the cremains of the victim’s husband and two dogs.

•After an attempted robbery at

a Lowe’s hardware store went sideways, Milton J. Hodges fled across the street and jumped a fence, right into Cypress Cove Nudist Resort and Spa. “As one of the only folks wearing clothing,” the Orlando Sentinel pointed out, Hodges was easily spotted by police.

•When Stephan Crane broke into the Ravalli Republic newsroom in Montana, he used the computers to watch porn and check Facebook. Then he doused the office with a fire extinguisher, took some candy and left. It wasn’t difficult for police to track him down, however. They just followed the trail of stolen M&Ms that led to Crane’s sister’s place across the way.

•A German bank robber sent an email to the police, ridiculing their efforts to arrest him after a robbery. First, he let them know they had his age, build and accent wrong, then he corrected their announcement that he’s escaped on foot. He told them he had a getaway car. The police got the last word though, using his email to trace and arrest the guy a few hours later.

Winter motorized rec. proposed alternative: An environmental apocalypse

By Paul Sieracki

By Reader Contributor

The North Zone Winter Recreation proposal — developed by a “collaboration” of pro-motorized recreation groups — will severely impact endangered, candidate and sensitive species including the grizzly bear, Canada lynx, whitebark pine, fisher and species such as wolves, elk, fisher, whitetail and mule deer.

I was appalled by the actions of the Idaho Conservation League and Friends of Scotchman Peaks. They support snowmobiles mowing down whitebark pines, a candidate ESA species that has its listing delayed for unknown reasons. They are supporting high-marking, impacting grizzly bear denning habitat.

The collaborators support bear year (when grizzlies are out of their den) snowmobiling

in the Roman Nose and Moose Lake area, where snowmobilers want unrestricted use in grizzly, lynx and whitebark pine habitats. Female grizzlies with cubs often stay near their snow-covered den site after they emerge. This would directly impact after emergence bears.

Whitebark pines would be further exposed to damage with the melting spring snowpack.

I have photos of snowmobile damaged conifers in that area. Can you imagine that the Friends of Scotchman Peaks has a goat ambassador and yet supports this proposal that impacts goats traveling along ridgelines?

Impacts on non-motorized recreation would be severe. Upper Pack River will be opened to snowmobiles impacting winter hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing activities. They would be allowed to use hiking trails in the winter. Why do

non-motorized trail users have to sacrifice their trails to snow machines?

Winter Wildlands Alliance “Giving Solitude a Voice” had little to say in support of non-motorized recreation. Ridgelines that separate restricted from open areas will allow violations by snowmobilers trying to string a route along the ridge.

It is doubtful that the machines would only stay on the legal side of steep ridgelines while trying to snake a path along the ridge.

Trapping access will increase, potentially impacting gray wolf, lynx, fisher and grizzly bears. Grizzly bears lose feet and toes from wolf and pine marten traps.

The Scoping Notice does not even mention impacts on wildlife, whitebark pine or wetlands in an attempt to hide damages to the environment.

We are in a climate crisis. This “proposed alternative”

is not supported by true green conservation groups who care about the flora and fauna of the Cabinet and Selkirk mountains. Snowmobile use was partially responsible for the loss of our Selkirk Caribou herd. We do not want to lose more species.

Please comment on this impactful proposal. Comments are due Thursday, Sept. 15.

Paul Sieracki is a Priest River resident, retired geospatial analyst and wildlife biologist. He has been following the winter recreation environmental analysis for 10 years, and was part of the first collaboration.

FEATURE Back to school

The morning air is colder than it has been for months. My clothes are new, and they fit just right. My backpack still has that department store smell, and as I adjust the straps for the fifth time, I see the blinking orange-and-red lights through the trees.

It is the first day of school, and I’m waiting for the bus.

My love of commutes began with the school bus. Despite living within walking distance of my elementary school, I rode the bus; I justified this because I would have had to cross a busy highway on foot to get there. In reality, I loved the routine of it.

School is high on my list of favorite things. It may well be my favorite thing, all things considered, and I find myself feeling at my best during the weeks after the first day of classes start.

Of course I have all the standard recollections of how exciting it was to return to elementary school from summer vacation — the new clothes, fresh school supplies (I’ll always remember my Trapper Keeper in fourth grade, which featured some bizarre ’80s off-brand Star Wars space warrior) and the thrill of finding out who my classmates would be for the year.

Later, I relished driving my little brother, a few of our friends and my then-girlfriend to high school each morning, packing into the ’87 Toyota Tercel hatchback that my parents handed down to me when I got my driver’s license.

My favorite back-to-school moments

Iwentto elementary school at Southside, about 10 miles south of Sandpoint. We had students from everywhere south of Sagle to the county line at Granite Hill — no “townies” in our class. We all lived in the country and the annual return to school from summer vacation was an exciting, albeit nervous time to reconnect with friends we hadn’t seen all summer.

Like most of my classmates, I was a bus kid, waiting right beside the highway every weekday morning for the familiar flash of yellow to come down the hill from the Westmond Bridge. With a new Trapper Keeper in hand, wearing clothes that had been laid out the night before, I always felt that rush of excitement when the bus pulled to a stop and driver Greg waved me across

After picking me up, there were still a few stops to make, so I got nearly 20 minutes of bus time. As early as 6 years old, my most treasured possession was a walkman CD player, and that thing saw most of its mileage on morning bus rides. I sat in the front near the bus driver, Alma, and slid on my foam-coated headphones. I listened to mixes my older sister made for me, found the most comfortable ways to sit in a bus seat and learned the art of the commute meditation.

This love of bus rides and the associated knowledge serves me to this day. As a volleyball coach, I spend upwards

were in college, though, which I loved so much that I only came home for one summer. The rest of those years I spent living in a nice house a few blocks from school, walking through the summer-deserted campus to the admin building each day to work for the communications office.

Having the college more or less to myself for three months made the return of my fellow students even more exciting. I got to watch the place come to life after its sunny summer slumber. I reveled in the fresh-mowed lawns, the clean smell of the polished hallways and optimism for a new year stretched out with possibility.

The only time I ever felt nervous for the start of classes was in grad school, which I began just before my 37th birthday in 2017. I felt out of place, realizing I was almost twice the age of the freshmen whose papers I graded as a history department teacher’s

the highway.

I rode the bus every day through sixth grade except for one particular day, when I decided to go for the gusto. My devious plan was to deliberately miss the bus and ride my Honda dirt bike to school. It was my prized possession and I spent many a summer day roaming around the county roads of Westmond with friends, many who also had dirt bikes. I was good at finding little ditch roads and shortcuts that got me around the neighborhood without having to ride on the highway, which was forbidden by my parents.

With a detailed route drawn on a map I had taped to the gas tank, I waited for the bus to pass, then made my move. I crossed the highway, along the ditch road, beside

Reader staffers recollect on returning to class

of six hours on a school bus some evenings. I get work done, catch up on sleep and, sometimes, put my headphones in and watch the scenery go by, pretending I’m in a movie or music video. These hours still amount to some of the most peaceful in my life.

As our community heads back to school, I hope local kids still discover the art of the school bus meditation — and shout out

assistant, and intimidated and over-extended as a master’s student with two little kids and a wife at home.

Still, those were great times and I adapted, but I still have dreams — more like nightmares — that grad classes are starting and I haven’t bought my books or am already behind on some critical assignment.

to bus drivers, who get us where we need to be and keep us all safe.

— Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

Our schools are our worthiest institutions, not only because of the academic lessons we learn, but because they give structure and progressive markers to our

the railroad tracks for several miles, then back across the highway on the final stretch to my school. The buses were still unloading kids when I pulled up, parked in the teacher’s lot and smugly left my helmet dangling from the handlebars.

I made it through classes that day, but all I could think about was waving goodbye to my friends who were hopping on the bus as I walked over to my dirtbike to ride home. Once back home, I put the bike away and never told anyone. I had pulled off the ultimate heist and didn’t dare try

lives. Each year is an opportunity to begin anew and improve. In many ways, I feel like September is a better time to celebrate the “new year” (as it is with Rosh Hashanah in Jewish tradition, which this year falls on Monday, Sept. 26), so in that spirit, I wish all our teachers and students a “happy new year.”

—

Zach Hagadone

it again.

I always enjoyed riding the bus, but I’ll never forget that morning when I was 12 years old and did something different.

— Ben Olson

Author Talk to tackle rural gentrification

Ryanne Pilgeram will discuss her book, Pushed Out, at the Sandpoint Library

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

Just over a year since the release of her book, Pushed Out: Contested development and rural gentrification in the U.S. West, Montana-born, North Idaho-raised author and University of Idaho sociologist Ryanne Pilgeram is still in awe of the enthusiastic response her work has received.

“I just can’t believe it,” she said. “I pinch myself.”

Sharing that work has proven to be an ongoing and exciting process, which continues this weekend as Pilgeram gives an author talk at the Sandpoint Library (1407 Cedar St.) on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon. She will give a presentation on rural gentrification — that is, “commodification of space and displacement of residents” in rural areas, according to Rina Ghose, one of the scholars cited in Pushed Out — followed by a Q-and-A session.

The book uses Dover as a case study for

what happens when a community’s traditional economic base collapses. Pilgeram’s work explores the question: “When new money comes in, who gets left behind?”

“The timing of this project could not have been more perfect,” Pilgeram said, noting that the housing market woes that many Western communities are currently facing — largely due to pandemic-prompted in-migration — has contributed to the eagerness to understand rural gentrification.

Pilgeram said she has been fortunate to see Pushed Out prompt conversations in communities where this phenomenon is an increasing threat as high-dollar development seems to be guiding the future.

“When you’re writing, you’re all alone, and you’re not sure if all this work is going to amount to anything,” she said. “Then, when I give presentations, people say, ‘You are bearing witness to my experience and that makes me feel less alone in the world.’

“When things are resonating, that’s when people find each other, and that’s how

we start to envision different futures,” she added. “There’s a spark in those moments of working together.”

Family fun fills Ponderay Neighbor Day

By Reader Staff

Ponderay Neighbor Day is back by popular demand, bringing people together around cotton candy, craft and retail vendors, and live music. The event will also include magic by Starr Alexander, inflatables, local food vendors and activities for the whole family.

The fun starts at 1 p.m. and continues until 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Harbison Field behind the Hoot Owl

off Highway 200 in Ponderay, with parking off Emerald Industrial Park Drive.

Thanks to the generous contributions from Ponderay community businesses, One Street Over will play live music under Harbison Field’s brand new stage improvements from 1:30-5:30 p.m.

Sweet Lou’s will host a beer garden and serve up food. Other food vendors also include Truck n’ Delicious, HOTDOGG!, Killer Tacos, ice cream from

and

and more.

The Ponderay Police Department will again go head-to-head with Northside Fire, as they compete to defend their title in the second annual keg battle. Northside Fire will also host an extrication demonstration and hands-on fire extinguisher demonstrations at its booth. Additional, family-friendly activities include a petting zoo, pony rides,

a North 40 fly-fishing booth and a craft activity courtesy of Home Depot.

Stop by the North Idaho Ice booth to play a little hockey as the local nonprofit kicks off fundraising efforts to bring an ice rink to Ponderay.

Finally, attendees will be invited to view the latest Field of Dreams concept renderings from HMH Engineering.

Event admission and activities are free to all who attend. Ponderay Neighbor Day, as well as all Harbison Field improvements, are funded through sponsorships from local businesses and organizations.

For more information, visit the city’s website at cityofponderay.org/ponderay-neighbor-day or call Ponderay City Hall at 208-265-5468.

Facts on local growth

By Jeremy Grimm Reader Contributor

Ben, I appreciated the reflection provided in your opinion piece “Embrace the shoulder season… while we still can,” published on Sept. 1, 2022. You captured many of the observations of change that most longtime residents have witnessed, but calling life in the area in the past a “ripe cherry” and now a “sour mash” I believe requires some additional context and facts.

First, you point to the potentially “terrifying” concerns of growth in the area. As you correctly reference U.S. Census data, Sandpoint has grown at an annual rate of 2.2% from 2010-2020. Putting this number in context with other fast-growing areas of the country helps to distinguish healthy growth from “terrifying” growth. Consider, if you will, the population growth of the following communities from 2020-2021: Georgetown, Texas, 10.5%; Queen Creek, Ariz., 8.9%; Buckeye, Ariz., 8.6%; Fort Myers, Fla., 6.8%; and, for a more local perspective, Meridian, Idaho, 5.2%; Caldwell, Idaho, 5.2%; and Nampa, Idaho, 5%.

To be clear, some of these locations are observing annual growth almost 500% faster than Sandpoint. Further, the 2.2% annual growth in Sandpoint over the past decade is actually slightly below the forecasted growth of 2.5% that we utilized in developing the 2009 Sandpoint Comprehensive plan (see: Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 2, Page 5).

Finally, most economists agree that a “healthy” annual rate of economic growth is between 2% and 3%, resulting in more money flowing into the economy, more jobs becoming available and overall employment growth. These are all critical signs of economic health.

Since you raised the issue of an increase in non-labor income in Bonner County, I thought it would be helpful to also review the dynamics and components of the area labor market. As published by Samuel Wolkenhauer, labor economist at the Idaho Department of Labor, employment growth in Bonner County over the past decade has not been equal in all professions.

For example, from 2011 to 2021 in Bonner County, Natural Resources and Mining employment has increased by just 29 jobs, or 0.8% annually with annual wage growth of 2.3%. Trade, Transport and Utility employment (which includes retail) has increased by 314 jobs, or 1% annually, with annual wage growth of 1.7%. Leisure and Hospitality employment has increased by 508 jobs, or 3% annually, with annual wage growth of 6.2%. Information employment has increased by 73 jobs, or 3.2% annually, with annual wage growth of 8.9%; and, finally, those associated with what you call “land rapers” — construction workers — have seen job growth of 550, or 8.4% annually, and 5.4% annual wage growth.

So, some types of area workers and families are benefiting from the “sour mash,” as you call it.

The final facts that I would like to call attention to deal with employment and where workers live in comparison to where their jobs are located. The U.S. Census has a great web-based tool called “On The Map” that allows one to compare this change over a number of years.

When comparing 2010 to 2019 (most recent data available) we see that for the Sandpoint Micropolitan Area there has been little change in the percentage of where workers live in comparison to their job location. In 2010, the data shows that 74%, or 7,446 workers, in the Sandpoint Micropolitan Area

7B Baggers announce downtown cornhole throwdown to benefit N. Idaho CASA

By Reader Staff

The 7B Baggers Cornhole Club will host the return of cornhole to downtown Sandpoint on Saturday, Sept. 10, with a tournament for all skill levels to raise funds for North Idaho CASA starting at 9 a.m.

Last year, the Baggers raised more than $4,000 for North Idaho CASA, and are hoping to raise even more this year. And cornhole isn’t the only event on the agenda. Organizers will also host an “airmail” competition, in which participants will have a chance to win some cash and plenty of raffle items.

This year’s tournament will take place on Second Avenue between Main and Church streets, featuring three skill levels: advanced, competitive and beginners, each in a singles

and doubles division. Every player is guaranteed four games in each division.

Advanced singles, competitive doubles and beginner doubles play will start at 9 a.m.

Advanced doubles, competitive singles and beginner singles will follow at 2 p.m.

The cost to participate is $40 for advanced, $30 for competitive and $10 for beginner, per person per division. There will be trophies awarded for the top individuals/teams, as well as cash prizes for the advanced and competitive levels and prizes for the beginner level.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., Sept. 10, behind the 219 Lounge.

“We hope you will join us for this great cause,” organizers stated. “It is sure to be a beautiful September day, and what better way to spend it by playing cornhole for a cause.”

The ‘shoulder season’ is a sign of an unbalanced economy

also lived in the area. By 2019 this number had dropped to 69.6%, or 7,925 workers, who live and work in the area.

Although I agree that this reduction is not a positive sign, still, almost three of every four workers in Sandpoint are able to live in or around Sandpoint. Contrast this to locations with truly out-of-balance workflow such as Ketchum, Aspen, Whitefish and Jackson Hole, respectively, with just 6.7%, 22%, 23.9% and 25.5% of area workers able to live in their location of employment.

In closing, I’d like to pitch an idea that I raised recently during an Idaho Economic Advisory Council meeting (I am currently appointed as Region 1 representative on the council). I think you and others could get behind it. Idaho charges a 2% Travel and Convention Tax, which is applied to occupants of hotels, private campgrounds and vacation rentals. A significant portion of total collections are returned to regions (Sandpoint Chamber was awarded $246,292 in 2022) with the intent that these funds be used for, you guessed it, the promotion of further tourism.

In light of that fact, as you say, “The secret is out” about Sandpoint, do we really need to continue to expend all of these funds annually in an attempt to attract even more

tourists to the area? What if as an alternative the funds could rather be utilized to support workforce housing in the area, thereby helping to support the worker housing needs induced by the very tourists who are eating up much of our housing stock as they stay in vacation rentals?

If properly leveraged over a period of years, these funds could more than support the construction of dozens of housing units, which could help support increased employment in specific tourism sectors like dining, leisure and hospitality.

Ben, in a way I do hope that the shoulder season in Sandpoint eventually disappears. It is a reflection of an unbalanced local economy overly reliant on tourism, where the prevailing annual wage is just $22,418 and often the work is part-time or with limited off-season hours. For my children and others, I hope the future of the Sandpoint region includes growth in high-skilled employment opportunities like those found at Kochava, Daher, Litehouse, Bonner General, Encoder, Cygnus, Diedrich and others.

Jeremy Grimm was the Sandpoint Planning Director from 2007-2015 and currently owns Whiskey Rock Planning + Consulting in Sandpoint.

September 8-15, 2022

THURSDAY, september 8

Sandpoint Summer Music season finale - FREE concert • 6pm @ Farmin Park

The last free concert of the season, featuring Harold’s IGA and the Monday Night Blues Crew. All ages are welcome. Bring a blanket or chairs and have a great time

Live Music w/ The Teccas • 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

FriDAY, september 9

Live Music w/ Chris and Lauren

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Ron Kieper

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Ales for Tails (live music, games)

5:30-7:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.

Matchwood donating portion of proceeds to BTAA. Live music by Courtney and Company

Plant Sale

9am-9pm @ Ponderay Event Center

Hosted by BoCo Gardeners Association

Live Music w/ BTP

The Fade: Resistance local film

7pm @ Panida Theater

A student-made local film, featuring local actors and crew. Come out for the red carpet at 6pm, show starts at 7pm. $10/$12

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz

5:30-8pm @ Drift Lakeside Kitchen (Hope)

Karaoke

8pm-close @ Tervan

Live Music w/ BTP

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

SATURDAY, september 10

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Scott Reid

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Live Music w/ Transcendental Express

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Live Comedy Show w/ Tyler Boeh

7pm @ Panida Theater

This “clean comedy show” features nationally-recognized comic Tyler Boeh. Also a silent auction and fundraiser for the American Heritage Wildlife Foundation. $25/person adv. or $35 day of show

Live Music w/ Kenny James Miller Band

9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge

Powerhouse rock and blues from Montana

Sandpoint Chess Club

Cutter Theatre fundraiser auction

6:30pm @ Cutter Theatre (Newport, Wash.)

Tons of amazing items on which to bid.

Shrimp boil available for $30/person. 509446-4108 for more information

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

9am-1pm @ Farmin Park

Fresh produce, artisan goods, live music by Bright Moments Jazz

Ponderay Neighbor Day

1-6pm @ Harbison Field (behind Hoot Owl)

A free family-friendly carnival day with kids crafts, pony rides, petting zoo, inflatables, games, tastings, live music by One Street Over and more! No pets please

Karaoke

8pm-close @ Tervan

SunDAY, september 11

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee

Meets every Sunday at 9am

Karaoke

8pm-close @ Tervan

Artists in the Studio Tour (Newport)

12-3pm @ Create, Newport, Wash.

Local artist tour, with live music and lots of fun! createarts.org. 900 W. 4th St.

monDAY, september 12

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s “Breathing in tune with God”

Group Run @ Outdoor Experience

6pm @ Outdoor Experience

3-5 miles, all levels welcome, beer after

wednesDAY, september 14

Live Piano w/ Dwayne Parsons

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Benny on the Deck • 6-8pm @ Connie’s Featuring guest Miah Kohal

COMMUNITY

The Pro-Voice Project’s submission deadline approaches

By Reader Staff

In an effort to bring the subject of abortion out of the realm of shadow and shame, a Sandpoint-based initiative is seeking essays illuminating the myriad ways in which abortion touches people’s lives.

The Pro-Voice Project calls for essays up to 800 words in length from residents of the Inland Northwest and beyond. Stories are welcome from both men and women. They might concern the impacts on individuals and families, in real-time and in retrospect, across the range of ages, income and backgrounds. Essays might be positive, negative or a mixture of the two. The right kind of story for this project is the one that is both personal and true.

Stories will ultimately be part of a stage production promoting greater dialogue, empathy and understanding of the lived experience of abortion in North Idaho and beyond.

“I believe in the power of stories,” said Jen Jackson Quintano, organizer of The

Pro-Voice Project. “In an era of polarization and vitriol, stories have the power to connect us, to generate compassion, to honor the complexities of the human experience rather than distilling everything to blackand-white.

“So many of us carry these stories, but we don’t give voice to them,” she added. “It’s time we all came to understand the true breadth and depth of personal abortion experiences.”

Anyone uncomfortable writing his or her experience may call or send an audio file via text, and Jackson Quintano will distill the information into an essay. One’s writing proficiency is not important — it’s the story that matters.

Essays may be submitted anonymously and The Pro-Voice Project promises to protect the identity of anyone choosing to remain unnamed. Email submissions and questions to theprovoiceproject@gmail. com. The deadline is Thursday, Sept. 15. For more information, call or text 208-9203564.

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park

Open Mic w/ Frytz

6pm @ Tervan

ThursDAY, september 15

McFarland USA film • 6:30pm @ Panida Theater

A free movie starring Kevin Costner, Maria Bello and Ramiro Rodriguez presented by the Bonner Co. Human Rights Task Force, preceded by a performance by Music Bridges Borders, a Mexican exchange student program. Tickets are free.

POAC announces upcoming performing arts series

Tickets and season passes now on sale

By Reader Staff

Variety is certainly the spice of life for the Pend Oreille Arts Council, as evidenced by the recent announcement of the local nonprofit’s 2022-’23 performing arts series, set to run from September to April and featuring talent and stories both local and visiting.

Tickets for each performance — as well as a limited number of season passes — went on sale Sept. 1, and all shows are held at the Panida Theater.

Kicking off this season will be award-winning indie-folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Maiah Wynne — who has been hailed as “the next Brandi Carlile” — on Friday, Sept. 16.

Up next is the Masters of Hawaiian Music on Wednesday, Oct. 5, bringing an evening in the islands with the Grammy Award-winning musical stylings of George Kahumoku Jr., Daniel Ho and Tia Carrere.

On Thursday, Nov. 17, POAC will host an evening with local globe-trotting equestrian Lena Haug, who will answer questions about her time competing in the Mongol Derby after a showing of All the Wild Horses — a documentary about the derby.

Friday, Jan. 13 will mark the annual return of Living Voices, a theatrical company that teaches history through storytelling. The group will be performing Within the Silence, which tells the story of thousands of innocent Japanese Americans placed in internment camps during WWII, told from the perspective of teenager Emiko.

Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist and pianist Diane Schuur will grace Sandpoint on Thursday, Feb. 17, while local children will perform Red Riding Hood with the help of Missoula Children’s Theater on Saturday, March 25.

The series caps off Thursday, April 21 with The Black Market List, a five-member gypsy-jazz band based in L.A. known for virtuosic playing, beautiful harmonies and interactions with the audience.

For more information, including start times and ticket prices for each perfor-

mance, head to artinsandpoint.org.

Visiting artists also participate in POAC’s Ovations, a free K-12 outreach program that provides educational experiences in the performing arts for students who would otherwise not have these opportunities. In addition to all public performances at the historic Panida Theater, there are workshops, performances and outreach programs planned throughout the year in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

“From classical to contemporary musicians, dancers, actors and spoken word artists, POAC has a long tradition of presenting culturally diverse performances, geared for audiences of all ages, at affordable prices,” said POAC Executive Director Tone Stolz.

“We are thrilled to present a new season of exceptional artistic quality, theatrical excitement and inspiration to the Sandpoint community through the performing arts.”

Only 100 POAC season passes will be available, offering discounted admission to all seven shows. Season passes are $145 (plus tax) and are fully transferable. Tickets are available for purchase online at artinsandpoint.org, by phone at 208-263-6139 or at the POAC Office (110 Main Street, Suite 101 in downtown Sandpoint).

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for the POAC’s performing arts season and for individual shows. Call the POAC office for details.

RingsofPower series on Amazon is a worthy addition to the Tolkein-verse

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

One does not simply walk into a review of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power without establishing their Tolkein bona fides. At least that’s how it appears from the volleys of reviews lobbed with orcish density at the Lord of the Rings prequel series, which premiered with two ultra-cinematic episodes Sept. 1 on Amazon Prime.

For my part, I have watched the 1977 Rankin/Bass animated feature The Hobbit at least once a year since around 1987. The Hobbit is the first book of “serious” literature that I can remember reading cover to cover, which occurred in about 1990, when I was in the fourth grade. After that, I read The Lord of the Rings at least a half dozen times and watched the 1980 rotoscoped Rankin/Bass version of Return of the King often enough to recognize that Peter Jackson borrowed a lot from it to create his version of the tale in his films, which I have also consumed with regularity over the past 20-plus years (particularly around Thanksgiving, as I find them quite conducive to turkey farts and naps. The less said about Jackson’s Hobbit films, the better).

I’ve also read the lesser-known Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and the inscrutable Silmarillion — or at least tried to more than once — and watched every biography, biopic and even an “Epic Rap Battle of History” on YouTube featuring J.R.R. Tolkein that has come

my way.

Suffice it to say, I am familiar with the world that Amazon has sunk about $1 billion into recreating and exploring (exploiting?) on the small screen in 2022, and have many personal associations with it.

Does this mean I like Rings of Power? Does it mean I’m manning the walls of my psychological Helm’s Deep to keep the gate against every inconsistency with Tolkein’s lore contained therein? It’s OK, and nope, respectively.

I’m an adult, and I know the meaning of the word “adaptation.” I’m also aware that Tolkein’s estate has not made the Silmarillion available to filmmakers for option, and so the showrunners of Rings of Power are cobbling together their origin story based on LotR appendices that read more like encyclopedia entries than narratives.

All that said, Rings of Power is shaping up to be a worthy addition to the film-based Tolkien-verse. The show opens during the pre-dawning of the world — that is, before the first sunrise, thousands of years prior to the events of The Hobbit, when illumination flowed from a pair of great trees in the elfin homeland of Valinor. There, the first elves dwell in perfect immortal happiness, among them a child named Galadriel, who LotR fans will recognize as the lady of Lothlorien (played by Cate Blanchett in the Jackson films), and one of the most powerful entities in Middle-earth.

Into the eden of Valinor comes the evil god-like being Morgoth, destroying the

Return to the ‘Goondocks’ with a screening of The Goonies at the Panida

By Reader Staff

“Hey you guys,” The Goonies is coming to the Panida Theater for its Second Wednesday Film Series on Sept. 14, booked by popular vote and sponsored by Burger Express.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m., tickets cost $5 and are available at the theater on the night of the screening.

Odds are, if you’re a Gen-Xer or an exceptionally elder Millennial, you’re more than familiar with the 1985 classic, directed by Chris Columbus and starring the likes of Sean Astin (Mikey), Josh Brolin (Brand), Corey Feldman (Mouth), Jeff Cohen (Chunk), Ke Huy Quan (Data), Kerri Green (Andy) and Martha Plimpton (Stef).

Those folks are, of course, the eponymous “Goonies,” a band of teens living in a fictionalized Oregon seaside town (with portions filmed in Astoria and Cannon Beach), whose parents are getting ready to pull up stakes and move on for new jobs.

trees and extinguishing the light. The elves go to war, pursuing Morgoth, his sorcerer-hatchetman Sauron and their minions across the Sundering Sea to Middle-earth, where that land is laid to waste by centuries of bloodshed.

The armies of Morgoth and Sauron are defeated, resulting in a long period of peace during which the elves colonize Middle-earth, ruling over an increasingly resentful population of dwarves, humans and others.

Enter the star of the show Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who has grown into a fierce commander, leading a troupe of elves on a mission to track down and destroy Sauron. She is among the only elves to believe that the wicked wizard still exists (which

The Goonies aren’t too happy about the breakup of their motley crew, and end up having one epic adventure on the eve of their forced dispersal.

That adventure hinges on the shenanigans of a family of psychotic criminals — the Fratellis — who are hot on the trail of a missing pirate treasure long rumored to be locked away in the nether regions of the so-called Goondocks. The kids catch wind of the treasure, too, and set out in search of it themselves, triggering a cat-and-mouse game with the Fratellis — including the gentle giant Sloth, played to iconic effect by John Matuszak — as well as a harrowing trek through the boobytraps left behind by pirate captain One-Eyed Willy.

The Goonies is practically shorthand for “1980s cinema,” not least for its many quotable moments, including, “Goonies never say die.” Goonies fans also never say “no” to a screening of the film, and it’s even harder to say “no” to catching it on the big screen.

Get more info and buy advance tickets at panida.org.

we all know is true).

As she struggles with her obsession, irritating everyone from a young Elrond to the high king of the elves, other strange things are stirring. In a small human village, an elf soldier is in love with a mortal healer, and the two begin investigating what appear to be mysterious ransackings, livestock disease and disappearances; among the harfoots (proto-hobbits), a headstrong daughter (Markella Kavenagh, the other star) stumbles across a “man” who has fallen from the stars as a comet (his name probably rhymes with “Randolph”); Elrond joins a probably-shifty master crafter in trying to get the surly dwarves to create a vast furnace for the fashioning of some instruments of power (probably rhyming with “things”); and, all along, Galadriel keeps finding disturbing evidence of Sauron’s foul deeds.

The show is indeed beautiful — the $1 billion price tag obviously reflected in its visuals. The writing is… not great. Dialogue is often stilted and kind of campy. If you’re hoping to see familiar actors, you won’t. Is it true to Tolkein? Yes and no, but Tolkein didn’t write scripts. Is it better than HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon? I’d bet a silmaril on it.

Stream Rings of Power Fridays on Amazon Prime.

BoCo Human Rights Taskforce to host free Panida showing of McFarland, USA

By Reader Staff

The Bonner County Human Rights Taskforce is hosting a free showing of the Disney film McFarland, USA on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater.

Prior to the showing, attendees will be treated to a presentation from local nonprofit Music Bridges Borders, “highlighting their grassroots program to bring classical music education from young Mexican musicians to Sandpoint each year,” according to organizers.

McFarland, USA is a 2015 film that tells the true story of a cross-country running team from a mostly Latino high school in California. Coach Jim White, played by Kevin Costner, is a newcomer to the community, and realizes his team has the physical talent and emotional bonds it will take to succeed.

The PG-rated film is “Certified Fresh” on movie review site Rotten Tomatoes, where it boasts an 80% rating. While critics

maintain that the inspirational sports story narrative is sometimes predictable, McFarland, USA has the staying power of a more elevated story, leaving audiences feeling satisfied.

Tickets to this event are free, and the doors to the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave.) open at 6 p.m.

Resistance is far from futile

Student-made film The Fade: Resistance debuts Friday at the Panida

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

When you get the cast of the upcoming student-made film

The Fade: Resistance in a room together, magic happens.

Led by Tim Bangle, of The Other Dog Films, this determined and talented group of young film buffs have taken their love for cinema and performance art to a whole new level. And they’re having a blast along the way.

Debuting at the Panida Theater at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, The Fade: Resistance is the culmination of nearly a year of effort by Bangle and his troupe of actors. The script was written by Bangle, but he turned over directorial duties to his teenaged son Lukas for his first foray helming a film. Slowly but surely, actors were cast for parts — many of whom had never acted before — and filming began.

“We’ve set this in the future, in 2052,” Bangle told the Reader “So we’ve got a little bit of cyberpunk to it, with a slash of drama and some family dynamics.”

When teenaged Sam, played by Alora Weisz, is kidnapped by some nefarious characters, she is returned home only to find two of her other friends have also been taken. She and another friend set out to try to get their friends back from the kidnappers, discovering clues that point to the mysterious reason why these abductions have taken place.

The film follows Sam as she finds her way through this dark reality forced upon her. While pursuing her two friends, she also must confront and recover from trauma in her own past.

“Alora has nailed it from day one,” Bangle said. “As soon as she walked in the room, I knew she was Sam. The confidence she’s had from the get go is amazing. She’s carried the show and she’s kind of led these guys on a journey and it’s been awesome having her as the lead.”

couple of commercials before, the audition process wasn’t completely new, but she had never been part of a movie before.

“I kind of thought I had a general idea what to expect, but what I thought was really cool was that they were going to do a movie here, because it’s a small town, a small place,” said Weisz. “It really surprised me.”

That’s precisely why Bangle began efforts to write and produce the film.

“I’m from here and we didn’t have this while I was going to school,” he said. “I have the education and equipment, and I’d love to provide the opportunity to kids growing up here to be able to experience what I didn’t have growing up. I really wanted to give these kids a chance to explore filmmaking, and what better way to teach our youth how to make films than actually making films?”

Josiah Burkamp, who plays Panzer, first heard about auditions for the film on Facebook.

“It sounded fun,” he said. “I love watching movies. I watch them all the time. I didn’t have anything to go on before I came to the audition.”

Rounding out the cast is Wilhelm Anderson, who plays Devlin. Wilhelm was added to the cast late in the production.

“I joined a group with lots of inside jokes, but I was just this new person,” Anderson told the Reader. “I think that reflected my character a little bit.”

The Fade: Resistance

Friday, Sept. 9; red carpet at 6 p.m., film starts at 7 p.m.; $10 advance, $12 at door. Panida Theater; 300 N. First Ave., 208263-9191, panida.org. More info at theotherdogfilms.com.

“We did do that somewhat intentionally,” Bangle said. “His character is like the outsider looking in, so I thought it would be experimental coming into this group already formed. It really worked out well.”

Macy Korsten, plays Tyler, and brought a lot to the table, according to Bangle.

to some help from one of her teachers.”

Natalia Lemley plays Coen, which marks her debut acting role.

“Natalia has never acted before and she wears a mask in this film, and she speaks that character with her body language better than many professionals probably could,” Bangle said.

Crystal Pepperdine, at 8 years old, was the youngest member of the cast, playing a young version of Sam. Pepperdine said that while she was “scared to see myself on the screen,” it was a fun experience.

Holly Beaman plays Siberia, the antagonist. As one of the few adult cast members, Beaman enjoyed the experience of playing a villain with her talented cast members.

“I was kind of surprised to get cast as a bad guy,” Beaman told the Reader. “I’ve been in theater for about eight years, so I was really excited for the opportunity to try my hand at film.”

There are also cameo appearances by veteran Sandpoint actors Kate McAlister, Keely Gray-Heki, Robert Moore, Kevin Burkamp, Leland Watson, Steve Hammond and Wesleigh Hammond.

said. “I made some good friends and even got some compliments from the crew on how I was funny.”

Along with Lukas as director, the crew includes Charlie Beaman as camera operator, a task he’d never attempted before this film.

“His first day out there he was shooting with a shoulder rig for six to eight hours,” Bangle said. “He never complained once, he was on the spot all the time and paid attention. He rocked it.”

Miriam Hammond and Threnody Hammon worked as production assistants and slate, providing valuable support for the crew.

“These two are our behindthe-scenes gurus,” Bangle said. “They’re the ones I go to set things up. I couldn’t have done it without either one of them.”

the talent and level of commitment the actors and crew showed while making the film.

“When we started this thing I had no expectations,” he said. “We started with a group of four, then it trickled down to one, then everything just blossomed. Every one of these cast and crew members have contributed to this project and it’s looking so good.

“Hearing all of their stories and their laughter is so cool,” Bangle added. “That’s what you hope for. You hope they’re going to take away that fun factor, that awe of movie making. It was really cool to have such an eclectic group of kids contribute to this story.”

For Weisz, who has acted in a

“Her professionalism has been outstanding,” he said. “She’s usually the first one on set and she even took it upon herself to learn sign language for her role, thanks

Lukas Bangle said one thing he enjoyed most about this experience was the interplay between the actors and those who worked on the technical aspects of the film.

“I liked building relationships between cast and crew,” Lukas

While the crew had a lot of laughs along the way, there were some difficult tasks to get through. Whether it was shivering in the mud, keeping the camera steady while running backwards, building intricate props for the film or just struggling to keep the giggles under control, the close-knit actors leaned on one another to produce what, at first glance, appears to be a really well-done sci-fi drama.

With this film finished and ready to debut, the cast and crew are already planning ahead for the eventual second and even third parts of the film. For now, though, Bangle said he’s blown away by

The troupe will arrive at the Panida Theater in grand style in a limousine, and will walk the red carpet at 6 p.m. as they enter the theater. Audience members are encouraged to show up to cheer them on at 6 p.m. out front of the Panida. Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance or $12 at the door.

With the success of The Fade: Resistance, Bangle hopes to continue his efforts with follow-up projects soon. If there are any local businesses or individuals who are interested in sponsoring these efforts, contact Tim Bangle at tim. bangle@theotherdogfilms.com.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

The Sandpoint Eater How they roll

at her favorite Jewish deli before heading back to Beverly Hills.

Transportable food has been around since the days of the Romans, and I guess it’s no surprise that I have a penchant for mobile eateries. Somewhere in my box of tattered old black-and-white ancestral photos is the picture of a relative, a hopeful young man (provenance undetermined), pushing a popcorn cart westward to seek his fortune.

I remember my first “meals on wheels” experience, at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls, like yesterday. It was nearly a 100-mile drive from Helena, and I was lucky enough to accompany my older sister and her boyfriend on their much-anticipated trip. My mother believed I was the ideal tag-along chaperone; most likely, it was a requirement for the young lovers’ escape to the country fair.

Once we arrived and established a meeting spot, they couldn’t wait to ditch me at the midway, giving me an extra couple of silver dollars to make myself scarce. I’d take a peek at the alluring sideshow posters, resisting the hawkers and shoving my coins deeper into my pockets before heading straight to the concession trucks.

The choices were endless — corn on the cob, greasy hamburgers, Snow King cones and sugared peanuts. Unfortunately, my appetite was invariably bigger than my budget and, even with the extra dough, I ran out of money before I got to the heavenly-scented elephant ears.

In the early ’70s, I spent a (long) summer in L.A. as a nanny for a clothing designer/manufacturer. As a reward for my service (or because my clothes weren’t up to par), his wife took me to their sample showroom in the garment district, where she selected a few modest wrap-around dresses for me. Then we had a quick lunch

Between the Bronson Clothing factory and the restaurant, we passed by several loncheras (stationary food trucks of Los Angeles that primarily served the garment factory workers). I would have gladly traded all the pastrami in the world for one of their aromatic plates of steaming Mexican food.

I’m not sure why I’m so drawn to food trucks; but, once, in the early 2000s, after a year’s paid pause in my career, I decided that, for my next venture, I’d open a food truck in Sandpoint (it was about the same time I wanted to convert my crawl space into a cheese cave).

Thank goodness for my intelligent children.

When one of them prefaced their response with, “Mom, that’s not a good idea,” I listened, though it took some time to concede with grace. Unfortunately, my vision of a cute corner setup,

offering daily breakfast and lunch specials, was dampened by caveat conversations of frozen and busted pipes, clogged drains and grease traps, and 14-hour work days.

Instead of being the vendor, I make a darn good customer and seek out food truck cuisine wherever I go. As near as our local Oak Street Food Court (Korean noodles) and as far as Christmas markets in France (raclette) and the piers of Papeete, Tahiti, I have favorite foods and vendors throughout my universe.

The concept of food trucks may have originated in Tahiti, and I think they have some of the best les roulottes (food truck) fare in the world. Back in the 1930s, the Chinese pushed bamboo carts laden with tropical fruits and vegetables that they hawked to the locals. Soon they started adding staples to the carts. Eventually, they became stationary on small parcels of land, first offering

baked goods and finally whole meals enjoyed by families and tourists alike.

Today the food courts, located near the wharf in Papeete, are still lively with locals, offering great varieties of food like grilled or fried fish and meat, loads of fries, crepes, and my favorite, poisson cru — in which tuna that was likely still swimming in a secluded lagoon that morning, and rich coconut milk still encased in its shell only hours before, is prepared to order. French/ Polynesian/Chinese fusion strongly influences most of the offerings you’ll sample. You can even order Chinese noodles on a crusty baguette. While the islands of Tahiti are mostly known for fancy resorts and over-water bungalows serving over-the-top-expensive food, most les roulottes offer huge portions at reasonable prices.

Since my short-lived nanny days, I’ve been back to Los Angeles myriad times, sampling taco truck

fare in the familiar garment district and the mobile pop-ups in more discerning neighborhoods like Brentwood. I’m headed to L.A. this week as a guest of Tahiti Tourisme. I’ll spend a couple of days learning about what’s new in Tahiti, and then I’m headed downtown for a day.

No offense to Brentwood, but you’ll find me wandering in the garment district. As luck would have it, I have business there (selecting Christmas linens for a client’s vacation home). They might dream of a white Christmas in Big Sky, but I have visions of chicken taquitos (bedded in a go-cup of fresh guacamole, topped with a wedge of lime) on my palate. Who doesn’t love guacamole — on everything? Especially this time of year when you can pick up most of the fresh ingredients at our Saturday Market.

Really good guacamole recipe

Save your salsa and mayo for something else! Use the freshest ingredients for the best guacamole and offer extra lime wedges and sea salt on the side. Serves 4-6 as an appetizer.

INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:

•3 ripe avocados

•½ small red onion, finely diced

•2 heirloom tomatoes, peeled and diced

•3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

•1 jalapeno pepper seeds removed and finely diced

•1 small red pepper, finely diced

•2 garlic cloves, minced

•1 lime, juiced

•½ teaspoon sea salt

Slice the avocados in half, remove the pit and scoop into a mixing bowl.

Mash the avocado with a fork and make it as chunky or smooth as you’d like.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir together. Give it a taste test and add a pinch more salt or lime juice if needed.

Serve the guacamole with tortilla chips — or eat by the spoonful!

A lifetime of beautiful music

Remembering classical guitarist and longtime Sandpoint local Leon Atkinson

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Leon Atkinson lived a unique life. The world-renowned classical guitarist could bring an audience to tears during his performances, where he showcased his talent with six strings. Atkinson was also a professor, a concert producer and a longtime radio host. He performed with such greats as Nina Simone and the New York Philharmonic. He met and played for legendary classical guitarist Andres Segovia. He served as Harry Belafonte’s music director and founded five classical guitar programs in colleges around the country.

Atkinson passed away on Sept. 1 at the age of 75. There will be a tribute to his life at 11 a.m. on KPBX Spokane Public Radio, hosted by Verne Windham, with whom Atkinson hosted the show “Guitar Hour” for 28 years. There will also be a memorial open to the public at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m.

Spending most of his adult life in Sandpoint, where the population is more than 92% white, and choosing to play classical guitar, Atkinson walked a separate path than many.

In an interview with Brad Richter in 2021 for Lead Guitar, Atkinson was asked about what it was like being Black and playing classical guitar in a “white classical guitar world.”

“Well, the first thing when you enter anywhere as a Black classical guitarist, someone — maybe more than someone — will say, ‘Oh, do you play the blues? Can you play the blues scales or something?’” Atkinson told Richter. “And it’s quite insulting to me that because I have black or brown skin, they automatically associate me and guitar with playing blues. And I can play blues, but I’m a classical guitarist.”

Growing up in New York, Atkinson knew at a young age that he wanted to play music as a career. He was just 3 years old when his father took him to the Apollo Theater to see Josh White Sr. perform.

“He was on the stage with a

stool and a pink floodlight, and he sang a song called, ‘One Meatball.’ It just touched me and I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Atkinson told local writer and musician David Gunter for an interview in the Sandpoint Magazine in 2010.

Atkinson gained proficiency on guitar quickly, studying under guitarist Mark Oalth when he was 8 years old. Before he was out of school, Atkinson had already appeared on national television and was earning money as a studio musician, landing gigs by intercepting calls meant for his older, violin-playing brother.

By the 1970s, Atkinson walked away from his growing career as a performing artist in New York by moving out West, to a small town called Sandpoint.

Gunter shared stories about meeting Atkinson shortly after moving to Sandpoint in 1978.

“My admiration for Leon moved up a couple of notches just because, when it comes to race, gender, sexual preference, any time you’re the only one of somebody, it’s a pretty lonely road,” Gunter told the Reader.

Atkinson, which he pursued with a dedication to help share his love of music with others.

“One of the young Black men I taught when he was 10-years-old was Lenny Kravitz,” he told Lead Guitar.

One of Atkinson’s last students was Sam Clemmons, who first met the famed guitarist by chance.

“I ran into him by chance and we kind of hit it off,” Clemmons said. “I was also doing some work for him because he was getting older and needed the help. I was kind of a guitar student, but mainly I liked listening to all the stories he had to tell and his advice about life.”

Atkinson experienced several health issues in the early 2000s, including a bout with cancer and ongoing kidney failure, for which he had been receiving treatments for more than a decade. In recent years, he switched from playing a classical guitar to a harp guitar, which is a regular guitar and second set of unfretted strings played open to provide a unique interplay between tones.

“Leon walked it with a lot of grace and a lot of chutzpah. … He was a legendary intellect.”

In Sandpoint, Atkinson dug in and got to work. He founded guitar programs at Whitworth College, Gonzaga and Eastern Washington universities, and North Idaho College. Transitioning from being primarily a performer and studio musician to an instructor was a rewarding challenge for

Atkinson left behind a lifetime of beautiful music, along with many admirers of his talent. In wrapping up his interview with Gunter in 2010, Atkinson outlined what exactly music meant to him: “I see music, not in any kind of isolated way, but as a part of the involvement with the landscape of life,” he said. “The trees and the water and the rain. It’s all music and it all connects.”

The Teccas, MickDuff’s Beer Hall, Sept. 8

Hailing from small-town Montana, father-daughter duo

The Teccas bring a robust setlist of covers and originals on their travels through the Northwest, driven by generations of musical roots to share new and classic country and rock sounds with their listeners.

Scott and Kayla Tecca represent just two branches of the musical Tecca family tree, doing so with comforting country

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

READ

... a book. Put down your device, shut off the television, lock your phone in a drawer and just read a book. Better yet, tell someone else about a great book you just finished, or are currently reading, and pass on the interest to others.Our society is made better when we read instead of just watching our devices. Reading is so important, especially to the kiddos. Always remember to give yourself time to read. It’s worth it.

LISTEN

melodies, toe-tapping acoustic stylings and a polished two-part harmony. Their sound has proved award-winning and capable of exposing them to international audiences.

— Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

6-8 p.m., FREE. MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., mickduffs.com. Listen on Spotify or at theteccas.com

Sometimes I grow tired of the usual artists that pop up on my Spotify stream. I have a hard time “discovering” new bands anymore because there’s just so much out there. Thankfully, there’s a website to help you out. Visit whatthefuckshouldilistentorightnow.com, where you enter a band or performer you like and it spits back something similar with a bit of snark included. It’s fun, and I’ve discovered some great new artists this way.

WATCH

There’s a channel on YouTube called “Itchy Boots” that has captured my interest over the past couple years. A woman from the Netherlands named Noraly made a goal to ride a motorcycle across the entire world. She’s three years into her journey and actually just passed through Sandpoint the other day on her way through to Alaska. It’s fascinating seeing all the backroads and dirt tracks she finds around the world — each delightfully off the beaten track. I always look forward to the next episode.

From Northern Idaho News, Sept. 9, 1932

GUNMEN TORTURE HOLDUP VICTIMS

Developments appearing in a series of crimes committed Sunday night link the robbery of the J.A. Wilson service station, the theft of an automobile and the torturing and hold-up of Charles A. (Gunnysack) Johnson, to four people who escaped in a car about midnight.

Mr. Wilson, awakened at his service station to service a car “out of gas,” opened his door to face four guns in the hands of two desperadoes. When he attempted to force them out, they threatened his life, and while one forced him to lie on the floor face down, and stood guard, the other filled their gas tank, while two women ramsacked the station, obtaining about $74.20 and two guns.

Before leaving, they struck Mr. Wilson on the side of the head with a “sap,” leaving him unconscious, momentarily, and permitting them to get about a block away, headed west, before he came to. He phoned the sheriff at Sandpoint, who came up at once, but met no car.

Later it developed that a car owned by relatives who are visiting at the Swan Nelson home, had been stolen. Shortly before noon Gunnysack Johnson hobbled into town from his cabin some three miles northeast of here to tell his pitiful story of four “men” who came to his cabin about 9 the evening before, threatening dire punishment if he failed to tell where he kept the money he received “from the sale of his interest in the Hope mine.” They burned his feet and struck him on the side of the head until they got from him $3 in cash about about $675 in certified checks. Johnson, a well-known pioneer, said, “I tried to be kind to them because I didn’t know what they might do to me and I might lay several days without help while they’d be a thousand miles away.”

Sheriff Henry Traue and his deputies have begun an intensive search immediately, reporting last night that several new leads are hopeful.

BACK OF THE BOOK On memories

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

If I want to remember when something happened, I scroll through the photos on my phone.

I last cleaned out the folder in late 2019, and have since taken about 5,000 photos. I hope this doesn’t say anything about my character or attachment to technology; but, just in case it does, I will defend myself by saying that my job requires I take many photos (sincerest apologies to every source who has been told to “act casual, I need a candid photo of you”) and also, I have a dog, which permits me at least a few hundred photos a year of her simply existing.

This memory-retrieving habit has become a trusty life hack in many ways. Just last week, my husband Alex and I couldn’t remember when we purchased our kitchen stove. A few minutes of scrolling, and I knew — Dec. 5, 2021 — thanks to the photo I took of the old stove, a 1970s Fridgidaire, sitting on a dolly cart in the snow outside our front door, retired and headed to the barn with a vibrant winter sunset in the background.

Each year, our dog Mac has horrendous seasonal allergies. I use photos to track when her rashes start and how they progress each day. This is useful week by week in the summer, as well as year by year.

For as often as I use my phone to document mundane happenings and canine ailments, I also try to capture more obvious beauties. On a recent overnight stay at Lunch Peak, I took photos during each stage of the sunrise and shook my head when I realized that even a new iPhone couldn’t adequately capture the amethyst hue of the Cabinet Mountains.

My phone’s photo album is also full of people and things I love. Our garden is in-

credible this year, and I have probably 300 green, lucious photos to prove it. If Alex and I make a nice dinner, I like to document our colorful plates. If Alex does just about anything — build a bookshelf, cut down a Christmas tree, fall asleep with Mac in his recliner — you can bet I have a photo of it.

This is not to say that I remember to document everything. There are times when my phone is within reach, and other times when I couldn’t tell you where I left it.

Case in point: Our wedding day in 2021. I didn’t know where my phone was, and I didn’t need to. I’d paid a professional photographer to capture everything, after all, so Alex and I were resolved to live in the moment. We’d relive it all again in a few months when we got the photos back.

However, my favorite wedding day memory remains undocumented.

Walking back down the aisle after the ceremony, we kept on walking, past the reception, down our driveway and into our house. Hosting the event at home had its perks; after all the lead-up, it was time for a quiet moment before our grand reception entrance.

Without a phone or camera in sight, we walked through the front door, still grinning in disbelief, and were greeted by our pets. I sat on the couch while Alex mixed margaritas, then we talked and laughed in the very place where we built our relationship, surrounded by the familiar momentos of our everyday lives: our decorations, our blankets, our cat, our dog.

We’d planned to spend about 10 minutes in the house before heading back to the party, but I have a hunch more time passed. My dad came to get us, and I often try to imagine what he saw when he entered the living room: two smiling idiots — Alex in the recliner and me, swallowed by my white gown, on the couch with Mac — holding

Sudoku Solution STR8TS Solution

partial margaritas in mason jars.

photo.

I don’t have any photos of this moment, but I can still see the evening July sun casting slanted sun across the gray rug and the stains on the hem of my dress as I sat, dirty feet elevated on the coffee table.

I am thankful to live in a time when I can capture a memory with the flick of my thumb, and when that’s not an option, the chance to write.

Crossword Solution

Instead of a Seeing Eye dog, what about a gun? It’s cheaper than a dog, plus if you walk around shooting all the time, people are going to get out of the way. Cars too!

Solution on page 22

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1.Crude shelter

6.Embrace

11.Small and light boat

12.Obsequy

15.Old fashioned light source

16.Inflammatory disease

17.Unit of energy

18.Tempers

20.South southeast

21.Charity

23.Upper limbs

24.V V V

25.Chair

26.Cubes

27.Photos

28.European volcano

29.Night before

30.Leases

31.Office identifier

34.Move a little

36.Right after nine

37.They hold teeth

Week of the

[noun]

1. the animals of a given region or period considered as a whole.

“The fauna of North Idaho are wonderful to view in their natural habitat.”

Corrections: I misidentified the location of Hannah Combs’ painting on our cover last week. I stated it was depicting the condoes at Bridge Street and First Avenue when it was supposed to be the Cedar Street and Fifth Avenue condoes. Apologies for the mistake (honestly, with all the high-rise condos coming our way, it’s hard to keep them straight). — BO

41.Type of sword

42.Decree

43.Nitpicky to a fault

44.Low-lying area

45.Brothers and sisters

46.Hindu princess

47.Chapter in history

48.Refuge

51.Roll of bills

52.With affection

54.Parking structure

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22

56.Commanded

57.Sky-blue

58.Sows

59.Discourage

DOWN

1.Red

2.Executioner

3.Additionally

4.Soft drink

5.Eager

6.Ablaze

7.Affaires d’honneur

8.Burden

9.Each

10.Cut in thirds

13.Judge

14.Strong cleaners

15.Stop

16.Noticeably

19.Innocent

22.Non-seated rider

24.Dilute acetic acid

26.Greek district

27.Animal companion

30.Tirade

32.How old you are

33.Minimal

34.Holder

35.High ground

38.Unsuspecting

39.Director

40.Playground chute

42.Branches of knowledge

44.Quash

45.Rip up

48.Arid

49.Mild expletive

50.Bulldoze

53.D

55.Furrow