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:

Bank of America has been fined $150 million for customer abuses, such as double-charging for overdraft fees and secretly opening card accounts in customers’ names, The New York Times reported.

• damage to soil, watershed, vegetation, and other forest resources;

• harassment of wildlife and disruption of wildlife habitats;

• conflicts between motor vehicle use and existing or proposed recreational uses of National Forest System land or neighboring federal lands;

• conflicts among different classes of motorized vehicle uses.

Once finalized, the Kaniksu Project will designate trails and areas within the project area that are closed or open to over-snow vehicles both year-round and seasonally, with those designations displayed on an oversnow vehicle use map.

A 45-day objection period is open through Monday, Aug. 28, in which those who previously submitted written comments may file an objection to the draft decision.

The Forest Service will accept objections from those who submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during the scoping comment period or the draft environmental assessment public comment period. Input gathered during the objection period will be used to inform the final decision and the future of over-snow vehicle use in the Kaniksu area.

“We want to thank everyone who submitted comments when we initially shared the project with the public, and again when we shared the draft environmental assessment this spring,” stated Sandpoint District Ranger Jessie Berner. “The Forest Service has reviewed those comments and used them to improve the project and issue a draft decision under the National Environmental Policy Act.”

For more information, visit fs.usda. gov/project/?project=53091.

Farmers Insurance has pulled coverage out of Florida, according to CBS, with an impact on close to 100,000 customers. Due to large payouts for storms, other Florida insurers have gone out of business. Warmer air and water has made hurricanes stronger, resulting in more property damage. Extreme flooding in the East, and extraordinary heat in the Southwest are being experienced. As well, ocean temps off South Florida’s Coast have been close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Using existing street lamps London has devised an eye-pleasing way to install charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. There are now 1,300 such installations, Optimist Daily reported.

After 53 years behind bars for a notorious double murder orchestrated by Charles Manson, Leslie Van Houten was recently released to transitional housing. She admitted to, at age 19, holding down victims and stabbing them. She has since said she was mentally ill, saying that was linked to LSD use, and she totally believed at the time that Manson was “Jesus Christ.”

Using existing income repayment plans for borrowers with student loans, CNN said President Joe Biden announced that 804,000 borrowers will have their debt wiped away, a total of $39 billion.

Fox News is being sued by Ray Epps for defamation and upending his life when Fox claimed he was an undercover FBI agent, and in that capacity incited a riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, various media reported. Epps blames Fox’s deliberate election misinformation for his actions at the Capitol.

Lawyers for ex-President Donald Trump have asked that his trial regarding illegally retaining classified documents be postponed indefinitely, The New York Times reported.

Based on interviews with people close to Trump and a review of his campaign policy proposals, The New York Times recently wrote that there is a broad goal of increasing Trump’s power; if he is presi-

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

dent again, to have authority over every part of the federal government. Many sources equated that to dictatorship.

Red states are benefiting the most from “Bidenomics,” The New Republic reported. Commerce Department figures show they had the fastest personal income growth January through March.

The “must-pass” Defense Authorization Act passed the House 210-219 and was loaded with restrictions on rights, making it a “dead” deal when it reaches the Senate. The Green New Deal has a goal of clean, 100% renewable energy within the next 10 years. Critics say it’s too expensive; proponents say critics are not factoring in the costs of climate inaction, such as property destruction and health costs from weather extremes, rising sea levels and wildfires.

Blast from the past: 160 years ago this month, New York City experienced the “most destructive” riot in U.S. history, according to various sources. The party then labeled as Democrats — but known today as Republicans — rebelled against the incoming Republican administration of Abraham Lincoln and its opposition to South Carolina’s plans to secede from the United States. New York Democrats aligned with enslavement, while the city’s mayor said his community should also secede — apparently due to its economic engagement with the South’s cotton trade.

Democrats’ rage was further ignited when drafting of soldiers to fight for the Union began. After the city’s first draft lottery, pro-slavery Democrats attacked federal draft officers with rocks and clubs, while property of prominent New York Republicans was burned — as was the Orphan Asylum for Colored Children.

The tally after three days was 119 confirmed deaths (but possibly 1,200), and up to $5 million in property damages. Union soldiers came from the battlefields to put down the Democrats’ riot. Days later, the first Black regiments — freed to fight due to the Emancipation Proclamation — suffered 42% casualties in a brutal battle with Confederates.

Historian Heather Cox Richardson: “The contrast between white mobs railing against the government and murdering their Black neighbors while Black soldiers fought and died to defend the U.S. was stark. No fair-minded person could miss it.”

Bouquets: GUEST SUBMISSION:

• “Andrea Marcoccio is a brilliant community leader. She tirelessly orchestrated and hosted another safe and amazing Sandpoint Pride. Happy third anniversary!”

— By Jodi Rawson

Barbs:

• After a weekend camping on the lake, I realize how many people around here need a few etiquette lessons when it comes to sharing space with others outdoors. Here are a few tips to avoid being “that guy,” out there in the wild:

— When someone has a tent and camping supplies on a beach next to an empty mooring ball, that means they’re camping there and probably took the boat for a short cruise. It doesn’t mean the ball is suddenly available and that you should take it. This actually happens, and it’s incredibly annoying when you return to your campsite.

— Don’t walk into someone else’s campsite and don’t beach your boat right next to another’s camp. I don’t care if you’re picking huckleberries, taking a shortcut to the river or just taking the dogs for a walk. Most people go camping to avoid having to be bothered by other people. If we wanted to suffer small talk, we’d have chosen to hang out at the bar, not a primitive campsite in the hills or beside our lake.

— Do you really need to blast your stereo at top volume for everyone else to suffer? I’ve also noticed the worse the music, the louder it’s usually played.

— Pack it in, pack it out. I don’t care how stinky little Timmy’s diaper is or how much you despise that old couch, leaving it behind for the next camper is the equivalent of skiing in jeans.

TL;DR: Don’t be a jerk and let people recreate in peace.

Dear editor,

Branden Durst’s new board clerk, Brandy Paradee, started working on Thursday, July 6. He personally appointed her to the position, unbeknownst to the school board, because he stated he “needs someone in there that will do what he says.” Someone who has openly been against our schools, shaming parents and spreading false information in a district she doesn’t even live in.

Her contract was approved on a temporary 30-day basis. She is also not to be given access to employee files, personal information or other sensitive documents until she passes a background check.

Fast forward to today, Thursday, July 13, one week later. Our district office employees were notified that they are no longer employed by the district. Key cards are deactivated and they are terminated.

Do you think we’re stupid? Mr. Durst and Ms. Paradee are now the only people at the district office and we’re supposed to trust them? Just a coincidence that this happens at the same time the forensic audit is approved? I don’t think so.

They are not there in good faith. I think we should all expect that documents and information soon will be “found” that likely implicate wrongdoing by the women that worked in the district office. This might be a whistleblower.

Tiffiny Simpkins

PRLHS graduate 2007 and concerned parent Priest River

‘The triumvirate’…

Dear editor,

The Triumvirate of Rutledge, Reinbold and Brown have secured the majority vote of the West Bonner County School Board in order to turn the school district completely around from its current condition and bring it back to prosperity, all so that the students can have the best education possible, correct?

Unfortunately, as many of us realize, this just isn’t true. Nothing that the Triumvirate — headed by Board Chair Keith Rutledge — has done remotely augers toward the success of the district, nor its students.

For example, instead of hiring the best-qualified and experienced candidate for superintendent, they hired a decidedly unqualified candidate with no classroom experience. In fact, he has been in lots of positions, but not one that would qualify him for his current role as superintendent. That would be Branden Durst.

Not to be outdone by the Triumvirate’s poor decision making, Durst, in turn, is looking for the best and brightest not by hiring from a qualified pool of certified teachers, but is accepting applications for those who “have completed at least two years of college.”

The above was possible by the Triumvirate’s declaration of emergency. There was no reason for one. Furthermore, Durst’s salary of over $100,000 a year is now being taken out of the general fund, instead being reimbursed by the state of Idaho. How will this shortfall be covered? Simple: The board just offered the current teachers the lowest wages of any district within 100 miles in recent negotiations.

The decisions being made by the Triumvirate, and now Durst, aren’t by accident. They are a deliberate, calculated effort to dismantle the district piece by piece.

Be sure to vote Aug. 29, because the Triumvirate, Durst and their IFF backers are counting on your complacency.

Don’t be complacent. Vote.

Glenn R. Hines Priest River

Dear editor,

I have become privy to our superintendent and chair discussing the poor educational outcomes of students in our district. They are reporting there is only a 60% reading competency rate and math is below the state average (which is 50%). The chair does have a point, that these scores are dismal. What the chair also failed to mention was that in the end-of-year board meeting, the superintendent report stated that much of our district outranked the average ISAT scores in Idaho.

Additionally, our board chair is also failing to take into consideration the demographics of our area. Many of the families and children in this area live in poverty. According to censusreporter.org for West Bonner County School District, the average income per capita is around $29,673 dollars, leaving 10% of kids below the poverty line. This may not seem like many children, but let’s factor in the large population with two working parents, drug and alcohol dependency issues, and the large population of children with special services.

Let’s get real: When kids are wondering if or when they are going to eat their next meal, test scores are not going to matter. When a brain is focused on surviving, it does not learn.

We need to talk about the things not being spoken. This is not just an educational issue in our district. It is a demographic issue that is not being considered.

We cannot blame test scores on teachers — some of this stuff comes from home. It comes from inherent struggles either in living environments or physiological difficulties some of these kids are simply born with.

Our kids and teachers are more than test scores. We are more than numbers on a census. If we are going to make judgments, we must factor in all aspects.

Nikelle Collins, LMSW Priest River

Dear editor,

Not since World War II has this community been this united. It took the attack on Pearl Harbor to unite us then. The attack on our public school system has united us now.

By now, we are all aware of the turmoil caused by three WBCSD board members. They hired a superintendent that is not qualified for the job. Community members and others worked hard to pass the levy; they did not. Their arguments for their actions are not based on facts. Simply put, it’s B.S.

The war will be won or lost at the ballot box. Of the eligible voters in the district, 5,498 did not bother to vote during the levy election.

We needed only 106 more votes to carry the levy. Any effort by these three WBCSD board members to support the levy probably would have made the difference.

We need you, the reluctant voter. We need to end the turmoil.

So you have plenty of time. Get registered to vote — it is not that difficult. Then, get out and vote on Aug. 29 for Zones 2 and 4, which are the zones that are recalling their board members. There is a lot at stake here. Get out and vote and let’s “get it done.”

Steve Booth Nordman

Dear editor,

Since U.S. 2 is a federal highway, repairs to it are probably not the responsibility of local government, but the present routing of the exit from U.S. 95 to enter Sandpoint via U.S. 2 (Fifth Avenue) is quite treacherous. Coming off U.S. 95, a driver has absolutely no view of the traffic coming off Idaho 200 into U.S. 2. One just has to try to see if there is no traffic on 200 and drive blind into U.S. 2. Certainly a less treacherous entry during this period of repair, which may be several weeks, could have been designed.

While Sandpoint drivers are not the most cautious of my experience, they are certainly not helped by those who design signaling at intersections.

Donald L. Kass Sandpoint