Sunshine
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fine jewellers & goldsmiths
sweetie r u o y t e g r fo ’t Don Day! on Valentine’s r the Come see us fo s. a perfect gift ide
Sandpoint Vegetarians community potluck
Sunday, February 8th 5:30 pm~7:30 pm Free & Open to the public at Sandpoint Community Hall Doors open at 4:30 pm
Whether you like to burn Gas, Wood or Pellets we have a stove, fireplace, or insert that will fit your home. Stop by our showroom to check out our wide selection today! Cindy Aase will present: Compassion is a Choice Unlikely Heroes PLEASE bring a plant-based dish to share with others, copies of your recipe & if possible, your own plate & eating utensils. Sandpoint Vegetarians encourage a vegetarian lifestyle as a means to foster compassion, improve personal health, and heal the planet.
(208) 263-6713
110 South First Ave. Spt, ID
www.sunshinegoldmine.com
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For more info - Cindy at 290-5387 Eric at 265-5412 or join us on Facebook!
502 Cedar Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 263-1541 9-5 Monday thru Friday. Saturday by appointment.
SALE ON ALL Hearth Tools, Firewood Storage, Steamers, & Rugs
(wo)MAN compiled by
Susan Drinkard
on the street
Do you think the trapping of animals is a form of animal cruelty, or is it a legal, humane way to hunt game? “I learned a lot of good hunting skills from my dad. If I had to I could justify it morally. You can’t justify it economically because it is expensive to hunt. I like stalking game, but I don’t have a need to kill. I think [trapping] is an inhumane way to hunt. It’s unfair. It’s not hunting.”
David Walker Retired Auto Technician Samuels, ID
DEAR READERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS commentary
news
4
State of the City By Mayor Carrie Logan
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Perspectives ByAndrew Sorg & Christian Fioravanti
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Train Depot Scheduled to Open Soon By Reader Staff
feature
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The Trapping Debate By Cameron Rasmusson
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Super Bowl! By Cameron Rasmusson
calendar
8-9
The Event Calendar is back!
arts & culture “I think dying in a trap would be about the most cruel way one could die and anyone who thinks otherwise might try their trap themselves.” Robert Zweifel Handyman Sandpoint, ID
“My dad taught me how to make a snare trap to catch a varmint if I need to. It comes down to how responsible of a trapper you are; it depends on the kind of trap you use. I think people shouldn’t trap so much because there are so many people out there hunting and it’s risky for other hunters and dogs. Besides, you never know what kind of animal you’ll get.” Mike Sargent Lift Operator/Construction Bonners Ferry, ID
“There are some traps that dispatch the animal. In general I’m for it because it’s an avenue to catch predators that you wouldn’t otherwise come across because they might be nocturnal.” Kevin White Pend Oreille Newsprint paper maker Priest River, ID
“If we don’t control the population of animals, then they will die out. Most trap for furs. I’ve hunted all my life. We grew up on rabbit and squirrel.” Ray Sweet Retired Welco Cedar Mill Sagle, ID
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Oscar Shorts Preview By Reader Staff DIY Beer Tote by MakerPoint By Mike Peck Thomas Aslin the Bus Driving Poet by Jennifer Passaro Then & Now By Ben Olson
Our first correction! We sold so many ads in last week’s return-from-the-dead issue that we accidently forgot to include the ad from Eichardt’s Pub, one of our oldest and most loyal advertisers. Whoops! Sorry guys. We appreciate your support. Mistake #2 was spelling “peudo” instead of “peude” in the headline of Zach Hagadone’s article on Obama. This was our mistake, not Zach’s. Sigh. Rough start. We’ll get this sucker down, I promise.
Well, we’re off and rolling. Special thanks to all of our advertisers, who gave us a successful return issue. Also, thanks to you, the reader, whose encouraging comments on the streets keep our spirits high. We appreciate the overwhelming support you have all given us. What would you like to see in the Reader? What are we doing right? What can we do better? We always welcome your feedback. Call or stop by anytime. Want us to stick around? Here’s a way you can help; we would like to distribute our paper in towns outside of Sandpoint. Specifically, we’re looking for someone who commutes to Bonners Ferry, Clarkfork, Hope, Sagle, Schweitzer and beyond who wouldn’t mind taking a stack of newspapers every Thursday or Friday and dropping them at a few locations. Please let us know if you are interested in helping. Email us at inbox@sandpointreader.com if you’re interested. -Ben Olson, Publisher
FIDDLIN’ RED Music Store
Instruments Repairs Lessons
111 Church St., Spt, ID (208)946-6733 WWW.FIDDLINREDSIMPSON.COM
READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) Contributing Artists: Daniel Cape, Susan Drinkard, Aric Spence Cover: Daniel Cape Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Jennifer Passaro, Mike Peck, Carrie Logan, Andrew Sorg, Christian Fioravanti Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash. Subscription Price: $60 per year Advertising: Jen Landis jen@sandpointreader.com Justin Landis heyjustinlandis@gmail.com Andrew Sorg andrew.c.sorg@gmail.com Clint Nicholson clint@keokee.com Web Content: Keokee 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.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 500 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook!
READER January 29, 2015 /
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COMMENTARY State of the City Address By Carrie Logan For SPR
Hello, readers of the Sandpoint Reader! It is my distinct pleasure to update you on the past year in Sandpoint, what we’re working on and what we see for the future. Budget In August, our council approved a total city budget of $32 million dollars. Of that figure, some $6 million will be spent on salaries and benefits, $9 million on maintenance and operations and $12 million on capital projects—virtually all dollars to be invested and spent locally. Our revenues of some $32 million come from beginning cash, property taxes and other income in the form of state payments, enterprise funds (such as water, sewer, garbage and street lights), fees, debt service funds, trust and agency funds and special revenue funds. It’s a lot of money that we work very hard to put to the best use for citizens. Infrastructure With the completion of the water treatment and transmission project, Sandpoint has a
new membrane filtration water treatment plant capable of treating 10 million gallons per day, a new transmission main beneath Sand Creek and a new transmission main serving Ponderay. Downtown street redesign continues with two blocks of Third and Fourth avenues finished, flow-through planters for storm water management and the completion of Third Avenue near the hospital. New infrastructure on Church Street between First and Fifth avenues this coming summer will include sidewalk work, storm water management features and a softening of the angle of diagonal parking. It will be designed for an easy and seamless integration into Fifth Avenue two-way operation. On that topic, two-way traffic on Fifth Avenue, Cedar Street, First Avenue and Pine Street is in the near future. An Idaho Transportation Department subcommittee is recommending that downtown First, Cedar and Pine be taken off the state highway system. Working off a public hearing held in December, the ITD board is expected to approve and schedule the work for 2016. Meanwhile, the city is working with engineering specialists to design the function of the First, Church and
LETTERS Kudos from Costa Rica
How many newspapers have I read cover-to-cover lately? Well, none since the last edition of the original Reader was released (sad, sad day!)... until the new Reader showed up online here in Costa Rica! From the front page with the collage of previous front pages to the final full page ad, I didn’t miss a word, including ad copy (well, maybe a word or two of that...) Ahhh, reminded me of just how much I’ve missed this rag, and how much I depended on it for real local news, opinion and entertainment. Ben has asked me to contribute periodically (pun intended) and I am more than happy to, while at the same 4 /
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Bridge intersection, which has prompted local concerns under the new plan. More infrastructure work includes trenchless sewer rehabilitation, the construction of the Selkirk Loop Interpretive Center, and the new overlay of Baldy Mountain Road. The Sandpoint Depot design, engineering and rehab is making good progress. This is an Amtrak project, but the city was instrumental in securing the retention and rehab of the depot. A grand opening celebration is scheduled by the Historic Preservation Commission for May 30. Business With the closing of Coldwater Creek, we secured a $50,000 Idaho GEM Grant through the Idaho Department of Commerce to improve the Bonner Business Center facility. The project will result in increased production capacity along with the addition of 20 jobs for local business LeadLok. Additionally, we secured a $50,000 Idaho GEM Grant through the Idaho Department of Commerce in support of infrastructure installation along Industrial Way that will help Tamarack Aerospace Group facility expand. Both projects will bring increased taxable value within the Northern Revenue Allocation Area of
time I’m feeling intimidated by the quality of writing evident In this inaugural edition. Am I gonna have to rise to this level, with the likes of Hagadone, Olson, Compton, Rasmusson and Drinkard? Sheesh! Well, every thinking person likes a challenge and I like to think I think, so you can decide for yourself when I show up in an upcoming edition. I will ostensibly be writing about building but would rather not be too restricted as I have other interests as well, so I might just be traveling down a few side roads. Meanwhile, welcome back, Reader, and a heartfelt thanks to Ben and Cameron for reviving our old friend! -Ted Bowers, Sandpoint (via Costa Rica) Thanks Ted! Now get to work you bum!
Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency. This summer, we became home to Solar Roadways when they bought the former City Glass building on Pine Street. Our planning department is working on securing a grant to demonstrate the technology in town. Other big developments downtown include the Bonner General Health expansion, the Bellwoods/Pend Oreille Winery rehab and the Heartwood/ Catholic Church and Hive redevelopment. Kudos to the developers that saw opportunities in downtown Sandpoint. City hall Sandpont finalized MUR (Mixed Use Residential) zoning and sign code amendments to provide more flexibility and exposure for buildings facing the byway. It was a major project identified by the 2009 Comprehensive Plan. The city is now offering utility bill e-statements, and alternative payment methods by credit or debit card over the phone, website and over the counter. We have also initiated a redesign of the city website making it more user friendly and improve efficiency. Upon the announced retirement of Fire Chief Robert Tyler, the city hired Ron Stocking to replace him following a vigorous search. Chief Stocking brings a wealth of experience from his previous assignments and is a welcome addition to city leadership.
Likewise, we received the resignation of Jeremy Grimm, planning and community development director. We will give careful thought to the manner in which that position is addressed in the coming months. Other issues Partnerships are very important to us. In this day and age of shrinking revenues due to the recession, it’s imperative that we give the best possible service at the least expensive cost. We’ve partnered with Bonner County to share road equipment and crews, we’re establishing a new playground and commercial kitchen at the fairgrounds and have approved a joint powers agreement with Sagle Fire District to save costs. Coal and oil issues have played a part in council action in recent years. We as a city are very concerned for what I see as an inevitable oil accident. We’re working with Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties on an updated and complete geographic response plan, equipment grants and training opportunities. It’s a big issue, and we all have a lot to lose, but we’ve almost completed a citywide evacuation plan, plan to continue working with all concerned officials and have trained hazmat personnel with Sandpoint Fire. It’s been a productive 2014, and I am certain 2015 will follow suit.
PERSPECTIVES Last year, Andrew Sorg and Christian Fioravanti put their hats in the ring for public office. Sorg sought a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives for the Democratic Party, while Fioravanti backed conservative positions for the Constitution Party in the Idaho State Senate race. Now they’re back to hash out the state’s biggest issues in occasional columns for the Sandpoint Reader. This week, we asked them about strategies and policies the state can enact to improve Idaho education.
Andrew Sorg
Christian Fioravanti
Andrew was the Democratic Nominee for State Representative in 2012 and 2014. He is also active in the Sandpoint arts scene and has directed and acted in several community theater projects.
Christian currently works as a marketing consultant. He is an author and product launch expert, and former Chairman and Co-founder of Republicans for Independence (2012).
Hometown: Wolf Point, MT Political Party: Democratic Party
When it comes to Idaho eduction,
I’m sure my counterparts will be quick to state that creating free market opportunities in our education system will foster competition. From this competition, the best schools or ideas will win out and we will be the better for it. This solution would be fine if we were talking about soft drinks. But even they can agree that while Coca-Cola is the world-wide winner in market competition, it’s not necessarily the best-tasting soft drink. Yet, market pressures are one of the biggest things affecting our main education resource: teachers. After 2007, the State Legislature cut our education budget drastically. This has resulted in quality teachers seeing no long-term opportunities in Idaho. Many stay long enough just to get experience until a better position out-of-state becomes available. Idaho is being treated as a training ground for our neighboring states, and it is only getting worse. To fill those gaps, we have been forced to pull in people who lack proper training. Additionally, we as a state are stuck focusing our education system toward outdated 20th Century goals – specifically, training students for a workforce. The purpose of public education is for the betterment of our society. A better educated public will always make the more informed decisions on their future. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is important, but we must put equal weight on the “intangibles” of art, music, and philosophy to make a more well-rounded
student body. Testing is another issue. In a quest to measure and audit our schools, education has been narrowed down to focus on what we can put in a standardized test. Once teacher pay or school funding became joined to those test results, we have created a monster where more time is spent teaching a test than actually teaching the subjects themselves. Working toward this, we need to continue to empower students in their educational choices. We need to expand curriculum and allow each student to meet their own priorities while also giving them a well-rounded basis in both STEM and liberal arts. Education should be treated in a holistic approach. We need to limit the standardized test as a measuring stick and go back to local monitoring and teacher-based assessment for our students as much as possible. Next, we need to support our teachers so they can support our students. Our teachers need to know Idaho will provide them with further training when they need it and a salary that shows how important they are to us. Peer-coaching, being a confidential process between teachers, is a proven way to improve a teachers professional development. Yes, it will cost money. Education isn’t cheap, but the cost of failure is far higher. Idaho can provide the worldclass education our students deserve. The only question is if our state government will give it to us.
Hometown: Bonners Ferry, ID Political Party: Constitution Party
Is it possible we can improve Idaho’s
education system without going broke? It’s no secret our education system is broken. Every year, we continue to throw more money at the problem and nothing ever seems to change. We continue to adopt detrimental programs like “Common Core” and “No Child Left Behind.” Our public education system and our state cannot survive if we continue following this path. What is the solution? We need to take a lesson from history. In the 1950s, our education system was the envy of the world. Why is that? How is it possible that we previously employed fewer educators, spent far fewer dollars, and furthermore produced the finest education in the world? What has changed since then? I would argue increased government intervention, from the ‘60s on, has a played a key role in deteriorating our quality education. The creation of the U.S. Department of Education in 1979 and the federal mandates henceforth have proven to be an ever-destructive force. If we want to fix education, one of the first steps should be to eliminate any involvement by the federal government. Secondly, we should reduce state control over educational standards and curriculum. We must restore local control and give our teachers and school boards the power to create the very best education possible for our students. No one knows our children better than our teachers and school administrators. Some bureaucrat in Washington D.C. or even in Boise does not know what is best for our kids in Bonner County. We
must demonstrate to our teachers that we really do value them as professionals and allow them to be creative and do what they do best. Idaho should immediately withdraw from the “Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium” and look into our own assessment options. The high stakes testing being implemented right now is unfair to our children and teachers alike. These tests have not been proven! Yet, Idaho has decided to “pilot test” them on our kids. How many students will be negatively affected by this testing before we realize it’s not working? I believe control of curriculum and all major decisions must be vested in our local community. Regarding the issue of standards, our Idaho teachers should create our own rigorous standards. Centralized education is inherently inefficient in its use of public tax dollars. This system siphons off revenue and redirects it into unaccountable and unnecessary overhead. The outcome is impoverished local school districts, increased unproductive paperwork, an ever-decreasing teacher-to-student ratio, and creates a comatose cut-and-dry education model. The centralized education machine breeds bureaucratic gains at the expense of students and local taxpayers. It is conclusively evident that, despite more than $2.7 trillion dollars spent by unelected bureaucrats in the Department of Education, net results have fallen off the deep end over the past 34 years. Imagine what our nation’s communities could accomplish if we put that $2.7 trillion back into their coffers and restored local control. January 29, 2015 /
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NEWS By Reader Staff For SPR Train fans rejoice: You’ll be able to check out the inside of the restored Sandpoint Depot within a matter of weeks. While the official opening ceremony doesn’t occur until May 30, Amtrak Senior Northwest Manager Rob Eaton confirmed that a soft opening will happen much earlier—likely before the end of February. There’s no official date set for the depot’s opening yet, so there’s still the possibility it could be pushed back into March. But according to Eaton, the idea is to get doors open for Amtrak passengers as soon as possible. The most important thing for Amtrak is to ensure the facility is free of hazards and in pristine, presentable shape. That means making sure the construction crews have packed up equipment and the waiting room is ready for passengers to sprawl out with their luggage and their teddy bears and their music players. The depot reopening is especially good news for those souls catching a train during winter. Previously, Amtrak travelers often shivered their wait away in the wee hours of the morning, depot doors locked behind them. With the project nearly complete, yet another historic
Photo by Aric Spence
Train Depot opening looms closer
Sandpoint structure will be open for public use. It very nearly didn’t happen. Only after extensive negotiation with Amtrak and railroad officials did city officials, the Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission and concerned citizens secure all parties’ support in restoring the building with Idaho Transportation Department funds. “… We were able to come to the conclusion that yes, the depot would stay at the current location, yes, the passenger service would still come out of it, and yes, the [ITD] dollars would be used for the
News In Brief
School board approves levy Have a child in a Lake Pend Oreille School District school? Then you’ll probably be hearing about the school board’s proposed $15.7 million supplemental levy sometime soon. The additional local funding for public schools will come down to a vote March 10. Essentially an additional charge to local property taxes, the levy helps the district maintain staffing and service levels. Check out www.lposd. org for a schedule of upcoming levy presentations.
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rehab,” said Mayor Carrie Logan. For local historian and former Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission member Aric Spence, the imminent re-opening is exciting. Spence’s anticipation, however, is mixed with disappointment, as some of his sought-for project goals weren’t achieved. These include the city’s inability to secure a long-term lease and the move away from the depot’s original waiting room. “For me, it’s a little bittersweet,” he said. The new waiting room, for instance, is set up in what
Kochava readies for summit
Sandpoint is playing host to some major technology and software power players with the launch of Kochava’s second mobile summit, set for Feb. 1113. A local convention hosted by the growing mobile advertising analytics company, the Kochava Mobile Summit kicked off last year as a big success. This year could be even bigger, with visitors arriving from major Internet-based companies like Priceline, Pandora and more.
was once the “ladies’ retiring room.” According to Spence, the depot originally gave men their own space to smoke and share manly repartee, while the women got a room to retire, apparently. Despite the change of rooms, Spence said Amtrak passengers can look forward to a beautiful new waiting area. City officials, meanwhile, are eager to celebrate the depot’s restoration after years of work, and the May 30 commemoration should scratch that itch. It is planned to coincide with Preservation Idaho’s Orchids and Onions award
ceremony, which will be held in Sandpoint this year. An awards program dedicated to honoring Idaho’s most significant historic preservation achievements, the ceremony delivers orchids to projects that take pains to honor the past. Individuals or corporations that demonstrate callousness toward historic preservation, on the other hand, receive onions. After the ceremony, it’s off to the depot for an official ribbon cutting. The occasion will no doubt be a big moment for the many local residents that fought to make it happen.
Idaho debates adding Idaho flu deaths ramp up the words Hopefully you got your shots this
Boise was a buzz of activity this week with hundreds turning out to offer testimony on the “Add the Words” bill. The House State Affairs Committee barely had room to handle overflow for the turnout prompted by HB2, which would add the words “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” to the Idaho Human Rights Act. No word yet whether the bill will advance beyond the committee, but the Idaho Statesman calls it “unlikely.”
year, because flu season is hitting Idaho with a vengeance. According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the number of flu-related deaths climbed to 16 in January following a relatively mild early season. Health officials recommend taking precautions—including vaccinations, frequent hand-washing and plenty of rest—to reduce risk as the season continues.
FEATURE Trapping: By Cameron Rasmusson For SPR It’s not a stretch to say that trapping built the state of Idaho. When European eyes, anxious to expand a burgeoning nation, turned toward the Pacific and Inland Northwest in the early 19th Century, dreams of wealth built on the fur trade drew many settlers into the region’s mountains. Two hundred years later, the institutions of the past find themselves in conflict with management policies and sensibilities of the present. Idaho Fish and Game officials have trapping on their radar once again following a swell of public concern. And for several local and state organizations, there’s a lot to gain—or lose—from the outcome. In recent weeks, Brad Smith of the Idaho Conservation League’s Sandpoint office has been spending much of his time on the issue. The reason: a Jan. 21 meeting by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission re-reexamining trapper education requirements. While the commission wasn’t set to make any major decisions on trapping policy, Smith saw an opportunity to revive the public dialogue over tighter trapping regulations. “So far, Idaho Fish and Game has been reluctant to change some of the rules on trapping,” Smith said. Pressure has been building on the issue for several years. In November, the IFG Commission asked staff to develop a mandatory trapping education program following complaints that dogs and cats were getting caught in traps. Meanwhile, conservation groups
like ICL assert that trapping operations are harming Idaho’s endangered animal population. It’s no accident that trapping is back in the public eye. The practice is more common than ever, with license sales nearly doubled since 2010. In the 2001-2002 trapping season, which runs from fall until winter, Idaho Fish and Game sold a mere 647 licenses. By the 2009-2010 season, that number ramped up to 1,114 licenses sold. And by 2013, that jumped still further to 2,057 licenses sold, with IFG officials estimating that 1,502 license holders were active trappers. The numbers line up closely with the increase of fur prices, particularly in international markets like Asia. According to IFG numbers, a bobcat pelt fetched an average price of $208.16 in 2008. By 2012, prices soared to $438.64 per pelt. Today, those prices may be falling due to the souring of the Russian economy, according to Idaho Trappers Association board member Rusty Kramer. Trapping also intersects with the highly contentious issue of Idaho wolf management, although Smith said they don’t have the data to gauge its effect on trapping license sales. However, trappers say the technique is essential to protecting property and livelihood from the predators, which grew in numbers following federal recovery efforts. Indeed, Idaho Trappers Association members are evenly split between those who trap to protect property and those who harvest pelts for income, Kramer said. Even trapping
Photo courtest of Bonner County History Museum
a historic culture with modern controversy
nuisance animals can itself be a lucrative practice. “My phone has been ringing off the hook with people asking me to set up traps for them—more than I can handle,” he said. “Coyote and beaver control is very, very necessary.” However, the trapping boom has brought unintended consequences for endangered Idaho species, according to Smith. Locally, there’s no bigger concern than the Idaho lynx population, some of which lives in the Purcell Mountains of North Idaho. According to ICL officials, reports confirm that at least three lynx were accidentally captured in the past 12 years—two of them in the Idaho Panhandle. In 2012, a Boundary County trapper shot and killed the lynx, mistaking it for a bobcat. The other two were reported and released into the wild. “Just because you release an animal doesn’t mean it’s going to lead the same life it did before,” Smith said. “It might be injured, or it might be unable to reproduce.” In addition to lynx, fishers and wolverines are among the most in danger of being trapped accidentally, Smith said. That’s largely why ICL
officials are advocating for increased trapping regulation beyond mandatory education. The organization also wants to see trapping prohibited in areas with endangered species, the deadliest of traps barred from use and the number of allowable active traps limited. “Right now, you can set as many traps as you want as long as you check them every 72 hours,” Smith said. Kramer disagrees that trapping has much impact on endangered species management. What’s more, he believes the animal management role trappers play can ultimately be beneficial for at-risk populations. He said the coyote is the most frequent predator of animals like the lynx, and limiting trappers ability to work in those regions can ultimately lead to higher loses of endangered species. “My opinion is that the unintended catch of endangered species is minimal,” he said. When it comes to sensitive issues like wolf trapping, meanwhile, Kramer said he’s personally overseen 13 cases of wolves being captured, fitted with radio collars by Idaho Fish and Game and released unharmed into the wild in just over a decade.
Trapping is an emotional issue regardless of one’s position. Many who oppose trapping find the practice cruel and violent, and with its increase in scale, IFG officials have received an influx of complaints regarding captured pets or traps being visible just off public trails. Panhandle Animal Shelter director Mandy Evans said she’s seen at least one example of a dog entering the shelter with trap-related injuries. Trapping proponents, on the other hand, see attempts to regulate or clamp down trapping activity as an attack on an essential tool in protecting property, harvesting food and making a living. To them, it’s a breach of fundamental rights and a symptom of an overbearing government. It’s a debate with little room for common ground. And with no indication that IFG officials are planning to make significant trapping regulation changes in the near future, it’s a debate that won’t be over any time soon. What do you think about trapping? Send us a note at letters@sandpointreader.com.
Antique traps like these pictured to the left were used all over Bonner County. From left to right, they were used for trapping muskrat, wolf, and bear. To see more traps like these, visit the Bonner County History Museum. Photos by Ben Olson. January 29, 2015 /
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SUPER BOWL SUNDAY Story by Camerson Rasmusson For SPR
When is a football game not just a football game? For the Nicholsons, it’s when the entire family gets together for an afternoon of food, cheering and team rivalry—the fiercer, the better. There’s only one game of the year where anticipation builds to the breaking point: the Super Bowl. Like thousands of other North Idaho families and millions around the country, the Nicholsons see Super Bowl Sunday as a national holiday as American as Presidents’ Day or the Fourth of July. Wyatt Langley, general manager of the Neighborhood Pub, is right there with them. “The Super Bowl is my favorite holiday of the year,” he said. “It beats out Thanksgiving and Christmas by a long shot.” And why not? The Super Bowl has all the ear-marks of a national holiday: an emphasis on friends and family, a long-standing food culture and a history complete with its own lore, heroes and traditions. Just add big men smashing into each other and you have the Super Bowl in a nutshell. Just like Langley, 9-yearold Gavin Nicholson anticipates the Super Bowl with as much enthusiasm as Christmas morning. That’s especially true with his beloved Seahawks in the running for the NFL’s premiere achievement. “I was really shocked and really surprised,” Gavin said. Sure enough, the Sandpoint Super Bowl buzz is bigger than ever with the Seahawks in the mix. With Idaho lacking an NFL franchise, many have adopted the Hawks as their home team. There’s one thing most 10 /
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people agree upon—this year’s game against the New England Patriots should be a nail-biter compared to last year’s 43-8 trouncing of the Denver Broncos. Fred Colby of Laughing Dog Brewing isn’t prepared to jinx the game with his predictions, but he agrees it should be a spectacle. “I think it’s going to be close—a much better game than last year,” he said. The brewery itself should be just as big a spectacle. Colby expects a full house as football fans fill the beer hall to scream, shout and cheer every play. The brewery crew aims to start things off with a proper tailgating party complete with a potluck followed by a prize giveaway with items like 60” TVs on hand. “It’s probably going to be a little rowdy because there will be a few Patriots fans but a lot more Seahawks fans,” he said. MickDuff’s Brewing Company is handling the day in similar style. Over at the pub, Duffy Mahoney said the company has a similar give-away of a TV, bike and Sandpoint Furniture gift card. Fans will feast on $2 Kobe beef tacos and $2 pints of blonde ale. The beer hall will also host an event where fans can bring their own food. Mahoney expects a packed crowd at both venues after the preview from the last Seahawks game, a nerve-wrackingly close contest against the Green Bay Packers. “It was busy, busy, busy,” he said. “Since it was a comeback game, a lot of people walked out before it was over.” Langley anticipates a busy day of his own at Neighborhood Pub, and the crew brought in a special Seattle
beer, 12 Man Pale Ale, to commemorate the occasion. A dedicated Seahawks fan, he anticipates toasting their victory by the end of the day. “It’s still going to be really close,” he said. “I think the coaches are going to have to bring out a lot of trick plays for this one.” For the majority of Sandpoint fans, however, the day will look much like that of the Nicholson family. They plan on hitting Gavin’s grandparents house decked out in full Seahawks regalia for a day in front of the big-screen TV. “All the girls paint their faces in team colors,” said Sandi Hale Nicholson, Gavin’s mom. Gavin, meanwhile will be bringing his Seahawks helmet as a good luck charm. He’s a little anxious about the outcome—and whether or not his dad will lose his voice again. “That’s my favorite part,” he said. “You get to scream loud.”
Fun Facts about the Big Game Domino’s Pizza estimates it will deliver over 9 million pieces of pizza on Super Bowl Sunday When a Super Bowl comes to an area, it can generate up to $150 million in revenue, including all the money spent by fans, sponsors, media and other visitors. 1.23 billion chicken wings will be eaten on Sunday. Top food eaten at a Super Bowl? Vegetables. Seriously 11.2 million pounds of chips will be eaten. Football fans will mash 8 million pound of avocados into guacamole. Of the 10 most watched programs in history, nine of them are Super Bowls. Stores will sell 51.7 million cases of beer on Sunday. That’s 1.24 billion cans and bottles of beer!
STAGE & SCREEN Short films [big impact] By Reader Staff For SPR
Oscar-nominated short films just don’t get enough love. For many viewers of the venerable awards show, the animated and live-action shorts exist somewhere in the ceremony no-man’s-land of “best editing” or “best sound design.” Not to disparage the year’s greatest technical achievements, mind you, but most film editors don’t look like Julianne Moore or Bradley Cooper. Me? I enjoy the shorts nominees. It’s nice to take a break from the camera-ready, PR-trained movie stars and root for the little guys and girls of the filmmaking world. The only problem is most people haven’t even heard of the nominated films, much less seen them. Luckily, the Panida is here to save the day. Over the course of three nights, the theater is playing the full roster of nominees starting tonight and
continuing Friday. Both parts start at 6 p.m. Additionally, Part One plays again 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Part Two at 6 p.m. Saturday. A single $9.50 ticket gets you access to both parts of the collection and are available at www. panida.org or at the door the night of the show. The short films run the gamut from whimsical to sobering to heart-warming. On the live action side of the spectrum, audiences will meet an Afghan teenager in Switzerland struggling to send money to her family in “Parvaneh.” They’ll experience the conversation between a crisis intervention hotline worker and a suicidal older man in “The Phone Call.” And they’ll journey with two siblings as they raise baby chicks given to them by their father in “Boogaloo and Graham.” I have a long-standing fondness for animation, so I’m especially curious to see what styles are represented among this year’s animated short nominees. One thing’s for sure: They encompass
“La Lampe au Beurre de Yak” A photographer visits a remote Tibetan Village to photograph the inhabitants.
just as impressive a range of stories as their live-action brethren. In “Feast,” the relationship between a boy and his dog is explored through the food the pet receives. Two brothers struggle with their circumstances and each other as they care for their elderly mother in “The Bigger Picture.” And in “A Single Life,” a woman reflects on the various stages of her life through the power of a strange vinyl single. That’s just a taste of the stories and worlds that await audiences throughout both parts of this year’s Oscar-nominated collection. In addition to the nominees, the night includes several
other shorts that made the final list for nomination but were just barely edged out. As opposed to previous Oscar shorts screenings, this year’s collection shows before the Oscars air. Audience members have the opportunity to vote on their favorites, and the local winners will be announced following the event. Movie buffs: Cast your vote and see how it compares to the Academy’s decision when the Oscars air Feb. 22.
TOP PICKS Hey, it’s Paddington! You remember Paddington, right? Well, he’s back, and not in pog form, but rather a new family feature film. I recall watching a lot of the bear from Peru in animated shorts when I was a kid. Being a very British character, he raised a lot of questions: Why is he so polite? What the hell is marmalade, and why is he obsessed with it? Now a new generation of kids get to meet Paddington in a movie that’s earning top marks from critics. Keep it in mind if it’s time to get the family out of the house.
Here’s another teen film looking to get a slice of that sweet “Hunger Games” pie. This one concerns a group of teens who stumble upon the secret of time travel. Things do not go swimmingly.
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DO IT YOURSELF
MakerPoint Studios: DIY Heaven By Cameron Rasmusson For SPR
MakerPoint Studios isn’t just the de facto center of doit-yourself culture in Sandpoint, oh no. It’s also a monument to the spirit of the DIY attitude itself. Just about every piece of furniture or utilitarian item in the shop is hand-crafted by co-owners Mike Peck and Matt Williams, from the stools to the decorative wooden displays of Lake Pend Oreille that hang on the walls. It’s not only a demonstration to the creative impulse that drives the studio but also a testament to the mental spark that says, “I could buy this, but I’d rather learn how to make it myself.” MakerPoint Studios builds upon a relatively new concept just starting to catch on in cities across the country. Essentially a collection of specialized, professional-grade equipment, the studio connects creative minds with the prohibitively expensive tools
they need to turn vision into reality. It works a lot like a gym membership, where individuals purchase various levels of access and can use the equipment at their convenience. And like a gym, the business isn’t so much a collection of machines as it is a community of people aiming to achieve their goals. “We have just about everyone you can think of [as members],” Peck said. “Tinkerers, retired people, weekend warriors—they’re all here.” One MakerPoint member, for example, decided her home needed new doors, but she wasn’t keen on searching for the very specific style at home improvement centers. Instead, she dropped by MakerPoint, where Peck and Williams walked her through the basics of the project from step one. Following the assistance on the first door, she began tackling several similar projects on her own. “She basically went from
zero woodworking experience to handling this all on her own,” Peck said. It’s a great example of the education that MakerPoint provides its members. MakerPoint clients aren’t just there to access equipment and machinery—they’re also there to acquire new skills and ideas. The studio team helps that process along with classes and other regular learning opportunities. And each member brings something of his or her own to the table, too. “The community aspect of this has been awesome,” Peck said. “Each member has a knowledge or expertise that they share with everyone else.” Thanks to the wide variety of equipment and services in stock at MakerPoint, that expertise can be put to good use. The studio features a full woodworking studio with computer-assisted machines capable of incredible precision. Metalworking is just as robust, with welding equip-
The Perfect “Hand-Made” Gift By Mike Peck For SPR
I’m not a beer drinker myself, but I have several friends and family members that are into the homebrew scene. So I decided to make a batch of personalized wooden beer totes for them this past Christmas. These days, getting started on a project like this couldn’t be easier. There are so many online resources available now to find ideas and plans. Some of my favorites are instructables.com and thingiverse.com. I wasn’t able to find the perfect pre-designed plan online, but was able to find enough inspiration to design my own beer tote in 3D using a free program called SketchUp. The 3D model created in SketchUp can be directly imported into the software used to control 12 /
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the next step of the process, the CNC router (Computer Numerically Controlled). If I were only making one tote, I may have just used traditional woodworking tools and designed and built it as I went. However, I was going to make at least four of the same item. Repeatability is one area a CNC machine offers a significant advantage. After you load the design into the machine, you click the button, and in less than 10 minutes, you have all the parts cut out for a complete beer tote. Another huge plus of utilizing a CNC machine is accuracy. Instead of the years of woodworking practice needed to gain consistency for some wood joints, the CNC has accuracy built into the machine itself. This consistency and ease of programming allows the builder to create a piece
that doesn’t rely on butt joints and brad nails. I decided to make my beer totes out of half-inch Baltic Birch plywood, although it could easily be made out of any half-inch material. I prefer Baltic Birch because the plywood is perfect for the CNC. It is free of voids, and the edges look pleasant even when unfinished. The joints created in the design only require a little bit of glue to hold together. After the parts for the tote were cut out, it was time to personalize each of them. I did a quick Google search for “Free Beer Label Vector Image” and was directed to vecteezy.com, where I was able to find several retro-looking beer labels that you could download and customize. I added each person’s name to the brew label using the laser engraver. It only took for four or five min-
ment and plasma cutters capable of almost any framework or shape imaginable. The 3D printer adds amazing versatility to the shop, while the laser etcher—perhaps their most popular piece of equipment— can replicate complicated images on everything from wooden surfaces to ceramic mugs. Sandpoint residents already have plenty of DIY spirit, Peck said. What MakerPoint does is
take that spirit and give it the tools to become a full-fledged way of life. It’s a way for people to save money, sure, but it also puts the heart of a craftsman in the most unexpected of people. “You carry away an appreciation of the final product,” Peck said. “This is something you’ve brought from start to finish.”
Before
utes per side to burn the label into the plywood. Assembling the totes required just a little bit of glue and a few hits from a rubber mallet to set the joints into the place. All in all, it was a little effort that went a long way. The gifts were well received this past Christmas, and now I have the files available for that future last minute gift idea.
After
LITERATURE
READ
I confess, most modern fiction just doesn’t thrill me. I try, but there is something missing in today’s works of fiction. A prime example of how it used to be done right is The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow. This picaresque masterpiece that introduced the world to the ultimate everyman was penned in 1953 and still holds true today. In today’s era of self-inflation and egoism, it’s refreshing to see how first-person narrative was handled before the world reeked of it. There is no pretension in Augie March, no douchy-ness, no cutesy phrases or dumbed-down rhetoric. There are characters constantly trying to fit Augie into their individual life schemes; characters so rich and flawed it seems impossible that they had been invented. By the end of the book, Augie’s family is your family, his fabulous adventures are your adventures. You can’t help but feel heart-sick when you reach the final page and the journey Bellow has taken you on is over.
Thomas Aslin: Bus Driver Turned Poet Story by Jennifer Passaro For SPR
There has always been poetry in Thomas Aslin’s life, even when he rose at 3:30 a.m. to drive a metropolitan bus in Seattle.
It’s not a job you would expect from a now-respected poet. It’s not a romantic job. And while some wax poetic about fishermen and ease a thread of nobility into a carpenter’s mornings, Aslin prefers to not to linger on his days in the driver’s seat. “The part that was my least favorite was that you got cursed out…[asking passengers] to comply with the rules,” Aslin says. “A small percentage gives you a problem and it takes on a proportion that it shouldn’t.” Now retired, Aslin spends his days with pens, paper and books as a full-time poet. His work is set to be highlighted at a Lost Horse Press and Sandpoint Library reading 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the library’s Rude Girls Room. Entitled “The World of Ghosts and Small Gestures,” the event is free and open to the public.
Aslin’s poems do not mess around. They are direct in the most difficult of places. In “Ghosts,” from his collection “A Moon Over Wings,” Aslin writes, “…I hope / to escape the heavy-handed fear / misaligning my dreams.” In his collections, Aslin guides readers through the landscape of his family—and in turn, our own families. Lines like, “The bruise on his shoulder / resembled a hothouse flower… / I remember a deep violet radiating out / to a creamy alabaster, with traces / of saffron at the edge,”—a description of his father’s bruise from shooting a shotgun in the poem “An American Beauty”—demonstrate his fluency in sensory detail. There is nothing but love in “An American Beauty,” even if the word is never mentioned. It’s just one example of Aslin’s ability to construct haunting and earnest relationships, like the connection between father and son. He is just as precise in his portrayal of his family. They are unvarnished and imperfect, yet somehow still revered. “To sanctify people doesn’t give them any nuance,” Aslin says.
Aslin’s family—and his past—are deeply engrained in his work. He grew up in Spokane, where his father operated and later owned a grain elevator. Poetry was a part of his life from his earliest years— even if he couldn’t access it. “My grandmother had nice books, particularly poetry books,” Aslin says. “She kept them locked in a lawyer’s glass front bookcase. I wasn’t allowed to touch them. “After she died, maybe forty years after she died, we found a poem that she had written,” he adds. “She wrote her entire life and none of us knew it.” If you want to trace Aslin’s poetic career back to its source, it’s the 1977 Haystack Writers’ Conference in Cannon Beach, Ore. There, he met the poet and professor Richard Hugo. The meeting change his life. “Hugo was suspicious of language,” Aslin says. “The subconscious was a better guide. He said, ‘Even crazy people cannot speak in meaningless sentences.’ If you have the right person to listen to someone, you can get to the root.” Aslin would later become Hugo’s student when
he attended the University of Montana’s graduate writing program from 1978 to 1980. Hugo, William Kittredge, and Madeleine DeFrees led the program, among others. “I went fishing with Hugo,” he says. “I was in awe for a while. It was an amazing community for younger writers coming in.” After college, Aslin began teaching in the Pacific Northwest. He also started working part-time as a bus driver, which eventually became a full-time job. At lunch and after work, he sat with the other drivers and shared stories— stories that perhaps were not funny or important at the time, but grew with each telling. “I don’t miss [driving a bus],” Aslin says. “Only some of the passengers. And the drivers … that camaraderie.” With more time on his hands today, Aslin can enjoy his reading, writing, and teaching. He takes particular joy in workshops, a fact that excites Lost Horse Press owner Christine Holbert. She hopes this weekend will help us all remember the poet’s world, the world of ghosts and small gestures.
LISTEN
The Marshall Mclean Band is a great example of the new genre of music coming out of the Northwest over the past few years—Northwest Americana Rock. Merging the thoughtful songwriting of folk, the driving force of rock, and the melodic accessibilities of Americana, MMB continues to prove its stayability as a band on the rise. Backed by Sandpointer Justin Landis on bass, Jesse MacDonald on drums, and Jamie Frost on pedal steel, Marshall recently won a couple of Bartlett Awards; Best Band (Songwriter) and Best Local Release (Glossolalia). Bottom line, if you haven’t heard him, stop wasting time. Do it. Please.
WATCH
I’m a hard sell when it comes to movies that rely heavily on CG. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the sequel to 2011’s Rise, has convinced me. There is a humanity involved with Dawn that you don’t often see in sci-fi films. Andy Serkas (famous for playing “Golem”) has once again given a performance that has proven his worth as an actor. The emotion that appears on his face and through his movements during the film is what captivates me. His character “Caesar” was aptly named, played with an almost Shakespearean grandeur. January 29, 2015 /
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w o N & Then
This Week’s Sudoku
Ben Olson compiled by Each week, we feature a new photograph taken from the same vantage point as one taken long ago. See how we’ve changed, and how we’ve stayed the same.
Historical information provided and verified by Bonner County Museum staff and volunteers (special thanks to Olivia Morlean, Will Valentine, and Allen Robertson). If you have any scrapbooks or old photographs taken in Bonner County that you would like to see Then & Now’ed, please submit them to the Museum so they can digitize and return the photographs to you. The Museum is located at 611 S. Ella — (208) 263-2344.
Looking north on First Avenue from just south of Pine Street. The NW corner was Bonner Meat Company in the Bistline Building. On the Right is the Fidelity Trust Building with a sign for Myrvin Davis at the Lawyer and Bonner County Abstract Company. City Bakery is in the middle distance to the right.
late 1920s
The same intersection today. La Rosa Club is to the immediate right. Ivano’s is to the left (out of the frame). Spud’s is to the right at middle distance (out of frome.
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If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is “God is crying.” And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is “Probably because of something you did.” login to sandpointreader.com for solution
Ski bums... they never change. The Hallans Gallery 323 North First Ave. Sandpoint, Idaho
208.263.4704
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The heart to Care. The skill to Heal.
Its not too late to protect yourself against the flu with a flu shot. Schedule a flu shot with your doctor, local pharmacy, or by calling Bonner General Imediate Care at (208) 263-0649 Flu Season Facts from CDC: • Flu season typically lasts from October to May. • The CDC recommends everyone age 6 months of age and older get a flu shot every year. • To avoid spreading the flu virus it is important to wash your hands often with soap and water.
It’s just another way Bonner General Health nurtures quality of life
520 N. Third Avenue • Sandpoint, ID 83864 • 208-263-1441 • www.BonnerGeneral.org