Reader August 24 2017

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(wo)MAN compiled by

McCalee Cain

on the street

Did you get a chance to watch the solar eclipse?

“Yes, I did! It was exciting! Did you notice the eclipse showed up in the shadows on the ground?”

Linda Guglielmetti Larson’s saleswoman Sandpoint

“There was an eclipse today? Oh, I guess I didn’t see it. It was pretty cool, not as dark as I thought it was going to get though.”

DEAR READERS,

Summer may be winding down, but it still feels great out there. Looking for some cool stuff to do this weekend? Laughing Dog Brewery is having their 12th Anniversary Party at the new Tap House on Saturday, Aug. 26. Also on Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Forrest Bird Charter School is Sandemonium, a family-friendly event in the style of Comic-Con. The International Fjord Horse Show kicks off Friday at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. There are a couple of plays showing at the Heartwood Center and the Panida Little Theater - both written by locals. Also, Sunday is the 4th annual Trout and About Festival, which is a great place to take your kids for live music, fun games, raffles.

Also, this week’s issue has the Stand-Off at Ruby Ridge part two, which covers the duration of the siege 25 years ago until the surrender. Next week, part three will cover the trial and aftermath. Thanks for all the great compliments on these stories it has been an interesting task delving into this issue again and presenting all the information for you, our dear readers. See you all next week!

-Ben Olson, Publisher

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www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Jodi Rawson (cover), Ben Olson, Cameron Rasmusson, Jennifer Wood, NASA, Nancy Gerth, David Marx, Sandpoint Magazine.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, McCalee Cain, Nick Gier, Scarlette Quille, Brenden Bobby, Lou Springer, Shannon Williamson.

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Elizabeth Kempton Student Sandpoint

“I did, it was sick. If you look in the street and see the shadow of the trees, it’s like a halfmoon shadow because of the eclipse, it’s super weird.”

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Subscription Price: $95 per year 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.

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About the Cover

This week’s cover is a painting by Jodi Rawson, who probably has painted more covers than anyone here at the Reader. We appreciate your fun take on Sandemonium, Jodi!

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COMMENTARY

‘Deaths of Despair reveal America’s troubled soul The ‘White Death’ takes lives of 44 to 54-year-olds

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist Many Americans are experiencing an increase in mortality and morbidity, meaning higher rates of specific diseases. Starting in 1998, white Americans aged 45-54 began dying earlier than a century-long, world-wide (except for Russia) trend of higher life expectancy. Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton, who have now published two studies on these trends, have called them “deaths of despair.”

Most dramatic is the fact that while black Americans previously had a higher mortality rate than middle-age white Americans without a college degree, the latter’s rate is now 30 percent higher.

Despite many difficulties for some, American Hispanics join their black brother and sisters in living longer. Their work force participation rate is also higher than their white counterparts.

Having a college education is indeed a key factor. According to the Center for Disease Control, Americans with a bachelor’s

Letters to the Editor Sunnyside Cedars...

To the Editor: Now that the Idaho Fish and Game has decided that money matters more than the public enjoyment of the Sunnyside cedar trees, maybe people would like to know how they actually spend our money.

They say that they will use the proceeds to improve wildlife habitat, but you must consider killing wolves as part of that plan. Since 2011, when Congress stripped Idaho wolves from Endangered Species Act protections, there has been a war on wolves in Idaho that have seen nearly 2,000 wolves killed. It is estimated that after spending millions of dollars on recovery efforts, fewer than 800 wolves in wild Idaho remain.

But Idaho Fish and Game has hit a new low. Now they want to allow hunters to lure wolves in with bait and then ambush them with gunfire, allowing whole families of 4 /

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degree live nine years longer on average. With the decline of good paying blue collar jobs and the union security previously associated with them, more jobs require post-secondary training and degrees. Those with a college degree have more successful marriages, better health, and they have more stable lives in general.

Even women without college degrees are coping better in this new economy. They are more engaged in their community and churches, while many similarly educated, unemployed men stay at home, watching TV/videos, surfing the internet, and self-medicating with alcohol and opioids.

Suicide rates are also much higher in the 45-54-age range. As Anne Case says: “These people kill themselves slowly with alcohol or drugs, or quickly with a gun. For people aged 50-55, for example, those rates went from 40 per 100,000 to 80 per 100,000 since the turn of the century.” The national rate for all ages is 12.6 (19.5 for men vs. women at 5.8).

These deaths of despair are unnecessary, because they were

for the most part preventable. The Great Recession, caused primarily by corrupt American and British bankers, hit Europe just as hard as it did the U.S. In a number of countries unemployment was higher, and in Spain and Greece it was double the U.S. rate. Millions of Europeans are heavy drinkers and they also have access to heroin and other hard drugs, but deaths due these substances are much fewer than in the U.S. Overall, Europeans continue to live longer and report high levels of happiness and well-being. I believe that difference with the U.S. lies in better educational systems, effective job training programs, universal health care, and a comprehensive social safety net.

Opioid addiction and deaths due to overdosing have made the U.S. situation far worse. According to the CDC, the rate of death from prescription opioid overdoses more than quadrupled between 1999 and 2015, leading to the deaths of 183,000 people (mostly white) during that period.

Case and Deaton also discov-

ered that those without a college education were drawn to evangelical churches, which emphasize an individualism that make “people feel increased responsibility for their own successes or failures.”

Many of these churches preach a self-isolating “prosperity gospel,” which obviously increases the desperation of those who have experienced nothing but failure.

Shannon Monnat, a rural sociologist at Penn State, has found that counties that have high rates of premature death voted overwhelmingly for Trump. As Monnat observes: “Some people turn to self-medicating, and some people turn to another kind of fix, which may be voting for a candidate that is proposing some radical change: burning the place down.”

These Trump voters have had their wish fulfilled. Trump has burned bridges internationally as well as domestically. Business leaders have left his now disbanded advisory boards, his own Republicans bristle at his insults, and the GOP Congress has accomplished very little.

Trump supported a health care

bill which would have gutted programs that help those who are most prone to premature death.

These people should be grateful to former President Obama for the extended Medicaid coverage that is still available in 32 states.

While president Obama proposed legislation that would have provided $54 billion for retraining Rust Belt workers for the new economy, the same sort of programs that have succeeded in Canada and Europe.

American conservatives say that European welfare states infantilizes their citizens and make them completely dependent on the state. They claim that Europeans have lost their souls because of “statist” policies, but the evidence clearly shows otherwise. These critics should realize that it is their legislators who have lost their way, and that the real troubled souls are right here in America.

wolves, including pups, to be killed.

This agency is despicable! Baiting a mother wolf with food that she then feeds to her pups, or a young wolf scavenging for food and then shot is unconscionable. But wait, there’s one Idaho senator who is so ruthless he proposes using unwanted dogs from animal shelters as live bait. How about unwanted children next? The agency only gave the public 20 days to comment, and unfortunately you can’t officially do that now, as the comment period closed the end of July. But you can still use your voice unofficially.

We have lost our humanity and our ethics in many arenas, and I just want to remind your readers that this is one of them. There has been enough bloodshed of this predator. As someone who was involved as a journalist doing stories for NPR in the beginning years of the recovery effort, it is a fact that wolves belong on the western landscape.

I hate to see the Sunnyside cedars cut down simply so that more Idaho wolves die in horrific ways.

It’s time to call the Governor and our legislators and express outrage about the senseless taking of both cedar trees and wolves.

being loaded into an ambulance.

A year later in downtown Sacramento I see a man lying on the sidewalk. He is being attended to by a woman and I ask if help was needed. She said “no, an ambulance is coming.” Passing by 20 minutes later I see the man still lying on the sidewalk and no ambulance.

Mr. Rose, “which place would you rather have your heart attack or stroke?”

Many ignorant people have a problem with socialized healthcare like Denmark’s.

Millions of us veterans get VA socialized healthcare. Those in the U.S. military and congressional Republicans have socialized healthcare.

Should our veterans and those in the military be denied the socialized healthcare they earned?

The VA has treated me very well. A few years ago I drove to the Spokane VA with pneumonia where I was interviewed, had chest X-rays, blood drawn, given antibiotics and travel pay. Two hours and 15 minutes later, I was on my way home.

Christian, name a private hospital in the U.S. where one can get that kinda fast service.

Several years ago AARP had an article extolling the virtues of Mexico’s socialized healthcare that, at the time, cost only $200 per year for Americans living there.

In 2008 I made a bus trip from Phoenix to Oaxaca where I came down with salmonella poisoning. Via bus and on my way back to Phoenix, I became violently ill. An ambulance was called and took me to a hospital in Puebla. They did an EKG plus several other tests. My entire stay in the hospital, all the tests and the ambulance ride totaled $500.00. If I had been a resident my total cost would have only been the $200.00/ year insurance payment.

BTW, prescription drugs are vastly cheaper where there is socialized healthcare which is why so many have gone to Canada to fill their prescriptions.

Jane Fritz Sandpoint

A Response to C. Rose...

Dear Editor, A response to Christian Rose’s flawed Aug. 10 article in which he slammed Canada’s socialized healthcare.

Mr. Rose cited the tens of thousands of Canadians who supposedly get healthcare in the other countries every year. So Christian, why do hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens seek medical (mostly major surgeries) and dental care outside of the U.S. every year?

Mexico alone has hundreds of medical and dental clinics just across its border from the U.S. While in Copenhagen in 1967 I see an elderly man collapse to the sidewalk. Two minutes later he was

Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read the full version at www.sandpointreader. com under “Columns.”

Lee Santa Sandpoint

HUMOR

Classic Liberalism...

8 Signs The End is Near (The end of summer, that is)

There are some of you who may be new to the area. You may be under the notion that the passing of seasons is typically accompanied by a change in weather.

This is not a reliable method for season gauging. You may have moved to North Idaho expecting four distinct seasons.

Unmet expectations are the beginning of the slow death of any relationship. So let them go. Seriously, let all of them go.

Apply the concept liberally in all aspects of your life.

To help you through this current season transition, I have compiled a list of items that are far more reliable as a season predictor than the weather. Take note.

1. Shorter lines, everywhere. You start to notice that you no longer have to wait 15 minutes at your favorite establishments, including the liquor store, because the tourists have started migrating back to their homelands. Also, most locals are still hung over from their Festival bacchanalia, so getting a drink has never been so easy. However, your enjoyment is cut short when you realize that it still takes twice as long as it should to travel anywhere due to construction, and if that doesn’t slow you down, a train will.

2. You are far more concerned with the smoke forecast than the weather. The positive to this is that smoke-filled skies create beautiful sunsets. Also, poor air quality is a legitimate excuse to skip your daily run, if you are into that sort of thing.

3. Pumpkin spice everywhere — beer, coffee, lotion, incense, whatever. I get it, pumpkin pies are pretty good around Thanksgiving. I don’t want to smell like one, get drunk off one, or shop in 90-degree weather in stores that smell like cinnamon-stuffed squash. No one’s ready for that. It’s not even sock season yet.

4. Every store, and I mean EVERY store, has some sort of back-to-school promotion going on. This started in July.

The only thing that isn’t on sale is booze,

which when you think about it, is a huge missed opportunity. There is a real need for discounted libations this time of year.

Think of all the parents who may be too poor to adequately self-medicate after spending several paychecks on back-toschool shit. Please consider the parents that just dropped off their kid at college for the first time — they might need a break from crying in their child’s empty bedroom. Ahem. I’m just pointing out, it’s a missed opportunity for an increase in revenue.

5. The ski bums and boarder “bros” start wearing beanies, despite the weather forecast being “hot as shit.”

6. Dead lawns. They are everywhere.

Luscious lawns are no longer a priority.

This is because if you water your lawn, it will start growing again and need to be mowed. No one wants to mow the lawn when you can’t even walk to the mailbox without a river of sweat flowing down your crack.

7. Multiple outfit changes. You may wake up to weather that is so freezing that you feel compelled to prematurely get out your flannels and Ugg boots. You may even put them on. By noon, you are wearing the equivalent of a crop top and Daisy Dukes. This outfit will likely have to be changed again by 7 p.m.

8. Guns and ammo. The only thing that is being pushed harder than school supplies is hunting gear. It’s time for hunters to start stocking up on hunter stuff so they can begin taking weeks off work, hiding in bushes and killing animals. You will know that fall is officially in full swing when the parade of dead animals in the back of trucks begins.

Farewell, summer 2017, you were like a disappointing love affair: hot and heavy and over too quickly.

XOXO SQ

Retroactive Just another day at the crazy cat lady’s house

By BO

To the Editor: I have a broader understanding of the liberal tradition than Christian Rose does (Reader, August 10).

The American and French Revolutions were fought for the promotion of liberal values and principles. This meant that the distinction between the nobles who were free (the liberi) and those who served them (the servi) was forever extinguished.

This was the end of what I call theocratic conservatism. All human beings were now free and noble, and this classical liberalism introduced the ideas of inalienable rights, religious freedom, free markets and free trade.

I like to say that we all live — except for the theocratic hold-outs — in the house of classical liberalism. It’s all a matter of balance: conservatives tend to favor traditional values over liberty and equality, while today’s liberals prioritize equality and liberty over tradition. The Libertarian Party puts free markets and personal liberty above all other values. Libertarians such as Rose call any other liberal position “statist.”

Rose puts Adam Smith, the father of free market capitalism, in his camp, but I want to claim him for my side. Smith believed in public education (with state-licensed teachers), state funded hospitals, a state-run postal system and government centers where clothing would be inspected for quality. Smith is a “statist” after all!

Liberal political parties all over the world came to embrace Smith’s views, and The Economist magazine, one of my primary sources of information, has been promoting this expression of classical liberalism since 1843.

Nick Gier Moscow, Idaho

Highs and Lows in SPT...

Dear Editor, A 10-day period this month was a dramatic emotional rollercoaster for me. Starting on Aug. 9, 2017, I was on cloud nine, listening to talented local musicians sing Charley Packard songs at the Festival grounds. What a joy, to hear the myriad of thoughtful songs written by such a beloved musician. Those musicians were celebrating a life well-lived, a man who was the essence of kindness and love. It was the highlight of the Festival for me.

Then came the events of Charlotteville, and the shocking lack of moral leadership from our President. It was heartbreaking to see young white people display such blatant racism, but it was worse to hear President Trump’s reluctance to condemn it.

Our local representative, Heather Scott, compounded the shock by trying to pull the wool over our eyes, denying any racism at the heart of “white nationalism.” Finally, a locally produced racist flyer left on cars on Saturday condemning two local folks who work for peace and justice. They were being ridiculed for showing sympathy to refugees.

It’s disheartening to see this here in Sandpoint. I am so thankful to the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force for their efforts to combat racism in any form. I hope all folks of good will do their best to support equality for all Americans and make our community one that rejects racism and hatred.

Georgia York Sandpoint August 24, 2017 /

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COMMUNITY

FallFest: 25 years of good times on the mountain

Bouquets: •My banker Eric Paull saw Cadie and I drinking tall-boy Miller High Life beers at the Festival. Being the astute banker he is, Eric took it upon himself to buy us a six-pack for week two. That’s my kind of banker! Thanks, Eric. Cheap beer is so much more delicious when it’s free.

•I have to take another moment to thank all of you who have donated to the Reader in the past month. Your extremely kind contributions are so appreciated. Every little bit adds up and helps to keep the Reader coming to you, week after week. I love this town and the people who live in it.

•The Angels Over Sandpoint deserve a Bouquet this week for all the assistance they give to the community. Next week, the Angels will be distributing school supplies to Bonner County schoolchildren for the 15th year (see next week’s Reader for a story about this).

Barbs: •We covered this last week in the news, but here is my opinion on the matter: while Idaho politicians like Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen. Jim Risch and Gov. Butch Otter expressed their condolences and condemnation for white nationalism, Rep. Heather Scott, on the other hand, decided it would be a good time to quote from an article that essentially attempts to re-define “white nationalism” into an innocuous term. Anyone who condones racism in any way should be called out in public.

Here’s your call-out, Rep. Scott.

•No matter what your politics or ideology, remember one thing that always gets me through the day: If you resort to violence, profanity or shouting, or if you have to hide from your position, you are probably wrong.

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By Reader Staff Over the years, festivals celebrating the ever-growing craft beer industry have sprouted up around the Pacific Northwest but none have aged as well as Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s Fall Fest. Coming into its 25th year, the resort is excited to offer new and exciting additions to this Labor Day staple.

“Fall Fest has had 24 years of great beers and incredible music in our village location,” says Schweitzer’s Events Manager Brandon Peterson. “This year, to really emphasize the milestone anniversary, Schweitzer decided to take things up a notch and do what any solid 25 year old does – move out. Out of the village, that is.”

The resort noticed that with an ever-growing fan base for Fall Fest, hitting 25 is a good time to expand and improve on the tried and true formula that makes Fall Fest a must do.

“With 100 beers and ciders on tap under the tents, we decided to move over to the tennis court area, freeing up the village green to become the spot for non-beer related activities,” said Peterson.

“The climbing wall, monkey jumper, soda tasting and other kid-friendly attractions will all be in one place on the green.”

Schweitzer will also debut a new stage location below the Musical Chairs lift, near the top of Happy Trails.

“The natural slope creates an amphitheater that’s perfect for showcasing the live performers at Schweitzer over the weekend,” Peterson said.

“It’s free to enjoy the music and with great bands like The Incredible Flying Dookie Brothers, Andrea Harsell and Luna Roja, Dimestore Prophets, Rust on the Rails, Honeysuckle with Holly McGarry, The Hawthorne Roots, Danny Dodge and the Dodge Gang,

There will be plenty of suds going around at FallFest on Schweitzer. Photo courtesy Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Voltalux, and Petty Fever — there’s no better place to spend Labor Day weekend than at Schweitzer, taking in the views of Lake Pend Oreille.”

Fall Fest kicks off on Friday, Sept. 1, with a new evening program that will include beer tasting, a VIP beer dinner and live music from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. with headliner New Kingston, a chart topping reggae band from Brooklyn.

Fall Fest continues on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Monday,

Sept. 4, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The ever-popular souvenir mugs and glasses are available for pre-purchase online and on-site during the weekend as supplies last.

“If you haven’t had a chance to join us for Fall Fest in the past, this is the year to be here,” says Peterson.

Labor Day weekend is the last full weekend of summer operations on the mountain with the chairlift and other activities closed after September 4, 2017.

Get your Funky Junk on

By McCalee Cain Reader Intern

It’s no secret that Sandpoint is a haven for crafters and their unique creations.

Funky Junk, the biggest and longest-running craft and antique show in Idaho, is a perfect opportunity to revel in the community’s creativity.

This Labor Day weekend, Funky Junk will be back for its 10-year anniversary, appropriately celebrating with a plethora of local treasures, unique crafts and other artistic endeavors.

The show will be at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, featuring live music from Bridges Home and delicious food all weekend, and a

special tribute to the history of the mining industry in the area.

“I am so excited,” Funky Junk founder and organizer Jennifer Wood said. “I just got done watching the eclipse in southern Idaho, so I’ve been spreading flyers all throughout the state!”

Funky Junk is slated for Saturday, Sept. 2 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, Sept.

3, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Entry is $5 for the whole weekend; children 12 and under get in for free.

Funky Junk Show organizer and co-founder Jennifer Wood with her husband, Nathan Wood, and their son, Glenn Kelly. Photo courtesy Jennifer Wood.

FEATURE

The Local sci-fi, fantasy and anime convention Returns

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, I am a member of the Sandemonium steering committee, and the Reader is a co-sponsor of the event.

For the planners of Sandemonium, organizing a fun and safe experience for North Idaho’s fan community is personal.

The small fan convention, designed in the style of the famous San Diego Comic-Con, provides a setting for people of diverse ages and interests to share the enthusiasm that fuels them. It all happens this Saturday at Forrest M. Bird Charter School from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

“As a kid growing up in the ‘80s, there weren’t many that were openly into comic books or science fiction, and it often felt like an interest for outcasts,” said steering committee member Kevin Penelerick. “I like being able to be a part of creating an environment where people can get their geek on about whatever it is they love.”

Geek culture has come a long way since the pre-internet days, when its fans were stereotyped as oddballs and social outcasts. It is now the driving force behind the biggest entertainment events of the year, drawing billions in revenue across movies, books, comics, video games and more. Consequently, fandom events around the country have sprung up, giving fans the opportunity to share their interests. Some are huge media events where movie studios and publishers show off their latest products. Smaller conventions like Sandemonium, on the other hand, are more about drawing out the geekier side of a community.

“It’s smaller local conventions like this that have the true meaning, true power,” said Andrew Dresden, steering committee member and co-founder of Spokane-area podcast network Pants

The Sandemonium droid, known as 7B-ID, as designed by Ben Palmer and painted by Weasels on Easels.

Pending Studios. “You feel welcome and at home, rather than overstimulated and confused. Conventions like this bring people together, from different beliefs, different backgrounds, all sharing together in the things that make them happy.”

“Sandemonium is necessary for its community, and its community is necessary for Sandemonium,” he added.

“They are one and the same.”

Perhaps the defining feature of fandom conventions in the popular imagination is cosplay, where fans dress up as their favorite characters from games, comics, books, anime or movies. It’s a beloved activity for fans of all ages, and cosplayers range from amateurs with store-bought costumes to professionals who make living creating and modeling costumes. Sandemonium is no different, and attendees can take part in contests divided into skill-based tiers.

Conventions are also a great place to engage other enthusiasts. This year, Sandemonium will feature organized boffering — competitive melees using padded swords and other weapons — as well as “Magic: The Gathering” games and “Super Smash Bros.” video game tournaments, this year officiated by the colorful folks of Pants Pending Studios.

It’s just one of the ways conventions bring people of diverse interests together.

“Personally, I was involved in a lot of small social circles centered around particular activities. I had a tabletop circle, a (trading-card game) circle, a (live-action role-playing) circle and a sci-fi circle,” said steering committee member Aidan Millheim. “Sandemonium has been instrumental in bringing all those circles together and growing the nerd subculture at large.”

Plenty of informative panels, cover-

ing topics from cosplay tips to role-playing guidelines, are planned throughout the day. And keep an ear out for trivia questions — those who answer them correctly will be awarded prizes. If you’re planning to make a day of it, grab some grub from food vendors The Twisted Kilt and Tacos Tacos.

After establishing a partnership last year, Sandemonium planners are excited to welcome back Pants Pending Studios for the event’s third year. The collection of podcasters and comedians infuse the convention with fun and vitality, sharing their talents through improv shows, event commentary and more. The crew also plans to record live podcasts for four of their shows.

“From day one of being included in this event, we could tell that the folks who put it together really care about bringing people together through all the wonderful ways to geek out and creating an atmosphere conducive of that,” said Dresden.

“Pants Pending Studios is returning for its second year, with great enthusiasm.”

Sandemonium’s third year is shaping up to be a great day for families, students and adults alike. The hope is to provide an environment where attendees can make friends, feel safe and express themselves, and planners are working hard to accomplish just that.

“In a place that’s considered a small town, it’s really easy to feel like you’re ‘alone’ or that you may not find anyone who has anything in common with you,” said planning committee member Bronwyn Toth. “... It’s always amazing to see a collective group of like-minded people, and to know that they are close by is even more if a comfort.”

Sandemonium takes place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Forrest M. Bird Charter School. Entry is $2. For more information, visit www.sandemonium7b.com.

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NEWS

State reps. respond to Charlottesville controversies

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Controversial Charlottesville reactions continue to dog Idaho politicians, with Rep. Bryan Zollinger, R-Idaho Falls, the latest to receive criticism.

In an article shared last week from website The American Thinker, Zollinger called speculation that the Charlottesville protests were staged — possibly by former President Barack Obama — “completely plausible.” After receiving abusive comments for sharing the post, Zollinger dug in on his position.

“At first, I felt genuinely bad that maybe I had offended somebody,” Zollinger told the Spokesman-Review. “Since then, the amazing amount of hate and the despicable things that have been said about myself, my wife, my kids, I’ve doubled down.”

The blog post posited that the Charlottesville chaos unfolded according to a plan laid by one or many players, including former President Barack Obama, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer.

Billionaire George Soros, the blog post claimed, provided the funding for the false flag operation, which was bolstered by disruption from the far-left Antifa group also under Soros’ control. “... Is this a wild conspiracy theory?” the blog post asks.

“Perhaps. But the pieces fit.

Will the DOJ and the FBI actually investigate the many mysteries that surround the events of that day? Not likely.”

Despite the article being full of unproven and disproven claims, Zollinger called it plausible, later backing down after media picked up on the story.

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“In hindsight, maybe it was a mistake to post it,” Zollinger told the Idaho Statesman. “I didn’t mean for it to ruffle any feathers.”

Zollinger reversed that position after the weekend, reaffirming that he found the theory plausible and telling The Spokesman-Review that it was an “innocuous” and “thought-provoking” post. He also said that five donors have pledged him money for every nasty email, tweet and Facebook comment he receives.

“We’ve decided to at least make this more enjoyable for me,” he told The Spokesman-Review.

Zollinger’s controversy runs parallel with social media activity by District 1 Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, who shared an article re-defining white nationalism. While law enforcement and human rights organizations define white nationalism as a movement seeking a white homeland and the separation of races, the article shared on Scott’s Facebook page claimed white nationalists were simply white Trump supporters who endorsed his “America First” agenda.

Scott quoted the following from the shared blog post: “The way the media has set this up, the mention of white nationalist (sic), which is no more than a Caucasian who for the Constitution and making America great again (sic), and confusing it with term (sic), ‘white supremacist’ which is extreme racism. Therefore, if one is ‘guilty’ of being white, one is clearly racist.”

This week, in an emailed statement to the Bonner County Daily Bee, Scott said she was simply trying to start a conversation. She also claimed it was not her, but instead liberals and

the media, that were trying to redefine words.

“The quote was from the article’s author and not me,” Scott wrote. “It highlighted HIS views on how terms can be changed by the media or mean different things to different people.”

Scott also attacked Spokesman-Review reporter Betsy Russell by name as a “Boise gossip column writer.”

“Her choice to print that Rep. Heather Scott defended white nationalism is a complete lie and shows her sad lack of any kind of professional jour-

nalism standards,” Scott wrote to the Daily Bee. On Wednesday, Russell wrote a terse reply on the Spokesman-Review website.

“Here’s my response: We stand by our story,” she said.

ICL event details water concerns

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Fresh off renewed concerns about water quality after a recent coal train derailment, Idaho Conservation League is taking a deep dive into the question of clean water.

Set for Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 6-7 p.m. at the Sandpoint Events Center, 102 S. Euclid Ave., the Idaho Conservation League After Hours event “How Clean Is Our Water?” breaks down continued issues with water quality in Idaho. Hosted by ICL Program Director Jus-

tin Hayes, the program will detail a recent ICL report that covers the three-year performance of all 114 municipal sewage treatment plants in Idaho. They event is free, and beer will be provided.

According to the Idaho Conservation League, 81 percent of plants reviewed across Idaho have violated the Clean Water Act within the last three years. The program will take a closer look into what went wrong, and what can be done to fix the problem.

The program arrives on the heels of a prior dialogue about water quality follow-

ing the derailment of a coal train near the Idaho-Montana border. While rail companies maintained that coal is not considered a hazardous substance under current regulations, conservation groups are leading court battles that insist to the contrary. They recently won a legal victory against BNSF Railway, basing its case on the harmful impact of coal and coal dust.

BNSF, while denying any Clean Water Act violations, has agreed to conduct a twoyear study on the feasibility of coal train car covers.

COUNTER-PROTEST

A collection of people rallied at the Bonner County Courthouse on Thursday evening in response to a raucous anti-refugee protest that drew more than 100 to Sandpoint Community Hall the night before. Photo by Jerry LeClaire.

NEWS

2017 SOLAR ECLIPSE in pictures

A composite image of the total solar eclipse taken from Madras, Ore. Photo by NASA/Aubrey Gemignani.

The shadow cast from a cherry tree during the solar eclipse on Monday. The tiny spaces between leaves act as pinhole cameras, projecting the eclipse onto the ground. Photo by Nancy Gerth.

Owen Manske and his son, Simon, check out the eclipse at Schweitzer Mountain Resort Monday morning. Photo by Cameron Rasmusson.

Historic tours of downtown set to begin County budget public

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Sandpoint photographer David Marx captured the “Diamond Ring” effect the moment the sun began to re-emerge from behind the moon. Photo by David Marx taken at the north end of the Deadwood Reservoir in Valley County, Idaho.

A project long in the making, the historic tours of downtown Sandpoint begin next week starting Sept. 2.

Running from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., the tours will begin in front of the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. Designed to be both guided and self-guided, the tours give a clearer look at Sandpoint’s history and its most venerable buildings.

Developed by the Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission, the tour is supplemented by a guide book prepared in cooperation with

the Bonner County History Museum. The booklet highlights 50 different sites around Sandpoint with a description of each location. It is divided between three tours: downtown Sandpoint, southern Sandpoint and additional sites.

The booklet is available at Sandpoint City Hall, Bonner County History Museum and the Sandpoint Visitor’s Center, as well as select businesses. It can also be downloaded online at www.sandpointidaho.gov/hpcbooklet.

For more information, contact City Planner Ryan Shea at 208-263-3370.

meetings held Monday

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer There will be two meetings open to the public on Monday, Aug. 28, regarding the nearly finished Bonner County 2018 fiscal year budget. The first meeting is at 10 a.m., and the second is at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the large conference room on the first floor of the Bonner County Administration Building.

Commissioner Dan McDonald said every county department found areas to tighten their spending, resulting in an estimated $3.55 million in cuts.

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Mad about Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Sandemonium is right around the corner! In case you didn’t know, I’m a nerd, and worship most things nerdy from “Game of Thrones” to “World of Warcraft” to Wil Wheaton’s beard.

It’d be wrong if I didn’t do something geeky.

Hey, this isn’t the ‘80s, nerd and geek are four letter badges of pride!

When I say tabletop games, a lot of people might envision a table-flipping bout of Monopoly or a classic game of Clue where everyone was totally wrong.

That’s not exactly what I’m talking about today!

Tabletop games as I know them are rooted in pen and paper, dice and an overabundance of imagination.

It all started with “Dungeons & Dragons” in 1974.

While there were games before D&D, Gary Gygax really brought the game into the mainstream.

In a nutshell, you get to pretend to be a character in a fantasy realm. You have a sheet to record your statistics: how strong you are, how fast you are, how good you are at convincing other players to partake in your Ponzi scheme. These stats act as a counterbalance to the rest of the game, which is hosted by a dungeon master, or DM. The DM will think of fun challenges for your party to partake in, while you and your friends will inevitably dismantle his plans as soon as you figure out Dave has 19 strength and can just bash every puzzle to completion.

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Brought to you by:

tabletop games be, equal parts social experiment, group bonding and math homework.

Another popular tabletop game that’s seen a surge of popularity recently is “Warhammer 40,000”, sometimes just called “40K”.

“Warhammer 40K” was released in 1987 and has seen several reinventions and updates in the past 30 years. It revolves around using figurines (called miniatures) to create vast or skilled armies to crush all that oppose you. Figuratively, of course, because each figurine can cost anywhere from $6-$70, and I get mad when people literally crush my paycheck.

40K is unique in that, unlike D&D, it’s more competitive than cooperative. Tournaments are held in game shops around the world for cash prizes to help pay for that pricy little army.

40K offers lots of fun miniatures, from bulky space marines to the awesome flesh-rending Tyranids.

You know how I like ooey-gooey bugs!

Tabletop games aren’t all pen and paper and figurines and dungeon crawling. Arguably the most popular tabletop game in recent memory is one that just about everyone has heard of, even people with no interest in the nerdist arts.

“Magic: The Gathering”, also called MTG or simply “Magic” came out in 1993.

“Magic” is a card game. The cards are conveniently color-coded, where you use certain color “lands” as a medium for placing monsters and other combatants on the field, as well

as using spell cards. The catch is, unless you have certain cards, you can only place one land per turn, adding a tactical and a pacing element to the game.

“Magic” is easy to pick up, and people from vastly different social circles are brought together in the spirit of competition and love of unique art.

It’s also notoriously expensive to master, and has created its own isolated economies online between people trading cards to build that perfect deck.

Just like with “Warhammer,” game stores around the country host tournaments that offer rewards ranging from in-store credit to autographed cards or large cash prizes.

MTG is the gateway drug to tabletop gaming.

The most enjoyable aspect of tabletop games, in my opinion, are the dice. In the fantasy realm, the dice are your savior or your destroyer. The dice can be the difference between pulling Jim the Mighty up from the edge of a cliff and Jim changing his character sheet to reflect his new character, Jim the Flat.

Dice come in many forms, from four-sided (1d4) to the ubiquitous 20-sided die (1d20).

If you think dice only come in six-sided black on white or the classic Vegas “gem” dice, I invite you to check out any gaming dice to have your mind blown. They come in virtually any color and material (including sweet metal ones) and can even glow in the dark.

Tabletop games and technology mix like peanut butter and jelly. In the quest for representation that’s wholly

your own, many gamers turn to 3D printing figurines to create unique one-of-a-kind characters to represent them in the game.

You know we’ve got a 3D printer at the library, right?

Just sayin’.

It wouldn’t be a proper article about tabletop gaming without giving a shoutout to one of my favorite stores in town: Another World.

I banged my head against the wall for months trying to find a suitable place to play the games I created. Another World

stepped up and offered to let us hang out there to play (and buy tons of awesome dice).

So swing by sometime, maybe you’ll catch me hilariously acting out a terrifying monster, a Big Bad Evil Guy, or even a heroic Murderhobo on a night I’m not the DM. Even if I’m not there, I know you want some “Magic” cards…

Don’t forget to visit the library’s booth at Sandemonium! Morgan will be waiting for you.

Random Corner g?

Don’t know much about kissinWe can help!

• Kissing someone for one minute burns about 2 calories.

• When two people kiss, they exchange between 10 million and 1 billion bacteria.

• Kissing is better than shaking hands if you want to avoid a cold.

• The longest kiss ever recorded lasted 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds.

• The first time two men kissed on-screen was in 1927.

• The average person spends two weeks of his or her life kissing.

• Two-thirds of people tilt their head to the right when they kiss.

• In Nevada, it is illegal to kiss with a mustache.

• Fewer than half the world’s cultures engage in romantic kissing, a study found.

• Kissing a baby on the ear can make it go deaf because of a condition known as “cochlear ear-kiss injury.”

• The most searched tutorial on YouTube is “How to Kiss.”

• Kissing involves a total of 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles.

• Inhabitants of the Trobriand Islands ‘kiss’ in a three-step procedure, beginning with biting each other’s lower lips, then pulling their partner’s hair, before nibbling off each other’s eyelashes.

• Indonesia banned kissing in public in 2004.

OPINION

Take the long view

By Lou Springer Reader Contributor Idaho has some remarkable wild and scenic rivers and several raft companies to access this beautiful country. Three Rivers Rafting stood out because it is owned and operated by a fellow who grew up on one of the wild and scenics.

The river we floated drops through steep country; the slopes are a patchwork of dark green trees unburned since 1910, black snags, light green of young trees, browning current bushes. On south-facing slopes, tawny grasses and dried out arrowroot are interspersed with widely spaced large ponderosa, each scorched by past flames.

It was triple-degrees hot. Lightning fires started during the July 15 storm were obvious as we moved down river; far-away gray silk scarves rising up from fir-covered slopes, up close, smoldering snags. Late afternoon brought an orange sun, a sudden plume of tangerine smoke.

The guides were excellent oars-men and -women. Nimbly they could jump out of the raft to muscle it through two large boulders, then leap back to the oars. They skillfully wove their rafts like shuttles down the warp of the wild river.

It seemed odd to see large cedar and ponderosa pine growing next to each other along the shoreline since each has a different requirement. And even odder that the cedar had scant foliage in about onefourth of their crown and the new growth hung limp and brown. By the second day of floating nearly all the cedar crowns were bare skeletons. There didn’t seem to be much cedar regeneration, and even some three-foot diameter old-timers had dying crowns. By the fifth day, there looked to be no living cedar.

Marty, owner/operator of Three Rivers Rafting, hazarded that it might be the effects of fire damage and it had occurred fairly recently. However, this landscape has been shaped by flames for thousands of years

and since large cedars are here, stream-side cedar must have been dealing successfully with past fires. The big ponderosa — often only dozens of feet away from the afflicted cedar — have no tell-tale fire scar. My guess is that we are beginning to see the effects of the ever warming climate.

Discovering the poet Robertson Jeffers’ poems while deeply immersed in the grandeur of a secluded river canyon was like meeting an old friend. Jeffers would have liked the wild and wonderful miles of white water this river created. Boulders, shed-sized, in mid river; pour-overs between VW bugs and at least one waterfall — these things keep nature at the forefront on your mind.

Even though Jeffers warned us not to be duped by hope, dinosaurs give me hope. Sixty-some million years ago their world practically blew up when an asteroid slammed into the Atlantic. A chunk as large as the moon (in fact it is the moon) was blasted into space as if the earth was hit by a mega golf club. Burning debris fell as thick as a summer rainstorm. Nearly all life above ground perished fairly quickly.

A few shrew-like mammals survived and gave rise to the mammalian branch of life.

A few dinosaurs survived and gave rise the avian population.

Consider how varied, widely-distributed and downright beautiful birds are. Birds are a benefit to humans. They eat bugs that destroy our crops. Birds pollinate our fruits and flowers. Birds have taught us song and given freely of their music. And all it took was a monster asteroid and 60 million years.

So take the long view. Even though we are destroying our own living space, life and beauty won’t cease because we are not around to receive its blessings.

Or as Jeffers eloquently puts it in his poem Credo: The beauty of things was born before eyes and is sufficient to itself; the heartbreaking beauty/ Will remain when there is no heart to break for it.

On the Lake:

A column about lake issues by the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper

The “crawling” stumps near the Clark Fork Delta in low water. Photo by Ben Olson.

By Shannon Williamson Reader Columnist Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper, also known as LPOW, was founded back in 2009. In the nonprofit world, we’re considered a fairly young organization. I took over as the executive director (ED) in 2011. I’m fairly certain that an ED’s tenure is measured in dog years, so that makes me 42 with an 8 year-old – which is coincidental since I’m actually 42 with an almost 8 year-old. Whoa.

LPOW’s mission is straightforward: We work to protect water quality so that our local waterways remain swimmable, fishable and drinkable for future generations. For the extended version, please visit our website at www.lpow. org. As a young organization, we tackle issues that have plagued water quality across our nation for a very long time.

When you think of how stunning Lake Pend Oreille is, you may wonder what the heck I’m talking about since everything looks pretty solid. You’re not the only one. It’s kind of like your Aunt Doreen with the killer shoes who looks perfectly fine on the outside, but has “issues” that ruin your family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Every. Single.

Year. Or something like that.

As part of a global network of Waterkeepers joined under the umbrella of the Waterkeeper Alliance, our watershed is in an enviable position. Rather than working to restore visibly polluted waters like many of our brothers and sisters, we work to protect and preserve Lake Pend Oreille and other local waterways. This is challenging work. It’s easy to get on board when you can see/ smell/taste a problem. It’s not so easy when you can’t, even when the problem

is still there.

How do we know what challenges our local waters face? We watch. We listen. We monitor water quality at 15 locations across Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River. Some issues are in your face, like dumping massive quantities of 2, 4-D into the lake in an effort to get rid of invasive milfoil (didn’t work). Others are more subtle, like the leaching of compounds from a former wood treatment facility with carcinogenic, renal and neurological impacts into stormwater that subsequently free falls [untreated] into Sand Creek.

Pesticides, wastewater, stormwater, crude oil and coal transport by rail through the watershed. These are the types of stealth issues that have the potential to permanently alter what we all love so much. As the Reader reported, a full coal train, headed for Sandpoint, derailed and spilled coal into the Clark Fork River in Montana just last week.

While there is debate about the implications of this unfortunate event on water quality, we’re taking steps to determine just that.

Look – I’m a one woman show over here with the assistance of an active board of directors. We need your help.

Please get involved, become a member, volunteer, hold a bake sale, tell every single one of your friends about us.

Help us keep Lake Pend Oreille the best place to swim, fish and drink in the Inland Northwest. You can do it – I know you can!

Shannon Williamson, Ph.D., is the executive director of Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper and currently sits on the Sandpoint City Council.

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event t h u r s d a y

Authentic wood-fired pizza

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Mandala will be at the following locations: Thursday, AUGUST 24 @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 6-10 p.m.

Fri-Sat, AUGUST 25 & 26 @ 219 Lounge 8:30 ‘til late night Sunday, AUGUST 27 @ The Granary Trout and About Festival - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Saturday, SEPTEMBER 2 @ The Granary for Honeysuckle and Harold’s IGA show 7 - 10 p.m.

Mention you saw this ad in the Reader and get $1.00 off your next pizza!

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Live Music w/ Wyatt Wood 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Thursday night solo series with Spokane Valley native

Rock Creek Mine - Geophysicist Presentation 5:30pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Dr. David Chambers, geophysicist and recognized impoundment engineering, will give a presentation d nical issues and stability problems associated with th impoundment for the Rock Creek Mine. Free and op

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 8-11pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Music w/ Doug Bond 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Doug Bond is one of Sandpoint’s most endearing musical performers

Live Music w/ Moses Willey 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall A mixture of raditional bluegrass, folk, and Ap Movie in the Park: ‘Trolls’ 6:30pm @ Lakeview Park (near museum) Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and film begins at sund is a free event. Bring blankets and chairs fo This event is weather-dependant

Sandemonium 9am-5pm @ Forrest M. Bird Charter School All are welcome to attend Sandemonium, a Live Music w/ John Firshi local Comic-Con-style convention for fans of 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority comics, superheroes, anime, gaming and more Live Music w/ Mike Wagonner This is the third annual event. Only $2!

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Meg Turner and Chris Lynch Listen to great stories and great songs 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Ascent of Alaska’s Mount Huntington A great Sandpoint duo 7pm @ Panida Theater a night of stories, pictures and videos from Laughing Dog Brewing Anniversary Party Clint Helander and Jess Roskelley’s first 2-6pm @ Laughing Dog Brewery Celebrate 12 years of Laughing Dog Brewi ascent of Alaska’s Mt. Huntington’s complete south ridge. $8/adults, $4/kids “12th Anniversary Beer” will be pouring with music by Harold’s IGA and food by Old Tin C Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 6-9pm @ Trinity at City Beach

s a t u r d a y

t u e s d a y

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

28 29 30 31

International Fjord Horse Show 8am-1pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds Game Night at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge

Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcom

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Night Out Karaoke 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge SFN Movie Night: “Blood Simple” 7pm @ Panida Little Theater Come see the Coen brothers’ first film Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3pm-5:30pm @ Farmin Park The afternoon market on Wednesdays for all your produce needs!

Head of the Pend Oreille Rowing Regatta (Aug. 29 - Sept. 1) @ Priest River Crews from the Inland Northwest and Canada will converge for Idaho’s only rowing Regatta. Free. Hopregatta.org, 208-255-8862

Open Mic 5-8pm @ SKåL Taproom Musicians and comedians welcome! Open mic is held every Wednesday

Magic Wednesday 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Restaur Magician Star Alexander ama dinner table and in the bar w teractive magical entertainme

Yappy Hour Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 4-7pm @ Evans Brothers Coffee Good until the keg’s dry A tail-waggin’ good time for people and pooches alike! Bring your dog and enjoy a Panhandle Animal Shelter benefit with live music, food and beverages available for purchase, plus a fenced-in area for dogs. Free admission; donations welcome!

Cas 4-8p All tion auct appe

ful

August 24 - 31, 2017

tation

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

Reader recommended

Live Music w/ BareGrass 9pm @ 219 Lounge ecognized expert on tailings Get your fun and funky blueentation discussing the tech- grass and jam groove on with this ed with the proposed tailings Sandpoint bluegrass trio. Free! ree and open to the public Also, pizza by Mandala out back

Chris Webster and Nina Gerber in concert 7:30pm @ Di Luna’s Cafe Webster’s voice is uniquely compelling while Gerber’s guitar is beautiful and powerful. Together they’re magic! Dinner served before the show. Tickets $15/advance, $18 day of show

“Secret Shame” play ll 7:30pm @ The Heartwood Center k, and Appalachian Chris Herron’s sixth original play, produced by the Unknown Locals. Always a good time “Jingle” - Dessert & Theater eum) ns at sundown. This 7pm @ Panida Little Theater chairs for comfort. A lighthearted comedy-drama written by Becky Revak. $19 includes show and dessert

chool monium, a or fans of and more.

2! ris Lynch ll

Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 9pm @ 219 Lounge “Secret Shame” play 7:30pm @ The Heartwood Center

International Fjord Horse Show 8am-5pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds There will be riding and driving events as well as games. Food will be available, and admission is free! 509-993-6257

Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

End of Summer Dance 5pm @ Sandpoint City Beach A free summer dance with a potluck picnic, followed by Dance Lessons and General Dancing under the stars until 9 pm. Bring a dish to share International Fjord Horse Show 8am-5pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds

“Jingle” - Dessert & Theater 7pm @ Panida Little Theater Sandpoint Farmers’ Market Bikes, Brews and Blues 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Fresh produce, garden starts, live music, good 3-7pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall The fun starts at 9 a.m. at A&P’s for breakfast, ry Party times. Support your local farmers with registration at 10 a.m., followed by a ride on Cedar St. Bridge Public Market the Bull River Loop at 10:30 a.m. Meet back at og Brewing! 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge ring with live Come enjoy indoor shopping on the bridge MickDuff’s Beer Hall at 3 p.m. for the bike show and live music with The Beat Diggers Old Tin Can spanning Sand Creek Trout and About Festival 11am @ U of I Campus, 195 N. Boyer Ave. All are invited to the Trout and About Festival. This is an event where e welcome parents and their kids can socialize, listen to great music, learn some fun facts about trout, dance it up and have fun! Food and beverages available for purchase from Jupiter Jae Café, Mandala Pizza and Eichardt’s Pub. Doors open at 11 a.m., the Whizpops start at noon, Sept. 1 and Ginstrings perform at 3:30 p.m. $3 suggested donation per adult FallFest @ Schegatta and kids are free. More information at PanhandleTU.org or contact we itzer Mountain reg@panhandletu.org.

Res ort Canang ReSept. 2 8862 Sandpoint

’s Restaurant ander amazes guests at the the bar with up-close, inntertainment for all ages!

ring with us a me!

History Walking Tour @ Panida Theater Sept. 2-3

Live Music w/ Honeysuckle 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge Honeysuckle is coming to town! Featuring Sand- Funky Junk Antique point’s own Holly McGarry, this is not a show to miss! and Craft Show @ Bonner County FairCask, Keg and Art Party Live Music w/ grounds 4-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Kevin Dorin All are invited to enjoy the 25th anniversary celebra- 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s tion for Sandpoint Waldorf School featuring a silent Beer Hall auction of works by supporting artists. Complimentary Kevin Dorin has a appetizers with cash bar. Free and open to the public! unique, fun style

www.EBonnerLibrary.org Check our website for weekly project updates Check in with our social media channels for announcements August 24, 2017 /

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OUTDOORS

First Ascent:

Presentation highlights first ascent of the complete south ridge of Alaska’s Mt. Huntington

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Fine Jewellers & Goldsmiths •Custom Jewelry •Repairs

Head down to the Panida Theater on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. for a night of stories, pictures and videos from Clint Helander and Jess Roskelley’s monumental climb of Alaska’s Mount Huntington. Helander is the nephew of Don Helander, owner of Sandpoint West Athletic Club.

The duo completed one of the biggest first ascents in North America in recent history over eight days in April 2017.

This presentation will feature an introduction by John Roskelley, one of the world’s most renowned climbers in the 1970s-1990s.

Helander’s images from this historic climb have already been featured in numerous publications including Patagonia, Alpinist, and Rock and Ice magazines.

There will be a brief question and

answer session after the presentation, as well as a prize giveaway.

Tickets are available for $8, or $4 for those aged 18 and under. They are available at www.panida.org, at the

In loving memory: Marilyn Louise Windsor-Hales, 93

The Candle Lady.

Born in Everett, Mass. August 28, 1923. Died August 6th, 22 days short of her 94th birthday. a She was attending MIT when Pearl Harbor was attacked. On her 20th birthday, she joined the USMC to honor twin brothers who grew up across the street from her and were both killed in the USS Arizona. She was stationed first at the Pentagon, then in Hawaii. As an aviation technician, she often worked in the Hickam Air Field control tower. Most importantly, she worked nights de-coding messages from the troops in the Pacific. Every morning at 4 am she delivered the decoded messages to senior officers so they could be kept abreast of the Pacific Campaign. At Pearl she made de many friends and had many delightful experiences with her fellow Marines.

Marilyn attained the rank of Sergeant and in January 1946 received an Honorable Discharge. She was very proud of her military service and loved the Marine Corps. She was a member of Sandpoint’s Marine Corps League Detachment #1110 for years.

Returning to the Seattle area, she married Lincoln Hales. They had three children, Peter, Janell and John. She leaves six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Marilyn loved the outdoors and animals. She related that she once hiked solo 300 miles above 8,000 feet elevation in Glacier national Park.

She made many candles and sold them at the farmers market to supplement her Social Security.

She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Marguerite Windsor, and her former husband, Lincoln Hales.

Her spirituality was love. She loved. She was loved. She will be missed.

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door, at Eichardt’s Pub, Pedro’s and Sandpoint West Athletic Club. All proceeds from this presentation will benefit the Firn Line, a new podcast about the lives of mountain climbers.

King of the Kongcrete winner

Jordan Armijo on a run. Photo by Jodi Rawson.

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor Jordan Armijo, 22, from Missoula Mont., won the best overall advanced skater at the 12th annual King of Kongcrete on Saturday.

Armijo has been skating since he was 15. He amazed the crowd with his hand plants, rail slides, and overall creativity in his runs. King of the Kongcrete is an annual skateboarding competition prsented

by Sandpoint Parks and Recreation.

Special thanks to event MC Rory Whitney from 7B Board Shop and Sandpoint Parks and Recreation’s Jason Wiley for helping make this event a success.

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STAND-OFF AT RUBY RIDGE

ATER L S R A E Y 25 Part 2

Vicki Weaver walks on her property on Ruby Ridge in this federal government surveillance photo. Public domain image.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Editor’s Note: Last week, we gave an overview of the lead-up and the first day of the Stand-Off at Ruby Ridge, which took place 25 years ago this week. In Part two, we’ll focus on the duration of the stand-off. Next week, we’ll finish this three-part series with the trial of Randy Weaver and the aftermath of Ruby Ridge.

The Rules of Engagement

At the end of day one of the Stand-Off at Ruby Ridge, 14-yearold Sammy Weaver, U.S. Marshal William Degan and the family dog Striker were dead.

When the shooting commenced, the second U.S. Marshal Service team at the staging area was given the impression that a gun battle raged in the woods with agents pinned down by gunfire.

The feds began evacuating residents from their homes in the area to a roadblock set up at the nearby Ruby Creek bridge.

Marshal David Hunt made a series of phone calls to Washington, D.C. explaining that the Marshals had been ambushed and fired upon. Military equipment and federal agents began congregating almost immediately. The FBI assembled its Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) led by Richard Rogers.

Federal agents were called in from regional offices. The Idaho National Guard was called up to offer support. Before the end of the day,

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Gov. Cecil Andrus had declared a state of emergency.

While flying from D.C. to Idaho, Rogers drafted the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for the incident. The report initially read: “If any adult in the area around the cabin is observed with a weapon after the surrender announcement had been made, deadly force could and should be used to neutralize the individual. If any adult male is observed with a weapon prior to the announcement, deadly force can and should be employed, if the shot can be taken without endangering any children.”

Over the years, criticism has been leveled at the FBI for this unprecedented handling of the ROE, which included the term “deadly force can and should be deployed.”

FBI deputy assistant director Danny Coulson received the operations plan but ultimately did not approve of it because it lacked a negotiations option, according to a report compiled by the task force.

“Thus,” a later Senate investigation report concluded, “(Coulson) never saw or reviewed the Rules of Engagement in the plan which appeared after the section in which a negotiations strategy should have appeared ... Since there is no written record of specifically what version of the Rules that FBI headquarters approved, we cannot confidently say that the word ‘should’ was approved by FBI headquarters at any time.”

It is this point of the ROE that affected the outcome of the events

that followed — resulting in the death of one more person, as well as the imprisonment of one FBI agent for obstruction of justice.

“The two worst guys (in this incident) are the two who authorized/signed off on the ‘shoot to kill orders’ and then orchestrated a cover up to preserve their seven figure incomes in Washington, D.C. post-government service,” wrote federal prosecutor for the FBI, Ron Howen in an exclusive interview with the Reader. “Subordinates erased the SIOC logs and shredded the documents/reports that linked them to those orders.

And then the subordinates ‘fell on their swords’ to protect them.”

One FBI agent who “fell on his sword” was E. Michael Kahoe, who was reached for comment via telephone. It is one of the first times Kahoe has talked to the press in 25 years.

Kahoe said in an interview that he attended an “after-action” meeting where his higher-ups Danny Coulson and Larry Potts both declined to appear. Viewing the memo as “nonsense,” Kahoe destroyed it, saying it was an attempt to “protect himself.” It was the destruction of this memo that led to Kahoe serving over a year in prison.

Day Two

Toward nightfall of day one, after Kevin Harris had notified the Weaver family that Sammy had been killed, Randy, Vicki and Kevin went down the path toward the Y and found Sammy’s body.

According to Weaver’s testimony, they brought the body to the birthing shed, cleaned it off and wrapped it in a sheet. They left it in the birthing shed for the time being, electing to worry about burial at a later time.

While most outside of the Weavers and most likely the U.S. Marshals didn’t know that Sammy had been killed, reports of gunfire and a federal agent shot down began to filter throughout the media and the small community.

A small crowd of neighbors and onlookers began gathering at the roadblock on the bridge. As the day wore on, more arrived at the roadblock, some shouting at the vehicles being allowed through, demanding information.

Local newspaper reporters in Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene were soon joined by reporters from Spokane, Boise and the wire services. TV trucks arrived on the scene and extended their remote satellite antennas.

Rogers, the head of the Hostage Rescue Team, deployed his forces with silenced weapons and camouflage to block possible escape routes, set up observation posts and establish sniper positions.

On the hillside to the north about 200 yards from the cabin, the Sierra 4 sniper team took position. The team consisted of West Point graduate Lon Horiuchi, HRT’s top sniper, and Dale Monroe, his spotter, with what the senate report later criticized as, “virtual shoot-on-sight orders.”

Around 6 p.m., Randy, Kevin and 16-year-old Sara ventured out of the cabin to visit Sammy’s body in the birthing shed. Randy and Kevin were carrying rifles, but Sara was unarmed, according to her testimony.

As Randy reached for the door of the shed, a shot rang out. A bullet ripped through the flesh under Randy’s arm. The three immediately ran toward the cabin.

“I ran up to my dad and tried to shield him and pushed him toward the house,” Sara later told the Spokesman-Review. “If they were going to shoot someone, I was going to make them shoot a kid.”

Howen interpreted the first shot

by Horiuchi as a defensive move by the sniper team: “(Horiuchi) fired the first shot at Randy Weaver when Randy grabbed the side of the ‘birthing shed’ to steady his aim to shoot into the bubble canopy of the helicopter flying overhead. ... Lon shot instinctively without being able (to) properly set up and very quickly to save the lives of those in the helicopter.”

Howen pointed out that FBI shooting protocol established that it may use deadly force when “your life or the life of a third party are endangered. Once you use or attempt to use deadly force under this shooting policy, you continue the engagement until the person surrenders, throws down their weapon or is killed.”

Then-FBI Director Louis Freeh testified later that Horiuchi fired on Weaver because he “observed one

< see RUBY page 18 >

Remembering Ruby Ridge

A rare interview with Ron Howen, the federal prosecutor for the Randy Weaver trial

Ron Howen was the federal prosecutor for the FBI in the Randy Weaver trial. He is currently working as a public defender.

This exclusive interview with the Reader was lightly edited for space. Because of his involvement with prosecuting neo-Nazis/ Aryan Nations/white supremacists, Ron asked that he not be photographed.

go through with or make the introduction.

Had the introduction been successful, any thoughts of prosecuting of Randy Weaver would have faded into the background. The successful introduction of the undercover agent into the Montana group was far more important. The decision to prosecute Randy Weaver for the “confidence” firearms buys was part of a policy decision. It became the policy of the US Attorneys Office (USAO) Idaho to vigorously prosecute those individuals or groups associated with or part of the Aryan Nations/Richard Butler’s group that commit federal crimes...

SPR: Can you explain your role in the Randy Weaver trial?

SPR: Were you surprised when the case against Randy Weaver fell apart?

Ron Howen: I was assigned the initial firearms case against Randy Weaver by the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho in 1992. Since 1984, I had been assigned to handle or participate in the white supremacy/Aryan Nation/neo-Nazi prosecutions occurring in whole or in part in the District of Idaho. My initial assignment involved a transfer from the District of Idaho to the Western District of Washington in 1984-1985 as part of a trial team of 5 other Assistant United States Attorney’s. This case involved the investigation and prosecution of a group known as the Bruderschweigen (Silent Brotherhood) or the Order. I ended being tasked with most of the criminal acts of the Order in Idaho and Montana for that prosecution. ... My role in the Weaver/Harris trial was to prepare the case for trial and actually try the case with my trial partner, Kim Lindquist.

In essence, it was my case.

RH: I was surprised by two matters that in my mind led to the acquittals. First, the efforts of the FBI at the supervisory level from the early days of the standoff through the end of the trial to obstruct justice by refusing to turn over documents/ reports to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Such documents/reports were relevant to the prosecution and defense of Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris in discovery particularly constitutionally required disclosure of exculpatory and impeaching evidence.

Many of these documents/reports were an embarrassment to supervisory agents involved in the Weaver/Harris case and the FBI generally. I spent way too much time fighting with DOJ and the FBI to compel the FBI to turn over crucial, relevant documents and reports than trial preparation.

In particular, who authorized and signed off on the “shoot to kill” orders that the scout/snipers were given? I spent much of my time between the Indictment and through the trial using every tool I knew to extract documents/reports from the FBI that were crucial to my case and to the defense of Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris.

BATF and the U.S. Marshals Office were very different. I could not ask for more complete cooperation and assistance. Their transparency and honesty stood in stark contrast to the efforts that some people at the supervisory level at the FBI went to protect nameless, faceless people who did not want their actions see the light of day. Second, the “fourth class” mailing and contents from the FBI toward the end of the trial was the biggest torpedo below the waterline from which the ship could not recover. I had to stand there in open court and take it publicly from Gerry and David for these nameless, faceless people. I wish

Ron Howen

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

SPR: Going into the case, what were your first impressions?

My first impression of the Randy Weaver firearms case was that it wasn’t going to be a prosecution at all. Bureau of Alcohol and Firearms (BATF) was trying to get an introduction through Randy Weaver via their undercover agent at the Aryan Nations into another more violent group believed to be forming in western Montana.

BATF wanted the introduction by Randy Weaver into this new group far more than any future prosecution. Plans were made to surveille and record the entire trip and then leave Randy Weaver in the background. But just before the trip was to begin, Randy Weaver accused the undercover agent of being a “fed” and refused

I knew who sent the “fourth class” mailing, why and for what purpose. I’ve chewed on that for 25 years.

SPR: Looking back on the situation now, would you do anything different in your capacity as a federal prosecutor?

RH: ...First, I would [have] gone after the FBI earlier and harder for their repeated failure to turn over reports and documents relevant to the case. I thought they would come around in a couple of weeks or months. I was wrong. Second, I should have told Judge Lodge, Gerry Spence, Chuck Peterson, David Nevin and Ellie Matthews in January 1993 at one of our pre-trial conferences that I suspected that the FBI was intentionally withholding documents/reports relevant to the trial and had been doing so for the past six months.

I was persuaded not to. I regret to this day not having the courage of my convictions to do so.

SPR: Has the case affected your own career as a lawyer?

RH: The Weaver/Harris case was obviously the end of my career as a federal prosecutor. You don’t make enemies by defying the FBI or DOJ without consequences. You don’t testify under oath in an internal investigation by OPR against these types of people at the highest levels in Washington, D.C. ... It did not, however, affect my career as a lawyer. No bar complaint was made against me by Judge Lodge or the defense team for my actions in the preparation and trial of the Weaver/ Harris case. ... My job as an AUSA took its toll on me personally and professionally.

Ultimately, it cost me a marriage and in part, the life of my son by suicide...

SPR: At one point during court, you rose to argue against the dismissal of all charges and said, “I’m sorry, judge, I can’t continue.” You then left the courtroom and didn’t return. What happened during this moment?

RH: The short answer was that I “hit the wall” in marathon-running terms. In my judgment, we needed at least four prosecutors to properly present the case when it became apparent we would be facing four defense attorneys. I had initially decided to try the case by myself when my “little voice/internal alarm” started going off

during and immediately after the standoff. ... I couldn’t ask anyone else to put their career on the line and warned them off particularly when it became apparent to me that someone very high up in FBI/DOJ land had authorized what Gerry Spence later fairly accurately stated were “shoot to kill orders.” As I recall, these orders green lighted FBI agents to shoot any male outside the house with a firearm. These orders were not discussed with me, the U.S. Attorney, Maurie Ellsworth or the First Assistant, Marc Haws. They were contrary to standard FBI shooting protocols and unconstitutional. They were given secretly to the scout/snipers and the rest of the Hostage Rescue Team during the standoff.

But I was ultimately persuaded to take on a trial partner from within the office.

Kim Lindquist’s fearlessness and willingness to take the FBI and DOJ on was remarkable and appreciated, but ultimately, equally suicidal. And in my personal life, I was also dealing with difficult marital and parental issues. By the end of the trial, I had worked the Weaver and Harris case for ten months straight. It was exhausting physically and professionally. By May and June, I was working seven days a week 16-20 hours a day. I stopped running and working out to devote all my time to the case and to the memory of William Degan, Sammy Weaver and Vicki Weaver. I was skipping meals or eating very little. I practically lived in my office. As a result, I lost close to 40 pounds by the time of the JOA motions.

The fourth class mailing was “the straw the broke my back”. It was clear that someone was directly trying to sabotage the case (and my career). I had to publicly disclose the documents in the fourth class mailing and deliver them to Judge Lodge and defense counsel. These documents clearly established Rule 16 and Jencks Act discovery violations as well as constitutional discovery violations (Brady/Giglio).

I had to sit there and take it from defense counsel in open court. It was not the time or the place to blame someone else. It was my responsibility. … I tried to complete the trial regardless, but I could not. I had reached the limit of my professional, physical, mental and emotional endurance.

Per my doctor’s orders, I was not permitted to continue with the case. Kim Lindquist completed the case in my absence.

I’m told he did an incredible job given the circumstances particularly during final argument...

August 24, 2017 /

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< RUBY con’t from page 17 >

of the suspects raise a weapon in the direction of a helicopter carrying other FBI personnel.”

But numerous federal officials testified during the trial that no helicopters were flying in the vicinity of the Weavers’ cabin at the time of the FBI sniping.

In the cabin, Vicki had heard the sniper shot. She ran to the kitchen door with the infant Elisheba in her arms and held the door open for Randy, Kevin and Sara. As they tumbled into the cabin, a shot hit Vicki in the temple, went through her mouth and tongue, through her jawbone and severed her artery. Vicki fell to the floor.

Kevin, who was struck by the same bullet as Vicki, suffered wounds in his arm and chest cavity. Vicki bled to death , still holding her baby in her arms.

Eleven Days

After Vicki’s death, the stand-off lasted another nine days. FBI agents entered the birthing shed on Day Three and found Sammy’s body. News was released the next day that Sammy had been killed, as well as Marshal Degan. Kevin Harris was formally charged in federal court for the murder of Marshal Degan and Randy Weaver was charged with assaulting a federal officer.

The mood at the roadblock grew darker.

Several carried hand-painted signs critical of the federal government. Some children at the roadblock wore papers on their chest with targets on them, reading, “Are we next?”

It was a colorful group at the roadblock.

While most were concerned neighbors and citizens, there were also organized “patriot” groups and some skinheads wearing swastikas and drawing the attention from both the media and the crowd. John Trochmann, the founder of the Militia of Montana movement arrived with his brother and nephew.

On Day Eight, Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler showed up at the roadblock.

By Day Six of the stand-off, the crowd at the roadblock was easily estimated in the hundreds. Nobody knew that Vicki had been killed, but some had suspected as much.

Morale was low.

It was on this day that a controversial figure showed up at the scene. Lt. Col. James “Bo” Gritz, the flamboyant former Green Beret who became famous for his attempts to locate and rescue American prisoners of war in Vietnam, began acting as a “citizen mediator” between the federal government and Randy Weaver.

Known for his Christian beliefs and “patriot activism,” Gritz had run for President of the U.S. with the Populist Party under the slogan “God, Guns and Gritz.”

Gritz finally succeeded in gaining an audience with the FBI agents in charge. He convinced them to drive him to the cabin, where he held a conversation with Randy through the plywood of the cabin. Gritz said Randy wasn’t ready to leave the cabin yet, but that he would be willing to negotiate with Gritz.

The mood intensified when Gritz walked down the hill and announced to the crowd 18 /

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that Vicki Weaver had been killed. It was the first anyone outside the cabin heard that she had been killed.

Over the next two days, Gritz worked as a go-between, gaining admittance to the cabin at one point to discuss the situation with Randy, and reporting on the condition of the gunshot wounds that Kevin and Randy had both suffered.

On Sunday, day 10, Gritz convinced Randy to let him and his associate Jack McLamb take Kevin Harris out of the cabin to receive medical attention. Harris was flown to Spokane to receive treatment, where he remained under guard for two weeks.

On Monday, Aug. 31, Day Eleven of the stand-off that had dominated the national news cycle, Gritz entered the cabin one last time and was finally able to convince the Weavers that it was time to come down the mountain. Sara cleaned Randy’s wound one last time and put clean clothes on baby Elisheba. Randy, Sara and Rachel put down their guns and cleaned up the cabin a little.

The four surviving Weavers walked out of the cabin together to a helicopter waiting nearby. Randy hugged his daughters and laid in a stretcher so an FBI medic could examine him. The helicopter took him to Sandpoint Airport, where a waiting FBI jet flew him to Boise where he could visit the hospital before being booked in Ada County Jail.

Next week, this three-part series on the Stand-Off at Ruby Ridge will conclude with the aftermath, including the trial of Randy Weaver. Special thanks to Trish Gannon, who helped edit and fact-check this series of articles. Sara Weaver was contacted, but declined comment for this story.

Vicki Weaver stands with Sammy, left, Rachel, center and Sara Weaver at a little red house on Deep Creek they rented from time to time. Photo courtesy Sandpoint Magazine.

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STAGE & SCREEN

‘Secret Shame’ confronts life with laughs

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff At its heart, “Secret Shame” is about confronting the parts of your life you hide away from the rest of the world.

Centered on Pat and Karen, two middle-aged women who have engaged in an affair for two decades, the play sees them coming to terms with their longheld secret during a getaway at a vacation cabin. Along for the ride are Karen’s family, who pursue similar weekend plans only to be thrown into an unexpected coming-out-of-the-closet drama.

Written by Chris Herron and directed

by Madeline Elliott, the co-founders of Unknown Locals production company, “Secret Shame” almost never made it to the stage. The play was subject to several delays, with Herron at one point contemplating scrapping the entire project. According to Elliott, she saw something special in the script and convinced Herron to keep it in production.

It’s a good thing she did, because

“Secret Shame” strikes a fine balance in the interplay between rapid-fire jokes and heartfelt drama that defines Herron’s writing style. The play is among his funniest, with several moments drawing big laughs from my Friday crowd. Covering a broad spectrum of comedic traditions, the jokes feel authentic to the characters delivering them, whether it be obsessing over the latest “Star Wars” or deriving a power trip from Speedo-clad waiters serving drinks.

Amid the comedy, Herron and Elliott maintain a clear line of visibility on the central drama. The mixed emotions that often emerge upon finding out a family member is gay — especially if that family member happens to be a parent — come through loud and clear. The same goes for the fear of fundamentally changing life circumstances or the uncertainty of coming clean with loved ones.

A cast of familiar local theater actors brings life to Herron’s writing and

Elliott’s direction. Kate McAlister and Dorothy Prophet deliver funny, vulnerable performances as the central characters. They are supported by Eric Bond and Nicole Buratto, whose interactions as a bickering yet solid couple shade the play’s observations on relationships.

And Jeremiah Campbell shows off his impressive acting versatility with a funny take on a lovelorn 20-something obsessed with his ex. That ex, played by Alex Cope, turns up in an epilogue that serves as “Secret Shame’s” altogether-fitting capstone.

“Secret Shame” is yet another sign of health for local theater, which has alternated between classic and original content over the past several years.

It’s an effort well worth supporting as “Secret Shame” continues into its final weekend. Catch performances on Friday, Aug. 25, and Saturday, Aug. 26.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the performance begins 7 p.m. Tickets are $14 for general audiences and $12 for students or seniors.

SFN Movie Night screens ‘Blood Simple’

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Join Sandpoint Filmmakers Network for a private screening of “Blood Simple,” the first film by the Coen brothers.

A critically-acclaimed 1984 film that centers on a rich man who hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife and her lover, “Blood Simple” showcases the mix of comedy and violent drama that cemented Joel and Ethan Coen as two of the world’s finest filmmaking talents. Come have a beer during the screening, and stick around afterward to discuss the movie.

This private screening requires you to register for free with Sandpoint Filmmakers Network, either on the night of the show or online at http://www.sandpointfilmmakers.net/join. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m. The screening is free, but a suggested donation of $5 will help cover the theater rental.

24-26 @ 7pm little DessertAug. & theatRE: “jingle” theater

aug. 24 @ 7:30pm | aug. 25 @ 5:30 & 8:30pm aug. 27 @ 3:30pm

“The Hero” starring Sam elliot Friday, aug. 25 @ 11:59pm (FREE!)

the midnight action movie saturday aug. 26 @ 7pm

alaska’s mt. huntington sept 1 @ 5:30 & 8:30pm | Sept. 2 @ 3:30 & 7:30pm Sept. 3 @ 3:30pm

“paris can wait”

tuesday, sept. 12 @ 7pm

“MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS” a film by judd apatow giving extraordinary access to hit group The Avett Brothers friday, sept. 15 @ 8pm

the led zeppelin experience Saturday, sept. 30

the doorsand experience a premier tribute to Creedence clearwater revival August 24, 2017 /

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MUSIC

Honeysuckle returns to Idaho:

Boston-based band features Sandpoint native Holly McGarry

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

The concept of home imbues much of Honeysuckle’s music. All the more appropriate, then, that their most recent tour is a homecoming in its own right.

Singer-songwriter and Sandpoint native Holly McGarry, along with bandmates Chris Bloniarz and Ben Burns, returns next week as her band, Honeysuckle, continues its first cross-country tour. The trio has planned a series of shows across two weeks in North Idaho and East Washington, but Sandpoint residents can expect a special connection to the music. After all, McGarry still draws on her memories of home to shade her songwriting.

“There’s a lot of loneliness in the material, but there are some optimistic tunes there, too,” McGarry said.

McGarry is well-known to Sandpoint audiences for her solo work, which began while she was still a local student and advanced as she completed school at Berklee College of Music. Since then, she and her bandmates have built Honeysuckle a following in the Boston area, earning glowing write-ups in the local media.

According to McGarry, Honeysuckle aims for a sound in the progressive folk tradition, but with plenty of modern flourishes. Audiences can expect the instrumentation and vocal harmonies that are the bread and butter of many a folk outfit.

Then there are the more unusual touches like Bloniarz’ mandolin peddleboard, which adds fascinating new textures to a very familiar instrument.

“We very much have that modern edge, I guess,” McGarry said with a laugh.

McGarry, Bloniarz and Burns have been hard at work on their next album, “Catacomb,” which is due for release on Oct. 5. It is a collaborative project in every sense of the word, with the trio sharing duties on both the writing and recording ends of the process. All three members have contributed songs to the album, including Bloniarz’ song “Watershed” and Burns’ single “Beautiful Pain.” They also share the microphone on vocals.

“The fun thing about this album is that it’s a little more even (between all three of us,)” McGarry said.

As far as musical themes are concerned, McGarry said they tried to strike

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

READ

With the 2017 release of the film “The Dark Tower,” it might be a good time to dust off the amazing series of books by the same name by Stephen King.

Start with “The Gunslinger” and wind your way through one of the most interesting serial sagas ever written. While the first book is separated by more than 20 years from the last in the series, King keeps the narrative going well throughout. Follow Roland the gunslinger as he searches for the Dark Tower and the elusive Man in Black.

LISTEN

Honeysuckle is Holly McGarry, Chris “The Mooch” Bloniarz and Benjamin Burns. Photo by Stephanie Craig. a balance between the melancholy and the merry.

“A lot of (the songs) focus on family and home, which Ben and I have drawn inspiration from previously,” McGarry said.

It wouldn’t be a proper homecoming without the chance to share her latest work, and McGarry and company have plenty of opportunities planned across a two-week period. Honeysuckle will be supported by several local favorites throughout those shows. For McGarry, it really will feel like coming home.

“The bands that we get to play with are people that I’ve been friends with my whole life,” she said. “It will be great to play with people that helped me get my start.”

Crossword Solution

Honeysuckle will play the 219 Lounge on August 31 at 9 p.m., the Bartlett in Spokane (with Little Wolf) on Sept. 1, Evans Brothers Coffee (with Harold’s IGA) on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m., FallFest at Schweitzer Mountain Resort on Sept. 3, and The Pearl Theatre in Bonners Ferry on Sept. 8. For more info, check out www. honeysuckleband.com

If you like grungy, stripped down female indie singers, you’ll love Scout Niblet.

While her debut album, “Sweet Heart Fever” is the best, this English-born songwriter has five studio albums of great material out there. My favorite song from this album is “So Much Love To Do,” which is an anthem of sorts to my early 20s.

Often, Niblet’s interesting lyrics are accompanied by a simple guitar line and some drums.

If you ever get a chance to see her live, it’s worth it. For now, you can channel her on Spotify.

WATCH

If you’ve followed the “Alien” movie franchise, you’ve noticed the films have gone in a different direction of late.

“Alien: Covenant” by Ridley Scott is the second in the Alien “prequel” series and the sixth film in the series overall.

Thanks to a great performance

by Michael Fassbender and some excellent smaller roles by Billy Crudup and Danny McBride, “Covenant” seemed to resonate better than “Prometheus,” which left a lot of plot holes undeveloped.

“Covenant” does a good job filling those holes, even though it’s five years later.

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CROSSWORD ACROSS

I hope that after I die, people will say of me: “That guy sure owed me a lot of money.”

Corrections: Some of you noticed the embarassing typo on Mike Crapo’s name last week. Of all the names to drop an O from! We apologize for the mistake. -CR Also, we missed an extra F in the Bouquets and Barbs section, as in: What the F were we smoking last week? -BO

1. Unit of land 5. Despise 10. Sponge 14. Verse 15. Pee 16. 1 1 1 1 17. Type of sword 18. Equivalent 20. Deprive of by deceit 22. Opening 23. Athletic facility 24. Daisylike bloom 25. Movie scripts 32. Long times 33. Seraglio 34. Hit on the head 37. A man’s skirt DOWN 38. Connecting points 1. Copied 39. Python 2. Make do 40. L 3. Coral barrier 41. Basic belief 4. Nascent 42. Stuns 5. A late season 43. Stone craftsmen 6. Actor Pitt 45. A kind of macaw 7. Ancient unit of measure 49. Lyric poem 8. Savvy about 50. Photo devices 9. Back 53. Drool 10. Barks 57. Unfeeling 11. Arctic native 59. Wings 12. British penny 60. Pickle flavoring 61. Blockage of the intestine 13. Fruity-smelling compound 62. Attraction 19. An unwholesome 63. Appear atmosphere 64. Aware 21.

Yeses 65. Extend credit

Solution on page 21

25. Rice beer 26. Cover with plaster 27. Somersault 28. Record player 29. Burdened 30. Mountain crest 31. Aye 34. Clown 35. Portent 36. Overtake 38. Mesh 39. America’s favorite pastime 41. Russian emperors 42. Carpenter’s groove 44. Assault sexually 45. Corrosives

46. Bog hemp 47. Enough 48. Kingdom 51. Largest continent 52. Window ledge 53. Aspersion 54. Color of the sky 55. Acquire deservedly 56. Marsh plant 58. Spelling contest

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