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Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by
If you could drink a beer with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? “Bernie Sanders because he is level-headed and compassionate.” Edith Gunderson Job coach for Panhandle Special Needs at Sandpoint High School Sandpoint “I don’t like to drink, but I would go to lunch with Jim Carrey. He is hilarious!” Mike Dickson Cook Sagle
“My father because he was there for me when I needed him. He always told the truth. He was a wonderful man. He was in charge of the horses who were orphaned in WW I after the German soldiers were killed.”
DEAR READERS,
Next week we celebrate a full year of being back in publication! This week, however, we marked another milestone: we received our very first threatening phone call. The caller, who didn’t identify himself, had taken issues with my opinion regarding the city of Sandpoint’s “tolerance” resolution. He started with the usual xenophobic remarks, stating that “we don’t want them here,” and, “If you love them so much, you house them.” He then told me to go back to California. It didn’t seem to matter to him that I was born and raised here in Sandpoint and he, in fact, had moved here from another state. After listening to his opinions for some time, I finally told the caller that I appreciated him calling in and that I had to get back to work. It was then the caller began shouting profanities at me. He told me to “Shut the f--- up,” threatening to “come down there” and show me just how angry he was. After a quick call to Sandpoint Police informing them of the situation, I was finally able to continue my daily onslaught of work. I think it’s always a good indication that your position is weak if you resort to violence, threats or general belligerence in trying to get your point across. The Reader will not be intimidated by threats. One of the greatest things about this country is the fact that we are all entitled to our opinions, and that we have ironclad rights protecting our expression of them. We do not, however, have the right to threaten those who feel differently than us. The moment we begin racially profiling people, or persecuting certain religions, we have lost that unique quality that belongs to us living in a free country. If we go down this road, I fear the outcome will be much the same as it was during the 1950s, when people were forced to testify and jailed for belonging to a certain political party. Who do we attack next? Buddhists? Democrats? Do we close our borders and evict everyone who isn’t white? Who do we demonize next? Just how far down the rabbit hole do we take this? This issue is dividing us here in North Idaho. What’s the most frustrating is that we are all essentially arguing over a resolution that means absolutely nothing. Since 2012, Idaho has resettled approximately five Syrian refugees. They have all been fully vetted by the federal government. None of them are in North Idaho. Furthermore, there are no plans to resettle any refugees from Syria in North Idaho. I put a peace sign on the cover this week in the hopes that maybe we can all take a breath, slow down and be a little more accepting of our neighbors. However you believe, know this: I will never hate anyone for expressing their opinion in a civil manner. I still give people the benefit of the doubt. If we disagree, let us disagree with civility and constructive rhetoric, instead of emotional tirades spreading misinformation.
-Ben Olson, Publisher
Jean Lasater Retired Cosmetician Sandpoint “The king of Sweden. They take care of each other there.” Amy Ahlquist Homemaker Sandpoint
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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) Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover), Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Nick Gier, Karen Seashore, Suzen Fiskin, Drake the Dog Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash. Subscription Price: $75 per year Advertising: Jen Landis jen@sandpointreader.com Clint Nicholson clint@keokee.com Web Content: Keokee
The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover This week’s cover designed by Ben Olson, who thinks we should all calm down and find a common ground on this issue of refugee resettlement.
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COMMENTARY
Bayard Rustin:
The gay man behind the 1963 march on Washington
By Nick Gier Reader Columnist
As a politically active black man in 1950s and 1960s, Bayard Rustin had, in addition to his race, three strikes against him: he was a pacifist; he was a Communist; and he was openly homosexual. In 1936 Rustin became a member of the Young Communist League, but he broke with the party when it decided to deemphasize civil rights in favor of uncritical support of the Soviet Union. During World War II he began his long association with the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), a pacifist organization founded in 1914 by an English Quaker and a German Lutheran. His grandmother, who raised him, was a Quaker, but she and her grandson attended a local African Methodist Episcopal Church. From 1944 to 1946 Rustin served 28 months in a federal penitentiary for refusing to report for military service. While in prison he worked diligently to end segregation in the prison dining hall. Rustin was an all-inclusive civil rights worker. He traveled to California to protect the property of Japanese Americans who had been interned during the war. While in prison he established the Free India Com-
mittee, and he later convinced Martin Luther King, Jr. to follow Gandhi’s principle of active nonviolence. In 1947 Rustin led an attempt to integrate the interstate bus system. In Chapel Hill, N. C., he and his associates were set upon by a mob, but it was he, rather than his attackers, who served 22 days of hard labor for “inciting a riot.” In 1953 he was arrested for having sex with two other men. Thanks to a 2006 Supreme Court decision decriminalizing sodomy, no one can be arrested for consensual sex of any sort in today’s America. The Texas law that was struck down was particularly discriminatory in that it did not outlaw “unnatural” sex acts between heterosexuals. After his arrest Rustin lost his job at the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Even though under this dark cloud, King still took him on as an adviser in 1956. As a seasoned civil rights worker, his experience was crucial to the success of the Montgomery bus boycott. Rustin biographer John D’Emilio writes that Rustin “was the perfect mentor for King at this stage in the young minister’s career, and Rustin left a profound mark on the evolution of King’s role as a national leader.”
Rustin convinced King that he needed a permanent organization to stabilize his movement, so together they founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). When black Congressman Adam Clayton Powell threatened to expose him as a gay man, Rustin was forced to resign his SCLC leadership position. Working behind the scenes, Rustin was the main organizer for the 1963 March of Washington, the venue for King’s “I have a Dream” speech. The other organizers made sure that Rustin was not given any public credit for this historic event. Supplied with FBI wire tap information Senator Strom Thurmond gave a speech in the Senate in which he called Rustin a “Communist, draft-dodger and homosexual.” For the very first time someone came to Rustin’s defense. Labor leader A. Philip Randolph attested to Rustin’s integrity, and the fact that Thurmond’s attack fizzled produced a glimmer of hope that equal rights for gays and lesbians might be possible. Rustin advised King not to speak out against the Vietnam war, but King did it anyway. Friends were puzzled why this fervent pacifist did not join the anti-war movement. His response was
Democracy in Action...
little thought of the repercussions or costs, let alone the creation of refugees. Now, Governor Otter has acknowledged that the vetting process for refugees may be better than his first reaction and letter indicated. When there is such a vocal and well-organized special interest, as was present, their arguments appear to have merit. If, in equanimity, the merit is recognized and some points given validity, then all points of view are truly represented. The problem with that “special interest” comes when we have a state legislator wrap herself in the Confederate flag as an embodiment of the vocal minority and its broader views. Also, there were three politicians working the crowd and positioning themselves
for future campaigns by appealing to the “anti-refugee” frenzy. That is when the true colors of this minority appear. Those colors may represent a 1950s style of living and the embrace of protective values, but those values are totally exclusionary and based in fear. The values of the ‘50s were racist. I grew up with that in Colorado and Texas and witnessed much more throughout the ‘60s. If we selectively allow ourselves to abandon our stated ideals in a frenzy of fear, then we are no longer able to claim our exceptionality. When we live up to our ideals and values expressed so eloquently in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution we cherish, our beacon as a nation remains a constant
Dear Editor, It was great to witness democracy in action. I am sorry that I only heard the resolution and did not perform due diligence by reading it ahead of time. It is a good idea to give it two weeks to refine the message. The “anti-refugee” element had many compelling arguments and were right to point out the intolerance and negative characterization associated with their viewpoints. The council decision reflected a wise reconsideration of wording. The topic that was never discussed was that so many of these refugees may or may not be Muslims, and the reason there is such turmoil is that our country entered an ill-conceived war with 4 /
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Bayard Rustin in 1963. Courtesy of Library of Congress. that he was against a precipitous withdrawal of troops because the Communists would set up a brutal dictatorship. Rustin also reminded his supporters where his duty ultimately lay: “To those who have urged me to switch from civil rights to peace, let me say that this war will be over, and my job is to help see to it that when the black soldiers come home, they will have something decent to come home to.” Rustin preferred to keep his “eyes on the prize.” Rustin’s last civil rights battle was for his gay brother and sisters: “The barometer of where one is on human rights questions is no longer the black community, it’s the gay community, the
community which is most easily mistreated.” Rustin would have been amazed, just as many of us are even now, that America’s gays and lesbians can now marry. The blow-back from that decision indicates that there is much more work to do (specifically, discrimination in the workplace and housing), but we will be forever indebted to Bayard Rustin for his early and courageous leadership.
attraction. If the vocal minority is allowed to define North Idaho, the ultimate effect is to harm our own businesses and opportunities for further cultural engagement. By excluding other cultures in this world economy we hurt our own pocketbooks. We need to advance for our own welfare, prepared for the world of opportunity that is now and in the future. We cannot retreat into the shell of an isolated and insular past.
to other countries have a very good right to be very concerned. I have grandchildren in day care in Sandpoint. We are Christians and do not believe in their religion and do not want it taught or even talked about to my grandchildren. If you love them so much and trust them, bring them into your home, and enjoy their graditude like they have shown in Europe, and here in some cities. It is not being hateful to protect your family from anything or one that could harm them.
Barney Ballard Sandpoint
No to Refugees...
Dear Editor, I am not writing because I am a mean person, but anyone who watches what these people are doing
Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy and religion at the University of Idaho for 31 years.
Linda Dunn Conerned Home Owner Sandpoint
Support city resolution...
Dear Editor, As I attended the Sandpoint City Council meeting last Wednesday, I was disappointed and saddened by the fear and anger exhibited by a large group of people toward a resolution proposed by the mayor. The resolution was intended to welcome any refugees to our area and counter a resolution passed by the County Commissioners to ban any refugees into our area. In both cases they were largely symbolic resolutions and would not have any practical effects whatsoever since there are no plans to bring refugees into North Idaho. What saddened me were the language, catcalls and angry reaction to a resolution that exhibited tolerance and compassion toward people who are less fortunate than many of us. Granted, the language of the resolution could have been better written, but it was the reaction to it that disturbed me most, especially in a community that is well known for its generosity to help others. While the resolution was tabled until the next meeting, I sincerely hope that the Mayor and City Council don’t succumb to the pressures of this very vocal group from largely outside the City of Sandpoint. Erik Daarstad Sandpoint
Refugee resolution... Dear Editor, Ben Olson, you continue to impress and amaze me. Ben’s recent editorial expresses “disgust” at some of the comments voiced at the recent city council meeting and calls out this line of thought for what it is: fear-mongering, xenophobic, and Islamphobic. I applaud his honest judgement on a very divisive topic. A topic which in a rational world would never be considered divisive. Ben and approximately 300 other Bonner County residents, who placed their names in a full page ad in the Reader and the Bee, do not agree with the resolution passed by the County Commissioners in early January. His courage is commendable, and I would like to stand together with Ben and ask everyone in our great town to “stand up for the moral high ground,” Idaho IS too great for hate. Take the time to read his well written editorial in the January 7th, 2016 edition of the Sandpoint Reader. Way to go Ben! Linda F. Larson (No relation to Larson’s Department Store) Sandpoint
Op-Ed
Communication Breakdown: By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
Last week, Sandpoint City Council members considered a resolution they characterized as a declaration of human rights and tolerance. A statement welcoming properly vetted refugees into Sandpoint, the resolution was a reaction to the Bonner County commissioners and Sheriff Daryl Wheeler voicing opposition to refugee resettlement programs. The result was a council meeting as tense as it was disorderly. Opponents, most of whom lived outside the city and some outside the county entirely, did not hold back in their attacks. Some were downright enraged. The blow-back was so extreme that council members decided to table the measure until Jan. 20. In one respect, these actions by the sheriff, commissioners, council, protesters and counter-protesters are sound and fury signifying nothing. There are no plans to resettle refugees in North Idaho. Even if there were, these local measures would have little impact on the federally managed program. In another respect, the disconnect is evidence of a problem shared by right- and left-wing groups alike: Both have trouble talking about Islam. Liberals tend to deflect the conversation from radical Islamic violence, while
Refugee program works... Dear Editor, The refugee program works. Specifically our refugee program works very well. Since 9/11/2001, over a million refugees have been settled in america. Refugees are far more respectful of American laws than us locals. For America to be a savior to such a large number of people is rewarding. I don’t see a credible risk to not maintain a reasonable amount of refugees, and increasing the number by 10,000 from Syria is acceptable. It is unfounded to say Muslims should not be allowed to come here now, when for so long they have been coming here. Also, there’s the fact that a large part of our population is Muslim and has been for a long time. I don’t believe the rationale to stop them from coming adds up.
Why both the left and right have trouble discussing Islam
conservatives often focus on it to the exclusion of everything else. If it’s true both liberals and conservatives share a common belief in equality and fundamental human rights, neither can ignore incidents that undermine those basic values. This includes the New Year’s Eve attacks in Cologne, Germany, when women filed more than 120 criminal complaints of robbery or sexual assault by hundreds of men described as Arab or North African. According to Maajid Nawaz, a progressive Muslim and co-founder of anti-extremism think tank Quilliam, this kind of violence was inevitable. “Recent mass migration patterns across Europe have meant that misogyny has finally come head to head with anti-racism, multiculturalism is facing off against feminism, and progressive values are wrestling with cultural tolerance,” he wrote in a Jan. 8 article for the The Daily Beast. Nawaz argues that, in fearing the spread of anti-Muslim sentiment, the left has avoided the subject of conflicting values, effectively handing the conversation to demagogues. German news media outlets were accused of covering up the New Year’s Eve assaults, fueling the anti-migrant rhetoric of Europe’s populist right-wing rabble-rousers.
“Yes, it is racist to suspect that all brown men who look like me are rapists,” Nawaz writes. “It is bigoted to presume that all Muslim men who share my faith advocate religiously justified rape. It is xenophobic to assume that all male refugees are sexual predators awaiting their chance to rape. But let me be absolutely clear: What will feed this racism, bigotry, and xenophobia even more is deliberately failing to report the facts as they stand. Doing so only encourages the populist right’s rallying cry against ‘the establishment.’” The same rallying cry that mobilized Europe’s anti-immigration partisans has echoed all the way to North Idaho. Anti-refugee testimony given at recent public meetings largely relied on generalizations and demonization. There were many variations of “the only true Muslim is a radical Muslim,” an assertion that would distress Nawaz and millions of law-abiding American Muslims. Other comments furthered outright falsehoods, like the adoption of Shariah Law in Dearborn, Mich. By presenting Islam as an existential threat to the West, these right-wing talking points justify all manner of outrages as defensive action. And they have already damaged Idaho. Setting
aside the spread of fear and hatred, paranoia over Shariah Law prompted legislators to endanger Idaho’s child support system last year. This decision required a costly and embarrassing special legislative session to reverse. Then there’s the controversy over refugees and the ocean of misinformation surrounding it. The saddest thing is that these are the people most injured by theocratic violence. Perhaps more than any other group, refugees are primed to appreciate a society that aspires to protect human rights regardless of race, class or religion. With more than half of American governors opposing their resettlement, however, refugees may find their new country less generous than the values it claims. Make no mistake: We cannot ignore the threat that religious extremism poses to human rights. When atrocities occur, we need to be frank about the beliefs that motivated them. But going on to demonize an entire religion is a step in precisely the wrong direction. The venom directed at Muslims in the past several weeks is a far more insidious and immediate threat to human rights in North Idaho than any terrorist group.
After seeing a mostly sensational campaign to defame all Muslims as terrorists, I did my own research. Time after time, I found claims of threats of terrorism by Muslims here in the U.S. to be false or at the least very misleading. I won’t be part of misinformation about the refugees. If everything I’ve heard was true, then I would not agree with allowing more to come, but that is not the case. I could go a lot further, but I’ve said enough.
and war. Governor Otter went so far as to ask the federal government to not only block Syrian refugees but to halt the entire U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. It is essential to understand that the city, county and state do not have the jurisdiction to deny refugees that the Federal government chooses to resettle. There is no resolution of the city or county that can stop refugees from coming to our state. However, there is something that we can do to strengthen Sandpoint’s identity as a city of tolerance that protects human rights. The Governor and county officials are well intentioned with their concern for the safety of our citizens. As your mayor, safety of our residents is my priority as well. I’m thankful that the council has tabled the issue to give adequate time to consider public input and study the issue more closely. My
hope is that council can develop a resolution that demonstrates the cities commitment to religious and ethnic tolerance and that Sandpoint can stand united as an advocate for human rights.
Mose Dunkel Sandpoint
Non Discrimination Resolution... Dear Editor, In the past few months, we have seen many state and local elected officials question the American tradition of providing safe harbor to refugees fleeing horrific violence
Mayor Shelby Rognstad Sandpoint Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful letters this week. I do hope we continue to discuss this important issue with rational thoughts and civility. Would you like your voice to be heard? We always welcome public letters to the editor at any time. Letters to the editor should be under 400 words and should refrain from using profanity or any libelous statements. -Ben Olson, publisher. January 14, 2016 /
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NEWS
Tolerance rally draws supporters, counter-protesters By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
Nearly 200 people lined Main Street in Bonners Ferry Saturday afternoon, evenly split to the left and right. On one side gathered North Idaho residents who turned out for the Bonners Ferry Comm“unity” Gathering, a rally promoting tolerance in the wake of an anti-refugee resolution passed by the Boundary County commissioners. On the other, counter-protesters carrying signs against Islam and refugees demonstrated support for the resolution. While rally organizers prepared Georgia Mae Plaza for the scheduled series of speakers, the two sides warily eyed one another from across the thoroughfare. It was an almost-perfect visual metaphor for the divisions sown by controversy over refugee resettlement in America. The Bonners Ferry rally was as much an effort to restore community solidarity as a demonstration promoting tolerance. “The way we’ve been treating each other in this community for simply speaking our minds is downright wrong,” said Pastor Brent Dehlbom. Rally speakers themed their presentations around resisting
harmful stereotypes or generalizations. Teacher Linda Hall, a Japanese woman, recalled her family’s eviction from their property during World War II. And Jolyn Horton, who has lived in several Muslim-majority countries, recalled her neighbors as friendly and accepting. “These are just words of faith spoken by people trying to live decent lives,” she said of Islamic religious doctrine. Compared to the highly contentious Sandpoint City Council meeting last Wednesday, both rally gatherers and counter-protesters maintained civility. Some scattered heckling of the rally speakers aside, the afternoon was peaceful and orderly. That was good news for Victor Watson of the Bonners Ferry Police Department. “We’ve been planning for this event,” he said. “We’ve been assured by both sides that it would be peaceful.” Newly-sworn-in Bonners Ferry Mayor David Sims was also pleased with the assembly. “The city of Bonners Ferry hasn’t taken a position [on the refugee issue],” he said before the rally began. “I’m just here to observe it.” Nevertheless, moments of disruption did occur, most notably when Pastor Andrew
A group of protesters at Saturday’s rally in Bonners Ferry. Photo by Ben Olson. Hinderlie issued a passionate call to tolerance and Christian compassion. “Don’t tell me you’re not afraid, because you’re lying,” he told the counter-protesters, who yelled in reply, “We’re not afraid!” His speech was later interrupted by a shouted, “We can’t let these rapists into our country!” Hinderlie then observed the heckler was using his First Amendment right to protest, an American value as fundamental
Marley no longer working for county Sandpoint City CounBy Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff The Bonner County Planning Department took yet another hit this week with county officials confirming that Clare Marley is no longer employed. The department has undergone a slew of personnel changes since October, when Bonner County commissioners fired senior planner Dan Carlson for unspecified reasons. Following the termination, Marley stepped down from her planning director position to the vacant senior planner position. 6 /
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Carlson presented commissioners with a formal statement of grievance prior to his firing, which details a dispute with Bonner County Commissioner Todd Sudick. According to the legal statement, Carlson and Sudick argued about the need for Bonner County Road and Bridge to sign off on a cell tower project. At this point, there’s no official reason why Marley is no longer working with the county. However, commissioners have been public about their desire to reduce regulation and the size of county government. [CR]
cil meeting expected to draw crowd
If you want to take part in the city governmental process, the “non discrimination resolution” introduced at the last meeting and tabled will be voted upon Wednesday, Jan. 20. The council meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Sandpoint City Hall. Arrive early if you want to ensure access. [BO]
as the free practice of religion. “If you deny freedom to others, you will lose your freedom,” he said. Later, a woman from the anti-refugee faction took the stage to articulate her views. Her remarks were cut short by organizers so the scheduled speakers could finish on time, upsetting some who felt their side wasn’t represented. “I’m against the Syrians or any Islamic peoples coming to America,” said Bill Brumley
of Cocolalla. “They will not assimilate.” The controversy over refugees, none of whom are slated for resettlement in North Idaho, won’t end with the Bonners Ferry rally. The next big moment in the debate will probably be Jan. 20, when the Sandpoint City Council will resume deliberation over a resolution welcoming properly-vetted refugees into town.
Mayor accepting resumes for open council seat By Reader Staff Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad is accepting resumes until Tuesday, Jan. 26 from registered voters residing within the Sandpoint city limits who are interested in serving on the Sandpoint City Council. The council seat, left vacant by Mayor Rognstad, is a twoyear term to expire in January of 2018. Interested applicants are
asked to include a resume with a cover letter of interest and to describe your experience and expertise that demonstrate your suitability for this position. Interested parties may submit their written resumes to: Mayor 1123 Lake St. Sandpoint, ID 83864; Or you may apply electronically to mayor@sandpointidaho.gov.
FEATURE Legislative session kicks off in Boise By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
It’s a brand new year, and with it comes another session of the Idaho State Legislature. Judging by the proposed resolutions filed for consideration, legislative activity will be split between housekeeping issues and favorite causes among right-wing Republicans. While Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter emphasized continuing along a multi-year plan to bolster Idaho’s educational system, other legislative proposals seek to defund Planned Parenthood, oppose refugee resettlement and remove the permitting process for carrying concealed weapons. If legislators follow Otter’s lead, education will be the driving issue in Boise this session. The governor spent a large chunk of his 2016 State of the State address Monday detailing a plan to increase school funding and improve student enrollment in college or professional training. His budget request proposes a 7.9-percent boost in funding to K-12 education, returning funding cut during the Great Recession. His budget also proposes setting aside $38 million to establishing teacher career ladder revisions. “We made promises during the Great Recession that we are duty-bound to fulfill,” Otter said in his speech. “We have priorities for Idaho’s future that require world-class K-12 schools and an advanced,
responsive post-secondary education system. And now, we have the financial means.” Whether or not legislators will follow the business-as-usual tone of Otter’s speech is an open question. Based on proposed legislation and resolutions, lawmakers have other subjects on their mind beyond funding schools. As she indicated last year, Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, is co-sponsoring a proposed bill with Ronald Nate, R-Rexburg, that would allow Idahoans to carry concealed weapons without a permit. According to a press release issued by Scott and Nate, they plan to introduce the bill within the first weeks of the legislative session. “Passing the bill would make Idaho the ninth state to fully honor the Second Amendment and virtually end permit requirements for law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms,” Nate and Scott said in their press release. According to the legislators, they spent the summer fine-tuning their bill’s language with input from law enforcement. Several Idaho sheriffs have thrown in their support for the bill, including Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler. “The Constitutional Carry Bill would align Idaho law with the true meaning of the Second Amendment,” Wheeler said in the press release. “This bill will not change law en-
forcement tactics. Also, it is well known that most persons who commit criminal acts do not follow the permitting rules anyway.” Proposals submitted to the Idaho Republican Party at its Winter State Central Committee meeting on Jan. 8 and 9 show a similar emphasis on conservative-favored issues. Some of the resolutions considered included halting refugee resettlement in Idaho, opposing the recent COP21 climate change accords and defunding Planned Parenthood. Another proposal recommends replacing appointments to legislative committees, which often favor more veteran lawmakers, with a lottery system. Yet another supports amending the Communist Control Act of 1954 to identify radical Islam as a national threat. “Islam, as a complete social, economic, legal, political and military entity with a religious component, is not a religious denomination under the generally accepted sense of the term and does not merit First Amendment protections under the U.S. Constitution,” the resolution reads. While the Idaho State Legislature has no obligation to consider these party resolutions, they are more evidence of the dueling priorities that will follow lawmakers throughout their 2016 legislative session.
Sidebar from Senator Keough We asked District 1 legislators to share their hopes and expectations for the coming legislative session. While we didn’t hear back from Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, and Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, in time, Sen. Shawn Keough expressed her hopes for a productive few months: “The legislative session began Monday and the Governor shared his State of the State and his budget plans with the legislature. “As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee my focus includes District 1 priorities like: increasing funding for the public K-12 schools from the state to pre-Great Recession levels which may, in part, help to diminish the need for our local school districts to ask the property tax payers to foot the bill for basic services that the State should be providing; making certain that a fair portion of the increased gas taxes and vehicle registration fees goes on the roads in our northern counties; and; several other priorities that the people of District 1 have told me they’d like for me to take a look at on our behalf. I will also continue to provide constituent service to the people at home who need assistance communicating with their state agencies.”
•BRIEFS• District 1 lawmakers visit Bundy militia The standoff between the Ammon Bundy-led militia and the federal government in Burns, Ore., is attracting interlopers of all stripes, including Idaho lawmakers. District 1 Idaho state representatives Sage Dixon and Heather Scott were among a contingent of “uninvited visitors” to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, according to The Oregonian. Joined by Judy Boyle of Idaho, Graham Hunt and Matt Shea of Washington state and Dallas Heard of Oregon, the state legislators said they were on a “fact-finding mission.” “We made the decision as a group to hear both sides of the story which required hearing directly from Ammond Bundy and his group,” the legislators said in a press release. The five lawmakers managed to ruffle a few feathers while in Oregon, including Harney County Judge Steven E. Grasty and Oregon state Rep. Cliff Bentz, a Republican. “[Dallas Heard] had called me and indicated he was heading that direction, and I indicated that was inappropriate,” Bentz told The Oregonian. “I think it’s fair to say I was not enthusiastic about the idea.” [CR]
Sen. Shawn Keough Sandpoint Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard
Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay
The State Capitol Building in Boise. Photo courtesy Creative Commons.
January 14, 2016 /
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Five easy steps to gladden somebody’s life
By Karen Seashore Reader Contributor
Bouquets: •There are a quite a few people in Sandpoint who have left a lasting mark on the community. One of the very first that comes to mind is Jim Lippi, restaurateur and patron saint at Ivano’s Ristorante. Jim’s dedication to good food done right is only eclipsed by his ability to make the customer feel he has not entered a restaurant, but a home. His daughter Jessica and his dedicated staff over the years have continued this effort, and for that I give this week’s bouquet to Jim. There’s a reason why Ivano’s has been a hub of activity since 1984. From the photos of their “famous” patrons of the past to the last smile you receive upon leaving, it’s truly a Sandpoint institution that Jim has given us. Jim, we wish you and your family all the best going into 2016. Stay strong and keep on smiling. You’ve touched a lot of hearts in Sandpoint. Barbs: •This week’s barb goes out to Danielle Ahrens, who has been spreading rumors on her Facebook page regarding our newly elected mayor. Danielle has made the assumption that because Shelby Rognstad is involved with rental properties, that he is only a proponent of the non-discrimination resolution because he wants to sell properties to newly settled refugees. Danielle has intimated on Facebook that she is planning to run for the state senate. It seems like a low tactic for somene running for office to engage in unsubstantiated gossip intended to smear a public official. I don’t think you’ll get very far on this tack, Danielle. Just because you don’t agree with someone’s position doesn’t mean you have to turn on the low attacks. She is even leading the charge to try to recall the mayor. Good luck, Danielle, you’re going to need it. 8 /
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I speak up for letters. I proclaim their power. Letters tucked into envelopes. Pages you can hold in your hands and hear the paper’s light crinkle. This call is for us to write letters to those people we love but don’t see often. Because they live too far away, because we are too busy, because . . . Because easing a fresh letter out of an envelope is like unwrapping a gift. It feels like love. They can prop it between their salt & pepper shakers and smile when they see it. A letter won’t wilt. It doesn’t include half-heard sentences or forgotten details because you can reread it. And read it again. I write mine on my laptop. Of course you can write by hand. For me, computers make it a cinch. Printing your letter out and mailing it is worth more than 25 emails. And it’s so retro, pasting on that stamp. It takes 10 minutes if you just keep it going and don’t hesitate, trying to make it perfect. Here’s how you start: 1. Write: Dear _____, (Aunt Betty, Dad, Mrs. Evenson) 2. Then, if you’re lost for what to say next, describe where you are or what you’re doing: I’m sitting as close as I can to the dining room window right now so I can feel the sun on my left shoulder and ear. We’ve had a solid week of bone-chilling rain. Or: I have a few minutes now between appointments and wanted to write you a note because I’m thinking about you. Work’s going well. It seems lots of people want have their poodles groomed this week. Just be real. Say what comes to your mind. It doesn’t really matter. You don’t have to be clever or write an opus. Your attention to your elder is what matters. Offer them some news about how all the neighborhood lawns have campaign signs for
the new mayor or how you had to get your piano tuned. The main thing is you’re noticing them. 3. Fill in with a reminiscence. Like: Dear Daddy, This morning a beagle squirmed under our gate. He reminded me of Binky. I laughed thinking about the first time you managed to get up on water skis behind the Glastron—we all cheered and Binky barked. But then he tumbled in off the stern and we had to stop to fish him out of Bear Lake. Or: Dear Aunt Betty, I saw ants today crawling all over the peony buds, eating the sweet “glue” that holds the seams together. I always think of you and how you taught me how the ants’ work is necessary for the flower to open. You‘ve certainly always taught me the “importance of aunts.” 4. Put in a sentence hoping they are feeling good (or “OK”): Dear Mary, I was sorry to hear you had to get your stent replaced. I bet you hate sitting around with the jigsaw puzzle gang and watching your walking club go out the door. You’ve always been very fit, and the new stent will surely help you get out there soon. 5. Then print it, sign it by hand, and treat it like a hot potato. Get it into an envelope and pop it into the mail Don’t feel guilty. Better
late than never, huh? And never fall prey to the excuse you can’t think of anything to write. Make your margins big and print in a larger font and even a short note will fill the page nicely. Short and simple is better, actually, for those who are dealing with confusion. You might not get a response. That’s OK. Just trust that your letters are important and keep sending them. After my father’s funeral when his wife offered to give me box of the letters I’d sent over the years, in large font because of his eyes, I realized they’d saved them like treasures. “I hope you’ll keep sending me letters,” she said, this woman who I thought resented me because I’d sided with my mother many years ago. And when Aunt Betty in California says “The gals at the front desk love your wild stamps and envelopes from Idaho and I’m the belle of the ball” for getting letters, so rare in her retirement home, I know I’ve helped others notice her.
Trust me. Letters count. And you’ll catch a glow of “virtuous” when you drop it into that mail slot. Bonus ideas (although don’t let them stall your letter): •Add some comic strips you’ve gathered throughout the week if they remind you of your lucky recipient’s interest or humor. •Add a forget-me-not from your garden. So what if it wilts? •Keep going—once you get your mother’s letter done, copy it for your mother-in-law or your former neighbor. Be sure to reread it and change details that aren’t pertinent. •Make a stack of envelopes and stamps nearby so that doesn’t hold you up. My husband’s aunt was so frail, I was always afraid she’d die before she got my letter.
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121 N 1st AVE • DOWNTOWN SANDPOINT • (208) 263-0707 10 /
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Deschutes Brewery Night 5pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Scott from Deschutes Brewery will be on hand with Woody, their new mobile bar. There will be prizes and a special dollar beer pouring at 8 p.m.
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Throwback Thursdays at 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge Featuring live music with and friends, $2 domestics a Join in playing in this inform night setting every Thursda
Friends Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 7pm @ 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority A Story Brian plays a great collection of covLive Music w/ the Ron Kieper Trio tales of ers with his smooth guitar and vocals 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery a presen Live Music w/ Devon Wade Some of the best of jazz and saxophone of science 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall both originals and covers in the neighborhood A high energy country act from a SandLive Music w/ Ken Mayginnes Pani point local 7pm @ La Rosa Club 7:30 Sewa Live Music w/ Truck Mills Live Music w/ Ben and Cadie Area 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery duo Come down and watch the blues While playing a duo, Ben and Cadie from indie rock Soun master at work on his slide guitar band Harold’s IGA feature originals influenced by Hom gypsy folk ballads, as well as a unique list of covers Live Music w/ Chris Lynch fit fo that highlight a variety of different instruments 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante Native American Drum Circle Politics and Pancakes 8:30am @ Di Luna’s Cafe Bridges Home Sleigh Ride 2-4pm @ Gardenia Center 5pm @ Western Pleasure Guest Ranch The circle will be drumming Sponsored by the Bonner Listen to the music of David and for peace, abundance, kindness, County Democratic Party. Tami Gunter on a sleigh ride! and the prevalence of The Good Featuring special guest Red Road. Donations are wel- Shelly Landry who will Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip come. For more info, contact share “What’s happening 7-9pm @ La Rosa Club in Boise this session” Jack at 304-9300 Sandpoint native songwriter Live Music w/ The Electric Cole Show 4:30pm @ Chimney Rock Grill (Schweitzer)
Sandpoint Chess Club Game Night at the Niner 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee 9pm @ 219 Lounge Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome Come down and take part in game night with Ra Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s
Human Rights Open Mic – 5:30pm @ POAC The public is invited to listen or participate b reciting, singing, or playing music that inspire ports the ideals exemplified by the life of Dr. by the civil rights movement. Free and open to
Five Minutes of Fame 6:30pm @ Cafe Bodega (Foster’s Crossing) Writers, musicians, listeners... welcome all! Third Wednesday of every month Bike Movie Night 6pm @ Greasy Fingers Bikes n’ Repair Held each Wednesday in January, and the movie starts at 6 p.m.
Sandpoint City Council Meeting 5:30pm @ Sandpoint City Hall It’s always a good idea to attend a city counci er you have a chance, but this particular meet many reasons, namely the non discrimination be voted upon. The council needs public inpu you can and support your city government Bingo Night 6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Karaoke Night 10pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge
Banff Mountain Film Festival 7pm @ Panida Theater This is it, the film festival you’ve been waiting for all year. For three days, catch all the action from the best outdoor adventure films in the world. Tickets sell out fast, so get yours quick!
Monarch Open Mic 6-8pm @ Monarch Mountain Held on the first and third Thursday of every month. Open to all!
Throwback Thu 7-11pm @ 219 L Featuring live m and friends, $2 d Join in playing in night setting eve Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt
ful
January 14-21, 2015
rsdays at the 219 ounge usic with Brian Jacobs omestics and $3 crafts. this informal open mic y Thursday night
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
The Conversation 6-8pm @ Ivano’s Ristorante What could Sandpoint look, sound and move like as a vibrant art and business community? Come and give input on a mural that we will create showcasing our visions from our last December meeting. We will be drawing, writing, and musically playing out your ideas that will help us visualize our Most Beautiful Town; Sandpoint
Friends of Scotchman Peaks 11th Anniversary Party Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 7pm @ Little Panida Theater 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante A StoryTelling Company show featuring true and not-so-true tales of the West, some music from some unusual suspects and Live Music w/ High Treason Ammunition a presentation from the FSPW executive director on the art and 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub science of long distance hiking. $10 in advance, $12 at the door Great local band with a punk influence Keith Lee Morris Book Reading and Signing Panida Benefit Concert with Michael Seward 6pm @ Bernd Barrel 7:30pm @ the Panida Theater Morris is the author of the new book, “Travelers Seward was a leading member of The Druids, a Bay Rest,” and will give a reading from the book as well y Area rock band. Seward later went on the road as a as sign copies (available for purchase at the event). es duo team and then solo. He recorded his first CD at Morris grew up in Sandpoint, and both of his parar Sound Control Studios in Nashville, titled “Headed ents were teachers at Sandpoint High School. The Home.” His performance in Sandpoint will be a benebuzz is building over this new literary work. The fit for the Panida, so make plans to attend. $12 tickets e event is free and open to the public “The Oneida Speak” MLK Weekend at Schweitzer (Jan. 16-18) de 12:30 & 2:30pm @ All weekend @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort uest Ranch Sandpoint Library Three extended days of fun on the slopes. Satid and A free showing of the urday evening is the the Northern Lights show de! Native Heritage Film featuring fireworks and a torchlight parade Series, with a discus- down the ski run and into Schweitzer Village. ntrip sion led by Idaho Myth- Also live music at Taps. Don’t miss it! Jan. 21-23 weaver’s Jane Fritz er
ht with Racheal
Live Music w/ Bob Evans Band 5pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Great collection of songs from a great guy
m @ POAC Gallery rticipate by reading, hat inspires and supife of Dr. King and nd open to the public
“John of God & Her healing heart” 10am @ Gardenia Center A presentation by Tina Friedman Live Music w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Best way to get through the mid week blues? Drink beer and listen to music. Good thing you can do both at Eichardt’s
ity council meeting whenevular meeting is important for imination resolution which will ublic input, so please show up if rnment
wback Thursdays at the 219 m @ 219 Lounge ng live music with Brian Jacobs ends, $2 domestics and $3 crafts. playing in this informal open mic etting every Thursday night Beers! Eichardt’s Pub
Sip and Shop Fundraiser 4pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Ten percent of all proceeds from the Pend d’Oreille Winery gift shop, Tasting Room and Bistro Rouge will be donated to Relay for Life, which is a Bonner County event to assist the American Cancer Society
LPOSD Spelling Bee 5pm @ SHS Auditorium School districts throughout North Idaho will hold spelling bees in January that qualify students for the North Idaho Spelling Bee scheduled for March 19 at North Idaho College
More than a store, a Super store!
Great selectio
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SPORTS an d MEDICAL B RACE
Everything fr om compress S io stockings to sports bracin n g!
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour @ the Panida Theater Jan. 22 Late Night at the Museum: A Night with Nell Shipman @ Bonner County History Museum Jan. 23 Smokin’ Aces Slopestylen @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort
Jan. 28 Music Conservatory of Sandpoint’s Opera Trio @ the Panida Theater Jan. 29 Toyota Free Ski Day @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort
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To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com. Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.
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-gizmoSorry, these pictures are a little fuzzy, but that is Gizmo. He is very difficult to photograph because he is just plain fuzzy. Even his tail is like a scared cat naturally, big an fluffy. Anyway, this is how he eats dry food, (top left) on the floor, reaching out and tipping the bowl toward him so it all rolls toward him and is easy to access. He also dislikes the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve because of the fireworks, but loves to get dressed up as a super hero for Halloween (top right). Gizmo is an odd little boy—he is now three. But he has also had keyboard lessons as a kitten (bottom right). weekdays from 6am - 10am
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Jan Hassler Sandpoint
Changing Your Mind Taming your internal critic By Suzen Fiskin Reader Columnist
You’re going about your day minding your own business. You go to the mailbox and discover that you spaced out on paying your credit card bill. Fill in your favorite obscenity, and then “KABOOM!” – that nasty voice from within gets busy. “Can’t you do anything right? What are you, stupid? You’ll never get ahead . . . you’re a loser!” Ah, yes . . . the familiar rantings of our internal critic. That personal saboteur that never misses a chance to make us feel like something we stepped in and have to wipe off our shoes. The real challenge is that these voices are usually beneath our conscious awareness, and most folks don’t believe we have any control over them. Think again! You can make peace with that critical voice and have it work with you rather than against you. While I can’t dig deeply with you individually here, I can offer a fun technique that will give you a running head start on how to turn that negativity around. I had a client who came to me because he felt like a failure. By all external signs, Bob was very successful.
Valid through February, 2016 for new clients only
ben@sandpointreader.com
READER
He was a partner in a thriving law firm, made upwards of $500k a year, had a wife he loved, happy kids and he’d just won a huge case. Not exactly the makings of defeat! It was time to check in with his unconscious mind. I got him relaxed and put him into a light trance. From this state, I asked him to go back to a recent time when he felt like a failure (his word for it). I watched his face contort and knew he’d landed on something. With a few more Suzen Fiskin. questions, he revealed that the morning after winning his recent big case, he had a loud, authoritative voice coming from the behind his head that said, “That’s not good enough . . . You can do better!” His best wasn’t good enough. No wonder he couldn’t feel successful! I asked him to recall some other times when he’d heard that voice. It was no surprise that it was his father’s, and I asked him what his father’s positive intention was. Bob shared that his dad had sacrificed his own dreams of being an attorney so that his son could go to law school. He wanted his boy to enjoy
the success that he’d never known. After understanding this, Bob was better, but the voice still had an impact. We did a variation of the following technique that helped him change that voice around: 1. Close your eyes and relax somewhere quiet. Take some slow, deep breaths. 2. Remember a time when your inner critical voice gave you a hard time. 3. Pay careful attention to where the voice comes from, the tone, the pitch, the volume, the pace, the words. Whose voice is it? Is it angry, sad, urgent? 4. Ask the voice what its positive intention is for you. How is it trying to help you? What does it want to make sure you do, or say or believe? You might need some help from a pro with this one. However, the next step should reduce the impact of that inner negatoma! 5. These voices usually come from behind or in either ear. Move that inner critic to the front of you. Push it away from your body and shrink it until it’s very small. Here’s the fun part! Pop that voice into your right big toe. Now give it a big hit of helium until it’s a high pitched squeak like Mickey Mouse. Have the voice say what it said over and over in this new weird tone. Nine times out of 10, this will take away a lot of the sting from that nasty
voice. If you manage to laugh, it’s even better. Please write me at the email address below if you had an interesting experience with this process or have a question. Have a great week! With over two decades of experience, Suzen Fiskin is a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Success Coach, and speaker. She has a blossoming personal development practice in Sandpoint. She is also the author of “Playboy Mansion Memoirs.” suzenfiskin@gmail.com
Random Corner Did you know that baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams was cryogenically frozen, supposedly without his consent? In fact, his head was removed to be frozen separate from his body. The head was shaved, drilled with holes and accidentally cracked 10 times while being suspended in liquid nitrogen. Williams’ son John Henry is responsible for the action, according to his daught Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell. John Henry, an advocate for cryonics, was power-of-attorney at the time of the slugger’s death. Williams Ferrell stated that her father’s wishes were to be cremated. While “The Kid” is considered to be the most famous person cryogenically frozen, do you know who isn’t frozen? Walt Disney. Though Internet rumors claim otherwise, he was cremated after his death in 1966. [BO] January 14, 2016 /
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SPORTS
Year-round golf in North Idaho? Awesome.
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
It’s tough being a golf nut in North Idaho. First, we’ve got these long, cold winters that seem to last forever. Then, once the snow is gone, we have to wait until the golf courses are dry enough to support foot traffic. At best, golfers usually only get about half the year to hit the little white ball around. A lot of bad kinks can happen to a golf swing in six months of inactivity. Thanks to John Bonar and Jeff Boger, there’s now hope for year-round golf in North Idaho. Enter Sandpoint Country Club, owned and operated by Bonar and Boger. The new business offers indoor simulated golf that is the closest you can get to the real thing. The best part: You can play in the winter! Or at night! Or at night in the winter during a blinding snowstorm! It’s always sunny and mild at Sandpoint Country Club. “We went up and skied until about eleven, had some beer and pizza, then teed off for our 12 o’clock tee time,” said Ralph Lotspeich, PGA professional for Mirror Lake Golf Course in Bonners Ferry. Sandpoint Country Club has been a dream for Bonar and Boger for years, but it was too far out of reach until recently. “We’ve been wanting to do this for about four years, but the simulator technology was just too expensive,” said Bonar. “The simulator reps usually recommend having a city of at least 100,000 people to get full use out of it. That turned us off at first.” But, last Christmas when Bonar was shopping in Coeur d’Alene, he was able to find a cheaper (and better) way to make indoor golf a reality for a town the size of Sandpoint.
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“While shopping in the Silver Lake Mall, I heard the familiar sound of golf shots being hit,” said Bonar. Bonar investigated the sound and found Scarlett’s Golf System, developed by Roger Scarlett. Bonar estimates Scarlett’s system is roughly 75-percent cheaper than comparable simulator systems, making the start-up costs more manageable. Scarlett’s simulator system doesn’t use any clunky sensors, but instead utilizes two high-speed cameras that capture the ball’s flight from the tee and project the flight path onto the digital screen after the shot is struck. “The yardage feels really good,” said Lotspeich. “The hardest part is chipping and putting, but I’m starting to get the hang of it. It’s just a blast. Way better than hitting into a net.” There are two stalls available with simulators featuring 90 different golf courses, 85 of which are real courses. The other five are “fantasy” courses that don’t exist in reality. Being a former golf professional, I can testify that the experience was far better than any golf simulation I’ve played before. The hitting mats approximate grass, while still allowing a tee to be pushed through without doing damage. The intelligent design of the simulator allows the golfer to see a realistic interpretation of what their shot might look like in reality. You don’t just hit into a screen, but instead, three big screens surround you, giving the feel of really standing on a course. After two holes, all three of us were hooked. Part of the experience is the relaxed, family atmosphere that appeals to experienced golfers and novices alike. Speaking of novices, Bonar and Boger have made it really easy to come out and
Davis McDonald, 12, tees off at Sandpoint Country Club. Photo. by Ben Olson.
John Bonar (left) and Jeff Boger (right) in front of the golf simulator screen. Photo by Ben Olson. swing some clubs even if you’ve never played before. Bonar was once a PGA professional at Hidden Lakes Golf Resort, and is always happy to give free pointers. You can even use loaner clubs for free if you don’t have a set of your own. The simulator allows a lot of different combinations of elements. You can choose a sunny day, or go for a rainy, windy experience without getting a drop of rain on you. The side spin has been set to 25 percent of reality, which means if you’ve got a wicked slice in reality, the simulator helps correct it a little bit. “We’ll gradually increase the spin ratio over time,” said Bonar. “If we were to program it at 100 percent, the game would be so difficult, you’d leave and never come back.” The rates are pretty straightforward. It’s $40 an hour to play, no matter how many players. It takes roughly one hour for a person to get through 18 holes, or two people can usually get through nine holes in an hour. The hot deal so far is buying a ten-hour punch card for $300, which saves you $100. The 3,300 square foot operating space has plenty of room for private parties. One of the simulator booths even doubles as a gigantic screen home theater for an epic television watching experience. There’s also a putting green and a room to store your golf clubs if you want to become a regular. If you like to use “aiming juice” while playing golf, they plan on having their beer and wine license by February. There are also plans in the future to offer lessons. “One of our goals is to make golf more accessible to people, even during summer,” said Bonar. “There’s never anybody
behind you pushing, and you never have to follow a slow group. You can play at your own pace and stop whenever you want.” There are monthly tournaments for members of the golfing community to participate in, like this month’s nine-hole scramble at four different courses. Players come in and post their scores and are able to compete in friendly competitions. While it is sometimes possible to “walk on” when it’s slow, Bonar strongly suggests calling in for a tee time to ensure minimal waiting. Who’d have thought? Golf in January? Awesome job, guys. The Sandpoint Country Club is located at 75 McGhee Road, across the street from the former Coldwater Creek campus. For tee times and other information, call (208) 627-4000.
LITERATURE SHS graduate’s novel invites a dreamlike revery of North Idaho By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Good Night, Idaho is not the first fictional town from the Idaho panhandle that Keith Lee Morris has used in his fiction, but it may be the oddest. A Sandpoint High School graduate, Morris acknowledges that North Idaho has left an indelible impression upon his memory. His parents were both teachers at SHS, and he still keeps in contact with a lot of folks in the region. That’s why North Idaho is often used as the locale for his works of fiction. “I still have a lot of good friends here in this area,” said Morris. “They are people that I care about a great deal. When I start coming up with ideas for fiction, [North Idaho] seems to be the default setting.” While visiting a friend in Wallace, Morris began the formulation for a new novel, published this year by Little, Brown and Company. “On one of my visits to Wallace, I had a friend that had access to an old, abandoned hotel,” said Morris. “Wallace has a lot of secret passageways that wind around underneath buildings. Something caught my attention and got my imagination going while I started writing this novel.” The result is “Travelers Rest,” a chilling tale of a family that gets stuck in North Idaho under a mountain of snow and strange occurrences. The story opens with the Addison family in the car heading east through the Idaho panhandle during a blinding snowstorm. Tonio, the patriarch, is a finicky anthropology professor driving his screwup brother Robbie back to their home in South Carolina as part of a court-ordered rehabilitation program. Tonio’s preoccupied wife Julia suggests they get off the interstate and out of the snow, pulling into a town called Good Night, Idaho (inspired by the historic mining town Wallace). Rounding out the family is Tonio and Julia’s precocious 10-year-old son Dewey. The family pulls into a dilapidated historic hotel called “Travelers Rest” seeking a room for the night. While Tonio expresses dismay with the choice, Julia urges them to stay, seeing something in the old husk of a hotel that appeals to her. They turn in for the night, and the adventure begins. Each member of the family is separated in the creaky old hotel, and the novel follows the foggy, ethereal adventure each embarks upon to reunite. Morris gives a nod to Stephen King’s masterpiece “The Shining” with his elements of horror and mystery. He also channels Marcel Proust beautifully with his willful choice to eliminate plot as the central driving force, instead focusing on each character’s jour-
ney through time, memory and space. They fumble about the empty hotel and surrounding areas of the town, the snow never ceasing, as if they’d been trapped inside a snow globe shaken repeatedly by a petulant child. The snow is the elusive fifth character in “Travelers Rest.” It is ever present, and while reading further into Morris’ fictional dementia, the reader can almost feel the cold flakes piling up on the pages. “Travelers Rest” is the perfect marriage between a thoughtful treatise on involuntary memories and a closet horror novel. Morris, however, doesn’t utilize any of the traditional horror novel gimmicks, but instead tells a compelling story that somehow leaves the reader feeling uneasy, yet desperate to keep turning the page. I particularly enjoyed the slight differences in narrative tone that Morris employs with each character; for Tonio’s story, he takes on a fussy, rushed tone. For Julia, the narrative wanders with her meandering mind. Dewey’s narrative employs the use of a more childlike feel, while Robbie’s section is told as if through the myopic haze of a recovering alcoholic.
SHS graduate Keith Lee Morris and his latest novel, “Travelers Rest.” Courtesy photo. The dreamlike narrative continues throughout the entirety of the novel until the end, when a great suspenseful finish brings it all into focus.
Author Keith Lee Morris is a professor of creative writing at Clemson University. He will be reading and signing copies of his book “Travelers Rest” at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15 at Bernd Barrel in Sandpoint.
Jan. 14 & 16 @ 7:30pm Jan. 17 @ 3:30pm
“Hitchcock/Truffaut” film
Filmmakers discuss how Francois Truffaut’s 1966 book “Cinema According to Hitchcock” influenced their work
FRIday, Jan. 15 @ 7:30pm
Michael Seward in concert
A panida benefit concert featuring a leading member “THE DRUIDS” -- a Bay Area rock band in the 60s & 70s
Jan. 22 @ 7:30pm & Jan 23 @ 3:30pm Panida little theater
“A Cat in Paris” film
A Cat in Paris was nominated for best Animated Film in 2012 and made a huge showing at festivals around the world
Jan. 21-23 @ 7pm
Banff Film Festival World Tour 2016 Banff Film Festival World Tour is back in Sandpoint tickets available in advance for $16 at panida.org
Coming soon: Youth, Revenant, Brooklyn, Lady in the Van
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The Straight Poop: o ah Id th or N in es ss ne si bu ly nd e quest for dog-frie By Drake the Dog Reader Columnist
Where am I taking my humans on this first Saturday of 2016? My Black Lab mix, rescue pup friend Pepper, has been barkin’ up a storm about La Petite Maison. “Pepper,” I said, “You’re not French, and this sounds so pretentious. What’s the real name of this place?” Pepper replied, “Well, OK, your rustic experience today will be Small House Winery.” What a great day for wine tasting. The holiday company is gone and the Missus and Mister need to replenish the wine cellar in preparation for the upcoming birthday celebrations. We deployed Google Maps to find 1636 Baldy Park Drive. I was so excited to see Pepper and catch up on all of the pawliday happenings. Patrick Werry, winemaker, welcomed us to his “house.” When the winery is open to the public on Saturdays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Pepper is safely tucked away; not at the winery. While your humans enjoy wine tasting, you can snuggle down in her bed and slurp from her water bowl. She doesn’t mind. I had to explain to the Mister and Missus that Pepper is suspicious of strangers, which stems from her wanderings on Schweitzer Road seven years ago. Lisa and Patrick found her between switchbacks two and three. She told them that she had been wandering in the woods for about a week, and was looking for a home and a real job. Hence, she works in the winery daily alongside Patrick and Lisa Gerber when strangers aren’t present. This makes her happy. For the aforementioned reasons, Pepper’s forte is in the field of supervision, not customer service. She supervises the entire winemaking process, which starts late in the summer. She goes along for the ride when Patrick travels to
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Walla Walla or Prosser to get grapes. She loves walking off leash in the vineyard while the team drops off the bins. There are so many great vineyard sniffs! Making wine is a long, slow, patient process–hence, this is not a job for a cat. Pepper supervises the process from her bed in the winery. Crushing, de-stemming, fermenting, adding yeast, measuring the brix level, and waiting for it to hit zero, pressing off the grapes, putting the young wine in barrels and waiting six months to two years. Then comes the bottling, corking, and labeling. The bottles need to sit, so they do not endure bottle shock. Patrick touches every bit of fruit, sorts and presses and ferments it by hand. Then the fun begins. Pepper’s parents taste test the wine, while Pepper gets to sniff the cork! The parents constantly taste during the process and decide when the wine is ready to sell. (Tough job!) Talk about a string of dog day afternoons. It’s so hard for Pepper to get away. She has her bed next to the fireplace at home on Schweitzer Mountain. When she is in town, we explore the Syringa Pend Oreille Bay and Sand Creek trails together. We also like to run, snowshoe and chase our parents on cross-country skis! Pepper usually lets her Mom take the lead because it’s hard work
blazing a trail through deep snow…but also because she doesn’t like guys with beards and hoods. I, on the other paw, like running up ahead. We both love visiting the treat dispenser building (the bank). Enough about us. Pepper recalls that in 2009, his Dad, Patrick, was feeling like he needed a creative outlet to pursue his passion. After a few bottles of wine (maybe too much), he decided he’d like to make wine himself. Over the years, he educated himself on making wine. The business side was another challenge, as he learned how to work with growers and purchase grapes from one of the finest grape-growing regions—Washington State. Relationships are everything because growers won’t sell their fruit to anyone. Small House opened to the public in November of 2013. That year, their Small House Red (a staple in our house) was honored with a silver medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Kudos! As the Mister says, “Wine is like duct tape, it fixes everything!” Rules of the Small House: •Enjoy the simple quiet life at the winery. •Relax in Pepper’s bed and
Winemaker Patrick Werry shows Drake around the business. drink from her water bowl. •No cork spitting! •Shake Patrick’s paw and •Help your humans carry sit quietly for a buddy biscuit the wine home. treat. •Put your paw print in the •Sniff, sniff, sniff! Learn guest book so Pepper will the difference between the aro- know you were there. ma of Chardonnay and Malbec.
Small House Winery at work, with Pepper supervising (bottom right). Look for this sticker to see dogfriendly businesses in North Idaho.
MUSIC
This week’s RLW by Ben Olson
Michael Seward: Still kicking after all these years By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Michael Seward isn’t exactly what you’d call a “spring chicken.” The 67-year-old founding member of Bay Area rock band “The Druids” has been around the block a few times and rubbed elbows with a fair share of big names in his career playing country, rock n’ roll and blues. On Friday, Jan. 15, Seward will be playing a special solo show at the Panida Theater, with portions of the proceeds benefitting everyone’s favorite community theater in Sandpoint. I had a chance to talk with Seward about his upcoming show, about the crazy days in the past, about his ranching days and what keeps him making music after all these years.
to number one in Sacramento. We opened up for the Drifters, for the Gollywogs, which ended up being Creedence Clearwater Revival. I got to hear songs like “Suzie Q” live before they were ever released.
How long has it been since you’ve played a show in Sandpoint?
You own a ranch now. How did that come about?
Oh, I played as much as anybody in the Sandpoint area back in the day, but the last time I played there for a regular job was three summers ago. I used to be a house band for the Edgewater—now it’s called Trinity. I have a ranch now, about 10 miles from the border, on the Kootenai River. I’ve been playing up at Big Daddy’s in Porthill, and over in Montana right across from Bull Lake at the Halfway House. You’ve played with some pretty big names in the past, right? You remember Lee Greenwood? I got Gordon Mote, the piano player for Lee Greenwood on that first album. I had the drummer for Barbara Mandrell. I also had Charlie Daniels Band’s lead backup singer. They almost put me on the show, but they said my music was too political. How did you get your start? I started out in garage bands. Pat Simmons from the Doobie Brothers and I were playing together. There was no Doobie Brothers back then. In fact, I tried to get Pat in my band. We were both learning how to write songs. I was in a band called “The Druids” in the ‘60s. Our record got at least to number two on the charts. Someone even said we got
How has the music business changed since you were a player? It really has changed a lot. I was categorized into the country field, but I kind of cross the lines. I go back to the old feel. The younger people now that are trying to get that thing that’s happened in the ‘60s can’t quite nail it. You almost have to live it. I’m really getting tired of this new country music.
My grandfather was a cattle rancher in the very northern corner of Nevada and Oregon, in Modock County. The last Indian wars were fought up there. He was a rancher. I’ve had that in my blood since I was a little kid … Now I have a beautiful ranch. I’m surrounded on both sides by two large landowners. Have you always made a living playing music, or did you have a day job? I’ve supported myself primarily by playing music all these years. I’ve also worked construction, and had some good luck in real estate, but music is what I’ve been doing all my life. I’ve had some hard knocks, that’s my story. There’s been a lot of good times through it all. What inspires your songwriting? It comes naturally. I don’t read or write music … it’s a spiritual thing. It comes from deep down. I got into country just by living in the country. What is real country music to you? To me, real country music is people who love the country. People that want to go back to the way things used to be, living off the land, getting together, the camraderies and yahooing.
READ
If you’ve ever successfully made it through David Foster Wallace’s opus “Infinte Jest,” you might also like to check out a collection of his essays and arguments titled “A Supposedly Fun Thing You’ll Never Do Again.” In the title essay, Wallace tells a humorous story about his experience on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, namely the indulgences that spoil him and eventually turn him into a spoiled brat.
LISTEN
Michael Seward with his horse Spirit. Courtesy photo. People helped each other out a lot back then. They worked hard and played hard. The got together and had a good time. That’s something that’s missing in this world a lot today What have you been working on lately? I’m finishing up my third album now. It’s called “Still Kicking.” It’s a toe tapper, pretty up tempo. It’s all about getting old and not copping to it. Getting old is in your head. I’m still a kid at 67 years old. My horse’s name is Spirit and is at least 27 years old. My horse and I got something in common; we’re both old and still kicking.
to relate to someone who’s been down and out… that’s what I’m in it for. I suppose it’s nice to make a little money, too. Catch Michael Seward at the Panida Theater Friday, Jan. 15. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $12 each.
Crossword Solution
Fans of Boise-based indie rock band Built to Spill will enjoy front man Doug Martsch’s solo album “Now You Know” which was released in 2002. Martsch departed from rock with the solo effort, instead forumulating an album with a bluesy, folk feel to it. His slide guitar creates catchy riffs that stick in your head for days. While I enjoy Built to Spill’s dedication to rock, I feel M a r t s c h ’s solo work is more palatable and accessible.
WATCH
Are you a fan of whales, the sea, Herman Melville and the pre-industrial revolutionary world as I am? Ron Howard’s new opus “In the Heart of the Sea” is one hell of a movie. Instead of telling the story of “Moby Dick,” Howard has instead told the true story of the vessel Essex, which sunk after being attacked by a white whale. The story provided the basis for Melville’s epic novel. The rest is history. Don’t pay any attention to the critics, who for some reason decided to pan this film. I was mesmorized and held in awe during some of the insane scenes at sea. Critics... they wouldn’t know a good movie if it came up and bit them on the Pequod.
What keeps you going? Just playing music. If you can bring a smile to someone’s face, January 14, 2016 /
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w o N & Then compiled by
Ben Olson
Each week, we feature a new photograph taken from the same vantage point as one taken long ago. See how we’ve changed, and how we’ve stayed the same. Historical information provided and verified by Bonner County Museum staff and volunteers. The Museum is located at 611 S. Ella — (208) 263-2344.
George O’Donnell’s Livery Stable in Sandpoint. It was located on the corner of First Avenue and Superior Street. Superior is the street in front. In the windows are Harvey, Mary and Pearl O’Donnell. The building on the far back right was the Johnson House, which is currently the Coldwell Banker office on Superior.
ACROSS
The same view today. The Bonner County Courthouse currently occupies the corner where the Livery Stable was. The Coldwell Banker building on the right can be compared to the Johnson House in the above photo. Unfortunately, the angle is not exact due to the dip behind the Powerhouse, but it’s close enough for government work.
2015
inveigle
/in-VEY-guh l/
[verb] 1. To entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements (usually followed by into). “Sally inveigled the man into buying her a drink.”
Woorf tdhe Week
Corrections: In my editorial on page 3 last week, I erroneously said the next city council meeting was Jan. 21. It’s actually Wednesday, Jan. 20. I hope to see you all turn out in support of our council, no matter what decision they make. [BO] 18 /
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CROSSWORD
1905
/ January 14, 2016
1. Rend 5. Money 9. A hollow cylindrical shape 13. Norse god 14. Cars 16. Tilled 17. Religious offshoot 18. Anger 19. Blown away 20. Fruity-smelling compound 22. Despotic 24. Burden 26. Latin name for our planet 27. Prolific 30. Sags 33. Turn off 35. 8th Greek letter 68. Coagulate 37. Prefix meaning “Modern” 69. Carpenter’s groove 38. Noodles 70. Umpires 41. Ear of corn 71. Carry 42. Films of impurities 45. Pertaining to tactics DOWN 48. Sleeping sickness carrier 1. Thorny flower 51. Pee-pee 2. Midmonth date 52. Anagram of “Smite” 3. Triumphant 54. Barely managed 4. Accord 55. An antacid 5. Bird call 59. Be 6. Emanation 62. Biblical garden 7. Begin 63. Second prime # 8. A bed of rich soil 65. Balm ingredient 9. Egyptian king 66. Left 10. Hawkeye State 67. Pitt movie
Solution on page 17 11. Equal 12. Countercurrent 15. Bake in a shallow dish 21. Wreckage 23. Gait faster than a walk 25. Smack 27. Devotees 28. Choose by voting 29. Estimated time of arrival 31. Indiscretion 32. Brown ermine 34. NYC time zone 36. Competent 39. Letter after sigma 40. Unit of land
43. Souvenir 44. Goulash 46. Kid 47. Not precise 49. Statistics 50. One or the other 53. Wait on 55. Bawdy 56. Bright thought 57. Fix 58. Coral barrier 60. Lampblack 61. French for “Head” 64. N N N N
They say the mountain holds many secrets, but the biggest is this: “I am a fake mountain.”
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