Reader_June1_2023

The week in random review

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

quotable

“I never vote for anyone. I always vote against.”

— W.C. Fields, comedian

All you need is love

As the ad on the May 18 Reader’s back cover proclaimed, Sgt. Pepper the cat has passed away. Owned by Janice Simeone, Sgt. Pepper was without a doubt the oldest cat in Sandpoint, aged just a week shy of 27 years old when she passed. The oldest living cat on record was Creme Puff, born in 1967 and passing in 2005, living to the ripe old age of 38 years and 3 days. Currently, the oldest still-living cat is Flossie, born in 1995, just over a year before Sgt. Pepper. Simeon told the Reader she received Sgt. Pepper from her best friend Trudie Weiden. It appears longevity ran in the litter. Sgt. Pepper’s sibling, Oscar, also lived with Simeone and made it to 19 years and five months. The other two kittens were housed by another Sandpoint woman, one of which named Twinkie lived until 22 years old. Rest in peace, Sgt. Pepper.

where have all the salad bars gone?

With the exception of grocery stores, Sandpoint no longer has a restaurant with a salad bar. Those seeking a salad bar will have to travel a half hour north to Bonners Ferry to the Kootenai River Inn to enjoy a self-serve salad bar. While many restaurants claim to have invented the concept, it’s generally agreed that The Freund’s Sky Club Supper Club in Plover, Wisc., is believed to have opened the first salad bar in 1950. Russell Swanson of Swanson Equipment in Stevens Point, Wisc., wound up specializing in manufacturing the special bars for taverns, stating in 1950 that he is “most proud of designing and building that first salad bar.”

what’s in a name?

The Social Security Administration began compiling a list of baby names in 1997, with names dating back to 1880. For the sixth year in a row, Liam is the most popular baby name for boys in America for 2022, while Olivia takes the honor for the fourth consecutive year for girls. Popular male baby names include Noah, Oliver, James, Elijah, William, Henry, Lucas, Benjamin and Theodore. The remainder of the top 10 list for female baby names includes Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, Sophia, Isabella, Ava, Mia, Evelyn and Luna. The SSA also lists names that are on trend from pop culture, with the fastest rising boy names being Dutton, Kayce, Chosen, Khaza and Eithan while female trendy names include Wrenlee, Neriah, Arlet, Georgina and Amiri. Absent from all lists is the name Seven, made popular by the character George Costanza from the TV show Seinfeld. Oh well, there’s always next year.

READER DEAR READERS,

June has always been a great month.

June was my grandmother’s name and I’ve always enjoyed meeting other Junes in the world. Every time June rolls around on the calendar I think of her, even though she died when I was young.

June is also the birthday month for my partner, Cadie, who wears a necklace that was owned by my grandmother. June wore it across the Atlantic Ocean when immigrating to America from Sweden about 100 years ago, and Cadie wore the same necklace while crossing the same Atlantic Ocean in 2018.

June is like a ramp that leads up to summer. Sometimes we get weeks of cold weather and rain. Other years, we’re already seeking shady spots by the lake because it’s so hot. The thunderstorms of June can be spectacular, and Sandpoint hasn’t quite hit its busy peak months of July and August, so there are more familiar faces than usual.

I hope you all enjoy the first day of June out there, dear readers.

–Ben Olson, publisher

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

www.sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

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

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

Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)

Advertising: Kelsey Kizer kelsey@sandpointreader.com

Contributing Artists: Bill Holt (cover), Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Jim Small, Brenda Norrie, Vicki Reich, Mark and Tracy Perigen, Bill Borders

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Ed Ohlweiler, Jacob Fischler, Mike Peterson, Liz Johnson-Gebhardt, Marcia Pilgeram, Sandy Compton

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The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person

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About the Cover

This week’s cover was painted by Bill Holt, who passed away. His wife Shirley said Bill was fortunate to see a steam engine pass through town and always wanted to paint one with the Sandpoint Amtrak Depot.

County solicits bids for controversial fairgrounds RV park expansion

Board continues split votes to move forward with project as it awaits IDPR grant extension request decision

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

The board of Bonner County commissioners voted May 30 to move forward with soliciting bids for construction of an RV campground on a parcel between the fairgrounds and sheriff’s office, voting along lines that have become familiar as the debate over the property has dominated county business in recent months — Commissioners Steve Bradshaw and Luke Omodt in favor of advertising for bids, and Commissioner Asia Williams against.

Despite having an hour set aside at the top of its Tuesday business meeting to hear public comment, that time was cut short May 30 by a pair of chairman-called recesses — the first being in response to accusations of “lying” by Bonner County Republican Central Committee Treasurer Spencer Hutchings, who consistently presses Omodt and Bradshaw with questions about what he calls their “obsession” with the contested property.

Hutchings questioned why the agenda featured an item to solicit bids for the RV park when the Bonner County Fair Board sent letters earlier in the month stating that it had no interest in moving forward with the project.

Following the first recess, Bradshaw reiterated comments he made in previous meetings

about the RV park expansion — made possible by an Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation grant — being a way to generate more revenue for the fairgrounds and fund major facility improvements.

The second recess occurred soon after Bradshaw’s comments, when Williams pushed back by seeking a specific answer as to why the expanded campground needed to be built on the land between the fairgrounds and sheriff’s office, which many see as the natural future location of a new justice complex.

Bradshaw said the area was the “only feasible, logical place for it” due to parking difficulties at the fairgrounds. During Williams’ attempt to rebut, Bradshaw interrupted to accuse her of “hijacking the meeting.”

“The chair is not recognizing you at this moment,” he said, just before recessing the meeting until the 10 a.m. start time for agendized items.

“Thank this lady right here,” he said to the audience, in reference to Williams.

The RV park issue came up again during the meeting when Omodt used his District 3 Commissioner Report to outline the multi-year history of the project, and later made a motion to advertise for bids, setting a deadline of Wednesday, June 21 at 2 p.m.

“Why does it make sense for us to continue to put out money for a project based on a grant that we may not receive an extension [for], especially given the events of the current Fair Board voting unanimously to not move forward with the request attached to this grant?” Williams asked, referencing the fact that the BOCC voted 2-1 earlier in the month to request an extension for the IDPR grant.

“This parcel and this project has been on the radar of the Bonner County Fair since 2001. This has been discussed in open meetings, public workshops, with the Bonner County Fair Board,” Omodt responded,

stating that the commissioners’ office recently requested a joint meeting with the Fair Board but had not yet heard back.

“Speaking for myself, I’m not interested in forcing people to participate,” he added. “I do expect people to keep their word.”

Williams questioned whether the Fair Board had adequate time to respond regarding the joint meeting. Bradshaw interjected to say that the Fair Board’s lack of response could constitute “grounds for removal,” prompting audible disagreement from the audience.

Bradshaw then attempted to move onto public comment, prompting Williams to say that

she was “still speaking” and going on to accuse Bradshaw of wanting to “trash the whole Fair Board because they won’t agree.”

“She is a master at manipulation and turning things around,” Bradshaw said of Williams, raising his voice. “What I said is they have a responsibility to answer to the board of commissioners.”

Deliberations devolved into a debate about “respect” before Bradshaw called for the vote, and the bid advertisement was approved, 2-1.

Second half of BoCo property taxes due June 20

By Reader Staff

The Bonner County Treasurer’s Office is reminding taxpayers that the second half of 2022 property tax payments are due by Tuesday, June 20.

The treasurer’s office is located in the Bonner County Administration Building at 1500 U.S.

Highway 2, Ste. 304 (third floor) in Sandpoint and open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exemption of Monday, June 19. All Bonner County offices will be closed June 19 in observance of the federal holiday Juneteenth.

There is also a payment drop box monitored by video surveil-

lance located outside the front of the building to the right of the entrance. The drop box is for check payments only and payment coupon(s) must be included with payment. Those without coupons should reference the parcel number(s) on their check.

Mailed payments must be postmarked by June 20 to avoid addi-

tional fees. The treasurer’s office mailing address is 1500 U.S.-2, Ste. 304 Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Payments can also be made online or at the office using a credit or debit card or electronic check. Processing fees will apply.

Per Idaho Code, if the second half payment is late, interest is retroactive back to Jan. 1 of this year.

For those unable to pay the full amount, any amount paid prior to June 20 will reduce the amount of interest charges.

Those with questions can reach the Bonner County Treasurer’s Office at 208-265-1433.

The existing RV park and campground at the Bonner Co. Fairgrounds. Courtesy photo.

Three candidates, none with appraisal experience, vie for vacant assessor position

Commissioner deliberation scheduled for Thursday, appointment Monday

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

On May 9, Bonner County Assessor Grant Dorman — who took office in January — issued his resignation effective Friday, June 2 due to health concerns.

On May 23, the Bonner County Republican Central Committee submitted its nominations to the county for three candidates to take over the position, per Idaho Code, seeing as Dorman ran in 2022 as a Republican. On May 30, the board of Bonner County commissioners interviewed those three candidates, and it didn’t take long for the elephant in the room to make itself known: Of the three BCRCC nominees, none has experience in the world of property appraisal.

Thomas Brown, Dennis Engelhardt and Dan Rose were selected from a pool of eight applicants who interviewed with the BCRCC, including county assessor’s office employees Cory Gabel, Ben Hawkins and Al Ribeiro; 2022 assessor candidate and current Deputy County Clerk Jessi Reinbold; and Harold Carter, of Carter Appraisals. According to BCRCC Chairman Scott Herndon, who also serves as District 1 Idaho senator, all but Brown were interviewed May 16 and, after further advertising, all eight candidates were considered and nominations made May 23.

The May 30 interviews, which were open to the public, began with each of the BCRCC’s chosen candidates introducing themselves. All three men share a background in law enforcement, military or both.

Brown and Rose became Bonner County residents in 2014, while Engelhardt said he moved to the area about 20 years ago and ran for assessor in 2018. Brown and Engelhardt boasted experience in managerial positions overseeing large teams of employees, while Rose

highlighted his status as an elected official with both the BCRCC and Pend Oreille Hospital District, as well as his “experience with people in the [county] building” — both as a frequent, controversial speaker at commissioner meetings and as someone who previously challenged his own property assessment.

The trio fielded questions from the commissioners, Dorman and several employees from the assessor’s office, responding with various commitments to throw themselves into the “learning curve” of becoming assessor during one of the office’s busiest seasons. All three pledged to emphasize teamwork and lean on the expertise of the department’s staff.

Commissioner Asia Williams was the first to point out that none of the three nominated candidates had experience with assessing or appraising property, and urged them to be more specific in their pitches as to how they would adequately fill the role.

Commissioner Williams’ comment about the overall lack of experience proved a sticking point for members of the real estate and title community present in the audience.

“How did these three individuals come to be put forward and chosen for this portion of [the interview process]?” asked Lonnie Williams of TitleOne.

Realtor Mark Linscott also

questioned whether the BCRCC had put forth its most qualified applicants.

“All due respect to the candidates — I thank you guys for your service, and we’re more than prepared if Canada invades if you guys are assessor,” Linscott said, noting the importance of filling the position with someone who can understand and interpret data pertinent to the job.

Gabel, who currently serves as the chief deputy assessor and did not receive a nomination from the BCRCC following his application, pointed out that all three candidates had praised Dorman’s work as assessor and asked them to provide specific examples of that work. Neither Brown nor Engelhardt were able to give examples, while Rose referenced some technology improvements implemented under Dorman.

Reinbold shared her frustrations about the BCRCC’s interview and nomination process with the Reader

“It is clear that the BCRCC went through the process just so they could say they did,” she said. “It was quite obviously set and decided behind the scenes. They had no regard for qualifications, no regard for Bonner County, no regard for the employees in that office who have gone through hell with this elected official business …

“It is extremely disheartening

to see that the BCRCC chose partisanship over what is best for the county,” she later added. “It was extremely frustrating to listen to the interviews, where they clearly had no real knowledge of the job. I am empathetic to the staff in the assessor’s office having to go through this.”

Asked about the lack of technical, assessor-related qualifications on the part of the three BCRCC candidates, Herndon told the Reader in a May 31 email: “Grant Dorman did not have any appraisal experience before he was elected to the position of Bonner County Assessor. The BCRCC endorsed his candidacy, and by all reports he has been doing an excellent job in the office. The position is designated in the Idaho Constitution and in Idaho Code. Besides being at least 21 years of age and a resident of the county for at least the 12 months preceding election, there are no other specific qualifications for the position in law. The duties of assessor are enumerated in Title 63 of Idaho Code.”

Herndon said that 22 precinct committeemen voted on the nominations, and their discussions pertained mostly to the “leadership ability of the candidates and whether they would be good managers of the people who do have the skills and do the daily duties of the office.”

Ultimately, Herndon said the

BCRCC believes that the technical knowledge of the office can be learned over time “by the right person.”

“Grant Dorman had more than seven months after his primary victory in May of 2022 to get ready for the position, and with his resignation there is less time for a replacement to prepare,” Herndon said, “but the focus still needed to be on the essential aspects of this elected officer that are less technical in nature and thus harder for just anyone to acquire.”

Bonner County commissioners are scheduled to deliberate and select a new assessor from the field of Brown, Engelhardt or Rose during a special meeting Thursday, June 1 at 3 p.m. at the Bonner County Administration Building (1500 U.S. Hwy. 2, in Sandpoint). The chosen candidate would then be sworn into office on Monday, June 5 at 9 a.m.

If the BOCC fails to select an assessor within 15 days after Dorman’s resignation, the BCRCC will get to make the selection itself.

Whoever is appointed will then need to run for office in both 2024 and 2026 in order to put the assessor position back onto its regular election cycle.

Watch the assessor candidate interviews in full by finding Bonner County on YouTube.

Bonner County assessor candidates chosen by the Bonner County Republican Central Commmittee (from L to R): Thomas Brown, Dennis Engelhardt and Dan Rose. Photos by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey.

ID Dept. of Lands promotes signing up for online alert system ahead of fire season

By Reader Staff

Moving into the summer months, which increasingly bring with them a season of forest and rangeland fires throughout the region, Idahoans are encouraged to sign up for wildfire alerts from the Idaho Department of Lands.

“When fires approach a community’s doorstep, that isn’t the time to be searching for information,” the agency stated in a news release.

The IDL wildfire alert system enables residents to sign up to receive alerts for wildfires near their community. The system covers approximately 9 million acres of the private, state and federal land IDL protects. Alerts are sent via SMS/text messaging or email for fires that exceed 10 acres or threaten structures.

Bits ’n’ Pieces

From east, west and beyond

IDL launched its new alert system last fire season, bridging the gap between emergency notifications for evacuations sent by county sheriffs using platforms like Nixle and general wildfire information that the public commonly seeks.

“We are committed to keeping people informed about fires on the land we protect by sending out accurate and timely information. Our alert system allows people to make decisions based on fact and not rumor. We encourage folks to sign up and stay informed this fire season,” stated IDL Director Dustin Miller.

The alerts are prepared by IDL’s fire information officers and posted in real time to the department’s website, where citizens and tourists planning to visit Idaho this summer are encouraged to sign up at idl. idaho.gov/alerts.

PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:

President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy recently reached a tentative deal to raise the debt ceiling to avoid the economic fallout from the federal government defaulting on its bills.

The deal includes excluding military and veterans programs, capping non-defense spending for two years, restarting student debt payments and expanding the age requirements for some to work to receive food benefits. The agreement now needs Congressional approval, with votes scheduled for this week.

Elements of both parties disagree with parts of the compromise — Democrats have indicated it is at least better than consequences of debt default.

The deal keeps non-defense spending at 2023 levels and increases it by 1% in 2025, keeping the proposed arrangement in place until after the 2024 election cycle. Republicans had wanted that spending to again rise in 2024. Last month, Republicans supported spending caps that would have stayed in place through 2033. Social Security could have had a cut, but that was not in the Biden-McCarthy deal.

What many Democrats don’t like: increased work requirements for benefits (but not to levels sought by Republicans), and, to get West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin’s vote, fast-tracking the Mountain Valley Pipeline in his home state. Experts say it would produce emissions equal to 26 coal plants, or 19 million cars.

Not cut: Repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act, sought by Republicans, and Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law, which Republicans had proposed for a carve-up.

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

Other items in the proposed deal include the full funding of Biden’s 2024 budget for medical care for veterans; cutting $400 million from CDC for global health funding; “streamlining” changes in the environmental review process for energy projects; and, a “claw back” of money left over from the COVID-19 relief package. Biden sacrificed tax increases on the wealthy and corporations from his budget proposal to make the deal. According to The New York Times, the agreement will see federal spending drop $650 billion over a decade.

The U.S. spent $77 billion in 2022 on its military, more than the next 10 countries combined.

The tentative debt ceiling deal, according to McCarthy, has “no new taxes, no new government programs.” Bidens said the deal averts a catastrophic economic scenario, which would have led to a recession, and headed off “retirement accounts devastated and millions of jobs lost.”

Cuts sought by Republicans focused on non-defense discretionary spending, which is, as The New York Times described it, “a small corner of the budget,” accounting for less than 15% of the $6.3 trillion the government would likely spend this year.

If Congress fails to approve some kind of debt ceiling lift, the U.S economy will shrink, significantly affecting the global economy; there will be a domino effect on debt investors getting nervous about numerous countries’ ability to repay their loans, leading to investors asking for higher interest rates to buy government debt; the cost of borrowing in general would go up; and there’s an expectation of prices rising

Educator Randall Rosecrans has spearheaded a new program at Lake Pend Oreille High School, teaching career and technical education courses in a non-traditional way to help students make a larger impact.

The class recently grew seedlings and planted them in the school garden, as well as community gardens at Christ Our Redeemer Church and the East Bonner Library District Sandpoint Branch. Both community gardens donate some of their seasonal crops to the Bonner Community Food Bank. Also, since Rosecrans and his students had so many healthy starts this year, they were able to contribute some to the Food Bank this week as well.

Rosecrans also showed the class how to trim an apple tree, with students using that knowledge to prune an overgrown apple tree at a local home near Lake Pend Oreille High School. Students will then use the applewood as a part of a cooking project.

In the above photos, Rosecrans and students get their hands dirty in the garden, learning how to grow plants from seeds, make their own compost and serve their neighbors. Photos courtesy Lake Pend Oreille School District.

The federal government needs to borrow money to pay bills because it spends more than it raises in taxes, BBC explained. President Biden hoped to change that by authorizing $80 billion for the IRS to go after wealthy tax cheats. Last weekend’s deal agrees to cutting $10 billion of that IRS sum in 2024 and the same again in 2025 from the $80 billion — instead of cutting the entire amount, which had been on Republicans’ wishlist.

The original $80 billion IRS investment was estimated to be able to net $600 billion or more for federal coffers from wealthy tax dodgers through 2031. American Progress reported that tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy have added $10 trillion to the nation’s debt.

Blast from the past: The roots of separation of church and state took hold with Roger Williams, who came to Rhode Island in the 1630s. He felt that “forced worship stinks in God’s nostrils.” His progressive ideas were rejected: he was forced to flee from white colonial society, though local Indigenous peoples welcomed him and gave him land for a settlement at Providence. The new colony insisted on religious freedom as well as separation of church and state, and both concepts were accepted by King Charles in the colony’s charter.

And another blast: “There are only two important things in politics. The first is money, and I can’t remember the second.”

— Mark Hanna, political strategist, in 1895.

U.S. Supreme Court rejects Biden wetlands regulation, ruling for Idaho couple

Major environmental decision overturns Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of wetlands that fall under the agency’s jurisdiction

By Jacob Fischler States Newsroom

The U.S. Supreme Court in a major environmental decision on May 25 overturned the Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of wetlands that fall under the agency’s jurisdiction, siding with an Idaho couple who said they should not be required to obtain federal permits to build on their property that lacked any navigable water.

All nine justices agreed to overturn the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling that endorsed the Biden administration’s broad definition of waters of the United States, or WOTUS, the term for what falls under federal enforcement of the Clean Water Act.

But they published four separate opinions that showed a 5-4 split in how far they would allow federal jurisdiction to extend, with the conservative majority ruling to significantly narrow federal agency power.

“It is a substantial change to the way wetlands have been regulated under the Clean Water Act” since the law’s 1972 enactment, said Ashley Peck, an environmental litigator and water quality adviser at Holland and Hart LLP. “It looks like it will eliminate jurisdiction for a huge amount of wetlands, particularly in the arid West.”

Conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh and the court’s three liberals concurred with the ruling in favor of Idaho landowners Michael and Chantell Sackett, but objected to the majority’s narrow new standard, which they said introduced more uncertainty and would hurt water quality.

The Sacketts had sought to build on a piece of their property separated by a 30foot road from a tributary to Priest Lake in the Idaho panhandle. Lower courts held they needed federal environmental approvals because of their land’s connection to Priest Lake.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in their appeal in October 2022.

Members of Idaho’s congressional delegation have advocated against the implementation of the Biden administration’s definition and praised the court’s May 25 ruling.

“I am glad to see the court provide needed clarity on this issue,” Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson said in a statement. “The EPA simply cannot continue in its attempt to regulate every puddle, ditch and stream in this country. This decision is a victory for Idaho and the many property

owners, farmers and ranchers who are left to deal with the very real consequences of regulatory uncertainty.”

The decision is a “powerful affirmation of individual property rights,” Congressman Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, said in a statement.

“For Idahoans, water is a lifeline and local control has a long, proud tradition,” Fulcher said. “I commend the court’s recognition of the Sacketts’ constitutional rights and the significance of protecting Idaho’s ranchers, farmers, irrigators and landowners from regulatory overreach.”

The Idaho Conservation League, which filed an amicus — or friend of the court — brief in the case, said the ruling was devastating for the health of Priest Lake, and it reverberates further than just North Idaho.

“In deciding that water quality protections only apply to wetlands that have a visible connection to streams and lakes, the Court opened the door nationwide for waste disposal to run amok, allowing pollution to be disposed of at-will and with no accountability,” said ICL Conservation Program Director Marie Callaway Kellner in a statement.

“American taxpayers will ultimately pay for it — whether through higher wastewater treatment costs borne by communities instead of polluters, or, even worse, by impacts to human and environmental health,” Kellner added. “This ruling undermines the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to protect public health, and sends the message that private development that benefits a few individuals is more important than clean water for all. It is a sad day when the U.S. Supreme Court protects polluters over people, fish and wildlife.”

‘Continuous surface connection’ test

Writing for the court’s majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the Clean Water Act applies only to wetlands with a “continuous surface connection” to the navigable waters like streams, lakes, oceans and rivers that are indisputably covered by the law.

The Biden administration’s definition — which stated an area with an ecologically “significant nexus” to a navigable waterway was subject to Clean Water Act enforcement — would put nearly all waters and wetlands in the country under federal jurisdiction, with little room for state enforcement, Alito wrote.

Wetlands must be virtually indistinguishable from the navigable waters for federal jurisdiction to apply, he wrote.

That standard would limit the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ authority to regulate wetlands, even in areas where no one had disputed federal power.

Alito, who was appointed to the court by President George W. Bush, praised the Clean Water Act for effectively curtailing water pollution. But he said the law “is a potent weapon” with severe penalties, and its power should be checked.

The text of the law uses the terms “navigable waters,” which has a wellknown definition, and “waters of the United States,” which does not, Alito wrote.

The EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and various courts have held that waters of the United States can include tributaries to navigable waters and even dry land with an ecological connection to those tributaries.

The inclusion in the statute of “navigable waters” means Congress was focused on the permanent lakes, rivers, streams and oceans that are generally included in that definition, even if some wetlands can also be regulated under the law, Alito wrote.

“Although we have acknowledged that the CWA extends to more than traditional navigable waters, we have refused to read ‘navigable’ out of the statute,” Alito said.

Some adjacent wetlands can still be considered waters of the United States, Alito said. But for the federal law to apply to a wetland, it “must be indistinguishably part of a” covered water, he wrote.

The ruling represents a sweeping shift in wetlands regulation, even for a conservative court with a recent history of restricting federal regulations.

“This was a broader brush than I expect-

ed,” said Peck, of Holland and Hart. “This is always a possibility with this court, for certain, but I wasn’t necessarily expecting to have the whole regulatory regime upended.”

In a statement, President Joe Biden called the decision “disappointing.”

“Today’s decision upends the legal framework that has protected America’s waters for decades,” he said. “It also defies the science that confirms the critical role of wetlands in safeguarding our nation’s streams, rivers, and lakes from chemicals and pollutants that harm the health and wellbeing of children, families and communities.”

Kavanaugh and liberals band together Kavanaugh, with the court’s three liberals joining, wrote that a continuous surface connection to navigable waters was not strictly necessary for wetlands to fall under federal jurisdiction. Waters can be adjacent without that connection, they said.

Kavanaugh, in a notable departure from the usual alliance on the court, said the majority rewrote the law and introduced new questions about wetlands that have long been subject to federal jurisdiction.

“The court’s new and overly narrow test may leave long-regulated and long-accepted-to-be-regulable wetlands suddenly beyond the scope of the agencies’ regulatory authority, with negative consequences for waters of the United States,” he wrote.

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Jim Small/Arizona Mirror)

Bouquets:

•This isn’t as much a Bouquet as it is a word of caution for those planning to paddle down Pack River. I floated with a crew of canoeists and kayakers on Memorial Day weekend and the mosquitoes were horrible. It wasn’t so bad while you were on the water with a gentle breeze keeping them at bay, but when stopping for a break on a sandbar be prepared to run for your life. The worst was taking out at the jumping bridge near Northside Elementary. At one point, I looked down and saw my legs were more mosquito than skin. I’ve had pesky bug days on the Pack before, but this was something from a horror movie. It seems we’re having a bad mosquito year. At one point I thought we’d actually see someone lifted from their boat and carried away by the little buggers. If you’re floating the Pack soon, don’t forget the bug spray. Or better yet, a mosquito net.

Barbs:

• Let me introduce many of you in Bonner County to a new automotive part that you might not

THEO & EVA REPORT: Part 1

Dear editor,

I keep reading the letters critical of District 1A Rep. Mark Sauter for not just checking the boxes and doing what he was told to do. Instead, he read the bills, assessed the implications, took his constituents’ wishes into consideration and voted.

Do we really want to punish elected officials for taking time to read the bills, thinking through the issues and voting their conscience?

Do we want the only qualification for elected officials to be that they do what they are told to do?

And, do we want the outside influencers, such as the Nevada-based consultancy with links to the Proud Boys who put Dist. 1 Sen. Scott Herndon into office to now determine what happens in every single vote? Or do we want a democracy, where elected officials serve all constituents, not just the out-of-state funders and the angriest locals.

I want my elected officials to seek to understand the legislation they vote on. I want them to consider the consequences (both intended and unintended). I want them to know more than I know about proposed legislation and to do what is right for our county and state.

We are at a dangerous precipice with the pressure and cancel culture we apply to leaders. Our leaders represent all of us, not the Bonner County Republican Central Committee. They even represent those who didn’t vote for them. That’s how a democracy works for Republicans, Democrats and independents.

Kathryn Larson Sagle

divulged. They are causing harm to their constituents.

Legislators’ meddling with schools and libraries isn’t what the citizens want. We want legislation to improve education and access to information. Public schools need to be strengthened, with more emphasis on our history and civics to grow informed citizens.

On the federal level, Fulcher, Crapo and Risch are OK with defaulting on existing bills. They have always raised the debt limit in the past, but now they balk. They seem to want an economic disaster as a prank to try to make Biden look bad.

It’s called a “muffler,” and it reduces the noise that comes from your engine. As one downtown business manager told me recently, “All the asshats in diesel trucks, cars with chopped mufflers and pointless turbo Subarus who just constantly gun it from Fourth and Pine to First: We’re all so impressed.” If you or someone you love fits this description, there is help. It’s called going to Melody Muffler or an auto mechanic and spending a few bucks to make it so your vehicle sounds more like a car again and less like a chainsaw that needs oil.

•People who talk loudly on their phones on speakerphone setting while sitting in a busy restaurant dining room: why?

Dear editor, Mark Sauter is our lone representative in Boise. He listens to his constituents and takes our concerns seriously. The others seem bent on imposing their personal extreme ideologies on the rest of us. Criminalizing medical care has created forced pregnancy, while causing Bonner General Health to end maternity services and driving doctors from Idaho. They are literally putting women’s lives in jeopardy. I consider their behavior to be cruelly sadistic. They also want to restrict access to Medicaid for working families, for reasons they have not

Do you want Medicare to stop paying for medical care? Are you ready for you or loved ones to try to get by without Social Security? Do you want zero federal assistance to keep forest fires from devastating our beautiful state? All federal funds would cease if they succeed in their diabolical plan.

These men are not our representatives; they are largely bought and influenced only by wealthy contributors from other states and do not care about our needs.

Keep this in mind in the 2024 election. We need serious representatives who understand the concept of public service.

Ann Warwick Sandpoint

Sandpoint twin siblings Theo and Eva Janssen have embarked on an international trip to see Iceland and Europe.

“Highlights of our trip will be seeking out cross-cultural and sustainable living educational opportunities (Icelandic geothermal power station, biking in the Netherlands, Fair Trade chocolate and sustainable transport by sail, etc.,” said mom Jessica Janssen.

Theo and Eva have sent back the first of their “I took the Reader” series bringing the Reader along on their travels. Here they relax in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.

“We liked having slushies in the pool,” they wrote.

We look forward to your next update!

‘A dangerous precipice’…

‘We need serious representatives’…

Kagan blasts judicial policymaking

Justice Elena Kagan wrote a separate concurring opinion with fellow liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson that criticized the court for policy making.

Drawing parallels with her dissent in a decision last year that restricted the EPA’s power to regulate carbon emissions at existing power plants, Kagan wrote that the court’s conservatives simply substituted their policy preferences for what Congress actually enacted.

The majority in this case invented a standard that laws that impact private property must have “exceedingly clear language,” Kagan wrote, putting “a thumb on the scale for property owners,” and disregarding the public interest in clean water.

“A court may not rewrite Congress’s plain instructions because they go further than preferred,” she said. “That is what the majority does today in finding that the Clean Water Act excludes many wetlands [clearly] ‘adjacent’ to covered waters.”

Lengthy legal fight to define reach of Clean Water Act

The case is part of a decades-long legal conflict to define the reach of the Clean Water Act.

Alito’s majority opinion referenced the years of shifting definitions and the uncertainty provided in various court cases and agency regulations, calling it “the persistent problem that we must address.”

In general, agricultural interests, home builders and Republican officials have argued that the federal regulations impose an undue burden and should be applied narrowly.

“The Supreme Court just ruled that

Biden’s overreaching WOTUS interpretation is unconstitutional,” Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, said on Twitter. “This is a huge win for farmers across America.”

Environmental groups and Democrats have argued for a broader definition that they say allows the federal government to offer important protections.

“Federal protections that don’t depend on local politics or regional polluter influence are essential to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities nationwide,” Jim Murphy, the director of legal advocacy for the National Wildlife Federation, said in a statement “The court’s ruling removes these vital protections from important streams and wetlands in every state.”

Murphy called on Congress and state governments to adopt stronger standards.

The ruling doesn’t necessarily limit the issue’s long-running uncertainty, Peck said. While it settles federal jurisdiction for now, states, especially in the West, may decide to strengthen their own clean water laws and regulations, she said.

Reaction on SCOTUS decision from Congress

Several Republicans in Congress responded to the ruling with enthusiasm.

“The Supreme Court’s decision is clearly a decisive win for America’s farmers, small businesses, property owners and those who help build our infrastructure,” U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves, of Missouri, and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer of North Carolina said in a joint statement.

“This is great news for rural America!” tweeted Minnesota Republican Pete Stauber, chairman of the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

“I’m glad to see the Supreme Court rightfully and unanimously blocked Biden’s ill-conceived #WOTUS rule,” U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa wrote on Twitter. “This is a big WIN for Iowa, where nearly every industry is impacted.”

“Kansans are best positioned to conserve our land and natural resources,” Kansas Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Estes said. “And they don’t need Biden’s bureaucrats 1,000 miles away to regulate the rainwater that accumulates in ditches in rural parts of our state.”

Fewer Democrats publicly commented on the ruling, but Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Tom Carper, of Delaware, said the decision undermines the EPA’s ability to effectively regulate water pollution and puts “America’s remaining wetlands in jeopardy.”

“I strongly disagree with the court’s decision, and I am deeply concerned about the future impacts of this case on clean drinking water, coastal and flood-prone communities, and wildlife across our nation,” Carper said.

Jacob Fischler covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Based in Oregon, he focuses on Western issues. This article was published May 25 on the Boise-based Idaho Capital Sun website, idahocapitalsun.com, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit reporting project.

Science: Mad about

camouflage

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

Camo is a common sight in North Idaho. Whether it’s covering a giant, lifted truck that’s ironically drawing more attention to itself, or a group of hunters hunkered down in a duck blind on the Pack River Delta one early October morning, we’re used to seeing what we’re not intended to see.

As pivotal of a development as camouflage has been for hunting and militaries around the world, it’s surprisingly new in the history of warfare. Up until the repeating firearm, stealth on the field of battle was not a primary concern for most military forces. Rather, generals and warlords of ages past preferred their foes to see their full force to instill fear at the sheer size of their army. A similar psychology is at play when confronted by a black bear or a mountain lion — by making yourself appear larger and more fearsome, you have a greater chance at scaring away the beast.

This kind of psychological warfare made sense when you were within shouting range of your opponent, and seeing a fearsome foe could cause you to make a critical error and delay a strike, or even run from the battlefield. This became much less important when weapons could be rapidly fired over great distances and it became more important to remain unseen, untargeted and unknown.

You may be wondering to yourself, at what point exactly did scales tip into the favor of military camouflage? And why is it a French word, when it’s used around the world?

Up until 1915, in the middle of World War I, a portion of the French army uniform was a pair of bright red trousers. This was pushed heavily by the French military brass to bolster the agricul-

tural industry, particularly in the production of the common madder plant, Rubia tinctorum, which yields a deep-red dye often used to color leather, wool and silk.

The leadership of the French army (properly known as the Armée de Terre, literally “army of land”) pushed for this to the detriment of their troops, who were being thrown into a meat grinder on the front lines. At some point, and many casualties later, the leadership conceded and recruited French artists to develop a uniform that would help conceal troops from the hail of gunfire on the front lines.

Duck Dynasty would have been a very different show if everyone had been wearing cherry red pants.

Early camouflage used fewer patterns than camo today, often the enlisted artists would use familiar dyes to match the surrounding terrain. This made sense at a time when optical enhancements like scopes weren’t as readily available to the rank-and-file soldiers serving in the trenches. This trend continued into World War II, as there was still a heavy reliance on iron sights with weapons, but this is when patterning began to appear more commonly on vehicles.

Ships received a unique patterning system that used angled geometric shapes to create a disorienting illusion as the ship would move along the horizon. This made the ship more visible in many ways, but it became much more difficult to land a crippling strike, as it was difficult for the gunners to visually target key architectural elements on the ship. This was a very short-lived development in camouflage as radar made ship-to-ship targeting far more reliable.

Despite radar development, camouflage was still extensively used by warplanes with a technique called countershading.

Planes would have different colors and patterns on their lower half than they would from above. This made them more difficult to spot from any angle, unless the plane was performing a roll. Most airto-air combat at this time was performed with automatic guns rather than radar-guided weapons, which may have explained why planes continued to remain camouflaged throughout the war while ships were not.

Camouflage has evolved considerably in the past two decades as technology and the nature of warfare has changed. Powerful optics are more readily available to frontline soldiers — the technology not only increases magnification but can also perform tasks like thermal imaging or providing low-light vision. Camouflage has had to create adaptations to counter all of this, without adding excessive weight to the soldier.

Multi-spectral camouflage comes in many forms, but works to disrupt not only the visual spectrum but also infrared and radar as well, though this is more frequently utilized on vehicles.

To a degree, one could argue that most modern camouflage functions less to fully obfuscate the soldier and more to mitigate a potentially lethal shot by throwing off a combatant’s ability to visually discern what they’re looking at. In a way, this is similar to staring at one of the optical illusion books you may find at the library: You know what you’re looking at, but your brain is spinning in circles trying to make sense of it.

The growth of computer-assisted design has created many new forms of camouflage that serve a whole host of purposes. Hunters’ camo may have imagery of leaves, twigs or rounded blobs of black, brown and green, while military camouflage has a more pixelated appearance, and there’s a reason for this.

Certain animals see the world differently than humans do. Deer and other related ungulates are only able to see with a sharp clarity from about 20 feet away, similar to what we can view from about 60 feet away. Deer can only see the world in blues and browns, and aren’t able to pick up colors in the red-and-orange spectrum, which is why we can wear blaze orange camouflage and still remain invisible to the deer.

While it sounds like we have

an edge over deer in every way, they’re actually much better than humans at detecting and processing movement in low-light conditions. Their brains are able to process movement information four times faster than ours, giving them an immense advantage to escape before we’ve even drawn up the rifle.

Also, the deer aren’t shooting back at us, so that’s a plus.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner

•If dragonflies remind you of some kind of ancient insect, it’s because they have been around for 350 million years. The prehistoric insect belongs to the Odonata family, along with their “cousins” the damselfly. How do you tell them apart? Dragonflies have four wings, damselflies have two.

•The ancestors of dragonflies are called meganisoptera, also referred to as griffinflies. These long-extinct relations to the dragonfly lived from 323 million to 250 million years B.C.E., during the Paleozoic era. One species of griffinfly is called the megatypus, which had a wingspan of about 28 inches.

•There are more than 3,000 known dragonfly species living on nearly every continent of the world.

•Dragonfly larvae live underwater. The biological term for invertebrate insects during the stage in which they go through the process of metamorphosis is referred to as a nymph. Adult dragonflies lay

their eggs in the tissue of aquatic plants or on the surface of the water. After hatching from their eggs, nymphs spend several years underwater, feeding on other invertebrates, tadpoles and even small fish.

•Dragonflies can fly any direction, having the ability to control each of their four wings independently. This agility coupled with being able to reach speeds up to 34 miles per hour makes dragonflies top-notch predators, living almost exclusively on a carnivorous diet of mosquitoes, flies, moths and other dragonflies.

•Dragonflies have a 95% success ratio when they choose to go after a prey. This is because they don’t simply hunt down the insect, but track its movement and calculate not only the prey’s speed, but what direction and how far away it is. Then, in the microseconds it takes to adjust, the dragonfly zooms off to where their prey is going to be — not where it is — to catch it.

U.S. soldiers show how different camouflage patterns appear in the field. Courtesy photo.

Forest Service Chloride Gold Project illustrates the value of collaboration

By Liz Johnson-Gebhardt and Mike Petersen Reader Contributors

The management of our national forest lands isn’t without its controversies, but a cooperative effort of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (IPNF) and the Panhandle

Forest Collaborative (PFC) illustrates that reasonable people are capable of finding common ground on these issues.

Formed in 2010, the PFC is a group of representatives of the timber industry, environmental groups, motorized recreation, non-motorized recreation and wildlife managers. The vision of the PFC is to assist agencies by bringing balanced approaches to timber, wild ecosystems and recreation, and to contribute to the sustainable social, environmental and economic viability of our region.

The PFC focuses on issues on the IPNF, primarily within the Sandpoint and Priest Lake ranger districts, and a portion of the Coeur d’Alene Ranger District. The goals of the PFC include promoting sustainable forest management, enhancing recreation opportunities, maintaining forest products infrastructure, conserving native ecosystems and reducing litigation. The PFC works to build consensus recommendations for projects and forest plans that address these goals.

The IPNF’s five-year action plan calls for developing and implementing a project along the southeast side of Lake Pend Oreille. The purpose of the Chloride Gold Project is to reduce the threat of wildfire to local residents living in the community of Lakeview, improve forest health, restore underrepresented tree species, improve fish and wildlife habitat, decrease sources of stream sediment, control noxious weeds, improve recreation opportunities and benefit the local economy.

In order to achieve these objectives, the Forest Service proposed approximately 9,000 acres of timber harvest; 2,800 acres of precommercial thinning; 5,400 acres of prescribed fire; 10 miles of road

decommissioning; 24 miles of new road construction; 34 miles of trail work; and elimination of fish passage barriers.

When the IPNF announced its project proposal for Chloride Gold, the PFC recognized the importance of reducing the threat of fire to the community of Lakeview. Fires have been suppressed in our area for decades and, consequently, fuel loads are so high that it would be difficult for wildland firefighters to protect the community unless the Forest Service takes steps to thin the forests around the community.

The PFC also recognized that the scale of timber harvest and the amount of road construction proposed could negatively impact water quality, bull trout spawning habitat in Gold Creek and a rare population of plants called clustered lady’s slipper. The PFC will be working together on recommendations to reduce and mitigate these impacts.

Fortunately, members of the PFC have spent several years building trust with one another and knew that it would be possible to strike a balance between the environmental concerns associated with the Chloride Gold Project and the need to respond to the fire danger and forest health concerns. Bull trout spawning surveys were used to identify areas where streams should have greater buffers from timber harvest than would normally be required. The PFC similarly recommended buffering sites where clustered lady’s slipper are found.

Water quality was also an important issue that the PFC addressed. Hydrological studies have shown that if you harvest too much timber in a watershed at once, you can cause runoff to spike drastically,

sending heavy loads of sediment down a stream. Too much timber harvest at once can also cause the snow to melt off earlier than normal, which can lead to lower stream flows in the summer and warmer water temperatures. In response, the PFC recommended that the Forest Service stage the proposed timber harvest out over a twenty-year time frame so that the initial logging units have time to grow back before another suite of units are logged.

The Chloride Gold Project area is also a popular recreation destination. Many of the motorcycle and ATV trails in the area are in a state of disrepair, which is affecting water quality and user enjoyment. Many trails will be rerouted and repaired to address these problems. The Gold Creek Lodge has also expressed an interest in working with the Forest Service to reign in the resource damage that is being caused by “off-roading” in that area and educate recreationists about the need to stay on roads and trails. A new non-motorized trail to the top of Packsaddle Mountain is also being considered.

It’s easy to criticize the Forest Service for its management of our forests, but we must keep in mind that the agency is often placed in the untenable position of having to reconcile competing public values and interests. The Forest Service and our national forest lands benefit when diverse groups like the PFC are able to find common ground. Collaborative forest management is a model that can help create the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Liz Johnson-Gebhardt and Mike Petersen are co-chairs of the Panhandle Forest Collaborative.

June Parks and Rec. programming

By Reader Staff

Sandpoint Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces will be offering the following programming in June:

•Game night with the Lions Club. A FREE family game night at Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.) on Friday, June 16. Event runs every third Friday of the month, June-December, from 6-8 p.m. Both card games and board games will be available, or bring your own to share.

•Brownells/NRA Day. Daughters and sons day at the outdoor shooting range (113 Turtle Rock Road) for ages 8-18 on Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18. Participants will learn about safety and shooting. Register by Thursday, June 15. Event is FREE. Various time slots are offered each day, but limited to 14 per time slot.

•Intro to hiking and route finding. Class takes place Monday-Tuesday, June 19-20 and Friday, June 23 from 9-10 a.m. at the City Beach lifeguard shack, covering route/trail selection, preparation, equipment, trail etiquette and safety. Trail hike on the final day. Fee: $25 ($3 non-resident fee). Register by Sunday, June 11.

•Youth tennis lessons. For ages 4-high school. One-week sessions offered Tuesday, June 20-Thursday, July 27. Times vary, depending on the age group selected. Lessons average one hour and are held at Lakeview Park tennis courts. Register by the Thursday prior to first class. Fee: $23 ($3 non-resident fee).

•Basic keelboat sailing. Ages 16 and older. Graduates will be able to responsibly skipper and crew a 20’-27’ sloop-rigged keelboat in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. Register by Thursday, June 15 for Session 1: Tuesday-Friday, June 20-23. Class meets at the Sandpoint Windbag Marina (Fred’s Deck) from 10 a.m.-noon. Fee: $65 ($4 non-resident fee).

•Youth small boat sailing. Ages 1018.Graduates will learn to safely operate a sailing dinghy by participating in both shore-based and on the water activities under the supervision of U.S. Sailing-certified instructors. Register by Thursday, June 15 for

Session 1: Tuesday-Friday, June 20-23. Class meets at the Sandpoint Windbag Marina (Fred’s Deck) from 1-3 p.m.. Fee: $45 ($4 non-resident fee) A swim test will be administered at the City Beach lifeguard headquarters at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 16.

•Introduction to skateboarding. Beginners and intermediates, ages 7 and older. Participants will learn skate park skateboarding basics, including etiquette. Skateboard and helmet required. Knee, elbow pads and wrist guards recommended. Class meets at the Concrete Lake skate park (2100 Pine St., in Sandpoint) on Sundays, June 11 and 18 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Register by Wednesday, June 7. Fee: $35 ($3 non-resident fee).

•Youth pickleball camp. Ages 13-17. All equipment provided. Participants need to bring court shoes, water, sunglasses, a hat and layers for cool weather. Session runs Tuesday-Friday, June 20-23 at the Lakeview Park pickleball courts from 9 a.m.-noon. Register by Friday, June 16. Fee: $100/person ($25 non-resident fee).

• Adult tennis lessons. Beginner Session 2: Monday, June 26 and Thursday, June 29; intermediate Session 3: Monday, July 3 and Thursday, July 6. Lessons run 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Park tennis courts. Register by the Thursday prior to first class. Fee: $22 ($3 non-resident fee).

•Work for Parks and Rec. Parks maintenance worker, $16.56-$22.88/hr, permanent full-time; City Beach lifeguards, $14.50-$15.50/hr., June 10-Sept. 4; City Beach concession workers, $11-$12/hr., June 10-Sept 4; seasonal parks maintenance workers, $16.63-$17.33/hr., eight-, sevenand three-month positions available.

Sandpoint Parks and Rec. also acts as a clearinghouse to connect the public with other recreational opportunities in the community. Visit the online activity catalog to view listings. Outside organizations and individuals wishing to list their activities are encouraged to contact the department with their program information at recreation@sandpointidaho.gov.

Register for any Parks and Rec. program at secure.rec1.com/ID/city-of-sandpoint/catalog, visit the office at City Hall (1123 Lake St.) or call 208-263-3613.

Wednesday Morning Women’s Golf League seeking players

By Reader Staff

All women golfers of any age or any level of play are invited to join the Wednesday Morning Women’s Golf League.

The league officially began May 31,

with a scramble followed by a brunch and board meeting, but new players are still invited to join the league..

For more information and to be added to the email list, contact Loris Michael at 208-610-5914.

POAC’s Stephen Lyman Rediscovered art exhibit set to open

By Reader Staff

The public is invited to rediscover famed wilderness artist Stephen Lyman, when Pend Oreille Arts Council and Lewiston collector Ryan Fiske presents Rediscovered on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the University of Idaho’s Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center (10881 N. Boyer Road). The exhibition of Lyman’s work contains a large selection of Fiske’s personal collection.

A book containing 133 photographs of Lyman’s work came out in January 1995, followed that spring with the opening of the popular Lyman Gallery in downtown Sandpoint. Lyman, who originally hailed from Lewiston, was living a rural life as an artist and organic farmer with his wife and two sons just outside of Sandpoint.

His life was cut short in a tragic fall at Yosemite National Park in April 1996, when Lyman was 38 years old. More than 300 people attended Lyman’s memorial in Sandpoint, with his paintings described in the local media as “stark in their realism and depictions of nature’s majesty, beauty, fury and serenity.”

“I want to open people’s eyes to points of view and perspectives that aren’t human based, to suggest a less self-centered outlook in their role on the planet,” Lyman once said of his work.

U.S. Art Magazine ranked Lyman as the third most popular artist in the country for limited-edition prints in 1992 and, over the years, Fiske and his wife, Jennie, have

been purchasing these prints. It’s their large collection that will be on display at the June 2-3 exhibition.

“I would say that there’s something for everybody in there,” Fiske said in a promotional brochure. “I really can’t imagine that there wouldn’t be something there for anybody to enjoy. Everybody will fall in love with at least one of the pieces there.”

POAC facilitates quality cultural experiences to Bonner County through its visual and performing arts programs. For more information about POAC and its other events, or to learn how to get involved, visit artinsandpoint.org.

‘United for Salmon’ mural to visit senior center

In partnership with E. BoCo Library District, local artist Eileen Klatt will then display mural at Sandpoint branch

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

When it came to inspiration for her art, Eileen Klatt simply followed the current of her life, leading her to her most-loved muse: fish.

“Fish have been one of my favorite subjects since I began learning to paint,” said Klatt, who grew up in the Columbia River Basin but now resides in Hope. “I focused on local species early in my professional career, but when the Snake River Sockeye were placed on the endangered species list in 1991, my attention began turning to salmon.”

A partner with Northwest Artists Against Extinction, Klatt remains focused on spreading awareness of threats to salmon through her paintings. Her most recent efforts have gone toward a collaborative, traveling mural project titled “United for Salmon,” which launched in fall 2022 with the help of young artists at the Youth Salmon Celebration in Lewiston.

Composed of several four-by-two-foot panels, the mural features Klatt’s salmon drawings painted both in both realism and abstract styles by other contributing artists.

Klatt will present the mural at the

Sandpoint Senior Center (820 Main St.) on Wednesday, June 7 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. as part of the East Bonner County Library District’s twice-monthly outreach with Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. Those who wish to attend the luncheon should call 208263-6860 to make reservations.

Afterward, “United for Salmon” will be on display at the Sandpoint library branch (1407 Cedar St.).

“I would like the mural to continue to grow in size and scope,” Klatt told the Reader, noting that the project also receives

support from the activist group Save Our Salmon Coalition. “It is intended to be a traveling installation in service of public education, awareness and involvement in the effort to restore salmon to their native habitats.”

Klatt said she is open to expanding the mural through more local collaboration, and encourages anyone interested — particularly art teachers with students who may want to contribute — to reach her at eileen@ eileenklatt.com or 208-946-1172.

“This is appropriately a very fluid project without a fixed timetable, but I have

drawings of 55 more pairs of mating salmon ready to go,” she said. “I trust that the project itself will determine the direction it takes as time goes on.”

View Klatt’s work at klattfish.net. For more about the efforts behind the mural, go to wildsalmon.org or nwaae.org.

Left: Artist Stephen Lyman in his North Idaho home. Courtesy photo. Right: Ryan Fiske holds a Stephen Lyman piece at the Lewiston Elks Lodge. Courtesy photo.

Local artist Eileen Klatt and the collaborative mural project she leads titled “United for Salmon” will visit the Sandpoint Senior Center on Wednesday, June 7. Courtesy photo.

To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Right: “I love to visit Sandpoint every summer but always cringe at how many dogs get walked downtown in the blistering heat. Came across this sign and thought it would be great to have a couple of these in your town.” Submitted by Brenda Norrie.

Far right: Ben Olson was out for a ride on his motorcycle the other day and found a few healthy morels next to a popular hiking trail. Score! Photo by Ben Olson.

Bottom left: A fiery sunset captured from Holiday Shores Marina on May 19. Photo by Vicki Reich.

Bottom right: Kaytani Lopez, 4, blows bubbles on a sunny day in Sandpoint. Photo taken by her proud grandpa Mark Perigen and his wife Tracy.

Flying high, close to home

North Idaho High School Aerospace Program celebrates 10 years

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Ten years ago, Ken Larson had a discussion with a female student at Forrest M. Bird Charter Schools about the possibility of creating an aviation class for students. From those humble beginnings, Larson created what is now known as the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program, a nonprofit organization tasked with teaching students everything they want to know about aviation, including learning to fly, building and maintaining airplanes.

“That first year, we did a class at the charter school and had 12 students,” Larson told the Reader “Six of them are now professional pilots.”

NIHSAP will host “10 Years of Success” Saturday, June 3, an event open to interested students and the public, who are invited to see the airplanes up close, speak with experts in the aviation field and network with companies interested in hiring bright young workers into one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

The event will take place at the high school student hangars at the Sandpoint Airport, 1100 Airport Way, with the morning

hours of 8:30-10 a.m. dedicated to a “coffee hour meet-and-greet” for students interested in meeting local pilots and representatives from local aviation companies. This will take place at Granite Aviation. Then, from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. members of the community are invited to check out what Larson’s gifted students have been up to, with ramp and hangar tours. Daher will also have their famed Kodiak aircraft on display.

Larson said he got hooked on aviation after taking some flying lessons as a senior in college.

“After I graduated, I was getting drafted, so I joined the Air Force because they were desperate for pilots,” Larson said.

Larson served as a flight instructor in the U.S. Air Force before briefly enrolling in law school — which he described a “ridiculous idea” — and finally returned to aviation to fly business jets. He later retired and began teaching the next generation of pilots in North Idaho.

“Aviation has been fantastic for me,” Larson said. “It’s the old cliché; I felt like I should share that with other people. For me it was never fun if it was all about money. It’s about the students I meet and the other pilots involved. We’re giving back to the community by getting some new aviators

out there.”

When Larson launched NIHSAP, he was only teaching classes at the charter school, but soon a generous donation would bring the program in a new direction.

“The end of that first year, we were donated a kit plane by a guy in Sun Valley,” Larson said. “There was no place to work on it, so we took over the woodshop at Sandpoint High School and because we were then moving up there, we moved our class to SHS that year, too.”

And so Larson and his band of about a dozen aviation students began building an airplane at SHS, also providing flight training to students as part of the class. They later rebuilt and installed an engine in a converted World War II glider trainer called “Patches,” because it has been patched up so much.

“Today, we have almost 40 former students who have gone into aviation careers, or are in aviation college programs,” Larson said with pride. “They all attributed our high-school program to getting them started.”

For Larson, you can’t beat the aviation industry for its potential for growth and opportunity.

“It’s a growing industry and there’s an incredibly huge demand for engineers, pilots and me-

chanics,” he said. “The students are seeing opportunities open to them. Every aviation company emphasizes that they need people at every level. They need people doing everything from assembly line to engineers to bookkeepers and receptionists.”

Looking back, Larson said he has former students who have gone into airport management, aviation or aircraft engineering or maintenance and mechanics. Many are professional pilots now and four have joined the military in fields somehow related to aviation.

With an average of 15-20 students every year, Larson’s class is split into three components: the class taught at SHS called “Career Pathways,” flight training that gives students a leg up to obtain their private licenses and the ACES Workshop, dedicated to airplane building with expert mentors passing on their knowledge.

“We have one student who started with us in ninth grade and is now an engineer at Tamarack Aerospace,” Larson said. “We’ve had a couple of students go directly from high school to building a Daher Kodiak. We’re actually working on an internship to guarantee our students an interview for jobs at Daher.”

For Daher (pronounced “dye-

AIR”), high school aviation programs like Larson’s are essential not only for exposing students to a love of aviation, but they’re also beneficial to help tap into a potential workforce eager to jumpstart their careers.

In 2015, a Japanese company called Setouchi bought Quest Aircraft in Sandpoint. Quest had established itself with its versatile Kodiak aircraft, renowned as a rugged airframe utilized for humanitarian missions requiring pilots to fly low and slow without fear of stalling, and able to land just about anywhere.

When French aviation company Daher purchased the company in 2019, they saw it as a great fit for their family-owned aircraft company, which has been in aerospace since World War I.

“Quest came up with an amazing design,” said Daher Human Resources Manager Jeffrey Perkins. “We’ve been very fortunate with this acquisition. … Daher is a great partner for North Idaho.”

Perkins said aviation programs like NIHSAP are one of many

Above: Students from North Idaho High School Aerospace Program exploring helicopters, building airplanes, flying high and enjoying aviation. Courtesy photos.

Women in the Woods One Health heads to Hope

Event features free wellness services for both people and pets

By Reader Staff

Better Together Animal Alliance, Bonner Community Food Bank and Bonner Partners in Care are hosting a free wellness event for the whole family on Saturday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hope Elementary School (255 Hope School Road). Services being offered include:

•From BTAA: brief physical health exams, dog and cat vaccines, free microchipping, and free dog and cat food (limited to the

first 75 participants);

•From Bonner Community Food Bank: monthly food boxes and other perishable and nonperishable goods (while supplies last);

•From Bonner Partners in Care: blood pressure screenings, free blood pressure cuffs and health resource information;

•Door prizes and giveaways.

The One Health event is free to the public. To learn more about this event and others, visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org/events.

Friends of the Library hosts monthly book sale

By Reader Staff

The Friends of the Library will be holding its annual book sale Saturday, June 3 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the East Bonner Library District Sandpoint Branch (1407 Cedar St.).

< AVIATION, con’t from Page 16 >

This month there will be many science fiction and audiobooks available. Also, computer systems and audio/visual gear will be on sale.

Proceeds from the book sale help support the library.

ways Daher reaches out to the next generation of aviators and aircraft mechanics and builders.

“In Sandpoint … maybe 40% of students go onto college while the other 60% stay here, live with their parents, maybe flip burgers and find some kind of minimum-wage entry level job,” Perkins told the Reader. “They may not have a great future unless they do something unique.”

Perkins said Daher benefits greatly by hiring students from high-school aviation programs for a number of reasons, but mainly because of the head start aviation students obtain from those classes, as well as difficulties obtaining workers requiring a move to the area.

“If I want to hire an assembler to work on our planes and he has to move here from somewhere else, how easy is that going to be in Sandpoint, Idaho?” Perkins asked. “That’s going to be a tough sell with how the economy is and with what the median real estate prices are like now.”

With local students, however, Perkins acknowledges it can be a win-win situation right out of the gate.

“If I can somehow help the North Idaho

By Reader Staff

More than 30 women convened at Pine Street Woods on May 19 for Women in the Woods. Organized by the Idaho Department of Lands and University of Idaho extension, the event drew women from a wide range of ages and backgrounds to learn how to care for their forestland.

community have a pathway for someone to stay here and work and live here, I think that’s a win for both the community and Daher,” Perkins said.

Because of the meticulous nature of building airplanes and the endless safety precautions, Perkins said training a new employee who has never worked in aviation before usually takes six months, which means productivity slows.

On the flipside, if Perkins can hire a former aviation student who knows a bit more about what to do before they even start work, “I can shrink that six months of training down to six weeks. Then we’re an even better employer and company for it. To me, that’s a win-win. That’s why Nicolas [Chabbert], our CEO, is convinced we need to invest in these programs.”

Perkins confirmed that Daher would have representatives on hand June 3 at the Sandpoint Airport to answer questions and potentially plant the seeds of future careers in prospective young employees.

With an ambitious goal to build 30 planes a year, Perkins said Daher’s desire for talented workers won’t go away any time soon. Perks that Daher offers its

Topics from tree identification, measurement and forest health, to pruning techniques, equipment demos and burning safety were explored through hands-on exercises in small groups led by experts. One attendee commented that it was refreshing to learn these skills from knowledgeable women in the field.

“We hope that our partners at

employees are attractive, such as teaching skills that can easily be transferred into other industries, and also offering not just Sandpoint as a location to work and live, but any of their plants scattered across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Even with 262 employees in Sandpoint and another 35 contractors, Perkins said he still “can’t find enough people, because, in truth, Daher has plans to grow manufacturing until we’re at full capacity. We’d love to bring on a second shift, so we’re trying to find people.”

With such promising careers in aviation right here in our backyard, Larson looks with fondness over the past 10 as a time when he and fellow aviation mentors have instilled their love of flying to the next generation.

“The mentors we work with are all amazing people with so much experience in airplane building,” Larson said. “Ted Farmin is kind of a legend around here. Ed Meyer has built an airplane and is on our board of directors. Tom Dean was an engineer at Boeing and he volunteers here on Saturdays. They’re all locals and they all love to devote unbelievable amounts of hours to those students.”

IDL and U of I will make Women in the Woods an annual event. It was so much fun,” said Kaniksu Land Trust Conservation Director Regan Plumb.

There was no cost to attend the event sponsored by KLT and catered by Spud’s Waterfront Grill.

Larson also acknowledged that Sandpoint has for years been known as an aviation-friendly town.

“Not only is it aviation-friendly, but several people who have come through here for conferences and such have remarked on how many women pilots we have here,” Larson said. “Over half of our students are female, both in flight training and aviation and airplane building. We have girls as young as 12 years old. There was one group of three or four girls who rebuilt an engine with a cutaway, so when you move the propeller you can see the internal parks working. They did that when they were 12 years old and it took them two years to complete. That’s impressive to me. Those are our students.”

For students interested in learning more about a potential career in aviation, attend the “Ten Years of Success” open house Saturday, June 3 at the Sandpoint Airport. To learn more about the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program, visit highshoolaerospace.org.

Women in the Woods instructors pose for a photo after a full day in the forest. Courtesy photo.

Live Music w/ Matt Lome

6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Rock, jazz, blues, country

THURSDAY, june 1

Cribbage Night 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

June 1-8, 2023

Live Music w/ Doug Bond & Marty Perron

4pm @ BlueRoom

Sandpoint’s guitar/mandolin duo!

FriDAY, june 2

PORPA rowing club gears up for 2023 season

By Reader Staff

Live Music w/ Ian Newbill

5-8pm @ Paddler’s Ale House

Country and classic rock

Live Music w/ Truck Mills

4pm @ BlueRoom

One of the best blues guitarists around

Live Music w/ Headwaters

6pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.

Locally grown acoustic band

Woods Wheatcroft art opening

5:30pm @ Wheatcroft Studio (104 2nd Ave.)

A “First Friday” event with an art opening called “Moving Forward” including early film work, collage, trash and sculptural pieces

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz

7-9pm @ The Back Door

Live Music w/ Ian Newbill

6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Country and classic rock

Live Music w/ Steve Neff

4pm @ BlueRoom

Live Music w/ Aaron Golay & the Original Sin

9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge

Sand Creek Paddlers Challenge

10am @ Check-in at City Beach Pavilion

Four-mile paddler up and back Sand Creek

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee

Meets every Sunday at 9am

Live Music w/ Jesse Quandt Band

7-11:30pm @ The Hive

Jesse’s country-rock follows themes of the blue collar worker, heartache, life and love. Tickets $10-$15. 21+ livefromthehive.com

Live Music w/ Monarch Mountain Band

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

High energy bluegrass and folk

Allegro Spring Dance Recital: ‘The Elements’

6pm @ Panida Theater

Students will dance the elements of earth, air, fire and water. Tickets $10-$15

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz

6-9pm @ Barrel 33

SATURDAY, june 3

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

9am-1pm @ Farmin Park

Fresh produce and artisan goods, every week! Live music by Bright Moments Jazz

Live Music w/ Devon Wade

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Country music from Sandpoint

Kids Fair 2023

2-6pm @ LillyBrooke Family Justice Center

Games, prizes, free BBQ and ice cream. Police, fire and EMT, face painting and DJ.

227 S. First Ave.

MCS Honors Student Showcase

7pm @ Little Carnegie Hall (MCS)

Singers, flutists, pianists and violinists take the stage for a concert. $10/$5

Stephen Lyman ‘Rediscovered’ (June 2-3)

9am-10pm @ U of I Sandpoint Org. Ag. Ctr. Free admission, donations accepted. Come see the art of famed painter Stephen Lyman

Friends of the Library book sale

10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library

This month many sci-fi and audio books for sale. Also, CPU systems and A/V gear for sale

Live Music w/ Leroy Bell & his only friends • 6:30-10pm @ The Hive

After years of writing songs for other artists, including Elton John, LeRoy Bell launched his own career highlighting the unique soulful acoustic blues style that has earned him many accolades from critics and fans alike. $20-$25. 21+ livefromthehive.com

KNPS Annual Native Plant Sale and Arbor Day Celebration

9am-1pm @ Lakeview Park (611 S. Ella Ave.)

Native plants, whisical yard art and more. Tree planting ceremony at 10:30am

SunDAY, june 4

Magic with Star Alexander

5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s

Up close magic shows at the table

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Sip ’n’ Bitch • 4-6pm @ The Bank

Local Cottage Market

10am-6pm @ Farmin Park

monDAY, june 5

Group Run @ Outdoor Experience 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome, beer after

TuesDAY, june 6

Join a like minded group for a much-needed drink and learn about Idaho’s war on reproductive rights. Pro-Voice Project’s Jen Jackson Quintano is the featured guest. Then, help workshop PVP’s next round of sassy (but true) slogans to be unveiled on swag at Pride

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

3-5pm @ Farmin Park

Live Piano w/ Dwayne Parsons

wednesDAY, june 7

Dine Out for Bonner Classical Academy • 4-8pm @ 113 Main

Sandpoint Kiwanis invites you to dine out to support Bonner Classical Academy. A portion of proceeds will benefit the academy. Silent auction, activities with prices and more

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Line dancing lessons

6:30pm @ The Hive

ThursDAY, June 8

Art Reception: Jeff Rosenkrans

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

The 2023 season for the Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association kicks off Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4 with a maintenance and team-building weekend.

Members of the Priest River-based rowing and other non-motorized water sports club will gather at the “Mudhole” in the Priest River Recreation Area, located one mile east of Priest River on U.S. Highway 2, to prepare and inspect boats and equipment, and set up the year’s season of events.

The annual membership meeting to discuss club business and welcome several new members is scheduled for Sunday, June 4, with a barbecue and potluck to follow.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, PORPA plans to establish a membership brunch to showcase club activities, as well as offer free introductory courses on learning to row throughout the summer (for more information, email secretary@porpa.org).

For experienced rowers, PORPA will hold a rowing session for all members every weekend; and, at least once per month, the club will host a social hour following the weekend rowing sessions. Weekdays will be open for teams and self-directed rowing for all.

In addition to its weekly rowing events, PORPA, Long Bridge Swim organizers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have teamed up to provide free water safety lessons at the Mudhole in the month of August. Sessions will be a total of three hours over one or two weeks. The sessions will be led by a local experienced swim instructor, though more instructors are encouraged to participate.

Interested parents and guardians are invited to send their name, email, phone number, and number and ages of kids to be put on an email list for updates. Registration for classes will open on the PORPA.org website in early June. Volunteers to assist with classes are also needed. Send your contact info to water_safety@porpa.org.

Live Music w/ John Daffron

6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Check out Jeff’s work and grab a glass of wine and a bite to eat

Live Stand Up Comedy: Paul Virzi

8pm @ Panida Theater

Comedy Central comedian with a special on Netflix. $25. panida.org

Finally, PORPA announced its second annual PORPA Sprints on the Priest River at the Priest River Recreation Area on Saturday Aug. 12. The event is a day of non-motorized races for stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, rowing shells, water bikes and even boats made of cardboard. All ages and abilities are welcome. Donations are welcome and help cover the costs for free youth registrations. Go to PORPA.org for more information.

STAGE & SCREEN GuardiansoftheGalaxyVol.3 has big disaffected early-middle age energy

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

Warning: This article may contain plot details that some consider spoilers.

Hunting for elevated themes in a Marvel blockbuster is almost certainly an exercise in making much ado about nothing. That’s despite the countless fervent fan reviews and memes that recount all the times when something happened to some Avenger or other that made them weep in the theater. I get that — the focus groups employed by the Marvel cinema-industrial machine have well nigh perfected the pathos-bathos whipsaw, toying with audiences’ emotions even as the narrative structure of every MCU film can be reduced to “big movie go boom.”

This is not to say the formula is ineffective (I’ve found myself misting up amid the objective silliness of “Infinity Stones,” teleporting warlocks and giant green scientists). Nor is it to say that it isn’t entertaining. And, for my money, the most pleasing entries in the sprawling MCU have been the trio of films in the Guardians of the Galaxy sub-franchise.

The third installment of Guardians released to theaters in early May and, since then, has pulled in more than $770 million at the box office. Audiences clearly love it, with a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, an 89% rating from Google users, 8/10 on IMDb and even 3/4 stars on rogerebert.com. Some other critics, however, have observed that this Guardians rendition is curiously devoid of humor, much less humanity. I’m one of those critics.

That’s probably by design — the humanto-non-human ratio of core characters is 2-8, and of those, two of the most beloved are 100% computer-generated non-humans (those being the half-psychotic gun-slinging Rocket Raccoon and the sentient tree thing Groot, voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, respectively).

Regardless, the first two Guardians films were filled with sight gags, pithy banter, rollicking ’70s and ’80s rock soundtracks, and blazing aesthetics that went beyond the stock-in-trade Earth-bound cinemascapes to encompass the eerie beauty of a chaotic galaxy full of color and light.

Through all that big-budget razzmatazz, director James Gunn wove in relationships formed, broken and sometimes mended that felt authentic — at least compared to the surface-level broham hero posturing that imbues so much of the rest of the MCU complex.

Much of that is missing from Vol. 3 in the trilogy. Our protagonists, led by Peter “Star Lord” Quill (Chris Pratt), are still roguish, but they’re no longer outsiders and certainly not underdogs. They also have much grimmer feelings about, well, everything.

Quill opens Vol. 3 in a depressed, drunk-

en heap, mourning that his former greenskinned love interest Gamora (Zoe Saldana) has no recollection of him nor their erstwhile comrades after her dad — the godlike warlord Thanos — threw her off a cliff and she came back to life from an alternate timeline in which she never joined the Guardians. (That happened in another MCU movie, so you’ve got to be up on your canon.)

Anyway, Rocket sets the tone in the first scenes, sad-vibing in his headphones to Radiohead’s iconic song “Creep,” with the obvious implication being that he feels like a “weirdo”; a living pastiche of organic and inorganic parts and pieces, cobbled together by an evil scientist.

Drunk Quill and emo Rocket both give off strong disaffected early-middle age energy. What Gen X/Millennial-cusper hasn’t sat around listening to “Creep” and thinking Thom Yorke is singing about them, specifically? That’s a cliched experience and a boring one, but matches the weariness that lays over Guardians Vol. 3 like a cloud of unspoken disappointments.

Evidence: Gone (for the most part) are the classic rock bangers from Quill’s famous mixtapes, replaced with the digitized music of the ’90s, bringing with it all the grungy, grim, wistful downbeat tenor that implies.

The usual vim of these films is short-circuited at the very outset by a devastating attack that leaves Rocket clinging to life. The gang tries to stitch him up, but soon discovers Rocket’s sadistic fabricator installed a “kill switch” into his body that will trigger if tampered with. The Guardians must of course then saddle up on a MacGuffin hunt to disable the device and therefore save their buddy. Naturally, this brings them into conflict with Rocket’s creator — the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), who is basically Dr. Moreau in space, with an obsession to jump-start animal evolution in pursuit of a perfect society on an alternate Earth.

Seriously, that’s not an homage. It is literally the plot to Island of Dr. Moreau, with all the hideousness that implies.

Lacking the will they/won’t they dynamic of Quill and Gamora, and with Rocket out of commission, most of the fun of these films is drained away, leaving Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), teenage Groot, the empathic Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Gamora-sister/reformed assassin Nebula (Karen Gillan) to carry the narrative weight. Drax does Drax, providing his usual tone-deaf comic relief in a vaguely platonic friend-crush with Mantis, the latter spending much of the film being annoyed with the rest of the team for their emotional immaturity. For that matter, Nebula also navigates the storyline seeming more than a little exasperated that she’s the only one

who knows what they’re doing.

Quill, though ostensibly the leader, is too wrapped up in his own trauma over losing Gamora and, potentially, his best frenemey that he fairly plays second or even third fiddle to his crew.

Meanwhile, running parallel with the mission to overthrow the High Evolutionary and save Rocket’s life is Rocket’s own backstory, reeled out in a series of very long flashbacks (we’re meant to take this as his own memories flashing before his inner eye while in a coma), that really should have prompted some indication that audiences, many of them likely bringing kids to the the-

ater, would be treated to extended sequences of CGI animal torture and experimentation, as well as many, many unsettling images of animal-machine hybrids.

Between the essential flabbiness of the main quest and the ancillary, often gratuitous-feeling brutality of Rocket’s origins, Guardians Vol. 3 seeps a distinct chill that simply can’t be dispelled by any of the heartfelt bluffness or fun-loving swashbuckling that made the first two films (to varying degrees) such welcome additions to the MCU.

Catch it in theaters, or wait until it inevitably shows up for streaming on Disney+.

Courtesy photo.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

While most of my perennials were quite inconsistent this spring, a fragrant patch of oregano thrives not far from my leafy red rhubarb plant. My youngest daughter, Casey, planted it on Mother’s Day nearly 20 years ago. Lucky for me, it’s hardy and has withstood harsh winters and my lackadaisical approach to gardening, growing happily between a lavender plant and lemon thyme.

Native to Mediterranean Europe, oregano is a flowering shrub of the mint family. There are myriad varieties of oregano with a distinctive aroma and intense flavor, making it a perfect herb for many types of savory foods. I’ve heard that older plants can lose their taste, but that’s certainly not the case with mine.

It’s one of my favorite herbs to incorporate as a fresh ingredient all summer. I toss it in Greek dressings, chop it for crispy lemon chicken or add it with feta as a topping to oven-roasted potatoes. But, of course, I harvest a lot of it, too, before it begins to flower, first drying it and then adding the leaves to homemade Italian seasoning for sauces and herbes de Provence for hearty winter soup, stew and cassoulet.

Greek oregano is considered the true oregano due to its strong flavor. It is the prized oregano for Greek, Italian and Spanish cuisine, and it is popular in pizza and pasta (and Italian sauces). I’m not sure of the provenance of my sturdy

The Sandpoint Eater Ode to oregano

plant, but it makes the perfect addition to all the cuisines I try to master, including spicy Argentinian chimichurri.

I love the aroma of this aromatic herb and was especially delighted when, years ago, I came upon acres of it, growing wild and blooming on a sunny hillside in Italy, grazed upon by young cows in their sleek summer coats.

It had never occurred to me that it was more than an herb garden occupant and, even now, when I catch a whiff of my small patch, it draws me back to that long-ago fragrant field of bovines foraging in the

Italian countryside.

I’ve since learned that those clever (and handsome) Italian cattlemen might have been on to something. Recent research shows that oregano is an excellent supplement for cattle and chickens, and compounds in oregano may actually have antibacterial and other medicinal properties. It is also being studied by researchers from Aarhus University, in Denmark, to see if adding oregano to cattle feed can reduce the production of methane gas in the rumen of cattle, thus reducing methane gas production. So far, their research is quite promising; and, today,

various livestock feeds and supplements contain oregano.

It’s good for us humans, too. For centuries, Mediterranean cultures have prescribed oregano as a medicinal herb. Now you can find a plethora of essential oils and extracts derived from oregano that contain potent antioxidants that may benefit the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as relieve inflammation.

In ancient times, oregano symbolized happiness and was used to combat sadness. It was also thought to bring luck to the Greek Goddess Aphrodite. So, besides being an aromat-

Greek orzo salad

For Salad:

ic flavor enhancer, this little plant packs a lot of history and potential health benefits into our lives.

With that in mind, this diminutive, unique plant may deserve more reverence in my garden. Although, on second thought, it has thrived for 20+ years in its present location with little tending, so it may be best left to grow on its own (with a little additional thanks and praise from this accidental gardener).

I hope you’ll whip up a batch of this cool and crisp summer salad. You know who to thank…

Chill all the ingredients, as salad is best when vegetables are crispy. A great vegetarian salad, or add grilled chicken or shrimp as an entrée addition. Serves 6.

INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:

• 8 ounces orzo pasta

• 1 lemon, juiced

• ½ medium red onion, finely diced

• 2 firm cucumbers, partially peeled, seeded and diced (about 1½ cups diced)

• 8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved

• 6 oz pitted kalamata olives, drained

• 6 oz roasted red pepper, drained, rinsed, patted dry and diced

• 8 oz feta cube (best packed in brine), drained and crumbled

• kosher salt and ground black pepper

For Dressing:

• ½ cup Greek yogurt (I use full-fat)

• 1 lemon, zested and juiced

• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

• 2 tbs finely chopped fresh oregano

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season

Cook the orzo: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 tbs olive oil and the orzo. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is cooked to just al dente, according to package directions. Drain and immediately rinse with cold water. Chill until ready to use.

Chop red onion, cut tomatoes, dice the cucumbers, drain olives. Once all of your ingredients are prepped, add to a glass bowl and toss with the lemon juice.

For dressing, whisk the Greek yogurt, lemon zest and juice, and olive oil until smooth. Add chopped oregano and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk until well mixed. Taste and adjust seasoning. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until read to use.

Assemble Greek orzo pasta salad: To a large bowl, add the orzo, red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, roasted red pepper and feta. Pour dressing over top. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh oregano sprigs. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to three days.

MUSIC

Put your money where your microphone is

KRFY Panhandle Community Radio to host membership drive

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

In a time when North Idahoans are more conscious than ever of supporting locals, it’s a perfect moment to be reminded about one of the most local resources of all: community radio.

In Sandpoint, that’s 88.5 KRFY Panhandle Community Radio — available on local airwaves at 88.5 FM, or always online on the krfy.org livestream.

“Community radio is made by that community and designed to serve that community,” said Associate Station Manager Jack Peterson. “KRFY isn’t like any other radio station in the country.”

For more than a decade, KRFY has been dedicated to offering up news — both local and syndicated — as well as music and other programming meant to give listeners a sense of their place in the world, both at home and within the larger national (and international) context.

“The beauty of a broadcast signal is that everybody can get it, and everybody can get it for free,” Peterson said — but that’s not to say that appreciative listeners can’t pitch in every now and then.

KRFY will host a membership drive Monday, June 5

through Saturday, June 10, all in an effort to bring more community-minded radio enthusiasts into the fold. A gift of any size will entitle the donor to a KRFY membership.

To cap off the drive, Peterson said KRFY will set up a mobile studio at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint (110 Main St.) on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and welcome passersby to get involved.

“If they want to, they can become members of the station by donating, or they can just watch live radio happen,” Peterson said.

KRFY depends on donations to cover operational costs, which experienced a spike last year when the station was forced to relocate its broadcast antenna after the tower where it was previously located had to be removed. The signal relocation cost around $18,000, which KRFY is still working to recoup.

“We are realizing an even better and wider broadcast signal since the move to the new tower,” Station Manager Suzy Prez told the Reader in April.

Aside from donating and becoming station members, locals can also get involved by volunteering at the station. Those interested in hosting their own program can attend a training

session later this summer, while those less eager to share their radio voices can offer up other talents.

“A lot of people like to just volunteer for the station without being on air,” Peterson said. “At least half of the volunteers for the station are never in front of a microphone.”

However, for those with something to share, community radio might just be the perfect place. Peterson said he would bet that nearly all active local nonprofits have had the chance to share their missions on KRFY over the years. Local musicians have broadened their audiences thanks to the station. All in all, Peterson said community

radio should feel like a place for everyone.

“I love putting people on the air who might never otherwise have that chance,” he said.

Those interested in becoming a member of 88.5 KRFY can do so by donating at krfy.org, calling 208-265-2992 or sending a contribution to KRFY 88.5 Panhandle Community Radio, P.O. Box 2465, Sandpoint, ID 83864. To inquire about volunteering — on or off the air — email KRFYradio@gmail.com.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, The Hive, June 3

After years working as a young songwriter penning hits for iconic artists like the Temptations, Rita Marley and Elton John, LeRoy Bell broke out into his own musical career and found acclaim not only from the critics, but fans as well.

With his band LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, Bell comfortably embraces a wide variety of genres, such as soulful rhythm and blues, powerful blues rock and acoustic folk soul.

Aaron Golay and The Original Sin, 219 Lounge, June 3

Bell’s live performances are hailed as intimate and powerful. He’s performed with many of the greats, including Van Morrison, Sheryl Crow, B.B. King, Etta James and more.

— Ben Olson

6:30-10 p.m., $20-$25, 21+. The Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 208-920-9039. Get tickets at livefromthehive.com. Listen at leroybell.com

Sandpointians have had a couple of opportunities to see Aaron Golay and The Original Sin — once at Idaho Pour Authority in 2021, another time at the 219 Lounge last June and again in lateApril at the Heartwood Center.

That’s a somewhat uncommon regularity for a Boise-based band; and, lucky for us, the soul-rock-Americana power trio of Golay on lead vocal and guitar, Darcy Erickson on bass and vocals, Michael Tetro on drums and

vocals are returning Saturday, June 3 for another gig at the Niner.

If you’ve somehow missed any of those other chances to catch these weekend road warriors in action, now’s the time to repent and get yourself right.

— Zach Hagadone

9 p.m., FREE, 21+. 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208-, 219.bar. Listen aarongolaymusic. com.

Haruki Murakami’s writing is nothing if not original. His fiction is a sort of magical realism that feels like a mystery is unfolding in front of you, except that many of his mysteries remain just that: mysterious. He may not be everyone’s cup of absinthe, but a good way to find out is to read The Elephant Vanishes (which is by far his best collection of short stories) before jumping into his longer, rabbit hole-esque novels.

READ LISTEN

If it’s true, as singer-songwriter John Craigie says, that bad politics make for good music, then the stage was already set for Raye Zaragoza when she showed up at Standing Rock with a bunch of home-crafted folk songs. I can only imagine her winning everyone over with her beautiful, and sometimes cutting, songs of protest. Her 2020 album, Woman In Color, represents her trajectory from then until now, and the way she delivers her message often manifests itself as ear candy.

WATCH

Brazilian artist Sebastião Salgado traveled the world as a photographer for 40 years, sometimes on a shoestring budget. His photographs are powerful and his life and art are the subject of The Salt of the Earth. The 2014 documentary film doesn’t shy away from things like his parental absence, nor does it avoid the larger issues of war, famine and exploitation, which are often at the heart of his photos. Co-directed by his son Juliano and Wim Wenders, it received quite a few honors and, if you’re a pre-digital shutterbug, you’re not gonna want to miss it.

This week’s RLW by Ed Ohlweiler

Students from Forrest M. Bird Charter Schools get a tour of the KRFY studio from Associate Station Manager Jack Peterson, far right. Courtesy photo.

From Pend Oreille Review, June 1, 1923

SHERIFF WM. KIRKPATRICK SHOT BY PONDERAY HOTEL BANDIT LAST NIGHT

Sheriff William Kirkpatrick was shot in the back shortly before midnight last night while engaged in trailing down two men who held up and robbed the Ponderay hotel a few minutes before.

The shooting took place just west of the Northern Pacific depot and in the vicinity of the Humbird mill.

Sheriff Kirkpatrick was shot but once, the bullet entered his right side and penetrated the body, later being found in his clothes at the City hospital.

As the Review goes to press it is the belief of the attending physicians Drs. Page and Wallentine, that the patient will recover unless complications set in and these are not looked for.

A few minutes after the shooting posses that were quickly organized made a sweeping search of the jungles where the shooting took place.

The holdup of the hotel was staged by a tall man, very dark complexioned. It is also known that a short man kept guard while the holdup was being carried out and it is this man who is believe to have shot the sheriff.

Additional posses were organized and all trains entereing and leaving the city were closely watched. It is believed that the men implicated in both crimes are hiding in or near the city as it was impossible for either to leave without being apprehended.

BACK OF THE BOOK

…On Memorial Day weekend

By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist

Memorial Day weekend is passed. Soggy campers weathered the weather, and cemeteries sprouted flags and flowers in remembrance of loved ones.

Twenty-eight years ago last Sunday, I traveled to Nespelem in the sagebrush hills of the Colville Reservation to seek out the grave of one of my heroes: Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it, Thunder-Rolling-In-The-Mountains, Joseph of the Nez Perce. If you wish to know how Joseph became one of my heroes, the story is outlined in Side Trips From Cowboy, published in 2009.

If you wish to know why Joseph is my hero, it’s because he was a man who kept his word in the face of systemic racism, greed-fueled violence, broken promises and institutional betrayal. He was a leader who put his people’s needs before his own wants and did what he promised he would do. Those are rare qualities in leadership today — and many other days as well.

Joseph died in 1904 of what the attending doctor called a broken heart. He was about 63 years old. He is buried many miles from the home of his heart. He grew up in the Wallowa Valley of northeastern Oregon, where he lived until he was about 36 before being forced to start for the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho. By circumstances beyond his control, he never lived there. And he never returned to the Wallowa, though he wished to fiercely.

Many books are written about the diaspora of the non-treaty Nez Perce bands. In my library are several, including Yellow Wolf: His Own Story. Yellow Wolf is buried just downhill from Joseph. He is also

one of my heroes. As a young man in 1877, he fought alongside other Nez Perce warriors, men and women both, from White Bird Canyon to Snake Creek. He recounted those experiences to Luculus McWhorter, who helped him produce his book.

The two of them also helped preserve the history of the War of 1877 by traveling the route followed by the Nez Perce bands and pursuing soldiers across the West and marking out important battle sites, at White Bird in central Idaho, the Big Hole in southwestern Montana and Snake Creek on the north slope of the Bears Paw Mountains in north-central Montana.

These are lonely and lovely places. Thanks to Yellow Wolf, McWhorter and the preservation efforts of the National Park Service, you can walk through them and learn how the battles unfolded. With imagination, you might conjure up the war scenes. Thanks to Hollywood, we are all familiar enough with dramatized warfare to visualize some version of the fighting. If you have read about the battles in Yellow Wolf’s book and others — there were many witnesses from both sides who lived well into the 20th century — it’s almost possible to hear the crack of rifles, the whisper and whine of passing bullets, the shouts of warriors and their leaders on both sides, the bugles, the running horses, the screams of the wounded and cries of children and old people, and the dying begging for water.

If you sit and be still on McCarthy’s Redoubt at Whitebird, along the crystal-clear and quiet river at the Big Hole, or near Ollocot’s Rock — where Joseph’s brother died — at Snake Creek, you might hear these things. Out of the corner of your

Sudoku Solution STR8TS Solution

eye, you might see — or feel — some inexplicable movement, perhaps a restless resident spirit of a place sanctified by blood and profaned by treachery and broken promises, as any of these sites might be. Perhaps what they have to say is this: This is not done. This is not healed. This is only buried under layers of time.

On that first trip to Nespelem — there have been many since — I was directed to the wrong cemetery, a Catholic burial ground north of town. Upon arrival, I knew Joseph wasn’t buried there — it was partly because of his refusal to embrace Christianity that he came to Nespelem instead of Idaho. But, there I met Marguerite, an old lady come to honor her parents. In exchange for help doing that, she and her husband led me to the Nez Perce cemetery. There are other warriors and leaders buried in that cemetery, as there are in most. This week, it has surely sprouted flags and flowers and other gifts for the dead, just as others have.

The fortuitous serendipity of meeting Marguerite in Nespelem 28 years ago is not lost on me. Once we arrived at the Nez Perce cemetery, she took me by the arm and led me to the marble obelisk that marks Joseph’s grave. She was of mixed blood, and she told me his name in Nez Perce. “This is Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it,” she said. “Many things they say he did, he didn’t do.”

I have learned that. But, the things he said he would do, he did.

Side Trips From Cowboy is one of many books published by Blue Creek Press. Visit the page at bluecreekpress.com/books.

Crossword Solution

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

CROSSWORD

Word Week of the

“The mechanic was ferdutzt and surprised that the new car had broken down so soon after its purchase.”

Corrections:

Here’s a big nothingburger for you.

It’s too bad cowboys didn’t eat much pizza back in the Old West, because I think a good painting would be a cowboy giving his last slice to his horse.

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22