READER
June 25, 2015 / FREE / Vol. 12 issue 23
@ The Panida
The One-Year Anniversary of the shooting that rocked Sandpoint How Have We learned?
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(wo)MAN
Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by
What kind of music moves you? “I like upbeat jazz like saxophone.” August Johnson Sophomore at SHS Sandpoint
So, about last week...
Was your red pen busy marking up last week’s issue? If so, it was for good reason. Here at the Reader, we do everything we can to make each issue as clean as possible. Every Wednesday night, Ben and I spend up to three hours pouring over the paper with a magnifying glass (literally) to kill as many typos and errors as we can. After running through our editorial proofing last week, the file containing our edited version of the paper inexplicably … blew up. Something in all those 1s and 0s was obviously not to the computer’s liking, and we were forced to use the unedited version of the paper to meet our printing deadline. We ended up with an issue riddled with typos, stylistic inconsistencies and grammatical problems. The fact that three-plus hours of work were for nothing really burns us. Even worse is the fact that last week’s paper wasn’t as good as it could have been. Ben and I are making some changes so we can deal with computer problems should they reoccur. We appreciate all the support from community members, who are nothing but gracious even when we aren’t at our best.
-Cameron Rasmusson, editor “Sometimes my own. I think it is music that aspires to a higher level of transformative expression. There’s a broad spectrum of examples from classical to folk music from around the world.”
Zach Hagadone (emeritus) Contributing Artists: (cover), Ben Olson, Daniel Cape, Jarrod McCabe Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Louie de Palma, Kari Clark, Paul Rechnitzer, Marcia Pilgeram, Jenna Bowers
Advertising: Jen Landis jen@sandpointreader.com Clint Nicholson clint@keokee.com Web Content: Keokee
The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
“It depends on my mood. Probably jazz and big band swing.”
it’s nice to meet you, neighbor
“I like a mixture between electronic and instrumental. These kind of bring two generations together.”
Joseph Pemp Meat manager Bonners Ferry
Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com
Subscription Price: $75 per year
Joanne Lanigan Phlebotomist Sandpoint
“I like patriotic music about eagles soaring over foreign lands that have wronged us... by guys who wear giant belt buckles and even larger hats with names like ‘Clay’ or ‘Toby.’ Or, anything by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.”
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com
Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.
“It has changed as I’ve gotten older. I liked the Beatles and the Monkees when I was young. Then there was the Rolling Stones and David Bowie stage, followed by disco. Now I like to listen to David Gray. I enjoy smooth jazz when I read.”
Kristina Atteberry U of I student Sandpoint
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724
Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com
Dave Hussey Itinerant Musician Kootenai Bay
Katie Prummer Cashier Sandpoint
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Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 500 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover John Craigie was photographed by Ben Olson for this week’s cover. He is playing his new hollow body electric guitar you will see featured at his show at the Panida Theater Saturday, June 27. Tickets are $15 and available at Eichardt’s, Eve’s Leaves and www. panida.org. Or buy them at the door if there are any left.
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COMMENTARY Our resident road warrior trades in four wheels for two
By Louie de Palma Reader Road Warrior Let’s take a spin down the foggy, poorly lit path of memory lane to the day my father took off the training wheels of my bicycle. I remember being a bit nervous and jittery with anticipation at my chance to ride like a bonafide bipedaling adult human possessing the balance and grace to zip around on a mere two wheels. The wheels came off and off I went. It was a miracle. I took to it like a bird falling out of a nest, gliding off without effort, without a hitch, without a problem. That was it. I could ride a twowheeled bike. All in all, it was very anticlimactic. My father and I both were beaming with pride. But later I found out that it was really no miracle. The wizard in this fraudulent miracle of Oz (my older sister) eventually pulled back the curtain of my delusion, explaining that for months she had slowly been bending my training wheels upward, forcing me to wobble to and fro more and more until I eventually learned to balance between them. Apparently, I had been riding on two wheels for awhile. I hadn’t noticed this sabotage at the age of three. The delusions of bicycling are tricky and insidious to say the least. Luckily for me the only injury I received due to my bicycle delusion was to my 3-year-old ego. Fast-forward to present time and I have witnessed numerous self-inflicted injuries by drunks trying to bike home from the bars under the delusion that they can navigate on two wheels, while they effectively have the mind of a 3-year-old. We have taxied people from the ER in the early hours of the morning with injuries (most commonly with split jaws) at an alarmingly increasing rate as we coast no-handed deeper into the summer. In addition to avoiding injury and potentially death, there are economic and legal benefits to choosing to take cab from the bar rather than the ER. The list of injuries that one can attain whilst biking drunk are as vast and 4 /
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variable as Nicholas Cage’s acting style. Wait ... I did that wrong. As vast and variable as the dubstep genre. Shoot, still wrong. OK, you can crash on a bike in as many ways as you can create memes off any given photo of a celebrity’s face. There we go, that’s it. The most common accidents I’ve seen or heard of involve curbs, flip flop malfunction/entanglement, weaving, pavement, trees, stairs, falling off the Long Bridge, dodging cats, dodging raccoons, dodging people, dodging other drunk cyclists that are right beside you, looking down, looking up, looking at your phone, changing your music, loose shoelaces or pant legs and my personal favorite, double riding. I know it seems romantic and sexy to try and double ride someone home after the bar—trust me I’ve been there—but you know what isn’t sexy? Making out with bloody chins (unless you’re a vampire than go for it, but in that case, you should have just flown home). You know what is sexy? Paying for someone’s safe romantic cab ride home with sultry tunes in the background. It also greatly reduces your chances of getting whacked by a car. Which brings me to WAACD—Wise Adults Against Cycling Drunk. It’s in
If you can keep it... Dear Editor, During the founding of our Constitution, the motto was, “eternal vigilance is the price we pay for liberty.” We the people need to be involved, educated and engaged, in order to maintain our liberties that are enumerated in the Constitution. Personal liberty requires personal responsibility. We all need to speak up and share whatever experiences and concerns we have. This is why our first amendment, freedom of religion and speech, was so important. I would like to give an example of the difference in a democracy and a republic at a fourth-grade level. If we have true democracy, then when more than half of a classroom decides that left-handed students should be thrown out, the majority of students have the right to do that, and the teacher would help them with this action. In a democracy, you have no rights against the majority. Any rights can change at any time, depending on who has the majority. In a republic, you elect representatives. They are responsible to act in accordance with pre-stated rules, like, the rights of an individual. The teacher, as a representative of authority, is obliged to protect the left-handed students, because they have rights that
association with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and it’s gaining momentum. Well ... no, it’s not. But if anyone wants to get that group going, I’ve already made T-shirts and ribbons. The economic benefits are really a no-brainer. What’s cheaper: a cab ride home or an ER visit? And that’s just if you’re lucky. How about an ER visit combined with taking time off work to heal, mixed with a dash of having your wages garnished for not paying your hospital bills served on a plate of having to buy a new bike? Or perhaps all of that, plus getting searched by a helpful police officer who discovers that illegal thing in your pocket. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about—that bootleg DVD you bought. Pirating is a serious crime. Come on, you wouldn’t steal a car would you? Now that you’ve been searched, you’ve got jail time and court fees. Just call a cab: You’ll save money any way you look at it. Legally, it’s pretty simple really. You can still get a DUI on a bike or be cited for drunkenness in public. Who knows, you might also throw in manslaughter for you double riders out there. If you’re going to ride drunk though,
which I and my associates at WAACD full-heartedly disagree with, make sure you’re set up properly. Tie your shoes or ditch your flops, cut off your pant legs so they don’t get caught in your chain, get a bell or a horn for corners or just yell real loud and most importantly, get a light. If you are in a pinch, you can grab a book of matches from the bar. Light them all at once and place them in your mouth and inflate your cheeks. This will create a red glow simulating a headlamp. Then ride like hell, because the fire is a-blazing and only last like four to six seconds. I know this is a mountain resort town, and it’s cool to ride bikes. I get it—what’s not cool about carrying a bike helmet around the bar with one pant leg rolled up and mud on your back? Everyone’s gonna be like, “Dayuumn, that dude/dudette can ride a bike. I’d like to ring that bell. Wouldn’t mind putting that in my basket.” I assure you though, once you’re bloodied, mangled, in jail and out of work, the only bell you’re going to hear ringing is that of your cell door for yard time. So call a cab, or, ya know, bust out those training wheels again. Ride on, right on, write on.
even the majority cannot take away. We have an incredibly wonderful form of government that many nations envy. Our founders had done an immense amount of research on democracies. They found that they had always failed. Our constitutional republic was difficult to achieve, and was paid for with much blood, sweat and tears. Furthermore, to maintain it requires this eternal vigilance. Here is one way to be involved. Keep your eye on the Idaho Administrative Rule development process that allows for public input.
during multiple periods in the past than it is now, and subsequently got cooler again—all without significant human help—how do we know we aren’t experiencing another one of these natural cycles? (2) If human activity was really the main cause of the global warming observed during the 20th century, then why did most of the warming occur during the first half of the century, while most human “greenhouse gas” emissions occurred during the second half of the century? (3) If carbon dioxide emissions are driving global warming, why have global temperatures essentially flatlined since 1998 even as CO2 levels have continued to rise? (4) Why has most of the warming that alarmists predicted was supposed to have happened by now failed to materialize? For people who are independent thinkers and want to hear both sides of the story, I recommend the British documentary film “The Great Global Warming Swindle” (which you can watch for free online). ClimateDepot. com is also a good source for climate science and climate-related news that many media outlets are failing to report. Sincerely,
Maureen Paterson Priest River
Challenge to Climate Change... Dear Editor, As a visitor passing through Sandpoint today, I enjoyed my brief time in this pretty town. But it was disappointing to open the local paper (June 18 issue) and see yet another media piece that failed to ask any tough questions challenging the alarmist narrative on global warming (now rechristened “climate change” by most media outlets). For instance: (1) Since the earth has been far warmer
Starchild San Francisco, Calif.
PERSPECTIVES
The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Connection By Kari Clark Executive Director of Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention
Mental illness is common among those suffering from substance abuse. In fact, in 1992 Congress established the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to make substance use and mental disorder information, services and research more accessible. Even with public agencies like SAHMSA, many people are not receiving the services and help they need across America, including Idaho. Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said recently she would make mental health and substance abuse treatment a “big part” of her campaign. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Clinton was quoted as saying, “This is a quiet epidemic, and it is striking in small towns and rural areas as much as any big city.” A study published last year by SAHMSA showed that in Idaho, among individuals aged 12 or older with alcohol dependence or abuse, only 6.9 percent received treatment for their alcohol use, while only 10.6 percent received treatment for illicit drug use. That leaves a large amount of addicts without proper treatment, and many of those that suffer from substance abuse addictions also suffer from mental health disorders. But what is the connection between mental health disorders and substance abuse? What can be done to combat the two? By far the most common issue connecting mental illness and substance abuse is self-medication. Certain people
with mental health issues aim to medicate their mental health symptoms with alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol often do little to help and eventually create a new issues, while also increasing the severity of the original mental health symptoms. Another common connection is when mental health issues trigger substance abuse, or vice versa. Mental health disorders are thought to be caused by different factors including genetics, environmental exposures before birth and/or brain chemistry. If you are at risk for a mental disorder, drug or alcohol abuse may push you over the edge. According to reports published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association,” roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse, 37 percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness and of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs. What should be done for people who suffer from both disorders? It is important to have the person obtain treatment for both problems at the same time. Ignoring the symptoms of a mental health disorder can cause a person not to be able to remain clean and sober, while an untreated substance abuse issue could make the mental health treatment unsuccessful. Recovering from co-occurring disorders takes time, commitment and courage. It may take months or even years. However, people with substance abuse and mental health problems can and do get better
What is a Conservative? By Paul Rechnitzer Reader Columnist
When I first began to vote, the process seemed so simple compared to what is going on these days. You were either a Republican or Democrat. Details that made any difference were usually to be found in the words of a few dedicated journalists known as columnists. Nicknames came from cartoonists—some were insulting, while others seemed appropriate. So when people began asking volunteers for public service if they were conservative, I began to wonder what a conservative really is. And when did the Republican label fail to answer this question? It is interesting that you can ask the opposite of conservative the same question. When did the Democrat-
ic Party fail as a label for the left? Unfortunately there is no easy answer. We have changed the meaning of so many words, you either need a pulpit or walk away entirely. Think about it in simpler terms: The word “cool” these days does not refer to your body temperature but your disposition. If I say I am going to rap on your door you will probably consider that a strange place to start something that sounds like song. So what’s a body to do? The solution for some is to echo the thoughts of countless commentators or parrot the opinion of the person with a sign who supposedly knows better than you. That’s not for me. In my opinion, a conservative is a member of either party who has a genuine interest in what is best for our coun-
Treatment for dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders should: •Help you think about the role that alcohol and other drugs play in your life. This should be done confidentially, without any negative consequences. People feel free to discuss these issues when the discussion is confidential, nonjudgmental, and not tied to legal consequences. •Offer you a chance to learn more about alcohol and drugs, to learn about how they interact with mental illnesses and with medications, and to discuss your own use of alcohol and drugs. •Help you become involved with supported employment and other services that may help your process of recovery. •Help you identify and develop your own recovery goals. If you decide that your use of alcohol or drugs may be a problem, a counselor trained in integrated dual diagnosis treatment can help you identify and develop your own recovery goals. This process includes learning about steps toward recovery from both illnesses. •Provide special counseling specifically designed for people with dual diagnosis. This can be done individually, with a group of peers, with your family, or with a combination of these. Source: SAMHSA
try. They have no bias as to skin color or gender and no allegiance to any belief that is contrary to our Constitution. They are not bent out of shape about an idea such as Common Core and are deeply concerned about the increased tendency to look outward for help rather than inward. They have a genuine concern for the rights of others and no patience for those who disregard them. In short I think most of us are conservative by any unencumbered standards. We essentially all believe the same sort of thing, at least until some smooth talker comes to town with an untried formula. The challenge is and has always been to think for yourself. If you rely on the basics, you won’t have to wonder what you are, your actions will suffice and you will do the right thing. Just don’t stop thinking.
LETTERS A call to action...
Dear Editor, I am thankful to the Reader for following through on the story of our “Senior Tree” (this is my affectionate name for the 140-year-old ponderosa pine that graces the Senior Center parking lot). Our last letter was informing you of the grant to redo the undulating parking lot, and has left a huge outpouring from our citizens asking what they can do to save this heritage tree. There are concerned and knowledgeable people working on this plan to follow through with the safety issues for our seniors in their parking lot, and to nurture and allow this incredible tree to remain in its place as a marker while preserving a vital link to our past that lifts our spirits with its presence. Living in Sandpoint, we are blessed with a history spoken through our old growth trees. We are fortunate in being designated a “Tree City USA” because our community is committed to caring for and managing our public trees. So what can we do? Our Senior Center sits on city property and the grounds are cared for by the city. In order to save the tree from being cut down, we must come together as a community to raise the extra funds necessary to alter the original plan. We ask those of you interested to put on your thinking caps in order to save the tree! We must work quickly, as time is of the essence! Since this is city land, we must have the OK from our mayor as she and the city have the last word. Please write or call with your pledges towards this great cause to Ellen Weissman of the Senior Center at 263 6860—ellen@sandpointareaseniors.org. We can do this! Gail W. Lyster, Sandpoint
Petition event a success...
Dear Editor, Thank you to everyone who helped make our first Get up...Stand up event a huge success. We helped 20 people get registered to vote and received over 50 signatures on our New Approach Idaho Petition. Thank you to Eichardt’s for hosting the event, Matt King for providing the music, Blue Sky Broadcasting for radio advertising, Sandpoint Online for advertising, the Reader for printing the letter to the editor which explained the purpose of the event, and to everyone who turned out for the fun. I will share just one story of the many that I heard at the event. One nice woman said that she nearly cried when she heard that Idaho might legalize medical marijuana some day as she has a son who has Lyme’s disease and medical cannabis has helped him regain his health. It has literally saved his life and yet she lives with the fear of the legal consequences every day. So thank you again to everyone who helped make this a success. In health, Sandra Erickson Sandpoint June 25, 2015 /
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NEWS New study sets precedent for region conservation By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Idaho Fish and Game biologists Lacy Robinson and Michael Lucid are approaching the end of a five year odyssey, one that’s covered everything from water temperatures to carnivore habitats to slug penises. The purpose: an exhaustive biological study establishing baseline data that will inform conservation efforts for years to come. Known as the Multi-species Baseline Initiative, the project was funded through a $950,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant and relied on cooperation from a small army of local organizations and volunteers. Now in the final stages of drafting before it’s sent out for peer review, the initiative was previewed to a group of local conservationists at Sandpoint Community Hall Tuesday night. “I really applaud the work that you’ve done,” said Brad Smith of Idaho Conservation League. “I’m not aware of any other project of this scale and depth.” While Lucid and Robinson couldn’t delve too deeply into the study’s findings until it endures the rigors of the scientific method, they do believe it will have significant implications for regional ecology. Indeed it may well influence priorities when it comes to conservation efforts. “A primary objective of the project was to increase species ranks, and we’re excited to see if that happens during the 2015 species ranking process,” Lucid said. Conducted over 22,975 square kilometers across Idaho, Washington, Montana and Canada, the initiative cataloged reams of data on hundreds of local species. What’s more, the study also collected temperature measurements to better understand the influence of climate change on regional ecology and wildlife. “This is really a win-win for 6 /
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anyone invested in conservation on any level,” said Lucid. Over the survey period, Robinson, Lucid and their team collected data on 199 species at 2,161 sites across the region. Species surveyed included 58 gastropods (slugs and snails), eight amphibians, four reptiles, 32 mammals, six birds, three native plants, two exotic plants and 86 beetles. For carnivores, they utilized a systems of cameras and brushes that collected hair samples for DNA analysis from the animals, who were drawn to the site by beaver carcasses firmly affixed to trees. “We call [beaver] mountain money,” Robinson said. “It’s the common currency that every carnivore in the area recognizes.” Snails and slugs were also of interest to the researchers. The team collected an impressive sample size from a variety of slimy critters using traps soaked in various substances, including beer. One such effort yielded a species of slug Lucid believes could be entirely new to the scientific world. Drawn especially to the beer traps, the slug species impressed experts with its penis size, which is reportedly very large for a gastropod. If Lucid’s suspicion of slug’s undiscovered status survives peer review, locals could have a hand in selecting its name. “We’ve got this slug with a giant penis that you catch with beer,” Lucid said. “We figured, why not have a naming contest?” The project also logged climate data, including water temperatures, at 1,169 wildlife survey sites. The data collected over five years will prove invaluable for scientists in studying the influences and impact of climate change on species throughout the region. According to Robinson and Lucid, the study is necessary to help conservationists make smart decisions based on objective data. A lack of solid numbers is something they’ve felt
Community braces for oil train impacts
By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
Two slugs caught in the act of mating. Photo by Ben Olson. deeply in their own work. “That’s why we started this project,” Robinson said. “We were sitting around saying, ‘Wow, I wish someone would have done this 50 years ago.’” One way or another, the study wouldn’t have been as successful as it turned out without assistance from local organizations, Robinson said. Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Idaho Conservation League, Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and many more pitched in to bring the project to completion. In addition, volunteers gave their time to make sure the imitative legwork got done. “For me and Michael, working with citizen naturalists is kind of a new thing,” said Robinson. “What I didn’t expect was the joy of people going out and getting to experience this project.”
The national economy might run on oil, but for Sandpoint, the energy source could also be its undoing. About 75 regional residents turned out Wednesday evening to hear the latest on oil train threats from a panel of conservation and public safety professionals, who said vigilance is important to maintain safety. “It’s going to happen eventually in Bonner County where we’ll have to deal with some kind of incident,” said Ron Stocking, Sandpoint and Sagle fire chief. “Hopefully it will be a minor one.” According to Eric de Place, policy director at the Seattle sustainability nonprofit Sightline Institute, oil tankers are already a common sight in Sandpoint and are only projected to increase. That’s worrisome considering a number of derailments and explosions in the past years, including a 2013 explosion in Quebec that killed 47 people. It also nearly destroyed the entire
town. “The reason we are seeing so many derailments is because we are running so many crude oil trains,” de Place said. Stocking said the city is preparing emergency plans in the event a derailment occurs, with human life, property conservation and environmental protection the top three priorities. Meanwhile, Sandpoint Councilwoman and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper Director Shannon Williamson said the city was eyeing developments on a potential second rail bridge over the lake. Projected for construction in 2018 at the earliest, the bridge would require a public comment period before authorization if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers orders a special permit, which council members have formally requested. “Since this project is so far afield, we don’t know what the Army Corps will do, but the request has been made,” Williamson said.
Idaho joins the fight to ban the Confederate flag You can attempt a rebel yell, but it might not do any good. The Confederate flag’s days may be numbered, at least when it comes to its display on public property. Following the shootings in Charleston, S.C., public officials around the nation are calling for the flag’s removal on government sites. The Boise Weekly reports that Boise Mayor Dave Bieter is the latest in the trend, ordering the Mississippi state flag be removed from the city hall plaza. The Mississippi state flag still prominently features
the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia—the most enduring symbol of the Confederacy and for many a piece of racist iconography—in the corner of its design. Looks like changes are in order if Mississippi wants acknowledgments at Boise City Hall—unless it prefers to take its flag and go home. [CR]
NEWS FEATURE
The Death What of wentJeanetta Riley wrong, and what can we do better? by B e ion trat Illus
At around 9 p.m. almost a year ago, Shane Riley brought his wife, Jeanetta Riley, to Bonner General Health. Minutes later, she was dead, gunned down by Sandpoint police of officers. Those are the are the facts of the July 8 incident. But those facts provoked remarkably dif different reactions from North Idaho communities. Public officials in Bonner and Kootenai counties argue the shooting was a justified use of police force. “The initial public response to the incident was mixed with a vocal minority being very critical of the police,” said Mayor Carrie Logan. “Once the investigation had been completed and we were able to fully release the information, there has been a lot of support for the Sandpoint Police Department with continued criticism by a vocal minority.” That “vocal minority” de decries what it see as an impulsive act of violence against a physically small woman armed only with a knife. “[Police] had no plan,” said Dan Mimmack, a resident who has planned several community memorials for Riley. “That’s the part that bothers me most: This was so un-Sandpoint-like. This had no sense of who we are as a community—it was brutally harsh.” Coincidentally, the schism in Sandpoint was only a prelude to a national debate over police violence. The July 17 choking death of Eric Garner by police in New York City and the Aug. 9 police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, followed by the April 12 death of Freddie Gray while in police custody in Baltimore, Md., inflamed increased scrutiny on police departments. Critics cited these incidents as
n Ol son
By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
evidence of a reckless disregard for human life among certain police departments entrusted with a high degree of authority. The incidents that spurred the national conversation were inflamed by the the fact that the victims belonged to vulnerable or underrepresented groups—in those cases, racial minorities. While racial motivations haven’t been cited as a factor in Riley’s case, she did have one characteristic that statistically increased her likelihood of a violent death: a history of mental illness.
The misunderstanding of mental illness With the recent mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., mental health issues are once again a subject of national conversation. This time, the debate is centered on
whether alleged perpetrator Dylann Roof suffered from mental illness or simply acted out of racial hatred. However, most mental health experts agree that mentally ill individuals are far more likely to be victims—not agents—of violence. A statement from the American Psychiatric Association, published in 1994, indicates that “research has shown that the vast majority of people who are violent do not suffer from mental illnesses.” This is backed by the Institute of Medicine, which concluded in 2006 that “although studies suggest a link between mental illnesses and violence, the contribution of people with mental illnesses to overall rates of violence is small,” and “the magnitude of the relationship is greatly exaggerated in the minds of the general population.” Both Hollywood and the mass news media, on the other hand, perpetuate an image of mentally ill people as a danger to society. For instance, a survey for the Screen Actors Guild found that mentally ill characters were portrayed among the most dangerous of demographics, with 60 percent involved in crime or violence. In Sandpoint, the most visible advocate for individu-
als with mental illness is NAMI Far North. A branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Far North offers services for families affected by mental illness as well as crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers teaching de-escalation techniques. In previous years, NAMI Far North partnered with Sandpoint Police Department, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and other regional law enforcement. Following the Riley shooting, that relationship came to a quick end.
‘Woefully deficient’ According to an article published by The Guardian in April, Riley’s appointment with tragedy built throughout the day, finally reaching a boiling point in the parking lot of Bonner General Health. Already upset by marital bickering, Riley—an individual with a history of alcohol and methamphetamine abuse—had consumed half a bottle of vodka. When she encountered police officers Michael Valenzuela, Skylar Ziegler and Garrett Johnson at Bonner General Health that evening, she was confrontational, telling them to, “Bring it on.” Seconds later, after instructing her to stand down, Valenzuela and Ziegler opened fire. In November, the Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh formerly cleared the officers of any wrongdoing, saying the shooting was jus-
tified. Some local orgaorga nizations agreed with the rulrul ing. The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, for instance, concluded that Jeanetta Riley’s human rights weren’t violated in the incident. NAMI Far North officials, on the other hand, didn’t mince words. “The board of directors, on behalf of all its members, dede cries the fatal shooting of JeaJea netta Riley by Sandpoint Police Department officers on July 8 and the recent conclusion of the Kootenai County ProsecuProsecu tor that the action of the offioffi cers was ‘justified,” NAMI Far North president Amber Snoddy wrote in a public statement later published in the Bonner County Daily Bee. In that same statement, Snoddy laid responsibility for the shooting on North Idaho’s “woefully deficient local care for individuals living with mental illnesses.” Members’ criticisms of public officials would not go without consequences. According to Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler, when local law enforcement entities planned their 2015 crisis intervention training courses, they choose to end their partnership with NAMI Far North on the program.
A path forward With contentious issues like the Riley shooting, it can be just
See RILEY, page 8 June 25, 2015 /
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(RILEY, con’t)
Bouquets: •I love seeing all the art around town during ArtWalk. Props to POAC for putting on this event, year after year, and giving local artists a chance to show their work. If you haven’t checked out the 25-plus galleries yet, get a brochure and take the ArtWalk! •Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley recently ordered the removal of four Confederate flags from the State Capitol in the wake of the racially motivated shootings in South Carolina. A few days ago, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley asked lawmakers to remove the flag from their own State Capitol. Retailers Amazon, Sears, eBay and Wal-Mart all removed Confederate flag merchandise from their product line. I applaud them all for removing this symbol of bigotry, racism and division from our country. Flying the Confederate flag is just plain ignorant. We’re better than that, America. Barbs: •I know this happened a while ago, but when I saw that all the trees had been cut down along Highway 2 on the back side of the Bonner Mall, I thought it made everything look so ugly along that section. Before, when driving along that piece of road, you were at least shielded from the continuing sprawl of Ponderay. Today, it still remains an eyesore. I haven’t found the reason for the removal of these hundreds of trees, but I expect it was in fear of them coming down over the railroad tracks from the blowdowns last summer, or perhaps it is a sign that the highway will soon be widened. Either way, I wish we could know about it beforehand, instead of being surprised by it after they’re all removed. Got a bouquet or barb you’d like to offer? Write me at ben@ sandpointreader.com with “BB” in the subject line. 8 /
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as difficult to pinpoint solutions as it can in urban areas, where class and racial discord are often more pronounced. According to Logan, the city is continuing its crisis intervention training efforts, which began in 2012 and has resulted in nine trained officers. “The last session held in March and facilitated by Bonner County Sheriff’s Department and Region I Mental Health resulted in an additional three Sandpoint PD officers being trained,” she said. “Since the incident, our officers have been training in ground techniques, have developed protocols to designate the level of response and are proactive with the use of non-lethal methods as reflected by additional taser training,” Logan continued. On the national level, journalists and social activists are also calling for more detailed data on the demographics and circumstances behind officer-involved shootings. The lack of solid numbers in these cases is a problem that’s even prompted comment from FBI Director James Comey.
“Demographic data regarding officer-involved shootings is not consistently reported to us through our Uniform Crime Reporting Program,” he said in a speech this February. “Because reporting is voluntary, our data is incomplete and therefore, in the aggregate, unreliable.” Data collection is a general problem when it comes to improving police-citizenry relations, according to American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho executive director Leo Morales. That’s why the ACLU is recommending that police departments make body cameras standard equipment for any officer engaging with the public. “We see this as a win-win for community members as well as law enforcement,” Morales said. “It will provide proof in situations where there is no excessive force by law enforcement.” Morales sees it as a worthwhile measure considering the power a community entrusts in law enforcement, a reality that’s just as relevant in rural Idaho as it is in New York City. “When a government is giv-
en tremendous authority, it must also take great measures to ensure individual rights are preserved,” he said. “[This shooting] should be a lesson for the government there that it can do better in the future.”
Top: Shane and Jeanetta Riley. Photo courtesy Facebook. Bottom: A video still from the dashcam video of the Riley shooting July 8, 2014. Courtesy YouTube.
Memorial planned to commemorate one year anniversary of Riley shooting By Ben Olson Reader Staff A year ago, a police shooting occurred in Sandpoint that still reverberates throughout the community. It was dusk on July 8, 2014 when Sandpoint Police officers Michael Valenzuela and Skylar Ziegler shot and killed Jeanetta Riley, 35, after an altercation in front of Bonner General Health’s emergency room. Riley, armed with a knife and intoxicated, was unresponsive to officer’s commands, and made aggressive remarks and actions that led to five shots being fired, three of which came from an AR-15 assault rifle. It was over just 15 seconds after the police arrived. The shooting, later deemed lawful by Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh, has continued to be a controversial subject for members of the community who feel the response was unjustified when it involved a person with mental instabilities. One such member, Dan Mimmack, has scheduled a me-
morial service to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Riley’s death. “I’ve always felt that law enforcement should be held to a public standard of decency that the community sets,” said Mimmack. “I didn’t feel the reaction was justified—how it was handled in the beginning, the report to the police that caused them to arrive with lights and sirens on high alert. They didn’t get enough information to know who they were dealing with.” Mimmack laments the fact that Riley wasn’t initially reported as mentally unstable, a fact he feels might have helped the police officers to respond more appropriately. “They ended up in way too close of range to have a plan B,” he said. “Their plan should have been to talk her down, to deal with her as a suicidal person ... in the scenario that they created, they had no choice but to gun her down for their own safety.” The memorial will take place behind First American Title, directly across from where the shooting occurred on Alder
A white ribbon hangs across the street from the site where Riley was killed. The memorial will take place underneath the ribbon. Photo be Ben Olson Street. There is a white ribbon hanging from a telephone pole marking the location, which Mimmack hung shortly after the incident. “I called the manager of the branch and asked if we could get permission to gather on their back private property,” said Mimmack. “They gave us permission to use the space.” Mimmack and co-sponsor Jodi Rawson said the site will be roped off and there will be
a few speakers, a moment of silence, music and flowers laid on the sight of Riley’s death. “The idea is that next time, we don’t do this again,” said Mimmack. “We learn from the pain of this. Jeannetta shouldn’t die in vain.” The memorial will take place Wednesday, July 8, at 6 p.m. in the parking lot behind the First American Title building (the old library).
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event
Sandpoint Reader and The Panida Theater present...
with The Holy Broke
@ the Panida Theater Sat. June 27th
Doors @ 7pm Show @ 8pm $15
Hailed as a “Modern-Day Troubadour” in the style of Woody Guthrie and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, John Craigie, is best known for his storytelling, sense of humor, and poignant songwriting. songwriting
READER
www.JohnCraigieMusic.com
t h u r s d a y f r i d a y
s a t u r d a y
s u n d a y m o n d a y
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w e d n e s d a y t h u r s d a y
Doors @ 8:30p Show @ 10p (all shows) www.LiveFromTheHive.com 10 /
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“unReal” Mountain Biking Film 8pm @ Panida Theater A film that celebrates breaking free from the confines of reality and venturing into a boundless world. Breathtaking visuals conjure feelings of awe and pure joy; feelings that only those of us who venture outside can truly understand
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t u e s d a y
$40/show or $120 for all 3
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Summer Sampler 5pm - 8pm @ Farmin Park Hosted by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, a tasting event that’s second to none—gathering up the area’s finest restaurants, breweries and wineries. This year’s event is a foodie’s perfect way to kick off the summer season; along with delicious bite-sized samples of gourmet cuisine, enjoy a Litehouse-sponsored Cooking Competition where local chefs battle for the win
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John Craigie at the Panida 8pm @ Panida Theater The troubadour makes his first headlining appearance at the Panida Theater, with opener The Holy Broke. This show is presented by the Reader and the Panida
f
Yappy Hour 4pm - 7pm @ Bring your d handle Anim with live mus
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 7pm @ La Rosa Club Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante
Live 5:30 The
Scott Kirby in Concert 7pm @ First Baptist Church, 1230 Michigan A Multi-media presentation featuring live piano music, a spoken narrative, and video presentation. Tickets $10 each. All proceeds will benefit the Music Conservatory
Used B 10am Find ‘e
Live Live Music w/ Marty Perron & 6:30 Doug Bond Indie 5pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Summ 4pm - 6 Featuri Mountain States Chili Cook-Off Live M Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 12pm @ Trinity Lawn 5:30pm 6pm - 9pm @ Trinity Cooking starts at noon. To take part, contact Father www.chilicookoff.com. Idaho comp on Sunday while S Saturday Dance 1pm - 4pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center Queen B. Drag Show Live M Sandpoint Farmers Market 9:30pm @ Eagles Club 1511 John Hudon Ln. 6pm 9am - 1pm @ Farmin Park A truly different event than anything else on Live M Live music by Spumoni Blues Band this calendar. Drink specials and dancing 5:30pm Live @ The Office w/ John Craigie—6pm @ Reader Office (111 Cedar St.) This is a special installment of our Live @ The Office concert series featuring national touring singer/songwriter/comedian John Craigie. Space is limited, so get your tickets early. $10 until sold out, don’t miss it!
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Karaoke Night 9pm - 12am @ 219 Lounge Sing. Sing like you’ve never sun before, grasshopper. And if you mess up, well... sing again after a few shots
Schwe 11am Celebr summe crafts, Live Music w
Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s Finally, a place to showcase how much useless stuff you know. Finally, a purpose!
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Bingo Night Sandpoint Farmers Market 6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 3pm - 5:30pm @ Farmin Park Don’t be a sissy. Real men play bingo Live music by Cygne Josh Adams and Reggae Wednesday 8pm - 11pm @ 219 Lounge Come on down to the patio and listen to some roots reggae
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Intro to CNC Plasma Cutter and Design 6pm - 9pm @ MakerPoint Studios (C106-14 1424 N. Boyer Ave) Participants will learn the basics of how to run a CNC plasma cutter, its various settings, and how to design projects for the machine. $61 fee includes metal materials for class project; 12” x 12” metal piece of art. Register by June 29 at Sandpoint Parks and Recreation
Baxter’s on Cedar B All Day @ Baxter’s o Baxter’s will donate local nonprofit Book es childhood literacy
July 4 - Fourth of July Ce 9:30am - Child 10am - Grand P 2pm - music a Dusk - Firewo
ful
June 25 - July 2, 2015
ppy Hour m - 7pm @ Pine St. Bakery ng your dog and enjoy a Pandle Animal Shelter benefit h live music, beverages and fun
rity
Reader recommended
Summer Kick-Off Weekend 8pm - 10pm @ 219 Lounge Featuring stand-up comedy by Justin Hayes and Morgan Preston. $10 cover donated to Team Laughing Dog’s 24 Hours For Hank Fundraiser. Live music by Truck Mills after the show
Live Music w/ The Flying Mammals 5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery The Inland Northwest-based trio of brothers
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A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com.
Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 6:30pm - 9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Indie rock for drunk people
Used Book Sale 10am - 2pm @ Bonner Mall Find ‘em cheap, sell ‘em fast
Summer Sounds 4pm - 6pm @ Park Place Stage (1st & Cedar) Featuring live music from Peter Lucht Live Music w/ The Waggoner Band 5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery act Father Daughter duo; Mike plays the guitar y while Sadie plays on a djembe drum
Live Music w/ Chris Lynch . 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante on Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 5:30pm - 7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Schweitzer’s 7B Sunday 11am - 5pm @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort Celebrate the official opening of Schweitzer’s summer operations with live music, arts and crafts, free quad rides, and much much more! e Music w/ Chris Lynch @ 219 Lounge 8pm
ch useless
Bikers For Boobies 5pm @ Eagles Lodge (1511 John Hudon Ln.) The 4th annual event with steak dinner. Live music by Bob McComb at 7pm Live Music w/ The Flying Mammals 9pm - 12am @ 219 Lounge Haven’t had enough? Check them out again! Meet the Artist 1pm - 3pm @ The Entree Gallery, 1755 Reeder Bay Rd. See the work of potter and raku artist Jill Smith. Free and open to the public. 208-443-2001 Angels Over Sandpoint Dance Party 6pm @ Sandpoint Events Center The Angels Over Sandpoint invite you to start the summer off right with an evening of dancing to the Motown sound of NuJack City. $25 benefits the Angels
Old Galvi Warehouse Summer 2015 Antique Sale 10am - 3pm @ near Evans Brothers Coffee (also Sun.) Come here if you’re looking for antiques and architectural elements for the home, cabin, castle, farm or garden Update: Clark Fork River Delta Restoration Project 9:45am - 11:30am @ Sandpoint Community Hall Kathy Cousins will discuss the ongoing restoration project on the Clark Fork River Delta. Free admission Live Music w/ Randy McAllister 7:30pm @ The Pearl (Bonners) Grammy nominated veteran songwriter from Texas Live Music w/ Miah Kohal Band 5pm @ 219 Lounge Patio tunes and sunshine make for good times Paws for a Cause 8am - 12pm @ Dover Bay Balto Dog Loop Poker dog walk, with proceeds benfitting local cancer services. Call 290-1546 for more info
n Cedar Benefit for Book Trust of Sandpoint Baxter’s on Cedar ill donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to the ofit Book Trust of Sandpoint, which encouragod literacy and inspires life long reading habits
h of July Celebration 0am - Children’s Parade m - Grand Parade m - music and games at City Beach k - Fireworks at City Beach
Poetry Open Mic Night 6pm - 8pm @ Monarch Mountain Come share, come be inspired. No cover charge, no sign-up sheets, no judgment, no censorship!
Live Music w/ David Lane Walsh 5pm - 8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Walsh will share his Latin-inspired music with his flamenco guitar. It’s perfect for dinner and wine on the patio. Every Wednesday in July!
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UPCOMING EVENTS July 4 & 5 - Old Galvi Warehouse Antiques Sale July 7 - First Tuesday at Eichardt’s Pub July 8 - KPND Pint Night at Willow Bay Marina July 11 - Classic Boat Festival
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To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com. Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.
Introducing Sandpoint’s First Liquor Distillery Our No. 217 whiskey is an unaged corn whiskey, smooth drinking and packed full of corn flavor
-Buckeye HenneyTo look at this action portrait one would never guess that Buckeye Henney, a Bernese Mt. Dog, was devoted to great literature. His favorite book was James Thurber’s “The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.” Inspired by Mitty and his derring-do imagination, Buckeye thought himself a dashing World War II bomber pilot instead of a mere Bernese Mt. Dog whose principal excitement was scaring squirrels. His skills included daily trots down a rural Illinois country lane to retrieve the morning newspaper. But minus his bomber pilot gear. Like an undercover spy, Buckeye’s high-flying heroics were top secret. He knew his snazzy combat clothes would blow his cover. So whenever he ventured past the front yard to fetch the newspaper he left flight jacket, helmet and dark glasses in his doghouse. Other than his own family, no one knew The Secret Life Of Buckeye Henney. He might not have made the world a safer place, but he made it a more amusing one. Dogs do. Tim Henney Sandpoint
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READER 12 /
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The Great Disappearing Act A short list of items that will probably disappear in our lifetime By Ben Olson Reader Staff When I was 7 years old, I distinctly remember waiting for a train to pass with my dad at the Boyer crossing. A caboose was attached to the end of the train, with a brakeman hanging onto the railing, waving to us. “You know, by the time you’re in college, you won’t see a caboose anymore, except in a museum,” he told me. I was too young to understand why cabooses were being phased out, but there was a sadness to my father’s voice that I’ll never forget. I understand now what it is like to watch items disappear. It seems you never really missed them until they disappeared. I’d never given an answering machine much thought until now, when I realize that they are a thing of the past. Now, when I think of them, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling of nostalgia. It’s a cruel, cruel world, especially for technology. Here are a few items that will probably disappear at some point in our lifetime. Think of this as a wake for them. The printed phone book Many people welcome the death of the printed phone book. In decades past, they were indispensible, but today, when information is a click away, these giant tomes of paper more often than not are tossed out before before they are even opened. What’s worse, in the case of the white pages, a state law requires them to print and deliver the books, whether you want them or not. According to Whitepages.com, an estimated five million trees are cut down in the nation to produce the phone book, of which only 22 percent are recycled. Many cities are now instituting an “opt-out” program where consumers can sign up to discontinue the wasteful deliveries. The clutch pedal Car aficionados have lamented the slow death of the manual transmission for decades, but it seems that the clutch pedal may soon be a thing of the past. With more and more new models released without manual transmission as an option, and the addition of the automated manual transmission allowing gear shifting without a clutch, it appears likely that the third pedal will die like disco. Mail collection boxes The gradual disappearance of those iconic blue mail boxes are a sign of larger changes at work in the United States Postal Service. Though the USPS recorded an unprecedented increase in revenues last year, they still lost $5.5 billion in fiscal year 2014. The Internet, along with the downturn of the economy, have combined to make tradi-
tional mail increasingly obsolete. Paper letters have been replaced by email, paper bills have been trumped by online bill paying, and the recession has hit certain industries like housing, insurance and credit companies, which have cut back or eliminated direct mail altogether. The incandescent light bulb In 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, mandating the gradual phase-out of the manufacturing, importation and sale of inefficient lighting like incandescent light bulb. With newer, energy-efficient options like LED, fluorescent and the new FIPEL bulbs, the days of incandescence are evanescing rapidly.
Cursive writing
Back in my day (I always wanted to say that), we were taught cursive writing in elementary school. I’ve always written in capital letters, which almost caused my third -grade teacher to flunk me, but luckily I skated through unscathed and have developed into a somewhat normal human being. Most states, Idaho being one of them, have adopted national standards that don’t require cursive anymore, making the antique form of writing as useless as Sanskrit. In 2013, Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, led an unsuccessful campaign to mandate cursive in Idaho schools. According to Bateman, if we didn’t mandate cursive, it would disappear forever.Good riddance, I say. Alarm clocks You can always tell something is on the way out when you see them stacked on thrift shop shelves. VCRs, cathode ray tube television sets, cassette recorders and alarm clocks all follow suit. When damn near everyone owns a smart phone these days, an alarm clock on your nightstand often seems redundant, which is why you’ll only see these obsolete pieces of technology in hotel rooms and homes of anachronistic people. Video stores Last year saw the last Blockbuster Video store close, and with it, the death knell of video stores in general can be heard across the land. With the advent of companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime, Internet stream streaming of videos has rapidly begun replacing the archaic act of “going to the video store.” CDs and DVDs CDs and DVDs are both on their ways out as a viable form of data storage. You can once again thank the Internet for this, espe-
cially the music industry for offering music available for digital download. Maybe someday they’ll be as quaint and nostalgic as floppy discs and 8-track tapes. Fax machines The fact that fax machines are still around and operational astounds me. To take a printed page, digitize it, send it over a phone line and have it re-digitized and printed out seems like a lot of wasted steps. These days, electronic signatures are widely accepted and slowly replacing the fax machine in the modern office. Public pay phones According to the American Public Communication Council, there are still 305,000 active public phones in use. Users made a total of 50 million phone calls from these phones, which is pale in comparison to the numbers of yesteryear. Soon, when everyone is issued a smart phone at birth, there will be no need for a public phone, but for now, Superman still has a place to change. Land lines Yet another casualty of the smart phone market, land lines are quickly going the way of the rotary dial telephone. According to the AP, anywhere between 32 percent and 40 percent of U.S. households are without land line telephones, which are numbers that haven’t been seen since the Depression (the one that happened in the ‘30s, not the current one). College text books When I went to college, I was astounded how much my books cost. At the end of the term, I was even more astounded when they didn’t buy the books back, saying that they were already out of date. Nowadays, more and more colleges are embracing online text books with open source software accompanying them, providing the student with a cheaper alternative, as well as offering a multi-media format for education. USB memory sticks These are the floppy discs of today. Soon everything will be on the cloud and data will be a cinch to send and store from any device. Boy, the world moves fast, doesn’t it? Here are a few items that were thought to become obsolete, but have stuck around: Typewriters OK, I’m biased here. I love antique typewriters. Nobody really uses them anymore, but they have become a novelty item for hipsters and wanna-be writers the world over. When I was in Portland last, I stopped into a
typewriter shop that was hopping with people having their old Underwoods repaired. Long live the typewriter! Vinyl There is nothing quite like the experience of listening to a good record on vi vinyl. While the rest of the music industry has embraced the digital format, an increasing number of performers are now offering their new releases on vinyl. Vinyl presses like Nashville’s United still operate 22 presses that pump out over 30,000 records a day. Last year alone, more than 6.2 million records were sold, indicating a trend that began to rise in 2008 and continues to astound music lovers. Newspapers Yeah, yeah, we know... it’s a digital world. Newspapers are supposedly dying all over the country, with no end in sight. Well, we’re here to stay, folks.
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June 25, 2015 /
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FOOD
The Sandpoint Eater Berry good times ahead
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Food Columnist With myriad firework stands popping up between Sandpoint and Moscow, I’m reminded that it’s time to finalize my plans for the Fourth of July celebration. Sandpoint and the fourth personify summer lake living at its best. Whether you’ve made plans for a backyard barbecue, dining al fresco at one of our fine waterfront establishments or just packing some sandwiches and spreading a blanket on the warm sand, most of us are intent on finishing the day with the traditional fireworks display. You can count on the fourth bringing out the red, white and blue in all of us, first evident in the parades, followed by every conceivable food combination that screams, “Happy birthday, America!” My personal rule: If your potluck contri-
bution requires food coloring (especially blue), please rethink your culinary masterpiece. My blue for the perfunctory “colors of the fourth” food comes from one source: Riley Creek Blueberry Farm. I called farm owner, Stan Urmann, and headed out last weekend for a sneak peek at my favorite antioxidants. Who knew something so tasty could be so darn good for you too? These little gems pack a mighty wallop in the benefit department. Low in fat and calories, high in fiber and vitamin C, studies say they can even improve memory and slow down the aging process! Besides eating them fresh or using in my favorite recipes, I keep a frozen bag handy for a delicious little snack or to toss a few in a smoothie. I’ve been hauling my “little adorables” to Riley Creek Blueberry farm for years because it’s a safe and a fun and easy place to forage for food. There’s no danger of wildlife (real or imaginary) that can bring harm to the grandkids. The only thing that might topple a toddler is a friendly wet-nosed nudge from Riley, the resident black Labrador. He has the run of the place, and he’s as eager to greet the customers as the rest of the Urmann
family. In fact, he’s kind of famous and this year—you’ll see Riley’s mug smack in the middle of the farm’s new logo that will be unveiled at the upcoming farmers markets and the supermarkets. Stan and I took a walk through rows of berries, just beginning to pop in a rainbow of blue hues. I am delighted to find a few ready for the picking. Plump, juicy and delicious, the blueberries seem to find a more direct path to my mouth than my basket; I can’t help myself. Because the weather’s been hot and dry, Stan reports that the UPick season will begin early this year, so get ready to start picking the last week of June. Stan and wife/farm partner, Anita make it real easy by providing buckets, bags and wagons. Other than a few adorable grandkids or a like-minded friend, I show up empty handed when I go picking. Sure, you can pick up a frozen bag of their berries at several local markets, but why would you? There’s something so satisfying about plucking the berries from the bushes, dropping them into the buckets and hefting a full container. I’m not the least bit surprised that you still “weigh and pay” by the honor system and Anita and Tom have no intention of taking that privilege away from
Watermelon, Berry and Feta Summer Salad INGREDIENTS:
Fort he vinaigrette: •1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice •1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice •1/4 cup minced shallots •1 tablespoon honey •1/2 cup good olive oil •1 teaspoon kosher salt •1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper For the salad: •6 cups baby arugula, washed and spun dry •1/4 cup whole fresh mint leaves, julienned •4 cups seedless watermelon, rind removed, and cut in 1-inch cubes •2 cups fresh Riley Creek or Shingle Mill blueberries •12 ounces good feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced (Pasture of Eden is my favorite, you can find at the deli counter at Yokes) •Balsamic glaze 14 /
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DIRECTIONS: •Whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice, shallots, honey, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking constantly, to form an emulsion. If not using within an hour, store the vinaigrette covered in the refrigerator. •Place the arugula and mint in a large bowl and drizzle with enough vinaigrette to coat the greens lightly. Add the watermelon, blueberries, feta and gently toss again. •Taste for seasonings, finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and serve immediately
us. These folks are so upright and down to earth that I suspect other folks besides me always error of the side of generous when tallying their take. Speaking of generous, I am struck too, by Stan’s words of praise about his competitor, and he reminds me more than once about the fine blueberry operation on the other side of Sandpoint, Shingle Mill Blueberry Farm. With college daughter Whitney home to lend a hand for the summer, the place is bursting not only with blueberries, but some great youthful ideas and future plans. One of this year’s additions to their product line is a frozen, “take and bake” blueberry pie and I can’t wait to try mine. Stan runs the production line, but Anita is quick to inform me that it’s her recipe, evident too, by her name on the box. You’ll find the pies, and jams and syrups available all summer long. If you’re going out to pick, go early and beat the heat. From the looks of the long range weather forecast, some cool food is in order. The watermelon and blueberry salad with feta is the perfect combination of cool and refreshing. I sure hope you’ll give it a try. Have fun, stay safe and be cool.
STAGE & SCREEN Queen B. Drag show anything but a drag By Ben Olson Reader Staff
When the going gets tough, the tough... put on a dress? It’s certainly true for John Dowling. When he puts on his high heels and makeup, a remarkable transformation occurs; he becomes “The Misty Boxx” and develops a stage presence that residents of small towns like Sandpoint aren’t often exposed to. Dowling, who lives in Sandpoint with his wife (who also dresses drag, becoming “Corbin Thicke”), said he started dressing drag in 2010 as a way to express himself. “The activism side is what keeps me doing it,” he said. “Taking [drag] to small towns exposes it to people that are not normally exposed to gay culture, and I’m hoping it’s in a positive way. People tend to give entertainers more leeway.” The Queen B. Drag troupe consists of about a half dozen individuals who sometimes ask locals to participate for their occasional shows. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “We emphasize the fun and don’t hammer on any issues or anything. We just want people to laugh and have a good time.” The troupe first started performing in Sandpoint in 2012, when they appeared at La Rosa Club. “It was a friend of mine’s birthday, and La Rosa let us use their space,” said Dowling. “Initially, I had mixed feeling about it, being such a small town. I didn’t know how Sandpoint would react to it. I thought we’d see people protesting on the street. After three years of performing, we’ve only had a few letters published in the Daily Bee condemning us for ruining the family atmosphere of Sandpoint.” Gay culture is always stifled in small towns, according to Dowling, and the drag shows allow that closeted culture to embrace their existence. “We know there are members of the gay community in Sandpoint,” said Dowling.
“They have no place to go and meet and be themselves. We want to give them a place to relax and have fun. We bring the humor out in it. There’s a lot of comedic relief.” According to Dowling, the small negative backlash that has occurred is nothing that concerns him or the rest of the troupe. “There will always be people who don’t like what you do, no matter what you do,” he said. “I’ve met the most redneck people who came up to us after the show and said they were impressed with our performance and had changed their mind on the issue. You’d never think logger-type guys would say that kind of stuff to a drag queen, but they did, and it meant a lot to us.” Dowling pointed out that he does not identify himself as a homosexual or transgender. “I consider myself more of a two-spirit; the Native American way of looking at it, where you embrace both female and male parts of yourself. I’m married to a woman, and by all appearances we seem like a straight couple.” Two summers ago, Dowling and his wife were married in full drag—him dressed as a bride, her dressed as a groom. “It was a total freak show,” he said. “We had a bearded lady, we had a person hammering nails into their head. It was wild.” At the show on Saturday night, audience members are expected to tip the performers if they want to be up close and personal with the dancers. There will be games, as well as dancing between sets. The performers always make time after the show to talk with the audience and pose for pictures with them. For Dowling, these shows represent not just a good time but a surge forward in the way gay communities are viewed in general. “I think there is room for everyone,” he said. “Live and let live.” To catch the act, check out the Queen B. Drag Show Saturday, June 27 at 9:30 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge at 1511 John Hudon Ln.
Misty Boxx (left) and Corbin Thicke (right). Photo courtesy of John Dowling.
LIVE MUSIC
Ev ery turday Friday & Sa summer
u gh N ight t hro Beer Hall @ the Fri. June 26 @ 6:30 p.m.
HAROLD’S IGA
Sat. June 27 @ 6:30 p.m.
THE MUGGLES
BREWERY & BEER HALL 220 Cedar St. 209-6700 FAMILY FRIENDLY BREWPUB 312 First Ave.
255-4351
June 25, 2015 /
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An
This week, as part of our ongoing interview series with the Festival at Sandpoint’s artists, we caught up with Lake Street Dive, who Rolling Stone has called “This year’s best new band.” The four piece band includes guitar/trumpet player Mike “McDuck” Olson (who acquired the nickname for his reclusive ways), vocalist Rachael Price, drummer Mike Calabrese, and stand up bassist Bridget Kearney. I spoke with Kearney on the telephone about life on the road, the big breaks and her fall back profession selling foam fingers for the Red Sox. Ben Olson: OK, where did you guys get your name? Bridget Kearney: Our guitar/trumpet player, Mike “McDuck” Olson is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. and Lake Street there is kind of the main drag where all the cool rock clubs and bars are at. Growing up, he had aspirations to have the kind of band that would play in one of these dive bars on lake street. So there you go. One of the things I like about your band is that it’s hard to classify exactly what genre it is. We’re always just kind of following our ears. Whatever we’re excited about in the moment, that’s what we’ll be writing and working on playing. It’s nice that we’ve been able to establish ourselves as a band that is relatively free of genre pigeon holing, that leaves us free to keep growing and keep trying things ... It’s exciting for us, at this stage, when we’ve been a band for 11 years to keep trying new stuff and keep it fresh. Do you write together? How does the creative process go? 16 /
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Wit w e i v r Inte
LAKE STREET DIVE By Ben Olson Reader Staff
meeting them and being in the backstage area with them, we neglected to think about what a great exposure the event was for us. We were preoccupied with the backstage and didn’t think about the house and the fact that Rolling Stone magazine and New York Times were there. You were probably just geeking out on the fact that you were hanging out with Elvis Costello. Absolutely. He’s a really nice guy. Did you have an early start to music?
It was definitely in my life from an early age. I grew up singing in church choir, and taking piano lessons, and then I started the bass in fourth grade. It Lake Street Dive, from left to right; Mike “McDuck” Olson, Rachael Price, Bridget Kearney, and Mike Calabrese. Photo by Jarrod McCabe. was pretty early. That’s the case for all four of us. Mike OlWe generally write separate moves from the next. Having that pushing forward and discovering son’s dad is a band director, so he from one another. A band mem- foundation, we definitely use all new stuff we can do with each had a horn in his hands when he ber will come in with the form of those jazz skills when we’re writ- album. We’re into a lot of other was learning to walk. Rachael’s a song, the chorus, the melody, ing, and the way that we play is stuff, too ... a lot of Motown and father is a choir conductor, she grew up singing super early. And the lyrics, all that stuff ready to usually pretty improvisational soul elements also. Mike’s parents are musicians go, and then we’ll figure out how too. We’ll have a starting point, we’re going to arrange it. What but if you were to write out what I hear that in Rachael’s voice as well, so we’ve all been entrenched from a very young age. groove we’ll apply to it, how the Mike played on a drums on a a lot. parts are going to fit together. Oc- certain song from night to night, What was life like before you casionally, we’ll collaborate on there would usually be a lot of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke lyrics together. differences. That’s a result of us are some of her biggest singing were a touring musician? What did you do for work? being, at our core, improvisers. influences. You guys all come from a We all played in different jazz background? Has that conWho are some of your main You had a big lurch of success strained you in ways, or opened influences have been, growing last year at the Town Hall show bands here and there, and I nevyou up to step outside of the box up and forming a band that plays in NY, when you played with El- er really had a super proper job. with the music you’re writing regularly? vis Costello, Avett Brothers, Jack I always pieced it together with now? White, and a huge lineup. The freelancing stuff. In college, I Definitely the Beatles are press blew up after that. Was that sold foam fingers for the Boston I think learning jazz just gives something that we come back to a pivotal moment for your band? Red Sox, so that’s my best job ever. I can always fall back on you a really good foundation in constantly. Man, how is everymusical building blocks. To be thing so good? All the pieces of It definitely was. We keep that if things don’t work out. able to improvise, you have to the puzzle are just so perfect with hearing from people that are like, Lake Street Dive is playing the understand what each part of them; the bass line is memorable, “We saw you at the Town Hall the music is composed by, what every guitar part contributes to how, we loved you.” That was Festival at Sandpoint on Thursthe composition of that chord is, the song, they just have a succes- a funny experience for us; we day, August 13 with the Ballroom what notes are good within that, sion of albums that are all differ- were so happy to be included in Thieves. Check out their music at what are interesting weird notes ent from one another. That’s what the event at all, and in awe of all www.lakestreetdive.com. you can use, and how one chord we’re trying to do too, is just keep the other artists that were around,
MUSIC
This week’s RLW by Jenna Bowers If you find sexuality, biology, evolution and human relationships interesting (and you should, it applies to you!), then check out “Sex At Dawn” by Christopher Ryan, PhD and Cacilda Jethá, MD. The book challenges what it refers to as the “standard narrative of evolutionary psychology,” (basically that men want fecund young virgins and women want strong rich partners) and the very notion that humans are monogamous creatures (how time and energy to run the sound many people do you know with and record each show for sale as one lifelong partner?) a line of albums the Reader has been releasing since the beginning of the concert series. If you haven’t fallen in love Another sponsor of the event with Sandpoint favorite John is community radio station Craigie, what are you waiting for? KRFY 88.5 FM, which takes His music hits all the spots: sweet, the recordings from Gunn and funny, authentic, lyrical, romanairs the content on their local tic, relevant, poignant and more. music spotlight hours. “Working On My Farewell,” The best news? We’re ex- his latest album in a long line of pecting a hot weekend, and fantastic work by the prolific artwe’ll have the air conditioning ist, is not so much a departure as a cranked in the room, so come movement. He puts down his bein, escape the heat and listen to loved acoustic guitar for a hollow Craigie spin his yarns. body electric, and his harmonica Tickets are $10 each and are for back up vocals, but expected to go fast. This show will the touching song sell out. You can come into the writing remains. Reader office and purchase tickets The result is a beaubeau in advance to guarantee your seat. tiful, haunting alal
The plight of the Holy Broke ‘Live @ the Office” w/ John Craigie By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Kent Ueland and the skull-faced lady. Photo by Kristin Black Photography. By Ben Olson Reader Staff Kent Ueland knows a thing or two about loss. After fronting the popular and rising band the Terrible Buttons for five years, the band fell apart. Among the casualties was his relationship with his girlfriend, which sent him into a tough patch. Out of the ashes, Ueland began a solo project called “The Holy Broke.” The origins of the name lie within the same realm as his raw, honest songwriting: pain and reward. “The most obvious [reason for the name] is that I don’t have any money,” he said. “But it’s also the idea that something has wholly been broken in me, losing a band and a relationship. There was something I held very dear, and the bottom fell out. Also there’s the whole absence of holiness ... it’s a choose your own adventure kind of thing.” Ueland, coming off a long solo tour around the country, is opening for John Craigie at the Panida Theater Saturday, June 27. The gig marks the beginning of a new tour eventually taking him into the Midwest to record his next album. He has found that life on the road as a solo artist differs remarkably than with a band of seven people. “I used to be touring with my six best friends in the whole world,” he said. “You were never lonely or bored. You bring the party with you. Now, after my longest run of three-and-a-half months on tour, just me in a car, there were a lot of challenges
that come along with that. It was lonely. I talked to myself a lot.” However, even a realist like Ueland recognizes the bright linings behind all tragedies. “The money is better,” he said. “One guy versus seven. It’s allowed me to quit my jobs and just do music.” Ueland’s latest album, “Do It Yourself,” implies the nature of his new reality. The songs are very personal and full of emotion that he didn’t often have the chance to utilize while writing songs for the Terrible Buttons. “I’m not a very outwardly emotional dude,” he said. “I always have a smile on my face and try to be the funny guy, so I’ve always used my music as an outlet for emotional stuff I’d rather not deal with in real life.” Catch Kent Ueland as the opener for John Craigie this Saturday, June 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Eichardt’s Pub, Eve’s Leaves and online at www.panida.org.
We’ll be hosting John Craigie in the Sandpoint Reader office for our monthly “Live @ The Office” concert this Sunday, June 28 at 6 p.m. If you haven’t been to a “Live @ The Office” show yet, you’re in for a treat for this show. John Craigie has been touring around the nation for so many years, he’s established these little “Craigie Communities” all over the country, of which Sandpoint is one of the strongest. First brought to Sandpoint while playing with the native Shook Twins, Craigie has built up a strong local fan base. His performance is one part folk music, one part comedy, one part storytelling hour, and one part damn good songwriting. The thing that continually amazes me about Craigie is that, after seeing dozens of his shows, no two are alike. His stories never seem to repeat, his material is constantly refreshed from a life spent on the road as a modern day troubadour. A prolific songwriter and touring act, Craigie has released an average of one album per year for the past decade and has just recently added the new sound of a hollow body electric guitar to his repertoire. At the Reader’s “Live @ The Office” shows, you are allowed an up-close and personal interaction with the featured artist. The sound is crystal clear and intimate, with Jesse Gunn of Pinky Haus Studios donating his
READ
LISTEN
Catch John Craigie at two different shows this weekend; Sat., June 27 at the Panida Theater at 8 p.m., and “Live @ The Office” at the Sandpoint Reader offices at 111 Cedar St. on Sun., June 28, 6 p.m.
Crossword Solution
bum with plenty of ambiance. Listen to it already.
WATCH
Trust me, you’ll love “Bored to Death.” I mean, what’s not to love? Co-starring the charmingly bumbling Jason Schwartzman, comedic genius Zach Galifianakis, and living legend Ted Danson, the HBO series is a hilarious, clumsy noir about an unlicensed private detective who advertises on Craigslist and brings his stoner buddies along to help on t h e delightfully random cases that ensue. My only complaint it is that there are only three seasons. Luckily, it’s so well done that you can watch it again and again. June 25, 2015 /
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w o N & Then compiled by
Ben Olson
Each week, we feature a new photograph taken from the same vantage point as one taken long ago. See how we’ve changed, and how we’ve stayed the same. Historical information provided and verified by Bonner County Museum staff and volunteers. The Museum is located at 611 S. Ella — (208) 263-2344.
c.1990
The same view today, some 25 years later. The 219 Lounge still occupies the same space (with a recent facelift to match the original facade of the building), and Thai Nigiri now occupies the space where the Pastime Cafe used to be located.
2015
Corrections: Way too many to list (see Cameron’s note on page 3). Because of our computer malfunction last week, we were forced to run an unedited backup copy of the newspaper to make deadline. We regret the sloppiness of last week’s issue, and will never let that happen again. Knock on wood. Twice. 18 /
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/ June 25, 2015
CROSSWORD
Copyright www.mirroreyes.com
The west side of First Avenue in Sandpoint in the early 1990s. The 219 Lounge is in the middle of the picture, and the Pastime Cafe sign can be seen to the left of the photo.
ACROSS 1. Competent 5. Motionless 10. Arid 14. Den 15. Leg bone 16. Burden 17. Falsehood 19. Midmonth date 20. Citrus drink 21. Excrete 22. Wear away 23. Schemes 25. Aquatic mammal 27. Calypso offshoot 28. Principles 31. Works as a street musician 34. A low evergreen shrub 35. Hasten 36. The products of human creativity 37. Passageway 38. Printer’s unit 39. 52 in Roman numerals 40. Breaks 41. Blockheads 42. Searches 44. One of the tribes of Israel 45. Zest 46. Motion of hands 50. Sprite 52. Lift 54. Not bottom 55. Lascivious look 56. Silver-grey wingless insect 58. Constellation bear 59. Cowboy movie
Solution on page 17 60. Hodgepodge 61. The two together 62. Sound of contempt 63. Curve
DOWN
1. Assumed name 2. Hash out 3. Inhabits 4. Historic period 5. A symbol of disgrace 6. High, low and neap 7. Nile bird 8. Coasts 9. Nonclerical
10. Evening event 11. Neurochemical 12. Regretted 13. Being 18. Scallions 22. Carve in stone 24. Sounds of disapproval 26. French for “Head” 28. Vermin 29. Clock sound 30. Oceans 31. Emollient 32. Murres 33. Most frugal 34. Historiographer 37. Parental sister
38. Kick 40. Not idle 41. Optical maser 43. Yay! 44. Abandon 46. Donor 47. Practical 48. Kino gum 49. Ancient Hebrew vestment 50. Bungle 51. Relating to aircraft 53. Countertenor 56. Mayday 57. Watch chain
Before a mad scientist goes mad, there’s probably a time when he’s only partially mad. And this is the time when he’s going to throw his best parties.
Broadcasting in Sandpoint on 106.7 FM and in Digital HD June 25, 2015 /
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