Reader_June29_2023

The week in random review

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

‘summer camp for billionaires’

For a few days each year, Sun Valley, Idaho becomes the center of the universe for some of the world’s richest and most influential people. The Allen & Co. conference this year takes place Tuesday, July 11-Friday, July 14, with the recently released guest list including: Bill Gates of Microsoft; Tim Cook of Apple; Mark Zuckerburg of Meta; Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway; Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation; Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger; Oprah Winfrey of Oprah Winfrey; the CEOs of Open AI and Google; the co-founders of PayPal and LinkedIn; the chairman and CEOs of Netflix; newscasters Gayle King and Van Jones; former-CIA Director David Petraeus; the owners of the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres; and the commissioners of the MLB, PGA Tour, NBA and NFL. Who won’t be there? Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos.

the land of cockaigne

Speaking of outrageous wealth, among the many curious paintings produced by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is the 1567 satirical oil work entitled “The Land of Cockaigne,” depicting an imagined world of eternal (amoral) abundance. In it, Bruegel has a peasant, a clerk and a soldier lying beneath a table either asleep or allowing wine to flow in their mouths, while the haystacks are made of bread, the birds fly pre-cooked into people’s mouths and the pigs run with carving knives stuck in their flesh. Bruegel didn’t invent this mythical land; rather, it was a popular fantasy of peasants dating at least to the 13th century. In the original poem, however, it wasn’t an easy place to enter: “Whoever wants to come to that land must pay a heavy penance: he must wade in swine’s dung up to the chin for seven years to win the place.” Or he could invent an app.

it’s a crab, crab, crab, crab, crab world

I was just shy of three months from 43 years of age when I learned from a Scientific American article published in June that Earth’s most perfect creature is apparently the crab, whose basic physical structure (a carapace, segmented legs, claws and all that) have evolved separately at least five different times over the past few hundred million years. “In fact, it’s happened so often that there’s a name for it: carcinization,” the magazine reported, explaining that it’s another term for “convergent evolution,” in which separate species develop in similar ways (think: birds and bats). Even weirder, what we often call “crabs” aren’t even really crabs — “They’ve adopted a crab-like body plan, but actually belong to a closely related group of crustaceans called ‘false crabs,’” and that includes king crabs, hermit crabs and many other varieties of crusty, clawed critters — including Rupert Murdoch.

DEAR READERS,

The word “freedom” is bandied about a lot around this time of year. I’d like to invite you all to really examine what the word means. Merriam-Webster defines it as, “the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.”

We take our freedom seriously here in the United States, and for good reason — it’s one of the best things we have going for us.

However, to support freedom means to support everyone’s freedom. It means accepting someone even if they believe something you might not agree with. It means letting people love who they choose to love. It means tolerance, respect and decency. It means live and let live, not demanding that others think the way you do, feel the way you do and live the way you do.

We are a nation filled with differences, united under a common banner of freedom. Let’s never forget that.

Wishing you all a wonderful Fourth of July. Be safe, have fun and be free.

–Ben Olson, publisher

READER

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

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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: Ben Olson (cover), Bill Borders, Guy Lothian, Karen and Steve Hempstead, Brenden Bobby, the Janssen family, Rick Reed

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Jerry Pavia, Brad Smith, Luke Omodt, Danielle Packard, Marcia Pilgeram, Sandy Compton.

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About the Cover

This week’s cover photo was taken during the 2019 Fourth of July parade in Sandpoint. Happy Independence day!

Grantor ID Parks and Rec: ‘A fresh start can be in the best interests of all parties’

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has denied an extension request from Bonner County for the use of a $473,000 grant meant to expand the RV campground at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, citing the lack of a completed bid or construction contract as reasons for that denial, as well as the Fair Board’s opposition to the project.

Commissioner Asia Williams, who contest that previous boards of commissioners have unofficially slated the property for a new justice complex. Commissioner Luke Omodt has led the camp in favor, and pointed to long-standing efforts to make the fairgrounds more financially sustainable as key to the project’s importance.

County

The location for the campground’s expansion between the fairgrounds and sheriff’s complex proved a point of contention for a vocal opposition, led by Sheriff Daryl Wheeler and Bonner

Despite the pushback, Omodt and BOCC Chairman Steve Bradshaw have maintained a majority vote on the three-person board and achieved forward movement on the campground expansion in recent months, approving survey contracts, opening bids and requesting land use changes though the city of Sandpoint.

Commissioners approved the submission of a grant extension request on a split vote in May after it became obvious that the county would not meet IDPR’s initial construction deadline of June 30. On June 21, IDPR sent a letter to the county denying that request. The letter, from by IDPR Director Susan Buxton, cited three “unresolved items” that influenced the decision, including “the lack of a current, completed bid” making it “impossible to determine if sufficient funding is available to complete the project”; and “the absence of an executed construction contract,” making it “impossible to determine whether the project can be completed within the next year.”

IDPR also cited a letter it received from the Bonner County Fair Board in May that stated the board had “not had the opportunity to be a part of the planning for the proposed RV campground,” and alleged that lack of involvement constituted a violation of Idaho Code related to fairground operations. The Fair Board stated that it would not accept the grant, illustrating a clear rift with the board of commissioners.

According to the June 21 denial letter from IDPR, the Fair Board’s opposition to the campground expansion “means a new source of matching funds must be identified” and “a new entity to oversee maintenance and oper-

ation of the proposed facility” would be needed.

“IDPR deems the best course of action is to not extend the grant at this time,” Buxton concluded in the letter. “We encourage the County to submit a new application that could build off of the work the County has recently initiated and answer the questions identified in this letter. While we know this is not the outcome sought, IDPR believes a fresh start can be in the best interests of all parties.”

As for what will come next for the proposed campground expansion project, Omodt told the Reader on June 27 that he was “not prepared to answer that at this time.”

Extension request for BoCo Fairgrounds RV park project denied BoCo commissioner meeting closed to public comment

Chairman Bradshaw calls recent meetings a ‘circus,’ cites violent threats as reason for comment shutdown

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

While tensions have run high at Bonner County commissioner meetings for months, that tension reached an all-time high on June 27, as Chairman Steve Bradshaw announced that public comment would no longer be accepted at the board’s regular Tuesday business meetings.

In response to community requests, the board adopted a policy earlier this year to hear public comment from 9-10 a.m. each Tuesday morning before agendized business. On June 27, following the invocation and pledge, Bradshaw announced a recess until 10 a.m., bypassing public comment.

“We’ve tried to have meetings orderly for six months. That has not come off yet,” Bradshaw said before exiting the room along with Commissioner Luke Omodt. “We will no longer have this time for public comment.”

Commissioner Asia Williams remained seated and stated that she expected the meeting to continue streaming, and she would try to field community comments and questions on her own. Bradshaw demanded that members of the public and county employees

“clear the room,” then proceeded to call the Sandpoint police. While “there was a conversation [with police] about whether they would be used to restore order,” according to Omodt, law enforcement ultimately took no action.

Omodt told the Reader in a phone interview following the June 27 meeting that the public comment shutdown was in response to “a complete breakdown in regards to decorum,” amounting to physical threats he has received against himself and his family. He also cited a recent incident involving a meeting attendee who called Bradshaw a “motherfucker.”

“We have been continually accused of being liars and thieves and accepting bribes,” Omodt said, before adding: “We want the public to be involved, but what do we do when people are threatening our families? It’s not something I will tolerate.”

There is no statute in Idaho Code requiring county commissioners to hear public comment at business meetings, which are different from public hearings. According to the Idaho Association of Counties, local governments are encouraged to adopt their own guidelines for accepting public comment at business meetings. While county code does feature

such guidelines, discretion lies with the chairman.

When the June 27 meeting reconvened at 10 a.m., Bradshaw motioned to remove the District 2 and 3 commissioner reports from the agenda — a time typically utilized by Williams and Omodt to share their recent work. Bradshaw does not currently offer a District 1 report. His motion died without a second.

“Commissioner Williams is an equal member of the board,” Omodt told the Reader after the meeting. “The chairman does get to control the meetings — that’s just basic decorum. But Commissioner Williams has every bit of authority that I do, and I respect that.”

The meeting’s regular business continued without Bradshaw accepting public comment on individual motions. When Williams attempted to call on an audience member to weigh in on an item, Bradshaw told her: “If you don’t like the way I run the meeting, become chair and you can run it as you wish. If you don’t like it you can leave. I don’t care.”

Things came to a head again when Bradshaw presented a motion to end all public comment at business meetings “until an undetermined time,” calling the recent meetings a “circus” and a

“mockery for the county.”

“Comments have come up that are uncomfortable for some people on the board,” Williams stated in her rebuttal of the motion. “That is actually an example of what it means to be in public service and engage the public.”

The motion never saw a vote, as a yelling match between board members led to a recess and immediate transition into executive session.

In a video that circulated social media in the hours following the June 27 meeting, Bonner County Republican Central Committee Treasurer and frequent meeting commenter Spencer Hutchings confronted Bradshaw as the chairman attempted to exit the county administration building parking lot.

Hutchings, who holds the camera, identified Bradshaw as the man who “silenced the public” and is now “running away from the meeting.” Bradshaw then parked his truck and approached Hutchings on foot.

“Does it look like I’m running from somebody, you chickenshit sonofabitch?” Bradshaw asked, before calling Hutchings a “fucking loud mouth and a coward.”

Hutchings continued to press Bradshaw, calling out his foul language as surprising coming

“from a pastor.” Bradshaw serves as pastor at the Cocolalla Cowboy Church.

The confrontation turned to an argument over the definition of a “man of God” before Bradshaw climbed back into his vehicle and prepared to drive away. As Hutchings continued to shout about various county issues he believes have perturbed the commissioner to the point of ending public comment, Bradshaw said: “I’m sure you will explain it the way you want to. … You couldn’t tell the truth if your life depended on it.”

In a follow-up email, Bradshaw told the Reader that he found it particularly ironic that Hutchings was among the community members most supportive of allowing an hour of weekly public comment but has “been one of the most indignant of the lot,” being reminded constantly to avoid accusations and personal attacks in his statements.

“That coupled with the recent life threat that the prosecutor has been made aware of, I decided it was best to try to eliminate as much of the drama as possible,” Bradshaw said. “As for Mr. Hutchings, all I can say is Romans 2:6 [God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done’].”

ID Supreme Court affirms Festival’s right to ban guns at War Memorial Field

Unanimous decision dismisses appeal from Dist. 1 Sen. Scott Herndon, who promises ‘legislative solution’ to ‘loophole’ in Idaho gun protections

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

The yearslong legal controversy over the Festival at Sandpoint’s prohibition of firearms at War Memorial Field during its yearly summer concert series has ended with the Idaho Supreme Court, which handed down a unanimous ruling June 22 upholding the nonprofit’s right as a lessee to bar guns from the publicly owned venue.

According to the published opinion of the court, Justice John R.Stegner wrote that the issue concerned “whether a private party that leases public property from an Idaho municipality may govern those who come and go from its property during the lease. The short answer is yes.”

That decision concurs with the 2021 ruling in District Court that dismissed with prejudice a lawsuit brought by Scott Herndon — now District 1 senator — and area resident Jeff Avery, with support from Boise-based lobby group Idaho Second Amendment Alliance and Washington-based Second Amendment Foundation.

Herndon and Avery were at the center of the issue, which arose in 2019 when the two men attempted to gain entry to the Festival carrying firearms and were told of the event’s no-weapons policy and to leave their guns in their vehicles or be trespassed. War Memorial Field is owned by the city of Sandpoint and leased to the Festival for two weeks each year.

Initially, the incident prompted Bonner County and Sheriff Daryl Wheeler to sue the city, claiming that the Festival’s policy created uncertainty for law enforcement.

Judge Lansing B. Haynes dismissed that suit in 2020 citing lack of standing — but not before costing the county and city in excess of a combined $320,000, with the county being ordered to reimburse Sandpoint more than $71,000.

Herndon, Avery, ISAA and ISAF filed their own suit, based on alleged constitutional violations as well as centering the argument

on whether Idaho Code allowed a public entity to convey authority on a leaseholder to bar firearms possession on public property. State statute explicitly limits government entities from prohibiting firearms in public spaces.

Again, Haynes ruled in 2021 in the Herndon et al. case that the city of Sandpoint had made no such policy banning weapons at War Memorial Field, and it was the Festival’s prerogative as the private lessee to do so.

The plaintiffs filed an appeal to the Idaho Supreme Court in February, arguing, “[T]hey were entitled to a declaratory judgment and summary judgment on the civil rights claims, and the district court erred in applying judicial estoppel. The Plaintiffs also argue the district court erred in denying their motion for an extension of time to object to attorney fees,” according to the court filing.

In the June 22 ruling, justices wrote that Idaho’s firearms “preemption” law — keeping any political subdivision of the state “from adopting or enforcing a rule or regulation that regulates, among other things, firearm ownership, possession or carrying” — “[d]oes not apply to private entities.”

That was the “fundamental” issue at the center of the case, the court decided. With the Festival’s lease with the city determined “valid,” the private tenant, “had full authority to govern and set limits on those who visited the premises of its leasehold.”

“The Festival was granted a possessory interest in War Memorial Field as the lessee of the property.

As the holder of the possessory interest, The Festival had the right to the use and benefit of the leased property, which includes the authority to set limitations on those who come onto the property,” the decision stated. “These principles do not morph depending on the nature of the third-party rights at play.”

Finally, the court wrote that Herndon et al. overshot their constitutional argument, “Relying on sweeping claims grounded in the

Second Amendment,” asking the court “to second guess, not what is stated in the lease contract (which makes no mention of weapons at all), but the actions of the City’s mayor and city council in making their determination to lease to a private entity.

“Nothing within the terms of the lease between the City and The Festival addresses carrying firearms or restricts the rules that The Festival may adopt while using the park for its private concerts,” justices added.

“Beyond that, both the Second Amendment and Article I, Section 11 of the Idaho Constitution apply only to government actors, not private parties,” the ruling stated. “Thus, the lease does not violate the public policy stated in Idaho Code section 18-3302J, the Second Amendment or the Idaho Constitution, Article 1, section 11.”

Furthermore, the court ruled, “The Appellants claim that the City and The Festival used a corrupt and illegal process to enter contracts and leases, which establishes a claim under 42 U.S.C. section 1985. As we have held, nothing in the City’s conduct in granting The Festival a lease violated the City’s vast discretion. Thus, the process was not ‘illegal.’”

In a statement issued June 22, the city of Sandpoint expressed its satisfaction with the ruling and “look[ed] forward to a successful Festival at Sandpoint concert season next month,” according to Mayor Shelby Rognstad.

The Festival will celebrate its 40th annual season Thursday, July 27-Sunday, Aug. 6, bringing artists from around the country to War Memorial Field. In previous statements, Festival officials have said that without a no-weapons policy, many musical acts would be contractually obligated not to perform at the venue — potentially threatening the estimated $3.8 million or more that the event generates in regional economic activity. The city in its statement went further, adding that in addition the Festival is responsible for more

than $1.7 million gross regional product and more than $1 million in total compensation along with 37 full-time-equivalent jobs.

“[W]e are pleased to have finally reached a resolution in the courts,” Rognstad added. “The city has leased War Memorial Field to the Festival of Sandpoint for its concert series for almost 40 years. The Festival sets the rules for its concerts. The city of Sandpoint does not have a policy restricting the public carrying guns on public property and the Sandpoint Police Department does not enforce rules established by the Festival for its events.”

Festival officials also applauded the decision, stating that, “As the original lawsuits against the city of Sandpoint and the Festival at Sandpoint were deemed to not have merit, we at the Festival at Sandpoint were confident that the Idaho Supreme Court would have a similar and favorable decision.

“We are grateful for the conclusion of this nearly four-year process, which unnecessarily demanded resources from both the city of Sandpoint, as well as our nonprofit organization,” the statement added. “The safety of our fans, volunteers, staff and artists is of the utmost importance and continues to be at the forefront of everything we do at the Festival at Sandpoint.”

Herndon issued his own statement June 22, reiterating the facts of the case and summarizing, “The entire purpose of our lawsuit was to gain clarity on the current state of the law in Idaho for Idaho’s many hundreds of thousands of gun owners,” after the Festival in 2019 instituted a screening process for attendees to ensure they were not carrying weapons, including firearms.

The statement went on to claim that Herndon and Avery set out to “test whether the firearm ban would be enforced.”

Despite the ruling by the District Court and unanimous decision by the Idaho Supreme Court, Herndon’s statement continued

that the latter “has revealed a massive legal loophole in Idaho’s firearm laws. According to the court’s decision today, government can now easily ban gun owners in Idaho from carrying firearms on traditional public property,” by leasing to a private party.

Based on previous reporting, it has already been established that private entities in Sandpoint and elsewhere in Idaho lease public property and have instituted weapons bans — including Bonner General Health.

Herndon’s statement speculated that political subdivisions may rent public spaces such as national forests, state parks, county fairs and the like to private parties, then ban firearms.

Midway through his second term in the Idaho Senate, Herndon vowed to “go to the mat to find a legislative solution for Idaho’s gun owners.”

“While property rights are fundamental, gun rights are equally fundamental, and the right of self-defense must be protected on public property,” he stated. “I look forward to finding a solution with Idaho’s conservative Republicans, the Idaho Freedom Caucus, the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance and all those who treasure public safety and the Second Amendment.”

Herndon did not respond by press time to a request for additional details on what his legislative solution might include. District 1B Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, also did not respond for a request for comment.

District 1A Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, told the Reader in an email June 28 that, “Last week’s Supreme Court decision confirmed Idaho private property rights, local control and state oversight are all important factors in public policy. Untold resources and taxpayer funds have been spent on this issue over the last few years. The calls for a costly special session for an attempt to remedy this issue are premature.”

Idaho is heating up and drying out for Fourth of July Weekend

By Reader Staff

Though Idaho enjoyed a cool, wet spring, there have already been a number of wildfires in the southern part of the state, prompting Recreate Responsibly Idaho to remind outdoor recreationists to be mindful of fire safety — regardless of where they are in the Gem State.

The statewide campaign — launched in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic — is intended to ensure that visitors and residents alike stay safe in Idaho’s outdoors, especially as the state’s population has continued to grow exponentially in recent years.

Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, Recreate Responsibly Idaho noted that fire officials each year record a spike in human-caused wildfires, most often from unattended campfires, fireworks, dragging tow chains, driving on dry grass, and improper disposal of hot ashes and barbecue coals.

“On average, 80% of wildfires are caused by humans,” the campaign stated.

Of particular concern for summer 2023, the wet spring caused grasses and plants to grow tall, creating an abundance of fuels. Now rangelands and forests are starting to dry out, which increases wildfire risk.

“Please remember that all fireworks — and even the possession of fireworks — are prohibited on federal public lands, regardless of weather conditions or if a person believes they are using fireworks safely,” stated Recreate Responsibly Idaho Campaign Coordinator Robbie Johnson. “Recreate Responsibly Idaho is here to support the public with resources, guides, and reminders that we all must do our part to stay vigilant to avoid the destruction of catastrophic wildfire.”

The campaign noted a number of available resources and provided tips to prepare for the holiday weekend:

• Know before you go — Visit the BLM Idaho Fire Information website at idahofireinfo.com and the Idaho Department of Lands Fire Information and Resources website at idl.idaho.gov/fire-management for wildland fire information near your destination.

•Drown your campfire — Make sure your fire is “dead out” and cold to the touch before leaving your campsite or going to bed. Keep your campfire small and use a designated campfire ring when available and permissible.

•Leave fireworks at home — Fire-

Bits ’n’ Pieces

From east, west and beyond

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact.

A recent sampling:

Multnomah County, Ore., is suing 17 major oil companies for their role in causing the climate crisis that triggered the 2021 heat dome, which killed 69 people in that county. The litigation states the heat dome was “not a natural weather event,” and seeks $50 million in damages and $1.5 billion for future climate damages, The Guardian reported. Oregon Public broadcasting said another $50 billion is sought for climate adaptation measures. The county’s heat dome-response officials said research indicated the heat event was 150 times more likely to occur due to climate change.

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

Moscow after a deal was struck to end the “mutiny.” Historian Heather Cox Richardson observed: it’s “crystal clear” that Putin’s hold over Russia is not secure, since the mercenaries were able to travel hundreds of miles into Russia with minimal resistance. The mercenaries’ leader is a former convict and has been indicted for operating a troll program to get Trump elected in 2016.

works are prohibited on federal public lands. During closed fire season (May 10-October 20), it is illegal to throw away any lighted material, including firecrackers or fireworks on any forest or rangeland in the state of Idaho (Idaho Code 38-117). Starting a wildfire with the use of fireworks is considered negligence, and the person who started the fire could be billed for the cost of fighting the fire (Idaho Code 38-107).

•Don’t be the spark — Do not drive or park on dry grass. Hot exhaust pipes or sparks can start a fire. This applies to off-highway vehicles and personal vehicles.

•Check your chains — When pulling a trailer, be sure safety chains and other metal parts aren’t hanging from your vehicle as these can drag and cause sparks.

Recreate Responsibly Idaho and its statewide partners also remind recreationists ATV, UTV and off-highway vehicle use; proper etiquette at boat ramps; water and life jacket safety; minding your wake on lakes, rivers and reservoirs; and more.

The campaign includes the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Department of Commerce, Idaho Department of Transportation and the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission.

Nonprofit news organization ProPublica has reported yet another U.S. Supreme Court justice has violated federal financial disclosure rules: Justice Samuel Alito was the recipient of a fishing trip worth more than $100,000 and did not recuse himself from a court case linked to the donor. As well, CNN said Alito made a trip to Rome, paid for by a group involved with the decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. According to The Intercept, Alito recently ruled to dilute clean water laws, enhancing the value of real estate his wife owned. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas also face ethics scrutiny.

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich says trust in the court can be restored with a code of ethics, term limits for justices and expanding the Supreme Court. That’s not likely to occur quickly, he admitted, since “big monied interests will fight to keep their control of the Supreme Court.”

In a 6-3 ruling in Moore vs. Harper, the Supreme Court just rejected the “independent state legislature theory” that former-President Donald Trump attempted to use to keep power in 2020. The majority opinion stated, “the Elections Clause does not insulate state legislatures from the ordinary exercise of state judicial review.”

Justices Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch dissented, The New York Times wrote.

A Utah school board that approved banning the Bible in its libraries has reversed course. A school district subcommittee of three decided the “serious value for minors outweighs the violent and vulgar content it contains,” according to The Guardian.

Opposing Vladimir Putin’s handling of war against Ukraine, Russia’s private mercenary group recently took control of a key war staging area, then began marching toward Putin. They stopped short of

Blast from the past: After the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, numerous pivotal moments shaped our nation. The Declaration, points out historian Heather Cox Richardson, was not a form of government. Rather, in 1777 a new committee wrote the Articles of Confederation; it said each state had sovereignty, freedom, independence, powers, jurisdictions and rights “not [stated] by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States,” and that the new government was “a firm league of friendship” with the purpose of “common defense.” By 1783 problems were evident: Congress had no power for enforcing recommendations to the states, states balked at raising taxes to pay off the Revolutionary War’s debts and, lacking unity, Congress could not effectively enter negotiations with foreign countries (individual states acted mostly on their own behalf, as though they were independent nations). That resulted in a reorganization effort in 1787, resulting in the “We the People” document, followed by the Bill of Rights. By the 1830s, some state leaders claimed they should not be bound by laws of Congress, such as if they wanted to take land from Indigenous tribes or enslave Black people — they saw those actions as an expression of democracy. That led to the Civil War, followed by the 14th Amendment’s equal protection for all. It wasn’t until the post-WWII years that there was an appetite for enforcing the 14th. But so-called “traditionalists,” along with white supremacists, joined forces with businessmen who resented the federal regulation and taxation; they called for rolling back federal powers and returning them to the states. Lately that’s resulted in their pinning hopes on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which, last December, stated it will push for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution, with a goal of limiting federal power and returning power to the states. Richardson noted it appears those seeking a new Constitution want to make sure “people like them” will “rule forever.”

Watching the fireworks display on the Fourth of July at Sandpoint City Beach. Photo by Ben Olson.

USDA Wildlife Services euthanize geese at City Beach

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

The city of Sandpoint issued a statement June 27 that under a migratory bird depredation permit with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, the resident Canada geese that congregate at City Beach had been rounded up and euthanized on June 23.

“This was not an easy decision,” stated Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad. “The city of Sandpoint has been dealing with the growing resident Canada goose population at City Beach for over two decades at great expense and our management strategies have been met with little to no success.”

Rognstad added that the numbers of geese at the beach had “become a public health issue for our community and visitors, not to mention a huge deterrent for public use of City Beach. The city and its residents value wildlife. City Beach, however, is a public park, not a wildlife sanctuary. We need to prioritize public health and recreation in our busiest city park.”

The euthanization had been administratively approved by Rognstad, and followed a request from the city to USDA Wildlife Services for a roundup and relocation of the geese in the spring. According to the city, the agency recommended against relocation, citing the possibility of spreading Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the region.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Wildlife Health Lab similarly advised against relocation in 2022. In the fall of 2022, the Sandpoint City Council approved a controlled goose hunt at City Beach, which resulted in one bird being killed. A second hunt is scheduled for the fall of 2023.

Other attempts to reduce the population of Canada geese at City Beach — which has been estimated to be around 200 animals — have included signs to discourage feeding; special equipment designed to clean the goose feces in the grass and sand; physical harassment of the birds and hiring dog handlers with trained dogs to herd the geese out of the park; and the use of deterrent decoys, flags and other methods.

“City Parks and Recreation staff has spent countless numbers of hours cleaning up the goose feces in the grass, sand, walkways and marinas,” the city stated. “In all, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in these efforts.”

Meanwhile, beginning in 2016, the city reported that Sandpoint Waterkeepers found rising levels of E.coli in the proximity of the beach.

Capture and relocation of the geese took place in 2019, 2020 and 2021, with identification bands placed on the geese to track whether they would return to Sandpoint

from the location they were taken south of town. Each year it was found that most of the geese came back to City Beach.

Rognstad later asked city staff to consult GeesePeace, a Virginia-based program that provides communities with goose management methods and products. According to the city, GeesePeace representatives came to Sandpoint for two days, discussing management strategies suggested by local community members. At that time, GeesePeace recommended egg oiling — a method that prevents eggs from hatching — as well as replacement and/or destruction of nests.

“Implementation of this strategy is challenging given that the geese don’t nest at City Beach or typically within Sandpoint City limits,” City Hall stated. “City staff also reached out to meat processing companies and groups to determine the viability of a harvest of the meat should euthanization be determined a necessary mitigation strategy. These efforts were not successful.”

The issue of what to do — if anything — about the Canada goose population at City Beach has generated years of controversy, with many community members outraged at what they’ve described as inhumane treatment of the birds.

Among the most vocal opponents of the city’s various goose management strategies has been area writer and longtime journalist Jane Fritz, who has testified at City Council meetings and penned numerous letters and opinion pieces in local media.

In a 2019 article published by the

Reader, Fritz wrote that, “the value system guiding Sandpoint’s future has strayed from this nature/wildlife/people interconnectedness which drew many of us here. It now primarily favors people, mostly tourists and their money.” In a 2020 piece, also published by the Reader, she wrote that the city of Sandpoint had “lost its moral compass” by pursuing lethal control methods.

In an email sent June 23 to numerous community members, including media, longtime local resident Janice Simeone wrote, “The birds fly and multiply. Killing hundreds of geese will do nothing. There is just one male and one female that is necessary for reproduction. Because these individuals find the geese offensive due to their droppings on the beach, their idea is to kill them.”

Opponents of the euthanasia strategy have long proposed non-lethal methods such as flashing beacons located in the sand and nearshore waters at the beach, as well using the strategies identified by GeesePeace. However, Rognstad stated, “The only viable solution remaining at this point is a humane roundup and euthanization performed by professional wildlife managers through the USDA Wildlife Services. USDA Wildlife Services has been our partner in non-lethal measures for years and we appreciate the support in helping the city of Sandpoint resolve this problem in the most humane way possible.”

Mayor Rognstad: ‘The only viable solution remaining at this point’

Decoy coyotes were among the strategies used by the city to deter geese at Sandpoint City Beach, but without success. Photo by Ben Olson.

Bouquets: GUEST SUBMISSION:

•“Kudos to The Injectors Club for providing the BBQ Fundraiser for the Senior Center. Thanks also to Super One for their help and to 7B Baggers for lending the cornhole equipment and to the Fiddlers for the music. The Injectors Club raised more than $2,300 to help out the Senior Center. As costs are increasing and more and more people are in need, this will help us so much!”

— By Loris Michael, VP, board of directors

Barbs:

• I always have to laugh when we receive letters from people (more often from the far southwestern edge of our district) claiming there’s this secretive Democratic cabal out there pulling the strings in our schools, libraries and governments, indoctrinating children and single-handedly destroying these “Idaho values” we hear so much about from our lawmakers. We haven’t seen a Democrat hold office in North Idaho since the 1990s. Before that, there hasn’t been a Democratic majority in the Statehouse since the 1960s. Let that sink in a bit. Republicans have held a supermajority over our district and our state since before JFK was assassinated. The Idaho Senate has been controlled by Republicans since 1960, currently with an 80% supermajority to Democrats’ 20%. It’s even more unbalanced in the House, where Democrats hold 11 of the total 70 total seats, representing 17%, compared to Republicans’ 83% (they’ve held this majority since the 1950s). Now that the party is eating itself from the inside out, they label anyone who doesn’t toe the line of far-right extremism as either a “RINO” or as part of some clandestine leftist cabal. This is getting really old to a lot of voters who just want our lawmakers to get to work for their districts again, not engage in histrionic rants about ideological issues that have absolutely nothing to do with Idaho or our citizens. I’m tired of Idaho breaking crazy.

‘We are Priest River’…

Dear editor, Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, would have you all believe that the “liberals are angry” about not getting their way. I am writing this to set the record straight.

I am a First and Second Amendment supporter and a mom. The woman sitting next to me at the school board meeting booing at the board for selecting Branden Durst voted for Trump both times, and has a daughter who just graduated from PRLHS. That man yelling for a recall of board members has a “let’s go Brandon” bumper sticker and has coached both of our sons in football. We are Priest River. We are social workers, laborers, business owners, mental health professionals, teachers, parents, coaches, Democrats, Republicans, independents and libertarians. Our political and religious views vary, but we all have one thing in common: We love our kids and our town. We are parents and we are pissed.

Branden Durst called us “woke.”

If this is true it is only because he woke up all the Mama Bears and Papa Bears in town, and we are ready to do some housekeeping. We have been complacent and have put too much trust in our school board.

We were sleeping but we are now awake. We are reading Idaho State Code, we are learning the laws and we are holding the board accountable. Our elected officials are not hearing our voices, so we are making ourselves heard.

We cannot sit down, we will not be quiet and we will not stop; because our children and their well being is of the utmost importance. All these Mama and Papa Bears will not stop fighting for our kids. Ditch Durst. We want Luckey.

Tatum Schiwal Jones Priest River

‘Make it make sense’…

Dear editor,

In case you’ve missed it, here is a snapshot of WBCSD happenings:

June 7: superintendent candidate forum, Susie Luckey, current Interim superintendent and Branden Durst, unqualified candidate, answer questions from the community.

Prior to the doors opening, I handed out 150 signs that supported Susie Luckey as the choice for WBCSD superintendent.

Chairman Rutledge told the crowd they can’t bring signs in. Community members told him it was a public forum and signs were allowed. He said no, “I make the rules,” and further told one community member that he would have her arrested if she came in with a sign.

The trustees chose to disregard the community support for Susie.

June 12: special board meeting, Rutledge continually defends Durst. Denies validity of a letter from Boise State University stating they would not recommend him for his superintendent endorsement. Rutledge stated they have been friends for years.

Rutledge negotiated the contract with Durst without approval of the board.

June 14: special board meeting, meeting is adjourned in nine minutes. I handed out 151 signs supporting Susie. People kept coming up asking for more. Again, the board of trustees, specifically Keith Rutledge, Susan Brown and Troy Reinbold, refused to acknowledge the community support for Susie.

Hall made a motion to approve the agenda. Rutledge ignored this motion. Brown then made a motion to strike the first agenda item (“Consideration and Approval of Rescinding the Selection of Superintendent Candidate”). Rutledge asked for a motion to second Brown’s motion.

Rutledge, Brown and Reinbold were reading off scripts. You could see this from the audience and you can also see it if you watch the meeting recording.

More than 300 signs for Susie in nine days. Three votes for Durst in that same span. Please, make it make sense.

Whitney Hutchins Priest Lake

Dear editor,

I have read recent letters and feel I should comment. Some of the letters were comments about the reaction of patrons to the defeat of the levy. I can understand their reaction, although I don’t condone it, because even though the levy failed it was the wrong decision. The passing of the levy was crucial for our schools and students. That will be proven in time. With that said, I can understand their reaction. On June 10, there was an article written by Jennifer Swindell of Idaho Education News explaining how our students are being shortchanged by misinformation. She explains how funding from the state is actually applied, confirming what our interim superintendent explained at pre-levy meetings. It’s too bad enough voters didn’t believe her.

In Idaho, especially up here, levies are necessary to keep schools going.

Then there is the issue of the board’s selection of the new superintendent to fill the vacancy, passing over the obvious selection of the one person who can help our district the most. Susie has been here for 40 years and has a wonderful record at the schools she has been principal at. Nothing but positive results,

time after time after time. She was also the overwhelming choice of the patrons that the board represents.

Yes, the board represents us keeping in mind what is in the students’ best interest. Their choice has never even been a principal. Look it up. His track record doesn’t please me.

Then I find it quite interesting additional letters have come in from people that aren’t even in our district supporting our board’s choices. They don’t have a say in our district, yet they are lauding some of board members’ choices. There is something that doesn’t quite smell right here folks. Think about it.

Ernie Schoeffel Priest River

Dear editor,

It is concerning that so many in WBCSD haven’t been mature enough to know that they are no longer the majority after they lost the May 16 levy election. Even more concerning is how they have acted after their candidate for superintendent of WBCSD No. 83 was not voted into that position.

The district employees and some parents are turning out in mass for the school board meetings, telling board members, with some even demanding three board members duly elected in their precincts resign because they aren’t working “for everyone in the room.” These board members were each duly elected on their platforms of wanting change and that is what they have been implementing for the voters in their precincts that cast their ballots for that very reason.

Those same people demand more communication and transparency from these three board members, yet I never heard them when other WBCSD No. 83 boards were far less communicative or transparent than this board has been.

Let’s give classic education, along with Quantum Learning, a chance and accept the fact that the board majority has hired the superintendent they felt best to produce the change their constituents elected them to produce and move forward.

Bill O’Neil Priest River

Durst

Dear editor,

He wouldn’t tell me when, where or how it will happen; but, regional Idaho Fish and Game Director Carson Watkins revealed that Sandpoint had hired USDA Wildlife Services to round up “the honkers” at City Beach, including dozens of roughly 2-month-old goslings.

But unlike 2019, 2020 and 2021, this time corralled Canada geese are destined for “lethal removal,” not dumping into another lake south of here only to return. After four years, Wildlife Services gets to do what it does best: kill wildlife (more than a million animals in the past year nationwide). How will they kill them?

Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton knows, but this is her and Mayor Shelby Rognstad’s secret, I guess, because City Councilor Justin Dick did not know about this plan, nor did the media or anyone else, who, if you bother to ask, actually enjoy the geese.

I didn’t expect a death sentence for these families of 150 wild geese, but it could happen this week. It has to happen soon before the young can fly away.

It had to take months for the city to get a depredation permit from Fish and Wildlife, the other federal agency whose work is to protect migratory bird species. Perhaps the failed controlled hunt last fall was justification. Regardless, if you live within the city limits, your taxpayer dollars are subsidizing this planned heinous act. The problem is habitat. We don’t have to create a perfect home for geese. We could adapt — large boulders, flower boxes, peppermint, dogs on leash on sidewalks, Away With Geese predator mimicry — there are lots of humane alternatives to deter geese from even coming into the park.

Kill these birds, and biologists say other migratory geese will fill the void. Then what? Rename City Beach the Killing Fields?

Jane Fritz Sandpoint

‘Country smells of summer’...

Dear editor,

The fresh wet smell of a newborn calf. The dry hot smell of timothy hay in the windrow. The acrid work smell of tractor diesel. The sweat-stained bucking hay bales smell. The long evening smell of approaching rain. The sweet familiar smell of leather. The barelybeat-the-sunup passionate smell of coffee. The slow-down, sit-back-in-the-porch rocker smell of cold beer. The country summer smells that keep us whole.

Steve Johnson

Sagle

‘Doesn’t quite smell right’…

Give change a chance...

U.S. Supreme Court rules against ‘independent state legislature’ theory

Supporters of Idaho Open Primaries Initiative say AG Labrador ‘leaned’ on theory to oppose ballot measure

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

Organizers behind the effort to put the Open Primaries Initiative on the 2024 ballot in Idaho applauded the decision June 27 by the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate the so-called independent state legislature theory, which assigns sweeping powers to lawmakers in governing federal elections.

Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville, whose organization is part of the coalition of groups behind Idahoans for Open Primaries, wrote in a June 27 statement that Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has “leaned” on the legal theory — which was used during and after the 2020 presidential election to cast doubt on whether state courts could review or strike down election laws put in place by legislatures — to bolster his critiques of the Open Primaries Initiative.

“Today, the United States Supreme Court rejected Labrador’s theory by a vote of 6-3,” Mayville stated. “But make no mistake, this is not the last we’ll hear from the attorney general. In the months ahead, he will continue to attack the Open Primaries Initiative with baseless arguments, and we must be prepared to fight back.”

Labrador in his analysis of the initiative in early June, wrote, “the times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof,” which according to Boise-based KTVB “raises a question about citizen initiative impacts on federal elections.”

In the June 27 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts argued that the Constitution does not protect legislators’ actions from state courts; rather, legislative authority is checked by state and federal constitutions, as well as statute.

Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Roberts in the majority. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

The Idaho Open Primaries Initiative takes aim at the 2011 state law allowing political parties to choose to hold closed primaries, in which voters must be affiliated with the given party in order to participate. The law came about after the Idaho Republican Party sued the state, and the state GOP has held closed primaries since 2012. The Libertarian and Constitution parties both held closed primaries as recently as 2022,

while the Idaho Democratic Party continues to hold open primaries, in which anyone can vote regardless of party affiliation.

Critics of the closed primary system contend that it narrows the franchise and incentivizes candidates to cater to the most extreme ideological leanings of their partisan bases.

As Lewiston Tribune Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase wrote in May, “Ever wonder how characters from the political fringe — whether it’s Janice McGeachin’s win as lieutenant governor in 2018 or Raúl Labrador’s election as attorney general last year — hold office?

“Blame the closed Republican primary election.

“Annoyed that the political class can act with impunity — whether it’s trying to erase your ballot initiative rights or supporting the agenda of the Idaho Freedom Foundation while ignoring their own constituents?

“Blame the closed Republican primary election for that, too.

“The fact is you’re on the losing side of a rigged game.”

The Open Primaries Initiative would replace the closed primary with a “non-partisan primary system” in which voters of all party affiliations — or unaffiliated — would be empowered to vote for their top four candidates to advance to the general election.

In the general election, the winning candidate would be selected based on instant runoff voting, otherwise known as “rankedchoice” voting, in which candidates are eliminated from the race until only one receives more than 50% of the vote.

Idahoans for Open Primaries states the initiative “will give Idahoans more freedom and better leadership.” The coalition behind the effort includes Reclaim Idaho, the Idaho Task Force for Veterans for Political Innovation, North Idaho Women, Represent US Hope and the Hope Coalition.

In addition to opposing the initiative on the grounds that only state legislatures can reform laws related to federal elections — an argument that the Supreme Court has now deemed invalid — Labrador also argued that it ran afoul of a rule adopted in 2020 that initiatives must deal with a single subject.

According to Labrador’s analysis, the open primary system eliminating party primaries and the institution of ranked-choice voting in the general election represented “separate subjects and neither one depends on the other.”

Former-Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice and former-Idaho Attorney General Jim Jones pushed back at that assessment, stating that the initiative deals with one issue: elections. Further, Jones called Labrador’s analysis “a political hatchet job” in an op-ed published in early-June by news media around the state.

“Labrador takes the absurd position that the right of political parties to control who can vote in primary elections takes priority over the right of voters to vote for the candidates of their choice in those elections,” Jones wrote. “The Idaho Constitution does not grant political parties the right to control who votes in our elections, but our Supreme Court has held the right of citizens to elect their leaders is an inviolable constitutional right.”

The initiative has been filed with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, where it is awaiting final approval to appear on the 2024 ballot.

Science: Mad about

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

One major technological development shifted humans from being fragile and awkward middling gatherers into apex predators that would go on to dominate the food chain across the entire Earth, for better or worse.

Arrows are a simple enough design, essentially a shrunken throwing spear that’s launched from a bow, but the value of this simple design cannot be overstated. A throwing spear was large and required an accurate throw, with a range of about five to 10 meters — this put hunters in danger of being attacked by larger predators or trampled by huge herbivores. Neolithic bows had a range of around 50 meters, allowing hunters to get the jump on their prey and retreat if things went sideways.

A bow is useless without an arrow. We have evidence of arrows being fletched at least 67,000 years ago. The earliest arrows were fashioned with a bone tip, which was far from ideal when trying to create an accurate projectile. Breaking up large mammal bones was dangerous for neolithic humans — crushing implements lacked handles and many fingers were likely crushed, lacerated and infected, which carried the lethal potential in an age far predating antibiotics. Bone shards were rarely identical and far from aerodynamic, which meant the accuracy and range of early arrows was critically lacking.

Over time, arrowsmiths and fletchers shifted away from using bone and instead crafted arrowheads from flint, chert and obsidian through a process called knapping. This process was done by flaking away bits of a stone with another stone to create sharp edges and points, a process that was equally dangerous — if not even more so — than crushing

bone with a rock. However, the result was critical for the advancement of human civilization.

Flint arrowheads increased the accuracy and range of neolithic bows, greatly increasing the success of a hunt and reducing the risk involved. This allowed humans to more reliably hunt larger prey and suffer fewer losses in the process. These kinds of arrows were so vital to early humans that they remained in use for tens of thousands of years.

It’s believed that the first metal arrowheads appeared sometime between 3500 and 2000 BCE.

Initially made of bronze, metallurgy completely redefined archery. Archery in organized warfare presented such an advantage that it influenced the design of all other weapons and armor of the time.

Bronze arrows were more easily replicable than their stone predecessors, which led to more uniformity in design, which meant increased accuracy for the soldiers launching them. Greater accuracy and range meant that armies on the receiving end of an arrow storm needed adequate armor to ensure their soldiers could get close enough to land strikes and break ranks of archers — this became especially important when sieging cities.

The force and range of an arrow is multiplied by elevation, so shooting down at someone from the top of a wall achieves two goals: it delivers a punishing strike and attacks an enemy while they’re occupied with climbing, leaving them relatively defenseless.

Bronze was great for its time, but it’s a soft metal and is easily deformed. Bronze arrows, once fired, were effectively useless until the heads were melted back down and reforged. The development of metallurgical processes that could refine iron into steel would again revolutionize arrow technology. Iron, and especially steel, are very durable metals, as we use them

for a huge variety of tasks even to this day. Iron is also a plentiful resource, and while it’s more difficult to work with than bronze, it’s also much harder to deform with force in combat.

Despite the difficulties in working with iron during classical times, it is a very malleable metal that allowed for it to take on myriad shapes and forms, fulfilling countless functions. This was especially true of arrows.

Arrow technology had a renaissance in the medieval era. Arrows began to take on specialty functions to fulfill different tasks. Bodkin arrows employed a fine needle point at the end of a shaft designed to slip between the links of mail and pierce a target’s vital organs. Bodkin arrows are so effective that a medieval English longbow firing a bodkin from 50 meters can pierce many modern body armors.

Broadhead arrows were developed to counter rank-and-file forces that were often armored in little more than gambesons (padded jackets) and everyday clothing. These were designed initially to hunt elk, as the large and sweeping heads would tear into flesh and cause immense hemorrhaging and a swift death — a trait that was not lost on lords and generals of their time.

A variation of broadheads were developed with larger heads to be launched at much closer range with the intention of killing cavalry horses mid-charge. Archers in the field are traditionally countered by fast-moving armored cavalry, while the broadhead may have helped level the playing field.

Another type of arrow was also developed during this period, which appeared as a forked head similar to the letter “Y.” There is much speculation about what this arrow was used for, with some claiming that it was designed to cripple charging cavalry horses, and others claiming it was effec-

tive at shredding sails of ships at sea to immobilize the vessel.

Arrowheads today are nightmarish things if you find yourself on the receiving end of one. Many are made of aluminum, which makes them very lightweight and easy to sharpen into a razor edge. Paired with the draw of a compound bow, these things are designed to effortlessly glide through flesh and cause massive bleeding. Fortunately, these are reserved exclusively for hunting.

Many other variations of ar-

•It is illegal to stop on the median to let ducklings pass in New Hampshire.

•In Alabama, you can’t drive around impersonating a priest or member of the clergy (but it is legal to marry your first cousin).

•In Mississippi, it is illegal to attach a flamethrower to your vehicle.

•Arkansas passed a law in 1938 making it illegal to honk your horn after 9 p.m. at sandwich shops or cold beverage stands.

•A woman is not legally allowed to drive a vehicle in a bathrobe in California. The Dude is not amused.

•“Anti-cruising” laws are in effect in various states and municipalities throughout the nation. In Westminster, Colo. for example, it’s unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle past a traffic control point three times in the same direction within any three-hour period between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

rowheads have been developed for use in hunting as well, including wire-headed arrows designed to widen upon flight and provide a larger area for hunting birds, and spring-lined arrowheads designed to catch in the brush and be easily recovered.

There are also rubber-tipped arrowheads used exclusively for target practice, as well as a variation on the bodkin arrow used in many archery competitions around the world.

Stay curious, 7B.

•It’s illegal for someone to drive a car without a steering wheel in Decatur, Ill.

•South Berick, Maine, made it illegal to park within 25 feet of its local Dunkin’ Donuts (the town used the store as a reference point for acceptable parking zones on a specific street).

•Aw hell, it’s illegal to use profanity on a street, highway or sidewalk in Rockville, Md. where a passerby might hear you.

•Camels were imported to Nevada by the US Army to transport supplies before the 20th century. There were enough of them, however, to facilitate a ban placed on camels walking on public highways.

•If you’ve ever been busted for a DUI, you can’t order a personalized vanity plate in New Jersey. BMMER.

•You can’t disrobe in your vehicle in Sag Harbor, N.Y.

Medieval arrows and arrowheads. Courtesy photos.

Remembering the life and legacy of conservationist Will Venard

By Jerry Pavia and Brad Smith Reader Contributors

The conservation community in North Idaho recently lost a dear friend and advocate. Will Venard was a member of the Idaho Conservation League (ICL) for more than 40 years. He was one of the founders of Boundary Backpackers in 1976, which became a chapter of the ICL in 1981.

The Boundary Backpackers was formed to protect Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest as wilderness. At the time, the Forest Service had made plans to build roads into Long Canyon and harvest its old-growth timber. Long Canyon is only one of two remaining roadless watersheds in the Selkirks. The group formed to oppose the Forest Service’s plans, and wilderness designation was their answer.

Will named the group when a reporter from the local paper asked him who they were, and Will — on the spot — came up with the name Boundary Backpackers. Until that moment, the group had no name. It was also Will’s idea that Boundary Backpackers have no officers and no dues.

The main principles he put forth for the organization of the group were to always tell the truth. If the answer was unknown,

the group would get back to the questioner after researching for an answer. He also suggested that the group would reject no ideas that were positive in furthering the goal of wilderness for Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest. For him, negativity was a no-no.

Every September since the late-1970s, Will worked alongside other members of the Boundary Backpackers in reopening and improving the 18-mile trail in Long Canyon. Together they spent seven to 10 days in the Canyon working on improving the trail. It’s now the gem of the trail system in the region.

Improving trails wasn’t the only hard work the group did — the proposal to protect Long Canyon was hugely unpopular at the time. Will and the Backpackers stood up to tremendous political pressure from former-Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, the timber industry and the Forest Service. People they used to be friends with in the community stopped talking to them and avoided them in the grocery store.

Despite these hardships, Will stood up for what he believed in, and gave others the fortitude to do the same.

Will traveled the state with Jerry Pavia in 1984 and presented a 17-minute Long Canyon-Selkirk Crest slideshow to bring

awareness about wilderness to different communities. Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest were included in two pieces of wilderness legislation introduced in the late-1980s and early-1990s. Unfortunately, these bills fell victim to national politics.

While official wilderness status for Long Canyon and the Selkirk Crest has not yet been achieved, Will and the Backpackers still made lasting change for the area. The

Forest Service gave up on its plan to log Long Canyon. In fact, when the Forest Service revised the management plan for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest in 2015, the agency changed Long Canyon from a timber management area to a proposed wilderness area. This would not have happened without Will and the Boundary Backpackers.

Will was also instrumental in encouraging the Boundary Backpackers to expand their mission to include all environmental issues that affected Boundary County and worked to get the Selkirk Mountain Caribou and the Kootenai River Sturgeon on the Endangered Species List. These were only a few of the issues that he worked on with others over the years.

Will was a man of great integrity. He was a man who knew the value in listening to the opinions of others. He’ll be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

Jerry Pavia was a co-founder of the Boundary Backpackers and served as president of the Idaho Conservation League Board of Directors from 1995-2002. Brad Smith is the North Idaho director of the Idaho Conservation League.

In defense of the fairgrounds campground — Part 2

By Luke Omodt, Bonner County Commissioner Dist. 3 Reader Contributor

Money doesn’t grow on trees or empty fields. There are two ways local governments generate revenue: taxes or fees for service. The proposed Bonner County Fairground RV campground expansion is the latter. Campground visitors would generate revenue that could be used for upkeep and maintenance of the fairgrounds, avoiding tax increases and improving the facilities for all of Bonner County.

This is Part 2 of an article on a proposed RV campground expansion, intended to inform Bonner County residents about local government. Part 2 gave a brief history of the Bonner County Fairgrounds from its conception in 1927 through today.

On Aug. 2, 2022, Bonner County accepted a grant from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) of $473,315 to expand the fairgrounds RV campground with a $25,000 match from the Fair Board to be paid from monies earned from campground fees, ticket sales and building rentals, bringing the total project cost to $498,315. This grant was original-

ly supported by the Fair Board and continually opposed by Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler.

Wheeler contends that the proposed expansion is on Sheriff’s Department property promised for a new justice center. According to Idaho Code (31807), all county property is managed and controlled by the commissioners. There is no evidence to support the claim of a promised justice center.

A justice center would include a new courthouse, office space and jail. The existing courthouse is 45,000 square feet, was renovated for $6.5 million and reopened in 2013, and Bonner County has one of the newer jails in the state. Nez Perce County is building an 86,000-square-foot courthouse at a cost of $50.6 million. A 180,000-square-foot Bonner County Justice Center would cost local taxpayers more than $100 million in today’s dollars, or approximately $2,000 for every man, woman and child living in Bonner County.

In March 2023, a parking study of the fairgrounds — which has approximately

800 parking spaces — was completed. Using a baseline of 2,500 visitors, it was determined that 900-1,300 parking spaces would be necessary. The 2023 Sandpoint Renaissance Faire was estimated to have had 3,500 visitors per day. The fairgrounds doesn’t have enough parking space to meet existing demand.

Bonner County has employed the same engineering firm since 2009 to improve the fairgrounds; in a conceptual rendering it was shown that there is enough room for both a new justice center, 200 parking spaces and the RV park expansion. The prior Fair Board was in favor of the grant; the current board has indicated a willingness to turn down long-term revenue while continuing to accept local tax dollars.

On June 21, 2023, the board of commissioners received correspondence from IDPR deeming the best course of action was to not extend the grant at this time for the following reasons:

•The lack of a current, completed bid;

•The opposition of the Bonner County Fair Board to the campground expansion;

•The absence of an executed construction contract makes it impossible to determine whether the project can be completed

within the next year.

That same day, the board of commissioners conducted a bid opening for this project. Five of seven bids were within budget, with construction starting in September to be completed in spring 2024.

Bonner County is the real property owner of the fairgrounds and the proposed RV expansion property, and the commissioners are also responsible for the county budget, according to state statute. Ultimately it is the taxpayers who decide what their wallets can afford.

Do you support increased local taxes instead of revenue generated by visitors?

When an available win-win opportunity exists that could serve Bonner County for generations to come, this commissioner says “no” to additional taxes.

If you have questions, email me at luke. omodt@bonnercountyid.gov.

Bonner County is home and I pay taxes, too.

Luke Omodt represents District 3 on the Bonner County Board of Commissioners, comprising the areas immediately north of Sandpoint and the eastern portion of the county.

Will Venard was a member of ICL for more than 40 years. Courtesy photo.

‘Do you support increased local taxes instead of revenue generated by visitors?’

Luke Omodt. File photo.

The Great American Novel –brought to you by OxyContin™

How the Sackler family built a dynasty on the back of American addiction

By Danielle Packard Reader Contributor

Amid the sea of books and films that have recently been released on the American opioid crisis, Empire of Pain, by Patrick Radden Keefe, stands out for a few reasons. First, it takes a novel approach (literally), concentrating solely on the creators of OxyContin, rather than the millions of addicts their products have created. Second, it manages to make a meticulously researched and cited book addictively readable.

The Empire of Pain opens with the plot of a sweeping American novel, tracking the meteoric rise of Arthur Sackler and his younger brothers, Mortimer and Raymond. First-generation Americans, the three brothers overcame adversity to become wealthy doctors, philanthropists and owners of Purdue Frederick, later called Purdue Pharma. Keefe brings the reader inside Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family-owned enterprise that has been involved in many of the most controversial opioid painkillers ever created.

Arthur, the eldest brother and scion of the family, is a cross between Jay Gatsby and Michael Corleone. Driven, secretive and obsessed with leaving a lasting artistic legacy to immortalize the Sackler name, Arthur earned millions by using his advertising company to sell his pharmaceutical products and endorsing them through his medical trade journal. He then spent those millions buying art and donating it to museums and colleges throughout the U.S.

and Europe.

By the time Arthur died in 1987, the Sackler name had become synonymous with art, culture and education — a tradition continued by his brothers and the second generation of Sacklers.

Yet, parallel to this very public tradition of philanthropy, was the deliberate secrecy of the Sackler family, as it tried (but failed) to bury its connection to the opioids that fueled its wealth. Keefe establishes the deliberate and sustained separation of the Sackler name from the products it sold — a practice that continued into the next two generations. The deceptive marketing tactics Arthur used to push Valium and other opioid-based painkillers served as an inspiration to his nephew and OxyContin creator Richard Sackler.

The second section of the book, “Dynasty” details the creation and marketing of OxyContin, a pill as addictive as heroin, twice as potent as morphine and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was a contributing factor in an estimated 586,000 opioid-related deaths from 1999 to 2020.

Keefe focuses on the Sackler family and how it deliberately created a marketing “blizzard” to reward pharmaceutical representatives and doctors for prescribing more and higher doses of OxyContin to patients. Even as the repercussions of those marketing practices became evident in the form of addiction and overdose, the Sacklers refused to diversify their products, spending millions to block legal or governmental

oversight.

Keefe cites a study by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity, finding that, “Purdue and other drug companies that manufacture opioid painkillers spent $700 million between 2006 and 2015 on lobbying Washington and in all 50 states. The combined spending of these groups amounted to roughly eight times what the gun lobby spent.”

In the final section, “Legacy,” the

Sackler family scrambles to deal with the decline of OxyContin in the U.S. by expanding its marketing to other countries and pushing OxyContin to younger and younger patients.

“For example, in August 2015, over objections from critics, the company received FDA approval to market OxyContin to children as young as 11,” Keefe writes.

Despite the now common knowledge of the addictive nature of OxyContin, the Sackler family continued to earn billions from its opioids.

As Keefe argues, “The opioid crisis is, among other things, a parable about the awesome capability of private industry to subvert government institutions.”

Ultimately, Purdue Pharma declared bankruptcy though the Sackler family kept its wealth, though publicly shamed and dubbed by Congress as “the most evil family in America.”

Keefe ends the book by detailing all of the many museums and colleges erasing the Sackler name from their galleries, dorms and medical centers.

As Keefe explains in conclusion, “My intention was to tell a different kind of story, however, a saga about three generations of a family dynasty and the ways in which it changed the world, a story about ambition, philanthropy, crime and impunity, the corruption of institutions, power and greed.”

In short, Keefe writes the great American novel — it just happens to be nonfiction.

The cover of Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe.

Unite in the name of independence

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

From pancake feeds to foot races, fantastic parades to fireworks, North Idaho does the Fourth of July right. Here’s a selection of some local events meant to celebrate U.S. independence in fine fashion:

Bayview

Bayview doesn’t believe in limiting America’s birthday to a single date, celebrating Bayview Daze all weekend, starting with vendors from dawn to dusk all along the marinas Friday, June 30 to Sunday, July 2. On Saturday, July 1, a parade will move through town starting at 11 a.m., featuring the Albany Falls Pipes and Drums Band as well as the North Idaho Sparklers. Saturday will also feature a fireworks display at 10 p.m. meant to honor Bill Ramsey, Gaya MacDonald and Leland Johnson. On Tuesday, July 4, the Bayview Community Center (20298 E. Perimeter Road) will host a Red, White and Blue Pancake Breakfast at 10:30 a.m.

Clark Fork

Clark Fork will host its annual “Old Fashioned 4th of July” on Tuesday, July 4, kicking off with the 5K Freedom Fun Run at the Filling Station Youth Center (108 First Ave.) at 7 a.m. Funds raised support scholarships for local students. Parade line-

A smattering of local Fourth of July festivities

up begins at 8:45 a.m. on Stephen Street, and the procession will head west on U.S. Highway 200 at 9:30 a.m., turning right into the Clark Fork High School (502 N. Main St.) parking lot. The CFHS Booster Club will serve burgers and hot dogs in the schoolyard, where there will also be foot races for all ages. Activities then head to Veterans’ Memorial Park on Ninth Avenue, including turtle races and watermelon eating contests, as well as chainsaw and crosscut contests around 3 p.m. There’s also a fireworks display at the ball field after dark.

Hope

Fireworks will launch from a barge in Ellisport Bay on Lake Pend Oreille after dusk on Tuesday, July 4, and are viewable from most every piece of shoreline in Hope.

Laclede

The Laclede Community Center (24 Moore Loop Road) will host its annual Famous Pancake Breakfast on Tuesday, July 4 from 8-10 a.m., serving up blueberry flapjacks featuring berries from the local Riley Creek Blueberry Farm. Cost is $8 donation per person, with children aged 5 and under eating free. Funds support community center operations.

Priest Lake

Elkins Resort on Priest Lake (404 Elkins Road) will host a fireworks display after

dusk on Tuesday, July 4.

Priest River

The Priest River Chamber of Commerce will host a fireworks show on Tuesday, July 4 at Bonner Park West (514 Railroad Ave.) starting at 10 p.m. The display promises to be the town’s biggest yet, thanks to an $8,000 donation from the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.

Sandpoint

The Sandpoint Lions Club will once again lead the way to a successful Sandpoint Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4, starting with the annual parade. This year, the kids’ parade will lead the way at

9:30 a.m., and the grand parade will begin at 10 a.m., both starting at Fifth Avenue and Church Street before going down First Avenue and then back up Cedar Street. The celebration heads to City Beach after that, where there will be food vendors, games, goodies, raffles, free popsicles and limited edition T-shirts. Just before dusk, raffle winners will be announced, and soon after, a fireworks display will begin.

CAL awards grants and scholarships

By Reader Staff

Members of the Community Assistance League handed out checks June 20 to nearly 40 local organizations as part of this year’s grants distribution. Each organization provides a significant service to the citizens of Bonner County, whether by helping families who struggle, lending support to those who are ailing, opening doors to new skills for children, or enriching lives through the arts and nature, and more.

The list of organizations receiving support from CAL include:

7B Culinary Connections, Angels Over Sandpoint, Arts Alliance/Creations, Bonner Historical Society, Bonner County Food Bank, Bonner General Hospital, Bonner Partners in Care, Bonner Soil and Water Conservation District, Carousel of Smiles, Clark Fork-Hope Area Seniors, Community Cancer Services, Community Resource EnVision Center, Dover Historical Committee, Festival at Sandpoint, Food for Our Children, Helping Hands Healing Hearts, Homeschool Academy Program, Idaho Hill

Elementary, Music Conservatory, North Idaho Therapeutic Horse Riding, New Life Church, Northside Elementary, Panida Theater, Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling, POAC-Kaleidoscope and Ovations programs, Ponderay Police Department, Priest Lake Food Bank, Sandpoint Area Seniors, Sandpoint High School, Sandpoint Nordic Club, Sandpoint Soccer, Sandpoint Teen Center, Selkirk Conservation Alliance, Southside Elementary, UCAN, VFW Post No. 2453, Washington School fifth grade and Wrencoe Community Center.

“We at CAL are honored to be able to support all your hard work,” the organization stated in a news release.

CAL has operated for more than 40 years in Sandpoint, dedicated to improving the lives of Bonner County residents through philanthropy. Monetary donations are always welcome, though the organization secures the majority of the funds it passes along through the proceeds of its retail store, Bizarre Bazaar. The “upscale resale” shop at 502 Church St. benefits from a partnership between CAL volunteers who run the store, community

members who shop there and area residents who donate their gently used goods.

“We could not succeed without the donors and shoppers who make Bizarre Bazaar more successful each year,” CAL members stated. “Together, we are all making a difference.”

CAL also awarded the following recipients scholarships for 2023:

Sandpoint High

Riley Adam, Forest Ambridge, Margo Burton, Bella Baker, Emily Ballard, Payton Betz, Austin Billstin, James Bopp, Emory Feyen Borup, Kelsey Cessna, Ara Sandell Clark, Elizabeth Couch, Bella Crum, Maren Davidson, Maile Evans, Jacob Gove, Lance Hendricks, Adeline Henney, McKinley Jensen, Haleigh Knowles, Savannah Kolberg, Mikah Little, Isaac McCray, Emmett Morgan, Kenyan Murphy, Fallyn Sinnott O’Connor, Brady Packer, Nicholas Peacock, Antonella Peitz, Parker Pettit, Ayiana Prevost, Anna Reinink, Hailey Roeder, Shellby Smith, Kelly Whitney, Kenzie Celeste Wyman, Kimberly Yarnell

Priest River Lamanna High

Luke Dennis Butler, Alexis Hunter, Zach Engelson, Emile Johnson, Matyus R. McLain, Madilyn Rose, William Stockton, Jace Yount

Clark Fork High

Henry Barnett, Bethany Holderman, Maddox Kurtz, Gage Ramsay, Paige Valliere

Lake Pend Oreille High

Tallulah Stafford, Savana Young

Forrest Bird Charter Schools

Jason Colegrove, Ada Greve, Margaret Russell

Home school

Madelyn Williamson

Renewals or delayed

Darren Bailey, Taylor Beauchene, Emma Brown, Sophie Dignan, Adriana Foxx, Kristian Jensen, Ben Jordan, Annaby Kanning, Luke Levesque, Ava Mazilli, Kate McGregor, Shelby Mohler, Mikayla Schoening, Aidan Smith, Amanda Steiner

Members of the color guard lead the way for the 2019 Independence Day Parade in downtown Sandpoint. Photo by Ben Olson.

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

Top left: A doe feeds her young fawn. Photo by Karen and Steve Hempstead. Top middle: Brenden Bobby took the Reader along on a visit to Science World in Vancouver, B.C. Courtesy photo. Top right: Steve Archer strikes fear in the hearts of cutthroat trout on the wild and scenic St. Joe River. Photo by Guy Lothian. Bottom left: Matt Janssen and son Theo posing before a historic tank while visiting the Utah Beach Landing Museum in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France. Bottom right: Theo and Eva Janssen visited Mt. Pilatus above Lucerne, Switzerland, where they rode ziplines and also the longest alpine toboggan ride in Switzerland. Courtesy photos.

Miller Paint joins the community to take The Paint Bucket forward

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The second time is proving to be the charm when it comes to retirement for Harold and Liz Stephenson, longtime owners of The Paint Bucket. The Stephensons announced in early June that Miller Paint would take the business forward.

“They bought the business and the name will stay The Paint Bucket,” Harold told the Reader

Miller Paint is no stranger to the painting industry. The company was founded in Portland, Ore. in 1890 by German immigrant and scenic painter Ernest Carl Bernard Mueller. Mueller, who eventually changed the spelling of his surname to “Miller,” worked as a scenic artist and muralist in theaters around Portland.

More than 130 years later, Miller Paint owns 57 stores in Washington, Idaho and Oregon.

“We’re Pacific Northwest locals,” said Joel Nelson, who worked as Miller Paint store manager in north Spokane for the past three years before the company decided to take on The Paint Bucket in Sandpoint, tapping him as the selling manager.

With deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, Miller Paint is also manufactured in Portland and, as of about 20 years ago, employee owned.

It was this dedication to the old way of doing business that attracted the Stephensons to Miller Paint.

“We were extremely excited, because with Miller Paint, they have the same feel,” Harold said. “Their people think like we think. The customer always comes first, and they enjoy working directly with customers. It’s a really nice group of people.”

“This fits so well for Sandpoint,” said Liz. “I want people to look up Miller Paint and see for themselves. … We were approached by a lot of people to put something in this beautiful building, and then without any solicitation, Miller Paint came along and they were our best choice. Harold and I really wanted to keep it as a paint store.”

The Stephensons said they’d stay on for a couple of months during the transition.

“After that, we’ll transition back to retirement,” Harold said. “But we’re not ready to give up dealing with people and paint yet.”

In the meantime, Nelson said he is looking forward to carrying forward the legacy set by the Stephensons at The Paint Bucket.

“I will 100% move here from Post Falls,” Nelson said. “With a store like this, you want to be fully engulfed in the community. That was an important aspect of Miller’s decision for who was going to run the store and be fully invested in the community. … We’re going to keep it as

The Paint Bucket. That was the main thing; we didn’t want to come in and change everything because everything works. We just want to bring in a local, good product to our customers.”

To learn more about Miller Paint, visit millerpaint.com, or stop by The Paint Bucket to introduce yourself to the new crew. Don’t forget to say farewell to Harold and

Liz Stephenson, because it sounds like — this time — retirement might stick.

Sandpoint Tomorrow Announces 2023 Scholarships Recipients

By Reader Staff

Ten seniors from this year’s Sandpoint High School graduating class have been awarded scholarships to assist in their future education. In addition, eight prior award winners received follow-on scholarships to assist with their second-year college expenses.

Awards for all 18 recipients totaled $70,000. This year’s recipients will be attending institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California Santa Barbara, Northeastern, University of Idaho and the University of Utah. Prior award winners are currently attending institutions such as Gonzaga, University of the Pacific, UCLA and the University of Idaho.

Through a program made

possible by U of I President C.Scott Green, recipients of Sandpoint Tomorrow awards attending the university will also receive matching grants through the President Green Leadership Scholarship program.

The recipients received their scholarships at an awards dinner June 5 hosted by Sandpoint Tomorrow at the University of Idaho Sandpoint Organic Agricultural Center. For further information about Sandpoint Tomorrow, go to sandpointtomorrow.org.

Sandpoint Scholarship recipients (from left to right): Macy Korsten, Kenzie Wyman, Anna Reinink, Haleight Knowles, Ara Clark, Maren Davidson, Evan Dickinson, Lance Hendricks, Austin Mayer, Forest Ambridge and Parker Pettit. Courtesy photo.

Representatives from Miller Paint meet with Harold and Liz Stephenson to shake hands on the deal. Back row, from left to right: Byron Nelson, Joel Nelson, Jim Gage, Steve Volentine and John Stanley. Front row, from left to right: Nathan Dionne, Liz Stephenson, Harold Stephenson, longtime Paint Bucket employee Payton Evans and Bev Kee. Courtesy photo.

Just a taste

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

What’s for dinner? Mexican? Sushi? Korean barbeque? American comfort?

In Sandpoint, the available variety seems to shift and expand with each passing year as the town’s culinary scene becomes home to new faces and remains loyal to old favorites. Luckily for those who can’t — or don’t want to — choose, there’s an event where variety is the name of the foodie game: the annual Summer Sampler, which is happening this year on Thursday, June 29 from 5-8 p.m. at Farmin Park in downtown Sandpoint (Third Avenue and Main Street).

Hosted by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, the Summer Sampler will host booths from local restaurants where samples will be available of both food and drink. Attendees purchase individual tickets upon entry and those tickets are then used to redeem samples, which vary in price, i.e., the number of tickets required to try them.

Summer Sampler aims to highlight Sandpoint’s prized eateries and watering holes

For every 10 tickets purchased attendees will be entered to win a pair of tickets to the Festival at Sandpoint, happening this year July 27-Aug. 6.

As for live music on site at the Summer Sampler, Mattox Farm Productions will be hosting its first Summer Series concert of the season on the Farmin Park stage starting at 6 p.m. To learn more about the series and the series’ first act, Heels to the Hardwood, head to Page 21.

Local restaurateur Justin Dick has participated in the Summer Sampler since 2010 with his beachside restaurant Trinity.

“We love serving at Farmin Park and hanging out with the other restaurants,” Dick told the Reader. “Tons of our great locals and many of our second home folks are just arriving back in town. It’s a great way to start off the summer season.”

Dick said that for the 2023 event, Trinity will be offering pulled pork sandwiches, avocado and scallop ceviche, mini corn dogs and salted caramel pretzel brownies.

Another longtime Summer Sampler participant, Pend d’Oreille Winery, will also be on hand to quench any thirst that pulled pork might bring on.

“The Summer Sampler is a vibrant community event that represents the best tastes of our local establishments,” said winery owner Kylie Presta. “The Pend d’Oreille Winery is honored to participate in

this annual event and support the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and our companions in the food and beverage business.”

Those with questions about the 2023 Summer Sampler can reach the chamber at 208-263-2161.

Participants gather at a past Sandpoint Summer Sampler. Photo by Ben Olson.

events

THURSDAY, June 29

Summer Sampler • 5-8pm @ Farmin Park

Sandpoint’s finest restaurants and chefs present nibbles and offerings to the public at this popular event. This also includes a chef competition.

June 29 - July 6, 2023

Live Music w/ Kerry Leigh

6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Game Night

6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern

FriDAY, june 30

Art Devon art exhibition

Live Music w/ Ian Newbill

5-8pm @ Paddler’s Alehouse

Country and classic rock

Live Music w/ Chris Paradis

6-9pm @ BlueRoom

Live Music w/ BTP

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Classic rock Sandpoint band

Live Music w/ Bright Moments

7-9pm @ The Back Door

Jazz in Sandpoint’s bar with the lowest elevation

Live Music w/ Double Shot

7-9pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Indie rock and folk originals, as well as covers from the weird side of the ’80s and ’90s

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee

Meets every Sunday at 9am

Snow Valley Garlic Scape Days

11am-4pm @ Snow Vly. Garlic Farm

Live Music w/ Steve Neff

6-9pm @ BlueRoom

Idaho Community Foundation grants $85K+ for education in North Idaho

Live Music w/ Doug Bond and Marty Perron

6-9pm @ BlueRoom

By Reader Staff

July-Aug @ Monarch Mtn. Coffee

Devon Chapman will have her oil paintings on display at Monarch Mountain Coffee through August. devonchapman.com

Live Music w/ Chris and Lauren

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Hikes, Bikes and Brews

12-3pm @ Rowdy Grouse yurt

Hike or bike your way to the Rowdy Grouse yurt at Schweitzer. Pack a picnic. There will be yard games, arts and crafts, water guns and more fun, as well as snacks, sodas and beers for purchase

SATURDAY, July 1

Friends of the Library book sale

10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library

Snow Valley Garlic Scape Days

11am-4pm @ Snow Vly. Garlic Farm

Live music, area vendors and garlic scapes for sale. Pre-order over 28 varieties of heirloom and gourmet garlic. 208-448-1945

Live Music w/ The Cole Show

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Funky, rockin’ jazzy grooves

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

9am-1pm @ Farmin Park

Produce, crafts, food and more.

Live music by Bright Moments Jazz

Live Music w/ Snacks at Midnight

9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge

Pop, funky funk and indie rock from this Spokane quintet

Live Music w/ Truck Mills

6-9pm @ BlueRoom

SunDAY, July 2

Live Music w/ The Teccas • 7-9:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.

Wampus Park Annual Golf/Disc Golf Tournament

9am & 1pm @ Clark Fork Sr./Jr High Golf registration at 8:30am, disc golf registration at 12:30pm. $35/person, with proceeds going to CFHS golf course maintenance

The Idaho Community Foundation has awarded $294,000 to 22 education projects in Idaho through the Idaho Future Fund. Of this, more than $85,000 will support preschools, a vocational training program and more throughout North Idaho.

A couple from Blaine County established the Idaho Future Fund in 2015, with grants intended to “create, sustain or reinvigorate impactful educational programs throughout the state in the areas of preschool scholarships, charter schools, public schools/public school libraries and supplemental educational programs,” according to a news release.

A partial list of Idaho Future Fund recipients in North Idaho includes:

• Memorial Community Center, Inc. — $20,000 to continue offering preschool for the 2023’24 school year;

From the heart of Montana’s Big Sky country comes Scott and Kayla Tecca, a father-daughter duo playing a variety of new and classic country, classic rock and originals

Local Cottage Market • 10am-6pm @ Farmin Park

Vendors selling everything from freeze-dried goods to leather and pottery. Market runs every Sunday until October 1

monDAY, July 3

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Outdoor Experience Group Run

6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome

tuesDAY, July 4

Sandpoint Fourth of July Celebration! (see page 14 for full info)

9am-dusk @ Downtown Sandpoint

The Children’s Parade starts at 9am, followed by the Grand Parade at 10am. To take part in parade, go to Sandpoint Lions Club Facebook. Fireworks at dusk at the Sandpoint City Beach (usually around 10pm)

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

3-5pm @ Farmin Park

Magic with Star Alexander

5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s Up close magic shows at the table

Health Hikes (monthly)

8:30-9:15am @ Pine St. Woods

Join on the first Monday of each month for light cardio hiking on a nature trail. 45-minute hike led by a local medical professional to lead a group discussion on current health topics

Clark Fork Fourth of July (see page 14 for full info)

9:30am-dusk @ Downtown Sandpoint

The day starts at 9:30am with a parade and events at the Clark Fork High School until 12pm. Then the fun will head over to the ball field and activities will return until late into the afternoon. Fireworks shortly after dusk.

wednesDAY, July 5

Live Music: Benny on the Deck

6-9pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Pairings in the Pines • 4:30-8pm @ Pine St. Woods

Live Piano w/ Dwayne Parsons

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

ThursDAY, July 6

A tasting event that invites you to stroll through Pine Street Woods and enjoy locally-crafted food and thoughtfully-selected wines. Proceeds go toward keeping Pine St. Woods beautiful and other KLT conservation and education efforts

Artist Reception: Daris Judd

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Daris is the PO Winery’s Artist of the Month. Come meet the artist and view her work between 5-7pm

Game Night

6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern

• Panhandle Alliance for Education, Inc. — $3,000 to support “Ready to Read,” PAFE’s early literacy reading program for all first-grade students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District;

• Priest Lake Community Education Foundation, Inc. — $15,000 to support early learners through free high-quality preschool, READY! for Kindergarten educational classes to parents of children birth through age 5, and small-group instruction in the kindergarten classroom.

To learn more, visit: idahocf.org.

STAGE & SCREEN Local musicians impress for Music Bridges Borders fundraiser

By Rick Reed Reader Contributor

Two violin groups and five musician-singers took to the Granary stage between Matchwood and Evans Brothers on June 24 in a benefit for the Sandpoint nonprofit group Music Bridges Borders.

To start the show, the District 1A Old Time Violinists group played a solid 40 minutes of oldtime violin music and folk songs, some of which had people in the audience up and throwing some dance steps in the gravel area between the shaded picnic tables.

Next up were the young violinists from Noelle Bastow’s violin school. The children practiced for the event and it showed.

Singer and guitarist Sydney Clark then took the stage; and, with an air of grace and casual confidence, dealt with wind blowing her music off the stand and turning the incident into a light and funny part of the show.

Vocalist Sarah Kugle followed Clark with background tracks of

jazz and popular cultural iconic music. She was recommended to take part in Music Bridges Borders by vocal teacher Jon Brownell from Sandpoint High School. Guitarist and vocalist Chris Paradis then covered various Bob Dylan songs.

Violinist Max Reed followed, playing favorites from Phantom of the Opera to Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” covers and Lindsey Stirling pieces.

The audio system brought by sound engineer Brenden McCoy deserves much credit for the aforementioned musicians’ stellar performances — McCoy also gets kudos for his musical performance, closing the show with his guitar renditions of a number of classic rock and Beatles favorites.

Music Bridges borders brings top music students from the large orchestra program in northern Mexico to perform, volunteer, teach and participate with their musical peers in the Spokane Youth Symphony’s summer music camp. The students from Mexico will also

give a free music instrument exploration Monday, July 17-Thursday, July 20 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you would like to get more information and/or sign up your child between the ages of 7 through 12, email musicbridgesborders@gmail.com.

Space is limited.

Special thanks to major community sponsors, including:

Matchwood Brewing, Evans Brothers Coffee, Believe In Me Foundation, Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, Ziply Fiber, Stacey McDermott and Family, Eichardt’s Pub and Coffee House, and Umpqua Bank.

Rick Reed is vice president, and a volunteer of the all-volunteer, nonprofit, organization

Performers during the 2023 Music Bridges Borders benefit held at the Granary: Sydney Clark (left), Sarah Kugle (top middle), Chris Paradis (right) and the Ol’ Time Fiddler’s Association (bottom middle). Photos by Rick Reed.

Music Bridges Borders, which he organized with his wife, Elinor Reed. Get more information at musicbridgesborders.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

July is a big month for me. While most are planning their Fourth of July festivities, I am deep in the planning stages of our annual family get-together in the mountains of Montana. It’s our 10th year gathering in the same sweet, idyllic spot just west of Helena.

We’ve grown, and we’re now a family of 16. Upon our arrival, depending on the needs of each family, we’ll spend some time reorganizing (yet again) the sleeping arrangements between the main lodge and four smaller guest cabins. Newlyweds and nursing mothers once had priority at the fanciest space, known as the “honeymoon cottage.”

There are no longer any blushing brides, and the youngest grandbabe just turned 3, so I have reclaimed this peaceful little space as my own. It’s quiet and cozy, besides the sound of a nearby creek rushing over rocks. And it’s just a short walk alongside the stream to my other favorite space: the homey, oversized kitchen in the main lodge.

I’m always the first to rise. Since I never know if my offspring stayed up to entertain one another with hilarious late-night tales (and one last round of beverages), I move around quietly, making myself a pot of coffee before I begin preparing the traditional cocoa ritual for my gaggle of grandchildren.

My son, Zane, is usually the first to join me. It’s the only one-on-one time we two seem to share all week, and I covet these moments. While I gather cocoa ingredients and accouterments, Zane brings me up to date on his current ranch projects: the price of cows and hay, the performance of his new black Charolais bulls and long-range weather forecasts. He has other talents, too, and we’ll put many of them to the test throughout the week (Zane is like a

The Sandpoint Eater What a peach

walking amalgamation of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, The Farmer’s Stockmen and This old House).

Soon enough, the youngsters will start arriving with custom hot cocoa orders that might include whipped cream, extra whipped cream, mini marshmallows, vegan marshmallows, a side of animal crackers and perhaps an ice cube.

For our 10th anniversary, I’ve elevated the experience to include a massive tub of multi-colored “Lucky Charm” marshmallows (which should be a huge success with the under-twelve set). Just beyond the kitchen’s threshold is a dining room table that seats a dozen, a grand living room with a stone fireplace and lots of cozy seating, and still yet, an oversized screened porch that can accommodate every one of us with more cozy seating (and a million-dollar view).

However, everyone’s favorite morning perch is in the kitchen; so, as they arrive, they drag in

chairs or lean on the counters, sipping their morning beverage.

It used to drive me crazy with worry that one of them would bump into the hot stove or oven, but so far, we’re accident-free, and I’ve learned to cherish our morning beverage ceremony, surrounded with big love from my little (and once-little) humans.

We have developed traditions and rituals, often without even realizing it, but it seems everyone has a favorite activity not to be overlooked. We seldom leave the compound but we have designated one day as “town day.”

We make the 20-mile trip to Target in Helena, en masse, for school supplies (armed with at least six different school supply lists) and clothes (to include not only high fashion but regulation sports shoes and shorts). Each kid claims an adult to assist them, with daughters Ryanne and Casey in high demand to shop with the

teenage girls. Uncle Zane is soft and usually has the toddlers in tow, heading straight to the Toy Department. The other uncles pick up the slack in the snack aisle, appeasing the hungriest kids while we wait at the checkstands with several heaping carts.

Before we head back to the mountain, we’ll rendezvous for treats at the 100-year-old Parrot Confectionery, an iconic candy store with its original soda fountain, still serving my childhood favorite: a Mexican lime phosphate.

It seems we never have time to accomplish all the activities on our list. Sometimes we pile in pickups and return to our old ranch to try our hand at fishing. Or we divide and the fittest amongst us conquer the hike to the top of Black Mountain. Our annual pie-eating contest with separate divisions for youth and adults is a never-to-miss activity, followed by an elaborate medal ceremony that includes

many sore losers.

My kitchen assistant and protégé, 15-year-old granddaughter Miley is a peach of a helper and rarely strays far from my side. At a moment’s notice, she straddles the creek to retrieve perishables from our strategically placed waterproof baskets — often chasing down wayward produce (and beer) that escaped our dam.

She’s an extraordinary baker — last week winning Best Cake and Best Overall Baker in the Adult Division at the MonDak Heritage Center in Sidney, Mont. — and we’re already planning our dessert menu.

We’ll both show up with fresh ingredients, and I know I can count on Miley for plump red cherries. I’ll come bearing juicy, ripe peaches and my favorite recipe for peaches-and-cream upside-down cake. It’s rich and moist and needs no pairing — except a fork.

Peaches-and-cream upside-down cake

This rich and moist cake stands alone and is best served warm. Makes one 9” cake for 6-8 servings.

INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:

•¾ cup butter, softened, divided

•½ cup cream cheese, softened

•½ cup packed brown sugar

•2 cups sliced and peeled fresh peaches

•¾ cup sugar

•1 large egg, room temperature

•2 tsp teaspoon vanilla extract

•1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

•1 ½ tsp baking powder

•¼ tsp salt

•½ cup whipping cream

In large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Grease sides of 9” round baking pan with cold butter. Melt ¼ cup butter and pour into pan. Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar. Arrange peach slices decoratively in a single layer over the sugar.

In bowl of stand-up mixer, cream sugar, remaining butter, and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Scrape down sides, add in egg and vanilla until well blended; dry ingredients to creamed mixture, alternately with cream, mixing well after each addition. Batter will be thick. Carefully spoon over peaches. Tap lightly to remove air pockets.

Bake at 350° Fahrenheit until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm.

MUSIC

‘No obstacles’ to a good time

Mattox Farm Productions launches 2023 Summer Music Series with first of four free Thursday night concerts at Farmin Park

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

Robb Talbott of Sandpoint’s Mattox Farm Productions doesn’t just say he has a mission to “bring quality Americana music to North Idaho in a family-friendly environment” — he delivers.

Beyond being family friendly, MFP’s annual Summer Music Series goes a step further to be free, costing locals a grand total of zilch to enjoy high-caliber live music in Farmin Park on a handful of Thursday evenings throughout the summer.

In 2023, those Thursday nights will feature Seattle-based Americana rockers Heels to the Hardwood on June 29; Bon Bon Vivant, a horn-heavy indie band from New Orleans, on July 20; the nine-piece, Latin-influenced B-Side Players, hailing from San Diego, on Aug. 10; and, finally, Sandpoint favorites John Firshi and the Monday Night Blues Crew with Headwaters will cap off the series with a performance on Sept. 7, which is dubbed Local’s Night.

munity has adopted it and made it its own. He said last year’s series drew 3,000 attendees over the four dates, nearly tripling audience numbers from its inaugural year in 2019.

“The goal is for this to be a uniquely Sandpoint music series,” he said. “Sandpoint has such an amazing music community and I feel like it deserves a community-centered music series, so I am just trying to facilitate what the town wants to support.”

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs and leave dogs at home. No outside alcohol is allowed, but there will be a beer garden on site. The first concert on Thursday, June 29 will coincide with the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Sampler food event in Farmin Park, so there will be plenty of good eats on hand, as well.

Mattox Farm Productions’ Summer Music Series ft. Heels to the Hardwood

Heels to the Hardwood vocalist and guitarist David John told the Reader that he and his band look forward to being the series’ first act of 2023.

Thursday, June 29; music starts at 6 p.m.; FREE. Farmin Park, Third Avenue and Main Street in Sandpoint, mattoxfarm.com/ summermusicseries. Listen at heelstothehardwood.com.

Talbott told the Reader that he booked the series with variety in mind, and that the event as a whole has taken on new life as the com-

“I love to play outdoor concert series that are making it so that music is a focal point of whatever community it is at that moment,” John said, “and

there’s no obstacles to going and having a good time.”

Heels to the Hardwood defies Americana stereotypes by emphasizing soulful lyrics and not shying from a good electric guitar solo.

“Sometimes it’s soulful Americana, sometimes it’s alt-country, sometimes it goes straight into rock ’n’ roll,” John said. “Sometimes, it’ll seem like it’s a wall of sound. We try to create a lot of dynamics with different guitar textures or string textures.”

Those “guitarmonies,” as John called them, are key to Heels to the Hardwood’s live show dynamic, which relies on members of the five-piece band to draw inspiration

from one another.

“There is a fair amount of us playing off of each other,” John said, “and that’s what makes it fun to me.”

Heels to the Hardwood has played Sandpoint before and commended Talbott’s commitment to giving musicians and audiences alike a chance to remember what it’s all about: the music.

“It’s a good way to get people who wouldn’t normally come together on a Thursday night to come hang out with everybody in the neighborhood,” John said.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Snacks at Midnight, 219 Lounge, July 1 Phat Piles & the Raw Deal, Eichardt’s, June 30

It’s appropriate that the 219 Lounge should bill its Saturday, June 1 show featuring Snacks at Midnight as a “summer kickoff.” The Spokane-based quintet’s popfunk-infused indie rock perfectly captures the sound and feel of a summertime party. Bursting with energy on tracks like “Hey,” from the so-titled single released in April; playfully poppy and hook-rich on “Unusual”; melodic and contemplative on “Live Like This”; and downright anthemic

on “Westward Bound,” the band’s inventiveness is only matched by its powerhouse dynamic.

Founded by high-school friends Rory Babin, Nick Harner and Giovani Covarrubias, along with Rory’s brother Bill Babin and more recent addition Austin Davis, Snacks at Midnight is worth staying up for.

— Zach Hagadone

9 p.m.-midnight, FREE, 21+. 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208-263-5673, 219.bar. Listen at snacksatmidnight.com.

Perhaps the best way to describe the band playing Eichardt’s on Friday, June 30 is using words by the immortal bard Shakespeare (uh, sort of): “A band by any other name would sound as sweet.” In the case of Phat Piles & the Raw Deal, that’s entirely accurate.

You might know this five-piece “band within a band” as Heels to the Hardwood (see story above), but in Phat Piles, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Files steps forward to sing lead vocals and

This

READ

Technology writing can often be esoteric and tedious to people who aren’t already familiar with the subject, but not so with the phenomenal (and chilling) long-form report “AI Is a Lot of Work” by Josh Dzieza. Published June 20 as a collaboration between The Verge and New York Magazine, it is a peek into the dystopian backend of what makes artificial intelligence work: ironically, millions of human workers who label and annotate data to feed the beast. Rather than destroying jobs, AI will likely transform work in “more alien, more isolating, more tedious” ways. Find it at theverge.com.

LISTEN

The podcasts I listen to pertain either to super-nerdy analysis of the mythologies surrounding Dune and A Song of Ice and Fire, vintage horror short stories or history. Almost all of them are on YouTube, but I recently came across three stellar history-related podcasts that exist on other platforms. Slow Burn (on podcasts.apple. com) tackles hot-button contemporary history with an investigative edge; A History of the World in 100 Objects (bbc.co.uk) is exactly what it sounds like, exploring the context and importance of items in the British Museum; and Stuff the British Stole (abc.net.au), an Australian-based exploration of the wages of imperialism.

WATCH

guitar, giving Heels frontman David John a bit of respite. Phat Piles plays an intriguing mix of Americana, including old-school country covers we all know and love.

If you missed Heels to the Hardwood at the Sandpoint Summer Series, Phat Piles is right there waiting for you. Or double dip. It’s your world, man.

—

Ben Olson

7pm, FREE, Eichardt’s Pub, 212 Cedar St., 208-263-4005. eichardtspub.com

The sixth season of subversive Netflix series Black Mirror hit the streaming service June 15 with five one-hour-ish episodes stacked with supernatural horror, dark comedy, “techno-paranoia” and other “mind-bending” vignettes. The British anthology has covered much ground since its debut in 2011, but by now has become mature enough to feature A-listers like Salma Hayek and Aaron Paul. For my money, Episode 3, “Beyond the Sea” was the best of the bunch.

week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone

Heels to the Hardwood will perform a free concert on Thursday, June 29 at Farmin Park. Courtesy photo.

From Northern Idaho News, June 29, 1915

NORTHERN ROUTE IS NEAR AT LAST

The road from Kalispell to Sandpoint is now open.

Wednesday the first party to make the trip came through by auto. It comprised P. Bernard, secretary fo the Kalispell chamber of commerce; W.J. Wells, president of chamber of commerce, Libby, Mont.; G.W. Spoery of Bonners Ferry, representing the Kootenai Valley commercial club, W.C. Ames, secretary of the Sandpoint Commercial club, and L.D. Farmin of Sandpoint. These gentlemen report the road throughout in excellent shape for auto travel.

Mrs. Farmin made the trip as the official photographer and has some excellent photographs of some of the finest scenery in the country. From Bonners Ferry to Sandpoint the trip was made in the machines of E.D. Farmin and W.J. Davis of this place. From here to Spokane Mayor Himes and E.W. Sims drove the party. Country Treasurer Andrew Christenson also made the trip in from here.

In Spokane Wednesday night there was a big celebration over the clearing away of the last bit of unfinished road over the northern route.

BACK OF THE BOOK

On time and water

By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist

It’s the summer solstice and I’m walking through my lower briar patch. If you know me, you may know what I mean. If you don’t, you won’t. My stroll is through a place that only about .0000000012% of humans know about; roughly 100 people. I’m one of those few who visits on a regular basis. It’s out of the way, you might say.

A good clearance four-wheel-drive is necessary to get to the spot where it becomes necessary to get out and walk. After getting out of said vehicle, a visitor will walk uphill, upstream. And dodge devil’s club. And slap mosquitoes. And watch for bears, which, for me, is a pleasure, because I like to see bears. Just the other day, in fact, a momma bear and cub were wandering my place. I was pleased to see her and it. I say “it” because it’s not advisable — or easy — to determine the gender of a bear, especially if it’s a cub with a mom around.

That’s not the point here, even though it’s a good point. The point might be that the part of the planet where I am on this solstice evening has been known to me for more decades than I care to admit to. My first trip through this place was when I was about 3. Maybe 4. And, I have been coming back ever since; sometimes with others, but more often alone.

To say the place is beautiful is an understatement. I think it verges on spectacular, but I’m prejudiced. Its spectacularity — new word, Webster! — is not a long view of a big chasm sunk into the planet or some craggy summit poking up into the sky. It’s all in the details, myriad facets stuck together in such a way that the best way to try to absorb it is to walk slowly. Stop often. Look around. Listen. Be still. Become part of the

place. Let it become part of you.

There is water here, that basic human need trumped only by oxygen. Good water; water that I am not afraid to drink unfiltered. I know where it comes from, having followed the thread of it to its high sources. The water — some of it — gets sucked up by the aforementioned devil’s club, and all sorts of other wild things; deer, cedar trees, cottonwood, alder, hemlocks, white pine, vine maple, bears, huckleberry brush, queen’s bead lilies (many, many this year), golden thread, wild strawberries, elk, moose. And me.

That which doesn’t get removed locally for the good of these and other living things flows on and out of the mountains and joins the larger stream far below to benefit other plants, other critters, other people.

Water has made this place what it is today. After taking over from the glaciers 12,000 years ago, it has done a great job of creating a chunk of heaven. This bit of paradise is green, peaceful and filled with the white noise of falling water; water dropping off of rock ledges that formed maybe a billion years ago; dropping off of cast-offs of those ledges that dislodged and began rolling downstream maybe 10,000 years ago; dropping off of the boles of trees that fell across the creek maybe a hundred years ago. The resulting effect is one of pervasive antiquity.

Even in its antiquity, there is always something new to see. The stream is not static, nor is the forest surrounding it. Rocks move downstream. Trees die and fall over. Or just fall over. Alder sprouts in profusion. Devil’s club proliferates. Huckleberry patches appear in the wake of those ursine favorites of mine, and ancient stumps and trunks are disassembled by the same in search of ants, grubs, bees and other bearish delectables.

Sudoku Solution STR8TS Solution

The creek mutates in the long term, following the path of least resistance in minute and momentous ways. It mutates in the short term at the whim of season and weather. The trail mutates at the whim of the stream. If the creek decides to run down the trail, there’s no talking it out of it. The trail adapts. The elk and moose and bears see to that, and I do my part, too.

The shadows here this evening are deep and getting deeper. By the time I get back to the four-wheel-drive, it will be near dark, but I will take my time. This place is all about time; time to form, time to re-form, time for things to settle into good order. Even after all the decades since my first entry into this place, if I want to feel very young, a return trip will do it for me.

Sandy Compton maybe should be writing about greedy planetary corporations bent on destroying the Earth and its creatures for profit, but he needed to take time away from thinking about that. So, he went for a walk. Find his books and other writings at bluecreekpress.com.

Crossword Solution

When I picked up the little dead mouse that my cat had killed, at first I felt sad. Then I felt hungry. I forget what happened after that.

CROSSWORD

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

esperance /es-per-uhns/

Word Week of the

1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

“The players were full of esperance about their new coach.”

Corrections: We’re in the clear (or so we think).

Don’t worry. There’s always next week.

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22