Reader march8 2018

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, BLUSTER IND SOME NEWS

MARCH 8, 2018 I - I VOl.15 ISSUE 10

TWO SANDPOINT POLICE OFFICERS SHOT, SUSPECT KILLED COUNTY VOTES 2•1 TO RETAIN ORIGINAL BALLOT LANGUAGE IN SCOTCHMAN ADVISORY VOTE COUNTY DECLARES VICTORY IN SILVERWING LAWSUIT IDAHO CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE RACE INFO

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(wo)MAN compiled by

Cameron Rasmusson

on the street

“What is your opinion on the state of gun violence in the United States?”

“The Second Amendment calls for a well-regulated militia.

Absolutely there should be more control, and assault rifles shouldn’t be available at all.”

Susan Bates Harbuck Retired librarian Sandpoint

“Guns are not the problem. A sick society is the problem.”

Chris Conlan UPS Sandpoint

“This will sound odd since I was raised in Montana, but why do we need military weapons?”

DEAR READERS,

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the recent tragic police involved shooting on Monday morning. We’re so glad to see that Sandpoint police officers Michael Hutter and Eric Grace are on the road to recovery and have both been released from the hospital.

When a tragedy like this strikes a close-knit community like Sandpoint, often the first responses we see are vitriolic posts on Facebook. Let’s be better about this, Sandpoint. We’re always so quick to post our knee-jerk reactions or our copy-and-pasted comments that so quickly either validate our own position or attempt to invalidate another’s. I see it on Facebook comments on our page, as well as many others. Personally, I read comments from some people, and it almost makes me physically ill that we, as humans, have such a difficult time expressing basic emotions like compassion, restraint and balanced rhetoric.

While it’s easy to blame social media for allowing these unfiltered views to rise to prominence, the darkness is in our hearts. We are responsible. I have a challenge, if anybody out there would like to take it: Next time someone posts a trolling comment aimed at getting a reaction — either from the left or right, it doesn’t matter — try to engage that person in a constructive debate. Ask them politely to reinforce their argument with facts and sources. Furthermore, ask them why the issue is of significant importance to them. Chances are, your attempts will fall flat, and the troll will continue their tactics. But maybe, just maybe, you might reach someone and impact the way they use social media.

I really think we can get better at this, Sandpoint. Don’t fall for the same old tricks. There are people out there who simply want to confuse the issue, who want to shut down any viewpoint other than their own, who desire chaos instead of order. Do your part by evaluating what they have to say, checking the facts and sources and not rising to the challenge.

In other words, it’s time for us to grow some thicker skin, because the primary election is only 10 short weeks away, and the general election in November will probably be one of the most closely watched midterms in history. Now is the time to start better media habits.

-Ben Olson, Publisher OPEN 11:30 am

GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS

Kim Clad Kootenai Elementary teacher Sandpoint

The Psounbality with Per

“Oh, god.”

Steve Holt Executive director Eureka Institute Sandpoint Thursday Ladies Night $1.00 off all drinks

“It seems like it would be a difficult thing to change in this country, but it seems necessary that we do.”

Suzie Kretzschmar Veterinary technician Sandpoint

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READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover photo illustration), Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Nick Gier, Emily Erickson, Brenden Bobby, Erin Meek, Karen Seashore, Dr. Dawn Mehra.

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This week’s cover features a vintage ski poster that publisher Ben Olson repurposed into a modern cover of the Reader. Enjoy the slopes while the good stuff lasts!

A SandPint Tradition Since 1994 March 8, 2018 /

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COMMENTARY

A turning point in the campaign against gun violence?

Students, teachers, businesses and legislators lead the way

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist The combined voices of students, teachers, businesses and legislators may represent a turning point in the battle against gun violence.

Student organizers for “The March for Our Lives” on March 24 in Washington, D.C., have filed a permit for 500,000 people, and there are plans for city marches all over the country.

Laura Ingram of Fox News has told the students to “shut up,” and an editorial in conservative National Review contends that young people should not be policy makers.

What these condescending comments overlook is the fact the students have a right to express their opinions, and, by and large, they are just as well argued as any adult in the debate. The students are certainly more mature than our own State Sen. Dan Foreman.

That’s clear after the lawmaker yelled at University of Idaho students who recently drove to Boise

Letters to the Editor

School Shooting...

Dear Editor, When the father of a slain student from the Florida high school where 17 students were murdered rose at a CNN town hall meeting, he confronted Sen. Marco Rubio saying: “What you and our president did today was pathetic,” meaning they had done nothing to stop such shootings at our public schools. A student later asked the senator, “Will you promise not to accept campaign donations from the National Rifle Association?” Of course, he did not.

At the same meeting, an NRA spokeswoman dodged a question from the audience about whether 18-yearolds armed with assault rifles are part of the Second Amendment’s reference to a “well-regulated militia.” Marching towards their state capitol building in Tallahassee, a survivor of the attack, senior Dimitri Hoff said, “NRA, we’re not afraid of you. You won’t silence us, never again.” Since then a number of major American businesses, including banks, hotels and car rental agencies along with Delta and United Airlines, have dropped their affiliation with the gun lobby.

Politicians who haven’t budged from “the thoughts and prayers” stance since the school shooting at Columbine 4 /

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to express concerns about restrictions on contraception.

I commend Melania Trump, who praised the students: “I have been heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change.”

Parkland student Lauren Hogg urged Mrs. Trump to have a conversation with her step-son Donald, Jr., who “liked a post about a false conspiracy theory which in turn put a target on my back.”

In response to the Florida shooting, over a dozen businesses have eliminated discounts for NRA members. The First National Bank of Omaha, the largest privately owned credit card company in the country, and hedge fund Blackrock will longer offer NRA credit cards.

In a dramatic about-face, Florida Gov. Rick Scott is calling for raising the age for buying rifles from 18 to 21, the minimum age for handgun sales. Scott also favors legislation restricting those with mental health problems, those convicted of domestic violence and stalking from buying weapons. were rattled by the zeal of these high schoolers who maintained that this was not a political but a safety (their lives were at stake) issue, and that buying or possession of military- style AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, like those used at their school and other school’s shootings, should be outlawed.

Last week after Trump met at the White House with students and teachers he said he would consider some minor improvement in gun laws, including arming of teachers, which the sheriff of Broward County, Fla., called a “bad idea.”

Just last year, President Trump signed a bill into law rolling back an Obama-era regulation that made it harder for people with mental illnesses to buy a gun.

Statistics show that seven of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history have happened since 2007. And in the latest, most serious shootings (at Sandy Hook elementary, San Bernardino, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Sutherland Springs, Tex., the shooters used AR-15 semi-automatic rifles.

As a veteran, I was trained to use guns. But why should anyone other than the police or military need to use an AR-15? And how could a teacher, even if well trained, armed with a hand gun, expect to defeat a shooter armed with an AR-15 and multiple magazines? Some like to say, “Guns don’t kill people, people do,”

In addition to universal background checks, Washington has just passed a bill outlawing bump stocks, the feature that allowed the Las Vegas shooter to fire his AR-15 automatically. Just last week, Oregon passed a law that prohibited a person convicted of stalking, domestic violence or those under a restraining order from purchasing a gun.

GOP Gov. John Kasich of Ohio removed Second Amendment language from his website, and in its place there is a call for a “common sense” approach to gun violence.

He is also considering a ban on the sale of assault rifles such as the AR-15.

GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell has announced that he favors adding money for school safety, but Trump’s proposed budget cuts $425 million for that purpose. Trump said but the more correct statement is: “Guns don’t kill people, people with guns do.”

Jim Ramsey Sandpoint

Medicaid Expansion...

Dear Editor, Idaho has not accepted Medicaid expansion and the federal dollars that go along with it. Why? Consider these facts: •288,426 - The number of people covered by Medicaid and CHIP as of June 20, 2016 •150,000 - The number of additional people who would be covered if we accepted the expansion •54,000 - The number of people who have NO realistic access to health insurance without Medicaid expansion In addition, many rural hospitals in Idaho are on the brink of closure. With Medicaid expansion they would not have to shut down.

Idaho leaves $3.3 billion on the table over the next decade by not expanding Medicaid.

Every person we help to health reduces our county and hospital taxes.

Most people who are in the Medicaid gap are veterans, workers in construction and other worthy pursuits, or are handicapped.

Again I ask, why has Idaho not ac-

that the Florida shooting wasn’t “a guns situation (but) a mental health problem.” His budget, however, calls for a $400 million reduction for mental health services.

Many legislators and police officers have joined teachers in rejecting Trump’s call for arming teachers.

Randy Weingarten, my union’s president, says: “No amount of training can prepare an armed teacher to go up against an AR-15.”

With a standard 30-round magazine, the AR-15 fires bullets at a much higher velocity (three times faster) and causes much more damage than does the typical handgun that a security guard or teacher would carry.

For 40 years, the Pioneer Valley Sportsman’s Association in Illinois has held an annual gun show. This year will be different: a raffle to give away an AR-15 has been canceled, and there will be a ban on the sale of all assault rifles.

Average gun death rate in the U.S. is 20 times higher than European countries, New Zealand, and Australia. Alaska has 23 per 100,000, followed by Alabama at 21.4, Louisiana at 21.2, Oklahoma cepted Medicaid expansion? It may not be the final answer, but it is certainly crazy to continue on this course as long as our legislators, both state and federal, refuse to hang up their ideologies and look at the facts. Most citizens in Idaho favor it.

Please seek out and sign the voter petition to have Medicaid expansion put on the ballot this fall. For more information go to https://medicaidforidaho.org.

Nancy Gerth Sagle

Sound Money Bill...

Dear Editor, Regarding the February 22 Reader article, “Idaho Senate committee kills popular sound money bill;” at the beginning of the article you identify the writer as JP Cortez, but at the end of the article he is identified as JP Morgan. I find this somewhat ironic, as it was J.P. Morgan, considered to be the most influential banker of his era, who, testifying before congress on Dec.8, 1912, had the following exchange with Mr. Samuel Untermyer.

Samuel Untermyer was chief counsel of the Pujo Sub-Committee of the House Committee on Banking and Currency, which was formed to investigate the influence of Wall Street bankers and financiers over the nation’s money and

at 19.6, and Montana at 19.

Massachusetts has the lowest gun death rate in the country (3.4 per 100,000), which correlates well with some of the most restrictive gun laws. Bay State residents must pass a firearms safety test before receiving a license to own a gun. Assault rifles are banned and all magazines are limited to 10 rounds.

After a mass shooting in Australia in 1996, a conservative government passed comprehensive gun control, and for over 20 years there have been no mass shootings.

The gun death rate there is .93 per 100,000; Germany stands at 1.01; Denmark is at 1.28; while our “frontier” neighbor to the north comes in at 1.97.

Contrary to pro-gun propaganda, gun control legislation works in this country as well as around the world.

Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read the full version at www.nickgier.com/FloridaShooting.pdf. Read his other columns on guns at www.nickgier.com/gunmachismo.pdf and /gunsuicide.pdf.

credit. He was attempting to determine whether a “money trust” that controlled American business and finance existed and if Mr Morgan was part of it.

Mr. Untermyer: I want to ask you a few questions bearing on the subject you have touched upon this morning, as to the control of money. A control of credit involves a control of money, does it not?

Mr. Morgan: A control of credit? No. Mr. Untermyer: But the basis of banking is credit, is it not?

Mr. Morgan: Not always. That [credit] is an evidence of banking, but it [credit] is not the money itself. Money is gold, and nothing else Mr Morgan is often misquoted to have said that “gold is money, and nothing else.” That may also be true, but in his testimony he was explaining how gold was used, that is, as money. Worthy of note is that he did not define the dollar as money, even though at that time dollars could be exchanged at banks for gold coins. Perhaps something to think about the next time one of your gentle readers pulls out a Federal Reserve Note from his or her pocket. Hint: look up the financial definition of a “note”.

Credit to Mr. James Turk and his article “What did J.P. Morgan Mean”, published 8-17-16 on goldmoney.com.

G.H. Gino Groseclose Kootenai

PERSPECTIVES

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

Millennial Brad

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist Well folks, it happened. In the space between the clamber of ice in my shaker and the subdued conversations of my contented customers, I heard him walk in. It began with the door opening and closing with a bit too much vigor, and quickly escalated into a contextually inappropriate hoot, holler and exclamation that the fine-dining bar I was tending was about to get “turnt AF.” My heart sank as he rounded the corner, donning far more articles of brand name outdoor clothing than any self-respecting, actual outdoorsman would wear, and a flat-brimmed hat reading “SWAG.” He pointed his finger guns at acquaintances, booming, “It’s Friday, bruh!”

Taking a seat, he happily grunted, “Jager with Red Bull,” swiftly flipping his phone to the selfie screen to document draining the pint glass in seconds.

Despite my best efforts to help anyone else (literally, anyone else), I was eventually sucked into a conversation about the “gnar pow” on the mountain that day, feeling my brain cells popping in fashion that even Orville would envy.

Never actually catching his name, I dubbed him, “Millennial Brad,” deciding that meeting him was one of those times in life that felt too hyperbolic to be real, and couldn’t possibly have been more extreme, even if scripted.

Despite how truly agonizing meeting Millennial Brad was, it proved an important experience for me, realizing the Millennial Brads out there are a point of reference for people of other

Emily Erickson. generations looking in.

Of course there is a disconnect between Baby Boomers and the young people wearing prescription-less glasses and saying “L-O-L” instead of actually laughing. Of course members of Generation X can’t relate to someone who’s daily aspirations go no further than being featured on their fraternity’s Instagram account.

But it’s important to remember that the Millennial Brads are extreme by Millennial standards as well, and that they exist across all generations, just wearing different proverbial flat brimmed hats.

A quick Google search yields results deeming Baby Boomers, “a generation of narcissists,” responsible for creating “liabilities that will take generations to pay off,” and another claiming that Generation X “ruined the world too” by defining “self-obsession as the highest mark of cultural capital.”

As readily as we judge Millennial Brad, we can also characterize the negative-Yelp-review aficionado, room-temperature-water-withice-and-lemon-on-the-side- (and you still did it wrong) ordering,

phone-ringer-volume-100, permanent-scowl-wearing 60-something as Baby Boomer Linda. The furrowed-brow, rebel-without-a-cause, repatching-the-tape-on-his-“vintage”-Nirvana-poster-whilegrumbling-about-the-purityof-the-handheld-Gameboy 40-something could easily be called Gen-X Todd.

Unfortunately; however, defining entire generations by the Millennial Brad, Baby Boomer Linda and Gen-X Todds out there is mass over-generalization. And in order to avoid ascribing the characteristics of the outliers to the many, especially as they relate to the most extreme members of our generations, we can use the sociological strategy of cultural relativism to assess the different people we encounter instead.

Cultural relativism is the idea that someone’s beliefs, values and traditions should be analyzed within the context of their own culture, as opposed to being judged against the standards of another. In other words, cultural relativism, in this case, is choosing to understand someone and their behaviors through the lens of their own generation, instead of viewing them from yours.

Only when we consciously make an effort to consider others’ environments, social climates, generational hurdles, attributes, and values before passing judgment, can we be confident in a more unbiased and accurate assessment of who they are.

When we are interacting with Baby Boomers, we can consider individuals growing up in post-Depression households with parents that aspired for traditional, suburban life. We can view their world through a lens of having lived through and

spearheaded significant social and political movements and having been most affected by the Vietnam war.

When we connect with members of Generation X, we can acknowledge a group of people having pioneered a significant push for higher education, who watched the effect of rapid technological advancements and who survived economical roller coasters through their trademark ingenuity and risk-taking abilities.

When we are understanding Millennials, we can contemplate individuals who grew up in dynamic households, alongside the evolution of the internet and ever-increasing connectivity, and

who came of age in a time of rampant social, political, and economic stratification.

In practicing cultural relativism, we avoid characterizing groups of people by the worst members amongst them. We eliminate our personal biases and get to know others in more genuine, accurate ways.

And of course, if we are confident in our lack of bias and someone says, “Working just really isn’t my jam, bruh,” “Do you even remember ‘Blue Lagoon?’” and “Um, I asked for one olive in my martini,” then they just might be the Brad, Todd, and Lindas, and consequently … *cue well-deserved, highly dramatic eye roll*

Retroactive

By BO

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COMMUNITY

SASi happenings this week ICF awards $15k to New Forest Supervisor

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Bouquets: • I am always touched by displays of kindness, be they random, anonymous or otherwise.

In one day, I had the following happen: A woman let me go ahead of her in line at the supermarket because I only had one item, another vehicle was aiming for the same parking spot as I was going for and waved me into it, though he was probably a little closer, I received a really nice anonymous letter thanking me and my staff for our hard work and finally, a loyal group of readers announced they were putting together some kind of Reader appreciation concert for April.

Kindness and civility is not dead in this modern world. Do your fellow human a favor this week - do something kind. That’s all.

Barbs •This barb comes from a conversation I had with an ornery old local who likes to call and rant from time to time. This particular rant dealt with the sidewalks around Sandpoint not being cleared of snow on a regular basis. I agree that we could do better in this respect – I’ve noticed a handful of areas where the sidewalks are rarely cleared of snow. According to the caller, the city of Sandpoint should enforce the rules more strictly by employing a worker to go around and ascertain whether the sidewalks are being cleared or not. Offenders should be given a warning, and if they don’t comply, the city should remove the snow themselves and charge the business for the service.

Who knows? Maybe this would help keep our sidewalks clean and safe for all. Bottom line: Be a good neighbor and clear the sidewalks from snow so the elderly, disabled and others can walk safely. Though we may be done with snow for the year.

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There’s always something happening at the Senior Center. Here’s what’s going on this week: The Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. (SASi) is celebrating Pi Day at 11 a.m.

Wednesday, March 14, with a pie-in-the-face fundraiser.

Volunteers will have a pie of whipped cream on a paper plate tossed (gently) onto their face. The $10 or $20 donation will benefit the food programs, the DayBreak Center and various activities at SASi. Executive director Ellen Weissman has enlisted help from the community to have pies thrown at them, including Bonner County Commissioners Dan McDonald and Glen Bailey, Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon and many others. If you would like to be part of the

pie throwing and/or stay for lunch, please call (208) 2636860 to reserve a spot.

The Senior Center is also offering a new class called Chair Yoga beginning today, March 8, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Lora Costa will take participants through Yoga movements while sitting on a chair.

The emphasis is on breath and meditation and will be low impact. This class is beginner level, focusing on range of movement and strengthening.

Chair Yoga is open to everybody. There will be a $2 donation for each class, with half the proceeds going to Costa, the other half benefiting SASi. Chair Yoga will take place each second and fourth Thursday. Wear something comfortable. If interested, please call SASi at (208) 263-6860.

How Did We Get Here...

Dear Editor, Terrorism is an egregious act designed to instill fear in people so deep and so entrenched in our psyches that the results are paralytic. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is the result. School shootings are one form of terrorism.

In today’s world none of us is immune to this process. Unfortunately the re-occurrence of violent acts reinforces our instability as a society.

The 24-hour coverage by the news media has played an important role in reinforcing this instability.

The TSA with their color coded system of green (no threat), blue, yellow, orange and red (severe and imminent threat of attack) is another form of reinforcing this instability.

The NRA screaming about Second Amendment rights being ripped from our bosoms is also creating a hostile and unstable environment.

We all need to step back and take a look at the real underlying issue. We have let fear creep in silently and our base is being eroded by it.

Parents are fearful to send their kids to school. Kids look around their classrooms silently identifying who might be most likely to be a shooter in their school. Grandparents shake their heads and wonder what in the world is happening in our country, and otherwise normal people are hoarding guns and weapons, building bomb shelters and bunkers and collecting food, water and provisions

Kinderhaven

for Id. Pan. Nat’l Forests

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

By Reader Staff

The Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation (ICF) has awarded $15,000 to Kinderhaven in Sandpoint to support its programs for abused or severely neglected children who have been removed from their homes.

The Langroise Fund in ICF has granted a total of $427,517 to nonprofits statewide, with an additional $150,839 to be granted in 2018.

The Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund was established through a generous $15 million bequest to the Idaho Community Foundation from Boise philanthropist Gladys Langroise. It supports the health, education and welfare of children, including college students. Langroise died in early 2000, just prior to her 100th birthday.

For more information: www. idcomfdn.org.

for when our society, as we know it, collapses completely. Look at the opioid epidemic sweeping our country. We have lost our ability to “cope” as a nation.

I believe the solution lies within our communities. Real solutions are always “Grass Roots Movements.” I support the kids of Marjory Stoneman Douglas school who are organizing the walk-out in March, and I will support any kids here who want to join them. I encourage you to do the same.

The greatest “weapon of mass destruction” in our society is fear!

Marlene Petersen Sandpoint

Weapons Flyer in Bad Taste...

Dear Editor, On February 28th I received a flyer from North40 in my mailbox and noticed they advertised a sale on two assault weapons (AR-556 and AR-15). I like the store but at this point in time, just two weeks after 17 people were killed with these types of killing weapons in Florida, this promotion is insensitive and in bad taste, to say the least.

They have that right, just as I have the right not to support their actions and no longer shop at North40.

Tony Lewis Sagle

Irony of Advertising...

Dear Ben, For three years I’ve been aware of BNSF plans to build a second train bridge across our lake. As a marketer

Jeanne Higgins has been selected as the new forest supervisor on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests starting mid-May 2018. Higgins currently serves as a natural resources specialist providing Jeanne Higgins. policy reform leadership for the National Forest Systems of the USDA Forest Service in the Washington Office.

Higgins has been active in developing strategies for large-scale recovery and forest sustainability efforts. She has a rich history of providing leadership of forest restoration processes and strategies.

Higgins grew up in northern California and attended Sierra College obtaining an associate of science degree in forest technology. Her first seasonal position was as a forestry aid on the Klamath National Forest in northern California in 1980. Higgins obtained a bachelor of science in forest resource management from the University of Idaho in 1988.

Higgins enjoys spending time with family, hiking, hunting, kayaking, camping, skiing and traveling.

working in publishing, it is very apparent to me how BNSF is trying to shape the local people’s sentiment toward their organization as well as these plans that offer no benefit to Sandpoint but rather increase the risk of environmental disasters. They do this partly by buying full-page ads in your paper.

Last year, they bought several back-cover ads just before a press release about the second bridge and your March 1 edition had another self-serving fullpage ad, unabashedly boasting of their regional employment numbers, mere pages after a report on the rail bridge plan being set into action. It’s impossible to deny the conscious conjuncture of these ads with their local activity. I understand you need the ad revenue, but it is no secret the sentiment of the Reader is pro-conservation, and I know you personally care about the environment. Thus, I have to ask you: Don’t you see the irony in this? Please consider the BNSF’s not-so-subtle agenda of placing these ads and realize that you play an important role in this matter.

Marjolein Groot Nibbelink Sandpoint

Marjolein, I understand your concerns and I empathize with your sentiments, but you have to understand that the Reader’s editorial and advertising departments are always kept separate. This is by design, since no one advertiser has the ability to shape what we cover or how we cover it. In other words, you can’t buy our coverage, no matter how

many ads you place in our paper. We generally do not exclude anyone from placing ads, whether it’s a political candidate, a nonprofit organization or a corporation attempting to build a second bridge over Lake Pend Oreille. We appreciate all of our advertisers, because they allow the Reader to remain a marketplace for all ideas, not just ones we, the editorial department, agree with.

As time goes on, you will undoubtedly see numerous opinions and editorials about this plan from both perspectives.

We could not offer this coverage without the support of our many advertisers.

As far as my personal feelings go about this second rail bridge proposal, I am opposed to it. I don’t see the need for it, and I am concerned that the increase of train traffic and proximity of passing trains over the lake will increase the potential for a devastating derailment. But – and this is an important but – this newspaper is bigger than me or you. We firmly believe that everyone has a right to voice their opinion, and we will not abuse our power to present ideas and arguments by squashing anyone’s right to present their point of view.

I hope that answers your concerns.

It is not our job to tell people how to feel about any one issue, but to provide readers with the facts they need to make their own opinions. Anyone is welcome to run their own advertisement condemning the second rail bridge or BNSF or me, for that matter, and we’ll run that one, too. That’s why we have a strong code of ethics in place.

-Ben Olson, publisher.

ELECTION COVERAGE US Representative race District 1

Overview of Congressional Candidates Michael Snyder.

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Congressional Representative race for District 1 is packed with candidates, so we’ve decided to focus our profiles on the two candidates that reached out to us during their campaign – Russ Fulcher and Luke Malek (see the two previous issues for their profiles).

This week we’ve decided to include a brief bit of information about the remaining candidates. Next week we’ll move onto the State Senate District 1 with a profile of candidate Jim Woodward.

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: Russ Fulcher, profile printed in Feb. 22 issue of the Reader.

Luke Malek, profile printed in Feb. 29 issue of the Reader.

Christy Perry, a Republican from Canyon County, hopes to build upon her four terms in the Idaho House with a move into federal office.

Raised in Middleton, Perry touts her small business credentials and state government experience as the preparation she needs to support gun rights, cut spending and cut taxes in D.C.

James Vandermaas.

Christy Perry.

Dave Leroy.

Michael Smith.

Nate Henderson.

Alex Gallegos.

Donald Roy Miller (no photo found).

Find out more at: christyperryforidaho.com Michael Snyder, a sixyear Bonners Ferry resident, brands himself as a pro-Donald Trump Christian conservative. An author of four books, Snyder says his commitment to issues like opposition to abortion, limited government, gun rights and the abolition of the IRS, the Fed and income tax make him the choice for conservatives.

Find out more at: michaelsnyderforcongress.com Alex Gallegos is a 26year military professional and veteran who retired as a lieutenant colonel. He hopes to bring his leadership experience acquired during his military career to Washington, D.C. According to Gallegos, tackling issues like the national debt, spending, security, trade and immigration will require “representatives with fresh perspectives, courage, common sense, and bold leadership.”

Find out more at: alexforidaho.com Nick Henderson, a veteran, cites his experience with the military, commercial aviation, technology, business ownership and government as

the backbone of his credentials for U.S. Congress. Chief issues in his platform include strong support for Second Amendment rights, tax reform, education, active management in federal forests and controlled immigration policies.

Find out more at: nickhenderson.vote With a public career that includes terms as Ada County prosecutor, Idaho attorney general, Idaho lieutenant governor, acting governor of Idaho for 254 days and U.S. nuclear waste negotiator, Dave LeRoy promises to shake up Washington as Congressman.

He aims to fix “a broken tax code,” cut spending, tighten up border security and work on education and health care reform.

Find out more at: leroyforidaho.com

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY:

James Vandermaas, a retired law enforcement officer with experience in small business, telecommunications and nonprofits, believes Idahoans aren’t being properly represented in Congress and hopes to fix that. Vandermass aims to achieve policies that benefit the middle class, from tax reform that avoids “trickle-down” approaches to improved health care through strengthened and expanded federal programs.

Find out more at: votevandermaas.com Among Post Falls resident Michael Smith’s many platform positions are support for a single-payer health care system, green and renewable energies, a nationwide living wage, lowered taxes on households making less than $750,000 and businesses making less than $5 million and reformed police policies on deadly force. He also calls for ending the use of for-profit

prisons and addressing the issue of unmanageable student debt.

Find out more at: facebook.com/MichaelW Smith2018/ Donald Roy Miller of Meridian is also running in the Democratic primary but has little information available to the public.

Here is a short list of upcoming profiles in the Sandpoint Reader: March 15 - Jim Woodward March 22 - Danielle Ahrens March 29 - Scott Herndon April 5 - Heather Scott April 12 - Mike Boeck Please note, we are only publishing profiles for candidates that are in contested primary races.

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NEWS

Sandpoint officers shot, suspect killed

Both officers recovered and sent home from hospital

Sandpoint Police officers Michael Hutter, left, and Eric Clark, right. Courtesy photos.

By Ben Olson and Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Two Sandpoint Police officers were shot Monday morning while responding to a call for services at 3:10 a.m. The shooting took place at Ridley Village in Sandpoint.

According to the city of Sandpoint, officers Michael Hutter and Eric Clark were shot and suffered non-fatal injuries after making contact with the reporting party.

During contact, the suspect stepped out of the residence and began firing at officers.

Both officers on scene were struck twice — Hutter in the leg and chest and Clark in the neck and left hand.

Hutter and Clark were fired upon within seconds of arriving on the scene by suspect Brandon Kuhlman, 28, of Sandpoint. After the officers secured cover, Kuhlman fired upon them a second time. He was found deceased at the scene by investigating officers.

An autopsy will be conducted on Tuesday.

“I do know that we did return fire, but that’s all I can tell you,” said Police Chief Corey 8 /

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Coon in a press briefing.

Hutter was treated at Bonner General Hospital Monday morning and released. A 30year law enforcement veteran, he served in Sandpoint Police Department from 1990 to 1997, moved to the Ponderay Police Department in 1997 and worked as Ponderay chief of police until his retirement in 2016. He then returned to the Sandpoint Police Department.

Clark, more seriously injured, was transported to Kootenai Medical Center and underwent two surgeries.

Hired by Sandpoint Police Department in 2015, Clark received a 50-mile escort after being released by the hospital Tuesday.

“Both officers involved are expected to recover,” said Coon during a press briefing.

According to Coon, who updated Sandpoint City Council on Wednesday, Clark return to Coeur d’Alene earlier that day to see a hand specialist, and the prognosis is good. His recovery time will likely be three to four months.

Likewise, Hutter, had his wounds re-examined and expects a month to a month and a half of recovery time, Coon

said.

“Both officers are in good spirits for the circumstances they’re in, so we appreciate your guys’ support and our community’s support, which is outstanding,” Coon added.

Per protocol involving a Sandpoint Police Department, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department is leading an incident task force to investigate the officer-involved shooting. More details are expected to emerge in the coming days.

Ridley Village is in close proximity to Forrest Bird Charter School, which has closed today. Sandpoint High and Middle Schools are open, but the schools initiated lockout procedures, as has nearby Washington Elementary School.

“Lock-out means the kids come in, but everything is locked behind them,” said Coon. “This is to make the school more secure.”

Lake Pend Oreille School District superintendent Shawn Woodward said the lock-out was an added safety measure.

“I knew from about 6 a.m. that, according to Chief Coon and our school resource officer that the situation was very

Officer Clark received a 50-mile escort home from the hospital Tuesday. Courtesy Facebook.

The scene of the shooting Monday morning. Photo by Ben Olson.

much contained,” said Woodward, who also sent out a mass communication to parents and staff at 8:10 a.m. making them aware of the police activity.

“There was no risk to staff or students.”

Forrest Bird Charter Middle School principal Jennifer Greve was first made aware of the incident around 6 a.m.

Monday morning.

“The decision to close

came from a conversation with dispatch,” said Greve. “Because of the proximity of the incident, and the timeline in terms of when students would be showing up on campus, we did not want our kids anywhere near that situation.

Ridley Apartments are just kitty corner to us.”

Greve added that she was “very glad everyone’s safe and hope the officers are okay.”

NEWS

No change to advisory vote after county discussion

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Bonner County commissioners voted Tuesday to keep the Scotchman Peaks advisory vote in its previously approved form, despite a request from Samuels resident Dan Rose to revise the question.

In the commissioner’s Feb. 20 business meeting, the advisory vote, which will be on the May 15 primary ballot, was approved in this form: “Do you favor Senator Jim Rischs’ (sic) proposal for congressional designation of a 13,960-acre Scotchman Peaks wilderness area in Bonner County?”

Rose said he believed the question should read “...federal wilderness area.” He also proposed the commissioner’s revise the beginning of the question to include “or oppose” after “do you favor.” He said these changes would provide clarity to voters.

“I don’t think we should be changing stuff that we’ve already moved forward on. I think there was a lot of input,” said Commissioner Jeff Connolly.

County Clerk Mike Rosedale said he sees the benefit of including “federal” in the ballot question.

“It seems the crux of the whole issue is designating (it) as a federal wilderness area,” he said. “I think that is very key.”

Commissioner Glen Bailey, who led the initiative to create a easy-to-understand advisory vote question, said he sees the question in its previously approved form to be clear already, though admitted his time in government might make it clearer to him than to the average voter.

“We may understand it, but the voters, when they go into the booth — are they going to understand it?” said Commissioner Dan McDonald.

Connolly said it’s up to people on both sides of this issue to educate voters.

“It’s not up to us to put some-

thing out there that’s perfectly worded, but apparently, I thought we were there,” he said, noting that they’ve been working on the question for weeks with little to no input until the end of the process. “This is going to set a terrible precedent. We’re going to have to … re-discuss every issue we choose to go forward with. I can’t support that.”

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Executive Director Phil Hough said that by including the word “federal” in the question, it would imply that Congress could enact land designation in non-federal form.

He said changing the question would create unnecessary confusion for voters.

Local man Doug Patterson said the word “wilderness” is not an exclusively legal word, and that older residents may think of wilderness as simply areas that are “not developed in any way.”

He said nowadays, wilderness (especially under legal terms), can mean places previously mined, or places with roads already on them.

“Wilderness becomes a gray thing,” he said.

Idaho Conservation League Community Engagement Associate Emily Cleveland said that

One of the many mountain goats that haunt Scotchman Peak. Photo by Leslie Kiebert. by including “federal” in the question, it implies that land is “changing hands,” when in fact, the Scotchman Peaks area will still be managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Throughout the meeting, commissioners and attendees

referenced the public comment process, which ended prior to Rose’s new suggestions.

“What if that process is gravely flawed?” asked local man Tom Cleveland, who is in favor of Rose’s suggestions. “If the word ‘federal’ is on there,

then this sucker is going down.”

Bailey and Connolly rejected Rose’s suggested edits to the question, while McDonald voted in favor. The 2-1 vote secured the previously approved language.

ICL requests extended comment period on second bridge

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Idaho Conservation League is formally requesting an extension to the comment period on BNSF Railway’s proposed second rail bridge.

In a letter addressed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the conservation organization asks that the comment period be extended by at least 120 days and provide at least three public hearings.

“Both the probable impacts and substantial public interest

associated with BNSF’s proposal merit an extension to the public comment period and the scheduling of public hearings,” the request reads. “Specifically, Bonner County would likely experience a wide range of significant direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts associated with this proposal.”

Conservation advocates justify the request by citing recent train derailments in North Idaho and Northwest Montana. These incidents, they say, amplify local concerns that a train derailment over

Lake Pend Oreille or other local waterways could present an ecological, economical and public health catastrophe for the region.

The Idaho Conservation League request also points to resolutions passed by local government bodies that request local involvement in any proposals that would increase local train traffic. A 2012 Sandpoint resolution calls for the Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a full environmental impact statement of train traffic in the region. It also requests

a scoping hearing in Sandpoint to detail the extent of the environmental review and calls for the Corps’ involvement in crafting an emergency response plan should an environmental disaster occur.

The request follows news last week that BNSF Railway had filed its permit application with the Army Corps of Engineers for a second rail bridge across Lake Pend Oreille. The second bridge is a response to an anticipated increase in train traffic, which, by some estimates, will double by 2035.

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NEWS

County declares victory in SilverWing ruling

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Bonner County officials declared victory this week in a November court ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals against SilverWing.

The ruling awards the county nearly $800,000 in attorney fees and other legal costs. According to County Commissioner Dan McDonald, the county avoided publicizing the ruling until it had time to confer with counsel.

“This … confirms that a federally-regulated airport cannot be held liable for actions taken to achieve compliance with federal law,” said Paul Fraidenburgh, the attorney who argued the case on behalf of the county.

It is the latest development in the lengthy court battle, in which SilverWing sued the county for allegedly violating a through-the-fence agreement at Sandpoint Airport. The broken agreement was the result of county actions in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

The victory in federal court follows a defeat in state court, where a jury awarded SilverWing $250,000 plus $764,000 in legal fees, according to SilverWing spokesperson Michael Mileski.

McDonald argues that the jury ruling would have been different if the judge had allowed the open meeting statute, which maintains that no formal agreement can be reached without a published agenda and quorum, to be read to the jury. He hopes the Idaho Supreme Court will reach a more favorable ruling when they consider the county’s appeals. Oral arguments in the case begin this summer, with a decision expected by November.

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STATE NEWS ROUND-UP

Idaho rejects gun control bill aimed at domestic abusers

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The Idaho House of Representatives voted down a gun control bill Tuesday that would have prevented convicted domestic abusers from owning firearms.

The Associated Press reported the House GOP members voted 39-31 to prevent the measure from moving to the Senate after critics of the bill argued that it infringed upon the Second Amendment.

“Statistics show if people want to have access to a gun, they will,” Rep. Bryan Zollinger, R-Idaho Falls, told the AP. “But there’s just no way to enforce it.”

The Idaho Attorney General’s

office released an opinion countering that the bill did not violate constitutional rights.

House Bill 585 would have made it a misdemeanor for people convicted of domestic violence to possess firearms within two years of the convictions of the crimes. Abusers would have been required to follow an honor system in turning in guns they already own. Currently, federal law already bans anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony domestic violence charge from owning a firearm, but state laws must match the federal statute in order for local officials and judges to enforce the ban.

HB 585 would have seen Idaho’s laws in compliance with the federal statute.

Twenty Republicans joined the House’s 11 Democrats in support of the bill. Law enforcement agencies also supported the bill, reported the AP, arguing it would help them better protect against communities.

North Idaho representatives Heather Scott and Sage Dixon both voted against the bill.

“I voted no because it essentially promotes an unconstitutional action by our State Government,” wrote Dixon when asked why he voted against the bill.

“Also, I was concerned about the low threshold of a misdemeanor charge restricting one’s ability to possess a firearm.”

Dixon acknowledged it wasn’t an easy decision to make, and that he wasn’t certain of his

final vote until the end of debate.

“The bill was almost narrow enough to gain my support, mainly because it dealt with a specific group, and was limited in duration,” he wrote. “But the reasons cited above caused me to vote no.”

Rep. Scott was also contacted for comment regarding her no vote on the bill but did not respond by press time.

CBD oil bill in limbo after chairman violates Open Meeting Law

By Ben Olson Reader Staff A recent proposal aiming to legalize oil extracted from cannabis plants is most likely dead on arrival after a group of lawmakers on Monday broke out in turmoil during a last-minute attempt to advance the bill, the Associated Press reported.

Sen. Tony Potts, R-Idaho Falls, asked the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to give HB 577 a hearing after the bill’s supporters claimed they had been blocked by legislative leaders.

“I think we have to remember that we represent people, people who vote for us, people who are our friends,” Potts told the AP. “If your constituents are anything like mine, there is a large amount of individuals who desire the health benefits of this.”

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD oil, is extracted from a cannabis plant, but contains little or no THC, the chemical substance responsible for the high.

Supporters claim CBD can help alleviate pain and reduce stress, though marijuana’s status as a schedule 1 drug on the federal

drug classification has precluded the gathering of medical data to support these claims. More than 30 Idaho children with intractable epilepsy are currently receiving a commercial version of CBD oil as part of a drug trial, and positive results have been reported as far as reducing the children’s seizures.

While Potts defended his motion, Chairman Lee Heider, R-Idaho Falls, angrily gaveled him down, according to the AP. “If anyone on this committee wants to talk about this, they can do so in my office,” Heider declared.

The majority of the panel gathered into Heider’s office to discuss Potts’ motion, denying a request by an AP reporter to sit in on the meeting. The AP reported that yells could be heard from multiple members inside Heider’s office.

“The governor’s office doesn’t want this bill, the prosecutors don’t want this bill, the office on drug policy doesn’t want this bill,” shouted Heider, who was easily heard through the door by AP reporter Kimberlee Kruesi on the other side.

The six-minute-long closed-door meeting only broke up after Melissa Davlin, a reporter from Idaho Public Television, knocked repeatedly on Heider’s office door and warned them that the panel’s actions were violating Idaho Senate Rule 20, known as the Open Meeting Law. Senate Rule 20 declares that “All meetings of any standing, select, or special committee shall be open to the public at all times, and any person may attend any hearing of such committee.”

Heider later apologized for violating Senate rules in a statement to his committee: “The chair acknowledges violation of Senate Rule 20, in that an unnoticed and unapproved executive session occurred,” said Heider, who asked for unanimous consent to “set aside the vote on March 5, 2018, because it violated Senate Rule 20.”

The vote Heider referred to was one in which the committee decided to hold HB 577 in committee, which is a method of preventing a bill from reaching the House floor for a vote, ulti-

mately killing it.

When asked by the AP the current status of the bill, Heider said, “I guess I’m still holding it. But the committee hasn’t voted to hold it. I don’t know if I’ll bring it out at some point.”

Heider’s decision could potentially be overridden if, on the floor of the Senate, senators call for a bill to emerge from a committee over its chairman’s opposition. However, this procedure is rarely successful.

Idaho lawmakers passed a similar bill in 2015 that would have allowed parents of children with severe forms of epilepsy to use CBD oil to treat their kids.

The bill was then vetoed by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, who made the decision after law enforcement groups voiced fears it would lead to further loosening the state’s drug laws.

“I don’t want to be the bad guy – I’m not a bad person,” Heider told the AP. “But I feel like it really is opening the door to marijuana in our state. We are the bastion of freedom from marijuana in our state, and I like living here.”

Mad about Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

Brought to you by:

killer fungi

a sneaky little devil, webcaps for about a week group up with some spore prints. Just make are some of the best at what before you reexperienced sure you keep yourself safe and they do. They’re a funny cover. The blood mushroom informed. I want you to be able looking mushroom with wide, comes from the hunters.

Contact to read about more crazy sciWe’ve gotten to talk about billowing gills. The toxin toxin rupturing the North Idaho ence for a long time to come! delicious edible mushrooms, responsible can hide in your your red blood Mushroom now we’re swinging to the body for days, or even weeks cells, which can Club. Check out Got a science-related opposite side of the spectrum. before showing symptoms, sometimes lead some mushroom topic you’d like to know more The mushrooms you should Amanita virosa. which is easy for a physician to kidney failure. identification about? Write an email to ben@ absolutely never, ever, EVER to mistake for the flu.

A misdiAmanita viroguides from the sandpointreader.com and he’ll ingest. The bad boys on this agnosis can be a death sensa, the destroying angel. These library. Set yourself up to do forward it to Bobby. list won’t just make you sick, tence, as not treating the toxin are the guys that look startlingthey actually have an alarmwill lead to rapid ly like ingly high chance of killing kidney failure. button you, and trust me, they aren’t Podostroma mushgoing to let you leave behind a cornu-damae. In rooms. beautiful corpse. the realm of weird, Unlike Pholiotina rugosa. You’ve these guys button probaWe can help! reign mushbly seen • Every day, 16 percent of the searches that occur are ones that supreme. rooms, them Google has never seen before.

They’re a you never growing Podostroma cornu-damae.

• Google was originally called “Backrub.” Seriously. rare Asiatic want to around fungus that looks like eat one of these. Destroying here: • In 1999, the founders of Google actually tried to sell it to Excite for a tiny blood-red coral. angel mushrooms are like a little just $1 million. Excite turned them down.

Ingestion can cause a rolling ball of destruction in brown • If you search for “askew” in Google, the content will tilt slightly to plethora of nightmaryour GI tract, wrecking evmushPholiotina rugosa. the right. ish symptoms, from skin-peelerything it contacts the whole rooms that love the nutri• When a Google employee dies, their spouses receive half pay from the coming and hair loss to cerebral way through. Symptoms mirror ent-rich soil of the Pacific pany for 10 years, and their children get $1,000 per month until they turn 19. shrinkage (which causes things food poisoning similar to e.coli Northwest. You see them pop • Google intends to scan all known existing 129 million unique books like involuntary movement and with violent expulsion from up in lawns quite often. They before 2020. Except Danielle Steel’s books. Just kidding. speech impediments), necrosis either end and severe fatigue look fairly unassuming, and of the liver, coagulated blood, a a few hours to a day after inactually bear a resemblance to • The “I’m feeling lucky” button costs Google $110 million per year, as gestion. It hits your liver first, famed psychedelic mushrooms sharp fall in white blood cells, it bypasses all ads. organ failure and a lot more. though liver failure usually of the ‘60s and ‘70s. P. rugosa • Google earns $20 billion a year from advertising, more than the Death can occur in less than a doesn’t occur until later on. is sneaky for especially that primetime revenues of CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX combined. week.

The mortality rate for destroyreason: symptoms mirror food • Every minute, 2 million searches are performed on Google. That’s Gyromitra, or false moing angels is extremely high, poisoning a few hours to a around 33,333 searches per second. rels. Some of these guys look with poisonings often requiring day after ingestion, and you’re like weird little brains on a liver transplant and a lifetime probably not likely to visit a • Google beats Facebook: It’s the world’s most visited website. sticks.

These are considered of medications. doctor for that or tell them you • Google got its name by accident. The founders misspelled “googol”, a delicacy in some places, This is all pretty terrifying ate magic mushrooms. You’ll which refers to the number 1 followed by 100 zeroes. as the toxin is rendered inert and cool at the same time. start to feel better, then out of •On Aug. 16, 2013, Google went down for 5 minutes, and in that time, when cooked, but can wreak The lesson of this article is the blue you’ll the global internet traffic dropped by 40 percent. havoc on your body if eaten eating random mushrooms fall into liver raw. Most vendors of these is bad. I mean, I’m pretty • A single Google search requires more computing power than it took failure and actively encourage you not to sure we all knew that, but we to send Apollo 11 to the moon. probably die. touch them at their stalls. The didn’t know just how bad. If Cortinar• If you search for “atari breakout” in Google Images, you can play the toxin isn’t always lethal, and you are thinking about trying ius, or webgame. sometimes it will just cause your hand at some mushroom caps. When it vomiting and bloody diarrhea hunting whenever winter ends, comes to being

Random Corner Don’t know much about

Cortinarius.

?

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event t h u r s d a y

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Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

f r i d a y

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Live Music w/ The Groove Black 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Jazz, wine and a great atmosphere Live Music w/ The Rub 9pm @ 219 Lounge Power trio with a zany ‘70s style

s a t u r d a y

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m o n d a y t u e s d a y

w e d n e s d a y t h u r s d a y

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Live Music w/ Aaron Golay 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Music w/ Steve Neff 8-10pm @ Baxter’s Back Door Bar Come down and listen to some tunes with Steve Neff and a special guest as they play a variety of gritty blues and jazz Live Music w/ Nathan Baker 6-8pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Wine Bar Live Music w/ Andrea Harsell & Luna Roja 9pm @ 219 Lounge A potent quartet with a natural chemistry that can be felt as they blend elements of Americana, rock, and R&B

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Better Breathers Club 1pm @ BGH east classroom - 520 N. Third A monthly support group for people living with chronic lung disease and their caregivers. RSVP by calling 208-265-1045 or simply attend the meeting

Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am

Live Music w/ Mike and Shanna Thompson 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority A fun acoustic duo Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Wine Bar Great songs we all love to sing along with “The Female Brain” comedy film 5:30pm @ The Panida Live Music w/ Brian Stai and Ashley Dreyer 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Brian Stai and Ashely Dreyer play thoughtful Americana folk music from Spokane Zumbathon 10am-12pm @ The Heartwood Center The 9th annual Zumbathon! All proceeds and food donations go to the local food bank. Enjoy door prizes, dancing and fun!

All ages welcome. Admission $15 or 15 pounds of food! Sponsored by Xhale Pilates, SWAC, 7B Fitness and Understory Coffee and Tea “The Female Brain” comedy film 7:30pm @ The Panida

“The Female Brain” comedy film 3:30pm @ The Panida

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge Join DJ Pat for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen

Trivia Night 7-9pm @ MickDuff’s Grab a seat early, they go fast! Test your useless knowledge!

Wind Down Wednesday 5-8pm @ 219 Lounge With live music by blues man Truck Mills. Relax together with friends and colleagues at the end of the day

“The 7:30p This e witty, ence b

Sec 5-7 An wor us f

After “Sunday S 12-7pm @ Pend d Show us your lift

BGH Parkinson’s Support Group • Individuals with Parkinson’s, their fam Therapist at Performance Therapy Ser

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilder 4-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Ten percent of all proceeds will go to Scotchman Peaks for future generatio

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

Bee Keeping presentation 6-8pm @ Ponderay Events Pastor Andy Kennaly will sh Z” hive system he learned in “Spring Home Horticulture

Dollar Beers!

Live Music w/ Jason Spooner Band 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge A powerhouse group on tour from Portland, Maine, featuring multiaward winning singer songwriter Jason Spooner. With a delectably harmonic, subtly emotive voice channeling thought-provoking lyrics, Spooner straddles various edges of folk, country, rock and blues

Girls Pint Night O 5-7pm @ Idaho Pou Cool chicks! Great b ki at the big table fo talking about Red A

ful

March 8 - 15, 2018

h y g

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

Reader recommended

“The Female Brain” comedy film 7:30pm @ The Panida This entertaining and enlightening comedy is a fresh, witty, and all-too-relatable look at the real-life science behind our (often regrettable) romantic impulses

hompson

with

reyer

Sandpoint Contra Dance 7pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall All are invited to attend a community dance in the New England tradition.

Beginners and singles are welcome. $5 donation; bring clean shoes and a water bottle. (208) 263-6751. Sponsored

by Lost Horse Press and Spt. P & R

Swim Instructor Training Class Registration deadline Registration deadline is fast approaching for the March 16-31 session; fee is $75 per person. Become one of the promoters of water safety and swimming in this 26-hour course.

Call (208) 263-3613 to register by March 9

Ancestor “Come to Life” 1-3pm @ LDS Church (602 Schweitzer Rd.) The Family History Center offers free help and access to world records; they make finding your roots easy. Register online at sandpointidaho.gov/parksandrecreation or call (208) 597-0641. This is a free class

Second Saturday Artist Feature ught- 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery e A new monthly event featuring a different local artist’s work. This month’s event features Holly Walker. Join us for a reception and live music. Free! ceeds food Yonder Mountain String Band in concert fun!

8pm @ The Hive r 15 See one of the most energetic bluegrass bands e Piplaying in the world today. Opening the show story is Old Salt Union. Tickets are $25 in advance at LiveFromTheHive.com, and $30 at the door.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind show at the Hive

Yoga on Tap 11am @ Laughing Dog Brewery One hour class that ends with the group having a beer together. $12 includes your first beer Spring Sounds Piano Concert with Vytautas Smetona 5pm @ The Heartwood Center Come listen to master Pianist Vytautas Smetona from Cleveland, Ohio, whose “fantastic technique, and better than that, a big concept of his music” was heralded in Audio Magazine.

Tickets $15/adults, $5 youth ages 18 and under

Sunday Solution” at the Winery @ Pend d’Oreille Winery s your lift ticket from the day and enjoy discounts on wine, beer, and small bites

Group • 2-3pm @ Bonner General Health Services Building - Suite 101 , their family and caregivers are encouraged to attend. Call Elizabeth, Physical erapy Services at (208) 265-3325 for more information

ks Wilderness Sip and Shop nery will go to help “protect the generations.”

Lifetree Cafe 2pm @ Jalapeño’s Mexican Restaurant An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s topic: “God and Guns”

sentation ay Events Center aly will share info about the “Alearned in Slovenia. Part of the rticulture Workshop Series.”

t Night Out Idaho Pour Authority ks! Great beer! No dudes! Join Vicig table for an evening tasting and out Red Ale and Irish style beers

The Conversation 6-8pm @ Ivano’s Ristorante Come get a shot of good sense for financial success in your art with Gabe Gabel. FREE and open to the public.

Winters Night Paint and Sip 6:30pm @ The Pottery Bug Studio Everyone is invited but RSVP required in advance; purchase your spot with a friend for special price of $30 each. (208) 263-0232

March 16 Ospreys of North Idaho @ Little Panida Theater March 16 The Motet @ The Hive March 17 24 Hours for Hank Fundraiser and live music @ 219 Lounge

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LITERATURE

The big story behind one little tree

After a decades-long process, a Sandpoint woman self-published a children’s book — which she also wrote and illustrated

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer Nancy Cerra-Medland is fond of the term, “new adventure.”

“Life needs to be full of those,” she said. “You can’t be complacent, or miss out on opportunities. Try something new and figure out how it works.”

This life philosophy is especially applicable when self-publishing children’s books — a “new adventure” Cerra-Medland has now accomplished as both a writer and illustrator. The parttime Sandpoint resident holds degrees in illustration and advertising graphics design, and said she always knew she wanted to illustrate a children’s book.

When she decided to take on such a project, she said it didn’t take her long to realize that she’d be perfectly capable of writing the book herself.

“I figured, ‘That’ll be a double-punch combo,’” she said.

Thus, “The Foolish Little Tree” was

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Top left: Nancy Cerra and her granddaughter Odelia Tatum, 3. Right: “The Foolish Little Tree” by Nancy Cerra.

born. Cerra-Medland’s book tells the story of a young tree who is distraught when winter brings falling leaves and chilly weather. With the help of her woodland friends and fellow trees, the foolish little tree learns about winter, and ultimately how beautiful change can be.

Cerra-Medland said she was inspired by her time spent hunting in the Michigan woods she used to call home. She said she felt “at peace” among the trees.

“Each tree had its own little personality,” she said, noting that she first envisioned the little tree in her book while she was in those woods. “I could see her.

I could see her world and step into it.”

After illustrating and writing the initial version of the book, Cerra-Medland pursued traditional publishing.

Unfortunately, she found the publishing business 25 years ago — especially for children’s books — to be complicated, expensive and difficult to break into. As a result, her tree creation was set aside for the time being.

“It just was so daunting,” she said.

“So I ended up just working my job and I had two kids to raise, so (“The Foolish Little Tree”) ended up going into a drawer.”

It wasn’t until about three years ago, when she showed the original illustrations and story to a supportive friend, that publishing “The Foolish Little Tree” became a possibility again. Further, Cerra-Medland’s son had just had a baby,

and he told her all he wanted was for her to finish the book so her granddaughter, Odelia, could one day read it, she said.

Through a self-publishing process, Cerra-Medland officially brought the little tree to glossy print pages after lots of airbrushing, Photoshopping and resizing.

“It just took a lot of belief in myself, because you’ve always got that inner doubt,” she said.

After publication, “The Foolish Little Tree” became a part of the Magic Beans Bookstore, a website where self-published authors and craftsman can sell their books and handmade toys.

To join, Cerra-Medland and other authors had to send in a signed, hardcover version of their books. Ultimately those books were donated to Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families, an organization that helps children through abuse, neglect and other family crises.

“The tree needs to be in a place like that, because of all the hurt she goes through. Her life gets turned upside down,” Cerra-Medland said. “I know it’s not the same as what those kids (at Casa Pacifica) go through, but I hope the concept of growing and changing might be relatable.”

Purchase “The Foolish Little Tree” on Amazon, Bookbaby.com and MagicBeansBookstore.com.

OUTDOORS

2400 Feet of Schweitzer: One heck of a slalom race for one heck of a good cause

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Endurance skiers and snowboarders, have we got an event for you! The 2400 Feet of Schweitzer is a unique sunrise top to bottom giant slalom event that begins at the Sky House Lodge at the summit of Schweitzer Mountain and finishes at the Outback Lodge at the base of the mountain.

Between start and finish, 2,400 vertical feet and nearly two and a half miles of skiing make this the longest giant slalom in the U.S. The best part? It’s all a fundraiser benefiting 24 Hours For Hank, which helps raise money for cystinosis research.

The race takes place Saturday, March 24 at Schweitzer and is open to alpine and telemark skiers, as well as snowboarders of all abilities.

The unique format of the event will allow for passing even though the run is timed. Seeding for the race will also be unique as participant fundraising efforts will determine which seed they will start in. In other words, the top 10 fundraisers will start in the first seed and so on.

Race categories are divided in two- and four-person teams, though fundraising will be tracked at the individual level and will only count towards that individual’s start seed. Money raised until Thursday, March 22, at 5 p.m. will count for race starting position. If you bring in more than $750 in donations, you’ll also take home a 24 Hours of Schweitzer jacket.

After the race at 9 a.m., an exclusive breakfast will be served at the Outback Lodge. Following the breakfast, teams will complete several challenges around the ski resort throughout the day to gain valuable points for their overall score.

Teams will ski and ride for prizes, bragging rights and most importantly, fundraising for Cystinosis research and Hank’s future. On Saturday evening after the event there will be an awards party and auction that includes food from around the world.

This event is limited to 200 participants, with team prizes awarded for each category, as well as age prizes and top fundraiser prize.

Registration fee is $125 per person, plus $100 in pledges. Each member of a team must register. Entry fees include all day lift access, an event tee-shirt, breakfast at the Outback Lodge, limited hotel discounts at the Selkirk Lodge and one ticket to the Awards Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday night.

Visit www.24hoursforhank.org to register online, or by mail at PO Box 2564, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Map courtesy Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Take the plunge

It’ll be chilly — and there will be chili — at this weekend’s Penguin Plunge

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Sandpoint Special Olympics coach and local program coordinator Chris Painter will be jumping in Lake Pend Oreille this weekend, and she thinks you should, too.

“People will say, ‘Oh my god, it’s probably so cold,’ but actually when you’re there and everybody is all charged up, it’s not bad,” she said. “It’s really fun.”

Join the fun at the Penguin Plunge this Saturday, March 10, at City Beach to raise money for Sandpoint’s Special Olympics team. To participate, gather pledges, show

up Saturday at 11 a.m. to register — with money in hand, if possible — and take the chilly plunge at noon.

Not only is it a good cause, but there are different levels of prizes depending upon the amount of money a plunger raises. There are also prizes for the best costumes and even for the “golden plunger” — the person who makes the biggest splash receives an actual plunger, painted gold.

Following the main event at the lake, plungers can head to the Sandpoint Community Hall for a chili cook-off, kid carnival, raffle and more at 1 p.m.

Painter said the event is the team’s

main fundraiser for their Summer Games, and helps fund the regional winners’ trip to southern Idaho for the state competition.

To learn more about the Penguin Plunge, visit www.firstgiving.com/event/ idso/2018-sandpoint-penguin-plunge.

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ART

From the forge to the frontier: The metalwork of sculptor Marte Cellura

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Marte Cellura always dreamed of living in the mountains. Five years ago this month, he and his wife made their dreams a reality when they retired and moved across the country to a home in Sagle, near Talache.

Cellura spent his career in architectural metalwork and sculpture, with some of his commissions going to major museums and public places such as Carnegie Hall in New York City, the International Museum of Photography and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Rochester, N.Y., among others.

Cellura’s exhibit “Mountains, Monuments & Maquettes” is currently showing at Infini Gallery in Sandpoint, 214 Cedar St., until the end of March.

Originally born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cellura was first exposed to metalworking while helping his father in his architectural sheet metal shop. Cellura went on to study English, journalism and philosophy at Kent State University.

“I wanted to be a writer, a novelist actually,” said Cellura.

But, after taking a trip across the country, Cellura found his passion redirected toward a lost art.

“In the ‘60s and ‘70s, there was a craft revival happening as a result of the counterculture,” said Cellura. “People were embracing these old mediums again; glass, woodworking, blacksmithing. You could say blacksmithing was the backbone of Western Civilization.”

Cellura said he gravitated toward blacksmithing because, unlike writing, it was physical.

“This was physically demanding work,” he said. “You struggle with the material, you put your force of will into it. It’s an elemental thing, very primordial.”

Cellura received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts in 1979 and apprenticed under famed metal sculptor Albert Paley until 1982, when he broke off to form his own studio called Metalmorphosis, Ltd. Since then, Cellura’s work has been commissioned by major museums, public spaces and private collections. While metal of all kinds is his preferred medium, 16 /

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Right: One of Cellura’s sculptures on display at Infini Gallery: “Zim Von Bruno - King of Hearts” in forged steel and copper.

Photo by Ben Olson.

Far Right: Marte Cellura poses near his Village Gate Construction in Rochester, NY in 1984. Courtesy photo.

Cellura has experimented with combining other materials such as petrified wood, native stone and glass to his work, always with the goal to combine practicality with fine art.

“I love integrating art into practical items, like bike racks, gates, fountains, doors,” he said.

One new piece Cellura created in February for the Infini show is “Passage” a nearly three-foot high sculpture of steel, copper, bronze and aluminum, with granite and natural stone added.

“That’s my favorite, if you were to hold me down,” he said.

Cellura said he has always been intrigued by a more abstract style, as opposed to embracing realism in his work.

“The way I see it, how can we compete with the great creator’s work?” he said. “In my opinion, it’s better to be inspired by it and express it freely in a new way.”

Cellura is now nearing the end of a transition period preparing his property and studio in Sagle, and is hoping to begin creating more new pieces soon.

Being a dog-lover, he is eager to explore the idea of doing a show dedicated to our four-legged companions.

“One of the things I loved about Sandpoint is how they really like their dogs here,” he said. “Not having children, our pets are our children.”

Check out Cellura’s work at Infini Gallery until the end of March.

21st annual POAC Student Art Show

By Ben Olson Reader Staff The Pend Oreille Arts Council (POAC) is hosting the 21st annual Student Art Show Friday, March 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Power House Gallery, 120 Lake St., in Sandpoint.

The show features works created by students all across Bonner County. POAC includes one select piece produced by

each art student throughout the school year. Many of these artworks go on to state competitions, but you have the chance to see the first public viewing.

Explore the exquisite details and vast breadth of artistic creations by our own local students.

This show is sponsored by Super 1 Foods.

STAGE & SCREEN

Yonder Mtn. String Band back in the hood

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

When I was in college in Colorado around the year 2000, there was this new band starting to break into the music scene. Filled with fast-picking all-stars, Yonder rapidly became a household name for American progressive bluegrass. I even got to see them play in a small Denver bar filled with beer-drinking hippies and sweating bluegrass lovers. The show, in a word, was amazing.

Fast forward to today and the Colorado-based five-piece is still as energetic, creative and fun as ever. Founding members Adam Aijala, Dave Johnston and Ben Kaufman reconfigured the band a few years ago with the addition of new players Allie Kral and Jacob Jolliff.

Yonder released their latest studio album “Love. Ain’t Love” last summer, keeping their feet firmly rooted in traditional bluegrass, but always striving to keep the sound current and forward-thinking. They remain one of the hottest and most talented bluegrass bands on planet Earth.

•TRANSPORTATION: Secure funding to improve safety and efficiency of our roads, bridges and airports.

•EDUCATION: Adequately fund education and integrate vocational education to meet work force needs.

•JOBS: Retain and expand our current resource jobs and promote jobs in emerging industries.

•NATURAL RESOURCES: Expand the multiple use of our forests and protect our precious waters.

•CONSTITUENT SERVICE: Listen to con-

“I think this is our best album yet,” said Aijala.

Catch Yonder as they return to Sandpoint at The Hive on Sunday, March 11.

The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 if bought

Yonder Mountain String Band. Courtesy photo.

stituents and address the “things that matter” to them.

in advance, or $30 at the door. This is a 21 and up show, www.livefromthehive. com for more info.

March 8 @ 7:30pm | March 9 @ 5:30pm march 10 @ 7:30pm | march 11 @ 3:30p,m

the female brain

Forrest Bird Charter School - a free public school is now accepting new students for the 2018/2019 school year.

Deadline for paperwork pape is March 28.

Limited seating in grades 6 through 12.

A light-hearted, comedic, scientific, look at the female brain

march 15 @ 7:30pm | March 16 @ 5:30 & 8pm

‘the disaster artist’

Oscar-nominated for best adapted screenplay

friday, March 16 @ 3pm & 6pm

‘osprey of north idaho with wayne melquist’

The Woodward Family: Jim, Brenda, Avery and Anna, celebrating 23 years of marriage.

March 17 @ 3:30 & 5:30pm | march 18 @ 3:30pm

‘mune: guardian of the moon’ An animated comedy saturday, March 24 @ 7pm

fly fishing film tour 2018

A film and fundraiser for the Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited

thursday, april 5 @ 7:30pm

ID Code 33-5206 (11)

bro dads: live stand up comedy

614 S Madison Ave. (208) 255-7771 forrestbirdcharterschool.org

the reunion beatles

saturday, May 12 @ 7:30pm

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SPORTS

Clark Fork’s unofficial holiday weekend

The Clark Fork Alumni Tournament is a fundraiser, a reunion and a darn good time

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Many people say Christmas is their favorite holiday. For some, it’s Independence Day. For the weirdos, it’s Halloween.

My favorite holiday? The Clark Fork High School Alumni Tournament.

On the surface, the alumni tourney is a weekend of volleyball and basketball, with a silent auction, some raffles and a couple rowdy nights at the town’s only bar mixed in.

But for a kid who grew up believing that the coolest thing in the world was to be a Wampus Cat, the weekend takes on more meaning, and I think that applies for a lot of alumni weekend diehards out there.

Though the weekend has evolved over its 30 years of existence, the original intent is the same: raise money for CFHS athletic programs and serve as a reunion for decades of alumni. The tournament has expanded to include participants who didn’t attend CFHS, and while the original weekends only featured basketball, women can now form volleyball teams.

There are typically around eight basketball teams and six volleyball teams, and games are played over the course of three days. Players must pay $35 each to participate and receive their official

T-shirt jerseys. Spectators pay at the gate to watch games, or can pay for a full weekend pass.

This year’s tournament is March 9-11.

Basketball games begin Friday night, while volleyball starts early Saturday morning. A full schedule, along with designated teams, will be posted on the Clark Fork Alumni Tournament Facebook page.

This year, the tournament will honor Paul Tallman, a CFHS alumnus and longtime tournament participant who passed away last month. Tallman is in all of my favorite alumni tourney memories, and he represents the best of us Wampus Cats. He will be missed this year.

The school relies heavily on the tournament in order to keep our athletic programs funded, and above all, it’s a great time for participants and spectators alike.

While it’s too late to sign up to play on a team, there will be plenty of games to watch, raffles to win and auction items to bid on, including a brand new chainsaw.

To ask questions about the tournament, call Debbie Weber at CFHS at (208) 2557177. To make donations, call George Thornton at (208) 661-3316.

THE SNOW DEER

This photo of a curious snow creature was taken along Wooden Acres Road a couple weeks ago after the snow plow and Mother Nature worked a little magic. Photograph by Marlene Rorke.

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Paul Tallman, center, goes up for the block during an Alumni Tournament “old timer’s” game in the early 2000s. Photo courtesy CFHS Alumni Tournament Facebook page.

SHS Science Circuit

By Erin Meek Reader Contributor Students, friends and scientists alike: Come together in triumph as Sandpoint High School’s fifth-annual Science Circuit is back, and the entire community is welcome.

Visitors will be able to explore 30 interactive exhibits, ranging from snowflake structure, to fiber optics to acid rain and aquatic ecosystems at the molecular level.

While the topics may sound complex, the hands on and participant-friendly stations encourage children and adults to see the science in everyday life.

Students from the Honors Chemistry, Physics and AP Environmental Science classes have been investigating a scientific topic of their choosing, creating hypotheses, testing these hypotheses and developing a fun exhibit. Students have also contacted experts in their respective field of study to make sure their presentation is accurate and credible.

I started my research on snow science in early October and became passionate about how snow works and how the differ-

ent layers interact with each other. I soon got connected with the Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education (SOLE) organization and began to apply my knowledge of snow science in the real world. I assisted in teaching fifth and sixth grade SnowSchool, an environmental educational platform from the Winter Wildlands Alliance that teaches students about snow ecology. From this experience, I collected “real-world” data and was able to use it in my presentation.

The Science Circuit has raised over $10,000 in grants and donations over the years from community members that has strengthened the science curriculum at the high school and made the Science Circuit possible.

The Science Circuit is Thursday, March 8 and is open to the public 4-6 p.m. in the SHS gym. For more information, contact Mamie Brubaker at mamie. brubaker@lposd.org. Erin Meek is a senior at Sandpoint High School in honors chemistry.

HEALTH

Get your peepers checked:

New technology makes it easier to scan your retinas for issues

By Ben Olson Reader Staff When’s the last time you had your eyes examined? If you’re like me, it’s been years. I think the last time I had an eye test it was one of those simple, “Hold one hand over your eye and read the letters off the chart,” to check my vision.

Things have changed a bit since then – mainly, the technology has improved remarkably.

For optometrist Dr. Paul Koch, who owns the Optometry portion of the Vision Center inside the Ponderay Walmart, one new piece of equipment he recently added to his inventory helps to map the retina and diagnose retinal issues much quicker.

The device is called a Topcon Maestro 3D OCT-1 retinal camera, with OCT standing for Optical Coherence Tomography. To show me how it worked, Koch took a scan of my own retinas.

“It’s a tool,” said Koch. “I’ve spent 34 years looking at a flat image of the retina, but now, with this machine, it’s like flipping that flat image on its side so you can see the layers underneath. I can look at it from many angles.”

For Koch, the machine helps him get a clearer, multi-angled image of the retina to help watch for conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic macular edema and others.

“It takes a picture of the retina and has a scroll so you can scroll through the retina if you see something,” said Koch.

“It looks like an MRI, basically, looking at what’s underneath all those layers. I had a patient who didn’t see perfectly, and ended up having a case of solar retinopathy due to looking at the eclipse without eclipse viewing glasses. Boom, the scan picked up the mild damage to the retina.”

My eye scan only took a moment. I placed my head before the device and looked into a screen where there was a green X and a red line. While looking at the green X, the red laser line charted across the screen quickly, then there was a flash of light and we were finished. A moment later, there was my retina on his computer screen.

“Looks like you have a slight vitreous detachment,” he pointed to the screen where there was a thin gap between the retinal wall and the vitreous, or gel, of the eyeball. Koch explained that it is a normal condition as people age, and that “float-

ers,” or those little annoying things you sometimes see in your vision, are the most common byproduct this condition presents. He said if I started to see flashes of light in my vision, it might be an indication of traction from the vitreous tugging on the retina, or even a retinal tear. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be too concerned about the floaters.

By far, the most common eye condition is age-related macular degeneration, which affects the center of your vision, not your peripheral vision. According to the National Eye Institute, nearly 2.1 million adults 50 and older had macular degeneration. By 2050, this figure will more than double, according to projections.

On the screen, Koch pointed out the macula on my retina, which appears as a dark spot. The macula is the small “dip” on your retina where most everything you see is funneled into, and contains mostly cones, which deal with fine-tuned vision.

Rods, on the other hand, deal mostly with night and peripheral vision.

“I try to make a wellness scan on the new machine a part of most of my eye exams,” said Koch. “It helps for me to be able to watch a certain area over time, and if necessary, to send the patient onto a retinal specialist.”

Up to 90 percent of cases are “dry” macular degeneration, which involves small deposits of fatty protein that form on the retina. The more advanced form is “wet” macular degeneration, which involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels within the retina that can leak and damage the macula. Generally, wet macular degeneration is treatable.

“Fortunately most people who complain of blurry or fuzzy vision simply need a change in their glasses or contact prescription – also cataracts and other conditions cause blur, but macular degeneration is becoming a lot more prevalent due to a large aging population,” said Koch. “Imagine if you put a hand right in front of your face. That’s what it’s like – you can see peripherally okay, but everything in the center is blurry.”

Koch said everyone should get regular eye exams, but especially people 50 and older when age-related conditions start presenting themselves. To schedule your own eye exam, make an appointment with your optometrist. If you’d like to check out Dr. Koch’s new machine, give him a call at the Vision Center - (208) 255-5513.

Top: Dr. Paul Koch points out the different layers his new machine on the author’s retinal scan.

Right: A traditional top down image of a retina (left) compared to the new image (right) which shows layers and depth. Photo courtesy of Topcon.

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OUTDOORS

U

tah’s license plates now brag about “the Finest Snow on Earth,” but nobody in Brigham City knew much about snow skiing when I was growing up there. We were living in the Beehive State. Like drones, my sister and I would have grown up deprived if it hadn’t been for the brave volunteer kid-herder Nick Topik.

I was in eighth grade the year Nick Topic, armed with a pair of long white army-surplus skis and a parka, signed up to ride as chaperone on the ski bus, a new recreational program for us youth. It took over an hour and a half each way so you can imagine the sacrifice he made for us.

Nick Topik learned to ski when he was a kid in Austria and eventually used his German language skills and his prowess on skis to fight for the U.S. during World War II. I won’t compare his ski program mission to a war but the wild busload of hooligans he took off the streets of Brigham City put him through more trouble and grief than any substitute teacher in U.S. history.

Trouble was, he forced us to get back on the bus an hour before the Snow Basin lifts stopped running. In the midst of our joy, our minder blasted three long honks from the parking lot. That signaled we had 15 minutes or else. “Or else” meant being banned from future trips.

We were for whom the bell tolled. I remember how painful it was to quit skiing early. How unjust! Looking back, I laugh at the fierce passion of a preteen’s outrage.

Our rowdy, prematurely deskied bunch crammed into the

bus and descended the gravel switchbacks down to the valley.

There we stopped in the parking lot of a racetrack in Ogden Canyon where, every snowy Saturday, there were cutter races, the western version of chariots.

There, imprisoned in the bus, we waited while Nick and the driver watched the last races.

“No one under age allowed,” Nick yelled over the clamor.

Not that any one of us wanted the company of horsey, bet-placing adults over our own hat-stealing, tuna fish flinging, yell-as-loud-as-you-can crowd.

The first time I got to ski at Snow Basin, I spent the entire time in battle with the rope tow.

Everybody else, including my little sister, grabbed that cable with no problems. Over and over, I sneaked up on the tow, infinitesimally tightening my open grip on the snaking rope, like a man I saw once at the fish hatchery who could catch a rainbow trout in his bare hands.

But as soon as I grabbed a hold, I was launched like the end person in crack-the-whip.

“You’ll get it,” my friends yelled as they ascended. “It’s so fun to ski down!”

I’d been so miserable, anyone would think I’d give up skiing forever. But the next Saturday came and we rode the bus under the tyranny of Nick Topik. I glided up the rope tow like a new zipper.

And the next week and the next and the next and the next.

My gratitude to Nick Topik who offered us a vibrant, thrilling way to play with the world, to be outside and physical. It is volunteers like him who can make huge impacts on the younguns, as obnoxious as they are.

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MUSIC

Jason Spooner Band slated for the Niner

They’re a roots-rock band from Maine that’s found success in the PNW, and they’re here next week

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert

READ

We all know the story of Warren Jeffs to some extent (Mormon Fundamentalist, cult leader, felon, child molester, etc.) Fewer know the story of his daughter, Rachel Jeffs, who escaped the FLDS life a few years ago and now lives in Bonners Ferry. Her memoir, “Breaking Free,” is a gut-wrenching but inspiring story of the abuse she experienced at the hands of her father and his suffocating beliefs, but also the triumph and peace she and her children have found on the outside.

LISTEN

Jason Spooner plays his Gretch semi-hollow body electric guitar. Courtesy photo.

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff When Jason Spooner mentions his touring adventures in the Pacific Northwest, he doesn’t just say he likes Sandpoint. He recounts playing gigs on the shores of the lake, performing at a Halloween party on Schweitzer Mountain and jet skiing on a day off — a memory he recalls as “one of the best days of my life.”

“It’s such a beautiful and spiritual part of the country,” he said about North Idaho.

Jason Spooner is the front man of Portland, Maine’s Jason Spooner Band: Spooner on guitar and harmonica, Adam Frederick on bass, Warren McPherson on keyboard and Dan Boyden on drums. They play the 219 Lounge March 15 from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Spooner, who has been recording and touring intermittently for over a decade, made it clear that he and his band mates are no spring chickens.

“We’re old bastards,” he said with a laugh. “Truthfully, we’ve been doing it for a long time in terms of just how long our career

has been, (but) in terms of our tour schedule, we have a pretty nice work/life balance.”

Spooner said one key to finding that balance is traveling to “spectacularly beautiful places with enthusiastic audiences” — places like Sandpoint, he said.

It helps that the band has found success in the west thanks to a connection with a PNW record promoter and lots of radio play.

“Driving down the Jersey turnpike feels more like a job, but when we cruise across Montana or across Lake Pend Oreille on a jet ski, it feels like we’ve made a good decision,” he said.

While Spooner said he typically sticks to “roots-rock songwriter” when describing the band’s genre, he said it’s more of a “gumbo” thanks to each musician bringing in their own influences.

“Unlike a lot of other bands who architect what they want to be, with this band it happened like a musical science experiment,” he said. “Throw in a rootsy songwriter, mix it with a drummer with influences in funk, add a bass player with jazz leanings and a (keyboard-

ist) from Jamaica with reggae in his blood, and classical influences, too.”

The result is a constantly evolving sound, Spooner said.

He said acquiring a private recording space in April 2017 has only furthered that evolution, and allowed for each band member to help write new tunes.

“It’s a more collaborative effort these days,” he said. “It’s actually one of the most creatively inspired times we’ve ever had. This is when you anticipate a lot of future regular record making and touring as a result.”

Sandpoint is just the third stop on the band’s western U.S. tour through Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Spooner said the crowd at the 219 can expect the band to be fresh and fired up.

“Sandpoint has a special place in our hearts,” he said.

Check out the band’s most recent album, “Chemical,” through iTunes, cdbaby, bull moose or Spotify.

Not-so-famous quotes by famous musicians: “All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff.”

-Frank Zappa “There are two kinds of artists left: those who endorse Pepsi and those who simply won’t.”

-Annie Lennox “After I saw Jimi (Hendrix) play, I just went home and wondered what the f*** I was going to do with my life.”

-Jeff Beck “I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right.”

-Duke Ellington

It’s an oldie but a goodie: The White Stripes’ “Elephant.” I’ve found no better album to deep clean my apartment to, or to listen to while knocking out a big writing project. The magical duo of Jack and Meg White is unmatched in alternative rock, making this 2003 album just as edgy and energetic as it was when it dropped. Most know the lead track, “Seven Nation Army,” but my favorites are “The Air Near My Fingers” and “Hypnotize.”

WATCH

I’m usually wary of movie tributes to tragic events, so I approached “Only The Brave” (which tells the story of the 2013 Granite Mountain hotshot firefighters) with some reservations. Fortunately, the filmmakers nailed it. I’m not a hotshot, so I can’t say how real the logistics of the whole firefighting storyline is, but the movie builds relatable, gritty, Western characters who pair well with the heavy rock soundtrack and themes of integrity, growth, brotherhood and family.

Keep tissues nearby.

“Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny.”

-Frank Zappa “Money doesn’t talk, it swears.”

-Bob Dylan March 8, 2018 /

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PET CARE

Feline Asthma: risky business for some cats

By Dr. Dawn Mehra Reader Contributor

From The Pend Oreille Review January 1, 1909

FORGER IS CAUGHT Passes Two Checks on Northern Mercantile Company and Horseshoe Bar

Sandpoint is becoming somewhat of a Mecca for bad check men. Another pen and ink artist, who gives his name as John Burke and who claims to hail from Michigan, was captured Tuesday night by Officer Traue.

Previous to his capture he had passed two checks, one for $9.66 on the Northern Mercantile company and the second for $12.15 on Goerge Halsell, proprietor of the Horseshoe Bar, and was trying to negotiate a third for $19.23 which was found in his possession when arrested.

The checks were drawn on teh Laclede Lumber company and bore the purported signature of that concern. They were made payable at the Traders State bank, from which they were returned marked “no account.”

The check passed on the Northern Mercantile was drawn in favor of Edward Duncan and the other was in favor of Henry McMillan.

Burke evidently had a partner in the deal. He went over to the Riverside saloon where he became involved in a quarrel with the bartender during the course of which he was slapped. He left the saloon threatening to return with his partner and a gun and fill the bartender full of holes. He did come back but did not make his bluff stick. Instead he calmed down and bought a drink.

Shortly afterward,m he and his partner became involved in a real or fake quarrel at the California Wine House. Their actions throughout the night attracted attention and Officer Traue was informed and arrested Burke. His partner got away. Police scoured the city thoroughly yesterday, but were unable to locate him.

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When clients describe their cat’s chronic cough- they describe him/her hunching close to the ground, extending the neck and “honking or gagging “. Most folks chalk that up to hairballs as the likely cause. Besides hairballs, a cough can also be mistaken for respiratory infection or heart disease.

NIAH veterinarians will invariably include asthma as an important possible cause.

Because asthma can affect each patient differently, and can often lead to a lethal (deadly) outcome if not treated appropriately, it is important to diagnose this condition quickly and accurately.

Causes: Most researchers and clinicians agree that feline asthma is caused by an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens -particles that stimulate a cat’s immune system.

Similar to humans, feline asthma causes a “hyper” inflammatory response which limits the ability of air to pass through the airway thus causing breathing stress. Severe asthma attacks mimic suffocation. Coughing and respiratory effort are it’s hallmarks. In humans we know that while actual symptoms

of asthma occur in episodes, the airways of the lung are diseased all the time. We do not know yet if feline airways are also diseased all the time or if the actual airway structural changes occur only when there are clinical signs of distress.

Diagnosis: There is not one definitive technique to diagnosis asthma and veterinarians rely heavily on a solid history from clients. Oftentimes, usually in chronic situations, doctors can quickly observe the ravages of asthma on a radiograph or CT scan. Sometimes cells from a sample of airway tissue can help. Allergy testing is occasionally required. In rare cases, all of the tests above are “normal” veterinarians rely on therapy to diagnose lung disease. If a patient responds quickly to a corticosteroid or epinephrine injection, it is likely the patient is suffering from constricted airway disease- asthma.

Treatment: Corticosteroids and bronchodilators are the standard of care for feline asthma sufferers. They come in all forms, pills, liquids injections, and inhalers. The latter is my favorite for a many reasons the most important of which is the inhaler substance (s) are not systemically distribut-

ed — inhalers work primarily at the level of the lung. Other treatment modalities include omega-3 fatty acids, allergy injections (hyposensitization), immune modulators and, of course, filtering air.

Prognosis: Feline asthma is often a progressive condition that fails to improve significantly over time. Affected cats may experience occasional asthmatic fare-ups that vary in intensity from mild to life threatening. Although cats can never be truly “cured”, with early intervention, and combining medication/supplements to minimize coughing and respiratory effort, owners can help their asthmatic cats live normal happy lives.

Dr. Dawn Mehra is a veterinary physician at North Idaho Animal Hospital.

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CROSSWORD ACROSS

Word Week

thewless

/THYOO-lis/

[adjective] 1. lacking in mental or moral vigor; weak, of the spiritless, or timid.

“The thewless commander retreated to his private quarters.”

Corrections: OK, this is the second corrections for my local’s quiz. The question was worded incorrectly from the start. It should have read, “What’s the first graduating class to go all four years of high school at the new (current) Sandpoint High School.” Long story short, I screwed that one up royally. Apologies. Please stop emailing me. Also, Ivano’s started at Second and Lake, not Third and Lake. Finally, we inexplicably dropped the word “wilderness” from official ballot language for the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness advisory vote. -BO

1. Exhibits 6. Where two pieces meet 10. Check 14. Lawful 15. Anagram of “Sees” 16. Impish 17. Turf 18. Awestruck 19. Broth (Scottish) 20. Indoor garden 22. Solitary 23. Morning moisture 24. Blatant 26. Crown 30. A gold coin of ancient Persia 32. Lazybones 33. Acrobat 37. Swerve 38. Caper 39. Savvy about 40. Attacked 42. Fragrant oil 43. Weeper 44. On the beach 45. French for “Queen” 47. Venomous snake 48. Groan 49. An open letter 56. Tropical American wildcat 57. “Oh my!”

58. A type of cold water 59. Deliver a tirade 60. Container weight

Solution on page 22 61. Pamphlet 62. If not 63. Concludes 64. Open skin infections

DOWN 1. Smelting waste 2. German for “Mister” 3. Curved molding 4. Diminish 5. Defamation 6. Goat antelope 7. Brother of Jacob 8. Vipers 9. Fast 10. Table linen 11. Mistake

12. Smell 13. You (archaic) 21. Skirt’s edge 25. By means of 26. Opera star 27. Midmonth date 28. Beers 29. Displace 30. Discourage 31. Desiccated 33. Kitty (poker) 34. Within 35. Celebrity 36. Ripped 38. Wean 41. A large vase 42. Distinct features

44. American Sign Language 45. Imperial 46. Deservedly receives 47. Donkeys 48. No more than 50. Distinctive flair 51. A division of a hospital 52. Novice 53. Russian emperor 54. Behold, in old Rome 55. Decays

March 8, 2018 /

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