Reader_May4_2023

The week in random review

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

music for spring

“Have you fallen from where glory sprouts/ Are you cut off in fields and pressed down/ Like an early spring till that don’t come around/ I think I’ve been there.”

— Lyrics from “Early Spring Till” by Nathaniel Rateliff. It’s a sad song, and perfectly matches how I feel knowing there will be many weeks yet before I’m planting anything in the garden.

weird idaho news that’s weird in a good way

This week, the Gem State found itself on the Associated Press’ “Oddities” news story page, thanks not to its politics but arguably its most adorable residents: sheep. During the last week of April, 2,500 bleating sheep crossed the highway in Eagle (a suburb of Boise) and drew a crowd of about 300 people, according to the AP. The herd was headed to its summer range in the Boise National Forest, and will cross the highway again in the fall. For a taste of the story, which was the most delightful piece of news I’ve read this week: “Curious onlookers lined the road as the animals sheepishly entered the highway, guided by ranchers and steered by sheepdogs. They traveled up the road a little ways, the fluffy white herd obscuring the yellow-painted centerline amid a chorus of ‘baas’ and the lead ewe’s jangling bell.”

pit stop adulthood

There’s a popular meme that makes regular circulations around Facebook that says something to the effect of: “Welcome to adulthood. You now have a favorite burner on the stove.” Another variation riffs on the same theme: “Welcome to adulthood. You now get irrationally angry when they reorganize the grocery store.” I have my own take: “Welcome to adulthood. You now have preferred places to use the bathroom on all road routes that take you more than half-an-hour from home.” There are rest stops, gas stations and grocery stores that exist on my list of favorite places for a mid-roadtrip tinkle. I used to roll my eyes when my mom would refer to the Holiday on Highway 95 in Hayden as “her gas station.” We would stop there every time we traveled to Coeur d’Alene or beyond. Now I know: It’s just another way I am becoming my mother. As they say, “Welcome to adulthood.”

no context iphone notes, 1/8/18

Adult life hack: Eating healthy is easy. Spinach tastes good in anything as long as there is an equal amount of cream cheese.

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

www.sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

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

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

Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)

Advertising: Kelsey Kizer kelsey@sandpointreader.com

Contributing Artists: Kai Reese (cover), Ben Olson, SPL, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Judy Meyers, Steve Berenson, Tom Prez, Steve Johnson, Don Helander, Bill Borders, Foster Cline,

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Clark Corbin, Abby Leisy, Rep. Lauren Necochea, Tony McDermott, Marcia Pilgeram

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID

Subscription Price: $165 per year

Web Content: Keokee

The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community.

The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person

SandpointReader letter policy:

The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics.

Requirements:

–No more than 300 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers.

Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com

Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com

About the Cover

This week’s cover art is from Kai Reese depicting a classic Lake Pend Oreille scene. Thanks Kai!

Fairgrounds RV park sees movement forward on contested land

Fair Board legal counsel calls the action ‘a violation of Idaho law’ without proper input from fairgrounds officials

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

During a special meeting April 27, Bonner County commissioners cast a pair of split votes reinstating a contract for survey work at the Bonner County Fairgrounds and approving a memorandum of understanding that would dedicate contested property between the fairgrounds and sheriff’s complex exclusively for use as a campground. Each of those items drew “yes” votes from Commissioners Luke Omodt and Steve Bradshaw, with Commissioner Asia Williams casting the only vote against both motions.

When Williams brought those items back to the table at the BOCC’s business meeting May 2 — this time moving to undo both actions on the grounds that they allegedly misrepresented facts and did not effectively involve the Fair Board in decision making — her motions never saw a second and therefore failed.

While sparring over the potential location of an RV campground extension at the Bonner County Fairgrounds has been ongoing for nearly a year, the issue ramped up this spring as debate over whether or not to hire outside engineers James A. Sewell and Associates for boundary line adjustment and replatting work produced two camps: Omodt, Bradshaw and some members of the public supporting the RV park be built on a piece of land south of the fairgrounds, which currently straddles fairgrounds and vacant county property; and Williams, Sheriff Daryl Wheeler and a vocal faction of the public claiming that the RV park would be better suited elsewhere on fairgrounds property, and they believe the southern parcel has historically been thought of

as the future location of a new justice complex.

The Fair Board has not officially voted on its stance; however, records show members of the board expressing support for keeping the RV campground expansion on already established fairgrounds land.

While Omodt and Williams have consistently been at odds on the issue, Bradshaw changed course in late March when he voted in line with Williams twice to disengage from the survey contract on the contested land, and, in early April, voted in favor of requesting a grant extension from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation — the grantor facilitating the campground expansion — and to allow the Bonner County Fair Board to choose its own location for the RV park.

The special meeting April 27 saw Bradshaw flip his vote again, this time to reinstate the survey contract and approve a new memorandum of understanding dedicating the contested land to use as a campground rather than for parking, which has been its established use since 2014. That special meeting, while public, was not streamed online, and audio was not made available before press time. The Reader requested comment from Bradshaw regarding why he changed course yet again on the campground matter, but the commissioner did not reply before press time.

The issue arose during the hour-long public comment portion of the May 2 business meeting, with resident Monica Gunter asking why commissioners ever voted to let the Fair Board decide on the RV park’s location if Omodt and Bradshaw intended to move forward with construction on the southern property regardless.

“I’m just asking because it really blows my mind that they are not being involved in this process,” Gunter said, referring to the seven-member Fair Board.

“This has gone around and around and nobody can understand why it is that two of the board’s commissioners are unwilling to allow the development of this campground to be done on existing fair board property,” added resident Doug Paterson. “That point has been made to you again and again, you have these votes to go back and do it your way again and again. Somehow, that does not make even a little sense.”

Omodt said that time is of the essence, as June is the deadline to begin work under the IDPR grant. He presented what he called a “mock-up” of the land being used for both campground and justice complex uses, stating it was created with the help of both Bonner County and Sewell engineers.

Omodt called the potential layout a “win-win” with “acre-

age that is left over,” and said movement forward was necessary to “even have any possibility of receiving the $473,000” from IDPR, which has previously weighed in with “serious concerns” about whether the project will be completed within time and budget constraints amid the ongoing local debate.

Williams proposed two motions during the May 2 meeting meant to undo the April 27 votes on the engineering contract and campground MOU, and invited Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bauer — who represents the Fair Board — to speak to the illegality of those actions.

The MOU in particular, Bauer said, served more as a “statement of intention” by the BOCC than an MOU, because there was no counterparty (the Fair Board) agreeing to its terms. Further, movement forward on any survey work or development without the Fair Board’s consent would go against Idaho Code, Bauer alleged.

“It’s our legal position that proceeding in this manner without the key stakeholder — statutory stakeholder, which is the Fair Board — is a violation of Idaho law,” he said, adding later: “It’s a usurpation of the Fair Board’s power.”

“Nobody is actually arguing not to do the campground — they’re just saying put it in a place that doesn’t exist on encumbered land,” Williams added.

“We’re putting planning aside to say, ‘We have to [move forward] for the grant,’” she continued, “but actually, the easiest answer is to stop doing these memorandums of understanding that are not legal, because the department that issues the grant sees the dysfunction and they don’t feel confident that we can get it done.”

Bonner County Commissioners Luke Omodt, left; Asia Williams, center; and Steve Bradshaw, right. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey.

Early voting open, absentee ballot deadline approaching for May 16 election

E.BoCo Library Board of Trustees and Pend Oreille Hospital Board members on the ballot

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

Bonner County voters will head to the polls Tuesday, May 16 for an election that will include candidates for trustee positions on the East Bonner County Library Board and Pend Oreille Hospital District.

Incumbent Library Board Trustee Susan L. Shea is on the ballot for reelection to a six-year term, facing challenger Stacy Rodriguez. For Pend Oreille Hospital District, voters will be asked to cast ballots for four candidates, also serving six-year terms of office. Contenders are Cynthia Buse, Bart Casey (incumbent), Timothy Cochran (incumbent vice chair), Jim Frank (incumbent) and Dwayne Sheffler.

The East Bonner County Library District Board of Trustees consists of five members, charged with serving as the governing body of the library — including setting and overseeing the local library system’s budget; hiring, supervising and evaluating employees; working with the library director on policy and operations; and ensuring “its community is well represented and informed regarding their local library and public libraries in general,” according to the district’s website.

Shea has served on the EBCLD Board since 2017. She has campaigned on her long professional experience in financial operations, having been a Bonner County resident for 30 years and working at Coldwater Creek, Timberline Helicopter, the Southside Water and Sewer District, and director of the Bonner County Indigent and Charity Program.

“Her experience helped to reduce the amount of the levy each year and to steadily reduce the community’s library tax contributions by declining an annual 3% tax increase,” according to her bio page on ebonnerlibrary.org.

Rodriguez came to Bonner County in 2016 and volunteered at the East Bonner County Library

as a tutor in English, writing and math. A retired deputy district attorney from San Diego, she has worked as a trainer of police and probation officers, homeschooled her daughter from third grade to her current grade as a highschool junior, taught eighth-grade homeschool at the Sandpoint branch of the library and, since 2020, served as coach for the local National Christian Forensic Communication Association club and Salt & Light Speech and Debate. Rodriguez is also a lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

“She is also an avid reader, a bibliophile and an indie bookstore guru, but remains thankful that our public community library has saved her lots of money,” Rodriguez’s bio on the library website states.

Where Shea and Rodriguez have differed is in the hot-button issue of what constitutes “appropriate” library materials for minors and how — or even whether — they should be made available by public libraries. That policy discussion has made headlines in recent years, including the 2023 Idaho Legislature session, which included the controversial House Bill 314. The measure passed both House and Senate chambers, defining “obscene” and material considered “harmful to minors” and granting authority to Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador’s office to pursue civil legal action up to $2,500 against libraries for making such material available to minors.

Gov. Brad Little vetoed the bill in a late-session move in March, worried that it “makes sweeping, blanket assumptions that could be determined ‘harmful to minors,’” and created a “library bounty system” that would encourage legal challenges threatening the financial stability of libraries across the state.

Conservative lawmakers mounted an effort to override Little’s veto on the final day of the legislative session on April 6, but failed by one vote after 24 legisla-

tors voted against overturning the governor’s decision.

At a candidates forum April 20, library board contenders Shea and Rodriguez shared their perspectives on how to handle “offensive” or “harmful” material.

“Every person’s freedom to read what they wish is guaranteed by the First Amendment and reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court again and again,” Shea said. “I believe in peoples’ personal freedom to decide which books are appropriate for themselves based on their values.”

Rodriguez, while saying she was not in favor of “book banning,” said she’d advocate for setting aside “obscene material” into a separate age-restricted area of the library, adding that the American Library Association is run by a “Marxist lesbian” and has foisted “radical dictates” on the East Bonner County Library in past years.

She claimed that the First Amendment has been “used as a cudgel to sexualize children” by making “books that would make a sex worker blush” available to minors.

Meanwhile, the Pend Oreille Hospital District election has not generated nearly the same rhetorical heat, though its functions and policies have also touched on

another red-hot political conflict — this time surrounding women’s health care and, specifically, access to reproductive services surrounding childbirth, delivery and access to a range of treatments including abortion.

Following the reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, which established access to abortion as a right, states were granted the authority to formulate their own policies regarding access to abortion. Idaho, among a handful of other states, followed the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in 2022 by instituting strict sideboards to abortion care via “trigger laws,” in most cases making the procedure illegal, except in cases of extreme and specific instances of jeopardy for a mother’s life.

Medical providers around the country objected, and Bonner General Health announced in March that it would suspend birth and delivery in its Bonner and Boundary County service area, citing the legal and political climate as an impetus for the flight of qualified practitioners from the state and a barrier to recruitment of replacement professionals.

The Pend Oreille Hospital District Board is a seven-member political subdivision of Idaho,

which supports hospital facilities within Sandpoint and “approximately two-thirds of Bonner County, Idaho,” according to pendoreillehospitaldistrict.org.

Current trustees include Chair Dr. Thomas Lawrence, Vice-Chair Timothy Cochran and members Dr. Scott Burgstahler, Bart Casey, James Frank, Helen Parsons and Dan Rose.

Early voting started May 1 and will continue through Friday, May 12, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Bonner County Elections Office (1500 U.S. Hwy. 2, Suite 124 in Sandpoint). Absentee ballots may be requested at voteidaho.gov or downloaded at the Bonner County Elections website: bonnercountyid.gov/departments/ CountyClerk, click on “Elections” in the menu.

Requests for absentee ballots can be dropped off, mailed, emailed or faxed to the Elections Office. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Friday, May 5 at 5 p.m. Sample ballots are available precinct-by-precinct at the Elections Office website.

Polls on Election Day will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Go to the Elections Office website to identify your polling place.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 16. Courtesy photo.

Reader earns awards for 2022 reporting at annual Idaho Press Club gathering

Bits ’n’ Pieces

From east, west and beyond

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

Two people have been sentenced to jail terms of three and four years for defrauding investors in the “We Build the Wall” scheme, CNN reported.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said “no” to a Senate request to testify about corruption by certain members of the court, according to The Lever. Concerns include justices (including Roberts and Clarence Thomas) receiving high-end gifts and not recusing themselves from cases in which they had a conflict of interest.

Three Texas women who helped a friend seek an abortion via medication are facing a wrongful death lawsuit over the terminated pregnancy. The legal action was filed by the former husband of the woman who sought the abortion, Axios reported. The abortion occurred in July 2022, before Texas’ new abortion laws became enforceable.

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

government and military salaries, Social Security checks and fund the National Weather Service (impacting forecasts).

Other effects: the U.S. Department of Labor would be prevented from recovering back wages due to workers, the U.S. credit rating would be lowered, there would be 10,800 fewer OSHA inspections, and shortterm borrowing costs would rise.

The Treasury secretary said debt payments will start failing as early as June 1. The debt ceiling has been raised 49 times under a Republican president (three times under Trump, including 2018 when Republicans and some Democrats voted for a 16% increase in discretionary spending) and 29 times under a Democrat. Democratic leaders are accusing Republicans of a “hostage situation” orchestrated by extreme MAGA lawmakers trying to “impose their radical agenda on America.”

By Reader Staff

Media professionals from across the state celebrated their achievements in reporting over the past year, with the annual gathering April 29 of the Idaho Press Club membership in Boise. Among the winners of the yearly journalism awards were staff members of the Sandpoint Reader, which together earned accolades in nine categories.

Reader Publisher Ben Olson won third place in the Serious Feature Report category for his story “The Hidden Homeless,” which explored the understated issue of senior citizens who lack housing and what is — or isn’t — being done about it.

Reader News Editor Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey took third place in the Watchdog/ Investigative Report category for her coverage (which is ongoing) of the investigation into the various controversies surrounding the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Kiebert-Carey also took third place in the Arts/ Entertainment category for her piece “The Pursuit of Transcendence,” which detailed the work of late-local artist Romey Stuckart and her husband, fellow artist Stephen Schultz, who in 2022 were honored with the Idaho Excellence in the Arts Award.

Finally, Kiebert-Carey took second place in the Environment Report category for her story “For Bears, Forebears and the Future,” about 1,000 acres of Kootenai Valley farmland being set aside for agricultural and wildlife uses.

Reader Editor-in-Chief Zach Hagadone earned three first-place awards and placed second in two other categories.

In the Editorial category, Hagadone won among weekly newspapers statewide for “We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us,” an opinion piece about the thwarted assault by right-wing extremist group Patriot Front on the Pride celebration in Coeur d’Alene in 2022; in the Political Report category for his story about legislation that would have repealed a longstanding Idaho law prohibiting private militias; and in the Business Report category for “This Isn’t the Way We Do Business Here,” on the change of ownership of the Cedar Street Bridge and subsequent impacts on numerous small businesses pushed out by dramatic rent increases.

Hagadone’s second-place finishes included his multi-part series “Conservation: From the Timber Wars to Collaboration” and, in the Election Report category, “Big-Money Nevada Consultants Play Part in Herndon Senate Campaign,” exploring the out-of-state influences animating the historically negative District 1 Republican primary election in 2022.

The Reader — Sandpoint’s only locally owned and independently operated newspaper, with a full-time reporting staff of three journalists — has earned 36 awards from the Idaho Press Club since returning to publication in 2015, including first-place for General Excellence among Idaho weekly newspapers for work produced in 2018 and 2021.

President Joe Biden’s administration announced actions against fentanyl that would reach worldwide, according to various sources. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is said to be more potent and deadlier than heroin. It comes from Mexico and Guatemala, using chemicals and equipment made in China. Two cartels control most distribution, using sophisticated trafficking devices, including submarines. Canada and Mexico will work with the U.S. The fentanyl death toll in the U.S. can be 200 a day.

The Nation reported there were 57,600 fewer child care workers early this year, compared to the same time in 2020, but the number of children needing care has grown. Problems include poor pay for child care workers and the rising cost of child care

The Council for a Strong America estimates that the child care crisis cost the economy up to $122 billion. Washington U.S. Sen. Patty Murray has reintroduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, creating child care affordability and better wages for child care workers.

Biden announced he will run for re-election. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., had previously indicated he might run, but instead said he will support Biden.

Last week, U.S. House members voted 217-215 (four Republicans withheld support as did all Democrats) in favor of their Limit, Save, Grow Act, their proposal for lifting the debt ceiling.

Failure to lift the ceiling, which would be a first in U.S. history, is predicted to cause financial calamity as the nation defaults on already incurred debts. Fallout, the BBC reported, would include inability to pay

The Republicans’ Limit, Save and Grow Act includes freezing spending to the 2022 level for a decade. The plan would reverse most of Biden’s accomplishments. It now goes to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where the leader has proposed no negotiations until Republicans agree to pass a “clean” non-conditional bill to avoid debt default. Democrats say the Republicans’ plan would hurt the poor and middle class, and cuts made to the IRS would increase the deficit.

Using the 14th Amendment, Biden could refuse to act on the strings-attached House plan to raise the debt ceiling, according to former-U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich.

Section Four states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned.”

Reich said a debt ceiling “that prevents the federal government from honoring its existing financial commitments violates the Constitution.”

Unsafe lead and cadmium levels can be found in dark chocolate, Consumer Reports recently reported. Lead and cadmium are a natural part of the Earth’s crust, but mining, manufacturing, transportation and agriculture adds to levels found in air, soil and water. Health hazards include bone fragility and kidney and lung damage from cadmium

An expert quoted by The New York Times recommended 1/3 ounce daily of dark chocolate, and no more than one ounce.

Blast from the past: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin, American statesman and scientist, 1706-1790.

A handful of first-place IPC awards won by Reader Staff since 2019. Photo by Ben Olson.

New coalition seeks to end Idaho’s closed primary elections

Idahoans for Open Primaries will attempt to qualify a ballot initiative for the November 2024 election

By Clark Corbin Idaho Capital Sun

Organizers with Reclaim Idaho have teamed up with several other organizations to file a ballot initiative for the 2024 general election that is designed to replace Idaho’s closed primary elections with open primaries that any Idaho voter could participate in, regardless of political affiliation.

The initiative would also change Idaho general elections by creating a new instant runoff — also known as ranked choice — voting system.

The new coalition, called Idahoans for Open Primaries, represents a collaboration between the Idaho Task Force of Veterans for Political Innovation, North Idaho Women, Represent US Idaho, the Hope Coalition and Reclaim Idaho. Members of the Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition filed the initiative May 2 at the Idaho Capitol in Boise.

Supporters of the open primary initiative oppose the Idaho Republican Party’s closed primary election, which is only open to Idaho voters who file paperwork affiliating with the Idaho Republican Party.

“This is a simple, common-sense reform that will give us better elections and better leadership,” former Republican Speaker of the Idaho House Bruce Newcomb said in a written statement provided to the Idaho Capital Sun. Newcomb was one of the first 20 people to sign the open primary initiative petition.

In 2011, the Idaho Legislature passed a law, House Bill 351, closing Idaho’s primary elections. Even though the law closed primary elections, it also gave the leaders of political parties the ability to choose to keep their primaries open, and the Idaho Democratic Party opened its primary elections to all registered voters.

Karole Honas, a longtime eastern Idaho television anchor who retired in 2020 after 30 years with Local News 8, is supporting the signature gathering drive and serving as a spokesperson for the effort.

Honas, who is a Bingham County voter, said the closed primary law backs voters in a corner. Bingham County is a conservative community and agriculture hotspot that has consistently elected Republicans for decades. The closed primary is the election that essentially decides who will represent Bingham County voters and their neighbors in government.

As a journalist, Honas wanted to remain neutral and independent. But the closed primary forced her to choose between remaining neutral and affiliating with a political party in order to vote in the primary. Honas said several of her friends and neighbors felt the same pressure; they wanted to remain independent for one reason or another but did not want to miss out on crucial primary elections that shape the future of their communities.

“In Bingham County, if I wanted to vote, I had to vote in the Republican primary because that was the only game in town,” Honas told the Idaho Capital Sun in a telephone interview. “It didn’t feel right.”

Honas believes opening the primary will force candidates to consider the perspectives of a broader group of voters in order to win an election. She also said the change will bring independents into the primary process. Under the proposed initiative, the top four voter-getters would advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

“I think it will bring more voters to the table, and I like the idea of the top four going on to the general election,” Honas said. “I think there is a good chance we will get better leaders.”

Hyrum Erickson, a Republican precinct committeeman from Rexburg, has committed to collecting signatures for the open primary initiative, according to a press release issued by Idahoans for Open Primaries leaders.

Precinct committee positions in Idaho are elected by party from each voting precinct in the state. The precinct committeemen help the party with voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, are involved with party leadership at the county level and help elect

candidates. (Precinct committeemen and precinct committeeman are the terms used in Idaho law to describe the positions, but the positions can be held by anybody — not just men.)

“Our current primary system incentivizes candidates to demonize people who disagree with them rather than focus on solving problems,” Erickson said in a written statement.

What would the new open primary ballot initiative do?

The new open primary initiative is designed to fundamentally change elections in Idaho.

If it qualifies for the ballot and is approved by a majority of voters, the open primary initiative would do away with the closed primary system. In its place, the initiative would create a “top four” primary election where all candidates run against each other in the same primary election, and the top four vote-getters would advance to the general election in November.

Procedures for the general election would also change to include a new instant runoff process,

which is also commonly referred to as ranked choice voting.

Here’s how that would work: During the general election, Idaho voters would vote for their first choice of candidate. Voters would also have the ability to rank the other candidates in order of preference. If no candidate won more than 50% of the first-choice votes, a process of elimination based on voters’ ballot rankings would begin. The candidate who finished last would be eliminated, and their share of the votes would instead go to the candidate whom the voter had ranked second-choice on the ballot. The process would repeat until one candidate received more than 50% of the votes. That candidate would be declared the winner.

The new open primary initiative in Idaho is similar to a successful Alaska ballot initiative that voters in the state approved during the 2020 election.

If the ballot initiative passes, Idaho would join Maine and Alaska as the third state to offer instant

< see PRIMARY, Page 9 >

‘Ledges Fire’ burning uncontrolled on 20 acres east of U.S. Hwy. 2

By Reader Staff

It is months before the traditional start to “fire season” in North Idaho, but area skies have already been visited by smoke from a blaze located about 1.5 miles east of U.S. Highway 2, south of the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area.

What fire managers are calling the “Ledges Fire” is believed to have ignited May 2 at approximately 8:30 p.m., and as of press time was being battled by crews from the Idaho Department of Lands and Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS. According to a news release May 3 from IDL, the fire is currently uncontained and uncontrolled, while its cause is under investigation.

Five engines and 18 crew members fought the fire through the night of May 2, and were relieved by fresh personnel on the morning of May 3.

“If you live near the fire, do not fly drones,” IDL cautioned. “Should the need to use aircraft arise, the aircraft will be grounded if unauthorized drones are in the air, putting resources and the lives of fire personnel at risk.”

Furthermore, officials reminded that residents planning to engage in a burning operation this spring should exercise caution.

“If your fire escapes, and you are found negligently responsible, you will be held liable for the costs of suppressing the fire,” IDL stated.

The department shared a num-

ber of tips to help prevent planned burns from becoming uncontrolled, as well as limit liability if flames do escape:

• A responsible adult is required by law to be in attendance until the fire is out;

•Clear all flammable material and vegetation within 10 feet of the outer edge of the pile;

•Keep a water supply and shovel close to the burning site;

•If it’s windy and the surrounding vegetation is dry, it may be best to wait and burn debris another day;

•Keep your pile at a manageable size. Add additional debris slowly as the pile burns down;

•Look up. Choose a safe site for burning that’s away from power lines, overhanging limbs, build-

ings, vehicles, and equipment.

More information about fire prevention and burning guidelines can be found at idl.idaho. gov/fire-management/fire-prevention-and-preparedness. Follow updates on the Ledges Fire, and any other area fires, at idl.idaho.gov/ fire-management/fire-news-feed.

Bouquets:

•This community is lucky to have two stellar journalists reporting the news each and every week. Reader Editor-in-Chief

Zach Hagadone and Reader News

Editor Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey get my Bouquets this week for their wins April 29 at the annual Idaho Press Club awards. It’s such a pleasure working with both Zach and Lyndsie on a regular basis. We are a small editorial department, which means we work our butts off just to keep the paper coming each and every Thursday. By contrast, other weeklies of our size usually have a dozen or more people producing the same amount of content our reporters do — not to mention they usually get paid quite a bit more. If you see Zach or Lyndsie around town, please give them a pat on the back for their hard work and dedication to reporting the news in our community. I’m fortunate to know them both and appreciate everything they do for this newspaper.

• A Bouquet goes out to the city of Sandpoint for the announcement last week claiming City Hall would put “the Couplet” transportation revision plan on the “back burner” in favor of moving forward with “short-term” solutions. I have no problems giving kudos where they are due, but keep in mind that we should have never gotten this far in the process for this disastrous and unpopular plan. Also, this thing isn’t dead for good. Just like before, it’s hidden in the Sandpoint Multimodal Transportation Master Plan, lying in wait for the next overzealous mayor or city administrator to dust off and foist upon Sandpointians at some point in the future. This entire process goes to show what kind of power we have when we participate in the process and refuse to let our elected — and unelected — leaders decide what’s best for our community. Power to the people, always.

Barbs:

• It’s already getting hot and dry, so make sure to drown those campfires when you leave them.

Reasons for voting ‘no’ on WBCSD levy.....

Dear editor, People have asked me why I’m voting “no” May 16 on the WBCSD No. 83 levy. I have no other choice if I want to see the students in our schools get a better education.

One reason is that the school board has not informed the voters that the state of Idaho is going to increase their funding by 16.5%, which I believe all voters should know. Another, is that our district spends $3,000 more per student each year than anywhere from Coeur d’Alene to the Canadian border, yet our students’ ISAT scores are still dismal. The third reason is a lack of transparency, in that WBCSD No. 83 received $2.3 million in excess of their levy funding because of increases in property tax revenues. Did they receive it and what was it spent on?

My fourth reason is a combination of their lack of transparency and lack of communications in letting voters know which funding is spent on the many projects they are involved in. Each expense is important to those of us that have our property taxes increased by voters who do not own property.

My fifth reason is the board members have put into place programs that make everyone feel warm and fuzzy, yet have nothing to do with education, while ISAT scores stay about the same.

I feel that the actions or lack of actions as mentioned above, warrant WBCSD No. 83 to pay for their own forensic audit to an outside source before they ask for a levy. Could there be something amiss here?

WBCSD needs to refocus on education, cut the chaff and improve on our students’ test scores. I expect to see a surge in media letters from WBCSD staff, and students who get extra credit for levy participation.

Bill O’Neil Priest River

Dear editor, I am so sad to find out that the Golden Dragon Cantonese Restaurant in Ponderay has closed. It is just one more pleasure that my wife and I will miss. We usually split our lunch or dinner orders when we go out to eat. For less than $10, including tax, we received wonton soup, three items (such as shrimp, sweet and sour pork and almond chicken), plus hot tea and egg rolls.

This was the best deal in town! It cost more to split a small Whop-

per, small fries and chocolate shake at Burger King.

Arriving in Sandpoint in 1991 from Steamboat Springs, Colo. (property tax on my 40 acres four miles from town went from $100 per year to the thousands in only 10 years due to rich houses next to me), I purchased a home on Forest Avenue on four lots for $50,000 cash. Great gardens and a garage and shop were included. Two of the lots now have a two-story house shadowing the original house.

I also remember the free meals on Fridays at the Hydra and the great people I met. I still miss the great prime rib sandwiches on Mondays at The Garden Restaurant from the Sunday leftovers.

Time marches on… and so do the memories.

James Richard Johnson Clark Fork

Dear editor,

There has been a hot and emotional debate about “banning books.” I am a libertarian and believe in a very limited government, and I find myself on the “banning” side. There are a lot of books paid for in small part with my tax dollars in the library that I don’t agree with. With the type in question, I must draw the line. I encourage the people on the “against banning” side of this debate to just please read them. I am asking (adults, not children) and you, Ben and Zach, to please read the books and see if our concern and alarm is warranted.

Yours in Christ,

Jenn McKnight Sandpoint

Editor’s note: The Reader asked this letter-writer to identify exactly which books we should read and precisely where they are located in our local library catalog. The letter-writer was unable to supply us with such a list, though did identify This Book is Gay, by award-winning YA author Juno Dawson, as objectionable. We haven’t read it, but we will. In the meantime, Publisher Ben Olson has undertaken a long-term project to read the most-challenged books in the country. Find his “Banned Books in Review” series at sandpointreader.com.

that it is not only necessary, but enhances my quality of life. But I still grumble a bit.

But there is one exception — I pay $50 a year for the library.

I pay that with a smile on my face — I mean literally a smile… How such a relatively small community has such a world-class organization kind of amazes me.

From the great resources and options they provide, to the janitorial services that keep the place spic’n’-span, to the very helpful staff, to Brenden Bobby, who keeps things fun, etc., etc.

Just top notch, top-to-bottom.

But now, some Californian transplant wants us to believe we have a problem and need a change.

Nope — no change is needed for the library.

No, the only change I would like is for Californians to quit telling us how to live.

Please, when you have near-perfection, do not mess with it.

Re-elect Susan Shea.

Kirk Lofton Sandpoint

The reality is that we might be losing up to 50% of our library books if a narrow definition of obscenity will define what can be freely available on the shelves of our libraries.

If re-elected, Susan Shea will continue to provide constructive, non-partisan and collegial ways for the Bonner County library to serve all of our population.

Please vote on May 16 — and yes, your voice and vote does make a difference!

Gabrielle Duebendorfer, NMD Sandpoint

Dear editor,

When I was considering moving to Sandpoint almost seven years ago, I came to visit a few times and the first place I went to check out was, yes, the library. I was sold! I have always felt that the community library is the real heartbeat, the real “face” of any community. It tells so much about a place. And we are so fortunate to have the amazing library we do, right here in Sandpoint.

Dear editor,

I was struck by the sense of foreboding and mourning during the NIC jazz band’s last performance, as trustee board politicization might lead to lack of college access. A similar trend toward chaos is threatening our library [News, “Library Board of Trustees candidates speak at packed forum,” April 20, 2023] out of an unreasonable fear for our children’s safety.

There is no threat of drag show story hours, legally defined obscene or pornographic material, or sexualization by our local librarians and adult fiction is already confined upstairs.

Moral restrictions of library material remind me of art labeled and banned as “degenerate” by the Nazis. Most such artists were driven out of the country or killed. Rather than banning different viewpoints, it should be the family’s role to instill inherent values and life skills in their children in order to safely meet life out there.

And now, every time I think about or go to our library, I remember and appreciate our Founding Fathers who, way back in the 1700s, believed so strongly that the most important right we had was our freedom of speech (which included freedom to read, learn, research, discover…) that they captured that belief as the very First Amendment to our Constitution.

Our libraries (along with the librarians, staff, volunteers and board members who make them function) are the bastions, the guardians of that precious First Amendment. I am adamant that our library continues to be that solid, vital symbol of the First Amendment.

Dear editor,

As a property owner, I need to pay taxes for several things. And, like most, I grumble a bit when paying it — even though I am aware

I dread the day that an already shunned young gay man won’t have the opportunity to read about other beliefs, or the day that young adults cannot have access to literary works like Kite Runner or art pieces like Michelangelo’s David for portraying sexual reality.

Susan Shea has served our library and our community with heart, dedication, a strong commitment to that First Amendment — as well as brought with her a lifetime of financial expertise, which has been expertly and carefully applied to the library’s overall well-being and expansion. As she said at the candidates’ forum, “It is not acceptable to forfeit even a little bit of our First Amendment rights ...”

Yes. Susan Shea should be re-elected to the library board. Please vote for her and all of our First Amendment rights on May 16.

Bonnie McDade Sandpoint

‘Great sadness’...

‘Great sadness’...

Susan Shea will ensure patrons are served by the library…

‘Vote for Susan Shea and protection of our First Amendment’…

In favor of ‘banning’ books…

A night to remember always SHS Grad Night 2023 seeking donations

By Abby Leisy Reader Contributor

The Sandpoint High School 2023 Senior Class parents have begun organizing a tremendous Grad Night Party for our graduating seniors. Once again, however, Grad Night is in danger of not happening. The event is not a district-sponsored event. That means all prizes, gifts, games and the event itself are paid for via donations.

In the past we have relied on businesses to donate goods that we could package together and hand out to each student who stays until the end. Business in Sandpoint is not what it used to be, and we can no longer rely just on businesses to supply these gifts. We have found that it is better to ask for cash donations so we can buy prizes for each student and include things they need most.

Some of the prizes students have asked for include towels, microwaves, mini-fridg-

runoff or ranked choice voting.

Idaho lawmakers tried to preempt ranked choice voting

A supermajority in the Idaho Legislature already passed a law, House Bill 179, during the 2023 legislative session that prohibits ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting in local, statewide and federal elections.

If the ballot initiative is approved, it would repeal House Bill 179. That could set off a showdown with the Republican-controlled Idaho Legislature in the courts or in the Idaho Statehouse.

Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition members submitted the first 20 signatures and the full text of the proposed ballot initiative to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office on May 2.

Next, officials from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office and Idaho Attorney General’s Office will review the initiative, and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office may recommend revisions or alterations, which Idahoans For Open Primaries organizers can either accept or reject.

Once the review process is complete and the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office presents official ballot titles for the initiative, members of Idahoans for Open Primaries can begin gathering signatures for the initiative. Organizers backing the open primary

es, hangers, phone chargers, gas cards, Amazon gift cards, bedding and more. To make sure this event happens, we are asking for help from anyone who is willing and wants to see Grad Night traditions continue.

As a 2000 Sandpoint High School graduate, Grad Night was one of my most memorable high school memories. I remember walking into the fairgrounds and it had been transformed into a casino. There were tents set up with poker tables, craps, ring toss and darts. At each station was one of my classmates’ parents running the booth. One thing I remember was all the parents were wearing poker visors. They wanted to make it the best night for us, including dressing up.

Everyone had fun that night and it didn’t matter what group you were part of. You went from table to table, playing and hanging out with everyone. There was a huge dance party and limbo contest. At the end

initiative said they expect that to happen in June, and are beginning to plan signature gathering kickoff events in every region of the state for this summer.

What is a ballot initiative and what does it take to qualify for an election in Idaho?

A ballot initiative is a form of direct democracy in which the people propose a new law independently from the Idaho Legislature. In a 2021 ruling, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that the initiative and referendum process are “fundamental rights, reserved to the people of Idaho.”

Before an initiative can appear on the ballot for the voters of Idaho to decide on, it first must qualify for the election. In order to qualify, organizers of a ballot initiative must gather the signatures of at least 6% of registered voters statewide, and the signatures of at least 6% of voters in at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts.

That means Idahoans for Open Primaries organizers will need to gather signatures from at least 62,895 voters statewide by May 1, 2024, and will need to meet the 6% requirement in at least 18 legislative districts, in order to qualify for the November 2024 election, which is also the presidential election.

If the open primary ballot initiative receives enough signatures to qualify for the November 2024 election, it would take a simple majority — more than 50% — of

of the event everyone left the fairgrounds and we went to the City Beach. We sat in the sand with our blankets and talked about high school and our goals for after school. We watched the sunrise and knew that nothing was going to be the same, but at least we had this one last night together.

Now that I have my own son graduating from Sandpoint, I want him and his classmates to have this same experience. Time has changed what this event looks like now. We hardly have any parents willing to help, lack of donations and carnival games might not be enough to entertain kids until 6 a.m. We have shortened the time, and this year the event will end at 2 a.m. We hope this will encourage students to stay the whole event and have a chance to win some of the big prizes.

The two highest-risk nights for high school students are prom and graduation. Since 1974, Sandpoint High School parents have been organizing a Grad Night Party to provide a celebration that is safe, sober and memorable. Our Grad Night Party sends a clear message to all graduates that we care about them and their safety. Grad Night is a commitment by parents, Sandpoint High

voters to approve a change to Idaho’s law.

Organizers with Reclaim Idaho will help with the signature gathering effort. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers across the state to gather signatures and push for approval of two recent Idaho ballot initiatives: the successful 2018 Medicaid expansion, which 60.6% of Idaho voters approved, and the Quality Education Act in 2022, which Reclaim Idaho pulled from the ballot after the Idaho Legislature took action that would have repealed and replaced the Quality Education Act.

Some political observers and Democratic legislators have credited that campaign by Reclaim Idaho with pushing the Idaho Legislature to increase education funding by an amount nearly identical to what was proposed for the ballot initiative.

Will the Idaho Legislature oppose or be able to repeal the open primary initiative?

The open primary ballot initiative is designed to repeal the 2023 law that bans instant runoff or ranked choice voting. But the Idaho Legislature could turn around and pass another law that immediately repeals the open primary initiative — going against the will of voters.

It’s almost certain some Republican lawmakers will try to push back.

School and the community to provide a great, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If you would like to make a donation to Grad Night 2023, please send venmo payments to @GradnightSHS-23. For donations by mail, send to: Abby Leisy; PO Box 26; Kootenai, ID 83840.

Parents are also selling raffle tickets around town on Saturdays at Super One and North 40 Outfitters. There are some great prizes available, including a truckload of gravel from Peak Sand and Gravel, a Dover Bay basket with a night stay and dinner for five, Seattle Mariners tickets and a Sandpoint basket with meats from Woods.

The best part is you get to choose where you want your tickets entered. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20.

To purchase you can venmo @Abby-Leisy and state what basket you want to enter. You will receive a comment confirmation with a picture of your tickets filled out. Please leave your phone number in the comments.

Thank you for supporting the Grad Night Party 2023.

The 2023 law prohibiting ranked choice voting or instant runoff elections passed nearly along party lines (56-12 in the Idaho House and 28-7 in the Idaho Senate). Only three Republicans — Reps. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, Rick Cheatum, R-Pocatello, and Jack Nelsen, R-Jerome — joined the Democrats in opposing the law.

When he presented House Bill 179 to the Idaho Legislature’s House State Affairs Committee on March 2, Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, said his bill was designed to prevent bringing ranked choice voting into Idaho and to preserve the existing system in Idaho.

“This is a voting system that is being spread around the country I would say a little like a virus,” Hawkins told legislators. “It’s destabilizing people’s normal voting abilities and it’s, according to the people in some of these states, very harmful. But everywhere it goes, it seems to do a little bit of confusion to the voter,” Hawkins said.

“I still think that our system of election here in Idaho is one vote, one man and I am seeking to preserve that,” Hawkins added.

This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com

< PRIMARY, con’t from Page 7 >

Science: Mad about

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

The first time humans took flight in an artificial aircraft occurred 120 years ago. That may seem like ancient history; but, when you consider that our primary mode of transportation for the previous 10,000 years had been by foot, hoof and wheel, that’s shockingly recent.

Even more recent, but intrinsically linked to flight, is the development of rockets. On April 20, SpaceX launched the largest rocket ever developed in a test flight that lasted approximately four minutes. The flight ended in an explosion, which to an outside observer may appear to be a failure. In fact, destruction was its ultimate goal, and the fact that it survived for four minutes provided a wealth of knowledge that may well take months or even years to fully digest.

Human fascination with rocketry began sometime around 1200 CE, when Chinese armies used portable rockets as artillery for war. This technology developed rapidly in eastern Asia, eventually leading to the invention of the hwacha in Korea in the 1590s. The hwacha was an artillery cart that was loaded with arrows strapped with directional explosives — tiny rockets similar to the bottle rockets we fire off for the Fourth of July. This weapon was capable of firing up to 200 arrows before it needed to be reloaded.

The hwacha was designed with a special use in mind: to repel and kill sea pirates and raiders from Japan that frequently pillaged the Korean coastline. These organ guns would be mounted from high vantage points and pepper invading vessels in a hail of rocket-powered arrows — a nightmarish experience straight out of a match of Warhammer: Age of Sigmar.

Imagine yourself trapped in a

boat while hundreds of arrows hail down on you from the sky. There’s no way you can reach your attacker, there’s nowhere to escape or hide, you’re simply at the mercy of a cruel experiment in physics.

By the 1930s, more efficient forms of fuel had been discovered, as well as more reliable ways to expend that fuel. Rockets are more technical than spraying fuel from one end and setting it on fire. Pulse jets are designed to release fuel in rapid spurts to accelerate the rocket without blasting all of the fuel right away.

This type of rocket was first developed in Germany in 1935, though it wouldn’t begin testing until 1941, two years after Adolf Hitler invaded Poland and triggered the largest conflict in human history. This rocket was called the V-1.

In rocketry, V is a common sight. Delta-v is the entire basis of how we calculate the movement of rockets and spacecraft, especially when making orbital maneuvers to reach other celestial bodies like the moon or Mars. The “v” in Delta-v stands for velocity, while the term “Delta-v” is a term for change of velocity. If you’re looking for a more in-depth look at Delta-v, there are a number of books on physics and rocketry available for check-out and perusal at the library.

That said, the “V” in “V1” does not stand for velocity. Instead, it’s a German word: Vergeltungswaffe, which roughly translates to “vengeance weapon.”

The “1” in the name denotes that it was the first such “vengeance weapon,” and indeed it was the first iteration of rockets that would influence military, government and private rockets to follow for the next 90 years and counting.

The V-1 was first used in combat by the Nazis to bombard London after the allied invasion of Normandy. As the allies pushed deeper into France and then

Germany, the frequency of V-1 attacks decreased. It had a range of about 160 miles and was the size of a small plane, though it packed enough of a punch to leave a 100foot crater anywhere it impacted.

The V-2 rocket was the successor of the V-1. The V-2 was considerably larger than its predecessor, standing 45 feet tall and with a 200-mile operational range. During a test flight, the V-2 became the first rocket to achieve a sub-orbital flight, soaring 109 miles into the air before coming back down. This was the first artificial construct to reach space.

The intention of this rocket wasn’t to achieve orbit, and its historic sub-orbital flight was the result of a test to see how high it could travel. It’s purpose was to rain even more destruction on London. However, after years of research, trial and error — critically employing the scientific knowledge and rocketry experience of captured German scientists after the war — we discovered more optimal ways to achieve orbit (calculated, of course, with the assistance of Delta-v).

The angle at which a rocket ascends is pivotal in its ability to achieve orbit. Traveling in a path straight upward means the rocket is fighting against gravity more than if it were traveling at a 45-degree angle.

It’s difficult to tell from the ground, but rockets begin to bank at roughly a 30- to 45-degree angle, eastward, after about 10,000 meters. The higher the rocket travels, the less dense the atmosphere becomes, which means the rocket doesn’t have to expend as much energy to push through air. Similarly, the pull of Earth’s gravity becomes weaker as the rocket travels farther from the surface. By accelerating at an angle, the rocket slings around the Earth, aided partially by Earth’s gravity. Imagine yourself with a yo-yo.

Throw that yo-yo straight outward, and it’s just going to reach the end of its string and fall, right? Now try throwing the yo-yo to the left or the right — it will probably do something similar. Now try spinning with the yo-yo. The centrifugal force of your spin will cause the yo-yo to orbit you, staying aloft as you spin around. This is essentially the same thing that’s happening to a rocket orbiting around a spherical Earth.

Want to experience some rocketry first-hand? Stop by the

library on Saturday, May 13 at 9 a.m. to participate in Spacepoint’s rocketry challenge.

Geared toward students between fourth and 12th grade, participants will get to learn about rocketry while building, customizing and then launching their own rocket capable of traveling more than 300 vertical feet. Trust me: This is an event you won’t want to miss, so be sure to register at ebonnerlibrary.org/events.

Stay curious, 7B.

early rocketry Random Corner

•Construction began on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota in 1927 and didn’t finish until 1941, when the monument opened.

•While hammers and chisels are usually used to sculpt faces into a rock face, Mount Rushmore’s head sculptor, Gutzon Borglum (pardon the pun), utilized a munitions expert to remove about 90% of the granite with dynamite — amounting to about 450,000 tons of rocky material.

•Mount Rushmore was named for New York lawyer Charles E. Rushmore, who traveled to the Black Hills in 1885 to inspect mining claims in the region. When asking a local about the name of a nearby mountain, he was told it never had a name before, so he named it after himself. Of course, the landmark did have already have a name, given to it by the Sioux peoples: TȟuŋkášilaŠákpe , or the “Six Grandfathers,” regarded as “the center of the universe” for the Arapahoe, Cheyenne and Lakota, according to an Indigenous-born scholar quoted in 2020 by National Geographic.

•Nine designs for the Rushmore monument were scrapped before ar-

riving at Borglum’s final design. Other schemes would have incorporated text into the face sculptures, as well as mock-ups showing the presidents from the waist up. There was even a concept to have a document room behind Lincoln’s head — from which visitors could enter from a carved staircase — but it was cut due to lack of funds.

•A bill introduced in Congress in 1937 proposed to add Susan B. Anthony’s head alongside Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, but it fell through due to a rider on the existing appropriations bill mandating federal funds to be spent only on carvings that had already begun.

•While nobody died during construction of the monument, many workers died in the following years, mainly from a lung condition called silicosis — a pulmonary disease resulting from the inhalation of fine-grained silica. This was because no masks were given to workers, who breathed in large quantities of the dust created by carving and explosions.

The V-2 rocket. Photo courtesy SPL.

Talk is cheap when it comes to our children’s education

By Rep. Lauren Necochea, D-Boise Reader Contributor

As Idahoans, we value our children, as should our elected leaders. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a politician who admits otherwise, but actions are more telling than words. Three decades of disinvestment by Republican lawmakers have led to unsafe school facilities and diminished opportunities in the worst-funded schools in our nation. Idaho’s kids deserve better.

A recent investigation by the Idaho Statesman and ProPublica [propublica.org/article/idaho-deteriorating-schools-repair-bonds] shines a light on the dire straits of our schools. At Valley View Elementary in Boundary County, freezing classrooms, collapsing roofs, hazardous playgrounds and insufficient bathrooms are just some of the conditions students

endure. And the risks of run-down infrastructure are high: faulty electrical equipment caused last week’s fire gutting the entire wing of a Pocatello high school. Thankfully, no one was hurt, this time. Research shows $1.3 billion in unmet facility needs across Idaho — a legacy of neglect by the Republican supermajority.

With state funding falling short, school leaders are forced to ask their local communities to fill the gap through supplemental

levies and bonds. Rather than helping schools meet their severe needs, Republican legislators keep throwing up roadblocks.

By capping the homeowner’s exemption and causing an ever-growing property tax shift onto residents and away from commercial interests, the Legislature made it harder for struggling Idahoans to add school funding to their inflated tax bills, even when they see a strong need. With a two-thirds threshold required to pass bonds — higher than almost every other state — questions about community investment are being controlled by a minority of voters. This year, Republican lawmakers eliminated the March election date districts rely on for their elections, meaning they now have fewer opportunities to simply ask their voters to consider bonds and levies.

The growing reliance on locally-passed funding measures has

created a patchwork of haves and have-nots. Well-off districts with a strong tax base are able to provide better facilities, more career technical education and special classes, while districts with fewer resources have fewer offerings. And failed levies can spell crisis.

In a few weeks, Coeur d’Alene voters will decide the fate of a two-year, $25 million supplemental levy. If it doesn’t pass, the district will have to declare a fiscal emergency. Over a quarter of district employees will be laid off, two elementary schools will close and extracurricular activities, including school sports, will cease.

By failing to adequately fund our schools and making it harder

Dist. 1 Sen. Scott Herndon continues with dirty tricks as BCRCC chairman

By Tony McDermott Reader Staff

Having read on the front page of the Bonner County Daily Bee (April 24) that the Bonner County Republican Central Committee, chaired by Sen. Scott Herndon, awarded a no-confidence vote for District 1 Rep. Mark Sauter — along with the April 29 Coeur d’Alene Press op-ed alleging our same senator paid out-of-state McShane LLC $80,000 to attack fellow Republicans in the last election cycle — I feel compelled to respond.

[Editor’s note: For much more on those stories, see “Current, former District 1 officials respond to BCRCC ‘no-confidence’ vote on Sauter,” April 27, 2023; and “Big-money Nevada consultants play part in Herndon Senate campaign,” March 24, 2022, at sandpointreader.com.]

As a conservative Republican, appointed to two terms as an Idaho Fish and Game commissioner for the panhandle, a member of the governor’s wolf control board and preceded by many years of military service, I have witnessed the good, bad and ugly in politics. I resigned from this group as a precinct chair along with a half-dozen others on the same night due to their divisive, uncompromising political views.

According to Herndon, Mark Sauter, former-Dist. 1 Sen. Jim Woodward and numerous other solid Republicans who do not fall in line with Herndon’s “my-way-or-thehighway” are labeled as RINOS, not fit to be in the Republican Party. The BCRCC under Herndon’s leadership has disintegrated into a cesspool of toxic leadership.

With this current group, ethical standards and values have been replaced by “anything goes to win.” In the last

primary, he conducted a scorched-earth campaign of lies, distortion and name calling against his opponent. His method of operation continues against those with whom he disagrees, funded by multiple sources outside the district and some external to the state of Idaho.

The sad part of all of this is that his approach to politics worked, because 50% of the registered Republican voters in Bonner and Boundary counties failed to vote in the primary.

Let me make it crystal clear about what Herndon and his gang are up to: They are upset that Rep. Sauter has not towed the line according to the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s principles and voted accordingly. That would be to go along with Herndon’s attempt to make abortion so extreme a mother’s life is no longer valued, which resulted in hospital OBGYN departments closing and doctors leaving the state. This, along with proposed legislation for criminal prosecutions for those performing abortion.

Additionally, he worked to defund public education, and put control of libraries in the hands of his style of government. The sick part is that he has convinced BCRCC membership to go along with his extreme proposals. It is the BCRCC that should be censured, and not Rep. Sauter.

This corrupt politician, Herndon — who has a closet full of skeletons — needs to be defeated in the next election. I will do my best to make this happen and request the help of the voting public in Legislative District 1.

Tony McDermott is a conservative Republican, served two appointed terms as an Idaho Fish and Game commissioner for the panhandle area, as a member of the governor’s wolf control board and is a military veteran.

for communities to fill the gap, Republican lawmakers are in dereliction of their school funding duty enshrined in the Idaho Constitution.

Idaho Democrats are steadfast in our commitment to preparing the next generation. Our children are our future. With the proper investment, that future will be bright.

Rep. Lauren Necochea is the House assistant Democratic leader, representing District 19 in Boise on the Commerce and Human Resources; Environment, Energy and Technology; Revenue and Taxation; and Ways and Means committees.

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

Top left: Steve Berenson brought the Reader to Cabo san Lucas, Mexico.

Top middle: Judy Meyers took the Reader to the town library in Maiori, on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Meyers wanted to remind everyone to “honor our own wonderful library. On or before May 16th, vote for Susan Shea.”

Top right: Ben Prez (not pictured), Thomas Prez and Barbara Brown took the Reader to Aosta, Italy to begin walking the Via Francigena to Rome.

Bottom left: Don and Sue Helander took their grandgirls Nora, 3, and Presley, 7, to greater Dog Beach trail and picked up a good load of trash a few days before Earth Day.

Bottom right: Steve Johnson brought the Reader to Kauai, Hawaii.

Leadership Sandpoint Cinco de Mayo event to benefit UCAN program for special-needs athletes

By Reader Staff

The 2022-’24 class of Leadership Sandpoint — a program of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce — will host a Cinco de Mayo block party Friday, May 5, from 4-9 p.m. on Main Street, between First and Second avenues in downtown Sandpoint.

Tickets for the event will be available at the gate and in advance from members of the current crop of Leadership Sandpoint members (for more information visit sandpointchamber.org, or contact the chamber at 208-263-2161).

About 10 local food and beverage vendors will be on hand showcasing their menus, alongside drinks; musical entertainment; kids’ activities like face painting and folk school activities; a silent auction and raffle, including a “wheelbarrow full of booze”; and season pass to Schweitzer, plus more.

The organization’s Cinco de Mayo celebration will benefit UCAN — the Unique Center for Athletes of all Needs — with a mission to empower special-needs individuals through fitness and nutrition, as well as offering a variety of programs to support youth and adult members. (Visit ucansandpoint.org for more information.)

UCAN started in 2015 under the leadership of Kelli and Jacob Bult, whose son

Caleb was born with a microchromosome deletion that resulted in a number of physical and mental disabilities.

Since Caleb was born, he has been involved in early intervention therapies to help him with things like walking and talking. As Caleb grew older, the Bults realized that there was an opportunity for special needs fitness in the Sandpoint community — a program that is integral in aiding in things like every-day movement, cognitive function and self-confidence.

The fundraiser will help UCAN acquire equipment, secure sponsorships, host classes and more.

“Leadership Sandpoint looks forward to this event each and every year as an opportunity to bring the local and business community together as a sign of solidarity to support our nonprofits,” stated Leadership Sandpoint organizers in a news release.

“The goal is to provide donors and attendees an opportunity to support a local nonprofit identified by the current Leadership Sandpoint class. This is a family-friendly family event. Enjoy awesome food, win prizes, and just have a great time. …

“We look forward to continuing that tradition and shedding light on the incredible organization that is UCAN,” organizers added.

Eichardt’s hosts Cinco de Mayo fundraiser for Music Bridges Borders

By Reader Staff

Get May underway with the fifth-annual Cinco de Mayo Community Celebration and Fundraiser, set for Saturday, May 6 at noon, hosted by Eichardt’s Pub and Music Bridges Borders.

Music Bridges Borders is the international exchange program that brings young musicians from Mexico to Sandpoint, where they perform and offer instruction to local kids — sharing their musical talents but also introducing them to their culture.

This year’s fundraiser follows a successful year for Music Bridges Borders, which grew its program in 2022 with the help of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints and music teacher Ryan Dignan, who hosted a complimentary Musical Exploration Camp that jumped from more than 20 participants in 2021 to 32 last year.

Every exchange student took part in a master class and attended the Spokane Youth Symphony Orchestra’s summer camp, and offered numerous community performances throughout Sandpoint. The program culminated for the third year in a

row with a community performance at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center.

The 2023 program is made possible by sponsors including Ziply Fiber, Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, The Believe in Me Foundation for Kids and Eichardt’s Pub.

“The beauty of Music Bridges Borders is the international relationships, which are built and nurtured by the reciprocal ebb and flow of giving and receiving between communities,” stated Music Bridges Borders Board Member Sandi Nizzoli. “Like music, the program continues to be a language of deepening human connection.”

The event May 6 — technically seis de Mayo — will be a family event celebrating local Mexican-American culture with a taco feed, margaritas and cerveza provided by Eichardt’s. Agua de Jamaica and flan will be provided by Music Bridges Borders. Also as a feature of the event will be a fiesta costume contest, piñata, silent auction, salsa dance lessons and general merriment.

Eichardt’s is located at 212 Cedar St. in downtown Sandpoint.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

In 1977, I went to Bogota, Colombia, and fell in love — with the architecture, the people, the food and the vibrant culture, especially the cumbia (lively music and traditional folk dance). I made two repeat trips before marriage and children became the focus of my life. After that, my adventures in South America became fond memories. Though I vowed to go back, life continued to guide me elsewhere.

Last week I had the opportunity to return to South America, albeit this trip was farther south, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a quick trip to a travel show with speed-dating style appointments, learning about Central and South American destinations. I spent the evenings in magnificent historic venues, entertained with live tango shows and feasting on savory and spicy empanadas encased in rich, flaky crusts, tender beef and spicy chorizo cooked over open flames.

The food was delicious, and though it was my first visit to Buenos Aires, it was not my first introduction to the cuisine. For years, I frequented an Argentinian steakhouse in Chicago that served melt-in-your-mouth asado with piquant chimichurri sauce and my favorite cheese dish, provoleta — a provolone-style cheese, grilled over open flames, then baked.

I’ve made provoleta for years (even preparing it for a malbec wine pairing tasting at I Saw Something Shiny). It’s a great first course or vegetarian

The Sandpoint Eater Gracias, universe

entrée for a Latin-style meal, and my palate was pleased, as it was the first appetizer on a 10-course tasting menu on my second night. I snapped a quick photo of the bubbling dish of aromatic cheese for reference, hoping to find a similar serving piece before my departure.

On my last day, armed with the photo, I headed to Mercado de San Telmo, a beautiful old market initially built to satisfy the shopping needs of the influx of European settlers arriving at the turn of the 20th century. Today, it houses dozens of shops selling spices, antiques, vintage tango records and many small restaurants with a lively, central eating area.

I had no luck finding the cooking vessel, but learned a single stall — called Hierro

Parrilla — prepared authentic provoleta, and I found my way there. I chose to sit at the hot counter, watching the crew banter while deftly preparing food and tending the red-hot, wood-burning fires with precision, and moving asado, chorizo and tomatoes around on the grates until grilled to perfection. The provoleta arrived in a cast iron pan with multiple warnings of muy caliente! It was fragrant, lightly browned and bubbling, resting atop a bed of sauteed onions and grill-roasted tomatoes. I complimented the proprietor, Rodrigo, and soon we were swapping stories, as I explained that I was there for a travel community event. Rodrigo then brought over two ladies for an introduction — Angie,

Provoleta

the sales director of a luxury hotel (who by coincidence had attended the same show as me), and her good friend, Barbara, a luxury goods designer.

I showed them the photo of the dish I was hoping to find at the market, and it was then that the universe got busy. In Barbara’s hands were two boxes containing provoleta dishes made by her family’s ceramic business, Patagonia Caliente Vajilla, in Bariloche, Argentina. Barbara was bringing them to her friend Rodrigo, hoping he’d be interested in using them for his provoleta at Hierro Parrilla. But, instead, Barbara thrust one of them into my hands and insisted this exquisite gift was mine.

Angie left, and Barbara and I sat together like fast friends,

trading even more stories while she had a quick lunch before her flight to Bariloche. If it hadn’t been for airport deadlines, we might still be there, lingering over conversation with Rodrigo, his melt-in-your-mouth steak asado, sipping Angelica Zapata Alta malbec. And, if that weren’t enough, as I was leaving, Rodrigo dashed to the gift shop next door and presented me with a pingüino (a small penguin-shaped vessel for serving wine). I left happy and humble, with a promise to return.

On the long flight home, I closed my eyes to relive my time at Hierro Parrilla, savoring the best provoleta I’ve ever tasted. I couldn’t wait to get home and recreate this cheese dish for you. Gracias, universe.

This dish is very popular as a first course to asado, also a great entrée for vegetarians. It was first created in Argentina (about 1940) by an Italian, combining his love for meat and cheese. Be careful not to burn yourself (or guests), as the pan must be very hot. You can also try cooking on your hot grill outdoors and play with additional condiment flavors, like roasted tomato and onions. Make the chimichurri a couple hours before grilling/baking the cheese.

INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:

Chimichurri:

•½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

•½ cup minced parsley

•1 tbs fresh oregano, chopped

•2 garlic cloves, minced

•½ tsp crushed red pepper

•Coarse black pepper

•Sea salt

•1 tbs red wine vinegar

•2 tbs very cold water

Provoleta:

•8 ounce provolone cheese slice (about an 1 inch thick), warmed to room temperature

•2 tsp fresh oregano, chopped

•½ tsp crushed red pepper

Chimichurri:

In a glass bowl, whisk together olive oil, parsley, oregano, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper, vinegar and water. Make the sauce a couple hours before serving so flavor develops.

Provoleta:

Preheat the pan in the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Carefully remove from oven and place cheese slab in the hot skillet. Sprinkle with oregano and crushed chili and return to oven. Bake on top shelf about 3 minutes. Remove from oven, cover the skillet with aluminum foil and bake in the bottom rack of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove the foil, and broil on top rack until golden and bubbly — about 2-3 minutes, watching carefully!

Serve cautiously and immediately

in the hot skillet, accompanied with baguette slices and chimichurri.

A really good cup of coffee

Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters celebrates a third Good Food Award

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

For the third time in the past decade, Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters took home a coveted Good Food Award on April 21. Known as the James Beard awards of the artisan food world, the Good Food Awards recognize winners from 18 categories, such as cheese, chocolate, beer, wine and coffee, among others. Evans Brothers also took home wins in 2013 and 2017.

What sets this award apart from all others is not just the taste and quality of the final product — it’s a recognition of sustainable food products that go above and beyond their competitors.

“It’s entirely about quality,” Randy Evans told the Reader. “It’s not just how it tastes, but how it’s produced.”

Randy co-owns the coffee roasting business in Sandpoint with his brother Rick. While Randy oversees the coffee production, with longtime employee Daniel Gunter, Rick mainly oversees the running of the business and the marketing/sales.

As the brothers can attest, even submitting to the Good Food Awards means passing a high bar.

“The vetting process for even qualifying to submit requires you showing full traceability of your product; the economic and social environment,” Rick said.

That’s not a problem for Evans Brothers, as they have cultivated a close relationship over the years with Costa Rican farmers Oscar and Francesca Chacon, who own Las Lajas farm, where Evans Brothers’ famous beans originate.

With coffee producers facing hitherto unseen challenges, including climate change and socioeconomic factors, Rick and Randy have continued to support the Chacons producing quality coffee beans that blow commodity coffees out of the water. In fact, Evans Brothers recently sent their marketing manager, Alani Strang, to Costa Rica to meet with the Chacons and learn more about importing specialty coffee.

“The Chacons are the true heroes of the specialty coffee world,” Randy said. “They were really excited to find out their coffee is receiving a Good Food Award.”

The blend that took home the award was named Finca Calle Lajas Natural. Chosen by a panel of judges in a blind taste test, the Finca Calle roast is described as “raspberry, cherry, orange, banana and roasted cacao,”

according to Randy’s tasting notes.

Pre-order now to taste the winning roast yourself by visiting evansbrotherscoffee. com. This coffee is very limited and will be roasted May 15.

Taking home just one Good Food Award is a feat in itself, but racking up three wins is something else entirely, especially when taking into account they submitted to the Inland Northwest Division, which includes Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, Oregon, Alaska and most notably Washington — where Seattle is a veritable mecca of good coffee.

“It’s a nice recognition of a lot of the hard work we do,” said Randy. “It feels really good to win this one. We do put a lot of emphasis on direct relationships and direct trade sourcing of our coffee and quality matters a lot to us, as well as sustainability.”

“I really feel proud of Randy and Daniel, because those two lead our whole coffee quality effort,” Rick said.

When asked why Evans Brothers makes such an effort to source their coffee beans, Randy said it’s just part of their DNA.

“It’s an inherent belief in the philosophy we’ve had in our business since the very beginning,” he said. “Everything we try

Where art and music meet

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

to do is high quality … we want the best equipment possible and we have rigorous standards when it comes to roasting or preparing coffee. It really matters to us.”

Evans Brothers employs 30 people and has coffee shops in both Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene.

Visit evansbrotherscoffee.com or follow their social media for updates on how they conquer the coffee world, bean by bean.

Musician and artist Matt Lome hopes to share creativity with the community

The relationship between art and music has always been a powerful one. Consider artist Sir Peter Blake’s co-creation of The Beatles’ album cover for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — the music would still sound the same without that iconic album cover, but would it have experienced the same universal appeal if not “branded” by Blake’s art?

In Sandpoint, Matt Lome is hoping to share his love of music and art with the community at large. Lome’s studios are open and available for instruction for all ages, with a specific emphasis on teaching children, teenagers and beginners.

Born and raised in Chicago and later attending college in Ann Arbor, Mich., Lome eventually moved out to Seattle.

“Then I wanted to find a smaller town and began looking around and found Sandpoint,” he told the Reader Lome soon opened a creative space inside the Cedar Street Bridge to chase after his artistic passions. Moving in six months

ago, Lome said he spent three months building out the space to create the perfect environment to teach art and music lessons from his twin studios.

“I’ve been a guitar player and musician since I was 14 years old, and I’ve been painting since my early 20s, so when I saw this space I asked myself, ‘Should I open an art studio or music studio?’ I decided to do both.”

Lome’s upstairs units at the Cedar Street Bridge are side by side — Nos. 202A and 202B — featuring a clean aesthetic and bright, cheerful space that serves as an invitation to the muse.

“I wanted to create a space that puts you in an artful and musical frame of mind,” he said.

Lome said he prefers to teach fundamentals of music, including scales and chord structures and generally shying away from tricky musical theory to make sure his young students have fun first and learn second.

“I love beginners and intermediates, but usually don’t teach advanced students,” Lome said. “I love working with kids and I’m really fond of the teenage population. Teenagers can often get swept aside and sometimes they don’t want to draw, paint or

learn an instrument from scratch, but when they sit down and do the work, they do really extraordinary things.”

He takes the same philosophy with art instruction, focusing more on building confidence than getting bogged down with technique.

“I focus on being more competent at self-expression,” he said. “We have hungry minds when we’re kids and we gobble down information. Kids are also glued to technology with their faces pressed into phones ad nauseam, so when they sit down behind an easel and try to paint, it brings out a side that we forget. There’s genuine humility there and engagement to manipulate things in the real world, not just cyberspace.”

Lome said those interested in signing up their kids or themselves for music or art lessons are welcome to drop by his studio inside Cedar Street Bridge, or email cedarstreetstudios@icloud.com.

Lome’s musical skills be on display this week, as well, when he hosts an ’80s music night at Barrel 33 at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. Come dressed in ’80s attire for food

and drink specials. He’ll also be hosting an open mic from 5-8 p.m. every Thursday at Barrel 33, located at 100 N. First Ave. in downtown Sandpoint.

The Evans Brothers (Randy, left; Rick, right) celebrate a third Good Food Award outside their Sandpoint location. Photo by Ben Olson.

Matt Lome in the music studio inside Cedar St. Bridge. Photo by Foster Cline.

events

May 4 - 11, 2023

Live Music w/ Steve Neff

6pm @ BlueRoom

Trivia Night

5-8pm @ Paddler’s Alehouse

Live Music w/ Steve Neff

6pm @ BlueRoom

Live Music w/ Devon Wade

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes

5-8pm @ Drift

Magic with Star Alexander

5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s

THURSDAY, may 4

Game Night

6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern

FriDAY, may 5

Hora Feliz First Friday

5pm @ Woods Wheatcraft Studio

Woods Wheatcroft is having his debut opening of a First Friday series at his photography studio , 104 S. Second Ave.

Live Music w/ Kat Heart

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Cribbage Night

7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Songs & Poems w/ Gary Eller

7pm @ Little Carnegie Hall MCS

Hear songs and poems of early Idaho Panhandle Region with Gary Eller at MCS in Sandpoint

Free Community Track Meet

3:30-5:30pm @ SHS track

Open to all grades K-8th

Soulful, groovy, mostly original Cinco de Mayo Party & live music w/ Benny Baker & Friends

6pm @ Connie’s Lounge

The Rub in concert at the Hive

7pm @ The Hive

CDA’s premier cover band, with doors opening at 7pm. 21+

SATURDAY, may 6

Live Music w/ Bright Moments

7-9pm @ The Back Door

Hardest working jazz band in town

Live Music w/ Doug Bond and Marty Perron

6pm @ BlueRoom

Matt Lome & Friends ’80s night

5-8:30pm @ Barrel 33

Come dressed in ’80s clothes!

A Good Time for a Great Cause

4pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds

Proceeds benefit elk and other wildlife, their habitat and hunting heritage. Kid-friendly!

Live Music w/ Double Shot Band

7-9pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin

6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Justin Landis Mega Fun Birthday Blowout Show!

7pm @ The Heartwood Center

A birthday concert for Justin Landis, featuring performances by Josh Hedlund, Windoe, Marshall McLean, Blird, Jenny Anne Mannan and Justin Landis! $15

Live Music w/ Mike Wagoner Trio

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Classic rock, folk and blues

Music by Big Phatty & the Inhalers

9pm @ 219 Lounge

SunDAY, may 7

Magic with Star Alexander

5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s Restaurant

“Debunking the Rapture”

monDAY, may 8 tuesDAY, may 9

3/4 Minus Cykeltur

A gravel bike ride for badasses syringacyclery.com for info

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Selkirk Crest Chapter mtg

4pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds 208-265-1888 for details

Friends of the Library book sale

10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library

A monthly book sale with lots of books in all genres

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

9am-1pm @ Farmin Park

Fresh produce and artisan goods, every week! Live music by Oak St. Connection

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes

5-8pm @ The Hereford Rotary Gala

5:30pm @ Sandpoint Events Center

Group Run @ Outdoor Experience

6pm @ Outdoor Experience

3-5 miles, all levels welcome, beer after

Public Lands Pint Night • 5-7pm @ Utara Brewing Co. Raffle prizes, conservation discussion and merchandise

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

3-5pm @ Farmin Park

Live Music w/ Sheldon Packwood

6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Game Night

6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern

Trivia Night

5-8pm @ Paddler’s Alehouse

Cribbage Night

7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

wednesDAY, may 10

Live Piano w/ Dwayne Parsons

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

ThursDAY, may 11

What’s Happening Up North Economic Summit

Pool League

6pm @ Connie’s

7:30-5:30pm @ Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center

After a pandemic-induced hiatus the past few years, the popular annual economic summit, What’s Happening Up North, is returning. This day-long summit features keynotes from distinguished economists, facilitated panel discussions, interactive group breakouts — plus meals and happy hour. Hosted by Pend Oreille Economic Partnership. Visit pepidaho.org to register — space limited!

COMMUNITY

Women Honoring Women announces 2023 honorees

By Reader Staff

The Women Honoring Women organization has since 1999 recognized Bonner County women who have contributed to the betterment of the community through their service and leadership. The committee looks for women who have vision, a love of learning, commitment to the community, leadership skills, grace, courage, integrity, achieve goals through collaboration and are an inspiration to others.

This year’s Women of Wisdom include Donna Deshon, Joan McCormick, Joyce Price, Carolyn Sorentino and Mary Sturgis.

“Over the course of their lives, these five women have contributed to the betterment of our community through their leadership and service and have served as inspirational role models in Bonner County,” the committee stated in a news release.

A gala luncheon honoring the Women of Wisdom is scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, June 17 at the Ponderay Events

Center (401 Bonner Mall Way). Luncheon reservations will be accepted until Friday, June 9 from Diane Stockton at 208-290-6362 or stockton_diane@yahoo. com, tickets are $30.

The brunch includes a program introducing the 2023 Women of Wisdom to celebrate their Lifetime Achievement Award.

There have been more than 130 Woman of Wisdom recipients since 1999, and candidates must be 65 years or older.

“Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination letter,” committee members stated. “The fact that there are so many exceptional women in our community makes the selection process difficult.”

The 2023 Women Honoring Women committee members included: Sue Brooks, Barbara Buchanan, Cassandra Cayson, Kathy Chambers, Patti Clemons, Margi Gunter, Deanna Harris, Alana Hatcher, Julie Jurenka, Carrie LaGrace, Pat Lewis, Barb Merritt, Jeralyn Mire, Marlene Rorke, Sandy Ross, Tina Sleyster, Diane Stockton, Sally Transue and Cherie Warber.

MUSIC

Sandpoint Songwriting Competition back for third year

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

For such a small town, Sandpoint contains an impressive amount of talented songwriters. Back for its third year, the Sandpoint Songwriting Competition is now casting a wider net to incorporate songsters from Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, as well as Sandpoint.

Spearheaded by local musician Kevin Dorin, the competition is an effort to showcase the raw talent we have in our region.

Dorin said he’ll accept submissions until June 1. For full instructions, visit sandpointsongwritingcompetition.com.

Last year’s competition garnered more than 100 submissions, and Dorin expects the widening of coverage to include Coeur d’Alene and Spokane will again increase submissions.

“We’ve got some pretty awesome judges this year,” Dorin said.

More than a dozen industry judges will listen to the songs and provide personal comments and positive critiques to as many as

possible.

Prizes for winners will include audio and video recordings at The Hive, cash prizes, gift certificates for downtown eatery Baxters on Cedar, a guitar setup from Rocket Records and band photos from Racheal Baker Photography. All of the above businesses have partnered with Dorin to sponsor the annual competition.

Aiding in the effort will be a music business seminar held June 10 at The Hive. For $25, attendees will hear firsthand about everything, from having a good rela-

READ

tionship with your sound engineer, how to make a profitable tour to how to distribute your product to a wider audience.

“I want to be able to empower people with that knowledge,” Dorin said.

To learn more about the Sandpoint Songwriting Competition, visit sandpointsongwritingcompetition.com. A playlist of past submissions is available on all streamers by searching, “Sandpoint Songwriting Competition Kevin Dorin.”

Justin Landis’ Mega Fun Birthday Blowout Show, Heartwood Center, May 6

It’s pretty true that you can judge a person by the company they keep. And, by that measure, local musician, tech guru and man-about-town Justin Landis is a bona fide mensch. For his upcoming 40-something birthday Saturday, May 6, a handful of the finest musicians in the area are

assembling to play a show in his honor, jam-packed with regional talent.

On the bill will be beloved Sandpoint singer-songwriter Josh Hedlund; Windoe, the solo project of acclaimed Spokane-based artist Karli Fairbanks; fellow Spokanite indie-rocker Marshall McLean;

Blird, the inventive shoegaze side project of Sandpoint-based Harold’s IGA; Spokane fiddle phenom Jenny Anne Mannan; and, the man himself, Landis.

Toast to his good health and many happy returns with wine and beer provided by Eichardt’s, and an evening of some of the

most stellar musical stylings in the Inland Northwest.

— Zach Hagadone

Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m.; $15 at the door. The Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., 208-2638699, heartwoodsandpoint.com.

Bookmobile appearing weekly in Dover Angels Over Sandpoint yard sale and raffle

By Reader Staff

The East Bonner County Library Bookmobile will be appearing weekly in Dover as a service to Dover residents. The bookmobile is scheduled to visit each Monday (excluding major holidays) each day between 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Look for the bus near the Dover Post office, at 304 Jackson Ave. Patrons may also request

items ahead of time at ebonnerlibrary. org/bookmobile. Use the “Request An Item” link at the bottom of the page. Be sure to designate the Bookmobile in Dover as the pick up location. Anything that is checked out from the Bookmobile can be returned at any of the stops, Clark Fork Library or the Sandpoint Library. For more information, contact the Bookmobile staff at 208290-3622.

By Reader Staff

It’s time to spring clean and donate all those onceloved, now unwanted items to a good home for a good cause. Angels Over Sandpoint is now accepting donations of clean goods in wearable/working conditions. Workout equipment will not be accepted. Hangers and plastic grocery bags

Pam Houston is well known for her essays, short stories and novels inspired by the characters and landscapes of the American West. Her 2019 memoir Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country draws on those inspirations, thanks to the home she created for herself on a 120-acre ranch in the Colorado Rockies she purchased with her first book advance in 1993. Houston shares how this home has sustained and helped her heal from a horrific childhood (consider yourself trigger-warned) through a series of essays about the places, people and creatures that define her homestead.

LISTEN

are welcome. The third annual yard sale and raffle will take place Saturday, June 3, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Sandpoint Lions Club clubhouse (609 S. Ella Ave.).

To donate, contact Kim Smith: kim@idahopropertylistings.com or Chery Kochevar: cakochevar@ gmail.com.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

‘Queen,’ a new single by Queen Bonobo Benny Baker and Friends, Connie’s, May 5

Some of the best musicians are made even greater by their knack for collaboration. One of those artists is local guitar-slayer Benny Baker, who has for several years spearheaded a concert series on the back patio of Connie’s Cafe and invited local and regional talent to join him for gigs of all flavors.

Baker’s upcoming Connie’s show will be best paired with ta-

cos and margaritas, as he provides the tunes for the restaurant’s Cinco de Mayo party. But, in true Baker fashion, the gig is billed as “Benny Baker and Friends” — because it’s the amigos around you who really make the holiday.

— Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

6 p.m., FREE. Connie’s Lounge, 323 Cedar St., 208-2552227, conniescafe.net.

Sandpoint’s own Maya Goldblum, who performs under the moniker Queen Bonobo, has released a new single, titled “Queen” — her first new music in a few years. The genre-bending artist draws from themes from her personal life, travels and heartache to craft songs that live somewhere in the space between folk and jazz. With “Queen,” Goldblum leans a bit more to the jazz side of the equation, with an asymmetri-

cal tune punctuated by a dark and cheerful stand-up bass by Jack Kelley, percussion by Dan Fields that builds and releases, layered with Goldblum’s unique, emotive voice.

The single heralds a new collection of originals that Goldblum said she’s preparing to release this spring.

—

Ben Olson

To listen for yourself, check out bit.ly/queen-queenbonobo

Singer-songwriter Chance Peña has a voice beyond his 23 years, which has captivated me in recent weeks. Texas-born and LA-based, I was surprised to find that Peña got his start on singing competition The Voice at age 15. Lucky for listeners, the early launch into the spotlight meant the artist tried many styles over the years; and, since 2021, seems to have landed on a soul-drenched acoustic sound that perfectly serves his sorrowful, silky voice. Tracks to try would be “In My Room” and “Sleep Deprivation.”

WATCH

The best documentaries are able to draw on the perspectives of many to tell a worthy story: one that’s complex, like the people who lived it in real time. One such documentary is Waco: American Apocalypse, a three-part limited series on Netflix that’s garnered mixed reviews. For my two cents, the documentary does a good job of letting people from all angles of the iconic siege — from the surviving cult followers to the government officials directly involved — speak for themselves. Viewers are welcome to draw their own conclusions.

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

1153 PERSONS ASK FOR BEER

Petitions requested beer legislation signed by 1153 residents of Sandpoint and Priest River were mailed to Governor C. Ben Ross today by Virgil C. Goodwin, representative from Bonner county in the last legislature.

There were 280 signers from Priest River, Mr. Goodwin said, and the balance were from Sandpoint. More than 200 women signed the petitions, he said.

The petitions were not generally circulated in the two cities, but placed in various business establishments where persons could sign them if they wished.

“Most signers asked about the petitions,” Goodwin said, “as no effort was made to circulate them generally through the residential districts of the two towns. Those who signed usually did so at their own request.”

Petitions have been mailed in from many other Idaho towns the first from the north going in from Wallace and Kellogg. Some 600 signers were listed on the first group of petitions sent in from Wallace.

No action is expected on the beer question in Idaho until after the supreme court rules on the matter on May 11. If the supreme court reverses the orginal ruling the governor may then call a special session of the legislature to provide proper legislation to handle the marketing of the beverage in Idaho.

One of the bases of demands for beer legislation in Idaho is the fact that the state is virtually surrounded by so-called “wet” territory. Thousands of dollars of Idaho money has been spent since the legislation of beer a month ago in Spokane and other neighboring Washington cities. Newport particularly is an oasis where many Sandpoint and Priest River citizens get their new 3.2 per cent beer.

BACK OF THE BOOK

What real courage looks like

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

When Bonner General Health announced in March that it would cease labor and delivery services, citing the “legal and political climate” of Idaho as a critical reason why it is having trouble retaining health care professionals, it sent shockwaves through our community. Never before have we seen so clearly the consequences of the extremist stance on abortion that Idaho, as well as many other states, has taken since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

The decision in 2022 left the legality of abortion up to the states to decide, and Idaho has taken among the hardest lines in the nation, making it illegal after six weeks unless a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or a life-saving measure.

The problem with these narrow exceptions are in their implementation.

Take the case of Amanda Zurawski, a 35-year-old woman from Austin, Texas, who ran up against the reality of a near-total abortion ban similar to Idaho’s and nearly lost her life because of it.

Zurawski shared her story April 26 before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Her testimony, titled “The Assault of Reproductive Rights in a Post-Dobbs America,” is heroic.

After 18 months of “grueling” fertility treatment, Zurawski and her husband were thrilled to be in their second trimester of her first pregnancy.

“Then, on a sunny August day,” she testified, “everything changed.”

Zurawski noticed some unusual symptoms and contacted her obstetrician, who told her to come in as soon as possible. There, she received the news: She had di-

lated prematurely due to a condition called “cervical insufficiency,” and the loss of her daughter, named Willow, was inevitable.

“It was clear that this was not a question of if we would lose our baby,” she testified, “it was a question of when.”

When Zurawski asked what could be done to ensure the respectful passing of her baby, she received more bad news.

“My health care team was anguished as they explained there was nothing they could do because of Texas’ anti-abortion laws, the latest of which had taken effect two days after my water broke,” she testified.

Although she would lose the baby, the doctors didn’t feel “safe enough to intervene as long as her heart was beating” — or until Zurawski was sick enough for the ethics board at the hospital to consider her life at risk and permit “standard health care I needed at that point: an abortion.”

Zurawski was too far away from a “sanctuary state” to travel, so she waited. And waited.

“I cannot adequately put into words the trauma and despair that comes with waiting to either lose your own life, your child’s or both,” she said. “For days, I was locked in this bizarre and avoidable hell. Would Willow’s heart stop, or would I deteriorate to the brink of death?”

Three days later, the answer finally arrived. In a matter of minutes, Zurawski had developed a raging fever and dangerously low blood pressure. Her husband rushed her to the hospital, where she learned she had sepsis — a condition in which bacteria in the blood develops into infection, with the ability to kill in under an hour.

“Several hours later, after stabilizing just enough to deliver our stillborn daughter, my vitals crashed again,” she said.

She was transferred to the intensive care unit, where medical professionals battled

Sudoku Solution STR8TS Solution

for three days to keep her alive. She then spent another three days in a less-critical unit of the hospital, “all because I was denied access to reasonable health care due to Texas’ new abortion bans.”

An abortion would have prevented Zurawski’s unnecessary harm and suffering.

“The barbaric restrictions that are being passed across the country are having real life implications on real people,” Zurawski testified, adding later, “More people have been and will continue to be harmed until we do something about it. … No one should be forced to remain pregnant against their will for any reason — emergency or no emergency.”

Which brings us back to Idaho, where the same restrictive laws are putting the same mothers-to-be in danger.

We will see similar stories in Idaho’s near future, and our conservative lawmakers will treat them just as Texas Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn treated Zurawski — as an annoyance. Both support Texas’ restrictive abortion laws and neither even bothered to attend her testimony.

The reality of living in a state with extremist laws is that we will see people we love suffer and die because of them. Obstetricians will continue to be leery of offering life-saving medical procedures to mothers having pregnancy complications because they don’t wish to be charged with felonies for saving someone’s life.

I’m thankful for Amanda Zurawski’s courageous testimony. She is what a real hero sounds like.

Unfortunately, her words continue to be ignored, but you can watch her testimony on YouTube by searching her name. Her story is one we all need to hear. Whether we agree or disagree with Idaho’s abortion laws, this is our world now — until we take control and change it for the better.

Crossword Solution

Laughing Matter

Solution on page 22

By Bill Borders

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

reboant /REB-oh-uhnt/ [adjective]

Word Week of the

“Her reboant calls of ‘Echo!’ created a cacophony in the cave.”

Corrections: In the letter to the editor titled “Let me count the ways…” (April 27, 2023), the author made a mistake that slipped past the editor. Teacher salaries in Washington are $82,000 per year (ranked fifth in the nation), while Idaho’s are $54,000 (ranked 395h in the nation). Furthermore, funding for schools in Washington is $43,000 per student (ranked seventh in the nation) and in Idaho it’s $20,000 per student (ranked 51st in the nation). The Reader, and the letter-writer, both regret the error.

It’s funny how two simple words, “I promise,” will stall people for a while.

52.Word with “ill” or “mild”

54.Lighter fuel

56.Thin

57.Din

58.Accomplishments

59.Dispatches

Solution on page 22

into agreement 38.Dancer’s garb 39.Troops of the US Navy 40.Rock 42.Anagram of “Stared” 44.Upper limbs

1. resounding or reverberating loudly.