Friday, Nov. 22, marks the opening day at Schweitzer. To put things into perspective, after talking with Schweitzer’s Taylor Prather for a story on Page 20, Prather said the base depth we currently have at Schweitzer wasn’t reached until late February last season. To be a skier or snowboarder means having patience. Sometimes, Mother Nature takes a year off. Even though last season was a bummer, it was still pretty decent when the snow actually fell. Let’s hope this year gives us more than we can handle. For me, snowboarding is a big part of maintaining my mental health. It soothes the jagged edges, helps shed nervous energy and replaces that scowl on my face with a smile. Wishing you all a great opening weekend. See you on the slopes.
Speaking of...
Before it was a ski hill, Schweitzer was supposedly named after an old Swiss hermit who lived in a cabin at the bottom of the basin (likely near where Bronx Road crosses the Great Northern tracks).
Homesteader Mrs. L.D. Farmin shared a story in the Sandpoint News Bulletin during the 1960s, claiming she was returning home from a shift as a telegrapher and noticed a man in full military attire carrying a rifle. He stepped from the brush and took the horse’s bridle, leading her for a quarter mile before disappearing into the brush. Farmin reported the incident, and the sheriff came to search the cabin of the “Hermit Schweitzer,” finding a number of skinned cats that had disappeared from the neighborhood tacked to the wall. It was believed the old hermit sustained himself on a diet of cat stew. The man was later called “hopelessly demented” and committed to a mental institution.
quotes that hit hard right now
“Fascism says what you and I experience as facts or what reporters experience as facts are irrelevant. All that matters are impressions and emotions and myths.”
— Timothy D. Snyder, American historian
“The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”
— Dante Alighieri, Italian poet and writer
“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.”
— Aesop, storyteller from Ancient Greece
“We must free ourseles of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.”
— Aristotle Onassis, business magnate
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
— Voltaire, French writer, philosopher, satirist
DEAR READERS,
Happy snow day, everyone. I love this time of year because it’s too early for the naysayers to say their nays about the snow. It’s still a novelty at this point, and also a glimpse of the coming winter, which is supposed to be a big one. I say bring it on.
Unfortunately, another thing we have to look out for during the first snowfall are drivers who, let’s face it, should probably just stay home when the storms hit. I still don’t understand how so many people have trouble navigating in a light snowfall, but I don’t understand a lot about North Idaho these days. On deadline night alone, while walking around town for my errands, not one but two vehicles nearly collided with me while I was in a crosswalk. One even had the audacity to honk at me. Jerk. It’s best just to lean back, let the snow fly and squeeze as much fun as you can out of it. This is why we live here.
–Ben Olson, publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368
Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (emeritus) Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)
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About the Cover
This week’s cover is a fantastic close-up photograph by Karley Coleman. Great one, Karley!
BCRCC chooses nominees to replace Bradshaw as Dist. 1 commissioner
Precinct committeemen send letter to governor opposing Chair Herndon’s action
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
The Bonner County Republican Central Committee nominated three candidates to replace Dist. 1 Bonner County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw in a special session called Nov. 19 by Chair Scott Herndon. Though Bradshaw’s term of office expires in January, Herndon claimed the former has moved to Texas and is no longer a resident of Idaho, thus making his BOCC seat vacant. The action spurred several precinct committeemen to send a letter of opposition to Governor Brad Little.
“This statutorily vacates the seat of Bonner County Commissioner for District 1,” the committee wrote on Facebook before the meeting. “The BCRCC will meet to nominate three names to forward to Governor Brad Little for appointment to the vacated position.”
After three rounds of nominations, Brian Domke received the first position, Rick Kirschner the second and Doug Paterson third.
Justifying the nominations, Herndon cited Idaho Code 59-901, which states that an elective civil office is considered vacant if the office holder ceases to be “a resident of the state, district or county in which the duties of his office are to be exercised, or for which he may have been elected.”
Herndon also cited Idaho Code 34-107, which addresses residency: “If a qualified elector moves to another state, or to any of the other territories, with the intention of making it his permanent home, he shall be considered to have lost his residence in this state.”
“The code says you ‘shall’ submit a list of three names to
the governor to fill the vacancy,” Herndon said at the Nov. 19 meeting. “When Idaho Code uses the word ‘shall,’ we don’t have an option.”
Herndon shared numerous documents with the committee purporting to show Bradshaw’s new home in Texas — including a property deed with an address.
“It would be a lot easier to ride along [with the rest of] the term and ignore Idaho law and Idaho GOP rules, but we’re Republicans and we respect the rule of law,” Herndon said at the special session.
This marks the fourth time the BCRCC has gone through the process of replacing an elected official this year — first with Ron Korn, who was nominated by the committee and later appointed by the governor to fill the Dist. 3 seat left vacant after former-Commissioner Luke Omodt’s resignation, and later with Cornel Rasor’s appointment to serve the remainder of Rep. Sage Dixon’s term, who also stepped down. The BCRCC also had to replace Steve Rezac as a precinct committeeman after he resigned.
Meanwhile, Bradshaw has not tendered his resignation, and replied to Herndon’s assertions that he is no longer an Idaho resident in several emails shared with the Reader, writing that he had “not established residency anywhere at the present time,” and, “If owning a piece of real estate in another state is an issue, then I guess half of our county and the state legislators have an issue. I have not declared
residency other than Bonner County, Idaho. But good try, Scotty boy.”
Bradshaw attended the Nov. 19 weekly business meeting remotely, and maintains that he has a valid lease on his Bonner County property that extends until the end of his term on the BOCC in January 2025.
When asked on Nov. 20 for his opinion on Herndon’s push to nominate replacements for his position, Bradshaw replied to the Reader in an email that it was, “Just Scott being Scott. I have not resigned nor do I intend to. I will not quit on the people of Bonner County. I will finish the job they elected me to do. I am still a resident of Bonner County and will be until next year when my term ends. I have a lease back on my previous home ‘til 01-312025.”
“I have not resigned nor do I intend to. I will not quit on the people of Bonner County. I will finish the job they elected me to do.”
— Bonner County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw
Herndon stated that he learned of Bradshaw’s moving plans in August, and was told that Bradshaw would tender his resignation by Oct. 1, a claim that Bradshaw denied to the Reader, writing, “He is full of shit!”
At the special session, Herndon laid out his case against Bradshaw and solicited others to corroborate his position.
“The intent [to move] seemed clear, but I cannot speak to all the actual events that occurred after he stated that intent,” said Commissioner-elect Brian Domke, who won the Dist. 1 BOCC seat in the Nov. 5 election.
Herndon then recognized BCRCC Vice-Chair Mat Macdonald, who said Bradshaw talked to him about selling his home, and was later informed by Bradshaw that a church had purchased the property.
“He did tell me he does have a lease on a house on that property that he sold through January, so apparently he does have a lease there,” Macdonald said.
Herndon said he had driven by Bradshaw’s former property in Bonner County and had “rung the doorbell a dozen times in the last two weeks,” but the house was vacant.
“Even if he has a lease on his current house, it’s the chair’s opinion that there is evidence he’s living in Texas ... and has no intent to make Idaho his permanent home,” Herndon said.
He then opened the floor
for nominations to fill Bradshaw’s seat, but several precinct committeemen objected to the proceedings.
“This seems very improper,” said Washington P.C. Tom Bokowy. “We have a commissioner that says he is residing here on a lease, attended a meeting yesterday and is doing the job, but you feel there’s an intention he’s going to be going to Texas, so you feel you have the ability to declare this position vacant.”
Herndon said he would not field any follow-up questions on the matter.
“We’ve had some conflicting reports,” E. Priest River P.C. Jeff Connolly said, adding, “it seems like we’re making an assumption and basing a decision on, I’d call it hearsay. There’s a lot of people saying this, you’re saying you knocked on his door, but it’s a little light on evidence.”
“Fortunately we’re not a trier of fact,” Herndon countered. “We are going based on the opinion of the chair that the seat is vacant.”
Herndon shut down discussion following another objection, saying, “I’m not going to allow any dilatory actions here,” and proceeded with the nominations of Domke, Kirschner and Paterson.
“I will send those three names to the governor tomorrow,” Herndon said, before adjourning the special session.
The next day, a “notice of improper action” letter to Gov. Little was shared with the Reader signed by Committeemen Tom Bokowy, Andy Kee and Tanner Linton.
“At this meeting [held Nov. 19] an improper action was taken to declare Bonner County Commissioner Bradshaw’s position vacant,” they
< see BCRCC, Page 6 >
Bonner County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, left, and BCRCC Chair Scott Herndon, right. Courtesy photos.
IDL approves Idaho Club encroachment permit for Trestle Creek project
BOCC extends project’s conditional use permit
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Idaho Department of Lands has once again approved the Idaho Club’s application for an encroachment permit near the mouth of Trestle Creek in a Nov. 18 final order, following an Oct. 7 public meeting hosted by Hearing Examiner Leslie Hayes from the Office of Administrative Hearings. The decision brings developers one step closer to building the proposed 88-slip marina, which has been in the works — in one form or another — since 2008.
IDL previously approved an encroachment permit for a 105-slip community dock at the same site in October 2023; however, developers Valiant Idaho, LLC and Valiant Idaho II, LLC subsequently entered into a bargain sale agreement with the Kalispel Tribe, transferring ownership of a 5.8-acre parcel that included the final quarter mile of the main branch of Trestle Creek and one-eighth of a mile of the north branch. The Kalispel Tribe’s land will be held in conservation in perpetuity.
Under Idaho Code, property owners can only petition to build a community dock if they own three parcels adjacent to the water. By transferring ownership of one of the parcels, the Idaho Club no longer qualified for the previous permit.
The newest proposal includes an 88-slip commercial marina — with at least 50% of the slips available to the public — as well as a breakwater, pedestrian bridge, boat bilge pump out station, 46-space parking lot, storage and seven residential lots with corresponding private docks.
Taking into account public comment given at a September 2023 hearing, the devel-
opers will maintain several man-made islands as well as the creek’s eastern channel. They also intend to remove an old boat ramp near the mouth of Trestle Creek and a culvert, known as the North Branch Outlet, which will redirect juvenile bull trout back into the creek’s main branch, away from predators.
Community members and conservation groups have criticized the project, arguing that boat traffic, potential pollution and the dredging and filling needed to complete the project could negatively impact nearby bull trout and kokanee salmon habitat. The last round of public comment, which included 819 unique written statements, was overwhelmingly opposed, and of the of the 18 people who gave public testimony at the Oct. 7 meeting, only one spoke in favor of the project. Bull trout are protected by the Endangered Species Act and listed as threatened in all of their known habitats, including Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
According to the Idaho Conservation League, more than half of the Pend Oreille Basin’s bull trout population spawns in Trestle Creek.
Following the Oct. 7 hearing, Hayes issued a finding of fact, which recommended IDL deny the Idaho Club’s application without prejudice and called the application “premature.”
She agreed that, as required by Idaho Code 58-1306, the development does not have an “unreasonable adverse effect” on neighboring properties, nor does it cause “undue interference with navigation;” however, she found that it was too early to tell whether the “benefits derived exceed any detrimental effects.”
“Despite that, until Trestle Creek stops flowing into
the area where the marina is proposed to be built, the detrimental effects of this application cannot be weighed against the potential benefits derived,” wrote Hayes.
She recommended that the developers resubmit their application after rerouting the North Branch Outlet.
IDL Director Dustin Miller agreed, in part, with Hayes’ findings, though ultimately approved the application, arguing that the project meets the requirements for a commercial marina and provides a “clear environmental, economic and public benefit,” which exceeds the “detrimental effects.”
Additionally, he found that because the North Branch Outlet restoration will occur above the high water mark, it falls outside of IDL’s jurisdiction and did not factor into the department’s considerations.
Miller granted the encroachment permit Nov. 18 on the condition that developers receive additional permits from the Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before beginning construction.
“I find (not speaking for the client/land owner) the order refreshing in that it validates the legal process, upholding the standards and criteria by which the law and rules are crafted and should be objectively applied,” Jere-
“The well-written decision speaks truth to the (intentional or not) misinformation promoted on social media and during testimony at the hearing,” he added.
Grimm appeared on behalf of the Idaho Club at the Bonner County board of commissioners Nov. 19 business meeting to request a four-year extension on the development’s conditional use permit, which the board approved in January 2021. The original CUP would have expired in January 2025.
The CUP does not include alterations made to the plan after the September 2023 hearing; however, developers intend to apply for a modification in the future so that the CUP better aligns with the current proposal.
“This project is complex. We’re not building a house. It’s adjacent to a sensitive tributary so it is a complex project that requires a lot of thinking and process,” said Grimm.
Chair Asia Williams opposed the extension, arguing that the developers should apply for a new CUP using the current proposal rather than renew and then modify
the former CUP.
“I believe it is likely that the conditional use permit that was actually voted on and approved back then is no longer actually what that project is. We’re changing the project as we go with new amendments, and so it seems reasonable and appropriate to say that this project should come back before the board with an updated, renewed request,” said Williams, adding that since IDL only approved the encroachment permit the day before, “maybe we prematurely authorized the conditional use permit.”
Commissioner Ron Korn argued that the request was within statute and ultimately made an amended motion to give developers a shorter, twoyear extension.
The motion passed with Williams dissenting.
Going forward, the Idaho Club must obtain permits from the DEQ and the Corps, among other requirements.
“The majority of this effort is focused on the review and approval of plans for the dredging of the existing marina basin and armoring the shoreline with riprap to prevent existing erosion from damaging the area. This is occurring at the moment, and we expect agency decisions in the coming months,” Grimm told the Reader
my Grimm of Whisky Rock Planning + Consulting, which represents the Idaho Club, told the Reader in a Nov. 19 email.
An aerial view of the proposed Trestle Creek marina. Courtesy photo.
Travis Taylor honored as Chamber’s Volunteer of the Month
By Reader Staff
The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recently honored North Idaho Ice Board Member Travis Taylor as its November Volunteer of the Month in recognition of his work to create a community ice rink in Ponderay.
Founded in September 2021, the nonprofit NIICE seeks to bring additional winter recreation opportunities to Bonner County, working closely with Pondery and the Field of Dreams initiative to construct a public winter sports venue for skating, hockey, broomball and much more.
“While everyone on the team has been working hard on this, Travis has been the driving force to get everyone
< BCRCC, con’t from Page 4 > wrote. “This action lacked adherence to the due process and is in direct conflict with the facts surrounding Commissioner Bradshaw’s residency status.”
The authors of the letter told Little that while Herndon presented evidence to suggest a potential vacancy, “the statute’s requirement of ‘intention’ cannot be adequately determined by anyone other than Commissioner Bradshaw. Chairman Herndon further claimed the residence appeared vacant based on a personal observation, which is neither sufficient evidence of intention nor residency status. ...
“Additionally, the proceedings at the BCRCC meeting did not follow due process,” the letter continued. “Debate was restricted to one comment per precinct captain, and no
Bits ’n’ Pieces
From east, west and beyond
Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House and Senate. President-elect Donald Trump says that’s a “very big mandate” for activating his plans.
together every night,” said NIICE Board Member Tim Wilson, who nominated Taylor, in a recent news release.
“Despite his family and professional obligations, Travis is the first one to arrive, the last one to leave, and stays sometimes until midnight to make this project come to fruition for our community,” he added.
Volunteers have already set up the chiller and boards for the ice rink on Kootenai Cutoff Road in preparation for opening day, which will be sometime after Thanksgiving. Visit niicearena.com and be the first to hear when NIICE throws open the doors.
formal vote was taken to determine whether the committee should proceed with nominating replacements. Despite this, Chairman Herndon unilaterally declared the position vacant and forwarded nominations to your office without consensus. This overreach undermines the integrity of the process and invalidates the nominations submitted.”
The letter concluded with an urge for the governor to “review this matter carefully,” and that the actions taken by the BCRCC, “not only exceed the authority granted to its chairman, but also disregard Commissioner Bradshaw’s lawful right to contest the vacancy claim.”
Additional reporting by Zach Hagadone.
According to The U.S. News & World Report, 150 million voted in the 2024 election, and 90 million did not. Trump has under 50% of the national popular vote, Newsweek wrote. Grant Reeher, professor of political science at Syracuse University, said voters’ desires included taming inflation “while not tanking the economy. ...That’s a long way from saying Trump has a mandate to fire government workers, or raise tariffs” or deport all people here illegally. Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe cautioned, “Don’t buy into the illusion that Trump has a mandate to trample the rule of law or ignore the Constitution. He does not. Under a third of eligible voters picked Trump.” He added that voters picked Trump to boost working people and deal with the border, not to appoint “extremists to seek vengeance on his opponents.”
Trump says the new Elon Muskled Dept. of Government Efficiency will soon issue reports on “streamlining” the government, with “advice and guidance from outside the government” about cutting regulations and spending and restructuring federal agencies. The U.S. News & World Report said the U.S. Constitution empowers Congress to control the federal budget and can take or leave the “outside” advice. Musk associates say his plans include slashing “at least” $2 trillion from the federal budget. Musk says that will create “hardship,” The Washington Post reported. The Post also said Trump aides are exploring ways to enact dramatic and unpopular budget cuts without Congressional approval. One strategy is refusing to release funds for programs slated for cuts by Musk and Trump, known as impoundment, which was made illegal in 1974.
Trump said last week he’d be willing to serve an unconstitutional
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
third term. Democrats are objecting by filing a “privileged motion” in the House. The Guardian said reasons to deny a third term include a Trump statement in July that if he were re-elected, “you won’t have to vote anymore.” Days before the election, Trump said he should not have left the White House in 2020 and that he was fine with members of the media being shot. A term-limit change to the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate and approval by 75% of states.
Trump’s plans to repeal the Biden Administration’s climate policies will stop the U.S. from becoming a clean energy superpower and will likely cost the U.S. up to $50 billion in lost exports, according to a news analysis co-authored by Bentley Allan, an environmental and political policy expert at John Hopkins University. Allan told the Guardian that countries’ future prosperity hinges on being part of the clean energy supply chain, and leaving the competition will make it “very difficult to re-enter.” With its significant incentives for clean energy, the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act has created around 300,000 new jobs, many of which have gone to Republican-held districts.
Trump’s cabinet nominees are drawing bipartisan ire for reasons that include lack of qualifications, immoral conduct and inability to pass background checks, numerous media reported. To dodge confirmation hearings, Trump says he wants recess appointments. Attorney General nominee Matt Gaetz has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and misuse of campaign funds. A former justice department inspector general, Michael Bromwiaetz, said the Gaetz choice was “extraordinary,” given his “baggage.” He suspects Trump is testing his strength to see who in his party has the backbone to oppose him.
BoCo EMS faces financial uncertainty; takes out $2 million tax anticipation note
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Bonner County EMS is facing a financial mess following the move to the newly finished Station 1 building, leaving the ambulance district $2 million short in its current budget cycle.
The board of county commissioners dedicated the majority of the Nov. 19 business meeting to the topic, exploring cost-saving measures, implementing new internal controls and signing off on a tax anticipation note from Umpqua Bank to tide over EMS until its tax revenue comes in at the end of January.
Chair Asia Williams called the $2 million loan “a BandAid to the leaky boat” and stressed that the commissioners, EMS and the Clerk’s Office need to continue working together to find long-term solutions to make EMS financially viable.
According to Williams, approximately $4.3 million of the ambulance district’s $5 million in tax revenue goes to staff, leaving little left in the coffers. The county already struggles to offer competitive wages, and EMS’ current financial uncertainty could lead to more pay cuts in the future.
“From the sheriff to EMS to fire, it is a skilled position that relies on people that are willing to put their lives on the line for their services, that need to have continuing education and growth, but need to want to work in an area where we know we’re not going to pay what is competitive in a nearby
area,” said Williams.
One proposed solution would be to restructure the staff’s hours, resulting in less overtime and, therefore, less pay; however, EMS Chief Jeff Lindsey emphasized that he would rather apply for another tax anticipation note “and keep what we have now and keep our employees whole than to make a rash decision on having to go to a different shift schedule and potentially hurt their long-range, annual income.”
Lindsey anticipates staffing decisions will need to be made in the coming weeks.
“For now, no decisions have been made as far as the staffing patterns, staffing levels, etc. We do have a plan in place in case we’re told that we do need to cut down on significant amounts of overtime... that is to split the shifts up to 48/144, but again, I don’t want to do
that,” he added.
Selkirk Fire Chief Jeff Armstrong raised concerns about maintaining staff, estimating that if each EMS employee lost 11 hours of overtime per week, it would amount to approximately $830 per paycheck.
“I’m not saying that people are leaving. I think that they’re loyal employees, and I think the world of our EMS folks, but people already can’t afford to live here, and now you’re asking them to take another pay hit,” said Armstrong.
He went on to propose several alternative financial solutions, including cross-training and sharing facilities with area fire and rescue services, partnering with other local agencies or merging with the Joint Powers Agreement — a partnership between Westside and Sagle Fire districts, which has a combined budget of
$3,687,431.
“[R]eally the toughest bullet point up here, right, is getting everybody to just take a deep breath, push pride aside, set aside their ego and have real conversations,” said Armstrong.
In the meantime, the board of commissioners voted unanimously to enact a series of internal controls to monitor EMS’ finances more closely.
“One of the internal controls is that if the budget comes within 50% of the six-month minimum cash balance, the EMS chief will create a plan of action [and] correction with the Clerk’s Office to address the available cash balance [and] potential shortfalls,” said Williams.
The Clerk’s Office recommends maintaining a minimum of $2 million in reserve.
The treasurer will now
also send the monthly EMS account report to the commissioners and Lindsey for review, and, going forward, officials will continue to scrutinize current spending habits, contracts, best practices and other elements of EMS’ operations in an effort to cut costs. Finally, EMS is now required to verify available cash funds before writing checks.
Williams said the current financial issues are “as clear as mud” and go back to EMS’ origin in 2003, because the county created the ambulance district without a plan to sustain it.
“We need to build a better foundation. The foundation has cracks and crumbles in it, but we still have people dialing 911 for services,” she said.
EMS Station 1, which was completed in September 2024. Photo by Soncirey Mitchell.
Bouquets:
• A Bouquet goes out to Daniela Caniglia, owner of the Tervan Tavern, for dropping off another batch of pickled eggs to the Reader office. We’re big fans of her pickled eggs here and also appreciate the kind gesture.
• The same blue bicycle has been left unlocked and unattended on a downtown sidewalk for more than two weeks. Every day I walk to work, I expect to see it gone, but it’s still there. That’s a small town for you, right there.
GUEST SUBMISSION:
• “Bouquets to the individuals who came to the aid of my 80-year-old husband on Friday, Nov. 8. You saved his life. Thank you both! You’re my angels.”
— By Maria Kisting
Barbs:
• Let me get this straight: we’re going to have a 34time convicted felon who was found liable for sexual assault as president, an anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorist as secretary of health and human services, a Russian asset with zero intelligence experience as director of national intelligence, a suspected drug addict who was recently investigated for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl for attorney general, a quack TV doctor to head up Medicare, the wife of a wrestling magnate to lead the education department, a Fox News host as defense secretary and whatever the hell Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are heading the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” who have said they are looking at cutting “75% of Social Security benefits,” among other things. Let me know when we reach “great again” status.
‘The
perfect storm’…
Dear editor,
Hurricane Donald expected to hit landfall Jan. 20, 2025, at approximately noon Eastern Time.
Bill Litsinger Sandpoint
‘What will Republicans do?’
Dear editor, A second Trump term will have a larger impact on certain groups than others. One of them is the Republican Party. The party of Regan is dead, or so Trump would like you to believe. Now, let us see if real Republicans will finally grow a backbone.
The Republican Party I grew up with loved the Constitution. Trump is on a mission to destroy it. A job he started on January 6th, aided by a Supreme Court that is more a Republican Calafat than a protector of the Constitution. The Supreme Court made Trump above the law. Now Trump wants the Senate to simply recess so his picks get no scrutiny at all. So much for the separation of powers.
The old Republican Party believed in small government that was close to the people. They used to support local control. The Trump party is planning to hand control to Elon Musk so he can deregulate anything billionaires don’t like.
Regan believed America was the city on a hill and demanded that Gorbachev “tear down this wall,” Trump’s America First has already told Putin he can do anything he wants to Ukraine and Europe. NATO — what NATO?
The real question is, what will Republicans do? Most real Republicans still love our Constitution with its checks and balances. But is their country more important than the buffoon who has bullied them into silence? With Trump weaponizing the DOJ, I don’t have much hope.
Mary Haley Sandpoint
Got something to say? Write a letter to the editor. We accept letters that are 300 words or less. No libelous statements or excessive profanity. No trolls. Please elevate the conversation. Submit to: letters@sandpointreader.com
James E. Russell Sports Center set to open in December
Get a sneak peek inside during the Turkey Trot Fun Run
By Mayor Jeremy Grimm Reader Contributor
This December, the James E.Russell Sports Center will officially open its doors at Travers Park, marking the completion of a multi-year planning and construction process that began in late 2021. Just one year after breaking ground in fall 2023, the facility will soon provide a long-desired indoor space for recreation, education and community gatherings that doesn’t require any taxpayer dollars for its construction or operation.
The project began when Jim Russell and his mother, Ginny, approached city staff with a plan to honor their late father and husband, James E. Russell, by enhancing Sandpoint’s racket sports facilities. What started as an idea to improve existing facilities evolved into a $7.5 million donation to provide the community with a new indoor sports center.
The center was primarily designed to meet the needs of our growing racket sports community, which includes the high-performing Sandpoint Middle and High School tennis programs. With around 80 youth participants across the 7th- through 12th-grade teams — including one of only four middle school tennis programs in the state — these athletes will now have access to year-round indoor facilities.
The center will also host drop-in pickleball sessions for over 700 local players — a testament to the rapid growth of this sport in our area and nationwide.
A full-time facility supervisor and six part-time staff will keep the facility running smoothly, with 13-hour days to accommodate daytime and evening activities.
Sandpoint’s recreation division will run after-school, non-school day and other recreation programs from the
center’s community room, which will also be available for organizations and individuals to rent. Additionally, the facility will provide at least two hours of free indoor walking time each day along a designated route around the perimeter of the courts.
With proof of Sandpoint residency, users can also take advantage of 90 minutes of daily free court time, giving everyone a chance to play regardless of their financial ability. The previous Sandpoint City Council also ensured that all youth ages 19 or younger get free memberships, enshrining Russell’s wishes that youth be put first in the programming and operations of the facility.
Paid monthly and annual membership options will allow racket sports players access to the facility and ensure Sandpoint residents don’t carry all operational costs.
The center represents a significant investment in our community’s health and well-being. From youth sports to accessible programs for residents of all ages and abilities, this facility is poised to play a key role in keeping Sandpoint active and connected.
For those eager to get a sneak peek at the new facility, Sandpoint will partner with the Lighthouse YMCA to host the 17th annual Turkey Trot Fun Run and Walk on Thanksgiving — Thursday, Nov. 28 — outside the facility. The event begins at 9 a.m. and will feature one-, two-, and three-mile routes around Travers Park, Centennial Field and Great Northern Sports Complex. This is an untimed, family-friendly event, with a special prize for the best costume. Participants should bring a non-perishable food donation for the Bonner Community Food Bank in lieu of an entry fee.
The Turkey Trot event will be a fun way to see the sports
center, enjoy time with family and friends and support a good cause.
The city is ever grateful to Jim and Ginny Russell for their vision and remarkable generosity, which has made this project a reality. The effort would also not have been possible without teams of dedicated local contractors, volunteers, city staff, businesses and sports enthusiasts.
On behalf of the city, I acknowledge and apologize for our shortcomings during the complex journey to the facility’s completion. The effort exposed the differing perspectives and passions within our community. While many celebrate the new facility and opportunities for youth engagement and sportsmanship, others expressed valid concerns about the impact on local resources, the park environment and how Sandpoint City Council makes decisions.
Like any substantial development, this project has sparked a necessary dialogue about our shared values and priorities, the planning process and public involvement in local government. The city has implemented changes to improve our processes, such as reestablishing five critically important citizen committees and commissions so that, going forward, elected officials will receive invaluable feedback and guidance on the major projects we undertake.
We encourage everyone to come out and explore this exciting addition to Travers Park. Whether you’re a racket sports player, a parent hosting a birthday party in the community room or someone looking for a warm place to walk in the winter, the JER Sports Center is here to serve the community. See you at the courts.
For more information, visit sandpointidaho.gov/ parks-and-recreation.
By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
After the Nov. 5 election, I felt an overwhelming need to disconnect — from the celebratory posts of those aligned with the victors and the relentless buzz of speculation, bad news and general malaise. It built in my mind like mounting pressure, so deafening that I nearly fumbled my phone in my rush to delete the apps feeding my distress.
I hit the “x” on my Instagram and Facebook mobile apps (Twitter found the wastebasket back in 2012), and luckily, I’d never downloaded TikTok in the first place — opting instead to watch outdated videos on Instagram like the Millennial I am.
Over the past eight years, my screen time and media consumption have crept up like something happening to me rather than something I controlled. The first Trump administration seemed to demand daily diligence to stay informed, and the COVID-19 pandemic fostered survival habits far more pervasive than masking or vaccinations.
Hours formerly spent quietly listening to music, reading or zoning out entirely were replaced by a near-constant stream of podcasts (because letting my stream of consciousness run wild, ruminating on every unprecedented event, personal hardship and existential threat was too daunting).
I turned to news-as-entertainment streams alongside countless Americans who stacked shows like The Daily, The Run-Up and Today, Explained into their daily routines. My brain, meant to relax and pro-
Emily Articulated
Analog era
cess the day’s events, instead absorbed an unending barrage of information. It felt like trying to overstuff a too-small pillow, the excess spilling out in unprocessed thoughts and emotions. But the moment I deleted my easy access to media, I felt near-instant relief.
I’m not writing this to pat myself on the back or mimic those self-congratulatory declarations about taking a break from social media, only to pop back online to check how many likes and comments their announcement received.
I thought I was modestly conscious of my phone use, setting timers and app use limits, yet I still underestimated its hold on me.
Going nearly “cold turkey” was the only way to realize how pervasive it all was.
This epiphany reminded me of the convenience food craze of the 1950s and ’60s when post-war canned and premade foods swept across the United States. This revolution in consumption dramatically altered our relationship with food while offering real benefits — especially for women, who saved countless hours in the kitchen and gained time to join clubs, pursue careers and expand their worlds.
As the National Women’s History Museum noted, “Even as marketing touted the kitchen as a woman’s special domain, technology gradually reduced the amount of time she needed to spend there.”
We embraced convenience, clinging on to the positives while turning a blind eye to the side effects. Today, 73% of food in American grocery stores is classified as ultra-processed — far removed from anything replicable in a home kitchen. Meanwhile, obesity rates have soared from 10% in the 1940s to 43% today.
Likewise, we’ve clung to the advantages of our devices — instant connection, real-time global updates and an endless stream of engaging content (some well-crafted, some wholly addictive) — while largely ignoring their toll. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges have surged to epidemic levels, paralleling the convenience food era’s unintended consequences.
Psychiatric Research & Clinical Practice explains this well: “The prevalence of mental health issues among U.S. adolescents and young adults began to rise in the early 2010s ... with a growing consensus that these trends may be connected to the rise in technology use. Increased digital media and smartphone use may influence mental health via several mechanisms, including displacement of time spent in in-person social interactions; disruption of in-person social interactions; interference with sleep time and quality; cyberbullying and toxic online environments; and online contagion.”
As with the convenience food craze, we’ve welcomed
the benefits of constant connectivity while ignoring the toll it takes on our emotional and mental well-being, leaving many of us overfed with information but undernourished in connection and introspection.
These days, I’ve been joking that I’m in my “Analog Era.” I’ve subscribed to a paper newspaper, which I read at my leisure, often with a crackling fire as ambiance. I’ve enrolled in a painting class, started writing more and prioritized reg-
ularly checking in with friends and family. I’m steering away from the TV dinner versions of the things I crave — connection, community and inspiration — and instead savoring the real thing. For now, and for a while, the only thing I’m tuning into is myself.
Emily Erickson is a writer and business owner with an affinity for black coffee and playing in the mountains. Connect with her online at www.bigbluehat.studio.
Retroactive By BO
Emily Erickson.
Science: Mad about
carbon neutral fuel
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
Matter can be neither created nor destroyed. So what happens when you pour $100 worth of fuel into your car’s tank, only for it to be empty in a week and a half? Where did it go?
Using up fuel in your car isn’t just deleting it from existence. The process of an internal combustion engine utilizes energy generated from applying heat to a volatile chemical (gasoline or diesel) to trigger a reaction that will split the fuel into its baser components, creating energy for the moving parts of your engine in the process. That energy transfer is then directed throughout the vehicle to make it move.
The baser chemicals are generally light enough to go from liquid to gaseous form and become a part of the atmosphere. There are an estimated 1.5 billion vehicles in the world, leading to a lot of waste products in the atmosphere.
Atmospheric carbon has a powerful insulating effect called the greenhouse effect. Essentially, carbon lets light in, but it doesn’t like to let heat back out after the light has impacted a surface and produced heat energy. The closest approximation is the acrylic panels of a greenhouse, which allow light in and trap heat inside, hence the term “greenhouse effect.”
It’s undeniable that we need energy sources to power our daily lives — especially in rural North Idaho — so the idea of saying, “Forget fossil fuels,” is kind of absurd, to say the least. These are things we need to thrive in our mod-
ern world, but there are steps that we can take to mitigate the damage we do to our environment.
Synthetic fuels can and have been created to help mitigate climate change, though these fuel sources aren’t a panacea for all climate and energy woes. One of these applications actually requires the environment to have been already altered in order to create the fuel.
The Navy is currently working to deploy processes to create synthetic jet fuel from carbonic acid pulled from the ocean. This requires an energy source that fossil fuels would typically fill. Nimitz class aircraft carriers are equipped with nuclear reactors to keep them powered, and would allow for them to harvest carbon from carbonic acid in seawater. Carbonic acid mostly comes from carbon in the atmosphere as a byproduct of internal combustion engines. The ocean absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, and the CO2 merges with water to create carbonic acid.
A surplus of carbonic acid has a detrimental effect on the ocean at large by harming fragile organisms such as shellfish and coral, which creates a cascading effect throughout the oceanic ecosystem. Being able to “scrub” seawater and pull fuel from it without adding more waste products to the atmosphere helps mitigate some of the damage done by motorized vehicles, especially in times of peace.
Due to the highly controlled nature of nuclear energy, this solution can’t be widely applied to most ships. However, every little bit helps, and if this turns out to be a profitable endeavor, it could
well be applied to specialized ships in the private sector, similar to how plastic collectors have been deployed over the past couple of years.
Microalgae is another form of potentially carbon-neutral fuel. Unlike things like fossil fuels, microalgae lends itself to a huge variety of organic purposes including pharmaceuticals and livestock feed. Crude oil pumped from the ground is the fossilized remains of ancient algal mats, so it’s only logical to explore the utilization of algae as a form of modern fuel.
The premise of how algae can become fuel is relatively simple, even when the extraction process is dense. Essentially, algae is a very basic form of plant life that draws in carbon dioxide and, through photosynthesis, cleaves the molecule into O2 and carbon, spitting out the oxygen as a waste product and keeping the carbon as building blocks to create more algae. We are then able to harvest the carbon as an energy source, applying heat and forcing it to bind with O2 and creating energy in the process.
Algae is extremely efficient at storing carbon compared to most other plant life. It’s also resilient and capable of thriving in a huge variety of environments so long as it has adequate moving water. Under the proper conditions, it can even be stored for hundreds of millions of years either as a carbon sink or a future fuel source, as is the case with oil.
Algae have been responsible for massive climate shifts in the Earth’s distant past. Over 2 billion years ago, a massive surge of cyanobacteria caused the greatest mass
extinction the Earth has ever seen. Blue-green algae spread in huge quantities all over the world, absorbing an immense amount of carbon dioxide and spitting out O2 as waste. This completely altered Earth’s atmosphere, changed the planet’s average temperature and laid the foundation for life as we know it to exist on planet Earth. Oxygen was poisonous to most organisms alive at this
time, and the rapid growth of O2 in the atmosphere killed most life on the planet with the exception of the cyanobacteria.
Plants are metal, man. Unfortunately, using algae as fuel will never be a carbon-negative solution as it will always return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Stay curious, 7B.
•The earliest evidence of breadmaking comes from 30,000 years ago. Archaeologists determined that ancient people extracted starch from the roots of certain plants by analyzing starch residues on grinding stones found in Italy, Czechia and Russia.
•The Sumerians are credited as the oldest known civilization to make bread rise by using naturally occurring airborne yeast.
•In ancient Europe, the Gauls and Iberians would skim the foam off their beer --- called “barm” during the fermentation process — and make “barm cakes,” a soft, fluffy bread. Barm cake is still popular in northern Europe, and it’s often filled with bacon or french fries.
•France takes bread seriously. The country’s bakers produce an estimated 6 billion baguettes per year. The baguette is so important, in fact, that there are a number of laws dictating its ingredients as well as preparation. This ensures that baguettes can’t be made from pre-prepared dough and must originate in the place from which they are sold.
•Centuries before the discovery of penicillin, ancient Egyptians
figured out a way to treat wounds by applying moldy bread to stop infections and heal burns.
•The Bible contains an odd recipe for bread. God commanded Ezekiel to make bread from wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and fitches, “And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.”
•Hardtack is a tough type of bread eaten by sailors and military men. It earned the “hard” part of its name by being baked up to six times, also giving it the monikers of “tooth duller” and “sheet iron.”
The hardness helped it to last a long time at sea or war without spoiling.
•One way to make gluten-free bread is to use flour made from crickets.
•The people of Calderon, Ecuador make sculptures from bread in a tradition called Masapán sculpting. The bread is part of the tradition of pan de muerto, or “bread of the dead,” an offering as part of the Día de los Muertos. Masapán is completely inedible as it contains white glue in its recipe.
PERSPECTIVES
Leave the leaves
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
If the recent snowfall blanketed your yard before you had a chance to rake up the leaves, don’t worry. You are not an inconsiderate neighbor, a bad American or moral failure. Rather, you did what most experts insist we should all do; but, for various psycho-social and anti-science reasons, we don’t: leave the leaves.
No less than the U.S. Department of Agriculture advises property owners to let the leaves fall where they may — within reason — and do what they are meant to do.
“Leaves create a natural mulch that helps to suppress weeds while fertilizing the soil as it breaks down,” the department wrote in a 2022 advisory article at usda.gov. “The leaves also serve as a habitat for wildlife including lizards, birds, turtles, frogs and insects that overwinter in the fallen leaves. These living creatures help keep pests down and increase pollination in your garden, so having a habitat for them in the fallen leaves can help to keep them around when you need them the most.”
Like most people, I associate autumn with certain tasks — raking leaves, among them. I don’t necessarily mind this chore; but, this year, it struck me that such a traditional process was actually doing more harm than good. I don’t know where this thought came from. Maybe it was a defense mechanism against the chaos of the world and my vague feeling that if we could and should save something, it should be bugs.
I do prefer them to almost all people. Especially now.
Anyway, based on a week or so of research, my feeling was justified.
John Hastings, of All Seasons Garden and Floral — and also chair of the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission — told me in an email that, “if a thick layer of leaves are left on your lawn, they will choke out grass, just like they choke out weeds when we use them as mulch. If there are only some leaves on your lawn, they will biodegrade and contribute to the fertility of your soil.”
On his own patch, he said he rakes “a very small portion of the most visible front yard to maintain healthy grass. On 90% of my lawn, I leave the
And don’t feel bad about it
scattered leaves to maintain healthy invertebrate populations.”
Meanwhile, I don’t think it’s an overstatement to describe George Gehrig as one of the area’s most knowledgeable experts on biodiversity and practical methods of maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Just look at his list of associations: he’s a board member of the Idaho Environmental Education Association and the Society for Conservation GIS (with about 1,000 members in 80 countries); founder both of the Northern Rocky Mountain Biodiversity Challenge and the Wild Ones Northern Rockies Chapter; master melittologist (the study of bees) with the Native Bee Society of B.C. (Canada); and local ambassador of the Xerces Society, which is a national organization dedicated to the conservation of invertebrates.
When I asked Gehrig what he thought about “leaving the leaves,” he sent me tens of thousands of words of research and commentary from various sources. Next year, I’ll write a few thousand words of my own based on what he shared with me. Suffice it to say, Gehrig agrees that leaving the leaves is optimal for overall ecosystem health.
He recognized, of course, that this requires “alternate lawn care decisions, which go against the ingrained dogma of having lawns, which are chemically treated non-native monocultures, that wind up being food deserts. They are a massive waste of
time and money, and actually harm the surrounding ecosystems.”
Gehrig agreed with all the other sources I’d found that leaves biodegrading on the soil are good for all the reasons mentioned above — providing nutrition and protection for various insect, animal and plant species — but noted that deep layers of leaves will indeed hurt the grass beneath.
“[B]ut, again, I’m predisposed against lawns,” he wrote. “I’m a big advocate of replacing lawns with meadows, featuring the most pollinator-friendly plants of our ecoregion that have co-evolved with the duff that seasonally covers the ground (it’s unfortunate that we’ve become brainwashed into thinking that these are ‘weeds,’ and are ‘ugly’).”
Yes — my plan is to replace all of my grass with pollinator-friendly and native flora. But, I’ll admit, Gehrig’s points about the “dogma” of leaf removal and being “brainwashed” into viewing native plants and the product of seasonal leaf-fall as weeds and waste were a big part of my conundrum — bordering on anxiety — about not giving too much of a care about raking my lawn.
No joke: When I made this pronouncement that we’d “leave the leaves,” it triggered so many discussions and even fights in my household that I was left flabbergasted. I was shocked at the horror, hostility and frankly unreasoning, pearl-clutching nonsense that I heard from people whom I had previously thought of as intelligent and
un-prone to propaganda.
And so, who knew that leaves could be the fourth-rail of American culture? But I guess it makes sense: We are people whose national myth holds that we’re put here by God Himself to take and till every inch of the planet to serve our innermost needs — chief among them, that the neighbors think well of us.
I like my neighbors a lot, but I also like bees and beetles and butterflies and birds (which eat them... the bugs, not the neighbors).
Ultimately, I call B.S. on all that HOA-suburban mental tyranny and the illogical gymnastics required to sustain it. The people who know best agree.
“Perhaps an alternate campaign would be to ‘leave the leaves under native (host) trees,’ then to carefully move the remainder to other places on the property,” Gehrig told me. “Caterpillars need the ‘soft landing’ sites leaf litter provides, to complete their development, and overwintering adults need it for shelter. Without native trees, and with the habitat for further developmental stages, there aren’t any/many caterpillars. And without caterpillars, there isn’t food to feed baby birds.”
If you need some other numbers to justify a more laid-back approach to leaves on your lawn, check out the National Wildlife Foundation, which cites the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that, “leaves and other yard debris account for more than 13% of the nation’s solid waste — a whopping 33 million tons a year.
“Without enough oxygen to decompose, this organic matter releases the greenhouse gas methane. ... In fact, solid-waste landfills are the largest U.S. source of man-made methane — and that’s aside from the carbon dioxide generated by gas-powered blowers and trucks used in leaf disposal.”
Combine that with the practice of packing leaves into plastic bags, then burying them in the ground, and you have insanity piled on insanity.
This isn’t some radical, new-age, iconoclast idea. Leaves rotting on the ground is literally how nature works. And I’ll be leaving (most of) my leaves from now on — and feeling no shame.
Leaves blanket the yard of a home (not the author’s home). Courtesy photo.
Traditional Republicans missed the opportunity of the century
By Rep. Lauren Necochea, D-Boise Reader Contributor
Democracy thrives when every voice is heard and leaders gain broad support from an engaged electorate. With closed Republican primaries shutting out Independents, Idaho operates far from this ideal. Since the Idaho GOP closed its primary in 2012, the Legislature has grown increasingly extreme, favoring fringe agendas over public needs.
Concerned citizens brought the Open Primaries Initiative, or Proposition 1, to pull politics back toward the median voter’s views. It would have opened primaries and created instant-runoff elections, in which voters can rank candidates in order of preference. It’s like telling a server at the deli you want the chicken noodle soup; but, if that’s out, your second choice is minestrone and so on.
Naturally, far-right extremists benefiting from the status quo went into conniptions. Because the far-right controls the Idaho Republican Party apparatus, they used it to run a campaign against it.
What’s confounding is that the leaders who stood to gain the most from Proposition 1 — traditional Republican legislators — did not throw their support behind it.
Proposition 1 would have rescued these legislators from their abusive relationship with their own party. Many GOP legislators vote for bad bills because they are scared of friendly fire: misleading attacks during primary elections and tribunals and sanctions from far-right party bosses. One coun-
ty party tried to prevent a sitting legislator from running with the Republican label.
Proposition 1 would have broken this excruciating pattern. And while Sen. Linda Wright Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, wrote an excellent op-ed in support, her voice was lost in the sea of those who came out against it or stayed silent. Most traditional Republican officials were too afraid of the shortterm discomfort of bucking their party, even if it meant easier elections for them and fewer terrible policies for Idahoans.
What can be done now that farright tactics defeated Proposition 1? Idahoans will need to be louder than the GOP party bosses.
Voters will need to call, email and testify when Republican lawmakers try to repeal Medicaid expansion and take
health care away from 84,000 Idahoans, leaving them in the coverage gap.
Voters must come out against GOP proposals to divert precious dollars to private, religious and for-profit ventures, while neighborhood schools struggle to stay open, maintain athletics and retain teachers.
Idaho businesses and families must be emphatic about protecting LAUNCH scholarships that propel the next generation to in-demand careers. And voters must demand repeal of the dangerous abortion bans before more labor-and-delivery wards close and more women suffer long-term health impacts like infertility and even death.
Idaho’s Democratic legislators stand with public opinion on these critical issues. But Republican lawmakers will require sustained pressure to do the right thing. It’s up to voters to deliver it.
Rep. Lauren Necochea is the House assistant Democratic leader, representing District 19 in Boise on the Environment, Energy and Technology; Resources and Conservation; Revenue and Taxation; and Ways and Means committees.
Rep. Lauren Necochea. File photo.
To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.
Top right: “I was in Hope yesterday afternoon going east on the road above Hwy. 200 just down from the old Hope Hotel,” wrote photographer Chele Looney. “I glanced toward the lake and saw this spectacular scene with the sun blazing through this opening in the clouds.”
Middle left: A family of moose grab a snack in the yard. Photo by Susan Drinkard.
Middle right: The “beaver moon” as it began to set behind Schweitzer.” I would have liked to get it sinking behind the mountain, but those clouds at the bottom of the picture moved up and blocked the view of the setting moon,” wrote photographer Don Swanstrom.
Bottom left: “I wandered down to the train bridges today and thought this was a neat picture,” wrote photographer Brooke Bessler.
Bottom right: “I want to share with you and the Reader this stylized photo I took while walking my dog around Great Northern Park the other afternoon,” wrote photographer Janenne Russell. “The fall colors and this one cloud brightly standing out, surrounded by darkness really caught my eye.”
Top left: Two bald eagles enjoying a cold, sunny day at Sandpoint City Beach. Photo by John Chaplin.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador joins effort to seize control of public lands
By Brad Smith Reader Contributor
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador recently joined the State of Utah in a legal effort that could upend the future of public lands across the United States. Labrador filed a brief in support of Utah’s lawsuit, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, which challenges the federal government’s authority to retain ownership of “unappropriated” Bureau of Land Management lands within Utah’s borders. If successful, this case could set a dangerous precedent, putting millions of acres of public lands nationwide at risk of state takeover.
In Idaho, approximately 9.1 million acres of unappropriated BLM lands could be affected. While most of these lands are in the southern part of the state, North Idaho is home to nearly 100,000 acres of
BLM-managed lands, including about 16,000 acres in Bonner and Boundary counties. These lands encompass cherished places like Gamlin Lake, Gold Mountain, portions of the Mickinnick Trail and parcels along the Kootenai River — key spots for recreation, wildlife habitat and public enjoyment.
At first glance, transferring these lands to state control might sound appealing, but don’t be fooled. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, BLM lands are managed for multiple uses, balancing activities like grazing and timber harvest with recreation, wildlife conservation and public access. This ensures all Americans — regardless of where they live — have a stake in these lands.
By contrast, state endowment lands are managed solely to maximize financial returns. As the Idaho Department of Lands readily admits, state lands are not public lands. In keeping with its constitutional mandate, Idaho has sold off more than 1.2 million acres of state lands over the years. These lands, once privatized, are often lost to the public forever.
Consider the recent proposal by Trident Holdings to purchase more than 28,000 acres of state lands near Payette Lake for a luxury lakefront development. While public opposition paused the plan, it underscores the risks of state land management. If federal lands were handed over to the state, iconic Idaho landscapes — including beloved hiking trails,
hunting grounds, and fishing streams — would face similar threats of privatization or overdevelopment.
The financial burden of managing millions of acres of federal lands is another major concern. Federal agencies currently invest billions annually in wildfire prevention, suppression and land management. If Idaho were to assume these responsibilities, the state’s budget would face significant strain, potentially leading to land sales or increased commercial exploitation to cover costs. Such moves would not only degrade ecosystems but also limit public access to the outdoor spaces that Idahoans treasure.
Overlooked in much of this debate is the impact on tribal nations. Many tribes hold treaties with the federal government that guarantee their right to access these lands for traditional practices, hunting, fishing and other activities. Federal agencies are also required to consult tribes before making management decisions on treaty lands. These rights do not extend to state-owned lands. If BLM lands were transferred to the state, then tribal members would lose the right to access those lands and exercise their treaty rights. Tribes would also no longer have a voice in the management of those lands.
Efforts to seize control of public lands are not new, but this latest push feels more serious than ever, especially given the current composition of the Supreme Court. Idahoans should be alarmed by this direct threat to our public lands and the legacy we leave for future generations.
It’s time to speak out. Let Attorney General Labrador and Idaho’s congressional delegation know that you oppose any effort to transfer ownership of BLM lands to the state. Visit the Idaho Conservation League’s website at takeaction.idahoconservation.org/09a2aFx to make your voice heard. Together, we can ensure that our public lands remain public — for all of us to enjoy, now and in the future.
Brad Smith is the conservation director of the Idaho Conservation League.
Brad Smith. Courtesy photo.
Carousel of Smiles plans ‘Unveiling 2.0’ and nonprofit Carousel Fun Fair at fairgrounds
By Reader Staff
The Carousel of Smiles celebrated the acquisition of a new location at 504 Church St. in October, and now organizers are preparing for what they’re calling “The Unveiling 2.0” of the restored “Golden Age” 1920 Allan Herschell carousel with two events at the Bonner County Fairgrounds (4203 N.Boyer Road, in Sandpoint).
First up, on Friday, Nov. 22, attendees are invited to see progress on the restoration — which began in 2018 and is now 85% complete — as well as learn about the long-term vision for a new carousel pavilion and activity center at the Church Street location.
The Friday event starts at 6 p.m. with a curtain draw at 7 p.m. Matchwood Brewing Company’s tiny tap truck “Ester” will be on site with nohost beer and wine, while light hors d’oeuvres will be offered.
Next, on Saturday, Nov. 23, will be the Carousel Fun Fair at the fairgrounds from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring another curtain draw at 11 a.m.
Both events are free to attend and open to all ages.
Throughout the day, more than 30 North Idaho nonprofits will host booths showcasing their various missions and the work they do in the community. After the curtain draw at 11 a.m., attendees can listen to holiday music with the Herndon Girls from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and classics from the North Idaho Old Time Fiddlers
from 1:30-3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the public is welcome to participate in an alternative giving market, in which shoppers can donate items in the name of loved ones or friends and receive a special item symbolizing their gift.
Better Together Animal Alliance will be on hand to conduct a vaccine and microchip clinic from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., as well as offering free QR code tags from PetHub to help keep track of stray pets. These services are free and available to everyone, with no obligation to provide financial information. Please ensure all cats are crated and all dogs are leashed.
The event will also feature the PonderPlay Bounce House, an indoor bike
For more information go to thecarouselofsmiles.org. Nonprofits interest-
ed in participating in the fun fair are asked to contact Dig Chrismer of the Innovia Foundation at dchrismer@ innovia.org to secure a space.
Cottage Market teams up with Sandpoint Teen Center for holiday shopping events
By Reader Staff
The Cottage Market is partnering with the Sandpoint Teen Center to host its annual autumn holiday shopping event Saturdays, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30 at the First Lutheran Church
(526 S. Olive Ave.)
Local merchants will offer their wares from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. both days, including candy, baked goods, crafts, home decor, handcrafted toys, mixed media arts, jewelry and more.
For more info, visit the Cottage Market’s Facebook page.
Angie Kerr appointed as new director for Sandpoint Soccer Association
By Reader Staff
The Sandpoint Soccer Association announced the appointment of twotime All-American, collegiate national champion, U.S. women’s national player and University of Portland Hall of Famer Angie Kerr as the new director of soccer operations.
“With a distinguished background as both a player and coach, Kerr brings a wealth of experience, leadership and passion to SSA, further enhancing the organization’s commitment to developing youth soccer in the Sandpoint community,” the SSA stated in a news release.
As a former professional soccer player, Kerr’s career has spanned various levels of competition, from collegiate play to international tournaments. She is known not only for her accomplishments on the field but also
for her dedication to coaching, mentoring and fostering the growth of young athletes.
“Kerr’s background makes her an ideal fit for this role, as SSA looks to expand its programs, enhance coaching strategies, and build upon its strong foundation of community involvement,” the organization stated.
In her role as director of soccer operations, Kerr will oversee the management and development of SSA’s youth and community programs, as well as work with the association’s board of directors and coaching staff to implement training methods, set program goals and promote a positive environment for players to thrive both on and off the field.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Angie Kerr to the SSA family,” stated SSA Board President Adam Weisner. “Her experience, vision and
dedication to the sport make her a tremendous asset to our organization.
With Angie at the helm, we’re confident that SSA will continue to provide an exceptional soccer experience for our community’s youth.”
Kerr shared her enthusiasm about joining SSA, stating, “I am honored to be part of the Sandpoint Soccer Association and look forward to contributing to the growth and development of young players in the area. SSA has a strong foundation, and I’m excited to work with the team to make an even greater impact on our community.”
For more information about the Sandpoint Soccer Association and its programs, visit sandpointsoccer.com.
the new director of
Right: Angie Kerr,
soccer operations for Sandpoint Soccer Association. Courtesy photo
Top left: Reno and Clay Hutchison unload carousel horses from the trailer in 2016 where they’d been stored for decades. Courtesy photo. Top right: Attendees look at the first unveiling of the unrestored Carousel of Smiles in December 2017 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey.
skills course hosted by Pend Oreille Pedalers, an art station from Creations and food trucks.
Annual K&K Fall Fishing Derby offers more than $10K in cash and prizes
By Reader Staff
Turkey day is fast approaching, which means it’s time once again for the annual K&K Fall Fishing Derby, this running year running from Saturday, Nov. 23-Sunday, Dec. 1 — though with no fishing on Thanksgiving.
Hosted by the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club, the longstanding tradition offers anglers of all ages the chance to cast their lines and reel in big prizes for big fish.
Top prize in the adult rainbow division is $3,000, second place nets $1,500, third place wins $1,000 and fourth place is $500. Participants get an additional $500 if they catch and release, and LPOIC members get a further $250. LPOIC encourages catch and release for all rainbow trout, in order to protect the health of the local fishery.
In the adult mackinaw division, prizes are as follows: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second, $300 for third, $200 for fourth, $100 for fifth through ninth, and $250 for 10th. There is also a “mackinaw of the day award” totaling $150 each day.
Fish under 32 inches are not eligible for prizes, and all bull and cutthroat trout must be immediately released. In addi-
tion, fish caught in the Clark Fork River or any of Lake Pend Oreille’s tributaries are ineligible.
In the junior division, open to anglers age 13 to 17, prizes for 28-inch minimum rainbow trout are $500 for first place, $400 for second, $300 for third and $200 for fourth. Junior participants may enter mackinaw or rainbow, and all fish must be entered at weigh stations.
There are no minimum sizes for rainbow or mackinaw in the youth divisions, which are open to kids ages 9 to 12 in the Youth A division and 8 and under in the Youth B division.
Registration for adults (18 and older) is $60, junior division costs $10 to enter, and Youth A and B divisions are free, though pre-registration is required.
Tickets are available at a number of local outlets: Holiday Shores Resort, The Captn’s Table, MacDonald’s Hudson Bay Resort, Ralph’s Coffee House, Odie’s Bayside Grocery, North Ridge Outfitters in Oldtown, Black Sheep Sporting Goods, Mark’s Marine, Fins and Feathers, Priest River Hardware, North 40 in Ponderay, Bayview Mercantile and Super Fly.
For the full rules, more information and to register for the 2024 K&K Fall Fishing Derby, go to lpoic.org/fishing-derbies.
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
Live Piano w/ David Speight
1-3pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Game Night
6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern
November 21 - 27, 2024
THURSDAY, november 21
Thursday Night Football: Pittsburgh at Cleveland 5:15pm @ Utara Brewing Company Bingo
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Hannah Meehan
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Nobody Famous 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Suspicious PKG
5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Jordan Pitts
6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Carl Rey & Truck Mills
6-8pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes
6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon
Live Music w/ Mobius Riff
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Miah Kohal Band
9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge
Live Music w/ Sheldon Packwood
6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Tom Catmull
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Americana dressed in pop/rock/ country
Live Music w/ Ben Vogel
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Chris Paradis
6-8pm @ Baxter’s on Cedar
Sandpoint Chess Club
9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes
3-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s “Jesus’ Ministry of Compassion”
Twos-day: $2 pints
3-8pm @ Utara Brewing Co.
Live Piano w/ Rich and Jenny 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Piano w/ Bob Beadling
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Trivia — $5 entry
7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Paint and Sip — $45 fee 5:30-8pm @ Barrel 33
Cribbage (double elimination tourney)
7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
FriDAY, november 22
Artist Reception: Matt Lome
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Art and original music by Matt Lome
International Fly Fishing Film Festival
7pm @ Panida Theater
The best collection of fly fishing films from around the world. $15-$40
Turkey Bingo w/ Sandpoint Lions Club
6-8pm @ Sandpoint High School
Annual Toys for Tots fundraiser
Firshi Fridays: Live Music w/ John Firshi
5:30-8pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
SATURDAY, november 23
Heavy Metal concert w/ Convergence, Locust Cathedral and Devoured Soul
7pm @ Eagles Club, 1511 John Hudon
Bran-Man’s Brutal Birthday Show — live metal show in Sandpoint
Turkey Bingo w/ Sandpoint Lions Club
12-4pm @ Sandpoint High School
First 10 games 12-2pm, second 10 games 2-4pm
Carousel Fun Fair
10am-4pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds Nonprofit booths, family event to see restored ponies. Kids’ activities!
Live Music w/ Kelly’s Krew 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
SunDAY, november 24
Magic with Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalepenos
Weekly Pool Tournament — $10 entry 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
monDAY, november 25
Outdoor Experience Group Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome
tuesDAY, november 26
Cozy Game Night
4-8pm @ Barrel 33
Play board games with friends
Carousel of Smiles unveiling 2.0
7pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds
Enjoy an evening of appreciation and fun as the carousel is unveiled
G.I.R.L. Dance
6:30-9pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall
A fun night w/ your daughter at the GIRL (Grown-up I Really Love) dance. Photo booth, snacks
Karaoke (Fri, Sat and Sun nights) 8pm @ Tervan Tavern
Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs
6-8pm @ Baxter’s on Cedar
Cottage market shopping experience 11am-3pm @ First Lutheran Church
Local merchants, skilled trade artists, bakers, candy makers and more. Support your local teens
College Football: WSU vs. Oregon State 4pm @ Utara Brewing Co.
Ballroom Dance and Tango lesson
7pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall
Tango basics lesson at 7pm followed by general dancing 8-10pm. All welcome
Youth Craft Fair
10am @ Utara Brewing Co.
Football: Arizona at Seattle
1:15pm @ Utara Brewing Co. Kitchen will be closed, so BYO food
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes
3-6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Monday Night Football: Balt. at L.A. 5:15pm @ Utara Brewing Co.
100th Trivia Night
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Hosted by Jake and Zach Hagadone
Collage Night at the Studio
5:30-7:30pm @ Woods Wheatcroft Studio, 104 S. Second Ave,. Supplies and instruction provided. $20. BYOB and snacks
wednesDAY, november 27
Thanksgiving Eve Gratitude Party and
Live Music w/ Comin’ Home the Band
6-8pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
ThursDAY, november 28
Open Mic Night 6pm @ Tervan Tavern
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Fly Fishing Film Festival showcases the beauty of the sport
By Reader Staff
As the days get shorter and colder, spend an evening dreaming of outdoor adventure with the annual International Fly Fishing Film Festival, returning to the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave.) Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.
This collection of international films showcases the positive lifestyle and culture of fly fishing, along with the jaw-dropping destinations people visit for the perfect catch. There will be plenty of bucket raffles and door prizes, meaning attendees can walk away with fly rods, reels, fishing trips and more.
Tickets are $15 online at panida. org, $20 at the door or $40 if you bundle it with a one-year subscription to Fly Fusion magazine.
Lions Club hosts two days of Turkey Bingo to kick off annual Toys for Tots campaign
By Reader Staff
As the calendar continues to move through the holiday season, the Sandpoint Lions Club is celebrating the official kickoff of its 2024 Toys for Tots campaign with the annual Turkey Bingo event, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 at Sandpoint High School (410 S. Division Ave.).
One series of 10 games will be played on Friday from 6-8 p.m., and two series of 10 games will take place on Saturday — the first from noon-2 p.m. and the second from 2-4 p.m.
Doors open an hour before each session, and a pack of 10 cards costs $10 to play. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, along with quilt raffles and other activities on both days.
Winners will go home with a turkey for the middle and end games, with other prizes awarded throughout.
Meanwhile, Toys for Tots applications are being accepted until Dec. 17 and available at sandpointlions.wixsite. com/website or at the Lions Club office at 609 S. Ella Ave., in Sandpoint.
Proceeds from the event benefit The Mayfly Project, a nonprofit organization that mentors and supports children in foster care. Kids develop relationships with their mentors while learning the ins and outs of fly fishing, river safety and conservation, building confidence and making lasting mem-
national Fly Fishing Film Festival. Courtesy photo.
ories along the way. Every youngster walks away from the program with their own gear to continue their fishing journey.
For more information, visit flyfilmfest. com/sandpointid/ and themayflyproject.com.
Local artist Doug Flückiger opens show at Misty Mountain
By Reader Staff
Area artist Doug Flückiger will give a rare appearance at a free showing of his work Friday, Nov. 26, at Misty Mountain Gallery (502 Cedar St.) from 5-8 p.m. In addition to talking about his work, Flückiger will also demonstrate his technique live.
“I’m a high-functioning introvert,” said Flückiger in a recent news release.
“People like my work, and I appreciate that, but I just like to draw.”
A self-taught artist, Flückiger draws inspiration from North Idaho’s scenery and Wyoming’s Teton Mountains. His photorealistic landscape and animal portraits are prized for their intricate depictions of both small moments and imposing mountains, and audiences often mistake them for black-andwhite photography.
Framed originals, signed fine arts prints and more will be available for purchase — and one lucky raffle winner will walk away with a free piece. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while you browse the collection.
Visit dougfluckiger.com to learn more about the artist.
A screenshot from one of the many films at the Inter-
Artist Doug Flückiger works on one of his detailed landscape drawings. Courtesy photo.
OUTDOORS
Schweitzer ready for opening weekend
With four feet of snow fallen so far, it’s a vast improvement from last season
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
After the last ski season tested everyone’s patience, Schweitzer is pleased to see signs of a big snow year. For their “preview weekend,” Schweitzer will open Friday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 24, before closing Nov. 25-28 to allow staff time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. Starting Friday, Nov. 29, the mountain will remain open for its entire seven-days-a-week operation.
Marketing Communications Manager Taylor Prather said the start of this year’s ski season is remarkably better than last year.
“It’s a night-and-day difference,” Prather told the Reader. “There’s always some excitement around opening day, but it’s even bigger when we’re getting four-plus feet of snow in advance of opening day. The excitement is off the charts.”
Over 49 inches of snow have fallen thus far, most of which has come in the past three weeks. The only hiccup came last weekend when the snow briefly turned to rain, but the temperatures dropped again, and the moisture switched back to snowflakes.
Along with natural snowfall, Prather said Schweitzer has been operating their snowmaking machines as often as possible to build a good base, which measures 38 inches at the summit and 31 inches at the village.
“Fun fact: We didn’t hit that number last year until late February,” Prather said.
The Magic Carpet, Basin Express Quad and Lakeview Triple lifts will all be open for the preview weekend, and all terrain off those lifts will be open for skiing.
Prather encouraged skiers and riders to park in the Lakeview Lot, Gateway Lot or down at the Red Barn since
the Creekside Lift will not operate on opening day. There will not be a shuttle service to the Fall Line Lot for opening weekend.
“All of those lots are free for the weekend,” she said.
While most people are used to checking Schweitzer’s Instagram for parking updates, Prather said a new feature on the snow conditions page will share real-time updates showing if a particular lot is full.
“There’s a green, yellow and red light on the snow conditions page,” she said. “Yellow means the lot is starting to fill up, and red means it’s completely full. Our parking staff updates that page in real-time.”
Prather said the slope maintenance team put in a lot of work over the summer to mow and brush-cut the mountain.
“I think you’ll see some improved experiences on the slopes,” she said.
“There’s been a lot of maintenance taking place, which makes for a better ski and ride experience.”
Prather also pointed to the Kids Ski Free Week, which offers free lift tickets for kids 17 and under from Dec. 7-13.
“It’s an Alterra-wide program and a really cool way to offer our community of kids a chance to ride for free that week,” she said.
Prather said after the early
snowfall, the forecasts are very encouraging.
“We’re predicting 7 to 11 inches today and 3 to 5 inches tonight,” she said Nov. 20. “It just keeps coming.”
For more information or to check the snow conditions, visit schweitzer.com.
Schweitzer lifties are all smiles in this recent photo taken on top of the quad. Courtesy photo.
MUSIC
‘Giving Thanks’ in the form of song
Shook Twins return for their 12th annual Thanksgiving concert at the Panida Theater
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Thanksgiving in Sandpoint has become a Shook-ie affair. The hometown stars Laurie and Katelyn Shook will bring Shook Twins back to the Panida for the annual “Giving Thanks” concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Coming off a sold-out performance as their side project, Sideboob, at The Hive, Katelyn and Laurie will bring together their band for this highly-anticipated concert in Sandpoint. Tickets are $30 each and usually sell out, so don’t delay.
The “Giving Thanks” show has always been a hometown reunion for Katelyn and Laurie, who perform their own music and invite their friends’ bands to join in the fun, usually ending with a collaboration.
Shook Twins will fly out their full band, including Alex Radakovich on drums, Aber Miller on keys and bass and Niko Slice on guitar.
Also joining the fun will be
Handmade Moments, a New Orleans-based duo consisting of Anna Moss and Joel Ludford.
“They’re some of our best friends,” Katelyn told the Reader. “They play a whole bunch of instruments: horns, guitar, upright bass, mandolin — you name it. They’re really folky, edgy and a lot of fun. ... So poignant and powerful.”
Katelyn said Sandpointians might recognize Handmade Moments from when they opened for Yonder Mountain String Band at The Hive some years back.
“They’ll open the show as a duo; then they’re going to be joining us in true Shook Twins ‘Giving Thanks’ form where we collaborate with the homies.”
The ongoing collaborations with numerous bands have indeed become a staple of Shook Twins shows.
“Over the years, I think we find some of the most joy we’ve ever had playing music was when we collaborate with other people, playing on their own music or them playing on ours,” Katelyn said. “It’s become a really important part of why Laurie and I love playing music.”
The “Giving Thanks” concert also serves as a community fundraiser for various local causes. This year, as has been the case for several past shows, proceeds will benefit the Panida Theater’s Century Fund. Schweitzer also donat-
ed a season pass to the Panida to raffle off, with tickets available at the “Giving Thanks” show for $10 each or $20 for three. The winner will be drawn at the Panida on the night of the show.
While Shook Twins play a spectrum of music at their concerts, the dance floor will almost always be packed.
“We just like to warn people that if you come and sit in the first five rows or so, don’t be mad that your view might get blocked by dancers,” Katelyn said. “We love it, so don’t complain.”
Shook Twins and Handmade Moments are also playing the night before at the historic Pearl Theater at 7160 Ash St. in Bonners Ferry. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $25 each.
“It’s such a delight playing there,” she said. “It’s like a dollhouse inside. It’s super old, like an old church with a sweet, tiny stage. Really intimate. Laurie and I are playing as a duo at that show, which will be unique.”
Buy tickets at panida.org or thehistoricpearltheater.org. Listen at shooktwins.com.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
Carl Rey & Truck Mills, Smokesmith BBQ, Nov. 22
It’s quite a sight to watch two veteran musicians in their element. Sandpoint is lucky to have access to Carl Rey and Truck Mills, whose mastery over blues, jazz, world music and every eclectic offshoot in between has made them local favorites for more than 30 years.
Rey, known for his work with the Blues Gators, and Mills, who hosted Eichardt’s
Monday Night Blues Jam for more than 20 years, are a dynamic pair. You never know what to expect from these two masters, but you always know that it’ll be damn good.
— Ben Olson
6-8 p.m., FREE. Smokesmith Bar-B-Que, 102 S. Boyer Ave., 208-920-0517, smokesmithidaho. com. Listen at truckmills.com.
Tom Catmull, Pend
Missoula-based Tom Catmull may be cut from similar cloth as the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker and Robert Earle Keen — he’s even been a supporting act for the former — but he’s got his own style and sound.
Performing iconic covers, Catmull’s sonorous vocals, meticulous acoustic finger-picking and harmonic work are on full display. With his originals, Catmull’s prow-
This week’s RLW by Soncirey Mitchell
READ
Most depictions of indigenous people are generated by their colonizers and present an inherently biased narrative. It’s rare to read accounts like American Indian Stories by Zitkála-Šá, which demonstrate not only the impact of colonialism and the genocide of the first peoples but the richness of the culture that persisted despite religious authorities’ and the government’s best efforts. This combination of the Dakota author’s memories, short stories and poetry paints a stunning picture of her life from childhood to her adulthood as a writer, editor and political activist.
LISTEN
Winery, Nov. 23
ess for penning incisive and poetic lyrics put his songwriting skills front and center.
Catch Catmull when he returns from Big Sky Country to the Pend d’Oreille Winery, which he counts as one of his favorite venues. The feeling is mutual.
— Zach Hagadone
5-8 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., Ste. 101, 208-265-8545, powine.com. Listen at tomcatmull.com.
For a raw, evocative musical experience, look no further than alt-indie artist Flower Face. Her lyrics are an internal monologue that lays bare deep-seated emotions of love, loss, lust and rage, and combine beautifully with simple melodies and dark, bass-heavy interludes. Her song “Spiracle” hooked me from the start, and I’m excited to dive into her new album, Girl Prometheus. Stream it on Spotify or visit flowerface.com.
WATCH
I recently embarked upon a Dev Patel movie marathon — as one does — and discovered The Personal History of David Copperfield, an eccentric take on Charles Dickens’ classic. The whimsical, “meta” coming-of-age story blends past and present to highlight an array of endearing and often ridiculous characters played by the likes of Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie and Peter Capaldi, among others. Stream it on Amazon.
d’Oreille
Shook Twins members Katelyn Shook, left, and Laurie Shook, right. Photo by Racheal Baker.
From Pend Oreille Review, November 20, 1924
BROZEAU MURDER CASE CALLED FOR MONDAY
Marie Brozeau, charged with first degree murder of her husband, Edward Brozeau, during the early morning of Sunday, October 12, was arraigned before District Judge H.H. Taylor on Friday and on Monday morning came into district court and entered a formal plea of not guilty. After the court conferred briefly with State Attorney Allen P. Asher and the defense counsel, Attorneys C.E. Collier of Spokane and O.J. Bandelin of Sandpoint, trial of the case was set for next Monday morning at 10 o’clock.
Testimony at the coroner’s inquest the day after the shooting indicated that the woman had come into the soft drink parlor she and her husband were running at Oldtown, Newport, with a Colt’s automatic pistol concealed in her waist. Ernest Brozeau, a brother of the tragic victim, who was tending bar, said he had been told she had a “gat” and saw its outlines through her waist and that he felt of it to make sure. The testimony showed that she went to the rear of the room where Edward Brozeau was standing and that he began to “kid” her about his having a car, but never having the use of it, and about his having a “hasher” over in Newport, Wash. She quizzed him about this alleged “hasher” and when he said, “Sure, I have one,” she drew the gun and fired at a distance of less than ten feet.
Brozeau was carried into a bedroom and died within a short time, while the woman was seized by his brother and taken to the city jail at Newport, where she was held until brought to the county jail here. The case is the most sensational of those slated for trial at this term.
BACK OF THE BOOK
Gatekeepers of paradise
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Being born and raised in Sandpoint, I’ve done a bit of gatekeeping over the years.
The term “gatekeeping” began trending a few years ago to describe “When someone takes it upon themselves to decide who does or does not have access or rights to a community or identity,” according to Urban Dictionary.
It can exist in a frivolous form, such as someone taking a picture of their delicious burrito and posting it online; then, when someone asks where they bought it, the poster might reply, “Nope, not going to blow this little spot up on the internet.” Or when someone says they love a band, a gatekeeper might say, “Oh, you do, huh? What’s the bass player’s name?” as if only true fans will know the answer. (That’s a trick question; nobody knows any bass player’s name).
But there’s a more sinister form of gatekeeping that isn’t just about burritos and bands. The term once referred to people who have their hands on the levers of institutional power — such as media executives or political leaders — as they are the ones who decide what voices should be heard and what issues deserve attention.
Gatekeeping in Sandpoint comes in a few different forms. There’s the oldschool gatekeeping that most locals have practiced here for decades: don’t tell anyone about our “secret,” and maybe Sandpoint might experience a few more years of bliss before becoming another soulless resort town. That means to hell with the “Best Place to Live” awards and “Funkiest Small Town” honors that you see pop up from time to time. That invented nonsense only serves one pur-
pose: to entice people into either visiting or moving to Sandpoint.
The newer form of gatekeeping around here is especially odious because it involves an entitled group of people — mostly newcomers who have fled here for political reasons — who believe Sandpoint is only open to one particular ideology, one religion, one worldview, one mentality.
They often spout these opinions on social media.
I encourage everyone to give up on Facebook because it has become a cesspool of fear, anger, xenophobia, division and, yes, gatekeeping that doesn’t serve a small community like Sandpoint. I abandoned it years ago after growing tired of dedicating several hours a day to monitoring Reader posts for hateful, inappropriate comments.
After the election, I got a call from a friend who was feeling down. They’d just read a Facebook post from some jerk mouthing off about how North Idaho doesn’t welcome people who aren’t Republicans or people who don’t support Donald Trump. This friend moved here about a decade ago and said that back then, the people of Sandpoint were especially welcoming to them as they began their new job.
“People used to ask me, ‘What brought you here?” they told me.
I can relate to that. Growing up, we’d often ask tourists what the hell they were doing in this little backwater town.
“I’ve noticed people don’t ask new people that much anymore,” they continued, “I guess now everyone just assumes you moved here for political reasons.”
It is undeniable that Idaho has become a haven for right-wing extremism over the years, but what the national media often gets wrong is that even in
the reddest part of a red state, there will always be a heterogeneous mixture of people that balance a community. That means this place has straight people, gay people, bisexual people and transgender people. There are white people, black people, brown people, Asian people. There are conservatives, independents, centrists, liberals, apolitical people and everything in between. There are Jews, Buddhists, atheists and Christians.
Just like everywhere else in America, there might be majorities, but there are always variances that give a particular place its unique flavor. It’s no different in Sandpoint.
“People feel like they’re not welcome in this state anymore,” my friend said. “It’s a hard thing to read the majority of comments on that Facebook post saying I’m not welcome here anymore. To tell the truth, I wouldn’t have moved here if I knew Idaho was like this.”
We ended our depressing conversation by giving each other hope that not everyone is like this. There will always be a community that exists underneath the ugly reality. It’s the people who volunteer — who serve on nonprofit boards and dedicate their spare time to improving our community instead of tearing it down. It’s small business owners who donate their services to good causes, service workers who work long hours and often deal with grumpy customers, artists and musicians who add flavor to our community. It’s the people who root for all of us to succeed, not for some of us to fail.
You are welcome here, dear reader. No matter who or what you are. You will always be welcome. Don’t ever let anyone gatekeep our community from you. Red, blue, gay, straight, old, young, conservative, liberal — it doesn’t matter. You are welcome.
Laughing Matter
Solution on page 22
By Bill Borders
schadenfreude /SHädən-froidə/
Word Week
of the Corrections: We mislabeled a calendar item in the Nov. 14 edition. Karaoke is at the Tervan Tavern, not Idaho Pour Authority. Apologies for the mistake. — BO
[noun]
1. pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.
“The modern Republican party thrives on shadenfreude.”
I
bet what happened was, they discovered fire and invented the wheel on the same day. Then, that night, they burned the wheel.
