2 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
PEOPLE compiled by
Susan Drinkard
watching
“How is your family approaching going back to school this year?” “Cautiously and optimistically. We have two young children who will attend Valley View Elementary.” Marqui and Simon Ronniger with their son Bonners Ferry
“I’m doing online at Sandpoint Middle School and we’re also thinking of doing online school with just a few friends.” Lily Evans Seventh grade at Sandpoint Middle School Sandpoint “I’m a teacher. I’m allowing my kids to choose between in-class or online. I want them to be comfortable. I am excited to see my students. I’ve missed them.” Zarah and Zabrielle Dillon Art teacher at Sandpoint High School Sandpoint
“This will be our fourth year of home schooling. My children go to Home School Academy by the high school.” Judah, Ruthie and Gavin Creamer Customer service Kootenai “I’m going to SHS this year. Instead of eight classes per day, they will have four classes per day and then the classes change at the second semester.” Mya Vorhies Ninth grade Sandpoint
DEAR READERS,
Greetings to all and sundry on this fine eve of Labor Day weekend. The weather has continued to send us warm, breezy days and cool nights, so be sure to take advantage of the season while you can. To all of our hardworking business owners downtown, this weekend marks the beginning of the end of our busy tourist season. I wish you all a fine respite after the sweaty days of labor you have put in this summer. In other news, a judge dismissed Bonner County’s gun lawsuit against the city of Sandpoint on Sept. 2, claiming that the county did not have standing to bring the case against the city (full story on Page 4). This after more than a year of litigation that was funded by the taxpayers of Bonner County and the city of Sandpoint to the tune of well over $200,000. It’s not the end of the matter, however – there is still one remaining lawsuit brought against the city that is still in the early stages. We’ll keep you posted on this case as it makes its way through the court system. We hope you all enjoy a long, relaxing weekend – after all, you deserve it.
– Ben Olson, publisher
READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover design), Susan Drinkard, Racheal Baker, Devon Chapman, Sandpoint Arts Commission, Cindy Kiebert, Jason Duchow Photography, Danielle Tholl. Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Lorraine H. Marie, Emily Erickson, Rep. Sage Dixon, Sen. Jim Woodward, Rep. Brooke Green, Rep. Lauren Necochea, Brenden Bobby, Jim Mitsui, Beth Weber, Jeanette Schandelmeier, Brenda Hammond, Margaret Ann Maricle. Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $115 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 300 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 3
NEWS
Judge: Bonner County lacks standing in Festival gun suit County v. city gun suit ends with city the winner — now seeking repayment of legal fees
By Zach Hagadone and Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff After a year in the courts, countless hours of community conversation and gallons of newspaper ink, the lawsuit against the city of Sandpoint brought by Bonner County and Sheriff Darryl Wheeler over The Festival at Sandpoint’s no-weapons policy at publicly owned War Memorial Field has finally come to an end. Kootenai County District Judge Lansing L. Haynes ruled Sept. 2 in favor of the city, granting its requested summary judgment on the grounds that the county and Wheeler had no standing to bring the legal challenge. Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton updated the City Council on the decision at the body’s Sept. 2 meeting, reading from Haynes’ ruling that the plaintiffs had no more interest in the lease agreement between The Festival and the city than any other citizen. “It is undisputed that such a generalized interest does not imply standing,” Stapleton quoted from the ruling. What’s more, Stapleton added that city attorney Peter Erbland of Lake City Law, which also represented the city in the suit, is moving forward with a request to the court for repayment of the city’s legal fees from the county. As of mid-August, the city had spent about $90,000 on the case since it was filed in late-summer 2019. “This [decision] at this time concludes the lawsuit between the city and the county,” she said. Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad took a moment to thank Erbland and city staff for their year of work on the case, which began in earnest with intimations at an early-August 2019 council meeting during which several speakers warned that citizens turned away from The Festival gates for carrying firearms would land the city in legal trouble. “I know this took a lot of time and effort on your part,” Rognstad said, going on to thank the council for “standing strong and getting us to a positive conclusion.” 4 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
Festival Board Vice President Bob Witte responded to the ruling, telling the Reader, “It’s kind of what I personally expected and was hoping for at this time. Let’s just move on.” When organizers canceled the 2020 Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Haynes asked counsel to file briefings on the “narrow issue” of whether that made the case moot. Attorneys for the county and city traded oral arguments on standing and mootness in court Aug. 25. In his ruling issued Sept. 2, Haynes wrote that “a declaratory judgment can only be rendered in a case where an actual or justiciable controversy exists,” and went on to describe how the county was not able to prove the standing necessary to prompt a ruling. Haynes characterized plaintiff Wheeler’s argument that he has standing due to his statutory duty to enforce Idaho law as “unpersuasive.” “Plaintiff’s duty to enforce Idaho law is exercised with a significant amount of discretion. An Idaho law enforcement officer presented with an allegation that a crime has been committed can investigate the accusation for possible referral to an appropriate prosecuting agency, can issue a citation, can determine that no crime has been committed, or can effect an arrest,” Haynes stated. “A declaration by this Court as to whether a private entity leasing public property can legally or constitutionally bar the possession of firearms at their event does not change any of the Plaintiff’s options.” The judge noted that Wheeler’s “claim of exposure to liability unless this Court decides the issue before it is, at best, vague and speculative,” and said the argument that allowing the gun ban to go on would lead to a potentially violent “affray” stemming from pro-gun protesters outside the Festival gates could go either way — the sheriff should be prepared for anti-gun rights protesters to gather just the same if the ruling were to be in the county’s favor. “In actuality, law enforcement should always be equipped and trained for any crowd control eventualities, regardless of the reason,” Haynes stated. “Plaintiff’s
fears of future harm are without merit and do not confer standing.” Reached for comment shortly after news of the ruling broke Sept. 2, Bonner County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dan McDonald told the Reader in an email, “My understanding is it was due to a technicality as there is no Festival this year.” “Instead of looking at the merits of the law itself and helping both the city and county understand an interpretation of said law, the case is decided on a technicality,” he wrote. “That helps neither the city, the county, nor the citizens affected.” To date, following an invoice of $3,024 payable by the city to legal counsel Lake City Law on Sept. 2, the case has racked up expenses in excess of $200,000 from both parties since it entered the court system last summer. Based on public records, Bonner County reported Aug. 6 that it had paid $117,631 in legal fees alone to New Orleans-based Davillier Law Group for work on the case. Asked to clarify his statement about the case turning on a “technicality” — when the judge ruled specifically that the county and sheriff had no standing — McDonald said that he hadn’t yet read the filing and was “getting the info second hand.” “Regardless, without looking at the merits of the law and providing a judgement, defining the law, we are all stuck in limbo,” he wrote, alluding to the county’s position that Idaho law does not give a municipal government authority to regulate firearms on public property, and thus cannot transfer that power to a third-party via a lease agreement. Wheeler’s contention had been that lacking clarity on the legality of the weapons ban, his office could not adequately plan for a law enforcement response to alleged violations. McDonald added in a follow up email that, “I’m hoping the Legislature will step up and make a clarification of their intent, as that’s what’s really in dispute here.” As the Idaho Legislature recently wrapped up a special session related to COVID-19 response Aug. 26, it was immediately unclear whether the issue of so-called
“firearms preemption” will make it on the agenda when legislators reconvene in Boise in January for the 2021 general session. Meanwhile, another lawsuit is only beginning to work its way through the legal system, also challenging the legality of The Festival’s no-weapons policy on leased public land. “This Court is aware of parallel litigation brought by individual citizens who were denied entry into the 2019 Festival because of their demand to do so while having a firearm on their person,” the ruling stated. “Whether these individuals have standing and the issue of mootness remains to be seen based on future possible motion practice in that lawsuit.” Sagle resident Scott Herndon is one of the principal actors in the “parallel litigation,” brought this summer in conjunction with Washington- and Boise-based gun rights advocacy groups. He was also one of the individuals turned away from The Festival gates in 2019 for carrying firearms, triggering the county’s uit. Herndon told the Reader that the Sept. 2 ruling focused only on “the very narrow question of whether the county and the sheriff had standing.” “Our suit is only parallel in that it involves the same set of cir-
cumstances. But unlike the county, our standing is not in question, nor is the harm nor justiciability in question,” he wrote in an email. “Ours will be proceeding to answer the core legal questions raised in our complaint and won’t be derailed by issues of standing.” That case isn’t expected to come before a judge until mid-February 2021. In a news release issued late Sept. 2, the city stated that it is “pleased with the decision of Judge Haynes. It has been the position of the City from the very beginning that the County and Sheriff Wheeler did not have standing in this matter.” “The County and Sheriff Wheeler have continually misrepresented the policy of the City and statements made by city officials throughout this proceeding,” the city statement continued. “The Sandpoint Police Department did not enforce the gun ban during the Festival and the City of Sandpoint does not have a policy restricting the public from carrying guns on public property. “Furthermore, the suggestion that members of our community on either side of this disagreement would resort to a violent protest or ‘riot’ at a possible future Festival at Sandpoint production is offensive. That is not who we are.”
NEW TURF AND LIGHTS: BULLDOGS PLAY SEASON OPENER
SHS senior linebacker Isaac Webb battles a Post Falls offensive lineman during the first varsity football game played on the new War Memorial Field Turf on Aug. 28. The Bulldogs lost to Post Falls 35-14. Photo by Jason Duchow Photography.
NEWS
‘Don’t push the envelope’
Planning ahead for the 2020 general election
By Zach Hagadone and Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Peel back the theatrics of the special session of the Idaho Legislature and the core issue of the extraordinary meeting Aug. 24-26 at the Statehouse was protecting the integrity of the November ballot. It’s something Bonner County Clerk Mike Rosedale thinks about a lot. “I have an extremely high comfort level with the safety and security of our system,” he told the Reader. “I don’t have that with other systems.” When lawmakers met in Boise, they talked about things like emergency powers, civil liability and the general effects of COVID-19 on both health and the constitutional wellbeing of Idaho. The most immediately important pieces of legislation to come out of the session, however, were changes to the timelines for balloting in what is almost certainly going to be a general election dominated by mail-in and absentee ballots — and characterized by a once-in-a-generation sense of importance related to its outcome. Legislators in Boise approved a provision allowing county elections workers to begin opening and processing mail-in and absentee ballots a week before Election Day — though they cannot begin tabulating until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Previously, vote counters weren’t allowed to process any ballots until closure of the polls. According to Rosedale, a vast majority of Bonner County voters have already signed up for absentee ballots, which require a process of verification — done by hand — that needs more time to complete. “It took us two days [to complete verification] in the May election,” Rosedale said. The new week-long provi-
sion gives elections staff more time to ensure the absentee and mail-in ballots are legitimate, avoiding a late-stage crunch after polls close. Another bill that passed through both chambers alters the rules for when absentee ballots are mailed out. Ballot requests received from overseas and military voters at least 45 days prior to the election have always been mailed out at that time. That will stay the same. The new legislation states that absentee ballot requests received by the clerk’s office at least 30 days prior to the election can be sent out separately. The final deadline for domestic requests for absentee ballots is Friday, Oct. 23, though that doesn’t leave much time for voters to request, receive and return their ballots by Election Day. Rosedale emphasized voting as early as possible. “What I would recommend, and it would help my office, is that when you get your ballot, fill it out and mail it in,” he said. “Don’t push the envelope, so to speak.” Unlike every other agenda item under the rotunda, the elections timeline legislation went through the Legislature without furor. “We were not disrupted, we were not in chaos, we acted like a Legislature and, for that reason alone, I’m going to vote for this bill,” said Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, on the House floor. “It went through the process that a bill is supposed to go through.” Another piece of legislation requested by county clerks from around the state — including Rosedale — would have given local elections officials the authority to establish so-called “voting centers,” which would have allowed voters to cast their ballots at centralized locations regardless of their precinct. While that measure passed the Senate, it died in a House committee. Some lawmak-
ers worried that voting centers would only serve to spur large numbers of voters to congregate, raising concerns about COVID-19 transmission. Bonner County never intended to avail itself of the proposed “vote centers,” with Rosedale recognizing they would be of greater benefit in more populous counties. So, as it stands going into the November general election, Rosedale told the Reader in an email that, “This election will be like normal for everyone, except a much higher percentage chose to vote by absentee mail.” That means voters who decide to cast their ballot in person should report to their normal polling locations. Lawmakers in Boise were keen to underscore their commitment to in-person voting, but that leaves county clerks around the state “in a pickle,” Rosedale said. Citing COVID-19 concerns, many poll workers — average age of 67 in Bonner County — don’t feel safe spending Election Day in contact with potentially thousands of individuals who may be carrying the virus. Rosedale said already poll worker staffing numbers are down 50% in Bonner County. In Kootenai County, he said that number is down to 10% of its usual strength, spurring concerns among our neighbors to the south about a drastic shortfall in qualified poll station staff. That situation raises a critical need for a new generation to step up and staff the polls. “We’d love younger workers,” Rosedale said. “I would highly recommend them helping out.” The process of becoming a poll worker requires contacting the county clerk’s office either by phone or email and requesting an application. Those accept-
ed would undergo a three-hour training session before reporting to their stations on Election Day. Meanwhile, Rosedale sought approval from county commissioners on Sept. 1 to accept state funding in the form of two Help America Vote Act elections security grants totaling about $138,000 with a $36,000 county match. Rosedale said his department will utilize unspent Consolidated Elections reimbursement funds from the Idaho secretary of state’s office to fund the match, and hopes to use the grant funds to purchase new equipment meant to make local elections more efficient and secure as November approaches. Among the items requested were two new printers; five self-service voting registration kiosks to be distributed between driver’s license offices, the courthouse and the county administration building; and 80 digital poll books, which link directly to the Idaho Central Voting Database and have the capability to scan driver’s licenses and pull up information on a voter’s designated precinct, affiliation and whether they’ve already voted. “If someone drops off an absentee ballot and we scan that in, then he comes in to vote and we scan his driver’s license it will say, ‘[this person] has already voted,’” Rosedale said.
The Bonner County Elections Office in Sandpoint. Photo by Ben Olson. The new poll books will also help elections employees stay on top of record keeping. With the current paper poll book system, Bonner County Elections staff is still working through records from the March election. By implementing new technology with help from HAVA funding, the hope is that an influx of in-person voting will be manageable. “I expect to have a line out the door like we did four years ago,” Rosedale told commissioners before the board voted unanimously to accept the grant money, pending legal review. “I think we’ve fine-tuned that [absentee mail-in voting] mechanism, but we have our polling places open again, too,” he told the Reader. “We don’t want voter fraud and we don’t want mistakes.” For more information and updates about voting in the 2020 general election, visit Bonner County Elections at bonnercountyid.gov/departments/Elections or the Elections Division of the Idaho secretary of state’s office at https://sos.idaho.gov/ elections-division. To request an absentee ballot, visit idahovotes. gov. September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 5
NEWS
Army Corps announces LPO drawdown schedule By Reader Staff U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials have announced Lake Pend Oreille elevation targets for the upcoming fall draft at Albeni Falls Dam. Winter drawdown is scheduled to begin on Sept. 20 and the fall 2020 elevation targets are to: • Hold summer pool elevation, 2,0622,062.5 feet, through Sept. 20; • Maintain 2,061 feet through Sept. 27; • Target 2,060-2,061 feet by Sept. 30; • Target 2,051-2,051.5 feet by Nov. 15.
Representatives from the Corps will provide further details on Albeni Falls Dam operations at a joint Corps and Lakes Commission public meeting in October. Topics will cover current and upcoming operations, including the fall draft lake level coordination, weather forecasts, recreation information and a question-and-answer period. Information about the upcoming public meeting will be announced at a later date. USACE operates Albeni Falls Dam as a multiple-purpose project, providing flood risk management, power generation, fish and wildlife conservation, navigation and recreation.
Drones disrupting osprey nest at Memorial Field By Reader Staff The city of Sandpoint has received reports recently of drones being flown at War Memorial Field and disturbing the resident osprey. As a reminder to residents and visitors, the city underscored in a news release Sept. 2 that the field is home to two active osprey nests. Osprey are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is a federal offense to disturb active nests, and a person can be held liable if any bird of prey is injured or killed. Federal law states: “No person shall use an aircraft to harass any wildlife.” According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and U.S. Forest Service, regarding the use of unmanned aircraft systems, drones should not be flown over or near wildlife as this can “create stress that may cause significant harm, and even death.” Intentional disturbance of animals during breeding, nesting, rearing of young, or
Photo courtesy Sandpoint Online.
other “critical life history functions” is not allowed unless approved as research or management. These agencies also note that UAS should be launched more than 328 feet from wildlife. To report any disturbance or harassment of the osprey at Memorial Field, call the non-emergency number for the Sandpoint Police Department at 208-265-1482. The osprey currently living in one of the nests at the field can be viewed through the Osprey Cam online at ospreys.sandpointonline.com.
County to keep current Rapid Lightning Creek bridge alignment By Reader Staff After putting out the call for public input, Bonner County Road and Bridge has chosen a path forward for rebuilding the upper Rapid Lightning Creek bridge. Road and Bridge Director Steve Klatt said that after taking into account opinions from fewer than 10 people who called his department regarding the decision, the county chose its preferred bridge repair 6 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
plan: reconstructing the bridge in its current alignment one lane at a time. Travelers will experience delays, as a signal light will be necessary to manage traffic in the single open lane of the bridge. However, by keeping the existing alignment, the work should be limited to one construction season and prove to be more cost-effective for the county, according to officials. Construction is set to begin in four or five years.
Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling: At least 21 states are suing the U.S. Postal Service over delivery delays, The Washington Post reports. Issues include stalled delivery of items like medications, as well as likely interference with voting by mail. Maryland’s attorney general says the USPS has acted illegally and unconstitutionally, causing harm to the nation and individuals. The slower delivery, ordered Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, has included removal of mail-sorting equipment and public mail boxes. The legal challenges, according to The Post, include addressing violations of the Voting Rights Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act. President Donald Trump stated in August that he opposes both vote-by-mail and any emergency funding for the USPS, which has been challenged by loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DeJoy, when called to congressional oversight hearings, said he would delay further “new initiatives,” but would not commit to reversing steps he has already taken that slow the mail. The 467 billionaires in the United States have seen their wealth rise by more than $730 billion since the start of the pandemic in March, according to Americans for Tax Fairness. The organization is supporting the Make Billionaires Pay Act, recently introduced to Congress. According to ATF, if 60% of U.S. billionaires’ gains made between mid-March and early August were taxed, Medicare could pay for all out-ofpocket health care expenses for a year — the billionaires would still have a wealth gain of more than $310 billion. One of the highlights of the Republican National Convention was the chant of “12 more years.” According to NBC News, the convention messages included the idea that the U.S. will descend into chaos without Trump. The convention was also notable for not introducing a new party platform — a first in 166 years. Political scientist Norm Ornstein, from the conservative American Enterprise Institute, says the Hatch Act forbids the use of federal property “for political activities or for engaging in anything that is a partisan political act,” with the exception of the president and vice president. Ornstein called last week’s Republican National Convention “the most blatant abuse of power … for partisan purposes by far than anything we have ever seen by a president of an executive branch.” Fox News’ Dana
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
Perino said “it doesn’t matter” that the law was broken since “by the time they have an investigation, this election is going to be over.” Trump has proposed a permanent cut to payroll taxes, Forbes reports. When projecting the impact, the Office of the Chief Actuary at the Social Security Administration said that lacking another funding source by the end of the year (it’s currently funded by FICA payroll taxes), the SS Disability Trust Fund assets would be depleted by the middle of 2021 and regular SS retirement benefits would end in the middle of 2023. In 2019, Social Security took in $1,061.8 billion and paid out $1,059.3 billion. The end of Social Security could occur if Trump were to be re-elected and the House and the Senate were both controlled by Republicans, Forbes stated. Protesters have renewed fodder after the shooting of a Black man by police in Kenosha, Wisc. Officers shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back Aug. 23 as he walked away from them. He survived the shooting but is now partially paralyzed. Amid protests over the Blake shooting, three demonstrators in Kenosha were shot by a counter-protester, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, leaving two dead. The local sheriff told The New York Times, “This is why I don’t deputize citizens with guns.” Labor Day review of some of the Trump Administration worker protection reversals: a rule to protect health workers and patients from airborne infectious diseases stopped (NPR); asbestos rules relaxed (Politico); OSHA’s ability to inspect for safety is at its lowest level ever (Forbes); protection against silica-caused lung disease put on hold (NBC News); underground mine safety inspections rolled back, as have been inspections for off-shore oil rigs and meat-packing plants (Politico). The Trump administration has also revoked the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order (NBC News) and OSHA eliminated from its home page a list of worker deaths. Blast from the past: “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.” Benjamin Franklin, American statesman and scientist, 1706-1790. Franklin was appointed postmaster general by the Second Continental Congress. Prior to his organizing of mail delivery, letters in the colonies were left at inns and taverns. Franklin sped up delivery times with day and night wagon transport, and established routes from Florida to Maine.
PERSPECTIVES
Emily Articulated
A column by and about Millennials
Journal entry from a weekend in the woods By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
Today was a day dedicated to moving my body, of putting one dusty boot in front of the other in an effort to get somewhere — a somewhere I had yet to be. It was a day to feel the strain of backpack straps pressing into my collar bones, as quiet reminders that a bit of discomfort is an essential part of most types of progress. Today was about honing in my opinions on the best kind of huckleberry, considering the nuances of a floral burst that coats the tongue versus a tart pang prone to ringing in the little pockets between my cheeks and my jaw bones. And just this day, time could be gauged in colors, watching the blooms of purple and pink incrementally snake across my fingertips — a perfect match to the berry stain blossoming on my lips. Today, we let the morning
Emily Erickson. slip into afternoon, the steady cadence of our small party’s four sets of two legs only disrupted by the jolts and pauses of the group’s two sets of four legs. Our heavy breaths and contented sighs were accompanied by moments of time-passing humor, with a “would you rather” game prompting rumination on whether we’d choose a lifetime with muffins for hands or hotdogs for legs. “There’s no right or wrong answer, just a life with the answer you choose.” Today was a day to let my
mind explore, to play inside the tributaries of life’s possibilities. Like, would we cook the rice and beans or the potato stew when we made our camp; also, who will I be in five years’ time? Will I still like the same things, or is there a stone unturned, an unknown passion with which I’ll fall hopelessly in love? Today, we walked on, with the dirt of the trails transforming to scree fields, their broken pieces of stone paying tribute to the towering peaks they had once also been. When we broached the saddle of the pass, my first thought was about the appropriateness of the term “saddle”; I had a flickering image in my mind, on our descent from the scree fields back into dirt, of the stirrup upon which we had yet to place our feet. Today was an effort to get me here: on this rock, overlooking this lake, at this break in time from the weight of the everyday world. And I can’t help but think that the beauty of the scene around me could
have been painted, but only by a person with a propensity for dreaming — a dreamer who exchanged her palette of bright, bold colors for a smattering of soft, sweet pastels. She surely dipped her brush in a warm yellow-gold, all just to trace the tops of the trees and the edges of the clouds with her gentle glow. Maybe, just for fun, she splattered the rest across the dark blue water, simply to see her flecks dance in time with the waves.
Today was a day dedicated to both moving forward and being still — to be saturated with the gratitude that can only come from small problems and big mountains. Because, for some reason and for no reason at all, I’ve been granted this gift — a life of such privilege that I have the opportunity to seek refuge among the trees, to create quiet along the water’s edge and to spend time contemplating the absolute silly absurdity of a life lived with muffins for hands.
Retroactive
By BO
Emily Erickson at Wanless Lake in the Cabinet Mountains. Photo by Danielle Tholl. September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 7
OPINION
Legislative after-action report
Changing times and technology require new policies and actions regarding emergencies
By District 1 Sen. Jim Woodward Special to the Reader
8 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in changes to our lives which range from inconveniences to a direct threat to our health and being. We all desire a return to normal living, which is coming, but there are still challenges to face for a time. In an effort to adapt to current conditions, the Idaho Legislature convened Aug. 24-26 for a special session to hear two proposed changes to election law for the upcoming November election and to consider civil liability during the coronavirus pandemic. In a normal year, the Idaho Legislature convenes in January and runs through the end of March. The Idaho Constitution, Article IV Section 9, provides for convening the Legislature on extraordinary occasions. Topics of the special session are limited to those called out in the governor’s proclamation, which brings the Legislature into extraordinary session. The proclamation acts as a notice of meeting and an agenda, both required for conducting public business. In the proclamation were two topics: election law and civil liability. Of the two proposals to change election law, one dealt with absentee ballots because of the anticipated greater use this election cycle. The other proposal provided an option for voting centers for in-person voting locations due to the shortage of volunteer poll workers. Both election law proposals were requested by county clerks across the state. The proposal regarding optional voting centers was not passed into law. The absentee ballot changes were passed into law. For the clerk’s office, mailing timelines changed. Clerks will also be able to open absentee ballots for processing in the week prior to the election — instead of just on Election Day — but not for tabulating. Ballots will be kept in a secure location under video surveillance to ensure integrity of the election process. The changes apply only to elections through the end of 2020.
Sen. Jim Woodward. File photo. For the purpose of minimizing frivolous lawsuits as a result of the pandemic, a new section of Idaho Code was created to limit civil liability of individuals, businesses and educational institutions. The limitation is in effect through July 1, 2021. If needed beyond that date, the Legislature can act during the regular 2021 session. The most contentious topic in the special session was our emergency status. We often declare emergencies at a local level for fire, flood or other disasters. Due to the pandemic, we have a statewide disaster declaration in place. In that desire to return to a sense of normalcy, a piece of legislation was introduced proposing to end the state of emergency in Idaho. Many felt that ending the state of emergency would move us more quickly back toward our Idaho lives. There are three solid reasons not to end the state of emergency: one, we would give up our federal tax dollars we are receiving from the Federal Emergency Management Agency; two, we would have to put back in place the Idaho Administrative Rules that are temporarily set aside; finally, terminating the emer-
gency declaration would not remove the restrictions that are most affecting our lives. Health districts, counties, cities, schools and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare all have their authority based on existing Idaho laws. In other words, the proposed resolution would not have ended social distancing, closures or mask mandates. In addition to the administrative reasons not to eliminate the state of emergency, a constitutional question arose. The topic of eliminating the state emergency was not on the agenda for the special session. It could have been. Legislative working groups of representatives and senators worked well over a month debating which topics rose to the urgency level of a special session. Changing the emergency declaration was not proposed by the working groups. Without constitutional authority to change our emergency status, the Legislature tabled the proposal, leaving it for future consideration. Much of our Code applying to emergencies has not been tested for decades or more. As times and technology change, so too must our policies and actions. As an alternative to changing the state of emergency, we did lay out a path moving forward to guide our efforts in improving laws surrounding emergencies. The following is a link to the resolution: legislature.idaho.gov/ wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2020spcl/legislation/SR101.pdf. I certainly expect to see many proposals in the upcoming 2021 legislative session. I appreciate the opportunity to represent our northern counties. Please never hesitate to contact me with questions or if you’d like to discuss something. Jim Woodward is a first-term Republican lawmaker representing District 1 and resides in Sagle. He can be reached at jwoodward@senate.idaho.gov; P.O. Box 151 Sagle, ID, 83860; 208-9467963 (home); or 208-332-1349 (Statehouse office, session only).
OPINION
Legislative after-action report
Idaho Legislature special session intended to uphold Constitution and provide confidence, stability amid COVID
By District 1B Rep. Sage Dixon Special to the Reader Last Wednesday, Aug. 26, the Idaho Legislature adjourned “sine die” from the First Extraordinary Session of the 65th Legislature. While the responsibility to call the extraordinary session lay with the governor, the impetus was a legislative effort to address constituent concerns about pressing issues in our state related to the COVID-19 situation. On June 11, the House GOP Caucus met to discuss frustrations that legislators and constituents alike had with Idaho’s ongoing response to COVID. There was a common theme that the Legislature needed to be involved in the decision-making process due to the sweeping nature of actions being taken, as well as the varied impact COVID was having across the state. This meeting resulted in the House and Senate forming working groups to prepare legislation for the 2021 regular session. At the same time, many legislators and constituents were asking the governor to convene an extraordinary session to address topics ranging from emergency declarations and school closures to election law and liability concerns. Another topic wanting attention was the fact that the Legislature cannot call itself back into session, as well as the murky ability the Legislature has to end an emergency declaration. As the working groups appeared to finalize proposed legislation, the governor relented and issued an executive order calling for an extraordinary session on Aug. 24 to cover election law and limited liability from tort lawsuits. As the day drew closer, new drafts of the proposed legislation continued to emerge in an attempt to allay fears about what the legislation might do. Primarily this had to do with the liability legislation, but the legislation focused on election law brought concerns as well. For years, most in state government have held the understanding that, during an extraordinary session, only the topics stated by the governor could be brought forth. The night of Aug. 23, the House received an opinion from the Idaho attorney general that stated other legislation could be proposed during an extraordinary session so long as it had a direct link to the stated topics. A few members had prepared legislation in anticipation of this opinion, and they began to discuss the possibility of having them heard
with the chairmen of the relevant committees. Prior to the session, there was concern that this would be a process controlled by the governor with no debate — or public testimony — allowed and the Legislature merely “rubber stamping” what the Rep. Sage Dixon. File photo. governor wanted. Contrary to that view, our normal processes were followed, and the standard committee meetings ensued, complete with amendments being proposed and voted on by the members of each committee. The election law legislation started in the Senate and seemed to go forward without any problem. However, in the House, for
a variety of reasons, the limited liability hearings became difficult to complete on two separate occasions. This caused the committee meeting to be moved to a different hearing room on both Monday and Tuesday. Eventually, the committee was able to complete its work on Wednesday morning. Many of the same people attended the hearings regarding limited liability in the Senate, as well, but without any of the disturbances experienced in the House. Our normal legislative process is very transparent, always welcoming public participation, and this extraordinary session was no different. Because I was not able to speak directly with members of the public who attended the hearings, I do not know what the exact complaint was. It appears that there may have been an assumption that there would be a prohibition on testimony, and that there was a mis- understanding as to when the time to testify would occur. Many of us are concerned that these actions will begin to restrict public access to the
capitol in an effort to protect the public, staff and legislators. We are proud of how open to the public our capitol is right now, and we do not want to lose that special facet of our government that many other states do not share. The COVID situation has caused a great deal of concern for the public and government alike. The topics addressed in the extraordinary session were intended to uphold our constitutional structure and to provide confidence and stability going forward. There are many topics that still need to be addressed with the knowledge we have gained thus far, and I am certain the 2021 regular session will seek to further strengthen our response to public emergencies and our state in general. Sage Dixon is a third-term Republican lawmaker representing District 1B and resides in Ponderay. He can be reached at SDixon@house.idaho.gov; P.O. Box 206, Ponderay, ID, 83852; 208-610-4800 (home); or 208-332-1185 (Statehouse office, session only).
101 Women appoint new board members By Reader Staff Local nonprofit 101 Women Sandpoint has appointed three new board members and is gearing up for its fall 2020 grant cycle, which is focused on supporting nonprofit organizations tackling education, arts, recreation and the environment. Katherine Greenland, Kristine Battey and Vicki Reich have joined the 101 Women board, which leverages membership fees to provide monetary support to a variety of nonprofit causes. The group holds bi-annual
Fall 2020 grant cycle deadline Oct. 1
meetings, at which three local organizations give presentations. At the end of each meeting, 101 Women chooses one organization to receive up to a $10,000 donation drawn from $25 annual membership fees and $100 contributions from each member at each member event. Members must commit to at least two events per year. Organizers see the format as “a simple way for women to unite and create power in numbers for giving to local organizations.” Nonprofits hoping to participate in the fall 2020 grant cycle must submit the neces-
New website promotes buying local with member discounts By Reader Staff A new online community co-op is aiming to bring together locally owned businesses and residents — a goal more important now than ever, as Sandpoint enters its fall shoulder season and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect economies around the country. Hosted at sandpointbuylocal.com, the site “is not meant to be focused on the lowest discounts. Rather, its purpose is to recognize and learn about each locally owned business and how they contribute to our community and grow our economy.”
Participating businesses and individuals — who join the site via an annual membership fee — get access to monthly discounts from area retailers, restaurants and services. Businesses also receive a profile where they can share their story and offer discounts of their own to other members. Reviews and suggestions are also posted on the site, as well. Business members are categorized under local food and flare; retail; beauty, health and fitness; local services; and local crafts. Sandpoint Buy Local organizers said they are working on a mobile app to launch in 2021 as participating members grow.
sary materials by Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. The grant application is available at 101womensandpoint.com/grant-application. Organizations invited to partake in the spring 2021 grant cycle include nonprofits dedicated to “social services and addressing basic needs in the community.” Those interested in joining 101 Women — which is currently seeking new members — can contact the board at 101WomenSandpoint@gmail.com.
Clark Fork River to experience ‘low flow’ on Sept. 3 By Reader Staff Caution is advised for those recreating on the lower Clark Fork River on Sept. 3, as utility company Avista is building a new fish passage facility at Cabinet Gorge Dam. Part of the project requires releases of water through the dam, coordinated to ensure safe and efficient completion of this work. To increase public safety and awareness, signs have been posted at access sites along the river. Waterway users should always be alert to signs of such changes and exercise caution to keep safe. For more information contact Eric Oldenburg, of Avista Utilities, at 406-847-1290. September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 9
Who’s telling the truth in Dover?…
Bouquets: • Thank you to all of our dear readers who continue to send us donations each and every week. We appreciate all of your kind words and support. I wish I had the time to personally respond to all of you, but rest assured, we are so thankful for your assistance. Barbs: • A “guest Barb” was emailed to me regarding polical signs being stolen from his driveway. Carl Zmuda said he placed a Trump sign next to his driveway on a private road and noticed it had been stolen. Since we are leading into a divisive political season, this is as good of a time as any to remind everyone that stealing campaign signs from someone’s property is not only wrong, but illegal. It matters not whether you support the candidate. There are a plethora of ways to show your support for a candidate that don’t involve stealing campaign signs. Let’s be good neighbors and respect everyone’s property. • I’ve seen some feedback on the “Shattered glass” editorial I wrote in the Aug. 27 Reader. One critical view claimed that I was somehow condoning violence in Portland or Kenosha by focusing my editorial on the actions that occurred in Sandpoint and Boise. Let me say it loud and clear: I do not condone violence, rioting, looting or any other violent unlawful activity. Never have, never will. Whether it’s from BLM protestors, outside agitators, militia members or anyone else, violence is never acceptable as part of a peaceful protest. I focused my editorial on Sandpoint and Boise because we live in Sandpoint, Idaho, not Oregon or Wisconsin. To claim I somehow support an issue or an action just because I wrote an editorial about a different topic is a perfect example of “whataboutism” that has plagued our civil discourse in this country for years. 10 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
Dear editor, The Aug. 27 article titled “Rumors abound on potential new use for Thorne Building in Dover” describes statements made by Ian Evans that contradict statements made to me by his “co-owner” Aaron Dahl. On Aug. 4, Aaron told me in front of witnesses that he is a co-owner of AARK Labs and that they have purchased the building. He told me that they are opening “the largest COVID-19 testing facility in the Northwest.” I asked why they would be next to a resort and in the midst of houses. His response was, “It is what it is.” I asked him to describe how samples will move in and out of the facility and containment procedures and he became evasive. I asked how samples will be disposed and he flippantly said, “We will probably just throw them into the river.” I discovered that OSHA published guidance titled, “COVID-19 — Control and Prevention/Laboratory Workers and Employers.” This guidance assigns OSHA’s highest Risk level of “Very High” to “Collecting or handling specimens from known or suspected COVID-19 patients.” The guidance incorporates a series of publications by the CDC on appropriate safety procedures, a stack of paper eight inches high! Clearly the statements by Aaron are completely different than the statements by Ian. Who is telling the truth? Tourism/hospitality is a major economic engine for Dover and Sandpoint. It is easy to imagine lab employees accidentally exposing the staff and patrons of our stores and restaurants. AARK Labs will likely give assurances that they have strict containment procedures. At Wuhan lab in China we know how badly that turned out. It only takes one mistake to cause massive damage. Businesses involving tissue samples or disease samples belong in remote locations, not in the middle of our neighborhood. Gregg Marston Dover
Questions about stem cell therapy… Dear editor, The AARK Labs interest in the Dover property should be looked at carefully. AARK seems to be connected to the stem cell therapy groups rising up throughout the country. These groups are not FDA approved because this particular stem cell approach harvests the stem cells from the patient’s own body, thus escaping the FDA process. Very few (if any) of these cells are
the pluripotent embryonic stem cells, rather they are adult stem cells which don’t seem to be as durable or versatile as the embryonic cells. This is an issue because the stem cell therapy groups are quite unregulated, as are their claims of success. They aren’t involved in the research to legitimize their therapies as effective and safe. Some in the medical community consider these groups to be charlatans selling snake oil. The therapies are not FDA approved and are not covered by medical insurance. On the other hand, there are various labs (such as the Mayo Clinic) doing the actual research for various potential therapies, a promise for the future. So I have a request here: Would some authentic people in our medical community take an in-depth look at these concerns? Richard Sevenich Sandpoint
Instead of shopping online, support Penney’s... Dear editor, I went into Penney’s today to check out their going-out-of-business sale and see what’s left that I might need. I was shocked to see a wellstocked store. I find it really really sad that a store that has been part of the fabric of life in America for so many years has come to such a sad end. I have shopped at Penney’s all my life. As a child, I was always excited to go there with my parents every year to get two new dresses for the new school year, as well as a new pair of shoes. I know people now prefer to shop online, but you would think that with everything at least 50% off, folks would make an effort to help them clear out the store so they can get this over with. Velta Ashbrook Ponderay
Summertime, and the livin’ ain’t easy... Dear editor, My 1957 bride and I lived 10 years in Logan, Utah, a college town. At a party, the college president’s wife, Phyllis, said summer was her favorite time because the students were gone. As summer ends in Sandpoint I feel like Phyllis. I like Sandpoint better after the tourists go. Back-slapping boosters may call this treason but as a comfortably retired antediluvian, so be it. Together with climate change, overpopulation is humankind’s most threatening adversary. (With apologies to those who feel that if burgeoning populations just join this or that particular religion and tithe their share, then every-
thing will be OK). Climate change is manifest in melting polar ice caps, California’s monumental wildfires and deadly weather in Dixie. But for people-profusion just drive downtown on a summer weekend. We are a mini-L.A. in the making. The stress of the coronavirus and a warped culture from the Oval Office have not caused the summer boom in Sandpoint but both have created a new surliness. Eateries like DiLuna’s, weary of rudeness, have signs saying “Be Kind. It’s Contagious.” These are mainly for testy out-of-towners driven from home playgrounds by lockdown mandates. They flock here because we are less inclined to tell people what to do. Even if it kills us. Sandpoint is still the best place my 1957 bride and I have ever lived. The trick is to keep it liveable. As the old song says, summertime here “ain’t what she used to be.” Unless you consider as cool our glut of cars and crowds during coronavirus. If so, stay safe. And be kind. Tim Henney Sandpoint
Seven points for ‘authentic patriotism’… Dear editor, “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason & Dixon, but between patriotism and intelligence on one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.” — Ulysses S. Grant Well, here we are. I hope I can transcend polarity, negative partisanship and identity politics, but I’ll take my stand with authentic patriotism as I see it, based primarily on love and faith, as opposed to “American exceptionalism,” “America First” or “MAGA.” In my world, “Patriotism” represents: 1) Love and respect for our national community, including all races and heartfelt creeds; 2) Love and protection of our land and natural resources, which sustain us physically and spiritually, including wilderness, native plants and animal fellow beings; 3) Solid identification with the founding principles of our enlightened, liberal framers of our Declaration and Constitution; 4) Deep concern for social justice, especially for marginalized citizen groups, ensuring all Americans have equal access to rights, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When one group is subject to injustice or oppression we all, as a nation, are threatened; 5) Diligent and unblinking search for truths about historic and contemporary wrongs in our society,
acknowledgements of moral failures and mistakes, and correcting what needs fixing. We must seek to evolve as a society; 6 Focusing on generations to come, preserving the best and improving what we have for their continued sustenance; 7) Providing for the best unbiased education for our youth, passing along our best wisdom and ways of living that have sustained us as a representative democracy, and trusting in their progressive instincts as we stand on the shoulders of our worthy predecessors. God bless America and God bless all humanity sharing the beautiful blue globe spinning on. Seth Phalen Sandpoint
Request your mail-in ballot now and vote for Paulette Jordan… Dear editor, The U.S Postal Service is the lifeblood of countless rural communities around the country. The recently appointed Trump postmaster general has removed more than 500 mail sorting machines and has removed hundreds of drop-off mail boxes around the country. This, in an obvious effort to slow down and impede delivery of mail ballots in the upcoming Nov. 3 election, created an outrage throughout the country. As a proud Idahoan, Paulette Jordan, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Jim Risch, has seen how devastating delays in mail delivery and pick-up can be in our communities. “Vital medication not coming on time. Paychecks and rent checks delayed for weeks. This is all happening right now,” Jordan says. But Republicans in the Senate are refusing to work with the House to help Americans who are suffering from the pandemic, she says. “From cities to farms to suburbs to reservations, these USPS delays are hurting Americans across the nation. We deserve better leadership during this time of crisis. I’ve fought for Idahoans my entire career, and I’m running for Senate to stand up for the needs of everyday Americans and to bring real leadership to Congress.” We all deserve leaders who will fight for us, and we know that Risch — who takes all his signals from Trump — will not. So vote for Paulette Jordan for U.S. Senate in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. The time is now to register and request your mail-in ballot. James W. Ramsey Sandpoint
< see LTE, page 11 >
< LTE, con’t from page 10 >
Pro-gun ruling will end Festival — and enforcement concerns… Dear editor, Law enforcement will not have to prepare for controlling anti-gun protesters at The Festival if Judge Haynes rules that guns must be allowed because there will not be a Festival if such is the ruling. Ted Wert Sagle
Why mask us?… Dear editor, Regarding Lee Santa’s letter of last week [“Council’s mask ordinance vote throws citizens under the ‘COVID-19 bus,” Aug. 27, 2020]: Why a new law that can’t be enforced? Is that the best way to reach the general public? Lee mentions the economic impact over health. I agree with Lee on that issue. Why not cancel events like Crazy Days and the Arts and Craft show? Those events were much more detrimental to our health than a non-masker walking around town. I was downtown for both of these weekends. It would have been impossible to enforce a mask mandate. They have a mask mandate in Kootenai County; visit Kootenai County some time. It’s a joke. Less than 15% compliance. You can’t solve every problem with a new law. I applaud the vote by the City Council. Bill Litsinger Sandpoint
Dover developing a reputation for hostility toward neighbors… Dear editor, I read your article about the repurposing of the Thorne building in Dover [Feature, “Rumors abound on potential new use for Thorne building in Dover,” Aug. 27, 2020]. I live on the same street as Ian, although I have never met him. Sadly, Ian is right — the town of Dover is developing quite a reputation of hostility toward neighbors. I suspect it may be fueled by the Facebook page — usually petty stuff. I’m not sure. We bought our house two years ago and feel a lot of what he is feeling — judged and unwelcome. You have to have tough skin to live lakefront in Dover. Our close friend has met with Ian and reports him to be a very impressive individual with a lot of integrity. He said Ian is very focused right now on keeping to himself in order to protect his children with cancer from COVID. He rarely meets with people for this reason. The community need not get suspicious and judgemental because of it. He has already lost a child to cancer. I hope the community smartens up and 200 job opportunities are not lost because of it. Robyn Dawes Dover
OPINION
Idaho Dems: An extraordinarily unproductive session
By Reps. Brooke Green and Lauren Necochea Special to the Reader As we face a global pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, Idahoans may have been hopeful about the Legislature’s recent special session. Since the pandemonium at the Statehouse dominated the news, Idahoans may still be wondering what was actually accomplished. The answer, unfortunately, is not much. Republican legislators spent most of the time pandering to the far right, and the only really substantive legislation enacted was actually harmful. We left all of our urgent challenges unaddressed. The Idaho Legislature did not shield schools from funding cuts, make coronavirus testing more accessible or timely, reduce property taxes for homeowners, get our economy back on track, or resolve any of the other challenges that Idahoans are facing. In fact, the only helpful action that the Legislature took was incredibly modest — a bill that gives county election officials a little extra time to process absentee ballots. The most notable harmful legislation rolled back basic protections from gross negligence. House Bill 6 gives corporations and other institutions a pass when it comes to protecting people from contracting coronavirus. Earlier versions of the legislation asked businesses to act in good faith and follow local health orders in exchange for immunity from liability. When Republican legislators objected to these safety precautions, the compromise was blanket immunity for all, even in the worst cases. This bill gives businesses permission to defy local orders; reject safety protocols outright; or be egregiously sloppy when it comes to protecting workers, customers and the community. Even when a business commits extreme negligence, harmed Idahoans no longer have the right to seek redress. The AARP, representing Idaho seniors, spoke out forcefully in opposition to this bill, explaining that Idahoans who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities need more protection, not less during this pandemic. The AARP also decried that lawful, constitutionally guaranteed protections are stripped by this bill. This legislation is a solution to a non-existent problem. Six months and more than 30,000 cases into this pandem-
Rep. Brooke Green. ic, no one can point to a single frivolous lawsuit (or any lawsuit at all) in Idaho about coronavirus transmission. Idaho already had robust restrictions against unnecessary lawsuits, and our existing laws squarely protected those who should be protected from lawsuits. If businesses are acting in good faith to follow the law, they need not worry. Under this new law, there is a huge risk that someone with a legitimate case could be harmed and left without recourse: a health aide who isn’t given proper equipment or a resident of a nursing home without any infection-prevention protocols. There is also a risk that businesses are more likely to have sloppy safety protocols now that the Legislature has removed accountability. Our right to seek redress is protected in the U.S. Constitution and the Idaho State Constitution. This virus shouldn’t change that. The other disappointment was the long frivolous debate about an unconstitutional resolution to end the state’s emergency declaration. This would not make COVID-19 go away, but it would take away our ability to draw much-needed FEMA funds to buy PPE for schools, nursing homes, etc., shifting the burden to already struggling Idahoans to pay for these critical resources. We face dire economic and budget outlooks and should be leveraging every dollar available to help our state fight against this virus. House Republicans used the debate to bemoan the powers vested in the executive branch by the Idaho Constitution rather than reveal how ending the emergency declaration would solve any problems for Idahoans. The resolution sailed through the House, but was fortunately rejected by cooler heads in the Senate. Now is the time to come together with the goal of protecting our fellow Idahoans
Rep. Lauren Necochea. from a terrible virus so that we can get our economy back on track, get our kids back at school and return to doing the things we miss. This “special” legislative session not only missed the mark, it was aiming at the wrong target. Reps. Brooke Green and Lauren Necochea are Democrats representing Boise Districts 18 and 19, respectively.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 11
Mad about Science:
Brought to you by:
artificial crystals and gems By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist This week’s topic, suggested by our local library director, Ann Nichols, focuses — so to speak — on one of the most important yet often overlooked items in our daily lives. Artificial crystals and gems allow our computers to function, provide immense amounts of electrical power in solar voltaic panels and they just look generally pretty. Who hasn’t seen the interior of a geode and thought to themselves, “Wow, how did nature do that?” Nature isn’t the only one responsible for the production of impressive crystals. Human beings need crystals to maintain our 21st-century lifestyle, and we can’t wait around for millions of years for nature to make them all for us. Despite how many synthetic gemstones you might see on home shopping channels, the bulk of human crystal production is actually centered on the electronics industry — primarily in the production of microchips and lasers. Crystals in laser technology are employed for a number of complicated roles, but their primary function is to help focus light into a beam with the help of ions mixed into the crystal’s structure. This is an insanely complicated subject for my little brain, so go ask a librarian if you want the nuts and bolts of how crystals work in lasers. Synthetic crystals are employed in a range of electronic functions, from oscillators to semiconductors. An oscillator is designed to vibrate at a very precise frequency when an electrical charge or field is introduced, allowing the transmission of 12 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
information through the air. Some forms of WiFi use crystal oscillators and receivers, as do a number of radio systems developed around 1900. A semiconductor is a substance that’s halfway between an insulator, which doesn’t allow electrons to freely move through its structure, and a conductor, such as copper wire that allows electricity to move through it effectively. The purpose of a semiconductor is to regulate the amount of electricity that flows through a particular structure in order to avoid overloaded circuits or other dangerous situations. Tiny quartz crystal structures make effective semiconductors and oscillators, and are relatively easy for humans to create. I’m sure every electrician and computer engineer in Sandpoint is laughing at my explanations right now. I invite you to share your knowledge and experience in this field. Meanwhile, scientists have developed a number of ways to synthesize crystals. One method is called crystal pulling, or the Czochralski process. This method is achieved by filling a crucible — essentially a miniaturized enclosed forge — with a desired chemical substance. In the case of garnets, this substance would be a mixture of yttrium, iron and oxygen. If the diamonds were to be colored, other substances would be introduced into the mix. This chemical concoction is heated in the crucible to more than 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and then a seed crystal is dipped into the mix. The purpose of a seed crystal is to encourage the mixture in the crucible to replicate the crystal lattice structure of the seed, creating a uniform and predictable crystal. As the crystal begins to
form, the seed is pulled away by a rigging equipped with magnets. We aren’t entirely sure why a seed crystal needs to be employed, but it reliably encourages the growth of new crystals, whereas under normal conditions, it would take a very, very long time under sustained heat and pressure to begin forming the crystals without a seed. Another form of crystal creation is called flame fusion. Aside from being a great band name, flame fusion is one of the most cost-effective means to produce synthetic gemstones. This method drops chemical powders through high-temperature flames and allows the substance to fall onto a seed crystal, effectively building the crystal upward. Synthetic diamonds are formed by a number of different processes. One way is to use vacuum chambers to replicate the conditions deep beneath the Earth’s crust billions of years ago, by applying tremendous heat and pressure to carbon atoms to force them to create clean and uniform lattices. Another process called chemical vapor deposition also uses a vacuum chamber to control carbon atoms — however, rather than crushing them into uniformity, the vacuum chamber allows the carbon atoms to fall onto seed plates and grow. It wouldn’t be an article about gems if we didn’t talk about color, and synthetic gems are capable of producing dazzling hues that don’t occur in nature. Natural garnets are red because of the presence of iron in their chemical makeup. Some artificial gems have arrays of metal flecks scattered through them during the growing process — a gem infused with copper may be reflective and have an
amber color. Others like artificial cat’s eye opals have specialized gas solutions introduced and trapped inside the gem during the growth process. The final type of artificial crystal I’ll share has been created by humans and most other animals for tens of millions of years, if not longer. Our urine is filled with all sorts of chemicals, including salt, which can act as a crystal seed when introduced to other chemicals in our urinary tract.
Calcium can build up in our kidneys and form crystals, which can break off and exit painfully in the form of kidney stones. Cholesterol can also form crystals that leave our body through our urine. Our “No. 1” excretion can actually contain as many as 13 different types of crystals, all formed inside of our body. While calling these artificial might be a stretch, they are certainly man-made. Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner .? Don’t know much about MLK,
• Martin Luther King, Jr.’s name at birth was Michael Luther King, Jr. • King improvised and added the “I have a dream” line during his famous speech at the Lincoln Memorial for the 1963 March on Washington. • In 1964, the FBI mailed King and his wife Coretta Scott King, separately, a package of audio and type-written materials accusing him of extramarital affairs and — according to King’s understanding — suggesting he should commit suicide. • King, who died by an an assassin’s bullet at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968, was jailed 29 times. • King is a Grammy Award winner for Best Spoken Word Album. • King’s last public speech — the so-called “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech delivered April 3, 1968 at the Mason Temple church in Memphis, Tenn., included a reference to the possibility that he may die a premature death, which came to pass the next day..
Jr
We can help!
• King required hours of delicate surgery to remove a steel letter opener from his chest in 1958. He was stabbed by Izola Curry, a mentally ill woman who attended one of King’s book signings. • More than 900 streets in the United States are named after Martin Luther King, Jr. • King received a C+ in public speaking at seminary school. • King was a huge Star Trek fan. • Some members of King’s family — including his late-wife — have long believed that James Earl Ray did not kill the civil rights leader on April 4, 1968. Rather, they say the owner of a restaurant located beneath King’s hotel room in Memphis conspired with the Mafia, local police and the U.S. government to commit the murder, setting up Ray as a patsy. • The bullet that killed King entered through his right cheek, smashing his jaw, then traveled down his spinal cord before lodging in his shoulder.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 13
COMMUNITY
Caption contest winner!
-Winner:
“All done. This one should be worth a couple of bucks!”
-Gene Koschinski, Sandpoint
-Honorable mentions:
“Funny, you don’t look anything like your online dating photo!”
-Cassadie Spinney, Sagle
“Wow, that would make a good cover for the Reader.”
-Tom Prez, Sandpoint
We selected Cassadie Spinney’s caption as our winner for this week’s caption contest. Thanks to all who submitted your witty captions. It’s always a hard choice to select a winner.
Spinney has won a $25 gift certificate to Eichardt’s Pub, which is good for food and/or drinks anytime. Stay tuned for more contests in the future. Stay witty, Sandpoint.
Sandpoint Teen Center hosting back-to-school barbecue By Reader Staff
14 /
R
The Sandpoint Teen Center will be open for the 2020-21 school year, beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with a back-to-school barbecue. The center will provide after-school meals and activities, including games, bowling, basketball, disc golf, ping pong, cooking lessons and art. “Our staff is also available to assist with homework, including online homework, as well as provide space and guidance for other teen projects,” organizers wrote in a press release. “We have internet available for school work if teens don’t have internet at home.” Center staff members said they / September 3, 2020
are open to any suggestions from the community about how they can make these difficult times more manageable for area teens. To keep posted on activities, visit sandpointteencenter.com. Also check out their Facebook and Instagram pages. Any questions or suggestions should be directed to sandpointteencenter@ yahoo.com or by calling Phyllis Jay at 208-255-9745 or Joan Avery, 208-9461087. The Sandpoint Teen Center is located at 221 S. Division St. in Sandpoint. Operating hours are 1-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The center is open to all students between seventh and 12th grade.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 15
That’s a wrap
New utility box wraps bring local artists’ work and historical photos to public spaces
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Observant city residents and visitors may have noticed a new splash of art throughout public spaces in Sandpoint over the past nine months. After the city of Sandpoint added several new utility boxes around town due to an increase of utility work and construction over the past year, the Sandpoint Arts Commission slowly began to plan for a new public art project featuring works from local artists as well as historical photos of Bonner County. Elle Susnis, the chairperson of the Sandpoint Arts Commission, told the Reader that the project was on the “back burner” for some time until a sponsor came forward and helped kick it into gear. “STCU [Spokane Teachers Credit Union] stepped up last fall and offered to sponsor art wraps for us,” Susnis said. “All these utility boxes were popping up because of the construction we were doing [downtown], so we decided to split them up between art works and historical photos.” Working in conjunction with the Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission, the city of Sandpoint, the Bonner County History Museum and STCU, the Sandpoint Arts Commission began accepting submissions from local artists to transform their two-dimensional art pieces into wraps to cover the utility boxes. Busy Beaver Graphics in Sandpoint has taken on the task of printing the wraps with a digital printer and applying the wraps to boxes with a special adhesive. “It’s amazing what Brett at Busy Beaver has done,” Susnis said. “They even have a special graffiti-resistant coating on them.” The decorated boxes have sprung up all over town, allowing passersby the opportunity to view artwork where only a dull metal box was before. “One of the reasons I’m excited 16 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
about this project is because it’s a great way to get the art from our two-dimensional artists out on the streets as public art,” Susnis said. “It gets it out there where people who may not normally go into a gallery and a space like that and see it on a daily basis to enjoy and get to know our local artists.” The boxes can be viewed throughout Sandpoint, from the Windbag jetty to the intersection of Highway 2 and Boyer Avenue. More than a dozen wraps have been installed during the first two phases of this project, but a third phase is slated to begin soon with another grouping of boxes. Susnis said one of her favorite wraps so far has been the Harold’s IGA artwork on a series of boxes on Oak Street across from the former location of the supermarket. “I lived a block and a half from Harold’s most of my life and it has a special place in my heart,” Susnis said. “When Gail Lyster submitted those pieces, I knew exactly where they would go. There are longtime locals that really loved Harold’s — it was there for 61
years. I just have good memories of it, and that artwork is so bright and beautiful.” So far, the wraps include works from local artists and historic photos, provided by the Bonner County History Museum. Susnis said the Sandpoint Arts Commission was excited to combine art and history with this project. “That’s what our town is all about,” she said. “There is a lot of history here and it’s an arts town. It was a perfect fit.”
Top: A series of utility boxes on Oak Street with artwork by Gail Lyster. Bottom: A historic photo showing a group of Sandpointians attending ski lessons at the Pine Street Hill in January 1959. Photos courtesy Sandpoint Arts Commission.
COMMUNITY
Bonner General Health receives grant for Emergency Dept. renovation By Reader Staff Bonner General Health announced it has received a $200,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation, which it will use to fund portions of an Emergency Department renovation planned for this fall. The BGH Community Development Department began searching for grant opportunities after the renovation — originally slated to begin in October — was put on indefinite hold due to a reduction in revenue as a result of COVID-19. Like most health care organizations, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced closures of non-essential services, staff furloughs, layoffs and a 70% loss of revenue. According to hospital officials, the funds allocated for the remodel were no longer available, but the need was just as essential — if not more so after public health workers identified community spread of COVID-19 in the county. BHG’s grant application included letters of support from Bonner County EMS and Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Vince Huntsberger, expressing the urgent need for the remodel. The BGH Emergency Department employs 26 staff members, services the communities of North Idaho and northwest Montana, and provided 10,447 emergency visits in 2019. Established in 1949 and housed in its current location since 1973, the Emergency Department has not undergone an update in 31 years. The renovation will include work stations for doctors and nurses, expansion of the paramedic entry way, patient room improvements, updated windows, flooring, lighting and ceiling tiles. Changes in the department will improve the patient flow and experience, protect the privacy of patients,
Courtesy photo. and promote a safe and secure place to receive care. “We are thankful to the Sunderland Foundation for selecting Bonner General Health as a recipient of this generous grant,” BGH CEO Sheryl Rickard stated in an announcement of the grant award. “A visit to the Emergency Department is generally unplanned and can be a frightening experience,” she added. “This grant will enable us to improve our patients’ experiences and increase our ability to respond to our community’s needs.” Established in 1945 by Lester T. Sunderland, who served as longtime president of the Ash Grove Cement Company and considered a nationwide industry leader, the Sunderland Foundation has since focused on supporting construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other markets traditionally served by the Ash Grove Cement Company. Grants are typically awarded for planning, design, construction, renovation, repairs and restoration in areas of higher education, human services, arts and culture, health care and hospitals. Bonner General Health is a 25bed critical access hospital and health care network of outpatient clinics and services, supporting Sandpoint and the surrounding region. For more information visit bonnergeneral.org. For more information on the Sunderland Foundation visit sunderland.org. September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 17
COMMUNITY
Volunteers needed for three N. Idaho trail projects this month By Reader Staff The Idaho Trails Association is looking for volunteers to help maintain trails on oneday and weekend projects in September. These are the last three projects of the summer. No experience is necessary to participate, and hikers of all levels are encouraged to join. All tools and training will be provided at the start of the trip. Many volunteers for the nonprofit describe their experience as empowering and a great way to meet other outdoor enthusiasts.
Two Mouth Lakes Trail: Saturday, Sept. 12 On this one-day project in the Selkirk Mountains, ITA will focus on the upper end near the Two Mouth Lakes doing tread and drainage repair, brushing overgrown vegetation and removing logs from the trail. This is a popular backpacking area, so there will also be some campsite cleanup work. St. Joe Sawtooth Trail: Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 19-20 This trail is the major access route
18 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
Volunteers perform trail work in August. Courtesy photo. along the north side of the remote and scenic Mallard Larkins Pioneer Area in the St. Joe National Forest. Join ITA for this weekend trip where volunteers will cut brush, remove logs and do tread work. Evans Landing: Saturday, Sept. 26 On National Public Lands Day, ITA will work on this two-mile trail that drops down to the west shore of Lake Pend Oreille. The focus will be tread repair on the bottom part of the trail. For more information and to sign up for these projects, visit idahotrailsassociation.org/upcoming-projects.
LITERATURE
This open Window
Vol. 5 No. 9 poetry and prose by local writers edited by Jim mitsui
in wait He sits at the computer in old plaid sweats, watches You Tube, notices kids in the street waddle by like baby snowmen. The gray cat comes to her chair, rubs against her black leggings. She tries to write of chickadees scratching under the window where berry laden bushes trace mazes of burgeoning spring and lingering winter. Snow still hides in the old stump’s crevice where once grew mint and sweet woodruff, waiting for the sun to bring forth fresh violets to feed the deer. Weak sunshine teases her to come sit outside beneath blowing cedars. On the hearth an old blue jug with dried flowers entreats her to sit by the fire a little longer. Her scribbling on lined paper His scrolling through mind numbing media mark their days of waiting.
he hasn't got a clue Those were the days, when Fred was the pilot and I was the flight attendant and we were in love sharing the world and then all the rest of life went. Now here we are, compartmentalized.
Now it comes loose. I can’t get up. Every move’s a disaster. I wad up a blanket. use it as a sponge. I mean, I’m in that upstairs bedroom, you know.
You know what happened last time you called and I had to hang up because something was going on? Well, I was still in bed, of course. You’re gonna love this! It’s so awful. My catheter came loose. Oh my God! What could I do? Fred was home but he’s not all there, right? I mean, he still knows who I am, but he just thinks I’m some sort of first rate flight attendant.
Well, when I finally make it down, to drive myself to the clinic, there’s Fred staring at the TV from his spot on the couch, beside his pile of old newspapers. And he looks up and says “Could you warm up my cup of coffee?“
Well, you do the best you can. I don’t think he realizes I just had surgery to remove that godawful golfballsized stone from my bladder. And the catheter, horrible anyway.
invisible
— Beth Weber Beth says, “Most of my time I spend tending my garden of fruits, vegetables and flowers, and watching the frolicking pollinators or I’m off kayaking, or cultivating gourmet mushrooms. I enjoy playing my fiddle in music jams. I also regularly make sourdough bread from a starter my friend Terry McGuirk gave me. She has been cultivating this particular sourdough starter for over 40 years. So much to do, so little time!”
waiting for . . . something
Unless you are affected — you don’t see it. If your life is not at risk — you see no threat. Prickly, ubiquitous, contagious, dangerous, deadly coronavirus Seditious, creeping, contagious, dangerous, deadly racism Victims of the virus point to 160,000 headstones as proof Victims of racism get the blame. they were in the wrong place said the wrong thing he reached for his wallet shouldn’t have run They should have tried harder, studied longer, sacrificed more he shouldn’t have worn a hoodie He shouldn’t have been black. — Brenda Hammond These are once-in-a-lifetime moments and Brenda’s poem captures some of the tragic consequences that we are experiencing. No, it is not a hoax.
maybe for this not to be the news everywhere I look. Life does go on— mine has changed little. Hens still lay eggs, need food and water, cats see nothing different. The sun shines, rain falls, and spring arrives on the wings of new birds — juncos everywhere, robins hopping about hunting worms, and a pair of mourning doves. I go into town on Tuesdays as usual, sell eggs, get feed and do other errands, but now that’s the end of my day, and sometimes I feel sad leaving town. Wednesday’s grocery shopping day has less help from sales, but I don’t know if there are empty shelves because I rarely leave the produce section. This plague feels different — unlike a power outage or a big snowstorm, it can’t be repaired. Maybe I’m waiting for an ending that I won’t be able to see.
— Margaret Ann Maricle Margaret Ann lives in Sandpoint. A former college English teacher from California, she “waits” along with all of us.
Send poems to: jim3wells@aol.com
— Jeanette Schandelmeier Jeanette grew up on a homestead in Alaska, taught school here in Sandpoint, lives on a farm on Talache Road and waits along with all of us for things to return to normal.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 19
events Sept. 3 - 10, 2020
THURSDAY, September 3
COMMUNITY Bonner Community Food Bank receives $5,000 donation from Schweitzer
Live Music w/ Benny Baker 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
FriDAY, September 4
Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6-9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante Live Music w/ Paul Summers 8-11pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Live Music w/ Nick Wiebe 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Devon Wade 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 8-10pm @ The Back Door
SATURDAY, September 5 Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park The Market is back at Farmin Park! Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 8:30-10:30pm @ The Back Door
Save the Valley rally 10:30-11:30am @ Culver Farms Neighbors, learn what you can do to challenge Bonner County’s support of the SpaceX experimentation. 405 Hickey Road. Covid Sucks shopping fundraiser All labor day weekend @ Sandpoint Visit the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce’s website for more info!
SunDAY, September 6
Piano Sunday w/ Annie Welle 3-5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
monDAY, September 7
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Monday Night Run Posse (free) 6pm @ Outdoor Experience
Lifetree Cafe 2pm @ Jalapeño’s Restaurant “Intimacy Anorexia: The Dark Secret That’s Killing Marriages.”
wednesDAY, September 9
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park The Market is back at Farmin Park!
Live Music w/ John Firshi 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
tuesDAY, September 8
Pump Track MTB Skills Clinic 5:30pm @ McNearney Park Pump Track A free skills course. Pump track located in Ponderay
ThursDAY, September 10
20 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
By Reader Staff It’s been a challenging year for local nonprofits, as many have had to cancel fundraising efforts due to concerns over COVID-19. Meanwhile, Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s commitment to the Bonner Community Food Bank was able to continue thanks to one special passholder. According to Schweitzer Marketing Manager Dig Chrismer, because of the abrupt end to its season, the mountain was unable to host its spring Passholder Appreciation Party, which features a silent auction to raise money for the food bank. One of the highlights of the event, Chrismer said, is the “Name a Run” promotion, in which the highest bidder wins the privilege of renaming a run of their choice for the following season. Despite the cancellation of the promotion, one
Food Bank staffers accept a $5,000 check from Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Courtesy photo. passholder reached out to the resort wanting to know if they could donate $5,000 anyway to secure the naming rights. “With everything that our community has been going through, it was an incredible gesture and we are very happy to make this donation on their behalf to the food bank,” Chrismer said. “We are acutely aware that the Bonner Community Food Bank serves a critical role for people who need a helping hand, and Schweitzer is grateful for the opportunity to make this donation,” she added. “We really do have the best passholders.” For more information on how to help the Bonner Community Food Bank visit foodbank83864.com. For more information about Schweitzer Mountain Resort visit schweitzer.com.
STAGE & SCREEN
A real ‘American horror story’
HBO Max series Lovecraft Country taps into a deep vein of literary, historical horror
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Look past the piety of the Puritans, their stovepipe hats and buckle shoes, and an earnest reader of early American history will find a thick vein of supernatural horror running through the damp, dark woods of New England. Most famous, of course, is the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 — only one long lifetime from the first permanent European settlement at Jamestown, Va., in 1605. The hysteria of Devil worship and witchcraft gripped the “goodmen” and “goodwives” of the colony, turning their strict religious community into a pack of ravening inquisitors — all stemming from the suspicions leveled at the Barbados-born Indigenous slave Tituba. There, right from the beginning, is the notion that “others” (specifically non-white, unfree others) are somehow closer to the bottomless terrors of an unseen world of deathless evil than their self-perceived social, racial, political and moral betters. Of course, the Salem Witch Trials were only the splashiest example — slaves, both African and Indigenous — were considered from the seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century (and in many places beyond) to be dangerously predisposed to “barbarous,” “pagan” or otherwise “unclean” spiritual practices and powers. Perhaps no modern author better tapped into the hellbroth of spiritual anxiety underpinning New England — and by extension all early American psychosocial life — than H.P. Lovecraft. It is no coincidence that this son of Rhode Island, himself a rabid Anglophile and committed white supremacist, should populate his nightmare world of Old Gods and their attendant sub- and inhuman monsters in the murky backcountry of Massachusetts. So much is Lovecraft (1890-1937) associated with the northwest marches of The Bay State that it goes by the nickname “Lovecraft Country” — a fictionalized land-
scape of derelict, demon-haunted mansions and howling wilds where the cosmic fabric between our world and the swirling abyss of a hostile universe is stretched to breaking. Playing on the rich corpus of Lovecraft’s work, writer Mark Ruff titled his 2016 novel Lovecraft Country and astutely loaded it with thoughts on race, the stains carried by lineage and the terrible monsters — both human and otherwise — that animated 1950s America. Ruff’s novel has now been adapted into a series of the same name, which premiered on HBO Max on Aug. 16. As with the book, the show — with its fourth episode set to air on Sunday, Sept. 6 — follows the perilous journey of Korean War veteran Atticus, his bookish uncle George and childhood friend/ semi-requited love interest Letitia as the trio goes in search of Atticus’ father, Montrose, who has gone missing from Chicago somewhere in the wilderness of Ardham, Mass., where it turns out the family can trace its origins to a slave woman who escaped amid an unholy fire at her owner’s manse. The trek, of course, begins with the companions’ necessity to navigate the violent anti-Black racism permeating the tree-choked byways of New England, where good old boys and shotgun-toting sheriffs aren’t the only murderous beasts prowling through the woods. Gory and hair-raising, infuriating and (at times) campy, it’s yet another fine entry in the burgeoning 21st-century genre of horror spiced with commentary on systemic racism. Perhaps it’s no surprise that Jordan Peele (who directed Get Out and Us) serves as executive producer. Just as in Peele’s feature films, Lovecraft Country brings a smarter approach to horror that teases the idea that the monsters within are just as dangerous as those found without — though in this case, the former are frequently aligned with the latter, infusing the show with a level of excitement that only heightens the deep, dark real-life ruminations running beneath the surface.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 21
EDUCATION
A parents’ guide to online learning Brought to you by the East Bonner County Library District Special to the Reader Online learning is becoming a part of student learning. The upcoming reopening of schools on Tuesday, Sept. 8 will almost certainly have a distance-learning component. Assuring the success of the student will be a big challenge for families, especially if students are kept out of school. National polls are saying the majority of parents are not comfortable sending their children back to school for in-person classes. When it comes to online lessons, parents may be stressed about their child’s education. It is very challenging to keep students on task. This may entail additional work in addition to other responsibilities, adding stress to many already challenging family situations. Parents often will need to work outside the home, making it difficult to
monitor progress. Many parents and teachers are concerned about the effectiveness of online learning. Let’s face it — it’s just not the same as being in the classroom where students can socialize and work on hands-on learning projects. I apologize for painting a bleak picture. Let’s assume we are still battling the spread of COVID-19 and need to make the best of online learning this fall, whether it be by itself or as a complement to abbreviated school days. Student success at home may be a good lesson in preparing them for remote work in their future career. Hopefully, these tips will equip parents with tools to assure their student’s success.
Establish routines and expectations: Cultivate a positive attitude. Make it clear that the student is accountable for their progress and completing assignments. Don’t feel you need to be an expert to help your
child. Part of learning is the discovery of resources that help when the learner has questions. Fortunately, in our internet age, there are many resources they can use. I have listed some of them below. Allow 4560 minutes for each subject. Older students may need more. If the parent is working outside the home, help the student set up calendar reminders. Checking in with the student during the day will help keep them moving. Choose a good place to learn: Make it a quiet, comfortable, special place for the student.
Stay in touch with the school: If you or your student have any questions about assignments, or you need additional resources, contact the school. Involve the student in the conversation.
Use online resources as necessary: The school will have assignments that you can incorporate into the schedule. Encourage your child to seek help on their own using the many resources on the internet. Set them up with one of the library’s resources in the Digital Library, Khan Academy or similar resources. Create checklists together: For older students, use a planner to prioritize assignments. Emphasize meeting their deadlines.
Encourage social contact: This is very important but can be tricky. How about a game of kickball? Don’t forget to be safe. Personal time: Play video games, read for pleasure or work on a project. It is important to keep this unstructured. Keep the electronic stuff limited. Don’t forget some quiet time during the day if necessary. Check in: Students’ entire school experience has been uprooted. How do we explain why all this is happening? How do they feel about it? Maybe they have overheard conversations or news reports and have questions or feelings that need to be addressed. Check out the CDC’s advice about talking with children about COVID-19. Read before bedtime: This includes reading with a young student or an older student reading on their own.
22 /
R
Create structure: Work with them to organize their time. Establish regular bedtimes and wake-ups. Stick with the same schedule they had when they were in school. The school may have a suggested schedule. If they do not, make it similar to the school day. Online learning days are not vacation days. Find out how much time will be necessary for each task and schedule the / September 3, 2020
time to complete it. The only difference is the learning takes place at home. Start early. The best learning takes place in the morning. If there is no guidance from the school for new work, consider reviewing previous lessons — especially math. Structure learning days to allow for at least two to three hours of structured learning.
Suggested schedule: Morning meeting — have a casual conversation about what your student (or students) have learned recently and discuss tasks for the day. Have the child keep a planner to keep track of assignments. Take a look at materials. Include a fun activity. This meeting can be longer if necessary, but the idea is to review the previous lessons and plan out tasks for the day. If there isn’t work to complete from the school, use Khan Academy, or a similar resource, to access fresh material relating to their recent work, 15-30 minutes. Math — research has shown it is best done in the morning and practice makes perfect. Include some fun games and change activities often, especially for younger students, 45-60 minutes. Break — include some fun physical activities, 15 minutes. Social studies or other subject — 45-60 minutes. Break — include some fun physical activities, 15 minutes. Other classes — accessed through the school’s distance learning platform, 45 minutes. Practice life skills — make lunch together, organize rooms or look at the plants in the yard. Make it fun and focus on their interests. The goal is to have the child learn without realizing it, 45 minutes. Read — find a book from the library that is at the student’s reading level and that interests them. Have your child read and then tell you the story they just read. Have them write an alternate ending or review, 45 minutes. Encourage creativity — creating something is fun and rewarding. How about decorating their learning space? Is that refrigerator completely covered yet? Make a card for someone’s special occasion. Reward — a treat, game, hike, bike ride or other quality time. For a breakdown of digital resources by subject, read more on The Library Blog at ebonnerlibrary.org.
Labor Day weekend is upon us, so our resident photographer Racheal Baker snapped some photos of some of our hard-working city residents for this week’s photo page. If you’d like to submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com. Top left: Alex Cope wheeling the morning’s fresh pastries down to the Sandpoint Farmers’ Market for Bluebird Bakery. Top right: Kelley and Brett Kennedy, owners of The Fat Pig restaurant, enjoy a rare break in the action. Bottom right: Two of the local helpers who water and maintain the beautiful flower baskets in downtown Sandpoint. Bottom middle: Four Winds Creations awaiting the afternoon Sandpoint Farmers’ Market to begin. Bottom left: Three local EMS volunteers lending a watchful eye during Jacey’s Race in Sandpoint. Right: Local celebrity guard dog Bruno doing his morning patrol on the city streets. All photos by Racheal Baker.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 23
LABOR DAY
Work, work, work Breakfast lessons My first day of work was Mother’s Day 2011. In my navy blue polo and sensible, non-slip shoes, I arrived at Holiday Shores Marina at 6 a.m. and marched through the convenience store aisles to the back: a 12-table breakfast cafe with a view of Ellisport Bay that has since closed. After a crash course in how to brew the coffee, prep tables and write a simple order on my brand new notepad, the manager let me loose on a four-top of middle-aged women. Never in my 15 years of life had I been so scared. By 2 p.m., I didn’t want to stop. Early mornings, light conversation and heavy breakfast plates seemed a perfect match for my spunky, perfectionist soul. We
I’ve always been the Strange One in a family of extremely capable people, who for about 100 years or so in Sandpoint have done real things with immediate, tangible benefits. Because of that, it’s always felt a bit shameful being a “writer” — so often shorthand for, “loser who has no real skills.” Only a few weeks shy of 40, I still feel it and it’s a pitfall about which I warn people younger than me when they tell me that they, too, want to be writers someday. Yet, it’s the life I chose, and not in an abstract way. I can tell you with close-to-accurate iffiness that it happened when I was a teen. After my first “real job,” as a courtesy clerk at Safeway in 1995-ish — during which I counted my days in 15-minute
By Lyndsie Kiebert
totaled our orders manually with a greasy calculator, washed the dishes ourselves and shoved our tips into Folgers cans under the counter. No day was the same, and yet I found a familiar rhythm that coaxed me out of bed even on fishing derby days, when I’d seat my first table before the sun came up. I met so many wonderful people. Even now, nearly a decade later, I see my regulars from those four summers and we hug like old friends. They treated me with dignity and shared in my hopes for the future — one couple even gifted me a scrapbook to take to college. I can recite their Sunday order to this day: veggie scramble, huckleberry pancake, eggs benedict and a glass of
The strange one
The Reader editorial staff dishes on their ‘dirty jobs’ in honor of Labor Day
whole milk. I also met the kind of people who walked in determined to be unhappy, and who left just the same despite my desperate attempts to lay down charm as thick as syrup. People-pleasing can only go so far in waitressing and in life, and it’s a lesson I’m glad I learned early. As much as I learned about those I served, I learned more about how to be a good co-worker. I learned that some people will let you down. I learned that even a middle-aged line cook will need some consoling on a hard day. I learned what it felt like when someone has your back unconditionally.
I’ve since waited tables elsewhere, and was even able to secure my dream job after college: to write, for money. But I sometimes miss the feeling of sifting through dollar bills while seated on a barstool after eight hours on my feet, planning what ice cream bars and CDs I’d buy in town with my hard-earned tips. There are some things I don’t miss from my years at Holiday Shores, though: unempathetic customers, the too-small grill, the five-gallon bucket of ketchup I poured all over myself one afternoon. Still, I’m thankful for all the lessons, and all of the mistake bacon and pancakes that sustained me.
the field and, as the train rumbled by and with the sweet smell of the tall weeds and algal tiredness of Fry Creek in my nose, I had a revelation that turned into an internal promise: “I will never again work in a way that doesn’t include writing.” Soon after, I marched into the Daily Bee offices and somehow landed a job as evening copy editor/editorial cartoonist. That was a good job that I returned to a few times during subsequent breaks at home from college. During those times I loved being a “real writer,” with a desk to sit at and a phone and everything. I’ve held mostly true to my principle since — aside from minor stints as a bartender and a brief period as a bookstore
clerk in downtown Boise. Stories from the former aren’t fit for print. At the latter, I used to peddle Twilight to adults who insisted, “It’s for my daughter.” I brown-bagged them as they looked at me with pleading eyes, “Don’t tell anybody about this…” Luckily, that didn’t last too long before I got hired to report about business — eight months or so before the Great Recession. Despite everything, my commitment to strangeness seems to have continued more or less unabated over the past 20 years, finally delivering me back to where it all started — in more ways than one — in downtown Sandpoint.
By Zach Hagadone
increments — I jumped across Fifth Avenue to run the fryers at Serv-a-Burger. (A memorable experience there being the time I absent-mindedly poured a fryer’s worth of hot grease into a plastic pickle bucket and had to race with it outside before it melted and burst across the kitchen floor.) I’d initially taken the fryer job because my girlfriend at the time wanted something nice for Christmas. She’d long since dumped me when, one early spring night in 1999 as I drove home to Sagle with the smell of grease on me and listening to an Offspring tape that eventually got stuck in the cassette player, I stopped at the Lignite Road railroad crossing in the dark. This was before all those houses filled
The most satisfying, demoralizing job of my life
In the early 2000s, I packed everything in my car, emptied my meager bank account and drove to Los Angeles to try getting work in the film industry. My dream was to write and direct my own films — which I admit is the second most cliché reason to ever move to L.A. The most cliché reason is, of course, moving to Hollywood to become an actor, which I had no interest in. I found a room to rent in an Addams Family-style house in Eagle Rock, spending most of my nest egg to make sure I had two months of rent covered while looking for work. As time went by, I entered the brokest era of my life. I ate a single Taco Bell burrito every day for sustenance. I spent weeks bumming around on foot, too broke to fill my gas tank. When I had made the decision to throw in the towel if no work came by the next week, one of the contacts I made called and asked if I wanted to work as a 24 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
production assistant on a commercial shoot at the Legoland theme park near San Diego. I used my last $20 to gas up the car, drove down and worked a 16-hour day for only $50, but I had cracked the nut and gotten work in the film industry. Soon after, another job came my way after a recommendation from my first producer, then another and another. Before long, I had moved out of my abominable living quarters to rent a room in a place right off the Sunset Strip. I was still broke, but I was earning paychecks and started traveling all over the country on a variety of interesting shoots. During this time, I worked as a freelance production assistant, which is like a glorified gofer on film sets. As a P.A. you were the absolute lowest on the totem pole — first on set and last to leave. Every dirty, sweaty, difficult task was relegated to P.A.’s, and there was no maximum
amount of hours you could work before getting overtime (there wasn’t a union for production people at that time). One of my producers was famous for saying, “We pay you by the day, so if I want to work you 24 hours, I’ll work you 24 hours.” Each job was different and most required long hours of work for little pay. Average days lasted 14-16 hours, and tough days sometimes went 20-22 hours in a row. One short film I agreed to do for free in exchange for networking other jobs ended up being a 36-hour fiasco ending with me wedging the box truck containing all the camera equipment under a gas station awning. I was so worn out and bleary-eyed, the only effort I could muster was to call the producer and tell her where to pick up the “damn truck.” Needless to say, I never worked for that company again. Another job required me to clean an acre
By Ben Olson
of goose poop from a park before shooting began – by hand. Yet another shoot in the park where they filmed the opening scene of The Andy Griffith Show, I had to carry 100 fake rocks that weighed about 60 pounds each and were as big as a Volkswagen. While shooting in the Caribbean for three weeks, I had to carry beams for the motion control camera up 14 decks of a cruise ship. The beams weighed upwards of 1,000 pounds and took an army of sweaty P.A.’s like me to get it done – all for a one-second shot that appeared in the commercial. Looking back on those five years I spent in L.A., I can say without a doubt that I worked harder and longer than any other time in my life. While it was demoralizing to accept abuse from everyone on set, my experience in the film industry remains a fond memory to this day – probably because I got out before going completely insane.
MUSIC
Making music, making magic
For local luthier Joel Shoemaker, the fascination in building acoustic guitars hasn’t faded
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff For Joel Shoemaker, the combination of his two passions — woodworking and playing music — seemed a natural fit: building guitars. Shoemaker delved into luthiery as a hobbyist nearly two decades ago, then began his own woodworking business around 2009. Building guitars became a professional endeavor, each of his creations now sporting a model name, serial number and his full name on a decal inside the sound box: “Joel Keefe Shoemaker.” Shoemaker said he grew up off the grid with music as an integral part of everyday life. “There was no television,” he said. “Our entertainment was musical — whether that was the record player or the radio. Music’s always been a constant in my life, especially acoustic music.” When Shoemaker isn’t building guitars, he’s working on other wood creations, like the booths and bars at the new MickDuff’s location on Second Avenue in Sandpoint. While luthiery is still woodworking, he said building instruments stands in stark contrast to creating cabinetry. He said he often sets aside the winter months to build guitars, seeing as the trade requires different tools and, oftentimes, a different mindset. “I’ll go for days without turning power tools on,” Shoemaker said of guitar building. “So for me to go back and forth between building somebody a kitchen and then building a guitar — it’s almost like I’m working two different jobs.” Shoemaker does custom orders, working directly with clients to build a guitar to suit their needs. The process starts with a conversation, he said, and ends somewhere between 80 and 120 hours later with a shining finished product. It’s detail-oriented work, in which creating
This week’s RLW by Ben Olson
READ
Short stories are a medium stuck somewhere between longform and conversation. Collections of short stories are rarely best sellers and, for some reason, it takes a special kind of reader to enjoy this useful narrative. While Raymond Carver and Denis Johnson remain my favorite short story writers, Richard Ford deserves a mention as well. Based in Montana, Ford’s Rock Springs is a collection of short stories that perfectly captures a lifestyle outside the norms. Ford writes like Charles Bukowksi after some college classes and a year of living on the wagon.
LISTEN
Tom Petty’s Wildflowers is one of those albums that deserves its own room in the hall of greatness. How great to read this weekend that Petty’s estate will reissue the 1994 album featuring at-home recordings, unheard songs and even some poignant home videos to accompany the release. The full album won’t be available until October, but you can preview the first track on Spotify.
a single piece of inlay can take an entire day, and lacquer takes weeks to cure. It’s a process Shoemaker said he finds rewarding. “I care a lot about woodworking,” he said. “Turning trees into musical instruments just feels like one of the nicest things you can do with wood.” Finding the special touch that each piece of wood requires in order to give a guitar it’s balance between resonance and strength is something that keeps Shoemaker returning to his trade. He said many people like to talk about absolutes when it comes to the correct way to build a guitar, when, in reality, new approaches prove successful all the time. “People like to use the word ‘master craftsman,’ and I’ve known quite a few over the years,
Top: Joel Shoemaker tests one of his handcrafted guitars. Middle and bottom: The various stages of guitar construction. Courtesy photos. and some of them have been doing it for 40 years and not very many of them will claim to have mastered it,” he said. “It seems like … the more experience you have, the less certain you are of why some things happen. The more guitars I’ve built, the more and more it seems like it’s magic. What makes an instrument sound good? It’s such an intangible thing. I don’t think the fascination with that will ever go away.” Find Shoemaker on Instagram @j.k.s.guitars or contact him at 208-597-0295.
WATCH
Thanks to being part of a generation raised on cynical films and attitudes, there are very few “heartwarming” movies that move me. Peanut Butter Falcon is one of those movies. The story is like a modern day Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, with two very different characters joining forces for one of the most human stories I’ve seen in awhile. The thing I love about this film? It’s not “based on a true story” but it kind of is, since it was written specially for main character Zack Gottsagen, who has Down syndrome. Gottsagen nails everything in this film and sticks the landing.
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 25
BACK OF THE BOOK
Smells like school spirit By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff
From Northern Idaho News, Sept. 2, 1932
FIRE TAKES 400 FEET OF BRIDGE CARELESS CIGARETTE THE CAUSE – TRAFFIC ROUTED OVER LACLEDE FERRY WHILE NECESSARY REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE
Crews of men are busy today rebuilding the 400-foot stretch of the long wagon bridge across Lake Pend Oreille, which was wiped out by fire Saturday night. The fire, which was reported by passing tourists and which was picked up by an association lokout, is believed to have started shortly before 5 o’clock. The fire department responded to the call. The blaze, however, had gotten such a start that the chemical supply on the truck was insufficient to put it out. While the fire continued to grow to larger proportions Sheriff Henry Traue was busy lining up a crew of county prisoners who were added to the forces. They tore up the planking and stringers on the north end of the blaze, while the bridge crew cut off the south end. Ed Van Dyk, Pend d’Oreille Timber Protective association warden, worked for some time from a motor boat with a pump and hose, but his progress was hindered when a broken telephone wire wound around the propeller of the motor. 26 /
R
/ September 3, 2020
Fall-scented candles are unrealistic. That isn’t to say they don’t smell absolutely wonderful. Who can say no to cinnamon, apple, carmel and warm, abstract smells meant to imitate freshly washed flannel? But we all know the true smell of fall. It’s a dampness that sneaks through the open bedroom window at 6 a.m. in the form of a startlingly cool breeze. It’s the smell of dead grass after a light rain, or of the garden plants returning to the earth after a long summer of production. For me, the first whiffs of fall have always meant my favorite holiday was on its way: the first day of school. Aside from the clear nerdiness this imparts — which should not surprise anyone — it marked my love for fresh starts and new routines. I’d lay out my clothes days in advance and still recall key pieces of those very fashionable moments: hot pink chopsticks for my hair, the bright white of rubber on new Converse sneakers, the crisp zipper on a prized sweatshirt. New school supplies had to be one of my favorite parts of the whole ordeal — my irrational love for blank notebooks persists to this day. The first day of school marked a milestone, and a beginning. The anticipation bubbled up in such a way that even now, as an adult with little of substance in my life to mark the seasons, the smell of fall still makes me giddy. After six months of the COVID-19
STR8TS Solution
pandemic, we’ve reached a point of major change, and one where kids are going to be a main focus. Are they adjusting? Are they learning? Are they safe? For many children in North Idaho, the commencement of the 2020-2021 school year marks a welcome change. There are kids in our community who depend on school as a social outlet, a safe haven and the place where they receive two vital meals a day. I remember the excitement of the first day of school as someone who had a consistent and enjoyable home life while growing up. For those whose experience is not the same, I imagine the excitement is 10-fold, despite how different academic settings might look this year. Here’s to new shoes, unsharpened pencils and fresh beginnings in the cool, heavy air. Happy first day of school, Bonner County.
Back to school looks different in 2020, but feels the same
Crossword Solution
Top right: The author and her sisters prepare for the first day of school, circa 2005. Photo by Cindy Kiebert.
Sudoku Solution
I think monkeys at the zoo should have to wear sunglasses so they can’t hypnotize you.
Solution on page 26
Solution on page 26
Laughing Matter
gorp
Wortdhe of
Week
By Bill Borders
/gawrp/ [noun] 1. A mixture of nuts, raisins, dried fruit, seeds, or the like eaten as a high-energy snack, as by hikers and climbers.
“Yo, pass me the gorp, I’m famished after that last incline.” Corrections: In the Aug. 27 “Bits ’n’ Pieces,” we mistakenly stated that 8% of Americans opposed cuts to Social Security. According to socialsecurityworks.org, 80% of adults over 50 years of age oppose cuts to the program. Sorry for dropping the zero, and thanks for looking out, eagle eyed readers. -ZH
Copyright www.mirroreyes.com
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Enjoy 6. Agile Old World viverrine 11. Absurd 12. Clothing 15. Condition 16. Flogger 17. Embrace 18. Take aback 20. Regret 21. Paddles 23. Rodents 24. Head 25. French for “State” 26. Cocoyam 27. A pale blue pigment 28. A Greek territorial unit 29. Caviar 30. Keen 31. Scaremongers 34. Mommies 36. Years (French) 37. Cabbagelike vegetable 41. Pinnacle 42. Sea eagle 43. Nile bird 44. Ethiopian monetary unit 45. Garden tool 46. Religious sisters 47. Big fuss 48. Penny-pinching 51. South southeast 52. Rescinded 54. Music from the 50s and 60s
Solution on page 26 56. Breathing tube for swimmers 57. Deafen 58. Sows 59. Implant
DOWN 1. Place 2. A word with the same letters 3. Big wine holder 4. Burden 5. A musical pause 6. Cave 7. Noblemen
8. Anagram of “Tine” 9. Australian bird 10. Patio 13. Spay 14. Tall woody plant 15. Wearing footgear 16. Registered brand 19. Fervor 22. Paddle-wheeler 24. A type of leather 26. Historical periods 27. Louisville Slugger 30. Anagram of “Sees” 32. Lenient 33. Not outer 34. An unmarried girl 35. Timely
38. Cruel 39. Flaxseed 40. S S S S 42. Artists’ workstands 44. Taverns 45. Angered 48. Construct 49. Prospector’s find 50. Anagram of “Lyme” 53. Before, poetically 55. Blot
September 3, 2020 /
R
/ 27
FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY EVENT
l.f'(ft.11 KIDS caJ\f'TS F�EWFLE P�ZES
PETTINCJOO
SATURDAY� SEPT. 10� 2020 1 to 6 p.m. @ Harbison Field
Behind the Hoot Owl Restaurant on Hwy 200 (parking off Emerald Industrial Drive) en 0
:c 0. <ll
c5
Q) ;:: 0 C <ll cii > <l:
i::
OJ
·gi 0
2en
fj_
North Idaho's Painting Professionals
For more information, go to
www.CityofPonderay.org/ ponderay-neighbor-day With additional support from local businesses.