Back in the day, many of the bars in town had jukeboxes. Before its renovation, the 219 Lounge had one next to a brick fireplace by the pool room, which had the coin-op disabled. It was this jukebox that would play host to one of the funniest bar pranks I’ve ever seen. I was playing pool with friends at the time when Cheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do” came onto the jukebox. We played our game and the song wrapped up, but heads lifted from their mugs when, after the song ended, it began again. I remember thinking someone must’ve accidentally selected it twice. After the second playing, the barroom chaos began in earnest as the familiar opening bars of “All I Wanna Do,” crashed into a third consecutive playing. “All right, what the hell is going on here?” someone hollered from across the bar. Patrons grumbled through this third go around and, when the song ended, we stood waiting for what we all knew would come next: That same twangy guitar and Crow singing, “This ain’t no disco, it ain’t no country club either.” Now the bar was becoming animated. People gathered around the jukebox with beers in hand, whacking it like monkeys angry with the new addition to their cage. “I’m gonna freak out here,” one guy said while pulling at his hair. Nothing we did had any effect. The song kept playing on repeat, over and over again. I watched as a normally placid barroom erupted into a madhouse. Some paid their tabs and left, others went out back to smoke. I couldn’t help but smile and watch the chaos. “All I wanna do is throw that damn jukebox through the window,” I heard someone say. By the ninth or 10th repetition, the bartender finally stepped in and pulled the power cord, leaving everyone in stunned, grateful silence. To this day, hearing that opening measure of “All I Wanna Do” is enough to trigger flashbacks from that fateful afternoon at the 219 when we all learned to hate Cheryl Crow.
opening bars
During my bartending days, I remember the opening hours of a bar were the worst. There were usually one or two lonely patrons who’d come in, order a drink and nurse it for hours in search of someone to talk to. One night, a man ordered a cocktail and gulped it down quickly, immediately signaling for another. After handing him the second drink and telling him it would be $6, he said, “Oh, I don’t have any money,” and started gulping down the second drink. I tried to grab the glass but he dodged and then threw it at me, hitting me square in the chest. I told him he was kicked out of the bar and came around to bum rush him outside. That’s when he ran his hand along the wine glass rack, shattering every glass before throwing a few punches at me. I tackled him and called the police, who came to escort him away. After cleaning up the mess and reopening the bar, the next customer came in and asked, “How’s your night going so far?” “Don’t ask,” is all I could say in response.
READER DEAR READERS,
Last week, I teased an exciting announcement we’d drop in this week’s edition. As you have no doubt gathered from our cover, there’s a new Reader community beer thanks to Matchwood Brewing Co. It’s part of Matchwood’s ongoing fundraiser where they offer a specialized can and beer and donate the proceeds to an organization or business of their choice. That means every “Drink the Reader” four-pack of beer you buy goes to support the Reader, thanks to Matchwood.
This is such a cool program that Matchwood offers. We are thankful for their generosity and for immortalizing our humble weekly offering on a beer can. For someone who basically lives on beer and broken dreams, this is indeed the highest honor.
Matchwood will host a can release party from 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20. We invite everyone to come down and share a beer and a story with us. Read more on Page 13.
–Ben
Olson, publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368
Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (emeritus) Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)
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About the Cover
This week’s cover features original artwork created by Snack Plate Creative and Matchwood Brewing Co.
Jail time given in politically charged post-primary fracas
Disgruntled GOP ‘grassroots volunteer’ found guilty of battery, destruction of property
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
A parking lot brawl in May between District 1 Senate candidate Dan Rose, former House 1A primary candidate Spencer Hutchings and Clark Fork resident Michael Franco has resulted in jail time for Franco on charges of battery and malicious injury to property.
Franco was found guilty of the charges on Sept. 11 and will serve 30 days in jail with 18 months supervised probation, plus pay fees of more than $1,300. The battery sentence included 120 days in jail with 90 days suspended and two days credited, while the malicious injury to property sentence of 270 days was reduced by 240 days with two days credited.
The fracas occurred on May 23 — two days after the Republican primary election, in which Hutchings lost to incumbent Rep. Mark Sauter, who will bear the GOP’s standard in the November general election against Democratic challenger Karen Matthee. Rose, running as an Independent, will face Republican Jim Woodward on the November ballot.
Franco, who described himself to the Reader in May as “a grassroots volunteer” for the local Republican Party, instigated the incident at Hutchings’ Sagle business Sheepdog Supplies — described on its website as a “store for firearms, accessories and concealed carry classes” — when he saw Rose’s truck in the parking lot and pulled in to confront him following the primary election.
“[W]hat I was doing with that individual in Sagle [Rose] was trying to locate him to give him one last chance — to encourage him to leave a cultlike entity,” Franco stated during public testimony at the June 4 Bonner County commissioners’ meeting.
Security camera footage shared on YouTube showed a portion of the altercation, in which Hutchings and Franco
fought on the ground while Rose apparently spoke on his cell phone. Upon disengaging from Hutchings, Franco stomped on an object on the ground, then threw it at Rose, who deflected it with his arm.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, obtained by the Reader in a public records request, Bonner County sheriff’s deputies responded to the battery in progress, and took statements from all three men.
According to the affidavit, Rose told authorities that was at Sheepdog Supplies visiting with Hutchings when Franco entered the store.
“Hutchings immediately told him to leave as he is known to cause problems,” the affidavit stated, citing the statement from Rose, who also told Franco to leave.
Franco refused, and Rose “agreed to go outside and talk with him,” the affidavit stated.
At that point, Franco left the store and “Daniel [Rose] attempted to close the door behind Franco and Franco put his foot in the door preventing it from closing,” according to the affidavit.
Franco then “grabbed Daniel by the shirt and pulled him outside.”
Once outside, Franco took Rose to the ground and “proceeded to hit [him] in the chest.”
Hutchings shouted at Franco to stop and, when he refused, Hutchings “began striking Franco in the back of the head attempting to get him off [Rose],” the affidavit stated.
It was then that Franco released Rose and turned on Hutchings, knocking his cell phone out of his hand, hitting him and stamping on his phone — an incident apparently captured on the security footage shared on YouTube. Franco then left the scene.
According to the affidavit, Hutchings corroborated Rose’s depiction of events and Franco was then arrested for misdemeanor battery.
The affidavit stated that
Franco told deputies Rose “followed him outside for no reason” and “Hutchings began hitting him in the back of the head.”
The interviewing deputy wrote that he “advised [Franco] that Hutchings admitted to hitting him because he was hitting Daniel and trying to get you to stop.”
The motivations for the altercation remain clouded, though Franco told the Reader in a May 29 statement via Facebook that it had been
“mostly political except for the extreme violence perpetrated [by] Spencer.”
Other parties have interpreted the fight as stemming from Hutchings’ and Rose’s support for Republicans that Franco opposes.
Rose has been vocal in his support for Hutchings in his election campaign, and frequently butted heads with outgoing Dist. 1 Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, who lost his primary bid against Woodward but still serves as chair of the Bonner County Republican Central Committee and director of the embattled Idaho Freedom Caucus (see Page 7). Rose formerly served as Grouse Creek Precinct committeeman and Hutchings was BCRCC treasurer before being removed from office in September 2023.
Rose has referred to the group Politically Active Christians PAC as the “Fight Club” in numerous letters to the editor in both the Reader and Bonner County Daily Bee, describing it as “Herndon
and his ‘disciples’,” who are “self-identified affiliates of the local political Christian organization [that] solicit and select political candidates from their religious clan, or attempt to convert non-clan candidates with the leverage of prematurely bestowing a prized BCRCC recommendation/endorsement.”
Franco told the Reader in May that he is “caught in between at least two political power structures here. But I’m only a grassroots volunteer with very little means ... I have no official capacity with any groups. I’m not a conspiracy theorist and I’m just a traditional Republican, from a family supporting Reaganism since 1980.”
Neither Rose nor Hutchings responded to a request for comment.
Rose did tell the Reader in a statement in May that it was “an unfortunate event that was not staged for political effect, and which did result in real medical injuries/complications and property damage.”
BoCo GOP revotes on slate of nominees to replace vacant Dist. 3 BOCC seat
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Members of the Bonner County Republican Central Committee met Sept. 17 at the Ponderay Events Center to repeat an earlier vote nominating candidates to replace District 3 Bonner County Commissioner Luke Omodt, who resigned effective Sept. 9.
In a Facebook post on Sept. 18, BCRCC Chair and outgoing-Dist. 1 Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, wrote that the committee selected Grouse Creek Committeeman Ron Korn, Oden Precinct Committeeman Tom Cleveland and Hope Precinct Committeewoman Kim Peckham as nominees to be submitted to Gov. Brad Little for his
selection to serve out the remainder of Omodt’s term, which ends in January.
“My expectation is that the governor will appoint Ron Korn who is the May Republican primary election winner and our candidate on the general election ballot on November 5,” Herndon wrote on social media.
If selected, Korn will appear on the Tuesday, Nov. 5 ballot as an incumbent, facing Independent challenger Glenn Lefebvre. Regardless of the outcome of the general election, he would serve on the BOCC until January 2025.
Following his primary defeat to Korn, Omodt announced his planned resignation in an Aug. 20 letter to the Bonner County clerk and
chose the initial effective date of Sept. 7. The BCRCC met on Aug. 20 to select nominees to the governor for his replacement — approving the choices of Korn, Cleveland and Peckham — however, that vote turned out to be premature.
According to Idaho Republican Party rules, a slate of replacement candidates can’t be nominated to fill a vacant elected position until the vacancy is official.
The BCRCC again met on Sept. 7, but were unable to revote on Omodt’s replacement because the former-BOCC chair moved the effective date of his resignation to Sept. 8.
Meanwhile, the committee voted to forward three names < see REVOTE, Page 5 >
Booking photo for Michael Franco. Photo courtesy Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.
Corps, IDL seek public input on Trestle Creek development
By Reader Staff
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Idaho Department of Lands are once again seeking public comment on the Idaho Club’s proposed development near the mouth of Trestle Creek, which includes an 88-slip commercial marina, breakwater, pedestrian bridge and parking lot, as well as seven houses with corresponding private docks.
Written comments are due to the Corps Wednesday, Sept. 25. IDL will accept written comments until Monday, Oct. 7, when the Office of Administrative Hearings will host a public hearing at Sandpoint High School (410 S. Division Ave.) on IDL’s behalf.
The proposed development has undergone a series of major revisions since it was first drafted in 2008, due most recently to pushback from members of the public and environmental groups like the Idaho Conservation
< REVOTE, con’t from Page 4 >
to the governor to replace Dist. 1B Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, who also resigned from his seat, effective Sept. 1. Those names were Cornel Rasor — who won the May GOP primary for the Dist. 1B seat and will face Democrat Kathryn Larson in November — as well as Jane Sauter (no relation to Dist. 1A incumbent Rep. Mark Sauter, who will be up against Democrat Karen Matthee on the Nov. 5 ballot) and Victoria Zeischegg.
Under Idaho Code, a local political party’s central committee has 15 days from the effective date of an elected position’s vacancy to nominate three individuals to fill it, and the governor has 15 days from the receipt of the nominations to select one.
Omodt’s seat on the BOCC became vacant effective at midnight on Sept. 9.
Selecting Omodt’s replacement has been muddled by timing but also by process and
League. Trestle Creek provides an important habitat for indigenous kokanee salmon and bull trout, the latter of which are protected by the Endangered Species Act and listed as threatened in all of their known habitats, including Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Half of the Pend Oreille Basin’s bull trout population spawns in Trestle Creek, according to ICL North Idaho Director Brad Smith. Members of the public have voiced concern over how development, boat traffic and potential pollution from the marina will impact the fish.
Following a September 2023 hearing, IDL approved the Idaho Club’s request for an encroachment permit for a 105-slip community dock. By classifying that project as a community dock rather than a marina, the developers would have circumvented Idaho law, which requires that marinas make 50% of their moorage available to the public.
A subsequent land transfer
local Republican Party politics.
One year ago — almost to the day — on Sept. 19, 2023, the BCRCC convened to consider whether to censure Omodt and fellow Bonner County Commissioner Steven Bradshaw for alleged violations of the party’s platform. Omodt delivered a spirited defense of his record of service on the BOCC, and the committee opted not to go forward with the censure of either commissioner.
Bradshaw did not attend the Sept. 19, 2023 BCRCC meeting, nor did he seek reelection to the BOCC and instead ran an unsuccessful campaign against Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler in the May GOP primary. Reports indicate that Bradshaw intends to relocate to Texas following the end of his term in January. Brian Domke won the Dist. 1 BOCC Republican nomination and will be on the ballot against Democratic
rendered the Idaho Club’s previous application invalid, as developers no longer had the three adjacent parcels required to build a community dock. Developers must therefore resubmit their permit applications and receive a new environmental impact statement and/or an environmental assessment from the Corps in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
IDL’s Oct. 7 public hearing will run from 5 to 8 p.m. and will focus on the developers’ application for encroachment as well as any modifications made to the proposal since September 2023. The meeting will reconvene Tuesday, Oct. 8 should public comment on Monday run over the allotted three hours. Those seeking to submit written public comments should do so before the start of the hearing.
Direct all written comments for IDL to navigablewaterways@idl.idaho. gov. Otherwise, comments intended for the Corps should be emailed to
challenger Steve Johnson in November.
The procedural complication in selecting Omodt’s replacement stemmed from the method by which the BCRCC conducted its erstwhile Aug. 20 vote.
Much political hay has been made over the BCRCC’s method of voting at its Aug. 20 meeting, with some precinct committee members — including Sandpoint’s Washington Precinct Committeeman Tom Bokowy — describing it as “ranked-choice voting.” The BCRCC and the state party have opposed this classification with vigor ahead of the Proposition 1 ballot initiative — a citizens’ initiative that would recast Idaho elections as open primaries and ranked-choice voting.
Other than its prematurity, the Aug. 20 vote conformed to Idaho GOP rules, with nominees “voted on by ranked vote. Each Precinct Person shall number their choices from low-
CENWW-RD-IdahoClubNorthMarina-PN@usace. army.mil or mailed directly to the Coeur d’Alene Regulatory Office at 1910 Northwest Boulevard, Suite 210, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814.
According to its recent public comment notice, any written statements submitted to the Corps will be used “to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environ-
mental effects and the other public interest factors.”
Members of the public can also request that the Corps host a public hearing, separate from IDL’s Oct. 7 meeting, but must provide “specific reasons” in their written testimony to justify the request.
est to highest with the nominee with the lowest total number being in position one and all other positions being filled in ascending order,” according to the party’s directives.
Further rules indicate that “nominees shall be listed in order of preference,” though Herndon has pushed back on the description of the voting process as “ranked-choice” voting.
“We did not use rankedchoice voting in the BCRCC vote,” Herndon told the Reader in an Aug. 30 email. “The method of voting proposed by Proposition 1 is used to select one eventual winner of an elected office using multiple rounds of ‘instant runoff voting’ as long as the first round does not produce a single candidate who achieves greater than 50% of the firstround vote. The BCRCC used only one round of voting to select three candidates in a multi-winner election.”
He added: “State party rules require that when we send the names to the governor, that we list them by order of the committee’s preference. We did that by having our voting members list the three names they were choosing in order of priority.” By contrast, the Sept. 17 do-over process proceeded on a single vote for each of the three nominations, “unlike the ranking of votes in a single vote, which was used during the August meeting,” Bokowy told the Reader in an email. According to Bokowy, Korn earned 18 votes to nominee Cary Kelly’s six in the first round; Tom Cleveland took 17 votes to Dimitry Borisov’s 10 in the second round; and Peckham garnered 15 votes to Borisov’s seven and Kelly’s five votes in the third round.
Additional reporting by Soncirey Mitchell.
Paddlers explore Lake Pend Oreille near the mouth of Trestle Creek. Courtesy photo.
Candidate forum scheduled for Oct. 15
Hosted by KRFY, Sandpoint Online and the Reader
By Reader Staff
With Election Day only seven short weeks away, voters continue to learn as much as possible about the candidates running for office before casting their votes on Tuesday, Nov. 5. One upcoming opportunity to get to know the candidates will be an election forum hosted by sandpointonline.com, 88.5 KRFY Panhandle Community Radio and the Sandpoint Reader, which will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Sandpoint High School auditorium (410 S. Division Ave.).
Candidates from Legislative District 1 have been invited, as well as candidates running for Bonner County offices.
This includes the Idaho Senate race with Dan Rose, Independent, running against Jim Woodward, Republican; Idaho Representative Seat A race with Karen Matthee, Democrat, running against Mark Sauter, Republican (incumbent); and Idaho Representative Seat B race with Kathryn Larson, Democrat, running against Cornel Rasor, Republican.
Bonner County races include county commissioner District 1 candidates
Brian Domke, Republican, running against Steve Johnson, Independent; and District 3 candidates Glenn Lefebvre, Independent, running against Ron Korn, Republican.
Bonner County Assessor Dennis Engelhardt, Republican (incumbent), Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler, Republican (inc.) and Bonner County Prosecuting Attorney Louis Marshall, Republican (inc.) are all running unopposed.
The forums will be moderated by Chris Bessler and Ben Olson and will feature opening statements followed by a question-and-answer period, and concluding with closing remarks. Those in attendance will be given notecards to write their questions, and moderators will ask the questions to candidates.
For those unable to attend in person, KRFY will air the forum live on 88.5 FM and stream via krfy.org, where a recording of the forum will later be uploaded.
Constituents who would like to ask questions of the candidates but are unable to attend in person can email questions to: ben@sandpointreader.com
Evans Bros. up for national award
By Reader Staff
Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters is a staple for many in North Idaho. The business was recently nominated for USA Today’s Best Independent Coffee Shop, a national award with a total of 20 coffee shops in the running.
Voting takes place through Oct. 7 and Evans Brothers is currently sitting in third place out of 20.
“It’s a big honor,” said Rick Evans, who co-owns the business with his
brother Rick Evans.
Nominees for the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards were submitted by a panel of experts and readers can vote once per category per day. See the Evans Brothers advertisement on Page 2 to scan a QR code and place a vote.
Evans Brothers will celebrate their 15th anniversary with a party Sept. 28. Check the next edition of the Reader for more details.
Bits ’n’ Pieces
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
From east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:
A Springfield, Ohio woman admitted to sharing on Facebook what she later said was an evidence-free claim that Haitian immigrants are eating people’s pets. Donald Trump repeated the pet-eating claim during the Sept. 10 presidential debate with Kamala Harris. His running mate, JD Vance, acknowledged to CNN’s Dana Bash that he “create[d] stories” to get attention on immigration. Then Vance said Haitian immigrants are spreading HIV and tuberculosis. The Ohio Department of Health said HIV has dropped and TB rates are the same.
Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Haitian workers have been good for the state’s economy and their bosses praise them. Meanwhile, DeWine noted there have been “at least 33 bomb threats,” driven by anti-Haitian and anti-immigration backlash following the baseless allegations.
The Sept. 10 presidential debate was the first and likely last time Trump and Harris will square off ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Trump declared himself the winner of the Sept. 10 debate (though also claimed that it was “totally rigged” against him) and indicated that another faceoff would therefore be unnecessary.
That opinion has not been widely shared. The Guardian noted that Republican lawmakers were “dismayed” by both Trump’s debate performance and polls showing Harris won the debate. Even conservative Fox News commentator Brit Hume said Harris won.
Observations of the debate by analysts and media included that Trump delivered at least 33 false claims compared to Harris doing so “at least once.” CNN fact-checkers said Trump’s falsehoods were not political spin; rather, most were “just not true” and “untethered to reality.”
On abortion care access, Trump made the easily refuted statement that Democrats support executing babies after they’re born. He pointed out he’d appointed enough Supreme Court justices to overturn the right to abortion, but did say he believes in exceptions, such as for rape. Harris focused on the difficulties faced by women in states that ban abortion, and those wanting access to IVF care.
Trump relayed falsehoods related to immigration, such as immigrant criminals being welcomed. Harris relayed her record of prosecuting transnational organizations and said Trump had urged
GOP lawmakers to oppose better border reinforcements, which they did so that immigration could be a campaign issue. On the economy, Trump claimed to have created the best economy. He also promoted his tariff plans, despite economists saying it would accelerate inflation and undermine the economy. Harris spoke of her “opportunity economy,” such as cracking down on corporate price gouging, tax reductions for new small businesses, and relief for first-time home buyers.
Harris was credited with distracting Trump from weightier political issues. In The Atlantic, one psychiatrist noted Trump’s cognitive decline, evidenced by his “tangents and inability to get to a point.”
A recent Reuters/Ipsos post-debate presidential candidates poll showed support for Harris at 47% and Trump at 42%. A CNN poll showed Harris at 63% and Trump at 37%.
According to various media, the suspect apprehended after the apparent second assassination attempt against Trump on Sept. 15 at his Florida golf course was found concealed in some bushes with an SKS-style rifle. He was spotted and fled after being fired at by Secret Service, and was soon detained.
Reports have since identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii. According to CBS News, Routh is registered as unaffiliated with any political party and voted in the 2024 Democratic primary. However, his social media posts include reference to voting for Trump in 2016 and hopes that he “would be different and better than the candidate, but we all were greatly disappointment and it seems you are getting worse and devolving [sic].”
Fox News also reported that Routh “supported Trump in 2016 but came to view that decision as ‘a terrible mistake.’”
He is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If found guilty, Routh could face up to 20 years in prison.
Blast from the past: President Gerald Ford survived two back-to-back assassination attempts in September 1975 — the first on Sept. 5 in Sacramento, when then-26-year-old Charles Manson follower Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pointed a pistol at the president, and the second on Sept. 22 in San Francisco, when Sara Jane Moore fired a gun at Ford as he was leaving a speech at a downtown hotel.
Freedom Caucus vs. Freedom Caucus
The coalition of conservative legislators has fractured — and its brand is heading for a custody battle
By Daniel Walters InvestigateWest
From the beginning, conflict has been embedded in the Freedom Caucus brand.
During the past decade, the House Freedom Caucus, made up of the most rightwing members of the U.S. House of Representatives, has repeatedly gone to war with members of its own party — showing a willingness to oust a Republican speaker of the House or shut down the government if they didn’t get their way.
In late 2021, the national State Freedom Caucus Network nonprofit launched with a mission to stoke the same aggressive approach in state legislatures across the country.
In 12 states, the network helped establish and support Freedom Caucuses — coalitions of legislators built to challenge state leadership and “fake Republicans,” and to push each state government, no matter how conservative, further to the right. Touting its role in state-level battles on everything from “election integrity to critical race theory,” the network has trained legislators, offered them guidance, recommended votes on bills and pushed them to promote the national Freedom Caucus name, which has become increasingly influential in red state legislatures.
“We can save the nation one state at a time, and the SFC Network has the formula,” the network’s Idaho director, Maria Nate, wrote on social media last month.
Yet in Idaho, that formula has blown up in the national network’s face, potentially weakening Idaho’s right wing at a moment when it could exact the most influence on the Legislature.
In May, InvestigateWest exposed a secret recording of a lengthy fight between two key leaders of the Idaho Freedom Caucus: Nate, the hired representative of the national
network to Idaho, and Rep. Heather Scott, the co-chair of the Idaho Freedom Caucus. That fracas revealed significant cracks emerging on Idaho’s right flank over whether to support a comparatively moderate House speaker.
Today, those cracks have become a yawning fissure. Multiple legislators have resigned from the caucus. The national network has not only cut off any support for the caucus it helped create, the group’s national director told the Idaho Dispatch, a conservative website, but it’s also preparing to launch a new version of the Freedom Caucus to challenge the current one.
Even the organization’s logo has become part of the tug-of-war.
Matthew Green, a Catholic University political scientist who has been tracking Freedom Caucus groups across the country, said he’s never seen anything quite like it.
“What’s interesting about Idaho is that you have this national organization that’s involved in this feud with the state Freedom Caucus,” Green said. “I don’t know of this happening in any other state.”
The fight has grown into a struggle over philosophy and personality at the moment when power is up for grabs.
Conservatives ousted a slew of moderates in the May primary, giving the most right-wing voting bloc of legislators a genuine chance at control. But will that control go to current legislators with the Idaho Freedom Caucus? To the alternate caucus backed by the national network? Or will infighting between them cost conservative hardliners a major opportunity?
“There are efforts to get the new recruits into one camp or the other,” said conservative activist Greg Pruett, who wrote about the fight on the Idaho Dispatch. “Some have chosen to pick a side, if you will. Some are just like, we’re going to stay out of this until y’all figure it out.”
Fallout
In May, there were 12 Idaho Freedom Caucus members listed on the website. Today there are nine — seven if you don’t count lame-duck members who lost the primary and won’t be in the Legislature next session.
“I reached a point where I simply could no longer compromise my principles,” Idaho Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, R-Twin Falls, wrote in her July newsletter, announcing her resignation from the Freedom Caucus.
The question of “compromise” had turned into a fracture point within the Idaho Freedom Caucus.
This spring, Scott, the Blanchard Republican who co-chairs the caucus, and a majority of the Idaho Freedom Caucus had publicly thrown their support behind House Speaker Mike Moyle. They saw Moyle as an ally they could bargain with, an imperfect leader but one who had already delivered conservative wins on the budget process.
But Nate, with the national network, had been horrified by Scott’s approach. She saw Moyle as a cynical political operator, someone who’d failed to use the full extent of his power to push through the conservative agenda on issues like school choice. (Nate and Scott did not respond to interview requests.)
The Freedom Caucus legislators split into two camps. Most supported Scott and Moyle. But Zuiderveld argued that the speaker “would never make the cut to be an Idaho Freedom Caucus member” and that Scott’s lack of “good judgment” in supporting him risked damaging the national freedom caucus brand.
InvestigateWest’s article in May detailing the explosive two-hour secret recording between Nate and Scott simply deepened the divide. Nate accused Scott of sexism, insulted Freedom Caucus members, and expressed doubts and confusion
about her role as Idaho director of the national network.
While members asked Nate to resign amid fallout from the recording, Zuiderveld remained a staunch supporter of the SFC Network director, writing that “if she is not part of the team, I will not be part of the team.”
Ultimately, while Nate remained the Idaho director for the national network, the network cut ties with the current Idaho Freedom Caucus.
Zuiderveld resigned from the state caucus. So did Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins.
In a phone interview and email, Carlson outlined a number of frustrations with the Idaho Freedom Caucus, from an overemphasis on fundraising and a lack of financial transparency to social media messaging being posted without being vetted by most members. She said she tried in vain to push for reforms from the current legislative leaders of the caucus, but her requests went ignored.
“We needed a change in leadership, and it wasn’t going to happen,” Carlson said.
Two Freedom Caucuses
In mid-July, the current Idaho Freedom Caucus did get a change in leadership: It created a new position, an Idaho Freedom Caucus “director” who would work for the legislators instead of the D.C.-based organization. They appointed state Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle — who’d been defeated in the Republican primary — to the job.
Pruett, the writer at the Idaho Dispatch, said Herndon’s position, which included communicating with the national network, seemed to clearly supplant Nate’s position.
“His job description is Maria’s job description,” Pruett said. “It’s like, wait a minute, so you’re both doing the exact same thing?”
Herndon said he didn’t see a conflict between the organizations.
“D.C. has their own objectives, and the Idaho Freedom
Caucus has its objectives,” Herndon said. “Where we have similar objectives, we can work together.”
But D.C., Pruett said, doesn’t appear to want to work with Herndon or the other leaders of the state’s current Freedom Caucus.
The national caucus network’s president told the Idaho Dispatch that the two legislative co-chairs of the Idaho Freedom Caucus, Scott and Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, “did not meet our standards to associate with the national brand” and that the network would refuse to associate with them going forward.
According to the secret recording obtained by InvestigateWest, Nate had declared that “nobody respects” Nichols and that one of the executives at the national network said it was “very clear ... she’s not going to be leader” next year.
Herndon, on the other hand, said both “co-chairs have the full support of the caucus currently.”
“D.C. is not able to tell Idaho how to form their caucus, who should be chair, that sort of thing,” Herndon said.
Yet behind the scenes, the national network has been working to form a competing Freedom Caucus with a new set of legislators. In her newsletter, Zuiderveld wrote that she was eager to join them.
“I will be going through the interview process again in hopes of making the team,” Zuiderveld wrote.
Carlson said that as many prospective members quietly have signed up to join the new caucus as the old one. And both, she said, are calling themselves the Idaho Freedom Caucus.
Herndon’s Idaho Freedom Caucus was still fundraising, Carlson said, while the public was largely unaware about the maneuvers that had happened behind the scenes.
“People are giving them money not really knowing < see FREEDOM, Page 9 >
Bouquets:
• While on a run the other day, I passed by the Concrete Lake skatepark at Travers Park. The new addition made to this skatepark is really stunning, opening up a huge new space for people to enjoy. Also, the Tiny Woods bike pump track looks great. Sure, the pickleball court resembles an airplane hangar and I miss the view of the mountains we used to have from Travers, but the skatepark and pump track are excellent new additions.
Barbs:
• I don’t have many life lessons to offer, but one thing I’ve always believed is that you can accurately judge someone’s character by how they treat their servers at a restaurant. It still surprises me when I overhear someone being a jerk to their server. I thought we’d evolved past this by now, but it unfortunately still happens. What you restaurant jerks don’t realize is when you treat your servers badly, there are usually other customers nearby who will make up for your degeneracy by slipping a tip in their hand and leaving them with an encouraging word. Remember, they may serve your food, but they aren’t your servant. Be better.
• Irony is dead, folks. Or if it’s not dead, it’s no longer recognizable by a large portion of the country. When Republican V.P. pick JD Vance was asked about Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris for president on Fox News, he actually said these words without a hint at irony: “I don’t think most Americans ... are going to be influenced by a billionaire celebrity who I think is fundamentally disconnected from the interests and the problems of most Americans.” This from a guy whose billionaire running mate literally owns an entire penthouse apartment dipped in gold. Yeesh.
Dear editor,
Several weeks ago, I read a rambling diatribe regarding the carelessness of Bonner County’s Weed Department and the damage they have caused [Letters, “‘Thumbs down’ on county weed spraying…,” Aug. 22, 2024].
Then I read [Noxious Weed Department Director] Chase Youngdahl’s response in defense of the Weed Department and the care they take in their work [Letters, “‘Roadside spraying facts’…,” Aug. 28, 2024].
His statement was an accurate portrayal of the Weed Department.
Working alongside Chase for Bonner County, I gained respect for the professional care, standards and effort he puts in providing a service for the people of Bonner County. He is a consummate professional, who works hard and diligently applies high professional and scientific standards to his work. Chase is remarkably knowledgeable about the weeds of our area and the proper treatments for those weeds.
As a taxpayer in Bonner County, I feel fortunate to have someone managing the Weed Department who is extremely conscientious in his efforts to deliver a very cost effective program that benefits all of us interested in curbing the spread of noxious weeds throughout our rural countryside.
Thanks, Chase.
Steve Klatt
Bonner County Road and Bridge Department director (retired)
Sagle
Cultish beliefs...
Dear editor,
Ben’s article last week [“Dumb of the Week,” Sept. 12, 2024] concerning Trump’s claim during his debate with Harris that illegal immigrants were eating pets reminded me of the ’80 TV series Alf, whose favorite food was cats. Then there are some uneducated people who actually take seriously that the earth is a flat disc and if you go too far in one direction, you’ll run into a 6,000-foot-tall barrier, or fall into space.
I’m aware of a small group of MAGAs who meet nearly every day at a small eating area in a Sandpoint business. Based on what I know of the group, I’m sure most of them actually believe pets are being eaten and the Earth is flat, as this type has little or no power of independent or analytical thought. Like any cult, they take anything said by their imperious leader as
the absolute truth without question — even to the point of violence, as demonstrated on Jan. 6, 2021. I still can’t believe the leader of this movement is a nominee for president. During last week’s debate, I didn’t know whether to laugh, shake my head in disbelief or just be embarrassed by the candidate on the left of my TV screen.
Lawrence Fury Sandpoint
Questioning WBCSD leadership…
Dear editor,
I question the West Bonner County School Districts board’s fiscal credibility by asking for a $1.13 million levy. It has gone from $4.7 million per year for two years in May 2023, to $4.68 million per year in May 2024, down to $1.13 million per year, not even for this school year, but for the school years 2025-’26. The current request is 75% less than requested in May 2023, thus my fiscal credibility comment. How can the public trust the board’s true needs with a 75% decrease in levy requests?
There are two major reasons that we will vote “no.” First, graduation rates decreased in 2020 from 76.7% to 66.2% in 2023. The Idaho target rate is slightly over 94%. This is an issue that more money will not fix.
Second, over 6% of this year’s students are requesting a transfer to the Lake Pend Oreille School District. The question that I would ask is: “Why?”
As a result of failed levies, school transfer requests and graduation rates, I question the leadership at all levels. Money is not going to fix WBCSD.
Jerry Cook Laclede
An appeal to the community…
Dear editor,
After 45 years of proudly calling Bonner County my home, raising two amazing men and completing a beloved career in education, I would like to add my voice for passing Proposition 1.
I strongly believe in a healthy, equitable two-party system of government, as it offers the checks and balances necessary for all people to be heard. Yet, in Idaho, everyone is forced to select only one party affiliation to be able to vote. The current closed primary blocks 270,000 independent voters from voting if they don’t want to be forced to switch their party. This
should never be the case when we all pay taxes for our elections. If you want to research on your own: yesforopenprimaries.com. Please vote yes for Proposition 1 in November, so every voice can be heard.
Isn’t it about time Idahoans have a more equitable, a more transparent, way to vote?
Isn’t it about time all Idahoans, regardless of their political affiliation, have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice and have their voices truly heard?
Isn’t it about time for Idaho to have open primaries along with ranked-choice voting?
Yes, it is. It’s time for Proposition 1.
This is not rocket science.
Open primaries, along with ranked-choice voting, will not be too difficult or too confusing for voters to handle. We’re smart enough to figure this out. After all, we’re Idahoans.
Let’s prove the naysayers wrong. Vote “yes” on Proposition 1.
It’s about time.
Robin Lundgren Bonners Ferry
‘Viggo’s new film highlights the resilience of women’...
Dear editor, I saw Viggo Mortensen’s new film, The Dead Don’t Hurt, at the Panida last Saturday. It stayed with me long after viewing.
It’s a quiet film that makes the violence and injustice at its heart all that more stark by contrast. It speaks to the resilience of women and the beauty that can come even from ugliness: the flowers blooming in the barren landscape; the beautiful child that resulted from rape.
And ultimately, to me, it was a film about the unique courage that women possess — a message that many need to hear even now here in Idaho. Thank you, Viggo.
Karen Matthee Democratic candidate for House Seat 1A Dover
‘Why vote “yes” on Prop. 1...
Dear editor, On March 24, 2020, Gov. Brad Little signed a law that went into effect in June 2022, when the
Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which ensured a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion. The law banned abortions in Idaho except in cases of rape, incest and the mother’s life. The ramifications are well known.
Doctors facing jail or malpractice fled the state. Legislators refused to modify Idaho’s anti-abortion law. Doctors and the Idaho Medical Association lobbied to enact a small exception, but were shut down by Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon, who accused the IMA of being a “progressive trade association” and said doctors had been educated in “some of the farthest-left academic institutions in our country,” according to reports.
Justice Elena Kagan recently told the NYU School of Law that the Supreme Court’s conservative majority may not stop at abortion rights but use the same reasoning to dismantle other rights.
Idaho’s anti-abortion laws were made and will continue to be made if the open primary does not pass and Democrats and Independents have no say in who will govern them, as in a closed primary. Meanwhile, other freedoms will be taken away, as Justice Kagan warned.
Beth Allen Sandpoint
As a veteran, I’ve made my choice for president…
Dear editor, MAGA veterans nationwide have a big problem. They will be forced to make a choice between being proud of having served their country or continuing to support an individual who has denigrated and demeaned everyone who has ever worn a uniform.
The straw that should have broken the elephant’s back was when our felon former president trashed every Congressional Medal of Honor by saying the Presidential Medal of Freedom is, “actually much better, because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, that’s soldiers — they’re either in very bad shape, because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets, or they’re dead.”
Will these veterans continue to proudly display on their vehicles, clothing and caps their service ribbons and branches of service or their MAGA bumper stickers and red ball caps? Having served for 21 years under both Republican
who they really are,” Carlson said. Herndon says his group will continue to defend its turf.
“We own that name,” Herndon said. “We own that brand. We own everything associated with it.”
But their decision to keep the logo may be heading to litigation.
Technically, the first version of the Idaho Freedom Caucus was created in March 2017, before the SFC Network even existed. But that version quickly fizzled out — and the logo, featuring blue, red and lavender flames unfurling from the “I” in Idaho, has been abandoned.
The national network helped legislators resurrect the Idaho Freedom Caucus in 2022, giving them a brand-new logo based on the one used by the House Freedom Caucus in Congress. But in June, Scott filed a trademark for that Idaho Freedom Caucus logo — the one with a torch design identical to the one the network had been using in Idaho for over a year, and in every Freedom Caucus it supports across the country.
In a statement to the Idaho Dispatch, the SFC Network president said the logo is not approved for use in Idaho and their “attorneys will handle this going forward.”
< LTE, con’t from Page 8 >
and Democratic presidents, I know what I’d choose. I served my country — not the president — proudly.
Veterans, you have a choice: pride in your service to your country or to an angry, narcissistic man who doesn’t understand the true meaning of words like “service,” “honor” and “sacrifice.” I’ve made mine.
Gil Beyer Sandpoint
Johnson will ‘bring common sense’ to BOCC…
Dear editor,
I am supporting Steve Johnson in his run for District 1 Bonner County commissioner. Steve Johnson is a long-time resident of the area. He has worked as an educator, school administrator and small business owner. He understands our area is growing fast. He is committed to planned growth and conservative fiscal policies. He will bring common sense when dealing with the need for affordable housing; protection of property rights; and a comprehensive plan for roads, bridges, law enforcement, health care and education.
Steve Johnson wants to reduce the discord of the commission meetings and bring back public input. He will bring common sense and conservative fiscal policies to the office of the county commissioners. I hope you will join me in voting for Steve Johnson this November 5, 2024.
Sheila McNulty Sandpoint
The victor and the spoils
The Freedom Caucus battle has spilled out into internet comments on websites like Idaho Dispatch and even Wikipedia. Multiple accounts have been banned from editing the Idaho Freedom Caucus Wikipedia page after Wikipedia editors determined the pseudonymous accounts who supposedly were removing “misinformation” and “revisionist history” had too close of a connection to the subject.
Incoming legislators are being urged to pick a side.
Kyle Harris, a conservative legislative candidate in Lewiston, said he’s spoken with both camps but is still “feeling them out” before deciding which team to join.
“I could see myself aligned with either one,” Harris said. “They’re basically both fighting for the same thing. It’s just who’s in charge or who’s calling the shots.”
Ideologically, there’s little difference between the two groups. Herndon said they crunched the numbers, comparing the scores that the Conservative Political Action Conference, a major organization aligned with the GOP, gave to the current Idaho Freedom Caucus state legislators with legislators in every other Freedom Caucus.
Matthee has made ‘your concerns her concerns’…
Dear editor, I have been working with Karen Matthee, candidate for representative running against Mark Sauter, for 10 months now. She inspires me every day with her drive to help make lives better for all Idahoans.
After knocking on 1,500+ doors, Karen has heard stories about high property taxes and schools closing in Priest Lake. She hears about women waiting over three months to see a gynecologist in Coeur d’Alene — because we have lost all of our OB-GYNs.
Karen has made your concerns her concerns. She has permanent solutions to these key issues. Karen Matthee is a fighter and is already fighting to fix things that are clearly broken.
One example is when she invited Dr. Stacey Good, chief medical officer for BGH, to talk to the public about the future of labor/delivery at the hospital, and the challenges faced by Idaho’s doctors and rural hospitals.
In contrast, her opponent voted for three new laws that criminalize doctors for practicing the best standard of care. This is no way to “Bring Back our Doctors.”
If you want a fighter in your corner who is committed to finding permanent solutions, join me in voting for Karen Matthee on Nov. 5.
Linda Larson Sandpoint
“We are the most conservative caucus in the nation,” Herndon said.
But where the caucus network may be horrified at the idea of teaming up with a speaker of the House like Moyle, Herndon said the current state Freedom Caucus uses a “certain amount of pragmatism” to get policies passed if it doesn’t mean compromising principles.
The national network is a lot more focused on finding candidates to run for national office and making noise, while his group cares more about results, Herndon said.
“Their interest is in being louder,” Herndon said. “They’re not used to being in a position where they actually have significant influence. We actually have significant influence. ... We’re not here just to make noise and do mean tweets.”
Some conservatives plan to sit the whole fight out.
“I’m done with both sides,” said Carlson, the former Freedom Caucus member. “I didn’t run for office to waste my time playing silly games. I’m very serious in what I’m doing.”
She adds that success for conservatives this year “depends on if the legislators want to work together in spite of their differences.”
But for now, the only clear winner of the political battle between the current Idaho Freedom Caucus and the
‘Karen is your gal’...
Dear editor,
I encourage you to vote for Karen Matthee for Legislative District 1 House Seat A.
Karen is a good listener, and, through her experience as a journalist, knows the necessity of recognizing the validity of thought on both sides of an issue. This is an attribute sorely missing currently in our Legislature. If you would like health care readdressed in Idaho, Karen is your gal. If you would like cost of living prioritized, Karen is your gal. If you would like to see our public schools and libraries better supported, Karen is your gal. Now is the time for change in Idaho.
Vote for Karen Matthee for Legislative Seat 1A.
Sylvia Humes Sandpoint
‘Vote for candidates by choice, not party politics’...
Dear editor,
When choosing candidates for public office, how does an Idaho citizen cast their vote if they favor a Republican for governor, a Democrat for U.S. Senate, a Libertarian for Idaho Senate and an Independent for Idaho representative? Under the current closed primary system, they can not. They are denied the right to have a full voice. However, if we pass our Prop. 1 initiative for open primaries
national network may be Moyle, who Nate, with the national network, had accused of being a “moderate.”
Moyle managed to get a majority of the Idaho Freedom Caucus on his side, while leaders who took a more aggressive approach, like Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise, were ousted in the primary.
At minimum, he divided Idaho’s most hardcore conservative wing. Beyond that, he gained a slew of rightwing allies at a time when the right had won big gains in the state.
Moyle notably had clashed with Nate’s husband, Ron, when he served in the Idaho House, and had even donated $1,000 to his opponent.
Moyle believes the animosity toward him is partly personal, saying that he’d once helped Ron Nate out but Ron had “crapped” on him.
Pressed to clarify how exactly, he sent a text punctuated with a cowboy smiley face emoji.
“Doesn’t matter,” he wrote. “Time to move on and get things done.”
InvestigateWest (invw.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. A Report for America corps member, Daniel Walters covers democracy and extremism across the region. He can be reached at daniel@invw.org.
in Idaho, all voters will be able to pick the candidates they support, regardless of political party affiliations.
There are over 270,000 Idaho voters who choose to be unaffiliated (nearly 128,000 serve in the military) who are prevented from choosing from the full field of candidates seeking public office. It seems especially wrong that individuals who are serving our country can not fully participate in choosing their legislative leaders.
Further, for the general election, passage of ranked-choice voting under Prop. 1 will declare the candidate who receives 50% or better of the total votes the winner. With no hidden agendas, Prop. 1 presents a simple, fair system respectful of all Idahoans casting votes.
Please vote “yes” on Prop. 1.
Rebecca Holland Sandpoint
Please note, the word count for letters to the editor is 200 words or less until after Election Day on Nov. 3.This is to allow space for as many letters to the editor as possible. After election day, we’ll revert back to our previous word count. Send letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com
Science: Mad about
boeing starliner: part 1
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
The Internet Age, and the 24-hour news cycle that comes with it, has given us a peek into history and science in ways our predecessors could never even dream of. The good, the bad and usually the ugly are all readily available with the swipe of your thumb — with everything from tragedies to embarrassing snafus being transformed into smarmy memes, sustaining us like a mother bird vomiting pre-digested food lovingly into her eager hatchlings’ mouths.
Among this pre-digested bird vomit is Boeing, a mammoth aerospace company that, for reasons I can’t fully articulate here, has certainly seen better days.
You have undoubtedly scrolled past a number of videos of pieces of passenger planes simply falling off during takeoff. We were assured that this was just a fluke and a series of coincidences, and that we’d all enjoy a tasty serving of humble pie once Boeing’s Starliner craft delivered astronauts to and from the International Space Station this year.
The pie came out of the oven, but it turned out to be only half-baked. The craft successfully delivered the astronauts to the ISS, but it was deemed too unsafe to ferry them on a return journey.
So what the heck happened?
To get a bigger picture of how we ended up here, we’ll have to go back to 2011. The space shuttles were being retired, having been in operation since 1972 as an all-purpose, reliable form of transportation to low-Earth orbit. The reliability of the shuttle came into question throughout its
service, particularly after the Challenger disaster on Jan. 28, 1986, and again in the wake of the Columbia explosion on Feb. 1, 2003.
Boeing took over the maintenance and Earth-side operation of the space shuttle program after acquiring Rockwell International in 1996. Rockwell had also been pivotal in the design, construction and testing of the Apollo craft. This is to say: Starliner wasn’t Boeing’s first foray into space.
As the space shuttle program retired in 2011, there was no clear successor for the United States. NASA was paying upward of $56 million per astronaut to hitch a ride on Russian Soyuz rockets to reach the ISS — a prospect that did very little to foster a love of spaceflight with the American public. To combat this and help spur innovation in the cutting-edge field, then-President Barack Obama proposed working alongside a number of U.S. companies to create a partnership between the government and private sector, with the intention of fostering innovation and not paying potential foreign adversaries huge sums of money to reach the space station.
All things considered, this was a resounding success that bolstered a huge number of trades from numerous specialties, meanwhile putting a spotlight on STEM careers. New companies like SpaceX arose from this initiative to deliver the internet to hardto-reach places, while creating jobs for IT professionals, construction workers, HVAC technicians, engineers, designers and a whole slate of other careers tied to communications, science and engineering.
Yet again, what in the heck happened to Boeing’s Starliner?
Starliner’s development
began a year before the retirement of the space shuttles. It is a semi-reusable craft that effectively comes in two pieces: the crew module and the service module. The service module is what provides the craft with propulsion and energy generation. Equipped with 52 thrusters, it was designed to be remarkably maneuverable and had the option to be completely automated or controlled manually by the crew.
Say what you will about not trusting computers, but trying to safely dock a space module onto a craft moving 4.26 miles per second while traveling in a circular path is a task that’s probably well suited to a machine.
That being said, Starliner’s first test flight — which occurred on Dec. 20, 2019 — ended in incredible failure almost exclusively because of software bugs. The internal clock was improperly set to 11 hours ahead of launch, so the computer didn’t know to fire thrusters when it was supposed to because it didn’t know what time it was. By the time the mistake was corrected, it had burned too much fuel to safely dock at the ISS. A second bug was discovered at that time. The thrusters to separate the service module from the crew module were set to fire in the opposite direction than intended. Instead of separating safely, this would have caused the two halves to slam into each other in a catastrophic self-destructing failure.
Luckily, the craft managed to return to Earth safely, though it’s likely that some very angry words were exchanged between NASA and Boeing.
Next week, we’ll dive headlong into how two astronauts got stuck on the ISS.
Until then, are you interested in rocketry or any number of the other fields linked to the space industry? You can get a great taste of this at the library on Sat., Sept. 28, when Spacepoint will be hosting its second Intro To Rocketry event at the Sandpoint branch of the East Bonner County Library.
You’ll have an opportunity to build and launch your very own rocket. The number of kits is extremely limited, so if you want to get in on this, you need to register at ebonnerlibrary.org/rockets. Once we’ve run out of reservations, we’ve run out of kits, so jump
on this fast.
Spacepoint first offered this program at the library two years ago, and watching these rockets soar hundreds of feet into the air was a spectacle to behold.
Even if you’re not interested in building a rocket yourself, there will be a phenomenal rocketry presentation from Dr. Marty Weiser, the former department head of mechanical engineering for Eastern Washington University. Dr. Weiser is a very enthusiastic professor who makes his showand-tell style presentation a real blast for the whole family. Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner
• When trees drop their leaves in the fall, it’s to protect them from the cold. If the leaves remained on the tree, they’d freeze and rupture. When the tree stops producing chlorophyll, which makes leaves green, the color fades and is replaced by the reds, oranges and yellows we admire. Evergreen trees such as pines, cedars and spruces stay green all year because their leaves (needles) are covered with a thick wax that helps prevent them from freezing.
• Those who travel to see vibrant leaf colors in the fall are known as “leaf peepers.”
• Fallen leaves have many garden uses. Many shred and use them for mulch, which, when spread over the soil, provides a protective layer to retain moisture, suppress weeds and shelter plants from the elements. Leaves can also be added to compost piles, providing great “brown material” to mix with greens like lawn clippings.
• While “fall” and “autumn” are interchangeable, the latter is
an older term that came from the French term autompne and the Latin autumnus. It wasn’t until the 1500s when people in England began calling the season “fall” from the phrase, “the fall of the leaf.” By the 1600s, “autumn” gained usage again in England while “fall” became widely used in North America.
• Squirrels prepare for winter by burying up to 3,000 nuts each in fall. Research shows that squirrels often spread them all over, remembering each cache.
• Some people experience weight gain in fall, not just due to comfort foods that are popular this time of year. Researchers have found the lack of vitamin D reduces fat breakdown and triggers fat storage.
• More babies are conceived in the fall and winter — perhaps due to research that suggests males’ testosterone levels peak from August to October.
Boeing Starliner Spacecraft 2 approaching the ISS in May 2022, during Orbital Flight Test 2. Photo courtesy of NASA.
Don’t tread on me, I have the right to vote
By Randy Worrall Reader Contributor
American veterans share three things: a deep love for our nation, a shared oath to the Constitution and an understanding that the freedoms we enjoy are worth defending at all costs. It’s because of those traits that I support Proposition 1, the “Open Primaries Initiative.”
Country over party
When I was 17, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Academy and swore an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. I continued to serve my country and fight for freedom for 13 years of my life. Talk to any man or woman who has served, and you’ll hear the same: “I served my country.” I’ve never met someone who says, “I served my political party.”
That’s why many active military members and veterans choose to be Independent voters. It’s not a military policy — we can join a party if we choose; but, as Americans, it’s our right not to have to join one.
Dedication to freedom
One of the fundamental freedoms that makes America great is the right to vote without unnecessary barriers. But right now, we don’t have that in Idaho.
If you’re eligible to vote, you should be able to vote. It’s that simple. Instead, many of us face a choice: align with a party we don’t fully believe in just to have access to some of the candidate choices, or be shut out of the critical decisions made in primary elections.
A private club — because that’s what a political party essentially is — shouldn’t be able to tell you that you can’t access the ballot. If you are an American citizen you should have the right to vote in every election your tax dollars support.
Proposition 1 is about one simple but powerful idea: Every Idahoan should have a voice in choosing who represents them. It’s that straightforward.
Restoring power to the people
Our Constitution begins with, “We the people,” highlighting the unique
power and freedom we have to choose our leaders. That power should belong to the voters — not powerful, elite politicians or high-funded special interest groups.
Proposition 1 is about correcting a wrong that began in 2012, when Idaho closed its primaries. It’s about giving power back to the people, where it rightfully belongs. It’s about ensuring our elections reflect the will of the people, not just a select few. Proposition 1 will end minority rule in Idaho.
It’s no surprise that powerful party elites like Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon and Attorney General Raúl Labrador oppose an initiative that would take power away from party bosses and their out-of-state special interest groups. After all, they’ve benefited from a system that restricts access to the ballot and keeps power concentrated in the hands of a few. But Proposition 1 isn’t about what’s best for the political class — it’s about
what’s best for everyday Idahoans.
As a proud member of Veterans for Idaho Voters, I stand with my fellow veterans who dedicated our lives to defending the freedoms that define America. Now, it’s time to ensure those freedoms extend to our elections.
We invite every Idahoan to join us in supporting Proposition 1 — for the sake of our state, our country and the freedoms we hold dear. Together, we can ensure that every voice is heard and that the power to choose our leaders remains where it belongs: in the hands of the people.
Randy Worrall is a resident of Ashton, Idaho. Following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy, he served for nine years as an Air Force pilot. After his service, Worral was a commercial airline pilot and union official. He is an active member of Veterans for Idaho Voters.
Idaho Panhandle Public Lands Initiative to host open house
By Reader Staff
The newly formed Idaho Panhandle Public Lands Initiative is hosting an open house at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Sandpoint Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.).
Established in May, the IPPLI is a group of local individuals and organizations representing motorized and non-motorized recreation, hunting, trapping, fishing, timber, agriculture, environmental and local governmental interests. The purpose of the group is to craft and advocate for federal legislation that enhances forest management, conservation, economic and recreational benefits of public lands in Bonner and Boundary counties.
This effort is focused on the “North Zone” of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, which includes the Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Priest Lake ranger districts.
The open house is an opportunity
for the public to learn about the goals of the IPPLI and how to get involved.
According to the group, “A balanced recommendation for legislation could include any of the following: multiple-use classifications, wilderness, other management classifications or designations, areas for wildlife habitat improvement, areas for forest health improvement, recreational access improvements including motorized or non-motorized trail construction or changes, and recreational infrastructure improvements. The recommendation could ultimately include mandates.”
Those interested in the future of public lands in North Idaho are encouraged to attend the open house, learn about the IPPLI’s goals, consider joining the organization as a voting member or participate as an interested member of the general public.
For more info, visit idahopanhandlepubliclandsinitiative.wordpress.com.
‘Drink the Reader’
Matchwood introduces community can fundraiser supporting the Reader
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
As far as dreams go, having a Reader-themed beer can sold in our community is right up there at the top of the list. Matchwood Brewing Co. is making that dream a reality with the release of a community can called “Drink the Reader.” The Reader crew will be on hand from 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 for a release party at Matchwood. Everyone is invited to come down and taste the beer, meet the brewers and Reader staff, and take home some cans to support the newspaper. Rumor has it that John Reuter and Chris DeCleur — who along with Zach Hagadone founded the Reader in 2004 — will be on hand to help launch the can. Former Editor Cameron Rasmusson and former News Editor Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey will also attend to share the mirth.
“Drink the Reader” is Matchwood’s fourth community fundraiser can — a program in which proceeds from the sale of the cans are donated to an organization or cause of Matchwood’s choosing.
Their first was “Save the Sled Hill” to support Kaniksu Land Trust’s effort to purchase the sled hill on Pine Street. The second can, “Shred Sesh for POP,” earned money to support
the Tiny Woods bike pump track at Travers Park. The third can was the “Panida Beer of the Century,” with funds supporting the theater’s Century Fund.
“Matchwood was founded on this idea of a neighborhood brewing and community hub,” said Andrea Marcoccio, who owns and operates Matchwood with her husband Kennden Culp, and aims to release one to two community cans every year.
“When we started this community can concept, we founded it on the ‘pillars of our community’ concept,” Marcoccio said. “‘Why is Sandpoint so special?’ ‘If these things didn’t exist, would Sandpoint be the same?’ That’s our threshold for how we make that decision.”
For Marcoccio, it’s these “unique and special” parts of Sandpoint that Matchwood strives to shore up with the can fundraiser.
“There are really unique and special weird things in Sandpoint, like the sled hill or the youth pump track or the Panida — I mean, how many small towns of our size have a 100-year-old theater run as a nonprofit?” Marcoccio said.
Inland Northwest town.”
Marcoccio informed the Reader that it would be the recipient of the next community can fundraiser in the spring, and the two organizations collaborated to develop concepts for artwork and beer style.
“It takes over a half year of planning to select the pillar of our community, do preliminary meetings and make sure the collaboration is mutual,” Marcoccio said. “The reason we selected the Reader is because having a weekly independent newspaper is special. It’s not common anymore. It’s super expensive to create every week. We want to do our part in keeping it going.”
The can design concept was developed in concert with Matchwood and Reader staff members, utilizing the typewriter as a central theme, since the Reader office houses anywhere from a dozen to 25 antique typewriters at all times.
“If these things went away, Sandpoint would be just another
Artwork on the cans were hand-drawn by Snack Plate Creative, a design firm that only works on craft beverage designs. Sisters Megan Bailey and Lauren Bailey are responsible for creating the “Drink the Reader” artwork.
“They’re awesome,” Marcoccio said of the designers.
“They’re beer people and it really reflects. They know our brand and they know Sandpoint so well.”
“Drink the Reader” is a classic American pale ale with tasting notes highlighting a “combo of Mosaic, Simcoe and El Dorado hops” that give the beer an “aromatic, smooth and well-balanced” taste with an “assertive bitter finish.”
The beer will be sold in fourpacks of 16-ounce cans for $20 each, with proceeds donated to the Reader Customers may purchase four-packs or drink pints on tap at Matchwood Brewing Co. The first run of 25 cases has already been canned; and, if it sells, Matchwood will brew another batch to keep the brew going.
“If the community responds and buys it, we’ll make more,” Marcoccio said.
Also, local beer sellers interested in offering “Drink the Reader” at their venues are invited to contact Marcoccio at Matchwood.
Special thanks go out to Andrea and Kennden for honoring the Reader with this can, and a huge thanks to our community for their ongoing support of our independent, free weekly newspaper. We hope to see you all at Matchwood on Friday.
Photo by Soncirey Mitchell.
Festival announces season pass sale, new policy prohibiting outside liquids
By Reader Staff
The countdown to the Festival at Sandpoint’s 2025 Summer Performance Series has officially begun, and it’s time to mark your calendars, set your alarms and clear your schedules. Season passes for the 2025 series go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 1 for $349 before taxes and fees, Season passes provide Festival fans the opportunity to attend every 2025 Summer Series performance at a highly discounted rate. Due to the limited quantity, season passes are an exclusive deal, and when they are sold out, no more will be offered for that year’s Summer Series.
The 2025 Summer Series will take place at War Memorial Field from July 24 through Aug. 3, 2025.
The passes are reusable, transferable badges with a single barcode that guests use to scan in each night. They will not have individual tickets for each concert.
A season pass also grants entry through a designated entrance, located on the lakeside of the venue, which is much shorter — and therefore quicker — than the General Admission Gate.
Season passholders are unable to upgrade their badge admission to early entry. For early access to concerts, possible tax deductions and other series benefits, the Festival encourages concert goers to become season sponsors of the nonprofit organization.
Visit festivalatsandpoint.com/season-pass to learn more and purchase 2025 season passes.
In a change announced for the 2025 season, the Festival also announced it will no longer permit outside liquids at the venue.
“After careful consideration, board approval, a multi-year review process, and consultation with community stakeholders and industry experts, including insurance providers, the Sandpoint Police Department, and talent agencies, the Festival at Sandpoint has made the
difficult decision to prohibit the entry of outside liquids into the Summer Performance Series,” the Festival stated.
“This policy is being implemented to enhance the overall safety of all our attendees, volunteers and performers, while also complying with entertainment standards and insurance requirements,” the organization added.
Festival Executive Director Ali Baranski cited the increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate insurance for the event — with most insurers declining coverage altogether due to the previous beverage policy — and therefore threatening the ability for the nonprofit to continue fulfilling its mission.
“We are extremely proud the Festival at Sandpoint was able to keep this tradition, years and decades past most other venues; however, the liability risk to our nonprofit organization has simply become too great,” she stated.
The Festival at Sandpoint’s on-site bars will continue to serve beer, wine and cocktails for guests to purchase inside the venue. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase at all Festival Street food vendor locations and bars.
Empty 32-ounce (or less) water bottles are encouraged, with free refillable water stations available throughout the venue. Glass of any kind is not permitted in the venue. Outside food will still be permitted in the venue.
“The Festival appreciates the understanding and cooperation of their valued guests as they work together to ensure a memorable and safe experience for everyone,” the organization stated.
Before purchasing a season pass, customers should be aware of all of the Festival at Sandpoint’s venue policies and procedures, which can be found at festivalatsandpoint.com/policies.
In addition, security measures, policies and procedures are subject to change at the artist’s discretion.
COMMUNITY Chamber honors Tango Café as September Business of the Month
Wednesday Morning Women’s Golf League finishes season
By Reader Staff
The Wednesday Morning Women’s Golf League finished the season with a scramble and luncheon at the Elks Lodge on Sept. 4. With a net score of 41, the scramble winners were Kelly Armstrong, Marybeth Childers, Donna Foord and Jan Gordon.
Following the luncheon, a meeting was held and the club champions were announced: Bobette Dowling, with first low net; Kelly Armstrong, with second low net; and Linda Larion, with third low net. First place for overall gross was Nita
Garvey, second was Joy Snow and third was Marybeth Childers.
The Wednesday Morning League welcomes all women golfers, of any age or experience, to join the group. For information on joining next spring, call Loris Michael at 208-610-5914.
By Reader Staff
Located on the first floor of the Umpqua Bank at 414 Church St., Tango Café has become a favorite local gathering place, attracting individuals; small and large groups; and organizations to meet, eat and connect.
Tango owner Judy Colegrove purchased the business from founders Barney and Carol Ballard several years ago. Today, Tango provides the buffet lunch for the General Member Luncheon of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of
Commerce on the second Thursday of each month — just one of the many regular events that the cafe serves.
“Judy leads her team to deliver exceptional food with great, personable service,” the chamber stated in a news release. “If you haven’t tried Tango Café, you are missing out.”
Back row: Jacob Colegrove, Wyatt Bailey, Jamie Spring; front row: Tessa Jensen, Ruth Nuss, Judy Colegrove, Nadine Colegrove, Jett Hiibner, Gail Fendley. Courtesy photo
Incoming Wednesday Morning Women’s Golf League President Marybeth Childers, left, and outgoing President Nita Garvey, right, who served in the position for eight years. Courtesy photo.
Deadline for Angels Over Sandpoint community grants is almost up
By Reader Staff
Twice a year, the Angels Over Sandpoint distributes funds through its community grants program, supporting various local groups with their specific needs.
The deadline for those groups to submit their applications for grant dollars is almost up, with requests due by Friday, Sept. 20.
Applications can be found at angelsoversandpoint.org under the “Need Help” tab. Instructions and a complete description of the program are under “Community Grants.”
The following criteria must be met
in order to have a request considered:
• An organization holding a current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3), (4), (6) or (19) of the Internal Revenue Code;
• A recognized government entity: state, county or city agency, including law enforcement or fire departments, that are requesting funds exclusively for charitable purposes;
• A pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 public or private school, charter school, community/junior college, state/private college or university;
• A church or other faith-based organization with a proposed project that benefits the community at large;
Sandpoint Summer Music Series finale rescheduled for Sept. 19
By Reader Staff
Inclement weather on Sept. 12 forced the Sandpoint Summer Music Series finale to be postponed until Thursday, Sept. 19.
The Eichardt’s Monday Night Blues Crew will play the free outdoor concert at Farmin Park (on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Oak Street in downtown Sandpoint) starting at
6 p.m. There will be food and drink vendors on site and the gates open at 5 p.m. No dogs or outside booze.
The fourth annual Sandpoint Summer Music Series is organized by Mattox Farm Productions and receives funding from multiple sponsors to ensure it remains free every summer.
Learn more at mattoxfarm.com.
Raffle to benefit Native Plant Arboretum
By Reader Staff
The Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum with a fall fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Matchwood Brewing Company (513 Oak St., in Sandpoint).
Dedicated on Arbor Day in 1999, the arboretum in Lakeview Park stands as a resource showcasing the beauty and importance of native plants in the community.
KNPS members, friends and the community at large are invited to the family friendly fundraiser, which will feature live music, kids’ activities and information about the arboretum.
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase, giving participants the chance to win a range of prizes, including an original oil painting by local landscape artist Ed Robinson. Other baskets include spa packages, local fine dining, gardening items and more.
Prizes are valued from $100 to
• A children and/or youth program.
Grant dollars come from donations — including by attending the Angels Over Sandpoint’s events such as The Follies and directly giving to the group — which enable the organization to help with a broad spectrum of needs in the community. Those needs have included money for softball and wrestling equipment for girls, gas vouchers, newborn sleep sacks, to-go containers for Wheels on Meals, emergency cash, storage equipment, a groomer for cross-country trails and more.
The community grant program is in addition to the Angels’ ongoing programs, such as providing emergen-
cy rent/utility assistance and providing funding to the Homeless Task Force and Priest River Ministries domestic abuse shelter. The Angels also distribute close to 1,000 backpacks full of school supplies to Bonner County students each year, so every child can go back to school fully prepared.
“The Angels Over Sandpoint looks forward to each group’s ideas on how to enhance the life of the children, seniors, veterans and all Bonner County citizens,” the organization stated. “Each request will get careful consideration.”
Get more info at angelsoversandpoint.org.
Chamber names Sean Mirus as September Volunteer of the Month
By Reader Staff
The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce honored Sean Mirus as the September Volunteer of the Month, citing his strong partnership in developing trail-based recreation in and around Sandpoint.
$300. Winners will be drawn at the end of the evening and notified to arrange pickup. Prizes can be viewed and raffle tickets will be available for sale all day on Sept. 26, as well as during the event at Matchwood.
During the past year, KNPS developed a master plan for the arboretum in an effort to evaluate its current status and make recommendations for the next 25 years, with education about area native plants as a high priority.
Raffle proceeds will be used for the development of kid-friendly signage and new educational programs in the arboretum, as well as supporting the organization’s ongoing Tree Tours for third-graders and Tree Cookie Tuesdays each summer.
“Thursday has become an unofficial family night at Matchwood, so bring the family for delicious Matchwood eats and drinks, or just stop by to support educational programs in the arboretum,” KNPS stated.
For more info, visit nativeplantsociety.org.
Mirus was selected as a volunteer of the year for Pend Oreille Pedalers in 2021, after dedicating more than 20 Thursday evenings of his year to perform volunteer trail work. As a member of Schweitzer’s leadership team, Mirus represented the resort in the collaborative development of the Little Sand Creek Watershed Recreation Master Plan, working with POP and the city of Sandpoint on that effort throughout 2023.
He remains an active volunteer in the trail community and has supported efforts to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for the people of Bonner County.
In addition, Mirus serves on the board of directors for the Friends of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center — a nonprofit to support the U.S. Forest Service Avalanche Center. He also spends time working on Kaniksu Land Trust projects.
Mirus’ 12-year membership term on the Chamber Board of Directors is coming to a close at the end of September. With his “knowledge, support, guidance and assistance, he has tirelessly assisted the chamber with Visit Sandpoint tourism projects and advertising,” the organization stated.
Courtesy photo.
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
THURSDAY, september 19
Sandpoint Summer Music Series • 6pm @ Farmin Park
Join the Eichardt’s Monday Night Blues Crew for the finale to this series of free outdoor summer music concerts. Food/drink vendors on site. Gates 5pm. No dogs or outside booze (NEW DATE)
Live Music w/ Pamela Benton
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Mobius Riff
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz
5-8pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Paul and Leva Cataldo
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Outlaw country music duo
Live Music w/ John Daffron
6-9pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Marcus Stevens
6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Acoustic rock
Live Music w/ Jordan Pitts
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Sandpoint Chess Club
9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am
Live Music w/ Hannah Meehan
3-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Plant and Sip 5:30-8pm @ Barrel 33 Plant a ponytail palm. $55
Trivia Night
7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
September 19-26, 2024
Growing Great Garlic event 4-6pm @ Sandpoint Library garden
Live Music w/ Cafe Gas Boys 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
FriDAY, september 20
Live Music w/ Devon Wade Band
8:45pm @ The Hive
Kaniksu Fireside Dance
7-9pm @ Base of the Pine St. Sled Hill
Live Music w/ Nights of Neon
5-8pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes
6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon
Game Night 6:30pm @ Tervan
Talk Like a Pirate Day & movie
7pm @The Pearl Theater (Bonners Ferry)
Live Music w/ Queen Bonobo & Liv LaFluv
6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Alternative folk music duo
Main Street Coffee Klatch
9-11am @ Music Conservatory of Sandpoint
Share memories about the former City Hall
SATURDAY, september 21
Live Music w/ Oceanography
5pm @ Scotchman’s Coffee, 509 N. Fifth
Singer-songwriter Brian Kelly
Live Music w/ Heat Speak Trio 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Live Music w/ GLIZ
9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge
Sandpoint’s newest power group feat.
Alex Cope, Paul Gunter, Liam McCoy and Riley Christman
SunDAY, september 22
Magic with Star Alexander
5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s Up close magic shows at the table
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi
7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Trivia Night
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Piano w/ Jennifer Stoehner
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Original compositions and modern pop
KNPS program: ‘David Thompson in the Pacific Northwest’ FREE 10am @ Sandpoint Library
Revival Celebration and Craft Fair
10am-5pm @ Cocolalla Lake Bible Camp
Live gospel music, door prizes, inspirational speakers, free hot dogs and lodging, local vendors. 208-946-8811
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park
Autum Wings birding class
9am (MST) @ River Front Park pavilion in Libby, Mont. Head into the field with Brian Baxter to spot birds! Must register: 406-291-2154 or email b_baxter53@yahoo.com
monDAY, september 23
Outdoor Experience Group Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome
tuesDAY, september 24
Ballroom dance lessons
5:15-6:15pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center
Donation-based class for all levels of dancers. Accepts drop-ins.
wednesDAY, september 25
PEP Economic Summer: “What’s Happening Up North?”
8am-5:30pm @ U or I Sandpoint Orgasnic Agriculture Center, 10881 N. Boyer Rd.
An all-day economic summit with three keynote speakers. Theme this year is “Rural and Thriving: Pillars for Community Development.” Registration $79 and includes lunch. Limited to 90 participatnts. pepidaho.org
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market
3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park
Open Mic Night
9:30am @ Sandpoint Senior Center
Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s Saving Jesus Redux series: “What Can We Know About Jesus (And How)?”
BCHS annual meeting
5:30pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum
The Historical Society’s annual meeting and ice cream social. Games and prizes also. 611 S. Ella Ave.
Little Live Radio Hour: Hannah Meeham
8pm @ Little Panida Theater
Music teacher and bluegrass player Hannah Meehan playing free intimate performance, which is also streamed live on 88.5 FM
Benny on the Deck • 5-7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Featuring guest Ali Maverick Thomas
Pinochle Wednesday
9:30am @ Sandpoint Senior Center
Arboretum celebration and benefit raffle
4-7pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Celebrate North Idaho Native Plant
Arboretum’s 25th anniversary. Live music, raffle tickets, gift baskets, prizes, kids activities and more
Game Night
6:30pm @ Tervan
Trivia Night
7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Piano w/ John Firshi 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Live Piano w/ Bob Beadling 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
ThursDAY, september 26
West Coast Swing Lessons
4:15-5:30pm @ The Yellow Room
No partner necessary. Ages 8+.
$5-$10 suggested donation
Bingo Night
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
$5 movie: Across the River and into the Trees
7pm @ Panida Theater
A 2022 war drama adapted from Hemingway’s 1950 novel of the same name
Paint & Sip with Nicole Black
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
$45 includes instruction by Nicole Black, supplies and your first beverage
RingsofPower series returns with another (somehow still lackluster) season
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Near to this date two years ago, I gave a guarded though mostly positive accounting of the first two episodes of the Amazon original series Rings of Power, which mines the appendices of J.R.R. Tolkien’s immortal Lord of the Rings to present a prequel tale of Middle Earth.
In that review, I spelled Tolkien’s name wrong no fewer than eight times — while literally trying to establish my bona fides with Tolkien lore — so maybe I have no credibility left. However, I’m back to say that the rest of the episodes of Season 1 were, to be blunt, mostly duds.
I’m not alone in reaching this conclusion. Granted, Rings of Power suffered from the unfortunately common phenomenon of “review bombing,” in which internet trolls pour forth their scorn on a film or series because it dares to feature characters who may not look, talk or love like they think they should based on the “source material.” It’s the artistic equivalent of getting mad at your babysitter because “mom doesn’t make soup that way.” Also, it’s almost always just a chorus of racist/ misogynist/homophobic dog whistles.
Anyway the numbers are awfully skewed because of the review bombing, with a majority giving the show five stars but almost as many giving it merely one star, bringing down the average to 3.2.
That’s not fair, but there is a solid argument to be made that Rings of Power misses a lot of marks in the di-
alogue, character-building and pacing departments. I don’t know that anyone makes a serious case that it’s not fun to look at — I’d wager that the vast majority of its crazy-big $1 billion budget went to visual effects — but most of the dwarves, elves, “harfoots,” proto-wizards, reanimated evil sorcerers and humans who inhabit this version of Middle Earth are frankly insufferable.
The first four episodes of Season 2 dropped in a three-bundle clump on Aug. 29, a fourth episode streamed on Sept. 5 and the subsequent four installments will be released each Thursday on Amazon Prime.
As of press time, having watched those first episodes — an experience better described as having been “persevered” — I continue to be flummoxed at how the showrunners are so consistently able to make what should be a slam dunk into a backboard brick at every shot.
I don’t know what’s more maddening, hearing Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel roll every “R” that comes out of her mouth like she’s afraid it’s going to roll back down Mt. Doom and crush her; the perpetual wet-diaper face of Robert Aramayo’s Elrond; the two-dimensional, all-capital histrionics of dwarf royals Durin IV and Disa (Owain Arthur and Sophia Nomvete, respectively); or the fact that of all the other cast members, the only ones who feel fully inhabited by their performers are orcs.
Also, I’ve heard the name “Celebrimbor” so many times that it just pops into my head every few hours, which I don’t appreciate.
Don’t even get me started on the
POAC needs help to inspire creativity in North Idaho schools
By Reader Staff
The children are back in school, and the Pend Oreille Arts Council is gearing up to serve students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. However, the nonprofit arts organization is putting out a call for help — specifically seeking volunteers to teach POAC’s Kaleidoscope Program.
“You don’t need to be an artist, but a passion for education and the ability to follow a well-planned curriculum is all that’s required,” POAC stated in a news release.
In partnership with classroom teachers and POAC volunteer coordinators, Kaleidoscope offers hands-on art classes to children in grades three to six in every elementary school without a designated art teacher.
so-called “harfoots,” which the show has basically given up pretending aren’t actually really hobbits. This imagining of Tolkien’s little folk combines simpering earnestness with bumbling stupidity and tries to pass it off as brave simplicity.
The characters whom viewers would be familiar with from more mainstream Tolkienania — Isildur and Sauron, albeit in their pre-Lord of the Rings forms — are empty vessels lacking any palpable menace or sympathy, and it’s about damn time this show stops pretending like “the stranger” from the stars isn’t freaking Gandalf.
Finally, there’s the online roasting going on over how Season 2 has shoehorned Tom Bombadil into the narrative by essentially copy-pasting him from the cutting room floor of Peter Jackson’s LotR trilogy, where he should have been all along.
As with so many of these intellectual properties, there comes a time when the amount of money thrown at a body of artwork erodes its foundations (looking at you, Star Wars). It’s the same phenomenon as the fantasy fail House of the Dragon and the unwatchable streaming adaptation of The Wheel of Time.
If Amazon couldn’t cobble together a better writing room with a billion bucks to burn on RoP, it tells you all you need to know about what the executives really value in Tolkien’s epic world.
I’ll just say, it’s no wonder that the orcs are the most believable aspect of the show.
“We’re excited to bring the arts back into our schools again this year,” stated POAC Executive Director Tone Stolz. “This is a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact on young minds. We provide all the materials and the training; you bring a desire to stimulate creativity and imagination in our school-age children.”
In addition to Kaleidoscope, POAC provides other programs to the school district.
“Our Ovations Program offers performance workshops and master classes in conjunction with our Performing Arts Series, while Expressions provides specialized art programming for middle and high school-aged youth,” Stolz added. “Together, our educational outreach programs benefit over 5,000 students annually from public, private and home schools.”
Those interested in volunteering with Kaleidoscope are encouraged to contact Janelle Campasino at jcampasino@comcast.net, or the POAC office at poactivities@gmail.com.
Aside from volunteering, community members are invited to support POAC’s programs financially, with contributions accepted at ArtInSandpoint.org/giving, 208-263-6139 or by visiting the gallery at 313 N. Second Ave., in downtown Sandpoint.
A still shot from Rings of Power streaming on Amazon Prime. Courtesy photo.
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist
It seems like plenty of my pals are coming or going on an epic fishing adventure (or two) this summer. Upon return, they show off their trophy-worthy catches with envy-worthy pictures and posts on social media. Their experiences are fun to follow — smiling anglers reeling in behemoth fish (and, for good measure, a validating yardstick is often onboard).
Sometimes, they’ll include shots of the fileting station and airline-friendly coolers, filled to the brim with plump halibut cheeks and cod or salmon filets. Myriad photos follow, reflecting the fruits of their labors: neat rows of canned salmon lined up on pantry shelves, and bags of smoked salmon chunks ready for the freezer.
I love to catch fish, too, but I don’t have many opportunities. Years ago, I would go fishing now and then with a neighbor, or he’d go solo and share his catch with me. In return, I would brine and smoke them in my Little Chief smoker, and we’d split the bounty.
I got rid of the smoker, all but one old spinning rod and a puny tackle box. I couldn’t part with my giant fishing net. It has never harbored a fish, but it works great as a rescue tool for wayward birds that find their way into the garage.
Luckily, my longtime pals, Bob and Mary, are always generous with their lake and sea catches, and I never lack for fish. They tried to take
The Sandpoint Eater Go fish!
me out to catch my own fish once. Once. I’m pretty sure Bob thinks it’s easier (and safer) to toss a nice filet or two my way.
Many years ago, for a milestone birthday, Bob and Mary surprised me with a fishing charter for the three of us, for a future date. When the conditions seemed just right and the fish were plentiful, we would go fishing. As visions of lake trout danced in my head, I could barely contain my enthusiasm, I was like a kid waiting for my trip to Disneyland.
Finally, in early July, I learned it was time to go fish! Mary overpacked a picnic spread, they picked me up and we headed to
the rendezvous point to meet up with our boat. As I recall, we started our adventure somewhere off Lee’s Point and headed out to the depths of the lake in search of the “big ones.”
The day started off beautifully. The sun shone through the clouds as we sipped our coffee, motoring carefree across the lake at high speed as a light breeze caught our hair. Finally, we reached a prime location and began casting. Before our first bite, the sky grew gray, the winds picked up and, suddenly, sheets of rain came at us from every direction. The guys brought the poles in, buttoned up the boat as best they could and we headed
back to shore, guided only by a GPS, as visibility was zero.
Mary and I sat silent, hoping that if any other boats were nearby, they, too, would have a GPS system. I had never been happier to see land. Chilled to the bone, I couldn’t wait to get home and peel off my soaking wet clothes. It just occurs to me now. Should I have asked for a rain check?
Last week, Mary and I drove to Trestle Creek with her granddaughter, Mabel, for a much calmer fish experience. It’s the time of year to see the brilliant red-hued kokanee on their annual one-way journey up the creek. In dance-like moves, hundreds of the mature fish
wiggle their way upstream to build nests, spawn and produce another generation of silvery blue kokanee that will ultimately live in the deepest depths of Lake Pend Oreille, where hopeful fishermen (and women) will try their luck.
Speaking of that salmon in my freezer, there’s nothing I love more than grilling and serving it with a simple warm glaze or a chilled spicy relish. We’re so fortunate to be here, in the land of plenty. Besides salmon, I have a stockpile of huckleberries in my freezer. They’re the perfect colorful and tasty complement to salmon. Cheers to good friends and a well-stocked freezer!
Huckleberry jalapeño and mango relish
This zesty relish is sweet, spicy and tart, and will spice up about anything. Great spooned over grilled fish. If you want spicier relish, leave all or part of the jalapeños seeds. Makes approx. 1½ cups.
INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:
• ¾ cup finely diced mangos
• 4 jalapeños, finely chopped
• ½ cup minced red onion
• ½ cup finely chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
• ½ cup fresh huckleberries, or frozen huckleberries rinsed and patted dry
• Salt and pepper to taste
Wash the jalapeños and cut them lengthwise to remove the seeds, chop fine. Add to a glass bowl.
Peel and finely chop the red onion. Add to bowl. Mince the garlic cloves, add to bowl.
Peel and dice mango into very small cubes. Add to bowl.
Toss everything to combine well. Add the rice wine vinegar, salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix well.
Chill, then add the huckleberries. Store in a tightly covered glass container.
Also delicious atop grilled chicken, or add some bleu cheese and serve it over a steak salad.
MUSIC
‘This isn’t fast food music’ Deep Roots concert celebrates local songwriters
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Area talents will converge at The Hive’s stage Saturday, Sept. 28 for Deep Roots: Sandpoint’s Original Songwriter Showcase. The 21+ concert features beloved local musicians and new faces performing their original music, which reflects the unique community from which it sprang.
“When a small town is so saturated with musical talent like Sandpoint, it can feel like your original music just doesn’t stack up to the five or more acts playing their instruments to hit songs at a professional level all over town,” organizer Kevin Dorin told the Reader. “I often witness musicians neglect to even tell the crowd, ‘I wrote this.’ That’s why it’s so important to get them on the ‘Small Town Big Stage,’ where people are focused on the fact that these songs were grown right here.”
Dorin is a seasoned musician himself, and will perform his bluesy folk alongside headliners Katelyn Shook, Josh Hedlund and Ben Olson, all of whom were chosen for their skill and high-quality songs. Supporting artists include Pete Hicks, Brendan Kelty, Kerry Leigh, Justin Lantrip, Buster
Brown, Jacob Robin, Sydney Dale and Jordan Pitts.
“Any of the 12 artists on the bill could have been headliners, but the four we chose all have a musical relationship with Justin Landis, who will be accompanying us on our last couple songs of the evening,” said Dorin.
Dorin and his fellow headliners have grown and developed a camaraderie over the course of their time spent as staples of the local music scene. He first saw Shook perform solo during an open mic at Bluebird Bakery, where she treated attendees to her Indie-folk pop songwriting skills.
“I’d seen her perform beautifully at the Panida and the Festival in her famous duo, Shook Twins, but the intimate setting of witnessing her songwriting at an open mic is what really resonated with me,” said Dorin.
The singer and guitarist has released four albums with her sister Laurie Shook and performs in several groups, including the all-female rock cover band Sideboob. To listen or learn more, visit shooktwins.com.
Shook is joined by indie singer-songwriter Hedlund — part of the duo Little Wolf with Landis — who Dorin describes as, “simply one of
my favorite songwriters that I’ve ever heard.”
“If you’ve lived here for a decade and never heard Josh [Hedlund] perform, heed my words: Don’t miss this opportunity,” he added.
Get a taste of Hedlund’s music at joshhedlund.bandcamp.com or on Spotify.
Rounding off the evening is singer, guitarist and Reader Publisher Ben Olson, who performs with Harold’s IGA and its side project, Blird. Olson plays everything from his trademark indie-folk rock to lo-fi, downtempo electronic. Listen on Spotify.
“He was an obvious choice because I’ve had the privilege to record an album with his band, Harold’s IGA. Ben’s intellect and lyricism have so much depth — I can listen to that album on repeat all day,” said Dorin.
Concertgoers can also purchase a recording of the Deep Roots live performance, which Dorin said will feature at least
one song from each artist. This special album will only be available to ticket holders.
“You have to be there to get access. This isn’t fast food music,” said Dorin.
“If you are undecided about paying a $25 ticket for original, local music, I’d suggest that there is rarely anything in modern music that isn’t easy to access, and thus most of it feels ‘cheap,’” he added.
Tickets are available at livefromthehive.com for $25 when bought in advance and $30 when purchased the day of. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at The Hive (207 N. First Ave.), and the show begins at 7 p.m.
“If you believe that this event has value to our community and want to support it so we can do more events like this, please consider booking a VIP booth for your family and friends or business,” added Dorin.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
Cafe Gas Boys, Connie’s Lounge, Sept. 19 Hannah Meehan, Little Live Radio Hour, Sept. 24
It’s easy to tell when a group of people have been playing music together for a long time. Their sound is so seamless, it’s as if each member knows how to finish the sentences of the others.
The Cafe Gas Boys are in this realm, having played a weekly jam that goes back years. They play a collection of stringed instruments, such as guitar, mandolin, stand-up bass and banjo.
Their music selection is diverse and covers bluegrass favorites, folk and country tunes of yesteryear, and fan favorites. All Sandpoint locals, the Cafe Gas Boys are an institution that reminds us of bygone good times while providing good times to the present.
— Ben Olson
6 p.m., FREE. Connie’s Lounge, 323 Cedar St., 208255-2227, conniescafe.com.
The next Little Live Radio Hour from 88.5 KRFY Panhandle Community Radio will feature musical guest Hannah Meehan — a music teacher at Kootenai Elementary School by day and a stellar bluegrass performer by night (and probably day, too). Accompanying her impeccable guitar work are vocals so crisp, clean and sweetly strong that the descriptor “radio ready” seems like an understatement; especially since she’ll be on the radio Tuesday, Sept. 24 for a performance broadcast live by KRFY from the
This week’s RLW by Soncirey Mitchell
READ
In order to learn the ins and outs of different literary theories, a college professor of mine had us read and analyze Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” every week. He chose the short story because Carver is considered one of the great masters of the genre, and the 13-page piece has enough depth to reward audiences with new insight on their first and 100th readthrough. Find it online for free.
Little Panida Theater. Audiences can listen in person at the theater or tune in from home. In addition to Meehan’s top-flight stylings, the show will feature a skit by the Mighty KRFY Players for an hour of some of the best live local entertainment on the airwaves.
— Zach Hagadone
8-9 p.m., FREE. Little Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., 208-263-9191. Listen at 88.5 FM or stream at krfy.org. Listen at instagram.com/hannahmeehanmusic.
LISTEN WATCH
The band Ezra Bell describes itself as “unsettling” and “vicious” in various online posts. I would add “haunting,” “esoteric” and “pensive” to the list, especially with songs like “Junk Food Chimney” and “a serenade for kathy,” which seem to inhabit a genre of their own. The band combines elements of folk, blues, rock and pop, but nothing on that list fully encompasses their sound, which is paradoxically both abrasive and soothing. All I know is I can’t get enough. Listen on Spotify.
I was pleasantly surprised by Jackpot! — a typical B-grade comedy with an A+ execution. The plot centers on lottery winner Katie (Awkwafina), who must survive 24 hours in L.A. while the entire city attempts to kill her and claim her winnings. Helping her is classic himbo Noel (John Cena), who’s just genuinely a nice guy with big muscles. The heartfelt message enmeshed with cartoonish violence and hijinks, as well as the sweet, oddball relationship between the leads, had me grinning the whole way through. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Courtesy photo.
From Northern Idaho News, September 20, 1910
DRUNKS IN CITY JAIL ARE GIVEN
ALCOHOL
Last Saturday three drunks were the occupants of the city bastille, having been arrested during Friday night by city officers. The men gave their names as Fred Halkins, Ed Burns and H. Joyce and although warmly sweated each man refused to tell where he had secured the intoxicants with which he was provided.
Chief of Police Traue had breakfast taken to the men in the morning and found everything at the city hotel all O.K. but upon returning about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, he found the men dead drunk, one of them having in his possession a half empty flask of alcohol. The liquor had been slipped through the bars of the jail to them during the absence of the officer. Traue removed the alcohol from the bottle and filled it with water. When the men awoke from their drunken slumbers, they wanted an eye-opener, but the first to try the bottle was given a sad surprise. The men were plenty mad when they made the discovery that a trick had been played upon them.
The trio were brought before Justice of the Peace Costello yesterday morning and fined $1 and costs each.
BACK OF THE BOOK
By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist
Fall is falling. Sunday morning, it becomes official. I will — hopefully — be in a spot that cares nothing for the arbitrary Gregorian calendar, but is sensitive to the celestial timetable that inspired such things. I plan to be in the Scotchman Peaks backcountry for the equinox and the bright remnants of a full moon.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve made several trips into the Scotchmans annually, but this will be my only backcountry foray for this year. The reduction in frequency is directly related to the condition of my knees.
When Grandpa Earl was about my current age, he pointed at those same peaks and said, “See those mountains? I can climb any one of them. I just can’t come back down.”
I understand. But, I’m gonna go anyway.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve hiked the Scotchmans but I might venture 100-plus, if I count my days as the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) trail crew leader. The FSPW Extreme Plein Air Expedition, which is the occasion this week, is in its 15th iteration. It will be a semi-short trip of three days and two nights, and maybe my last overnighter into that country beyond the end of the trail. Maybe. I could rethink that, once I’m there.
I have looked at the map longingly, and wonder how much damage I would do to myself if I undertook one last trip cross-country from the Little Spar trailhead to the Clark Fork River. As the raven flies, that’s about eight miles. As the backpacker hikes, though, it’s never been fewer than four
STR8TS Solution
On wilderness and what it really means
days, and more often five. Maybe, if I can get a couple of porters, I can do it in six or seven. I’ll tell you one thing: If I can, I will. The Scotchman backcountry is one of the most magical, sacred places I’ve ever been.
This month is the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The Scotchman Peaks were identified in the 1970s as eligible to be part of the National Wilderness Preservation System established by the Act. Since then, the Scotchman Peaks have been listed as recommended wilderness and managed as such by the National Forests of North Idaho and western Montana.
In 2019, Bonner County held an advisory vote asking citizens if they were for or against a nationally designated Wilderness Area in the Idaho portion of the peaks. The idea was rejected. The decision didn’t change the recommended status of the Scotchmans; and certainly didn’t reduce its wild beauty or the magic. It did demonstrate — again — that a campaign based on misinformation, disinformation, character assassination and other nasty tactics could sway an election.
During that campaign, lies were told about what wilderness designation means, and about people who support it. Wilderness is not an elitist idea. The wilderness system was established to save wild places for all citizens. People who support Scotchman designation are not dark-money groups from outside or newcomers with hidden agendas. The hidden-agenda charge might be more true of the opponents to designation, who I believe were less than forthcoming about their real motivations. Unlike them, I won’t
Sudoku Solution
speculate about that.
Wilderness supporters are your neighbors; some new, some whose families have lived here since before some who campaigned against it lived here. Wilderness designation doesn’t “lock up” a place or lock out people who want to enjoy it through self-powered recreation. It doesn’t preclude hunting, fishing, berry and mushroom gathering. It doesn’t disallow horses or other stock. There are no locked gates at wilderness trailheads.
And, though this idea is so ridiculous, I can’t imagine the mindset necessary to believe it. There are no secret fortresses full of soldiers in blue helmets ready to take over the country in the wilderness.
After this sees publication, there might be pushback from folks who campaigned against designation. If there is, I encourage you to check out the validity of what they have to say.
Meanwhile, if you want to get in touch with me, I’ll be in the backcountry.
One way I think you can tell if you have a curse on you is if you open a box of toothpicks and they all fly up and stick in your face.
Solution on page 22
Laughing Matter
By Bill Borders
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Stage
6. French for “Names”
10. Dazzles
14. Become calm
15. Broadcast
16. Broad valley
17. Sporting venue
18. Telegram
19. A style of jazz
20. Burdensome boss
22. Always 23. Layer
24. Shoestrings
26. Happened to 30. Sparkle
32. Companionless 33. Abundant
37. After-bath powder
38. Beside
39. Sanction
/GEYN-sey/
to deny, dispute, or contradict
Solution on page 22
Solution on page 22
62. Advanced 63. Trawling equipment 64. Sleighs Word Week of the
“It’s hard to gainsay the fact that he’s just trolling and gaslighting us now.”
Corrections: In last week’s edition, we ran a photo identified as Albeni Falls Dam, but it was actually the Cabinet Gorge Dam. Sorry for the error.
40. Jeopardizes
42. Ranted
43. Large marine eel
44. Crunchy vegetable
45. Genus of goats
47. Insect
48. Inner surface of the hand
49. Multiplicative inverse
56. A Great Lake
57. Decorated, as a cake
58. Genus of heath
59. Not odd 60. Skin disease
9. British money 10. Functioning as an adjective 11. Relinquish 12. Imps
