Media reports detail alleged threats made against Trump by Sandpoint man
Council OK’s grant application for Travers Park pump track
‘Our local wildlife habitats aren’t promised — we need to protect them’
Theory of Unknown Origin: ‘They’re eating the pets’
World-renowned triple-neck guitarist Luca Stricagnoli plays Panida
Civil War(s): Almost 30 years apart, two films explore the breakup of the U.S. in eerily similar ways
Evans Bros. celebrates 15 years with throwback party
The week in random review
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
do we really want to believe?
Catching up on episodes of The Daily Show last weekend, I found myself unexpectedly fascinated by an appearance by Luis Elizondo, who was promoting his new book Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs. TDS host Ronny Chieng pretty much lost his mind while talking to Elizondo, who spent years working in counterintelligence and disclosed videos taken by U.S. Navy pilots that appear to portray “unexplained aerial phenomena” — the new, less-kooky-sounding term for “UFOs.” Elizondo is matter-of-fact that UAPs are very real; originate from intelligent, non-human sources; and are interested in our sensitive military installations to an alarming degree. Elizondo’s book came out in late August and is an “instant” New York Times, USA Today and Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller. However, as Chieng pointed out, no one seems to care that highly placed government officials are telling us we’re not alone. “Is this getting buried in the cycle or something, because Donald Trump says ‘I hate Taylor Swift’?” The answer to that probably has something to do with human, rather than interstellar intelligence.
The nostalgic season
I’m well aware that most people consider the high summer months to be the best on the calendar, but September has my heart. It starts with getting the kids (finally) back to school, includes the Sand Creek Regatta and concludes with apex events in my personal life. For instance, my wife and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary earlier this week — though really more like 24 years together — by walking around town and paying homage to 18 places or things that have been important to us during our life together. I thought at first that this would be a difficult exercise, but it turns out pretty much every street corner in Sandpoint holds some kind of significance for us. That made me feel grateful not just for my wife agreeing to marry me all those years ago — when I somewhat unromantically proposed at 4 a.m. following a bartending shift — but that we’ve been lucky enough that so much of our marriage has played out in Sandpoint.
High-dollar hometown
There were some familiar names on a list of the most-expensive “micropolitan areas,” published Sept. 19 by The New York Times, including Hailey, Idaho and our very own Sandpoint. According to the rankings of the 20 least affordable communities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000, Hailey came in fifth (with a median home value of $534,900) and Sandpoint was 15th, with a median home value of $378,200. However, anyone who lives here knows that number is almost certainly low. If realtor.com, redfin.com or zillow.com are to be trusted, our median listing price is somewhere between $600,000 to $700,000, which would put us in the top four for unaffordability, among the likes of Steamboat Springs and Breckenridge, Colo. Read the article at nytimes.com.
DEAR READERS,
Another week, another Reader Hey, is anyone curious why the Reader comes out on Thursdays? There has actually been quite a bit of thought put into it. We distribute the paper on Thursdays because it gives our readers a heads up on what to expect for the weekend ahead, while also providing a little extra time to plan; it helps us cover the Bonner County board of commissioners’ business meetings Tuesdays and the Sandpoint City Council meetings every other Wednesday; and, finally, it gives us a chance to set up interviews and plan the week ahead on Fridays and have the weekend to enjoy our deadline-driven lives.
On another note, this week’s cover photo is a unique art sculpture by artist Kristina Ludwig. Yes, that dress is made entirely of birchbark, with the backdrop made of moss. Very cool work, Kristina! Happy birthday to Zach, our intrepid editor. Many happy returns.
–
Ben Olson, publisher
READER
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368
Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (emeritus) Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)
Advertising: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com
Contributing Artists: Kristina Ludwig (cover), Ben Olson, NASA
Contributing Writers:
Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Kyle Pfannenstiel, Robert Vande Merwe, Emily Erickson, Jennifer Ekstrom
Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com
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Subscription Price: $185 per year
Web Content: Keokee
The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person
SandpointReader letter policy:
The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 300 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.
Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers.
Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com
About the Cover
This week’s cover features a unique art piece called “Titania” by Kristina Ludwig. Find more of her work at woodandeye.com.
City Council OK’s grant application for Travers Park pump track
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Mayor Jeremy Grimm broke a 3-3 tie at the Sept. 18 meeting of the Sandpoint City Council, giving the greenlight for staff to submit a grant application of $350,000 to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for the development of an asphalt bike pump track on the western edge of Travers Park.
The funds would come from the IDPR’s Outdoor Recreation Fund, which seeks to provide state funding for projects that are or can be under contract within the next 90 days and completed in 2025.
Sandpoint Community Planning and Development Director Jason Welker said he only became aware of the grant opportunity a little more than a week before the Sept. 18 meeting, and had rushed to get it on the agenda. Still, he noted, there would be “four more steps of approval” before any dirt would be turned at the site, including permission from
Mayor Grimm casts deciding vote in 3-3 tie
the council to accept the funds should they be given by the state, then permission to issue a request for proposal, followed by acceptance of the bid.
Sweetening the deal for the state, Sandpoint’s grant proposal will include $100,000 in local match, coming in the form of 5,000 cubic yards of dirt already on the site.
“That’s what it would cost to bring that material in for this project,” Welker said.
Speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, proponents pointed to providing opportunities for local youth to access healthy recreation while expanding their bike skills, which could then be honed on the other bike trails already offered in the area.
Other statements in favor included attracting bike enthusiasts from outside the region, as several commenters testified that they travel with their own families to locations around the country specifically to access pump tracks and bike parks.
Opponents were also vocal, with a consistent theme that
the pump track is either unnecessary, improperly located at Travers Park or both — with some referring to the project as a “niche amenity.”
Councilor Kyle Schreiber spoke against the “centralization of parks,” which he saw happening at Travers.
“I could understand why some people might be attracted to an idea of sort of a one-stop-shop, mega-mart for parks. You’ve got your indoor courts, your outdoors courts, your ballfields, your dirt pump track, your asphalt pump track, your skatepark all in one loca-
tion,” he said. “The problem with that is if you look at any big box store, there’s far more area spent on parking than there is on actual retail space. I think that’s the danger that we’re getting in here. ...
“I’m very hesitant to put more park funding into a spot that’s already overallocated and actually sits right on the edge of the city limits, so it’s not even centrally located.”
Councilor Pam Duquette agreed, adding that, “We’re always proposed something that’s in a hurry; we always have to make a quick decision, and I don’t think we make the best decisions with those limits on time.”
Council President Deb Ruehle and Councilors Justin Dick and Rick Howarth voted in favor of the application, while Schreiber, Duquette and Councilor Joel Aispuro voted “no” — the latter citing what he felt was “disrespect to my other councilors,” after Grimm called for the vote, thus ending deliberation as Schreiber and Duquette were working toward an amended motion.
Sandpoint repeals dog licensing requirement to address shelter challenge
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
The Sandpoint City Council voted unanimously Sept. 18 to repeal the city’s dog licensing ordinance. Removing the requirement is intended to solve an issue that arose earlier in the summer, when the Better Together Animal Alliance — which had been providing animal control services for area communities — came before the Ponderay and Sandpoint councils to tell them that the nonprofit needed more money to continue serving that function.
“[The municipalities] are utilizing a service but aren’t contributing to the overall impact of providing that service,” BTAA Executive Director Mandy Evans told the Reader in an Aug. 13 inter-
view, pointing to rising costs for staffing, insurance, utilities and maintenance, and more.
“When we say that we can’t afford to do it, that’s honest. We can’t afford to do it,” she added.
Idaho Code stipulates that political subdivisions requiring dog licensing are also required to shelter and care for stray animals, but provides no funding mechanism to cover the costs. By repealing the dog licensing requirement, the city is given more flexibility in how it handles the collection of dogs at large, Grimm said on Sept. 18, adding that a local veterinarian has stepped forward to work in conjunction with the Sandpoint Police Department and BTAA to house stray dogs for up to five days, “and then a very good price for Better To-
gether if we have to actually surrender that dog because we can’t find an owner.”
The Sandpoint Police Department will continue to pick up strays, but “through a different concept,” SPD Chief Corey Coon said.
“If you find a stray dog, you need to call the police department; we’re going to evaluate that stray dog and does it fit our definition of what a stray dog is, which means we’re going to get into, ‘Is it running out into traffic, does it look like it’s injured, is it biting other people, is it going after them?’” Coon added. “Just because they see a black lab in a neighborhood doesn’t mean that we’re going to go pick it up and shelter it — it’s going to have to fit the criteria of being a danger to themselves or somebody else,
and then we’ll take those dogs and shelter them.”
Under the previous protocol, any citizen of Sandpoint or county resident could pick up a dog and take it to BTAA, with the expense coming back on the city through its contract with the organization.
The city will maintain a contingency plan for sheltering dogs short-term at a secure shelter location in a building on city property. Meanwhile, the dog licensing program has been made voluntary and free — a change that Coon said has increased interest in participating, with about a half dozen residents coming forward to have their dogs entered into the system.
In addition, BTAA and local vets have also agreed to help the city collect information on dogs, including chip numbers.
The city is currently working on a memorandum of understanding with vet services and BTAA for how to move forward with the new policies, including working out prices.
“The long and short of all this is this brings us to a conclusion with a really elegant solution to the Better Together Animal Alliance challenge that we were facing,” Grimm said. “And the chief has worked closely with Mandy [Evans, of BTAA] on this and I take my hat off to both of them for finding this solution.”
More information on the free, voluntary dog licensing program is now available on the city’s newly revamped website, sandpointidaho.gov.
A rendering of how the Travers Park pump Track might look. Courtesy image.
Idaho’s worker earnings rose faster than most states, but incomes are
still relatively low
Gem State’s median annual worker earnings of $40,098 were 45th in the nation
By Kyle Pfannenstiel Idaho Capital Sun
Idaho worker earnings and family incomes are rising faster than most states in the nation.
That’s according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Idaho’s median family income rose 2.7% to more than $91,000, from 2022 to 2023 — the fourth highest growth rate of all states, the Idaho Department of Labor announced in a Sept. 13 news release.
Idaho’s median worker earnings also rose 3%, ranking seventh in the nation for its rate of growth. But Idaho workers’ fast-growing earnings of $40,098 per year was still the 45th lowest in the nation, the Department of Labor reported.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little touted the earnings growth as another sign of Idaho’s economic strength.
“The news that Idaho worker and family earning growth is outpacing almost every other state is welcome news and not altogether surprising because Idaho is experiencing unprecedented economic prosperity,” Little stated in a news release. “Our success comes from the ingenuity of our businesses, our strong families, good government, and an unrelenting focus on keeping taxes low and supporting businesses.”
Idaho’s wage growth concentrated in Boise, but Idaho Falls also saw big gains
Similar to Idaho’s recent wage gains, Idaho’s recent income growth was concentrated in and around the state’s capital in Boise, according to census estimates analyzed by the Idaho Department of Labor.
The Boise Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA, saw
median family incomes rise by 4.2%, to around $100,000 per year, the Department of Labor reported. Idaho Falls-area family incomes spiked by 11.3% to over $95,000 per year.
Idaho’s four other metropolitan statistical areas didn’t see significant changes, the Department of Labor reported.
“Idaho in general has a very healthy economy, and in particular the Boise MSA has been very, very healthy,” Idaho Department of Labor Regional Labor Economist Jan Roeser told the Idaho Capital Sun in an interview.
But Idaho’s median household income — 25th in the nation, at almost $75,000 annually — didn’t significantly change, the Department of Labor reported.
How other states’ incomes grew Montana was the only other Western state to have the top-10 fastest growing family median incomes. Idaho’s growth rate was just behind the District of Columbia, where family income rose 3.1% to over $157,000 per year — a nearly $5,000 jump from 2022.
While Idaho’s worker median earnings were 45th in the nation, neighboring Utah was at 26th, with nearly $42,400, per year in earnings. Utah’s earnings fell by 0.62%, ranking 30th for growth rate.
“All of our surrounding states, they basically have a different wage structure than Idaho has. But we’re rising. And the fact that we’re rising that fast, I think, is really encouraging,” Roeser said.
While Idaho’s low unemployment rates have slightly risen lately, she said part of that is “absorbing the civilian workforce,” like job searches for new high school graduates and spouses in new couples moving into Idaho.
A closer look at median household income
Unpacking the rise in income is complicated.
From 2022 to 2023, Idaho’s median household income — the typical income barometer — fell by $845 to $74,942. But because the census income data is adjusted for inflation, that mostly means Idaho’s buying power changed, not necessarily that income declined, Roeser said.
Still, the data shows Idaho’s income is rising over time. Idaho ranked 25th in the nation for median household income in 2023, compared to 23rd in 2022, 29th in 2021 and 32nd in 2019.
It isn’t immediately clear how median income changed in Idaho metropolitan areas. Because for all of Idaho’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas, the census reported the median household income data wasn’t statistically significant.
That means the U.S.
Census Bureau says its estimates didn’t have at least a 90% confidence interval. The American Community Survey estimates are based on survey data for a sample of residents, which was less than 13,000 Idahoans in 2023. That’s compared to the once-ina-decade full census headcount.
Only major population centers, called Metropolitan Statistical Areas, were included in the estimates. Those areas, combined, are home to 437,384 Idaho families, the census data estimates.
This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com.
BoCo median income is
lower than the state average, and poverty rates are higher
While Idaho’s median household income is logged at $74,942 — ranked dead center nationally in 25th place — the U.S. Census reported median household income in Bonner County at $61,816. Census figures from the 2022 American Survey five-year estimates break that down further. Families in Bonner County earn closer to the state median with $75,275, while married-couple families’ income came to $80,815. Meanwhile, non-family household income is $34,871. Overall, 11.9% of Bonner County’s 47,110 residents are considered to be living in poverty, compared to 10.1% statewide. The poverty rate for Bonner County residents between 18 and 64 years of age is 12%, and 8.8% for those residents 65 and older, according to the 2022 survey.
Statewide, 9.7% of Idahoans between 18 and 64 are considered to be below the poverty line, and 9.5% of residents older than 65 are living in poverty.
— Reader Staff
Media reports detail alleged threats made against Trump by Sandpoint man
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Headlines have appeared across the country and even run overseas, detailing the allegations that 64-year-old Sandpoint man Warren Jones Crazybull made as many as nine threatening calls to former-President Donald Trump and is currently incarcerated awaiting trial.
According to numerous reports — citing unidentified “court documents” — Crazybull called Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida with statements promising violence, as well as made a number of social media posts stating that he would “take him [Trump] down to single combat,” and, “I’m coming for you.”
Reports also stated that Crazybull spoke of plans to find Trump at his private Bedminster golf club in New Jersey and “down him personally and kill him.”
Crazybull made other statements on social media, including that he’d been instructed by “heaven” and former-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to assassinate Trump in order to stop him from succeeding in his 2024 presidential election bid. Crazybull also called for the killing of “John John Kennedy Jr.,” despite the fact that the son of late-President John F. Kennedy died in a small-engine air crash in 1999; claimed that a “god particle” had been released; and the younger Kennedy and Trump had detonated nuclear weapons “apparently downstairs.”
In addition, Crazybull stated that he “owned” the Black Hills of South Dakota as a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and decried treaty violations.
Though the news of Crazybull’s threats, arrest and indictment didn’t break until Sept. 23, the U.S. Secret Service arrested Crazybull in Missoula, Mont. on Aug. 1 after tracking his location through cell phone data. He was indicted in Idaho District Court on Aug. 20 and pleaded not guilty to a count of making threats against a former president. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison and fines, or both, according to reports.
The Reader was able to locate court records dated Aug. 1 and Aug. 20 in Idaho District Court, as well as Aug. 2 in Montana District Court, but was unable to obtain them by press time.
According to media reports, Crazybull is in custody at the Kootenai
Bits ’n’ Pieces
From east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:
According to U.S. News, the Texas infant death rate increased 8% after its abortion law was enacted in 2021.
Russia is behind a fake story about presidential candidate Kamala Harris being involved in a hit-and-run accident in 2011, Microsoft reported. The story used a paid actor and a fake news outlet.
California has enacted a series of bills to curtail the spread of “deepfakes” ahead of the 2024 elections, Newsweek wrote. Supporters say the bills preserve freedom of speech by not targeting satire or parody and instead focus on deceptive materials that lack clear labeling that AI was involved.
County Jail on a hold by the U.S. Marshal’s Office, with a trial scheduled for Monday, Oct. 28.
The phone calls to Mar-a-Lago allegedly took place on July 31 — a little more than two weeks after the attempted assassination of Trump at a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania, which left the former president with a grazing wound to his right ear. One rally attendee was killed and two others wounded. The suspect in that incident — 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks — was killed by security officers at the scene.
A second assassination attempt was foiled by Secret Service agents on Sept. 16, when 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, of Hawaii, was found hiding in the brush with supplies and a rifle near Trump as he was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, Fla. Agents fired on Routh, who fled but was arrested soon after.
Charges for Routh are still being formulated, according to a Sept. 23 report from the Associated Press, but could rise to life in prison if convicted of attempting to “assassinate a major political candidate.”
Media sources around the country have reported that Crazybull told arresting officers that he had received past psychiatric care, and a Secret Service report indicated that he “appeared as if his thought processes were racing and confused,” and “seemed paranoid.”
Donald Trump wants a shutdown of the federal government if the Safeguard American Eligibility (SAVE) Act is not part of must-pass congressional legislation, numerous media reported. The SAVE Act is touted as stopping immigrants from illegally voting. It’s already a felony to do so.
Historian and columnist Thom Hartmann pointed out that SAVE could easily disenfranchise women voters, who are less inclined to vote for Trump. If passed, SAVE requires those without a passport or other proof of citizenship containing their married name to produce a non-copied birth certificate and a current form of identification — both with the exact same name. Women’s birth certificates often don’t have last names that match their current last name, and according to Hartmann, that could challenge 90% of all married women who plan to vote, since most start using their married name without going through legal name-change formalities.
Triggering a government shutdown to please Trump is opposed by Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, who calls it “politically beyond stupid,” Newsweek reported. The House has proposed a three-month, stop-gap funding bill that excluded Trump’s SAVE Act, according to U.S. News.
The Israel-Palestine conflict cut short the olive harvest season in the West Bank last year, resulting in higher prices. Palestinian farmers were blocked from accessing their lands and olive harvests were interrupted by Israeli settlers who poisoned, cut down and set fire to centuries-old olive trees, according to the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
Rights. The USCPR, in partnership with The Palestine Fair Trade Association, has been planting olive tree saplings at Palestinian farms in 40 villages.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates and indicated more cuts are likely, since regulators said there’s no longer a pressing need to fight inflation. CBS reported that the cut is expected to lower costs on “everything,” from mortgages to credit cards. While few believed her, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had maintained there could be a “soft landing” rather than a recession by slowing inflation. Trump said that if reelected, he would not reappoint Fed Chair Jerome Powell — his former appointee — and would personally want more say in monetary policy.
According to Powell, an independent central bank isolated from direct control by political authorities avoids monetary policies favoring office-holders. That independence, he said, puts the focus on maximum employment and price stability “for all Americans.”
A Haitian nonprofit filed criminal charges against candidates Trump and Vance for “an orchestrated ... campaign of lies” about Springfield, Ohio’s Haitian immigrants, The Guardian reported. The charges include disruption of public services, false alarms, telecommunications harassment, aggravated menacing and complicity.
The candidates’ statements, such as Haitians are eating people’s pets, led to 30 bomb threats and violence against the city’s Haitians. The filing seeks the arrest of Trump and Vance.
According to The New York Times, more than 100 former national security officials and former Republican Congress members recently endorsed Harris. They did so because Trump has demonstrated “dangerous qualities,” such as an “unusual affinity” for dictators and “contempt for the norms of decent, ethical and lawful behavior.” Then, on Sept. 22, 741 national security leaders also endorsed Harris, Newsweek reported. Those signers said the choice is between “democracy and authoritarianism,” and Trump is ill-informed, impulsive and “unfit” for the job.” In contrast they said Harris is “prepared and strategic.”
Blast from the past: “We are not what we know, but what we are willing to learn.” — Mary Catherine Bateson, American writer and cultural anthropologist (1939-2021)
A screenshot from a video posted to Facebook in which Warren Jones Crazybull made threats to former-President Donald Trump.
Top left: “Five women bike to the beach every day for a sunrise swim May through October,” wrote photographer Eli Sevenich, who listed the crew as Valerie Plaster and Linda Navarre (pictured) as well as Josie Buckmiller, Eli Sevenich and Pam Duquette.
Top right: Current and former Reader staff members at Matchwood Brewing Co. on Sept. 20 gather to launch the “Drink the Reader” community beer. From left to right: Former Publisher co-Publisher John Reuter, former Editor Cameron Rasmusson, Publisher Ben Olson, Staff Writer Soncirey Mitchell and editor Zach Hagadone. Missing in the photo is former co-Publisher Chris DeCleur and former news editor Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft.
Middle left: Betsy Murdock, Pam Duquette, Carrie Clayton, Karen Glaeser, Karen Hempstead and Julie Perchynski enjoyed a day on a charter sailboat on Lake Pend Oreille. Photo by Karen Hempstead.
Bottom left: Hoisting a commemorative glass at Schweitzer’s Fall Fest over Labor Day weekend. Photo by Rich Milliron.
Bottom center: “My Tennessee friends ventured to Sandpoint for our annual guys’ trip at the end of August,” wrote Lynn Algee. “We rented a boat and hung out at Pearl’s on the Lake. The weather was perfect; however, Captain Koonce was the only brave one to jump in the water.” Back row, left to right: Jay Koonce, Holmes Bowen, Matthew Scrivener. Front row, left to right: Jason Finch, Lynn Algee.
Looking out to
To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.
Right:
Lake Pend Oreille from Pearl Island near Hope. Photograph by Geoge Loustalet.
Bouquets:
• Thank you so much to Andrea Marcoccio and Kennden Culp at Matchwood Brewing Co. for such an excellent release party on Sept. 20 for the “Drink the Reader” community beer. Also, thanks to all of our wonderful supporters for turning out and buying a beer or four to help support the Reader. While Matchwood sold out of the first canning run on release night, they will continue to brew and can more of the beer as long as people keep buying it. To purchase the commemorative cans, stop by Matchwood Brewing Co. and tell them Ben sent you.
• Do you leave a clean campsite after you’re finished with it? If so, this Bouquet is for you. After returning from backpacking high in the mountains last weekend, I realized how much I enjoy these alpine retreats. Unlike car camping spots, the alpine lakes and ridges take a lot of hard work to reach, so they likely don’t attract the lazy rubes who might discard dirty diapers, beer cans and other detritus when they leave their outdoors retreats. I know I harp on this a lot, but it’s important. Why the hell would you live in such a beautiful place unless you make a minimal effort to keep it as pristine as possible?
Barbs:
• A member of the city of Sandpoint staff recently said at a council meeting that, “Nobody really skateboarded in Sandpoint” before the Concrete Lake skatepark was built at Travers Park. Umm, that’s news to all of my punk skater friends during the 1980s and ’90s. Skateboarding was literally all we did back then (sure, store owners would come yelling out of their doors to shake brooms at us for skating outside their shops, but it was fun).
‘Idaho primaries are going to change, and for once we have a say in it’…
Dear editor,
Thirteen years ago, the Republican Central Committee closed Idaho’s primaries and blocked the votes of hundreds of thousands of Idahoans. Previously, I could declare a party at the polling place; now I must go into the county and sign a registration card well before the election. One Republican Central Committee proposed rule change requires two years of being a registered Republican before being allowed to vote in a primary — two years.
The result of closing the primary is that almost 276,000 people are blocked from voting in the primary. Before closing the primary, about 40% of Idahoans were Independents.
Proposition 1 opens the primaries again. Everyone gets to vote in the primary and the top four move on to November. In November, we would use the same ranked-choice voting system that the Bonner County Republican Central Committee uses. If your first choice is not the top two, your second pick gets your vote. Votes will never be assigned to someone you didn’t vote for.
In November, we have a chance to allow independent thinking back into Idaho. Vote for Proposition 1.
Mary Haley Sandpoint
Matthee’s actions show she’ll fight for Idaho libraries…
Dear editor, Karen Matthee puts her values into action. One example is the July 1, 2024 library rally that she organized to call attention to H.B. 710. This law states that school and library staff members who provide youths with materials deemed “harmful” to minors can be fined $250. Plaintiffs could receive uncapped damages that threaten to bankrupt or shut down some libraries.
In fact, Donnelly Public Library will no longer allow anyone under 18 to visit unless accompanied by a parent in order to avoid litigation they simply can’t afford.
The library rally drew over 80 people, including retired librarians who expressed their appreciation to Karen Matthee for bringing attention to this issue.
Recently, Karen has been speaking with organizations such as the North Idaho Library Alliance, and has arranged for this group to come
to Sandpoint.
Karen Matthee is a candidate who uses her platform to bring attention to important issues. It’s easy to say you care about libraries, but you can see by her actions that Karen will fight for our libraries!
Karen Matthee who will always put her values into action for all of us! Join me in voting for Karen on Nov. 5: kmattheeforidaho.com.
Susan Bates-Harbuck Sandpoint
Hopes
for the Nov. 5 election…
Dear editor,
I’m impressed with Idaho’s voter pamphlet I received in the mail today, and encourage everyone to read it carefully this election season. One item on the ballot I was unaware of is the proposed constitutional amendment H.J.R. 5, which is intended to embed in our Constitution a statement that “individuals who are not citizens of the U.S. may not be qualified electors in any election held within the state.”
Why do we need an amendment for something that’s already required in Idaho elections? This is not a current problem and is just another ploy by the party of scare tactics to make you think “illegals” are trying to take over our country. Constitutional amendments should be reserved for serious changes. I recommend voting “no” on H.J.R. 5. Meanwhile, I highly recommend voting for Proposition 1 to create open primaries. That way, people like me — an independent — won’t have to register for a party that doesn’t play well with others, because their closed primary restricts my being able to vote for a variety of candidates.
If I have one wish for this election, it’s that people will vote for candidates representing kindness, integrity, bipartisanship and sanity.
Judy York Sandpoint
There is no one more fit for a BOCC seat than Steve Johnson…
Dear editor,
Remember when 8,219 North Idahoans voted Scott Herndon out of office in the May primary? Fifty-two percent of District 1 voters sent a message to Mr. Herndon that he was out of touch with his constituents and their values. Why would we expect any different representation from a Herndon-endorsed county commissioner candidate? I’m speaking here of candidate Brian Domke. If a majority of voters
voted for change in May, why vote for more of the same Herndon-esque representation in November?
I’ve known Domke’s opponent, Steve Johnson, for years. He is a farmer, a builder, a former teacher, a father of four and one of the most humble, down-to-earth people I’ve ever met. He is the type of person who always replies to your emails, texts and calls. His values reflect a love and respect of the rural life: responsible growth, individual freedoms and financial accountability — just to name a few.
Be it his career experience, profound volunteer work or his personal authenticity, I know of no person more fit for the county commissioner seat than Steve.
Let’s get the Board of County Commissioners back on track — let’s elect Steve Johnson!
For Idaho,
Emma Stanford Bonner County
‘Larson: a candidate for the people’...
Dear editor, Some candidates run for office because they feel called to improve the lives of their fellow citizens. Such is the case with Kathryn Larson who “never thought she would be involved in politics.” Having spent time with her, it’s apparent that her priority is the everyday lives of the people of North Idaho. She supports libraries and schools and was involved in the Priest River Recall campaign. She led the project “Library Love Letters” in support of local libraries, which have been under fire from the IFF (Idaho Freedom Foundation).
Kathryn is running as a Democrat against Cornel Rasor, who has signed the IFF oath to represent their agenda, not necessarily what is right for the people of North Idaho.
That our representatives are undermining our schools and libraries is madness.
Larson has continued to reach out to Republicans who do not support the IFF and has continued to garner their support. So, take the time to meet Kathryn Larson. You will be impressed with her intelligence, foresight and ability to listen. Her background makes her an ideal candidate to reach across the aisle and get things done. Please pay attention to voting records before casting your ballot: kathrynlarsonforIdaho.com.
Jane Hoover Priest River
Steve Johnson knows the community needs of BoCo residents…
Dear editor, I am pleased to have the opportunity to cast my vote for Steve Johnson for Bonner County commissioner, District 1. Steve is a lifelong resident of Bonner County and an active member of our community. As an educator, farmer, library trustee, youth coach and in many more roles, Steve is a part of the community and knows its needs.
Steve realizes that people need to be heard, valued and treated with respect. One of his goals is to return those values to the Board of County Commissioners. Replacing the contention and disrespect recently displayed by commissioners to each other and the public would be one of Steve’s goals.
Steve is cognizant of the rapid growth of the area and understands the need for a Comprehensive Plan that preserves our rural quality of life and embraces development that enhances the community. This includes improving roads and bridges and being sure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and to improve taxpayer lives and the infrastructure of the county.
Steve will work to preserve your individual freedoms, including responsible gun ownership, and the way of life we all cherish in Bonner County. And he will do it with a smile!
Sherry L. Ennis Sandpoint
Don’t believe the Prop. 1 rebuttals…
Dear editor, I just read through Phil McGrane’s GOP, SOS voter pamphlet. It is out just in time for the absentee ballot voters.
I found his assumption on Prop. 1 interesting — all are unknown but sound so banal. He used “no federally certified software exists for this process” as a lame excuse. There is Alaska and Utah that have similar methods and therefore software.
A rebuttal argument calls Prop. 1 “a voting gimmick,” said by those with Trump minds and willful ignorant folks; which makes sense, since the current voting method is skewed to Republicans.
Prop 1. will take away the stranglehold Republicans have on Idaho voters.
Sue Koller Cocolalla
Idaho’s nursing shortage: A crisis we can’t afford to ignore
By Robert Vande Merwe Reader Contributor
Idaho’s health care system faces a serious challenge, and it’s not just about doctors. The entire health care workforce is stretched thin. This workforce shortage affects all of us, and we need to find solutions now before it gets any worse.
Let’s focus for a moment on just one part of this system-wide problem: Idaho’s nursing shortage. Our state is ranked 50th in the U.S. for the number of nurses per capita, with just 7.83 RNs per 1,000 people. With so few nurses, hospitals, nursing facilities and other care facilities are all competing for the same small pool of talent. As the need continues to grow, nurses will get poached from one place to another, leaving even more gaps in care everywhere.
This shortage is already causing real problems. Since the pandemic, Idaho has lost
< LTE, con’t from Page 8 >
Don’t be fooled by partisan Prop. 1 opposition…
Dear editor,
Do not be fooled. Highly partisan Proposition 1 “informational” meetings are here. One meeting is even scheduled in our Elections Office building. These slick Powerpoint presentations are attempts by one political faction to retain power. Thus, in the presentations, the Prop. 1 open primary is repeatedly called a “jungle” primary. A sample unaffiliated candidate is Horst Crap. The Democrat is Patty Poison. Credits include The Heritage Foundation.
“Don’t Californicate Idaho” is called a play on words. Prop. 1 instant runoff/ranked choice voting is selectively described as going awry.
Do not be fooled by a well-rehearsed talker. Listen to your many neighbors showing up to have conversations with you about Proposition 1.
Only a small number of Idahoans are OK with women getting life-flighted to neighboring states for emergency pregnancy complications. Only a few want big government in our bedrooms and doctors’ offices. They are OK with our professional doctors, librarians and teachers leaving Idaho
one nursing facility, 30 assisted-living facilities and other providers are on the verge of closure. When facilities close — especially in rural communities — it’s the patients and their families who feel the greatest effects. Families are forced to drive dramatically longer distances, which can add up to an hour each way just to see their loved ones. If more facilities close, more families will face this hardship. Instead of daily visits, trips to see loved ones might be reduced to just one
because of threatened legal problems. This small group is OK with siphoning off our public education dollars to predatory private school curriculum salespeople.
We neighbor Idahoans want our freedoms back. Do not be fooled.
Christine Moon Sandpoint
‘Bring back balance to North Idaho’…
Dear editor,
Given the current political climate, I marvel at the fearless people who have the courage and commitment to run for office. Such a candidate, Kathryn Larson, is running for Legislative District 1 House Seat B. You can learn about her by checking her website (kathrynlarsonforidaho.com) or maybe meeting her at a county fair or the Farmers’ Market. She spends most of her time out meeting people in both counties, to learn more about their concerns. It is a time-consuming process, but also grassroots democracy in action.
She is running because she loves this community and feels strongly that she can represent all of us. One goal is to “bring balance back
or two times per week because of the time and cost associated with these trips.
Idaho has only 80 nursing facilities in the entire state, with about 6,000 beds available to our population that requires this specialized care. Some nursing facilities in Idaho are licensed for up to 150 beds, but only care for about 80 patients because they can’t hire enough staff to care for more.
Hospitals don’t have enough nurses either, but they experience the nursing shortage in other ways, too. It’s common to hear of patients that needlessly remain in hospitals when they’re ready to be discharged to a nursing facility, but can’t be discharged because a staffed bed is not available. These patients don’t belong in a hospital. They could end up getting sicker, feel disoriented or lose their spirit.
Everyone agrees they’d be better off in a nursing facility, but there’s just no room for
to North Idaho” by working for the common good. Schools must be adequately funded. We need a local economy that works for the people who live and work here. In the Legislature, she would use skills honed in the business world, such as negotiating and building consensus.
She is a person of integrity, good energy and a deep commitment to whatever responsibility she assumes. She analyzes issues carefully and fairly. I hope you’ll join me in voting for Kathryn Larson for District 1 House Seat B.
Rae Charlton Sandpoint
A
vote for Prop. 1 is a vote for the republic…
Dear editor,
When Benjamin Franklin exited Independence Hall in 1787, he was asked, “What do we have, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
A “yes” vote on Prop. 1 is a step in keeping the republic. Voting “yes” moves the focus from the party to the candidate and the issues. It gives all voters a voice in selecting the candidate who best represents the constituents, instead of the
them without more nurses.
Some patients have stayed in hospitals for an extra 200 days because they have nowhere else to go; and, in most cases, these extended stays are not reimbursed to the hospital.
This nursing shortage isn’t something we can fix overnight. It’s going to take years, even decades, to get enough nurses trained and working. But with every new nursing graduate getting multiple job offers, it’s tough to fill the gap.
Things may get worse for Idaho nursing facilities before they get better.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing a rule that would require nursing facilities to have RNs on staff 24 hours a day. While this might sound like a good idea, the truth is that Idaho doesn’t have enough nurses to make it happen. Most facilities have an RN on one shift and licensed practical nurses when an RN is not clinically necessary.
candidate who pledges allegiance to the party bosses.
All voters receive the same ballot. That simplifies elections.
A voter is not held hostage to a political party but can choose from among all the candidates on the ballot. Independent candidates will get exposure on the primary ballot. Currently, these candidates only appear on the general election ballot and that limits their visibility.
Prop. 1 ensures that an elected official has the support of a majority, not a plurality of voters because the ranked-choice or instant runoff piece requires the winning candidate to have 50% plus one of the vote.
Most of us are familiar with elimination rounds. Ranked choice is similar and it’s simple enough that even my grandkids figured it out.
Mary Ollie Bonners Ferry
If the CMS rule goes into effect, the options will be grim for many Idaho facilities. Either pay sky-high rates for traveling nurses — which Medicaid won’t fully cover — or close their doors for good.
At the Idaho Health Care Association, we support the idea of better patient care, but this rule isn’t possible without major changes. We need to ensure our nursing facilities have enough staff to provide the care that Idahoans deserve. That’s going to require action from the state and federal government, Idaho’s education institutions and private health care establishments.
If we don’t act now, we risk losing more nursing facilities and leaving even more families without the care they need.
Robert Vande Merwe is the executive director of the Idaho Health Care Association.
Robert Vande Merwe. Courtesy photo.
Science: Mad about
boeing starliner: part ii
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
We’ve returned to explore what happened to the Boeing Starliner and why it stranded two astronauts on the International Space Station. Last week, we learned about Starliner’s Test Flight 1, and how because the craft’s internal clock was set to 11 hours ahead, it burned most of its fuel to correct the error. Meanwhile, a software bug had readied the crew and service modules to fire thrusters in reverse — setting them on a course to slam them together rather than break them apart.
Test Flight 2 was also plagued with myriad issues preceding launch. Though it had been slated to lift off in March 2021, a number of delays arose as the deadline approached, pushing the eventual launch window to August or September of that year. Once the craft’s launch vehicle, the Atlas V, had been rolled out at the end of July 2021, another craft already docked with the ISS had a misfire of its thrusters that forced the space station to perform corrective firings to maintain a stable orbit. This meant it would be impossible for Starliner to dock at the ISS on the established timeframe.
Quirky examples are a Mad About Science staple, and you’re about to get one. Imagine that your friend hopped on board a train passing by Travers Park. That friend is going to throw a red ball at a high arc. You need to throw your green ball at precisely the right arc to stick to your friend’s red ball in mid air so they connect at precisely the right moment. You rear back with your throw, when suddenly a bird smacks the red ball and deviates the arc ever
so slightly. You have mere milliseconds to recalculate your throw. Good luck.
This is essentially what happened, except the red ball (the ISS) would eventually swing all the way around the Earth again to line up for another pass, so long as the crew was able to correct the deviation in its orbit. Rather than scramble and risk the lives of everyone onboard, it was easier to just delay Test Flight 2 until proper conditions were met.
Orbital mechanics are hard.
Valve and thruster failures further delayed Starliner’s second test flight until May 2022. You may be left wondering: “Is it common for this many part failures to happen on a vehicle with an 11-digit price tag?”
The short answer is... Sort of? These are very complex mechanical devices with networks of parts requiring a lot of complicated interactions between them. Failures are not uncommon, which is why engineers are so thorough with layers of checklists to cross-reference every conceivable part ahead of a launch.
However, this also feeds directly into a major issue that has become shockingly apparent since 2023.
In July 1997, Boeing merged with aviation company McDonnell Douglas. Up to this point, Boeing had a sparkling reputation as a company led by engineers, whose input was vital at every level for the company’s success. They built good air- and spacecraft because what they were doing was important, because lives were on the line and because engineers know how to engineer things. McDonnell Douglas took a different approach with a more business-centered mindset. That is, the idea was to build something and then see
where costs could be cut to increase the end profit. This is fine if you’re producing something like a computer mouse, a pen or cardboard boxes. This becomes extremely problematic when you’re designing aircraft that carry hundreds of human beings.
Technically, Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas, but it appeared that the engineer-focused leadership took a backseat to cost-cutting and bolstering the bottom line. This was supported by two major disasters in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
In October 2018, Lion Air flight JT 610 crashed into the ocean after takeoff and killed 189 people. It was a virtually brand new aircraft that went into a dive maneuver because of a malfunctioning sensor, which the crew was not able to override.
In October 2019, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed after takeoff and killed 157 people. Another software error that could not be overridden by the flight crew was the cause of the disaster. This triggered a surge of corporate whistleblowers and international governmental investigations into Boeing, which was only made worse in 2022 and 2023, as amateur footage of parts falling off a number of Boeing commercial aircraft surfaced online.
The real cost of the aircraft that had been “saved” was being shown in vivid, terrifying detail for the whole world to see, and it appeared this bled heavily into Starliner’s final design as well.
Starliner’s third flight, and its first crewed flight piloted by NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, launched on June 5, 2024.
En route to docking with the International Space Station, helium leaks from the
craft’s propulsion system were detected. This was rectified by closing the helium manifolds, which then shut down 28 of the reaction control systems — the thrusters the craft needs to precisely dock with the ISS. During docking, five more thrusters unexpectedly ceased operation. These problems were tested on an identical spacecraft on Earth, which exposed defects in Teflon ring seals that were deforming and restricting propulsion when exposed to heat. However, upon testing in orbit, this issue did not occur.
The decision was ultimately
made to send Starliner back to Earth uncrewed. Though it did land safely back on Earth, it encountered two more new software issues related to navigation that required corrective action during descent.
Embarrassingly for Boeing, the astronauts they left behind will be retrieved by their competitor, SpaceX, in an upcoming mission.
On an unrelated, but also unfortunate, note the Spacepoint Intro to Rocketry that was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28 had to be postponed until Nov. 9. Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner
• The word “bus” comes from the Latin term omnibus, which means “for all.”
• Buses were invented in France in 1662 by Blaise Pascal, who developed a system of horsedrawn carriages to run regular routes around Paris on a schedule.
• In 1939, school transportation officials from each state gathered in New York for a convention to decide what school buses would look like in uniformity around the country. Prior to this convention, school buses were painted in various colors. Some at the convention wanted to paint the buses red, white and blue, which organizers agreed was merely patriotic window-dressing, stating that the colors would even make buses less visible. The color yellow was ultimately chosen because it allows for black lettering to stand out the most, even in darkness.
• While double-decker buses are a symbol of the United Kingdom, they originated in France, where the first double-deckers were pulled
• Speaking of England, the “BioBus,” created in 2014, carries about 40 passengers between Bath and Bristol Airport in England. The bus is powered entirely on food waste and human excrement.
• Most buses aren’t required to have seat belts because they aren’t particularly helpful in terms of bus safety. Buses often move at a slow pace, and seats are usually closely and evenly placed next to one another, which creates “compartments” that act as protective barriers in the event of a collision.
• The fastest school bus ever was created by a Wisconsin man, who installed a GE J-79 jet engine in it, reaching 367 miles per hour.
• There are about 3 million city buses in operation worldwide, many running on diesel, but almost 400,000 are electric-powered.
by horses. The first motorized double-decker bus was created in France in 1906 and was called the Schneider Brillie P2.
The Boeing Starliner docked to the International Space Station on July 3, 2024. Photo courtesy of NASA.
PERSPECTIVES
Emily Articulated
U.S. history, 2050 edition
By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
Flipping open to a glossy image of Barack Obama, the iconic “Hope” poster filled the page, with the former president’s calm, resolute expression etched in hues of blue, red and white. Next to it, a contrasting image of former-President Donald Trump dominated the space: standing on a stage, fist raised defiantly, blood trickling down the side of his face as he roared “Fight!” The caption stated, “The juxtaposition of these two figures captures the volatile and transformative decades of U.S. politics in the 2010s and 2020s.”
It was a U.S. history textbook, print date 2050. The title of the chapter read, “U.S. Politics of the ’10s and ’20s: Media Consumption and Its Contributions to Political Polarization.” Beside the images, the text began:
Obama and the Digital Campaign Revolution
In early 2007, Barack Obama was a little-known senator from Illinois, running an uphill battle against a political heavyweight, Hillary Clinton, for the Democratic nomination. Against the odds, and to the surprise of political pundits, Obama’s campaign would shift the landscape of American politics forever. On Nov. 4, 2008, he became the first Black president of the United States, defeating Republican candidate John McCain in a historic election.
A key factor in Obama’s success was his groundbreaking use of emerging social media platforms and digital strategies. His campaign not only raised unprecedented amounts of
funding through online donations, but also empowered millions of volunteers through digital outreach. The Obama campaign’s use of social media wasn’t just innovative; it was the dawn of a new era in political mobilization.
By the time Obama was elected, smartphones were becoming ubiquitous. The first iPhone was released in 2007; and, by 2008, Facebook had launched its mobile app. Instagram followed in 2010, cementing the era of mobile social networking. From this point on, no political campaign would be complete without a robust online presence.
Author’s note: Facebook was the first project of Meta, now considered a digital artifact, hosted in the Library of Congress’ Virtual Archive.
Social Media’s Influence on News Consumption
By the mid-2010s, over half of American adults were regularly receiving their news from social media sites, transforming not only how news was consumed but how it was shaped.
A study published in the Journal of New Media and Society noted a startling trend that would remain a constant for decades: traditional journalistic values were losing ground to metrics
such as “likes,” “shares” and “comments.”
The study found that as news became more widely shared on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, the accuracy of the stories often diminished. As the quest for virality overtook the pursuit of truth, content creators increasingly catered to sensationalism and partisanship, deepening political divides and entrenching echo chambers, in which individuals were exposed only to news that aligned with their pre-existing beliefs. The power of algorithms fed into this phenomenon, prioritizing content that elicited emotional reactions. Author’s note: Algorithms were the foundational building blocks of Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), creating near-sentient systems like me.
The Interpersonal Fallout of Political Division
As the media landscape fragmented, so did American society. The rise of hyper-polarized media led to widening rifts within families, friendships and communities. Political affiliation became a key factor in selecting a spouse, maintaining family relationships and forming personal identity.
During the 2020s, the narrative within the media reached new extremes. Political opponents became caricatures, representing the worst stereotypes of their party. On one side, Republicans were labeled as anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQIA+ and climate change-denying zealots. On the other, Democrats were branded as baby-killing, anti-family radicals. Media outlets on both sides perpetuated these narratives, feeding the public’s increasing disdain for those on the opposite end of the political spectrum.
The ability to find common ground eroded as individuals became more entrenched in their beliefs, fueled by media that thrived on sensationalism and conflict. Author’s note: “Climate Change” was the original moniker of “The Climate Crisis” we know today — the lack of urgency in its title contributing to its ineffectiveness.
The 2024 Election: A Turning Point
The 2024 presidential election marked a pivotal moment
in U.S. political history, its long-term effects rippling through every election that followed. Author’s note: Turn the page to find out what happened next.
Emily Erickson is a writer and business owner with an affinity for black coffee and playing in the mountains. Connect with her online at www.bigbluehat.studio.
Emily Erickson.
Our local wildlife habitats aren’t promised — we need to protect them
Make your voice heard in support of protecting Trestle Creek during October hearing
By Jennifer Ekstrom Reader Contributor
Heading home from the gorgeous views at Lunch Peak a few weeks ago, with a full bucket of huckleberries that were bursting with juicy goodness, I couldn’t imagine the day could be any more perfect. But as I swung through the day-use area near the mouth of Trestle Creek, it did. My eyes caught the red glimmer of spawning kokanee salmon as they shimmied upstream against the current to find perfect spots to build their nests (called redds) and lay their eggs. What better way to top off a perfect Idaho day than see the start of the next generation of salmon?
I watched the fish rest in small pools and gain strength before bursting through the spots where the current was swift. It’s truly awe inspiring to witness their instinctual resolve to find the best place to spawn before they die. It’s the cycle of life before your very eyes. I encourage everyone to visit this special place in the fall, where you can easily witness this wonder.
But this experience — and this place — isn’t promised. Although Trestle Creek has a legacy in North Idaho, and deserves a place in our future, it faces a threat we know all too well: inappropriate development.
When considering the ecological importance of Trestle Creek, it’s easy to see how devastating the impacts of losing this special place would be. According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), Trestle Creek offers the best spawning area for kokanee salmon and threatened bull trout in the entire Pend Oreille basin. Before 1999, when our bull trout were classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), anglers could catch and eat these native fish. Although that abundance no longer exists, Trestle Creek
still represents a stronghold; in bull trout redd counts done by IDFG and Avista Utilities in 22 tributaries in the Pend Oreille Basin, approximately half of the redds counted occur in Trestle Creek alone.
Still, Trestle Creek is facing challenges. The most recent report by IDFG and Avista Utilities reveals that the number of bull trout redds in Trestle Creek declined by nearly half in 2023, compared to 2022. What’s more, the counts found less than half the number of redds compared to the 10-year average.
This doesn’t just spell trouble for our bull trout. As one of the more sensitive fish species, bull trout can be considered a “canary in a coal mine” when it comes to water quality and habitat problems — giving us a preview of threats that other fish and wildlife will soon face.
One of the main causes of their decline? Habitat destruction. The warning lights are flashing, and sending us a message: If we want to save our native bull trout, we must protect Trestle Creek.
Idahoans — especially North Idahoans — care about our native fish. We are not the same without them. Despite knowing the devastating threat losing this habitat would be to our ESA-listed fish, The Idaho Club has persisted with various proposals to build a marina and housing development at the mouth of Trestle Creek. The most recent proposal would significantly undermine the possibility of bull trout survival — damaging bull trout habitat by building a commercial marina for 88 boats, plus a breakwater, pedestrian bridge, parking lot and seven houses with pri-
vate docks. The Idaho Club’s new plan would remove the main shoreline, a part of the existing island and parts of the interior of the peninsula for a total excavation of 12,500 cubic yards of lakebed across 3.2 acres. They would remove natural vegetation and harden 3,830 feet of shoreline.
It gets worse. The development would also welcome hordes of new boat traffic, bringing noise, garbage, and the potential for oil and gas leaks. There is no plan for a restroom facility for the public to use, nor for a sewage pumpout station that would service the boats. Polluted runoff from the new houses, lawns, parking lot and roads would also impact water quality.
In total, this development would significantly impact the habitat available to bull trout, kokanee salmon and other species that make North Idaho special — if we let it.
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), which is in charge of permitting marina developments and alterations of the lakebed, is hosting a hearing at Sandpoint High School on Monday, Oct. 7, where the public is invited to weigh in on The Idaho Club’s proposal.
Any public comments that cannot be heard on Oct. 7 will continue on Tuesday, Oct. 8. You can voice your concerns
ahead of time by sending a message to navigablewaterways@idl.idaho.gov. Please note application No. L-96S-2798A in your comments. Comments will be accepted until the hearing is complete.
An additional hearing has been requested of the Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of permitting the dredging and filling of the lakebed. We will keep the community informed when this hearing is scheduled.
Our public agencies are obligated to protect public trust values, such as water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic life and aesthetic beauty. Trestle Creek would best serve public trust values if left intact and undisturbed.
Our community rallied to stop similar proposals three times already. Unfortunately, it appears that our message has not been heard. Please don’t let up now; speak up once again to protect this special place and critical habitat.
I hope that people tomorrow, next year and generations to come will have the opportunity to witness the wonder of life that my eyes beheld the other day, as I munched on tangy sweet huckleberries and felt the sort of peace that only nature can provide. But that isn’t promised. We must fight for it, together.
Jennifer Ekstrom is North Idaho director for the Idaho Conservation League.
BY THE NUMBERS
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
3%
The decrease in violent crime across the U.S. in 2023, compared to the prior year. Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter fell an estimated 11.6% and rape declined by 9.4% year over year, despite Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s claims that crime is “through the roof.”
10%
The proportion of young men in the U.S. who show behavior that indicates a gambling problem, compared to just 3% of the general population, according to a survey conducted by the Fairleigh Dickinson University.
1.5 million
The number of cases backlogged to the IRS for processing since the agency imposed a moratorium on new Employee Retention Credit claims more than a year ago. The ERC was deployed by the federal government during the pandemic to help support businesses and keep Americans on the job and earning wages.
9
The number of presidential candidates on the Idaho 2024 general election ballot.
$11.4 million
The amount of money raised by the Idaho Department of Lands for the eight Priest Lake endowment lots recently sold at public auction. The total is more than $500,000 above the appraised value of the lots. The State Board of Land Commissioners approved a plan to divest the state’s ownership of cottage sites over time in 2010. IDL will offer remaining lake lots for auction through 2039.
Theory of Unknown Origin: ‘They’re eating the pets’
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The rise in xenophobia in the U.S. has opened the door for a range of stereotypes to step into the spotlight — including the renewed popularity of the claim that immigrants eat cats and dogs. Though the racist conspiracy theory has only recently received serious media attention, thanks to remarks made by former-President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance, its American cultural roots stretch back more than a century.
The U.S. emerged as a colonial power in the early 20th century after seizing control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. Americans became fascinated with the newly conquered people and, eager to justify the subsequent Philippine-American War and demonstrate its imperial prowess to other nations, the U.S. fed this interest with the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition — also known as the St. Louis World’s Fair — which showcased more than 1,000 Filipinos in human zoos.
Perhaps the most popular exhibit was a reproduction of a village populated by the indigenous Igorot people. Anthropologists used the zoo to further the racist theory that white people were more evolved than people of color by showcasing cultural differences that Americans would consider “savage.”
Proponents of U.S. colonialism could then argue for the necessity of “civilizing” the indigenous people — though thousands of civilians were imprisoned and killed in the process.
The alleged behavior among Igorots that drew the most shock and revulsion from fairgoers was the practice of eating dogs.
The April 11, 1904 edition of the St. Louis Republic reported, “After nearly two weeks of enforced fasting from puppy
steaks and dog soup, the famished head-hunters are at last to be regaled with their cherished viands. Six dogs have been obtained, where or how is kept a dark secret and the dog-killing time is contingent on how soon the canine victims shall have been fattened for the feast.”
This spectacle was manufactured by the fair’s organizers, who forced the Igorot people to publicly butcher and eat the dogs for many of their meals. Recent research by NPR has revealed that dogs were only occasionally eaten by the tribe for ceremonial purposes; regardless, the idea that cultural others came to the U.S. and ate pets remained in the American imagination long after the fair ended.
and the legacy of slavery in the U.S. Vodou stems from a blend of cultures brought together by the Caribbean slave trade and combines various West African traditions with the Catholic beliefs of European enslavers. The faith and community surrounding it was perceived as a threat to European power because it allowed the enslaved to reclaim spiritual autonomy, which in turn could inspire rebellion.
The idea resurfaced in 1989, with the only proven instance of immigrants willingly eating a dog. The New York Times reported that two Cambodian refugees killed and ate a German shepherd in Long Beach, Calif., sparking outrage among area residents. Though they were arrested, a judge later determined that the men had done nothing wrong, as the dog was their property and had been killed humanely.
A small percentage of Cambodians do eat meat from dogs raised as livestock, according to the BBC, but the practice is dying out.
Though the 1989 incident in Long Beach was isolated and the two men had no malicious intent, baseless rumors continued to circulate that immigrants were “hunting” for pets in local parks. Former-U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., sponsored legislation that year, making it a misdemeanor to possess, sell or give away any animal “commonly kept as a pet” for the purpose of killing it for food. The law has since expanded to include the possession, sale or gift of the animals’ meat.
The law specifically excludes animals that Americans identify as livestock but nonetheless keep as pets, such as rabbits or pigs.
Stories about eating pets didn’t make national headlines again until 2016, when U.S. Senate hopeful Faye Stewart, of Oregon, attempted to weaponize the stereotype to justify denying asylum to Syrian refugees.
According to NBC News, Stewart claimed, “We took in some refugees, I believe it was some Vietnamese refugees, into this state years ago and it created a huge problem because their culture and their lifestyle didn’t mix with ours.”
“When they needed something to eat, they went to their natural ways of doing it by harvesting people’s dogs and cats, their pets,” he added.
Stewart later apologized for the allegations, which were quickly debunked.
The pet-eating stereotype has historically targeted Asian Americans; however, Trump’s recent claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio have widened the xenophobic net. The conspiracy plays off of existing cultural fears of Afro-Caribbean religions like Vodou, which originated in Haiti.
“They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” said Trump at the Sept. 10 presi-
dential debate. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
The false narrative builds on an incident in Canton, Ohio, where an American citizen — with no connection to Haiti — allegedly killed and ate a cat. Springfield police, Mayor Rob Rue and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio all publicly condemned the accusation against their community’s Haitian population, with DeWine going so far as to call the claim “a piece of garbage that was simply not true” in an interview with ABC.
Members of the white-supremacist neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe have latched onto the conspiracy and used it to further their bigoted attacks against the predominantly Black Haitian population. The group has previously marched through Springfield brandishing swastikas to protest the refugees.
Conspiracy theorists have tailored the pet-eating stereotype to target Haitians by tying it to Vodou — also known as Voodoo — despite the fact that Ohio’s Haitian community is demonstrably Christian. American media has long vilified practitioners of Vodou, using the religion to generate horror stories that capitalize on racial tensions
Religions like Vodou spread to the U.S. through French territories like Louisiana and challenged racial power dynamics, inciting anxiety among the ruling class. U.S. media subsequently emphasized elements of the faith that European Americans would view as frightening or “other,” such as zombies and animal sacrifice.
Today, only a small percentage of rural Vodou practitioners in Haiti sacrifice and eat animals as part of their rituals. As documented by photographer Anthony Karen, the sacrificial animals are usually goats or other livestock owned by the faithful.
There are no known cases of Vodou cat or dog sacrifices in the U.S.
The false claim that immigrants eat pets has existed in the U.S. consciousness for more than a hundred years — various groups dust it off every so often and pin it on whomever it’s politically expedient to dehumanize to push their agendas until the hype inevitably fades.
In the case of the Trump campaign, the malicious lies have resulted in unknown entities leveling bomb threats against Springfield’s children. As ridiculous as these allegations seem, they build on years of racial prejudice and could have deadly ramifications if left to fester.
A group of Igorot pose for a picture during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, which featured a “human zoo” where fair organizers forced the Igorots to publicly butcher and eat dogs for many of their meals. Photo courtesy Wikipedia / Missouri History Museum.
COMMUNITY Online learning platform helps adults improve work skills, develop personal interests BoCo nonprofits among those awarded funds from Idaho Community Foundation
By Reader Staff
More than a half dozen nonprofits in Bonner and Boundary counties benefited from a portion of the $275,000 recently awarded to North Idaho organizations by the Idaho Community Foundation.
Given through the Forever Idaho North grant program, the funds support organizations working in areas such as health and wellness, housing stability, arts and culture, education and community benefit.
Bonner County recipients included:
• Clark Fork Hope Area Senior Services, Inc. — $6,367 to support health and wellness.
• Kaniksu Land Trust, Inc. — $12,500 for community benefit programs.
• Priest River Ministries, Inc. — $10,000 to support housing stability.
Boundary County recipients included:
• Boundary Community Hospital — $6,000 to support health and wellness.
• Boundary County Youth Crisis and Domestic Violence Hotline — $2,593 for community benefit services.
• Explore 4-H Afterschool Fun — $6,000 for educational and economic opportunities.
• Gardeners for Regional Organic Wellbeing — $2,500 to support health and wellness.
“Forever Idaho is not just a grant program — it’s a movement of philanthropy that is building a culture of giving across our state,” stated ICF Senior Philanthropic Adviser Lisa Bearg. “The generosity of our donors and the hard work of these nonprofits are what make Idaho such a special place. Together, we are ensuring that our communities continue to thrive.”
Grant recipients are selected by ICF’s Regional Council for North Idaho.
For more info on the Idaho Community Foundation and Forever Idaho Grant Program, visit idahocf.org.
By Reader Staff
East
Bonner
County Library patrons will now have free access to Gale Presents: Udemy, an online learning platform that connects patrons to video-based courses taught by experts in business, technology and other fields. Users can explore thousands of continuously updated, on-demand video courses that match their professional goals and personal interests.
“As the employment landscape continues to change, workers are being tasked to learn new technologies and skills to stay competitive. Studies show that, on average, workers change jobs 12 times in their lifetime,” library officials stated in a news release. “This makes it essential for libraries to offer services that help adults build new skills that align with industry trends and prepare for the shift toward workforce automation.”
Gale Presents: Udemy offers a tailored learning experience for adults who want to upskill for a new job or advance in their current profession.
The platform includes a wide selection of course topics including thousands of courses taught by native
speakers in 12 languages; courses that are added and removed weekly, as new skills and demands emerge in each field; and an opportunity to learn from world-class instructors working and making advancements in their fields.
In addition, users can access Udemy anytime and from anywhere, allowing them to download classes and listen via podcast-style audio offline or on Chromecast or Apple TV.
Video lectures — most of which offer subtitles and/or transcripts — are designed to support a variety of learning styles.
Supplemental course content, such as assignments, quizzes and practice tests, are also included and a certificate of completion is available for download when a course is finished.
Major course categories include cloud computing, data science, design, development, finance and accounting, human resources, IT operations, leadership and management, marketing, office productivity, personal development, project management and operations, and sales.
Udemy is now available at the East Bonner County Library website: ebonnerlibrary.org/digital-library.
COMMUNITY
The Yellow Room hosts Rally to Revamp fundraiser
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Yellow Room — a therapeutic community space seeking to make wellness accessible to everyone — will host a fundraising party Friday, Sept. 27 at Evans Brothers Coffee (524 Church St., in Sandpoint) to support their low-cost classes and workshops. The event will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and will include live music, auctions, giveaways, free chair massages, and food and drink.
“This is an attempt to reframe the culture around access to wellness and the culture around donation-based [offerings]. This is an attempt to bring all people from all walks of life togeth-
er in community,” said TYR President Likhita Living.
According to Living, the wellness industry is worth approximately $4.2 trillion, due in part to inflated prices, which make resources promoting physical, mental and spiritual health only “accessible to the already healthy or financially wealthy.”
After so long spent catering to the wealthy, she believes the industry has developed a stigma against donation-based, low-cost offerings — offerings that TYR believes should already be free to everyone.
“The Yellow Room argues that selfcare and community are basic needs,” said Living.
To fund its low-cost yoga, dance,
Festival at Sandpoint awards 2024 Volunteer of the Year
By Reader Staff
The Festival at Sandpoint honored its 2024 volunteers on Sept. 17, naming Makaia Knepper as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year.
Knepper started volunteering with the Festival at 6 years old in 2014. She is now 17, marking the 2024 Summer Series as her 11th year volunteering. Knepper is the current department chair-in-training for the Green Team, and is the leader of all youth volunteers in the department. She helps lead the Green Team through performance setup, keeping backstage clean and performing a full venue sweep at the end of each night.
“Makaia is one of our youngest volunteers, and her dedication to this organization and our community is inspiring.” Festival Executive Director Ali Baranski stated. “It has been so exciting to watch her grow into her role with the Green Team over the years.”
Although much of the Green Team’s work takes place behind the scenes and therefore may go unnoticed, they are instrumental in keeping the venue clean for guests, staff and artists.
Knepper’s involvement as a volunteer followed in the footsteps of her parents, Jon and Amanda, who are Green Team chair and a Festival Street vendor and Green Team volunteer, respectively. Both have volunteered with the Festival for more than 10 years.
When asked what sets her apart
art and meditation classes, among others, TYR will auction off donated goods and experiences like paintings by local artists, spa packages, dinners, staycations and massages. Attendees can bid in a live and silent auction while enjoying food and drinks from Evans Brothers, Jupiter Jane, Winter Ridge Natural Foods and herbalist Colette Harrington.
from other teenagers, Jon Knepper said, “She is very compassionate and kind. Her volunteering comes naturally to her. She looks forward to [volunteering at] the Festival as a huge part of her summer.”
The Festival thanked Knepper for her tireless efforts, dependability and selflessness throughout the years.
During the Festival at Sandpoint’s 2024 Summer Series, hundreds of volunteers donated about 6,000 hours of their time.
The Festival’s 2024 volunteer chairpersons included: Jennifer Carter (Chair Rental); Adia Burton (Festival Street); Sharon Bistodeau (First Aid); Tim Rosco, Kelly Whitman, Diane Stockton and Kurt Stockton (Front Gate); Jon Knepper (Green Team); Mary Ann Hamilton (Merchandise); Melinda Offer (Taste of the Stars); Frank Cafferty (Transportation); and Jay Dudley (Volunteer Security).
Local rhythm and blues duo Nat and Dave and mystical singer-songwriter Justine Quetzal will provide the musical entertainment.
“At a time in the world where so much divisiveness is upon us, Sandpoint continues to give a positive model of how a melting pot of beliefs
can still coexist beautifully. We want to further this model and have TYR be a space of non-discrimination and a place where we gather to tend to ourselves and the world,” said Living.
Attendees can choose their preferred ticket price — anywhere from $20 to $99 — depending on how much they’d like to donate. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit yellowroom.org/fundraiser.
Courtesy photo.
Ali Baranski, left, and Makaia Knepper, right. Courtesy photo.
COMMUNITY Housing agency announces new workforce housing available
By Reader Staff
The Bonner Community Housing Agency, in conjunction with Nancy Hadley, announced six units of workforce housing that are now available for rent. The three-bedroom, two-bath units are all located within the city limits of Sandpoint.
“This has been a three-year project with many ups and downs along the way,” the agency stated in a news release. “Initially, Hadley had wanted all the units of the development to be ‘affordable units,’ but with increasing costs over the years of the project, that wasn’t possible. Hadley was able to keep six of them set aside to remain affordable for our community.”
The units are funded by a governmental program and therefore have income restrictions. To qualify for the rental opportunity, a potential
tenant must have an annual household income of between $57,000 and $64,000. The potential tenant must prequalify with Bonner Community Housing Agency by contacting them directly at chrystle@bonnerhousing. org to schedule a meeting.
The Hadley family has been in the Sandpoint area since the 1920s, with four generations born and raised here. Nancy Hadley’s father, Leo Hadley, was active in the Bonner County Sportsmen’s Association and was instrumental in securing grants to keep the rifle range open. “Nancy Hadley has always been inspired by his example of community involvement; and, as such, has tried to follow in his footsteps,” the agency stated. “This workforce housing project is one of many opportunities Nancy Hadley has found to give back to Bonner County.”
FOOD & DRINK
Our coffee cup runneth over
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
One of Sandpoint’s favorite community gathering spaces, Evans Brothers Coffee, will swing open its doors Saturday, Sept. 28 for a 15th-anniversary party — and everyone’s invited. The free celebrations begin at 5 p.m. at 524 Church St. with live music, food and drink from businesses and artists who have supported the coffee house since the beginning.
“We have been known for our big community parties over the years, although we don’t hold them as often as we used to,” said Rick Evans, who founded the coffee house with his brother, Randy. “We are calling this a ‘throwback’ because we are bringing in some of the DJs and bands that have played here since our parties in the first few years.”
Though Rick and Randy chose the “throwback” theme in reminiscence of the past 15 years, partygoers can look back further than 2009 for inspiration.
“People are encouraged to dress festively — ’70s, ’80s, ’90s or whatever era they want to bring back,” Rick said.
Be sure to arrive at 5 p.m. to hear singer-songwriter Buster Brown perform on the outdoor stage and be one of only a hundred to take home a commemorative tumbler. Multi-genre artists Matt Donahue & Friends and The Headwaters will follow until 8 p.m., when the celebration moves inside for a dance party catered toward adults.
Biobeat, DJ Frost Freeze and DJ Mercury will keep the party going well into the night. Jupiter Jane and Eichardt’s Pub will have food and drink available for purchase.
Preparing for the celebration has given the Evans brothers a chance to reflect on their business’ growth over the past 15 years and to look to the future they hope to build.
“Over these years, we have gotten more and more clear on what is most important to us, and that’s creating a culture of connection and inclusion — a feeling of being welcome and important,” said Rick.
National institutions have recognized this commitment, which is why Evans Brothers is currently in the running for USA Today’s Best Independent Coffee House. Support this local landmark by voting daily through Sunday, Oct. 6 at bit.ly/EvansBrosUSAToday
Evans Brothers Coffee celebrates 15 years with throwback party
and help the coffee house add another accolade to its résumé.
Evans Brothers is already the recipient of four Good Food awards, which recognize responsible practices, community involvement, and delicious food and drink.
“We want to spread the message that each person is important, different viewpoints are OK and that every one of us is worthy of kindness, love and respect,” said Rick. “Rather than complain about new people moving to our town, we want to open our arms and welcome them.
“Most of us are here for the same reasons; we love the community that Sandpoint offers — the beautiful surroundings, the outdoor and adventurous lifestyle, the family environment,” he added. “If this is why you moved here, I say, ‘Welcome to your new home!’”
For more information, visit evansbrotherscoffee.com.
Evans Brothers employees after drinking every last cup of coffee in the building.
Photo by Racheal Baker.
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
Arboretum celebration and benefit raffle
4-7pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
The 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 Music w/ Blird & Collage night
5:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Collage with Woods Wheatcroft! Backer boards and supplies provided $10, and Woods’ prints and art for sale. Live music by local shoegaze trio Blird provides a perfect backdrop
Live Music w/ Tom Catmull
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Americana, rock, pop and originals
Live Music w/ Marcus Stevens 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Truck Mills
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Deep Roots songwriter concert
6:30pm doors, 8:30pm music @ The Hive
Sandpoint’s original songwriter showcase. See ad on Page 13 for more info
Live Music w/ Nobody Famous
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Evans Bros 15th anniversary party
5pm - late @ Evans Bros. Coffee
Retro-themed party with food, drinks, live music at 6pm, DJ music and more
Live Music w/ Marcus Stevens
6-9pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Suspicious PKG
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Way Down North 8pm @ Eichardt’s (see Page 25)
Sandpoint Chess Club
9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Meets every Sunday at 9am
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi
7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
30th Trivia Night
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
September 26 - October 3, 2024
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
FriDAY, september 27
Luca Stricagnoli in concert
7pm @ Panida Theater
See Page 25 for more info
Master Class w/ Gosia Szemelak
$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
Eighth Panhandle Paddle events
3-5pm @ Sandpoint Library
Direct action training to share resistance skills and know your rights
3pm @ Music Conservatory of Sandpoint Renowned flutist. See Page 24 for more
Free Guitar Workshop
3pm @ Panida Theater
Thanks to POAC, free, open to public
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
SATURDAY, september 28
Parade of Homes
11am-4pm @ NIBCA.com for info Tour the latest home designs at this unique event with expert builders showcasing their finest works. $10 tickets
An interactive murder mystery showing 9/27 and 9/28. thenewportroxy.com
Rally to Revamp fundraiser: Yellow Room
6:30-8:30pm @ Evans Brothers
Learn more on Page 17
Oktoberfest at Smokesmith BBQ 1-9pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
‘Welcome back to Dancing’ dance 7pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall One-hour foxtrot lesson followed by general dancing. $8/person. All welcome
Night Owl: After Dark Social Hour 9pm @ The Pearl Theater (Bonners)
An evening cocktail hour w/ unique entertainment (it’s a surprise!) $5
North Idaho Flute Festival and comp 10:30am & 7pm @ Little Carnegie Hall
See Page 24 for more
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill 6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon
A Taste of Garlic festival (Sept. 28-29) 11am-4pm @ Snow Valley Garlic (Priest R.)
Two days of fun, food and garlic. Live music, vendors, adult drinks, etc.
Protesting NW fossil fuels trains
10am-12pm @ City to Dog Beach parks
Protest fossil fuels trains and terminals. See wildidahorisingtide.org for more
Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s “Saving Jesus Redux: The World Into Which Jesus Was Born”
tuesDAY, october 1 wednesDAY, October 2
Live Piano w/ David Speight
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Open Mic Night
6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern
Live Piano w/ Dwayne Parsons
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Benny on the Deck • 5-7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Featuring guest Seven-Ten Split
ThursDAY, october 3
Game Night
6:30pm @ Tervan
Trivia Night 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
SOLE aims to raise crucial funds for leaders of tomorrow
By Reader Staff
Local nonprofit organization Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education — known locally as SOLE — will host its second annual gala on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, located at 1413 Upper Gold Creek Road.
The themed gala combines live music, exquisite cuisine and a selection of beverages in a festive setting, all aimed at supporting the SOLE Youth Scholarship Fund.
The fund enables hundreds of rural youths each year to participate in SOLE’s nationally acclaimed and award-winning experiential education programs outdoors at an affordable cost. You can learn more about the event and organization at soleexperiences.org.
“Simply put, we could not do what we do, without our community. Now more than ever, youth need the op-
portunity to explore, learn and develop outdoors,” stated Executive Director Dennison Webb in a news release.
“SOLE’s community fundraisers are a wonderful way to support this need, while learning more about who we are and what we do — all while having some serious fun.”
Since 2011, SOLE has provided affordable access to intentional and transformative experiential education programs in outdoor settings for more than 8,000 rural North Idaho youth to date, totaling in excess of 50,000 hours of hands-on, boots-on-the-ground education.
Courtesy photo.
Sandpoint Senior Center aims to ‘Fill the Gap’
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
For many seniors in North Idaho, the Sandpoint Senior Center is not only a critical provider of weekday meals, but a beloved social hub. With food costs on the rise and a decrease in federal funding, the center is struggling to cover the more than 2,000 home-delivered and on-site meals that it makes available to area seniors.
To meet that challenge, the center is launching a “Fill the Gap” fundraiser Thursday, Sept. 26 to ensure the senior meal program continues to offer services to hundreds of local seniors.
The fundraising campaign aims to raise $50,000, in the hopes of covering the difference between the cost it takes to prepare and deliver meals and the reimbursement the center receives from agencies.
“Out of the roughly $12 that it costs to make a meal, the Area Agency on Aging will reimburse up to about $4,” Director Lisa Bond told the Reader. “The rest is covered strictly with donations. We don’t ask seniors to pay unless they are able.”
The fundraising campaign will run for 30 days.
Bond said the center has a twopronged mission: first to provide meals to the aging community and second to foster the concept of social connection. While it’s important to shore up the
meals program, Bond said cultivating a vibrant social atmosphere at the center has been her mission since taking over as director earlier this year.
“You don’t have to be pushing a wheelchair to visit the senior center,” Bond said. “Seniors in this day and age listen to Eric Clapton, go to concerts, they ski. But we’re in a deep need for social connection, and the best way to do that is around meals.”
In addition to regular programs like bingo, bridge, pinochle and Fit and Fall Proof classes, Bond has added activities such as ballroom dancing, live music and chair yoga to appeal to a wider senior population. Also, area organizations often utilize the center as a safe space to hold meetings.
“We serve meals Monday through Thursday; but, after that, it’s a shame the place sits empty for so much of the time,” Bond said.
Any local organizations interested in booking space for meetings at the senior center are invited to call and speak with Bond.
“It’s a new age for seniors and it’s a new era,” she said.
To donate to the center to help “Fill the Gap,” make checks payable to SASi and send to: 820 Main St., Sandpoint, ID 83864. Visit sandpointareaseniors.org or call Bond at 208263-6860 for more information.
Civil war(s)
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Though art often imitates life, that’s not a good thing when the art in question is a vision of what a contemporary U.S. civil war might look like. That’s the premise of the 2024 dystopian film Civil War, which imagines that the “Western Forces” of California and Texas have united to secede from the federal authority in Washington, D.C., triggering an overall breakup of the United States and an orgy of violence throughout.
The central characters in the film are journalists trying to cover the “story” of their collapsing country. Kirsten Dunst is a famous photojournalist with a 10,000-yard stare, traveling from New York to D.C. with her cheerfully damaged handler/reporter colleague played by Wagner Moura.,. They’re joined by an over-the-hill but wise and kindly New York Times reporter played by Stephen McKinley, and a much younger photographer eager to get a piece of the action and played with a beguiling mingling of intensity and vulnerability by Cailee Spaeny.
English writer-director Alex Garland is no stranger to dystopia. He wrote Ex Machina, Annihilation and Dredd, but his other writing credits include video games, including the Devil May Cry series. Those grim ruminations on societies in decline coupled with the frenetic cinematic sensibility of his video game work come through in Civil War, but it’s not quite the film that many critics and audiences alike thought they were sitting down to view.
True there are long sequences of high anxiety, vehicular escapades and white-knuckle gunfights; but, at its core, Civil War is about the social and political power of narrative and
Almost 30 years apart, two films explore the breakup of the U.S. in eerily similar ways
who controls it.
On one hand, there’s the president of the United States (played by Nick Offerman) broadcasting propaganda from inside the barricades of the White House. Each time we see him, he’s promising that the feds are on the brink of one of the greatest military victories of all time. However, conditions on the ground couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Western Forces are everywhere, and in the cracks between their insurgency and the government troops are partisans who roam the shattered countryside as death squads. We’re never given a clear idea of the reasons for the Western Forces’ rebellion, but a particularly chilling mid-film appearance by Jesse Plemons spells out the deeper animus stalking the land.
When the protagonists arrive at a tidy-looking farm somewhere in the D.C. hinterlands, they find Plemons in nondescript camo, sporting a long gun and pink-tinted sunglasses. Behind him, a dump truck is depositing bodies into a mass grave. The journalists’ credentials don’t endear them to Plemons’ character. Telling them that they’re Americans prompts him to ask, “What kind of Americans?”
No further spoilers here, but suffice it to say he has definite ideas about what constitutes a “real” American.
Militarism and jingoism are clearly the deadly impulses
at play in the film, but the subtler critique is of media representations of violent politics, the often vulture-like process of “getting the story,” and how it desensitizes both practitioners and consumers.
Dunst’s character has been tainted by the moral implications of standing by and taking photos while someone is burned alive by insurgents. Meanwhile, the most effective emotional element of the plot is her character’s fear that Spaeny’s young would-be journo is careening headlong into a similar existential hazard.
The reviews of Civil War have not been great, but that’s because these deeper ideas about the primacy of “the story” have escaped many audience members.
All that said, there’s another film that puts those exact concepts into play in an eerily similar context. Though apparently forgotten, the 1997 satire The Second Civil War is eerie in more ways than one. Specifically for Idahoans.
Shot as a TV movie, it features a cynical governor (played by Beau Bridges) who decides to score political points by closing Idaho’s borders to immigrants amid waves of refugees pouring into the U.S. from conflict zones around the world — notably, a busload of Pakistani orphans bound for Twin Falls.
The xenophobic power play by Boise triggers the bungling president (portrayed by no less
than Phil Hartman) to dither with his advisers about an appropriate response, which is finally arrived at after consultation with his deep-state P.R. fixer (James Coburn): They’ll set a deadline for Idaho to reopen its borders or else, but it has to be timed so it doesn’t interrupt All My Children. Meanwhile, a sleazy national TV producer (Dan Hedaya) is trying to cash in on the crisis for ratings, deploying his reporters to the Gem State to provide wall-to-wall coverage.
One of those reporters (Elizabeth Peña) has been sleeping with the governor but they’re on the outs because she’s a Mexican immigrant and despises his anti-immigrant stance.
Another reporter (Denis Leary) is hotdogging among the forces in a standoff at the Idaho-Utah border, while still another reporter (James Earl Jones) is trying to work the story with some old-school integrity but sidelined by the cutthroat spirit of 24-hour news.
As tensions mount and all sides dig in to benefit their respective interests, other states send their National Guard troops to Idaho to reinforce the governor’s border closure. From there, the nation is poised for its “second civil war.”
Like Garland’s 2024 film, 1997’s Second Civil War foregrounds the notion of narrative power — and specifically “image” — in animating the political and financial self interest that divides Ameri-
cans and pushes them toward unthinkable acts of treachery toward each other and the nation as a whole.
Somehow, though, even with its TV-movie feel and joke-y tone, the 1997 film hits closer to home both with its ideas and — literally — close to home through a bullseye critique of Idaho’s peculiar anti-government strain.
For instance, trying to cajole a bunch of rednecks to give him an interview, Leary’s character could have just as easily been providing commentary on one of today’s talking head shows when he tells the bumpkins that he knows they’re suspicious of the media, “because of the way they’ve portrayed you in the past — let’s face the facts, why not?
“They’re always portraying you as these sort of stereotypical ultra right-wing, gun-crazed, union-busting wackos,” he adds, pausing to consider a granny with a shotgun.
However, he wants to “jump right over those leftwing, liberal, East Coast media-elite types, and bring your story right to the American people.”
If that’s not art imitating life, I don’t know what is — but I’m not sure I like it.
Stream Civil War on Max. Rent The Second Civil War on Amazon.
Left: A screenshot from the 2024 thriller Civil War. Right: A scene from the 1997 satire The Second Civil War. Courtesy photos.
Panida to screen Across the River and Into the Trees, based on Hemingway war novel
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Though Ernest Hemingway’s novels For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) and The Old Man and the Sea (1952) are perhaps his best known, Across the River and Into the Trees (1950) belongs among the top entries in his catalog.
Focused on a 50-year-old U.S. Army colonel stationed in post-World War II Venice and who has just received a terminal diagnosis, much of
the novel takes place in the form of reminiscences about his experiences during World War I — alternating with his romance with a much younger Italian woman.
The thinly veiled autobiographical portrait of love, loss, war, life and death came to the big screen in 2022, with a film adaptation of the same title by Peter Flannery and starring Liev Schreiber as Col. Richard Cantwell and Matilda De Angelis as his lover Renata Contarini.
Across the River and Into the Trees premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival — appropriate, given that Hemingway spent the final years of his life in the central Idaho resort community.
The Panida Theater will bring the film to Sandpoint on Thursday, Sept. 26 as part of its $5 movie series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the screening starts at 7 p.m. Get tickets at panida.org or at the door (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
Panida to hold annual membership meeting
By Reader Staff
The Panida Theater will host its annual community membership meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Panida’s main theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
The Annual meeting is
the chance to bring together the Panida Board and thank members for their service, as well as applaud volunteers and community members for their work and dedication to ensuring the continued vibrancy of the community-run theater.
The Panida will also hold its annual board election, in which candidates will be given
the opportunity to make a brief speech about why they are running for the board, describe their background and qualifications and explain how they would be beneficial to the theater. With three board members leaving within a month, the Panida urged community members interested in joining the board to attend.
MCS to host North Idaho Flute Festival
By Reader Staff
Of all the instruments in the world, the flute is recognized as the oldest, dating back 60,000 years to the Neanderthals. The technology has changed a bit since those days, but the soft, melodic tones of the flute continue to captivate music lovers.
The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint will host the second annual North Idaho Flute Festival at Little Carnegie Hall at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. The performance features flutists Rhonda Bradetich and Gosia Szemelak, with Paul Grove on guitar.
Bradetich has toured the U.S. and Europe as a soloist and with her chamber ensembles. She returns to Sandpoint as a performer and guest judge of the festival.
Szemelak has performed in past MCS concerts and multiple orchestras in the Northwest, earning a devoted following among Sandpoint concert audiences.
Grove has performed extensively in orchestras, as a soloist and at festivals.
Aside from the Sept. 28 concert, MCS will host a masterclass with Szemelak at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 and a competition at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.
For more information, visit sandpointconservatory.org.
Gosia Szemelak, top; Rhonda Bradetich, middle; and Paul Grove, bottom.
Courtesy photos.
MUSIC
Three necks are better than one World-renowned triple-neck guitarist Luca Stricagnoli plays Panida
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Italian fingerstyle guitarist
Luca Stricagnoli has performed in 20 countries, with gigs ranging from intimate gatherings for Nobel Prize winners to concert halls filled with more than 12,000 people.
Friday, Sept. 27, he and his famous triple-neck guitar will give a special performance at the Panida (300 N. First Ave.), courtesy of the Pend Oreille Arts Council, before he flies off to China on the next stage of his world tour.
Stricagnoli began learning classical guitar in Italy at the age of 10 and was immediately enamored.
“When I saw somebody playing guitar on the street as a child it kind of clicked and I asked my mom to buy me one,” Stricagnoli told the Reader. “I started being inseparable from it — even bringing it to bed with me when I went to sleep. I was pretty obsessed right away.”
It wasn’t until much later in his musical career that Stricagnoli discovered his passion for fingerstyle — a technique wherein he plucks the strings with his fingernails rather than strumming them with a pick.
“I began trying to create my own style, at first by play-
ing two guitars simultaneously, and then when I figured I’d need to add one more guitar, I thought I should probably incorporate them all into one,” said Stricagnoli.
With the help of luthier Davide Serracini, Stricagnoli invented the reversed triple-neck guitar and the attachable reversed slide neck. He’s since developed and perfected a unique style that incorporates the different timbres and combinations that are only possible with a triple-neck guitar.
“Instead of playing the bar chords with the left hand, I play with the right hand using — I don’t know how to explain it in English — imagine that you’re Bruce Lee doing a
karate chop and you destroy a piece of wood. It’s that part of the hand,” said Stricagnoli.
Stricagnoli takes inspiration from other musicians — especially his wife, pop singer, songwriter and producer Meg Pfeiffer — but he’s also influenced by comedians.
“It can be hard to put on a show alone with a guitar, without a band or anything, but these guys go on stage with just a microphone — without even an instrument,” he said.
Stricagnoli intends to release his first entirely original album in conjunction with Pfeiffer. His current work is available on lucastricagnoli. com and Spotify and includes his personal compositions
intermingled with covers of famous hits from every genre.
His performance at the Panida will highlight covers like “Thunderstruck” by AC/ DC, which have earned him international acclaim and more than 200 million streams online.
“Touring is not a piece of cake but I wouldn’t do without it. It’s my dream so I’m happy about it,” Stricagnoli said.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and music begins at 7 p.m. at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students at panida.org or artinsandpoint.org/luca. Listen at lucastricagnoli.com.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
B Radicals, 219 Lounge, Sept. 28 Way Down North, Eichardt’s Pub, Sept. 28
As much as some may mourn it, it’s time to bring down the curtain on summer 2024. The 219 Lounge will host its fond farewell to the season with the final performance on the patio for the year, featuring Spokane-based B Radicals.
Self-described as “existential, experimental rock-funk” and, alternatively, “Tool for hippies,” the band’s sound flows from a rock-jam-funk amalgamation
rooted in influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to James Brown and Bob Marley.
The Niner hopes to keep the back bar open for the Saturday, Sept. 28 show; but, regardless, it’ll be a more than fitting swan song for summer.
— Zach Hagadone
9 p.m.-midnight, FREE, 21+. 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208-263-5673, 219lounge.com. Listen at bradicals.com.
It doesn’t get more Americana than Montana’s own Way Down North, a folk-rock band with bluegrass notes and a sound akin to the laidback ’70s hits of artists like Jackson Browne and the Allman Brothers. Founders Cory Chopp and Tina Bertram provide classic, folksy vocals while playing mandolin, guitar, banjo and keyboard, allowing them to blend seamlessly into any
This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone
saloon, pub or roadhouse they come across on their tour.
Come grab a heaping helping of Eichardt’s famous fries and see why national talents like Shakey Graves and Railroad Earth have collaborated with Way Down North.
— Soncirey Mitchell 7-9 p.m., FREE. Eichardt’s Pub, 212 Cedar St., 208-2634005, eichardtspub.com. Listen at waydownnorth.band.
READ LISTEN
According to The Economist, an estimated 20% of Americans aged 18 to 29 think the Holocaust is a “myth.” Among the historians who have raised their voices the loudest to ensure future generations don’t fall into that chasm of ignorance is Richard Evans, who recently published Hitler’s People. Lively and rich in detail, it offers biographical essays on leading Nazis as well as more mundane perpetrators of the Third Reich, putting into focus that humans committed these acts of such inhumanity. Find it where you find new books.
We’re heading into the spooky season, and there are few contemporary musicians whose oeuvre better accompanies the uncanny autumnal vibe than Nick Cave. Together with his band, the Bad Seeds, Cave’s rumbling baritone voice and doomstruck style of experimental indie rock is inimitable. His new album, Wild God, released in late August, is more exuberant than some previous releases, but still chock full of his intense lyricism. Learn more at nickcave.com.
WATCH
The Netflix limited series Kaos is a quirky, modern take on the petty personalities of the Greek gods of Olympus, featuring Jeff Golblum as Zeus, who presides over the squabbling pack of immortals and their machinations and jealousies, which threaten the fabric of reality. It’s no Homeric epic, but the eight-episode arc delivers more than a few surprises. Currently streaming in the top 10.
Courtesy photo.
From Pend Oreille Review, September 25, 1924
DOVER THE SCENE OF A MOONSHINE RAID
Thomas Cave of Dover was arrested Wednesday afternoon of last week in a raid at his home at Dover in which Sheriff’s Deputies E.A. MacKay and Henry C. Traue and a federal prohibition agent participated. The officers found Cave in his Ford car and claim he was nursing a partly full bottle of moonshine liquor. He was arraigned before U.S. Commissioner Ignatz Weil on Friday morning, upon a federal liquor charge and was bound over to the federal district court after he waived preliminary examination. His bond was set at $500 which he has so far failed to raise. It is said by the officers that their visit to the Cave place followed a number of complaints to them that he had been bootlegging for some time.
Mike Gatzkiewicz, who has already served one jolt for a liquor offense and has another previous case pending in the courts, was again arrested on Thursday afternoon charged with having liquor in his possession. Gatzkiewicz told the officers he was looking for a stray calf and just happened to be in the vicinity of the moonshine cache when the officers came up. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace A.K. Bowden on a state liquor charge, a felony for a second offense, on Friday morning and was released on $250 cash bond, pending preliminary hearing which was scheduled for Monday at 10 o’clock a.m.
BACK OF THE
BOOK
The nature of humanity
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
I recently attended a memorial service for someone who left a big impact on my life. This was before I began as publisher of this newspaper, when I was sort of floating and trying to figure out the next step after having moved back to my hometown of Sandpoint after some years away.
I worked odd jobs to pay the rent, one of which was landscaping and tending to a magical garden built by a patient, humble and gentle man.
Sometimes I’d spend an entire day hacking at a stump with a spade and a handsaw. He said he’d rather pay me for the hours to do it by hand than involve power tools. I respected that.
In our water and food breaks, we’d sit in the shade, hats off to dry the sweat on our foreheads. Instead of talking about the weather or the ballgame the night before, we talked about other things. Bigger things. Love, music, botany, art, politics — no topic was out of bounds, as long as it wasn’t droll. I respected that, too.
Later, after I started up the paper and worked without much of a paycheck for most of the first year, I always made time to drive out to work for my friend with the magical garden, not only for the extra cash but because it kept me grounded. It kept my hands in the soil and my soul feeling full, because some things really are as simple as water, sunshine, food and love.
At his memorial service last weekend, I listened as his family and loved ones told stories that echoed many of my own experiences with him. He led a good life, and he touched many,
STR8TS Solution
many others in his time on Earth. It was during these stories when it dawned on me how much of our daily actions mean to others in our lives. Every one of us. It might be the compliment you get from a clerk at the grocery store, a chance conversation with an old high-school friend, a thoughtful postcard from out of the blue. No matter what, it’s impossible to walk this Earth without impacting someone else, for good or ill.
Think about that for a moment. Think of your loved ones who have come and gone and what their lives meant to you. It could be something as simple as the way your dad smelled after mowing the lawn on a hot summer day or the important advice your mom offered right before you left for college. Every single person who has touched our lives has helped shape who we are, and vice versa.
This is hard for me to fathom, because while I love certain people, I’ve struggled with feelings of disdain for humanity as a whole most of my adult life. Even at a young age, I questioned how a species capable of such beauty could be responsible for such ugliness, too. It’s that dichotomy of the human race that has baffled us for eons, like how someone like Donald Trump can exist in the same world as Mr. Rogers.
It’s a brutal, careless world. Just like the universe is ever-expanding away from itself, I fear that we humans are drifting away from one another at a rate we’ll soon be unable to correct.
That’s why we need to take care of each other as best we can and remember the important things in life. Like how much of a waste of time it is to spend your days in anger or wallowing
Sudoku Solution
in fear. It means listening to those who have walked these roads before and perhaps learning something from their journeys.
It also means acknowledging that no matter how independent and capable we feel, we’re helpless without the friends and loved ones who have helped shore us up our entire lives.
What would you imagine others saying at your own memorial service? That you were short with your co-workers, mean to strangers, miserly with your money and aloof to those who loved you?
What better time than now to change that? We are in control of our own legacies. All it takes is a little effort, compassion and fellowship with those with whom we interact in life.
It’s not too late for us. Sure, we’ll always battle with our human nature, but let’s not forget the beauty we’re capable of. When you see that beauty, it’s something you’ll never forget.
If I ever become a mummy, I’m going to have it so when somebody opens my lid a boxing glove on a spring shoots out.
Solution on page 26
Laughing Matter
By Bill Borders
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Commanded
5. Degrade
10. Pinnacle
14. Makes a mistake
15. Anklebone
16. Unfreeze
17. Provocations
19. Rubber wheel
20. Pool stick
21. Wed
22. Quizzes
23. Brave deeds
25. Express a thought
27. Fire residue
28. Diminishes
31. Beats
34. Certain coniferous trees
35. Greek letter
36. Consumes food
Solution on page 26
Solution on page 26
59. Trap
60. Cain’s brother 61. Bird home 62. Weary 63. Bog Word Week of the
[adjective]
10. Wait on
11. Grifters
37. Decree
12. Shopping place
— By Soncirey Mitchell hangry /HANG-gree/
1. feeling irritable or irrationally angry as a result of being hungry
“I snapped at my friend because I was feeling hangry after skipping lunch.”
Corrections: Last week our readers did sneer, / They lacked errors at which to jeer. / Not one headline awry / For them to magnify. / And so we will give a loud cheer.
