My wife and I dropped off our children at school this week, and it wasn’t a moment too soon. It was a sweet, sentimental experience, but does not in any way diminish my general hatred for summer. Let me tell you how I really feel: I think it’s social insanity that we have an entire three-month period during which a substantial portion of the population is not expected to do anything in particular, while the other portion of the population is magically supposed to be able to keep performing necessary functional activities without any noticeable hindrance. And, of course, that idle portion of the population is almost entirely composed of the people who can least look after themselves. If there’s someone who wants to be in the Legislature and carry a bill mandating year-round school, they’ll have my vote.
All that old-man-yelling-at-the-clouds whinging aside, I relish September. I love it for all the pumpkin-spicy reasons many people love it; but, in addition, I find it a calming balm for the soul that people seem to know what they’re about during this time of year. That is except for the jackass in a brand-new baby poop-colored Range Rover who pulled out right in front of a school bus eastbound on U.S. 2 during the first-day-of-school rush hour and almost caused a multi-car pileup. That person clearly spends their life on summer vacation, and I invite them (and summer) to vacate this area with all speed. /end rant
The law rules, Raúl drools
I get it that Raúl Labrador is the Idaho attorney general, but I still wonder who he thinks he is. I read two stories in the past few days that gave me whiplash. The first one was from the highly reputable Idaho Capital Sun, which reported that the Idaho State Bar has started an ethics investigation of Labrador, “following a complaint alleging an ‘adversarial relationship’ with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare,” lodged by the retired IDHW Director Dave Jeppesen (also highly reputed), alleging the AG’s office didn’t provide the agency with an appropriate level of legal representation despite being legally obligated to do so. The result: “a hostile situation where trust and confidence has been destroyed,” according to Jeppesen’s claim. This is the same attorney general who tried to both sue and represent the state to throw out Proposition 1, saw that quashed by the Idaho Supreme Court and is now trying to challenge it in Ada County court. Objectively, Labrador is a failure as AG. However, he thinks that “the media” is obsessed with him. A completely unreputable local blog carried one of the cringiest lines I’ve ever read, written by Labrador himself: “As I often say, they [the media] have an unhealthy obsession with me. I call it Labrador Derangement Syndrome.” Speaking for myself as a member of “the media,” I don’t think about Labrador nearly as much as Labrador seems to think about me thinking about Labrador. When I do, I think he’s the worst AG we’ve had in recent memory. /end rant
DEAR READERS,
We’re getting within swearing distance of the election, with about nine weeks until Election Day. That means our letters to the editor policies are changing to allow for more people to submit their thoughts.
From today forward — until after Election Day — the word count for letters to the editor will transition from 300 to 200 words. We don’t have unlimited space for letters, so this helps ensure we give as many voices as possible the opportunity to weigh in on the election.
Speaking of letters, if you haven’t patted Editor Zach Hagadone on the back lately, now might be a good time. His weekly devotion to these letters to the editor is the stuff of legends. He fact-checks claims that are dubious, he communicates with writers when they go over the word limit and he makes sure our readers enjoy a curated letters to the editor section that I’m proud to include in the Reader. Huzzah to Hagadone.
–Ben Olson, publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368
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About the Cover
Karley Coleman took a photo of the 2024 Spud Cup for this week’s cover photo.
BOCC Commissioner Williams: Shortening Corps’ timeline on Albeni Falls gate replacement ‘has the support of the congressional delegates’
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The city of Priest River hosted Idaho Gov. Brad Little and members of his cabinet on Aug. 29 for the “Capital for a Day” event, during which attendees discussed the future of Albeni Falls Dam and Lake Pend Oreille’s water levels.
Bonner County Commissioner Asia Williams attended the event and reported during the Sept. 3 board of county commissioners meeting that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and elected officials are looking to “address the safety and health and wellbeing of our community.”
Williams added that some of Idaho’s top elected officials even support fast-tracking the replacement of faulty spillway gates at the dam, possibly circumventing the Corps’ proposal, which could take upwards of three years to complete.
In addition to generating power and aiding in navigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife conservation, the Albeni Falls Dam controls water flow and manages flood risks in the Pend Oreille basin, which stretches 24,000 square miles throughout North Idaho and western Montana.
In April 2024, the Corps discovered delamination in the steel of Albeni Falls’ spillway gate No. 3, and ultimately removed the entire gate in May to assess the damages and determine how to repair or replace the gate. That required the dam to lessen its output, resulting in the lake reaching its summer pool level of 2,062.5 feet later than average.
A gantry crane usually moves multiple spillway gates at the same time to release or store water when in working order; however, currently
operators are only moving one gate at a time to offset the effects of the faulty steel.
Each gate is kept either fully open or closed, rather than partially open or closed as was possible in the past, to minimize stress on the metal.
Army Corps officials believe that all 11 gates — which were manufactured in 1955 and had an estimated lifespan of 50 years, meaning they were due to be replaced in 2005 — have the same steel defect and will need to be replaced, rather than repaired.
“At this time, it’s not known exactly how long each gate will take to manufacture,” Corps Public Affairs Specialist Nicole Celestine told the Reader in a Sept. 4 email.
“We anticipate the first gate to arrive on-site in three to five years. Subsequent authorized gates are anticipated to be in place in approximately six-month intervals after the first gate,” she added.
The initial gate replacement will take the longest, as the Corps’ estimate includes the time needed to craft a new design, solicit and award a fabrication contract and actually manufacture the gate. Celestine added that the Corps’ team “is using all tools available to streamline both the design and contracting processes”; however, large steel structures like the gates are difficult and time consuming to create.
“Facilities with the expertise and space capacity to manufacture hydraulic steel structures of this size are limited. This is a large piece of fabricated steel that has stringent structural engineering requirements that must be met during the fabrication process before being placed in service,” said Celestine.
In the meantime, the
Corps is researching the use of fiber-reinforced polymer as a temporary solution to strengthen gate No. 3 and has secured funding from Bonneville Power Administration for a new gate design and fabrication contract.
“[Members of the governor’s cabinet] very clearly advocated that the timeline of [the Corps] was way too long,” said Williams, relaying the Aug. 29 discussion.
“So the congressional delegation is open to having a dialogue with the Army Corps saying ... ‘Why are we not just fixing it all versus going [one] gate at a time?” she added.
Idaho’s congressional delegation consists of Republican U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson.
However, Williams said, “It didn’t sound like the issue was funding.”
Rather, she said, “It actually sounded like it might more be the timeline of [the Corps],” and the question to
the feds would be, “is this really their timeline versus a funding issue? Because 90% of that funding appears to look like it’s already been identified through Bonneville [Power Administration].”
State, Bonner County and local city elected officials — including District 1A Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, attended the Priest River event to stress how important Lake Pend Oreille is to the county’s residents and economy.
According to Williams, Sauter previously spoke to private engineering contractors in Boise to see if outsourcing could expedite the gate replacement process — an idea that she said, “has the support of the congressional delegates as well.”
For an additional Albeni Falls update from Rep. Sauter, see Page 9.
Celestine said that the Corps will be the agency responsible for finalizing the design for the gates; however, “At this time, it is not known
who the contractor will be. It is possible for USACE to partner with other entities but this is not the direction USACE is going at this time.”
The Corps intends to host another round of public meetings in the fall to keep locals informed, though the dates and locations have yet to be determined. According to Williams, they will also meet with elected officials in the future to discuss the proposed timeline.
“The congressional delegation is going to have a discussion with [the Corps],” said Williams. “They’re going to do another small review with the same — similar — people that were present [in Priest River], which was inclusive of the mayors in the area, to see if we can’t push to go faster.”
USACE Col. Kate Sanborn visits Albeni Falls Dam near Oldtown to address the gate defects with stakeholders in May 2024. Photo by Ben Olson.
‘Scott does seem to be pretty upset with this’ BCRCC officials argue over whether vote used ranked-choice method
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The Reader previously reported that the Bonner County Republican Central Committee used ranked-choice voting on Aug. 20 to select three nominees to replace District 3 Commissioner Luke Omodt, who submitted his resignation that day. Those three paragraphs received widespread attention from state media — namely the Idaho Statesman — elected officials and members of the public, and sparked a debate on the definition of ranked-choice voting.
The first people to suggest that the BCRCC used rankedchoice voting were meeting attendees, including Washington Precinct Committeeman Tom Bokowy, who that same meeting brought forward a resolution condemning Republican Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s “obviously doomed” lawsuit against Proposition 1, a citizens’ initiative that would convert Idaho elections to a ranked-choice model and open primary elections to everyone regardless of political affiliation.
Labrador brought his second lawsuit against Prop. 1 on Aug. 16 — two days after the Idaho Supreme Court dismissed his previous filing — in yet another attempt to bar Prop. 1 from appearing on the November ballot.
The local Republican Party has argued that Prop. 1 would damage election integrity, eliminate party primaries, create a financial burden for state taxpayers and undermine strong conservative elections in the future.
Members of the BCRCC engaged in an emotionally charged debate over Bokowy’s resolution before it failed in a 28-2 vote, with Bokowy and Beach Precinct of Sandpoint Committeeman Dave Britton in the minority.
At the Aug. 20 BCRCC
meeting, P.C.s nominated four individuals to replace Omodt, then ranked their top three nominees in order of preference on notecards. The P.C.s selected Grouse Creek Committeeman Ron Korn — who won the Republican nomination for Omodt’s current seat in the May primary election — as the top contender, followed by Oden Precinct Committeeman Tom Cleveland and Hope Precinct Committeewoman Kim Peckham.
The nominations will be sent to Gov. Brad Little on Saturday, Sept. 7, after the effective date of Omodt’s resignation.
The BCRCC’s vote conformed to the organization’s Delegate Selection Rules, ratified in February 2020 and shared with the Reader by Bokowy.
The rules state: “Nominees shall be voted on by ranked vote. Each Precinct Person shall number their choices from lowest to highest with the nominee with the lowest total number being in position one and all other positions being filled in ascending order.”
BCRCC Chair and outgoing Dist. 1 Sen. Scott Herndon, who dispersed the aforementioned rules to P.C.s, took issue with the characterization of the process as a ranked-choice vote.
“We did not use rankedchoice voting in the BCRCC vote,” Herndon told the Reader in an email Aug. 30. “The method of voting proposed by Proposition 1 is used to select one eventual winner of an elected office using multiple rounds of ‘instant runoff voting’ as long as the first round does not produce a single candidate who achieves greater than 50% of the firstround vote. The BCRCC used only one round of voting to select three candidates in a multi-winner election.”
He added: “State party rules require that when we send the names to the gover-
nor, that we list them by order of the committee’s preference. We did that by having our voting members list the three names they were choosing in order of priority.”
Herndon went on to claim that the BCRCC’s selection of three candidates for one position was “exactly like a city council election in which three seats needed to be filled from a pool of multiple candidates,” arguing that if Sandpoint’s system isn’t rankedchoice voting, then neither is the BCRCC’s system.
“They are saying it isn’t ‘ranked-choice voting’ since there weren’t multiple rounds,” Bokowy told the Reader in a Sept. 2 email. “This is also funny because despite talking for 30 to 40 minutes about the evils of ranked-choice voting, there wasn’t any explanation given to the P.C.s as to how it would work. In fact, Herndon didn’t know that we were required to rank the choices until [State Committeeman] Dan Vaniman told him that we had to.”
Herndon has since taken to social media to publicly condemn anyone describing the decision as an example of ranked-choice voting.
“[W]e have a couple of liberal members of our county Republican central committee lying about how we recently conducted a central committee election ... They have
spread the lie through social media and local liberal press,” Herndon stated via the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I also predict that two of our committee members will continue to lie to attempt to achieve their agenda,” he added, apparently referring to Bokowy and Britton.
In response to one of Herndon’s posts, Bokowy uploaded a recording of the Aug. 20 meeting, which captures Vaniman explaining the voting process.
“So we are ranking [the candidates] in order?” asked Bokowy on the recording,
to which Herndon replied, “Rank them in order, then, in that case.”
After posting the video, Herndon blocked Bokowy on X.
“Scott does seem to be pretty upset with this,” said Bokowy. “So, did Herndon tell us to rank our choices in order? Yes. I have that on video.”
Additional reporting by Zach Hagadone.
Viggo Mortensen adds second night to sold-out Panida fundraiser, Q&A
By Reader Staff
After selling out of tickets for the Saturday, Sept. 14 screening of Viggo Mortensen’s newest film The Dead Don’t Hurt, the Panida Theater announced Sept. 4 that Mortensen has agreed to one additional night on Friday, Sept. 13.
The now two-day event is a fundraiser for the Panida Theater and KRFY 88.5 FM Community Radio, where Mortensen will sit for a Q&A with the audience after the film.
This isn’t the first time Mortensen has lent his star
power to worthy local causes. The three-time Academy Award nominee for Best Actor also came to the Panida for his film Captain Fantastic in 2017 and A Dangerous Method in 2012.
To purchase tickets for the Sept. 13 event (while they last), visit panida.org.
A screenshot from the Aug. 20 BCRCC meeting where Chair Scott Herndon was recorded giving instructions to committee members to rank their choices to replace outgoing County Commissioner Luke Omodt. “Rank them in order,” Herndon told members, though he now disputes the BCRCC used ranked-choice voting. Courtesy image.
Viggo Mortensen. Courtesy photo.
Idaho transgender youth gender care travel fund, assistance program launches
By Kyle Pfannenstiel Idaho Capital Sun
The Trans Youth Emergency Project is expanding into Idaho, offering families of transgender Idaho youth financial and logistical assistance to access transition-related care for minors.
Add the Words Idaho is partnering the Campaign for Southern Equality on the project, which they say has grown to 25 states and is the only project “of its scale and scope supporting families of transgender youth” affected by gender-affirming care bans, such as the one that went into effect in Idaho in April following its passage in the 2023 legislative session.
The Trans Youth Emergency Project provides personalized patient navigation services, and emergency grants of $500 to families, which are renewable every six months to assist with travel for care out of state, the groups stated in a news release.
“Transgender youth, like all people, deserve the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies. Idaho politicians tried to take that away when they banned gender-affirming care for youth in 2023 — but we know our people are stronger than politics,” Nikson Mathews, policy and community advocate for Add the Words Idaho, stated in a news release.
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:
Demonstrators protesting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation dropped 48,000 handmade hearts — meant to represent LGBTQ+ Idahoans — down the rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise on April 2, 2024. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)
to get the health care they need to thrive — safely and legally.”
Since the project launched in March 2023, the Campaign for Southern Equality said it has partnered with state organizations to give $500,000 in emergency grants to 1,000 families and individuals.
The aid program is needed to support families of Idaho trans and nonbinary people who access or hope to access “necessary, proven” gender-affirming care that is now banned in the state, Mathews told the Sun in an interview.
Idaho in 2023 banned gender-affirming care for minors through House Bill 71. The law was temporarily blocked under a federal court order. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the law to take effect for everyone other than two suing minors.
According to the groups behind the Idaho aid program, 26 states have passed bills to restrict or ban transgender youth access to gender-affirming care. Before 2020, no state advanced a similar law, the groups stated.
How to find more about the program
Families of trans youth in states with gender-affirming care bans can contact the Trans Youth Emergency Project at southernequality.org/tyep. Donations are also accepted at”
“We are proud to be a part of the Trans Youth Emergency Project, which will work to ensure trans youth in Idaho are still able
About 1,000 Idaho youth are transgender, according to estimates by the University of California-Los Angeles. More than a third — 38% — of transgender youth in the U.S. live in states with bans, the Campaign for Southern Equality estimates.
A Supreme Court panel in Brazil recently upheld a decision to block Elon Musk’s social media platform X nationwide. Brazil is one of X’s biggest markets, ABC reported. Blocking X has been part of a disagreement with Musk about free speech and misinformation. Musk argues the decision violates Brazilian law, but legal experts disagree.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has finalized two rules to stop corruption and money laundering in U.S. residential real estate and private investment. The U.S. has been one of the world’s money-laundering capitals, which has been seen as a national security threat due to the involvement of organized criminals, corrupt government officials and business leaders.
Europe’s Commission on Security and Cooperation stated the U.S. Treasury’s decision closes a “crucial pathway for Russian money laundering and sanctions through real estate and private equity.”
U.S. heat deaths have risen 117% since 1999, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths, according to the World Health Organization. July was the planet’s hottest-ever month, and every month of the past 15 has beaten its previous record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated.
At a Wisconsin rally, presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke about grocery costs. He said prices are up “50, 60, 70%.” He added: “Some people don’t eat bacon anymore. We are going to get the energy prices down. When we get energy down, you know — this was caused by horrible energy — wind, they want wind all over the place. But when it doesn’t blow we have a little problem. This was caused by energy. This was really caused by energy, and also their unbelievable spending. They are spending us out of wealth, actually, they are taking our wealth away because it was caused by energy.”
southernequality.app.neoncrm. com/forms/29.
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.
Economists say grocery prices have risen “nowhere near” 50% overall, The Atlantic stated.
Wind and solar now generate more electricity than coal, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Special counsel Jack Smith has filed a superseding indictment against Trump regarding his role in the post-
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
2020 election interference scheme. The revised filing is a response to the Supreme Court ruling in Trump vs. United States, which created a presidential legal exemption. According to Smith’s filing, Trump had no constitutionally assigned duties regarding the transition of power following the past presidential election, which he lost to President Joe Biden. CNN reported that Trump has pleaded not guilty to the new charges.
Recently, on Fox News, Trump complained about being indicted for interfering with a presidential election “where you have every right to do it.” A number of federal laws prohibit such interference.
From the journal Nature: With the exception of China, the U.S. and India, Canada’s 2023 wildfires released more emissions than all other nations’ use of fossil fuels. The impact on boreal forests, which store carbon that would otherwise fuel climate change, is being examined, since more big fires will result in more greenhouse gasses, accelerating the warming of the planet.
With Social Security recently turning 89 years old, former program trustee Robert Reich explained why full benefits could end in 2033. At that time, recipients would get 77% of normal if shore-up action is not taken. So far, a Republican plan is to repeal taxes on benefits and raise the retirement age. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the repeal would increase the budget deficit by up to $1.8 trillion by 2036, and make Social Security insolvent two years earlier than currently projected.
Reich said that Social Security is running shorter and sooner than expected because the rich have gotten richer, and the cap on their Social Security tax payments has resulted in less revenue for the program. For instance, a person earning $20 million annually will pay in about 1% of their income, while those earning less than the $168,600 cap pay in all year. According to Reich, the current tax policy has cost Social Security about $1.4 trillion since 1983. A proposal in Congress would raise the cap to $250,000 and also subject investment income to Social Security taxes. That plan is estimated to make the program solvent for the next 75 years without raising taxes on 93% of American households.
Blast from the past: “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” — Oscar Wilde, Irish playwright and poet (1854-1900).
Idaho AG Labrador under ethics investigation by Idaho State Bar after complaint
Investigation follows complaint by former-Health and Welfare director, alleging conflict in grants investigation, other AG actions
By Kyle Pfannenstiel Idaho Capital Sun
The Idaho State Bar is conducting an ethics investigation into Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, following a complaint alleging an “adversarial relationship” with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Former-Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen, who retired in December, filed the complaint in June 2023. Jeppesen’s complaint alleges Labrador’s office has effectively denied the state health department — Idaho’s largest government agency — with adequate legal representation following legal conflicts and investigations into the agency, which the attorney general must legally represent.
The conflicts have strained the state health department’s operations and created “a hostile situation where trust and confidence has been destroyed,” the former agency director’s complaint alleges.
The Idaho Statesman first reported on the investigation.
In a statement to the Idaho Capital Sun, Labrador’s office said it was cooperating with the Idaho State Bar, which can discipline attorneys. But Idaho Office of the Attorney General spokesperson Dan Estes called the complaint “baseless,” and said Labrador “is confident the complaint will be dismissed in due time.”
State Bar investigates former AG staffer, now working for Alliance Defending Freedom
In a July 22 letter to Labrador, the Idaho State Bar asked the state’s top attorney to reply to Jeppesen’s allegations.
In a separate July 22 letter, the bar asked former-Idaho Office of the Attorney General Civil and Constitutional Defense Division Chief Lincoln Davis Wilson to respond to allegations Jeppesen made in a
separate complaint.
Wilson is now an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian law firm that has an agreement to freely represent Idaho in litigation.
“The attorney general is accustomed to meritless attacks in the media. But it is unfortunate that anyone is now attempting to also sully the character of the excellent attorneys who work or have worked for the office,” Estes said in a statement.
Jeppesen shared his complaints and the Idaho State Bar’s recent letters with the Sun, upon the Sun’s request. Jeppesen also shared the records with the Statesman.
Labrador’s office critiqued Jeppesen for sharing the documents with the media.
“The Bar’s grievance process is confidential in order to protect attorneys from meritless claims being aired out in public,” Estes said in a statement. “The leaking of this frivolous and baseless complaint to the media is an attempt to thwart a fair and objective process, and is proof that it was intended as a political hit. The fact that Mr. Jeppesen disrespect[s] the confidential process says more about his character and motives than anything in the complaint itself.“
Jeppesen did not agree to an interview. “Everything I had to say is contained in my complaint,” he told the Sun.
Idaho State Bar Counsel
Joe Pirtle told the Sun that he couldn’t confirm whether there are investigations into Labrador and Wilson.
But, speaking generally about grievance investigations, he said in an interview that the Idaho State Bar takes an average of 10 to 11 months to make determinations. But he said some cases may take longer to resolve.
Idaho State Bar investigations are confidential by rule, he said. Investigations only become public if the Bar files a formal charge complaint against an attorney — in which the Bar would seek public sanctions for alleged misconduct, such as public reprimands or disbarment.
Since becoming Idaho AG over a year ago, Labrador has clashed with state agencies Labrador, by Idaho law, is required to represent the state health department and other state agencies. But since the former congressman took over as the state’s top attorney in January 2023, he has engaged in high-profile legal clashes with some of the state’s largest agencies — including the state health department and the State Board of Education.
Jeppesen’s complaint alleges that Labrador’s actions show that he “does not view [the Department of Health and Welfare] as his client,” and that he has taken an “adversarial position against” the state health department and created “an unworkable conflict.”
That has left the state health department without “adequate legal representation,” the complaint alleges, and fueled concerns that “attorney-client privileged information will not be kept confidential, or worse, will be used against [the agency] and its employees.”
Estes said Jeppesen “and some legal commentators” misunderstand two key things: the attorney general “does not
represent” agency directors “in their personal capacity,” and professional conduct rules let government lawyers “represent multiple parties in cases where it would not be allowed in private practice.”
Jeppesen wrote that the “untenable situation” led to the resignation or forced ouster of two lead deputy attorneys general, the attorney general’s health division chief and three other deputy attorneys general.
The former health department director wrote to the Bar that he could provide “many, many specific examples” of conflict spurred by the “adversarial relationship.”
Much of Jeppesen’s complaint centered on Labrador’s handling of an investigation into the health department’s alleged mishandling of child care grants, which state auditors flagged issues in last year.
How Labrador’s grants investigation actions affected Department of Health and Welfare
In March 2023, top Idaho health officials filed two lawsuits, seeking to block civil subpoenas Labrador served on the officials for sweeping information related to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office investigation into $72 million of child care grants.
When Labrador issued those subpoenas, formally called civil investigative demands, he “created an additional unworkable conflict,” Jeppesen wrote in his complaint.
The attorney general didn’t engage state health department staff or Jeppesen to share concerns about the grant’s handling, Jeppesen wrote.
In legal guidance, a nowfired former Idaho deputy attorney general had found the agency’s grant fund distribution was legally sound. But in March 2023, the Attorney General’s Office withdrew those opinions, saying that they were legally inaccurate.
Labrador has insinuated the opinions “were created under suspicious and nefarious circumstances in an attempt to discredit his client, “Jeppesen wrote.
The legal demands “not only creates an unworkable conflict,” Jeppesen wrote, “but also creates an adversarial relationship that has destroyed” his and the state health department’s “trust and confidence that AG Labrador will advocate for [the state health department’s] best interest going forward.”
Since the Office of the Attorney General investigated the Department of Health and Welfare’s grants handling even after the previous legal guidance, it “opens up the possibility that at any given time legal advice or opinions that had been given to [the Department of Health and Welfare] can be withdrawn or worse, attorney client privileged information could be used against the department or its employees by the AG in the future.”
Labrador had “firewalled” his office’s attorneys for the health department, the complaint states.
That left the health department without legal guidance on the information demands, Jeppesen wrote, leaving officials to hire private attorneys — who represented them in their lawsuit against the demands.
“Effectively, AG Labrador admitted that there was a conflict and further went on to deny [the state health department] the legal resources necessary to manage the assault that AG Labrador perpetrated on his own client,” Jeppesen wrote.
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.
Idaho AG Raúl Labrador. Courtesy photo.
Bouquets:
• I recently heard from a reader and wanted to share their message with you all. She was in the grocery store and another woman approached her and said, “Your hair looks so nice.” The reader, who is in her 80s, wanted to share with the Reader how much that simple comment meant to her. “It truly made my day,” she wrote, emphasizing, “how easy it is to be kind.” Finally, the reader concluded by telling me how grateful she was for the Reader every Thursday morning. Thanks for the kind words.
Barbs:
• I’d like to talk about parking tickets. It’s been about a decade since I received one in Sandpoint, but after getting two this summer, I’m blown away by how expensive they’ve become. Last time I got a ticket, they were around $10. Now, the first violation is $50 and subsequent violations are $100 per ticket. This is way too much. I know parking is an ongoing issue downtown, and I know it’s frustrating when people violate the rules, but charging someone what amounts to half of their daily wage for a violation is mean-spirited. This is another way of taxing our already struggling locals. When it comes to tourists getting tickets, they often leave Sandpoint with a bad taste in their mouth when they come to shop at our stores and leave with $50 less in their pockets because they may not know the rules as well as locals. Yes, we should all avoid parking like jerks, and repeat offenders should pay for their multiple violations. However, those who follow the rules 99% of the time and make a mistake every few years shouldn’t have to pay out the nose like this. I respectfully suggest trimming parking ticket fees in half and bringing back first-ticket amnesty. With everything more expensive now, we all need a little break from our city leaders on parking ticket fees.
‘Veterans for Proposition 1’...
Dear editor,
I am an Army veteran. I joined Veterans for Idaho Voters, a cross-partisan and independent group of veterans who believe in fair elections, citizen involvement, sensible policies, and civil politics. We support open primaries and ranked-choice voting. Why?
Eighty-thousand veterans in Idaho are unaffiliated with a political party (Independents). They cannot vote in our closed primaries unless they declare a party. I am an example. I have voted for members of almost all political parties and Independents. In Idaho, I must declare a political party if I want to vote in the primary. I chose the Republican Party.
I’m an Independent. I should be able to vote for whoever is running for a specific office regardless of party. It should be my right to vote for a Republican who is running for governor and an Independent running for state senator and a Democrat for state representative. Open primaries allow that. I could vote for the person and how he/she addresses issues, not the party or the party line.
Ranked-choice voting: In the general election, I like ranking the candidates for a specific office according to my preference. This will encourage candidates to refrain from bashing another candidate and, instead, talk about issues and policies. Candidates who attack their opponents would be less likely to be ranked second or third by those who support these opponents. Rankedchoice voting ensures the winning candidate receives over 50% of the votes. It is an “instant runoff” and should ensure that the winner closely aligns with the values of most of his/her constituents; hopefully, sensible policies and civil politics.
If you are a veteran, consider joining our group. If not, check out our website at v4iv.org. I think you will be surprised at who our membership includes.
Gray Henderson Bonners Ferry
‘Karen Matthee has my vote’...
Dear editor, I met Karen, candidate for state representative District 1, Seat A, during the primary campaign. She was clear about her reasons for running and clearheaded about plans to improve life for Idaho’s citizens. I fully support Karen in all her plans, but would like to highlight
two issues that affect me.
Public libraries serve everyone. Since my childhood, I have found joy in whichever library I found myself. House Bill 710 is now law, passed under the guise of making libraries “safer for children.” It presumes a problem that was not in existence. Consequently, some small libraries have closed; others have had to implement time-consuming and expensive procedures. Karen would work to undo the burden of this law.
As a woman, I am appalled at the actions of the GOP-majority Legislature, which imposed a health threat to women and risk to doctors of potential financial loss and even loss of license. Such distrust of doctors and control of women does not elevate humanity — it takes all of us backwards. It’s already taken doctors to other states to practice medicine and women to go outside of Idaho for health care. Karen will work to empower physicians to save lives and the health of women.
Finally, Karen will work in a non-partisan manner to focus on the concerns of the majority of Idaho’s citizens. Please join me by voting for Karen in the November election.
Sincerely,
Lexie de Fremery Sandpoint
Dear editor, Recently, I have had the privilege of meeting Karen Matthee, candidate for Idaho state representative, District 1A. Her background as a journalist and working with landmine victims has given her the ability to ask the right questions and to listen carefully and with empathy to the answers.
The latter is a quality that appears to be missing from the current Idaho Legislature.
Karen’s stand on quality education is something that rings true to me. Why does Idaho accept that the state consistently ranks last in spending per student? Aren’t the children of this state worth more than that? Karen advocates establishing a permanent education fund coming from the $5.2 billion in obsolete sales tax exemptions and that those funds become available now, not over 10 years. She believes that it should be easier to pass school bonds, lowering the ⅔ majority bar to 55% or 60%. She rejects House Bill 710, which places heavy burdens not only on public libraries but on school libraries.
Finally, she would vote against school vouchers, which would redirect public funds to private schools. Public school funds are for public schools, period. Karen would work toward giving what Idaho children and teachers need and deserve: a well-funded education system.
I firmly support Karen Matthee. Let’s elect a representative who will listen to what we have to say! Vote Matthee on Nov. 5.
Sherry Ennis Sandpoint
Dear editor, I am voting for Kathryn Larson (D) for Idaho state representative District 1 Seat B against Cornel Rasor (R).
Kathryn has lived in Bonner County for almost 10 years. She has supported and been involved with many of our local nonprofits. For much of her business life, she has worked successfully as a consultant helping organizations work on building relationships and problem solving.
I have talked to Kathryn at recent community events. I was impressed with how friendly and approachable she is. She is interested in listening to the people of North Idaho and making our lives better by focusing on actual issues.
Kathryn is genuinely concerned that most North Idaho voters are not being listened to or truly represented. Much of our state government has been hijacked by the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which is concerned with everything but our freedoms. Funded mostly by out-of-state money, they are sticking their noses into our doctors’ offices, libraries, classrooms, love lives and more. They have spent our tax dollars to sue and countersue over issues they want to control.
Most Idaho Republican state legislators take a pledge to vote as the IFF instructs them to. By doing this, they limit healthy discussion and true problem solving that should be taking place with the interests of the constituents in mind. They are creating divisiveness and distraction from the real issues that concern North Idaho, such as funding infrastructure, public schools, health care and affordable housing.
Kathryn also supports open primaries, which give all Idahoans a voice in every election.
Please join me in voting for Kathryn Larson in November for a better Idaho. Thank you.
Margie Corcoran Sagle
Local government entities should work it out with BTAA for animal control...
Dear editor,
Let’s see, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department will no longer pick up stray dogs in the county (they used to take the strays to BTAA), because they don’t want to pay for the care of the animal while it’s being held. BTAA can no longer take in stray dogs because of the costs and because none of the three entities (Sandpoint, Ponderay and Bonner County Sheriff’s Office) will pony up the money to offset the costs for caring for these animals.
Guess what: That means no more spaying or neutering of strays, which means it won’t be too long before we see a surge in the volume of stray dogs, roaming wherever.
To say that these three entities have just shed themselves of their responsibility to the taxpayer (us) because they won’t cover their share of costs, after 30 years of underpaying BTAA, is ridiculous.
Do you three really think the problem of strays is just going to disappear? People will find a stray on their property and take it anywhere else and dump it off, so now it’s the next person’s problem, ad nauseam.
You three need to work it out with BTAA to continue handling strays and work out payment plans with BTAA; but the just-do-nothing “not-my-problem” attitude is going to prove more costly than if the three had stepped up and paid their share.
Think about how much money you three have saved (avoided paying to BTAA) over the past 30 years.
Gail and Michael Harmelin Sandpoint
‘Here we go, again’ …
Dear editor,
What doesn’t the Idaho Club understand about the need to preserve the unique ecosystem called Trestle Creek?
To the Idaho Department of Lands: You have the responsibility to protect Trestle Creek, which is held in trust, for the people of Idaho. Building a marina over a lakebed by excavating 12,500 cubic yards of soil over three acres is careless. They couldn’t care less.
You have a responsibility to the land and the people of Idaho to protect this ecosystem for the birds and fish that it sustains.
Please, please, please shut down this kind of reckless development for good — once and for all.
Kim and David Wanecke Dover
Karen Mathee will listen to voters in Dist. 1A…
‘Vote Kathryn Larson in November’...
Lake level and dam operation update
By Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint Reader Contributor
Idaho Gov. Brad Little flew into our area Aug. 29 for a “Capitol for a Day” event in Priest River. Before and after the Priest River event, we met with the governor privately to brief him on our concerns and ask for state support to address the Albeni Falls Dam problems. On his flight into the Sandpoint Airport, he and his staff flew over Lake Pend Oreille to sharpen their insight of the importance of the lake for our area.
After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers briefed local officials on May 21, I made a point of briefing the governor in person and asked for his support with this complicated issue. Since then, members of the state staff have evaluated our local issues and become more aware of the problems. Our federal elected officials sent a letter to the Corps encouraging them to promptly address the problems and to raise the lake as soon as it is safe. Our Lakes Commission
also stepped up their involvement with all parties. Over the summer, we were successful in securing the recent meeting date with the governor (and staff) to further explain our concerns and give him more history on the Albeni Falls Dam operations. Our goal was to convince the governor that the Albeni Falls issue had the same level of importance for North Idahoans as the Snake River Aquifer problem poses for those living in eastern Idaho.
Last Thursday morning, Aug. 29, was our time to get it done.
Lakes Commission Chair Ford Elsaesser opened the meeting and laid out the problems we are experiencing. Replacing the 70-year-old gates is of paramount importance and something that demands urgency. He noted that the state has played an important role in the past. The Lakes Commission is the result of local legislative work and is state funded. Past governors have weighed in on Lake Pend Oreille issues, too. Elsaess-
er stressed how important state and federal support and cooperation is now with our emergency situation.
We explained that Lake Pend Oreille and more than 20 miles of the river help to make our area a unique place. Untold numbers of our residents and guests treasure the time they spend on the water or admiring it. It’s been said our local economy rises and falls with the level of the lake.
We did not downplay our concern for the safety of the dam. However, we did point out the dam was built in less time than what the Corps has said it will take to repair/ replace one gate (three to five years). We stressed the urgent need to get the Albeni Falls Dam problems remedied and to have the facility operating normally as soon as possible.
Replacing the dam gates was not the only issue discussed. Frustrations were voiced due to the limited amount of influence the state has with the Army Corps. As owners of the water rights and with concerns for the local
economy and residents, the state has much to gain (or lose) from the operations of Albeni Falls.
Faced with the Corps’ three- to five-year repair schedule, public safety is at risk above and below the Albeni Falls Dam. The flooding below the dam is an obvious potential problem. Less obvious is the limited access we have to the lake in the Sandpoint area for emergency responders (think Long Bridge and train bridges) and for mooring their boats.
For example, the launch ramp at City Beach is mostly inoperable until the water level reaches an elevation of 2,056 feet. The use of the Windbag Marina is limited at that water level, too.
Many mitigation strategies were also discussed. Keeping a higher winter pool, having private contractors get involved, seeking funding from outside the federal appropriations process, etc. The collective concern in the meeting gave me the hope that we can collaboratively address these issues for
Eskelson leaves hole in hearts and community
By Terri Ivie River Valley Beacon
To say that Dan Eskelson’s passing will leave a hole in the Priest River community would be an understatement. Anyone who was fortunate enough to know him echoed the same sentiments. He was the most kind and gentle soul, had an infectious smile and spread calm and peace wherever he went. His community volunteerism spoke volumes, and will be his legacy well into the future.
The community lost this icon on Aug. 4, 2024. He was multitalented and shared those talents with the community. He not only loved photography, he had the eye for it. He was a landscape engineer and did organic gardening, as well. His self-described moral
when
Beacon.
compass was, “A product of all the sorrows and joys, failures and successes and wins and losses (he has encountered) over the years.”
Eskelson had a biography in the March 2023 Outdoor Idaho. It listed all the environmental causes and his thoughts on preservation of our natural environments;
and, in his own words, “the preservation of our natural environments is not a choice but an obligation we owe to future generations.”
According to former-Priest River Mayor Jim Martin, “Dan was an amazing giver to his community. Dan influenced so much in the community, from its landscape and park design to the community garden and the garden at the elementary school. Dan was an eager learner and had so many amazing talents that he would share every now and then with all of us in the community.”
Eskelson joined Priest Community Forest Connection in 2012 and was a board director for seven years and was the official photographer and recorded nearly 10 years of the sixth-grade forest expo.
the good of our area. Representatives for U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch attended and pledged their support. Jim Woodward and I expressed our concerns and contributed.
[Editor’s note: Woodward served two terms in the Idaho Senate (2018-’22) before Republican Sen. Scott Herndon won the seat in 2022, though Woodward bested Herndon in the 2024 GOP primary and will again stand in the November election for Idaho District 1 state senator against Independent challenger Dan Rose.]
Liz Gebhardt Johnson called him the PCFC web guru. She added: “Dan’s generous and passionate involvement in forest-related programs and concerns was an inspiration to PCFC. He helped us bring students to the forest that surrounds us and participated in teaching them reasonable, responsible and respectful use of our natural resources.”
Dan Eskelson’s celebration of life is set for Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Priest River Event Center (5399 U.S. 2).
In lieu of flowers, contributions to support this celebration and continue his legacy at gofundme.com/f/celebratedan-eskelsons-life-with-us.
This was first printed in the River Valley Beacon, with further editing by the Reader
County Commissioner Asia Williams and Mayors Jeremy Grimm [Sandpoint], Lonnie Orr [Oldtown], Jeff Connolly [Priest River] and George Eskridge [Dover] were present and added to the conversation as well. John Williams represented the Bonneville Power Authority and Ed Schreiver represented Northwest Power. After the Priest River event, the governor, his staff and I toured the Albeni Falls Dam. It’s important to get boots on the ground. State staff and I stayed after the governor departed for the airport to ask more questions. I think the governor left town much more informed and with firsthand knowledge of our situation. He saw and heard the importance and urgency to move as quickly as possible.
We are committed to getting the repairs to the dam completed and to getting operations in order. This issue will stay on my high priority list until we get things done.
I have received many emails about our lake level. I hope this article has helped get some of the information out. If you have thoughts or insight into this issue, please contact me at msauter@house. idaho.gov.
Rep. Mark Sauter is a Republican legislator representing District 1A. He serves on the Agricultural Affairs; Education; and Judiciary, Rules and Administration committees.
Dan Eskelson always had a smile on his face
he out in nature. Photo courtesy of the River Valley
Science: Mad about
boring machines
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
One of my high-school teachers told me something that would shape my worldview:
“Only boring people get bored.”
This was a masterfully diabolical dig at an entitled student (yours truly), who expected to be entertained at any given time. Sure enough, this got me thinking about what he meant in detail. Sitting idly and waiting for entertainment is a fool’s errand. Any situation you’re stuck in can relieve you of boredom, so long as you’re willing to put in a little effort and seek out enjoyment.
That being said, this article has nothing to do with a lack of entertainment and everything to do with boring machines.
We explored boring machines a little in last week’s article. They’re big machines that bore holes through the earth to create tunnels for travel. This becomes necessary in places like The Alps, where vehicular travel is virtually impossible without tunnels, or places like New York, which can utilize subterranean tunnels and commuter trains to alleviate traffic congestion in a cramped place like Manhattan.
Boring machines are engineered to perform a specific task based on the job they will be used for. There is no single boring machine that will work in every situation, but there are principles that can be used and shared between different machines. As an example, a machine digging through sandy soils may use pressurized water to
break apart sediment, while a machine tunneling through rock may need to utilize explosive charges to break apart the stone.
Using blasting for drilling is a bit rarer nowadays. The bulk of tunneling is done using a rotating head that delivers a cutting action and a forward driving force powered either by electricity or hydraulic jacks. These machines are huge, often weighing upward of 6,000 tons and up to 300 feet long. The bulk of the machine’s length comes from the support systems attached to the back of it, which we will cover later.
Examining the cutter head of the boring machine, you could likely draw parallels with a cheese grater. Applying forward pressure, the cutting head spins to grind and cut away rock and dirt. How loose debris is handled varies from machine to machine; but, generally, they spray pressurized water to help reduce heat caused by friction, act as lubrication and help contain debris by transforming it into a slurry that falls into the excavation chamber behind the cutter head.
A screw conveyor (also known as “Archimedes’ screw,” after the ancient Greek mathematician and inventor) transports the slurry debris to a conveyor belt that runs the length of the machine and out the back. In a way, the boring machine looks a bit like one of the worms from Dune, eating up rock and pooping it out the other side, where it’s carried away by other vehicles.
You may be wondering why debris doesn’t simply fall onto the boring machine
from above. This is a good thing to wonder about, and it’s something engineers thought about ahead of time by placing a curved metal shield over the top of the device. This helps to keep loose debris from falling into the guts of the machine, while also providing support to the tunnel before it is reinforced by concrete.
The process of how engineers place the concrete support structure of the tunnel is an act of genius. In days pays, shotcrete was utilized by spraying semi-solid concrete out of a pressurized hose to coat walls and stick to formed rebar. Workers would then have to smoothen out the concrete to keep it looking uniform. The modern method is performed completely differently and far more intelligently than the utilization of shotcrete.
A segment erector works by taking premade sections of a concrete cylinder and placing them like bricks to form a ring of concrete, with each segment offset from the one behind it to help improve structural integrity of the tunnel. In some instances, the final piece of concrete placed at the top is smaller than the rest of the segments. This is called the key segment, and it plays a very important role you’d have to ask your highschool math teacher about, because it’s quite honestly over my head.
Once the ring is complete, hydraulic jacks press against the exposed side of the concrete tunnel to push the rest of the machine forward and continue digging.
A tunnel machine is able to make about 30 feet of
progress per day. Due to their unique nature, boring machines are specially manufactured and carry a hefty price tag, ranging anywhere from $5 million to $30 million each. That’s a massive expenditure for an item you may use only a single time.
Getting such a massive object to turn is no small feat, either. There is a reason that subway tunnels are often straight, with only gentle curves and absolutely no 90-degree turns. A curve can be achieved while tunneling by applying more cutting pressure to one region of the surface than the other. This
is similar to how a tank will turn left or right. In order for a tank to turn, one set of tracks will stop moving while the other continues to move, pivoting the tank. Essentially, the boring machine is applying more pressure to one set of directional jacks pushing it forward than the other, causing it to drill in a curve. Engineers will have to account for this angular change when placing the concrete segments.
As you can see, boring machines are anything but boring. They’re a fascinating accomplishment of engineering.
Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner
•On Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Centers in New York City, killing 2,753 people, including 343 firefighters, 23 police officers and 27 officers at the Port Authority.
•The same day, a third hijacked airliner crashed into the Pentagon, killing 184 people.
•A fourth hijacked plane, United Flight 93, crashed in a field near Shanksville, Penn., after passengers revolted against the hijackers and forced down the plane. Forty people were killed in the crash, not including the hijackers.
•When they were completed in 1973, the Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world, at 1,368 feet and 1,362 feet. The World Trade Center was actually a complex of seven buildings in lower Manhattan, with construction start-
ing in 1966 and finishing in 1977.
•The coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda, an Islamic extremist group. There were 19 al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked the planes on 9/11.
•When the first plane struck the World Trade Center, between 16,400 and 18,000 people were inside the complex. Of those, the majority evacuated safely before the buildings collapsed.
•It wasn’t until May 30, 2002 when the last piece of WTC steel was ceremonially removed.
•The 9/11 Memorial opened on Sept. 11, 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the attacks. Memorial Plaza surrounds two reflecting pools set within the original footprints of the north and south towers. The names of all those killed in the attacks — as well as the 1993 bombing at the WTC — are etched in bronze around the edges of the pools.
Courtesy photo.
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act
By Phil Hough Reader Contributor
On Sept. 3, 1964, President Lyndon B.Johnson signed the Wilderness Act, preserving 54 areas as wilderness, totaling 9.1 million acres in 13 states. More importantly, it envisioned additional areas being added to the newly created national wilderness preservation system.
The Wilderness Act was a compromise. It set a bold vision — to set aside areas where nature would shape the landscape. Yet, it included provisions for cattle grazing in the Gila, outboard motor use in the Boundary Waters and a 20-year moratorium for mining exploration.
The process of adding areas was also a compromise. While original proponents of the Wilderness Act wanted the president to be able to add new areas, Congress reserved that right for itself.
Since then, every Congress has passed (and every president has signed) legislation adding to this legacy of wilderness. Today, the system stands
at 111,889,002 acres in 806 wilderness areas, in 44 states and Puerto Rico. From the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness in the Everglades to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska, these are iconic lands. Places for paddling, hiking and extended horse pack trips. Places to recreate, to challenge ourselves, to find ourselves.
They preserve more than recreation. Wilderness preserves unique habitats including singing dunes and oldgrowth forests. Wilderness is a place to hear the call of the loon or the howling of a wolf. These are places that define the American experience.
This is also the 40th anniversary of the largest expansion of the wilderness system in the lower 48 states. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed bills protecting 175 wilderness areas, covering 8 million acres across 22 states.
On June 19, 1984 — as he signed bills establishing wilderness areas in Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Vermont, and North Carolina — Reagan remarked:
“[B]ecause of this legislation, these
BY THE NUMBERS
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
about 23%
The amount, per every dollar the Idaho Lottery receives from ticket sales, that goes toward the annual dividend, which benefits Idaho public schools and the Permanent Building Fund. Since it began in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has paid out more than $3.7 billion in prizes to players and the total dividend given to Idaho public schools and the Permanent Building Fund from 1990 to 2024 is $1.273 billion.
16%
The percentage of contested races of the 5,470 state legislative district races during the 2024 primary election, the lowest percentage of contested primaries since 2010.
50 of 105
The number of uncontested races in the 2022 Idaho general election, along with others that weren’t seriously contested.
223%
The increase in participation in the sport pickleball over the past three years. There are now more than 50,000 pickleball courts scattered across the country, which includes the courts opened in Sandpoint recently.
wilderness areas will remain just as they are, places of beauty and serenity for hikers, campers and fishermen. Generations hence, parents will take their children to these woods to show them how the land must have looked to the first Pilgrims and pioneers. And as Americans wander through these forests, climb these mountains, they will sense the love and majesty of the Creator of all of that.”
There is more work to be done. No designated wilderness areas exist on America’s national grasslands, despite Forest Service recommendations. A citizen’s initiative — America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act — would protect spectacular and world-renowned landscapes in Utah, a region that contains abundant and significant cultural resources.
Closer to home, in Idaho and Montana, there are many areas where groups are working together to find common ground for common sense proposals that would keep some of our last best places preserved for our kids and grandkids. These proposals take time. Congress acts slowly and with great deliberation. This is what gives the Wilderness Act its power to
preserve places in perpetuity.
Yet, President Johnson’s vision remains as true today as 60 years ago when he noted: “If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it.”
Phil Hough is executive director of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. For more on the FSPW, visit scotchmanpeaks.org.
Phil Hough on the Appalachian Trail in 1973. Photo courtesy of Phil Hough.
COMMUNITY
Sandpoint Rotary, CHAFE 150 support LPOSD’s Book Trust literacy program
The Sandpoint Rotary and CHAFE 150 awarded $100,000 to Lake Pend Oreille School District and its affiliated program, Book Trust, to aid in their efforts to raise literacy levels among local students.
“Every student graduates a reader — that is our goal,” said LPOSD Superintendent Dr. Becky Meyer at the Sept. 4 Rotary luncheon. “There’s not one school district, I don’t think, in the whole entire country that can say that every single student graduates as a reader. This is our goal for LPOSD and I have no doubt that we will succeed.”
Rotarians Mel Dick, Mariah Williams, David Keyes and Margaret Tuddenham presented the ceremonial oversized check to Meyer and LPOSD Elementary Education Director Andra Murray at the luncheon (pictured above). Following that, Meyer and District Instructional Coach and Literacy Lead Lisa McElroy gave a presentation on the district’s efforts to increase literacy and support students with dyslexia.
Their current programs have already led to a 74% literacy rate in the district — nearly 10% more than Idaho’s average.
“In the United States, we’re experiencing what some might refer to as a ‘literacy crisis,’ and what that means is there’s 42 million American adults who are unable to read. Fifty million American adults are unable to read above a fifth-grade level,” said McElroy.
“Twenty percent of high-school seniors graduate high school as essentially functionally illiterate, which means when they walk that stage to receive their diploma, they’re unable to read it,” she added.
LPOSD and Book Trust hope to make these statistics a thing of the past by screening, teaching and progress-monitoring the district’s 3,800 students, as well as by providing free books to students in kindergarten through third grade.
— Words and photo by Soncirey Mitchell
was likely the, “largest public gathering in the city of
Right: Photos from the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Field of Dreams sports complex in Ponderay. Mayor Steve Geiger commented that it
Ponderay’s history.”
Photos by Ben Olson.
Florida man parks
Smart car in kitchen so it won’t blow away
As Hurricane Dorian approached Jacksonville in 2019, Florida man Patrick Eldridge made a bet with his wife he could fit his Smart car inside their kitchen to ensure it didn’t “blow away” in the expected high winds.
“I said there was no way he could. He said he could,” Jessica, his wife said. “So he opened the double doors and had it in. I was amazed that it could fit.”
The hurricane ultimately missed their home, and Jessica was pleased to get the car out of the kitchen, where she had to move it around to cook and serve dinner.
Sand Creek Regatta returns for fifth year of DIY watercraft competition
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Sandpoint’s signature celebration of homemade watercraft and big pirate energy is back for its fifth iteration, with the Sand Creek Regatta scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7.Boaters are instructed to gather at 10 a.m. on the east end of the Bridge Street bridge and launch time is at 11 a.m.
The route runs from Bridge Street to the Cedar Street Bridge and back, and the main goal is not to sink. In past years, awards have been given for the first finishing crew, but also “most creative” design and “most epic fail.”
Everyone wins, though that term is subjective — all boats are crafted from whatever supplies would-be sailors can scrounge up, and all must be powered by human chutzpah. No preexisting, repurposed
floating vehicles are allowed (for example, no inflatables bigger than 12 inches, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, waterskis, jet skis, skidoos or anything of the kind), everybody has to have a personal flotation device and all ages are welcome to participate.
“It is going to be nice and warm this year, which is great, because we’ve been a little chilly and rained on in the past,” said Jon Knepper, who with his wife Amanda started the event as an homage to the Businessman’s Raft Race, which took place in Sandpoint during the 1980s as part of Waterfest, which included canoe races, arm wrestling and other sports contests, pie eating and water skiing competitions and more.
“Lots of things are pointing to a positive” for the event, Jon said.
There are no restrictions on the ages or size of the crews — just so
long as a responsible adult 18 or older is on board — and there is no entry fee this year. That’s right: This year’s Sand Creek Regatta is FREE to enter. Participation is at your own risk. No trace is to be left behind, either on water or land.
For those 21 years and older, the spirit of fun may also include spirits (as Jon Knepper said, the theme is “human-powered, whiskey-fueled”), with an after-party tentatively scheduled for Idaho Pour Authority (203 Cedar St.).
For those under 21 years of age, there are also plans to celebrate at MickDuff’s Brewing Company (419 N. Second Ave.).
For more info, visit facebook. com/sandcreekregatta or email sandcreekregatta@gmail.com.
Left: The USS Hatemail at the 2023 Regatta, powered by the Sandpoint Reader and friends. Photo by Sarah Mitchell. Right: Jon Knepper and crew prepare to win “Biggest Fail,” at the 2022 Regatta. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft.
Friends of Scotchman Peaks offers late-summer volunteer opportunities
By Reader Staff
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is inviting area residents to take part in upcoming trail work projects, contributing to the volunteer efforts that “keep our favorite hiking trails open for everyone to enjoy,” according to the organization.
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for work on the East Fork Peak Trail on Saturdays, Sept. 7 and 14, and Morris Creek Trail on Saturday, Sept. 28, which coincides with National Public Lands Day.
In addition, the Scotchman Peak Trail Ambassador Program still has availability on weekends through early October. Trail ambassadors help ensure that hikers know they need to keep their distance from wildlife — especially the native mountain goat herd that lives in the area.
“Goats are naturally curious and love salt, so become habituated to humans when they are allowed to lick sweaty backpacks or eat human food,” FSPW stated in a news re-
lease. “Over time, this behavior can create dangerous situations for the goats, pets, and humans. Injuries or accidents between goats and humans or dogs can lead to trails being shut down or the removal of goats, and we want to avoid both of these.”
The organization stated that it’s always looking for trail ambassadors, which is “a great reason to get out for a hike while performing an important conservation service.”
“As summer begins to wind down and many of the tourists start to head home, this is a perfect time to get out and enjoy all that North Idaho has to offer and be reminded of the beauty that surrounds us,” FSPW stated in a news release. “Signing up to volunteer on a trail work day will connect you to the land in a deeper way, and you might make some new hiking buddies while you’re at it!
To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, go to scotchmanpeaks.org/youcan-help/volunteer.
Festival at Sandpoint 2025 Poster Contest now open
By Reader Staff
The Festival at Sandpoint’s 2025 Fine Arts Poster Contest is now open for submissions. All ages are encouraged and welcome to apply, though those participants 18 years of age or under will require parental/guardian consent. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Feb. 3, 2025.
Submissions are evaluated on multiple criteria: overall appearance, demonstrated artistic skill, creativity, reproduction and marketability potential, and how well the art embodies the spirit of the Festival.
The Festival at Sandpoint’s Fine Art Poster tradition has been ongoing since the start of the organization in 1983. What started as advertisement and fundraising for the Festival at Sandpoint has now become a way to showcase some of the community’s many talented artists and celebrate and publicize their work.
“As we prepare for our 42nd annual Summer Series, we are excited to continue this annual tradition and provide an opportunity for our local artists to
showcase their creativity,” Executive Director Ali Baranski stated.
The original art piece will be unveiled in July, when a silent auction for the artwork will begin. The auction ends at the conclusion of the grand finale performance. Copies of the original art piece are printed and sold for $15. Both a shirt featuring the artwork and poster prints are available for sale at the merchandise booth during the Summer Series or at the Festival office at 525 Pine St. afterward.
All proceeds go to the Festival’s nonprofit mission and serve as a fundraiser for the organization’s educational outreach programs. In addition to a publicity boost, the winner will receive two sponsor season passes to that year’s Summer Series.
For currently enrolled high school or college students who meet specific criteria and requirements, a scholarship option could be applied in lieu of tickets. To learn more about the 2025 Poster Contest or submit an application, visit festivalatsandpoint.com/ poster-contest.
‘Nature, My Muse’
POAC presents exhibition by Teresa Rancourt
By Reader Staff
The Pend Oreille Arts Council will host the new exhibition, Nature, My Muse, by local mixed-media artist Teresa Rancourt, beginning Friday, Sept. 6 with an opening reception at the POAC Gallery (313 N. Second Ave.) from 5-7 p.m. Her abstract work, which takes inspiration from North Idaho’s natural beauty, will be on display until Monday, Sept. 30.
“I am heavily influenced by North Idaho’s bodies of water, mountains, topography, skies and the extreme differences in its ecosystems, ranging from rainforests to deserts. My experiences in these elements are the basis of my work, my inner voice,” Rancourt wrote in the artist’s statement for the event.
Rancourt works primarily in acrylics on canvas, wood and paper, using pronounced colors and brushstrokes to create texture and depth in her paintings. Attendees of the opening
reception will be able to see and feel her passion for nature, as well as hear from the artist herself in the company of fellow art lovers.
“Her work comes from a place of deep self-awareness, and if you’ve ever spoken with her about her process, it’s clear that she truly knows herself,” stated POAC Arts Coordinator Claire Christy in a recent news release.
“When I view her paintings, I imagine myself shrunken down, navigating through her abstract landscapes. The layers of color she uses are a true pleasure to the eye, drawing viewers into a world that feels both intimate and expansive,” she added.
The opening reception and exhibition are both free, though all the art is available for purchase. Stop by the POAC Gallery anytime Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit artinsandpoint.com
“I’m sincerely grateful that I have
“Evening Softness” on canvas. Artwork by Teresa Rancourt.
the opportunity to start and end my day with the beauty of this incredible area,” said Rancourt. “I welcome you to enjoy this showing of my recent work that reflects that love, and I hope you see and feel something that resonates within you.”
Nationally recognized sculptor to host onenight show in Sandpoint
By Reader Staff
The critically acclaimed sculptor and former-Sandpointian Austin Casson returns to Idaho for a one-man, onenight show at the Panida Theater’s Little Theater (300 N. First Ave.) on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 6-10 p.m.
The free exhibition, sponsored by the Pend Oreille Arts Council, will showcase Casson’s lifelike pieces fashioned from bronze, steel, stone and concrete, which POAC Arts Director Claire Christy calls “dynamic sculptures charged with emotion and movement.”
Casson launched his artistic career in 1990 when he founded Fairway Replicas, producing miniature versions of famous golf holes and developing his skills in realism. He later drew inspiration from nature, sculpting horses, birds of prey and other wildlife.
His work is on permanent display at the World Golf Hall of Fame and the California Thoroughbred Hall of Fame. The Library of Congress also previously featured his mixed-media sculpture, “Forever Free,” which he donated to support Ukrainian war relief.
Casson often sells his work to raise funds for nonprofits like the Nature Education Foundation, and has pledged to donate 20% of sales from the Sept. 7 show to POAC.
“I am looking forward to sharing my work with all my old friends and enthusiasts in Sandpoint who have been so supportive and encouraging over these last 35 years,” Casson stated in a news release. “This place always has my heart, and I look forward to seeing you at the show.”
For more information, visit austincasson.com.
Sculptor Austin Casson at work in the studio. Courtesy photo.
Chamber welcomes LPO Retreat with ribbon cutting
By Reader Staff
The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce celebrated LPO Retreat’s entrance into their ranks, as well as owners Terry and Steve Thorp’s first corporate retreat at the newly renovated property, with a recent ribbon cutting.
LPO Retreat (1655 Glengary Bay Rd.) is a collection of buildings that made up the historical lakeside home of aviator, inventor and biomedical engineer Dr. Forrest Bird — a former neighbor of the Thorps. Bird spent years inviting doctors from around the world to come learn about his inventions and stay at his lakeside home on Glengary Bay.
The Thorps purchased the property about a year ago and have since been
working to transform it into a worldclass retreat, which includes lodging rooms, event venues and meeting spaces. The Thorps will begin taking reservations for events, family gatherings, weddings and corporate retreats in the spring of 2025. For more information, visit lporetreat.com.
Courtesy photo.
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
Artist Reception: Terrel Jones
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Winery’s artist of the month
Live Music w/ Hannah Meehan
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ John Minton Trio
5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Matt Hopper and the Roman Candles
9pm @ The Hive
THURSDAY, september 5
Live Music w/ Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
All-female Americana and rock
A blend of rock, blues, country, folk, reggae, pop and psychedelia. All Friday. FREE thanks to Ting! 21+
Live Music w/ Jake Robin
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Marcus Stevens
6-9pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Sadie & Mike
8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Live Music w/ Brights Moments Jazz 6-8:30pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante
Live Music w/ John Daffron
6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Double Shot Band
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Sandpoint Chess Club
9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am
Live Music w/ Kerry Leigh
3-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Teacher Appreciation Night
4-8pm @ Barrel 33
Teachers get 15% off food/drink
Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s New Series: “Saving Jesus Redux”
Mobile Market
11am-1pm @ Christ Our Redeemer Church
Free items distributed to anyone in need
Benny on the Deck concert series
5-7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Featuring guest Sheldon Packwood
Bingo Night 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Game Night
6:30pm @ Tervan
FriDAY, september 6
Live Music w/ Jordan Pitts
6-9pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Liam McCoy Band 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Happy birthday, Liam!
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill
6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes
6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon
SATURDAY, september 7
Sand Creek Regatta 11am @ Pre-Beach parking lot
A popular race where locals build rafts out of scraps and paddle from Bridge St. to Cedar St. Bridge and back. Cheer them on and have a ball!
Grand opening Bizarre Bazaare new spot
11am-3pm @ 114 S. Boyer Ave.
Peter Rivera — David Raitt and the Baja Boogie Band in concert
7:30pm @ The Hive
Delta blues, rock, R&B, swing. $25/30
SunDAY, september 8
Magic with Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s Up-close magic shows at the table
Pool tournament 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
monDAY, september 9
Outdoor Experience Group Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome
WaCanId bicycle ride (Sept. 9-14)
A 6-day event covering 370 miles. See wacanid.org for more
tuesDAY, september 10
Live Piano w/ Jack Purdie
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
wednesDAY, september 11
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market
3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park
Open Mic Night
6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern
Trivia Night 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
$5 movie: Jurassic Park 7pm @ Panida Theater
Live Music w/ KOSH
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Kaniksu Fireside Dance
7-9pm @ Pine St. Sled Hill (11735 Pine St.)
Enjoy a dirt dance floor at the base of the sled hill nest to the forest. Every first and third Friday through summer.
Friends of the Library monthly book sale 10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Library
A wonderful selection in all genres and some pop-up Labor Day specials
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park
Austin Casson art show (POAC) 6-10pm @ Panida Little Theater
A nationally recognized sculptor and one-time resident of Sandpoint Free First Saturday at the Museum 10am-2pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum New: Interactive play activities for children in front of the museum
Sandpoint Swing Dance 6-9pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Doors at 5:45, lessons taught at 6pm, general dancing at 7pm. $8 donation
Donation based class with all levels of dancers, mostly beginners. Drop in OK
Pinochle Wednesday 9:30pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center
Live Piano w/ Peter Lucht
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
ThursDAY, september 12
Sandpoint Summer Music Series • 6pm @ Farmin Park
Join the Eichardt’s Monday Night Blues Crew for the finale to this series of free outdoor summer music concerts. Food/ drink vendors on site. Gates 5pm. No dogs or outside booze
Ty Herndon w/ Jackson Roltgen
7pm @ Panida Theater
Renowned country star who has lived a life and career of extreme highs and lows. Panida.org for tickets
West Coast Swing Lessons
4:15-5:30pm @ The Yellow Room
All dancers welcome. $5-10 donation. No partner necessary. 102 Euclid Ave.
Grizzly Bears of the Northern Rockies
7pm @ Sandpoint High School auditorium
Join wildlife biologists Mike Bader and Paul Sierackle for a talk about the grizzly bears’ biology, conservation efforts and hazards they face. FREE!
Trivia Night 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Game Night 6:30pm @ Tervan
Bingo Night
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Panida unleashes the dinos with $5 screening of Jurassic Park
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
We’ve learned a lot about dinosaurs since the 1990s. For one thing, they probably had feathers and ran around squawking and pecking at each other like big birds. That’s something Michael Crichton hinted at in his 1990 best-selling thriller novel Jurassic Park, and a concept that made it to the big-screen blockbuster adaptation of the same name in 1993.
However, the film’s scaly reptilians form the bulk of what movie-goers of a certain age imagine when they envision the creatures that roamed the Earth until they didn’t anymore about 65 million years ago. (For instance, there’s no evidence that Tyrannosaurus-rex had bad eyesight — probably the opposite — and Velociraptor was probably closer in size and attitude to a chicken or turkey).
Whatever. Jurassic Park grossed more than $1 billion at the box office, which is the equivalent of more than $2 billion in today’s dollars, because of our fossilized commitment to an economic model that doesn’t really work for anyone but the kinds of weirdos who have the cash on
hand to genetically engineer dinos back to life in order to eat tourists.
That’s right: “Hold onto your butts,” but Jurassic Park was as much a morality tale about the 1% and its bizarre techno-socio-biological-entertainment hubris and its tragic results as it was a cool vehicle for showing Brontosaurus lumbering around munching leaves and blowing Sam Neil’s and Laura Dern’s minds. Remember Jeff Goldblum’s film-stealing performance as “chaos theorist” Ian Malcom: “God help us, we’re in the hands of engineers.”
The past 31 years have proven Dr. Malcolm to be a sage for the ages.
Revisit the epic blockbuster on the big screen at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave.) when it screens on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on this PG-rated classic from director Steven Spielberg, which also stars Neill and Dern as distressed paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler, respectively; Goldblum as Malcolm; and the late-, great-Baron Richard Attenborough, CBE, FRSA, as billionaire wackowith-a-heart-of-gold John Hammond.
Get tickets at the door or panida.org.
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist
I have yet to buy a tomato all summer long. Lucky for me, there’s no need. I have longtime, lovely neighbors on either side of my home who supply me with their green-thumbed abundance of beautiful, homegrown tomatoes. Farther down the street, another neighbor uses our community Facebook group to offer her excess vegetables, which always include summer’s finest friend: the tomato, and we are free to take these beauties. Meeting another neighbor or two by the sturdy box in Beth’s front yard is common, and we’re all grateful for her generosity (and modest with our gleaning).
Speaking of Facebook, I’ve learned there are myriad opportunities to be part of a tomato community. With a cult-like keenness, these groups gather online to share knowledge about collecting seeds, cultivating old heirlooms, growing the tiniest specimens (spoon tomatoes) and coaxing the largest varieties (there are many) into producing a blue-ribbon giant — like a recent, record-holding tomato in Minnesota, which weighed in at more than 11 pounds.
Do you still need to find your niche group of growers? Don’t despair; keep looking (I found dozens). Recently, my friend
The Sandpoint Eater Summer’s finest friend
Dianna (a prolific tomato gardener) introduced me to her own group of tomato pals. Just down the road from me resides a lakeside community of tomato growers nestled near Trestle Creek. This group has been together for about five years, and we are talking about some serious green thumbs.
Each year, toward the end of August, they gather to share and showcase their prolific bounty, along with some mighty tasty dishes, some wisdom, a bit of wine and, of course, bloody marys. This year, I was thrilled with an invitation to join them for the festivities. Let me assure
you that I would not decline this offer, and I was not disappointed.
The founders, Kay and Marlin, welcomed me, emblazoned (like many others) in their tomato-themed wear (including Marlin’s stylish socks). I felt a little underdressed, but I was eager to meet the other red-clothing-clad members.
Against the backdrop of the late afternoon lake’s glow, I made my way to a table heaped with tomatoes of every size, shape and color: mortgage lifters, chocolate cherries, ananas noire, Cherokee purples, spoon tomatoes (my favorite), Siletz and several others. Armed with a salt shak-
er, I made my way around the summer crop. With an almost magical combination of cultivation savvy and a (mostly) favorable climate, their tomatoes were picture-book worthy — and throw in a little karma, too, because all the growers report that deer have never menaced their gardens. What a fun evening! I savored the essence of summer in every single bite of those magnificent fruits. Another table was heaped with tomato-centric side dishes, like bruschetta, salsa, excellent salads, a rustic tart and tomato tapenade. It’s no small potatoes to grow these tomatoes. Rest assured: None go to waste.
A few days after the tomato growers evening, another key member, Carolyn, gathers the remaining tomatoes, hosting an equally delicious event: the gazpacho party. The tomatoes were once again the stars of the show, combined with chunks of other garden-ripe vegetables and zesty herbs and spices.
Have I been made an honorary member of this growing community, even with my brown thumb? Why yes, I have! I already have a favorite tomato recipe, and I claim it’s near perfect. Whip some up and let me know if you agree.
Baked beefsteak tomato with cheeses
This is one of my favorite tomato recipes. Do not skimp on the cheese, and use good quality cheeses or they will not melt properly. A fresh mozzarella cheese roll, shredded by hand (so it will stick to a grater) works well. Each tomato will yield about 3 slices.
INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:
•1-large firm ripe tomato sliced
•½-inch thick
•2 tsp salt
•1 clove garlic, minced
•½ tsp minced fresh oregano
•½ minced fresh thyme
•½ cup fresh mozzarella (not lowfat) shredded
•½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
•Fresh basil leaves
•½ tsp flaked salt
•1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Preheat oven to 400 F.
Slice tomato. Sprinkle generously with 1 tsp salt. Let rest for 10 minutes. Drain and repeat on other side with remaining tsp of salt. Drain. Pat dry with a towel. While tomatoes are resting, mince the herbs and garlic.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place tomatoes on sheet. Sprinkle with herbs, top each slice with mozzarella parmesan. Drizzle with olive oil and scant sprinkle of sea salt. Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until cheese has melted and top is slightly golden.
Pull from oven. If any juice remains on pan, tilt away from tomatoes. Let rest until cheese quits bubbling.
Top with fresh basil and serve. Or add to grilled bread, topped with avocado, for a stellar sandwich. It’s also the perfect topper for a bowl of fresh pasta. Add fried and shredded prosciutto as an extra topping.
MUSIC
A world-class voice for a world-class message
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Country musician Ty Herndon rose to fame in 1995 with the release of his ballad of love and loss, “What Mattered Most,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks category — now simply referred to as “Songs” — and solidified his place as a heartthrob for country music fans everywhere.
His latest tour will bring him across the country to the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave.) Thursday, Sept. 12 to showcase his newest album, JACOB, which shows a raw, personal side of the star.
“I remember growing up listening to his music. It takes me back to riding to school and going wheelin’ in my dad’s ’79 GMC Jimmy. His music comes from a time where the lyrics told a story that was easy to connect to and often inspiring — Ty’s music often did both,” said Panida Executive Director Robb Talbott.
Throughout his career, Herndon has charted 17 singles, with songs like “Living in a Moment” and “It Must Be Love,” both of which reached No. 1 on the charts. Though his early songs have a quintessential ’90s feel, with soulful and nostalgic lyrics, JACOB returns to the old-
Chart-topping musician Ty Herndon to play the Panida
er, original style of country that brought raw emotion to dealing with the difficulties of everyday life.
Herndon’s latest album explores addiction, mental health issues, self-discovery and religion, giving audiences a meaningful look into the difficulties he’s faced — difficulties that he now helps others overcome.
“I was really inspired by his strength through a fight with drugs, bipolar disorder and a suicide attempt, and the courage it must have taken to be the first major country music star to come out as gay,” Talbott said. “His newer music reflects that strength, connection to God and shows off his amazing voice.”
The voice that made audiences swoon in the ’90s has only gotten better with age, as Herndon has developed an added weight and gravel that befits his subject matter. Songs like “God Or The Gun,” inspired by his suicide attempt, explore his complex relationship with religion and the message of hope, love and kindness he now promotes both on and off the stage.
“It’s not where you go on Sunday, it’s what you do on Monday because you can’t say you love your Maker if you can’t even love your neighbor,” sings Herndon in “How You Get To Heaven.”
“His voice is world-class
and symbolic of that ’90s country many of us grew up listening to,” Talbott told the Reader. “The lyrics of his songs will connect with anyone that has loved too hard, worked a long day to provide for their family, contemplated who they are or put a few dents on their old Chevy.”
As part of his commitment to advocacy, Herndon started the Foundation for Love and Acceptance, which uses music and media to garner support for LGBTQ+ and other atrisk youth, as well as anyone living with mental health issues. In 2021, the foundation partnered with Everfi to bring mental health and wellness education to more than 300 schools across six states.
The foundation’s annual Concert for Love and Ac-
ceptance additionally brings together country music stars to raise funds for organizations like GLAAD, MusiCares, ACM Lifting Lives and the Oasis LGBTQ Youth Center in Nashville.
“It is rare to have someone with this much talent, multiple No. 1 singles and a 30-plus-year career in country music come to Sandpoint,” Talbott said. “Don’t miss the chance to witness it.”
Ty Herndon’s performance with special guest Jackson Roltgen will begin at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, with all proceeds benefiting the Panida. Tickets are available at panida.org and range in price from $25 to $49, depending on seating location. For more information, visit tyherndon.com.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
Andru Gomez, Pend d’Oreille Winery, Sept. 7 Benny on the Deck, Connie’s Lounge, Sept. 11
Americana and folk musician Andru Gomez will make the trip up from Moscow to perform his soulful originals at the Pend d’Oreille Winery, Saturday, Sept. 7. His music incorporates intricate guitar parts and lyrics that explore traditional subjects like love, loss and booze, all sung with a rasp akin to Tom Waits. Gomez draws on more than 25 years of experience playing with famous artists like
Scott Weiland, El Ten Eleven and Doug Martsch to pack a punch each performance, whether at a wedding or an intimate venue like the winery. Grab a glass and toast the passing of summer.
— Soncirey Mitchell
5-8 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., 208-2658545, powine.com. Listen at andrugomezmusic.com.
If you haven’t attended Benny on the Deck, the weekly music show held on the back patio at Connie’s Lounge, what in the world are you waiting for?
Hosted by Benny Baker — who plays in a handful of classic rock bands in Sandpoint — Benny on the Deck is one hell of a fun party every Wednesday night until the end of October. Baker invites a local musician to sit in, and
This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone
READ
I’ve been tearing through A Gentleman in Moscow, the 2016 novel by Amor Towles centered on the life of fictional aristocrat Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov. The setting is 1920s Russia, and Rostov is under house arrest — escaping the Bolsheviks’ firing squad because of a beloved revolutionary poem he wrote (or did he?) and instead consigned to live the rest of his life in a luxury Moscow hotel populated by its staff and a spritely young girl whom he befriends. Meanwhile, he explores all manner of philosophical and personal truths in his world-within-aworld. It’s a winsome, wistful jewel-box of a story, well worth finding where you find books.
each plays their own set before joining forces to finish together. It’s a local’s event that has a huge following.
This week’s special guest is Sheldon Packwood, a bandmate of Baker’s from their group BTP.
— Ben Olson
5-7 p.m., FREE. Connie’s Lounge, 323 Cedar St., 208-2552227, conniescafe.com.
LISTEN WATCH
I rarely fanboy out on contemporary music, but I’m head-over-heels for West Virginia country-folk songstress Sierra Ferrell. Pronounced “feral,” she’s a dyed-in-the-wool, smokeyvoiced Real McCoy whose style is as timeless as it is inimitable. Want to have your heart broken while you fall in love — and don’t know why you’re doing either? Ferrell’s your gal. Listen on all the streaming platforms, and go to sierraferrellmusic. com for more.
It seemed like a done deal that I would write a glowing review of the Netflix limited series The Decameron, based on the morality tale/farce written by Giovanni Boccaccio and set during the ravaged summer of 1348 C.E. The original 14th-century work featured 10 upwardly mobile Florentines, who shelter in place at a villa and entertain themselves with various stories about love, death, sex, faith — you name it. The Netflix show does some of that, but sacrifices quality for quantity of shenanigans. It’s enjoyable enough, but not great. Call it a solid “meh.”
Ty Herndon. Courtesy photo.
From Pend Oreille Review, Sept. 5, 1913
WEDDED,
THEN JAILED
Married here on Saturday last and yesterday thrown in jail is the experience of one John Youn, a Korean who professes to be a preacher.
Last Saturday Youn, accompanied by his then intended, appeared in the county auditor’s office here and asked for a license. He made oath that he was 33 years of age and his bride-to-be, Miss Marie Cloud, was 18.Justice of the Peace R.H. McMillan performed the wedding ceremony and the couple left on the evening train for Spokane and nothing more was heard of them till they figured in police court in that city yesterday.
Youn was arrested for cruelty to animals for misusing a horse. Youn was lodged in jail and other officers began a more thorough investigation to ascertain whether there was anything shady about the couple’s union.
Youn appeared in the city on Oct. 11, 1911 asking for a license to wed Lydia Otserland, said to live in Seattle. Knowing that Youn was a Korean, the officials in the auditor’s office were somewhat cautious about granting the license when the applicant was a white girl, so they insisted she appear in person. Youn informed them that was an impossibility, and after officials here refused to grant the license, the applicant took his departure and had not been seen again until last week.
Youn has for several years been a bosom companion of Paul Heine, a German, who also poses as a preacher. Heine is now serving a 60-day sentence for kidnapping a child from his wife, from whom he separated. The two “preachers” once worked under the guidance of “Sister” Flora Bilkiss, Gideon worker and evangelist, and both have been arrested several times for creating disurbances on the streets by their soap-box orations.
BACK OF THE BOOK Gratitude from a grump
The author expresses his thanks for various institutions that keep the wheels from falling off
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Upon reviewing my past eight or so months of “Back of the Book” essays, I came to the conclusion that I’ve been a real downer this year. That was not my intention, which I set in my Jan. 4 installment of this feature, when I wrote that I would “practice a little more guarded optimism and try on a little more gratitude for the good things, rather than the bad things that have or might happen.”
Yeah, well, I have not succeeded in that resolution — or any of my other resolutions. I don’t think I’m alone in this moral failing.
Still, I must report on this fine Sept. 4 afternoon that I’m feeling pretty OK about the state of play in Sandpoint and our Gem State on a number of fronts (as for the county... that’s always another story).
First off, I went to my son’s open house at Sandpoint Middle School the other day, and felt an immense amount of gratitude for the community of educators and staff there. I am, of course, deeply biased because my son is the fourth generation of his family to attend school in that building (including me).
That doesn’t matter, though — I’d feel the same way regardless. I applaud every single employee of the Lake Pend Oreille School District for their profound dedication and open-hearted, patient and loving approach to our kids.
Back-to-school time is such a special, pivotal part of the year, and can be scary and overwhelming. It’s also exciting and invigorating. We are lucky
STR8TS Solution
to have the people we have doing the jobs that they do to make the school year the latter, less than the former.
I was also recently reminded about the critical role our health care professionals play in the region. What was supposed to be a mostly straightforward medical procedure for a member of my family turned south pretty quickly and dramatically, but luckily we were already south — at Kootenai Medical Center — and the providers there most certainly saved a life while being calm, communicative, supportive and (above all) deeply humane. I can’t thank them enough, because I was more scared during that experience than I’ve ever been.
Part of my optimism this week is that I sense there’s a “throw-thebums-out” mood moving through Idaho politics, and I’m bolstered by that. I know darn well that the bums know it, and it’s been made clear with their squirming at the realization that we don’t want or need them.
I look forward to January 2025, when we will hopefully be rid of at least some of them.
Finally, I wish to express my gratitude for the people who’ve made this publication part of their weekly lives for all these years — despite my grumpy “Back of the Book” tirades.
As for the political bad actors who have made going to KMC necessary for so many vital procedures, due to their barbaric beliefs, I can’t condemn them enough and not in language fit for print. If you’re one of those bad actors, feel free to contact me and I’ll tell you exactly what I think.
Speaking of that, I also applaud the bravery and spirit of those who are actively working to correct the misguided, frankly mean and unproductive philosophies that have guided our majority political party in Idaho for the past 13 years.
Sudoku Solution
Crossword Solution
I’d like to see a nude opera, because when they hit those high notes I bet you can really see it in the genitals.
Artwork by Zach Hagadone.
Laughing Matter
Solution on page 22
By Bill Borders
[noun]
Week of the
1. community of feelings, purposes, interests or responsibilities.
“The community came together in solidarity after the outsider’s intimidations threatened to tear them apart.”
Corrections: The Friends of the Library monthly book sale was listed on the calendar for Aug. 31, but organizers told the Reader they had erred in giving that date. The real date, Sept. 7, is correctly listed in this week’s edition. Sorry for any confusion. Also, the cover photo and one of the Photos of the Week were incorrectly attributed to Bill Preuss, when they were actually taken by J. Eric Preuss. Finally, the photo of Lightning Creek in the story, “The rivers and lakes that you’re used to” was listed as “courtesy photo” but it was actually taken by Susan Beard.
