Voice - Winter 2017

V

Winter 2017

oice

Of the Pend Oreille River Valley

Winter Wonderland Fire Safety • Carols • Movies • Food Activities & Events • Arts & Crafts

A supplement publication of the Newport and Gem State Miner Newspapers

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Winter Voice

Editor’s Note: Winter wonderland

Welcome to your ultimate guide for winter in the Pend Oreille River Valley.

Inside this issue of Voice, you’ll find tips for winter survival, including how to not burn your house down, how those snowplow drivers work to keep the roads clear, and some recipes to keep you warm.

As Christmas approaches, check out page 19 to find the perfect church service to celebrate the reason for the season.

There’s lots going on around town this season too.

See page 22 for a list of events, from the library to the movie theater there’s a little something for everyone.

And finally, The Miner’s Sophia Aldous, our resident movie fiend, lists the best movies to curl up on the couch and watch as the temperatures outside drop and the snow starts to fall.

-MCN

what’s inside: Trials and tribulations of your snowplow driver Page 4

Whip up some holiday crafts Page 8

Looking for a good movie? Check these out.

Page 12

Soup!

Page 14

Church service Directory Page 19

Get in one last hunt for 2017 Page 20

What’s Happening Page 22

Voice: Published:December 2017 Publisher: Michelle Nedved Writers & editors: Sophia Aldous and Don Gronning Advertising: Lindsay Guscott, Cindy Boober and Micki Brass Design By: Brad Thew

Winter Voice

VOICE is published quarterly as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, 421 S. Spokane, Newport WA 99156.

TELEPHONE: 509-447-2433 E-MAIL: minernews@povn.com FAX: 509-447-9222 Reproduction of articles & photographs is prohibited without permission of the publisher. See all issues at The Miner Online: www.pendoreillerivervalley. com

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File photo|Don Gronning

Newport city administrator Ray King was called out in 2010 to plow snow for Newport’s Hometown Christmas event, which took place after Thanksgiving.

Snowplowing costly, necessary

By Don Gronning

S

now plow operators aren’t particularly popular. Whether a snow plow drove by and closed your driveway with a snow berm, hemmed your parked car in with a wall of snow or knocked your mailbox over, chances are you blamed the snowplow operator.

“It’s an underappreciated job,” Dave North, Newport’s Public Works director says. “I get people who yell at me sometimes.”

“We sometimes smile at the expectations of newcomers,” says Steve Klatt, Bonner County Director of Roads and Bridges. People who haven’t lived in snow country before might not realize that it simply isn’t practical for snowplow operators to raise the blade as they go past every driveway.

“The reality is we can’t pick up the blade because that leaves a hazard on the road,” says Sam Castro, Pend Oreille County Public Works Director.

Nor is it practical to immediately plow the whole county. Klatt, like other snow plow supervisors, prioritizes the routes to plow first.

“We catch the bus routes first,” Klatt says.

School bus routes have a top priority with Pend Oreille County.

“We meet with the schools a couple weeks before snow season,” Castro says.

Road foremen and school officials exchange cell phone numbers. It’s up to the school district to decide whether or not to close or delay the start of school because of snow, but county snowplow crews give their input, too.

The bus routes change year to year, Castro says. Some years routes that used to have kids won’t have any riders and other routes will have to be changed to pick up more riders.

Voice photo|Don Gronning

The cab of a Washington state snowplow includes computer monitoring of the blade and sand, along with a GPS.

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Continued on page 5

Winter Voice

Cost of snow removal Snow removal costs can vary widely depending on the year.

“The budget is adequate for snow removal,” Castro says of this year’s budget. Counties and cities budget on a calendar year basis, while snowfall typically hits part of two years.

Castro says Pend Oreille County typically spends about $750,000 a year on snow removal.

Since the budget year ends Dec. 15 and the 2018 budget year starts Dec. 16, Castro says this year has been about perfect so far.

The early snow in November didn’t stick, so it appears Castro will have some of the $750,000 annual snow removal budget left over.

Not much, since the last four months of last winter was harsh, Castro remembers.

“Last year was difficult for ice and snow,” he says. “We had about four months of getting hammered.”

That means more spent on deicer and fuel among other things.

“Running trucks consumes an enormous amount of fuel,” he says.

A dump truck fully loaded with sand gets about six miles per gallon. “Every day the trucks aren’t running saves thousands of dollars.”

The county has steadily reduced the amount it has spent since 2011.

“We’ve become creative now,” Castro says. It is more cost effective to install wing blades on the different graders and trucks to extend what they can do.

The extra width of the wings takes some getting used to for the drivers, Castro says.

“It’s not easy to think about the wing,” Castro says. The extra width must be accounted for, but the wings do sometimes reduce the number of trips a truck must make to cover a route, saving on gas.

Pend Oreille County will pick up a couple on-call drivers for the winter.

“We’re fortunate to live in an area with a lot of CDL (commercial drivers license) drivers,” Castro says. Many work season based jobs and have time

Voice photo|Don Gronning

Newport plows the sidewalk along Highway 2.

in the winter.

Pend Oreille County has three road districts. District 2, the middle part of the county, has eight full time road workers, District 1, the north part of the county has six full time workers and District three, in the south, has five full time workers.

The county has five graders and 11 dump trucks with plows.

In Bonner County, Klatt says the county figures it costs about $3,000 a mile for road maintenance, which includes snow removal and ice prevention. That comes to more than $2 million a year.

Klatt says road maintenance is a safety issues.

“We’re going to spend what you need to,” he says.

Sand, salt, deicer used on most roads

Voice photo|Don Gronning

Newport city workers spent time rebuilding tire chains for their snow removal equipment.

Winter Voice

While Bonner County only uses sand on its 700 miles of roads, other jurisdictions use a combination of sand, salt and a deicer – usually calcium chloride.

Bonner County won’t do any sanding until all school routes and county roads have been plowed.

According to Bonner County policy, use of sand is limited to steep roadway grades such as in mountainous terrain, at intersections, on overhead structures like bridges and in other areas determined by the department to be hazardous. It is not standard policy to sand straight stretches of roadway because of snow. Road salt is not used. Sand is not applied between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. because there is no midnight crewman.

Both Bonner and Pend Oreille counties mine some of their own sand for winter road work.

Castro says that saves the county considerable money.

“We mine our own sand in Districts 1 and 3,” Castro says. It isn’t going to run out soon. “We have a 100-year supply,” he says.

Castro says one thing people who drive a lot in the winter should do is wash their vehicles regularly.

“This is corrosive stuff,” he says of the sand/salt/deicer combination. “It takes its toll on brakes.”

He recommends people get down and thoroughly wash the underside of their cars. “It will extend the life of the equipment,” Castro says.

Snow removal starts at night City, state and county snow removal crews work nights.

In Newport, North says crews start at 1:30 or 2 a.m. plowing the city’s 40 miles or so of streets. “It’s 60 miles when you figure in the back and forth,” North says.

Newport has a three-man crew. It takes about eight hours to clear NewContinued on page 6

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Voice photo|Don Gronning

Newport grader drivers work with a series of hydraulic levers to operate the different blades.

port streets.

North says crews also clear some alleys and bought a special tractor to plow the long sidewalk that goes from downtown Newport to the high school.

North says city crews won’t normally plow unless there is three or four inches of snow.

North said there really isn’t much people can do to avoid getting plowed in if they park on the street. People who can should move their vehicle into the driveway or park off the street. Some people move their vehicles at night after they hear crews make the first pass.

North says he has made an effort to talk with people who park on the roads.

Some roads, such as Fifth Street, are narrow and if there are two cars parked, a snowplow can’t get through.

State crews plow Garden and Washington avenues in downtown Newport, as they are part of Highway 2.

North said city crews help out when needed. For the first snow this year, state rigs were broken down, so city crews plowed downtown.

The state crew has a shop in Newport. Another state crew is headquartered in Ione.

Kevin Young has worked for the state Department of Transportation 26 years.

He currently works out of Newport. Young says state crews start work at 4 a.m., with a second crew starting at 3 p.m.

Washington Department of Transportation spokesman Al Gilson says crews work 10 hour days in the snow season, with overtime authorized when needed.

Young says crews typically make an inspection run, heading south on Highway 2. Even if there is no snow to plow, crews treat for ice when needed. When they do plow, crews head south on Highway 2 and north on Highway 20.

State plows by the book Washington state crews have a booklet to guide their activities. The highways are ranked in order of priority. The interstate freeways have the highest priority.

Highway 2 is the second highest. Highway 211 headed north from the four-lane south of Diamond Lake and Highway 20, leaving Newport get the third priority. The priority drops to the fourth highest when highways 211 and 20 merge north of Cusick.

Washington DOT crews assess how effective their snow treatment is.

“The most important, overall result for snow and ice control is the condition of the travel lanes provided by maintenance actions (i.e. anti-icing or deicing) during winter conditions (i.e. snow, ice, frost),” reads the manual.

State crews enhance traction on top of snow/ice by spreading abrasives on the travel lane.

Mailbox probably wasn’t broken by snowplow Continued on page 7

6

Winter Voice

But one of the most common complaints – a knocked over mailbox – is often not the snowplow operator’s fault.

Snowplows must travel at a certain speed, which means the snow coming off the plow – called snowwash – can be pretty heavy and moving fast.

Castro says when people turn in a claim for a broken mailbox, he inspects the damage.

“I go out and assess when we get a complaint,” he says. “When we hit ‘em, we replace them.”

But most of the time he finds that the mailbox wasn’t hit by the blade.

“Some of these mailboxes are 15-20 years old and older,” Castro says. Often the weight of the snow alone can break the wooden pole the mailbox is attached to.

Klatt agrees.

“People don’t check their mailboxes,” he says. Most are on wooden posts and after eight or 10 years the nails start to get loose and the wood rots.

While only newcomers and fools try to predict weather, this years prognosticators say this is the second year a La Nina weather pattern is predicted.

La Nina is associated with coolerthan-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. In La Nina years, the northwest gets more precipitation than usual.

After last year’s La Nina, Castro is preparing himself. “The National Weather Service says that a second La Nina is worse,” he says. n

Courtesy photo|Bonner County

Both Pend Oreille and Bonner counties mine sand for roads. Here a Bonner County crew loads up.

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Winter Voice

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Edible, handmade holiday decor perfect for gifting Festive Popcorn Trees Yield: 10 trees 10 cups air-popped popcorn

1 bag (10 ounces) miniature marshmallows

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract nonstick cooking spray green decorating sugar blue decorating sugar

1 tube white frosting with decorating tip

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small, colorful candies (such as sprinkles and miniature silver dragees) Place popcorn in large bowl.

Place marshmallows and butter in medium saucepan over medium-low heat.

Stir until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.

Stir in vanilla extract.

Pour mixture over popcorn in bowl.

Toss well to coat popcorn evenly.

Line baking sheet with foil.

Spray hands with nonstick cooking spray then scoop up about 1 cup popcorn mixture.

Shape mixture into cone, keeping base flat to form tree.

Sprinkle tree with decorating sugars; place tree on baking sheet.

Make nine additional trees.

Pipe frosting on trees to make garland then decorate with sprinkles and silver dragees, as desired.

Serving suggestion: Place each tree on sugar cookie and decorate serving tray with shredded coconut to resemble snow.

Notes: For best flavor and color, start recipe with unflavored white popcorn.

You can make your own colored sugar by adding food coloring to sugar then stirring in bowl or shaking vigorously in sealed container. Add additional food coloring for more intense tones.

Winter Voice

Chocolate Popcorn Reindeer Yield: 8 reindeer

8 cups unsalted, unbuttered popped popcorn 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows 1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips

2 tablespoons butter or light olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 16 pretzel sticks 16 eyeball candies

8 red candycoated chocolate candies Place popcorn in large mixing bowl.

In saucepan set over medium heat, heat marshmallows, chocolate, butter and salt, stirring often until smooth. Toss marshmallow mixture with popcorn until well combined.

Scoop 3/4 cup popcorn mixture into ball. Repeat with remaining mixture to make eight balls total.

Place each ball in paper muffin cup liner.

Insert pretzel stick on each side of ball to resemble antlers, attach two eyeball candies for eyes and red candy for nose. Let cool completely.

Tip: Eyeball candies can typically be found in baking aisles of supermarkets or bulk food stores.

Holiday Popcorn Snowman Yield: 5 snowmen

1 package (1 pound) large marshmallows 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, plus additional

1 teaspoon vanilla 10 cups popped popcorn sprinkles (optional) licorice (optional) gum drops (optional) cinnamon candies (optional) In large saucepan, melt marshmallows and 1/4 cup butter.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Let stand 5 minutes.

Pour over popcorn and stir mixture.

Butter hands well and form into balls.

Decorate with sprinkles, licorice, gum drops and cinnamon candies, as desired.

Holiday Wreath Popcorn Treats Yield: 8 wreaths

Nonstick cooking spray

3 quarts popped popcorn

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine

3 cups miniature marshmallows

3 tablespoons lime gelatin dessert mix small red candies jellybeans red fruit leather Lightly spray large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray and place popcorn inside.

In medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter.

Stir in marshmallows and gelatin dessert mix until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth.

Pour over popcorn and mix until coated.

Spray hands with cooking spray and press firmly to form into 9-inch logs then bend to form wreaths.

Place wreaths on wax paper. Press candies and jellybeans into wreaths as decorations; cut fruit leather to make ribbon and add.

Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap for storage. Add ribbon tie to plastic wrap as decorative closure.

Tip: Soak saucepan before cleaning.

Winter Voice

9

Polar plunging to raise money

Miner photo|Don Gronning

Thirteen hardy souls took the plunge last February at West Bonner Park in Priest River, raising $2,675 for the Priest River Panthers Special Olympic team. Billy Mullaley of Priest River raised about $1,000 of that by himself, something he has done for the last 16 years. The weather was a little warmer last year than in the past.

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Winter Voice

Still time to catch the spirit at Circle Moon

By Sophia Aldous SACHEEN LAKE – The Christmas spirit is alive at Circle Moon Theatre with Northwoods Performing Arts Chorale production of Come On! It’s Christmas!

There’s still time to catch this musical performance of traditional Christmas songs interspersed with holiday stories of love, sacrifice, and faith.

Directed by Mark Caldwell and split into two acts, Come On! It’s Christmas! showcases the vocal talents of local residents singing everything from favorite standards like White Christmas and On the Wings of a Dove to tender numbers like Once Upon a December from the 1997 animated film, Anastasia and the acoustic guitar accompanied Still, Still, Still.

Between the songs, chorale members tell Christmas vignettes about celebrating the yuletide season during the Great Depression, a brother coming home for the holidays from military service, and how Mary accepted her calling as Jesus’ mother.

Performances are Dec. 7, 8 and 9.

Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. with the show at 7:30 p.m.

Performance tickets are $25 per person for dinner/show, or $12 for the show only. Senior and children tickets are $10. It is optional to purchase just

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Northwoods Performing Arts Chorale group sings Come On! It’s Christmas at Circle Moon Theatre.

the tickets for the show.

For more information, including

purchasing tickets, go to Seeber’s Pharmacy in Newport, or call 208-

448-1294, or go to www.northwoodsperformingarts.com.

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Winter Voice

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When you’re a cinema buff, almost any time is a good time to watch a movie, but that’s especially true during the holiday season. When it’s cold outside and the family is gathered inside, it’s something of a tradition to turn on a time-honored Christmas classic, or just a movie that bolsters us through the winter months ahead as we relax, cozy and comfortable. So whether you need a seasonally appropriate film that won’t make the in-laws blush and the kids ask questions you’re not ready to answer, or you want a holidayoriented entertainment to pass the time, here are some of my recommendations. (Also, this is a list of movies I’ve seen, so if you don’t see one of your personal favorites on there, I probably just haven’t gotten around to watching it yet).

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Some are fans of the Jim Carrey remake, but my heart bellows to this colorful, well-crafted animated short, with Boris Karloff narrating and voicing the titular Grinch, who can’t stand all the Christmas merriment from those Whos down in Whoville.

With his trusty, put upon dog Max, the Grinch decides to sneak into town and steal all things Christmas-related, only to have his plan backfire in a heart warming way. Interweaved with Dr. Seuss’s almost lyrical rhyming and a great theme song, the cartoon of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one for any age.

(Not rated, but geared toward

ages four and up).

Home Alone (1990)

What kid doesn’t love having the house to themselves when mom and dad aren’t around?

This movie takes a comical look at that scenario when a little boy, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left at home by his family for the holiday season. At first, he’s up to supervision-free hijinks, rooting around in his older brother’s stuff, ordering pizza whenever he wants, and totally foregoing any semblance of an “inside voice.” But as Christmas draws near, he finds he misses his family, as crazy as they might make him feel at times.

Add in a couple of humorously inept burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), and it’s a fun bit of fluff. (Rated PG)

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1990)

Kermit the Frog and friends team up to retell Charles Dickens’ time-honored tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) and the three ghostly visits on Christmas Eve that could save him from a life of isolation and coldness. Tempering sight gags and zaniness with sincerity and warmth, this is an enjoyable take on a well-known story that will delight kids and adults.

(Rated G) Christmas Classics

A White Christmas (1954) There are some who might argue that this story of two army veterans (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) teaming up with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen) to perform a Christ-

Continued on page 13

Winter Voice

mas show in Vermont is just an excuse for the singers to show off their pipes and the dancers to display their prowess. My reply is, “So what?� Yes, there’s a plot that involves their former commander coming up against financial trouble in keeping his picturesque country inn open (a plotline that in modern times has been done to death), but the dancing is so spot on, the singing so good that A White Christmas sweeps you away with its charm and spirit. And having Bing croon in your ear is never a bad way to celebrate the season. (Not rated)

in order to help him understand the true meaning of faith and repair his strained marriage. The film was remade in 1996 with Denzel Washington in Grant’s role, courting Whitney Houston, and while that is a pleasurable viewing experience in itself, Grant’s take as the rascally divine interventionist is whimsical and witty. The message is pertinent without being heavy-handed, in that it’s not what we think we want that matters; it’s how we treat the people around us. (Not rated)

Christmas Comedies

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Many a remake has been rendered from this Christmas favorite, but they’ve yet to hold a string of twinkle lights to the original. An elderly man who calls himself Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) makes waves by claiming he is the real Santa Claus, much to the consternation of his employers, including logical event director Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara) and her skeptical little girl, Susan (Natalie Wood). Filled with unabashed holiday cheer, Miracle on 34th Street puts a smile on any stoic’s face. (Not rated)

The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Dudley, (Carey Grant) an angel in human form enters the life of a bishop (David Niven)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) What are the holidays without a Griswold family Christmas? Chevy Chase struggles to maintain his sanity amidst the yuletide season as Clark Griswold, a well meaning family man with grand, fresh-faced plans to have the whole family visit for the holidays.

Of course, the ideal Christmas is just out of reach for the beleaguered Clark, as he deals with intruding relatives in the form of cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), snobby neighbors, exterior illumination issues, and even wild squirrels, to name a few. If this movie doesn’t make you chuckle at least, then there isn’t enough spiked eggnog in the world to lighten your mood. (Rated PG-13)

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) Okay, so technically this is a Thanksgiving movie, if you want to nitpick, but anyone who has traveled during the holiday season can relate to and laugh at the occurrences that befall Steve Martin and John Candy in this John Hughes directed comedy. Martin and Candy work sublimely together and the jokes never feel at odds with the underlining significance of what true gratitude is. (Rated R)

A Christmas Story (1983)

How could I not include this one? This beloved movie follows the exploits of Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), as he tries to avoid a bully (Zack Ward), put up with his whiny younger brother, and imagines saving the day with his ideal Christmas gift, a Red Ryder air rifle. Meanwhile every adult in his life, from his prim teacher to his entertainingly irritable dad (Darren McGavin) and loving, but haggard mother (Melinda Dillon), deliver the final verdict on the subject, “You’ll shoot your eye out.� Funny and real in it’s approach to family, A Christmas Story is a seasonal cinematic treat.

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German Potato Salad Soup Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 4

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cans (15 ounces each) READ German Potato Salad, chopped

1 bottle (12 ounces) light beer 3/4 cup reduced-sodium, fat free chicken broth

6 ounces (1 cup) diced ham, smoked turkey or sliced smoked sausage (optional) 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional) 1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon chopped parsley rye croutons (optional) crumbled bacon (optional) In Dutch oven or 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook onion and bell pepper in oil until onion starts to brown, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add potato salad, beer, broth and meat, if desired, and stir to combine. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt, if desired, pepper and parsley.

Serve topped with rye croutons and bacon, if desired.

German Potato Salad Soup

Rustic Vegetable Beet Soup

Rustic Vegetable Beet Soup

Tex-Mex Bean and Butternut Squash Stew Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 Stew:

1 can (15 ounces) READ Southwestern Bean Salad, divided

1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4-1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 cups cubed or chopped butternut squash, fresh or frozen (about 1/2 3/4-inch pieces)

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) no-salt-added diced tomatoes 1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

1 teaspoon lime zest, plus additional for garnish (optional) Chipotle-Lime Crema chopped cilantro (optional)

14

Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 6

1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Whole Pickled Beets, drained

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium onions, coarsely chopped

2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and chopped

2 large cloves garlic, minced

2 zucchinis (about 5 ounces each), coarsely chopped

2 cans (about 14 ounces each) vegetable broth

1 teaspoon seasoned salt (optional)

1 can (15 1/2 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed salt, to taste pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill Gremolata (optional) Gremolata:

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 tablespoon minced fresh dill

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel Coarsely chop beets; set aside.

In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions; cook about 5 minutes, or until softened. Add carrots, sweet potato and garlic. Cook 3-5 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally.

Add zucchini, broth and seasoned salt, if desired. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, about 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add chickpeas; heat through. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

To prepare Gremolata: In small bowl, combine all ingredients.

Stir in parsley and dill. Stir in beets. Serve immediately; top with Gremolata, if desired.

Chipotle-Lime Crema:

1/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt or sour cream

1 teaspoon lime zest

1/8 teaspoon chipotle chili powder To prepare stew: Place half of canned bean salad, cumin, chili powder and garlic into bowl of food processor. Puree until blended but still slightly chunky.

Add remaining bean salad to large saucepan.

Stir in butternut squash, tomatoes, broth, pureed bean salad mixture and lime zest. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, or until squash is tender and stew reaches desired thickness.

To prepare crema: In small bowl, combine yogurt, lime zest and chili powder.

Serve topped with Chipotle-Lime Crema, cilantro and lime zest, if desired.

Notes: If using frozen butternut squash, add to stew during last 2-3 minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking. Orange zest can be used instead of lime zest, if desired. Recipe can be doubled.

Tex-Mex Bean and Butternut Squash Stew

Winter Voice

Family Features

W

hen cooler temperatures call for something to warm you up, good, old-fashioned soups and stews may be just what you need.

You can create delicious, steaming pots that taste like they’re straight out of mom’s kitchen with flavorful, convenient ingredients such as Aunt Nellie’s Pickled Beets and READ Salads to help streamline preparation. With these contemporary recipes, you’re in and out of the kitchen in under an hour without any long simmering required.

Find more recipes to warm yourself from the inside out at AuntNellies.com and READsalads.com.

Bacon-Apple Red Cabbage Soup Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4

2 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped

1 medium red onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage, not drained

2 cups low-sodium, fat-free chicken or vegetable broth

1 medium apple, chopped (about 1 cup), plus additional for garnish (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice (optional) 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (optional) plain yogurt or sour cream (optional) crumbled cooked bacon (optional) In large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon 2-3 minutes, or until cooked through and crisp. Remove bacon from skillet; reserve. Drain drippings; return 1 tablespoon to pan; discard remaining drippings.

Add onion to pan. Cook about 2 minutes, until tender, stirring frequently. Add garlic; cook and stir about 30 seconds. Add red cabbage and liquid from jar, broth and chopped apple. Stir in cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.

Add water, 1/2 cup at a time, if soup is too thick. Add bacon to pan. Continue simmering about 3-5 minutes, until apples are tender and soup reaches desired consistency.

Spoon into bowl. Garnish with apples, yogurt and crumbled bacon, if desired.

Bacon-Apple Red Cabbage Soup

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Plan ahead for peace of mind

Funerals • Monuments • Cremations performed locally 423 2nd St. • Newport, WA • (509) 447-3118 • www.sherman-knapp.com

15

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Ebbie Scrooge (Millie Brumbaugh) takes a moment to process a ghostly encounter. This new take on Charles Dickens’ story opens Friday, Dec. 8 at the Pend Oreille Playhouse in Newport.

A new take on an old classic

By Sophia Aldous

C

harles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is simultaneous with the holiday, having become so ingrained in our culture that even if you haven’t read the book, you know the story. With that familiarity in mind, the Pend Oreille Players Association decided to do something a little different with the time-honored tale, by adapting it to modern times.

The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is now Ebbie Scrooge (Mille Brumbaugh), a businesswoman grousing at the commercialism of the yuletide

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season while also disparaging those that celebrate its compassion and joviality.

After a visit from her long dead business partner, Jackie Marley (Kristi Bell), she encounters the three spirits representing the past, present and the future. However, there are a few twists on these well-known characters: the Spirit of Christmas Past is a plucky Girl Scout, Present comes as a party loving, Christmas season hostess, and Future is a robot. Adapted and directed by Christopher Demlow, A Christmas Carol: Revisited still

has the same themes of kindness and redemption that make Dickens’ book relevant today.

Performances are Dec. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17.

Friday and Saturday shows start at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for seniors and students and $12 for general admission.

For more information, call the Playhouse at 509-447-9900 (leave a message with contact information if no one answers) or go to www. pendoreilleplayers.org.

Winter Voice

Tips for avoiding holiday fires

By Mike Nokes, Fire Chief South Pend Oreille Fire & Rescue

We truly hope everybody can enjoy a safe holiday season with family and friends. With the holiday season here it brings along with it many potential hazards. Here are a few safety tips from South Pend Oreille Fire & Rescue to keep in mind this holiday season. * If you will be putting up a live Christmas tree this year before you place your tree in the stand always do a fresh cut off the bottom of the tree trunk then place the tree in the stand with fresh water right away. This allows for the best absorption of water into the tree. * Make sure you fill your tree stand up with water every day. * Ensure your tree is at least three feet away from any heat sources like floor vents, fireplaces, radiators, candles or lamps. * Always turn the tree lights off before going to bed or leaving your home. * Only use lights that are approved from a national testing agency like the UL. Also read the lights instructions for the allowed number of strands that can be connected together. * Replace broken bulbs right away and entire strands if you notice broken or frayed cords. * It is recommended that you get rid of your tree right after Christmas or when you notice it start to get dry. * Two out of five home decoration fires are started by candles. Candles should never be left unattended. Candles should be at least 12 inches from anything that could burn. * Always put your candles out before you go to bed. * Although Christmas tree fires are not common when they do happen they are very dangerous. One of every 34 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death.

We hope these holiday tips will help keep you and your family a little safer this year. All of this information and more can be found at the U.S. Fire Administration’s and National Fire Protection Agencies web sites.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me either by phone, 509 4475305, or on-line at www.spofr.org

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Winter Voice

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Priest River Glass

“We have all your glass needs covered.”

208.443.2193

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Auto Residential Commercial 208-448-2511 • 800-858-5013 Priest River, ID

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Winter Voice

Peace On Earth FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEWPORT

LIVING HOPE FREE METHODIST CHURCH

NEWPORT SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH

Corner of 7th and Jackson, Priest River 208-448-1861 Christmas Program Sunday, Dec. 24th, 10 a.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6 p.m.

Check us out on Facebook @RivRev Pastor Kassey Martin Welcomes All!

A New Beginning Hwy. 2 at Sitton Road 509-447-3742 • 509-951-2607 Sunday Morning Worship, 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Rob Greenslade

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH

425961 Hwy. 20, Dalkena 509-447-3687 Dec. 17th, 10:45 a.m.

Children’s Christmas Program Dec. 24th, 10:45 a.m.

Christmas Cantata Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6 p.m.

Please Join Us!

Osprey Lane, Priest River 208-448-2724 Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship, 11:00 a.m.

Everyone Welcome!

NEWPORT SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Join us for a special musical service Saturday, Dec. 23rd, 10:40 a.m.

777 Lilac Lane, Newport

CHURCH OF FAITH

36245 Highway 41, Oldtown Christmas Eve Service, 11 a.m.

Pastor Jack Jones Invites Everyone!

DALKENA COMMUNITY CHURCH

HOUSE OF THE LORD

Christmas Eve Services Sunday, Dec. 24th Morning Worship, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Candlelight Service, 6 p.m.

Everyone Welcome!

754 Silver Birch Lane, Oldtown 208-437-2032

BUYING CEDAR LOGS

Welcomes you to a community candlelight Christmas Eve Service, 4 p.m.

Followed by finger desserts Morning worship, 10:15 a.m.

Corner of Second and Spokane 509-447-3846 Pastor Rob Malcolm

BLANCHARD COMMUNITY CHURCH Hwy. 41, Blanchard, Idaho 208-437-2970 Christmas Program Sunday, Dec. 17th, 10:30 a.m.

Special Musical Program Refreshments before and following Everyone welcome!

VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

7336 Spirit Lake Cut-Off Road, Priest River Christmas Eve Worship Early Service, 8:30 a.m.

Sunday School, 10 a.m.

Worship Service, 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6 p.m.

Pastor Adam Harris 208-946-3048

PRIEST RIVER COMMUNITY CHURCH 49 Washington St., Priest River 208-448-2115 Pastor Dr. John Denney Come celebrate with us as we have two services now!

Children’s Christmas Program, Sunday, Dec. 17th, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve Services, Sunday, Dec. 24th, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Sunday, Dec. 24th, 5 p.m.

Everyone Welcome!

PINE RIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH Christmas Eve Service Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Mitch McGhee 509-447-3265 1428 W. First St., Newport

Pend Oreille County Counseling Services

Our qualified professionals are ready to assist with your mental health and substance use needs.

Counseling Services is a State licensed provider for substance use disorder and mental health.

We offer a continuum of behavioral health services, as well as Crisis Services that are available 24/7.

After 4:30pm, weekends and holidays, call crisis line 866-847-8540 We accept Washington Medicaid and other insurances, resources permitting.

Delivered into Naples, Idaho & Swan Lake Landing, St. Maries, Idaho

Our main office is located on 105 South Garden Avenue Newport. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call

(509) 447-5651 or (800) 404-5151

Trevor Favaro 208-290-4547

Winter Voice

19

Don’t let 2017 slip away without one more hunt, or several more

By Roger Phillips Public Information Specialist, IDFG

December is when a hunter’s will

gets tested. It’s easy to look at short, cold days, gray skies and often dubious road conditions and think “maybe I will just call it a season.”

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But in the back of your mind, you know what you might miss. If you’re a waterfowl or upland bird hunter, you’re also greeted almost daily by an expectant dog with an excited, questioning look on its face that heartbreakingly withers when you say “no hunting today, buddy.”

I’m no stranger to this struggle. It’s possibly more acute this year because I spent so much time this year big game hunting at the expense of other hunting.

I kicked it off in mid September with a high country hunt that included my first snowstorm of fall, although technically it was still summer. I took advantage of the early deer opener in a backcountry unit, and I envisioned cool mornings and sunny afternoons where I could scan vast swaths of landscape through my binoculars for deer.

Instead I woke up to blowing snow and visibility shorter than rifle range. I hiked for miles up and over ridges and through timber patches and caught a glimpse of one deer across a canyon weaving its way through the trees and disappearing into a lush creek bottom.

I never could never tell if it was a buck or a doe.

That hunt wasn’t what I expected, but I was unfazed. I don’t expect to hit the jackpot on my first foray into new territory, so the following weekend I returned to better weather, but similar results.

Fast forward to October, I went to an adjacent unit, but packed a bow this time. My friend had an archery elk tag for the Sawtooth Zone, and I had an unfilled deer tag. Our priority was to fill his elk tag because it was the last weekend of his hunt. A bull decided to play along by bugling back at us from across a broad canyon.

We went in pursuit, only to be intercepted by three mule deer bucks coming up the canyon. We could only see the lead buck and were unaware of the pair trailing it. As I waited for the lead buck to clear within bow range, I heard a rock roll and watched the other two boil out of a draw and pull the lead buck with them. It was a cool sight, but not the ending I had anticipated.

In the meantime, the elk slipped away, and we went from the thrill of possible victory to the deflating disappointment of defeat.

I was far from finished, and knowing where a nice herd of bucks was hanging out, I made return trip for the opening weekend of the rifle deer season, only to encounter another blizzard. Technically, the blizzard hit Friday when I was driving in, but left behind ankle-to-shin deep snow and single-digit temperatures. To their credit, the deer had moved to lower elevations.

I followed their lead, and after a long morning stalking a single buck that kept playing hide and seek and using does for decoys, I filled my tag.

My elk hunt was a story unto itself, but let’s say I deftly avoided a long, heavy pack out by scheduling my brief November hunt for the same time another blizzard hit. It’s a longer story, but that’s the gist of it.

So as I sit with a freezer full of venison and a dog that I can bribe with a few tosses of a tennis ball and a walk around the neighborhood, I find myself asking “is it worth the effort to go hunting again?”

Short answer is yes. I may have to leave my warm, cozy house on a frigid, pre-dawn morning, but I also get to see ribbons of pink on the horizon at sunrise and hear whistling wings and a cacophony of waterfowl. It’s not just what I hunt that makes the trip worthwhile, it’s the wintering songbirds flittering and singing in the willows, and an occasional mink or beaver working the shoreline.

It’s common to flush a covey of quail while walking to or from the blind, and to see the momentary confusion on my dog’s face as she wonders what we’re supposed to be hunting.

December hunts may not be as user friendly as during fall, (although this year I could make strong argument otherwise). But I know if I don’t do it, I will look at a V-formation of geese flying overhead, or hear a lonely quack of a hen mallard, and long to sit in a blind on a frozen morning and await silhouettes to appear in the dark sky, circle the decoys, and with a little luck, pull back their wings and drop their feet toward the water.

You know what comes next, and I don’t want to miss the chance to experience it live rather than sitting in a warm, cozy house and wondering what might have happened if I went I hunting instead of staying inside.

Winter Voice

The wins.

The losses.

The stats.

The people.

The politics.

The economy.

The births.

The deaths.

The arrests.

People depend on newspapers.

The schools.

The roads.

The truth.

Our towns.

Our lives.

Our news.

Winter Voice

21

Office 509-244-5421 • Toll Free (800) 396-2220 www.spokanerock.com

Local holiday activities and events

Avoid cabin fever this winter and check out this activities and events coming up in the Pend Oreille Valley. From north Pend Oreille County to West Bonner County, there’s something for everyone.

CONCRETE S A N D & G R AV E L SACKED PRODUCTS LANDSCAPE ROCK Airway Heights • Post Falls • Elk • Chattaroy 3 Local Ready Mix Locations

Saturday, Dec. 9 Mountain Harmony Show Choir will do a Christmas concert Saturday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Newport, and Saturday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. at the Community Center in Blanchard. The concert is free, but donations are accepted, as it will help fund the spring musical in April.

On Saturday, Dec. 9 Santa will be at the Newport Library to visit with kids and take pictures from noon to 3 p.m., hosted by the Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. Soroptimist International of Newport will serve hot cocoa and cookies. Kids crafts table, ran by Create, will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be a Christmas card craft center from noon to 2 p.m. and face painting from noon to 3 p.m.

Local Rodeo royalty will also attend the event to meet families and help with festivities.

The Newport High School National Honor Society will be hosting games, crafts and cookie decorating Saturday, Dec. 9 in TJ Kelly Park from noon to 3 p.m.

Hot dogs and cocoa provided by the Chamber of Commerce and the Maws and Paws Boosters. There will be caroling by the Newport High School choir on Washington Avenue, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

December brings holiday fun to the Priest River Library. On Saturday, Dec. 9 at 10:30 a.m., make and take an essential oil bath salts ornament with Kim Bristlin. This program is free and Kim will also offer a free sample of a holidayscented oil. Seating is limited, so call or email the library at 208-448-2207 or library@westbonnerlibrary.org to reserve a space.

Monday, Dec. 11 On Monday, Dec. 11 Selkirk School District will present Reindeer Games: A Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. at The Cutter Theatre in Metlaine Falls. Junior high and high school students perform this concert. On Monday, Dec. 18 Selkirk Elementary students will perform Gingerbread Cookies: A Winter Concert at 7 p.m. in the Sam Nichols Gym.

Tuesday, Dec. 12 On Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m., there will be a Service of Remembrance and Comfort at UCC in Newport. Anyone is invited to join in for a brief worship service of music, scripture, candles and reflection. Those attending will find a safe place to remember, be restored and find strength for the season.

Wednesday, Dec. 13 Join the Newport Public Library Wednesday, Dec. 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. for book club featuring coffee, goodies and great books. For the December meeting they will be discussing “A Man Called Ove.” Go online or call the library at 800366-3654 to order copy.

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Winter Voice

Courtesy photo|Nicole Seeber

Ski racer Local racer Colton Seeber placed fourth and 13th in the U12 boys’ division in the Giant Slalom (GS) Emerald Empire Youth Ski League (EEYSL) race held last January at 49 Degrees North. Seeber skis for the FAST team. FAST members train at 49 Degrees North. Athletes range from 5-16 years of age.

Thursday, Dec. 14

Board the Polar Express on Thursday, Dec. 14 at Priest River Library at 5:30 p.m. for the fourth annual reading of the children’s classic Christmas story. Refreshments will be served and there will be gifts for the kids, as well as drawings for hardcover copies of The Polar Express. Pick up a ticket at the Priest River or Blanchard Library, or call or email the library for a reservation.

Saturday, Dec. 16 The Calispel Valley Library will host cookie decorating Saturday, Dec. 16, 11 a.m. to noon. All supplies are provided. The library is located at 107 1st Ave. in Cusick.

Thursday, Dec. 21 Artists at the Priest River Library (grades 5 and up) and My Art At the Library (grades K-4) kids will meet together on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. The groups will have the opportunity to exercise their creativity with a variety of holiday crafts. This is the time to sign up for either group’s monthly after school art program, which will run through the end of the school year.

Lego Mondays will continue at Priest River Library throughout the month, with the exception of Christmas Day. Kids of all ages can build a Lego or Duplo masterpiece from 3-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 23 There will be a free Christmas Movie marathon Saturday, Dec. 23 at the Newport Roxy Theater. Prices for concessions still apply.

Noon - A Charlie Brown Christmas 12:40 p.m. - Frosty The Snowman 1:20 p.m. - How The Grinch Stole Christmas 2 p.m. - Elf 4 p.m. - Bad Santa (R)

Sunday, Dec. 24 The United Church of Christ’s Christmas Eve worship is Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. All children will receive a gift bag. The service culminates in singing “Silent Night” by candlelight. Light refreshments follow the service.

For more information on these events, call 509-770-3830.

Winter Voice

Thursday, Dec. 28

The Cook the Books cooking club invites the public to join them Thursday, Dec. 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Newport Library. This month’s theme is Scandinavian food. Check out a cookbook or download a recipe and bring your dish to the gathering.

Friday, Dec. 29 The Priest River BookTalk has been rescheduled for Friday, Dec. 29 at 10:30 a.m. Meetings will resume on the fourth Tuesday of the month in January. The selection for this month is “And the Mountains Echoed” by Khaled Hosseini.

Blanchard BookTalk has been on hiatus during the library’s renovation and will resume in the library’s new meeting room if there is enough interest.

For information on library programs and events visit www.westbonner.lili.org or www.facebook.com/WestBonnerLibraries.

Saturday, Dec. 30 The Newport Roxy Theater will have a free showing of the animated film Rise of The Guardians Saturday, Dec. 30 at 10 a.m. Admission is free, but regular concession prices still apply. There will also be hot cocoa, muffins, and coffee for sale.

Sunday, Dec. 31 There are lots of holiday-centered activities going on at United Church of Christ (UCC) in Newport during the month of December. A Children’s Craft and Movie Day is Sunday, Dec. 11, 3-5 p.m. and is free to the public. The activity is geared toward children age five to 10, but teens are welcome to come and help.

Kids will make Christmas crafts, play games, sing Christmas songs and watch ‘A Fruitcake Christmas’ movie featuring Hermie and Friends. Snacks will be provided.

Monday, Jan. 22 Missoula Children’s Theatre auditions for Snow White are Monday, Jan. 22, 3 p.m. at The Cutter Theatre, 302 Park St. in Metaline Falls. Performance dates are Jan. 26 and 27. For more information, go to www.cuttertheatre.com.

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HOWDY 2018 A FREE CELEBRATION FOR EVERYONE!

Ring in the new year at the Camas Center with a family-friendly, drug and alcohol-free, western-themed event.

SUNDAY, DEC 31, 7PM–MIDNIGHT • Swimming pool, water slides and climbing wall available • Games and inflatables on hand • Kalispel Tribal Youth Council will be selling concessions • Camas Center Deli will be open

DONATE CANNED FOOD OR PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR A FREE 6 MONTH CAMAS CENTER MEMBERSHIP.*

FOR DETAILS CALL 509-447-7122 1821 N. LECLERC ROAD, CUSICK, WA / K ALISPELTRIBE.COM *Food donations benefit KTI food bank. Hygiene donations benefit KTI Domestic Violence program.