River Journal, March 2016

Because there’s more to life than bad news

A Newsmagazine Worth Wading Through

OPEN RANGE The face of Idaho may be changing but its livestock still own the roads.

Photo by KC Cheyne

March 2016 • FREE

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Wine or Beer?

Friends of Scotchman Peaks help solve the raging debate!

Seed Starting SALE to get you Growing!

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Special pricing on monthly birthstones.

Idaho Pour Authority We’ll slurp suds.

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February 3

We sipped.

We shopped.

We chose wine!

March 30!

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Open 7 Days a week Sayers Jewelers, inside the Bonner Mall in Ponderay

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Have fun AND make a difference!

City Rec is now accepting applications for LIFEGUARDS.

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Spring is Here and it’s Time to Get Outside! Check out these activities: Upcoming dates to remember:

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CONTRA DANCING. Every second Friday through June at Community Hall from 7 - 10 pm. (In partnership with Emily Faulkner and Lost Horse Press.) $5 suggested donation. Next dance March 11!

April 4 - Men’s and Women’s SOFTBALL. April - PADDLESPORTS America April 9, 9-5. 2nd Annual Lou Domanski CHESS TOURNAMENT. Community Hall.

SAILING IMPROVEMENT Workshop Now accepting applications for LIFEGUARDS.

March 2016

A News Magazine Worth Wading Through ~just going with the flow~ P.O. Box 151•Clark Fork, ID 83811 www.Facebook.com/RiverJournal (Webpage under redesign) 208.255.6957 • 208.266.1112 RiverJournalIdaho@gmail.com

STAFF Calm Center of Tranquility Trish Gannon • trishgannon@gmail.com

Ministry of Truth & Propaganda Jody Forest • dgree666@gmail.com

Sales & Other Stuff

David Broughton• 208.290.6577 • davidcbroughton@gmail.com

“We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle Proudly printed at Griffin Publishing in Spokane, Wash.

509.534.3625 Contents of the River Journal are copyright 2016. Reproduction of any material, including original artwork and advertising, is prohibited. The River Journal is published the first week of each month and is distributed in over 16 communities in Sanders County, Montana, and Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties in Idaho.

The River Journal is printed on 40 percent recycled paper with soy-based ink. We appreciate your efforts to recycle.

THE RIVER JOURNAL • March 2016 •

13. LET’S TALK ABOUT GUN REGULATION. A couple of cowboys turn Super 1 into the OK Corral.

Enough is enough. TRISH GANNON - POLITICALLY INCORRECT

On the Cover: In this 2010 photo,

photographer KC Cheyne captured cattle on the move out on Clark Fork’s River Road.

6. DON’T FENCE ME IN. With more people moving here, contact with livestock is rising. What it means to live on the Open Range. by Trish Gannon

14. NEXT STEPS. A pledge to limit global warming means there’s work to be done. GARY PAYTON - FAITH WALK

7. ZIKA VIRUS. Just one more reason to dislike mosquitoes. But these mosquitoes don’t live here.

7. SCOTCHMANS TRAIL RE-OPENS. But brush up on your goat etiquette.

8. VOTING IN IDAHO. A guide to the rules for both the democratic and republican early voting process.

9. VOTING IN MONTANA. A guide to primary voting that makes Idaho look overly complicated.

9. VETERANS’ NEWS. What’s happening this month with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 890.

10. PRIMARILY REPUBLICAN. The ins and outs of party affiliation in Idaho. DAVID KEYES - AS I SEE IT. 12. IT’S THE PRIMARY THAT MATTERS. If you want change in political representation, then it’s the primary where your vote matters.

GIL BEYER - IN THE MIDDLE

15 CORPS OF DISCOVERY. A look at the incredible journey of Lewis and Clark. SANDY COMPTON - THE SCENIC ROUTE 16. BEAUTIFUL BARK. Fresh out of winter white, it’s a great time to think about next year’s color.

NANCY HASTINGS - GET GROWING 17. THE RUDDY DUCK. The epitome of “a duck out of water,” a distinctive blue bill is your guide to this intriguing waterfowl. MIKE TURNLUND - A BIRD IN HAND 18. 10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT PARKINSONS It’s not all about shaky hands, you know. AC WOOLNOUGH - ALL SHOOK UP 19. NOTEWORTHY. Scott often needs a reminder, but runs into trouble when he runs out of reminders.

SCOTT CLAWSON - ACRES N’ PAINS

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March 2016

Page

Don’t Fence Me In

Livestock, Automobiles and Idaho’s Open Range Law

Last summer, a pair of horses were roaming free on Colburn Culver Road, and a good Samaritan posted the information on Facebook as a warning to drivers.

Earlier this year, a similar situation occurred on Clark Fork’s River Road, with a pair of llamas running loose. And just last month, law enforcement confirmed a collision between a vehicle and a horse on Hwy. 95 north of Sandpoint that slowed traffic on the highway to a crawl for quite some time.

What surprised many, in all three of these incidents, is there may be no negligence involved on the part of the animal’s owners. Idaho, you see, like most western states, has an Open Range law.

The law, found at 25-2118 in Idaho Code, reads, “Animals On Open Range -No Duty To Keep From Highway.” If offers further protection to livestock owners by stating those owners, “shall not be liable for damage to any vehicle or for injury to any person riding therein, caused by a collision between the vehicle and the animal.”

What this means is that if you, as a driver, collide with a livestock animal that jumps in front of you on the road, it is you, the driver, who will bear the financial consequences of that collision.

And that includes paying for damage to the animal you hit.

Although Open Range isn’t a big topic here in North Idaho, where large ranching interests are few and far between, it’s a hotter topic at the other end of the state, where arguments are often characterized as a battle between the New West and the Old West. But the issue isn’t that simple, and there are serious concerns on both sides of the issue.

Idaho’s Open Range laws came about in the late 19th century in response to the range wars — battles between ranchers who needed to let their cattle roam freely to graze, and the influx of new property owners utilizing barbed wire to fence Page

off areas where cattle were once free to roam. The Idaho laws are “fence-out” statutes: if a property owner doesn’t want cattle (or other livestock) roaming on his property, then it is his or her responsibility to fence the critters out.

While Open Range laws were established primarily to benefit cattle, and secondarily, sheep, the laws also apply to animals such as horses, llamas, alpaca, mules and goats. But not hogs.

There’s a whole section of law about hogs (in Title 25, Chapter 21) and your duty to keep them under control. And, for some reason, stallions worth less than $250.

Open Range doesn’t just apply to livestock on the roads. In Open Range areas, such livestock are also free to enter your own property and do what damage they will, unless you have adequately fenced them out.

Open Range, according to the law, includes “all unenclosed lands outside of cities, villages and herd districts, upon which cattle by custom, license, lease, or permit, are grazed or permitted to roam.”

An important caveat to the Open Range law is that provision of “herd districts,” whereby groups of landowners can come together and petition to reverse the idea of “fencing out” and instead, require livestock owners to fence their animals in. And a look at the Bonner County map viewer (http://maps. bonnercounty.us/apps/public/) indicates that large areas of the county are, indeed, part of a herd district—including a large part of Colburn Culver Road, where those horses were roaming. (When viewing the map, select to show the herd district data layer within administrative boundaries on the right hand side.)

Open Range laws have been important to livestock ranchers not only given the high cost of fencing adequate property for large herds, but because fencing can often be inadequate when faced by a determined, large animal. A startled animal can run through, or jump over, a

fence, and visitors to property are not always careful about closing gates. Yet most ranchers are quite concerned with the health and safety of their animals, and quite often fence off areas of their property in an effort to keep their animals out of harm’s way.

On the other side of the equation is the idea that costs created by someone else’s free-ranging animal should be borne by the driver, or the victimized property owner. It goes against the idea that responsibility and authority should go hand-in-hand; that is, that a person is only responsible for actions they can freely control.

Even worse is the reality that, when large animals roam the highways, people will die. Open range laws were developed and adopted during a time when this risk was practically non-existent. A collision between a cow and a horse and buggy is a different proposition from a collision between that same cow and a vehicle moving at 45 mph (or faster).

Eliminating open range laws (via herd districts or by living in an incorporated town or village) does not, of course, exempt drivers from contact with animals on the road. In 2014, in fact, the Idaho Transportation Dept. said that around 1,000 accidents occurred on Idaho roads involving animal/vehicular collisions, and only about a third of those involved livestock. Deer, elk and moose are far more prevalent on Idaho’s roads.

Nevertheless, if Idaho continues to grow, attracting more and more people into our rural communities, the needs of Idaho ranchers will likely butt up ever more frequently against those of people who have no interest in preserving the area’s historical, rural activities.

You can learn more about Idaho’s livestock laws here: http://bit.ly/ 1piodm1 -Trish Gannon

March 2016

Zika Virus and Mosquito Season Given that robins have returned as our first sign of spring, it’s likely that the first mosquito hatch will not be far behind. Mosquitoes are much more than an itchy nuisance, and are responsible for the spread of many diseases; of primary concern in our area is West Nile Virus and western equine encephalitis.

So what about Zika?

Unless you avoid the news cycle, you likely know that an outbreak of Zika virus has been growing in Brazil and beyond.

(Cases in Washington and Oregon, including the most recent in Spokane, were acquired when traveling, and not from local mosquito bites.) Spread by the Aedes species of mosquito, the virus is considered to be quite mild. Of concern, however, has been a correlation between Zika virus in pregnant women, and babies born with abnormally small brains, a condition called microencephaly.

Although there is no evidence at the moment to show that Zika virus causes this condition, prudence dictates that pregnant women should be very cautious about mosquito bites.

Currently, the range of the Aedes species of mosquito is limited to the southern tier of the United States, from

California to Florida and as far north on the East Coast as Washington D.C. So no one should fear Zika virus from the bite of a local mosquito.

That said, there’s still reason to avoid mosquito bites (West Nile virus is no laughing matter), and the CDC offers a number of tips for doing so that include wearing long pants, long sleeves, and the use of mosquito repellent.

In addition, eliminate any spots on your property where water can stand - the inside of old tires, animal bowls and even plant saucers can provide a home where mosquitoes can breed. Be aware that even a tarp covering items in the yard can hold pools of water if not tied tightly. If the water is needed — like a dog bowl — make sure to tip the water out and replace it on a regular basis.

Because the Zika virus is relatively new, more is being learned every day.

One troubling development is early evidence that Zika virus may additionally be transmitted via sex. Women who are pregnant should use condoms, or refrain from having sex with any man who has traveled in an area where the virus is present for the duration of their pregnancy.

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Scotchman Peak Trail Re-Opens; Goat Etiquette Advised The Scotchman Peak Trail #65 reopens February 12, after having been closed in September 2015 as a precautionary measure against aggressive mountain goats. The goats had been habituated to humans as a result of hikers enticing the goats with food offerings, and were behaving aggressively in an attempt to obtain human foods.

In June 2015, a hiker was bitten by a goat and required multiples stitches.

Additionally, there were numerous reports of goats attempting to head-butt or charge hikers, which could easily lead to serious injury or death. The temporary closure was intended to allow time for the goats find other sources of food beyond the handouts provided by hikers, and to reduce their willingness to approach humans.

People play an important role in keeping this popular trail open by discouraging goat encounters. Wildlife experts recommend people stay at least 100 feet away from the goats and if goats approach, to yell, wave clothing, and throw rocks from a distance to scare them away. It is bad goat etiquette to feed them and allow them to lick salt off your hands. In order for the Forest Service to keep this trail open so everyone can enjoy the expansive views and frequent mountain goat sightings, people have to practice good goat etiquette and educate others if bad behavior is witnessed.

For hiking and other recreational information, please visit the Idaho Panhandle National Forests website at www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf, or contact your local Forest Service Office.

LEARN ABOUT LOCAL WILDLIFE!

Join American Heritage Wildlife Foundation for a presentation at the Clark Fork library March 12 at 2 pm, or at the CF Methodist Church at 5 pm on March 30.

March 2016

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How to Vote in Idaho

Republicans

The Idaho Republican Party’s March 8th Presidential Primary and May 17th Primary will only be open to those voters affiliated with the Republican Party.

If you are currently not a registered voter or are an unaffiliated voter, you can register to vote or change your party affiliation by filling out the appropriate form at the County Clerk’s Office, online at idahovotes.org/gov/ VoterReg/affiliation_form.pdf (there is an underscore between affiliation and form) and take the form into the County Clerk or complete the required forms on the day of voting at your precinct location. In either case you must register or affiliate as a Republican to vote in both Republican primaries.

The March 8th Republican Presidential Primary is where Idaho voters have an opportunity to vote for their presidential candidate of choice during hours that fit into their time schedule. These candidates include Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Ben Carson. After the 2012 election, where Idaho held caucuses throughout the state to choose the Republican presidential candidate, it was decided to return to the Presidential primary format. The Republican caucus experience in Sandpoint was held for a specific period of time, closing the doors at 7 pm, when the caucus began, which left out several voters who wanted to participate, and ran late into the evening.

Additionally, because Idaho has more delegates to the National Republican Convention (32) than Iowa (28) and New Hampshire (12), the state decided to move its Presidential primary to a time when the state’s choice for President would have an impact on the final candidate chosen by the party to run for President of the United States. When our primary was in May, by the time Idaho had an opportunity to vote, the Presidential candidate had already been selected. These are the reasons that drove the change. Voting will take place at the regular precinct locations.

Having the opportunity to select their Presidential candidate in the Page

March 8th Presidential Primary, the next election is the May 17th primary election. In this election, voters will make their choice for all federal, statewide, legislative and judicial offices.

Candidates for these offices are found on the Election Ballot and include House and Senate appointments at the federal and state level as well as local precinct committeemen, sheriff, prosecutor and commissioner positions. Voting will take place at the regular precinct locations.

The General Election will take place on November 8th and includes Presidential and other federal statewide legislative and judicial offices. Voting will take place at the regular precinct locations.

If you were previously registered as a Democrat, and which to change your affiliation to Republican for this election, you must have done so already to vote in the Presidential primary. To vote as a Republican in the local primary election, you must declare your affiliation as a Republican by March 11.

March 8th: PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY March 4th: Last day for in-person absentee voting and early voting March 8th: Presidential Primary Election Day. Polls open 8 am – 8 pm. All absentee ballots must be returned to the County Clerk by 8 pm.

March 11: Last day for Democrats to change their affiliation to Republican for voting in the local primaries.

April 22nd: Last day to pre-register for the Primary election May 11: Last day for mail-in absentee ballot application May 13: Last day for in-person absentee voting and early voting May 17: Primary Election Day. Polls open 8 am - 8 pm. All absentee ballots must be returned to the County Clerk by 8 pm.

May 18: Registration reopens for the general election in the fall.

Democrats

Bonner County’s Democratic Party is pleased to invite the public to help select the Democratic candidate for next president of the United States!

On March 22, Idaho Democrats will host a caucus to select our preferences among candidates for the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States. We join states around the West that day in selecting a nominee who will go on to become our nations’ next leader.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Idahoans to have a real say in selecting our candidate for next president,” Ken Meyers, county chairman, said.

“We’re expecting a great turnout, so we encourage people to pre-register at idahodems.org.”

The caucus will be held at the Bonner County Fair Grounds, 4203 North Boyer Road. Doors will open at 5 pm, and the caucus begins promptly at 6 pm. You must be present before 6 pm or you will not be allowed to participate in the presidential preference caucus. Should you get hungry you will be able to purchase soft drinks and pizzas.

To participate in the caucus you must complete a pledge form that declares you’re a Democrat and that you will be a registered voter of Bonner County on November 8 2016. This is also the time to put your name forward to be a delegate to the Idaho Democratic presidential convention in Boise in June.

Space will be available for those who do not wish to participate but to observe a caucus in action. To learn more about the Bonner County Caucus, contact us at bcgoudems(at)gmail.com or call 208.265.7251. To learn more about the caucus process, contact the Idaho Democratic Party at (208) 336-1815, or visit the website idahodems.org

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March 2016

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How to Vote in Montana

1. Pick up an absentee ballot from the county clerk’s office and cast your vote.

Or 2. Show up at your local precinct on June 7 and cast your vote.

In contrast to their neighbor to the west, Montana makes it easy for voters to cast a ballot in their primary election.

Surprisingly, there is no party registration in Montana. A voter receives ballots for both parties, and may cast their vote in secret. They may only vote in one party’s primary election, however.

Montana residents may register to vote any time up to 30 days prior to a given election for regular registration.

To register within 30 days of an election (late registration), voters must do so at the county election administrator’s office or the location designated by the election administrator.

Sanders County is currently taking applications for Commissioner, Dist.

2, Clerk of the Court, and precinct committee chairpeople. County-level offices in Montana are non-partisan except for the precinct offices. By practice, these offices will be included on the June 7 ballots.

Council website at tristatecouncil.org.

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m | Vol 17 No. 18 | November 2008 | Page 5

Veterans’ News The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 890 meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 noon at the Sandpoint VFW Hall. Anybody and everybody is welcome to come and ask questions.

On March 4, 5, and 6 we will have a table at the gun and horn show. We will have a old double barrel shot gun and a $100 bill to raffle off for a $5 donation.

There will be two winners and the first ticket drawn will get their choice.

VVA will be at WalMart in Ponderay at both doors on Memorial Day handing out pins and stickers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The purpose of this activity is: 1. To thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.

2. To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.

3. To pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War. 4. To highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War. 5. To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War. For more information, you can check out vietnamwar50th.com online.

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We will be having some ATV rides this summer but haven’t set any dates yet.

Our chapter is starting to work on the veterans golf scramble at the Elk’s to be held in September. You don’t have to be a veteran to play and it’s a lot of fun.

Last fall the Elk’s club and the VVA 890 teamed up and bought three flag poles for the fairgrounds, one 30 feet tall and two 25-footers.

Our Vice President was in Lafayette, Louisiana as the State Council President of Idaho for a State Council Presidents meeting. There were 33 out of 48 State council President there. They meet three times a year, usually in Silver Springs, Maryland, the national headquarters for VVA. We bring back information from National VVA to our chapters within the state. One of VVA national top priorities this year is to get the Toxic Exposure Bill passed—Senate Bill 901 and House Bill 1769. This is important to not only Vietnam veterans but ALL veterans because we want a central location for the government to do research on toxic exposure. There is money already in the VA budget for research. Please call your Senators and Representatives and ask them to sign on to these bills.

Our Vice President will be going to Silver Spring for a BOD and State Council Presidents meeting in April and I will have more information then regarding what National VVA has planed for the future. At the VVA website, vva.org, you can see all the committees and concerns that National VVA is working on for veterans.

VVA National has just decided to offer a lifetime membership to VVA for only $100. No other veteran organization can match that. Stop by the regular meeting for more information.

Local organizations supporting veterans are encouraged to share their information. Please email your updates, events and issues to trishgannon@gmail.com.

Information must be received by the 25th of each month for the following month’s events.

March 2016

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Primarily a Republican

208.263.4272

Seniors’ Day 9-12

First Tuesday of every month

Albeni Falls Pipes and Drums Sat. Mar. 12 - 11 am

St. Pat’s Special Celebration!

Thursday March 17 at the Hideaway Lounge

Photos with the

Easter Bunny!

10-2 Saturday, Mar. 26 Used Book Sale Saturday, Mar. 26 10-2

That is me. For the upcoming primary I am a Republican. I have officially joined the party of Reagan and two out of three Bushes.

You should join me.

Keep reading, because someone you know — okay, we are in Idaho — correct that, most people you know are already Republicans.

I have voted and endorsed Republicans in the past by far greater numbers than Democrats since I cast my first official vote in 1980 so I can speak the language. I hadn’t missed a vote during all of that time until the lunatic fringe of the GOP decided to close the primary a few years ago.

I have already registered and voted in the GOP presidential primary mainly because this presidential race on the Republican side is a cross between a circus, a demolition derby and a frat party and who would want to miss out on that?

I have visions of Ted Cruz as the circus clown, Donald Trump driving the biggest car in the derby and Marco Rubio as the kid who greets you at the frat house front door and offers you a beer as he throws your jacket into a heap in the corner.

“Marco Rubio, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you!”

The GOP in Idaho has never had it so good. The Gem State’s top elected state officials are all Republican and the Idaho House and Senate have the secondhighest GOP percentage in the nation.

One would think with all of that control, the GOP would want to invite more folks to the party. Instead, by closing their party primary, flirting with loyalty oaths for candidates and other such nonsense, the opposite is happening.

For the past two election cycles, voters have had to declare themselves card-carrying Republicans in order to vote in the GOP primary. On one hand, it makes sense. The primary is a party function and by announcing allegiance to that party before casting a ballot, the act of registering should scare off any Democrats or other malcontents who might want to jump party lines to wreak havoc.

But a funny thing happened on the way to world domination. The GOP has split into two distinct parties. One wing endorses legislators like Rep. Heather Scott while the other wing of the party aligns more closely with Sen. Shawn Keough.

Here is what has happened. In the past two election cycles voter turnout in the Republican primary has been historically low and this has benefitted the Heather Scott GOP. With fewer voters, it has been much easier to elect more radical legislators.

At the same time this faction has taken over precinct positions and have sent the non Tea Party Republicans scurrying to start up their own Republican Women groups and the like. The takeover has

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March 2016

been powerful and has had its intended consequences.

Former Rep. George Eskridge is still scratching his head about how he lost to Rep. Sage Dixon in the last election and Shawn Keough barely kept her seat as an absolute loon nearly beat the highest ranking and longest serving female senator in the state.

By closing the primary, the party of Heather Scott has also chased away many people who can’t — or won’t — declare a party affiliation. Judges can’t cast a ballot in the GOP primary because they are nonpartisan by definition. Folks who work in local or state government, teachers, reporters and even some members of statewide commissions also would rather keep affiliations secret.

I held the independent seat on the Idaho Lottery for eight years after being appointed by Gov. Risch. Because I am in the news business, I felt the independent seat more accurately fit me rather than the Republican or Democratic appointed seats on the commission.

I kept my voting streak intact until the GOP closed primaries began.

My curiosity got the best of me, so I sent an email to the state Lottery Director as well as to Gov. Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden. I wondered if the independent member of a state commission could register a party affiliation or if I didn’t and voted in the Democratic primary, would I still be considered an independent?

Good thing I asked. Gov. Otter sent a note to me that thanked me for my service to the state but warned that by registering as a Republican I would have to give up my independent seat on the commission. However, he did say he would love to have me fill a vacancy as a Republican on the commission. I decided not to vote.

Voter suppression is a bad idea and my hope is that the common sense wing of my new party will wise up and pull the plug on the closed primary.

JOIN THE REVOLUTION!

The Primarily a Republican movement

The Way I See It David Keyes is the former publisher of the Bonner County Daily Bee, Bonners Ferry Herald, and Priest River Times, and serves as the vicechairman of the Idaho Lottery

DavidKeyes09@gmail.com is an easy one to join and there are no dues.

• Register as a Republican prior to the GOP primary for local elections. April 22 is the last day to pre-register to vote in the May 17 primary. The County Clerk has an office on the first floor of the old Federal Building on Highway 2 for you to register, affiliate and even vote.

• It is unclear if a person can change party affiliations on primary election day because that issue continues to be discussed in Boise. Don’t risk it.

• Cast your ballot for Republican candidates you feel best represent Idaho.

Rep. Shawn Keough comes to mind as does anyone who might be running against Reps. Scott and Dixon.

• If you are so inclined, on May 18 drop your GOP affiliation and join me and go back to casting ballots how you darn well want, without anyone knowing your affiliation. Remember, you don’t have to affiliate to a party to vote in the general election.

It would be great if enough people joined the Primarily a Republican movement so that the GOP would realize that voter suppression attempts are ineffective. I am amazed by how many people switched party affiliation last election and then didn’t change back.

Most Republicans don’t like the closed primary but until the Rep. Heather Scott voter suppression faction of the party gets kicked to the curb, anyone who runs in the Republican primary who isn’t a Tea Party member, is in danger of losing.

Idaho is too great of a state to condone voter suppression or the bloodless coup of a political party. Join the Primarily a Republican movement.

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March 2016

Page 11

The Primary is the Vote that Matters

I have followed Bonner County and Idaho politics for many years now and I have one question that permeates my every thought. Why do we do this to ourselves? We seldom — if ever ­— vote in our own best interests. Hell, we seldom even vote! We routinely send people to City Hall, the Courthouse and the Capital that have personal agendas that are contrary to the best interests of the majority of Idahoans. We, the taxpayers, continue to pay the salaries of people that are patently unqualified to do the work we elect them to do. That really irritates me ­— we get nothing for the money spent.

I will do everything I can to bring some clarity to the above question, at least from my perspective. Firstly, I want it known that I am a cynic. I’ve lived in Bonner County for over thirty-five years and have seen much malfeasance. I wholeheartedly subscribe to the adage, “If a politician’s (or bureaucrat’s) lips are moving he’s (or she’s) most likely not telling the whole truth.”

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a registered Democrat. As an Idaho Democrat, I have always believed that we would be ‘Moderate Republicans’ (nowadays a pejorative term for many) anywhere in the Northeastern United States. We do own guns and don’t want ‘Big Government’ interfering in our lives.

There is a famous quote from ‘Uncle Ronnie’, “I didn’t leave the Party. The Party left me.”

We have, at every level of government, politicians and bureaucrats that will do and say anything to obtain and retain their positions. Like every rule, there are exceptions. I have great respect and admiration for one current and one former elected official: the currently serving Senator from LD 1, Shawn Keough; and former Representative from LD1, George Eskridge. Both of these individuals worked their tails off for the majority of Legislative District 1 residents — regardless of party affiliation.

Both Keough and Eskridge have long worked for the betterment of all Idahoans without significant consideration of Page 12

politics. What was the reward they received for this selfless labor? The state GOP leadership tried their damnedest to throw the Senator under the bus a few years back by actively promoting and funding a primary challenger (Danielle Ahrens). Senator Keough managed to eke out a winning margin of 487 votes over her Far Right challenger.

Eskridge was not as fortunate.

George’s primary challenger (Sage Dixon) defeated him by 449 votes out of 6,439 GOP votes cast! George lost mainly because 1) no rational person even considered that such a well-respected representative would be defeated in the primary; and 2) the turnout was abysmal. What occurred in 2014 was a well-orchestrated palace coup from the Far Right of the GOP. The bus just missed Senator Keough but hit George head on. When less than 35 percent of the registered voters even bother to show up, those are the results we get.

I have long contended that in almost every election cycle the primary is the determining factor. The reason is simple — only the most avid supporters from the ends of the political spectrum show up! That 35 percent number is only registered voters. If you were to calculate that percentage from the total of age-eligible (18 on up) voters, that percentage falls significantly. According to information obtained from the Idaho Secretary of State, less than 17 percent of the voting age population actually even register vote! An old political adage says, “If you don’t vote you have no right to bitch!”

The lesson to be learned from two years ago is simple. If we want real representative government — from city hall to the State House and beyond — we must first become informed on the issues; second, become informed on the candidate’s positions on those issues; and — most importantly — get off our uninvolved butts and go to the polls on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 (the date of our local primary elections).

All LD1 incumbents have indicated that they will run this year. Once again,

Here in the Middle

A retired Navy man, Gil Beyer has served as a library trustee and on the county Planning & Zoning board, (where he had the distinction of being fired from a volunteer position). He is currently the county Democratic State Committeeman and LD1 Chair.

40vintage@gmail.com the Right Wing of the GOP has mounted another challenge to Senator Keough. I hope traditional Republicans will turn out in vast numbers to soundly defeat that challenger; that traditional Republicans will turn out to still constitute the majority of Republican voters. I also hope that the traditional Republicans put forth primary challengers to both Scott and Dixon. In my opinion, the residents of Bonner and Boundary counties deserve better representation than we have now.

I also want competent, qualified Democratic candidates to step forward, as Kate McAlister has done in challenging Rep. Heather Scott. I know Democrats exist in Bonner and Boundary counties.

They just need to step forward. Both parties need to be represented during these races so that informed decisions can be made. We have more to think about than a possible terrorist threat from refugee women and children. We must have Medicaid expansion for over seventy thousand Idahoans. We must have a higher minimum wage so that Idahoans are able to earn a living wage.

We need to have education funded at 2016 levels, not those of 2009. None of these things will be debated if we don’t have candidates step forward to challenge the status quo.

Therefore, everyone must get informed, register and vote. It is time to restore balance at every level of government. When 83 percent of the voting age population statewide do not vote we don’t have a representative democracy. We have an oligarchy.

March 2016

Politically Incorrect Trish Gannon is the owner/publisher of the River Journal.

She lives in Clark Fork and despite the suggestion of many friends, will never knit a sweater for her chickens to wear.

trishgannon@gmail.com Shortly before this issue of the magazine went to press, Sandpoint Facebook pages lit up with the news of shots fired down at the local Super 1 grocery store parking lot — a place where I, and likely many of you, frequently shop. According to a statement

by Police Chief Corey Coon, a couple of men (boys?) were involved in a “road rage/racing incident” on Cedar St., which they then took to the store’s parking lot.

Their verbal altercation became physical whereupon one of the participants — identified as 20-year-old Garret Huckaby — pulled out a gun. In the struggle that followed, a bullet was fired into Huckaby’s car.

Both men, by the way, had passengers in their vehicles; Huckaby was with a 21-year-old female while the other man — 22-year-old Peter Goulette — was apparently “racing and road raging” with his four-year-old son.

It seems lately that our populace is rather sharply divided politically between two separate factions, but I’m willing to bet that my friends from both sides of that divide will look at this situation in a quite similar way. I suspect the word

Let’s Talk About Gun Legislation

“dumb asses” will also come into play.

And that’s an important point to remember right now — that in most cases, and at most times, no matter where we find ourselves on the political spectrum, we will actually agree on issues most of the time.

In fact, that is the entire premise this news magazine you hold in your hands was founded on: that there is far more that ties us together with our neighbors than there is that pushes us apart.

So let’s test that theory and talk a little bit about common sense laws and regulations that relate to firearms.

Given I am the one with the magazine, I’ll go first.

And let me give you a little background before I start. I am a selfdescribed liberal, and I have no interest in taking your guns away. My father was what one prison warden called “a career criminal” and as a felon, he was not allowed to own guns. Nonetheless, I grew up in a house full of them, and in a family that believed strongly in the right to keep and bear arms.

At the same time, I have no interest in living in a community or in a world where dumb asses can keep and carry and use firearms with impunity.

And I believe there is not only a solution to this conundrum, but a solution that we all can agree on.

I didn’t come up with it. The ideas that I will talk about in this and future issues come from a man named Jim Wright, who lives up in Alaska and who has also spent a lifetime around guns. He is a retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer, and it would take the rest of the room on this page

to list his qualifications and experience with weapons. He writes a blog called Stonekettle Station (stonekettle.com) and you could skip everything I might write and go there right now. Read his article “Bang, Bang, Sanity” but I’ll warn you — he has a potty mouth (like me) and will be a tough read for those easily offended.

If you’re still here with me, then the first idea I think we can all agree on is that you are responsible for what happens with your gun.

Mr. Huckaby has not had his day in court, which he is also constitutionally entitled to. But if the situation described by the Sandpoint police chief is true, then we know that this young man is not a responsible gun owner The fact that his gun was struggled over, and fired, in a public place was not an accident — it was a choice.

We are lucky that no innocent people were harmed in this incident; that we are not today mourning the loss of one of our neighbors or friends. Counting on luck is not enough. When people have demonstrated they are irresponsible in regards to a weapon, then they should lose the right to ever carry a weapon again. No one is concerned about a responsible gun owner carrying a gun — it’s the irresponsible ones we worry about, the ones who will pull that weapon and use it irresponsibly in our local parking lots that cause concern.

My friends and neighbors on both sides of the political spectrum agree on much, and I suspect we agree on this as well. No dumb ass has a right to carry.

March 2016

Page 13

Gary’s Faith Walk

Next Steps

worship, education, outreach, and facility For 850 years, people have efficiency. Denominations give their worshipped in the Notre Dame programs different names: Earth Care, Cathedral in Paris, France. In times of Green Chalice, Earthkeeping, and more. joy, in times of sorrow, in war and in But at their core people of faith seek ways peace, mortals have gathered beneath stone and stained glass to listen, to pray, in which to model living more lightly on the earth, use less fossil-fuel-produced to sing in hopeful reverence. So, it was energy, and shift to renewables where on a December night I took part in the possible.

Ecumenical Service for Creation along Businesses of all kinds can take with citizens from around the world.

GDPayton@aol.com part in the transition to a low carbon Our worship leaders were Catholic, economy. Some will find their place in Orthodox, Protestant; men, women, reducing fossil fuel demand. Consider and youth. Sermon, prayers, and hymns Sandpoint’s “Tamarack Aerospace.” moved smoothly between French and Their newly certified active winglet can English. We were part of the thousands from “civil society” gathered for the 21st improve aircraft fuel efficiency by 10–15 percent, reducing greenhouse house gas session of the Conference of the Parties emissions for the same distance flown. to the UN Framework Convention on Email r.repair43@gmail.com Some will find their place in new “green” Climate Change, or COP21. businesses. Consider “The Flourish: Café, As the service concluded, those Repair & Recycling Bakery, and Market” in Sandpoint. By assembled heard the message from Lawn, Garden, Snow emphasizing local ingredients (greens, Equipment, the Council of Christian Churches Generators, Pumps vegetables, cheeses, etc.), the carbon of France, “We call on political and and Older Outboards. footprint of their supply chain is greatly economic decision makers, especially Two doors west reduced, while freshness is increased! those gathered at the COP21, to take the of the Hope Post Governments at the state and local decisions necessary to limit warming to Office level play a critical role. Leaders in Boise 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) so that the I Buy Batteries and Helena will move forward on state most vulnerable of our brothers and contributions to the Clean Power Plan, sisters and future generations do not Ron Powell which sets targets for coal and gas power suffer more.”

I buy, sell and repair Auto, Truck, plant emissions. They’ll be blending both On December 12, the negotiators Marine and ATV batteries efficiencies across the state with curbs on from 195 nations delivered. The emissions to help meet a national goal. milestone Paris Agreement is intended And, individuals? We always have a to slow the onrush of human-caused role to play. Yes, there are squiggly light EVERGREEN REALTY climate change, assist developing bulbs and better gas mileage vehicles, nations in adapting to impacts, and but in this election year, I believe our accelerate the transition to low carbon Sales Associate, GRI economies. It is not a perfect agreement, responsibilities go even further. Simply put, climate science is settled. It is our but perhaps it marks “the end of the responsibility to elect leaders at the beginning” of the journey to hold the average global temperature to 2 degrees local, state, and national level who will C or below. In doing so, through the 21st contribute to solutions addressing human-caused climate change. To do century the extent of on-going sea level anything else jeopardizes the very health rise, drought, desertification, human misery and migration may be moderated of the creation we are charged “to till” and “keep.” (Genesis 2: 15) a bit.

My faith walk takes me into the While we in the North Country are world. It is not confined to a pew or quiet 5,000 miles from Paris, we share in the meditation. It is all about my relationship “next steps” of the agreement which 321 N. First Ave. - Sandpoint with the Divine and the world around will influence whether our planet will 800.829.6370 us. And, as Pope Francis has reminded continue to be hospitable for human 208.263.6370 humanity, our steadfast call is “to hear habitation. both the cry of the earth and the cry of EvergreenRealty.com In congregations, church leaders can the poor.” lift up care for God’s creation through SchweitzerMountain.com Page 14

March 2016 Gary Payton is an environmental advocate who is actively engaged with Presbyterians for Earth Care, Fossil Free Presbyterian Church (USA), and leading conservation organizations in Idaho and the region.

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Curt Hagan

Corps of Discovery: Those Guys Were Nuts!

For many of us, I suspect finishing a really good book may invite a bit of mourning. As in the case of a life ended, or some important part thereof, grieving seems to be in order when a special piece of writing comes to a conclusion. A recent case in point in my life is The History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as edited

by Elliot Coues, first published in 1893.

Coues didn’t start out as a historian.

He trained as a doctor, but his overriding interest was the avian world. At 17, he was traveling alone in search of what birders call a “life list.” He became one of the world’s leading authorities on birds, eventually helping to refine the taxonomic naming system into what it is today.

Though he was famous in his time, “Coues” is not household name in ours.

But most of us know Lewis and Clark. If you don’t, and are a citizen of the U.S., you owe it to yourself to meet them.

Their exploration of western North America is still an astounding tale, 210 years after the fact.

I’ve read several accounts of the Expedition. What I always conclude is “Those guys were nuts.” And so was everyone with them.

The prevalence of prickly pear and “mosquitors” alone might have caused most humans to turn back, but the Corps of Discovery suffered and survived those, plus recurring near-starvation, hailstones the size of tennis balls, three months of steady rain at Fort Clatsop, 42 degrees below zero at Fort Mandan, bouts of venereal disease, Dr. Rush’s pills to treat it and endless days of incredibly hard labor. Cheerfully. One captain or the other was forever writing about how well the men held up under the rigors imposed by the passage from St Louis to the mouth of the Columbia and back.

Coues was a huge fan of Meriwether and William. His admiration for them shines in his footnotes; often witty, snarky comments railing against the ineptitude of the original Biddle edition of the Journals or “apocrypha” written by pretenders. He made no secret of his loathing for Sacajawea’s husband, or his

admiration for Sergeant Patrick Gass.

He took latter day geographers to task for renaming rivers, creeks, mountains and lakes that the captains had faithfully chronicled and named after their intrepid privates, corporals and sergeants — and Lewis’ dog, Seaman.

Seaman Creek (now called Monture Creek) drains into the Blackfoot River near Ovando, Montana. Lewis named it on his way home after he and Clark separated at Traveler’s Rest a dozen miles south Missoula. Lewis went north and east, crossing the Great Divide at Lewis and Clark Pass, where the waters of the Dearborn and Blackfoot Rivers begin their long and winding ways to the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, respectively. Clark backtracked to the three forks of the Missouri; then went up the Gallatin and over Bozeman Pass to the Yellowstone near present day Livingston. They reunited where the Yellowstone joins the Missouri.

Coues acquired the original journals from the youngest child of William Clark.

When he began editing the journals, he already had a perspective of the West we will never gain. His edition sparkles with it. Before following the route of the Corps for research, Coues had traveled the West extensively. He had intimate knowledge of territory the Corps traveled through, because he moved through it in much the same manner the Corps had — on foot, on horseback, and by boat on wild rivers.

From 1873 and1876 he was attached as surgeon and naturalist to the United States Northern Boundary Commission, surveying the border between the U.S. and Canada. In 1876, he became secretary and naturalist to the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, editing its publications and assisting in its explorations. In his day, the Corps’ route hadn’t changed much. Railroads were in place when the Journals were published, but the onslaught of the automobile had yet to alter the landscape beyond recognition, and new little burgs like Bozeman and Missoula hadn’t sprawled out for miles along the travel routes.

The Scenic Route

Sandy Compton’s book The Scenic Route, as well as his many others, is available online at bluecreekpress.com, or at Vanderford’s Books or The Corner Bookstore in Sandpoint.

mrcomptonjr@hotmail.com

Don’t miss the chance to check out the holdings at the Bonner County Museum... for FREE!. Visit the museum at 611 S. Ella in Sandpoint at no charge on the first Saturday of every month from 10 am to 2 pm.

In 1877, Coues was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He also edited or wrote several other histories, including The Travels of Zebulon Pike; studies of Alexander Henry and David Thompson of the Northwest Company; and the personal stories of fur trader Charles Larpenteur and Spanish priest Francisco Garces.

I spent six months exploring Coues’ volumes; a grand rendition of one of the grandest adventures of all time. He put a personal stamp on the work no other editor has. I found myself reading the index after the narrative had ended, as one might revisit memories of lost love.

I have now passed the volumes on to another Lewis and Clark fan. But not without that sense of loss. I will miss Mr. Coues and the Captains for a while.

March 2016

Page 15

Get Growing!

Nancy Hastings grew up on a 300-acre farm and owns All Seasons Garden and Floral in Sandpoint with her husband John. They have been cultivating community gardens and growing for almost two decades in North Idaho.

AllSeasonsGardenandFloral@gmail.com Well it’s that time of year again when we are all going a little stir crazy with gray days. Your tulips may be pushing up but the eye can get lost among the evergreens in the low light. When the sun breaks, and you walk along, you may catch sight of some of the understated elegance of bright reds, golden hues, and wonderful patchworks of bark on the trees and shrubs.

Most of what we focus on when selecting landscape plants revolves around blooms, size, and fall color.

But there are so many winter jewels that shine from their very core with interesting textures, colors and patterns of bark when all the other window dressing is gone. Our native River Birch (Betula Nigra) is perhaps the most well-known and easy care tree with its white/grey outer layer bursting with age to expose curls of pinkish, golden and brown tones. It’s sister, Betula papyrifera, including the White, Paper or Canoe Birch, starts out brown when young and then furrows deeply into a stunning chalky white. Native Americans peeled this variety and sewed it onto the outside of their canoe forms because of its longlasting, water repellent nature. These beauties look great in clumps of two or three trunks together and flourish in moist and even flooded spring soils. Only prune when fully cold in the dormant

Beautiful Bark

season to avoid creating a welcome mat to the Birch borer.

The Paper Bark Maple is sometimes mistaken for a River Birch with many of the same colorations of cinnamon and gold in its trunk, but features the added perk of a maple’s bright red signature fall leaves. It is a slow grower, reaching 20 by 20 feet in size, so perfect for those spots where you can’t have a large shade maple.

In the blooming category the Japanese Stewartia tree takes the top prize for four season loveliness. It is sometimes called the “false Camellia” because of its botanical name (Stewartia Pseudocamellia). Each June ushers in delicate white blossoms with yellow centers that look a lot like a Camellia but are actually hardy for this area! The bark ages into an almost smooth peeled oval lengths in various shades of greygreen, auburn and orange, followed by a kaleidoscope of fall leaf colors in reds, yellows and purples. Choose your site carefully for this delicate tree, in an afternoon shade location with ample moisture for its roots and it will reward you with years of delight.

The golden strength of the Willows is also brightening up the horizon as they wake up to accept Mother Nature’s melting snow and turn a bright gold.

These beauties can bring lots of shade to a sunny, moist spot as they grow and thrive.

And lastly, the raging reds of the Red twig Dogwood Shrub contrasts nicely with your snows and evergreen landscapes, also bringing much needed privacy screening for properties that is easy and deer-proof!

As we take stock of the winter that’s just passed, reflect on those areas of your yard where the winter palette was a little too drab, and plan for bringing in some color for the winters to come!

Let’s Grow Some Grass!

March 26 • 9:45 am • Sandpoint Community Hall • FREE The Kinnickinnick Chapter of the Native Plant Society, along with Sandpoint Parks & Rec, presents a free workshop with Ken Thacker, “Identification and Uses of Grasses of North Idaho.”

For more information, visit nativeplantsociety.org Page 16

High Tech in the Garden: There’s an app for that!

It might be that when it comes to gardening, you prefer to leave your cell phone inside the house. But if you like gadgets and want to explore what’s available at the app store to benefit your gardens, check out a few of these apps.

(Note: I haven’t tried any of these yet. I’m still learning how to download an app.)

Not sure what’s growing in your garden beds? ID Weeds allows you to search for weed information by name, or to identify a weed by its description.

Burpee’s Garden Time Planner Add your list of plants you’ve planted and get back a checklist for what to do, when.

Garden Compass Plant/Disease Identifier - Simply take a photo of the plant, the pest, or the disease you want to identify, and let Garden Compass look it up for you.

The Planting Planner from Organic Gardening magazine will help you ensure you are planting varieties at the right time. Select what you want to grow from a rather extensive list of plants and the app tells you how and when to plant your seeds based on your exact, GPS determined location.

Sun Seeker - If you’re looking to create a new garden spot, Sun Seeker will figure out the best locations for sun exposure. Don’t guess anymore, but let this app tell you how many hours of sunlight a day is available at any given spot in your yard.

ColdSnap! (Android only, dang it).

This app send you an alarm warning you when frost is expected, giving you a chance to protect your plants. NOAA Weather Alerts will do the same for iPhone but will alert you to a variety or severe weather threats, not just frost.

Google Goggles - Spotted a plant, flower, or tree you’d love to have in your own yard... but you don’t know what it is. Simply take a photo of it in the Google Goggles app and let the world’s largest search engine try to identify it for you. Pro tip: turn the phone to take a horizontal photo. Google Goggles is not available for iOS, so you might want to try PlantNet to identify that mystery plant.

-Trish Gannon March 2016

A Bird in Hand Ruddy Duck: Do you love birds, and want to know more? Check out Mike’s bird photos, online at birdsidaho. blogspot.com.

mturnlund@gmail.com You will not confuse our bird of the month with any other critter, furred or feathered, except for maybe the platypus.

But since you’re not reading this article in Australia, you’re safe. That funky little duck with the oversized, sky-blue bill is the one and only Ruddy duck. Welcome to the world of the weirdly wonderful: the stiff-tailed ducks.

The Ruddy duck is our only representative of this genus of waterfowl, the Oxyura. Broadly speaking, there is one representative stiff-tailed duck for each continent and our species is the little Ruddy.

You will not mistake this duck for any other waterfowl; at least, not the male.

He sports a ruddy, shall we say chestnutcolored, body that is most apparent when viewed with binoculars. But what will be most obvious is that honking blue bill. A sky-blue bill. Totally unnatural looking.

That bird’s beak looks more appropriate for a platypus, which is a good analogy because that egg-laying mammal is equally weird. So here we have a rustycolored, blue-billed, white-faced, blackcapped duck skewered with… wait for it… a stiff, perfectly perpendicular black tail.

Hence stiff-tailed. Oh, and don’t forget the white under-tail covert feathers.

The female is, typical for ducks, more subdued in coloration. Her coloration is mostly soft, camouflage browns with a smudgy dark stripe across her less-thanpristine white face, but with that same stiff black tail as her brethren. The male resembles the female in coloration in the off season.

Ruddy ducks are divers, feeding off of aquatic plants and animal life, some

Blue-billed, stifftailed, and unique

of which they grub up from the muddy substrate. They feed at night, so you’re most likely to see the birds bobbing on the water surface during their daily siestas. It is important to note that these little ducks prefer shallow bodies of water, such as large ponds or the slack water of larger lakes. Sloughs often serve as accessible sites for locating these birds.

The Ruddy female typically builds her nest among cattails or bulrushes. A clutch of Ruddy eggs is normally a halfdozen or more, and the fledglings are cared for exclusively by the mother. But her tenure as a mother is brief, with the chicks becoming independent within about five or six weeks.

Stiff-tailed ducks are curious in that their legs are positioned so far back on their bodies that they struggle to walk on land. Subsequently they prefer to spend their time almost exclusively on the water. But what they lack in mobility on land they gain in the water as the birds are powerful underwater swimmers.

Our birds, as a population, spend their winters in the Pacific states, coming here and points further north and east for the summer. And they will suddenly appear, because similar to many other waterfowl they generally migrate at night. Here today, gone tonight.

Don’t overlook this very interesting little species of duck. They are both beautiful and cartoonish. And you might need to trade your binoculars for a spotting scope as they are not easy to see close up, being shy of observers.

But that is probably because they’re self-conscious of those oversized bills.

So if you’re fortunate enough on your next birding expedition to spot these distinctive little ducks, don’t laugh at them! Remember, nothing is more pathetic than a duck with a neurosis.

Happy Birding!

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March 2016

Page 17

All Shook Up A.C. Woolnough has spent a lifetime in education.

He serves the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation as both a Research Asso. and a member of the People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council. In addition, he is the Asst.

State Director for the Parkinson’s Action Network.

ACWooly@gmail.com

When it comes to Parkinson’s Disease, many folks have a mental image of an elderly man, stooped and hunched over, with a slow, shuffling gait, a cane, soft spoken and with slurred speech—maybe even drooling. While true in some cases of advanced Parkinson’s, there are simply too many other symptoms and situations that render this stereotype incomplete and inaccurate. What follows are facts to help dispel the myths.

1. Young onset Parkinson’s (diagnosed before the age of 50) accounts for a significant percentage of those with PD. For example, Ben Patrick, once thought to be a future Hall of Fame baseball player, was diagnosed in his 20s.

2. Movement disorders account for less than half of the typical symptoms of PD. Nevertheless, they are worth reviewing and learning the appropriate vocabulary. (Remember, this writer used to be an English teacher).

3. Involuntary twisting or writhing motions (think Michael J Fox) are called

DiLuna’s Presents

Hilary Scott March 26

10 Things You Didn’t Know (About PD)

dyskinesia. Amazingly, they are caused by the medication used to control dopamine levels in the brain.

4. Bradykinesia literally means slow movement and can severely impact the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s).

5. Other common movement disorders include tremor, rigidity, balance issues (resulting in falls), micrographia (small handwriting) and a mask-like expression.

What amazed me the most when I started attending conferences, reading and researching Parkinson’s Disease, was the vast array of non-motor symptoms that can accompany PD. Here are a few of the most common: 6. Loss of sense of smell is perhaps the most frequent non-motor symptom and usually occurs a decade or more before tremors or other movement issues. Unfortunately, this is not a reliable indicator as allergies and simply growing older may also reduce the sense of smell.

7. Depression, anxiety and apathy are also common. Any given Parkinson’s patient may have none, one, two or all three of these distinctly different symptoms. On a personal note, I have a hard time getting started on almost any project—writing this column, walking the dog, exercising, etc. Knowing apathy is one of my symptoms helps me recognize and overcome my inertia.

8. Gastrointestinal issues—namely, constipation—are also not unusual.

Enough said. I was going to make some

increase nutrients, such as nitrogen and This septic pilot project is being introduced in order to comply with water quality standards as determined by the Federal Clean Water Act. Designated to protect water quality, the plan, known as a “Total Maximum Load” in for Lake Get yourDaily tickets Pend Oreille, addresses nutrient issues

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kind of pun for my regular readers but decided not to.

9. Sleep disorders can be very serious and affect quality of life for both the person with Parkinson’s and their care partner. REM sleep disorder (parasomnia), although not especially common, is the acting out of vivid dreams while sleeping—often filled with action and sometimes violent. Typically, while in the REM stage of sleep, the muscles are essentially paralyzed. Not so with REM sleep disorder. For example, a friend of mine got out of bed and destroyed his computer one night during a dream.

Another, perhaps apocryphal story, involves a man dreaming of choking a bear only to wake up to his wife screaming at him to take his hands from around her neck.

10. You’ve made it this far so let’s wrap it up with sex. Yes, sex. There are two primary PD issues involving sex and PD—too much and too little. Too much sex is associated with compulsive behaviors (sometimes gambling or shopping) as a side effect of some medication. Because this is a family magazine, I won’t get too graphic about the specifics of too little sex. Suffice it to say that diminished libido, ED and other factors (simply watch the advertisements on TV to learn more) contribute to this issue.

Some folks with PD have most of these symptoms, some folks just a few.

No matter, they all have an impact on the quality of life for those living with PD— including care givers or care partners.

That will be the topic of an upcoming column.

Council website at tristatecouncil.org.

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The Magazine Worth Wading Through | www.RiverJournal.com | Vol 17 No. 18 | November 2008 | Page PageRiver 18 Journal - A News

March 20165

Welcome the Unexpected

The big flashing sign said, “I 90 W closed at Ellensburg.”

We were on our way to see our grandkids and were not quite half way there. We had left early, planning on getting to their place on the Olympic peninsula by mid afternoon. Part of the desire was to get through Tacoma and across the Narrows Bridge before rush hour, which turns Interstate 5 into “The Tacoma parking lot.”

It was a good day for travel, some high clouds, but comfortable. Traffic was midweek moderate and flowing well on dry to damp roads.

As we drove through the arid scablands of Eastern Washington I was enjoying the topography left by the great ice age floods. Most folks, I know, just want to get this part of the trip behind them. I love to look at the coulees and hills. I keep trying to visualize a torrent of water 200 feet deep flowing across, scouring and depositing soil as it filled the Columbia Basin before draining through Wallula gap and down the Columbia River. To many it looks like barren wasteland, only good for cattle grazing. However, even as a child, I found it interesting. Then, as I learned of the floods, the place became fascinating to me. So a trip across these parched spaces is awe-inspiring.

Lisa Ferraro and Erica Luckett said, “If we’re not in awe, we’re not paying attention.” Awe fills much of my life from countryside to grandkids.

Just past Moses Lake the sign warned us of the delay. Linda checked the road conditions and found there was a wreck on Snoqualmie Pass. We figured it was a couple hours away, and so there was a good possibility of it being cleaned up before we got there. It was still mid-morning and we never considered anything but going ahead with the plans for the day.

I suggested we should call Ana to see if she had any more information from the news. Just then the phone rang. Linda answered with, “Hi Ana.” Problem taken care of.

Ana said there was huge mess on the pass. Semis, lots of cars involved, emergency vehicles and helicopters had

completely plugged the road.

What were our options? There is Sevens Pass to the north and White Pass to the south. Since it was early February, any pass can be treacherous due to weather, especially the secondary ones like Stevens or White. Ana said weather didn’t seem to be a problem on either one.

Going south seemed the better choice.

It would be shorter and if a storm did blow in we could continue south into Oregon and west on Interstate 84.

Sometime during the decision making process someone said, “We will make it happen.” I have always liked that phrase.

There is a “can do” spirit about it and I like the positive feel of it.

A few weeks ago I was reading something by Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith. He said, “Don’t make it happen, make it welcome.”

Being in the middle of Washington less than half way to our goal for the day, I thought anything less than making it welcome could be drudgery, or frustrating, or just plain long. So we took our “can do” spirit and welcomed our new plans. It seemed like a better way to spend our time on the road.

A few miles east of Ellensburg we left 90 and started toward Yakima on highway 82. The road climbs over a summit and from the top there are incredible views of Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier. There is a point where all three can be seen at the same time. On this day the high clouds hid all the peaks; nonetheless, it was beautiful.

The light on and through the clouds was an image of contrasts. From bright white through many shades of gray to deep charcoal, textures in the overcast ranged from angora soft to tempest sharp, making the sky an intense undulating ceiling. Underneath, the rays getting through that atmosphere of climate commotion onto the snowcovered orchards, vineyards and fields showed how many colors of white there can be. It stretched before us for miles and in places the horizon blended into the sky letting us wonder just where it was.

At Selah we turned west again on

The Hawk’s Nest

Ernie Hawks is the author of “Every Day is a High Holy Day: Stories of an Adventuring Spirit,” available on Amazon, Kindle or in your favorite bookstore.

ernestmhawks@gmail.com 12 for our passage over the mountains between Rainier and St. Helens. It winds along the Naches River with its white water rapids and sharp bends between rocks. Boulders the size of trucks, forcing the water to separate, appeared to be resting while making their evolutionary journey. The water was slamming hard on the upstream side of each rock trying to speed that journey along.

The road was dry, in fact good, for a winter mountain pass. I understand more trucks were using it on that day, but still we made good time as we welcomed the sights being given to us. We talked about how our six-hour drive had just turned into an eight and a half hour drive and about the rich scenery we were seeing on both sides of us. The drive is slower, allowing more time to absorb our surroundings.

Over the top and down the west side led us to glorious views of Mt. Rainier to our left. Each time we crossed one of the many tree-lined, tight valleys the big mountain stood at the end like a giant wall of snow, ice and rock. The top was not visible but the cliffs and stone faces we could see rose into the fog leaving the top to our imagination or memory of previous sightings.

In the lowlands on the west, highway 7 took us along lazy rivers, through pastures and tree lined meadows north to Puyallup then up I-5 into Tacoma from the south, missing the famous Tacoma parking lot farther north.

We were with Ana and the girls in time for dinner, and before Snoqualmie Pass had opened. It had been a day of unexpected incidents, making for a long day yet one welcomed with awe-inspiring pleasure.

March 2016

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I should have invested heavily in 3M stocks when I first got hooked (or rather, stuck) on their cute little note pads. I came to this tardy conclusion while sprucing up my ‘Center of Journalistic Endeavors,’ the same center I often use to trim my fingernails and scratch my butt. Coincidence?

I think not! Either one of these tasks quite often triggers a relaxed wandering of the mind to places where little light bulbs hang out waiting to be found (and it would seem, all too often written down).

This particular bout of ‘sprucing up’ was actually triggered by an avalanche.

Don’t panic, nobody was hurt, except for a few hapless notes which tumbled into my mug for a dip in an inch of lessthan-lukewarm coffee. I re-read these first so I could finish my last insipid gulp, my taste buds picking up some pretty strange ‘notes’ of their own in the process.

Dabbing dry the first one, I interpreted the smear as, “LAST ONE!!! GET MORE NOW!!” The next one, dripping with enthusiasm, read another warning: “DUDE, Running LOW on these!” (Dude in this case is my alter ego and purchasing agent.)

Underneath that entry was, “Last pack of these – (OVER!)” On the flip side was, “Decide whether to pay power bill or buy more sticky-notes, ha, ha!”

I let that sink in for a moment while I scratched my butt for any loose light bulbs.

That’s when a “Eureka” moment blossomed like a field of knapweed under the partly cloudy skies of my mind. So, I grabbed a legal pad this time and recorded it all on one piece

of paper, using a method of shorthand I came up with several years ago that requires two flyswatters and a bungee cord. Here’s the interpretation: “STICKY-NOTES ARE BECOMING ENDANGERED!” You can easily tell this because a twelve-pack now costs as much or more than a good novel! The bald fact is obvious; blank unlined paper (with a little glue on it) has the same net worth as a plot line with talented wording around it! Recovering from this, I leapt to the only obvious conclusion: There is some sort of glue shortage! My well placed suspicion puts the blame on too much of it being put on ‘three cheese pizzas’ and not so much on handy little 3x3 pieces of paper and thusly, driving up the price of stickiness. Our rush for more and more calories per slice of pizza has resulted in not enough glue left over for one of the coolest inventions since that of small pieces of unlined paper itself.

So to save my festively colored little friends from possible extinction and let them re-breed for a while, I’ve come up with an emergency method of remembering the stuff I keep discovering while scratching and clipping. Yes, you may use it, however, note (for disclaimer purposes): I, in no way, insinuate it to be painless or even proper for that matter, just somewhat effective.

You probably already know that simply writing things down will help you to remember them, and by reading this, you are also aware that “pain induces memory retention!”

I recently combined those two volatile ideas carefully and, due to

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March 2016

some remarkable linguistic chemistry, came up with a roll of duct tape and a felt marker.

My first experiment with this concept went pretty well; so well, in fact, that it released a barrage of brandnew expletives, in a language not unfamiliar to me as it is also known in the construction world as “speaking in tongues” and often follows statements like, “Watch this!” as well as, “Heads up!” This, as usual, was followed shortly thereafter by a welcome burst of endorphins.

In simple terms, I’d pulled off a six-inch gray strip and massaged it firmly onto my left forearm, and by candlelight, wrote, “Pay Power Bill!” with deeply rapt attention, then ripped it off before my mind could find something else to do. This led to another of my surprise discoveries!

That being: hair follicles en masse can scream just like a wounded ninny!

I haven’t paid the power bill yet, but you can be sure I remember that I need to.

Where I was going with this I don’t recall (having run out of sticky-notes as well as duct tape) but suffice it to say that if you write the message before applying the tape, say, to the backside (and, I might add, surprisingly tender portion) of your inner knee, this will not only save on frustrated hairy little

wads of illegible duct tape littering the floor, but also the frustration of learning how to write backwards and upside down with a mirror in one hand and your head not necessarily where the sun is shining. Coincidentally, this is where you might also conclude you’ve already forgotten that allimportant note/epiphany (light bulb) and, therefore, must, in the heat of the moment, come up with something worthwhile.

This, of course, leads to the next attraction, importantly titled: “Suggestions for improvements to sticky-notes:” #1 – a tracking device/timer/alarm system - for those notes related to bill paying. #2 – a digital version - for those who’ve never learned how to write but can still use their thumbs. #3 – cordless - so that they will appeal to nearly everyone, especially at Christmas time. #4 – solar powered - for when the power gets cut off. #5 – talking - made from recycled TV commercials, (they would never shut up, especially about possible ‘side effects’).

Now then, what to do with a sizable mound of accumulated notes to one’s self, you may be asking? Treat it like a short course in personal anthropology!

Acres n Pains Scott Clawson ruminates on life somewhere in the backwoods of Careywood, and turns it all into humor. And he’s even on Pinterest now! (Facebook, too.)

AcresnPains@dishmail.net

Be careful here, as this can use up a sizable amount of time better utilized in the form of hard labor, like fingernail maintenance or butt scratching (which, I have noticed, is fairly unrewarding when one is out of sticky-notes), but the payoff can be as stunning as this one I found near the bottom of my latest avalanche: Q – If you fart in the wilderness and nobody else hears it, is it still funny?

A – Only if there’s an echo.

Now that you can see the obvious benefits of these colorful little notepads, please do your part to save them from extinction and buy less pizza. The notes you save may be your own.

March 2016

Page 21

A Record You Can Trust

Please Vote May 17!

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March 2016

The Proposed Rock Creek mine is Back on the Burner The Kootenai National Forest issued its Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the proposed Rock Creek Mine on February 19. Project documents can be found here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/kootenai/landmanagement/projects Public comments on the DEIS will be accepted until April 4, 2016. Written comment can be submitted to Michael Huffine, Kootenai National Forest, 31374 U.S. 2, Libby, MT 59923-3022, or by email to: rockcreekmine@fs.fed.us. Comments can also be hand-delivered to the KNF between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays. The subject line must contain the name of the project, “Rock Creek Project.”

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Photo by Mark Alan Wilson

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For background on the proposed project: www.RockCreekAlliance.org March 2016

Page 23

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